M. Edward (Ed) Borasky wrote:
> One thing I do find myself changing often is when I'm editing a (Gentoo)
> config file in Vim. The comments tend to be user instructions on how to
> set the parameters. On a black background, Vim colors the comments a
> dark-ish blue that's almost unreadable, so I go ":syn off" to read them.

That's because Vim assumes that there is a bright background. I also had 
the very same problem until I discovered this option:

   set background=dark

That makes the comments a bright blue, something like cyan. Try it!