Kevin Graham -- Winner!

Kevin Graham returns for a visit to the Search123 Snuggery

Kevin earns the Top Ramen just for stopping back by.  Is there a better way to honor what is the life and legacy of Search123 then to stop by to say hello after you've left the company?  I hardly think so.

He also said he's going to take pictures with the Zephy Cup and send them back.  So that's cool.  This represents the first time the Zephyr Cup has left the building in the care of a non-ValueClick Employee.  We could think of no one better to have that honor than Kevin.

Kevin, no matter where you go, may all that the Top Ramen award represents be with you.  (Unless you go to Bakersfield.  Then you're on your own.)

UPDATE:  Kevin has posted the photostream of the Zephyr Cup's tour of Silicon Valley.  DO NOT MISS THIS:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53825463@N07/sets/72157624926924866/

Robert Lungfish's Troll Collection --Winner

Look how happy those trolls are!

There's nothing that helps assuage the presence of Robert than the ever-present presence of those friendly trolls on his desk.  Sometimes, you don't even know he's there.

It's not that we don't like Robert.  Everyone likes having Robert around.  It's just that things are better with "Robert and Trolls" as opposed to just "Robert".  This is not really that unusual.  Who was Abbott without Costello?  Could there be a Penn without a Teller?  A Phineas without a Ferb?  What about "Siskel and Ebert" or "Sonny and Cher" or "The Captain and Tenille"...  Ok...  so its not always true...

But in this case, let's all raise our Ramen Bowls to Robert's Trolls!

The Kevin Graham Memorial Jester Hat - Winner!

Jester Hat modeled by Dave Hampton.  NOTE:  Dave is not a winner.  Just the hat.

Although Kevin has left, his hat was bequeathed to the the care of Dave Hampton, who is now the official keeper of the Hat.

Amazingly the Jester Hat has won for what it has accomplished on its own.  I refer to its magical and amazing properties.

"I put $5 under the Jester Hat [located on Dave's Desk] and my rheumatism has completely cleared up!  It's a miracle!"

Susan, Accounting

 "I didn't beleive in the Jester Hat, at first, but after putting $10 under it - I met the love of my life!  And now we are getting married!"

Bob, Facilities

"I've been sad ever since Mittens [her cat], passed away when I was 7.  I put $20 under the hat...  AND MITTENS CAME BACK!  I LOVE YOU MITTENS!"

Jane, Technology

Way to go Jester Hat, keep taking in the dough and granting wishes.  Way to earn the top ramen!

Curtis Guffee -- Winner!

In this Virtual re-creation, we see all that Curtis went through to win the award.

Curtis wins this week for having a sink hole-sized hole installed in his back.  Curt went to the Doctor and they decided to install a sink hole in Curt's back.  Although the above is simply a re-creation, you can see that he went through a whole lot just to get the Top Ramen Award.

By my reckoning, anyone willing  to install a sinkhole in their back just to win a prize, earns it.

So way to go, Curt!  But don't do it again.

Don Wolfe -- Winner!

Don gets his 15 minutes of fame!

Don Wolfe wins this week for asking to be the winner last week.  More importantly, he asked without justifying some trumped up reason that he should win.  He just wanted to win.

You know, so much of life is yours if you just ask.  Like ketchup at a restaurant, all you need do is ask. They've got plenty in the back just a-waitin to make your french fries all ketchupy.   Don clearly has taken this "ask for stuff I want" attitude to heart.  Some say its what makes Don great.  Others say its his mustache.

We may never know for sure, but we do know that Don is this week's Top Ramen Winner.  Way to go, Don!  And keep asking for more stuff.

Robert Green - Winner!

Robert Green drops the Zephyr Cup when it was handed to him after the England v USA World Cup Game.

Robert Green gets awarded the Top Ramen Award not for spilling an easy shot into the net.  But for manning up to his mistake.  Many an English player avoided the interviews after their humiliating and embarrassing draw with the United States.  But not Robert.  He went to the cameras, stood up tall and admitted his mistake.  He didn't blame the ball or the grass or the astrological signs (like the other keepers who screwed up) but took it on full force.

Way to go Robert!  We all make mistakes, (not usually as big as yours nor in such a public fashion nor with the pride of entire nation dependent on your performance) but only someone of quality can own their own mistakes.  That's what makes you a Top Ramen winner.

Missaka Wijekoon -- Winner!

Missaka Hoists the Zephyr Cup High!

Missaka wins for misplacing and over-concentrating his uric acid.  This is usually only attained by those capable of enjoying the luxuries of life (a trait shared by all winners).  Missaka is no exception.  Despite his uric acid issues, Missaka strives to provide everyone with excellent customer service and has very high productivity and efficiency scores (in the 440's - both of them).  And as you know, achieving scores in the 440's for both productivity and efficiency while having uric acid issues is something only a Top Ramen Winner could do!

Congrats!

Dov Endress - Winner!

Pictures coming soon

Dov wins for taking the Zephyr Cup on a Historical reenactment at our nations capitol.  Take a look at the photo blog to learn more of the Zephyr Cup. (note:  its not up yet...)

Noel Casim -- Winner!

Noel wins because his house burned down.
'nuff said.

Andy Malinky -- Winner!

Andy is proud to grab the Top Ramen for the first time

Andy Malinky wins for being the first to quickly and firmly respond "No" to Peter Wheresyourhousekeys offer to go sky-diving.
"Why jump out of a perfectly good plane?"  Responded Andy.  We couldn't agree more.  Sky Diving out of perfectly good planes seems rather pointless.  Andy did indicate that if he were in a completely faulty plane (one which was currently in the process of falling out of the sky on its own accord) he would not have a problem at all with jumping out of it.

This is exactly the kind of sense and sensibililty that typifies all Top Ramen Winners, and why Andy deserves the prize.

Andy, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars!

Noel Casim -- Winner!

Noel takes a stunning self portrait.

Noel Casim wins the Top Ramen award because he was going to Mountain View, Ca.  and, even though Dave was also going, Noel is more well-liked.

Jim Zarley - Winner!

Jim Zarley (on right) is delighted by being named the Top Ramen winner!

Jim cruises easily to the top of the potential winners list by once again taking the wheel of the mighty vessel that is ValueClick!  With a surprise announcement last Friday, Jim breathed new life and vitality into the entire ValueClick family.  More importantly, he did it with just the right amount of cool headed verve and "Rat Pack" style that typifies all Top Ramen Winners.

Jim probably didn't expect that the honor of being appointed CEO for the second time would be quickly eclipsed by the greater honor of receiving the coveted Top Ramen Award!

Congrats, Jim, on a job well done!

John Wier - Winner!

John Wier, takin' it easy!

Why does John win?  First, every letter in "Wier" is also in "Winner."  Second, he has sat next to or near Search for well over a year now and has never yelled at, thrown things at, complained, openly mocked, sniggered, bumped, brusied  or in any way harm the people of Search.

This is no small accomplishment.

A man this easy to get along with has clearly taken the phrase "Take it easy" to heart.  Congrats John!

Chad McCormack - Winner!

Chad McCormack - Largest Winner Yet!

Chad pulls in the Top Ramen award for the week for two (2) stellar reasons.  First, he has been here for "God Knows How Long"* and has never scheduled a meeting.  As we all know, meetings are intended to be the pinnacle of productivity, but seldom are.  The Top Ramen Award, in contrast, was intended to be a mediocre award, but is now the pinnacle of Human achievement. (see link at top of page).  By not scheduling meetings, he inadvertently triggered a self submission into the Top Ramen Contest.  Because it was inadvertent and not scheduled - clearly, he won. 

The second reason is that Chad is the largest non-threatening person most of us have ever met.  Lets keep it that way by congratulating him all week!

*The phrase "God Knows How Long" refers to the fact that nobody knows how long he has been here - but God clearly does.  It is not to be confused with the statement "God knows Howie Long", which, though true, is inapplicable in this context.

Travels of the Zephyr Cup!

And why there was no winner last week.  First the pics:

The Zephyr Cup makes the SF skyline look good!

The Zephyr Cup, chillin' at the Golden Gate Bridge

Thanks Adam Gunn for the great pics!  There was no winner last week because the Zephyr Cup was on Holiday.  It should be Inter-Officed to us by the end of the week.

Adam Gunn -- Winner!

Adam Gunn, looking uncomfortable.

Adam was the hand's down winner this week for being a largely convenient excuse to send the Top Ramen Award to San Francisco.  Adam probably did something worthwhile last week to win the award, but since we don't really interact with him, we don't know.  We do know he is a nice guy and works in San Francisco.

Speaking of San Francisco, this would be a great opportunity for Adam to get a snapshot of the Zephyr Cup and he in San Francisco that can go on our Facebook group page!  Adam and the cup on the Golden Gate Bridge.  Adam and the Cup on one of those curvy San Francisco streets.  Or on a street car.  Or at Fisherman's Wharf.  Or in China Town.  Or even getting mugged in Oakland!

So, Adam, grab a friend and a camera and hit the town!  Oh, and Congrats on a location well-picked!

John Locke - Winner

Clearly, John is the happiest recipient yet.

John wins this week for being the most influential person at the company.  Influential works include An Essay Concerning Human Understanding and Some Thoughts Concerning Education.  Both of which shaped modern culture and The United States itself.  Lessor known works include Some Thoughts about Rabbits and Some Additional Thoughts About Rabbits.  Those works were also substantially less influential.

At 382 years of age, John busies himself today by typing at a computer at his desk and occasionally telling people what to do, or what they are doing wrong - but in a relaxingly disarming manner.

Here's to you John!  You make being a profound influence on political philosophy look easy.

Tanya Kuzmichonok - Winner

Tanya was so excited, she couldn't sit still.  She also has a puppy on her laptop.  Who doesn't like puppies?

Tanya won because she brought cake to Coffee Time!  Sure, it was left-over cake from one of the myriad of "Birthdays" they have over in Finance. And, OK.  Finance has more "Birthday Cake" than people with birthdays.  Sure.  OK,  She probably didn't intentionally bring it to Search123.  We can accept that.  And finally, yes, she probably is blissfully unaware that Search123 even exists.  Fine.

She still brought cake.  And it counts.

This is also the first time that someone won with a title and job description that no one on the technology team even understands.  "Auditor - Corp Governance?"  What's that.  Seriously.  What does that even mean?

Well, whatever it is.  We think you're great!  Keep doing whatever it is that you do.  Auditizing or something governmental...or, perhaps "corporatey".  I don't know...  We hear you type on the keyboard just like we do, so that's cool.

Mayukh Bose -- Winner!

So Excited, his eyes are closed!

In a highly uncontested week Mayukh Bose lands the Top Spot in the Top Ramen Smackdown by getting a haircut.  He also sits at the end of a row, making it easier to hang the "Congratulations" banner.

Mayukh is always thoughtful to include the Search Team in his mass emails to the Technology Team when posting clever links.  Further, Mayukh posts "just the right amount", neither becoming stale or falling off the edge of Over Posting.

Here's to you Mayukh.  May the name "Mayukh" one day not show up as a mis-spelling in every spell-checker on the planet.

Brian Belhumeur - Winner!

Frenchman and Longest known Search123 tech-side employee, Brian Belhumeur (pronounced "bree-uhn Bell-hoo-mare") wins for relocating to the Westlake Village Office near the Search123 space.  Brian reportedly has a cheery disposition, although we can't see it through his beard.

Brian also bears a striking resemblance to a young Charles Manson (pictured, oddly, on his monitor).  We thought it appropriate to get on his "good side" - you know, just in case....  So he wins!

Way to go Brian, it takes real skill to win an award you didn't know existed just shy of a week ago.

Kevin Graham -- Winner!

Kevin wins this week for suggesting the concept of organizing a Haiku contest for the Zephyr Cup - And then not following up on it.

English Haiku, unless done in Mockery (e.g. Mullet Haiku), is stupid.  Organising a contest would cause dozens to write bad Haiku and then force others to have to review and judge said bad Haiku.  That would be just wrong.  But talking about it followed by a "Let's not and say we did" - is just genius.

Zephyr Cup Haiku.

Monumental waste of time.

Because it are dumb.

Keep up the lack of effort, Kevin.  You wear it well.

Hat Friday at CoffeeTime

Hat Friday was a roaring success as many people wore their hats (or quickly made one) at Search123's famous Coffee Time.

Jeremy Borakove - Winner!

Jeremy takes bribery to a new level for the Search team by throwing down a Washington to sway the judges.  And they were swayed.  Jeremy wins despite the fact that only seconds after bribing the Search team, he realised he had no more money for the Coke machine.

Not to leave a potential briber in the lurch, the Search Team graciously gave, out of their own recently inflated wallets, a dollar to Jeremy to get a himself a drink.

Let this be a lesson to all wanting to earn the Top Ramen spot.  Bribery will get you somewhere.

Note:  Pictured above is the new Zephyr Cup, the award passed from winner to winner each week with the winners name artfully "engraved" in "100% pure" "silver."

Congrats J.B.  and keep the Washington's  flowing!

Demian L'Ecuyooter -- Winner!

Congrats Daemion!  The first winner of twenty-ten earns his top spot on the top ramen list by not being here last week!  Actually, the Awards Committee was uncertain whether or not he was here or not last week - but because no one could remember - we decided his absence or our perception of his absense had the same net affect for us all.  Thanks Dameon and keep up the good work.