I care more about functionality than superficial design. I take a similar position in media (TV & film). For example, I love Babylon 5 even though the special effects are admittedly primitive compared to modern science fiction programs. The WRITING and DIRECTION in Babylon 5 is brilliant. I can forgive something superficial if there is substance to it

The fact MATE exists is proof I am far from alone in my views. Indeed, this is one of the benefits of FLOS software. Noone is ALLOWED, for example, to create a fork of Windows XP if they want to. Microsoft would quickly stamp down and take to court any attempt to do so. But you and I can both be Linux users who prefer different GUIs. Some of this simply comes down to preference - I prefer GNOME as it was before it was ruined and that is what MATE offers me 😄

Gnome 3 got rid of desktop icons and the menu of Gnome 2, it was also a resource hog. Mate offers what I liked about Gnome 2. Sue me.

The next laptop I bought came preinstalled with Windows Vista (AKA Windows Millenium version 2). It was so frustrating I decided to investigate alternatives. I even considered going Macintosh. But I was at a bookstore and saw one of those Linux magazines with a free disc from which I could install Linux. I think it was Ubuntu on the disc (before Unity). I was hooked. I use Trisquel now.

I know this is a joke, but before I discovered GNU-Linux I used XP and didn’t hate it. I was usable. Microsoft hadn’t yet completely stripped away user autonomy.

I like the ones that are forks of pre-ruined Gnome. MATE is my favorite of that type.

Unfortunately, our current President seems desperate to start WW3 if it will distract people from the fact that he is one of the child abusers in the Epstein files.

You are more than welcome. When I was a teenager I was a “Born Again” Cristian. I am now an atheist. I remember when I was in that mindset, seemingly innocent things, could appear “satanic” and that the end always seemed right around the corner, making long term planning pointless

Much of the Republican party base is made up a radical fundamentalist Christians who see a war in the Middle East as being a requirement for Armageddon (which they see as a good thing). The answer to your unasked question is religion.

I was talking about Pam Bondi, not Melania

Designed is different from made.

He is describing Donald Trump, actually.

Edit: except he does have real estate. But he still shouldn’t be in charge.

I have been happy as a Linux user for more than ten years now. Never looked back. I use Trisquel.

I look forward to LibrePhone coming online. I hope it comes soon …

“Librephone — Free Software Foundation — Working together for free software” https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/librephone

I have F-Droid on my Android phone. Iike having a marketplace where I can download floss apps.

I seriously doubt he will be either.

Another good reason to switch to a FLOS operating system like GNU-Linux. Why give your money to Microsoft if there is a good alternative?

I understand what you are saying, but Trump seems like the kind of person who craves attention. Remember all the times he exaggerated the number of people at his rallies? I think it would infuriate him more if people just didn’t show up.

I just recently got into fountain pens a few years ago and some of my first fountain pens were cheap Chinese knock offs. I wanted to see what it was all about without investing a lot of money in a hobby I might not like. I fell in love with fountain pens and have since graduated to TWISBI, Pelikan, and Lamy.

If a vendor is deliberately misrepresenting a product or committing outright fraud, that is a different issue and should be dealt with. However, the existence of cheap Chinese knock offs, so long as the vendor is transparent and honest, does have a place.

We need nationwide Ranked Choice Voting because I agree that many Democrats are far from perfect and, in an ideal world, I would love to vote for a third party or independent candidate, the reality is that; unless you happen to live in a state with Ranked Choice Voting (Maine, for example) you might indirectly be helping a Republican win. As imperfect as many Democrats are, they are usually far better and usually more sane than the Republicans.