A few words with myself (no reading!)

I have just opened the Microsoft Office and put the music of one of my favorite movies the Hours in the background and want to write… But, what about? There is nothing apparently to write about. And even if there was, I could not write, because my English is not so good to express, through words and sentences, what I really think, what I really would like to say, what I really feel…

But, no problem! Who reads my bullshits!? So, no matter how I am writing them. Just I let them come. Yeah! It doesn’t matter whether they are true or wrong. They’re coming themselves and who I am to judge on them?!

Today, Thursday, was the last day we went to Kardan, before the mid-term exams. We have been also given a week off and you have no idea how much I am happy about it! I am completely finished… no! Not completely, but not so much neither to continue appropriately as it should be.

I think these off days will be a good opportunity to take a look at back and to review what we have had till now. Also, I myself have got to begin thinking about my semester project…

Oh, I think, my words got finished! And, these a few words—full of grammatical mistakes!--, you don’t know how much I struggled they got out of my mind! So, the only words remained are “bye now”.

"Chalk-and-Talk"—this is all we see!

In these days I am always exhausted. I do know why. It is all because of my studying at Kardan Institute. I am not a lazy student and nor a very, very talented, clever, smart one, but at least I am very, very accountable student. Why am I saying that? Because, my exhaustion is not physical, but mental. Because all I do to keep track of things around me, have nothing positive outcome.

I have said this before here and I want to repeat it again, addressed to the in-charges of Kardan: the quantity of subjects we have been assigned to, are very many. But in the other hand, there is no quality—this is what I am exhausted of.

Two days ago, Kardan students talked about increasing the number of years we have to pass in Kardan, according to the Ministry of Higher Education. But, I think that cannot have much outcome, as the Ministry of Higher Education means. The MHE wants us and Kardan to learn the subject in more time than 3 years. In essence, I think that can be good decision, but, I am sure that Kardan’s in-charges will find some ways to take advantage of this issue. Some of my friends said to me that they will assign us to pass two 5-semester a year and no winter semester to coverage the 4 years of MHE.

But, if they really take care about us, the Kardan students, they should just decrease the number of subjects in a semester. In this way, we can both pass a 4-year program of Business Administration and also go deeper to the subjects, by having more time to study.

Today, just a half an hour ago, I was just reading an article in Business Week titled “Business Schools: A Study in Failure” by Peter Navarro. That was all about the traditional and ineffective ways of teaching methods in Business Academies. While I was reading, with each sentence, I could not avoid not smiling! If the writer of that article could see our business school, what he would say then?!

Today, we’re going to have Macro Economics. This is a subject I really loved, but, I don’t know why I do not now! What Mr. Asad talked about it with us, I don’t think can be Macro Economics. Whatever, but, I am sure this is not Macro Economics.

The problems are not only with Mr. Asad. All of other lecturers get used to talk and talk and then… talk and we are listening, listening, and not getting what this person in front of us are talking about! They say they want to involve us, but that just a word. Practically, they have nothing to do with involvement! “chalk-and-talk”—this is all they know!

There was a sentence in the article of Confucius. he says, “Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I may remember. Involve me, and I will understand.”

Masturbation--Keep it firm!

On Friday April 18, Advacate.com has posted an article titled, “Masturbation May Prevent Prostate Cancer.” It is the first time I hear such a statement about masturbation. Everybody, everywhere, every time there were statements arguing that masturbation is a very, very, disgusting, damn thing you have to leave it away. And even just for one time, I didn’t here even a sentence on the benefits of this action; Or anything on the normality of that as a human being.

Now, all guys doing that: don’t worry! Read this article and keep it firm!

Yahoo responds to Microsoft

You may know (or not) that in these days, Silicon Valley experiences a hot argument between Microsoft Co. and Yahoo! Inc.

On January 31, 2008, Microsoft offered a bid for Yahoo! to buy it with the price of $44.6 billion or $31 per share. Yahoo! rejected the offer publicly on February 11, because it regarded it undervaluing the company.

On April 5, Microsoft sent a letter to the board of directors of Yahoo! and gave it three weeks to make decision. The letter is as follows.


April 5, 2008
Board of Directors
Yahoo! Inc.
701 First Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089

Dear Members of the Board:

It has now been more than two months since we made our proposal to acquire Yahoo! at a 62% premium to its closing price on January 31, 2008, the day prior to our announcement. Our goal in making such a generous offer was to create the basis for a speedy and ultimately friendly transaction. Despite this, the pace of the last two months has been anything but speedy.

While there has been some limited interaction between management of our two companies, there has been no meaningful negotiation to conclude an agreement. We understand that you have been meeting to consider and assess your alternatives, including alternative transactions with others in the industry, but we’ve seen no indication that you have authorized Yahoo! management to negotiate with Microsoft. This is despite the fact that our proposal is the only alternative put forward that offers your shareholders full and fair value for their shares, gives every shareholder a vote on the future of the company, and enhances choice for content creators, advertisers, and consumers.While there has been some limited interaction between management of our two companies, there has been no meaningful negotiation to conclude an agreement. We understand that you have been meeting to consider and assess your alternatives, including alternative transactions with others in the industry, but we’ve seen no indication that you have authorized Yahoo! management to negotiate with Microsoft. This is despite the fact that our proposal is the only alternative put forward that offers your shareholders full and fair value for their shares, gives every shareholder a vote on the future of the company, and enhances choice for content creators, advertisers, and consumers.

During these two months of inactivity, the Internet has continued to march on, while the public equity markets and overall economic conditions have weakened considerably, both in general and for other Internet-focused companies in particular. At the same time, public indicators suggest that Yahoo!’s search and page view shares have declined. Finally, you have adopted new plans at the company that have made any change of control more costly.

By any fair measure, the large premium we offered in January is even more significant today. We believe that the majority of your shareholders share this assessment, even after reviewing your public disclosures relating to your future prospects.

Given these developments, we believe now is the time for our respective companies to authorize teams to sit down and negotiate a definitive agreement on a combination of our companies that will deliver superior value to our respective shareholders, creating a more efficient and competitive company that will provide greater value and service to our customers. If we have not concluded an agreement within the next three weeks, we will be compelled to take our case directly to your shareholders, including the initiation of a proxy contest to elect an alternative slate of directors for the Yahoo! board. The substantial premium reflected in our initial proposal anticipated a friendly transaction with you. If we are forced to take an offer directly to your shareholders, that action will have an undesirable impact on the value of your company from our perspective which will be reflected in the terms of our proposal.

It is unfortunate that by choosing not to enter into substantive negotiations with us, you have failed to give due consideration to a transaction that has tremendous benefits for Yahoo!’s shareholders and employees. We think it is critically important not to let this window of opportunity pass.

Sincerely,
Steven A. Ballmer
Chief Executive Officer
Microsoft Corp.


And, here is Yahoo!’s response to the letter which has been addressed to Steve Ballmer the CEO of Microsoft Co. released yesterday.


Dear Steve:

Our Board has reviewed your most recent letter with regard to the unsolicited proposal you made to acquire Yahoo! on January 31, 2008.

Our Board carefully considered your unsolicited proposal, unanimously concluded that it was not in the best interests of Yahoo! and our stockholders, and rejected it publicly on February 11, 2008. Our Board cited Yahoo!'s global brand, large worldwide audience, significant recent investments in advertising platforms and future growth prospects, free cash flow and earnings potential, as well as its substantial unconsolidated investments, as factors in its decision.

At the same time, we have continued to make clear that we are not opposed to a transaction with Microsoft if it is in the best interests of our stockholders. Our position is simply that any transaction must be at a value that fully reflects the value of Yahoo!, including any strategic benefits to Microsoft, and on terms that provide certainty to our stockholders.

Since disclosing our Board's position with respect to your proposal, we have presented our three-year financial and strategic plan to our stockholders, which supports our Board's determination that your unsolicited proposal substantially undervalues Yahoo!. Those meetings with our stockholders have also provided us an opportunity to hear their views.

We have continued to launch new products and to take actions which leverage our scale, technology, people and platforms as we execute on the strategy we publicly articulated. Today, in fact, we are announcing AMP! from Yahoo!, a new advertising management platform designed to dramatically simplify the process of buying and selling ads online.

Finally, our Board has been actively and expeditiously exploring our strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value, a process which is ongoing. All of these actions have been driven by our overarching commitment to maximize stockholder value.

Our Board's view of your proposal has not changed. We continue to believe that your proposal is not in the best interests of Yahoo! and our stockholders. Contrary to statements in your letter, stockholders representing a significant portion of our outstanding shares have indicated to us that your proposal substantially undervalues Yahoo!. Furthermore, as a result of the decrease in your own stock price, the value of your proposal today is significantly lower than it was when you made your initial proposal.

In contrast to your assertions about the effect of general economic conditions on our business, Yahoo!'s business forecasts are consistent with what we outlined in our last earnings call. As you know, we recently reaffirmed our Q1 and full year guidance, which is a testament to our ability to perform in line with our expectations despite the current economic environment. In addition, our three-year financial and strategic plan which we have made public demonstrates significant potential upside not previously communicated to the financial markets. This plan has received positive feedback from our stockholders, further strengthening the view that Yahoo! is worth well more as a standalone company than the value offered in your proposal, and would be even more valuable to Microsoft. Your own statements have made clear the strategic importance of Yahoo!'s substantial assets and capabilities to Microsoft.

We regret to say that your letter mischaracterizes the nature of our discussions with you. We have had constructive conversations together regarding a variety of topics, including integration and regulatory issues. Your comment that we have refused to enter into negotiations to conclude an agreement are particularly curious given we have already rejected your initial proposal, nominally $31 per share at the time, for substantially undervaluing Yahoo! and your suggestions in your letter and the media that you are considering lowering the value of your proposal. Moreover, Steve, you personally attended two of these meetings and could have advanced discussions in any way you saw fit.

As to antitrust, we have discussed with you our concerns. Any transaction between us would result in a thorough regulatory review in multiple jurisdictions. As a follow up to a recent meeting among our respective legal advisors we had on this topic, and at your request, we provided to you on March 28 a list of additional information we would need to further our understanding of the regulatory issues associated with any transaction. To date, you have still not provided any of the requested information.

We consider your threat to commence an unsolicited offer and proxy contest to displace our independent Board members to be counterproductive and inconsistent with your stated objective of a friendly transaction. We are confident that our stockholders understand that our independent Board is best positioned to objectively and knowledgeably evaluate our Company's alternatives and to maximize value.

In conclusion, please allow us to restate our position, so there can be no confusion. We are open to all alternatives that maximize stockholder value. To be clear, this includes a transaction with Microsoft if it represents a price that fully recognizes the value of Yahoo! on a standalone basis and to Microsoft, is superior to our other alternatives, and provides certainty of value and certainty of closing. Lastly, we are steadfast in our commitment to choosing a path that maximizes stockholder value and we will not allow you or anyone else to acquire the company for anything less than its full value.

Very truly yours,
Roy Bostock Jerry Yang
Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer

A Comment!

I have put a survey in here, as you can see in the right hand, two days ago. In the survey, anybody can give his or her vote to his or her favorite reader. The names have come in the alphabetic order, so, anything unfair there is in this survey.

But, yesterday, a friend of mine said that he saw the survey and that, it was a good idea, but something was missed. He thought that it should have had another option as “no one”. Actually, he was right. In every survey there is an option to let the voter to be abstaining. So, I have added another option as you can see coming after all options. Now, you can give your vote as “no one”.

Oh, something else, I have to put the survey again, because, once the survey starts, you cann't change it. To do any change I had to remove the previous the survey and make another survey. So, I apologize those who gave their votes.

Is this “Effectiveness”?! I don’t think so!

Yesterday, I could not understand anything from what Mr. Usmani was talking about. Because I hadn’t study the subject before I came to the class. That was true. But why? Can anybody answer to me?

At first, you may say, because you are lazy. OK, I agree. I am lazy. But, how much lazy? Having six subjects in a semester and six days a week with three hours each… I don’t think this can be called laziness, do you?

Someday, I asked a friend of mine who studied at a university in Iran that how he could study so many books he was assigned to. Because, I had connection with some university students in Iran, now I am jealous of them that how they can read so many books, even out of the subjects they were assigned to. But, I can not even handle these a few papers called “note” I am given via email! Why? Why is it so?

You know, actually, no university in the world, I think, is like this we have. I am talking about the quantity of subjects we are, at Kardan University assigned and supposed to study. This is not fair. I am repeating, THIS IS NOT FAIR! Kardan University just wants us to finish the program, as soon as possible. Why? Somehow, because, this way is so beneficial for Kardan. Because, they can get more and more students. This is effectiveness, isn’t it?! The effectiveness they are talking about so much!

Some guys may like this method too. Because, they want to finish the program as soon as possible. But, I, myself do not. Because, I don’t want to be graduated from Kardan while I am not really qualified to be graduated. I am talking about illiteracy. I don’t want to only receive a paper called “degree”. No! This is not I want.

I think, if Kardan University cares about us, somehow because we are its “customers”, -- as they have taught us—should decrease the number of subjects in each semester. I think, at most, we should have just four subjects. Therefore, we can have more time to attend our classes effectively. Actually, THIS IS EFFECTIVENESS, not that Kardan thinks.

An April fool… but, in advance!

On March 29th, I posted “Etc. and etc. and… etc… isn’t it or not?!” (previous post) Hahaha… it was so funny—at least for me! It was just a joke; an “April fool”! But just two days before that.

Some guys talked about it to me and said, “what the hell was that?!” I just laughed at all and actually nothing to say, but laugh!

Ok, I now want to open that issue a little bit. Just a few days ago, during the Financial Management class, Mr. Jibran while giving his lecture, repeated this “etc.” so many times, after about every other word he was saying and, after every sentence an “isn’t it or not?” It sounded so funny to me. And, I really did not understand even a sentence from what he was talking about! Exactly the same you did not understand what I was talking about!

However, now I do apologize you all for saying (or blogging) nonsense! But, take it easy, just an April fool!

Update: I do not know this post has been read by Mr. Jibran or not, but anyway, it seemed yesterday to me that he had decreased his "etc."s!