Dear etch-a-sketch-lovers. Or basically, anyone who cares about etch hopefully being released in december.

If you aren't busy with fixing RC bugs, probably because you don't trust your own skills enough (or don't have upload privileges, or are taking a break of your favourite BSP) - how about working on Debian artwork?

Ubuntu is working on their artwork for Edgy. I'd love Debian to have (optionally) some cool Debian look. I mean, we'll probably be never as polished as Ubuntu artwork-wise, but we sure could do a lot better than now. That is, do at least something...

You don't need to be a DD to work on this. You can just use the existing linux theming web pages such as art.gnome.org, Gnome-look.org and KDE-look.org to share your artwork, and maybe use the Debian Wiki to coordinate your efforts. If enough people are interested, you probably can organize a mailing list, too.

P.S. Although the release will be codenamed "etch", there is no need to make the default desktop look like an etch-a-sketch. Just make it something smooth... ;-)

[Update: The EtchGNOME status page lists "update desktop-base" as work in progress. This is where the artwork will be "deployed". However, KDE and XFCE integration is still a bit lacking apparently.]

[Update #2: Because it was mentioned like that on DWN: I'm not talking about background images only. Artwork is much more. There are some splash screens, icons, window manager themes etc.]

[Update #3: yes, this includes CD cover artwork. Thanks, Johannes.]

Neither of them can win this war. It will only cause more hatred. Killing civilians has always and will always be a bad idea.

So please stop this stupid war.

The only way of winning by military means would be genocide. Or more likely, geocide, since you'd need to get rid of all relatives and friends of your opponents around the world... Not really an option, is it?

The thing which bothers me is that the Israelis should know better. They've been trying this for years and it didn't help. Now why are they doing such a large military operation again? I mean, what is the true reason?

Read a statement by UNICEF and the WHO.

The psychological impact is serious, as people, including children have witnessed the death or injury of loved ones and destruction of their homes and communities.

Guess what, these will probably devote their life now to attacking Israel.

So no peace for Israel and the middle east for the next 20 years either...

Apparently both the U.S. and Israel like to use the excuse of fighting "terrorists, and not countries" to not follow international humanitarian laws. Which doesn't make any sense; if you want to fight terrorism, you must go way beyond what humanitarian laws enforce.