[tlug] xfce setup

[Brian Chandler <brian@example.com>]

Hello! A rather basic question about setting up a system to run 
something usable. I have a box with Ubuntu and the Unity thing, which I 
am not able to use. (Philosophically, I mean) I previously used xubuntu 
(I think), which seems to be ubuntu plus the xfce window manager; I 
found this usable because I have language, and cannot bear looking at 
blobs all the time. So I want menus with words, or abbreviations written 
in them, which I can read, remember, and look up on the internet. I also 
want to be able to specify things like dates to be written yyyy-mm-dd, 
always, with none of the mountains of crap which send me into paroxysms 
of anger. (Bendy windows, translucent windows, windows which sparkle in 
the twilight, etc etc etc)

Given a system with Ubuntu+Unity installed, how would I convert it to 
Xubuntu+xfce? (Or is there something quite simple, and much better?)

The dates thing is part of an entirely rational hatred of the "locale" 
concept; I have found that something called "English in Danmark" comes 
closest, but still goes wrong occasionally. I am also struggling (on my 
older box) with what seems to be AS* software: instead of being able to 
specify the default orientation, paper size etc for a printer, every 
time I use something different, this crap leaps into action, and for 
several days to come I have to remember to check every option every 
time, until it accepts that I probably know how I want to print.

AS: yeah, artificial stupidity

sorry about the ranting, but I would be grateful for suggestions.
Brian Chandler