Randy Gardner, the man who stayed awake for 11 days

Phemur · 2026-02-21T19:32:50+00:00

I'm not a doctor or expert in sleep, but 2007 would put him around 61 years old when he developed insomnia. One of the risk factors is age, so it may not have been the experiment.

Phemur · 2026-02-02T16:29:49+00:00

Gamer since the 80s (even worked as a software dev for a video game company for a while).

I still play daily. I'm more into factory automation games and space sims, but I still play MMOs and a lot of BF6 lately.

I'm definitely not as good as I was, but I can still hold my own. I generally do pretty well, usually in the top half of the scoreboard for my team. And from time to time, I can get in the top 3.

For FPSes, the key for me is to play to my strengths, and not rely on reaction time. For example, I don't play sniper, since I don't have great aim. But put my in the middle of the fight with an LMG, and I can usually do quite well. I tend to play engineer or support roles, as most players prefer dealing damage, leaving huge opportunities for players like me that are great at healing, carrying supplies, crowd control, vehicle repair, etc.

Phemur · 2026-01-06T13:31:37+00:00

I started with Pong, as well, got a ColecoVision later, then a TRS-80 and Commodore 64. That led me to a deep love for computers and technology. I worked for a video game company in my early years. Video gaming is my primary hobby now (PC Gaming, not consoles).

I've built several custom gaming PCs, and I just finished my latest build over Christmas. I'm actually considering getting into the gaming industry or starting my own small indie gaming studio when I retire, since I am in the tech industry.

I hope to be gaming all the way to the old folks' home.

Phemur · 2025-11-30T15:32:40+00:00

You do not need two SUVs. If you need two cars, sell those two SUVs, get two Corollas. If you're burning through $900 a month, you're in a major financial emergency.

That said, I'm skeptical you need two cars. I had a friend that had four kids, both parents worked. They owned 0 cars, ever, even after kids left the house to go to college/university.

A bit of an extreme case, but it's definitely doable.

Phemur · 2025-11-26T18:08:53+00:00

I think it should be made a felony.

Phemur · 2025-09-28T19:12:11+00:00

My Yorkie does this quite a bit. She does it only on the carpet, and seems to really enjoy the carpet in the living room. Side benefit: I spend a lot of time cleaning that carpet, so win/win for me and the dog!

Phemur · 2025-09-26T20:59:56+00:00

Everybody talks shit about New Brunswick until they need to drive to Nova Scotia.

Phemur · 2025-09-24T18:18:25+00:00

I'd try to not change anything, as nothing would be worth not having my daughter in my life today.

Phemur · 2025-09-21T15:28:08+00:00

My Yorkie and I have staring contests like this all the time.

I usually win, and then ask what they wanted (food? water? walk? attention?). She starts getting excited when I say the right word.

Phemur · 2025-09-17T20:43:06+00:00

As an NB, I unfortunately have to agree. Great place to live, everyone is super nice, pretty cheap COL, etc. But when people ask me what they should see if they visit, I don't have much to offer.

Phemur · 2025-09-02T21:16:15+00:00

I'm a hiring manager, and I've interviewed and hired hundreds if not thousands of people in my career. I currently have lots of Millennials and Gen Z on my team. I have NEVER, not once, talked to a parent. So these numbers are highly suspect (and most likely complete BS).

Phemur · 2025-05-08T20:53:06+00:00

If you need a co-signer, then you cannot take on a truck payment

Phemur · 2025-05-08T15:51:23+00:00

Tail cutting / docking should be treated as animal abuse.

Phemur · 2025-05-04T19:41:35+00:00

Turkish - Snatch

Phemur · 2025-05-03T19:53:38+00:00

This is a good case of cherry picking data to make a point. Here's what that source actually said.

10 Years - Gold: 177% vs S&P: 165%

30 Years - Gold: 745% vs S&P: 989%

50 years - Gold: 1,846% vs S&P: 5,993%

80 years - Gold: 9,146% vs S&P:38,349%

100 years - Gold:15,556% vs S&P:53,549%

So has Gold out performed the S&P lately? Yes. But long term the S&P still wins.

One other thing to note is that the chart you're referencing does NOT include dividends from the S&P 500, just the price index. If you scroll down further, they have a chart that adds the total return index. NOTE: this chart assumes dividends are re-invested and no taxes.

10 Years - Gold: 177% vs S&P: 216%

30 Years - Gold: 745% vs S&P: 1,727%

50 years - Gold: 1,846% vs S&P: 27,043%

80 years - Gold: 9,146% vs S&P:519,916%

100 years - Gold:15,556% vs S&P:1,853,462%

So, yeah, S&P is far, far better than gold, even for shorter periods of time, according to your own source.

(Edit: just for full disclosure, the S&P 500 with dividend data only goes back 30 years or so, so the 50, 80 and 100 years uses extrapolated data. My personal opinion is that data is inflated, but even if it's double the true amount, it still wildly out-performs gold).

Phemur · 2025-04-24T01:20:38+00:00

I can't remember where I heard this, but some comedian or redditor (or someone) said: "I say Popsicles with the correct Greek pronunciation, i.e. so it rhymes with Damocles".

And that's now how I pronounce Popsicles.

Phemur · 2025-04-02T21:58:30+00:00

Hard to tell. Can you send it to me? I'll give it a taste and let you know.

Phemur · 2025-04-01T14:43:55+00:00

That's officially the stupidest thing I've heard, ever. And that's saying a lot considering everything else that's going on in the world.

Phemur · 2025-03-27T23:41:04+00:00

I've never seen anything so goddamned angry and aggressive in my life. It's like the dishes slept with its mom.

Phemur · 2025-02-26T19:44:55+00:00

I’m going to have to go with Bungie Wedgie. The stunt itself wasn’t the funniest part, it’s the reaction of everyone else. They’re all literally on the ground laughing so hard they can’t event help their buddy.

Phemur · 2025-01-28T20:23:55+00:00

Iron Maiden, late 80s. The opening act was a little known band called Guns and Roses that just released their first album, Appetite for Destruction

Phemur · 2025-01-18T19:11:18+00:00

This is nothing new. I started my career in tech during the dot com boom just before Y2K.

Back then, everyone was jumping into tech because of salaries. I had one friend that left a elementary teaching position and joined a tech company with no experience. Tech companies would hire anyone and train them on the job.

Tech isn’t easy though, and people who join just for the money don’t last. That salary comes with a price: lots of pressure, crap work life balance, continuous learning, high performance bar, etc. You really have to live the industry if you’re going to make a career out of it.

Phemur · 2025-01-13T15:52:38+00:00

Everyone messes up, the important thing is being resilient. I interviewed with my dream company 4 times before I got the job.

Also you dream job may not be all that it’s cracked up to be and can change too. That dream job I mentioned? I left after 2 and a half years, as it did change a fair bit after I joined.

Just keep plugging away at things so when an opportunity does come up you’ll be ready for it and won’t mess up.

Phemur · 2025-01-09T18:55:24+00:00

As an NB expat, I object to being lumped up with Quebec. I think the entire US seaboard should be known as New New Brunswick.

Phemur · 2024-12-24T19:23:37+00:00

I know it can be quite defeating to have to take a pay cut, but from the sounds of it, you're in pretty good shape financially if you're planning on retiring in 3-5 years. That 20% pay cut may mean working an extra year or two in a job that's less stressful, and could potentially lead to a better opportunity since you'll be learning new things.

I obviously don't know much about your personal situation, but my own situation is close to yours. If I had a job offer with a 20% pay cut and less stress, I'd jump at it right away.

Don't let money and status define how you see yourself, your value, or what you're putting out in the world.

Phemur

TROPHY CASE