Its my time to say thank you and so long until we cross paths again... Its been a fun ride here at Sun and I am now looking forward to what life has to offer next. It would be great to stay in touch...

I can be reached via email: neeraj (at the rate of ) gee-mail daute kom. Other ways to connect with me...

LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter

Thanks for all the exchange of information, work that we have done together,  and advice.

My Future Blog

PS: Katy: thanks for the idea. Wish you well!

During our last visit to Texas, we met with my best friend from undergrad, Chandan and his girlfriend, Estella. While I shall write about our wonderful trip and visit to Dallas and San Antonio some other time, this entry is related to a wonderful song that I listened to and have been wanting to own the CD of for the last 4 months. En route to San Antonio,Bulleh Shah (1680-1757) Chandan played a CD with one of the most beautiful songs/verse that I have heard in a long time in his car. Rabbi Shergill, someone I had not been exposed to before, with his really soothing voice sung this beautifully written verse by Bulleh Shah (18th century Punjabi Sufi poet and humanist) in an amazing composition with all the modern instruments. An awesome song! So good that I turned down the offer to take the mp3. Instead, I wanted pay and buy a CD so that the singer (and everyone associated with the song/album) gets his due.

Unfortunately, despite looking frantically at all places in the bay-area for over 4 months, I am yet to find a place that actually carries one. My only alternative (and no, it's not available via amazon either), wait 'til a friend/family member travels to this side of the world and would be willing to bring one....
For those who are intrigued, here's the written version and one of it's translations (I am not sure if it is the most correct one). You have to listen to really understand...

Translation Courtesy: Chowk.Com
Note: If someone knows of a store where I can buy this in the bay-area, please do drop me a comment with the name of the place and address. 

When the San Jose Sharks lost the second round series of NHL Playoffs last year to Edmonton (4-2) after leading 2-0, we consoled ourselves. Edmonton Oilers took some cheap shots, played dirty and our Lady Byng award nominee Patrick Marleau and his crew were a little too small, a little immature and not ready for big time yet. 

We waited for Doug Wilson to show his can do attitude punctuated by a really sharp and effective coach in Ron Wilson. While Ron was tightening the loose strings, Doug provided the likes of Mike Grier (a great penalty killer and an effective short-handed goal scorer) during the summer. Season started and Sharks seemed to be doing reasonably well and hopes were rising high. After all, this was the youngest, fastest and biggest team in the NHL. With a prolific goal-scorer (Jonathan Cheechoo) and a great play-maker (Joe Thornton) playing on a team that could proudly roll 4-lines back to back having superb goal-tending who was there to stop Sharks from going all the way. To strengthen the defense Doug brought Craig Rivet, and as the final piece of the puzzle came the center Bill Guerin just before the trade-deadline expired. Awesome! I kept recording the matches and as much as my wife would hate it watched the games late at night while still trying to finish off the homework and reading. I kept saying to myself, "We are going to have a party in the downtown and I will finally, after almost a decade of following like crazy, be able to say SJ Sharks has won a Stanley Cup."

Sharks did not enter the playoffs with the bang that I had hoped for, yet it was a reasonable 5th spot (in a total of 8) in the Western Conference. Darn! We meet those (Nashville) Predators (4th seed) again. But hey, we had whipped them last year and it should not be that difficult this time around either. Although Preds did get Foresberg, Sharks almost steam rolled them. The Shrek look-alike coach of Nashville should gracefully quit and go somewhere else (hint: Ogres live in a swamp!).

Unfortunately for the Sharks fans, the history was to repeat itself. The good win and momentum built over Preds series was  squandered away in no time. A good start by winning against Detroit Red Wings (a formidable opponent) in their building allowed Sharks to get a head-start. Yet, Sharks' inability to close out during critical moments, lack of concentration, lack of stepping up to the plate allowed Detroit Red Wings  to take the critical 4th game in San Jose and get leveled (2-2) in a series that had no place for lapses. [Whoever threw that dead shark on the ice that night, you should find the nearest and deepest spot somewhere in the Pacific Ocean and jump into the cold water!]

There wasn't a whole lot after that 4th game - either in the Sharks' legs, spirits, or in the series. Sharks went on to lose 4-2 in San Jose within days of that 4th game and called it a year that could have been...

When the year started, we had great hopes, lots of dreams. Alas! All of it turned out to be more of a hype than real guts! Sharks have a long way to go, the question is what would it need to turn the Kan(not) do mentality around?

I believe the answer is simple - "hunger for touching/holding the Lord Stanley's Cup!"

Will it be 2008? Let's at least hope for that...

PS: Good Luck to Ottawa! I hope they can bring the glory back to the town that started this all and in the meantime - have roasted Ducks for lunch!

(All images are copyrights of their respective owners!)

I heard about this Superhero quiz from many folks and saw it on Dan's Blog. Finally, took the quiz a few weeks ago and despite tinkering with the answers here and there quite a few times (ok, numerous times) I still end up as Superman. [If you have not yet seen Smallville, you must!]

Honestly, I would have preferred Spiderman as that's what my wife really likes. Real life or cartoon, gotta keep the boss happy! Perhaps the idea of a trip to Krypton and skiing would make her happy.

I am a Superman, .i.e. Mild-mannered, good, strong and I love to help others.

Superman 85% Green Lantern 78% The Flash 50% Iron Man 50% Robin 45% Spider-Man 45% Supergirl 35% Catwoman 25% Wonder Woman 25% Hulk 25% Batman 20%