I have installed Skype in Ubuntu, but I do not know where to start the installed the Skype application .Similarly  I have installed Netbeans and other applications but their icons are not appearing in any menus.  Related: how to uninstall already installed applications?
Under Windows, most applications and application data are stored in a special directory known as C:\Program Files (and occasionally C:\Program Files (x86)). What is the Ubuntu/Linux equivalent to this path? Is there even one?
C++ performance of accessing member variables versus local variables Is it more efficient for a class to access member variables or local variables? For example, suppose you have a (callback) method whose sole responsibility is to receive data, perform calculations on it, then pass it off to other classes. Performance-wise, would it make more sense to have a list of member variables that the method populates as it receives data? Or just declare local variables each time the callback method is called?  Assume this method would be called hundreds of times a second...  In case I'm not being clear, here's some quick examples:  // use local variables class thisClass {     public:         void callback( msg&amp; msg )         {             int varA;             double varB;             std::string varC;             varA = msg.getInt();             varB = msg.getDouble();             varC = msg.getString();              // do a bunch of calculations          }  };  // use member variables class thisClass {     public:         void callback( msg&amp; msg )         {              m_varA = msg.getInt();              m_varB = msg.getDouble();              m_varC = msg.getString();               // do a bunch of calculations         }      private:         int m_varA;         double m_varB;         std::string m_varC;  }; Why does my dock keep moving back to my other monitor? I have a larger, external monitor connected to my MacBook Pro and have arranged it such that the dock is in the external monitor (via System Preferences > Displays > Arrangement, by dragging the white bar to the larger screen). This works fine, except for the fact that every now and then, the dock will suddenly shift back to my MacBook screen, but when I open up Displays to change this back, the white bar is still on the external monitor. So I have to drag it to the smaller screen, and then drag it back to the external monitor.   It's a minor issue, obviously, but I've noticed that it has been happening more and more frequently and it's getting quite annoying. Perhaps there's something I've been doing unintentionally for this to happen?   I'm using Mavericks, 10.9.5. jQuery Datepicker with text input that doesn't allow user input How do I use the jQuery Datepicker with a textbox input:  $("#my_txtbox").datepicker({   // options });   that doesn't allow the user to input random text in the textbox. I want the Datepicker to pop up when the textbox gains focus or the user clicks on it, but I want the textbox to ignore any user input using the keyboard (copy &amp; paste, or any other). I want to fill the textbox exclusively from the Datepicker calendar.  Is this possible?  jQuery 1.2.6 Datepicker 1.5.2 A high-reputation, highly-active user has already been dinged once for a sockpuppet, and I just dinged him again. He probably has another sockpuppet as well.   What are the guidelines for handling users who game the system in this fashion? Specifically,   How can I be sure I'm looking at a sockpuppet? When should sockpuppets be considered a problem? How should moderators handle problematic sockpuppets once they've been identified? I was suspended for sockpuppetting and feel this is unfair Numbering figures and tables by their section I am having trouble formatting my list of figures and list of tables.  Currently, my tex document is printing the list in the following manner:     1 Foreign Key Constraint Problem Due   to Improper Table Design. . . . 3      2 Application Flow of Territory   Maintenance Tool. . . . . . . . . . .   . . 4   But I want to number figures by their sections:     3.1.2 Foreign Key Constraint Problem Due to Improper Table Design Convert integers to written numbers Is there an efficient method of converting an integer into the written numbers, for example:  string Written = IntegerToWritten(21);   would return "Twenty One".  Is there any way of doing this that doesn't involve a massive look-up table? Is there a good way to remove HTML from a Java string? A simple regex like replaceAll(&quot;\\&lt;.*?&gt;&quot;, &quot;&quot;)   will work, but things like &amp;amp; wont be converted correctly and non-HTML between the two angle brackets will be removed (i.e. the .*? in the regex will disappear). Detecting Color of iPhone/iPad/iPod touch? Do all accepted students in top-tier engineering programs get invited to interview before getting admitted? How is every subset of the set of reals with the finite complement topology compact? While we know that every finite set is compact, how to prove that every infinite subset of $\mathbf{R}$, the set of all real numbers, is also compact in the finite-complement topology (also called the co-finite topology)?   What is the situation in the case of an arbitrary infinite set $X$ with the finite-complement topology? Can I bring my laptop, camera on flight to USA? I am going to the US in the coming week. However, I heard that laptop and camera are not permitted to bring on board as carry-on. What are the latest rules about these larger electronics? Does every Abelian group admit a ring structure? I am having trouble finding out why the white space between my paragraphs is variable. Sorry, I am not allowed to post images but sometimes there is no white space (like it should be), just an indent to denote that a new paragraph has started. While sometimes the paragraphs start with an indent AND there is (sometimes substantial and thus variable) white space between the last sentence of the previous paragraph and the first sentence of the new paragraph.  In my tex file, there is no difference between what I do in the first and second examples of my text: just two hard returns to denote the start of a new paragraph. I was wondering whether it could be due to placement of figures and footnotes but I have no idea how to change it. I don't mind a little variable white space between paragraphs but the above example is too extreme for my taste. Thanks for your advice! Would particles behave the same way as a satellite orbiting earth, only far more compact and rapid correlating to the gravitational force of the black hole? Prove: If $a$ and $b$ are odd integers, then $8\mid (a^2-b^2)$  So far I have: $$8\mid \left((2n+1)^2-(2m+1)^2\right)\Longleftrightarrow 8\mid \left(4n^2+4n+1-4m^2-4m-1\right) $$ Is this right so far? Where do I go from here? Step by step explanation please! Why is the Fisher Information matrix positive semidefinite? Is the localization of a PID a PID? Let $A$ be a commutative ring and $S$ a multiplicative closed subset of $A$. If $A$ is a PID, show that $S^{-1}A$ is a PID.   I've taken an ideal $I$ of $S^{-1}A$ and I've tried to see that is generated by one element; the ideal $I$ has the form $S^{-1}J$ with $J$ an ideal of $A$. $J$ is generated by one element but I can't see why $I$ has to be generated by one element, maybe I'm wrong. How do Prestige Classes that advance spellcasting interact with racial spellcasting ability? Goal: I have a function $f(x,y)=z$ (two variables for illustration only) which I know almost nothing about--it has a compact domain which I can determine, it is non-negative, and bounded above.  My goal is to find the maximum value $f(x,y)$ takes on its domain.  I can query the function and I know the values at a few points: $f(x_1, y_1)=z_1, f(x_2, y_2)=z_2,..., f(x_n, y_n)=z_n$.  Optimization via Linear Regression:  I have used linear regression (and related methods like the lasso) to model functions like this in the past; this is the method that I am very comfortable with.  Typically, I might try to find a polynomial (of degree $k$) which relatively accurately models the data. The end result would be to say that:   $$f(x,y)\approx \beta_1 + \beta_2 x + \beta_3 y + \beta_4 x^2 + \beta_5 xy + \beta_6 y^2 + ... + \beta_{m}y^{k}.$$  Determining the coefficients is done by solving the .  The "best degree" for the polynomial might be determined using $k$-fold cross validation.  Once the "best" polynomial has been determined, one can choose any of a number of methods to optimize it (Newton's method, gradient descent, hill climbing, etc).  Then, if all goes well, the optimal value on the polynomial corresponds to an optimal value of $f(x,y)$.  Bayesian Optimization:  Recently, I was describing this technique (linear regression) to a colleague who asked: "What is the difference between that and Bayesian Optimization?"  I've been attempting to answer this question for the last couple days, and so far I don't have anything really conclusive.  After reading , trying to read  and getting stuck reading  I think I understand the following about BO:   Start with a prior (a guess as to what family of functions the black box belongs to... or at least some family of functions which you believe might be able to describe $f$ well).  It looks using a  as a prior is popular. Specify whatever is needed to build your prior (for GP this is a covariance function). As you go along, you maintain two evolving functions, a "mean" function $m(x,y)$ and a "confidence interval" function $c(x,y)$.  Basically, you can predict the value at any point by evaluating $m(x,y)$ and you are confident that $f(x,y)\in [m(x,y)-c(x,y), m(x,y)+c(x,y)]$. Bayesian optimization provides a systematic way of updating/exploiting the model by alternatively selecting points where the confidence interval is wide (you are very uncertain about the value) or at optimal points on the model $m(x,y)$.   My Question: Is it fair/correct to say that the major difference between Bayesian Optimization and simply optimizing the linear regression model is that Bayesian Optimization provides the systematic way of sampling with the goal of optimizing the model and reducing uncertainty whereas the linear regression model ignores the idea of uncertainty and doesn't explicitly provide a means of updating the model?  Said another way, is the linear regression model an example of what might be a "mean" function $m(x,y)$ in Bayesian Optimization?  If I stick with linear regression, specify how to compute the uncertainty, and provide a means of updating/improving the model (exploit/explore) am I just doing Bayesian Optimization (without calling it that)?  Background: My background is in pure mathematics (graph theory) but my new job has me working with a lot of data (so I'm self learning statistics).  With that in mind, my statistics vocabulary is somewhat limited (so I appreciate answers that either avoid technical terminology or briefly explain any technical terminology used)--for example, Monday was the first time I heard/read the word "prior" used in a stats sense and I'm still not 100% sure I understand that correctly. Are there any age limits (formal, informal, or guidelines) that schools use when deciding to accept someone into a PhD program? I'm most curious about the upper age limits. For example, will most schools accept someone in their 40's? How about their 50's?