Real programmers...

...code in Notepad, without Word-wrap
...use only machine code
...have a wallpaper of Linux Shell commands
...have a photo of Turing in their wallet
...do not fear binary trees
...work in C only with malloc()
...regard Prolog as something trivial
...laugh in the face of a Segfault
...fear daylight
...know the entirety of Javadoc by heart
...do not use GOTO statements
...are unfamiliar with the term FOR
...manage to write 5 pages of design & specification by hand, without losing their right-hand motor skills
...know every UNICODE code of every symbol.

That's how we roll...

The Console

Strictly speaking, there comes a time in any student's life when improvement in a certain area is required. In my case, I needed more C# an DB! Below is a brief transcript of what happened during one of the "scarcely numerous" improvement sessions.

A room full of people: 1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year, etc. The projection device turns on; right-click>>open>>the slide-show appears.

MainStudent (09:00 pm): Ok, so how many of you know what a console is?
EntireRoom (09:01 pm): ...
MS (09:05 pm): Oookay... (proceeds to displaying a console on the laptop)

*entire room gasps in awe*

MS (09:06 pm): So this here is a console. Alright, let's move on to more interesting stuff... How many of you know what OOP, UML, MVC, DML and PDF stand for?
ER (09:07 pm): ...
MS (09:15 pm): Mkay, so today we are going to discuss the intricacies of the C# language (tm). This requires that you know all the above and that you have worked with tables before. Anyone here familiar with the notion of Primary Key?

(2-3 hands are raised)

MS (09:20 pm): Excellent! So, what I'm about to do is, create a web app that generates an interface for connecting to the db server using a c# script which, in turn, is embedded in a derivated class. By the end of this tutorial, you will have learned the basics of the C# language (sans tm): classes, polymorphism, accessors, repositories and other cool stuff!

(proceeds to whipping up a relevant example)

MS (11:30 pm): Oookay, so here it is! With this, you can connect to a db via asp.net and have your very own web page! Hurray!

(a slow clap is heard from the room)

MS (11:40 pm): Thank you very much! Next time we will discuss more interesting stuff! But I won't get into details! See you next time!

A brief essay on stereotypes

Human society - the conglomerate of individuals, has evolved to the point at which it has forged a handful of stereotypes. They "dictate" the behaviour of the 21st century human race, through communication channels such as the new media (Internet). Of these "role-models" I shall enumerate three: the Soldier, the Thinker and the Outcast.

The most violent and imposing of all, is the Soldier. Who/ what is this stereotype about? An offshoot of the Rebel, the soldier spreads forth the powerful presence of Justice - be it fair or unfair. "It" possesses not knowledge but blind ambition. At a more sophisticated level, a Soldier has one opinion, which is the best and he attempts to promote it, in his social group, as the only valuable one. Examples can be seen throughout society, ranging from the omnipotent action-hero to the lesser bully.

The opposite end of the spectrum is represented by the Thinker. Every movie has one: the person with the Idea, the Solution and, why not, the Lab Coat. This stereotype promotes the assimilation of information and withdrawal from any form of conflict, mainly because "it" is the downgrade of the Genius. At a more particular level, the Thinker accepts the opinions of many but, after an elaborate period of thinking, spews out only one. The stereotype can be observed in any form of media that features a large group of people [friends], especially teen movies.

As a sole bearer of the hybris, the Outcast has been expelled from society. This happens due to the inability of becoming one of the aforementioned stereotypes. "It" harbors both the solitude of the Genius and the ignorance of the Rebel. As such, "it" cannot bear an opinion (no one is willing to listen or they are too dumb to listen). Movies like Domino or Waterworld illustrate perfectly the position of the Outcast with respect to the Society.

To sum up, modern day society has provided us with three choices: we can choose to impose ourselves, to seek refuge in thought or to leave it altogether. The path we choose depends solely upon us.

The the

Yet another brief excerpt from my twisted mind:

The road not taken.
The time wasted.
The sights seen.
The pictures taken.
The world not understood.
The opportunities not grasped.
The bad things done.
The good things done.
The projects accomplished.
The art created.
The mind is one. Use it wisely. Let it slip once in a while. But once slipped off the edge, don't forget to come back to reality.

Meanwhile...

Amu' o dam pa aia cu meanwhile...

Vorba vine...

E vineri, deci, implicit, si programare pe Linux + cafea. Dar azi, spre deosebire de celelalte zile cu programari pa Linux, mai este si un jurnal. N-am mai scris de mult pe aici. Timpul nu mi-a permis. S-a scumpit (timpul). Nu imi mai permit sa fac (cu el) ce faceam in liceu: adica sa ma duc sa fotografiez diverse, sa stau pe DevaArt et al.

Plus ca, din 5 intra sesiunea: 3 examene practice + 1 colocviu + 4 examene scrise. Vorba lui John Lennon: "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans..."

Asa ca, acestea fiind spuse, ma intorc in conul de umbra (ma cheama inapoi). Pe curand, (whenever that might be)...

Breaking News: E cod galben.

Oh, the joy...

So, I'm sitting here, waiting for the coffee to kick in... Admit it. You love coffee. The scent of roasted beans ignites your every fiber. The sheer euphoria you get from one sip cannot be matched by anything (that is, of course, if you aren't addicted to chocolate). Fifteen minutes later, the world is your oyster. Every effort is trivial. Every thought is coherent. Programming an ADT is child's play.

However, this precious liquid generates addiction. Every impulse comes under its control. You cannot fight it. Its grasp is tight... The horizon narrows. The energy is drained. Headaches kick in. You feel powerless. Random thoughts occur... Then you go for the second cup...

Fortunately, my journey into the glorious world of coffee stops with the first cup. If there truly is a national emergency, I go for the second. Fortunately, that has happened only once so far.

As far as the issue of photography goes, I'm (still) waiting for the snow to melt so that I can shoot something other than railway spikes and bridges. For those of you that do not know, yes I shoot trains (hah!) and other railway-related items. A sample is provided below (this is a photo blog, after all):

So, this pretty much sums up my winter-time-photo-related activities. As far as faculty (college) goes, I finally got the scholarship I was aiming for, thus making this semester more "relaxed-in-approach". But, as one would put it: "You may have won the battle, but the war isn't over yet." - One.

RO: Mama, ce skin oranj albastru mi-am tras. Ala vechi s-a pierdut pe vecie. Asa ca, va recomand sa va puneti ochelarii de soare inainte de a citi.

So, in essence, semester 2 of faculty makes semester 1 seem trivial. For those who are not yet accustomed to life in a 16-bit nutshell (also known as attending a Computer Science-ish faculty), here are some excerpts from the things I have gathered inside my skull for the past few weeks:

-> It is safe to assume that Computer Science implies a high amount of mathematics (Algebra, Analysis, Dynamic Systems and what not...). Also, in this manner, it is safe to assume that Computer Sceince implies a lot of programming (Pascal, Assembly, C++, and other well known letters of the English alphabet). Naturally, around 10% of the above will actually serve a purpose later on.

-> Google is your friend!!2!! Most of what is taught in faculty can be found in one form or another on the Internet.

-> Coffee is of paramount importance. I, for one, never leave home without a sip. Works well during rainy days and during afternoon seminars.

-> There always is room for worse. Just when you thought the exam session is over, the second one comes knocking at the door (I am referring here to the "mark-increasing-session"; I guess it has something to do with the Bologna system).

And, alas, there are other things to be told about the glorious life of a student in the glorious nation of RO, but on another, less formal, occasion.

A short one...

A Higgs-Boson walks into a church, the priest says "We don't allow Higgs-Bosons in here.". The Higgs-Boson says "But without me how can you have mass?"

I think this pretty much sums it up. The interpretations are endless.

Motion

As previously stated, I like to experiment. Happening to be in Turkey (due to absolutely random reasons) I was persuaded by my friends to take some photos of them playing in the sand (the kind of playing a 20-year-old would do). The location of the shooting is an island off the coast of Turkey, near Kusadasi.

Having arrived home, I stitched the babies up a bit in Lightroom and transformed them into a double-70's-like photo montage. Not exactly the most retro thing around but hey, it can still bring back some memories of a long, forgotten summer.

Regarding the continuity of such experiments I am a bit skeptical. Due to the fact that autumn is knocking at our door, I think I'll spend the last month before university doing some landscape shots (until the cold comes in November).

Singularity

I like to experiment. Thus, I've come across an old camera lens system. Thankfully, attaching it to my Finepix s5800 worked almost like a charm. Here are some shots taken with a Fujifilm Finepix s5800 + super macro lens:

1. Geranium stamen



2. Tomato slice

Like, whoa!

I'm on the verge of officially deciding my destiny. Tomorrow I'm going to enlist to University. I'm still oscillating on whether to go to the Polytechnic Institute (a.k.a. physics and math all wrapped in one alongside some programming) or stick to the Babes-Boylai University (no math in there!). Either way, I'm gonna pursue a career in programming. Any programmers/photographers out there on Blogger? Read my lips: cout<<"feedback please!"; So, that's that.

19

Dual-language posting today. Makes my brain think of something else than the Baccalaureate....

RO: Iarasi am imbatranit cu un an.... De obicei ii misto sa vezi ca ai crescut in ani [mai ales ca pentru mine, ziua de 15 e totuna cu sfarsitul scolii ] dar anul asta parca nu mai exista acel farmec din ultimii 18 ani. Poate ca e si chestia asta cu terminatul liceului si BAC-ul care rapesc din placerea unei zile de nastere...

In fine, BRB ma duc sa traiesc clipa...

ENG: I'm one year older again. Usually, it's fun to see that your age is increasing [especially for me, due to the fact that school ends on the same date as my birthday ] but this year, the charm of the last 18 years seems to have vanished. Well, it might have something to do with the fact that high school has ended and that the Baccalaureate is knocking at the door...

Anyways, I'll BRB - I'm going to enjoy the moment...

Meaning and meaninglessness

This is an essay I wrote for the "Anca Romantan" scholarship. Unfortunately, it did not qualify amongst the first two. Hope it will make for a good read, though!

Meaning and meaninglessness

Who are we? Man has always sought to understand his role in the big picture: how he related to divinity and vice versa. It is of human nature to question everything, ranging from the tiniest of atoms to the complex status of meaning and meaninglessness. This relentless thirst for knowledge has led to a shocking discovery: man cannot see the true aspect of things from where he stands. In order to see reality in full color, the viewing angle must be changed.
The purpose of this essay is to analyze the conflict between objectivity and subjectivity in human existence, whilst, at the same time, attempting to provide a solution for getting out of the “impasse”.

Of character and environment

Of character and environment

One of the most obvious characteristics of humans is that they are like stones (I, myself, am not human, but a paper cup). At first, they are a rough slab of stone whose jagged edges pierce the social fabric. Over time, the corners become smoother and the edges more refined: The Sculptor™ is at work. However, like any other being, the Sculptor™ is not perfect. On certain occasions he misses. A slip of hand here, a coffee spill there and the stone becomes chipped. Regardless of its appearance, the stone can be covered by the social fabric without it being torn.

But here comes the interesting part. During the sculpting process*, other stones partake in this tedious activity. They clash against the worked-upon stone, smoothing it (or making it more rough). After a long period of hitting and smashing, some of the stones come out fine, while others come out coarse.

With his patience lost, the Great Sculptor™ tosses them in a crate and heads for FedEx Branch Office #5629. Destination? Unknown. Weight? Unknown. Purpose? Unknown.

__________________________

*The sculpting process consists of decades of fine chiseling and detail inspection.

** for those of you who fancy GREEN over GREY, the same excerpt can be found [here].


With love towards everything that is paper,

AndrewB