07.01.2006

(off-site links open in new windows)

Don says:

I've discovered the real difference between slick Linux distros like Fedora, Kubuntu, Mandriva, PCLinuxOS, OpenSuse, Ubuntu, VectorLinux, or Xubuntu (etc.) and older distros like Debian, Gentoo, or Slackware (etc.).

The newer distros go to great lengths to simplify and automate the installation so most computers are good-to-go as soon as the installation process is completed.   They try real hard to make it easy to find and adjust the little personal touches that are so important to most users.

With Debian, the completion of the installation is but the beginning of the process and I suspect the same is true with most of the original "core" Linux distributions.   Counting the instances where I made errors that forced me to do the whole thing over, I've done seven Debian, 3.1, stable, net installations so far and that makes seven times that the monitor resolution required some tweaking, seven times the system had no sound once the install was completed, and seven times I've had to tweak all sorts of little user accessible but hard to find variables to make me happy and comfortable with the sytem's look and feel.

In the process, I've learned a great deal about Linux and have become far more comfortable with the GUI and scripts to help you fix or tweak the things you're most likely going to want fixed or tweaked.   It's hard to find such tools for Debian simply because there's no comprehensive source of literature and/or tutorials.   A carefully worded google search can find the answer to just about any question you may have but, when a slight change in the wording of your query can produce entirely different results, that's an "iffy" sort of thing at best.   Still, having looked at a large number of Linux distributions over the last several weeks I'm completely sold on Debian.   My high-flying confidence may come down around my ears when I try to set up a printer, scanner, or retreive photos from Lisa's camera, all of which tasks were quietly, flawlessly accomplished by Lisa's PCLinuxOS system, but until then I'll remain an avid Debian fan.

Not long ago I found a website where you can make your own church sign and listed it in our ezine.   While I was visiting the website, I couldn't resist the opportunity to make a sign of my own.   I meant to post a copy here in our personal news pages but somehow never got around to it.   I found the image yesterday when I was doing some updating and error-correcting and was reminded that I hadn't posted it, so here you go.   Enjoy.

Lisa says:

My mother, Sue Miller, doesn't have a computer *yet* but she does like to go to the library and look at our website. Lookie, mom, now you're a world-famous personality! Here are pictures of us together, with a time-span of 47 years in-between. You'd think one's appearance would change a lot but it really doesn't, does it?  I've found that people don't change all that much, either.  I'd love to get all philosophical and stuff but that's really not my style.  What I'd really like to say is, "Remember sunsuits, and those cool little matching hats?"  I think I remember this one was yellow, I'll have to ask her.  Man, you can tell I'm almost 50, I'm getting nostalgic...

 
Mom & Me 1957                         Mom & Me 2004

For those of you who love windmills, this turned out to be a nice shot of the windmill at the Historical Bluffton Store in Bluffton, TX.  As you well know by now, Texas skies knock me out and make even an amateur photographer feel good.  Wherever you are, beauty is there, waiting to be noticed.

Windmill at the Historical Bluffton Store, TX.