What is your hobbies apart from computers ?

[mangatmodi]

I'm really passionate about programming and hacking but apart from computers I have many other hobbies : Poetry, Reading, Dancing, Singing.

What are your hobbies that keep you merry ?

[piranha]

I play guitar, I fix things (such as an old pinball machine that still works in fact). Biking, hiking, backpacking, fireworks, and some more.

-JL

[mangatmodi]

Wow, That's great I have always want to learn guitar

[gravaera]

I love programming a whole lot, but I also enjoy playing guitar, and doing Gymnastics.

I've started doing Baguazhang (martial arts) recently. I tried out Taijiquan, but it's really complex. I could try the watered down stuff you see in those penny a piece schools out there, but a real Chinese Sifu's class is both expensive and highly filled with theory and chinese teachings. And taiji's philosophical side is really complex, so...

Most of the time, actually, while I'm working on my OS, I'm also strumming out stuff on my guitar to help me think.

I seriously envy people who could sing. I can't sing to save my life. It sucks.

[madeofstaples]

I was into electrical engineering when I started college, but I didn't really like it very much when I actually took a basic EE course so I focused more on my other majors. However, I've been working on a circuit for a project with my roommate and suddenly a lot of things are clicking for me that didn't when I took the course (though, off topic, I could use a little help if anyone here is doing EE or has a degree in it, or just knows enough about it), so I would consider analog and digital circuit design to be hobbies, though they don't fall far from the category of computers.

I also enjoy philosophy. I still have to ask an advisor, but I am probably one or two classes short of a philosophy minor.

Activity-wise I love running. I haven't been running lately, and when I do I have to be careful that the supports that prevent over-pronation and inflammation of... I forget the muscle name... aren't too worn-out; shin splints have gotten so bad for me that I've collapsed immediately after putting any pressure on my legs after getting out of bed. I would also like to do more weight training.

I am interested in almost all areas of science. I love reading research papers in health (and in that area, especially mental health) and computer journals particularly, but also experimental physics, chemistry, etc every once in a while.

I love music, both listening to and (re)creating. I grew up playing piano and clarinet, but I don't even know where my clarinet is anymore; now I have a few guitars and a keyboard, I would like to learn bass sometime if I get the time, and maybe drums. I don't like to sing, mostly because I don't talk a lot and have a weak voice, but my friend was really impressed when he asked to record me for a part of a song he was working on.

Photography is an expensive hobby, and that's why I haven't done much with photography in a while. When I did, I used a friend's or my dad's very expensive (D)SLR cameras. My roommate has gotten me a little into cinematography lately, as well.

However, I might go months at a time without even thinking about some of the hobbies I've mentioned here. Besides computers, probably the only hobby to which I devote a consistent amount of time is neuroscience. In fact, although I'm majoring in computer-related subjects, I plan to go for a masters in neuropharmacology. Just the other day I went to the book store and found a book by Jeff Hawkins, and he could easily be my alter ego. Here's the very beginning of the prologue:

This book and my life are animated by two passions.

For twenty-five years I have been passionate about mobile computing. In the high-tech world of Silicon Valley, I am known for starting two companies, Palm Computing and Handspring, and as the architect of many handheld computers and cell phones such as the PalmPilot and the Treo.

But I have a second passion that predates my interest in computers--one I view as more important. I am crazy about brains. I want to understand how the brain works, not just from a philosophical perspective, not just in a general way, but in a detailed nuts and bolts engineering way. My desire is not only to understand what intelligence is and how the brain works, but how to build machines that work the same way. I want to build truly intelligent machines.

Which is funny because I wrote a philosophy paper a semester ago almost in the exact same spirit.

[Solar]

A not-so-old thread on the same topic.

Most of the hobbies I used to have lost out to the grinding wheel of time. I no longer do martial arts or medieval re-enactment, I have quit my American Football team long ago, I don't find the time to do traditional archery & fletching, no more swordfighting, pen&paper roleplaying, or LARP gaming (although I'm thinking on reactivating those two).

I still enjoy reading (fantasy stuff mostly, with some sci-fi thrown in), although that, too, has sharply declined since I had become a working family father. (Life as a student was easier.) Oh, and I still like coding, which is somewhat strange given the §$&$§$ that's "professional" software work. (Hell, the projects I did as a fourteen-year-old were more professional than the stuff I'm forced to endure in the office.)

But my biggest hobby is seeing my kids grow up.

[rootnode]

My hobbies are playing the guitar, Go, Aikido, reading, oh, and learning languages (as many as possible. And I mean real world languages, not programming languages).

[Troy Martin]

Guitar, writing, gaming, conlanging... and that's apart from computer-related things.

[redoktober]

well, apart from coding....i love reading books.
mostly fiction.
but then, i also like history and international relations thrown in.
then, there's music.
absolute soul-saver.
and yeah. i love cooking.
and housework.
with mom being a single parent, and my younger brothers too young(actually, they're in grades 6 and 7, but i still think that's young), i chip in with the household stuff.
i'm also thinking about learning some more languages, maybe german and latin, also esperanto...but i guess that's gonna wait.

[rootnode]

i'm also thinking about learning some more languages, maybe german and latin, also esperanto...but i guess that's gonna wait.

If you need help with german, don't hesitate to drop me a message.

[redoktober]

i'd be very grateful!
thanks a million!

[Coty]

I bike, play Bass (not very good), exercise, and play with electronic wiring...

[TverrBjelke]

@solar:
When I read that, I immediately got into strange mood of melancholy - looking up I thinking myself: I've landed in a "world of potential hobbies" - besides job (which indeed IS a hobby) my family has become (de facto, not by some kind of active choosing, "it" got me slipping bit for bit into this) just almost every other part of my life. No surprise, that last time I logged into this forum is months ago...

So I would like to do lots of activities (one of the many budo-arts, archery, hacking, coding of OSes or other nice projects, computer gaming, reactivating my guitar, podcasting around the world, going politics and change the world, etc etc.) but after work, I am just glad if really doing some fitness and then... family. Which is really nice, indeed! Looking into your small baby's smile, or when she's trying to imitate the older brother. Or when he more and more creatively argues for his not allowed doings - until you find yourself that astoished and speechless about this kinda unbeatable innocent kid's logic...

- yeah - forgot "sleeping"! Before becoming dad I didn't know how valuable full bag of sleep could be!

[redoktober]

Looking into your small baby's smile, or when she's trying to imitate the older brother. Or when he more and more creatively argues for his not allowed doings - until you find yourself that astoished and speechless about this kinda unbeatable innocent kid's logic...

- yeah - forgot "sleeping"! Before becoming dad I didn't know how valuable full bag of sleep could be!

i envy you, man!

and i guess i can imagine how hectic it can get. but then...family first!

[AlexHK]

There are different things than computers? Your're joking, aren't you?

My other hobbies are playing guitar (acoustic) and flute, reading books (not only technical ones), riding bycicle and going to partys with my friends (yes, that is a hobby for me ).