display any file you want on your desktop

      in Ubuntu Dapper using Conky, my new favorite Ubuntu app. Along with todo.txt and remind, it has successfully allowed me to scrap Rainlendar2 and its non-existent r2skin skins (see here) for a much more customizable and robust system of organizing my life. Below is a snapshot of my desktop with computer info plus weather on the left, calendar at the bottom, and todo & grocery lists on the right:

      I use the command line in Terminal to update my todos, project lists, and reminders, then it automatically shows on my desktop! Whenever I need to find something (like what I did on a certain date, or when did I see Dr.So-and-so, I just grep it from the appropriate file! Can’t get better than that. All information is immediately available at my typing fingertips. Gotta lovit…
      I am still considering updating my system by incorporating either Shawkle or ruby-scripted FMP - both of these very simple yet powerful systems involve dumping all ideas into one file which then gets organized into customizable categorical files, such as todo, calendar, contacts, whatever project, etc. Another option would be to try out emacs org-mode, which I’m tempted to examine since it will force me to learn emacs and some lisp. (thanks to ‘pmenair’ for the tip!)
      Check out these Conky links for help with the app(besides the main conky website):

• ubuntu forums - conky setup help
• linux.com article - great breakdown of Conky by Shashank Sharma
• ubuntu forums - conky config files with screenshots
• conky mailing list - if you really get stuck (or check out the conky irc) or need to tweak something like I had to (thanks Brenden!)