Monday, March 28, 2005
Terri Schiavo Case and the Humane Society
The Terri Schiavo case becomes the battle ground for the legal systems, politcal parties, special interest and religious groups. It has been said that this will only happen in the States, and it should not be an issue in many countries.
Terri Schiavo became in vegetable state 15 years along. Apparently she could not understand anything, and relies on feeding tubes to keep her alive. She has limited movement and could blink her eyes. There had been law suits between her husband and her parents. Her husband wants to remove her feeding tubes and let her die, because he believes that is his wife's wish. However, her parents want to keep her alive no matter what. Recently the federal judges agreed that her husband has the attorney power, and ordered the feeding tubes be removed. The issue goes all the way to the Congress and federal court. But the final decision is that the feeding tubes should be removed. She would not receive any water and feeding. As a result she will be literally starved and dehydrated to death. Both the pro and con groups demonstrate out side the hospital. Tension and emotion are high. I am just wondering how the Humane Society acts on this issue.
A few years ago, I had rabbits and mice for my research. The Canadian Animal Care Council came to inspect our facilities once every three years, and I had to pay for their trip. The inspector team consisted of two people, one was from the Council and the other was a vet. After inspection, we sat down and discussed all the issues. They recommended me to let the animals out of the cages to a enclose open area at least once a day. It was even better to keep the animals in an "playground" so that they could move around as they wished. It was because rabbits are social animals. They need to socialize with each other, and they would stay healthy. Then they suggested me to provide them with toys and the animals would not be so bored. Their life style would be much improved. They also recommended me to check their percentage of hemoglobin once a month. Finally they asked to form a local committee consisting of animal users, a local vet and one from the Humane Society, to monitor the animals. They thought I was running a day care centre. I was os fed up with these issues, and I finally cancelled all my animal experiment. I don't to pay someone to harass me.
This is a very strange world. We care for animals more than human beings. Human lives, after all, are not so important compared with pets.
Terri Schiavo became in vegetable state 15 years along. Apparently she could not understand anything, and relies on feeding tubes to keep her alive. She has limited movement and could blink her eyes. There had been law suits between her husband and her parents. Her husband wants to remove her feeding tubes and let her die, because he believes that is his wife's wish. However, her parents want to keep her alive no matter what. Recently the federal judges agreed that her husband has the attorney power, and ordered the feeding tubes be removed. The issue goes all the way to the Congress and federal court. But the final decision is that the feeding tubes should be removed. She would not receive any water and feeding. As a result she will be literally starved and dehydrated to death. Both the pro and con groups demonstrate out side the hospital. Tension and emotion are high. I am just wondering how the Humane Society acts on this issue.
A few years ago, I had rabbits and mice for my research. The Canadian Animal Care Council came to inspect our facilities once every three years, and I had to pay for their trip. The inspector team consisted of two people, one was from the Council and the other was a vet. After inspection, we sat down and discussed all the issues. They recommended me to let the animals out of the cages to a enclose open area at least once a day. It was even better to keep the animals in an "playground" so that they could move around as they wished. It was because rabbits are social animals. They need to socialize with each other, and they would stay healthy. Then they suggested me to provide them with toys and the animals would not be so bored. Their life style would be much improved. They also recommended me to check their percentage of hemoglobin once a month. Finally they asked to form a local committee consisting of animal users, a local vet and one from the Humane Society, to monitor the animals. They thought I was running a day care centre. I was os fed up with these issues, and I finally cancelled all my animal experiment. I don't to pay someone to harass me.
This is a very strange world. We care for animals more than human beings. Human lives, after all, are not so important compared with pets.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Mourn for National Treasure
Recently four Canadian Mounties (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) were killed by a madman in Alberta. As one commentator said " it pierced into the hearts of Canada", and our hearts are with their families.
Though we have the Maple Leaf on our national flag, and a beaver on on our coin, the Royal Canada Mounted Police is always considered as the symbol of Canada. It is because they wear scarlet color uniform which symbolized the protectors of the laws, and they are usually tall, friendly and good looking people. I would say most of the tourists have taken pictures with the Mounties.
The loss of the four Mounties are especially difficult to accept because they were all very young, and the killer had a list of criminal records. How could the supervisor send these green Mounties to this crazy man' s farm? Certainly there would be an investigation into such matter.
How often do we appreciate the police? As far as I remember the Hong Kong people are always very suspecious about the police. They think they are all crooks. However during the time of crisis, we began to appreciate the police. One particular incidence was the 1966 incidence as a result of the Cultural revolution in mainland China. Without the dedicated work of the police, I am very doubtful that the present Hong Kong would be the same.
Let us respect more about our police. They are the first line in defending laws and order, and they always put their lives at risks whenever they are at work. There are so many crazy and mad people outside.
Though we have the Maple Leaf on our national flag, and a beaver on on our coin, the Royal Canada Mounted Police is always considered as the symbol of Canada. It is because they wear scarlet color uniform which symbolized the protectors of the laws, and they are usually tall, friendly and good looking people. I would say most of the tourists have taken pictures with the Mounties.
The loss of the four Mounties are especially difficult to accept because they were all very young, and the killer had a list of criminal records. How could the supervisor send these green Mounties to this crazy man' s farm? Certainly there would be an investigation into such matter.
How often do we appreciate the police? As far as I remember the Hong Kong people are always very suspecious about the police. They think they are all crooks. However during the time of crisis, we began to appreciate the police. One particular incidence was the 1966 incidence as a result of the Cultural revolution in mainland China. Without the dedicated work of the police, I am very doubtful that the present Hong Kong would be the same.
Let us respect more about our police. They are the first line in defending laws and order, and they always put their lives at risks whenever they are at work. There are so many crazy and mad people outside.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Canadian Winters
When I arrived Canada about 35 years ago, I enjoyed the Canadian winters very much. It is white everywhere, and it looks like a Christmas card. The cool and quiet country side gave me a sense of peace and serenity. It gave me the greatest pleasure looking out the windows watching the snowflakes falling from the sky. I am not a romantic person but I particularly enjoyed walking along the Detroit River while it was snowing. Sometimes I fell into deep thought until I felt my feet were frozen.
Certainly Windsor is very "warm" compared with other parts of Ontario. There are more snows in Kingston and colder. But I still enjoyed winters there also. I picked up cross-country skiing, and I enjoyed skating on the frozen Lake Ontario. It was quite scary to walk on a frozen lake. Though it was several feet thick of ice, one could hear water "noise" beneath the feet. However, I had a coompletely free feeling at the middle of the lake, and I could only see dots of people far away from me.
That had been 25 years ago, and I was pretty young. And certainly, I didn't feel cold at all even it was -20 C.
Sault Ste Marie situates between Lake Huron and Lake Superior, and as a result there are lots of snow in the winters. Winter is long and it usually lasts for about 6 months with temperature ranging from 0 to -30 C. I did not enjoy winters anymore. During the winter, I have to put on several pounds of winter clothings and boots before going out. As I am getting older, I feel my winter clothings are getting heavier and heavier. Walking in the snow is no longer romantic but rather a health hassard. It is suggested that breathing cold air will damage the lung lining, and may also trigger heart attack to the older people. Moreover, long winters will affect the mood of the people also, and it is called winter blue. Lack of sunshine in the winter will also cause health problems to the people because the lack of vitamin D.
How can the Canadians cope with winters? Some retirees go to Florida, Mexico or Arizona in the winters, and they are called snow birds because they fly south in the winters. Hong Kongers spend their winters back in Hong Kong. Others take a week off in the winter, and go to south for the sun. The hottest place usually is Florida, because the kids enjoy Disney World. Cuba and Mexico are getting very popular because they are cheap, though there are not much to do there. You just stay in the resort eating, sun bathing and walking along the beaches.
For me, I hibernate in the winters. That means I would not do anything special in the winter. I just stay at home and enjoy the whiteness outside.
I am getting old. Winter here is too long for me. I need to find a place where it is warm in the winter. However there is no such place in Canada. Alas!
Certainly Windsor is very "warm" compared with other parts of Ontario. There are more snows in Kingston and colder. But I still enjoyed winters there also. I picked up cross-country skiing, and I enjoyed skating on the frozen Lake Ontario. It was quite scary to walk on a frozen lake. Though it was several feet thick of ice, one could hear water "noise" beneath the feet. However, I had a coompletely free feeling at the middle of the lake, and I could only see dots of people far away from me.
That had been 25 years ago, and I was pretty young. And certainly, I didn't feel cold at all even it was -20 C.
Sault Ste Marie situates between Lake Huron and Lake Superior, and as a result there are lots of snow in the winters. Winter is long and it usually lasts for about 6 months with temperature ranging from 0 to -30 C. I did not enjoy winters anymore. During the winter, I have to put on several pounds of winter clothings and boots before going out. As I am getting older, I feel my winter clothings are getting heavier and heavier. Walking in the snow is no longer romantic but rather a health hassard. It is suggested that breathing cold air will damage the lung lining, and may also trigger heart attack to the older people. Moreover, long winters will affect the mood of the people also, and it is called winter blue. Lack of sunshine in the winter will also cause health problems to the people because the lack of vitamin D.
How can the Canadians cope with winters? Some retirees go to Florida, Mexico or Arizona in the winters, and they are called snow birds because they fly south in the winters. Hong Kongers spend their winters back in Hong Kong. Others take a week off in the winter, and go to south for the sun. The hottest place usually is Florida, because the kids enjoy Disney World. Cuba and Mexico are getting very popular because they are cheap, though there are not much to do there. You just stay in the resort eating, sun bathing and walking along the beaches.
For me, I hibernate in the winters. That means I would not do anything special in the winter. I just stay at home and enjoy the whiteness outside.
I am getting old. Winter here is too long for me. I need to find a place where it is warm in the winter. However there is no such place in Canada. Alas!
Friday, March 04, 2005
The Woes of Canada
We, Canadians, have this personality complex.
We don't want to be a little brother of USA.
We are "proud" to be Canadians when we stand up anything against the Americans; when we did not join the Americans in the second Gulf War against Iraq; and when we say NO to the American's North American Missile Defence System.
We try to have our own Canadian "culture " different from USA by decriminalization of marijuana (and forgetting the fact that the marijuana grown here is mostly exported to our neighbour), redefining marriage (becoming the third leading country to legalize same sex marriage), and accepting all kinds of immigrants (forgetting that some of these illegal immigrants are terrorists and criminals who will target the US).
On the other hand, we behave like a crying baby to do business with the Americans. Eighty percent of our exports will go to USA. When we had Mad Cow Diseases in our cattle, USA shut down the border for cattles. We cried and tried our best to reopen the border. When the American imposes duties on our soft wood lumber, we cried again and fought all the way to the International Trade Organization. When our dollar is up against the US, our industries cry because our products will be harder to compete.
We love the American business, but hate their policies. We love their money, but we hate to have a big brother taking care of us.
The North American Missile Defence System is the latest joke. Since 9/11 the US is planning a Missile Defence System to protect North American. Terrorist missiles can come from all directions targetting US cities. The fastest and easiest route is from the North, snice the Artic Ocean is an open space. The US is asking the Canadian government to joint the system to protect North American from missile attack, without costing us a penny. Our Prime Minister first agreed with this system for country security reason, then later change his mind because of "sovereignty" reason stating that he would not allow foreign missile flying over the airspace of Canada. When our PM announced not to join the US, people cheered and said they were proud to be Canadians. Airspace of a country is limited up to the atmosphere. Transcontinental missiles usually fly above the atmosphere. Protecting our airspace sovereignty is to fool people. If the US detected a missile coming toward an American city from the North, do you think the US would ask Canada for permission to shoot down the incoming missile over Canadian airspace? Don't be so naive. Does the US care about Canadian's opinion? They will shoot it down first and then discuss. They have the right to protect their own people.
We may have developed some good trading partners with China, India or Japan. However, if Canada is under terrorist attack, which country would come to help Canada first? China or USA? Who is more reliable?
If you want to have good neighbours, you would not stand up against your neighbours all the time. You don't need to go along or agree with your neighbours all the time, but at least when your neighbour is away, you should keep an eye on your neighbour's house. If you irritate your neighbour all the time, do you think your neighbour would want to do business with you?
Poor Canadians, we try so hard to be a nice man. We want to be grown up. We want to develop our own culture different from the US, UK and France, and finally develop a multicultural society (see more this in the future article).
We don't want to be a little brother of USA.
We are "proud" to be Canadians when we stand up anything against the Americans; when we did not join the Americans in the second Gulf War against Iraq; and when we say NO to the American's North American Missile Defence System.
We try to have our own Canadian "culture " different from USA by decriminalization of marijuana (and forgetting the fact that the marijuana grown here is mostly exported to our neighbour), redefining marriage (becoming the third leading country to legalize same sex marriage), and accepting all kinds of immigrants (forgetting that some of these illegal immigrants are terrorists and criminals who will target the US).
On the other hand, we behave like a crying baby to do business with the Americans. Eighty percent of our exports will go to USA. When we had Mad Cow Diseases in our cattle, USA shut down the border for cattles. We cried and tried our best to reopen the border. When the American imposes duties on our soft wood lumber, we cried again and fought all the way to the International Trade Organization. When our dollar is up against the US, our industries cry because our products will be harder to compete.
We love the American business, but hate their policies. We love their money, but we hate to have a big brother taking care of us.
The North American Missile Defence System is the latest joke. Since 9/11 the US is planning a Missile Defence System to protect North American. Terrorist missiles can come from all directions targetting US cities. The fastest and easiest route is from the North, snice the Artic Ocean is an open space. The US is asking the Canadian government to joint the system to protect North American from missile attack, without costing us a penny. Our Prime Minister first agreed with this system for country security reason, then later change his mind because of "sovereignty" reason stating that he would not allow foreign missile flying over the airspace of Canada. When our PM announced not to join the US, people cheered and said they were proud to be Canadians. Airspace of a country is limited up to the atmosphere. Transcontinental missiles usually fly above the atmosphere. Protecting our airspace sovereignty is to fool people. If the US detected a missile coming toward an American city from the North, do you think the US would ask Canada for permission to shoot down the incoming missile over Canadian airspace? Don't be so naive. Does the US care about Canadian's opinion? They will shoot it down first and then discuss. They have the right to protect their own people.
We may have developed some good trading partners with China, India or Japan. However, if Canada is under terrorist attack, which country would come to help Canada first? China or USA? Who is more reliable?
If you want to have good neighbours, you would not stand up against your neighbours all the time. You don't need to go along or agree with your neighbours all the time, but at least when your neighbour is away, you should keep an eye on your neighbour's house. If you irritate your neighbour all the time, do you think your neighbour would want to do business with you?
Poor Canadians, we try so hard to be a nice man. We want to be grown up. We want to develop our own culture different from the US, UK and France, and finally develop a multicultural society (see more this in the future article).
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
What is Happiness?
Everyone wants happiness, and everyone is looking for happiness.
But what is happiness?
Everyone knows that happiness is a relative term. If you give a candy to a child, he/she would be very happy. Certainly we would not be happy at all. Happiness is also an exponenial term. The "more happiness" we have, the more we want. It is a never ending game. Even on the very last day, we want to be "happy" forever in heaven (disregardless of any religion).
In order to uncover the myth of happiness, we should know the reasons why some people are unhappy. The reasons are mainly:
(1) bodily condition- especially pains, our body parts would not listen to central command
(2) career - not the right careers we really desire. (If you don't feel going to work each morning, you are in this category)
(3) money - the more the better, people believe that money can buy happiness (I have to be frank, this is true to certain extent, though we were not taught in this way!)
(4) love - people die because of love. Which one is happier : to love or be loved?
to possess the one you love or possess the quality of love?
(5) freedom - if you have freedom, you never understand freedom gives you happiness. If you don't have freedom, you never experience happiness.
To most of us, the meaning of happiness is to get whatever we want to get or attain. Since there is no limit in our desire, our pursue in happiness will never end. Perhaps the real happiness is in pursuing happiness.
Happiness is a very abstract term. Do you think you would be happy living in a perfect resort all your life? I know I will not. Unless you have experienced pains, you will never understand happiness. Your happiness is in your hand now. My friends, don't chase after the rainbow. Treasure every moment on this planet, that is my happiness!
But what is happiness?
Everyone knows that happiness is a relative term. If you give a candy to a child, he/she would be very happy. Certainly we would not be happy at all. Happiness is also an exponenial term. The "more happiness" we have, the more we want. It is a never ending game. Even on the very last day, we want to be "happy" forever in heaven (disregardless of any religion).
In order to uncover the myth of happiness, we should know the reasons why some people are unhappy. The reasons are mainly:
(1) bodily condition- especially pains, our body parts would not listen to central command
(2) career - not the right careers we really desire. (If you don't feel going to work each morning, you are in this category)
(3) money - the more the better, people believe that money can buy happiness (I have to be frank, this is true to certain extent, though we were not taught in this way!)
(4) love - people die because of love. Which one is happier : to love or be loved?
to possess the one you love or possess the quality of love?
(5) freedom - if you have freedom, you never understand freedom gives you happiness. If you don't have freedom, you never experience happiness.
To most of us, the meaning of happiness is to get whatever we want to get or attain. Since there is no limit in our desire, our pursue in happiness will never end. Perhaps the real happiness is in pursuing happiness.
Happiness is a very abstract term. Do you think you would be happy living in a perfect resort all your life? I know I will not. Unless you have experienced pains, you will never understand happiness. Your happiness is in your hand now. My friends, don't chase after the rainbow. Treasure every moment on this planet, that is my happiness!
