Things I have to post here

This is what I've been thinking about Chinese government. I did something about computer science when I was in high school and encountered a great deal of trouble accessing some overseas academic websites. GOD-DAMNED xxx! My being posting this isn't because I'm in Australia and I'm looking down on something in China, I've been having this sort of feeling for several years when I was interested in computer science but suffered from the very strictly control of media in China. No one would like hat except the government! They control what people should know and what they can know, which is to blame despite the fact that I'm Chinese as well.


'Citizen journalism' battles the Chinese censors FROM http://www.abc.net.au/

Reporters Without Borders says the Chinese Government finds ways of blocking or censoring content - including the website of the press freedom group itself (File photo). (AFP: Frederic J Brown)

In the strictly controlled media world of China, "citizen journalism" is beating a way through censorship, breaking taboos and offering a pressure valve for social tensions.

In one striking example this month, the Internet was largely responsible for breaking open a slave scandal in two Chinese provinces that some local authorities had been complicit in.

A letter posted on the Internet by 400 parents of children working as slaves in brickyards was the trigger for the national press to finally report on the scandal, which some rights groups say had been going on for years.

The parents' Internet posting was part of a growing phenomenon for marginalised people in China who can not otherwise have their complaints addressed by the traditional, government-controlled press.

Beijing-based dissident Liu Xiaobo was one of the student leaders of the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy protests.

"The phenomenon of 'citizen journalism' suddenly arrived several years ago," he said.

"Since the appearance of blogs in particular, every blog is a new platform for the spread of information."

He cited the example of a couple in the south-western city of Chongqing who became known as the "Stubborn Nails" in April because they refused to leave their home until they received adequate compensation from the property developer who wanted them out.

They quickly became household names in China - and symbols of resistance against greedy land developers and corrupt local authorities - mainly thanks to Internet postings.

"That case was first revealed through blogs," Mr Liu said.

Also in Chongqing, parts of the city were this month set on fire following the beating of flower sellers by the "chengguan", city police charged with "cleaning up" the city's roads.

Witnesses to the beatings had appealed to local television journalists, but nothing was broadcast.

The incident only became known outside the city thanks to photos and stories published on the Internet, sparking anger among China's netizens.

"It's fascism," said one, while another mocked: "The inhabitants of Chongqing are truly naive, the Chinese media is all controlled by the Communist Party, they decide what people know."

Several days later, another blunder by the "chengguan" - this time in Zhengzhou in central Henan province, again targeted at a street seller - provoked further riots.

The image of protesters surrounding a police car, captured by a mobile phone, made its way round the world, after being posted on Chinese movie sharing site Tudou, then reposted on YouTube.

Elsewhere across China, protesters often seek to post on the Internet photos or videos of unrest to counter the versions from the state-run press and local authorities, who usually downplay or deny the events.

Recognising the threat of China's growing online community, Chinese President Hu Jintao called in January for the Internet to be "purified", and the Government has since launched a number of online crackdowns.

"The department of propaganda has sent out regulations to try and control the opinions being spread on the Internet, but every citizen has the right to criticise or to take part in public affairs on the Internet," said Zhu Dake, a professor at Shanghai Tongji University.

"The government has to accept the criticisms of the people, it can no longer react crudely like in the past."

Julien Pain, who monitors Internet freedom issues for Reporters Without Borders, is less optimistic.

"One cannot truly say that the Internet in China is becoming more and more free, because at the same time as the development of citizen journalists, the government finds ways of blocking or censoring content," Pain said.

Reporters Without Borders, which labels the Chinese Government an "enemy of the Internet", says about 50 cyber dissidents are currently behind bars in China.

Life will be harsh

I had been thinking about whether Maths B was suitable for me as a computer science student and I hadn't had one elective subject chosen. So I made an appointment with Louise Walker, who's my course adviser today at 11.

I hadn't know she worked all day even on holiday before she told me so. Well, the reason I was here today was that I had been told by my maths tutor that there were few people choosing Maths B each year. So I was wondering if this subject was good enough. However, Louise told me Maths B was definitely the best maths subject for computer science students. Hence I wouldn't have any doubts after the authority's announcement. For the unchosen subject, Louise asked me a question, which was really hard for me, "Do you wanna learn or wanna get a good mark?" I wanted to get good marks cos I wanted to take the honours study. Having said that, I wanted to learn something cos I thought uni was the only good opportunity that I could learn without worrying about anything else too much. So I told her I wanted to learn after 20 seconds' thinking. Then she recommended me philosophy, history and xxx (I forgot what it was at the moment). After tossing around a bit, I finally replaced Managing People and Organization which I had chosen before semester 1 by a philosophy subject - Great Ideas in Philosophy, and added another ESL subject - Academic English 1.

That means I will be struggling a great deal next semester cos the assessment of both subjects involves a lot of essay writing. For Academic English 2, there will be a 700 word assignment 20% (due mid semester), a 1500 word assignment 35% (due at the end of the semester) and an oral presentation of 800 words 25% (due at the end of the semester). For the philosophy subject, there will be a written assignment of 500 words 10% (due early in the semester), a written assignment of 1500 words 40% (due mid semester), a 2-hour written examination (not open-book) 47% (due at the end of semester) and tutorial participation 3%. These are just half of my work during semester, I will also be doing advanced maths and algorithmic problem solving, which will also take a lot of time. I will be having a harsh life in the second half of the year definitely. Essay writing is scary, because it took me sooooo long to get my essay for Academic English 1 done satisfactorily last semester. I worked on the draft for weeks, but needed to start it over again after the first evaluation, which took me another week to rearrange it and added something new to it. That's was really a nightmare and don wanna see it again. Hope everything goes well.

So I'm going to take maths and algorithms a bit seriously on winter holiday, wishing I would be struggling less with it when I'm overwhelmed with piles of assignments and homework. I've been relaxing for almost two weeks, which is quite enough I reckon cos I feel really bored. Let's get to work!

It's good to be 3

It's REALLY cold today. I sat outside a cafe with Steve, wishing I could enjoy the warmth of estival breezes.

I couldn't have been busier these days, looking for housing for someone who has just arrived in Melbourne, playing games late at night in my friend's house in Brunswick, seeking course advice from Louise and tossing around with different broadband companies and plans, etc. Thank God I went to see Ocean Thirteen with Steve this afternoon despite the fact that the movie really sucked. I hadn't noticed that there was a cinema in Melbourne Central, cos I hadn't been upstairs before. For me, it was totally a train station, nothing else, oh yeah, Coles as well. What's more, I discovered a good place on Collin Street. That's a street crossing Collin and the one which is parallel to Collin on the east where there are a lot of cafes and restaurants around.

Well, as to Ocean Thirteen, it was, in my opinion, a letdown, cos I almost fell asleep while watching. I wanted to watch it because I knew Matt would be inside. The only thing that impressed me was that those guys could understand each other even if they were speaking different languages. An old FBI tale, together with old style filming, which took me back to 1970's, was really a waste of money and time. Matt thimbleriged me into spending $12.5 on the crap:(, which is pretty shitty. So if you haven't seen it, don't ever try to get a ticket.

Do you fancy a snow trip? I'm going a few days before the semester starts. If any of you guys feels like it, sms me or send me an email. Hope everything is going well for all of you.

PS this is from the email I received from Melbourne Universe:
"It costs $80 (very very very cheap), and that includes food, accommodation and petrol for the three days; we're having a day of skiing/snowboarding/taboganning/throwing
snow at people, with snowboarding and skiing costing an extra $100ish, and toboganning an extra $30."
And also, the quote "marvelous chef" Lara will be joining the trip to provide us with her culinary expertise according to the email. I don't know who this guy is by the way.

exam period -> winter recess

Exams over! However, i'm screwed, which has been making me so miserable. I had thought getting an H1 for programming was pretty easy, but it turned out that i had underestimated it. Anyway, it's over. Let's have a celebration!

These are pics i took today while revising programming stuff in ICT. I found photo booth really a great hilarious tool on MAC.

A new section

I've set up a new section on this blog - DAILY UPDATE.

It contains:
(1) ABC morning news including current affairs and controversial issues in Australia.
(2) A new word a day from Merriam-Webster. Precise explanation and examples are provided. It's worth the effort to take it a bit seriously.

I've been preparing for final exams recently, so got a lot of things to do. Hope you guys are doing well. Hmmm.. is there any outdoor activity? I'd be up for that - just give me a buzz. I've got no credit...

I'm looking for a snazzy phone model by the way, kind of wanna sign a three contract. Feel free to put forward your suggestion! Any comment would be appreciated!

At last, these are some pictures I took today in an ICT lab: