Ro-mo-Oh-No

The worst 4th quarter for Cowboys: A fumble that leads to eight points. A dropped hold on a field goal. Critical mistakes doomed the Cowboys and Seahawks win 21-20.

It was 1:19 in the 4th quarter... only a "simple" field-goal attempt stood between Cowboys and the first playoffs win for them since 1996 - before the attempt I was thinking this is automatic, Cowboys will win it. But now I know that in NFL, you can't take anything for granted. You have to be efficient in all 3 phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams! Every play counts!

Gramatica was the kicker... Romo was the holder... the snap was good, but somehow the ball slipped from his hands... he failed to set the ball for Gramatica and then tried to out-run the defense for either the first down or the touch-down, but failed.

Romo... Oh noooo!!! :-(

I can' t believe what I saw tonight... the way Dallas Cowboys lost tonight's game is heart-breaking... So much work and great effort by the entire team - specially the way Cowboys defence played - all for nothing... nada... zippppppppppppppp!



I was a big Cricket fan and I got sick of watching India's cricket team snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and stopped watching late last year... I have seen Cowboys do this in the 3 of the last 4 games - tonight's being the worst! I hope they don't make this a habit. Successful teams (and people) always learn from their mistakes and don't repeat them. Great teams (and people) not only learn from their mistakes, but they learn from other's mistakes.

It is unfortunate that Romo was not able to complete the FG play efficiently, but it'll be foolish to blame Romo for this loss. There were other opportunities that the Cowboys did not take advantage of and continued to commit mistakes, specially in the 4th quarter. The team has lots of talent and potential, but they need to work on discipline & fundamentals. They must cut down on the silly mistake & mindless penalties, specially when the game is on the line.

I am very disappointed and sad, but I have not lost the faith in my Cowboys. I know Romo & Parcells will come back strong next season and I really believe they have it in them to win the Superbowl 2008.

But tonight I feel bad & sad for the Cowboys players, coaches & the fans! :-(

NFL Playoffs Predictions (Wild Card Weekend)

Kansas City (9-7) @ Indianapolis (12-4)
Chiefs have one of the best running games in football with LJ in the backfield and also can pass a bit when necessary. Indy on the other hand, has such a poor run defense (ranks last in the NFL with 173.0 yards allowed per game) that they probably wouldn’t be able to stop a stoned Ricky Williams. But the Colts explosive offense can make up for their patchy defense. Indianapolis ranks 2nd in the league with 26.7 points per game and quarterback Peyton Manning ranks 2nd with 4,397 passing yards. Colts win 30-21

Dallas (9-7) @ Seattle (9-7)
As much as I love Tony Romo, his performance as of late has been woefully inconsistant and he definitely needs to be on if Dallas wants to stand a chance at winning. Furthermore, Dallas– as shown in last weeks game against Detroit– can’t stop the big play, and Seattle is full of big-time offensive players. But with Parcells' experience, Romo's creativity and a little bit of luck, Dallas wins this one. Dallas win 27-24

at Saturday, 3:30 p.m. CT on NBC The Chiefs (9-7) got the help they needed Sunday and earned a date with Indianapolis Colts (12-4) in the wild-card round of the playoffs. But it won't be easy for the AFC's sixth seed as they head to the RCA Dome, where the Colts completed their first perfect season at home since 1958 when the Baltimore Colts won the NFL championship. Still, the key for the Chiefs will be the matchup of running back Larry Johnson, who set an NFL record for carries this season with 416, against an Indianapolis defense that has surrendered rushing yardage in bunches this year.

at Saturday, 7 p.m. CT on NBC Despite owning the top wild card, Dallas (9-7) goes into January having lost consecutive games for the first time all season. The Cowboys also have dropped three of four since owning a two-game division lead in early December. The situation is equally disappointing for the Seahawks (9-7) , who needed a win in the finale to halt a 3-game skid. "Our record isn't what we had hoped, to be honest with you, but there's something about 9-7 being a lot better than 8-8," coach Mike Holmgren said. The teams have met 10 times, with Dallas holding a 6-4 edge, but this will be the first postseason encounter.

A Guy witnesses an accident

Roger Rick and Marilync - Morning Show Bits
"A Guy witnesses an accident"

Books I will be reading

These books look very interesting:

Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide (Hardcover)
by Henry Jenkins (Rank #1443)

The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More (Hardcover)
by Chris Anderson (Rank #148)

Small Is the New Big: and 183 Other Riffs, Rants, and Remarkable Business Ideas (Hardcover)
by Seth Godin (Rank #1603)

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference (Paperback)
by Malcolm Gladwell (Rank #39)

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (Hardcover)
by Malcolm Gladwell (Rank #62)

iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business (Hardcover)
by Jeffrey S. Young, William L. Simon (Rank #8k)

The Inheritance of Loss (Paperback)
by Kiran Desai

Web 2.0 Companies to watch out for

Wordpress : most flexible blogging platform
Digg : users pick what news makes it to the home page
Flickr : photo tagging and sharing site
Jingle’s free 411 service
Flock : the social web browser
Gmail : google's email
NetNewsWire desktop feed reader
Netvibes : custom made web 2.0 home page solution
Pandora : plays streaming music for free via a flash player on its site
damaka : P2P (but standards-based) Communication & Collaboration software
Wikipedia : free encyclopedia
Zoho : Online office suite
Amie Street : DRM-free music sales
Ask City : mapping product
BlueDot is a social bookmarking service
Skype : P2P phone/video calls (ever heard of a "super-node"?)
TechMeme is the blogosphere’s daily newspaper
YouTube : upload and share videos
Jotspot : Wiki collaboration


Others interesting web sites:

Swik : Search open source projects

Five Principles for Happiness in 2007

David Bach, Author of "The Automatic Millionaire" does a great job of breaking down the secrets to living a rich, happy life:

Most people believe that if they just had more money, the things that make them unhappy would disappear and their lives would be better. The truth is that your life can be better without more money. Each of us has the power to discover our purpose and become joyful in the process of journeying toward that purpose.

Five basic principles involved in creating "Live Rich Factor":

Principle 1: Give Yourself a Break

Stop wasting time in thinking what you shoulda-woulda-coulda done in 2006 or before. It's over, and its time to move on......

Principle 2: Get Connected with Your Truth

The hardest thing to do is be honest with yourself. Asking yourself some key questions will lead you to some amazing discoveries, and possibly motivate you to do what it takes to create the life you envision for yourself......

Principle 3: Stop Judging Yourself

Stop the negative conversations you have with yourself immediately. Say no to negative thoughts and encourage positive thinking.....

Principle 4: Stop Judging Others

We're not here to judge one another.....

Principle 5 : Pursue Fun with a Vengeance

Fun shouldn't be squeezed into a few weeks of vacation each year. And it shouldn't be squeezed into the last chapter of your life when you "get to" retire. Fun deserves to be a part of your life now -- in 2007. But fun doesn't just happen. You have to make it a priority in your life or it'll go missing. Life's too short to not have it.......

Read the entire article

Beware of 'Happy New Year' worm

When users log-on for the first time in the New Year, they might be greeted by emails that wish them a happy new year and offer a post card greeting. It seems that a new worm is masquerading in such fashion, according to experts at Verisign. Once a user clicks through to the 'postcard' link, a file deploys different variants of malicious code onto the PC and then uses the computer to send similar mass mailings. Some big company networks are already feeling the pain, so make sure that your IT organization is ready to take on the first worm of 2007.

security.itworld.com has the complete story

Women's Vocabulary

1) FINE: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five Minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)

6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you're welcome.

8) Whatever: Is a women's way of saying F@!K YOU!

9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking, "what's wrong", for the woman's response refer to # 3.

Please feel free to let me know your experiences or if you would like to add to the vocab!

Is 'Gizmo Project' Nokia's answer?

Nokia has been listening to its customers and the word on the street - and is now pushing the frontiers of Internet phone calling with The Gizmo Project...

Nokia Corporation, announced last week of a download that will install Gizmo VoIP—a plug-in adaptation of SIPphone Inc.'s Gizmo Project softphone—on its N80 Internet Edition smartphone. The Wi-Fi-enabled N80ie is optimized for VoIP using standards-based SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) signaling. The Gizmo VoIP plug-in is the first IP telephony module to be integrated into the Nokia platform.

"Our collaboration with SIPphone makes Internet calling easy, plus our open VoIP platform allows for any SIP-based VoIP provider to incorporate their services in our device architecture, giving consumers the best of the Internet world," said, Nokia Vice President, Multimedia, Ralph Eric Kunz.

"Collaborating with Nokia has allowed our development teams to create a compelling VoIP experience on the N80 Internet Edition and instantly enable millions of mobile consumers around the world to save money," said Michael Robertson, Chairman and CEO of SIPphone.

For users of PC-based Gizmo clients, the Nokia N80 integration provides a mobile option that cuts them loose from the PC and lets them talk to their Gizmo contacts for free—anywhere there's a Wi-Fi connection. But the problem is that this $500 smartphone is not sold in the US (yet!).

I know that all Nokia phones come bundled with their own VoIP application. There may be different incarnations of these apps, but this move tells me that their built-in VoIP apps are not as good as they'd like it to be.

The mobile VoIP space is an interesting one to watch right now.

Get complete coverage here...

Happy New Year 2007

2006 was a great year... eventful, exciting and fulfilling; both personally and professionally. I am thankful to my family and friends for supporting, loving and caring about me. I am blessed to have some really nice people in my life that fill each day with love and joy. I can’t wait to see what unfolds in 2007. I hope everyone has a great year.

Saddam Hussein executed (updated)

Honestly I don't how to compose this post... I have mixed emotions - I know the guy committed brutal crimes during his regime, and it was important to bring him to justice, but... well... never mind!

AP Photo: This video image released by Iraqi state television

The Video:







Nuerojava has the updated video of Saddam's execution... (Updated: 1/1/07)

Meaning of - Bulleh ki Jaana - by Rabbi Shergill

Bulleh! to me, I am not known

Na maen momin vich maseet aan Na maen vich kufar diyan reet aan Na maen paakaan vich paleet aan Na maen moosa na pharaun. Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun Na maen andar ved kitaab aan, Na vich bhangaan na sharaab aan Na vich rindaan masat kharaab aan Na vich jaagan na vich saun. Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun. Na vich shaadi na ghamnaaki Na maen vich paleeti paaki Na maen aabi na maen khaki Na maen aatish na maen paun Bulleh!, ki jaana maen kaun Na maen arabi na lahori Na maen hindi shehar nagauri Na hindu na turak peshawri Na maen rehnda vich nadaun Bulla, ki jaana maen kaun Na maen bheth mazhab da paaya Ne maen aadam havva jaaya Na maen apna naam dharaaya Na vich baitthan na vich bhaun Bulleh , ki jaana maen kaun Avval aakhir aap nu jaana Na koi dooja hor pehchaana Maethon hor na koi siyaana Bulla! ooh khadda hai kaun Bulla, ki jaana maen kaun

Not a believer inside the mosque, am I Nor a pagan disciple of false rites Not the pure amongst the impure Neither Moses, nor the Pharoh Bulleh! to me, I am not known Not in the holy Vedas, am I Nor in opium, neither in wine Not in the drunkard`s intoxicated craze Niether awake, nor in a sleeping daze Bulleh! to me, I am not known In happiness nor in sorrow, am I Neither clean, nor a filthy mire Not from water, nor from earth Neither fire, nor from air, is my birth Bulleh! to me, I am not known Not an Arab, nor Lahori Neither Hindi, nor Nagauri Hindu, Turk (Muslim), nor Peshawari Nor do I live in Nadaun Bulleh! to me, I am not known Secrets of religion, I have not known From Adam and Eve, I am not born I am not the name I assume Not in stillness, nor on the move Bulleh! to me, I am not known I am the first, I am the last None other, have I ever known I am the wisest of them all Bulleh! do I stand alone? Bulleh! to me, I am not known

Sufis, traditionally, spent their lives searching for the meaning of life, and for God, Himself. Those amongst them, who were poets, expressed this search, beautifully, through their poetry. Who is the Creator? What is the truth? What is the meaning of life? How can one find God? Who am I? These are some of the questions Sufis have tried to answer, by disassociating themselves from worldly knowledge and deeds, and moving onto a spiritual sphere, where they are no longer bound by traditionally interpreted religious or material restrictions.

Analyze This...

The following is from a movie I recently watched "Lage Raho Munnabhai"... If you understand Hindi, It'll make you think (I will translate later)

---

Shaher ki is daud mein daud ke karna kya hai
Jab yehi jeena hai doston to phir marna kya hai

Pehli baarish mein train late hone ki fikr hai
Bhul gaye bheegte hue tehelna kya hai
Serials ke kirdaaron ka saara haal hai malum
par maa ka haal puchne ki fursat kise hai

Ab ret pe nange paw tehelte kyun nahi
Ek sau aath hain channel phir dil behelte kyun nahi
Internet ki duniya ke to touch me hain,
lekin pados mein kaun rehta hai jaante tak nahi.
Mobile, Landline sab ki bharmaar hai,
Lekin jigri dost tak pahunche aise taar kahan hai

Kab doobte hue suraj ko dekha tha yaad hai
Kab jaana tha shaam ka woh bahana kya hai

To doston shaher ki is daud mein daud ke karna kya hai
Jab yehi jeena hai to fir Marna kya hai?

---

Cowboys - Going to the playoffs, but...

Dallas Cowboys are going to the playoffs for the first time in 3 years, but not with the momentum Championship teams have in December. They have been up and down after a shaky start. But after Tony Romo took over, I was very excited. I like this kid from IL. I think we can build a very good team around him. But the way they lost to Saints and Eagles just breaks my heart...

But I am a die-hard Cowboys fans so I will be watching them on Sunday... They play their last season game on Sunday against Lions. I know they will win it, but I really want is for them to clinch the division (that can happen with an Eagles loss). But I think Garcia and the whole Eagles team is playing with a lot of spirit...

Oh well, division leaders or not, who gives a crap? Cowboys are going to the playoffs and I am so excited. I think they'll end up playing Seattle... Can't wait! Get your popcorns ready!


(PS: Oh by the way, TO, stop dissing, start playing... and this is a team sport - you can will the Super Bowl by yourself - So can you please play with & for the team - once in your life?)

Forgotten Moments Remembered

One of my New Year resolutions is to START GETTING ORGANIZED.... I started doing that with my laptop... and I came across some old pictures, some great memories... forgotten moments... remembered!

In 2004, I was fortunate enough to be in Thandi Nadi, as we like to call it in Hindi (Actually Cool River Cafe in Irving, TX) on the same day Sergio Garcia won the 2004 Byron Nelson Championship.



The next picture is of my band - TATVA - THE ELEMENTS - creating their first song - JalJeera. We started this band sometime around August 2005... in Hidden Ridge, Irving, TX. There were 5 initial member (RR, KD, AV, CC, HY, SG) - Since then we have lost 3 but added others.... we have been able to create some really good music (5 songs so far). I will post some music here shortly....

damaka launches VideoMail with its SIP-based, Peer-to-Peer Communication & Collaboration platform

damaka launched its VideoMail service today, that will allow users to leave a video message using their webcam. The new VideoMail service is an addition to the already existing portfolio which offers free PC-to-PC phone calls, free Video calls, cheap PC-to-Phone calls, desktop sharing, file transfer, IPTV (Free Internet TV), Internet Radio, RSS, Voice Commands and much more.

damaka also allows small and medium-sized operators to use its P2P platform for offering triple play solutions (PSPN program).

• Read the Press Release (PRLeap)
  
• damaka Offers Videomail via VoIP (TMCnet)
• Collaboration Loop Staff
  

Roy Williams: Safety, Dallas Cowboys

I felt like writing about the player I always liked, but now, I have started to admire: ROY WILLIAMS, Safety, Dallas Cowboys (#31):

"Safety" (On-the-Field) -- Oh Hell No!
On the field the opposing players are never safe when Roy is there.... Nicknamed "Superman" & "Hammer", he is known throughout the NFL as a very intimidating presence in the Cowboys defensive secondary and can be a game changer with his bone-jarring hits. Williams injured multiple opponents with his "horse-collar" tackle before it was banned by the NFL. Due to this rule, critics of Williams are quick to point out that he is a dirty player. He may be a dirty player on the field, but off the filed, there is nothing dirty about this person.

"Safety" (Off-the-Field) -- Oh Thank God!
He is truly one jem of a person. Kids, single moms, and other people in need always feel safe when Roy is around, because they know he can be trusted to lend a helping hand. I was so touched to see his efforts off-the-field. There are so many NFL players that make millions of dollars but how many of them have the heart of giving something back to the community? Only handful...

After signing his first pro contract, Williams made a $100,000 contribution towards a new strength training facility at the University of Oklahoma, as a part of the school's new indoor workout complex. The new area, which carries Williams' name, complements the main Robin Siegfried Complex at the Switzer Center. As a member of the Cowboys 2002 Rookie Club - a program designed to introduce rookie team member to community service in the Dallas area - Williams participated in monthly charity visits to non-profit organizations serving children. He also participated as a guest speaker at the club's annual United Way Hometown Huddle event for 100 children involved with The Salvation Army. During the 2003 off-season, Williams served as a celebrity escort at the annual Children's Cancer Fund Fashion Show and Luncheon co-chaired by Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach.

In July of 2004, the Roy Williams Safety Net Foundation was formed with the goal of “enhancing the quality of life of low-income single mother households in the Dallas area.” According to statistics, Dallas has the largest percentage of single mother households in the state of Texas, ranking at 29%. Roy has eagerly pulled the weight of families in this difficult situation onto his shoulders.

Roy embraces his responsibility as a role model very naturally. Undoubtedly, his career will continue to prove top notch as he transforms from NFL rising star to Super Star.

Roy also loves to play the guitar, saxophone, and piano.

The real Opportunity - build community around your audience

"The real opportunity for media, in this day and age, is ostensibly the interactive platform, not just online, but mobile and gaming. Basically, promise a way for content companies to get closer than ever to their audience, to build community around their audience, to learn from their audience so they can put out better professional content."

According to Quincy Smith, the new CBS Digital President, in a Reuters interview.

Quincy also appeals to entrepreneurs:
"I want to make sure that this is an appeal to every entrepreneur of every company size... We want to see them all. We want to see everyone in there. And we want to learn.”

Read the complete interview

Kids With High IQs Grow Up to Be Vegetarians

As a child's IQ rises, his taste for meat in adulthood declines, a new study suggests.

British researchers have found that children's IQ predicts their likelihood of becoming vegetarians as young adults -- lowering their risk for cardiovascular disease in the process. The finding could explain the link between smarts and better health, the investigators say.

"Brighter people tend to have healthier dietary habits," concluded lead author Catharine Gale, a senior research fellow at the MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre of the University of Southampton and Southampton General Hospital.

Recent studies suggest that vegetarianism may be associated with lower cholesterol, reduced risk of obesity and heart disease. This might explain why children with high IQs tend to have a lower risk of heart disease in later life.

The report is published in the Dec. 15 online edition of the British Medical Journal.

Read the rest of the story

Obama not Osama! Jeez…

I stumbled upon this post on a great blog - "Almost As Good As Chocolate" by Shripriya. It is so funny!

There is a recent buzz around how Illinois Senator Barack Obama and Osama are so phonetically close. Some believe that Obama's own name will prevent him from the presidency or vp. And if you think that an average American voter knows the difference between Obama and Osama, you are in for a big surprise...

Check out Shripriya's post:

Do you think the average American voter knows the difference between Obama and Osama?
HECK NO!...