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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)

#111

Post by hendler »

zaphar wrote: post #92

* I never graduated college but somehow ended up working for google * I survived and kept a roof over 3 kids and a wife while only making 10'000 one year. (in USA) --- Did the same with 4-5 kids while technically homeless and out of work. * I'm raising 5 amazing children with an incredible wife * I've taught myself C, Java, Perl, PHP, ASP, Erlang, Lisp, HTML, CSS, Javascript * I'm a born again christian (Actually the…

I love that coding/startup culture gives hard working smart people like you an opportunity to self-learn and rise.

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

#113

Post by binarymax »

Lived in and managed software teams in 3 different countries.

Logged over 2000 offshore sailing miles.

Learned to code when I was 7.

Sold a work of art at auction when I was 8.

Tied for 2nd place in a senior high national chess championship.

Have survived 3 near-death experiences.

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

#114

Post by jrockway »

jgrahamc wrote: post #58

Whether you consider these things amazing is up to you, but I'm happy about them. * I obtained a government apology for the mistreatment of Alan Turing * I wrote an original book * I went to Oxford after my state school told me I wasn't up to it, I stayed and did a doctorate there * I learnt to swim when I was 21 * I learnt to speak French fluently as an adult

I went to Oxford after my state school told me I wasn't up to it, I stayed and did a doctorate there

I always loved people that told me I wouldn't be able to do something. I remember a 4th grade teacher that told me I couldn't write (presumably because we were to make a copy-n-paste book entitled "quaken' shakin' earth" about earthquakes, and I spelled the title wrong. I still don't know how to spell it, in fact.)

Fast-forward 10 or so years, and now people give me money to write. I guess it's a long time to hold a grudge, but I still think it's funny that elementary school teachers feel the need to tell their students that they'll "never" do well. (I also had other teachers that thought I should be in special ed, presumably because I got a pencil stuck in my hair once. This still happens to me on a regular basis, in fact, but it turns out that that doesn't have much to do with actual abilities.)

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

#115

Post by cperciva »

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 agree. I'm rather disappointed in HN's readership that they voted my response up higher than patio11's.

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

#116

Post by jrockway »

zaphar wrote: post #92

* I never graduated college but somehow ended up working for google * I survived and kept a roof over 3 kids and a wife while only making 10'000 one year. (in USA) --- Did the same with 4-5 kids while technically homeless and out of work. * I'm raising 5 amazing children with an incredible wife * I've taught myself C, Java, Perl, PHP, ASP, Erlang, Lisp, HTML, CSS, Javascript * I'm a born again christian (Actually the…

And you have an excellent taste in coffee ;)

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

#118

Post by jaxn »

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 understand the HR checkbox fear completely. I have been doing my own thing (limping along) for two years (as of this month) and out of the workforce. I don't have a college degree and am not sure if I can get a job when I need one.

I am not sure it is a completely rational fear since I have relationships in the industry, but it is not exactly a confidence booster.

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

#119

Post by cromulent »

mbenjaminsmith wrote: post #96
cromulent wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 afterwar…

That cracks me up - probably because I took drinking too seriously for many years. I can at least imagine people in that situation. I guess it's kinda sad but also fun to have won and misplaced something that serious. That actually happenend to someone I went to high school with - he wasn't so lucky but after several surgeries he just kinda looks like a hard ass. You're definitely lucky.

I don't think he was completely trashed or anything, he just lost it whilst he was in the bar having some champagne or whatever. He actually wasn't that worried about it.

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

#120

Post by zaphar »

jrockway wrote: post #116
zaphar wrote: post #92

* I never graduated college but somehow ended up working for google * I survived and kept a roof over 3 kids and a wife while only making 10'000 one year. (in USA) --- Did the same with 4-5 kids while technically homeless and out of work. * I'm raising 5 amazing children with an incredible wife * I've taught myself C, Java, Perl, PHP, ASP, Erlang, Lisp, HTML, CSS, Javascript * I'm a born again christian (Actually the…

And you have an excellent taste in coffee ;)

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