I would like to be able to add shortcuts to the programs in the start menu to desktop.

That answer depends greatly on whether you are running GNOME or KDE or some other desktop. I am running KDE 3.2.1 and to copy/move a menu item to the desktop you simply click and drag your menu item to a blank part of the desktop. When you release the mouse button it will give you the options to 'Copy Here', 'Link here', or cancel. If you are using the GNOME desktop and you do the click and drag motion from your selected menu item, it will simply create the shortcut for you on your desktop. I don't use other systems so I can't speak intelligently about them. I'm not sure I've spoken intelligently about these two but that's my best shot considering it is late in the day for me and I'm anxious to get home.

ok thanks, it just made a shortcut link on desktop. When i installed fedora, and enter the user screen, i just yped my nick and password and enter. i also notice kde and gnome look the same. it doesn't look like kde or gnome in fedora. it has the same redhat environment if thats what u call it.