In cities all across the country, workers stand on street corners, line up in alleys or wait in a neon-lit beauty salon for rickety vans to whisk them off to warehouses miles away. Some vans are so packed that to get to work, people must squat on milk crates, sit on the laps of passengers they do not know or sometimes lie on the floor, the other workers’ feet on top of them.
This is not Mexico. It is not Guatemala or Honduras. This is Chicago, New Jersey, Boston.The people here are not day laborers looking for an odd job from a passing contractor. They are regular employees of temp agencies working in the supply chain of many of America’s largest companies – Walmart, Macy’s, Nike, Frito-Lay. They make our frozen pizzas, sort the recycling from our trash, cut our vegetables and clean our imported fish. They unload clothing and toys made overseas and pack them to fill our store shelves. They are as important to the global economy as shipping containers and Asian garment workers.
Many get by on minimum wage, renting rooms in rundown houses, eating dinners of beans and potatoes, and surviving on food banks and taxpayer-funded health care. They almost never get benefits and have little opportunity for advancement.
Across America, temporary work has become a mainstay of the economy, leading to the proliferation of what researchers have begun to call “temp towns.” They are often dense Latino neighborhoods teeming with temp agencies. Or they are cities where it has become nearly impossible even for whites and African-Americans with vocational training to find factory and warehouse work without first being directed to a temp firm.
In June, the Labor Department reported that the nation had more temp workers than ever before: 2.7 million. Overall, almost one-fifth of the total job growth since the recession ended in mid-2009 has been in the temp sector, federal data shows. But according to the American Staffing Association, the temp industry’s trade group, the pool is even larger: Every year, a tenth of all U.S. workers finds a job at a staffing agency.
The proportion of temp workers in the labor force reached its peak in early 2000 before the 2001 slump and then the Great Recession. But as the economy continues its slow, uneven recovery, temp work is roaring back 10 times faster than private-sector employment as a whole – a pace “exceeding even the dramatic run-up of the early 1990s,” according to the staffing association.
The overwhelming majority of that growth has come in blue-collar work in factories and warehouses, as the temp industry sheds the Kelly Girl image of the past. Last year, more than one in every 20 blue-collar workers was a temp.
Several temp agencies, such as Adecco and Manpower, are now among the largest employers in the United States. One list put Kelly Services as second only to Walmart.
“We’re seeing just more and more industries using business models that attempt to change the employment relationship or obscure the employment relationship,” said Mary Beth Maxwell, a top official in the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division. “While it’s certainly not a new phenomenon, it’s rapidly escalating. In the last 10 to 15 years, there’s just a big shift to this for a lot more workers – which makes them a lot more vulnerable.”
The temp system insulates the host companies from workers’ compensation claims, unemployment taxes, union drives and the duty to ensure that their workers are citizens or legal immigrants. In turn, the temps suffer high injury rates, according to federal officials and oil painting reproduction, and many of them endure hours of unpaid waiting and face fees that depress their pay below minimum wage.
The rise of the blue-collar permatemp helps explain one of the most troubling aspects of the phlegmatic recovery. Despite a soaring stock market and steady economic growth, many workers are returning to temporary or part-time jobs. This trend is intensifying America’s decades-long rise in income inequality, in which low- and middle-income workers have seen their real wages stagnate or decline. On average, temps earn 25 percent less than permanent workers.
Rosa, a 49-year-old Mexican immigrant with thin glasses and a curly bob of brown hair, has been a temp worker for the better part of 12 years. She has packed free samples for Walmart, put together displays for Sony, printed ads for Marlboro, made air filters for the Navy and boxed textbooks for elite colleges and universities. None of the work led to a full-time job.
Even though some assignments last months, such as her recent job packaging razors for Philips Norelco, every day is a crapshoot for Rosa. She must first check in at the temp agency in Hanover Park, Ill., by 4:30 a.m. and wait. If she is lucky enough to be called, she must then take a van or bus to the worksite. And even though the agency, Staffing Network, is her legal employer, she is not paid until she gets to the assembly line at 6 a.m.
In Kane County, Ill., where Rosa lives, one in every 16 workers is a temp. Such high concentrations of temp workers exist in Grand Rapids, Mich.; Middlesex County, N.J.; Memphis, Tenn.; the Inland Empire of California; and Lehigh County, Pa. In New Jersey, white vans zip through an old Hungarian neighborhood in New Brunswick, picking up workers at temp agencies along French Street. In Joliet, Ill., one temp agency operated out of a motel meeting room once a week, supplying labor to the layers of logistics contractors at one of Walmart’s biggest warehouses. In Greenville County, S.C., near BMW’s U.S. manufacturing plant, one in 11 workers was a temp in 2011. A decade before, it was one in 22.
In temp towns, it is not uncommon to find warehouses with virtually no employees of their own. Many temp workers say they have worked in the same factory day in and day out for years. José Miguel Rojo, for example, packed frozen pizzas for a Walmart supplier every day for eight years as a temp until he was injured last summer and lost his job.
Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
2013年6月27日星期四
Mandela still critical, improved overnight
Nelson Mandela's health improved overnight and although his condition remains critical it is now stable, the South African government said Thursday. One of the former president's daughters said he was still opening his eyes and reacting to the touch of his family even though his situation was precarious.
The report that the health of the 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader had taken a turn for the better came amid a growing sense in South Africa that Mandela was approaching the end of his life. Well-wishers have delivered flowers and messages of support to the Pretoria hospital where he is being treated, and prayer sessions were held around the country on Thursday.
President Jacob Zuma's office said in a statement that he received the encouraging update from the medical team that is treating Mandela. Zuma had canceled an international trip on Thursday, instead visiting Mandela for the second time in two days.
"I canceled my visit to Mozambique today so that I can see him and confer with the doctors," Zuma said in the statement. "He is much better today than he was when I saw him last night."
In April, Zuma gave an overly upbeat assessment about Mandela's condition. At that time, state television broadcast footage of a visit by Zuma and other political leaders to Mandela's home. Zuma said at the time that Mandela was in good shape, but the footage showed him silent and unresponsive, even when Zuma tried to hold his hand.
Mandela, who was imprisoned for 27 years during white racist rule and became president in all-race elections in 1994, was taken to a hospital on June 8 for what the government said was a recurring lung infection.
The president's office said it was disturbed by what it called rumors about Mandela's health and appealed for respect for the privacy and dignity of the former leader. Unconfirmed reports about Mandela have swirled on social media and other forums.
Mandela's condition is acknowledged to be grave. He is on life support systems, according to a few television networks that quote anonymous sources, and presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj has declined to confirm or deny those reports.
Makaziwe Mandela, one of Mandela's daughters, echoed the criticism, saying foreign media coverage of her father's illness had become intrusive, particularly at the Pretoria hospital where many
"There's sort of a racist element with many of the foreign media, where they just cross boundaries," she said in the SABC interview. "It's like truly vultures waiting when a lion has devoured a buffalo, waiting there for the last carcasses. That's the image that we have, as a family."
In comments posted on the SABC web site, Makaziwe Mandela said "anything is imminent" because her father, referred to affectionately by many South Africans as "Tata," or "Father," is in a very critical state.
"I want to emphasize again that it's only God who knows when the time to go is," she said. "So we will wait with Tata. He's still giving us hope by opening his eyes, he's still reactive to touch, we will live with that hope until the final end comes."
Beginning a trip to Africa, President Obama said in Senegal on Thursday that his thoughts and prayers were with South Africans and in particular the Mandela family. He said he was inspired, as a law school student in the early 1990s, to see Mandela step forward after decades of imprisonment to help deliver democracy in a spirit of reconciliation with his former captors.
"It gave me a sense of what is possible in the world when righteous people, when people of good will, work together on behalf of a larger cause," said Obama, who described Mandela as a personal hero."And if and when he passes from this place, one thing I think we'll all know is that his legacy is one that will linger on throughout the ages," Obama said.
In Jerusalem, the visiting archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said Mandela has been in his thoughts and prayers."We're praying constantly for President Mandela, especially for his family, for the people of South Africa and for peace in their hearts and minds of what must be a very traumatic time for them," he said at an interfaith meeting.
Mandela's 95th birthday is on July 18, an occasion ahead of which South African organizers and others around the world are planning humanitarian acts to honor the legacy of the former president. Samson Divhula, a statistician in Pretoria, said he hoped Mandela would live to celebrate his day.
Seems like not much has changed in the world of Chick-fil-A. After the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act on Wednesday, the restaurant chain's president and chief operating officer, Dan Cathy, apparently tweeted an anti-gay response to the ruling.
The court ruled Wednesday morning that DOMA, which barred the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, even in states where the union has already been legalized, is unconstitutional. Following the decision, the Supreme Court also dropped the case for Proposition 8, California's same-sex marriage ban.
Upon hearing the news, some celebrated for equality while others complained about how society has changed for the worse. Cathy, who made headlines last summer for saying his company supports the "biblical definition" of marriage, stood with the latter camp.
The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy reporter Charles Passy was the first to report that Cathy reportedly tweeted an anti-gay marriage statement following the DOMA verdict. A reader sent Passy the tweet, which said it was a "sad day" for the nation and that the "founding fathers would be ashamed." The post has been deleted.
Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
The report that the health of the 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader had taken a turn for the better came amid a growing sense in South Africa that Mandela was approaching the end of his life. Well-wishers have delivered flowers and messages of support to the Pretoria hospital where he is being treated, and prayer sessions were held around the country on Thursday.
President Jacob Zuma's office said in a statement that he received the encouraging update from the medical team that is treating Mandela. Zuma had canceled an international trip on Thursday, instead visiting Mandela for the second time in two days.
"I canceled my visit to Mozambique today so that I can see him and confer with the doctors," Zuma said in the statement. "He is much better today than he was when I saw him last night."
In April, Zuma gave an overly upbeat assessment about Mandela's condition. At that time, state television broadcast footage of a visit by Zuma and other political leaders to Mandela's home. Zuma said at the time that Mandela was in good shape, but the footage showed him silent and unresponsive, even when Zuma tried to hold his hand.
Mandela, who was imprisoned for 27 years during white racist rule and became president in all-race elections in 1994, was taken to a hospital on June 8 for what the government said was a recurring lung infection.
The president's office said it was disturbed by what it called rumors about Mandela's health and appealed for respect for the privacy and dignity of the former leader. Unconfirmed reports about Mandela have swirled on social media and other forums.
Mandela's condition is acknowledged to be grave. He is on life support systems, according to a few television networks that quote anonymous sources, and presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj has declined to confirm or deny those reports.
Makaziwe Mandela, one of Mandela's daughters, echoed the criticism, saying foreign media coverage of her father's illness had become intrusive, particularly at the Pretoria hospital where many
"There's sort of a racist element with many of the foreign media, where they just cross boundaries," she said in the SABC interview. "It's like truly vultures waiting when a lion has devoured a buffalo, waiting there for the last carcasses. That's the image that we have, as a family."
In comments posted on the SABC web site, Makaziwe Mandela said "anything is imminent" because her father, referred to affectionately by many South Africans as "Tata," or "Father," is in a very critical state.
"I want to emphasize again that it's only God who knows when the time to go is," she said. "So we will wait with Tata. He's still giving us hope by opening his eyes, he's still reactive to touch, we will live with that hope until the final end comes."
Beginning a trip to Africa, President Obama said in Senegal on Thursday that his thoughts and prayers were with South Africans and in particular the Mandela family. He said he was inspired, as a law school student in the early 1990s, to see Mandela step forward after decades of imprisonment to help deliver democracy in a spirit of reconciliation with his former captors.
"It gave me a sense of what is possible in the world when righteous people, when people of good will, work together on behalf of a larger cause," said Obama, who described Mandela as a personal hero."And if and when he passes from this place, one thing I think we'll all know is that his legacy is one that will linger on throughout the ages," Obama said.
In Jerusalem, the visiting archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said Mandela has been in his thoughts and prayers."We're praying constantly for President Mandela, especially for his family, for the people of South Africa and for peace in their hearts and minds of what must be a very traumatic time for them," he said at an interfaith meeting.
Mandela's 95th birthday is on July 18, an occasion ahead of which South African organizers and others around the world are planning humanitarian acts to honor the legacy of the former president. Samson Divhula, a statistician in Pretoria, said he hoped Mandela would live to celebrate his day.
Seems like not much has changed in the world of Chick-fil-A. After the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act on Wednesday, the restaurant chain's president and chief operating officer, Dan Cathy, apparently tweeted an anti-gay response to the ruling.
The court ruled Wednesday morning that DOMA, which barred the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, even in states where the union has already been legalized, is unconstitutional. Following the decision, the Supreme Court also dropped the case for Proposition 8, California's same-sex marriage ban.
Upon hearing the news, some celebrated for equality while others complained about how society has changed for the worse. Cathy, who made headlines last summer for saying his company supports the "biblical definition" of marriage, stood with the latter camp.
The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy reporter Charles Passy was the first to report that Cathy reportedly tweeted an anti-gay marriage statement following the DOMA verdict. A reader sent Passy the tweet, which said it was a "sad day" for the nation and that the "founding fathers would be ashamed." The post has been deleted.
Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
2013年6月25日星期二
Helping hands reach out
Soon after a storm ripped through the Calvary Church in Muscatine, tearing apart the ceiling and auditorium and leaving a path of destruction in its wake, church members began showing up to help rebuild. Volunteers were on the scene even before emergency service personnel.
Austin Newton, an audio/visual employee for the church, was at the church during the storm — one of only four who were at the church at that time. About 10 minutes before it hit, he was in the auditorium, testing the sound equipment."The scary thing to think of is I was in the epicenter of where everything happened only moments before," Newton said. "There was no warning. I can't explain how fast everything happened."
By the time the rain began pouring and the winds began to pick up, Newton and a maintenance employee were in the nursery, but quickly ran to the bathroom for safety as the weather intensified. "When we emerged, we heard running water and saw the damage that was done to the building," Newton said. "We found two ladies in the office and helped them get to a safe place."
Soon after the storm cleared, Newton said he helped turn off the power and utilities. Newton said the first person he saw was congregation member Luke Noble, who helped clear computers and office supplies out of the building."Community Bank of Muscatine, the bank that owns the building previously held by Blockbuster (across the street from the church), is allowing us to store some equipment there as we clean up," Newton said.
Ty Thomas, lead pastor at Calvary Church, said he's thankful the church was closed on Mondays and only a few people were in the building at the time.Throughout the oil painting reproduction, fire sprinklers were ripped out, causing around six inches of water to flood the church. Church members from ages 6 to 80 were volunteering to help clean up.
"At least 100 people showed up last night to help clean up debris from the building," Thomas said. "People showed up early Tuesday, too, to help continue cleaning."
Church staff member Susan Orvis said at least 100 people signed up as volunteers Tuesday morning, cleaning up debris in and outside the church, drying the carpet in the building and clearing out damaged furniture and supplies.Thomas said that a few members of the church even volunteered to stay the night to prevent looting.
"There's no church here, but church is more than a building, it's where the people gather," Thomas said, adding that they've rented a tent to hold services outside this Sunday at 10 a.m. in the parking lot. "We're blessed that nobody was hurt."
Monday's storm, which the National Weather Service said included a tornado, left a path of destruction which brought down tree limbs inside the city, as well as traveling along the Douglas King Memorial Expressway, leaving building debris along the way en route to rural Muscatine, where it ravaged Judy and Kenny Connor's farm at 2876 New Era Road.
Judy wasn't home at the time, but she said her husband was."He said he was looking out the window and all of a sudden the barn was gone," Judy said.The family lost two machine sheds, a silo, grain bins and a barn. No livestock was lost, according to Kenny.
"All of our neighbors and family were here soon after the storm passed to help begin cleaning up," Judy said. "There were a couple of amateur storm chasers here [Monday] night who said that when wood is lodged in the ground and you can't get it out, that winds could have reached up to 180 miles per hour."
Kenny said that as soon as he was able to, he began cleaning up, putting wood in piles to burn and metal in piles to be collected."We're just making it so we can maneuver around," Kenny said. "Some of these buildings were from the 1950s. Sixty years of stuff gone in an instant."
Download progress is shown right there on the screen, with a progress bar right on the tile of the game. And once a game is downloaded it is automatically installed and made ready to play. Originally that was a two step process.
There are a lot of other issues that have been improved. Supposedly there'll be prepaid currency cards available for people who don't want to attach a credit card to their Ouya account. There are rudimentary parental controls in there now (a passcode, basically) though the company plans to continue to improve that system. And you can finally turn the thing off from the controller.
Of course the hardware doesn't matter if the games aren't any good. While I feel like the Ouya library is continually improving, it's still a definite weak point (though I'm hoping we'll see some big launches today); there are still a lot of pretty rough 8-bit style games quickly put together by small teams in the library and you're going to have to open a lot of oysters to find the pearls in there. The good news is that every game (and Ouya claims on their website that there are 168 games in there) has a free component so you can sample them all before spending a dime.
Ouya CEO Julie Urhman did an interview with Polygon yesterday that's worth reading if you're on the fence and want to get an idea of what direction the company is headed in. For instance there are really no social elements (Friend lists, leaderboards, etc) on the Ouya now and adding these features is a pretty big priority for the company.
So should you buy an Ouya today? I think it really depends on how adventurous you are. If you want a game system with a nicely curated list of highly polished games then no, skip the Ouya for now. But if you're the type of gamer who is interested to see what kinds of crazy things Indie game developers can come up with, then you'll probably get your $100 worth of enjoyment out of it.
Austin Newton, an audio/visual employee for the church, was at the church during the storm — one of only four who were at the church at that time. About 10 minutes before it hit, he was in the auditorium, testing the sound equipment."The scary thing to think of is I was in the epicenter of where everything happened only moments before," Newton said. "There was no warning. I can't explain how fast everything happened."
By the time the rain began pouring and the winds began to pick up, Newton and a maintenance employee were in the nursery, but quickly ran to the bathroom for safety as the weather intensified. "When we emerged, we heard running water and saw the damage that was done to the building," Newton said. "We found two ladies in the office and helped them get to a safe place."
Soon after the storm cleared, Newton said he helped turn off the power and utilities. Newton said the first person he saw was congregation member Luke Noble, who helped clear computers and office supplies out of the building."Community Bank of Muscatine, the bank that owns the building previously held by Blockbuster (across the street from the church), is allowing us to store some equipment there as we clean up," Newton said.
Ty Thomas, lead pastor at Calvary Church, said he's thankful the church was closed on Mondays and only a few people were in the building at the time.Throughout the oil painting reproduction, fire sprinklers were ripped out, causing around six inches of water to flood the church. Church members from ages 6 to 80 were volunteering to help clean up.
"At least 100 people showed up last night to help clean up debris from the building," Thomas said. "People showed up early Tuesday, too, to help continue cleaning."
Church staff member Susan Orvis said at least 100 people signed up as volunteers Tuesday morning, cleaning up debris in and outside the church, drying the carpet in the building and clearing out damaged furniture and supplies.Thomas said that a few members of the church even volunteered to stay the night to prevent looting.
"There's no church here, but church is more than a building, it's where the people gather," Thomas said, adding that they've rented a tent to hold services outside this Sunday at 10 a.m. in the parking lot. "We're blessed that nobody was hurt."
Monday's storm, which the National Weather Service said included a tornado, left a path of destruction which brought down tree limbs inside the city, as well as traveling along the Douglas King Memorial Expressway, leaving building debris along the way en route to rural Muscatine, where it ravaged Judy and Kenny Connor's farm at 2876 New Era Road.
Judy wasn't home at the time, but she said her husband was."He said he was looking out the window and all of a sudden the barn was gone," Judy said.The family lost two machine sheds, a silo, grain bins and a barn. No livestock was lost, according to Kenny.
"All of our neighbors and family were here soon after the storm passed to help begin cleaning up," Judy said. "There were a couple of amateur storm chasers here [Monday] night who said that when wood is lodged in the ground and you can't get it out, that winds could have reached up to 180 miles per hour."
Kenny said that as soon as he was able to, he began cleaning up, putting wood in piles to burn and metal in piles to be collected."We're just making it so we can maneuver around," Kenny said. "Some of these buildings were from the 1950s. Sixty years of stuff gone in an instant."
Download progress is shown right there on the screen, with a progress bar right on the tile of the game. And once a game is downloaded it is automatically installed and made ready to play. Originally that was a two step process.
There are a lot of other issues that have been improved. Supposedly there'll be prepaid currency cards available for people who don't want to attach a credit card to their Ouya account. There are rudimentary parental controls in there now (a passcode, basically) though the company plans to continue to improve that system. And you can finally turn the thing off from the controller.
Of course the hardware doesn't matter if the games aren't any good. While I feel like the Ouya library is continually improving, it's still a definite weak point (though I'm hoping we'll see some big launches today); there are still a lot of pretty rough 8-bit style games quickly put together by small teams in the library and you're going to have to open a lot of oysters to find the pearls in there. The good news is that every game (and Ouya claims on their website that there are 168 games in there) has a free component so you can sample them all before spending a dime.
Ouya CEO Julie Urhman did an interview with Polygon yesterday that's worth reading if you're on the fence and want to get an idea of what direction the company is headed in. For instance there are really no social elements (Friend lists, leaderboards, etc) on the Ouya now and adding these features is a pretty big priority for the company.
So should you buy an Ouya today? I think it really depends on how adventurous you are. If you want a game system with a nicely curated list of highly polished games then no, skip the Ouya for now. But if you're the type of gamer who is interested to see what kinds of crazy things Indie game developers can come up with, then you'll probably get your $100 worth of enjoyment out of it.
2013年6月23日星期日
Hands across the gap
AS I suggested in a recent posting, Pope Francis said something quite profound, and provocative, when he declared in his folksy way that the atheist and the believer could "meet each other" by doing good. In almost every democracy, there is a lot of hard debate about the terms on which people of different religions and none can or should co-operate to achieve common goals, which might be social, political or humanitarian.
A British think-tank, Theos, is plunging into this discussion. Theos is a body that commands attention, and not just by virtue of its name, which is the Greek for God. It was launched with some fanfare in 2006 by the leaders of the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches. From an office a stone's throw from the Palace of Westminster, it opines on the public role of faith in a country that combines Christian institutions and public symbols, an intensely secular intelligentsia and a messy multi-faith reality.
The body's latest report is a clarion call for "political friendships across difference" in which people of various faiths and no faith form local coalitions to attain their ends. The author, David Barclay, starts with a couple of points on which many secular thinkers would agree. Public endeavours of any kind are likely to be coalitions, in a country where not only churches but political parties and trade unions have seen a tumble in membership. And "state multiculturalism"—helping religious and ethnic groups to assert their distinctiveness—is widely seen as a dangerous failure, at risk of turning the nation into self-contained blocks that hardly touch.
The answer? People with contrasting ideas about the ultimate can get to know and respect one another by working together to change everyday reality in big and small ways. The author acknowledges his debt to the Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, who has said faith groups should stand "side by side" at a common coal-face rather than face to face. But in his report, "Making Multiculturalism Work", Mr Barclay goes on to challenge some secularist thinking about broad coalitions. He insists that religious partners in any project should be free to talk about their motives; otherwise friendships will be superficial. As an example of secularist thinking which in his view demands too much, he cites a contributor to a Labour website who puts her case like this:
The question for me is, would I be a friend with someone who thinks my sexuality, or right of access to contraception or abortion is inherently wrong? I would not. Why are making these exceptions seen as not a problem when we deal with faith groups?
Mr Barclay says this seems "a truly extraordinary view of friendship" because it could ultimately "rule out the possibility of being friends with anyone who disagrees on anything of fundamental importance."
Which point of view is closer to real life? It is both difficult, and sometimes necessary, to establish friendships with people whose views on fundamental matters are at odds with our own. What makes the difference, in general, is the strength of the incentive to collaborate. Often the best glue for a coalition is the negative sort—the desire to overcome a common foe or to stop something undesirable. The biggest street demonstration in British history (against the imminent Iraq war, in February 2003) was mainly organised by two small, pragmatic groups whose world-views are utterly at odds: the (Trotskyist) Socialist Workers' Party and the Muslim Association of Britain. Women in hijab marched alongside comrades who sported piercings and tattoos. In the local politics of several European cities there is ad-hoc co-operation between devout Muslims and gay-rights advocates; both groups gravitate towards city centres, and both feel historically disadvantaged.
Against a common adversary, almost any combination of human beings can be friends. In the street protests now raging in Turkey, bohemians and liberals march alongside some devout Muslims, Turkish nationalists share the street with advocates of ethnic minorities. Rage with the existing order can be a wonderful unifier. Bringing diverse people together for some more constructive cause is harder, but not impossible if everybody really wants to get the job done.
Venezuela has operated currency controls for a decade, and restricted access to dollars at the official rate of 6.3 bolivars are a major gripe for local businesses and a cause of the OPEC member's slowing growth rate.
The Finance Ministry source said the government of newly-elected President Nicolas Maduro will in July allow a renewal of the so-called Sicad system. In a first round in March of this year, dollars were sold to businesses for reportedly as much as 14 bolivars apiece.
After another Sicad auction, authorities will then allow a revival of a system prohibited since 2010, under which dollars are sold by private brokers at a floating rate determined by a complicated formula linked to bond prices, the source added.
One local think-tank, Ecoanalitica, estimates that some 140 billion U.S. dollars have left the country illicitly since the currency controls were first put in place by Chavez's government in 2003.
Maduro argues that private businessmen and capitalist "speculators" have been deliberately hoarding consumer products and sabotaging the economy in order to undermine his rule.
In the first quarter of this year, the state currency board Cadivi opened investigations into more than 2,400 companies and suspended more than 200 for what it termed foreign exchange "irregularities."
Until it was shuttered by the government in May 2010, scores of brokerages had reaped a lucrative trade in foreign exchange through bond swaps in what was known as the "parallel market."
That amounted to a $30 billion a year market and provided dollars for, by some estimates, at least a quarter of imports, before the authorities raided many of the brokerages, which the Chavez government had accused of illegal money laundering and unchecked speculation.
With inflation running at a record monthly high of 6.1 percent in May and growth slowing to just 0.7 percent in the first quarter despite high oil prices, Maduro has inherited economic headaches only two months into his new job.
Next month's revival of Sicad is unlikely to bring quick relief. Only $200 million was sold at the auction in March, while economists estimate that the Venezuelan economy needs around $100 million per day to cover the imports it needs.
Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
A British think-tank, Theos, is plunging into this discussion. Theos is a body that commands attention, and not just by virtue of its name, which is the Greek for God. It was launched with some fanfare in 2006 by the leaders of the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches. From an office a stone's throw from the Palace of Westminster, it opines on the public role of faith in a country that combines Christian institutions and public symbols, an intensely secular intelligentsia and a messy multi-faith reality.
The body's latest report is a clarion call for "political friendships across difference" in which people of various faiths and no faith form local coalitions to attain their ends. The author, David Barclay, starts with a couple of points on which many secular thinkers would agree. Public endeavours of any kind are likely to be coalitions, in a country where not only churches but political parties and trade unions have seen a tumble in membership. And "state multiculturalism"—helping religious and ethnic groups to assert their distinctiveness—is widely seen as a dangerous failure, at risk of turning the nation into self-contained blocks that hardly touch.
The answer? People with contrasting ideas about the ultimate can get to know and respect one another by working together to change everyday reality in big and small ways. The author acknowledges his debt to the Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, who has said faith groups should stand "side by side" at a common coal-face rather than face to face. But in his report, "Making Multiculturalism Work", Mr Barclay goes on to challenge some secularist thinking about broad coalitions. He insists that religious partners in any project should be free to talk about their motives; otherwise friendships will be superficial. As an example of secularist thinking which in his view demands too much, he cites a contributor to a Labour website who puts her case like this:
The question for me is, would I be a friend with someone who thinks my sexuality, or right of access to contraception or abortion is inherently wrong? I would not. Why are making these exceptions seen as not a problem when we deal with faith groups?
Mr Barclay says this seems "a truly extraordinary view of friendship" because it could ultimately "rule out the possibility of being friends with anyone who disagrees on anything of fundamental importance."
Which point of view is closer to real life? It is both difficult, and sometimes necessary, to establish friendships with people whose views on fundamental matters are at odds with our own. What makes the difference, in general, is the strength of the incentive to collaborate. Often the best glue for a coalition is the negative sort—the desire to overcome a common foe or to stop something undesirable. The biggest street demonstration in British history (against the imminent Iraq war, in February 2003) was mainly organised by two small, pragmatic groups whose world-views are utterly at odds: the (Trotskyist) Socialist Workers' Party and the Muslim Association of Britain. Women in hijab marched alongside comrades who sported piercings and tattoos. In the local politics of several European cities there is ad-hoc co-operation between devout Muslims and gay-rights advocates; both groups gravitate towards city centres, and both feel historically disadvantaged.
Against a common adversary, almost any combination of human beings can be friends. In the street protests now raging in Turkey, bohemians and liberals march alongside some devout Muslims, Turkish nationalists share the street with advocates of ethnic minorities. Rage with the existing order can be a wonderful unifier. Bringing diverse people together for some more constructive cause is harder, but not impossible if everybody really wants to get the job done.
Venezuela has operated currency controls for a decade, and restricted access to dollars at the official rate of 6.3 bolivars are a major gripe for local businesses and a cause of the OPEC member's slowing growth rate.
The Finance Ministry source said the government of newly-elected President Nicolas Maduro will in July allow a renewal of the so-called Sicad system. In a first round in March of this year, dollars were sold to businesses for reportedly as much as 14 bolivars apiece.
After another Sicad auction, authorities will then allow a revival of a system prohibited since 2010, under which dollars are sold by private brokers at a floating rate determined by a complicated formula linked to bond prices, the source added.
One local think-tank, Ecoanalitica, estimates that some 140 billion U.S. dollars have left the country illicitly since the currency controls were first put in place by Chavez's government in 2003.
Maduro argues that private businessmen and capitalist "speculators" have been deliberately hoarding consumer products and sabotaging the economy in order to undermine his rule.
In the first quarter of this year, the state currency board Cadivi opened investigations into more than 2,400 companies and suspended more than 200 for what it termed foreign exchange "irregularities."
Until it was shuttered by the government in May 2010, scores of brokerages had reaped a lucrative trade in foreign exchange through bond swaps in what was known as the "parallel market."
That amounted to a $30 billion a year market and provided dollars for, by some estimates, at least a quarter of imports, before the authorities raided many of the brokerages, which the Chavez government had accused of illegal money laundering and unchecked speculation.
With inflation running at a record monthly high of 6.1 percent in May and growth slowing to just 0.7 percent in the first quarter despite high oil prices, Maduro has inherited economic headaches only two months into his new job.
Next month's revival of Sicad is unlikely to bring quick relief. Only $200 million was sold at the auction in March, while economists estimate that the Venezuelan economy needs around $100 million per day to cover the imports it needs.
Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
2013年6月20日星期四
EMV Migration Forum to address ATM
The EMV Migration Forum, an independent cross-industry organization, was formed to address issues that require broad cooperation and coordination across the payments space in order to successfully introduce secure EMV contact and contactless technology in the United States. Forum membership has grown to 135 member organizations from the entire payments industry, including global payment brands, financial institutions, merchants, processors, acquirers, regional debit networks, industry suppliers and industry associations.
"The tremendous growth of our membership and their broad cross-industry participation in the working committees has allowed us to create new committees to address additional challenges that are critical to a successful move to EMV," said Randy Vanderhoof, director of the EMV Migration Forum. "Having committees dedicated to providing input, solutions and expertise to address challenges with ATM and card-not-present transactions will complement our other projects and allow even more individuals and organizations to have a voice in U.S. EMV migration."
The two new committees have quickly aligned around goals and initial projects. They join the Communications and Education, Debit, U.S. Coordination, and Certification and Testing Working Committees in carrying out the work and the vision of the Forum.
The goal of the ATM Working Committee is to create a more positive EMV migration experience for consumers. To achieve this, the committee will explore the challenges of EMV migration for the U.S. ATM industry, work to identify possible solutions to challenges, and facilitate the sharing of best practices with the various industry constituents.
The goal of the Card-Not-Present Fraud Working Committee is to create a comprehensive best practices strategy to mitigate card-not-present fraud in the new EMV chip card environment, using a balanced approach considering all key stakeholders - issuers, consumers, merchants, acquirers, networks and third parties.
The upcoming June meeting will update attendees on the progress being made by the working committees and include working sessions for attendees to explore in more detail the key challenges that the payments industry faces in moving to EMV. In addition, there will be several stakeholder updates and EMV educational sessions to provide members with the latest EMV information.
And so, the taekwondo black belt who has been participating in that sport as well as training in MMA since his age was in single digits is set for a bigger opportunity. Pegg (5-1) is now headlines Friday's Resurrection Fighting Alliance 8 card in Milwaukee against notable flyweight prospect Sergio Pettis (7-0).
Without much time, Pegg hurried this week to cut weight and prepare for a fight that he considers an opportunity he couldn't pass up. Instead, like many MMA fighters are forced to do, he stayed prepared for a chance that might or might not come, quickly took care of the short-notice fighting responsibilities and got to Wisconsin to get himself ready.
Fights are set up with little notice all the time, but not every spectator understands all the elements that are involved for a fighter. Aside from the weight cuts, there are physicals and blood work and other responsibilities.
He grew up in Ohio with a family that expanded when his parents divorced and then remarried, so he now has seven brothers and sisters. His parents recognized he was better at individual activities, so at 9 years old they got him involved in taekwondo.
The school, about 20 minutes away from his home, ended up being a perfect place for him to develop his skills, he said.
Because the instructor happened to be large and imposing at the same time, everyone listened, and Pegg stayed involved. He trained in taekwondo for about six years, but then he moved away from his training as he got into high school and found some other interests – and "got a little rowdy, kind of a party, crazy kid," he said.
He stayed away from martial arts for several years, in part because he didn't find competitions that interested him. Then he, like many others, found the interest in MMA exploding and wanted that kind of competition.
"In my first MMA class, I go in there thinking I'm this taekwondo black belt with a chip on my shoulder and that it's going to be no problem," he said. "Then I got my ass kicked. That first day, they took it to me."
That made for a steep learning curve, but it was one Pegg relished. He was balancing his training with his full-time work in construction, and he knew he wanted to fight.
Pegg compiled about 14 amateur fights by the time he became a professional in 2011, though he likes to say that those don't count the number of significant matchups he faced in his training. Using a philosophy that would come back full circle this week, he felt it wasn't more preparation that was needed, but experience.
"If you're ready to fight, then you're ready to fight," he said. "It doesn't matter how long you've been training or what you've been doing. You just have to be ready."
So, he stayed ready, compiling an impressive early record. It had been tough training for his most recent fight on June 7, so he was ready to take a break. Then he got the call from a teammate who said a slot had opened up on the RFA 8 card, and he wanted Pegg to take it.
His first reaction, admittedly, was "Aw, [expletive]." But it didn't take long, he said, for him to realize an opportunity like this was worth the second weight cut in a short time and the quick turnaround.
That's life in MMA. Because lineups can change quickly, it's even more important for fighters to stay sharp and be ready for a short-notice phone call. That's how Pegg is approaching his latest opportunity.
Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
"The tremendous growth of our membership and their broad cross-industry participation in the working committees has allowed us to create new committees to address additional challenges that are critical to a successful move to EMV," said Randy Vanderhoof, director of the EMV Migration Forum. "Having committees dedicated to providing input, solutions and expertise to address challenges with ATM and card-not-present transactions will complement our other projects and allow even more individuals and organizations to have a voice in U.S. EMV migration."
The two new committees have quickly aligned around goals and initial projects. They join the Communications and Education, Debit, U.S. Coordination, and Certification and Testing Working Committees in carrying out the work and the vision of the Forum.
The goal of the ATM Working Committee is to create a more positive EMV migration experience for consumers. To achieve this, the committee will explore the challenges of EMV migration for the U.S. ATM industry, work to identify possible solutions to challenges, and facilitate the sharing of best practices with the various industry constituents.
The goal of the Card-Not-Present Fraud Working Committee is to create a comprehensive best practices strategy to mitigate card-not-present fraud in the new EMV chip card environment, using a balanced approach considering all key stakeholders - issuers, consumers, merchants, acquirers, networks and third parties.
The upcoming June meeting will update attendees on the progress being made by the working committees and include working sessions for attendees to explore in more detail the key challenges that the payments industry faces in moving to EMV. In addition, there will be several stakeholder updates and EMV educational sessions to provide members with the latest EMV information.
And so, the taekwondo black belt who has been participating in that sport as well as training in MMA since his age was in single digits is set for a bigger opportunity. Pegg (5-1) is now headlines Friday's Resurrection Fighting Alliance 8 card in Milwaukee against notable flyweight prospect Sergio Pettis (7-0).
Without much time, Pegg hurried this week to cut weight and prepare for a fight that he considers an opportunity he couldn't pass up. Instead, like many MMA fighters are forced to do, he stayed prepared for a chance that might or might not come, quickly took care of the short-notice fighting responsibilities and got to Wisconsin to get himself ready.
Fights are set up with little notice all the time, but not every spectator understands all the elements that are involved for a fighter. Aside from the weight cuts, there are physicals and blood work and other responsibilities.
He grew up in Ohio with a family that expanded when his parents divorced and then remarried, so he now has seven brothers and sisters. His parents recognized he was better at individual activities, so at 9 years old they got him involved in taekwondo.
The school, about 20 minutes away from his home, ended up being a perfect place for him to develop his skills, he said.
Because the instructor happened to be large and imposing at the same time, everyone listened, and Pegg stayed involved. He trained in taekwondo for about six years, but then he moved away from his training as he got into high school and found some other interests – and "got a little rowdy, kind of a party, crazy kid," he said.
He stayed away from martial arts for several years, in part because he didn't find competitions that interested him. Then he, like many others, found the interest in MMA exploding and wanted that kind of competition.
"In my first MMA class, I go in there thinking I'm this taekwondo black belt with a chip on my shoulder and that it's going to be no problem," he said. "Then I got my ass kicked. That first day, they took it to me."
That made for a steep learning curve, but it was one Pegg relished. He was balancing his training with his full-time work in construction, and he knew he wanted to fight.
Pegg compiled about 14 amateur fights by the time he became a professional in 2011, though he likes to say that those don't count the number of significant matchups he faced in his training. Using a philosophy that would come back full circle this week, he felt it wasn't more preparation that was needed, but experience.
"If you're ready to fight, then you're ready to fight," he said. "It doesn't matter how long you've been training or what you've been doing. You just have to be ready."
So, he stayed ready, compiling an impressive early record. It had been tough training for his most recent fight on June 7, so he was ready to take a break. Then he got the call from a teammate who said a slot had opened up on the RFA 8 card, and he wanted Pegg to take it.
His first reaction, admittedly, was "Aw, [expletive]." But it didn't take long, he said, for him to realize an opportunity like this was worth the second weight cut in a short time and the quick turnaround.
That's life in MMA. Because lineups can change quickly, it's even more important for fighters to stay sharp and be ready for a short-notice phone call. That's how Pegg is approaching his latest opportunity.
Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
2013年6月18日星期二
ABI Research crowns NXP as top NFC IC vendor
ABI Research has awarded NXP Semiconductors, STMicroelectronics, and Inside Secure as the top vendors of NFC ICs. The results were based on ABI Research's Competitive Assessment where companies are scored in eight criteria under the categories of Implementation and Innovation across both NFC modems/controllers and secure elements.
NXP ranked first overall and topped the Implementation category. It was the most successful vendor in 2012 and scored multiple design wins with a broad cross-section of OEMs and product categories, according to ABI Research. NXP was also one of three equal scoring companies coming in joint second for Innovation because of its work highlighting new use cases for NFC across its broad portfolio.
Inside Secure ranked second for Innovation and third for Implementation because it was the first vendor to announce a major OEM contract (with RIM using a SE from Infineon), its input into new standards, and its efforts to develop NFC in new device categories. It continues to develop new form-factors, features and is working with partners to better embed NFC technology into new devices.
STMicroelectronics found some traction in the eSE space and was the leading SWP SIM card IC vendor. This combined with its growing success in new device wins contributed to it achieving the second highest Implementation score.
ABI also noted that Broadcom topped the Innovation category with its strong feature set, market positioning, breadth of applications, and targeted and innovative approach, which has resulted in recent CLF design wins in smartphones and tablets. Sony has been one of the most active companies in showcasing NFC's capabilities across a range of products and devices because of its knowledge of contactless with FeliCa. As a direct result, Sony has gathered strong partner relationships and technical knowledge. Infineon, on the other hand, achieved third position within the Implementation criteria. The company does not offer a CLF but it has utilized its strengths in security to develop new standards and features to enable the NFC market take off.
Practice director John Devlin commented: "With the NFC market in the early stages of accelerating growth it is important to balance commercial success to date with technical innovation, design features, strategic positioning, and demonstration of new use cases. It is these factors that will have the largest impact on long-term success."
Edward Snowden, a low-level employee of Booz Allen Hamilton who blew the whistle on the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), unexpectedly exposed a powerful and seamless segment of the military-industrial complex – the world of contractors that consumes some 70 percent of this country’s 52-billion-dollar intelligence budget.
Some commentators have pounced on Snowden’s disclosures to denounce the role of private contractors in the world of government and national security, arguing such spheres are best left to public servants. But their criticism misses the point.
It is no longer possible to determine the difference between the two: employees of the NSA – along with agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) – and the employees of companies such as Booz Allen have integrated to the extent that they slip from one role in industry to another in government, cross-promoting each other and self-dealing in ways that make the fabled revolving door redundant, if not completely disorienting.
Snowden, a systems administrator at the NSA’s Threat Operations Center in Hawaii, had worked for the CIA and Dell before joining Booz Allen. But his rather obscure role pales in comparison to those of oil painting reproduction.
To best understand this tale, one must first turn to R. James Woolsey, a former director of CIA, who appeared before the US House of Representatives in the summer of 2004 to promote the idea of integrating US domestic and foreign spying efforts to track “terrorists”.
One month later, he appeared on MSNBC television, where he spoke of the urgent need to create a new US intelligence czar to help expand the post-9/11 national surveillance apparatus.
On neither occasion did Woolsey mention that he was employed as senior vice president for global strategic security at Booz Allen, a job he held from 2002 to 2008.
“The source of information about vulnerabilities of and potential attacks on the homeland will not be dominated by foreign intelligence, as was the case in the Cold War. The terrorists understood us well, and so they lived and planned where we did not spy (inside the US),” said Woolsey in prepared remarks before the US House Select Committee on Homeland Security on Jun. 24, 2004.
In a prescient suggestion of what Snowden would later reveal, Woolsey went on to discuss expanding surveillance to cover domestic, as well as foreign sources.
“One source will be our vulnerability assessments, based on our own judgments about weak links in our society’s networks that can be exploited by terrorists,” he said. “A second source will be domestic intelligence. How to deal with such information is an extraordinarily difficult issue in our free society.”
NXP ranked first overall and topped the Implementation category. It was the most successful vendor in 2012 and scored multiple design wins with a broad cross-section of OEMs and product categories, according to ABI Research. NXP was also one of three equal scoring companies coming in joint second for Innovation because of its work highlighting new use cases for NFC across its broad portfolio.
Inside Secure ranked second for Innovation and third for Implementation because it was the first vendor to announce a major OEM contract (with RIM using a SE from Infineon), its input into new standards, and its efforts to develop NFC in new device categories. It continues to develop new form-factors, features and is working with partners to better embed NFC technology into new devices.
STMicroelectronics found some traction in the eSE space and was the leading SWP SIM card IC vendor. This combined with its growing success in new device wins contributed to it achieving the second highest Implementation score.
ABI also noted that Broadcom topped the Innovation category with its strong feature set, market positioning, breadth of applications, and targeted and innovative approach, which has resulted in recent CLF design wins in smartphones and tablets. Sony has been one of the most active companies in showcasing NFC's capabilities across a range of products and devices because of its knowledge of contactless with FeliCa. As a direct result, Sony has gathered strong partner relationships and technical knowledge. Infineon, on the other hand, achieved third position within the Implementation criteria. The company does not offer a CLF but it has utilized its strengths in security to develop new standards and features to enable the NFC market take off.
Practice director John Devlin commented: "With the NFC market in the early stages of accelerating growth it is important to balance commercial success to date with technical innovation, design features, strategic positioning, and demonstration of new use cases. It is these factors that will have the largest impact on long-term success."
Edward Snowden, a low-level employee of Booz Allen Hamilton who blew the whistle on the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), unexpectedly exposed a powerful and seamless segment of the military-industrial complex – the world of contractors that consumes some 70 percent of this country’s 52-billion-dollar intelligence budget.
Some commentators have pounced on Snowden’s disclosures to denounce the role of private contractors in the world of government and national security, arguing such spheres are best left to public servants. But their criticism misses the point.
It is no longer possible to determine the difference between the two: employees of the NSA – along with agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) – and the employees of companies such as Booz Allen have integrated to the extent that they slip from one role in industry to another in government, cross-promoting each other and self-dealing in ways that make the fabled revolving door redundant, if not completely disorienting.
Snowden, a systems administrator at the NSA’s Threat Operations Center in Hawaii, had worked for the CIA and Dell before joining Booz Allen. But his rather obscure role pales in comparison to those of oil painting reproduction.
To best understand this tale, one must first turn to R. James Woolsey, a former director of CIA, who appeared before the US House of Representatives in the summer of 2004 to promote the idea of integrating US domestic and foreign spying efforts to track “terrorists”.
One month later, he appeared on MSNBC television, where he spoke of the urgent need to create a new US intelligence czar to help expand the post-9/11 national surveillance apparatus.
On neither occasion did Woolsey mention that he was employed as senior vice president for global strategic security at Booz Allen, a job he held from 2002 to 2008.
“The source of information about vulnerabilities of and potential attacks on the homeland will not be dominated by foreign intelligence, as was the case in the Cold War. The terrorists understood us well, and so they lived and planned where we did not spy (inside the US),” said Woolsey in prepared remarks before the US House Select Committee on Homeland Security on Jun. 24, 2004.
In a prescient suggestion of what Snowden would later reveal, Woolsey went on to discuss expanding surveillance to cover domestic, as well as foreign sources.
“One source will be our vulnerability assessments, based on our own judgments about weak links in our society’s networks that can be exploited by terrorists,” he said. “A second source will be domestic intelligence. How to deal with such information is an extraordinarily difficult issue in our free society.”
2013年6月16日星期日
During monsoons, keep policy papers handy
As monsoon picks up, be ready to drive through water-logged areas and mushy roads. Since motor accidents typically see a rise during rains, motor claims also move up. Hence, prepare your car to drive through mucky waters by buying the right covers and making sure you have a hassle-free claim.
Madhukar Sinha, national head, personal lines, Tata AIG General Insurance, says most car manufacturers offer free pre-monsoon car check-ups, which prepare your car better. "One should make sure cars undergo such check-ups and servicing regularly, so that the vehicle remains in good condition. We also advise one to be careful while starting the car after heavy rain or water-logging to avoid severe internal damages to the engine."
About 70 to 80 per cent of today's cars on roads are insured. Though most policies sold today are comprehensive, one has to buy add-on covers according to his or her needs.
C V Srinivasan, head-motor underwriting at Royal Sundaram, says one should have the monsoon-specific add-on covers as insurers refuse to pay for damages due to consequential loss, also called an indirect loss.
Insurers can refuse to pay claims if they find the reason for claims is that the car was not maintained well. For instance, they can refuse to pay claims if the car was found parked in submerged water for too long or if the car doesn't have safe parking space and so on. Similarly, they can refuse to honour claims if you have been driving through water-logged areas for a long time.
One should read carefully through the policy's fine print, as the insurer can have these things mentioned in the policy exclusions and have the right to refuse to pay.
For instance, if you try to start a parked vehicle which is submerged in water, it will be considered a consequential loss and not be payable under a standard motor policy. Such situations are best avoided and customers should immediately call for an insurance surveyor. A standard motor policy will only pay for direct damages such as an accident. Hence, it's important that you buy specific add-on covers to pay for such indirect damages.
Amitabh Jain, head-customer service at ICICI Lombard, says: "This add-on cover is of immense help in the rains, because in case of engine damage due to water ingression, a hydrostatic cover comes handy. To buy this, one will have to shell out 0.5 to two per cent of the insured declared value (IDV) of the car." In other words, if a car's IDV is Rs 5 lakh, one will have to spend Rs 2,500 to Rs 10,000 to add this cover to the policy.
The under-body of the cars carries the highest risk of getting affected during rains. Also, minor dents and scratches can get rusted during monsoon. Car parts that get affected in the rains might not get fully covered as metal and plastic parts attract depreciation. All plastic auto parts attract a flat 50 per cent depreciation, irrespective of the car's age, whereas parts made of fibre attract 30 per cent depreciation. Metal parts like the bonnet and engine are depreciated depending on the age of the vehicle. For instance, the electronic control module, a system in cars that controls other electrical systems, is most likely to be damaged during the monsoons and also attracts 50 per cent depreciation, says Amarnath Ananthanarayanan, managing director and chief executive officer at Bharti AXA General Insurance.
Some insurers package this along with the policy, and some sell it as an add-on. "This add-on cover helps specifically during rains because if the car is stranded in a water-logged area, one can call for help which the insurers make sure reaches you within an hour if it's within the city," adds Sinha of Tata AIG. The cost of this add-on cover is also in the range of 0.5 to two per cent of the car's IDV.
Nikunj Sanghi, president of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association, says one should get an anti-rust treatment and an under-body coat for his or her car just before the monsoons come in. This will cost about Rs 4,000 to 8,000 each, depending on the car's model.
Legislature Minority Leader Dennis F. Virtuoso, D-Niagara Falls, acknowledged that the resolution calling for a new request for proposals, or RFP, is too late for this year. But he said he’ll reintroduce his measure early in the new year “just to see if we can get it cheaper. It’s a good practice, too. … Jan. 1; it’ll come up again.”
“It should be entertained at the appropriate time,” said Majority Leader Richard E. Updegrove, R-Lockport. “There’s no opposition to going out for an RFP, at least that I’m aware of.”
Ulrich was unhappy to hear that. “We will be looking for a new tenant, and this will most likely end up costing them a lot more money,” he said in an email to The Buffalo News.
“They can obviously do whatever they want but it does send a strong message that after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to accommodate their needs, and further diminishing the value of my property by donating to them for free the land to build their communications tower, and even providing free parking to county employees at buildings they lease from someone else, that they feel the need to try and wipe out these past good deeds. We try very hard to be a great landlord and to go above and beyond to provide great value and it is very discouraging to me.”
Cheney suggested the United States missed its opportunity, and was unsure if al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons justified U.S. involvement if the deaths of 93,000 people already killed in the conflict did not justify it.
“I don’t think it’s been well handled,” Cheney said. “I will be the first to admit it’s a complex, difficult situation. I frankly think John McCain has it just about right. John and I don’t always agree on everything. We have had our debates over the years but I think John has pretty well nailed it. Now we are to the point where it’s hard to understand that it’s the use of chemical weapons that triggered this result. As John said the other day, well, there were 93,000 people killed not affected by chemical weapons. Where was the concern then? It’s not clear to me what the mission is here, or they understand the mission.”
“Is it strictly humanitarian?” he continued. “Is it geo-strategic? Does the United States have a vested interest in the outcome? Are we potentially involved in some kind of proxy war with the Soviets or the Russians, excuse me, who are supporting Assad? I think it is important that Assad go down. I think — my instinct would have been to support the opposition sooner. You had an opportunity, if you cared about it, if it was in fact in the national interest. You had an opportunity earlier to provide support without having to get American forces directly involved and they took a pass. Now they are going to do it. But the question is whether or not they are a day late and a dollar short.”Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
Madhukar Sinha, national head, personal lines, Tata AIG General Insurance, says most car manufacturers offer free pre-monsoon car check-ups, which prepare your car better. "One should make sure cars undergo such check-ups and servicing regularly, so that the vehicle remains in good condition. We also advise one to be careful while starting the car after heavy rain or water-logging to avoid severe internal damages to the engine."
About 70 to 80 per cent of today's cars on roads are insured. Though most policies sold today are comprehensive, one has to buy add-on covers according to his or her needs.
C V Srinivasan, head-motor underwriting at Royal Sundaram, says one should have the monsoon-specific add-on covers as insurers refuse to pay for damages due to consequential loss, also called an indirect loss.
Insurers can refuse to pay claims if they find the reason for claims is that the car was not maintained well. For instance, they can refuse to pay claims if the car was found parked in submerged water for too long or if the car doesn't have safe parking space and so on. Similarly, they can refuse to honour claims if you have been driving through water-logged areas for a long time.
One should read carefully through the policy's fine print, as the insurer can have these things mentioned in the policy exclusions and have the right to refuse to pay.
For instance, if you try to start a parked vehicle which is submerged in water, it will be considered a consequential loss and not be payable under a standard motor policy. Such situations are best avoided and customers should immediately call for an insurance surveyor. A standard motor policy will only pay for direct damages such as an accident. Hence, it's important that you buy specific add-on covers to pay for such indirect damages.
Amitabh Jain, head-customer service at ICICI Lombard, says: "This add-on cover is of immense help in the rains, because in case of engine damage due to water ingression, a hydrostatic cover comes handy. To buy this, one will have to shell out 0.5 to two per cent of the insured declared value (IDV) of the car." In other words, if a car's IDV is Rs 5 lakh, one will have to spend Rs 2,500 to Rs 10,000 to add this cover to the policy.
The under-body of the cars carries the highest risk of getting affected during rains. Also, minor dents and scratches can get rusted during monsoon. Car parts that get affected in the rains might not get fully covered as metal and plastic parts attract depreciation. All plastic auto parts attract a flat 50 per cent depreciation, irrespective of the car's age, whereas parts made of fibre attract 30 per cent depreciation. Metal parts like the bonnet and engine are depreciated depending on the age of the vehicle. For instance, the electronic control module, a system in cars that controls other electrical systems, is most likely to be damaged during the monsoons and also attracts 50 per cent depreciation, says Amarnath Ananthanarayanan, managing director and chief executive officer at Bharti AXA General Insurance.
Some insurers package this along with the policy, and some sell it as an add-on. "This add-on cover helps specifically during rains because if the car is stranded in a water-logged area, one can call for help which the insurers make sure reaches you within an hour if it's within the city," adds Sinha of Tata AIG. The cost of this add-on cover is also in the range of 0.5 to two per cent of the car's IDV.
Nikunj Sanghi, president of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association, says one should get an anti-rust treatment and an under-body coat for his or her car just before the monsoons come in. This will cost about Rs 4,000 to 8,000 each, depending on the car's model.
Legislature Minority Leader Dennis F. Virtuoso, D-Niagara Falls, acknowledged that the resolution calling for a new request for proposals, or RFP, is too late for this year. But he said he’ll reintroduce his measure early in the new year “just to see if we can get it cheaper. It’s a good practice, too. … Jan. 1; it’ll come up again.”
“It should be entertained at the appropriate time,” said Majority Leader Richard E. Updegrove, R-Lockport. “There’s no opposition to going out for an RFP, at least that I’m aware of.”
Ulrich was unhappy to hear that. “We will be looking for a new tenant, and this will most likely end up costing them a lot more money,” he said in an email to The Buffalo News.
“They can obviously do whatever they want but it does send a strong message that after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to accommodate their needs, and further diminishing the value of my property by donating to them for free the land to build their communications tower, and even providing free parking to county employees at buildings they lease from someone else, that they feel the need to try and wipe out these past good deeds. We try very hard to be a great landlord and to go above and beyond to provide great value and it is very discouraging to me.”
Cheney suggested the United States missed its opportunity, and was unsure if al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons justified U.S. involvement if the deaths of 93,000 people already killed in the conflict did not justify it.
“I don’t think it’s been well handled,” Cheney said. “I will be the first to admit it’s a complex, difficult situation. I frankly think John McCain has it just about right. John and I don’t always agree on everything. We have had our debates over the years but I think John has pretty well nailed it. Now we are to the point where it’s hard to understand that it’s the use of chemical weapons that triggered this result. As John said the other day, well, there were 93,000 people killed not affected by chemical weapons. Where was the concern then? It’s not clear to me what the mission is here, or they understand the mission.”
“Is it strictly humanitarian?” he continued. “Is it geo-strategic? Does the United States have a vested interest in the outcome? Are we potentially involved in some kind of proxy war with the Soviets or the Russians, excuse me, who are supporting Assad? I think it is important that Assad go down. I think — my instinct would have been to support the opposition sooner. You had an opportunity, if you cared about it, if it was in fact in the national interest. You had an opportunity earlier to provide support without having to get American forces directly involved and they took a pass. Now they are going to do it. But the question is whether or not they are a day late and a dollar short.”Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
2013年6月8日星期六
Whether mobile payments can prop up small businesses
UK businesses add billions to the economy but lately it seems the odds are stacked against them. The economy is still floundering and the banks continue to reduce the amount they are lending. Just In the first three months of this year, the latest figures from the Bank of England show that loans have dropped by ￡300 million- making it even harder for businesses to set up in the first place- let alone grow to become contributors to the economy.
The government is trying to improve the situation. National insurance contributions will be slashed next year, which will help small and medium sized businesses save nearly ￡1.8 billion by 2018. The push to shop locally and to embrace the big society is also being by touted by government as a means support the community and the businesses that cater for them.
On the ground, however, businesses complain that their hands are tied and they are not getting the support they need to really make a difference to their profits. Without bank lending the chance of many new businesses setting up is unlikely, but what about the ones already in operation?
One of the biggest obstacles in their way is the process of taking payments. Cheques may be on their way out, but credit card payments involve fees that need to be paid per transaction as well as monthly rental payments for card reading equipment. Yet the trend for consumers to prefer cards over cash continues to grow. According to the Payment Council UK’s payment statistics for 2012, almost three quarters (71 per cent) of all spending in the UK retail sector (including automotive fuels) was made using oil painting reproduction.
Our own research shows that the combination of small retailers wishing to avoid punitive charges and their customers preferring the convenience of cards is having a detrimental effect on business. We found that over 120 million transactions are lost each year in the UK through people leaving shops because they can’t pay by card. A further 92.8 million opportunities to sell are lost through people avoiding shops because they don’t accept card payments.
Over one in five (21 per cent) consumers said that they had left a store in the past six months without making a purchase because the store didn’t take cards. Almost the same number (19 per cent) had avoided a store altogether because they couldn’t use their card to pay.
The biggest problem is that card payment equipment has not kept pace with technology. It’s become too expensive and technically complicated for many to use, which is why there are so many small retailers who don’t take cards and prefer to stick to cash. Mobile payment technology is developing to unblock the payment impasse. However, some of the propositions on offer from banks continue to involve monthly fees to rent equipment, which doesn’t really help.
The mobile payment technologies that will succeed are the ones that are aimed at small business and don’t require an equipment to set up or payment up front. Small businesses want technology that’s easy to use-and doesn’t cost the earth. If small businesses are the engine of recovery, they need all the help they can get to ensure they don’t miss out on sales to the growing number of – especially younger – consumers who prefer to pay by card. By removing the barrier of expensive and cumbersome payment technology, retailers can ensure that they never lose a sale again.
Legal settlements usually settle disputes, but a proposed $7.25 billion class-action settlement involving Visa and MasterCard appears to be erupting into a whole new battle over the fees retailers have to pay when consumers pull out their plastic.
Scores of angry retailers — from Walmart and Starbucks to Target and Domino’s Pizza — opted out of the historic settlement by the recent deadline and filed formal objections for U.S. District Judge John Gleeson in Brooklyn to consider. Some, such as Target Corp. and Macy’s Inc., already have struck back with a new lawsuit seeking damages.
They are walking away from what’s regarded as the largest private antitrust class-action settlement in U.S. history, one that involves more than 7 million U.S. businesses — just about every entity that swiped a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card since 2004.
“It’s extraordinarily rare for a class settlement to be rejected because of concerns raised by class members,” said David Fink of Fink and Associates Law in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., who specializes in class-action litigation.
At the heart of the battle are allegations that Visa, MasterCard and a group of card-issuing banks illegally colluded since 2004 to fix the swipe fees merchants pay to process cards. The interchange fees average about 2 percent of every purchase at the register, and total about $30 billion a year.
Many retailers say the swipe fees rival their health care costs as a significant operating expense. The National Retail Federation estimates the swipe fees drive up consumer costs by more than $250 a year per average household.
The government is trying to improve the situation. National insurance contributions will be slashed next year, which will help small and medium sized businesses save nearly ￡1.8 billion by 2018. The push to shop locally and to embrace the big society is also being by touted by government as a means support the community and the businesses that cater for them.
On the ground, however, businesses complain that their hands are tied and they are not getting the support they need to really make a difference to their profits. Without bank lending the chance of many new businesses setting up is unlikely, but what about the ones already in operation?
One of the biggest obstacles in their way is the process of taking payments. Cheques may be on their way out, but credit card payments involve fees that need to be paid per transaction as well as monthly rental payments for card reading equipment. Yet the trend for consumers to prefer cards over cash continues to grow. According to the Payment Council UK’s payment statistics for 2012, almost three quarters (71 per cent) of all spending in the UK retail sector (including automotive fuels) was made using oil painting reproduction.
Our own research shows that the combination of small retailers wishing to avoid punitive charges and their customers preferring the convenience of cards is having a detrimental effect on business. We found that over 120 million transactions are lost each year in the UK through people leaving shops because they can’t pay by card. A further 92.8 million opportunities to sell are lost through people avoiding shops because they don’t accept card payments.
Over one in five (21 per cent) consumers said that they had left a store in the past six months without making a purchase because the store didn’t take cards. Almost the same number (19 per cent) had avoided a store altogether because they couldn’t use their card to pay.
The biggest problem is that card payment equipment has not kept pace with technology. It’s become too expensive and technically complicated for many to use, which is why there are so many small retailers who don’t take cards and prefer to stick to cash. Mobile payment technology is developing to unblock the payment impasse. However, some of the propositions on offer from banks continue to involve monthly fees to rent equipment, which doesn’t really help.
The mobile payment technologies that will succeed are the ones that are aimed at small business and don’t require an equipment to set up or payment up front. Small businesses want technology that’s easy to use-and doesn’t cost the earth. If small businesses are the engine of recovery, they need all the help they can get to ensure they don’t miss out on sales to the growing number of – especially younger – consumers who prefer to pay by card. By removing the barrier of expensive and cumbersome payment technology, retailers can ensure that they never lose a sale again.
Legal settlements usually settle disputes, but a proposed $7.25 billion class-action settlement involving Visa and MasterCard appears to be erupting into a whole new battle over the fees retailers have to pay when consumers pull out their plastic.
Scores of angry retailers — from Walmart and Starbucks to Target and Domino’s Pizza — opted out of the historic settlement by the recent deadline and filed formal objections for U.S. District Judge John Gleeson in Brooklyn to consider. Some, such as Target Corp. and Macy’s Inc., already have struck back with a new lawsuit seeking damages.
They are walking away from what’s regarded as the largest private antitrust class-action settlement in U.S. history, one that involves more than 7 million U.S. businesses — just about every entity that swiped a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card since 2004.
“It’s extraordinarily rare for a class settlement to be rejected because of concerns raised by class members,” said David Fink of Fink and Associates Law in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., who specializes in class-action litigation.
At the heart of the battle are allegations that Visa, MasterCard and a group of card-issuing banks illegally colluded since 2004 to fix the swipe fees merchants pay to process cards. The interchange fees average about 2 percent of every purchase at the register, and total about $30 billion a year.
Many retailers say the swipe fees rival their health care costs as a significant operating expense. The National Retail Federation estimates the swipe fees drive up consumer costs by more than $250 a year per average household.
2013年6月7日星期五
Fime gets EMVCo contactless qualification in North America
EMVCo is the EMV standard body for credit and debit payment cards based on chip card technology. It has an established certification program to confirm products meet the requirements outlined in the EMV Specifications. This promotes increased levels of confidence that EMV products will perform as intended and ensure interoperability between payment devices.
"With EMV Contactless being mandated by major payment schemes and the U.S. working towards its EMV migration deadlines, it is vital that on-the-ground EMV testing and certification can be offered," explains Xavier Giandominici, Director at FIME America. "We are delighted to now have an EMVCo qualified test bench and to be able to offer these services on-site in Montreal, allowing us to meet the ever-growing demand from regionally-based customers. We believe that this investment will increase capacity and ensure shorter testing cycles."
This announcement follows the opening of FIME's U.S. office in San Francisco earlier this year. Pascal Le Ray, General Manager of FIME Group, adds: "With laboratories across Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia and America, FIME has developed a vast knowledge and skills-base globally and recognizes the value of sharing expertise at this high level. Having local proximity to our customers, however, is key to truly understanding and engaging in local challenges and regional variations. We are dedicated to not only expanding our local footprint, but ensuring these operations offer the testing and certification services local stakeholders need."
Xavier concludes: "This is an exciting time for the payments industry in the U.S. as we transition to a chip-based infrastructure, which can support advance payment methods and offer consumers the choice to make contactless mobile payments. FIME is already working with many of its customers to bring these innovative solutions to market."
FIME America partners with a number of leading schemes and industry bodies to provide certifications and enhance the secure chip ecosystem. FIME's Montreal laboratory now offers American Express, Isis, MasterCard Mobile certifications as well as card and terminal testing for Discover Zip, Interac Dual Interface, STAR Certiflash and MasterCard PayPass?. FIME also contributes to the EMV Migration Forum initiative to share its secure chip knowledge and support the U.S. in streamlining its certification processes.
In April this year, we talked about the possibility of a smartphone being used to hijack a plane, although that does sound rather far-fetched when you think about it, and we ought to have had cases of that happening by now if it were to be true. Well, here we are with reports that the Dutch public transportation system could be hacked using Android-powered smartphones, thanks to a couple of Android apps which could very well crack the RFID chip within fare smartcards.
This bit of information hailed from a report from NOS.nl, where the two free apps are required to enable the cracker to load the card with credit, allowing them to travel without having to fork out a single cent. There was not much detail revealed concerning the nature of the hack, but it seems that the chip which resides within the card is involved in a cat-and-mouse game. The card’s creator, Trans Link, has changed it numerous times, but you will find a veritable tome of information online where tutorials depict how to hack these cards, including the different generations of chips inside. What do you think of this story, does it hold any water for you?
SD Association has added Single Wire Protocol to support NFC features and assist in the introduction of new business models that will provide a secure element to the microSD memory card—the smartSD memory card.
The smartSD card can shift control of consumers’ service applications from provider to consumers, as well as provide authentication services. The cards will be manufactured by SD Association members in SD, SDHC and SDXC capacities.
Cards can be purchased by or issued to consumers from any service provider. Service providers will be able to differentiate their offerings, addressing mobile customers, device manufacturers and proprietary application stores.
“Completing the enhancement to smartSD marks the achievement of a strategy announced in 2011 to find new markets that would benefit from SD standards,” Brian Kumagai, the president of the SD Association, said. “Adding smart-chip technology to microSD memory cards gives SD equipped smart phones and phablets new consumer conveniences whether they’re connected to the Internet or not. We know consumers want more flexibility to expand their storage needs, and a simple way to participate in a variety of value-added services offered by a variety of companies and institutions today.”
Calling cards are obtainable globally and everyone knows them well, they have been there for the past few decades, When you acquire a calling card, you are purchasing your call time up advanced, referred to as your “call credit” This credit is tied to your calling card bill and will be deducted by the minute at the rate for your call destination.
Rates vary from provider to provider, you should make proper investigation before buying one, keep in mind the rates of the destination state from the land you are calling from. Also some calling cards have special rates for calls to certain countries like Calling Canada from the USA or calling India from the UK. Assure that you are taking one which suits your need. Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
"With EMV Contactless being mandated by major payment schemes and the U.S. working towards its EMV migration deadlines, it is vital that on-the-ground EMV testing and certification can be offered," explains Xavier Giandominici, Director at FIME America. "We are delighted to now have an EMVCo qualified test bench and to be able to offer these services on-site in Montreal, allowing us to meet the ever-growing demand from regionally-based customers. We believe that this investment will increase capacity and ensure shorter testing cycles."
This announcement follows the opening of FIME's U.S. office in San Francisco earlier this year. Pascal Le Ray, General Manager of FIME Group, adds: "With laboratories across Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia and America, FIME has developed a vast knowledge and skills-base globally and recognizes the value of sharing expertise at this high level. Having local proximity to our customers, however, is key to truly understanding and engaging in local challenges and regional variations. We are dedicated to not only expanding our local footprint, but ensuring these operations offer the testing and certification services local stakeholders need."
Xavier concludes: "This is an exciting time for the payments industry in the U.S. as we transition to a chip-based infrastructure, which can support advance payment methods and offer consumers the choice to make contactless mobile payments. FIME is already working with many of its customers to bring these innovative solutions to market."
FIME America partners with a number of leading schemes and industry bodies to provide certifications and enhance the secure chip ecosystem. FIME's Montreal laboratory now offers American Express, Isis, MasterCard Mobile certifications as well as card and terminal testing for Discover Zip, Interac Dual Interface, STAR Certiflash and MasterCard PayPass?. FIME also contributes to the EMV Migration Forum initiative to share its secure chip knowledge and support the U.S. in streamlining its certification processes.
In April this year, we talked about the possibility of a smartphone being used to hijack a plane, although that does sound rather far-fetched when you think about it, and we ought to have had cases of that happening by now if it were to be true. Well, here we are with reports that the Dutch public transportation system could be hacked using Android-powered smartphones, thanks to a couple of Android apps which could very well crack the RFID chip within fare smartcards.
This bit of information hailed from a report from NOS.nl, where the two free apps are required to enable the cracker to load the card with credit, allowing them to travel without having to fork out a single cent. There was not much detail revealed concerning the nature of the hack, but it seems that the chip which resides within the card is involved in a cat-and-mouse game. The card’s creator, Trans Link, has changed it numerous times, but you will find a veritable tome of information online where tutorials depict how to hack these cards, including the different generations of chips inside. What do you think of this story, does it hold any water for you?
SD Association has added Single Wire Protocol to support NFC features and assist in the introduction of new business models that will provide a secure element to the microSD memory card—the smartSD memory card.
The smartSD card can shift control of consumers’ service applications from provider to consumers, as well as provide authentication services. The cards will be manufactured by SD Association members in SD, SDHC and SDXC capacities.
Cards can be purchased by or issued to consumers from any service provider. Service providers will be able to differentiate their offerings, addressing mobile customers, device manufacturers and proprietary application stores.
“Completing the enhancement to smartSD marks the achievement of a strategy announced in 2011 to find new markets that would benefit from SD standards,” Brian Kumagai, the president of the SD Association, said. “Adding smart-chip technology to microSD memory cards gives SD equipped smart phones and phablets new consumer conveniences whether they’re connected to the Internet or not. We know consumers want more flexibility to expand their storage needs, and a simple way to participate in a variety of value-added services offered by a variety of companies and institutions today.”
Calling cards are obtainable globally and everyone knows them well, they have been there for the past few decades, When you acquire a calling card, you are purchasing your call time up advanced, referred to as your “call credit” This credit is tied to your calling card bill and will be deducted by the minute at the rate for your call destination.
Rates vary from provider to provider, you should make proper investigation before buying one, keep in mind the rates of the destination state from the land you are calling from. Also some calling cards have special rates for calls to certain countries like Calling Canada from the USA or calling India from the UK. Assure that you are taking one which suits your need. Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
2013年6月5日星期三
Signature Card Services Makes EMV Migration Easy and Affordable
Industry-leading payment processing services provider, Signature Card Services, is offering free EMV-enabled terminals to its merchants in the U.S. to make their transition to the EMV standard as economical and effortless as possible. The company has chosen Ingenico’s EMV terminals to be installed for interested merchants starting June 15, 2013. Ingenico (Euronext: FR0000125346 – ING) is a global leading provider of payment solutions with more than 20 million terminals deployed in 125 countries and deep experience in EMV migration.
EMV, a chip-based payment standard, reduces counterfeit fraud and increases security by providing card authentication protocol. With all major card brands supporting the US migration to EMV, Signature Card Services is preparing its merchants for an easy and affordable transition. In addition to free terminals, they are providing support and education to help merchants embrace the change.
Signature Card Services has chosen Ingenico’s Telium2 series payment devices for its EMV terminals. The company partners with Ingenico for its high-quality products and services, as well as the knowledge and expertise that Ingenico brings, having supported EMV transactions in Europe and Canada for over two decades.
Signature Card Services recognizes that the migration to EMV is a significant undertaking. By facilitating early conversion to the EMV system with training and support, the company is committed to making the shift much easier for its merchants.
“Partnering with Ingenico offers tremendous advantages to our merchants,” says Anthony Urquidez, VP of Operations for Signature Card Services. “We are committed to helping merchants embrace the change and will continue to spearhead education and support. It is great to have a partner who shares our vision and provides an unparalleled product.”
“We are excited to be collaborating with Signature Card Services to provide EMV-enabled devices for its entire merchant network,” says Rhonda Boardman, Vice President for U.S. Acquiring Sales for Ingenico North America. “Through our partnership, we can empower merchants to be EMV ready and we are dedicated to supporting them every step of the oil painting reproduction.”
The legal team representing dealers fighting the Wynn Resorts Ltd. tip pooling policy ran into skeptical questioning as the long-running dispute came before the Nevada Supreme on Wednesday.
The company and the employees that fall under the class action lawsuit have been clashing with each other since the policy went into effect in September 2006 — just more than a year after Wynn Las Vegas opened — requiring dealers to share their tips with box persons at the craps tables and what are called customer service team leaders, who track players, help with lines of credit, take care of disputes on the casino floor and act as a concierge.
Tip pooling has long been legal as long as the company does not tap into the money for its “direct benefit.”
Wynn had won most of the most the battles, including a 2010 ruling by then Nevada Labor Commissioner Michael Tanchek that validated the tip pooling system. Last year, however, Clark County District Judge Kenneth Cory sided with the dealers in holding that Wynn improperly benefited from the tip pooling essentially by giving them a raise using the tips.
In court papers appealing the decision, Wynn said the tip pooling, backed by the commissioner’s opinion, did not provided a financial boost to the company or allow them to cut pay for the two groups of employees in return for tips.
The case drew unusually high interest, with about a dozen pro-dealer picketers carrying Transport Workers Union Local 721 signs, with which Wynn has signed a collective bargaining agreement, standing outside the Regional Justice Center in downtown Las Vegas. Company Chairman and CEO Steve Wynn attended arguments but did not comment afterward.
Justice Michael Cherry cited papers filed by the Culinary Workers Union that predicted tip pooling cases “will become big business” for the courts if judges start to jump into interpreting them. In this instance, replied dealers attorney Leon Greenberg, Culinary was just taking its position on behalf of Wynn.
Justice Nancy Sitta noted that she was “admittedly having a hard time” seeing how the Wynn company benefited from tip pooling.
The answer, said Greenberg, was that tip pooling raised the pay of the supervisory positions from about $60,000 a year. By contrast, Wynn dealer make about $90,000 a year including tips.
In court papers, Wynn cited the gap between supervisors and dealers as a reason to institute the tip pool, which continues in effect today. In addition, the company said people have resisted moving into supervisory roles due to the pay cut.
However, Greenberg proposed that tip pooling be based on the concept that “the economic benefit remaining with the people who provide the service for which the customer gave the tip.” That would mean dealers that players liked, while a tip to a customer service person who landed show tickets would fall in a separate bucket.
EMV, a chip-based payment standard, reduces counterfeit fraud and increases security by providing card authentication protocol. With all major card brands supporting the US migration to EMV, Signature Card Services is preparing its merchants for an easy and affordable transition. In addition to free terminals, they are providing support and education to help merchants embrace the change.
Signature Card Services has chosen Ingenico’s Telium2 series payment devices for its EMV terminals. The company partners with Ingenico for its high-quality products and services, as well as the knowledge and expertise that Ingenico brings, having supported EMV transactions in Europe and Canada for over two decades.
Signature Card Services recognizes that the migration to EMV is a significant undertaking. By facilitating early conversion to the EMV system with training and support, the company is committed to making the shift much easier for its merchants.
“Partnering with Ingenico offers tremendous advantages to our merchants,” says Anthony Urquidez, VP of Operations for Signature Card Services. “We are committed to helping merchants embrace the change and will continue to spearhead education and support. It is great to have a partner who shares our vision and provides an unparalleled product.”
“We are excited to be collaborating with Signature Card Services to provide EMV-enabled devices for its entire merchant network,” says Rhonda Boardman, Vice President for U.S. Acquiring Sales for Ingenico North America. “Through our partnership, we can empower merchants to be EMV ready and we are dedicated to supporting them every step of the oil painting reproduction.”
The legal team representing dealers fighting the Wynn Resorts Ltd. tip pooling policy ran into skeptical questioning as the long-running dispute came before the Nevada Supreme on Wednesday.
The company and the employees that fall under the class action lawsuit have been clashing with each other since the policy went into effect in September 2006 — just more than a year after Wynn Las Vegas opened — requiring dealers to share their tips with box persons at the craps tables and what are called customer service team leaders, who track players, help with lines of credit, take care of disputes on the casino floor and act as a concierge.
Tip pooling has long been legal as long as the company does not tap into the money for its “direct benefit.”
Wynn had won most of the most the battles, including a 2010 ruling by then Nevada Labor Commissioner Michael Tanchek that validated the tip pooling system. Last year, however, Clark County District Judge Kenneth Cory sided with the dealers in holding that Wynn improperly benefited from the tip pooling essentially by giving them a raise using the tips.
In court papers appealing the decision, Wynn said the tip pooling, backed by the commissioner’s opinion, did not provided a financial boost to the company or allow them to cut pay for the two groups of employees in return for tips.
The case drew unusually high interest, with about a dozen pro-dealer picketers carrying Transport Workers Union Local 721 signs, with which Wynn has signed a collective bargaining agreement, standing outside the Regional Justice Center in downtown Las Vegas. Company Chairman and CEO Steve Wynn attended arguments but did not comment afterward.
Justice Michael Cherry cited papers filed by the Culinary Workers Union that predicted tip pooling cases “will become big business” for the courts if judges start to jump into interpreting them. In this instance, replied dealers attorney Leon Greenberg, Culinary was just taking its position on behalf of Wynn.
Justice Nancy Sitta noted that she was “admittedly having a hard time” seeing how the Wynn company benefited from tip pooling.
The answer, said Greenberg, was that tip pooling raised the pay of the supervisory positions from about $60,000 a year. By contrast, Wynn dealer make about $90,000 a year including tips.
In court papers, Wynn cited the gap between supervisors and dealers as a reason to institute the tip pool, which continues in effect today. In addition, the company said people have resisted moving into supervisory roles due to the pay cut.
However, Greenberg proposed that tip pooling be based on the concept that “the economic benefit remaining with the people who provide the service for which the customer gave the tip.” That would mean dealers that players liked, while a tip to a customer service person who landed show tickets would fall in a separate bucket.
2013年6月4日星期二
Intel Launches the New Haswell CPU at Computex Taipei 2013
A wave of new Ultrabook and emerging 2-in-1 devices that deliver a PC when you need it and a tablet when you want it, Intel Corporation today introduced its ground-breaking 4th generation Intel Core Processor family.
Speaking at Computex Taipei 2013, Executive Vice President Tom Kilroy said Intel has more than 50 different 2-in-1 designs in the pipeline across a range of price points, including premium Ultrabook 2-in-1s powered by the new Intel Core processors, and other designs powered by forthcoming processors based on the company’s 22nm Silvermont microarchitecture.
“Today we deliver on the vision set forth 2 years ago to reinvent the laptop with the introduction of our 4th generation Intel Core processors that were designed from the ground up for the Ultrabook and serve as the foundation for a new era of 2-in-1 computing,” said Kilroy. “We made one of the most seismic changes to our roadmap ever to build these new Core processors that deliver the stunning performance of the PC and the mobility of a tablet in one device. The new processors power the most exciting 2-in-1 designs to-date.”
Designed first and foremost with the Ultrabook in mind and based on the company’s flagship 22nm Haswell microarchitecture, the 4th generation Intel Core processors deliver a 50 percent increase in battery life in active workloads over the previous generation1. This is the largest generation-over-generation gain in the company’s history, equating to over 9 hours of battery life in active workloads1 for some Ultrabooks based on the new processors.
Intel’s newest Core processors are the first SoCs for PCs with stunning performance, and power a variety of innovative devices, including Ultrabook, 2-in-1 and portable all-in-one designs. Systems based on the quad-core version of the new Core processors are available now, with additional versions available in the coming months.
The 4th generation Intel Core processors also have built-in graphics that deliver discrete-level performance, or up to 2 times the performance of Intel’s prior generation. Offered on select versions of the new Intel Core processors, Intel? Iris? graphics bring the Ultrabook and other mobile PCs to life with built-in, eye-popping visual experiences.
Select Ultrabooks powered by 4th generation Intel Core processors will deliver the Intel performance people expect combined with the mobility and responsiveness of a tablet, making them the premium, ultra-versatile 2-in-1 devices. With touch capability and a keyboard, the system adapts to the user and also offers full application compatibility. People can lean forward to work and lean back to relax using just one device.
Kilroy also showcased progress in bringing human-like senses to 2-in-1 and other Intel-based devices through the addition of touch, voice and facial recognition and other technologies. Called perceptual computing, these technologies take advantage of Intel processing power to make interaction with devices natural, intuitive and immersive.
He demonstrated immersive, short-range gesture and voice-based interaction by giving new Intel Core-based Ultrabook 2-in-1 devices “eyes” with the Creative Senz3D* peripheral camera, noting general availability for the camera starting next quarter. Looking to the future, he said Intel is working on an integrated solution to build 3-D depth camera technology directly into future Intel-based devices targeted for the second half of 2014.
Intel’s 22nm low-power, high-performance Silvermont microarchitecture is enabling the company to accelerate and significantly enhance its tablet and smartphone offerings.
For tablets on shelves for holiday 2013, Intel’s next-generation, 22nm quad-core Atom SoC (“Bay Trail-T”) will deliver superior graphics and more than two times the CPU performance of the current generation. It will also enable sleek designs with 8 or more hours2 of battery life and weeks of standby, as well as support Android and Windows 8.1.
For the first time, Kilroy demonstrated Intel’s 4G LTE multimode solution in conjunction with the next-generation 22nm quad-core Atom SoC for tablets. The Intel XMM 7160 is one of the world’s smallest3 and lowest-power multimode-multiband LTE solutions and will support global LTE roaming in a single SKU.
With a number of phones with Intel silicon inside having shipped across more than 30 countries, Kilroy previewed what’s coming. He showed for the first time a smartphone reference design platform based on “Merrifield,” Intel’s next-generation 22nm Atom SoC for smartphones that will deliver increased performance and battery life. The platform includes an integrated sensor hub for personalized services, as well as capabilities for data, device and privacy protection.
Until Roline ships the new or retreaded tires to customers, it stores them in racks located within its warehouse. Last year, the company began working with Ferm RFID to develop a solution that could identify the tires on the racks, says Hans Jorg, Roline's project manager. Additionally, the firm began investigating other ways in which the technology could be used to manage the retreading process, as well as enable customers to manage their own vehicle fleets via the tires' RFID tags.
Before being approached by Roline, Ferm RFID had already worked with Smart Res to develop an RFID tag in the form of a rubber patch that can be permanently bonded to the exterior surface of a tire's rubber sidewall, says Jos Uijlenbroek, Ferm RFID's international program manager. Tire companies Vredestein and LeCont were both trialing the patches. Therefore, when Roline explained its requirements to Ferm RFID, the two businesses agreed to develop a solution employing a permanent tag for use on retreads, along with a disposable RFID label for new tires.
The resulting solution consists of a permanent rubberized patch tag for retread tires, a disposable adhesive RFID tag for new tires, and handheld and fixed readers to track the tires through the retread and storage processes. According to Jorg, the software that manages the RFID data, supplied by ABP Dynamics, is integrated with Microsoft's Dynamics-NAV solution, enabling Roline to generate reports that identify recurring issues. The system was taken live at the end of 2012, he reports. Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
Speaking at Computex Taipei 2013, Executive Vice President Tom Kilroy said Intel has more than 50 different 2-in-1 designs in the pipeline across a range of price points, including premium Ultrabook 2-in-1s powered by the new Intel Core processors, and other designs powered by forthcoming processors based on the company’s 22nm Silvermont microarchitecture.
“Today we deliver on the vision set forth 2 years ago to reinvent the laptop with the introduction of our 4th generation Intel Core processors that were designed from the ground up for the Ultrabook and serve as the foundation for a new era of 2-in-1 computing,” said Kilroy. “We made one of the most seismic changes to our roadmap ever to build these new Core processors that deliver the stunning performance of the PC and the mobility of a tablet in one device. The new processors power the most exciting 2-in-1 designs to-date.”
Designed first and foremost with the Ultrabook in mind and based on the company’s flagship 22nm Haswell microarchitecture, the 4th generation Intel Core processors deliver a 50 percent increase in battery life in active workloads over the previous generation1. This is the largest generation-over-generation gain in the company’s history, equating to over 9 hours of battery life in active workloads1 for some Ultrabooks based on the new processors.
Intel’s newest Core processors are the first SoCs for PCs with stunning performance, and power a variety of innovative devices, including Ultrabook, 2-in-1 and portable all-in-one designs. Systems based on the quad-core version of the new Core processors are available now, with additional versions available in the coming months.
The 4th generation Intel Core processors also have built-in graphics that deliver discrete-level performance, or up to 2 times the performance of Intel’s prior generation. Offered on select versions of the new Intel Core processors, Intel? Iris? graphics bring the Ultrabook and other mobile PCs to life with built-in, eye-popping visual experiences.
Select Ultrabooks powered by 4th generation Intel Core processors will deliver the Intel performance people expect combined with the mobility and responsiveness of a tablet, making them the premium, ultra-versatile 2-in-1 devices. With touch capability and a keyboard, the system adapts to the user and also offers full application compatibility. People can lean forward to work and lean back to relax using just one device.
Kilroy also showcased progress in bringing human-like senses to 2-in-1 and other Intel-based devices through the addition of touch, voice and facial recognition and other technologies. Called perceptual computing, these technologies take advantage of Intel processing power to make interaction with devices natural, intuitive and immersive.
He demonstrated immersive, short-range gesture and voice-based interaction by giving new Intel Core-based Ultrabook 2-in-1 devices “eyes” with the Creative Senz3D* peripheral camera, noting general availability for the camera starting next quarter. Looking to the future, he said Intel is working on an integrated solution to build 3-D depth camera technology directly into future Intel-based devices targeted for the second half of 2014.
Intel’s 22nm low-power, high-performance Silvermont microarchitecture is enabling the company to accelerate and significantly enhance its tablet and smartphone offerings.
For tablets on shelves for holiday 2013, Intel’s next-generation, 22nm quad-core Atom SoC (“Bay Trail-T”) will deliver superior graphics and more than two times the CPU performance of the current generation. It will also enable sleek designs with 8 or more hours2 of battery life and weeks of standby, as well as support Android and Windows 8.1.
For the first time, Kilroy demonstrated Intel’s 4G LTE multimode solution in conjunction with the next-generation 22nm quad-core Atom SoC for tablets. The Intel XMM 7160 is one of the world’s smallest3 and lowest-power multimode-multiband LTE solutions and will support global LTE roaming in a single SKU.
With a number of phones with Intel silicon inside having shipped across more than 30 countries, Kilroy previewed what’s coming. He showed for the first time a smartphone reference design platform based on “Merrifield,” Intel’s next-generation 22nm Atom SoC for smartphones that will deliver increased performance and battery life. The platform includes an integrated sensor hub for personalized services, as well as capabilities for data, device and privacy protection.
Until Roline ships the new or retreaded tires to customers, it stores them in racks located within its warehouse. Last year, the company began working with Ferm RFID to develop a solution that could identify the tires on the racks, says Hans Jorg, Roline's project manager. Additionally, the firm began investigating other ways in which the technology could be used to manage the retreading process, as well as enable customers to manage their own vehicle fleets via the tires' RFID tags.
Before being approached by Roline, Ferm RFID had already worked with Smart Res to develop an RFID tag in the form of a rubber patch that can be permanently bonded to the exterior surface of a tire's rubber sidewall, says Jos Uijlenbroek, Ferm RFID's international program manager. Tire companies Vredestein and LeCont were both trialing the patches. Therefore, when Roline explained its requirements to Ferm RFID, the two businesses agreed to develop a solution employing a permanent tag for use on retreads, along with a disposable RFID label for new tires.
The resulting solution consists of a permanent rubberized patch tag for retread tires, a disposable adhesive RFID tag for new tires, and handheld and fixed readers to track the tires through the retread and storage processes. According to Jorg, the software that manages the RFID data, supplied by ABP Dynamics, is integrated with Microsoft's Dynamics-NAV solution, enabling Roline to generate reports that identify recurring issues. The system was taken live at the end of 2012, he reports. Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
2013年6月2日星期日
Christian school is unexpected leader in online education
Heritage Christian Online School is the biggest such school in B.C. and has one of the largest distributed-learning programs in the country. It markets educational products in other provinces and abroad, and this year it’s expecting to grow again thanks to legislative changes allowing more online learning opportunities in B.C.
The school’s exceptional success, and the fact that independent online schools in B.C. are attracting students at a faster pace than public online schools, has sparked debate among educators. Although enrolments at online independents are only a third of those at public online schools, the former has seen steady increases since 2003-04 while the enrolment in the public options has plateaued.
Some teachers worry about a lack of regulation of online education — also known as distributed learning — and say the Education Ministry isn’t monitoring student completion rates, teacher caseloads and program quality. Glen Hansman, vice-president of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation described it as the wild west.
Others disagree, saying distributed learning offers creative opportunities for a variety of students. Heritage Christian’s superintendent, Greg Bitgood, says his Kelowna school, which is operated by a non-profit society, found a solid constituency among Christian parents who home-school. By enrolling at Heritage Christian, those parents can still teach their children at home but they also have access — free of charge — to learning resources and teacher support. There are no tuition fees because per-pupil operating grants from government are sufficient cover all expenses.
The number of true home-schoolers in B.C. has plummeted while online learning keeps growing. During this school year, only 2,062 students were registered as traditional home-schoolers, while the number of online students in public and independent schools rose to 50,890 from 34,000 five years ago.
Heritage Christian has 2,050 full-time students. As well, it has an expanding number of part-time students who are enrolled at regular bricks-and-mortar schools but take a course or two from Heritage Christian — because the subject they want isn’t offered at their home school, its availability doesn’t fit with their timetable, they have failed a course or they simply want an online-learning experience.
Some students also regard online courses as an easy route to good grades, say public school teachers. “There’s definitely a trend of kids moving online to get a higher mark, and all teachers recognize that,” said Vancouver physics teacher Doug Smith.
Bitgood agreed that some students who “cross enrol” between traditional and online schools are shopping for inflated marks and a few might find a school or a teacher willing to help them. “That gives all of us a bad name,” he said, but he insisted those numbers are small and do not reflect the full-time students who take their full program online.
Grade inflation has been a subject of discussion by online educators, he said. Another hot topic is the completion rates, which some say are dismal for distributed learning students. Again, Bitgood noted a difference between full-time online students, who he said have excellent completion rates, and kids who take only one or two online courses and might not adapt well to independent learning.
Surprisingly, the Education Ministry does not require online schools to track completion rates, although that possibility is being reviewed.
Heritage Christian’s growth has riled the teachers’ federation, which doesn’t like the fact the school collects public money, boldly promotes itself as “B.C.’s online school,” employs non-union teachers as contractors and outsources some work. More than anything, the union is unhappy with the way independent and public schools are having to compete for students.
“Having about 60 public DL (distributed learning) schools and 18 private DL schools all in competition means that the province is not able to produce high-quality online programs that take advantage of the various tools that are now available to enhance online resources,” Larry Kuehn, the union’s director of research and technology, says in a recent report.
“Competition for students and a major focus on compliance audits means that the public-school DL courses do not take full advantage of technological tools and developments.”
While Smith, who teaches at Prince of Wales secondary, worries about students signing up for distributed learning simply to get better marks for less work, Prince George teacher Glen Thielmann frets about the quality of online courses in the public system. Based on his experience as a contract online marker, he said some school districts have not adapted well to the new technology.
“We have this old model where we give students stacks of paper and stacks of worksheets ... with assignments to send in and some tests to write,” he said in an interview. Some districts have developed more creative and interactive distributed learning but many delivery models are still locked in the 1980s, he added.
That means “the DL experience for most students is disembodied, impersonal and unchallenging,” Thielmann wrote on his blog after speaking to The Vancouver Sun. He stressed that he was not criticizing distributed learning staff, only lamenting the “default approach” to distributed learning, which is a result of difficulties in changing a large system and a lack of funding for new courses or project development.
Michael Maser, co-founder of SelfDesign Learning, which is another popular independent online school, said the public system hasn’t embraced distributed learning largely because of the teachers’ federation’s insistence that traditional education is better. The union is “most interested in kids in seats in brick-and-mortar schools,” which influences the public school approach to online learning, he said.
“There is a stigma that online learning is of a secondary quality and that is a common refrain in public schools,” said Maser, who has been involved in distributed learning for two decades, including when it was paper-based. “That becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy (in public-schools), despite the efforts of many, many excellent teachers out there who recognize the benefits of DL and are working through it to provide services to students. Their hands are often tied.”
The number of B.C. students learning online is expected to increase again soon. Until now, only Grade 10-12 students were permitted to cross enrol, but the opportunity to mix regular schooling with online education will soon be available to all K-12 students. Bitgood expects an influx of Grade 8 and 9 students, but said.Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
The school’s exceptional success, and the fact that independent online schools in B.C. are attracting students at a faster pace than public online schools, has sparked debate among educators. Although enrolments at online independents are only a third of those at public online schools, the former has seen steady increases since 2003-04 while the enrolment in the public options has plateaued.
Some teachers worry about a lack of regulation of online education — also known as distributed learning — and say the Education Ministry isn’t monitoring student completion rates, teacher caseloads and program quality. Glen Hansman, vice-president of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation described it as the wild west.
Others disagree, saying distributed learning offers creative opportunities for a variety of students. Heritage Christian’s superintendent, Greg Bitgood, says his Kelowna school, which is operated by a non-profit society, found a solid constituency among Christian parents who home-school. By enrolling at Heritage Christian, those parents can still teach their children at home but they also have access — free of charge — to learning resources and teacher support. There are no tuition fees because per-pupil operating grants from government are sufficient cover all expenses.
The number of true home-schoolers in B.C. has plummeted while online learning keeps growing. During this school year, only 2,062 students were registered as traditional home-schoolers, while the number of online students in public and independent schools rose to 50,890 from 34,000 five years ago.
Heritage Christian has 2,050 full-time students. As well, it has an expanding number of part-time students who are enrolled at regular bricks-and-mortar schools but take a course or two from Heritage Christian — because the subject they want isn’t offered at their home school, its availability doesn’t fit with their timetable, they have failed a course or they simply want an online-learning experience.
Some students also regard online courses as an easy route to good grades, say public school teachers. “There’s definitely a trend of kids moving online to get a higher mark, and all teachers recognize that,” said Vancouver physics teacher Doug Smith.
Bitgood agreed that some students who “cross enrol” between traditional and online schools are shopping for inflated marks and a few might find a school or a teacher willing to help them. “That gives all of us a bad name,” he said, but he insisted those numbers are small and do not reflect the full-time students who take their full program online.
Grade inflation has been a subject of discussion by online educators, he said. Another hot topic is the completion rates, which some say are dismal for distributed learning students. Again, Bitgood noted a difference between full-time online students, who he said have excellent completion rates, and kids who take only one or two online courses and might not adapt well to independent learning.
Surprisingly, the Education Ministry does not require online schools to track completion rates, although that possibility is being reviewed.
Heritage Christian’s growth has riled the teachers’ federation, which doesn’t like the fact the school collects public money, boldly promotes itself as “B.C.’s online school,” employs non-union teachers as contractors and outsources some work. More than anything, the union is unhappy with the way independent and public schools are having to compete for students.
“Having about 60 public DL (distributed learning) schools and 18 private DL schools all in competition means that the province is not able to produce high-quality online programs that take advantage of the various tools that are now available to enhance online resources,” Larry Kuehn, the union’s director of research and technology, says in a recent report.
“Competition for students and a major focus on compliance audits means that the public-school DL courses do not take full advantage of technological tools and developments.”
While Smith, who teaches at Prince of Wales secondary, worries about students signing up for distributed learning simply to get better marks for less work, Prince George teacher Glen Thielmann frets about the quality of online courses in the public system. Based on his experience as a contract online marker, he said some school districts have not adapted well to the new technology.
“We have this old model where we give students stacks of paper and stacks of worksheets ... with assignments to send in and some tests to write,” he said in an interview. Some districts have developed more creative and interactive distributed learning but many delivery models are still locked in the 1980s, he added.
That means “the DL experience for most students is disembodied, impersonal and unchallenging,” Thielmann wrote on his blog after speaking to The Vancouver Sun. He stressed that he was not criticizing distributed learning staff, only lamenting the “default approach” to distributed learning, which is a result of difficulties in changing a large system and a lack of funding for new courses or project development.
Michael Maser, co-founder of SelfDesign Learning, which is another popular independent online school, said the public system hasn’t embraced distributed learning largely because of the teachers’ federation’s insistence that traditional education is better. The union is “most interested in kids in seats in brick-and-mortar schools,” which influences the public school approach to online learning, he said.
“There is a stigma that online learning is of a secondary quality and that is a common refrain in public schools,” said Maser, who has been involved in distributed learning for two decades, including when it was paper-based. “That becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy (in public-schools), despite the efforts of many, many excellent teachers out there who recognize the benefits of DL and are working through it to provide services to students. Their hands are often tied.”
The number of B.C. students learning online is expected to increase again soon. Until now, only Grade 10-12 students were permitted to cross enrol, but the opportunity to mix regular schooling with online education will soon be available to all K-12 students. Bitgood expects an influx of Grade 8 and 9 students, but said.Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.
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