Ask HN: What are your hobbies, and why are they cool?
127 comments
> If it's physically possible to go climbing now without definitely getting fired, you're going.
Hahaha, it's like this with every outdoor sport I can think of: Climbing, surfing, hang-gliding, mountain biking. When something is crazy fun to do and gives you that adrenaline boost/endorphin rush/seratonin spike, work can wait... as long as you're not getting fired, life is good :P
Hahaha, it's like this with every outdoor sport I can think of: Climbing, surfing, hang-gliding, mountain biking. When something is crazy fun to do and gives you that adrenaline boost/endorphin rush/seratonin spike, work can wait... as long as you're not getting fired, life is good :P
You mention obesity; would it be something doable if you're already fat? 113kg, 170cm
Seems like your body'd be your own worst enemy in that situation.
Seems like your body'd be your own worst enemy in that situation.
I'm fat (170 cm 102 kg). I go bouldering about 3 times a week.
It's a lot harder when overweight. I haven't progressed as fast as everyone around me, and it is frustrating watching people who aren't overweight climb for the first time because they typically can do things I can't. It's also extremely fun and addicting, and everyone that climbs at my gym tends to be supportive and not at all judgemental.
It's a lot harder when overweight. I haven't progressed as fast as everyone around me, and it is frustrating watching people who aren't overweight climb for the first time because they typically can do things I can't. It's also extremely fun and addicting, and everyone that climbs at my gym tends to be supportive and not at all judgemental.
Hang in there, and consider trying crack or face climbing. One of the best wall climbers I ever had the privilege of following around was overweight (despite playing soccer and running and everything else). He couldn't boulder for crap but he had great balance and body english.
Obesity and climbing are a tough combination. I would recommend trying indoor climbing at first and working on routes that don't overhang (wall is <= 90 deg from the angle of the floor). If you work this in with a routine like cycling/runnning/swimming and a proper diet (start eating less carbs unless you plan on working out within the next couple of hours), you can develop a body built for climbing while picking up proper technique at the early stages.
Source: I've been climbing for 6 years
Source: I've been climbing for 6 years
Fully agree with all that you are saying. Especially the " If it's physically possible to go climbing now without definitely getting fired, you're going." part. I went yesterday evening, my skin is still sore, but if I could leave work right now to go climbing, I'd be gone in an instant. I'll be close to Font in June, so looking forward to visiting already, palms sweaty just thinking about it.
yeah +1
Like many devs, my jobs and most of my hobbies tend to be very cerebral, and I spend almost all of my time deep inside my own head. I think living this way contributes to feeling disconnected from the world and ultimately anxiety.
Rock climbing is extremely grounding, even compared to other sports. You have to use all of your muscles, and pay careful attention to what your hands are doing. You feel the weight of gravity and the stress of being in a high place, and then this wonderful feeling of accomplishment when you reach the top.
Nothing puts you in the 'now' like climbing. It's like the perfect therapy for spacey people.
Like many devs, my jobs and most of my hobbies tend to be very cerebral, and I spend almost all of my time deep inside my own head. I think living this way contributes to feeling disconnected from the world and ultimately anxiety.
Rock climbing is extremely grounding, even compared to other sports. You have to use all of your muscles, and pay careful attention to what your hands are doing. You feel the weight of gravity and the stress of being in a high place, and then this wonderful feeling of accomplishment when you reach the top.
Nothing puts you in the 'now' like climbing. It's like the perfect therapy for spacey people.
Hello fellow boulderer! I have seen (anecdotally) that climbing has adverse effects on slouching. Your back muscles grow disproportionately to your chest muscles producing rounded, hunched shoulders.
The muscle growth you describe would have the opposite effect. Back muscles help pull the arms and back to the back.
That's just a general rule though. If you hang from your shoulders but let your shoulders go, instead of pulling them back (which builds back muscles), I can imagine a slouched look developing. But if you pull back your shoulders it'll have the opposite effect, building muscle that improves your form.
I guess at the end of the day you have to focus on the sport you love, and do correcting exercises to keep your body in balance on the side. Most sports have lots of repetition on key moves and they lead to all kinds of issues, so I'd argue this is true for any sport.
That's just a general rule though. If you hang from your shoulders but let your shoulders go, instead of pulling them back (which builds back muscles), I can imagine a slouched look developing. But if you pull back your shoulders it'll have the opposite effect, building muscle that improves your form.
I guess at the end of the day you have to focus on the sport you love, and do correcting exercises to keep your body in balance on the side. Most sports have lots of repetition on key moves and they lead to all kinds of issues, so I'd argue this is true for any sport.
Having large strong back muscles pulls your shoulders back and keeps you from slouching. The opposite happens if your chest grows disproportionately larger than your back (whether the weight up front is due to muscle or fat).
Also, the core strength developed when climbing supports good posture by makes it much easier to sit or stand up straight for long periods. Not sure
Also, the core strength developed when climbing supports good posture by makes it much easier to sit or stand up straight for long periods. Not sure
Counter that by also taking up Surfing. One good month-long surfing trip per year will bend you back to where you need to be.
I used to be decidedly concave when I was only climbing. Now I'm roughly planar, varying slightly over the year depending on the current proportions of climbing to surfing.
I used to be decidedly concave when I was only climbing. Now I'm roughly planar, varying slightly over the year depending on the current proportions of climbing to surfing.
Some boulderers do develop that physique, but they're typically climbing at much higher levels (V5 and up, Bishop V5 not your local gym V5) and tend to be less well built otherwise.
It's not a problem for most people. Most people get a lot of benefit for their posture from climbing.
It's not a problem for most people. Most people get a lot of benefit for their posture from climbing.
I could not agree more! After many years slogging away in the gym I started rock climbing and never looked back.
Crazy fun and a super workout.
Crazy fun and a super workout.
Sounds fun, how do you find places that offer this? Is it expensive? Crowded?
Climbing gyms? They're plentiful these days, so chances are there's at least one in your town (or seven if you're in a major city). $15 will get you a daypass to try it out, and it's comparable to any other gym membership in cost long term.
As to climbing outside, rock shoes cost $150 and the internet will tell you everything you need about where to go and how to do it.
As to climbing outside, rock shoes cost $150 and the internet will tell you everything you need about where to go and how to do it.
I'm not sure that it's a proper hobby, but walking. It doesn't require any special equipment--just go outside on a nice day, pick a direction, and go. I love the meditative effect it has on me. I also become much more aware of the communities I live in and visit when I just walk everywhere--I find lots of hidden gems that make places seem more alive.
And yes, if you find a rose during your walk, you can stop and smell it.
And yes, if you find a rose during your walk, you can stop and smell it.
I recently started walking again and have done so 8 out of the past 9 days. I put my kids in the stroller and push them around. They get to see things and I meet a lot of nice people in the neighborhood.
Where I live, there is no real sense of community, people just live in their houses without really speaking with their neighbors, but when we are walking, people seem to break out of their shell.
Where I live, there is no real sense of community, people just live in their houses without really speaking with their neighbors, but when we are walking, people seem to break out of their shell.
I do the same thing during lunch! Our suburban city just opened a nice mile long (and expanding) paved trail that's a quick walk from our house. It's nice to step out after the morning work load with the dogs. I make a point to stop and smell the roses (and honeysuckles). Lots of wildlife (snakes, deer, rabbits, hawks).
This is great, I know personally people in Europe doing this. They plan long walks for days and days. It's like an expedition in many ways.
Do they camp or hotel between walking parts? How long and far are some expeditions? Any examples?
walking 20mins a day is part of my commute so I guess.. yay for me!
Homesteading
I guess I'd say "cool" is in the eye of the beholder, but here is what I really enjoy about it:
- It reduces my dependence on mainstream living.
- It increases my ability to live sustainably.
- It reduces my cost of living immensely which frees up my income for more interesting projects.
- It's incredibly cheap to get into, it costs next to nothing for seeds for a few plants to start small and a handful of chickens cost about $10 each, $30 will buy you a bag of seed that will last months. You can get a reasonably decent chicken coop/hen house for $300(ish). In return: They give you free eggs every day; they'll eat all the bugs eggs and bugs you give them access to; chicken poop is fantastic fertilizer for your lawn/plants. So you only really need to spend what you want to spend. Aside from the cost of the coop, 3 chickens will pay for themselves inside of a month - depending on how many eggs you eat, our 3 hens give us enough eggs that nobody in our extended family needs to buy eggs. We give most of them away and still have enough left for baking and Sunday brunch.
- It helps reinforce my inner MacGyver... which was already strong to begin with.
- It allows me to connect with nature and nurture something that makes a tangible difference in the world. Something we all live for.
- Having animals, plants and trees around you gives you a sense of peace and well-being that can only be purchased by many thousands of dollars in therapy.
- It gives you as much exercise as going to the gym.
- It's immensely satisfying watching it all come together.
- It's the only thing I've found that constantly engages me in the same way programming does. There's always a problem to be solved and there's always many interesting ways to solve it.
- It's nowhere near as much work as everyone said it would be, and the work there is feels like it has real value.
- I get to drive a tractor... albeit a miniature one :P
I guess I'd say "cool" is in the eye of the beholder, but here is what I really enjoy about it:
- It reduces my dependence on mainstream living.
- It increases my ability to live sustainably.
- It reduces my cost of living immensely which frees up my income for more interesting projects.
- It's incredibly cheap to get into, it costs next to nothing for seeds for a few plants to start small and a handful of chickens cost about $10 each, $30 will buy you a bag of seed that will last months. You can get a reasonably decent chicken coop/hen house for $300(ish). In return: They give you free eggs every day; they'll eat all the bugs eggs and bugs you give them access to; chicken poop is fantastic fertilizer for your lawn/plants. So you only really need to spend what you want to spend. Aside from the cost of the coop, 3 chickens will pay for themselves inside of a month - depending on how many eggs you eat, our 3 hens give us enough eggs that nobody in our extended family needs to buy eggs. We give most of them away and still have enough left for baking and Sunday brunch.
- It helps reinforce my inner MacGyver... which was already strong to begin with.
- It allows me to connect with nature and nurture something that makes a tangible difference in the world. Something we all live for.
- Having animals, plants and trees around you gives you a sense of peace and well-being that can only be purchased by many thousands of dollars in therapy.
- It gives you as much exercise as going to the gym.
- It's immensely satisfying watching it all come together.
- It's the only thing I've found that constantly engages me in the same way programming does. There's always a problem to be solved and there's always many interesting ways to solve it.
- It's nowhere near as much work as everyone said it would be, and the work there is feels like it has real value.
- I get to drive a tractor... albeit a miniature one :P
This is the dream... Unfortunately it doesn't seem feasible to set something like this up in my SF apartment so for now it will have to wait.
I ditched an apartment in an area I couldn't do this a few months ago for that exact reason - we weren't even allowed to grow plants on our balcony for God's sake - because the nitrogen in the fertilizer is a fire hazard.
I was done with all the crap that comes with city living. The kids spend their entire time on a tight reign, they can't just run around and be kids without a constant fear of the neighbours complaining/judging about their noise/behaviour. You have to follow a metric ton of rules that come with living in close proximity to a million other people that nobody who lives in the country cares about.
Most of all, the tranquility of effectively having a campsite literally in your back yard is amazing... and you can see the stars.
My commute to my real job is now an hour and a half instead of just 30 minutes, but I wouldn't trade it to come back to the city.
We've been blogging about our transition at http://ourcrazyhomestead.life/
As they say, sometimes you have to follow the dream and make everything else unfold the way it needs to in order for that dream to transpire.
I was done with all the crap that comes with city living. The kids spend their entire time on a tight reign, they can't just run around and be kids without a constant fear of the neighbours complaining/judging about their noise/behaviour. You have to follow a metric ton of rules that come with living in close proximity to a million other people that nobody who lives in the country cares about.
Most of all, the tranquility of effectively having a campsite literally in your back yard is amazing... and you can see the stars.
My commute to my real job is now an hour and a half instead of just 30 minutes, but I wouldn't trade it to come back to the city.
We've been blogging about our transition at http://ourcrazyhomestead.life/
As they say, sometimes you have to follow the dream and make everything else unfold the way it needs to in order for that dream to transpire.
The problem isn't that it's not feasible. The problem is your SF apartment. If it's really the dream, reprioritize, find a property that does allow it, ditch the apartment and never look back ;)
Motorcycle racing. It's a surprisingly heady sport that takes intense concentration while you are doing it, and requires you to study and conceptualize what you do right and wrong to help improve your times. It's self-competitive and you have perfect metrics. You literally tick milliseconds off your lap times at the upper end of the sport. The racing part is secondary to the actual fun, which is going around the track at high speeds attempting to improve. Race craft is more about how to get around people that are in your way and slowing you down, instead of winning (though there is some of that too). The people involved are also, on average, very educated, smart and driven. This is party because it's an expensive sport depending on what you want to race, but also because the personality required to do well and stick with it has a ton in common with what a typical entrepreneur or other efficient businessperson requires.
Race weekend coming up, today is a practice day at the track ;)
Race weekend coming up, today is a practice day at the track ;)
No racing for me yet, but I have a track day tomorrow. The level of concentration required is astounding. I still remember being amazed at the difference between my first and second track days. How much more I could SEE after I started to relax, and the tunnel vision faded away. :-)
Painting, playing the piano, walking, laying out in the sun, day exploring for pretty scenery - this is for emotion handling/conflict/resolution
Building electronics, studying computer engineering, physics, mathematics, in addition to computer science, programming, logic, formal languages, various theories of philosophy, psychology, cognitive science - this is because I usually feel like I am drowning in information, so I study, refine, simplify, and create strong associations in my mind of core concepts that I discover through carefully and tenderly planned activities of observation and thought. I do not care if they are linguistically inexpressible, it's like finding the perfect models for every field, that build the foundation and explain the creation of all the other things (or are capable of being questioned, elaborated on, relabeled or categorized, or destroyed, depending on whether they retain their truth characteristics).
Zen Buddhism - for when I repeatedly hit the same vague mental wall that the above procedure constructs. I can't prove that it exists or why, but I know it exists and it bothers me, sometimes.
Building electronics, studying computer engineering, physics, mathematics, in addition to computer science, programming, logic, formal languages, various theories of philosophy, psychology, cognitive science - this is because I usually feel like I am drowning in information, so I study, refine, simplify, and create strong associations in my mind of core concepts that I discover through carefully and tenderly planned activities of observation and thought. I do not care if they are linguistically inexpressible, it's like finding the perfect models for every field, that build the foundation and explain the creation of all the other things (or are capable of being questioned, elaborated on, relabeled or categorized, or destroyed, depending on whether they retain their truth characteristics).
Zen Buddhism - for when I repeatedly hit the same vague mental wall that the above procedure constructs. I can't prove that it exists or why, but I know it exists and it bothers me, sometimes.
Woodworking, specifically with hand tools. I love everything about it. The history and tradition of the craft and seeing the work of craftsman around me, especially when travelling. Satisfaction from finishing a project or applying a newly learned technique. Not to mention that wood as a medium is both challenging and rewarding. This comment could never do it justice.
Me too! Specifically, wooden clocks.
There's something very significant and special to me about the idea that pieces of wood cut in certain shapes can measure time as accurately as a computer. Ok, not even close to "as" accurately, but +/- a few seconds in a 24 hour period is close enough for me.
There's something very significant and special to me about the idea that pieces of wood cut in certain shapes can measure time as accurately as a computer. Ok, not even close to "as" accurately, but +/- a few seconds in a 24 hour period is close enough for me.
These ARE awesome. The Wood Whisperer had a guest video of one of these that blew me away, most likely because it was an area unfamiliar to me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNA6MJV5xWw
How did you get started with something like that? I can barely get a nail straight into a board
Same way you do with programming, pick a tool (language) and start making something! You won't get better at something being intimidated and never trying :)
I grew up watching Norm Abram as a kid. Watching something come to life is so rewarding. Failing however is very painful (possibly expensive) as you can't take back cuts!
I'd suggest watching some Paul Sellers videos, hand tool oriented: https://www.youtube.com/user/PaulSellersWoodwork
Power tools are nice, and I have acquired plenty over the years, but if you aren't in some kinda shop just cranking out pieces for customers the hand tool way is very rewarding (and challenging)
Also like programming, you can always improve and learn more
I grew up watching Norm Abram as a kid. Watching something come to life is so rewarding. Failing however is very painful (possibly expensive) as you can't take back cuts!
I'd suggest watching some Paul Sellers videos, hand tool oriented: https://www.youtube.com/user/PaulSellersWoodwork
Power tools are nice, and I have acquired plenty over the years, but if you aren't in some kinda shop just cranking out pieces for customers the hand tool way is very rewarding (and challenging)
Also like programming, you can always improve and learn more
The idea of creating things out of wood always appealed to me, but I never knew I could turn it into a satisfying hobby until I set out to build a built-in bookcase in my home (a very typical gateway project) Before woodworking I tended to collect and discard hobbies.
As others have mentioned, I suggest picking a project and going for it. Woodworking for Mere Mortals is a great source of introductory projects you can start building with limited power tools and experience, to get a taste. If you enjoy it, the next thing you know you'll be buying antique tools on ebay, pre-ordering Lost Art Press books and arguing about sharpening methods or bevel up vs bevel down. Or, you'll be happily creating things out of pallet wood using a jigsaw and orbital sander. The craft is very wide and very deep and I make no value judgement on how people enjoy it, I'm just happy to see people building things themselves.
If you don't have any space or tools, seek out a MakerSpace. I'm a member of my local one here in New Haven, solely for the community as I have my own "shop". It would be a great source of tools and help if I were just starting out.
As others have mentioned, I suggest picking a project and going for it. Woodworking for Mere Mortals is a great source of introductory projects you can start building with limited power tools and experience, to get a taste. If you enjoy it, the next thing you know you'll be buying antique tools on ebay, pre-ordering Lost Art Press books and arguing about sharpening methods or bevel up vs bevel down. Or, you'll be happily creating things out of pallet wood using a jigsaw and orbital sander. The craft is very wide and very deep and I make no value judgement on how people enjoy it, I'm just happy to see people building things themselves.
If you don't have any space or tools, seek out a MakerSpace. I'm a member of my local one here in New Haven, solely for the community as I have my own "shop". It would be a great source of tools and help if I were just starting out.
Practice. Practice Practice. Also workshops, find a small wood shop in your area. We have woodcraft here, which offers various classes on the weekends. Most small colleges also still have some wood working courses.
My dov tails still suck though so I may be off.
My dov tails still suck though so I may be off.
Don't know about the OP, but I took an evening woodworking course at a local college. 24 weeks, 1 hour a week, £129.99. When I left, I felt like I could build anything (I was wrong - but that's a whole nother story).
Writing software is a great intellectual pastime. But it doesn't engage the part of me that is outside of the screen. I find making things from wood does engage that part of me.
Plus, it has the advantage that you can create a cool fort/tree-house for your kids, and gain serious "dad-points" (or "mum-points" if you're a mum).
Cub scout Den Leader - Really makes a difference cause I have a few boys whose dad isn't really around, and I get to be their male role model.
Numismatics - Expensive as hell, but can be done on a cheaper scale. I started out broad and have narrowed my focus to Mexican coinage of the first and second republic from a specific mint. The research into it may eventually lead to a book, as virtually no reference material exists at the moment. There is something pretty cool in holding a coin that is a few hundred years old and imagining who held it, the stories it could tell, and viewing the art associated with it.
Crossfit / Olympic Lifting. I started Crossfit, I found I enjoyed it but really sucked at the olympic lifting. Then my box started a class specific on the fundamentals of olympic lifting, now I'm hooked on both. It's good to get out from behind the desk, move and jump and lift. It can be bad though, I've seen bad boxes where one can hurt themselves easily. It really comes down to the coaches and you making smart decisions.
Finally Wood working - I love creating furniture most of all and am at the point where my extended family have started asking me to make furniture pieces for them. There is something about starting out with several pieces of wood and ending up with a finished product that you've made with your own hands... Although I can point out every flaw in every piece I've ever created!
Numismatics - Expensive as hell, but can be done on a cheaper scale. I started out broad and have narrowed my focus to Mexican coinage of the first and second republic from a specific mint. The research into it may eventually lead to a book, as virtually no reference material exists at the moment. There is something pretty cool in holding a coin that is a few hundred years old and imagining who held it, the stories it could tell, and viewing the art associated with it.
Crossfit / Olympic Lifting. I started Crossfit, I found I enjoyed it but really sucked at the olympic lifting. Then my box started a class specific on the fundamentals of olympic lifting, now I'm hooked on both. It's good to get out from behind the desk, move and jump and lift. It can be bad though, I've seen bad boxes where one can hurt themselves easily. It really comes down to the coaches and you making smart decisions.
Finally Wood working - I love creating furniture most of all and am at the point where my extended family have started asking me to make furniture pieces for them. There is something about starting out with several pieces of wood and ending up with a finished product that you've made with your own hands... Although I can point out every flaw in every piece I've ever created!
Powerlifting - It allows me to eat what I want whenever I want because my body burns more calories at rest. It also is a good outlet for stress and rewarding when you hit goals that you worked towards.
Calligraphy - Cheap to get in. Bought a parallel pen for something like $11 and some Claire Fontaine paper and started learning. It's very much a hobby that you get out what you put in. No artistic ability required, and it's very impressive to others. Rewarding when you see how pretty the letters you've created are.
Programming - I'm paid to write code, but I also do it for fun. I try to be creative with my projects and work on something random but still useful and challenging.
Calligraphy - Cheap to get in. Bought a parallel pen for something like $11 and some Claire Fontaine paper and started learning. It's very much a hobby that you get out what you put in. No artistic ability required, and it's very impressive to others. Rewarding when you see how pretty the letters you've created are.
Programming - I'm paid to write code, but I also do it for fun. I try to be creative with my projects and work on something random but still useful and challenging.
Just because you exercise doesn't mean you can eat what ever you want. I wish it worked that way.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB100014240527023039497045794613...
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB100014240527023039497045794613...
Obviously within reason. Being 24, I don't currently worry about things like 'heart health'. Maybe I will in the future, but for now I'm just trying to take care of the big things like regular exercise and healthy life-long habits.
This is a tangent, but don't write off heart problems TOO much--don't ignore symptoms just because you're young. I know that's not what you were saying, but a very healthy and young friend of mine (serious lifter too) had a heart attack recently. It started out mild but he tried to "push through the pain." Bad idea.
+1 for calligraphy, it gives me as much mojo as coding. Both activities are great sources of flow.
EDIT: sorry, I don't know why my answer was posted multiple times.
EDIT: sorry, I don't know why my answer was posted multiple times.
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Running. It's free, fun, you can do it anywhere, and it's a great way to get to know places. My favorite thing to do when I get to a new city is a long run: you get a great sense of the city and you can find the parts you want to go back to. I also love that it forces me out of doors in the long New Jersey winters. It happens to be good for you too, I hear.
Unless you run naked it is not free :) At least for me. I spend ~130 euros on running shoes every 4-5 month. Running gear requires investment as well - where I run temperature fluctuates from -12C to +32C so you need proper clothes. Plus, on long runs >20 km I have something to snack.
I bought a bunch of New Balance Minimus on sale for around $70 each. Many of them have >1000 miles on them, and they're going strong. I have yet to retire a pair. And the upside to running clothes is that they're all synthetics so they last forever. I still have pretty much all of the running clothes I've ever bought. Not quite free, but awfully cheap.
Blacksmithing and woodworking, although I'm currently without a shop.
Blacksmithing is cool because with enough experience, materials, a hammer, and an anvil, they can make basically all the tools they need for a huge number of projects. I've made gardening tools, bird feeder hangers, fireplace pokers, and some other miscellaneous tools. Plus, it gives you an opportunity to learn about propane burner design. Fun stuff!
Woodworking is nice because it's incredibly practical. Being able to make your own furniture (that doesn't look/feel terrible) is a great feeling.
Both blacksmithing and woodworking have low cost and experience barriers to entry, although woodworking is the cheaper/easier of the two to start with. Additionally, they both are moderately physical activities.
I feel like the motivation for doing both of these is the same as why I took up programming.
Blacksmithing is cool because with enough experience, materials, a hammer, and an anvil, they can make basically all the tools they need for a huge number of projects. I've made gardening tools, bird feeder hangers, fireplace pokers, and some other miscellaneous tools. Plus, it gives you an opportunity to learn about propane burner design. Fun stuff!
Woodworking is nice because it's incredibly practical. Being able to make your own furniture (that doesn't look/feel terrible) is a great feeling.
Both blacksmithing and woodworking have low cost and experience barriers to entry, although woodworking is the cheaper/easier of the two to start with. Additionally, they both are moderately physical activities.
I feel like the motivation for doing both of these is the same as why I took up programming.
I'd love to try my hand at blacksmithing. That's on my list of things to try. I'm not sure yet what I need to get into it.
First off, I'd see if there are any places offering blacksmithing lessons around your area. They're great, inexpensive, and a fun way to spend an afternoon and make something.
You will need a heat source, something to use as an anvil, a hammer, and some iron.
Trying to figure out how to get an anvil was a hard thing for me when I started. Anvils aren't cheap in the first place, and shipping is usually a pain. Fortunately, you can actually try out a lot of smithing projects without even getting a proper anvil. You just need something heavy with a good striking surface to work on at first. I got my hands on a 12 inch diameter, 10 inch tall steel cylinder which worked just dandy for the things I did. I'd talk with some people in some machine shops or scrap yards to see if they have any large hunks of steel. Also, if you know anyone who is into metal sculptures, see if they could help you out (that's what I did).
The source of heat is something I spent a while trying to get right. I tried charcoal for a while, but then switched to using propane burners and loved it.
Charcoal is nice because it's a lot less intimidating, is easier to work with, and it's easier to achieve higher temperatures with it for if you want to do experiments with melting stuff, so I recommend starting with it. To hold the charcoal, you'll need a fire pot. A fire pot is just a thing to hold your fire and provide airflow as needed. You can get by with a hole in the ground when you're just trying some things out, but making some fireclay bricks is the way to go. I don't remember what recipe I used to make my bricks originally, but it wasn't hard and was super cheap. I used a 120 mm case fan hooked up to a pipe that went under the fire pot to act as a bellows.
Alternatively, propane burners are great, the fuel is cheap and doesn't get you covered in black dust, are surprisingly simple to make, and produce a really satisfying roar when used. I followed a design by Rob Reil https://www.abana.org/ronreil/design1.shtml (all blacksmith sites are ugly). You'll need multiple burners in order to reach a good temperature, but they're cheap to make.
As for the hammer, a standard 25 oz ball-peen hammer from any hardware store will work fine to start with.
You can get scrap iron to play around with at first really easily. I made some of my first stuff out of some angle iron from an old bed frame. Good steel stock costs a lot, but you won't need that for a long time, so just make do with stuff from scrap yards and stuff.
You will need a heat source, something to use as an anvil, a hammer, and some iron.
Trying to figure out how to get an anvil was a hard thing for me when I started. Anvils aren't cheap in the first place, and shipping is usually a pain. Fortunately, you can actually try out a lot of smithing projects without even getting a proper anvil. You just need something heavy with a good striking surface to work on at first. I got my hands on a 12 inch diameter, 10 inch tall steel cylinder which worked just dandy for the things I did. I'd talk with some people in some machine shops or scrap yards to see if they have any large hunks of steel. Also, if you know anyone who is into metal sculptures, see if they could help you out (that's what I did).
The source of heat is something I spent a while trying to get right. I tried charcoal for a while, but then switched to using propane burners and loved it.
Charcoal is nice because it's a lot less intimidating, is easier to work with, and it's easier to achieve higher temperatures with it for if you want to do experiments with melting stuff, so I recommend starting with it. To hold the charcoal, you'll need a fire pot. A fire pot is just a thing to hold your fire and provide airflow as needed. You can get by with a hole in the ground when you're just trying some things out, but making some fireclay bricks is the way to go. I don't remember what recipe I used to make my bricks originally, but it wasn't hard and was super cheap. I used a 120 mm case fan hooked up to a pipe that went under the fire pot to act as a bellows.
Alternatively, propane burners are great, the fuel is cheap and doesn't get you covered in black dust, are surprisingly simple to make, and produce a really satisfying roar when used. I followed a design by Rob Reil https://www.abana.org/ronreil/design1.shtml (all blacksmith sites are ugly). You'll need multiple burners in order to reach a good temperature, but they're cheap to make.
As for the hammer, a standard 25 oz ball-peen hammer from any hardware store will work fine to start with.
You can get scrap iron to play around with at first really easily. I made some of my first stuff out of some angle iron from an old bed frame. Good steel stock costs a lot, but you won't need that for a long time, so just make do with stuff from scrap yards and stuff.
Two hobbies that marry incredibly well. I've got some hinges and a hasp on order from a blacksmith in Colorado for a woodworking project and I'm incredibly excited to be adding custom forged hardware to the things I create.
Yeah! I actually originally tried out blacksmithing because I wanted to be able to make some custom drawer handles for a desk.
Motorcycles - There's no feeling like it, you get time to unwind and be in your own head if you need it, or you can push the envelope and empty your head of everything but the road. The maintenance / mechanics side is really rewarding as well.
It's one of the few reasons I regret living in a very urban area in Europe (Amsterdam), there's very little space. I'm completely fine with that in terms of a home, I don't need a massive kitchen and massive bedrooms etc. But I really wish I had a garden and a garage. If I had either of those I'd love to get into motorcycles. Without them, it just feels like my expensive toy is out there on the street and if anything ever happens to it, I can't tinker away patiently, I pay a guy to fix it or rent a workspace and fix it on a timer.
I've watched a ton of videos on repairs and maintenance and modifications etc. I can't imagine really enjoying it that much if that element is removed.
Beyond that I'd be pretty scared of riding a lot. Does anyone have some statistics on this? I always had the impression that even if you ride perfectly, you're vulnerable to other people's mistakes. Bf of a friend of mine got killed that way.
I've watched a ton of videos on repairs and maintenance and modifications etc. I can't imagine really enjoying it that much if that element is removed.
Beyond that I'd be pretty scared of riding a lot. Does anyone have some statistics on this? I always had the impression that even if you ride perfectly, you're vulnerable to other people's mistakes. Bf of a friend of mine got killed that way.
I also live in an urban area (Chicago) and started riding about 3 years ago. So far I've had spaces in parking structures where I could do some less involved things (changed my own oil a few weeks ago, wheee) without raising too many eyebrows. I'm currently condo shopping and one of my requirements will be an indoor garage space so I can continue doing this, so it's do-able in an urban environment. I guess I don't really know what condo garages are like in Europe though...
As for risk, there's the HURT report in the US that came out in the 80s but nothing nearly as comprehensive has been done recently. I just make sure to always wear All the Gear, All the Time (ATTGATT), and always ride sober. Even one drink is pretty noticeable. So there's ways to substantially reduce the risk.
As for risk, there's the HURT report in the US that came out in the 80s but nothing nearly as comprehensive has been done recently. I just make sure to always wear All the Gear, All the Time (ATTGATT), and always ride sober. Even one drink is pretty noticeable. So there's ways to substantially reduce the risk.
I live in the UK and I don't have a garage either, I'm fortunate enough to live on a quiet enough street off of main roads though, so I do all my maintenance on the street. It's ok until the wind gets up, and genuinely pleasant in summer.
So far as being vulnerable - yes you are. This is something you have to come to terms with, there are many biker safety courses out there designed to make you a better rider, police riding courses are very good, and so are some advanced ones - they'll teach you how to ride defensively, how to read the road as best as possible, danger assessment etc. That said, there is always a chance something out of your control could happen to you, but the same could be said for walking out of your house every day, we do what we enjoy because we enjoy it - you must assess the risk vs reward and decide if it is for you.
My advice? If you honestly have an interest, try a beginners course, even if you don't initially intend on getting a motorcycle it will give you a little taste of what it is like and let you make a slightly more informed decision.
So far as being vulnerable - yes you are. This is something you have to come to terms with, there are many biker safety courses out there designed to make you a better rider, police riding courses are very good, and so are some advanced ones - they'll teach you how to ride defensively, how to read the road as best as possible, danger assessment etc. That said, there is always a chance something out of your control could happen to you, but the same could be said for walking out of your house every day, we do what we enjoy because we enjoy it - you must assess the risk vs reward and decide if it is for you.
My advice? If you honestly have an interest, try a beginners course, even if you don't initially intend on getting a motorcycle it will give you a little taste of what it is like and let you make a slightly more informed decision.
OpenStreetMap
Why: 'When there is a humanitarian crisis, such as the Nepal earthquake, OpenStreetMap (OSM) volunteers from around the world rapidly digitize satellite imagery to provide maps and data to support humanitarian organizations deployed to the affected countries.'
see other info + "How To Get Involved" :http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/2015_Nepal_earthquake
---
"The Internet Mapmakers Helping Nepal"
How "crisis mappers" activate after a catastrophe
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/05/the-ma...
---
"How hundreds of volunteer mappers are helping to keep Nepal earthquake aid from getting lost"
http://scroll.in/article/724301/how-hundreds-of-volunteer-ma...
Why: 'When there is a humanitarian crisis, such as the Nepal earthquake, OpenStreetMap (OSM) volunteers from around the world rapidly digitize satellite imagery to provide maps and data to support humanitarian organizations deployed to the affected countries.'
see other info + "How To Get Involved" :http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/2015_Nepal_earthquake
---
"The Internet Mapmakers Helping Nepal"
How "crisis mappers" activate after a catastrophe
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/05/the-ma...
---
"How hundreds of volunteer mappers are helping to keep Nepal earthquake aid from getting lost"
http://scroll.in/article/724301/how-hundreds-of-volunteer-ma...
I'm an aspiring inventor of board games, so that takes all my free time. In the past, I used to practice technical origami: The ancient art of paper folding meets mathematics. It's the best of both worlds: a very practical, yet mind-bending activity.
If you're interested, start by reading Robert J. Lang http://www.langorigami.com/ and Erik Demaine http://erikdemaine.org/.
Origami Design Secret is the best introduction on modern techniques: http://www.amazon.com/Origami-Design-Secrets-Mathematical-Me...
I also read a lot. It's not cool yet, but it will be if I get to read 100+ non-fiction books in one year. That's my goal for 2015.
If you're interested, start by reading Robert J. Lang http://www.langorigami.com/ and Erik Demaine http://erikdemaine.org/.
Origami Design Secret is the best introduction on modern techniques: http://www.amazon.com/Origami-Design-Secrets-Mathematical-Me...
I also read a lot. It's not cool yet, but it will be if I get to read 100+ non-fiction books in one year. That's my goal for 2015.
I'm into Astronomy and Star Gazing.
Its very humbling to know that we're nothing but a tiny speck on the Universe, and there's gazillions of stars, galaxies and most probably life doing the same things that we do, and thats cool. Go figure.
Its very humbling to know that we're nothing but a tiny speck on the Universe, and there's gazillions of stars, galaxies and most probably life doing the same things that we do, and thats cool. Go figure.
Same here. You can actually do that even without a telescope, considering how many free research data is available online... Lots of the space telescopes put their images out for free, not to mention older missions like Voyagers (with people still discovering stuff from them)
Living in a decent-sized city, light pollution bums me out a bit. I really wish more municipal governments took this seriously.
Table Tennis:
It is a great way to burn calories, and gives me something to focus on/analyze and get better at. Using a body bug to track calories expended, I can burn ~4000 calories during a 2 hour session. It is a lot of fun, and you meet people from a LOT of different cultures. It is very international.
If you are in/near Des Moines, Iowa, check out http://dsmtt.org for the local details.
Also, check out http://pingskills.com for REALLY excellent videos that show you how to improve your game.
It is a great way to burn calories, and gives me something to focus on/analyze and get better at. Using a body bug to track calories expended, I can burn ~4000 calories during a 2 hour session. It is a lot of fun, and you meet people from a LOT of different cultures. It is very international.
If you are in/near Des Moines, Iowa, check out http://dsmtt.org for the local details.
Also, check out http://pingskills.com for REALLY excellent videos that show you how to improve your game.
Why in the world would you mod this down? It seems relevant and clear. Did I miss something?
Beer brewing. It's fun because it's a great mix of creativity and science. The possibilities are endless, you feel like you're constantly learning no matter how long you've been doing it.
It's also possible to achieve great results because your process can be really close to a professional one at a much smaller scale, plus it's easy to have access to the same ingredient diversity and quality as any microbrewery.
It's a great hobby overall but it's best to pair it with another one where you move. :)
It's also possible to achieve great results because your process can be really close to a professional one at a much smaller scale, plus it's easy to have access to the same ingredient diversity and quality as any microbrewery.
It's a great hobby overall but it's best to pair it with another one where you move. :)
Yes, same here, though I've been on hiatus since my first child was born six years ago. Once the kids get a bit older I'm going to pick it up again. It's a nice break from my other tech hobbies.
My goal, when starting up again, is to brew English style real-ales, cask-conditioned and everything. There is nowhere around where I live (Minneapolis, MN) that I can get anything like the real thing. I love when I have the opportunity to go to the UK and try the good, local (not the big breweries like Fuller's, I'm talking smaller breweries like Hogsback or even smaller) brews that are kept well by knowing pub-keeps.
My goal, when starting up again, is to brew English style real-ales, cask-conditioned and everything. There is nowhere around where I live (Minneapolis, MN) that I can get anything like the real thing. I love when I have the opportunity to go to the UK and try the good, local (not the big breweries like Fuller's, I'm talking smaller breweries like Hogsback or even smaller) brews that are kept well by knowing pub-keeps.
This is something I've dabbled in (10 batches?) It's one of those hobbies that's nice because you can dip your toe in it by brewing a gallon of beer in your kitchen and next thing you know you're completely lost in it when find yourself tweaking water chemistry or examining yeast under a microscope.
I'm into grappling martial arts. I did a year of judo, 6 or so years of Brazilian jiu jitsu and now I do freestyle wresting. Unlike striking-based martial arts, there is really no violence at all and I find that they are vastly more technical. There are literally thousands of different techniques to learn and each one takes a lifetime to master. I find it to be quite safe as well. I've never had any serious injuries or even seen any. Best of all, I find it incredibly relaxing mentally. After spending an entire day inside my own head, it's so nice to do something where your brain shuts off and your muscle reflexes take over everything.
Recently, I decided to get into beer brewing. I made one batch so far from a kind of "just add water" beer sludge that you can buy in a can. It's drinkable. I'm looking forward to trying my next batch completely from grains and hopefully making some proper beer.
Recently, I decided to get into beer brewing. I made one batch so far from a kind of "just add water" beer sludge that you can buy in a can. It's drinkable. I'm looking forward to trying my next batch completely from grains and hopefully making some proper beer.
> Unlike striking-based martial arts, there is really no violence at all
I tend to disagree with this. I did 10 years of judo, and 10 years of striking sport (in particular muay thai), and I think injuries are more common in judo. Conversely, striking sports aren't necessarily violent. Sparring can be done in a non-violent manner. And it's highly technical as well.
I tend to disagree with this. I did 10 years of judo, and 10 years of striking sport (in particular muay thai), and I think injuries are more common in judo. Conversely, striking sports aren't necessarily violent. Sparring can be done in a non-violent manner. And it's highly technical as well.
I appreciate the benefits of martial arts. But to describe grappling as 'really no violence' is ignoring the joint locks, cartilage torqueing and so on. If it hurts, its violence!
Good luck with the beer. Its all good; never mind what's 'real' brewing and what isn't; only thing that matters is what you like.
Good luck with the beer. Its all good; never mind what's 'real' brewing and what isn't; only thing that matters is what you like.
Yeah, I mean from an overall perspective it can still be considered violent, but I just wanted to clarify that a punch to the face or a kick to the ribs will always hurt while a joint lock or a choke hold generally causes only as much discomfort as you choose yourself because after a bit of experience you know exactly when to tap out and let your opponent know to stop. Mostly you do this even before the person starts actually applying any significant pressure just because you realize automatically when you've reached a doomed position. Obviously when you're a beginner or when you train with some spazzy or violent people it may not be so ideal. In my opinion, if you are experiencing any significant amount of pain during a normal training session, something is very wrong and you should change gyms/partners.
As for the beer, I definitely do go by taste. The stuff from the can just didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. It should also be more fun to do everything form scratch, which is probably the most important aspect of having a hobby in the first place.
As for the beer, I definitely do go by taste. The stuff from the can just didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. It should also be more fun to do everything form scratch, which is probably the most important aspect of having a hobby in the first place.
Photography - I use my free time to take long walks (perk: easy exercise) and take photos of whatever looks interesting which is very relaxing. It motivates me to travel and discover new places...even if it's still within the same town. I've been asked to take photos of people, events and groups by friends and it's always a nice experience. I also put up my photos online on places like tumblr where they have been recognized by the tumblr community on several occasions.
Triathlon - Obviously a great source of exercise. Teaches you to expand yourself (time, goals, etc.) because you have to train for swimming, biking and running. Races are competitive, but the racers are also very friendly (perks of a somewhat niche sport). And then of course it's always a wow factor among others since races last from 15 miles ("sprints") to 140 miles (Ironman).
Triathlon - Obviously a great source of exercise. Teaches you to expand yourself (time, goals, etc.) because you have to train for swimming, biking and running. Races are competitive, but the racers are also very friendly (perks of a somewhat niche sport). And then of course it's always a wow factor among others since races last from 15 miles ("sprints") to 140 miles (Ironman).
My hobby is news.ycombinator.com. It isn't cool, though.
Cycling. I'm in a club and ride with a group of 20+ people, 4-5 times a week. Most weeks I get at least 150 miles in. I like it for a variety of reasons: it's fun to go fast; it's individual yet also a group activity; there's lots to learn; the mechanical and design aspects of modern cycling are really cool; and it makes me feel great.
As a nerd, I love analyzing my rides. I collect data on the power I deliver to the pedal, my heart rate, and precise GPS data. Everything connects to your phone or cyclocomputer via Bluetooth/ANT+. Services like Strava make it easy to compare your performance to those that you rode with and others that have ridden the same segments. It's just fun!
As a nerd, I love analyzing my rides. I collect data on the power I deliver to the pedal, my heart rate, and precise GPS data. Everything connects to your phone or cyclocomputer via Bluetooth/ANT+. Services like Strava make it easy to compare your performance to those that you rode with and others that have ridden the same segments. It's just fun!
How do you collect the data?
Juggling: It's awesome because there is a vibrant community pushing the limits of what's possible. There are so many different things to juggling (balls, clubs, rings - But also devilsticks, pois, diablos, yoyos, ...) and you can always learn something new. It's also pretty easy to start and you can learn new tricks fairly regulary, so (at least in my experience) you don't hit a wall that often.
One very cool thing is that you can get started with 3 tennis balls or other objects and, if you think it's worth it, migrate easily to "real" juggling balls and other things that cost more.
I have a bit of unusual hobby, climbing stairs twice a week in Los Angeles. I walk for about 5 miles each time, climbing about 1400 stairs. I drive about half an hour to the location, but it is my only way to increase my heart rate to about 160 and I enjoy it. For LA there is a wealth of maps and information in http://bigparadela.tumblr.com/post/117609135946/routes-timet...
Fly Fishing, more than a hobby it quickly turns into a philosophy...a way of life. You become a protector of nature, your surroundings. It has many facets, if you want to do delicate work with your hands you can pickup fly tying, fly casting can be a highly technical sport on it's own. And then there's al the trickery of the dozens of fly fishing styles and techniques...
If you want a good excuse to immerse yourself in nature, understand some living systems, and catch a fish (to release it), pick up Fly Fishing... It changed my life.
If you want a good excuse to immerse yourself in nature, understand some living systems, and catch a fish (to release it), pick up Fly Fishing... It changed my life.
You can also keep the odd fish, and cook what you caught yourself. That's pretty cool too.
Usually it's not a part of it, but you could do it. A huge part of the fly fishing philosophy is Catch & Release (C&R).
I think it depends where you fish.
Wild fish, certainly you should limit how many fish you take. In stocked waters, it doesn't matter so much. In fact on the ticket they stipulate how many fish you should take with you.
Wild fish, certainly you should limit how many fish you take. In stocked waters, it doesn't matter so much. In fact on the ticket they stipulate how many fish you should take with you.
Massage. Both giving and taking. It relaxes me, even when I give one.
Farming, where I grow my own vegetables in a small garden I have in the back of my vacation’s house. I have the opportunity to eat organic vegetables but the real benefit is that I’m exposed to nature and that has a soothing effect in my mind. I also have a small winery where I produce my own wine.
I don’t know if this would apply as a hobby but I also like taking long walks, usually in the city. Although modern cities aren’t too friendly for long walks it’s an opportunity to discover new places and see new things.
Contemporary art. I’m not much of a painter, although I’ve tried it, but I watch the scene closely and like massage it helps calm my mind. The good thing about contemporary art is that it’s pretty much experimental so there are literally hundreds of different venues artists choose to express themselves and that makes it too interesting for me.
And, finally, of course reading. I like historical novels, sci-fi (I doubt there is anyone in here who doesn’t like sci-fi), and mystery novels.
Farming, where I grow my own vegetables in a small garden I have in the back of my vacation’s house. I have the opportunity to eat organic vegetables but the real benefit is that I’m exposed to nature and that has a soothing effect in my mind. I also have a small winery where I produce my own wine.
I don’t know if this would apply as a hobby but I also like taking long walks, usually in the city. Although modern cities aren’t too friendly for long walks it’s an opportunity to discover new places and see new things.
Contemporary art. I’m not much of a painter, although I’ve tried it, but I watch the scene closely and like massage it helps calm my mind. The good thing about contemporary art is that it’s pretty much experimental so there are literally hundreds of different venues artists choose to express themselves and that makes it too interesting for me.
And, finally, of course reading. I like historical novels, sci-fi (I doubt there is anyone in here who doesn’t like sci-fi), and mystery novels.
Elorant, Is there an inexpensive way to be a masseur you are aware of ? Every school seems to be expensive where I live at.
I live in Greece so I doubt my experience would be of any use to you. For the record though I attended lessons at a private institution. And by the way you can check YouTube [1], there are thousands of good instructional videos about massage, from Thai to Swedish.
[1] Here's one example of a good massage channel I've found: https://www.youtube.com/user/psychetruth
[1] Here's one example of a good massage channel I've found: https://www.youtube.com/user/psychetruth
Thanks for the link though, Will start experimenting on my SO. :D
I do martial arts, lately I am into HEMA - Historical European Martial Arts. It's cool because you can hit people with sword ;).
I'm into 3D modeling. It's challenging and makes you always think ahead of what you are currently doing. It has a lot of similarities to programming actually, except that since it's my hobby I'm not trying to be extremely productive and allow myself to work at a slow pace. It is pretty relaxing.
Being somewhat familiar with a 3D workflow will also make you appreciate videogames or the CGI you see in movies even more.
It also has tons of applications. As an example, I recently moved into a new place but I wasn't sure all my furniture would fit into my room, so I made a rough 3D model of the room and of my stuff and quicky tried different configurations to see which one would work the best.
I've also picked up photography. I don't like sports but I don't mind walking, so it's a great way to actually go outside instead of sitting at my desk all day. On the downside it is pretty addictive and can quickly become very expensive.
I've also picked up photography. I don't like sports but I don't mind walking, so it's a great way to actually go outside instead of sitting at my desk all day. On the downside it is pretty addictive and can quickly become very expensive.
* Playing board- and cardgames: social and engaging. Puerto Rico, Caylus, Polis, Labyrinth: The War on Terror, Arimaa, The Duke, Carson City, Bridge etc.
* Theology: an old but good library or framework for thinking about morals and a good life
* Cosmology: i want to know where I am and how this universe works
* Transpersonal psychology (not ken wilber) & mindfulness: pychological development doesn't stop at 18, it's a lifelong process - I am interested in the dynamics
* Toying with VR: ever since I read snow crash, i was busy with building 3D stuff, first with Wicked3D shutter glasses and large CRT's and Unreal level building, later with Z800 and OpenSim, now with Google VR and a Samsung Note - getting smaller and better.
* Nordic LARP, better then VR!
* Maintaining a local online discussion group between jews, muslims and christians: hard work...
* Working out with Ingress and Zombies Run: I feel exercise has to be meaningful, gamify
* Attending psytrance gatherings, good workout for body and spirit
* Theology: an old but good library or framework for thinking about morals and a good life
* Cosmology: i want to know where I am and how this universe works
* Transpersonal psychology (not ken wilber) & mindfulness: pychological development doesn't stop at 18, it's a lifelong process - I am interested in the dynamics
* Toying with VR: ever since I read snow crash, i was busy with building 3D stuff, first with Wicked3D shutter glasses and large CRT's and Unreal level building, later with Z800 and OpenSim, now with Google VR and a Samsung Note - getting smaller and better.
* Nordic LARP, better then VR!
* Maintaining a local online discussion group between jews, muslims and christians: hard work...
* Working out with Ingress and Zombies Run: I feel exercise has to be meaningful, gamify
* Attending psytrance gatherings, good workout for body and spirit
Skydiving, juggling, hobbyist hacking (R-Pi, home automation, etc), iRacing (and online racing sim) and Civilization 5.
Both skydiving and juggling fulfill my enjoyment of teaching my body to do complex things and both reward me with easily being able to "get in the zone". Both relax me greatly too.
My little tech projects are very enjoyable while I'm working on them and very rewarding when I put something together that me and my family use every day.
The online multiplayer driving sim is similar in that it has a ridiculously long learning curve (which attracts me about so many things I've done in my life). It also fills my need for competition. For the last 20 years, since I was 16, I've used competitive gaming as an outlet for my competitive streak. Beginning with FPS games (the Quake series in particular) and then Starcraft 2 and now iRacing.
I treat Civ 5 like modern chess and use it to fill hours of spare time.
Both skydiving and juggling fulfill my enjoyment of teaching my body to do complex things and both reward me with easily being able to "get in the zone". Both relax me greatly too.
My little tech projects are very enjoyable while I'm working on them and very rewarding when I put something together that me and my family use every day.
The online multiplayer driving sim is similar in that it has a ridiculously long learning curve (which attracts me about so many things I've done in my life). It also fills my need for competition. For the last 20 years, since I was 16, I've used competitive gaming as an outlet for my competitive streak. Beginning with FPS games (the Quake series in particular) and then Starcraft 2 and now iRacing.
I treat Civ 5 like modern chess and use it to fill hours of spare time.
Cross-country Paragliding. It's cool because you suddenly grok everything that happens in that blue space above your head, and are able to dive right through it. And the perspective shift from hanging 3000m above the mountain tops to skimming a snow-capped peak 20 minutes later is mind-boggling.
Some current and past hobbies of mine.
I've been practicing martial arts since I'm 7 (notably judo, and then karate). My favorite one is thai boxing. Some pros and cons. + a very intense, fun and rewarding workout + makes you fit while having fun + very technical and beautiful sport + social activity, good way to make friends + opportunity to train in Thailand for a few months - hard on the body past a certain age, the competitive and "pushing" atmosphere doesn't help. - can be violent, but doesn't have to be.
Other hobby, playing the guitar. I've been playing for 20 years, and I practice about 10 hours a week. Some pros and cons. + it's a lifelong activity. There's always something to learn. I don't think I'll ever get bored of playing music. + It's both a physical and intellectual activity + You get to play the music that you like, very satisfying and rewarding - it can be extremely time-consuming - can be very frustrating, esp. when you don't have innate musical abilities. Progress may be slow. You may struggle all your life for things that other have naturally (like sense of rhythm, a good ear).
Snowboarding. I was very passionate (I snowboarded about 40 days a year). But eventually I got bored. Pros and cons: + awesome sensations + quite easy to improve + beautiful sceneries - need to live near a mountain, and drive there. - strain on the body - it can get boring by yourself - it takes pretty much the whole day
Swimming: + "soft" sport that you can practice at any age (esp. after your body is used by all the other activities!) + technical, so lot of room for improvement. + 4 different strokes, so many techniques to work on. + relax, but not really "fun". Even boring at times. - not a social activity. I'm in a swimming club, and people barely talk to each other. We just swim and that's it. - can be boring
Other activities that I like to a lesser extent. Running, climbing, mountain hiking. Programming, but more a professional activity now than a hobby.
I've been practicing martial arts since I'm 7 (notably judo, and then karate). My favorite one is thai boxing. Some pros and cons. + a very intense, fun and rewarding workout + makes you fit while having fun + very technical and beautiful sport + social activity, good way to make friends + opportunity to train in Thailand for a few months - hard on the body past a certain age, the competitive and "pushing" atmosphere doesn't help. - can be violent, but doesn't have to be.
Other hobby, playing the guitar. I've been playing for 20 years, and I practice about 10 hours a week. Some pros and cons. + it's a lifelong activity. There's always something to learn. I don't think I'll ever get bored of playing music. + It's both a physical and intellectual activity + You get to play the music that you like, very satisfying and rewarding - it can be extremely time-consuming - can be very frustrating, esp. when you don't have innate musical abilities. Progress may be slow. You may struggle all your life for things that other have naturally (like sense of rhythm, a good ear).
Snowboarding. I was very passionate (I snowboarded about 40 days a year). But eventually I got bored. Pros and cons: + awesome sensations + quite easy to improve + beautiful sceneries - need to live near a mountain, and drive there. - strain on the body - it can get boring by yourself - it takes pretty much the whole day
Swimming: + "soft" sport that you can practice at any age (esp. after your body is used by all the other activities!) + technical, so lot of room for improvement. + 4 different strokes, so many techniques to work on. + relax, but not really "fun". Even boring at times. - not a social activity. I'm in a swimming club, and people barely talk to each other. We just swim and that's it. - can be boring
Other activities that I like to a lesser extent. Running, climbing, mountain hiking. Programming, but more a professional activity now than a hobby.
Currently, chess and ham radio. They are both low cost (or can be...you can go crazy in either), have plenty to do both solo and with other people, and can be enjoyed as a beginner yet have plenty of depth to occupy you for a lifetime.
Ham radio can be combined with other activities. There is a thing called SOTA (Summit On The Air), for instance, that combines hiking and mountain climbing with radio. You earn points by reaching peaks listed in their database and setting up a portable radio and making contact.
There are quite a few ham radio hobbyists on HN. Many checked in on this discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9445123
Any who were left out, reply and check in here.
Ham radio can be combined with other activities. There is a thing called SOTA (Summit On The Air), for instance, that combines hiking and mountain climbing with radio. You earn points by reaching peaks listed in their database and setting up a portable radio and making contact.
There are quite a few ham radio hobbyists on HN. Many checked in on this discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9445123
Any who were left out, reply and check in here.
Rabbit rescue. I volunteer at a shelter in Maryland. Clean cages, administer medicine, check food and water and hay, brushing, and provide lots of scritches. Shameless plug: www.esrrec.org. If you visit the website, the "donate" and "volunteer" rabbit photos are my own pets.
Music composition. I have a nice little midi setup. A full sized synth, a 25-key controller, a launchpad controller with external track controls, and a special device that allows me to connect a tablet and a smartphone to use as additional controllers or sound devices. Ableton Live and Finale. Lately I've been composing music for weddings, but also dipping my toes into electronica and ambient. I'm an old hand at Finale, still new to Ableton.
Music composition. I have a nice little midi setup. A full sized synth, a 25-key controller, a launchpad controller with external track controls, and a special device that allows me to connect a tablet and a smartphone to use as additional controllers or sound devices. Ableton Live and Finale. Lately I've been composing music for weddings, but also dipping my toes into electronica and ambient. I'm an old hand at Finale, still new to Ableton.
I practice/teach martial arts 2-4 times a week. People pay me to hit them, and that's why it's so cool :-) Joking aside, it's a great way to stay in shape, and the people at my dojo are fantastic - they're like a second family to me.
Could you elaborate on what kind of MAs are you into? I always wanted to try, but I hate the hyper aggressive, macho-alpha-thing attitude that I suspect I'd find in, say, the box gym down the road. Is it even a true stereotype?
I practice Isshinryu, a particular style of Karate. We place about equal emphasis on traditional aspects of Karate (empty-handed forms, or "katas", traditional weapons, etc), as well as in sparring. While we do occasionally get the odd macho-man in our club, the vast majority of us are regular people looking for a fun way to stay in shape.
As for your stereotype, it really depends on the gym. I'd say if you're looking to do mixed martial arts of boxing, the probability of finding a meathead-alpha-gym will be higher, but there are MMA and boxing gyms that are also laid back. So in a nutshell, you really have to take it on a gym-by-gym basis. If you're looking at getting into MA, find a place close to you, and sit in and observe a few classes before giving it a try, and be aware of the vibes you get from it. If you get a decent feeling about the place, see if you can try a lesson or two for free, to see if it's for you. Repeat this process for other gyms and soon you'll find the one for you :-)
As for your stereotype, it really depends on the gym. I'd say if you're looking to do mixed martial arts of boxing, the probability of finding a meathead-alpha-gym will be higher, but there are MMA and boxing gyms that are also laid back. So in a nutshell, you really have to take it on a gym-by-gym basis. If you're looking at getting into MA, find a place close to you, and sit in and observe a few classes before giving it a try, and be aware of the vibes you get from it. If you get a decent feeling about the place, see if you can try a lesson or two for free, to see if it's for you. Repeat this process for other gyms and soon you'll find the one for you :-)
Gaming, Coding and Music (Guitar/Bass).
Because you can start them without leaving the house and I have always been a little bit awkward in social situations.
They are cool because they have a huge variety. No game is the same, there is plenty of software that can be developed and an abundance of songs that can be played. Also I can create my own songs and games if I like to.
After I became better with the outside world I started stuff like swimming, and biking. They are a bit limited in their variety, but swimming is in the water, which is good when getting heat-up while doing physically demanding stuff and biking is a rather practical thing I can do on a everyday basis to get from A to B and also for leisure in the wild.
Because you can start them without leaving the house and I have always been a little bit awkward in social situations.
They are cool because they have a huge variety. No game is the same, there is plenty of software that can be developed and an abundance of songs that can be played. Also I can create my own songs and games if I like to.
After I became better with the outside world I started stuff like swimming, and biking. They are a bit limited in their variety, but swimming is in the water, which is good when getting heat-up while doing physically demanding stuff and biking is a rather practical thing I can do on a everyday basis to get from A to B and also for leisure in the wild.
I like to paddle around local lakes and ponds with my wife in our homemade carbon fiber boats. It's amazing how even in the Boston area you can see a lot of wildlife when you get out on the water.
Why is it cool? The little 18 pound canoes are amazing on calm lakes.
Why is it cool? The little 18 pound canoes are amazing on calm lakes.
How did you make the boats?
can you share something about the making of those boats?...
I didn't document my process very well, but I found encouragement from a website that used the same book as I did for a starting point[1]. I modified the design to make them into small sit-in canoes that you use with a kayak paddle like a Hornbeck [2]. I have a good friend with a few Hornbeck boats, and I really wanted something similar with out spending $1200 each on two boats. In the end I probably spent $1500 for the two boats in materials and put in about 15 person days of weekend labor, but it was a fun project. The boats look good, and are just rough enough that people notice that it is hand made.
[1] http://www.microtek-inc.com/canoe/canoe.htm [2] http://www.hornbeckboats.com/index.php
[1] http://www.microtek-inc.com/canoe/canoe.htm [2] http://www.hornbeckboats.com/index.php
Playing the guitar. There's nothing else that I find more rewarding, relaxing and challenging in the same time. I can't get enough of the joy when I learn a new song, riff or lick. After a long day at work this is the only thing I want to do.
Skiing. It's cool because it's
* crazy addictive. If you can go you will
* a decent workout. If I'm in a course or trying, even run is like a sprint
* allows you to connect with others -- you can ride the chair up together!
But unfortunately it's really expensive after you've been in for a while.
* crazy addictive. If you can go you will
* a decent workout. If I'm in a course or trying, even run is like a sprint
* allows you to connect with others -- you can ride the chair up together!
But unfortunately it's really expensive after you've been in for a while.
Cub scout leader - I get to watch 7 to 10 year olds grow up and be a part of that growing up. Teaching them skills they'll find useful in later life and hopefully giving them experiences they'll remember fondly.
Programming - Making things Im proud of.
Programming - Making things Im proud of.
Aikido. Good exercise with a practical point The wrist stretches feel great after typing all day. I enjoy the duality of art in that sometimes you can be aggressive (uke) or learn how to blend with that aggression as nage
Strength Training.
It's cool because:
1) Being strong is an awesome thing to be. It's like a secret superpower when you can lift heavier stuff than other people.
2) It's objective. The weights I am moving either get heavier, or they don't.
3) It has loads of health benefits, especially as I am 44 next month and stuff is starting to go south. Strength training prevents muscle loss and strengthens my bones.
4) I go at lunchtime, so it gives me a slice of "alone-time" in the middle of the day where I can reflect on things. I get some of best work ideas in the gym.
It's cool because:
1) Being strong is an awesome thing to be. It's like a secret superpower when you can lift heavier stuff than other people.
2) It's objective. The weights I am moving either get heavier, or they don't.
3) It has loads of health benefits, especially as I am 44 next month and stuff is starting to go south. Strength training prevents muscle loss and strengthens my bones.
4) I go at lunchtime, so it gives me a slice of "alone-time" in the middle of the day where I can reflect on things. I get some of best work ideas in the gym.
Strangely, my only hobby is programming. I program during the day, and then when I have some free time I like to program some more. But it can be very different programming, mobile instead of web etc...
Why do I still enjoy programming after doing it for a whole day? I like to be creative, and working for someone limits my creativity. Programming for myself allows me to create projects in a complete different way.
Why do I still enjoy programming after doing it for a whole day? I like to be creative, and working for someone limits my creativity. Programming for myself allows me to create projects in a complete different way.
Dogs - training and breeding them (well, mostly its the wife doing the breding stuff), mostly I do french ring (protection sport) with mine, sometimes its a source of stress and frustration, some times its awesome. Cars - tho, its been hard to get out there and play with stuff lately. Track days are awesome for keeping me destressed. Kids - where most of my time goes these days.
Robotics for RoboCup@Home, and being successful at it! This year we may become world champions in the RoboCup@Home league.
Cub scout leader for boys aged 7-11.
Cub scout leader for boys aged 7-11.
Playing Hockey - it's the best sport for me. Very quick and high Intensive and a bit brutal sometimes. I love the feeling of sliding on the ice and the focus you need for the 1-2minutes you're out there for a shift.
Also the team aspect is great if you play in a league and train with other guys every week for the playoffs.
Not as active as some of the others, I stick with the stereotypical geek side of my life and play Warhammer 40k, and Dungeons and Dragons (well, Pathfinder for those in the know).
But between work and family time, I rarely do those. When ever I do spend time on myself, always nag myself about not spending time with the kids.
But between work and family time, I rarely do those. When ever I do spend time on myself, always nag myself about not spending time with the kids.
I used to drive 1:8 offroad remote controlled fuel driven cars on a highly competitive level participating in races all around europe.
It was fun because, it's nerdy, it's outside, you meet people from all around the world and all around society, they are fast.
It was fun because, it's nerdy, it's outside, you meet people from all around the world and all around society, they are fast.
surfing - learn to swim well and get your endurance up and surfing wont be far off. the rest is just balance.
skiing - highly addictive, highly expensive. pros - see the world from high elevations, natural highs. cons - you have to wait for next winter.
golf - every shot is different. takes years / decades to hone your skill. ive been playing for 14 years now and i still stink, relatively speaking. take some lessons, spend some time at the range and get yourself a set of clubs. great way to kill some time on sunday in the spring / fall.
I play in a soccer league once a week and then pickup basketball whenever I feel like (Which is basically every day in the summer). You get to interact with people, exercise and have fun.
Go, the game. Sometimes focusing becomes tunnelvision. Go destroys that. Plus rock-climbing and yoga (which honestly I've not done in some time).
Wakeboarding - Get to forget about the internet for a while
My hobby is programming. Now it's my work too.
Programming. Love writing software that people use!
weightlifting (as in: snatch and clean & jerk).
i started about 3 years ago when i was already past 30, so i'm one of the new crop of "old newbies" that emerged with the recent crossfit craze (never tried that though). i'm not especially strong and i probably won't ever get near where my 20 year old colleagues are, but i don't care much about that. i train 3 to 4 times a week for about 2 to 3 hours.
why do i do it: the physical exertion really helps me relax after a day of sitting and intense, concentrated work in front of the screen. it also prevents my posture from getting worse by strengthening my back muscles and really, really hammering correct posture into my daily routine. the increased strength and muscle mass helps preventing every day injuries and - well, this is an investment in the far future - age related maladies like osteoporosis or mobility problems. of course i also like the body that comes with it (not all weightlifters are overweight - to the contrary).
furthermore an intense training session really improves my mood. no matter how grumpy, tired and powerless i feel, the more i actually want to work out, even if i'm not in the mood for it - because i know i'll feel a lot better afterwards.
why weightlifting is cool: lets be honest - being able to push more than your bodyweight in iron over your head is kind of cool. looking good naked doesn't hurt either. the risk of injury is comparably low - it's actually one of the sports with the lowest risk of injury for several reasons:
* it's single player. you don't get tackled or rushed or injured by others (whether on purpose or by accident). you're in control. if you get hurt, it's almost always your own fault due to not being being careful.
* you don't twist around, so the risk of tearing your ligaments is low.
* it's an extremely technical sport; it takes years to perfect your technique. better technique leads to more weight lifted, even if your bodily strength didn't improve that much. with good technique, the risk of injury is low. without good technique, you aren't able to lift a lot of weight. it's practically self regulating. and usually you train with a trainer who corrects your form. even fitness training in a gym is more dangerous. of course, injuries do happen occasionally and you're rarely completely without pain - something always hurts, even if it's only sore muscles.
downsides of weightlifting:
you do need specialised equipment; a platform and standard gym bars don't cut it either. without a weightlifting club nearby you're probably out of luck.
due to the lack of lifters i do have to compete for my club (where i train), whether i want it or not (except for reasons, of course - injury, exams, family, vacation, ...). that means every couple of weeks a whole saturday is practically lost for prep and the competition (doesn't bother me much, i kind of like competing even though i'm always overly nervous). also athletes at our club are paid an allowance for competing (for the time invested), so the club membership fee for the year is actually negative.
i started about 3 years ago when i was already past 30, so i'm one of the new crop of "old newbies" that emerged with the recent crossfit craze (never tried that though). i'm not especially strong and i probably won't ever get near where my 20 year old colleagues are, but i don't care much about that. i train 3 to 4 times a week for about 2 to 3 hours.
why do i do it: the physical exertion really helps me relax after a day of sitting and intense, concentrated work in front of the screen. it also prevents my posture from getting worse by strengthening my back muscles and really, really hammering correct posture into my daily routine. the increased strength and muscle mass helps preventing every day injuries and - well, this is an investment in the far future - age related maladies like osteoporosis or mobility problems. of course i also like the body that comes with it (not all weightlifters are overweight - to the contrary).
furthermore an intense training session really improves my mood. no matter how grumpy, tired and powerless i feel, the more i actually want to work out, even if i'm not in the mood for it - because i know i'll feel a lot better afterwards.
why weightlifting is cool: lets be honest - being able to push more than your bodyweight in iron over your head is kind of cool. looking good naked doesn't hurt either. the risk of injury is comparably low - it's actually one of the sports with the lowest risk of injury for several reasons:
* it's single player. you don't get tackled or rushed or injured by others (whether on purpose or by accident). you're in control. if you get hurt, it's almost always your own fault due to not being being careful.
* you don't twist around, so the risk of tearing your ligaments is low.
* it's an extremely technical sport; it takes years to perfect your technique. better technique leads to more weight lifted, even if your bodily strength didn't improve that much. with good technique, the risk of injury is low. without good technique, you aren't able to lift a lot of weight. it's practically self regulating. and usually you train with a trainer who corrects your form. even fitness training in a gym is more dangerous. of course, injuries do happen occasionally and you're rarely completely without pain - something always hurts, even if it's only sore muscles.
downsides of weightlifting:
you do need specialised equipment; a platform and standard gym bars don't cut it either. without a weightlifting club nearby you're probably out of luck.
due to the lack of lifters i do have to compete for my club (where i train), whether i want it or not (except for reasons, of course - injury, exams, family, vacation, ...). that means every couple of weeks a whole saturday is practically lost for prep and the competition (doesn't bother me much, i kind of like competing even though i'm always overly nervous). also athletes at our club are paid an allowance for competing (for the time invested), so the club membership fee for the year is actually negative.
ultimate frisbee, running and guitar.
Besides neurotically tweaking my text editor of choice and getting lost on Wikipedia...
- Exercise: Running and bodyweight strength training are free (minus clothing), and can be done more or less anywhere. They yield clear results as you get in better shape, and can be really fun when combined with music that pumps you up, letting it drive you towards runner's high. Some take this further than others [0].
- Music: Listening to a variety of music, as well as performing (preferrably multiple instruments) gives you a greater understanding of what is going on and why it works, though practice can be very time-consuming - but ultimately worth it. There are, for instance, very few things in my life that I remember as equally rewarding as trying to learn Metallica records by ear in my early teens. As your technical proficiency and understanding improves, you may gain an interest in complex and/or obscure and/or straight up weird music. Some take this further than others [1]. In addition, experimenting with recording and manipulating/mixing/mastering will give you an understanding of the production-side as well. Knowledge of both performance and production will affect the way you hear recorded music, ideally culminating in an approximate understanding of how the different sounds were made and molded. Combining writing, performing, recording and manipulating - making a piece of recorded music entirely by yourself - can be pretty difficult, but also extremely gratifying.
- Reading literature: A great way to go on an adventure, relate to someone, or see things from someone else's perspective. For instance, I've learned things from being exposed to opinions that I didn't necessarily agree with, like Philip K. Dick's views on abortion, Dostoyevsky's orthodoxy, and various positions of the oft-misunderstood/misconstrued Nietzsche. There are some really great books out there dealing with everything between ordinary people in ordinary circumstances and extraordinary supermen in cooky sci-fi universes. Some take this further than others [2].
- Programming: Picking up and learning some new language or piece of technology can often be rewarding in and of itself, and lead to an added perspective in future tasks. Additionally, programming has the advantage of often giving (more or less) clear feedback. As I'm sure we can all agree upon, no one has ever gone off the deep end with regard to programming.
[0]: https://youtu.be/hKrg_ei96xk?t=88
[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4rqXqpLCZ0
[2]: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ayn-Rand/e/B000APYGIW/ref=dp_byline_...
- Exercise: Running and bodyweight strength training are free (minus clothing), and can be done more or less anywhere. They yield clear results as you get in better shape, and can be really fun when combined with music that pumps you up, letting it drive you towards runner's high. Some take this further than others [0].
- Music: Listening to a variety of music, as well as performing (preferrably multiple instruments) gives you a greater understanding of what is going on and why it works, though practice can be very time-consuming - but ultimately worth it. There are, for instance, very few things in my life that I remember as equally rewarding as trying to learn Metallica records by ear in my early teens. As your technical proficiency and understanding improves, you may gain an interest in complex and/or obscure and/or straight up weird music. Some take this further than others [1]. In addition, experimenting with recording and manipulating/mixing/mastering will give you an understanding of the production-side as well. Knowledge of both performance and production will affect the way you hear recorded music, ideally culminating in an approximate understanding of how the different sounds were made and molded. Combining writing, performing, recording and manipulating - making a piece of recorded music entirely by yourself - can be pretty difficult, but also extremely gratifying.
- Reading literature: A great way to go on an adventure, relate to someone, or see things from someone else's perspective. For instance, I've learned things from being exposed to opinions that I didn't necessarily agree with, like Philip K. Dick's views on abortion, Dostoyevsky's orthodoxy, and various positions of the oft-misunderstood/misconstrued Nietzsche. There are some really great books out there dealing with everything between ordinary people in ordinary circumstances and extraordinary supermen in cooky sci-fi universes. Some take this further than others [2].
- Programming: Picking up and learning some new language or piece of technology can often be rewarding in and of itself, and lead to an added perspective in future tasks. Additionally, programming has the advantage of often giving (more or less) clear feedback. As I'm sure we can all agree upon, no one has ever gone off the deep end with regard to programming.
[0]: https://youtu.be/hKrg_ei96xk?t=88
[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4rqXqpLCZ0
[2]: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ayn-Rand/e/B000APYGIW/ref=dp_byline_...
1. It works the right muscles to fight all the terrible things that programming does to your body. Slouching fixed, wrist issues fixed, obesity fixed.
2. It's crazy fun and addictive. You will make time to go climbing. There is no concept of "I should probably go climbing but..." like there is with the gym, running, etc. If it's physically possible to go climbing now without definitely getting fired, you're going.
3. It's measurable, so it presses the "leveling up" buttons that seem to be hard-wired into dev types. You'll spend years stuck at V6, grinding 4 nights a week in the gym, loving every minute of it in the hope of one day advancing to V7.
4. It gets you traveling. Sure, there's enough rock around town to keep you going on the weekends, and there's some good areas that you can hit for a weekend roadtrip (which by the way will be where you spend every single weekend from here on out). But all the best rock is halfway around the world. You'll save up to spend a winter on the beach in Thailand, summer roadtripping across Europe, and if you ever end up in Paris on business you'll look me up in Fontainebleau and I'll take you out for the single best day of bouldering in your life here in the forest.
Head down to the climbing gym tonight. It'll ruin your life. In a good way.