All platforms running Thunderbird: The addressContext Thunderbird extension batch processes to and from email addresses for a set of messages from the context menu. Quickly create a new mailing list, or simply add new cards to your address book by selecting a set of messages, right-clicking and choosing “Add Senders/Recipients as Cards” or “Add Senders/Recipients as List.” The addressContext extension is a free download, and works with and wherever Thunderbird does.
addressContext [Thunderbird Add-ons]Windows only: Free webapp Goldmail gives those not willing to shell out for a package like Soundslides a dead-simple interface for creating and hosting slideshows with audio narration. The free version of Goldmail takes in images (by upload or even screen grabs for your Uncle Bif and Aunt Marge types), and then simply asks the user to sort them and talk while clicking through slides, inserting the transition points automatically. The two drawbacks are the advertising thrown up at the end (the $9.95/month licence gets rid of that) and the platform dependence—there’s no Mac client, and even Firefox-on-Windows users have to install the ClickOnce extension to let the .NET elements run. Goldmail is a free download that requires a sign-up at Goldmail’s website and runs on Windows only.
Goldmail [via CNET News]Explore the legitimate and more *ahem* fan-driven ways to watch, read about, and discuss your favourite television addictions at Sidereel, a wiki-driven site that also aggregates links and clips for music and movies. The site offers RSS feeds for each show’s content, but its best value may be its archive of links to episodes from previous seasons, both on the network sites and elsewhere. It’s free to browse and click through Sidereel, but contributing to the wiki pages requires a free sign-up. For more ways to keep current on your TV fixes, check out Adam’s Six Ways to Catch Your Favorite TV Shows. Thanks, Filament!
Sidereel.comMicrosoft has gradually granted access over the past few days to its Windows Live Calendar beta, yet another webapp in its newly-out-of-beta Live suite. There isn’t a single killer feature here that isn’t in Google Calendar, but the good stuff is mostly present—imports in iCal and Outlook format, multiple color-coded calendars, sharing and collaboration tools (including a read-only view for non-Live users), and customised email and SMS agendas and reminders. Live Calendar lacks synchronisation for now, but it’s not hard to imagine Outlook or Windows Mobile integration in the future. Windows Live Calendar requires a free Windows Live sign-up; check back occasionally if you don’t see it offered at the link below.
Windows Live Calendar [via PC World]Food writer and trained chef Michael Ruhlman knows a thing or two about cooking under pressure, as anyone watching his judging stint on The Next Iron Chef knows. In his latest book, Ruhlman offers some tips for us non-chefs on how to save time and avoid disaster by reading closely and getting ahead: Measure out or prep all your ingredients before you begin. Don’t mince your onion just before you need to put it in the pan, have it minced and in a container ready to go, have that cup of milk and half cup of sugar set out before you. Good mise en place makes the process easier and more pleasurable and the result tastier than preparing a recipe with no mise en place.
Ruhlman also notes that great cooking is usually the result of repetition and paying close attention, not magical talent. What tricks or steps helped you beat a tough recipe or become a better cook? Share your story in the comments. Photo by littledan77
Ruhlman on Recipes [101 Cookbooks]Two years ago, we showed you how to find the most suitable productivity tools: all you need to do is taste-test, commit, and have fun.
Linux only: Free security application MyPasswordSafe offers a single space to store usernames and passwords for all your desktop and web applications. All your password info is locked away with the Blowfish algorithm devised by security expert Bruce Schneier. When called up, the passwords are passed into your clipboard without being displayed, defeating over-the-shoulder hackers. MyPasswordSafe can generate random passwords (as recommended by Bruce), and dual-booters can also store their safes in a format compatible with the Windows equivalent. MyPasswordSafe is a free download and available in most popular Linux repositories.
MyPasswordSafe [via PhoroLinux.com]Like any collection, books create an endless loop of discovery, search, and acquisition for enthusiasts. Free cataloging webapp BookBump feeds that enthusiasm by providing a central place to list collections, find and compare prices on wanted books, and keep tabs on borrowed and loaned tomes. Students can also use BookBump to find author quotes and generate bibliographies in the major academic formats. BookBump requires a free sign-up to use. For lots more biblio-geekery, check out Adam’s list of 13 book hacks for the library crowd and recommendation service What Should I Read Next.
BookBump [via MakeUseOf.com]
