The group at Ubuntu Manual Project [https://ubuntu-manual.org/about] have crated a manual for use with the Unity DE.
Is there anything comparable for the Gnome DE?
At what claims to be Official Ubuntu Documentation site [https://help.ubuntu.com/] is all about Unity.
I have searched and searched and possibly am blind, but I can’t find it.
Thanks, Fred
There is this
That is so high level that it does not help for the things I need.
I should have been more specific, but didn't want to drill down to far.
For example when I go to power down by clicking the power symbol top right corner it pops up a window telling it will shut down in 60 seconds. I would like to know where I can change that setting to 5 seconds for example.
Another one is the resize boundaries on windows are about 2 pixels wide. Again where do I change them.
Again for example, even what the different parts of the screen are called. The top "bar" has a left side and a right side, what are their names?
I would like to be able to find these things for myself and not have to bother the Community for trivial personal choices or inane questions like naming convention.
For example when I go to power down by clicking the power symbol top right corner it pops up a window telling it will shut down in 60 seconds. I would like to know where I can change that setting to 5 seconds for example.
Your looking at some serious drilling 
Never tried it, but I am pretty sure this is hard coded and would be necessary to change the source code.
Another one is the resize boundaries on windows are about 2 pixels wide. Again where do I change them.
Again, this is part of the theme code and not so easy to change. You may want to take a look at third party themes for something you like. Not all themes will work as claimed and there is a bit of a learning curve, but once you figure it out its easy to do.
Again for example, even what the different parts of the screen are called. The top "bar" has a left side and a right side, what are their names?
The top bar is called the "Panel" and the left and right sides of that panel have no particular name that I'm aware of. The left and right sides of the screen can also have a panel usually used for a dock or launcher. Each Icon will have a particular name of course.
I would like to be able to find these things for myself and not have to bother the Community for trivial
Not a bother at all Fred. Finding such information can be a challenge. You may find GooglUbuntu to be helpful in you searches. But feel free to ask here, I asked similar questions when I was new.
One other thought. Ubuntu 10.04 is similar to our mate 16.04. You will not be able to use it word for word, but in general its a usable source. And better to ask if you run into questions before trying.
As you have noticed I am not afraid to ask questions. I will save the “serious drilling” for much later on. Just getting the site prepared is challenging enough.
Thanks for all the help, Fred
Anytime Fred 
@anon42388993 That is more than helpful, that is the answer to a lot of my questions all rounded up into one spot.
For example the 60 second shut down I am complaining about is hardcoded..... And I am not the only one that is unhappy about it. Somebody made a command decision and it is so.
Strange for an OS that touts to be all things to all people that it would not be a "setup" variable some place that is changed easily.
Thanks, Fred
Technically when using the term OS, that means all GNU/Linux. And I think your right in this case, no distro offers a timer editor.
I think I would just create a custom shutdown button and do away with the default one. Not that hard to do Fred, be a good project for you
From a man that has been using this how long?
I am looking into a BASH script to do this. Getting it up to the proper place will be the harder part. I will most likely be back.
Thanks, Fred
You can use bash, there is also a GUI way.
R-click on the panel and "add to panel"
Search "shutdown commands" for the necessary command to add to the launcher. There are several to choose from, find the one that agrees with your needs.
Thanks, did that and discovered that it was coded at a lower level than I can access. All it did was remove the selection popup, time out in 60 seconds and then shut down then. It was worse. lol