Valerie

Freemind

Want something to help you get down all those great ideas instead of randomly writing it down a scratch of paper? Then go ahead and give Freemind a try. This is an excellent software to use if you want to get all your ideas down since it helps you to map out your thoughts and organize them for better access. Back in school, one of the most basic things that teachers taught us when getting ideas down is to put them on a layout or structure. Seeing the visual layout often helps plenty of people. If you think this can help you, then Freemind is a software that is right your alley.

Sundayers: Cógelo!

A spring roll of rock, jazz, funk, and ska with a Latin twist. Sundayers (because they were avid weekend trippers) is a jazz, fusion and ska Latin band that is not ashamed of enticing its listeners to dance like mad on the dancefloor even if they have two left feet. Cógelo! is the band's full album release and contains 11 explosive tracks that can convince almost anyone to dance. Their music is culled from a wide array of influences, with hints of reggae, rock, jazz, ska present and mixed with the unmistakable Latin beat. It's the perfect soundtrack to a great weekend trip to the beach or a night beach side party with friends.

Gekkeiju Online

Can't get enough of MMORPG games? Then here's another one you can sink your teeth into, Gekkeiju Online. This game is absolutely free so you can go ahead and waste plenty of time playing with other gamers online. Before going for the dive though, it would be helpful to know that the game is not exactly considered by its makers as MMO. Unlike most commercial online RPGs that are fully finished once it is released, Gekkeiju is still a work in progress. The game is constantly updated and treated as an "independent project" by its makers. Like most rpg games, there are several characters you can choose from, nine to be exact. Each of these will have their pros and cons so it's up to you to make your character work for you.

Secret Ocean: Kokoro No Furyoku

Dreamy acoustic folk pop in a Japanese wrapping. Secret Ocean is Hiroumi Takatsuka on vocals and he creates laid back acoustic indie folk rock. Kokoro No Furyoku is the Japanese singer songwriter's latest release and is filled with 11 acoustic driven songs. Seven cuts from the album is available for free download on Jamendo, but if you want all 11 tracks, feel free to help out the singer and buy the album at CD Baby or Amazon. Although he cites influences from U2, Coldplay and Del Amitri, they are not really as pronounced on the release where Hiroumi's prominent sweet vocals takes center stage.

Metal Gear Solid: Philanthropy – a fan film for MGS lovers

Solid Snake finally gets some face time on the big screen. Okay, so this might not exactly be "the" Metal Gear movie that everyone is dying to see, but for a fan made film, this one certainly hits all the right notes. Metal Gear Solid: Philanthropy is a low budget film created by a group of young Italian students and filmmakers. They dub themselves as the Hive Division and the group took on a massive undertaking by adapting Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid videogame into a full blown 70-minute film. For a film with no budget, the effects are awesome and for a split second it will even make you wonder whether it's necessary to have a Hollywood version at all.

Charts and Maps – Enemies of C. Frias

Indie jazz rock band conquers music lovers with a solid indie math rock offering. Charts and Maps offers one of a kind instrumental music that takes you back to the 60s, as it reverberates with beautiful guitar work and a jazzy rock feel. Enemies of C. Frias is the bands 4 song EP and from the sound of it, it seems to be a very promising take on what they have to offer. Enemies of C. Frias was mixed and recorded with the help of Chris Schlarb, member of jazz rock duo I Heart Lung; this demo is a mix of math rock and indie jazz but for those who hate labels, it's otherwise called great music. Take a listen.

TrueCrypt – freeware encryption program

When it comes to storing sensitive files on your hard drive, it's a great idea to make sure that it is protected. Freeware is the ultimate freeware encryption program that you can download for free to help protect your data. The software contains 11 algorithms to help protect your private files and ensure that they are safe. TrueCrypt creates encrypted volumes including 256-bit AES and 448 bit Blowfish. Truecrypt is also great when it comes to protecting your data on mobile devices. It can work on security tokens as well as smart cards as well.

Brian Lee and His Orchestra Vol II – Let Yourself Be Happy

Soulful indie rock music that can do wonders for you on a bad day. Brian Lee and His Orchestra is a three piece unit that creates sweet and relaxing indie pop music that washes away a bad day like salt after a heavy snowfall. With slightly gruff vocals and a smooth acoustic/electronic instrument work, Let Yourself Be Happy is a solid compilation that wins over the admiration of regular or new fans alike. Along with that traditional Nashville sound, great recording quality and obviously high quality production and promotion, Brian Lee and His Orchestra definitely has what it takes to impress listeners with their brand of indie folk rock.

FlightGear – free flight simulator software/game

FlightGear Flight Simulator or simply Flightgear is an amazing flight simulator that you can use if you want to know how to fly an aircraft. Even though it's tagged as a game, it's actually a program that doesn't contain any gameplay strategies. It's purely a flight simulator that will help you become familiar with flying almost any type of aircraft. The software runs on almost all types of platforms including Linux, Mac, BSDUNIX, Sun-OS and of course , Windows. It's the perfect software to relax to if you're tired of rolling in the ground and running for your life while playing various video games. FlightGear contains plenty of options when it comes to aircraft choice and more are still being developed.