# In What Have You Achieved Perfection? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 3, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303 "2006-06-03T18:48:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/1 "2006-06-03T18:48:42Z")
I no longer need to play the version of Hearts that comes with Windows, for I can play it no better than I did just moments ago. I achieved a final score of of **Me - 0, each of my opponents - 104**. That comes from “shooting the moon” on the first four hands, nailing all my opponents for 26 points each time. Sheer perfection! So what have you reached the pinnacle of lately? ---
**Author:** ![Lorenzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@Lorenzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorenzo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/2 "2006-06-03T19:26:22Z")
Well, by many measures, yours truly has recently approached the pinnacle of obstinacy, from the left. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/3 "2006-06-03T19:42:02Z")
I was in Jamiaca many years ago and there was a bunch of locals fooling around throwing knives into a tree. I was a little drunk and decided to join them. I pulled out my ratchet knife and opened it one handed with a loud “thwack”. I then whipped it behind my back and let loose. I watched, as if in slow motion, as it tumbled towards the tree. It hit, sticking straight out. Not showing my surpise I non-chalantly walked up to tree and removed the knife. Having established my rep with the local Rastas I never again attempted such a feat. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/4 "2006-06-03T19:57:11Z")
I’ve, um, pretty consistently gotten a perfect score on the first level of Ms. Pac Man. What? ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/5 "2006-06-03T19:58:03Z")
I tipe gud. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/6 "2006-06-03T20:07:35Z")
Monster cookies. Nobody can beat my monster cookies. When my husband took a bite out of the most recent batch, sat back and closed his eyes, and muttered: “I would _buy_ these”, I realised I had attained perfection. I no longer need to tweak my recipe. My work is done. ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/7 "2006-06-03T20:10:31Z")
Minesweeper beginner level. Cleared in two seconds. No, that was totally skill. Really. Honest. No luck there, no siree, Bob! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/8 "2006-06-03T20:19:15Z")
Mostly video games. I got really good at Q-Bert for a while, and if I practice again I’ll be that good at Super Smash Brothers. Beyond that whatever I do is mostly luck. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/9 "2006-06-03T20:55:40Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > Monster cookies. Nobody can beat my monster cookies. > > When my husband took a bite out of the most recent batch, sat back and closed his eyes, and muttered: “I would _buy_ these”, I realised I had attained perfection. > > I no longer need to tweak my recipe. My work is done. Um. What flavor might these be? You can send some to me…you know…if you want a second and third opinion… …i like cookies. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2006, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/10 "2006-06-03T23:23:08Z")
> [@Least Original User Name Ever](#): > > Um. What flavor might these be? > > You can send some to me…you know…if you want a second and third opinion… > …i like cookies. [Monster](http://www.bnbjournal.com/InnFCC/images/monster-cookies.jpg) flavour, of course. 😛 (These aren’t mine. Mine look better. No, seriously.) It’s like a chocolate chip cookie base, but with lots of extra goodies (chocolate chunks, butterscotch or peanut butter chips, coconut, M&Ms, nuts, etc). You’d think there could be no way to mess up a monster cookie, but I’ve tried some awful ones where the cookie base was too hard, too mushy, too bland, etc. Getting the right amount of extra goodies in there, as well as having a pretty good balance of flavours is a nice touch, since you don’t want to be over(or under)whelmed by everything that’s going on. It’s a busy little cookie. Come to think of it, I make a damn good truffle, too. I _did_ get paid for them a while back, then I stopped making them because I was overwhelmed with orders and just couldn’t keep up. Any flavour someone wanted, I’d make them. They looked like something you’d get out of a candy box, but tasted much better. If I may toot my own horn, here. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mayo\_Speaks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mayo\_Speaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mayo_Speaks)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2006, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/11 "2006-06-04T00:32:53Z")
I have achieved a score of 18 on [**Miniputt I**](http://albinoblacksheep.com/flash/miniputt.php) after years of failed attempts. (Hole #4 will be the death of me.) A friend and I talked for years about the possibility of creating a BBQ pie. About a month ago, he did it and called it “the greatest accomplishment of my whole life. Conservative estamates [sic] rate it at the pinnacle of human achievement.” Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2006, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/12 "2006-06-04T00:48:35Z")
Procrastination. Well, almost. I had meant to think about making this post for a while longer. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2006, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/13 "2006-06-04T01:09:32Z")
I can make the following soups from scratch with only the recipe in my head: Split pea with ham Beef barley and mushroom Lentils and smoked sausage New England clam chowder Pasta fazool Turkey noodle with vegetables Chili con carne I am the King of Soup. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2006, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/14 "2006-06-04T01:21:16Z")
L’zyn’s ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/15 "2006-06-04T01:31:44Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > [Monster](http://www.bnbjournal.com/InnFCC/images/monster-cookies.jpg) flavour, of course. 😛 (These aren’t mine. Mine look better. No, seriously.) > > It’s like a chocolate chip cookie base, but with lots of extra goodies (chocolate chunks, butterscotch or peanut butter chips, coconut, M&Ms, nuts, etc). You’d think there could be no way to mess up a monster cookie, but I’ve tried some awful ones where the cookie base was too hard, too mushy, too bland, etc. Getting the right amount of extra goodies in there, as well as having a pretty good balance of flavours is a nice touch, since you don’t want to be over(or under)whelmed by everything that’s going on. It’s a busy little cookie. > > Come to think of it, I make a damn good truffle, too. I _did_ get paid for them a while back, then I stopped making them because I was overwhelmed with orders and just couldn’t keep up. Any flavour someone wanted, I’d make them. They looked like something you’d get out of a candy box, but tasted much better. If I may toot my own horn, here. 😃 Um. I’ll take chocolate chip monster with chocolate chunk monsters in them, please. _is patiently waiting_ ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2006, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/16 "2006-06-04T01:34:45Z")
I can dominate about half the Quake Arena bot levels in “Nightmare” mode. (yes it’s a pretty pathetic claim) ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/17 "2006-06-04T01:38:55Z")
My female birth giver wants to see your recipe for these “monster” cookies. She is intrigued. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing. I can see her messing them up. Ah, fuck it. Lemme see what you’ve got, woman. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/18 "2006-06-04T01:40:00Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I can dominate about half the Quake Arena bot levels in “Nightmare” mode. (yes it’s a pretty pathetic claim) I’d be proud. Then again, I’m a friggin’ wrecking ball through Legendary mode on Halo2. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2006, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/19 "2006-06-04T08:14:12Z")
I’ve beaten the arcade game **Golden Axe** without ever losing a point of life. I’ve beaten **Ghouls ‘n’ Ghosts** without ever losing a life. I’ve achieved the secret “you never lost a round” ending on **Streetfighter II** through **Super Streetfighter II Turbo**. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2006, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303/20 "2006-06-04T08:42:48Z")
I have perfected the art of enjoying long-distance air travel. 23 hours in the air? Plus the hours actually getting to the airport, hanging around the airport, blah blah blah? Bring it on! No problem! I enjoy every minute. I believe I have also perfected an art that doesn’t have a nifty name, but I’ll call it ‘Leaving things to the last possible minute _but_ actually getting them done’. It’s the perfect, finely-tuned marriage of laziness/procrastination on the one hand with responsibility/efficiency/conscientiousness on the other. I have _almost_ perfected the art of god-level punctual dependability. In my entire adult life, I’ve been late for something or kept someone waiting about 4 or 5 times max, and always because of a truly formidable, wretched set of multiple just-rotten-luck coincidences that thwarted my ability to be there on time. In all other respects, my life is the very opposite of perfection and achievement. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-have-you-achieved-perfection/359303.md?page=2)