Another way to start something after your login is to use .xinitrc file, if you use XWindow.
.xinitrc is executed only after a graphical login (XWindow), .bashrc is executed even if you login from SSH.
Is up to you to decide where you want to add something, if you don't care about a remote login you may use .bashrc
I differentiate it because I login to my work desktop even through ssh, something is run automatically when I login with a remote shell (shell customizations and so on), something is run when I login from the XWindow console (Firefox, Pidgin, Evolution for example)
Ben :-)