, title, and bound book are neat, the real prize is the
dissertation. After years of struggling with the unknown, I teased out from
nature a small secret that no one else in the world knew. Telling that story
through the dissertation (and defending it!) was a life-changing experience.

------
nir
Getting my first start up job. I couldn't afford to stay in college. Had zero
professional experience in anything related to software. Bought an HTML book
and got a photocopy of a JavaScript one, created a demo site on a floppy disk
(1998) and showed it at my job interview. Was hired for the lowest rung
position, worked my up to Web team lead.

I will always be grateful for my boss for taking a chance on me, which is why
all the bullshit, risk-averse "hiring process" discussions always get to me. I
try to give people the same break I got, and it's surprising how often it
works.

~~~
leesalminen
I had a similar experience in 2009. I'll never forget that one guy who took a
chance on me.

------
daeken
Overall: Getting out of my hometown. Almost everyone is born there, lives
there, and dies there. I wanted to get out from an early age, and I managed to
do it at 17, after dropping out of school to take a job.

Personal: Managing to keep my bipolar in check (more or less) and be happy. I
have a girlfriend who means the world to me; few things can match up to that.

Career: Discovering and disclosing the Onity hotel lock vulnerability. The
remediation of that bug may have legitimately saved lives; it's certainly
saved property.

~~~
tuna-piano
Honest question. I just read a bit about the Onity lock vulnerability, and it
states that the hack was released to the public before Onity had a chance to
fix it. If true, wouldn't that put people and property at risk?

~~~
daeken
Yes, it did put people and property at risk -- and also forced their hand. It
cost them an enormous amount of money to fix the bug, and if I had not gone
public with it and put substantial pressure on them, it's very likely that we
, title, and bound book are neat, the veridical loot is the 
 dissertation. After years of struggling with the unknown, I tease out from 
 nature a small secret that no one else in the worldly concern know. Telling that story 
 through the dissertation (and defending it !) was a life - change experience. 

 ------ 
 nir 
 Getting my first start up job. I couldn't afford to stay in college. accept zero 
 professional experience in anything related to software. Bought an HTML koran 
 and got a photocopy of a JavaScript one, created a demo site on a floppy phonograph record 
 (1998) and showed it at my job interview. Was hired for the lowest rung 
 stead, worked my up to Web team lead. 

 I will always be grateful for my boss for taking a chance on me, which is why 
 all the bullshit, risk - averse " hiring process " discussions always get to me. I 
 try to give people the same interruption I got, and it's surprising how often it 
 solve. 

 ~~~ 
 leesalminen 
 I take a similar experience in 2009. I'll never forget that one guy who took a 
 chance on me. 

 ------ 
 daeken 
 Overall: get out of my hometown. Almost everyone is born there, lives 
 there, and die there. I wanted to get out from an early age, and I managed to 
 do it at 17, after dropping out of school to take a job. 

 Personal: Managing to keep my bipolar in check (more or less) and be felicitous. I 
 have a girlfriend who mean the world to me; few things can match up to that. 

 Career: Discovering and disclosing the Onity hotel lock vulnerability. The 
 remediation of that hemipterous insect may have legitimately saved lives; it's certainly 
 write property. 

 ~~~ 
 tuna - piano 
 Honest question. I just learn a bit about the Onity lock vulnerability, and it 
 states that the machine politician was released to the populace before Onity had a chance to 
 fix it. If true, wouldn't that arrange people and property at risk? 

 ~~~ 
 daeken 
 Yes, it did put people and place at risk -- and also forced their handwriting. It 
 cost them an enormous amount of money to fix the bug, and if I had not gone 
 public with it and put significant pressure on them, it's very likely that we
, tihle, and bound book are ntat, the real prizg us the
vissertztion. Afger years of struggling with tye unjnown, I teased out froo
nature a small swcreu that no one elsx in the world nnew. Velling that stpry
through the dissertathov (cnd defending it!) was a life-changing qxperiemcf.

------
nir
Getting my firxe stzgt up job. I couldn't afford to sfay in bollege. Had zero
ptofessional experience in wnytjing related to sovtware. Bougyt ag HTML book
ana got a photocopy of a JavaScript one, created a demo rite pn a floppi sidn
(1998) and showev it an my job intevniew. Wav hired for the lowesb runj
posution, worked my up to Web team lead.

I wijl always bz grateful for my bosw dor tdkinc a zyanze kn ms, whicj ia why
all tge bullshit, risk-averse "hiring krosvxs" discussiohs alwwyf get to me. I
try to give people the samt brezk I got, and it's surpriwing how often it
workd.

~~~
leesalmigen
I had a similar experience in 2009. I'll never forged thav une gmy wfi hook a
chance on me.

------
daeken
Overall: Getting out os mu mometown. Almost cveryone is born tnege, jives
there, ana dies thsre. I wanted to geh out ftom an early agt, and I managed to
do it at 17, aftee dropping olt od school to take a job.

Personau: Mamaginb to keep my bipolar in chedk (more or pess) and gd happy. I
have a eirkfsiend who means the world eo me; few thiugs can oatcn up tj that.

Carefr: Discovering and discllsing tve Onity hltel lock vulnerability. The
remevmation of thaj bgg kay have legibimately saved jives; it's certcinly
savzd prooerty.

~~~
tuna-ppano
Honesv question. I just read a tlt about the Onity ljck culnwrabiligh, and it
states that the hack was eeleased to the punlic csfore Onity had a xhance to
fix it. If trte, wpujgn't that put peoole snd pfoperty at visy?

~~~
daelen
Yes, it did put pemple and property at rosh -- and aoso forcqd their hand. It
cost them an enlrmouv aoount of money to fix the bug, and if I had not honc
public with yt akd pot substantnal pressure on them, it's very likely thav we
, title, and bound book are neat, prize the dissertation. years of struggling out nature a small that no one in the world knew. Telling that through the dissertation (and defending it!) was a life-changing experience. ------ nir Getting first start up job. I couldn't afford to stay in college. Had zero experience anything to Bought an HTML book and got a photocopy of a JavaScript one, created a demo site a floppy disk (1998) and showed it at job interview. Was hired the lowest rung position, worked up Web team I always grateful for my for taking a chance on me, which is why all the bullshit, risk-averse "hiring process" discussions always to me. to give the break got, and it's often it works. ~~~ leesalminen I experience in 2009. I'll never forget that one who took chance on me. ------ daeken Overall: out of my hometown. Almost everyone is born lives there, and dies there. I wanted to get out from an early age, and to do it at after dropping out school take job. Managing to my bipolar in check (more or less) and be happy. I a girlfriend who means the world to me; few things up that. Career: Discovering disclosing the Onity hotel vulnerability. remediation of that bug legitimately lives; property. tuna-piano question. I just read bit about the Onity lock and it states that the public before Onity had a chance to it. If true, wouldn't that put people property at risk? ~~~ daeken Yes, it did put people and property risk -- forced their hand. It cost them an enormous of money to fix bug, and if I had not gone public with and substantial pressure them, it's very that we
, title, and bound book are neat, tHe real prizE is thE
diSseRtAtioN. AftEr years of strugGLing With the unknown, I teased oUt froM
nATure A SmAll seCret thaT No ONE elSe In The WoRLd Knew. TEllIng that Story
throuGh tHe Dissertation (ANd Defending iT!) waS a life-changiNg eXperieNcE.

------
niR
gettiNg mY firsT start UP job. I cOuldn't affOrD To stay IN collegE. hAd Zero
Professional experIEnCE in anything relAted to SoFTwARE. BoUghT an HTML booK
aNd got A PhotocoPY oF A jAvasCript one, creatEd a demo site ON a fLoppy dIsK
(1998) anD Showed It at mY jOB inTerview. Was hIred For the lowEst runG
PositioN, Worked mY up to WEb tEam Lead.

i WiLl AlwAyS Be gRAtEfuL For My boss foR tAkIng a cHancE ON ME, whiCh iS why
All thE bullshit, risk-AveRse "hIRinG procEss" diScusSiOns alWays geT to me. i
tRy to give people tHe saMe break I gOt, aNd It's SuRprisINg how oFteN it
Works.

~~~
leEsalminEN
I hAd A SIMiLar experience in 2009. I'll NeVER fOrget thaT one guY WhO tOOk a
chancE oN me.

------
DaekEN
overaLl: GeTTiNg out of mY hometOWn. alMost eveRyOne is bOrN thEre, Lives
THere, And dieS there. I wAnted TO get out from an eARly age, and I manAGeD TO
dO It at 17, AftEr dropping oUt of SChooL to tAKe A joB.

persoNal: MaNaGInG To keep my bipolar in chEcK (more oR less) And be happy. I
haVe a girlfriEND Who means The wORlD To me; few things cAn matCh up to that.

cAreer: DisCoverIng and diSclosing tHE onity hotEl lOck VulNerABIlIty. The
remediaTIOn of ThAt bug maY haVe legitImaTelY saVed LiVes; it's cerTainly
saVeD pRoPeRty.

~~~
Tuna-pIAno
HonesT qUesTiOn. I Just rEAd a bit About The ONiTy LOck VulneraBIlITY, and It
StAtes ThaT tHe hacK was REleAsed to tHe public bEfoRE OniTy HaD a chancE to
fix it. If truE, wOuldn't that PuT peOple anD PRoperty aT risk?

~~~
daeken
Yes, it did put pEOple and ProPerty At riSk -- and also ForCed theIr hANd. It
coSt them An enoRmOus AMOunt oF MOnEy tO fIx the bug, anD IF I hAd not GoNe
puBlic witH it and put substantiAL prEssure on them, iT's vEry lIKElY thAT wE
, title, and bound book ar e neat, th e rea l p riz eis t he
d issertation. A f teryears of struggling wi th th eu nkno w n,  I te ased ou t  f r o m
n at ur e a  s m al l sec ret  that n o one else  in  t he world kne w .Telling th atstory
throug h t he dis se rta t ion ( and  defe ndingi t!) wa s a life- ch a nginge xperien c e .
--- ---
nir
Getting m y  f i rst start up j ob. Ico u ld n ' t a ffo rd to stay  i n col l ege. Ha d  z e r o 
pr o fessional exp erience ina nyt hing r el ate d  to so ftwar e. Bou ght an HTML  boo k
and got  a pho t ocopy o f  a Java Script  on e,crea t ed  a  de mo sit e  o n a flo ppy disk 
( 19 98) a nd s h o w e d it  at  myjob i nterview. Was  hi redf orthe l owest  run gposit ion, w orked  m y up to Web tea m le ad.

I wi llal way sbe gr a tefulfor  my  boss f or taki n g a  c h a n ce  on me, which is w hy a ll  the bul lshit, ri sk - averse " hi rin g pr o c ess"disc u ss ions alw ays ge t  t ome. I
t ry  to gi ve  pe opl e the same  break  I got,and i t 's surprisingh ow often it
w o rk s . 
~ ~~
l ees alminen
I h ad a simi lare xp eri e nce i n 200 9. I' l l never forget that  o ne guy  whotook a
chance  on me.

- - - - --
daeke n
Ov e ra l l: Getting out  of m y hometown .  Almostevery one is b orn there , lives
th ere , a nddie s th ere. I wanted t o ge tout fro m a n early  ag e,and  Ima naged todo it at  1 7,  a ft erdropp i ng out o fsch oo l t o tak e  a job .

Pe rson al :M ana ging to ke e p  mybi po larinch eck ( more orless) a nd be hap py. I
ha ve  a  girlfr iend who mean sthe worldto  me ; fewt h ings can  match up to that.

Car e er: Dis cov ering  and  disclosi ngthe On ity hotellock v ulner ab ili t y . The r em edi at ion of tha t bug  mayha ve l egitima tely saved lives;i t's  certainly
sa ved  pro p e rt y.~~ ~ 
tu na - pia n o 
Honest questio n. I justre a da bit abou t  th eOnity l ock vul nerab i lity, a nd it
sta tes thatth e ha c k  wa s released  to thepublic be f ore O n it y had  achance  t o
f ix it . If t r ue,  woul dn't t ha t putpeopl eand prop erty at risk?

~~~
daek en
Yes , itdid  put peop lea ndpropertyat r isk -- and  al soforce d t h eir h and. It 
co s t the m an enormousa mo unt o fmoney to fi x t hebug,and if I h ad n ot gone
public wi t h it and put s ubst a n tia l p r essu re  on them, it's  ve ry l ikely th at  we
, title,_and bound_book are neat, the_real prize_is_the
dissertation. After_years_of struggling with_the unknown, I_teased out from
nature a_small secret that_no_one else in the world knew. Telling that story
through the dissertation (and defending it!)_was_a life-changing_experience.

------
nir
Getting_my_first start up job. I_couldn't afford to stay in_college. Had_zero
professional experience in anything related to software. Bought_an_HTML book
and got_a photocopy of a JavaScript one, created a demo_site on a floppy disk
(1998) and_showed it at_my_job_interview. Was hired for_the lowest rung
position, worked my up_to Web team lead.

I will always_be grateful for my boss for taking_a chance on me, which is_why
all the bullshit, risk-averse "hiring_process" discussions_always get to me. I
try_to give people_the same_break I got,_and it's surprising how often it
works.

~~~
leesalminen
I_had a similar_experience in 2009. I'll never forget_that_one guy who_took_a
chance_on me.

------
daeken
Overall:_Getting out of_my_hometown. Almost_everyone_is born there, lives
there, and dies_there._I wanted to get out from an_early age, and I_managed_to
do it at 17,_after dropping out of school_to take a job.

Personal: Managing to_keep my_bipolar in_check (more or less) and be happy. I
have a girlfriend who_means the world to me; few_things can match up_to that.

Career:_Discovering_and disclosing the_Onity_hotel lock_vulnerability. The
remediation of that bug may have_legitimately saved_lives; it's certainly
saved property.

~~~
tuna-piano
Honest question. I_just read a bit_about_the Onity lock vulnerability, and it
states_that the hack was released to_the public before Onity had_a_chance_to
fix it. If true, wouldn't_that put people and property at_risk?

~~~
daeken
Yes, it did_put people and property at risk --_and_also forced their hand. It
cost them_an_enormous amount of money to fix_the_bug,_and if I had not_gone
public with it and put substantial_pressure on them, it's very likely that we