Villeneuve Family Portal » Annoyances

Force Kubuntu to let you install new login themes

Andrew — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:36:20 +0000

Problem: You’re tired of the default Kubuntu login theme and want to install a new one. But when you try to add new themes by going to System Settings > Login Screen (under the category System Administration) > Theme, nothing happens.

Cause: A flaw in KDE

Solution: Open Konsole and type:

kdesudo kcmshell4 kdm

This will open the Login Screen module, but as root. Now try installing a login theme. You should be able to see the newly installed theme in the list once you install, and be able to specify it as the default.

Help Thunderbird display emoticons in messages sent from Microsoft Outlook

Andrew — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 06:03:04 +0000

Problem: Mozilla Thunderbird (running on a GNU/Linux machine) doesn’t display emoticons in messages that were sent using Microsoft Outlook. Instead, emoticons appear as the letter “J”.

Cause: Microsoft’s lack of concern for web and email standards

Solution: Install the “Wingdings” font so that Thunderbird can actually render the emoticons. On the latest versions of Ubuntu, this is as simple as clicking on the wingding.ttf file and then clicking Install. You can get Wingdings from your Windows computer. Just go to C:\Windows\Fonts and look for wingding.ttf. It should be near the end. Copy this file to your GNU/Linux machine and install it. Next time you start Thunderbird, you should be able to see emoticons in any message sent by a friend using Microsoft Outlook.

What to do when GParted crashes on your Live CD

Andrew — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 20:52:51 +0000

Problem: GParted crashes while starting up when launched from the Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat Live CD, or from a Maverick USB installation. Restarting the computer and beginning another live session fails to help matters.

Solution: There’s actually a pretty simple solution for this very annoying problem: Upgrade GParted. A user dealing with this problem could, of course, fall back on an older Live CD with an older version of GParted. But older versions may run into “unknown errors” if a newer version of GParted has been used to configure a drive. Furthermore, it makes sense to just grab the latest and greatest version.

If you’re running Maverick on a USB stick, just open a terminal and type:

sudo apt-get install gparted

Ubuntu will upgrade GParted. Next time you try to start it, it should come up okay and not crash.

If you’re running a live session from a CD or DVD, use the disc to make a USB stick that can save data. Then upgrade GParted using the command above.

This American loves to despise TV advertising

Andrew — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:57:17 +0000

As viewers all over America know, television advertising is often needlessly repetitive and poorly produced. The number of creative spots that manage to strike a true emotional chord or offer useful information, though memorable, are few.

Most of what airs between programming on every channel consists of endless promotions for drugs, cars, and beauty products. Trucks leap over giant boulders, pitchmen talk up the virtues of the latest sleeping pill, and models smile for the camera while displaying the latest brands in cosmetics.

Nestled between the messaging of America’s major corporations are pitiful appeals from the owners of local dealerships and insurance salesmen. On occasion, there will be a sobering and thoughtful reminder from the Ad Council, or a comedic scene inviting laughter.

But these gems are hidden within a dry and scratchy haystack of bland and boring fare. If advertisers really want our attention, why do they spend so much money on thirty second messages that simply serve to irritate the viewer?