Puzzles   

Puzzles, puzzles and puzzles !
As my passion for puzzles is increasing, the space on my desk is decreasing and the books are piling up higher than ever :-)

Solving and collectin puzzles is my all time favourite. It is one of the best things to do to pass time in an idle world, can keep one occupy for hrs in a stretch! Solving a tough puzzle is as satisfying as annoying it could be if not solved in a couple of days.

More i solve it, my greed to lay my hands on more n more increases and i dont get enough sleep.

I have more than 150 puzzle books in my personal collection. Here I am trying to compile a list of the same (feel free to ask for one and i will refuse at once :-))

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Mastermind collection -
Publcation - Sterling publication
Author - Ivan Moscovich

1) The Big Book of Brain Games: 1,000 PlayThinks of Art, Mathematics & Science
2) 1000 Play Thinks: Puzzles, Paradoxes, Illusions & Games
3) Fiendishly Frustrating Brain-Twisting Puzzles
4) Cunning Combination Problems & Other Puzzles
5) Deviously Difficult Mind-Bending Puzzles
6) Magic Arrow Tile Puzzles  (still in Wishlist)
7) Tough Topology Problems & Other Puzzles
8) Leonardo's Mirror & Other Puzzles
9) The Monty Hall Problem & Other Puzzles
10) The Hinged Square & Other Puzzles
11) The Shoelace Problem & Other Puzzles
12) Sensational Shape Problems & Other Puzzles (still in Wishlist)
13) Peerless Probability Problems & Other Puzzles (still in Wishlist)
14) Knotty Number Problems & Other Puzzles (still in Wishlist)
15) Loopy Logic Problems & Other Puzzles (still in Wishlist)
16) Perplexing Pattern Problems & Other Puzzles

Authored by : Martin Gardner  -

1) Aha! Insight
2) The Colossal Book of Mathematics: Classic Puzzles, Paradoxes, and Problems
3) My Best Mathematical and Logic Puzzles (Math & Logic Puzzles)
4) The First Scientific American Book of Puzzles : Hexaflexagons
5) The Second Scientific American Book of Mathematical Puzzles and Diversions
6) Mathematical circus: More games, puzzles, paradoxes
7) Perplexing Puzzles and Tantalizing Teasers
8) Codes, Ciphers and Secret Writing
9) The Mathemagician and Pied Puzzler, A Tribute to Martin Gardner
10) Wheels, Life, and Other Mathematical Amusements
11) The Unexpected Hanging and Other Mathematical Diversions  (still in Wishlist)
12) Sixth book of mathematical games from Scientific American (still in wishlist)
13) The MOSCOW PUZZLES. 359 Mathematical Recreations (still in wishlist)
14) Time Travel and Other Mathematical Bewilderments (still in wishlist)
15) The Colossal Book of Short Puzzles and Problems (still in wishlist)
16) Martin Gardner's Mathematical Games (still in wishlist, one of the best but $80 is way too costly!)

Mathematics

1) Challenging Problems in Algebra
2) An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers - Hardy and Wright's
3) Problem Solving Through Recreational Mathematics


Cosmology   


Nasa says 'Cosmology is the scientific study of the large scale properties of the Universe as a whole'. It endeavors to use the scientific method to understand the origin, evolution and ultimate fate of the entire Universe.

It is the world of fascination, one must dive deep to get a feel but have your fundamentals strong :-). My interest in cosmology started when i was staring at the night sky and a tought occured to me - How GOD would have created these beautiful and TINY stars! I am a big fan of Stephan Hawking for his awesome work in this field specially Blackholes and Event Horizon and even possibilities of Time Travel in future.

Chess  - A game of Skill

Whether it is Anand vs. Kasprov or a city league match, game is always exciting and occupying. My passion for Chess is still in Infacy. I think this has to do something with my interest in mathematics or shall i say strategical and recreational problem solving (to be specific) that i started understanding this amazing game.

I have a good collection of about 400+ E-books on Chess downloaded / exchanged from various sources. Anybody interested , please drop me an email and I will mail it to you.

There have been a lot of research happening the field of chess the so-called winning openings that some theorists believe that game of chess would be SOLVED by 2030! (means there would be a pre-defined pattern leading to a sure Win !!)

Singing   

'Na jaane kab se ummedein kuch baaki hain...(rhym)
Mujhe fir bhi teri yaaaad, kyooon aati hai .....(rhym)
Naa jaane kab se......'

My favourite lines from Jal - Aadat.

I am a born singer :-) Okie! dont raise your eyebrows...i take my words back :-) Even though i am not a good singer i like to sing all kind of songs and kind of keep bugging people around me (sometimes) there are a few who appreciate my singing as well and never get bored (atleast they dont say so:-)).

I like all kind of music - be it Desi, Angrezi, Pop, Jazz, Rock, Latino whatever. There are countless songs i like so it is impossible to mention or even compile the list.  Same is with movies, actors.

Soon you will find links of my home-made songs on this page :-)



Body Building 

This is an area where most of my basic algebra skills apply in terms of calculating that lean mass, Protein, Carbs ratio and daily calories etc :-) I am a wanna- be bodybuilder and keep trying a thing or two all the time. It started right after i joined Graduate school. Sometimes i spend time reading BB articles and products etc. Recently my body have shown some improvements (those cuts and abs to die for ha ha!) which keeps me motivated.