Pennies from Heaven

There is a saying that a penny saved is a penny earned. But inflation has taken a big bite out of the value of our hard currencies. Even in a recessionary time like now, no one would pick stray coins on the street, particularly the pennies.

The other day, there were many reddish coins strewn all over a parking lot outside a coffee shop. Since I am a firm believer of the good luck these errant copper pieces can bring to the persons who keep them, I, a self-professed penny pincher, decided to put these orphans to some good use. So I bent down and got all of them from the wet ground. Except this time I did not put them into my pocket to add them to my lucky penny jar later. I decided to share my new found fortune with a stranger.

About this person, he might be a panhandler. But I would not say he looked scruffy or unkempt. Somehow he did seem to be by the coffee shop a lot. That day, he was at his usual place, a spot a couple feet from the entrance to the store. In the past whenever I walked by him there after I got my coffee from the shop, he always muttered a few words asking for some spare changes. It surprised me on that day, this individual did nothing to these shining coins either. Perhaps he was not as bad-off as I thought. But he did accept my heavenly offerings with good humor. Hopefully, this humble gesture of mine will bring many good tidings this individual needs so he can live a better life that he deserves. - Ayee

Peace on Earth

It’s a known fact that dogs and cats do not normally get along. Many cats got badly injured from their face-off with Fidos. There were also dogs who learned in a hard and painful way to leave certain Fifis alone. This is why sometimes we would say people fighting like dogs and cats. But what I heard recently of four cuddly furry ones has proved this saying hogwash. This two-dog and two-cat team get along peacefully. Matter of fact, one of the doggies, I speculate because of his pint size, not only thinks himself a kitty, acts like one too.

Lucy, a mid-size mongrel, is the oldest of the bunch. She should be credited for igniting the pet fever in her two-legged friends. One day many years ago, she followed a relative of her adoptive family home. And the rest is history. Evidently, this gentle pooch had brought immeasurable pleasure to a family that never had a single pet before. After Lucy’s arrival, her family added two cats and a small terrier named Cody to its household. Without much ado, this furry quartet has adapted to each other rather well and lived under one roof harmoniously thereafter.

Then days after this hairy group settled down nicely in their new home, empty cookie packages started to appear on the kitchen floor in the morning. The family thought of their two cookie-loving pooches the prime suspects of the crime. But the inviting morsels were high up on the counter top. And neither dog can jump that high a distance to reach the counter. Finally, the cookie bandit,rather bandits were nabbed. In the wee hours one night, Bonnie and Clyde in feline costume were seen on the counter stealthily pushing the package of cookies to the slobbering Cassidy and the Kid below. - Ayee

Money makes the world go around

It’s this time of the year again.

Recently, I experienced some kind of epiphany about giving to charities.

Since our economy is still in the doldrums, and the unemployment rates are at a record high level, creating new jobs is now on the top of politicians’ to do list. The bad job markets also put many of us in a more vulnerable position as far as our future employment is concerned. And likely we may not be as generous as we used to be to others. But do not despair. There is another way we can do to help many unfortunate neighbors. We can follow what the governments around the world had done. Individually, we can also improve the sacking economy by spending within our means.

We all know there is a profound multiplying effect from our spending on goods and services. As you can see that our constant support to various business prompts the business owners to hire more employees. More working people translates to more spending and more spending means more money in people’s pockets, etc., etc . . .

Money, the medium of exchange, indeed makes the world go around.
-Ayee

Food for Thoughts

Whenever I was having toasts for breakfast, I often wonder why toasted breads are such a common fare on our kitchen table. The very first reason I can think of is that toasts are the simplest food to prepare. It is a very versatile one as well. The delicious way to dress a piece of golden-brown toast is endless. A working toaster is all we need to make perfect toasts any time of the day. The others, sliced breads, even the day-old ones, butter, and jams or jelly whichever we fancy, are easily accessible. Besides being tasty, they are inexpensive sources of many basic and beneficial nutrients such as carbohydrates and fibers. Toast is also portable and a good finger food. In the morning when we are late for office, we can always grab a piece of toasts and run. To sustain me till noon, all I need are a couple slices of well toasted and buttered bread with two eggs and a hot beverage.

Since I love to eat and always pay attention to nutritious foods, I did look into the health attributes of the lowly toasts have to offer. I find psychologically the burnt and crunchy surface of my favorite bread sates my need to chew. Lastly, the ubiquitous brown crumbs from the toasts also act as a friendly cleansing agent that sucks out any harmful toxin from my digestive tracts. - Ayee

Make Sure It Is Plugged!

Contrary to what I thought that it would never happen to an infrequent surfer of the cyberspace like me, this time last year, a virus contaminated my computer.

Of course, I felt violated and helpless as well. I cannot imagine some persons would deliberately mess up other people’s computers. This criminal activity is not unlike some uninvited strangers ransacked through our personal belongings. This incident made me feel even more vulnerable while using the computer.

Fortunately, there is anti-virus software we can install to protect us from the hackers. So in this case I was not as helpless as I thought. However, I was told before installing a new firewall in my computer, I must first get rid of the offending virus from the hard disc. If one has never had to evict intruders from his or her computer, the process to do so can be very onerous. To the credit of some smart engineers, they helped clean my desk top after my numerous calls to their far away call-center. My final call with an extremely patient techie lasted more than an hour. After at least two trying days, my computer was restored. But my task to prevent my computer from being infected again was far from over.

The protective program I installed last year expires soon. Although I was warned that installing a new anti-virus software can also be a frustrating business, I decided to do the installation myself. This time I was diligent and proactive. Before down loading a new spy ware to my computer, I asked family members as well as salespersons about the particular software I was about to purchase.

Since I had done what I could to prepare myself, I was ready for the upcoming challenge.

Before copying the new program, I removed the soon-to-expire program from the memory first. Then I made sure there was sufficient virtual space left in the hard drive. These steps seemed to be logical and easy. Therefore, the loading of the new program was a breeze except one unforseen glitch. With the new firewall, my computer could no longer get access to Internet. Certainly, it caused a havoc to me. So I had to call my ISP’s remote help-center. After nearly an hour long of probing, poking, booting and rebooting, finally, it was detected that there was a bad connection in my desk top. And you guess it! I was the trouble maker who plugged one of the ethernet cables into a wrong phone jack! - Ayee

Horse Business

Over the last few weeks, there were a lot of media coverages on a female racing horse. Due to their bigger physique, it appears that mares do not run as fast as their male counterparts. That is why the six-year at 1,200 pounds Zenyatta is so impressive. She made history in thorough breed racing. Her curriculum vitae, besides enjoying a strong and dark beer a day, include a record of winning all 19 races in which she had entered. Her jockey said of her a fierce horse on the track but a gentle soul off the course. Last week at Hollywood Park, California, she added another Breeders’ Cup pennant in her crowded trophy case. She finished her illustrious career with a second place in that race. Now, as I heard, she is to retire from racing to concentrate on motherhood.

The winning story of this special horse reminded me of the days I was at the oval.

There was a time when I thought rooting for the horses I had picked was fun. The fun doubled if the ones I picked also won. But after I read in the papers on what some ruthless horse owners did to their injured racing machines, sort of like boycotting, I quit betting on horses for good. The terrible stories of burning the stables down to collect insurance money on the dead horses are something I can never bear and tolerate.

Years ago, "60 Minutes" had a story on the US government’s Land Management Department. This government agency was allowed to round up mustangs in the West. Sadly, instead of getting the corralled creatures adopted to good families, many of them were shipped to slaughter houses in the most deplorable and inhumane manner. Since lately there was not many news on that government branch’s horse gathering activities, hopefully, the Land Management Department has since made their business a humane and caring one.

Now, Zenyatta have an extra Guinness for me! - Ayee

Hurrah to the Chilean Miners

We have just witnessed the seamless execution of the rescue at a remote Chilean gold mine. The plan that saved the trapped miners was a resounding success. In this unfortunate case, the advanced technology had played a pivotal role in the safe return of 33 miners. Without the timely and learned input from NASA and mining industry engineers in drilling and designing, the miners might still be in their dingy underground refuge waiting to be rescued. But common sense, decisive leadership and cooperation had also prevailed and attributed to a favorable outcome of a life- and- death situation. And lastly I bet God pitched in too.

I just learned the reason why the search for live miners was not called off days after the mine had collapsed. This badly maintained mine did not emit any sign of lives. But it did not exude the "smell of death" either. Thanks to this smelly indicator, the search and rescue work for live miners continued.

The other reason the rescue was a success was their top politicians’ caring vow to save the trapped miners at any costs. Both the Chilean president and his minister of mines had personally followed up on the logistics side of the various rescue plans to ensure the work-in-progress proceed as envisioned. Incidentally, both of them are accomplished businessmen before entering politics. Evidently, with them they brought much needed business acumen in undoing this disastrous event.

In addition, we should not overlook the leadership of the miners’ foreman either. It must take him some doings to ensure all his fellow workers survive both mentally and physically 2,000 plus feet below the mine site.

Working side by side as a team of various groups also played an indispensable role in this rescue effort. Good helps were from all around the world when the disaster struck. Now we know when we cooperate with each others, everyone wins!

And having some faith in God is not a bad idea when we are in distress. Without their unwavering confidence in God, I do not know how the miners and their families could survive the many days they were waiting to see their loved ones again. - Ayee

Amazing Kitties (II)

Middy, short for Midshipman, is an amazing seafaring cat.* And the story of this stubborn but self-reliant feline goes like this:

The crew of a small schooner, "Eyvor," was ashore one day. On their way to town, they spared a defenseless cat from the sticks and stones of a group of abusive boys. When the yachtsmen were back at their dinghy to return to their yacht, they found a small grey and white cat they saved already aboard the tender. It appeared this furry creature decided to return the favor by joining his two-legged saviors to sea. After many pushes and shovels with hisses and outreached claws, the yachtsmen gave in and decided to have this persistent pussy with them on the cruise.

Once on board the yacht, a meeting was called to decide what this new recruit's duty would be on board the ship. While no one knew what exactly a midshipman was, they appointed their newest crew member Midshipman, and named him Middy.

After the initial induction had been said and done, Middy started to flex his paws with a vengeance.

First, he made friends with two most important persons on board: the captain cum professor, and the ship cook. Middy followed the skipper around during the day and bedded with the boss in the night. However, to show his impartiality, each night before hunkered down next to his beloved benefactor, Middy would run over to all the berths in the cabin to ensure that each and every one of his loved mates was tucked in and was ready for bed.

Obviously, Middy’s trust in the captain was insurmountable. When he invited himself to accompany his best friend target shooting one day, Middy was not at all fazed by the loud shots flying all over him. To show his unwavering faith in the shooter, Middy, as cool as a cucumber, took his beauty nap right in the shadow of a boulder from which the marksman fired his shots.

I think Middy was a seaman in his previous life. He never got sick from the ups and downs of a tumbling sea. In one instance in a rough sea, thanks to his seafarer’s instinct, this taciturn kitty  had single-pawed rescued himself from being part of a ship wreck.

His know-how on staying afloat on the sea got him to where he wanted to be. I bet Middy would never tell a lie. But he must have an extra long nose. His keen olfactory ability might be his GPS that led him to his rescuers’ dinghy on the very day they met by a woodpile. He also knew who were the most important persons on the ship. Last but not lest, acting on his own reconnaissance he jumped into the cold sea water and fast paddled to a nearby yacht where two adorable kittens resided.

When the summer cruise ended, Middy was boarded with a lady artist in the Boston area. But he disappeared after a few months from the pleasant studio. Sadly no one had ever heard of him since. But John Coleman Adams, one of Middy’s mates on "Iyvor", believed his furry friend ran away to look for his old mates and the little schooner. Since he could find neither of them, being a born sailor, Middy once again stowed himself away onto a tall ship in yet another voyage on the open sea. - Ayee

*"Midshipman, the Cat," John Coleman Adams (1849 -1922),The Best Loved Cat Stories, The Reader’s Digest, 1997.

Recipe for Success

Recently I got myself a pleasant surprise when I went to a neighborhood laundry mat to wash a few area rugs. It was the same one I had used before. The proprietors there were pleasant but their service area was poorly lit. Its Spartan facility could also use a coat of fresh paint to spruce the place up a bit.

On that day the moment I walked into that shop, I was taken aback by what I saw. The place is bright and spotless. The shining chrome frame on many washing machines gleams with the soft lights from the many florescent tubes above. A coat of pastel blue-colored paint also emits some pleasantry in the air.

I learned later that this essential business provider has a new owner. Obviously, the simple improvements the new owners made to their investment over the last two months have brought them the expected results. While one of the mild-manner owners took care of the drop-off business, the other patiently explained to a customer of the different features an oversize washing machine provides. It is certain that their newly acquired business is booming!

As a consumer, this much improved laundry mat is a good news to me. Now I know there is a pleasant place to bring my future laundry business to. Unlike the many businesses, small and large, that I have known, invariably their services deteriorated after there was a change of the ownership. - Ayee

Amazing Kitties (I)

I thought my cats are smart ones until I read about "Eponine" in "The White and Black Dynasty."*

I will not go into the details on why this petite female kitty was so named. Perhaps growing up in the household of a literary family has something to do with a name like "Eponine."

Theophile Gautier, a renown nineteen century French poet, writer and critic, kept a pair of Angora cats with ermine like pure white coats. This handsome and gracious couple bestowed upon the prolific writer three jet black kittens. One of them was named Eponine.

Eponine must be the great poet’s favorite. She adored her famous keeper a great deal as well. Eponine always followed her master around when he was home. To return the many favors he had for her, she kept him accompanied whenever he was at his desk writing his next book. Furthermore, to earn her keep, Eponine became a page for the house. When the door bell rang, she would go to the door greet the guests, then usher them to the drawing room.

Unlike other cats, this endearing furry ball ate at the dinning table instead off the kitchen floor. Imagine a little black cat sits on an oversized dinning table chair for supper! Sitting next to her most beloved, she polished off her three-course meal with a half glass of water in style.

We all know cats are crazy about fish. When Eponine detected that delectable seafood was in the air, she would try to skip her soup. Her feline rationale on skipping the soup is no different from any of ours: less soup means more room for fish. Unfortunate for her, her master read her smart logics, and told her if she was not hungry for soup, she was not hungry for fish either. Eponine somehow got the message loud and clear and would finish her soup quickly whenever there were fish in the offering.

Eponine also knew when she was not invited for dinner. When silverware was placed by the dish on the table at where she normally sat, she knew to retreat to other place in the house during dinner time. However, Eponine would still get a few tasty morsels under the table from the guests who she knew had a few soft spots for her.

Such an amazing kitty Eponine is. It is no wonder that her dear master cast her as the star in one of his many short stories. * - Ayee

Eggs on Our Face

This week on PBS, The Nightly Business Report included a discussion on the recent massive egg recalls. The suspected eggs were from two of the largest egg producers in the States.

It is daunting to see on television millions of chicken cramp in barns many times of a regulation football field. The lit chicken house does not impress me as a hospitable place. The size of it also makes me wonder how the well-being of these all white birds is monitored? To me it will very likely take a chicken catcher a long time to reach a distressed hen in an over sized barn.

Contrary to the reason for the recent egg recalls, the proponents of mass production system suggested that the better and bigger equipment these big companies can buy help to improve the safety of the foods they produce. But I am with the critics of the food industry that our food producers are getting too big. The dominant position of five or six producers in the country enables them to dictate the fares on our dinner table. And efficiency has also taken a toll on safety. Now food recalls have become common occurrences.

In old days, we were taught to be appreciative of the foods on our table and the clothes on our back. Now these days there are many families still pray before enjoying their bountiful meals. Perhaps now we should also think where our daily bread is coming from - Ayee

Life is not fair.

Steven Slater has my sympathy too. What he did on that JetBlue flight may not be the best way to vent his frustration or to land himself a realty show act, he did bring to our attention of the plights of many front-line workers now facing. Airline attendants, customer services agents and even fast-food cashiers are all convenient and easy targets for irate customers.

Now economy is in the dog house. Company cut their work force to the bone. The poorly paid front-line employees not only have to work harder. In addition to unhappy customers, they also face the grim prospect of losing their stressful job. This explains why now we saw more often of irrational outbursts, some with deadly consequences, of rank and file employers in the news.

This also brings out a sore point on the ultra generous multimillion dollar compensation to many company executives. If one of them were paid one million dollars less, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out on how many additional workers the company can hire.

Lately, there was not much news on what had happened to Mr. Slater: whether or not he still works for JetBlue. But I do hope his employer through this unruly incident sees the light in the tunnel, and takes steps to improve the working conditions of their many hard-working but discontented employees. - Ayee

Too much is no good either!

It is always a happy and satisfying occasion for me when I found a stray cat a new home. But there was one instance that I wished I could undo what I did to a gentle pussy whom I named Billy. All the extra attention this good looking cat was provided with at his new home did not do him any good as far as his longevity is concerned. Many cats, particularly the indoor ones, can live up to 20 plus years. Billy died of cancer not more than three years after he was with his new family. And he was only about five or eight years old then.

Billy with short white hair came to us like many other strays did. He entered through a toll-free cat flap. When we first saw him at our home, his entire body was covered with some yellowish oily substance. After a head-to-tail bath, he turned out to be a prince-charming. A grayish smidgen on the top of his white round head made him stand out among his peers. He was also a gentle cat. He might know a thing or two about not getting into fights or avoiding hostile confrontation while out courting. Unlike other toms we saw, he did not have a single bite or scratch on his bony body.

Soon, a neighbor decided to adopt this espeacially handsome cat. But this kind lady might have erred on being too cautious on Billy’s health care needs. Each year, she made sure Billy had his annual booster. At his new home, he, an indoor cat, was also given flea remedy each year even though he was free of any parasites on or in him. I did see Billy a few times when I was taking care of him while his dear mistress was away. Despite the facts that he was showered with the best care, undivided love, and tasty kibbles, he did not seem to be happy. One day I met his owner by accident. I was in shock when I heard that Billy had died of cancer.

After hearing this grave news, I often wonder Billy’s untimely death. I wonder if too many vaccinations and flea control medications are harmful to our pets. In the past before these new effective and strong medications were invented, I had seen cats lived up to 18 plus years. One of them, Lucky, an adorable toothless gray and white mixed Ragdoll, lived to twenty-some. Moreover, I do not know if it is a coincident or the outcome of poor care, over the past several years, three of my cats all died at a young age. All of them had been treated with parasite control meds. - Ayee

Dog Business

The other afternoon, a disobedient dog got my attention. He and his young mistress were crossing the same intersection as I was. This bullterrier like young dog with extraordinary long floppy ears did not seem to be happy at all. He constantly resisted his mistress’ lead. He looked about six to eight months old and would soon become a full grown mongrel. This might explain why his rib-cage was sticking out from his lanky body. Or maybe he was hungry, hence, his unwillingness to heel.

After we reached the other side of the streets, I decided to offer a few dog biscuits that I had with me for one of my canine friends to this "hungry dog." The offering was welcome but the interest in the treats was fleetingly short. While his mistress and I stopped to chat, unlike other pooches, hungry and not hungry, who would devour the treat in one bite, he dropped the biscuit on the pavement. When I bent down to pick the cookie, he took a few side steps to the grassy area next to the sidewalk where we were. On that patch he started to relieve himself. Once he had emptied his bladder, without any enticement or coaxing, he was next to his owner and ready to trot.

From our brief chat, his young owner told me that she had just adopted him and that is why she had not had a name for him yet. And it was a he. I also learned that he was either starving or mistreated in any way. And he is going to start a new life with this seemingly responsible and caring young woman. While waving goodbye and wishing them the best, I saw a changed dog in him. Wthout any resistance, willingly he followed his owner to continue their unfinished journey. - Ayee

To Insure or Not to Insure

Recently, we relocated to a smaller residence. Once we found the place, the first thing we did was to book a date with a mover. Since there was a local mover who served us well in the past, naturally we decided to use the same company for this time as well.

When I called to book the move, the gentle voice on the other end of the line sounded friendly but very businesslike. It gave me a feeling that since our last move six years ago this family business has grown. In the past, when we called to book the move, it was a done deal once the date and time were agreed upon. This time, the young person on the phone had to advise me of additional information. They included terms such as a minimum four-hour charge, maximum 50-pound per box and the requirement of a deposit. Yet, these were not the only extra conditions we, the customers, were subject to.

On the moving day came a marked van manned by two young fellows. Before loading any boxes onto their dolly, one of the movers with an intimidating clipboard asked if we wanted to insure our household goods in case they were damaged in transit. Since we had our own insurance, I declined the offer.

Once the required formality was adhered to and the waivers were dotted, the two young men sprang to action. But somehow, they appeared to be not as apt in their job as their colleagues in the previous moves. Finally their laborious mission came to an end after five long hours.

And this time to my utmost surprise there were some damages to one of the end-tables and a lamp shade. In addition, three boxes were placed upside down on the floor at our new home. Apparently, the young movers had paid no attention to the wine glass direction on the cardboard boxes. Fortunately the damage to our worldly possessions was not catastrophic. But this instance did make me wonder what the outcome would be if we insured our belongings as offered?

It also illustrates that bigger is not better. Now this reputable business charges their customers nearly 100% more than it did nine years ago. To my disappointment, its higher tariff did not translate into a better services thou! - Ayee

Random Kindness

Yesterday I went to pick up my newspaper at a neighborhood drug store. After I found my daily, I lined up like many others did at the checkout stand. There were only about four or five customers ahead of me so I expected I would be out of the store soon, and still have time taking a leisure stroll home. Wrong! An elderly lady at the front of the line seemed to have problems with the battery she needed for her hearing aids. Since she herself did not know which one is the right one, the cashier at the till was totally lost in a maze of many button-like batteries. Even though no one was complaining about the wait, the line was getting longer. And that poor senior remained baffled as to the type of the specialized battery she needed. Then, a young fellow in a dark suit next to this flustered senior citizen decided to take the matter upon himself. He asked the cashier wait on other customers while he sorted out the arrays of disc-like power cells for a somewhat confused senior. By the time it was my turn to pay for my paper, I could see that well-dressed young fellow was no near to that Eureka moment he was looking for.

On my way home, I could not help but marvel at an act of selfless kindness unfolded in front of us at the store. Even though, I did not offer my service to this senior in need, I was pleased to see someone else did. - Ayee

A Super Mom

There is a no better day than Mother’s Day to remember a super mom.

In the spring of 1997, upon my return from a holiday, I found my feline family had grown again. Not only I got one extra kitty but a pregnant one. I bet when the mouse was away the cat played. After a Found ad failed to find this purring machine’s owner, I kept her and named her Purdy.

Luckily, care for an expecting queen was not a hard task. Purdy also got along with the other cats well, particularly Sweetie. Finally on the B-day, actually it was in the wee hours of the night, Purdy brought me the most precious gifts in the world: four helpless kittens. Voila! She managed to give birth to bundles of joy without a hitch. At the time when I discovered what Purdy had just accomplished, her newborns had already latched on their mommy feeding. Their deft mother also left their birthing place spotless clean.

During the ensuring weeks, Purdy fussed over the newborns 24/7. The kittens were in shipshape conditions. They became more and more appealing by the day. When the babies were still blind, Purdy hid them in different places. Once the kittens could see and negotiate their own little steps, their dear mom would round them up on the floor like what Lassie did to the sheep on the farm. When my other cats were near, she would chase them except Sweetie away from her pride and joy. Sweetie, a neutered tom, sat proudly by the kits as a surrogate dad. The sight of her lying on her side nursing her four little furry bundles was so soothing to watch. It also brought comforting feeling in me.

Motherhood and raising children are complicated and taxing matters. But for a devoted mom like Purdy, it all came naturally. Raising four kittens at once was a piece cake for her.

Sadly, Purdy is no longer with us. Our super mom disappeared from our home six months ago. I still had no clue as to what had happened to her. But for the good old time’s sake, I am here to wish her a happiest Mother’s Day. Purdy, our super mom, do come home soon! - Ayee

Liberation Procedure

Recently there was a breaking news on a new treatment for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is thought to be an autoimmune-related ailment. Currently MS patients are under the care of neurologists. Now an Italian doctor thinks blocked blood vessels are the causes of this debilitating disease. And a surgical procedure, similar to angioplasty, an accepted and proven medical practice, called Liberation, can help lessen MS symptoms, hence sufferings.

Dr. Paolo Zamboni’s theory on the MS seems to be plausible. We all know blood is life. If for any reason its conduit, blood vessels, fails to function, serious disease ensues. A few of MS suffers had the procedure and found good results. Some of them got to start walking again. Now due to the lack of research on this new treatment for MS, hospitals in both America and Canada are not allowed to provide Liberation treatments. Despite the prohibition, desperate MS patients now seek the treatment in overseas hospitals.

First I commend the medical professions for their cautious stance on this new discovery. But in the meantime, they should also respect their patients’ need as well. - Ayee

"Stand and Deliver," A 1988 Film

This is a story of a very special high school teacher in a Hispanic neighborhood in East Los Angeles. I did not see the movie but Garfield High School does ring a bell to me. Jaime Escalante, the greatest teacher in America, believes mathematics is the power to a better life. He, an immigrant from La Paz, Bolivia, moved to Los Angeles in 1964. He started his esteemed career at Garfield ten years later. The student body there is mostly immigrants from Mexico. Most families in this school district had struggled to make ends meet. They often left their children fend for themselves without any parental guidance. But this disadvantageous social and economical situation did not discourage this great teacher. Through his Calculus classes, he inspired his many students to do their best. By hard working, he helped his students from underprivileged families believing in themselves. Many studied at the late Mr. Escalante’s classes had gone to college and followed their mentor’s footsteps becoming teachers and professors themselves, in math, of course.

Exactly one month and four days ago, Mr. Escalante died in Sacramento, California, of bladder cancer.

Years ago, I read articles about the demise of professionalism in many professions that included teachers. So the story of the late Mr. Escalante is so encouraging and refreshing. What he had accomplished during his long tenure at Garfield is also truly incredible. - Ayee

It's time to be humble.

On the weekend, while watching the Professional Golf Association’s Zurich Classic on television, I learned the tournament’s second day play was delayed due to the inclement weather in New Orleans. The lightening came along with a thunderstorm that struck a tall tree on the course. Fortunately, no one there was injured from this mishap. But some residents in a neighboring state were not that lucky. A tornado swept through the State of Mississippi left ten people dead and many homeless. Not mention the devastating earthquakes that shook the world from Haiti and Chile in Americas and Tibet in China. Then a volcano in Iceland continued spewing out its deadly hot lava into the air and stopped all air travels at many European airports for many weeks.

All of the above mentioned destructive phenomena happened one after another since January of this year. The world has become smaller. And bad news does travel fast. But in the years past natural disasters had never occurred one after another like what has happened so far this year.

I do not know if these are the ways Mother Nature tells us that enough is enough. But I do know no one can decipher what exactly the nature has in stores for us. Perhaps it is time that we take a back seat to reflect and be humble. So we can assure ourselves that the next carbon footsteps we are about to take are smaller and gentler ones. - Ayee

An Eye-Opener

The other day Sweetie got to try on two new things.

First, he got to use a new cat carrier. The old one we had is made of wood with a rigid steel wire dome. I had many good uses of it. But because of its solid sturdy construction and size, it is quite heavy. So I decided that we should get a new one that is smaller and lighter. The new one I got from a supermarket is made of canvas-type clothes with mesh on the sides. The floor of this pet taxi is padded with soft fleece material. Usage of velcro on the handle plus the adjustable long shoulder straps make travel with our pets a less strenuous exercise. That day I did not have to use any trickery to get Sweetie inside the cage. Putting him down into the carrier through an opening on the top is a cinch. He seemed to be quite at ease sitting up inside his new cab. This is the first time that he rode in his cage all the way to the vet’s office without much whimpering.

Then, believe or not Sweetie, our sweet old chap, got to have his blood pressure tested for the heart murmurs the vet detected during our last visit.

Since I never heard or read of checking b/p on animals, it is something entirely new to me. But for the sake of my kitty’s good health, I decided to put my poor cat through this testing procedure. I also stayed with Sweetie and observed what the vet had to do to get an accurate b/p reading from a fidgeting cat.

The measuring device on animals is a smaller version of the manometer our doctor used but it reads diastolic pressures only. It did not take long to fasten the cuff onto one of Sweetie’s front leg. But it took the vet and his assistance an embarrassingly long time to locate the right spot to stick a probe between the toes of the same leg. Apparently, this is not a frequently practiced diagnostic procedure. Then once the probe was at the right place, we could hear a rhythmic swishing sound emitted from a metal box labeled "Ultrasound Profiler." After many gentle squeezes of a rubber pump, the dial in the round-face meter settled on a couple of readings in the range between 118 and 120. According to the vet, Sweetie’s ticker seemed to be all right! And he also became the first cat in our feline family who had been tested for blood pressure! - Ayee

Arm-Chair Golfer

Spring is always a welcome season when warm sunshine returns and cherry trees blossom to their best. It is also the time when the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) starts to air its competitions on television regularly on weekends. This armchair golfer has once again geared up for the world’s best players to show case their incredible shots on beautiful but challenging courses.

Talking about the incredible shots, the PGA tour players with the latest model of over sized drivers on hand plus their equally large biceps can send a tiny little object into stratospheric distance with the utmost accuracy. What a feat! It looks easy when they were playing the shots. I suppose being a pro golfer golfing becomes a job. They must always play well in order to earn a decent living and to be qualified to play in the next season.

However the recent revelation of the world number one player’s discretion off-course did change my view of professional golfers somewhat. Perhaps in my humble opinion the tournament’s monetary prize is getting too rich. Pro golfers are human beings. So they are no different from other well-paid sports figures. After the game it is party time for everyone. But I do hope golfing remains a gentleman’s sport in which integrity is always the most important component of the game. Fore! - Ayee

Bigger, But Not Better

It did not sound right when I heard Toyota recalling 8.6 million plus cars for faulty gas pedals. The company is known for making luxury and reliable cars such as Lexus, Camry and many others. Years ago, its quality circle manufacturing process was the envy of their counterparts around the world. Ironically, the malfunctions in Toyota cars surfaced not long after this Japanese car maker overtook General Motors Company as the largest automobile maker in the world.

Undoubtedly, this massive recall now in progress tarnishes the good name Toyota has earned over the past 75 years. It will also be a costly proposition to the company. But, there is a gleaming light in this dire situation. Toyota becomes the world number one car maker because it sold more cars than all other makers. Unlike many others, Toyota has a rich equity base so it did not have to incur much debt to finance its expanded business bases. For this reason, many financial analysts predicted that fiscally Toyota will survive the massive recalls of its cars and resulting lawsuits.

Hopefully, after Toyota redeemed itself in this recall fiasco at great costs, it also cured itself the so-call "big company disease." - Ayee

“Ten Ways to Be Kind to Our Neighbors’” Author Unknown

We found this posting on the Net. I thought it would be a good idea we spread this gospel further. Matter of fact, sharing good news is the tenth suggestion on this to-do list.

While we do not know who posted this item, based on its straightforward content, I speculate possibly it is originated from either Buddhism or Taoism’s altruistic philosophy. My English translation from its Chinese text may lose some of its insight in the process. But definitely it is a worthwhile task that I am happy to undertake. Here they are:

1. When street peddlers begging for spare changes, we offer them foods. When asking for food, give them money.
2. On the bus, give up our seat to the disabled, the elderly or mother-to-be without a big fuss.
3. When the weather is not agreeable, we make extra effort to buy something from the street vendors. So they can all get out of the cold and soaky night and go home sooner.
4. When seeing lost kids or disoriented seniors, we escort them home. If it is not possible, put them on the right bus or accompany them to the police station. Help them make a phone call home will also get them home sooner.
5. When hearing someone asking for direction, do not be bashful if we know the place. Offer what we know voluntarily.
6. When found a purse with cash, if we are in a dire strait, we return it without the money to its rightful owner. However, we must remember who this money belongs to. When we are back on our feet, we return the temporarily borrowed money to its owner with an apology.
7. If we can, help out and encourage the young students who must work to support themselves or their families.
8. When shopping at the night markets, we buy more if you can without haggling. So the poor vendors can sell out their goods sooner in a cold night.
9. If we are financially well off, do not transgress to having a concubine. Helping a few poor students anonymously will make us happier.
10. If we find these ideas make good sense to us, do share this to-do list with others.

Now, let’s be kind to each others. - Ayee

Fins and Paws

It appears day by day animals have become more and more of an integral part of our society. Now encounters between men and beasts are very frequent. This explains why mesmerizing animal stories become staples of our daily news. The other day my newspaper reported two such tales on the same page.

One is about the death of an experienced 40-year-old trainer, Dawn Brancheau, in SeaWorld, Orlando, Florida. She died while performing with "Tilikum," a 30-year-old killer whale. Mind you, this is not a win-and-lose game. This tragedy does not end here. Now this playful orca’s fate is at stake. Because this is not the first time the star attraction at SeaWorld is infamously linked to the loss of a human life, SeaWorld may have to put Tilikum out to the great yonder if it is found to be the culprit of this deadly incident.

Then the other story is about a bomb-sniffing black Labrador named Treo. It was in London receiving a bravery medal for preventing NATO soldiers as well as innocent Afghans from being blown up by roadside bombs. Certainly it is wonderful to see this smart pooch receives its well-deserved award live and well in "person."

After reading these two stories, I am glad at least one of them had a happy ending. - Ayee

Look Befroe Your Cross

The other morning while I was waiting for my bus at an intersection, I noticed on a kiddy corner to me there was a grey squirrel on the curb. It was prepared to cross a busy east/west thoroughfare in the morning rush hour. The bus was late so I got to watch a small fur-clad rodent crossing a busy street unscathed.

From where I was I saw this little four-legged being braved itself down to the payment from the curb and was set to go. Before it descended to the asphalt, not unlike the flashing amber lights at some intersections, this hairy creature waved its bushy tail up and down to alert the oncoming traffic to stop. But none of the speeding east bound cars noticed this tiny bundle’s friendly signal. For a few times, it nearly got zapped by the fast-moving vehicles zooming by it

Because many daring attempts bore no fruits, to skirt the dangerous traffic, it decided to change its path. Instead of running against the traffic, it went with the flow.

Resulting from this change of direction, it quickly crossed a north/south feeder road of the same intersection without any fanfares. Now it was on the sidewalk at the east/north corner of the same intersection. It still faced the risky task that would get it over to the south side of these crossroads. Not like a few of its peers whom I saw sometimes crossing busy streets by the overhead electrical wires, this little one took advantage of the many bare cherry trees there. It jumped onto the dry branches of the trees from one to another. Continuously it traveled in the air until it reached the midway of this short block. From there it came down to the concrete sidewalk. Finally, it was in a spot that was in a safe distance from the busy intersection and got itself crossed over to the south side of the busy streets safely. - Ayee

"A modest life, a giving nature"*

This week’s Giving Back section of The Globe and Mail featured an Alberta philanthropist Frank Flaman.

At present, Mr. Flaman owns nine stores in two Western provinces in Canada that sell exercise and farm equipment. This 76-year old multi-millionaire lives modestly in a two-bedroom condo. Instead of a new Rolls Royce which he said he did not need, he drives an energy efficient smart car. But each year he gives generously in the tune of $1 mm to different charities. Last week, Mr. Flaman donated $500,000 to the Salvation Army and Oxfam for their relief works in Haiti.

The facts attract me to Mr. Flaman’s story are not only he is an ultra caring and generous giver but also the reason why he sells stationary bikes in a farm supplies store.

Twenty years ago after a bout with depression, Mr. Flaman learned the benefits of exercise. With this new discovery in mind, he "threw the Prozac away," and started the fitness equipment business. - Ayee

*Report on Business, The Globe and Mail, January 23, 2010