http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahotw/

More galleries will be moved over soon.

Based on my observations, here are some of the common questions and concerns:

• Will Freenode be blocking access from any other client? No.
• Does this have anything to do with Mibbit being closed source and Freenode using open source software for their web client? No.

And I’ll toss in one more with my own answer:

• How am I supposed to have my special setup wherever I go? Use something like: screen irssi

Mibbit had their own answer to all of this.

A) The New Layer button does just that, it allows you to create a new layer.  New layers will appear above the currently selected layer.

B) The Raise and Lower buttons allow you to move the layer up and down the list. Personally, I tend not to use these buttons because layers can also be dragged up and down in the list, which I find to be much faster and convenient.

Below: The layer ‘Green Circle’ has been moved from below ‘Orange Rectangle’ to above it.

C) If you just need to make a small change to a layer, but still want the original to fall back on, the Duplicate Layer button is for you.  Once again, another button that does exactly what it sounds like it does — it copies the currently selected layer and inserts a copy of it above.

D) Don’t want a layer? Just click the Delete button.  You can also drag the layer onto the button.

E) Most of the time, the active layer will be listed here. Occasionally other information will be shown here, generally relating to the active tool.

F) Layer Visibility.  When the eye is shown, so is the layer.  A single click toggles the visiblity.

G) The active layer will always be highlighted.  Any changes performed will affect this layer.

H) Layer Preview.  Use this to quickly get an idea of what the layer holds.

I) Layer Name.  When working with just a few layers, I generally don’t name them, either because I have so few, or because I know the preview will give me a good idea of what the layer hold.  With that said, it is still a good idea to name all your layers to prevent confusion.  The easiest way to do this is to double click on the current name.

As mentioned at the start, this is only a brief introduction to the interface.  Look for the next part later this week.  (Ok, who am I kidding, it will probably be next week after SELF.)

I knew I shouldn't have filled it that much.

Every year, without fail, I receive at least one, often many gift cards. The vast majority of these are to places that I hardly ever go to. Now I’m sure you are thinking that I should use the card as encouragement to try a different place or something. I agree to an extent. Restaurants are just about the only thing that falls into this category, but even then, I’m often forced to make up the difference for a meal or other item that I really didn’t need in the first place.

More often than not, the gift cards I get are to stores that I haven’t been to for years because I’ve found a better alternative. For instance, I currently have gift cards to both Best Buy and Circuit City. I tend to make my technology purchases from NewEgg because I get a wider selection and better prices.

Even the newer favorite of Visa gift cards are a pain. Lets say I want to use that card to fill up my tank with gas. I end up having to make two transactions, one with the gift card, then again with a separate method of payment to fill the tank up the rest of the way. Many online stores only accept one method of payment for an order, thus causing me to fall back to using a card with enough purchasing power for the order. Also, there are normally fees to go along with the inital purchase of one of these cards.

Instead of a gift card, consider a check (or cash), or an item that I am interested in/need. My next post will give some ideas about what I could use.