Wonder if it's getting to the end of term or if the mid-year exams are fast approaching that's affecting our J2s.

Thought I'd put 'em in groups and toss 'em the daily 'paper and let each group select a few of their favourite stories. They would then work on a presentation of their selected stories in TV news format. By this, I mean they would have to script out the news cast, imagine and compose the accompanying video visuals and play out the human drama that lies behind every news story. Sounds exciting, at least on paper.

Of course, the enthusiasm the J2s have greeted this tutorial format has been breathtakingly underwhelming. Work-to-rule and doing-for-the-sake-of-doing have become the work ethic of the day and, frankly, it's tiresome. They aren't entertained, and neither am I by what they produce. Like radioactive green nasi lemak, I guess there is such a thing as being too innovative.

No more fooling around, then. It's back to good, old-fashioned drill-and-practice for them. For some strange reason, I seem to get more productive work output from them this way.

Oh, and on an unrelated note...

Today is a significant date for NY conneX. The faithful old guard have convened for their last major decision: which of the J1s will replace them when they step down next week. It took till about 1930 hrs to complete the interviews and to trash out the options available, but the decision has finally been made. As of this week's issue (available by Thursday), we can hang out a sign declaring, "Under New Management."