Several questions
 

1) I would like to use True Type Fonts with Gnome 2.2, however it doesn't want to use them. I have the path in my XF86Config file, and I'm pretty sure I've done everything else I need to do (made a fonts.scale, blah blah blah), but Gnome 2.2 refuses to acknowledge those fonts. Any ideas?

2) I've recently installed the latest stable release of Firestarter (0.9.2, I think) and everything goes fine with the exception of it complaining about not finding some modules (some I compiled directly into the kernel, others I didn't compile at all because I didn't need them i.e. ppp_deflate). My main problem with Firestarter is that as soon as it hooks into ppp0 I can't do anything on the internet. I can still ping and traceroute, but web browsing, IRC, or any other function no longer works. One idea I have is that I needed to compile the dummy net driver and have Firestarter hook onto dummy0, but I'm not too sure about that. I don't have the time right now to test my theory, either.

3) I have a ViewSonic A70 monitor, and an ATI Radeon 7200. I have my hsync set to 30-70 and vsync set to 50-160 (which is what the factory website says the settings should be) but the only resolution I can get is 1280X1024, which is the max my monitor can do. While some people may like that resolution I'm afraid it's just a bit more strain on my eyes than I can handle. I like my 1024x768. And I'd like to get 32 bit instead of 24.

I can only help with the last question in regard to resolution and color depth.

There really is no difference between 24 bit and 32 bit color depth. The maximum displayble is 24 bit. Some video adapters that support 32 bit will perform better though because the 8 bits do not have to squeezed out for every pixel before being written. So it reduces the load on the video driver.

However, both changes can be made in the /etc/X11/XF86Config file, unless your are running frame-buffer mode. In the later case the frame-buffer has to be modified. Probably change "vga = 795" to "vga = 792" in the /etc/lilo.conf file. Then run "lilo" to write the new boot sector. 16.8M color depth is the highest supported. And then reboot.

If not frame-buffer mode, then in the XF86Config file, locate the "Screens" sections. There is a setting there for DefaultColorDepth. Set it to 32 if you desire to see if that would be supported by your card. Then below that setting locate the "Display" section for 24 and/or 32 bit Depth. Remove the 1280x1024 settings from the list, including the quotes. Leaving the 1024x768 as first. Save the file and then restart X. If you change the color depth, and X refuses to start, then revert back to 24 bit setting in the file.

Aight. Questions 1 and 3 have been taken care of. Now I just need to know about number 2. That one is REALLY bothering me.

Since I don't use firestarter, I can't help you there but since it is just a front end for iptables, why don't you eliminate the middleman and start writing your own firewall? It is actually easy to start with a firewall that drops everything and then add a few accept rules so the stuff you usually do comes through. You can either add the rules in rc.local or set up a separate firewall file and run it from rc.local (or one of the other startup scripts).

A really basic script might be

iptables -F

iptables -P INPUT DROP
iptables -P OUTPUT DROP
iptables -P FORWARD DROP

iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --syn -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp -m state --state ESTABLISHED,RELATED -j ACCEPT

iptables -A OUTPUT -p tcp -m state --state NEW,ESTABLISHED,RELATED -j ACCEPT

That should only allow programs you start on that machine to access the internet and should keep out connections from the outside.

Also, if you use the search button here there are lots of examples of iptables scripts that could be modified to your needs. You should also check out the iptables tutorial at FrozenTux . It is kind of heavy going but it has everything you need to write your own firewall.

I'm going to read that tutorial. I like using the frontend for iptables because, frankly, I am a lazy bastard. And iptables/ipchains has scared me since day one, as has most Linux administration . . . But I suppose I should put the Big Boy Pants on and teach myself some new tricks.

Thanks for the link!