"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.