You may have the impression as if nobody would use a Machine running Linux in reality. Of course this is completely wrong. I will mention some examples:

• A lot of Schools in Russia are running Linux because Windows is too expensive
• In Holland it is set by law that every institution has to use OpenSource-Software
• The American state Indiana has tousands of schools running Linux
• In Richmond, Indiana Linux-usage seems to be high too

If you have no clue how to start with Linux or want to spread the word click here.

UPDATE: Valve's Steam seems to be avaible for Linux soon too (source)

Somehow my encoding is not set to UTF-8 but some other standart. Well at least I have a nice template and logo now...thanks skymuss!

I didn't say anything about what I coded for some time.

That is because I have been researching a lot lately and ended up having something really cool: A working server architecture.

What it basically does at the moment is dynamically start/maintain/restart/stop services. Also it can be controlled trough a Terminal-Process. It is cool to see a server process crash but the client just get a small notification no disconnection. The service then gets restarted and everything works again.

The most time, as everyone know who codes a bit, I am bugfixing. But of course not only PF but also OpenNetwork. 0.3 will finally bring encryption and the patcher system I need for my Project. It will already be a release candidate and 1.0 will most probably only be a bugfix release as everything works fine now.

I am still looking for somebody who wants to improve (or let's say implent) the UDP-Port. Just mail me or comment if you are interested. Of course the SVN is open to everyone and patches can be submited 24/7.

A lot of people tend to use software that comes from an illegal source.

Starting with simple apps like an Office Suite or Games to whole pirated Operating Systems. Some sources I read say that 35% of all apps used are illegal copies.

So what to do?

A lot of people, like me, just can't afford expensive software and games. So you have two choices either you promote the right of a private software copy or use open-source software.

Why do you take the risk of getting into trouble with the law because you use and illegal copy of Microsoft Office if you can just use OpenOffice.org?

Why do you play a pirated copy of Counter Strike if there are games like Nexuiz or UrbanTerror?

I just think that people often forget that there are alternatives. Even alternative OSes like Ubuntu. You don't have to pirate software, nor do you have to use it in general. There is always an alternative. I just named some but there are tousands. The open-source world will give so much to you if you just recognize that it exists!

Today I want to recommend a nice image hosting service by a friend of mine: image-ant

It is written in python but this is not the only reason i use it. Most of it is open-source and you don't even have to log in to use most of its features (e.g. a personal folder).

Just check it out and you will like it.

Some Days ago in Germany a law similiar to the Patriot Act in the USA passed the court and already the governement is taking down pages that show for example how to build bombs (what wikipedia explains too).

I am scared that this could mean the end of the internet i am used to. Getting any information in a few seconds was so easy but what if this goes own.

Forbid pages about hacking/writing viruses? Forbid pages talking about peer-2-peer networks or other distribution platforms that can be used for illegal purposes?

I don't want my children to grow up in a world without this amazing freedom of knowledge but I guess they have to...

Browsing trough the wide lands of Free Music I discovered a passion for Micromusic.

What that is? Well, as i described a passion for retro style games you can also imagine that i like the 8-bit soundtracks of those times. Mircomusicians (or how its called) use for example a gameboy as an instrument to create a really unique sound.

One band is a good example for it. They are already quite popular. I am talking of course about pornophonique. I acutally don't know where their name comes from and i don't really want to know but they make awesome music.

And the best thing is they release it under a nice CreativeCommons license so there are already nice remixes of their music:

listen to it and understand what i mean

As some may have already realized I am a litte Ubuntu fanboy.

Lately i discovered Ubuntu Brainstorm. A page where you can suggest improvements and changes in the Distribution. I already added my first ideas and found supporters for it. Again it shows the power of open source and is exactly the reason why it rocks. In times of Web 2.0 proprietary operating systems can't fullfill the needs of the users anymore because they don't allow much insight on their development.

This will be my last blog of the week I think as it turns out to get a little boring.

This week i recommend Tombuntu for everyone using a Ubuntu Linux machine at home. It contains useful tips for the everyday user like me.

Today I want to recommend a really cool framework for 3D-accelerated 2D-Rendering: PhoenixGL

It is written by two really nice guys who are always open for suggestions. You will find everything you need to write a two-dimensional game: particle systems, scene management, various scene nodes and input routines!

Don't waste your time coding a framework yourself or using rather low level stuff like SDL or Allegro. Take the easy way and use PhoenixGL it could turn out to be the best choice you have every made in your whole live. [/ad] ;)

I just put a new logo, but something just doesn't fit. Maybe you know it?

For tousands of year humanity wondered what to eat while they're sitting on the computer.

I started with chips and soon realized that they will make my whole keyboard slippery. I wouldn't recommand heaving a big dinner like stew or pasta standing next to your computer either as it could destroy all you have ;)

So i ended up using...GRAPES

Grapes are just perfect. They're sweet. They're wet. And they are perfect to eat with your fingers. There is nothing better than having a plate of them next to your keyboard i can tell.