Subject: Free tool lets you make custom typing "shortcuts", for klutzes like me ;)

(I DK if this is the right forum for this thread. If not, admins please feel free to move it to wherever.)

Thought I'd share a totally-free program I found that I've been using to make forum and song posts, e-mails, any typing faster. (Windows-only. Sorry, Mac/Nix people.)

"Texter" lets you create your own "hot-key" shortcuts to things you type a lot. Examples are easier than explanations. I created this one for my copyright notices. I merely type the letter "c" (no quotes), hit Enter, and it auto-types:

&#169 2011 <a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~tommythedancingturtle/">Tommy Turtle</a>. All rights reserved. E-mail: tomm<a href="http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01R7HaVS948tUEZuQakveSNQ==&c=5tNYuh-KawOEIKPR21oRzaelMgYqEmrOIb7DYQaH-KY=" onclick="window.open('http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01R7HaVS948tUEZuQakveSNQ==&c=5tNYuh-KawOEIKPR21oRzaelMgYqEmrOIb7DYQaH-KY=', '', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=0,width=500,height=300'); return false;" title="Reveal this e-mail address">...</a>@yahoo.com
which shows up as you see it at all my songs since somewhere in 2009.

(I didn't write all that code. The e-mail recaptcha code was a copy/paste gift from Carnegie-Mellon University, but they have since sold the project to Google, who will eventually own everything in the world, so it's now at http://www.google.com/recaptcha/mailhide/
Still free - type in your e-mail address, and they give you the code to copy/paste.)

Flash! Let Google buy the US Government! We'll be out of debt forever, and have no less privacy than we have now! (i. e., none.  :\'(  )

Can't forget the "Fiddlegirl and Tommy Turtle" copyright and captcha:

Type fg (enter) =

&#169 2011 <a href="http://www.amiright.com/parody/authors/fiddlegirl.shtml">Fiddlegirl</a> and <a href="http://www.amiright.com/parody/authors/tommyturtle.shtml">Tommy Turtle</a>. All rights reserved. E-mail: tomm<a href="http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01R7HaVS948tUEZuQakveSNQ==&c=5tNYuh-KawOEIKPR21oRzaelMgYqEmrOIb7DYQaH-KY=" onclick="window.open('http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01R7HaVS948tUEZuQakveSNQ==&c=5tNYuh-KawOEIKPR21oRzaelMgYqEmrOIb7DYQaH-KY=', '', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=0,width=500,height=300'); return false;" title="Reveal this e-mail address">...</a>@yahoo.com

For this forum, quoting and replying to one section at a a time is easier for me to just hit "Reply with quote", then break up the quoted text as desired, using these "hotkeys" as needed. You can make up your own, of course.

q =
qw (next letter on the keyboard, lol) =

u =

"addr" types my complete name, address, city, state, ZIP, phone and fax #s for e-mail. (The real one, so no examples. :wink:)

And of course, the most important of all:
Since we've graciously been allowed the single exception of using line-break tags in parody comments and replies to comments, whihch makes them way neater and avoids the dreaded "wall of text" look (and I can hardly think of a malicous use of line-breaks anyway),

b = <BR>

The whole program is less than 1 MB, and installs in a few seconds. Then you can play with making up your own "hotstrings", as they call them, and can edit or delete any you like.

I hope this isn't regarded as a spam post, because the product is truly free, no strings attached, and has been vetted by numerous anti-virus and anti-spyware programs as being "clean".  I have no personal or financial connection to the program or its developer.

DISCLAIMER: Since I did not write the program, can't control it or any changes to it, and the same with the download site, I can't give any guarantees, or accept any liability for any consequences of your use of it. If you don't agree to those terms, don't take the recommendation.

But I've been using it for several years. Feedback welcome here as to whether this post was worthwhile.
(I hesitate to volunteer to help, but ... the "help" page listed in the right-click menu doesn't exist any more... time permitting, 'k? - it's really easy.)

Download: http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/LH-Texter.shtml

Portable version for USB flash drive, plug into any Windows machine and go (doesn't affect the host machine):
http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/texter_portable

Fantastic find for the flipperly-abled.  8)
Those who've read my political parodies know that I don't support the philosophy of "share the wealth", but I *definitely* support the philosphy of "share the freebies".
Knowledge and love are two things you can share and give endlessly, without having any less for yourself.

Knowledge and love to everybody! - TT.