Besides Chess.....

What else do you like to do in your spare time?

I'll go first.

I run the Cleveland Yo-Yo Club with "UnkleSteve", I enjoy "modding" (changing the characteristics of) yo-yos (in fact, thats where my username came from!), Collecting/Playing Boardgames, Expanding my Music Collection, Riding my Harley when the weather let's me, and reading.

you are killing my stereotypes.  the idea of a yo-yo club running, harley riding, music buff just makes my brain fizzle.  maybe you should list that as another hobby. 

Want to know what's cool and fun?  RUNNING!

I like to take a long bath, instead of a shower

What? "Stereotype Killing"? You're too funny!

mirage - would it still seem fun had you been able to see the lions?

thanks.  i wonder if smartassery is a hobby.  if that is available i'll sign up. 

Sure, I can outrun a lion.  See I'm so fast, that I tagged a squirrel once!  It's in the official records- there exists on the web somewhere a page where I am quoted as having tagged the squirrel and with witness support.

before you stake your life on that, perhaps you should check these out:

http://www.thebigzoo.com/animals/african_lion.asp

http://www.squirrels.org/faq.html#Q12

not that tagging a squirell isn't an impressive feat. 

Mirage, it would be nice if you stated something like, "A squirrel let me tag him/her once". Much more honest that way. I know squirrels better than I know humans, and they would just laugh hysterically at your previous claim.

Squirrels get a confused look when you shout at them, "Show us your nuts."

I assume it's because the statement can be taken in so many different ways.

How come you know squirrels so well?  Can you ask them for me why there are so many of them around here?  Or.. do you have anything to do with it?!?!  You aren't feeding and sheltering them, are you?!

I swear by the standard model of particle physics that I am telling the truth.  When I tagged it though, it was already semi-cornered from my chasing it, so it was cheating a little.  I didn't just straight-up run it down.

If it makes me any less guilty or cruel- to balance this out- I also once saved a limp squirrel from being killed by a dog.

I don't think it's cruel to chase squirrels, to see if you can tag them. Squirrels like comedy But yes, I've only missed 3 days all of last year, putting out nuts for the squirrels. They come right up to me in the spring and summer, and even have sat next to me for hours while I was on my laptop in the back yard. Sometimes taking a nap next to the computer! Squirrels are so dazzling in their acrobatic ability, I lose hours of the day just watching them! I have even broken off dates to watch the squirrels! I'm quite a fan! So, after being in their company for years now, I hope they rule the world once we extinguish ourselves

Not if you beat the squirrel unconscious and the dog was yours.

When I was going to school in Eugene, I had a '58 MGA that I had to park under a carport. It rained a lot and I was fond of the car so I kept it under a car cover.

One morning when I headed out for school, I caught a squirrel stealing the car cover. He had removed it and was trying to drag it up a tree about 10 yards away. He must have work at it for hours.

Although the car cover wasn't that big, it seemed remarkably ambitious.

It's not a hobby, it is a full-time job.

Squirrels are believed to conduct surveillance on behalf of the animal conspiracy.

I used to take squirrels for granted as just some animals we live with. But they are quite extraordinary, and I highly recommend a squirrel therapy of sorts. Whenever you are depressed, or in a dark mood, just sit back and watch squirrels for a couple of hours a day. They really are quite a joy, and no doubt, you will be astonished by their life, abilities, and 'ambition'.

sadly, it is volunteer work. 

Y'know, Put-in-Bay, Ohio is one of the few places in the world with black squirrels. These things are pretty cool to see!