gistfile1.diff

diff --git a/kato/python/kato/tail.py b/kato/python/kato/tail.py
index aa22602..053c46f 100644
--- a/kato/python/kato/tail.py
+++ b/kato/python/kato/tail.py
@@ -112,6 +112,9 @@ class LogFormatter:
         Appropriate highlight is applied based on the semantic of log
         message levels.
         """
+        # WORKAROUND a bug in snow leopard's terminal.app causing `kato tail` to blink
+        use_color = 'xterm' in os.getenv('TERM', '')
+
         colored_name = fg256(self.colormap[name], name)
 
         kind = None
@@ -138,13 +141,13 @@ class LogFormatter:
         elif 'WARN' in line:
             kind = 'warning'
 
-        if kind == 'error':
+        if kind == 'error' and use_color:
             line = highlight256('red', line)
-        elif kind == 'warning':
+        elif kind == 'warning' and use_color:
             line = highlight256('orange', line)
             
         return '{0:{1}} --> {2}'.format(
-            colored_name, self.name_width, line)
+            colored_name if use_color else name, self.name_width, line)
     
 
 def tail_and_show(procs, filter_noise):