It was so close, so close ..
My son would have felt so bad, so bad ….
As he nearly watched (live) his dad being smashed into pieces
Time: About 7.25pm , just after sunset
Date : 1 April 2011
Place : Summerland Drive (just in front of house no 74)
Prior to that, just started dinner in 2 Somerton Rise
Home cooked stewed beef in carrot and “oil vegetable”
Son and granddaughter dropped by asking for a lift home… icecream for grandson melting in the car
Granddaughter’s “bye Y Kung” could have been the last parting words
Grandson did not have the chance to say goodbye
Wife should have finished her dinner, watching her Chinese drama on TV when news broke
Waited for a good one minute for traffic to clear
Switched on the back screen wiper .. a slight drizzle
Readying to make a U turn at Summerland Drive
All seemed clear
No more headlights from the rear mirror
Split second one last look .. there was a 4WD pickup speeding down without headlight
That split second last glance at the rear mirror
Has averted the loud bang, directly at the driver’s side
At more than 55 km/hr, life would have ended instantly..
What have I left unfinished
Would be the book “Have a little Faith” – a true story by Mitch Albom
And my wife’s home cooked dinner..
Sunday, April 3, 2011
3 Phases of fatherhood
Some of you have experienced this; some are going through it ...
Disapproval of the pre-teen children .... they are checked and they comply
Argument with the teen children .... both parties clash and crashed
Disagreement with the adult children .... you are crushed and crumpled...... and you feel old.
Disapproval of the pre-teen children .... they are checked and they comply
Argument with the teen children .... both parties clash and crashed
Disagreement with the adult children .... you are crushed and crumpled...... and you feel old.
Cats and Dogs
Some of you keep dogs; some keep cats..... I keep neither.. Do you agree with some of these statements (extracted from the book "Why dogs are better than cats" by Bradley Trevor, 2009). I guess to the Hakkas in China, both are equally delicious and "yu phoo" !
For those going to China tour soon... watch out... there are no stray cats or dogs in the Muishien Province!!
Cats want to be the centre of your world; dogs just want to share your world
Cats are the gift that keep grifting; dogs give and give and give
Cats test your patience; dogs teach you patience
Cats demonstrate the questionable virtues of cowardly survivalism; dogs show you true courage Cats ain't going nowhere for nobody; dogs follow you to the edge of the earth
Cats rescue nobody..they get rescued; dogs look out for you.. always be there for those in need Cats are cheap to feed and they do not require lots of space; dogs are more expensive to feed and they need space, your time and energy
Cats want fish; dogs want love
Cats are sociopaths; dogs are sociable
Cats are breeding machines; dogs lifespan is usually less than 12 years
Cats do their own thing around people; dogs participate with people
Cats would not acknowledge you when you return from work; dogs wait for you and explode with joy Cats train their owner; you train your dogs
Cats have a keen sense of their own needs; dogs have a remarkable understanding of your needs Cats are destructive housemates with bad breath; dogs are members of the family
Cats see you as a source of warmth and food; dogs see you as a parent, partner, best friend and soulmate
Cats quite like observing the drama of domestic conflict from a safe vantage point; dogs are gifted judges of characters, they know who to trust and take an immediate dislike to shifty unpleasant people
Finally, Cats think they are Gods; dogs think they are human.
They say there are no bad dogs....only bad owners!!
For those going to China tour soon... watch out... there are no stray cats or dogs in the Muishien Province!!
Cats want to be the centre of your world; dogs just want to share your world
Cats are the gift that keep grifting; dogs give and give and give
Cats test your patience; dogs teach you patience
Cats demonstrate the questionable virtues of cowardly survivalism; dogs show you true courage Cats ain't going nowhere for nobody; dogs follow you to the edge of the earth
Cats rescue nobody..they get rescued; dogs look out for you.. always be there for those in need Cats are cheap to feed and they do not require lots of space; dogs are more expensive to feed and they need space, your time and energy
Cats want fish; dogs want love
Cats are sociopaths; dogs are sociable
Cats are breeding machines; dogs lifespan is usually less than 12 years
Cats do their own thing around people; dogs participate with people
Cats would not acknowledge you when you return from work; dogs wait for you and explode with joy Cats train their owner; you train your dogs
Cats have a keen sense of their own needs; dogs have a remarkable understanding of your needs Cats are destructive housemates with bad breath; dogs are members of the family
Cats see you as a source of warmth and food; dogs see you as a parent, partner, best friend and soulmate
Cats quite like observing the drama of domestic conflict from a safe vantage point; dogs are gifted judges of characters, they know who to trust and take an immediate dislike to shifty unpleasant people
Finally, Cats think they are Gods; dogs think they are human.
They say there are no bad dogs....only bad owners!!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Islam and Middle Age peace?
Read this book entitled "Judgement Day" by Dave Hunt (2006)and this is what I gathered....
Islam establishes itself on the principle of “Might makes Right”.
Islam means “submission” even though it is by force. "Islam is a religion of peace. And if you refuse to admit that, I will kill you to prove it!"
Ka’aba was an idol temple filled with some 360 images representing the various tribal deities. Allah (Al-ilah, literally the chief God) is the chief of the idols in the Ka’aba. Muhammad fled Mecca for Yathrib (now Medina) or the journey now known as hijrah as he faced opposition to his “revelations’ and had very few followers. He later regained power in Medina and 8 years later, returned in triumph as the conqueror o f Mecca.
The Haj was not initiated by Prophet Muhammad but it had been the ancient pagan ritual of annual pilgrimage to the idols-filled Ka’aba. Two years after signing the Treaty of Hudaybiya (a ten year cease fire called a Hudna), in 630AD, Muhammad ‘s army took over Mecca and destroyed the idols in the Ka’aba, including that of Allah but keeping the latter without its image, as God of Islam.
Ramadan, as in Haj, was adopted by Muslims from the Arab tribes who had practiced it for centuries during the 9th month New Moon (or the Moon God).
The“Treaty of Hudybiya” (most important agreement in Islamic history) is a ten year cease fire called Hudna. No muslim leader has the authority to go over Muhammad’s head to make genuine peace with non-muslims. Only a Hudna can be entered into and that for no longer than 10 years. The purpose, following Muhammad’s example, is not to achieve a sincere end to hostilities but to deceive the enemy with the promise of peace in order to gain time and advantage to eventually conquer the unsuspecting “peace partner”. This was always Yasser Arafat’s intent in his peace negotiation with Israel.
A basic tenet of Islam is that Israel and all the Jews must be destroyed. The teaching of Islam must change before peace can be achieved in the Middle East. Quran Surah 5:51 “O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and Christians for friends.” Muhammad’s dying words were,”May Allah curse the Christians and Jews.”
There is a saying “If Arabs/Muslims put down their weapons today, that would be the end of the Arab/Israel wars. If Israel put down her weapons, that would be the end of Israel.”
Islam establishes itself on the principle of “Might makes Right”.
Islam means “submission” even though it is by force. "Islam is a religion of peace. And if you refuse to admit that, I will kill you to prove it!"
Ka’aba was an idol temple filled with some 360 images representing the various tribal deities. Allah (Al-ilah, literally the chief God) is the chief of the idols in the Ka’aba. Muhammad fled Mecca for Yathrib (now Medina) or the journey now known as hijrah as he faced opposition to his “revelations’ and had very few followers. He later regained power in Medina and 8 years later, returned in triumph as the conqueror o f Mecca.
The Haj was not initiated by Prophet Muhammad but it had been the ancient pagan ritual of annual pilgrimage to the idols-filled Ka’aba. Two years after signing the Treaty of Hudaybiya (a ten year cease fire called a Hudna), in 630AD, Muhammad ‘s army took over Mecca and destroyed the idols in the Ka’aba, including that of Allah but keeping the latter without its image, as God of Islam.
Ramadan, as in Haj, was adopted by Muslims from the Arab tribes who had practiced it for centuries during the 9th month New Moon (or the Moon God).
The“Treaty of Hudybiya” (most important agreement in Islamic history) is a ten year cease fire called Hudna. No muslim leader has the authority to go over Muhammad’s head to make genuine peace with non-muslims. Only a Hudna can be entered into and that for no longer than 10 years. The purpose, following Muhammad’s example, is not to achieve a sincere end to hostilities but to deceive the enemy with the promise of peace in order to gain time and advantage to eventually conquer the unsuspecting “peace partner”. This was always Yasser Arafat’s intent in his peace negotiation with Israel.
A basic tenet of Islam is that Israel and all the Jews must be destroyed. The teaching of Islam must change before peace can be achieved in the Middle East. Quran Surah 5:51 “O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and Christians for friends.” Muhammad’s dying words were,”May Allah curse the Christians and Jews.”
There is a saying “If Arabs/Muslims put down their weapons today, that would be the end of the Arab/Israel wars. If Israel put down her weapons, that would be the end of Israel.”
Yobai
Reading a book entitled "Tokyo Hostess" - true stories of Western girls who work as Tokyo nightclub hostesses.... (including one high-profile case of murder of an ex British Airways stewardess in 2000).
It gives me a glimpse into the Japanese "Water-Trade" which includes the Geishas (top of the pack, with no sex) to Gaijins (bar hostesses) to all kinds of sexual entertainments ...lowerest in the hierachy, being the Baishuns (prostitutes) abundantly available in the Kabuki-cho district in Shinjuku Tokyo. Besides learning a few Japanese terms, I also confirm my belief that Japanese are sex-crazed people with some innovative ways of satisfying themselves, including "ejaculation business" outlets.
"Honban " - intercourse with vaginal penetration is illegal if money is paid for such an act.... anything else is not illegal...anal, blowjob, handjob, you name it.
"Yobai " is literally "night creeping"....where the female partner pretending to be fondling herself trying to get an orgasm but moans in frustration... and then put an"eye mask" to fall "asleep" and then .... the male customer would creep into the room and bed and making love to a "sleeping" beauty!
There is even a special category for aged elderly men who are no longer capable of physical sex.... they would pay for a naked woman put into deep unconsciousness ... so that the oldie can feel free (and not feeling the shame of their age) to indulge in unlimited dramas and memories of their younger days.....
I hope this sharing does not get some of us excited for nothing!! Cheers! " Mizuwari " (whisky water)!
It gives me a glimpse into the Japanese "Water-Trade" which includes the Geishas (top of the pack, with no sex) to Gaijins (bar hostesses) to all kinds of sexual entertainments ...lowerest in the hierachy, being the Baishuns (prostitutes) abundantly available in the Kabuki-cho district in Shinjuku Tokyo. Besides learning a few Japanese terms, I also confirm my belief that Japanese are sex-crazed people with some innovative ways of satisfying themselves, including "ejaculation business" outlets.
"Honban " - intercourse with vaginal penetration is illegal if money is paid for such an act.... anything else is not illegal...anal, blowjob, handjob, you name it.
"Yobai " is literally "night creeping"....where the female partner pretending to be fondling herself trying to get an orgasm but moans in frustration... and then put an"eye mask" to fall "asleep" and then .... the male customer would creep into the room and bed and making love to a "sleeping" beauty!
There is even a special category for aged elderly men who are no longer capable of physical sex.... they would pay for a naked woman put into deep unconsciousness ... so that the oldie can feel free (and not feeling the shame of their age) to indulge in unlimited dramas and memories of their younger days.....
I hope this sharing does not get some of us excited for nothing!! Cheers! " Mizuwari " (whisky water)!
Duckland?
A recent front cover of The Economist features this attached Map of the Poor State of Union of USA... changing all the names of the States to reflect on their current debt status.
In New Zealand the Government is borrowing $14b in 2011 in order to keep the economy going... which works out to be about $300m a week!
Here in Auckland SuperCity, the debt is in the region of $4 billion and growing.. The current credit rating is probably still "A" and so Auckland is still called Auckland. If the credit rating goes down to "D" it will probably be renamed Duckland? I don't want to imagine when the credit rating goes down to "F"......
We will then be called Fucklanders!!!
Friday, February 18, 2011
The Chinese Commonwealth?
As the British Commonwealth (of 54 nations) is getting increasing irrelevent over the years (India's disastrous organising of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, did not help), the emergence of the Chinese Commonwealth is imminent.
The rise of the Chinese in economic and military terms would also help to enhance the economic strength of the overseas Chinese, although at the moment, there is a already a disproportionate dominance of the economy by the overseas Chinese, particularly in the ASEAN countries.
The world is full of Chinese and people of the Chinese origin. There is an estimate of over 40 million Chinese living overseas as a result of the global diaspora, in all continents of the world. Adding this figure to those in the Mainland China and Taiwan, there are about 1.41 b Chinese on earth. The sun used to never set on the British Empire but today the sun truly does not set on the Chinese people!!
China is not known to have expansionist policy of invading other nations nor it is its intention for the future (it has enough land and people to manage) but it will definitely like to have strong influence amongst countries within its backyard... particularly ASEAN countries which together have over 27.5m of the 40m overseas Chinese population. There are about 820K Chinese in Australia and New Zealand..... and you can expect more in years to come, some probably come from the estimated 7m Chinese from Malaysia.
So what does a Chinese Commonwealth mean to the overseas Chinese?
There are pros and cons... and one of the cons would be envy from local populace in the various countries where Chinese people strive... which could lead to resentments against the Chinese populations (we have seen many of these revolts and brutality against the Chinese in Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia)... The Chinese are typically quite loud and showy when they are doing well.... maybe it is a lesson not too late for the learning.... stay humble and low key??
The rise of the Chinese in economic and military terms would also help to enhance the economic strength of the overseas Chinese, although at the moment, there is a already a disproportionate dominance of the economy by the overseas Chinese, particularly in the ASEAN countries.
The world is full of Chinese and people of the Chinese origin. There is an estimate of over 40 million Chinese living overseas as a result of the global diaspora, in all continents of the world. Adding this figure to those in the Mainland China and Taiwan, there are about 1.41 b Chinese on earth. The sun used to never set on the British Empire but today the sun truly does not set on the Chinese people!!
China is not known to have expansionist policy of invading other nations nor it is its intention for the future (it has enough land and people to manage) but it will definitely like to have strong influence amongst countries within its backyard... particularly ASEAN countries which together have over 27.5m of the 40m overseas Chinese population. There are about 820K Chinese in Australia and New Zealand..... and you can expect more in years to come, some probably come from the estimated 7m Chinese from Malaysia.
So what does a Chinese Commonwealth mean to the overseas Chinese?
There are pros and cons... and one of the cons would be envy from local populace in the various countries where Chinese people strive... which could lead to resentments against the Chinese populations (we have seen many of these revolts and brutality against the Chinese in Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia)... The Chinese are typically quite loud and showy when they are doing well.... maybe it is a lesson not too late for the learning.... stay humble and low key??
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