Faster fetch from DB2 cursor

If you are using cursors in DB2 procedures, for example, and you don't use them to update the data, you can significantly improve fetch performance using FOR READ ONLY:

    DECLARE XSQL                    VARCHAR(10240);
    DECLARE XSQLSTATE_1             STATEMENT;
    DECLARE XRESULT_SET_1           CURSOR WITH RETURN TO CLIENT FOR XSQLSTATE_1;

    SET XSQL = 'SELECT * FROM SYSIBM.SYSDUMMY1 FOR READ ONLY WITH UR';
    PREPARE XSQLSTATE_1 FROM XSQL;
    OPEN XRESULT_SET_1;

XRESULT_SET_1 is returned back to the client, so it can iterate over the data.

No menus in Java applications under Ubuntu

If you run a Java application under Ubuntu and you don't see any menus (when you klick on a menu, you don't see menu items) run the application like this (example for running jmc):
UBUNTU_MENUPROXY= jmc

This will disable menu proxy for this application. More on disabling menu proxy here.

Disc burning software under Ubuntu

Take my advice and only use k3b. It does install a lot of stuff from KDE, but it is worth it.
I've used brasero, cdw, bashburn, ... but k3b is the only one that works as you'd expect.

Not able to change desktop wallpaper on Ubuntu

sudo apt-get install dconf-tools
dconf-editor
go to org -> gnome -> settings-daemon -> plugins -> background and activate "active" :)

Now you will be able to change desktop backgroup