The mean green corporate machine

This is sort of a continuation to an interesting idea brought in by karembu. To get some sense of context you should probably read this first. Preferably with karim's comments and mine.

To recap, Karim was discussing the corporate machine and how we're all gears in it. And how that machine seems to be bigger than the sum of its parts, sometimes even behaving in a different way than each and every gear hopes it does.

I replied saying that the machine is being rational, and that -given the chance- the gears will try to _use_ the machine in very much the same way the machine uses the gears. Karim doesn't think this is the way things are supposed to be. I know what he means. But the phrase raised this question in my head about who supposes how things should go. I mean supposed to be could be very different in each person's head. After all I am the one who makes up ideas that I like to believe are how things are supposed to be.

Aside from that almost philosophical discussion, I think the corporate machine is indeed tame-able. You can make the coporate machine behave as if it had feelings. How so? Simple, a corporate should have values and goals that it strives to achieve. Arrange the values and align the goals so that they appear "merciful and good-hearted". That's what I think google is trying to do with their motto "Do no evil". At least they are trying to make you think that google (the corporate) is a good corporation not solely devoted to making money. I am not discussing if they're true to their motto, that's irrelevant, I'm just illustrating (in my opinion) how one could create a seemingly humane corporate machine.

And that's possibly why google attracts so much attention and the kind of sympathy they currently do. Most people (maybe even subconsciously) think of google as the good corporate citizen as opposed to the traditional and more prevalent mean corporate citizen.

Google made and still makes loads of money now. Which is what every (traditional/non-humane/mean) corporate tries to do anyway. You can either take that to mean that they were right about what they state: "You can make money without doing evil.".

Or you can take that to mean that google was out to make money in the first place, and that they came with the really brilliant idea to have such a feel-ful (if that's a word) motto to attract attention and compassion which will help them succeed and make money.
That would make google an extra-mean corporate machine in that they not only set out to make money just like everybody else, but they also tried to camouflage their intentions to gather consumer compassion and make even more money. That's of course if you think that's what they set out to accomplish.
And then we'd be back to square one.

Recursion, don't you just love it ;)

Fly in the elevator

First off, about my life in the past week. It's been eventful. Did so many things that I wanted to post about and kept postponing that now it's overwhelming to even think about writing it all. I'll try to post more frequently to prevent this from happening from now on. But to sum it up real quick, attended open air ceremonies celebrating 100 years since the "birth" of Heliopolis, was cool. Played my first estimation game ever (the card game) and loved it. Attended a concert for a group called "Wust El Balad" that is gaining momentum these days in El Sakya and enjoyed it too. Don't wanna talk about work.

And now for this thought I can't get out of my head. It's sort of a general wondering (I get those a lot). If a fly is travelling in an elevator (flying not standing on the floor like we do). Will it have to travel upwards/downwards at the same velocity of the elevator to maintain its position and not hit the ceiling/floor. Or does it just "fly still" and is moved by the air inside the elevator just like we do when standing on the floor? I had this question -among my set of funny trivial unanswered questions that I collect for no reason whatsoever- long ago and it popped back in my head today when I noticed a fly trapped with me in the car with all the windows closed.

Your suggestions are most welcome :)

The best in you

Well, Zeinab (aka zenopy, zee nap, zainoub) got to read some of my blog entries. She later asked me this very intriguing question. What is the thing about yourself that you like most and wouldn't trade for anything in the world.
Thankfully I had an answer for that already, because I'd thought about it before.

I think this is a very important question that one should have an answer for. If you've never thought about this before I think you should. Take some time now to come up with what you think is the best thing about you. It doesn't matter what you come up with, what does matter is for you to know it. Knowing what's best in you will help you capitalize on it to reach your dreams. At least I think so.

So what's your thing? Think about it and if you do please post your thoughts about it in the comments (come ooon don't be lazy you don't even need an account to comment). It could be anything; brains, physique, face, hair, dancing ability, feelings, anything. I would definitely love to know what you think is the best in you.

About me, I replied to zenopy saying it was my mind that I like the most and what I think is my real differentiator. It's the one thing I wouldn't trade for the world.

And while you're at it, tell me what you think is the best thing about me (if such thing exists) I could use some flattery you know ;)

200Km/hr! Woohoo!

A very quick post just to celebrate :D

Yesterday night, I did 2 things that I wanted to do for a long time now. I went to "El Ain El Sokhna" and I drove at 200Km/hr in my baby Corsa.

It was 10pm a couple of my friends called saying they were headed for the beach side resort to have dinner by the sea side and that they'll be back in a couple of hours. El Ain El Sokhna is around 120Kms from here (Cairo). So of course, I went on board, left work at 10:45pm, picked up a friend of mine and we were on the road 11:45pm, less than 40 minutes later we were there, enjoyed the sea breeze, had dinner and then we were on our way back. I enjoyed it immensely :))
I timed my journey on the way back right from the road entry gate till the Cairo gates, the distance was 88.2Kms and it took 33 minutes ( and a few seconds ;) )

So well, that's it for now, I just wanted to celebrate by posting :D I'll be off for a very long day at work now.

Godspeed ;)

Always no bunny at all

It's been too long since I last posted an update so it's about time I guess.

Lots of things happened, but I don't think there was anything significant among all those things. I apologize in advance for a boring post :)

Easter came at May 1st this year, which happened to be my birthday too. I don't particularly like it when my birthday comes with yet another occasion, it kinda "steals my thunder", if you're a Friends-watching fellow you'll understand what that means. And it's not like Labor's day was not enough (Labor's day is celebrated May 1st too around here)
So anyway, had some fun during easter vacation, went out a lot, saw lots of friends. It was all good.

But the coolest thing happened when I got back to work, my lovely Nag and the infinitely good hearted Sherif (friends of mine) had gotten me a digital photography book as a birthday present. It was a very cool surprise and a very well chosen present as well.

On the things-at-work front, I've been asked to commit to 6 day weeks for the next 2 months. It was hard for me to do that but then I thought I was doing it anyway so it might as well be official. So I agreed to it, even though these few months are all that's left for me in my home country among my family and friends. Only God knows if I can ever have 2 months in Egypt ever again. I hope I made the right decision.

And also at work, our indoor gym was finally opened. There are not that much equipment in there but what is in there is apparently of high quality and it ought to be sufficient for someone like me who'd never worked out for more than 1 month, at least for the time being. I began working out there today and my target is to do 3 times a week regularly till my relocation time comes. I even made a bet with a friend of mine that by July I will look different. We'll see about that. (stop the laughing please)

So that's a brief summary of my life for the past 2 weeks. Will be back with some more banana world stuff soon hopefully.

Oh and I almost forgot, the title is again from a Friends quote. For you who didn't watch the sitcom (the best ever btw) It was a costume party and Monica (Chandler's wife) got Chandler a pink bunny costume. Of course everyone made fun of him wearing it and he blamed it on Monica, Monica explained by saying it was the only bunny costume she'd found saying "It was either a pink bunny or no bunny at all", Chandler screamed back "No bunny at all, ALWAYS no bunny at all". It sprung to mind as an Eastery title :)

Later