"Because it is COOL!"- Review on The Social Network and a Random thought

In fact I have watched the for a long time but finally I pick up my mind now....... Someone has told me that this movie is "boring". It is reasonable in a sense as it has no attractive action and effect of course, but it also has no climax-It is a plain narrative of the development of FB. However, I felt the tension lying within the story-the sparkling of ideas, the change of Zucherburg, the founder of Facebook, and also his passion. I have not felt bored even one minute in the movie. If you have not watched this, I would recommend this movie to you.

Somehow the movie touched one point in my mind. Zucherburg in the movie insisted Facebook should be advertisement-free when his partner disagreed and want to make a profit from it. Zucherburg gave a reason, "As it is not COOL". In fact, that's how Zuckerburg different from the others. When others considered Facebook as a business, it was not wrong to make a profit. But Zuckerburg didn't, he wanted to make something cool- so cool that it can change the world. He was not a business but an artist. And the world paid his persistence with fame and money-not so important to him. Anyway, it is  a COOL thing.

Suddenly I understand why my interest towards Physics is diminishing. It is no longer COOL for me-at least not as cool as it was. I can master Physics quite well in UG level. But I am not making it COOL. After studying in PG (or more precisely, UG Year 3), I realized the material is becoming more and more demanding. I have no confidence to make something COOL in Physics with my weak background and limited wisdom. And I am not talented (or motivated) enough to be a outstanding researcher. And you can see the guys around you- smart, motivated, and enjoying. It can be a threatening sign to myself.

There is no standard to judge something is cool or not. But you will know this. Try a little experiment. When you meet a new friend, think about how you introduce yourself. Usually we will come up the most important identity first-which is COOL- in your sense. And when you talk about your life, what would you talk about? It is usually some experience that you appreciate, aka COOL. If you are a researcher, do you try to introduce your research to a stranger in layman term enthusiastically? If you do so, I believe you are qualified as a researcher.

But it is not the case for me. I would rather to mention my experience in Cambodia service trip or life on Jersey Island. I may talk about my political view or reading habit. But I seldom talk about my research- I think it is the root of the problem.

ps: I notice that the name "Zuckerburg" is "Zucker" + "Burg", which mean Sugar and Castle in German.
ps2: Somehow the movie dramatize the reality, of course.

12/13/10 PHD comic: 'How the Grad T.A. Stole Christmas, Part 2'

12/13/10 PHD comic: 'How the Grad T.A. Stole Christmas, Part 2': "

Piled Higher & Deeper by Jorge Cham		www.phdcomics.com
title: "How the Grad T.A. Stole Christmas, Part 2" - originally published 12/13/2010 For the latest news in PHD Comics, CLICK HERE!

"

My PHYS111 students are so NICE that I do not face such grading argument.

Empty Chair

A brave lady graduated before passing away.

癌伴苦讀三年圓夢
城大女生臨終前畢業

http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/template/apple/art_main.php?iss_id=20101201&sec_id=4104&subsec_id=11867&art_id=14719132

In the first news-clipping of this blog, I would like to pay my tribute to this brave lady who continued her studies under suffering of bone cancer.

After entering CityU three years before, she discovered that she have got bone cancer. However, she persisted on attending lecture when she felt better in order to catch up the course. Her effort influenced others- her parents gave up their jobs to take care of her. Her classmates brought her recording and lecture note from university. Even her professors spent their private time to provide private tutoring on coursework.

With the support of many others, finally she was able to finish her studies. But her life was going to the end- before the graduation ceremony. CityU decided to organize a special ceremony for her in the hospital, with the president  presenting her graduation diploma. She passed away soon after fulfilling her last dream.

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It is such a touching story. It really makes most university student ashamed. Especially when our fellow schoolmates (okay, I am one of them.) are wasting their life in "hea". Yes, we are so fortunate(?) that we still have a long way to go. But I believe her great effort spent in her short life made it a much more meaningful and sparking one compared with most of us. Just as her own description, "I have a condensed life."-condensed but miracle indeed.

New direction of this blog

I have left this blog empty for a long time. In fact, there are some interesting things in my life but I have no time to write them there. And sometimes I have no idea. I decided to change the way running of this blog.

1. If I have some interesting thing in my life to share, I will try to write it there.
2. If I have no time and I have no idea, I will share a news/critics (in Chinese/ English) and express my view on that. I am doing so partially for my own purpose- preparing for my GRE as my typing speed is so slow (and my typing sometimes make mistakes.) That's good for me to do some typing everyday.

Game between TAs and Students

Marking Class Work.......

Sometimes, it is really troublesome. I always hope that student can answer correctly, write clearly so that I can mark it easily and quickly. The most terrible one are usually those with lots of correction, lengthly explanation but a wrong ans. (sometime I am more lenient to those answer correctly). You have to go through all their steps to understand their logic flows (if any), their meaning, understanding and misunderstanding. It is a tough work indeed.

However, I am not going to blame this on my students. When I was a student (and Yes, I am still a student), I am always the one who handed in messy HWs and question papers, writing irrational statements without logic flow in order to cheat  for a few extra marks. Blaming them is in fact blaming myself. And my statue is quite strange-I am TA and also student. (well, not exactly, at least not in the same course.)

Maybe I should learn to write more neatly. I think I am quite sorry for Alan, who have to mark my PHYS520 paper (if he is not going to give me a duck egg and big red cross.)

WTF

http://forum1.hkgolden.com/view.aspx?type=ST&message=2626074&page=5&highlight_id=0

Comics Read Recently

Bakuman: The struggle of two high school boys towards the dream as a cartoonist. Simple plot but encouraging indeed.

Suicide Island: Japanese Government send those who tried committing suicide on a isolated island. The stories of the surviver illustrates the reality of humanity.

Well, I don't know how I can spend time on comics rather than tasks......

18/10/2010

To-do list:

1. PHYS111 Webwork 2 
2. PHYS111 Classwork 1 marking
3. PHYS520 Midterm
4. PhD Qualifying Exam (well......I am not a PhD student, so there is no consequence if I fail)
5. RESEARCH

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To-Watch List:

 

1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
2. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
3. 告白

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Freaking touching song indeed......

The Secret in their Eyes

Suddenly l ran to watch this movie......

As the awarded movie in Oscar, I think that it is over-estimated. Although it is an attractive movie and give audience a sense of tension, the plot is somehow normal......The first 2/3 of movie looks like a TVB soap. Although the final part is quite unexpected, you can always find some hint from the previous part.

One bright point about the movie is the portrayal of the corruption and failure of justice in Argentina. We can see how the protagonist persist on the truth and justice when others are forced to forget, to leave, or resolve in a "eye-for-eye" revenge. It is sure that a civilized society is required to make people living in dignity. And it requires power to achieve this. Without power, you can do nothing with justice indeed.

Quote of Today

"If you aim to do First-class Work, finally you will get Second-class Work. If you aim to do Second-class Work, finally you will get Third-class Work. If you really want to get First-class work done, you must go to the boundary between Possibilities and Impossibilities- where you may go wrong."

Sheng Ping

My Life-"Brain-Body Problem"

One Month.......

It is one month since the commence of the semester.

I have to new positions to take up:
MPhil Student
Teaching Assistant
Researcher

After one month, I found that I was fail in all these........ As a student, I do not learn much. I don't have even started researching.......  I have "hea" for too long already......

I have asked myself about the reason why I want to be in RPG. For Physics? Not really, at least it is not the only reason. I enjoy learning Physics, thinking in the way as a physicist. But considering physicist as my career seems to be too far away from me, with my limited wisdom and persistence.

I want to experience more in my life. During my three-year UG study in HKUST, I find that I have experienced more. I have made news friends, both local, mainland and foreign student. I have traveled to Jersey with my friends. I tried to take up the responsibility as a leader. I have experienced a lot as a volunteer in Cambodia. At the same time, I am learning the reality of life- both the bright side and dark side.

Maybe it is the thing I want. The reason that I still want to stay here is to experience more, as a student. So I must grip these two years, I promise.

Confused

There are quite a few fays since the last post. In fact I have done a lot of interesting things in these days. But I have no mood about writing them down. Suddenly I am confused. Confused about the current way. What have I done? Am I on the right way? I have no mood and brave to carry on.......

I will write in one or two days, I promised.

It is PHYSICIST........

Extract from xkcd.......

As an interdisciplinary physicist, i have plenty of chance to say this...... 

Upset...... due to the rainy days/ Wiley the great

Rain makes me down indeed.

I cannot go hiking.

The sound of rain make me confused.

The gloomy atmosphere make me suffocated.

...

Especially when you lost your earphone, became all wet and made no progress in your work.

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As the TA of PHYS111, I registered in Wiley's website.

And I got:

OTZ.......I am upgraded.

And several days later, I received this:

You can see a FEDEX box coming to my office.

And the thing insides is:

I understand why ppl love to be prof now.

IT IS PROFESSOR!!!

Gathering with Phys Ocamp guys~~

Yesterday we went to Saizeriya Italian Restaurant for dinner. It is a economical and quite nice restaurant from Japan which make "Italian Food", not quite Italian but quite delicious indeed. Usually you have to wait a long time as it is so popular. But it was okay in weekday like yesterday.

Sorry I could not take too many photo. It was difficult for me to withstand my desire to clean the dishes immediately.

Pizza and spaggetti are excellent. But I warn you that you should not have rice or risotto here. You will feel sorry.:-(

After making everyone full, we had to pay for $38 each. Shocked :-0

Later we went to 聰嫂私房甜品 (Ms Chung's Dessert). It is a nice dessert restaurant.......unless you make a wrong choice.......

This black, dirty and terrible stuff is called "薑汁意大利涼粉" (Italian Sweet Spaghetti with ginger juice). I can sure that it is the most awful dessert I have ever had.

Hiking in High Junk Peak(釣魚翁)

High Junk Peak- One of the "Sai Kung Three Steep Mountains"

Friends

Clear Water Bay

Clear Water Bay2

 Po Toi O(布袋澳)

Po Toi O is a small village in CWB. She is famous of her seafood restaurant.

First two days in PG

Wed

No lesson, just appear at PHYS111 lecture

It seems that I become M Wong's IT technician.

Check in Hall finally.

Thurs

Quote of Today:

Economics is so difficult because it does not have conservation law.- by Sheng Ping 

LANG051

Meet Michelle (my German teacher in summer) again

She is my teacher again ^^

Stuff is similar to the one I have in summer=.=

Lunch

very cheap spaghetti, $15 only
met several new friends

LANG500

BRAVO! no lesson

PHYS581

Content is OK

Lesson is so boring. I wanna sleep at class.

PHYS520

I have never imagined EM can be taught in such interesting way.......

But there are so many  (Crazy) guys there.......

Holy shit! my computer is currently jammed by simulation......extremely slow now=.=

For my students

Hello everyone. It is a page specially for those PHYS111 students who reach my webpage in UST. If you want to find course-related material, I want to tell you that course materials are uploaded on PHYS111 course website. So......sorry:-(. (Although I am not sure whether I will put something useful here.)

Okay, if you are still here, that's fine. Here is my timetable.

You may visit my office in Office hour at Room 4501 if you have questions. Other time slot is also okay as long as you contact me beforehand. If you are interested to have a lunch with me, it is also welcomed (and the priority is reserved for girls.......just kidding).

If you want to know more about me, you may browse this blog occasionally.  You may also add me as friend on Facebook, with email phyjacky@ust.hk.

It is the END of BEGINNING

It is the first day of Sept. I am no longer a UG student but a MPhil Physics student. Have I imagined what I am doing now when I was a freshman three years before? Properly not.

I have three fruitful years in UST. I become more curious to the world. I enjoy parties with Math guys. I love making new friends in classes and activities. The breeze from beaches on Jersey Island relieve my pressure.The experience in Cambodia trip gives me a new aim in my life. Surely there are some hard times for me. Overnight working become part of my life. The Fall Sem in Year Three was a disaster. Anyway, difficulties make me tough. Confusion towards my life leads me to the road for a value-seeking journey.

Now, it is not the end of the journey. It is just the END of BEGINNING of my journey.

(You may ask why I write in English. It just marks the start of a new period.)