1- Open your terminal
2- Paste this in your terminal: exo-preferred-applications
3- A Preferred Applications window will pop up, so click the Utilities tab, and then locate the name of your preferred file manager in the usr/bin folder.
I looked far and wide for this, and a lot of what I read was a bit confusing. So, here is how to change the default file manager in Ubuntu in an easiest as possible way.
1- Open your terminal 2- Paste this in your terminal: exo-preferred-applications 3- A Preferred Applications window will pop up, so click the Utilities tab, and then locate the name of your preferred file manager in the usr/bin folder.
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I had to move to Linux and I must say I'm pleasantly surprised. There I was in Windows with no sound: Microsoft High Definition Audio is installed and working it said. But it wasn't. I searched high and wide all over the Internet and found others who had this same problem but had no solution. I became obsessed about not having sound. So I started tinkering, and to make a long tedious story short, peppy and full of win; I did a clean install of Windows, and when that didn't help, I decided to install Ubuntu 12 with some reservations; expecting some sort of configuration hell that I was going to be put through. But it was relatively painless. Ubuntu 12 looks great in my opinion, and it doesn't require a learning curve that's impossible to follow. In fact it's kind of fun. And best of all, I have sound. My laptop also has a SD card reader in it, and that didn't work flawlessly in Windows either. I have 2 cards: one normal SD and one newer SDHC card. The latter never worked in Windows, the first did for a time and then didn't anymore. Why? I don't know, but it's not like I don't know what I'm doing. Both cards work perfectly in Ubuntu 12. How is this acceptable that the software giant put me through driver hell and not deliver the goods in the end, whereas everything works the way it should in Linux. In my mind, Linux was AAA and Microsoft was the big leagues.
So I had the brakes fixed among other things and it cost me about 1500$ but it was worth it. Let me tell you, my 1991 Passat can really fly. I got it up to 180 km/h while on a deserted back road, and I was only at 3500 rpm. I have no doubts it can get to the 260 km/h that it says on the speedometer. The rate of acceleration isn't much to at all but I love the Passat's spirit; the way it says 'I can always handle more'. I've had a few cars in my day but this VW has the best handling I've ever experienced.
My only remaining problem is the headliner. It was full of residual glue. My mechanic advised me against taking the headliner out; thinking if I broke some trim, I'd be in trouble finding some parts. He said I'd be just as well off leaving it there, cleaning it up and painting it. He said I could get it done professionally but he doubted it'd last more than one year. So I listened and proceeded to do the job. It was tricky, cause the headliner board can't get soaked. So, equipped with a mask, I sprayed some 3M adhesive remover and scraped. It took me forever, it was painful, and I regret taking his advice. I mean it looks alright now, all painted in blue but...then again, maybe I'm picky when it comes to that sort of thing. So now I'm looking for a full replacement headliner with the cloth on. Well I may have done something stupid. I bought a 1991 Passat GL. It didn't cost me much; only 700$. It runs good and honestly, it looks great next to my 1991 Ford F-150. I hear the comment from the peanut gallery all the time, "Why oh why do you buy such vehicles?" To which I answer, "Well I bought an almost new car once and a van another time and the payments drove me nuts because I couldn't insure them the way I wanted to. Plus my last one, my van, ended up being so costly that I pondered cutting the floor out in order to rely on the demanding yet reliable Fred Flintsone power. In the span of five years, I went to the garage in between 40 and 50 times. I actually had a celebratory 6-pack of Heineken once when 50 days had passed between visits to my mechanic. Now for the stupid part. Whatever happens with the VW Passat -I cannot win. Firstly my wife picked it out, so if it ends up being a reliable car; I'll never hear the end of it. Secondly, used parts are going to be hard to find. I had to get a speedometer cable and and a new idle regulator; the cost of them 2 was 500$, so yeah new parts don't come cheap. Thirdly I had to get help from a VW mechanic to help locate the wiper fuse!!! But aside from that all has been good so far. I'll need to fix the headliner but I'll be doing that myself and glue on a couple of emblems, but it won't cost that much. I'll add some pics real soon, of my new toy. I tell you it's a fun car to drive, there's some power and the urge to go fast is there.
My laptop's been on the fritz. Let me be more precise: The thingy that plugs into the laptop got loose; causing the connection to flicker. So as time went by, I had to hold the thingy just right, whilst having my mouth opened with an aluminum covered pencil in it and tilted at 15 degrees while facing north, just so the current would be stable. I did not care that I looked a little ridiculous, I had to have the internet. So, eventually I took it to get it fixed, and they said they'd fix it for 50$. After three weeks of waiting, it was with great fanfare that I went to pick up my precious laptop. But lo and behold, the guy said 'beware, once the thingy is loose, it will always stay loose so be forewarned.' It didn't sit well with me but I passed the remark over; thinking the man is being modest or lacks confidence in his craftsmanship and is therefore covering his backside with an excuse so as to avoid any cursing tinfoil-covered customers. Three whole days later and the problem was back, I didn't go back to that place and complain, instead I went to a big fancy place in the city based on a recommendation from a friend. Lucky for me, my car was in the shop so I went in my old but reliable 1991 F-150 pickup truck. I found that the older and bigger your vehicle is, the more likely other drivers will be polite and courteous. Many times I was given the right of way even though I shouldn't have. They were probably thinking that they couldn't risk a head-on collision with a strawhat-wearing guy who has a ready roll of tinfoil on his dashboard in a vehicle that big, and moreover judging by the truck's looks, he probably doesn't care too much if he does...Anyways, the fancy laptop people charge 65$ an hour but are apparently worth it. So they fixed it, it was ready in two days. It looks evidently more solid, but he too warned me, he said, 'you know the thingy is so loose that he suggested this be the last time I should get it fixed, the thingy would soon be unfixable.' I could make it last one more year maybe, he added, if the laptop isn't moved around. So I am back with an immovable laptop.
I'm not much of a restaurant eater but I couldn't help but wonder that it's been over 20 years since I seen Grissol bread sticks on a restaurant table. What happened to this fine culinary tradition; where moms everywhere could have some peace and quiet while their kids either played with or ingested some fine Grissols. I'm not the kind to make wild unsubstantiated bold statements, but has the anyone else made the link between the decline of readily available Grissols and the rise of attention deficit disorder? Do the right thing restaurant people! I'm at page 400 with about 600 more to go. These arent small pages either; there's over 600 words per page... With work, the wife and kids, I think I may have to try and get into prison or join a monastery if I'm ever to finish reading it!
My laptop went on the fritz for a couple of weeks so I decided to start reading Bill Clinton's autobiography. It's a good read so far. It's not often when you can say you've read 300 pages and you're not even a third of the way through the book yet. I'm from Canada so it's not like I know him that well, but I remember the day Clinton left a mark on me. It was when he was visiting Canada and made a speech at the Canadian parliament building in Ottawa. It was to be a 15 minute speech or so but he ended up speaking close to an hour and a half and mostly all off the top of his head. He was his witty and charming typical self and had everyone's undivided attention. To me, that's what a leader should be like, no reading from notes ever as it takes away human contact. The book is along the same lines. I don't think it needed to be 1000 pages long but Bill makes it work with some well placed anecdotes and some pretty good humour too. I'll no doubt talk more about the book when I'm done but so far, it cements the image of him I had. An image of an interesting, endearing and approachable man
A short story I wrote a few years ago... I had been secretly meeting with Benny for several weeks now. I was hooked by him, his inner strength was the remedy for me. Secretly I say, because Benny is a cat, an eight year old black and white tomcat. His fur simply emanated grit; looking like he had lost a few scuffles in his day.
I was hooked because I thought I had it bad, and yet, Benny had it much worse in what life had dealt the both of us. Nevertheless, he was wise, serene, and happy to be purring. And that's why I wanted in. "You are not happy," the cat directed with authority, "because you have not liberated your inner kitten." Instantly, he began to scan around so as to not be spotted talking to a lower life form. The taunting from rival tomcats, he said unapologetically, he could do without. "Take me for example...When I gave up my dreams of fame and fortune -I believe I was six at the time- well, I was devastated...I thought it was all over, that it would be all downhill from then on...No fancy feasts...and left with urinating as the only way left to get the females attention..." "Well, what happened?" I asked. "What made you decide..." "I had auditioned for the movie 'Karate Kat'..." "Hey! I heard of that..." "But I lost the part, once again, to an orange and white cat." "What did you do?" I was enthralled. Benny always knew how to tell a story. "That's when I retreated to these woods." "And you've been happy ever since?" I said eagerly. "No, not exactly...Happiness is a fickle thing, you need fulfillment, and...this and that. But, I definitely am more relaxed." "Hum...more relaxed. I could go for that!" "It takes time oh my young gung-ho apprentice," he obeyed an urge to scratch his neck, thus making the wooden hearts on his beaded collar rotate. "You have to start slow and take it o.." "Yes, but hiding in the woods?" I interrupted even though I knew Benny usually didn't tolerate such a thing. "Isn't that like cowering out?" Benny paused and then stared me down. I grew rapidly with unease. "You could say that I suppose," he said as I exhaled in silence. Surprisingly, he seemed averse to me cutting him off, although he did turn his head to face the forest, subtly suggesting he would not hesitate to regain the woods if such an impolite gesture was to reoccur. "But, I like to say that it's more like a return to basics." "Oh…" "A dream ending is as hard to swallow as that dry economical cat food they serve in the cat shelters," he paused to lick his lips while I just looked at him waiting. "All the bad luck I've had in my life: been hit by lightning; been abandoned; the money I was never paid modeling for a deck of cards..." "Damn," I said. "Oh yes, I've been to the gates of hell, but, I brought back my sanity, a t-shirt, and my new found wisdom..." "All at the rock bottom price of...hahaha!" "The wisdom..." he interjected. "Sorry," I said. "just trying to be funny." "That you seek." "True, wise Benny!" I raised my fist in approval. I felt I was ready, and that now was as good a time as any. "Alright, what do I do here? I want it man! Relaxed! So I can lift this curse that seemingly has been put on me!!!" I tell you the factory tour in Waterbury, VT was really the cat's meow. According to Google maps, it was to be a 2 and a half hour drive but it took me 3 and a half instead. Seems like that's always the case when I plan with it, or else I'm more of a Sunday driver than I thought. The most interesting thing I learned there was why the flavour 'White Russian' had to be abandoned. Since there was kahlua in the recipe, and that the flavour got so popular; Ben and Jerry's became the world's most important purchaser of the liquor. By buying so much they drove the price of kahlua up and ultimately out of their budget! Funny stuff.
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