Get me to try to do something over the summer holidays.

[Doclector]

So, the summer holidays are coming up. Which means returning to my boring home town to quite possibly go insane, as once again, I sent out applications to summer jobs and recieved jack shit back.

Earlier on today, I thought of something I could do. Getting you guys to think of something I could do, or rather challenge me to do something. Not that I think I have any degree of importance on this forum, fuck, I'd be surprised if I recognisable at all, and even more so if it were favourably, but it'd just be boring if I asked my IRL friends, I'd know exactly what they'd challenge me to do.

So, that's the topic. Set me a challenge or a handful for over the summer holidays.

A few conditions:

1) They must not require a great amount of money or luck. This means don't challenge me to build a proper gaming PC, start collecting WH40K. On the luck side of things, don't ask me to get a job (like I said, already tried and trying) or get laid. Let's face it, I could go out every other night and still not be successful, it isn't a fair challenge because I could fail entirely because I was unlucky. I mean, I don't need bad luck to fail at chatting up girls, I'm a fucking natural, but still...

2) They must not require peak physical condition. If I like the sound of it, I'm willing to attempt to try something physical, but I'm pretty unhealthy, endurance running just isn't a good idea.

3) They must not put me in mortal peril. I'd have hoped that was obvious.

So, let the games begin.

Oh god what have I let myself in for...

 

[Kolby Jack]

Do whatever you want. If you need someone else to tell you how to have fun, you're really limiting yourself. The best ideas are the ones you could think of.

Me? I'm a simple guy with simple needs who never really acquired a thirst for adventure or ambitions to be "the best," whatever that means. I'm on the last day of a week of leave, and I didn't do shit. Aside from the first weekend which I went to my sister's college graduation, I've just been sitting here playing some games and watching some TV. It may sound boring, but I feel pretty great now and am ready to go back to work tomorrow.

 

[JoJo]

How about doing some voluntary work? It'll spruce up your CV for your job hunting and can be great fun if you pick the right sort, I think something involving children would be best for you Doclector, from your posts you often sound like you need some happiness and fun times injected into your life

 

[Edguy]

2) They must not require peak physical condition. If I like the sound of it, I'm willing to attempt to try something physical, but I'm pretty unhealthy, endurance running just isn't a good idea.

Well, it sounds like you have your challenge right there!

Spoiler: Here's your target shape.

 

[Dangit2019]

Find an absurdly long book and read it. There's a good challenge requiring no physical activity at all.

 

[Doclector]

2) They must not require peak physical condition. If I like the sound of it, I'm willing to attempt to try something physical, but I'm pretty unhealthy, endurance running just isn't a good idea.

Well, it sounds like you have your challenge right there!

Spoiler: Here's your target shape.

Nice idea, but I don't see how that's possible within a couple of months without a gym membership.

Hell, I'm not sure it's possible at all for me.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

2) They must not require peak physical condition. If I like the sound of it, I'm willing to attempt to try something physical, but I'm pretty unhealthy, endurance running just isn't a good idea.

Well, it sounds like you have your challenge right there!

Spoiler: Here's your target shape.

Nice idea, but I don't see how that's possible within a couple of months without a gym membership.

Hell, I'm not sure it's possible at all for me.

You don't necessarily need a gym membership to get into shape. The weight of your own body is enough for quite a few exercises if you do them right. Go out running, do push-ups and sit-ups, buy one of those door frame pull-up bars and use that, take up swimming. The world is your gym, use it. Plus seriously, a 2 month gym membership is like $40, and you can always negotiate discounts, plus think of all the money you'll save by cutting back on Cheetos.

 

[Lil devils x_v1legacy]

I took up ground metal art one summer. Google "ground metal art" if you don't know what that is. Don't worry if you are not a good artist, as you can see when you google it, you can make some really cool designs even if you are not over flowing with talent. It is also not very expensive to get started with metal art. You can start with some cheapo supplies like these:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Amerimax-Home-Products-10-in-x-10-ft-Mill-Finish-Aluminum-Roll-Valley-68310/100054269
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Dremel-MiniMite-4-8-Volt-Cordless-Rotary-Tool-7300-PT/202713166
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Wiss-9-in-All-Purpose-Snip-Pliers-MPC3S/100065525
to add color you can use any auto paint, or even testors model paints:
http://www.amazon.com/Testors-Promotional-Enamel-Paint-Set/dp/B00005C2KF/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369719447&sr=8-2&keywords=testors+paint
and you can light it up easy with some Christmas LED light strands you have around the house.
http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Operated-Arrangements-Wedding-Decorating/dp/B003VOXRCA/ref=pd_sim_sbs_ac_3

You don't have to make " paintings" you can make them any shape or design you wish, as the aluminum sheet is very flexible. I am a highly skilled artist, but I prefer less " busy" designs and more abstract art to look at. If you want to try it and have any questions, feel free to pm me.

Also, and most important if you wish to do this. GET GOOD TOUGH INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH GLOVES. So you don't get cut. The metal IS sharp! Also some good goggles as well because when the dremel hits the metal it is going to send sparks flying! If you use proper precautions, it doesnt have to put you in mortal peril.
something like this:
http://compare.ebay.com/like/130706943495?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WELDING-Goggles-Glasses-Steampunk-METALWORKING-OLIVE-/390314723120

 

[Doclector]

How about doing some voluntary work? It'll spruce up your CV for your job hunting and can be great fun if you pick the right sort, I think something involving children would be best for you Doclector, from your posts you often sound like you need some happiness and fun times injected into your life

You'd think people would be ready and willing to accept free labor, but apparently not. That said, I'll keep an eye out.

 

[PBMcNair]

You should try fourth thing:

Spoiler

Or learn to play a variety of musical instruments using only the power of your mind.

OT: Exercise is useful for killing time, takes as long as you want it to take.(Unless your cycling partner comes from a cycling family and is the only one with house keys, then its up to her.)
Learn to drive, it's my new skill for the summer. I've no interest, but I'll have to learn eventually.
Learn to draw/paint/sculpt/other arty stuff.
Learn to play a musical instrument(serious this time).

Once a week, do something you don't particularly want to do. I mean this in a go outside your comfot zone way rather than a do a bunch of drugs or kill someone way.

 

[lacktheknack]

Find a language you think sounds cool, and learn the grammatical structure, alphabet, spelling rules and a small vocabulary. Annoy the crap out of all your friends.

Learn how to do a perfect Butterfly Stroke at the pool. This is actually quite hard. (If you can't swim, learn how to swim instead.)

Learn how to cook. If you already know how to cook, learn how to cook low-fat yet delicious. If you can do that, invent a way to reduce the fat in pork ribs without reducing the juiciness. (I will pay you all of the dollars.)

If you have thirty bucks or so to spare, buy a half dozen point-n-click adventure games on gog.com that have four stars or more. Finish them without walkthroughs.

If you despise point-n-click adventure, buy the entire Geneforge series (also on gog.com) instead and play the whole thing (it actually may take you all summer if you're a completionist).

If you have a musical instrument at home that you can't play, learn how. If you don't, buy a tin whistle and learn that. If you have NO money, learn how to sing.

Pick up a pencil, paper and open Google and learn how to draw. If you can already draw, learn how to paint watercolor (it's cheap). If you can draw or paint quite well, try selling what you draw/paint.

Find a tutorial or cheap textbook and learn how to program some simple things. Try making an AI that you can have a simple conversation with.

Find a free audio editor and try to out-Skrillex Skrillex. Post the results here.

That's all I've got for right now. Good luck!

EDIT: Got more.

Learn rudimentary music theory and start dissecting people's favourite songs. Finally, you'll be able to explain WHY you like one piece of music over the other, and if anyone says "this isn't music", you can verbally punch them in the 'nads.

Write reviews. Pick an album, a game, a movie, a crack in the sidewalk, etc, and write up a critique. The Escapist User Reviews section is a bit low on content flow, you could help boost it.

Make a game. If you cannot do art, do a text-based one. Find an engine (Quest is good) or learn to program and do it from scratch. If you CAN draw and don't want to get lost in variables/logic/reactions etc, find a different, simpler engine (try RPG Maker VX, it has a free trial) and try that.

Write a novella. Not a novel, a novella.

 

[Croix Sinistre]

This obviously won't take up much of your summer but I suggest taking a basic motorcycle riding course, it's fun, you get to learn to ride and experience riding a motorcycle and if you ever decide to pick up motorcycling it's a great way to get the basics down. It's usually 1 to 3 days and doesn't cost much, plus they provide the bike and helmet. Maybe that violates your rule about mortal peril but come on, it's not like your going to be hitting the pavement at 80 mph on a highway during a beginner course.

 

[NightHawk21]

There's some cool suggestions in this thread, but lets be realistic here; people here could come up with the greatest suggestions and challenges ever and you would be no more inclined to do them than you were at the start. If you're serious about this, I would strongly consider looking at what some people here have suggested, if you're not well I don't know what to tell you.

As for what I think you should do? Well, reading over your post I think you should work on you (as cheesy as that sounds). Figure out what makes you the greatest bastard to ever grace this planet. What you have that no one else can offer. Why you are the shit and everyone else should take note. Basically you have to figure out who you are, why you're special and what you want to do with your life. You need that fulfillment. It is the greatest feeling ever to wake up and go do what you truly enjoy and look back on your work and see the marks you left. You have to find something that so captivates you that you look into the topic and tears come to your eyes at the possibilities. Find this thing and everything else will come in time. Take it from someone who was in you're place a year or so ago. I found my passion about a year ago, which helped my self esteem a lot and I'm currently coasting on the coat tails of the greatest year of my life on this planet yet. Its not easy and it takes a long time (much longer than the 2-4 months you have for summer), but it is honestly the greatest thing you will ever do for yourself.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Actually do one of the things in this thread. But not this one, or you just create a vicious cycle. So onto a more sensible idea...

Make something. A cupboard. A cosplay outfit. A potato cannon. An explosion. Whatever. Plenty of things to make. I've made a potato cannon and smoke grenades in the past, and I'm probably more lethargic and unmotivated than you when I'm on holidays.

 

[Doclector]

You should try fourth thing:

Spoiler

Or learn to play a variety of musical instruments using only the power of your mind.

OT: Exercise is useful for killing time, takes as long as you want it to take.(Unless your cycling partner comes from a cycling family and is the only one with house keys, then its up to her.)
Learn to drive, it's my new skill for the summer. I've no interest, but I'll have to learn eventually.
Learn to draw/paint/sculpt/other arty stuff.
Learn to play a musical instrument(serious this time).

Once a week, do something you don't particularly want to do. I mean this in a go outside your comfot zone way rather than a do a bunch of drugs or kill someone way.

The fourth thing is, unfortunately, a daily/bi-daily fixture already.

Thing with excercise in public is that I'm not good at it, and I utterly hate people laughing at me when I didn't intend them to.

I could practice doing that, making people laugh, but how on earth to do that without jumping in at the deep end at an open mic night (considering where I live in the summer, there is no bar/pub not infested with chavs) I have no idea.

I'm thinking of trying to draw stuff. I like drawing stuff, I was just never very good at it.

 

[DoPo]

Learn a programming language, build your first application with it. If you have time leftover, go over data structures and algorithms, patterns, and anti-patterns then improve your application.

Suitable languages for beginners - Python, PHP. The application shouldn't be overly complex but a really simple one wouldn't really be easy to improve (not much to improve there). You can try a simple game with no graphics (textual) and similar. Or if you go with PHP, try also learning HTML, then just continue improving it - get into HTML, add in proper CSS, some JavaScript to make the website better, separate PHP functionality into more reusable and easy to maintain blocks, look at Object Oriented PHP. You can even add in a database (most likely MySQL) and have a play with it.

It's no cost at all.

 

[Total LOLige]

Learn a programming language, build your first application with it. If you have time leftover, go over data structures and algorithms, patterns, and anti-patterns then improve your application.

Suitable languages for beginners - Python, PHP. The application shouldn't be overly complex but a really simple one wouldn't really be easy to improve (not much to improve there). You can try a simple game with no graphics (textual) and similar. Or if you go with PHP, try also learning HTML, then just continue improving it - get into HTML, add in proper CSS, some JavaScript to make the website better, separate PHP functionality into more reusable and easy to maintain blocks, look at Object Oriented PHP. You can even add in a database (most likely MySQL) and have a play with it.

It's no cost at all.

You've inspired me DoPo, to improve my C programming skills by making a text based game. I wonder how long it will take before I give up and just say fuck it. I need to think of a theme...I've got it a text based dating sim. E.L James watch out, I'm coming to steal the erotica market, 70s style.

OT: Learn to play an instrument, you can get a guitar for like £60, a shit one but it's a start. That's like one tenth the price of agaming PC.

 

[DoPo]

You've inspired me DoPo, to improve my C programming skills by making a text based game.

Dude, at least go for C++. Managing character arrays in C is not my definition of "fun". Well, could be done and it's not that hard but it'd be better in C++.

 

[Zantos]

You've inspired me DoPo, to improve my C programming skills by making a text based game.

Dude, at least go for C++. Managing character arrays in C is not my definition of "fun". Well, could be done and it's not that hard but it'd be better in C++.

That isn't a bad suggestion, however I've found the "Screw it and do Java" approach to be more effective. Now that is a language that knows how to handle it's char and string types. Or should that be String?

Also, dammit! You stole mine you... thought stealer. Now all I can do is say "Seconded on the programming language".

OT: Well OP, you're on a primarily gaming website, how about playing some games. Check out some oldies you loved as a kid and see if they/you've still got it. Judging by your age some Crash and Spyro should be on the cards, turns out they're still pretty sweet. If not, find some sites dedicated to modding and play some of your favourite games with a slightly to completely different experience! Depending on the sort of games you play, you could even look at making your own mods! (They don't all have to be graphics overhauls you know!)

 

[DoPo]

You've inspired me DoPo, to improve my C programming skills by making a text based game.

Dude, at least go for C++. Managing character arrays in C is not my definition of "fun". Well, could be done and it's not that hard but it'd be better in C++.

That isn't a bad suggestion, however I've found the "Screw it and do Java" approach to be more effective. Now that is a language that knows how to handle it's char and string types. Or should that be String?

Well, true, but he wanted to practice C. Though, even Java has it's quirks - string concatenation is rather slow, you are supposed to use StringBuffer if you actually want to do that a lot.

Also, dammit! You stole mine you... thought stealer.

Not my fault you left the variable public