Kindness is the greatest form of wisdom …… 🦅

By Thomas F O'Neill

This is a photo of my Paternal Grandfather he was extremely well respected in Girardville, PA but sadly he passed away in 1982. That being said, I’m going to tell you a story that is related to him and this event happened in 1995.

A State Trooper pulled me over that year for speeding in Maryland, he looked at my driver's license and asked, "Are you originally from Maryland?" I said, "no I'm from Shenandoah, Pennsylvania” He paused and said, "You don’t look Irish.”

“Well,” I said, “my mother is Italian.”

He, then responded, “You know, I knew a Thomas O'Neill from Girardville, Pennsylvania, we called him Red."

I said in a shocked voice, “that was my grandfather."

The trooper then walked back to his police car and turned off his emergency lights on his cruiser. He came back to my car and said, “your grandfather fixed my bike tires when I was a kid.”

He then went on to tell me about how when he was a teenager, he failed his driving test, and that my grandfather talked to the officer who administered the test. “The officer,” he said, “took me back out on the road and pointed out all the mistakes I made and allowed me to retake the driving test.”

With a smile on his face, he proceeded to say, "I asked your Grandfather,” trying to hold back from laughing, "well, I asked your grandfather,” he repeated, “why that officer went out of his way to see to it that I pass the driving exam,"  he continued on, "Your Grandfather said to me, I used to fix his bike tires when he was a kid." 

The Maryland State Trooper while handing me his card, “if there is anything I can do to help you,” he said, “just let me know. Not that I condone your driving but out of respect for Red O’Neill this is my way of passing his kindness forward” and he let me go with a warning.

That was one encounter with a State Trooper that I will remember to my dying day. I would love to tell my grandfather that story if he were alive today. I know he would have gotten a big laugh out of it, and he most certainly would, in an incredibly special way, have turned my story into a huge life lesson for me to learn from. Not to mention, he would have reminded me that “kindness is the greatest form of wisdom.”

Always with love from Suzhou, China

Thomas F O’Neill

U.S. voice mail: (800) 272-6464

China Cell: 011-86-13405757231

WeChat: Thomas_F_ONeill

Skype: thomas_f_oneill

Email: introspective7@hotmail.com

Blogspot: http://thomasfoneill.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/thomasf.oneill.3/

 

There are deeper dimensions to life than meets the eye …… 🦅

By Thomas F O’Neill 

Many years ago, in ancient China, people believed in the Buddhist concept of reincarnation and in the belief of Karma – in other words ‘what you give is what you receive.’ There are now 1.4 billion people living in China but the ancient eastern beliefs are no longer religiously held by most Chinese people. Confucianism is also studied as part of ancient Chinese history rather than religiously held customs. 

That being said, many of the ancient customs are still influencing how the Chinese people behave toward one another; most are polite and courteous in their daily interactions. The concept of Karma may no longer be a religious concept for the majority, but it’s still deeply rooted in their culture. 

The old Buddhist concepts have now become more of a philosophical pursuit for many of today’s youth and that is certainly a good thing. The ancient eastern traditions that are widely rooted in China are beginning to lose their religious significance, mostly due to education and western influences. 

There are still people, however, living in China that still hold the belief in rebirth, and your life’s fate can be determined by your actions from previous lives. The majority though regard such beliefs as mere superstition. 

I have come in contact with some elderly Chinese people who believe my good fortune is a direct result of my previous life experiences. Those whose lives are more burdensome, it’s a direct result of bad karma according to my elderly neighbors. 

It used to be a commonly held belief here that people are reincarnated to work through their karma and learn from past mistakes. However, if you were to ask an average university student whether Reincarnation and karma are realities or myths many students would respond that it is a possibility and then engage you in a philosophical discussion. Many of China’s ancient beliefs are philosophically discussed in Universities. It’s a way for the ancient traditions to be remembered and to keep the ancient Chinese culture alive in our modern world. 

I had several experiences where two 3-year-old children pointed to me on different occasions then ran up to me to hug me. Those children’s grandparents would laugh and then stare at me in disbelief. I’m not sure what name the children called me but those experiences were quite intriguing. It kind of reinforces the belief that I am in China for a reason and there are certainly deeper dimensions to life than meets the eye.    

I find many of the ancient Chinese customs intriguing and discussing them more fully here is a way of gaining a greater understanding of why many of today’s cultural differences between the west and the east exist. When I delve deeper into the Chinese cultural traditions I gain a better understanding of our own culture. Many of the misconceptions I had about China, in general, before moving here have faded away toward a deeper understanding of myself in relation to others. 

Living and working in China for the past 12 years has made me a better person, and I hope I can bring my personal experiences from living here back to the US through Facebook for the betterment of others.

Always with love from Suzhou, China

Thomas F O’Neill

U.S. voice mail: (800) 272-6464

China Cell: 011-86-13405757231

WeChat: Thomas_F_ONeill

Skype: thomas_f_oneill

Email: introspective7@hotmail.com

Blogspot: http://thomasfoneill.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/thomasf.oneill.3/

 

Every life can be enriched …… 🦅

 

Although I'm not a religious person I can still say, this by far is one of my all-time favorite musicals …… 🦅

 

Being positive is an important choice for success …… 🦅

By Thomas F O’Neill

I can remember the days before personal computers, the internet, smartphones, and social media. The world wasn’t always civil back then either and there were certainly civil divides, especially, during the Vietnam era. The civil divide in today’s world has become even greater due to social media. 

I like to point out that being a “negative” or a “positive” person isn’t something that just happens to us. We are not born “negative” or “positive” although our surroundings and life circumstances can certainly influence our outlook. The most important thing to remember is this: thinking positive is a decision, and it is an important one. When you choose to engage the world through positive thinking, you are deciding to take control of your thoughts and your life, and that is always a good thing.

We have all met the doomsayers; the challenge though is not to get trapped in their mindset. You need resilience to be positive and it is not always easy to stand up against the norm and remain optimistic in a world of people that love feeding off negativity.

Every day, people talk about the things that cannot be done or be achieved. Those naysayers can certainly place us in a negative state of mind but how we respond to their negativity is a conscious choice a decision we make. It takes courage to be different from mainstream thinking and focusing on the possibilities will provide us with a greater purpose. The dreamers, innovators, and world-changers are those who are steadfast in reaching their positive goals. They are the positive thinkers that focus on the possible, so when you think positive thoughts, you attract positive people in your life, and you will always be in good company.

Keep in mind also that it is impossible to stay positive when you blame others for everything and every little thing that happens to you. Positive thinkers do not do this, and it is a key reason why they are so powerful in their thoughts and actions. Those who are positive are not afraid to take responsibility for their lives and the choices they make. When you do this, you are operating at full capacity, it gives you immense control over your ultimate destiny.

 A sister trait of “positive thinking” is “positive action,” positive people are the doers, and movers toward building a better world for themselves and others. They do not give up at the first sign of a challenge, they believe there is always a way around any obstacle. They welcome helpful people and the opportunities that come their way. This translates into true grit because when you are willing to stand up, no matter how many times life gets you down, you will be a winner and that is sooner than later.

Positive people are not always dwelling on what went wrong in their lives. They do not spend endless hours analyzing a problem and feeling bad about why something did not go the way they wanted it to and mostly they discard the complaining. When you are positive, you are naturally drawn to outcome-based thinking. You are interested in results; therefore, positive thinkers are very solution-focused. The second they understand something needs to be fixed, they go out and find ways to fix it.

Keep in mind also, when you decide to take the positive road in life or the road less traveled, you will always be ready to pick yourself up and try again even after you have failed. When you do this, you are developing a powerful sense of adaptability, which is a critical trait for successful and happy people. Unhappy, negative people, dwell on their failures, mull over them and give up. But happy, successful people, face failures head-on, learn from what went wrong, and adapt so that they can avoid making the same mistake in the future.

It is not a coincidence that some of the world's most successful people share these character and mindset traits. Positive thinking is not for the weak-willed, and thinking positive is not just about “seeing the glass half-full.” It is about achieving your goals, living your dreams, and maybe even changing the world.

Always with love from Suzhou, China

Thomas F O'Neill

U.S. Voice mail: (800) 272-6464

China Cell: 011-86-13405757231

WeChat: Thomas_F_ONeill

Skype: thomas_f_oneill

Email: introspective7@hotmail.com

Blog: http://thomasfoneill.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/thomasf.oneill.3/

 

A PBS Frontline investigation - An American Insurrection …… 🦅

A PBS Investigation - An American Insurrection

Follow the Link: 

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/american-insurrection/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=streaming&utm_content=041421

Always with love from Suzhou, China

Thomas F O’Neill

U.S. voice mail: (800) 272-6464

WeChat: Thomas_F_ONeill

China Cell: 011-86-13405757231

Skype: thomas_f_oneill

Email: introspective7@hotmail.com

Blogspot: http://thomasfoneill.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/thomasf.oneill.3/

The age of robotic crime fighters …… 🦅

 By Thomas F O'Neill

The things my students take for granted are things I enjoy bringing up in my classes here in China - such as computers, the internet, and smartphones.  I asked my students last month (March 2021) to do a project about where they think technology will be when they are my age – by the way, I’m 58 years young and still ticking. Their reports ranged from cellular-powered planes, driverless passenger drones, underwater cities out at sea, and an international space station on the Moon. 

Space travel was a huge topic of interest for my students, who feel that in the not-too-distant future, they will be able to freely travel anywhere in the world within a few hours due to being able to own their very own spacecraft. One student wrote about artificially intelligent robots. In her vision of the future, you will be able to own an artificially intelligent robot with internet capabilities sort of like having a personal assistant that goes everywhere you go. 

On April 21 2020 there was a Hi-Tech fair in Chongqing China. It was held at the Chongqing National Defense University, a hotbed of Chinese military innovations. These Hi-Tech fairs are ways for companies throughout China to show off their technological innovations to the world. 

The Ministry of Public Security was also very excited about revealing their police robot referred to as Anbot. They boasted about how Anbot can patrol autonomously and protect against violence or unrest. The robot is approximately 5 feet tall (1.5 meters) and weighs roughly 165 pounds (78 kg). The robot can understand Chinese and English, but it gives you the feel as if you stepped into a sci-fi film with a more subdued R2D2 from the Star Wars movies. 

The robot has enough battery power for 8 hours of operations, autonomous navigation, and intelligent audiovisual analysis. It can reach speeds of 18 KMH (approximately 12 MPH) to chase down fleeing criminals or respond to emergencies. It can also rush over to the scene if a bystander cries for help, and it can even recharge itself without human intervention. In addition to standard police patrolling, the Anbot can undertake riot control, by remotely firing its electroshock weapons. 

One fascinating feature is bystanders and civilians can use the Anbot to call for help through an SOS button on the robot’s touchscreen. The National Defense University has programmed the robot to use its audiovisual sensors to recognize and record illegal activities, identify fugitives, and autonomously decide where to patrol. The Anbot has the most advanced facial and audio recognition software so fugitives beware because very soon there will be no hiding in plain sight. 

The robot’s electrically charged riot control tools have become somewhat controversial especially among University students who feel it’s being overly emphasized by Anbot’s creators. 

The robot has the capability to Taser unruly individuals or uses another device similar to an extendable cattle prod. It has enough room to mount other law enforcement gear, like tear gas canisters and other less-lethal weaponry. One selling tool about the Anbot - it has enough artificial intelligence to respond to situations without fear or hesitation. It is being billed as the first intelligent security robot, but it does have its critics. 

One obvious drawback is the Anbot is unable to walk up and downstairs. It is unable to apprehend suspects without knocking them off their feet or without using its Tasers. The critics point out that police robots lack social and emotional intelligence, and like all robotic platforms, they are vulnerable to cyber intrusions. 

The critics are correct in pointing out that machines are not people. The police robots don’t have the human attributes needed to be effective in apprehending suspects, in analyzing crime scenes, or in responding to the emotional needs of crime victims. 

On the other hand, the Anbot needs minimal human supervision, it has autonomous response capabilities, and the ability to find persons of interest by collecting audiovisual information. The Anbot is not designed to fulfill all the needs of law enforcement but rather it’s a hi-tech aid in enforcing the law. The Anbot also has its electrical weaponry for assisting law enforcement officers in riot situations. 

I can see police robots, in the not-too-distant future, taking a more active part for interested police departments not just in China but throughout the world. 

What was once science fiction in the world of robotics has now become science reality. I once told my students that very shortly robots may also take up many of our daily household tasks from cleaning our homes to picking up groceries. 

My students also see a brighter future not just for the world of robotics but for human relations both globally and domestically and that is certainly a good thing.

Always with love from Suzhou, China

Thomas F O’Neill

U.S. voice mail: (800) 272-6464

China Cell: 011-86-13405757231

WeChat: Thomas_F_ONeill

Skype: thomas_f_oneill

Email: introspective7@hotmail.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/thomasf.oneill.3/

 

Have a Happy Easter …… 🦅