Family...

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 A former General Motors Co (GM.N) engineer was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and her husband was sentenced to three years for conspiring to steal trade secrets for use in China, federal prosecutors said.

Investigators accused Du of copying more than 16,000 GM files soon after the automaker in January 2005 gave her a severance offer. They said Qin later claimed, while pitching his services, to have invented some of the stolen GM technology.

Both defendants [Du and Qin] are U.S. citizens, and their case is part of a crackdown  on trade secret theft, whether involving China or other countries.

U.S. corporate victims of trade-secret theft have included General Motors, Ford, DuPont, Dow Chemical, Motorola, Boeing and Cargill as well as lesser-known companies.

The White House issued a report outlining a new strategic plan to combat trade secret theft from U.S. businesses, stating that “Trade secret theft threatens American businesses, undermines national security, and places the security of the U.S. economy in jeopardy.”

Just a thought.

McCain's Heroes !!!

Oil depot fire rages, threatening a greater disaster.

[April 22, 2011- Time] Sen. John McCain visited the Benghazi strong-hold of Libya’s rebel forces, a sign of creeping escalation in the conflict with Gaddafi.  He called the  opposition fighters  “My heroes”.

McCain renewed his opposition to President Barack Obama’s decision to scale back U.S. military involvement. He called for the U.S. and its partners to increase their support of and assistance to the Libyan opposition. 

[Saturday, 26 Jul 2014 ...Reuters]

Security in the Libyan capital has deteriorated following two weeks of fighting between brigades of former rebel fighters who have pounded each other with rockets and artillery fire in southern Tripoli near the embassy compound.
                
The violence is the worst seen in Tripoli since 2011. Libya is teetering toward becoming a failed state just three years after  NATO-backed war ended one-man rule.

You conclude !?      Just a thought.

Trade Secret's theft?? !!

    

The plan was for Kang Gao to do his exit interview with Two Sigma Investments, [a $21 billion quantitative hedge fund in New York], and jump to Citadel LLC, a rival firm in Chicago.  He ended up in jail.

He’s accused of stealing Two Sigma secrets and faces a potential four-year prison term.

The prosecutions come as Wall Street is increasingly protective of intellectual property. That include trading models, software codes, and strategies which have become more valuable as firms seek a millisecond advantage over rivals. 

Gao is the fourth Wall Street analyst or programmer to be ensnared in a crackdown by the D.A., on intellectual property theft from financial firms. That is only the beginning.

Just a [New] Thought.

World Conflict Consequences.

Ehrlich Architects-Abu Dhabi Parliament.

Syria: In the fourth year of the civil war, chaos rules supreme. The country is split between government troops, moderate opposition groups, Islamists, vigilantes and criminal gangs.

Iraq: With jihadists entrench their positions across the north and west, and the national army seemingly incapable of mounting a challenge, Americans and even some Iraqis have begun to ask how much blood and treasure it is worth to patch the country back together.

Libya: Washington assured Libyans the United States, together with the international community, was committed to the Libyan people.
But with post Gaddafi Libya bursting with heavily armed militias, the U.S is washing its hands off on the country.

Ukraine:The downing of the Malaysian airliner and ongoing fighting in Ukraine has been a trying time for the people. Ukraine tried to join with Russia earlier and failed. Now a conflict between Russia supporters and Ukraine Gov.

Gaza: Three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped while hitchhiking in the West Bank. They were found murdered weeks later. After extensive search for the perpetrators and mass arrests of Hamas members, more rockets fired into Israeli territory.

If you are at war, you feeding the hate of others and wasting your resources. While others are building theirs and their children's lives.

Just a thought.

Tattoos...?

Health Risks

It hurts to be stuck with needles over and over for an extended time–it’s risky too. Getting a tattoo can put you at risk for contracting a variety of illnesses from a bacterial infection to HIV.

Social Stigma
Tattoos still tend to be thought of as counter-culture by many. Some frown upon them as less than desirable and some employer uniform codes even go so far as to disallow tattoos to in the workplace. 

Uncertain Quality
You’re good to go for a lifetime (maybe a color touch up years down the road). But the trade off is that there are no do-overs. The artist you pick, the style you choose. 

• Just a thought.

The Gaza/Egypt tunnels.

Hamas spawned off the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt has branded a terrorist organization. Egyptian authorities have been cracking down hard on Muslim Brotherhood and accused Hamas of helping Islamic militants waging a campaign of violence in Egypt.

Egypt has tightened the closure on Gaza by destroying smuggling tunnels under the border that were largely propping up the strip's economy. That has thrown Hamas into a financial crisis. A clear cause an effect.

More rockets on Israel will not convince the Egyptian to change their minds. Israel ground invasion of Gaza is to destroy the network of secret tunnels.  So it is on both sides.

Hamas wants the permanent opening of the crossing with Egypt, an arrangement to allow Gazans to pray in Jerusalem and the release of political prisoners held by Israel. This is simple but will not happen.

Militants must put aside the murdering methodology against Egypt and or Israel. But then, Peace and building lives is far difficult task.

Just a thought.

Comrie...

Leroy Comrie.

Leroy Comrie represented the New York City Council District 27, which comprises St. Albans, Cambria Heights, Jamaica, Hollis, Rosedale, and other neighborhoods within the borough of Queens. He most recently served as Queens deputy borough president, also served as deputy majority leader of the City Council and chairman of its Queens delegation while in the City Council.

Mr. Comrie is a great individual who spends time to know his community and his  people. I met him for the first time, he listened to me and promised to further discuss the issue.  Simple location, office and minimum staff, but will get results for District 14 New York. Vote for him on Sept 9th, 2014 for NYS Senate.

Just a thought

The Netherland Star-Snieder

 

 

Young and Handsome

 

A little Older Snieder

Israel and Peace.

Egyptian cease-fire proposal offered little hope for a diplomatic solution as Hamas rejected the proposal. The current administration in Egypt band the Muslim brotherhood and their man 'Morsi". Israel accepted the proposal and stopped the military activities, Hamas didn't. 

Hamas leaders are hiding, war and misery is the path of choice as long as someone else is dying.  Hamas chose to start and continue fighting.

War sets the people back 10 years. This time is no exception.

Peace is a great choice. People will go back home, work, school, normal life, etc.   Peace is not a weak choice for Israel. So pursue.

Just a thought.

I close my mouth.!!

The life of this young man [my nephew] may look just a total fun. Earlier he finished college, worked hard, advanced in his job, got married and have two young children. Yet there were two issues ipacting his life for quite sometime. His weight increased as years passed. He also smoked cigarettes.

Yet, one day it hit him. He realized that the extra weight is taking a toll on his life and also his family. Being persistent, he did something about it. He lost 37 LB in the past year. He simply said "I close my mouth". Steering away from much salt, sugar and staying with small portions.

He also decided recently to through away his pack of cigarette. That was the end of it.

It is a tough battle on both ends. So keep it up. It is a gift to yourself and your larger family to enjoy for life.  It is a great example for all.

Just a thought.