It's a surprise, but on second thought, not too surprising, that Caroline Kennedy was dropping out of the unusual Senate race to lobby Governor David Paterson to name a replacement to the Senate seat that Hillary Clinton vacates, in her move to become Secretary of State in the Obama administration.
I don't hold anything against Kennedy. But I find it repulsive, that someone who's never had a real job would consider that she's capable of doing something simply with a claim of her "life experience." Surely, no one would argue against the fact that she's born to a president, having lived in the White House for a while, bears a great last name, inherits much wealth to allow a life without any worry of working, and even threw her support behind Obama the candidate back then in his campaign to 1600 Penn Ave. I don't hold any of those against her, in particular. It's who she is.
But if she's arguing that, for what she has, what she's been handed down with, allows her to better serve the people of New York, I simply don't see the logic in it. From my vantage point, she has to earn her dues.
Surely, people were saying the same thing about Hillary Clinton, back then when she's campaigning for the New York Senate seat right after her husband's second term. She was called all sorts of names, carpetbagger being one of those. But Clinton is a fighter. She's tenacious, she fights for what she believes, she develops this thick skin, and she prevails to win the seat, and ultimately wins over the hearts and minds of the districts that she represents with good grassroot work.
I would not discount Kennedy the way that Clinton was discounted back then. I was expecting Kennedy to do the same, if not more, should she really want the job bad enough, should she really think she's better than the next one in line. Heck, she should even have considered putting in even more efforts, lest people think she's getting some kids-glove treatment from uncles and cousins in Senate, if not anywhere else.
Apparently, Kennedy is not a fighter. After her announcement to lobby Paterson to give her Clinton's seat without any election, a whirlwind campaign to try (and fail) to charm the media (counting all those um's and you-know's in rare interviews), she flamed out and called it quit.
It is perhaps fitting, that Kennedy was more often compared to Sarah Palin than Hillary Clinton, with Palin's meteoric rise and fumbling speeches and quick flame-out. But even Palin is more a bulldog fighter than Kennedy.
For Kennedy, it's just another disappointment in the family. Since she's been so comfortable in the shadow for 50 years now (didn't Jackie O do such a fantastic job shielding her kids?!?), she should have just stayed out and kept the mystic of the Kennedy name. With her quick burnout, she has perhaps drawn a full-stop to the name that her father and grandfather had so carefully crafted.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
On the environmental impact of rising Chinese wealth...
I remember one time when we were in a restaurant, my brother commented on the rising wealth of China. He was saying, Chinese would eat some of those endangered animals and species to extinction. I wholeheartedly agree with him.
There's an old saying, that Chinese would eat anything that has its back facing the sky. That would cover pretty much all reptiles and marine animals. Average Chinese, with their rush and race up the wealth ladder, are keen for outward display of their prosperity, meaning more consumptions, more meat, more seafood, more of everything that they were lack of in the past.
Not that it's entirely their fact. Consumers in the West have been doing their part in consumption craze for a very long time. Thing is, Chinese does this with blatant disregard for history and environment, akin to a bulldozer that would crush everything standing in its way.
So, we have reports of alarms from scientists about "eating tourism" and the dwindling numbers of coral reef fish like groupers, which are a favorite among Chinese.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I recall one time, when I was still living in Sydney, a couple visited my sister on a guided tour, and the four of us went to a restaurant in Chinatown late that night when we met up. It's close to mid-night. The couple had been up since dawn, sightseeing on the tour bus; and they're pretty tired too. But once we got to the restaurant, their eyes lit up when they saw the giant groupers swimming in the fish tank. We got our table, sat down, and first thing they uttered was, "we want to try the grouper congee - we heard it's very good but it's very expensive in Hong Kong". As a host, we wouldn't say no to them, but I was secretly disgusted by their eating all the way from Hong Kong to Sydney. And those groupers were big - very big, in fact - and I hate the thought of killing them, just to put some congee to satisfy their curiosity.
Another time, when we were visiting the Museum of Natural History in NYC. While we were approaching some exhibits in tanks, there was this family (parents with two grown children) in front of us. Judging from their accent, they're probably ethnical Chinese from Singapore or Malaysia (rather well-dressed, and probably of some intellect). When we got to the tank in front of us, there was this huge marble eel lurking in the murky water. Its body was thicker than my thigh. While we were marveling the eel with my young kids (they love all animals), the Chinese family was expressing their own wonder. The parents were discussing how tasty the eel must be, and they were discussing ways to cook the eel!!! I was so disgusted that I let my kids away, so as not to upset them that someone would be contemplating killing and cooking that fish.
I don't mean to sound harsh to fellow Chinese, but the way that alot of Chinese are display their disregard to the environment and the planet earth really does make me sick.
There's an old saying, that Chinese would eat anything that has its back facing the sky. That would cover pretty much all reptiles and marine animals. Average Chinese, with their rush and race up the wealth ladder, are keen for outward display of their prosperity, meaning more consumptions, more meat, more seafood, more of everything that they were lack of in the past.
Not that it's entirely their fact. Consumers in the West have been doing their part in consumption craze for a very long time. Thing is, Chinese does this with blatant disregard for history and environment, akin to a bulldozer that would crush everything standing in its way.
So, we have reports of alarms from scientists about "eating tourism" and the dwindling numbers of coral reef fish like groupers, which are a favorite among Chinese.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I recall one time, when I was still living in Sydney, a couple visited my sister on a guided tour, and the four of us went to a restaurant in Chinatown late that night when we met up. It's close to mid-night. The couple had been up since dawn, sightseeing on the tour bus; and they're pretty tired too. But once we got to the restaurant, their eyes lit up when they saw the giant groupers swimming in the fish tank. We got our table, sat down, and first thing they uttered was, "we want to try the grouper congee - we heard it's very good but it's very expensive in Hong Kong". As a host, we wouldn't say no to them, but I was secretly disgusted by their eating all the way from Hong Kong to Sydney. And those groupers were big - very big, in fact - and I hate the thought of killing them, just to put some congee to satisfy their curiosity.
Another time, when we were visiting the Museum of Natural History in NYC. While we were approaching some exhibits in tanks, there was this family (parents with two grown children) in front of us. Judging from their accent, they're probably ethnical Chinese from Singapore or Malaysia (rather well-dressed, and probably of some intellect). When we got to the tank in front of us, there was this huge marble eel lurking in the murky water. Its body was thicker than my thigh. While we were marveling the eel with my young kids (they love all animals), the Chinese family was expressing their own wonder. The parents were discussing how tasty the eel must be, and they were discussing ways to cook the eel!!! I was so disgusted that I let my kids away, so as not to upset them that someone would be contemplating killing and cooking that fish.
I don't mean to sound harsh to fellow Chinese, but the way that alot of Chinese are display their disregard to the environment and the planet earth really does make me sick.
On memory of Bonfire night...
We learn something new everyday. Today, I read that the bonfire in November, which I knew was to commemorate the plot to overthrow British parliament in 1605, has a proper name: Guy Fawkes Night.
Everytime I read about bonfire, that memory would always flash across my eyes: It's me riding my rinky-dink bike up a highway in Coventry in the Midlands, on that night coming back from lectures in college, with my friend ("little brother" Kenneth) who shared an apartment with me living off-campus. It was a smokey night. I didn't even realize it's the bonfire night. But I like the smell of burning. I wasn't very good at riding, so Kenny would ride to the top, and stop there to wait for me to push my bike up. (Pathetic, isn't it.) When we got to the top, we saw bonfire in a number of places. I was pleasantly surprised, seeing the bonfire and smelling the wood-burning smoke.
I later read up on bonfire and its origin, but I never knew its proper name was Guy Fawkes Night. Well, like I said, we learn something new everyday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The smelling of smoke actually evokes deeper, also pleasant, memory of mine. I grew up, living right across a Chinese temple. It's a sizeable, famous one. People from afar would come and pay homage to it, and it's always very crowded and rowdy on Chinese festivals. I like that happy, cheery environment. I like to sit by the kitchen table which allows me a panoramic view of the environ from dawn till dusk. (Faithfuls would come pre-dawn before temple opens, and would still come after it closes by dusk.) I like the trees, the temples, the burning of incense sticks, all the food and chatter of people and kids. How I love that smell of burn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I remember I read somewhere about olfactory sense and its strong relationship to memory. I can attest to that notion, that smells (and to a large extent, taste - of food) bring me back memory, time and again. It never fails.
Everytime I read about bonfire, that memory would always flash across my eyes: It's me riding my rinky-dink bike up a highway in Coventry in the Midlands, on that night coming back from lectures in college, with my friend ("little brother" Kenneth) who shared an apartment with me living off-campus. It was a smokey night. I didn't even realize it's the bonfire night. But I like the smell of burning. I wasn't very good at riding, so Kenny would ride to the top, and stop there to wait for me to push my bike up. (Pathetic, isn't it.) When we got to the top, we saw bonfire in a number of places. I was pleasantly surprised, seeing the bonfire and smelling the wood-burning smoke.
I later read up on bonfire and its origin, but I never knew its proper name was Guy Fawkes Night. Well, like I said, we learn something new everyday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The smelling of smoke actually evokes deeper, also pleasant, memory of mine. I grew up, living right across a Chinese temple. It's a sizeable, famous one. People from afar would come and pay homage to it, and it's always very crowded and rowdy on Chinese festivals. I like that happy, cheery environment. I like to sit by the kitchen table which allows me a panoramic view of the environ from dawn till dusk. (Faithfuls would come pre-dawn before temple opens, and would still come after it closes by dusk.) I like the trees, the temples, the burning of incense sticks, all the food and chatter of people and kids. How I love that smell of burn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I remember I read somewhere about olfactory sense and its strong relationship to memory. I can attest to that notion, that smells (and to a large extent, taste - of food) bring me back memory, time and again. It never fails.
On gaffes of Joe Biden, take 2...
There's a Chinese belief, that the longer a couple stays married, the more alike (even the look) they will be.
I'm sure Joe Biden, the VP-to-be to the incoming Obama administration, and his wife are like that too. The gaffe-prone Biden probably has learnt enough of his lessons, or that the Obama aides did a good job shutting him up. In any case, during the last days of the 2008 campaign season, Biden had effectively clammed up.
Now, just days before the sworn in and the final confirmation of Hillary Clinton as the new Secretary of State, Biden's wife did her own thing and BS'ing about Biden dissing that job to go on the VP ticket.
At least, Joe Biden had his slip oftentimes with good humor and in his funny way, even. I can't say the same with his wife's gaffe, which is more like one wife bitching about another wife. She is so petty, I can't believe she's going to be the Second Lady.
Man, don't they have screening for the ladies in waiting in this country???
I'm sure Joe Biden, the VP-to-be to the incoming Obama administration, and his wife are like that too. The gaffe-prone Biden probably has learnt enough of his lessons, or that the Obama aides did a good job shutting him up. In any case, during the last days of the 2008 campaign season, Biden had effectively clammed up.
Now, just days before the sworn in and the final confirmation of Hillary Clinton as the new Secretary of State, Biden's wife did her own thing and BS'ing about Biden dissing that job to go on the VP ticket.
At least, Joe Biden had his slip oftentimes with good humor and in his funny way, even. I can't say the same with his wife's gaffe, which is more like one wife bitching about another wife. She is so petty, I can't believe she's going to be the Second Lady.
Man, don't they have screening for the ladies in waiting in this country???
Monday, January 19, 2009
On sweatshop and labor standard...
Discussions and attitude from the westernized countries (chiefly, United States and Europe) on sweatshops and human rights go almost always along the same line, drawing the almost always same conclusion. The western countries would look at poor(er) countries like China and Vietnam, the way they churn out products in sweatshops, and feel repelled by reports of child and labor exploitation.
It's rarely reading reports like the one in New York Times, whereby the author dares to come out and say that alot of those in the poorer countries would dream to work in a sweatshop. And it's little wonder and surprise that, most everyone in the letters to editor in New York Times would find the author to be "wrong".
For those who have never lived in the poor countries, it's hard to imagine how anyone could have dreamt to work in a sweatshop and be "exploited". I have little doubt that these readers who find that notion repulsive, ever realize what the true alternative(s) are for those in these poor countries. The article illustrates one of those alternatives, which is to scavenge in filthy dumps. There are also other alternatives like selling one's body (young and old), or selling one's children.
Perhaps those who campaign to stop sweatshop in these poor countries, should stop and reconsider those other available but much less desirable alternatives to these poor souls, and be less righteous about what's right and wrong, but more realistic about what's better and what's worse.
If the sweatshops are honest shops, while they are not the best options, they at least provide a means for independence for those who work it. (Compared that to the dishonest sweatshops in China, where owners would simply close shops and disappear, for not wanting to pay the workers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I grew up in Hong Kong during the time when it's growing up from plastic manufacturing, to electronics, to garments, to finance now.
We lived in this public housing estate. Unlike those in America, public housing in Hong Kong is very well-maintained. All families are working class, but it's a very family and tradition-oriented culture. While space was tight, neighbors and all kids in the neighborhood played together all the time.
My very first job "summer job" when I was still in elementary school. There was news that we could get some "plastic toys assembling", finish at home, and bring them back for some money. Since it's summer time, and nothing much to do, all kids (I think the oldest one was less than 13) jumped for it. Those older kids would borrow some other even older kids' children ID cards to try to get in the factory for summer jobs. (Back then, if I remember correctly, you had to be at least 15 to work in a factory.)
Every few days, we (group of at least 5-6 kids a time) would leap and bounce to this dinky little place on the hill side. And this young guy (probably in his 20s) would give us a little book to record our work and payment. Kids from each family would get a big sack of plastic toy parts, we would bring them home, assemble them, bring them, and at the end of the month, we would get paid. If you work faster, you could come back sooner; and if they have more work, you earn more. I'm sure Americans would consider that sweatshop operation, since we were paid maybe a couple of dollars for assembling a big back of plastic toys about 3 feet high. But we love it. It's our first chance to earn some money for the family to help our parents.
Oftentimes, when my parents were done with their work and chores and the whole family were sitting together at night watching TV, we would all do the assembling together, all 7 of us. In fact, I focused so hard that I got this swelling in my eyes for a few days that needed eyedrops.
All in all, we (the whole family really) made HK$120 in two months. This was back in the 1970s. It's peanuts, to be sure. And while it's probably perfect for kids like us, since we could bring the work back home, and there's no real danger in the work, and it could even facilitate family bonding, I'm not sure if the West (like those New York Times readers who complained about sweatshops) would condone or endorese it, since it's probaby one kind of "exploitation".
But they're a few things that we have to note:
(1) that we're not tied down to working those toys assembling for the rest of our life;
(2) that there's no coercion or danger involved in the work;
(3) that the work did not impact on our study or otherwise childhood.
It's absolutely true that those conditions are oftentimes not met or seriously violated in sweatshops in other parts of the world. I would, however, urge those who patently reject the idea of sweatshops, to seek understanding and realize that there are many nuances to situations. And that a sweatshop can be a "good" sweatshop, much as it can be a "bad" sweatshop. For those who urge shutdown of all sweatshops are just as irresponsible to condemning those in poorer countries to eternal poor life, albeit with good intention. We have to constantly remind ourselves not to act like a simpleton like George W Bush, and that solutions to problems do not always come in a yes/no or right/wrong answer.
To this day, those HK$120 are still the proudest income, my first income, I've ever earned. That sweatshop experience taught me the work ethics, resourcefulness, and perseverance that serve me well for the rest of my life.
It's rarely reading reports like the one in New York Times, whereby the author dares to come out and say that alot of those in the poorer countries would dream to work in a sweatshop. And it's little wonder and surprise that, most everyone in the letters to editor in New York Times would find the author to be "wrong".
For those who have never lived in the poor countries, it's hard to imagine how anyone could have dreamt to work in a sweatshop and be "exploited". I have little doubt that these readers who find that notion repulsive, ever realize what the true alternative(s) are for those in these poor countries. The article illustrates one of those alternatives, which is to scavenge in filthy dumps. There are also other alternatives like selling one's body (young and old), or selling one's children.
Perhaps those who campaign to stop sweatshop in these poor countries, should stop and reconsider those other available but much less desirable alternatives to these poor souls, and be less righteous about what's right and wrong, but more realistic about what's better and what's worse.
If the sweatshops are honest shops, while they are not the best options, they at least provide a means for independence for those who work it. (Compared that to the dishonest sweatshops in China, where owners would simply close shops and disappear, for not wanting to pay the workers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I grew up in Hong Kong during the time when it's growing up from plastic manufacturing, to electronics, to garments, to finance now.
We lived in this public housing estate. Unlike those in America, public housing in Hong Kong is very well-maintained. All families are working class, but it's a very family and tradition-oriented culture. While space was tight, neighbors and all kids in the neighborhood played together all the time.
My very first job "summer job" when I was still in elementary school. There was news that we could get some "plastic toys assembling", finish at home, and bring them back for some money. Since it's summer time, and nothing much to do, all kids (I think the oldest one was less than 13) jumped for it. Those older kids would borrow some other even older kids' children ID cards to try to get in the factory for summer jobs. (Back then, if I remember correctly, you had to be at least 15 to work in a factory.)
Every few days, we (group of at least 5-6 kids a time) would leap and bounce to this dinky little place on the hill side. And this young guy (probably in his 20s) would give us a little book to record our work and payment. Kids from each family would get a big sack of plastic toy parts, we would bring them home, assemble them, bring them, and at the end of the month, we would get paid. If you work faster, you could come back sooner; and if they have more work, you earn more. I'm sure Americans would consider that sweatshop operation, since we were paid maybe a couple of dollars for assembling a big back of plastic toys about 3 feet high. But we love it. It's our first chance to earn some money for the family to help our parents.
Oftentimes, when my parents were done with their work and chores and the whole family were sitting together at night watching TV, we would all do the assembling together, all 7 of us. In fact, I focused so hard that I got this swelling in my eyes for a few days that needed eyedrops.
All in all, we (the whole family really) made HK$120 in two months. This was back in the 1970s. It's peanuts, to be sure. And while it's probably perfect for kids like us, since we could bring the work back home, and there's no real danger in the work, and it could even facilitate family bonding, I'm not sure if the West (like those New York Times readers who complained about sweatshops) would condone or endorese it, since it's probaby one kind of "exploitation".
But they're a few things that we have to note:
(1) that we're not tied down to working those toys assembling for the rest of our life;
(2) that there's no coercion or danger involved in the work;
(3) that the work did not impact on our study or otherwise childhood.
It's absolutely true that those conditions are oftentimes not met or seriously violated in sweatshops in other parts of the world. I would, however, urge those who patently reject the idea of sweatshops, to seek understanding and realize that there are many nuances to situations. And that a sweatshop can be a "good" sweatshop, much as it can be a "bad" sweatshop. For those who urge shutdown of all sweatshops are just as irresponsible to condemning those in poorer countries to eternal poor life, albeit with good intention. We have to constantly remind ourselves not to act like a simpleton like George W Bush, and that solutions to problems do not always come in a yes/no or right/wrong answer.
To this day, those HK$120 are still the proudest income, my first income, I've ever earned. That sweatshop experience taught me the work ethics, resourcefulness, and perseverance that serve me well for the rest of my life.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
On library, its usage in tough economic times et al...
No one should be surprised to find reported increased usage of public libraries in this tough economic times.
I've always liked libraries since I was little. Every time I go to a library, surrounded by shelves after shelves of books, I feel elated. I would get very excited and want to read all the books I can get my hands on.
As I have quite recently found out too, that apart from Netflix (my main entertainment of DVD and instant-viewing movies and shows after becoming a parent), the DVD collections in the public library (both in my town and the nearby towns where I frequently travel to) are surprisingly extensive.
I'm glad that my kids have come to love reading and all sorts of books since they're very young. Both of them are now reading pre-teen books like Harry Potter, which they have started on since they're 4-5. Once we start reading, we would lose track of time.
Libraries are particularly useful since the kids are now reading so fast and the interests so vast, that it's impossible to buy them 10-12 new books to quell their appetite. I find it rather wasteful too, to physically buy the books, spend the money, and have trees cut down for the printing. I do believe that, as a reader, we have a duty to support authors and the publishing industry, while being responsible to the environment. Perhaps one day, devices like Kindle would become easy enough to use, with rechargeable battery from renewable source (rather than taxing more on the national grid), that we won't have to resort to buying print books to support the industries.
I must say too, though, that I absolutely love print books. I love the smell of books (newly printed books and old musty smelling books alike), and I love physically holding the book and turning the leaf while reading. How are electronic devices going to replicate the human emotions in reading, when we're approaching the end and the anticipation is building up? At least, none of these have been built into the design of devices like Kindle. Perhaps, as we advance with technology, we have to lose some of the old habits and favorites. But I'm not totally ready to give those up just yet.
I've always liked libraries since I was little. Every time I go to a library, surrounded by shelves after shelves of books, I feel elated. I would get very excited and want to read all the books I can get my hands on.
As I have quite recently found out too, that apart from Netflix (my main entertainment of DVD and instant-viewing movies and shows after becoming a parent), the DVD collections in the public library (both in my town and the nearby towns where I frequently travel to) are surprisingly extensive.
I'm glad that my kids have come to love reading and all sorts of books since they're very young. Both of them are now reading pre-teen books like Harry Potter, which they have started on since they're 4-5. Once we start reading, we would lose track of time.
Libraries are particularly useful since the kids are now reading so fast and the interests so vast, that it's impossible to buy them 10-12 new books to quell their appetite. I find it rather wasteful too, to physically buy the books, spend the money, and have trees cut down for the printing. I do believe that, as a reader, we have a duty to support authors and the publishing industry, while being responsible to the environment. Perhaps one day, devices like Kindle would become easy enough to use, with rechargeable battery from renewable source (rather than taxing more on the national grid), that we won't have to resort to buying print books to support the industries.
I must say too, though, that I absolutely love print books. I love the smell of books (newly printed books and old musty smelling books alike), and I love physically holding the book and turning the leaf while reading. How are electronic devices going to replicate the human emotions in reading, when we're approaching the end and the anticipation is building up? At least, none of these have been built into the design of devices like Kindle. Perhaps, as we advance with technology, we have to lose some of the old habits and favorites. But I'm not totally ready to give those up just yet.
Friday, January 16, 2009
On fashion, models, and girls' aspirations...
I remember an old Chinese (Cantonese) saying from my parents:
When you're 30, you would have established your life.
When you're 40, you have no doubts in the direction of your life.
When you're 50, you know what your fate is (aka. the plan from "heaven").
When you're 60, your life is a smooth sailing.
When you're 70, you get whatever you want in life.
I'm sure, in this internet day and age, telling the younger generations that they have to wait some 50 years to get what they want, will not do. Bear in mind, back in the ancient days, you get what you want when you get kids, and they grow up to take care of you. THAT is supposed to be the good life, the "you get whatever you want in life." Those things don't apply to modern day life anymore.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, well, what does that supposed to have anything to do with the "fashion, models, and girls' aspirations", and the Hong Kong Fashion Week 2009 snapshots?
What came to my mind was actually the "when you're 40" part, in that one should have no doubts in the direction in your life. When I was younger, even though my life has been quite smooth sailing, and I strive and attain pretty much what I set out to do and achieve, I have always had some shadow of doubts about myself, or rather, hopes that I might be somebody else, or maybe even be a fashion model. (Imagine that!) Perhaps, to every young girl, dressing up and looking pretty are part of the DNA, and most every one of them, me included, would aspire to achieve that.
Considering that, back then I have the perfect measurement of a UK size 8 (a petite in US size), I even tried being a fitting models (putting on clothings for pictures etc in showroom), since I can never bring myself to walk on a runway.
But I must say, that (the dream, the experience) never felt real nor right to me. I remember distinctly that I still have doubts about myself (what should I wear, how do I look, etc) in my 20s.
All these self-doubt almost changed overnight after I have my marriage and eventual my first child. The first pregnancy was uneventful, but the childbirth was difficulty. I should have used epidural but was too late to have it administered when the pain hit. After 13-hour of hard labor, with intense pain for the last 4 hours (you know the drill - pain every 1 to 2-minute intervals), on an empty stomach, I was so utterly exhausted and dehydrated that I didn't even want to hold my newborn when he came out.
But the experience taught me a few things. It gave me perspective on what's important in life, set my priorities straight, and how much I can achieve (just imagine the amount of pain I can endure!) with a beautiful boy that follows.
After that, all those "pretty little things", the make-up, and all, seem so very trivial and unimportant. And I realize how much I actually dislike covering the natural beauty of girls and women by cosmetics and costumes (often ridiculous looking on runway too).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I remember in one company Christmas party for one of my first jobs, there was this guy called Kenny. (Don't remember his last name anymore, but I think it's Kenny.) :) Most of the girls in the company fancied him, saying he's cute and all. I thought he's alright, but nothing stood out. In any case, Kenny brought an arm-candy girl-friend of his at the time. I remember some girls ooo'ing and ahh'ing privately about his gf, how tall she was, and that she's a model etc etc.
I'm not sure why the scenes from that Christmas party came back to me from time to time. Perhaps I always privately wonder how long a trophy gf or wife could last before the novelty wears out. It reminds me of that jerk Tom Brady who dumped Bridget Moynahan (pregnant with his child) for supermodel Gisele Bundchen.
I have no care of how hulky Brady is or how gorgeous Bundchen is supposed to be, that we should all be ooo'ing and ahh'ing about them, like those girls did in the Christmas party about Kenny and his arm-candy. That kind of guys would not have the slightest respect from me, nor silly girls like Bundchen who's still living the teenage girls' dream of basting in make-up and fancy dress. Afterall, she's 28 now. How long does it take for a woman like Bundchen to grow up and grow out of those fantasy, and realize that Brady would likely dump her when she's 35 for another 24-year-old with bigger boobs or longer legs? It's likely to be a sad truth that she probably won't wake up from that until she's dumped after she lost her looks.
Back in 2007, when Matt Damon was named Sexiest Man Alive, he demurred at the title, suggesting that perhaps the magazine should choose Tom Brady instead. It's ironic that people (even the guys themselves, like Damon) do not realize that abs and six-packs are not the only thing women see in men when they find them sexy. The attitude in life, and to other people, counts just as much.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And so, I realize now why my parents have no interests in watching all those so-called news about entertainment, gossips and starlets. Those things, what they do, and who they are, are just so unimportant to other's life.
Now I'm 40. Now I know and understand.
When you're 30, you would have established your life.
When you're 40, you have no doubts in the direction of your life.
When you're 50, you know what your fate is (aka. the plan from "heaven").
When you're 60, your life is a smooth sailing.
When you're 70, you get whatever you want in life.
I'm sure, in this internet day and age, telling the younger generations that they have to wait some 50 years to get what they want, will not do. Bear in mind, back in the ancient days, you get what you want when you get kids, and they grow up to take care of you. THAT is supposed to be the good life, the "you get whatever you want in life." Those things don't apply to modern day life anymore.
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Well, well, what does that supposed to have anything to do with the "fashion, models, and girls' aspirations", and the Hong Kong Fashion Week 2009 snapshots?
What came to my mind was actually the "when you're 40" part, in that one should have no doubts in the direction in your life. When I was younger, even though my life has been quite smooth sailing, and I strive and attain pretty much what I set out to do and achieve, I have always had some shadow of doubts about myself, or rather, hopes that I might be somebody else, or maybe even be a fashion model. (Imagine that!) Perhaps, to every young girl, dressing up and looking pretty are part of the DNA, and most every one of them, me included, would aspire to achieve that.
Considering that, back then I have the perfect measurement of a UK size 8 (a petite in US size), I even tried being a fitting models (putting on clothings for pictures etc in showroom), since I can never bring myself to walk on a runway.
But I must say, that (the dream, the experience) never felt real nor right to me. I remember distinctly that I still have doubts about myself (what should I wear, how do I look, etc) in my 20s.
All these self-doubt almost changed overnight after I have my marriage and eventual my first child. The first pregnancy was uneventful, but the childbirth was difficulty. I should have used epidural but was too late to have it administered when the pain hit. After 13-hour of hard labor, with intense pain for the last 4 hours (you know the drill - pain every 1 to 2-minute intervals), on an empty stomach, I was so utterly exhausted and dehydrated that I didn't even want to hold my newborn when he came out.
But the experience taught me a few things. It gave me perspective on what's important in life, set my priorities straight, and how much I can achieve (just imagine the amount of pain I can endure!) with a beautiful boy that follows.
After that, all those "pretty little things", the make-up, and all, seem so very trivial and unimportant. And I realize how much I actually dislike covering the natural beauty of girls and women by cosmetics and costumes (often ridiculous looking on runway too).
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I remember in one company Christmas party for one of my first jobs, there was this guy called Kenny. (Don't remember his last name anymore, but I think it's Kenny.) :) Most of the girls in the company fancied him, saying he's cute and all. I thought he's alright, but nothing stood out. In any case, Kenny brought an arm-candy girl-friend of his at the time. I remember some girls ooo'ing and ahh'ing privately about his gf, how tall she was, and that she's a model etc etc.
I'm not sure why the scenes from that Christmas party came back to me from time to time. Perhaps I always privately wonder how long a trophy gf or wife could last before the novelty wears out. It reminds me of that jerk Tom Brady who dumped Bridget Moynahan (pregnant with his child) for supermodel Gisele Bundchen.
I have no care of how hulky Brady is or how gorgeous Bundchen is supposed to be, that we should all be ooo'ing and ahh'ing about them, like those girls did in the Christmas party about Kenny and his arm-candy. That kind of guys would not have the slightest respect from me, nor silly girls like Bundchen who's still living the teenage girls' dream of basting in make-up and fancy dress. Afterall, she's 28 now. How long does it take for a woman like Bundchen to grow up and grow out of those fantasy, and realize that Brady would likely dump her when she's 35 for another 24-year-old with bigger boobs or longer legs? It's likely to be a sad truth that she probably won't wake up from that until she's dumped after she lost her looks.
Back in 2007, when Matt Damon was named Sexiest Man Alive, he demurred at the title, suggesting that perhaps the magazine should choose Tom Brady instead. It's ironic that people (even the guys themselves, like Damon) do not realize that abs and six-packs are not the only thing women see in men when they find them sexy. The attitude in life, and to other people, counts just as much.
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And so, I realize now why my parents have no interests in watching all those so-called news about entertainment, gossips and starlets. Those things, what they do, and who they are, are just so unimportant to other's life.
Now I'm 40. Now I know and understand.
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