Passion and Talent

While reading the book Supernatural, I spare some time to read a book recommending by my ex-colleague – “Chasing Daylight” by Eugene O’Kelly. This book is about what one shall do before too late. I cannot tell whether it is a good book yet as I am only half way through it. However in the earlier part of the book, there are a few paragraphs that put me in deep thought.

One day when I was 14, my mother, who for years had witnessed my passion for the sport, told me it was important to distinguish that from talent.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“You may have the passion to be a great baseball player,” she said, “but not the talent.”
… She wanted me to hold onto my passion while also following a path where my talent could flower.

The whole idea struck me … I may have the passion to build the greatest web site or the best book cafe in the world; but what if I don’t have the talent to do it ?

Shall I drop the idea ? Or keep pursuing it ? Is there anything on earth that I have passion with and I have the talent to realize it ?

Clinic visit

So after the open-heart operation, I need to visit the hospital clinic once in a while to check various things. Here is a recap of the conversation today I have with the doctor:

Doctor : (Look blank)
Me : (Smiling)
[ 30 seconds later ]
Doctor : (Look blank) You look familiar, have we met before ?
[5 seconds later ]
Me : (Still smiling) Yes, I was here two weeks ago, you checked my previous reports … and asked me to do a blood test.
Doctor : (Still looking blank) But there is no record in the system.
[ 30 seconds later, after some punching to the system ]
Doctor : (Smiling) Ah … I found your record …
Me : (Look blank and murmuring #$^&@#$)

Serial reader

Similar to many book lovers, I am a serial reader (not serial killer). That is, if I read a good book then I will read all the books written by the same author. For example, all the books by Dan Brown (Angels and Demons is actually better than Da Vinci Code, from my point of view); all the “Babylon books” by Imogen Edwards-Jones (I learnt a lot industry knowledge from those books); books by Mitch Albom (Tuesday With Morrie etc. etc.) and books by Malcolm Gladwell (I think Tipping Point is a lot better than Blink).

Another author I followed for years is “archaeological investigative journalist” Graham Hancock, his books about the Pyramid, ancient civilizations and biblical stories are very very fascinating. Finally his newest book “Supernatural” is on sale in local bookstore and you know what, it’s only 700 pages !! Still, could not help but buy it straightaway … hmmm … lots of late night coming 😎

Photo Gallery

Finally integrated the SlideShowPro with WordPress to show my photos around the world … never know it is so difficult to make it work. My advise is:

  • Install the Kimili Plugin for WordPress and activate it;
  • Install the SlideShowPro in a dedicated directory, I made it work under /wp-content/;
  • Make sure the image and music paths in the SlideShowPro XML file are correct – use absolute paths if needed;
  • Insert the Kimili line in your blog post carefully, don’t use the Visual editor …;
  • If all failed, try MonoSlideShow 😎

Enjoy … here is the photo gallery (you can also click the “Gallery” link in the top of the page).

Search-a-holic : movie

I still cannot finish the book “The World is Flat” even though I have read a couple of dozens pages more, however there is one point in the book is right – Internet Search Engine is one of the “world flatteners”. Essentially, the search engines like Google, Yahoo empower every Internet user in the world to access all the knowledge indexed in the Internet. I think it is very true, and this power has also made me a “search-a-holic”.

Other than searching for information that are useful at work, I also use the search engines extensively even I am watching TV, or movie at home. For example, I will go to imdb.com to check the ratings, information of the actors and actress … to decide whether I shall continue watching that movie or TV show. Once I found a movie is good, I will go to Amazon.com to see whether the DVD and the soundtrack is available. And of course, the youtube.com is my favorite site for the music and music video in the movie.

So, here are three music videos I found from three movies …

Amazing Grace – if you don’t know the history of that 235 years old hymn / song, better go to cinema for that. And for me, the best version of Amazing Grace is always the bagpipe one.

Scent of a Woman – I think no one can forget this tango scene and with the 70 years old classic – Por Una Cabeza

The story of us– I just watched this movie in cable and of course, how can one forget the Classical Gas by Mason Williams ?