Pierre Krähenbühl

HOT HOT HOT lol

Go to the ICRC page now.

You can also see him in the article on Burma.

VC

Catching Up: La Vie, Spiegelworld

Curie is asleep on my couch, taking a nap after having seen the law school. We're going to what is supposedly the best Indian restaurant in the area, tonight, in Branford (her and two other transfers who I should nickname and will explain later: Nichole and Ellen).

Since I've been catching up with Curie, today, I thought I should also catch up with some of the stuff I've done and photos I've taken.

The first thing I want to post are some images I took while at the South Street Seaport for the final performance of La Vie, by Spiegelworld.

The show was fantastic, and it was really nice getting to see a friend I met through Curie who (we joke) is my Chinese half-sister. She's really a sweet person, and some of her friends were great.

As I said, the show was fantastic. You can check out the website for an idea of what it's all about. I think the best parts were the dance scenes between the MC and a woman (who, in the show, is a Russian femme fatale). You know the man is probably gay, and that they are just performers in a cabaret under a circus tent in Manhattan and are not really tormented lovers, and yet when they danced it was so passionate and so believable. I think the entire audience was impressed with the others (contortionists, ropeworkers, etc.) but we were just blown away by the dancing. IT WAS HOT lol

Most of my photos are of the ships and the actual seaport itself. I really like the effect of the cell phone photos sometimes.

VC

Wall Street

Like I've been saying, there's NOTHING about Manhattan that says that Wall Street has to be there. If we were smart we'd move to Shanghai, or Dubai, or Paris.

VC

The Bravery, "The Ocean" (song lyrics)

I climbed up a mountain, and looked off the edge
At all of the lives that I never have led
There's one where I stayed with you, across the sea
I wonder do you still think of me

I carry your image always in my head
Folded and yellowed and torn at the edge
And I've looked upon it for so many years
Slowly I'm loosing your face

Oh the ocean rows us away, away, away
The ocean rows us away

Sixes and sevens we live on jet planes
So many faces I don't know the names
So many friends now and none of them mine
Forgotten as soon as we meet

All of these moments are lost in time
But you're caught in my head like a thorn on a vine
Took forever to mend me and I wonder why
Do I wish I've never known you at all

Oh the ocean rows us away, away, away
The ocean rows us away

The sun and the moon
An ocean of air
So many voices
And nothing is there
But the ghost of you asking me why
Why did I leave

Oh the ocean rows us away, away, away
The ocean rows us away

And I loose your hand through the waves

Taking Chances

I guess it should be announced that I'm officially in a relationship now. A lot of my friends at Yale have met him, but I'm excited for my NYC friends and family to meet him, too.

Really worth the wait. That's all I can say :)

More Celine. I love the chorus.

VC

PS: The woman sang more than 500 shows in Vegas (I think it was maybe closer to 900) in just a few years and her voice has not suffered at all. Now THAT'S healthy technique!

Things that Make VC Happy: Celine Dion's Air Guitar

I sent this clip to my mom a few weeks ago, but I was just watching it again and wanted to post it. The talking part is boring, but watch for 2:20-2:30 when she vocally mimics a guitar. This woman can SERIOUSLY sing. It's also cute when she's banging on the hallway walls talking about what good acoustics they have lol.

VC

VC Now Immunizer from EVERYTHING

I just had SEVEN vaccinations lol

Tetnus
Yellow Fever
Flu
Hep-A
Typhoid
Menengitis
Polio

I'm going to go drink swamp water now...JUST BECAUSE I CAN!

VC

Kenya Itinerary

DEPARTING FLIGHT

Saturday, October 20, 2007
Emirates # 204
New York John F Kennedy Intl (JFK) to Dubai (DXB)
Departure (JFK): October 20, 11:20 AM EDT (morning)
Arrival (DXB): October 21, 8:10 AM GST (morning)

Sunday, October 21, 2007
Emirates # 721
Dubai (DXB) to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl (NBO)
Departure (DXB): October 21, 3:05 PM GST (afternoon)
Arrival (NBO): October 21, 7:05 PM EAT (evening)


RETURN FLIGHT

Saturday, October 27, 2007
Emirates # 720
Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Intl (NBO) to Dubai (DXB)
Departure (NBO): October 27, 5:15 PM EAT (evening)
Arrival (DXB): October 27, 11:15 PM GST (evening)

Sunday, October 28, 2007
Emirates # 203
Dubai (DXB) to New York John F Kennedy Intl (JFK)
Departure (DXB): October 28, 2:00 AM GST (morning)
Arrival (JFK): October 28, 7:50 AM EDT (morning)

VC is Going to Geneva

Things are finally working out with the Swiss office of McKinsey and "they'll see me in November" (that's all the details I have so far).

:)

VC

New Haven

To the Members of the Yale Community:

Consistent with federal reporting requirements and in order to increase awareness of personal safety, I write to let you that a graduate student was the victim of a robbery at the corner of Church and Center Streets at 5:30 AM on Saturday, September 29. He was approached from behind by three males wearing black hooded sweatshirts who demanded money. Fortunately, the student was not hurt during the incident.

Also on September 29, in the evening, there was an aggressive panhandling incident that occurred at approximately 9:00 PM. A graduate student was at the corner of College and Wall Streets when she was approached by a woman asking for money. When the student took money from her wallet, the woman held her wrist and grabbed the money from her hand. The woman who took the money is approximately 5'2" tall, has dark acne marks on face, and was wearing loose pants or skirt and a red turban. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported.

In addition, later that evening, two undergraduates were walking on Howard Ave. and Spring Street at approximately 11:15 PM when they were surrounded by a group of four or five males, approximately 13-15 years of age, all 5'5" tall or shorter, one wearing a white long sleeve shirt. The group assaulted the students with plastic milk crates while demanding their wallets. The students were treated for lacerations resulting from the assault.

Anyone having information about these incidents should call the Yale Police. I reiterate my request that you use the University escort service or transportation system and not walk alone, or even in pairs during late night hours. If you should witness suspicious activity, please report it immediately to the police at 432-4400. Timely reports help tremendously in solving cases and deterring crime.

Sincerely,

Chief James A. Perrotti

Goldman Interview Feedback

I find this very interesting (I emailed basically just asking if there was any feedback I could have going forward since I am serious about banking). Looks like it was a bad sign that I dropped that finance course at the School of Management, but it also looks like maybe something internal at Goldman made them decide not to take anyone from YLS their first time recruiting here, especially since he didn't say "you should try to take accounting and finance to get a job at another bank," but rather "you should try to get a job at another bank, and taking accounting and finance would help you when you reapply next year." :

Chunk - I would try to get a summer job at another investment bank -
that would help strengthen your resume for next fall. Also, taking
accounting courses and doing well at them would be very helpful.

Crazy Swiss

Check out the requirements for getting a drivers license there. I think it's hilarious that they make you get trained in first aid AND undergo a mental assessment by a psychologist before you can drive lol


Learning to drive in Switzerland

You must be 18 years of age to learn how to drive in Switzerland. The process begins with a 10-hour first aid course in which you learn how to give assistance to traffic accident victims. Then, you must follow eight hours of obligatory theory (traffic-awareness course).

Once you begin to drive, you must be accompanied by a person over 24 years of age who has had his or her license for at least three years. You must also attach a sticker (a white L on a blue background) to the windshield of your car to show that you are a "learner" driver.

You are not required to take driving lessons with a professional instructor to obtain your license, although it is recommended since the instructors know exactly what the examiners expect... It's at your own risk. Bear in mind that it will cost you approximately 75 Swiss francs an hour. There are extremely well-organized guilds of driving school instructors, who are applying increasingly restrictive measures to limit access to their profession and maintain their rates. Moreover, constant pressure is placed on the government to raise driver training standards for young drivers, in the name of road safety and to the great benefit of driving school instructors. Some see in this a pathetic example of corporate racketing, based on the "public good", as a means to capture its own profitable market. So grin and bear it, but don't let them walk all over you.
The temporary license allocation fee, the practical and theoretical exams and the highway code manual cost approximately 250 Swiss francs (although this varies by canton).

A book listing the 600 possible questions on the theory exam can be purchased for 10 francs from your canton's Automobile Service.

The Swiss driving test includes a written exam (that can be taken in English or in other foreign languages) and a practical test.

The practical test can be taken only three times. If you fail it three times, you are required to consult a psychologist who will decide if you are mentally fit to drive and who can offer you a fourth and final attempt... But you would have to demonstrate a real inaptitude for driving to get to that point.

Rejected at Goldman

Dear Chunk:

Thank you for taking the time to interview with the Investment Banking Division at Goldman Sachs. Unfortunately we’ve had to make some tough decisions, and we will not be pursuing your candidacy any further. We regret that we cannot accommodate everyone, but we wish you the best of luck in the recruiting process!

Regards,

The Investment Banking Recruiting Team

***

Feels weird because I thought the interview went really well. I guess I feel a little upset to get a rejection, but I don't feel devastated, either. I'm not sure if I should try for more banks, or just go with McKinsey and consulting firms. I don't mean to sound cheesy, but this really could be a blessing in disguise, because if I do consulting (or even the one law firm I interviewed with, which, incidentally, I have not heart back from even though another friend has) then I can split the summer with a human rights organization.

Off to the gym! :)

VC

PS: I *just* realized that they probably never took my candidacy seriously in the first place, which is why we just spent the 30 minutes talking and having a good time. They can't screen the candidates that bid on them, so they might as well make the best of their time with someone they feel certain isn't a fit. Too bad!

Underwear Kicking

Something funny I just realized I do (and have done for years without ever even thinking about how odd it is):

When I change my clothes, get in the shower, etc. and have to take my underwear off, I slide them off like any other person would, but then when they're around my ankles on the floor I step out with my right leg (still normal, I think) and then I kick them with my left foot up in the air (not high, just up to my arm height) and catch them with my right hand lol.

What's even more silly is that it's not like I'm catching them so I can put them in the dirty clothes or whatever, since usually I immediately drop them back on the floor until I actually pick up all the clothes I just took off.

How weird is that?

VC

Interview Update

I think my interviews went really well. They didn't ask me ANYTHING about finance or ANYTHING about Goldman Sachs! lol Good thing, since my "breakthrough" that I wrote about last night about valuation techniques was totally off. I guess I really didn't need to work until after 5am preparing lol Maybe I really am made for banking?

VC

Investopedia

This site rules.

Goldman Prep Under Way

I'm working away! I think I'll stop doing finance stuff soon and start doing the "What's happening in the markets, what do I think affects the market, what stocks do I like, what are Goldman's values, what are its major recent deals, and what is its structure and performance record?"

I think I just had a breakthrough, though, as seen in an email I sent to a friend who worked in banking this past summer at Bank of America, met with me a little over a month ago in NYC to talk about it over Japanese desert, and who helped me on the phone earlier for almost an hour. The question/breakthrough is all about calculating NPV (net present value) using a DCF (discounted cash flows) model that incorporates WACC (weighted average cost of capital) and CAPM (capital asset price model) calculations:

Hey I'd call but it's 1am and I know it sucks to be like "hey I know I never call you except to eat Japanese desert and talk about finance, but I have a question" lol.

I just wanted to make sure that I have it right when to use CAPM and when to use WACC.

From what I can tell, when you want to decide whether or not to invest in a security, like a stock, then you would use NPV calculated on a DCF model that has a discount rate calculated by CAPM. If you want to decide whether or not a project is worth it, and we're talking about, like, purchasing a company or something and not just a security, then you'd use NPV calculated on one of the three models we spoke about, and if you elect to use DCF then your discount rate would be calculated using WACC (you couldn't really use WACC for a security because there is not issue about how capital is structured like with a corporation), and in that WACC calculation you could still, if you wanted to, bring back CAPM, but it would only be used to calculate the cost of equity component of the WACC sum?

Basically it looks like using CAPM for the discount rate in a DCF calculation is only a "complete" calculation if it's for a security, but if it's for a firm valuation or something then you need WACC, which can use CAPM or not depending on your preference/available info for how you'll calculate the cost of equity (either as CAPM or as dividends per share divided by share price added to growth in price).

Does that sound right?

Thanks!

VC

Insane Week

This week is one of the craziest I've had in a long time.

In addition to my classes, which I've done no work for, I have three job interviews (which will require a LOT of prep), journal and reading group meetings, student paper drafts to review (for the undergrad Computers and the Law course that a friend got me a position TAing -- this is also going to be intense prep because students are emailing me to set up appointments and I am not even going to get the course materials, lecture notes, and required readings from the prof until tomorrow morning!), law school events, etc. Oh, and the icing on the cake is that on Friday my preliminary findings for my Kenya research are due. The pre-icing icing is that the same day I have my Goldman interviews and my first meeting with a Computers and the Law student I *also* have an Arabic quiz lol.

I have decided to reconceptualize the week, though, as not one of stress but of opportunity lol. I mean after this week a lot of things that were formerly just plans will now be real activites in my life: Outlaws is having its first official meeting, the Middle East Legal Forum reading group is having its first meeting, I will have my first meeting with the Journal of Human Rights and Development, I'll have met with my students for the first time and read their papers (and read the class materials for the first time as well), I'll have held my first co-taught TA review session, I'll have interviewed for positions in investment banking, investment management, and transactional corporate law, have mastered the direct and indirect objects that come from each of the ten Arabic verb forms, have presented my preliminary findings on Kenya, and will have had a special meeting with some of the judges from the world's highest courts (and will have gotten tickets for a later lecture with one of the US Supreme Court justices).

Don't expect me to blog much between now and Friday (then again you never know!).

Oh, and just to brag lol: Since coming to Yale I've never exercised less than three times in a week :)

VC

FIP (Fall Interview Program)

I got all three things I bid on for Fall interviews (note that I only bid on one law firm because they're the only one hiring for Paris lol). My #1 goal this summer is Goldman investment banking, and if I don't get that then I suspect I'll want to go to McKinsey (and in that case split my summer between consulting and human rights, which you can't do in banking). The other stuff is just in case I don't get any other private sector offers.

Interview Date	Employer	Locations Interviewing For	Interview Time	Interview Location	Interview Room
Sep 25, 2007	Goldman Sachs & Company-Investment Banking (New York NY)	New York NY-Investment Banking	2:00 pm - 2:30 pm		TBA
Sep 25, 2007	Goldman Sachs & Company-Investment Management (New York NY)	New York NY-Investment Management	2:30 pm - 3:00 pm		TBA
Sep 27, 2007	Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (London)	London;European and Asian offices	4:30 pm - 5:00 pm		TBA

Weirdest Thing Ever

Check it.