One man tells of driving a long and lonely road, the last 65 miles of it unpaved, in order to watch Hopi Indian ceremonial dances in the state of Arizona. After the dances, he returned to his car only to find that it had a flat tire. He put on the spare and drove to the only service station on the Hopi reservation.
"Do you fix flats?" he inquired of the attendant.
"Yes," came the answer.
"How much do you charge?" he asked.
With a twinkle in his eye, the man replied, "What difference does it make?"
This is what has been called a "Hobson's choice." A Hobson's choice is a situation that forces a person to accept whatever is offered or go without.
According to Barbara Berliner (The Book of Answers), the phrase was inspired by sixteenth-century entrepreneur Thomas Hobson, who hired out horses in strict rotation at Cambridge University. There was no choosing by the customer - it was strictly Hobson's choice.
But most of the time we really do have a choice, and the choice we make does make a difference. We may not always believe it. We may feel as if we have no choice, but almost always there is a choice in the matter. And when we realize that most of what we do we do by choice, then we are taking control of our own lives.
Someone challenged me to try an experiment that completely changed my perspective. "For the next seven days," he said, "eliminate the words 'I have to' from your vocabulary and substitute the words 'I choose to.' Don't say, 'I have to work late tonight.' Instead, say, 'I choose to work late.' When you choose to do it, you take control of your life. Instead of saying, 'I have to stay home,' try 'I choose to stay home.' The way you spend your time is your choice. You set the priorities. You are responsible. You have control.
In just seven days I was no longer saying "I have to" and I felt better about my decisions. I learned that there is very little in this life I actually HAVE to do. You and I decide to do certain things because we believe that it will be for the best. When we eliminate "I have to" from our vocabularies, we take control.
Try it for a week (after all, it's your choice) and you see what happens. I think you'll see it's a change for the better.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Penang, Oh Penang!
Below is written by Patrick Teoh, who ran Kee Huat fantastic facts and facies over RTM many many years ago (many of you might not even hear of this). He was in Penang recently to lauch his book, entitled 'Teohloogy'. Interesting what he wrote about the new Penang.
Last week I spent a couple of days in Penang. You know, the island up north that is managed by those Opposition flers? I knew something was wrong the minute I crossed over the messy, Federal-funded and built Penang Bridge.
Eh? How come the Rapid Penang buses all so clean one?
Eh? Aren't those low-cost council flats? How come look so clean and fresh one? With new coat of paint some more.
How can man? These Opposition flers just know how to complain about Federal government not giving them enough money to do things, right? Also they are supposedly marginalising some communities by holding back development and business opportunities right?
Then how come everybody here looks so happy one? Okay, so 2 days isn't enough to make a survey worth shit la but I must still admit that I was impressed man!
Okay, so I shall wait impatiently for some comments to come in after this telling me, "If you like it so much, move there la. Blaardy pendatang!" But then it's different from being yelled at to go to another country. Penang IS in my country. Isn't it? Then how come it looks and feels so different one? Didn't all the YB's say that those Opposition flers can't do shit and not to vote for them?
Ah! And then I read in the newspapers that the Penang flers who live on the mainland are getting free bus rides to work. Some more can park their cars for RM1.00 the whole day and ride bus to work. Free! Can do like that meh? Opposition government wor.
Ah! And then ah I also heard the Chief Minister make a speech to an audience of about 200 people at a book store. Wah! I really tabik the Lim fler la. Damn best speech I've heard from a politician in years la. He spoke about Penang and the people's collective efforts in building a great place to live and work and bring up family all. And he never once highlighted any one particular community for praise. All are Penangites and all contribute and share. I tell you ah, after listening to him and enjoying Penang for 2 days I really felt like moving there to live la. Friendly, happy people. Malays, Chinese, Indians, Dll's. Clean environment. Efficient administration. Sun, sea and surf. What's there not to like? Well, maybe just one thing la. The property prices there quite terror la. Don't know if can afford. But then in a place like Penang the rule can always be "If you're prepared to work hard the rewards are there to be shared". So maybe can. Somemore no need to apply visa all.
Last week I spent a couple of days in Penang. You know, the island up north that is managed by those Opposition flers? I knew something was wrong the minute I crossed over the messy, Federal-funded and built Penang Bridge.
Eh? How come the Rapid Penang buses all so clean one?
Eh? Aren't those low-cost council flats? How come look so clean and fresh one? With new coat of paint some more.
How can man? These Opposition flers just know how to complain about Federal government not giving them enough money to do things, right? Also they are supposedly marginalising some communities by holding back development and business opportunities right?
Then how come everybody here looks so happy one? Okay, so 2 days isn't enough to make a survey worth shit la but I must still admit that I was impressed man!
Okay, so I shall wait impatiently for some comments to come in after this telling me, "If you like it so much, move there la. Blaardy pendatang!" But then it's different from being yelled at to go to another country. Penang IS in my country. Isn't it? Then how come it looks and feels so different one? Didn't all the YB's say that those Opposition flers can't do shit and not to vote for them?
Ah! And then I read in the newspapers that the Penang flers who live on the mainland are getting free bus rides to work. Some more can park their cars for RM1.00 the whole day and ride bus to work. Free! Can do like that meh? Opposition government wor.
Ah! And then ah I also heard the Chief Minister make a speech to an audience of about 200 people at a book store. Wah! I really tabik the Lim fler la. Damn best speech I've heard from a politician in years la. He spoke about Penang and the people's collective efforts in building a great place to live and work and bring up family all. And he never once highlighted any one particular community for praise. All are Penangites and all contribute and share. I tell you ah, after listening to him and enjoying Penang for 2 days I really felt like moving there to live la. Friendly, happy people. Malays, Chinese, Indians, Dll's. Clean environment. Efficient administration. Sun, sea and surf. What's there not to like? Well, maybe just one thing la. The property prices there quite terror la. Don't know if can afford. But then in a place like Penang the rule can always be "If you're prepared to work hard the rewards are there to be shared". So maybe can. Somemore no need to apply visa all.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
主张一个大马却纵容种族主义, 前美国驻马大使狠批纳吉虚伪
前美国驻马来西亚大使约翰马洛特（John Malott）今天在《亚洲华尔街日报》撰文狠批大马首相纳吉虚伪，因纳吉根本没有认真落实本身提出的“一个大马”理念，反而纵容大马种族主义恶化，造成大马在短短3年流失50万名人才。
约翰马洛特从上世纪90年代中便出任美驻马大使，于1998年卸任后不时对大马政府提出批评。
他在一篇题为“大马种族主义的代价”的评论中强调，大马的种族主义现象已令国家经济成长放缓，甚至对外流失人才。
纳吉上任族群宗教事件恶化
约翰马洛特指出，纳吉应该照镜自我检讨，是否认真想要落实“一个大马”的目标。
“纳吉2009年上台后，尽管提出了一个亮丽的辞汇，但族群间及宗教间的关系仍紧绷。”
“事实上，这比1969年的情况还严重，当时最少有200名巫、华裔因族群纠纷而丧生。”
约翰马洛特把这种日益紧张的族群及宗教系列事件，归咎于政府“容忍并在一些事件中透过言行举止来煽动，令族群间出现分化”。
提牛头爱国课十字架风波
他也提出一些案例，包括纳吉助理哈德柯尔（Hardev Kaur）被指曾在纳吉出席圣诞节开放门户活动时，抗议主办单位的吉隆坡天主教大主教住家不应展示十字架。
“柯尔之后澄清她仅是要求，而非指示；这好像任何大马人可拒绝由首相署办公室发出的要求。”
他再举例，因抗议兴都庙迁往本身住宅区而引发的牛头示威风波，内政部长希山慕丁却捍卫这批肇事的居民，另外，国防部长也曾质疑华印裔不愿从军，因缺乏爱国精神。
约翰马洛特也抨击巫统所拥有的《马来西亚前锋报》攻击华裔从政者，并煽动对华裔从政者的憎恨情绪，甚至曾建议应杀掉行动党雪州高级行政议员郭素沁。
3年内共有50万人离马
约翰马洛特总结，这种逐渐恶化的种族主义现象，导致2007年至2009年期间约有50万名国人离马，这比移居海外的专业大马人才数目还多出一倍。
他也指出，纳吉向强烈反对经济改革的右翼组织土著权威组织低头，殊不知停止改革将进一步影响大马竞争力及经济成长放缓，同时意味着更多工程在未竞标下发配给朋党。
约翰马洛特认为，纳吉甚至可能不可相信其政党和官员释放出的这套论述，惟为了捞取更多巫裔选票的支持而放任不理。
“当他（纳吉）的政党面对反对党来势汹汹挑战，尤其碰触及种族政策及在经济领域招致的后果时，这无疑成为一项政治便利。”
警告种族主义将会影响经济
约翰马洛特也警告，当大马拥有的包容逐渐被磨蚀掉，经济也会出现问题，大马若要在2020年发展为先进国，其经济成长每年便须达8%。
“要达致这种程度的成长，须有大量的国内外私人界投资及外国资源来支撑，并配合人力技巧的提升及重大的经济转型。不过，恶化的种族及宗教事件将形成阻力。”
约翰马洛特认为，当政府为了政治上的权宜之计而煽动宗教及种族问题，然而这种机会主义的代价便是大马的经济。
“这国家的人民将会继续出走，一并带走的是金钱及人才。至于外资，担忧的是族群关系不稳固及缺乏经济改革，也会转投其他国家。”
约翰马洛特从上世纪90年代中便出任美驻马大使，于1998年卸任后不时对大马政府提出批评。
他在一篇题为“大马种族主义的代价”的评论中强调，大马的种族主义现象已令国家经济成长放缓，甚至对外流失人才。
纳吉上任族群宗教事件恶化
约翰马洛特指出，纳吉应该照镜自我检讨，是否认真想要落实“一个大马”的目标。
“纳吉2009年上台后，尽管提出了一个亮丽的辞汇，但族群间及宗教间的关系仍紧绷。”
“事实上，这比1969年的情况还严重，当时最少有200名巫、华裔因族群纠纷而丧生。”
约翰马洛特把这种日益紧张的族群及宗教系列事件，归咎于政府“容忍并在一些事件中透过言行举止来煽动，令族群间出现分化”。
提牛头爱国课十字架风波
他也提出一些案例，包括纳吉助理哈德柯尔（Hardev Kaur）被指曾在纳吉出席圣诞节开放门户活动时，抗议主办单位的吉隆坡天主教大主教住家不应展示十字架。
“柯尔之后澄清她仅是要求，而非指示；这好像任何大马人可拒绝由首相署办公室发出的要求。”
他再举例，因抗议兴都庙迁往本身住宅区而引发的牛头示威风波，内政部长希山慕丁却捍卫这批肇事的居民，另外，国防部长也曾质疑华印裔不愿从军，因缺乏爱国精神。
约翰马洛特也抨击巫统所拥有的《马来西亚前锋报》攻击华裔从政者，并煽动对华裔从政者的憎恨情绪，甚至曾建议应杀掉行动党雪州高级行政议员郭素沁。
3年内共有50万人离马
约翰马洛特总结，这种逐渐恶化的种族主义现象，导致2007年至2009年期间约有50万名国人离马，这比移居海外的专业大马人才数目还多出一倍。
他也指出，纳吉向强烈反对经济改革的右翼组织土著权威组织低头，殊不知停止改革将进一步影响大马竞争力及经济成长放缓，同时意味着更多工程在未竞标下发配给朋党。
约翰马洛特认为，纳吉甚至可能不可相信其政党和官员释放出的这套论述，惟为了捞取更多巫裔选票的支持而放任不理。
“当他（纳吉）的政党面对反对党来势汹汹挑战，尤其碰触及种族政策及在经济领域招致的后果时，这无疑成为一项政治便利。”
警告种族主义将会影响经济
约翰马洛特也警告，当大马拥有的包容逐渐被磨蚀掉，经济也会出现问题，大马若要在2020年发展为先进国，其经济成长每年便须达8%。
“要达致这种程度的成长，须有大量的国内外私人界投资及外国资源来支撑，并配合人力技巧的提升及重大的经济转型。不过，恶化的种族及宗教事件将形成阻力。”
约翰马洛特认为，当政府为了政治上的权宜之计而煽动宗教及种族问题，然而这种机会主义的代价便是大马的经济。
“这国家的人民将会继续出走，一并带走的是金钱及人才。至于外资，担忧的是族群关系不稳固及缺乏经济改革，也会转投其他国家。”
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