Here’s a list of some of my hobbies in no particular order!!\u00a0 This includes sports, favorite bands, favorite people, and a whole bunch of other junk.<\/p>\n
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My first camera ever was a digital camera that I bought after countless hours of research online.\u00a0 After seeing a friend’s Nikon 950 digicam in action while I was in Florida, I knew I had to have one.\u00a0 Digital photography is absolutely incredible.\u00a0 Its great taking a picture of a person, and then checking your LCD instantly to see if it came out right.\u00a0 Its fantastic to take three hundred pictures in one outing, stick them on your PC in seconds, and then take it out for some more action without having to wait for them to get developed.\u00a0 Its also awesome to take the pictures and Photoshop them to perfection to truly capture the moment.\u00a0 But the greatest thing about it is that I can fit a lifetimes worth of pictures on one CD (which is nice if I ever have to evacuate a burning building… or flee from\u00a0an invasion).<\/p>\n
My first digital camera was an Olympus D450Z and I recently traded it in for a Canon S110.\u00a0 Despite its minute size, it’s built out of steel and has awesome picture quality.\u00a0 But with digital photography, it takes more than great equipment to get the perfect shot.\u00a0 Even\u00a0Adobe Photoshop\u00a0can only do so much.\u00a0 If you’re interested in learning more about digital photography, check out\u00a0http:\/\/www.dpreview.com\/<\/a>\u00a0.\u00a0 I also highly recommend\u00a0Adobe Photoshop Elements\u00a0if you are looking for solid image editing software without going broke.<\/p>\n |\u00a0Back to Top<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Digital Photography<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Musical Taste<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Headphones<\/a>\u00a0|Sports<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Running \/ Weight Training<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Web Design<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Politics \/ World News \/ History<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Videogames \/ Computergames<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Ebay<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Technology<\/a>\u00a0|<\/p>\n I love all types of music, but I have a particular affinity to techno, classical, and rock.\u00a0 My favorite groups are Linkin Park, Nine Inch Nails, Tupac, Prodigy, Offspring, Loreena McKennitt, Cirque du Soleil, Bach, Clifford Jordan Quartet (jazz), Missy Elliot, Gravity Kills, and Weird Al.\u00a0 I like anything with beat or rhythm that conveys energy.\u00a0 Slow music drains me.\u00a0 I’m a big fan of movie soundtracks with classical music such as ones for the Gladiator and Lord of the Rings.<\/p>\n I’ve also begun to enjoy some forms of country music.\u00a0 I’m really enjoying Charlie Daniel’s\u00a0The Devil Went Down to Georgia<\/em>.\u00a0 I like Shania Twain, but I’ve heard she’s not really country!<\/p>\n |\u00a0Back to Top<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Digital Photography<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Musical Taste<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Headphones<\/a>\u00a0|Sports<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Running \/ Weight Training<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Web Design<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Politics \/ World News \/ History<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Videogames \/ Computergames<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Ebay<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Technology<\/a>\u00a0|<\/p>\n I have to admit that this is another one of my quirks… I love listening to music through headphones.\u00a0 I like them better than speakers or even live shows.\u00a0 There’s something about their isolation and detail that makes me feel like I’m getting a private screening of a musicians best performance like I’m a special VIP!!!\u00a0 I’ve gone through dozens of headphones in my quest to find audio bliss with pricetags ranging from $5 to $500.\u00a0 I’m so nuts about headphones, that I’ve purchased dedicated amplifiers for them.\u00a0 But I’m not alone.\u00a0 Check out\u00a0http:\/\/www.head-fi.com\/<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0http:\/\/www.headwize.com\/<\/a>\u00a0for more headphone fanatics! I’m also going to share some secrets with you.\u00a0 The two best headphones I’ve ever used (and the only ones I currently have) are the Koss KSC 35 and the Etymotics ER-4P.<\/p>\n The KSC 35 is the most comfortable, best sounding active use headphone I’ve ever used.\u00a0 I have it on my head while I’m working out, running, doing laundry, etc.\u00a0 They are a hundred times better than anything out there for active use and they only cost $30!\u00a0 They may be discontinued soon, so buy them soon!\u00a0 They are open headphones and don’t block any noise in and out of them which is usually good for most situations.\u00a0<\/p>\n On the other end of the spectrum I highly recommend the Etymotics ER-4P earbuds.\u00a0 These closed (block outside noise) headphones cost $270 and look cheaper than the KSC 35s mentioned above but have the most incredible sound qualities I’ve ever heard.\u00a0 They are difficult to put in the ear and tend to attract earwax (yuck!) if your ears aren’t perfectly clean (I’m neurotic about this).\u00a0 They also SHUT out everything in the environment around you such as planes, rockets, TVs, noisy roommates.\u00a0 This allows you to create your own little heavenly audio experience regardless of your surroundings.\u00a0 They are awesome!<\/p>\n I go to\u00a0http:\/\/www.headphone.com\/<\/a>\u00a0for most of my headphone purchases as they tend to have decent deals.\u00a0 You can also get them from other headphone users in the marketplace of the headphone community sites I mentioned earlier which has saved me considerable amounts of cash!<\/p>\n |\u00a0Back to Top<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Digital Photography<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Musical Taste<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Headphones<\/a>\u00a0|Sports<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Running \/ Weight Training<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Web Design<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Politics \/ World News \/ History<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Videogames \/ Computergames<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Ebay<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Technology<\/a>\u00a0|<\/p>\n I’m a huge fan of college football and college basketball.\u00a0 I think college sports are played with more passion and enthusiasm than anything in the professional leagues.\u00a0 I do enjoy watching NBA games, but pro football doesn’t do it for me. I abhor baseball (playing it’s not that bad, but watching it is torture).\u00a0 Golf is great, but it’s become too Tiger-centric.\u00a0 He’s too good!!!\u00a0 As far as athletes go, I think Iverson is unbelievable.\u00a0 While I question his attitude, I really admire his energy.<\/p>\n When I get a chance, I enjoy watching women’s tennis as well.\u00a0 With the Williams sisters, Hingis, Davenport, and Capriati,\u00a0 Women’s tennis is so much better than men’s tennis. They’ve got real personalities and they look great!<\/p>\n |\u00a0Back to Top<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Digital Photography<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Musical Taste<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Headphones<\/a>\u00a0|Sports<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Running \/ Weight Training<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Web Design<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Politics \/ World News \/ History<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Videogames \/ Computergames<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Ebay<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Technology<\/a>\u00a0|<\/p>\n Running has always been a passion of mine.\u00a0 There is a point during a long run where your current worries melt away and you can focus on what is truly important.\u00a0 I run for this “high” and it really helps me deal with life.\u00a0 I used to run track and cross country in high school, and although I was never very good, I enjoyed it very much.\u00a0 Interestingly enough, my mile times and my pleasure from running have actually gotten better over time, and I think I may do pretty well in the Boston Marathon in 2005 if I keep it up.\u00a0 Currently I plan to escalate my running till I get 50 miles a week, at which I will begin hill workouts and further improve my mile times.<\/p>\n My current workout routine is a mix of size and tone sets.\u00a0 I am attempting periodization, but I might just shift to the retro workouts if it doesn’t get me the results I need.\u00a0 My goal is to someday get 250 pds * 8 reps * 3 sets on bench (which is my weakest area by far).\u00a0 That’s as far as I want to go.\u00a0<\/p>\n I’ve kept a journal of my training for two years now, and I believe that its an important asset to my workouts.\u00a0 You’re really the only person who knows if you’ve been faithful to your workout and the only one who really cares.\u00a0 The journal keeps me in line even if I’ve got a partner to work with… it’s a permanent reminder of when I’ve been lazy and when I’ve been effective.\u00a0 It’s empowering to see how far you’ve come since the day you started a training program!<\/p>\n |\u00a0Back to Top<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Digital Photography<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Musical Taste<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Headphones<\/a>\u00a0|Sports<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Running \/ Weight Training<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Web Design<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Politics \/ World News \/ History<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Videogames \/ Computergames<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Ebay<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Technology<\/a>\u00a0|<\/p>\n As you can see, web design is another one of my passions.\u00a0 I believe that a well designed web page is the true indicator of how serious the person\/organization is.\u00a0 After all, a web site is open to the entire planet… if someone wants to be taken seriously, they better make the best online impression they can.<\/p>\n I’ve been working online for six years, and it started off as a hobby that I never truly believed would take me anywhere.\u00a0 For six straight days I was obsessed with creating my first web page.\u00a0 I read an entire book about Photoshop 4.0, HTML, FrontPage and a whole bunch of web technologies.\u00a0 I never imagined that those skills would give me opportunities well beyond anything I would learn in class!!\u00a0 I’ve worked on several commercial websites, including some coldfusion sites for NASA, and I’ve been part of many successful and unsuccessful online ventures.\u00a0<\/p>\n I think the best is yet to come in terms of web design.\u00a0 We have not even begun to tap into the power of the Internet, and web designers are in the forefront of molding this incredible resource.\u00a0 I can’t wait for the day when I can truly create some incredible websites without having compatibility issues between IE, Netscape, and the evil known as AOHelL (America on Line for those not acquainted with its misery… good for you).\u00a0 Its a pain designing for the lowest common denominator.<\/p>\n |\u00a0Back to Top<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Digital Photography<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Musical Taste<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Sports<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Running \/ Weight Training<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Web Design<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Politics \/ World News \/ History<\/a>\u00a0|Videogames \/ Computergames<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Technology<\/a>\u00a0|<\/p>\n I am a news buff and my favorite topic has always been politics.\u00a0 There is no such thing as the perfect political system and the proof of this is our wonderful United States of America.\u00a0 The basic premise that it is a country of the people has already been challenged by the last election, and I am certain that the fact that more people are placing our system under scrutiny will make it crumble.\u00a0With the recent attacks on the US, more and more liberties are being pushed back on our list of priorities in favor of security.\u00a0 Also interest groups, the unchecked media conglomerates, and lawyers will rip us apart.\u00a0 Every political system is based on trust, and trust is waning. Why?\u00a0 Because people are noticing that the system created 200 years ago isn’t really evolving fast enough… its being exploited and no longer fits the spirit of the founding fathers.\u00a0 That being said, its still the best political system in the planet.\u00a0 Sad fact.\u00a0 I’m going to miss seeing it change while I’m in the Peace Corps and I think that the USA I will come back to is going to be very different from the one I left.\u00a0 What is my political affiliation?\u00a0 I’m a liberal with conservative values!!!\u00a0 I typically vote democratic (my stance on most issues is democratic), but I admire the character of Republicans such as John McCain and Colin Powell.<\/p>\n I also love world news.\u00a0 US News is pretty uninteresting except for the occasional wackiness, but the world around us is becoming a very fascinating and troubled place.\u00a0 The false sense of security our Americentric news systems give us are a far cry from the events in the Middle East and South Asia.\u00a0 I have a feeling that this sense of security will vanish soon as well.\u00a0 It took its licks during the September 11th crisis, but the country is closing itself up again.\u00a0 I’m not looking forward to it, but its time that we realized that the US is still part of this planet… and it is no longer the world power that it used to be.\u00a0 I’m a big fan of the European Union, and I think that it is the beginning of a global trend in international politics.\u00a0 Mergers!!!<\/p>\n History also fascinates me.\u00a0 I love reading about the historical conflicts between regions and the origins of war.\u00a0 I love reading about war because it seems ironic that war is a means of achieving peace.\u00a0 Sure, you can sign treaties and have non-violent protests, but it seems like the only conclusive agreements in history have been written in the blood of soldiers on battlefields.\u00a0 What is it about the human race that places land and ideology above the lives of our species?<\/p>\n |\u00a0Back to Top<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Digital Photography<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Musical Taste<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Headphones<\/a>\u00a0|Sports<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Running \/ Weight Training<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Web Design<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Politics \/ World News \/ History<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Videogames \/ Computergames<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Ebay<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Technology<\/a>\u00a0|<\/p>\n I love videogames and computergames.\u00a0 I know that these games are the only things really pushing mainstream technology today.\u00a0 I don’t really enjoy playing them as much as enjoying how intricate and amazing they are.\u00a0 There are several games that I think push the boundaries of imagination and are driving us closer to getting to a virtual reality.\u00a0 And thats the pinnacle of any game… to make the player feel attached (or addicted) to a virtual world through the eyes of a virtual hero.\u00a0 Here’s my list of top ten games getting us to this utopia:<\/p>\n There are so many titles that almost made this list, and probably would have made the list on another day.\u00a0 I think that the X-Box is going to beat out the PS2 and gamecube in the long run for no other reason than Microsoft is unstoppable!!!\u00a0 As far as my favorite console of all time, I have to pick the Sega Dreamcast although it will soon be out of commission.\u00a0 Never have I seen so many fantastic games from a console underdog.\u00a0 May you rest in peace, my faithful Dreamcast!!<\/p>\n |\u00a0Back to Top<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Digital Photography<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Musical Taste<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Headphones<\/a>\u00a0|Sports<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Running \/ Weight Training<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Web Design<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Politics \/ World News \/ History<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Videogames \/ Computergames<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Ebay<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Technology<\/a>\u00a0|<\/p>\n eBay<\/a>\u00a0is the world’s leading online auction service and I am an ardent believer that the average price of an item through eBay is its true market value.\u00a0 It is the ultimate marketplace!\u00a0 I use it religiously to buy and sell my items, and often get more money for an item than what it cost me.\u00a0 I\u00a0 have no doubt that I can purchase a used good (one that retains value such as headphones or used video games \ud83d\ude42 etc.) and sell it without a loss after carefully playing with it for a while.\u00a0 I’m always shocked by how much people are willing to pay for an item… I guess with millions of potential bidders, there’s always going to be one that thinks any price slightly lower than retail value is a good one.<\/p>\n Make no mistake about it – eBay is a seller’s market.\u00a0 They don’t ship until they receive the cash, and they have the power to describe the item as they see fit.\u00a0 The only thing that keeps the buyer safe is the seller’s reputation and their (the seller’s) desire to protect it.\u00a0 Feedback is the key to keeping people honest on eBay and it works extremely well.\u00a0 I’ve been using it for 3 years and my feedback rating is pretty good!\u00a0 Check it out by clicking\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0 It’s a source of pride for me and I would never do anything to endanger it!<\/p>\n Here are my tips on using eBay.\u00a0 I hope you find them useful!<\/p>\n As a buyer, only bid at the last possible moment with the highest amount you are willing to pay.\u00a0 If you email the seller, make note of how long it takes them to respond as this reflects their ability to deliver the product to you as well in a timely manner.\u00a0 Make sure your seller has good feedback.\u00a0 No feedback is a sign of trouble as no one can vouch for the seller who may be legitimate or may be trying to rip you off.\u00a0 Bad\/neutral feedback is also a cause for concern (although there may be underlying issues) because it usually takes an extreme case for another buyer to post it.\u00a0 Typically though, the seller is expected to leave positive feedback for the buyer once they receive the money and the buyer is safe from reciprocal negative feedback if they feel like they got cheated in the end.\u00a0 Most problems end in either neutral feedback, no feedback, or a resolution outside of eBay.\u00a0 I haven’t had too many issues with purchases off of eBay, but I can honestly say that its far too typical for the final value of an item to be higher than what you can find it for at some online store using an online coupon.\u00a0 Make sure you check out bargain sites before you make a bid on a product.\u00a0 Despite that fact, eBay is still the best as you get the item for the lowest price based on your available info and the seller typically gets the highest price that they can get for it. Its a win-win.<\/p>\n As a seller, make sure that your auction listing is detailed and has great pictures of the product.\u00a0 You do not want to appear unprofessional… this is still a business transaction! Do not understate problems with the product, but be willing to provide more details if someone inquires via email.\u00a0 NEVER put a poor title on a product.\u00a0 If the product has already been listed in several past auctions, look at the title that received the most bids.\u00a0 Use the keywords in that title for your auction as well.\u00a0 This will prevent potentially disastrous auctions.\u00a0 Also never use reserve auctions as they will turn away potential bidders who may not be willing to risk bidding to a possibly high reserve price.\u00a0 Instead, make the lowest amount you are willing to accept for the item its starting bid value.\u00a0 I typically start my auctions at $5 as I trust eBay to get me the best possible market price in the end.\u00a0 Lastly, when dealing with items that may attract younger audiences (such as video games or comic books) be wary of bidders that seem childish.\u00a0 They may be underage and could screw up your auction.\u00a0 Sadly, with adult auctions I feel the same way about users with @aol.com email addresses.\u00a0 While this may be a horrible stereotype, AOL users tend to need more direct guidance in completing auction requirements and following through on commitments. Remember that you can cancel bids and block bidders… I typically do that if I feel worried about a particular person with zero or negative feedback.\u00a0 Check and respond to email about auctions as soon as possible as it helps the bidder feel confident about bidding on your item.\u00a0 And when the auction is over, send the bidder an email about payment options ASAP and send the product immediately after receiving the money.\u00a0 Its good etiquette to provide positive feedback to the bidder once you get the money, and then ask the bidder to give you feedback once they receive the item.\u00a0 Protect your reputation at all costs if there is an issue or it may hurt future auctions and eBay purchases!<\/p>\n I highly recommend that you do not start selling on eBay until you have at least a 30 feedback rating.\u00a0 This means that you should make positive and fast transactions with eBay sellers and request for feedback until you have a decent reputation.\u00a0 Once you are at that point, sell away and enjoy the magic of eBay!\u00a0 A little money can go a long way.<\/p>\n |\u00a0Back to Top<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Digital Photography<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Musical Taste<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Headphones<\/a>\u00a0|Sports<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Running \/ Weight Training<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Web Design<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Politics \/ World News \/ History<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Videogames \/ Computergames<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Ebay<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Technology<\/a>\u00a0|<\/p>\n I’m a nut for technology.\u00a0 I always want to buy the latest and greatest technology for my laptop etc.\u00a0 I’ve gone through at least five mp3 players and had a number of non-Palm PDA’s.\u00a0 I prefer spending on technology over getting food, beds, and any other overrated necessity.\u00a0 All of last year, I slept in a sleeping bag on the floor of my apartment while I bought a ton of cool stuff for my computer system.\u00a0 This was compounded two\u00a0 summers ago when I purchased a non-essential top of the line IBM Thinkpad off of eBay for a huge price tag… I had a lot of explaining to do.\u00a0 Here’s my current setup:<\/p>\n This is a very, very expensive hobby… but all of these items are well used and are absolutely necessary!!! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n |\u00a0Back to Top<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Digital Photography<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Musical Taste<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Headphones<\/a>\u00a0|Sports<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Running \/ Weight Training<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Web Design<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Politics \/ World News \/ History<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Videogames \/ Computergames<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Ebay<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Technology<\/a>\u00a0|<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Here’s a list of some of my hobbies in no particular order!!\u00a0 This includes sports, favorite bands, favorite people, and a whole bunch of other junk. Digital Photography Musical Taste Headphones Sports Running \/ Weight Training Web Design Politics \/ World News \/ History Videogames \/ Computergames eBay Technology Digital Photography My first camera ever … Continue reading Hobbies (Prior to Peace Corps)<\/span> <\/a>Musical Taste<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Headphones<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Sports<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Weight Training \/ Running<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Web Design<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Politics \/ World News \/ History<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Videogames \/ Computergames<\/h3>\n
\n
<\/a>eBay<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Technology<\/h3>\n
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