It is an adaptation of an Australian movie with the same title filmed in 1994. I really enjoyed it. The show was terrific and it was an upbeat story. Life is complicated. There are people out there trying to crush us. Yet, with friendship and courage, we can be who we were are!

(You would feel really excited when you watch it. In my opinion, it is better than Mamamia. Well, I have to say, I don’t like Mamamia, the musical nor the movie. Also for entertainment, I totally prefer something that is happy and upbeat. There is really no need to pay for sadness… We can get that by just reading the free newspaper.)

ST: RandomCoil, I need you to make some changes to your course. That would really help with your teaching survey.
Me: No.

ST: You are such a boy. I haven’t even told you what you need to do.
Me: I am sure some students complain to you about me and my course and my answer is NO.

ST: You are such as boy. Listen to what I have to say. You know students would really appreciate it if you can upload your slides before your lecture.
Me: I know that is what you gonna say that’s why I say no. Students have course notes in advance. I also upload my slides right after the lecture. They are supposed to take notes during lecture. They know that. So, the answer is NO.

ST: RC, there is really no point to make your life difficult. Just upload the slides.
Me: No. I genuienly believe that I am doing this in their best interest.

ST: ‘I genuienly believe that I am doing this in their best interest.’ That sounds so much like the Nazi! Just trust me on this one. Upload the slides before the lecture and I am sure the students would appreciate it. Tell them that you are doing them a flavour by doing so.
Me: OK. I will tell them I do so because I am afraid you might spank me!

Well… While I felt I was forced to do things I didn’t want to, I did upload the slides because I don’t want ST to see me as a pain in the ass. And that is what I said to the class.
‘I uploaded the slides before the lecture because I don’t want to lose a drinking buddy. This is done with 3 conditions:
1. They show up on time and there is no significant reduction of students showing up for lecture.
2. They keep taking notes in class.
3. They behave in class.

Well, let’s hope things work out.

My friend left a comment:wait until 2022! That year will be 10x better than this year!

Me: How do you know if it is not cyclical?
Friend: If next year has to be better than this year, and the year after that is better too, then it has to be a distinct upward trend!

Me: No. It just means the amplitude of the fluctuation is large (btw, I teach fatigue in my class).

I know the conversation sounds geeky. Yet, geeky is the new sexy, isn’t it!

So, yesterday I spent 2 hours cleaning my office.

Afterall, I spend half of my time here in my office.

A new year, a clean start!

He: I have been working so hard…

He: In fact, I started reading and working on this project before the semester start. And it is now due in 2 days and I am still working on it while there are others who only work on it for one week and gets an A. Why?

You know, we grade objectively. If a project gets an A, it deserves one.

And time spent… is only one of the factors that might affect the grade… and I really don’t want to tell you the cruel truth.

So students, pardon me if I always look like I want to kill someone.

言慧珠有「女梅籣芳」之稱，在文革初期自殺身亡，留下十一歲的兒子在繼父和褓母的虐待下生活。
文革使人性扭曲。母性原為保護下一代而活；在這非常時期，母親寧自殺掉下兒子，也不願再受辱、折磨。
人性脆弱，受能承受的也只有這麼多…