To fix it (or break it as the case may be) do the following:
Enter this in a terminal:
gedit ~/.gtkrc-2.0

Then enter this in the document and save it:
gtk-recent-files-max-age=0

Rebot and you should be good to go.

Annoyed by constant pestering about why you shut down?

Do you get as tired of this as I do?  Like I didn’t already have enough crap to do already (as evidenced by the fact that I have to boot the server). Ugh.  Anyway – here’s how to make it stop.

1. Open Group Policy, then load the group policy you want to apply the change to.

Note: On a computer that is not a part of a domain you can set this feature locally by running GPEDIT.MSC from the Run command.

For example, if you want the setting to affect the entire domain, edit the Default Domain GPO, or another GPO on the domain level.

1. Expand Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System.
2. Double-click Display Shutdown Event Tracker.
3. Select Disabled.
   

   Group Policy Editor settings for Shutdown Tracker

4. Click OK to exit all dialog boxes.

Access Windows Remote Desktop on your Mac

With the ubiquity of remote access protocols, virtual machine technologies, and high speed Internet connectivity platform dependency really has become a thing of the past (one of the biggest strengths for Microsoft now turns out to be it’s probable downfall).  There’s no reason I can’t access my Mac from Ubuntu using VNC and then connect through the remote desktop protocol to a Windows 2008 Server (running in VirtualBox on my Windows 7 Ultimate PC ).  Here is how to do the second step:

To download the client:

1. Browse to the Microsoft Mactopia Remote Desktop main page http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/remote-desktop/default.mspx and click the Download Remote Desktop Connection Client 2 > link
2. Click Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac 2.0.1
3. Next click the English (.dmg) link in the Details box to the right

To install the client:

1. Double-click RDC201EN.dmg to expand it using StuffIt Expander.
   Depending on the Web browser that you are currently using, this step might be performed for you automatically.
2. Double-click the RDC201EN.dmg file you downloaded to mount the Remote Desktop Connection volume.
3. On the Desktop, open the Remote Desktop Connection volume.
4. Copy the Remote Desktop Connection folder from the Remote Desktop Connection volume to your hard disk.
5. If the Remote Desktop Connection folder was copied to your hard disk successfully, you can move the Remote Desktop Connection volume, the .dmg file, and the original file you downloaded (if present) to the Trash.
6. To complete the installation, run the program by opening the Remote Desktop Connection folder that you copied to your hard disk, and then double-click Remote Desktop Connection.