Like most people, my work and family occupy the lion share of my time. However, I do manage to find some time to pursue certain hobbies, although admittedly most are born more of necessity than choice.
- SysAdmin : Yup. I have my own private cloud at home with all the bells and whistles. It keeps me up to date on technology as well as the breadth of technologies required to operate a cloud so I don't get rusty when work has my attention focused elsewhere.
- Sewing : I have a serger and I'm not afraid to use it! I've found learning to sew to be one of the best investments I've ever made. Like any other "maker" skill, I now have the power to adorn myself with anything I can imagine. I'm no longer a victim of the fashion industry.
- Soldering & IC Repair : I have a Raspberry Pi and Arduino and enjoy cobbling together various point solutions. But really, it takes me back to the days when computers where simpler and geeks ruled the industry with tinkerers everywhere. Today, the tech industry is run by sales & marketing with engineers often little more than sweat-shop laborers. I believe we've paid too high a price for time-to-market as we are squandering genius in epic proportions.
- Locksmithing : Locks are fun. They are both complex and elegant in their design. The intricacies of the mechanism juxtaposed with the simplicity of the interface should serve as a model for software design practices.
- Antique Japanese Swords : First, allow me to correct the image that just popped into your head: No, I do not buy swords at flea markets or cheap reproductions online. I also don't spend my weekends in a field with a bunch of other guys bludgeoning each other. I own authentic swords made for and once-wielded-by real samurai. I don't pay attention to any sword made after the Meiji Restoration of 1868 and I certainly don't spend any time studying swords not made in Japan. So that leaves us with only one-of-a-kind historical art objects. I've been studying Japanese swords for over 15 years and have been to Japan to study swords only available there. I have been active at various times in local Japanese sword appreciation groups and one time even won second place in an appraisal (shinza) competition. I can't really say what got me started in this hobby. I have no Japanese ancestry. It simply called to me.
- Philosophy : Last but certainly not least, I am one of those people plagued by a need to answer the big questions of life. Over the last 20 years, this compulsion has led me on many adventures which I am fortunate to say have not been for naught. To a large extent, I have found the answers I sought and now teach philosophy both in-person and online. If you're curious about what exactly I found, you can find some examples on my Quora page.