Cyber-Class64 Newsletter

An BWFLC 50th Anniversary celebration is under planning. It would be in the first half of December 2009. Surely Class-64 will be taking advantage of this special occasion to hold her global Class Reunion in Hong Kong. I trust that most of us would retire by 2009, and timing should not be a big problem. If you are stil working, it is good. However, there would be two years to plan this trip, and it should not be any excuse not coming to the Class Reunion.
See you all there in 2009, and I will keep you all posted.

Before the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, a lot of people from Hong Kong flocked to Canada. They settled down mostly in either Vancouver or Toronto, but preferably Vancouver because it is closer to Hong Kong and the weather is milder than Toronto. As the dust settled down, most of the parents of the Hong Kong families returned to their homeland to make more money, leaving their children in Canada with big houses and cars. China is now prosperous, and the first generation of Chinese Canadians follows their parents' footsteps, and return to Hong Kong either to make their living there or help their parents' business. Occasionally they return to Canada either because of business or for vacation. They are geniune Canadians holding Canadian passports. Do they really know Canada? Do they really contribute anything to the Canadian society? I am not sure. It seems that Canada is their first class hotel. They come here as they wish as long as they can afford the rent. Imagine the scenario that China suddenly changes her heart and turns Hong Kong to dead red. These Chinese Canadians would be holding their Canadian passport high and the first to rush to the airport. They are just going to the best hotel with big pockets.
Recently, thousands of Canadians got trapped in Lebanon. These Canadians complained the government did not react fast enough to move them out of Beirut. In front of the TV camera, they really looked angry. Later there were reports in the newspapers that most of these Canadians hold dual citizenship - Canadian and Lebanese. In fact most of them are Lebanese in origin, and they live there full time but only partime in Canada. The reporters asked why they moved back to Lebanon. The answer is the same - Lebanon is their home land and the weather is so beautiful (Beirut has a nickname called Paris of the East). The Canadian passport is a just a token to get into the best hotel in the world.
My friend knows an old lady who returned to Hong Kong after she got her Canadian citizenship.
Of course the Canadian government would send her old-age pension cheque every month once she was 65. Recently she got cancer and was treated in Hong Kong. When the doctor said it was terminal. She returned to Canada to die. Why? It is because a pot of land in Canada is much cheaper and will last for ever. She finally would be a permament resident of Canada.

Rationale

We had our Class Reunion in 1994. It was not a truly global reunion, because it was actually taken place in four different places, namely Hong Kong, Sydney, Vancouver and Toronto. After the reunion, we created our Internet Newsletter, which later changed to an Overseas Alumni Newsletter. It has been 10 years, and it is time for us to think a true global reunion.
Lindy Chan Suk Kam and others put up an almost complete list of Class64. It contains names, mailing and email addresses. It is a great task of work, and we must congraduate on their efforts. With that list, it brings us closer to each other.
A lot of you express to me that we should have a truly Class Reunion. I would, therefore, like to call for a Class Reunion in the near future, and I turst you would support it heartily.

Venue

Based on previous survey and through exchanges of emails, I sense that the first choice is Hong Kong. We should not be suprised of this choice, since our root is there. We spent 5 years together, and it was the birthplace of our friendship.
Moreover we could visit our Alma mater, and some of us might take this opportunity to visit our country motherland.

Others suggest that we could have the reunion on a Cruise tour e.g. Alaska Cruise. This has the advantage of saving a lot of time in planning, and we have more time together (7-14 days). At the same time we could bring our families along as vacation.

Time

Our classmates mainly reside in the following countries: Hong Kong, Singapore, UK, Australia, Taiwan, the USA and Canada. It is almost an impossible task to find the right time to suit everyone. However timing may be an important factor.
Most of us are very close to 60 years old now. Some of us have already retired, others are thinking and planning while the rest would not retire. As we retire, we should have more time for travelling. On the other hand, as we get older, it is more inconvenient to travel due to changes in our bodies.
Some suggest to have reunion in 2006. It may be too rush for the overseas classmates. Year 2008 is not very good because of the Olympics in China. The hotels and airfares to Hong Kong would be very expensive. Therefore it leaves only 2007 and 2009.
I would suggest 2009 is the year for our Class Reunion for the following reasons:
(1) It is the year after the Beijing Olympics, we can then cash in the infrastructure of China, if we decide to organise a tour there.
(2) Year 2009 would be the 50th Anniversary of our Alma Mater. I am quite sure that there would be celebrations. We then can arrange the time and join their activities.
(3) By 2009, most of us would retire (or very close). This would encourage more classmates to join the reunion.
The final date and time should be determined by the local planning committee. However I would like the committee to consider the cheap airfare season and weather. Overseas classmates usually prefer cheap airfare and not so hot and wet seasons. November or early December seems to be reasonable.

Action

I suggest to setup a planning committee - those who are residing in Hong Kong Plus one or two from overseas who travels to Hong Kong frequently.
(1) Talk to all classmates and collect all ideas.
(2) Keep in touch with each other via emails and strengthen our friendship
(3) Make the following recommendation to the classmates
(a) year and date of reunion
(b) if it is in 2009, the committee should get in touch of Alma mater about her celebration activities.

Final Words

It seems that the reunion in 2009 is too far away. Perhaps. But if you consider some of us are still having young teenagers, it is very difficult and expensive to travel to Hong Kong. It takes time to save and plan. We have been waiting for a long time to have our first reunion. We want to include as many classmates as possble.
This is only my personal thought. The final decision will be in the committee's hand.
Please click on comment (below) and post your comments. Or you may send your suggestion to me via emails and I will post it on this blog site.

You may think that I must be crazy or am an idiot when I choose this title. Or you may think that I have metamorphosed completely into a white or I betray my ancestors.
A few years ago, I had supper with another Chinese scientist together with some other Canadians in a Chinese restaurant. We then began to talk about the Chinese restaurant owners making lots of money. Then this Chinese scientist told us that a lot of Chinese restaurant owners never reported the real income to the government to avoid paying income tax. For frequent customers, they asked them to pay cash. In return, the customers do not pay tax. Since there was no receipts issued, the owners would not report as income. Most of the Chinese are willing to do that since they pay less. It gives people the impression that all Chinese are very good in tax invasion. I just hate it!
In September, I went to Toronto two times within a short time. It always give me a headache drivng in those areas with high concentration of Chinese. At one time I was on the right turn lane to turn right before the traffic light. Before the light turned green, the car on my left side turned right in front of me (though he was in go-straight lane). There was almost an accident if I started my car a little faster. The driver was a typical young Chinese man with an expensive model car. I hate it!
When the Chinese or more appropriate the Hong Kongers, talk, they usually raise their voice a little bit higher. Some one comments that Chinese or mostly Cantonese cannot talk, they yell all the time. Though these comments may be a little bit exaggerated, I have seen some very awkward moments, usually in the subways or buses. Chinese restaurants are notorious noisy, especially during the dim sum tea time. It is so noisy that everyone has to yell to cover others' voices. I hate it!
Believe it or not, there are five different kinds of Chinese in Canada: Hong Kong Chinese, Taiwan Chinese, Mainland China Chinese, Chinese from other countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Philipine etc) and Canadian born Chinese (CBC), and they separate themselves very well. Usually there are three Chinese Student Associations in a Univeristy: one for the HK Chinese, one for the Chinese from Taiwan, and one for the Chinese from China. The other Chinese from other countries mostly join the Taiwan one if they speak Mandarin, others join the HK one. CBCs are the lost one, but they don't care about the Chinese Students Association. If they join they would mostly join the HK one because they are more willing to speak English among themselves. In a small town likes Sault Ste. Marie, there are not many Chinese, and one expects all the Chinese would come closer to each other. In reality, it is not true. The Chinese from HK can be very good friends with the Chinese from other English speaking countries, because we are all willing to communicate in English. However, most of the Chinese HK cannot speak very well Mandarin, and the Chinese from China are not willing to communicate in English. As a result it is tough to make friends between groups. Besides language, there are some cultural differences. The HK Chinese are more westernized and they tend to treat themselves more Canadians than Chinese. The Chinese from China are the opposite. They are very "Chinese". Why do the Chinese have to classify themselves and ignoring the other groups even we are the same? Can we use a common language to understand each other more? When I meet a new Chinese, what language should I use, Cantonese, Mandarin (waterskin level), or English? Good grief, I hate it!

It is not necessary to decribe the beauty of Canadian Autumn. However autumn here is very short, and the scenary changes everyday. Within a few days, the weather may change from warm and sunny to wet and snowy.
People from Hong Kong travel to Japan to watch the fall colors. However, a lot of Japanese, Germen and other parts of the world came to Sault Ste. Marie to visit the Agawa Canyon just to see the fall colors.
Pictures speak thousand words.

Sixty years ago, the first atomic bomb, nicknamed Little Boy, was dropped on Hiroshima, and it began a new page of mankind. We were formally entering the Atomic or Nuclear Age.
A lots of films, documentaries and books have been written about this particular day. Every now and then, the citizens of Hiroshima held memorial service on that day. If you have visited the memorial monument in Hiroshima, you would notice the graphic displays of the sufferring of the Japanese from the atomic bomb.
Do the Japanese or the world, learn the lesson from this event?Almost all of the books, films and documentaries about the Little Boy emphasize on two fronts - the scientific achievement of the Americans, and the sufferring of the Japanese after the bomb.
It may be by accident that most of these records portrait the victims of the wars were the Japanese and the aggressor were the Americans. They never mention that Japan was an aggressor of the WWII. In fact in the Hiroshima monument, they never mention the reasons why the American dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. They portrait themselves as WWII victims.
It is true that 130,000 died because of the bomb on that very day. However during the Rape of Naking, the Japanese soldiers killed 300,000 Chinese within a few days, and they acquired 100,000 comfort women for the soldiers. They never mentioned that the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima because of their aggression in the WWII. In their history book, they never mention about reasons of the wars in Asia. In fact they never mention about her aggression in the War, and certainly they never apologize to all the Asian countries (in contrast to the German government).
I don't think the Japanese government has learned the lesson from the bomb - you harvest what you sow. That is why I still do not trust the Japanese government, and I have no desire to visit Japan unless it is necessary.

Ten year ago, I visited Budapest when I attended the International Congress of Immunology. At that time, Budapest was still under the communist party. In July 2005, I visited Budapest again as I attended another meeting. Do I notice any significant changes?
In 1996, Budapest was a quiet city. The buildings were dark. There wwere not many cars on the roads, but I could see a lot of tourists. Hotels and food were cheap. Budapest at that time provided one of the best public transport system. I enjoyed walking around without any fear. I would say it was a very beautiful city with wide and clean boulevards.
In 2005, I still could not see any new buildings in the downtown area. That makes the city core in harmony, and it is as beautiful as before. I enjoy the old buildings very much especially with those with sculptures and high ceiling. Those buildings remind me of those in the Central District and Nathan Road Districts in Hong Kong in the 60s. However there are quite a few graffiti on those buildings. I think it is because there is a general discontent in the society, as the tour guide pointed out the gap between the poor and rich is getting wider and wider.
It is still very safe walking around the city at night. Tourists are still plentiful, and there are new and modern buildings and shopping mall outside the city core.
I still enjoy Budapest very much and I think it is still a very beautiful city. They clean up the old buildings and they look so magnificient and majesty. They do not mix old and new buildings. It is different from Vienna where they built those new buildings among the olds. As a result, the city looks discoherent with a sense of confusion.
I don't see much changes after 10 years in Budapest. It is different from Hong Kong and Shanghai. I could not recognise Hong Kong now if I visit her. My familiar buildings had gone long time ago, and my footsteps were completely erased. As a result, my feeling of my breeding place is getting weaker and weaker.
I think the Hungarians are smart in preserving the old and empirical buildings in the downtown core. They give a very strong sense of belongings to those overseas Hungarians when they visit their homeland.

After the long and cold winter, and the wet, dirty and chilly spring, summer finally arrives on June 22nd officially. Early summer can be very deceptive. Sometimes the temperature may drop to single digit. The first sign of summer in Canada is that people begin wearing shorts even it is in single digit temperature. Then people are talking about camping, fishing, hunting and taking vacations. Canadians love summers partly because we have long winters. And we always complain that summers are too short. We make use of every minute in the weekends. Quite a few people have summer homes, or called cottages or camps. Cities people go to their cottages in the weekends, BBQ everynight, drinking beers, doing water sports, or just unwinding in the peace and quiet surroundings with sparkling lakes and woods.
Canada is a cold country but don't be fooled by that. Our summers can be very hot. The temperature can rise to 35C , but it usualy lasts only a week or so. With the thread of global warming, Canadian summers are getting warmer and warmer. In fact I find it too hot. As a result most of our cars and homes have air-conditioners.
In Northern Ontario, we could not swim in the lakes until early August because the lake water takes a longer time to warm up. But then the temperature will drop again in September. Canadian summers end unofficaially on the first Sunday of September. It is because schools and universities start again after the Labor day (the first Monday in September).
Summers in Canada are just beautiful with warm and clean air, green pasteurs and forests, and sparkling lakes.
Fishing is my favourite summer sport. I just enjoy the fresh water and green landscapes surrounding me, even I can not catch a small fish. Do you still remember one of Au Young Sau's articles we studied in high school? - A drunk old man does not really care for the wine but for the beauty of water and mountains surrounding him.

I knew Chiu Ping Fun in 1959, the year that BWFLC established. We were placed in Form 1B together. He was short and small, but with very alert and clever eyes. As a result one of the teachers gave him a nickname "little rat', and the other teacher called him "little pepper". To the end he was known as "little rat" during his 5 years in BWFLC.
We were separated in Form 2. He was placed in Form 2A and I was in Form 2B. For the next 3 years, we seldom talked to each other, though we might tease at each other during the PE lessions. All I remember is that he grew much taller than before, and was no longer a "little" rat but a tall and thin one. He was scare of the soccer ball, and was never active in the soccer field. Academically, I knew he was doing very well for he was always number one in his class.
We were together again in Form 5. Our friendship rekindled very fast as the Form 1B students came together again. Chiu Ping Fun was very serious when we talked about school work, but he was very playful in other daily matters. He also developed a sense of humour. He was quite impulsive and 'courageous'. I remember that after receiving our first term report card in Form 5, we talked and walked to his house. He planned to have a picnic with two other girls whom we did not know very well. I was not sure whether we were interested in these girls or just because of our teenage hormones. He brought me to visit one of our female classmates, and asked her to invite them. I was scare but he was the one talking to our female classmate. Though she promised to invite them, they turned our invitation down flatly.
Ah Chiu, as we called him in Form 5, was a straight foward guy. He expressed his feeling quite openly. Some may criticize that he was too expressive and his style might turn people off. I found his character was quite complementary to mine. I am a very reserve person, and I do not know how to express my feeling. His character made me very easy to talk to.
Ah Chiu was the only one in the Class that received distinction in biology in the HK English School Certificate. Once I asked if he would do medicine in the university. He told me that his family could not afford sending him to medical school, and he might not be able to go to the university.
After matriculation from Queen's College and working for a few months in an accountant firm, he joined the Hong Kong Housing Authority. During his first two years with the Hong Kong Housing Authority, he came to supervise the Sai Wan Chuen Estate quite often. Whenever he came, he always dropped by my house to say hi for half an hour. As a result, my parents knew him quite well.
The last time I saw him was in 1995 in his office, where he was the Manager of the branch. He told me that he became a Buddhist. It was a surprise, and then he explained to me that he was influenced by his aunt. He found it very comfortable to attend one Buddhism lecture from time to time. He still maintained his sense of humour. I asked him to visit Canada, but he told me that did not want to travel overseas. He preferred staying in Hong Kong.
In 1999, I was on the way to Wuhan, and stopped overnight in Hong Kong to change plane. I called him but he was visiting China. I called him again when I returned to Hong Kong. But he was still in China.
When I heard the news that he got liver cancer. I was completely numb. How could an energetic and optimistic young retiree suddenly face death without warning? I tried to recollect my friend's life. However there were so many blanks in between. We did not communicate in writing after I came to Canada in 1971. It was neither one's fault. I was lazy and he was too. However, whenever I visited Hong Kong, I always tried to get in touch with him.
As we are planning to have a global Class-64 reunion in 2006, I am looking forward meeting my friend again in Hong Kong to revisit our high school impulsive dreams. Now my friend is gone, and I can only meet him in my dreams.....
What is life? Life is only a dream........

When I was young, I tried to avoid buying Japanese goods. It was because history told us that the Japanes invaded China and killed hundred thousands of our countrymen. I bought the German cameras even they were more expensive than the famous Japanese brands, though we could not avoid buying the Japanese rice cooker. When I first fought my first car, I prefer the American than the Japanese. However, reality tells me that the Japanese cars are better than the American, and the Japanese cameras and microcropes are much cheaper than the German. As a result I have to bow down for the sake of saving money. However I till set the "rules" that unless the Japanese sets up manufacturing factories in Canada, I would not buy Japanese cars. As a result, I am driving Honda and Toyota. This is my 'Mr. Q's spirit". The recent anti-Japanese sentiment among the Chinese is understandable. However I am not sure whether it makes any sense ( except it is an excuse by the Chinese government to promote her own cause). One of the reasons is that the Japanese Education Department is not telling the truth about her invasion of China, and the cruelty she did to the Chinese during the Sino-Japanese Wars. I can appreciate the feeling of all the Chinese because this issue touches our hearts and souls dearly. Some Chinee Overseas Associations asked people to boycott Japanese goods. However did the Communist Party or government tell the truth about the Tienanman Square Massacre to the Chinese? Did they never change historical facts about the civil wars in China? With that kind of logic, we should not buy Chinese goods also because the Chinese government lies to the Chinese people. They killed their people and never tell us the truth, and they never apologize.
Personally I still do not trust the Japanese government as well the present Chinese government. However I have no hatre or resentment against individual Japanese or Chinese from mainland China. I just find it diffucult to understand why we boycott Japanese goods but not the Chinese.

Of all the four seasons, I do not like Canadian Spring most.
After the long winter, snow begins to melt in early Spring. The streets are usually wet even it is sunny. Spring rains make the situation worse. The streams are running high and fast. The ice may be jammed in some bottle-neck area causing floods. During the winter time, the streets are sanded with rock salt in Ontario. As a result, the streets are usually dirty and dusty after the snow has gone. The trees are leafless, and look bare. There is no flowers, and the blowing wind makes people feeling chilly. One cannot do any outdoor activity. The fishing season has not open yet, and it is still too cool to go to the beach or even for a long walk. The worst part is that I have to do the Spring cleaning outside the house. The yard work is never ending, and there is not much fun.
The only good thing in Spring is that I come out from hiberation, and I know the long winter has gone. How I miss the Spring in tropical countries!

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.

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.

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!

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).

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!

Presently there is a debate in the Canadian Parliament to redefine marriage. Marriage is defined, traditionally, as an union between a man and a woman to form a family. However, same sex union is already legalized in eight out of ten provinces, therefore the federal government wants to redefine marriage as two human beings unite together to form a family, disregard to their sexes.
The opponents argue that same sex marriage is unnatural, morally corrupted, and not the design of the creator. The proponents say that it is a matter of protection of equal rignts to minorities, and chartered rights. They call the opponents narrow minded, sexists, homophobic, and extreme fundamentalists.
It you have a wicked idea, speak it loud. I mean very very loud, and advertise it with a big bang. If there are opponents, crown them with all kinds of names. Sooner or later, your wicked view will be accepted by the politicians and people.
A terrorist can get the Nobel Prize in peace. What else is impossible?

Men send flowers to their lovers or girlfriends on Valentine Day; husbands rush to the flower shop in the last minute to buy flowers for their wives ; bosses send chocolate or flowers to their secretaries or female employees; and school kids give their Valentine cards to each one in the class and the teachers also (the teacher reminds the kids to give a card to everyone in the class!). Do these make the world more loving? Do these make people more romantic ?
I am a man without love. I have never received a Valentine card. Don't mention about chocolate or flowers. It is certainly understandable because I do not send Valentine card. Then the question is: Are those people 'observing' Valentine day more romantic than me?
Valentine Day is promoted to the highest point by businessmen. They sell more chocolate than any other day. They sell more cards than any other occasions except Christmas. I can't imagine if I gave Valentine cards to my female classmates in our high school days. People would think I were either an idiot or in-love. In those days, it would be a laughing stalk even if you gave a Christmas card to your female classmate.
Certainly high school romance is very sweet, though I haven't tasted it. I am told that a website for finding your high school classmates is the second most popular website in the USA. As people fail in their marriages, they remember their high school sweethearts. I have heard many happy endings and romantic stories. This does not surprise me because they share a common history, and they grew up together for years. I guess this is what they call that "first love is the best and most lovable".
Chinese are very reserved in feeling. We prefer "translucent" feeling than complete expression. I have been living in Canada for more than 30 years, but I am still not accustomed to be hugged by the office girls during the Christmas time. My heart may not be pounding, but my face certainly turns red. Are we really not romantic? No! We may prefer different ways. Isn't it more romantic walking in the rain (or snow in Canada, or bushn in Australia, or along the beaches in Singapore and Hong Kong) with someone you enjoy or love than giving her/him with a dozen of roses? Isn't it more romantic to sit on the top of a mountain with someone you can share your feeling than having a candle light supper in an artificial romantic restaurant? Isn't it more romantic giving your love one a surprise than giving her/him a box of chocolate on Valentine Day? Isn't watching "Pride and Prejudice" together more romantic than receiving a Valentine Card?
I am just another outcast, old fashioned, and non-romantic idiot, period!

I don't know how you all feel about retirement.
Some people say that they retire because of poor health
Some people say that they retire because they get frustrated in the ever-changing work place.
Some people say that they retire because they want to enjoy life (as the motto of lottery : Freedom 55)
Others say that they would not retire because they enjoy their work.
Others also say that they would not retire because they were born to be workhorses (workaholic).
No matter what, we have to retire at some time (or drop dead on the job). But when is the right time and right moment? It is a myth, and there is no standard formula.
But I can tell you that most people retire NOT because of poor health, frustrated, not enjoying work, having enough saving .........
On the contrary most people retire (young, 55-60) because they find something more important to do in life.
If you are the lucky one, your present job is your career and your interest. But for most of us, our present job (career) is only for bread and butter. Sometimes it is not "really" our original goal or interest. To give you an example. My greatest interest in high school was chemistry and I had no doubt about that. As a result, I pursed my university education in chemistry. However during the 70s, the job market in chemistry was not very bright. In order to get my "bread and butter", I needed to change field (the first wrong move, too practical). It ended up doing research in forestry (which I have no training at all). However it feeds me and my family very well. I have no regret and complain about that, and I have a very fulfilling career. However, there is still a lack of satisfaction in my career - I miss the fun of chemistry.
One of our classmates studied physics in the university, and ended up in engineering. His greatest interest in high school was history. Would he study history in the university? I don't think so. He is now back to his interest and does some personal research in history. That is his hobby and interest. I think that would be more satisfactory than his present career.
After "early" retirement, we have all the opportunities to pursue our primary goal and interest.
It will become our second career. As a result we may consider retirement as a chance to develop a second career - this time is for interest and not merely for money - the greatest satisfaction in life.
Some people take early retirement to take care of the old and enjoy the young. As our parents are getting old, they become more lonely. They spent more than 10 years taking care of their children. Some feel that they should take care of them when they need them. It is very cruel to send them to the retirement home, though is is a reality. Some married early, and they already have grandchildren. It would be wonderful to have more time to enjoy our grandchildren while we still have the energy chasing after them. There is not much time that our grandchildren need us.
Do you still rememnber the first time you tried to find a job? The usual reply is either no vacany or no experience. It is especially difficult to find a position in an the academic institutuion. It is quite disappointed that the young Ph.Ds could not find a job after spending 10 years in the university. The reason - most of the senior professors would not retire (because it is tensured).
These professors become the deadwoods in the university. Their knowledge is getting stale, and yet the university can't do a damn thing. As a result, the university is forced to change their hiring policy. I am not discussing this point. My point is that early retirements provide opportunities to the young and energetic people to pursue their ideal and goals.
Societies have changed. Every government is cutting services. A lot of services rely on volunteers. Recently I went for cataract surgery. There was not enough nurse in the ward. I observed an old lady who was doing all the odd jobs. She walked slowly but work diligently. She put me in a comfortable chair. After surgery, she gave me some cookies and a soft drink. She wheelchaired me to the front door when I left. I talked to her and she told me she was very happy to be a volunteer and to pay back something to the society. A simple but touching story!
We have taken so much from the society (or from other ordinary people). Early retirement gives us an opportunity to give something back to the society.
Don't be mistaken that I am encouraging people to take early retirement. I just want to clarify the myth of of retirement. It is NOT a passive decision. In fact it is a very progressive move, if you plan it very carefully.