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Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

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Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#721

Post by tjomk »

stanko wrote: post #651

Maybe not that niche for this group, but I love pen plotting. I use code to create drawings and then pen plot them on paper [0]. The ability to bring something digital into the physical world is really fulfilling for me and makes the process much more tangible. I have an Axidraw A3, and it might be the best purchase I ever made. In the last few months I haven't done much as I'm currently obsessed by gamedev. But now…

I love it. Just recently got my first plotter, and it is so much fun. Sadly though this still keeps me near computer.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#724

Post by laxpri »

dhruvkar wrote: post #480

Exploring my own bio-electricity. Something is stuck within my body most of the time. Doing certain movements makes this something flow better. I feel better when this happens. Breathing in certain ways enhances this something . I feel A LOT better when this happens. Still early, exploring.

do you mean BCI(brain computer interface type shit) I am in this field

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#725

Post by embwbam »

microscoper wrote: post #326
embwbam wrote: post #74

Not sure if you were looking only for indoor hobbies, but I picked up Kiteboarding recently, and it is the most outrageously fun thing I've ever done. It's like being a kid and jumping off the house with a bedsheet, except it works. Most mistakes are laughed off by splashing in the water. I'm 3 years in and I can jump 7-10m then fly like a bird for 5-10 seconds without consequences. Even as a beginner, sailing around…

I always thought that looked fun but I would worry about being blown away up too high or into some obstacle like rocks Is that something that happens to people? Also how dependent is it on weather? Do you have to monitor the wind to know if its worth going out?

You’ll never be blown too high. Rocks can be dangerous, but only in certain places and only if you make bad decisions: there are many safe locations around the world. It’s probably about as safe as skiing overall?

Quite weather dependent, but there are places around the world that have very reliable wind during certain seasons. My home area in BC is good almost every day in the summer. Brazil is fantastic all fall, etc

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#726

Post by nathan_douglas »

deviation wrote: post #557
nathan_douglas wrote: post #311

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FSRS is really cool. I'm trying to use it and a modified flashcard system to learn more abstract computer science and higher math. I hadn't considered it as a way of learning Chess - that's really interesting. I'm thinking about expanding my system to cover ear-training, birdsong recognition, a few other things like that.

I never thought about ear-training! My listening comprehension for Piano has always been lacking. A deck of piano sounds that map to actual notes (or even chords) might do wonders for it... My current decks are as follows - I spend about an hour in total reviewing/learning them all, daily: - 5000 most common French words - 5000 most common French sentences (following the Alex Crompton method: https://www.alexcrompton…

Are you finding the French decks helpful? I'm also trying to learn French (not using spaced repetition _per se_ but Pimsleur [which does use spaced repetition, really], InnerFrench, and reading [currently reading _Le Trône de fer_]).

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#727

Post by neves »

101008 wrote: post #705
neves wrote: post #429

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mosquito sound repellents are useless for insects, but solved my bat problem. A bat loved to defecate in my son's bathroom. The most internal room of the house. I've put a sound repellent in the bathroom and it stopped happening

Interesting. What's the brand that worked for you?

A cheap one from AliExpress.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#730

Post by agcat »

unsupp0rted wrote: post #3

My hobby is organizing in-person meetups for random people to get together, chat and make friends. Barely structured, if at all. I've found this rewarding and ended up making friends this way. You have to accept that 5-15% of the people who would show up to something like this are genuine weirdos you probably don't want to be around. And another 10% at any given meetup are autistic or neuro-divergent but well-meaning…

Same, i do the same.. it helps me learn new things, make friends.
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