So I updated Linux Mint from 16 to 17. Now Linux Mint is a bit unusual in that it will not automatically upgrade you to the latest version or even tell you that a latest version is out (I was wondering why for 2 months I got almost no new updates). Rather than packaged-based updates, what they recommend instead is that you burn a live CD, try it out, and install the new version over your old version.

Now of course you lose all your settings, and packages you installed, and have to back-up all your data (which of course you were doing anyways, right?).

The only reason I actually bothered with the upgrade is because 16 has a ridiculously old mono version - something from like 2011, and doesn’t work correctly with NuGet, which I need to build a nuget package. So lots of yak shaving.

So I install Linux Mint on a USB and boot it up. Now I had a choices of wiping my entire drive, reinstall over my old OS, or I can repartition the table. I was feeling adventurous and repartitioned so at least next time it won’t wipe out my data.

It was a quick install, I log in and greeted with a welcome message. One of them was “Important Information”. Curious I clicked, which took me to a web page with Known Issues. First on that list:

“In the installer, “Replace OS with Linux Mint” means erase the entire drive”

Which is a problem when you have a dual-boot computer. What kills me even more is that was that this was a bug in 16 version as well ._.

Me: Hello do you sell birch plywood?

CSR: Yes! We sell it 8’ x 4’. 8’ x 2’..

Me: I need 1 metre by a half metre.

CSR: Oh, we never measure in metric. Always in inches and feet.

Me: Oh…

CSR: Let me see if I can convert that for you *breaks out smartphone* let’s see 100 centimetres in a metre.. divided by 2.54 is 39”… and the other side is half of that so it’s… 19 and ¾ inches…

Me: (since they sell by the foot and not in inches) how many feet in 39 inches?

CSR: Let’s see, divide 39 inches by….

(The CSR was very helpful and I don’t mean to make fun of him, but rather I was disappointed that measurements for buying lumber still uses imperial units)

The gates are open wide
So if you want to come in
You got to let peace and love abide
In your heart
Don’t you know?

Now all you wicked man
Stop from doing all those wicked things that you doing
Cause on the day, you gonna have to pay
Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess on that day*
So stop what you’re doing now
Don’t you know?
The father is watching you
With everything that you do
Don’t you know?

You see your brother walking down the street
You shoot him down and take everything he has
Don’t you know
What you doing ain’t right
It ain’t right, no it ain’t right
In the father’s eyes

Stop doing what you doing

My brothers

Stop doing what you doing

- “The Gates Are Open Wide” by Earl Cunningham [YouTube][Discogs]

* I needed help here and found the lyrics on jah-lyrics.com