Artificial intelligence, space, physics, exercises and more

Far the past six years, my daily routine has been intense: five hours of rehabilitation exercises and six hours of rigorous study. This transformation stemmed from a major life event.

In October 2016, I suffered a stroke. After being found 14 hours later, emergency surgery followed. My recovery began with three months at the VA, where I continue to receive check-ups. The stroke left my right side partially paralyzed, and progress, though steady, has been gradual.

The stroke also caused aphasia, forcing me to relearn reading, writing and speaking. Improvements continue, and a vital hour of daily reading aloud has made a marked difference.

My newfound academic path diverged sharply from my former career in journalism and freelance graphic design. Instead, I immersed myself in AI, machine learning, neural networks, physics (including quantum mechanics, special and general relativity), particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology. My pre-stroke life holds no allure in comparison.

While I've always had a restless mind, the stroke caused a noticeable decrease in my mental agility. Tasks that once took seconds now require extended effort. I'm determined to reverse this decline and thankfully, there are signs of improvement. With the luxury of time, I have no doubt I'll persevere.

[UPDATED Feb. 2024]