Comments for Don Tow's Website

Comment on Mindfulness, Children’s Social and Emotional Health, and School Initiative by Sharon Dolled

Sharon Dolled — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 23:25:34 +0000

I am now retired after working as a special education teacher for many years. I wish I knew enough of Taiji and its effects on mindfulness while I was teaching. A small break sometimes helps the students.

Comment on Diao Yu Tai Student Movement: Recollection 50 Years Later by Sharon Dolled

Sharon Dolled — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 23:22:37 +0000

Well written. I believe that with our current president always being anti-China, it will hurt any current hopes to get back those islands. I resent when I still hear him call the Covid virus the Chinese virus.

Comment on Diao Yu Tai Student Movement: Recollection 50 Years Later by christina leung

christina leung — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 19:10:10 +0000

Your thorough account of DYT Student Movement lead audience understand better its significance and impact on modern world politics. Hopefully, Americans will be aroused before plunging into further follies.

Comment on A Letter to Mr. Biden and His Presidential Campaign Strategy Team by Pastor Paul L. Chang

Pastor Paul L. Chang — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 16:19:58 +0000

I have been in the states for more than 40 years. Since 1984 I always voted our presidents. It seems that it’s a choice of 2 evils.
Int’l situations are changing so quick. I’d make my vote this time who can save democracy in the world. I am not from HK. But HK is a test water showing how Am will handle Sino-Am competition in the Far East. Being an immigrant from ROC (Taiwan), I always watch closely who can protect Taiwan and Far East from the newly rising communist China under Xi Jinping.

So my understand will be different from the 2020 June letter by my good friend. How Trump handle HK crisis will have heavy weight of my Nov vote.

Paul

Comment on Diao Yu Tai Student Movement: Recollection 50 Years Later by Kuang-lu Lee

Kuang-lu Lee — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 07:29:55 +0000

Thanks for writing a concise history of the movement. It will be a good reference for the future generations.

Comment on Mindfulness, Children’s Social and Emotional Health, and School Initiative by Tim Zebo

Tim Zebo — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 03:35:38 +0000

Hi Don,
Thanks for your your post! It inspired me to document a relaxation exercise I’ve long used whenever I’m having trouble falling asleep. I don’t remember if I created it, or if I learned it as part of becoming a yoga teacher at Kripalu Center in Lenox, Mass.

I now think of it as a kind of mindfulness meditation in which the practitioner imagines breathing INTO a body part, followed by breathing OUT and simultaneously RELAXING that same body part.

An example with 32 parts is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lZplYuzrNKUfC5dHYAQ5NMwE27sirIO41isRjRCmi_k/edit?usp=sharing.

Depending on how fast a person breathes, this set can take as short as 5 minutes. However, it’s usually much much longer, and that’s where the mindfulness happens for two reasons:
1. Just as in a simple seated meditation on the breath, it’s virtually impossible to maintain a single focus of awareness on the sequence of body parts without being periodically distracted by the mind “thinking thoughts.” When that happens, e.g., say at Part 6 (quads) in the example, once the meditator realizes it, they’d return from thinking and begin again with Part 7 (hamstrings). This can happen many many times with different parts as the sequence proceeds from feet to head.
2. The 32 part sequence can be easily expanded into even more body parts, e.g.,on the left and right side. Then “quads” becomes “inhale into left quad, exhale and relax left quad”, “inhale into right quad, exhale and relax right quad”. This is especially useful if one side has an injury, e.g., left ankle sprain, because that part can then receive much more attention and awareness.

Of course let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks again,

Tim

Comment on Wonders and Mysteries of Quantum Physics by Qingyan Zhao

Qingyan Zhao — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 01:56:04 +0000

so interesting! I enjoyed reading it but didnt fully understand. I will keep reading your next couple articles on the subject. Please keep writing!!

Comment on Diao Yu Tai Student Movement: Recollection 50 Years Later by Qingyan Zhao

Qingyan Zhao — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 01:22:18 +0000

Thanks for the writing, the history was very well and clearly written, very informative. I enjoyed reading it.

Comment on Wonders and Mysteries of Quantum Physics by Chinlon Lin

Chinlon Lin — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 13:02:31 +0000

Well done, thanks! A very nice introduction to the wonders and mysteries of quantum physics using Prof. Feynman’s Lectures on Physics. I look forward to future articles on the topic. I wonder what might be the philosophical or theological implications of the mysteries of quantum physics?

I also admire your being a physicist in heart even long after retirement!

Comment on Massacre and Atrocities in Hong Kong during WWII by Christine McDerment

Christine McDerment — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 14:22:24 +0000

So many fascinating and sad stories on here. Thank you all for sharing.
I am looking for any information I can find on my great-uncle William Robertson who was a banker in Hong Kong when it fell. He joined the HKRNVDF and was imprisoned but I can’t find out where. He had the rank of Warrant Officer (with seniority – whatever that means).
He survived and returned home eventually to Scotland. His wife made it out in time and spent the war in Sydney waiting for him.
I remember visiting them both in their lovely home when I was young. They were lovely people, very gentle and charming. I shudder to think what he went through in Hong Kong.
Thanks in advance for any info.
Christine