I am envious of Panda. They live such good lives.

(Pictures by Fred Zlotnick)

ChengDu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is essentially a zoo for only two species: Panda and Red Panda. I am, of course, saw many TV programs on this animal. But I did not realize how playful and, huh, contently lazy, they are. There were two cubs in a cage, they played with each other in a gentle way, rolling over each other, squeezing for toys or attention, and moving around casually. You just couldn’t hold back the smile watching them play.

One adult Panda came slowing toward us in a steady pace. Then, just like that, decided to lay down and take a quick nap. The crowd just burst into laughter. Then, obviously well rested, he proceeded to the destination: an area with a bunch of bamboo on the ground. Unexpectedly, as I thought all four-legged mammals would bow down to eat, he turned around and sat down. Human-like, he reached out and grab a bunch of bamboo, and started to garble those leaves like a kid would a chicken drumstick: holding it with a hand and never mind whatever dripping on the chest.

He was oblivious to those shutterbugs clicking and ate with such enjoyment that someone in the crowd said, “I am hungry.”

Done eating, he climbed up a platform nearby. He reached the top where there was a railing, put an arm over the railing, lied down, rest his head on that arm, and closed the eyes. “Awww…,” I want to snug up to him and take a nap.

Panda appeared to enjoy simple lives that all of us wish we could too: wake up, eat, nap, play around lazily, more naps, and repeat. Wouldn’t it be cool if we don’t need to worry all those complexity?

Oh, yes, I would have bamboo leaves for dinner please.

The Economist’s January 20th edition had a special report on the gap between the world’s rich and poor.

In the article, Credit Suisse estimated that 0.5% of the world population are millionaires (there are 24.2 millions of them): 16% of them inherited their wealth, 47% are entrepreneurs, and 23% simply saved themselves into the club. In this last category we hold our hopes. Enter the book The Millionaire Next Door. Most millionaires do not live the lifestyles of celebrity, mansion with servants, carefree spending, fine dining and wining, art collections, etc. They simply enjoy the assurance of financial security and go on with their frugality as always. They lived next door to you and drive an used Ford.

From the beginning of the man kind, societies came up with as many formula of distributing wealth (and power) as there were people who could read and write. Every one of those formula strive to be fair. They varied by the degree of sophistication, the costs of the re-distribution, and, most importantly, the amount of people who agreed (or disagreed) with the formula.

We knew there are now two main camps of those formula: one based on Karl Marx’s theories and the other on Adam Smith’s. There are really no pure forms left in this 21st century; they are all just new mixtures of different portions of socialism and capitalism. Asian countries had more chances to experiment: China tried total socialism, total free market (at Hong Kong), and now centrally administrated open market. The United States, for decades, played with taxation and social welfare systems.

For all these social experiments, the inequality worsens as societies progresses. Only few small countries managed to distribute their wealth more evenly. The chasm between the haves and have-nots are ever widening, despite all attempts to reverse that trend. Soon, there will be only the worst option left: wars.

Water views are best contrasted with something: setting sun, big rocks, beaches, skyscrapers, mountains, etc. It is almost always better to look landward, instead of outward, except for sunset. This is why lakes are more beautiful the ocean: there is usually something contrasting.

Lake Union Park gives you a nice vantage point. On this sunny but chilly day, we explore this park the first time. First there is this Center for Wooden Boats, a docking area for many boats. Since we are complete ignorant on this subject, they are quite interesting. There are different styles, sail configuration, and posh levels. Here you can also rent a boat or take a class on sailing.

The sight of all those rich people’s boats is humbling; there are all tourist events soliciting customers. Dog was crazy busy checking out every goose drops in the path. Then we stopped to watch the ducks. They would dive into the water and re-emerge no less than 20 feet away. There are rigs for all kinds of boating activities. Guess that’s what Lake Union is for.

There is a circular pond at roughly the center where people will play toy boats. Most of them are motorized boats of various kinds: tug boats, container boats, yachts, etc. A model sail boat caught my eyes. It is a boat-shaped wood block with two sails. A hand-held remote control works the sails and the rudder. This small boat crisscrossed the water gracefully and easily. The operator was clearly struggling. As we watched and chit-chatted, he even offered me the remote.

I declined. But thought of getting one myself.

山东建筑大学说，学生自杀校方不负责任。这，真是啼笑皆非。

人死是大事，怎么死和为什么死，都要调查清楚。是谁的责任，谁就得负责。如果学生自杀是校方造成的，它就非负责不可。国家刑法的责任，是签不掉的。生死状有什么用。如果人与人间，真能签生死状。麦儿卖女就合法了，因为父母能代孩子行使法律权力。杀人犯有钱也可以买条命代死。这世界还有什么王法？

奇怪的是堂堂山东建筑大学。居然能拿出这怪招，不像是一方高等学府。现在闹上了China Daily，成了个世界级的笑话。有人要掉乌纱帽了。

“You are sick,” said my doctor after the annual physical, about 5 years ago. “You need to start taking this pill for the rest of your life.”

“But I don’t feel sick,” I said. The test report high-lighted my cholestrol level. Upon inspection, however, it was the same as last year, and the year before. In fact, my cholestrol level has not changed much for the past 10 years. How come I wasn’t sick last year?

It turned out CDC changed the guideline. With a stroke of pen, I was defined to be sick on high cholestrol. I could not help thinking there was a conspiracy. There are many cholestrol drugs commercials on TV. How can it be possible that half of a big country are sick of the same disease? Could it be possible that the drug industry colluded with the government to alter the guideline so that they can profit from selling drugs that we really don’t need?

Did the oil industry stopped the electric car projects so that they can enjoy higher gas prices? Did the weight-loss industry influenced surgeon general to declare BMI 25 to be “ideal weight” to make 80% of Americans over-weight so that they can sell various weight loss programs?

Hmm…. I am usually not a believer to those conspiracy theories. But this one got me.

You see, over-weight really is not a health problem. It may not look stylish or fashionable, but carrying several pounds around your waist does not make you less healthy. The main killers of modern society are smoking and sedetary lifestyle. Weight plays little role here.

Being fat really does not affect your health much, said this book. You see, obesity is only weakly correlated to many health problems. In fact, being slightly over-weight, as defined by the government, seems to make you live longer, happier, and richer. Extreme obesity does kill, but that’s really statistically too rare to worry about.

It is also futile. The majority of weight-losers gained all of them back and more. Somehow, we created a problem that is not solvable yet millions spend billions to try day after day, year after year. We, the American society, are perpetually trying to lose weight yet, on average, are getting heavier and living longer every year.

I, personally, knew several people who have slimmed down. They all have tremendous will power and discipline. This is probably why thinner people are generally richer. Thinness does not make people rich, the necessary determination and will power do.