[WiZ] Quite efficient for the civil service

[WiZ]

Later this year, I am going to call my colleagues to a meeting, with the only stipulation being that this meeting will last no longer than half a minute. What is the reason for the meeting?

Caveat Earlispoilor

[hominid]

Later this year=July? August? September? October? November? December? Relevant? Hemisphere relevant?

Is it relevant what your occupation is? If the meeting lasts longer than half a minute, would it be a waste of time? Would it be illegal? Banned by your employer? Would it cause harm to someone? To you? To your colleagues? To your employer? To clients (or equivalent)?

[WiZ]

Later this year=July? August? September? October? November? this December? Relevant? yes Hemisphere relevant? no

Is it relevant what your occupation is? no If the meeting lasts longer than half a minute, would it be a waste of time? no Would it be illegal? no Banned by your employer? no Would it cause harm to someone? no To you? no To your colleagues? no To your employer? no To clients (or equivalent)? no

[peter365]

Hello WiZ

Will this happen on a specific date in November ? At a specific time? Is there some quirky time and date thing going on? Is the number 30 relevant? Is it anyone's birthday?

[SurfingPikachu]

Is the meeting face-to-face? Online? Conference call? International phone call charges relevant?

Logic bomb relevant?

[Earnest]

Do you and your colleagues work in separate places? In the same place? I mean...in the same firm but in different geographical places? Have you got the same mansions? Relevant?

Is the meeting part of your work? Do you meet outside the firm? Inside? Relevant what you are going to do after the meeting? Is the meeting the beginning of something? A competition? A game? Are you going to do a countdown during the meeting? Or is it something that is going on (like a game for instance) and continue on November? Do your colleagues called you/are going to call you for a similar meeting during the year? Would it wrk if you call for a meeting your friends instead of your colleagues?I mean...is the fact that you share the work relevant? If so are schedules relevant? Is it relevant the part of the day of November in which you are going to meet? If so afternoon? Evening?Morning? Night? Before working? While working? After work? Are you going to meet virtually (e.g. online) or physically?

30 seconds...are you going to perform a relevant action? All of you? Just some of you? Will you update something? Have you got this sort of meetings in the past? If so even this year? Do they occur often? Once per year?Twice?More?Every month?Every week?Electronic relevant? An event? Do you relevantly share the same hobby? Will you book something?Vote for something? Do you need to be quick?

[WiZ]

Peter

Hello WiZ Hi, Boss. I'll see you at the meeting.

Will this happen on a specific date in November ? yes At a specific time? no Is there some quirky time and date thing going on? yesish Is the number 30 relevant? yes Is it anyone's birthday? yes!

SurfingPikachu

Is the meeting face-to-face? this; not strictly relevant Online? Conference call? International phone call charges relevant? no to rest

Logic bomb relevant? no

Earnest

Do you and your colleagues work in separate places? In the same place? this; not strictly relevant I mean...in the same firm but in different geographical places? the puzzle could work in this situation, albeit by video-conference or similar Have you got the same mansions? Nobody in the team owns a mansion, unfortunately. Wrong sector. A lot of clients do, though. Doesn't seem to help the quality of their submissions. Relevant? no

Is the meeting part of your work? yes Do you meet outside the firm? Inside? this Relevant what you are going to do after the meeting? no Is the meeting the beginning of something? nothing external to the meeting A competition? A game? n/a to all Are you going to do a countdown during the meeting? no Or is it something that is going on (like a game for instance) and continue on November? no Do your colleagues called you/are going to call you for a similar meeting during the year? No - although most of them would have the right to do so... but not this year Would it wrk if you call for a meeting your friends instead of your colleagues? yes, I could pull a similar scheme with them I mean...is the fact that you share the work relevant? no If so are schedules relevant? no Is it relevant the part of the day of November in which you are going to meet? no If so afternoon? Evening?Morning? Night? Before working? While working? After work? Are you going to meet virtually (e.g. online) or physically? physically; the puzzle could work with our meeting virtually, though

30 seconds...are you going to perform a relevant action? yesish All of you? yes Just some of you? Will you update something? yope Have you got this sort of meetings in the past? yes, this sort of meeting If so even this year? yes Do they occur often? yesish Once per year?Twice?More? yes Every month? not quite Every week? no Electronic relevant? no An event? no Do you relevantly share the same hobby? no Will you book something? no Vote for something? no Do you need to be quick? no!

[hominid]

Birthday: your birthday? one of your colleagues' (who are part of the meetings) birthday? Someone else's birthday? Are you wishing someone a happy birthday?

Are you recording the meetings in any way? If so, do the colleagues know this? Will they in the end? Do the colleagues know about the birthday?

Will you talk about anything during the meeting? Do the colleagues know the reason for the meeting?

[Earnest]

will the meeting last half a minute in total? In absolute or for that day? are you going to do something like a meeting at midnight? I mean...the birthday is at a certain day but you meet the day before at a minute to midnight in order to do a surprise to the celebrated?

Is that a surprise party?

Will you meet everybody just for 30 seconds or just someone in the group? Will you organize/set up something for the birthday?Do something in every of the 30 seconds? Is the birthday of one person? All the members of the group? Some members? Relevant why you are going to meet at work or just because you are all working that day?

[Balin]

Will you sing "Happy Birthday" to that person?

[WiZ]

Hominid

Birthday: your birthday? yes one of your colleagues' (who are part of the meetings) birthday? Someone else's birthday? no to rest Are you wishing someone a happy birthday? Yes, this will most probably happen

Are you recording the meetings in any way? no/irrel If so, do the colleagues know this? Will they in the end? n/a Do the colleagues know about the birthday? yes

Will you talk about anything during the meeting? not relevantly Do the colleagues know the reason for the meeting? yes

Earnest

will the meeting last half a minute in total? Yes In absolute or for that day? IN absolute are you going to do something like a meeting at midnight? no I mean...the birthday is at a certain day but you meet the day before at a minute to midnight in order to do a surprise to the celebrated? no

Is that a surprise party? no

Will you meet everybody just for 30 seconds or just someone in the group? everyone Will you organize/set up something for the birthday? nothing relevantly, beyond the meeting Do something in every of the 30 seconds? no Is the birthday of one person? yes All the members of the group? no (that would be a statistical marvel) Some members? Relevant why you are going to meet at work no or just because you are all working that day? yes

Balin

Will you sing "Happy Birthday" to that person? Most probably

[Earnest]

Would the puzzle work if you all didn't work that day of November? if you met in other place? Relevant that the 30 of November is the last day before December? Is it relevant that 30 in roman numbers is XXX? Is it important the correspondence 30 of November-30 seconds? I mean...if the birthday was the 29th of November would it be 29 seconds for the puzzle to work? Does you celebrate 30 years? Is a calendar somehow involved? Does the 30 of November, a part from the birthdays, represent a special date? If so, also for another event than the birthday? Does the puzzle work if the song "Happy birthday" took all the 30 seconds? Is the only important thing to meet each other/see each other?

Is the birthday somehow celebrated? Is the way the birthday is eventually celebrated relevant? Will your colleagues bring something with them? A cake? Gifts? Is the whole scene a part of your gift? Do they show you something like a video? Will you come back to work after the 30 seconds? Are you organizing something like a flash-mob?

[SurfingPikachu]

Wait, so, the answer to "What is the reason for the meeting?" is not just "For everyone to sing 'Happy Birthday' to you"?
Hmm I just sang it and it only took 20s

[WiZ]

Earnest

Would the puzzle work if you all didn't work that day of November? yes if you met in other place? yes (although it would be more difficult to execute) Relevant that the 30 of November is the last day before December? no Is it relevant that 30 in roman numbers is XXX? no Is it important the correspondence 30 of November-30 seconds? no I mean...if the birthday was the 29th of November would it be 29 seconds for the puzzle to work? no Does you celebrate 30 years? No, but ORT Is a calendar somehow involved? no Does the 30 of November, a part from the birthdays, represent a special date? no/FA If so, also for another event than the birthday? Does the puzzle work if the song "Happy birthday" took all the 30 seconds? It would make no difference Is the only important thing to meet each other/see each other? yope

Is the birthday somehow celebrated? yes Is the way the birthday is eventually celebrated relevant? no Will your colleagues bring something with them? That would be nice, but irrelevant A cake? Gifts? Is the whole scene a part of your gift? Do they show you something like a video? n/a to all Will you come back to work after the 30 seconds? yes Are you organizing something like a flash-mob? no

SurfingPikachu

Wait, so, the answer to "What is the reason for the meeting?" is not just "For everyone to sing 'Happy Birthday' to you"? Correct - its success is not contingent on whether or not the song is sung, and the reason ties in with the time limit.
Hmm I just sang it and it only took 20s If you threw in my middle, last, and confirmation name, you could almost stretch it out far enough.

[trebor]

Is the meeting to last for the exact number of seconds that you are turning years old?

[WiZ]

Is the meeting to last for the exact number of seconds that you are turning years old? Not quite; still ORT

[peter365]

Just to clarify, your birthday occurs in November? but it's not your 30th?

Can I invoke the LTPF list of all dates in November and all possible ages of WiZ just to get a firm grip of the detail.

[Earnest]

Relevant the number of colleagues that will be present at the meeting? Relevant how many years you are going to celebrate? Are you all going to perform an action related to your birthday for which it is necessary the participation of all of your colleagues and you? And each one has a relevant role so that the whole action is well performed? If so, will the other colleagues who don't participate to the meeting notice what you are doing? Do you want to be noticed by the others? (if any) Or will you do something forbidden? Something for which you need to hide yourselves? Relevant the relative position with respect one to another in which you are going to be? In circle? In a row? some sitting some standing? Is someone going to speak/talk/sing? All of you? Just someone? If so are you going to /tell/sing the same thing/song like in a chorus?

For the relevant action to be undertaken, is it convenient to split the 30 seconds? If so in slices of one seconds each? two? Fifteen? Are your colleagues supposed to bring something to the meeting? To wear particular clothes?To have a long beard? Shave off? Are each of your colleagues supposed to perform a different action? If so an action for each temporal slices?

Are comics/tv series/alcohol/sport events/songs/concerts... (don't know why I was thinking of "30 seconds to Mars")/ relevant? Do you need to be all present to undertake that relevant action? I mean, if one of the colleagues miss the meeting does the puzzle still work? Is the action something that is usually done at birthdays parties? A custom? Is some item/conditions present in your work place necessary to the puzzle?
Have you and your colleagues something in common a part from the work? Have you previously measured the amount of time (30 sec) that you need to undertake the relevant action? Or is it something that for sure takes 30 sec? Or will you have a stopwatch? Re you going to take a picture? Relevant? Does it take 30 seconds for the self timer of the camera to take a picture? Something like that?

[trebor]

Would it be possible for the meeting to last for 29 or fewer seconds and still have the same outcome as if it'd lasted for exactly 30? Is your champagne birthday relevant? Is the number 11 relevant as well? Does 2017 (or 17) matter? Are you going to receive birthday bumps? Is some other relevant thing going to be done/happen, other than people just standing around silently?

[trebor]

bump

[WiZ]

Peter

Just to clarify, your birthday occurs in November? yes but it's not your 30th? correct

Can I invoke the LTPF list of all dates in November 19th, irrelevant and all possible ages of WiZ 31 (it's in my profile) just to get a firm grip of the detail.

Earnest

Relevant the number of colleagues that will be present at the meeting? no Relevant how many years you are going to celebrate? yes! Are you all going to perform an action related to your birthday for which it is necessary the participation of all of your colleagues and you? no specific action is relevant And each one has a relevant role so that the whole action is well performed? no, as above If so, will the other colleagues who don't participate to the meeting notice what you are doing? irrelevant Do you want to be noticed by the others? (if any) irrelevant Or will you do something forbidden? no Something for which you need to hide yourselves? no Relevant the relative position with respect one to another in which you are going to be? no In circle? In a row? some sitting some standing? n/a to all Is someone going to speak/talk/sing? probably All of you? ]yes Just someone? If so are you going to /tell/sing the same thing/song like in a chorus? yes

For the relevant action to be undertaken, is it convenient to split the 30 seconds? not relevantly If so in slices of one seconds each? two? Fifteen? Are your colleagues supposed to bring something to the meeting? not necessarily To wear particular clothes?To have a long beard? Shave off? none of these Are each of your colleagues supposed to perform a different action? no If so an action for each temporal slices?

Are comics/tv series/alcohol/sport events/songs/concerts... (don't know why I was thinking of "30 seconds to Mars")/ relevant? no Do you need to be all present to undertake that relevant action? yes I mean, if one of the colleagues miss the meeting does the puzzle still work? yes Is the action something that is usually done at birthdays parties? yes A custom? yes Is some item/conditions present in your work place necessary to the puzzle? no
Have you and your colleagues something in common a part from the work? not relevantly Have you previously measured the amount of time (30 sec) that you need to undertake the relevant action? no Or is it something that for sure takes 30 sec? no Or will you have a stopwatch? I might, but it would be for comedic effect Re you going to take a picture? maybe Relevant? no Does it take 30 seconds for the self timer of the camera to take a picture? no Something like that? no

Trebor

Would it be possible for the meeting to last for 29 or fewer seconds and still have the same outcome as if it'd lasted for exactly 30? It wouldn't be quite the same Is your champagne birthday relevant? No (that was in 2004) Is the number 11 relevant as well? no Does 2017 (or 17) matter? no Are you going to receive birthday bumps? irrel Is some other relevant thing going to be done/happen, other than people just standing around silently? no, strictly speaking

bump boing!

[peter365]

So is the relevant point that you are 31 but November has only 30 days?

[WiZ]

So is the relevant point that you are 31 I am now; I will not be on November 19 this year but November has only 30 days? this is not relevant

[trebor]

Is someone who is not at the meeting relevant? (Like they have exactly thirty seconds to decorate your desk, or booby-trap some part of it?) Are you going to be at your birthday meeting?

The fact that you are turning 32 specifically is relevant? Did you call a meeting for your birthday last year? Will you next year? Will the meeting actually be on your birthday?

Is the action something that is done at kids' birthday parties? Adults'? I know you said there will be no cake, but are candles relevant?

[WiZ]

Is someone who is not at the meeting relevant? no (Like they have exactly thirty seconds to decorate your desk, or booby-trap some part of it?) Are you going to be at your birthday meeting? yes

The fact that you are turning 32 specifically is relevant? yes! Did you call a meeting for your birthday last year? no Will you next year? no Will the meeting actually be on your birthday? yes, for best effect

Is the action something that is done at kids' birthday parties? yes Adults'? yes I know you said there will be no cake, but are candles relevant? no

By far, the most important thing established thus far is that I will be turning 32. Read the puzzle question again.

[Balin]

Does the meaning last no longer than one second per year of age? Or some similar correlation?
Is the action related to singing "Happy Birthday"? Counting off years ("Are you 1? Are you 2?" and so on)?

[WiZ]

Does the meaning last no longer than one second per year of age? no, this is not the logic Or some similar correlation? no
Is the action related to singing "Happy Birthday"? Counting off years ("Are you 1? Are you 2?" and so on)? irrelevant to all - the action, broadly speaking, is a celebration/commemoration/acknowledgement of some sort. The question is: why the stipulation?

[Balin]

Is this only done for people turning 32?
Is there something else going on at the same time as the meeting?

[WiZ]

Is this only done for people turning 32? This puzzle could only work if the person was turning 32. Broadly speaking, birthday celebrations could be done for an employee of any age
Is there something else going on at the same time as the meeting? no

[CoffeeBean]

Is it relevant that saying the number 32 sounds like you're also saying, "Thirty too" or "Thirty to"?

[CoffeeBean]

Or how about this..."32nd birthday" sound just like "30-second birthday"...

[WiZ]

Or how about this..."32nd birthday" sound just like "30-second birthday"...

***** SPOILER *****

The meeting will be to celebrate my birthday; but it cannot last any longer than half a minute. After all, it will be my thirty-second birthday...

Congratulations to CoffeeBean, and thank you everyone for playing.

[CoffeeBean]

What a great idea! Wish I'd thought of this 13 years ago...

[trebor]

Oh, that's good!

[Balin]

Brill'nt.

[peter365]

The smacking sound you can hear is me doing repeat facepalms in frustration at not getting this.

Great puzzle as ever WiZ.