Saturday, January 26, 2013

Favourite songs of the 1970s, 'Top of the world' - The Carpenters

A prayer in old age - email from Sunil Liyanage


My prayer
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Sunil Liyanage
17:55 (12 hours ago)


Almighty God you know that I am growing older.
Keep me from becoming too talkative, from repeating all my jokes and anecdotes,

and particularly keep me from falling into the tiresome habit of expressing an opinion 

on every subject.

Release me from craving to straighten out everyone's affairs. 

Keep my mind free from recital of endless details.
 
Give me wings to get to the point.

Give me the grace, dear GOD, to listen to others as they describe their aches and pains.

Help me endure the boredom with patience and keep my lips sealed,

for my own aches and pains are increasing in number and intensity,

and the pleasure of discussing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally, I might be mistaken

Keep me reasonably sweet.

I do not wish to be a saint (Saints are so hard to live with), 

but a sour old person is the work of the devil.

Make me thoughtful, but not moody, helpful, but not pushy, independent,

yet able to accept with graciousness favours that others wish to bestow on me.

Free me of the notion that simply because I have lived a long time,

I am wiser than those who have not lived so long. I am older, but not necessarily wiser!

If I do not approve of some of the changes that have taken place in recent years,

give me the wisdom to keep my mouth shut.

GOD knows that when the end comes,

I would like to have a friend or two left.


Thursday, January 24, 2013

What counts in life - by 'Pea-nuts' author.


what counts in life
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email from Piyusha Atapattu

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts"
Comic strip.
You don't have to actually answer the questions.
Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point. 

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world. 

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners. 

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America Contest. 

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize. 

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress. 

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.


How did you do? 

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
They are not second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But, the applause dies.
Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners. 

Here's another quiz.
See how you do on this one: 

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school. 

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time. 

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile. 

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special. 

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with. 
 
Easier? 

The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are NOT the ones with
The most credentials,

The most money, Or The most awards. 

Share this with those who have made a difference in your life. 


They are the ones who care. 

                   

(Charles Schultz)
    
     
   
     
   

'A Maiden's Prayer', played on the piano.

"A Maiden's Prayer" (original Polish title: Modlitwa dziewicy Op. 4, French: La prière d'une vierge) is a composition of Polish composer Tekla BÄ…darzewska-Baranowska (1834–1861), which was published in 1856 in Warsaw, and then as a supplement to the Revue et gazette musicale de Paris in 1859. The piece is a medium difficulty short piano piece for intermediate pianists. Some have liked it for its charming and romantic melody; others have described it as "sentimental salon tosh." The pianist and academic Arthur Loesser described it as "this dowdy product of ineptitude." - Wikipedia

Whatever one might say this was a wonderful piece on the piano which brought hours of pleasure to us in the 1960s. I heard it on Radio Ceylon a few days back and it brought back old memories. Click on each of the web-links below to travel to an enchanted world:-


1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6bzwQeTr9E

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1sk0pvo-S4



Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Rectal examination - email from Susiri Weerasekara

Rectal examination - German style. Understanding German is no barrier to the fun at the end.

Click on web-link below to see the video:-

http://www.youtube.com/embed/jsseUBFDDuo