Why defaulting at $HOME/.gnome-desktop ?

[Jean Montambeault <jrm videotron ca>]

	Hello.

	Since I switched to Gnome my system is defaulting to .gnome-desktop
in all the home directories. I'd love to know what useful purpose
this serves, if any. Until now it has been nothing more than an
annoyance. I'd like also to learn the file to edit to change this
behavior.

	While I'm here, if anybody could tell me how to make the gkb applet
default to Xmodmap instead of Xkb on bootup ? 

	Thanks for your time.

	Jean M.