Ask HN: Cool Things You've Done (Brag Thread) • Hacker News Board

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

#121

Post by sev » Thu, Mar 18, 2010, 4:23 PM UTC

Not much compared to others here...

* Won the Bank of America Computer Science award in high school.

* Have only worked in my field of study and interest (comp sci)

* Had a $20/hour job at age 18, which was my second job. First being one at $15/hour.

* Two years later I asked for a 50% raise, got declined, quit, they came after me and they have been my client to this day.

* I survived a horrible rip tide/current after accepting death without the help of a lifeguard.

* Wrote the most efficient language generator based on a given grammar in discrete math class.

* Taught myself enough about programming/servers/etc before college, that by the time college was over, it had taught me nothing new.

* Know how to speak 2 languages fluently without an accent in either language.

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

#122

Post by gstar » Thu, Mar 18, 2010, 4:32 PM UTC

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…

The great thing about the benefits system in the UK is that you just won't, unless you want to.

If you really do want to take the risk of starting a business, even if you do fail - you'll never be back on the streets.

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

#123

Post by chegra84 » Thu, Mar 18, 2010, 4:39 PM UTC

* Taught myself pascal at 12 and many other languages since * Skip a grade in primary school * Got a 82(top 10 uni in UK) for MSc dissertation * Discovered the British museum algorithm while meditating * Sold tamarine balls when I was 5 for a quarter

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

#124

Post by ptn » Thu, Mar 18, 2010, 4:40 PM UTC

_3ex7 wrote: post #42

I used to shoot hoops with MJ

This is interesting. Were you neighbours or something?

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

#125

Post by japherwocky » Thu, Mar 18, 2010, 4:45 PM UTC

I play in a band, and last night we posted our first youtube music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-KbQv9qB9o

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

#126

Post by adrianscott » Thu, Mar 18, 2010, 4:46 PM UTC

* Graduated university at age 16, Math PhD at age 20 (RPI)

* Performed with New York City Ballet

* Sang with Placido Domingo

* Founding investor in Napster

* Credited as a pioneer in social networking, founding pioneering one in 2001, which heavily influenced Friendster which led to myspace, facebook etc.

* Acted in Sundance Feature Film competition selection

* Now doing next big thing, hehe ;)

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

#127

Post by tirrellp » Thu, Mar 18, 2010, 4:46 PM UTC

http://www.podblogr.com

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

#128

Post by midnightmonster » Thu, Mar 18, 2010, 4:47 PM UTC

petervandijck wrote: post #14

Rode a bicycle (that I constructed from parts) through the jungle of Congo for 2 weeks. Got a rare form of Malaria. Rode it back.

Needs more upvotes for figuring out how to ride a rare form of Malaria.

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

#129

Post by malbiniak » Thu, Mar 18, 2010, 4:49 PM UTC

zaphar wrote: post #120

jrockway wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And you have an excellent taste in coffee ;)

Intelligentsia in Chicago. Only the best my friend :-)

Intelligentsia isn't bad, but there's always Metropolis and Asado :)

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

#130

Post by Quarrelsome » Thu, Mar 18, 2010, 4:54 PM UTC

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…

I'm UK too and have no A-levels or Degree. I studied and dropped out of performing arts!

No issue in getting a job though. It's the experience, passion and determination that counts IMO. And only a few monolithic companies have those checkboxes.