Current Skill You Are Developing
 

Right now I'm working on a couple of gymnastics skills (from here). Mainly the planche which is a push up without having the legs on the ground. If you read the site I am still on the first stage of the progression. The other thing is a hand stand which again just strikes me as a sweet thing to be able to do. Eventually handstand push ups and going from a planche into a handstand and back. The training is very strenuous and takes a lot of concentration for both these things, but I like that a lot which makes it sad that my dedication has been so poor.

I've wanted to do these things for a few months now. My training has not been systematic, it's been probably 10 days spread out over the last few months. And in those days since since the training is so hard it's only about 5 minutes of practice for the planche and 10 for the handstand. Taking a few gymnastics class gave a lot of practice for the handstand, also the slightly bouncy floor made it easier.

Feel free to talk about any skill, speed reading, pick up arts, talking through your nose... how it's been going, your training, results, whatever strikes you as interesting!

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

Learning to do a planche will be difficult. Learning to press from a planche to a handstand will be [i]extremely[/] difficult. To practice your handstand a good method is against a wall with your stomach facing the wall. Flex your feet so that your toes and no other part of your body touch the wall.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

Ive got a couple of projects going right now:

1. Ive been brushing up on my computer security knowledge, I havent done much or kept up with it in 3 or 4 years, but I just bought a couple new boxes, and am running cable for my new network. I really want to be able to code my own exploits, network/bufferoverflows etc, I also want to get profficient at low level hardware (cellphone, scanner, etc) programming. I also want to learn how credit card skimming works, how to write new mag strips to CC, how to make fake IDs things like that.


2. Hustling golf: now that the weather is breaking Im going to start hitting the range and working on my shortgame, along with reading etc


3. Turning my xbox into a media center- Im just waiting on my mod chip.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

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3. Turning my xbox into a media center- Im just waiting on my mod chip.

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this sounds really awesome. keep us updated. i might wanna do this.

at this point im still trying to get decent at soccer. i played for the first time in my life last august. I'm still learning a ton every time i play. i have always had every sport come completely naturally to me, but this one is way more difficult and challenging, i think thats why i enjoy it so much.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

fencing
sex
the way I speak

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

I was thinking of learning the piano (via keyboard to start) or the guitar come summer time. This would be the best answer to this question.

Suggestions on which instrument I should choose to learn?

Additionally, I will probably work on getting ready for summer men's softball. Fun stuff.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

[ QUOTE ]
fencing
sex
the way I speak

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could you elaborate on point 3 please

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
fencing
sex
the way I speak

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could you elaborate on point 3 please

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Probably reducing stuff like "like", "um", generally sounding more professional/etc?

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

putting together an asterisk + mythTV box...

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

Just started playing water polo 3 weeks ago.
1st triathalon this summer.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

Let me know how that Asterix box turns out, I was thinking of doing one for football season next year. here is a link if you need it:

http://revision3.com/systm/asterisk

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

PLO. Reminds me of how excited I once was to learn holdem.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

(insert stupid napoleon dynamite quote here)

there I saved someone the embarrasment of doing it for real

Im working on rock climbing. Thats pretty cool what you are working on bruiser. Kinda funny I actually started doing the same thing. I've been trying to learn to do a handstand and I just got a book on body weight exercises because I wanna be able to do freaky cool things like a front lever.

Also im still working on listening more and speaking less, and on not taking life for granted.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

alobar, book name?

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
fencing
sex
the way I speak

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could you elaborate on point 3 please

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Why aren't you asking about elaboration regarding point 2?

~ Rick

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

holding my breath underwater for the length of a time it takes 1 cigarette to burn down.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

bruiser,
Pretty much what ImsaKidd said. I also sometimes slurr my words or talk a little to fast. I'm now paying more attention to the way I sound. So far so good.


Rick,
A girl I am dating who has been around is showing me how to be really good in bed. Also, reading/practicing the kama sutra with her.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

I am finally a single guy with some money so I'm working on picking up girls and staying single.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

[ QUOTE ]
3. Turning my xbox into a media center- Im just waiting on my mod chip.

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We did this. It is TOTALLY worth it. And by "we" I mean Chair and I bought the chip for AEKDBet, and he spent like 59 hours on it.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

Chess. Played my first game since I was 6 a month ago. Been playing tons of games on the Internet Chess Club, reading tons of different books, and progressing fairly well. Ran my ranking up to 1230 before having a sick day of chess tilt, but I'll be back!

James

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

Learning and incorporating NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) more into my everyday life.

Developing a strong internal identity.

Finding more opportunities to assist my friends with life coaching.

Learn how to get into the moment quickly and fully.

Yugoslav

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

James, my rating is over 1600.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

Trying to learn Spanish. I bought Rosetta Stone so we'll see how well that goes.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

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James, my rating is over 1600.

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Any recommendations on picking up chess semi-seriously for the standard person who knows the basics but hasn't played since high school study hall and never really put much effort into true strategic chess thinking?

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

I've been really getting into learning some magic tricks lately and I'm loving it. Not the corny, crap kind of tricks but some really good ones.

Also been trying to learn how to juggle.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

I've played guitar for nearly 20 yrs and have been working on some things I hadn't been so proficient at. Mainly I've been focusing on old fingerstyle picking country blues/ blues and 'hillbilly' music. It's fun and challenging(some of those guys were damn good players), luckily I've found and have been playing alot with a guy who is really good and thats sped up my progress a bunch.

I've also been playing with the slide more. Over the years I'd slowly become somewhat competent with it, not really using it that much though. Lately, I've been playing with it more and I can already notice a big difference. That's also got me messing around with open tunings too, which are fun to play as well.

Always trying to improve my ear and songwriting too.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

Carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and pretty much anything diy fix it up stuff.

Photography, woodcarving, and rug making/weaving (really don't know much about this one yet I am intrigued by the idea however).

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

[ QUOTE ]
alobar, book name?

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

I'm engaged in an ongoing project to upgrade my social skills. I'm not a poker shut-in or someone who has trouble making friends or anything, but I'm currently traveling a lot and often end up staying in places where I literally don't know a single person. I'm learning how to build a social network in a short amount of time just by chatting up random people. Anyone can go out and meet girls, but finding interesting guys to hang out with is much harder. Going out at night alone with the intention of making some friends really took me out of my comfort zone, but I've mostly gotten used to it and learned to enjoy it.

I'm learning to play my baritone ukulele because it isn't practical to travel with a full-sized guitar. The four strings are the same as a the four highest strings on a guitar so the learning curve isn't too steep.

I'm about to go to Thailand for four months and am learning a bit of Thai.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

im trying to learn this stupid limit hold them thing.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

Trying to learn piano (again, took lessons in childhood). Bought a Yamaha P65 digital two months ago, and have taken 3 lessons. It's going slower than I'd hoped, but I'm easily frustrated by these things. Teacher is a hot chick, so that's always helpful.

I'd also like to learn a new language, but I'm way too lazy to learn two things at once.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

Training myself to do ridiculous amounts of pull-ups, chin-up and dips. Because I think it is cool.

No specific long-term goals yet, but I'm gonna try 100 un-weighted dips in <15 minutes manana.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
fencing
sex
the way I speak

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could you elaborate on point 3 please

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Why aren't you asking about elaboration regarding point 2?

~ Rick

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I'm gonna ask for elaboration regarding point one. Where at and what weapon(s)?

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

I've decided to learn how to shave.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

[ QUOTE ]
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James, my rating is over 1600.

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Any recommendations on picking up chess semi-seriously for the standard person who knows the basics but hasn't played since high school study hall and never really put much effort into true strategic chess thinking?

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Silman and Nunn come to mind as good chess authors. You'll probably be good cause you're good at physics, so can work spatially in your brain, you just need to: play alot of games, and study.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
James, my rating is over 1600.

[/ QUOTE ]
Any recommendations on picking up chess semi-seriously for the standard person who knows the basics but hasn't played since high school study hall and never really put much effort into true strategic chess thinking?

[/ QUOTE ]
My System - Nimzovich
Logical Chess Move by Move
Capablanca's Best Chess Endings
Art of the Middle Game - Keres and Kotov [ftw!]
Art of Attack - V. Vukovic
Seirawan's Chess Tactics
Silman
Chess Fundamentals - Capa

Seriously, just pick up a very good endgame manual, and middlegame book from above, and study tactics, tactics, tactics if you are a beginner. If you can't spot knight forks, pins, skewers, and 3-move mates in advance, you'll always be hopeless. Avoid any openings book until you can play 4 and 5-piece endings correctly and win virtually all won positions easily.

As for me, I'm developing my spin move immediately followed up by left-handed crossover for easy layups in transition {i'm a righty}.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

you can install xbox media center with a copy of mechassault and an action replay, no modchip required.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

To all those aspiring chess players out there,

I'd start off with basic opening concepts, basic tactics, basic endgames. then i'd work on learning a few openings pretty well for both colors, then lots and lots of calculation/tactics. once you get better and play better opponents i'd work on endgames. at lower levels there will be enough mistakes in the opening/middlegame that you rarely need to know more endgame theory beyond the basics. i cant think of the author right now, but theres an author with a very good endgame book series. he has a book just for knight endgames, a book just for bishop endgames, one just for rooks, etc.

if anyone wants some free chess advice post here or PM, i haven't played seriously in a few years but im 2100 uscf, 2100 fide, and my blitz best on icc is ~2600. here are some openings i can help you on (this is my opening repetiore for tournaments): for white, my primary opening is the english, although i am also pretty booked up with 1. e4. i play a lot of quieter variations in the open sicilian, the two knights agains the french (1. e4 e6 2. nf3 d5 3. nc3) the fantasy variation against the caro-kann, and very quiet lines against 1... d5 and 1... nf6. for black, i only play QGD against 1. d4 and 1. c4 and once in a while play the slav. primarily play the sicilian taimanov variation against 1. e4, although i play 1... d5 as well.

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

also, avoid silman books - they are crap. as are schiller's books. eric schiller is a complete joke. he calls himself the "world's greatest opening theoretician" or some crap, because he has written dozens of opening books. i played against him in an invitational at the mechanic's (club in SF). i prepared agianst him bigtime (pretty much analyzed one of his books and found a strong refutation to one line he advocated). he ended up offering me a draw like 15 moves into the game. greatest opening theoretician lol. i accepted though because i had good reason to do so (i dont remember why)

i dont remember any good books to read though. i'd study a lot of past games (petrosian, karpov, kasparov, tal, etc). those are always good. i wouldnt trust a lot of the books out there - many of them are very poor and written by struggling chess masters

Re: Current Skill You Are Developing
 

cardo,
I made a thread a while back about fencing. I took your advice and picked sabre. So far its been really enjoyable and I'm glad I took it up, though I had no idea the matches were so fast.