MY INTERESTS
AND PASSIONS
As far as my memory goes back my very first passion was the perpetual
locomotion. I was six or seven years old when I came across the
idea in a book of popular physics and was hooked. I began imagining all
possible combinations of mechanical or electrical devices known to a six-year-old
and after choosing those seemingly most appropriate for eternal energy
production presented my inventions to my parents. While my mother did not
understand enough mechanics to appreciate my engineering in full, my father
was competent and patiently explained to me the flaws of my designs. After
about half a year, my father, finely annoyed by my perseverance, took the
time to explain to me that the laws of physics excluded the very possibility
of a perpetum mobile and that therefore all my proposals were destined
to fail. I was too young to understand the scientific proof itself, but
believing my father I honored the laws of physics and went on to drawing
labyrinths. The latter activity became
my second passion and I pursued it with even greater ardour than the first
one. Nevertheless I did not completely surrender my disposition for perpetual
locomotion and continued to devise mechanisms and check them myself for
defects that I now knew they were bound to have.
Other big passions of my childhood were architecture, zoology,
geology, other sciences soccer and Musorgski. 
My teens were characterised by intensive sports, literature, electronics,
more inventions and Beatles. In my early twenties I developed interest
for human sciences, law, fine arts, physical work, travel and jazz. Economics,
politics and more jazz followed in the thirties. Today my greatest interests
lay in natural sciences, philosophy and fine arts, but I also appreciate
sports, travel, music, and some handy work. Periodically
some of those activities become passions and I engage with more or less
enthusiasm in one of them more systematically.
I have a real passion for foreign cultures and rarely travel for pure leisure.
My initial curiosity is usually aroused by secondary sources
like books of movies. When junks of this incidental information become
insufficient travel is the best solution. When traveling, I always learn
a few expressions in the native language(s) as well as the alphabet,
some history, customs and absorb as much native spirit as I can.
Occasionally I work or do business abroad. Although I have clear preferences
for some places or cultures, I have never been to a country that was not
worth visiting at all. Many are worth a closer look. My passion to
travel has never waned. Sometimes curiosity pays off. If it wasn't
for traveling I would not live in Montreal in the first place.
Here I spend most of the winter reading scientific and semi-scientific
literature on physics and neurology as well as political press such
as " Der Spiegel " or " The Economist " and do (mostly indoor) sports.
I also draw, play chess, visit museums and make excursions to New
York City to listen to good jazz. In the summer mostly I travel, go deep-sea
diving and sailing.
Most of my passions originate in hunger for knowledge. Other stemmed
from the impressions I had from performances or skills of other people.
All in all I had, have and probably will have very many different interests
and passions. Usually after I learn what I was interested to know, acquire
a skill that impressed me or get see what intrigued me, my interest abates.
However some activities I stick with for a long time. To great amusement
of my friends I keep on inventing minor devices like accessories for cars,
household and sports. Today still children who want to me to draw a labyrinth
usually do not need to ask twice.
