Monday, December 28, 2009

My New Year's Resolution

Some of us think watching too much television is not the best pastime. Yes, I agree that being a full time couch-potato leads me to nowhere. But sometimes, lucky star does shine upon me, a remote control snatcher with an over size thumb. Once for a while, I do get to learn a thing or two from this passive activity.

And this is one of these shinning moments for me.

A few weeks ago, unknowingly I got to revisit an ancient Chinese philosophy on a British detective show I watched. The popular television program "Heartbeat" is based on the books of a retired Yorkshire bobby, Nicholas Rhea. Mr. Rhea told stories of the simple but hearty people of a remote farming village well. But I would say his patch over the heather-covered moors be the last place one expects to hear teachings of Laozi, founder of Taoism beliefs in 600 B.C.

In that night’s episode, "Ups and Downs," its clever producers wrote in a busload of Laozi’s devotees in the script. On their way to deliver a gold-gilded Buddha statue, their double-decked bus conveniently stalled at the village square. Among other stories in the plot, the precious statue got stolen but recovered. Upon departure, the spokesperson of this pious group shared the tenets of their religion with the hospitable locals. He told them they believed in:

- Kindness,
- Simplicity,
- Modesty.

As usual, "Heartbeat" is always an entertaining and enjoyable show to me. But this episode left me with something extra to wonder about: the perceptiveness of an old Chinese religion.

Their beliefs seem to be straight forward and simple. But the relevancy of these principles is timeless. And they were embraced by a humble Chinese philosopher some 2,600 years ago. He taught his followers to be kind to other beings(including Mother Nature), to live a simple life, and to be modest. If the people in Laozi's generation had practised what they learned from this insightful master, none of us will be living in the midst of the disastrous consequences of wars, climate change and financial meltdowns today.

I do not know if I am able to live a life according to Laozi. But I do know that I have to look no further for my New Year’s resolution. - Ayee

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Tales of Two Stores

Recently, I needed a new television. So I visited a couple of stores in the neighborhood. One is a well-established department store where I did most of the shopping in the past. The other is a new kid on the block that had just opened at its present location for a short time. It is a big box specialty retailer that sells both brand name and generic electronic equipment.

Like it was in the past, I started my search for what I wanted at the department store whom I know well first. The afternoon of a chilly day was also a perfect time to shop in a warm and invitingly decorated store. I walked around the store’s displays of many television sets, big and small. While the selections there were somewhat limited, I did find one I liked. But to my utmost surprise, there was no salesperson in the department to help me and a few others buy what we wanted. Like the other five or six would-be customers I walked away from my favorite store’s electronics department empty handed.

At the specialty store across the street, I got a very cheerful welcome at the entrance. I also found a similar-made television set there quickly with the help of its knowledgeable staff.

Now I know which store to go when I need a few electronic gadgets. - Ayee

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Good News

This morning for a change I woke up hearing the news that I was happy to hear.

It is not about the overdue world peace that has just arrived in time for Christmas. It is about the suspension of a local veterinarian’s license to practice. And this is not the first time this particular vet was headlined in the news either. I remember a few years ago, it was shown on the television a crowd of angry placard-yielding pet owners demonstrating outside his 24/7 so-called low-cost animal hospital.

About eleven years ago, I used this vet once at the recommendation of an animal rescue group. Unwittingly, I did find the vet had treated my dear Purdy badly. I heard my cat’s wretched cry when the vet was drawing a pee sample from her in a back room. When the vet returned Purdy to me, she became a larger cat than her usual petite self. All her fur hairs were sticking out from her body like she was wearing a space suit. Cats do not puff up their coats for no-good reasons.

Apparently my cat was not his only victim. This vet and his staff had also caused excruciating pain and unnecessary suffering to many other beloved family pets. Sadly to know that informal demonstration did not result in any legal or professional sanction against this vet sooner. So he got to operate his inhumane animal hospital until yesterday when his license to practice was finally suspended. - Ayee