XP SP2 Missing Images on Drudge Home Page

I found what was causing my problem. It was Secretmaker a pop up blocker program that was causing the problem with XP SP2. I removed the program and everything now works fine.

Thanks to all for your comments and suggestions.

I've had SP2 for several weeks now and have had no trouble. There are sites that want to use popups as a regular non-ad feature. I've decided these sites are not worth visiting.

HTML has a popup feature that is fine for presenting data entry forms or help text. The only difference is that you have to click on a link. I cannot imagine ever wanting to go to a page that pops up extra windows before I ask for them.

Gah. Gimp (Gnu Image Manipulation Program) is no Photoshop. Photoshop has no open source equivalent. Not one. Gimp is a nice program and I use it a lot, but no, don't lie to people and say that's it is a Photoshop replacement. Now it may be enough for most people, but it is not nearly as powerful.

For the record I'm using Linux right now. I've used it off and on since about 1995. I also use windows, solaris, macs, and a half dozen other operating systems, some being in house designs specific to one machine (albiet very large machines). Unix is ok, but it does have some design problems that linux inherited.

If you use it cause it's useful - that's great. If you use it cause you believe the socialist crap that Richard Stallman spouts - that's too bad. If you want open source I prefer the BSD license. But most people don't want to mess with source code for programs. I will admit that I have had occasion to make small changes to my kernel source before compiling, but I didn't enjoy it. I like programming when I'm paid for it or when it's a project of my own choosing, not to fix other peoples problems.

Open standards are more important than open source. Yes, some things that are widely used (compilers for example) are very good canidates for a university to develop extensions to and should be open source in the BSD sense.

Virus are often developed for windows applications, not just windows. Take all of the irc/kazaa/dc exploits our there. So it isn't just microsoft's job. They could do better, but linux in general has smarter people using it that don't install as much random crap on their computer.

Don't mean to come on too strong here, I know you are just trying to be helpful. And I kinda built a straw man argument since you weren't arguing for Open Source. But I have made a living programming in the past, and while now I'm more focused on hardware level design, I don't like people telling me I'm taking away their freedom by earning a living through my hard work, which is what Stallman does. He is a quite a kook. Don't belive me just look at his personal site. Especially the part about him having nasal flower sex.

Often when people are linux zealots its from a "freedom" standpoint instead of a "usability/suitability" standpoint which is not a healthy thing.

-paridel