I've been using Ubuntu (or a derivative) for two years now. I was amazed at how polished and user-friendly it is. It doesn't come out of the box with a lot of the software I want, but it's super easy to install whatever I want. I've installed it on other people's computers (Paul & Yelena) and they're happy with it too (at least when compared with Windows). It even passed the Mother Test - my mother used my Kubuntu laptop for a month while her desktop was broken, and she was fine with it.

After a few months I upgraded from Ubuntu to Kubuntu because I prefer KDE. Kubuntu is often characterized as "the most popular desktop manager running on the most popular linux distro." But according to Distrowatch.com, Kubuntu is not the most popular KDE distro. OpenSUSE has been super popular for a long time. A lot of awesome software originated within SUSE's walls, such as KNetworkManager and Compiz. But I've been really happy with the Ubuntu community so I stuck with Kubuntu through Edgy Eft, Feisty Fawn, and Gutsy Gibbon. Kubuntu isn't the most popular distro, but Ubuntu is and it's nice being part of the popular crowd.

But then I noticed the new cool kid: PCLinuxOS. PCLOS (as it's called) is the new #1 distro on Distrowatch.com. It naturally runs KDE, as opposed to being a derivative like Kubuntu. And, it comes with all the software I use and like. In addition, it has a few extra enhancements, like a better start menu and the latest version of Compiz Fusion (Kubuntu's Compiz Fusion package is a couple months old now). It also has a newer version of Unison, the fantastic backup software, which is embarrassing for Kubuntu because the newer version of Unison has been out for years.
But then I started to notice PCLOS falls short in some areas where Kubuntu shines. It uses NetApplet which is a poor substitute for KNetworkManager. This means it's much harder for me to connect to the wireless internet at work because NetApplet doesn't support commercial wireless security. Although PCLOS is supposed to have better multimedia support, I can't get sound on my desktop.

So how does it all break down?

Turns out guestbooks aren't hot any more.  I had my guestbook up since I started hosting my own website, and 99% of what I got was spam.  I even put up spam protection and it worked for a while, but somehow the spammers got through anyway.  Thanks to my friends who actually signed my guestbook.  Boo to the spammers for ruining everything.  I could just reset my guestbook and add more spam protection, but it's really not worth it considering no one will sign anyway.

Like speed dating, but you don't get to take me home afterwards.

I'm in the full throes of bar study so you may not see much more of me until the end of February.  Bar study sucks.  Especially when you're working full time.  (But work is going well.)

There's a major storm outside right now, and the house is shaking.  I hope it's the wind and not a series of earthquakes.  The power went out at some point and now our smoke alarm batteries are dead.

You are the rare, the overlooked, yet incredibly useful dodecahedron: the d12. You are a creative, romantic soul. You often act without thinking, but make up for your lack of plans with plenty of heart. You easily solve problems that stump others, but your answers tend to put you into even deeper trouble.

I hate to admit that Bush was right and the liberals were wrong.  I really, really hate to admit it.  Most of all I'm afraid of what this will do to the 2008 campaign.  But, in the spirit of academic honesty, an article from the latest Economist:

Must they be wars without end?

"Democracies need the courage to withdraw from wars that bring no good, but also to persevere in just ones—even when the end is not yet in sight."