This is mainly for new users who want to try out Linux for the first time, but try it out if you're experienced in Linux anyway, it's kinda fun.

What with all these different distributions of Linux that you hear about all the time, it's hard to choose what distro is the right one for you. This simple, web based, step-by-step wizard hardly takes a few minutes and usually comes up quite accurate to what you're looking for:

http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/index.php?firsttime=true

I, however, have personally tried Fedora, Red Hat, Mandrake, Ubuntu, Knoppix, and SLYNUX, and for me Ubuntu comes out best, and I found this wizard AFTER I knew Ubuntu was the distro for me. It's quite user-friendly, it's easy to install, and heck, it just works. Great distro to start learning from, with great IRC and forum-based support.

Get Ubuntu and get free Ubuntu CDs shipped to you below:

http://www.ubuntu.com
https://shipit.ubuntu.com

Fate is a simulation of a Linux system written in C++ and meant for DOS (runs fine in winxp and winme by just doubleclicking) that according to the creator, m101, shows you the basics of security in different Linux systems, including but not limited to, Mandrake, Slackware, and Red Hat. The whole thing is text based (Sorry, GNOME lovers :P ) and kinda has a storyline. You're supposed to break into these systems in order by using programs and security exploits that you'll discover and find on the way, with the general objective being "gain access to any one account on system, telnet in, remove logs, use security exploit or go hacking or whatever, gain root, then finally telnet to a particular IRC chat channel to get your new assignment and a selection of programs at your disposal. Rinse and repeat"
Of course, all the stuff is really outdated and all, but it's still kinda fun to pretend 'zomg i haked a red hat box lol i r 1337'
If you run Linux, this thing runs perfectly in Dosbox. If you don't have Dosbox and you're on Ubuntu, type this command in a terminal window to get it easily:

sudo apt-get install dosbox

But I'm sure you knew that already :P

The website link for Fate is below, but it's not really taken care of anymore. The shoutbox is spammed like heck.

http://www.fatetek.net/

So give it a shot, and comment here if you're stuck anywhere in Fate, and I'll help you out! :D
At the time of writing I'm stuck on trying to get to the system after the Red Hat one.

Hey people, I haven't posted for a while and for a good reason.

This video will explain all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vLe1cucMPM

And if by any freak chance YouTube is blocked by your retard ISP, obtain Tor and Privoxy by any means necessary! Or you could just rack up reward points here and use our anonymous, high-speed proxy! (can't wait to try that out myself)

Anyway, in case you STILL have dial-up or are too lazy to click on the above URL, that is a video of my laptop having absolutely no monitor at all. Yes, it got ripped off (long story) but in either case, now my laptop is connected to this 15" TV on my desk via a video out cable. I called the Compaq Guy and he said that I should just give up on this piece of junk and get myself a new laptop. Well, I would, but the problem is my parents will never buy me a second hand or a brand new computer or laptop, just cause I'm still in high school and my sister's doing her MBA. Sheesh.

And stop sniggering, you evil freckled faces! I'm really 17! (Well, turning 17 in less than a month) but I'm still 17, even though it looks like I'm a 12 or 13 year old dork in that vid. Oh well. Gotta live with crappy shit webcams and microphones.

I swear, if there ever is a competition to see how long can you make a laptop last so it's still operable, I'd enter. I mean, sure, it's missing a monitor and is clinically dead, and only by the power of voodoo resurrection it's still working, but still, it's a valid entry, being a dual boot laptop with Lucasarts games and all four Monkey Island games on it and winme and Ubuntu 6.06. The software works just fine. It's kind of like a saintly soul inside a villain's body. Talk about an identity crisis :S

Well it looks like my article has been delayed because of my shifting to a new school called The Westminster School, and it has a new syllabus (Cambridge IGCSE) instead of my previous school's syllabus (Edexcel GCE) - sure, the new syllabus is slightly easier but still, it takes a while to get used to a new school.

The first day of school was fun I suppose, made a few friends and all that but heck - the school diary is more like a student instruction manual for boot camp rather than a journal to record the daily homework in :|

Progress on my article about setting up a LAMPP server on Ubuntu with zPanel and Zantastico is slow - but it will come out eventually. I'd say about 1/3 of it is done so far - I'm taking as much of my free time as possible in writing this article in order to ensure excellent quality so that I have a good first impression - seems this article is gonna be a little bit big ;)

Time really needs to be managed well in the coming days as today was hectic as per the title (Go figure :P ) I need to make out time for homework, writing up an article, study, working on my linux distribution, a little bit of gaming, and God knows what else.

Just pray that I last until the weekend cause at the time I'm writing it's not seeming likely when my Mom's yelling at me X| (and SHE took up most of my time with measuring up for a stupid school uniform and she blames me for that.)

I watched a bit of CNN Pipeline today of the live broadcast of 9/11, 2001. Quite fascinating looking back at five years - may God help the world cause we sure as heck do need a lot of help.

I'd write more - but I really need to get back to, in Guybrush Threepwood's words: "pressing issues" xP

Cya people, and look out for my article soon!

Hey - I'm Aamir, 16.75 years old, I'm a big time Ubuntu fan, I've created my own Linux distro, and I love open source. I can be found at the Ubuntu support chatroom sometimes at freenode, and I'm really looking forward to making contributions to Osix - I really love the concept and the site's deadeasy design.
I can solve a Rubik's cube in under five minutes, a sudoku cube in under 10, and within a day or two I'll be posting articles, with my first one being how to set up a good LAMPP server on Ubuntu with zPanel and Zantastico.

I love it here! :D