Firefox spell check everything Apr 18, 2007
Quite possibly the best thing about Firefox 2.0 is its spell checking abilities.  However, by default, it only automatically spell checks textareas (text boxes with multiple lines) and not text inputs (single line).  By right-clicking on a text-input, you can select "Spell check this field", but I wanted something more permanent.  Here it is:  Go to about:config, search for "layout.spellcheckDefault" and set the value to "2". #technology
Christian group attendance (2) Apr 18, 2007
I've found from my ongoing experience with Christianity that most groups (i.e. Bible studies, age-specific groups, location-specific groups, etc.) have a mentality suggesting that they think attendance is mandatory for a properly functioning Christian.  This belief evidences itself with statements like, "We have this group that meets every week; I can't understand why that person doesn't come."  While this belief is usually well-meaning and non-confrontational, it almost always looks and comes across negatively.  Many leaders, in their zeal to encourage attendance and build personal relationships with God (both are great things), overlook the fact that different people practice Christianity differently.  For one person, it could mean attending your Bible study.  For another person, it could mean not attending your Bible study and instead doing something else.  For the record, I would say most leaders acknowledge this fact and mainly want to encourage people to do something in their relationship with God.  But some leaders think their group is the group to attend, which makes it sound like it's the only way to get to God.  And this is obviously untrue.  Christian groups exist to bring people together and closer to God.  If a person doesn't see these effects in their life and wants to try something different, who are we (as group leaders) to stand in their way? #religion
Linux problems Apr 18, 2007
I really want to get into Linux.  I have the time, the resources, and the ability.  My computer skills are far above novice.  I know what distribution I want to try (Ubuntu), I know what I need to do, and I can easily complete several steps of the installation process. 

But that's where it ends for me.  There's a problem during installation where the installer can't resize a partition.  Why not?  I don't know.  The internet is obviously a huge source of troubleshooting information and how-tos.  There's all kinds of information about this specific problem.  But nothing works.  Nothing ever works with me and Linux, and that's why it sucks. 

I'm pretty good when it comes to computers.  I know how to program.  I know about web servers and domain names.  I know how to use a command line.  I know what a regular expression is.  I know stuff. 

So if someone like me can't figure out how to install Linux on a brand new computer, there's definitely something wrong.  Fix this, Linux gods! 

Update (2007-04-18 2:44pm):  Thank you, Linux gods (a.k.a. Ubuntu documentation and Google search)!  Although neither of those links provide an accurate solution, here's what I figured out: 
  1. The Linux partition editor (GParted) only has read access to Windows XP's partition, but it needs read/write access.
  2. Through a random combination of Defrag, Chkdsk, and a number of restarts, GParted is able to get read/write access.
  3. Using the System Rescue CD, run "ntfs-3g /dev/hda1 /mnt/windows".  This will result in an error, but apparently that's ok.
  4. Run "startx" and run GParted from within the X.Org GUI.  Create a partition from the main Windows XP partition.
  5. Restart the computer with the Ubuntu LiveCD and format the partitions like the directions say.
So the main problem is that Ubuntu couldn't edit the Windows partition because it didn't have read/write access.  My solution sounds a little shaky, but it magically worked.  I'm now running a clean install of Ubuntu 6.10 on the same computer as Windows XP, and none of my data was lost.  If the Linux/Ubuntu people made this a little more clear, it would've turned a 4-hour headache into a 20-minute breeze. #technology
Quantity of news outlets Apr 18, 2007
I think we as Americans are absolutely bombarded and overwhelmed by the unbelievably vast quantity of news outlets.  And while the current major news item is certainly newsworthy, I think there are simply way too many outlets that broadcast the exact same news.  Of the 5 daily talk shows on a major New York FM radio station, exactly 100% of them talked about the major news item to no end.  Of the 4 major cable networks, exactly 100% of them devoted entire segments of their 6pm and 10pm news shows to the major news item.  Of the 3 major cable news networks, exactly 100% of them have designed a graphic and come up with a catchy title for the major news item.  I haven't researched it, but I wouldn't doubt that exactly 100% of the newspapers in the entire country have a front page story about the major news item. 

And again, the current major news item is definitely newsworthy.  But what about the stupid crap last week?  And what about the stupid crap from before that?  It just seems like every "story" is deemed a "breaking story", which means every news outlet in the country covers it until it literally can't be covered any more. 

But besides the content, there is just simply an overabundance of coverage.  Sometimes I just want a break from it all, but the traditional venue for taking a break is filled with all the same stuff.  There's just no way to get away from it except by shutting off all connections to media. #entertainment