PCLinuxOSJust when I thought I had this computer figured out I made the mistake of upgrading my operating system. There went three days. I don't use Microsoft of any kind so I can't blame it on them. I use a Linux compilation call PCLinuxOS. You can find it on the interntwebtubespipes. It wasn't its fault either. The fault was mine.
I have been using this system since 2005 and it wasn't the first Linux I tried. I sampled six or eight compilations but they were all lacking in some way or other. I had gotten used to Microsoft windows to the point that I could help others. I gained my skill and meager knowledge because it was always rolling over and playing dead. By burning incense, mumbling incantations and shaking my rattle I always seemed to coax it back to life. In the end I was reinstalling every six months and that was getting old. I fiddled with it more than I used it.
The problem with the Linux compilations were varied but what I wanted was something like MS-DOS with a shell over it that looked like windows, was intuitive and that I could use without having to work on it all the time. PCLOS was it. It looked like MS windows and whatever I did on MS windows I did on it and it almost always worked. When it didn't it was either easy to figure out or there was online help. One other little perk is it was free. So I went for it.
The problem started this time when the latest version came out. I was using the 2009.1 version and the 2010.07 version was offered so I downloaded it and installed it and my PC rejected it. It acted like it would work then it wouldn't. Fortunately I had the old system on another partition so I could keep working while I tried to figure this thing out. I tried re-downloading, burning another copy and re-installing it again to no avail. Meanwhile I was having trouble with my remaining installation and the repository where I get my fixes and updates rejected me. Panic city. I downloaded Kubuntu and it worked but was klunky, Ubuntu but it was like trying to instantly learn a foreign language. Finally I decided to install Ubuntu and learn to use it.
My desktop, Riggs Library, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.I could live in there.
Talk about an exercise in frustration. I was used to the KDE graphical interface and this was something that for me was just not intuitive. I could get online but some of the programs that I know it had I just could not figure out how to access. It would access all my files that I had on PCLOS partitions and get online so that was good. Then I tried to work with it and it just did not feel good so...
Screw this. I reinstalled an old copy of PCLOS 2009.1 (20 minutes) and resolved to use it without updates and several apps that I had been using. OK there's two days gone. Then I downloaded PCLOS with the lxde graphical interface and ran it as a live cd and it worked fine which told me that it was the new version of KDE that was killing me. You see my PC likes KDE 3.5 but throws up when fed KDE4. So KDE for me has been fixed until it's broke.
So finally I went to the forums, something I should have done three days ago, thinking that I couldn't be the only one having this problem (no, really?). I found the answer posted on May 8 in three minutes. I guess you could say three days and three minutes. Three days of beating my head against the wall and three minutes of thinking. I wish I was inclined to try thinking first.
I apologize to the geeks at PCLOS that developed and give away this wonderful operating system for all the cursing, wailing, gnashing of teeth, expressing doubts about their ancestry and taking of their name in vain. I'm crawling back on hands and knees begging forgiveness and please take me back. I'll be good.
Now for something a little lighter. Here is a couple that put real meaning into "Pole Dancing". If it doesn't want to play right click and select watch on youtube.
Now try to flush those sexual fantasies you just had and come back down to earth.
This made me feel really good just knowing that this can be done but I have feelings of inadequacy knowing I can not. I do like dancing but I'm not a big fan. I found this to be most beautiful.
I like to ride my bicycle, I like to ride my bike. I did go for a ride and I can't wait to tell you of the dog, the walking stick and how to stop a bicycle really quick.
