Chapter 16
Chi Mak admitted that he was sent to the United States in 1978 in order to obtain employment in the defense industry with the goal of stealing U.S. defense secrets, which he did for over 20 years. He passed information on quiet electric propulsion systems for U.S. submarines, details on the Aegis radar system, and information on stealth ships being developed by the U.S. Navy. The Chinese government tasked Mak to acquire information on other technologies. Mak recruited family members to encrypt and covertly courier information back to China. In May 2007, Mak was convicted of conspiracy, failing to register as an agent of a foreign government, and other violations. He was sentenced to over 24 years in prison.
Greg Chung spied for China from 1979–2006. Chung stole trade secrets about the space shuttle, the Delta IV rocket and the C-17 military cargo jet for the benefit of the Chinese government. Chung’s motive was to “contribute to the Motherland.” He stole hundreds of thousands of documents from his employer. He traveled to China under the guise of giving lectures while secretly meeting with Chinese agents. He also used Mak to transfer information back to China. In February 2010 he was sentenced to over 15 years in prison.”
—www.fbi.gov/file-repository/insider_threat_brochure.pdf/view
Six Estonian nationals have been arrested and charged with running a sophisticated Internet fraud ring that infected millions of computers worldwide with a virus and enabled the thieves to manipulate the multi-billion-dollar Internet advertising industry. Users of infected machines were unaware that their computers had been compromised or that the malicious software rendered their machines vulnerable to a host of other viruses.
Details of the two-year FBI investigation called Operation Ghost Click were announced in New York when a federal indictment was unsealed. Officials also described their efforts to make sure infected users’ Internet access would not be disrupted as a result of the operation.
—FBI, 9 November 2011, www.fbi.gov/news/stories/international-cyber-ring-that-infected-millions-of-computers-dismantled
The FBI has a unique dual responsibility, to prevent harm to national security as the nation’s domestic intelligence agency and to enforce federal laws as the nation’s principal law enforcement agency. These roles are complementary, as threats to the nation’s cybersecurity can emanate from nation-states, terrorist organizations, and transnational criminal enterprises; with the lines between sometimes blurred. (emphasis added by John Jameson)
—www.fbi.gov/file-repository/addressing-threats-to-the-nations-cybersecurity-1.pdf/view
Transnational organized crime (TOC) groups are self-perpetuating associations of individuals who operate, wholly or in part, by illegal means and irrespective of geography. They constantly seek to obtain power, influence, and monetary gains. There is no single structure under which TOC groups function—they vary from hierarchies to clans, networks, and cells, and may evolve into other structures. These groups are typically insular and protect their activities through corruption, violence, international commerce, complex communication mechanisms, and an organizational structure exploiting national boundaries.
…
With few exceptions, TOC groups’ primary goal is economic gain and they will employ an array of lawful and illicit schemes to generate profit.
…
TOC groups may encompass both the Eastern and Western hemispheres and include persons with ethnic or cultural ties to Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. These groups, however, are able to target victims and execute their schemes from anywhere in the world; thus, the extent of their presence within a particular area does not necessarily reflect the degree of the threat they pose.
—www.fbi.gov/investigate/organized-crime
“The bad guys helped us [sell more cybersecurity software and services],” says Idan Tendler, the founder and chief executive officer of Fortscale Security in San Francisco. “It started with Snowden, and people said, ‘Wow, if that happened in the NSA, it could happen to us.’ ”
—Inc. Magazine June 21, 2018: In a Startling New Study, Companies Admit to Spying on Employees Far More Than Employees Realize
Chapter 17
In 2014, Australian police catch a man after a marathon pursuit at speeds up to 190 kilometers per hour.
—Staff Writers. “Police have played a game of ‘cat and mouse’ with a man in a series of car chases in northern NSW [Australia], spanning 12 hours, 200 kilometers and involving two stolen cars,” The Daily Telegraph, 21 August 2014, www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/twelvehour-car-chase-police-catch-man-after-marathon-pursuit-at-speeds-up-to-190kmh/news-story/775fe771ff61e3b2b8cfb6eff8c78f28
They fired a round of bean bags from a shotgun in an attempt to break Martinez’s window, and shot a pepper-spray projectile into his vehicle.
—Robertson, Michelle. “Wild police chase: Man leads authorities through multiple cities, orchard, summer camp, river”. SFGATE, 9 Aug. 2018, www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/fresno-river-canoe-efrain-martinez-burglar-arrest-13145367.php
Chapter 18
Some statistical information about cycling accidents:
“Livingston’s case is part of a troubling trend. Hit-and-run collisions involving bicyclists surged 42% from 2002 to 2012 in Los Angeles County, according to a Times analysis of California Highway Patrol crash data.
The increase came as the overall number of hit-and-runs involving cars, cyclists and pedestrians dropped by 30%. Between 2002 and 2012, the most recent data available, more than 5,600 cyclists were injured and at least 36 died in crashes in which drivers fled the scene.”
Emamdjomeh, Armand et al. “Hit-and-runs take a rising toll on cyclists”. Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2014, graphics.latimes.com/la-bike-hit-and-runs/
“An estimated 682,000 hit and run accidents occur each year. During 2016, there were 2,049 hit and run deaths. AAA’s study also ranked states based on the number of hit and run accidents. California ranked number seven, while New Mexico came in first place.”
Gross, Andrew. “Hit-and-Run Deaths Hit Record High”. AAA Newsroom, 26 Apr. 2018, newsroom.aaa.com/2018/04/hit-run-deaths-hit-record-high/
Around half of cyclist fatalities occur on rural roads, while 75 percent happen at, or near, a road junction.
Eighty percent of cyclist casualties are male.
Cyclists are more likely to suffer serious injuries when a driver is judged to be “impaired by alcohol,” “exceeding the speed limit,” or “travelling too fast for the conditions.”
The most common vehicle involved in collisions with cyclists is a car or a taxi, with the rider usually being hit by the front of the vehicle. In a quarter of fatal cyclist accidents, the front of the vehicle hit the rear of the bicycle.
The most dangerous hours for cyclists are 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. on weekdays. However, cycling accidents in the dark are more likely to be fatal.
“Accident Rates”. Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, www.rospa.com/road-safety/advice/pedal-cyclists/facts-figures/
Of the 11 ways for a cyclist to get hit, all but is one based on driving a car in the normal way. It does not include the head-on collision by car over the double yellows, which is how Fernandez died in this chapter.
Hisham, Mirza. “11 Common Situations Cyclists Get Hit and How You Can Avoid Them”. The Geeky Cyclist, 19 Jun. 2021, www.thegeekycyclist.com/tips/cyclist-avoid-getting-hit
A cyclist is pushed along by a car from the rear.
Aarons, Dakarai. “Cyclist testifies in White Rock case”. The Dallas Morning News, 9 Jun. 2005, https://forums.roadbikereview.com/general-cycling-discussion/she-only-intended-tap-bicyclist-her-car-33220.html
Chapter 20
Even prior to COVID-19 we were experiencing a gradual evolution of procedures and tools associated with the cruise experience … [and enhancing health protocols.]
...
Cruise is a people product, and we enjoy socialization, thus elements such as social distancing will need to be carefully managed in the startup and eliminated long-term to preserve the aesthetics of the product.”
—Luis de Carvalho, CEO of Bermello Ajamil and Partners Europe, a global cruise and maritime consulting firm
Xenex’s LightStrike robots have been used in the hospitality industry for some time already, and Cruisecritic.com claims in a recent article that there are cruise-ready versions under development. The robots will use broad spectrum ultraviolet light to disinfect guest cabins; studies have shown that viruses can be killed within two minutes with similar technologies. Electrostatic spray technology, also known as fogging, can use hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a non-toxic, powerful oxidant that effectively kills pathogens.
—Coulter, Adam. “Why Germ-Zapping Robots and AI Technology Could Be the Future For Cruise Ships”, www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=5379
The Big Hat Lady’s mixed drink was a Chocolate Monkey. You will find many recipes for it, some with a long list of ingredients. Some recipes suggest it to be more of a dessert from an adults-only ice cream parlor then a fancy drink from a bar.