Hidden Agenda

Every news agency, irrespective of how neutral it is, will always have the tendency to shape the public opinion. Especially the mainstream media and its cohorts. With a bottom line to meet, their primary purpose is no longer to report news but to divert and guide the public opinion to attract readers and advertisers. Neutrality is no longer the norm but a pseudo-name to foreshadow how much each media outlet is involved in shaping the public opinion. Take the New York Times, for example, in its heavily skewed facts and report of China, its purpose is no longer to report the truth but to sale and indoctrinate misinformation to the worldwide audience, i.e., the American public, on the every mistake which the Chinese government, i.e., the C.P.C., has undertaken or is about to take, often with the violation of human rights as the pretext. Such that a laymen reader like me would be in aghast and detest on the every move which the C.P.C. would otherwise make, and perceive them as a threat and potential competitor against the U.S. government and American public in a world of limited resources. In its recent publication on China's dealing on Iraqi oil, the New York Times stated on how China's dealings would undermine the very national unity of Iraq, yet it has failed to address the intention of multinational oil conglomerates, usually of western origin, to exploit and rip-off Iraqi's most precious natural resource, as reported in my earlier posting (I no longer track this issue, but I believe the U.S. occupation of Iraq by the has probably allowed that to happen).

Irrespective of its nationality, the reports of the mainstream media must be read with care. The reader must know the media is there to shape the public opinion, and often it goes great distance to realize that.

脫殼

碩士答辯以後就像金蟬脫殼一像. 但願未來的氣象會更好. 但願這條路走下是對, 的是好, 的是光明的.

China-Taiwan Relations

An excellent backgrounder from CFR on China-Taiwan relationship.

CFR.org - China-Taiwan Relations

It is still a very sensitive issue, especially to discuss openly in the Mainland on the sovereignty of Republic of China. Hopefully, things will open up in the near future so peaceful reunification is possible. In the end, we really are not so different across the strait.

It's finally over and a new path awaits

It's finally over! After one hour of grilling by the committee members, I have finally defended my thesis after all these years of excitement and turmoil.

Not bad, but I would have taken a different research role if I had gotten the chance to do so. What I really wanted to do was to conduct research under her main area of interest. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to do so, but I still persevered. Not bad, not bad.

Hopefully, the new path which awaits will be brighter and shinier than my M.A.Sc.

Almost there!

A few more days to go, a few more hours to endure, a few more sleepless nights. Then, I will be finally freed from the burden and strangulation I have endured since 2006. Liberation shall come swiftly and jubilant celebration will soon follow. Let me just sincerely hope the road down Ph.D. will be more rewarding and forthcoming.

Not bad, at least get a chance to visit Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Paris, San Francisco and Monterey. :D

The ultimate researcher

It took me a long time to realize, but after living with this post-doc for almost one and half year I can finally appreciate why there are so many Chinese professionals in the field of communications engineering research. They work hard. They are smart, and they are diligent. Take my roommate, that post-doc, for example. He is an extreme case, but it's easy to generalize to others. Here below are how he does research.

1. He skips meals to do research, and now average a-meal-a-day only. He would cook 3 meals per week, and starve himself until the 3 meals lasts the entire week. He wasn't like this last year, but I guess pressure from boss can easily destroy your lifestyle, especially you are getting paid $30k a year, a luxury sum for a post-doc.
2. He makes minimum contact and friends except colleagues in the lab. He makes no attempt to make new friends except colleagues. But I guess when you need full front concentration on research, this is the result you would have. I'm making minimum contacts as well, especially friends of opposite sex, which would mean a lot more time spent if you are in a relationship.
3. He spends frugally. Unless necessary, spending is restricted only to meals and weekly grocery bills. Again, I'm doing that since being a student, full concentration is necessary, and others are just luxury. I just hope I can be like that for another four years in the Ph.D. program.
   

After years of practice and refinement, you would finally be the ultimate researcher, but then that is an extreme case. :D

But, of course, some people is special and their lifestyle greatly differs.

Baffling questions for Christians

My late night drinking spree with fellowship goers brought forth my renewed interest in questioning Christian beliefs. For Christians who are reading my blog, I encourage you to answer the following questions. These are probably some of the most baffling questions yet to be answered or already have been answered.

1. Can I be a Christian while be a believer in the Darwinian Theory of Evolution?
2. Does I being Christian mean supporting Israel apartheid of West Bank and Gaza Strip?

That's all for now. Perhaps more to come later.

speed_demon

China's New Rebels

More from NY Times on the eve of the twentieth anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre.

China’s New Rebels

Behind the Scenes: Tank Man of Tiananmen

I know, I know, I'm China-bashing, but only until there is true democracy can the both side of the Formosa Straight be united. Until then, there will always be China-bashing on my blog.

speed_demon

Tiananmen Square, 20 Years Later

Another series of excellent articles from NY Times, on the 20 anniversary of Tiananmen Massacre.

Cheers,

speed_demon

It's that time of the year again~

No, I'm not talking about the NBA Finals. I'm talking about the Tiananmen memorial for those brave and courageous Chinese student who voiced against a suppressive regime, as it still is today. Long live the brothers and sisters of the June 4, 1989, movement.

An interesting article from Globe & Mail.