Political Scandal

Forty years ago, on August 9, 1974, Richard Nixon resigned as the President of the United States following the Watergate scandal, a story so big that it spawned the '-gate' suffix which is now synonymous with political scandals around the world. But what happened with Watergate and how does it rank among other political scandals?

In 1972 the headquarters of the Democratic party's headquarters at the Watergate office complex were broken into. Subsequent investigations revealed a culture of dirty tricks, intimidation and harassment by Nixon and his aides. After it was revealed that Nixon had indeed tried to cover up details of the break-in to his rival party's headquarters, he resigned his presidency, becoming the first and only US president to do so. A month later he was pardoned by his successor, President Ford, avoiding prosecution.

Italy's longest-serving Prime Minister since WWII, Berlusconi's career was dogged by trials and scandals. Most notorious were accusations of soliciting minors for sex, but he has also faced charges of corruption, illegal financing, false accounting, tax fraud, embezzlement and abuse of power. So far, only one from 32 trials has resulted in a definitive sentence.

Former US president Bill Clinton became involved in a scandal after denying having 'sexual relations' with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Later, when she was given immunity, Lewinsky said there was a relationship and Clinton was forced to backtrack. He was impeached on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, but was eventually acquitted on all charges.

In 1961 the UK's Secretary of State for War, John Profumo, had a brief relationship with a 19-year-old model, Christine Keeler (pictured). At the same time Keeler was also reported to have had a relationship with Captain Yevgeny Ivanov, a Soviet naval attaché. Profumo was forced to resign, with his Prime Minister Harold Macmillan doing the same just six months later.

Former president and prime minister of France Jacques Chirac was linked to alleged corruption during his time as mayor of Paris, from 1977 to 1995. Immune from proscution while president, after leaving office he was found guilt of diverting public funds and abusing public confidence, and given a two-year suspended prison sentence.

A prominent politician in China, Bo Xilai was found guilty of corruption in 2013, stripped of all his assets and sentenced to life imprisonment. He had already been implicated in the murder of business partner Neil Heywood when a local police chief accused Bo of corruption and being 'the biggest gangster in China'.

President of Taiwan from 2000 to 2008, Chen Shui-bian was arrested immediately after leaving office, charged with embezzlement, bribery and money laundering for which he received a life sentence, later reduced to 20 years. His supporters claim the charges were politically motivated.

In 1962 Germany's defence minister Franz Josef Strauss reacted to a damning article in magazine Die Spiegel by having its offices raided and its editors arrested. Strauss initially denied any involvement but was later found to have acted illegally by urging arrests and was sacked from his position.

In 2010 Liliane Bettencourt, the second wealthiest woman in the world, became involved in a political scandal over alleged payments to French politicians and evading tax. Initially former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was among those charged over the affair, but prosecutors have now dropped him from the case.

Elected president of Germany in 2010, the next year Christian Wulff was accused of deceiving parliament, accepting a loan, trying to influence the media, favouritism and unethical behaviour. After the district attorney's office requested that his presidential immunity be lifted Wulff resigned. He was later acquitted of all corruption charges.

Also known as Irangate, the scandal saw senior US government officials of the second Reagan administration secretly facilitate the illegal sale of arms to Iran to help free US hostages and help fund anti-government Contra fighters in Nicaragua. In the end, 14 officials from Reagan's administration were indicted, with 11 convicted.

Political Stories – Japan – An economic role-model

World War II
On August 6, 1945, the Japanese city of Hiroshima was devastated by the dropping of an atomic bomb, designed to force the country to surrender and bring the Second World War to an end. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. The bombings have become symbols of the horrors of war and a reminder of how the world - and Japan - has moved on since those years of global conflict. To remember the anniversary, we look back at the end of WWII and the key moments in Japan's postwar recovery.
During the Potsdam Conference, the US, USSR and UK met to discuss the Second World War and its aftermath following Nazi Germany's surrender. As a result, the Potsdam Declaration was delivered to the Japanese government. It called for Japan's unconditional surrender and warned of 'prompt and utter destruction' in the case of noncompliance.
Japan's leadership ignored the Potsdam Declaration. As a result, US President Truman authorised the first aggressive use of the country's newly developed atomic bomb. The cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were selected as targets and B-29 bomber the Enola Gay was selected for the mission, code-named 'Operation Centerboard I.' 

The Enola Gay released the atomic bomb known as 'Little Boy' over Hiroshima, flattening most buildings within the city. Between 40,000 and 80,000 were killed on the first day, with up to 200,000 dying as a result of injuries or radiation sickness over the coming months. Pictured, a reporter is seen standing amongst the ruins of the city. In the background is the iconic Genbaku Dome, now the centerpiece of the city's Peace Memorial Museum.


Post War Issues:
Between 1946-47, under American occupation, Japan adopted its postwar constitution. The nation's new set of fundamental principles included Article 9: an agreement that the people and state of Japan forever renounce war. This part of the constitution remained in force until July 2014, when a new interpretation was controversially adopted, allowing the use of force for self-defence.
Postwar Japan suffered from years of food shortages and hyper-inflation, but demand for goods and services was fuelled by the start of the Korean War, which was in part run through American military bases in Japan. This began to drive the economy towards industrialization and recovery at the start of the 1950s.
Six years after the end of the Second World War, on September 8, 1951, the final peace treaty was signed, formally ending both the war and the subsequent American occupation of Japan. Japan was forced to give up its colonies, and the US retained a strong military presence, but allowed Japan political sovereignty once again. The treaty entered into force on April 28,1952, allowing Japan to start to rebuild in earnest.
Come-back into world economy:
On February 1, 1953, the Japanese national public broadcasting organization NHK aired its first public television signal, heralding the dawn of a new era of information and personal consumption.
During 1955, Japan’s economy grew at a record 13 percent as it rushed to industrialize. Pictured on the left is a Japanese camera factory that year, while right shows a busy Toyko street. Just ten years earlier, Tokyo had been a wasteland after a series of Allied firebombing campaigns had burned most of the old city to the ground.
The Japanese people paid the price for rapid industrialization as pollution overwhelmed cities, countryside and coast. The Minamata disease was discovered in Kumamoto prefecture in 1956. Caused by mercury pollution of seafood, it led to a range of neurological effects and, in extreme cases, death.
On December 18, 1956, Japan joined the United Nations, signaling its return to the international stage. Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu addressed the UN General Assembly in New York: 'The people of Japan today desire peace for all time.'
In 1964 the Olympic Games were held in Tokyo - another sign of the country's growing rehabilitation. The same year, the first of Japan's iconic bullet trains was brought into service, boosting Japan’s image, infrastructure and commerce. Pictured, atomic bomb survivor Yoshinori Sakai, born in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, carries the Olympic torch during the opening ceremony. Japan's 'economic miracle' slowly evolved through a combination of targeted investment and protectionism, before swtiching to exports and economic liberalism. By 1979, American sociologist Ezra Vogel (pictured above in June 1999) published his book Japan as Number One, examining how America could learn from Japan. For much of the 1980s, Japan's economy was the envy and model of the industrialised world.
Abenomics:
Japan's miracle ended abruptly at the start of the 1990s. Property prices, among other assets, had reached such high levels that a crash became all but inevitable. During 1990, the Nikkei stock index and yen both fell in value by more than half. The economy has never fully recovered from that crash, with Japanese people later dubbing this period 'the lost decades.' In late 2012, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe began his reflationary “Abenomics” policies to kick-start Japan’s economy. Combining efforts to drive down the value of the yen to increase exports, higher taxes to fund public investment, and efforts to stabilise inflation, the impact of Abe's reforms is as yet unclear. However, if Abenomics can turn Japan's fortunes around once again, expect to see many more countries try to copy its success - just as they did during the years of the economic miracle.

Masters in Business Management

I really do not how but I have this desire to do a Masters in Business Administration at Harvard University just to get an exposure to that environment. Probably, it would be good to put it this way - I really want to know why Harvard is hyped so much and want to feel for myself the much hyped ambiance of Harvard University.

XLRI
In-Company Program
http://www.xlri.ac.in/academic-prog/executive-education/in-company-prog.aspx
Virtual Interactive Learning - Possible
http://www.xlri.ac.in/academic-prog/virtual-interactive-learning/vil-overview.aspx

LIBA

Part-Time MBA Programme --> Not applicable

The postgraduate programme in management leading to the Post-Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), spread over three years, comprises nine terms, each approximately of three months’ duration. The classes are held from 6:45 pm to 8:30 pm from Monday through Thursday. The programme includes 36 courses – 30 compulsory courses of 3 credits each and 6 elective courses of 3 credits each totalling to 108 credits.

Certificate Programme 
http://liba.edu/academics/certificate-programme/
Courses:

• Certificate in Retail Management
• Certificate In Share Analysis And Investment Management
• Certificate in Finance
• Certificate in Sales & Marketing
• Certificate in Information Security, Controls & Audit of Business Information Systems
• Certificate in Supply Chain Modelling & Analysis
• Certificate in Project Management
• Certificate in Management of Human Resources
• Certificate in Software Project Management
• Certificate in Six Sigma Green Belt
• Certificate in Customer Relationship Management
• Certificate in Basics of Business Analytics
• Certificate in Financial Derivatives

Programme Duration : 3 Months

The duration of the programme is of three months. Classes for these programmes are held on Sundays either from 10.00 am or from 1.15 pm or from 2.00 pm to 5.15 pm. The exact timings of each programme i.e. .morning or afternoon will be intimated in due course. Only the Programme entitled, Software Project Management will be held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 8.00am and 9.30 am.

The consolidated Course Fees for the programme is Rs. 15,000/-, inclusive of Admission Fees, Tuition Fees, Examination Fees. Service Tax at 12.36% is also payable. The Fees must be paid at the time of admission by way of DD or Local Cheque payable at Chennai, drawn in favor of Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Loyola College, Chennai – 600 034. Fees once paid will not be refunded.

Application & Admission Procedure

Eligibility

The applicant must hold atleast a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline or a professional qualification recognized as equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree. Candidates with work experience will receive preference in admission.

Admission Procedure

Application Form & Prospectus is available on payment of Rs.500/- by Cash or Demand Draft favoring LIBA payable at Chennai. Contact in person [10am - 5pm, Mon - Sat] or write to us

Commencement of Registration / Application	July 28, 2014
Last Date for Submission of Application Forms	August 23, 2014
Personal Interview at LIBA	September 1st Week
Last Date for Payment of Fees	September 13, 2014
Commencement of Course	September 21, 2014

Executive Diploma Programme
http://liba.edu/academics/executive-diploma-programme/
Next STep: Find the admission process

• Banking Management
• Behavioral Science
• Financial Management
• Healthcare Management
• Human Resource Management
• International Business - Interested in this
• Logistics And Supply Chain Management
• Marketing Management
• 
  

MySql's FullText search capability.

FullText search capability is an enhanced in Mysql version 4.0
I had been wanting to know about it for a long time when I came across this blog of Jeremy Zawodny.

I've pasted the basic of this topic and his blog snippet here. Read on, it'll make you wonder more about the MySql capabilities!! :

In MySQL 4.0.10 (I haven't bothered to build 4.0.11 yet) it makes my life way easier.

Here's the problem I'm trying to solve, stated generally enough so that it's meaningful and doesn't give away any trade secrets.

I have a Perl script manipulating lots of short multi-word strings. Each string has an associated numeric value. There's anywhere from a few hundred thousand to 5 million of them. For each of those strings, I need to locate all the other strings that contain the first string and then do something interesting with the associated value.

For example, given the string "car rental" I need to find:

• national car rental

• avis car rental

• dollar car rental

• car rental companies

And so on.

I do not want to match "rental car" or "car rent" or "car rentals" or similar variations. Order matters. Word boundaries matter.

The simple solution is to iterate over the list of strings. For each string, scan all the other strings to look for matches. The problem is that this does not scale well at all. It's an O(n**2) solution. With a few million strings, it takes forever.

What I needed was a way to index the strings. In the "car rental" case, if I could somehow find a list of all the strings that contain the word "rental" and then examine those, it'd be way faster. It be even faster if I could find the the intersection of the set of strings that contain "car" and those that contain "rental." Then I could just check for ordering to make sure I don't find "rental car." But I didn't want to build that myself. And memory is at a premium here, so I can't attack it sloppily..

MySQL to the Rescue!

After a bit of thinking, I realized that MySQL's fulltext indexing could probably do the job a lot faster than I could. So I constructed a simple table that can hold these mysterious strings and values.

  CREATE TABLE `stuff`
(
 secret_num    INTEGER UNSIGNED NOT NULL,
 secret_string VARCHAR(250)     NOT NULL
)

Then I load all the data into the table, either directly in Perl or all at once using mysqlimport. Once it's there, I add a fulltext index to the secret_string column.

ALTER TABLE `stuff` ADD FULLTEXT (secret_string)

Then I can find the data I want much, much faster.

mysql> select * from stuff
  > where match (secret_string) against ('+"car rental"'
  > in boolean mode) order by freq asc;
+------+-----------------------+
|   48 | discount car rental   |
|   56 | car rental companies  |
|   81 | advantage car rental  |
|  106 | payless car rental    |
|  204 | avis car rental       |
|  206 | hertz car rental      |
|  231 | dollar car rental     |
|  267 | alamo car rental      |
|  329 | thrifty car rental    |
|  495 | budget car rental     |
|  523 | enterprise car rental |
|  960 | national car rental   |
| 1750 | car rental            |
+------+-----------------------+
13 rows in set (0.00 sec)

Not bad.

Of course, it's not perfect. There are three issues.

1. MySQL has a slightly different notion of what a "word" is than my code. But I can account for that my doing a sanity check on the records that come back.

2. MySQL doesn't index small words (length 3 or less) by default. I haven't addressed that yet. I can either rebuild MySQL to also index smaller words, or handle it in a different way. I'll worry about it on Wednesday.

3. The original record ("car rental") appears in the results. So I have to filter it out. No big deal.

All in all, this is a lot easier and faster that having to come up with my own solution.

Oh. I should point out that this data was destined to be stored in MySQL anyway, so it's not like I have an unusual dependency on MySQL just to solve this problem.

Go forth and make good use of MySQL's full-text search engine

Java.....aa ah!

The Properties class represents a persistent set of properties. The
Properties can be saved to a stream or loaded from a stream. Each
key and its corresponding value in the property list is a string.
A property list can contain another property list as its "defaults"; this
second property list is searched if the property key is not found in the
original property list.
Because Properties inherits from Hashtable, the put and putAll
methods can be applied to a Properties object. Their use is strongly
discouraged as they allow the caller to insert entries whose keys or
values are not Strings. The setProperty method should be used
instead. If the store or save method is called on a "compromised"
Properties object that contains a non-String key or value, the call will
fail.

The load and store methods load and store properties in a simple line-
oriented format specified below. This format uses the ISO 8859-1
character encoding. Characters that cannot be directly represented in
this encoding can be written using Unicode escapes ; only a single 'u'
character is allowed in an escape sequence. The native2ascii tool can
be used to convert property files to and from other character
encodings.

The loadFromXML(InputStream) and storeToXML(OutputStream, String,
String) methods load and store properties in a simple XML format. By
default the UTF-8 character encoding is used, however a specific
encoding may be specified if required. An XML properties document
has the following DOCTYPE declaration:

Note that the system URI (http://java.sun.com/dtd/properties.dtd) is not
accessed when exporting or importing properties; it merely serves as
a string to uniquely identify the DTD, which is:














See Also:
native2ascii tool for Solaris
native2ascii tool for Windows
Author:
Arthur van Hoff
Michael McCloskey
Since:
JDK1.0
@version
1.84, 05/18/04

Happy hols

Merry Christmas to all!!!

May the joy, peace, happiness and love fill your heart and home this festive season.

Happy Holidays !

My Niche - Intro

I work on the open source technology. So all my scribblings here would be spun around this median topic. Till now, I've worked on shell scriptng, perl, php, bugzilla, testRunner, jasperReports, iReports, mysql. Not a word would be out of this area cos this is My Niche and I define it :)

I'm neither a king of all these nor a Jack of them too.. Am jus another software engineer trapped in the IT ocean :p I'll jus pen down some findings and the hurdles I cross which might be useful for somebody else..

Be comfortable @ my niche that I've carved out for myself. Its cozy... a bit hectic.. Feel warm..

Cheers,
Sophia.