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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Savonarola on November 06, 2015, 09:04:01 AM

Title: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: Savonarola on November 06, 2015, 09:04:01 AM
I'm still on the GE Corporate mailing list, even though I'm now an Alstom employee.  This morning GE announced a program to encourage "Big ideas."  There's a contest where you submit your idea and if yours is chosen as the best you get a years paid leave and $350,000 to develop your idea.  What would you do if you were given a $350,000 and a year to develop one of your ideas?

(As an Alstom employee I'm not eligible for this contest, so I'm not going to steal your idea.)  It can be anything; not necessarily just technology or science.

I would study and write a white paper on thermal and atmospheric ducting (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_duct) at UHF and microwave frequencies in coastal and non-coastal deserts.  The subject gave me innumerable headaches when I was working on a chain of microwave links across the Pilbara in Western Australia :outback:.
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: DGuller on November 06, 2015, 09:16:25 AM
That was my first thought as well.  :)
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: Berkut on November 06, 2015, 09:33:14 AM
I would spend the year prototyping my online strategic wargame.
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: celedhring on November 06, 2015, 09:40:46 AM
Writing the Oscar-worthy movie adaptation of my last CK save.
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: MadBurgerMaker on November 06, 2015, 09:56:54 AM
Quote from: Savonarola on November 06, 2015, 09:04:01 AM
I would study and write a white paper on thermal and atmospheric ducting (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_duct) at UHF and microwave frequencies in coastal and non-coastal deserts.  The subject gave me innumerable headaches when I was working on a chain of microwave links across the Pilbara in Western Australia :outback:.

I would tell them this, then give you $100k to develop it for me. 

Seriously though, I have no new ideas ever and just do was the TV tells me to. 
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on November 06, 2015, 10:12:12 AM
Since it's GE I'd build a Fun Cooker.
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: Razgovory on November 06, 2015, 10:24:46 AM
I would decipher a way to spend 350,000 dollars in much less then a year.
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: mongers on November 06, 2015, 10:38:21 AM
I was thinking about something along these lines for next year.  :hmm:
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: Monoriu on November 06, 2015, 10:46:28 AM
Study the effects of my employer's impression of me after taking $350,000 a year and not doing anything.

The best ways to invest $350,000.

Or I'll pay someone a tenth of that and hand in whatever he develops. 
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: Archy on November 06, 2015, 10:50:31 AM
Since this is GE.  I would search a way to optimize my customs tariff classification that this is finished before the goods arrive at destination Airport. I would also take care to check before handing over the goods to a subcontractor that this subcontractor bond can take the duties & VZT so not days will be lost after arriving at destination. Does it tell that GE is one of the customers of our forwarding company. I've sometimes the feeling the company is as competent as the government.
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: Grey Fox on November 06, 2015, 10:50:38 AM
My work has that too, budget is 5 millions.

No mention if they raise your salary tho.
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: Savonarola on November 06, 2015, 12:57:01 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on November 06, 2015, 10:50:38 AM
My work has that too, budget is 5 millions.

No mention if they raise your salary tho.

Were they afraid that if they through in an extra million you'd try to rebuild a person?  :unsure:

;)

At five million you could do some damage.  I'd build the Batmobile.   :ph34r:
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: MadImmortalMan on November 06, 2015, 02:38:21 PM
I'd give my money over to Sav to work on the microwave thing.
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: grumbler on November 06, 2015, 03:03:02 PM
I'd test Yi's hypothesis that Catholic chicks are far above average when it comes to freakiness in bed.
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: garbon on November 06, 2015, 03:17:29 PM
:x
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: MadImmortalMan on November 06, 2015, 03:41:19 PM
Quote from: grumbler on November 06, 2015, 03:03:02 PM
I'd test Yi's hypothesis that Catholic chicks are far above average when it comes to freakiness in bed.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmemecrunch.com%2Fimage%2F51c88a54afa96f4d20000001.jpg%3Fw%3D400&hash=bd58c01b0139de8f418fc3a578777d9df89e6dc5)
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: Barrister on November 06, 2015, 03:42:08 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on November 06, 2015, 03:41:19 PM
Quote from: grumbler on November 06, 2015, 03:03:02 PM
I'd test Yi's hypothesis that Catholic chicks are far above average when it comes to freakiness in bed.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmemecrunch.com%2Fimage%2F51c88a54afa96f4d20000001.jpg%3Fw%3D400&hash=bd58c01b0139de8f418fc3a578777d9df89e6dc5)

:lol:
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: Savonarola on November 13, 2015, 08:24:46 AM
Contests must be becoming a regular feature at GE.  (Right after they drop kicked their signalling group to Alstom.  I don't know if I should take that personally.)  Today we got one for a Variable Geometry Turbine (VGT) Nozzle Design for a turbocharger which will increases efficiency while reducing complexity and cost.  First prize is $6000.

I'm not eligible, once again, but that's okay since I had to look up what a variable geometry turbine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable-geometry_turbocharger) was.
Title: Re: If you were given $350,000 and a year...
Post by: The Brain on November 13, 2015, 09:50:52 AM
Quote from: Savonarola on November 13, 2015, 08:24:46 AM
Contests must be becoming a regular feature at GE.  (Right after they drop kicked their signalling group to Alstom.  I don't know if I should take that personally.)  Today we got one for a Variable Geometry Turbine (VGT) Nozzle Design for a turbocharger which will increases efficiency while reducing complexity and cost.  First prize is $6000.

I'm not eligible, once again, but that's okay since I had to look up what a variable geometry turbine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable-geometry_turbocharger) was.

How do they expect professional level results if they don't explain in the contest what it is about? :rolleyes: