求之三

Java is a case-sensitive programming language, which means it differentiates lower case letters from upper case letters. While marking an exam answer script for a Java-based course some days ago, I came across this statement:

My small letter sometimes look like capital letter. This will not happen if I use computer.

I think my students are getting more creative in avoiding losing marks in their exam nowadays. Apart from writing something on their answer scripts, one student even sent me an e-card with this message:


Dear Lecturer,
I am a student from Faculty of Science Computer & Information Technology.
I would like to thank you for teaching me this semester.
I am so excited because this is my last semester for all subjects!
I am going for interview for software engineer job at the telecom(m)unicat(i)on firm!
Thank you so much for every lesson U hav(e) taught me!
Than(k)s for being the most sporting, dedicated and fun lecturer!
Hope that I will always remember and apply all the lessons from U!
Hope I can score pointer 3.5 above for the last time and impressed the interviewers!
Lastly, All The Best For Us!

A few days later, the student sent me another e-card with similar message. If I could deduct the student's marks for such "harassment", I think I would. However, I couldn't :(

Then I came across another message:

Hopefully I can make it this time.

(signature)

Obviously, this is a repeating student. Luckily, the student did quite well this time.

Nevertheless, as usual, there are some funny messages appear on the answer booklets. For example:

P/S: I am really sorry, I know what to do for each question, but I don't remember the coding.

蛇鼠一窝

我星期二傍晚有教课，偶尔会听到课室天花板上有物体移动的声音，不过一直以来都相安无事。

昨天，那声音又响起，然后就有一团灰褐色的东西从天花板上掉了下来，落在课室前的桌子。一只好大的老鼠出现在那儿，用戒惧的眼神望着我，伺机而动。班上一下子骚动起来，一个学生站起来试图把老鼠赶走；另外两个坐在靠近老鼠落下位置的学生，早已吓得尖声大叫；其他坐在后面的学生也立刻起身，以防老鼠“袭击”他们。然后，其中一个学生发一声喊，冲出课室。老鼠也“咻”地跳下桌子，钻到角落的一堆椅子底下。一场“骚乱”才逐渐平息。

老鼠怎会掉下来呢？原来是冷气机的排气管漏水，为免水积聚在天花板上而把天花板压塌，漏水处的那一片天花板就被移开了。结果天花板没塌下来，倒是老鼠从天花板的那一个洞掉了下来。这阴差阳错的因果关系还真有趣。

好了，题目上的“蛇鼠一窝”又是怎么一回事？

上个星期，我的同事和保安人员就在学院的范围内，抓到一条大蟒蛇。所以你看，这不是蛇鼠一窝之地吗？

如释重负

2009年3月20日，己丑年二月廿三，傍晚7点09分，电话那头宣布了期待已久的答案。回首，走过这段长长征途的脚步虽重，却怎么也不比心里的压力来得重。今天刚好是春分，但愿也是自己一个新季节的开始。

酷·哭

这个小孩，有时很酷……

有时让你想哭……

十天

过去的十天，妈妈不在。除了周日的白天，爸爸得独自照顾妍妍：冲凉、喂奶、喂米糊、换尿布、“如厕”、哄睡觉、陪玩耍。感谢妍妍的配合，让爸爸在疼你之余，也有被你疼爱的感觉。感谢上天的恩赐，让爸爸有妍相伴，在被郁闷的情绪压得就快透不过气时，还有一些慰藉。

将来你长大了，或许不会记得这些片段。爸爸也不知道，能疼你到什么时候，或许到时你还会嫌爸爸烦，一颗心就向着爸爸的假想敌。然而，爸爸珍惜过去与现在和你在一起的每一天。

突然间，一丝伤感在快乐中升起……是爸爸想太多了吗？

Student Protesters

Can you ever imagined this was an email sent to departmental staff and students by the head of a university department? (Some details are hidden so that the department's identity is not unveiled.)

***********************************************************************************
We currently have a group of student protesters occupying Level 5 of (name of a building). They are protesting about our involvement in military research. See (a URL).

I have been advised by security that they are not violent or destructive and we should just let them occupy level 5 and allow them to access toilet facilities on level 4. University security staff will be present at all times. The lift in (name of the building) will be out of use unless needed in an emergency.

If you receive an enquiry from the press about this occupation please refer them to (name of a person), Director of Corporate Communications: (phone number and email address)

Please do not do anything to provoke a hostile reaction.

Thanks,
(HoD)
***********************************************************************************

Well, this happens only in some countries, and definitely, not ours. Isn't this a good example on risk/crisis management?