Winner

I am a winner today. There was a contest to see who could guess how many course inventory changes were done this year. The data given were: the actual stack of forms, a picture of last year's stack of forms with a ruler next to it, the total for last year, and instructions not to spend an inordinate amount of time measuring stuff.

I marched over with a ruler, made estimates of the heights of the two stacks, and made the calculation using ratios. Another staff member used the same estimates and a different mathematical technique involving calculating course changes per inch. Of course we came up with the same number, 1105, tying for first place. The answer was 1090.

The judge said it was rather disconcerting that I had submitted the first answer and it was off by so little. I look all powerful now. It was just good luck though.

The judge was kind enough to provide us each with our own prize: a box of pop tarts. I had guessed wrong about what the prize would be. It was described something like "a treat as comparable to delicious pastry as course inventory forms are to pulitzer prize writing." I said, "Oh, a jellybean!"

I like working in an office of like-minded dorks.