Happy Monday. Hope everyone had a great weekend. I spent a good chunk of my Sunday wandering the aisles of my favorite super store.
Ever notice how you go into those places looking for one thing (in my case, a propane tank for the grill) and end up wandering out, dazed, hours later with a whole shopping cart full of stuff?
Well, it’s not like I’m not going to get some real use out of the new curtains. And the cases of soda really were a great deal. And that swimsuit is completely adorable…
Anyway, as I meandered up and down the aisles, I couldn’t help but notice just how much use that overhead intercom system gets.
“Attention customers… please visit the bakery section for fresh, warm French bread. Only $1.49!”
“Ralph… you’re needed in at customer service”
“To the customer in a yellow Ford Fiesta with license plate X557BJJ… you’re parked in a red zone. Please move your vehicle before it’s towed”
“Ralph… you’re needed in house wares”
Well, it was about the third time that I heard poor Ralph’s name being called that the idea for a great prank was born.
If you happen to work somewhere with an intercom system, why not make good use out of it by driving a co-worker completely batty?
This is an especially effective prank if you’re good at disguising your voice. (Or, if you can get a few people to join in the fun with you)
Just page someone to report to a department, and then (preferably just as they
arrive) page them again to report to another.
This prank works best when you work in a large place, like a super store, warehouse, or huge building, so that you keep your victim running from one end to another.
Anyone ever try this before? How’d it work?
Monday, May 17, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Fashion Show
Good grief! These past two weeks at my office have been busier than just about any time in recent memory. Everyone has been going crazy… probably no one more so than our boss. Our poor CEO has been overworked, over burdened, and generally abused for days now. That’s why we all decided that she could use a few laughs this afternoon.
It being casual Friday and all, everyone was looking forward to leaving their suits and skirts behind for the day—especially since we were going to be stuck in a round robin of meetings all afternoon. I suppose that’s where the idea was born.
It didn’t take very long for the news to circulate around our floor yesterday. (That would be Thursday afternoon)
We decided to each being a few changes of clothes, and spend the entire day swapping outfits, just to see if we could get our boss to think that she’d finally gone off the deep end. Little did we know just how many laughs we’d get out of the whole day.
It started out innocently enough. For the first meeting, I was wearing a pair of jeans, a yellow shirt, and some awesome tan cowboy boots. I smiled to myself when my boss complimented me on my shoes…
My mid morning, I had changed into a sundress and heels. When I walked into the boss’s office to deliver some papers, it was a little difficult to keep a straight face when she took a double take and then shook her head to herself. You could tell she was trying to figure out just what on earth was going on as everyone seemed to be constantly shifting before her eyes.
After lunch, as we all gathered for yet another marketing meeting, she finally asked me if I had changed my clothes. (I was back in my boots—this time paired with skinny jeans and a back tee)
I tried looking confused at her question… and it would have worked, too. But that’s when Bob from accounting came in.
Wearing bright yellow swim trunks, an inflatable life saver, baseball cap, and golf shoes, no less.
Needless to say, none of us could keep a straight face after that.
Luckily, el jefe decided that we all deserved to take off early for the weekend for making her laugh.
It being casual Friday and all, everyone was looking forward to leaving their suits and skirts behind for the day—especially since we were going to be stuck in a round robin of meetings all afternoon. I suppose that’s where the idea was born.
It didn’t take very long for the news to circulate around our floor yesterday. (That would be Thursday afternoon)
We decided to each being a few changes of clothes, and spend the entire day swapping outfits, just to see if we could get our boss to think that she’d finally gone off the deep end. Little did we know just how many laughs we’d get out of the whole day.
It started out innocently enough. For the first meeting, I was wearing a pair of jeans, a yellow shirt, and some awesome tan cowboy boots. I smiled to myself when my boss complimented me on my shoes…
My mid morning, I had changed into a sundress and heels. When I walked into the boss’s office to deliver some papers, it was a little difficult to keep a straight face when she took a double take and then shook her head to herself. You could tell she was trying to figure out just what on earth was going on as everyone seemed to be constantly shifting before her eyes.
After lunch, as we all gathered for yet another marketing meeting, she finally asked me if I had changed my clothes. (I was back in my boots—this time paired with skinny jeans and a back tee)
I tried looking confused at her question… and it would have worked, too. But that’s when Bob from accounting came in.
Wearing bright yellow swim trunks, an inflatable life saver, baseball cap, and golf shoes, no less.
Needless to say, none of us could keep a straight face after that.
Luckily, el jefe decided that we all deserved to take off early for the weekend for making her laugh.
Friday, April 30, 2010
CSI: Cube Farm
Do you have a loyal CSI or Law and Order fan at your office? Here’s a prank that you can pull on them that just might make their day.
You’ll need a partner for this prank, so grab a buddy and make sure you guys get in a while before your victim is set to arrive at the office. (It’ll be worth waking up extra early to get a few extra laughs out of the day)
Have your partner lie down on the floor in the middle of the office. Alternately, you can have them lean against the cubicle wall. Using white masking tape or chalk, draw an outline of your partner’s prone body. For maximum effect, have them assume a crazy position.
Once you have the body drawn, it’s time to set the rest of the crime scene. Knock over a few things, turn the picture frames askew, and (if you can find it) rub fingerprint powder on the keyboard, coffee mug, and a few other key pieces of office paraphernalia.
Finally, stretch some yellow police or caution tape across the opening to the office or cubicle. Once the crime scene has been set, you might want to leave a few “clues” for your coworker to follow to be able to solve the mystery of the great office caper.
A couple of subtle hints should lead them to your office, where you should be waiting, handcuffs in hand, to arrest the perpetrator.
Of course, the only nice thing to do afterwards is help them clean up and set their office straight again. But chances are good that you’ll both be laughing pretty hard at this point.
Who knows, maybe you’ll even earn yourself your own spin off on Wednesday nights
You’ll need a partner for this prank, so grab a buddy and make sure you guys get in a while before your victim is set to arrive at the office. (It’ll be worth waking up extra early to get a few extra laughs out of the day)
Have your partner lie down on the floor in the middle of the office. Alternately, you can have them lean against the cubicle wall. Using white masking tape or chalk, draw an outline of your partner’s prone body. For maximum effect, have them assume a crazy position.
Once you have the body drawn, it’s time to set the rest of the crime scene. Knock over a few things, turn the picture frames askew, and (if you can find it) rub fingerprint powder on the keyboard, coffee mug, and a few other key pieces of office paraphernalia.
Finally, stretch some yellow police or caution tape across the opening to the office or cubicle. Once the crime scene has been set, you might want to leave a few “clues” for your coworker to follow to be able to solve the mystery of the great office caper.
A couple of subtle hints should lead them to your office, where you should be waiting, handcuffs in hand, to arrest the perpetrator.
Of course, the only nice thing to do afterwards is help them clean up and set their office straight again. But chances are good that you’ll both be laughing pretty hard at this point.
Who knows, maybe you’ll even earn yourself your own spin off on Wednesday nights
Gadget of the Month: The Annoy-a-tron
In the world of office shenanigans, it is sometimes necessary to look into props and gizmos to help facilitate your evil plan. From whoopee cushions to fake computer mice, gadgets have long been a prankster’s best friend.
Which is why this month’s featured gizmo is Think Geek’s Annoy-a-Tron. This little thing is absolutely brilliant.
Looking very much like a miscellaneous computer part, the Annoy-a-Tron actually emits random beeps at 2 or 12 kHz. Let me say that again: every few minutes, the hidden annoyer will let loose a random beep.
Can’t you just see how much fun this could be?!
Because of its small magnetic strip, you can hide this gadget just about anywhere in your unsuspecting victim’s office. The electronic beeping will be enough to drive even a seasoned IT professional absolutely crazy. And because the beeps go off at random times, your poor coworker will have a horrible time trying to time them.
It seems pretty easy to use, too. Just remove the plastic strip off of the small watch battery. (It already comes with the battery, so no need to scramble for one) Then find a good hiding place in your coworkers cube or office, and let the fun begin.
Even if you’re friends do manage to spot the Annoy-a-Tron (which is highly unlikely) they’ll still be confused as to what on earth it is. Paranoia, I am told, is not uncommon.
I ordered one today, and I’ll keep you guys posted as to how well it works once it arrives and I set it up. Personally, I’ve got high expectations for it! Now I just need to decide on a victim. Muahahaha…
For more info on the Annoy-a-Tron, or to order your own, visit Think Geek’s website at http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/8c52/
Which is why this month’s featured gizmo is Think Geek’s Annoy-a-Tron. This little thing is absolutely brilliant.
Looking very much like a miscellaneous computer part, the Annoy-a-Tron actually emits random beeps at 2 or 12 kHz. Let me say that again: every few minutes, the hidden annoyer will let loose a random beep.
Can’t you just see how much fun this could be?!
Because of its small magnetic strip, you can hide this gadget just about anywhere in your unsuspecting victim’s office. The electronic beeping will be enough to drive even a seasoned IT professional absolutely crazy. And because the beeps go off at random times, your poor coworker will have a horrible time trying to time them.
It seems pretty easy to use, too. Just remove the plastic strip off of the small watch battery. (It already comes with the battery, so no need to scramble for one) Then find a good hiding place in your coworkers cube or office, and let the fun begin.
Even if you’re friends do manage to spot the Annoy-a-Tron (which is highly unlikely) they’ll still be confused as to what on earth it is. Paranoia, I am told, is not uncommon.
I ordered one today, and I’ll keep you guys posted as to how well it works once it arrives and I set it up. Personally, I’ve got high expectations for it! Now I just need to decide on a victim. Muahahaha…
For more info on the Annoy-a-Tron, or to order your own, visit Think Geek’s website at http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/8c52/
Thursday, April 29, 2010
There's Always Room for...
You know that old saying about not fixing something that ‘aint broken’? Well, that rule applies to office mischief, too. There are some classic examples of office pranks that while certainly aren’t new, are still worth trying out.
Take, for example, the stapler in the Jell-O routine. Sure, it’s been done before, but that doesn’t make it any less funny. It’s kind of like the Free Credit Report.Com commercials—just because you’ve seen them a million times doesn’t mean that you don’t want to sing along every time the guy in the pirate hat appears on your screen.
So, without further ado, here’s how to make a desktop Jell-O mold:
First, swipe something off of a coworker’s desk after they’ve gone home for the day. Traditionally, this trick is done with a stapler, but really any smallish item will work: coffee mugs, calculators, sun glasses, that “easy button”, etc.
You’re going to need a decent sized plastic or Tupperware container, with a lid, so if you don’t have one, make sure you swing by and pick one up before heading home.
It will most likely take about 4-5 boxes of Jell-O to cover your average sized stapler. Begin by following the instructions on the boxes. This will involve boiling water, and stirring in and dissolving the powdered Jell-O mixture to the pot. Here’s a hint: for added strength, mix in some straight gelatin to the mix.
While the water is boiling, suspend the snatched item in the middle of the plastic container using dental floss taped to the outside. If you’re using a stapler, simply hang the stapler upside down from the opening in the middle, and then tape the floss securely to the outside.
Carefully pour the hot Jell-O mixture over the suspended stapler, and then top off with the right amount of boiling water.
Refrigerate your Jell-O stapler/mug/glasses overnight.
The next day, you should have a solid mold. Put the top on your plastic container and secure well. Then, when you place the container (upside down) on your co-worker’s desk, you’ll have a right side up, suspended stapler.
Ta-da!
Take, for example, the stapler in the Jell-O routine. Sure, it’s been done before, but that doesn’t make it any less funny. It’s kind of like the Free Credit Report.Com commercials—just because you’ve seen them a million times doesn’t mean that you don’t want to sing along every time the guy in the pirate hat appears on your screen.
So, without further ado, here’s how to make a desktop Jell-O mold:
First, swipe something off of a coworker’s desk after they’ve gone home for the day. Traditionally, this trick is done with a stapler, but really any smallish item will work: coffee mugs, calculators, sun glasses, that “easy button”, etc.
You’re going to need a decent sized plastic or Tupperware container, with a lid, so if you don’t have one, make sure you swing by and pick one up before heading home.
It will most likely take about 4-5 boxes of Jell-O to cover your average sized stapler. Begin by following the instructions on the boxes. This will involve boiling water, and stirring in and dissolving the powdered Jell-O mixture to the pot. Here’s a hint: for added strength, mix in some straight gelatin to the mix.
While the water is boiling, suspend the snatched item in the middle of the plastic container using dental floss taped to the outside. If you’re using a stapler, simply hang the stapler upside down from the opening in the middle, and then tape the floss securely to the outside.
Carefully pour the hot Jell-O mixture over the suspended stapler, and then top off with the right amount of boiling water.
Refrigerate your Jell-O stapler/mug/glasses overnight.
The next day, you should have a solid mold. Put the top on your plastic container and secure well. Then, when you place the container (upside down) on your co-worker’s desk, you’ll have a right side up, suspended stapler.
Ta-da!
For Sale
Here’s a prank inspired by the folks at The Office.
If your office’s break room has a vending machine, put it to good use in your mischievous quest for Friday afternoon laughs.
Keep in mind that this prank is really only feasible one of two ways--
You either have to be pretty chummy with the person that comes to refill the vending machines, or you have to patiently wait for an opportunity to present itself.
Here’s how to pull it off:
On refill day, keep an eye out for a vending machine door that isn’t quite shut properly. (This is where being friendly with the right people comes in handy. You can convince them to leave it slightly ajar for you at the end of the day.)
Once everyone’s gone home for the day, decide on a few lucky coworkers. Take one thing from each of their desks. (Staplers, notebooks, small picture frames, computer mice and paper weights all work beautifully) They key here is to make it something important enough to be missed right away, but nothing particularly valuable or personal. Oh, and steer away from anything super fragile, too. Breaking someone’s stuff is never cool.
Carefully line the first row on each vending machine shelf with your pilfered items. Make sure that they’re visible and in the very FIRST ring, so that they are easily accessible.
Next, you might want to leave a small clue as to the whereabouts of your friends’ belongings. You can print out a sign for the hallways (or send out a quick email) letting people know that there are new offerings in the snack room. Or, you can leave a couple of quarters on everyone’s desk.
Either way, you’ll want to be one of the very first folks in the office… Because the look on people’s faces is bound to be priceless!
If your office’s break room has a vending machine, put it to good use in your mischievous quest for Friday afternoon laughs.
Keep in mind that this prank is really only feasible one of two ways--
You either have to be pretty chummy with the person that comes to refill the vending machines, or you have to patiently wait for an opportunity to present itself.
Here’s how to pull it off:
On refill day, keep an eye out for a vending machine door that isn’t quite shut properly. (This is where being friendly with the right people comes in handy. You can convince them to leave it slightly ajar for you at the end of the day.)
Once everyone’s gone home for the day, decide on a few lucky coworkers. Take one thing from each of their desks. (Staplers, notebooks, small picture frames, computer mice and paper weights all work beautifully) They key here is to make it something important enough to be missed right away, but nothing particularly valuable or personal. Oh, and steer away from anything super fragile, too. Breaking someone’s stuff is never cool.
Carefully line the first row on each vending machine shelf with your pilfered items. Make sure that they’re visible and in the very FIRST ring, so that they are easily accessible.
Next, you might want to leave a small clue as to the whereabouts of your friends’ belongings. You can print out a sign for the hallways (or send out a quick email) letting people know that there are new offerings in the snack room. Or, you can leave a couple of quarters on everyone’s desk.
Either way, you’ll want to be one of the very first folks in the office… Because the look on people’s faces is bound to be priceless!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Looking Back
Ah, the good old days. Before I got my own office, I used to work in the cube farm, where some of the coolest folks in my whole company still reside. The day before I left on vacation (right before my grand exit from cubicle land) my friends decided that it would be funny to fill my entire work space with packing peanuts. I found it amusing, and told them that I wouldn’t seek revenge.
I lied.
While I won’t say that it consumed me during my time off, I did spend a little time pondering what I was going to do to them when I got back from sunny Acapulco. A few margaritas later, I decided that one mass prank for the 4 of them would do nicely. Upon my return, I recruited a couple of friends from another department to help me pull off my daring prank.
It would take a little time and coordinated effort, but I had a feeling it would be worth the work.
The Sunday before I went back to work, my merry pranksters and I used my key card to gain access to my floor. Splitting into two teams, we made quick work of swapping all 4 people’s offices.
The toughest part was making sure that every rearranged cubicle was recreated exactly the way it looked in its original spot. Beautiful.
Come Monday morning, I arrived early to (ostensibly) put my new office together. It was a little tough to keep a straight face as I went about setting up my awards and picture frames, but I knew that looking innocent was a key component to my plan.
By 9am, the first two of my victims—I mean coworkers—had arrived. The look of pure confusion on their faces as they walked over to where their desks used to be was priceless. There was no use trying to keep from laughing at that point!
I lied.
While I won’t say that it consumed me during my time off, I did spend a little time pondering what I was going to do to them when I got back from sunny Acapulco. A few margaritas later, I decided that one mass prank for the 4 of them would do nicely. Upon my return, I recruited a couple of friends from another department to help me pull off my daring prank.
It would take a little time and coordinated effort, but I had a feeling it would be worth the work.
The Sunday before I went back to work, my merry pranksters and I used my key card to gain access to my floor. Splitting into two teams, we made quick work of swapping all 4 people’s offices.
The toughest part was making sure that every rearranged cubicle was recreated exactly the way it looked in its original spot. Beautiful.
Come Monday morning, I arrived early to (ostensibly) put my new office together. It was a little tough to keep a straight face as I went about setting up my awards and picture frames, but I knew that looking innocent was a key component to my plan.
By 9am, the first two of my victims—I mean coworkers—had arrived. The look of pure confusion on their faces as they walked over to where their desks used to be was priceless. There was no use trying to keep from laughing at that point!
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