Linux grows UK PC market share | IT PRO

From across the pond:

Linux reaching a record 2.8 per cent share last month [in the UK] pointed to an increasing appetite for OS alternatives, much like other research has found. Wanna read the full story?

Keep in mind this is up from .1 percent in early 2007.

The main reasons (besides Vista frustration) are Ubuntu has made it easier for people to get started in Linux and it sure helps Dell is pre-loading Ubuntu on some machines.

If you are frustrated with Vista, or just want to give this Linux thing a try, don’t be afraid. You may have to learn a couple new things (like burning an iso image to a CD) but there are some great guides online that make it easy.  Heck, you can even Skype me and I’ll help you if I can.  The biggest question most people have is “can i go back if I don’t like it.”  Absolutely.  Ubuntu (and nearly ever version of Linux) has a “Live CD” where you can put a CD in the drive, reboot and it bypasses (but doesn’t touch) your operating system with Ubuntu running completely from the disk and your memory.  Keep in mind this is much slower than how it will actually run.  But it is a great way to get a peak at it and see if it will work well with your hardware. When you are done, log out, remove the disk, reboot and you are back in Vista (burp – I just threw up in my mouth a little typing that).

Optimus Media News » FBI Warns of Storm Worm Virus

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and its partner, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), have received reports of recent spam e-mails spreading the Storm Worm malicious software, known as malware. These e-mails, which contain the phrase “F.B.I. vs. facebook,” direct e-mail recipients to click on a link to view an article about the FBI and Facebook, a popular social networking website. The Storm Worm virus has also been spread in the past in e-mails advertising a holiday e-card link. Clicking on the link downloads malware onto the Internet connected device, causing it to become infected with the virus and part of the Storm Worm botnet.

“The spammers spreading this virus are preying on Internet users and making their computers an unwitting part of criminal botnet activity. We urge citizens to help prevent the spread of botnets by becoming web-savvy. Following some simple computer security practices will reduce the risk that their computers will be compromised,” said Special Agent Richard Kolko, Chief, FBI National Press Office.

Everyone should consider the following:

* Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) e-mail.

* Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as officials soliciting personal information via e-mail.

* Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.

* Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.

* Validate the legitimacy of the organization by directly accessing the organization’s website rather than following an alleged link to the site.

* Do not provide personal or financial information to anyone who solicits information.

More here: Optimus Media News » FBI Warns of Storm Worm Virus.

[solved] Google Calendar CalDAV support (not only on Mac)

With excitement I read Google’s calendar will now support CalDAV. Yeah, now I can sync Lightening (Thunderbird’s Sunbird plugin) with Google, right?  Nope. I can’t. It only works on Apple’s iCal.  From Google help pages:

“While other calendar applications support CalDAV (including Mozilla Sunbird), Google Calendar only supports CalDAV using iCal.”

Bummer.

UPDATE: I have found a solution, another problem and a solution to that problem.

Lightning: It’s a Sunbird plug-in for Thunderbird.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/2313

Provider for Google Calendar
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/4631

I have installed Thunderbird and Lightning from Ubuntu repos (via Synaptic).  But couldn’t get Provider to work or allow me to add a new calendar.  Finally I found a post in a forum that helped.  The issue is you are missing libstdc++ 5. Install that from Synaptic and you are good to go.

This is a hit and run how to. It assumes you know all of the terms used and you have installed add-ons in thunderbird and from Synaptic before. But if you haven’t and need more detail on how to do anything, please feel free to ask.

Is Barak Obama a Christian?

Dr. Gary Cass (Christian Anti-Defamation Commission) wrote a great article detailing why Obama’s faith is not Christian.

In a recent article about Obama’s faith, Newsweek reports that Obama reiterated his position that he is a “Christian” who rejects the idea that Jesus is the only way of salvation. Obama throws Christ under his campaign bus as he denies Christ is the only Savior of the World.

“It is a precept of my Christian faith that my redemption comes through Christ, but I am also a big believer in the Golden Rule, which I think is an essential pillar not only of my faith but of my values and my ideals and my experience here on Earth,” Newsweeks reports that Obama said. “I’ve said this before, and I know this raises questions in the minds of some evangelicals. I do not believe that my mother, who never formally embraced Christianity as far as I know … I do not believe she went to hell. My particular set of beliefs may not be perfectly consistent with the beliefs of other Christians.”

Obama rightly understands his faith is questionable and not Christian. That’s why he says his faith raises questions. But his faith is not only inconsistent with other Christians, it is inconsistent with Jesus Christ and the Apostles. Why would you say you are a Christian then denounce the teachings of Christ and the founders of the Christian Church? While it is very troubling to consider that anyone, especially a family member, might be in Hell, what really matters is what God has revealed, not what Obama wants to be true.

Below are a few examples from the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles that prove salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone.

Click here for those examples and the rest of the article.