One observation below in the article I can use as explanation for my preference to drift in and out of a problem. I am trying to be a polymath! 😉
“We can therefore make better use of our time if we regularly switch between skills or subjects. The same goes for studies of problem solving – you will find more solutions to a task if you return to it after looking at something completely different, rather than simply spending ever more time on the same question.”
This man should testify
There has been one constant when witnesses have showed up to testify in the impeachment proceedings if anyone cared to notice. The man in red circle in left photo above! I don’t know about others but I think he should be asked to testify. Hear me out first please 🙂
From the rarefied heights that he operates in this guy has a bird’s-eye view to everything! He can see everything in this galaxy and beyond. Not only can he see everything he always appears to stay under the radar too! In most photos with group of people that Mr Red Circle is in all you see is a well dressed gent neck down, no face 😀 (right photo an example). In short this is a person who stands head and shoulders above everyone else, can see everything and yet not be seen. What more do you need in a witness?
I change my position. This man must testify 😀
John von Neumann – Genius, polymath
Word of the day: turpitude, Idiom of the day: joined at the hip
For a change we have a word and an idiom today
Word of the day: turpitude
Dictionary meaning of turpitude is depravity; wickedness.
Almost always I have seen this word used with moral. “moral turpitude” is commonly used to describe a person’s descent into unacceptable behavior. Per Wikipedia moral turpitude is a legal concept in the United States and prior to 1976, Canada, that refers to “an act or behavior that gravely violates the sentiment or accepted standard of the community”. This term appears in U.S. immigration law beginning in the 19th century. moral and turpitude seem inseparable. Which brings us to the idiom of the day
Idiom of the day: joined at the hip
Used to describe the relationship between people. If two persons are described as being joined at the hip it means they are closely connected; always together
Now for the fun part: Using the word and idiom in a sentence!
Julie Anne, accused of moral turpitude, claimed whatever she did was at the insistence of Ronald which would make it appear both of them are joined at the hip
Arctic chill
Caught in the vortex of an arctic chill
Everything appears frozen and still!
Chance of stepping out in shorts is practically nil
Dressing in layers has become a daily drill!
I asked my good friend Bill
“Is there hope for a warm Spring still”?
Staring at the sky he said “Look forward to more spill”
All talk of warm weather is rumor mill!
Can someone either give me a chill pill
Or reveal secret to keep down the heating bill?
Hope for something better springs eternal still
Wish I could change the weather at will! 🙂
A Spiritual Journey
It’s been a year of multiple Production Go Live implementations. All the Prod Go Live implementations tend to be intense with lot of activities packed into a very short period of time, usually a weekend to minimize downtime for the customer so that users can start using the new/upgraded application/s at the start of the following week. Most times failure is not an option but a distinct possibility. Production Go Live implementations are like participating in full marathons testing one’s endurance and with many aspects
Physical: At various points the body sends message it needs to pause and rest but the crunched schedule doesn’t allow for it
Mental: All Prod Go Lives are scheduled to complete within a time window to allow for enough time to test and confirm before releasing to customer. If one task takes longer than estimated it has a cascading impact on following tasks and the mind is calculating about being able to able to complete all tasks within acceptable time similar to a marathon runner trying to complete the run in a time that would be deemed successful (or acceptable if there is a cut off for acceptable time)
Psychological: To keep going one has to resort to play psychological games with oneself like we are more than halfway through successfully already, most of the hard tasks are done and the remaining tasks are easier tasks etc
Spiritual: For all the preparations done in advance success is not a given. Just as external factors like weather, running conditions can impact the result of a marathon in addition to condition of the runner Prod Go Lives can be impacted by external factors like network, 3rd party dependency in addition to any unknowns that could come into play for the first time. That’s where the spiritual aspect comes in. One discovers what one is made of as well as the stuff that participating teams are made of as everyone works through any issues that could be encountered to complete the implementation successfully. Finally one has to be prepared to accept whatever the end result after one’s best effort. Just as a marathon runner could either finish the race successfully and possibly ahead of expected time OR fail to complete Prod Go Live implementations could complete successfully ahead of time/in time as planned OR end in DNF. That’s where the ultimate spiritual aspect comes in. Treat success and failure with calm, not get too elated or disappointed either ways if the effort is 100%
Raj Farm: Status call 3 notes
Plant Manager (PM) Raj : Howdy folks, hope you had a great time past few weeks. Thanks for checking in. Sorry for the call cancellations past 3 weeks, had to take care of some personal work. But Raj Farm has been buzzing with activity even during my absence
Customer: It’s alright, family comes first
PM Raj: Thanks for the understanding, really appreciate it. Status of Raj Farm project will be presented individually by plant module leaders from each plant team. Before we get started let me introduce new member added to Team Basil, basil plant! This new addition to the team is experienced and expected to provide a fillip to Team Basil. He has been there and done that. Welcome to Raj Farm project team, basil plant. Do you want to introduce yourself to this team and say Hi to the larger team, my man Basil?
Basil Plant: Thanks for the kind words, I look forward to interacting and growing with other teams and show the kind of progress this great team expects and is used to.
PM Raj: Thanks, we look forward to you being a valuable member of the plant team and guide the summerlong basil seeds along the way. Ok, Team Tomato module leader will be up first!
Team Tomato module leader: Good afternoon. I am speaking on my behalf of both the plants and once upon a time seeds. Team did great last week. We developed and grew together very well. Our team would like to thank our move to new office pots to accommodate our growth. As you can see we have started blooming! In few weeks we plan to add more color and you should see all the efforts bear fruit. I will let the humans decide whether you call us a vegetable or fruit. Humans are good at fighting over relatively insignificant things like nomenclature 😀
PM Raj: Thanks Team Tomato and good progress. Your point about human beings fighting over inane stuff is well taken 🙂 Team Cucumber, your turn next!
Team Cucumber module leader: Hi All, out team has been been outstanding and beating expectations. This week was not different. We grew by leaps and bounds. When we deliver your thirst will be quenched for sure barring anything unexpected happening. I would like to point out we have been facing challenges from the RabMunks combine.
Customer: What are the RabMunks?
Team Cucumber module leader: Sorry, that’s our term for the voracious and rapacious team of rabbits and chipmunks. We would appreciate assistance to keep them at bay.
PM Raj: Thanks Cucumber team, we will put in a word with the RabMunks and try to convince them to eat delicious grass in the lawn instead. Will be useful in reducing maintenance work too 😉 Team Pepper, your turn next!
Team Pepper module leader: Without a doubt we are the hottest team. This week the seed team showed growth and development across the board. It was a good week.
PM Raj: Thanks Pepper Team, Garlic/Chives/Oregano Team your turn now.
Garlic/Chives/Oregano Team: Our team is a low key team and we believe in building a strong base first. You don’t see much at this time but we promise that in a few weeks you will be impressed by our results.
PM Raj: Thanks Garlic/Chives/Oregano Team, we appreciate all the hard work under the soil. Final update from Team Basil
Team Basil module lead: Thanks PM Raj, you have reserved the best for the last 😉 With addition of experienced Basil to our team things are looking good and lifted the team spirit
PM Raj: Thanks Basil, appreciate the improvement. Before we wrap up I would like to add couple of words. Some of the seed teams (cilantro, lavender, Summerlong basil) might have felt overwhelmed by excess soil over them. That is a lesson learned. Another lesson is starting early in spring if seeds are going to be used. Project status is Green this week too. Detailed status report will be sent separately
Thanks a lot, everyone. Have a great one before our next status call!
Raj Farm: Status call 2 notes
Raj Farm: Status call 1 notes
Raj Farm status report for week# 1
Howdy folks!
Thanks for checking in. Below is status report for Raj plant project for the week# 1 along with issues and action items from this morning’s status call.
Attendees: Team tomato (plant and seeds), Team cucumber, Team pepper (plant and seedlings), Team garlic/chives (seeds), Team basil (stubborn seeds), Team lavender (stubborn seeds),
Meeting Minutes: PM (Plant Manager) Raj opened the call and each team presented current status.
Team tomato (plant and seeds): Combination of off the shelf plant and seeds have worked well. Team tomato seed also likely to get good support from Team hibiscus of last year to stand tall. At the current rate of growth on track to deliver 2 tomatoes for the season before Fall!
Team cucumber: Impressive growth. Way to go! Will be interesting to see if this team continues at the same pace.
Team pepper (plant and seedlings): Nothing like friendly competition to spur growth. Planting sapling in the same pot as seeds has stirred the seeds into seedlings.
Team garlic/chives (seeds): Showing some life after slow start
Team basil/Team lavender (stubborn seeds): Not much progress here. PM with escalate if trend continues next week.
Highlight of the week: Impressive showing by Team tomato and Team cucumber
Issue: Team basil/Team lavender no show. Owner: PM Raj, Plan of action: Augment growth by adding slow release plant food to the mix, if needed, Due Date: Tomorrow
Risk: Rabbit feasting on what sprouts and tender saplings. Owner: PM Raj, Plan of Action: Monitor the situation carefully and provide cover as needed.
Action Items:
1) Water plants, Owner/s: Nature/PM Raj, Frequency: Daily
2) Maintain balanced exposure to sunlight for promoting growth, Owner: PM Raj, Planned Action: Check if plants drooping due to lack of sunlight or wilting under too much heat and move pots accordingly. Due Date: tomorrow
Plant project current status: Green (What else did you expect from a plant project 😉 😀 )
Stupid school prank – Nab the “thief”
To kill boredom at school me (and a few kindred spirits) used to play this prank. Here is how it used to play out: Look for some object in the school bag, say a pen or a box. Deliberately hide it in another classmate’s bag. Make it look like you lost something and are frantically searching for it. Ensure that your “searching” is noticed. Then announce that you lost your pen and you had it when you came to school. Organize an impromptu search of everyone’s school bag. Open the “thief’s” bag and claim he stole it. Throw a few punches and ask other friends to join in the fun. Let the “thief” off with a strict warning not to steal anything in future.
Looking back it was stupid thing to do but I can assure you it was fun at that time when you were administering the beating.
Note of caution: Got to be careful in selecting the “thief”. It’s got to be someone who’s strong enough to take the blows and gentle not to retaliate 😀
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