Get a real Christmas tree or a plastic one?

Posted to Waverley Leader (22/12/2010) on 25/12/2010
Commenting on "YOUR SAY: Plastic or real Christmas tree?"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/plastic-is-fantastic/

It’s an age-old debate: get a real Christmas tree or a plastic one? A reader of the news item suggested that "Better to spend the money at local cafes etc to stimulate the real 12 month economy and not the short term Christian's holiday period."

Buying a real Christmas tree also stimulates economy, too. A real tree is grown, watered, cut, sold, transported, etc. A real tree lasts more than just minutes - time taken to consume a cup of coffee.

A Christmas tree, real or plastic, is shared not by the purchaser, but also the family and friends. More money is spent on decorating it, electricity to run the lights, and it provides a place to put the presents. It gives many days of pleasure, provides a background to take photos with loved ones, and family members to gather around to share some wonderful memories.

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. If you think a real tree is wasteful and does not suit your budget, then go for a plastic one, so long if you enjoy having one. Christmas tree is a symbolic representation for Christmas celebration, and therefore be it real or made out of plastic, the thought counts.

Merry Christmas 2010 and many more to come!

Start thinking, don't just relying on divine's power

Do you think the Almighty expected Adam & Eve just to behave like humanoids with no feelings and emotions? Probably He did when He asked them not to eat the apple, and yet they ignored the instructions and made a decision to eat it anyway. The reason was simple - they were created with a brain used for analysis and decision making. Yes, they became humans, and NOT humanoids!

The fact that we have brains, we need to solve our problems, and be rational about things. Primitive men had overcome darkness by "creating" fire; Thomas Edison went a step further and invented light bulb. Let's be creative and start creating your own light, shining and guiding you through darkness.

If everyone seeks or relies on divine power, then the purpose of our existence is meaningless. Saints do not perform miracles by themselves, but rely on divine powers. If everyone can perform miracles to perform tasks during difficult times, there will be too many potential saints for the Pope to conduct all the canonisation ceremonies.

Are floods, famines, earthquakes, volcanic activities, fires and other natural disasters punishments of humans' wrong doing or humans' stupidity? The deaths of many caused by some of these unfortunate events have nothing to do with human activities or humans' misbehaviour. It has nothing to do with cleansing, if so, whoever makes these happened should never be forgiven! I hope the flood during Noah's time was just part of climatic cycle.

I am not an anti-Christ or anti-religion. I am not perfect, and I don’t want to be; I want to be a better person tomorrow, but a perfect person can’t!

Don't solve problems in isolation

A friend posted on the Facebook that, "If every American go on 1 meat-free day per week, it would be the same as taking 8 million cars off American roads". His friend added the statistics that "1 lb of meat requires 40 lb of grass ...". Exchange of posts attracted someone to point out human teeth are not meant for meat eating.

By not eating meat, the cattle farmers will go broke, and financial crisis will deepen further in USA.

40 lbs of grass for 1 lb of beef may sound terrible, but don't forget that the grass also involves in photosynthesis, whereby CO2 is absorbed, and O2 is released.

As for human teeth, why do you think humans have incisors? They are for tearing and eating meat.

If cutting down intake of meat due to excessive consumption, then it is logical move. However, if the meat can be donated to those who can't afford it, then overall consumption will be in balance.

No matter what one does, one should take a holistic view. Solving problems in isolation will lead to problems occurring in another area.

Peace and Stability 和平与稳定

If we think wars, wars will happen; if we think instability, instability will happen.
Think peace, think stability - be positive and make peace and stability happen!

如果我们使想战争,战争将会发生; 如果我们使想不稳定,将会发生不稳定
使想和平,使想稳定 一 要积极的使和平与稳定发生!

Recipe for Better Life "生活更美好"的配方

A friend is searching for a recipe for "better life" for all.

Interestingly, I'm reminded almost every week by a resident in an aged-care home that everyone in this world is different. What is better life for one is different for another. There is no universal doctrine or recipe for "all". As I have written before, good and bad are relative. A good life for a crook is to be a worse crook in the eyes of the good people, and similarly (or contrary) for a normal peace loving person there will be less wars which means no business for arms dealers.

My life is not always good - there are good days and bad days; but then who can find me a person who can claim that his life is always better than mine?

You want to share my recipe for "better life" - add a little bit more smiles, love, honesty, discipline, understanding, forgiveness, tolerance, compromise and unselfishness to pass on one's knowledge to others especially the young, until the day you find your truly peaceful resting place!

一位朋友正在寻找一条"生活更美好"的配方.有趣的是,我几乎每个星期有一位在老人院居住的长者提醒我,在这个世界上每个人都是不同的.

某个人更美好的生活与另一个人是不同的.没有任何普遍原则或配方是适合所有的人.正如我之前写过好与坏是相对的.一个坏人认为更美好的生活,在一个好人的眼中,就是那坏人做更坏的事;同样的(或相反的),有一个正常爱和平的人希望少些战争,但是对武器交易商来说,他们的业务就会下降.

我的生活并不总是好的 一 有好和坏天;但是有没有一个人可以找到一个能声称他的生命总是比我好的?

躟您共享我一条"生活更美好"的配方 一 添加多一点微笑,爱戴,诚实,纪律,了解,宽恕,容忍,妥协和不自私的把自己的知识传给他人,尤其是年轻人,直到一天找到你真正安静休眠的地方!

Pass it on to the next generation

Posted to Sin Fong's Facebook

Majority of people are complacent and have indifferent attitudes towards almost everything except their own selves. If a system is set in concrete today and we can't break it, then pass on our knowledge and wisdom to the next generation. Make them aware and explain why life can be better if present situations are improved / changed. If we don't, then my first sentence is proven correct.

Be wise - humans are not invincible

Posted to Sin Fong's Facebook

In all seriousness, many more people in this world will die necessarily. Humans do think that they are invincible, can conquer everything and solve every problem; but they can't. Many people still choose to live by the coast, foot of volcanoes, on fault lines, etc; design houses not suited for areas prone to cyclone, bush fire, floods, etc.

Watch where you are going

Don't just keep watching your step - you may not fall especially in the dark, but you don't know where you're going.

Life is a many spendid thing

Posted to Sin Fong Chan's Facebook

It may true that we should not kowtow to difficult circumstances, but one needs to know when to cut losses. "Don't quit" is a double-edge sword. It does not apply to all situations. Many human relationships require compromise and sacrifice.

Dare to dream, but don't turn a dream into a nightmare
Dare to go forward, but don't fall over the cliff
Dare to charge, but beware of attacks from the sides and rear
Dare to trust, but never take things at face value

Dare to laugh, because you're happy
Dare to cry, because you're not
Dare to apologise, because you make a mistake
Dare to humble, because you have a lot more to learn in life!

To be successful - Dare to Dream

Some people reckon success depend on staying focus, but this may work against it. Staying focus gives tunnel vision, and hinders success for people with creative minds.

Creativity / inventiveness calls for thinking beyond a square / sphere. A modified formula for a successful creation should include additional factors: 1. Imagination 2. Dare to dream.

What's the hurry?

Posted to the Facebook on 3/1/2010

Put it bluntly, if you want everything NOW, and you can't wait a second longer, you are also hurrying to the grave. "Everything" includes "death". Be patient, the world can wait!

If there is a will there is a way

Posted to Facebook on 30/7/2010

Las Vegas is situated on the arid desert floor of Nevada, USA. World Islands of Dubai are artificial islands off the coast of Dubai, built with 386 million tonnes of rock to form the foundations. Eskimos reside in the circumpolar region with sub-zero temperature without being frozen. Man can now fly to the moon without wings.

If there is a will, there is a way!

You've to resume the role as a Boss from time to time

Posted to Facebook on 14/8/2010

I am not a Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. I do know that I have my brain whether it was given by God or born with it. If one has to turn to God for whatever the reason, it defeats the purpose of one's existence.

Rex Humbard once preached, "There are 3 laws - God's law, Law of nature and Man's law". For me, there are the latter 2. No one can do anything he / she likes; there are always constraints, within the confine of the laws.

After Adam had the first bite of the apple, he was no longer a humanoid; indeed, he became a human. He had to use his brain to make decisions. In life, we do have to take charge from time to time, and we have to assume the role of being the boss.

Volunteers should not be paid

Pay volunteers: charity chief
Reply to to Monash Journal, 6/8/2010

It is absolutely nonsensical to pay volunteer. The most a volunteer should be reimbursed with would be the transportation / travelling expense.

As quoted in Wikipedia, volunteering is "the practice of people working on behalf of others or a particular cause without payment for their time and services".

Some may does it on a casual or serve on an as-needed basis, but many commit to this as an altruistic activity. The commitment of many volunteers is unassuming, but unfortunately, many organisations fail to value the contribution of the volunteers.

I have been a volunteer since 1996. I am a Community Visitor, and enjoy my role tremendously. Each week I feel so terrific when leave the Aged Care Home that I have visited, because I have spent the most previous thing in my life – time, to help improve the quality of life of some people who can do with a little bit more!

Why not offer some of your valuable time to make other people's life more meaningful and worthwhile? Don't hesitate, do it now!

Praise and ackowledge them before they go

Why don’t people praise their parents, mates, teachers, colleague, acquiantances, and even strangers for doing a good job or sharing time with them – WHILE THE SUPPOSED RECEIPIENTS ARE STILL ALIVE. Unfortunately, the recognition and praises are left too late, and only given as a eulogy at the funeral.

Life is many spendid thing

It may true that we should not kowtow to difficult circumstances, but one needs to know when to cut losses. "Don't quit" is a double-edge sword. It does not apply to all situations. Many human relationships require compromise and sacrifice.

Dare to dream, but don't turn a dream into a nightmare
Dare to go forward, but don't fall over the cliff
Dare to charge, but beware of attacks from the sides and rear
Dare to trust, but never take things at face value

Dare to laugh, because you're happy
Dare to cry, because you're not
Dare to apologise, because you make a mistake
Dare to humble, because you have a lot more to learn in life!

Kids can fly, can you?

Kids believe that they can fly like a superman using a towel as a cape, or fly like a witch riding on a broomstick. They climb to the tree tops without fear, and so on.

It is more than just action and believing in it. Kids don't understand the words "responsibility", "risk" and "option". Their decision process is simple and at times impulsive.

Will you take risk if you know your new business venture may fail, and the consequence is losing the shelter for the wife and children? This is neither about believing in yourself, nor chances of success. If there is a safer option, you may take it even if the return is smaller. That explains why many are employed rather than employing others to make money for them.

Unlike kids, older people have problems learning about and using a computer. When a kid blows up a computer, it's Dad's / Mum's problem to pay for fixing it. If Dad or Mum does it, the money comes from his / her wallet.

Single people or people with very supportive spouse are more successful in undertaking challeging ventures. Inspiration from some fast-talking speakers or YouTube armchair movie directors is great, but wisdom from failed entrepreneurs and regrets of dying people can be just as useful as one's guiding light.