Copies do not exist.

Copyrights are very interesting stuff, until one realizes that for many copyrighted items, there is no perfect copy. Every version based on a previous one is different physically and from an information point of view. So there is no such thing as copying, just producing a seemingly-similar object based on the first, original object.

Of course, there are things which can be copied identically, like program code on a computer. Those things can be copyrighted pretty fine.

The scholar's stone.

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In HKUST, there is a concrete block right in the middle of the path of the path between the dorm and the academic building. It's called the scholar's stone. Student-myths claim if a student steps on it, he would either fail at his studies or become dean-listed (in direct translation, this also means crazy listed).
While I'm not one for the superstitious beliefs, I believe that it was a special rock because it was a bump in the road.
Either way though, I thought it was beyond the boundaries of conventional standards. I thought if I failed at something, that wouldn't be a bad thing, and if I did brilliantly, then that was something special too.

//
"In the society where mediocrity is too often a standard and too often rewarded, there is intense fascination with men who detest mediocrity who refuse to define themselves in conventional terms and who seek to transcend traditionally recognized human capabilities."
Not-my-quote//

University life chapter 1: the beginning adjustment period

It's been a great long while since I blogged anything, so let's get up to date on what I've been up to.

I've chosen to go to HKUST, because of its relative seclusion, a rather academic feel, as well as its optimum distance from home (2 hours away, fairly direct transportation), so as to achieve balance between family life, academic life and social life. I felt it was impossible to do so if I studied abroad.

I moved in on the 30th August, soon after the halls were open to local freshmen moving in. It was pretty chaotic then, though everyone was pretty friendly and welcoming. I was told by year 2s and 3s that hall 3 is known for its warm atmosphere... probably because this hall has an interesting location... it is the furthest from the academic buildings and library.
The inhabitants of this hall hate rain. It stops us from going home without getting rather soaked. As I am writing this, rain is pouring from the clouds above and fog has engulfed the place. Thunder booms from left and right with the loud ssshhh of rain.

People here get together in a lot of hall culture. Fast food is the norm, as are a host of other unhealthy habits, such as the development of habits such as sleeping very late and then waking up very late. I feel I am just at another stage of life whenever that happens. Sometimes I think I am too young for that, and sometimes I feel I am too mature for that.

Thankfully, there is a lot of diversity in this hall, so we just live. At least for now. Floor committees are to be formed tomorrow. I guess that would bring us all together too.

My roommate is pretty awesome. He like to sleep very late. He's decided to bring in some coffee to cope with the late-nighters-for-random-reasons. He loves playing music in the room, which seems to help me relax and sleep.
He's pretty thoughtful. He gave me a blanket when he saw I wasn't in my sleeping bag at night. He wanted to share bananas because they go bad pretty fast and it wasn't easy to finish them fast enough.