How Enable Smooth fonts on Ubuntu?

Ubuntu Linux has an option for font smoothing that is turned off by default. To enable this option create and open the file ~/.fonts.conf and paste in this text:

<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<!DOCTYPE fontconfig SYSTEM "fonts.dtd">
<fontconfig>
<match target="font">
<edit name="autohint" mode="assign">
<bool>true</bool>
</edit>
</match>
</fontconfig>

Now just logout and login again ..
You will see the changes :)

Basically, Apple has a patent on "subpixel font-hinting", i.e. the use of RGB colors to create smooth gradients across areas the size of a fraction of a pixel. Linux distros, including Ubuntu, turn this feature off by default because distributing it in the US with it turned on would violate Apple's intellectual property.

How to SKYPE Linux behind proxy in IIT Bombay?

Download Skype for Linux from
http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/ and install it.
-----------------------------------------

$ rm -rf $HOME/.Skype
$ mkdir $HOME/.Skype
$ vim $HOME/.Skype/shared.xml

Put the following code in it:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config version="1.0">
<Lib>
<Connection>
<HttpsProxy>
<Addr>10.200.13.50:80</Addr>
<Enable>1</Enable>
<Pwd>YOUR_ENCODED_NETMON_PASSWD</Pwd>
<User>YOUR_NETMON_LOGIN</User>
</HttpsProxy>
</Connection>
</Lib>
</config>

$ rm -rf $HOME/.mozilla
$ mozilla &

PROXY SETUP
------------
edit -> preferences -> advanced -> proxies
proxy: 10.200.13.50
port: 80

TURNING OFF PASSWD ENCRYPTION
------------------------------
edit -> preferences -> privacy & security -> passwords
Turn off using encryption when storing sensitive data.

SAVE PROXY LOGIN PASSWD
------------------------
open say google.com
when asked for proxy login passwd, don't forget to remember the passwd.

now quit mozilla

$ cd $HOME/.mozilla
$ find ./ | grep "\.s$" | xargs cat | tail -n 2 | head -n 1 | cut -c 2-

u will get the encoded passwd which skype uses :)) Put it in the <Pwd> tag of the shared.xml file.

save the file and start skype
give your login passwd, wait for some time ...
njoy \:D/

An alternate way is to copy shared.xml file from your windows account to your Linux account (assuming https proxy settings are done there).