ThoughtBlip

I’m a compulsive thinker.  Most things fall by the wayside eventually, and many thoughts are not all that noteworthy… Sometimes it’s quite difficult to tell, while in the moment, whether something is worth documenting or repeating (just ask my wife - particularly when I try to be funny!)

I’m interested in almost too many things…there’s just not enough time in the day, or in a lifetime, to do/learn/enjoy everything one would like to do.  But I try.  I often get extremely interested in something, and then that falls by the wayside and I become extremely interested in something else.

 Here are some of my interests:

• Intelligence - how our minds work, how to improve our abilities, how brains develop and how intelligence forms
• Artificial Intelligence - not the type typically thought of by AI “experts” with neural nets… but true intelligence.  I recently started reading a book, On Intelligence, by Jeff Hawkins, which is very much in-line with my own personal beliefs on Artificial Intelligence.  I still have some thoughts on the subject that may differ slightly from some of the information… but I’ll hold off until I’ve read the whole book to comment.  If you’re interested, here’s the companion website for the book: http://www.onintelligence.org/ 
• Languages - I wish I had more time to study, practice, and learn new languages.  I’m not sure exactly when my interest in languages changed from something I “had” to do in high school into something I do in my spare time, but it’s definitely a very big interest of mine.  English is my first language.  I’ve learned a lot of Spanish by growing up in South Florida and taking classes in high school and college at FIU.  I took some French classes in college as well, but I think I’ve forgotten most of the French I’ve learned.  I’m fascinated by languages that have writing systems different than that of English - like Chinese.  I know quite a few characters, and got to the point where I was able to read and write basic sentences a few years back, and would like to refresh and continue learning Chinese eventually.  I learned how to read Korean while on a project in Korea (they have what looks like Chinese symbols to most people, but in fact it’s a very intuitive and phonetic alphabet!).  My father is Dutch, but since my mother was not, my sister and I never learned to speak Dutch.  I’ve learned quite a few Dutch vocabulary words via language CDs during my commute to work, but alas, I’m extremely far from being conversational.
• Technical Gadgetry - (e.g. added a mod chip to my XBox to make it into a media center)
• Working with my hands - I like working on my cars myself - even the simple things like changing oil and brake pads.  I’ve swapped out a radiator, water pump, thermostat on one of my old cars without any instruction or help… it was a bit of a pain in the ass, but was also extremely rewarding.  I’d love to have the time to pick up an old jeep or muscle car that doesn’t even run and work it back into shape.  I also enjoy working on things around the house - tiling, drywall, floorboards, etc… I’d love to get into woodworking one of these days too… (see what I mean about having too many interests???
• Making/Creating/Inventing things - OK, I’ll admit it -all my “inventions” are still in my head.  I haven’t ventured out to try and actually *make* anything I’ve conceived of yet, and only a few things would be worthy of doing that…
• Problem Solving - I like to think about something, a problem, an existing product, an inefficient process, and then come up with some way of fixing the problem or making things better.
• Helping People - Although I don’t do it all that much, I like volunteering… I like to help people in need.  Sometimes I’m amazed by how much people don’t help eachother, even in emergency situations.  I’ll blog about some of my experiences eventually.
• I have 1yr old baby boy, Christian… he’s amazing, incredibly energetic, very active and verbal, and loads of fun (although he can easily wear out my wife and myself - now we finally understand what everyone told us as kids, “I wish I had your energy” -haha)
• Traveling - this ties into the interest in Languages…interest in other cultures, languages, and history.  I remember being amazed at seeing buildings that were older than our country (the US), that are still standing - looking the same they did when they were first build - but with a little wear… seeing stone stairways that have been worn slightly via the steps of others over hundreds of years… simply incredible.
• Geez - I think I’m going to stop there for now… but I could probably go on for another 10-20 major interests pretty easily if I took the time to continue….but Rome wasn’t built in a day, so I don’t have to get it all done on my first pass