Aside from my research I enjoy

  1. Reading. Science fiction has always held a special place in my heart, although I enjoy a good thriller, mystery, or adventure book, too. I tend to latch onto a particular author, read everything they've ever written, and then move on to the next candidate. Some of my favorite authors (and books) are:
    1. Robert Sawyer (pretty much anything he writes!)
    2. Greg Bear (EON series)
    3. Robert Ludlum (Bourne series)
    4. Orson Scott Card (Ender series)
    5. Philip K. Dick (especially his short stories)
    6. Frank Herbert (Dune series)
    7. Neal Stephenson (Snow Crash, Diamond Age, The Cobweb, Interface)
  2. Writing. I am working on writing my first science fiction novelette. I'll post a link once it's published!
  3. Running and biking. My most recent events were the Philly Rock and Roll Half Marathon (2011) and the Boilermaker 15K (2011, 2012).
  4. Hacking. I especially enjoy customizing my Droid Razr Maxx HD to the nth degree. I've recently started playing around with the Android Development Kit, so maybe I'll be posting an app soon! I also wrote a custom Linux-based home security system that syncs with Dropbox. I'm working to release it at some point.
  5. Modular origami. This is is one of my longest-standing hobbies. The best book for learning about this technique is Unit Origami: Multidimensional Transformations, by Tomoko Fuse. It's also a great book even if you just like geometry (but aren't that interested in origami).
  6. Water sports. I am a PADI-certified open water diver. I have been on some neat dives, including a shipwreck. I also enjoy other water-related activities such as sailing, snorkeling, swimming, jet-skiing, water-skiing, etc. Just sitting on the beach and watching the water is nice, too.
  7. Martial arts. As an undergrad at Brandeis I started learning Okinawan Uechi-Ryu karate. I haven't been keeping up with this formally while in New Jersey, although I've been practicing my kata (forms) and drills when I can.
  8. Chess (untimed). If you ever want an easy match, let me know and I'll be glad to play (even over the internet via email).
  9. Music. I play the trumpet and have recently been teaching myself to play the guitar. A long time ago, I played the viola and the piano.
  10. Video games. A few of my favorites are Unreal Tournament, Freelancer, BZFlag, Grand Theft Auto, and Frozen Bubble.
  11. Rubik's cubes. I am more interested in generalizeable puzzle-solving algorithms than speed-solving. You can watch a movie of me solving a Rubik's cube using the layer-by-layer method. I also enjoy writing and reading about puzzle-solving computer algorithms. I'm planning to put up a tutorial on Rubik's cube solving at some point, so stay tuned!