Billy Vaughn, Silvery moon, La Paloma

Billy Vaughn - These two pieces were played again and again to much appreciation on the radiogramme in the male medical students common room, in the early 1960s in Colombo. I hope it makes you feel nostalgic.
Click on each of the web-links below and relax:-

1. Silvery Moon:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp5yyQu1m1c&feature=youtube_gdata_player


2. La Paloma:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXGMNYh9Na4

'The spoon' - email from Sunil Liyanage

Subject: The spoon: A lesson on how consultants can make a difference in an organization. Very Impressive!

Last week, we took some friends to a new restaurant, 'Steve's Place,' and
noticed that the waiter who took our order carried a spoon in his shirt
pocket. It seemed a little strange. When the busboy brought our water and
utensils, I observed that he also had a spoon in his shirt pocket. Then I
looked around and saw that all the staff had spoons in their pockets. When
the waiter came back to serve our soup I inquired, 'Why the spoon?'

'Well,' he explained, 'the restaurant's owner hired Andersen Consulting to
revamp all of our processes. After several months of analysis, they
concluded that the spoon was the most frequently dropped utensil. It
represents a drop frequency of approximately 3 spoons per table per hour. If
our personnel are better prepared, we can reduce the number of trips back to
the kitchen and save 15 man-hours per shift.'

As luck would have it, I dropped my spoon and he replaced it with his spare.
'I'll get another spoon next time I go to the kitchen instead of making an
extra trip to get it right now.' I was impressed.

I also noticed that there was a string hanging out of the waiter's fly.
Looking around, I saw that all of the waiters had the same string hanging
from their flies. So, before he walked off, I asked the waiter, 'Excuse me,
but can you tell me why you have that string right there?'

'Oh, certainly!' Then he lowered his voice. 'Not everyone is so observant.
That consulting firm I mentioned also learned that we can save time in the
restroom. By tying this string to the tip of our you-know-what, we can pull
it out without touching it and eliminate the need to wash our hands,
shortening the time spent in the restroom by 76.39%.

I asked quietly, 'After you get it out, how do you put it back?'

'Well,' he whispered, 'I don't know about the others, but I use the spoon.'

Nina and Frederic - Popular duo of the 1960s.

Nina and Frederic of 'Listen to the ocean' fame.

The song:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXeGhIJWG5I

What happened to them:-
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-frederik-van-pallandt-1437924.html

Magic - email from Susiri Weerasekara

Fantastic show.

Click on web-link below:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=sKns1uatyNg&vq=medium

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

The Carpenters - Top of the World
Click on web-links below:-

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLzrB4ieNq8

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDAaArbnuSU

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2TQJ8z58GM

A prayer in old age - email from Sunil Liyanage

My prayer

Inbox

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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.

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)