Archive for January, 2007
轉載：「一月效應」又應驗?
轉載 [ 案內人隨筆：不要給經濟數據騙了 ]
Can you apply what you learned about statistics in your daily life?
轉載 [ 案內人隨筆：不要給經濟數據騙了 ]
一氧化二氫
科技的進步，一方面提高人類生活質素，另一方面卻提供了偽科學發展的溫床。只要在產品名字之中加入科學詞彙，再編造一套「科學理論」，配合無遠弗屆的廣告宣傳，對科學一知半解的廣大民眾很容易會被騙上當。這些科學詞彙十分豐富，人們早就熟悉，能夠道出其中真正意思的人卻不多。較常見的有「有機」、「能量」、「電波」、「紅外線」、「紫外光」、「電磁波」、「磁場」、「納米」（或「奈米」）、「共震」、「分子」、「因子」、「離子」、「電解質」、「活性」、「水溶性」、「遺傳工程」、「基因」等。
今天 SCIA01 課堂上提到的「一氧化二氫」，就是由科學家構想出來的例子，以諷刺上述的社會現象。科學家呼籲停用這種學名為 Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) （另一個名稱是氫氧化氫 (Hydrogen Hydroxide)）的化合物，因為此化合物有以下害處：
- 氣管吸入 DHMO 會造成危險。
- 長時間接觸固態的 DHMO 會導致身體組織損毀。
- 過量攝取會導致身體不適。
- DHMO 是酸雨的主要成份。
- 氣態的 DHMO 會令皮膚嚴重灼傷。
- 侵蝕泥土。
- 令很多金屬被腐蝕或發生氧化作用。
- 進入電力系統中會引起短路。
- 減弱煞車系統的效能。
- 導致致命的風災。
- DHMO 的溫度變化是造成厄爾尼諾現象的元兇，令全球天氣反常。
如此「罪大惡極」，早就應該全世界禁止使用吧？萬萬不可，因為這個 Dihydrogen Monoxide，就是由兩個氫原子和一個氧原子組成的、我們的生命之源：水。
The 20+ ultimate ways to fail a course
Students usually want to get an A, but in case you want an F, here are a few useful tips for you:
Classes
- Skip as many classes as possible to avoid learning anything unintentionally.
- Sleep in class.
- Do not sign the attendance record, and do not let others sign it for you.
- Be late for every class. This requires very good time management skills.
- Come to the class not prepared.
Course work
- Do not submit any homework.
- If you want to submit something, copy from your friends.
- Submit the homework late just to make sure that the teacher won’t accept it.
- Do not write your name on the assignment, or use a false identity, just to make sure that the teacher won’t recognize who turned it in.
Revision
- Never read the text book, or, better still, do not buy it. Save your money for entertainment.
- Only read the minimal set of materials.
- Never do the exercises in the text book because that would unavoidably strengthen your knowledge. If you really want to try some, only do a few the day before the exam. This is particularly effective in BUS003.
- Memorize everything you read without bothering with the meanings.
- Never ask you teacher anything, except for questions like “How do you do?”. If you want to ask something academic, try “Do I need to know this?” or “Will this be in the exam?”
- Bear in mind that course work is not important. Computer games and TV shows are essential.
Takes too long? Can’t wait? The following super-tips tell you how to fail a course in just 2 hours:
How to fail the course in just 2 hours
- Make a phone call during the exam.
- Do not write anything, except nonsense, on the exam paper.
- Respect your own privacy. Do not disclose any personal information on the answer book or answer sheet, including your name and student ID number.
- Totally ignore the date, time and venue of the exam.
- Use a ball pen to mark your answers on the MC answer sheets. Cross out any answer you think is correct.
- Refuse to present your student ID card when asked to do so.
- Swap your seat with your classmate.
- In case you insist on writing something, put down your answers according to your first impression and never check them.
- Cheat in the exam.
Students are reminded to be careful when trying out the above tips. If you miss any of the important steps, you may fail failing the course and end up with a good grade. You will not be given any chance to retake the course to get an F. You have been warned.
Wish you a failing grade. Happy failing!
– The IT/Math Team at the Community College
BUS003 教科書
Business Statistics for Comtemporary Decision Making
大學書店售價每本 HK$229.6，十本優惠售價每本 HK$224。
參考連結：Amazon.com
SCIA01 教科書
First week of SCIA01
To students of SCIA01:
Welcome to SCIA01 Exploring Science in a Social Perspective. This is a quick note that there will be no lab session in the first week of class. So just come to the lecture at 13:30 on Tuesday. See you all then.
