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Archive for the 'Stuff' Category
I bought a new laptop today. An Acer Aspire 5735Z to be precise. As I prefer to use Linux instead of Windows, I decided to install Kubuntu 8.10. I was very happy to notice that pretty much everything worked out of the box. Neither wireless LAN nor sound nor webcam needed any additional configuration. Even the softkeys to increase/decrease the volume work without a problem.
Some time ago I did an interview with Let’z Learn, a website that provides video lessons to learn Luxembourgish. Most of the interview was about Spellchecker.lu (a website of mine where you can use and download a Luxembourgish spelling checker), but there were also a few questions about the Luxembourgish language in general. So go ahead and read it if you are interested.
I got my free Signing Stick this week, paid by the Luxembourgish government. I can now identify myself on public service websites as well as digitally sign all my mails and documents.
Unfortunately, I ran into a few problems when I tried to activate it on my Ubuntu machine. After a few tries and an unsuccessful call to the helpdesk, I finally got it to work. Here’s a small step-by-step guide:
After waiting about 10 weeks I finally got my brand new car: a Škoda Fabia Greenline (1.4 TDI DPF/59 kW). As its name suggests it is designed to be economical and environmentally-friendly. Its CO2 emissions do not exceed 109 g/km while only consuming 4.1l/100km (that is, according to the ads). Continue reading ‘Škoda Fabia Greenline’
On March 1 I went to the Stereophonics concert at the cosy Kulturfabrik. Even though I don’t know many of their songs, I really had a good time. My favourite moment was near the end of the concert when Kelly Jones, the lead singer of the band, performed “Maybe Tomorrow” solo. For a few seconds the entire crowd went silent and then rushed back into rapturous applause… fabulous!
Today I have finally received my Bachelor diploma. (Yeah!)
Just wanted to let you know. 
Version 7 of Internet Explorer has now been around for a few months, but many users still use older versions. Here are a few reasons why I think drastic measures are necessary to force users to upgrade. Continue reading ‘Webpages should no longer be developed for Internet Explorer 6′
Today I finished reading “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick. I had intended to read it for a few years now, but for whatever reason I didn’t do so before last week.
The book is set in a polluted, post-apocalyptic world following World War Terminus. It explores many interesting concepts. In my opinion, the most interesting one is the “what if” situation of humanoid androids becoming more and more indistinguishable from real humans. Throughout the book, it becomes clear that the real question is what qualitites make us humans distinguishable from other beeings.
With each revision of their “brain unit”, androids are becoming more and more intelligent and seemingly self-conscious. Humans, on the other side are increasingly depending on their Mood Organs, an apparatus able to induce emotions in its users. They are thereby becoming inert to natural stimuli and to their natural environment.
I really recommend the book. It is quite a light reading, but nevertheless profound enough to get absorbed by it over a few evenings.
CASES-Communiqué: Äntwert vum Minister Jeannot Krecké
Virun e puer Wochen hat ech iwwert e Communiqué vum CASES-Service an iwwert d’Reaktioun an der Chamber geschriwwen. Virun enger knapper Woch ass elo eng Äntwert vum zoustännege Minister Jeannot Krecké komm. Wéi ugekënnegt dofir hei e puer Auszich aus sénger Äntwert (ouni Commentaire, meng Meenung hunn ech schon an deenen zwee aneren posts ausgedréckt):
Continue reading ‘CASES-Communiqué: Äntwert vum Minister Jeannot Krecké’