The Dung Philosophy

Some of my friends know that I am fascinated by two things. Cows and cow dungs.

For a while I didn't really know why, but I eventually figured it out.

Cows because they are one of the most under appreciated beings in the human world. They work, they provide, they produce. They are humble, they don't complain and they contribute. Yet in this modern world of industrialization, they are the ones being abused, silently.

Then the dung. Well, here's an entry dedicated to the admirable and meaningful organic matter.





So why is cow dung significant? It IS extremely significant, especially in today's context.
Let's look at the cow dung as various indicators.

Cow Dung as the Indicator for the Quality of Life:

Let's put it this way, as mentioned above, industrialization of the food industry driven by the abuse of consumerism led to one thing - quantity. Since WWII, the US wants to remain a strong nation and one thing that the war taught them is, if you got lots of food reserve and production, you are the king. So the US government wanted to increase the food production of the country. One way to drive the supply is to stimulate the demand. US government therefore subsidized food like beef to drive its demand since it cost less to buy beef for consumers than how much it actually costs to produce. The food industry had no other choice but to ride the wave. There was no quality in mind, only quantity. Today, more cattle are farmed in tight enclosures for easy feeding and management. What do they get to eat? Corn feeds because corn are also subsidized by the government too. They eat, sleep and shit on the same spot, which make them sick, so the farmers pump them up with steroids and antibiotics. Since the cows aren't eating their natural diet which is grass, their four stomachs don't work like they do before. Along with the shit they sleep on, bacteria like E coli found the right place to thrive. Also, since the US food industry uses animal by products as fertilizers, E Coli finds its way to vegetables, therefore the outbreak on Spinach a few years ago in California and the recent incident in Europe.

So what does a picture of a perfect dung laying on the pasture in warm sunlight mean? It means you are at the right place doing the right thing. It means free ranching cows enjoying juicy grass, they way things are life is supposed to be, quality life, not quantity.



Cow Dung as a Health Indicator:

As mentioned above, beef aren't what they used to be. I could be wrong, but I remember hearing that the chemical properties of corn fed beef is different from grass fed, free ranching beef. In any case, it taste different and definitely does different things to your body.

Applying the same scenario to human beings, a third of the American adult population is over weight. One fifth of children are obese. Americans survive on soda, regular or diet. They also have forgotten what real food is like and mean, and depend on manufactured, pre-packed or ready-to-cook meals. Most Americans don't include fruits as part of their daily diet. For some, fruits mean preserved pre-cut fruits in syrup soaked cans. Seriously, I have people telling me they are eating healthy because they eat a constant portion of those highly sweetened fruit cans everyday. I say God Bless You.

American's no.1 murderer is heart related diseases, with diabetes, high blood pressures, liver and kidney failures to follow closely behind. People who are "health conscious" can't seem to find enough nutrient in naturally gathered food. They have to take "supplements" like extra vitamins, protein shakes along with "you don't know shit so I am telling you how to manage your body" workout regiments that come in the form of DVDs. I see people running on the treadmill when the weather is perfectly fine outside. WTF. Srsly WTF.

In turn, all the money you thought you saved end up being spend on taxes and retarded health care expenses.

So what does a cow dung laying on the grass mean? It means healthy lifestyle by eating what you are supposed to eat.

So my friend asked me why did I "suddenly" start eating all healthy and what not. I gave a 5 second thought and here's my reply,

"Cus I want to be proud of my shit, and it's never been better!!!"

So true... so true!



Cow Dung as Economic Indicator:

So you may ask doesn't industrialization and increased demand and supply indicate growth of economy?

Sure, but it's not "growth". It's "swell", with pus ready to burst out any time!

The Republicans and voters blame Obama for not creating enough jobs to save them. Well, I have to ask them," Are you qualified for these jobs even if they are available?"

Why may I ask this question? Well, in secondary school, I learnt that in order for a healthy economy to grow and sustain, you need a healthy work force. Just look at Americans. I can fit fewer of them in my photo than the rest of the world!

And I was talking to the same friend a while later, telling how the cows are truly happy cows, I realized that instead of farmers competing for raising the best cows by comparing the animals, why not compare the cow dungs? Seriously, you can't make this shit up, literally!

Back to a little more serious note, a perfect cow dung laying on a pasture embraced by the warm sunlight, surrounded by wild flowers and eager flies means "healthy and adequate consumption leads to sustainable growth". The other way results in soupy diarrhea and E Coli.


Cow Dung as a Social Indicator:

You know, looking at this inspiring photo of a perfect cow dung laying on a perfect lush pasture surrounded by its insect buddies and embraced by the warm sun, one thing I'd say to the dung is," Man, it's been a looooong journey for ya, you deserve to sit and chill, and a cold beer."

The process of life. Take a deeper look, (I don't mean plunging your head into a cow's ass, but metaphorically speaking) a cow dung represents a turning point in the life cycle. I learnt from my primary school education that life takes and returns, whether in the forms of piss, shit or dead bodies. Cow dung represents the transition between life and resource for the nature. It is one of the most significant process in the life cycle, one that sustains the world.

Then look at today's fast-paced society. People are rude, competitive, selfish, shallow, dirty, evil, dishonest, lame, short sighted, unmotivated, misguided and pretty unethical.

So what does a perfect cow dung laying comfortably on the green juicy grass with flies and bugs dancing around it while taking a sun bath mean? It means a healthy consequence of thorough and methodological process grounded by conscious values which serve as the foundation for a healthy and sustainable society, one where people are generous, genuine, honest, pure, devoted, confident and wise. That's the shit I'm talkin' about!


Therefore mystery explained. I am not just some cow dung fanatic with a perverted fetish. I am actually pretty philosophical about my fascinations with healthy logic that can be communicated in a rational, objective and polite manner. So here's a shit on a gold edged plate. Trust me, it's good for you.

So what should you say when you see a perfect cow dung laying relaxingly and comfortably on the succulent chewy green juicy grass with happy flies dancing around it in the warm and calm sun rays?

"HOLY COW, THAT'S DUNG-PERFECT!!!!"

Photo Entry: Revisit to the Paradise - Southern PA

Back in 2004 summer, I did an internship in Towson MD. A college buddy of mine lived in a rural part of southern Pennsylvania, which up till this day, I still don't know which region it belongs to.

So it was the summer break and I embarked on a journey from Detroit to Baltimore. Well, since my friend lived close to Baltimore, we headed onto the road together, me following his lead. The plan was to stop over at his place for the night before I continue to Baltimore. It was a long drive for me since it was the first time I've driven so long, so far. It was 500miles, about 8 hours of driving. We left at around noon, but by the time we got close to the destination, it was dark even by summer's standard. It was pretty scary on the PA turnpike. It was mountainous. The highway was narrow with little room to escape should you need to evade any accident. It was pouring like crazy and I felt like my car was aqua planing. Still, everyone, especially the truck drivers, were passing me at 80+mph. Yes I was a puss... and I do admit that.

After we got off the highway, it was another good half an hour of driving in pitch black. We were in the middle of no where, just winding roads that seemed endless. Again, I was just following my friend's lead, had no idea where I was going. It was fun enjoying non-straight roads for the first time since I went to Detroit, but it was exhausting and I couldn't wait to get a room and a bed. Finally, we arrived. I got down the car. It was pitch black. I had no idea where I was. I had no idea what my surrounding was like. It was quiet and everyone was asleep, so my friend show me where I was sleeping and I went right ahead and took the opportunity.

Then came the morning. Still feeling tired from the previous day of traveling and tense driving, I opened the door to the outside only to be shocked to realize where I was.

I was in paradise.

Green.... that's all I saw. Tall trees with lush leaves. Endless pasture and rolling hills, sprinkled with beautiful and vivid flowers surrounded by bees and other summer bugs. Birds were singing in my ear. I was greeted by a big dog, 3 cats and a bunch of chicken.

I wasn't dreaming.

It was a huge contrast between my experience the night before. I was lost, tired and unmotivated. Then I was revived and full of prospects for the days ahead. I never forget the experience this place had brought me.

So during the summer internship, I visited my friend almost every other weekend. It was an hour and a half of driving on rural roads to get to his place. There was no google map or portable GPS at that time. It was the good old days of "show me once and I will memorize it". During the various trips to visit my friend, I got to know his family somewhat well. Well enough to be qualified for a adopted grandson to his grandmother. It was an extraordinary experience because it was the first time I was exposed to "real America". Real Americans in the Real America, not some liberal hippies on a school campus. I guess not everywhere is the same, but meeting and getting to know my friend's family showed me one thing- They are humble people who respect and embrace the outside world. There was a genuine sense of respectful curiosity about me and where I was from. They were definitely no rednecks.

I was also fascinated by the place because it reminded me of my grandparent's village - a village of old folks with lots of farmlands earning a honest and humble living. I love watching the free ranching cows and horses, and the fresh eggs laid by my friend's dad's chickens. The farm is largely powered by both wind and solar power, and there's this radio in the shack that never goes silent. Everything was working out. It was an idealism turned into reality.

So this time, I had the chance to pay my friend a quick visit. A quick but meaningful visit. I revisited the sites I frequented and met the folks who I missed. Now typing this and sitting in my room in south Florida, I feel I need to get back there.

So here's the painkiller. A whole bunch of photos to convince myself that I am not where I am, but at where I want to be. Enjoy and please do check out the photo gallery because there are lots more to be admired!

2011 Visit

2004 Visit

So that I don't forget

After been around in many places, whether as a visitor, a temporary resident or as an employee of different companies, firms or member of a team, I've learnt a lot along the way. There's no ending to typing all of them out, so I just have to do my best.

One thing that I observed, and I would say most people will agree with me on this, is that there's always more lessons learnt on what NOT to do as opposed to what to do. Failure is the best teacher. I concur! Failure on other's part is the next best teacher, and I have benefited greatly from this.

Career wise, I've learnt a great deal from not only the different places I've worked at, but also from my teachers, family, parents, grandparents and friends. In the past year or so, my life has been quite focused on the windowless office I sit in. I am soaked in the intense humidity of office politics, feeling sticky and hard of breath from time to time due to bad decision making and pathetic show of leadership in the company. Talent management is always a problem at every place I've been to. Every place has different degree and spectrum of inability to use the right talent the right way, and this place has its big share of that.

What's talent management? Well, here's my humble take on this subject. On the superficial level, it is being able to capitalize every ability that an employee lists on their resume. Once I was working at a relatively small firm. The marketing department wanted to have a Chinese article translated because the title mentioned the company's name but no one had a clue what it says. So just when they were about to send it out to a translation firm for who knows how much, I took over the article and translated the whole thing and emailed it out to every one in the office within 30min. All for the petty intern hourly rate they were offering me. Later that day, I was in the rest room and I ran into this guy who was in charge of the company's Chinese operation. Basically, the company was trying to explore their chances in China and he was the head of this operation. So he looked at me and said," So you know Chinese?" I looked at him and said," Of course!" Then he looked at me weird.... not that he thought I was weird, but weird that he never knew I speak Chinese. That's an in-house talent untapped and wasted. Oh btw, I had it big and clear on my resume when I applied for the job. Apparently no one cared.

Then there's the deeper level of talent management. Every employee has his official title or job content. May be he's a tech support answering calls from a remote place. May be he's responsibility is to make decisions based on a fixed set of information fed to him every day. May be he's just told to uphold regulations based on a black and white rule book. However, what is he passionate about? What is his aspiration?

Passion cannot be contained by job description. Aspiration cannot be limited by job responsibility. Without going into the details, all I can say is, no matter how passionate or aspired the team members are, a team can never get ahead of its leader. It's up to the leader to venture into areas of uncomfortness to allow aspirations and passion find its belonging. In another words, if you have to limit your staffs what they can do to make their jobs better, you really need to step aside instead.

Watching the on going war between different managers, directors, VPs etc and observing all the sourness, bitterness, anger, despair, regret... It is easy to say that I don't want to be like them if I am ever a leader. So here's where I mark my lesson as a reminder for the future me:

If I manage to have my own team of folks, being a leader, within five years of building my team, I should be able to step down from my leadership role for one year, appoint my most trusted man and exchange role with him.

You may ask what's the meaning of this? Firstly, building a team of people is not just about collecting a bunch of hands to do the job, but cultivating competence and confidence. If I cannot trust my guys, when what good am I for as a leader?

Secondly, building a team is also about building self-leadership among the members. My role is not to tell them what to do, but to help them lead their own efforts. The collective result will be far more effective because the ingredient of passion is involved, and the influence will be phenomenal because it is led by aspiration.

Thirdly, and most importantly, as a leader, I must be able to, and never forget, how to be a follower. Only when I can constantly be conscious about how it is like to follow, I will be able to lead. No one is born a leader, all of us come from somewhere. If I am a leader, I owe it to everyone else who supports my role. So here it is, perhaps I will look back at this entry one day down the road and say,"Oh yeah, I almost forget about it, got to make it happen tomorrow!"

Photo Entry: Around the apartment

Photo Entry: Miami

Good Ending, Sad Ending

No matter what happens in life, there’s always a choice. A choice of how it ends… whether you choose to live your life till the end driven by your beliefs, or blow out the candle on yourself. No matter what happens in life, there is only one ending if one takes his or her own life. A sad ending.

Someone I know took her life this morning. The person who called me to let me know the news was her father. A father is supposed to walk a daughter down the aisle to her groom. A father is not supposed to be the one calling every friend and family about the tragic that he himself is still finding ways to reason with.

Of course, no matter how difficult and unfair it may seem, a father will have assume the responsibility because he loves his daughter.

Few years ago, a close friend of mine who lives on the opposite side of the globe got me on video chat so I can watch him slice his wrist. He was in depression, didn’t really mean to kill himself, but was one of those who did it so people can take pity on him. I was not sad, but angry. Angry of his selfishness. Why, if he’s a friend, would he put me in such a helpless situation when all I could do it to watch and hope for the best?

Then I met a psychologist and asked him about people with depression. He explained depression to be a “solution”, a solution that individuals resort to when they meet emotional stress, a mechanism that they chose to use to help themselves ease the pain, except that it doesn’t work. So it’s a choice after all. His job is to help his patients find other ways to face the reality, ways that work.

What actually happened that drove the girl to this path… I don’t think I will ever really know. I was told some details of what she went through, things that I cannot imagine that human beings can do to each other. I see it a betrayal of people against each other due to the self-preservation nature of systems. When a group of people depend on a system to survive, they turn against those who prove it to be unsuccessful, even through being a victim of the system. They violate, victimize and abandon the person, like a disposable item. Of course, I don’t believe that external factors are enough to drive a person to make such a determined decision. It’s ultimately the person him/herself who gets to choose what the reality means to him/her.

It is still a shock to me to learn the news, because she always seem to positive, energetic, passionate and confident, despite all that have happened to her.

She used to be a lifeguard, but she decided to take her own life instead.

“What’s the goal in life?”

That’s a question everyone asks and has to answer.

To me, the goal in life is, ultimately, one has to come to peace with himself.

What does this mean?

Everyone has their beliefs. Beliefs that drive people to do what they do, live the way they live. Beliefs will always have a gap from the reality. This gap can be big, it can be small too. It’s the matter of consciousness against reality. At the end of the day, we need to find the balance between what we want and how much we can achieve. If we can find a way to find that balance, I believe that’s peace.

What does it take for a person to take his or her own life?

What does it take for a person to find peace with him or herself?

What makes life so fragile?

What makes life strong?

I hope for everyone, no matter what their beliefs are and what the reality is, that everyone can find peace with themselves.

I hope her departure can turn into strength for everyone who loves her, and eventually into good endings.