Recommended Software

• Web Browsing
  • Mozilla Firefox (get it by clicking my link in the upper right)
    Runs on Mac, Linux, and Windows. For security reasons alone, you should stop using Microsoft Internet Exploder. Once you switch to Firefox, you won't ever want to use anything else anyway. Free and Open Source.
  
  
• Email
  • Mozilla Thunderbird
    Thunderbird is beautiful, and is a compelling replacement for Microsoft Lookout on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Free and Open Source.
  
  
• Productivity
  • OpenOffice
    OpenOffice replaces Microsoft Office, Word Perfect, and other productivity suites. While it is still a little rough around the edges, and perhaps less "pretty", it is functional and doesn't crash. I use OpenOffice to produce spreadsheets, write letters, and make slide presentations. It is free, Open Source, and available for Macintosh, Linux, and Windows.
  
  
• Operating System
  • Ubuntu Linux
    Your computer is only as good as its operating system, and if you value things like flexibility, stability, and reliability, you definitely owe it to yourself to at least try out a Linux system. And no Linux system is easier to set up and maintain than Ubuntu. You can order a live cd to give it a try without erasing your Microsoft Winblows installation even. C'mon, it's free, it's fun, give it a try!
  
  

Technical Resources I use

• Wikipedia
  The Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia on the web. Anyone can edit a page in the encyclopedia, and add pages to the encyclopedia. In other words, it is yet another shining example of the open source philosophy at work.
  
  
• Bruce Hubbert's Freakquency Blog
  I learn all I ever need to know about wireless networking from Bruce. Back in 2001 or so, he said "Paul, why the hell are you still using Windows?" for which I owe him immensely. He spurred me on to set up a perimeter firewall in Linux, and I've been hooked on open source software ever since.
  
  
• Ed Leafe's OpenTech
  Ed has set up forums for Visual FoxPro, Python, Dabo, and more. This is also the home for the infamous ProFox mailing list, as well as ProLinux and ProPython.
  
  
• Whil Hentzen's Books
  It is always good to keep an eye on the latest technical offerings from Hentzenwerke. In addition to an impressive line of books, Whil has also recently begun a series of White Papers on various Linux topics, aimed at new users who perhaps have a strong background in Windows but are just getting their feet wet in Linux.
  
  
• Ted Roche's Blog
  Ted keeps me entertained and informed. The success of his Blog convinced me to start my own. He has also written some impressive articles and books. See his website for more.
  
  
• Jackson Carson's Wavelength Media
  Jackson has provided excellent service designing websites and graphics for me and for the Dabo project. I highly recommend him.
  
  
• Dorothy McNett's Recipe Book
  Dorothy has thousands of great recipes, easily searchable. Yum!
  
  

Local (Hollister, San Benito County) Businesses I recommend

• Hollister Roofing
  Barry and crew really know what they are doing. We had our roof done in 2000 and here it is, 2004 and there have been no problems and it still looks new. Highly recommended.
  
  
• San Benito Shutter Co., Inc.
  This is a manufacturer, not a retailer or installer, but they are local, and we had a local designer purchase some shutters for our house and have been very happy with them. I'm pretty sure you can call them to get the names of installers in your area.
  
  
• Bianchi, Lorincz and Company
  They've been doing our taxes for years now. Trustworthy, professional. The expense is worth it. I think we pay about $240 per year, on average, for our tax prep.
  
  
• The Pinnacle Newspaper
  Hollister's newsweekly. If you want to get an idea of the flavor of Hollister, this paper will be a good read. The Letters to the Editor section is pretty popular.
  
  
• Jack Markle
  Jack is a friend who happens to also be a great realtor. Really. He really represents you whether you are the buyer or the seller, and comes with a lot of integrity and honesty. He helped us find and purchase our house back in 1997.
  
  
• South Valley Internet
  I've been a South Valley Internet customer since before the Internet boom. They were the first to provide local dialup service to Hollister, and they have never failed me. Today I have a DSL line for fast access, and wouldn't recommend anyone else.
  
  
• Hollister Downtown Association
  Our downtown is a treasure, and HDA makes it better with everything they do.