The Herald: August 2006 Edition

[The Herald]

Through thrills and spills, we've banded together and survived the month. It's been tough on us all with people leaving, illnesses striking the unaware and holidays all around. Despite the odds, we've pulled the magazine together and it is now here for your viewing pleasure.

A big, big thank you needs to go to Whit and the rest of the team for pulling together in my absence. The product of their hard work is here for you to enjoy.

Have a good month, everyone!

[The Herald]

July was another very busy month for us and August looks set to be the same. The purpose of this article is to really keep you updated on what has been happening and what you will see around the forums in the coming weeks.

Staff

Crazy J has stepped down from his position as JS Mod. Over the past few months that he has been with us, he’s been very busy handling the workload of that large area. We wish him the best of luck for the future.

Interview Mod, Visigoth, is no longer with us. No, I have not murdered him. Due to quite a great deal of inactivity, we really had no choice but to remove him. However, all is not lost in the interview area. I’ll tell you about that in a moment.

Whitney now heads up the Literature board; look out for some exciting things happening in there soon.

LPF has just recently been added as a Battle Board Moderator, he will run that area alongside Josh. I think a lot of people will agree that his position in there is very well deserved after all the effort he has put in over such a long time.

Interview for Gold

I came up with that name at the last minute, but I think it works. It is a little bit misleading because gold is expensive and I can’t be bothered to do any plated jewelry, so a golden coloured signature will have to do. We will appoint a moderator for that area in the future. However, at the moment we have left it up to you. You have the opportunity to go and interview whomever you like and have it posted up in the main board. For the best interviewers we shall give signatures to. If you need some inspiration, have a look at our past interviews. Everyone can take part, even if you drive a tractor or eat cement.

Results of the Coding Survey

We held a coding survey in July. I think that these things can be quite useful tools. The members are the main people that use the area, so it is important that we know what they are thinking, without having to read their minds.

- On the whole, the service given by staff was adequate.
- Many asked about some form of contest or battle part to the area. This is to be worked on and implemented soon.
- Old sticky threads are to be re-posted and made clearer and consistent.
- We are looking at ways to increase code submissions.

Version 6

And finally the interesting bit, or so you hoped. Ryan nabbed me earlier in the week and I have given some sort of outline about version 6 and when you can expect it to be released. Read further into the Herald to find the information. I can assure you though it’s on the way.

That’s all for now, enjoy this edition with cream.

Oliver.

[The Herald]

SSD has, to date, seen five different versions in the last three and a half years of its existence. While some members are new to the community, those members who have been here for even just a short amount of time can easily tell you their favorite version. While many will tell you their favorite version is the famous grey and orange SolidSnake Designs Version 3: Severence layout, other prefer the subtle green and white version five, metallic blue version two, or the dark grey and blue, code-intensive version four.

However, in a short amount of time, SolidSnake Designs will enter a new era; a new era marked by not only a new skin but an entirely new idea sure to change the way ProBoards templates are created. Now, after much probing and deal making (one including sending my shoes to Oliver via Fed-Ex), I present the first look at SolidSnake Designs Version Six from none other than forum administrator Oliver himself.

Ryan: Thanks for agreeing (finally) to this sneak peek of version six, Oliver. Now, after version five, when did you start planning for version six and what were some of the original thoughts and plans for it?
Oliver: Well, version six has been through many different phases. The first was in March of 2005; Alan and Peter showed me what they had been working on: it looked good, and different, as usual. I believe many of you saw the header for that. I didn't really have a say in planning for it at that point, as at the time I was more sort of the day-to-day manager of the forums. However, once they left SSD for good, I had to reform my team and get a good balance of coders and artists for our future. Summer last year was the first proper planning when Lans Tartare got in touch with us and we started getting a few ideas gown.

For those who don't know, the preview of the header for version six reminded many people of the version two, metallic-esque layout. Anyways, what happened after Lans came aboard?
We soon noticed that Lans wasn't around anymore. So, by that stage, we had a pretty plain looking purple forum layout; I designed a few things for it, then UC came in with ideas for something else. We then decided that it wasn't suitable for a forum like SSD, so we moved onto what has been on and off since about last November, and that design is what you will see as the finished version six.

How far would you say the development team has progressed with the final layout?
The coding for the main layout is being done at the moment. We know what we want to do with the coding.

So one could safely assume that most of the graphical work is completed?
Yes, mostly I am currently working on making the smilies.

Will there be the return of member favorites such as the top-hat smiley or the rock-out smiley, but updated to version six standards? If not, there's a suggestion.
I have thought about doing those, but I haven't decided if I'll do some extra smilies yet.

Good to hear. When version five was released, so many members did not like the new look because it broke from the tried-and-true grey and (insert color here) scheme. Do you think people will react to this one like they did versions three and four, or react the same way as when version five released?
I don't know if it was actually to do with the color scheme; I think it was the fact that it was simpler and different than what people were used to. There was a mixed response to version four, too. I think as time goes on, people become a little more picky, and because standards have changed since version five was released, we aim to once again set some new ones. I think there will be a mixed response to it, mainly because it is different from what you have had for all this time.

When version six was being planned, was your goal (as the development team) to keep to a simple, clean interface, or try to wow the target audience with both impressive coding and graphics? Or, were both of these concepts placed on the back burner to a different pursuit, such as innovation?
Features are what we are really aiming for this time around. There are some very nicely designed forums out there; however, I think some lack in other areas such as the content, which is something we really wanted to focus on.

If you had to name one thing that would sell and separate this version from the rest, what would it be?
You shall have to make up your own mind about that.

Alright, fair enough. Now, for the question everyone has been waiting for: when will we see version six released?
August would be my best estimate, maybe early September.

I'm sure many members will be happy about that.

---

Thank you Oliver for participating in the interview.

[The Herald]

I do like to give a little bit of recognition for hard work and participation on the forums. I think this award is very deserving for nest! Before he went away camping, I saw quality feedback given in Show Off, creating discussions in Visual Arts, but most importantly maintaining a pleasant and positive attitude towards the community.

Congratulations to nest!



Decayed by Ovi is one of those templates that you just have to gasp at. Not only is it beautiful but it is definitely not the "norm" either. If you're fed up with techy/grunge/dark/simplistic skins then this one is for you!

With an interesting use of colour and an almost decaying look, Ovi has done a superb job on this skin. The banner is simple but well designed, reminding me almost of our very own SSD v5, and the menu is certainly unique.

While it is not a complete template, it certainly doesn't matter in this case as the design more than makes up for it. It wouldn't be difficult to find matching items to finish the look anyway: grey, white, or green items can be used to complete your forum which gives you three times the chance of finding some thing to match.

"Decayed" is definitely one to check out.



You'll realize that this list is a bit short this time around, and I apologize if you're not on it. Next time, be more on the look out for the birthday thread.

August 13^th - Bill
August 27^th - Lucifer
August 30^th - Andrew33

Happy birthday!



Avatar of the Month: Whitney!


This is cute, adorable, and girly, which is 1 of 2 reasons why I chose it as the AotM. The picture is perfectly clear, the bunny is the "object" that pulls you in, and you just can't help but stop and stare. The border isn't too much, it's just right. Congrats Whit.

Signature of the Month: LPF!


Yet again, elpeef has managed to weasel his way into SotM. This one is breathtaking. The border doesn't go all the way around, and I consider that a good look. The colors are just right, and the stock image is perfectly blended and centered. The varieties of brightness and darkness aren't too bad; an all around great sig. Congrats, yet again, Mr. Elpeef.



Concerning Your Self-Destruction
Break away, this self destruction
Rid yourself, these thoughts don’t mind
Heal these wounds, they don’t belong here
Fly away, leave your memories behind

Kill the silence, it stands alone
Breathing lonesome, it’s killing time
Feel the warmth, just lift one eye
This mutilation, it’s a bad alibi


Cover your feign trendy scars
I won’t pity you
Your life is not as bad (as you make it up to be)
Look at others
They have it worse than you
Get up off the floor (some did like what you used to be)


See my eyes, they don’t see you
Behind dark shades, I just can’t find
What you are, or why you are
Someone, who thinks they’re fine

You can’t take back, what you’ve done to me
Changed everything of what I used to be
I fell for you, but you showed no care
This pain inside, it’s not all too rare


Life goes on
Don’t care what others say
You are worth it (don’t sit and waste away)
Dry your eyes and
Concentrate on what’s not bad
That’s not the way to kill your time (your life is not to pay)


"Concerning Your Self-Destruction", written by Mitch!.

This is one of those pieces that you print out, hang on your wall, and look at as you sleep, hoping for a dream as inspired as this masterpiece. An excellent piece of poetry, this tackles the number one problem for young writers: writing about society, but without sounding angsty. It shows how our society glorifies suffering, making martyrs of every teenager. It tells us to knock it the hell off.

However, like all literature, it has its faults. For example "rid yourself, these thoughts don't mind." could be considered a fault, as it defies understanding. However, I view that as an asset, when correctly used (as this was: far and in between), as it makes the reader ponder all possible meanings of it, and possibly create one the author never thought of.

In my experience, poetry is the finest art available, as it serves one major purpose that very few things do these days: it is a catalyst to thought.

Mitch! wrote this poem in such a fashion that it is not frustratingly obscure, but instead hints at a wider knowledge to be gained from it.

Excellent job, Mitch!. Congratulations.



Sound and Light Show by Firequall

I look at this photo and think, "Good grief, what a sight... I wish I could have been there!" And that's something that every excellent photo should do! This photo has so much potential to be perfect; it's only a nose away from being so. The spire and left hand edges of the building look fairly uncomfortable in the shot, although... I really don't care... such an amazing sight!

Well done, Firequall!



"I used to feel quite tall when I was younger, but I seemed to have dropped back a bit."

"Thats 'cause old people just keep getting shorter, and shorter.

You should see my Great Grandma, 142, still kicking, but shes three feet six inches tall. No, she wasn't short, she was one of those lumber-jack ladies, tall as a mountain pine she was.

Lovely old lady though. It's great to go over her house to have some tea and crumpets."
- Oliver & Ryan.gimli

"From this day forth, I dub thee Lucy."
- Mastermind (referring to Lucifer)

"Then again, you called my writing style unique/original."

"People say I also have a unique writing style. Though, I believe that is because of my infamous way of ruining a sentence, garbling words, and just entirely destroying a whole thought without trying.

Unique can be a bad thing.

"
- Mastermind & Ryan.gimli

"Seeing as my name is really Mitchell, Mitch is one of my nicknames. Others are...

Mitchy
Mitchie
Mitchypoo
Gingersnap
Leprechaun
--------------------

Gingerbiscuits
« Last Edit: Today at 6:45am by Oliver »"
- Mitch (and Oliver)

"It's hard to consider a n00b like LPF a vet "
- Jello

"Are you sure you don't want a sex change?"

"Yeah, I saw how yours went and decided they weren't any good "
- Max & Morgoth

"It's not hard to work a bunch of hours when you're slacking off."
- Eric

"...and to think I was that close to a utopian SSD without Luke...

I mean, hey! Welcome back! =P"
- Bill

"Alright, I'm gonna avoid flaming the shit out of Matt here, but it might be hard."
- Josh

"I would call you a girl XD. though outside of Muslim Countries most of the people now wear earings soo I would call you dling dling boy XD."
- Nooki

"Kell meself.

If I knew I was 24 hours away from heaven, why wait 24 lousy hours on earth. =P"

"Isn't suicide a mortal sin? There's always the chance you won't get into heaven anyway though."

"Owned."
- Luke, The Baron, & Lucifer

"I Told You Ollie is a stripper."

"*In best Gollum voice*
I's hates you.

I'd like my brains back btw."
- Virtuoso & Josh



“If you have great talents, industry will improve them; if you have but moderate abilities, industry will supply their deficiency.”
- Sir Joshua Reynolds

“Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be.”
- Clementine Paddleford

“The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance - it is the illusion of knowledge.”
- Daniel J. Boorstin

“Dreams come true. Without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them.”
- John Updike

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.”
- John Lennon

“College football would be more interesting if the faculty played instead of the students - there would be a great increase in broken arms, legs and necks.”
- H.L. Mencken

“There's nothing to winning, really. That is, if you happen to be blessed with a keen eye, an agile mind, and no scruples whatsoever.”
- Alfred Hitchcock

“Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.”
- Franklin D. Roosevelt

“Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, rather than of means, that men fail to succeed.”
- Francois De La Rochefoucauld

“The building of a perfect body crowned by a perfect brain is at once the greatest earthly problem and grandest hope of the race.”
- Dio Lewis

“The best, most beautiful, and most perfect way that we have of expressing a sweet concord of mind to each other is by music.”
- Jonathan Edwards

“If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style.”
- Quentin Crisp



Not only does summer bring along school vacation, barbecues, pool parties, and sleeping in 'till noon, it also brings summer blockbusters with it. Over the past month, we have seen the success of Superman's return, women living in pools, tarot card serial killers, super powered ex-girlfriends, and monster houses, but only one movie - er, scratch that- sea dog could come out on top. Yes, land-lubbers, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is this months Movie of the Month. Note: Spoilers below.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest once again reunites us with Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), and of course, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp).

Dead Man's Chest kicks off with Elizabeth and Will's intended marriage which is quickly interrupted by two arrests. The charges? Associating and helping a certain Capt. Jack Sparrow escape, and are thus sentenced to execution. Soon, however, Turner is released on the condition that he will recover Sparrow's mystical compass for Lord Cutler Beckett (who secretly desires to have it help him find the Dead Man's Chest), that points in the direction of one's deepest desire. However, the plot quickly changes when Sparrow, who, when visited by Bill Turner, is informed of his debt to the legendary ruler of the seas, Davy Jones. The plot revolves around Jack Sparrow trying to evade his debt to the almighty lord of the sea and quite often, produces some funny and tense moments. The film sports numerous action scenes including ocean battles, encounters with deadly sea monsters, and plenty of Keith Richards-influnced behavior in Jack Sparrow's behavior.

Overall, the acting in the film is enough to get the job done. Depp perfectly portrays the careless, flamboyant, and often reckless behavior of Sparrow and Keira Knightley effectively is the "damsel in distress" for much of the movie, most notably at the end. Orlando Bloom's performance as Will Turner is good, but nothing exceptional or to rave about. However, Bill Nighy, deserves credit for striking gold with his depiction of the fearsome Davy Jones.

While Dead Man's Chest may be a long movie, clocking in at over two-and-a-half hours, there is no sense of dragging or dull action in the movie. The dialogue is well scripted and gets to the point, the plot is efficiently continued at a steady pace, and the action scenes deliver with help from beautiful special effects, an effectual soundtrack, and well-rendered CG imagery.

Die hard fans of the franchise will not be disappointed. The film is full of classic Pirates moments, while delivering a new, fresh experience that will keep your interest firmly rooted on the screen. In full Pirates fashion, the story develops and arises out of Sparrow's lack of regret for his actions and methods and in a way, drives home the moral that one should take responsibility for his or her actions in an entertaining way. The film ends with Sparrow apparently meeting his end at the hand of Jones and his sea creature Kraken (along with some deception from Elizabeth Swann) and leaves endless possibilities for the third film, including an attempt to save Sparrow from his grisly fate by traveling to world's end and the return of the presumed-dead Captain Barbossa, leaving much room for speculation and theorizing.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest earns a four stars out of five.

[The Herald]

This month, I will be reviewing the play Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Originally published in 1938, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Our Town is a play in three acts which focuses on life, death, and everything in between. However, what makes the play stick out is its perspective of time. The book follows the lives of Emily Webb and George Gibbs from childhood, to marriage, and, eventually, death.

Excuse the library paraphernalia.

The play's first act gives a quick background and perspective of their small town, Grover's Corners (a fictional town in New Hampshire), supplying just enough information so that the audience can identify and relate to the characters. The second act focuses on George and Emily's life after marriage and how the town has changed with the times. Finally, the third act focuses on the death of a major character and drives home many morals about appreciating life, being grateful for who and what you have, and that life is precious and thus, should not be taken for granted, even as something as simple as leaves on a tree.

The writing style of Our Town is unique. Unlike many plays, where the back story is often revealed by gossiping minor characters or large, dramatic scenes, much of the story is divulged by the Stage Manager, a simple character who narrates the story, as if recounting an old tale of his life to his kids. While the lack of minor characters and comedic relief may seem odd at first, the use of the Stage Manager is successful for getting the smaller details through while helping emphasize the larger plot details, much like the use of photograph projectors in The Glass Menagerie.

Another unique quality of the play is the lack of focus on props, backgrounds, and sets. The only props used in the play are often things such as tables, ladders, and chairs, while lacking backdrops, heavy lighting, and detailed scenery, mainly because they are hard to mime. Instead, the focus is placed on breaking down the barrier between the audience and actor, often times called the "fourth wall" of the stage. This "barrier" is broken by higher emphasis on character interaction and the worth of small town charm, innocence, and pleasures in life.

Our Town is an unconventional work, but by no means does it mean that it is lacking in any way. Full of small town charm and deep feeling, Our Town successfully impacts the reader in a positive way, making him or her appreciate life a little bit more. Whether it is on your summer reading list or just a play you would like to read, I strongly suggest picking it up because of the simple, even whimsical at times, charm that emanates from every page. Our Town gets four and a half starts out of five.

[The Herald]

A lot of the bands today are composed of a bunch of figureheads with pretty voices, saying whatever their manager or songwriter tells them to say. So, to me at least, it's a relief to listen to a local band, who haven't gotten caught up in the corporate side of the music industry-- yet. So when I was a technical assistant for our local talent fair, and came in contact with the Voodoo Ragdollz, I jumped at the chance to help them out. I joined on as their tech advisor, helping them make a website and maintain an up-to-date web presence. I got a few perks as well- a free copy of their current released CD, and a copy of their in development CD.

This review will focus on the sole CD they've released to the public so far, "Punk Rock, Bitch!" The band focuses primarily on punk rock, with a flair of originality. They're a fresh taste on the music scene, one that's sorely needed.

Punk Rock, Bitch! starts out with a song called "Mista Mike Jones." Mista Mike Jones is a great song, as are Break Your Bonez and Tequila Rose, but the second track is my personal favorite. It's called "Million Dolla Song," and is about a band that's made it to the big time off a million dollar song. It sounds a bit like Beverly Hills, in my opinion, but still maintains its originality.

With this band, originality is a large theme, and that plays true through their music.

Just for all you loyal Herald readers, I've got a link for you of Million Dolla Song. Click here to get it. Perfectly legit. I promise.



October 3, 2006. Find that day on your calendar and write “Saturday Night Wrist”, for that is the title and release date of the newest album from the Deftones. It’s like Christmas in October!

Chino Moreno, Abe Cunningham, Chi Cheng, Frank Delgado and Stephen Carpenter have always managed to hover above the crowd of 90’s and turn of the century metal, untouchable. I can’t seem to pinpoint any one member or quality that makes them so unique. That leads me to believe it is a combination of all five members contributing their all, and production capturing it perfectly. Although, I still hold aside a warm little corner of my heart for Chino’s voice. Something about the way he vocalizes his intelligent and cutting lyrics makes my spine tingle.

The group met in high school in Sacramento, California. Skateboarders themselves, their sound caught the attention of the skate scene. Of the original members, only the bass player changed before production on their first big release in 1995, “Adrenaline”. The album made a relatively small but positive splash in the mainstream music world. Around this time, the term “nu-metal” arose, lumping together emerging bands like Korn and the Deftones. Ironically, the misguided and inaccurate label was the push the band needed to branch out experimentally, and therefore stand out from the crowd.

I admit I didn’t jump on board until “Around the Fur”, their 1997 release. The first track, “My Own Summer (Shove it)” still evokes a barrage of awesome memories for me. “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)” also became a big hit. By 2000, when “White Pony” was released, the Deftones had a solid and loyal fan base.

“White Pony” is shocking proof of talent, soulful lyrics and vocals working in perfect sync with superb musicianship. The album sealed their place as a sound all their own, incomparable.

And yet, the group was not discouraged to create a self-titled, more traditionally metal album in 2003. This fourth studio release was guitarist Stephen Carpenter’s time to shine since he was the main engine behind this particular project.

I suppose "B-sides and Rarities” was enough to hold us fans over for the past year, but I’m getting a little antsy. “Saturday Night Wrist” is in the works and set for an October 3rd release. Can I wait until then? I guess I have to, but I won’t do it patiently.

[The Herald]

William Randolph Hearst is the founder of the Hearst Corporation and is considered by many a very dominating figure in 20th century communications. He is also viewed as one of the leading figures of the Spanish-American War. His greatest accomplishment, however, is the way he changed how people throughout the world view their media.

William was born on April 29, 1863 to George Hearst, a multi-millionaire miner, and Phoebe Hearst, a Missouri school teacher. George made his fortune in mining, becoming one of the largest partners in some of the largest mining operations in American history: the Comstock Lode, Homestake Mine in South Dakota, and the Anaconda Mine in Montana.

The Hearst legacy in print media began in 1880, when, as a way to repay a gambling debt, George Hearst accepted a very small newspaper called the San Francisco Examiner. At this point in time, George was a United States Senator and had very little interest in the newspaper. William, who was a student at Harvard University, wrote a letter to his father demanding to take over the newspaper. His father replied to William, telling him he would rather he take control over the mining operations, but William refused, and on March 7, 1887, he became owner of the Examiner. The paper was nicknamed “The Monarch of the Dailies”, with William using the best equipment and writers, his stories focusing on corruption and filled with drama and inspiration.

William bought The Morning Journal in 1895, entering a head-to-head circulation war with his former mentor, Joseph Pulitzer, who, at the time, owned the New York World. To gain more readers, both of the papers began writing heavily about the Cuban Insurrection. Both William and Pulitzer exaggerated greatly on these stories, as well as using pictures of Spanish troops placing Cubans into camps where they often died from disease and hunger.

The term “yellow journalism” came from a comic strip that appeared in the Journal called “The Yellow Kid”, which described both the writing of Hearst and Pulitzer. The American public purchased more and more newspapers as the stories in them began to become more sensationalized, holding more drama than the actual situation did.

Hearst had many nicknames, the most prominent one being “The Father of Yellow Journalism”. He received this name because of a series of articles he published that blamed Spain for the sinking of the Maine, a U.S. battleship. These articles pushed many Americans to war with Spain.

To get rid of his competition (mainly Pulitzer), Hearst hired writers from Pulitzer’s papers and offered them more money. He also hired many extraordinary writers, including Ambrose Bierce, Mark Twain, Richard Harding Davis, and Stephen Crane, author of The Red Badge of Courage.

Taking a break from covering the war, Hearst took his honeymoon in 1903 to Europe with his wife, Millicent Wilson. During that time, he started a new magazine, Motor. The creation of that magazine led to an international operation known as Hearst Newspapers.

Today, the Hearst Corporation is one communications companies, working with nearly 20,000 employees. It currently runs the following newspapers and companies:

• Albany Times Union
  
• Beaumont Enterprise
  
• Edwardsville Intelligencer
  
• Houston Chronicle
  
• The Huron Daily Tribune
  
• Laredo Morning Times
  
• Midland Daily News
  
• Midland Reporter-Telegram
  
• Plainview Daily Herald
  
• San Antonio Express-News
  
• San Francisco Chronicle
  
• Seattle Post-Intelligencer
  
• White Directory Publishers, Inc.
  
• Associated Publishing Company

The Hearst Corporation also runs the following magazines:

• CosmoGIRL!
  
• Cosmopolitan
  
• Country Living
  
• Country Living GARDENER
  
• Esquire
  
• Good Housekeeping
  
• Harper's BAZAAR
  
• House Beautiful
  
• Marie Claire
  
• O, The Oprah Magazine
  
• Popular Mechanics
  
• Quick & Simple
  
• Redbook
  
• Seventeen
  
• SHOP Etc.
  
• SmartMoney
  
• TEEN
  
• Town & Country
  
• Town & Country TRAVEL
  
• Veranda
  
• Weekend

While there is much, much more to William Randolph Hearst, this is where the article will end. I encourage you to read more about this man. His contributions to media and journalism as a whole, not just print of broadcast, are tremendous. While he was living, he may have been hated by many, but his talents in his particular field were amazing. Long live the Hearst Corporation!

Sources:
www.spanamwar.com/Hearst.htm
www.hearst.com/index.html

[The Herald]

Oh, fortunate me. After four years of no television, not even a handy set of rabbit ears to bring me the plentiful joys that network TV has to offer, I am now the proud borrower of basic cable. No, it isn't illegally borrowed, but my transitional apartment is hooked up, so its five months of free cable for me. With month one under my belt, I've discovered that the "idiot box" holds a few reservoirs of unexpected wisdom.


Reservoir One: "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"

The bitter sweet commentary on world leaders, war and Taepodongs is quite hilarious, but I can't help but notice Jon's dark undertone. He's silly one minute, but obviously aware of the sad truth behind the humor the next. The "reporters" in the field brazenly mock those with questionable morals and delusions of importance. All in all, the writing is intelligent, funny enough for everyone to get the joke, yet more than just a kernel of truth lies behind the humor.


Reservoir Two: "My Name is Earl" starring Jason Lee and Ethan Suplee, (two actors I adore)

While growing up in Pittsburgh, PA, going to high school with farm boys/juvenile delinquents has helped me relate to the show's characters, my belief in Karma has sealed my new found love for Earl's mission. I'm rooting for the bastard, an a**hole reborn. Not everyone is quick to forgive him. He really dug himself a deep Karmic hole, but he makes an honest effort to turn it around.


Reservoir Three: "Grey's Anatomy"

I know, I know. The show is uber-hyped and crawling with beautiful people, but I love it. Doctor/patient relationships can be touchy. A fragile balance must be kept. Mistakes are inevitable, and sometimes horrifically fatal. I couldn't imagine living with that responsibility day after day. The interns and residents are constantly evolving as people because of their chosen profession.


Each of these shows mirrors the real world, laughs at the real world and let's us know just how unpredictable and deranged the real world is. It's this frustrating unpredictability and lunacy that tests our individual strength.

Like with any addictive substance, television should be taken in moderation. One shouldn't get so wrapped up in imagined lives that real life takes a back seat. Too much TV will rot your brain, just like mama told you.

[The Herald]

My grandfather and I recently went to the hospital to pick up my grandmother and take her home. She had just finished up with her therapy after her back surgery and was ready to come home. When we did get home, my grandfather was getting her settled at the dining room table so she could read over all of the missed mail, and I picked up the latest copy of The Plain Dealer (July 15). I turned to the Metro section, and there was one article that caught my attention right away.

"Okay, let's just chill on ice cream trucks"

I wanted to read that because you never see anything about ice cream trucks in a newspaper, let alone anything bad about them. It looks like Cleveland City Council members have a few problems with the local ice cream trucks.

One of the people on the council wants background checks done on all Cleveland ice cream truck drivers. That is understandable. Another wants the music on the trucks to stop playing after 9 p.m. Some of them even went as far to say that the drivers are using their trucks to hand out and sell drugs.

Get real. It's an ice cream truck.

Another person brought up the fact that there were several misspellings on ice cream trucks, the more noticeable being the word "please." Come on, kids don't want to see the word please. "Pleez" appeals more.

Nobody else but the Cleveland City Council seems to have a problem with the trucks. They're doing a public service of sorts: giving kids a chance to buy cheap (usually) ice cream. How can that be wrong?

And I don't think "Pop Goes the Weasel" or any other song the ice cream truck plays is bothersome past 9 at night. Some would argue, though...

Sources and Additional Information
The Plain Dealer of Cleveland, Ohio
July 15, 2006
Metro, Section B
"Okay, let's just chill on ice cream trucks" by Michael K. McIntyre

[The Herald]

Hey everybody, ¤Mastermind¤ here. A while back, I started compiling a general code of ethics for computer geeks. I formed an ideology out of it, which I call Geekism. Because it has slightly socialist and anarchistic connotations, I named the code the Geekist Manifesto, and signed it Mark Raxl, an anagram for Karl Marx. Over the next few months, if I feel like it and have the time, I will submit editorials to the Herald that are simply excerpts from the Geekist Manifesto. The Geekist Manifesto is still a work in progress, keep in mind.

It is composed of two parts: General Background, and Specific codes of honour, in specific situations.

Enjoy.

---

Part I: General Background:
    Discourses upon the belief system that is Geekism.

PRELUDE:

Since its inception in the tech labs of MIT and the other pioneering environments of the twentieth century, the internet has been the home and playground of computer geeks everywhere. The rejects and outcasts of society have used this safe haven as their stomping grounds for decades. Geeks upkeep and maintain the internet, and every computer connected to the internet has been touched by a geek at least once in its lifetime. The geeks have become the wardens of the web, the guardians of the internet. The internet has grown, and it is now a world wide phenomenon, the likes of which has never been seen before, and likely will never be seen again. The sacred duty of the computer geek is to preserve the integrity of the internet, and to protect the usefulness of the web.


    The internet is ungoverned, and part of no nation. It is, in fact, an abstract nation all its own, as opposed to the secular nations that attempt to impose their laws on it. It is a country in anarchy, with no government, no borders, no monetary system, and no police. It is, in essence, a nation of thought. The only thing that matters is how people perceive you; how people perceive you depends on what you do; what you do depends on what you think. Thoughts reign supreme, and the air is ripe with change.

    However, as in all nations of the world, there is a difference of opinion on the internet. Flaming, trolling, scams, and viruses are common day elements, and it falls to the geeks to do something about this. When all computer users come together, not because they're forced to, but because it is right, the net will become Etopia. In Etopia, there is no flaming, no spamming, and no malware. It is the Nirvana of the internet. There is simply cooperation, coexistence, and an effort to live happily. Etopia is the utopian destiny of the internet. It is the job of the geeks to guide and prod the internet community in the direction of Etopia.

I call this Etopian dream, this belief in a better internet, and this hope for the geeks of the world Geekism.

Carpe Noctem.

--Mark Raxl

[The Herald]

Name: Ethan James 'Joliv' Oliver
Location: Republic of South Africa
Age: 16
Sex: Male
Occupation: Student
Your website (if any): N/A (Under Construction)

---

Hey, Ethan. Thanks for letting me do this interview. First of all, what brought you to SSD?
Hmm, deviantART. Strutting about in my usual manner, came across it in a member’s journal.

Do you actually remember which member it was?
No, it was rather late that night. Actually, I had been here before. I was very surprised to see it 'running' as usual.

Ah, I see. What made you join though? Do you have any special target in SSD, like most members?
Nope, I'm a socialite. 'Special targets' seem a bit ambitious or bold for me. I mainly prefer the just being me, no specific goals, like hanging out at Starbucks.

I've seen some of your works and I must say that they were pretty "advanced" stuff. So, how long have you been into digital art and which software do you use?
'Advanced', you flatter me - anyhow... about roughly 2 years. Photoshop has been my only playing ground since I started; I use nothing else.

Photoshop ftw. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Ftw? I'm a newbie remember.

"For the win." And you didn't answer my question. *angry face*
Humph. Anyhow, 10 years... that's a stretch... umm, yachting somewhere in the Caribbean.

Any weird facts about yourself? We SSD people like to taunt other members, so it's always useful to know something that we consider to be weird about the person that we are going to annoy the hell out of.
Weird fact... well, that puts me off of this question right here. -stomps- Right, I hate being referred to as Joliv or Ethy. Also, flower-boy, because I got a thing for flower's, everyone calls me flower-boy.

*memorizes* Ok, I will make sure that no one calls you by those three names. What are your hobbies other than your computer and the internet?
Yachting, Playstation 2 (naturally), and my iPod Nano... obsessed, I've even named it. Cooking, and picking holes in things.

I love picking holes in things as well. Ok, some random questions. Male or female?
Ridding the newb of the more complex questions, eh? Male.

Cricket or football?
Neither.

Living with Oliver or living in hell?
Living with Oliver.

Bad choice. Anyways, thanks for your time. It was a great interview. kthxbai
Bored already?

Yes, I smell mashed potato. Mmm...

[The Herald]

Anyone here who visits a therapist at least once a month (read: the dedicated members) has heard the mantra "Computers are no replacement for social interaction." False as that may be, it's relevant to this article. Why? Because who do we turn to for our 'social interactions'? Our friends!

nest!, as many of you may know, is my buddy, and my friend. In meatspace ('real' life, the thing you don't log into) I have a friend named Mike. Now, what makes Mike more of a friend than nest!? The fact that I've seen him? The fact that he lives near me? That's foolishness.

A friend's not a body, a location, or a voice. It's a soul. It's someone who you can laugh until you cry with, and who will make you laugh when you want to cry. A friend is someone who will do funny dances with you at a school dance, and laugh with you when people stare. A friend is someone who will plot to overthrow Oliver with you. A friend is someone who will go into a grocery store, and have a lightsaber battle with you until the police throw you out for disturbing the peace.

If life is a party, a friend is a shot. You can have a shot without a party, but you can't have a party without a shot.

But I digress. The point of this article is to celebrate International Friendship Day, which falls on the first Sunday in August. This year, we celebrate on the fifth. What's Friendship Day? It's a day to commemorate and appreciate all those people who make life worth living. Friendship.com.au lists all sorts of smarmy ways to celebrate, including hugging your friends. Reasonably, I think a good idea might be to go spend the day with your friends, doing whatever they want to do, and simply enjoy their company.

Or you could hug them. If you really wanted to. *

Remember: friends are the family you choose.

*: SolidSnake Designs and the Herald are in no way responsible for your physical health. This includes injuries resulting from hugging people who don't want to be hugged.

[The Herald]

First off, I'd like to start out by saying that, despite the title, I will also cover the Nagasaki bombing since it is also a major part of the issue at hand. You can't judge something by analyzing half the data, after all.

So, was Hiroshima (and Nagasaki) really a good thing? Was this really the best option? Did an estimated 140,000 civilians need to die (214,000 including Nagasaki)?

My answer: yes. You probably think that's crazy, but I've studied warfare a bit myself, so I know how important morale is for an army. You don't have to be the best to win. The entire idea behind the atom bombs was to incite so much fear into the Japanese that they would surrender. Pearl Harbor and the battle of Iwojima alone accounted for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops.

Basically, the U.S. had two choices. They could try and defeat Japan through battle and fighting, resulting in thousands of casualties for both sides - not just the U.S. - or they could end it quick. The need to prevent bloodshed was great, and the only way to do it was through bloodshed itself. It sounds contradictory, but if you study how the war was evolving at this point, you'd know that outright war would've been much more devastating. The U.S. used a tactic to defeat their enemies without fighting. Even Sun Wu says that defeating an army without fighting is the greatest victory.

What did they do? They dropped the atom bomb named "Little Boy" on Hiroshima. Keep in mind this was after the U.S. requested that Japan surrender (which they refused to do). After this bombing, they again asked for surrender. Japan obviously underestimated the U.S.'s resources and weaponry and figured that was their only bomb. So, yet again, Japan remained vigilant. That's when the U.S. dropped "Fat Man" on Nagasaki. Though the casualties and disease from radiation was truly horrific, it ended the war quickly and without sacrificing more troops. Needless to say, this was when Japan surrendered.

Now let's analyze what would've happened had they not done this: first of all, there would've been a lot more battles and death. Much more than the two atom bomb casualties combined. Second off, we would've entered battle with Germany much later, and probably would've been lacking the troops and resources to do much anyway. That means Hitler would've reigned for much longer and thousands more innocent Jews would've been killed.

Either way, civilian casualties would've been high. At least this way, the military death rates were lower and so were enemy death rates. My final thoughts on the issue: though people claimed there could've been other ways to display the destructive power of the atom bomb, I doubt it would've caused the fear an actual attack would.

[The Herald]

An article on color schemes? Why?

The color scheme is one of the most important factors in producing a decent forum interface/skin. It’s also important that we know the basics and methods of inventing fresh color schemes if we want to achieve originality. There aren’t many rules that you should follow to acquire an attractive color scheme. Whatever looks eye-soothing and is original is a good color scheme. In ProBoards, the current fad for color schemes is a lot of light gray with a small amount of a bright color. The same pattern is being followed over and over again when you can produce an original and attractive color scheme just in a couple of minutes!

What are the basics of a good color scheme for a forum?

Before you start hunting for an arse-kicking color scheme, you should know the basics. When you are creating a skin, try not to use more than 2 or 3 colors. You can bring in a couple of other colors for light use, but the majority of the skin should not exceed more than 2 to 3 colors. There should be variations in the colors. Don’t just use several different shades of the same color. That would make the skin very dull and boring. Try to use colors that flow with each other. It’s best to use both dark and light colors together. It gives the skin a balanced value and decreases the chances of people yelling, “Oh my gawd! My eyes! My sweet, Pokémon eyes!”

How do I get an original color scheme?

How do we “invent” a nifty color scheme without much work? It’s as easy as a piece of cake. Here is what I would do. First, I will make a mini interface. It can be anything, ranging from a banner to a simple head image. The colors does not matter, as it can be changed later. Here’s what I got:



Now, all you have to do is change the colors of the shapes and experiment with it. If you spend enough time on it, you are bound to find some interesting schemes. Here is what I got in a few minutes:





Now there will be nifty color schemes all over PB! Lathaz.

[The Herald]

This month, we are going to cast a look at the most neglected kind of artists in SSD: Interface Artists, more commonly known as "Skinners." Yes, my statement there is arguable, but the ratio of big canvas artists to interface artists around here is almost 10 to 1. Enough with the tattling, let's get to work.

---

Name: Daniel Jansson
Portfolio: Dj-Designs
Info: This guy is one of the most talented skinners that these eyes have seen in a while. Being a former vice president of dA, he obviously has bags of experience in his truck. He was also invited to work for The Skins Factory, which is believed to be "the world's premiere interface design company." Apparently, he is also a photographer.

---

Name: Cade Embery
Portfolio: CeStudios
Info: Not only is he a transcendent skinner, but some of his artwork is proficient enough to make your head spin. Some of his works are unquestionably unique. He is an artist of many talents and his portfolio is worth a visit.

---

Name: Anton Wiklund
Portfolio: AntonW.com
Info: I wasn't a fan of anything that was rusty or didn't look very professional, but that was before I stumbled upon this guy's work. He is mainly a 3-D artist and has been studying Computer Graphics for 3 years. I don't know much about him, but his works are pretty self-explanatory.

---

Name: Daniel Knaack
Portfolio: Gizcore Laboratories
Info: What caught my eye most was his unconventional but stable style. You probably won't understand anything in his website since it's not written in English. In that case, you might want to check out his dA account.

---

Name: José Angel
Portfolio: liandrolisk
Info: Last but not least, liandrolisk is an artist that masters both complex and professional types of skins. My personal favourites from his gallery were Fox Quake Gamer Weblayout, Squaredish Interface, and the 360X Dark Forum Template.

[The Herald]

First of all I'd like to apologize about my missing this article out last month, but time was rather short; so this month I have two months of news to catch up on.

Last Month:

Revoking Old News

In the last article I wrote, I said that there were plans for Canon to stop making film cameras; something of which made me want to cry. However, last month I was extremely happy that I wouldn't have to go on fleabay to buy any film equipment for myself. It does, however, make one think: if they were planning to do it, it is most likely that they are planning to drop film cameras in the next couple of years. Alas, I come to the conclusion that if you wish to buy a Canon film camera new, you should buy fairly soon before you can't get hold of them!

Nikon Announce Upgrade to D2X

Nikon announced the D2Xs in early June. It is a subtle upgrade to their current top of the line D2X. The list of improvements includes:

• A larger 2.5" LCD monitor
  
• Electronic masking of the focusing screen in high speed crop mode
  
• Modified metering in high speed crop mode
  
• A longer lasting battery
  
• A blank and white mode
  
• Adobe RGB in all colour modes
  
• And more

This Month:

Samsung's Add New Cameras to Range

Samsung announced this month that they are adding three new cameras to their NV range. The first is an extremely slim bodied camera with image stabilization (called Optical Picture Stabilization - OPS by Samsung) and a very nice 7x optical zoom named the Samsung NV7 OPS. As well as boasting 7.4 mega pixels, it has a new smart touch system for users to navigate its interface. The release price should be around £299.

The second camera is the Samsung NV10. As well as having fully manual modes, this one boasts an impressive 10.4 Mega pixels and a 3x optical zoom. Supposedly, it is excellent in taking photos in low light conditions even without flash. However, we shall have to see what the reviews say first.

The last in this new set of cameras is called the Samsung NV3; this one has a fantastic new idea. Not only does it act as a camera, but it also has a built in Mp3 player. Now this just sounds like a gimmick, however, considering its expected retail price at £229 it seems like a bargain to get a camera and MP3 player for that price. In fact, I must say that I might buy one as I've wanted both a (new) MP3 player and a compact digital camera for while. The only downside I for see at the moment is the size of the card that you must use to get both music and a substantial amount of music on the camera.

Fujifilm's New Look

Fujifilm announced their new logo earlier this month which will be used as of October 2006. According to the press release, Fujifilm is currently undergoing company-wide 'structural reforms' and this new logo represents that change.

Adobe Lightroom BETA for Windows

For me, this is the most exciting thing to happen this month: the release of Adobe Lightroom BETA for Windows. When I received my email from Adobe notifying me that the Windows version had been released, I nearly wet my pants as I giggled to myself. Why would I react like a girl would to Johnny Depp getting naked (come to think about it... I'd react like that) over some silly computer program. Well, let’s put it into context: I am the most unorganized person in the world and I'm reminded of this as I write this on the day of the deadline late at night. So, naturally, my photos are all over the place, but Lightroom is my Saviour as it has a filing system and organizes your photos, rather like Google's Picassa, except Lightroom can recognize the camera RAW format that I shoot with. Not only does it organize photos, but you can "develop" (in other words edit) and print them via its special panels! Find out more at www.adobe.com.

Panasonic Reveal New Lumix Cameras

Panasonic have announced 4 new cameras in their award-winning Lumix range. Within this press release they announce three new compact digital cameras, upgrading some of their current compact range. However, I don't really want to talk about those; what I really want to talk about is their new Bridge camera (a camera resembling an SLR, however it lacks interchangeable lenses). Panasonic have bowled over much of the competition with their FZ bridge cameras and it seems this one will too. All of the last four bridge cameras have had excellent build quality, and probably the best lenses any non-SLR has ever seen. With their brand new Panasonic Lumix FX-50, it seems nothing has changed.

They have brought back the x12 F/2.8 - F/3.7 Leica lens; the amazing quality of this glass is enough to convince me to buy this camera when it comes out. Along with its 10mp sensor and increased processing speeds. Unfortunately, they have yet to upgrade that electronic viewfinder that I feel is the complete downfall of the series. Never the less... this will be an awesome camera. (Images not available.)

Sandisk Extreme IV Compact Flash Series Announced

The top flash memory manufacturer, Sandisk, have just announced the next in their best selling extreme card series. We've had the Extreme III with its stunning 20MB/s write speed, but now Sandisk have announced what are going to be the fastest cards ever made with a stunning 40MB/s write speed. These cards are aimed at the professionals with high buffer and high image quality producing cameras.

Along with the cards, they announced USB 2.0 and Firewire CF card readers that will be able to take advantage of the amazing speed of these cards.

That's it for this month, hope you've found it interesting.

[The Herald]

Today I find myself trudging through dA trying to find another photographer to feature in this article. Now, it's hard trying to find one photographer in the horde that there is that has talent, yet may not be so popular that everyone knows them. Unfortunately, I failed again: the person I'm featuring is fairly popular, yet, I don't care, for he has masses of talent.

So this month's photographer spotlight is a fairly big photographer on dA, a Polish guy who goes by the alias Castillion. When scrounging through his gallery, the landscapes stand out as his most common subject, but we still find an excellent range of animal, vehicular, still life, and plant photography! The awesome contrast in all of his photos bowls me over! After about 40 minutes of searching through his gallery, I have chosen 5 images to show you the talent that Castillion has.

1: Train of Souls

Such an atmosphere in this picture, all brought together by the dramatic lighting, the thick fog, and that scrumptious grain: what a marvellous composition. It's something you don't see many photographers doing either: going to a train track in the dead of night; but heck, this is excellent.

2: Curves and Light [2]

The bold colours with that wonderful staircase result in a marvellous concoction that really strikes me. A perfect balance of one of the photographers favourite: the staircase and those magnificent colours!

3: Machine Pit

Such a beautiful old machine bathed in this wonderful dappled light; it's such a pretty image. It may be black and white, but it has warm tones in it that work perfectly with the detail and contrast.

4: The Patch Pt.1 and Pt.2

I cannot say how many times I've tried to get these shots DD'd, though he has more than enough as it is. The colour and the mono are both perfect renditions of two different styles with such a wonderful scene with awesome skies.

Now, I order you to go and check out his damn gallery! castillion.deviantart.com/gallery

[The Herald]

This one's for all you doomed souls who still use Windows. CCleaner, which stands for Crap Cleaner, is a revolutionary new tool for freeing up space on your hard drive. It's revolutionary new feature: it actually works!

CCleaner is free to use, and it scans the following areas:

• Your registry
  
• Your hard drive
  
• Your program files
  

It deletes anything you specify, including:

• Unused file extensions
  
• Cookies
  
• Caches
  
• Histories
  
• Unused links
  
• Temporary files
  
• And more!
  

CCleaner is amazing. I used it on my main Windows box, and got rid of 1.5 gigs of useless data, and it gave me a speed boost.

My friend used it on his computer. 3 gigs, gone.

My friend's father, who has been using computers since before IBM made them, since Windows was a gleam in Bill Gates' eye, used it. He got rid of almost a gig of data.

Too good to be true? Wrong. I've had absolutely no problems with CCleaner getting rid of data I still need, and I'm a programmer, running several custom programs. Nor has anyone else I've spoken with.

But wait! There's more! CCleaner also will check your msconfig, the configuration file that selects which programs to start at the beginning of each boot, and allows you to enable/disable them at will.

I heartily recommend CCleaner to anyone with limited hard drive space, limited memory, or who just likes to run a tight ship. You've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

[The Herald]

NOTE: This article is biased. I have been a Thunderhost customer for six months, and am unsatisfied. I have done my best to ignore my prejudices and recount the pros and cons of the service as accurately and neutrally as possible.

When I formed a LUG (Linux User Group) with some friends, I entered into the market for a new host. After a bit of searching, I cam across Thunderhost. For sixty dollars, I got a year's worth of hosting, with a good bit of bandwidth and hard drive space, good features, unlimited IMAP/POP3 email accounts, a domain name, unlimited subdomains, unlimited FTP accounts, unlimited shell accounts, and unlimited MySQL or PostgreSQL databases. Instant activation, 99% uptime, and award-winning customer service were included.

My friends and I passed the hat, and purchased the host. One week later, we still didn't have the site up. Three emails and two days later, the source of the problem was noticed: the DNS. Apparently, our host was setup, but our domain name was not registered. Finally, two weeks after purchase, our instant activation kicked in.

Four months in, after repeatedly being frustrated by random crashes of the server, we hooked up a program that pinged the site every half hour, and calculated our uptime. Our finds: 54% uptime.

However, all features are present and accounted for, are easy to get to (when the site is up) and are easily managed.

The customer-service people are friendly and patient, if a bit frustrating. We have received one month of free hosting for our problems.

If you're in the market for a host, I would recommend DreamHost, whose uptime is much more stable. However, if you don't mind site downtime, then Thunderhost is also a solid choice.

I am in no way affiliated with either hosting company, unless otherwise stated.

[The Herald]

Hi everybody! (Hi Dr. Nick!) Well, this being my first Herald article, I thought I'd do something original, creative, and useful. So I wrote a dissertation on the myriad uses of rain in the far off realm of Faroffrealm. It was twelve pages long, and written in the Flowing Script. For some reason, pandora and Kari refused the manuscript. So I had to pull something out of my... uhh.... handbag at the last minute as I ran out the door on vacation (where, incidentally, I did very little vacating or vacationing). So when my grandmother dropped off an iPod NaNo as an early birthday present, I saw it as a bit of a godsend. Then I realized I could write my article on that, and was further overjoyed. So I dropped a quick install of Ubuntu 5.10 on my computer, and got busy.

Well first, we need some music. What good's an iPod if it don't gots no music? So we've got ourselves a few options: we could buy all the music off iTunes, which would be a waste of good money, seeing as we have all the CDs for the songs we want, riiiiight? We could transfer the songs from CD to hard drive, which would be time consuming and boring. Or we could just use LimeWire. I went with that last option. If you want to know how to do the others, just PM me, and I'll laugh at you until you cry or tell you not to bother.

So now we need LimeWire. A quick visit to LimeWire.com fixes that problem. We click Download, and choose the "Other" option, unless you happen to be able to install .rpm packages. I chose Other. I get a small tarball on my desktop, with all the LimeWire files inside. So I unzip it to my home directory, and then hit the runLime.sh shell script in the LimeWire folder. Yay. LimeWire. Now just type in the name of your song, and hit enter. Away you go.

Note: see the disclaimer at the bottom of this article.

Now that our hard drive is the envy of every serious disc jockey, we need to send its files to our iPod. Brilliant. So we hook our iPod up to our USB drive, and fire up... Synaptic. My package manager. If you have something else, you'll have to google and find the program I'm about to show you. Use the make install routine to get it going. We want a program called gtkpod. The Linux version of iTunes, if you will. So we install that, following the installation instructions, and using the auto installer program we have, if we're lucky like I am.

So now it's installed. You want to run the program, right? Easy. Open up Terminal, or Kommander, or whatever command line you use. Type in gtkpod. Hit enter. Super user priveleges not required. Taadaa! A screen should pop up, with some partitions. Make sure in the farmost left one that gtkpod is selected. Then choose Read. Your iPod's data will be read onto gtkpod's memory. Now add the songs you want to the mix using the Add Files or Add Directory buttons, and you're good to go. Hit Sync, sit back, and rock out loud.

Disclaimers:
The iPod is owned by Apple. I, SolidSnake Designs, the Herald, and all associates of the above listed entities claim no association with Apple, unless otherwise stated.

Likewise, the above listed entities (known henceforth as 'we') claim not associations with Linux, gtkpod, LimeWire, or any other corporation or entity mentioned in this guide, unless otherwise stated.

This tutorial was written for Ubuntu Breezy Badger 5.10, and an iPod NaNo. No guarantees to its accuracy are made in any conditions other than those. Use at your own risk.

We do not condone or support illegally downloading music, nor do we aid in the practice. Using LimeWire or any other program to steal music is illegal, and is punishable by law.

Next Issue?
Wonder what happens when we format an iPod's hard drive and install Linux on it! Donations of iPods are currently being accepted. Please PM me for more information.