Ace of Spades HQ

January 31, 2014

The Upbeat Thread
— Ace

I'm looking for fun, happy things and I'm not finding them. So let me know.

A few weeks ago I wrote about the depression that comes with the fading sun. I would again encourage everyone to find something new that interests them, whatever it is, and pursue that hobby, or that interest, whether it's starting to build model planes again (one guy I know is having a second childhood with models, and is enjoying it) or becoming an expert on the Revolutionary War.

I believe the human animal thrives on achievement -- I think we have a deep-seated internal imperative towards creating, learning, advancing, and competing -- and the animal also becomes depressed from stasis.

This may seem obvious, but people who are actually doing something, whether walking every other day (and walking a little faster and farther each time), or writing that damned book they always have known was in them, or learning a new language, or deciding to learn how to rebuild a car, or making an effort to trace one's ancestors or reconnect with distant family feel a sense of accomplishment.

There is something inherently happy about forward motion, and something inherently depressing about standing still.

People are bewildered at why I decided to learn French. Well, for one reason: Look, I do this same thing every day. That doesn't mean I don't like blogging, and it doesn't mean I'm not grateful for the wonderful position I'm in, being able to just do this job I invented for myself and feed myself by doing so. (Though I should be more grateful.)

Nevertheless, let's face it, the parameters of this particular job have not changed in ten years. I have not really gotten a promotion; I haven't learned some new skill, like video or photo manipulation (though, Good Lord, I really ought to, huh?).

I do the same thing, pretty much, day in, day out. Most of you -- even those of you who would think of themselves as kind of doing the same thing every day -- would be shocked at how far one can take the concept of just, literally doing the same thing everyday.

I'm in the same position every day (on the couch), the same hours, looking at the same sites for news, making -- ummmm... let me confess, making pretty much the same jokes and the same observations I've been making for ten years.

The other day someone, Jack Straw I think, said he liked my joke about "abusing myself with the repetitive mechanical fury of a misfiring industrial robot."

Yeah, let me let you in on a little secret, Jack: That joke is literally ten years old. I wrote that in 2004. It is a verbatim lift. It just popped back into my head, and first I wrote a bad (new) version of it, but then I used my memory, and I reconstructed the exact line I wrote ten years ago.

Now I don't think it's too shabby of me to wait ten years before recycling a joke. But I am stressing the stasis I'm in. The holding pattern. The Same Day No Different Than The Next syndrome.

So I'm trying to do some things I didn't used to do. I feel my brain has gotten lazy and has diminished. My brain does the same light trotting every day around the same well-worn track in the pen. Like a caged farm animal, it just sort of gets fat and lethargic.

So I decided, a year back, I was going to start exercising it more, and exercising it in different ways. I have no talent for languages -- none. I always hated languages. They were the one subject I felt absolutely no inherent talent at.

But I always thought it was cool when James Bond gave a quick greeting in Italian or French, so. I decided to do that.

I started reading again. I had not read for pleasure in... ten years? Fifteen? More like twenty. Sure I'd read something every once in a while, but only very once in a while.

And I try to read some things I never read about before.

Has any of this worked?

I think so. Not a lot, but I do feel that I've accomplished something in now being able to translate a French newspaper article without reaching for the dictionary. (Well, I have to reach, but only once or twice per article.)

I do feel like a better, happier, more interesting person now that I've been reading again, and putting new thoughts into my brain. The old thoughts -- the ones that had been in there for 30 years -- were getting a little stale.

I was going to say "I don't know if any of this advice will help anyone out there," but that's not true. I do know it will help you. How could it not? How could learning something new, or making yourself better and more interesting and more alert to the wonder of the world, not help someone?

So, as I asked a few weeks back: What interesting stuff are you working on, or, what interesting stuff do you think you'll give a try?

Posted by: Ace at 02:04 PM | Comments (688)
Post contains 869 words, total size 5 kb.

1 Crap new thread, don't think I can go OT this fast

Posted by: Dave in Fla at January 31, 2014 02:05 PM (LxcRK)

2 Movie suggestion for you. To watch and escape with. Poolhall Junkies. Its available on Netflix streaming.

Posted by: buzzion at January 31, 2014 02:05 PM (LI48c)

3 "People are bewildered at why I decided to learn French."

For bangin' hairy chicks?

(From a Rosetta Stone ad.)

Posted by: Dang at January 31, 2014 02:06 PM (MNq6o)

4 "Nevertheless, let's face it, the parameters of this particular job have not changed in ten years. I have not really gotten a promotion; I haven't learned some new skill, like video or photo manipulation (though, Good Lord, I really ought to, huh?)." Closing HTML tags? j/k

Posted by: [/i][/b][/u][/s] Tami at January 31, 2014 02:06 PM (bCEmE)

5 Here's a video of me and the puppies on a wild Saturday night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvVk1LQyHyg

Posted by: DangerGirl at January 31, 2014 02:07 PM (GrtrJ)

6 What, did the Internet run out of porn?

Posted by: The Governor at January 31, 2014 02:07 PM (Tlix5)

7 I think I'm going to take up stalking disinterested women.

It's like hunting, but with a ladder and telescopic lens.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at January 31, 2014 02:07 PM (SY2Kh)

8 Oh what the hell, what's could go wrong.

So I was trying to fly to Houston Wednesday, and never made it. Flying out of Florida is impossible if Atlanta shuts down.

So as a consolation prize, I have to fly to Dubai on Sunday, missing the Super Bowl.

I don't usually mind last minute trips, but come on, Dubai?

Posted by: Dave in Fla at January 31, 2014 02:07 PM (LxcRK)

9 Eric Holder walks into a gun store, The owner shoot's him while exclaiming "traitor". Well it was funny to me.

Posted by: gun nut at January 31, 2014 02:08 PM (hqVUe)

10

A new hobby??

Now you've got my brain a-whirling, ace. Maybe I should look into the wonderful world of tattoo artistry.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 31, 2014 02:08 PM (P6QsQ)

11 Might I humbly suggest, again, group-watching SHARK TANK on Friday nights. It's a great show that promotes ideas, entrepaneurialism, MATH! (accounting), planning, and presentation (marketing).

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 02:08 PM (jRs7b)

Nevertheless, let's face it, the parameters of this particular job have not changed in ten years. I have not really gotten a promotion; I haven't learned some new skill, like video or photo manipulation (though, Good Lord, I really ought to, huh?)."

Take a cue from the FedEx or UPS commercial I forget which. Hold a staff meeting and give yourself a promotion.

Posted by: buzzion at January 31, 2014 02:08 PM (LI48c)

13 boobehs are fun are happy. I'm sure there are some of them on the intertubes.

Posted by: dogfish at January 31, 2014 02:08 PM (nsOJa)

14 >>>What, did the Internet run out of porn? Posted by: The Governor don't get me started. I TRIED to change that aspect of my Same Day No Different Than the Last syndrome. But it didn't take. Some things can't be changed.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:08 PM (/FnUH)

15 VITAMIN D: it's cheap, it eliminates the blues voir depression I used to have in winter. It's really an amazing substance. (Actually, I miss those winter blues in a certain way).

I was taking an SSRI for a few years. The emotional numbness it induced was a dealbreaker for me, and I learned that vitamin D made it completely unnecessary.

Posted by: @ParisParamus at January 31, 2014 02:09 PM (Hgzjv)

So, as I asked a few weeks back: What interesting stuff are you working on, or, what interesting stuff do you think you'll give a try?

If only I had the money to do something new,.... Instead, I need to work on my sockpuppets. That Rodham (Clinton) one was really stale.

Posted by: steveegg at January 31, 2014 02:09 PM (o44nj)

17
Or raising miniature horses......

still thinking

Posted by: grammie winger at January 31, 2014 02:09 PM (P6QsQ)

18 I've discovered being disemboweled!

Posted by: Kirk at January 31, 2014 02:09 PM (GBnWt)

19

Here's something:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxLjtx8wukQ

Billy Joel was at Vanderbilt for a Q&A session, and some student with some serious stones asks Billy Joel if he can play piano while Billy Joels sings.

Pretty cool video, and I'm not even a Billy Joel fan.

Posted by: dan-O at January 31, 2014 02:09 PM (D0bIN)

20 http://www.lifebuzz.co/billy-joel/

is where that was from.

Posted by: dan-O at January 31, 2014 02:10 PM (D0bIN)

21 >>> So as a consolation prize, I have to fly to Dubai on Sunday, missing the Super Bowl. I don't usually mind last minute trips, but come on, Dubai? ... there are interesting things there. World's highest building, plus a silly amount of construction, most of it flashy and with an eye towards announcing "We've arrived." Sounds good to me.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:10 PM (/FnUH)

22 >>one guy I know is having a second childhood with models, and is enjoying it Most guys DO like models! ;-)

Posted by: Y-not (@MoxieMom) at January 31, 2014 02:10 PM (zDsvJ)

23 I'm starting to train for a Tough Mudder being put on in August. Need to lose 40 lbs. Figured that was good motivation.

Posted by: A sadomasochist not named John Boehner at January 31, 2014 02:10 PM (yZMgy)

24 I took up painting, acrylic landscapes, 8 years ago out of the blue. No previous art experience. I agree with you Ace that a new hobby or even an old one revisited is a good thing.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at January 31, 2014 02:10 PM (HVff2)

25 Just a reminder: tonight on ABC at 10p: Young Guns. We need to watch this because, no matter how absurd and grotesquely disingenuous it will be, it is effective on the majority, sadly. A post while this is airing tonight would fantastic!

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 02:11 PM (jRs7b)

26 Learn to flyfish Ace , a never ending hobby .

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at January 31, 2014 02:11 PM (XWw96)

27 So in the spirit of the thread, some might remember I decides to start running after Breitbart died. My goal was to run a half marathon.

In the past year I have run a 10K, a 10 miler, 6 half marathons, and a marathon.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at January 31, 2014 02:11 PM (LxcRK)

28 >>>I took up painting, acrylic landscapes, 8 years ago out of the blue. No previous art experience. I agree with you Ace that a new hobby or even an old one revisited is a good thing. i tried to learn drawing (the Marvel Way! Comic style) and became extremely, extremely frustrated. WHY WON'T THIS STUPID PENCIL DO WHAT I TELL IT TO but good on you.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:11 PM (/FnUH)

29 Good for you, Dave in Fla! That's awesome.

Posted by: DangerGirl at January 31, 2014 02:12 PM (GrtrJ)

30 After nearly two years on disability, it looks like I'll be returning to work soon. I will get up each day and feel once again like a contributing member of society. That is my happy news.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 02:12 PM (DmNpO)

31 Take up firearms, Ace, if you haven't. It's a very technical thing that you don't want to fuck up, and, hey: It could be more useful sometime than we care to believe. Also: Start vaping.

Posted by: Kirk at January 31, 2014 02:12 PM (GBnWt)

32 Well, this is cool: http://www.instructables.com/id/Globefarers-of-Catan/ Of course, I'd have to steampunkify it, just on principle.

Posted by: Tesh at January 31, 2014 02:12 PM (cnjni)

33 27 I hate you.

Posted by: steevy at January 31, 2014 02:12 PM (zqvg6)

34 >>> So in the spirit of the thread, some might remember I decides to start running after Breitbart died. My goal was to run a half marathon. In the past year I have run a 10K, a 10 miler, 6 half marathons, and a marathon. ... pretty darned good.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:12 PM (/FnUH)

35 i decided to drink more, and moar often.

so far, so good.

Posted by: redc1c4 at January 31, 2014 02:12 PM (q+fqH)

36 Giggling because of all the semi-nasty toaster jokes around here -- Youngest child and her friends have named the little gray Chevy Aveo they drive around in "The Toaster." She didn't quite understand why I was laughing and certain things I am just not going to discuss with my adolescent.

Posted by: Mustbequantum at January 31, 2014 02:12 PM (MIKMs)

37 I'm looking for fun, happy things and I'm not finding them. So let me know. Receiving hummers.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 31, 2014 02:12 PM (cUARf)

38 ...let me confess, making pretty much the same jokes and the same observations I've been making for ten years. And yet, I still find them funny. Does this make me slow.

Posted by: dogfish at January 31, 2014 02:12 PM (nsOJa)

39 A few things give me some hope and sunshine during these bleak days. My son who is in his junior year at H-SC and also a fireman instead of doing the old drinking games during college. Another son this very day finishes up being a Rat at one of the harder military colleges and tomorrow will breakout into being a cadet. It has been a long, tough pull since last August. For the future, I want to treat my wife and I to a narrowboat canal trip. I have studied the C&O canal for years and it fascinates my that Great Britain has over two THOUSAND miles of navigable canals at present. It would be like stepping back in time. Might be too much information, but can't be doom and gloom all the time, and I'm always willing to share some good news.

Posted by: Jinx the Cat at January 31, 2014 02:12 PM (l3vZN)

40 Nice post, Ace.

With this unrelenting Winter it's been far too easy to get stuck with SSDD Syndrome.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at January 31, 2014 02:12 PM (SY2Kh)

41 I started learning JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, and JQuery recently. I have nothing to do with web development, but I thought it'd be fun.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at January 31, 2014 02:12 PM (gtjN1)

42 Changing careers (again). But you are really good at what you do, so don't do that. Learning data science in my sixth decade. That's kind of cool.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at January 31, 2014 02:12 PM (pginn)

43 For me, it's writing. I've always loved storytelling, if not the in-person version of it. When I was young, I loved the IDEA of being a writer, but not always the nitty gritty actual writing. So I stopped. Then I caught the writing bug big and bad about four years ago or so. I started writing for the love of the writing. I don't know how good at it I am. There are some things I do well, other things I don't. But I finally sold my first short story to an anthology. Now I just need to do it again

But writing is the main anchor that keeps me from the black dog of depression.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at January 31, 2014 02:13 PM (3Znbm)

44 So in the spirit of the thread, some might remember I decides to start running after Breitbart died. My goal was to run a half marathon. In the past year I have run a 10K, a 10 miler, 6 half marathons, and a marathon. *** that's fantastic! Congratulations, not only on the obvious accomplishments, but on having the will-power and determination to stick with your goal.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 02:13 PM (DmNpO)

Now I don't think it's too shabby of me to wait ten years before recycling a joke.

------------------------------------------------------

I think we should have a Write-New-Jokelines-For-Ace day.

Posted by: Soona at January 31, 2014 02:13 PM (BkpOh)

46
Eric Roberts
Beverly D'Angelo

in

L E
G R O U N D H O G
D A Y

Posted by: Gristle Encased Head at January 31, 2014 02:13 PM (+lsX1)

47 Ace, take up knitting? You can make some uteri to send to congressmen or something.

Posted by: DangerGirl at January 31, 2014 02:13 PM (GrtrJ)

48
Oh nevermind I misread the post.

Posted by: dan-O at January 31, 2014 02:13 PM (D0bIN)

49 Ok, here's a five minute escape that's surprisingly great: The Ting-Tings vs The Knack vs Toni Basil That's Not My Name Mash-up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqWGpDeGA4s Plus, a smudge of Plastic Bertrand. Crank it up. You wil be dancing around your room.

Posted by: naturalfake at January 31, 2014 02:13 PM (0cMkb)

50 Light sport flying. Srsly.

Posted by: sinmi at January 31, 2014 02:13 PM (911Ev)

51 Well, I still haven't given up on my lifelong of creating great pets by merging the dna of cats and dogs. My toy poodle + cat combo (Coodles) will be a huge hit, I believe.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 02:13 PM (jRs7b)

52 Was down at Dana Point harbor today. They have a paddle boarding yoga class going on. It was the best half hour I wasted watching hot women in quite awhile.

Posted by: oc joe at January 31, 2014 02:13 PM (hqVUe)

53 I've gotten into dog training, which is something I had absolutely zero experience with until I got a completely nuts and out-of-control dog a little over a year ago. Now we're doing sheep herding, and getting a puppy soon to train for protection work. I've also become disturbingly obsessed with making really, really good coffee at home.

Posted by: Smoochy32 at January 31, 2014 02:14 PM (qAQB/)

54
The local library has a thing going for kids - "Read a thousand books, get a party."

So I have a record-keeping book for each one of the grandkids, and we've been going to the library, picking out books and reading, reading, reading,,,,,,

I've gotten quite good at doing all the voices in The Three Little Pigs, and I could quote verbatim the entire "Pinkalicious" book, backwards.

We are going to get that party come hell or high water. It's really kind of fun.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 31, 2014 02:14 PM (P6QsQ)

55 I'm going back to school to retool myself for something different and I'm also obsessive about researching my family tree. The school part is fun, but remarkably easy at this age. The family tree stuff actually takes more of my energy. I'm to the point of going through old microfilm and historical records and the amount of smaller, more nuanced historical information you pick up while doing it is fantastic.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at January 31, 2014 02:14 PM (fT3qO)

56 Ace believe me I spent a few bucks on books, videos (yeah videos) & DVDs Don't give up on the drawing & good job on the French

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at January 31, 2014 02:14 PM (HVff2)

57 I'm confronting this on a longer time scale. I'll probably retire in about 5 years, but don't have a lot of hobbies. I've been so busy between work and parenting that I really didn't have the time. Now I'd better come up with some new interests or things could get rather dull. I'm interested in art glass and have taken a class, but that won't be enough. The wife and I are probably going to start ballroom dancing again. I may even dabble in painting. Who knows, but I need a plan, because if you don't have a plan, you'll spend your days watching Judge Judy.

Finally, I plan to focus on spoiling my grandchildren. There is, of course, a small flaw in that plan, namely no grandkids, but hopefully that will change.

Posted by: pep at January 31, 2014 02:14 PM (6TB1Z)

58 I'm learning how to fly quad-copters and hexa-copters and how to videotape from those copters. I'll be teaching my students to do this, too. I haven't been this excited about something in a long time. I know about what you speak. Got my first GoPro yesterday, and with the copters and the GoPro, the sky's the limit (pun totally intended). Doing something new keeps the mind fresh. Love it.

Posted by: socalmike at January 31, 2014 02:15 PM (1mIjs)

59 The image of an Ewok sporting matching head and wristbands, running a 10k is adorable.

Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 02:15 PM (2ohgR)

Ace, that is a serious problem then for a man of your wit.

I look to Glenn Beck as an inspiration on that front. Just look at what he is doing with the Blaze. It is literally EXPLODING in every direction.

You either:

1) rely too much on yrself for the blog; or

2) need almost like a board to brainstorm ideas for growth.

I've read it all, and I mean a shit ton on conservative/independent blogging. Except for the weird obsession with anal sex, your wit, humor and insight is second to fucking none.

You shd be reaching a much bigger audience. There is a reason why Breitbart said he loved reading the comments here. You attract like-minded people. And such people have an incredible background and range of skills and experiences.

Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 02:15 PM (tVTLU)

I'm working on getting ready to be a father. It feels amazing.

That and my quixotic quest to write something worthy of a guest post here.

Posted by: Conservative Crank at January 31, 2014 02:15 PM (sQ0LB)

62 Ok, you all are doing stuff and now I'm getting depressed I'm not. *note to self: start that thing that you've been meaning to start* Congrats NDH and Dave in Fla!

Posted by: [/i][/b][/u][/s] Tami at January 31, 2014 02:15 PM (bCEmE)

63 I think it's time ace get a promotion. But first, the YEAR END REVIEW! And... the fluffy pillows!

Posted by: Y-not (@MoxieMom) at January 31, 2014 02:15 PM (zDsvJ)

64 Perry Smith said something about general officers to the effect of, they're reading official reports, two dozen trade journals, and a ton of staff papers, and they are quietly going brain-dead. He also advised senior officers to make time to read real books, and not just non-fiction.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at January 31, 2014 02:15 PM (pginn)

65 Trying to write again. Gave up a couple years ago because it really didn't grab me. I am hoping to have more luck this time.

Not sure what NEW stuff I will do -- major introvert who, partly due to my grotesque weight, hates to be seen or eat in public, so that limits my options a bit.

Sorry, Ace. I guess that isn't too much help. But I will try, because you are right. Learning something new can NEVER hurt.

Thanks,

Posted by: acethepug at January 31, 2014 02:16 PM (cXry7)

66 >>>Except for the weird obsession with anal sex, your wit, humor and insight is second to fucking none. dude I have not mentioned anal in like three years. That's one of those jokes that gets played out.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:16 PM (/FnUH)

67 6 What, did the Internet run out of porn? Posted by: The Governor at January 31, 2014 06:07 PM (Tlix5) I would expect some sort of an alarm or siren to go off if that ever happened.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at January 31, 2014 02:16 PM (oFCZn)

68 I'm also ever-experimenting with my nootripic (smart drugs) cocktails to embiggen my brain power. No luck so far..

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 02:16 PM (jRs7b)

69 Hollowpoint fucking nails it , winter . No light , cold as hell . I fucking hate getting up in the dark and driving home after work in the dark . Fuck this time of the year , in spades .

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at January 31, 2014 02:16 PM (XWw96)

70 So, as I asked a few weeks back: What interesting stuff are you working on Remodeling the Sistine basement (First floor walk-out basement on the lakeside). This Pope keeps walking under me asking: "When will you make an end?" I sent him for some more beer.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Rounding Error Extraordinaire at January 31, 2014 02:16 PM (lnGjN)

71 I'm getting close to retirement come September. I've been with Lockheed Martin doing computer technical support for almost 14 years and I'm burned out. I've taken up amateur astronomy lately. I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled across CAC's Sunday thread. I want to learn German. And to play the violin. And read more. I used to read so much when I was driving over the road (nothing to do when you're parked overnight in BFE). And have the time to take those walks. And improve my bowling skills with MOAR practice because I suck right now. And enjoy my life with my oh so wonderful wife.

Posted by: LFW - Honorary Pointy-Eared Vulcan at January 31, 2014 02:16 PM (+hPIb)

72 the first time you write "and maybe anal" it has shock value the second time it's a call-back the third time it's an insider meme the fourth time you just have a fucking problem

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:16 PM (/FnUH)

73 After nearly two years on disability, it looks like I'll be returning to work soon.

I will get up each day and feel once again like a contributing member of society.

That is my happy news.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 06:12 PM (DmNpO)

=====================

That's wonderful!!!!!

Posted by: grammie winger at January 31, 2014 02:16 PM (P6QsQ)

74 Zdravo, Ace! Kako ste? Jam sam dobro, hvala. Ti se budala. Sorry, I only speak English and some Serbian. Even though the French are historically very friendly to the Serbs, they generally annoy me so I don't know any conversational French.

Posted by: the Butcher at January 31, 2014 02:17 PM (8g9qq)

75 get married; have four kids. That'll keep you busy.

the sadness when they're all grown and gone is unbearable, but you get thirty years of Adventure

Posted by: Momma Said There'd Be Days Like This at January 31, 2014 02:17 PM (omBWL)

76 NDH, congratulations! Great news!

Posted by: DangerGirl at January 31, 2014 02:17 PM (GrtrJ)

77 Here you are: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2d4_1391176437

Posted by: Timwi at January 31, 2014 02:18 PM (pdhxN)

78 Sadomasochist, Tough Mudder is one of the most exhilarating things I have ever done. "No, my life is not boring. Why do you ask?" Seriously, it's awesome. I'm trying to schedule two this year. Good luck.

Posted by: Joe Tenebris at January 31, 2014 02:18 PM (ZsV1p)

79 crushing my enemies, driving them before me, and hearing the lamentations of their women always does it for me.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 31, 2014 02:18 PM (+O1u7)

80 WHY WON'T THIS STUPID PENCIL DO WHAT I TELL IT TO but good on you. Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 06:11 PM (/FnUH) Photography Ace. I can't draw worth a shit, but I can compose a picture. It lets me feel like I'm releasing my inner artistic side. Granted the lack of money means I can't afford a Digital SLR, so photography has taken a back seat in recent years.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 31, 2014 02:18 PM (GaqMa)

81 After nearly two years on disability, it looks like I'll be returning to work soon.

I will get up each day and feel once again like a contributing member of society.

That is my happy news.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 06:12 PM (DmNpO)

------------------------------------------------

Work is God's gift to us. It gives me self-respect by being self supporting through my OWN contributions, plus it relieves me of just sitting around the house thinking about Soona.

Posted by: Soona at January 31, 2014 02:18 PM (BkpOh)

82 49 Ok, here's a five minute escape that's surprisingly great:

I found that via ace's twitter feed so I think he's seen it...

Posted by: Fritz (not Fritz) at January 31, 2014 02:18 PM (U0t2o)

83 Suggestion re the drawing thing, try something different. Try sculpture. Something about the tactile nature of it is quite satisfying. Also, might be a nice break from the 2D world you live in to deal with the 3D world. Of course, I think the best thing is anything food-related, which is why I love to cook.

Posted by: Y-not (@MoxieMom) at January 31, 2014 02:18 PM (zDsvJ)

84 Thanks, Tami. I am happy that I am in a pretty good place right now and, should the insurance company and my employer deem me unable to return quite yet, I will occupy my time by going back to school. Ace is right. Onward!

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 02:18 PM (DmNpO)

85 Last weekend I bottled two cases of my first ever batch of wine. Turned out pretty good.

Posted by: Gristle Encased Head at January 31, 2014 02:18 PM (+lsX1)

86 I'm working on getting better on the piano after not touching one in 20 years. All I have to say is youtube is your friend.

Posted by: Kreplach at January 31, 2014 02:18 PM (sRsX7)

87 Posted by: Bill D. Cat at January 31, 2014 06:16 PM (XWw96) We used to call it "The Dark Ages" at my school. Back from Christmas break, nothing to look forward to but pop quizes, graded reviews, dark, and cold.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at January 31, 2014 02:18 PM (pginn)

88 Okay, Ace, I was going to leave this on the konked-out parachute thread, but it's been quiet for an hour, and this is kinda happy news. Heard this last night on the radio show of some guy named Andy. 16-year-old girl falls 3,000 feet in skydiving accident -- and survives http://cbsn.ws/1emLdXX Okay, it's goodnews|badnews. Good news is great: "...hurt her liver and broke her pelvis, lumbar spine in her lower back, a shoulder blade and several ribs. She also has a broken tooth. 'I don't know the particulars of the accident as I wasn't there. But if she truly fell 3,000 feet, I have no idea how she survived,'" said the trauma surgeon. The sour lining on the sweet cloud: Dad. Dad drove 16yo up from Tx where law says 18, to OK where 16 is legal, and then gripes, "I find it very hard to believe that the rules and regulations in Oklahoma are that lax. I think there is a flaw there somewhere, and I don't think it's through the state of Oklahoma. I think it's the company. I'm not sure." Blames the company, blames Oklahoma for the laws for which he came here. Okay, I'll cut horrified, guilt-ridden Dad one day of slack for psychosis-inducing trauma causing him to blame everyone else (perhaps he's a Democrat). It was his gift and he brought her there and he jumped first and his little girl just about got turned into prairie pizza. But if he keeps it up after the adreneline wears off, he may need to ~~go out the door without a chute next time.~~ get some therapy. Note that she was instructed on what to do if the chute doesn't deploy correctly, she not only didn't do that, but apparently (presumably panicked) didn't follow radio instructions, either. So, she's about as lucky as the guy who went through the wood chipper. (Wait, I didn't read that... gotta go back & find it.)

Posted by: mindful webworker - of the Webworkers Interplanetary LLP at January 31, 2014 02:18 PM (U13jb)

89 dude I have not mentioned anal in like three years. That's one of those jokes that gets played out. Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 06:16 PM (/FnUH) ISWYDT

Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 02:18 PM (2ohgR)

90

The only thing I would say is: find a wife and get married.

I got married when I was 30. Before that, I was often in very sentimental moods. I won't go so far as to call them depressed moods, but let's say: sad. I really wanted was to find the woman I would eventually marry.

I often wondered though: would that really solve me feeling sad and lonely sometimes? Or is that just a grass-is-always-greener type thing?

Well I got married and it turns out that it actually did the trick. Sadness and loneliness is not something that I struggle with anymore.

It turns out that men and women really are made for each other. There is a spot in a man's heart that is a bit empty without his woman.

At least in my experience.

Posted by: dan-O at January 31, 2014 02:19 PM (D0bIN)

91 I'm writing a silly book about a bureaucracy built around time travel that I am too embarrassed about to let anyone other than Anna Puma and my husband ever read. But..10,000 pages of it exist so far, so there's that.

Posted by: Lauren at January 31, 2014 02:19 PM (hFL/3)

92 "Except for the weird obsession with anal sex, your wit, humor and insight is second to fucking none." Are you saying his obsession with anal is unmatched, or that it's lacking? I'm confused.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at January 31, 2014 02:19 PM (fT3qO)

93 >>>Photography Ace. it just doesn't grab me. Like fishing. I recognize it's a real skill. But I just don't really want to do get good at it. I've got dozens of things I want to learn. I'm not really soliciting suggestions myself, but more for other poeple. I really want to learn how to pick a lock and crack a safe.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:19 PM (/FnUH)

94 75 get married; have four kids. *grabs .45* *slide* *click* Boom.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Rounding Error Extraordinaire at January 31, 2014 02:19 PM (lnGjN)

95 Working on? Work and parenting.

Like to be working on? I'd like to study radio theory, build a basic AM or FM receiver from components (not just a chip kit), and progress from there. I also enjoy cryptography and other secret-agent type stuff fiction and non-fiction.

Books that appeal to me in this area are:
Cryptonomicon ISBN 0060512806
Between Silk and Cyanide ISBN 068486780X - non-fiction

The Codebreakers ISBN 0684831309 - non-fiction still working through this.

I'd spend more time on both of the above, if I was independently wealthy, and I'd also like to take up archery.

Posted by: flounder at January 31, 2014 02:19 PM (Kkt/i)

96
   Building a fly rod for older granddaughter is taking up chunks of the winter days right now. Haven't made one in years, but the skill seems to yet be there.

   Make a nice b'day present for her.

    For the REAL fun, there is always the honey-do list.Aka as the wife's answer to a bored hubby.

Posted by: irongrampa at January 31, 2014 02:19 PM (SAMxH)

97 It's CAC's fault, but I've started spending nights outdoors ...in the cold ...staring into an abyss. And enjoying it.

Posted by: dogfish at January 31, 2014 02:19 PM (nsOJa)

98 If we are talking hobby stuff, I'm working on redoing a computer case that has a K&N filter kit, turnkey ignition switch, and working gauges controlled by an Arduino.

Posted by: Jerry at January 31, 2014 02:20 PM (4SKYj)

99 Hey cool NDH I was off work for 6 weeks, health reasons. It is good to be back. Congrats again NDH

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at January 31, 2014 02:20 PM (HVff2)

100 as soon as we get a new w*rktable for the garage (the previous one burned up in the fire last summer), ima start assembling an AR kit and also get back to reloading.

i may even explore the whole 80% receiver thingy too, just because our asshole politicians think we shouldn't be allowed to have them here in Failifornia.

Posted by: redc1c4 at January 31, 2014 02:20 PM (q+fqH)

101 10,000 WORDS. Not pages. Ha.

Posted by: Lauren at January 31, 2014 02:20 PM (hFL/3)

102 About 4 years ago I bought some land and started raising cattle. I got the inspiration from a guy I sat next to on a flight to Australia. He gave me a 15 hour primer on how to breed and raise Wagyu cattle. It has been great fun and a complete departure from my day job.

Posted by: DrC at January 31, 2014 02:20 PM (bxpf3)

103

I switched to "old leftie".

totally changed my outlook

Posted by: dillhole13 at January 31, 2014 02:20 PM (uURnG)

104 Wish we could get Ace to Texas. Guns, rodeos, nightlife in all the major cities......

Posted by: rickb223 at January 31, 2014 02:20 PM (cUARf)

105

[Ace:] ..."Has any of this worked?"

Yeah, Ace, it has.

I lurk more than I post these days, but I really appreciate the work you do for us.

This is my go-to place...for humor and perspective on politics.

Posted by: wheatie at January 31, 2014 02:21 PM (dvPw2)

106 >>>It's CAC's fault, but I've started spending nights outdoors ...in the cold ...staring into an abyss. And enjoying it. i'd like to do that but I'm in a heavy light pollution area. Yeah I know I could drive 40 minutes.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:21 PM (/FnUH)

107 Travel a bit. You've got a laptop. Phone it in from the road. There are plenty of interesting people, places, views, and foods out there. Surprise yourself. I did.

Posted by: Robert17 at January 31, 2014 02:21 PM (bGQeu)

108 I go everywhere. I do everything. I never have any fun.

Posted by: Ned Sparks at January 31, 2014 02:21 PM (bJm7W)

109 Here's where I've been stuck:

I decide to do something interesting, like (for example) taking up homebrewing again.

But that means clearing out some space in the kitchen.

Clearing out some space in the kitchen means clearing out some space in the basement.

Clearing out some space in the basement means clearing out some space in the garage.

Cleaning out some space in the garage means shoveling a path to the garage.

Fuck all that what's on Netflix.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at January 31, 2014 02:21 PM (SY2Kh)

110 10,000 WORDS. Not pages. Ha.

Posted by: Lauren at January 31, 2014 06:20 PM (hFL/3)

=================

Ya, I was gonna say .......

Posted by: grammie winger at January 31, 2014 02:21 PM (P6QsQ)

111 >>> The Codebreakers ISBN 0684831309 - non-fiction still working through this. i think I read that.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:22 PM (/FnUH)

112 I work on a little thing called Morning in the Museum each Sunday, where I highlight artwork and try to write surreal stories around the people that work in the museum. The laws of physics usually don't apply, so it can be quite fun trying to come up with new things each week, or continuing a storyline I made up on the spot a few weeks or months earlier.

Posted by: zoy clem at January 31, 2014 02:22 PM (bs/+o)

113 I'm learning how to twerk like a teenager

Posted by: Madonna at January 31, 2014 02:22 PM (pginn)

114 I really want to learn how to pick a lock and crack a safe.-Ace That is why you crack me up

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at January 31, 2014 02:22 PM (HVff2)

115 Woodworking and guitar practice keeps me busy. Playing live is the payoff.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at January 31, 2014 02:22 PM (Tj7eb)

116 I really want to learn how to pick a lock and crack a safe. Lock picking is easy. No clue on safecracking.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 31, 2014 02:22 PM (cUARf)

117 I'm having second baby in June, I will be 45. I was 42 when our boy was born. I never knew it but, I was MADE to be a daddy. I love it. I just went to pick my guy up from daycare and on the way back home, the setting Sun was reflecting all gold and red and orange and pink off of one of the tidal creeks that I fish. As we went over I said to myself "I resolve to fish as much as I can this year." I'm looking forward to taking my little boy some this summer. Those things put me in my happy place, which I am currently not in right now. (Cold, wet, too much work to do, losing a moron last night) Also by the end of March I am pretty sure I will be the proud owner of at least 3 new guns. That's enough to put a smile on any face.

Posted by: traye at January 31, 2014 02:22 PM (/qYu5)

118 I'm goin' to Katmandu!

Posted by: Bob Seeger at January 31, 2014 02:22 PM (2ohgR)

119 Great post, Ace. I'm reading some Cormac McCarthy.

Posted by: Yoshi, Aggrieved Victim of the White Man at January 31, 2014 02:23 PM (ZEvg7)

120 >>>Fuck all that what's on Netflix. this is why I'm so anti-tv. TV makes it so easy to remain in stasis. I hate myself when I spend my nights watching TV (which happens quite a bit). It makes it so easy to just do nothing. What are you doing? Watching. Watching other people do things.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:23 PM (/FnUH)

121 Posted by: irongrampa , I have no doubt she'll know how to use it . Kids learn that shit fast .

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at January 31, 2014 02:23 PM (XWw96)

122 Ace, did you use any particular "system" to help you learn French? You seem to be moving along nicely in the language.

Posted by: Seems legit at January 31, 2014 02:23 PM (A98Xu)

123 14Â >>>What, did the Internet run out of porn?Â Posted by: The GovernorÂ don't get me started. I TRIED to change that aspect of my Same Day No Different Than the Last syndrome.Â But it didn't take. _________ Maybe try watching some of the lame, old fashioned boy on girl pron instead of the ewok stuff. that would be something new.

Posted by: shredded chi - tired of shoveling FACTs out of the driveway at January 31, 2014 02:23 PM (Nkh1h)

124 72 the first time you write "and maybe anal" it has shock value

the second time it's a call-back

the third time it's an insider meme

the fourth time you just have a fucking problem

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 06:16 PM (/FnUH

Or you're a lucky bastard banging a chick that's into anal.

Posted by: buzzion at January 31, 2014 02:23 PM (LI48c)

125 What interesting stuff are you working on, or, what interesting stuff do you think you'll give a try?

A homebrew-supply just opened between my work and my home. The next open beginner class is March, but I'm signed up.

My quilt guild challenged everyone to bring a list of ten unfinished projects to the January meeting, then each month they pick a number and we should finish that project and bring it to the next meeting. I've also signed up to make a kids quilt--we give them to police departments and hospitals and shelters--before the end of the year, and some blocks for Quilts of Valor. http://www.qovf.org/

Posted by: HR at January 31, 2014 02:23 PM (ZKzrr)

126 Posted by: Smoochy32 at January 31, 2014 06:14 PM (qAQB/) --------- Neutering your dog makes him less nuts

Posted by: LFW - Honorary Pointy-Eared Vulcan at January 31, 2014 02:24 PM (V40IZ)

127

Photography Ace.

Just as long as you don't combine it with cycling.

Posted by: buzzion at January 31, 2014 02:24 PM (LI48c)

128 Awesome news, NDH, very happy for you!

On the running thing, it has been a truly inspiring experience, especially seeing and talking to the "back of the pack" folks. Men and women who are seriously over weight, but determined to finish.

You would be amazed at how many endurance runners are out there that don't look like they could walk around the block. I've had women that weigh 250 just smoke me after 12 miles.

I injured myself with a stress fracture during my marathon at the beginning of December, ended up running 18 miles on it. So my last two races have been very slow cautious affairs where the goal was to finish as slowly as possible without getting swept from the course. I learned to adore the people at the back. I've never seen determination like that before.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at January 31, 2014 02:24 PM (LxcRK)

129 Three words:

My.
Little.
Pony.

Posted by: Tex Lovera at January 31, 2014 02:24 PM (2O8+m)

130 I'm in a TV watching rut. Hate it. And I'm always going on about how important hobbies are to a healthy life. Sheesh.

Posted by: Seems legit at January 31, 2014 02:24 PM (A98Xu)

131 Go NDH, Congrats! Well, we smoked the other side this afternoon. Potentially VERY catastrophic results if we lost. Otherside rattled off complete nonsense for 15 minutes before shooting their own balls off. The judge stopped it and tossed it. Never asked for a word from me or my attorney. And all their crap was under oath so recorded so HA HA silver bullets against further bullshit. Glenlivit 18 year old in the Ridel right now...

Posted by: OG Celtic-American at January 31, 2014 02:24 PM (vHRtU)

132 >>>No clue on safecracking. apparently on cheaper safes the old stethoscope-and-sensitive-touch trick really works high end ones are all internally soundproofed and have discontinuities between tumbler and wheel so that doesn't really work.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:24 PM (/FnUH)

133 But it didn't take. "Every time I get out the tanlines keep pulling me back in!"

Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 02:24 PM (2ohgR)

134 I hate myself when I spend my nights watching TV (which happens quite a bit). It makes it so easy to just do nothing. You thinking of a presidential run ?

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at January 31, 2014 02:24 PM (XWw96)

135 I can pick a simple lock. It's easy. Just a couple of years ago Ebay stopped allowing lockpick kits to be sold. But it's easy to make your own lockpicks. Plus having a 'thieving' mind helps you inagine those tumblers clicking into place.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 02:24 PM (jRs7b)

136

As far as what I'm doing:

My goal is as follows: I need to read an entire history of the world, 11 volumes, the New Testament, 1984, Brave New World, Crime and Punishment, Notes From Underground, the Devils, apparently some work of Victor Hugo's on capital punishment, and by then the sixth volume in Game of Thrones might be out for fuck's sake.

Then I intend to develop a screenplay I've had for a while. Then I'm going to write.

Politically, next month I'm going to volunteer at my precinct. And start really getting active.

Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 02:25 PM (tVTLU)

137 106 >>>It's CAC's fault, but I've started spending nights outdoors ...in the cold ...staring into an abyss. And enjoying it. Actually, a favored past time of mine, but need to add reasonable (mostly) bonfire and beer. Perfect time of year for it. Just smallish bonfires. Mostly.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Rounding Error Extraordinaire at January 31, 2014 02:25 PM (lnGjN)

138 My friends, I learned how to reach around. I mean reach across the aisle. So far across the aisle that I'm indistinguishable from my friend Chuckie Shumer.

Posted by: John McCain at January 31, 2014 02:25 PM (pginn)

139 My grandma died last year at 84. She had been widowed for nearly three decades, and lived alone in a farmhouse in rural Iowa. One of the things she said on one of the last visits I made out there was that people seemed to always assume that she had absolutely nothing to do, but that she really always was quite busy. Her area, for years, barely got TV reception, and it wasn't like she was going to pay money for internet. Nevertheless, there were always the things that needed to get done, and the things you do because you're still able to, and then things you do just to keep your mind sharp and occupied - like doing suduko puzzles or whatnot.

Posted by: Katja at January 31, 2014 02:25 PM (LmCTZ)

140 the fourth time you just have a fucking problem

You think you have a problem what about my over-extension.

Posted by: The Sphincter of Comedy[/i][/b][/s] at January 31, 2014 02:25 PM (DL2i+)

141 When things start to feel stale, I rearrange the furniture. I know that sounds weird, but sometimes the walls seem like they are closing in on me. Manipulating my actual environment helps things feel fresher to me. I'm also thinking about picking up a guitar and learning to play. I've always wanted too but never had the time.

Posted by: no good deed at January 31, 2014 02:25 PM (vBhbc)

142 DrC, that's pretty much my dream. Care to share a little bit about your ranch?

Posted by: Lauren at January 31, 2014 02:26 PM (hFL/3)

143 Wish we could get Ace to Texas. Guns, rodeos, nightlife in all the major cities......

Posted by: rickb223 at January 31, 2014 06:20 PM (cUARf)

---------------------------------------------------

....girls with primitive Texas accents.

Posted by: Soona at January 31, 2014 02:26 PM (BkpOh)

144 Cleaning out some space in the garage means shoveling a path to the garage. Fuck all that what's on Netflix. Posted by: Hollowpoint I'm in the same boat, I have decided that after I finish my kitchen remod, I need to double the size of my shop and include a storage space above it.

Posted by: traye at January 31, 2014 02:26 PM (/qYu5)

145 Gee, and I always thought you wanted to learn french because you were attracted to french headlights, Ace.

Posted by: Judge Pug at January 31, 2014 02:26 PM (E4MKN)

146 I'm trying to learn Adobe Flash. But I can say that for about the last ten years or so. It gets a bit easier, but like most software, the suckiness far outweighs the easyness.

Posted by: Null at January 31, 2014 02:26 PM (DuH+r)

147 "Pretty cool video, and I'm not even a Billy Joel fan."

That was kinda awesome!

Posted by: Chris M at January 31, 2014 02:27 PM (k3w9p)

148 Oh, and trying to physically get back in shape. life is short, try not to be a fat ass if you can help it. And trust me, with our busy lives I know how much that sucks and tough that is. Damn you straight to hell Chipotle.

Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 02:27 PM (tVTLU)

149 @124 Its been my experience that even when they say they're into anal, they're not.

Posted by: Kreplach at January 31, 2014 02:27 PM (TAP/5)

150 Awww, sensitive Ace. The one that all the 'ettes love. That said, this is terrible advice. I took on a whole new line of work recently and it nearly kicked my ass. It was punishing. But, I'm better for it in the end. So, good advice.

Posted by: L, elle at January 31, 2014 02:27 PM (0xqKe)

151 I want to either build a DIY sous vide or get a pro version at some point. The thing that prevents me at this point is looking at the cook times. If it takes six hours to cook a steak, that means I can only do it on the weekends. I could put it on a timer to start six hours before I get home. That means the food is at "danger zone" temperatures for a few hours, right?

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at January 31, 2014 02:27 PM (gtjN1)

152 Posted by: Seems legit at January 31, 2014 06:24 PM (A98Xu) 2 years ago, my wife had us pull the plug on the TV to save money (we just do Netflix now). Now I don't miss it at all.

Posted by: John McCain at January 31, 2014 02:27 PM (pginn)

153 How are you learning French, ace? I found out our public library gives me access to Mango language lessons - pretty cool. Also discovered Duolingo, downloaded the app but haven't made a profile yet. I am always starting new hobbies & dropping them. But I want to get into something productive - I used to code, in the past century... I'm pondering learning to make apps; not sure how much $ investment I'd need on a development environment though.

Posted by: votermom at January 31, 2014 02:27 PM (GSIDW)

154

My kids and grandkids were suffering from the 'winter blues'...

So...I ordered a bunch of silly Hats from Mental Gear for them.

They love them.

It has brightened their spirits.

If you're not familiar with Mental Gear, check out their site:

http:/ /www.mentalgear.com/

Posted by: wheatie at January 31, 2014 02:27 PM (dvPw2)

155 I just thought French was a phase most writers went through when they wanted to fuck with their readers.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at January 31, 2014 02:27 PM (fT3qO)

156 I can pick a simple lock. It's easy. Just a couple of years ago Ebay stopped allowing lockpick kits to be sold. But it's easy to make your own lockpicks. Plus having a 'thieving' mind helps you inagine those tumblers clicking into place. Inmates at one of Texas' greybars taught me. Didn't have a safe to practice on.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 31, 2014 02:27 PM (cUARf)

157 >>I don't usually mind last minute trips, but come on, Dubai? Dubai is pretty cool. Bunch of good Indian restaurants since there is a huge Indian population (somebody has to do all the work) and some good English pubs and sports bars and the architecture is really cool. Dubai is the only emirate without real oil reserves so they turned it into the business mecca. The also have encouraged builders from around the world to let their freak flag fly so you will see some really cool stuff.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 31, 2014 02:27 PM (g1DWB)

158 Ack, off sock

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at January 31, 2014 02:27 PM (pginn)

159 I've been learning how to play the mandolin. Well, not really. But enough to amuse myself playing along with music I enjoy. I gotta say, it does feel good. Music has always been important to me but I didn't play anything. The mando is small and easy to take along. So it suits me. How boring is this post?

Posted by: canoedad at January 31, 2014 02:28 PM (5/FN2)

160 Oh, I'm also always learning to be a better cook. That's something I really recommend because the benefits are immediate (mmm, food) and pretty satisfying (mmm, food). Yeah, you'll have misses too, but it's such a useful skill to have and I think it's pretty enjoyable too.

Posted by: Lauren at January 31, 2014 02:28 PM (hFL/3)

161 Does taking a bubble bath and reading Elle count? Seriously, I had a newly retired coworker die suddenly last year and was inspired to start learning guitar so I signed up for lessons. I definitely we need to be learning all the time, even if it is frustrating when you start something new because it takes a while to get good at it. Next on my list is writing a good short story ( and continuing to work on my guitar playing because I really want to play stranglehold)

Posted by: Lea at January 31, 2014 02:28 PM (/bd0t)

162
I figured out a new more effective way to move snow with a shovel.

Age is the mother of invention.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at January 31, 2014 02:28 PM (n0DEs)

163 Ace, join a gym with a boxing section. There are few things more theraputic than whaling on a heavy bag when you're in a mood. And it's good exercise. I sympathize with the whole falling-in-a-rut thing. I've wanted to learn to play guitar for years, but since my daughter was born 2 1/2 years ago, I've used that as an excuse. Seriously, now that football season is over and I've seen all of "Breaking Bad", I really need to pick the thing up instead of spending all my time here.

Posted by: UGAdawg at January 31, 2014 02:28 PM (e/9tl)

164 Delurking... I have always enjoyed baking and have decided to take a series of classes on baking and decorating cakes. I also use to run track in my early years and decided that I would get back to running. Then there is going back to school and lastly working on my family tree. The last one is fascinating; I shared the story last year on the ONT... My paternal grandfather's side is traced all the way back to 1789, when a female slave arrived in South Carolina. She had children with one of the master's sons and from there the family grew. Slash forward to the 20th century and the white and black families started holding a joint family reunion. It has been going strong ever since. I went last year for the first time and it was a blast! So now I am working on my maternal side of the family and so far have found that my maternal great-grandfather and great-grandmother were born in 1866 and 1879. Anyways, I am looking forward to new things. Sorry for the long post.

Posted by: I Be That Chick at January 31, 2014 02:28 PM (McA1b)

165 Once my back has healed, I'm going to start running again too. I've been trying to get into the New York marathon, and wouldn't you know it, this year my guaranteed entry came through. I'm saving the entry until 2015 and I WILL run it.

Posted by: no good deed at January 31, 2014 02:29 PM (vBhbc)

166 I learned how to cfuk the conservatives in my party. Good and hard.

Posted by: John Boehner at January 31, 2014 02:29 PM (pginn)

167 I like to do physical things. Ammo is too expensive to do the shooting I was doing. I'm going to get into compound bows. Initial $$ investment then generally just arrow heads as they are lost or broken. I'm also thinking about a martial art. I have a hip that can kind of bother me at times, anyone have any good ideas about which martial art is good for a middle aged person?

Posted by: Seems legit at January 31, 2014 02:29 PM (A98Xu)

168 Nice thread. I hope it reaches some readers who maybe need that little push to find a new well of resilience.

Something I've thought a bunch of times (sometimes thought constantly for long periods of time): Whatever God's got in store for me when I die, I've got all of eternity to figure that out. I can't control the options available to me after I die. So no matter how bad things seem in the moment, in the years, I might as well live as much as I can here, because it's nothing in eternity. No matter how rough things get, there's no knowing if I'll ever experience it again. Embrace it all. You're never "stuck" so long as you've got an earthly heartbeat. Getting unstuck is no harder than picking up a French book at the library.

Posted by: 0302 at January 31, 2014 02:29 PM (R8X6T)

169 this is why I'm so anti-tv. TV makes it so easy to remain in stasis.

I hate myself when I spend my nights watching TV (which happens quite a bit).

Yep. The disgusting part about it is that I don't particularly enjoy it because it's 98% garbage anyways.

But I do it, then I feel guilty about it, then thinking about what I should be doing instead reminds me of the guilt.

Rinse, repeat.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at January 31, 2014 02:29 PM (SY2Kh)

170 I've been learning how to play the mandolin. Well, not really. But enough to amuse myself playing along with music I enjoy.

=================

I always say I'm going to learn to play the mandolin. I have my grandfather's from when he was a young man. It's beautiful, and it just sits on a shelf.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 31, 2014 02:29 PM (P6QsQ)

171 >>> Ace, did you use any particular "system" to help you learn French? You seem to be moving along nicely in the language. No not really. I'm not moving along nicely, really. I can read, but reading is the easiest thing. Literally everything else -- listening/understanding, writing, and worst of all, talking -- is harder. I am moving along but not nicely. I don't mind my progress but i'm not beating any records. The only insight I have is to try, to the extent possible, to get out of lessons and into "real French" as quickly as possible, like, moving more quickly to newspapers than was really possible, and trying to watch real french tv shows and news reports. (And by tv shows I mean tÃ©lÃ©realitÃ© because that's the dumbest, easiest shit on tv. ) And then, doing that, I fill in grammar stuff. Like I go backwards from real language material back to the foundation of learning it. Once something has been bothering me enough, I look it up. So now it's not just an abstract rule that's being thrown at me -- now I have a vested interest in learning it, because it's bothered me six times by now. Does this work? In theory, it should work GREAT, because that's the way I learned english as a child. Does it work better than just grinding out coursework? eh... I cant' tell. I find it's more bearable, which is itself important.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:29 PM (/FnUH)

172 My next thing is to read a lot on the fundamentals of Judo. Serious. Then I'm gonna move on to studying Jeet Kun Do (jkd ) or whatever it's called, which is the type of fighting you see a lot in movies and shows like Person Of Interest.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 02:29 PM (jRs7b)

173 Hey Lauren, bring me a sammich, please

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at January 31, 2014 02:30 PM (HVff2)

174 Learning to play the eukeleli.

Posted by: Al at January 31, 2014 02:30 PM (40XA1)

175 FYI, Dubai has a huge mall with an inside ski slope. Manufactured snow but still.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at January 31, 2014 02:30 PM (Tj7eb)

176 Trying to teach myself autofellatio but it's really tough. Might need to hire a coach.

Posted by: Gristle Encased Head at January 31, 2014 02:30 PM (+lsX1)

177

Gardening and watching birds does a soul well. And for me, math is intriguing and stimulating. Reading any kind of history of the Age of Exploration or the voyages of Captain Cook.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at January 31, 2014 02:31 PM (0MVzQ)

178 I'm goin' to Katmandu!

Posted by: Bob Seeger at January 31, 2014 06:22 PM (2ohgR)

---------------------------------------------

I'm going to Bangkok in a couple of weeks. I'm going to be doing a study on how to spot Thai trannys from 4 blocks away.

Posted by: Soona at January 31, 2014 02:31 PM (BkpOh)

179 >>>Yep. The disgusting part about it is that I don't particularly enjoy it because it's 98% garbage anyways. But I do it, then I feel guilty about it, then thinking about what I should be doing instead reminds me of the guilt. ... yup. a person can find a lot of Missing Time by writing down what shows he watches every week and deciding which shows he or she REALLY likes and which are being watched to kill time. And then eliminate the time-kills ruthlessly. Make yourself be bored. So maybe you'll find something more worthy to put your mind to. This was my porn thing, you know. It wasn't about the morality of sex so much about the morality of WASTING PRECIOUS TIME.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:31 PM (/FnUH)

180 Work is God's gift to us. It gives me self-respect by being self supporting through my OWN contributions, plus it relieves me of just sitting around the house thinking about Soona. *** Yes to both thoughts. I've worked consistently since I was 15 years old. For the past 20 years I've worked mostly 60+ weeks, even after suffering a severe heart condition. I kept praying to God to let me know if I was on the right path and I kept ignoring/not seeing the signs that I was not. So, I prayed for an unmistakable sign and boy did I get one. Over these past 20 months I've indulged in quite a bit of introspection and have concluded that I NEED to work to be happy, but I do not need to kill myself in the process in order to make someone else happy. I hope I can remember that when I return to work.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 02:31 PM (DmNpO)

181 I learned how to completely cfuk up the health insurance system in the U.S. Well, to be accurate, I let my allies in Congress do that. I just cfukd up the execution.

Posted by: King Putt at January 31, 2014 02:31 PM (pginn)

182 Come back to me, ace, it'll do you some good.

Posted by: Marco Rubio's garbage at January 31, 2014 02:31 PM (2x+V2)

183 +1 on reading more. I committed to doing that over the holidays. I'm also ... ummm ... learning a lot about some new web server software right now.

Posted by: Andy at January 31, 2014 02:31 PM (Zx2Zj)

184 You've been at this like from the beginning. Why not become the Chairman of the board and make one of the co bloggers the CEO. Then you can write the story of the blog, how it evolved and how much fun it has been. Then you get to go on book tours and run out of books to sign like Cramer and Levin and you can have meghan kelly fawning over you live on air cause the book is so funny and good And you can write whenever you want cause it's your blog. It's perfect.

Posted by: think at January 31, 2014 02:32 PM (OroYa)

185 Um. Sorry, I was going to hold off with my previous, somewhat o/t comment until at least after 100, as per stylebook, but fatfingers. Well, since I'm here. I'm glad if you're doing better by occupational therapies, Ace.

We're all pretty dependent on you as mother hen to at least keep the nest together. I've been stuck in a major rut that is unproductive and costly for longer than I care to recall. Like spinning your wheels to get out of mud, every effort only seems to dig myself deeper. No AAA to call for a tow. I have my hobby vanity-publ website for creative outlet, play some piano, and there are routines that comfort. In some facets of real life, though, I confess I still feel like a mime in a box with my hands bound behind me. (And I'm allergic to that damned white makeup.) So, yeah, doing something creative helps a little with endurance, and with holding on tight to that last thread of sanity in the face of a tidal wave of opposition. Waiting, with patience approximating Job-ian duration, upon the will of the Almighty, meanwhile always wondering if there wasn't something my will was supposed to be doing instead to break the chain, and I just couldn't clue to what the "still small voice within" was yelling at me.

Posted by: mindful webworker at January 31, 2014 02:32 PM (U13jb)

186 i'd like to do that but I'm in a heavy light pollution area. Yeah I know I could drive 40 minutes. Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 06:21 PM (/FnUH) ---------- You'd be amazed at how much you can still see even with the light pollution. I was thrilled the first time I saw Jupiter's moons.

Posted by: LFW - Honorary Pointy-Eared Vulcan at January 31, 2014 02:32 PM (+hPIb)

187 " Hey Lauren, bring me a sammich, please" Slides pb&j through usb port. And no complaining. You'll get raspberry jam and you'll like it!

Posted by: Lauren at January 31, 2014 02:32 PM (hFL/3)

188 I should go & paint, this can be as bad as tv,

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at January 31, 2014 02:32 PM (HVff2)

189 I'm going to Bangkok in a couple of weeks. I'm going to be doing a study on how to spot Thai trannys from 4 blocks away.

Posted by: Soona at January 31, 2014 06:31 PM (BkpOh)

I don't remember where I heard it but if you get beer, get it in a bottle and when you're not drinking it keep your thumb over the opening.

Posted by: buzzion at January 31, 2014 02:32 PM (LI48c)

190 Hey, I'm working on being more fluent in Spanish! Â¡Estoy tan triste! Really brightens up the day sometimes!

Posted by: John Boehner at January 31, 2014 02:33 PM (DLu2s)

191 >>>I'm also thinking about a martial art. I have a hip that can kind of bother me at times, anyone have any good ideas about which martial art is good for a middle aged person? I would love that... Hey, as far as "which martial art," i've thought about this, and I have an idea: Fencing. Now of course you can work up to an unarmed martial art, but it seems to me fencing requires, at least initially, less of a commitment to a total health overhaul. The blade does a lot of hte work, after all.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:33 PM (/FnUH)

192 Been trying to find new books to read and games to play. I find them a nice relief valve when reality gets more fantastical than fiction. Peter Clines "Ex-" book series is actually a pretty good mash-up of the superhero and zombie genres. Lots of pop culture references. Do not get too bogged down in the logic of trying to stay inside the city of Los Angeles after a zombie apocalypse. If you have not read John Ringo's "Troy Rising" series, I highly recommend it. Brandon Sanderson's Way of Kings is pretty good. I sometimes find his stuff detached, but really enjoyed this. Love Crusader Kings II. Kind of a call back to old time grand strategy games. Watch out though, the learning curve is brutal. Got the "Kreig" playable character for Borderlands 2, and been having a blast playing him. I find it sad that gearbox can do a better diablo style game than the people who did Diablo (Blizzard.)

Posted by: Aetius451AD at January 31, 2014 02:33 PM (TGgNi)

193 I'm considering setting up a vintage tech blog for all the old electronics/videogames/computers I collect. I got a video disc player a few days ago for $3 that I'm dying to try out (waiting on a disc from EBay).

Posted by: --- at January 31, 2014 02:33 PM (ksJYU)

194 Yep. The disgusting part about it is that I don't particularly enjoy it because it's 98% garbage anyways. But I do it, then I feel guilty about it, then thinking about what I should be doing instead reminds me of the guilt. Rinse, repeat. Posted by: Hollowpoint at January 31, 2014 06:29 PM (SY2Kh) Get out of my head.

Posted by: Seems legit at January 31, 2014 02:33 PM (A98Xu)

195 Well, the wife and I are taking a course in conversational Spanish. I got tired of feeling like the world's biggest asshole trying to communicate with the yard maintenance crew. If the mountain won't come to Mohammed, then Mohammed's going to learn how to tell the mountain to come back next week or to cut the shrubs back for winter in the mountain's language tongue.

That and hell, I don't know how I survived those years coaching the University of Miami without speaking Spanish. I spoke Scotch and I spoke winning, son.

Posted by: Head Football Coach Howard Schnellenberger at January 31, 2014 02:33 PM (T+Zre)

196 UP FOR THE DOWN STROKE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i01fYbRQjWM

Posted by: Parliament at January 31, 2014 02:33 PM (2ohgR)

197 Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 06:29 PM (/FnUH) What you're doing is the closest thing to "immersion" without moving to France.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at January 31, 2014 02:33 PM (pginn)

198 I have a hip that can kind of bother me at times, anyone have any good ideas about which martial art is good for a middle aged person? Posted by: Seems legit at January 31, 2014 06:29 PM (A98Xu) --- Tai Chi is probably the lowest impact. That said, the Tang Soo Do classes my kids go to have a number of middle aged parents in them.

Posted by: votermom at January 31, 2014 02:33 PM (GSIDW)

199 Lauren at January 31, 2014 06:26 PM It is about 1 hour northeast of Austin TX. When I bought it it was raw land. I had to learn to drive a bulldozer to clear it, weld pipe to build fences, barns, etc. I used to think I needed fancy cars and houses to be happy, but I spend half my time in an RV out in the middle of my property and couldn't be happier. I'm watching the sun approach the horizon from the top of a hill now.

Posted by: DrC at January 31, 2014 02:34 PM (waJ+2)

200

One thing I've been thinking about that would combine a love of creativity with a desire to try and save the country:

How about an ad firm. I mean a company dedicated to the most biting and vicious attack ads, of course they would be true, as well as the warm style "So God Made a Farmer" ad.

GOP tv ads are lame. The only good ones are made by outside groups. We could blow up Frank Luntz's stupid dials.

And then we could be all mad men style doing blow off our secretary's asses before we nail them there, if you're into that. Perfect meeting of immoral and moral, all for a higher purpose.

But seriously, last cycle what 300MM went into ads, there were only a few that were any damn good.

Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 02:34 PM (tVTLU)

201 I'm planning to take some classes on clock management.

Posted by: Andy Reid at January 31, 2014 02:35 PM (LI48c)

202 191 I have heard that fencing is a LOT more physically demanding than people think. Plus, the action is so fast it is not a good spectator sport. Anyone ever tried Kendo? Seems to me a more "Sword Fighting" type of hobby.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at January 31, 2014 02:35 PM (TGgNi)

203 So as to my thing, I really like to travel. I hate the build up to it, it always feel like its going to be a pain in the ass and sometimes is but usually its pretty damn cool. I'm very fortunate in my job that I literally get paid to travel the world. Been on every continent but Antarctica (and I may get the chance to go there at the end of the year) and more countries than I can count. It's given me a whole new perspective on the world, people, cultures, pretty much everything. I like learning new stuff and in the last few years I feel like I've learned more about how the world fits together than in the rest of my life combined. And I'm still learning.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 31, 2014 02:35 PM (g1DWB)

204 >>>What you're doing is the closest thing to "immersion" without moving to France. nah it's not very close. I know what you mean, and that is what I'm trying, but it's so far from immersion it shouldn't be called it. It is that idea though, yeah. But to immerse, well, you have to talk and stuff.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:35 PM (/FnUH)

205 Ace, take a science class. don't just read a science book. actually go to a community college or something and take a science class where you get to blow shit up or dissect dead pigs or something.

science is awesome. the world is fascinating.

Posted by: chemjeff @ Fapplebee's at January 31, 2014 02:35 PM (cnS/d)

206 My next thing is to read a lot on the fundamentals of Judo. Serious. I started in the Philippines. Here in WA there really aren't very many good teachers. A lot of the times it's a "Judo Club", which means you get to be a practice dummy for the black belts. If you're lucky you'll learn a technique during a session, but only how to step through it, not how to break their balance to get it to work.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at January 31, 2014 02:35 PM (gtjN1)

207 Congrats NDH! As far as doing something, I still want to advance my fixing car abilities. Youtube is a treasure trove of how to do shit. Next time you feel like watching the television bring up youtube and learn how to do something by watching someone do it...and then try it yourself.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at January 31, 2014 02:35 PM (oFCZn)

208 Soona, you're Okie. Are you oilfield? Thailand is one of my haunts but Pattaya more than Bangkok. Lovely sweet people in Thailand. If they would let me bring my guns I'd retire there some day.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at January 31, 2014 02:35 PM (Tj7eb)

209 Oh, and as far as happy, we have an 8-week old Corgi puppy at our house.

Posted by: --- at January 31, 2014 02:35 PM (ksJYU)

210 "I'm watching the sun approach the horizon from the top of a hill now." Jealous!

Posted by: Lauren at January 31, 2014 02:35 PM (hFL/3)

211 I don't remember where I heard it but if you get beer, get it in a bottle and when you're not drinking it keep your thumb over the opening. Said any Texan ever. At least, bar beer.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 31, 2014 02:35 PM (cUARf)

212
Along with rod building is the tying of dry flies. Granddaughter I mentioned earlier already knows how ( I taught her).

   This is my legacy--to pass these skills along. Too important to be forgotten.

    I don't reckon to live long enough to do or try everything I'd like to so the most interesting stuff takes precedence.

    What an absolute plethora of fascinating experiences are there for the taking.

Posted by: irongrampa at January 31, 2014 02:35 PM (SAMxH)

213 My wish has always been to take classes in ballroom dancing. I need to slow down long enough to do that. It takes a lot of dedication, in a way, to break yourself out of the daily rut that life brings.

Posted by: Lady in Black at January 31, 2014 02:36 PM (Oa7B2)

214 CORGI!

Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 02:36 PM (2ohgR)

215 All kinds of interesting massive online courses out there for free. I'll be stretching with those a couple of times over the year. I also have a gap in my literary knowledge: Dickens. I'm going to bite the bullet on that, too.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 31, 2014 02:36 PM (sZu62)

216 I'm 79 and am currently trying to learn Swedish. My Chinese (Mandarin) is passable and I know enough Russian and Spanish to get around without too much difficulty. Am also trying to learn the piano which is a real struggle. Rubiks cube about 3 minutes on average to solve. Volunteer at the local senior center teaching the computer. For reading I just re-read Dickens, Anthony Trollope and Dostoevsky over and over again. Happy Year of the Horse to all AofSHQ fans. You morons and moronettes are the smartest and wittiest on the internet.

Posted by: BarneyOffal at January 31, 2014 02:36 PM (ul4Lc)

217 "But to immerse, well, you have to talk and stuff. " Alright, horde, time to chip in to get ace a French "maid".

Posted by: Lauren at January 31, 2014 02:37 PM (hFL/3)

218 >>>I have heard that fencing is a LOT more physically demanding than people think. Plus, the action is so fast it is not a good spectator sport. sure, I didn't really mean to suggest it wasn't physical. Still, your movements are quick steps forward and quick steps back, and you move your wrist a lot, and extend your forward arm. as far as total commitment to a remake of your physical condition, it seems to me it would permit you to take up the sport without being fully in shape at the beginning.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:37 PM (/FnUH)

219 Here's a video of me and the puppies on a wild Saturday night. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvVk1LQyHyg Posted by: DangerGirl That was chuckleworthy. The cats need a little more training up, it looks like. But watch out. Milady Webworker has only to pry the lid off the yogurt and is surrounded by four-footed beggers. Give 'em a taste just once....

Posted by: mindful webworker - Orwellian animal farmer at January 31, 2014 02:37 PM (U13jb)

220 I'm pretty sure the sample knit I'm dong isn't interesting to anyone, nor is it new. But I've started my last semester before college graduation, and I'm taking Disease in History. It's utterly fascinating. And I started a new exercise regimen, so that's cool. And there's credit for it, too!

Posted by: Gingy @GingyNorth at January 31, 2014 02:37 PM (N/cFh)

221 I have heard that fencing is a LOT more physically demanding than people think. Plus, the action is so fast it is not a good spectator sport.

fencing is demanding. I did it through highschool. (yeah I'm a nerd, when everyone else was playing FB or BB, I had a fake sword)

your muscles are pretty much tensed throughout the entire match. you have to continually use your head to anticipate dodging and parrying. and you can't dodge too much, you have to stay within a certain zone.

Posted by: chemjeff @ Fapplebee's at January 31, 2014 02:37 PM (cnS/d)

222 165 - That is awesome. I could be convinced to relax my personal ban on New York to run the NYC Marathon.

I do have a very cool race coming up though. The Hibiscus Half Marathon in Honolulu over Memorial Day. The route starts in Waikiki and runs around Diamondhead.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at January 31, 2014 02:37 PM (LxcRK)

223 Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 06:25 PM (tVTLU) --------- Winston Churchill wrote a six volume set on the WWII. Less about the battles than about the political environment of GB during that time. Dry sometimes but a very worthwhile read.

Posted by: LFW - Honorary Pointy-Eared Vulcan at January 31, 2014 02:37 PM (q/kmn)

224 By the way, I agree winters can be rough - and in this regard, hunting changed my life. Basically October, November, December, the worst of it, I can't wait to find some free time to get out. There are other seasons too. Just find some public land and walk around with a bow in season. Doesn't matter if you harvest. The longer it takes you to take your first game animal, the more awesome the experience. Learning on my own, it took me three years to get my first gobbler, and when I walked over to pick up that turkey, it's definitely in my top-10 life moments for satisfaction. I'm proud of a lot of accomplishments, lucky to have had a lot of opportunities, but having years of effort, days of hunting, and hours of calling all come together at one tiny time and place was really something else.

Posted by: 0302 at January 31, 2014 02:37 PM (R8X6T)

225 Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 06:34 PM (tVTLU) What we need is a lobby for smaller government. But there's no money in it (well, there is long term), so it's tough to find sponsorship. A massive public education system. "You know, you DON'T have to put up with this shit."

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at January 31, 2014 02:37 PM (pginn)

226 I'm in good physical shape (especially for the amount of TV watching I do), So a challenging martial art that does not solely rely on kicks would be good. Fencing, huh? Haven't seen any ads, print or other wise around here for that but you never know.

Posted by: Seems legit at January 31, 2014 02:37 PM (A98Xu)

227 >>>213 My wish has always been to take classes in ballroom dancing. I need to slow down long enough to do that. It takes a lot of dedication, in a way, to break yourself out of the daily rut that life brings. can you set aside one three hour block a week?

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:37 PM (/FnUH)

228 Physical: Martial arts, dancing, exercising.
Mental: Studying Persian, working through a list of classic books, writing short stories. I also received a puzzle for Christmas from my grandparents and I've been working on that for the past few weeks (usually one or two nights a week).

I've also tried to develop good "winter habits", things that I do at night since the weather sucks. Tuning Pandora to the Tom Waits station, pouring a glass of bourbon, and reading, for example.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at January 31, 2014 02:38 PM (lr3d7)

229 trying to watch real french tv shows and news reports. (And by tv shows I mean tÃ©lÃ©realitÃ© because that's the dumbest, easiest shit on tv. -- Watch French movies in French subtitled in French. (Seriously, it will help)

Posted by: votermom at January 31, 2014 02:38 PM (GSIDW)

230

I'm teaching myself bullet casting. I know, it sounds intensely, eye-glazingly dull and repetitive, but there's a world of interesting stuff written by interesting people about, well, casting bullets. Who knew?

Posted by: Bad Evil Villain Advice at January 31, 2014 02:38 PM (V9ol4)

231 It is about 1 hour northeast of Austin TX. When I bought it it was raw land. I had to learn to drive a bulldozer to clear it, weld pipe to build fences, barns, etc. I used to think I needed fancy cars and houses to be happy, but I spend half my time in an RV out in the middle of my property and couldn't be happier. I'm watching the sun approach the horizon from the top of a hill now.

Posted by: DrC at January 31, 2014 06:34 PM (waJ+2)

--------------------------------------------

So I guess it hasn't clouded up yet like it has in OKC. Don't worry it's coming. Predictions of daily snowfall for four days starting Sunday.

Posted by: Soona at January 31, 2014 02:38 PM (BkpOh)

232 it seems to me it would permit you to take up the sport without being fully in shape at the beginning.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 06:37 PM (/FnUH)

=================

Have you considered curling?

Posted by: grammie winger at January 31, 2014 02:38 PM (P6QsQ)

233 I did something new...got all my teeth pulled and am trying out Dentures. This will keep me busy relearning to talk. (They say talking with new dentures is like talking with a shoe in your mouth and they were right.)

Posted by: Intrasigent Bastard at January 31, 2014 02:38 PM (R5lpX)

234 >>>Fencing, huh? Haven't seen any ads, print or other wise around here for that but you never know. i gotta think most big towns have a fencing club. people do it in college and all.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:38 PM (/FnUH)

235

It wouldn't be so boring or bluesey around if there wasn't the thought floating around that we have 3 more years of Obama in office. Just too depressing for words. So ignore that fact and go volunteer to tutor at risk 3rd graders. They haven't been in school long enough yet to be completely ruined and you will be able to do the math to help them. Just a thought. Worth what you paid for it.

Posted by: to busy to be bored at January 31, 2014 02:38 PM (x8Wor)

236 A lot of the times it's a "Judo Club", which means you get to be a practice dummy for the black belts. Yeah been there done that. I'm too old for that shit.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 02:38 PM (FDyew)

237 These days leadership has been thrust upon me. Oddly, no matter how much I tell my subordinates to fuck off and get back to work, they love me for the abuse.

It's true; all great leaders are born.

Posted by: Fritz at January 31, 2014 02:38 PM (UzPAd)

238 you also sweat like a pig with all of that cloth 'armor' you have to wear, and the facemask.

Posted by: chemjeff @ Fapplebee's at January 31, 2014 02:38 PM (cnS/d)

239 A man can learn a lot fly fishing IronGramps.

Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 02:39 PM (2ohgR)

240 That really wasn't bad evil villain advice, just a carryover from the bad parachuting day thread.

Posted by: troyriser at January 31, 2014 02:39 PM (V9ol4)

241
Fencing, huh? Haven't seen any ads, print or other wise around here for that but you never know.

Posted by: Seems legit at January 31, 2014 06:37 PM (A98Xu)

There are fencing clubs in most big cities.

Posted by: think at January 31, 2014 02:40 PM (OroYa)

242 I also have a gap in my literary knowledge: Dickens. I'm going to bite the bullet on that, too. Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 31, 2014 06:36 PM (sZu62) Start with Oliver Twist mainly because it's iconic and...short. Then try The Pickwick Papers. It's hilarious and there's a section on elections that will have you dying with laughter.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at January 31, 2014 02:40 PM (oFCZn)

243 Dude was translating French newspaper articles in like, waht, two weeks after he started learning French? And he's not satisfied with his progress? I still can't get my outrahjus Franch ahhksent quite right after years of practice.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at January 31, 2014 02:40 PM (fT3qO)

244 >>>Watch French movies in French subtitled in French. (Seriously, it will help) no shit i know. I'm always looking for that. That is the holy grail. However, most are subtitled in english. Further, in some cases, the french subtitle track is based on the ENGLISH script and not the words of the actual french script. This is the case with, for example, the Indiana Jones movies. I have a french dialogue track and french subtitles... but they are very different. Virtually useless for these purposes.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:40 PM (/FnUH)

245 Judo is great but a technique for 'close quarters' is way more street practical. But Judo is a wonderful art to learn about leverage and using your opponents weight and movements against them.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 02:40 PM (FDyew)

246 I love to fly. Have a license even. Haven't been in many years. Working on a project of a plane I bought to get back into it.

Also I brew beer. I've got the idea to move into bottles, I was solely cask ale. Well I didn't have the bottles. Now I do, though I still need to empty some of them *burp*

I'm getting confirmed (Catholic) this Saturday. After months of classes and devotion.

I study philosophy and other humanities from courses I bought from "The Great Courses" while I commute.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at January 31, 2014 02:41 PM (0q2P7)

247 One more: There is a monstrously good read about the death of the Liberal Party in Britain called The Strange Death of Liberal England. We need to by a couple of gross and send to the Republican congressional delegation.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 31, 2014 02:41 PM (sZu62)

248 Fencing ? It would be like most morons sex lives , short , violent and mostly unfulfilled thrusting .

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at January 31, 2014 02:41 PM (XWw96)

249 I guess I'm kinda good at fixing stuff. Like the kids' Wii, the wife's van, industrial electronic stuff at work, etc... It definitely gives me a sense of accomplishment. And it has real value in the money I save. A lot of it is not that hard to do, either. Youtube is an incredible resource for DIY repairs.

Posted by: Chris M at January 31, 2014 02:41 PM (k3w9p)

250 >>>Dude was translating French newspaper articles in like, waht, two weeks after he started learning French? no no no. I began the Thanksgiving before the last one. This is year two.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:41 PM (/FnUH)

251 So I guess it hasn't clouded up yet like it has in OKC. Don't worry it's coming. Predictions of daily snowfall for four days starting Sunday. This is the first decent day this week. I cancelled my afternoon to get out here before it starts raining. Sunny and 75 -right now. Like the song!

Posted by: DrC at January 31, 2014 02:41 PM (GufPw)

252 I'm getting confirmed (Catholic) this Saturday. After months of classes and devotion.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at January 31, 2014 06:41 PM (0q2P7)

==================

Congratulations to you!

Posted by: grammie winger at January 31, 2014 02:41 PM (P6QsQ)

253 Ace,

If you are interested in fencing, then check out some of the HEMA stuff. Depending on where you are there might be a group nearby.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at January 31, 2014 02:42 PM (lr3d7)

254 I baked a lot in December, but got grumpy that my family didn't appreciate it very much. Also, I "tasted" so much that the gluten really got to me. But it's a good hobby and I want to get back to it. Gonna get back to bread making this weekend and go from there.

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 02:42 PM (SUKHu)

255 I used to shoot a lot when I lived in CA. I worked just a few minutes from my club, and could go any time I wanted.

But here in NJ, it is much more difficult, so I rarely shoot.

But shooting is a huge amount of fun, is both physically and intellectually satisfying, and is a great pressure relief, so I recently decided to do whatever it takes to get back to shooting regularly.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 31, 2014 02:42 PM (QFxY5)

256 can you set aside one three hour block a week?

--

I'm working on it, but it's harder than I want it to be. Home business, teenager, stuff. Oh, and an interested Mr. Black would help. Maybe if we could learn to ballroom dance to Rock You Like a Hurricane, he'd go.

Posted by: Lady in Black at January 31, 2014 02:42 PM (Oa7B2)

257 >>>Have you considered curling? nah that's Andy Levy's bag.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:42 PM (/FnUH)

258

This is just a little thing I have always been interested in but haven't done for a while - go canaling. I mean in a small rented you-drive boat. Did it 30 years ago in England on one of the few canal navigable at that time, the Oxford, and the river Thames. Then did it again in 2001 on the Mayenne river in western France - totally different experience in the details, but much the same. Itching to have a go again. Gotta run now, but I'll be happy to write more later - you should make ideas for having fun a regular feature - we could all use it!

If morons want to learn more about canaling give me a shout and I'll do a core dump.

Posted by: Ray Van Dune at January 31, 2014 02:42 PM (BKPeM)

259 I also dabbled in ballroom dancing. Yep. You heard right.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 02:42 PM (FDyew)

260 Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 06:40 PM (/FnUH) Le Lighthouse?

Posted by: Le George at January 31, 2014 02:42 PM (2ohgR)

261 At 45 I stopped practicing law full time. Land use/landlord-tenant law in S.F. is a miserable place to live, and since I have no wife/kids or on-going obligations other than a manageable mortgage, I went to part time to try to do what I've always wanted to do: write songs and be in a band. So, I have been learning keyboards (and my German skills have fallen into disuse) and writing lyrics to (mostly) traditional dance melodies. You can hear one here: https://soundcloud.com/bloodpudding/lullabye-3 The point is, I didn't want to see the years slough off until I was an old man whose tombstone will say: He was a good lawyer. That motivates me.

Posted by: SFGoth at January 31, 2014 02:42 PM (CyDmM)

262 >>>A few weeks ago I wrote about the depression that comes with the fading sun. The solstice was over a month ago. The days have been getting longer ever since.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at January 31, 2014 02:43 PM (V4CBV)

263 >>>I'm working on it, but it's harder than I want it to be. Home business, teenager, stuff. Oh, and an interested Mr. Black would help. Maybe if we could learn to ballroom dance to Rock You Like a Hurricane, he'd go. virtually everything can be learned, at least in the basic first stages, via DVD video and internet.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:43 PM (/FnUH)

264 Unfortunately for me I've got way more hobbies and interests than I have time for. But if you're looking for something, I'd suggest going with something counter to what you do all day.

So if your job is more physical, then find an intellectual-type hobby you enjoy. And likewise if your work is mostly mental, then find something that's physical. For me my newest hobbies have been building guns with my milling machine and getting back into ham radio.

Posted by: Mætenloch at January 31, 2014 02:43 PM (pAlYe)

265 I was gonna suggest you're better off with ballroom dancing lessons instead of fencing.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 02:43 PM (FDyew)

266 @ 239

True that, Garrett.

Humility is right up there.

Posted by: irongrampa at January 31, 2014 02:43 PM (SAMxH)

267 the morality of WASTING PRECIOUS TIME. ----- wasted time is probably my biggest hang-up. The internet....it calls to me. TV-watching really doesn't get me too bad because the end credits roll. There's a time limit built in. With the interwebz, I can hop around from this site to that one for hours, mindlessly reading about other people doing things, smugly judging them, and then even convince myself I'm doing something productive---I'm "learning", or "getting ideas" (from Pinterest, which is probably diabolical).

Posted by: Jenny Hates Her Phone at January 31, 2014 02:44 PM (GmTxn)

268 Consider learning to play a musical instrument?

Posted by: MikeH at January 31, 2014 02:44 PM (bRL1M)

269 I did something new...got all my teeth pulled and am trying out Dentures. This will keep me busy relearning to talk. (They say talking with new dentures is like talking with a shoe in your mouth and they were right.)

Posted by: Intrasigent Bastard at January 31, 2014 06:38 PM (R5lpX)

------------------------------------------------

You're doing very well. I understood everything you just said.

Posted by: Soona at January 31, 2014 02:44 PM (BkpOh)

270 I'm working on learning how to make artisan bread from scratch (hint: it requires this funny thing called a sponge)

I've got my late hunting season to attend to.

I still play competitive team video games like Eve, and Dust 514.

I'm studying the game of chess so I can beat my wife and a good friend who play well.

I've got other projects but they are back burnered.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at January 31, 2014 02:44 PM (0q2P7)

271

I'm also thinking about a martial art. I have a hip that can kind of bother me at times, anyone have any good ideas about which martial art is good for a middle aged person?

Posted by: Seems legit at January 31, 2014 06:29 PM (A98Xu)

Krav Maga. Tends to focus on straight-line attacks, just raw power applied as quickly and violently as possible.

Posted by: Conservative Crank at January 31, 2014 02:44 PM (sQ0LB)

272

LFW: It was called the Second World War, no?

Problem is I just read a six volume biography of WSC, that, and I'm not shitting you, spent roughly 500 pages in one volume on the relative strength of the German and English air forces heading into WWII.

Plus I'm now reading another 5 volume biography of an author that is more fucking postgraduate literary study than story. I'm ACHING to read some dummy history for awhile, LOL. But I did love learning about WSC.

Here's a question, where does the term "tank" come from?

Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 02:44 PM (tVTLU)

273 Watch French movies in French subtitled in French. (Seriously, it will help) Posted by: votermom at January 31, 2014 06:38 PM (GSIDW) Look for the films of Jean Rollin. Trash filmmaker who made tons of horror and soft porn movies in the 1970s and onwards. Lots of nekkid 70s chicks and the French is fairly basic and spoken slowly enough that you can understand what they're saying.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at January 31, 2014 02:44 PM (oFCZn)

274 My wish has always been to take classes in ballroom dancing.

Mrs. Cicero started taking salsa lessons by herself when I was tied up in a long trial. She was in her second month by the time I finished to I had no real choice but to get into it myself or risk losing her to a pastime of her own.

We soon switched to West Coast Swing and have been working on it for three years now. To my surprise, I love it. We go dancing a couple nights a week now.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at January 31, 2014 02:44 PM (8ZskC)

275 >>>Congratulations to you!

Thanks!

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at January 31, 2014 02:44 PM (0q2P7)

276 35 years ago I used to do a lot of photography. Film burning cameras like the Olympus OM-1.

Recently I decided to get back into nature photography and bought a digital SLR. I am 68 and retired now and have found photography forces me to really see, not just look, at what is around me.

Modern digital cameras with the ability to just shoot and shoot are wonderful. No way I could ever have afforded the film and film processing of 50 or 60 pictures in a day.

Now, if anyone wants 8,231 pictures of my cat........

Posted by: Anchovy at January 31, 2014 02:44 PM (MNxW+)

277 >>A man can learn a lot fly fishing IronGramps. You'd like this. A couple years ago I went fishing for piranha. Not much to it really. You take a piece of cane with about 6 feet of fishing line on it and a hook. No reel. Stick a chunk of meat on the end, we were using pork, drop the hook in the water and use the tip of the pole to beat the water. The piranha just attack, you can often get two with one hook. The hard part is getting them off the hook.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 31, 2014 02:44 PM (g1DWB)

278 Gardening and watching birds does a soul well.

Ah, thanks for reminding me...I gotta get some bird food on the way home tonight. Hours of entertainment (far too often in the morning, when I should be at work, but I'm drinking coffee and watching the birdfeeder). I need to start writing down the different kinds of birds...

Posted by: HR at January 31, 2014 02:44 PM (ZKzrr)

279 Self-improvement doesn't have to be a long term commitment. A lot of arts and crafts stuff will do weekend courses. Last summer I took a three day blacksmithing course and loved it, and plan to take the next course sometime this year.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at January 31, 2014 02:44 PM (lr3d7)

280 This is Ace's "TED Talks" post.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at January 31, 2014 02:45 PM (V4CBV)

281 222 Oh, that sounds fantastic. I may have to put that on my run wish list.

Posted by: no good deed at January 31, 2014 02:45 PM (vBhbc)

282 Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 06:37 PM (/FnUH)

I was very involved in martial arts for a long time, and one of the things we did was kendo, which is sword fighting with wooden/bamboo swords (and a lot of rules).

I was in good shape, but it kicked my ass.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 31, 2014 02:45 PM (QFxY5)

283

One more: There is a monstrously good read about the death of the Liberal Party in Britain called The Strange Death of Liberal England. We need to by a couple of gross and send to the Republican congressional delegation.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 31, 2014 06:41 PM (sZu62)

They already have that playbook and are (incompetently) implementing it. The subtitle is "Or How The Tories Became Liberals".

Posted by: steveegg at January 31, 2014 02:45 PM (o44nj)

284 The solstice was over a month ago. The days have been getting longer ever since.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at January 31, 2014 06:43 PM (V4CBV)

-------------------------------------------------

Yyyyeeeeeeessssss!

Posted by: Soona at January 31, 2014 02:45 PM (BkpOh)

285 Yes, working on something is the best. I'm currently back to writing novels and cranking out a new one I'm pleased with so far. Very high concept, so you know that's both good and bad. I hope to have it finished a ready to go this summer. I had to stop writing novels for awhile( work, etc) but had to write something so Ace was the inspiration for my crapblog. Though I had some 3000 hit days, it was mostly 100-300 when I was really working at it regularly. I never was able to get over that hump to make it pay or feel like I was influencing people. And got bored with it. I may go back to it occasionally and review stuff. so, gotta give you props Ace. Exercise is also good.

Posted by: naturalfake at January 31, 2014 02:45 PM (0cMkb)

286 The kids have muttered about trying fencing. Sat. morning class might not be a bad thing. But...an archery store and range opened up in town. They have classes. Oh, and the girl and I finally got a new sewing machine, so I have aspirations of being able to make stuff. I hope it's not too hard...

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 02:45 PM (SUKHu)

287 I've been learning to "clinch" at just the right time while Reggie is giving me the old in and out.

Posted by: Obamao the Magnificent and Most Merciful at January 31, 2014 02:46 PM (GgPam)

288 Archery - it's always been a passing interest, but I think I'm better with rifles, pistols and shotgun. Last week, I indulged my Christmas mad money in buying a correctly fitted bow and then spent two days on the range getting instruction and critiques. My boys already have practice bags in the backyard. Since I work from home, when I take a break, I grab my bow and take about 10 minutes of practice rounds in the fresh air. Seems to be working pretty well on the doldrums of winter.

Posted by: 2nd Amendment Mother at January 31, 2014 02:46 PM (L4CWX)

289 I walk about 5 miles everyday, no matter what the weather. The best part of each day is when I prepare our dinners while listening to music and drinking wine. I am pickler and make all sorts of interesting and tasty pickles and chutneys. I sho0t targets in the basement with my pellet gun at least twice a week. I live free in rural Iowa. Life is good.

Posted by: Angel with a sword at January 31, 2014 02:46 PM (hpgw1)

290 Lady in Black, would the hubs do West Coast Swing or the Houston Whip? That would work with rock music. Some of those couples I see at the clubs don't look like they could dance a lick yet they are wicked good.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at January 31, 2014 02:46 PM (Tj7eb)

291 "I'm looking for fun, happy things and I'm not finding them."

Pete Seeger's dead.

Posted by: Randall Hoven at January 31, 2014 02:46 PM (zgEOB)

292 I studied kung full for a while, but I failed the pebble snatching final.

Posted by: --- at January 31, 2014 02:46 PM (ksJYU)

293 Now, if anyone wants 8,231 pictures of my cat........

Posted by: Anchovy at January 31, 2014 06:44 PM (MNxW+)

Thank you for that laugh!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 31, 2014 02:46 PM (QFxY5)

294 >>>Consider learning to play a musical instrument?

Yeah actually, I bought Rocksmith to see if I couldn't get interested in my guitar again.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at January 31, 2014 02:46 PM (0q2P7)

295 I baked a lot in December, but got grumpy that my family didn't appreciate it very much. Also, I "tasted" so much that the gluten really got to me. But it's a good hobby and I want to get back to it. Gonna get back to bread making this weekend and go from there. Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 06:42 PM (SUKHu) I have a question for you. I bake as well, mostly desserts, but I was interested in trying bread making. Do you use a bread machine or a stand mixer. I have been on King Arthur's Flour website looking for ideas, and they seem to prefer using the stand mixer to make and knead the dough. Any advice would help.

Posted by: I Be That Chick at January 31, 2014 02:46 PM (McA1b)

296 Humility is right up there. I tie that on anything from a #8 - #22.

Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 02:47 PM (2ohgR)

297 Over the last 15 years, I've had to re-arrange my attitude due to being diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in my leg, then a "silent" heart attack, then bladder cancer.

Heart attack was supposed to have killed me, and they gave me a less than even chance with the bladder cancer.

About the time I revised my priorities and was ready to continue persevering, the economy crashed and we elected Barack Obama as our savior.

I'd just turned 60, of course, and my company decided to consolidate all operations in California. So I contracted for 3 years as much as I could.

People tell me I was getting noticeably depressed.

So I retired early, and took up square foot gardening. I start my own seeds, and put up more vegetables than I can consume in a year.
Then my dog died.
So I decided the only reasonable answer to that was to get a dog similar to what I had when I was a kid, and train it to be as good as that dog was -- winner of 3 obedience competitions, and the best hunting dog I ever had.

I've decided to outlive the puppy. I'll be 80, hopefully. I've discovered that I forgot pretty much everything about how to be a "dog whisperer". I'm in the process of changing that.

Virtually useless set of new skills, maybe, but zero depression, I wake up happy, and my interpersonal skills are improving. And I'm going backpacking with the dog this summer in the mountains. New goal is to actually out-fish my wife :-)

Posted by: jwb7605 [/i][/u][/s][/b] at January 31, 2014 02:47 PM (ZALPg)

298 "I'm studying the game of chess so I can beat my wife and a good friend who play well." I'm still bummed we lost the chess thread.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at January 31, 2014 02:47 PM (fT3qO)

299 I've recently decided that I want to get back into computers. Built my first years ago but got out of it. Was hearing that "Coding" is a good route to take as far as a career. Anybody in the industry that can give a little push in a direction? Something I can learn and turn into a career? Java etc?

Posted by: Scottye_fl at January 31, 2014 02:47 PM (PLFGk)

300 Nice post, Ace. Perfect timing for me, being in stasis myself and working for someone who becomes a bigger dick with every passing day. Sometimes life is hard. Then it gets worse. Oh, well, you see where I'm at!

What I really wanted to say was: Je t'aime! Et merci!

xoxo,

your friend peaches

Posted by: Peaches at January 31, 2014 02:47 PM (8lmkt)

301

I'm also thinking about a martial art. I have a hip that can kind of bother me at times, anyone have any good ideas about which martial art is good for a middle aged person?
Posted by: Seems legit at January 31, 2014 06:29 PM (A98Xu)

Tai Chi. I learned the forms from a Kempo sensei many years ago, thought it was too much dance, not enough fight. I was wrong. The 'Grasping at Clouds' movement is one of the best blocks I've ever learned. Ever.

And you don't spend days recovering from injuries sustained doing it.

Posted by: troyriser at January 31, 2014 02:47 PM (V9ol4)

302 I'm going tanning and she's going golfing!

Posted by: Boehner and Barack at January 31, 2014 02:47 PM (yZMgy)

303 Well I didn't have the bottles. Now I do, though I still need to empty some of them *burp*

I'm really good at that if you want some help. O_o

Posted by: HR at January 31, 2014 02:47 PM (ZKzrr)

304 Started taking Voice Lessons

Posted by: xanderphife at January 31, 2014 02:47 PM (3ePq6)

305 It's nice to get outside, go to the mountains and go for a walk around a national park. Obviously experience determines a lot of where you should go but there's probably nice and easy parks around.

Posted by: Adam at January 31, 2014 02:47 PM (Aif/5)

306 I love ballroom dancing when I can find the time and a decent group. The crowd tends to be a cross section of ages/demographics. Argentine tango is another one that is great, and the crowd is a little older: mostly professionals in their 40s-50s. Swing draws in the 20-30s crowd, and a lot of engineers and scientists.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at January 31, 2014 02:48 PM (lr3d7)

307 I'm thinking about rebuilding a misfiring robot.

Posted by: al zimer at January 31, 2014 02:48 PM (ScUhd)

308 >>Consider learning to play a musical instrument? Can anybody here tell me... Are cheap pianos hard on the ears? Or can I get one that sounds decent for not too much? And what is "cheap" for pianos anyway?

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 02:48 PM (SUKHu)

309

Hurricane;

Not a lobby, but an ad firm. Simple truth, the dem attack machine fucking works. Why does it work, b/c it gets ENDLESS repitition in media.

Why will our program work? Because it's true.

One idea of a commercial is simply walking thru a war zone in Detroit on a Friday night, first of the month. Film it. And then point out that this precinct voted 100% democratic. Avoid this misery, Vote Republican.

Why run from the fucking truth??

Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 02:48 PM (tVTLU)

310 Next time you feel like watching the television bring up youtube and learn how to do something by watching someone do it...and then try it yourself. *** That's a great idea.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 02:49 PM (DmNpO)

311 Fencing will fucking kill you at first. Once you develop Quads of Steel, it becomes on7e of the most enjoyable ways of getting a workout ever.

Posted by: Sharkman at January 31, 2014 02:49 PM (2jjN8)

312 What are "close quarters" martial arts? I like the idea of Judo. I want something I could actually use in a self defense way.

Posted by: Seems legit at January 31, 2014 02:49 PM (A98Xu)

313 A man can learn a lot fly fishing IronGramps. [/] Got my passion for the sport back a few years ago . Kids got old enough that I could travel , went and fished the flats . I'm hooked . For life .

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at January 31, 2014 02:49 PM (XWw96)

314 Uh oh

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at January 31, 2014 02:49 PM (XWw96)

315 Fencing is great---My brothers and I actually took fencing for three years when I was a kid. We were all really horrible at a lot of other sports but somehow pretty decent fencers. Brother did the whole Junior Olympics thing and had a blast.

Posted by: Jenny Hates Her Phone at January 31, 2014 02:50 PM (GmTxn)

316 And of course I have my longtime (practically) part time job: weight training, to which I'm about to commence forthwith. Tonight: Legs.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 02:50 PM (FDyew)

317 ....girls with primitive Texas accents.

Posted by: Soona at January 31, 2014 06:26 PM (BkpOh)

And Ewoks in 5-gallon hats.

Posted by: flounder at January 31, 2014 02:50 PM (Kkt/i)

318 re: fencing--it is not a sport for someone with a bum wheel. The base stance is a crouch that will reduce your quads to quivering jell-o in about a minute unless you tone those puppies up but good.

Posted by: Conservative Crank at January 31, 2014 02:50 PM (sQ0LB)

319 Seems legit, check out Wing Chun. It's pretty much designed for self defense.

Posted by: Lauren at January 31, 2014 02:50 PM (hFL/3)

320 Who closed dat ?

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at January 31, 2014 02:50 PM (XWw96)

321 This may be a sign that I lead a very dull life.

But my work just bought an Ion Chromatography machine that I now get to learn how to run. So far I've glossed over the theory part so I can tell the difference between good and bad results. Next you tube stuff and time with the machine. Eventually more formal training. Should be interesting and at the very least it looks like a challenge (well at least to be truly proficient)

Posted by: The Hickster at January 31, 2014 02:50 PM (TI3xG)

322 295 >>>Consider learning to play a musical instrument? Yeah actually, I bought Rocksmith to see if I couldn't get interested in my guitar again. Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at January 31, 2014 06:46 PM (0q2P7) I learned mandolin after playing guitar for a long time with no progress. Mandolin is a more logical instrument. Tuned in fifths, most forms are movable... very cool instrument

Posted by: MikeH at January 31, 2014 02:50 PM (bRL1M)

323 Painting is going to be the next thing I take up. I find myself watching Bob Ross videos no longer just for the soothing voice and epic hair.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at January 31, 2014 02:51 PM (fT3qO)

324 The solstice was over a month ago. The days have been getting longer ever since. Posted by: Dr. Varno at January 31, 2014 06:43 PM (V4CBV) ------------------------------------------------- Yyyyeeeeeeessssss! Posted by: Soona About a minute a day.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 31, 2014 02:51 PM (cUARf)

325 Any advice would help.

Posted by: I Be That Chick at January 31, 2014 06:46 PM (McA1b)

The biggest KitchenAid you can afford.

They are amazing.

I have had mine since about 1994, and it is still plugging away.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 31, 2014 02:51 PM (QFxY5)

326

Btw folks, if you want to do one thing to educate yrself about the horrors of big government and business all trying to smash one doctor who was trying to cure incurable cancer for children ---

Watch BRZEZYNSKI. Literally the best documentary film I have ever seen.

Not just the topic, but incredibly well put together. This man was curing incurable cancer at an incredible rate.

Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 02:51 PM (tVTLU)

327 Joe Tenebris,
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm hoping to keep my shoulder in it's socket, my shoes on and get one of those orange head bands. And not die.

Posted by: A sadomasochist not named John Boehner at January 31, 2014 02:51 PM (yZMgy)

328 went and fished the flats . I'm hooked . For life . Capt. Adam DeBruin - Redhook Fishing - Key Largo.

Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 02:51 PM (2ohgR)

329
congrats moose.

And seriously, curling is one of the things I would love to do, like a bowling night type of thing.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at January 31, 2014 02:51 PM (n0DEs)

330 Having kids keeps one busy. Always have to find new ways to keep them entertained and teach them something at the same time.

Posted by: CDR M at January 31, 2014 02:52 PM (LsJl8)

331 Cryptography. Actually cryptoanalysis.

Posted by: Lee T. at January 31, 2014 02:52 PM (wnZOB)

332 I learned the forms from a Kempo sensei many years ago, thought it was too much dance, not enough fight. I was wrong. The 'Grasping at Clouds' movement is one of the best blocks I've ever learned. Ever. And you don't spend days recovering from injuries sustained doing it. Posted by: troyriser at January 31, 2014 06:47 PM (V9ol4) Excellent, thank you. I always though Tai Chi was a little meh, but you make a good point on the throw motion and not being injuredÂ…which I'm not interested in.

Posted by: Seems legit at January 31, 2014 02:52 PM (A98Xu)

333 I made this movie over the last couple of years (link in name). A lot of work, but worth the effort. Just finished it recently and have begun promo efforts. Also, agree with the vitamin D from above.

Posted by: John Gibson at January 31, 2014 02:52 PM (TFw9A)

334 Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 31, 2014 06:51 PM (QFxY5) WANT. Sadly though I don't have the counter space. Damned coffee and tea addiction taking up my counter.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 31, 2014 02:53 PM (GaqMa)

335 Close quarters fighting is short strikes and short kicks and ground work if necessary.. Karate, for example, is not close quarters.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 02:53 PM (FDyew)

336 I'm doing the same thing Ace is doing, though I made the decision back in September. I'd been house-sitting for a friend who has a Martin acoustic guitar, and I decided to pick it up and play it.

Now, playing guitar isn't exactly "new" to me; I've plucked around on them for years, and at one point even bought one. But, I had a wreck some years back that crushed my wrist and left me without the range of motion to even grasp the neck. But, over time, I'd used my left hand enough to actually break it free enough to actually strum some of the chords I'd learned years ago.

I'd already given my old guitar away to an uncle of mine, so I hadn't picked up a guitar for years, until I started strumming on that Martin. It felt so great (even though it hurt like hell) to be able to play again that I resolved to get my own guitar.

Well, since then, I have -- and then some. (In fact, I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of BignJames's '72 Fender Telecaster Thinline Re-issue as I type this). And I'm playing better now -- much, much better -- than I ever did before. I absolutely love it.

As of now, my goal is to do a performance at a small local variety show that's held around Halloween every year, where I plan to play and sing a couple of songs in front of 100-150 people. If I can pull that off without completely embarrassing myself, I'm going to look into joining up with a weekend-warrior-type garage/dive bar band.

The crazy thing is, it wasn't long ago that you couldn't have gotten me to sing in front of anyone at gunpoint. So, really, this is a fairly big deal for me, and I can't wait for that sink-or-swim moment.

Posted by: DamnDirtyRINO at January 31, 2014 02:53 PM (m0h0I)

337 In celebration, nuzzle up to your USB port. Some Glenlivet 18 y/o SMS is coming your way. Cheers!

Posted by: OG Celtic-American at January 31, 2014 02:53 PM (vHRtU)

338 I think my Kitchen Aid is from 1976 or so. Still kicking.

Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 02:54 PM (2ohgR)

339 Wing Chung? Googling now. Thanks.

Posted by: Seems legit at January 31, 2014 02:54 PM (A98Xu)

340 >>Capt. Adam DeBruin - Redhook Fishing - Key Largo. I'm taking that. Renting a house in Marathon for a week in exactly one month. We're dragging my buddies boat so we can fish every day but I'd like to give fly fishing a try if we have time.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 31, 2014 02:54 PM (g1DWB)

341 Anybody in the industry that can give a little push in a direction? Something I can learn and turn into a career? Java etc?
Posted by: Scottye_fl at January 31, 2014 06:47 PM (PLFGk)

From personal experience, if you learn electronics and learn how to control electronics with a microprocessor, jobs are always looking for you.

Posted by: jwb7605 [/i][/u][/s][/b] at January 31, 2014 02:54 PM (ZALPg)

342 if anyone has any desire to learn a language, you'd be shocked at how much is now available to you via the internet. First there are lots of free courses -- the Coffee Break series, for example (which I started on), has lessons in italian, spanish, german, and french all 15-20 minutes long (the duration of a coffee break). Then there are lots of free resources. Most of these want you to upgrade by spending money. Well, the cost isnt' high, and if don't want to pay it, they offer a lot of free stuff. Then there are all the world's newspapers, mostly free. My twitter feed is about 1/3rd french feeds just so I can keep in frequent contact with the language, you know, so I do little each day. You can do that with any language, obviously. YouTubers steal/post lots of tv shows from around the world so you can watch those.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 02:54 PM (/FnUH)

343 In the past year I have run a 10K, a 10 miler, 6 half marathons, and a marathon. Posted by: Dave in Fla Congratulations. Seriously. Nothing like movement! So, will you change your handle to Flash in Fla? Reading on, many other inspiring stories & thoughts. For me, anyway, dunno 'bout Ace.

You attract like-minded people. And such people have an incredible background and range of skills and experiences. Posted by: prescient11 Ain't that the truth! Milady W & I are constantly amazed at the knowledge here, posts and comments. A touch of wisdom, too, now and then.

NDH: great! Imagine many similar replies. Only just got caught up to my own #88, so I'll send this. Inspiring thread!

Posted by: mindful webworker - marathon sitter at January 31, 2014 02:54 PM (U13jb)

344 160 Oh, I'm also always learning to be a better cook. That's something I really recommend because the benefits are immediate (mmm, food) and pretty satisfying (mmm, food). Yeah, you'll have misses too, but it's such a useful skill to have and I think it's pretty enjoyable too.

Posted by: Lauren at January 31, 2014 06:28 PM (hFL/3)

I'd also like to expand my cooking skills. I love fresh bread, so I want to come up with 3 or 4 good varieties and master them. I am too impatient, though.

Posted by: flounder at January 31, 2014 02:54 PM (Kkt/i)

345 Great topic, Ace. My kids are in French Immersion, so I'm getting a kick out of pronouncing things incorrectly and having them correct me.

I've also started doing more gaming writing again. Nothing big, but it is something I've always liked since I was a kid, so I figured I might as well try to get some of that back. And it's fun. Better than wasting a few hours on the latest video game of the week.

Posted by: grognard at January 31, 2014 02:54 PM (Be2Wn)

346 Tai Chi has sword forms too (since people mentioned fencing)

Posted by: votermom at January 31, 2014 02:55 PM (GSIDW)

347 if you're bored Ace, you should read this post, wherein the author complains about her blog getting lots of hits & comments.

http://witchwind.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/ in-retrospect-to-the-85000-reformism-and-other-things/

pure moonbat gold (take the space out before "in")

Posted by: redc1c4 at January 31, 2014 02:55 PM (q+fqH)

348 I'm really glad someone brought up fencing. I haven't thought about it in decades, since I was about 12 and had to quit, but now I think I may look into starting up again.

Posted by: Jenny Hates Her Phone, but Loves This Thread at January 31, 2014 02:55 PM (GmTxn)

349 Swimming really helps your back. And it fools you into thinking it's summer.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at January 31, 2014 02:55 PM (pginn)

350 Wing Chun is Bruce Lee, right? Yeah he perfected the one inch strike. Amazing, really. I gotta go; my preworkout cocktail is wearing off..

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 02:55 PM (FDyew)

351 I started doing family history research a few years ago, picking up where my mother stopped several decades ago. It's amazing how many records are available on the internet. It's so cool seeing the actual records online - everything from census records to passport applications (did you know that before photography was cheap, passports used to include a physical description of the applicant for identification?), marriage registry, death certificates, etc. One thing I like about genealogy is that you realize you're just one link in a long chain. It definitely helps keep things in perspective. Also, you realize how hard people worked in previous generations. There's nothing like looking at a census page and seeing how many people were farmers, sailors, teamsters, grocers, etc to realize that we've become very soft in the last 50 years or so. I'm a volunteer usher at the Shakespeare Theatre. That's not a big time commitment, but I always wanted to be someone who went to the theater, and now I am. I've been ushering for over twelve years, and it's nice to see the same actors in different plays. I need to make an effort to brush up on my French and Italian. I have several books in French or Italian. Now I just need to read them.

Posted by: biancaneve at January 31, 2014 02:55 PM (2sR50)

352 Forgot link to my movie, Curtis & Dave Are Dead, must need more vitamin D. http://tinyurl.com/nq6v9dc

Posted by: John Gibson at January 31, 2014 02:55 PM (TFw9A)

353 342 Anybody in the industry that can give a little push in a direction? Something I can learn and turn into a career? Java etc? Posted by: Scottye_fl at January 31, 2014 06:47 PM (PLFGk) From personal experience, if you learn electronics and learn how to control electronics with a microprocessor, jobs are always looking for you. Posted by: jwb7605 at January 31, 2014 06:54 PM (ZALPg) Computer Engineer and IT, two best fields right now

Posted by: MikeH at January 31, 2014 02:55 PM (bRL1M)

354 You guys do a lot of really cool stuff. I only cross stitch, needlepoint and quilt. I used to bowl until I sucked, then I stopped because sucking isn't fun. Oh and I work two jobs and hoping I get to keep the main one, it's not looking too good.

Posted by: Jaimo at January 31, 2014 02:55 PM (nFmZ1)

355 >>Do you use a bread machine or a stand mixer We have a bread machine, but my husband uses it. Back in the day, I started off with no mixer, which means some hard work, but kneading bread is a very very good way to burn off some anger, aggression, etc. and calm oneself down. Now I have a Kitchen Aide stand mixer and that makes it easier. I'd recommend the bread cookbook I've had since it was first published: The Sunset Bread Cookbook (1984), available on Amazon. Be sure to search with Ace's search box so that he gets some of the--oh, it's available for a penny plus shipping.

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 02:55 PM (SUKHu)

356 337

That is way cool, DDR, good for you!

Posted by: Peaches at January 31, 2014 02:55 PM (8lmkt)

357 Not just the topic, but incredibly well put together. This man was curing incurable cancer at an incredible rate. Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 06:51 PM (tVTLU) No. He wasn't. That's a lie he's telling you. In fact he's killed several people. He was a top flight con man with a pseudo-science behind him. The book on him, also bullshit. Trust me I wrote the other book. (that's a bit of an exaggeration, but the point remains, I've read more about this guy than 99% of the world.) FWIW, he's also a litigious bastard, ask Ken @Popehat.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 31, 2014 02:55 PM (GaqMa)

358 The biggest KitchenAid you can afford. They are amazing. I have had mine since about 1994, and it is still plugging away. Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 31, 2014 06:51 PM (QFxY5) Thanks! I have had mine since 2000 and have been eyeballing the 7 Qt Bowl Lift Stand Mixer, but can't fathom spending $650.00 just yet.

Posted by: I Be That Chick at January 31, 2014 02:55 PM (McA1b)

359 Learning computer programming, intend to develop the ability to make basic, retro computer games and sell them cheaply on Steam and/or the Android Market. A buck a copy, a buck here, a buck there, tens of thousands of copies sold, and that's easily a supplemental income, if not a full-time self employment.

Posted by: Cato at January 31, 2014 02:56 PM (i+Vw2)

360 I signed up at the Khan Academy and i'm going to review everything, especially computer programing.

Posted by: CDR M at January 31, 2014 02:56 PM (LsJl8)

361 Posted by: JackStraw at January 31, 2014 06:54 PM (g1DWB) Do. Adam is a hell of guide and fisherman. He's not a fly-snob, either. Guy just lives to catch fish.

Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 02:56 PM (2ohgR)

362 Bonhomme @41: Classes nine to five plus labs, homework, reading just aren't enough to stave off boredom. So I signed up for a free online course in Computer Science, Harvard's CS50x. Undergrads finish it in 14 weeks, get course credits and pay $$$$. Online students get a certificate, the same lectures and labs, study materials, free ebooks and software and a year to complete. Morons, join me! https://courses.edx.org/courses/HarvardX/CS50x/2014_T1/info My term project is to clean up the metadata for my video collection and generate a tablet-readable catalog. So querying online databases, XML and rendering browser pages, hopefully attractive. So touching most of the bases you are. I have lots of math, but zero programming or grounding in CS fundamentals. Most of my classmates are the same.

Posted by: Little Miss Spellcheck at January 31, 2014 02:56 PM (a5ljo)

363

Ace,

On the foreign language thing though, does that work. 15-30 minutes a day or something? Even that sometimes I can't spare. I admire very much those who learn another language.

But admit it, you picked French for the broads and the assumed superiority complex right?

Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 02:56 PM (tVTLU)

364 Yoga.

I don't mean general fitness, gym-class yoga. I mean learn-the-names-of-the poses-let's-DO-this-shit yoga. Started doing it to increase my flexibility and now it's become A Thing.

Learning the poses is like learning a new language-- of the body. It's very much a sport in that I'm challenged every day to go farther. I can measure my progress. It also makes me calmer.

Yoga you guys, serious you guys.

Posted by: Filly at January 31, 2014 02:57 PM (gr/p1)

365 I also intend to get a smoker and develop my skills in that regard.

Posted by: CDR M at January 31, 2014 02:57 PM (LsJl8)

366 if anyone has any desire to learn a language, you'd be shocked at how much is now available to you via the internet. .... *** I have always wanted to learn Italian. The Coffee Break site ight be perfect for me to start with.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 02:57 PM (DmNpO)

367 I enjoy the podcasts.

Having guest journalists/pundits on great idea. Could be "underground go to" thing to do.

Posted by: aquaviva at January 31, 2014 02:57 PM (wFinq)

368 Speed reading software - drill your mind

Posted by: Jean at January 31, 2014 02:57 PM (4JkHl)

369 I got a new tablet for Christmas and have downloaded several books and have started reading more. I used to read all the time but HEY! Hubby, kids, parental illness, y'know life. But now I am reading again. I am also crocheting again. I have made 2 new rugs and am searching for my next project. And if that is not enough I have become obsessed with repurposing old items into new things with a different use. Add into that looking after hubby and baby girl, writing to the boy spawn, babysitting, and planning the remodel of the main bathroom. (Frozen and busted water lines suck). This keeps me an engaged and busy mayhem.

Posted by: madamemayhem at January 31, 2014 02:57 PM (S2RnE)

370 I want to learn Krav Maga.

Posted by: model_1066 at January 31, 2014 02:57 PM (LIQGY)

371 I am going to Iceland. That is new and different for me.

Posted by: Paranoidgirlinseattle at January 31, 2014 02:57 PM (RZ8pf)

372 I bought a house in Japan and I am doing a frame off restoration. Everything except the roof, foundation and support posts (actually, I am keeping a lot of old woodwork and the walls in two rooms.) I am learning about seismic upgrades, japanese plumbing (no vents!), japanese electric (no wirenuts!) japanese lumber (no mercy!), japanese tile (no), japanese wood finishing, and mostly,.. mostly i am learning how japanese retailers make everything into a tight fisted carnival.

Posted by: Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest at January 31, 2014 02:58 PM (LWu6U)

373 Nobody Vagina Knits?

Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 02:58 PM (2ohgR)

374 230 Bad Evil Villain, where are you? I'm in Northern VA and have been casting almost everything I shoot for years.

Posted by: AnthonyB at January 31, 2014 02:58 PM (eqRqW)

375 309 >>Consider learning to play a musical instrument? Can anybody here tell me... Are cheap pianos hard on the ears? Or can I get one that sounds decent for not too much? And what is "cheap" for pianos anyway? Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 06:48 PM (SUKHu) --- You can quite often find used quality pianos on craigslist free. Unfortunately some are untuneable; if you can test it out to make sure it's in tune that's great. You'll have to have it tuned after moving, period. I bought an electronic keyboard. The only difference to me is the lack of dynamic control.

Posted by: Gingy @GingyNorth at January 31, 2014 02:58 PM (N/cFh)

376

Tsrblke:

I would be fascinated for your point of view on this. After seeing the documentary, I researched quite a bit as well.

As far as I know, his antineoplaston work is now in Phase IV final of FDA review, meaning that FDA has conceded it is 1) effective; and 2) nonharmful.

Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 02:58 PM (tVTLU)

377 @319 - My college fencing instructor was an old Hungarian built like a jackrabbit with an accent thick as a spool of barbed wire. Student comprehension on the first day around 15%, 20% the next day, 25% the third day, and so on. The first thing I remember understanding was his lecturing the girls on the importance of a neutral stance "or vun lek vil get bikker dan de utta und nuun uf ze boyz vil vun to go aut vit yu"

Posted by: JEM at January 31, 2014 02:58 PM (o+SC1)

378 You know what I've been up to.

Posted by: Masturbatin' Pete at January 31, 2014 02:58 PM (xN1DB)

379 I'm working on losing weight (again.) This time I'm trying a modified version of The Hacker's Diet (link in my signature). I'm not sure that qualifies as interesting, but I'm actually having fun because i like all the data collection and interpretation, and it seems to be working (9lbs, so far).

Posted by: not the mama at January 31, 2014 02:59 PM (5dxeo)

380 But..10,000 pages of it exist so far, so there's that. Posted by: Lauren Just post the sex scenes here. We'll give you constructive criticism. C'mon. We know they're in there. Silly bureaucratic time-travel sex. The Million-Year Club. Right? Right?

Posted by: avid fan of Lauren's unread prose at January 31, 2014 02:59 PM (U13jb)

381 I've recently decided that I want to get back into computers. Built my first years ago but got out of it. Was hearing that "Coding" is a good route to take as far as a career. Anybody in the industry that can give a little push in a direction? Something I can learn and turn into a career? Java etc? Java is a solid language to learn, try "Head First Java, 2nd Edition". You'd do well to pick up a book called "Algorithms 4th Edition" for some CS training. Also, you want to learn "Design Patterns", I'd recommend Head First for that too. Personally I love love love C# as a language, but Java seems to have more job listings. If you are interested in C#, there's a YouTube channel by Jamie King on C#. He has great playlists on all the core, relevant parts to know.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at January 31, 2014 02:59 PM (gtjN1)

382 375 Nobody Vagina Knits? Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 06:58 PM (2ohgR) --- I'm torn between "nah, I've already got one" and "they always shrink I. The shower".

Posted by: Gingy @GingyNorth at January 31, 2014 02:59 PM (N/cFh)

383 I'm taking my old Atari 8-bit computer out to play on more than BBSes--yes, there are still a few of them around--and runs around the board with Mr. Do and learning 6502 assembly programming. Yes, it's a good 25 years too late to be applying myself so. But it's something to pass the time with.

Posted by: Dr. Todd Ambrosius at January 31, 2014 02:59 PM (Jzrec)

384 Nobody Vagina Knits?

Some of us don't have vaginas, you insensitive lout.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at January 31, 2014 03:00 PM (8ZskC)

385 >>>Do you use a bread machine or a stand mixer.

I use the bigger Kitchen Aid stand mixer. In fairness though, mine was built by Hobart. I've heard they've gone down hill since they were bought by Whirlpool.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at January 31, 2014 03:00 PM (0q2P7)

386 Does this work? In theory, it should work GREAT, because that's the way I learned english as a child.

Does it work better than just grinding out coursework? eh... I cant' tell. I find it's more bearable, which is itself important.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 06:29 PM (/FnUH)

You might try meeting up with some of those groups that are French trying to learn English. They are probably not as prevalent as the Asian and Hispanic languages (if that is even the right classification), and you'd have to get out into meatspace to do it. I've seen those groups out in pubs and they seem to be having a good time of it.

Posted by: flounder at January 31, 2014 03:00 PM (Kkt/i)

387 >>Do. Adam is a hell of guide and fisherman. He's not a fly-snob, either. Guy just lives to catch fish. Cool. I'm really looking forward to this trip. We got a house right on the water with a dock and we're bringing everything from the offshore stuff to light tackle. But I really want to give fly fishing a try. I actually did it a few times when I was kid. Friend of my dad used to take me. But haven't given it a go since then.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 31, 2014 03:00 PM (g1DWB)

388 We have a bread machine, but my husband uses it. Back in the day, I started off with no mixer, which means some hard work, but kneading bread is a very very good way to burn off some anger, aggression, etc. and calm oneself down. Now I have a Kitchen Aide stand mixer and that makes it easier. I'd recommend the bread cookbook I've had since it was first published: The Sunset Bread Cookbook (1984), available on Amazon. Be sure to search with Ace's search box so that he gets some of the--oh, it's available for a penny plus shipping. Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 06:55 PM (SUKHu) Thank you! I will do that now.

Posted by: I Be That Chick at January 31, 2014 03:00 PM (McA1b)

389 I bought an electronic keyboard. The only difference to me is the lack of dynamic control. Posted by: Gingy @GingyNorth at January 31, 2014 06:58 PM (N/cFh) I'd second that, unless you're gifted a piano, to learn on electronic is better

Posted by: MikeH at January 31, 2014 03:00 PM (bRL1M)

390 I always have half a dozen or so projects that I am fussing with. For the most part, they have no redeeming qualities aside from the satisfaction of having something tangible at the end. Admittedly, most of my projects are of personal interest only, and would not be considered very interesting to others, or represent an expansion of my horizons. I think that ones perspective may shift somewhat in that regard as they age. That is one reason that retirees take on woodworking, gardening, etc., not to mention volunteer work. While those might be denigrated as 'hobbies', that does not mean that there is not a great deal of satisfaction to be had. In my slack moments (curse you AoSHQ!) I do a bit of genealogical research. Always interesting. The '78 Olds Cutlass is a project that has been going on for years, mostly stalled on account of available dollars. It would be nice to travel a bit, but the cost is a factor for us. No one should construe the above to assume that any of my projects actually do reach the end.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at January 31, 2014 03:00 PM (aDwsi)

391 I became a therapist for autistic dolphins. It gets the ladies.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at January 31, 2014 03:01 PM (V4CBV)

392 Pure happiness. If you don't have a pet, get one.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 03:01 PM (DmNpO)

393 Last May, I pulled a 1967 Chevy pickup out of a field. Had been sitting for over 30 years. Decided it was my mission to get that truck back on the road. I've gotten more pleasure from tinkering on that thing over the last 8 months than anything else I've done lately. With every new clean part, and every time I try and fail to get it running properly, I get happier. When I thought I might have to sell it due to financial hardship, it depressed the hell out of me. Now, it almost an obsession, but it puts a smile on my face just thinking about the small successes I have had with it and what it will be like to drive it down the road.

Posted by: Rich at January 31, 2014 03:01 PM (VvBBc)

394 >>I've also started doing more gaming writing again. Meaning what exactly?

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 03:01 PM (SUKHu)

395

Bruce Lee invented Jeet Kun Do, he was proficient in several other martial arts.

Etiology of "tank": The Brits wanted the Germans to think they were motorized water tanks for the troops, not something coming over the trenches at them.

Posted by: Conservative Crank at January 31, 2014 03:01 PM (sQ0LB)

396 >>>The biggest KitchenAid you can afford.
They are amazing.
I have had mine since about 1994, and it is still plugging away.

Caution there speedy. They ain't built by Hobart anymore. They're not the same mixer.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at January 31, 2014 03:01 PM (0q2P7)

397 I've decided to attend the University of Phoenix and pledge a fraternity.

Posted by: Dr Spank at January 31, 2014 03:01 PM (38LLM)

398 Fun stuff I do off-blog? I was on-and-off working on a sequel to "House of War". It's still in design-mode; partly because I'm tracking down information for it, partly because I have regular employment - mostly because I got a SQUIRREL! problem.

SQUIRREL!s are an absolute bane to would-be writers.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at January 31, 2014 03:01 PM (30eLQ)

399 @367. There's nothing in the world like a smoked turkey. Marinate for 3 days in pickling brine, smoke for 14 hours. My brother does one every year, and there's not a better bird in the world. Juicy, full of flavor, and even the dark meat is wonderful.

Posted by: Cato at January 31, 2014 03:01 PM (i+Vw2)

400 Join Scouting. Those little "gentlemen" will run you ragged. McGyver, Out

Posted by: McGyver at January 31, 2014 03:01 PM (b6C60)

401 >>>congrats moose.

Thanks, it's been a long journey.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at January 31, 2014 03:02 PM (0q2P7)

402 "I have a question for you. I bake as well, mostly desserts, but I was interested in trying bread making. Do you use a bread machine or a stand mixer. I have been on King Arthur's Flour website looking for ideas, and they seem to prefer using the stand mixer to make and knead the dough. Any advice would help."

If you want to make whole grain breads of a hearty nature, stay away from Kitchenaid. Their stand mixers just can't handle those doughs over the long-haul. Go for a Bosch mixer, which is the best home machine for dough-kneading. I blew through 4 KAs before I wised up and bought a Bosch. Look 'em up on you-tube, watch 'em in action.

Posted by: Lizabth at January 31, 2014 03:02 PM (JZBti)

403 "Wing Chun is Bruce Lee, right?" Yep. He was taught by Yip Man, who's been the subject of a lot of movies over the past few years.

Posted by: Lauren at January 31, 2014 03:02 PM (hFL/3)

404 Last May, I pulled a 1967 Chevy pickup out of a field. Had been sitting for over 30 years. Decided it was my mission to get that truck back on the road. I've gotten more pleasure from tinkering on that thing over the last 8 months than anything else I've done lately. With every new clean part, and every time I try and fail to get it running properly, I get happier.When I thought I might have to sell it due to financial hardship, it depressed the hell out of me.Now, it almost an obsession, but it puts a smile on my face just thinking about the small successes I have had with it and what it will be like to drive it down the road. ** I'd love to have photos for the car thread.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 03:03 PM (DmNpO)

405 Been doing long sword exercises out of a manual with a friend. Definitely been an interesting experience coming from no background in martial arts.

Weirdest part is putting myself in the mindset that I am ready to stab this pointy thing into my friend's face.

Posted by: ConservativeMonster at January 31, 2014 03:03 PM (ioT3q)

406 As far as I know, his antineoplaston work is now in Phase IV final of FDA review, meaning that FDA has conceded it is 1) effective; and 2) nonharmful. Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 06:58 PM (tVTLU) No and no and no. It's been in this "state" for over a decade now. Or as another research put it, "hundreds of drugs have been developed and approved since he began his work 30 years ago." He got "orphan drug status." Basically he used some quirks and a PR team to force the FDA's hand allowing him to do combined phase II/III trials. But he never enrolled enough people to..well do anything. Occasionally he releases a case study in a 4th rate journal with no controls. The NCI tried to use his drugs back in the 1990s and got bupkis, and when they started to ask him he cut off the supply to them ending the tests. This site is a surprisingly good reference. http://theotherburzynskipatientgroup.wordpress.com/

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at January 31, 2014 03:03 PM (GaqMa)

407 Posted by: JackStraw at January 31, 2014 07:00 PM (g1DWB) Fly fishing is one of my hobbies, as is golf. They have a few things in common: you can get good, but never really win, and it's something you can do for as long as you can walk.

Posted by: model_1066 at January 31, 2014 03:03 PM (LIQGY)

408 if you're bored Ace, you should read this post, wherein the author complains about her blog getting lots of hits comments.

http://witchwind.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/ in-retrospect-to-the-85000-reformism-and-other-things/

pure moonbat gold (take the space out before "in")
Posted by: redc1c4 at January 31, 2014 06:55 PM

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Them people ain't right in the head.

Posted by: huerfano at January 31, 2014 03:03 PM (bAGA/)

409 I've decided to attend the University of Phoenix and pledge a fraternity.

You and Mohammed, Jugdish, Sidney and Clayton will have lots to talk about then.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at January 31, 2014 03:03 PM (8ZskC)

410 14 >>>What, did the Internet run out of porn? Posted by: The Governor don't get me started. I TRIED to change that aspect of my Same Day No Different Than the Last syndrome. But it didn't take. Some things can't be changed. Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 06:08 PM (/FnUH) You gave it a hell of a run though. I was impressed at the effort. The attempted willpower was more than I'd give it.

Posted by: Hawkins1701 at January 31, 2014 03:04 PM (7aJyE)

411 I'm finishing a two-year basement refurb. man-cave-- with pool table , bar, 55" 3D HD TV, exercise room and office. Not the Man's Country type of man-cave. Plus learning Portuguese (Rosetta I went to Brazil last fall and it works pretty good) and took up piano and guitar again. I think something's gotta give but having fun so far tho'.

Posted by: dirks strewn at January 31, 2014 03:04 PM (77F0w)

412 Just completed a "Learn Anal Bleaching at Home" program. The dog now avoids me and hides under the couch.

Posted by: Ammo Dump at January 31, 2014 03:04 PM (GgPam)

413 Been reading like a fricking maniac. Neil Stevenson's Baroque Cycle might be the greatest "trilogy" I've ever read. It's positively brilliant. 1st book is Quicksilver and the first chapter includes "young" Ben Franklin. The story includes pirates, stock exchanges, Isaac Newton, Spanish Inquisition abolition...

Posted by: TheThinMan at January 31, 2014 03:04 PM (Wd1Zo)

414 >>I'd second that, unless you're gifted a piano, to learn on electronic is better Thank you both. We have a keyboard but it's much smaller than a piano. I'll poke around at the bigger ones.

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 03:04 PM (SUKHu)

415 I actually did it a few times when I was kid. Friend of my dad used to take me. But haven't given it a go since then. Posted by: JackStraw at January 31, 2014 07:00 PM (g1DWB) It's a rhythmic ballet of potential and kinetic energy. ..or some Greys Sporting Bullshit. 10 o'clock, 2 o'clock. Stop the rod. Smooth transitions from static to moving. Those are the most important things.

Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 03:04 PM (2ohgR)

416 Some jokes really deserve to be recycled repeatedly.

Posted by: Dirty Sanchez at January 31, 2014 03:04 PM (JQuNB)

417 ConservativeMonster,

What manual are you using?

Posted by: Colorado Alex at January 31, 2014 03:05 PM (lr3d7)

418 Jimmy cracked corn and I don't care! That's sorta upbeat, ain't it?

Posted by: Killerdog at January 31, 2014 03:05 PM (Oi60j)

419 I've been fiddling with a a free program for breadboarding electronic circuits with the intent to build completely useless models of things that look cool but have no purpose beyond that.

The Blade Runner Voigt-Kampff machine - stuff like that. I have tons of funky old dials and switches and odd little suitcases and boxes scrounged from rummage stores for years and years - so i just need to do it. Stop worry and just do it - as if my fake Geiger counter cum Chernobyl timewarp suitcase device won't work. sheesh.

https://www.youtube.com/user/bionerd23?feature=watch

check out her vid of the Chernobyl hospital - then watch the vid where she analyses the phreaky little metal disks.

Posted by: 13times at January 31, 2014 03:05 PM (fGPLK)

420 I was thrilled the first time I saw Jupiter's moons.

Posted by: LFW - Honorary Pointy-Eared Vulcan at January 31, 2014 06:32 PM (+hPIb)

Uranus aint nuttin to sneeze at either!

Posted by: The guy who can't resist uranus jokes at January 31, 2014 03:05 PM (Kkt/i)

421 Restoring cars, home improvement projects, and woodworking keep me plenty busy, but I wanted to try something out of my comfort zone and started writing car articles as weekend filler for some two-bit blog...

Posted by: Countrysquire at January 31, 2014 03:05 PM (8FyP4)

422 "He who makes the best egg salad shall rule over heaven and earth." Don't ask me why egg salad - I've got enough aggravation.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at January 31, 2014 03:05 PM (V4CBV)

423 >>>Self-improvement doesn't have to be a long term commitment. A lot of arts and crafts stuff will do weekend courses. it also doesn't have to be a MAJOR commitment in the short term, which is the idea that keeps people away. Everyone thinks "Well if i'm going to do this i need to be the BEST and commit fully and do it 20 hours a week," and that's preposterous, so people don't do it. A guy named Tim Farris wrote a book called the 4 Hour Body. It's a mostly just kind of health-magazine nonsense. I mean, it's a combination of obviously true stuff (low-carb diets work) and stuff that's just silly (you can do all sorts of things like eating eggs before bedtime to goose your testosterone). But here is what stuck with me: That bit about the idea of "MAJOR COMMITMENT" squashing people's initiative to make even a MINOR commitment. And his take is this: SHOOT FOR A MINOR COMMITMENT. Don't think you're going to be doing this 20 hours a week. You're not. And thinking that way will dissuade you from doing it all. He speaks a lot about a nutrition idea which he extends to all of life: The Minimum Effective Dose. What is the absolute MINIMUM of something that will have a tangible effect? Not a huge effect, mind you, but a detectable one. Walking just 40 minutes 3x a week will have an effect on your health. This is even somehat above the MINIMUM effective dose. You could even walk once a week for 30 minutes. But walking 40 minutes 3x a week will do the trick. Slowly, more slowly than running six days a week, but it's enough. It will get you there. And most importantly, it won't kill you. If you're out of shape (like me), the idea of running five miles 6x a week is a far off dream. That may be a GOAL, but that's not a PLAN. The plan is walking for 40 minutes, 3x a week. Or twice. That's something close to a Minimum Effective Dose. I take the same attitude towards learning french. There have been some periods I have done a lot of french. And sure, I guess I learned more then. But I can't do that every week. So my basic plan every day is the Minimum Effective Dose. Ten headlines in twitter, or, if I'm feeling ambitious, three whole news articles. The idea of making a MAJOR commitment to something is really just a way to commit to doing nothing. People should aim realistically low at first-- and then adjust their aim even lower than that. The minimum amount of forward motion will eventually get you where you're going.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 03:05 PM (/FnUH)

424 >>>Some jokes really deserve to be recycled repeatedly. Posted by: Dirty Sanchez at January 31, 2014 07:04 PM (JQuNB) DependsÂ™.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at January 31, 2014 03:06 PM (V4CBV)

425 Bird watching works for me. It combines the best of the mental and physical. It is hard work to recognize all the variety of birds and their unique calls. It is also physical in walking and hiking through all kinds of scenery and landscapes. When you are tired of walking, you can read about the hobby. You can also combine photography with this hobby. I have been doing this for 30+ years and it is very rewarding. I heartily recommend it to everyone.

Posted by: nannyhag at January 31, 2014 03:07 PM (39IHH)

426 Damn it Ace. Now iim going to go down and use my elliptical machine. And make some egg salad, because I obviously will rule the world once I've done so.

Posted by: Gingy @GingyNorth at January 31, 2014 03:07 PM (N/cFh)

427 Ooops, 10 o'clock, 12 o'clock. Don't know where that 1 went.

Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 03:07 PM (2ohgR)

428 >>Fly fishing is one of my hobbies, as is golf. They have a few things in common: you can get good, but never really win, and it's something you can do for as long as you can walk. That's one of the things that sounds appealing to me. I love offshore fishing but it can put a hurting on ya. And saltwater fly fishing has become a thing around me. Looks very cerebral and yea, I can see the golf parallel.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 31, 2014 03:07 PM (g1DWB)

429 re, Jupiter's moons - there are two movies (so far) set there:

"Outlander", Sean Connery, Io
"Europa Report", eight grad students in theatre with no money, Europa

I recommend both! Pleasant surprises.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at January 31, 2014 03:07 PM (30eLQ)

430 I just watched the new Budwiser super bowl commercial (the Hero's welcome one).

Do you suppose the leftists heads explode every time they do one of these sappy patriotic commercials, and it goes viral? Kind of like they keep thinking they've almost turned the country into little commies, then suddenly the country gets pulled away by the heart strings.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at January 31, 2014 03:07 PM (LxcRK)

431 >>If you want to make whole grain breads of a hearty nature, stay away from Kitchenaid. I usually do the mixing in there but then knead by hand. >>Caution there speedy. They ain't built by Hobart anymore. They're not the same mixer. BRB, hugging my 1992 KA.

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 03:07 PM (SUKHu)

432 I also intend to get a smoker and develop my skills in that regard.

Posted by: CDR M at January 31, 2014 06:57 PM (LsJl

---------------------------------------------

You can probably find some in the alley behind most businesses during the day. Also look around homeless shelters.

Posted by: Soona at January 31, 2014 03:08 PM (BkpOh)

433 I use the bigger Kitchen Aid stand mixer. In fairness though, mine was built by Hobart. I've heard they've gone down hill since they were bought by Whirlpool. Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at January 31, 2014 07:00 PM (0q2P7) I am glad that you mentioned the fact that the mixers are no longer made by Hobart. My mother's was made by Hobart and it's still humming along. I have had to take my mixer in to have it checked for leaking grease. Then they had to remove and replace the grease. But I still think they are superior to the other mixers on the market.

Posted by: I Be That Chick at January 31, 2014 03:08 PM (McA1b)

434 "Just post the sex scenes here. We'll give you constructive criticism. " Ha, actually I honestly haven't written any sex scenes. Yet? I don't know if I will or not, I get so skeeved out by thinking of authors like George R. R. Martin panting over his characters that I don't know I could ever do it myself.

Posted by: Lauren at January 31, 2014 03:08 PM (hFL/3)

435 Milady Webworker has only to pry the lid off the yogurt and is surrounded by four-footed beggers. Give 'em a taste just once.... Posted by: mindful webworker - Orwellian animal farmer at January 31, 2014 06:37 PM (U13jb)

Oh trust me, I can't have a sundae in peace. As soon as they hear the "kkkkkkrrrrroooowww" of the whipped cream they ALL come running.

Posted by: DangerGirl at January 31, 2014 03:08 PM (GrtrJ)

436 >>>n the foreign language thing though, does that work. 15-30 minutes a day or something? Even that sometimes I can't spare. I admire very much those who learn another language. do you commute? Most people have time when they're engaged, but their brains are relatively free.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 03:08 PM (/FnUH)

437

If you have an active license, volunteer to work one civil or criminal case with a group that will support you/insure you. I bet you'd find it fun and engrossing, but maybe not.

Posted by: slick at January 31, 2014 03:09 PM (RIdwM)

438

Does anyone else on here have a 4k TV? They are fucking awesome.

Question for the moran horde. I got skyrim and just never play it b/c I don't have the time. What's a great, fun game to play when you don't have the time to dick around with figuring out who the fuck to talk to and what box to break or hidden lever to pull??

Muchas Gracias.

Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 03:09 PM (tVTLU)

439 I'm learning how to take a full pineapple wrapped in barbed wire in my tushy.

Posted by: Pete Seeger at January 31, 2014 03:09 PM (GgPam)

440 Posted by: JackStraw at January 31, 2014 07:07 PM (g1DWB) For me, living in Denver, fly fishing is a fantastic excuse to get out of the city and go stomping around nature amongst the bugs, flowers, fish and water.

Posted by: model_1066 at January 31, 2014 03:09 PM (LIQGY)

441 I thought of something else to expand my mind/happiness. I've never been an astronomy buff thus have avoided CAC's posts on the subject. No more. I may not have anything to contribute in the comments, but I can certainly learn something there.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 03:10 PM (DmNpO)

442 In all seriousness, I would like to get into star-gazing. I used to hunt within shooting distance of the McDonald's Observatory in West Texas, great sky, tougher in the Houston area.

Posted by: Dr Spank at January 31, 2014 03:10 PM (38LLM)

443 A good immersive video game can occupy 100 hours easy. Red Dead Redemption (grand theft horses), Skyrim, GTA Online. And on a per hour basis it's a relatively cheap hobby.

Posted by: wooga at January 31, 2014 03:10 PM (c5TBq)

444 My father in law came back to U.S. from Argentina last summer to see my wife's little sister get married. He went back to Argentina and died shortly thereafter. He gave me a doll house he had started building back in the 70's, and I spent the winter finishing the project. A few minutes into the project I realized why he quit. It was a bitch, building an actual house would have been easier. But I muscled through it, and it turned out pretty cool. My wife had a bunch of really old doll house furniture to furnish it, and my 2 girls love it.

Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at January 31, 2014 03:10 PM (468Wd)

445 MR RICHARD SMOKER http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYEO_WZUGcY

Posted by: WEEN at January 31, 2014 03:10 PM (2ohgR)

446 Ain't bragging, but I read prolly a thousand pages of boooks per month, and like Andy B, most of the comments here

Posted by: TheThinMan at January 31, 2014 03:10 PM (1iGL5)

447 442 I'm learning how to take a full pineapple wrapped in barbed wire in my tushy. Posted by: Pete Seeger at January 31, 2014 07:09 PM (GgPam) And on fire too, hopefully.

Posted by: model_1066 at January 31, 2014 03:11 PM (LIQGY)

448 Ace - Want to know how much commitment it was to get to running marathons?

2 hours during the week (1 hour each Tuesday and Thursday) and one morning during the weekend.

At the start it was only a mile or 2 on Sunday morning, later it became hours as the distance increased. But the point is it doesn't take a huge commitment in time.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at January 31, 2014 03:11 PM (LxcRK)

449 Hey, Ace, even Mark Steyn recycles jokes. Quite a lot really. I guess I'm lucky because math keeps me going on different problems and I can move on when I get bored. Actually, I've got too many projects going simultaneously.

Posted by: AmishDude at January 31, 2014 03:11 PM (T0NGe)

450 @COAlex:

Johannes Liechtenauer was the name of the swordmaster, I think. Based on extrapolations and study of some surviving manuals/writing.

Posted by: ConservativeMonster at January 31, 2014 03:11 PM (ioT3q)

451 Fencing will fucking kill you at first. Once you develop Quads of Steel, it becomes on7e of the most enjoyable ways of getting a workout ever. Posted by: Sharkman ------------------------------ Heh. My fencing instructor was an ex-SEAL. On the first day of class he said, "Gentleman, there is a popular conception that fencing is for pussies. I am here to dispel that notion." The warm-up for every class was a 1/2 mile run..., backwards. Then some PT, then actual fencing exercises. Oh..., while he was perfect adept with an epee, his real love was the saber.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at January 31, 2014 03:11 PM (aDwsi)

452 @ 358 [Peaches] -- Thanks!

I also have the photography thing going, but that's becoming more of a "job" than a pursuit, and winter in Kentucky isn't all that photogenic (unless you're in the eastern part of the state). But, guitar -- well, you can do that indoors, year-round. And that's pretty nice.

Posted by: DamnDirtyRINO at January 31, 2014 03:11 PM (m0h0I)

453 Damn it Ace. Now iim going to go down and use my elliptical machine. And make some egg salad, because I obviously will rule the world once I've done so. *** You might be able to get a good deal on some slightly used raptors from ATC.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 03:12 PM (DmNpO)

454 NDH- There's a car thread? I got pics and a whole thread on a chevy truck forum. minx won't let me post the link though.

Posted by: rich at January 31, 2014 03:12 PM (VvBBc)

455 I decided just last week to pick up the sticks again and start practicing drums. I quit playing over 15 years ago due to work, but recently found I really used to have a lot of fun playing in a band. It'll take a while to get my chops back, but I committed to practicing at least 30-60 minutes daily. I am soooo rusty right now, ack.

Posted by: TimB52 at January 31, 2014 03:12 PM (ya630)

456 Risked last year-- challenged myself with an advanced licensure in my 2nd job. Oops, didn't pass the 80 hour class. Doesn't affect the job, I did learn a lot, it was a challenge but dang, it hurt the ego.

Posted by: Far Post at January 31, 2014 03:12 PM (HHTXF)

457 My personal-stretch experiment last year was writing a book. Actually, two books simultaneously, which I don't recommend. (One is about pricing for freelance writers, and the other for people who hire freelancers. Kind of like arming both sides in a war.) By nature, I'm a sprinter, not a marathoner, when it comes to writing, but I feel like I had some breakthroughs. It's also gotten me some speaking and seminar gigs, which is cool to break out of the monotony of my usual corporate copywriting day-to-day.

Posted by: jakeman at January 31, 2014 03:12 PM (vH4YP)

458 The first two "Uncharted" games are great for people (well, guys mostly) who don't want to faff about* and instead want to go right for the story. Although shooting Anonymous Thug #252 got a bit old somewhere in the middle of U2.

*yes, I stole that from Yahtzee

I'd also recommend "Dead Space" but it cuts into one's ability to sleep, ever.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at January 31, 2014 03:13 PM (30eLQ)

459 I have always enjoyed crossword puzzles. I picked up the habit from my mom. Worked my way up over the years from the easies to the challengers, and can usually do pretty well with the British style cryptics. They are excellent vocabulary builders. That's how I know what ennui means!

Posted by: azkag at January 31, 2014 03:13 PM (uI1mX)

460 What's a great, fun game to play when you don't have the time to dick around with figuring out who the fuck to talk to and what box to break or hidden lever to pull?? Red Dead Redemption looks beautiful on a good tv. Just ride around and shoot everyone who says "howdy."

Posted by: wooga at January 31, 2014 03:14 PM (c5TBq)

461 I'm taking a floral design class because I really suck at putting flowers in a vase.

Also, gonna start traveling for fun again. Always wanted to go to China (Great Wall) and Russia, but I never wanted to stay for more than a weekend. That's obviously not practical so I resigned myself to never seeing those places. However!! My USAF son is on his way to South Korea for a year, and lo and behold! China and Russia (Vladivostok) are just a few hundred miles away. So I'm planning to go this Fall for a couple of weeks and will hit China, Russia, and even Tokyo for a few days, and spend the rest of the time in South Korea. Amazing how things fall into place. Lots of work to do though---visa headaches, etc. Would welcome advice from anyone with some experience there.

Posted by: IrishEi at January 31, 2014 03:14 PM (LzpIM)

462 450 442 I'm learning how to take a full pineapple wrapped in barbed wire in my tushy.
Posted by: Pete Seeger at January 31, 2014 07:09 PM (GgPam)

And on fire too, hopefully.

Posted by: model_1066 at January 31, 2014 07:11 PM (LIQGY)

First things first. Proud of my progress so far. Too bad I hadn't completed that "Learn Anal Bleaching from Home" course. Lots of work down here.

Posted by: Pete Seeger at January 31, 2014 03:14 PM (GgPam)

463 Not really a hobby, but I am starting to train for a marathon, hoping to be ready for one in Baltimore in October.

Posted by: Paul Zummo at January 31, 2014 03:14 PM (ZNIRz)

464 NDH- There's a car thread? I got pics and a whole thread on a chevy truck forum. minx won't let me post the link though. *** Yes! Most Saturdays I put up a car thread. Are you on twitter? If so, let's follow each other then I can send you a direct tweet with my email address.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 03:15 PM (DmNpO)

465 >> used to hunt within shooting distance of the McDonald's Observatory in West Texas, great sky, tougher in the Houston area. Yeh, not exactly a lot of people up there. I almost made it up there twice, when some family lived close by.

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 03:15 PM (SUKHu)

466 Most people have time when they're engaged, but their brains are relatively free.
That ends after the marriage, Ace!

Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at January 31, 2014 03:15 PM (abZxN)

467 I have gathered most of the parts to build an off grid solar system for my family's primitive cabin. I have been intimidated by figuring out some of the electrical stuff. I have ~50 4"x6" panels I collected from work. but they give off ~8volts in full sun so I need to figure out the correct wiring scheme and the right dodad that only lets electricity run one way (out to the battery). This is the right time of the year for this project I should get too it.

Posted by: The Hickster at January 31, 2014 03:15 PM (TI3xG)

468 I had a day job where I had to write persuasive stuff--different than ace's job, but with the same "sameness" factor. I started writing fiction, and literally cannot stop because it is so much fun---whether it sells or not. Pick your favorite genre and just get started.

Posted by: artemis at January 31, 2014 03:15 PM (2XMD1)

469 #7 When you say you'll take up stalking "disinterested" women, I think you mean "uninterested." Disinterested means they don't care if you stalk them; they are indifferent, impartial. Where's the fun in that?

Posted by: BubbaLou at January 31, 2014 03:16 PM (/cUUk)

470 Not really a hobby, but I am starting to train for a marathon, hoping to be ready for one in Baltimore in October. I had to stop running much because my knees hurt. I'm 6'5 220, so not a fatty, but I just can't do it.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at January 31, 2014 03:16 PM (gtjN1)

471 >>For me, living in Denver, fly fishing is a fantastic excuse to get out of the city and go stomping around nature amongst the bugs, flowers, fish and water. I was in southern Chile last fall in the Puerto Mont region. I didn't realize until I got there that it has some excellent trout and salmon fishing and the scenery is spectacular. I can definitely see the attraction of walking some of the rivers and lakes in search of some fish. Going to extend my trip next time just for that.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 31, 2014 03:16 PM (g1DWB)

472 "Not really a hobby, but I am starting to train for a marathon, hoping to be ready for one in Baltimore in October."

*snort*

Wait until September, THEN tell it isn't a hobby *laugh*

Posted by: Dave in Fla at January 31, 2014 03:16 PM (LxcRK)

473

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 07:05 PM (/FnUH)

Most people also forget the concept of decreasing marginal returns. Cramming three hours of studying on a Saturday is less effective than 20 minutes a day. Not only do you forget most everything by the time the next week rolls around, but even while studying you hit a point where you're getting less and less out of the time you put in.

The real problem is that dedicating a small amount of time consistently requires commitment and sacrifice. You have to make a schedule and keep it everyday, and that means putting it ahead of other activities.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at January 31, 2014 03:16 PM (lr3d7)

474 Last stop on the Ewok route (5 letters)

Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at January 31, 2014 03:17 PM (abZxN)

475 Shorter Ace: Let's all talk about something else, ANYTHING else.

Posted by: Deshroomius Bandersnatch at January 31, 2014 03:17 PM (w45V0)

476 Just chiming in.

And when the burning times come here, Ace will be in gay Paris, reading all about it.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at January 31, 2014 03:17 PM (V70Uh)

477 "I had to stop running much because my knees hurt. I'm 6'5 220, so not a fatty, but I just can't do it."

Check out Jeff Galloway's program. It's designed for your situation.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at January 31, 2014 03:18 PM (LxcRK)

478 478 Last stop on the Ewok route (5 letters) Posted by: andycanuck at January 31, 2014 07:17 PM (abZxN) endor?

Posted by: model_1066 at January 31, 2014 03:18 PM (LIQGY)

479 It might seem odd, but I'm learning knots. I'm 51 years old and don't know how to tie anything down. Interesting, better than crochet, and useful when it all goes to hell.

Posted by: April at January 31, 2014 03:18 PM (FjIA5)

480 Thanks for the CS link Little Miss Spellcheck. It sounds great, but I've already got the CS degree.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at January 31, 2014 03:18 PM (gtjN1)

481 But I still think they are superior to the other mixers on the market.

It's a nice mixer for cakes and lighter breads(one loaf at a time!). Its gears will not handle whole wheat or any 'grainy' bread, nor will it knead brioche, challah and the like. If it is bread you are wanting to bake, you'll be unhappy with a KA, unless you stick to very soft, white loaves. I bake for a living.

Posted by: Lizabth at January 31, 2014 03:18 PM (JZBti)

482 i tried to learn drawing (the Marvel Way! Comic style) and became extremely, extremely frustrated.

WHY WON'T THIS STUPID PENCIL DO WHAT I TELL IT TO

A few exercises from Betty Edwards's Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain will cure that.

Posted by: Many things bear repeating bare at January 31, 2014 03:18 PM (R6JT1)

483 The thing I'd like to do is articulate a framework for going forward for the Tea Party/Conservatives.

Not just "Let's go back to (or keep) xyz". That -is- the definition of 'conservative'. And not a "What do we do -right-now-?"

But the deliberate antithesis of the circa 1900's "Progressive" movement. Set long-term goals. They can be pie-in-the-sky so long as the end goal is coherent.

We've had an entire century of "Utopias" and then the Dystopias because there are just so many glaring flaws in the typical Leftist Utopia.

Outline the Shining City.

Posted by: Al at January 31, 2014 03:18 PM (9ynpo)

484 Yeh, not exactly a lot of people up there. I almost made it up there twice, when some family lived close by. Posted by: Mama AJ

It's rough country, but beautiful.

Posted by: Dr Spank at January 31, 2014 03:19 PM (38LLM)

485 482 It might seem odd, but I'm learning knots. I'm 51 years old and don't know how to tie anything down. Interesting, better than crochet, and useful when it all goes to hell. Posted by: April at January 31, 2014 07:18 PM (FjIA5) learn the truckers hitch!

Posted by: model_1066 at January 31, 2014 03:19 PM (LIQGY)

486 I'm 6 foot 2, and approaching 220, so my knees might protest by September.

Posted by: Paul Zummo at January 31, 2014 03:19 PM (ZNIRz)

487 I've been becoming good at the care and feeding of Commie weapons. They have a bit of a different mindset to them that is fascinating.

Posted by: toby928© at January 31, 2014 03:19 PM (QupBk)

488 Check out Jeff Galloway's program. It's designed for your situation. Thanks, will do. I've been swimming a lot, and do weight training three times a week.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at January 31, 2014 03:19 PM (gtjN1)

489 NDH- There's a car thread? I got pics and a whole thread on a chevy truck forum. minx won't let me post the link though. *** Yes! Most Saturdays I put up a car thread. =============================== There's a car thread and it's spectacular. Some say the best thing on this whole site. Wouldn't you agree, NDH?

Posted by: Countrysquire at January 31, 2014 03:20 PM (8FyP4)

490 I was saber, always loved the fencing scenes in The Great Race, though not what modern saber looks like. Modern saber looks like two guys whaling the sh*t out of each other. Tactically, it's like being in a knife fight in a telephone booth and trying to draw first blood.

Posted by: Conservative Crank at January 31, 2014 03:20 PM (sQ0LB)

491 From personal experience, if you learn electronics and learn how to control electronics with a microprocessor, jobs are always looking for you. Posted by: jwb7605 at January 31, 2014 06:54 PM (ZALPg) Computer Engineer and IT, two best fields right now Posted by: MikeH at January 31, 2014 06:55 PM (bRL1M) Yes, but all that requires degrees and experience. I hear learning a language you can jump right in entry level and get to work. Am I wrong?

Posted by: Scottye_fl at January 31, 2014 03:20 PM (PLFGk)

492 I have gathered most of the parts to build an off grid solar system for my family's primitive cabin.
Don't hire the engineer in my sock link, Hickster.

Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at January 31, 2014 03:20 PM (abZxN)

493 Nevertheless, let's face it, the parameters of this particular job have not changed in ten years. I have not really gotten a promotion;

Looking back, I wish I had promoted myself to General.

Posted by: Colonel Kh/G/Qaddafi at January 31, 2014 03:20 PM (9F2c1)

494 Hmmmm. I wanted to learn guitar a long time ago, bought a junior guitar, because my arms are short and fingers with the frets etc...

Anyway, it was a failure, I had a tough time even with the smaller guitar. I'm wondering if I'd fare better with a mandolin?

Posted by: DangerGirl at January 31, 2014 03:20 PM (GrtrJ)

495 ...Avoid this misery, Vote Republican... Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 06:48 PM (tVTLU) Yes, but to be accurate, it would have to be, "Avoid misery, outlaw the Democratic and Republican parties and those who worship government."

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at January 31, 2014 03:21 PM (pginn)

496 #481 Yes, "endor".

Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at January 31, 2014 03:22 PM (abZxN)

497 >>>But I still think they are superior to the other mixers on the market.

Lots of kind words out there for the Bosch. Of course you can always buy a Hobart. They make models that will sit on your counter. (That cost as much as my first motorcycle)

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at January 31, 2014 03:22 PM (0q2P7)

498 Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 06:44 PM (tVTLU)
----------
I cheated and googled it. Tank was the code word that the French and British used when they were developing an armored weapon to defeat trench warfare. One of my main interests has been WWII history, maybe because I was born seven years, almost to the day, after that war ended. We were stationed in Japan when I was a little kid and I absolutely loved it.

Posted by: LFW - Honorary Pointy Eared Vulcan at January 31, 2014 03:22 PM (SudzO)

499

Thanks wooga.

Tsrblike: We probably don't have enough space and time to discuss for now, but I always keep an open mind.

Happy Friday honkies.

Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 03:22 PM (tVTLU)

500 I'm 6' 5", weigh 235, and one knee has no cartilage from knee surgery 30 years ago.

There are good techniques out there that ease the stress on the knees and let you build distance. You'll never be a 7 min/mile runner, but they don't give medals for time.

Posted by: Dave in Fla at January 31, 2014 03:23 PM (LxcRK)

501 I'm also thinking of taking up Voodoo.

Posted by: Dr Spank at January 31, 2014 03:23 PM (38LLM)

502 Little Miss Spellcheck... Undergrads finish it in 14 weeks, get course credits and pay $$$$. Online students get a certificate, the same lectures and labs, study materials, free ebooks and software and a year to complete. Morons, join me! https://courses.edx.org/courses/HarvardX/CS50x/2014_T1/info *** What's the $$$ layout for online students?

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 03:23 PM (DmNpO)

503 Wait until September, THEN tell it isn't a hobby *laugh*

No kidding. I miss it so much. Never in my life did I think I would enjoy it. I agreed to run my first one after a friend of mine goaded me into it at our fifteen year class reunion. I really enjoy the half more, but there is just something about that sense of accomplishment and release you get at the end of a marathon. If you haven't considered it, run the Marine Corps marathon. I swear, I cried more during that thing than I have in my entire life. It's unimaginable the gratitude you feel when you come upon four marines carrying the prosthetic limbs of their brother and pushing him in a wheelchair so he can race too.

Posted by: no good deed at January 31, 2014 03:23 PM (vBhbc)

504 You went to Chile and didn't go fishing!? Where are your priorities?

Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 03:24 PM (2ohgR)

505 Putting all of my printed music in to digitized form so I can access it at any time, until the lights go out.

Posted by: navybrat at January 31, 2014 03:24 PM (AW7Gr)

506 Ace, nice spirit-lifter here. And is not this winter just a DAMNED DREARY one on the merits? Even in Texas, this cold has sucked. So, a couple of things. Three years ago (at age mid-40's) decided to take up pool, 8-ball and 9-ball. Joined a league, play twice a week, practice quite a decent bit, and have moved well up into the middle of the pack of folks who have been playing for decades. There is some joy in besting some pretty decent players, winning in playoffs, etc, but it's also just a damned fine feeling to knock in a table-length shot , and not a straight-in one, with some authority, and put the cue ball right where you wanted for the next shot. Pretty often. That just feels good. Three years ago, an 8-ball game was one of those random things where balls occasionally went in and things just flew wherever they wanted. Now I own the damned table. And I like it. New things: after years of talking about it and wanting to do it, I'm diving into the world of modifying your own car - mechanically, not the body - to make it go very, very fast. I have a sub-11 second car that I bought already that way, and I'm working on my *other* car right now. And BTW, I don't care what those silly Fast/Furious movies say, a car that goes 10.5 on a track (i.e., *not* a 10-second car), when you have that car on the street and highways with street tires (more or less), you are the fastest thing withon 100 miles. You are the Allosaurus in the food chain. Fun x 10 if you did much of the mods yourself.

Posted by: E Pluribus Unum at January 31, 2014 03:24 PM (s0fFU)

507 I don't have time for anything new. Work is a bear, the house always needs something, grown-up kids are a never ending drama, shooting, reading, the telescope, and a wife with the sex drive of a teenager. If I need anything new to do, i just ask the wife what she needs done.

Posted by: Trainer at January 31, 2014 03:25 PM (X0j4A)

508 There's a car thread and it's spectacular. Some say the best thing on this whole site. Wouldn't you agree, NDH? *** well that's only because of the fine work of the co-author!

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 03:25 PM (DmNpO)

509 Is this upbeat: Have owned a Roku3 for 3 hours. And now realize I should go back and buy another one for my other TV, it is so cool. Coolest thing - PITA grandkids always wanting me to play youtube videos for them, where they stand in front of my spare computer messing it up and crying and needing me to get up and constantly fix what they screwed up. Now I just choose a youtube video from my laptop, and tell it to send to the TV, where it starts playing on the TV.

Posted by: UWP at January 31, 2014 03:25 PM (2hQRj)

510 ConservativeMonster,

Ah, so the German stuff. German longsword is interesting, although I'm more an English or Italian fan. Still, there quite a few German longsword groups out there. Also, a lot of scholarly writings and instruction manuals as well.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at January 31, 2014 03:25 PM (lr3d7)

511 Don't hire the engineer in my sock link, Hickster.>>

For that job you know they had permits and inspections. And yet it still was engineered wrong? Unpossible the govt can protect us from everything.

Posted by: The Hickster at January 31, 2014 03:26 PM (TI3xG)

512 The minimum amount of forward motion will eventually get you where you're going. Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 07:05 PM (/FnUH) It also creates habits, which is very important.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at January 31, 2014 03:26 PM (4A8Dj)

513 Occasionally given some thought to learning the bagpipes, too. I love bagpipes, most of the people I like enjoy bagpipe music, just about everyone else hates it. Perfect.

Posted by: Cato at January 31, 2014 03:26 PM (i+Vw2)

514 Miss Tammy!!!

Posted by: Conservative Crank at January 31, 2014 03:27 PM (sQ0LB)

515 Then you can write the story of the blog, how it evolved and how much fun it has been. Then you get to go on book tours... Posted by: think Can you imagine? You can hear one here: https://soundcloud.com/bloodpudding/lullabye-3 Posted by: SFGoth Just heard this. That was truly impressive. When it comes to fine arts, I do stick figures not impressionist paintings. In music, I've written cartoon lyrics, for forty years. Sometimes as Randy Newman says I get off a good one, a well-done cartoon. You write art.

Posted by: mindful webworker goes 'hmmm' at January 31, 2014 03:27 PM (U13jb)

516 Sasquatch hunting. At first I just dabbled, but now it's an all consuming obsession.

Posted by: garrett at January 31, 2014 03:27 PM (2ohgR)

517

LFW:

I'll go one deeper for you. WSC originally started up research on a mechanized way to get across battlefield, when he saw the horrors of trench warfare.

Code name was at first: Russian water carrier; which became Russian water tank, and then finally just named as "Tank".

I'm not sure that was worth reading literally 6500 pages, but that's what I got out of it. Tank's origins and that WSC was the original driver of the idea.

Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 03:27 PM (tVTLU)

518 Ace, I quit smoking and am using the eCig thanks to your last (long ago) post on self-improvement or some such bullshit.
Now, I'm learning the ukelele.
Feeles good! To hell with languages. Music - it is the language of love!
God DAMN, I want a fricking cigarette.
Aloha.

Posted by: rick at January 31, 2014 03:27 PM (snYrg)

519 well that's only because of the fine work of the co-author! Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ You left out 'illiterate".

Posted by: Countrysquire at January 31, 2014 03:28 PM (8FyP4)

520

"Yes! Most Saturdays I put up a car thread."

Of course, the Saturday Car Thread. Duh. Happy to send along some pics. It's really rough still, but it's a cool old rig.

Posted by: rich at January 31, 2014 03:28 PM (VvBBc)

521 >>You went to Chile and didn't go fishing!? I know. Believe it or not for that part of the trip I was at a bachelor party, no time for fishing, and then it was back to Santiago. Next time.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 31, 2014 03:28 PM (g1DWB)

522 Ace - halo 4 online look for Holy KKRRAAPP - my 11 yr old and I guarantee pants wetting laughs every time

Posted by: Jeff E at January 31, 2014 03:29 PM (2DfO6)

523 Crank! How are you and the Mrs and teh wee bebeh inside her?

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at January 31, 2014 03:29 PM (4A8Dj)

524 516 Occasionally given some thought to learning the bagpipes, too. I love bagpipes, most of the people I like enjoy bagpipe music, just about everyone else hates it. Perfect. Posted by: Cato at January 31, 2014 07:26 PM (i+Vw2) Don't people train crows to go kill the bagpiper?

Posted by: model_1066 at January 31, 2014 03:29 PM (LIQGY)

525 Dad once said, "Whatever you're aiming for, you'll hit it." At first it sounds like a typical saccharin positive thinking bulkshit. But then you realize he means it literally. Dad had wisdom.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 03:29 PM (FDyew)

526 Coolest thing - PITA grandkids always wanting me to play youtube videos for them, where they stand in front of my spare computer messing it up and crying and needing me to get up and constantly fix what they screwed up. Now I just choose a youtube video from my laptop, and tell it to send to the TV, where it starts playing on the TV. Windows 7 & 8 have Parental Controls. It limits where they can go, what they can do, and you can set time limits.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at January 31, 2014 03:29 PM (A0glY)

527 This will get lost in the shuffle..but I love this. The past few years have been shitty for me. I recently picked up my knitting again, and I'm going to try to learn German this year. Plus, vitamin D, antidepressants, and anti anxiety pills. Yay!

Posted by: pipandbaby at January 31, 2014 03:29 PM (rxsnN)

528 Have owned a Roku3 for 3 hours. And now realize I should go back and buy another one for my other TV, it is so cool. Coolest thing - PITA grandkids always wanting me to play youtube videos for them, where they stand in front of my spare computer messing it up and crying and needing me to get up and constantly fix what they screwed up. Now I just choose a youtube video from my laptop, and tell it to send to the TV, where it starts playing on the TV. *** Love my Roku and they've added a lot of free channels since they first came out. I don't know if they are still offering it or not, but M-Go was offering two rent-free movies, no strings attached, just a few weeks ago.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 03:30 PM (DmNpO)

529 Posted by: Cato at January 31, 2014 07:26 PM (i+Vw2) My boy spawn taught himself to play the electric guitar, the acoustic guitar, and even using a slide. He tried to teach himself the fiddle but waited a bit late. He didn't have time to do much before leaving for basic training. Anywho... he stated before he left that he intends to learn the bagpipes. You are the only other person who I have heard (sorta) say that.

Posted by: madamemayhem at January 31, 2014 03:31 PM (S2RnE)

530 Dad had wisdom. Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 07:29 PM (FDyew) Dads usually do.

Posted by: model_1066 at January 31, 2014 03:31 PM (LIQGY)

531 Drinking from the soup plate of honour would do us all some good, Colorado Alex.
www.faganarms.com/german-dueling-schlager.aspx

Posted by: zombie otto von bismark at January 31, 2014 03:31 PM (abZxN)

532 Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 07:22 PM (tVTLU) Yes well as a scientist so do I, but objective facts are at play and that movie is propaganda. Believe whatever you want, but "poor doc vs. Big evil government" is how he sells his snake oil. Just like kevin Trudeau. I'd sooner trist Bernie Madoof with my life savings than him woth a papercut.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (tablet) at January 31, 2014 03:31 PM (GaqMa)

533 I'm good Tammy, how are you? 18.5 weeks to go--I've seen you so sporadically the past several months I wasn't sure if you knew about the baby or not!

Posted by: Conservative Crank at January 31, 2014 03:32 PM (sQ0LB)

534

55 I'm going back to school to retool myself for something different and I'm also obsessive about researching my family tree.

I love genealogy too.

I always thought I had descended from all Irish tenant farmers on my dad's side, and from French, Polish, and Lithuanian peasants on my mom's.

Recently made some interesting discoveries:

my father's paternal grandmother was a Saint Leger; although branches of that family name are in Ireland, the name originates from France.

My maternal grandfather's last name was D'Arville - very French - but his mother was a Galloway from England.

My maternal grandmother's parents were both from the same small town in Lithuania, but met in America and married in Connecticut. Yesterday a Lithuanian relative I had never heard of before contacted me through ancestry.com. According to her, we are related to one of the Tsars. It will be very interesting to find out who and how.

There goes one of my theories: that my children are normal because my hearty peasant blood counteracted the intermarriages of the ancestors of my ex-husband, who is descended from so many royal families it makes my head spin.

Anyway, for a CPA like me, this hobby fits me like a glove. because you have to be a detective. And it's a lot of fun to boot.

Posted by: Marybeth at January 31, 2014 03:32 PM (zFUKI)

535 @Lauren, I'll be happy to read your book if you'll let me.

Right now, I spend a decent amount of time lurking here, because I'm a dork. But I was just cleaning out a shelf in my office the other day and found a "Reader's Journal" someone gave me a loooooong time ago. It's got space for a page, front and back, to log in books you've read and your thoughts about them. So I decided to start making my way through the Great Books list and documenting it for myself in the journal. I'm starting with the Epic of Gilgamesh and will try to work my way through the list from the Ancient era. I'm also working on designing my own curriculum for my son's second grade year. We used an in-a-box program for both K and 1st grade and it was a great way to get us started in homeschooling (which is nerve-wracking enough without having to figure out what you should be doing from day to day) but now that I've figured out my son's learning style and the type of lessons that grab his attention I think it's time I took the plunge and piecemeal what works for him together. So y'all say a prayer for me on that front, if you would, please? Aside from that I'm thinking of taking up jogging and refreshing my German.

Posted by: Mandy P., lurking lurker who lurks at January 31, 2014 03:32 PM (qFpRI)

536 You can apply to anything. For instance, what is the GOP aiming for? Not in words but in action, I mean. Think they'll 'hit' their target? You bet your ass they will.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 03:32 PM (FDyew)

537

Late to the show again...

I'm working on the design for the dust mitigation project for Owens Lake in CA. We are a Meebie-Weebie engineering firm hired for a percentage of the project because of federal tax dollars being blown require a minority or woman owned business must be used. In other words, I'm suckling the gubmint teat.

Posted by: wth at January 31, 2014 03:33 PM (wAQA5)

538 I would like to learn French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Chinese. But I am too damned cheap to buy "Rosetta Stone". Is there a volume discount?

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at January 31, 2014 03:33 PM (V70Uh)

539 There's a good bagpiping link in my sock, Cato. Just the thing for a beginner.

Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at January 31, 2014 03:33 PM (abZxN)

540

Ace sez:

This is so true. I've never felt prouder than when something big was achieved. The longer and more difficult the project the greater the feeling of accomplishment

Posted by: Ronster at January 31, 2014 03:34 PM (puNd6)

541 Dads usually do. Yeah but only when they get older.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 03:35 PM (FDyew)

542 >>It's rough country, but beautiful. The family lived up there through a drought and brush fire after brush fire. I don't know how they did it. I coughed my head off the one or two days I was up there with smoke filling the air.

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 03:35 PM (SUKHu)

543 Posted by: DamnDirtyRINO at January 31, 2014 07:32 PM (m0h0I)

Thanks DDR. Maybe I just didn't stick with it long enough.

Posted by: DangerGirl at January 31, 2014 03:35 PM (GrtrJ)

544 There's a good bagpiping link in my sock, Cato. Just the thing for a beginner. My brother took lessons for a while. His teacher called "Wha Saw the 42nd" the dum dum song. Because people would always ask for it by saying, "Do you know the song that goes, 'dum dum da dum dum dum dum'?".

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at January 31, 2014 03:36 PM (A0glY)

545 Hunting and fishing . I've been at it for almost 50 years and every day afield is a new start , brimming with potential and wonder and sometimes , a state of grace , or as my wife would call it , a flash of white light . It's the same thing mankind has done for tens of thousands of years and yet , it's fresh , wild , and quick . Later all , you guys are the greatest bunch .

Posted by: awkward davies at January 31, 2014 03:36 PM (WK8VM)

546 What interesting stuff are you working on ... I've been burning through many many books on the South Pacific during WW2 doing research for my Guadalcanal twitter accounts. I find the more I do, the easier it gets. Takes up a lot of time, though. But it's fun and it's a good excuse to actually READ all these ww2 books I've been accumulating for decades. (btw those accounts are @GuadaBattle and @GuadaLive42)

Posted by: Comrade Arthur at January 31, 2014 03:37 PM (h53OH)

547 Well, geez. Reading everyone else's accomplishments on this thread while I sit here like a bump on a log is making me depressed. Just kidding.

Posted by: rickl at January 31, 2014 03:37 PM (sdi6R)

548 1.    Target practice, when I can afford it
2.     Catching up on all of the books I have purchased and not read yet; over 100.
3.     Cancelling cable

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at January 31, 2014 03:37 PM (/i3Yt)

549 Anywho... he stated before he left that he intends to learn the bagpipes. You are the only other person who I have heard (sorta) say that.

Back in the early 80s there was a guy that would play the bagpipes near the river on the U of Minnesota campus. Nothing cooler than a foggy morning and the sound of bagpipes rising up from the river.

Posted by: The Hickster at January 31, 2014 03:37 PM (TI3xG)

550 >> I think it's time I took the plunge and piecemeal what works for him together. So y'all say a prayer for me on that front, if you would, please? Absolutely! I don't buy much, which was easier when they were younger. But there is so much free and cheap out there...

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 03:39 PM (SUKHu)

551 Bagpipes always bring a tear to my eye. Earlier this week, we buried a relative, former FD, they had bagpipes, doubly hard to stay composed.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at January 31, 2014 03:39 PM (/i3Yt)

552 Oh, and I'm getting readyto start my second 21 day sugar detox on Monday. I did the first one at New Year's and it really did help to kick sweet cravings. I felt amazing while I was doing it, too. I went back to the regular old paleo after and adding back in the honey and maple syrup triggered the sweet cravings again. When I'm done with the detox I'm going to be a lot more vigilant about adding any sweeteners to my food.

Posted by: Mandy P., lurking lurker who lurks at January 31, 2014 03:39 PM (qFpRI)

553 I've got a friend who plays the pipes. No, not Darth Vader. I don't know how young he was when he started learning.

And you mainly practice on the "flute" part alone called a "chanter" so it's not like you're making a huge amount of noise all the time while learning.

Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at January 31, 2014 03:40 PM (abZxN)

554 41 I started learning JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, and JQuery recently. I have nothing to do with web development, but I thought it'd be fun. Posted by: bonhomme at January 31, 2014 06:12 PM (gtjN1) Something you can do on off time?

Posted by: Scottye_fl at January 31, 2014 03:42 PM (PLFGk)

555 There are dozens of terrific ideas in this thread! You people are so creative and inspiring.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 03:42 PM (DmNpO)

556 Just thinking about the unarmed pipers leading the troops into battle gives me chills.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at January 31, 2014 03:42 PM (/i3Yt)

557 Oh NDH, congrats on getting back to work!

Posted by: Conservative Crank at January 31, 2014 03:44 PM (sQ0LB)

558 You can hear one here: https://soundcloud.com/bloodpudding/lullabye-3 Posted by: SFGoth

Just heard this. That was truly impressive.

When it comes to fine arts, I do stick figures not impressionist paintings. In music, I've written cartoon lyrics, for forty years. Sometimes as Randy Newman says I get off a good one, a well-done cartoon.

You write art. Posted by: Mindful webworker

Thanks! I've been waltzing to it for years, and finally learned to play it and wrote lyrics so it could be a pop song.

Posted by: SFGoth at January 31, 2014 03:44 PM (CyDmM)

559 Oh NDH, congrats on getting back to work! *** thanks, dude!

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 03:44 PM (DmNpO)

560 Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 07:39 PM (SUKHu) Thanks, Mama AJ! I'm nervous, but the in-a-box thing we've been doing bores the pants off my poor boy. He learns e material and does very well, but he is chomping at the bit to finish up and go play every day. Which is partly going to happen anyway because: kids. But I don't want to turn him off of learning and I know if I continue to push stuff that bores him he will associate boredom with learning and that's bad. So I'm going with something more kinesthetically geared for math and science and literature based for history and the language arts. He loves, loves, loves to build and put things together and to see how they work, and he also loves reading great stories, so I'm hoping that approach will be more successful in engaging his interest.

Posted by: Mandy P., lurking lurker who lurks at January 31, 2014 03:45 PM (qFpRI)

561 >>Anyway,for a CPA like me,this hobby fits me like a glove. because you have to be a detective. And it's a lot of fun to boot. I started playing with it some last year. Well, hubby had done a bunch of hard work trying to trace some of his family. Then we started looking at my mom's family and within 5 minutes were back to people who came over 10 years after the Mayflower and then back further in England. There is some great work already done on Ancestry dot com, but there are some people's family trees that are just wrong, or rely on guesses. I can trace my maternal grandmother really easily, but can't get anything on my maternal grandfather's birth or parents. And my paternal grandparents' families? Nada.

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 03:45 PM (SUKHu)

562 >>>I had a fly rod for years I seldom used. I tried it a number of times in local waters but the native trout were too smart, or I was too dumb. Probably the latter.

Protip. Best hours for trout are from sunrise until the sun strikes the water and the reverse on the backside of the day. Trout don't like to bite once sun hits the water.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at January 31, 2014 03:46 PM (0q2P7)

563 One of my projects was dismantling a 30'X48' Morton building, hauling it home (16 miles) and re-erecting it while adding on an additional 12'.

Posted by: Ronster at January 31, 2014 03:46 PM (puNd6)

564 John Ratzenberger made in America bagpipes show.

A cool look at how they are made and work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGtNWlsOPrM

Posted by: The Hickster at January 31, 2014 03:47 PM (TI3xG)

565 I did that with lifting weights a few years ago. Got a nice little 3x a week routine takes about 30 minutes. Then I bumped it to a slightly more advanced 4x/30, with a goal of pressing my weight and squatting my weight + 50%. Did the same with running. Ran 5K, ran 10K. Tempted now to do something outrageous like train for a competition. Not a lifting competition (which would be in keeping with some past activities I've done) but a bodybuilding (i.e. beauty) competition which would be so totally unlike me I can barely imagine it. It definitely keeps you interested. I try to learn a new stringed instrument every year, or style of playing. Guitar (folk, blues, classical, flamenco), ukelele, banjo... That's just fun. I'd love to take up language again. But then my problem gets to be very quickly that there's just not enough time to do everything so I'm trying to prioritize. The interesting thing to me is the question of identity. "Are you the sort of person that...?" And the answer is, "Well, up to now, no. But maybe this is the year..."

Posted by: moviegique at January 31, 2014 03:48 PM (7zeA4)

566 Just thinking about the unarmed pipers leading the troops into battle gives me chills.
After the second Jacobite Rebellion (in 1745) the English banned the pipes as they were an instrument of war...
www.imdb.com/title/tt0928371/
... is a good documentary if you can find it anywhere.

Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at January 31, 2014 03:48 PM (abZxN)

567 >>But I don't want to turn him off of learning and I know if I continue to push stuff that bores him he will associate boredom with learning and that's bad. It's been a goal of mine to create a love of learning and we've been partially successful. Have you read much about unschooling? You don't have to...commit to it, I'll say, to get something out of understanding the concept and get some awesome ways to learn and live.

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 03:49 PM (SUKHu)

568 I haven't started any hobbies or learned any new skills, but last weekend I did a little thing. I formatted the text of Francisco d'Anconia's money speech from Atlas Shrugged on a single 12" x 18" sheet. I originally did it in order to hang it up in the lobby where I work. My boss is cool with the idea, and tomorrow I may go see about getting it framed. I've also put a PDF up on Scribd as a free download. (Thanks for the suggestion, Tami!) http://www.scribd.com/doc/202338680/Francisco-s-Speech Feel free to download it, print it, e-mail it, put it on your Facebook page, or whatever. Our society desperately needs the ideas expressed in it. Most people will never read the 1100+ plus pages of Atlas Shrugged. This short excerpt distills the spirit of the book, and if I can do my small part to spread it, that will be great.

Posted by: rickl at January 31, 2014 03:50 PM (sdi6R)

569 A real goal for me this year is to learn how to TIG weld.

Posted by: Countrysquire at January 31, 2014 03:50 PM (8FyP4)

570 @ 547 [DangerGirl] -- It's easy to get discouraged because it does hurt like hell at first. But, just like anything that requires the use of muscles you're not used to using, it gets easier with persistence.

But, there's nothing like learning that first song and being able to play it smoothly. When that happens, other things start falling into place and you learn more songs. Then, you start to notice patterns that make other songs easier to learn and it just kind of snowballs from there.

I recently signed up for lessons hoping to learn how to navigate up and down the neck with some confidence in order to play some leads and solos. I went to exactly one lesson before deciding, "Nah, I can do better on my own." And I was right. Getting it right on your own is vastly more satisfying that having someone teach it to you. It just requires a lot of patience with yourself.

Posted by: DamnDirtyRINO at January 31, 2014 03:50 PM (m0h0I)

571 Well this is late and it may seem silly, but I'm walking again. I mean going out in the evenings after work and just walking a couple miles. Before I finally bit the bullet and did the knee replacement I had not been able to do that for *years*. I forgot how much I enjoyed it. Lets the stress of the workday just go away. And now, it doesn't hurt.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at January 31, 2014 03:50 PM (l7DqC)

572 Something you can do on off time? Yep. I've been looking for something fun to code. I break code all day, it's fun to build too.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at January 31, 2014 03:50 PM (J79eW)

573 Countrysquire, What brand of welder do you have?

Posted by: Ronster at January 31, 2014 03:52 PM (puNd6)

574 Yep. I've been looking for something fun to code. I break code all day, it's fun to build too. Posted by: bonhomme at January 31, 2014 07:50 PM (J79eW) Would it be too intrusive to email with you to pick your brain?

Posted by: Scottye_fl at January 31, 2014 03:52 PM (PLFGk)

575

566 . . . but there are some people's family trees that are just wrong, or rely on guesses.

No doubt about that. That's why I always get documentation before saying a relationship is certain.

I use the family trees on ancestry as clues only.

Posted by: Marybeth at January 31, 2014 03:53 PM (zFUKI)

576 I get obsessed with learning strange things now and then. I learned basic lock picking a couple years ago; now I'm fixated on the idea of learning how to navigate with a sextant (never mind that I don't own a boat). Mostly, I just have to be careful that my flash-in-the-pan interests don't end up costing me a bunch of money.

Posted by: PabloD at January 31, 2014 03:53 PM (7ywMx)

577 Also, about Ferris' book? I like it, and there's a lot to be said for the principle that "If you can get 80% of the results for 20% of the effort, why not?" But I sometimes think Ferris never gives 100% on anything.

Posted by: moviegique at January 31, 2014 03:53 PM (7zeA4)

578 I don't have a TIG yet, just a MIG. I'm hoping to find a deal on a used Miller or Lincoln.

Posted by: Countrysquire at January 31, 2014 03:54 PM (8FyP4)

579 For the past several years, I have been catching up on the reading that I was supposed to do in my youth.

The Scarlet Letter. check.
Two Years Before the Mast. check.
Ben Hur. check.
The Agony and the Ecstasy. check.
Brave New World. check.
The Great Gatsby. check.
Hemingway, Faulkner, Steinbeck, check, check, check.

It's too bad that our POTUS never read any of them.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at January 31, 2014 03:54 PM (V70Uh)

580 Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 07:49 PM (SUKHu) Yes ma'am. I think my philosophy is probably more classically inclined. The whole idea of the Trivium makes so much sense to me and seems to express a lot of the things my mom (who is a teacher) and I have talked about on the topic of education over the years. But the up schooling movement has some very valid ideas and I love that the community stresses letting your kids be kids and letting the learn as much via experience as possible. So those ideas I will be trying to incorporate into my curriculum choices.

Posted by: Mandy P., lurking lurker who lurks at January 31, 2014 03:54 PM (qFpRI)

581 Hey Ace, if you are still looking for more practice with spoken French, have you looked in to TuneInRadio? It's an Android app (I have it on my Kindle Fire) and you can get all kinds of streaming radio channels. I was looking for Gaelic, and found two! I'm still trying to learn Morse code. I figure it will be a useful skill in the Burning Times/camps...

Posted by: Sabrina Chase at January 31, 2014 03:55 PM (2buaQ)

582 >>And now, it doesn't hurt. That's wonderful.

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 03:55 PM (SUKHu)

583 Get on your car, roll down the windows and drive through your neighborhood screaming ... SUMMER IS COMING. !!!

Posted by: Islamic Rage Boy at January 31, 2014 03:56 PM (e8kgV)

584 Would it be too intrusive to email with you to pick your brain? I'd rather talk here. I work in a very left geographical area and I don't have a throwaway email account, so I don't want to link my email to my comments here. Did you see my comments above on my recommendations on books and technologies to learn?

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at January 31, 2014 03:56 PM (J79eW)

585 What interesting stuff are you working on, or, what interesting stuff do you think you'll give a try? In order to do any of that I need to get out of this underemployment rut. And to get out of the underemployment rut I need the economy to palpably improve, instead of this filling-a-glass-drop-by-drop shit, with the constant danger that the glass is going to be tipped over by some as-yet unknown event. Because let's face it - most of this sort of thing takes money to do, and right now there's not a lot of it to spend freely.

Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at January 31, 2014 03:57 PM (itCai)

586 While we can coast on our knowledge and abilities for years; this status doesn't produce that subtle buzz you gain from healthy mind and body. The mind is either undergoing growth or shrinking from lack of challenge. Even physical conditioning becomes tiresome without variety, learning and challenge. Experiencing the stimulation of continual challenge is fairly easy to acquire until your profession, family, business (fill in the blank) ties you into obligations which eliminate much of that free time to pursue new experiences. I have jumped professions over the years when they lost the ability to provide new challenges, and introduced the dreaded element: repetition without the spice of new learning. I suppose you might say that I need to approach non-learning repetition as a challenge, but so far, I fail at doing so. I had the great fortune to have had certain skills that allowed me to jump trains, sometimes traveling in an entirely different direction; and get away with it. Surprisingly, the profession I swore I'd never touch, and one that two weeks of headache brought me to a place of self-doubt, ended up becoming the one I loved most. So, if you've considered pursuing something interesting but find the change might incur risk; go for it. Risk and challenge bring growth, and blow away mental stagnation. Try jumping into something completely new; something that you find you cannot do well at the start. I think studying something that's not in your area was a great idea. Now- that is not encouragment to stop writing your blog!

Posted by: I'd rather be surfin at January 31, 2014 03:58 PM (KBR4k)

587

Nice post ace. I'm late to the thread, it's been a rough week.

Before the holidays, I decided I was going to make a quilt and enter it in the County Fair. Kinda dorky. Anyway, I have all the pieces cut out and I bought a quilt frame. Gonna pull out the sewing machnine and get started this weekend. Between the holidays, there was an article in the Sunday paper about Astronaurt Karen Nyberg, from houston and she is asking for quilt blocks from around the Country for a quilt. Seems she was making quilt squares while in space from all sorts of scraps of stuff. Gonna make a block and to send. See what happens.

Oh, I have never made a quilt before.

Posted by: Infidel at January 31, 2014 03:58 PM (6bvBO)

588 Since my daughter is learning French from an iPad app, I figured I'd try something new and learn some with her. Mixed results so far, but I just started. Ace: have you heard of or tried "Smart French"? It is inexpensive on Amazon, and focuses on pronunciation and everyday language.

Posted by: somecallmetim at January 31, 2014 03:59 PM (hjick)

589 joint pain? two words: fish oil 'nuff said

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 03:59 PM (FDyew)

590 Posted by: bonhomme at January 31, 2014 07:56 PM (J79eW) No sweat, I understand.

Posted by: Scottye_fl at January 31, 2014 03:59 PM (PLFGk)

591 The minimum amount of forward motion will eventually get you where you're going. Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 07:05 PM (/FnUH) -- that is great advice

Posted by: votermom at January 31, 2014 03:59 PM (GSIDW)

592 I messed with a neighbors TIG welder for a bit. It didn't seem that difficult. I only own a stick welder. It has served me well. I can't do exotic welding but, hey I don't need to.

Posted by: Ronster at January 31, 2014 04:00 PM (puNd6)

593 >>I'm still trying to learn Morse code. I figure it will be a useful skill in the Burning Times/camps... And you could work it into a book like so many movies have already done...okay, maybe not. With a twist, like the aliens who can figure out English and that whole space travel thing might be able to pick up Morse code, too!!

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 04:01 PM (SUKHu)

594 @COAlex:

Do you have much experience? What's the difference between English/Italian/German styles?

Posted by: ConservativeMonster at January 31, 2014 04:02 PM (ioT3q)

595 Get some Electric Lemmon G13 Ace and question happiness no more.

Posted by: Twoslaps at January 31, 2014 04:02 PM (gjivo)

596 soothsayer, yeah, good advice. but it was bone on bone.. there was nothin left to lube ... TWSS

Posted by: Dave in Texas at January 31, 2014 04:02 PM (l7DqC)

597 also thanks MamaAJ

Posted by: Dave in Texas at January 31, 2014 04:03 PM (l7DqC)

598 Ha, actually I honestly haven't written any sex scenes. Yet? I don't know if I will or not, I get so skeeved out by thinking of authors like George R. R. Martin panting over his characters that I don't know I could ever do it myself. Posted by: Lauren at January 31, 2014 07:08 PM (hFL/3) == Some of the best love stories/sub-plots I've read had no sex scenes. Some are not even romantic love - just utter loyalty & devotion. Hm, like in Temeraire, between dragon & rider.

Posted by: votermom at January 31, 2014 04:04 PM (GSIDW)

599 fish oil is also anti inflammatory

Posted by: soothsayer at January 31, 2014 04:04 PM (FDyew)

600 I've taken up playing chess again and I'm teaching my 7 year old to play. My BIL is a chess master of sorts so I'm hoping those genes rubbed off on my son rather than my mediocre ability. Inspired by ace I've also tried learning German, the language of my dirty Kraut ancestors.

Posted by: Wonkish Rogue at January 31, 2014 04:05 PM (dvRYt)

601 Let's see: Still unpacking in our new home. Buying truck, ATV (with farm appliances). Got a 2012 Tacoma less than 16k miles on it, sweet. Hooking up with the local GOP. Trying to figure out what we can grow on<10 acres that will make money and/or qualify us for ag exemption on property taxes (Sherriff didn't like first idea, let's just say). Just found out I'm building a greenhouse. Hold the hammer by the skinny end, right?

Posted by: Richard McEnroe at January 31, 2014 04:05 PM (XO6WW)

602 Get some Electric Lemmon G13 Ace and question happiness no more. I had to google. A very small and stupid part of me wonders if one reason the left wants to legalize is as a honey trap. Get everyone buying pot, then take CCW licenses away from anyone on the pot purchase lists.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at January 31, 2014 04:05 PM (J79eW)

603 Also trying to get my online store back up and Amazon vendors' account back in gear. And proving my fee-yancy legally exists in a form satisfactory for a TX DL. She hasn't kept a legal identity document in ahem-years so, whee. I don't have TIME to be depressed.

Posted by: Richard McEnroe at January 31, 2014 04:07 PM (XO6WW)

604 ok here is a thought thats happy and not much dwelt upon. Bat rescue. Which leads to all kinds of absurd things like baby bats hanging from laundry drying racks, wrapped up like little burritos and being bottle fed, and later living in bug flight cages before their release playing with toys. yes. Bats. Playing. With. Little. Plush. Toys.

the big center in Texas is called Bat World Sanctuary but they have people in Australia who do this too. i hear theres a lot of call for it there. But seriously i got started on this subject some years ago looking for a novel gift for my kinda goth sister so i made a donation and adopted a bat at Bat world and paid for its care for a year.

Since i do horse rescue and Trap Neuter Release management of feral cats it just made sense to me. I think those are positive things that bring me such joy as well. Anyway this has been my own brand of a positive news break, not as cool as learning a language, but in its own way fun and full of a clean satisfaction of having made a small corner of the world ok again.

Posted by: gushka can has Kittys what plays fetch! at January 31, 2014 04:10 PM (f858s)

605 This has been an inspiring thread. I finally caught up and checked the front page. Andy has the podcast up. Ace has moved on to the Ukraine.

Posted by: mindful webworker - inspired by y'all at January 31, 2014 04:10 PM (U13jb)

606 TWSS That would seriously suck. Time will stand still. Toddlers won't sit still. Teach with silent spite. Toot with steamy sensuality.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at January 31, 2014 04:10 PM (J79eW)

607

Alcohol and firearms are a bad combination.

Hallucinogens and firearms? Sounds like a recipe for tragedy, or Darwin.

Posted by: Conservative Crank at January 31, 2014 04:10 PM (sQ0LB)

608 143 Wish we could get Ace to Texas. Guns, rodeos, nightlife in all the major cities...... Posted by: rickb223 at January 31, 2014 06:20 PM (cUARf) --------------------------------------------------- ....girls with primitive Texas accents. Big San Antonio Rodeo this month. Going twice. Fee-yancy has very firm opinions on those TX girls sadly.

Posted by: Richard McEnroe at January 31, 2014 04:13 PM (XO6WW)

609 I took up bass guitar in September after failing earlier in the year at a six-string.
I'm using pieces of my brain that I did not know I had.

It has kept me so busy I haven't posted here (though I still lurk) or listened to Beck or Limbaugh in months.

My outlook has improved.

Good times.

Posted by: Joe Mama at January 31, 2014 04:15 PM (vqAQ9)

610 Ace: "So, as I asked a few weeks back: What interesting stuff are you working on, or, what interesting stuff do you think you'll give a try?"

I'm going to try abusing myself with the repetitive mechanical fury of a misfiring industrial robot. In ten years, I'll let you know how I've progressed.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at January 31, 2014 04:15 PM (eHIJJ)

611 I also just got a (new to me) 73 ford Super Duty Pickup with the extra big bed and a 328 big block engine. Its silver, fairly straight with not very much car cancer on it, and should haul a three horse trailer ok. I am over the moon about it. planning my first breeding season in six years right now and i have a dream horse to ride. just bought a new saddle for her and i really cant complain of any of my materiel circumstances, right now.

did i mention i learned to drive in a 73 Ford Super Duty? Yeah. who said you can get that feeling from your teen years back?

Posted by: gushka can has Kittys what plays fetch! at January 31, 2014 04:16 PM (f858s)

612 595

joint pain?

two words:

fish oil

'nuff said

Try a bong, instead.

Posted by: CO pot growers at January 31, 2014 04:17 PM (vqAQ9)

613 >>Which leads to all kinds of absurd things like baby bats hanging from laundry drying racks, wrapped up like little burritos and being bottle fed, and later living in bug flight cages before their release playing with toys. yes. Bats. Playing. With. Little. Plush. Toys. Hee, hee. Thank you for that.

Posted by: Mama AJ at January 31, 2014 04:18 PM (SUKHu)

614 I've been refreshing my memory of ancient history and Campbell's 'power of myth.' History gives context to contemporary events, while an understanding of mythology gives some depth to that context. I'm also thinking about hitting the maths. ...mebbe a foreign language (and/or Latin). Learn something new, every day. Specialization is for insects.

Posted by: Warren Bonesteel at January 31, 2014 04:19 PM (klGLB)

615 Also, something I'm planning to try in the not-too-distant future is to combine my love of guitars and photography. I'm hoping to take an old, beat-up, but otherwise good-quality guitar, strip it down completely, and do a transfer of one of my photos onto the body -- like so: http://is.gd/w5UkjZ

I'd also like to hotrod the guitar a little, but I have a few things (more than a few, actually) about that. So, it's a long-term project, as I have a lot to learn about finishing wood along with guitar guts.

But, I think it'd be a really rewarding thing to create something like that with my own two hands.

Posted by: DamnDirtyRINO at January 31, 2014 04:26 PM (m0h0I)

616 Posted by: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 07:27 PM (tVTLU)

Winston was very creative. Did you know that he was instrumental in designing the Mulberry floating piers that they used in the Normandy invasion?

Posted by: LFW - Honorary Pointy Eared Vulcan at January 31, 2014 04:26 PM (SudzO)

617 I'm still intrigued with Sous Vide water cooking. I want to give it a try.

Posted by: toby928© at January 31, 2014 04:27 PM (QupBk)

618 joint pain? ... Try a bong, instead. Posted by: CO pot growers Exactly. [toon in nick - warning: may be constrood as rayciss]

Posted by: dumbass honkeigh muggle spliff twisters at January 31, 2014 04:30 PM (U13jb)

619 I'm gutting a poorly built tub surround , the tile was cracking off because they drywalled the entire room and then put durock board over it. Water wicked thru to the drywall, they did the master shower the same, already gutted that out.

Also I have to rebuild the lower sections of two garage doors, well, replace completely. And my wife wants me to build a platform bed with storage slots underneath. And a back deck, and put in a sliding door in place of a window to get to it. Fortunately I've done it all before.

Posted by: bill sometimes bill from canada at January 31, 2014 04:32 PM (qUk23)

620 Ace Like you, I work alone Meetup groups on the web (or app) help with hanging with new, cool people. There are groups for just about any interest, or, some aremjust socialmto get out among people. Hope you're still reading.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at January 31, 2014 04:32 PM (ojnk6)

621 Forgot to mention,I just recently replaced the central A/c inside and out, with a little help, and have some repairs to do on two vehicles, brakes, timing belt , gas tank sender, etc

Posted by: bill sometimes bill from canada at January 31, 2014 04:35 PM (qUk23)

622 Just got to the comments. I am the Chairman of a 501(C3) scholarship group. Details in my nic. Our group is running it's third Constitution Bee March 2nd. We will award scholarships to the top three winners. So that's what I do for fun. I am also the quizmaster, and I must have my questions ready by COB tomorrow.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 31, 2014 04:35 PM (u82oZ)

623 Also have to sing at a wedding in July , been a soloist and chorister for years but need to learn two pieces and keep voice in shape at my age, oh and find an accompanist.

Posted by: bill sometimes bill from canada at January 31, 2014 04:37 PM (qUk23)

624 For: prescient11 at January 31, 2014 07:27 PM (tVTLU) You have it right. Also you might want to have a dekko at this link:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank#Conception Go down that page to the third reference to Etymology.

Posted by: BarneyOffal at January 31, 2014 04:37 PM (ul4Lc)

625 For a while now I've been doing a once-a-week, informal machinist's "apprenticeship" in the home shop of some friends (one is a machinist in his day job, the other is a skilled amateur). Also been accumulating a small shop of my own at home.

Have been getting much more serious about cooking. Not just cooking to make a meal, but trying to achieve something special on a regular basis (i.e. once a week or more often).

Also I bought a farm. Well, it's a woodlot, but I've taken three acres out of the forest conservation program, and plan to clear and farm that portion. The soil is good (capability grade 2e) so I expect good things. Sadly it seems all my old injuries have come back to haunt me in the last couple of years, and I can't do half of what I could just five years ago. It's hard to deal with, especially in terms of morale. So that's a challenge.

Posted by: The inexplicable Dr. Julius Strangepork at January 31, 2014 04:41 PM (LrxQR)

626 prescient11 and mindful webworker need to team up IMHO, both have great ideas

Posted by: FCF at January 31, 2014 04:41 PM (Khja4)

627 73 ford Super Duty Pickup with the extra big bed and a 328 big block engine.>>

FIFY 428 Big Block

Posted by: The Hickster at January 31, 2014 04:42 PM (TI3xG)

628 "I would again encourage everyone to find something new that interests them, whatever it is, and pursue that hobby, or that interest, whether it's starting to build model planes again (one guy I know is having a second childhood with models, and is enjoying it) or becoming an expert on the Revolutionary War..." Yeah, uh... about that... the last time I did that I started getting more involved with politics.... Fuck... THAT!

Posted by: skinnydipinacid at January 31, 2014 04:42 PM (WuCLB)

629 Nied@505: CS50x online is absolutely FREE. If you get halfway through and realize you're cruising to a Harvard "A," you can opt in to pay the tuition and earn undergrad credits. But no financial aid, so very spendy. Last year's CS50 lectures have their own ROKU channel, so you can sample and decide. Not too late to enroll, but you only have 11 months left to complete a 13-week course.

Posted by: Little Miss Spellcheck at January 31, 2014 04:43 PM (a5ljo)

630 What Ace says at the start is true. I worked for Honda on the line and after you learned the processes it was terminally boring, I nearly hallucinated. I finally walked out, well, refused to go in, after 0ne day I worked for a different section and had to learn a new assembly process, but never went back again. It was soul crushing. Got a job asa small engine mechanic quickly. Lost 22 pounds working there.

Posted by: bill sometimes bill from canada at January 31, 2014 04:45 PM (qUk23)

631 Mandy, I started a Great Books reading challenge myself about...um...let's not say how many years ago. (It has been stalled for a while.) I recommend getting a couple different translations of the shorter works like Gilgamesh; one of the ones I read was scholarly, while the other was more poetic, so it was great to get the two different perspectives. Also, I strongly recommend *not* trying to do it in Bloom's exact order and letting yourself feel free to jump around. The Mahabharata, for example, is like Numbers meets the Silmarillion as told by Scheherazade on crack. Nested narrators-within-narrators, every character has like 5 names...while it is interesting, it is one long and difficult read. I think I left off about 1/6 of the way through the first volume. Loooooooong way to go if I really am going to finish it someday. I jumped down to Greek stuff in the meantime. Anyway, I do need to get back on my Great Books horse, and also read some of the stack of books on my nightstand. I have a bad habit of rereading the same fiction instead of picking up new stuff, but this is because I have been unlucky lately and keep picking up books with sad endings. I have a stressful job, so I don't want to come home and read something depressing. (The last book I picked up was about a kid with cancer who died at the end. It was well-written, yes, but that is NOT what I want to read for relaxation, especially as a parent!) I also paint a little...I did a Yellowstone scene for my parents and a Belize scene for my sister and BIL for Christmas, and a handful of ornaments for the rest of the family (including a leg lamp, haha). It's fun. And I recently got a couple of grownup coloring books for additional relaxation purposes, though I have to take my contacts out for those because I'm old. Oh, and I have a boxful of puzzle magazines. I freaking love logic problems.

Posted by: Mrs. Peel at January 31, 2014 04:46 PM (1EtXn)

632 um...when I say "grownup" coloring books I don't mean "adult" coloring books. I mean, like, 50+ pages of complex patterns and tiny details and shit, as opposed to 10 pages of the latest animated movie characters.

Posted by: Mrs. Peel at January 31, 2014 04:49 PM (1EtXn)

633 @ 631 [Dr. Julius Strangepork] -- For a while now I've been doing a once-a-week, informal machinist's "apprenticeship" in the home shop of some friends (one is a machinist in his day job, the other is a skilled amateur). Also been accumulating a small shop of my own at home.

I envy you for that. I've always found the idea of machining fascinating. I kick myself in the ass for not taking classes in it when I was in high school. I can't imagine a more useful skill to have (aside from medicine, I suppose).

Posted by: DamnDirtyRINO at January 31, 2014 04:49 PM (m0h0I)

634 I think that's some pretty good progress you've made there in French, Ace. I have been learning Spanish with the Living Language series. It's a beautiful language, plus I'd like to know what all these Mexicans are saying. Plus, unlike when I learned French (8th grade through college), everything is all in Spanish as well as English, on signs; there are lots of Spanish stations, etc. That's good advice you give, I think. I'm a pretty old dog, but old dogs can learn new tricks; if a bit more slowly.

Posted by: Alana at January 31, 2014 04:49 PM (PeVB1)

635 I have a homemade bread mixer made from a Ktel pasta maker and a drill chuck, and some plywood. Don't laugh, it works like a charm and has a huge gear reduction which will mix anything. Those pasta makers drives are well made, the nylon gears aere over 1/2 inch thick. Even I'm amazed it still works after twn years of weekly use. I have a complte unit for backup if it ever breaks.

There's at least one outfit online will do a complete rebuild of older Kitchenaid mixerx

Posted by: bill sometimes bill from canada at January 31, 2014 05:01 PM (qUk23)

636 Making red challenge flags to throw at the refs when they blow a call this Sunday. A must for every Hochs fan with high blood pressure! Heh .. a little Germerman to balance the Frenchificatonalism taking place.

Posted by: uwcryptocon at January 31, 2014 05:06 PM (6qMMx)

637 For these days like winter when its time to be inside as a MAN you have to work with your hands. Buy a Magazine called WoodenBoat and get a set of plans to build a wood canoe. They are challenging to your analytical and creative mind and it's something that your children can help with. You don't need a bunch of special equipment. If your a guy you should have the tools anyway. All it takes is a bit of garage space and some elbow grease. The project takes about the winter season and then in the spring you can float it.

Posted by: Bali Bali Zingo at January 31, 2014 05:06 PM (g3Mw9)

638 This is NOT depression. This is merely having the blues, which happens to all of us now and again. True depression is a horrible gray cloud in your soul that will not go away no matter what you do or try or say or think.

Posted by: Teh Most Interesting Man at January 31, 2014 05:07 PM (dTh2r)

639
FIFY 428 Big Block

Posted by: The Hickster at January 31, 2014 08:42 PM (TI3xG)

thank you Hickster. I feel like such a girl, but my thing is horses. the steel ones... thats my dads thing. Mom is in a snit. you would have thought i found dad a mistress.

Posted by: gushka can has Kittys what plays fetch! at January 31, 2014 05:09 PM (f858s)

640 Nied@505: CS50x online is absolutely FREE. If you get halfway through and realize you're cruising to a Harvard "A," you can opt in to pay the tuition and earn undergrad credits. But no financial aid, so very spendy. Last year's CS50 lectures have their own ROKU channel, so you can sample and decide. Not too late to enroll, but you only have 11 months left to complete a 13-week course. **** No freaking way! Free?! That's incredible!

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at January 31, 2014 05:20 PM (DmNpO)

641 I took machining all thru high school. I used to do some work, mostly for myself, at my job, lunch or evenings because they got a mill and lathe.

Also welded for work, we got a stick machine, and I learned from some pipeline welders. I have a stick at home just welded up a basketball net pole for my son.
My wife wants a piano for the kids , cost is about 1000 for used, maybe I'll learn to play, should have years ago exc my brother was using it all the time.

Posted by: bill sometimes bill from canada at January 31, 2014 05:23 PM (qUk23)

642 Ace says "I'm looking for fun, happy things and I'm not finding them" No shite - Obama's still POTUS and the GOP is imploding. As John McClane would say: "Join the party pal"! Super Bowl? Olympics? January is over - better weather ahead? How about this: Did you check out the video of Jon Stewart dissing the Botox Queen? Look I'm really tryin here Ace....

Posted by: Pelosi Schmelosi at January 31, 2014 05:25 PM (5QDt1)

643 I am taking a lot of different courses on Coursera.org. Since I am a programmer I am currently learning to program Android mobile apps but I have also taken courses on philosophy, behavioural economics (taught by Dan Ariely, no less) and the basic workings of nuclear reactors. Since I am pro-nuke, I thought it might come in handy when I am arguing with that lefty green twit of a Facebook friend I somehow acquired.

Posted by: TrueNorth at January 31, 2014 05:30 PM (Hm521)

644 Ace I am finishing my sci fi novel so the Horde can be entertained and maybe I can make neigh to buy a sixer of old e from the profits!

Posted by: Secret squirrel at January 31, 2014 05:35 PM (0SmH0)

645 Well, when I turned 40 I decided to do something new every year. Started fishing. which then led to fly fishing. Then brewed my own beer, took up martial arts, then shooting. Stuff like that. Useful stuff. Did some spiritual stuff this year. Daily rosary - rosary confraternity.

Posted by: simplemind at January 31, 2014 05:38 PM (hTeQK)

646 I want to learn to meditate, to clam and clear my mind I want to try yoga My husband got promoted to a huge job today, which requires significant participation on my part and will take me out of my comfort zone a bit. I find having children in my life keeps me learning new things all the time. Never a dull moment

Posted by: john McCain at January 31, 2014 05:43 PM (zOTsN)

647 that was me, old stinky sock

Posted by: thunderb at January 31, 2014 05:43 PM (zOTsN)

648 Mama AJ, in case you're still reading this: gaming writing= tabletop RPG Yeah, I'm one of THOSE.

Posted by: grognard at January 31, 2014 05:43 PM (Be2Wn)

649 calm my mind. Not clam my mind. What on earth would that be

Posted by: thunderb at January 31, 2014 05:45 PM (zOTsN)

650 Like I said above, canal cruising is good for the soul. I remember one time we spent a week going up the Oxford canal to Banbury and back. Then we got on the Flying Scotsman or whatever the fuck train and headed north again from said Oxford. Just got settled in and the missus says how long til we pass through Banbury? As I prepared to use my male ability to estimate things spatial to predict how many minutes it would be, we flashed through a station and saw the big black on white sign... B A N B U R Y.

Posted by: Ray Van Dune at January 31, 2014 05:57 PM (qIFL7)

651 Oh! I forgot to mention that I took a beginner's course in AutoCAD last fall at a local vo-tech school. It was good, but I don't think I learned enough to be able to do anything useful with it. I may have to try to find more advanced courses. Vo-tech schools are great. No matter what your age or station in life, you can take evening courses and learn new skills. They're not that expensive, either. My class cost $360, which is a damn sight better than going into debt in order to attend a four-year college. You can pick and choose classes that interest you.

Posted by: rickl at January 31, 2014 05:59 PM (sdi6R)

652 My better half "forced" me into a couch to 5k or whatever group through our local high end running gear shop which turned out (I will grudgingly admit) to be the best thing I've done in 15 years. I literally and figuratively was a fat old mess turning 50 with no stamina. Hadn't run in over 10 years, way out of shape. Within 4 months we did our first 5k, and thereafter, continuing with our group--graduating from the walk/run group to the just run group--we've gotten used to the run and feel much better for it. We even did the Castaway 5k on our Disney cruise at their island in the Bahamas. And we did it slowly--no 6x a week crap to start (and we're still not 6x a week, you can take time off to relax/repair).

Posted by: hamitchell at January 31, 2014 06:03 PM (yY/3g)

653 Oh, and I'm not a "group" person, but they were a great bunch of similarly situated people. Made some nice friends along the way with the added benefit that we wanted to see them every week which gave us added impetus to go out and run.

Posted by: hamitchell at January 31, 2014 06:05 PM (yY/3g)

654 Learning metalworking for making jewelry Remaining very active as an adult leader in Boy Scouts (slotted to become Scoutmaster next year @ age 60) Landscaping at home and at beach Researching and writing family's history Those are the big things; there are plenty of little ones...

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars™ [/i] [/b] [/s] at January 31, 2014 06:06 PM (skFw3)

655 Photography. Realized that I have a decent eye for it, and it gives me another reason to go out roaming out and about. Invested in better equipment recently, and am actually bothering to learn some of the technical stuff now.

Posted by: Stu-22 at January 31, 2014 06:08 PM (KbrNh)

656 What makes one person happy bores another: martial arts, scuba diving, swimming, caving, hiking, horseback riding, gardening, reading, music, cooking,travel, historical preservation, debate, acting, bird-watching, animals. Life has endless possibilities to enjoy.

Posted by: I'd rather be surfin at January 31, 2014 06:12 PM (KBR4k)

657 biancaneve (353):
You're a "volunteer usher at the Shakespeare Theatre"? That wouldn't be the one where I saw Timon of Athens last night, would it? I live a block away and go every week, which means we would know each other by sight at least.

Posted by: Dr. Weevil at January 31, 2014 06:15 PM (2jD3D)

658 @rather be surfing damn dude your name evoked this wonderful endless wave in my brain

thanks!

Posted by: FCF at January 31, 2014 06:17 PM (Khja4)

659 Autoerotic asphyxiation works for me.

Posted by: Mystery Meat at January 31, 2014 06:18 PM (tvTBx)

660 I don't like my current job at all so a few years ago I enrolled at an online college and became a computer science major. I am not a computer geek but so far I'm doing well and on track to graduate in about a year. I don't know how good the education actually is but I am fairly sure I'll be able to change careers. I'm 37 so I'll likely be older than the other applicants but screw it, my advantage is that I'm 37 and will have already had various jobs for a few decades.

Posted by: mike at January 31, 2014 07:07 PM (PQhKZ)

661 Forced to leave my teaching job as a math teacher, and a woodwind player, I am trying to spend this forced "sabbatical" learning to write short stories, and I bought a Telecaster Thinline and am messing around with it tuned in "open D" to learn to play old blues licks.

Posted by: Wry Mouth at January 31, 2014 07:22 PM (GMFsH)

662 >>>Ace: have you heard of or tried "Smart French"? It is inexpensive on Amazon, and focuses on pronunciation and everyday language. no... I don't know if I want that kind of course. I got Rosetta Stone. One problem is that those courses, while they supposedly end at the "Intermediate" or "Advanced" level, really end at the Advanced Beginner level. My learning is a little haphazard and I have big gaps (I don't do drills very often, so grammar rules tend to slip out of mind) but I'm above that level, mostly, now. I'm in a sort of difficult place where I'm done with beginner stuff but not able yet to watch a French movie and understand it. The "intermediate" level is sort of a tough place. If I knew more, I could just start learning right from movies. But I don't, and I'm too bored by basic stuff.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 07:25 PM (/FnUH)

663 Great post, Ace. My problem(s) are starting and never finishing a million hobbies. I need to brush up on my pathetic French and a little German for upcoming trip on a Bavarian express son is planning.

I now have the time to accomplish some things, but lack time management. thanks for this post. I read it after reading about Joffen above. I do hate wasting my time on this earth and spinning wheels. Thanks for kick in the arse on subject. xoxo

Posted by: ChristyBlinky survived 2014 Polar Vortex at January 31, 2014 07:26 PM (baL2B)

664 >>>ok here is a thought thats happy and not much dwelt upon. Bat rescue. Which leads to all kinds of absurd things like baby bats hanging from laundry drying racks, wrapped up like little burritos and being bottle fed, and later living in bug flight cages before their release playing with toys. yes. Bats. Playing. With. Little. Plush. Toys. wow. Who knew.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 07:28 PM (/FnUH)

665 >>>Ace, take a science class. don't just read a science book. actually go to a community college or something and take a science class where you get to blow shit up or dissect dead pigs or something. science is awesome. ... good idea. BUT, psychologically, I am curious, but lazy, and a hater of things scholarly.

Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 07:30 PM (/FnUH)

666

I've decided to start acting in Pron flicks

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at January 31, 2014 07:31 PM (jucos)

667 Writing that damn book. It's on most bucket lists. November is "national novel writing month." So over the last three years, I wrote a novel. I started small, "only" 165k words. I hired an editor. I hired a cover-art guy. This January 13th, I finally hit the big "PUBLISH" button on Amazon. A space-western, part military sci-fi, part mystery, part action-adventure. And, just to be weird, I wrote it in movie screenplay format, more or less.
Called "The Stars Came Back." So far, it's doing well.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HUCFQG4
Next project - tapping the maple trees with spiles and making my own syrup.
Not sure if the next weird tangent is writing another book, learning Latin, or going on the Yukon River Quest canoe race.

Posted by: Rolf at January 31, 2014 08:01 PM (+O7nZ)

668 ace:
Do you have an all-region DVD player? They're not very expensive, and French movies from France are likely to have French subtitles for the hearing-impaired that should (I would think) be word-for-word, unless they have to shorten them when the actors talk too fast. So maybe try Region 2 versions, if you can get them?

By the way, I love Agnes Jaoui's movies: seriously good movies without being at all pretentious. James Bowman's reviews of 'Un Air de Famille' ('Family Resemblances' in the US - 1996) and 'Comme un Image' ('Look at Me' in the US - 2004) would probably tell you if they're for you (assuming you don't already know them). The other one I've seen are Le Gout des Autres (The Taste of Others, 2000) and Le rÃ´le de sa Vie (2004).

I don't know how intelligible Quebec French would be, and whether they have useful French subtitles, but Denys Arcand's Decline of the American Empire (1986) and sequel The Barbarian Invasions (2003) are hilarious, and the latter has a vivid picture of the horrors of national health care.

Posted by: Dr. Weevil at January 31, 2014 08:11 PM (2jD3D)

669 @hamitchell-- I did a couch to 5K thing, too. Then just kept going to 10K. Now I want to work on speed. It's uncomfortable, and I've been seeking discomfort, if that makes sense.

Posted by: moviegique at January 31, 2014 09:11 PM (EE2qI)

670 You are right Ace, we have to keep our minds occupied on things that actually interest us rather than just boiling our brains to soup over the never ending rage of politics. I try to keep myself busy with research in quantum chemistry, and with getting back into training brazilian jiu jitsu more. That and finally trying to write a book one day.

Posted by: Roadrunner at January 31, 2014 09:24 PM (xMSfj)

671

I played guitar, often and eventually quite well, from age 6 until two years ago, when a nerve went haywire in my neck and rendered my left hand semi-useless. I remember looking at all my guitars with tears of pain and rage on my face, realizing that nearly 50 years of playing may have come to an end, but (in my typically flippant but optimistic way) thought, "Well, maybe this is God's way of telling me it's time to learn to play pedal steel guitar," which is something I'd always said I'd like to do. Last summer, I decided it was time to fish or cut bait, so I sold my best guitar and bought a pedal steel. It is very humbling to attempt to learn something completely new at 55, but it is a blast nonetheless. I'm now somewhere between joyful noise and actually making music with it, and can play the steel part on some of my longtime faves ("Teach Your Children", "Someday Soon", "Dire Wolf"...) The repeated dose of forced humility is good for me, too, though coupled with the tits-up construction market and the "wreckage of the past" I've likely had plenty, thank you. Still grateful, though...

Posted by: Josh Rothman at January 31, 2014 09:34 PM (g1MQh)

672 I write for a living and it is both grueling and so damned rewarding I almost can't contain myself when someone innocently asks me what I do. Thank you God.

Posted by: YFS at January 31, 2014 10:52 PM (evUpK)

673 I had been looking for work in operations leadership for over a year, and was feeling stale in my presentation and in my personality. I wasn't going anywhere and honest reflection made me realize that I had not done much to improve myself. (I had done some language work, but was a tad spotty to be effective.) I began taking a course on Inspiring Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence @ Coursera. I feel strongly that taking this MOOC helped change my vision as much as going through B-school the first time. Taking the time to work diligently at my craft, learning new techniques that I could put into practice outside of a leader's role was a sort of renewal that allowed me to interview better, and allow two job offers within weeks of completing the class. In general Coursera and EdX are focused on single topics, are usually shorter than standard college curriculum, and personally rewarding.

Posted by: Harland Hirst at February 01, 2014 12:56 AM (OPKdd)

674 My last job kind of forced me to revisit an old hobby because I was so stressed out -- crocheting. So far I still consider myself very beginner, but feel confident enough in it that I might attempt more intermediate projects in the future. So far I've made bags, scarfs (I like making keyhole scarfs in particular -- they have a hole on one side so you can stick the other end of the scarf through it without tying it), and I'm working on an afghan right now. This has also led me into learning knitting and loom knitting, which I've made a couple of loom knit scarfs but not really good enough with the needle knitting at this point to really work on a project yet.

Posted by: Scoop11 at February 01, 2014 03:46 AM (ERewu)

675 Just days before Christmas I bought a rare Volkswagen which totally qualifies as something new and different. I took a bus 200 miles to buy it on nothing more than a couple of bad photos but was positively surprised at how much better it looked up close. The seller even agreed to a better than expected price and it drove all the way home with only minor problems. Now I have a super-charged, 4wd station wagon that is definitely keeping me busy learning all of it's works and intricacies. I do occasionally find myself a bit worried about the cost of some of the parts needed but I am rewarded deliciously with that feeling of extreme acceleration that we all live for. Thanks to this beautiful car I don't think I will get the slightest chance to feel blue this winter, or possibly then next and the next etc. So I guess my advice for preventing seasonal affective disorder is to take the leap and buy the car of your dreams and do all the work yourself. If you don't yet know how, learn. That will keep the winter blues permanently at bay.

Posted by: TrueNorthist at February 01, 2014 04:26 AM (3Aixx)

676 I have an Etsy shop. Linked above. And I write books. I will have an e-book coming out soon on the new CONSERVATIVE/LIBERTARIAN entertainment website Liberyislandmag.com - It will be be going live soon with all sorts of conservative and libertarian short stories in all genres. So, I understand what you are saying here, Ace. You are so right. We have to make our own happiness.

Posted by: janetoo at February 01, 2014 04:42 AM (DVU82)

677 I've been battling days of frustration and nights of hopelessness; yes I have a teenager. And an apparent child president. I had began reading more on the founding fathers, where our ideals of freedom originated from. But seeing how far away we are from ideas today just makes me more sad. I'm not a quitter, or a whiner normally. But lately everything is darker. So I bought a new Jeep (JKU). I'm going to find as many dirt roads as a I can. If I make it to warmer weather I'm going to try to grow some veggies.

Posted by: skye at February 01, 2014 05:22 AM (2v2NZ)

678 I'd always wanted to know how to juggle, so, I taught myself to juggle. I then decided to see if I could juggle larger objects. I peaked at juggling balls that weighed 8lbs each. I also took up shooting USPSA and IDPA. I should have stuck with juggling. It's a lot cheaper than shooting.

Posted by: Blake at February 01, 2014 06:27 AM (rvVUZ)

679 Physiologically speaking, human beings shoot for homeostasis. In other words, balance. Homeostasis is not stagnation or lack of movement. I think that this also applies to our emotions. When you do the same thing over and over and over again, it's frankly boring, can graduate to painful and ultimately be depressing. Ace, you're reminding me of the head work that one has to do when you're a stay at home mom. No snark, but there is some internal processing that one has to do in order to stay on top of the game, and not degenerate into going through the motions. French? Great. But I would say that considering that we are intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual beings, I think that you might consider doing something with your body, or on the creative side. Or something that combines the two. Something physical. Building something, creating something. Years ago, I was literally going cabin happy with my second child, and didn't have the option of literally leaving my home frequently for 'me time', so I started gardening. I learned the basics and then I graduated to roses. Unfortunately had to move when I got myself to where I wanted to, so then I had to learn how to garden in a completely different climate. Alternating between frustration and happy success. A few months ago I got my husband to build me a killer cedar box that I'm going to start doing veggies in this year. There is something about being physical and outdoors that gives me a fresh perspective on life. Gets me out of my head. Being intellectual is a wonderful thing, but we do need recess and time to just be. Create something with our hands, move our bodies on a level that is more than just 'time to work on my abs' or some such ultimately unsatisfactory silliness. I think that when humans lean too far in one category, we become unhappy. I know that my own tendency towards SAD is greatly helped with Vit D3. The sunshine from being outside, even when it's cold, also contributes. Currently, I'm massively busy with kids, husband, dogs and all of their activities. I have more projects than I have hours in the day. There is a part of it that is rote, but even when I am doing the same things, they're not. Having people in your life on a regular basis turns up the unpredictability factor, which makes life more interesting. Beyond getting physical, I would suggest some travel. You don't have to spend 1000s and go around the world, expanding your local horizons would be a start. You can still do the blog, but I would stop doing it just in your living room. I think that it all comes down to stop doing things the exact same way. Routine is good in general but when it turns into a deep rut, change the routine. We can get hypnotized by them. Currently, I'm adding learning hand crafts. Despite being a girl, I've always operated from the more practical angle rather than the creative. So I'm teaching myself how to knit and crochet. As a family, we love decorating for Halloween. I'm starting to build some of my own props. Made some killer battery operated 'candles' with PVC pipe. There is also this 'haunted tree' that I saw on Pinterest that I'm determined to make (out of cement forms and paper mache). Am going to get the hub to teach me how to use his Dremel, want to make my own tombstones. I also got a great deal on a Kitchen Aid mixer, something that I've lusted after for years. I'm no Julia Child by any stretch, but I'm going to start making my own bread. I have kids to finish seeing through high school, and through college. Meanwhile, I'm trying to pick a new 'major' for myself. I want to go back to work, but it won't be in the area that I did pre marriage/kids. And on a side note and at the risk of sounding sexist, I've always felt that the happiest men are the ones that work with their hands as well as their heads. Simply speaking, I think that men without some sort of physical work, start getting weird and unhappy. I don't just mean their place of employment. Also, if they're not moving forward somehow, having new challenges, and doing some sort of battle with something, it doesn't work. Like somehow, life isn't satisfying without it. Maybe I'm FOS or maybe not. I think that women can go there too, but I think that we're much more able to naturally deal with the routine and the mundane. Men, not as much.

Posted by: tired at February 01, 2014 06:55 AM (adOUE)

680 It's really intimidating to be commenter #687 and I'm sure nobody will read this but I just have to say, I APPRECIATE YOUR DILIGENCE, ACE! We conservatives have been so roundly trounced in the last 5 years we have (I have) become somewhat demoralized. You feel like you're doing the same-o, same-o every day but it's a service to reason and liberty; I drag myself to the news each day and bring up your blog as a wayfarer greets a drink in the dry desert. So, keep the well running in the name of our country which will some day return. You go, Ace and all you others.

Posted by: Etheror at February 01, 2014 09:13 AM (oUm1H)

681 I'll vouch for Bosch mixers: they're fantastic. Not too expensive (well, not in Germany, where I bought mine) and I haven't been able to ruin it yet, which is a miracle as much as I use it. And it kneads bread like the dickens. Bosch does quality.

Ace, here are some of my experiences having learned German in Germany: Whatever you can do to immerse yourself (movies, CDs, radio, conversations with French speakers, whatever) will help, even if you feel like it's a waste of time or even if you don't have enough grammar to understand. Your mind's still absorbing and will put what it absorbs to use later. I've been through long plateaus where I didn't advance at all (and I use the language daily), followed by a sudden impossibly large jump in comprehension and/or speaking fluency that had no discernible cause (always exciting). Sometimes I have to hear a word 20 times before its meaning finally sticks. Also, I recommend practicing writing. Find a French pen pal, maybe?

Posted by: CCC at February 01, 2014 01:06 PM (b4wRn)

682 Ace, you need to write a book. That should be your next big challenge.

Posted by: holmes at February 01, 2014 05:38 PM (GAqms)

683 is the comment section now open to people who aren't registered? here's my comment: Great Thread! Great Comments! I've already enrolled in a MOOC!

Posted by: larry at February 02, 2014 06:11 AM (fAcUp)

684 102 About 4 years ago I bought some land and started raising cattle. I got the inspiration from a guy I sat next to on a flight to Australia. He gave me a 15 hour primer on how to breed and raise Wagyu cattle. It has been great fun and a complete departure from my day job.

Posted by: DrC at January 31, 2014 06:20 PM (bxpf3)

My late Father did this. Built a house there when I was 8 and the country air, animals (from cows, horses, a goat, deer, etc) plus vegetables every summer, and trees as far as you could see from house: his bit of heaven and he was a very happy man to combine his business with the hobby of raising cattle. We had a tree house and a go-cart and the freedom to play without worrying about anything but bugs and snakes. Good for you, doc. I have great memories of early mornings and sunsets and the smell of dew on the ground with the birds singing and peace. Thankful for Daddy buying this land, which is now in timber with a lake (my bro enjoys as he lives there). I will not live there again, as I want mountains and alpine air, but I was one lucky girl to grow up in the country, as a redneck duchess of the ditch.

Posted by: ChristyBlinky survived 2014 Polar Vortex at February 02, 2014 11:01 AM (baL2B)

685 I'm way late as usual... but just an open observation: "Ace has a penchant for getting people _____ - from his couch!" Typing Thinking Complaining Laughing Strategizing Drinking (I'm using those "-ing" words here, whatever those things are called).

Posted by: SnowSun at February 03, 2014 05:50 AM (Wxdhz)

686 Check out www.Tatspiration.com for more Tattoo Inspiration!

Posted by: Tatspiration at February 04, 2014 08:51 PM (rqH67)

687 "good idea. BUT, psychologically, I am curious, but lazy, and a hater of things scholarly" Posted by: ace at January 31, 2014 11:30 PM (/FnUH) It may be too late to post but..I I hear that reaction from far too many bright people; in particular secondary school boys. Which led me to believe the main problem was rooted within the instructors. Much of the teaching problem is enforced by government-enforced methods-of-teaching, and in my field: poor preparation in the instructor's subject. Bright students want to be challenged with tasks that intrigue them. Half the time they are handed busy-work claimed to be as "synthesis". The key element missing is what most males love: to allow the element of competition,which is highly disapproved by the higher mucky-mucks of education ruling class. I organize debates on a regular basis and often allow them to dress the part (the Israeli vs. Palestinian Debate gets absolutely wild) It is fascinating how much research students will do in order to win an argument. This type of student challenge and involvement also results when we re create certain historical, economic and military scenarios. It's amazing how their interactions lead them into the same type of historical conflicts. We also let students re-create historical confrontations Henry VIII, Katherine of Aragon, the Pope, Ann Boleyn. The hitch to establishing this type of classroom is the amount of time required from the instructor, and what they know about the subject. A higher degree is not necessary! if the individual is interested in the subject and spends time reading about it - same or better result. Another factor: teachers need to be confident enough to risk being wrong occasionally, but know enough that that students respect them. I award grade points for anyone that can ask a question that I can't answer, or prove I gave out the wrong information. They will invest their time to trip me up and occasionally they win. Another major turn-off for bright students are teachers who cant discuss a question without reading info from the textbooks. Most intelligent kids have already done independent reading and lose respect for someone who hasn't spent enough effort to master their field of study. Sorry for proving on, but you struck an old chime. Schools are turning off an alarming number of males from academics.

Posted by: I'd rather be surfin at February 05, 2014 12:40 PM (NdvkK)

688 Eh. Proving = prosing Swats the Auto check

Posted by: I'd rather be surfin at February 05, 2014 12:44 PM (NdvkK)

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