We are all Sinners

I went to church on Saturday for my cousin's daughter's baptism. 27 babies got baptized that night and we were all enjoying the babies symphony.

Then came the part where the Father did his sharing which once again reminded me why I resent the church.

He was on about how sinful it was for Peter Li, the son of billionaire Lee Shau Kee, to have 3 baby boys using a surrogate. Then there was this whole thing about human dignity and morale and blah blah blah.

Does it really matter? A guy wanted kids, a woman wanted to" lend a hand", a deal was sealed, then 3 beautiful babies were born. It's his business and no one else's.

So what if they won't be growing up with a "mother", they will have the best education, best chances in life, better than at least 6 million Hong Kong people!

What's worse? Using a surrogate or having a number of babies until you score a baby boy? To me, the latter is much worse. The previous daughters are like collateral damage and who is there to truly love them?

Don't get me wrong, I do believe in God, but just not the Church.

I just think that going to Church doesn't make you a good Catholic/Christian/whatever anymore than dancing in Madison Square Garden make you Michael Jackson.

And by the way, you can't comment on my posts because this is not a bloody forum, it's my blog so if you don't like it, go away.

The other time I posted religious stuff and this idiot commented something which was obviously copied and pasted from elsewhere. It was unoriginal, unconvincing and frankly I didn't bother reading it, I just deleted it.

People just get too sensitive about religious stuff, there is no right or wrong, believe in whatever you want as long as you do good and not evil. I don't care if you believe in trees as long as you treat people right and you are kind.

I am certain God is not half as judgmental and narrow-minded as those who try to play God. Respect other people's beliefs too, that's what makes the world beautiful.

Sweet dreams.

Nudge: 50 cents plastic bag levy

I was at the grocery store this morning when it suddenly dawned on me that nudges exist everywhere.

I recently read the book Nudge by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein about choice architect and small things in choice systems that may help people make better decision.

A section of the book mentioned about how people hate to lose twice as much as they like to win i.e. people would rather NOT lose $100 than to win $50.

Thus when I was at the grocery store and when I saw how many people are now using environmental bags than plastic bags because of the 50 cents plastic bag levy in Hong Kong, the power of nudge came to mind.

People would rather "go through the trouble to" bring their own bag than to lose 50 cents (an insignificant amount).

This little nudge in the system has drastically reduced the amount of plastic bags distributed by shops by 90%!!!!

You can use nudges in organ donations, saving plans, business plans and many other places to help people make better decisions.

Read this book, I highly recommend it.

If 50 cents can make such a big change in plastic bags usage, imagine what else all other little nudges can do to make our world a better place!

Goodbye Aunt Janny

I was shocked when I heard the passing of Aunt Janny.

Aunt Janny was the my cousin's aunt from his dad's side. I saw her once or twice a year, I had never known her well but it was always pleasant to see her.

She had been battling with cancer for two years before she passed. The pain of losing my father and sister to cancer over 15 years ago suddenly came back.

Like it was yesterday.

Life is too short. Way too short.

Why do nice people die young?

Aunt Janny, all the best and I hope you are in a much better place.

Your are going to be missed.

Goodbye Aunt Janny.

Fighting Heroes

I had the privilege to attend the iFS White Collar Boxing Event in Hong Kong last night.

Boxing is definitely not my cup of tea but the thought of being able to glam up, eat good food with great friends and watch a few fights for a charitable cause, why not?

The event was certainly similar to those you see on TV, the ring, the judges, the fighters, the crazy lights, the crowd and the shouting.

But little did I know I was there to meet heroes - ordinary men who do extraordinary things.

These fighter by the day are lawyers, investment bankers, doctors, accountants etc. But they all have a common interest - boxing. To me, it's a sport that lets someone kick the shit out of you.

One very obvious difference between professional fighters (like Tyson) and the brave men I saw last night was that these men were doing it for the love of their interest and for charity.

It was such an honorable and brave thing to do! Walking into the ring with equally competent fighter, while your family and boss watch.

I applaud those who fought for charity last night. I don't understand boxing as I naively think that it's just wrong to cheer when someone gets beaten up. But this was different, it was for charity - the CSC - Children's Surgical Centre - which enables kids in Cambodia to receive life changing surgeries they otherwise would not have received.

Well done boys, you guys are my heroes, and the fighting heroes for many kids in less fortunate worlds.

God bless.

The Power of the Internet

A friend asked if I have been keeping myself up to date on youtube about 賜座男 and 雞巴男. I said no but couldn't resist to check them out online.

Turns out that 賜座男 is about a young ignorant kid who refused to let a man sit next to the idle seat next to him on the bus. His rudeness and ignorance caused him the shameful video now posted on youtube for everyone's viewing. There is even a music video made on him and his background such as his age, where he lives and which school he goes to!

雞巴男 is about a guy who parked his van by a bus stop preventing buses from stopping which in turn caused an outrage from bystanders and those waiting for buses. The guy was swearing and saying how he felt sorry for those who has to take a bus since they don't have their own vehicle! The whole incident was videoed and uploaded onto youtube. Again, his whole personal profile and his family's were posted online as well!!!

It's kind of scary when you think about it. Anyone can be videoing you with their cell phones at anytime, anywhere.

I consider myself a nice person, most of the time. But there are times when I snap at taxi-drivers or have run ins with people. Hong Kong people are constantly under a lot of stressed because we live in such heavily dense city.

I have had run-ins with people at restaurants, subway or just shops where sales assistants were being rude.

Anyhow, I guess the power of the internet makes me think twice before I misbehave myself in public, whether I have been provoked or not. I would never want my business aquaintance to see the other side of me! Nor would I ever want the whole world to know my personal profile!!!

The good thing is that the power of the internet also serves as a way for the citizens to discipline themselves. Like the website www.openrice.com. You can search any time of food, in any area, at whatever price range there is in Hong Kong.

People are free to post pictures of the restaurants, their review of the food, ambience, service, price and anything you can think of!

Consumers are better informed with the products and services as the reviews are made by the general public and thus, very objective.

Another site is http://dpreview.com where people discuss about cameras and lens, their pros and cons in full length! We bought our camera based on the information we read online.

When there is tons of choices, it's really hard to choose what is truly value for money and what is just a result of multi-million marketing campagnes.

I guess it's not a bad thing when people think twice before they behave badly in public nowadays, myself included.