The Difference between Efficient and Effective

Years ago, I used to teach typewriting.  It is a skill that has proven to be still useful today despite all the advances in technology.  

I know there's swyping and the touch screens but the majority of people are still opting for the keyboard because the touch typing speed is, I think, second to none.  I wonder if there has been any speed competition between swyping and typing!

I swype with my Samsung Galaxy because the keypad is too small for touch typing.  In all other instances, I find that the simple act of tapping away on a keyboard helps to inspire me.  I don't know if I could write via swyping or tapping one letter at a time with a stylus pen.

Now back to typewriting and what I wanted to impress on my students was that everyone should be both efficient and effective (at least for exam purposes).

Being efficient means typing a letter in less than the required time and later discovering one or two typo errors.

Being effective means typing a letter in over the required time and having no errors.

The secret to achieving a distinction is to be both efficient and effective.  This means typing a letter within the required time and discovering no errors.  

Internet Blackout Day

Goodbye, Feroz Dawson!

Our paths crossed when both of us commented on something Patrick Teoh had posted on FB.

Feroz sent me a "Friend Request" and caught my attention when I noticed he was from Montevideo, Uruguay.  His name means 'fierce' in Spanish.  

When I accepted his request, he admitted that he only put Uruguay to trick girls/women.  His honesty made me really laugh out loud.

It turns out that I knew his father and, of course, his mother, the famous Faridah Merican.  Then I found out he lived in Section 14, Petaling Jaya where I used to live.  From then, we became friends in real life.

He made me smile often because of his wit and peculiar sense of humour.  He also had a protective side which I adored.

I last saw him on 11 March 2012.  He knew I was leaving Malaysia and he wanted to 'makan-minum' before my departure date.  

As usual, I picked him up and we went to SS2.  It was raining and we drove around until we found a corner shop.  When my coffee arrived, I told him that I would have to take a picture because it had a heart.  He sniggered.  

The last cup of coffee with Feroz.

On that occasion, he gave me a going away gift in the form of a book. This would be the last time that I would see him.

I am glad that I asked him to write something and he agreed.  I took this picture and wrote this short piece in memory of his life and the smiles he brought my way.

It is always sad to say goodbye.

"Life is such a fragile thing. Love those around you, you never know when they will be taken.....don't postpone that dinner, you don't know which will be your last. Live, love, love hard, love strong, love undeservedly. Because life's too short for anything less." - Emmanuel Joseph

Of Olympics 2012 and Old Memories

Stephen in the 200m event when he took the silver medal (circa 1976)

Since the London Olympics started, I've been glued to the TV watching all my favourite sports events.  I'm spoilt for choice because we have ten dedicated channels.  I'm not a sports buff but the conversations at home have revolved around the various events and winners.

I remember the 2000 Olympics vividly and that we had watched the closing ceremony in my neighbours home.  All of us had wondered where we would be when the next Olympic Games took place.  We would never know that this same group would have split up over three different continents in four different countries.

I almost cannot believe that 12 years have passed since that moment.

As always we remember that Patrick was with us then. Stephen relishes memories of George being a fantastic sprinter when he was a teenager.  If George was running a race, he would always get the gold medal.  No one could beat him.  It's a real pity that he never took up running professionally.

I don't know why but I get a lump in my throat when I see the Olympians giving their best for their country.  I'm not related to these people and yet I feel for them.

The Olympics does evoke lovely memories and moments.

Sometimes I forget how old I am

SOMETIMES I FORGET how old I AM

I AM just happy to do all that I DO

I DO know that age is just a number FOR ME

FOR ME, what matters is TO BE HAPPY

TO BE HAPPY, I must forget THE PAST

THE PAST helps me to learn from MISTAKES

MISTAKES are life's lessons, I REMEMBER

I REMEMBER that IT'S SO IMPORTANT

IT’S SO IMPORTANT to just LIVE EACH DAY

LIVE EACH DAY with LOVE AND LAUGHTER

LOVE AND LAUGHTER gives GOOD MEMORIES

GOOD MEMORIES add to A HAPPY LIFE

A HAPPY LIFE brings joy to EACH DAY

EACH DAY lived well  and I FEEL YOUNG

I FEEL YOUNG and SOMETIMES I FORGET

SOMETIMES I FORGET HOW OLD I AM

Of My Imperfect World

I think this is true for everyone although there are so many who try very hard to create an illusion that they have a perfect life.

I will be the first to admit that my life isn't perfect. As far as I know, I have never had a need to pretend that it was or is perfect.

When I hear stories or read mails about people who create an illusion of their lives, I can only shake my head and shrug my shoulders.  There is something missing in their hearts for them to live the way they do.  It's a kind of compensation for what is lacking inside that compels them to build facades for the delusional life that they have.

No matter how they shout out that they are happy and living a blissful life, there is a very sad person at the heart of it all.

This makes me relish my imperfect world with imperfect people!

This is what makes the world turn.....