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Ask HN: Cool Things You've Done (Brag Thread)

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Re: Ask HN: Cool Things You've Done (Brag Thread)

#81

Post by cromulent »

mbenjaminsmith wrote: post #72
cromulent wrote: post #9

I survived being hit in the head with a running 110cc chainsaw. Minor flesh wounds only. Is that cool? I'm not sure. A friend of mine won the Nobel peace prize and then lost it in a bar afterwards. I wish I could say that.

Are you serious? Please tell both of those stories.

Yes, with a bit of exaggeration. My friend is not a laureate, but was a key part of the organization that shared the peace Nobel about 15 years ago. He went along to help pick it up. He received a personal memento, a small medallion. He tells a good story of talking to a small dapper Norwegian man at the reception and finally asking him what he did. "I'm the King", was the response.

They went out celebrating afterwards (edit: not the King!) and he lost his memento. I like to imagine him calling the bar the next day and asking if any Nobel prizes had been handed in.

"Did you find it? Great. What? Chemistry - no, sorry, that's not it. Peace."

I worked as a treelopper for a while, and was cutting down the waste in the trailer. I was moving my feet around on the stack with the saw idling at arms'length. The Stihl 076 was idling too fast and caught on something, lurched forwards, cut through the steel trailer and bounced into my forehead, all in an instant.

Lots of blood, 15 stitches, but it turns out skulls are hard enough. Now I have a faint Harry Potter-style scar.

I've done some actual cool stuff too, not just surviving an accident, but I think the thing I am most proud of is self-diagnosing myself with depression later in life and learning to manage it. I wish I had worked it out earlier, but at least I'm still around and self-aware.

Re: Ask HN: Cool Things You've Done (Brag Thread)

#82

Post by apowell »

edw519 wrote: post #65

I strongly believe in initiative, achievement, and success, but for some reason, I find this thread a little troubling. Not because it's bragging, but because it's seems to be mostly about "me me me". I'd rather hear people brag about what they've done for others. At the time I write this comment, most other comments are about "me". Noteable exceptions: - jgrahamc obtaining a government apology for the mistreatment o…

I'm very interested in reading about the accomplishments of others, especially when they're particularly unique -- and I was happy to share my own.

I don't want my contribution to this interesting discussion to be read as "me me me", so I've removed it.

Re: Ask HN: Cool Things You've Done (Brag Thread)

#83

Post by jayair »

I'm gonna brag about my co-founder @fanjiewang. This is what I filled out on our YC apps.

* Co-starred in the film Air Hockey (2005), which was played at the opening ceremony of 2006 Air Hockey World Tournament hosted in Las Vegas (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2390531/).

* Faculty upper year scholarship for University of Waterloo Computer Engineering '04 (for ranking 1st).

* Finished 1st place in Sir Isaac Newton National Physics Competition '03.

* Finished 1st place in American Computer Science League Competition '02.

* Finished 1st place in Pascal National Mathematics Competition '00.

* Broke the record for the fastest goal scored (3.57 s) in a group qualifier for the U17 World Cup while playing for the Chinese national soccer team '99.

He has done quite a bit of stage work and he sings as well. Apart from being a really smart and talented guy he can work harder than anybody I know.

Re: Ask HN: Cool Things You've Done (Brag Thread)

#84

Post by borism »

cperciva wrote: post #53
shabda wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You forgot "I started Tarsnap."

I don't really consider Tarsnap to be in the same category as those. Sure, I think Tarsnap is a fantastic online backup system; but that's rather subjective. If/when Tarsnap becomes wildly successful, I'll be able to make the objective claim of "I started a company which (is making $X/year profit | I sold for $Y | has N customers | etc. )" but until that happens, Tarsnap isn't really something to "brag" about.

excellent, I admire that you're so humble about it

I'm even more interested in trying out tarsnap!

Re: Ask HN: Cool Things You've Done (Brag Thread)

#85

Post by thibaut_barrere »

* I started programming computers at 6 and I still love them :)

* I traveled all around the world in the french navy (http://carnet-escale.chez-alice.fr/JDA/escales/carte.JPG)

* I left the french navy to do IT despite having a lifelong contract there

* I'm about to move to the country-side with my family and bootstrap projects (that, I'm really proud of :-)

Re: Ask HN: Cool Things You've Done (Brag Thread)

#86

Post by ErrantX »

buro9 wrote: post #77
pasbesoin wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Will the MSc help by providing a "safe" fallback position / opportunities should a venture not succeed (and/or a sense of same)? I don't mean the question simply rhetorically -- although it initially popped into my mind in kind of that sense. I really wonder what your perspective is in that regard.

I hope so. I have no A-levels and no prior college education (due to being on the street at that point). The risk I think I have is that if I find myself out of work then no matter how good I am I won't find a job in a world where HR systems have check boxes to filter candidates. If "has degree" is a pre-req on a position then currently I won't even have my CV considered. The MSc is the highest level thing I could at…

Who are you doing the Msc with?

(Im currently doing mine with the OU and I got the impression your doing the same?)

Re: Ask HN: Cool Things You've Done (Brag Thread)

#87

Post by Grinnmarr »

The_Plague wrote: post #31

I have seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I've see C-Beams glitter in the dark by the Tannhauser gate.

"...All those moments will be lost in time; like tears in rain. Time to die."

FYI Rutger Hauer actually wrote that last line in to the script. Most memorable scene in the movie if you ask me.

Re: Ask HN: Cool Things You've Done (Brag Thread)

#88

Post by buro9 »

ErrantX wrote: post #86
buro9 wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hope so. I have no A-levels and no prior college education (due to being on the street at that point). The risk I think I have is that if I find myself out of work then no matter how good I am I won't find a job in a world where HR systems have check boxes to filter candidates. If "has degree" is a pre-req on a position then currently I won't even have my CV considered. The MSc is the highest level thing I could at…

Who are you doing the Msc with? (Im currently doing mine with the OU and I got the impression your doing the same?)

Birkbeck, University of London.

They're got a couple of great professors and a few not-so-good ones. The great ones more than make up for the others and it's probably no surprise that their subjects also interest me the most.

I should be graduating this year (or maybe it's next year?), my project proposal is being reviewed and exams are in about 7 weeks time.

Re: Ask HN: Cool Things You've Done (Brag Thread)

#89

Post by barrkel »

buro9 wrote: post #48
jk4930 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Initially I wanted to post a silly comment to the original question, but after I read your answer, I can't. You have my full respect, man. Your ghetto story is way more awesome than mine. :)

I'll admit something... my story hampers my present. The problem with such a dark background and fighting out of it is that once out, not going back dominates everything you do. This translates to, "Don't risk what you have". And therein lies a problem, if I have little but can't risk it then I'm risk averse and cannot gamble on high risk opportunities. I desperately want to do a start-up and to do something new, but…

I know what you mean. I came from a fairly poor background myself - nothing as harrowing as your own though - and find myself more frugal than many of my peers. I tend not to commit to things that will become long-term obligations (for example, I rent and have no debt) and I save obsessively. I tend to measure my savings in how many years I could go without having to work. I think being in this kind of position helps with the fear.
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