My recent stay in San Diego brought my memory back to an old paradox.
The story went like this:
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For obvious reasons, I chose a small hotel with a moderate price. (It took me a 30-minute walk every morning to the convention center - the rare occasion that I had to do some genuine exercise.) To my surprise, the room was exceptionally well equipped: In addition to those ordinary gadgets, there was a coffee machine (so that I could boil some water for my own consumption), a spacious fridge, and a microwave.
And, above all, there was free wireless internet service.
When I mentioned this to PL (our senior consultant who lived in a hotel twice as expensive as mine), he became half mad.
"Why ! They charged me US$14 each day for the internet !" He complained.
And that's the paradox. It occurs to me that cheap hotels are often more generous in providing free internet service, while expensive ones often charge their tenants.
I'm sure there's a simple principle in economy that explains all these.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Tutorial
"Who wrote the first textbook on gynecology in Chinese medicine ?" Came the first question of my previous mentor for his dinner tutorial.
(I must say I could not be more happy. Everything seems going back to the good old days.)
I shake my head, playing my part as a humble student.
The answer was, as it turned out, illuminating on its own.
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The first textbook on gynecology in China was 《女科》, written by Fu Qingzhu (傅青主).
Fu was no ordinary gynecologist. He was an outstanding scholar at the turn between Ming (明) and Qing (清) dynasties, and an expert in medicine, philosophy, literature, calligraphy, as well as martial arts.
For that very last aspect, he appeared in the classic fiction The Seven Swords of Mount Heaven (七劍下天山) by Liang Yusheng (梁羽生) - Fu was one of the Swords.
The same character also appeared in the movie Seven Swords (七劍), directed by Tsui Hark (徐克), who casted Liu Jialiang (劉家良) as our legendary gynecologist.
(I must say I could not be more happy. Everything seems going back to the good old days.)
I shake my head, playing my part as a humble student.
The answer was, as it turned out, illuminating on its own.
*******************************
The first textbook on gynecology in China was 《女科》, written by Fu Qingzhu (傅青主).
Fu was no ordinary gynecologist. He was an outstanding scholar at the turn between Ming (明) and Qing (清) dynasties, and an expert in medicine, philosophy, literature, calligraphy, as well as martial arts.
For that very last aspect, he appeared in the classic fiction The Seven Swords of Mount Heaven (七劍下天山) by Liang Yusheng (梁羽生) - Fu was one of the Swords.
The same character also appeared in the movie Seven Swords (七劍), directed by Tsui Hark (徐克), who casted Liu Jialiang (劉家良) as our legendary gynecologist.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Lobster
While in San Diego, I was fortunate enough to dine with the man who used to have a moustache. Alas, it was a small gathering at a brilliant seafood restaurant, arranged by a certain third-party. We were there together with a few other colleagues from Hong Kong.
The teacher and his malicious student were sitting at the opposite side of a long narrow table. Inevitably we ended up having some causal talk. My previous mentor was exceptionally elated; he was just too eager to share his wisdom with the others at the table.
The teacher and his malicious student were sitting at the opposite side of a long narrow table. Inevitably we ended up having some causal talk. My previous mentor was exceptionally elated; he was just too eager to share his wisdom with the others at the table.
- How to choose some expensive and exotic dish that does not appear on the restaurant's menu ?
- Why order a 3-pound-plus lobster (after a seafood platter and some heavy clam chowder) ?
- How to attend a meeting only if the dinner is held at a Michelin 3-star restaurant ?
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Scope
During an academic conference, it is my habit to attend symposium that has very little relation to my work. For exactly the same reason, conference of the American Society is particularly attractive to me - they often invite speakers from some unexpected field.
For example, the first plenary lecture was delivered by Roger Tsien (錢永健) - the 2008 winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Yes, chemistry. Although Tsien focused on the practical aspects (that is, in vivo tissue imaging) of his work on GFP (green fluorescence protein) and skipped much of the technical details, I could appreciate why his prize was on chemistry. (For example, he did explain a little how the side chain of GFP was modified to achieve a different emission wavelength.)
What's the use of all these ?
What a question.
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Most people know very well that one could look far away by standing on the shoulder of a giant.
But, when there's no giant around, we could look slightly farther by keeping our back straight.
And, however far away you could see, make good use of your atlanto-axial joint and look around - you could better appreciate the beauty of the world.
On a few occasions, you may also find an unexpected trail to the place you want to go.
For example, the first plenary lecture was delivered by Roger Tsien (錢永健) - the 2008 winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Yes, chemistry. Although Tsien focused on the practical aspects (that is, in vivo tissue imaging) of his work on GFP (green fluorescence protein) and skipped much of the technical details, I could appreciate why his prize was on chemistry. (For example, he did explain a little how the side chain of GFP was modified to achieve a different emission wavelength.)
What's the use of all these ?
What a question.
**********************************
Most people know very well that one could look far away by standing on the shoulder of a giant.
But, when there's no giant around, we could look slightly farther by keeping our back straight.
And, however far away you could see, make good use of your atlanto-axial joint and look around - you could better appreciate the beauty of the world.
On a few occasions, you may also find an unexpected trail to the place you want to go.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Lag
I set off to San Diego on a public holiday. Vivian took the chance and brought Euterpe to the airport. Our girl was, of course, overjoyed.
As an academic staff, I am a rare specimen of infrequent traveler - in fact this was the first time I went for an international conference this year. (I always hold the opinion that most of the academic conferences actually have very little academic value. True, they remain essential because of the commercial value - but that's not a reason to attend.)
*******************************
Take aside a few exceptional circumstances, jet lag is hardly ever a problem to me. I could sleep alright the airplane, and my addiction to caffeine helps a lot. You know what, every time before going overseas, I stop drinking coffee for a day or two as well as throughout the journey. On the first morning that I am in another country, the first dose of caffeine would be resumed, follow by a regular twice-daily dose.
PS. As a rule, I drink Starbucks only when I am away for a conference. Somehow, this year, their regular coffee tastes less strong than previous years - and the price is 5-cent lower than the small shop nearby.
Not a good sign for its shareholders.
As an academic staff, I am a rare specimen of infrequent traveler - in fact this was the first time I went for an international conference this year. (I always hold the opinion that most of the academic conferences actually have very little academic value. True, they remain essential because of the commercial value - but that's not a reason to attend.)
*******************************
Take aside a few exceptional circumstances, jet lag is hardly ever a problem to me. I could sleep alright the airplane, and my addiction to caffeine helps a lot. You know what, every time before going overseas, I stop drinking coffee for a day or two as well as throughout the journey. On the first morning that I am in another country, the first dose of caffeine would be resumed, follow by a regular twice-daily dose.
PS. As a rule, I drink Starbucks only when I am away for a conference. Somehow, this year, their regular coffee tastes less strong than previous years - and the price is 5-cent lower than the small shop nearby.
Not a good sign for its shareholders.
Monday, November 2, 2009
School
After reading my calculations yesterday, you may come to the same conclusion of certain Mr. Tsang and suggest that an average couple should buy a flat in some less privileged areas. If the unit price is down by 50% (i.e. HK$2000 per square foot), they could afford an apartment twice as big.
It sounds great - until the parents have to find a suitable school for their children.
For those who are not familiar with the system, primary schools in Hong Kong are allocated by two major criteria:
It doesn't take long for the society to segregate into two layers: the cream (alas, or the scum) and the sediment.
PS. Even if a few exceptionally gifted children from average families do get through and entered some prestigious schools, have you consider the time to be spent in the traffic for these kids ?
It sounds great - until the parents have to find a suitable school for their children.
For those who are not familiar with the system, primary schools in Hong Kong are allocated by two major criteria:
- where the parents graduated from
- where does the family live
It doesn't take long for the society to segregate into two layers: the cream (alas, or the scum) and the sediment.
PS. Even if a few exceptionally gifted children from average families do get through and entered some prestigious schools, have you consider the time to be spent in the traffic for these kids ?
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Numbers
While I appeared to be in favor of TW's opinion, let's shift our attention and consider some realistic figures.
Let's consider an average Hong Kong family with a median monthly income of HK$15000 (the official one for 2005, which I found in Wikipedia). It plans to use 40% of the income to pay for an apartment, and a mortgage of 20 years is made. If the interest rate is 5%, what is the amount of the loan ?
My BA-II financial calculator tells me that it is HK$900,000.
If the mortgage equals 70% of the price, the apartment is sold at HK$1.3M.
It follows that if the unit price of the flat is HK$4000, the area is 320 square feet - for a family of four.
And we have not considered the followings:
Let's consider an average Hong Kong family with a median monthly income of HK$15000 (the official one for 2005, which I found in Wikipedia). It plans to use 40% of the income to pay for an apartment, and a mortgage of 20 years is made. If the interest rate is 5%, what is the amount of the loan ?
My BA-II financial calculator tells me that it is HK$900,000.
If the mortgage equals 70% of the price, the apartment is sold at HK$1.3M.
It follows that if the unit price of the flat is HK$4000, the area is 320 square feet - for a family of four.
And we have not considered the followings:
- the possibility of a fifth person living together (for example, a Filipino maid or a grandparent, who help taking care of the kids)
- a building area (建築面積) of 320 square feet may actually be 220 square feet in saleable area (實用面積)
- how to make up the down-payment
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