Free Image Editor. And Its Legal. No License Fees

I know what you are thinking. You can't be serious? Oh but I am. For nearly three years I have been using a little known program called The Gimp. It stands for the Graphical Image Manipulation Program. Now, before we get into a flamewar between PhotoShop and The Gimp, let me first say I'm not writing this for the benefit of professional graphic designers. I'm writing this for the average home user who has no idea that there is software as cool as this that is just as good for home use as PhotoShop.

But I'm not going to just tell you about it. I'll show you. Here is a collection of screenshots. And if you would like to download it and try it out, no licensing fees, ever! (That means it is Free)

Here are a few examples of what I have done with The Gimp:

Random Fortunes!

Your Fortune Is

Support bacteria -- it's the only culture some people have!

The Wacky Fortune Cookie Generator

Goodbye Ubuntu - openSuSe has bested You

Its been a good ride. Ubuntu did well freeing me from Mandriva. I have spent a lot of time searching and trying to find a distribution that worked for me. Mandriva 2007, Slackware, Arch Linux, Freevo, SuSe 10.1 ect...

With the advent of SuSe 10.1 I was very impressed. It did everything I wanted and so much easier than Ubuntu. However, the wireless module could not keep a connection to save it's life. Fast forward six months. SuSe 10.2 is now out. I'm still impressed, and I'm keeping a good wireless connection.

Whats my reason for switching? Well, its quite simple. I have spent a lot of time dilly dallying trying to get a lot of stuff to work properly in Ubuntu. I am of the opinion that in order for a distribution to be for the masses that all system configuration must be able to be done through a graphical interface. Ubuntu still has quite a ways to go in that arena. Don't get me wrong here. I love the command line. I'm just tired of fiddling with system configuration. Its time to get down and get some work done.

The Microsoft/Novell deal does have me a bit on edge. I'm not happy about it. That is the one thing that would keep me away from openSuse. However, openSuse has really made some great headway on the Linux desktop. A few tweaks here and there and I'm browsing the web looking at flash videos, listening to my music collection, and listening to realplayer media streams. They were easy tweaks by the way.

So Ubuntu, it has been fun. I learned more about Debian from you than I ever learned from Debian. I already knew the command line before I got to you so I felt quite comfortable with you. But it is time for me to buckle down and get to work now. So I say, Adieu, for now.

Dr. Haws - The English Major Engineer

Now I don't normally make fun of my professors, but this liberal has it coming. This is the only professor I have had that is not only an Engineer but also and English Major. This is a deadly combination. Not only are we combining a pompous English professor but also an uber bright Engineer. Combining English and Math into one uncontrollable liberal is a bit over edge for me.

I just got my final paper back from this man. The first page is covered in scribbles. it looks as if he needed something to color on. "Too Wordy" he says. Well, I know that there are a lot of words, thats what an essay is. Now, if I could read the rest of his chicken scratch, I might agree with what he has to say. I did bring up some good points on the subject of Open Source software and how it can benefit us. I also pointed out that Boise State University uses Windows for their servers and for their mail. I only used this example to help him understand how unreliable it can be. The Boise State webmail was down for nearly a week this semester. Next to this paragraph is more illegible chicken scratch.

Overall, I didn't do too bad on the paper. 35/40. But I'm finished with English classes, thank you. I have put up with enough English professors to last a lifetime. So, yet again. i bid farewell to another liberal English professor and hope that I have no more to come.

Name Our Baby

If you did not notice the large poll off to the right at the top of this page then you should seriously look into getting some vision enhancement of some kind.

It is simple. We would like some input into what we are going to name "mini me". I would call it "mini she" but we know its a boy.
So vote, vote, vote away,
you can vote once per day!

Letterman's Farewell to Mr. Gates

I saw this sweet video of Letterman's goodbye to Mr. Gates and I could not help myself. This is quite funny.

Don't Fight It, You Know You Want It!

The 25th Army Band goes to Lewiston, ID every year. This year was especially good. Not because the dance was fun. It really wasn't. Not many people danced and there was really not a great turnout in the first place. But the greatest part of the trip was me growing closer to the leadership of the band. Don't fight it sir, you know you want it.

Our First Sergeant decided to let me sit on his lap. That was kind of fun. It felt like I was visiting Santa Claus. The great thing was that everyone decided to pull out the cameras and First Sergeant Flaherty was all cool about posing for those pictures. He even has that nice leather jacket. Of course if I had not been carrying around a cup full of water, I would have never had the confidence needed to sit there.

Next came Mr. Durfee. In the middle of a concert band rehearsal Mr. Durfee decided to lie down and take a quick nap. Either that or he was doing a silent protest about the way we sounded. Anyways, I just so happened to be sitting up front when he lay down. He put his hands up under his head and that little area under his arm looked so inviting. Don't let this picture fool you, he had his arm around me before he realized that the camera phones were out! Thats when he tried to jump up. Too late sir, Sterner already got the evidence against you. Better luck next time.

So even though the dance was a drag and the ride was long and curvaceous, we still got some good times in.