The Way the Game is Meant to be Played

Outdoors, in the elements, on grass. Not on artificial turf, not indoors, or any other venue designed to give the home team an advantage.


Need I say more. Go Green Bay!

Bye-bye, Windows

For several years now I've been toying with open source software on some on my low-end computers to see if they had enough functionality to replace Microsoft Windows. In particular, I've been looking at different Linux distributions. Recently, I installed Ubuntu 7.10 ("gutsy gibbon") on my AMD 1800 machine. By today's standards, this is a very slow machine, but gutsy performs well on it, and I think I have finally found what I am looking for-- a viable Windows alternative that isn't Apple. I use Open Office to replace Microsoft Office, and Amarok and Mplayer to replace Windows Media Player. And I have my own web server, database and media server running on the same box.

I didn't care much for the default "human theme" in Ubuntu with its 70's-ish orange and brown color scheme. I customized the look and feel closer to my liking:



Then onto the other technical challenges--- loading my iPod



editing images



watching movies (Full Metal Jacket-- Hoo Ra)



running IE on Ubuntu so I can make sure my web sites account for the IE bugs



For those interested in giving Ubuntu a try, a Live CD is available for download from ubuntu.com. For those who like a more windows-centric look and feel there's the KDE based variant Kubuntu at kubuntu.com. And for truly low-end computers that can barely run XP and couldn't even begin to think about running Vista, don't turn them into a boat anchor, try xubuntu instead at xubuntu.com; it just might breath some life back into an antique.

Winter 2007 LRR Now Online

Better late than never! And with a new look and feel! The Loch Raven Review Winter 2007 issue is now live. Go to http://www.lochravenreview.net.

The issue features poetry by Gary Blankenship, Jim Corner, William Doreski, Michaela A. Gabriel, Clarinda Harriss, Deborah P. Kolodji, Tammy Ho Lai-ming, David W. Landrum, Danilo Lopez, Steve Meador, Corey Mesler, Mary E. Moore, Shawn Nacona Stroud, S. Thomas Summers, Thane Zander; an essay by Dave Eberhardt and Dan Cuddy; fiction by William Reese Hamilton, Fred Longworth, Randy Rohn, Deborah C. Strozier, Howard Waldman; book reviews by Dan Cuddy, Jim Doss and Christopher T. George. A number of Wild regulars on the list for this issue.

Please note that we are now accepting submissions for the Spring 2008 issue, which posts in March, with a submission deadline of February 28th. Our reading period is February 15th to March 15th.

Best regards

Chris George and Jim Doss, Editors
Loch Raven Review
http://www.lochravenreview.net