Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Filial Piety

















Just received this email:

FUZHOU — Wang Yuxia’s husband once promised to take her to all the beautiful sights across the country. But when he suddenly died, it seemed her dream had died as well.

So it was up to her sons to carry out their father’s promise.


Realizing their 81-year-old mother gets carsick easily and they cannot afford to travel luxuriously, they built a three-wheeled carriage to take her around the country — powered only by their own feet and the determination to express love.


“We are not doing this for money or fame. We are just spreading the virtue of filial piety,” said Wang Kai, 59.


“Compared to what our mother has done for us, what we give in return is never enough,” he added.


During their first trip in 2007, they spent 265 days traveling across 25 provinces and two municipalities before arriving in Hong Kong .


This time, in 165 days, the two brothers have hauled the carriage more than 4,500 km from Heilongjiang province in the northwest to Fujian province in the southeast.


Their target destination is Taiwan .


“Out biggest dream is to carry our mother around the island,” Wang Kai said.


The carriage, built for 5,000 yuan ($730), is fitted with three beds, windows and heat-retaining panels to make mom comfortable.


The brothers named it “Thanksgiving” to express gratitude for their mother’s love.


Wang Yuxia can usually be seen enjoying the sights through the windows.


“My sons have been taking good care of me on the way,” she said, and the warmth of the carriage has prevented her from catching cold.


She is happy to have seen more than 100 tourist attractions so far.


“I’m very moved by what they’ve done. I can’t thank them enough,” she said.


On the road, Wang Kai pulls the carriage from the front while younger brother Wang Rui, 57, pushes it from behind.


So far, they have worn out six pairs of shoes.


“I can walk 107 steps every minute and 10 hours every day, which means 65,000 steps or about 40 km a day,: said Wang Rui.


That is almost the distance of an Olympic marathon.


The brothers’ love for their mother has moved thousands of people.


In September last year, the Taiwan Sleep Disorders Association, a non-governmental organization, invited them to tell their story.


And on March 3 this year, the brothers were invited to conduct a class on filial piety at Fuzhou University .


They have already spend half of the 40,000 yuan they put together before setting out on their journey.


Supporters and admirers have been providing clothes, food, drinks and other daily necessities.


“The brothers are doing whatever they can do to make their mother happy and I must do something for them,” said Zhuo Feng, a resident in Fuzhou , capital of Fujian , who bought the brothers new shoes and their mother new clothes.


A number of businessmen who were moved by the Wang brothers’ filial act also offered them money, but the brothers said they will not accept any cash for their undertaking.


In a letter written to his wife, Wang Rui said it is the love of their mother that has helped them conquer all difficulties.


“Making our mother happy is priceless,” he said.


During their first trip to Hong Kong , the brothers decorated the roof of their carriage with four dragons to symbolize their Chinese heritage. These were later changed to doves of peace to express their desire for peaceful ties across the Taiwan Straits.


They have been in Fujian nearly a month now, waiting for authorities to approve their travel to Taiwan .


Wang Kai said all they know about Taiwan is from books, which say Ali Mountain and Sun Moon Lake are beautiful. The island’s fruits are also famous, he said.


On Aug 8 last year, when brothers heard about the earthquake hitting Taiwan , they immediately donated 1,000 yuan to the Red Cross Society of China to help quake victims.


“People across the Straits are one family,” Wang Rui said.


“We are just helping our brothers and sisters in our way.”

Saturday, March 27, 2010

I am two years old, today!



Today, 27 March 2010 marks my second year into this blog. I have come a long way since I published my first post. What did I write on my first post? Let me "copy and paste " here:

[Thursday, March 27, 2008
Out in cyberspace wonderland!!

Hi people of cyberspace. I wonder anyone is reading this. It's like striking a lottery if you stumble on this blog! So go buy yourself a lottery or two or three.

After dabbling in the internet the past 3 years, I only realized recently that there was this thingy called "Blog" and a dumb skull like me could also PUBLISH a blog of my own. Wallah!! This is an important event in my life. Never had I a chance to do new things with such confidence. There is nothing to lose if I got stuck and failed (I shouldn't use that word). No one to criticize me, getting impatient with me, or demoralize me if I get stuck. This is wonderful.

After a few days gropping around with the URL name (say, I can even quote "URL" , I think it has something to do with "urinology"!) and browsing through the "Help" desk, a most challenging thought came to my mind: Why not just write a progress report of this new adventure of mine and post it with every step of progress? This way I can get started while learning the ropes. Killing two birds with one stone!! Very clever of me.

So, let's see whether this maiden post can be posted successfully. ]




You can go and read the original post by Clicking HERE:





I have really come a long way! And along the way, I have also made a few friends. Overall, I have become quite an expert in blogging and everything connected with writing in blogosphere. At the moment, if you care to survey the right column of this blog, you would find that I have two blogs, one website, and two "affiliated" sites, all very active sites which I spend hours each day "maintaining" them. As for attracting "traffic" I think I am still a failure. So to all my handful supporters who tolerated my cynicism and crude language, a BIG Thank You for your moral support.




The special person I want to thank is my Sifu Chew, which I dedicate this post to him. Without Sifu Chew, my life in blogging would have been made more difficult. It is this Sifu Chew who taught me the ABC of blogging. I am forever grateful to him. By the way he has a special name, Sadhu Chew. "Sadhu" is a Pali term meaning "Excellent" which is a favourite word amongst Buddhists. Very aptly chosen too. A very big "Sadhu" to you, Sifu Chew!




Now my "audience" is global! This is the fantastic wonder of the internet. Just by sitting here, I communicate with people all over the world!




Maybe I can make a secret request to all my moral supporters to please make a comment for this post. Then I can tell the whole world that I still have friends reading my blog after these two years. So this is my secret wish. May I blow the candles now?


(By the way, this is my 632nd post.)

Friday, March 26, 2010

Stop seal slaughter in Canada!



The worst ice conditions on record already threaten the survival of harp seals pups on Canada's east coast. Yet the government has actually increased the number of seals that can be killed this year! Tell Canada's Prime Minister not to let sealers decimate the survivors. Time is running out -- the hunt is scheduled to begin this Sunday.

Dear Friend,

I just wrote to Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper to demand that he cancel the 2010 commercial seal hunt. Will you write to him, too?

There's an unprecedented disaster for seals off Canada's east coast: So many baby seals will die because the sea ice upon which mother harp seals give birth virtually hasn't formed in key birthing areas.

Worse, the Canadian government may actually allow commercial sealers to slaughter the few seals that survive.

Please join me in telling Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to cancel this year's commercial seal hunt.

Please go to the site
CLICK HERE:

The Perfect TEN! 10th By-election!



(Graphic from TheMalaysianInsider)


Hulu Selangor MP Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad died of brain cancer, triggering the country’s 10th by-election. He was 71. May he rest in peace.

For the politicians, it's going to be very busy days ahead. In fact they have been busy the past few weeks, or was it months? So this is hardly any surprised news.


You can see from the graphics above, the 2008 election was won by a mere 198 votes against MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel.

What is going on? 10th by-election! What happens if all the frogs and monkeys were to resign?


Is there some kind of a curse? Or is it a message that the nation should have a clean General Elections once and for all?


Monday, March 22, 2010

Only sicko will do such thing.






This is from my favourite forum, USJ/SJ Forum :

Was at the Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon carnival on Saturday evening..While walking around, I noticed many open electrical junction box. Mind you this is a LIVE 3 Phase supply that can FRY. I see kids running around and playing on the grass slopes. It's just a matter of time someone gets killed!!!




This is the sicko mentality. The fish head rots; the rest follow.

Only sicko fools can do such things. Is it so difficult to tighten four screws? There is no feeling of shame or decent conscience on the part of the workers and supervisors.

This reflects on the mentality of the top, the very top.

It takes a great actor to be on front stage.


(These three monkeys have nothing to do with this post)
(They are indeed wiser characters : hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil)


It certainly takes a great actor to be on the front stage.


Are you amused that a great actor is now trying to represent the Chinese in Malaysian politics? Sounds like it's going to be a block buster, this coming attraction. It's in the latest 3D and HD format, since there will be 3 monkeys displaying their tricks and skills in High Drama (or is it High Defination?).

Let's enjoy the show and have a good laugh.

By the way, members of the laughing stalk Party have been likened to ants!! What a self-inflicted insult!

What a joke!

If you don't know what this joke is all about, I think it's better you go read some "intellectual" staff like this one:
CLICK HERE.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Are you under threat?



When do you feel you are under threat? Maybe being confronted by keris weilding politicians? Most likely.


Why do certain quarters harping on their race and religion being threatened by others, while others did not say or do anything to warrant such fear? Right thinking people will know how to separate facts from political garbage. The problem is that we still have a lot of people with no idea of what "right thinking" is.


This piece of news on Anwar Ibrahim's speech at the London School of Economics recently prompted me to write the above.

Monday, March 15, 2010

MCA : Monkey, Chimpanzee, Ass

A for apple

B for banana

C for cherry

M for MONKEY




C for CHIMPANZEE




A for ASS



ABC is apple, banana, and cherry.
MCA is monkey, chimpanzee, and ass.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

The woes of a retired person.



Are you retired? Most probably not. Then you better save a billion ringgit before the time comes. When you are not having an active income, every sen you spend will be from your savings. I regret that I did not save a billion ringit. Now I am not very happy, each time I have to fork out additional expenses. Inflation can be real or just an excuse to hike up prices. Whatever the reasons, the effect is the same. You dig deeper in your pocket to pay for the same product or service.


Just came back from my insurance agent's office. Not the life assurance one, but the general insurance. It's for my car insurance. I drive an 8-year old junk which can pass easily for a red Proton Saga taxi. And I have been buying third-party insurance just to get the road tax each year. Now no company wants to sell you third-party. If you are lucky, you may find one which will sell you, but with a "loaded" PA insurance! You end up still having to pay more. Mine was rejected even with the PA. I wonder whether there is any law that prevents them from this despicable practice. I have no choice but to pay for the comprehensive. So the amount JUMPED from RM 73.79 to RM228.50.


If you are still working then it's OK. You can go rob others to neutralize the effects of "inflation." Rob others? Just kidding. I mean with your salary increment or hiking your prices, you will be a happy person again, come what may. Or if you are a very rich person, then what is RM228.50, not even peanuts, PEANUT SKIN!


The woes of a retired person!


On a happier note perhaps you would like to read this
HERE:

Thursday, March 11, 2010

You can't stay awake without sleep.



Today I like to write about sleep.

Funny, for kids, when they want to continue playing, it's time for them to go to sleep. And when they are fast alseep, they are forced to wake up, because mommy thinks it's time for milk. What a life.

Grown-ups? I think most of us do not have enough sleep, for whatever reasons. I go to sleep very late, or gramatically, very early in the morning, sometimes 3AM! Fortunately for me, I have time to catch up in the afternoon, while most of you are busy making money. So sleep for me is a total loss of income!! Never mind; still it's free to sleep, doesn't cost me any money. Nowadays, I am very conscious with expenses. You can only understand when you are retired; not pension.

Sleep deprivation is a form of torture. You know those "human animals" who lock people up and interrogate them before throwing them down the windows? These animals use "sleep deprivation" technique to force the victims to "confess" all the "cooked-up crimes."

If you are still awake and interested in this topic, then you can click HERE to read more on what sleep can do for you. Otherwise you can go to sleep now. Sleep is good for you.


Sunday, March 7, 2010

What if Anwar Ibrahim is jailed?



The Malaysian Insider reports:

"Veteran opposition leader Lim Kit Siang today predicted the Pakatan Rakyat will have an easier time at the next general election if the government jails Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for sodomy."

“If he is jailed, our motto will be free Anwar, vote PR!” said Lim.

I personally think it's not good if this happens. First it's not good for the person. Second, it's not good for a leader to be incapacitated. Let's say you can use two hands to fight. But now your right hand is tied. You may have sympathy votes, but you now cannot control the fight with one hand tied. I think it's better to have both hands free.


What do you think?


While you are thinking about it, and you haven't read RPK's article on the "importance of 2/3 majority" then you might like to read it
HERE:

Friday, March 5, 2010

I am a peeping Tom!



One of my regular readers, "ATM" made a comment (the third comment HERE) that I like to peep. So I better explain myself, lest others may take it literally; and I will be in trouble.


The explanation is in the article I wrote in another site. It is titled "I am a peeping Tom!"

If you are interested to read, please click
HERE:

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Stumbled upon an exciting new website!


(The logo of Hubpages.com)

Recent weeks had been quite occupied with writing articles for my webpage at "hubpages.com." I actually stumbled upon this site while searching for information. It was an instant hit for me. I like the "interface" presentation, making it very easy for publishing.


It is the most suitable "compromise" site for me to use with a better chance to attract "search traffic." You see, a blog is more restricted in contents, usually caters for locals. Then there is the paid website which you own. Unless you are very good at it, especially with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) techniques, paid website attracts very little traffic. I too have a paid website "A Joyful Lifestyle." But I am still struggling to attract traffic. Here I am talking about "search traffic." Traffic which comes from the search engines like Yahoo! and especially Google. If you are interested to see my website, click
HERE: I am still building this site with more contents.

"Hubpages" is more viable for beginners/amatures like me. The site is already a very high-ranking site and it gives my articles a better chance to appear on the first page of the search engine. At least, this is what I think. Maybe some of you experts in internet marketing could give me some advice.

Now I would like to invite you to view my Hubpages site
HERE:

"Hubpages" also appears in Wikipedia
HERE:

Most unlikely you are aware of the new links that I have set on the right column of this blog, under "View My Other Blog and Web Sites." So you can actually go click on them to go direct.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Good riddance!





"KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 — Ex-Penang deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin tonight joined Umno...."


The less said the better.


Good riddance!!

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails