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…

大學的程度自不可與高中同曰而語﹔而且競爭對手的質素更是大大提高了。第一個學期過去。不竟第一只有一個。考不合格的比比皆是。從「天上」掉到「人間」，很多學生都被自己差勁的年中試成績嚇一跳。
The stuff taught in collegel is much more difficult than those in high school. Also the competitions are also more intense and mind you there can only be one top student. The progress test is held normally the first week on the second semester. Many students fail. They were like falled angels and were stunt by their poort results.

第一個年中試佔總分的比例很小，其目的旨在令新生明白高中那一套學習方式在大學行不通；他們必需加倍努力，對所學知識加以滆匯慣通，方能考取好成績。大部份學生其後的表現皆有好轉。
First-year progress test counts very little to the total coursework score. It is intended as a ‘wake-up’ call for first year undergrads, so they understand to succeed in college required hard work and deep understanding of what we taught. Haven’t photographic memory is just not good enough. Performance of a lot of student improves Subsequently.

另有一部份學生，大概是從小被寵被稱讚慣了；面對壞成績，他們自覺只是偶有失手。他們活在自己的世界裡，看不清現實。
On the other hand, there are quite a few students who failed to understand their situations. They were too accustomed to priases and good results. The bad results, to them, were just due to bad lack. They live in their own world, blind to reality.

跟他們相處後，我發現他們對自己的能力充滿自信。無論現實情況如何都不能動搖他們的信心。考得不好跟他們的能力無關，不是他們不夠努力、技不如人﹔是學校、老師的錯。
Somehow they are very confident in their abilities. Nothing can affect their confidence regardless of the reality. Poor results has nothing to do with their ability, not their laziness. They blame us and the department for their performance.

一次又有學生向我抱怨﹕This program is just too much. My friends in another college can just breeze through their program and get a first class honour degree. Now I am here with no life now.
Once, a student whined: This program is just too much. My friends in another college can just breeze through their program and get a first class honour degree. Now I am here with no life now.

這些人，我每星期都要見他們一次，每次他們都抱怨，這次我真的受不了。
I see these people once every week. Each time they whine. And this just set my off.

我說﹕Look, we are not going to design a program such that you are totally overloaded and have no life. Can’t you see there are many students that are doing well? If you don’t have a life, you have time-management issue. And seriously if you want to join a program that you can breeze tbrough and be the top of craps, no one is stopping you.
I said: Look, we are not going to design a program such that you are totally overloaded and have no life. Can’t you see there are many students that are doing well? If you don’t have a life, you have time -management issue. And seriously if you want to join a program that you can breeze tbrough and be the top of craps, no one is stopping you.

為什麼他們就是不明白我們，包括他自己，都只是普通人，都必需將勤補拙，方能略有所成？
Why can’t they see that we, including them, are just ordinary people, which needs to work hard to succeed, even with just some modest success?