A Simple Thought March 19, 2013
Posted by @Karen_Fu in change, ethics, faith, human quality, life challenges, real power.Tags: Allah, Buddha, ethics, faith, God, Lord, Religion, simple layman philosophy, sociology
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Am Facebooking and reading off feeds and comments along with skim reading other online notes and emails.
I cannot help but to post this quick thought that has come to me instantly:
For those who have Faiths, please do not think your Lord, your Buddha, you Allah, your God are deceivable. For those who have no Faith, there is still a force that you may yet to find but is looking over you. Just that you are not quiet enough to understand it, doesn’t mean the true heart of doing a certain thing cannot be seen.
Being true isn’t hard to do. Do not waste time thinking you can bend rules to get your way. Doing this in front to look good and bend it over to do something. It doesnt work that way. Some people donate money for good causes but do something hideous behind, thinking the charity will cancel off the negative karma of doing bad. My advise: don’t even think about playing tricks. It never pays in the end, ‘cos you don’t call your Lord anything else as they have the highest form of power that you cannot fathom.
I am a free thinker even at this point. I do so because I think this will free me up to mix with everyone. I believe that any positive religions will accommodate very similar, if not the same principles of what is obeying the Lord. And that is not to exploit anyone’s kindness for your own greed. That’s just one point. The point that I often read off news about certain people defying their Faith to do hideous crimes makes me often wonder what kind of people we have today. It may sound religious, but at times I can’t help but to think the natural disasters that we have are indeed the Lord’s way of teaching unfaithful people a lesson.
Hopefully people will be awakened. And that the power of advanced technology and science has little to do with solving actual problems. Often I think the backward movement of technology may well save our lives in many ways. It’s a huge change to flip over. I suppose people want the high tech to show ones prowess and might. Then thinking back again, it may well be a sign of self destruction going by the way how certain people are bending rules these days. – Karen Fu
Teresa XuZhe-Woman of real substance August 10, 2009
Posted by @Karen_Fu in change, faith, human quality.Tags: ethics, humanity, Woman of Substance
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Woman of real substance
Teresa XuZhe didn’t know when she was born except the fact that she knew she was born in the year 1897. So she assumed the date of 7th July as her birthday since that was easy to remember. Somebody of her disadvantaged background could beat all odds, despite with only basic education to become a learned scholar in her own right, clearly has the character clearer than the brightest diamond. She is a respected humanitarian and real scholar for us to learn from her passive but genuine keenness to do good for all.
I think she is one fine example of a woman of real substance. I feel that life has not treated her well enough. But she has never disgruntled about her life being lackluster than most others both materially and immaterially. Neither did she complain of her loneliness in her silent pursuement in doing good for mankind– ranging from helping the homeless, the hopeless and to the dying who are much younger than she is. Compared with most urbanites especially women, she doesn’t ask for life’s material comforts. Many women would yearn for material needs and usually do it at the expense of family. Her life overseas away from home was not a sweet one, which was with racism and bullying. Yet she held no grudge and love all the same. A rare humanitarian, an exemplar character, she performed her duties because she genuinely thinks its her calling. It wasn’t the type where being kind was ‘just a calling’ and looking for ‘world peace’ had to be in a loud shouting manner for all to know; but it was in a passive but powerful determination to do it all.And gladly so for most of her years in silence before we discovered her and her deeds in the last 10 years.
I am really glad she is still alive and is living for us to discover her. For many, charity has hidden agendas– either in the disguised name of fame ; or sometimesin the form of money/ tax exemptions. This BBM (public Service Award) is too little for her years of service for mankind at her own motivated will, which she gave to those who needed the love and care.
She is also a live example of what life would eventually reward a genuinely kind soul. She lives a life of no complex worry; neither does she harbor jealousy, hatred or greed in a changing world where deceit, hypocrisy and greed remains a strong force to be challenged with. I often wonder why she is unmarried? She should have. It reminds me of the many other kinds of women and men we have who have families which they cannot managed and a life in a mess of breakups with stranded and ill-behaved children. These people do not deserve a family where they actually taught their offsprings to continue their ills in their lifetime. In that sense, I often wonder why life has not rewarded her a blessing that she deserves. I really feel she deserves far more and I genuinely wish I could give her something really good in return. I’ve not thought of anything as yet.
For now, all I can do is to post about her on the blog. I hope her humanitarian spirit could live on by simply passing a message around by her deeds. Life may not reward the very kind, but certainly it will punish the ill hearted and the greedy. Let this be a lesson learnt.
[picture taken from LianHeZaoBao 9 August 2009]
reference link
10 Commandments from Dieter Rams March 2, 2009
Posted by @Karen_Fu in change, design, Economy, ethics, industrial design, Product Design.Tags: Design Sojourn, Dieter Rams, ethics, sustainability
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I’ve just made a short comment about the thread on Design Sojourn on the topic : Dieter Rams and his 10 Design Commandments and thought that there were other qualities needed to good design, or indeed to a good life since good design value-adds life.
– guts : the courage to change – change on what is really needed in life that doesn’t encourage waste in either unnecessary spending or over buying of certain products.
– discerning critic: the wisdom and intelligence that will enable one to differentiate what is right or wrong by observation and not by what you hear. I think its important for design decisions. Or in any way, making good answers on how life should be live by design.
In reality a lot of issues are thwarted for the sheer desire to make either fame or/and money. If we could all genuinely be honest about keeping this earth sustainable, which really means that we need to look at not only products but also our own quality of thinking as well as the ethical part of our characters; to ensure that this habitat of ours isn’t going to be finished beacuse of our stupidity. Hence being honest to both ourselves and to our living environment is extremely important. It would really not be worth it in the long term to cheat and to deceive what is the natures laws of good living. But there is also another crucial fact that the human civilisation, since the begining of time, has never really fully chosen the path to be just simple and kind… so what should we make of it ? Would this current economic and environment disaster wake all of us up in time ? If it does, its probably a ‘good disaster’ for all to learn…
image from: blog.igloo.com.au/?p=86
Dieter Rams’ 10 Design Commandments
1. Good Design is innovative
It does not copy existing product forms, nor does it produce any kind of novelty for the sake of it. The essence of innovation must be clearly seen in all functions of a product. The possibilities in this respect are by no means exhausted. Technological development keeps offering new chances for innovative solutions.
2. Good Design makes a product useful
A product is bought in order to be used. It must serve a defined purpose – in both primary and additional functions. The most important task of design is to optimise the utility of a product.
3. Good Design is aesthetic
The aesthetic quality of a product – and the fascination it inspires – is an integral part of the its utility. Without doubt, it is uncomfortable and tiring to have to put up with products that are confusing, that get on your nerves, that you are unable to relate to. However, it has always been a hard task to argue about aesthetic quality, for two reasons.
Firstly, it is difficult to talk about anything visual, since words have a different meaning for different people.
Secondly, aesthetic quality deals with details, subtle shades, harmony and the equilibrium of a whole variety of visual elements. A good eye is required, schooled by years and years of experience, in order to be able to draw the right conclusion.
4. Good Design helps a product be understood
It clarifies the structure of the product. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self-explanatory and saves you the long, tedious perusal of the operating manual.
5. Good Design is unobtrusive
Products that satisfy this criterion are tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained leaving room for the user’s self-expression.
6. Good Design is honest
An honestly-designed product must not claim features it does not have – being more innovative, more efficient, of higher value. It must not influence or manipulate buyers and users.
7. Good Design is durable
It is nothing trendy that might be out-of-date tomorrow. This is one of the major differences between well-designed products and trivial objects for a waste-producing society. Waste must no longer be tolerated.
8. Good Design is thorough to the last detail
Thoroughness and accuracy of design are synonymous with the product and its functions, as seen through the eyes of the user
9. Good Design is concerned with environment
Design must contribute towards a stable environment and a sensible use of raw materials. This means considering not only actual pollution, but also the visual pollution and destruction of our environment.
10. Good Design is as little design as possible
Back to purity, back to simplicity.
requoted off Design Sojourn.com
