Installing Linux Operating System - Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

I had thought of installing Linux long ago and have delayed and stalled and procrastinated.

In school this past year I became more convinced it had to be done because Microsoft had begun spying on people via Windows 10. Even more recently I saw how they had begun to take over my user account to force me into using the Microsoft account system. They want to hang onto customers, but not by offering better service or better prices, only by force.

Well, school is over and I'm studying a variety of things which may complement my schooling. I have looked a bit at the city's attempt to get a Municipal Area Network (a MAN) by participating in a contest run by Frontier Communications and I have been educated a bit about the state-wide effort to get broadband everywhere. I have studied the recent IBM computers to see what they are doing. There are a lot of them out there, so it may be good for me to know a few things before being asked questions. Their POWER processor (used in the AS400 and later) is still alive and evolving and their (newer) z/System processors are apparently doing very well. The limiting factor with IBM is their need to maintain backward compatibility. But, if someone wants to start with a z/System computer and add VMs with Linux or use only Linux, then IBM is onboard. They actually approve of Linux in a big way. They even have added something called an IFL to make their machines work better with Linux and they have a LinuxONE concept. Yes, IBM is perfectly comfortable with the Open Source world. The distributions of Linux they approve most are: Ubuntu, Red Hat, and SUSE. So, I've begun to look at installing those on my computer.

In fact, I now have a LiveCD (really a DVD) of Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and have booted from it. It works just fine. I'll be installing it the rest of the way to my PC tomorrow. But, let me begin telling you about how I got this far. It's a bit strange.

I went to the http://www.Ubuntu.com webpage and began reading. instructions it was pretty horrifying. They didn't just say to download an ubuntu.msi file and click on it.

There is apparently an installer program which I have yet to find and the file you download from the site is an .iso file which can't be run as a program. I wasn't entirely stumped, but upset that these technically capable people still have a tin ear about the regular public. If you want to make your product accessible you have to do more.

Here's what I did instead:

Step 1:Discover how many bits your Windows computer uses for storage: Right-Click <Start>, select <System>, and look for System Type. My computer has Windows 10 and uses 64-bits for each character stored. Then, from Ubuntu.com, I downloaded the .iso file which is for a 64-bit computer. For my computer it was "ubuntu-16.04-desktop-amd64.iso". It's a big file, about 1.4 GB (1,400 MB).

Then I read other web pages for some instructions. I even found one Youtube.com video by a young kid (can't tell you his age, but he must have been <= 13) who knew how to install-to-dual-boot or install-toUSB perfectly and the video was helpful -- far more helpful than the Ubuntu.com site. I watched the kid's instruction video. He was very professional about it and gave all the important details. I couldn't have done better.

So, all it really required was media to boot from. My PC won't boot from any USB, so I had to look for some DVD disks (CD discs don't hold enough) and I found a package at Walmart. Thank you Walmart!

If you want to create a USB "LiveDisk" the kid's video said you need a tool to transfer the .iso file -- a Universal USB Installer (a UUI) and he gave a website. You will have to look this up and get this (or some other) tool for the job.

Step 2: I put in a new blank DVD (this won't work with a formatted disc) and knowing Windows 10 despite having no instructions from Ubuntu.com, I right-click on the .iso file and tell it to "burn to E:" (to the DVD).

It doesn't just copy an .iso file, it essentially opens a package (not unlike a zip file) and sets up enough file structure to put a bunch of files on the DVD. This gives me the essentials on the DVD

Step 3: On a pre-Win8 computer you have to get into the boot settings and set it to start from the CD-ROM drive. Well, I had already done this.

In fact, I have always had that as a default. It's not every day you put a bootable disc in the CD-ROM, so it doesn't hurt. then, when you do need it to boot it's ready. He also pointed out that on Win10 you go through the OS Settings to make an adjustment. I tried that and my computer didn't respond the same way. I'm not sure why. Anyway, I restarted the computer and it booted properly.

To adjust the boot order can be a little tricky. It may take a bit of practice. When you start/restart your computer there will be a quick display on the screen of some Fx function keys you can press to adjust your computer. You need to press the Function key which lets you go into the BIOS settings or Boot Settings. There you have an old-fashioned text-only display and you use the cursor keys or <Enter> key to move around. You navigate to the Boot section and Boot Device Priority. Here you want to ensure the CD-ROM (or USB if that is your desire and if it is possible) is first in the list and your hard disk drive is second. This way, when it boots, it will look to the disc in the CD-ROM (or USB) for the operating system to load. When you make a change, be certain to "Save and Exit". If you have the LiveDisk in the CD-ROM (USB) when it returns to booting, it will look there for the OS.

When I go ahead with the boot process it put the Windows window icon on the screen and I didn't know what it was doing, but then it brought up the boot loader menu and allowed me to pick LiveDisk Try Ubuntu. It loaded right up. No problems.

Step 4: I checked out the icons on the left side of the screen (the Launch bar) and I tried Firefox and everything worked fine, including the network connection.

I learned later that it changed something somehow because when I returned to booting Windows it had the time set incorrectly and I couldn't correct it.

There were 4 important steps, but there are a few more to fully install it on my hard disk. This is much less scary than anything the Ubuntu.com site suggested.

For tomorrow:

The kid went onto show how to partition your hard drive to install it there. It made perfect sense to me and I'll be doing that tomorrow. But, for now, know that getting a LiveDisk Ubuntu Linux is NOT hard and that YouTube.com videos can help.

********here*********

Suddenly, *******here*******, my Windows Operating system rebooted. I didn't ask it to. I wasn't given a choice to stop it. It just rebooted and installed updates for several hours. That's one more reason to switch away from Windows to an operating system that respects my control of my machine. Thank you Google (Alphabet) for keeping what I had written as a Draft.

Where We Stand, Where We're Going

Since 1981, when Ronald Reagan took office as President of the United States of America, we have seen  the wealth of a small minority of Americans grow to unprecedented heights and the middle-class begin to recede. They are today the first generation who do not believe their children will be better-off than they have been. Both Republicans and Democrats have said clearly that "the American Dream is dead".

During these decades we have seen the Republican party nominate men who were patriotic, experienced, intelligent, kind and in a couple of instances extremely wealthy. They represent the Conservative political views of the country and in the case of the wealthy candidates, the very small minority. These men have had the support of racists, activist Christians, the super-wealthy and almost entirely older white people.

There was no plan for them to select these presidential candidates, but in so doing they have made it clear they approve the paternalistic, sexist, racist views in America and they approve the current economic system which is failing us.

They have no plans to improve America. They only want to continue America's preeminence in the world and to continue globalization of trade, so the giant financial empires can expand. They say they recognize problems in America, but they then offer no paths to solving those problems.

These Republican candidates who have become president have also appointed Supreme Court justices and other Federal Court judges who enforce these ideas on the law, even if only by unconscious biases.

During these same decades the Democrats have selected two candidates who became president. Each came into office during a recession and had to face very large issues. President Clinton corrected the economic problems, worked the debt down to a balanced budget, spurred the economy to reduce unemployment fom 7% to 3.75% and tried to create a federal government healthcare system to help uninsured people gain healthcare insurance or at least the healthcare they needed. During this time there were numerous problems, not least of which was the Republican House victory in 1994, and subsequent impeachment. Tens of millions of people were employed!

President Obama came into office at the beginning of a terrible economic collapse not unlike the beginning of the Great Depression. He solved the initial problems associated with that within a year and then began a long slow economic recovery (which is common with financial recessions). To date the economy has newly-employed over 10 million people. He also caught and killed our great terrorist adversary, Osama bin Laden. And, most notably, a new healthcare system was put into place to help more people get coverage.

Republicans stated from day-one they would not work with him and they would try to ruin his presidency. This has limited the gains which might have been made. Thus, the economy is growing, but the nation has lost tremendous wealth (from the initial recession) and not regained that fully.

The Democrats have been trying to ensure the economic system works and that everyone gets a better share of the benefits of their labors.

The current Republican candidate, Donald Trump, is the absolute worst example of Conservatism. He believes women are dogs, that you are either a winner or a nothing. He believes that people of color are all criminals and that being rich is all that matters. He panders to the racists in the nation and has the endorsement of the Ku Klux Klan.

Even he has noted that the economy isn't working well for everyone, but he has a career of exploiting people and refusing to pay people for their work. He loves the current economic system because he has benefited from it hugely. You can't expect he would favor any changes which benefit someone whom he considers incompetent.

The Democratic candidate for president is a woman, a tireless fighter for improving America, a voice for people who have been stifled by the elite, a glass-ceiling breaker and a real leader. She knows the problems middle-class Americans face and she has plans to help solve those problems. She wants to change the system to make it better. She has the experience fighting the Republican 'army' and she has risen to the top to be the most prepared candidate for the presidency in America's history. I'm with Hillary!

Recent Terrorist Attacks in New York City and in New Jersey

I just read an article on the terrorist attacks.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/09/19/the-new-terror-even-when-it-fails-it-works.html

It appears they have indeed begun to attack soft targets. They have turned coward and showed they are men of no worth. Their only purpose on this Earth is to harm other people and to die. Is that truly what Mohammed wanted? There is no victory in what they do, no achievement, no gain. It is worthless as are they.

The attacks in Germany and France and now America mean we have to destroy the communications ability of ISIS and to do a better job watching travel by Muslims going to or from America.

I also wonder about their financing. Do they still have sufficient revenues from oil sales or are there other sources they are using? I would not assume they are entirely independent. It is quite logical for some other criminal groups to support them as a way of distracting "western" governments from their other duties.

Politically this is inconvenient, but we are rarely left alone to do what we want domestically. This is life.

Cause of the Terrorist Attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi

It appears one of those attackers has been caught and he says one of the reasons was the anti-Muslim video.
Surprise surprise.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/khattala-benghazi-video-new-york-times

Why Donald Trump Should Not Become President

Democrats have shown repeatedly that Donald Trump has great disdain for Americans of many kinds. He openly shown dislike or disdain for people of color, women, immigrants, and pretty much anyone but his own family. He has curiously had his clothing line made overseas and married an immigrant, so it is most confusing. We have shown clearly that he doesn't have the self-control we need in a leader. He has tried repeatedly to follow a script to give better speeches and he fails repeatedly. He is easily provoked by Tweets and seems to have a hair-trigger opinion on everything and everyone. He has regularly picked people he calls "the best" and yet they repeatedly lie or have been found to be doing business with Russians. It might even be possible that Trump himself is in debt to Russians or Chinese or others, but he refuses to release his tax records to let us see. So, aside from being divisive he is personally not up to the important job of national leader.

I can argue many of his policies are bad for America, but just as importantly they have been declared by experts (military or foreign policy) to be infeasible. He would separate America from its allies and make new enemies. He can't be trusted to keep us safe. His apparent fascination with nuclear weapons is just startling and horrifying. Then there is the question of whether he has policies he truly would execute. He has changed his stand on several policies overnight. It's really not clear what he stands for, except perhaps for the fantasmagorical Wall to keep out the invaders from the South.

His intelligence, his character, his truthfulness, his worldliness, his sincerity, are all in doubt. We have never elected such a person to be president and we shouldn't start now.

Solid Energy and other Tech News

I don't usually suggest investment in companies, but if this one "goes public" soon it could be a big investment win.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/solidenergy-systems-to-release-lithium-metal-battery/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bAY5195YHs

Another web site article on Solid Energy



New Telescope to Unlock the Universe

Microsoft Intrusiveness

At school we could potentially use any computer in the school.. We might use a computer in one classroom and another in another classroom or another in the library. We logged on with one network account and password rather than a local account for each computer. After using 15 accounts and passwords for the computer system, e-mail, Blackboard, MySchool, etc,. it occurred to me that I might want to use a password on my home computer. So, I added a familiar password. Then, after some weeks had gone by, I went to logon and I noticed the account was labeled Administrator. That surprised me because I specifically have an Administrator account aside from the local Standard account I use daily.

So, I investigated it. Why was my local Standard account now labeled Administrator?

I went to System Settings and there the account was shown as an Administrator AND that it now had the network logon account I have been using for school access to Microsoft Outlook (Microsoft's e-mail system). How could that have happened? Am I just forgetting something I have done? That's certainly a possibility these days.

Was this an accident I created or was this something Microsoft was doing to insinuate itself into my computer? Do they want everyone to login to Microsoft to use their home personal computer?

I had to cut off that tentacle immediately. I created another account and changed my personal computer's login to that local Standard account.

At school I used an Outlook account for e-mail and a regular Microsoft account to get access to some free software I could download for my school work. Had these followed me home? Then I noticed something else curious. When you 'manage' one of these "not my local Standard account"s it doesn't give you the option to simply delete the listing of it. It loads a browser and goes to the Outlook (Microsoft's e-mail system) login. Why would I want to login to Microsoft just to delete the listing of that account as a way to logon to my home computer. I'm not a Microsoft employee. If I want to use the Microsoft service I'll go to their webpage and logon there. I don't need to logon to my personal computer via that siter. At that moment the word "personal" seemed to be losing some of its meaning.

I decided to go through Control Panel to User Accounts and see if anything different appeared. It did. The old Windows 7 way showed the account as Standard. Clearly windows 10 was doing something new and different. The old Windows 7 User Accounts also didn't associate an e-mail address or corporate logon account with a home personal computer logon.

So, I now use the new standard user account to login at home, but I still have the Microsoft account listed as a way to logon to my own home computer. Strange.

QUESTION: Is Microsoft trying to further entangle itself with our home computers? What can be done to prevent it?