Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Wedding of the King-to-be

One more day, all eyes will focus on the wedding of the King-to-be.
Or I should say, for days, all eyes had been focusing on the wedding of the King-to-be.
Someone may feel so odd about the extensive media coverage of the wedding, even some media was also commenting on the crazy coverage. No wonder, as even CTV was spending almost one-third of their 30-minutes national news covering the wedding.

You may ask why? Let me try...

Canadians are tired of hearing the "debate" regarding another minority government election. Well, yes, we are all too tired of the lies of all these politicians.

And... as Vancouver is the only playoff team in Canada for the Stanley Cup, and forget about the NBA... No hockey, no basketball, not yet football.... so, you can imagine how boring Canadians will be. Well, we are fortunately that Blue Jays are still in the playoff hunt.

What about the other parts of the world? Days after days, we hear about wars everywhere... or radiation-affected Japanese food and cars.

Chinese channels... HK news are all about sickness of those high ranking officers, how bad people saying the government is treating them....

Hey... we just need something positive, something for ourselves to cheer about...

And thank you, Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton, your wedding just come at the right time... something that can give us a smile on our face... :P




Thursday, April 14, 2011

Time to clip union power in Canada

Written by Joseph C. Ben-Ami
(www.policystudies.ca)

Monday, 11 April 2011

The recent decision by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) to increase its members’ dues by $60 to fund an anti-Progressive Conservative Party campaign during this fall’s provincial election has been rightly criticized by a number of groups and individuals. In fact, the OECTA decision is just the tip of the iceberg, and a reminder of how bad labour laws in Canada are at protecting individual workers from abuse at the hands of powerful mega-unions.

Neither Canadians, nor their political leaders, seem to grasp just how far behind the rest of the developed world we are when it comes to defending these rights. Only in Canada can workers be forced to join a union as a condition of employment, and even in those places where workers are not forced to join the union, they still have to pay full union dues. The only way workers in Canada can legally opt out of joining a union – or paying dues if not actually forced to join – is if they have a religious objection to union affiliation. Even then, opting out does not entitle workers to keep their money. Instead of going to the union, the dues are re-directed to a charity the union approves.

The above arrangement is referred to as the Rand Formula after Supreme Court Justice Ivan Rand who, in an arbitration decision settling a strike at Ford Motor Company in Windsor, ruled that employers must deduct and turn over to the union, dues from all employees including non-members. Rand explained that this was because all workers benefited from the union’s collective bargaining.

For decades, union bosses in Canada have been collecting fees from workers including many who are not even members, and then using those fees to fund, not just the collective bargaining mandate of the union, but a myriad of partisan social and political causes as well. These bosses claim that the Rand Formula permits them to do this. They also claim that unions are democratic organizations, and that, Rand notwithstanding, the decision to allocate a portion of collected fees for any purpose is the outcome of a democratic process.

They are wrong on both counts.

To begin with, Mr. Justice Rand himself explained that his decision to force non-union workers to pay union dues could only be justified if those dues were used exclusively for collective bargaining purposes. Anything else would be nothing less than legal robbery (my words, not his).

As for the argument that the decision-making process is democratic, that might come as a surprise to all those non-union members from whose paychecks mandatory union dues are deducted every week. They are not entitled to vote in any union elections or plebiscite and, as a consequence, have no say whatsoever regarding how their dues are being spent. Only bona fide members of the union can participate in the decision making-process.

There is another reason why the “democracy argument” does not hold water though. The right to vote for or against a person or political party running for public office, or to assist, financially or otherwise, a social or political cause, is an individual right. It cannot be transferred to anyone else, even if that transfer is accomplished through democratic means.

It is quite astonishing that this simple fact has been so utterly overlooked here in Canada. Even in Europe – where liberal-left public policy is de rigueur – the courts have consistently ruled, not just against unions using dues to support causes unrelated to collective bargaining without the consent of individual members, but against any form of compelled membership altogether.

Nor is Europe the only jurisdiction where workers’ rights are given precedence over union privileges. In America, depending on what state they operate in, unions that engage in activities unrelated to collective bargaining must either raise the necessary funds through a voluntary appeal to their members, or if mandatory dues are to be used they (unions) must offer to discount dues commensurately, or they must offer members a refund of that portion of their dues that would otherwise have been used for these purposes.

Is there something the Europeans and Americans know about workers rights and their protection that we in Canada don’t? Apparently so.

It’s time for Canada to join the rest of the developed world in the 21st century by reforming labour laws to protect workers from the voracious appetite of unscrupulous and virtually unaccountable union bosses. That would require politicians with backbone though.

Is that really too much to hope for?




Saturday, April 09, 2011

Devotions

Life Application Study Bible ® Devotion

Joshua 1:5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

Joshua's new job consisted of leading more than two million people into a strange new land and conquering it. Every new job is a challenge. Without God it can be frightening. With God it can be a great adventure. Just as God was with Joshua, he is with us as we face our new challenges. We may not conquer nations, but every day we face tough situations, difficult people, and temptations. God promises, however, that he will never abandon us nor fail to help us. By asking God to direct us we can conquer many of life's challenges.

1 Samuel 1:11 And she vowed a vow and said, "O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head."

Be careful what you promise in prayer because God may take you up on it. Hannah so desperately wanted a child that she was willing to strike a bargain with God. God took her up on her promise, and to Hannah's credit, she did her part, even though it was painful. Although we are not in a position to barter with God, he may still choose to answer a prayer that has an attached promise. When you pray, ask yourself: "Will I follow through on any promises I make to God if he grants my request?" It is dishonest and dangerous to ignore a promise, especially to God. God keeps his promises, and he expects you to keep yours.

1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.

Samuel reminded the people to take time to consider what great things God had done for them. Taking time for reflection allows us to focus our attention upon God's goodness and strengthens our faith. Sometimes we are so progress- and future-oriented that we fail to take time to recall all that God has already done. Remember what God has done for you so that you may continue your life accompanied with gratitude.

2 Samuel 8:15 So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people.

King David's reign was characterized by doing what was "just and right." David was fair in interpreting the law, administering punishment with mercy, respecting people's rights, and recognizing people's duties toward God. Is it any wonder that almost everyone trusted and followed David? Justice should characterize the way you relate to people. Make sure you are fair in the way you treat them.

2 Samuel 22:47 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation...

David praises God wholeheartedly. Praise is not just a song about God; it is a song to God. Praising God has several aspects to it: (1) Say thank you to him for each attribute of his divine nature; (2) focus our hearts on him; (3) thank him for his many gracious gifts to us; and (4) thank him for our relationship with him.




Monday, April 04, 2011

EQ四段曲

Got from an email today... seen them all before, but first time reading together... wonderful link...!


specially like: "且慢下手"

EQ四段曲
請照主旨之順序讀 :
1. 誤會; 2. 釘子; 3. 且慢下手; 4. 寬大

1. 誤會 :

早年在美國阿拉斯加地方,有一對年輕人結婚,婚後生育, 他的太太因難產而死,遺下一孩子。
他忙生活,又忙於看家,因沒有人幫忙看孩子,就訓練一隻狗, 那狗聰明聽話,能照顧小孩,咬著奶瓶餵奶給孩子喝,撫養孩子。 有一天,主人出門去了,叫牠照顧孩子。 他到了別的鄉村,因遇大雪,當日不能回來。 第二天才趕回家,狗立即聞聲出來迎接主人。他把房門開一看,到處是血, 抬頭一望,床上也是血,孩子不見了,狗在身邊,滿口也是血, 主人發現這種情形,以為狗性發作,把孩子吃掉了, 大怒之下,拿起刀來向著狗頭一劈,把狗殺死了。 之後,忽然聽到孩子的聲音,又見他從床下爬了出來, 於是抱起孩子;雖然身上有血,但並未受傷。 他很奇怪,不知究竟是怎麼一回事,再看看狗身, 腿上的肉沒有了,旁邊有一隻狼,口裡還咬著狗的肉; 狗救了小主人,卻被主人誤殺了,這真是天下最令人驚奇的誤會。
註:誤會的事,是人往往在不瞭解、 無理智、 無耐心、缺少思考、 未能多方體諒對方,反省自己,感情極為衝動的情況之下所發生。 誤會一開始,即一直只想到對方的千錯萬錯;因此,會使誤會越陷越深, 弄到不可收拾的地步,人對無知的動物小狗發生誤會, 尚且會有如此可怕嚴重的後果,這樣人與人之間的誤會,則其後果更是難以想像。

2. 釘子 :

有一個男孩有著很壞的脾氣,於是他的父親就給了他一袋釘子; 並且告訴他,每當他發脾氣的時候就釘一根釘子在後院的圍籬上。 第一天,這個男孩釘下了37根釘子。慢慢地每天釘下的數量減少了。 他發現控制自己的脾氣要比釘下那些釘子來得容易些。 終於有一天這個男孩再也不會失去耐性亂發脾氣,他告訴他的父親這件事, 父親告訴他,現在開始每當他能控制自己的脾氣的時候,就拔出一根釘子。 一天天地過去了,最後男孩告訴他的父親,他終於把所有釘子都拔出來了。 父親握著他的手來到後院說:你做得很好,我的好孩子。 但是看看那些圍籬上的洞,這些圍籬將永遠不能回覆成從前。 你生氣的時候說的話將像這些釘子一樣留下疤痕。 如果你拿刀子捅別人一刀,不管你說了多少次對不起,那個傷口將永遠存在。 話語的傷痛就像真實的傷痛一樣令人無法承受。
註:人與人之間常常因為一些彼此無 法釋懷的堅持? 而造成永遠的傷害。 如果我們都能從自己做起,開始寬容地看待他人,相信你(妳)一定能收到許多意想不到的結果....幫別人開啟一扇窗,也就是讓自己看到更完整的天空.....

3. 且慢下手 :

大多數的同仁都很興奮,因為單位裡調來一位新主管,據說是個能人,專門被派來整頓業務;可是日一天天過去,新主管卻毫無作為,每天彬彬有禮進辦公室, 便躲在裡面難得出門,那些本來緊張得要死的壞份子,現在反而更猖獗了。 「他那裡是個能人嘛!根本是個老好人,比以前的主管更容易唬!」 四個月過去,就在真正努力為新主管感到失望時, 新主管卻發威了--壞份子一律開革,能人則獲得晉昇。 下手之快,斷事之準,與四月表現保守的他,簡直像是全然換個人。 年終聚餐時,新主管在酒過三巡之後致詞: 「相信大家對我新到任期間的表現,和後來的大刀闊斧,一定感到不解, 現在聽我說個故事,各位就明白了:「我有位朋友,買了棟帶著大院的房子, 他一搬進去,就將那院子全面整頓,雜草樹一律清除,改種自己新買的花卉, 某日原先的屋主往訪,進門大吃一驚的問:『那最名貴的牡丹哪裡去了?』 我這位朋友才發現,他竟然把牡丹當草給剷了。
後來他又買了一棟房子,雖然院子更是雜亂,他卻是按兵不動, 果然冬天以為是雜樹的植物,春天裡開了繁花; 春天以為是野草的,夏天裡成了錦蔟;半年都沒有動靜的小樹,秋天居然紅了葉。 直到暮秋,它才真正認清哪些是無用的植物, 而大力剷除,並使所有珍貴的草木得以保存。」說到這兒,主管舉起杯來: 「讓我敬在座的每一位,因為如果這辦公室是個花園,你們就都是其間的珍木, 珍木不可能一年到頭開花結果,只有經過長期的觀察才認得出啊!

4. 寬大 :

這是一個甫自越戰歸來的士兵的故事。
他從舊金山打電話給他的父母,告訴他們:「爸媽,我回來了,可是我有個不情之請。 我想帶一個朋友同我一起回家。」「當然好啊!」他們回答「我們會很高興見到的。」 不過兒子又繼續下去「可是有件事我想先告訴你們,他在越戰裡受了重傷, 少了一條胳臂和一隻腳,他現在走投無路,我想請他回來和我們一起生活。」 「兒子,我很遺憾,不過或許我們可以幫他找個安身之處。」 父親又接著說「兒子,你不知道自己在說些什麼。 像他這樣殘障的人會對我們的生活造成很大的負擔。 我們還有自己的生活要過,不能就讓他這樣破壞了。 我建議你先回家然後忘了他,他會找到自己的一片天空的。」 就在此時卻掛上了電話,他的父母再也沒有他的消息了。 幾天後,這對父母接到了來自舊金山警局的電話, 告訴他們親愛的兒子已經墜樓身亡了。警方相信這只是單純的自殺案件。 於是他們傷心欲絕地飛往舊金山,並在警方帶領之下辨認兒子的遺體。 那的確是他們的兒子沒錯,但驚訝的是兒子居然,只有一條胳臂和一條腿。




一封給女士的公開信

星期日檔案 - 偷聽男人心

這是一封給全港女士的公開信。

星期日檔案 - 偷聽男人心 2011-04-03 Part 1
星期日檔案 - 偷聽男人心 2011-04-03 Part 2