My Bicycle Commuting - SBS bus captains are nice

Recently have good experience along Commonwealth Avenue where almost all SBS bus captains changed lane completely to overtake me, and for those who did not, they patiently drove behind me with a good distance away. (28 Oct 2013)

My bicycle commuting - A lady smiled at me

Starting this new series where I aim to record down anything related to my bicycle commuting.

This first one is also a first time encounter since I started bicycle commuting in 1996.

Today, on the traffic light island at the Queensway and Commonwealth Avenue, as I stopped beside the traffic light post for support to avoid the need to land my leg on the ground, just behind a Caucasian lady, she turned and smiled at me.

The lady waiting at the traffic light island.

Crossing over.

Barry Schwartz: Using our practical wisdom | Video on TED.com

Barry Schwartz: Using our practical wisdom | Video on TED.com

Bicycle and water treatment

Read about a good use of bicycle in Singapore relief team helping flood victims

... portable bicycle ultra filtration water treatment system. Mounted on a bicycle the water treatment system can be operated by peddling bicycle and is very appropriate for use in remote disasters stricken areas, where the electricity supply is scares.By this system 600 to 800 liters of water per hour can be treated by removing sediments and bacteria.

Guiding verses manipulating

A way to get someone to do things is to make him feels that that he wants to do it. In doing so, is he being guided or manipulated? What's the difference between guiding someone and manipulating someone so that the results is he willingly want to do something we desire him to do?

A good gesture might not be that good

In the news about an accident, Highway chaos, death, after man runs across PIE, the man who ran across the expressway was hit by another car which flung him into another lane. The driver on this lane slowed down to avoid hitting him, but the motorcycle behind him bumped his car and the motorcyclist ended up being struck by A lorry.

I wonder, if he couldn't slow down in time or fast enough, the motorcycle behind him might not suffer.

Just yesterday, while walking on the pavement, sound of bicycle bell came from behind. I knew a cyclists is "shouting" to me with his bell, telling me to quickly move aside for him to pass. As usual, I did not ... bother. I am a cyclist myself, and I trust his skills to be able to avoid me. I also know that if he slightly hit me, then he would be at fault and might fall down, while I probably would suffer little pain.

Why am I so "bad"? This is my logic. The more people giving way to such cyclists, the more they would expect everyone should do so. Now, what if one day, such a cyclist was ringing his bell hard and loud, but the person in front is not able to give way? For e.g., he might be deaf, just had a leg cramp, feeling dizzy, etc.

Or, like the PIE accident, this habit may one day caused someone innocent misfortune when I suddenly move sidewards to give way, accidentally pushing him on to the road, potentially being knocked by cars on the road.

The if-then logic

人不为己，天诛地灭。

This Chinese idiom sounds wrong, but if so, then it wouldn't be one.

Logically speaking, it is correct, or true.

However, in most cases, we prefer the then to be false. For e.g., if you don't study, you will fail the exam. Thus, that makes not studying a bad choice.

On the other hand, consider this: if we don't punish children, they will not learn. Here, is punishing good or bad? Many would think obviously it is good. Actually, this depends ... on what they will be learning?

Thus, whether 人不为己 is good or bad depends on if 天诛地灭 is good or bad, or if the current "天" and "地" are good or bad. If these are bad, then 天诛地灭 would be good, and therefore 人不为己 would be good.

I think, instead of sustaining a world where 人不为己 is bad, isn't destroying, or actually transforming such kind of world into one whereby everyone is 人不为己, better?

The International Day of Peace

Quite indirectly, I found this site about Peace One Day that gives rise to the International Day of Peace. It just takes one person's vision and efforts plus for 2 years.

It looks not that difficult to get the right things done.

Now I know them

Who are they? I bet most Malaysians know who are they. However, I didn't know about them as I am not a Malaysian. Now I know who they are. However, I didn't know who they are because of their ... professions. I know who they are because of their passion to help bring more peace to the world.

They are appointed ambassadors for the upcoming Global Peace Festival 2008, Malaysia.

Nevertheless, for the non-Malaysian readers, let me introduce. They are Malaysia’s first Angkasawan (astronaut) Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and Malaysian Idols Jaclyn Victor and Daniel Lee.

What is good?

Enjoy a Fathom event featuring DeathNote at VCM Fathom. Then, think about what is good?

NCM Fathom and Viz Pictures bring Live Action

nationwide in US - May 20th and 21st at 7:30 PM!

To have some supernatural power is a dream not only fancy by kids because adults ... too wish to have more power to do good. In this movie based on the successful Japanese manga about the owner of a notebook of a death god can end the life of anyone whose name he writes in the notebook. What seems to be an evil power was put to "good" use by the main character, Light Yagami, who vowed to use it to get rid of evil people. However, he is being hunted by a legendary detective, L, when people, even though criminals, started dying mysteriously.

This reminds me of a line by Martin Luther King, Jr., "We never get rid of an enemy by meeting hate with hate; we get rid of an enemy be getting rid of enmity." Thus, sending the evil people to hell is not a solution. Emptying hell is.

Love to do good things

I just saw an advice in a book about wisdoms of mothers of famous people. One passage title is "do not force children to do things they dislike." I didn't read the main passage, but I guess most likely it explains the cons of forcing children to do things. I would like to cast it slightly differently ... .

First of all, what are those things that adults would want to force children to do? I bet many of these are "right" things to do. However, such right things may not be likable by children. Thus, the likelihood of adults forcing them to do it. So, the above wisdom seems to suggest "relax, don't force, and lets nature takes its course."

Nevertheless, I agree that we should not "force," regardless how rightful the thing we want children to do. However, the essence is to educate and guide children to like doing right things. In this sense, forcing is not tackling the liking to do the right things, but just the external outcome of children doing it.

I should have mentioned this before, I hate to see parents "forcing" children to greet other adults when meeting other adults. This is the time to observe whether children are doing it, deducing how much they like to do it, but not the time to "educate" or force them to do it. With the observation, at later time when circumstances are suitable, then we make efforts to explain/guide/educate them to like to do it. Observe again next time round, and keep educating.

Of course, if the things we want the children do aren't that "right," e.g. playing piano, then the more we shouldn't force them.

Sule Lamido explains leadership

Found this said by Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State in the article, Nigeria: Grappling With Jigawa.

Ideally, leadership is all about people. Therefore, when you want to conceal something from the people, that means there is something wrong with your style of leadership. Number two ...

Ideally, leadership is all about people. Therefore, when you want to conceal something from the people, that means there is something wrong with your style of leadership. Number two, to me, bring out all the necessary things to the public and they will further give you the confidence to comport yourself because of the Nigerian tradition over the years, and intentionally, leaders normally carry knowledge and shield it and they don't let you know the truth or hear it. The public is denied the truth about how their leaders are faring. And if people come and report anything about my government, no matter how impalatable, it is for me to reflect over why are we going wrong and then cut ourselves. The whole thing about leadership is not personal government.

I share his views. Similar, Kingship is not about having power, but is about loving and serving people. Thus, the King of Kings must be more loving and serving than all the Kings.

Also, conflicts are mistakes should not be covered up just for good image. These should be exposed, resolved, and usually lead to improvement of the whole. Then, this is not only truly good image, but also good substance.

I wish him success in practicing what he believes. It is not easy when the people around usually don't really think as he does.

Spending your money on others is good for you

There is this saying in Chinese, 助人为快乐之本, which roughly means the basis of happiness is generated by helping others. A research shows that money might buy happiness—when you spend on others, which makes the above more correct scientifically.

However, the first two results from surveying how do people spend their money might have the cause and effect in the other way. ... Why do I suggest so? The people who gave more to charity are probably already happy people who have or feel that their own needs are satisfied, and therefore see a part of the money they have as extra and are willing to give to charity. Of course, I don't deny that the acts probably makes them feel happier and they'll continue to do so.

The third result from an experiment, where some people were given money and also told how to spend them, specifically shows that it is the way they spend money that influence their level of happiness.

The Vacuum Law

I attended the talk on 22 Feb, "HINDUISM REDISCOVERED: A Religion in Vogue" by Vivekacharya Pavan Choudary, CEO, Vygon India.

It was interesting during the Q&A session, where he shared his wisdom in answering the questions. I would like to share some of them here.

Wisdoms from a talk by Vivekacharya Pavan Choudary -- Part 2

This is another meaningful story he told. As I can't remember every words, I am retelling it from the story I think I heard.

A farmer prayed to God and asked to be made wealthy. God agreed and assure him that his house will never be lack of grains. Indeed, he was happy to find that every morning he finds a full bag of grain no matter how much he has used up the day before.

However, he didn't feel that God has granted his wish, which was to be wealthy. He was actually a little angry that God is so stingy only making his bag of grain full at the beginning of each day. Year after year, as his family enjoyed the never empty bag of grain, deep in his heart he was always wondering why is God so stingy?

Finally, he passed away and met God. He asked about this life long question he had. God explains, I am not stingy, but rather, it was you who is stingy. ... How is this so? If you were to share most of your grains to others, just imagine only a mere 2% of them return you something, wouldn't you become very wealthy? Instead, you kept this blessing I gave you to yourself. Thus, the blessing didn't grow into bigger blessings.

He then brought up a recent case in real life. Somewhere in Canada a corn farmer has been winning awards for producing very good quality corns. When reporters ask him for his secrets recipe, his recipe is not any secret. He has always shared all his knowledge and know how about farming good quality corns to other farmers. Then, as everyone produces good corn, he is more motivated to do more research and study how to improve. As a result, he has been able to keep winning.

Below is an excerpt from a speech by Rev. Sun Myung Moon, God's Hope for Man given on October 20, 1973 in Washington, D.C.

---
Jesus came as a savior, but his teaching was, "... the Son of man came not to be served but to serve ..." ( Matt 20:28 ) Jesus taught that the greatest love in this universe is to give one's life for his enemy. The teaching of the Bible is contrary to the common rule of our worldly society. It is exactly the opposite of the way of this self-centered world. The Bible teaches complete giving and total sacrifice. "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matt 10:39 ) It seems almost foolish to think seriously about living this way in man's evil society. But once you know God's principle, you discover that there is actually no wisdom greater than this.

Jesus Christ's teachings hit the very core of this fundamental truth. The more you give the more you receive. God rewards total giving with total love, and total sacrifice with total life. Giving creates room for God's love to enter The more room and the greater the vacuum created by your giving, the faster you will be filled by the flow of God's love.
---

Thus, share, what we've already been given, because the reason we were given these things is for us to share it out.

I would like to call this The Vacuum Law.

Part 1
Part 3

Another not so lucky day

Early morning I found my bicycle kick stand was vandalized. On closer examination, it seems like an attempt to steal it had failed and the thief angrily tried to damage it. Luckily, quite easily I bent it back to a usable state.

Needed to buy two items this morning, vegetable and bread. Went over to the cheaper market ... (the Lorong 4 Toa Payoh market), but couldn't recall or find any shop that sells bread. Thus, I went to another market (the Lorong 7 market), passing by my place to get the bread.

It is a groceries shop, and time was already after 8.30 a.m., for an $1.40 item that I was paying using a $2 note, the person lazily not willing to thoroughly search for coins before telling me he didn't have no change. Luckily, within seconds he miraculously found 3 x 20-cents coins for the change. I wonder was it because I looked fierce at that instance as I felt like he was showing the attitude that I was giving him trouble by not having 40 cents coins.

On my way back from outside in the afternoon, as usual, people standing just outside the MRT door and started trying to squeeze in before passengers inside have come out. Normally I will just walk straight out knocking on whoever in my way out of the door. Today, I thought may be it would be nice to say a word of warning. I said "siam!", which means give way in Hokkien. Sadly, the two men who was blocking my way seems to be mainland Chinese, who probably don't know Hokkien well. Thus, there was a light shoulder knock after I gave the warning.

However, the second time I needed to come out of the train, the person blocking me is handicapped. Luckily, I realized it soon enough and gave way to him. Shockingly, the man behind him shouted and scolded me. I was too slow to explain or argue back before the door closes. I felt I was being wrongly accused. Firstly, I couldn't have known the person is handicapped from inside the train. Secondly, I gave way. Thirdly, even for handicapped person, I think they still should give way to alighting passengers.

Anyway, I thought I heard he used the phrase "geenna" (kids in Hokkien). I wonder may be it wasn't directed at me. Otherwise, I'll take it as a compliment that I look young :)

Later in the evening, when taking the lift down from level 10 with my baby and wife, the lift stopped at level 5 then 4. At level 5 a couple entered, and at level 4, two men entered. Noticing one of the men holding a lighted cigarette, and with some anger in me from my not so lucky day, I spoke the words "hello, no smoking hor." The poor guy just inhaled a breath of smoke when I said those words, and obediently hold it without puffing it out till level 1. Then my wife asked me, "didn't you notice their tattoo?" Luckily I wasn't beaten up, and I guess they are reasonable people with tattoos :)

Update: This morning (11 Feb) I found the rear passenger seat of my bicycle missing! It probably had been stolen yesterday. Actually, leaving my bicycle outside, I'm all ready for parts to go missing. However, I'm angry that the thief/thieves don't understand bicycle well. After removing the rear seat, they do not need to take away all my nuts for securing the saddle and the rear wheel! Whatever bicycle they would want to attach the stollen seat to will have those stuffs! Luckily, I noticed that before riding on it, and probably would end up injuring myself.

小我与大我

不是牺牲小我完成大我，该是把大我视为我，小我就自然地消失了。

There is a Chinese saying, sacrifice the "small" me, for the completion of the "big" me, or sacrifice oneself for the sake of the whole.

Using it to describe what some great people have done is fine. However, when we ourselves try to do it, the word "sacrifice" has a deterrence factor. Rather, if we were to expand our "self" to embrace more entities, thus becoming the "big" me or even the whole, then our natural instinct of survivor will be to live for the sake of the whole.

Insights from reading the book "A Bald Head and A Strawberry."

Don't waste

This is interesting: A brief with the phrase: "I'm Saving It" (see here)
Yeah, don't waste!

Not only that, but also our precious time, emotional assets, invaluable purity.

What's the point?

Waiting away from the door before the train arrives serve no purpose if the acts of boarding the train starts once the door opens or before the last alighting person steps out!

Is painting those yellow markings just to show that something is done about the problem, or an act in a process to resolve the problem? I doubt the latter as there seems to be no evaluation and assessment of the problem status and implementation of further improvements.

A simple suggestion. Don't paint the same pattern at every door. When the escalator/stairs/exit is on one side, discourage passengers to stand at that side to block the alighting passengers.

They suffer, but so what?

Many of us must have experienced bad service somewhere. Sometime so angry to feel like wanna take some kind of revenge. May be spread poor comments about them. Usually the most we could do is to stop giving business to the company. Some good people spend time to send in feedback, which sadly taken as complains often.

May be eventually the poor or bad service company will not survive, but what's that to us customers?

I wish there valuable bad experiences could be collected and be used for the betterment of all.

What is bad?

Is death bad?
What about the death of an ant?
What about the death of a bacteria?
What about the death of a cell?

The above and many others are dying constantly. If they die at a slower rate, it is bad.

I say unnatural death is bad, but natural death is nature.