Rodrigo Couto

I stopped training Kung fu here in São Paulo about 3 years ago. I practiced for about 10 months and, without any doubts, that was the healthiest time of my life.

I really enjoyed doing all the katas. And the exercising was just great!

But I fear that it isn’t for me. As soon as the sifu decided that we were ready to start fighting practices something snapped in my head: “hey, wait a second… I never wanted to learn how to beat someone! I just wanted the exercise!”.

A week or so later I left the classes.

But I really miss the Katas and the exercise.

Does anyone know about a strictly-katas style of kung fu? Anyone? I thought so… :)

Well… I am facing a master on computer science…

I started my master classes 2 and 1/2 years ago. That was the easiest part. I went on all the classes that my adviser told me to. After completing those a year ago, I found myself with one simple question: what do I have to say on my thesis?

The topic my adviser suggested for the thesis doesn’t have any real appeal to me. It was just mere convenience to be studying that (combinatorial optimization) because I really didn’t know what to do at the time I started it.

I don’t have a specific taste for any particular research area on computer science. Au contraire, I love ALL of them. I spend a large part of my free time (I work 40h per week with Java on a health care company) devouring every piece of scientific document I find. I just don’t have any focus. And I don’t think I want to have any :)

My last passion is Semantic Web and the social content applications that are revolutionizing the web. I am trying hard to find a topic on this area worth of spending a year or so studying.

Any suggestions about how to focus on the thesis, and specially, how to transform it on a fun task worth to be endured:), will be extremely welcomed!