John McAfee ends his life in Barcelonia jail ..

 What is success ? – what is the purpose of life – answers could be many and varied and can vary depending on age, culture, geographical areas and more !

Have you heard this advt ? – what does your computer have – Virus or ____ brand  anti-virus ? – there are brands like – Norton, McCafee, QuickHeal, Kaspersky, K7, Bitdefender ? Heimdal,  PCProtect, Intego, Bullguard, Mackeeper, TotalAV, Panda and many more !!

He rose to big fame, was active in Twitter – read his tweet that read  : this  might interest my software engineer followers. In my years as a programmer I observed numerous anomalies that may have practical applications. Since I'm getting no younger I thought I'd begin passing them on. The first, involving an anomaly with boolean algebra.

Boolean algebra – what ?   A google search revealed that in Mathematics and mathematical logic, Boolean algebra is the branch of algebra in which the values of the variables are the truth values true and false, usually denoted 1 and 0, respectively. Instead of elementary algebra, where the values of the variables are numbers and the prime operations are addition and multiplication, the main operations of Boolean algebra are the conjunction (and) denoted as ∧, the disjunction (or) denoted as ∨, and the negation (not) denoted as ¬. It is thus a formalism for describing logical operations, in the same way that elementary algebra describes numerical operations. (obvious I did not understand much, other than thinking this was the basis of binary that we read !)

A virus is a small collection of genetic code, either DNA or RNA, surrounded by a protein coat. A virus cannot replicate alone. Viruses must infect cells and use components of the host cell to make copies of themselves. Often, they kill the host cell in the process, and cause damage to the host organism. Viruses have been found everywhere on Earth.  Covid 19 (Corona) is a virus.  It may sound silly but in early days of Computerisation in 1990s, in my Organisation, Computers had airconditioned cabins and people were not allowed to enter with foot-wear !  .. .. and we were told that a wrongful entry or operation might result in a Computer Virus.  A computer virus  is a type of computer program that, when executed, replicates itself by modifying other computer programs and inserting its own code. If this replication succeeds, the affected areas are then said to be "infected" with a computer virus.  Computer Viruses are real and many a times get downloaded from dubious sites – once they are in your computer, they start destroying your files at random or at whole !  Computer viruses cause billions of dollars' worth of economic damage each year.

The Man, the subject-matter of the post was hugely successful in financial manner – His website reads :  “Together is power” - We believe that no one person, product, or organization can fight cybercrime alone. It’s why we rebuilt McAfee around the idea of working together. People working together. Products working together. Organizations and industries working together. Our goal is to spread this collaborative attitude to our customers, partners, even competitors. All uniting to overcome the greatest challenge of the digital age—cybercrime—and making the connected world more secure.

It is big business.  Computer security software or cybersecurity software is any computer program designed to influence information security. This is often taken in the context of defending computer systems or data, yet can incorporate programs designed specifically for subverting computer systems due to their significant overlap, and the adage that the best defense is a good offense. The defense of computers against intrusion and unauthorized use of resources is called computer security. Similarly, the defense of computer networks is called network security. .. .. and a leading player in this is “McCafee”

McAfee Corp. formerly known as McAfee Associates, Inc. from 1987–2014 and Intel Security Group from 2014–2017) is an American global computer security software company headquartered in Santa Clara, California. The company was purchased by Intel in February 2011, and became part of the Intel Security division. On September 7, 2016, Intel announced a strategic deal with TPG Capital to convert Intel Security into a joint venture between both companies called McAfee.

John McAfee, the name behind McAfee anti-virus software, killed himself in a Barcelona jail on Wednesday (June 23), authorities claimed. The 75-year-old was found dead hours after a Spanish court approved his extradition to the United States to face charges of tax evasion between 2014 and 2018. The computer programmer rose to fame in the 1980s when he founded McAfee Associates, a software company that made its name by selling commercial computer security software.   John McAfee, the outlandish security software pioneer tried to live life as a hedonistic outsider while running from a host of legal troubles, and has ended his life in a Barcelonian jail.   

John McAfee, who was among other things a cryptocurrency promoter, tax opponent, earlier resigned from the company in 1994, and the company was bought by Intel for $7.7 billion in 2010.  John was born in the United Kingdom in 1945 and his parents moved to Virginia when he was young. When he was 15, his father, who was an alcoholic, took his own life. “Every day I wake up with him,” McAfee told Wired magazine in a 2012 interview. Post his exit from the company he founded — McAfee sold his entire stake — McAfee and  dabbled in various ventures. In the mid 90s, he founded a company behind PowWow, one of the first instant messaging and chat programmes for Windows operating systems.Later, he invested in firewall maker ZoneAlarm, and joined the company’s board of directors.  

McAfee’s finances were depleting fast and by 2009 he was left with just $4 million (down from $100 million). He was hit hard by the recession, and he had to sell off his properties and expensive antiques and art collection. He started the company called QuorumEx, based in Belize, which promised to make herbal-based antibiotics. But his research facility was raided in 2012 by the police department’s Gang Suppression Unit on suspicion that he was manufacturing methamphetamine, a highly addictive and illegal drug that can produce euphoria and stimulant effects. Although he was never charged, the research facility was shut down. It has been reported that when police raided his compound, officers found McAfee in bed with a 17-year-old girl.

Also in 2012, McAfee was named a “person of interest” in the killing of his neighbour Gregory Faull. Faull apparently had issues with McAfee’s lifestyle. McAfee denied his involvement in the killing, and went into hiding from the local authorities. He was eventually arrested in Guatemala after being on the run for almost a month. When he was about to be deported back to Belize, McAfee faked two heart attacks. The trick worked — and McAfee was subsequently deported to Miami. There, he met Janice Dyson, at a restaurant. McAfee and Dyson ended up getting married.

In 2015, McAfee made headlines when he announced his run for President as the candidate from a newly announced Cyber party, but later that year, he switched to the Libertarian Party. McAfee ran again for the US Presidency in the 2020 election.  In July 2019, McAfee was arrested in the Dominican Republic after he and five others were suspected of travelling on a yacht carrying high-calibre weapons, ammunition, and military-style gear. In October 2020, McAfee was arrested at Barcelona’s international airport when he was about to fly to Istanbul. He was arrested by the Spanish authorities at the behest of the US government.

He was charged in the US state of Tennessee with avoiding taxes for four years, and failing to report his income made through cryptocurrencies, consulting work, and selling his life rights in the form of a documentary. McAfee was someone who invested in cryptocurrency early on. McAfee argued that an attempt to extradite him to the US was politically motivated. After Spain’s highest court approved his extradition to the US, McAfee was found dead at the Brians 2 penitentiary in northeastern Spain.

A man who reached sky of richness, a pioneer in cyber-security before parts of the Globe could understand it even – made riches, but was on constant run and has now ended his life ! – what would we learn ? 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
24^th June 2021.
 

 

the once hyped Pak PM - Imran Khan struggling in governance

The opposition strongly slammed the government's economic policies  saying that  the head has 'no knowledge of the basics of economics' and makes decisions in line with advice from his 'courtiers'.  [nothing local so don’t jump to hasty conclusion – it is Current affairs of International politics!]

I remember that Pongal Test in 1980 at Chepauk when Pak toured India.  The star Batsman Zaheer Abbas failed miserably, getting out to Roger Binny;  some Pakis claimed that to be result of black magic ! .. .. Sandip Patil debuted and we so eagerly looked forward to his making runs – glaring at him in the net practice before the commencement of the Test.  Sunil Gavaskar was to make 166 and Kapil bowled so well – a 7 wicket haul in the 2nd  essay ensured a comfortable 10 wicket victory for India.  Imran Khan ran in long and hard and bowled fast – took 5 wickets too – those days there were rest days the 4th  day -  18th  Jan was a rest day.  Years later, in Feb 1987, Imran captained Pakis and scored a ton, which was overshadowed by a brilliant 123 laced with 18 fours and 2 sixers by local lad Krishnamachari Srikkanth.

 

Imran Khan  was a great Cricketer before entering politics.   One recalls that on that tour of 1983 – Imran Khan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Sikhandar Bakht, Jallaluddin – repeatedly overstepped as Indian batsmen found the pace and swing too uncomfortable and lost the series badly. After 2 decades of international cricket, Khan   became a fulltime politician.  In its  long political history, Pakistan  peppered with military coups and martial law, elections 2018 were to be  the second successive transition of power through a constitutional process from one elected government to another. However, political opponents, the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, and international observers such as the European Union alleged that irregularities and election rigging occurred in many parts of the country, particularly in rural and urban Sindh and Punjab provinces.   Imran Khan defeated their own system and became the PM of Pakistan .. and immediately spit venom .. .. on twitter taking  a potshot at our Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji,  over the cancellation of meeting between India and Pakistan. “Disappointed at the arrogant & negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue,” he tweeted”.

Not so surprisingly some media in India started saying that India needs to learn from Imran .. .. the reality as always is far different !  .. .. Pakistan’s Supreme Court expressed its displeasure with the Imran Khan government, saying it was incapable of running the country or taking decisions. Hearing the local bodies case, a two-judge bench, headed by Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Sardar Tariq, expressing annoyance over the issuance of an ordinance on delimitation of constituencies by the Punjab government, referred the matter to the Chief Justice, the Express Tribune, Pakistan, reported. During the hearing, the apex court was informed that the decision regarding the census had not been taken by the Council of Common Interests (CCI). “Why hasn’t the Council of Common Interests met in two months,” Justice Isa asked, expressing his anger, the report said. According to the judge, the government and its allies rule in three provinces, and yet not a single decision had been taken by the CCI. “The government is incapable either of running the country or taking decisions,” he added.

Economic governance is never easy – and one need not have a panel of foreign experts ! to run .. .. the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) recently slammed the federal government's economic policies for the last three years, saying that Prime Minister Imran Khan has 'no knowledge of the basics of economics' and makes decisions in line with advice from his 'courtiers'. Addressing the opposition's pre-budget seminar, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi claimed that under the Pakistan Tehreeke-e-Insaf (PTI) government, over five million people have become unemployed, reported Geo News. He also claimed that the PTI-led government has pushed 20 million people into poverty and has heavily burdened people by increasing the price of electricity by more than 62 per cent. Meanwhile, financial losses due to line cuts and electricity theft have increased to 4.5 per cent, while Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited were "bankrupt" today, he said. "Pakistan's economy has shrunk by USD 19 billion in the last three years... People have received the gift of inflation through a stolen election," he said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has ruled out hosting American bases in Pakistan for military action inside war-torn Afghanistan, fearing it might lead to his country being "targeted in revenge attacks" by terrorists. In an opinion piece in The Washington Post ahead of US President Joe Biden's meeting with top Afghan leaders at the White House later this week, Mr Khan also questioned the efficacy of such US bases in Pakistan. "We simply cannot afford this. We have already paid too heavy a price," Mr Khan said, amid reports that the US continues to focus on Pakistan for a military base in the region. Elaborating the reasons for not giving nod the US to have bases in Pakistan, which were earlier allowed after 9/11 to coordinate operations in Afghanistan, the Pakistan Prime Minister said, "If Pakistan were to agree to host US bases, from which to bomb Afghanistan, and an Afghan civil war ensued, Pakistan would be targeted for revenge by terrorists again." According to media reports, the US had used the Shamsi air base in Balochistan to carry out hundreds of drone strikes since 2008. The drone strikes focused primarily on suspected Al Qaeda operatives in mountainous tribal areas, but also crossed the border into Afghanistan.

In a different news, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan sparked fury by blaming 'temptation' for sexual violence against women. It comes just two months after comments he made on sexual violence drew severe backlash. In April, Khan caused fury when he suggested during a Q&A session that 'vulgarity' was to blame for rising sexual violence, singling out Bollywood, Hollywood, divorce, and the 'sex, drugs and rock and roll' culture of England in the 70s as examples of moral decline. Defending his earlier remarks, Mr Khan siad in an interview with Axios HBO that aired on Monday: '...I said the concept of ''purdah''. The concept of "purdah" is avoid temptation in society. We don't have discos here, we don't have nightclubs. 'It is a completely different society way of life here. So if you raise temptation in society to the point - all these young guys have nowhere to go - it has a consequences in the society.'

When asked by Australian journalist Jonathan Swan if women's clothing can provoke sexual violence, Mr Khan said: 'If a woman is wearing very few clothes, it will have an impact on the men, unless they are robots. And it's common sense.'Swan replied: 'Yes but is it really going to provoke acts of sexual violence?' Mr Khan replied: 'It depends what society you live in. If in a society people haven't seen that sort of thing, it will have an impact on them. Referring to Western culture, he said: 'This is cultural imperialism. His comments were criticized by Pakistan Muslim League (PML) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, who wrote on Twitter: 'The world got an insight into a mindset of a sick, misogynistic, degenerate & derelict IK. 'It is not women''s choices that lead to sexual assault rather the choices of men who choose to engage in this dispicable and vile crime.'

Twice-divorced Khan, was no stranger to scantily-clad women as he partied in VIP nightclubs during his bachelor life in London in the 1980s and 90s. The Oxford-educated public schoolboy famously dated fashion guru Susannah Constantine before marrying glamorous socialite Jemima Goldsmith in 1995. In January 2015 it was confirmed that he had married Reham Khan, a former BBC weathergirl and presenter, in a small private ceremony in Pakistan. That time  Pakistani media criticised Reham for her westernised style of dress, her outspoken political views, and status as a divorcee. Eventually the pressure became too much and the pair split in October the same year, with Imran later describing the marriage as 'the worst decision of my life'. Speaking to MailOnline in April, Reham branded her former husband a 'rape apologist', said he is 'clueless' about women's issues, and is 'failing miserably' in his duty to set an example

Now where are those media persons, who advised that India should learn from Imran – have they changed their views since ?!?

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
22^nd June 2021. 

A test hat-trick at Gros Islet

There have been 46 of them and nine of them after 2010 – Peter Siddle, Stuart Broad, Sohag Gazi, Stuart Broad again,  HMRKB Herath, MM ali,  Jasprit Bumrah, Naseem Shah and now Keshav Maharaj !! – it started with Fred Spofforth way back in 1879 !  ~  a Test Hat-trick !!

This afternoon, we eagerly wanted India to perform better in the World Test Championship (WTC) at Southampton.  India had a good start with a good opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill but nothing much better after that.  Today day 4 has been washed out as rain continues to play spoil sport.  The persistent rain leave India and New Zealand a maximum of 196 overs - including the reserve day - to identify an outright winner. In case of a draw, the inaugural WTC will have joint winners who will share the award money and the trophy.

I was not following the other test happening at Gros Islet ! – where ?  Gros Islet is located near the northern tip of the island country of Saint Lucia. Originally a quiet fishing village, it has gone on to become one of the more popular tourist destinations in the country.  In 1778, as a retaliation for the declaration of war on the British by the French, the British navy captured the island of Saint Lucia from the French, and built a naval base at Gros Islet Bay – now South Africa is  playing West Indies in a Test match there.

At Lunch on day 4 West Indies needs 215 runs more  for victory is in dire straits losing 6 for 109.  The summary of the 2^nd test  reads :   South Africa: 298 & 174- West Indies (target 324)  149 & 109/6

He did play in India too – remember that Vishapatham test in 2019  .. ..  Keshav Athmanand Maharaj  has graduated.  His   father, Athmanand, was also a wicketkeeper.  Two decades later, Keshav has made a career as a left-arm spinner to fulfill his father's dream.  A left-arm spinner from Northwood Boys High, the alma mater of Shaun Pollock, Keshav Maharaj emerged at a time when South Africa began to take spin seriously.  In his youth, Maharaj was a pace bowler, whose father played for Natal B during segregation years. He turned to spin later.   

Today at Gros Isles – 36.3 -  Kieran Powell tried sweeping Maharaj and the man at legside fence Nortje took the catch.  Powell was out for 51.  Next ball experienced Jason Holder inner edged to short leg – caught Petersen bowled Maharaj for a duck.   Joshua Da Silva wicketkeeper batsman from Trinidad was the next, to face hat-trick ball, with a slip, silly point, leg slip, short leg and backward short leg.  Mulder dived to his right and took  one-handed catch  falling down. Maharaj becomes only the second from his country to take three in three balls !

Of the 46 hat-tricks in Test Cricket – England has taken 14 (13 taken against them); Australia 11; Pakistan 5; West Indies 4; India 3 (Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan & Jasprit Bumrah); Bangladesh 2; Srilanka 2; New Zealand 2; South Africa 2 and Zimbabwe 1

Interesting !

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
21^st June 2021 @ 22:00hrs.

 

 

Indian rail locos ~ naming after women freedom fighters !

I have travelled so many times  by train – pre 1990s booking ticket was an ordeal – when Computerised Reservation complex came up at Allikulam complex near Central, it was a great boon.  It was a conceptual barrier broken -  that one can stand in any Queue and book ticket for any train from anywhere in India to anywhere else in India.  Then came the revolution of booking from home through Internet and the need for not carrying the printed ticket ! .. .. the first attraction in a train of course was its Engine.

Now it is all about Electric and Diesel ones – no longer the steam, charcoal fuelled ones. The Indian Railways primarily operates fleet of electric and diesel locomotives, along with several compressed natural gas (CNG) locomotives. Steam locomotives are operated on a few World Heritage sites and also run occasionally as heritage trains. A locomotive,  also known as a loco is simply the ‘engine’.

Much earlier to the Train’s first journey from Boribunder to Thane, country's first steam locomotive ran on the Red Hill Railway (built by Arthur Cotton to transport granite for road-building) from Red Hills to the Chintadripet bridge in Madras in 1837.  

A locomotive or engine is a rail transport vehicle that provides the motive power for a train.  Traditionally, locomotives pulled trains from the front. However, push-pull operation too became  common, where the train may have a locomotive (or locomotives) at the front, at the rear, or at each end.  Not many would know that in Indian Railways Locomotives are easily identifiable by the classification codes.   This code is of the form '[gauge][power][load][series][subtype][suffix]'.  In this the first item, '[gauge]', is a single letter identifying the gauge the loco runs on:W = Broad Gauge; Y = Meter Gauge; Z = Narrow Gauge (2' 6") & N = Narrow Gauge (2').  The second item, '[power]', is one or two letters identifying the power source.

Another attractive feature of the locomotive is of course its headlight. Usually this is a single centrally mounted light near roof level at each end, although some locos have it at mid-level. Some of the newer locos feature twin-beam headlight fixtures. The headlights can be dimmed if needed. All recent locomotives also have a flasher lamp for use in emergencies or special circumstances. This is usually amber or yellow, and mounted close to the headlight near roof level, or on the edge of the roof.

Reading Railway history in IRFCA – in the 19th century and early this century, named locomotives were quite common. Many were named after administrators ("Lord Clive") or nobility ("Prince Albert"), or mythical figures ("Hercules"). Indian names were also included ("Tungabhadra", "Shakuntala"), and some whimsical ones as well ("Moth", "Ant", "Jimpeebuttee", "Perleewerlee"). Thomason was the  first locomotive ever to be used in India (1851) & the second one had the name Falkland.  The most famous ones were :  ‘Sahib, Sultan, Sindh’ – the three that hauled the first  passenger train in India (1853).  Another famous one is ‘Fairy Queen’ a steam locomotive of 1855, working still.

Stop – all that is of the past – the history, the new history is different ! To mark International Women’s Day 2021, the Northern Railway  dedicated its WDP4B and WDP4D class locomotives to woman warriors of the country. The engines were  named after Uday Devi along with Rani Ahilyabai, Rani Avantibai, Rani Laxmibai, Rani Velu Nachiyar, Rani Chennamma and Jhalkari Bai.

Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway, said that the Northern Railway commemorates the performance of Tughlakabad Shed for over five decades by remembering the brave women from our history, who, have led their armies into battle for Independence.  This was tweeted by Minister Mr Piyush Goyal also.  He also said that women's day was chosen for the honour as this day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This day also calls for action to expedite the grant of equal rights to women. He said that the railways have never lagged behind in giving respect to women.

It is a matter of great pride for the Nation and women that engines have  been named as Rani Ahilyabai of Indore, while a train was named as Rani Laxmibai. Along with this, locomotives were also been named after the popular South Indian queen Chinnamma and Queen Velu Nachiyar. This is the first time Indian Railways have  shown respect and recognition  for women who sacrificed their lives in the country's freedom movement.  Railway Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted "Salute to the indomitable woman power, Tughlakabad diesel shed of Indian Railways paid tribute to brave women freedom fighters who displayed strong character like iron."

Interesting  !  though posted late here. 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
29^th May 2021.