Category: On a lighter note

Raj Farm 2023: First Act! 😊


In the Spring of 2023, the ghosts of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson decide to spring a surprise on earthlings by visiting Earth! 😉 The purpose of the visit was just to see and experience the joy of an idyllic place instead of the usual business of solving crime. So, Baker Street visit was ruled out. They landed in the picturesque town of Madison, Wisconsin that locals fondly refer to as Madtown or City of Four Lakes👌As they strolled around, enchanted by the natural beauty of the place, they happened to chance upon The Raj Farm! 👏The board at the entrance read “The Raj Farm – For those in search of peace and tranquility”! 🥰 Intrigued by the place Holmes and Watson walked around and enjoyed the serenity of the surroundings! Holmes suddenly noticed a puzzled look on Dr Watson’s face.
Holmes: What is it that is bothering you, my dear Watson?
Dr Watson: Holmes, this is supposed to be a farm and yet, while I see a meadow, I do not see any plants or trees! There are some pots and containers with soil in them.
Holmes: Aha, Watson, looks like another mystery to solve even in this visit. At least it’s not a crime. Let me check!
Dr Watson: Thanks, Holmes! 🙏
Holmes fishes out a magnifying glass, examining the contents of the pots and other containers very carefully. Next, he lies down and smells the soil in the pots. Finally, he feels the soil in the containers. Then he lets out a satisfied laugh! 😃
Holmes: The mystery is solved. It’s elementary, Watson!
(Dr Watson still sports a bewildered look)
Holmes: I first examined the soil and found seeds planted. Then I detected faint smell of herbs and peppers indicating what might have been planted. Finally, I felt the soil and there was some dampness I detected. So, my dear Watson, what that means is that the planting season has just started, the seed are in and being watered, and the good folks at the farm are patiently waiting for fruits of their labor as the season progresses.👍Does that answer your question?
Watson: Yes, it does. 👍Your reasoning always makes everything sound simple and straightforward, Holmes! 🙏

Brag……..ger!

News in the past few days has been dominated by “Will he?” or “Won’t he?” type of speculation whether Manhattan DA will bring charges in hush money probe. The subject of the investigation has been fulminating quite a bit about the unfairness of the investigation. We will see how the process unfolds legally, but I can’t think of a better headline than the “Bragg v Bragger” battle that is playing out! 🤣
What say?😉

Honey, I am going on a darkness retreat! 😂


In recent times before my weekend afternoon nap, I make an announcement to my wife “Honey, I am going on a darkness retreat!” 😉 Hey, darkness retreat is not just for the Jet Set and it’s an apt term for nap under layers of comforters in Wisconsin winter, eh? 😄 Besides, I head for a nap with retirement in mind and emerge from the experience with my mind fresh, clear, active and ready for action!🥰👍
I take news of Rodgers heading to Jets philosophically as the Packers-Rodgers relationship had run its course. Mutual trust and respect are fundamental to a sound relationship and in the past few years the relationship had frayed quite a bit🙏

FAANG!


LOL! This week another big name announced AI initiative! Amazon already offers AI services in AWS. If Apple decides to throw the hat in the ring and Netflix decides to join the fun by launching a show about the AI race this AI-fueled story will not lack FAANG! Expect a lot of bytes! 😊

https://www.reuters.com/technology/meta-launch-ai-language-model-llama-2023-02-24/

Imitation!


“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” is a well known saying attributed to Oscar Wilde (It’s also attributed to Charles caleb Colton). Recent happenings made me think about it. OpenAI’s ChatGPT has been the rage past couple of months. It’s a chatbot that interacts in a conversational way and many think that’s going to be the future of internet searches and many other applications. Microsoft has invested a significant amount of money in OpenAI’s chatbot. Google, which specializes in internet searches, has been working on its version of AI-powered chatbot Bard. In the wake of ChatGPT’s popularity and probably perceiving a threat to its online search dominance Google demonstrated Bard. The demo did not go smoothly as Bard’s response to a question was inaccurate. Microsoft decided to cash in on ChatGPT’s popularity and decided to release a beta version of Bing chatbot powered by ChatGPT’s AI with mixed results. Some who have tested have reported it makes up information and some have said the chatbot’s response has, to put it politely, not always been polite. Surely misery seeks company (or should I say “Companies seek misery”?)! 😄
Obviously long-term outlook for AI is promising but recent stumbles indicate it’s not quite ready for prime time wide usage yet. Since this piece is about imitation and technology I was struck by the announcement preceding layoffs by big tech companies in the recent past. Most announcements declared that the companies overestimated the demand in the wake of COVID pandemic, expanded too fast, hired in excess and the CEOs took personal responsibility for that. The language was strikingly similar it seemed as if all the companies had an aha/eureka moment at the same moment or each company decided to imitate the response of the other organizations’ that announced layoffs! 😊 In many fields (sports, business, technology, politics, entertainment etc to name a few) it appears the temptation to imitate, especially a bad example, is simply irresistible. Don’t know if it’s hubris or just a human tendency to take a bad example and prove it could be done even worse! Up there Oscar must be thinking “Imitation as sincerest form of flattery” has even exceeded his Wildest dreams! 🤣

Packers High! 😉

LOL … Looks like Aaron Rodgers and I share a passion for washing dishes! 😀 Don’t believe it? No worries, The Raj always has the receipts to prove it ( https://therajblog.com/2020/01/11/therapeutic-value-of-dishwashing/ ) 😂.
Hey Aaron, there have been quite a few lows this season for Packers team and fans 😢. The season could still end on a high I think. Could swing by Mr Rodgers neighborhood, we could go on a Ayahuasca trip and experience a Packers High! 😉 What say? 🤣

Weekend humor: Lane departure warning! 😉

It would be nice if human beings had built-in lane departure sensors. Would be even better if the sensors came equipped with steering assist! Imagine a scenario involving a politician spouting off like an expert scientist and the lane departure sensor gets triggered. He/She gets warned by the sensor to stay in their lane to avoid collision with knowledgeable experts. If he/she keeps talking after the warning steering assist should get activated in the form of mild electric shock, with increasing intensity every 30 seconds the warning is ignored, to make it more fun. 😂
Lane departure warning would work effectively with other folks like entertainers, businessmen, sportsperson and people from many other professions too to prevent them straying from their lane of expertise! The benefits are endless, what say? 😊
Hey, I am a dreamer 😃🙏

Feast before frost: Peaky Blinders look! 😃

My friend, Ravenous Bunny, had a jolly good time I must say with a feast before frost. The end result: Tall stemmed plant is now looking Packers QB Aaron Rodgers with his new Peaky Blinders haircut 😂

Links to video clips of Ravenous Bunny below
https://youtube.com/shorts/nQCSuDRo2oQ?feature=share
https://youtube.com/shorts/LRKfvlJChkg?feature=share
https://youtube.com/shorts/lxwaUgjr1q4?feature=share