-# load feisty meow aliases.
-source $HOME/feisty_meow/scripts/core/launch_feisty_meow.sh
+source "$FEISTY_MEOW_SCRIPTS/core/launch_feisty_meow.sh"
sudo apt-get update -y
-check_result "problem while doing 'apt-get update'"
-sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -y
-check_result "problem while doing 'apt-get dist-upgrade'"
+test_or_die "problem while doing 'apt-get update'"
+# new magic to tell dpkg to go with existing config files. let's see if it works!
+sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -y -o Dpkg::Options::="--force-confold"
+test_or_die "problem while doing 'apt-get dist-upgrade'"