diff --git a/.authinfo b/.authinfo
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b8fe5fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.authinfo
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+machine imap.gmail.com login rekahsoft@gmail.com password 13371inuxhax0RockStaR port 993
+machine smtp.gmail.com login rekahsoft@gmail.com password 13371inuxhax0RockStaR port 587
diff --git a/.cd-authinfo b/.cd-authinfo
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a4a352a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.cd-authinfo
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+machine imap.gmail.com login collin.doering@gmail.com password iLv-A\$h-\$m\^sh port 993
+machine smtp.gmail.com login collin.doering@gmail.com password iLv-A\$h-\$m\^sh port 587
diff --git a/.emacs b/.emacs
index 12aa0c7..970add8 100644
--- a/.emacs
+++ b/.emacs
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 ;; Author: Collin J. Doering
 ;; Description: Emacs configuration file (in emacs lisp)
 
+;; stop renaming of saved files to filename~ which ends up breaking hardlinks
+(setq backup-by-copying-when-linked t)
+
 ;; fixes color output issues; see: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Emacs#Colored_output_issues
 (add-hook 'shell-mode-hook 'ansi-color-for-comint-mode-on)
 
diff --git a/.gnus b/.gnus
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05f8d0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gnus
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+;; File: .gnus
+;; Author: Collin J. Doering <rekahsoft@gmail.com>
+;; Date: Jan 20, 2011
+;; Description: Configuration file for gnus mail reader (in emacs-lisp)
+
+(require 'smtpmail)
+
+(setq smtpmail-debug-info t)
+
+(setq nnmail-expiry-wait 2)
+(setq nnmail-resplit-incoming t)
+(setq user-mail-address "collin.doering@gmail.com")
+(setq mail-host-address "gmail.com")
+(setq gnus-message-archive-group "nnimap+collin.doering:INBOX.Sent")
+(setq gnus-outgoing-message-group "nnimap+collin.doering:INBOX.Sent")
+
+;; use smtp to send mail
+(setq message-send-mail-function 'smtpmail-send-it
+      smtpmail-starttls-credentials '(("smtp.gmail.com" 587 nil nil))
+      smtpmail-auth-credentials "~/.cd-authinfo"
+      smtpmail-default-smtp-server "smtp.gmail.com"
+      smtpmail-smtp-server "smtp.gmail.com"
+      smtpmail-smtp-service 587
+      smtpmail-local-domain "rekahsoft.homelinux.org")
+
+;; set primary select method..
+(setq gnus-select-method '(nnimap "collin.doering"
+				  (remove-prefix "INBOX.")
+				  (nnimap-address "imap.gmail.com")
+				  (nnimap-server-port 993)
+				  (nnimap-stream ssl)
+				  (nnimap-authinfo-file "~/.cd-authinfo")))
+
+;;
+(setq gnus-secondary-select-methods
+      '((nnimap "rekahsoft"
+		(remove-prefix "INBOX.")
+		(nnimap-address "imap.gmail.com")
+		(nnimap-server-port 993)
+		(nnimap-stream ssl)
+		(nnimap-authinfo-file "~/.authinfo"))))
+;;	(nnimap "rekahsoft.mail"
+;;		(remove-prefix "INBOX.")
+;;		(nnimap-address "imap.gmail.com")
+;;		(nnimap-server-port 993)
+;;		(nnimap-stream ssl)
+;;		(nnimap-authinfo-file "~/.rkm-authinfo"))))
+
+(remove-hook 'gnus-mark-article-hook
+             'gnus-summary-mark-read-and-unread-as-read)
+(add-hook 'gnus-mark-article-hook 'gnus-summary-mark-unread-as-read)
+
+
+;; setting up posting styles
+(setq gnus-posting-styles
+      '((".*"
+	 (address "collin.doering@gmail.com")
+	 (name "Collin J. Doering"))
+	("rekahsoft@gmail.com"
+	 (address "rekahsoft@gmail.com")
+	 (name "Collin J. Doering (RekahSoft)"))))
+
+;;gnus-group-line-format's default value was
+;;"%M%S%p%P%5y:%B%(%g%)%l %O\n"
+
+;;(setq gnus-group-line-format "%M%S%5y/%-5t: %uG %D\n")
+(setq gnus-group-line-format "%M%S%p%P%5y:%B%(%uG%)%l %O\n")
+
+(defun gnus-user-format-function-G (arg) 
+  (concat (car (cdr gnus-tmp-method)) ":"
+          (or (gnus-group-find-parameter gnus-tmp-group 'display-name)
+              (let ((prefix (assq 'remove-prefix (cddr gnus-tmp-method))))
+                (if (and prefix
+                         (string-match (concat "^\\("
+                                               (regexp-quote (cadr prefix))
+                                               "\\)")
+                                       gnus-tmp-qualified-group))
+                    (substring gnus-tmp-qualified-group (match-end 1))
+                  gnus-tmp-qualified-group)))))
+
+(setq gnus-thread-hide-subtree t)
+
+(setq gnus-summary-same-subject "")
+(setq gnus-sum-thread-tree-root "")
+(setq gnus-sum-thread-tree-single-indent "")
+(setq gnus-sum-thread-tree-leaf-with-other "+-> ")
+(setq gnus-sum-thread-tree-vertical "|")
+(setq gnus-sum-thread-tree-single-leaf "`-> ")
+
+(require 'gnus-demon)
+(setq gnus-use-demon t)
+(gnus-demon-add-handler 'gnus-group-get-new-news 10 2)
+(gnus-demon-init)