Permutations, combinations

@ Lunch

NS: That girl is hot. Forgot her name… Her initials are SM I think.
RV: Are you sure?
NS: Not sure, but I have 1/36 chance of getting it right.
Me: Yeah, better than winning a lottery.
NS: 36 or 26 can’t remember.
Me: I think you wanted to say 26, but the probability will be less than that…
RV: ...yeah, since it’s a combination of the 2 letters.
NS: 1/26*1/25
RV and me: Exactly!

We lead a sad life.

Same old...

No comments.

Random Guy

Have you noticed, there are some people who just don't make sense when they speak? It's as if they randomly collect a bunch of words from their vocabulary, bundle them together, throw them at you, and then leave it to you to make sense of it. Invariably and unfortunately these folks just love to talk - which makes it a dangerous combination. A lot of times these people come across as 'deep' or 'profound' (at least initially) because we end up thinking, "Maybe. there is something I am not understanding... they obviously can't be that stupid" or "There is definitely more to this guy than meets the eye. Hmm interesting... "
I have a colleague who fits the description. Let's call him "random guy" - because he is random.

A random conversation with random guy:
A: Speaking of music, I saw Beyonce Knowles at the all star game. She sang the national anthem... she is an amazing singer!
B: Amazing singer... She is awesome! Love her.
Random guy: yeah, like Serena Williams.
Silence.
I can see the rest of the group racking their brains to figure out if this is 'profound' in any way or if they are missing something.
Finally and uncomfortably, A: Serena sings too?
B: You like Serena, like we like Beyonce?
A: You saw Serena at the all star?
Random guy: Beyonce looks exactly like Serena.
Silence. Rest of the group trying to spot similarities.. something they might have missed.
A: But, Beyonce is slim. Serena's a lot bigger...
Random guy: Right. Who is the slimmer of the Williams sisters?
B: Venus?
Random guys: She is exactly like Venus.
Silence.
B (trying to make sense): You mean she is an achiever? Has a lot of fighting spirit?
Random guy: Beyonce looks exactly like Venus.
Me: Apart from the fact that they are females, I don't...
Random guy: Are you kidding me? Have you seen "Fight Club"?
Silence.

Feeling Blue

JetBlue Airways founder and Chairman David Neeleman admitted Tuesday that he wasn't pleased when his company's board forced him to give up the CEO spot in May, and said he believes he'd still have the job if not for the ice storm and service meltdown that hit the airline in February

Strange are the boardroom machinations. I do understand such decisions are taken in the ‘best interests of the stockholders’ and considering the competitiveness of the corporate world, the decision may be right. What bothers me is that he is the founder of the company. For me, it’s like saying, “Thanks for designing and building this wonderful vehicle that we are all riding in. We just don’t want you driving it anymore.”

Meetings

Have you noticed how some of your co-workers have this habit of inviting the entire world to their meetings – whether their participation is value-added or not? Stuck in one such meeting I was doing the tight rope walk of trying to stay awake while looking intelligent, and actively suppressing homicidal thoughts, I silently wondered why these morons would tie everybody up in this useless exercise. Maybe they like showing people how hard they are working or maybe they just like to hear themselves talk. Maybe it’s the office calendar feature which is just so cool that they can’t resist inviting people so they can ‘refresh’ and check how many have accepted. Or it could be the fact that they have nobody else to talk to. Heck, I have a sneaking suspicion my ex-boss used to call meetings when she wanted to show off her new dress. What better away to parade your new dress around then to call a meeting where you know there will be at least one person pathetic enough to notice and compliment you, and the rest will be subversive enough to feel obligated to do the same. Whatever the reason, these people need to grow up. How many of you have been invited to meetings with no agenda? If you don’t have an agenda, don’t call a meeting. Let’s just chat over lunch.

Brain dead

Have you noticed how your brain seems to desert you when you need it the most?

The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning, and does not stop until you get into the office. - Robert Frost

On-the-job naps

Instant messenger @ work. 2:30 pm.

NS: Me sleepy.
Me: Do the Dew.
NS: Got a better option. I will go to the scripting room and take a ‘power nap’. I can lock myself in. Ppl will think I am busy coding.
Me: Yeah that works too. Check this link. On-the-job naps might cut heart risk
Me: Japan has 'siesta booths’ and stuff. They encourage power naps to increase productivity
Me: and per this new study afternoon power naps are linked to reduced risk of heart disease..
NS: the scripting room might just save my life then ;)

Work Blog

In the spirit of blogs, I am thinking of starting a work blog. There is so much stuff and so many projects going on, I wonder what I end up doing all day at work! (“Not blogging I hope”. Yeah, thought of that.) So the next time my manager thinks what the heck I am up to, I could just forward him a link.