1) Try disk utilities to repair permissions.

2) Reinstall the 10.4.10 update

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.

Try a disk repair or an Apple Genius (before 6 tonight) if you are anywhere near one.

and I went to the launch (most amazing product ever). but I got there right when they closed the doors. And every time I go to the apple store the geniuses seem to know very little passed iLife. I think I will just dink around in the system files until everything works again. or wait until the 5th and do a full reinstall, thank god for external hard drives.

I was suggesting a Genius because I assume they would be willing to run an install and you wouldn't have to wait until the 5th. I understand the Genius problem.

Create a new user.

Login as that user.

Run Safari/whatever.

Does it work?

If so, then your problem lives in ~/Library.

Sometimes brevity is the height of beauty.

I did indeed try making a new user and I found that the problem was in the library.
But I was able to get a hold of someone else's install discs and an external hard drive. Problem fixed.