It has been truly inspirational to watch Gary Payton’s tough and tenacious plays.
2013-09-07
2013-09-03
Pool
I had the entire outdoor swimming pool (8 lane x 50 m) all by myself (again) this morning. There was a thunderstorm, so nobody else was there. But the fun didn’t last long; the life guards nudged me out after blasting horn for like 10 minutes without me noticing it.
PS: I am more likely to die on the bus ride to work than getting struck by lightning in a pool.
PPS: Next time, send a naked female super model into the pool. I will sure notice.
🙂
2013-08-19
Ashton Kutcher Acceptance Speech – Teen Choice Awards 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuBSRC1zpHw
Or try this link if you are banned from youtube.
2013-08-07
Father’s day haiku
A Y-chromosome
passed from dad to son
unchanged across millenniums.
2013-08-03
Doing the good thing versus doing the right thing
My grandfather, during his school professor days, once spent a lot of efforts bringing up a not very talented student into success beyond anyone’s expectation. My father liked to tell this story as how much passion and skill my grandfather has in people development. I agree on that part. However, I also think my father’s argument – and my grandfather’s action – is irrational: with the same amount of time and efforts, my grandfather could have helped several more talented students succeed, who collectively would have made the world an even better place. (Read: opportunity cost.)
There is a difference between doing the good thing and doing the right thing. And there is a choice between becoming a good person or a great person.
PS: I never had a chance to settle this debate with my grandfather; I started mentoring students just around the time he passed away.
2013-07-26
Cool dude in town
I am thrilled that one of my previous interns will join cityu.edu.hk as an assistant professor. A record holder in several aspects:
He is my last MSR intern.
He is also the most senior (not equal to old), with an associate professor title during the internship.
Somehow he managed to become associate professor without even getting his PhD first, both in the same university.
(He is a cool guy already, but this is just awesome.)
🙂
2013-07-10
Scam
This morning I got a phone message from an alleged debt collector. It smelled full of scam so I looked up online and confirmed my suspicion.
Basically, what seems to be happening is that if you call them, they will ask you for your personal information. In other words, it is identity theft taking advantage of human weakness. Many people, upon hearing that they owe debt, would feel guilty. Thus, they are more likely to put their guard down and divulge their personal information.
But this is probably less effective for people with different kinds or degrees of conscience.
🙂
I wonder why debtors should fear creditors. Do you think you are more afraid of your bank (where you deposit/lend your money) or the other way around?
2013-06-30
How to keep motivated
[My attempt to answer the question “I can’t keep myself always motivated in research, and I wonder what’s your method to do so?”]
I am actually not sure how to answer this, because I take it for granted. It is like someone asking you how to keep motivated in eating or sleeping.
But let me try.
Interest
Lack of motivation is usually a sign for lack of (genuine) interest.
If research is not what you really want to do for yourself, you are wasting your life; do something else instead, before it is too late.
Competition
The world is becoming increasingly competitive. People in your fields are getting better faster than, say, how Shanghai has changed in just 20 years.
Would your future prospect (in job, family, etc.) be enough to keep you always on the edge? If not, I cannot save you from being doomed into eternal mediocrity.
2013-06-26
Time transfer
Summer tends to be boring and slow. I wish I could transfer June to August into the end of December. Winter is much more exciting but tends to run faster than I can catch.
PS
If you are my collaborator and you try to take a summer break, you will regret in the winter. Just mark my word.