Adieu SPB!

Noted playback singer, Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam popularly known by his initials, SPB passed into the mist of time, this afternoon, at 1304 hrs. He was 74. 

He had begun his singing career in 1966 and has to his credit over 40,000 songs, sung in languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. He has been awarded the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri by the central government. I shan't be saying anything more because the media is covering his life and times to the minutest details and a repetition on my part will be like carrying coal to Newcastle. And hence, I desist.

I had become an ardent fan of his through that immortal number, "Sankara....." in the movie 'Sankarabharanam' an all time hit that was released on 15 Jan 1980. Hearing about his passing away, I have already heard the song thrice today.......definitely, a magical voice. As I punch in this post, the song is playing on the television!

RIP SPB! My salute, tears and prayers to a maestro and a person of utmost humility!! May God give strength to his near and dear ones to tide over his loss. 

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An Interesting Set of Questions and Answers

 1. How long did the Hundred Years' War last? 116 years.

 2. Which country makes Panama hats? Ecuador.

 3. From which animal do we get cat gut? Sheep and Horses.

 4. In which month do the Russians celebrate the October Revolution? November.

 5. What is a camel's hair brush made of? Squirrel fur.

 6. The Canary islands in the Pacific are named after what animals? Dogs.

 7. What was King George VI's first name? Albert.

 8. What colour is a purple finch? Crimson.

 9. Where are Chinese gooseberries from? New Zealand.

10.What is the colour of the black box in a commercial airplane? Orange.

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Do you know?

Today in 1965, the Indian Army reached Lahore!

* The Army halted outside Lahore, awaiting orders from the government. Unfortunately, a ceasefire was signed 3 days later. 

Had they been allowed to advance, history would've been very different today!

Tailpiece.

Had got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. It was another quiet day.