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 |   Birthday Bash Relay. Excited on Second Place! Now for various WDC contests and activities |
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Team Ahimsa ▼ My Turn ▼ For
Thanks! "  2021 Blog Relay Winners!"  ![Merit Badge in Blogging
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Congratulations to 'Team Ahimsa' for your excellent entries earning you the 1st-Runner-Up prize in [Link To Item #1803384] !](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/type-Blogging-2180.gif) "Note: They came, they ran the race, they conquered! ..." "Congratulations November 2021 Winners!"
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LOUD AND CLEAR They want to stay on Earth, They don't want to go away I don't want to take them I want to let them stay! Chuckling children, prancing, playing Gregarious grown-ups, planning, praying Guys, gals, giggles galore I can't make them stop, I want more! Don't tell me it's necessary, Though I know that's true It's hard to be the one to tell them they're through. I won't do it anymore I don't like it a bit And, here's what I'm saying Everyone - I QUIT! Son, daughter, sister, brother Everyone loves life I can't break up the family Watch a loving husband mourn a wife. I don't want the wailing I don't want to make them sob So here's what I'm saying I QUIT this job! Teachers, students, artists, musicians All with hope in their heart I can't darken their eyes I won't tear them apart. Pets, farm animals, Wild ones free Little piggies, pretty butterflies All fascinate me I can't stop the chattering The clucking and the braying So, I QUIT That's what I'm saying! 36 LINES For Prompt Requirements, click here ▼ |
| Words: 278 (Daily Flash Winner!  )"But I saw it on TV," Manisha insisted, dragging her Nanny toward the posh-looking shop. "It said this shop has anything a home can want." "Yes, darling, they meant everything that can be sold. Stop now, stop!" "They said everything!" Seven year olds can be remarkably strong, and the Nanny found herself pulled into the shop. "What can I do for you?" the assistant asked. "You said on TV that you have everything," Manisha piped up. "We do, dear child, we do." "I have fifty rupees. I want to buy the moon, please." The assistant looked a bit surprised. Then he laughed, and patted the child on the head. "Don't mess up my hair! Just sell me the moon! I've saved up fifty rupees!" "For fifty rupees, I can give you a nice dolly ..." "I don't want a nice dolly. Please, I want the moon." "Why don't you look at this puzzle, my dear child, see ..." "No puzzle. I want the moon. Please, I want the moon." The assistant looked at the Nanny in despair. He would get a black mark for letting a potential customer leave the shop without buying anything. And his feelings went deeper. He couldn't disappoint the child. To his surprise, he saw the Nanny's eyes light up. He raised his eyebrows at her questioningly. She tilted her head ever so slightly. She was indicating the sports section, where there was a poster advertising 'glow in the dark tennis balls'. It was a happy child who showed off her purchase that evening. "Mummy! Pappa! It's the moon, it only works in the dark. Please switch off the light and see how my moon works!" |
Birthdays are a time to count The real gifts, the blessings The friendship and the love Not just material things. On your birthday you blow out The baggage that makes you ache As you take aim At the candles on the cake. Each year, you get a special day Just for you to celebrate When you cherish what's truly Joyful, blessed and great. For Task #2, "The WdC Birthday Challenge!!! CLOSED" |
| "Note:
48-HOUR CHALLENGE : Media Prompt
Deadl..." You know what? At first, I thought, what the heck, I don't relate to this. But then I saw the title -Virtual Insanity - and I thought - aha, that's what is being reflected in the song. Since I don't relate to a lot of virtual things, I'm not relating to the visuals here! So it actually works! This led me to thinking - guy makes crazy music video to reflect how insane the world is going. He sees it as it is and puts it out thee. But then, it becomes as crazy as the world he is reflecting! So is it good or bad to reflect, in art, what you perceive to be real, very closely? I mean, then, are you guilty of doing what you are protesting against? Do videos, movies, books, and so on which are against something glamorise it for a while? Ugh those crawling bugs. Now I know there are creepy crawlies in life, but do we have to give them screen time? So - the age old debate. Which came first, the importance or the screen time? Are creepy crawlies important, or did they become important because we gave them screen time? Is the insanity important or did it become important because we highlighted it? I dunno. Do you? |
| For "Note:
48-HOUR CHALLENGE : Media Prompt
Deadl..." What doe fireworks mean to me? We used to light them in Mahabaleshwar, but I can't recall them though Mom used to tell the story of the leopard who visited the back yard when we were lighting fireworks (noisy ones) in the front yard. She didn't believe the gardener when he said there's a leopard there, she thought it was surely too noisy for a wild cat to come by. Next day he showed the  pawprints.We used to light fireworks at Mont Blanc (our apartment house in Mumbai) too, and at Harkness Road. Some fun memories there. But mostly when I think of fireworks, I think of the TV programme on how these are made by little children in the factories of Sivakasi. The kids were hiding from the cameras and the crew had to pull them out. So I'm not really pro-fireworks. It's a topic I give for every debating batch I come across. And I feel old when I can't relate to today's music. I couldn't relate to this song! The sentiments are great, but the music didn't speak to me. That about sums up this entry! |
| For "Note:
48-HOUR CHALLENGE : Media Prompt
Deadl..." It's about how you look at it, isn't it? It's like rain on your wedding day Are you saying this is a bad thing? Rain cools everyone down. Rain makes the plants glow green. Rain makes the air fresh. Rain brings the rainbow with all its colours Rain is a blessing and if you're soaked be grateful! It's a free ride when you've already paid Well, that's fine you could afford it there are many who couldn't, you know And if it was free then you've now got credit Something to carry forward, to grow. Don't grumble coz you thought the blessing mis-timed Things happen when the universe thinks its fine Some day it all works out the way it should All you need to say now is 'I'm good'. |
Some pranks are funny and some are just not Some pranks are visible And some, never caught. I think it's nice When the day is done Prankster and victim Each have a share of fun. Pranks that are harmless And well thought out Are the best Without a doubt. When my cousin was engaged To a girl in another city Their love long-distance, which was a pity My cousin likes to sleep in but on April Fools' Day My uncle woke him at 6 AM saying: "Phone call from your fiancee". He jumped out of bed And headed for the phone There was nobody there! Just the dial tone! He got a bit grumpy But soon had to agree That the prank his Dad played Was really funny! Some years ago On this very site StoryMaster pranked us Much to our delight. Our handles scrambled Our exclamation marks went PING Our forum posts went inside out And many a funny thing So yeah, if it's funny for all Then on the first of April Go ahead, prank away Feel the comic thrill! |
| Words: 377 Many artists are one-hit wonders. 9.) Did this fate befall your Muse and Andre? Why or Why not? The duo have had many long years together, and several hits – and counting! They are collaborators, friends and (as Anne of Green Gables would say) kindred spirits. They work as two socks in one shoe. Er – well, you know what I mean. Two prongs in one rake. Two roots grounding one stem. Yeah, yeah, you know what I mean. Their strongest point is that they manage to stay contemporary. They are constantly learning, constantly looking for new ideas, constantly growing. Every now and then, they do what they call an ‘upside down’ and take lessons from a talented youngster, instead of from an established musician. This keeps their music fresh and ensures that they stay in touch with current trends. It keeps them humble, too. Youngsters these days can be very demanding as teachers! “Nobody has produced more surprises than they have,” says Andre’s cousin, Josh. “You think you know their music, and then ka-boom, out comes something totally new and unexpected. And you are – like – hey where did that come from? And yet you can tell it’s them, you know. They do have a core style or signature.” “It’s evolution,” Andre grins, when asked. “Like everything came from the amoeba, like that. You remain true to your amoeba roots (or blobs) and keep growing!” Their hit songs include “Bananas are Manna”, “Don’t Bungle in the Jungle” “For Rest” “The Peeves of Leaves”. They have won several awards all over the world, but their biggest reward is the love they get from their fans. “I listen to your music as soon as I wake up in the morning,” writes Brinda Shankar. “It sets the mood for an energetic day ahead. Sometimes, when I hum your music in the bus on the way to work, other passengers hum along with me. I’ve made a couple of new friends that way, thanks to your music.” “My whole family gathers when I put on your music on You Tube,” Malvika Goculdas emails. “We sing and dance together. It makes for great bonding between members of three generations!” Go out of style? They have soul. They can’t go out of style.  |
| Everyday Miracles WORDS 376 Andre often listens to one song over and over. 5.) What song and why? Andre loves this song from the movie The Fiddler on the Roof. It’s one of those he learnt to sing and dance to for his world tour. When he was a little monkey and the movie was playing in theatres, his parents had taken him to the town nearest the jungle to watch it. Monkeys watch movies by climbing trees near the theatre and peeping in through the window. If the movie is playing at a drive in, they simply climb any tree around, or sit on one of the cars. People are usually too absorbed in the movie to notice a monkey or two (or half dozen) sitting on cars. Now, with people going less to theatres and getting their entertainment at home, monkeys are more tuned to You Tube and other online stuff, too. Andre loves all the songs in The Fiddler on the Roof. He appreciates the dilemma in ‘Tradition’ and the wistfulness in ‘If I Were a Rich Man’. Both songs have a touch of comedy, too. He likes the melodious ‘Sunrise Sunset’. He chuckles at ‘Do You Love Me’ and ‘Matchmaker’. He has often sung ‘To Life’ on festive occasions, and he weeps when he hears ‘Far From the Home I Love’. After giving it much thought, he finally chose ‘Miracle of Miracles’ for his world tour for many reasons. The sheer happiness of the two young people. The references to God, and miracles, which Andre believes in. But also (here’s something you didn’t know!) Andre is hoping that one day, he’ll find love and sing this song to his chosen lady. So he listens to it over and over not only because he likes it, but because he wants it to be so much a part of himself that, when the right time comes, he doesn’t blabber any nonsense, he sings this appropriate song. “This man is a poor tailor. The world would think he has nothing to be happy about because he doesn’t have much money. But look how joyful he is. Look how devoted he is to God and to the one he loves. Look how grateful he is for what he has been given. Gratitude and devotion and joy are our true, everyday miracles, aren’t they?” |
| 377 WORDS 4.) With what great musician did Andre study? Andre had the good fortune of growing up in the jungle. He studied with the best musicians ever – the natural musicians. Early in the morning, he heard the birds in chorus. His day began to a rousing tune. Through the hours, he heard the music of nature – the leaves rustling in the wind, the water gurgling, insects buzzing and all his fellow creatures at work or play. Footsteps, wing-beats, slithering, hissing, beak-snaps and splashes surrounded him at every instance. Squeaks and roars, trumpeting and barking sometimes created their own concert. The sounds of nature echoed the rhythm of his heart, the melody of his soul. He did not need to have any formal training, he had music seeping through his conscious mind when he was awake and sub-conscious mind when he slumbered. Andre’s parents were musically inclined, and encouraged him to understand the harmony and contribute to it. Sometimes, the monkey family invited the cicadas and nightingales for a sing-song round the water hole. Occasionally, the crickets and bats joined in. When owls and hyenas yodeled in time, even the youngest creature in the forest quivered with the excitement of the music. We’ve said that Andre didn’t need any formal training, but he did have some. In India, he learnt to play the Jal tarang with Vidushi Shashikala Dani. He learnt to sing devotional songs with Vidushi Aditi Kaikini Upadhya. He had a few tabla lessons with Pandit Yogesh Samsi. And, of course, he learnt the Bollywood song, Yeh Raat Aur Yeh Doori, from SP Balasubrahmanyam himself. He has learnt the popular songs of at least nine other countries form the famous artistes there. The mix of simplicity in everyday learning as a youngster and disciplined practicing as he grew has helped Andre in all aspects of his life. “Sometimes it’s simple and spontaneous, at other times, it’s designed and rehearsed,” he says. He is also happy to understand the culture and philosophy of various regions of the globe, via music. “What they sing is what they think and feel,” Andre says. “Everything they care about, everything they want to tell the world, is in their songs.” Let us all raise our voices in peace and harmony.  |
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