Remmina has proven to be a useful piece of software for me.

One of the main things that worried me if I had to work from home because of the the pandemic, was the fact that on my personal computers at home I use Linux Mint, while at work we use Windows based systems. As such, I was worried about not being able to work from home due to compatibility issues.

While I wasn't keen on trying out Wine, because some people who had used it for work have had some stability issues with. As such, I had to look for alternatives to be able to use the remote desktop I use for work. Worst part was that I just had a short notice to set it up to, and start using it in less than an hour.

So, after looking for options I ended up opting for Remmina, and it actually is a really good option to do work on remote Windows desktops. So much so, that now is routine for me to bring work home to catch up if I need to do so and I don't want to stay extra time at the office.

I have found Remmina to quite stable, and easy to use. It lets me to actually concentrate on what I've to do, and not having to worry about losing the connection. And the fact that I can connect from where ever I'm at the moment there is something I need to get done, makes Remmina quite a valuable asset for me.

What is more important for me at a personal level, is that Remmina has given me the option to be able to keep using Linux Mint on my personal hardware while given me the chance to do work on Microsoft Windows systems when the need arises. That means a lot for me, specially because I prefer to use open source software as much as I can.

I do recommend Remmina, it really is a great tool for those people who need to work on remote Windows desktops from Linux operating systems.

The normalization of violence against women.

After Dr. Seuss announced that they won't reprint 6 Dr. Seuss' books due racist images they contain; the New York Times ran an opinion piece by Charles M. Blow rising a point against Pepé Le Pew, who normalized rape culture; Speedy Gonzales, whose friends helped popularize the corrosive stereotype of the drunk and lethargic Mexicans; and Mammy Two Shoes, a heavyset Black maid who spoke in a heavy accent.

To be honest, I do agree with him about the issues he raised. Yet, the backlash about the possibility of Pepé Le Pew being cancelled got me worried. It really shows that violence against women is so normalized in our society that even the possibility of a cartoon where it is portrayed offends people more than the violence itself.

It mind blowing that people haven't have problem against the kind of behavior Pepé Le Pew displays just because it is shown in a funny way. Some even go as far as justifying it, saying that it is just a cartoon or it shows perseverance by Pepé Le Pew. Truth be told, such behavior should never be condoned by anyone. Besides, it has no place in a show directed to children, who have no way to knowing that what they seeing its wrong.

While it has to be understood in the context of the time the show was released, it doesn't mean that it still has a place today. At least not being shown to children, at a time when we are trying to eliminate all kind of violence against women. It is not about people being offended about everything, is about creating a safer society for everyone.

Home office saved many jobs and businesses.

How much telecommunication technologies have helped many people to keep their jobs, by allowing them to work from home is what one of the things that have impressed me the most of what has changed because of the pandemic. If it wasn't because of people being able to do home office, the level of unemployment might have been a lot higher. Also a lot more businesses could have faced bankruptcy if they have given their employees that option.

On the other hand, it shows that the capability to make use of home office has been there for quite a while. Seems that many businesses have been reticent to make use of this option because they were afraid that employees would not perform as they they do on site. Yet, the results may give more businesses the data they need to make home office something more of their employees use more often.

To be honest, it would be something that I'd like to make use at least once a week, and several of my coworkers would have the option to use with some regularity too. Sometimes just being able to work outside the office just helps reduce the stress levels, while being able not fall behind your work by taking vacations.

While most of my job can be done at home, there are still somethings I can do from home. Like being able to print orders, and invoices, at the printer at the office. That is something I need able to do, since the order pages are what the people who fill the others use to do so. And the invoices need to be given to the delivery drivers, or the sale agents, so out clients sign that they received they products when done so locally. Also the credit notes need to have a hard copy to prove that they were authorized.

To be honest, some of this could be done electronically. But there is some push back by some people to do the transition in fear our costumers would not approve of making the move. I personally that the change was made, since it would make my job at lot easier. Most of what is needed is in place, now is just a matter to make the move.

A case for multilateralism.

One of the mayor lessons that the COVID-19 pandemic, is that no country can truly and effectively, face such big challenges by itself. Multilateralism has become the best way to face not only problems like COVID-19, but to tackle other challenges like global warming and to bring more people out of extreme poverty.

Isolationism is not a long term solution. In many ways, it would only compound the problems each country has by not being able to access solutions other countries have, or make it viable to get outside help without being at a weak negotiating position since there isn't much to bargain with that other countries can't get else where.

Most importantly, multilateralism doesn't mean that a country has to give their identity away. It means that there is willingness to engage the rest of the world in a way that is beneficial to all parties involved, with a set of rules that have to be followed by all of those who want to participate in any given activity.

It doesn't have to be a zero-sum game. For multilateralism can work in a way where all can gain what they are looking for, without having to make everyone else lose.

Multilateralism means being willing to work together in way that benefits those involved. The idea is making it a win-win situation by negotiating within a set of rules agreed by those involved, accepting that something will have to be given in order to get what is wanted from the situation.

With countries, as with people, the way forward is working together.

Living through trying times.

The beginning of 2021 has been a lot rougher than expected, specially with the riots that led to storming to the US Capitol. It feels like all what happened on 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic is carrying over, specially since there is still no clear end in sight.

People are angry, and stressed, that the economy is still highly restricted. For many, it means that their source of income has been lost with little chance of recovering it. For others, it means a reduced income and for others a certain uncertainty about being able to keep their job for the foreseeable future.

For others, it has meant losing family or friends. Even seeing some loved ones battling the virus without certainty they make it.

The feeling of uncertainty we live in, is something that for many is proving to be to much to handle. People are scared, or exhausted, about not being able to at least be sure about the short term. In addition, for many is hard to come by with credible information almost about everything they care for. Misinformation, or plain lies, seem to be everywhere making it hard to know who or what to trust.

2021 is still, so there is hope things will change for the better.

Right to repair is non negotiable.

With time, we have come to rely on more gadgets to manage more of our daily lives. From smart TVs, to our smartphones, we use them ever more often for work and play.

One would think that once we buy them, we would be able to do with them as we want. Specially to be able to get them fix if they fail, and be able to extend their live a for some more time. Being able to repair expensive electronic devices, like TVs and smartphones, is specially important for people who can't afford to buy one every time something happens to them. Some other people, for example, simply don't want to through the hassle of buying a new smartphone if they can just replace the screen or the battery.

Yet, many OEMs seem to want to take that choice from the user. They cite anything from safety concerns, to possible intellectual property theft. as reasons why people shouldn't be able to repair they devices. Specially when third party services give that choice to the end user.

At the end of the day, if the right rules are set, there is no valid reason why third party repair services should give quality repairs to users who want them. It should be the user right to freely choose where, and who, repairs whatever device they need to get fixed.

That's why right to repair movements are vital. Users need to be able to repair the devices we own, after all we paid for them. Specially because losing it, would be in detriment of those who can't afford replacing they devices every time they brake.

Not only that, our environment can sustain us trowing away those devices when they brake. Is for the best to be able to repair our devices as much as possible, so we can make use of them for as long as possible.

Wireless headphones have grown on me.

Before I began using wireless headphones on regular basis, I must admit that I was not really sure about how they would work for me. But since I got a set of Otium headphones a couple of years ago as a gift, I must admit that I found that I prefer them over wired headphones when I'm commuting to, and from, work. Or just when I go for a walk.

While I still prefer my wired over the ear headphones Perfect Choice set when I'm at home, or writing at a coffee shop, my Otium pair is one of the things I always carry with me when I go out. I've found wireless headphones to be more practical way to enjoy my music, or podcasts, when out and about. Specially when I take the any of public transportation systems I use to move around the city, since there is no cable to tangle at the worst possible moment.

To be honest, while the sound quality might not be as good on my headphones as it is on my wired headphones, it is still more than good enough for the what I expect from them. What I value the most about the wireless headphones, is not the sound quality, but not having to deal with a wire on my commutes. The give me a sense of freedom that I don't get from the wired headphones, and as such I'm willing to sacrifice of the audio quality since what I get is more that good enough for me.

When it comes the time to replace my wireless headphones, now I'm looking for some that offer a better sound. I'm still looking for in ear headphones, since that is the form factor that works for me since I'm going to use them on my commutes. Its the most practical form factor for me.