Monsoon Magic :-)

A Musical Playlist of Rainy Songs

You can access the full list of songs here

Happy Seeing and Happy Sharing :-)

For You :-)

For those of you who love reading just like I do, here's a new page of Articles just for you :-)

Psyche

http://please-peruse.blogspot.co.uk/p/psyche.html

It has some very interesting topics on issues related to psychology - the subject in which I did my Masters and even pursued MPhil but at the end of the course after attending all the classes I couldn't give my MPhil exams because of some debilitating illness. My professors had high hopes from me and so did I, as I had topped the batch in both the years of Masters. But as they say, Man proposes, God disposes :-)

Interestingly, I didn't have Psychology in my school syllabus. It wasn't given as an option. But I chose Psychology for my undergraduate and postgraduate studies because during my schooling, I got hold of an NCERT book on Psychology and that made me fall for the subject - hook, line and sinker :-)

Even in my graduation, I did well, though not as well as I did in my post-graduation. I came 4th in Delhi University at the end of my Honours course as compared to my 1st position in my MA course when I got the gold medal. I was always an Arts (Humanities) student. In school, my parents asked me to take up science because they wanted me to become a doctor or an engineer. But except Biology, I didn't like any of the other subjects. So they thought I should take up Commerce. But that also didn't interest me. When I took up humanities (English, History, Political Science, Geography and Economics), I simply loved it, and when you love something, you do your best :-) and so I topped in my XIIth batch (school-leaving exam).

Even now, after so many years of leaving formal education, I still have a penchant for reading and writing and esp. for my favourite subject - Psychology.

I always keep in touch with what is happening in the 'world of mind' - how our thoughts affect our feelings and perceptions, how we do what we do and why we do....the variances in perspectives and the way you and me differ in our behaviour - is it to do with heredity or our environment or our upbringing or a bit of everything ;-)

How life's situations shape us, change us....I'm not the same person as I was 3 decades ago. Life's experiences have moulded me and I'm sure it holds true for you too. We all morph at our own pace.

So if you want to know why you are so nicely behaved :-) and I'm so badly behaved ;-) you need to see Psyche.

http://please-peruse.blogspot.co.uk/p/psyche.html

It will give you some precious insights into our personalities.

I'll keep updating it with some more nice reads from some of my favourite sites.
__________________________________________________

And now it's Quotes Time :-) This is dedicated to Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) as most of the quotes here are by him.

Why are all the angels white? Why ain't there no black angels? - Muhammad Ali

At home I am a nice guy but I don't want the world to know. Humble people, I've found, don't get very far. - Muhammad Ali

I only said I was the greatest, not the smartest. -  Muhammad Ali (writing in his autobiography about the US Army measuring his IQ at 78)

It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up. -  Muhammad Ali (when asked by the New York Times in 1977 if he would miss boxing)

Boxing is a lot of white men watching two black men beat each other up. - Muhammad Ali

Maybe my Parkinson's is God's way of reminding me what is important. It slowed me down and caused me to listen rather than talk. Actually, people pay more attention to me now because I don't talk as much. - Muhammad Ali

The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life. - Muhammad Ali

The tragedy of human history is decreasing happiness in the midst of increasing comforts. - Swami Chinmayananda

A man begins cutting his wisdom teeth the first time he bites off more than he can chew. - Herb Caen (1916 - 1997)

Sometimes I feel a little sad because I can see how some things I said could upset some people. But I did not deliberately try to hurt anyone. The hype was part of my job, like skipping rope. -  Muhammad Ali (asked in 2004 what he thought when he looked back on the boxer he was)

My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations. - Michael J. Fox

Emotions are temporary states of mind. Don’t let them permanently destroy you. - Anon

Grief is not a disorder, a disease or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical and spiritual necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve. - Dr. Earl A. Grollman

You’re impacted by stress, and you bounce back but you’re going to have scars and your health is compromised. - Rhonda Berry, president and chief executive of Our City Forests in San Jose

I'm an alcoholic. I'm a drug addict. I'm homosexual. I'm a genius. Of course, I could be all four of these dubious things and still be a saint. - Truman Capote (1924 - 1984)

I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. - Rita Rudner

Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim. - Vicki Harrison

The test of a man's or woman's breeding is how they behave in a quarrel. Anybody can behave well when things are going smoothly. - George Bernard Shaw

I hated every minute of training, but I said, "Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion". - Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay)

Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent. - Marilyn Vos

All men’s misfortunes spring from their hatred of being alone. - Jean de la Bruyere

Don’t quit because something went wrong. Quit because you tried your hardest and nothing made it better. - Anon

Don’t let your fear of what could happen make nothing happen. - Doe Zantamata

Those whom we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day. - Anon

Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success. - Swami Sivananda

Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God. - Leo Buscaglia

And if the above is not enough for you, then here are some Pix Quotes just for you :-)

http://please-peruse.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/quotes.html

That's a lot of sharing for now.

Adios,
AC :-)

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U R welcome on News Atom :-)
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YouTube Playlists - Happy Playing :-)
https://www.youtube.com/user/playingplaylists/playlists

The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace. - Mahatma Gandhi 

Nutan :-)

Nutan
Means
New :-)

A name
Befitting
Her charming
Face full of
Grace :-)
As she
Always looks
New :-)
In every hue
In my view :-)


Here are 2 interesting articles on her

Lady Nutan

http://www.letstalkaboutbollywood.com/article-lady-nutan-123811442.html

Nutan - The Wife

http://cineplot.com/data/nutan-2.html

What amazed me about her was that she was a hunter. She shot and skinned panthers (leopards).

She has such dainty, feminine and ethereal looks. It was hard for me to imagine her going on hunting trips to kill animals.

As they say, appearances are deceptive ;-)

In 1959, she married a naval officer. He was very supportive of her career and post-marriage, she did many good movies.

Besides Padma Shri, she has won many Filmfare awards for being a brilliant actress.

In 1991, she died of cancer at age 54. Her son Mohnish Bahl is a character actor.

Nutan's mother was the actress Shobhna Samarth with whom she broke all ties for more than 2 decades (because of a family feud) but reconciled when she got diagnosed with cancer. She had also missed her father as her parents had separated when she was a child. Her sister Tanuja was also a talented actress of her times and of course, Tanuja's daughter Kajol has given us some stellar performances in so many movies. So it seems, it's all in the genes :-)

Here's a 'nutan' (new) playlist dedicated to this versatile actress - Nutan

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAP2Wr4O1Jam9BfzIms5-El14ALO1M2p4

Hope you enjoy :-) I'll add more songs, as and when I find them.

BTW in Bengali, we call the word Nutan as Notun :-)

So have you seen this Notun playlist on the lyricist Sameer?! :-)

I did hyperlink it in my last blog.

If you missed it, here it is

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAP2Wr4O1JanvaFNycLbMCH7Q0_uAowEM

Sameer has written more than 3500 songs.

I'll be adding some more songs to this playlist, as and when I find the best out of the rest :-)

Here also, it is the case of 'being in the genes'. Sameer is the son of noted Hindi writer Anjaan (Lalji Pandey) who's given us some superb songs like Dil Toh Hai Dil - Dil Ka Aetbaar Kya Keeje, O Saathi Re - Tere Bina Bhi Kya Jeena, Chhookar Mere Mann Ko - Kiya Tuney Kya Ishara, Na Jaane Kaise Pal Mein Badal Jaate Hain - Yeh Duniya Ke Badalte Rishtey, Kab Ke Bichhde Huwe Hum Aaj Kahan Aake Miley....

Sameer (Shitala Pandey) did his M.Com from BHU and worked as a Bank officer. But soon he realised that banking was not for him and his heart was in the world of words and feelings....and so he left his job and pursued his career as a lyric writer and now he's a Guinness world record holder for penning the highest number of film songs. He's been writing since 1983. My favourite lyricist has always been Anand Bakshi but I must say, that of late, I've taken a liking to Sameer's writing as I'm gradually discovering how well he writes :-) May he rise and shine forever more....

That's a lot of Bollywood for now.

Phir Milenge,
Take Care,
APARNA

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Won't you come on News Atom?! :-)
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Google Posting - Happy Perusing :-)
https://plus.google.com/117466581567846877904/posts

Doing your best is more important than being the best. - Zig Ziglar

Who's He?! :-)

He's a Nepali by birth and his DOB is 1st December, 1955.

In 1978, he came from Nepal to India and trained in classical music from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai.

Since 1980, he has been singing for Hindi movies and has sung for many actors including Salman, Aamir, Govinda, Akshay, SRK, Sanjay, Ajay and Hrithik.

He's sung over 25,000 songs in over 34 languages.

He's a recipient of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.

I've always liked the uniqueness of his voice - so very fresh and youthful :-) and of course, I like the way he talks and smiles - so cute he looks :-)

He's had 2 marriages. His son Aditya is also a singer.

Well, if you still can't guess, who's he?! Let me say that it's U-N-J :-)

Udit Narayan Jha

Here's a playlist on some of his solos and duets from some Hindi movies.

Best of Udit :-)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAP2Wr4O1Jak3s8caCckCW0-ki6nu2-1q

Will add more, as and when I get some more nice audios and videos.
________________________________________________

Now, let me tell you about this nice News Atom that I've invented ;-)

No, I'm not a scientist nor an inventor, but a discoverer of sorts, a collector or rather a curator :-)

Well, it so happened that the 25 content sources that I was allowed to use on each of my 3 papers got curtailed to 10 because of the hosting company's cost-cutting, profit-making measures and so instead of deleting those links, I transferred them to my News Atom blog that is based on content curation to update you with regular information :-)

http://newsatom.blogspot.co.uk/

Hope you like it. If you do, please do share it :-)
_________________________________________________

That's a lot of writing for now. Let me just end this blog with some nice quotes for you :-)

Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them. - William Arthur Ward

To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong. - Joseph Chilton Pearce

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. - Buddha

I am driven not by words but by feelings. - Sameer Anjaan (Lyricist)

Each day we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. - Charles F. Swindoll

If you don’t like how things are, change it! You’re not a tree. - Jim Rohn

Be an encourager. The world has plenty of critics already. - Dave Willis

If you light a lamp for someone else, it will also brighten your path. - Buddha

It’s not about ‘having’ time. It’s about making time. If it matters, you will make time. - Anon


Cheers
Aparna

--
The AC Daily - Please See
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AC's Favourites :-)
http://please-peruse.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/favourites.html

Musicians must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write if he's to be ultimately at peace with himself. What one can be, one must be. -  Abraham Maslow

Typos

If you want to avoid typos in those poems and prose of yours, you know what to do, don't you?!

Well, this blog of mine is for those of you who are not very sure of how to remove typos from your articles.

It's rather simple!

Place your write-up in a word-doc and run the spell-check to see if there are any spelling mistakes.

You can also take the help of web-mail facilities like Gmail or Ymail which have inbuilt spell-checkers.

If you are still unsure of some words and their meanings, you can use the online dictionary and thesaurus and also an interesting site known as Word Hippo.

The quickest way to find is to go to Google search and write the word define, and then the word you want to look for.

For e.g. define serendipity

The google search box will give suggestions of spellings, meanings and also some websites which would guide you further to the usage of the word serendipity.

As for the choice between British and American spellings, on our Boloji portal, both are allowed.

So don't worry if you spell it as splendour or splendor, humour or humor, both will be accepted in your articles.

But of course, if you write the words as splendr or humr (?!), then you need to consult an online spell-checker :-)

I believe there is one such spell-check tool in the online submission form of Boloji. You can use that too. It's a tick mark (✓) with ABC written on top of it.

You can also go to polishmywriting dot com - it's a bit dodgy, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't because of server errors, but when it works, it works wonders :-)

Over the years of editing over 19,000 poems, I've come across so many poems with typos that I thought of addressing this issue thru my blog.

Hope these tips help you to keep your articles free of spelling mistakes.

Now let me share with you an interesting fact my daughter shared with me. This month, all the Sundays are multiples of 7 :-)

7th Feb, 14th Feb, 21st Feb and 28th Feb

And let me bid you bye now with some

Quotes in Pics
http://www.please-peruse.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/picsquotes.html

And some nice sayings:

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. - Buddha

It’s not about ‘having’ time. It’s about making time. If it matters, you will make time. - Anon

Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others. - Saint Augustine

If you light a lamp for someone else it will also brighten your path. - Buddha

Be an encourager. The world has plenty of critics already. - Dave Willis

Leaving you with my best wishes for Vasant Panchami (Feb 12th) and Valentine's Day (Feb 14th)

Have a lovely time with your loved ones :-)

Love,
Aparna

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Google Posting - Happy Perusing :-)

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YouTube Playlists - Happy Playing :-)

https://www.youtube.com/user/playingplaylists/playlists

Quotes in Pics

Stoke by Nayland

Last year, in the Winter, or to be precise, in the month of December, we went to this serene place for some green therapy :-)

The colour green is said to be soothing and rejuvenating for the eyes and so we spent some relaxing moments in nature's largesse.

It was very calm and peaceful. Nice, long walks across trees, fields and lakes. The weather was a bit cold but the air was refreshing.

So here are some snapshots for you to see

https://www.flickr.com/photos/aparnaonline/sets/72157664108744191

Stoke by Nayland is situated on the border of Suffolk and Essex in the East of England.

UK being a small country, we don't get much for the price we pay in terms of living space esp. when it comes to buying and renting property.

Hence, the open outdoors are always welcome :-) especially if it is in the quaint countryside.

Last summer, on our visit to Canada and USA, we were enthralled by the sheer size and enormity of these countries.

If we place 2-3 footpaths of UK adjacent to each other, maybe that would equal the width of one footpath out there, such is the difference in size and space.

Though we live in 3-4 bedroom houses out here, but I guess, the size of 2-3 rooms together would make up the size of one room out there in USA and Canada.

The roads, bridges and highways were so long, winding and large - simply magnificent :-) We loved driving out there.

The only niggling fear during our stay in USA was that some demented man would come and shoot us as it's a gun country and one never knows who turns up with a gun with what intention?! ;-)

Despite its vastness, Canada doesn't motivate us to settle there because it has some very freezing, cold conditions and we can't bear the harsh winter.

That's a lot of blogging for now :-)

Leaving you with some quotes for your notes:

Teleology is like a mistress to a biologist: he cannot live without her but he's unwilling to be seen with her in public. - J. B. S. Haldane

Love lights more fires than hate extinguishes. - Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Laughter is America's most important export. - Walt Disney





Au Revoir,
APARNA

-- 

The AC Daily - Please See
http://paper.li/alwaysaparna/1319026420

Today's News - Please Peruse
https://paper.li/alwaysaparna/1400751156#

Only a person who truly loves you, can feel your silent pain, and will hold your hand till you become strong again. - Anon

Tasveer

Aankh Mein Khamoshi, Labon Pe Sawaal, Rukh Pe Saadgi
Kaise Kaise Rang Hain Is Tasveer Mein

Well, I thought of beginning this new year by dedicating this Blog to the renowned Pakistani poet - Ahmad Faraz

Hope you liked his lines on Tasveer (which means Chitr - Picture / Photo)

I'm gobsmacked by his Superb Shayari :-)

He's the one who wrote Ghazals like

Ranjish Hee Sahi Dil Hee Dukhane Ke Liye Aa
Aa Phir Se Mujhe Chhod Ke Jaane Ke Liye Aa

and also

Ab Ke Hum Bichhde Toh Shayad Kabhi Khwabon Mein Milen
Jis Tarah Sookhe Huwe Phool Kitaabon Mein Milen
__________________________________

He died in August 2008. It's been about 8 years this world has lost him.

Wherever he is, may his soul rest in peace, may he be blessed forever for giving us such immense poetic pleasure :-)

If he has taken rebirth, may his new life be full of blessings and happiness :-)

Here are some samples of his precious gems.

Ungliyan Aaj Bhi Is Soch Mein Gum Hai Faraz
Usney Kaisey Naye Haath Ko Thaama Hoga....

Is Kadar Keemti Toh Na Tha Mera Chaen-O-Sukoon Faraz
Loot Kar Le Gaya Woh Kisi Anmol Khazaney Ki Tarah...

Phir Itne Mayoos Kyun Ho
Uski Bewafayi Par Faraz,
Tum Khud Hi Toh Kehte The
Ke Woh Sab Se Juda Hai?!!!

Kisi Ke Ek Aansoo Par Hazaron Dil Tadapte Hain,
Kisi Ka Umr Bhar Ka Rona Yunhi Bekaar Jata Hai

Suna Hai Zindagi Imtihaan Leti Hai Faraz
Par Yahan Toh Imtihanon Ne Zindagi Leli

Hansi Ko Main Sun Ek Baar Chaunk Utha, Faraz
Yeh Mujh Mein Dukh Chhupaane Ka Kamaal Kaisey Aa Gaya?!

Duniya Mein Mat Dhoondh Naam-E-Wafa, Faraz
Dilon Se Khelte Hain Log Bana Ke Humsafar Apna

Shayari, Aawargi, Khushbu, Wafaa, Lazzat, Sharaab,
Mukhtalif Shaklon Mein Shehzaade Ko Aurat Chahiye

Ab Usey Roz Na Sochun Toh Badan Tootta Hai, Faraz
Ek Umar Ho Gayi Hai Uski Yaad Ka Nasha Karte Karte

Na Jaane Kab Se Ho Gaye Itney Shiddat Pasand Hum, Faraz
Jab Tak Zakhm Na Khayein Tasalli Nahin Hoti

Intoxicating lines that make you feel tipsy.

Who needs wine? I don't ;-)

Faraz's magical way of saying so much in so few lines....reminds me of the Shakespearean Quote:

Brevity is the soul of wit

Hum Zamane Mein Yunhi Bewafa Mashhoor Ho Gaye Faraz
Hazaaron Chaahne Waley The, Kis Kis Se Wafa Kartey !!!

Kaun Pareshan Hota Hai Tere Ghum Se, Faraz
Woh Apni Hee Kisi Baat Pe Roya Hoga....

Usey Taraash Ke Heera Bana Diya Humne Faraz
Magar Ab Yeh Sochte Hain Usey Kharidein Kaise

Tu Kisi Aur Ke Liye Hoga Samundar-E-Ishq
Hum Toh Roz Tere Saahil Se Pyase Guzar Jaate Hain

Apni Nakaami Ka Ek Yeh Bhi Sabab Hai Faraz
Cheez Jo Mangte Hain Sab Se Juda Mangte Hain

Kahin Tanha Na Kar De Tujhe Munfrid Rehne Ka Shauq, Faraz
Jab Din Dhaley Tu Kisi Se Haal-E-Dil Keh Diya Kar....

Kaat Kar Zubaan Meri Keh Raha Tha Woh Faraz
Ab Tumhe Ijaazat Hai Haal-E-Dil Sunane Ki

Ab Jis Ke Jee Mein Aaye Wohi Pa Le Raushni,
Humne Toh Dil Jala Kar Sar-E-Raah Rakh Diya

Aa Ke Ab Tasleem Karlein Tu Nahin Toh Main Sahi,
Kaun Maanega Ke Hum Mein Se Bewafa Koi Nahi...

Ab Neend Se Kaho Hum Se Sulah Kar Le Faraz,
Woh Daur Chala Gaya Hai Jis Ke Liye Hum Jaaga Karte The
___________________________________________

And here is an excellent triad of 3 great poets - Ghalib, Iqbal and Faraz

Zara Gaur Farmaiye :-)

Zaahid Sharaab Peene De Masjid Mein Baith Kar,
Ya Woh Jagah Bata Jahan Khuda Nahin...
(Mirza Ghalib)

Masjid Khuda Ka Ghar Hai, Peeney Ki Jagah Nahin,
Kaafir Ke Dil Mein Ja, Wahan Khuda Nahin...
(Allama Iqbal)

Kaafir Ke Dil Se Aaya Hoon Main Yeh Dekh Kar,
Khuda Maujood Hai Wahan, Par Usey Pata Nahin...
(Ahmad Faraz)

Happy Pondering and Happy New Year to all of you :-)

Love,
AC :)

Tasveer taken from Getty Images dot Com / Courtesy: Boloji