Here is a link to how to find and or make .debs that you just have to have in your install. And the article covers a lot of different ways to find and download debs for your use.

One of the biggest strengths of Debian (and derivatives like Ubuntu) is support for the .deb package. After all, it provides a one-click method of easily installing programs. Best of all, these programs are automatically updated via the official Debian repositories. Unfortunately, the official repositories aren’t always the best. Some programs aren’t always up to date (the latest version of Thunderbird is 2.0. However, the latest version in the repositories is 1.5). Worse, some packages aren’t in the repositories at all (Glest is a good example). True, you could build the program from source, but there are a number of reasons why that is undesirable (finding the dependencies, having to download the program again to uninstall it, not automatically adding itself to the menu, etc.). How do you find good Debian software?

Read the rest of the article.

Technorati Tags: Software

So I’m having a conversation on the phone with Scrap [another IT Toolbox member — Sander] this morning and he relayed this little story from his adventures as a professor of information security studies at a local school. I’m going to share this story with you and include my usual warning and disclaimer: Put your beverage down. Do not attempt to drink beverage while reading this. I am not responsible for liquids spilled in your keyboard or all over your screen! Scrap tells the story…

(Now this is funny,how a wannabe got had, Baldy)

Technorati tags: Humor

Im In Your Leenucks Box Changing Your Password

We are currently reviewing the debian.org account database and checking a list of developer accounts that *appear* to be inactive. The purpose of this review is simply to minimize the number of live but unused debian.org accounts since they (in sufficient numbers) are an active security concern. It’s _not_ intended as a judgment or criticism of contributions to Debian made by those who may end up on our radar.

(Yikes, you mean that the Debian folks have been going other directions? Does this come as a shock to anyone? Baldy)

Technorati tags: Linux, News

Handling of inactive Debian Accounts

Chances are if you print anything from a Mac, Linux, or Unix system, you’re using the Common Unix Printing System, or CUPS. Now, in a surprising development, Michael R. Sweet, CUPS’ creator, revealed on CUPS’ Web site that Apple has bought CUPS’ source code and other intellectual property.

Technorati tags: News, Software

Apple takes a shine to CUPS