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