Friday, June 22, 2007
Scaling down the marks?
For the other modules I gave in the past, the problem of exam marking is to give out as much marks as possible. This time however, the cryptography module has an average that is so so high and we almost have to scale it down. Although, at the end, it was not done. I really don't know why the marks are so high. (Can I just say my teaching is very good?) I don't think the exam paper is too simple. If the same paper is given to the batch of students last year, I'm pretty sure the situation would be entirely different...
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
annoying project reports
I was reading the pile of project reports, and I'm getting more and more annoyed about their English. Perhaps as a non-native speaker myself I shouldn't complain, but they are just... almost disgusting. Unlike many HK students who write things overly formally, sometimes to the point of being ridiculous, the most common situation here is they write in a very chatty way - not complete sentences, going on and on without even a comma when it should have 3 full stops, wrong spellings of similarly-sounding words, etc. These are the relatively better ones. The worst ones are simply incomprehensible. I believe many of them are, although not ethnic-British, born and educated in UK. How they survived the exam system I don't really understand. Does GCSE test any writing skills?
Speaking of the projects, some of them are just way too weak. It is as if the students only spent half a day doing it. They have "successfully" implemented things like a seat booking system for a football stadium allowing you to book the same seat (for the same match) an infinite number of times, or a webshots-like photo sharing system where the owner/uploader is the only person who can view the photos, etc. In fact, the front webpage of the project is a template with words like "put your company name here" and "this is some dummy text"...
Speaking of the projects, some of them are just way too weak. It is as if the students only spent half a day doing it. They have "successfully" implemented things like a seat booking system for a football stadium allowing you to book the same seat (for the same match) an infinite number of times, or a webshots-like photo sharing system where the owner/uploader is the only person who can view the photos, etc. In fact, the front webpage of the project is a template with words like "put your company name here" and "this is some dummy text"...
Sunday, June 03, 2007
What you can do in ten months
We have been experiencing a severe shortage of secretarial support for some time. As if that's not enough, two of the secretaries somehow coordinated themselves into getting pregnant at roughly the same time. So they are off for ten months of maternity leave. Ten months!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
MSN
Ok, I finally gave up my insistence on not using msn. Perhaps I've been asked just once too often about this. In case you care to know, the email is a gmail account. The rest should be pretty obvious.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
new home
This new place appears to be better than I thought. However, as regular readers of this blog will know, I am quite negative and only look at bad things. The main problem is with the shower heater. Ok it doesn't "burn" the fuse this time (I mean, hasn't). But the product of rate of water flow and the temperature of water is a constant, which is not a problem by itself, but this constant is just too small...
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
moved
So I finished moving house, and came off the days without Internet at home a bit sooner than I thought!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Snooker championship 2007
Time runs so quickly and it is another snooker championship already. Not unexpectedly, Marco Fu loses pretty quickly. Whenever you have any expectations on him, he will not perform. In fact, his mistakes are sometimes so embarassing to watch.
It is the second time that I watched a O'Sullivan-Ding match. This Ding Jun-hui simply doesn't look like wanting to win. Whenever a few frames behind, he will behave like this so that, like some school students, he can subconsciously give himself the excuse "it's not my standard too low, it's only I choose not to perform".
It is the second time that I watched a O'Sullivan-Ding match. This Ding Jun-hui simply doesn't look like wanting to win. Whenever a few frames behind, he will behave like this so that, like some school students, he can subconsciously give himself the excuse "it's not my standard too low, it's only I choose not to perform".
Friday, April 13, 2007
to view and be viewed
Yesterday a (continental-European?) couple viewed my flat. I don't know whether it is obviously too good or obviously too bad, but they spent less than 2 minutes here.
Today I viewed another flat, although I'm supposed to have committed to the one I mentioned last time. It is a brand new flat, the interior of which is furnished to the highest standards. What's more, the rent is exactly the same as my current one. On the down side, it is immediately next to a construction site, and the building (or group of buildings) itself is not completely finished, so you feel somewhat living in a construction site. But other people are apparently rather happy with it. This is also a bit too far from the university, which means extra travel costs. If not for this I would be very happy to take this...
Today I viewed another flat, although I'm supposed to have committed to the one I mentioned last time. It is a brand new flat, the interior of which is furnished to the highest standards. What's more, the rent is exactly the same as my current one. On the down side, it is immediately next to a construction site, and the building (or group of buildings) itself is not completely finished, so you feel somewhat living in a construction site. But other people are apparently rather happy with it. This is also a bit too far from the university, which means extra travel costs. If not for this I would be very happy to take this...
Monday, April 02, 2007
Moving house?
My current tenancy contract is about to expire and I want to find some cheaper place to live. (Actually, the real problem is this. There are still some unexplained ways for them to possibly get in. And rumour is that they have the same problem two years before. Another rumour is that there was even wasps...) So I viewed a couple of flats.
The first one I viewed was a complete joke.
I was advised long ago that "the other side" of London road is not as safe. Wondering why just the other side makes a difference, I arrived and noticed that, just a few blocks off the road, it clearly is a poorer part of the city.
When I found the house, the first thing to notice is that the house next door had its windows smashed. For the flat itself, there was still someone living and was in a mess, but let's forget about it. When I walked into the bathroom the biggest surprise came: one of the walls was only halfly built. The other side of the wall opened to the next flat, which was then visible from outside the house. The landlord said this is "renovation" and "will be finished within days". Then why don't you just wait a few more days before letting people view it? It's a complete waste of my time. And the most bizarre thing is that, as mentioned above, there was still someone staying there, although he was going to leave in a few days... I just wondered, how on earth does he use the toilet these days?
The second flat I viewed is much more reasonable. Its on the busiest road, near the train station, and directly above a restaurant, and should be very noisy. Other than this, it looks a reasonable place, but certainly not as good as the one I am living. The furniture etc. are not as complete/good and I will need to spend some money. I am actually looking for something with smaller area but similar quality (comparing with my current one), but it looks like all available out there is similar area but poorer quality.
I have some psychological struggle to move to a clearly worse place. I need to keep on reminding myself, "imagine a hundred wasps all burst into your flat through the ceiling!"...
The first one I viewed was a complete joke.
I was advised long ago that "the other side" of London road is not as safe. Wondering why just the other side makes a difference, I arrived and noticed that, just a few blocks off the road, it clearly is a poorer part of the city.
When I found the house, the first thing to notice is that the house next door had its windows smashed. For the flat itself, there was still someone living and was in a mess, but let's forget about it. When I walked into the bathroom the biggest surprise came: one of the walls was only halfly built. The other side of the wall opened to the next flat, which was then visible from outside the house. The landlord said this is "renovation" and "will be finished within days". Then why don't you just wait a few more days before letting people view it? It's a complete waste of my time. And the most bizarre thing is that, as mentioned above, there was still someone staying there, although he was going to leave in a few days... I just wondered, how on earth does he use the toilet these days?
The second flat I viewed is much more reasonable. Its on the busiest road, near the train station, and directly above a restaurant, and should be very noisy. Other than this, it looks a reasonable place, but certainly not as good as the one I am living. The furniture etc. are not as complete/good and I will need to spend some money. I am actually looking for something with smaller area but similar quality (comparing with my current one), but it looks like all available out there is similar area but poorer quality.
I have some psychological struggle to move to a clearly worse place. I need to keep on reminding myself, "imagine a hundred wasps all burst into your flat through the ceiling!"...
Sunday, March 25, 2007
LSD 2007
So I went to London again, this time for the LSD 2007...
(1) Obviously, you can't expect stringology people to be interested in online scheduling algorithms. Not much happened in the talk.
(2) It was announced that I made an important discovery. No, I didn't prove any important theorems. It was only about "discovering" a new toilet...
(3) We went to Chinatown again. Most stuff there are more expensive than those in here (the only problem here is that brands and choices are rather limited), but it turns out that instant noodles are cheaper.
(1) Obviously, you can't expect stringology people to be interested in online scheduling algorithms. Not much happened in the talk.
(2) It was announced that I made an important discovery. No, I didn't prove any important theorems. It was only about "discovering" a new toilet...
(3) We went to Chinatown again. Most stuff there are more expensive than those in here (the only problem here is that brands and choices are rather limited), but it turns out that instant noodles are cheaper.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Matchings, algorithms and problems
Some time ago I heard a presentation of a final year project. Somehow the student believed the project involves stable matchings. It is good that they attempt these things, and at first sight it appears to make sense. But when you think about it for a bit more you will realize that it actually does not make any sense to use stable matching in that problem. I won't go into the details here, but basically, the input arrives online rather than a batch, and only perhaps one side has preferences (and even that is arguable).
But this is not the point I want to make. The student did not understand the difference between a problem and the algorithms that solve the problem. His presentation showed a stable matching algorithm, but did not say anything about stable matching itself. So I asked, "So what is stable matching?" Then he showed that slide with the algorithm and is about to explain, when I interrupted and asked the matching itself, not the algorithm. He couldn't answer, and at the end said "a matching that everyone is happy". Other students there, even though they also don't know what a stable matching is, can at least appreciate that this answer cannot be correct.
And of course, he is not the only student with similar problems. Last year I had a project student whose project involve matching papers to referees, and the problem is to find a maximum matching. He just proceeded directly to invent some algorithm to find a "large" matching. I attempted to explain but he couldn't understand that there is a "maximum" matching independent of what algorithm you might what to use.
More recently, a student is doing a project on timetabling. I have nothing to do with his project, but anyway he came to ask me how to find the "optimal solution". I asked, "So what is the optimal solution you want to find?" and he wanted me to tell him what is the optimal solution. He has no idea of different "objective functions".
And I wonder, is all these because of me teaching too badly, or are they simply impossible to be understood by some people?
But this is not the point I want to make. The student did not understand the difference between a problem and the algorithms that solve the problem. His presentation showed a stable matching algorithm, but did not say anything about stable matching itself. So I asked, "So what is stable matching?" Then he showed that slide with the algorithm and is about to explain, when I interrupted and asked the matching itself, not the algorithm. He couldn't answer, and at the end said "a matching that everyone is happy". Other students there, even though they also don't know what a stable matching is, can at least appreciate that this answer cannot be correct.
And of course, he is not the only student with similar problems. Last year I had a project student whose project involve matching papers to referees, and the problem is to find a maximum matching. He just proceeded directly to invent some algorithm to find a "large" matching. I attempted to explain but he couldn't understand that there is a "maximum" matching independent of what algorithm you might what to use.
More recently, a student is doing a project on timetabling. I have nothing to do with his project, but anyway he came to ask me how to find the "optimal solution". I asked, "So what is the optimal solution you want to find?" and he wanted me to tell him what is the optimal solution. He has no idea of different "objective functions".
And I wonder, is all these because of me teaching too badly, or are they simply impossible to be understood by some people?
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Almost an issue 3
Within less than 6 months I lost it again! Except this time I discover it within 10 minutes, so rushing back to the supermarket to get it back...
I will now seriously consider not to use it in supermarkets, at least not in Sainsbury's.
I will now seriously consider not to use it in supermarkets, at least not in Sainsbury's.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Algorithms exam
At St. Valentine's day we had a dreadful meeting about the arbitrary manipulation of some numbers that are important to students (many of whom I don't know) in modules (many of which I don't care). I think it is now time to say something about the algorithms exam paper.
The exam paper has 6 questions and students answer 4. (I don't have any say about this.)
(1) I think I did an ok job of getting an average mark close to whatever number they want. You can easily estimate marks of students on different questions: if you want them to know how to answer, you must give them the exact same question beforehand, with only different numbers. This is the only way they know how to do something. Changing anything else would result in a very low mark.
(2) I included several straightforward (i.e. non-tricky) true/false questions, which are answered satisfactorily. (Never do tricky questions: the correct rate would be far lower than 50%).
(3) You might think that questions asking for simple counterexamples are easy, but they are not. I think this holds true for HK students as well.
(4) I believe no students can ever understand what "lower bound" means. Majority thinks "If the fastest known algorithm of a problem runs in O(n^2) time then the problem has a lower bound of Omega(n^2)" is a correct statement.
(5) There is only one dynamic programming question that you can expect people to do it correctly (and hence I put it in the exam paper) - working out longest common subsequences. They are fairly competent in filling in the tables, perhaps without knowing what they are actually doing.
(6) The divide and conquer question is a "difficult" one and as expected very few people do it. In an earlier assignment they did a question which has similar flavor - the standard maximum-sum contiguous subarray problem - and almost no one can get it correct. In fact, many do not even attempt to do it. It looks like if they decide that a question is difficult, they don't even bother to plagiarize - just leave it blank. I must say that I don't quite understand why they consider this very difficult, as I think this is a rather "natural" D&C problem - even when I first saw it in my first DAA assignment. Having said that, interestingly, a few actually accidentally discovered the linear-time algorithm.
The exam paper has 6 questions and students answer 4. (I don't have any say about this.)
(1) I think I did an ok job of getting an average mark close to whatever number they want. You can easily estimate marks of students on different questions: if you want them to know how to answer, you must give them the exact same question beforehand, with only different numbers. This is the only way they know how to do something. Changing anything else would result in a very low mark.
(2) I included several straightforward (i.e. non-tricky) true/false questions, which are answered satisfactorily. (Never do tricky questions: the correct rate would be far lower than 50%).
(3) You might think that questions asking for simple counterexamples are easy, but they are not. I think this holds true for HK students as well.
(4) I believe no students can ever understand what "lower bound" means. Majority thinks "If the fastest known algorithm of a problem runs in O(n^2) time then the problem has a lower bound of Omega(n^2)" is a correct statement.
(5) There is only one dynamic programming question that you can expect people to do it correctly (and hence I put it in the exam paper) - working out longest common subsequences. They are fairly competent in filling in the tables, perhaps without knowing what they are actually doing.
(6) The divide and conquer question is a "difficult" one and as expected very few people do it. In an earlier assignment they did a question which has similar flavor - the standard maximum-sum contiguous subarray problem - and almost no one can get it correct. In fact, many do not even attempt to do it. It looks like if they decide that a question is difficult, they don't even bother to plagiarize - just leave it blank. I must say that I don't quite understand why they consider this very difficult, as I think this is a rather "natural" D&C problem - even when I first saw it in my first DAA assignment. Having said that, interestingly, a few actually accidentally discovered the linear-time algorithm.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
LAW 2007
I went to the London Algorithmic Workshop, held at King's College London a few days ago. The main purpose is to see people, and to have some feeling of being in a city. (I don't expect to understand things like counting runs in a string using automata and such; although there is a talk about my ex-boss and his student's previous work.)
For all sorts of reasons, the cost of going there had increased considerably from the original estimate.
One thing is that I ended up staying at a hotel. Finding a cheap hotel in central London is like 買大細, for you never know how bad it can be. There are always terrible comments on the web for whatever hotel you pick. At the end, I picked one which seem to have not-too-bad comments. When I arrived I was relieved - it was very small as expected, but tidy and clean. From outside, the room is like a storage room or so at a turn of the stairs, but as long as you shut yourself inside it feels alright. There is no toilet/bathroom inside - have to use the shared ones outside. Apparently, this is the default for cheap hotels.
The return trip coincided with the heaviest snow of UK in 10 years (or something like that). You look out of the train window and it is white everywhere. But while the weather was bad enough, the train was very accurately on time.
For all sorts of reasons, the cost of going there had increased considerably from the original estimate.
One thing is that I ended up staying at a hotel. Finding a cheap hotel in central London is like 買大細, for you never know how bad it can be. There are always terrible comments on the web for whatever hotel you pick. At the end, I picked one which seem to have not-too-bad comments. When I arrived I was relieved - it was very small as expected, but tidy and clean. From outside, the room is like a storage room or so at a turn of the stairs, but as long as you shut yourself inside it feels alright. There is no toilet/bathroom inside - have to use the shared ones outside. Apparently, this is the default for cheap hotels.
The return trip coincided with the heaviest snow of UK in 10 years (or something like that). You look out of the train window and it is white everywhere. But while the weather was bad enough, the train was very accurately on time.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Gaim Internet messenger
On the school linux computer I am using Gaim as the ICQ client (I don't have much choices). Somehow it doesn't look like they can block people not in your contact list. And so every day I receive dozens of authorization requests or even direct messages from Russians... and also, HK people. And this does not happen with my Windows ICQ (which is a very, very old version). I think no one uses ICQ anymore these days and perhaps they connect through other protocols when I use gaim...
Friday, January 19, 2007
Chinese food at co-op
I don't really know when these all started but the co-op at the student union here start selling many Chinese food, including all varieties of instant noodles, vitasoy milk, and even 王老吉. I suspect this might be something one-off as I don't think the Chinese student population here is large enough to support it...
(PS. I know, I haven't blogged for some time. But I promise some interesting stuff are coming. Like a detailed analysis of the course evaluation. Only that it takes some time...)
(PS. I know, I haven't blogged for some time. But I promise some interesting stuff are coming. Like a detailed analysis of the course evaluation. Only that it takes some time...)
Monday, January 08, 2007
Christmas holiday
Alright, I was back in HK once again. Somewhat too frequent is it, when there is no particular reason to go back...
At Heathrow, it is very fortunate that the plane could actually take off with all the fog. I looked out the window at the airport, saw a plane and couldn't saw the next one. Other than the fact that they had no personal TV, I was quite happy with the airline.
In HK I went to a hospital to visit someone. Also I witnessed the last day of Hardee's. I should say that I'm not a big fan of it. However apparently quite some people do, and lots of people were gathering inside or taking photos.
And about the earthquake, I didn't sense anything at all. At that time I was probably staring at a bunch of equations...
Finally. It was not 5am or so at Heathrow, but still there was absolutely no one whatsoever in the Customs, again. Next time I will bring some "white powder"...
At Heathrow, it is very fortunate that the plane could actually take off with all the fog. I looked out the window at the airport, saw a plane and couldn't saw the next one. Other than the fact that they had no personal TV, I was quite happy with the airline.
In HK I went to a hospital to visit someone. Also I witnessed the last day of Hardee's. I should say that I'm not a big fan of it. However apparently quite some people do, and lots of people were gathering inside or taking photos.
And about the earthquake, I didn't sense anything at all. At that time I was probably staring at a bunch of equations...
Finally. It was not 5am or so at Heathrow, but still there was absolutely no one whatsoever in the Customs, again. Next time I will bring some "white powder"...
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Some thoughts about star ferry pier incident
關於市民反應：
來來去去都得小貓三幾隻去反對，可見大多數市民都唔 care 的，傳媒也不怎麼報導。如果有幾十萬人去包圍，難道還能拆嗎？看來我不得不相信某才子的「民族 DNA」說法，中國人就是喜歡拆拆拆，是不配有古蹟的，要看去外國看好了...
關於政府反應：
本來市民唔 care，政府理應好辦事，但它大概自己心虛，於是有調虎離山、摸黑拆樓、快刀斬亂麻等行為。到星期一甚麼立法會，專家會議云云，還開個屁。這些「懶醒」戰略，使人十分反感...
關於爭論本身：
那些反對人士大概自己也不清楚想怎樣，是反對填海呢，還是反對拆碼頭呢，還是只反對拆鐘樓呢，...
至於親政府陣營，則再一次示範中國人的醜陋，以「只問動機，不問是非」的思維方式，不斷質疑別人「遲唔反對，早唔反對」，是「有陰謀」。別人有沒有陰謀，跟應不應該拆鐘樓有甚麼關係？
關於填海：
據說拆卸鐘樓是為了填海建馬路以解決交通擠塞問題云云。這等廢話早有人駁斥。填了海自然要起樓， (你不是以為真的填海來起公園吧？) 起了樓自然有更多交通流量，之後交通擠塞，然後又要填海，如此循環不息... 直至維港填平了為止。那之後怎解決交通擠塞？
其實大家只要看看地圖就可以了，會展一頭突了出來，IFC 在另一邊突了出來，中間豈有不填之理？早有預謀的了...
關於拆下鐘樓的下場：
據說拆下的鐘樓已運往堆填區。這我又不明白了，眼前不就有一個「中環三期」填海工程嗎，幹嗎不「原地拆卸，原地堆填」，方便快捷呢...
關於「三維立體」激光掃描技術：
關於新碼頭：
我只想說，那個新碼頭「很膠」...
來來去去都得小貓三幾隻去反對，可見大多數市民都唔 care 的，傳媒也不怎麼報導。如果有幾十萬人去包圍，難道還能拆嗎？看來我不得不相信某才子的「民族 DNA」說法，中國人就是喜歡拆拆拆，是不配有古蹟的，要看去外國看好了...
關於政府反應：
本來市民唔 care，政府理應好辦事，但它大概自己心虛，於是有調虎離山、摸黑拆樓、快刀斬亂麻等行為。到星期一甚麼立法會，專家會議云云，還開個屁。這些「懶醒」戰略，使人十分反感...
關於爭論本身：
那些反對人士大概自己也不清楚想怎樣，是反對填海呢，還是反對拆碼頭呢，還是只反對拆鐘樓呢，...
至於親政府陣營，則再一次示範中國人的醜陋，以「只問動機，不問是非」的思維方式，不斷質疑別人「遲唔反對，早唔反對」，是「有陰謀」。別人有沒有陰謀，跟應不應該拆鐘樓有甚麼關係？
關於填海：
據說拆卸鐘樓是為了填海建馬路以解決交通擠塞問題云云。這等廢話早有人駁斥。填了海自然要起樓， (你不是以為真的填海來起公園吧？) 起了樓自然有更多交通流量，之後交通擠塞，然後又要填海，如此循環不息... 直至維港填平了為止。那之後怎解決交通擠塞？
其實大家只要看看地圖就可以了，會展一頭突了出來，IFC 在另一邊突了出來，中間豈有不填之理？早有預謀的了...
關於拆下鐘樓的下場：
據說拆下的鐘樓已運往堆填區。這我又不明白了，眼前不就有一個「中環三期」填海工程嗎，幹嗎不「原地拆卸，原地堆填」，方便快捷呢...
關於「三維立體」激光掃描技術：
「土木工程拓展署也已採用了先進的「三維立體」激光掃描技術，把整個碼頭的資料，以電子數碼方式詳細地保留下來。」以上文字的荒謬程度，實在很難以筆墨形容，唯有引用某討論區的說法：
「發言人說，當局會研究如何把鐘樓及碼頭的特色部分融入新海濱的設計，政府早前已用「三維立體」激光掃描技術，保留碼頭資料。據悉，當局有不同構思保留鐘樓，包括在新碼頭重建、與九倉舉辦大型展覽讓市民憑弔、或把設計融入新中環填海區。」
市民也準備採用先進的「三維立體」激光掃描技術，把整個孫明揚的資料，以電子數碼方式詳細地保留下來。之後，孫明揚將被拆毀。有關人士稍後將會研究仿製一具孫的屍體，樹立於中環舊天星碼頭舊址供市民憑弔*。(*: 在原文中，「弔」字被改為某粗口字)
關於新碼頭：
我只想說，那個新碼頭「很膠」...
Monday, December 04, 2006
International Conference on Junk Emails 2006
This looks like a very interesting conference. For one, it is held in Hong Kong Productivity Council, which is certainly appropriate since it relates to the productivity of everyone. Also, some talks look particularly interesting:
How AMD Opteron processor architecture well fit into Email marketing?
Poor processor designers. Do they have special instruction sets for sending spams?
How AMD Opteron processor architecture well fit into Email marketing?
Poor processor designers. Do they have special instruction sets for sending spams?
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
又來奇文共賞
沒有甚麼值得怕的 ~ 梁立人
29/11/2006
近日食物安全中心接二連三公布有淡水魚含孔雀石綠，內地淡水魚商會為報復本港的行動，宣布暫時中止所有淡水魚輸港，香港人食無魚的日子即將到來。
其實豈但食無魚而已，如此下去，香港將會失去內地的食品供應，需要完全依靠其他地區進口，生活指數定會瞬時飆升，社會不穩定的情況必會加劇。
政 府呼籲內地淡水魚商會要理性行事，但雙方是否能達成諒解那是後話。其實內地食品超過安全標準並非一朝一夕的事，近幾十年來我們都在吃這些有毒食品，但為甚 麼現在才開始警醒，才開始害怕呢？再說，即使香港完全不再進口內地食品，難道每天十萬八萬的人進入內地，這些人所吃的食品就沒有問題了嗎？可以說，只要香 港和內地的關係切不斷，有害食品就無法根除，面對這種現實，我們只有兩種選擇：
一是移民到外國，遠離內地有害食品的威脅；二是習以為常，繼續若無其事的吃下去。
我會選擇後者，因為一來走到全世界都有內地供應的食物，二來使用化學藥品先進國家比內地更內行，只是毒性沒有殘存在表面而已，誰敢保證他們的食物會比較安全呢？
其實，我們吃這些有害食物已經有數十年之久，身體早就適應了，香港人的人均壽命已是世界之前一二名，我實在不明白人們還害怕甚麼。我會毫無懼色的繼續吃這些有害食物，就像我會繼續吸煙一樣，而且相信，自己會活得比那些怕得要死的人更加長久！
29/11/2006
近日食物安全中心接二連三公布有淡水魚含孔雀石綠，內地淡水魚商會為報復本港的行動，宣布暫時中止所有淡水魚輸港，香港人食無魚的日子即將到來。
其實豈但食無魚而已，如此下去，香港將會失去內地的食品供應，需要完全依靠其他地區進口，生活指數定會瞬時飆升，社會不穩定的情況必會加劇。
政 府呼籲內地淡水魚商會要理性行事，但雙方是否能達成諒解那是後話。其實內地食品超過安全標準並非一朝一夕的事，近幾十年來我們都在吃這些有毒食品，但為甚 麼現在才開始警醒，才開始害怕呢？再說，即使香港完全不再進口內地食品，難道每天十萬八萬的人進入內地，這些人所吃的食品就沒有問題了嗎？可以說，只要香 港和內地的關係切不斷，有害食品就無法根除，面對這種現實，我們只有兩種選擇：
一是移民到外國，遠離內地有害食品的威脅；二是習以為常，繼續若無其事的吃下去。
我會選擇後者，因為一來走到全世界都有內地供應的食物，二來使用化學藥品先進國家比內地更內行，只是毒性沒有殘存在表面而已，誰敢保證他們的食物會比較安全呢？
其實，我們吃這些有害食物已經有數十年之久，身體早就適應了，香港人的人均壽命已是世界之前一二名，我實在不明白人們還害怕甚麼。我會毫無懼色的繼續吃這些有害食物，就像我會繼續吸煙一樣，而且相信，自己會活得比那些怕得要死的人更加長久！
Saturday, November 11, 2006
消滅香港
消滅香港是香港城市規劃的唯一目標
消滅香港的歷史
消滅香港人的集體記憶
消滅香港人的社區
消滅香港人的家庭
消滅香港人的個人意識
消滅海港
消滅街道，消滅街市
消滅小販，消滅大排檔
消滅老商店，消滅戲院
消滅樹木
香港成為了一座八百萬人的石屎監獄，不是石屎森林
全香港佈滿著一式一樣的大型商場
一式一樣的樓貼樓大型樓盤大型豪宅
香港不需要社區，不需要鄰居，不需要家庭，不需要有個性的個體
需要的是更多的消費，更多的信用卡，更多的名牌，更少的人情味，更少的清新空氣
街道佈滿的是巴士，更多的巴士，比火車地鐵還要長的巴士鐵路
香港的春夏秋冬都是冷氣，室內四處都是冷氣，室外四處都是廢氣
小市民不可在街作小販，大企業可以在街邊推銷信用卡，推銷寬頻，推銷樓盤
不正常的在香港成為正常
香港只可以有現在，沒有未來
租金可以無止境的上昇
投資只可以是投機
沒有人會安分守己
沒有人會腳踏實地
沒有人會做好學問
沒有人會相信未來，相信理想
香港已經不是以前的香港
對於現在的香港人，人情味是笑話
認真是一種謊言
狗仔隊是神是真理
香港人沒有人相信人可以是好人
憎人富貴厭人窮
講權利但不相信義務
假道學成為主流
城市的規劃影響著我們的價值
個人的價值
家庭的價值
朋友與朋友之間的價值
社區的價值
人類存在的價值
以金錢為唯一指標的香港規劃政策
令短期金錢效益成為香港成功的唯一指標
香港成為了一個沒有賭場的賭城
短視
功利
投機
膚淺
造成這種以錢為本的價值
是香港政府的責任？
是香港政黨的責任？
是香港傳媒的責任？
是香港教育界的責任？
是香港文化界的責任？
是香港學者的責任？
是香港市民的責任？
這是香港人的命運？
還是中國未來的命運？
命運可以改變嗎？
我們會認命嗎？
《 香港風格 2 ─ 消滅香港 》 胡恩威
Friday, November 10, 2006
Halfway through the algorithms module
In the classroom:
Me: Are there any questions about the assignment?
Student X: We want extension.
Me: That's not a question. Actually, some of you told me that the assignment is "too easy".
Student Y: Who's that?
Me: Yeah, who's that? Do you know? I don't remember...
Student X: (pretending to be looking around) ...
***
The old problem of "Find an efficient algorithm for returning the n copies of assignments to n students" arises again. Although we clearly know there is an O(n) time algorithm, in practice no one (including the teacher) like to use it and end up with the O(n^2) time algorithm.
***
Teaching algorithms has the advantage of you really know what you are talking about, so you don't need too much preparation, don't need to look at the screen every second, etc. The feeling of my best year of DAA teaching, where I have the freedom to say almost anything I like, seems to have come back.
***
However, too little preparation and relying on memory can be a problem. The lecture notes on quicksort and order statistics - I just don't remember how many bugs have been fixed during or after class. I would blame the CLRS again - I'm not fully aware that a different Partition() algorithm in its second edition affects that many things.
Me: Are there any questions about the assignment?
Student X: We want extension.
Me: That's not a question. Actually, some of you told me that the assignment is "too easy".
Student Y: Who's that?
Me: Yeah, who's that? Do you know? I don't remember...
Student X: (pretending to be looking around) ...
***
The old problem of "Find an efficient algorithm for returning the n copies of assignments to n students" arises again. Although we clearly know there is an O(n) time algorithm, in practice no one (including the teacher) like to use it and end up with the O(n^2) time algorithm.
***
Teaching algorithms has the advantage of you really know what you are talking about, so you don't need too much preparation, don't need to look at the screen every second, etc. The feeling of my best year of DAA teaching, where I have the freedom to say almost anything I like, seems to have come back.
***
However, too little preparation and relying on memory can be a problem. The lecture notes on quicksort and order statistics - I just don't remember how many bugs have been fixed during or after class. I would blame the CLRS again - I'm not fully aware that a different Partition() algorithm in its second edition affects that many things.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
DSA and Gantt charts
So, I think I have almost covered the first-year Data Structures and Algorithms part in a third-year module. (I mean, the absolutely essential part. Sorting is n log n, etc etc. They will never know what a "binary search tree" is.) Sometimes I don't really understand their math thinking. OK you don't know geometric series, or have forgotten logarithms, or never really know what is induction. But given the recurrence T(n) = 2 T(n/2) + 1, say, isn't it "immediately obvious" that T(n/2) = 2 T(n/4) + 1?
On a completely unrelated thing, in final year projects, I think I have seen 10 different spellings of "Gantt chart"...
On a completely unrelated thing, in final year projects, I think I have seen 10 different spellings of "Gantt chart"...
Thursday, October 19, 2006
25th anniversary
A prospective applicant asked "when is the department established". (You see here the time of an academic staff is spent on these things.) Fully confident that not more than three people in the department could know the answer, I sent a broadcast email to ask. This led to the discovery that the department is (depending on how you count it) having its 25th anniversary. No one notice that before...
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Algorithms textbooks
CLRS has been the standard algorithms textbook for quite many years. Yet in the last minute I decided not to list it as an "essential" textbook. The simple reason is that they refused to give me a free copy (or more precisely, ignored my request). The one I have is a first edition. It's a bit embarassing to fight with students to borrow the library copies, isn't it?
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Debit card, issue 2
I never really forget about my personal belongings - haven't even lost a key before. (With a slight exception, that once at a US airport I left behind a bag containing passport and other important things, and walked away only to realize that after two minutes. I rushed back and it's still there. But that's the result of very insufficient sleep.) But within 1 year in UK I've lost my debit card! I think I must have left it behind after paying with it in a supermarket. And I only realize this after a few days. Actually, I felt my wallet being thinner those days, but I just thought it's because "I have no money".
Anyway, the card replacement process is quite smooth and I got my new card today. Except that when I ask the card to be sent to the university branch, they sent it to the city centre branch...
Anyway, the card replacement process is quite smooth and I got my new card today. Except that when I ask the card to be sent to the university branch, they sent it to the city centre branch...
Saturday, September 23, 2006
CX 60th anniversary
CX 今年六十週年，我都同佢贈興一下。圖中所見既並唔係個別事件，我一年前就已經親眼見過(雖然唔係呢班/呢架機)，之後亦聽人講過。不佢地成年都唔理個問題，任佢漏水的嗎?
Friday, September 15, 2006
ALGO'06
ALGO'06 is in Zurich, Switzerland this year. An incomplete list of what happened:
(1) It is essentially impossible to get to a flight on time in Heathrow Terminal 4. You go early enough and they won't tell you where to check-in. Self-service check-in machines are hidden behind the fast bag drop queue, which in turn is hidden behind another queue. Before going to security you need to wait outside the airport building. And of course you know the security itself. I went to the gate at 15:52 when the flight was supposed to depart at 15:50. Of course, I could still catch the flight. Half of the people would have missed it if they didn't wait.
(2) Switzerland probably has the most expensive McDonalds among the places I have been to.
(3) As everyone knows, people don't really listen to talks. So they designed something to keep you busy.
(4) Just before my talk, someone looked at my first slide which was already shown on the screen, and asked me "Is Fxxxxxx Cxxx the wife of Andy Yao?"
(5) In a reception, some girls asked me where is the "boy" that was with me. They were referring to Txx-Wxx Lxx. When they knew that he is already a professor, they couldn't close their mouths for a few seconds.
(6) As far as I can remember, I have never been to a conference together with the professor mentioned in (5) above. I should try to do it more in the future. You just hang around with him and some girls will appear and talk to you. I mean, it never happened like this before and it couldn't be me getting more handsome, right?
(7) How many more times do the officers in passport control in London airports like to ask this: "What do you do here?" "Lecturer." "Lecturer! What do you lecture?" How could they sound like surprising when the thing is written on both the visa and the landing card? And should I say "algorithms"?
(1) It is essentially impossible to get to a flight on time in Heathrow Terminal 4. You go early enough and they won't tell you where to check-in. Self-service check-in machines are hidden behind the fast bag drop queue, which in turn is hidden behind another queue. Before going to security you need to wait outside the airport building. And of course you know the security itself. I went to the gate at 15:52 when the flight was supposed to depart at 15:50. Of course, I could still catch the flight. Half of the people would have missed it if they didn't wait.
(2) Switzerland probably has the most expensive McDonalds among the places I have been to.
(3) As everyone knows, people don't really listen to talks. So they designed something to keep you busy.
(4) Just before my talk, someone looked at my first slide which was already shown on the screen, and asked me "Is Fxxxxxx Cxxx the wife of Andy Yao?"
(5) In a reception, some girls asked me where is the "boy" that was with me. They were referring to Txx-Wxx Lxx. When they knew that he is already a professor, they couldn't close their mouths for a few seconds.
(6) As far as I can remember, I have never been to a conference together with the professor mentioned in (5) above. I should try to do it more in the future. You just hang around with him and some girls will appear and talk to you. I mean, it never happened like this before and it couldn't be me getting more handsome, right?
(7) How many more times do the officers in passport control in London airports like to ask this: "What do you do here?" "Lecturer." "Lecturer! What do you lecture?" How could they sound like surprising when the thing is written on both the visa and the landing card? And should I say "algorithms"?
Saturday, September 09, 2006
more applications
Some more interesting applications:
1) A long, long time ago, I told you when you copy assignments, don't put the two copies consecutively into the assignment box. The same holds when you apply to universities. Even when you are applying to different departments.
2) And there is a reason why the Ig Nobel Prize in Literature 2005 is given to people in this country rather than some others.
3) Can anyone tell me how Thailand's calendar works? Is their "September" the 8th month of the year? I don't feel all that comfortable looking at something from future...
1) A long, long time ago, I told you when you copy assignments, don't put the two copies consecutively into the assignment box. The same holds when you apply to universities. Even when you are applying to different departments.
2) And there is a reason why the Ig Nobel Prize in Literature 2005 is given to people in this country rather than some others.
3) Can anyone tell me how Thailand's calendar works? Is their "September" the 8th month of the year? I don't feel all that comfortable looking at something from future...
Friday, September 08, 2006
Monday, September 04, 2006
A new problem in my linux every day
I am using Linux in most of the time with my office PC, and it has just a bit too many nasty problems. Typically they come with no reason and disappear by themselves after several weeks (or months). The PCs are centrally administered and I suppose the technical support people change things every now and then and therefore problems come and go.
The newest invention is that the attachment bar in the bottom of Thunderbird becomes so thin that I can't see and click any attachment in it. And the little plus/minus sign that allows you to expand/collapse the viewing of the complete subject/from/date headers does not work. Well actually it only fails to work for mails with attachment.
Some other problems that get solved by itself included:
1) Chinese characters were displayed normally, then one day all become strange symbols, and then another day the characters came back - with a much better font!
2) Gnome refused to work properly; after the machine was up for a while then gpdf, ggv, gedit, g-whatever all cannot get started. So the very first thing I did after the machine was booted up was to open some pdf or ps files... then it would stay fine.
3) On a few occasions the clock was fast by exactly one hour. Although this one goes away easily (just a reboot).
The newest invention is that the attachment bar in the bottom of Thunderbird becomes so thin that I can't see and click any attachment in it. And the little plus/minus sign that allows you to expand/collapse the viewing of the complete subject/from/date headers does not work. Well actually it only fails to work for mails with attachment.
Some other problems that get solved by itself included:
1) Chinese characters were displayed normally, then one day all become strange symbols, and then another day the characters came back - with a much better font!
2) Gnome refused to work properly; after the machine was up for a while then gpdf, ggv, gedit, g-whatever all cannot get started. So the very first thing I did after the machine was booted up was to open some pdf or ps files... then it would stay fine.
3) On a few occasions the clock was fast by exactly one hour. Although this one goes away easily (just a reboot).
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Bank holiday
OK, I know this is bank holiday, but it is not the only bank holiday, huh? everyone is away this two weeks? The HoD, ex-HoD, ex-ex-HoD, my research mentor, teaching mentor and basically everyone directly "above" me are away...
Monday, August 21, 2006
DODOON 2006
(1) COCOON 主辦單位安排的 tour 其中一站是參觀故宮博物院。Prof. Dxxx Xxxxxxx 在某個商周時期的鼎內刻著的古代文字中，發現了一個「D」字，即場向工作人員詢問相當於今天的那一個字...
(2) 晚上的 conference banquet 變成了唱 K 大會，或者正確點說是 Dr. D X Xxx 的個人演唱會... 另有笑話指某 postdoc 靠唱歌揾到工...
(2) 晚上的 conference banquet 變成了唱 K 大會，或者正確點說是 Dr. D X Xxx 的個人演唱會... 另有笑話指某 postdoc 靠唱歌揾到工...
Saturday, August 12, 2006
劉江華
左口左面嘅劉議員大發偉論，表示「你話係走狗又好，係朝廷鷹犬又好，係維護香港治安穩定嘅警犬也好，我地始終係一隻狗，就係一塊狗餅都唔可以放過，就係唔可以俾反對派破壞狗糧供應得逞。」發言時個樣型到哩...
其實佢以前係我個區嘅區議員，我冇選過佢，因為佢次次都自動當選。後來唔知黐左邊條線走去空降挑戰某師奶，點知輸左。仲有人整張 banner 賀佢...
其實佢以前係我個區嘅區議員，我冇選過佢，因為佢次次都自動當選。後來唔知黐左邊條線走去空降挑戰某師奶，點知輸左。仲有人整張 banner 賀佢...
Friday, August 04, 2006
「三」號風球
天文台次次掛風球都俾人插，但今次實在太過份，我適逢其會都要鬧埋一份。我唔知天文台風力幾強，我剩係知馬鞍山風力俾好多次八號風球都要強。唔該阿天文台台長唔好係到 X up, 自己行出去睇吓，冧左幾多棵樹，海陸空交通受幾大影響。咁既天氣點可以安全返工返學？根據佢地既解釋，「維港風力怎樣怎樣．．．」而家咁多高樓大廈擋晒 D 風，應該以後都唔會有八號風球．．．
睇黎確保恐怖極權偷聽法例順利立法似乎係唯一合理解釋．．．
另請看你知道天文台欺騙了你嗎？
睇黎確保恐怖極權偷聽法例順利立法似乎係唯一合理解釋．．．
另請看你知道天文台欺騙了你嗎？
Monday, July 24, 2006
Coming back
After surviving the heat without air conditioning, I'm on the way back. The train strike is supposed to be cancelled, but still my train is delayed somewhat. At the airport, they are overbooking and can't give me a seat until the very last minute. Just too many people are travelling in the summer... An aisle seat, it turns out.
The aircraft just waits and occasionally moves around on the runway for a whole hour before it finally takes off. But then it arrives half an hour earlier than scheduled...
The aircraft just waits and occasionally moves around on the runway for a whole hour before it finally takes off. But then it arrives half an hour earlier than scheduled...
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
The purpose of a library
I seldom go to the library here. It has practically none of the books that I want (for example, no book about online algorithms). Last time the department is soliciting book requests for the library to buy, and I managed to trick them to buy some, although they did it just a bit weirdly - now a module has more copies of a reference book stocked than the main text, and an online algorithms book with a chop "received 1998" appears when I'm absolutely sure it wasn't there before.
But this is not the point of this post. This library is among the few places in the campus to have air-conditioning. Looking forward to a 35 degrees Celsius tomorrow, the library suddenly becomes a very nice place.
But this is not the point of this post. This library is among the few places in the campus to have air-conditioning. Looking forward to a 35 degrees Celsius tomorrow, the library suddenly becomes a very nice place.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
network rail
I don't know what I did wrongly, but the people at Network Rail simply don't like me and always choose to have a strike only when I need it. Last time the tube was also on strike but it was better - no one collected money for the Heathrow-London Central journey...
Monday, July 10, 2006
So it finally ended
今屆世界杯真係一個字：精采，包括：三黃一紅、批「爭」爆缸、眼底「紅卜卜」嘅 C 朗拿度對你單眼、大量演技粗糙嘅插水與痛苦表情、大陸評述員「偉大的意大利左後衛」事件、葡萄牙荷蘭表演暴力足球、瑞士十二碼全部唔入、巴夫斯排球 手...... 當然重有「施丹鐵頭功」。唔講都唔知世界杯原來係踢波嘅......
Saturday, July 01, 2006
England is out
So finally, England is out. It would be a miracle if a team like this can get the World Cup. The primary reason, of course, is Sven-Goran Eriksson:
1. Four strikers. Chose only four strikers, including one who was injured (at that time), one just recovered from injury (at that time), one who can do anything except scoring, and one Eriksson himself don't dare to use. (More about strikers below.)
2. Theo Walcott. I become more or more believed in the joke that Eriksson lost a bet with Arsene Wenger on something and therefore has to bring Walcott to Germany. If you don't dare using him, why bring him there?
3. Crouch, Lampard and the formation. There was the 4-4-2 vs. 4-5-1 issue. I don't have a problem with switching between formations; however, it switched just because of who is available and who is not.
First, people keep on saying Crouch is rubbish. In terms of scoring he is, and you better pick someone else in the first place, but given that no other strikers are there, I think he should play along Rooney. BBC showed an analysis where no England player is within 27 metres of Rooney... how can anyone play in such case? You need someone to support Rooney. And Crouch did hold the ball for some time.
Then, if you play Crouch (or anyone else in a 4-4-2) then someone from midfield get to be sacrificed. I always believe they need a holding midfielder, whoever that is. You just can't play Cole-Lampard-Gerrard-Beckham. Given that Lampard is not performing well, and the Lampard-Gerrard problem that so many people have discussed, I think Lampard should be dropped. But this is not something that Eriksson would do.
4. Penalties. "We practised penalties so much, I really don't know what more we could do about it." said Eriksson. And this completely misses the point. Penalties is not about practice. That's why they will never win a penalty shootout - they simply don't believe they can. Ironically, the only one to get the ball in is one who is least British. But this is not something that Eriksson can solve, I suppose.
Having said all that, I hope Portugal won't win the World Cup. If every team played like them - just imagine a scene where players are all covering their face, rolling on the pitch every minute. It is claimed that it has something to do with Scolari (as in Brazil 2002). I wonder what would happen if Scolari is England coach. Gerrard holding his face rolling on the pitch when he is slightly touched in his chest... so funny just to think of it.
1. Four strikers. Chose only four strikers, including one who was injured (at that time), one just recovered from injury (at that time), one who can do anything except scoring, and one Eriksson himself don't dare to use. (More about strikers below.)
2. Theo Walcott. I become more or more believed in the joke that Eriksson lost a bet with Arsene Wenger on something and therefore has to bring Walcott to Germany. If you don't dare using him, why bring him there?
3. Crouch, Lampard and the formation. There was the 4-4-2 vs. 4-5-1 issue. I don't have a problem with switching between formations; however, it switched just because of who is available and who is not.
First, people keep on saying Crouch is rubbish. In terms of scoring he is, and you better pick someone else in the first place, but given that no other strikers are there, I think he should play along Rooney. BBC showed an analysis where no England player is within 27 metres of Rooney... how can anyone play in such case? You need someone to support Rooney. And Crouch did hold the ball for some time.
Then, if you play Crouch (or anyone else in a 4-4-2) then someone from midfield get to be sacrificed. I always believe they need a holding midfielder, whoever that is. You just can't play Cole-Lampard-Gerrard-Beckham. Given that Lampard is not performing well, and the Lampard-Gerrard problem that so many people have discussed, I think Lampard should be dropped. But this is not something that Eriksson would do.
4. Penalties. "We practised penalties so much, I really don't know what more we could do about it." said Eriksson. And this completely misses the point. Penalties is not about practice. That's why they will never win a penalty shootout - they simply don't believe they can. Ironically, the only one to get the ball in is one who is least British. But this is not something that Eriksson can solve, I suppose.
Having said all that, I hope Portugal won't win the World Cup. If every team played like them - just imagine a scene where players are all covering their face, rolling on the pitch every minute. It is claimed that it has something to do with Scolari (as in Brazil 2002). I wonder what would happen if Scolari is England coach. Gerrard holding his face rolling on the pitch when he is slightly touched in his chest... so funny just to think of it.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
World Cup: three second-round knockouts
The Holland-Portugal match is a shame on football. They are doing everything except playing football: kicking players, diving, rolling on the ground pretending to be injured, stealing the ball that should be given back to the other side, or simply fighting. People say the referee is crazy. I disagree. Obviously he made some wrong decisions, just as all other referees we have seen in this World Cup; but if the players are crazily fouling, there is not much you can do other than crazily giving away cards. In fact, I think he is too lenient, he should give away more cards. (Perhaps both teams should be disqualified and then England go straight into the semi-final...)
The Italy-Australia match is decided by a, well, dive again. When can they use instant-replay or other technologies to aid referee decisions? Until then, there is no way to stop players diving or acting. And stop the "wrong decisions by referee are part of the game" nonsense: so correct decisions are not part of the game? Diving, acting, fighting are part of the game?
And I just don't understand what the Swiss are doing. So they decided to play 120 minutes defensive football to hold onto a 0-0, which they did successfully, but didn't practice penalties? The first team ever to go out without conceding a goal... and refuse to kick in all 3 penalties...
The Italy-Australia match is decided by a, well, dive again. When can they use instant-replay or other technologies to aid referee decisions? Until then, there is no way to stop players diving or acting. And stop the "wrong decisions by referee are part of the game" nonsense: so correct decisions are not part of the game? Diving, acting, fighting are part of the game?
And I just don't understand what the Swiss are doing. So they decided to play 120 minutes defensive football to hold onto a 0-0, which they did successfully, but didn't practice penalties? The first team ever to go out without conceding a goal... and refuse to kick in all 3 penalties...
Friday, June 23, 2006
World Cup: 有今生冇來世
正如某講波佬所講，今屆世界盃真係「有今生冇來世」。大量球證錯判本來就司空見慣，冇乜特別，但今次特多一場八張黃牌，三張紅牌等，更在同一場賽事出現「三黃一紅」，「入球前一刻吹雞完場」，「禁區內欖球式防守合法化」等，令人嘆為觀止。
我認為歸根究底都係因為 FIFA，每屆世界盃前都「公佈」一 d「嚴打」項目，(平時就唔理架咩?) 令 d 球證無所適從...
我認為歸根究底都係因為 FIFA，每屆世界盃前都「公佈」一 d「嚴打」項目，(平時就唔理架咩?) 令 d 球證無所適從...
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
meeting week
This is the week of meetings. In each such meeting, most of the teaching staff gather together for several hours, and at any point in time, 90% of people have absolutely no idea about the module or person being discussed. As usual, there are endless discussions about arbitrary adjustments of some numbers. Even worse, different people seem to be supplied with different versions of spreadsheets full of numbers, adding more confusion to what we are really talking about...
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
World Cup: all teams appeared
話咁快三十二隊都出晒場了，今屆又有咩睇呢：
1) 英格蘭到目前為止都仲有d 運行，繼熱身賽後再有對方幫佢入波，同組另一場仲要和埋。(不過千里達確係打得好好。)
2) 我一向都好鄙視南韓主辦賽事嘅「所作所為」，好想睇佢地今次點死，不過抽到咁嘅組，又遇著咁「強」嘅法國，話唔定又首名出線了。
3) 五隊非洲球隊幾乎全部輸晒。佢地最大嘅問題係根本就唔多想贏，行行企企咁，完全唔似輸緊，你唔知仲以為佢地兩球在手。
4) 大部份強隊都表現不錯或至少三分在手，十六強起應有頗多大戰...
1) 英格蘭到目前為止都仲有d 運行，繼熱身賽後再有對方幫佢入波，同組另一場仲要和埋。(不過千里達確係打得好好。)
2) 我一向都好鄙視南韓主辦賽事嘅「所作所為」，好想睇佢地今次點死，不過抽到咁嘅組，又遇著咁「強」嘅法國，話唔定又首名出線了。
3) 五隊非洲球隊幾乎全部輸晒。佢地最大嘅問題係根本就唔多想贏，行行企企咁，完全唔似輸緊，你唔知仲以為佢地兩球在手。
4) 大部份強隊都表現不錯或至少三分在手，十六強起應有頗多大戰...
Friday, June 09, 2006
World Cup 2006 kick-off
去年今日，我糊裡糊塗來了這裡 interview，如果唔係，我今日就唔會係到同大家講呢番說話... (請默哀一分鐘...)
So, today is the World Cup opener. Isn't it always the defending champion play the first game? Why the host this time?
First two rounds of group games start at 2:00, 5:00, 8:00 pm... reasonably convenient time. The 5:00pm game means I have to get off work a little bit earlier...
Germany and Costa Rica together played a very entertaining game. I mean, with defence like this from both teams, attackers can wander around anywhere they like, without worrying how to get past defenders or avoid offsides.
So, today is the World Cup opener. Isn't it always the defending champion play the first game? Why the host this time?
First two rounds of group games start at 2:00, 5:00, 8:00 pm... reasonably convenient time. The 5:00pm game means I have to get off work a little bit earlier...
Germany and Costa Rica together played a very entertaining game. I mean, with defence like this from both teams, attackers can wander around anywhere they like, without worrying how to get past defenders or avoid offsides.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Chief Invigilator
Perhaps they think people in CS department will not be on strike? They almost assign every exam session with CS papers to use CS staff as chief invigilator. Obviously it isn't a good idea for me is it? Last time people thought I'm a student...
Nothing important happens in today's exam session, though, except people sit wherever they like...
Nothing important happens in today's exam session, though, except people sit wherever they like...
Monday, May 29, 2006
Friday, May 26, 2006
More bees
After a seemingly peaceful night, this morning there's no bees inside. I got out, it's raining, and I didn't see anything suspicious around the house.
In the afternoon when I returned, sky was clear; I looked at the second floor when I was still on ground floor, and - oh gee - bees flying around my flat, and in particular they seemed to get in the ventilation between the ceiling and the roof of my flat - a beehive or something inside. I was standing there looking, thinking what I should do, talking to a neighbor, and then the neighbor who's living next to me appeared (yes, the one mentioned here before). She said she has the same problem with bees, called the city council to treat them, thinking that's her problem when in fact the bees have chosen my flat. The council people told her the bees would still be mad for a few hours - although they didn't appear too mad to me; I think they are flying quite happily?
Back inside the flat, there are, well, bees. Not as many as before - yesterday's 60, today's 15, an "improvement"... I think that's because I sealed many of the spaces in the ceiling/ventilation.
So now, (1) I know where the problem is, (2) I have stopped some of their ways to get in, (3) the root of the problem is supposed to be solved. But it remains to see whether their treatment is effective. And being effective for this time does not prevent the problem re-appearing later...
And there is still a mystery. The bees inside the flat yesterday were like today's - dying. Why's that? Who treated them yesterday?
In the afternoon when I returned, sky was clear; I looked at the second floor when I was still on ground floor, and - oh gee - bees flying around my flat, and in particular they seemed to get in the ventilation between the ceiling and the roof of my flat - a beehive or something inside. I was standing there looking, thinking what I should do, talking to a neighbor, and then the neighbor who's living next to me appeared (yes, the one mentioned here before). She said she has the same problem with bees, called the city council to treat them, thinking that's her problem when in fact the bees have chosen my flat. The council people told her the bees would still be mad for a few hours - although they didn't appear too mad to me; I think they are flying quite happily?
Back inside the flat, there are, well, bees. Not as many as before - yesterday's 60, today's 15, an "improvement"... I think that's because I sealed many of the spaces in the ceiling/ventilation.
So now, (1) I know where the problem is, (2) I have stopped some of their ways to get in, (3) the root of the problem is supposed to be solved. But it remains to see whether their treatment is effective. And being effective for this time does not prevent the problem re-appearing later...
And there is still a mystery. The bees inside the flat yesterday were like today's - dying. Why's that? Who treated them yesterday?
Thursday, May 25, 2006
救命呀!!!!!!!
媽呀！救命呀！！！！！！我今日一番到屋企，就見到幾十隻蜜蜂係間屋到... 我間屋明明係密室，所有窗閂埋晒... 但個假天花唔知點樣出到屋外面，佢地就係咁樣飛入黎... 唔知點解佢地大都已經死剩半條命... 但我仍然很驚，搞左一大輪先殺晒... 點解？點解？今晚訓訓下又飛幾隻入黎點算？聽日返黎又有幾多隻？我洗唔洗報警？！
仲有上兩個禮拜，我 office 窗只開一條 "lar"，但還有一隻蜜蜂死都要捐入黎...
仲有上兩個禮拜，我 office 窗只開一條 "lar"，但還有一隻蜜蜂死都要捐入黎...
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Mark our work! Mark our work!
本學系今日上電視！一眾學生抗議 lecturer 罷工唔改卷，不知何故選擇在本學系對開空地集會示威...
East Midlands Today 6:30 News (video: will not remain here for too long)
BBC News (webpage)
East Midlands Today 6:30 News (video: will not remain here for too long)
BBC News (webpage)
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Matrix (again)
One or two weeks ago the TV was showing the film Matrix. Then in some (Hong Kong) forum I saw people talking about the price of the ultimate Matrix collection being expensive. And then for some reason colleagues talked about movies and mentioned a bit about Matrix. Finally, yesterday I walked past the HMV; I simply felt there's something not quite right, so I decided to go in and see - and the first thing I noticed is that they are having a sale on the ultimate Matrix collection, at 19.99 pounds - that is 2 pounds a DVD!
Friday, May 05, 2006
fire drill
We had a fire drill yesterday, when "the building must be empty within 90 seconds". From this you can conclude how large the building is. But it finished equally quickly - you don't need to stand in Haking Wong podium for 20 minutes doing nothing...
Sunday, April 30, 2006
A miraculous comeback
Almost, that is.
A crappy session by both at 4-4; then both have played better and Ebdon led Fu 9-7; then in third session Ebdon played so well that no one can stop anyway, but Fu was not in form and lost to 9-15. When no one expected he could make it, Marco Fu came back from 9-15 to 15-15 and marginally losing at 16-17 in the final session. Hope he plays better in the future, especially don't start to miss pots when close to reach a safe line...
A crappy session by both at 4-4; then both have played better and Ebdon led Fu 9-7; then in third session Ebdon played so well that no one can stop anyway, but Fu was not in form and lost to 9-15. When no one expected he could make it, Marco Fu came back from 9-15 to 15-15 and marginally losing at 16-17 in the final session. Hope he plays better in the future, especially don't start to miss pots when close to reach a safe line...
Friday, April 28, 2006
Marco Fu v Ken Doherty
So Marco Fu finally got past Ken Doherty. Given that Ken Doherty is such a tactical player, this means there is now a genuine chance for Marco to win anyone. In particular the mental strength of Marco is impressive as they played very time-consuming frames, and the 19th frame is "stolen".
Now with Peter Ebdon, however, things can only be worse and reportedly (no i didn't watch it) the 4:4 tie up to now is full of crappy play...
Now with Peter Ebdon, however, things can only be worse and reportedly (no i didn't watch it) the 4:4 tie up to now is full of crappy play...
Sunday, April 23, 2006
"busy" with various things
These days I have been rather busy with things like:
1. watching Marco Fu and others playing snooker. It seems that Marco is in very good form...
2. and watching too much snooker makes me almost forget the Chelsea-Liverpool FA cup match (only realizing it 5 minutes before kick-off);
3. counting my newly-acquired (yes, again) hard-plastic pieces. It looks like I never get the complete set of pieces in the first instance whenever I get large sets off ebay;
4. looping 傷信 and 1874 (new concert version);
5. and finally on the more serious side, doing assignment. Massification. Commodification. Constructivism. Can you make sense out of these? I was very disappointed when they resolved that "staff development courses" should not be affected by the industrial action...
1. watching Marco Fu and others playing snooker. It seems that Marco is in very good form...
2. and watching too much snooker makes me almost forget the Chelsea-Liverpool FA cup match (only realizing it 5 minutes before kick-off);
3. counting my newly-acquired (yes, again) hard-plastic pieces. It looks like I never get the complete set of pieces in the first instance whenever I get large sets off ebay;
4. looping 傷信 and 1874 (new concert version);
5. and finally on the more serious side, doing assignment. Massification. Commodification. Constructivism. Can you make sense out of these? I was very disappointed when they resolved that "staff development courses" should not be affected by the industrial action...
Sunday, April 16, 2006
An interesting MPhil application
Some time ago we received an MPhil application. That actually has nothing to do with me, but somehow it get circulated around. Based on my very limited knowledge about that area (well I did teach that, but that does not mean I know enough), I determined that the "research proposal" is cranky. (The bell starts ringing whenever you see "equations" of algorithms can be "incorporated" together. He already had an algorithm, and a "theory" of the same name. Also plans to have "month by month expansion" of algorithms.)
Then one day I was hoping to get some fun when reading the "proposal" again, and this time I googled the applicant's name. Assuming it is not a name collision, this person had written a software that is claimed to be many times faster than existing products, and hence got an award from a nearby country, and made his name on BBC, Slashdot, etc. This is followed by criticisms about the validity of the speed claim. He claimed the software would be commercialized soon, but of course it is nowhere to be seen now.
He may be a good programmer, but there are many people who are good at one thing and completely cranky on another related thing...
Then one day I was hoping to get some fun when reading the "proposal" again, and this time I googled the applicant's name. Assuming it is not a name collision, this person had written a software that is claimed to be many times faster than existing products, and hence got an award from a nearby country, and made his name on BBC, Slashdot, etc. This is followed by criticisms about the validity of the speed claim. He claimed the software would be commercialized soon, but of course it is nowhere to be seen now.
He may be a good programmer, but there are many people who are good at one thing and completely cranky on another related thing...
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Fake conferences
I come across this web site on fake conferences a bit too late - just a few days before its closure, and when I want to visit it again it is already closed. I then come up with the idea of doing one myself, listing all those "prestigious" conferences that everyone knows, posting their emails with my comments. Unfortunately, someone has already done that (at least on this latest email)...
Thursday, April 06, 2006
RAE
Our department head's old April fool joke about RAE become a reality. It is as if after the RAE is scrapped the "burden" on academics will disappear. Like replacing 學能測驗 with... (what's the name?) automatically makes everyone happy. And a metrics-based system - count your papers, impact factors, acceptance rates...
(1) 質量顛倒：學問不是豬牛雞鴨，不適合論斤計件，但是，行內眾所周知，眼前的學術政策恰恰就是要論斤計件：重量不重質。
...
(3) 皮肉顛倒：我們有時會把書籍的封面叫做「書皮」，把書籍的內文叫做「書肉」。一本書的優劣，取決於書肉，而不是書皮；取決於書肉的內涵，而不是書皮上印着的出版社字號。奇怪的是，現今所謂學術評審，只着重書由哪家出版社出版（或文章在哪個刊物登載——問題的本質一樣，不贅），而不着重書籍的內容；不但不着重，甚至完全不看內容。儒林笑話，無勝於此。
李天命，《從思考到思考之上》
Sunday, April 02, 2006
April Fool's day at London
On April Fool's day I went to London. For no particular purpose. I mean, unlike in HK where you might go to some rural places in holiday, here I need to go to some place which look more like a city.
I happened to walk into the British museum, hoping to look at some stolen Chinese antiques...(?) I don't know what they are, anyway, except some... 利是封. With hello-kitty. I never thought that could be in a museum. Then I went to the Chinatown to look for some Chinese food. I ended up at a Hong-kong style 茶餐廳. I'm sure that's very Hong-kong style, not only the food but also hygiene and service. After that, I walked around, e.g. to look at the pool of ducks in front of the Buckingham place.
Silly enough, huh?
I happened to walk into the British museum, hoping to look at some stolen Chinese antiques...(?) I don't know what they are, anyway, except some... 利是封. With hello-kitty. I never thought that could be in a museum. Then I went to the Chinatown to look for some Chinese food. I ended up at a Hong-kong style 茶餐廳. I'm sure that's very Hong-kong style, not only the food but also hygiene and service. After that, I walked around, e.g. to look at the pool of ducks in front of the Buckingham place.
Silly enough, huh?
Friday, March 31, 2006
The end of teaching
So, teaching is over. Quick, er?
Here we also have module review, the equivalent of course evaluation. The different thing is that it is me to collect the completed questionaires. I just keep on wondering, why don't I throw away some bad ones and make some good ones myself. But in any case, there are too few students to make any statistical significance of the results. Is it a miracle that some Arts students find "relational algebra" and "third normal form" interesting?
Here we also have module review, the equivalent of course evaluation. The different thing is that it is me to collect the completed questionaires. I just keep on wondering, why don't I throw away some bad ones and make some good ones myself. But in any case, there are too few students to make any statistical significance of the results. Is it a miracle that some Arts students find "relational algebra" and "third normal form" interesting?
Friday, March 24, 2006
中國「語」「文」
據報聯合國將劃一使用簡體字。 這又使我想起：孫國父與毛主席兩大偉人，一個把外族語言拿來當國語，攪到 d 人以為唐詩宋詞以至古裝電視劇應該講「普通話」；一個發明了簡體字，以至乾炒牛河會譯成 fxxk fry cow river。短短幾十年就把中國幾千年文化廢了，對中國語言和文字的貢獻實在太大了一點 ...
Thursday, March 23, 2006
1/4 + 1/2 = ?
英國學生嘅數學水平，比香港更高...
話說呢到有個 Game theory in Computer science 嘅 MSc course, 聽眾一般包括 Reader, Lecturer, PhD 學生, MSc 學生及 "Notetaker" 各一名。某日有條數最後係 1/4 - 1/2 + 1, 正當那 MSc 學生要開計數機，那 Lecturer (教的那個, 不是聽的那個) 忽然喝止，於是佢地只好用紙筆計數。雖然那 Lecturer 已說明係等於 1/4 + 1/2, 不過佢仍然攪了半分鐘，仲同隔離對埋，才肯定佢嘅答案: 6/8.
話說呢到有個 Game theory in Computer science 嘅 MSc course, 聽眾一般包括 Reader, Lecturer, PhD 學生, MSc 學生及 "Notetaker" 各一名。某日有條數最後係 1/4 - 1/2 + 1, 正當那 MSc 學生要開計數機，那 Lecturer (教的那個, 不是聽的那個) 忽然喝止，於是佢地只好用紙筆計數。雖然那 Lecturer 已說明係等於 1/4 + 1/2, 不過佢仍然攪了半分鐘，仲同隔離對埋，才肯定佢嘅答案: 6/8.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Prudence's visit
Yesterday Prudence came to give a talk. I believe there is a more than usual number of people in the audience, including quite some people that has never appeared in any "algorithm" talk.
The dinner was in a south Indian restaurant. While I do not particularly enjoy Indian food, I'm ok with it and the dosa taste quite good. The starter is too "plain" for me though...
I drank more than usual amount of beer in the whole day, but that has nothing to do with the talk, or the St. Patrick's day.
The dinner was in a south Indian restaurant. While I do not particularly enjoy Indian food, I'm ok with it and the dosa taste quite good. The starter is too "plain" for me though...
I drank more than usual amount of beer in the whole day, but that has nothing to do with the talk, or the St. Patrick's day.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Algorithms course
由於最高指示下年要整個新嘅三年班 Algorithms course，我走去睇吓佢地一年班嘅課程。有一科叫做 Algorithms and data structures，內容十分別開生面，包括 Exceptions, Inheritance and Polymorphism, GUIs and event-driven programming, applets 等等。唔，三年班學 sorting...
我就唔係好認為佢地識 Inheritance and Polymorphism 呢 d 嘢。佢地好似連 variable 係有 scope 嘅都唔係好知。其實老細改革課程都好不遺餘力。例如佢地終於 compulsory 要學 semaphore, thread, socket 同 TCP/IP layers 了...
我就唔係好認為佢地識 Inheritance and Polymorphism 呢 d 嘢。佢地好似連 variable 係有 scope 嘅都唔係好知。其實老細改革課程都好不遺餘力。例如佢地終於 compulsory 要學 semaphore, thread, socket 同 TCP/IP layers 了...
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Sunday, March 05, 2006
殺校
閱報得知 N 年前就讀的小學遭殺校。據阿媽說，學校早前想聯絡我，大概都係關於呢件事咁話。其實撻我個朵出來都係無濟於事，不過如果有乜野可以幫到手嘅，我係好樂意做 的。間學校好好係講唔上，但總算係生活左幾年，留有回憶嘅地方，盡下人事都好的。其實佢地捱到今日都算係咁了，不少同學的小學早就倒閉了...
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Bioinformatics, English department, and matrix
話說因為別人家有急事，我早幾日幾乎被召去代課教 database，即係我教緊既嘢 ─ 不過要頂既係 MSc Bioinformatics 既。喺 LG101 混了幾年聽返嚟既幾乎有用到既一日。不過最後唔洗，於是可以繼續去教英文系學生...
不過，結果今日都係頂左一堂。同三年班學生溫習 matrix multiplication。我都唔知點解 2x2 既 matrix 乘數都可以講到四十分鐘...
不過，結果今日都係頂左一堂。同三年班學生溫習 matrix multiplication。我都唔知點解 2x2 既 matrix 乘數都可以講到四十分鐘...
Saturday, February 25, 2006
TV
As if my research isn't bad enough, I finally got (after being here for several months) a mind-distracting machine from a colleague.
I don't really understand how they come up with this system of paying a "licence fee" to watch TV. I think we can guess how well the system is working when letters are continually delivered to the ex-tenant here (or ex-ex, or ex-ex-ex...) asking him to pay. "Sophisticated equipment" to detect whether you have a TV. Sounds quite interesting...
I don't really understand how they come up with this system of paying a "licence fee" to watch TV. I think we can guess how well the system is working when letters are continually delivered to the ex-tenant here (or ex-ex, or ex-ex-ex...) asking him to pay. "Sophisticated equipment" to detect whether you have a TV. Sounds quite interesting...
Monday, February 20, 2006
Miscellaneous
(1) One day I was flipping through an MSc application. It says the applicant has a term with GPA 4.0 in MIT, but clearly he has never studied outside of his third-world home country. After 5 seconds I realized that MIT stands for "Master in Information Technology"...
(2) Alan Smith:
(3)
【明報專訊】就特首曾蔭權任用民主派出身的劉細良為中央政策組全職顧問，民建聯行政會議成員曾鈺成與立法會議員鄭經翰展開罵戰，曾鈺成日前在報章批評鄭經翰﹕「主人都未出聲，狗唔需要吠住﹗」
不唔係通常主人未叫，狗就吠定先，要主人喝止架咩...
就好似你咁，上面都未出聲，你就...
(2) Alan Smith:
When I looked, the leg was lying one way and my ankle
was pointing towards Hong Kong so I knew I was in
serious trouble
(3)
【明報專訊】就特首曾蔭權任用民主派出身的劉細良為中央政策組全職顧問，民建聯行政會議成員曾鈺成與立法會議員鄭經翰展開罵戰，曾鈺成日前在報章批評鄭經翰﹕「主人都未出聲，狗唔需要吠住﹗」
不唔係通常主人未叫，狗就吠定先，要主人喝止架咩...
就好似你咁，上面都未出聲，你就...
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Exam meeting
We have the exam meeting today. No, I'm not going to tell you anything. Except that I possibly over-worried - our module (i.e. course) is perhaps the only one among third year modules that does not require the application of some continuous bijective mapping from a compact set to itself. These mappings are not arbitrary, e.g. they must be piecewise-linear, and have at least two fixed points, one more than the theoretical minimum. We discussed how to design mappings that optimize different objectives, e.g. the power mean of order 1, or the difference from the required statistical distribution.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Yum Cha
Today I go to Yum Cha with Thomas, his wife who is from Hong Kong, his daughter, and Rajeev.
We have it at Peking restaurant. I know it but have never been there since it is an expensive place. It looks like all staff there speak Cantonese. And for the food, it is very close to Hong Kong standards except maybe the Har Gow which tastes a bit strange.
Thomas's wife is an alumni of HKU. She lives in a very different spacetime from me: she asks "Is 黃麗松 still the vice-chancellor?" I list out all the vice-chancellors after 黃麗松, none of which known to her, and I keep on wondering "did I miss someone?"
We have it at Peking restaurant. I know it but have never been there since it is an expensive place. It looks like all staff there speak Cantonese. And for the food, it is very close to Hong Kong standards except maybe the Har Gow which tastes a bit strange.
Thomas's wife is an alumni of HKU. She lives in a very different spacetime from me: she asks "Is 黃麗松 still the vice-chancellor?" I list out all the vice-chancellors after 黃麗松, none of which known to her, and I keep on wondering "did I miss someone?"
Monday, February 06, 2006
becoming a student again
Today we have the first regular meeting of the course Postgraduate Certificate in whatever blah blah blah. I am given a student card. That's perhaps a good thing since there is no such thing called "staff card" here and I always wonder how people prove themselves to be a member of staff. And perhaps I will finally remember to purge the HKU student card, Octopus card, etc. out from my wallet.
The meeting turns out to be a discussion where participants complain about universities turning into vocational-training factories, business-oriented management of universities, taking more students and thus lowering the quality, and continental Europeans complaining the spoon-feeding system here etc etc. The instructor hopelessly, repeatedly mention something like "well that's very much a double-sided sword" etc. After all, isn't that the whole point of the course - to transform us into whatever they want us to be?
The meeting turns out to be a discussion where participants complain about universities turning into vocational-training factories, business-oriented management of universities, taking more students and thus lowering the quality, and continental Europeans complaining the spoon-feeding system here etc etc. The instructor hopelessly, repeatedly mention something like "well that's very much a double-sided sword" etc. After all, isn't that the whole point of the course - to transform us into whatever they want us to be?
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Chinese restaurant review: 東方酒樓
今日年廿九，我黎到呢間「東方酒樓」試試... 本來我諗住黎食叉燒飯，不過我見佢 buffet 都有叉燒，又有飯，咁就 buffet 把啦。
呢間只須4.2鎊，一星期七日都係呢個價錢。也是市中心，裝修很正常。侍應很兩文三語...
食物方面呢，都係咁上下嘅嘢，未來來去去都係 D 豬肉牛肉瓜瓜菜菜咁。比起上次，種類較少，無點心壽司，不過就好食 D ，同埋 D 春卷個樣好好多。 D 食得飽嘅炒粉麵飯反而有成四五款。D 叉燒... 好鹹。其實其他嘢都係。又其實上次個間都係。
總結黎講幾好，應該多 D 幫襯。
呢間只須4.2鎊，一星期七日都係呢個價錢。也是市中心，裝修很正常。侍應很兩文三語...
食物方面呢，都係咁上下嘅嘢，未來來去去都係 D 豬肉牛肉瓜瓜菜菜咁。比起上次，種類較少，無點心壽司，不過就好食 D ，同埋 D 春卷個樣好好多。 D 食得飽嘅炒粉麵飯反而有成四五款。D 叉燒... 好鹹。其實其他嘢都係。又其實上次個間都係。
總結黎講幾好，應該多 D 幫襯。
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Exam results
我想問吓當年 Isaac 嘅 OS 試卷平均分係幾多呢... 話唔定我可以超越 Isaac，甚至迫近當年 HB 佬嘅 Solid state...
好在我只係出咗半份卷... 不過我已經可以想像，遲 D Examiner's meeting 俾人插嘅情形：「點解同一班學生, 做人地個三題好地地，做你個三題就咁差，你點出題目架？」
好在我只係出咗半份卷... 不過我已經可以想像，遲 D Examiner's meeting 俾人插嘅情形：「點解同一班學生, 做人地個三題好地地，做你個三題就咁差，你點出題目架？」
Friday, January 20, 2006
Exam
So my students have their exam today. I am invigilating another exam in the same timeslot, so I don't know how they are doing it. It is not a bad thing, though, to invigilate a lot of students taking "Renaissance poetry". (You know what I mean, right?)
Talking about my own exam, I think it is a easy paper. This is to be understood together with the fact, if you don't know it, that almost all tests and quizzes I have set in the past are believed to be of reasonable difficulty by me but not so by students, and sometimes proved to be deadly.
In the days before the exam there are students troubling, of course. I particularly dislike guys who keep on asking for hints. I mean, why do you think I would give hints to you? You ain't pretty gal, huh? (And even that won't help, of course...)
But at least I was out of office for the whole day before the exam, which possibly avoided some trouble. That is to attend an introduction session of a course on postgraduate certificate in higher education, or something like that (I never remember the name). I thought only HK secondary school teachers need to take a PCEd. A year's work to come. A probation requirement. Pooh...
Talking about my own exam, I think it is a easy paper. This is to be understood together with the fact, if you don't know it, that almost all tests and quizzes I have set in the past are believed to be of reasonable difficulty by me but not so by students, and sometimes proved to be deadly.
In the days before the exam there are students troubling, of course. I particularly dislike guys who keep on asking for hints. I mean, why do you think I would give hints to you? You ain't pretty gal, huh? (And even that won't help, of course...)
But at least I was out of office for the whole day before the exam, which possibly avoided some trouble. That is to attend an introduction session of a course on postgraduate certificate in higher education, or something like that (I never remember the name). I thought only HK secondary school teachers need to take a PCEd. A year's work to come. A probation requirement. Pooh...
Monday, January 16, 2006
epidemic
From here:
The death rate among aunts and grandmothers of college-age students is phenomenal, far beyond anything actuarial. It is biased toward exam time. A death in the family is the standard excuse for missing classes and examinations. Although some students are remarkably inventive in concocting stories, most are not. Faced with such an excuse, be aware that the student may be working you. These things are also cyclical. If one student gets away with it, others follow and you have a veritable epidemic among your students’ relatives.
The death rate among aunts and grandmothers of college-age students is phenomenal, far beyond anything actuarial. It is biased toward exam time. A death in the family is the standard excuse for missing classes and examinations. Although some students are remarkably inventive in concocting stories, most are not. Faced with such an excuse, be aware that the student may be working you. These things are also cyclical. If one student gets away with it, others follow and you have a veritable epidemic among your students’ relatives.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
AAIM'06
I think I ought to advertise this conference: my ex-boss is a co-chair, and the PC members include my current boss, my PhD examiner, 4 of my co-authors, HKU-related people, and many online algorithms and scheduling algorithms experts.
And I am not submitting a paper there.
And I am not submitting a paper there.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Chinese restaurant review: Flame
由於各位對我咁耐都未幫襯過呢到既中國餐館感到十分驚訝，今日 lunch 忽然諗起，於是去了幫襯一間叫 "flame (焰)" 的，自助餐，每位五鎊 (只限 weekday lunch，weekend 要九鎊)。
這間餐館位於市中心，裝修很 "in"，紫色燈光(!)，外表横看豎看都不像中國餐館。
先說小食，除了那些蝦片沒有蝦味，與及春卷很蚊形(當然唔脆)外，大致上都OK的。
至於熱盤，有十多款普通過唔普通的，例如炒西蘭花，甜酸雞之類，部份菜式有點怪味，但大致上唔算難食。
這裡還有點心和壽司。點心共三款，分別貌似牛肉，燒賣與餃子，不論外表與味道都是公仔點心那個水平。壽司也無謂多說了。(五鎊你想有乜你食?)
最後是甜品，那西米露很啱我胃口，而諷刺地，全店最好食的似乎是那個西式的 cake。
總的來說，味道過得去，五鎊任你食，食乜都抵啦，算係唔錯。如果九鎊就可免則免了。
這間餐館位於市中心，裝修很 "in"，紫色燈光(!)，外表横看豎看都不像中國餐館。
先說小食，除了那些蝦片沒有蝦味，與及春卷很蚊形(當然唔脆)外，大致上都OK的。
至於熱盤，有十多款普通過唔普通的，例如炒西蘭花，甜酸雞之類，部份菜式有點怪味，但大致上唔算難食。
這裡還有點心和壽司。點心共三款，分別貌似牛肉，燒賣與餃子，不論外表與味道都是公仔點心那個水平。壽司也無謂多說了。(五鎊你想有乜你食?)
最後是甜品，那西米露很啱我胃口，而諷刺地，全店最好食的似乎是那個西式的 cake。
總的來說，味道過得去，五鎊任你食，食乜都抵啦，算係唔錯。如果九鎊就可免則免了。
Sunday, January 01, 2006
back to UK
I've come back to UK after this very short vacation (oops, no, should be research visit). Boarding the flight with no problems after a quick recovery from a fever the day before. For the first time, some officers appeared in the customs, although I still regret for not smuggling a lot more things...
People at tube and rail go strike causing the King's Cross St. Pancras station closed, and I need to go to the nearby King's Cross Thameslink station to take another train and involve a change in Bedford in order to get back. I have been around King's Cross for an enough number of times so that isn't much of a problem, fortunately.
People at tube and rail go strike causing the King's Cross St. Pancras station closed, and I need to go to the nearby King's Cross Thameslink station to take another train and involve a change in Bedford in order to get back. I have been around King's Cross for an enough number of times so that isn't much of a problem, fortunately.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
A modern civilization
Yesterday I stay in school all day to have research collaboration, that is, looking at a figure I drew several months ago trying to recall what it means.
Today afternoon I walk to the Peak. In East Midlands it is exactly what the name suggests: a piece of flatland, with no mountains, no other interesting landscapes. Hong Kong, on the other hand, is a very strange place where there are so many tall buildings while at the same time there are mountains, seas, and everything else. Looking at all those buildings from the peak, I heard a tourist saying, "a modern civilization".
Today afternoon I walk to the Peak. In East Midlands it is exactly what the name suggests: a piece of flatland, with no mountains, no other interesting landscapes. Hong Kong, on the other hand, is a very strange place where there are so many tall buildings while at the same time there are mountains, seas, and everything else. Looking at all those buildings from the peak, I heard a tourist saying, "a modern civilization".
Thursday, December 22, 2005
return from ISAAC
Today in the morning we have the flight back to HK.
Other than the "tour" and the weather, this ISAAC is generally well-organized. In particular, the hotel has free wireless Internet access (although there are many sites you can't go in mainland). The hotel staff can understand my standard of putonghua (!) and their general English level is quite good: at least better than some of the speakers in the conference, I believe.
Back to HK I relax in the bright sunshine that I didn't have for several months. Even in this day with the shortest daytime of the year, the sun is much brighter than that in UK. (Can I really call that thing in UK "sun", when it only hangs at 30 degrees above horizon even at noon?)
Other than the "tour" and the weather, this ISAAC is generally well-organized. In particular, the hotel has free wireless Internet access (although there are many sites you can't go in mainland). The hotel staff can understand my standard of putonghua (!) and their general English level is quite good: at least better than some of the speakers in the conference, I believe.
Back to HK I relax in the bright sunshine that I didn't have for several months. Even in this day with the shortest daytime of the year, the sun is much brighter than that in UK. (Can I really call that thing in UK "sun", when it only hangs at 30 degrees above horizon even at noon?)
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
ISAAC day 3
今天大清早便要俾talk。我還以為咁早冇人聽，點知越講越多人。後來我才知道另外一個做同一problem的人 (而我們的paper cite了他們的 result) 竟然在場。幸好我的拉布戰術成功，冇時間俾人問嘢。
午飯後，沙達散博士可能真的太想去那天涯海角，也可能對昨日的節目「回味無窮」，大家決定去那天涯海角。結果每人付了六十五元入場費，看了兩舊石頭，以及以海南島天然雨水洗頭。我相信沙達散博士對祖國的「旅遊景點」一定加深了認識；不知此行令他後悔多少世？
回程時，王太被一樓盤吸引，參觀示範單位幾乎成為了本旅行團行程一部份。
午飯後，沙達散博士可能真的太想去那天涯海角，也可能對昨日的節目「回味無窮」，大家決定去那天涯海角。結果每人付了六十五元入場費，看了兩舊石頭，以及以海南島天然雨水洗頭。我相信沙達散博士對祖國的「旅遊景點」一定加深了認識；不知此行令他後悔多少世？
回程時，王太被一樓盤吸引，參觀示範單位幾乎成為了本旅行團行程一部份。
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
ISAAC day 2
我不是得閑無事回香港的，而是要去 ISAAC.
主辦單位安排了今天下午有一個"tour"。行程包括三個半小時的車程和兩小時的「參觀」。
本來沙達散博士與宋博士打算不跟團，改往名景點「天涯海角」參觀。後來潘博士覆述王太之理論，表示天涯海角「唔去就後悔半世，去就後悔一世」，於是眾人決定還是隨團出發。
行程的第一站，各團友就被安排往某咖啡廠「參觀」及購買手信。之後我對明年將主辦 AAIM 之潘博士說，可安排團友到位於紅磡的金至尊買金，貢獻香港經濟。
行程的第二站，也就是最後一站，我們到了國家4A級旅遊景點「興隆熱帶植物公園」。
我們用了一小時半的時間，參觀了很多椰樹，蕉樹，其他樹，與及更多的椰樹。沿途碰巧遇到心情好的職員，便講解幾句，心情不好的職員更會互相吵架。我們還可看牌上的中文字，外國的團友們便只可專心觀樹。
各中外團友們對於OC竟然能安排如此節目，無不感到十分驚奇，臉上不由自主的流露出奇特的笑容。由於節目過於「精采」，潘博士與宋博士在途中研究「紅豆生南國」的下一句是什麼。沙達散博士更情不自禁，表演拋樽雜技。
回程時王太再發表理論，指這些節目唔係幾好，「雖然天涯海角只係兩舊石頭，但都係呢到景點，第二到冇得睇」，眾人大表同意。王太又表示此行也有好處，就是「得到人生經驗, 以後冇咁易俾人揾笨」。
晚上的 BBQ，我也不想多提，除了有表演以走音 (?) 的民族樂器 (?) 奏出「有隻雀仔跌落水」...
主辦單位安排了今天下午有一個"tour"。行程包括三個半小時的車程和兩小時的「參觀」。
本來沙達散博士與宋博士打算不跟團，改往名景點「天涯海角」參觀。後來潘博士覆述王太之理論，表示天涯海角「唔去就後悔半世，去就後悔一世」，於是眾人決定還是隨團出發。
行程的第一站，各團友就被安排往某咖啡廠「參觀」及購買手信。之後我對明年將主辦 AAIM 之潘博士說，可安排團友到位於紅磡的金至尊買金，貢獻香港經濟。
行程的第二站，也就是最後一站，我們到了國家4A級旅遊景點「興隆熱帶植物公園」。
我們用了一小時半的時間，參觀了很多椰樹，蕉樹，其他樹，與及更多的椰樹。沿途碰巧遇到心情好的職員，便講解幾句，心情不好的職員更會互相吵架。我們還可看牌上的中文字，外國的團友們便只可專心觀樹。
各中外團友們對於OC竟然能安排如此節目，無不感到十分驚奇，臉上不由自主的流露出奇特的笑容。由於節目過於「精采」，潘博士與宋博士在途中研究「紅豆生南國」的下一句是什麼。沙達散博士更情不自禁，表演拋樽雜技。
回程時王太再發表理論，指這些節目唔係幾好，「雖然天涯海角只係兩舊石頭，但都係呢到景點，第二到冇得睇」，眾人大表同意。王太又表示此行也有好處，就是「得到人生經驗, 以後冇咁易俾人揾笨」。
晚上的 BBQ，我也不想多提，除了有表演以走音 (?) 的民族樂器 (?) 奏出「有隻雀仔跌落水」...
Sunday, December 18, 2005
back to Hong Kong
終於，回到香港。
不知是因為我搭BA/CX終於夠多，還是訂票時擺了 DR. 出來，還是我靚仔了，我竟然被 upgrade...
晚上到了別人的婚宴，也聽到了一些消息。本學系師生戀的傳統，有各位師兄弟薪火相傳，我實在感到十分欣喜和羨慕。
不知是因為我搭BA/CX終於夠多，還是訂票時擺了 DR. 出來，還是我靚仔了，我竟然被 upgrade...
晚上到了別人的婚宴，也聽到了一些消息。本學系師生戀的傳統，有各位師兄弟薪火相傳，我實在感到十分欣喜和羨慕。
Thursday, December 15, 2005
light bulbs and electricity
Another light bulb blows itself, the second one within two weeks. Added to the fact that the auto-switch-off "feature" of the electric shower seems coming earlier and earlier, I really suspect there's something wrong with the electricity in this flat...
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
ebay
I better stay away from ebay for some time, after spending a ridiculous amount of money buying "hard plastic" (which is my favourite toy)...
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
phone line problem seemingly resolved
Last week the phone line problem re-appeared, and the biggest problem is that I can't get online. This time I found a neighbor to phone me to "trigger" the phone line to work. This happened for two consecutive nights and she must be very unhappy about that. After I reported to BT (British Telecom, not bit-torrent) now it appears to be working properly, and in any case I (finally) got a mobile to "kick" the phone line should the problem comes back again.
And it is good to know that, while many neighbors here are old people, the one closest to me is a young pretty gal...
And it is good to know that, while many neighbors here are old people, the one closest to me is a young pretty gal...
Monday, November 28, 2005
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
hk-place
I'm not updating here recently; for one I'm very busy, for another I have no Internet connection at home yet...
Meanwhile I'm looking at the photos of this site. It's so good that someone takes a picture of everything in HK... This is the train station just outside my Ma On Shan home, and this is where I live before I move to MOS...
Meanwhile I'm looking at the photos of this site. It's so good that someone takes a picture of everything in HK... This is the train station just outside my Ma On Shan home, and this is where I live before I move to MOS...
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
The new flat
There are of course "features" of the flat that you only discover after you move in:
1) A phone line is set up last Friday, and it was working properly. Then the next day it didn't work, giving no dialling tone when you pick up the phone. However if you try to call that number (and no one picks up the phone) it appears normal - you hear ringing tone. Then I asked a colleague to phone me, I pick up the phone, it works, and immediately after I put down the phone and pick it up again, the dialling tone magically appears! And now I can make calls...
2) Apart from the fact that everything in the bathroom is operated by cords hanging from the ceiling, which I was well informed, the electric shower automatically triggers the fuse after a certain (small) number of minutes, so it helps you save water, save electricity, and save time. What a wonderful "feature"...
1) A phone line is set up last Friday, and it was working properly. Then the next day it didn't work, giving no dialling tone when you pick up the phone. However if you try to call that number (and no one picks up the phone) it appears normal - you hear ringing tone. Then I asked a colleague to phone me, I pick up the phone, it works, and immediately after I put down the phone and pick it up again, the dialling tone magically appears! And now I can make calls...
2) Apart from the fact that everything in the bathroom is operated by cords hanging from the ceiling, which I was well informed, the electric shower automatically triggers the fuse after a certain (small) number of minutes, so it helps you save water, save electricity, and save time. What a wonderful "feature"...
First lecture
I had my first lecture on this Monday. Actually, two lectures, separated by an hour. It went not too well but also not too badly - I just keep on talking and talking, and there's very few interruptions from students, at least much fewer than a first-year class I have seen. Maybe it's really too boring so in the second lecture a significant number of people did not appear. (No, there must be other reasons, like they didn't appear after getting the lecture notes...)
Friday, November 11, 2005
Will be moving...
Assuming everything works out, this will be my last night in Opal Court.
Opal Court is certainly very good: in a very convenient location to university, city centre, rail station, ... everything. And you have a nice view of the city in 14/F when everything else is only two or three storeys high. A bit noisy since it is just beside the railway and a fire station, but I don't mind that. Also a lot of fun to have earthquake experience, like watching the lamp swinging, when wind blows... It would be good if I can stay there indefinitely. But I have to move to somewhere in a worse location, less secure, and, well, more expensive...
However, moving to some place without Internet (yet) is perhaps good for a lecturer who have a lot of work to do, like setting examination paper before he starts teaching...
Opal Court is certainly very good: in a very convenient location to university, city centre, rail station, ... everything. And you have a nice view of the city in 14/F when everything else is only two or three storeys high. A bit noisy since it is just beside the railway and a fire station, but I don't mind that. Also a lot of fun to have earthquake experience, like watching the lamp swinging, when wind blows... It would be good if I can stay there indefinitely. But I have to move to somewhere in a worse location, less secure, and, well, more expensive...
However, moving to some place without Internet (yet) is perhaps good for a lecturer who have a lot of work to do, like setting examination paper before he starts teaching...
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Monday, October 31, 2005
flats going away even more quickly
All flats that I'm interested in are gone within 3 days after I viewed them. Or before I view them. Except one that no one takes. So I'm trying my luck on this rather insecure flat - everyone can freely walk to the front door, and that's the only door you have to break to get in... even worse than public housing estates in Hong Kong which have 鐵閘. And in a place with this crime rate...
Saturday, October 29, 2005
photo hunt
我覺得實在太好笑了...
http://forum.hkgolden.com/view.asp?message=530564
http://forum.hkgolden.com/view.asp?message=530047
講開又講, 我其實一早就應該問... 點樣免費睇生果報呢...
http://forum.hkgolden.com/view.asp?message=530564
http://forum.hkgolden.com/view.asp?message=530047
講開又講, 我其實一早就應該問... 點樣免費睇生果報呢...
Monday, October 24, 2005
weather, buildings, and toys
(1) I've all heard about it. These days I have a chance of really seeing how bad the weather in UK could be... strong winds, raining all out of sudden, ...
(2) 英國D樓係咪紙紥的... D 牆除了薄至可聽見隔離講嘢外, 仲滲水的...
(3) I like Argos! They are having a sale on (one item of) my favorite toy! Saves me quite a lot of money even comparing with the price at HK... So, finally, this huge box is sitting in front of me...
(2) 英國D樓係咪紙紥的... D 牆除了薄至可聽見隔離講嘢外, 仲滲水的...
(3) I like Argos! They are having a sale on (one item of) my favorite toy! Saves me quite a lot of money even comparing with the price at HK... So, finally, this huge box is sitting in front of me...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
