Cooliris - Very Cool!

I tried Cooliris yesterday. It sure was worth it's name. 3D wall is the highlight of the plug in. Though only few sites are supporting media RSS, its just a matter of time before every site jumps into the bandwagon. The company has its headquarters in Palo Alto. Sure missed an opportunity when I was in Sunnyvale.

Another Blockade

Looks like Citi has cancelled students loan at many campuses. In Haas, it cancelled the loan without co-signer. I was depending on that particular loan to fund the MBA. It is a great set back for me. I have to now dig deep to find other options.

Me and fin aid team at Haas

Q:
I am a Haas mba aspirant. Earlier there used to be "Sallie Mae / UC Graduate Business Loan" and CitiAssist Loan for UC Students" loan programs that offer loans without a co-signer. I didn't really keep myself upto date regarding the financial matters after that. Now i am seeing that at Haas only loans with co-signer are offered to international students. Is there any other viable options for an international student like me?

A:
Hi Ram,
Thank you for your inquiry into the Full-Time MBA Program at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.
No, there is no option for the international student without a US Citizen or permanent resident as a co-signer.

Mutton Biriyani

When I sat infront of computer, all i wanted to write is about IELTS exam. But then after having a really good lunch, can't help but writing about the lunch i had.

A friend of my father, promised us to give biriyani for lunch. No one can be happier than my mom. Atlast she got to relax for one Sunday or else she has to chop, smash, fry fish, mutton or chicken. It is amazing how she still keeps her going on Sundays when she has to cook all by herself to feed 6 useless male morons who have no intention of helping her (hee hee i am one of them). Probably the barbaric way in which we fight for the Sunday special food inspires her.

It was mutton biriyani. I had never eaten such soft mutton pieces (actually i had before but that was from a young goat). I still can't understand how muslims are able to prepare such good biriyanis. Probably its like idly for south india and chappathi for north india. They are born to make it the best. It is better to leave it that way. People always run their imagination about elixir as a sweet magical potion. After eating the biriyani, i strongly contest that notion. Excuse me all earthlings, you were wrong. Elixir tastes hot. It has lot of masala in it and its other name is biriyani.

If you are thinking, i am going too far with my appreciation. Sorry, i haven't finished. I have converted into Islam for the biriyani. Why not? Some people convert for their loved ones, some for money, some for society, some to escape (from whatever). Why not convert for food? My mom is calling me to assist for adhirasam. As usual i am not going to help her. Apart from me being lazy, i don't want to help her because she has prohibited us from eating adhirasam till diwali. Inshallah - adhirasam and murukku - what a combination. Looks like i have to wait till diwali to convert back to Hinduism. Thats the day, elixir would turn sweet again.

Indian mythology gets it's due

The Hindu mythological stories have always fascinated me. I loved "Mahabharatha" series from AmarChitraKatha. The stories are very rich in plots and messages.
But, we need to take the story telling to a different level to gain wider audience especially the west. This is important with respect to indian audience as well because the current (and the next generation) is very westernized and would ape whatever west does. (Just like Yoga got awareness only after getting its attention in the west)
In this context, indian comic book fans must welcome Ramayana 3392 AD from Virgin comics. Ramayana is always dull compared to Mahabharath but the comic version is simply too good. Many a times, I didn't know if it was Ramayana or Star Wars. A more detailed post on Ramayana comics later. This post is to share the news that Hollywood producer Mark Canton of "300" fame is going to make the movie based on the comic. The movie will be released in 2009. I can't wait to watch it.

The news here.

Not a bad news after all

I asked the Haas adcom if it is ok to write IELTS on Oct 25 but still submit application for round 1. The answer is Yes. So without any knowledge about IELTS, I am going to register for it hoping that a weeks time is enough for preparing.

With all that i am doing for Haas, it is better for the school to select me. Or else....

Irony - Picture says it all

Chat session with Haas

Haas arranged for a chat with student's ambassadors and adcom members on Oct 1 9-10 am PDT.

Since I got the timing wrong, i went to chat 1 hour early only to find out that no body was there. I expected a lot from the session. I thought that they would be candid about their process and clear very specific doubt. Most of the doubts were pretty general and could be found in the site itself. There were certain specific questions that was not related in any means to me.

I asked just two questions.

1. I expect Haas to provide good placements in Tech companies as it is near Silicon Valley. Am i right?

2. I am from India. I have had two business trips to US and one to Canada. I work in an MNC. I communicate with US people almost every day through calls and e-mails. My medium of instruction throughout my education was english. I don't understand the need to appear for TOEFL. Is there any chance of getting a waiver for TOEFL?

The chat was moderated. I didn't see my first question and they didn't answer directly to my second question. The answer had exactly the same words as what I have seen in Haas site about TOEFL requirement. By this time, it getting late for me. So, I logged out. I got only two meaningful information from the session.

1. They treat the applicants who visited their campus favourably.

2. They consider mathematical talent very seriously. (Not bad huh?)

For those who had missed the session, they had promised to post the contents in their site by 2, 3 weeks.