Read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/bdhpa4xc Paul Gardner Allen, born on January 21, 1953, and regrettably departing this world on October 15, 2018, was a versatile and influential figure in American society. He played a wide range of roles, from being a successful business magnate, computer programmer, and researcher, to an accomplished investor, film producer, and a prominent philanthropist. Perhaps his most notable achievement was co-founding Microsoft Corporation alongside his childhood friend, Bill Gates, in 1975. This groundbreaking venture played a pivotal role in sparking the microcomputer revolution that defined the technological landscape of the 1970s and 1980s. Under his leadership, Microsoft grew to become the world's leading personal computer software company. In terms of wealth, Paul Allen was ranked as the 44th wealthiest individual globally by Forbes in 2018, with an estimated net worth of a remarkable $20.3 billion at the time of his passing. Paul Allen's life took an unexpected turn when he stepped away from active involvement at Microsoft in early 1983 due to a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma. Nevertheless, he continued to contribute his expertise to the company as the vice-chairman of its board. In 1986, together with his sister Jody Allen, he established Vulcan Inc., a privately held organization responsible for managing his diverse business and philanthropic ventures. His financial interests spanned various domains, including technology, media, scientific research, real estate, private space exploration projects, and investments in various other sectors. Notably, he held ownership stakes in the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League, the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association, and had a partial ownership position in the Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer. In 2000, he stepped down from Microsoft's board and took on the role of senior strategy advisor to the company's management. Paul Allen's unwavering commitment extended to founding the Allen Institutes, encompassing fields such as Brain Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Cell Science. Additionally, he ventured into the creation of companies like Stratolaunch Systems and Apex Learning. His philanthropic efforts knew no bounds, as he directed over $2 billion towards a wide array of causes, including education, wildlife conservation, environmental protection, the arts, healthcare, and community services. As a pioneer in the realm of space exploration, he provided funding for the historic crewed private spaceplane project, SpaceShipOne, in 2004. His remarkable contributions were widely recognized, and he was honored with numerous awards and accolades. Paul Allen was named among the Time 100 Most Influential People in the World in both 2007 and 2008. However, life presented a formidable challenge when Paul Allen was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2009. His courageous battle against this relentless adversary came to a close on October 15, 2018, as septic shock, closely associated with cancer, claimed his life at the age of 65. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u7bpgbIYXw

➡️ Read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/3ftshdfj Members of a gang secured the return of stolen Gottfried Lindauer paintings from a New Zealand gallery in exchange for their release from prison. Two Gottfried Lindauer paintings reported stolen in 2017 and valued at over $490,000 US ($800,000 NZD) were returned to the police on Wednesday following a secret arrangement drawn up by top gang members, according to the New Zealand Herald. The Czech-New Zealander artist painted portraits of Chief and Chieftainess Ngatai-Raure in 1884. The artwork was stolen in a "smash-and-grab" heist from the International Art Centre gallery and sale house in April 2017. The criminals backed a stolen van through the front window of the gallery and sale house before loading the two artworks into a white sedan. Lindauer painted many portraits of Mori people, both prominent and ordinary citizens, and these two were just two examples. An image of Harawira Te Mahikai, leader of the Ngti Kahungunu Tribe, fetched about $615,000 at auction in March ($1,009,008 New Zealand dollars; including fees). According to the New Zealand police, Chief Ngatai-Raure and his wife, Chieftainess Ngatai-Raure, were repatriated in December with just minor injuries. The Herald reports that the police have been "deliberately vague" about the whereabouts of the artworks, stating only that "an intermediary who tried to return the paintings on behalf of others" attempted to reunite them with their rightful owners. Back in December, DI Scott Beard told reporters, "This is good news to me." When you're invested in solving a mystery, you go to great lengths to do so. We never gave up hope because we understood the cultural significance of these paintings. They have circled back around to us. As the police have said, "We're still hoping that someone will come forward with information that will help us figure out who broke in and stole these paintings." On June 7th, the Herald announced that two high-level criminals had reached an arrangement to restore two stolen pictures of Lindauer. The Court of Appeal of the country ordered "wide-ranging suppression orders" to keep their identities secret, so they would never be revealed. "Strict non-publication orders" also prevent anyone from discussing the method by which the Lindauer works were returned to the police. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1SSbMlbOP8