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Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

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Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#71

Post by dataman85 »

mahmud wrote: post #34
wallflower wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I am just coming back from mine; 20 countries in 2 years I'm curious. 1) Did you bring your own netbook/laptop along and 2) How well are you handling your "re-entry" (e.g. hanging out with friends who knew you pre-travel)?

I took a laptop and a digital camera with me and ended up hating them every step of the way. My first travels I did Africa and the middle-east, the second I did asia. In countries where I have "based" myself, anything more than 4 weeks; the laptop has been a good useful distraction. When you're shocked by a local culture which you have to deal with for extended survival (anything more substantial than a western-style…

I don't think I would have come back if it wasn't for her

You mean to stay you would have stayed abroad? Am little confused as you start talking about expats dying of preventable diseases immediately afterwords

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#72

Post by pageman »

mahmud wrote: post #37
mahmud wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I took a laptop and a digital camera with me and ended up hating them every step of the way. My first travels I did Africa and the middle-east, the second I did asia. In countries where I have "based" myself, anything more than 4 weeks; the laptop has been a good useful distraction. When you're shocked by a local culture which you have to deal with for extended survival (anything more substantial than a western-style…

Let me just add that small valuables, like gold and Western-made digital electronics come handy for pawning when you lose your wallet, get your documents stolen or otherwise that odorsome object hits the Murphy fan. And it will. Two gold rings and a necklace, not worn, but secreted in your boots will get you out of allot of trouble, at least until that unexpected national/religious/regional holiday you never expected…

I have to agree with the gold rings. What we had were gold coins hanging on our necks just in case something happened to the dollar or the euro. At least with gold, you can pay your way out :)

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#73

Post by pageman »

pkaler wrote: post #42

Start by fixing the physical pain. I started getting pain from sitting 12+ hours in a chair, too. I improved my posture by taking Alexander Technique classes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Technique http://www.vancouveralexandertechnique.com/ Then I improved my flexibility by taking up yoga. I've dropped 25 pounds since last summer. Figure out the "mental" stuff and existential angst after you get physically…

and do some PNF stretching :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PNF_stretching

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#75

Post by carpo »

chez17 wrote: post #63
uptown wrote: post #18

Get a: a) Girlfriend b) Dog c) A hobby that doesn't involve electricity Allow your job to become just one part of your life ... not what defines your life.

Getting a dog has completely turned my life around. I wasn't uber depressed before, but I had some days where basically looking at the news made me so disgusted to be a human, I could hardly work. I was working at home, living at home, hanging out at home, etc... Get a dog, get outside 3 or 4 times a day. Having a little creature be so happy to see you every time you walk through the door he can barely contain himsel…

Having a little creature be so happy to see you every time you walk through the door he can barely contain himself ALWAYS puts a smile on your face

This literally made me laugh out loud with all the fond memories of the dogs I've had in my life.

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#76

Post by mahmud »

yan wrote: post #36
mahmud wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I took a laptop and a digital camera with me and ended up hating them every step of the way. My first travels I did Africa and the middle-east, the second I did asia. In countries where I have "based" myself, anything more than 4 weeks; the laptop has been a good useful distraction. When you're shocked by a local culture which you have to deal with for extended survival (anything more substantial than a western-style…

That's beautiful. Are you still in the DC area? We should get a few people from HN for some beers.

Yes, I am here until mid June. Moving outside the U.S. again to be with said girl friend :-)

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#77

Post by mahmud »

dataman85 wrote: post #71
mahmud wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I took a laptop and a digital camera with me and ended up hating them every step of the way. My first travels I did Africa and the middle-east, the second I did asia. In countries where I have "based" myself, anything more than 4 weeks; the laptop has been a good useful distraction. When you're shocked by a local culture which you have to deal with for extended survival (anything more substantial than a western-style…

I don't think I would have come back if it wasn't for her You mean to stay you would have stayed abroad? Am little confused as you start talking about expats dying of preventable diseases immediately afterwords

Sometimes you see danger but its magnitude doesn't hit you until someone else points it out. I was 26-27, I had my vaccines done, I had some cash and I am African by birth, so none of these "problems" that Western expats were facing could touch me, it is my third-world and I will be fine!

Yyyyyeah, nice try. My new girlfriend with a woman's common-sense was quick to point out to me the danger I was in. I had dabbled in business with the locals and I might have taken a side in a neighborhood civil-war that was going back for decades. It would have taken a $20 bribe from someone to pin some contraband on me and send me off to Hanoi Hilton for good.

etc, etc.

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#78

Post by edw519 »

TheSOB88 wrote: post #54
edw519 wrote: post #11

"My neck has been hurting for two years for spending so many hours in front of the computer." Is is possible that you feel crappy and are blaming your work environment? I've been sitting in front of a computer for 30 years and my neck never hurts. In fact, nothing does. No matter what you decide, you must take care of yourself. If you don't feel well, you won't be happy doing anything. There are many references on th…

Yes, share what you do to feel great.

Exercise:

I have scoliosis and I've tried everything for sore back and neck. Nothing has worked as well as the 5 Rites every morning before breakfast. I think #3 has helped me the most, but who knows. I'll leave the secret with the ancients. I do these every day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Tibetan_Rites

In addition to that, the usual:

- get my heart rate into the training zone (140 to 170 BPM) for 30-40 minutes 3 to 6 times per week (jogging, stairs)

- heavyhands

- shovelglove http://www.shovelglove.com/

- chin-ups, pushups, dips

- Hindu squats http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuyAdr4RKsY Do 500 of these every day and you'll be in the best shape of your life

That's it. I don't spend much money, but I do something every day.

Eating:

This is more (un)common sense that anything else. My 2 favorites:

http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/0201hyglibcat/020121horne/02...

http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Live-Revolutionary-Formula-Sustain...

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#80

Post by CyberED »

edw519 wrote: post #11

"My neck has been hurting for two years for spending so many hours in front of the computer." Is is possible that you feel crappy and are blaming your work environment? I've been sitting in front of a computer for 30 years and my neck never hurts. In fact, nothing does. No matter what you decide, you must take care of yourself. If you don't feel well, you won't be happy doing anything. There are many references on th…

My neck doesn't hurt either, I've been at it for over 20 years. Maybe your ergonomics are wrong.

The bigger issue is that you aren't excited by what you are doing, so ... STOP IT! life's too short to be doing something you hate. I've gone back to university to get a PhD, I'm using my brain heaps and interacting with some very smart people. It's not for everyone, but if you are looking for a mental challenge, even a year long course in something that you are intrigued by might recharge your batteries.

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