Herman Mayer Weiss belonged to Budapest Hungary. He migrated to America along with his family. He was not well-off and had to put in long struggle for family up keep. His eldest son, Ehrich Weiss (Later Harry Houdini) had to join him at work at an early age of 9 years. The boy possessed natural talents for performing arts. Soon he joined a circus as trapeze artist. In 1887 Herman Mayer shifted to New York but work conditions did not change. However, the boy took to swimming, boxing and running in his free hours. His physic developed accordingly that was to help him in his later career. He also had original instincts for magic from childhood.
Houdini made his debut performance in 1891 with his friend Hymen. They started from card games and magic tricks in museums and small theaters in New York. World’s Columbia Exposition in Chicago in 1893 gave them a good chance to get set. In 1894 Harry met a fellow performer, 18 year old Wilhelmina Beatrice Rahner or Bess. They got married and their act was renamed “The Houdini’s” from “Brothers Houdini”. Soon Harry Houdini became fed-up of his tough routine and planned to start ‘Harry Houdini’s School of Magic’ in New York, but dropped.

Harry Houdini finally met lucky opportunity in 1899. Martin Beck, a very strong figure in Vaudeville theatre was deeply impressed by his handcuff tricks. He challenged Houdini to escape from Beck’s handcuffs, which he did easily. Being extremely convinced invited Houdini to open Omaha March in partnership for the next season. This changed Houdini’s life pattern. Houdini remained quite busy for the next five years. His magical acts and escape performances were appreciated throughout the leading Vaudvilli houses and across California. They also hit Keith East Coast Circuit. To break the monotony he introduced new “jail” escape stunts, which were very successful. He was admired by the crowds where ever he went. The public called him the “King of Handcuffs”. This “Celebrated Police Baffler” (nicknamed) often performed escape stunts by jumping in rivers particularly Charles River, fully chained, and emerging on surface in minutes with big crowds applauding decade passes.

The later years saw him in high society lavish theaters. His selective approach paid-off well. Soon his fame crossed the Atlantic Ocean and Europe’s advanced culture tempted him. This inclination disturbed his relations with Beck. So he planned to go on his own.

Harry Houdini was welcome in Europe and public acceptance of his escape acts took off easily. For five years he combed the continent delighting the crowds. The most remarkable part was that of taking public challenges. One such demand proved really tough. The Newspaper “Mirror” of London arranged special set of handcuffs, known as “Mirror Cuffs”. Houdini took the longest time, over an hour with many disturbing expressions and failing gestures for the audience. As soon as he got free the music hall heard the tallest roar setting off a chain of appreciation slogans and praise comments.

The next big bang of his fame occurred when Kaiser’s difficult police accused him of fraud. He had to satisfy the court by revealing some tricks, partially. However, his publicity soared thereafter claiming for him Germany’s title “Konig der Handschellen”. He simply conquered Europe alone, with Bess.
He finally decided to settle down in 1905. He bought a small farm in Connecticut and a Brownstone home in Manhattan. After his father’s death in 1892 he became very dedicated to his mother. The Brownstone became his family base. Here he also maintained enormous rare book collection. His profession required lots of travelling but he often took a break and returned home to attend to his mother. He was in Sweden and fainted when he heard of mother’s death in 1913, and then wept to full exhaustion.

Harry Houdini never retired. He remained active and kept on inventing new tricks to hold on to his audience. In 1908 the famous milk can escape reinforced his publicity. He also often performed awesome jumps from lugh bridges that were witnessed by large crowds.

The “Chinese Water Torture Cell” escape was his latest and greatest trick. This exhibited his great physical strength combined by his brilliant technical abilities and dramatic touches. This risky performance was repeated many times. For sometime people suspects that he died in a failed cell escape performance. In fact he died of peritonitis from burst appendicitis in Detroit, Michigan at Grace Hospital on October 31, 1926 (Halloween Day).

The Superman Entertainer’s Life had more aspects that the public needs to know.

•    The real name of Harry Houdini was Erik Weisz. His Ideal was a French magician Jean Eugene Robert Houdin. He added Houdini (meaning like Houdin). Later it was revealed that Robert too had taken ‘Houdin from his wife’s name. However, it proved lucky for Harry.

•    The USA Government recognized the super class magician by a commemorative stamp (Scott # 3651) depicting Houdini. The stamp carries a hidden magical image showing him in chains ready to escape. This image can only be viewed by a special lens.
•    Houdini’s death on Halloween’s Day (Magic Day) is simply a coincidence. Others opine that he was poisoned by competitors for stealing their craft and disturbing their livelihood.
•    Houdini was born in Budapest, Hungary but he often claimed to be American by birth. Probably World War 1 inspired him.
•    Houdini has starred in Silent Movies and also produced two. This venture did not pay well. Houdini flew the earliest air planes and visited Australia in 1910 by a Voisin bi plane. This was the first powered flight in Australia.
•    Houdini was against spiritualists who claimed to contact the dead relatives of people for big amounts. He often commented that they were preying upon the emotions of the bereaved families. Since he knew their tricks, so he exposed them rightly.
•    Houdini was a Jew and was buried at Machpelah Cementery Queens, New York. His wife died 17 years later and wished to be buried near him, but she was refused for being a Catholic. Some say her relatives thought she may be denied heaven if buried with a Jew. Hence buried in a different County in New York State.

Greatest Jewel Thief

Robbers are all ill reputed whether they rob petty amounts or make jumbo robberies, Arthur’s robbing career was unique as his pursuit focused on high class jewels only and targeted rich people. He managed his “job” very neatly without a single killing, injuring or bloodshed incident. He never picked cash and preferred to rob in the presence of his “clients” as he termed. Therefore, “ultimate thief” is the only title that defines his masterly ingenious bold style.

The fearless crusader never spared even the kings relatives and wealthy tycoons were his specialty. Soon his selective strikes on the rich only became famous, being robbed by this “Gentlemen thief” became a status symbol among the elite, but embarrassment for the police and immense headache for the detectives. The experts latter concluded that this genius could have been a successful businessman, Wall Street baron or could do anything that he concentrated upon.

Arthur Barry was born in 1896 in Worcester in an immigrant Irish family consisting of 12 brothers and sisters. All his family members were earning hands like ordinary good people. Arthur matured early and could not adjust to fair trade notions by nature. His this tendency towards steeling and snatching landed him among the wrong experts. His first boss, Lowell Jack, was a Safecracker and made nitroglycerine, a damaging chemical. Arthur was deputed to deliver the goods in adjacent cities. Soon the underworld accepted him.

The Greatest Jewel Thief in the American Criminal History!

Arthur became an active robber at 15 years with the first hit netting $100. After a few hits, he got fed up terming them as unprofitable and disreputable. He put his head down to set his ultimate goal – to rob the elite and notables only and to prefer jewelry only as the stones could easily sell. His main tools for success were his careful preparation and foreseeing all probabilities besides alertness.

Arthur had made his mindset. He was always well dressed and well-spoken. In formal clothes and with his good manners he could walk in any lawn party and mix up with guests. Then he wanders easily into the house to locate jewels hideouts, make floor plans, select exit points and spot alarms.

He was smart enough to walk in anywhere and talk to everybody favorably. Arthur once met King Edward VIII, when he was Prince of Wales, on 59th Street and spent a few hours in light discussions over drinks and becoming somewhat informal. A few days later, a thief entered Long Island home of Prince’s Cousin and leaves with $150’000 worth of jewels. Afterwards he usually separated the stones from gold and silver metals. He could sell only the stones at about 20% of market value. Having no option, he enjoyed flicking away the gold and Silver pieces in the New York Bay while riding a boat.

There are many occasions when the residents woke up. He simple told them to stay calm, hand over the jewels and avoid being hurt. He said people seldom resisted this request. He confirms that his “clients” made wrong statements of jewelry that was stolen and claimed more from insurance companies. He routed to the detectives, at times who passed on the looted stuff to insurance companies at far less amounts than the claims. The insurances saved payment of claims by returning “accidently recovered” stolen jewelry.

He joined the Army in World War I and earned a Silver Star, but went AWOL before he could get it. Back in New York he was back on his “job”. He decided to upgrade his strikes. He noticed wealthy women in shopping malls, casinos and Central Park. He then tracked their cars to their homes. He got address against the car license numbers by calling Police posing as a Police Patrolman. He kept track of weddings or engagement announcements for his homework.

His Few High Profile Feats

For instance in the Livermore’s bedroom Barry woke up  Mrs. And Mr. Livermore by flashing light in her eyes. She was frightened and asked “Who is it?” He answered ‘Good evening’ J. L. just don’t move, phone lines are cut. Just handover the jewelry and let us go. Barry emptied the dressing table securing $95’000 worth of gems. He noticed the lady is sitting in her night gown. So Barry put the bathrobe on her shoulders and lighted a cigarette for her to receive her only comments “You are a real devil”. He warned them not to make any outcry and escaped. But before leaving he returned the $15’000 worth little pinky ring gifted by her husband, at her request.

Arthur visited the residence of Mr. Harold E. Tabbott, who later became President Eisenhower’s Secretary of Air Force and took away $23’000 worth of jewels.

In 1925 he silently entered Hotel Plaza in broad daylight and disappeared with $750’000 worth of jewels from a six-room suite of Mrs. James P. Donahue, daughter of F.W. Woolworth. Besides other jewelry taken, there were 5 ropes of pearls, 4 good imitations and one of real pearls. Only the real pearl rope worth $450’000 was picked from the bedroom while Mrs. James sat in the bathtub a few feet away and her maid was in the next room.

Arthur Barry sent chills in Police circles in 1926. He came to know that the New York County Dutchess secured her jewelry in a strong safe weighing 80 kg in her bedroom closet. Barry climbed into the bedroom on a ladder, tip-toed and silently balanced the safe on his shoulders and quietly escaped the same way he had entered.

His Arrest and Escape

Arthur was caught by a tip from a woman out of jealousy. He was basically a ladies’ man and spent most on the stage girls. One of the girls told Police of Livermore burglary and he was sentenced to 25 years jail. He could not stay calm in the Auburn Jail. On 28th July, 1929, he planned and proved the boldest jail creaks in the U. S. prison history. The 1700 convicts are allowed Yard freedom on Sunday to roam about the cell blocks. Barry noticed a prison design error. The ammunition store was located within prison and had only two guards. He prepared a birthday cake at the prison bakery and requested the guard to deliver it to a colleague. As soon as the door opened he poured laundry ammonia on them and dashed to take arms from the store. Barry shouted to all captives to join in jail-breaking. A riot resulted that kept all prison force occupied. Barry and another accomplice side-winked and climbed the prison boundary wall and escaped, but was injured by a bullet.

They were free on the main road nearby. They hijacked a car and abandoned it in an empty garage. They changed into whatever was available and took First Aid. They located another parked car. As they started pushing it silently to the road, a bullet smashed the windshield missing him. His eyes got filled with glass splinters. He forced one eye open by hand and having no choice, started the car and dashed to the road, racing without lights in the night, and half blind and with piercing pain. His companion had vanished at the shootout. Soon the gas ran out. He limped around and felt calm as soon he committed to himself that if he is cured he will not faulter again. He survived the night and during breakfast he realized that nobody around bothered about how he looked, taking him as a drunk. Finally he reached Albany where his friends treated his wounds. He remained a fugitive for 3 years. He settled near Flemington with his wife.

His Re-arrest

In 1932 the local corps and FBI carried out general scrutiny of all the new residents in the area. Although he was not named prime suspect, still detectives called on him severally. A detective pushed him to describe how he would rob Percy Rockefellar house where two damned tough ferocious watch dogs stay unleashed all the time. Although he avoided by all means, still the pressure was too much. Barry meekly confided he would try all types of meat to distract the dogs. The police chief told him that he had tried all this in the last six years busting his brains. Then ultimately he errored to confide that he would tackle these trained dogs by lowering a female dog tied by a rope down the wall. Then go in the house and steel $20’000 worth jewelry. On escape he will lift the female dog with the rope, leaving no evidence.

The Chief was now laughing heftily having squeezed out the truth and promised to send him a gift of cigar box. He did receive the gift —- but in jail. Arthur Barry remained behind bars for the next 17 years. When released he kept his word of not going back to his “job”. He is now honorably employed in his home town at $50 a week. People knew his past and still they elected him commander of a local Veteran’s Organization because of his honesty of purpose.

He replied when questioned “The man from whom I stole the most was Arthur Barry. I could have been a successful businessman, a baron on Wall Street and a contributing member to society but instead I chose a life of a thief, and spent two thirds of my adult life behind prison bars”

The ultimate and legendary thief had been robbing himself all along during his ¬¬over 150 major hits.

Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi was born in 1930 in Amroha and he died on 10th February in 1987 at the age of 57 years in Karachi, Pakistan.

Sadequain was a world renowned Pakistani Art legend. He was best known for his independent real creative art and novice trends in Islamic Calligraphy. His original superb themes and huge murals dwarf many and some are still regarded as matchless in the world. His international recognition was due to introduction of new initiatives and trends in art and particularly poetic calligraphy which was almost nonexistent then.

He was a self-made, self taught painter, completely untraditional and above all, shows no signs of being inspired by any other master of art who lived before him or at his time.

Sadequain received well deserved decorations.

• 1960 – Government of Pakistan — “ Tamgha-e-Imtiaz”
• 1961 – Government of France — “Biennale de Paris”
• 1962 – President of Pakistan — “President’s Medal of Honor”
• 1975 – Government of Australia — “Cultural Award”
• 1980 – Government of Pakistan — “Sitara-e-Imtiaz”

Sadequain was a master genius of his own self-inspired school of thought and different from other great artists like Michael Angelo and Leonardo de Vinci. This fact was proved later by the performance presented by him in his early life. Like many other masters he too was completely obscure, until he was noticed, hand –picked and appreciated by the notable lover of arts Mr. Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy. It is natural that a true genius sees the limelight once and then the “limelight” itself focuses on him and seldom misses him till the last day. He had stepped into the open world to breathe and expose his talents independently – and this he did with utmost honesty without being distracted by worldly glamour.

Sadequain projected his abilities and hidden talents by his masterly performance in his mid twenties. This comparative quicker recognition laid the foundation and encouraged him to present his true inner feelings in his artworks. Soon he created his own independent place in the world that remained still unmatched, in certain aspects, during his lifetime and even after. He was only 30 years when he received his first award in 1960 and 32 years when the French Government decorated him.

Sadequain was one of the most hard-working artists that the world has seen. His non-stop untiring career was very unusual for all his critics too. Wealth had least attraction for him and avoided to paint for the rich. He preferred to gift away thousands of his art productions instead of selling. Numerous works were stolen and he least bothered about them.

He believed in realism and lycricism. He was miles away from imaginary fairytale, flower and fona themes and stuck to basic worldly realities till his last day. The Novice style of his presentation of Quranic and Poetic verses created an everlasting impact on Pakistani Art. The non-existant calligraphy has changed into a culture and this new introduction is still flourishing beyond bounds and spreading inspiration worldwide, even after a quarter century beyond his death. Now his style and his paintings are also being copied extensively in Pakistan. Infact this piracy is promoting his school of thought, unnoticed.

Sadequain once saw a tough cactus tree growing and flourishing in a desert. He was spiritually impressed by the difficult lifestyle in extreme tough surroundings of this self-growing plant. This impression is often reflected in Sadequain’s tough and rugged human figures that seem unnatural, but actually he intended to expose the rigid uneven patterns of the life spent by the deprived. His works and productions are discernable and can easily be singled out. His unique independent style, objective concepts and presentation modes cannot be stolen by just putting on new names – but can only be copied along with his signatures.

Murals

The most difficult and impressive works of Sadequain were the long spans of walls and ceilings painted under different themes of social nature. Surprisingly most of these were donated free of cost, although these could have fetched millions. Some of these are ranked longest and largest in the world. His murals mostly carried closely knitted images and fine details filling every inch available, which in itself is a unique quality aspect. He painted to his satisfaction and did extreme justice to the subject in production – but in his own inspirational style.

The following are a few of his memorable works and exhibitions;

• 1954 – Solo Exhibition in Quetta, Pakistan
• 1955 – Mural at Jinnah Hospital, Solo Exhibition at Frere Hall and at residence of Mr. Suhrawady.
• 1961 – Mural at State Bank of Pakistan, (62 x 10ft) titled as “Treasures of Time”. This mural illustrates human scientific development from Socrates to Einstein and Muhammed Iqbal. He was invited to France to illustrate French Nobel Prize Winning writer Albert Camus.
• 1963 – Several Exhibitions in USA
• 1963 – Illustrated “Le Etranger” in France
• 1967 – Mural at Mangla Dam Power House (200 x 30ft) titled as “Saga of Labor” This mural lime lights the importance of the working class and its contributions in a society. Completed in 3.5 months only.
• 1968 – Mural at Punjab University Library, titled as “Quest of Knowledge”
• 1969 – Calligraphic redention of “Sura-e-Rehman”
• 1973 – Murals at Lahore Museum entrance Hall and others (100 x 35ft) titled as “Evolution of Mankind”
• 1974 – Exhibitions in Middle East and Eastern Europe.
• 1976 – TV. Series “Mojiza-e-fun” on Sadequain Art.
• 1977 – Illustrated Mirza Ghalib (Indian Poet)
• 1979 – Mural in Abu Dhabi power house (70 x 12ft)
• 1981 – Murals painted at Aligarh (70 x 12ft), Banaras (70 x 12ft), Hyderabad and Geological Institute of Delhi, India (70 x 25ft)
• 1985 – Illustrated Faiz Ahmed Faiz (Pakistani Poet)
• 1986 – Mural at Frere Hall titled as “Arz-o-Samawat” (heaven and earth)

The above fantastic monumental murals in vast spans of art were specific and special feature that has no parallel yet in Pakistan. He completed about 35 hefty murals in his lifetime. However some of them have gone missing with no trace.

These historical works are now time fading and show signs and scars. The institutions responsible are not doing much to save these treasures, which want to see another “Sadequain” to restore them back to their original position.

Sadequain very successfully illustrated world renowned poets. He was invited to France to illustrate Nobel Prize winner Albert Camus. He being inspired, also adequately painted other poets like Mirza Ghalib, Faiz and Muhammed Iqbal (“Aftaab-e-Taaja”9’ x 6’). He also himself expressed his feelings verbally in somber notes and published “Quartets” and “Rubaiyats” that are considered of high class and appreciated. His verbal reflections also described the basic realities of this tough life as did his artwork.

Sadequain was a true genius. This quality is visible in all his art productions and calligraphic masterpieces. He did not follow any traditions and rather initiated his specific school of thought. His own style legacy will continue to inspire future artists and calligraphers of modern times. His this vivid transformations of words, verses and feeling of the others to the canvas in detail, will remain his domain unmatched for decades to come.

The ultimate mastermind developed unique ideas to project his observations. He painted Crow series that depicted the worthy and timid wealth worshipers loosing self respect to achieve their selfish ends. The Cobwebs series of paintings showed prevailing social mindset where cobweb render society speechless and inactive by mal practices of the powerful. Similarly Christ Series projected crime being committed under the nose of the law enforcers. Such realistic and bold projections could only have been made by a true at heart Sadequain.

Sadequain loved to paint his heart out. His masterpiece redention of “Sura-e-Rehman”, a Quranic chapter, was auctioned in London for $108’000. This new art version inspired many painters worldwide. He could have amassed millions from his uncountable paintings and even scribbings. But he stuck to his nature and preferred a continued striving life. Otherwise the world would have lost a true genius and missed uncountable masterpieces of art. Nature is never unjust and rewards people according to their mindset. There is no doubt about the fact that world progresses by the selfless hard work of a few geniuses who sacrifice their leisure and pleasures to benefit the selfish mankind, who seldom find time to pay homage to these actual Ultimate Heroes.

The Electronic media ran a TV documentary series “Mojiza-e-Fun”. This highlighted extensively the different aspects of the mastermind Sadequain and his masterpieces that were exhibited worldwide. A book “The holy sinner” in (2003) comprised of 700 pages and displayed over 400 paintings and his works of art. This huge unprecedented tribute to one artist is unique in South Asia.

• The Pakistan Post office issued a 10 stamp sheet let commemorating Sadequain and 9 other artists.
• The Pakistan Newspapers often carry special features on him.
• The French Le Monde appreciates his talents comparing him to famous Picasso.
• The New York times describes his difficult artistic trends as “Upside Down Artist”, Sadequain and calls him Pakistan’s Pride.
• UAE News appreciates his tremendous success and comments that crowds are attracted to all his exhibitions.

The ultimate Pakistani Art Legend ‘Sadequain’ breathed his last on 10th February, 1987, leaving his last mural “Arzo-Samawat” (Heaven and Earth) at Frere Hall Karachi, incomplete.

http://www.sadequainfoundation.com/Paintings/paintings.htm

John Nash is a well known American scientist devoted to Economic Sciences. He spent most of his career in refining the Game Theory, differential geometry and partial differential equations. His works improved the outlook on how the chances and events govern the intricate life systems. He was recognized and awarded the 1994 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, sharing with other game theorists Reinhardt Selton and John Harsanyi.  The Hollywood also promoted Nash through a film titled A BEAUTIFUL MIND, winning four Academy Awards, including the best picture. This film was based on a book by the same name.

John Nash—— Early life
He was born on 13th June 1928. In his early days he was considered a bright youngster by his family. Since his early days he preferred to do things in his own way and avoided mixing up with others. He started scientific experiments at 13 years of age.
He was greatly inspired by E.T. Bell’s book on Men of Mathematics. He often attended classes at Bluefield College while studying at Bluefield High School. He graduated in 1945 and was admitted in Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburg on Westinghouse scholarship. He continued there to get his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 1948. At this stage he created two popular games ‘Hex’ (1947) and ‘So Long Sucker’ (1950).

His Post-graduate Life
His colleagues considered him a Genius. The Harvard University underrated his qualifications so he joined Princeton to complete his equilibrium theory. He became a doctor in 1950 with a thesis on dissertation on non-cooperative games. This thesis was later renamed ‘Nash Equilibrium’ and comprised of four articles:

-    ‘The Bargaining Problem’ (1950)
-    ‘Equilibrium Points in N-person Games’ (1950)
-    ‘Two –person Cooperative Games’(1953)
-    ‘Non-cooperative Games’ (1954)

Nash performed real good work in Algebraic configurations. His profound contributions in mathematics is the Nash embedding theorem that clarifies that any abstract Riemannian manifold can be isometrically realized as a sub-manifold of Euclidean space. The nonlinear parabolic partial differential equation and singularity theories were also supported.

His personnel life ———– Glimpse
Nash pursued a non-marital relationship with a nurse named Eleanor Stier, who bore him a son but later were abandoned. Nash joined the mathematics faculty of Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a Moore instructor in 1955. He married his physics student Alicia Larde in 1957. They had a son. Nash was now suffering from schizophrenia and admitted in hospital in 1959. The couple divorced in 1963 and started living together again from 1970, unmarried.
When at Princeton he became “The Phantom of Fine Hall”. In 1978 he was awarded the ‘John von Neumann Theory Prize’ for discovering Nash Equilibrium. Nash won the Noble prize in Economics in 1994. Besides these he received many honorary degrees from world Institutes.

John Nash ——- Latter Career
Nash continued work on the advanced game theory and the partial agency. He had published 23 scientific studies in about 50 years of his career all based on his independent thinking. He forwarded the evolutionary psychology thought on the value of human diversity and apparent nonstandard behaviors and their potential benefits. He termed mental illness as ‘thinking in an unacceptable manner’ and different from usual social function. He observed the role of money in society as a factor used to motivate and control people. He was a critic of interest based quasi-doctrines that manipulate short term inflation and debt tactics. He floated the idea of “ideal money” based on ‘industrial consumption price index’, to promote mutual trust and stable monitory system.

John Nash ———- Schizophrenia
John Nash’s wife, Alicia admitted him in hospital to treat his erratic behavior. He had started seeing hallucinations and characters that wore red ties and were chasing him and forcing him to work for some political organization. The doctors diagnosed common schizophrenia. The symptoms produce imaginative images and activities following fixed beliefs, whether real or false, causing something seemingly happening around the patient, to him or prompting actions by him. In real life nothing is present and no actual activity is taking place.
He was really disturbed in the absence of any motivation. He withdrew from MIT and sought political asylum from France and East Germany. Being denied, he was arrested and deported to USA at government’s request in 1961. He was admitted in New Jersey State Hospital at Trenton. For nine years he stayed under different types of treatments, including insulin shock therapy.

Nash had become tired of the long medication and inactivity. He himself reduced medicine intake. His recovery was slow. Nash commented “the medicines are over-rated and their side-effects are often ignored in mentally ill patients. He summed up his condition by observing that probably his delusional thinking was due to his unhappy life and his continued strife to prove his obscure theories as correct and practically recognizable and acceptable. He also claims that had he been thinking normal, he may not have had these scientific ideas and intuitional leads. He also agreed that he resisted going to hospitals and finally found relief by his mental adjustment and acceptance of his disease. He forced rational behavior on himself and rejected his delusions intellectually as ‘wasteful thoughts’. That improved his condition steadily.

In 2002 a film was produced and titled “A Beautiful Mind” based on Nasar’s biography of John Nash’s life. The critics raised many controversial objections on various aspects detailed in the film. They claimed that some material facts are distorted to customize with the cold war period. Others say that the irrational details of his loose moments have been high lighted for audience appeal that amounts to his degradation. More of his life and career should have been shown.  However the film proved very successful and was nominated for Eight Academy Awards, winning four including the Best Picture. The film is centered around Nash’s mathematical genius and his long strife with paranoid schizophrenia.

‘The sadness will last for ever ‘, are the last words of an amazing artist (30th March1853 to 29th July 1890). Vincent Van Gogh was a revolutionary Dutch artist. 20th century art depicts his large influence overall. His bold use of vivid colors and emotional subjects made him a pioneer of modern art.
The artist was some what mentally disturbed. Through out his life he remained in deep depression. The irony of fate is that he gained pronounced popularity after his death.

He started painting in his late twenties and produced his major creations in the last two years of his life. In total he created about 2000 artworks out of which 900 were paintings and the rest were drawings and sketches, including self portraits. His Sunflowers are the world’s most renowned and widely appreciated and expensive pieces of art.
Vincent Van Gogh longed to become a Priest and teach Gospel, in his early life. In 1879 he practiced as a missionary and due to his temperament he often scolded the local people.

He moved to Belgium and explored his art instincts. There he mostly used earth tones. ‘The Potato Eaters’ was his first distinguished work that became truly famous in 1885. He went to France in 1886 where abundant shining sunlight appealed to his creative senses. His preference to use brighter tones grew stronger in a fully recognizable personal style. This novelty and mature approach was marked in his artwork around 1888.

According to several art critics, it was his mental sickness that led him towards an unclear world of colors, which we call now-a-days Modern art. He could rightly be called pioneer of modern art. Although his last works show that he was at the peak of his performance, using all his skills and potentials in his bold themed drawings and paintings.
Vincent Van Gogh as an upcoming artist (1883-1886). He inherits two attributes from his family—Art and Religion. During his stay at Nuenen, he started his painting career. Initially the nests made by weavers and other birds, was the main subject. He developed his artwork soon and became famous when The Potato Eaters was exhibited in The Hague. He had bad habits too. Catholic village stopped people from modeling for him as he made one of them pregnant. In that year he focused more on still life paintings.

Van Gogh moved to Paris in 1886 to study art and painting at Fernand Cosman’s studio. Paris streets was became the main subject there to begin with. Later on he started collecting Japanese ukiyo-e-woodblock prints. He used these prints basically for the background of many of his paintings. He used these in bolder patterns and contrast colors.
During the last years of his life the depression traumas became more frequent. Although he was at the peak of his ability, still he was unable to concentrate on painting or became unwilling to do so. He was so frustrated that he shot himself in the chest and died, at just two days short of 37 years. “the sadness will last forever”. The canvas legend was unaware of the worth of the master pieces that he left behind. The great artworks are now considered as pioneers of our modern art. How a rhythmic player of the bold colors and canvas lost the rhythm of his life ending it tragically all by himself. A striving life pattern, deep grief and anxiety could have formed the ingredient that inspired him to produce the artworks that will be adored for centuries to come.

Vincent Van Gogh was a Pearl of its own kind.

Famous Paintings
The Potato Eaters
Courtesan 1887, Van Gogh Museum
The blooming Plum tree 1887
Portrait of Pere Tanguy 1887
Self Portrait 1889 (mirror image)
Still life with Absinthe 1887
Bridges across the Seine at Asnieres 1887

The world famous artist was born on 15th April 1452. He died on 2nd May 1519.
A renaissance period Italian genius with unique powers possessed keen observation, invention intuition and experimenting qualities. His curiosity made him a multi dimensional persona. He was a painter, scientist, artist, architect, mathematician, geologist, writer, engineer, inventor, sculptor, musician and botanist. He was always interested in learning everything that came his way. The studies of Leonardo were more logical but were too advanced and different, in fact looked unusual for his time to be applied and understood. Art historian Gardner states that about him that the scope and depth of his intuition were unprecedented and his mind and personality seem to us SUPERHUMAN. This great man was born in Florence. His full name at birth was Leonardo De ser Piero Da Vinci, meaning son of Sir Piero from Vinci.

Training at Verrocchio’s Workshop,(1466-1476). Andrea di Cione commonly known as Verrocchio was the owner of the workshop in Florence. In 1446 when he was just 14 years old, got admission in this workshop, which was not usually allowed. Domencio, Perugino, Botticelli and Lorenzo di Credi were the other painters working there. Leonardo learned drafting, chemistry, metallurgy, plaster casting, feather working, medicine, carpentry, drawing painting, sculpting and modeling. Here he mastered his skill of painting and helped his master Verrocchio on his “Baptism of Christ” work which was highly appreciated. In 1472, at the age of twenty he was already a qualified master of artists and medicine. Later on his father set up his own workshop. His most well known works were in Pen and Ink medium.

Leonardo as an Outstanding Painter

“The Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper” are two most famous master pieces Leonardo. “The Vitruvian Man” is also considered as a cultural icon.

He experimented new techniques in oil paintings like different compositions such as appliqué positions and made use of light and shadings in detail. The humanist approach of Donatallo’s David can be observed in Leonardo’s paintings also, specifically “John the Baptist”. Early Madonnas painted by De Vinci are The Madonna with a carnation and The Benois Madonna. These were made according to the trend following frescoes. But in the Benios Madonna he experimented with composition by placing Virgin at oblique angle.

This theme was repeated in The Virgin and Child with St. Anne. Leonardo was a unique painter and still he holds the same top position because his art works are the most reproduced, copied, published and recognized universally. Framed reproductions, printed T-shirts and knitted carpets with images of Madonna are common every where. “the Laughing One”, painted in 1500 is reproduced in every possible medium.

Famous Paintings of Leonardo
Adoration of the Magi
Virgin of the rocks
The Last Supper (1498)
Drawings of Leonardo

As a prolific draftsman, Leonardo used to keep his journals full of small and large pencil sketches. The above three paintings were sketched initially on his journals as pencil drawings. He added details in them later when he painted them. He was really an organized artist. Landscape of the Arno Valley (1473) is reported to be one of his earliest drawings.

Famous Drawings of Leonardo
“Vitruvian Man” (1485), a study of human body proportions.
“Head of an Angel”.
“Star of Bethlehem”, a botanical study majorly.
“The Virgin and The Child with St. Anne”.
“St. John the Baptist” (National Art Gallery, London).
“Leonardo Smoke” or sfumato is a shadowy quality. He used this technique at the corners of the mouth and eyes in Mono Lisa, Thus, giving it a divine natural smile. Again he used it for The Virgin and The Child with St. Anne.
Drapery is extensively used by Leonardo. He is known to add details, falls, light and shades in drapery. He often depicted Sala, his pupil in fancy dresses for deep study of drapery detailing.

Journals of Leonardo
This genius man used to note each and every detail of his studies even during traveling. His journals show the diversity of his interests in arts and sciences. It seems he maintained his notes on daily basis. These are written in mirror-image style for secrecy according to some historians. But he was a left hand writer. It might be convenient for him to write from right to left. His journal pages show:

• His study shows human fetus in the womb (1510).
• Shoes for walking on water.
• Composition of paintings.
• Study of faces and emotions.

Study of animals, babies, plan studies, rock formations, whirl pools, war machines, helicopter and various details on architecture are sketched in the journal pages. The Codex Leicester is the one most scientific work of him and now owned by Bill Gates.
Leonardo facilitates its reading and understanding by pictures, sketches and words. A single topic is found only on one sheet with all its pictorial details.

Leonardo as a scientist

Leonardo was unlike the traditional scientists of his time. His focus was more on observation rather than theory and experimentation. He was a great observer and used to write down each and every aspect in detail. He was a genuine fore runner for later scientists like Galileo and Newton and a keen mathematician whose contributions in technology and architecture will remain alive for centuries. His original concepts like helicopter, calculator, a tank and solar power were not discovered or even thought of at his time but in modern world these are as common as salt. The world is full of many men and women who are masters of and out standing in one or two subjects but a genius like Leonardo leaves the human race far behind him in every respect. A mind so curious to learn and invent and is highly skilful when it comes to art. His fame in his life time was equal to the King of France.

It is impossible to cover all areas of his natural talents and skills in this limited space. He was in fact a miracle of nature, created with utmost intelligence. The world will see very few of his kind.

The Great Scientist Albert Einstein was born on 14th march 1879 in Ulm, Kingdom of Wurttemberg   German Empire. He died on 18th April 1955, at the age of 76, at Princeton, New Jersey USA. He shifted his residences quite often as the circumstances suited him, his education, research opportunities and his profession. He spent most of his life in Europe. His religion was Ashkenazi Jewish and German.
His father was a salesman and engineer, Herman Einstein and his mother Pauline Einstein. In 1880 the family shifted to Munich and started making electric equipment based on direct current.
Albert Einstein received his early education in a Catholic school. He was a top student, inspite of speech difficulties. He built mechanical toys using mathematical deductions in his youth days. A family relative, seeing his interest gave him books on science like Kant’s critique of pure reason and Euclid’s Elements. In 1895 the family shifted to Italy but stayed back to complete his studies, but he disagreed with the school’s rote learning method and withdrew. When at school he wrote his first “The Investigation of the State of Aether in Magnetic Fields” scientific work.
Einstein completed his secondary school in Aarau, Switzerland. He graduated at 17 years. He surrendered his German citizenship to avoid military service. He joined the Polytechnic in Zurich to teach mathematics and physics. Same year Mileva Maric also joined for studies. Soon they developed a romance. Einstein had great regard for her academic qualities. He graduated in 1900 with Diploma in physics and mathematics. Some historians believe Maric inspired his work. They married in 1903 and had two sons namely Hans and Eduard. They were divorced on 14th February 1919 after 5 years separation. In 1923 Einstein married his cousin Elsa Lowenthal. She later developed heart and kidney problems and died in 1936.

Einstein could not find a proper job for almost two years after graduation. With some help he secured one at the Patent Office, as an assistant to evaluate applications for intellectual property patents. Here he had ample opportunity to analyze electro-mechanical synchronization of time and transmission of electrical signals. These problems led him to conclusions about nature of light and fundamental question between time and space. While still at Patent Office, his first paper appeared in the well-known Annalen der Physic on “Capillary Forces of a straw”.

Albert Einstein —- Scientific Career
Einstein had always been convinced that Atoms existed and were of minute nonzero size, as against the popular belief that these are a delusion only. A hundred years back, another scientist Antoine Lavoisier also supported this idea by chemical experiments. Ludwig Boltzmann, an atomist physicist projected theories on atoms but could not radically demonstrate a universal position of state of the atoms at all temperatures. The solids and gases confirmed of atoms, their velocities and the specific heat generated, but all these assumptions filed at zero temperatures. The same fate met Maxwell’s work.

Einstein believed that if atom is a reality then one consistent theory should explain aspects of observations. He undertook real hard efforts that finally led him to thermodynamics and then to statistical physics. He concluded his work the theory of specific heats of solids.
The leading German journal Annalen der Physik published Einstein’s four papers (Annus Mirabilis Papers), in 1905 calling it Einstein’s ‘Miracle Year’.

Special Relativity
In 1905 his papers discussed the radical theory of special relativity observing that independence of speed of light required fundamental changes to notion of simultaneity. This reflected on time space frame of a moving body slowing down relative to the observer. Similarly in the paper on mass-energy equivalence were then considered as separate concepts, Einstein concluded by equations of special relativity. This summed up that small mass could be converted into huge amounts of energy. This finding  proved a prediction on nuclear power.

Protons
In 1905 Einstein projected another theory that light itself was made up of localized particles (quanta). This was rejected by almost all scientists. However, Robert Millikan completed his experiments on photoelectric effect and measured Crompton scattering in 1919. This confirmed the light particles idea of Einstein. He was motivated and led to it by thermodynamic considerations and had nothing to do with photoelectric effects. His entropy defined detailed equations on light wavelengths and frequency differences within the same light, which were later accepted as realistic conclusions.

Atomic Vibrations (quantized)
The specific heat anomaly in solids was concluded and ratified by applying the quantum theory in 1906. Einstein based his working on the notion that each atom oscillates independently and not joined to others, as was usually thought. By detailed demonstrations he proved the motion of atoms, their velocities, the quantized motion and specific heat calculations even at zero temperatures match those deducted by other scientists, earlier and the present. Further work by others reconfirmed the correct application. This work of Einstein laid the foundation of condensed matter physics.

Adiabatic Principle and action-angle variable
Ernest Rutherford discovered the nucleus of the atom stated that electrons orbit it like planets. Niels Bohr proved that the quantum mechanical postulates of Planck and developed by Einstein, explain the discrete motion of electrons in atoms and further described adiabatic principle and adiabatic invariant.

Wave-Particle Duality
Einstein elaborated on the Max Planck’s energy quanta to possess momentum and should act as independent particles. This 1909 paper projected photon concept and wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics.

Critical Opalescence
Einstein refers to Raleigh scattering and explains that light of all wave lengths is scattered and the fluid looks milky white. This also depends on density and some other factors.

Energy at Zero Point
Einstein noted that oscillator energies by Planck had incorrect zero point. This view was made in 1913 stating that according to thermodynamics a molecule with two atoms can split into two free atoms. For this he proposed a new formula.

Equivalence Principal
Einstein had his ‘happiest thought’. He figured that gravity of one matter has effects on the other according to gravitational fields. He visualized that when clocks are placed at different heights, the lower one will move slower as more force acts on it than the one that is placed higher. He confidently stated the earlier theory on gravity by Gunnar Nordstrom was incorrect. These findings led him to publish a paper from Prague announcing the effects of gravity on light, specifically gravitational redshift and deflection of light. He proposed some thought experiments on general relativity.

General Relativity
Einstein published a paper on the general theory of relativity in 1915, as it is still today. He terms gravitation as a distortion of the structure of spacetime by matter, affecting the inertial motion of the other matter. The worldwide astronomers set to prove him wrong, took to observatories view the ‘redshift’. In 1917 and 1918 no signs showed up. In 1919 the British astronomer, Arthur Stanley confirmed Einstein’s prediction of gravitational deflection of star light by the sun, while photographing a solar eclipse in Brazil. Einstein was praised and received the best comments “the great feat of human thinking about nature” and “the greatest discovery ever made”. This fact finding illustrates the deep intuition of the Great Scientist.

Einstein continued his work on various other subjects. Much was still in the pipe line nearing completion when he died in 1955. His colleagues and fellow scientists are continuing his experiments further confidently. He stood his ground against strong difference of opinion and was often proved convincingly right. He had his weak points also. In the course of unknown exploration of the natures secrets one has to take lead by assumptions, side-tracking and often retreating back in the absence of positive signals. The achievements create history and he has a lot many in his account. Only that matters while the rest of criticism is probably jealousy.

Birth: 30th August 1930 in Omaha, Nebraska USA
Father: Howard Buffett
Marriage: Married Susan Thompson in 1952
Children: 3 children, Sussie, Howard and Peter
Education: Woodrow Wilson High School, Washington D.C. (1945). Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (1947-49). Transferred to University of Nebraska (1950) and received a B.S. in Economics enrolled in Columbia Business School for an M.S. in Economics from Columbia University in 1951 (to benefit from Benjamin Graham, the teacher and author of book “The Intelligent Investor”).

Career

An American investor, business man and a Philanthropic.

Net Worth

Over US$ 60 Billion (2009)

Early Life

Warren Buffett started his business career in early life. He worked at his grandfather’s grocery shop. He was also a newspaper delivery boy and deducted $35 as his work expense for his cycle and watch, from his first tax return filed in 1943. Buffett and his friend purchased a used pinball machine for $25 and placed in barber’s shop. Soon they owned three such machines.

Photo by trackrecord

He married Susan Thompson in 1952. They had 3 children. By the time the children matured this couple began to live separately from 1977. Susan wanted to pursue her singing career in San Francisco. At the age of 76 Buffett married his long time companion, Astrid Menks, 60 years old. His wife had herself introduced them before leaving.

He had purchased his small house for $31’500 in 1958 in the Central Dundee (now valued at $700’000) and still prefers to live there, although he has a $4 million house in Laguna Beach, California. He never preferred a lavish life nor was spendthrift. He was brought up a Presbyterian but seldom follows religious beliefs strictly. He does not have a desk computer nor carries a cell phone. He drives his car himself.

Business Career

Buffett was an Investment salesman at Buffett-Falk and Company, Omaha (1951-54)

He was securities analyst in Graham-Newman Corporation, New York (1956-59)

He was a General Partner in Buffett Partnership Limited, Omaha in 1970 and Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Omaha-Till date.

Buffett Still remembers his teacher Ben Graham described stock market as “Consider stocks as business, take advantage of market fluctuations while keeping safety margins”

Buffett was a stock broker in Omaha at a starting salary of $12’000 a year, with Benjamin Graham Partnership that closed in 1956. Buffett initiated Buffett Partnership Limited, an investment company from his personal savings of around $170’000. By 1960 he was operating successfully eight partnerships-Buffet Associates, Buffet Fund, Dacee, Emdee, Glenoff, Mo-Buff, Underwood and Sanborn Map Company. In 1958 Sanborn shares book value was $65 against stock selling at $45.

His Wealth Glide

In 1962 Buffett’s partnerships worth put together was $7’178’000 that included his own $1’025’000. He merged all companies into one and invested most of it in a manufacturing firm Berkshire Hathaway Limited. He bought enough shares and took control at the board meeting and named his own new President, Ken Chace. In 1956 he discouraged new capitol unless the incoming partners brought new assets.

Berkshire paid its first and only dividend of 10 cents in 1967. Buffett liquidated his partnership in 1969 and transferred all assets to all partners. The success career continued. Berkshire share traded in early 1979 at $775 each and ended same year at $1310. Thus, raising his net worth to $620 million and Forbes placed him among the 400 richest persons in the world.
Buffett decided in 2006 to gradually gift 85% of his Berkshire Holding to 5 Charity Foundations with over 80% to Bill and Gates Foundations. He is also looking for his management successor.

Forbes declared Buffett as the world’s richest man in 2008 with net worth over $60 billion, breaking Bill Gates 13 years continued lead. However, Bill Gates re-gained the lead in 2009.

Business Acquisitions

• 1973: Berkshire Hathaway acquired stock of Washington Post Company.
• 1974: Berkshire Hathaway acquired WESCO.
• 1979: Berkshire acquired stock in ABC and Capital City also bought $3.5 Billion stock in ABC. Warren helped finance the deal for 25% stake in combined company Capital City / ABC.
• 1987: Berkshire bought Salomon Inc. 12% stock.
• 1988: Buffett bought 7% stock in Coca Cola Company for dollars 1.02 Billion.
• 1998: He acquired General Re, a Re-Insurance Company.
• 2002: Buffett concluded $11 Billion Forward Contracts to provide $US against World Wide Currencies. In four years he gained $2 Billion.
• 2008: Buffett agreed to buy General Electric preferred stock of $3 Billion at $22.25 per share in 5 years and receive 10% dividend in 3 years.
• 2009: Warren invested over $2 Billion in Swiss Re to raise its equity. Most of the above acquisitions placed Buffett on their Board of Directors with major individual share holding.

Recession Since 2006

During the World wide recession Berkshire Hathaway suffered over 70% loss in earnings. His other investments also declined in profits. The assets devalued around $7 Billion. Buffett is still maintaining his all major holdings inspite of the allegations of mistiming and misplanning of deals. He believes in and practices “Buy America”.

Politics

Warren Buffett has political attachments and numerous contributions to his credit. This time he openly supported Barrack Obama in Presidential run and attended $28’500 a plate fund raiser. His own views differed widely from John McCain’s.

His Writings

He writes very adequate annual reports himself. His articles on various economic topics are very straight forward and hit the target. He described inflation as an indirect devastating tax that consumes capital. The end result is same with 15% tax deduction or 15% inflation without tax deduction. In an article for Fortune, he warns investors on unrealistic expectations.

Philanthropy

He does not feel any guilt on accumulation of wealth with him. It is the result of talent bestowed on him. He feels the indirect injustice for the deprived. He feels that his own policies may have affected some people adversely and terms it society’s numerous claim checks on him that ought to be returned to society by way of charity. He further cautions the “members of the Lucky Sperm Club” who, with zero real investment, inherit fortunes equal to many jackpots put together, are at risk to Divine intervention. He sums up his very positive intentions and feelings on inherited wealth saying “I want to give my kids just enough so that they would feel they could do anything, but not so much that they would feel like doing nothing”. He declared that all his surplus wealth is for charity.

Public Exposure and Response

Berkshire Hathaway’s annual 20’000 share holders meeting in Qwest Centre, Omaha, is nick named “wood stock for capitalism” and is a mixture of business and humor cum jokes. Some like Buffet’s style while others underrate his virtues and advices. He analyzed profit in tobacco business as excessive but pledged never to invest in it.

Buffett was pursuing 6 projects to produce electricity from coal near Salt Lake City. The local petitioners and citizens along with regional organizations approached him personally to consider and uphold the interest of the local population, their health, water contamination and so on. Buffett responded very positively and cancelled all six coal fired power plants.

On one occasion Buffett commented on non-productive aspect of Gold, saying “it is dug out of Earth, melted, transformed and again buried (stored) and people are paid to guard it. It has no utility. Anyone watching from Mars could be scratching his head.

Warren Buffett’ s advice for 2009

Hard work: All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Laziness: A sleeping lobster is carried away by the water current.

Earnings: Never depend on a single source of income. [At least make your Investments get you second earnings)
Spending: If you buy things you don't need, you'll soon sell things you need. (i particularly like this one! H.A.)

Savings: Don't save what is left after spending; spend what is left after saving.

Borrowings: The borrower becomes the lender's slave.

Accounting: It's no use carrying an umbrella, if your shoes are leaking.

Auditing: Beware of little expenses; A small leak can sink a large ship.

Risk-taking: Never test the depth of the river with both feet. [Have an alternate plan ready]

Investment: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket .

I’m certain that those who have already been practicing these principles remain financially healthy. I’m equally confident that those who resolve to start practicing these principles will quickly regain their financial health.
Let us become wiser and lead a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful life.
“Warren Edward Buffett”

Born: October 28 1955 in Seattle, Washington U.S.A.
Parents: Sir William H. Gates and Mary Maxwell Gates.
Education: Did graduation from Lakeside School in 1973.
Joined Harvard College in 1973 but did not complete studies.

Early life

Bill Gates was born in a family of Scottish descent, of middle and upper class. His father was a prominent lawyer while his mother was director of First Interstate Banc system. He has two sisters Kristianne and Libby. He joined lakeside school at age 13. On graduation  he scored 1590/1600 in 1973 (I.Q. 170)

The school managed to buy an ASR-33 Teletype terminal and block computer time on General Electric (GE) computer. Bill Gates, being intelligent availed the facility to program the G.E. system to BASIC. Thus fascinated he wrote his first computer program on this machine. Later Gates and his three colleagues sought computer time from Computer Centre Cooperation (CCC) but were caught exploiting bugs in operating system gain free time and were banned.

These four students Gates, Paul Allen, Ric Weiland and Kent Evans were engaged by CCC, after the ban, to find bugs in their software in exchange for computer time and some fees. Bill Gates opted to study source codes for various programs FORTRAN, LISP, and  machine language till 1970 when CCC was closed down.

These four computer architects joined Information Sciences Inc. to write the schools payroll in COBOL and did other programs too. At age 17 Gates and Allen designed traffic counters (Traf-o-Data) on Intel 8008 processor. In early 1973 Bill Gates became a Congressional Page in the U.S House of Representatives.

Popular Electronics released MITS ALTAIR 8800 based on Intel 8080 CPU in January  1975. This attracted Gates and Allen, who felt an opportunity to start their own computer software company, with support from parents. Gates tapped Micro Instruments and Telemetry System (MITS) to introduce his planned BASIC interpreter for the platform. A successful demonstration was arranged at MITS office and a deal was concluded. MITS agreed to distribute.

Gates interpreters were named ALTAIR BASIC. Paul Allen was hired MITS. Gates left college and joined Allen to work together. Their partnership was later named Microsoft in November 1975 and got the name registered in November 1976 with Secretary of State of New Mexico.

Microsoft Basic became popular among hobbyists who copied their programs and distributed. In 1976 States started demanding payment for the copies and refused to continue otherwise. In late 1976 Microsoft become independent of MITS and later shifted to new office in Bellevue, Washington in January 1979. Gates was a successful Executive because he was very particular in his business details and reviewed everything minutely.

IBM partnership

IBM approached Microsoft to write the Basic interpreter for their IBM PC in 1980. They tried Digital Research (DRI) unsuccessfully. Gates proposed them to use 86-Dos (QDOS) operating system of Seattle Computer Products (SCP). While negotiating for IBM, Microsoft became exclusive Licensing Agents of SCP and later full owners of 86-Dos. IBM paid a onetime fee of $50,000 excluding copyrights. MS-DOS increased Microsoft market effectively.

Windows

Gates restructured Microsoft in 1981 and became its President and board Chairman. The retail version of Microsoft Windows was launched in 1985. In a deal with IBM it developed operating system called OS/2 but got separated for technical reasons from IBM in 1991 to develop a separate Windows NT Kernel.

Management

Mr. Gates controlled Company’s product strategy from 1995 thru 2006 defending and protecting achievements vigorously. He remained in constant touch with senior managers for first hand reports and progress and often pushed them for finer details to safeguard company’s long term interests.

Bill Gates was an active Software architect, programming language products and wrote codes. He was quiet aggressive in marketing. He often had to face antitrust litigation where he, at times, put non-serious arguments to defend charges of monopolization and competition violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act. At times he had to pay penalties too.

Gates adopted unique ways to promote Microsoft. He created news by media coverage of himself shopping, visiting friends or demonstrating his products. His personal presence in ads gave impetus to Microsoft indirectly.

Bill Gates decided in 2006, to reduce his daily working load and announced steady transition. He placed Ray Ozzie in charge of day to day management while Craig Mundie in charge of long term product strategy. He relieved himself for part time supervision only and full time for his philanthropic projects.

Gates Personal Life

William H. Gates married Melinda French from Dallas, Taxes in 1994. They have three children Jenifer Katharine, Rory John and Phobe Adele. They live in Medina near lake Washington on hill side. His landed property was stated to be worth $150 millions. His estate has all the modern sophisticated facilities and amenities that money can buy.

He is a lover of art. His collections include writings by Leonardo da Vinci, bought in auction for $ 30.8 Millions. He is also given to reading books and maintains a large home library. He enjoys playing bridge, golf and tennis.

The various assessment firms, World Wide, are always counting his wealth. Forbes has registered him as world’s richest man from 1993 thru 2007 and 2009. However his net worth is stated around $40 Billion.
Bill Gates is an American, chairman of Microsoft, a business magnate, philanthropist and author of two books. Gates personally is the best known architect of the personal computer.

He had a lot of admirers and some business rivals and critics too. The foundation received criticism that its aim is to maximize return on investment. As a result the companies are worsening poverty in developing countries. It’s pharmaceutical companies do not sell in deprived world. The critics maintain that it amounts to squeezing public with one hand and giving away with the other hand. However the foundation announced to review its policy, but later the review was cancelled, reverting to original routine.

He realized that he need to attend to the philanthropic projects as the expectations of the public and media was that more money ought to be spent on the needy. In 2000 Gates and Melinda Gates merged three family foundations into one to form Melinda and Gates Foundation, the World’s largest operating charitable organization.

Bill Gates is following the aim to tackle those global problems that the governments and other organizations usually ignore. In 2007, Bill and Melinda Gates, contributions to charity in America amounted to $28 billion.

World Wide Recognition

Gates has received honorary doctorates from various Universities and renowned Institutes World Wide. Queen Elizabeth II bestowed Honorary Knight-Commander of the Order of British Empire. (KBE)
The leading magazines rated him most influential person, most philanthropic, heroic, most powerful CEO and the richest American of the 20th century.

Bibliography:  Gates has authored two books.

• The Road ahead written in 1995.
• Business @ the speed of thought written in 1999.

Antonio Vivaldi was nicknamed as Prete Rosso (The Red Priest)

Birth: He was born on 4th March 1678 in Venice
Death: He died on 28th July 1741 in Vienna
Education: His first lessons were in violin from his father Glovanni Battista, who was a barber and a professional violinist, besides being a founder member of trade union of Musicians (Sovregno dei Musicisti d’ Santa cecilia) and a baroque composer.

Health: He had breathing problems from early life. His asthma prevented him from using wind instruments, hence his preference to violin. He was also excused from attending the Holly Mass due to his short breath.

Priest Hood:

He joined church to become a priest at the age of 15 years in 1693. He attained Priest Hood in 1703 and became known as “The Red Priest” because of his Red hair, a family trait. In Venice Vivaldi became master of Violin at an orphanage known Ospedale della Pieta and later a member of their renowned Orchestra. He wrote their sacred Music and was promoted Violin instructor in 1704. His relations with the board of Directors was seldom cordial, lost his job in 1709 but due to his important conduct, was reappointed in 1711. Finally was elevated as music director in 1716.

Professional Career – Collections, operas, concerts
Launched Opus I – in 1705 Connor Cassara – 12 Sonatas for 2 violins and basso.
Launched Opus II – in 1709 Collection of – 12 Sonatas for 2 Violins and basso
Launched Opus III – in 1711-First Collection of 12 Concerts for 1, 2, 4 violins, (L’estro armonica) – His major breakthrough all over Europe in the Musical Field.
Launched Opus IV – in 1714 La stravaganza – Concerti for Solo Violin and strings.

In 1711 Vivaldi & his father played in religious festival, his setting of stabat mater (RV621) proved a master piece showing his musical and emotional depth. Vivaldi continued writing two concert’s annually for Pieta who paid him for his works till 1733.

His successful Operas

Opera entertainment was popular in Venice and was considered good business. Vivaldi started his carrier in opera performance from Garzarie theatre in Vicenza in 1713. He became opera impresario in Saint Angelo in Venice. His first performance Orlando Finto Pazzo (RV 727) was not impressive but in 1715 Nerone fatto Cesare (RV 724), with Vivaldi in lead of seven composers, was highly successful. His next opera performance, Arsilda Regina di Ponto (RV 700) was a one-man-show and a total success.

He managed many works for Pieta. The important ones being – Moyses Dens Pharonis (RV 643) and Juditha Triumphans (RV 644) Composed in 1716. His sacred master pieces were organized to celebrate Italian WAR Victories using solo-instruments. He was now able to perform all over Italy till 1732. His out of routine modern style started gaining popularity. His success attracted opposition from leading musicians who defamed him by various means.  Vivaldi moved to Mantua in 1720, as Maestro di Cappell in Prince Philip’s court, then to Rome in 1722. His independent style opted an opportunity to play for Pope Benedict XIII in 1725 in Vienna producing 4 operas. His most popular 4 violin concerts, Four Seasons, was produced in the same period.

Vivaldi, at peak performance years, became well-known among European nobles who sent him gifts e.t.c. He wrote Gloria Imeneo (RV 687) for marriage of King Louis XV (opus9), La Cetra for Emperor Charles VI, who awarded Knighthood and a Gold Medal to him in appreciation and invited him to Vienna.

Vivaldi presented many more operas accompanied by his father in later life. He also composed works in collaboration with other leading music writers of his time. Somehow he got messed-up financially and was forced to sell his compositions for petti sums. Finally he decided to move to Vienna to avail royal invitation and to take the position of composer in the Imperial Court. His luck fell short as the Emperor Charles died as he reached Vienna. Very dejected, he himself died in July 1728 due to ill health soon after.

His Style and Influence

Vivaldi’s compositions, operas and concerts were occasionally successful and became popular due to non – traditional style which offered lively joyful modes. Somehow much of his work was lost due to being ignored or misunderstood during his lifetime and later. As usually happens with real genius performers, they remain more or less ignored and do not gather following to be called heroic. They are born at times when proper audience is missing to appreciate the depth and feelings of their extra ordinary qualities. But nature is not unjust. The due appreciation on their real hard struggle and great performances is restored and revived at later years when mankind achieves enough internal finer rhythmic progress. It took almost two centuries for Vivaldi’s works to get proper appreciation from masses. People are now getting to understand how great Musical performer he was. French musicians got attracted to Vivaldi’s concertos when some of his lost works were acquired and revived in the early 20th century. Soon after almost all his lost works were retrieved from different libraries of Lords throughout Europe. His unique style gained audience quickly as musicians discovered the hidden beauty of his classical and innovative works. Vivaldi wrote for the simple masses mostly and also attracted the intellectually advanced music students and performers. Vivaldi’s reputation, as a great writer/composer, is gaining impetus as his lost treasures are being re-discovered and appreciated by modern masters and producers.

The musical world needs to thank people by whose efforts acquisition of the lost volumes was made possible and those who presented these melodies, themes, operas and so on, to the general public for appreciation. To name a few, National University of Turin Library, Mendlesohn, Frity Kreister’s concerto, Marc Pinchele, Alfred Casella …and many more were active in acquiring and reviving the long misunderstood Vivaldi’s music.

Movie

Some enthusiastic people have completed a movie in 2005 named “Vivaldi” a Prince in Venice.

Music Therapy

Alfred Tomotis has also introduced theories on effects of music on human behavior and used Vivaldi’s music in Music Therapy on humans.

The World today is again listening to the music of this Great Master. Many of his recovered works have already been played in different continents. The list below may still be incomplete as more lost Vivaldi’s works may come to light in the coming years.

•    500 Ultimate concerti
•    46 Ultimate Operas
•    100 Ultimate Sonatas
•    Sacred music uncountable compositions
•    Symphonies

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