One sentence is true: the more you learn, the more you realize how ignorant you are. I've already started researching but I began to get lost in one question: what is research? I don't have a definite answer, and found that the true research is not what I have thought of in the past 1 year. To achieve real success, I really need to learn painstakingly and figure out a specific direction worth researching. And I highly recommend CSE & ECE guys here to read the article 《由简至美的最佳论文--Best Paper Award of CVPR 2009》. This artile could tell many principles that are quite beneficial for research. Anyway, although a bit lost, I do not want to deny the interesting aspects of research itself, especially CVPR. That's why there are so many CVPR guys here. I'm very interested in this field, and would be very glad to communicate with people who share the same research interests.

In this semester I selected two courses which are respectively Stochastic Process and Machine Learning.  Stochastic Process is boring, while Machine Learning is a course quite interesting. Things studied in Machine Learning proved to be truely essential and crucial in my research. Another course that would be very intersting is the Convex Optimization, a course that I will learn in my second year. On the other hand, this course is said to be quite tough. I think it's very important to find a course useful, since the sense of usefulness often leads to the feeling of interest, which is at least true according to my experience. Looking back to my undergraduate courses, I seldom found those stuffs interesting simply because I don't know what they were teached for, especially politics courses. Thus that period became the time when I skip my courses most -- almost no attendence at some courses for the whole semester. This  is sth I would never do now XD.

BTW, I have recently started my HKUST Homepage: http://ihome.ust.hk/~zdyu. So welcome to visit my website.

Since my arrival at HK, I have learned and experienced much more. These experiences are gradually changing me, from my behaviors to my opinions towards career and society. And this process will still take place in the future, no matter where I am and what I have been through.

Just want to share some BBQ photos (taken yesterday). I have always appreciated HKUST for setting up a BBQ place at the beach for students. You can book the stove on student intranet. Everything is just so simple.

In these photos, one GG is an exchange PhD students. The other people except me are MPhil and PhD students from the same CS lab. For me, I'm a guest invited by my friend.

I'm also going to commence my MPhil from this summer in the next two years. By that time things will get much more intense compared with current student life. However, I think no matter how limited the time is, don't ever be an otaku. When feeling tired, try to go out, meet friends and get relaxed. That's surely better than just staying in dorm beside the laptop :-)

    Academic environment is also different. Many professors here have very high academic achievements. There're many IEEE Fellows here, with a lot of IEEE Trans. papers. Unlike mainland, where the univ. academic researches are project-oriented, univ. researches in HK are paper-oriented. Just several days ago, one of my course instructor was elected IEEE Fellow, which is a great honor for scholars.

    After ten years of reunity, the HK local's national identity feeling has been greatly strengthened. I get this deep impression when communicating with some locals. But on streets especially in some crowed areas such as Monkok and Hung Hom, anti-CCP signs set up by flg can be easily found. Many HK locals firmly hold this view: You must love your nation, but you don't have to love the Party.

    Things have been a little difficult for HK now, especially for the finiancial industry in HK. Many companies have declared their downsizing plans. Last year almost all MSc students have sucessfully found jobs in HK. But this year, many of my friends are worrying about job hunting situation. I wish all of them can find good posts in HK. Things will be better, because now HK enjoys the strong direct support from mainland China.

    Here're some photos    :-)

Christian on Youku 

On YouTube, there's more information:

"Many thanks to The Sunday Times (27-07-08) & TimesOnline

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news...

for covering the story and for linking to my video.

To see the whole amazing story, buy the full dvd at http://www.bornfree.org.uk/shop/acata... and help The Born Free Foundation save more wildlife.

There's also more info at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christia...

Christian left the Kora Reserve in 1973. He made his new territory along the Tana river, but when the Wakamba herdsmen kept bringing their livestock to his hunting ground, he moved on. George Adamson said in his autobiography, "I used to count the days on which we hadn't seen Christian, but when they reached 97, I gave up recording them in my diary." Because a lion can live from 12 to 15 years in the wild, Adamson believed that Christian ended his days in the Meru National Reserve only a few miles up river.

As for the two guys, the Born Free Foundation tells me that Anthony "Ace" Bourke (referred to as Ace "Berg" on YouTube) lives in Australia as a lecturer and expert in the area of Aboriginal Art, and John Rendall lives in the UK and is a Trustee of the George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust.

Anyone wishing to donate to the George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust can do so by contacting one of the following....

George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust
16a Park View Road
London
N3 2JB
UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 8343 4246
Fax: +44 (0)20 8343 4048
info@georgeadamson.org

The Tony Fitzjohn/George Adamson
African Wildlife Preservation Trust
Georgianna Pennington Regnier
116 La Patera Drive
Camarillo
CA 93010
USA
+1 805 987 0997 "

As the video says, love knows no limits and true friendships last a lifetime.

There is one who is called House. He escapes clinic hours, refuses to put on doctor uniform, insults people who are hypocritical or stupid, and even play dangerous games on patients. He's also been childish ---- dosed Wilson, refused to give up his parking slot to a disabled, and always causes Cuddy a lot of troubles.

House is a a manipulative bastard, yet an honorable bustard he remains. Despite all his nasty deeds and characters, he is the only one who dares to defy rules, pursue the truth, and always do what he regard is right. House has a favorite pet phrase ---- "Everybody lies." In the name of this sentence he may try to find out the truth by any means, even it can hurt others. That's why he got shot at the end of Season 2.

House is an idealized character, a man who's willing to confront conventions, rules, and hypocrisy. He's lucky to get good friends who can tolerate his drawbacks. His boss, Cuddy, director of Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, also the one who always plays against House. Wilson, famous oncologist and House's close friend. Foreman, Cameron and Chase, House's fellows. Cuddy may be the only one who can handle House, but she is also the only one who's willing to hire House and protect him. Wilson is the one who cares House's life. Foreman, Cameron and Chase can help triggering House's inspiration. All of them are indispensible for House's surviving in this banal and hypocritical society.

House has a gift of using mordant metaphor, which turns watching 《House》 into a process of learning the art of sarcasm. Yet these are the essential tools for House's achieving his goals. Unlike ordinary doctor's gentle suggestion. He always menaces patients by saying "You'd better... or you die." Crude, but truely effective. Here are some pieces:

Dan’s Mother: How can you just sit there?my son is going to die
House: If I eat standing up, I spill.

Foreman: Isn’t treating patients why we became doctors?
House: No, treating illnesses is why we became doctors. Treating patients is what makes most doctors miserable.

Wilson: I’m still amazed you’re in the same room as a patient.
House: People don’t bother me until they get teeth.

Wilson: You will lie, cheat and steal to get what you want, but you’re incapable of kissing a little ass?
House: Well, we all have our limitations.

(The lady's pregnant...)
House: Lift up your arms. You have a parasite.
Jill: Like a tapeworm or something?
House: Lie back and lift up your sweater.You can put your arms down.
Jill: Can you do anything about it?
House: Only for about a month or so. After that it becomes illegal to remove, except in a couple of states.
Jill: Illegal?
House: Don’t worry. Many women learn to embrace this parasite. They name it, dress it up in tiny clothes, arrange playdates with other parasites...
Jill: Playdates…
House: (showing her sonogram) It has your eyes.

Every time I watch 《House》, I can't help thinking about the philosophy and impact 《House》 has given me. It's true we can't and we will never be House. But guys, don't we need some changes?

Besides my research interests, I have many other interests during my extra curriculum time such as Anime, Movie, Military & CyberGame.  I'm warm-hearted and optimistic, always easy to make friends with others.

I remember in Cat Chen's self-introduction, he mentioned that he was the youngest. Well, I was born in 1987 so currently I will assume that I'm the youngest at the moment. Since most of you are Postgraduate or even older while I'm still an undergraduate student, I have a lot to learn from you, both knowledge and the attitude towards life. I really appreciate Ifgogo and your allowing me to be a member, for this provides a great chance for me to both share my ideas with you and learn from you. So what I want to say is: I'm really glad to be here.

New year has come and best wishes to you all. Good luck in 2008!