I'd like to have two clocks in my Gnome panel -- one for local time (Taiwan), one for time back home (midwestern US). Can anyone recommend a clock to install that can do this, hopefully one that doesn't have tons of dependencies? I've tried getting the basic applet clock to show a time zone other than local or UCT but haven't been able to figure out how to do so.

On a related topic, is there any fast way to find out if I have a given lib, package or whatever else installed? For example, the Gnome lunar clock requires the Gnome development libraries. Where on my system would I check to find out if I have these libraries?

Also, how do I use rpm's under Mandrake 9.1?

Thanks in advance for any help.

On your time zone problem you could set UTC to midwestern US and then set local time to the time zone difference between Chicago and Taiwan.

"Also, how do I use rpm's under Mandrake 9.1?"

Use the rpm command, see:
man rpm

" is there any fast way to find out if I have a given lib, package or whatever else installed?"

rpm -qi packagename

You can list every rpm that you have installed with:
rpm -qa | less

I hate to be finicky, but won't that solution not account for daylight savings time? I'm also worried it might goof up my system. Can't messing around with the clock do that?

Thanks for your help with the rpm and version-number questions. I will use them often.

"I'm also worried it might goof up my system. Can't messing around with the clock do that?"

Yes, if you do it wrong. Read
man hwclock
for a good description of how to handle your clock.

" won't that solution not account for daylight savings time?"

probably not.