Getting high, and the Linux environment

I'm just wondering, is the Linux environment, or ANY programming environment any more fulfilling than another? I'm thinking of trying out Linux, in some form or another, in the pursuit of simplicity, efficiency, and freedom, as well as cost minimization and open source type communality. I mainly want to surf the web, communicate with others, and record and edit audio (I'm a musician).

The reason I ask here, is that I find people that get high on marijuana to often be intuitive/thinking types, related to the following article:

http://www.marijuana-uses.com/essays/014.html

As computer languages are like any other, I'm supposin', it seems that the article would apply to programming and the understanding of computer linguistics as it does to other forms of language acquisition. Am I wrong here?

Speak.

 

The open source community has more programmers than can be accounted for. The greatest ideas spawn from it.

 

So, do you have a preferred version of Linux to suggest to me, or should I figure that one out on my own? At least do you have some decent references to suggest, so that I, a Linux neophyte, might come up to speed, with an aim to understand, not merely to use, the interface? So far, all I know is that there's a "kernel", and things get hung on that, right?

do you suggest I begin with one of these "live" linux versions, that run off a disk, or something installed as a second boot system. I've got an existing 60 Gig HDD, with W2000 on it, and three fairly used up partitions, and a new, unused but formatted (NTFS) HDD that can accomodate 150 Gigs.

What would you suggest as my first step, to initiate me to Linux?

Eventually, I wish to do some audio recording and editing, as well as the ubiquitous web access and e-mail.

Thanks

 

I would start experimenting with live CDs. That way you can get a feel for different distros, different desktops (KDE vs Gnome or others), get a feel for whether your hardware is going to give you any trouble.

There's plenty of linux magazines out there and a lot of them come with a different DVD every month that has multiple distros on it, which makes things even easier. But one issue and you can try as many as half a dozen distros.

Personally I use Ubuntu. There is a media-focused version of it, called Ubuntu Studio which sounds like it might be a good fit for you.

 

Tks. I've been reading the posts here: http://linuxmusicians.com/

Some on that forum have been stating that the latest version of Ubuntu Studio is buggy, and problematic. They are suggesting in this thread: http://linuxmusicians.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1252 that the beginning user try "64studio 3.0 beta" instead. This also has a 32bit version if my hardware isn't up for it.

It seems a lot to learn, but I'm up for it. I'll just dual boot for a while, and also try your suggestion to get a feel for the different desktops.

 

Yeah, this can be a major pain to learn. Only if you are into computers. EVERYthing is different. It takes months to get used to. Just remember don't give up.

Linux is not a programming language or environment. It is an Operating System.

My suggestion is PClinuxOS with KDE. GNOME is a lot easier, but way limiting. KDE is fun.

Def start with live CDs or thumbdrive ones better yet. I promise you will fuck shit up if you don't know what you are doing man.

P.S. you need a 64bit processor to do that OS. If you have a duo or AMD64 proc, then its fine. Most things are still running on 32bit though. I would suggest staying with 32 bit got a while longer. Most apps are still only 32bit, like some of the music stuff that you will want.

 

Tks. I'm into learning, and my idea of Linux is that once it's learned, it's both a step in the direction of self-sufficiency (get away from costly dependence on the Microsoft juggernaut), and possibly a leaner, faster OS. My Windows machines have always ended up bloated, and I'd like to slim down a bit, streamline things as much as possible.

All in the name of improvement.

You're right. I don't have 64 bit capability yet.

 

I will warn you though, Linux is high maintenance. There WILL be at LEAST 3 things wrong with your computer/OS. But thats all the fun of it. You have to figure out how to make it work in a totally new environment.

It will be much faster. If you really learn a lot you can make it faster than anything else, because you can build the OS for your system, thereby taking out all the unnecessary drivers and software. Thats fun.

Installing stuff is a whole world different too. Thats prob the most frustrating. Thats why i recommend PClinuxOS cuz its not a distro (distro is just a flavor of linux) for retards, but its not totally geeky either. Plus it looks pretty if u try to make it. Tell us which one you decide to get!

 

I know from what I've read so far that the procedures are more labor intensive, not as "automated" as in Windows, which adds up to closer control which equals better security, but again, more work, and more learning.

meaning, it doesn't come with a bundle of software apps that you may or may not need? It's slim?

You mean, at first, before tweaking, right? I wouldn't want something that's continually and consistently problematic.

I will. It might take some time, undoubtedly, for me to get my feet wet. But I'm a persistent type, as long as I see the goal.

Tks agn.

 

Cool that ur son is 22 also.

I said that "Thats why i recommend PClinuxOS cuz its not a distro for retards, but its not totally geeky either."

You just didn't see after the ().

Its not consistently problematic. Just every time there is an update. Don't expect it to be automated. Once you get everything working, don't update. Keep everything where it is at, if you want to actually use the comp instead of learn. And yeah, I mean before you tweak it.

PCLOS (PClinuxOS) is a full distro, so its a whole CD. Good thing is though, their install CD is a live CD. So you can test for a few days before you install and partition.

How old are you?

 

I'm 59.

So I'm getting that you think I'll learn the most from this distro, being that it's a good compromise between "easy/dumbed down", and "hard".

I think that's my goal, to learn the most, to become familiar with Linux. I always have in mind the thought that I'm learning not only for my own sake, but so that I might be a help to others once I learn.

 

Another question comes to mind:

If, say, I do decide to go with PClinuxOS with KDE, will that be compatible with the audio software that's out there for linux users? Once I learn the ropes of this distro, will I have a leg up on learning other distros in the future? Are they all similar, or is there a ton of differences. Time is of the essence. I don't want to invest time in something and then have to abandon it later, feeling I've wasted the time.

At this point, I suppose I just have to get used to using linux, whatever version, right?

 

it's a substantially deep and complex world. I hope you can contribute! I stopped using it because of the maintenance. That was like a year ago though. Its coming up fast now too, cuz no one likes vista giving them viruses and deleting all of their pictures and memories. (which you WILL do if you don't partition right, I can't stress that enough)

59 huh? By high you mean weed right? Do you get your weed from other older doods?

 

And sorry I'm so full of questions. I'll try to bring closure to this interrogation,,haha.

My son is in Europe at the moment, fighting off "hostel bedbugs" with his guitar.

 

Yeah. For gods sake I wish I had someone guiding me in the beginning...

Get PCLOS and stick to it. You will learn linux and KDE in general. It might seem like, "man, maybe another version is easier or fast/better". Thats not true though. I have used many, and if I could do it over again I would have chose and stayed with PCLOS. Keep in mind though, it takes a while to learn.

Yes, your software will work in KDE. If you ever needed GNOME though you can have that on the same system and choose in the boot up. Kind of like linux is your filesystem and KDE and GNOME is mac vs windows. Same kind of idea. Linux will be running them both with X11 and KDE or GNOME being the visual and navigation difference.

 

I'm very fond of weed, but ironically, haven't smoked but a few hits in quite a few years. Used to grow it at work, when I worked for Caltrans as a highway worker. Found places alongside the road,,

Quit when my kids began asking questions about my silliness upon arriving home from work, and my sudden display of comedic skills,,

Have a hit here or there when I'm doing musical gigs with previous or present band members.

Was thinking about programmers/environments and being high. From the article I mentioned at the top of the page, it would seem that any kind of linguistic skill is enhanced, or can be enhanced by marijuana usage, after a point. I know that when I'm high, my powers of imagination are somewhat enhanced, and I was wondering what it might be like to be tinkering with installations and tweaking of operating systems when high.

I think at times that I'm a bit overly concerned with doing the right thing, unless I've taken a hit or two. It's a kind of OCD (obsessive-compulsive behavior), to be obsessed with the "right outcome". In some environments, there IS no precisely "right" outcome, but simply the outcome that you choose. It's that way in, say, jazz or improvisational music. Even in a structured environment, like classical music, there's tons of room for interpretation, and that's what it's all about. Who wants to hear a performance by a person, that simply sounds like a machine? Pepe Romero, the well known classical guitarist who heads the guitar department at USC told his students, "Every performance should be an interpretation".

So what I'm getting at is that I like the idea that structure is there, of necessity, in a technical environment, but that there is room for choice, which expresses the individual and his/her wishes, personality, or needs.

blah blah blah,,,haha,,

 

and that is EXACTLY why I chose to use linux! Crazy, you took the words out of my mouth.

You can to the right place my friend. I know quite a bit about both worlds, drugs and computers. Some stuff that would blow your mind (not undermining you, you prob know a lot more about a lot more than me. Just not on these topics )

Have you heard about JHW?

 

No. Googling it returns an airport somewhere in NY,,haha,,

You're saying I should fly? hmm

 

Lol, no. Ever want to get stoned legally? Or order your weed offline?
Check this out

Thats one of many legal cannabis alternatives. Not some lameass smartshop shit either. Some are actually more potent then weed. Interesting, huh?

 

Interesting, but I'm fond of the whole process of weed. The whole rolling thing, the handling, even the growing, if I could anymore. My wife's dad was a Pa. state policeman, and she almost got me busted once, years ago. I was growing pot in the storage unit and she found out through the apartment maintenance guy, and she called the police, asking the desk officer, with this little girl innocent voice,,"Sir, is it illegal to grow marijuana in your storage unit?" She's a very naive and sometimes dangerously vacuous person.

I'll check it out. If it's not THC, then what good could it be?

Hash was always my fav though, but rolling, and coming up with impromptu smoking apparati was a hobby to me.

If I could, I'd grow some big-ass buds.

You say "more potent". I'm not even used to what it out there these days, I get a hit so infrequently. I really don't like being "incapacitated", but just "enhanced", so that my music improves. I'm not a great fan of the whole idea of "couch freeze".

But I'll take a look.