Thursday, June 15, 2006
A Humorous Mass Mail
In Pharmacology, all drugs have two names, a trade name and generic name. For example, the trade name of Tylenol also has a generic name of Acetaminophen. Aleve is also called Naproxen. Amoxil is also call Amoxicillin and Advil is also called Ibuprofen.The FDA has been looking for a generic name for Viagra. After careful consideration by a team of government experts, it recently announced that it has settled on the generic name of Mycoxafloppin. Also considered were Mycoxafailin, Mydixadrupin, Mydixarizin, Dixafix, and of course, Ibepokin.Pfizer Corp. announced today that Viagra will soon be available in liquid form, and will be marketed by Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a mixer. It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one. Obviously we can no longer call this a soft drink, and it gives new meaning to the names of "cocktails", "highballs" and just a good old-fashioned "stiff drink". Pepsi will market the new concoction by the name of: MOUNT & DO.Thought for the day: There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there should be a large elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Tsotsi Screening
A Proud moment at INSEAD, unfortunately non-academic again (actually its more appropriately ANTI-Academic) when we had the Tsotsi screening. The Producer PETER FUDAKOWSKI is an INSEAD alum and was with us when we actually were watching the movie as a part of the Africa Week. For those of you like me who didn't know the movie, its an Oscar winner this year. I was quite impressed with the film although I will not watch it a second time (too intense, I prefer stupid comedies with more blondes per man than were found in Tsotsi) . Its amazing how proud individuals are to come back to INSEAD and talk to the MBAs even when you are an overachiever by INSEAD standards. Needless to say the man got an overwhelming round of standing ovation and applause after the movie.
A Proud moment at INSEAD, unfortunately non-academic again (actually its more appropriately ANTI-Academic) when we had the Tsotsi screening. The Producer PETER FUDAKOWSKI is an INSEAD alum and was with us when we actually were watching the movie as a part of the Africa Week. For those of you like me who didn't know the movie, its an Oscar winner this year. I was quite impressed with the film although I will not watch it a second time (too intense, I prefer stupid comedies with more blondes per man than were found in Tsotsi) . Its amazing how proud individuals are to come back to INSEAD and talk to the MBAs even when you are an overachiever by INSEAD standards. Needless to say the man got an overwhelming round of standing ovation and applause after the movie.
Profile of Peter
In 2003, Peter commissioned Gavin Hood to adapt Athol Fugard's only novel, Tsotsi, as a feature film. Together with his wife Henrietta Fudakowski who worked closely with Gavin as script editor, they produced TSOTSI in South Africa between 2004 and 2005 with funding from the UK Film & TV Production Company plc (of which Peter is CEO), the Industrial Development Corporation of SA, the National Film & Video Foundation of SA, and the co-production services of Paul Raleigh of Moviworld. Peter graduated with a masters degree in Economics from Cambridge University and an MBA from The European Institute for Business Administration, INSEAD, Fontainebleau. But his first love was always for feature films. In 1979 Peter joined the First National Bank of Chicago with the thought that financing features films would be a good place to start his career as a producer. Working in the film financing department, Peter helped fund many an independent American movie over the three years with the bank.
In 2003, Peter commissioned Gavin Hood to adapt Athol Fugard's only novel, Tsotsi, as a feature film. Together with his wife Henrietta Fudakowski who worked closely with Gavin as script editor, they produced TSOTSI in South Africa between 2004 and 2005 with funding from the UK Film & TV Production Company plc (of which Peter is CEO), the Industrial Development Corporation of SA, the National Film & Video Foundation of SA, and the co-production services of Paul Raleigh of Moviworld. Peter graduated with a masters degree in Economics from Cambridge University and an MBA from The European Institute for Business Administration, INSEAD, Fontainebleau. But his first love was always for feature films. In 1979 Peter joined the First National Bank of Chicago with the thought that financing features films would be a good place to start his career as a producer. Working in the film financing department, Peter helped fund many an independent American movie over the three years with the bank.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
INSEAD Awards
I have decided to constitute the following awards for current class of July 2006. Lets see if there are nominations on the comments section
1. Most Un-teamable Person you have had in a team (so what if this is personal, this is a personal blog, you can use initials and the background (atleast industry/consulting/banking)?
2. The worst elective you have ever done in your year?
3. The worst core course you have done in a year?
Alongside this, I will also appreciate a few people personally in the blog at an "impersonal level" meaning not necessarily friends but people who most of the class would agree are superstars who the school and the community should be proud of for shining even amidst such a great pool of talented people !
I have decided to constitute the following awards for current class of July 2006. Lets see if there are nominations on the comments section
1. Most Un-teamable Person you have had in a team (so what if this is personal, this is a personal blog, you can use initials and the background (atleast industry/consulting/banking)?
2. The worst elective you have ever done in your year?
3. The worst core course you have done in a year?
Alongside this, I will also appreciate a few people personally in the blog at an "impersonal level" meaning not necessarily friends but people who most of the class would agree are superstars who the school and the community should be proud of for shining even amidst such a great pool of talented people !
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Who am I?
What is a better way to make a comeback than describe myself in the words of people who care to describe me - Right? Well, we are all in the process of writing profiles for our friends to go into a......"Year Book". So here is who I am in the words of people who got the special opportunity.
Basic Characteristics: Loves sleeping, creative mind, spontaneous, living chaos
One Word: Nirvana
Free Flow: "Oh, there were some exercises to prepare for the Finance exam?" DS would have surprises like this daily. Yet, he is a fantastic friend. No matter what you are stuck with, DS has an alternative! He appears quiet but he’s alert at any moment. A great travel companion who can regale you with tales from far and around, and always willing to try out the untrodden path. Searching for him? Simply look up above the heads in a crowd. DS can also be proud for shocking the waitstaff at the local Pub when telling them that pork sausage is, in fact, a form of “viande”. Looking forward, his creative entrepreneurial ideas will surely spring to life through his positive energy and determination.
Most likely to: become filthy rich in the Middle East
Famous Last Words: Thank God I did not become a Consultant. I am neither as evil nor as nice as I am taken to be….and I might even hire a consultant one day!
But hey...I have more time to change the famous last words here on the blog !!! Lucky me. So thats all I have to say now...
What is a better way to make a comeback than describe myself in the words of people who care to describe me - Right? Well, we are all in the process of writing profiles for our friends to go into a......"Year Book". So here is who I am in the words of people who got the special opportunity.
Basic Characteristics: Loves sleeping, creative mind, spontaneous, living chaos
One Word: Nirvana
Free Flow: "Oh, there were some exercises to prepare for the Finance exam?" DS would have surprises like this daily. Yet, he is a fantastic friend. No matter what you are stuck with, DS has an alternative! He appears quiet but he’s alert at any moment. A great travel companion who can regale you with tales from far and around, and always willing to try out the untrodden path. Searching for him? Simply look up above the heads in a crowd. DS can also be proud for shocking the waitstaff at the local Pub when telling them that pork sausage is, in fact, a form of “viande”. Looking forward, his creative entrepreneurial ideas will surely spring to life through his positive energy and determination.
Most likely to: become filthy rich in the Middle East
Famous Last Words: Thank God I did not become a Consultant. I am neither as evil nor as nice as I am taken to be….and I might even hire a consultant one day!
But hey...I have more time to change the famous last words here on the blog !!! Lucky me. So thats all I have to say now...
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
After such a long eerie silence I have decided to come back and blog in length very soon the last three weeks of INSEAD that I predict to be quite hectic....
Where has the DS Been?
Trip to Montpelier
After creating a list of potential targets I can drive to south of France with (which incidentally is much cheaper as a group than flying or taking trains), I wrote emails and finally formed a group of 3 guys to drive down to the southern beaches of France. As you might realize le plage en France has a whole new meaning to the single male from any non-european origin. Ok, I can't exactly claim to be a single male but then we were three guys who were confused between driving to Barecelona and Nice and decided we should pick a mid-point to go so that we can decide after getting there. We ended up drooling all weekend long in this transit point beach and returned back to Fontainebleau without going either to Barecelona or Nice. As smart as it turned out, we spent the weekend there. This was also a graceful way of avoiding the embarrassment of the "Great Summer Ball 2006" at INSEAD. Without a girl, EUR 135 or a Tuxedo, I find driving through the alps a lot more fun than drinking with the same friends you drink with pretty much every weekend. The trip was very eventful. The photographer amongst the three of us on the roadtrip managed enough photographs for me to be able to create a presentation and thus pass the French Oral test.
Offer Acceptance
DS has accepted, no marks for guessing, one of the two offers in a no-name company that has actually been successful so far in recruiting McKinsey consultants (Remember the consulting company ranked by the Unscientific DS Survey a few days back) and B-school grads from top-tier schools mostly in the US to go to a certain country with a lot of money generated from the sale of a certain fossil fuel.
Trip to London
A Friend in London invited me (or did I invite myself) to London for a weekend to seen Big-Ben, the Buckingham Palace, Drunk English people and a bollywood movie. It did end up a lot of fun. It was my first experience on the Eurostar and I strongly recommend it if you are in Paris as it is much more convenient than driving down to CDG.
Got a Speeding Ticket
Got a speeding ticket, thanks to a camera on the peripherique on my way back from the airport (after an interview abroad)…it sucked. Atleast I had to only pay EUR 45 as I was able to make it online before 15 days of ticket issue expired. The French have an interesting packaging of tickets. You get a discount if you pay the ticket ahead of time and a penalty if you are late by 145 days ! I only wish they started measuring their own public services for efficiency instead of incentivizing the traffic violator for efficiency.
Coursework
I am sure all of you by now know you are in the wrong blog to read about "academic excellence" or "Career Progression" in INSEAD. I am starting to think I am an "admissions defect". If you do insist on knowing about INSEAD's academic culture, I strongly recommend visiting www.insead.edu, the schools official website to stimulate yourself intellectually by searching for "Strategy" or "Dean's List" or "Patrick Turner" (ok that was a cheap shot Pat only to find out if you read my blog to that level of detail or you just like freaking me out once in a while). Jokes apart, here is an update on an interesting course.
Brand Management
Although I have no idea why I actually like Brand Management, I am starting the enjoy the class especially comparing taste of vodkas in class (now for the perverts who think we have started drinking in class) it was merely an exercise to see how much difference branding does. It is a fun class with a hyperactive visiting prof jumping around all the time. The videos are kind of relaxing too.
Where has the DS Been?
Trip to Montpelier
After creating a list of potential targets I can drive to south of France with (which incidentally is much cheaper as a group than flying or taking trains), I wrote emails and finally formed a group of 3 guys to drive down to the southern beaches of France. As you might realize le plage en France has a whole new meaning to the single male from any non-european origin. Ok, I can't exactly claim to be a single male but then we were three guys who were confused between driving to Barecelona and Nice and decided we should pick a mid-point to go so that we can decide after getting there. We ended up drooling all weekend long in this transit point beach and returned back to Fontainebleau without going either to Barecelona or Nice. As smart as it turned out, we spent the weekend there. This was also a graceful way of avoiding the embarrassment of the "Great Summer Ball 2006" at INSEAD. Without a girl, EUR 135 or a Tuxedo, I find driving through the alps a lot more fun than drinking with the same friends you drink with pretty much every weekend. The trip was very eventful. The photographer amongst the three of us on the roadtrip managed enough photographs for me to be able to create a presentation and thus pass the French Oral test.
Offer Acceptance
DS has accepted, no marks for guessing, one of the two offers in a no-name company that has actually been successful so far in recruiting McKinsey consultants (Remember the consulting company ranked by the Unscientific DS Survey a few days back) and B-school grads from top-tier schools mostly in the US to go to a certain country with a lot of money generated from the sale of a certain fossil fuel.
Trip to London
A Friend in London invited me (or did I invite myself) to London for a weekend to seen Big-Ben, the Buckingham Palace, Drunk English people and a bollywood movie. It did end up a lot of fun. It was my first experience on the Eurostar and I strongly recommend it if you are in Paris as it is much more convenient than driving down to CDG.
Got a Speeding Ticket
Got a speeding ticket, thanks to a camera on the peripherique on my way back from the airport (after an interview abroad)…it sucked. Atleast I had to only pay EUR 45 as I was able to make it online before 15 days of ticket issue expired. The French have an interesting packaging of tickets. You get a discount if you pay the ticket ahead of time and a penalty if you are late by 145 days ! I only wish they started measuring their own public services for efficiency instead of incentivizing the traffic violator for efficiency.
Coursework
I am sure all of you by now know you are in the wrong blog to read about "academic excellence" or "Career Progression" in INSEAD. I am starting to think I am an "admissions defect". If you do insist on knowing about INSEAD's academic culture, I strongly recommend visiting www.insead.edu, the schools official website to stimulate yourself intellectually by searching for "Strategy" or "Dean's List" or "Patrick Turner" (ok that was a cheap shot Pat only to find out if you read my blog to that level of detail or you just like freaking me out once in a while). Jokes apart, here is an update on an interesting course.
Brand Management
Although I have no idea why I actually like Brand Management, I am starting the enjoy the class especially comparing taste of vodkas in class (now for the perverts who think we have started drinking in class) it was merely an exercise to see how much difference branding does. It is a fun class with a hyperactive visiting prof jumping around all the time. The videos are kind of relaxing too.
