The Hindu Crossword 8047: Cracked !!!

I'm feeling great because I cracked the Hindu Crossword today and it took me only about 1 Hour and 45 Minutes. It had some nice words and the clues were really good. Seasoned cruciverbalists (people who take interest in crosswords) might call it an easy crossword but to me, it is still a great achievement. I want this feeling of Ecstasy (28 Across) to be Everlasting (29 Across).

I recently joined a hindu crossword group on yahoo. Do you know how I got invited ? Well, the moderator of the group just came across my blog by chance and, read my entry "Crossword" (July 02, 2004), thought I would find this group interesting. (that's one of the advantages of blogging i guess !;)). 

After I completed the crossword (at around 5:15 pm...i generally try the crossie in the afternoon) I thought I'll go check my mail and post all the answers that others haven't got. But unfortunately I was too slow, and too late. Because all the answers had been posted :(. So I suggested to the group that there should be a fixed time for posting daily. This would give each one of us a chance to post whatever he/she got. Let's see what others in the group have to say about it....

Otherwise, nothing special is happening in life. Read 'Jeeves takes Charge' and think P.G. Wodehouse is a great writer. Now, reading two books simultaneously: Bleachers (John Grisham...my first grisham) and First Among Equals (Archer).

Did not watch any movie, did not visit any new place, did not meet anyone interesting, did not eat anything exotic, did not watch the India-Sri Lanka match.....My friends will say "What the hell are you doing then da?"...well...working,sleeping,sleeping, playing TT and sleeping !!!

On the Rocks !!!

On 15th July, we had a company party at Dublin(ITC Kakatiya Sheraton). It was rocking...in every sense of the word. To start with,  it was a costume party (I wanted to look like the Beatles in Rishikesh. Well, I'll post the pictures in the consequent posts and you can decide what I actually ended up looking like), the DJ played some real good rock music (floyd, gnr, doors and yes !!The Beatles) towards the end and I had the "eau du vivre" Scotch On the Rocks !!!
 
Not many turned out in something different (most of them said they'd come to the party "dressed as myself") but some were really amazing. There were people in lungis, dhotis, someone came dressed like a skeleton, there was a catwoman, a spiderman, a rap-music star, a journalist, the spice girls, the marlboro man...it was really wonderful to look at such a variety of costumes and it was nice to imagine, to what extent people can stretch their imagination. The concept of Spice girls because this group of friends had five girls...was shrewd. 'Marlboro Man' that day, was a guy who, I'm sure, would like to reach that level of recognition and become such an image. The Beatles fan just wanted a chance to express his loyalty !!
 
Well, whatever the reason, it is good that atleast a few, thought about it and, made some effort. One should always take active part in such events. It's a good feeling when someone comes up to you and says...'hey man, you look cool'...not that you look better than you normally do, it is just that you look different. And it keeps the host happy too...he/she thinks 'hey the idea worked, after all...'
 
Everyone and everything seemed relaxed and joyous. Though some people would've loved it if some others, close to their heart, were there; the atmosphere, the people, the drinks, the food, the rasmalai (worth a special mention) everything was just awesome !!!
 
Actually I wanted to look like Sir Paul, but I think I ended up looking somewhat like Ringo. But that's alright...after all, John once said that while some people thought "Ringo was the least of the Beatles," in truth "he was the heart and soul of the group."
 
By the way, fellow beatles fans, please do visit http://thebeatlesinrishikesh.com if you haven't already done so !!

Just a Random Thought

Let me clarify! The 'childhood sweetheart' part was just a random thought which struck me when I was writing the blog. I believe in daydreaming and I call myself a "Daydream Believer"(btw Daydream Believers is a nice song by a band called Monkees whose story is really interesting). And this was just another such instance. So, as of now, it does not have any connotation, whatsoever, to my life.

I'm really sorry if I've disappointed any of you but I'm really proud of myself for having been able to keep people guessing for quite some time.

Let me make one more thing clear...Hyderabad is beautiful! Yesterday I went to a place called Durgam Cheruvu- The secret lake. One friend told me how that additional, "secret lake", part (in the name) came about. It's something like this: Durgam cheruvu means Durgamma's Lake. So in English, one would just call it a sacred lake and because the place WAS slightly 'shady', people started calling it secret lake. This story doesn't seem all that believable but it's very interesting...lol

Actually the place is a very well maintained rock garden on a hill next to a picturesque lake. There is also a beautiful amphitheatre which could host some plays, pantomime and stuff like that. We can also book that and two other small areas for parties after 9 PM (the park closes for visitors at that time).There are some small kiosks for snacks and softdrinks and at the lake you can go boating, try angling, or just sit and relax (which is what i did !).

And hey, I finished Catch22...and I think it is a good book but certainly not great. It's funny but I really wonder why people always said if I liked hitchhikers... i would like this book. It doesn't make you think, which is the case with the former. Although h2g2 is ultimately funny and totally fictional there is a lot in that book which makes you think. Just take the example of '42'. Almost every funda in that book makes you sit back and think and whenever you think about it you laugh and enjoy. I didn't find anything of that sort in Catch22. I think it might be because I'm not a seasoned reader or may be because I haven't read too many books or may be because I just don't want any book to be compared to h2g2...whatever the reason...Catch 22 as a concept rocks, as a book...it doesn't (atleast not according to me !!!)

Conclusion matters...

Due to popular demand, I thought I'll write a sequel to the previous blog but ..ah..err..eh...can't think of the right words to start. I've learnt one thing though, in any kind of presentation, conclusion matters a lot. In books it plays an even bigger role. Recently I read a book called Vector by Robin Cook (btw this was my first Robin Cook Book)that...had a...HORRIBLE ENDING

Actually things get so very predictable. All the thrill, which in my case was doubly intense because I knew quite a lot about the bioweapons used, is spoilt by a cliched climax. According to me, if you call yourself a mystery or suspense author you better know how to build up the suspense and, more importantly, how to finish the book. Some people can do the former quite easily but falter when it comes to the latter.

From the first few pages of the book I even started imagining a movie and started casting and all...one of my favourite actors, John Travolta would be the hero in that imaginary movie...but then after a while I realised all the thinking and dreaming wasn't worth it after all. The book was just plain HOPELESS!

To get over the trauma I started reading, what everybody said was one of the funniest books ever written, Catch 22. Because of slightly high workload I wasn't able to read it fast but from whatever I've read, I can say one thing- It is really very funny. Just superb.

Anyways, now that I've spoken about movies and casting...If I ever make a movie, it'll be about two childhood sweethearts ending up in the wedlock, and you would've obviously guessed by now who the hero would be and what his profession would be...lol...and as far as the ending goes, I don't care if it is cliched...after all, I am the producer damn it !!!

Ego Surfing...

Today I indulged in an act which is not considered all that sane. Ego Surfing- it is somewhat like narcissism at a lower scale. Basically, if you google for your own name, this is what you are doing. I got one link that was my own name. I had come 4th in an online astronomy quiz when I was in 12th std and my name, 'Abhimanyu Sarvagyam', still remains on the net.

Other than that, I found quite a few meanings of the word 'Abhimanyu'.

Abhimanyu: other name for Saubhadra (son of Subhadra). Abhimanyu comes from 'abhi', which means to destroy, and 'manyu', which means all evil and vicious qualities in human beings.

Apparently, it also means fearless and wrathful.

There is one other myth which says that Abhimanyu was Chandra's son Vrachas in his previous birth. Chandra agreed to send him to fight evil but laid a condition that he can let him away only for 16 years, and hence the story about our man dying at that terribly young age.

Abhimanyu is supposed to have been a great warrior and among his other accomplishments is the killing of Duryodhana's son Lakshana. Abhimanyu's son Parikshith and his son Janmejay are respected as great rulers.

Well, I'm not saying I want to rule the world. I just want to accomplish something good so that my name gives a lot more links on google.

One of those will probably be a news article with the headline... Biotech industry bigwig, Abhimanyu, marries childhood sweetheart....lol...;)

Crossword

Day before yesterday I thought of watching the movie 'Day after tomorrow' but ended up finishing The Hindu Crossword. It is a great feeling when you fill up the whole grid, and for a person, like me, who doesn't do it often, it is just wonderful. I developed interest in crosswords because of my dad. He used to solve the Hindu crossword daily and is quite an expert.

The main element in a crossword, or rather in making a grid, is symmetry. Any standard crossword(cryptic) grid has two symmetrical parts. One part is basically the mirror image of the other. This symmetry exists either diagonally or vertically or horizontally. It is a very interesting concept, highlighted to me by one of Sharad's friends. And from then on I realised how easy it is to make a grid.

Solving a crossword requires a decent vocabulary, an eye for detail and sense to pick up subtle insinuations. It is some sort of an addiction because as you start cracking a few clues you tend to think that if you've got so many, you can certainly get a lot more. And in the long run, wherever you see a crossword, even in kids' magazines, you put your head down and solve it. It is a great challenge and a nice exercise for the brain.

Otherwise things are fine. My alma mater in Hyderabad celebrated its tenth anniversary on the 1st of this month and I got to meet a lot of old friends. It was a pleasant trip down memory lane.

Life goes on...