Multiple desktops in Windows

If you have an nVidia graphics card and are running Windows, you can easily set it up to have more than 1 desktop, similar to what the GNOME and KDE desktop managers do in Linux. This way you can easily manage many open windows by grouping them on different desktops.

BASH: persistent aliases

A very nice feature of BASH is defining aliases. An alias is like an alternate name or a nickname for a command. Instead of typing a long comand with many arguments every time you use it, you can just type the (short) alias you chose for it.

Create, don’t just implement

Speaking with a family friend today, I remembered this post I wrote yesterday. Pursuing higher education means choosing to solve complex problems using your knowledge, not just implementing somebody else’s ideas. I’m sorry to say this but my interlocutor had a limited view of the work that can be performed by an engineer in computer science. The discussion was limited to “what programming languages do you know” and “there are good salaries in this field”. Well, I believe that doing a work where you don’t innovate (or at least design the solution) but simply implement isn’t so rewarding and doesn’t pay as well either.

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

This romanian movie (4 luni, 3 săptămâni şi 2 zile) has received the Palme d’Or award this year, and it would have been a shame to miss it. The action is happening in 1987 in communist Romania, and we follow the story of a young student trying to help her friend who wants to have an abortion (which was illegal in the communist regime). You can find out more about the movie, see a few photos and read a blog with notes from the director here. I have been pleasantly impressed with the acting, interesting camera style and of course the way in which that era has been reproduced

Teachers that inspire

Good teachers do more than help you learn, they help you develop a view of the world and give you an education. Good books are usually enough to teach you technical subjects, but a mentor will add depth and meaning. I am lucky enough