Old school strength training and shooting are my real interests. I've been building my own "dungeon gym" in my backyard for a few years now and teach law enforcement officers how to shoot. What other hobbies do you all have?
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Old school strength training and shooting are my real interests. I've been building my own "dungeon gym" in my backyard for a few years now and teach law enforcement officers how to shoot. What other hobbies do you all have?
IPSC shooting, bowhunting, and fishing.
Ray
Reading (mostly scifi/fantasy), camping/hiking, volleyball and snowboarding.
I'm an actor.
(Saw a wonderful adaptation of Julius Caesar last night, Caesar's ghost came out in drag. I'll never forget that!)
I also play guitar and a few other fretted instruments.
I like cycling canoeing camping and kayaking too.
X
I also make and play Japanese Shakuhachi flutes and have a collection of slide rules that would likely rival anyone's straight razor collection <g>
In the warmer months, photography is a big part of my relaxation time.
Tony
high-end audio (particularly headphones) , home theater, reading and motorcycles. Sadly finances dictates selling my bike last year but I will have another one before too long.
Ant
Well, sex and booze rank high on my list :roflmaoQuote:
hobby n. , pl. -bies . An activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure.
My vocation is electronics and computers... it's hard to separate work and play sometimes. In my younger days I was an avid woodworker and home remodeler, but not so much lately. I still tinker with car repair too... it's satisfying to diagnose the problem and fix it, and not paying a mechanic a $1000 to replace a $100 part makes me ecstatic. But the work itself is not as satisfying as it used to be since you now have to tear apart half the car to replace a simple part... not to mention the special tools required. Why any car maker would put into production a design that require removal of the turbo and exhaust manifold to gain access to an emissions system vacuum control solenoid is just beyond me. Nonetheless, these are all things I enjoy doing, but are more acts of necessity rather than "just for fun" hobbies.
Gardening is a different story and is purely for my own enjoyment. When I lived in New Jersey I had specimen Peony and Rose gardens, many unique Azaleas and other Ornamental shrubs in my landscaping, and a nice vegetable garden. Since I moved to the desert (where almost nothing survives the heat of Summer) I've lost a lot of interest... peonies, azaleas, etc. won't survive here and tomatoes raised here don't taste like tomatoes. Annual flowers (petunias, snapdragons, etc.) do well here in the spring and fall, but its hard to make a hobby out of that. I do still have about 2-dozen varieties of Christmas Cactus (which spend the May - August indoors and Sept - April outdoors). I have also been experimenting with some plumeria the past couple years... they are tropicals and need special care since they stress when it's above 110F (which occurs frequently in July & Aug) and are not freeze tolerant (it was 21F here last week) so they need protection in Winter. I'm also trying to raise a mango tree (mangoes are not freeze tolerant) but the recent freeze may have terminated that endeavor :cry:.
Collecting scotch malt whisky. My wife shares this vice so I am essentially operating without a budget on this one :y
Hanging out in the Microsoft C++ forums and helping people with programming issues. I also like to write articles about deep programming stuff and posting them on my blog, a website or a magazine. These things earned me MVP status as a recognition. It means I get access to Microsoft people and inside information.
Honing hand tools, and recently I have taken an interest in restoring dead razor edges.
I also like to read books. a lot. all in English, since I hate translations. Mostly fantasy or
I read some (fiction). Work on my Antique Ford tractor a little. Shoot when I can fit it in. do a little home improvement as needed. I'm in the process of learning to horseback ride English style. But most of my time is spent training my dogs.
http://www.wildhauskennels.com/schht...nail/30jet.jpghttp://www.wildhauskennels.com/schho...ail/38wulf.jpg
http://www.wildhauskennels.com/schho...nail/37jet.jpghttp://www.wildhauskennels.com/schhp...ail/76wulf.jpg
I'm another actor. See www.godsdrama.org for particulars on our company. Also collect smoking pipes (and smoke them), walking-sticks, hats, and knives. I'm treasurer for our local pipe club, www.tsptc.org.
Reading, Aggressive Rollerblading (like ramps and stuff), Playing guitar, a little bit of stonecarving, video editing (comes with the rollerblading) and at the moment I'm trying to create some colognes. I gave my first attempt to my mother today who was very pleased with the result.
I'm really into cycling. In fact, a couple of years ago, I strapped my panniers to my bicycle and cycled from CT to Los Angeles, then two years later, cycled down to Key West. Hence the Trekker nick-name. I road across country on a Trek 830.
I was also an actor for a while and did some off-off broadway work in a play called BACKSTAGE BITCHES and played the Sheriff in a road show of TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD.
I also write Civil War mysteries and had one published a couple of years ago in ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE. Currently, when not being a mortgage broker, I'm working on a series of novels based on the characters I created for that short story.
...too many things:
-Tae Kwon Do (second degree black belt)
-Running (I am slow, but my wife and dog do it with me)
-Heritage vegetable gardening
-Artisan bread baking
-Flintlock firearms (making and shooting)
-Coaching high school debate
-Coppersmithing
...and a day job...
Dave
Hunting and photography.
I've just converted a 20' shipping container into a darkroom and it's heaven just to lock myself away and see what comes up in the developer.
Fencing, obviously, plus flyfishing and flytying, some woodworking. right now, I'm finishing my basement when I don't have a competition.
tom
Bible study, rasing a family, hiking and fishing when I can, history, computer repair and website design. I used to practice iaido (japanese swordsmanship) but not active currently.
I do a little collecting of NASA memorabilia, though the prices of the items I like most have been rising out of my comfort range for the past few years.
- Reading
- Home cinema and film in general
- Surfing (although there is little opportunity to do so here in England)
- 1/4 Mile drag racing
- Basketball
- Mid distance running
I also do a lot of conservation work, my main interest being reptiles. I currently maintain a small, non profit breeding facility that breeds rare and endangered animals. I work mostly with venomous snakes and monitor lizards.
I am also trying to develop an interest in photography, but so far my results have been less than satisfactory.
Kind regards,
Alex
I collect smoking pipes ,walking canes (both of which I use) and razors (have used some of the Gillette DE's but not the Rolls, Valet's or Straights (yet)).
I'm a ham radio operator with a General Class license (next to the highest class license), I can talk around the world. I volunteer with the local Emergency Management where I hold the position of Public Information Officer/ Webmaster. We just spent the last week helping the citizens in our county obtain shelter,food/water after the big ice storm. I also volunteer my radio services with Navy/Marine Corp MARS (Military Affiliate Radio System), and am a EC (Emergency Coordinator) with ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services) for my county.
I also love to watch old movies, and read books. I also dabble a bit in digital photography and plan on delving further into that as money allows. (I'm currently not able to work and trying to get my disability started).
I like learning as much useless and strange stuff as I can: gregg shorthand, copperplate writing, piano, few other calligraphy styles, C++/C, LaTeX/TeX, robotics, neural networks, fuzzy logic, genetic algorithms, Matlab. The list goes on. I wouder what strange thing I will learn this year. Seems to be at least one new thing every year, though normally more.
Steven
Art, drumming/composing, and engine building.
I played in a drumline for about 5 years. Here are some shots of the electronic drumset, though I still have an old acoustic:
DTX-IIs-1
DTX-IIs-2
Photo of the custom engine I built -- a fully forged, solid-roller, 383ci LT1 stroker motor (for use with an ATI D1sc Procharger):
LT1-1
My main hobby is the martial arts. I do Judo, Aikido & Jodo (short staff) a total of about 12 hours a week, occasionally a little more. I'm presently writing a book about Judo, which is self-induced torture. I'm learning a whole new respect for authors ;) Lots of research, tons of editing and I'm really dreading the photography work in the near future. I admit I am looking forward to reading texts unrelated to the martial arts one of these days.
I also play guitar, backpack, hunt dove & quail, a little fishing, really enjoy cooking, participate as a moderator in 4 forums (2 I'm an admin), and a teensie bit of web management & DNS as needed, and write dojo newsletters.
I used to shoot IPSC competetively, but simply don't have the time anymore.
Getting fat (that one I'd like to get out of), juggling, soap making, Saxophone, guitar, piano, stage drama. I also like hiking, camping, and sailing.
I really want to get into martial arts and kick boxing, mostly for the fitness regime but partly because I've been an avid fan of kick boxing for years. Only trouble I have is finding a sensei who will not require that I bow to the room and flags. I have a strong religious standing against honoring inanimate objects. Showing respect to the sensei and my fellow students is a must but I can't bow to a flag or room without feeling like I'm committing a form of idolatry. Ohio doesn't protect against religious discrimination within private institutions and classifies such classes as private institutions so I'm hosed :(.
If God doesn't understand a culture that uses a bow as a greeting and a form of respect (that is all you are doing)..... what am I saying he does understand. You are in no way paying worship to or even significantly humbling yourself to the school or flag, it is your intent that determines the meaning in the gesture not your outward action. In the martial arts this is a part of what you must give unto ceaser, your respect for the school's history and the country of origin a small tax for the lesons you will learn.Quote:
Originally Posted by FUD
I once saw a DoJo in the rec room of a church, they included a picture of Christ on their "god wall" ever since I have done so mentally wherever I have trained.
Very true Tim. There are some Christian-based organizations within the martial arts community. I forget which industry trade magazine my sensei receives, but there is a karate organization that advertises in the back section.
Bowing in Asian societies is just like a handshake here in America.
Tim and I are both:OT. Sorry. Don't want to hijack the thread.
Martial arts is cool, never really got into it though. I should, Randy Coulture's school, Team Quest, is about 10 mins from my house. Tons of good wrestlers/grapplers there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sensei_kyle
I am into shooting, weight lifting and martial arts. I used to work in the personal protection and bodyguard fields and compete in martial arts and powerlifting, but the years of heavy weights, broken bones, and destroyed joints has caught up with me. I currently have a much more low key and job, and have been through some surgery, now I am just trying to get back into the gym, re-learn how to shoot, and find a place with a heavy bag so I can workout the shoulder a bit. I was recently able to bench press a wopping 90lbs and do 8 pushups without much pain, so there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Once I can pass the lethal weapons act physical exam I plan to get my PI license and am debating doing some private protection works in some of the clubs in the area, but I may be to weak and to old at this point...we shall see.
I am active on the Sumo forum as well, and 2 years ago this was apoint of discussion, since Sumo is full of shinto ritual, and there is no way that you do do professional Sumo and not follow ritual to the letter.Quote:
Originally Posted by FUD
The general concensus was thus:
If you are not into shinto (for example because you are christian), you follow the rituals out of respect for your sensei and the art itself. So if you bow or chuck salt, this has nothing to do with the soul of the dojo, but rather a way of doing things to honor tradition and your peers / sensei.
When you shave you follow a ritual as well, but that doesn't have to mean you think your razor has a soul. Rather, it is a way of doing things that becomes second nature after a while.
If you are a religious person I think you should talk about this with your minister. I am confident that he would have a similar opinion.
I love to take my guns out and shoot.
I play guitar and bass.
In the winter my son and I build model cars, I fully detail mine.
I'm also a HAM operator with an advanced class license.
Bowhunting. Got a new longbow last year that I'm learning to shoot after years of compound shooting. Longbow is a lot more satisfying.
Hope one day to fix up and old car - maybe a 55 Chevy. I really miss tinkering on cars. Can't tinker too much on the newer ones.
DISC GOLF!!!!
If you don't know what it is check out this link http://www.pdga.com If anyone that lives in the Washington DC, Northern Virgina, Maryland area, and would like to play sometime please send me a PM. I have plenty of discs to bring for other people to use, and there are several courses in the area.
The sport is now world wide. I have been playing for about 12 years now and I really enjoy it. I also enjoy home improvment projects, and playing EverQuest2 online.
Nice, my job in the Marine Corps was copying morse code.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeepinoldman
I love code I don't care what anyone says. A lot of the newer HAMs don't like it, won't use it and just learn the basic 5 wpm to get their HF privelages and then they forget about it. They never know, hey might need it some day.Quote:
Originally Posted by M Guthner
I got my advanced license in 91 and was working on the extra class when my son was born in 92. Taking care of a new baby and trying to learn 20 wpm was impossible so I was happy with advanced. They don't even officially have that class anymore. Now it's novice, no-code tech, general and extra I believe.
You still do any radio work as a hobby M Guthner?
I think the FCC recently did away with the Morse requirements altogether.
Just the way technology is going. That's why kids are able to get driver's licenses without knowing what a clutch is.
It wouldn't shock me to learn that there's no longer a requirement to know code.
People can learn it if they want but like everything else today, people want the reward instantly.
I remember about ten years ago reading in a radio magazine that a man got his extra class license and he was blind and deaf! Of course the written test was in Braille and they changed the tone of the code and cranked up the volume so the man could lay his hand on the table and FEEL the code with his hands.
I guess I always liked things that take a little extra time and skill. I now prefer my longbow over my compound, always manual trans over auto... maybe that's why I eventually made the switch entirely to straight shaving from using a DE all my life.
Nope, but from time to time I'll spell stuff out just for fun. I spent 22 weeks at Ft. Devens, Ma listening to morse code 8-10 hours a day - I was ready to impale myself with a bayonet towards the end :gth . To graduate the school one had to copy "20 groups" per min. Iirc, I was up to 24-26 when I finished. Several were into the low 30's. I'm not sure what this equates to in Ham speed, but I remember typing for several seconds after the code ended. It was impossible to keep up letter for letter. When I was in (1990-1994), the only thing I remember copying was taped maritime stuff. It was a very boring job that I got looped into during bootcamp. I was stationed in Hawaii for three years tho
Music and sport. I play a few instruments and sing. Used to be a thrower (Javelin). In fact, I'm into any throwing sport (cricket, baseball etc). Used to be into bodybuilding as well - now just work out for the fun of it.
James.
:OT
There is a distinct difference between a "ritual" and a practice or task of repetition. Shaving is the practice of removing facial hair and is no more a ritual than farting, though I'm sure someone will try to say how farting is a ritual in some culture somewhere. Any task or practice can be incorporated into a ritual. It doesn't make that task a ritual in and of itself. Bowing isn't a ritual, bowing to an inanimate object out of respect for the ancestors and the holiness of the room you practice in is :p.Quote:
When you shave you follow a ritual as well
I will easily bow respectfully to my friends in Tokyo. I won't prostrate myself before them and I won't bow to a room or to a flag.
Bottom line is the traditions and rituals in martial arts have religious roots and meanings but is not promoted as a religion in many areas.
If I were to bow to an idol, regardless of the logic I use to excuse it, I'm still violating my pledge to my God. Similarly, if I bow to a flag or room, regardless of the logic I use to excuse it, because of the roots from which the practice stems and is still practiced by world wide, I'm still violating my pledge to my God. Any other person who chooses to follow my God and also chooses to engage in martial arts has to work that issue out between himself/herself and God. I've already seen the answer clearly. I also have to accept that virtually all Dojos will discrimiate against me under the excuse of "discipline" ;). If it were simply discipline there are many alternatives that could be practiced that wouldn't violate the religious principles of the student while still allowing the student to display proper respect for the art, sensei, and fellow students.
Edit:
PS I don't shake hands with a room when I enter it. Neither do I worship nor hold sacred the religious symbols within my religion like others who claim to follow my faith.
yea, about 10 years ago or so, though learning morse code gets you legalized access to many more channels :).Quote:
Originally Posted by sensei_kyle
Ultimately, this is what it comes down to. Everyone in that situation has to make out for himself how and if he wants to deal with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by FUD
I already explained how I see this issue. You see it another way. As long as we don't try to enforce our own views on each other, we should be able to live in harmony.
Have you looked at e.g. pancrase, escrima or krav maga?
There are several martial arts comparable to japanese martial arts that do not have the religious legacy.
Perhaps that might be something for you.