I must say my opinion is in the minority. After some discussion within the solar system, the idea of employing teaching assistant changed from asking them to help with the teaching to the orchestration of teaching and student affairs.
You may think all we need is more capable secretaries for these matters. But no. As VM, our professor of neurology, pointed out, "The problem is not really the workload of teaching; we are all eager to teach our students. Otherwise why should we take up an academic post? However, much of our energy is diverted to administrative matters related to teaching - fixing up timetables, coordination between panels and teachers, handling complaints and emergencies, and what not. You know, the whole of this morning I was engaged in a task entirely unrelated to teaching: I was asked to soothe some unhappy students!"
Many of us nodded. Nonetheless, I tapped on the shoulder of VM and shook my head, "My friend, a teaching assistant would not solve your problem. Students that could be moderated by a professor of neurology would respond very differently when they meet a teaching assistant!"
PS. As to the secretarial tasks of teaching administration, a certain degree of medical knowledge is often important. Since the actual amount of work is hardly substantial enough to occupy a full time doctor, asking an academic staff to take that up is an unavoidable compromise.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
Assistant
On a recent occasion, our lady from Mercury suggested that we should employ some teaching assistants to shoulder part of our work load.
(Haven’t you heard of the lady from Mercury? Too bad. You know what, the lady lives outside the Earth, but on a planet that is the farthest away from any extraterrestrials that inhabit outside the solar system.)
On the first glance, it seems a brilliant idea. With the increasing number of medical students (and possibly other need of teaching), we really need someone to help out.
However, I become skeptical in no time. My concern is a purely pragmatic one: How could we create a post of teaching assistant that is attractive enough to recruit reasonable applicants? If a person agrees to take up a post with a modest salary and nondescript title, and the duty is nothing but regular teaching and clinical ones, they are most likely not good enough – otherwise they should have better prospect as full time academic or clinical staff.
(Haven’t you heard of the lady from Mercury? Too bad. You know what, the lady lives outside the Earth, but on a planet that is the farthest away from any extraterrestrials that inhabit outside the solar system.)
On the first glance, it seems a brilliant idea. With the increasing number of medical students (and possibly other need of teaching), we really need someone to help out.
However, I become skeptical in no time. My concern is a purely pragmatic one: How could we create a post of teaching assistant that is attractive enough to recruit reasonable applicants? If a person agrees to take up a post with a modest salary and nondescript title, and the duty is nothing but regular teaching and clinical ones, they are most likely not good enough – otherwise they should have better prospect as full time academic or clinical staff.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Performance
You may ask: How was my portfolio doing during this year?
On 31 December 2012, the Heng Sang Index closed at 22656. I had around 12% of my portfolio as cash. One year later, the proportion of cash in my portfolio becomes 16%. The Hang Seng Index closed in 2013 at 23306. In other words, it rose by 2.9% over 12 months.
How much did I earn during this period?
Exactly 8%.
As always, what would happen if I did nothing to my portfolio in the past 12 months?
Alas, I would have earned 11.8% !
Not something for me to boast.
Well, if there has been any achievement, this portfolio is much more simple that the one last year.
On 31 December 2012, the Heng Sang Index closed at 22656. I had around 12% of my portfolio as cash. One year later, the proportion of cash in my portfolio becomes 16%. The Hang Seng Index closed in 2013 at 23306. In other words, it rose by 2.9% over 12 months.
How much did I earn during this period?
Exactly 8%.
As always, what would happen if I did nothing to my portfolio in the past 12 months?
Alas, I would have earned 11.8% !
Not something for me to boast.
Well, if there has been any achievement, this portfolio is much more simple that the one last year.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Portfolio
Following what I did in the past two years, it seems a good time to take a look on how well one is dong in the past year.
To begin with, let me show you my latest portfolio:
To begin with, let me show you my latest portfolio:
You could find the one last year here: http://ccszeto.blogspot.hk/2013/01/update.html
Friday, January 3, 2014
Pioneer
Although Ryoma Sakamoto played a critical role in the process of taisei houkan (大政奉還), and the Eight Policies in the Boat (船中八策) did become the principal strategic directions of the early Meiji period, Ryoma’s contribution to Meiji Ishin (明治維新) and the modern Japan was at best indirect.
Nonetheless, Ryoma is often taken as a symbol of modernisation, and his doings were way ahead of his time.
A short story is most illustrative of what kind of person Ryoma was:
During a casual conversation, Ryoma told his friend Higaki Naoji (檜垣直治), “Combat that takes place indoor will become more common in the future, and I favor the use of kodachi (小太刀) – which is more convenient for that purpose. The traditional long sword (太刀) is rather outdated.”
A few days later, Higaki brought a kodachi and visited Ryoma again, and the pioneer of revolution took out a pistol and shook his head, “You see, this is more powerful than a kodachi.”
Some months later, Higaki took a pistol to visit his friend again and, this time, Ryoma took out Henry Wheaton’s Elements of International Law (萬國公法) and said, “My friend, pistol can only kill the enemy, but this book could revive our country!”
Nonetheless, Ryoma is often taken as a symbol of modernisation, and his doings were way ahead of his time.
A short story is most illustrative of what kind of person Ryoma was:
During a casual conversation, Ryoma told his friend Higaki Naoji (檜垣直治), “Combat that takes place indoor will become more common in the future, and I favor the use of kodachi (小太刀) – which is more convenient for that purpose. The traditional long sword (太刀) is rather outdated.”
A few days later, Higaki brought a kodachi and visited Ryoma again, and the pioneer of revolution took out a pistol and shook his head, “You see, this is more powerful than a kodachi.”
Some months later, Higaki took a pistol to visit his friend again and, this time, Ryoma took out Henry Wheaton’s Elements of International Law (萬國公法) and said, “My friend, pistol can only kill the enemy, but this book could revive our country!”
PS. The irony is, Ryoma did revive his country but lost his life during an indoor assassination.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Ryoma
While talking about Ricky Wong, my recent bedtime reading is Ryoma Sakamoto (坂本龍馬) by The Two Oceans Club of History Research (兩洋歷史研究會).
For those who are not familiar with the history of Japan, Ryoma was a prominent figure in the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa Bakufu (德川幕府), largely by his achievement of uniting the Choshu (長州) and Satsuma (薩摩) provinces to work against the shogun (將軍) of the Tokugawa family. He was assassinated, presumably by Bakufu supporters, at the age of 31.
As Jack London said:
I would rather be ashes than dust.
I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.
I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.
The function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time.
寧化飛灰，不作浮塵。寧投熊熊烈火，光盡而滅；不伴寂寂朽木，默然同腐。寧為耀目流星，迸發萬丈光芒；不羨永恒星體，悠悠沉睡終古。
For those who are not familiar with the history of Japan, Ryoma was a prominent figure in the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa Bakufu (德川幕府), largely by his achievement of uniting the Choshu (長州) and Satsuma (薩摩) provinces to work against the shogun (將軍) of the Tokugawa family. He was assassinated, presumably by Bakufu supporters, at the age of 31.
As Jack London said:
I would rather be ashes than dust.
I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.
I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.
The function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time.
寧化飛灰，不作浮塵。寧投熊熊烈火，光盡而滅；不伴寂寂朽木，默然同腐。寧為耀目流星，迸發萬丈光芒；不羨永恒星體，悠悠沉睡終古。
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Honorary
During a recent casual discussion, Vivian said with much admiration, “You know, the story of Ricky Wong is amazing. Just see how he comes back with a TV license. This undefeatable character is really the core value of Hong Kong!”
“Very true,” I smiled, “He does set a good example for our people. I must say I feel honored to be graduating from the same university as him.”
“So am I,” my wife nodded.
“In fact, I think it sounds a good idea if our university is going to give him a honorary doctor degree.”
“For what?”
“For his remarkable business skill. For his personal character. For setting a good example to all of us. From the public image point of view, this is really a good move.”
“Alas, you may be right, but what degree would you suggest? Honorary doctor of business administration?”
“Oh, don’t be silly,” I laughed, “The easiest option is no doubt a honorary doctor of social science. But, looking at how he finally gets the TV license, I suspect our Mr. Wong is good enough for a honorary doctor of political science!”
“Very true,” I smiled, “He does set a good example for our people. I must say I feel honored to be graduating from the same university as him.”
“So am I,” my wife nodded.
“In fact, I think it sounds a good idea if our university is going to give him a honorary doctor degree.”
“For what?”
“For his remarkable business skill. For his personal character. For setting a good example to all of us. From the public image point of view, this is really a good move.”
“Alas, you may be right, but what degree would you suggest? Honorary doctor of business administration?”
“Oh, don’t be silly,” I laughed, “The easiest option is no doubt a honorary doctor of social science. But, looking at how he finally gets the TV license, I suspect our Mr. Wong is good enough for a honorary doctor of political science!”
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