I always thought my family, the Chen’s, is a very unique clan unlike the other Chinese families at the time. Our family members, well, at least my dad's generation are extremely gifted in Art and Culture...We have musicians (aunt Bing and uncle Y’tu), chess master (uncle Ching-tao), calligrapher (my dad), painters (aunt Bing and aunt B’yuan), poet (uncle Migimi)…The four classical Confucian virtues of Chess, Music, Poetry, and Painting, they mastered them all, and I am not being condescending, just spend a few hours with them and you will know. But above all, they are free spirits in a traditional society.
Saturday, I went out with my Aunt Bing and Uncle Victor (her husband, Aunt Bing and Uncle Victor are even more interesting individuals, more on that later) to an art fair near Sierra Madres. It was nice. My sister Tina who is back for a few days with her husband Morgan to visit was with us, and we just strolled thru the kiosks by various artists. It is so refreshing to see that they are, at certain areas, culture and art still flourishes without LA superficiality. We struck up a conversation with this Peruvian artist who’s style and them (about the native Peruvian Indians) I really like (too bad I didn’t bring my camera). Afterwards, just before sunset, we just chilled at this small and quaint bar near all the kiosks and talk about everything and nothing at all. I had 4 beers (Corona, no Hoegarrden), it was nice. Brings back memories of Southern France and Cyprus….
Monday, May 23, 2005
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Deep shit!?!?!?!
As I stepped into the shower getting ready for work today, in my daily routine of pondering about the meaning of life and the origin of universe, I came across this conclusion about this common oxymoronic statement that people often make. “that was such a bad decision”
Here are the reasons:
If we take Hobbe’s theory (was it Hobbes, I forgot in all those stupid political philosophy books back in college) that human being is innately evil and selfish, and add that to Social Darwinism theories of competitiveness, we should come to the following conclusions:
1) There are no bad decisions in life. It is impossible in our cognitive human nature (self serving) to make any “bad choices”, every decision we make is a progression from the previous. The goal in all of us, simply put it, is to maximize our perceived value at the moment.
2) Of course, inevitably our “perceived value” would need modification from time to time called compromise. ‘Compromise’ does not mean it is bad choice. It merely means it is a tradeoff from the ‘bestest’ decision to the 2nd best decision.
With these two conclusion. Utopia (in biblical term, ‘Eden’) should be all around us. They answer ties back to Hobbes and Social Darwinism. If everyone is happy and content, then how can one know that their decision is better then others. So by human nature, the easiest way is the suppress others from maximum gain.
Hence you have today’s capitalism society…
Marx tried to break this tie, but Communism failed, simply because of this reason.
Tie this to some of the more practical things we see today. One of the AP headlines today stated that tension between China and the US is rising over currency exchanges and textile industry. I think the competitiveness by these two countries, one to ‘maximize’ returns, one to prevent the other from reaching full potential is gradually surfacing. Ultimately, it will be a lose-lose situation in the long run if my logics above is correct. In the short term basis, US is still dominant, but this “tradeoff” to prevent growth of China, if passed, will raise tension between the two. By China curbing the fixed currency to a market currency rate, Chinese goods will be more expensive, thus hurting US consumers…..
More on this later.
Here are the reasons:
If we take Hobbe’s theory (was it Hobbes, I forgot in all those stupid political philosophy books back in college) that human being is innately evil and selfish, and add that to Social Darwinism theories of competitiveness, we should come to the following conclusions:
1) There are no bad decisions in life. It is impossible in our cognitive human nature (self serving) to make any “bad choices”, every decision we make is a progression from the previous. The goal in all of us, simply put it, is to maximize our perceived value at the moment.
2) Of course, inevitably our “perceived value” would need modification from time to time called compromise. ‘Compromise’ does not mean it is bad choice. It merely means it is a tradeoff from the ‘bestest’ decision to the 2nd best decision.
With these two conclusion. Utopia (in biblical term, ‘Eden’) should be all around us. They answer ties back to Hobbes and Social Darwinism. If everyone is happy and content, then how can one know that their decision is better then others. So by human nature, the easiest way is the suppress others from maximum gain.
Hence you have today’s capitalism society…
Marx tried to break this tie, but Communism failed, simply because of this reason.
Tie this to some of the more practical things we see today. One of the AP headlines today stated that tension between China and the US is rising over currency exchanges and textile industry. I think the competitiveness by these two countries, one to ‘maximize’ returns, one to prevent the other from reaching full potential is gradually surfacing. Ultimately, it will be a lose-lose situation in the long run if my logics above is correct. In the short term basis, US is still dominant, but this “tradeoff” to prevent growth of China, if passed, will raise tension between the two. By China curbing the fixed currency to a market currency rate, Chinese goods will be more expensive, thus hurting US consumers…..
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Car of all Cars
Recently, I've been debating if I should get a new transportation tool in the near future. My '99 Audi which I had owned for over 6 years with 125,000 miles is starting to break down. As much as I like Audi's aesthetic design both in the interior and the exterior, I don’t think I will buy another Audi for a long while. The car simply is not as well built as your Honda/Acura’s or the Toyota/Lexus’. Japanese cars are still by far the most reliable and well made. I really fear for GM and Ford’s well being in the future…
Now here is the dilemma. There are several forms of motorized land transportation machines I fancy and have tested. Here are some of my considerations with my budget structure (From top choice down):
1) 2006 Lexus IS250 (in the market Oct. of this year). Specs. Not available yet. (The price should be around $32,000 MSRP) – Xenon light standard.
2) 2006 BMW 325i with Automatic transmission, and Sports package (Price at $33,500 MSRP) –Xenon light standard.
3) 2005 BMW 325Ci with Automatic transmission, Sports package and Xenon light (About $32,000 MSRP negotiable).
4) Kawasaki Ninja 250R ($3,000MSRP) – Since my daily commute is only 3.5 miles, this would be a safe form of transportation.
5) Vespa PX150 (brings back nostalgia from my dad’s age, $2,800 MSRP, license required?)
6) My current man powered Quintana Roo Tequillo Tri-bike ($1,850 MSPR, pedals included).
Tough decision isn’t it? But here is the million dollar question that I’ve been asking myself over the past few weeks “Do I really NEED a new car right now?” Cars, above all else is the one item that almost guarantee devaluation or depreciation whichever way you want to define it. Unless you own some of the classics of all time, such as the ’55~59Mercedes Benz 350 SL Gullwing, ’61 Jaguar XJ150, ’68 Shelby Cobra, ,55 Porsche Speedster (Jimmy Dean’s car), which are artworks. Cars nowadays within our budget inevitably devalue. So in a sense, isn’t getting a new car just fueling my vanity, which is one of my vise…
It is a touch decision, and what if I decided one day soon to try different things in different parts of the world. Then what happens to the new car?
Well, we shall see how long I can hold out.
Now where is my IWC Mark XV watch? Better yet, where is my Vecheron Constatine? J
I am so vain….
Now here is the dilemma. There are several forms of motorized land transportation machines I fancy and have tested. Here are some of my considerations with my budget structure (From top choice down):
1) 2006 Lexus IS250 (in the market Oct. of this year). Specs. Not available yet. (The price should be around $32,000 MSRP) – Xenon light standard.
2) 2006 BMW 325i with Automatic transmission, and Sports package (Price at $33,500 MSRP) –Xenon light standard.
3) 2005 BMW 325Ci with Automatic transmission, Sports package and Xenon light (About $32,000 MSRP negotiable).
4) Kawasaki Ninja 250R ($3,000MSRP) – Since my daily commute is only 3.5 miles, this would be a safe form of transportation.
5) Vespa PX150 (brings back nostalgia from my dad’s age, $2,800 MSRP, license required?)
6) My current man powered Quintana Roo Tequillo Tri-bike ($1,850 MSPR, pedals included).
Tough decision isn’t it? But here is the million dollar question that I’ve been asking myself over the past few weeks “Do I really NEED a new car right now?” Cars, above all else is the one item that almost guarantee devaluation or depreciation whichever way you want to define it. Unless you own some of the classics of all time, such as the ’55~59Mercedes Benz 350 SL Gullwing, ’61 Jaguar XJ150, ’68 Shelby Cobra, ,55 Porsche Speedster (Jimmy Dean’s car), which are artworks. Cars nowadays within our budget inevitably devalue. So in a sense, isn’t getting a new car just fueling my vanity, which is one of my vise…
It is a touch decision, and what if I decided one day soon to try different things in different parts of the world. Then what happens to the new car?
Well, we shall see how long I can hold out.
Now where is my IWC Mark XV watch? Better yet, where is my Vecheron Constatine? J
I am so vain….
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