The Ultimate Computer Stress Relief Tool

By Arlene F. Harder, MA, MFT

When your computer is giving you fits, have you ever considered the possibility that it's only because your computer is overwhelmed by all the pressure you've been putting it through? While you may want to scream and throw things and generally let off steam, so does your computer. Well, folks, finally there is an absolutely fabulous outlet for all that frustration.

Just go to the Most Favorite Programs page on the website of Gemtree Software, a company from Czechoslovakia, and download this unique freeware program. The icon next to it looks like that machine gun at the left and the program is called "Desktop Games (also known as Stress Reducer or Stress Relief)".

Once it's on your computer, you can use a hammer to crack your Windows desktop computer screen. Or you might want to select a chain saw to cut the monitor, a machine gun to shoot it, a flame-thrower to burn it, a color-thrower to squirt colored blobs on it, a phaser to zap it, and a stamp to stamp it. You can also let lose termites and then use a tool to kill the little buggers, but you'll need the washing tool to clean up the mess when you're done.

To use this freeware after it's downloaded, I recommend you first turn on your sound, though not all the way, because the sound effects are delightfully realistic. Then select the application in whatever folder you've saved it in. When the game window comes up on your screen, you start the game by pressing any key. The first tool to come up will be the hammer, unless you choose another of the F1 to F9 keys. These allow you to select the tools you want to use. (I personally love the termites, key F8, and after depositing them all over the screen, clicking with the mouse to drop them wherever I want, I choose each of the tools and become a very focused exterminator!)

When you're feeling better, hit the Esc key twice, which allows you to quit and go back to whatever boring stuff you were doing before you felt the need for some relief. I'll bet you'll feel a lot better—and so will your computer.

As you will see when you visit the gemtree site, this is only one of one-hundred-and-thirty-four freeware programs created with "Peter" software. Fortunately, most of them can be distributed and used freely. So you don't pay a penny for this stress buster or other fun games for you—and your computer.

If your hard drive doesn't have a lot of space, you naturally may not want to download all of them (this particular one uses just 1,253 KB). If you try another of their programs and want to tell us about it, please do. We're always looking for new ideas and haven't had time to try out all their freeware.

Please Note: If this great diversion doesn't open when you first go there, they're just down for a few repairs, which happens periodically. Try again 'cause this isn't to be missed.