I know I have asked a lot of stupid or noob questions, hoowever, this set of questions will be my last. I know I should ask in different threads, but they can be searched just as easily I think.

I am using Opera web browser, Java installed from kynaptic, and have 4 things holding me back from being a full linux user.
1. School - But I can work around that
2. I need to install flash for Opera.
3. Airport Extreme Base Station
I downloaded the configurator utility, and I was able to just use $java -jar /**/configurator.jar in Ubuntu
but this doesn't work in Kubuntu for me. I need a guide on how to set up java and get the configurator working properly
4. I forgot it, but does anybody know a good IRC for help with Kubuntu.
I tried something like irc.kde.org #kubuntu, but they were to busy to help with the stupid stuff.

O yea, the other thing was what is the best way to get a firewall for kubuntu

1- School is for loosers... who need education when you can work all your life in a factory for minimum wage? ('nuff said).

2- Find out where is opera directory on your system ( do a search, try "find", try "locate", or whatever you prefer). It is probably around /usr/share or /usr/lib (it depends on your distro and how you installed opera). Go download the flash plugins from Macromedia website. Untar the file (tar -xzf the_file.tar.gz) then run the little script in there ( ./install_flash_player or whatever it is). It will ask you where to install. Give the correct directory. You need to be root of course.

3- That doesn't tell me much about the card. Consider posting the "lspci" output. Does this card came with a linux driver (if so, what format, .tar.gz, .rpm ? ). You java thing sound like a configuration thing I doubt it is a driver. In worst case, search about "ndiswrapper", it is an application that allow you to load windoze wireless drivers in linux.

4- I don't like IRC, some time ago I was hanging around channel, but unlike forum, people there are mostly script-kiddies in a rush ("Hi I rooted a box using a script I dont understand how can I create a second root account, help me NOW") that don't want to learn/be helped. If you are a bit masochist, you could try #linux and #linuxhelp on undernet, but people will most likely turn you back because you don't use _their_ distro.

5- Firewall? You already have iptables support in kernel, mean you can already create very powerful firewall rules. Search about "iptables howto" or something like this. Quite easy/cool

thanks, but my wireless drivers aren't the issue. I have my HP broadcom wireless card working fine. It communicates with the Airport extreme base station as well. My problem is that I need to change the settings on it before and after I log onto the internet - DialUp junk that I think one of the extra utils in linux will fix. But I need to be able to run the Configurator.jar file and am unable to use the java command. I should be able to do
$sudo java -jar /home/michael/Desktop/Internet/Configurator.jar
and it should open. But I don't have java properly installed to be a system wide command. I think I have it installed in /usr/java/jre_1_4_0
and have a /bin, /lib, etc. in there.
I'm not on my linux box right now, so I can't tell you exactly.

And also - thanks for the help

ok... instead of using "sudo $java -jar /**/configurator.jar" try "sudo /usrjava/jre_1_4_0/bin/java (or wherever it is) /**/configurator.jar"

Is it possible to make that a global function - or something like that, the technique works, but I would prefer only having to use the java -jar instead of having to retype the pathname everythime.

of course!
I can think of 3 ways.
1-The easiest but less elegant way is to create a symlink from the path where java is to an "usual" /.../bin path.
Example :
typing something like "ln -s /usr/java/jre_1_4_0/bin/java /usr/bin/java " will create a symbolic link (think of a shortcut) named "java" in /usr/bin. So everytime you will type "java", considering /usr/bin is always searched for executable (why is it? read 3rd way!), it will follow your symlink to the real java executable. Cool, eh? But there is better ways.

2- Instead of creating a link in the filesystem, there is also the option to create an "alias" to the command you call.
Example : alias java="/usr/java/jre_1_4_0/bin/java" will tell your system that java refer to another command (in that case /usr/java/jre_1_4_0/bin/java). It is especially useful when you want to create an alias for a command you often use with arguments. Example : alias javaj="/usr/java/jre_1_4_0/bin/java -jar" will create a command named "javaj" that will call "java -jar" so you won't have to type "-jar" all the time.

3- Of course, there is a way to tell your system to "extend" the PATH to a certain directory. When you type a command (in that case "java", your system search the PATH for an executable called "java". That PATH is only a silly variable that contains usual "/.../bin" directories.
Example :
root@router:~# echo $PATH
/usr/lib/distcc/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin:/sbin

This is the path for my "router" box. Each directory is separated with a " : ". Of course you can change this ;
Example :
PATH="$PATH:/usr/scripts"

Now if I type "echo $PATH" here is the output :
root@router:~# echo $PATH
/usr/lib/distcc/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/scripts

Now my system will ALSO search /usr/scripts for executable. I think I don't need to tell you more about how to the java executable to your path, right?

thanks, works perfect