thanks but that didn't work, I think that I will just have to do a full reinstall. I'm pretty sure whatever the problem is has to do with webkit, the file (or whatever) that all those programs talk to when they check for updates or anything internet related. So does anyone know what that is?
I think that when I got the beta of safari it brought a new one, and when I ran the software update at the same time as uninstalling it i think that it simply deleted whatever file that is and so now all of those programs have nothing to talk to. So to speak.
I won't have access to the install disks until the fifth of july(I'm on a pseudo vacation). So if anyone can tell me what's wrong before then that would be great.

oh and when I ran the permission repair it looked like it repaired a lot of things that weren't working it listed them by name and what not, but that seemed to have no effect.

and 'one more thing' the software update preference pane isn't working either.