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1st January 2006 (please scroll down to see other days' entries)

Following 10 important things happened in 2005, here comes 10 wishes in 2006:

1) Study all the books/articles I needed for exam but 以有崖隨無崖, 殆矣 @__@ [DONE]

2) Pass French language exam [DONE]

3) Pass my PhD comprehensive exam [DONE]

4) Proposals being accepted for conference presentations in US/UK [2 accepted at this moment]

5) Start writing my Messiaen dissertation [shall begin very soon]

6) Back to HK asap in mid-May [17th May night arrive HK]

7) Have many students in summer (if possible) [some, at this moment]

8) Keep doing research in HK [mm...not much during summer, hope to do some this Christmas]

9) Begin to search JOBS in HK/US/UK/EUROPE, primarily GOAL: CUHK > HKU > BU > APA [No hope in HK, while US is doing the screening but as an ABD (PhD Candidate) really has no competitive power compared to PhD holder]

10) Can have Christmas @ HK [Yes, I am in HK now!]

1st January 2006

A bad day beginning @_@.

I feel super headache when I get up, may be i fell asleep last night while the window was halfly open (i just felt that my Haydn's String Quartet book was thrown on the ground).

No Appetites to eat!!! But after taking the panadol, feel better around 5pm. I am OK now! When you are sick, you definitely can do nothing, except sleep! Please don't be sick! Time is flying very fast!

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Just know that Kitman and Ken actually registered in Sept 2005, they will have the banquet this week:

Ken's uniform has a sword!!!

What do the "2 flowers" on his shoulders mean?

Very beautiful!

Congratulations to them!

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Reading the news about HKU Medical School. I don't know who is right or wrong. It is definitely not the surface information that we can get through the mass media. But in US, it is very common to have titled professorship or school name, e.g. Slee Professor in my school is a very prestige position in music theory in US; we also have Slee Concert Hall; also Eastman School of Music, etc...

2nd January 2006

A nap in the afternoon while reading on the bed, but it results a horrible nightmare:

I haven't studied all my PHYSICS, specially the atomic section, on the exam day!!! All of the PHYSICS memory suddenly becomes unfamiliar to me!!! [actually i forgot what is my major and level of study in the dream]

Reading:

1) because my student is talking SHM to me this morning

2) it is correct that PHYSICS is unfamiliar to me since 1998 April AL Exam

3) i fall asleep when i am reading a MUSIC book while i am also listening to J. S. Bach's WTC I and II --> Magic happens?

---------------------------------

Interestingly, today's Apple Daily (3 Jan 2006) has some articles worthy to be discussed here:

News 1) 亞洲新聞自由港第三中國榜尾

北京控制互聯網

政治及經濟風險顧問公司公布有關亞洲地區互聯網使用與新聞自由研究報告，報告指亞洲四個被評為有新聞自由的地方，依名次為日本、台灣、香港及南韓，四地特色是互聯網普及未有對政治造成挑戰，當地政府也未有對互聯網內容作限制。

報告稱香港雖然作為中國特區，但中國政府未有封鎖任何以香港作為基地，刊載反對中國政府言論的網址，報告認為若這個情況不變，將不會影響香港新聞自由評分。

報告又指中國大陸的新聞自由排名最低，批評北京正嘗試控制內地互聯網，報告稱北京官方認為，互聯網發展直接危害中國國家安全，有需要用新科技，阻止政治活躍分子及異見人士在網上發布不利中國政府的資訊。

You see, that's why my photo album is cleared. Another disappointment is that some "scholars" in (CU)HK seem not very interested in this issue or politically self-protected in reply emails from a stranger (i.e. me). Last week during my "mo-liu" time, I selectively sent 5 emails to "high rank" professors (also with respect to their research interests) in the School of Journalism and Communication at CUHK about my photo album matter. Up to now, i just received 3 replies from them, which, as i said, are disappointed:

From Prof. AAA:

Dear Mr. Lee,

I have not heard of such happenings in Hong Kong. Hopefully this is a technical matter or a misunderstanding of some sort. If you do not get a satisfactory answer from the ISP, you probably may want to ask the press to help inquire about this.

AAA

1) How can he not know such censorship or similar issues? It is his/her specialized research field.

2) His/Her suggestion for me to seek help from ISP and the press is simply fooling me (as a layman)away!

From Prof. BBB:

Dear Martin,

You could be right as I heard about the recent crackdown on a number of websites
by Chinese authorities after the reports surfaced on police shootings of
innocent people in the villages in rural China. However, when I did a WiseNews
search in the past 12 months on censorship and Yahoo, I found nothing.

Therefore, it may be just self-censorship on the part of Yahoo management.

BBB

1) This reply makes more sense but his/her help in searching related issues in WiseNews (a search engine for news) definitely shows his/her ignorance as my friend also showed a quotation from Mingpao about Yahoo's action in China. Hehe...scholar or Head Damage "PhD"?

2) Anyway, he/she implicitly agrees that it is a kind of censorship in Yahoo!.

From Prof. CCC:

Dear Martin,

Happy New year.

I think many people have negative feeling about Yahoo. I do think the censorship of Bush Government is more serious.

I would have shared the same negative opinions with them 4-5 years ago. But now, no. After my research in China sometimes these years, I think I change my mind and I realize that the media are biased when covering China and corporations that comply to China. Right now, I do believe that every corporation that goes to another country must follow the rule and custom there. Otherwise, these "western" actions will only do more harms to people in China..

CCC

1) This one comes with another angle, replies me in a quite "round" manner.

2) S/He explicitly agreed that Yahoo's action is a deal in order to launch her business in China. Thus, s/he thinks my case simply a sacrifice under the game rule rather a serious censorship.

3) Isn't it terrible if what s/he described is true? You simply need to give anything that China Gov wants before you can go in to earn your $$$. 各處鄉村各處例 is his/her conclusion.

4) So, his/her "analysis" only reflects the fact, but what is the consequence?

5) Although s/he pretends to be neutral in this issue, s/he has already stood on the China side by taking it for granted that company needs to follow China Gov policy completely. But s/he forgets to think about the consequence of this "game". Scholar???

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News 2) 課堂「八改六」執行難

【本報訊】教育統籌局副秘書長王啟思昨日在局方網頁撰文，建議學校考慮延長每課節，把每天八節課改為六節，既可減少轉堂虛耗的時間，教師亦更易管理和更有效教學；不過中小學界認為執行有困難。

課時長幼童難集中
　

王啟思指出，教統局規定學校每學年上課日數為一百九十日，較主要亞太區國家和地區少五至三十日，但有些學校卻安排過多測驗和考試。他建議學校採用進展性評估方法，以增加學生學習機會和課堂學習時間。

教協副會長兼新界鄉議局南約區中學校長區伯權認為，除了主科外，學生也要上工科、音樂及體育課，若將每日上課節數改為六節，而每堂為一小時，則會有困難，例如現時體育每次通常連堂上一小時二十分，「若果係一小時一堂，究竟畀一堂定兩堂好呢？」他認為，目前安排主要科目以連堂方式進行，已經足夠。
資助小學校長會副主席馮家正指出，若每節課時間過長，學生較難集中，尤其是低年級的學生。

1) This ridiculous suggestion is simply like 中國的大煉鋼時代, how can the window frames, tables, chairs, etc., be used to make steel? In other words, how can such few minuets can help classroom management and teaching?

2) As it is shown, practical people know more "practical" issues and possibility of immediate drawbacks, while those "theoretical" rank simply sits and plays around the "time table" and produces some fucking bullshits as a kind of his/her work done in order to show to the public.

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Let me quote 陳日君主教's comment on HK Police's decision making group:

"incompetence" is more suitable to describe them!

3rd January 2006

Cleaning and tidying up my floor, which is full of notes, books and papers . . .

Golden week ends today. Tonight I will drive and take wwy back from the airport.

So, no study at all.

4th January 2006

Congratulations to my dear friend, who finally accepted a job offer in the coming Fall semester. I am also glad to share this happiness with him online immediately (may be even earlier than his lovers ^__^). Question is raised to me again, where should I work if all things/exams/dissertation go smoothly and finish by 2007 May? Hong Kong or US?

Although my dream is to work in HK, it doesn't mean HK is welcoming me back!

Reading the professor posts in CUHK/HKU/BU, they seem all now to be contract-based, which may be renewable either under review or mutual agreement, but NOT tenure-track!!!

HKU seems more clear, some posts say:

"The appointments will initially be made on a three-year fixed-term basis, with consideration for tenure after satisfactory completion of a second fixed-term contract."

SHIT!!! 三年之後又三年? 無間道咩?!

This is really discouraging and simply can't attract good scholar to stay in HK!

As a result, it would be an "exile" for me!!!

Wo meine Heimat ist?

5th January 2006

"Lovers" or "Lover" raises an interesting question by T

Thanks T for reading my overloaded diary ^_^

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Suddenly received landlord's new lease contract, new terms added thou rent keeps the same amount. But so many uncertainties...the old question is raised again...move or not move

After that, suddenly feel so tired to face this problem, as well as other study/exam matter...

I want to come back HK.......when?

6th January 2006

Continue the tiredness . . .

Stay at home, no going out

7th January 2006

Reading in slow progress . . .

Proposal deadlines are coming . . .

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Finally, we decided to move . . . (it is also a long term matter that finally we settled now)

Due to the dishonest of the landlord, unfavorable and unreasonable terms added, as well as our lower neighbour will also move (which means the lower floor of the house will be vacant), it's time for us to move due to safety and long term reasons!

8th January 2006

10am. After wake up, some important works should be done: call the leasing office and make an appointment to view the apartment!

12noon. Arrived. 2 months ago, when i first time came here, i felt it is quite far away. But today, I feel it is a very nice place to live (although it is a bit expensive as it is including heat and electricity). One of the available apartments has just replaced a new carpet and a new oak cupboard in the kitchen. Actually, it is super attractive (over 99%, we will move to here asap.....may be this weekend!!! ^_^)

2pm. Back to home and call the landlord we will move and will not rent anymore. No method, we need to pay the February rent! FUCK!!! Anyway, it is her strategy and follows the "regulations." As the lower neighbour said, "it's time to move." Really! 早走早着.

3pm. Back to the leasing office again and pay a cheque to hold that desire apt for three days, as one friend wants to have a look too. Then tea time @ Tim Horton, but no appetite at all.

4pm. Back to home again.

9th January 2006

Wake up early. Phone to ask about renting a truck for moving, about moving phone and internet lines.

Go back to school to get the income proof, then go to pay wwy's tuition fee and my little fee (need to email dept about paying my 1 credit tuition fee. Actually, the earlier I get enough credit for candidacy, the less $$$ the school pay....why do they limit me to take more then? they are so stupid!)

Try to sign up the lease. But unsuccessful!!! Because my credit history has been enquired for review so many times! (Shit!!! this is due to i applied several credit cards....the more company asking review of my credit history, the lower the credit history record I will have!) I WILL NOT APPLY CREDIT CARDS IN STUPID-FUCKING AMERICA ANYMORE!!!

Go back school to find some help. Helpless.

Go to see another apartment, which we didn't see yesterday due to no ppl in the leasing office to serve us @_@

GOOOOOOD, also a new carpet and super nice discount!!! After walking around a BIG GARDEN, we still haven't missed this good place! Will move in on this Friday!

Go to rent a truck for Friday moving!

Go back the previous office to get back my cheque (USD 199) to hold the apt that we want in the very beginning, but anyway, i still need to pay an non-refundable "application" fee of USD 30!

EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO HAVE BEEN DONE FOR TODAY!!!

12th January 2006

I will move to a new apartment tomorrow. DSL (broadband?) internet service will be re-established again at the end of January! However, phone line will be fine by tomorrow, see whether I will use 56k dail-up again. @__@

Otherwise, there shall be no more update from today. If you want to find me and tell me something, please email me.

13th January 2006 (Black Friday) to 26th January 2006

A moving day! I am so worried about the weather around today. A few days ago showed today is 80% Rain; yesterday night showed 40% Rain. Today, it is just a bit windy and cloudy.

9:30am Get the keys, moved some clothes and food in

11:00am Get the reserved truck (it is so difficult to drive!!! 踩極油門都唔去 @__@

11:30am to 1:30pm Packing things using 2 people's 4 hands

2:00pm to 3:00pm Unloading the stuff from the truck but this time is super fast with 3 more friends helping us and together with the supermarket's trolley!

3:00pm Rest...lunch from C9...go to gas station to fill in some diesel before returning the truck (you really can't imagine the price for diesel is even more expensive than the highest grade gasoline!!!)

7:00pm Dinner time. But why i said i will treat the dinner, still the choice of the restaurant is not from us?! Didn't I say clearly enough? Expensive but not so satisfied with the food size and quality!!!!! Sigh! It is simply we are too good to care other people's feeling.

~ 10:00pm Back home. Rest.

Midnight Outside is wet -- Raining!!!

Next day morning: all white -- SNOWING @_____@

SO LUCKY!!!! and I know God is with us! otherwise, this move can't be smooth like that!!!

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Some highlights (as most things forgot):

1) Helped Chia-En to get the new I-94 by a simple method:

Rainbow Bridge linked between USA and Canada

Chia-En and wwy

BIG FAT #_#

2) We made a super good Mocha, Chinese soup, red-bean soup for C9; she also prepared beef in Korean style for us

3) 2 PhD students (C9 and I) and 1 MMus student (wwy) help C9's 2 sons to make the little racing car models, 2 children are so happy that we can resemble the parts so that they can play the racing cars on the track!

4) French Exam....seem better than last time (and finally passed!)

5) Schedule for Comprehensive exam is fixed. 15/2 to 27/2 (Wed-Mon-Wed-Mon)

6) Phoebe came here for audition and stayed with us for 5 days:

Standard photo site, Rainbow Bridge (again, we came within 2 week)

@ Hershey

Bear's right leg has an opening @__@, these 2 gals made it or it opened already before them?

Big and small Hershey

Canadian "deer"

Angus beef burger with bacon and cheese...GREAT!

BLOODY Niagara Falls

到此一遊

----------------------------

Proposal accepted:

Dear Professor Lee: (This title is a bit too soon now @__@)

   It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you that the 2006
MTSMA Program Committee has recommended your paper, "Emancipation of
Dissonance: Music, Text and Gesture in Schoenberg's Second String
Quartet, 'Entruckung'," most highly for presentation at the 2006
MTSMA Annual Meeting, March 17-18, 2006 at Westminster Choir College.

    We had an overwhelming number of submissions this year, and your
paper proposal was, without doubt, among the most outstanding. I
look forward to meeting you and to hearing the results of your
research at our Annual Meeting.

    Many thanks for your support of MTSMA and for your submission.

Best regards,

--
Ellen R. Flint, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Music
Coordinator of the Undergraduate Experience
Office of the Provost
Wilkes University
84 West South St.
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766

(570) 408-4004/4427
flint@wilkes.edu

Timing seems quite good, after my written exam and oral defence, this presentation is during the Spring Break. So, it definitely can be a kind of travel, thou I don't know enjoy or not but get out of Buffalo anyway.

28th January 2006

Sat morning...can't listen to 903 because wwy needs to take her driving written exam and apply for her learner permit (she finally has this energy to finish it !!!)

Passed the eye exam, written MC exam, and paid. Then go to buy some food to prepare our New Year Eve dinner (with our first neighbor-guest: C9 and her 2 sons!)

Menu: 全牛宴 (係用ANGUS BEEF)

1) 西湖牛肉羹 (originally is 粟米魚肚羹 but 沙爆魚肚is terribly expensive!!! just 2 dried pieces cost USD 15.99!!! Ridiculous @__@ )

2) XO醬西芹牛柳粒

3) 什錦生菜包

4) 肥仔炒飯

5) 上海炒年糕

6) 蕃薯糖水 with lots of ginger

7) 超級MOCHA 加 WHIPPED CREAM [really smooth and creamy ^__^]

We start to prepare it since 3pm. As usual, after making all food, I won't have much appetite to eat @__@

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