3 September 2022

How lazy is Linkedin getting?

This is a sample of invites I get these days. Has Linkedin completely given up on doing some basic checks on bot accounts? Maybe we should have Elon Musk make a bid for Linkedin and then back out.

And how lazy are these bot algorithms getting? Coming up with names by just chopping off English words in the middle?

Interestingly enough, if you go to the profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/licity-fe-07625a248/) to see how these algorithms work, you will realize that first they always have an important college name as education background (Harvard in this case). And then when you try to see what they have studied, you realize that it is just a few paragraphs scraped directly from the college’s website and inserted in!!

Worse, these algorithms can’t do some basic math. Apparently, this profile, while holding a Manager job in Taiwan from 2010-2015 also managed to do her 2 year MBA course in Harvard (2011-2013)!! Has Harvard relocated to Taiwan these days?

And why are only attractive looking young women inviting me to have a professional connection? Whose profession are we talking about anyways?

Category: Humor | LEAVE A COMMENT
29 August 2022

How my running shirt made me a new friend

The gentleman sped past me with ease. I just shuffled along in the trail probably posting around 11 min/mile. A little distance later, I noticed that he had stopped running and was walking. As I got closer to him, he started running again and then eventually stopped and started walking. This kept on going like the old rabbit and turtle story. I think he was doing the “walk-run” routine many long distancers do.

Finally, I caught up to him. He had seen me just as we had approached a fork. I slowed down to give him the first choice to make a turn (I was not sure which way he would go). He started talking to me. I had to take my Airpods out of my ears and ask him to repeat. I assumed he was looking for directions.

“You ran the Original Marathon?”, he asked. I looked down and realized that I was wearing the Athens Marathon shirt – one of the two running shirts I had saved during my minimalism drive.

“Yes sir, in 2015”

“I have run the Berlin, London and Paris. But never the Original one. How was it?”. He was speaking with a distinct British accent. And he was clearly at least a decade older than me. it was also clear he had run a lot of marathons.

We had a great time exchanging stories about marathons (his many versus my one) and even our families. He and his wife have been empty nesting for a long time and recently they have started looking for houses near where we have moved.

We exchanged our names (he is Harry) and promised to run in the trail together sometime!!!

Category: Running | LEAVE A COMMENT
28 August 2022

Sunday evening letter writing

Thanks to my meeting with Madhuri, I got myself some new paper – Cosmo Air Light (cream color) made by Yamamoto in Japan. This being A4 size (instead of US Letter), I had to do some acrobatics to make sure the printer printed my personalized monogram logo properly.

It was a charm to write on. The ink (black) had a very different look than the usual paper I was using! Used an italic nib.

Category: Fountain Pens | LEAVE A COMMENT
25 August 2022

What is a functional beverage?

This evening, Sharmila and I were walking around Avalon looking for a bar to sit down for a drink. She realized she needed to pick up something from the grocery store. So, we stepped into the Whole Foods.

I was inside a grocery store after a long time. So, as she shopped, I just ambulated thru the aisles – rather desultorily, if I may add – glancing thru all the different kinds of things they had stocked.

It is then that I came upon this board. I get “Water”, “Bottled Tea” and “Sodas”. But what is “Functional Beverages?”

Is it not really a beverage but just functionally so? Does that mean water, bottled tea and sodas are not functional?

Do you know?

Category: Puzzles | LEAVE A COMMENT