I'm new to bug reporting so please forgive me if I'm doing it wrong. I was trying to run apt-get updgrade and it crashed. There appears to be something wrong with tar, but I don't know what or how. My system is pretty hosed at the moment.
ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: tar 1.27.1-1ubuntu0.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-101.148-generic 3.13.11-ckt39
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-101-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.21
Architecture: amd64
Date: Tue Nov 22 12:14:59 2016
DuplicateSignature: package:tar:1.27.1-1ubuntu0.1:package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
ErrorMessage: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-10-22 (761 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140722.2)
RelatedPackageVersions:
dpkg 1.17.5ubuntu5.7
apt 1.0.1ubuntu2.15
SourcePackage: tar
Title: package tar 1.27.1-1ubuntu0.1 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to trusty on 2016-08-07 (106 days ago)
This may be due to manual changes or data corruption with files associated with the tar package on your system causing the package manager to assume the package as tainted and it is asking for a manual reinstall to prevent breaking the system.
Just manually reinstall tar and you will be good.
I don't think there is enough info here to pinpoint a bug but if you have any more information to think it is a bug with tar, please share.