I want to thank everyone for their input on my software troubles. I
have had some success with the process. I tried everything that was
suggested and still came up with a negative response from the command
line. I am still doing something wrong, but I am a few weeks away from
knowing just what it is. I finally gave up and exited the terminal and
sat and stared at the screen for a while.

I was figuring the fight, so to speak. I decided to get my book out
and see if I could uninstall the whole mess and then re-download the
program and use the excellent advice given me, with a new perspective
on what had already failed.

Now here is the funny part.

I looked at the screen and thought '$%&* you linux. I will just do
without the stupid program". I have deleted the expletive but it was
in my thoughts.

And at that exact moment, two items appeared on my desktop. An Icon
that was labeled 'realplayer11' and a folder that said
'RealPlayer11GOLD'.

Talk about coincidence.

I'm not certain if cursing Linux is appropriate behavior or not, but
I will keep it in mind for the next time.

On down side, when I click on the realplay11 listing in my
applications menu, the player that starts is labeled realplayer
10.0.9.8. Evidently Linux got as tired of my trying as I was of doing
it and simply went to the repository and gave me what was there. I
think Linux is trying to buy me off with and older version just so I
will go away.

I think I am going to start calling my computer "SKYNET". I fear that
it has somehow become sentient and is just biding its time until I am
of no more use.

Anyway. Thanks for the responses and your patience. I have the book
out and I am going to go in for another try.