这部影片26日在英国开始上映，影院每晚还只放一场。结果回头到豆瓣上一看，影评都四十几条了……中国的 X 行业啊……无语了。
礼物和购物节后第二天，也就是大家所说的开包节，我看了《香水：一个谋杀犯的故事》，一部充满了魔幻色彩的电影。我感到必须在看完电影后尽快把评论写下来的原因，是因为感到这部香气浓郁的电影恐怕不能在我脑海中停留太长时间，如果我不尽快用文字的方式把它加以蒸馏提炼，恐怕它的气味便会过早地从我脑海中消失了。
最直接的印象是，这是一部充满了感官刺激的电影，从最开始婴儿躺在鱼市里的镜头就充满着强烈的对比。而在龌龊的巴黎街道之中，只有那些年轻女子们看起来是那样鲜亮耀眼，让观众也不由得和让巴蒂斯塔一样试图捕捉她们的香气。后来普罗旺斯乡间的美景，虽然让我们的男主角更加陶醉，我们却在花海之中嗅到些许不安的气息。或许是我太过敏，但紧张的情节似乎让我忘记了欣赏气味，是一个小小的遗憾。
也许是得益于对原作小说忠实而不乏创新的改编，电影中充满了18世纪法国充满魔力而又虚幻的气息，同时精致的镜头语言和准确的节奏使得观众在两个半小时里既能够欣赏纸醉金迷的幻境，也能随着让巴蒂斯塔感受他的惶恐，他的痛苦，以及他的满足和失落，难得影片能做到视觉和情感双重的极度丰富，这点上这部影片应该加分。情节上个人觉得略显突兀的，是每个角色的突然死亡，不过既然小说原作如此，大概也没有更好的处理方式。
影片中大部分演员的表演都比较到位，虽然并没有太多特别值得夸耀的段落，但每个角色都非常生动，呼之欲出。演员们都很好地发扬了欧洲影片的细节传统，念白的每一个声调，眉毛的每一次挑动，都饱含着亦幻亦真的色彩。他们真正起到了让影片血肉丰满的作用。唯一不太满意的，是 Alan Rickman 的表演，虽然大部分段落都很自然，有些场面却显得夸张而流于浅显。值得一提的是男主角的扮演者 Ben Whishaw，虽然并没有参与过很多大卡司的影片，但在许多场景中都能成功地将几乎就要爆发的剧情张力埋藏在从容冷峻的表演之中，可说是让观众从头担心到尾的“罪魁祸首”。
影片的主题，据说与小说略有差异，这里且不讨论我没有读过的小说。我想影片的主题可以归纳为一个孤独者用他的方式征服了世界，而在征服之后感到的只是更深刻的空虚和迷失。虽然是魔幻小说的主角，让巴蒂斯塔却具有现实中许多孤独者的特征：偏执，敏感，难于理解。他的嗅觉，在影片里被香水商人看作是天赋，他自己也一度这样认为，而我觉得这是对每一个孤独的心灵所特有的敏感进行的外化表现。影片的视点——由于主人公的嗅觉主导了影片的发展，所以称之为嗅点也许更合适——是那个充满了浮华香气的法国社会，其中所缺乏的，其实也是让巴蒂斯塔自小希望拥有而从来不能获得的，人与人的真爱。他用不道德的手段和生命的代价一度将爱带给了人们，但神奇的香味散去以后，孤独的人依然是孤独的，而他一度有可能获得的爱和幸福，却在他寻找这种“爱的物质”的过程中永远地消逝了。在周围的人都因为香水的作用沉醉于虚幻的“爱”之时，让巴蒂斯塔的悲怆与空虚一定更为浓烈。于是，他为自己选择了结局。这究竟是对爱的终极追求，还是一个心灰意冷的人对这个浮华的世界的终极反讽，我们不得而知。也许除了让巴蒂斯塔，只有 Laura 和那个卖果子的女孩能够回答了。让巴蒂斯塔的悲剧，是他孤身一人在只有感官刺激的世界中寻找他得不到的爱；人们的悲剧，则是明明可以爱，却往往沉醉于经过提纯的香味，而忽略了真情。
令人遗憾的是，这样一部本来应该让人细细咀嚼回味的影片，其过于浓烈的气味导致它的挥发异常迅速而不能持久。我相信如果能够阅读小说，细细体味其中的隐喻和细节，那感受一定会像传说中的第十三种香味一样，悠长而迷人。不过，影片作为先声夺人的头香，也许已经达到了它的目的。
2006年12月26日星期二
2006年12月25日星期一
2006年度总结
一、世界
对我个人而言2006年的世界似乎简单了许多，不过是一条光缆，我在这头，中国在那头；又或者是一条电话线，我在这头，家在那头。世界的其他部分都已经化成新闻报道里大同小异的词句，按着空格键一路看到底，然后不再去管。特别是正式开始 PhD 之后，只觉得信息太多，又好像不能离开它而生活，于是有些醉氧，便也没有更多的精力去谈论主义。反正布什快要下台了，伊拉克也就那样了，而英国的生活似乎从二战以后就一直没有大的变化，于是也就心安理得地只读圣贤书，偶尔上 BBS 灌水也是只管问题，不谈主义。
中东和西方的对立在这一年里愈显激烈，但在激烈的言辞和武装冲突背后，大国的博弈似乎维持了中东地区微妙的平衡。而这种平衡的代价就是两个民族要长期在猜忌中生活。
全世界在防止核扩散方面吃了个大败仗。朝鲜宣称进行了核试验。而各国一通争吵之后，竟然没有能拿出一套真正能阻止其继续发展核武器的方案。大国的利益博弈又一次产生了负帕累托效应。不管朝鲜的核试验是真是假，目前的局面决定了它可以继续发展核武。至于有限的经济制裁，并不是独裁者所要关心的事。
环境方面影响较大的负面消息，今年并不是很多，也许是因为没有开会的缘故。最近有印象的大概是白鱀豚的灭绝和企鹅数量的减少，还有某些小岛被淹没的消息。但是并没有什么关于行动的新闻。如果人们只听到负面的消息，而没有行动带来的趋势的改变，大家也许都会麻木的。
二、学术
2006年中这段时间做了硕士论文的相关工作，包括前期的调研，选题，中期的野外考察，数据分析，以及后期的整理和论文写作。具有“第一次”的意义的，主要是自己通过调查实现了选题的可操作化，并在这个过程中获得了与管理部门和其他科研单位打交道的经验（虽然还很少）；第一次完全自己设计野外计划并付诸实施；第一次使用 home brew 的模型并就其特点进行讨论（为此还学了一点 Fortran）。论文提交后比较惴惴的地方，是觉得自己对误差分析和局限性的讨论不够，而且水力学知识的匮乏使得构建于水力模型基础上的讨论显得缺乏可靠性。我的 external examiner 给了我的论文 68 分，再高一个档次就相当于期刊水平。我感激之余也需要自省并在今后注意改进。
PhD 阶段，本来的打算是找个 reputation 比目前的大学更好的学校，课题的选择放在其次。一通阴差阳错之后，还是在目前的学校，不过做的是具有“自主知识产权”的项目，所有想法都来源于自己过去的经历。虽然暂时没有经费支持，风险也比较高，但对于我今后在这条道路上的发展应该更有好处。目前遇到的，还没有太多学术上的问题，主要在于各种资源的协调管理，以及对外部社会因素的考虑，即所谓的通用能力问题。
因为课题本身的性质，需要做许多有关社会学理论和方法的研究。上了一些课，看了一些书和写了些东西之后，觉得这门学科也很有趣，而且可能和环境问题的解决有更多的联系。直接的收获是对于社会现象，感觉能更好地联系其周遭的条件进行思考并获得一些自己的看法。我也曾考虑过高中时好友“转文科”的建议，不过觉得从头学习社会学的理论又是一个浩大的工程，而且总觉得社会科学的理论缺乏一致的检验标准，一番话可以颠来倒去地说，各有各道理，不如自然科学严谨。不过，这可能仅仅是因为我对二者都不够了解罢了。也许环境问题的解决，确实需要能够把自然（生态学和生物学）与社会结合起来思考。如果真的有这种需要，我倒是很希望能够成为同时具备这两方面能力的人。
三、圈子
这一节基本可以改名叫 my presence on the net。因为对小岛上留学生圈子的排斥（没什么原因，they just smell），我目前的圈子还是以北京为根基，因而决定了我的参与方式。
对于 THMC/Braveheart ，今年我的态度经过了从怒其不争到随它去吧的改变。毕竟光从 BBS 上得不到什么全面的了解，也许他们实际上做得很好，而即使我印象中处于全面上升期的2001到2003年，在局外人看来也一定有许多问题。退一步说，时代在改变，人的心态也在改变，虽然有铁打的营盘一说，但要求协会在细节水平上保持与初创时期的一致性也许并不现实；退一万步说，即使有一天它整个蜕变为一个游山玩水的组织，也一定会有新的代表着那一股书生意气的协会来取代它，因为有激情的人在任何时代都会存在。
另一个圈子是一个也许可以称为开源社区的松散群体——它真的在中国存在吗？至少就 Linux 社区而言，国内大部分人还是在玩票，既不尊重自由／开源运动的法律和道德规范，也不知道怎样去“使用”而不是“学习”一个开源系统。我的一个直接感受是在缺乏秩序的环境下也很难有成气候的开源运动，虽然它表面上是一个乱哄哄的市集，也需要一个共同认可的规范。 *BSD 社区虽然人气远不如 Linux 社区，但整体的气氛更好，似乎也印证了其曲弥高其合弥寡这句古话。接近年底时我参与了一个翻译开源文档的运动，不知道能不能对现状的改变产生哪怕是一丁点儿的作用。
Slashdot 是一个集体化的新闻媒体的成功范例，这得益于它不拘一格的形式和成功的基于集体倾向性的评论管理系统。对我来说，唯一的问题是一个非 IT 专业的人如果成天泡在上面，未免太不务正业了一点。
四、运动
这一年基本没有什么大的 events，除了9月回国时参加了 Terry Fox 义跑。总的说来自己的运动量不如本科时，读硕士那几个月尤甚。在 PhD 阶段因为可以自己安排时间，似乎可以更多地运动一下，而且，考虑到研究课题的性质，运动也可以说是 PhD 的重要组成部分。
这一年坚持了跑步，虽然出于对公路跑的顾虑没敢再练速度，也没有太多训练量的改变，但自我感觉目前的锻炼水平应该是学业和身体之间一个比较理想的折衷，而且能够满足我今后的需要。如果以后能够进行更系统化的训练，继续跑马拉松也不是太大的问题。
一度荒废了上肢力量的锻炼，9月份深受刺激以后，目前正在迎头赶上。
五、友情
我打小看日本热血动漫长大，总对这种感情抱有非常理想主义的态度。在现实中，由于非常需要自己的空间以及对某些问题的较真（参看本人性格分析 http://www.outosky.com/9/nine05.asp?[...]&aa7=2&aa8=8&aa9=4），所以大概不容易找到朋友。有时会因此觉得比较不爽。不过，现在还称我为朋友的人，实在是具有一流的宽容心和忍耐力，向你们致敬和表示感谢！
从来想不起逢年过节给朋友寄贺卡的我，圣诞节居然也收到了几份（电子）贺卡，再度表示感谢。
六、爱情
嗯……分手和单身的时候都能唧唧歪歪一大通，现在这个状态反倒没有什么好写了。虽然我必须承认淡淡的思念是从飞到小岛以后寄出第一封信开始的，但完全没有料到老天可以这么眷顾我，竟然就这样把我们包办到一起。
我不再相信理想化的爱情，但我仍然相信爱情。
一年里能肩并肩走在一起的时间，算算居然只有一周。大多数时候，都是隔着网络聊些重复了又重复的话题。不过，就是这样平淡的对话，偶尔也有让人欣喜和幸福的瞬间。这样的瞬间第一次只是偶然，后来的则是理解和默契。
我们不止一次地设想当我们都老得嚼不动牛肉时，还可以围着冒着热气的小酒精炉，煮醪糟团子。到那时我们也许无所谓爱不爱了，一起生活只是一种习惯。但我希望那时我还能记得她给予我的：千里之外能给予的最多的关怀和无底限的信任。
七、浮生
终于结束了飘荡的生活，有一个家可以期盼；可以脚踏实地，做喜欢的事，同时又不放弃理想－不，应该说理想奔着我来了。这样的生活，虽然缺少了一些刺激的体验，也少有人能分享，但我觉得相当幸福。
尾巴
2006年相对来说是比较四平八稳的一年，虽然一直在试图适应留学生活，但都比较顺利。2007年将会有很多挑战，也会有很多收获，重要的是不要试图逃离，否则难免会失去让自己幸福和快乐的机会。
``Never run away from things, or else you will lose the opportunity to become happy in your life.''
对我个人而言2006年的世界似乎简单了许多，不过是一条光缆，我在这头，中国在那头；又或者是一条电话线，我在这头，家在那头。世界的其他部分都已经化成新闻报道里大同小异的词句，按着空格键一路看到底，然后不再去管。特别是正式开始 PhD 之后，只觉得信息太多，又好像不能离开它而生活，于是有些醉氧，便也没有更多的精力去谈论主义。反正布什快要下台了，伊拉克也就那样了，而英国的生活似乎从二战以后就一直没有大的变化，于是也就心安理得地只读圣贤书，偶尔上 BBS 灌水也是只管问题，不谈主义。
中东和西方的对立在这一年里愈显激烈，但在激烈的言辞和武装冲突背后，大国的博弈似乎维持了中东地区微妙的平衡。而这种平衡的代价就是两个民族要长期在猜忌中生活。
全世界在防止核扩散方面吃了个大败仗。朝鲜宣称进行了核试验。而各国一通争吵之后，竟然没有能拿出一套真正能阻止其继续发展核武器的方案。大国的利益博弈又一次产生了负帕累托效应。不管朝鲜的核试验是真是假，目前的局面决定了它可以继续发展核武。至于有限的经济制裁，并不是独裁者所要关心的事。
环境方面影响较大的负面消息，今年并不是很多，也许是因为没有开会的缘故。最近有印象的大概是白鱀豚的灭绝和企鹅数量的减少，还有某些小岛被淹没的消息。但是并没有什么关于行动的新闻。如果人们只听到负面的消息，而没有行动带来的趋势的改变，大家也许都会麻木的。
二、学术
2006年中这段时间做了硕士论文的相关工作，包括前期的调研，选题，中期的野外考察，数据分析，以及后期的整理和论文写作。具有“第一次”的意义的，主要是自己通过调查实现了选题的可操作化，并在这个过程中获得了与管理部门和其他科研单位打交道的经验（虽然还很少）；第一次完全自己设计野外计划并付诸实施；第一次使用 home brew 的模型并就其特点进行讨论（为此还学了一点 Fortran）。论文提交后比较惴惴的地方，是觉得自己对误差分析和局限性的讨论不够，而且水力学知识的匮乏使得构建于水力模型基础上的讨论显得缺乏可靠性。我的 external examiner 给了我的论文 68 分，再高一个档次就相当于期刊水平。我感激之余也需要自省并在今后注意改进。
PhD 阶段，本来的打算是找个 reputation 比目前的大学更好的学校，课题的选择放在其次。一通阴差阳错之后，还是在目前的学校，不过做的是具有“自主知识产权”的项目，所有想法都来源于自己过去的经历。虽然暂时没有经费支持，风险也比较高，但对于我今后在这条道路上的发展应该更有好处。目前遇到的，还没有太多学术上的问题，主要在于各种资源的协调管理，以及对外部社会因素的考虑，即所谓的通用能力问题。
因为课题本身的性质，需要做许多有关社会学理论和方法的研究。上了一些课，看了一些书和写了些东西之后，觉得这门学科也很有趣，而且可能和环境问题的解决有更多的联系。直接的收获是对于社会现象，感觉能更好地联系其周遭的条件进行思考并获得一些自己的看法。我也曾考虑过高中时好友“转文科”的建议，不过觉得从头学习社会学的理论又是一个浩大的工程，而且总觉得社会科学的理论缺乏一致的检验标准，一番话可以颠来倒去地说，各有各道理，不如自然科学严谨。不过，这可能仅仅是因为我对二者都不够了解罢了。也许环境问题的解决，确实需要能够把自然（生态学和生物学）与社会结合起来思考。如果真的有这种需要，我倒是很希望能够成为同时具备这两方面能力的人。
三、圈子
这一节基本可以改名叫 my presence on the net。因为对小岛上留学生圈子的排斥（没什么原因，they just smell），我目前的圈子还是以北京为根基，因而决定了我的参与方式。
对于 THMC/Braveheart ，今年我的态度经过了从怒其不争到随它去吧的改变。毕竟光从 BBS 上得不到什么全面的了解，也许他们实际上做得很好，而即使我印象中处于全面上升期的2001到2003年，在局外人看来也一定有许多问题。退一步说，时代在改变，人的心态也在改变，虽然有铁打的营盘一说，但要求协会在细节水平上保持与初创时期的一致性也许并不现实；退一万步说，即使有一天它整个蜕变为一个游山玩水的组织，也一定会有新的代表着那一股书生意气的协会来取代它，因为有激情的人在任何时代都会存在。
另一个圈子是一个也许可以称为开源社区的松散群体——它真的在中国存在吗？至少就 Linux 社区而言，国内大部分人还是在玩票，既不尊重自由／开源运动的法律和道德规范，也不知道怎样去“使用”而不是“学习”一个开源系统。我的一个直接感受是在缺乏秩序的环境下也很难有成气候的开源运动，虽然它表面上是一个乱哄哄的市集，也需要一个共同认可的规范。 *BSD 社区虽然人气远不如 Linux 社区，但整体的气氛更好，似乎也印证了其曲弥高其合弥寡这句古话。接近年底时我参与了一个翻译开源文档的运动，不知道能不能对现状的改变产生哪怕是一丁点儿的作用。
Slashdot 是一个集体化的新闻媒体的成功范例，这得益于它不拘一格的形式和成功的基于集体倾向性的评论管理系统。对我来说，唯一的问题是一个非 IT 专业的人如果成天泡在上面，未免太不务正业了一点。
四、运动
这一年基本没有什么大的 events，除了9月回国时参加了 Terry Fox 义跑。总的说来自己的运动量不如本科时，读硕士那几个月尤甚。在 PhD 阶段因为可以自己安排时间，似乎可以更多地运动一下，而且，考虑到研究课题的性质，运动也可以说是 PhD 的重要组成部分。
这一年坚持了跑步，虽然出于对公路跑的顾虑没敢再练速度，也没有太多训练量的改变，但自我感觉目前的锻炼水平应该是学业和身体之间一个比较理想的折衷，而且能够满足我今后的需要。如果以后能够进行更系统化的训练，继续跑马拉松也不是太大的问题。
一度荒废了上肢力量的锻炼，9月份深受刺激以后，目前正在迎头赶上。
五、友情
我打小看日本热血动漫长大，总对这种感情抱有非常理想主义的态度。在现实中，由于非常需要自己的空间以及对某些问题的较真（参看本人性格分析 http://www.outosky.com/9/nine05.asp?[...]&aa7=2&aa8=8&aa9=4），所以大概不容易找到朋友。有时会因此觉得比较不爽。不过，现在还称我为朋友的人，实在是具有一流的宽容心和忍耐力，向你们致敬和表示感谢！
从来想不起逢年过节给朋友寄贺卡的我，圣诞节居然也收到了几份（电子）贺卡，再度表示感谢。
六、爱情
嗯……分手和单身的时候都能唧唧歪歪一大通，现在这个状态反倒没有什么好写了。虽然我必须承认淡淡的思念是从飞到小岛以后寄出第一封信开始的，但完全没有料到老天可以这么眷顾我，竟然就这样把我们包办到一起。
我不再相信理想化的爱情，但我仍然相信爱情。
一年里能肩并肩走在一起的时间，算算居然只有一周。大多数时候，都是隔着网络聊些重复了又重复的话题。不过，就是这样平淡的对话，偶尔也有让人欣喜和幸福的瞬间。这样的瞬间第一次只是偶然，后来的则是理解和默契。
我们不止一次地设想当我们都老得嚼不动牛肉时，还可以围着冒着热气的小酒精炉，煮醪糟团子。到那时我们也许无所谓爱不爱了，一起生活只是一种习惯。但我希望那时我还能记得她给予我的：千里之外能给予的最多的关怀和无底限的信任。
七、浮生
终于结束了飘荡的生活，有一个家可以期盼；可以脚踏实地，做喜欢的事，同时又不放弃理想－不，应该说理想奔着我来了。这样的生活，虽然缺少了一些刺激的体验，也少有人能分享，但我觉得相当幸福。
尾巴
2006年相对来说是比较四平八稳的一年，虽然一直在试图适应留学生活，但都比较顺利。2007年将会有很多挑战，也会有很多收获，重要的是不要试图逃离，否则难免会失去让自己幸福和快乐的机会。
``Never run away from things, or else you will lose the opportunity to become happy in your life.''
-- 龍が如く
2006年12月23日星期六
Week 12: Things are evolving/emerging ...
I managed to recover from graduation, somehow. The feedback for my presentation on 13th was quite positive. But that on my environmental review piece was somewhat "uh, hmm, you know". The main issue is that I should give more details to make it really a reliable background to be put in my thesis. This means some additional writing and more searching within historical literatures.
However, I barely have any time for the revision at this moment. My main tasks are to write a policy review (basically completed, phew), a methodology review (big task, working on it), and search for potential grants/awards. The methodology review is in fact easy to write, because there are many books and articles out there. However, I am sure I will encounter problems when I am "in the field". So the best thing I can do now is to try to get more depth on this topic and perhaps think what are the potential problems of these methods.
The Xmas is coming. I do not know if I should take a break at some point though. What I am sure is that if there is a break, it cannot be as long as I planned in November.
However, I barely have any time for the revision at this moment. My main tasks are to write a policy review (basically completed, phew), a methodology review (big task, working on it), and search for potential grants/awards. The methodology review is in fact easy to write, because there are many books and articles out there. However, I am sure I will encounter problems when I am "in the field". So the best thing I can do now is to try to get more depth on this topic and perhaps think what are the potential problems of these methods.
The Xmas is coming. I do not know if I should take a break at some point though. What I am sure is that if there is a break, it cannot be as long as I planned in November.
River Dolphins Down for the Count, and Perhaps Out
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION: River Dolphins Down for the Count, and Perhaps Out -- Guo 314 (5807): 1860 -- Science
We have heard too many sad news and we are getting adapted to it. However, the lost of Baiji again proved the importance of proper environmental management and the necessity of a lobby group for endangered wildlife.
The lost of Baiji is less a ecological problem than a decision-making problem. It is a fact that Baiji is living in one of the world's busiest water channel. The pollution and traffic disturbance were severe, but these causes along cannot kill it. Similarly, fisherman given enough regulation cannot kill it. The extinction of Baiji, is in fact the result of neglect. Though listed as the country's Category I endangered wildlife, its name has not appeared on any media for too long. Nobody really cared the survival of such aquatic mammals in a China's river. As a result, no new policies concerning the conservation of Baiji has been made in recent years. Lack of policies leads to deterioration of water quality, overfishing, river congestion and finally the extinction.
Giant Panda, which has far worse adaptability of environment, has survived in population-dense Sichuan province throughout the years. The big difference is its much more extensive media coverage and powerful lobby groups (perhaps including the policy makers themselves). It can be argued that terrestrial mammals are easier to save by artificial efforts than aquatic ones, but no favourable policies has given to Baiji in the last decade or so.
If there were powerful voices about the conservation of Baiji, the story will be different. Therefore, with limited resources, the existence of lobby groups can determine the survival or extinction of certain species. But of course this does not mean with enough lobby groups everything can be conserved. Looking at the extinction of Baiji and the survival of Giant Panda, it is a serious problem all environmentalists should ask: which species should be conserved, and how?
We have heard too many sad news and we are getting adapted to it. However, the lost of Baiji again proved the importance of proper environmental management and the necessity of a lobby group for endangered wildlife.
The lost of Baiji is less a ecological problem than a decision-making problem. It is a fact that Baiji is living in one of the world's busiest water channel. The pollution and traffic disturbance were severe, but these causes along cannot kill it. Similarly, fisherman given enough regulation cannot kill it. The extinction of Baiji, is in fact the result of neglect. Though listed as the country's Category I endangered wildlife, its name has not appeared on any media for too long. Nobody really cared the survival of such aquatic mammals in a China's river. As a result, no new policies concerning the conservation of Baiji has been made in recent years. Lack of policies leads to deterioration of water quality, overfishing, river congestion and finally the extinction.
Giant Panda, which has far worse adaptability of environment, has survived in population-dense Sichuan province throughout the years. The big difference is its much more extensive media coverage and powerful lobby groups (perhaps including the policy makers themselves). It can be argued that terrestrial mammals are easier to save by artificial efforts than aquatic ones, but no favourable policies has given to Baiji in the last decade or so.
If there were powerful voices about the conservation of Baiji, the story will be different. Therefore, with limited resources, the existence of lobby groups can determine the survival or extinction of certain species. But of course this does not mean with enough lobby groups everything can be conserved. Looking at the extinction of Baiji and the survival of Giant Panda, it is a serious problem all environmentalists should ask: which species should be conserved, and how?
2006年12月21日星期四
2007电影期待榜
以下列表数据来自 imdb 的英国2007年排片表。列出的电影都是我比较感兴趣的，但不一定会去看，不看的原因一般包括：a.本地影院不放映；b.没有钱／时间；c.放映时我正在某个没有电的地方哆嗦着写我的研究进展报告。
一月
二月
三月
四月
五月
六月
七月
八月
十一月
十二月
一月
- 5日：Little Red Flowers (2006) 知道这是啥片子么？：）
- 19日：Babel (2006)
- 26日：Fountain, the (2006) 奇幻，千年恩怨
二月
- 2日：Great Expectations (1946) (re-release)
- 2日：Arthur et les Minimoys (2006)
- 16日：Casablanca (1942) (re-release) 这个时间上映，抢钱……
- 23日：Good Shepherd, the (2006) Matt Damon
三月
- 2日：Ghost Rider (2007) Nicholas Cage
- 30日：Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2007) Teenagers' movie? Nah, turtles'....
- 30日：300 (2007)
四月
- 6日：Why We Fight (2005) 反思战后美国政策
五月
- 4日：Spider Man 3 (2007) 唯一能让我看两遍的漫画改编作品！（Sin City 系列可能也可以）
六月
- 29日：Shrek 3 (2007)
七月
- 27日：Transformers (2007) 欧美版大型人形机器人电影
八月
- 3日：Bourne Ultimatum, the (2007) 三部曲最终作，绿草同学导演，品质可以期待
十一月
- 30日：Beowulf (2007) 十三勇士都可以让我满意，这部北欧神话改编作也应该值回票价
十二月
- 21日：National Treasure: The Book of Secrets (2007) Nicholas Cage
India and China in warming study
BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | India and China in warming study
This is a joint effort of two countries to study the effect of global warming on glaciers in Himalaya/Hindu Kush region. The melt of glaciers in this area is expected to bring flood to River Brahmaputra and River Sutlej in short term, and disappearance of the two rivers in a farther future.
The significance of this study is evident: it involves an area that is controlling the climate system in the southern Asia-Pacific region and a large portion of world's population. It is also the only large scale charting survey of the area in about 100 years. It can be expected that the study will provide evidence of climate change and perhaps raise people's awareness of global warming crisis. However, I cannot deduce any further meanings from the information I have. A study providing an action plan may be more suitable. This requires more information on the area's demographical and ecological data so as to identify human activities' effect on the system. My current research is not directly related to this idea but my experience from it may help me in future in similar projects.
The composition of the expedition team is not told in this story, but I hope they have ecologists and human geographers in the team as well as physical geographers.
This is a joint effort of two countries to study the effect of global warming on glaciers in Himalaya/Hindu Kush region. The melt of glaciers in this area is expected to bring flood to River Brahmaputra and River Sutlej in short term, and disappearance of the two rivers in a farther future.
The significance of this study is evident: it involves an area that is controlling the climate system in the southern Asia-Pacific region and a large portion of world's population. It is also the only large scale charting survey of the area in about 100 years. It can be expected that the study will provide evidence of climate change and perhaps raise people's awareness of global warming crisis. However, I cannot deduce any further meanings from the information I have. A study providing an action plan may be more suitable. This requires more information on the area's demographical and ecological data so as to identify human activities' effect on the system. My current research is not directly related to this idea but my experience from it may help me in future in similar projects.
The composition of the expedition team is not told in this story, but I hope they have ecologists and human geographers in the team as well as physical geographers.
2006年12月17日星期日
Week 11: Jumping around
This week I had very little time on the review. Basically it was complete, only need a few patches here and there. I had to divert much time on other non-academic issues, including visa extension and graduation. On the Presentation Wednesday I found that I did very little on methodology, though the idea of the project was still attractive.
Next phase would be filled by study of methodology and planning for fieldwork.
Next phase would be filled by study of methodology and planning for fieldwork.
2006年12月14日星期四
Feedbacks on my presentation
Today I got feedbacks on my yesterday's presentation. There are, as usual, more "ticks" than drawbacks. However, my worrying was also proved true.
Pros: nice structure and slide style (thanks to Beamer and LaTeX); good convey of project context; good delivery and efficient use of English language; good pacing; good handling of questions.
Cons: a little too short (about only half as long as allowed); methodology too vague; better consider both social and natural "resistance" (but, I was talking about "resilience"?!).
In a word, the cons mainly result from my limited effort on the methodology and planning of the project so far. I will need to consider these parts soon.
Pros: nice structure and slide style (thanks to Beamer and LaTeX); good convey of project context; good delivery and efficient use of English language; good pacing; good handling of questions.
Cons: a little too short (about only half as long as allowed); methodology too vague; better consider both social and natural "resistance" (but, I was talking about "resilience"?!).
In a word, the cons mainly result from my limited effort on the methodology and planning of the project so far. I will need to consider these parts soon.
硕士学位到手
今天终于参加了一次正式的大学毕业典礼，拿到了 Master of Science 的学位。本科时的毕业典礼因为去西藏科考没有参加，这次终于完整了一把。
早上还试图干点活，快到9点才发现典礼要求10:15前报到。赶紧把西服翻出来穿上，到学校把租用学位服需要的收据打印出来带上，赶到会场，相当及时，正好10点。
见到了一些去年的同班同学，寒暄一阵，找了自己的座位坐下。11点典礼开始，全体起立等待领导们入场就座，然后是领导讲话，不过并不冗长，还掺杂不少笑料。之后为一位 BBC 的记者颁发荣誉学位，他先前在沙特阿拉伯开银行，闲暇时拍摄 DV 给小岛上的朋友们看，后来竟一发不可收拾放弃银行家的身份从 BBC 的基层记者干起，一直做到负责 BBC 的中东安全问题报道。2004年他在伊拉克遭据称是基地组织成员的武装人员袭击，身中6枪，却奇迹般活下来，但是瘫痪了。后来他重返工作岗位，继续报道中东安全问题。他后来的讲话里说，大家不要因为新闻里的中东总是充满了暴力就认为那里很可怕，毕竟新闻总是报道与日常生活不同的东西，中东也一样有很多做好事的好人……
之后就是给社会科学、法律、经济等各系各专业的同学发学位证。念到名字的同学上台，向台上的老教授们鞠躬，然后横穿舞台，握手，下台，拿证书。之前讲话的女士说这种机会不常有，大家上台慢点走，多在台上享受一下。结果我在台上还是以 6km/h 的速度走过去了。
之后大家起立，奏英国国歌，然后目送领导们退场，最后是同学们和亲友们缓慢退场。到了外面又是拍照，寒暄。我也终于有了一张穿学位服的照片：
学位的结果是 MSc with Merit，跟预想的一样。虽然我一直是想拿 Distinction 的，但是只有两科考试上70，看来真要拿的话并不容易，除了努力还得适应英国的考试评价方式才行。
早上还试图干点活，快到9点才发现典礼要求10:15前报到。赶紧把西服翻出来穿上，到学校把租用学位服需要的收据打印出来带上，赶到会场，相当及时，正好10点。
见到了一些去年的同班同学，寒暄一阵，找了自己的座位坐下。11点典礼开始，全体起立等待领导们入场就座，然后是领导讲话，不过并不冗长，还掺杂不少笑料。之后为一位 BBC 的记者颁发荣誉学位，他先前在沙特阿拉伯开银行，闲暇时拍摄 DV 给小岛上的朋友们看，后来竟一发不可收拾放弃银行家的身份从 BBC 的基层记者干起，一直做到负责 BBC 的中东安全问题报道。2004年他在伊拉克遭据称是基地组织成员的武装人员袭击，身中6枪，却奇迹般活下来，但是瘫痪了。后来他重返工作岗位，继续报道中东安全问题。他后来的讲话里说，大家不要因为新闻里的中东总是充满了暴力就认为那里很可怕，毕竟新闻总是报道与日常生活不同的东西，中东也一样有很多做好事的好人……
之后就是给社会科学、法律、经济等各系各专业的同学发学位证。念到名字的同学上台，向台上的老教授们鞠躬，然后横穿舞台，握手，下台，拿证书。之前讲话的女士说这种机会不常有，大家上台慢点走，多在台上享受一下。结果我在台上还是以 6km/h 的速度走过去了。
之后大家起立，奏英国国歌，然后目送领导们退场，最后是同学们和亲友们缓慢退场。到了外面又是拍照，寒暄。我也终于有了一张穿学位服的照片：
学位的结果是 MSc with Merit，跟预想的一样。虽然我一直是想拿 Distinction 的，但是只有两科考试上70，看来真要拿的话并不容易，除了努力还得适应英国的考试评价方式才行。
2006年12月13日星期三
A rough day wraps up
不知道为什么，就是觉得今天很 rough。
大概因为今天做的事都是要求高度集中注意力的，而且一件接一件。先是排练 presentation 然后是 seminar，然后是 正式 presentation。我被安排到最后一个发言，结果从下午两点紧张到五点，要不是中间休息时间有机会喝口茶简直就要 faint 过去了。
排练了4遍都是10分钟以上的 presentation ，真正讲的时候居然5分钟就呼噜呼噜过了，不知道是自己语速太快还是该讲的没讲，抑或做到现在根本还是没什么东西好讲。唯一值得欣慰的是后面的 Q&A 环节还不错，自认为几个问题都回答得比较清楚。
明天又要西装革履地去参加毕业典礼。总觉得穿那么一身很搞笑，连喝水这样的动作都会因为那身皮变得很滑稽，没有办法，只好忍了，估计明天还是很 rough。
刚才老妈电话来说他们不吵架了，老爸在朋友的教育下认识到了错误，总算在这天即将结束的时候听到了一个好消息。
大概因为今天做的事都是要求高度集中注意力的，而且一件接一件。先是排练 presentation 然后是 seminar，然后是 正式 presentation。我被安排到最后一个发言，结果从下午两点紧张到五点，要不是中间休息时间有机会喝口茶简直就要 faint 过去了。
排练了4遍都是10分钟以上的 presentation ，真正讲的时候居然5分钟就呼噜呼噜过了，不知道是自己语速太快还是该讲的没讲，抑或做到现在根本还是没什么东西好讲。唯一值得欣慰的是后面的 Q&A 环节还不错，自认为几个问题都回答得比较清楚。
明天又要西装革履地去参加毕业典礼。总觉得穿那么一身很搞笑，连喝水这样的动作都会因为那身皮变得很滑稽，没有办法，只好忍了，估计明天还是很 rough。
刚才老妈电话来说他们不吵架了，老爸在朋友的教育下认识到了错误，总算在这天即将结束的时候听到了一个好消息。
2006年12月11日星期一
What are the "physical" parts in my topic?
It is not easy to do a real interdisciplinary research, especially when you are all along and have less than 3 years' time. However, I do not think a purely human geographic study would be suitable for my study, or worth a PhD. I need to attempt an approach to integration of physical geography study in social-economic studies.
A precondition to this is to find out what are the physical part in the study. For me it is something about ecology, maybe animal behaviour as well. However, it is still too wide and too vague. If I want to determine the resilience of the system, what environmental information do I need? To answer this question, I think, is to determine the physical part of my research.
Such environmental information may include environmental impacts in terms of vegetation and land cover change, hydrology, soil and nutrient; environmental responses in terms of livestock population dynamics, recovery from disasters, and so on. Rebuilding environmental history will also involve physical geography methods such as laminate and glacial sediment analysis.
How I get this physical information is another problem. It would be impractical to try to obtain detailed ecological information for every aspect of the grassland. Thus a study of which factors to consider and a scoping process are necessary before I go to the field.
A precondition to this is to find out what are the physical part in the study. For me it is something about ecology, maybe animal behaviour as well. However, it is still too wide and too vague. If I want to determine the resilience of the system, what environmental information do I need? To answer this question, I think, is to determine the physical part of my research.
Such environmental information may include environmental impacts in terms of vegetation and land cover change, hydrology, soil and nutrient; environmental responses in terms of livestock population dynamics, recovery from disasters, and so on. Rebuilding environmental history will also involve physical geography methods such as laminate and glacial sediment analysis.
How I get this physical information is another problem. It would be impractical to try to obtain detailed ecological information for every aspect of the grassland. Thus a study of which factors to consider and a scoping process are necessary before I go to the field.
2006年12月8日星期五
邹承鲁：我的科学之路
邹承鲁：我的科学之路—生命经纬
为纪念最近去世的生物化学家邹承鲁先生，这个网站发表了他的一篇旧文以示悼念。原文很长，不便直接在 blog 上转贴，摘要如下：
邹先生座右铭：你要是老想着在科学上出名，那就永远做不成一个好科学家。
深得我心。
为纪念最近去世的生物化学家邹承鲁先生，这个网站发表了他的一篇旧文以示悼念。原文很长，不便直接在 blog 上转贴，摘要如下：
- 创新思想比先进仪器更重要，有钱可以买到先进仪器，但买不到创新思想；
- 成果来源于积累。个人的积累包括养成良好的治学习惯，全身心地投入研究工作；集体的积累包括团队气氛的形成，传统的传承等等；
- 科学规范和道德问题。尤其强调了写作、发表文章、审稿、评议过程中的规范问题。
邹先生座右铭：你要是老想着在科学上出名，那就永远做不成一个好科学家。
深得我心。
2006年12月7日星期四
传统文化与伪科学何干？
个人觉得写这样的题目真是趟一滩说不清道不明的浑水，搞不好就跟方舟子一样整天忙于打假，正业反倒顾不上了。不过近日有人请愿，说为保护传统文化计，应当把“伪科学”一词删除。社会上出现这样的论争，倒也正常，问题是，谁让宋正海之流把“伪科学”与“传统文化”扯到一块儿的？
宋正海认为，“伪科学”一词含义是“伪造科技成果或剽窃他人成果”，我替这位中科院自然科学史所的研究员感到脸红。“伪科学”一词来源于 pseudoscience 的直译，在大多数英文字典里的含义都是没有科学根据而伪称具有科学根据的理论或活动。在中文翻译中，这个词的意义也没有变化，而不是像偷换概念的宋研究员说的那样是“剽窃”（plagiarise）或“伪造”（forge）科技成果的活动。
宋认为“伪科学”概念被人滥用于“打击……我国的传统文化以及扎根于传统文化深厚土壤上的挑战性的科技原创性成果和民间科学”。首先，科学是一个西方的概念，是一整套方法和理论的总称，从这个意义上来说，传统文化不是科学，也不是伪科学，而是非科学（non-science）。Nonsense 是个贬义词，non-science 却并不是。批评伪科学并不等于否认传统文化的价值，更不是把所有非科学都看作不合理的应该淘汰的东西。宋正海指责对伪科学的批评打击了传统文化，是自己把传统文化当作 pseudoscience，就好像拆了自家祠堂再诬告别人的推土机开错了地方，实在是不值一驳的论断。
而他的指控的后半句，确实大可玩味。何谓“扎根于传统文化深厚土壤上的挑战性的科技原创性成果和民间科学”？任何自称是科学的理论和实践活动必须能够经受科学共同体用西方科学体系进行的检验，最基本的一条是能够由其他科学家用可重复的实验证明，对于某些学科如药学，还要求双盲实验以排除主观影响。而目前所有这些“挑战性的科技原创性成果”，还没有哪一个能过得了这关。传统文化中确实有与科学理论抵触的观念，但科学并不阻止这类观点的讨论。问题是，研究八卦就研究八卦，为什么要把它与西方的什么 universe 啊，planet 啊之类概念联系在一起，用一些从西方科学中借来的名词来包装八卦呢？
不能否认的是，科学在中国被极大地神化和完美化了，而传统文化作为非科学在这个过程中也被拉到了科学的对立面，作为一种谬误和迷信的集合被打翻在地。这种畸形的科学教育的结果一方面是传统文化的湮灭和学生对科学的惧怕和疏远，一方面是一些为了名利不择手段的人在传统文化的尸身上割下些成色不太好的肉来，裹上现代科学的色素卖给普罗大众，全然不顾别人食物中毒的危险。对伪科学的批评针对的就是这些鼓吹“水变油”“永动机”的奸商，而不是真正意义上的传统文化。
如果听任非科学继续被披上科学的外衣，成为江湖骗子行骗的幌子，传统文化永远不可能被发扬光大。所以，“伪科学”的概念，既是为了科学的发展，也是为了传统的存续，还是有存在的必要。
宋正海认为，“伪科学”一词含义是“伪造科技成果或剽窃他人成果”，我替这位中科院自然科学史所的研究员感到脸红。“伪科学”一词来源于 pseudoscience 的直译，在大多数英文字典里的含义都是没有科学根据而伪称具有科学根据的理论或活动。在中文翻译中，这个词的意义也没有变化，而不是像偷换概念的宋研究员说的那样是“剽窃”（plagiarise）或“伪造”（forge）科技成果的活动。
宋认为“伪科学”概念被人滥用于“打击……我国的传统文化以及扎根于传统文化深厚土壤上的挑战性的科技原创性成果和民间科学”。首先，科学是一个西方的概念，是一整套方法和理论的总称，从这个意义上来说，传统文化不是科学，也不是伪科学，而是非科学（non-science）。Nonsense 是个贬义词，non-science 却并不是。批评伪科学并不等于否认传统文化的价值，更不是把所有非科学都看作不合理的应该淘汰的东西。宋正海指责对伪科学的批评打击了传统文化，是自己把传统文化当作 pseudoscience，就好像拆了自家祠堂再诬告别人的推土机开错了地方，实在是不值一驳的论断。
而他的指控的后半句，确实大可玩味。何谓“扎根于传统文化深厚土壤上的挑战性的科技原创性成果和民间科学”？任何自称是科学的理论和实践活动必须能够经受科学共同体用西方科学体系进行的检验，最基本的一条是能够由其他科学家用可重复的实验证明，对于某些学科如药学，还要求双盲实验以排除主观影响。而目前所有这些“挑战性的科技原创性成果”，还没有哪一个能过得了这关。传统文化中确实有与科学理论抵触的观念，但科学并不阻止这类观点的讨论。问题是，研究八卦就研究八卦，为什么要把它与西方的什么 universe 啊，planet 啊之类概念联系在一起，用一些从西方科学中借来的名词来包装八卦呢？
不能否认的是，科学在中国被极大地神化和完美化了，而传统文化作为非科学在这个过程中也被拉到了科学的对立面，作为一种谬误和迷信的集合被打翻在地。这种畸形的科学教育的结果一方面是传统文化的湮灭和学生对科学的惧怕和疏远，一方面是一些为了名利不择手段的人在传统文化的尸身上割下些成色不太好的肉来，裹上现代科学的色素卖给普罗大众，全然不顾别人食物中毒的危险。对伪科学的批评针对的就是这些鼓吹“水变油”“永动机”的奸商，而不是真正意义上的传统文化。
如果听任非科学继续被披上科学的外衣，成为江湖骗子行骗的幌子，传统文化永远不可能被发扬光大。所以，“伪科学”的概念，既是为了科学的发展，也是为了传统的存续，还是有存在的必要。
2006年12月4日星期一
Planning for the next year
Just some ideas my supervisor come up when I asked her about time factors of my fieldwork.
Considering I am going to have 1 summer and 2 winter visits to the area, I need to take action early next year. After Christmas my review will shift focus from background to methodology. Then in March or April I will do a "reconnaissance" visit, mainly for establishing contact and know the field better. In July and August I will do the summer fieldwork. This would mean I will write my proposals and 1st year report in the field in very traditional ways -- pen and paper. On the other hand, this means I will need to determine a range of things such as site choosing, logistic, interview projects, hypothesis design and contacting officials and NGOs. I will set out to do this after my other supervisor agree with this, hopefully before Christmas.
Considering I am going to have 1 summer and 2 winter visits to the area, I need to take action early next year. After Christmas my review will shift focus from background to methodology. Then in March or April I will do a "reconnaissance" visit, mainly for establishing contact and know the field better. In July and August I will do the summer fieldwork. This would mean I will write my proposals and 1st year report in the field in very traditional ways -- pen and paper. On the other hand, this means I will need to determine a range of things such as site choosing, logistic, interview projects, hypothesis design and contacting officials and NGOs. I will set out to do this after my other supervisor agree with this, hopefully before Christmas.
A writing technique
This is what today's training course is mainly about: 5 minutes' free writing for every day. To do this you do not need any outline or detailed plan, just a topic for each day's writing. The idea is to write non-stoply for 5 minutes without considering spelling, grammar or even if the sentences are saying anything meaningful. Just write anything you think of the topic at the moment in your mind.
I find this kind of writing a bit demanding at first, because you have to think about one particular topic and sentences for 5 minutes. But in this 5 minutes I identified some ideas that I would not come up with otherwise, as well as knowledge that I did not know myself know. In this sense free writing is useful to tell what we already know when we get stuck in writing an essay. Another commonly used tools such as mind maps can tell us the gaps in our knowledge. Therefore I think it would be very useful if we can combine these two techniques and use them iteratively when writing.
I find this kind of writing a bit demanding at first, because you have to think about one particular topic and sentences for 5 minutes. But in this 5 minutes I identified some ideas that I would not come up with otherwise, as well as knowledge that I did not know myself know. In this sense free writing is useful to tell what we already know when we get stuck in writing an essay. Another commonly used tools such as mind maps can tell us the gaps in our knowledge. Therefore I think it would be very useful if we can combine these two techniques and use them iteratively when writing.
2006年12月2日星期六
Week 10: Wading in the swamp of history
This week's theme seems not appealing to me. Almost all western researchers are blahing the seizure of Tibet but almost none of them deal seriously with the history in the feudal age of Tibet. One particular interesting question is the origin of the Tibetan nomadism -- whether it is evolved from sedentary agriculture populations in the south of Tibet or from other nomads in Central Asia?
I have a lot to talk to my supervisor so I am expecting a lengthened meeting on Monday. Hope my busy supervisors do not get away after the first hour.
I have a lot to talk to my supervisor so I am expecting a lengthened meeting on Monday. Hope my busy supervisors do not get away after the first hour.
2006年11月30日星期四
Thursday anti-soc syndrome
谈什么 CSSA，谈什么手机 plan，谈什么折扣机票，谈什么零时区，谈什么同乡联谊，谈什么 body shop，谈什么春节假期，谈什么华人学生，谈什么 DHPA，谈什么工作许可，我憎恨你们，对，我憎恨你们。
去他的火锅店，去他的 QQ，去他的猫扑，去他的申根签证，去他的开阔眼界，去他的摇滚，去他的古典，去他的登喜路，去他的 Land Rover，去他的音乐剧，去他的临湖别墅，去他的商学硕士，去他的风雅，去他的成功人士，去他的社交，去他的中产阶级，去他的北京小户型，去他的 Master Card，I don't give a sh*t, no, never give a sh*t.
忘记薯片，记住带泥的土豆；忘记怎么写套磁信，记住跟收银员说再见；忘记柏林爱乐乐团，记住命运的咽喉；忘记威士忌，记住关紧水龙头；忘记空调，记住穿长袖T恤；忘记中国餐馆，记住放辣椒；忘记学校排名，记住-37；忘记体面，记住尊严；忘记套考试题，记住复习；忘记高声谈笑，记住口齿清晰；忘记 Big Ben，记住带手表；忘记学位，记住阿伏加德罗常数；忘记我的母语，记住我是中国人。
不要欧陆风情，不要一帆风顺，不要少年得志，不要左右逢源；不要十八洞果岭，不要金装龙虎斗，不要领导人接见，不要健身房年卡；不要教授职称，不要影响因子，不要文章数，不要第一作者。不要告诉我什么是成功，不要告诉我什么是地位，不要告诉我一定要留北京，不要告诉我没有钱会怎样怎样，不要定义我的生活，不要以为我和你们一样。
为 Tyler Durden，高更和本雅明三欢呼！
去他的火锅店，去他的 QQ，去他的猫扑，去他的申根签证，去他的开阔眼界，去他的摇滚，去他的古典，去他的登喜路，去他的 Land Rover，去他的音乐剧，去他的临湖别墅，去他的商学硕士，去他的风雅，去他的成功人士，去他的社交，去他的中产阶级，去他的北京小户型，去他的 Master Card，I don't give a sh*t, no, never give a sh*t.
忘记薯片，记住带泥的土豆；忘记怎么写套磁信，记住跟收银员说再见；忘记柏林爱乐乐团，记住命运的咽喉；忘记威士忌，记住关紧水龙头；忘记空调，记住穿长袖T恤；忘记中国餐馆，记住放辣椒；忘记学校排名，记住-37；忘记体面，记住尊严；忘记套考试题，记住复习；忘记高声谈笑，记住口齿清晰；忘记 Big Ben，记住带手表；忘记学位，记住阿伏加德罗常数；忘记我的母语，记住我是中国人。
不要欧陆风情，不要一帆风顺，不要少年得志，不要左右逢源；不要十八洞果岭，不要金装龙虎斗，不要领导人接见，不要健身房年卡；不要教授职称，不要影响因子，不要文章数，不要第一作者。不要告诉我什么是成功，不要告诉我什么是地位，不要告诉我一定要留北京，不要告诉我没有钱会怎样怎样，不要定义我的生活，不要以为我和你们一样。
为 Tyler Durden，高更和本雅明三欢呼！
2006年11月29日星期三
SCI-BYTES: Science in China, 2001-05
SCI-BYTES: Science in China, 2001-05
当我们陶醉于世界第六的 GDP 时，再看看这组数据头脑就会清醒不少。中国未来的发展一个严重的问题就是缺乏占领先地位的基础研究，无论理科工科还是社会科学都是如此。数控机床、分析仪器、电子元器件等等都是国内的弱项，而其他战略意义不太明显的学科也都在世界平均水平以下。这意味着中国在很长一段时间内只能依靠来料加工和劳动密集型出口来实现资本的积累，而几乎没有什么产品的核心技术是属于中国的。这样的积累过程极其缓慢而脆弱，谁会等我们？
革命尚未成功，以此自勉。
当我们陶醉于世界第六的 GDP 时，再看看这组数据头脑就会清醒不少。中国未来的发展一个严重的问题就是缺乏占领先地位的基础研究，无论理科工科还是社会科学都是如此。数控机床、分析仪器、电子元器件等等都是国内的弱项，而其他战略意义不太明显的学科也都在世界平均水平以下。这意味着中国在很长一段时间内只能依靠来料加工和劳动密集型出口来实现资本的积累，而几乎没有什么产品的核心技术是属于中国的。这样的积累过程极其缓慢而脆弱，谁会等我们？
革命尚未成功，以此自勉。
2006年11月28日星期二
大问题……
刚把选修课的作业写完，溜到 snowytee 的个人文集上看了看，原来我和她居然也是有一样的着急的事。很快这一年就要过去，我也是将要到法定婚龄的人了。过了近1/4世纪，现在还是不知道自己的位置在哪里，在三十岁以前要如何如何。
工作对于学环境的人来说是个不小的问题，而对于我这样学到读博士突然发现这是一门社会科学的人来说就更是个大问题。目前看最有可能的就是继续在象牙塔里呆下去，但是不知道我这个博士论文的题目能不能帮我在理想的大学谋一个职位。至于其他的工作，目前信息都太少，但又不能不考虑。
不管怎么说，博士学位意味着在行业中的专家地位和相当的学术能力。也许这个学位不能让我得到大量的财富，甚至不能得到一份在旁人看来舒适优越的工作，但是我相信它最终一定可以给我相应的收获。抛开个人的得失不谈，我所要做的也必须有人去做。
工作对于学环境的人来说是个不小的问题，而对于我这样学到读博士突然发现这是一门社会科学的人来说就更是个大问题。目前看最有可能的就是继续在象牙塔里呆下去，但是不知道我这个博士论文的题目能不能帮我在理想的大学谋一个职位。至于其他的工作，目前信息都太少，但又不能不考虑。
不管怎么说，博士学位意味着在行业中的专家地位和相当的学术能力。也许这个学位不能让我得到大量的财富，甚至不能得到一份在旁人看来舒适优越的工作，但是我相信它最终一定可以给我相应的收获。抛开个人的得失不谈，我所要做的也必须有人去做。
2006年11月25日星期六
Week 9: Stop and get myself together
After handing in my review to my supervisor, I suddenly feel very tired. So tired that I virtually did nothing on this Friday, nor today. I think it is time now to look back and see what I have done in the past weeks.
The first review is good in that it covers many essential aspects, though not necessarily deep. Based on that, the second review on environment tries to find more about ecosystem components and their interactions. However, I find literature I read all focusing on certain topics: Holocene climate, alpine steppe, etc. Apparently a comprehensive review of Tibetan nature is still absent.
The Second review thus cannot be considered as good enough, though I myself cannot easily tell what is wrong. Perhaps I should return to it from time to time and write down what is relevant to my research area. The next review would be on Tibetan history, especially pastoral history. It would not be as easy as writing a chronology because there will be contrast of ideas, even ideologies.
During my searching I find that many people in academic world criticise transforming nomadism to sedentary pastoralism. Then what is the originality of my research? Perhaps a different geographical setting? Or perhaps I can reach a conclusion rather different? Maybe it will be original in a way that I do not expect.
The first review is good in that it covers many essential aspects, though not necessarily deep. Based on that, the second review on environment tries to find more about ecosystem components and their interactions. However, I find literature I read all focusing on certain topics: Holocene climate, alpine steppe, etc. Apparently a comprehensive review of Tibetan nature is still absent.
The Second review thus cannot be considered as good enough, though I myself cannot easily tell what is wrong. Perhaps I should return to it from time to time and write down what is relevant to my research area. The next review would be on Tibetan history, especially pastoral history. It would not be as easy as writing a chronology because there will be contrast of ideas, even ideologies.
During my searching I find that many people in academic world criticise transforming nomadism to sedentary pastoralism. Then what is the originality of my research? Perhaps a different geographical setting? Or perhaps I can reach a conclusion rather different? Maybe it will be original in a way that I do not expect.
2006年11月21日星期二
Bourdieu's symbolic capital in the context of mass media
At today's seminar we had a discussion on Pierre Bourdieu's work exploring classification, taste, and disgust. Bourdieu claimed that aside from economic capital -- capital in the traditional expression -- there are also social capital, cultural capital, and symbolic capital, which is the symbolic appearance of the three capitals above. I think symbolic capital is especially interesting because it is somewhat different from other capitals as it is purely externally determined, while others are accumulated by agencies (people) in the society and assessed by certain social structure.
Symbolic capital, in my opinion, is how people evaluate one's economic, social and cultural status, or capital, in the society. It is the means by which social class is determined and agreed, and the source of people's emotion towards classes, such as admiration, jealousy, and disgust. It has been noticed by some authors that symbolic capital does not necessarily have a material basis, nor its evaluation follow any fixed rule. It can be the product of merely impression, even imagination.
Therefore I wondered, whether recognition of classes in the 19th Century and earlier centuries is different from that in the 20th Century, which is an era characterised by mass media. From observation it is apparent that mass media defines the taste of certain people and products -- e.g. Häagen-Dazs ice creams for middle class young couples in China. I think surely it has something to do with people's imagination of classes -- and their attitude towards those classes.
While in 19th Century the symbol of one's capitals are formed through gossips in saloons, today's symbolic capital maybe more and more determined by how mass media, especially TV, portrait the characteristics of certain classes. An interest twist added to this, is that mass media themselves are symbols of taste and class. We often consider one who pays attention to CNN and Financial Times as a successful professional and those who watch sports channel and read tabloids lower class people. In this sense, mass media not only provided definition of class and taste, but also become part of the social structure that form classes and tastes.
I do not know if Bourdieu mentioned this in his masterpiece "Distinction", but I am really fascinated by this interaction between mass media and social classification.
Symbolic capital, in my opinion, is how people evaluate one's economic, social and cultural status, or capital, in the society. It is the means by which social class is determined and agreed, and the source of people's emotion towards classes, such as admiration, jealousy, and disgust. It has been noticed by some authors that symbolic capital does not necessarily have a material basis, nor its evaluation follow any fixed rule. It can be the product of merely impression, even imagination.
Therefore I wondered, whether recognition of classes in the 19th Century and earlier centuries is different from that in the 20th Century, which is an era characterised by mass media. From observation it is apparent that mass media defines the taste of certain people and products -- e.g. Häagen-Dazs ice creams for middle class young couples in China. I think surely it has something to do with people's imagination of classes -- and their attitude towards those classes.
While in 19th Century the symbol of one's capitals are formed through gossips in saloons, today's symbolic capital maybe more and more determined by how mass media, especially TV, portrait the characteristics of certain classes. An interest twist added to this, is that mass media themselves are symbols of taste and class. We often consider one who pays attention to CNN and Financial Times as a successful professional and those who watch sports channel and read tabloids lower class people. In this sense, mass media not only provided definition of class and taste, but also become part of the social structure that form classes and tastes.
I do not know if Bourdieu mentioned this in his masterpiece "Distinction", but I am really fascinated by this interaction between mass media and social classification.
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Six imams ejected from US flight
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Six imams ejected from US flight
发生在美国的又一起可笑的航班拒载事件。受害者仍然是穆斯林。布什的反恐政策制造了国家监视系统，全国性的恐慌和种族偏见，却没有抓到一个真正的恐怖分子。真正的极端分子可以偷笑了，他们不费一枪一弹就在5年里打垮了美国标榜在星条旗上的正义勇气和纯净。
在美国的大多数机场穆斯林或看来像穆斯林的人现在都是不受欢迎的人，任何“可疑”的行动都可能招致无端的怀疑和禁飞的不公正待遇。如果这种种族偏见继续扩张到社会的其他部分，那么信回教的人在这个国家的生活将不会比上世纪30年代德国的犹太人更好。随之而来的将是仇恨和冲突。西方社会对伊斯兰社会和人民长期的妖魔化必然带来难以下咽的苦果。而现在，西方后殖民主义社会标榜的多元化和文化宽容的信条已经受到了来自传统社会本身的威胁。
西方社会也许需要一个能够反省其对外政策并承认伊斯兰社会价值观的美国，而伊斯兰社会也需要让世界更了解自身，但不强求他人接受其宗教诉求。这样文明的冲突才有可能避免。但目前的现实是无论西方还是伊斯兰社会都无法在态度上急转弯，或者是长期的路径依赖使它们不愿改变现有的姿态。
发生在美国的又一起可笑的航班拒载事件。受害者仍然是穆斯林。布什的反恐政策制造了国家监视系统，全国性的恐慌和种族偏见，却没有抓到一个真正的恐怖分子。真正的极端分子可以偷笑了，他们不费一枪一弹就在5年里打垮了美国标榜在星条旗上的正义勇气和纯净。
在美国的大多数机场穆斯林或看来像穆斯林的人现在都是不受欢迎的人，任何“可疑”的行动都可能招致无端的怀疑和禁飞的不公正待遇。如果这种种族偏见继续扩张到社会的其他部分，那么信回教的人在这个国家的生活将不会比上世纪30年代德国的犹太人更好。随之而来的将是仇恨和冲突。西方社会对伊斯兰社会和人民长期的妖魔化必然带来难以下咽的苦果。而现在，西方后殖民主义社会标榜的多元化和文化宽容的信条已经受到了来自传统社会本身的威胁。
西方社会也许需要一个能够反省其对外政策并承认伊斯兰社会价值观的美国，而伊斯兰社会也需要让世界更了解自身，但不强求他人接受其宗教诉求。这样文明的冲突才有可能避免。但目前的现实是无论西方还是伊斯兰社会都无法在态度上急转弯，或者是长期的路径依赖使它们不愿改变现有的姿态。
2006年11月18日星期六
室内锻炼计划再启动……
很久没有练上肢力量了。今天到 Argos 买了这个杠子以后才发现安装是需要在门上钻孔的。学校大概不会允许我这样大兴土木。不过好在这套东西里还有用来做俯卧撑的器具，加上以前买的两个绳套后就组合成了这个简易单杠。实验了一下，还是比较结实的。这样就可以在室内练习引体向上了，而且腿因为窗台的缘故不能晃，估计锻炼效果会不错。
Week 8: Cross roads
The review on Tibetan environment is close to finish. The climate section is the most detailed. The other are less so. Given the availability of today's literatures on Tibet biomes and geology, I believe to write a more detailed version for the other parts will cost much more time than the current one. Another problem is that considerable amount of data are only accessible from China.
I surely have more literature reviews to do in next weeks. However, I also realised that it may be the time I began preparation for the fieldwork. Some work may take longer than I expect, so an early start would be better. I have not talked about this with my supervisors, but I think they will agree with me on this.
During the study of Tibetan ecology I find the system more complicated than I previously estimated. The dynamics of pikas is complicated enough. This may add some difficulties to future research, considering it is basically blank in ecological research in Tibet.
I surely have more literature reviews to do in next weeks. However, I also realised that it may be the time I began preparation for the fieldwork. Some work may take longer than I expect, so an early start would be better. I have not talked about this with my supervisors, but I think they will agree with me on this.
During the study of Tibetan ecology I find the system more complicated than I previously estimated. The dynamics of pikas is complicated enough. This may add some difficulties to future research, considering it is basically blank in ecological research in Tibet.
2006年11月16日星期四
BBC NEWS | UK | World Cup site threat to swallows
BBC NEWS | UK | World Cup site threat to swallows
This is an interesting environmental management case. It is special in that it involves international affairs. Bird migration may be the link of friendship between countries -- as well as of disputes. In my memory there is no international law regulating bird conservation. Swallows are not rare or endangered species (yet). The question now is, should South African pay the bill for the conservation of a bird which is liked by Britons?
In South Africa Environmental Impact Assessment is mandatory for almost every construction project[1]. Why EIA did not address such a threat to over 3 million swallows currently nested in the future site of World Cup matches? My guess is that the public did not consider the swallows important; the local authority would not pay for "British swallows" either. Apparently there is no pressure group claiming the interest of swallows. When choosing site for such project, it is the competition of interest groups determining the final choice.
Now there is RSPB standing out for the interest of swallows (perhaps Briton's as well). How much weight can they put on the South African official's decision? I noticed that South Africa is one of the 53 Commonwealth countries. Does this organisation play its role on environmental issues? Maybe time can tell.
(Strange, RSPB has not put out this issue on their website when I write this post.)
[1] Environmental Impact Assessment in Thailand, South Africa, Malaysia and Denmark: working report. http://www.ruc.dk/upload/application/pdf/9c4d310e/workingpaper1.pdf
This is an interesting environmental management case. It is special in that it involves international affairs. Bird migration may be the link of friendship between countries -- as well as of disputes. In my memory there is no international law regulating bird conservation. Swallows are not rare or endangered species (yet). The question now is, should South African pay the bill for the conservation of a bird which is liked by Britons?
In South Africa Environmental Impact Assessment is mandatory for almost every construction project[1]. Why EIA did not address such a threat to over 3 million swallows currently nested in the future site of World Cup matches? My guess is that the public did not consider the swallows important; the local authority would not pay for "British swallows" either. Apparently there is no pressure group claiming the interest of swallows. When choosing site for such project, it is the competition of interest groups determining the final choice.
Now there is RSPB standing out for the interest of swallows (perhaps Briton's as well). How much weight can they put on the South African official's decision? I noticed that South Africa is one of the 53 Commonwealth countries. Does this organisation play its role on environmental issues? Maybe time can tell.
(Strange, RSPB has not put out this issue on their website when I write this post.)
[1] Environmental Impact Assessment in Thailand, South Africa, Malaysia and Denmark: working report. http://www.ruc.dk/upload/application/pdf/9c4d310e/workingpaper1.pdf
2006年11月14日星期二
More fieldwork?
This noon when I was having my lunch on the bench outside the school building, I tried to go through my research plan again, then I realised that I need data on two seasons for two types of pastoralists. Thus I may need to go to the field as early as in summer 2007, then I will have time and experience to do a fieldwork in winter 2007. If there is not one in summer 2007, I will have to wait until summer 2008 considering the winter climate and lack of experience, and surely will have to spend some time in Tibet in 2009 when I should be writing up my thesis.
On one side this is a good opportunity for me to reunite Amy, on the other side it could mean a lot of preparation and hassle of learning sociology methods, contacting central and local officials/academics, and maybe studying/borrowing devices. All seems still too sudden so I will need to talk to my supervisors about this idea. However, I think it is time to do some networking at this moment. It is never too early.
If I can make this trip, I cannot tell what the outcome is at present. I will make a more detailed plan if my supervisors give me a green.
On one side this is a good opportunity for me to reunite Amy, on the other side it could mean a lot of preparation and hassle of learning sociology methods, contacting central and local officials/academics, and maybe studying/borrowing devices. All seems still too sudden so I will need to talk to my supervisors about this idea. However, I think it is time to do some networking at this moment. It is never too early.
If I can make this trip, I cannot tell what the outcome is at present. I will make a more detailed plan if my supervisors give me a green.
2006年11月11日星期六
Week 7: Exploring new territory
This week I basically finished the review on climate, and move on to review geology, soil and other aspects of Tibetan environment. These are really new to me. And I find it really hard to be critical for such a new field I know so little about.
Another problem is that very few articles discuss the current environment in Tibet, which is more important to me. Most focus on Holocene uplift and climate. Next week I will turn my attention to biodiversity and ecosystems in Tibet. Hopefully there will be more current issues.
Another problem is that very few articles discuss the current environment in Tibet, which is more important to me. Most focus on Holocene uplift and climate. Next week I will turn my attention to biodiversity and ecosystems in Tibet. Hopefully there will be more current issues.
2006年11月10日星期五
A better method to value ecological services?
This is a lecture given by James Boyd, a economist from Washington D.C. He argues that present means in which the value of ecosystem services are measured is too complicated(, partly by ecologists who want to address many issues at one time). His idea is to only calculate the "final" goods provided by ecosystem, the inputs, or intermediate goods to produce the final goods are ignored in the calculation. Then we can determine the quantity of the goods. The qualities of the goods are measured by a weighting system, depending on how people concerned evaluate such qualities. The product of goods quantity and quality (weight) is the value of the given ecological service.
I find the weighting system particularly interesting. On the one hand, it is reductionist approach, and may bring some environmental justice problem, but James said this tool is not concerning environmental justice -- there should be other people/tool to deal with them; on the other hand, I think the sum of weight is pre-determined by some total amount, such as the size of population, thus weighting means dealing with tradeoff and exclusive choices. Now imagine ecosystem services A and B. They have different weights but in one system they enhance each other and are inputs of each other. What if a group of people want A sacrificing B and another think the other way round? How do we measure the relative importance of A and B here? James' explanation is that ecologists should let the decision makers know there is such implication and tradeoff exist, and such tradeoff can be considered by the policy makers. In my opinion, I think the mutual enhancement of A and B can be represented using some kind of matrix algebra, though this will surely increase the complexity and compromise the merit of James' approach.
I find the weighting system particularly interesting. On the one hand, it is reductionist approach, and may bring some environmental justice problem, but James said this tool is not concerning environmental justice -- there should be other people/tool to deal with them; on the other hand, I think the sum of weight is pre-determined by some total amount, such as the size of population, thus weighting means dealing with tradeoff and exclusive choices. Now imagine ecosystem services A and B. They have different weights but in one system they enhance each other and are inputs of each other. What if a group of people want A sacrificing B and another think the other way round? How do we measure the relative importance of A and B here? James' explanation is that ecologists should let the decision makers know there is such implication and tradeoff exist, and such tradeoff can be considered by the policy makers. In my opinion, I think the mutual enhancement of A and B can be represented using some kind of matrix algebra, though this will surely increase the complexity and compromise the merit of James' approach.
Using Carrying Capacity to manage rangelands -- Right or wrong?
Carrying capacity was completely a Western concept in rangeland management based on economic measurement of grass productivity and consumption of livestock. As the Western management system was introduced to China, this concept is also prevailing in China's decision-makers' mind. However, some argue it is not the appropriate approach to determine rangeland management policy in Tibet, because the natural disasters there require pastoralists to maintain mobility and increase the size of the herd whenever possible. A settled range and given carrying capacity will leave the pastoralists vulnerable to natural disasters.
Even so, carrying capacity approach is employed in many places over Northern China. Past records also show that Tibetan nomads use a similar system to regulate the number of sheep and yak. But I am against using Carrying Capacity simply on Tibet's pastures. In the past pastures are allocated every a few years, and the number of livestock is dynamically determined. Western Carrying Capacity is based on industrialised management of rangeland, so presumably the rangeland will keep the productivity in a longer term. Today's pastures in Tibet do not have either of these conditions. Natural disasters or mismanagement may change the conditions of the pasture so they cannot maintain their productivity. Thus it may not prevent degradation from overstocking.
Even so, carrying capacity approach is employed in many places over Northern China. Past records also show that Tibetan nomads use a similar system to regulate the number of sheep and yak. But I am against using Carrying Capacity simply on Tibet's pastures. In the past pastures are allocated every a few years, and the number of livestock is dynamically determined. Western Carrying Capacity is based on industrialised management of rangeland, so presumably the rangeland will keep the productivity in a longer term. Today's pastures in Tibet do not have either of these conditions. Natural disasters or mismanagement may change the conditions of the pasture so they cannot maintain their productivity. Thus it may not prevent degradation from overstocking.
2006年11月9日星期四
Castaway
大概是因为疲劳。今天在办公室干活的时候，突然觉得很孤独。不知道可以跟谁说话，不知道想跟谁说话，好像没有人会关心我存在或不存在，我就这样一个人在一个陌生的没有人会跟自己说话的国度，活着。
这是一种很痛苦的体验。另一方面，我又似乎在劝说自己接受甚至享受这种孤独。一切似乎都是自己的选择。在朋友当中，只能跟少数人亲密无间，跟其他的人都保持着一些距离，没有什么事的话，平时是绝对不愿多说一句话的，大家都忙吧，不好意思让他们听我唧唧歪歪。而到了小岛上，结交新朋友的能力退化为0——实际上，我不知道自己可曾具有过这种能力。
就连上网逛个论坛吧，里面的人也只能让我有两种反应，要不敬而远之，要不就是懒得打字骂他们。我不由得怀疑自己的 taste 和 style，为什么就这么高不成低不就？
（因为心情不佳，对文盲的态度不好，这里深刻检讨，人家跟了我一点也不容易啊。）
大概我对朋友的要求也很完美主义，而且又不肯放下自己的那套所谓原则，更不愿冒着暴露自己性格爱好和浪费时间交不了活的风险跟人多说两句话，结果现在果然事实上流落荒岛了，连个排球也没有，活该。
以上不是反省，只是发泄。那些平常跟我只谈正事，在 MSN 上挂了几个月连句话也没有的，也别看见这个就来安慰我，我自己去看心理医生就好。
哼。
2006年11月5日星期日
BBC NEWS | UK | Britain is 'surveillance society'
BBC NEWS | UK | Britain is 'surveillance society'
Thanks to /. which reminds me of this cruel fact: that I may have about 300 appearances on CCTV cameras per day. UK is among the countries with most surveillance and privacy worst protected. What is worse is that my keystrokes during working may well be recorded. I would not blame my university without evidence but the fact that I am using pre-installed Windoze system on that machine is somewhat worrying.
This does not mean the US becomes a more lovely country. It is not and never has been. As the surveillance in the US is implemented by multiple agencies it can be more complicated and more powerful. What is sure is that people are being terrorised so they accept total control anyway.
Thanks to /. which reminds me of this cruel fact: that I may have about 300 appearances on CCTV cameras per day. UK is among the countries with most surveillance and privacy worst protected. What is worse is that my keystrokes during working may well be recorded. I would not blame my university without evidence but the fact that I am using pre-installed Windoze system on that machine is somewhat worrying.
This does not mean the US becomes a more lovely country. It is not and never has been. As the surveillance in the US is implemented by multiple agencies it can be more complicated and more powerful. What is sure is that people are being terrorised so they accept total control anyway.
- Remember, remember, the 5th of November
- The Gunpowder Treason and plot;
- I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
- Should ever be forgot.
2006年11月4日星期六
Ok, see who's the evil axis now...
27B Stroke 6: What's your terror score?
美国可能过去是个民主国家，将来也可能还是个民主国家，但是至少目前，在小布什和共和党右翼的统治下它不是。
这条新法案最可怕之处还不在于一个管理公民信息的庞大数据库，毕竟信用公司也有类似的东西，只是规模和覆盖面不同。它真正过分的地方在于，其一，你不知道它储存了什么样的数据；其二，你不知道哪些数据可能对你不利；其三，你无法起诉它不正当地使用了你的数据。现在这条法案可以绕过 Privacy Act，很显然今后的大规模国家监视系统也可以利用类似的方法绕过去——只要系统的数据采集、分析和提取使用在系统建成后没有人工干预即可。
从移民入境按指纹，到所谓的爱国者法案，再到这个恐怖分子评分系统，安全部门的触角已经太深地探入普通人的生活。美国的立法部门制定了一系列的法律确保这些以国家安全的名义进行的监视和歧视行为的合法性，却没有相应地制定新的能够保证权力不被滥用于损害公民基本权利的法律。与恐怖分子的行为比较，政府行为对普通人生活的损害实际上更大。每个人都生活在 FUD 中，其实也许这才是恐怖主义的目的。
信用公司的数据库充其量只能督促你尽快偿还信用卡上的债务，而许多人可以没有信用卡；而这个数据库的存在要求每个美国公民都要以白人基督教徒／天主教徒的方式生活，你不知道跟你的穆斯林邻居谈话会不会给你的“恐怖分子指数”加分，也不知道如果连续一个月在超市只买牛肉会不会引起 FBI 的怀疑。因为每个人都不知道到底什么样的行为是“类似恐怖分子”的，为了不自找麻烦，每个人就只有自我审查自己的一言一行。EngSoc 即将在美国实现了。
现在总算还可以庆幸自己当初懒得考 G，没去美国。不然我这样不吃猪肉，不信圣经，来自祖国大陆还在硬盘上存着巴勒斯坦人权组织拍的纪录片的人分数肯定低不了。但是，英国跟美国的亲密关系和它在 7.7 之后的态度也够让人失望了。从这个意义上说，V for Vendetta 也许不仅仅是漫画，也是1984式的政治寓言，遗憾的是改编的电影在我看来还是太软弱和肤浅，不足以体现 EngSoc 和 Bushism 的邪恶。
美国可能过去是个民主国家，将来也可能还是个民主国家，但是至少目前，在小布什和共和党右翼的统治下它不是。
这条新法案最可怕之处还不在于一个管理公民信息的庞大数据库，毕竟信用公司也有类似的东西，只是规模和覆盖面不同。它真正过分的地方在于，其一，你不知道它储存了什么样的数据；其二，你不知道哪些数据可能对你不利；其三，你无法起诉它不正当地使用了你的数据。现在这条法案可以绕过 Privacy Act，很显然今后的大规模国家监视系统也可以利用类似的方法绕过去——只要系统的数据采集、分析和提取使用在系统建成后没有人工干预即可。
从移民入境按指纹，到所谓的爱国者法案，再到这个恐怖分子评分系统，安全部门的触角已经太深地探入普通人的生活。美国的立法部门制定了一系列的法律确保这些以国家安全的名义进行的监视和歧视行为的合法性，却没有相应地制定新的能够保证权力不被滥用于损害公民基本权利的法律。与恐怖分子的行为比较，政府行为对普通人生活的损害实际上更大。每个人都生活在 FUD 中，其实也许这才是恐怖主义的目的。
信用公司的数据库充其量只能督促你尽快偿还信用卡上的债务，而许多人可以没有信用卡；而这个数据库的存在要求每个美国公民都要以白人基督教徒／天主教徒的方式生活，你不知道跟你的穆斯林邻居谈话会不会给你的“恐怖分子指数”加分，也不知道如果连续一个月在超市只买牛肉会不会引起 FBI 的怀疑。因为每个人都不知道到底什么样的行为是“类似恐怖分子”的，为了不自找麻烦，每个人就只有自我审查自己的一言一行。EngSoc 即将在美国实现了。
现在总算还可以庆幸自己当初懒得考 G，没去美国。不然我这样不吃猪肉，不信圣经，来自祖国大陆还在硬盘上存着巴勒斯坦人权组织拍的纪录片的人分数肯定低不了。但是，英国跟美国的亲密关系和它在 7.7 之后的态度也够让人失望了。从这个意义上说，V for Vendetta 也许不仅仅是漫画，也是1984式的政治寓言，遗憾的是改编的电影在我看来还是太软弱和肤浅，不足以体现 EngSoc 和 Bushism 的邪恶。
Week 6: Slow, yes, but progressing
This week's work mainly focus on environment of Tibetan pastures, more specifically, on climatic issues on the Plateau.
Though climate on a given area looks like a simple issue, it is not once you begin to ask questions. My self-pointed objective on this sub-project is to understand a) what the climate(s) are like in Tibet; b) what the climates have been during the Holocene; and c) what are the implications of the historical and current climate on the pastoralism in the area? Short-term climate events are also worth studying, which I have been doing since Thursday.
A main problem encountered during the literature review is very few materials on Tibet environment topic, and sadly a large unaccessible proportion in them. Curse the Chinese database providers such as VIP and Wanfang Data! There are many articles on climate change and Holocene climate histories out there, but I think their effects on pastoralism is what I need to independently and critically analyse.
The discussion with my supervisors are constructive, which I mentioned in another entry of the log. One thing I strangely forgot to do is to draw a map of Tibet and my research area so that my audiences will understand the context better. In the following 2 or 3 weeks I will finish this sub-project and a simple map as well.
Though climate on a given area looks like a simple issue, it is not once you begin to ask questions. My self-pointed objective on this sub-project is to understand a) what the climate(s) are like in Tibet; b) what the climates have been during the Holocene; and c) what are the implications of the historical and current climate on the pastoralism in the area? Short-term climate events are also worth studying, which I have been doing since Thursday.
A main problem encountered during the literature review is very few materials on Tibet environment topic, and sadly a large unaccessible proportion in them. Curse the Chinese database providers such as VIP and Wanfang Data! There are many articles on climate change and Holocene climate histories out there, but I think their effects on pastoralism is what I need to independently and critically analyse.
The discussion with my supervisors are constructive, which I mentioned in another entry of the log. One thing I strangely forgot to do is to draw a map of Tibet and my research area so that my audiences will understand the context better. In the following 2 or 3 weeks I will finish this sub-project and a simple map as well.
2006年11月3日星期五
An environmental picture in Tibet
Just now I had a talk with my supervisors. Just like what Gandolf told Frodo, my first project is praised. The following work will be a much larger project because there are many topics to explore. However, it was pointed out that environmental issues, especially climatic ones, are very necessary for understanding of the historical and present problems in Tibet.
The work in next phase will be to write a detailed review of climate issues in Tibet. What need to be included, I think, are as following:
Other issues raised during the meeting include making maps for the research area, finding interest groups working there, globalisation's effects on local economy, seeking oral history from grassroots and gov/expert points of view. One interesting thing is that African countries such as Botswana has undergone similar "modernisation" process in 1970s, and the consequences are being revealed, which may be an interesting case study and comparison for my thesis.
The work in next phase will be to write a detailed review of climate issues in Tibet. What need to be included, I think, are as following:
- Holocene climate and geology/topography changes
- Environmental history, including important climatic events
- The impact of human initiatives on the environment
- How environmental factors form and impact pastoralism
Other issues raised during the meeting include making maps for the research area, finding interest groups working there, globalisation's effects on local economy, seeking oral history from grassroots and gov/expert points of view. One interesting thing is that African countries such as Botswana has undergone similar "modernisation" process in 1970s, and the consequences are being revealed, which may be an interesting case study and comparison for my thesis.
2006年11月2日星期四
Settle down
看文盲的 blog 上连载的川滇藏游记，别人看得有趣，羡慕，我却总看得胆战心惊。以前知道文盲既然决定要去，自己是拉不住的，但是知道她在川藏线上落水，发烧，淋雨，冒着塌方落石的危险奔进西藏，便很冲动地觉得即使拉不住也要阻止。看到她这样的遭遇，想到那时自己什么忙也帮不上，是件非常难受的事情。现在，如果她说要去什么地方，我的第一反应可能还是反对吧。
但是，这样做也太自私了一点……总不能为了自己心里安稳就这么限制她的自由，何况还不是短时间的事，是三年。
但是对我自己来说，东奔西跑也不再是生活的目的而只是一种手段了，以后我还是会很乐意为了学术的目的满世界跑，但除此以外，无论崇山峻岭还是大漠长河，对我都不再有吸引力了。既然有了一个家，那么除非为了让这个家更好，我是不愿远离它的。
也许这跟很多人对我的印象，甚至一段时间里我对自己的期望都非常不符合。可是如果回忆得再远一点，在我很小的时候，也是宁愿安守家中自己的一方天地的。后来开始喜欢出门，大概也只是为了能见到朋友，或者寻觅一段经历和感情。现在的我并不缺乏这些，也就不愿再仅仅为了经历而旅行。
也许是懒了吧，或者是最近坐班太习惯了。但我想，那个对读书和各种 hobby 乐此不疲的 nerd, 才是真正的自己。皓首穷经，也是我向往已久的生活。
但是，这样做也太自私了一点……总不能为了自己心里安稳就这么限制她的自由，何况还不是短时间的事，是三年。
但是对我自己来说，东奔西跑也不再是生活的目的而只是一种手段了，以后我还是会很乐意为了学术的目的满世界跑，但除此以外，无论崇山峻岭还是大漠长河，对我都不再有吸引力了。既然有了一个家，那么除非为了让这个家更好，我是不愿远离它的。
也许这跟很多人对我的印象，甚至一段时间里我对自己的期望都非常不符合。可是如果回忆得再远一点，在我很小的时候，也是宁愿安守家中自己的一方天地的。后来开始喜欢出门，大概也只是为了能见到朋友，或者寻觅一段经历和感情。现在的我并不缺乏这些，也就不愿再仅仅为了经历而旅行。
也许是懒了吧，或者是最近坐班太习惯了。但我想，那个对读书和各种 hobby 乐此不疲的 nerd, 才是真正的自己。皓首穷经，也是我向往已久的生活。
2006年10月29日星期日
Week 5: A bit tired but nothing happens
Time goes past really quickly.
I guess searching for articles for 12 hours per day is a bit too much. Besides, if I do not start writing I may never finish it. Therefore I just changed my strategy, write an outline first, then look for the relevant materials, one section per day.
Even so, all this work combined with reading assignments of other training programs is intimidating. I find it hard to keep critical on the materials I am reading after a long day of such activity. Fortunately, I am still progressing. I have already had a grip on Tibet's holocene climate. The next thing is the climate at present. Considering the diversity of climate types in Tibet, there is also considerable work load. But this will make a important base for my review and thesis.
I do not know how much time I have on this part, but I think I must be patient in next few weeks.
I guess searching for articles for 12 hours per day is a bit too much. Besides, if I do not start writing I may never finish it. Therefore I just changed my strategy, write an outline first, then look for the relevant materials, one section per day.
Even so, all this work combined with reading assignments of other training programs is intimidating. I find it hard to keep critical on the materials I am reading after a long day of such activity. Fortunately, I am still progressing. I have already had a grip on Tibet's holocene climate. The next thing is the climate at present. Considering the diversity of climate types in Tibet, there is also considerable work load. But this will make a important base for my review and thesis.
I do not know how much time I have on this part, but I think I must be patient in next few weeks.
2006年10月27日星期五
夜归
六点一刻，响动很大地收拾东西，往已经很满的书包里再塞进两本图书馆借来的书。35升的包也不够用了，还剩一本大部头只有抱在手上。穿过黯淡的咖啡厅，穿过黯淡的走廊，穿过黯淡的校园，路旁换了新的路灯，不会忽暗忽亮，也没有飞蛾扑火，但总是无端地让人想起维多利亚时代那些总是在不合时宜的场合熄灭的煤气灯。小路上偶有几个行人，都看不清面貌，年龄，乃至衣着，一个个都以很欧洲的方式，拉高了衣领缩着脖子赶路。走出校门之前超过一个人，他（她？）身上的绒衣提醒了我，让我意识到自己只是在夏装外套了一件风衣，于是竟一下子觉得萧瑟起来。
过街时没有车辆，不用按钮。公路消失在不远处的黑暗中，如同森林中的树木融化在它自己的影子里。这让我想起手上的书，想起作者一个著名的比喻：``[I]n the midst of the asphalt streets of the city I felt exposed to the powers of nature...signboards and street names, passers-by, roofs, kiosks, and bars must speak to the wanderer like a twig snapping under his feet in the forest....''刚刚入夜的城市和森林确实有着类似的特性：让旅行者感到孤独，不安，同时也有些兴奋。我头一次看到有人这样描写城市，描写他的（也是我的）迷失和对迷失的特殊喜爱，有相见恨晚的感觉。
我手里的大部头是他的 Passagen-Werk ，英译本 the Arcade Project 。这是他最后一部作品，没有完成。他把手稿放在手提箱里，随身带到法国和西班牙边境，想要逃到美国，但他的犹太人身份和一张让人过目不忘的脸孔让他最终没有跑成。这样的命运即使在那样一个动荡的年代，也显得过于诡谲和悲惨。或者，即使他逃到了美国，也还是会继续迷失下去。文盲说“牛人们的心灵都是孤独漂泊的~~~~~~大概因为找不到牛棚”，不无道理。
走过大小店铺都纷纷关门的街道，想象着北京进城卖菜的小夫妻们也在这般萧瑟的寒风中缩头缩脑地往家赶去，觉得城市其实在哪里都是一片森林，有几个我们熟悉的角落，几条安全的路径，我们便在上面日复一日地奔波着。有意迷失其中，常常可以有些发现和体验，其实对于越来越大规模复制的生活来说很有好处。不过即使是牛人，也最好可以有一个可以回去的棚子，供他们诗意地或者鸡毛蒜皮地栖居。
过街时没有车辆，不用按钮。公路消失在不远处的黑暗中，如同森林中的树木融化在它自己的影子里。这让我想起手上的书，想起作者一个著名的比喻：``[I]n the midst of the asphalt streets of the city I felt exposed to the powers of nature...signboards and street names, passers-by, roofs, kiosks, and bars must speak to the wanderer like a twig snapping under his feet in the forest....''刚刚入夜的城市和森林确实有着类似的特性：让旅行者感到孤独，不安，同时也有些兴奋。我头一次看到有人这样描写城市，描写他的（也是我的）迷失和对迷失的特殊喜爱，有相见恨晚的感觉。
我手里的大部头是他的 Passagen-Werk ，英译本 the Arcade Project 。这是他最后一部作品，没有完成。他把手稿放在手提箱里，随身带到法国和西班牙边境，想要逃到美国，但他的犹太人身份和一张让人过目不忘的脸孔让他最终没有跑成。这样的命运即使在那样一个动荡的年代，也显得过于诡谲和悲惨。或者，即使他逃到了美国，也还是会继续迷失下去。文盲说“牛人们的心灵都是孤独漂泊的~~~~~~大概因为找不到牛棚”，不无道理。
走过大小店铺都纷纷关门的街道，想象着北京进城卖菜的小夫妻们也在这般萧瑟的寒风中缩头缩脑地往家赶去，觉得城市其实在哪里都是一片森林，有几个我们熟悉的角落，几条安全的路径，我们便在上面日复一日地奔波着。有意迷失其中，常常可以有些发现和体验，其实对于越来越大规模复制的生活来说很有好处。不过即使是牛人，也最好可以有一个可以回去的棚子，供他们诗意地或者鸡毛蒜皮地栖居。
舌战
早上打了两个电话，一个10分钟，一个1小时。打完第一个电话郁闷得想撞墙，而且真的撞了一下。于是打了第二个，跟老妈说了很多话，好像只有当年登山之前说服她放行才说过这么多。结果没有解决什么问题，但是许多想说的话都说出来了，还是挺痛快的。按照父母的期望和意愿生活了很多年，现在终于可以名义上自己选择在哪里做什么样的工作了。不过，也说不定是已经被培养定型了所以就不用管了？
打完电话后差点想直接回宿舍呆着了，反正办公室电脑坏了……不过还是在办公室里呆到下班时间。一遍一遍地听自己从 CD 上扒下来的古典音乐 highlights，突然发觉拉赫马尼诺夫的第二钢琴协奏曲很好听，以前陶醉于第三的繁复华丽，对第二没有什么感情，现在倒觉得第二很亲切。听1812序曲也听 high 了。
打完电话后差点想直接回宿舍呆着了，反正办公室电脑坏了……不过还是在办公室里呆到下班时间。一遍一遍地听自己从 CD 上扒下来的古典音乐 highlights，突然发觉拉赫马尼诺夫的第二钢琴协奏曲很好听，以前陶醉于第三的繁复华丽，对第二没有什么感情，现在倒觉得第二很亲切。听1812序曲也听 high 了。
2006年10月25日星期三
2006年10月24日星期二
Globalisation and Environment
This is a lecture given by Andrew Dobson from Keele University. The argument of Andrew's is that environment, which is generally looked on as a casualty of globalisation, can be used as a weapon of (more equal) globalisation. Today's globalisation, led by G-7 countries, are asymmetrical globalisation. Instead of ``diffusion'' of people, technology and finance, it is ``transfusion'', i.e. things are flowing in only one direction. Environmental issues and arguments, he claims, helps globalisation in another way round, and can help achieve a more equal globalisation. The argument is quite convincing. However, my opinion is that environment can also serve today's globalisation in favour of a few countries' local interests. Consider Green Trade Barriers and Pollution outsourcing, these activities are responses to national environmental problems in a globalisation context. Is it necessary then, to stop such shameful practices and accept environment degradation, or sit back and watch environment degradation in other countries? Thus, to make environment a weapon to facilitate more globalisation, a framework of international law and enforcement is a necessary condition. Without this framework, the developed countries may still acknowledge their environment debt to developing countries and lower class but their actions will not be dependable. The subtitle of the seminar is ``Environmental languages in a global grammar''. My question would be how weaker voices in the world express themselves in this grammar. The argument still looks like from a Western perspective.
2006年10月21日星期六
Week 4: in so many ways...
I think I was too used to Google's intelligent search. When I search on jstor.org I forgot to add some wildcards, thus last week I only got a few articles having the exact search terms I used. This week when I add `*' to the search terms, the search engine on JSTOR throws hundreds of results at me. It then become my burden to browse through all these and try to find some useful anecdotes or comments made by the travellers some 70 years ago. However, most articles focused on recent 50 years, which I also paid most attention to in my latest review, therefore I did not obtain much useful information here. But by searching for more information it is possible that I can figure out how historical events and policy changes influence changes took place in later years. On the other hand, my supervisor suggested that I pay some attention to the climatic and environmental factors in Tibet. These aspects may be the underlying reason for current (and past) pastoral system in Tibet, and can help assess whether a change to the system may fail (though the other outcome is very difficult to predict). I have borrowed some books on Tibetan pastoralism in the 20th Century. Hopefully they will also provide me with some clues. I will need to produce more writings next week.
2006年10月20日星期五
水木文学版普鲁斯特问卷
Designed by ugay
1.你认为最理想的快乐是怎样的？
可以让人不再去想
2.你最希望拥有哪种才华？
速读和强记
3.你最害怕的是什么？
不被人信任
4.你目前的心境怎样？
坚强而不坚定
5.还在世的人中你最钦佩的是谁？
梅斯纳尔
6.你认为你最伟大的成就是什么？
从小学体育不及格到3小时2分跑完马拉松
7.你自己的哪个特点让你最觉得痛恨？
太在意别人的态度
8.如果你能选择的话，你希望让什么重现？
没有水坝和污染的河流
9.你最痛恨别人的什么特点？
歧视和偏见
10.你最珍惜的财产是什么？
有 RMS 签名的书
11.你最奢侈的是什么？
一堆来不及看的书
12.你认为程度最浅的痛苦是什么？
上课时突然不能确定是否把宿舍门锁好了
13.你认为哪种美德是被过高的评估的？
没有
14.你最喜欢的职业是什么？
学者
15.你对自己的外表哪一点不满意？
没有
16.你本身最显著的特点是什么？
实际，按计划做事
17.还在世的人中你最轻视的是谁？
金正日
18.你最喜欢男性身上的什么品质？
乐观
19.你使用过的最多的单词或者是词语是什么？
考虑一下……
20.你最喜欢女性身上的什么品质？
细腻
21.你最伤痛的事是什么？
被父母误解
22.你最看重朋友的什么特点？
坦诚
23.你这一生中最爱的人或东西是什么？
信任和理解我的女性
24.你希望以什么样的方式死去？
“倒在打字机前”
25.何时是你生命中最快乐的时刻？
每个周日早晨，如果在9点前起床的话
26.你的座右铭是什么？
Happy hacking
注：普鲁斯特问卷考
http://www.chick.net/proust/question.html
1.你认为最理想的快乐是怎样的？
可以让人不再去想
2.你最希望拥有哪种才华？
速读和强记
3.你最害怕的是什么？
不被人信任
4.你目前的心境怎样？
坚强而不坚定
5.还在世的人中你最钦佩的是谁？
梅斯纳尔
6.你认为你最伟大的成就是什么？
从小学体育不及格到3小时2分跑完马拉松
7.你自己的哪个特点让你最觉得痛恨？
太在意别人的态度
8.如果你能选择的话，你希望让什么重现？
没有水坝和污染的河流
9.你最痛恨别人的什么特点？
歧视和偏见
10.你最珍惜的财产是什么？
有 RMS 签名的书
11.你最奢侈的是什么？
一堆来不及看的书
12.你认为程度最浅的痛苦是什么？
上课时突然不能确定是否把宿舍门锁好了
13.你认为哪种美德是被过高的评估的？
没有
14.你最喜欢的职业是什么？
学者
15.你对自己的外表哪一点不满意？
没有
16.你本身最显著的特点是什么？
实际，按计划做事
17.还在世的人中你最轻视的是谁？
金正日
18.你最喜欢男性身上的什么品质？
乐观
19.你使用过的最多的单词或者是词语是什么？
考虑一下……
20.你最喜欢女性身上的什么品质？
细腻
21.你最伤痛的事是什么？
被父母误解
22.你最看重朋友的什么特点？
坦诚
23.你这一生中最爱的人或东西是什么？
信任和理解我的女性
24.你希望以什么样的方式死去？
“倒在打字机前”
25.何时是你生命中最快乐的时刻？
每个周日早晨，如果在9点前起床的话
26.你的座右铭是什么？
Happy hacking
注：普鲁斯特问卷考
http://www.chick.net/proust/question.html
The mutual forging of culture and convention
J. Murdoch and M. Miele (2004) Culinary networks and cultural connections: a conventions perspective, in A. Amin and N. Thrift (eds) The Cultural Economy Reader, 231--247. In globalisation, a network connecting heterogeneous entities not only connect them in different locations, but also give them certain mobility. Thus, from certain perspective, ``condense'' space and time. Such socio-economic network comprise spatially locatable elements. Together these elements reflect phenomena and ideas in the form of network. As such network coexists with relatively stable cultural formations, on the one hand it standardise cultures, on the other it has to diversify to adapt cultures. In fact, cultural norms and heterogeneous networks mutually forge and consolidate each other. A comparison in food industry is used to illustrate this interaction between cultural norms and networks. It is shown that in food commodity chain, not only consumer conventions and producer conventions, but also ``intermediate'' actors' conventions, form the network and thus culture. McDonald's and Italy's Slow Food Movement respectively illustrated two modes of networks. McDonald's is the product of modern industrial life, thus the food production and consumption become industrialised in the network of M's and its customers; many things of M's are standardised globally, but it also has to make changes according to the local culture and people's perception of the brand. Slow Food Movement goes further to address heterogeneity, as it do not bring Italy food to Brazil, but help local food become recognised by people home and abroad and prosper locally. This two constitute an interesting pair. While M's convention is transformed according to local culture, Slow Food is trying to bring back the enjoyment of local food to the culture. They are like two complimentary phases in the network-culture interactions. The M's emphasise economic food, while the other stresses on cultural and environmental food. Both increase heterogeneity in the global network.
2006年10月18日星期三
指环王 PhD 版
在办公室干活10小时（好吧，包括发呆和开小差的时间）后，收拾东西要出门时看到墙上有人贴了这份``Lord of the Rings: An allegory of the PhD?''，读完后大笑三声。原来我们和 hobbits 是这么相像啊。以后谁要读 PhD 我一定送套 LotR 小说给他（她）。
本想翻译全文，无奈没有时间，不然明天咖啡的开销要翻倍了，就偷懒只贴英文全文：
The story starts with Frodo: a young hobbit, quite bright, a bit dissatisfied with what he's learnt so far and with his mates back home who just seem to want to get jobs and settle down and drink beer. He's also very much in awe of his tutor and mentor, the very senior professor Gandalf, so when Gandalf suggests he take on a short project for him (carrying the Ring to Rivendell), he agrees.
Frodo very quickly encounters the shadowy forces of fear and despair which will haunt the rest of his journey and leave permanent scars on his psyche, but he also makes some useful friends. In particular, he spends an evening down the pub with Aragorn, who has been wandering the world for many years as Gandalf's postdoc and becomes his adviser when Gandalf isn't around.
After Frodo has completed his first project, Gandalf (along with head of department Elrond) proposes that the work should be extended. He assembles a large research group, including visiting students Gimli and Legolas, the foreign postdoc Boromir, and several of Frodo's own friends from his undergraduate days. Frodo agrees to tackle this larger project, though he has mixed feelings about it. ("'I will take the Ring', he said, 'although I do not know the way.'")
Very rapidly, things go wrong. First, Gandalf disappears and has no more interaction with Frodo until everything is over. (Frodo assumes his supervisor is dead: in fact, he's simply found a more interesting topic and is working on that instead.) At his first international conference in Lorien, Frodo is cross-questioned terrifyingly by Galadriel, and betrayed by Boromir, who is anxious to get the credit for the work himself. Frodo cuts himself off from the rest of his team: from now on, he will only discuss his work with Sam, an old friend who doesn't really understand what it's all about, but in any case is prepared to give Frodo credit for being rather cleverer than he is. Then he sets out towards Mordor.
The last and darkest period of Frodo's journey clearly represents the writing-up stage, as he struggles towards Mount Doom (submission), finding his burden growing heavier and heavier yet more and more a part of himself; more and more terrified of failure; plagued by the figure of Gollum, the student who carried the Ring before him but never wrote up and still hangs around as a burnt-out, jealous shadow; talking less and less even to Sam. When he submits the Ring to the fire, it is in desperate confusion rather than with confidence, and for a while the world seems empty.
Eventually it is over: the Ring is gone, everyone congratulates him, and for a few days he can convince himself that his troubles are over. But there is one more obstacle to overcome: months later, back in the Shire, he must confront the external examiner Saruman, an old enemy of Gandalf, who seeks to humiliate and destroy his rival's protege. With the help of his friends and colleagues, Frodo passes through this ordeal, but discovers at the end that victory has no value left for him. While his friends return to settling down and finding jobs and starting families, Frodo remains in limbo; finally, along with Gandalf, Elrond and many others, he joins the brain drain across the Western ocean to the new land beyond.
[And they lived happily ever after?]
这篇 blog 链接的网页似乎是原作者的，上面写了他这篇奇文的来由。有兴趣的可以顺路去看看。
本想翻译全文，无奈没有时间，不然明天咖啡的开销要翻倍了，就偷懒只贴英文全文：
Lord of the Rings: an allegory of the PhD?
The story starts with Frodo: a young hobbit, quite bright, a bit dissatisfied with what he's learnt so far and with his mates back home who just seem to want to get jobs and settle down and drink beer. He's also very much in awe of his tutor and mentor, the very senior professor Gandalf, so when Gandalf suggests he take on a short project for him (carrying the Ring to Rivendell), he agrees.
Frodo very quickly encounters the shadowy forces of fear and despair which will haunt the rest of his journey and leave permanent scars on his psyche, but he also makes some useful friends. In particular, he spends an evening down the pub with Aragorn, who has been wandering the world for many years as Gandalf's postdoc and becomes his adviser when Gandalf isn't around.
After Frodo has completed his first project, Gandalf (along with head of department Elrond) proposes that the work should be extended. He assembles a large research group, including visiting students Gimli and Legolas, the foreign postdoc Boromir, and several of Frodo's own friends from his undergraduate days. Frodo agrees to tackle this larger project, though he has mixed feelings about it. ("'I will take the Ring', he said, 'although I do not know the way.'")
Very rapidly, things go wrong. First, Gandalf disappears and has no more interaction with Frodo until everything is over. (Frodo assumes his supervisor is dead: in fact, he's simply found a more interesting topic and is working on that instead.) At his first international conference in Lorien, Frodo is cross-questioned terrifyingly by Galadriel, and betrayed by Boromir, who is anxious to get the credit for the work himself. Frodo cuts himself off from the rest of his team: from now on, he will only discuss his work with Sam, an old friend who doesn't really understand what it's all about, but in any case is prepared to give Frodo credit for being rather cleverer than he is. Then he sets out towards Mordor.
The last and darkest period of Frodo's journey clearly represents the writing-up stage, as he struggles towards Mount Doom (submission), finding his burden growing heavier and heavier yet more and more a part of himself; more and more terrified of failure; plagued by the figure of Gollum, the student who carried the Ring before him but never wrote up and still hangs around as a burnt-out, jealous shadow; talking less and less even to Sam. When he submits the Ring to the fire, it is in desperate confusion rather than with confidence, and for a while the world seems empty.
Eventually it is over: the Ring is gone, everyone congratulates him, and for a few days he can convince himself that his troubles are over. But there is one more obstacle to overcome: months later, back in the Shire, he must confront the external examiner Saruman, an old enemy of Gandalf, who seeks to humiliate and destroy his rival's protege. With the help of his friends and colleagues, Frodo passes through this ordeal, but discovers at the end that victory has no value left for him. While his friends return to settling down and finding jobs and starting families, Frodo remains in limbo; finally, along with Gandalf, Elrond and many others, he joins the brain drain across the Western ocean to the new land beyond.
[And they lived happily ever after?]
这篇 blog 链接的网页似乎是原作者的，上面写了他这篇奇文的来由。有兴趣的可以顺路去看看。
2006年10月16日星期一
Let's talk about history
Today I just started more extensive reading on Tibetan pastoralism. The direction I am looking at is pastoral system's evolution in Tibet since its earliest establishment to present day. On JSTOR along I can find several hundred articles on Tibet's pastoral history, which are often interwoven with politics, superstructures and environmental and ethnography causes. Materials I read today are mostly focusing on 20th Century. This gives people an impression that most changes to Tibetan pastoralism have taken place in the 20th Century. This may not be far from the truth. But I still wonder what happened in the 1,000 years before this century. From common sense, there should be something changed during the period. The western researchers tend to illustrate Tibet traditional pastoral system as a desirable system which achieved equilibrium and (to some extent) sustainability in a harsh environment. However, is it necessarily good for all people? In the traditional system there are people mistreated and discriminated, who led misrable life in that system. Do we need to sacrifice them in order to restore the traditional system and achieve sustainability without equity?
2006年10月15日星期日
2006的生日
居然是个星期五，不记得以前有没有哪次生日是这样。前一天和文盲聊天的时候谁都没有提起生日的事，早上上水木居然看到她发的帖子，虽然只是寥寥数字，但她是在赶车去上班前发的文，实在是有些感动：）。回复的多是认识我的朋友，也有大概没有见过面的。因为很多人还记得自己，觉得很满足。最神奇的是本科时住一屋后来没怎么联系的同学也发信来说了一声“生日快乐”。
下午去见导师，我写的一份6页的 review 让她们大加赞赏，很有些得意，希望以后也可以一直保持这样的状态。
晚上小p居然从谢菲尔德坐车过来敲报告，本来想在市中心报告他一顿意大利菜或者印度菜，至少要对得起他的车票钱，但是这家伙只到超市买了若干垃圾食品就算解决问题了……吃完饭比较晚了，还是继续玩了一会儿，发现两人玩游戏果然比一个人有意思很多。次日逛校园和小镇上的旧书店，我收了一本西藏导游书和一本 Philip P. Dick 的小说集，后者相当经典，可惜国内出版的 PKD 的作品似乎不多。
总的说来，这个生日相当开心。谢谢文盲，谢谢小p，以及很久没有见面的朋友们。
下午去见导师，我写的一份6页的 review 让她们大加赞赏，很有些得意，希望以后也可以一直保持这样的状态。
晚上小p居然从谢菲尔德坐车过来敲报告，本来想在市中心报告他一顿意大利菜或者印度菜，至少要对得起他的车票钱，但是这家伙只到超市买了若干垃圾食品就算解决问题了……吃完饭比较晚了，还是继续玩了一会儿，发现两人玩游戏果然比一个人有意思很多。次日逛校园和小镇上的旧书店，我收了一本西藏导游书和一本 Philip P. Dick 的小说集，后者相当经典，可惜国内出版的 PKD 的作品似乎不多。
总的说来，这个生日相当开心。谢谢文盲，谢谢小p，以及很久没有见面的朋友们。
2006年10月14日星期六
Week 3: Extend the research
I have read some articles on 20th Century's Tibetan pastoralism. From these materials I can write a note on the system, including climate factors, policy, changes and problems. The time span covered so far is from 1950s to present day, with very little description of past pastoralism before 20th Century. My supervisors suggest that I look for diaries and notes written by explorers in late 19th and early 20th Century, because perhaps I can find some descriptions and have a more thorough understanding of the evolution of Tibetan pastoralism through the Century. On the other hand, pastoralism in a wider geographical area, including Nepal and Central Asia, may provide another perspective on Tibetan pastoralism. But this would need more extensive search and reading. I have some knowledge gaps including ethnography and politics, which I will need to see to later, but more literature review may also help filling these gaps.
2006年10月13日星期五
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: Research Needs
The difficulty of ecological study lies in these facts: you need to quantify things that are difficult to quantify, measure large scale variations from small scale measurements, try to understand the whole complex system from interactions of two factors, which is the only process we can observe and understand so far. Another trend in ecology research is tying it to sociological aspects of the system. Less and less people think that we should consider society and ecosystem as two distinctive systems, instead, integrated approaches are taken by more and more people. Interdisciplinary research thus is earning a more important status these days. Some fundamental questions need to be answered, though not necessarily before practical strategies can be developed. Such theories including "linking ecological diversity to ecosystem dynamics and, in turn, to ecosystem services underlying human well-being", which is of paramount importance and requires maybe generations of study.
2006年10月12日星期四
搬回 blogger
我想，我的生活没有什么必要再藏着掖着了。放在 Blogger 上让大家都能看到，其实是挺好的一件事。而且 blogger 的页面安排肯定比其他的 BSP 要灵活一些，什么 html，javascript 都可以往上放，这样挺痛快。
以前的 blog 基本都集中在 ＷＯＲＤＰＲＥＳＳ上了，用户名也是ＣＥＬＡＤＥＶＲＡ，有兴趣又知道技术细节的可以自行去找。我就不贴网址影响访问了。
以前的 blog 基本都集中在 ＷＯＲＤＰＲＥＳＳ上了，用户名也是ＣＥＬＡＤＥＶＲＡ，有兴趣又知道技术细节的可以自行去找。我就不贴网址影响访问了。
2006年10月11日星期三
2006年10月7日星期六
Week 2: Disturbing Discovery
On Tuesday I had a talk with my supervisors. They decided that I should write a short review on pastoralism first. From 2004 on I had a prejudice on traditional pastoralism in Tibet. After one week of reading, I find this may not be the truth. The herders have been there for over one thousand years, striving to survive, learning to adapt to the environment. It is just irresponsible to claim that their traditional system is inferior to the so-called "modern" pastoralism, which simply cannot survive on the plateau. However, I think there is some problem on today's plateau. Whether it is from the institutions, the environment, or the people, it is my task to identify it. It is just a bit thrilling to find that what we did in 2004 is from a very narrow, ideological and stereotyped perspective. Next week I will read on to construct a picture of pastoralism in Tibet. More evidences are needed for my review.
2006年10月1日星期日
Protected: Starting a PhD: checklists
Checklist
- If you have not yet secured funding, have you checked with the Student Support Network (SNN) in your institution as they may have details of funding opportunities? Have you also checked www.grad.ac.uk/funding for advice on funding sources?
- yes, but I would like to seek more.
- Have you got a realistic project? Are you clear about the scope of the project?
- A research on the comparison of two grazing production schemes: rotating grazing and roam grazing. Compare their resilience and sustainability. Involves an inquiry of local ecology and economic in grassland system, as well as social/natural environment and legislation. Using a county as the research area.
- Have you got an outline plan? Don't be too rigid, allow scope for your ideas to develop
- Yes.
- Have you read other theses to establish the standards for a doctorate in your discipline?
- Not yet.
- Are you aware of the format required for a thesis in your university - style, presentation, referencing, binding?
- Yes.
- Are you clear about your role and responsibilities as a researcher?
- Yes.
- Do you know the support systems available to you?
- Yes.
做了个怪梦
难得在醒来后还记得比较清楚。
话说一开始我在一间类似牢房的房间中，一面墙大概是铁栏杆，可以隐约看到外面的守卫。似乎没有任何人提示，我就知道应该从下水道钻出去，而且觉得自己至少是“二进宫”了-_-。往地下一看，真的有条水沟，上面盖着红色的书，封皮上套着塑料薄膜，下面的水沟还有盖子盖着，但有一本书没有套薄膜的，下面的水沟盖子果然就是开的。我试图钻进去，但是到一半卡住了-_-。这时出现了另一个人，我以为是守卫，但他示意我趴到水沟里，然后帮我爬出去。
出去后好像是爬进了地铁里，我在一个角落蜷着坐下来，这时开始有警察上来查证件，就像 the Matrix 开始时那种穿黑制服的警察。我没有，于是就装成疯了的乞丐……这时又有人把警察的注意力引开，我看到斜对面（右边）有个桶，我身边有个人示意我站到桶里去，说他能把我弄出去。我站到桶里，发现桶里都是水，这时那个警察又过来了，拿个警棍出来，还噼啪作响，像有电的样子，顶端还有个蓝灯，不知道看着那个灯亮会不会跟 MIB 里一样就失忆了？不容我多想，眼看警棍要凑上来了，我突然眼前一黑就被传送到了别处（原理见 Constantine，效果见 Half-life）。
一睁眼看到一个老头，还有好多遭遇可能跟我类似的人，在一个大房间里，房子其实有点像高架桥下那种感觉，也有点像某种纯粹为了实用目的而修建的地下空间。里面每个人好像都在做些不重要的事，自得其乐的样子。突然出现了好多警察，大家各自找地方躲避。我躲在一束管道旁边，突然一个长得很象 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 里那个 Elsa 的女警察发现了我，我只好原路退回，发现那个大房间里也出现了警察，大家都在跑。警察一边追一边开枪。然后一开始看到的那个老头中枪倒地。我左手拉个小女孩继续跑，但是不能跑快，那个警察便追上我们，在我头旁边开了一枪，我身后的墙上砖石飞溅，于是我停下来举手投降，那警察穿得比较讲究，神色还很得意（我这梦也太具体了吧……）。
当场宣判，我们的刑罚是……流放？然后就立即执行了……？然后走到了某类似宗教场所的地方，建筑物基本是白色，门前的坡修得不是很整齐，但不知谁说这坡上有代表诸如幸福啊、财富啊等等的标记，踩到了以后就能得到，但是在坡上走了几步，就要进庙里磕几个头还愿。我还是拉着那小女孩，走到庙里，据说该踩的都踩到了，然后……好像天就快亮了。
难道最近是 the Matrix 和 V for Vendetta 看太多了，才会做这种梦？好像还有点 Amtrak War 和 Fallout 的味道。而且从头到尾感觉就好像自己在演电影一样……
话说一开始我在一间类似牢房的房间中，一面墙大概是铁栏杆，可以隐约看到外面的守卫。似乎没有任何人提示，我就知道应该从下水道钻出去，而且觉得自己至少是“二进宫”了-_-。往地下一看，真的有条水沟，上面盖着红色的书，封皮上套着塑料薄膜，下面的水沟还有盖子盖着，但有一本书没有套薄膜的，下面的水沟盖子果然就是开的。我试图钻进去，但是到一半卡住了-_-。这时出现了另一个人，我以为是守卫，但他示意我趴到水沟里，然后帮我爬出去。
出去后好像是爬进了地铁里，我在一个角落蜷着坐下来，这时开始有警察上来查证件，就像 the Matrix 开始时那种穿黑制服的警察。我没有，于是就装成疯了的乞丐……这时又有人把警察的注意力引开，我看到斜对面（右边）有个桶，我身边有个人示意我站到桶里去，说他能把我弄出去。我站到桶里，发现桶里都是水，这时那个警察又过来了，拿个警棍出来，还噼啪作响，像有电的样子，顶端还有个蓝灯，不知道看着那个灯亮会不会跟 MIB 里一样就失忆了？不容我多想，眼看警棍要凑上来了，我突然眼前一黑就被传送到了别处（原理见 Constantine，效果见 Half-life）。
一睁眼看到一个老头，还有好多遭遇可能跟我类似的人，在一个大房间里，房子其实有点像高架桥下那种感觉，也有点像某种纯粹为了实用目的而修建的地下空间。里面每个人好像都在做些不重要的事，自得其乐的样子。突然出现了好多警察，大家各自找地方躲避。我躲在一束管道旁边，突然一个长得很象 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 里那个 Elsa 的女警察发现了我，我只好原路退回，发现那个大房间里也出现了警察，大家都在跑。警察一边追一边开枪。然后一开始看到的那个老头中枪倒地。我左手拉个小女孩继续跑，但是不能跑快，那个警察便追上我们，在我头旁边开了一枪，我身后的墙上砖石飞溅，于是我停下来举手投降，那警察穿得比较讲究，神色还很得意（我这梦也太具体了吧……）。
当场宣判，我们的刑罚是……流放？然后就立即执行了……？然后走到了某类似宗教场所的地方，建筑物基本是白色，门前的坡修得不是很整齐，但不知谁说这坡上有代表诸如幸福啊、财富啊等等的标记，踩到了以后就能得到，但是在坡上走了几步，就要进庙里磕几个头还愿。我还是拉着那小女孩，走到庙里，据说该踩的都踩到了，然后……好像天就快亮了。
难道最近是 the Matrix 和 V for Vendetta 看太多了，才会做这种梦？好像还有点 Amtrak War 和 Fallout 的味道。而且从头到尾感觉就好像自己在演电影一样……
2006年9月30日星期六
Week 1: Trying to know about resilience
Definition:
There may be many definitions of Resilience. But from the literature I read this week, it seems that Holling's definition is accepted by most researchers in this area. To use this definition, first of all, the fundamental unstability of social-ecological systems must be acknowledged. The equilibrium or stable state can only be maintained near certain points. In most other areas of the state space, there are only domains of attraction or areas without equilibrium. Thus, while stability is defined by Holling as "the ability of the system to recover back to the
equilibrium state after disturbance" and is rare and hardly achievable, resilience is defined by him as "a measure of persistence of systems and of their ability of absorb change and disturbance and still maintain the same relationships between populations or state variables". The important thing, he said, is the system's ability to maintain relationships and structures within itself in the face of changes. Systems with more attraction domains and options are more resilient.
His followers developed the concept further. Carpenter et al. (2001) claims that there are three properties in Holling's resilience definition: (a) the amount of change the system can undergo (and therefore the amount of external force the system can sustain); (b) the degree to which the system is able to self-organise; and (c) the degree to which the system can build the capacity to learn and adapt.
Measurement:
Some years later, Carpenter et al. (2001) suggested a tool for analysis of resilience: the adaptive cycle. By defining four stages in a cycle of system configuration and services, the key variable influencing the system's ability to provide services and other slow-changing variables which have fundamental and intriguing effect on the system may be identified.
Another useful tool is bifurcation analysis, which serves to identify domains of attraction in the space of parameters (Anderies, 2000).
Combining these tools and social science / ecology study, with the help of stakeholder participation, it is possible to find out resilience of which factor in the system is concerned, how is it affected, and what is the threat, i.e. "resilience of what to what" (Carpenter et al.,2001). Walker et al. (2002) proposed a 4-step method to assess regional resilience: First, the stakeholders get together to decide the key properties of the study system and the range of trajectories the stakeholders want the system to follow (step 1 and 2); the information is then used in more specialised, quantitative analysis on where th resilience resides (step 3); finally, an integrated evaluation of management and policy implications is produced by both scientists and
stakeholders (step 4).
Pay attention to:
Questions:
There may be many definitions of Resilience. But from the literature I read this week, it seems that Holling's definition is accepted by most researchers in this area. To use this definition, first of all, the fundamental unstability of social-ecological systems must be acknowledged. The equilibrium or stable state can only be maintained near certain points. In most other areas of the state space, there are only domains of attraction or areas without equilibrium. Thus, while stability is defined by Holling as "the ability of the system to recover back to the
equilibrium state after disturbance" and is rare and hardly achievable, resilience is defined by him as "a measure of persistence of systems and of their ability of absorb change and disturbance and still maintain the same relationships between populations or state variables". The important thing, he said, is the system's ability to maintain relationships and structures within itself in the face of changes. Systems with more attraction domains and options are more resilient.
His followers developed the concept further. Carpenter et al. (2001) claims that there are three properties in Holling's resilience definition: (a) the amount of change the system can undergo (and therefore the amount of external force the system can sustain); (b) the degree to which the system is able to self-organise; and (c) the degree to which the system can build the capacity to learn and adapt.
Measurement:
Some years later, Carpenter et al. (2001) suggested a tool for analysis of resilience: the adaptive cycle. By defining four stages in a cycle of system configuration and services, the key variable influencing the system's ability to provide services and other slow-changing variables which have fundamental and intriguing effect on the system may be identified.
Another useful tool is bifurcation analysis, which serves to identify domains of attraction in the space of parameters (Anderies, 2000).
Combining these tools and social science / ecology study, with the help of stakeholder participation, it is possible to find out resilience of which factor in the system is concerned, how is it affected, and what is the threat, i.e. "resilience of what to what" (Carpenter et al.,2001). Walker et al. (2002) proposed a 4-step method to assess regional resilience: First, the stakeholders get together to decide the key properties of the study system and the range of trajectories the stakeholders want the system to follow (step 1 and 2); the information is then used in more specialised, quantitative analysis on where th resilience resides (step 3); finally, an integrated evaluation of management and policy implications is produced by both scientists and
stakeholders (step 4).
Pay attention to:
- Technical uncertainties vs. structural uncertainties. The former one is unavoidable and often addressed by researches; the latter one comes from unexamined assumptions which may be wrong in certain circumstances, and can lead to wrong discourse and solutions.
- Which configuration of the system is more desirable? In what time scale should resilience be considered? If sustainable development is to be considered, resilience at the cost of other area or era's collapse may not be a desirable goal.
- The strategy and institution to achieve resilience are very likely to be very system-specific. They also tend to change with system conditions and external factors, such as climate, legislation and neighbour systems.
- Difficulties in resilience measurement include (but not limited to): key drivers hard to find and predict; human actions and reactions change system's course in complicated ways, making prediction more difficult; systems may change too fast in sudden events.
- All these researches are based on Western perspective and literature. How to apply and adapt them to my research area?
Questions:
- If a system achieve Holling's resilience, what is the implication of this? What will be the effect of such resilience?
- How to address slow-changing variables in limited time for research?
- Among the 3 properties of resilient system, is anyone more desirable or important? Should all systems have all 3 of them? Should the 3 be considered together?
2006年9月29日星期五
CLIMATE CHANGE: Royal Society Takes a Shot at ExxonMobil — Marshall 313 (5795): 1871a — Science
CLIMATE CHANGE: Royal Society Takes a Shot at ExxonMobil -- Marshall 313 (5795): 1871a -- Science
This would be an interesting case in Corporate Citizenship. I wonder if my Environmental Business teachers see this article.
In fact, what ExxonMobil did is not an environmental crime in traditional sense. As itself claims, it had programme to reduce CO2 emission, as well as funding researches on global warming issues. All it did is claiming that the evidence of greenhouse gas (GHG) induced global warming is not solid in its report, which is contrary to scientific consensus. At the very least this is not ``political right''. To examine more deeply, corporate citizenship requires organisations adapt to information they receive. ExxonMobil is really ignoring the information that most scientists and governments acknowledge that GHG is enhancing global warming significantly.
Besides, ExxonMobil this time neglects its duty as an educator. It is the organisation's responsibility to educate its employees and managers, as well as up- and down-stream partners about good and evil. Stating such irresponsible opinion in their report, they surely did something not so good.
Uncertainties? There may be. But ExxonMobil seems forget something called Precautionary Principle. Saying that GHG-led global warming lacks statistical proof gives people an impression that GHG emission reduction is not a pressing and crucial issue, which is a drawback from Montreal and Kyoto.
This would be an interesting case in Corporate Citizenship. I wonder if my Environmental Business teachers see this article.
In fact, what ExxonMobil did is not an environmental crime in traditional sense. As itself claims, it had programme to reduce CO2 emission, as well as funding researches on global warming issues. All it did is claiming that the evidence of greenhouse gas (GHG) induced global warming is not solid in its report, which is contrary to scientific consensus. At the very least this is not ``political right''. To examine more deeply, corporate citizenship requires organisations adapt to information they receive. ExxonMobil is really ignoring the information that most scientists and governments acknowledge that GHG is enhancing global warming significantly.
Besides, ExxonMobil this time neglects its duty as an educator. It is the organisation's responsibility to educate its employees and managers, as well as up- and down-stream partners about good and evil. Stating such irresponsible opinion in their report, they surely did something not so good.
Uncertainties? There may be. But ExxonMobil seems forget something called Precautionary Principle. Saying that GHG-led global warming lacks statistical proof gives people an impression that GHG emission reduction is not a pressing and crucial issue, which is a drawback from Montreal and Kyoto.
2006年9月28日星期四
又发现牛人了
这几天到处找点文献，免得下周见导师的时候没有话说。重新读了一遍 C. S. Holling 在1973年写的文章，Resilience and stability of ecological systems，才发现 resilience 这个概念好像是他首先提出来的。虽然他文章里没什么复杂的公式或定理，但是在所有人都在说生态系统应该稳定的时候，他反其道而行之，提出 stability 和 resilience 之间存在平衡，且平衡的位置随种群所在的环境的变化频率和幅度而变。不知道他当时是如何想到这个概念的，在我看来他的工作非常具有开创性。而且直到近几年他仍然活跃在生态学的研究中，写出了大量充满洞见的论文，实在令人景仰。读他的文章，可以感觉到其内容非常充实，而行文条理清楚，是我等应当学习的。
另外，用了很久 Shannon-Wiener 指数，才发现这个 Shannon 原来正是信息论的创始人，也小小地吃惊了一把。
另外，用了很久 Shannon-Wiener 指数，才发现这个 Shannon 原来正是信息论的创始人，也小小地吃惊了一把。
2006年9月26日星期二
Determine directions and scopes
I am going to start PhD program soon. However, the proposal I wrote in a haste do not help much in defining my study. I hope the study is ecology-oriented. I also understand that non-natural elements should also be addressed in the study. I just wonder how much social science should be involved in this project.
It is also important to realise that all my theories on sustainability so far are based on western discourse and neo-classical economistic models of rational human behaviour and response (Wynne, 1996). When studying an oriental/tibetan system such theories may not correctly reflect the problem.
It is also important to realise that all my theories on sustainability so far are based on western discourse and neo-classical economistic models of rational human behaviour and response (Wynne, 1996). When studying an oriental/tibetan system such theories may not correctly reflect the problem.
2006年9月25日星期一
9.3 — 9.24
因为做完了论文，又有7天在 Notts 没有房住，想了想干脆买了机票回国。在家里做了几天乖孩子，享受了一下荣华富贵，又到北京去“探亲访友”。
虽然之前决定把通知消息的人数控制在最低水平，但必须承认有人到机场接的感觉还是挺好的，觉得好像回家了一样。之后几天逛了不少地方，也见了不少人。买了几本书，没事的时候就和文盲一起去附近的小店里看书，一呆一整天，3天看完3本书，大概也是我看书最快的速度了。
在北京只呆了一星期，而这一星期的后几天又尤其具有戏剧性。对我来说是一个从失落到欣喜，从怀疑到坚信的过程。虽然最关键的话在最后才说出来，有些遗憾，但我仍然觉得这个过程和随之而来的等待都是美丽的。
虽然之前决定把通知消息的人数控制在最低水平，但必须承认有人到机场接的感觉还是挺好的，觉得好像回家了一样。之后几天逛了不少地方，也见了不少人。买了几本书，没事的时候就和文盲一起去附近的小店里看书，一呆一整天，3天看完3本书，大概也是我看书最快的速度了。
在北京只呆了一星期，而这一星期的后几天又尤其具有戏剧性。对我来说是一个从失落到欣喜，从怀疑到坚信的过程。虽然最关键的话在最后才说出来，有些遗憾，但我仍然觉得这个过程和随之而来的等待都是美丽的。
台湾清华彭明辉教授的研究生指导手册 « FORM AND MATTER
台湾清华彭明辉教授的研究生指导手册 « FORM AND MATTER
此文很有启发性。特别是对硕士论文的9点要求，感觉自己在平时写作的过程中并未特别注意。而如果这9点均能有意识地做到，论文的水平应该能有更大的提高。
此文很有启发性。特别是对硕士论文的9点要求，感觉自己在平时写作的过程中并未特别注意。而如果这9点均能有意识地做到，论文的水平应该能有更大的提高。
2006年9月24日星期日
五千英里
“这几天你怎么都不抱我一下呢？”首都机场的国际出港很不人性化，一进门面前就是海关，而送人的人也就只能走到这里了，连个像样的说话的地方都没有。快到那个门口的时候，我才第一次抱了 Amy，我眼前是她后背在川藏线上晒黑的皮肤，耳边是她这样的低语。我们两个大概阻塞了后面旅客的通路，但已经顾不得那许多了。
为什么没有抱一下呢？很长一段时间我都以为我不再相信爱情了，在拉萨不顾全队大局和强龙不压地头蛇的古训跟司机打架只是出于对队友的关心。但是在挑照片准备带出国的时候，挑的都是她的照片，后来将近一年的时间里，也没有断过联络，以致于每天下午四五点只要没事都在电脑前等着她的 id 蹦出来，聊些土豆白菜的话题。渐渐地不仅仅是朋友而已了吧，我常常这样想，特别是当我们聊到未来，聊到家的时候。
可是溜回国后，不知打电话给她该说些什么，见了面也只想跟她在一起，却想不出除了T大附近的书店，有什么合适的地方可以呆在一起。于是我们在书店和茶室里看书，几个小时也不说一句话，直到该去吃饭了，就去那些她在水木上描述过的各色餐馆。我模模糊糊地觉得，这样的生活，虽然平淡，也是我希求已久而不得的了。
就这么拖宕到要离开了，她把伴她走过川滇藏的护身符送给我。但就是在这时，我也没敢抱她一下。我当时不知道的是，自己相信是不够的，还得让她知道才行……
就这样，拥抱和表白姗姗来迟。十几个小时之后，我在五千英里之外，和她紧握过的左手手心里似乎还传来阵阵暖流。我知道我的心被拴在了她那里。
2006年9月2日星期六
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2006年8月30日星期三
2006年8月28日星期一
Chomsky 答 the Independent 读者问
很久没有买报纸了，下午为了准备搬家时的包装材料去买了一份 the Independent，在24－25版是 Noam Chomsky 回答读者提问的一个专栏。有些问题非常有趣，折射出了提问者的敏锐和回答者的睿智。Chomsky 的回答比大部分提问都更中庸，但也不乏对当权者，特别是美、以领导人的批评。Chomsky 的历史和社会学知识看来并不比他的专业语言学差多少，其历史水平可能比国内很多专业研究人员更好——至少我从未看到国内有人出版过从历史角度分析文化冲突的著作。
以下英文引用部分取自 the Independent 印刷版，2006年8月28日：Noam Chomsky: You Ask Questions。
看起来老先生比大多数人都更乐观。以色列目前在其占领区的活动确实是非法的和不道义的，但以色列人有可能放弃这片土地，回到给他们划定的狭小国土中去吗？丧失了约旦河西岸这样的战略要地后，以色列的生存能否保证？这个第一步的实现，需要一个更强大的国际社会压力和减小的美国影响，在目前的中东这两点都很难实现。
似乎是这位读者断章取义，误解了 Chomsky 论断的来源。他对于 Faurisson 定罪的论述很有趣，似乎认为从纯历史的角度，否认大屠杀并不构成种族主义，因此这个行为本身并不是对受害者的 the most gross insult 。而问题的关键在于国家是否具有决定历史的官方版本并禁止和惩罚任何其他版本存在的权力。规定官方版本的历史并不允许任何争辩，同时使用将个人特性与种族联系起来的手段，实际上是戈培尔式的行为，Chomsky 表示自己是不会那样做的。
这位读者的问题还是要赞一下的，确实不是每个人都能提得出来。
已经快忘了克林顿时代美国是如何对待中东国家和阿以冲突的了。但是可以肯定的是那时候的西方没有面对像今天这样迫切的“反恐”需要。“War on Terror" 今天看来更像是一场把美国拖入泥潭，让阿富汗和伊拉克人民才离虎口又入狼窝的战争。
Chomsky 在这段回答里提供了对全球化和反全球化的一种新看法。他认为全球化应该是服从各种各样人的利益，而不是仅仅有利于国家或私人的利益。我想他理想中的全球化是一种平等、民主的全球化，体现在尊重少数派的价值。他在这里没有提到多样性的问题，但我想这种思想和多样性的要求是一致的。
啥也不说了，一语中的。
这段论述非常有趣。我们一般认为民间自发组成的小团体，所谓 interest groups，是一种民众获得权力的表现，但 Chomsky 提出许多仅仅考虑自己利益的小团体实际上不能对政策产生什么影响力，因而对民间团体的分化实际上成了一种社会控制手段。所以，过度细分的利益团体面临失去影响力的危险。相比之下，秦晖提倡农村的传统认同，恢复家庭、宗族等传统群体的价值，是否也会给农民带来失语的危险呢？不过在农村没有传统认同而只有“全国一盘棋”的全局认同的时代，农民的利益也是不被政策所考虑的。所以，也许在共同价值认同的基础上，一个粒度适中的社会组织形式才最有利于各利益团体的思想表达和政策的公平。
以下英文引用部分取自 the Independent 印刷版，2006年8月28日：Noam Chomsky: You Ask Questions。
Can Israelis and Palestinians ever live peacefully together in one state?
-- MATTHEW PETERS, PHILADELPHIA
Perhaps, but it would have to be approached in stages. Since the 1970s, an international consensus has crystallised on the first stage: a two-state settlement on the internationally recognised borders, with minor and mutual adjustments. That has been barred by the US and Israel, with inconsequential departures. The US-Israel alliance is now working to undermine the option by their programs of "convergence": annexation, dismemberment, and imprisonment (by takeover of the Jordan Valley), cynically described as "courageous withdrawal". If these policies can be reversed, and the first stage achieved, then further steps are possible.
看起来老先生比大多数人都更乐观。以色列目前在其占领区的活动确实是非法的和不道义的，但以色列人有可能放弃这片土地，回到给他们划定的狭小国土中去吗？丧失了约旦河西岸这样的战略要地后，以色列的生存能否保证？这个第一步的实现，需要一个更强大的国际社会压力和减小的美国影响，在目前的中东这两点都很难实现。
You have said you see a "hint of anti-Semitic implication" in the work of Robert Faurisson, the notorious French Holocaust denier. Is Jewbaiting merely a hobby of yours, or is it vocational?
-- LAURENCE COLE, KENT
The facts and the principle have been spelled out dozens of times since 1980 (so it is a bit boring), but once again, briefly. The last time I had anything to do with this affair, Faurisson was accused of raising questions about gas chambers. Several years later, he was tried and sentenced for "Falsification of History", but there was no charge of Holocaust denial or anti-Semitism (according to Le Monde). The only issue concerning my connection with this sordid affair is whether we should adopt the Goebbels-Zhdanov doctrine that the State has the right to determine Historical Truth and punish deviation from it. As I wrote then, and am happy to repeat, it is a gross insult to the memory of victims of the Holocaust to adopt the doctrines of their murderers. The remark you are misrepresenting is from a personal letter -- an interesting source. It reviewed the facts and went on to point out that even denial of huge atrocities would not in itself be evidence for recism, giving a few of the many examples. Thus neither you, nor I, conclude that Americans are vicious racists because they estimate Vietnamese deaths at about 5 per cent of the offical figure, or because for centuries even scholarship vastly understated the scale and character of the destruction of the indigenous population. The point generalises to England and others, of course. There can be many reasons for denying horrendous crimes, even in the cases that are the most serious on moral grounds: our own. One special case--purely hypothetical in this personal correspondence--was that denial of the Holocaust would not establish anti-Semitism, for exactly the same reason.
似乎是这位读者断章取义，误解了 Chomsky 论断的来源。他对于 Faurisson 定罪的论述很有趣，似乎认为从纯历史的角度，否认大屠杀并不构成种族主义，因此这个行为本身并不是对受害者的 the most gross insult 。而问题的关键在于国家是否具有决定历史的官方版本并禁止和惩罚任何其他版本存在的权力。规定官方版本的历史并不允许任何争辩，同时使用将个人特性与种族联系起来的手段，实际上是戈培尔式的行为，Chomsky 表示自己是不会那样做的。
How did the current US administration get railroaded by the neo-cons?
-- EIRA TOVEY, AUSTRALIA
The neo-cons constitute a radical reactionary fringe of the planning spectrum, but the spectrum is narrow. Some of the more extreme -- Perle, Wolfowitz, Feith and others -- have been removed, with little policy change. The administration adopted neo-con principles when they accorded with their strategic and social/economic objectives, dismissing crazier ideas. A serious question is how the clique in charge used its extremely narrow hold on power to carry out radical domestic and international policies opposed by the large majority of the population. I've written about it, as have others, from various perspectives. One valuable study is Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson, Off Center.
Can the curtailment of personal freedoms and the heightened fear among many Western populations be compared to life in the years preceding the Second World War and is it an overstatement to imagine that current events are a precursor to another global conflict?
-- RAY LONG, DUBLIN
I'm sceptical about such comparisons. There is a serious risk of global conflict, but for different reasons. We should take seriously the judgement of prominent strategic analysts that current policies, particularly Bush administration aggressive militrarism, significantly increase the threat of "ultimate doom".
这位读者的问题还是要赞一下的，确实不是每个人都能提得出来。
Since American foreign policy in the Middle East has throughout history been primarily interventionist, do you think the War in Iraq was inevitable, even if Bush had not stolen the 2000 election?
-- DAVID KEELAGHAN, MONAGHAN, IRELAND
Not at all. There was unprecedented criticism of the war plans within elite sectors, compelling Bush-Blair to resort to considerable deceit to manipulate their countries into war. That aside, the US has been no more interventionist than Britain or France, often less so, as in 1956.
已经快忘了克林顿时代美国是如何对待中东国家和阿以冲突的了。但是可以肯定的是那时候的西方没有面对像今天这样迫切的“反恐”需要。“War on Terror" 今天看来更像是一场把美国拖入泥潭，让阿富汗和伊拉克人民才离虎口又入狼窝的战争。
The anti-globalisation movement, which you have lent your support to, appears to have run out of steam. Is this a lost battle?
-- DANNY CAMPBELL, CARDIFF
The term "globalisation" is conventionally used to refer to the specific form of investor-rights integration designed by wealth and power, for their own interests. The "anti-globalisation movement" is the most significant proponent of globalisation -- but in the interests of people, not concentrations of state-private power. The people from all over the world and all walks of life who meet annually in Porto Alegre, Mumbai, etc, are far more representative of globalisation than those who gather at the same time in Davos. This global justice movement is expanding in significant ways. Among the many illustrations is the proliferation of regional and local social forums, with similar concerns but focusing on more specific problems. Other illustations are the exciting developments taking place in South America. And their are many others.
Chomsky 在这段回答里提供了对全球化和反全球化的一种新看法。他认为全球化应该是服从各种各样人的利益，而不是仅仅有利于国家或私人的利益。我想他理想中的全球化是一种平等、民主的全球化，体现在尊重少数派的价值。他在这里没有提到多样性的问题，但我想这种思想和多样性的要求是一致的。
After all the lies about the "war on terror", why has nobody in America started procedures to impeach George Bush?
-- MARICARMEN SANDOVAL DE PASMANS, SINT ODILIENBERG, THE NETHERLANDS
There are several efforts, but there is unlikely to be any outcome in the absence of a genuine opposition party.
啥也不说了，一语中的。
Why do you suppose it is so difficult for us Americans to create a real citizens' movement as a proper counterweight to the administration's power?
-- HONORABLE ANNA TAYLOR, US DISTRICT COURT
The question is much too important for a brief answer. The level of activism is high, probably higher than the 1960s. But it is diffuse and not well-integrated. An ideal form of social control is an atomised collection of individuals focused on their own narrow concern, lacking the kinds of organisations in which they can gain information, develop and articulate their thoughts, and act constructively to achieve common ends. By many familiar mechanisms, that ideal has been approached in dangerous but not irreversible ways.
这段论述非常有趣。我们一般认为民间自发组成的小团体，所谓 interest groups，是一种民众获得权力的表现，但 Chomsky 提出许多仅仅考虑自己利益的小团体实际上不能对政策产生什么影响力，因而对民间团体的分化实际上成了一种社会控制手段。所以，过度细分的利益团体面临失去影响力的危险。相比之下，秦晖提倡农村的传统认同，恢复家庭、宗族等传统群体的价值，是否也会给农民带来失语的危险呢？不过在农村没有传统认同而只有“全国一盘棋”的全局认同的时代，农民的利益也是不被政策所考虑的。所以，也许在共同价值认同的基础上，一个粒度适中的社会组织形式才最有利于各利益团体的思想表达和政策的公平。
2006年8月25日星期五
Wired News: Refuse to be Terrorized
Wired News: Refuse to be Terrorized
这人跟我想到一块儿去了。前些日子我就想写一篇类似观点的 blog，只是当时英国警方的反应还不算过激。不过现在两个穆斯林打扮的人对了对表，全飞机乘客就忍受不了要求把他们赶下飞机，就真的有点过敏了。
恐怖活动的目的从来不是直接的杀伤，而是自下而上地打击一国民众的心理，从而造成政策的变化。而无端的恐惧正是中了恐怖分子的下怀。罗斯福早就说过“我们唯一应当害怕的就是恐惧本身”。如果因为这种恐惧，西方各国放弃了“自由，平等”的信条，变成民众整天互相猜忌，惶惶不可终日的警察国家，那才是恐怖主义的最大胜利。
这人跟我想到一块儿去了。前些日子我就想写一篇类似观点的 blog，只是当时英国警方的反应还不算过激。不过现在两个穆斯林打扮的人对了对表，全飞机乘客就忍受不了要求把他们赶下飞机，就真的有点过敏了。
恐怖活动的目的从来不是直接的杀伤，而是自下而上地打击一国民众的心理，从而造成政策的变化。而无端的恐惧正是中了恐怖分子的下怀。罗斯福早就说过“我们唯一应当害怕的就是恐惧本身”。如果因为这种恐惧，西方各国放弃了“自由，平等”的信条，变成民众整天互相猜忌，惶惶不可终日的警察国家，那才是恐怖主义的最大胜利。
2006年8月24日星期四
2006年8月18日星期五
A Scanner Darkly
Still of A Scanner Darkly. Courtesy of IMDb今天是这部电影在英国上画的日子，下午两点的电影，整个影厅中就坐了6、7个人。
Philip K. Dick 被搬上银幕的几部小说中，可能 A Scanner Darkly 和 Blade Runner 两部具有最多的相似点：都同样描绘了未来世界，颓废的人类社会和一手遮天的大财团。而主人公的精神状态也有相似之处：迷茫，自我怀疑，迟到的醒悟。不同的是 A Scanner Darkly 的主人公几乎完全不能控制自己的命运，就像在影片开始时他即使演讲也不能控制自己说什么，所以他更有悲剧色彩。
值得注意的是两部影片色调的异同。Blade Runner 几乎全片都在黑暗之中，主色调是蓝和灰，而 A Scanner Darkly 虽然充满了加州著名的金色阳光，却处处透着颓丧和绝望的气息，这种干涩无力的色调对刻画主人公及其同伴的精神状态起着重要的作用。另一个视觉上的重要元素自然是影片使用的 rotoscope animation。原作小说读后也让读者开始怀疑自己对现实的认知，那么电影如果要做到对小说的忠实重现，这一特点也应当保留下来。Rotoscoping 技术一方面保留了足够的现实感，一方面能够表现那种迷幻状态下人物的感觉，相比成本较低的纯动画或传统影片，确实能够更好地把观众带入一个真假难辨的世界。
影片基本上忠实地再现了小说的情节，都表现了对掌握先进技术却滥加应用的人类的忧虑。Scrambling suit 和高科技的监测手段是作品中唯一的科幻元素，对剧情的发展起着不可或缺的作用，但科幻元素只是手段。A Scanner Darkly 更多地把重心放在表现毒品对人类心灵的摧残乃至对整个社会的瓦解作用。Philip K. Dick 自己就曾有安非他明依赖，并与一群药物依赖者共同生活过，这可能使得他以一种自我解剖的心态来写作小说，因此使得小说具有一种特别的残酷和沉重感，并把这种感觉带入了电影中。
小说和影片也影射了其他的社会现实，例如大规模的监视。虽然这一点并没有表现出与影片主题的直接联系，但影片中一个角色说："The more surveillance we have, the more drug we use."而且影片也提到了吸毒者增加剂量的原因是巨大的压力，因此也许先进监视技术下人的异化和精神痛苦也是影片/小说所要探究的主题之一。
整部电影充斥着大量的长对白，艰深的名词解释和不断变换视角的画面语言，情节也是一波三折，因此非常晦涩难懂，只看一遍也许难以完全理解，就像 Keanu 七年前的 the Matrix 一样。但 A Scanner Darkly 整部电影里甚至只有三声枪响，所以非常不适合想看帅哥美女或者火爆场面的观众。但如果要进一步理解 Philip K. Dick 和他小说中反复出现的主题：迷茫的男主人公，恐怖的大型企业和神秘的、神经质的黑发女子，A Scanner Darkly 应该是值得一再品味的电影。
2006年8月11日星期五
Inching Toward Movement Ecology — Holden 313 (5788): 779 — Science
Inching Toward Movement Ecology -- Holden 313 (5788): 779 -- Science This issue of Science caught my eyes because the theme is migration and dispersal, which is somehow related to my dissertation topic. I find that I am tackling a topic which has very wide coverage and considerable influence in ecology studies. It is possible that I may continue research in this direction. However, I still think my work should be related to fragile ecosystems.
2006年8月5日星期六
Modelling work draws to the end
Today I managed to make both GRASPeR and CAPS produce sensible results (using the data I gave them). It seems that the high ground near the peak of bleaklow cannot produce much Sphagnum in the future. However, GRASPeR gives a more pessimistic prediction using data completely same as today's. I guess the reason is that I have too many "pseudo absence" data in my dataset, i.e. all sites where I did not visit or did not see Sphagnum were labelled "absence". I may need to randomly reduce the number of "absence" to a reasonable level. Besides, I would like to change the prediction dataset for the GRASPeR, see what if Peak District have more precipitation in the future? It would be interesting.
On the other hand, CAPS has even poorer documentation than GRASPeR. I need to ask the author why the replication number is limited and why the coverage drops drastically after certain years.
On the other hand, CAPS has even poorer documentation than GRASPeR. I need to ask the author why the replication number is limited and why the coverage drops drastically after certain years.
2006年8月4日星期五
有思想及其他
看到某科考队员的日记，有些句子挺生硬，似乎出自大人最害怕的那种小孩之手：他只有一套自己的是非标准，其余的一切都是不合理的，应当打破摒弃的。看了之后禁不住要回复说他两句，但同时也觉得，自己这样做也挺邪恶的。虽然他的很多看法很片面，但谁知道他也许就是那个喊“皇帝没有穿衣服”的小孩呢？看他的文字，觉得真有点像高中时候的自己，满心希望与这个自己并不喜欢的世界决裂，而且公开地表达这种意愿。现在虽然仍然不喜欢这样的世界，但已经接受了自己和世界的相互改变。
在苹果的预告片网站上看到有几部电影值得留意一下：阿尔莫多瓦的 ``Volver''， Dunst 的宫廷片 ``Marie Antoinette''，还有 Stone 的 WTC 和 Cage 的 the Wickerman。不太可能全看。最近打算去看 A Scanner Darkly，论文进展顺利，到这片子上画那天应该差不多完成草稿了。
豆瓣上多了个功能“我去”，看见它第一反应是想笑：这不是北方人表示 ft 的常用语么？看了一下，应该是游记攻略一类的功能，不太喜欢。在这种小资文青众多的网站上，它只怕又要蜕变成对无聊景点的蹩脚感慨的集散地，以及显摆资历的场所。
在苹果的预告片网站上看到有几部电影值得留意一下：阿尔莫多瓦的 ``Volver''， Dunst 的宫廷片 ``Marie Antoinette''，还有 Stone 的 WTC 和 Cage 的 the Wickerman。不太可能全看。最近打算去看 A Scanner Darkly，论文进展顺利，到这片子上画那天应该差不多完成草稿了。
豆瓣上多了个功能“我去”，看见它第一反应是想笑：这不是北方人表示 ft 的常用语么？看了一下，应该是游记攻略一类的功能，不太喜欢。在这种小资文青众多的网站上，它只怕又要蜕变成对无聊景点的蹩脚感慨的集散地，以及显摆资历的场所。
2006年7月31日星期一
There and back again
The GRASPeR simulation result is not very satisfying, the model can only explain about 30% of the variance. R2 is also not good. I do not know if this is an acceptable result and have to ask my supervisor.
On the other hand, I think CAPS can use actual map aside from randomly generated map. Thus I am considering turn back to CAPS again. To define habitat types and their suitability I need to find out what are the key variables determining Sphagnum suitability. This involves using cluster analysis and scoring of values. I'll do that tomorrow.
On the other hand, I think CAPS can use actual map aside from randomly generated map. Thus I am considering turn back to CAPS again. To define habitat types and their suitability I need to find out what are the key variables determining Sphagnum suitability. This involves using cluster analysis and scoring of values. I'll do that tomorrow.
2006年7月28日星期五
Peace, Propaganda & The Promised Land - Google Video
Peace, Propaganda & The Promised Land - Google Video
前十几分钟还以为是像 LC2E 那样的阴谋论电影，但整个看下来，觉得还是比较客观的。重要的是它提供了看待巴以冲突的另一个角度。
影片批评了美国媒体，表扬了英国媒体。前一段时间英国一个志愿者在耶路撒冷疑被以军故意枪杀，the Guardian 和 Independent 都做了报道，这事在美国会被压下来么？不好说。媒体从业人员也和我们搞环境的一样，要处理 stakeholder 和 pressure group 的问题。Journalists become part of politics, instead of monitoring it.
前十几分钟还以为是像 LC2E 那样的阴谋论电影，但整个看下来，觉得还是比较客观的。重要的是它提供了看待巴以冲突的另一个角度。
影片批评了美国媒体，表扬了英国媒体。前一段时间英国一个志愿者在耶路撒冷疑被以军故意枪杀，the Guardian 和 Independent 都做了报道，这事在美国会被压下来么？不好说。媒体从业人员也和我们搞环境的一样，要处理 stakeholder 和 pressure group 的问题。Journalists become part of politics, instead of monitoring it.
2006年7月27日星期四
GRASP-R documentation sucks…
I tried to use GRASPeR to predict presence today. The problem encountered is that when I use "Model" operation from the GUI, R (mgcv library) gives error message saying that the number of "knots" exceeds the maximum allowed value. It hints that I can get round this either by increasing maximum knots number using
, or by changing the smoother to other types instead of the default thin plate, using
function in
command. However, I found that with GRASPeR I cannot change these values. It seems that GRASPeR defined these values as default but I cannot find where to modify them.The documentation of GRASPeR gives only usage of GUI and functions provided by it. No troubleshooting section, no file format description, no description of dependency. I am really mad about it.I downloaded the source code of GRASPeR, see if I can get round my problem by modifying the source and recompile. If not, I will have to use some more primitive methods, such as typying command one by one by myself
gam.control
, or by changing the smoother to other types instead of the default thin plate, using
s
function in
gam
command. However, I found that with GRASPeR I cannot change these values. It seems that GRASPeR defined these values as default but I cannot find where to modify them.The documentation of GRASPeR gives only usage of GUI and functions provided by it. No troubleshooting section, no file format description, no description of dependency. I am really mad about it.I downloaded the source code of GRASPeR, see if I can get round my problem by modifying the source and recompile. If not, I will have to use some more primitive methods, such as typying command one by one by myself
2006年7月21日星期五
Two biggest problems solved
My last field trip seems to be a success overall. I have proved the link between signatures, waterhead and Sphagnum presence. Thus I can determine from remote sensing images the locations of Sphagnum patches. Actually I just finished marking those patches on a ArcGIS map today.
Next, I will do the same to the 2003 data so they can be used to validate the model. On the other hand, I need more understanding of the GRASP model and R software package. This will occupy most of my time in the following period.
I heard from one of my group fellows during my undergraduate dissertation that they are going to publish a paper based on my dissertation on a journal. That will be my first published work. Very exciting indeed.
Next, I will do the same to the 2003 data so they can be used to validate the model. On the other hand, I need more understanding of the GRASP model and R software package. This will occupy most of my time in the following period.
I heard from one of my group fellows during my undergraduate dissertation that they are going to publish a paper based on my dissertation on a journal. That will be my first published work. Very exciting indeed.
2006年7月10日星期一
居然又有点感动……江南这家伙
上次在 T 大环境系 BBS 本班的版面上看江南《此间的少年》，有那么点感动，尤其是跟他笔下的“萧峰”对号入座之后。时隔一年（还是两年？）之后，闲来无事看江南的《上海堡垒》，居然又有些感动——我就这么被一个网络写手的两篇YY小说感动了两次，诸位看官尽情地鄙视我吧。
其实从名字就能看出《上海堡垒》是对 Macross 的某种模仿。看完第一节后就更觉得像了。还好江南聪明地没有把主人公设定成飞行员而是设定成技术员，不然众多 Macross 的 fans 肯定直接回去重温动画原作去了。不过这模仿还是挺妙，至少上海的地名揉进小说里都不显得太突兀。
故事情节方面，我尽量避免 spoil，感觉剧情完全为人物的感情服务了，很难说有什么特色，不过今天重看 Macross 大概也难免这样想。有些场面还是很抓人的，我读的时候好像忘记了自己面对的是17寸的 LCD，倒好像真的身临其境了。不过，说起来感动我的——不好意思——还是那让人对号入座的感情啊～
江南的这两部YY小说里都有个男主人公，嗯……，当然还有男主人公求之不得的女角——原谅我不能说女主角，那不符合 YY小说的定义，求之而可得就不是YY小说了——以及男主角最后㒇然回首才在灯火阑珊处发现的那个真正爱她的女角（原谅我还是不能说女主角，跟现实生活一样，那女孩子一开始根本没引起木瓜脑袋的男主角和一心YY的读者的注意……），然后就是男主角仗义又有点吊儿郎当的哥们儿，以及他们不可缺少的热血……这么一想两部小说还真是有点像啊……扯远了。有人8g说两部小说里，王语嫣和路依依都有个同样的发卡。也许这两人都有江南认识的某人的影子，也许我们在这里面都能找到自己和其他一些人的影子……
我就因此在空无一人的学校机房里流下了两行蛇的眼泪……诸位再次无情地鄙视我吧。
其实从名字就能看出《上海堡垒》是对 Macross 的某种模仿。看完第一节后就更觉得像了。还好江南聪明地没有把主人公设定成飞行员而是设定成技术员，不然众多 Macross 的 fans 肯定直接回去重温动画原作去了。不过这模仿还是挺妙，至少上海的地名揉进小说里都不显得太突兀。
故事情节方面，我尽量避免 spoil，感觉剧情完全为人物的感情服务了，很难说有什么特色，不过今天重看 Macross 大概也难免这样想。有些场面还是很抓人的，我读的时候好像忘记了自己面对的是17寸的 LCD，倒好像真的身临其境了。不过，说起来感动我的——不好意思——还是那让人对号入座的感情啊～
江南的这两部YY小说里都有个男主人公，嗯……，当然还有男主人公求之不得的女角——原谅我不能说女主角，那不符合 YY小说的定义，求之而可得就不是YY小说了——以及男主角最后㒇然回首才在灯火阑珊处发现的那个真正爱她的女角（原谅我还是不能说女主角，跟现实生活一样，那女孩子一开始根本没引起木瓜脑袋的男主角和一心YY的读者的注意……），然后就是男主角仗义又有点吊儿郎当的哥们儿，以及他们不可缺少的热血……这么一想两部小说还真是有点像啊……扯远了。有人8g说两部小说里，王语嫣和路依依都有个同样的发卡。也许这两人都有江南认识的某人的影子，也许我们在这里面都能找到自己和其他一些人的影子……
我就因此在空无一人的学校机房里流下了两行蛇的眼泪……诸位再次无情地鄙视我吧。
再次诅咒万恶的 Windoze
周六下午本来风平浪静，正在 chat 的时候突然 qterm 不动了，然后 gtalk 和 msn 相继表示我被踢下了线。等了很久，再试图连接，还是失败。
估计是学校 Information Service 在升级路由，于是等了一夜，第二天却依然如故。纳闷之余翻出一张 Ubuntu 的 LiveCD 试验了一下，居然可以上网，只是连接时断时续。于是重新装了 Debian —— 可惜我的 FreeBSD 才装好没多久，又要格式化了。当天下午重回互联网。
虽然如此，gtalk 隔几分钟就断线，qterm 不时地发呆，在加上从学校机房连自己的机器也是断断续续，总之还是不爽。于是试着 traceroute，没有什么结果。猜想是不是什么人在攻击我的机器，就装了 ethereal 抓包。看了一下掉线前后的记录，发现有两个 MAC 地址，一个 Cisco 的，一个三星的，都在争着说“我是10.3.1.1！”（那是我所在网段的网关）。可怜我还以为三星的那个地址是新的网关，于是用 arp -s 把它指定到 10.3.1.1 上，立即断网没商量，现在想起来真是猪头啊。
重新 arp -s 10.3.1.1 到正确的 MAC 地址上，各种服务立马正常了。那个三星的网卡这两天一直在不停地发欺骗数据包，它的地址也通过 arp 得到了，原来离我不远，想必是某人的三星笔记本感染病毒了……都是 Windows 惹的祸，还让我把 FreeBSD 格式化了……不过似乎 FreeBSD 接收假的 ARP 数据包后就认准它就是网关，真网关的 ARP 它也不认了，所以当时在 FreeBSD 下我也没法通过 ethereal 抓包，这重装系统浪费的时间只好当交学费了。
估计是学校 Information Service 在升级路由，于是等了一夜，第二天却依然如故。纳闷之余翻出一张 Ubuntu 的 LiveCD 试验了一下，居然可以上网，只是连接时断时续。于是重新装了 Debian —— 可惜我的 FreeBSD 才装好没多久，又要格式化了。当天下午重回互联网。
虽然如此，gtalk 隔几分钟就断线，qterm 不时地发呆，在加上从学校机房连自己的机器也是断断续续，总之还是不爽。于是试着 traceroute，没有什么结果。猜想是不是什么人在攻击我的机器，就装了 ethereal 抓包。看了一下掉线前后的记录，发现有两个 MAC 地址，一个 Cisco 的，一个三星的，都在争着说“我是10.3.1.1！”（那是我所在网段的网关）。可怜我还以为三星的那个地址是新的网关，于是用 arp -s 把它指定到 10.3.1.1 上，立即断网没商量，现在想起来真是猪头啊。
重新 arp -s 10.3.1.1 到正确的 MAC 地址上，各种服务立马正常了。那个三星的网卡这两天一直在不停地发欺骗数据包，它的地址也通过 arp 得到了，原来离我不远，想必是某人的三星笔记本感染病毒了……都是 Windows 惹的祸，还让我把 FreeBSD 格式化了……不过似乎 FreeBSD 接收假的 ARP 数据包后就认准它就是网关，真网关的 ARP 它也不认了，所以当时在 FreeBSD 下我也没法通过 ethereal 抓包，这重装系统浪费的时间只好当交学费了。
Nerdy 分数上涨……
我够无聊，其实只是为了证明自己比某斯伦贝谢现场工程师更 nerdy：
Overall, you scored as follows:
6% scored higher (more nerdy), and
94% scored lower (less nerdy).
What does this mean? Your nerdiness is:
Supreme Nerd. Apply for a professorship at MIT now!!!.
| For your nerdy work, |
2006年7月7日星期五
A direction determined
After I transformed the waterhead drawdown graph, the classification result and the locations of known Sphagnum to ArcGIS raster format and combined them in one map, I am glad to find that there *is* good agreement between waterhead drawdown, vegetation type and Sphagnum distribution. Most Sphagnum patches are located in cells defined as "not dry". However, I cannot tell what is the exact line between "dry" and "not dry".
The absence of Sphagnum gives poorer result, I guess this is because I did not find some patches in the areas, but Sphagnum can in fact establish in some of them.
Next, I need to find out the width of Sphagnum habitat in terms of hydrology conditions. Then I can do remote sensing prediction for data of both 2003 and 2005, then determine the trend and the usability of GRASP model.
The absence of Sphagnum gives poorer result, I guess this is because I did not find some patches in the areas, but Sphagnum can in fact establish in some of them.
Next, I need to find out the width of Sphagnum habitat in terms of hydrology conditions. Then I can do remote sensing prediction for data of both 2003 and 2005, then determine the trend and the usability of GRASP model.
2006年7月5日星期三
Interesting and encouraging result
Yesterday I decided to simplify the hydrology model which is used to determine habitat suitability, because I noticed that water table changes in and below the 3rd layer are meaningless in the model. Thus I made a new one similar to the original one but with only 3 layers. The 1st layer defined as peat layer and is unconfined; the 2nd defined as mineral soil, confined/unconfined with variable transmissivity; the 3rd defined as a receiver of water.
A simulation of 7 days shows that new model has less discrepancy than the old one. After I extended the simulated time to 900 days the discrepancy is even smaller, maybe due to more stable storage of water. The waterhead drawdown shows that most Sphagnum patches I found in field survey have smaller drawdown (< 1m). This result is useful because it can help improve remote sensing classification.
A simulation of 7 days shows that new model has less discrepancy than the old one. After I extended the simulated time to 900 days the discrepancy is even smaller, maybe due to more stable storage of water. The waterhead drawdown shows that most Sphagnum patches I found in field survey have smaller drawdown (< 1m). This result is useful because it can help improve remote sensing classification.
2006年7月3日星期一
Plan changed a lot
The field trip shows that the distribution of Sphagnum may be related to multiple varibles, or factors, including vegetation, waterhead drawdown and possibly elevation. If there is a river nearby, it is very possible for a point with suitable vegetation to have Sphagnum presence. But a general rule of prediction cannot be deducted from these information so far.
However, I think now I have enough presence data to get a better classification of images, which can serve as initial condition and comparison reference. On the other hand, the MODFLOW model can be improved using thinner peat layer. Then the vegetation, hydrology and elevation data can be input into GRASP to get predictions.
However, I think now I have enough presence data to get a better classification of images, which can serve as initial condition and comparison reference. On the other hand, the MODFLOW model can be improved using thinner peat layer. Then the vegetation, hydrology and elevation data can be input into GRASP to get predictions.
2006年6月24日星期六
在英国看《霍元甲》
我住的地方附近中国人不少，原以为很多中国人会来看这电影，结果放映厅里四成的上座率，只有我一个“老外”，感觉有些奇怪──我在英国人的地盘上，和他们看一部国产的功夫电影。
最不好受的时刻，是片头字幕提到100年前的中国人被称为“东亚病夫”， 在国内看可能不觉得怎样，跟一群英国人同处一室，看见这样的描述，就有些五味杂陈了。也许除了功夫片和经济增长率，中国还应该有其他的方式用来向世界介绍自己。
在国内被人诟病最多的说教，在这里好像倒不是太令人反感……大概是片子被剪了几段的缘故。不过霍元甲之母陈氏的一段大特写说教似乎没动，但是“仁义道德”四字没有翻译。月慈（？）的说教大约也就保留了插秧那一段，不过这么有《读者》风味的话从一个清末苗疆的村姑嘴里说出来，感觉还是有些突兀。其实关于为何习武以及比试的意义何在，我以为在多年前的《精武英雄》里已经 阐释得够清楚。
至于武戏，还是霍元甲与秦爷的较量拍得最为冷峻而有气势。武侠电视剧和电影里的刀剑，在这之前再如何刀光耀眼，剑气纵横，给人的感觉都只是一件道具。《霍元甲》里的这场双刀对决，才拍出了武打片里久违的力量感，才真正显得那是一件可以致命的兵器。演员的表演也不再是像相互喂招，而是真正有了生死相搏的沉重感。后来两人酒窖里的打斗，更是没有半点花招，比《方世玉》的观赏性差了不是一点半点，但这才是以命相搏的感觉。类似的感觉以前看李小龙的时候有一些，不过他的电影里对手似乎都缺乏他的凶狠，谈不上势均力敌，所以紧张感不如《霍元甲》。
其他的武戏，基本上都拍出了各种流派的特点。虽然没有哪一场的紧张激烈程度及得上霍 vs. 秦，也不如十年前的陈真 vs. 藤田刚，但确实无法再苛求太多──要再好看就只有上特技了。
这戏里外国对手们大都很讲体育道德，比许多年前电视剧里的那些外国大力士们好多了，也许不这样就没法在海外发行吧 XD，不过有人说得有道理：一代宗师，他的对手也必然不应该是些狗苟之辈。
一开始小霍元甲练武，农劲荪写字的地方和后来的苗疆，我疑心都是南方的农村，秀丽婉约，我很喜欢。
最不好受的时刻，是片头字幕提到100年前的中国人被称为“东亚病夫”， 在国内看可能不觉得怎样，跟一群英国人同处一室，看见这样的描述，就有些五味杂陈了。也许除了功夫片和经济增长率，中国还应该有其他的方式用来向世界介绍自己。
在国内被人诟病最多的说教，在这里好像倒不是太令人反感……大概是片子被剪了几段的缘故。不过霍元甲之母陈氏的一段大特写说教似乎没动，但是“仁义道德”四字没有翻译。月慈（？）的说教大约也就保留了插秧那一段，不过这么有《读者》风味的话从一个清末苗疆的村姑嘴里说出来，感觉还是有些突兀。其实关于为何习武以及比试的意义何在，我以为在多年前的《精武英雄》里已经 阐释得够清楚。
至于武戏，还是霍元甲与秦爷的较量拍得最为冷峻而有气势。武侠电视剧和电影里的刀剑，在这之前再如何刀光耀眼，剑气纵横，给人的感觉都只是一件道具。《霍元甲》里的这场双刀对决，才拍出了武打片里久违的力量感，才真正显得那是一件可以致命的兵器。演员的表演也不再是像相互喂招，而是真正有了生死相搏的沉重感。后来两人酒窖里的打斗，更是没有半点花招，比《方世玉》的观赏性差了不是一点半点，但这才是以命相搏的感觉。类似的感觉以前看李小龙的时候有一些，不过他的电影里对手似乎都缺乏他的凶狠，谈不上势均力敌，所以紧张感不如《霍元甲》。
其他的武戏，基本上都拍出了各种流派的特点。虽然没有哪一场的紧张激烈程度及得上霍 vs. 秦，也不如十年前的陈真 vs. 藤田刚，但确实无法再苛求太多──要再好看就只有上特技了。
这戏里外国对手们大都很讲体育道德，比许多年前电视剧里的那些外国大力士们好多了，也许不这样就没法在海外发行吧 XD，不过有人说得有道理：一代宗师，他的对手也必然不应该是些狗苟之辈。
一开始小霍元甲练武，农劲荪写字的地方和后来的苗疆，我疑心都是南方的农村，秀丽婉约，我很喜欢。
2006年6月18日星期日
One small tiny grainy milestone
Yesterday I thought I made some sensible results from the model I am working on. However, today I realised that the water head exceeding land surface is a kind of scenario: you have intact peat layers but no vegetation at all, thus no interception of moisture by plants, nor enhanced storage by Sphagnum. Besides, I should assume a constant head layer below all layers so the precipitation can finally be received at this depth. Though adding this layer do not change the flooding at the surface, I think this model illustrates the influence of topography -- some areas with high elevation will eventually go dry.
The most important thing for Sphagnums, cannot be found out at this layer. For them to grow, the peat layer must have water present. The critical problem thus is the water head in the acrotelm. Thus I made another model with only two layers: one acrotelm and one constant head (a reservoir) below it. The simulation shows how deep water draws down in different locations. I'll try tomorrow make it a transient model so I can observe the process.
At this moment I think I will forget about that model for one night and do something else for a change.
The most important thing for Sphagnums, cannot be found out at this layer. For them to grow, the peat layer must have water present. The critical problem thus is the water head in the acrotelm. Thus I made another model with only two layers: one acrotelm and one constant head (a reservoir) below it. The simulation shows how deep water draws down in different locations. I'll try tomorrow make it a transient model so I can observe the process.
At this moment I think I will forget about that model for one night and do something else for a change.
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