Check out this article from USA TODAY:
It's not crazy to live in a $400 box in San Francisco
http://usat.ly/1MEZpPJ
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Fwd: गर्भनाल, अप्रैल 2016, सिहंस्थ कुम्भ विशेषांक
Begin forwarded message:
From: Atmaram Sharma <atmaram.sharma@gmail.com>
Date: March 31, 2016 at 3:41:08 AM PDT
To: rahul dev <rahuldev@live.com>
Subject: Fwd: गर्भनाल, अप्रैल 2016, सिहंस्थ कुम्भ विशेषांक
ताजा अंक डाउनलोड करें - गर्भनाल, अप्रैल-2016
इस अंक में
"आवरण" में पढ़िये सिंहस्थ कुम्भ-2016 विशेष पर
राजेश करमहे, प्रो. गिरीश्वर मिश्र, डॉ. रवीन्द्र पस्तोर, डॉ. गंगा प्रसाद शर्मा, डॉ. विजय मिश्र,
संजीव गुप्ता, प्रो. शिव कुमार सिंह, प्रो. डॉ. पुष्पिता अवस्थी तथा दागमार मारकोवा के आलेख।
"बातचीत" में पढ़िये कुम्भ यात्रा पर ललिता पांडेय से राजू मिश्र की बातचीत
"संस्मरण" में पढ़िया रजनीश कुमार यादव तथा आशुतोष शुक्ल के कुम्भ संस्मरण
"कुम्भ कविताएँ" में पढ़िये मनोज कुमार श्रीवास्तव की 19 कविताएँ
"व्याख्या" में ब्रजेन्द्र श्रीवास्तव बता रहे हैं "भारतीय अध्यात्म के अबूझ बिम्ब"
"पुस्तक अंश" में पढ़ें निर्मल वर्मा की "सुलगती टहनी" तथा
आचार्य हजारी प्रसाद द्विवेदी की "मेघदूत में उज्जयिनी" के अंश
ध्रुव शुक्ल "स्मृतिगंधा" के मार्फ्त निर्मल वर्मा को स्मरण कर रहे हैं
पुराने अंक देखने के लिये www.garbhanal.com पर जायें
अहंकार
अहंकार मरता है...शरीर जलता हैऐसा कहते हैं कि नानक देव जी जब आठ वर्ष के थे तब पहली बार अपने घर से अकेले निकल पड़े, सब घर वाले और पूरा गाँव चिंतित हो गया तब शाम को किसी ने नानक के पिता श्री कालू मेहता को खबर दी कि नानक तो श्मशान घाट में शांत बैठा है। सब दौड़े और वाकई एक चिता के कुछ दूर नानक बैठे हैं और एक अद्भुत शांत मुस्कान के साथ चिता को देख रहे थे, माॅ ने तुरंत रोते हुए गले लगा लिया और पिता नेनाराजगी जताई और पूछा यहां क्यों आऐ। नानक ने कहा पिता जी कल खेत से आते हुए जब मार्ग बदल कर हमयहां से जा रहे थे और मैंने देखा कि एक आदमी चार आदमीयो के कंधे पर लेटा है और वो चारो रो रहे हैं तो मेरे आपसे पूछने पर कि ये कौन सी जगह हैं, तो पिताजी आपने कहा था कि ये वो जगह है बेटा जहां एक न एक दिन सबको आना ही पड़ेगा और बाकी के लोग रोएगें ही।बस तभी से मैनें सोचा कि जब एक दिन आना ही हैं तो आज ही चले और वैसे भी अच्छा नही हैं लगता अपनेकाम के लिए अपने चार लोगो को रूलाना भी और कष्ट भी दो उनके कंधो को , तो बस यही सोच कर आ गया।तब कालू मेहता रोते हुए बोले नानक पर यहां तो मरने के बाद आते हैं इस पर जो आठ वर्षीय नानक बोलेवो कदापि कोई आठ जन्मो के बाद भी बोल दे तो भी समझो जल्दी बोला" नानक ने कहा पिता जी ये ही बात तो मैं सुबह से अब तक मे जान पाया हूं कि लोग मरने के बाद यहांलाए जा रहे हैं , अगर कोई पूरे चैतन्य से यहां अपने आप आ जाऐ तो वो फिर कभी मरेगा ही नही सिर्फ शरीर बदलेगा क्योंकि मरता तो अंहकार है और जो यहां आकर अपने अंहकार कि चिता जलाता है वो फिर कभीमरता ही नही मात्र मोक्ष प्राप्त कर लेता है।।इसीलिए उन्होंने अमर वचन कहे जप जी सहाब अर्थात"एक ओंकार सतनाम "
Sai Baba lifts his face
Today Sri Sai Baba lifted His face upwards in Sai Temple Flushing, New York.. See the pictures...they are of same Baba Statute taken 15 mins apart.
प्रसाद
✴✴✴🔔✴✴✴
शायद
बहुत कम लोग
जानते होंगे की
प्रसाद का अर्थ
क्या होता है !!
🏀🏀🏀
🏀प्र - प्रभु के🏀
🏀सा - साक्षात्🏀
🏀द - दर्शन🏀
🏀🏀
शायद
बहुत कम लोग
जानते होंगे की
प्रसाद का अर्थ
क्या होता है !!
🏀🏀🏀
🏀प्र - प्रभु के🏀
🏀सा - साक्षात्🏀
🏀द - दर्शन🏀
🏀🏀
Monday, March 28, 2016
Friday, March 25, 2016
Bathroom battles over gender
new law here requires transgender people to use the public bathroom corresponding to the gender on their birth certificate, a rebuke of a move by the state's largest city and the latest skirmish in the "bathroom battles" popping up in statehouses and city halls.
North Carolina on Wednesday became the first state to enact legislation restricting access to sex-segregated facilities on the basis of sex assigned at birth, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. At least 13 other states are considering similar bills, according to the nonpartisan group.
Several big cities have moved in the opposite direction. Earlier this month, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an executive order requiring city agencies to allow people to use the city's 2,200 public restrooms based on their self-declared gender identity. Philadelphia recently required private businesses to use gender-neutral signs on single-occupancy bathrooms.
Pope washes feet
They came from Mali, Eritrea, Syria and Pakistan. They were Muslim, Hindu, Catholic and Coptic Christians. And one by one, Pope Francis knelt down before these migrants on Holy Thursday and washed their feet.
The ritual, performed in a center for asylum seekers outside of Rome, comes amid anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe and in the wake of a terrorist attack in Brussels, for which the Islamic State has claimed responsibility.
"All of us together, Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, Copts, Evangelical [Protestants] brothers and sisters — children of the same God — we want to live in peace, integrated," Francis said during his homily.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Truths
"Truth"
Truth no 1 :
nobody is real in this world except Mother..
😊
Truth no. 2 :
a poor person has no friends..
😊
Truth no. 3 :
people do not like good thoughts they like good looks..
😊
Truth no 4 :
people respect the money not the person..
😊
Truth no 5 :
the person you love the most, will hurt you the most !
😊
Truth no 6 :
"Truth is Simple, But, The Moment YOU try to Explain it...
It Becomes Difficult"
😊
Truth no 7 :
"When you are happy you enjoy the music", but
"when you are sad, you understand the lyrics".
😊
Truth no 8 :
IN LIFE Two things define you-
"Your patience" when you have nothing...
&
"Your attitude" when you have everything...
Rightly said "The internet shows us how small the world is...but a missing plane shows, how big our planet is.."
Truth no 1 :
nobody is real in this world except Mother..
😊
Truth no. 2 :
a poor person has no friends..
😊
Truth no. 3 :
people do not like good thoughts they like good looks..
😊
Truth no 4 :
people respect the money not the person..
😊
Truth no 5 :
the person you love the most, will hurt you the most !
😊
Truth no 6 :
"Truth is Simple, But, The Moment YOU try to Explain it...
It Becomes Difficult"
😊
Truth no 7 :
"When you are happy you enjoy the music", but
"when you are sad, you understand the lyrics".
😊
Truth no 8 :
IN LIFE Two things define you-
"Your patience" when you have nothing...
&
"Your attitude" when you have everything...
Rightly said "The internet shows us how small the world is...but a missing plane shows, how big our planet is.."
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Ravishankar and Ustad Allah Rakha
Longer version of Ravishankar video. It's from Monterey International Festival- 1967.
http://youtu.be/lk60ObnbIOk
http://youtu.be/lk60ObnbIOk
Fwd: [eChintan] Fw: Surender Bhutani sent you a video: "Shamim Hanfi: On Urdu and Hindi"
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Surender Bhutani suren84in@yahoo.com [eChintan]" <eChintan@yahoogroups.com>
Date: March 18, 2016 at 11:12:28 PM PDT
To: yahoogroups <echintan@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [eChintan] Fw: Surender Bhutani sent you a video: "Shamim Hanfi: On Urdu and Hindi"
Reply-To: eChintan@yahoogroups.com
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Surender Bhutani via YouTube <noreply@youtube.com>
To: suren84in@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday, 18 March 2016 9:12 PM
Subject: Surender Bhutani sent you a video: "Shamim Hanfi: On Urdu and Hindi"
Surender Bhutani sent you a video: "Shamim Hanfi: On Urdu and Hindi"
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Friday, March 18, 2016
अकेलापन और एकांत
'अकेलापन' इस संसार में सबसे बड़ी सज़ा है.!
और 'एकांत'
इस संसार में सबसे बड़ा वरदान.!!
ये दो समानार्थी दिखने वाले
शब्दों के अर्थ में
. आकाश पाताल का अंतर है।
अकेलेपन में छटपटाहट है
तो एकांत में आराम है।
अकेलेपन में घबराहट है
तो एकांत में शांति।
जब तक हमारी नज़र
बाहरकी ओर है तब तक हम.
अकेलापन महसूस करते हैं
और
जैसे ही नज़र भीतर की ओर मुड़ी
तो एकांत अनुभव होने लगता है।
ये जीवन और कुछ नहीं
वस्तुतः
अकेलेपन से एकांत की ओर
एक यात्रा ही है.!!
ऐसी यात्रा जिसमें
रास्ता भी हम हैं, राही भी हम हैं
और मंज़िल भी हम ही हैं.
और 'एकांत'
इस संसार में सबसे बड़ा वरदान.!!
ये दो समानार्थी दिखने वाले
शब्दों के अर्थ में
. आकाश पाताल का अंतर है।
अकेलेपन में छटपटाहट है
तो एकांत में आराम है।
अकेलेपन में घबराहट है
तो एकांत में शांति।
जब तक हमारी नज़र
बाहरकी ओर है तब तक हम.
अकेलापन महसूस करते हैं
और
जैसे ही नज़र भीतर की ओर मुड़ी
तो एकांत अनुभव होने लगता है।
ये जीवन और कुछ नहीं
वस्तुतः
अकेलेपन से एकांत की ओर
एक यात्रा ही है.!!
ऐसी यात्रा जिसमें
रास्ता भी हम हैं, राही भी हम हैं
और मंज़िल भी हम ही हैं.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Ramayan
Q: Please tell us something about Hanuman?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is said that the Ramayana is happening in your own body. Your soul is Rama, your mind is Sita, your breath or life-force is Hanuman, your awareness is Laxmana and your ego is Ravana. When Sita (mind) was stolen by Ravana (Ego) then Rama (soul) got restless. Now the soul (Rama) cannot reach the mind (Sita) on its own, it has to take the help of the breath (Hanuman) - the prana. With the help of the prana ( Hanuman) the mind (Sita) got reunited with the soul ( Rama) , and the ego (Ravana) vanished. This is the spiritual significance of the story.😊
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is said that the Ramayana is happening in your own body. Your soul is Rama, your mind is Sita, your breath or life-force is Hanuman, your awareness is Laxmana and your ego is Ravana. When Sita (mind) was stolen by Ravana (Ego) then Rama (soul) got restless. Now the soul (Rama) cannot reach the mind (Sita) on its own, it has to take the help of the breath (Hanuman) - the prana. With the help of the prana ( Hanuman) the mind (Sita) got reunited with the soul ( Rama) , and the ego (Ravana) vanished. This is the spiritual significance of the story.😊
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
जीवन की चादर में
😊: इस जीवन की चादर में,
सांसों के ताने बाने हैं,
दुख की थोड़ी सी सलवट है,
सुख के कुछ फूल सुहाने हैं.
क्यों सोचे आगे क्या होगा,
अब कल के कौन ठिकाने हैं,
ऊपर बैठा वो बाजीगर ,
जाने क्या मन में ठाने है.
चाहे जितना भी जतन करे,
भरने का दामन तारों से,
झोली में वो ही आएँगे,
जो तेरे नाम के दाने है.""
प्यारी सुबह का
मीठा मीठा नमस्कार
🙏☺
सांसों के ताने बाने हैं,
दुख की थोड़ी सी सलवट है,
सुख के कुछ फूल सुहाने हैं.
क्यों सोचे आगे क्या होगा,
अब कल के कौन ठिकाने हैं,
ऊपर बैठा वो बाजीगर ,
जाने क्या मन में ठाने है.
चाहे जितना भी जतन करे,
भरने का दामन तारों से,
झोली में वो ही आएँगे,
जो तेरे नाम के दाने है.""
प्यारी सुबह का
मीठा मीठा नमस्कार
🙏☺
Fwd: [eChintan] Fw: Surender Bhutani sent you a video: "UNCUT Javed Akhtar’s Incredible Farewell Speech in Parliament | March 15 2016 FULL"
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Surender Bhutani suren84in@yahoo.com [eChintan]" <eChintan@yahoogroups.com>
Date: March 16, 2016 at 1:29:17 AM PDT
To: yahoogroups <echintan@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [eChintan] Fw: Surender Bhutani sent you a video: "UNCUT Javed Akhtar's Incredible Farewell Speech in Parliament | March 15 2016 FULL"
Reply-To: eChintan@yahoogroups.com
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Surender Bhutani via YouTube <noreply@youtube.com>
To: suren84in@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, 16 March 2016 9:28 AM
Subject: Surender Bhutani sent you a video: "UNCUT Javed Akhtar's Incredible Farewell Speech in Parliament | March 15 2016 FULL"
Surender Bhutani sent you a video: "UNCUT Javed Akhtar's Incredible Farewell Speech in Parliament | March 15 2016 FULL"
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Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Fwd: 7 Sanskrit Coursebooks for Beginners
From: Manish Modi <manishymodi@gmail.com>
Date: March 15, 2016 at 5:11:33 AM PDT
To: ROZ EK SHER <ROZ-EK-SHER@googlegroups.com>, JAIN CLASS <jain-class@googlegroups.com>
Subject: 7 Sanskrit Coursebooks for Beginners
Reply-To: manishymodi@gmail.com
--|| ॐ ह्रीं श्रीसीमन्धरस्वामिने नमः ||
|| Auṃ Hrīṃ ŚrīSīmandharasvāmine Namaḥ ||
Jay Jinendra
7 Sanskrit Coursebooks for Beginners
http://www.navelgazing.net/2014/10/sanskrit-is-fun-7-sanskrit-coursebooks.html
Sanskrit Is Fun
Edited by Warwick Jessup & Elena Jessup
Foreword by Prof Satya Vrat Shastri
Preface by Prof Richard Gombrich
Set of 3 books
2012 30 x 21 cm 239 pages
Paperback Rs. 285 for the set
The Stories of Krishna
Edited by Warwick Jessup & Elena Jessup
Set of 2 books
2012 30 x 21 cm 380 pages
Paperback Rs. 350 for the set
The Stories of Rama
Edited by Warwick Jessup & Elena Jessup
Set of 2 books
2012 30 x 21 cm 294 pages
Paperback Rs. 350 for the set
Total: 7 books for Rs. 985 [2.5 kilos]
Here is a really fine set of 7 books for those who wish to learn Sanskrit. These books have been designed for use in the St James Schools in London but are perfectly suited for use in Indian schools as well.
As lovers of Sanskrit it is extremely satisfying to see so many new books available for those who wish to learn Sanskrit. Especially for the youth, it is essential that textbooks are well presented and reader-friendly.
These beautifully printed books are the ideal gift for anyone who would like to promote the study of Sanskrit, especially amongst the youth. These books are perfectly designed for Westerners and Indian students who have no exposure to Indian scripts and languages.
The books are well-graded and supported by appropriate illustrations that make them very attractive to the young. Today, many Indian schools as well as schools situated outside India offer Sanskrit studies. For such students, these books are the perfect means of making friends with Sanskrit. These books could be useful for those involved in the performing arts: theatre, dance and music, esp. singing. They would be ideal for students of Yoga and Ayurveda.
The first group of three books titled 'Sanskrit Is Fun' introduces learners to the Devanagari script. Letters are grouped according to their place of articulation called 'family' comprising both vowels and consonants. Learners are first taught how to draw the letters. Learning is assisted by the fact that the letters are presented in the form of animal figures. The next step is to add vowel to the consonant. And then to teach joint consonants. Finally, words and sentences are formed.
The second group of four books seeks to teach Sanskrit with reference to the age old stories of Krishna and Rama. These stories which command an interest of their own are pressed into service to teach vocabulary, the formation of nouns and the conjugation of verbs in all three tenses. Adjectives and prepositions are also covered.
By the time learners have completed this course, they will have a good basic grasp of the Sanskrit language, its vocabulary, structure and grammar. These books are an attempt to teach Sanskrit in a simple and systematic manner that may well dispel the notion that Sanskrit is a difficult language.
This set of 7 books is superb for youngsters who wish to learn Sanskrit. We are happy and proud to promote this set along with the other Sanskrit learning materials that we sell.
At Hindi Granth Karyalay, we have been delighting readers since 1912. We are committed to make the best writings on Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism and South Asian Studies available all over the world. Which is why, besides our own publications, we stock and sell books from all the major publishers of India. At our bookstore, which is the oldest in Mumbai, we stock thousands of books on various topics such as religion, philosophy, Indology, literature, poetry, dramatics, art, self-help, yoga, children's literature, alternative medicine, music, cinema and sports. We carry books in Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali, Apabhramsha, Gujarati, Urdu, Kannada and Marathi.
We have also begun to stock books like graphic novels, popular English novels, etc. We aim to be a one-stop bookstore that caters to different tastes.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
1. We dispatch books after receiving payment.
2. How to pay us
We accept payments through Money Order and Demand Draft, Visa and MasterCard, NEFT and SWIFT. Else, if you live in India, you could simply deposit the money at any branch of Bank of India.
3. Shipping
In India we send books either by Registered Book Post or by surface transport.
Internationally, we ship books through FedEx, DHL, UPS, TNT, etc.
4. A list of our own publications
http://www.navelgazing.net/2013/03/a-list-of-our-publications_19.html
5. Directions: How to reach us
http://www.navelgazing.net/2013/04/directions-how-to-reach-hindi-granth.html
Best regards,
Manish Yashodhar Modi
हिन्दी ग्रन्थ कार्यालय
१९१२ से धर्म, संस्कृति तथा साहित्य की सेवा में
HINDI GRANTH KARYALAY
Serving Religion, Culture and Literature Since 1912
9 Hirabaug CP Tank
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Monday, March 14, 2016
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Bill Gates Recommends
Evan Thomas, the best-selling biographer of Robert F. Kennedy and Dwight D. Eisenhower and the author of a half-dozen other books, has seen those books reviewed over the years by The New Yorker, The Washington Post and The Atlantic. But with the recent publication of his latest work, "Being Nixon: A Man Divided," Thomas experienced for the first time a new phenomenon: the Bill Gates bump.
Just before Christmas, Thomas learned that his book had been favorably reviewed by Gates on his blog, Gates Notes.
"I'm surprised by the number of biographies I read that paint their subjects in black-and-white terms," Gates wrote. "A classic example is former U.S. President Richard Nixon, who is too often portrayed as little more than a crook and a warmonger. So it was refreshing to see a more balanced account in 'Being Nixon,' by author and journalist Evan Thomas." The review was illustrated by a photograph of the book on a desk adorned with objects from the Nixon era, like a rotary phone.
Thomas was taken by surprise. "I've never met Bill Gates," he said. "I had no idea he had a books blog."
"I was thrilled because he has a lot of reach," Thomas said, adding that sales of the book jumped soon after that review was posted. "I can tell the blog is well read because I heard from all sorts of random people."
For years, Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft who now focuses on the philanthropic work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, had been scribbling notes in the margins of books he was reading and then emailing recommendations to friends and colleagues.
Then he began to post these recommendations and critiques on the blog. "A few years ago I started thinking it would be fun to share some of these notes with the public," Gates wrote in a recent email interview. "I have always loved reading and learning, so it is great if people see a book review and feel encouraged to read and share what they think online or with their friends."
Gates says he reads about 50 books in a year, eschewing digital readers for old-fashioned books on paper. When he is busy with work, he reads about a book or two a week, but will consume four or five in the same period while vacationing with family.
He has loved reading since boyhood. "I did things like reading the encyclopedia for fun," he said, "and I was lucky in that my parents would buy me any book I wanted."
The books section is one of a handful on Gates' blog. He also writes on his philanthropic work and his foundation's endeavors in health care, education and the like. The blog is filled with personal touches like a slideshow of him with his friend Warren Buffett (including one of Buffett doing push-ups at Gates' 50th birthday celebration) and an ode to his father to mark his father's 90th birthday. But his book reviews tend to generate the most attention.
On Gates Notes, he often recommends books that have a bend toward science and public health. This year, he read, and liked, "Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World," by Mark Miodownik; "On Immunity: An Inoculation," by Eula Biss; and "Should We Eat Meat? Evolution and Consequences of Modern Carnivory," by Vaclav Smil, to name a few.
Last month, he published a short list and accompanying video of his favorite books read in 2015. (His reviews are not necessarily for books published within the calendar year.) The list included Thomas' Nixon biography; "Eradication: Ridding the World of Diseases Forever?" by Nancy Leys Stepan; and "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success," by Carol S. Dweck. ("'Mindset' first came to my attention a few years ago," Gates wrote, "in a fascinating ...(Continued on next page)
invention session on education with my friend Nathan Myhrvold.")
On the best-of list, he also included, "Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words," by Randall Munroe, the graphic writer and cartoonist who created the blog XKCD.
Earlier in the year, Gates lavished praise on an earlier book of Munroe's: "What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions." "My guess is that you haven't spent a whole lot of time wondering what would happen if you pitched a baseball at 90 percent of the speed of light," he wrote. "I haven't either. But that's O.K., because Randall Munroe has figured it out and explained it really clearly in his book 'What If?'"
Munroe first learned that Gates had read and enjoyed his book when a relative sent him a screen shot of a photograph showing Gates reading his book. "I stared at it for a while," Munroe said in a phone interview. "It didn't really register. I didn't know what to do."
Gates said in the interview that he tries to fill his reviews with bits of information he hopes people will consider, even if they don't end up reading the book. "I read textbooks related to global health but they are pretty technical for a general audience, so I generally don't review them," he said. "I make an exception for things like 'Sustainable Materials: With Both Eyes Open,' where the authors' conclusions are important, and they help clarify some important basic facts. I like to share what I learn from books like that because I know most people won't read the whole thing, but some will read an 800-word review of it."
He also shares some unexpected titles. Of Allie Brosh's memoir, "Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened," Gates wrote: "You will rip through it in three hours, tops. But you'll wish it went on longer, because it's funny and smart as hell. I must have interrupted Melinda a dozen times to read to her passages that made me laugh out loud."
Of the novel "The Rosie Project," by Graeme Simsion, Gates wrote: "I started it myself at 11 p.m. one Saturday and stayed up with it until 3 the next morning. Anyone who occasionally gets overly logical will identify with the hero, a genetics professor with Asperger's syndrome who goes looking for a wife. (Melinda thought I would appreciate the parts where he's a little too obsessed with optimizing his schedule. She was right.)"
He rarely posts negative reviews of books, explaining that he sees no need to waste anyone's time telling them why they shouldn't bother reading something. He doesn't spare himself, though. "I have a habit, which I don't recommend, of finishing essentially every book I start," he said. "And if I disagree with a book I spend lots of time writing notes in the margins. Perversely, this means that the more I dislike a book, the longer I spend reading it."
As publishers have become more aware of Gates' reviews - missing the publicity they used to get from Oprah Winfrey's televised book club or from the regular author appearances on "The Colbert Report," which have been less frequent since Stephen Colbert moved to CBS from Comedy Central - they have tried to figure out how to get their new books in front of Gates.
Stephanie Kim, a publicist for Munroe's publisher, hustled her way into a connection with someone on Gates's team only to be told, "'We don't have any say over what Bill chooses,'" she said "'We just leave it on his desk, and he reads what he wants to read.'" Kim lucked out.
Gates' reading selections are influenced by his wife, his work and the experiences that move him. "Someone at the foundation recently recommended 'The Vital Question,' by Nick Lane," he said, "which is about mitochondria and the origins of life on Earth. It was so good that as soon as I finished it, I ordered all of Lane's other books."
"This is one of the things I love about reading," Gates said. "Each book opens up new avenues of knowledge to explore."
Just before Christmas, Thomas learned that his book had been favorably reviewed by Gates on his blog, Gates Notes.
"I'm surprised by the number of biographies I read that paint their subjects in black-and-white terms," Gates wrote. "A classic example is former U.S. President Richard Nixon, who is too often portrayed as little more than a crook and a warmonger. So it was refreshing to see a more balanced account in 'Being Nixon,' by author and journalist Evan Thomas." The review was illustrated by a photograph of the book on a desk adorned with objects from the Nixon era, like a rotary phone.
Thomas was taken by surprise. "I've never met Bill Gates," he said. "I had no idea he had a books blog."
"I was thrilled because he has a lot of reach," Thomas said, adding that sales of the book jumped soon after that review was posted. "I can tell the blog is well read because I heard from all sorts of random people."
For years, Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft who now focuses on the philanthropic work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, had been scribbling notes in the margins of books he was reading and then emailing recommendations to friends and colleagues.
Then he began to post these recommendations and critiques on the blog. "A few years ago I started thinking it would be fun to share some of these notes with the public," Gates wrote in a recent email interview. "I have always loved reading and learning, so it is great if people see a book review and feel encouraged to read and share what they think online or with their friends."
Gates says he reads about 50 books in a year, eschewing digital readers for old-fashioned books on paper. When he is busy with work, he reads about a book or two a week, but will consume four or five in the same period while vacationing with family.
He has loved reading since boyhood. "I did things like reading the encyclopedia for fun," he said, "and I was lucky in that my parents would buy me any book I wanted."
The books section is one of a handful on Gates' blog. He also writes on his philanthropic work and his foundation's endeavors in health care, education and the like. The blog is filled with personal touches like a slideshow of him with his friend Warren Buffett (including one of Buffett doing push-ups at Gates' 50th birthday celebration) and an ode to his father to mark his father's 90th birthday. But his book reviews tend to generate the most attention.
On Gates Notes, he often recommends books that have a bend toward science and public health. This year, he read, and liked, "Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World," by Mark Miodownik; "On Immunity: An Inoculation," by Eula Biss; and "Should We Eat Meat? Evolution and Consequences of Modern Carnivory," by Vaclav Smil, to name a few.
Last month, he published a short list and accompanying video of his favorite books read in 2015. (His reviews are not necessarily for books published within the calendar year.) The list included Thomas' Nixon biography; "Eradication: Ridding the World of Diseases Forever?" by Nancy Leys Stepan; and "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success," by Carol S. Dweck. ("'Mindset' first came to my attention a few years ago," Gates wrote, "in a fascinating ...(Continued on next page)
invention session on education with my friend Nathan Myhrvold.")
On the best-of list, he also included, "Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words," by Randall Munroe, the graphic writer and cartoonist who created the blog XKCD.
Earlier in the year, Gates lavished praise on an earlier book of Munroe's: "What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions." "My guess is that you haven't spent a whole lot of time wondering what would happen if you pitched a baseball at 90 percent of the speed of light," he wrote. "I haven't either. But that's O.K., because Randall Munroe has figured it out and explained it really clearly in his book 'What If?'"
Munroe first learned that Gates had read and enjoyed his book when a relative sent him a screen shot of a photograph showing Gates reading his book. "I stared at it for a while," Munroe said in a phone interview. "It didn't really register. I didn't know what to do."
Gates said in the interview that he tries to fill his reviews with bits of information he hopes people will consider, even if they don't end up reading the book. "I read textbooks related to global health but they are pretty technical for a general audience, so I generally don't review them," he said. "I make an exception for things like 'Sustainable Materials: With Both Eyes Open,' where the authors' conclusions are important, and they help clarify some important basic facts. I like to share what I learn from books like that because I know most people won't read the whole thing, but some will read an 800-word review of it."
He also shares some unexpected titles. Of Allie Brosh's memoir, "Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened," Gates wrote: "You will rip through it in three hours, tops. But you'll wish it went on longer, because it's funny and smart as hell. I must have interrupted Melinda a dozen times to read to her passages that made me laugh out loud."
Of the novel "The Rosie Project," by Graeme Simsion, Gates wrote: "I started it myself at 11 p.m. one Saturday and stayed up with it until 3 the next morning. Anyone who occasionally gets overly logical will identify with the hero, a genetics professor with Asperger's syndrome who goes looking for a wife. (Melinda thought I would appreciate the parts where he's a little too obsessed with optimizing his schedule. She was right.)"
He rarely posts negative reviews of books, explaining that he sees no need to waste anyone's time telling them why they shouldn't bother reading something. He doesn't spare himself, though. "I have a habit, which I don't recommend, of finishing essentially every book I start," he said. "And if I disagree with a book I spend lots of time writing notes in the margins. Perversely, this means that the more I dislike a book, the longer I spend reading it."
As publishers have become more aware of Gates' reviews - missing the publicity they used to get from Oprah Winfrey's televised book club or from the regular author appearances on "The Colbert Report," which have been less frequent since Stephen Colbert moved to CBS from Comedy Central - they have tried to figure out how to get their new books in front of Gates.
Stephanie Kim, a publicist for Munroe's publisher, hustled her way into a connection with someone on Gates's team only to be told, "'We don't have any say over what Bill chooses,'" she said "'We just leave it on his desk, and he reads what he wants to read.'" Kim lucked out.
Gates' reading selections are influenced by his wife, his work and the experiences that move him. "Someone at the foundation recently recommended 'The Vital Question,' by Nick Lane," he said, "which is about mitochondria and the origins of life on Earth. It was so good that as soon as I finished it, I ordered all of Lane's other books."
"This is one of the things I love about reading," Gates said. "Each book opens up new avenues of knowledge to explore."
Fwd: ROZ EK SHER : Akhtar Shirani
Best Regards,
Rahul
513-341-6798
Begin forwarded message:
From: MANISH MODI <manishymodi@gmail.com>
Date: July 13, 2012 at 2:29:12 PM PDT
To: ROZ EK SHER <roz-ek-sher@googlegroups.com>
Subject: ROZ EK SHER : Akhtar Shirani
Reply-To: manishymodi@gmail.com
--इश्क़ में तुझको भी अपना हमज़बां समझा था मैंतेरे दिल को दर्दे-दिल का राज़दां समझा था मैं
आह! उस दिन जब कि तू पहले-पहल आकर मिलीसारी पिछली ज़िन्दगी को रायगां समझा था मैं
~ अख़्तर शीरानी
ishq mein tujhko bhii apnaa humzubaan samajhaa thaa main
tere dil ko darde-dil kaa raazdaan samajhaa thaa main
aah! us din jab ki tuu pahle-pahal aakar milii
saarii pichhlii zindagii ko raayagaan samajhaa thaa main
~ Akhtar Shirani
I thought that you and I were one in our understanding of love.
I thought I could confide my innermost feelings with you.
Oh! The day that you first came and met me,
I felt that my entire past life was useless (since I had not met you).
English translation by Manish Modi
If you do not like receiving "ROZ EK SHER" please send an email to ROZ-EK-SHER-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
Fwd: ROZ EK SHER : Akhtar Shirani
Best Regards,
Rahul
513-341-6798
Begin forwarded message:
From: MANISH MODI <manishymodi@gmail.com>
Date: July 19, 2012 at 4:10:29 AM PDT
To: ROZ EK SHER <roz-ek-sher@googlegroups.com>
Subject: ROZ EK SHER : Akhtar Shirani
Reply-To: manishymodi@gmail.com
--उसे फूलों ने मेरी याद में बेताब देखा है
सितारों की नज़र ने रात भर बेख्व़ाब देखा है
~ अख़्तर शीरानी
use phuulon ne merii yaad mein betaab dekhaa hai
sitaaron kii nazar ne raat bhar bekhvaab dekhaa hai
~ Akhtar Shirani
Flowers have seen her anxiously waiting for me.
Stars have witnessed her lying awake at night.
______
Book of the day
BHAGAVADGITA
Hindi Poetic translation by Harivanshrai Bachchan
Earlier published as Nagar Gita
Published with several line drawings
2012 22 x 14 cm 288 pages
Deluxe paperback edition Rs. 395
If you do not like receiving "ROZ EK SHER" please send an email to ROZ-EK-SHER-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
Fwd: ROZ EK SHER : Tauqir Abbas
Best Regards,
Rahul
513-341-6798
Begin forwarded message:
From: Manish Modi <manishymodi@gmail.com>
Date: January 23, 2016 at 3:26:09 AM PST
To: ROZ EK SHER <ROZ-EK-SHER@googlegroups.com>, JAIN CLASS <jain-class@googlegroups.com>
Subject: ROZ EK SHER : Tauqir Abbas
Reply-To: manishymodi@gmail.com
--न जाने आग कैसी आईने में हो रही थीधुआँ भी उठ रहा था रौशनी भी हो रही थी~ तौक़ीर अब्बासنہ جانے آگ کیسی آئینے میں ہو رہی تھیدھواں بھی اٹھ رہا تھا روشنی بھی ہو رہی تھیتوقیر عبّاس ~na jaane aag kaisii aaiine mein ho rahii thiidhuaan bhii uth rahaa thaa raushnii bhii ho rahii thii~ Tauqir AbbasThe mirror was alight with a strange fireThere was smoke as well as radianceNB The mirror is symbolic of our soul. When the soul is alight with the fire of meditation and penance, it is accompanied by smoke as well as radiance. Smoke arises from the ignorance which is being shed. The radiance is due to the innate effulgence of the soul which emerges once ignorance is shed through enlightened perception, knowledge and conduct._____Urdu couplet by Tauqir AbbasCourtesy Suresh KumarEnglish translation by Manish Modi
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Fwd: ROZ EK SHER : Shahryaar
Best Regards,
Rahul
513-341-6798
Begin forwarded message:
From: Manish Modi <manishymodi@gmail.com>
Date: January 27, 2016 at 8:04:06 AM PST
To: ROZ EK SHER <ROZ-EK-SHER@googlegroups.com>, JAIN CLASS <jain-class@googlegroups.com>
Subject: ROZ EK SHER : Shahryaar
Reply-To: manishymodi@gmail.com
--|| ॐ ह्रीं श्रीपार्श्वनाथाय नमः ||
|| Auṃ Hrīṃ ŚrīPārśvanāthāya Namaḥ ||
Jay Jinendra
बहुत दूर तुझ
से कभी मैं न थामगर दिन लगे थे सफ़र में बहुत
~ शहरयारبہت دور تجھ سے کبھی میں نہ تھامگر دن لگے تھے سفر میں بہت~ شہریار
bahut duur tujh se kabhii main na thaa
magar din lage the safar mein bahut
~ ShahryaarI was never very far away from youBut the journey tookmany daysNB Our soul is a constant presence.Some of us deny the very existence of the soul. Others are happy to accept the existence of the soul as an immanent being which transcends our physical manifestation. But how many of us would spend a lifetime trying to immerse ourselves in the soul? We are perfectly willing to spend our lives chasing material wealth. Few people go beyond paying lip service to the spiritual quest.Those who actually do embark on the inward journey with complete focus, attain oneness with the transcendental self. Then, they realise that they were never far away from their eternal soul but realising that took them a long time.______Urdu couplet by ShahryaarCourtesy Ramesh ChandraEnglish translation by Manish Modi
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