Recommended reading material, part 2

Here is some stuff I've discovered recently:

• What the Prefetch folder does in Windows (no point in deleting it, it will be created anyway; deleting it won't make the system faster; there is an upper bound on the number of files that will be in that folder - so there is really no need to "optimize" it in any way);
• How to disable system $ shares in Windows (previously I used a BAT file which was executed automatically when the system starts);
• [Russian] Exotic things in Python, part 2 (I really like the else trick, subtle and handy);
• Abstraction and Variation;
• Another short story on humans and multitasking (it is assumed you've read Joel's Human task switches considered harmful);
• Another point of view - Active vs Passive voice (recommended reading - Use passive voice to shift the blame on someone else);
• [Russian] Goal-oriented vs process-oriented people;
• [Russian] Humans, learning, input channels (recommended reading - Mnemonic chains);

I'd like to make two highlights here, you will notice that two entries point to Diomidis Spinellis - my latest greatest discovery. His web-site is packed with interesting articles, I read all the 2005-2008 stories in one breath! Insightful, informative, interesting, useful. I wish I were his student... I strongly recommend his site, it is an invaluable source of information for folk interested in computer science, engineering, operating systems, programming. He is also the author of several books, one of which I will probably buy in the near future.

The other highlight is this blog in Russian, it's quite difficult to describe it. The focus is social connections in IT [in a company, between companies], thoughts on human resources, human behaviour, how programmers think, etc. Some entries can be filed under "psychology". The audience is also pretty advanced, as the comments are informative too (although not even close to the comments on Slashdot). Many ideas covered there are also a part of the "office space" stories which I currently have as drafts for this website.

Happy reading!

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