Hard Work VS. Talent

"Hard work beat the talent if the talent doesn't work hard"

That every line above was what my trainee told me when I told him I'm not that skillful, just the product of hard work. And I was like nodding slowly and told myself "yeah, it does makes sense".

When I was still in college I use to (silently) compete with my classmates. I know I'm not the cream of the crop so I always work hard and though my output may not be as good as theirs still they are threaten by it.

Why I Won't Go For The Best?

I was having a break from studying python when I came across this article from Yahoo! News. This article is entitled How To Build a Brilliant Team.

Upon reading the article, I remember my style in choosing my own team back in college. In college, I tend to choose the "average" people than the "best". Why? Simply because people who knows that they are the "best" are arrogant, so full of him/herself, and think that he/she is the right one. But I'm not referring that all of them are like that, it's just sometimes their high level skills goes into their heads.

Now, let me tell you about the "average" ones. When I say "average", I mean they're programming skills are not that good unlike the "best" ones. You see, the university I attended focus more on programming so those who lack programming skills are categorize as the weaker ones. Lucky me that programming is my strength although I don't consider myself as part of the "best" group still I could sometimes compete with them.

"So if the "average" people are not so good then why choose them as part of your team? Surely they're just hold you back."

Good question! I choose them because they're humble and even though programming is not their strength they are "best" in other fields which they don't happened to notice unless given a chance. I have a friend and she's good talking in front of people which happened to be weakness. I got this butterflies in my stomach when every time I in front of other people. I'm like "what if I said the wrong word? What if I'm too boring? Would they listen to me?". So I am always like that unlike her. She talk with confidence, with grace although she admitted to me that she also got nervous but she's just good in hiding it. Impressive! And yes, it's not really obvious. Another "best" thing about her is she's good in designing and writing. She's an artistic kind of person so whenever the work is about designing stuff then I would surely grab her, and she's also good in writing things. I like writing but I'm more of like direct person so when I could answer the question with one sentence, then I would only write one sentence but with her, she could write a paragraph. Another brilliant thing with her is she have a good attitude. She have this aura that makes you feel relax and welcome like you can tell her anything you want and she'll just simply listen and give here opinion (in a nice way) every now and then. A good friend and a good team mate indeed!

For the second question, the answer is no. No, they won't hold me back and never will. Actually, they help me achieve my goals. As I said, they have their own "best" skills so my programming skills, their talking skills, their designing skills, their management skills, and whatever skills will make my team achieve whatever we want. Imagine if all of us have the same skills, let's say programming. Most likely argument would happen because everyone thinks that their way is the best. Of course, in other cases this situation won't happened but the possibility is there.

So next time maybe you need to take a look at the "other" skills of a person for you not to overlook an awesome and talented person.

First Person VS Third Person

Writers have their own preferences how to write their stories whether it's on first person or in third person.

First Person is where you use "I". A lot of new writers usually use this method for it's easy for them to pretend that they are the the character they are writing. Based on my experience, yes, it's easy to used this kind of writing style.

The advantage of using this method is you can concentrate only in one character at a time. You can go deeply into details of what the characters feels, sees, or thinking. Remember that writing in this manner, you cannot show the other characters thoughts so if you cannot make a strong points or scenes then you're story would be boring which result to its disadvantage. Sometimes you need to show the thoughts of other characters of the story but since you're using the first person method, you cannot do so.

Third Person writing is using "he/she". This method is kind of complicated for you'll shift from one character to another that can become an advantage or disadvantage to you depending on how you shift between the characters. Just be careful using this method for it may also confuse your readers from the shifting like one moment character A is talking then on the next paragraph the scene was change to character B without giving a hint of character change.

Another method is the Second Person where "you" was used. I haven't use this style but I've seen this mostly on short stories throughout the web.

Overall, I'm confident writing whether in first person and third person but I prefer writing in third person for I can just shift between the characters without much hassle though I can do that in first person but it's kind of complicated.

♥ Happy Valentines! ♥

The first thought that came into my mind when I woke up this valentine's day is "no date, no expense"

I find it funny how I thought of that phrase. Yes, I don't have a date today but this coming Saturday, I do have. I'm still sticking on my "straight home on working day" attitude.

My co-worker's and I are joking around where were we going after work. Some replied they would hang out with friends in some buffet, some said they have a dinner with their love ones but me, I said I would go straight home. hahaha...

Anyway, I don't know what to say. I guess I'll just leave you some bible passage.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Eating Fruits

I decided to open my old email account and found this piece of information. It's a kinda long yet I assure you it's informative.

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We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat.

What is the correct way to eating fruits?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD.
Let's say you want to eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so...

A (Stupid) Lesson I've Learned as a Programmer

Always double check if you're editing the right file

Have you ever been in a situation where you know you're doing the right thing yet the result is still wrong? Yes, I've been in that situation a lot of times, actually.

It may sound stupid to be editing the wrong file but believe me once in a while you'll found yourself in the same scenario. Editing in three different sites with the same file, who wouldn't be confused with that?

In the end, you'll just laugh at yourself just like I do every time. =P

God's Measurement

God is saying to His people,

I will rejoice with you on your big day,
but I will measure you on your low day.
I will rejoice with you in victory
but I will measure you when you take defeat.
I will rejoice with you in success
but I will measure you when you fail
I will cheer you when you’re up;
but I will measure you when you’re down
I will cheer you when you win
but I will measure you when you lose.
I will praise you when you’re on top
but I will measure you when you’re on bottom.
I will congratulate you when you’re on the top of the mountain

True, True!

Source: http://9gag.com

Guitar Neck Focus

This is my guitar. I know what you're thinking --- Wow, you know how to play the guitar! Yeah, right (note the sarcasm). Actually, I'm still learning how to play it and it's frustrating! Anyway, this is not about my guitar skills but about the picture. I know it's poorly captured because I only use my cellphone for this one but I like the angle and how it was focus on the guitar neck.

Even Small Things Can Make a Day Worthwhile

I was getting ready for my day and by 5:45 am, I’m already out of the house walking down the familiar path for me to get my ride. As I was walking, I see the things and scenarios that usually occur at that time of the day. Trisikad drivers trying to get my attention asking me if I want to get a ride, taxi drivers having their early breakfast or simply sleeping inside their cabs, and I even cross paths again with the old man wearing his usual attire, an old style hat, white button down shirt and white shorts, having his usual morning jog. In other words "just another normal day".

Just when I was about to turned around the corner, I met an unfamiliar face. He also was an old man, I think he’s already around sixties, also having his morning jog. It’s nothing unusual, at first, but he suddenly waved at me, smiled and said "Gandang umaga! God bless you!" For a split second, I was simply taken aback and before I knew it, I was smiling. I remember back in my college days, there’s this priest who smiled and greets everyone he met.

System Memory Conversions

Processor or Virtual Storage
· 1 Bit = Binary Digit
· 8 Bits = 1 Byte
· 1024 Bytes = 1 Kilobyte
· 1024 Kilobytes = 1 Megabyte
· 1024 Megabytes = 1 Gigabyte
· 1024 Gigabytes = 1 Terabyte
· 1024 Terabytes = 1 Petabyte
· 1024 Petabytes = 1 Exabyte
· 1024 Exabytes = 1 Zettabyte
· 1024 Zettabytes = 1 Yottabyte
· 1024 Yottabytes = 1 Brontobyte
· 1024 Brontobytes = 1 Geopbyte

Disk Storage
· 1 Bit = Binary Digit
· 8 Bits = 1 Byte
· 1000 Bytes = 1 Kilobyte
· 1000 Kilobytes = 1 Megabyte
· 1000 Megabytes = 1 Gigabyte
· 1000 Gigabytes = 1 Terabyte
· 1000 Terabytes = 1 Petabyte
· 1000 Petabytes = 1 Exabyte
· 1000 Exabytes = 1 Zettabyte
· 1000 Zettabytes = 1 Yottabyte
· 1000 Yottabytes = 1 Brontobyte
· 1000 Brontobytes = 1 Geopbyte

Bit is the smallest unit of data. It represents (only) two kinds: yes or no.

"A/An" or "The"

Words like "a/an" and "the" have always been part of our everyday life. We had been using them since the very day we learn how to talk. But the question is, what really the difference between the two.

I've been asking around what is the difference between them but all I got from them are mere example or they would just shrugged off but the worst or funniest reaction I got is they would just stare at me like I suddenly got two heads (hahaha...). In the end, I figured it out myself by analyzing how was it use in a sentence.

My analysis is that "A/An" is use when you're generalizing while "The" is use when you're referring to something specific.

The first example is referring to specific book.

Let's read the book.

The second example is referring to any kind of book.

Let's read a book.