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Ask HN: What's your most interesting life goal currently?

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331–340 of 438 posts

Re: Ask HN: What's your most interesting life goal currently?

#332

Some really inspiring stuff in here. My short-term track/running/fitness goals: Break 4 minutes for 1500m, 2:00 for 800m. Currently at 4:06 and 2:00.1 (the latter is so heartbreaking!). Squat 250lbs (currently at 185, weighing 138). Educational goals: 4 publications in the next two years, complete PhD (CS). Get a solid grasp on differential calculus. Truly understand relativity and quantum mechanics. Any advice from…

Well I'm way behind you in the running (I'm attempting to do eight-minute miles) but ahead of you in the relativity and quantum mechanics, so I'll say this: you'll never get a proper understanding by reading popular-science type books. You want to get proper textbooks and work through the problems one by one. I can recommend Understanding Einstein's Relativity" by D'Inverno and Eisberg and Resnick for Quantum Mechanics.

Note: that last one won't get you into really interesting bits like the interpretation* of quantum mechanics, but I think you need to have a thorough understanding of the mathematics before you tackle the philosophical issues.

Re: Ask HN: What's your most interesting life goal currently?

#333
post #281
post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Says alot about HN that this reply hasn't been downvoted more.

If you want to hear pretty lies, go watch Sex and the City . It's well known that 40 year old women are almost infertile. And their pregnancies tend to be riskier. I didn't make the rules, so don't shoot the messenger. Show me a man starting a family with a 40 year old, and I will show you a man without options.

pretty lies

Well, somebody's been reading his Roissy.

Re: Ask HN: What's your most interesting life goal currently?

#334
Becoming an attorney, without an undergraduate degree or going massively into debt. This is possible in California, although it's difficult and the career prospects are limited, given an abundant supply of competitors for a shrinking number of openings. Fortunately (?) I love law more than I love money.

Re: Ask HN: What's your most interesting life goal currently?

#335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

care to explain?

The more genetically distinct your spouse is from your self the better will your kids be. At the same time you must look out for IQ and Looks which are quite a bit genetically dependant

The more genetically distinct your spouse is from your self the better will your kids be.

Any evidence for this? (Once you get past marrying siblings and maybe cousins?)

Re: Ask HN: What's your most interesting life goal currently?

#336
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I visited Vietnam three times over a 3 year period. Is it your first time? Since my last visit, laws have changed that require you to wear a helmet while on a moped. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the freedom in riding a moped around a huge crowded city for hours, not knowing where I was going, or where I'd end up. It's somewhat ruined now with the helmet law. Nearly 100 degree weather wearing a helmet isn'…

I had a close friend die from a crash on a moped due to him not wearing a helmet. I suggest you suck it up and wear one regardless of the heat if you either: use your head for a living, or just value your life.

there is an excellent episode of Top Gear in which Clarkson and co. ride across Vietnam on mopeds. The percentage of the motoring population which use motorcycles, rather than cars, is simply staggering. They throw out some interesting statistics as well (road deaths per capita 4x higher than in the states). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMHVD-gWPDk

see also http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaP353v8JWY

Re: Ask HN: What's your most interesting life goal currently?

#338

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am Indian (student) as well! I did my undergrad in chemical engineering and had 8 K.T.s yet I could mange to get wait listed at MIT Media Lab (my group didn't take anyone that year due to lack of funds). Currently I am at Cornell.

Dude, Are you doing a Ph.D or MS ? I am looking to apply to a PhD for coming Fall. Can't afford a unfunded MS.

sadly unfunded masters, the MIT course was funded but my target group didn't had any funds.

Also since my undergrad was in a different field and I had to take pre req's I couldn't get direct funding for CS degree.

I transferred to Cornell after a year at less reputed university which gave me a bit of scholarship, I could have transferred to RPI where i had good chance of funding but I chose Cornell.

Re: Ask HN: What's your most interesting life goal currently?

#339
post #323

I want to present at SXSW. I couldn't tell you precisely why, I just think it's a great conference and I love to share knowledge. The free badge wouldn't hurt. ROADBLOCK: honing in on a subject. I can only submit one proposal (which is due tomorrow), or, hope to get picked for someone else's panel. Here are potential panel ideas: - Website Optimization Basics: I wrote a post a few months back that was popular on HN,…

I'd say talk about "Reverse-Engineering Visual Design". As a coder who understands some of the basic principles of design but just can't seem to make it click, that would be the most interesting for me.

Optimization and SEO are nice, but if you don't have a solid design they're not that useful.

Re: Ask HN: What's your most interesting life goal currently?

#340

Some really inspiring stuff in here. My short-term track/running/fitness goals: Break 4 minutes for 1500m, 2:00 for 800m. Currently at 4:06 and 2:00.1 (the latter is so heartbreaking!). Squat 250lbs (currently at 185, weighing 138). Educational goals: 4 publications in the next two years, complete PhD (CS). Get a solid grasp on differential calculus. Truly understand relativity and quantum mechanics. Any advice from…

Squatting 250 at 138 lbs bodyweight would be something to be very proud of. I don't have access to my records, but I think my max was about 325 at around 175 lbs bodyweight maintaining very good form and going deep.

There's nothing to it really: squat heavy 2-3 times a week, increase the weight regularly in tiny increments, get plenty of rest, and eat lots of protein. If you're overtraining, drop back to 1-2 times a week.

Weight training is fun because results are directly correlated to how hard you work at it!

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