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Ask HN: What are your hobbies, and why are they cool?

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Re: Ask HN: What are your hobbies, and why are they cool?

#101

Post by Swinx43 »

jasonkester wrote: post #3

Rock Climbing, specifically Bouldering, makes a great hobby for a computer programmer: 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 ph…

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.

Re: Ask HN: What are your hobbies, and why are they cool?

#102

Post by danielrpa »

arvindravi wrote: post #31

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.

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)

Re: Ask HN: What are your hobbies, and why are they cool?

#103

Post by mgarfias »

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.

Re: Ask HN: What are your hobbies, and why are they cool?

#104

Post by gambiter »

jlewallen wrote: post #4

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.

Re: Ask HN: What are your hobbies, and why are they cool?

#105

Post by motiw »

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...

Re: Ask HN: What are your hobbies, and why are they cool?

#106

Post by __xtrimsky »

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.

Re: Ask HN: What are your hobbies, and why are they cool?

#107

Post by yodsanklai »

dre85 wrote: post #86

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…

> 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.

Re: Ask HN: What are your hobbies, and why are they cool?

#108

Post by yodsanklai »

dre85 wrote: post #86

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…

> 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.

Re: Ask HN: What are your hobbies, and why are they cool?

#109

Post by jlewallen »

gambiter wrote: post #104
jlewallen wrote: post #4

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.

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

Re: Ask HN: What are your hobbies, and why are they cool?

#110

Post by chrisBob »

unusximmortalis wrote: post #87
chrisBob wrote: post #2

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.

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

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