A Tampa man was jailed after Polk County deputies accused him of stealing diesel fuel using fraudulent credit cards.Noel Perez-Partagas, 20, of 6403 N. Armenia Ave., was arrested Wednesday and taken to the Polk County Jail on charges of trafficking in stolen credit cards, fraudulent use of credit cards, obtaining fuel fraudulently, unlawful conveyance of fuel and petit theft.
The investigation began Monday after fuel thefts were reported the previous week at Murphy's USA stations in the county. Detectives focused on two stations, one in Mulberry and one in Winter Haven.Detectives learned that on July 3 and Monday, a suspect in a white 2000 Ford pickup bought approximately 99 gallons of diesel fuel with stolen or altered credit cards, the Polk sheriff's office said.
About 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, a man was seen pumping fuel into the bed of a pickup matching that description at the Murphy station at 2118 U.S. 92 W., Auburndale. The truck left the area at a high rate of speed, and deputies conducted a traffic stop, the sheriff's office said.Detectives said they interviewed the driver and searched the truck, where they found 89 plastic cards with magnetic stripes - 20 of them on the driver. They also saw that the cards were an assortment of Walmart gift cards, hotel door keys and credit cards, and the cards had re-encoded credit information, meaning there were victims whose personal information has been stolen and coded onto the smart card.
Detectives said the card used to purchase the fuel Monday was a Walmart gift card that had used someone's stolen credit information.A search also revealed that the metal toolbox area in the bed of the truck was fitted with a compartment that led to a large metal tank in the bed, used to store the diesel that Perez-Partagas "purchased" at the pumps.Britons are regularly using credit and debit cards to pay for items which were once purchased with a fiver or less, new research for Debenhams Personal Finance has revealed.
Cards rather than cash are often handed over for coffees and snacks in local cafes, sandwich bars and pubs.The study found a similar picture in newsagents and sweet shops with the purchase of magazines and confectionary now frequently made with plastic.Debenhams looked at latest industry figures for spending by card in high street outlets where previously the bill would be settled with a handful of small change.
The number of transactions using credit and debit cards has risen by almost 40% from 7.4 billion in 2008 to 10.2 billion this year, but the value of the average transaction by credit and debit card has dropped.A Debenhams survey found the trend is being led by younger adults who enjoy the convenience of plastic in their everyday spending for everything from a skinny latte to a glossy magazine.Almost one in three (31%) 18-35 year olds said they used a credit or debit card for purchases under ￡10 at least once a week and 19% said they used plastic for purchases of ￡5 or under.
The study revealed that the top ten items purchased by card which cost ￡5 or under included a coffee in the number one slot, chocolate, sweets and crisps, second and soft drinks third. Newspapers, magazines and a pint of milk and a loaf of bread also made the list.Those under 35 told researchers the main reasons for using a card was “convenience” and “not having to carry cash”. The savvy ones among them say they are also channelling their use of cards to certain providers who offer cash-back and loyalty schemes.
However, not all take card convenience for granted, with 7% of those that regularly use a card for purchases under a fiver admitting they frequently check with the cashier in a shop if it is OK to do so, or apologise for the transaction being so small.Older people still prefer cash as a way of keeping a check on their finances, especially in the current difficult economic times and use cards for larger less frequent purchases. Only 5% of over 55 year olds said they prefer plastic to cash for small value treats.
Debenhams Head of Personal Finance Mike Hazell says: “Cash is still a big part of our lives, but for an increasing number of people, in particular the younger generation who have grown up with cards, plastic is the payment method of choice, even for relatively small, everyday purchases.“They like the convenience and the benefit that some cards have of reward schemes. Others just don’t like carrying cash. It’s all down to personal choice.”
Our changing attitude to cards has been reflected in statistics showing frequent transactions for smaller amounts now are often put on our plastic. In coffee shops, the total spend on plastic is up 9%, but the average payment made by debit card has dropped to ￡8.48, compared to ￡11.20 a year ago.The pub is another place where cards are increasingly being flashed to pay for a round of drinks. The debit card comes out when the bill comes to just over ￡20 with the average debit card payment being ￡22.78. A year ago a typical debit card transaction was ￡24.58.
Ever wonder who had the bright idea to put that small magnetic strip on the back of your credit card? The one that tells a machine what card you have, which ultimately lets you pay for your transaction without any cash.That man was Ron Klein. He is now a 77-year-old Korean War veteran who had no idea his invention was going to take off the way it did.
Klein invented the strip in 1966 because he was frustrated with how complicated charge purchases were at the time. Merchants had to painstakingly look through a book containing thousands of account numbers to see if the potential buyer had bad credit. Klein utilized the same technology used in reel-to-reel tape communications to come up with a magnetic strip that could be placed on the back of a plastic card.
Click on their website www.smartcardfactory.com.
Showing posts with label swimming instructor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swimming instructor. Show all posts
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
The Baltics inexplicable obsession
What is your obsession with running? The citys public transport has been put on hold. Roads are closed or diverted. Some 4,000 runners wind their way either twenty-one or forty-two kilometers through Rigathrowing away plastic cups and emptied high-calorie gel packs as they go. Animated crowds line the streets. The atmosphere is in double measures opulence and celebration. And this question, levied with genuine curiosity, has never been more pertinent than now, in the Baltics.
With organized runs appearing in all corners of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonias roads and trails, with running clubs enrollment swelling, and the after-work runners spilling out onto the streets, its easy to wonder what has catalyzed this sudden and dramatic attraction to running.
But just how popular has running become? And how recently? Only in the last six years have Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinns marathons been recognized by AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races). Both Riga and Vilnius marathons became members of AIMS in 2007, while Tallinn Marathons 2011 press release boasts AIMS recognition as one of the best marathons in the world. But Institutional acknowledgements aside, perhaps the best gauge of runnings popularity in the region is participation in each capitals marathon.
SEB Tallinn Marathons statistics registered 1,689 participants in 2000: the events first year.High quality plastic card printing for business cards, Only after ten years, in 2010, was the marathon, all forty-two kilometers added. And last year, statistics show that 18,785 people ran in either the marathon, the half marathon, the 10K, the 5K, the 10K walk, or the Childrens Race. This is an increase of 17,096 participants in 12 years. If this trend is anything to go by, Septembers marathon will have more participants than any year before it.
In Vilnius, the Danske Bank Marathon is showing equally dramatic figures. The readily available numbers suggest that the number of participants doubled to over 5,000 in 2012 over five possible distances. Its organizers suggest that the Danske Bank Marathon is growing more speedily than Riga or Tallinns. More promising still is that this year, the marathons course has been redrawn, bringing participants through the most historic and architecturally impressive regions of Lithuanias capital.
But the story of the Riga Nordea Marathon is probably the most tumultuous and revealing in how substantially the sport has grown in popularity in only a short time. The races first year, 1991, had 707 finishers, but witnessed a steady and near fatal decline until 1999. The marathons Web site admits the race and the organization struggled to survive. But the numbers of participants have increased since the early 2000s and figures from Mays marathon show that 22,020 runners joined from 65 different countries.
Lets examine the elementary economics of running: the raw materials and the final product. Even modest joggers invest large quantities of time, money, and energy, which are highly valued resources in any economy, to the sport. And to what end? The final product is largely untenable. Running is rarely about getting from A-Z. In fact, preferably runners run a loop, ending where they start. So, having invested and then exerted these precious resources, the end products are tiredness, sweatiness, and probably hunger. The cost-benefit of running doesnt explain why so many people are drawn to it.
So its curious that each capital citys marathon is sponsored by the Baltics biggest and most competitive banks. This is economic investment on a grander, realer scale. Rigas marathon is sponsored by Nordea; Vilnius, by Danske Bank; and Tallinns, by SEB. And considering the celebratory and congenial atmosphere at running events generally, this banking sector sponsorship is probably the races most rivalrous aspect.
But corporate participation in the Baltics marathons hasnt limited itself to event sponsorship. Some of Rigas most successful companies, corporations, and governmental institutions, including Accenture, Tieto, Swedbank, and Ernst & Young entered teams in this years Riga Nordea Marathon. At least some, if not all, of these companies sponsored their teams participation.
Its not mandatory for everyone who laces a pair of shoes by their front door to one day run a marathon. More and more, the idea of a gold standard in running is becoming less important. In fact, there are entire conglomerates that seek to suit everyones ideal run. And these options vary considerably. Take for example those compelled to run up, then down, a mountain or hill; theres fell running. Originating in England, organizers of fell running events generally take for granted, or stipulate, that participants possess sufficient orienteering skills and survival supplies for extreme or unforeseeable circumstances.
Lying at the opposite of runnings spectrum is hashing C the illustrious combination of running and beer drinking which has been popular in the Baltics since independence from the Soviet Union. Its origins date to 1938 and British colonial presence in India, where hashers met on Mondays to admonish their weekends excesses. According to a 1950 report on the hashers registration card,where cards are embedded with chip card and a cardholder. the club sought to promote physical fitness among members, get rid of weekend hangovers, to acquire a good thirst and to satisfy it in beer, and persuade the older member that they are not as old as they feel.
So what is the obsession with running? There isnt a sufficient answer; only probable causes. The variety of running experiences on offer can only explain in part why the sport has become so popular, so recently. Even the celebratory, specifically non-rivalrous agenda of running seems to fall short of providing a full explanation. Its crucial collaborative and social component isnt a completely satisfying answer either. The most pointed clue comes from all runners seemingly describing one common experience when talking about runningelation.
This part of the operating system is in a state of flux; between version 10.0 and 10.1 the ability to select words, paragraphs or all the text with multiple taps has been dropped. Hopefully accuracy will improve, requiring less use of the balloon. Heck, if an advertising company can get it nearly right, BlackBerry should be able to, too.
Meanwhile, BlackBerry makes much of the Hub, a message aggregator encompassing IM, email text and social networks and device notifications. Yet after over five months using BB10 regularly, I can say I use it in spite of the Hub, not because of it.
Some basic messaging tasks - for example navigating sequentially through a mailbox - are tedious, because you must return to the Hub after each message. Even the cumbersome iPhone C which is nobodys idea of a top-quality messaging device - has always enabled this.About IC card in China used for paying transportation fares and for shopping.
And the Peek gesture C allowing you to view recent incoming messages and return you to your last task in one step C is a nice idea, but it rarely works as the Demo Gods intended. If youve left a message open, thats what youll see, not the most recent received. Theres no single, system-wide gesture for view most recent incoming. I found myself wishing the bezel had one.
BlackBerry appears to have made a rod for its own back by choosing an eccentric set of gestures, and as things settle down, I hope it does not become a prisoner of this design. Far too often the user is moving things out of the way.
To ameliorate the effects of these peculiar design choices, BlackBerry now obliges you to sit through some tutorials and even overlays the screen with a signpost which is quite hard to remove.Another sign of the systems immaturity has been some wild variations in battery performance between updates. The Z10 update just prior to 10.1 gave it astonishing battery life, taking the phone into a second day. Now its exhausted by the evening.
Another issue is that daemon-style services - which should have no more UI than a control panel setting - must be running in an "Active Frame"; they cant operate "headless" as background services should. And since there cannot be anymore than eight Frames open, less frequently used services are closed down by the system.Then there are features older 'Berry users will want, but find are missing: the software engineers are restoring those as fast as they can. These include areas such as fine-grained alerts (notifications present a more difficult task). Other features will never return, including BIS, the consumer BlackBerry internet service.
With organized runs appearing in all corners of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonias roads and trails, with running clubs enrollment swelling, and the after-work runners spilling out onto the streets, its easy to wonder what has catalyzed this sudden and dramatic attraction to running.
But just how popular has running become? And how recently? Only in the last six years have Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinns marathons been recognized by AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races). Both Riga and Vilnius marathons became members of AIMS in 2007, while Tallinn Marathons 2011 press release boasts AIMS recognition as one of the best marathons in the world. But Institutional acknowledgements aside, perhaps the best gauge of runnings popularity in the region is participation in each capitals marathon.
SEB Tallinn Marathons statistics registered 1,689 participants in 2000: the events first year.High quality plastic card printing for business cards, Only after ten years, in 2010, was the marathon, all forty-two kilometers added. And last year, statistics show that 18,785 people ran in either the marathon, the half marathon, the 10K, the 5K, the 10K walk, or the Childrens Race. This is an increase of 17,096 participants in 12 years. If this trend is anything to go by, Septembers marathon will have more participants than any year before it.
In Vilnius, the Danske Bank Marathon is showing equally dramatic figures. The readily available numbers suggest that the number of participants doubled to over 5,000 in 2012 over five possible distances. Its organizers suggest that the Danske Bank Marathon is growing more speedily than Riga or Tallinns. More promising still is that this year, the marathons course has been redrawn, bringing participants through the most historic and architecturally impressive regions of Lithuanias capital.
But the story of the Riga Nordea Marathon is probably the most tumultuous and revealing in how substantially the sport has grown in popularity in only a short time. The races first year, 1991, had 707 finishers, but witnessed a steady and near fatal decline until 1999. The marathons Web site admits the race and the organization struggled to survive. But the numbers of participants have increased since the early 2000s and figures from Mays marathon show that 22,020 runners joined from 65 different countries.
Lets examine the elementary economics of running: the raw materials and the final product. Even modest joggers invest large quantities of time, money, and energy, which are highly valued resources in any economy, to the sport. And to what end? The final product is largely untenable. Running is rarely about getting from A-Z. In fact, preferably runners run a loop, ending where they start. So, having invested and then exerted these precious resources, the end products are tiredness, sweatiness, and probably hunger. The cost-benefit of running doesnt explain why so many people are drawn to it.
So its curious that each capital citys marathon is sponsored by the Baltics biggest and most competitive banks. This is economic investment on a grander, realer scale. Rigas marathon is sponsored by Nordea; Vilnius, by Danske Bank; and Tallinns, by SEB. And considering the celebratory and congenial atmosphere at running events generally, this banking sector sponsorship is probably the races most rivalrous aspect.
But corporate participation in the Baltics marathons hasnt limited itself to event sponsorship. Some of Rigas most successful companies, corporations, and governmental institutions, including Accenture, Tieto, Swedbank, and Ernst & Young entered teams in this years Riga Nordea Marathon. At least some, if not all, of these companies sponsored their teams participation.
Its not mandatory for everyone who laces a pair of shoes by their front door to one day run a marathon. More and more, the idea of a gold standard in running is becoming less important. In fact, there are entire conglomerates that seek to suit everyones ideal run. And these options vary considerably. Take for example those compelled to run up, then down, a mountain or hill; theres fell running. Originating in England, organizers of fell running events generally take for granted, or stipulate, that participants possess sufficient orienteering skills and survival supplies for extreme or unforeseeable circumstances.
Lying at the opposite of runnings spectrum is hashing C the illustrious combination of running and beer drinking which has been popular in the Baltics since independence from the Soviet Union. Its origins date to 1938 and British colonial presence in India, where hashers met on Mondays to admonish their weekends excesses. According to a 1950 report on the hashers registration card,where cards are embedded with chip card and a cardholder. the club sought to promote physical fitness among members, get rid of weekend hangovers, to acquire a good thirst and to satisfy it in beer, and persuade the older member that they are not as old as they feel.
So what is the obsession with running? There isnt a sufficient answer; only probable causes. The variety of running experiences on offer can only explain in part why the sport has become so popular, so recently. Even the celebratory, specifically non-rivalrous agenda of running seems to fall short of providing a full explanation. Its crucial collaborative and social component isnt a completely satisfying answer either. The most pointed clue comes from all runners seemingly describing one common experience when talking about runningelation.
This part of the operating system is in a state of flux; between version 10.0 and 10.1 the ability to select words, paragraphs or all the text with multiple taps has been dropped. Hopefully accuracy will improve, requiring less use of the balloon. Heck, if an advertising company can get it nearly right, BlackBerry should be able to, too.
Meanwhile, BlackBerry makes much of the Hub, a message aggregator encompassing IM, email text and social networks and device notifications. Yet after over five months using BB10 regularly, I can say I use it in spite of the Hub, not because of it.
Some basic messaging tasks - for example navigating sequentially through a mailbox - are tedious, because you must return to the Hub after each message. Even the cumbersome iPhone C which is nobodys idea of a top-quality messaging device - has always enabled this.About IC card in China used for paying transportation fares and for shopping.
And the Peek gesture C allowing you to view recent incoming messages and return you to your last task in one step C is a nice idea, but it rarely works as the Demo Gods intended. If youve left a message open, thats what youll see, not the most recent received. Theres no single, system-wide gesture for view most recent incoming. I found myself wishing the bezel had one.
BlackBerry appears to have made a rod for its own back by choosing an eccentric set of gestures, and as things settle down, I hope it does not become a prisoner of this design. Far too often the user is moving things out of the way.
To ameliorate the effects of these peculiar design choices, BlackBerry now obliges you to sit through some tutorials and even overlays the screen with a signpost which is quite hard to remove.Another sign of the systems immaturity has been some wild variations in battery performance between updates. The Z10 update just prior to 10.1 gave it astonishing battery life, taking the phone into a second day. Now its exhausted by the evening.
Another issue is that daemon-style services - which should have no more UI than a control panel setting - must be running in an "Active Frame"; they cant operate "headless" as background services should. And since there cannot be anymore than eight Frames open, less frequently used services are closed down by the system.Then there are features older 'Berry users will want, but find are missing: the software engineers are restoring those as fast as they can. These include areas such as fine-grained alerts (notifications present a more difficult task). Other features will never return, including BIS, the consumer BlackBerry internet service.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Sun, Summer, and Savings
With the summer finally upon us, we often look forward to spending time with family and friends and enjoy the few months of warm temperatures by getting outside. Summer also often means looking forward to that great Canadian tradition of the summer family vacation.
According to a BMO survey, 83% of Canadians plan to take a vacation this summer. Summer vacations not only bring great memories, new experiences, and families and friends together, they also bring a hefty price tag that can make a serious dent in our budgets. The average Canadian going on vacation this summer is looking at spending $3,073 according to the same BMO survey. Because of the rising costs of summer vacations it is not surprising that 79% of Canadians are looking for ways to cut down on vacation expenses while still maximizing vacation experiences.
Matthew Keenan, Credit and Education Counsellor for Credit Counselling Service of Sault Ste. Marie and District, has some tips on how you can save some money this summer and still make those great vacation memories. “When looking at saving some money on your vacation this summer, it is really important to do your research. Many hotels will give you a lower room rate if you call them directly instead of using their online booking center” says Keenan. According to Keenan, “most of your vacation savings occurs in the planning process. Just heading out on the great Canadian road trip is fun, but also often more expensive than taking the time to find the best uses for your hard earned dollar.”
If you are road tripping, spending less than 24hrs in any one spot, a hotel really is a spot to lay your head. With this in mind search for cheaper hotels or motels using travel sites to help you keep costs down. If you really want to save and are not afraid of a little more adventure, try car camping along your travel route. Just remember that you often need to book these sites well in advance of your arrival.
If you plan on staying in one spot for your vacation look for hotels that offer multi-night packages such as stay 3 nights get one free. In some cities with cheap, safe, and efficient mass transit staying outside of the tourist core is a great cheaper alternative, but if the transit system isn’t all that great the cost of taxis to and from the hotel can really eat away at the room savings.
When looking at hotels be sure to see what’s included. While many hotels have free wifi there are still many that don’t. Also, in some larger cities parking your car can be upwards of $20-$50/night. Lastly, if your travels are taking you further afield many international hotels do not include a breakfast in the room rate so this should be taken into account when looking for the most economical hotel choice.
During the planning of a vacation try to brainstorm all of the attractions that you want to visit. By having a plan of what you want to see and do, you can search the internet for deals and coupons to help save on admission or food costs at attractions.
Also, some cities offer packages that help save on admission costs to a number of major attractions. “When looking at these attraction chip card it is really important that you actually want to go to the major attractions it covers. If the majority of the admission discounts are for things you don’t want to see or do then it may be cheaper to just pay the full priced admission to get in” says Keenan.
Some attractions offer lower admission prices later in the day. Many art galleries or museums will do this in the last few hours they are open, “if you only intend to see one exhibit or a few particular art pieces this is a great way to save some money off the cost of admission, and in some cases admission for children is waved during these hours.”
You may be able to save even more on attractions if you are a member of a professional organization. Keenan points out that “many members’ professional organizations like the Ontario College of Teachers can get you into places for free. A quick look at your organizations website should list all the places with waved entrance fees. In some cases, if you show your membership card or ask about professional discounts in other provinces they will be honoured, a great way to save some money that is often not used by travellers.”
“We have all heard the horror stories about huge thousand dollar cell bills when people get back from vacation. While the government is working with cell companies to put in place caps in place to prevent these outrageous bills, those are not going to be in place until December. So, you could still face a huge bill if you are not careful this summer” says Keenan.
It is important understand your cell contract and the charges associated with using text, voice, and roaming to help reduce the likelihood of facing a large cell bill. “You should contact your cell company and see what roaming deals they can offer you, some companies have long distance or data deals available for as little as $10” states Keenan.
As many digital devices like iPads and smartphones can use a wifi connection. It is smart to bring these along with you on your travels. This is because you can use free wifi areas to send emails, check out attractions, or access downloaded tickets without having to use a costly internet café.
A BMO study into the use of credit card rewards points shows that many Canadians have built up about $400 in rewards. Keenan points out that “if you have a credit card that is building points then cash them out for discounts on airfare, hotels, or even as gas gift cards if you are going on a driving vacation. These points are representing your money and yet almost a third of Canadians are not using their points to help reduce travel costs.”
“Food costs can really add up if you are eating at restaurants every day of your vacation” notes Keenan. If you are travelling by car you may be tempted to pull into the rest stop for a quick bite but if you consider buying some fruit and veggies to snack on while you drive you can help to cut down on those rest stop snacks. You can also pack lunches to eat while sightseeing to help avoid going into restaurants in the typically more expensive tourist areas of larger cities. This also cuts down on idle time waiting for your meal to arrive that could be better used sightseeing or dashing off to your next adventure.
If you don’t want to brown bag your supper, eat where the locals eat. “Locals don’t often eat along the tourist ‘strip’ so try and steer clear of those places; again look online to help find true local restaurants. Many have great portion sizes and are a fraction the cost of a tourist focused restaurant” suggests Keenan.
Shopping: “Souvenirs are a hugely important part of vacations. We all like to get those mementos of our trips but they can be very costly and can easily throw your vacation budget out of whack” warns Keenan. One way to help keep souvenir costs down is to choose a small and inexpensive collectible that you pick up on most vacations, “I have seen some people collect small things like fridge magnets when they go to a new city, state, or province. These are typically low cost and are a great way to see your adventures each time you open the fridge door. The idea is to get a souvenir that will be used, appreciated, and not just placed on a shelf forgotten about in a few months’ time.”
Souvenirs can be tricky when travelling with kids. Give your older kids power over their money choices by giving them a daily allowance. Be sure to tell them that they can use this money how they want but when it’s used up that’s it. If your child really wants to buy an item they either need to save for that item or take out a loan, meaning no allowance until the loan is paid off. This is a great way to allow your children to make safe financial decisions and grow to understand the value of their money, purchasing power, and the benefits of saving and drawbacks of borrowing to make a purchase.
Summer vacations are without a doubt expensive. They are also a great way to bring friends and family closer together. With some pre-planning and research you will be able to identify ways to cut down on your expenses and keep those savings in the bank while still building great memories.
Click on their website www.smartcardfactory.com.
According to a BMO survey, 83% of Canadians plan to take a vacation this summer. Summer vacations not only bring great memories, new experiences, and families and friends together, they also bring a hefty price tag that can make a serious dent in our budgets. The average Canadian going on vacation this summer is looking at spending $3,073 according to the same BMO survey. Because of the rising costs of summer vacations it is not surprising that 79% of Canadians are looking for ways to cut down on vacation expenses while still maximizing vacation experiences.
Matthew Keenan, Credit and Education Counsellor for Credit Counselling Service of Sault Ste. Marie and District, has some tips on how you can save some money this summer and still make those great vacation memories. “When looking at saving some money on your vacation this summer, it is really important to do your research. Many hotels will give you a lower room rate if you call them directly instead of using their online booking center” says Keenan. According to Keenan, “most of your vacation savings occurs in the planning process. Just heading out on the great Canadian road trip is fun, but also often more expensive than taking the time to find the best uses for your hard earned dollar.”
If you are road tripping, spending less than 24hrs in any one spot, a hotel really is a spot to lay your head. With this in mind search for cheaper hotels or motels using travel sites to help you keep costs down. If you really want to save and are not afraid of a little more adventure, try car camping along your travel route. Just remember that you often need to book these sites well in advance of your arrival.
If you plan on staying in one spot for your vacation look for hotels that offer multi-night packages such as stay 3 nights get one free. In some cities with cheap, safe, and efficient mass transit staying outside of the tourist core is a great cheaper alternative, but if the transit system isn’t all that great the cost of taxis to and from the hotel can really eat away at the room savings.
When looking at hotels be sure to see what’s included. While many hotels have free wifi there are still many that don’t. Also, in some larger cities parking your car can be upwards of $20-$50/night. Lastly, if your travels are taking you further afield many international hotels do not include a breakfast in the room rate so this should be taken into account when looking for the most economical hotel choice.
During the planning of a vacation try to brainstorm all of the attractions that you want to visit. By having a plan of what you want to see and do, you can search the internet for deals and coupons to help save on admission or food costs at attractions.
Also, some cities offer packages that help save on admission costs to a number of major attractions. “When looking at these attraction chip card it is really important that you actually want to go to the major attractions it covers. If the majority of the admission discounts are for things you don’t want to see or do then it may be cheaper to just pay the full priced admission to get in” says Keenan.
Some attractions offer lower admission prices later in the day. Many art galleries or museums will do this in the last few hours they are open, “if you only intend to see one exhibit or a few particular art pieces this is a great way to save some money off the cost of admission, and in some cases admission for children is waved during these hours.”
You may be able to save even more on attractions if you are a member of a professional organization. Keenan points out that “many members’ professional organizations like the Ontario College of Teachers can get you into places for free. A quick look at your organizations website should list all the places with waved entrance fees. In some cases, if you show your membership card or ask about professional discounts in other provinces they will be honoured, a great way to save some money that is often not used by travellers.”
“We have all heard the horror stories about huge thousand dollar cell bills when people get back from vacation. While the government is working with cell companies to put in place caps in place to prevent these outrageous bills, those are not going to be in place until December. So, you could still face a huge bill if you are not careful this summer” says Keenan.
It is important understand your cell contract and the charges associated with using text, voice, and roaming to help reduce the likelihood of facing a large cell bill. “You should contact your cell company and see what roaming deals they can offer you, some companies have long distance or data deals available for as little as $10” states Keenan.
As many digital devices like iPads and smartphones can use a wifi connection. It is smart to bring these along with you on your travels. This is because you can use free wifi areas to send emails, check out attractions, or access downloaded tickets without having to use a costly internet café.
A BMO study into the use of credit card rewards points shows that many Canadians have built up about $400 in rewards. Keenan points out that “if you have a credit card that is building points then cash them out for discounts on airfare, hotels, or even as gas gift cards if you are going on a driving vacation. These points are representing your money and yet almost a third of Canadians are not using their points to help reduce travel costs.”
“Food costs can really add up if you are eating at restaurants every day of your vacation” notes Keenan. If you are travelling by car you may be tempted to pull into the rest stop for a quick bite but if you consider buying some fruit and veggies to snack on while you drive you can help to cut down on those rest stop snacks. You can also pack lunches to eat while sightseeing to help avoid going into restaurants in the typically more expensive tourist areas of larger cities. This also cuts down on idle time waiting for your meal to arrive that could be better used sightseeing or dashing off to your next adventure.
If you don’t want to brown bag your supper, eat where the locals eat. “Locals don’t often eat along the tourist ‘strip’ so try and steer clear of those places; again look online to help find true local restaurants. Many have great portion sizes and are a fraction the cost of a tourist focused restaurant” suggests Keenan.
Shopping: “Souvenirs are a hugely important part of vacations. We all like to get those mementos of our trips but they can be very costly and can easily throw your vacation budget out of whack” warns Keenan. One way to help keep souvenir costs down is to choose a small and inexpensive collectible that you pick up on most vacations, “I have seen some people collect small things like fridge magnets when they go to a new city, state, or province. These are typically low cost and are a great way to see your adventures each time you open the fridge door. The idea is to get a souvenir that will be used, appreciated, and not just placed on a shelf forgotten about in a few months’ time.”
Souvenirs can be tricky when travelling with kids. Give your older kids power over their money choices by giving them a daily allowance. Be sure to tell them that they can use this money how they want but when it’s used up that’s it. If your child really wants to buy an item they either need to save for that item or take out a loan, meaning no allowance until the loan is paid off. This is a great way to allow your children to make safe financial decisions and grow to understand the value of their money, purchasing power, and the benefits of saving and drawbacks of borrowing to make a purchase.
Summer vacations are without a doubt expensive. They are also a great way to bring friends and family closer together. With some pre-planning and research you will be able to identify ways to cut down on your expenses and keep those savings in the bank while still building great memories.
Click on their website www.smartcardfactory.com.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Digital Storm Aventum II Desktop Gaming PC
Digital Storm just introduced Aventum II, a no-compromise gaming PC, claiming to be the the world’s most advanced desktop performance PC. Crafted exclusively from steel and copper, Digital Storm did not use any plastic in the construction of Aventum II. The exotic nickel-plated copper piping solution was inspired by high-end automotive cooling systems and is handcrafted, ensuring no two Aventum II’s are identical. Combined with three huge 420mm radiators, the liquid cooling system is as efficient as it is beautiful and fully capable of unlocking the maximum performance potential of the Aventum II’s bleeding edge components.
Each Aventum II is deployed with a full payload, armed with the best components available. This includes configurations that feature overclocked Intel Core i7EE processors and NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX TITAN graphics card.
All that power requires an advanced thermal control system. Aventum II’s intelligent system monitors five critical thermal zones and automatically regulates its 22 chassis fans accordingly.
Unlike many liquid cooled systems, that inefficiently cycle hot air from radiators straight into the heart of a PC, Aventum II employs a completely isolated exhaust chamber design. Hot air from the radiators is channelled under the power supply and out via a rear exhaust vent.
Other distinctive Aventum II features include a dedicated side intake fan for the graphics plastic card, the ability to support two power supplies and the inclusion of 8 hot swappable hard drive bays. A removable front panel allows for easy access to the front intake fans for maintenance.
Prior to shipping to the customer, each Digital Storm system undergoes a rigorous 72-Hour Stress-Test. Digital Storm technicians stress-test and benchmark the system via industry standard testing software coupled with a proprietary testing process that detects components which can be prone to future failure.
Smith is currently in the Snohomish County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bail that was set during his hearing today at Everett District Court. The Snohomish County prosecutor believes that Smith beat and drowned Susann Smith to death in their Bothell home in February.
Police obtained a statement from a friend of Alan Smith’s on Tuesday. The man, who is also a licensed Christian minister, told police he and Smith sat in his car in the parking lot of a coffee shop.
During the conversation, Smith told the man his life was in chaos. He stated that he was over his head “with Love Thai and her mental issues,” the documents state.
The man told investigators that “he was sure Alan Smith knew he was acting as a supportive friend and not as any kind of a private or privileged conversation regarding his confession to him.”
He told Smith he could help him and the two took a walk. He asked Smith if he had anything to do with his wife’s murder and he responded, “Yes, I did it to her” and began to cry uncontrollably, according to court documents. Smith continued, saying “… And by the way, I respect what you do with that information, cause at this point, I’m walking off the ledge, I’m walking off the ledge.”
Detectives also lay out new evidence against Smith in court documents. The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab determined that Alan Smith’s left foot was the same size and shape as the print left in blood at the crime scene. A forensic expert in footprints stated in documents, “It is my opinion that there is support of the proposition that this impression could have been made by the right foot of Alan Smith.”
Investigators found a credit card statement belonging to Alan Smith for a bicycle purchase in November. Alan Smith told investigators that he did own a bicycle but that is was stolen in October. During the time of the purchase, a rare bicycle light was listed as well on the receipt. A bicycle matching the one purchased with Alan Smith’s credit card was located in a greenbelt near the Bothell apartment complex in which Alan Smith was living at the time of the murder. But forensic tests on the bike yielded no DNA or blood evidence.
Detectives are still analyzing surveillance footage from the area at the time of the murder.
Surveillance footage taken from a Wal-Mart in Everett near Alan Smith’s work on the day that detectives found Susann Smith’s body shows him purchasing a gas can, latex gloves and a pair of sandals. An analyzation of Alan Smith’s GPS showed him then traveling within two blocks of the home, to a gas station and then back to work. Smith never told investigators of the drive later that day when questioned. Alan Smith also had a bank receipt for a withdrawal of $1,500 and searches for flights out of Sea-Tac Airport from his work computer that same day.
The medical examiner determined that “the cause of death was blunt force and sharp force trauma with a third component of asphyxiation by drowning.”
Smith was found to have purchased a rubber mallet. The Snohomish County Medical examiner said “it was conceivable the blunt force injuries on Susann Smith could have been caused by this type of rubber mallet.”
The Washington State Patrol Forensic Crime Lab concluded that the mallet could have incurred the injuries to Susann Smith, but that “any tool that will leave similar circular marks could have possibly made these injuries.”
The beating of Susann Smith was so violent that police reportedly observed blood splatters on the ceiling, walls and window of the bedroom. The victim had to be identified by her dental records.
Click on their website www.smartcardfactory.com for more information.
Each Aventum II is deployed with a full payload, armed with the best components available. This includes configurations that feature overclocked Intel Core i7EE processors and NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX TITAN graphics card.
All that power requires an advanced thermal control system. Aventum II’s intelligent system monitors five critical thermal zones and automatically regulates its 22 chassis fans accordingly.
Unlike many liquid cooled systems, that inefficiently cycle hot air from radiators straight into the heart of a PC, Aventum II employs a completely isolated exhaust chamber design. Hot air from the radiators is channelled under the power supply and out via a rear exhaust vent.
Other distinctive Aventum II features include a dedicated side intake fan for the graphics plastic card, the ability to support two power supplies and the inclusion of 8 hot swappable hard drive bays. A removable front panel allows for easy access to the front intake fans for maintenance.
Prior to shipping to the customer, each Digital Storm system undergoes a rigorous 72-Hour Stress-Test. Digital Storm technicians stress-test and benchmark the system via industry standard testing software coupled with a proprietary testing process that detects components which can be prone to future failure.
Smith is currently in the Snohomish County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bail that was set during his hearing today at Everett District Court. The Snohomish County prosecutor believes that Smith beat and drowned Susann Smith to death in their Bothell home in February.
Police obtained a statement from a friend of Alan Smith’s on Tuesday. The man, who is also a licensed Christian minister, told police he and Smith sat in his car in the parking lot of a coffee shop.
During the conversation, Smith told the man his life was in chaos. He stated that he was over his head “with Love Thai and her mental issues,” the documents state.
The man told investigators that “he was sure Alan Smith knew he was acting as a supportive friend and not as any kind of a private or privileged conversation regarding his confession to him.”
He told Smith he could help him and the two took a walk. He asked Smith if he had anything to do with his wife’s murder and he responded, “Yes, I did it to her” and began to cry uncontrollably, according to court documents. Smith continued, saying “… And by the way, I respect what you do with that information, cause at this point, I’m walking off the ledge, I’m walking off the ledge.”
Detectives also lay out new evidence against Smith in court documents. The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab determined that Alan Smith’s left foot was the same size and shape as the print left in blood at the crime scene. A forensic expert in footprints stated in documents, “It is my opinion that there is support of the proposition that this impression could have been made by the right foot of Alan Smith.”
Investigators found a credit card statement belonging to Alan Smith for a bicycle purchase in November. Alan Smith told investigators that he did own a bicycle but that is was stolen in October. During the time of the purchase, a rare bicycle light was listed as well on the receipt. A bicycle matching the one purchased with Alan Smith’s credit card was located in a greenbelt near the Bothell apartment complex in which Alan Smith was living at the time of the murder. But forensic tests on the bike yielded no DNA or blood evidence.
Detectives are still analyzing surveillance footage from the area at the time of the murder.
Surveillance footage taken from a Wal-Mart in Everett near Alan Smith’s work on the day that detectives found Susann Smith’s body shows him purchasing a gas can, latex gloves and a pair of sandals. An analyzation of Alan Smith’s GPS showed him then traveling within two blocks of the home, to a gas station and then back to work. Smith never told investigators of the drive later that day when questioned. Alan Smith also had a bank receipt for a withdrawal of $1,500 and searches for flights out of Sea-Tac Airport from his work computer that same day.
The medical examiner determined that “the cause of death was blunt force and sharp force trauma with a third component of asphyxiation by drowning.”
Smith was found to have purchased a rubber mallet. The Snohomish County Medical examiner said “it was conceivable the blunt force injuries on Susann Smith could have been caused by this type of rubber mallet.”
The Washington State Patrol Forensic Crime Lab concluded that the mallet could have incurred the injuries to Susann Smith, but that “any tool that will leave similar circular marks could have possibly made these injuries.”
The beating of Susann Smith was so violent that police reportedly observed blood splatters on the ceiling, walls and window of the bedroom. The victim had to be identified by her dental records.
Click on their website www.smartcardfactory.com for more information.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Get region-free Blu-ray software for free
“Is there any region free Blu-ray player software that I can use on any Blu-ray drive and the player can do the rest?” For Blu-ray movie buffs, this problem might be a big obstacle, as the region-code restrictions of Blu-ray disc players would make them unable to play Blu-ray discs with different region codes.
Just like region codes for DVDs, Blu-ray disc players sold in a specific geographical region are designed to play only the discs authorized by the content provider for that region. The Blu-ray disc region coding scheme divides the whole world into three regions: A, B, and C.
According to the Blu-ray Disc Association, “all Blu-ray disc players … [and] Blu-ray disc-equipped computer systems are required to support regional coding.” However, “Use of region playback codes is optional for content providers. …” Most movie studios have released many of their Blu-ray discs region-free, such as Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, Sony Pictures, and Walt Disney Pictures. This means you can play and enjoy most Blu-ray discs on various Blu-ray discs players. However, for people who use Blu-ray disc drives to watch Blu-ray movies on their IC card, the best and safest way for them to watch Blu-ray discs from various regions is still to make use of region-free Blu-ray discs players.
But Leawo Software has a solution for you: free Blu-ray player software. We have just launched our region-free Blu-ray Player Software Giveaway, providing free Windows Blu-ray software so you can watch your Blu-ray discs from any region. Blu-ray movies fans could pay a visit to the giveaway page to get this region-free Blu-ray player software.
Leawo Blu-ray Player also works as DVD player to play any DVD movies or a video player and audio player to play videos and audios in various formats — at all no additional cost. You can also adjust subtitles and audio and video settings for a quality, lossless Blu-ray movie experience. You can also use Leawo Blu-ray Player to load external subtitles. As for its audio support, Leawo Blu-ray Player plays DTS-HD Master audio and DTS-5.1 audio for lossless audio output. Meanwhile, just like any other professional media players, Leawo Blu-ray Player provides easy-to-use full media playback navigation and control for movie fans.
However, any kind of region-free Blu-ray player software program can only play Blu-ray discs of all region codes when equipped with a Blu-ray drive and connected to the Internet. For smoother program running, recommended requirements for your computer include a 1 GHz or above Intel/AMD processor with at least 512MB RAM and a graphics card such as an ATI Radeon HD 4000 or NVIDIA GeForce 8-Series or newer or integrated Intel G45 or higher.
“Fans will feel as though this place is catering to them. The venue is set up nicely to host cards big and small, and the people associated with Revel are smart, hardworking individuals. I’m happy to be working with my good friend, Revel executive Bernie Dillon, whom I had the pleasure of doing business with when I was with the New Jersey State Athletic commission. I can’t wait to work with him and his staff. The event itself will be incredible,” Shaw continued.
Shaw’s excitement is warranted, after all the main event stands alone as a much anticipated showdown in the middleweight division and fight fans are hopeful that this showdown will produce genuine fireworks.
“This is Daniel Geale’s first time competing in the states and U.S. fans that aren’t familiar with him are in for a big treat. Daniel is a quality fighter and I think he could be the best middleweight in the division right now. He isn’t just talented; he is a fighter’s kind of fighter with intentions of making hardnosed type of dog fights. His opponent’s style meshes well and we feel like this is not just a meaningful fight in the division, but also one that fight fans can really get behind as it will be not only competitive but will set up the next big fight in the middleweight division,” Shaw said.
Geale has spoken for a couple of years about fighting in the U.S. and now he is finally making good on that promise as he gets the chance to compete on U.S. soil in front of a major television audience.
“I’m excited to be on HBO because you can’t mention boxing without HBO. I will be exposed to many U.S. fight fans for the first time in my career thanks to my promoter Gary Shaw and Grange Old School Boxing. The feeling is overwhelming. I’m excited to perform in a city that has hosted so many legends such as Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Evander Holyfield, Diego Corrales just to name a few. I will do my part to live up to what past legends have accomplished,” Geale said.
The 12-round fight will be contested at 152 pounds with both men's super welterweight/junior middleweight titles on the line — Mayweather's WBA super welterweight "super" championship, and Alvarez's WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine super welterweight championships.
The bout, expected to be a monstrous draw on pay-per-view for Showtime, also just might satisfy many fans who had been wishing during the last several years for Mayweather to take on Manny Pacquiao.
"In every sport, there are certain rare occasions when you have the best fighting the best," said Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president and general manager of Showtime Sports. "The Super Bowl, Final Four, the college football national championship. Sept. 14 will be one of those occasions — the two biggest stars in the sport, the two biggest fan bases.
"We have America's No. 1 fighter versus Mexico's No. 1 fighter. We have the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport versus the No. 1 new star in the sport."
There remains some dispute over who set the 152-pound catch weight, with Mayweather's camp saying Alvarez's people brought it up first. Alvarez, however, insisted it was Mayweather who decided on having both fight at 152 pounds instead of 154.
"It wasn't me," Alvarez told reporters before the news conference. "I don't want to fight 2 pounds below my weight class."
There was also some contention between the two because Alvarez chose to headline his own fight card against Trout rather than be included on the undercard of Mayweather-Guerrero card. But both fighters agreed that this is a matchup that needed to happen.
Just like region codes for DVDs, Blu-ray disc players sold in a specific geographical region are designed to play only the discs authorized by the content provider for that region. The Blu-ray disc region coding scheme divides the whole world into three regions: A, B, and C.
According to the Blu-ray Disc Association, “all Blu-ray disc players … [and] Blu-ray disc-equipped computer systems are required to support regional coding.” However, “Use of region playback codes is optional for content providers. …” Most movie studios have released many of their Blu-ray discs region-free, such as Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, Sony Pictures, and Walt Disney Pictures. This means you can play and enjoy most Blu-ray discs on various Blu-ray discs players. However, for people who use Blu-ray disc drives to watch Blu-ray movies on their IC card, the best and safest way for them to watch Blu-ray discs from various regions is still to make use of region-free Blu-ray discs players.
But Leawo Software has a solution for you: free Blu-ray player software. We have just launched our region-free Blu-ray Player Software Giveaway, providing free Windows Blu-ray software so you can watch your Blu-ray discs from any region. Blu-ray movies fans could pay a visit to the giveaway page to get this region-free Blu-ray player software.
Leawo Blu-ray Player also works as DVD player to play any DVD movies or a video player and audio player to play videos and audios in various formats — at all no additional cost. You can also adjust subtitles and audio and video settings for a quality, lossless Blu-ray movie experience. You can also use Leawo Blu-ray Player to load external subtitles. As for its audio support, Leawo Blu-ray Player plays DTS-HD Master audio and DTS-5.1 audio for lossless audio output. Meanwhile, just like any other professional media players, Leawo Blu-ray Player provides easy-to-use full media playback navigation and control for movie fans.
However, any kind of region-free Blu-ray player software program can only play Blu-ray discs of all region codes when equipped with a Blu-ray drive and connected to the Internet. For smoother program running, recommended requirements for your computer include a 1 GHz or above Intel/AMD processor with at least 512MB RAM and a graphics card such as an ATI Radeon HD 4000 or NVIDIA GeForce 8-Series or newer or integrated Intel G45 or higher.
“Fans will feel as though this place is catering to them. The venue is set up nicely to host cards big and small, and the people associated with Revel are smart, hardworking individuals. I’m happy to be working with my good friend, Revel executive Bernie Dillon, whom I had the pleasure of doing business with when I was with the New Jersey State Athletic commission. I can’t wait to work with him and his staff. The event itself will be incredible,” Shaw continued.
Shaw’s excitement is warranted, after all the main event stands alone as a much anticipated showdown in the middleweight division and fight fans are hopeful that this showdown will produce genuine fireworks.
“This is Daniel Geale’s first time competing in the states and U.S. fans that aren’t familiar with him are in for a big treat. Daniel is a quality fighter and I think he could be the best middleweight in the division right now. He isn’t just talented; he is a fighter’s kind of fighter with intentions of making hardnosed type of dog fights. His opponent’s style meshes well and we feel like this is not just a meaningful fight in the division, but also one that fight fans can really get behind as it will be not only competitive but will set up the next big fight in the middleweight division,” Shaw said.
Geale has spoken for a couple of years about fighting in the U.S. and now he is finally making good on that promise as he gets the chance to compete on U.S. soil in front of a major television audience.
“I’m excited to be on HBO because you can’t mention boxing without HBO. I will be exposed to many U.S. fight fans for the first time in my career thanks to my promoter Gary Shaw and Grange Old School Boxing. The feeling is overwhelming. I’m excited to perform in a city that has hosted so many legends such as Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Evander Holyfield, Diego Corrales just to name a few. I will do my part to live up to what past legends have accomplished,” Geale said.
The 12-round fight will be contested at 152 pounds with both men's super welterweight/junior middleweight titles on the line — Mayweather's WBA super welterweight "super" championship, and Alvarez's WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine super welterweight championships.
The bout, expected to be a monstrous draw on pay-per-view for Showtime, also just might satisfy many fans who had been wishing during the last several years for Mayweather to take on Manny Pacquiao.
"In every sport, there are certain rare occasions when you have the best fighting the best," said Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president and general manager of Showtime Sports. "The Super Bowl, Final Four, the college football national championship. Sept. 14 will be one of those occasions — the two biggest stars in the sport, the two biggest fan bases.
"We have America's No. 1 fighter versus Mexico's No. 1 fighter. We have the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport versus the No. 1 new star in the sport."
There remains some dispute over who set the 152-pound catch weight, with Mayweather's camp saying Alvarez's people brought it up first. Alvarez, however, insisted it was Mayweather who decided on having both fight at 152 pounds instead of 154.
"It wasn't me," Alvarez told reporters before the news conference. "I don't want to fight 2 pounds below my weight class."
There was also some contention between the two because Alvarez chose to headline his own fight card against Trout rather than be included on the undercard of Mayweather-Guerrero card. But both fighters agreed that this is a matchup that needed to happen.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Police Say 2 Found Dead At Florida School Were Custodians
West Palm Beach police responded shortly before 6:30 a.m., and authorities later identified the Dreyfoos bodies as Ted Orama and Christopher Marshall, two custodians who worked at the high school, WPTV reports.
While local officials have named the two dead, they declined to provide more information about the circumstances of their deaths and would not specify if there was any indication of foul play.
"It's an open death investigation," West Palm Beach Police spokesman Capt. David Bernhardt told the local NBC affiliate. "That way we're not limiting to ourselves what type of investigation we are doing. It could turn out to be a homicide investigation later on, it could just be a normal death investigation."
However, sources close to the investigation told The Palm Beach Post that police are searching for another school custodian, 53-year-old Javier Burgos, who is considered a suspect in the deaths.
Palm Beach County School District spokesman Jason Shockley said that no students were on campus when the bodies were discovered, according to The Sun Sentinel. After the police arrived at the school, the area was cordoned off, and a SWAT team investigated the scene.
"Everyone throughout the school district is deeply saddened by the events that transpired today at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts," the Palm Beach County School District said in a statement released to local media. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to workers, family, friends, and community members that have been impacted."
I’d always heard that Brazilians were unusually passive when it comes to politics. My friends lament that theirs is a country where soccer and carnival reign and education languishes. There is a sense that once elected, politicians are indifferent to the demands of the public, irresponsible with their money and unaccountable for their actions.
Paulo Maluf, a former mayor of S?o Paulo (the largest city in Latin America) and governor of S?o Paulo (state), wanted by Interpol for conspiracy to commit grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, is currently serving as a federal deputy (an elected representative to the lower chamber of congress). Fernando Collor de Mello, a former president of Brazil who had resigned and was subsequently impeached on corruption charges and banned from politics for eight years, is currently serving as a senator from the Northeastern state of Alagoas. The Federation of State Industries of S?o Paulo, estimates that about 25 billion dollars (US) are embezzled from government coffers every year. Another S?o Paulo federal deputy, Marco Feliciano, who has made disparaging comments against Africans, gays and women, is the recently elected president of the lower chamber’s Commission on Human Rights and Minorities.
For the World Cup in 2014, the government is spending about $15 billion, much of that for building stadiums that are frequently over budget and behind schedule. Multiple stadiums are located in cities, which will never be able to fill the seats once the tournament ends. In addition, the government canceled or pushed back until after the World Cup many of the promised expansions in public transportation for the tournament, expansions which in most cases are desperately needed. In S?o Paulo, the subway trains are unbearably packed during a rush hour that never seems to end, and the trains come to many frequent unplanned stops.
More troubling, economic growth in the country slowed to a growth rate of 0.9% in 2012, coinciding with a decrease in demand for commodities in China. I couldn’t blame my Brazilian friends for their pessimistic take on politics.
But when the city of S?o Paulo raised subway and bus fares by ten cents to $1.60 (the minimum wage in the state is about 375 dollars per month before taxes), the pent up frustration of the city’s residents appeared to burst, at least by Brazilian standards. Three protests occurred in less than a week starting on the sixth of June, and the last had seen at least 10,000 protestors. There were similar protests in Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre among other cities.
On June 13th, the planned date of the fourth protest, I decided to attend, curious to see what could have brought so many of the seemingly lethargic paulistanos (as inhabitants of the city are called) out into the streets. Was this na?ve idealism, violent delinquency or something else?
It started out like a rally before a soccer game. Protestors on the steps of the theater shouted slogans, others held up banners and posters, a few beat drums and cymbals. I saw children with mothers, university students, blue class workers, punks, card carrying members of various political parties and a few individuals who appeared to be in their fifties or sixties. Everybody was friendly. It felt like a party.
As the march started, residents cheered from their windows and held up signs of support, a few even tossed white confetti out of their offices. The protestors chanted, “S?o Paulo has awoken.” A few smiling individuals turned around to take pictures with their phones of the mass of people advancing behind them.
I never saw anyone with stones or Molotov cocktails, although I did occasionally detect a whiff of freshly drying spray paint. In general I noticed few acts of destruction. Protestors shouted down an individual who threw a glass bottle on the ground. I did notice many people with flowers and cameras though.
As the protestors headed up a street, they stopped near a gas station. I saw a young man in a yellow shirt talking to a colonel of the military police surrounded by the press. I would later learn that the young man was explaining to the colonel the route of the rest of the protest. The colonel congratulated him on the peacefulness of the protest, and asked the protestors to break for a short time.
About fifteen minutes later, I heard shots fired. The police were using tear gas canisters, rubber bullets and smoke bombs. I couldn’t understand what had happened.
Chaos ensued. Panicking protestors ran in all directions. A few shouted to stick together: smaller groups would make easier targets for the police. Many started to chant “No violence!” My wife and I followed a large group up another street until we noticed a formation of heavily armored and masked policeman coming in the opposite direction. Bar and restaurant owners scrambled to close their doors. We turned. A canister landed not far from us. We headed up an apparently empty street only to encounter more police. Turning back and cutting across streets, we finally managed to reach a metro stop and catch a train away from the action. Others weren’t so lucky.
Read the full story at www.smartcardfactory.com!
While local officials have named the two dead, they declined to provide more information about the circumstances of their deaths and would not specify if there was any indication of foul play.
"It's an open death investigation," West Palm Beach Police spokesman Capt. David Bernhardt told the local NBC affiliate. "That way we're not limiting to ourselves what type of investigation we are doing. It could turn out to be a homicide investigation later on, it could just be a normal death investigation."
However, sources close to the investigation told The Palm Beach Post that police are searching for another school custodian, 53-year-old Javier Burgos, who is considered a suspect in the deaths.
Palm Beach County School District spokesman Jason Shockley said that no students were on campus when the bodies were discovered, according to The Sun Sentinel. After the police arrived at the school, the area was cordoned off, and a SWAT team investigated the scene.
"Everyone throughout the school district is deeply saddened by the events that transpired today at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts," the Palm Beach County School District said in a statement released to local media. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to workers, family, friends, and community members that have been impacted."
I’d always heard that Brazilians were unusually passive when it comes to politics. My friends lament that theirs is a country where soccer and carnival reign and education languishes. There is a sense that once elected, politicians are indifferent to the demands of the public, irresponsible with their money and unaccountable for their actions.
Paulo Maluf, a former mayor of S?o Paulo (the largest city in Latin America) and governor of S?o Paulo (state), wanted by Interpol for conspiracy to commit grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, is currently serving as a federal deputy (an elected representative to the lower chamber of congress). Fernando Collor de Mello, a former president of Brazil who had resigned and was subsequently impeached on corruption charges and banned from politics for eight years, is currently serving as a senator from the Northeastern state of Alagoas. The Federation of State Industries of S?o Paulo, estimates that about 25 billion dollars (US) are embezzled from government coffers every year. Another S?o Paulo federal deputy, Marco Feliciano, who has made disparaging comments against Africans, gays and women, is the recently elected president of the lower chamber’s Commission on Human Rights and Minorities.
For the World Cup in 2014, the government is spending about $15 billion, much of that for building stadiums that are frequently over budget and behind schedule. Multiple stadiums are located in cities, which will never be able to fill the seats once the tournament ends. In addition, the government canceled or pushed back until after the World Cup many of the promised expansions in public transportation for the tournament, expansions which in most cases are desperately needed. In S?o Paulo, the subway trains are unbearably packed during a rush hour that never seems to end, and the trains come to many frequent unplanned stops.
More troubling, economic growth in the country slowed to a growth rate of 0.9% in 2012, coinciding with a decrease in demand for commodities in China. I couldn’t blame my Brazilian friends for their pessimistic take on politics.
But when the city of S?o Paulo raised subway and bus fares by ten cents to $1.60 (the minimum wage in the state is about 375 dollars per month before taxes), the pent up frustration of the city’s residents appeared to burst, at least by Brazilian standards. Three protests occurred in less than a week starting on the sixth of June, and the last had seen at least 10,000 protestors. There were similar protests in Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre among other cities.
On June 13th, the planned date of the fourth protest, I decided to attend, curious to see what could have brought so many of the seemingly lethargic paulistanos (as inhabitants of the city are called) out into the streets. Was this na?ve idealism, violent delinquency or something else?
It started out like a rally before a soccer game. Protestors on the steps of the theater shouted slogans, others held up banners and posters, a few beat drums and cymbals. I saw children with mothers, university students, blue class workers, punks, card carrying members of various political parties and a few individuals who appeared to be in their fifties or sixties. Everybody was friendly. It felt like a party.
As the march started, residents cheered from their windows and held up signs of support, a few even tossed white confetti out of their offices. The protestors chanted, “S?o Paulo has awoken.” A few smiling individuals turned around to take pictures with their phones of the mass of people advancing behind them.
I never saw anyone with stones or Molotov cocktails, although I did occasionally detect a whiff of freshly drying spray paint. In general I noticed few acts of destruction. Protestors shouted down an individual who threw a glass bottle on the ground. I did notice many people with flowers and cameras though.
As the protestors headed up a street, they stopped near a gas station. I saw a young man in a yellow shirt talking to a colonel of the military police surrounded by the press. I would later learn that the young man was explaining to the colonel the route of the rest of the protest. The colonel congratulated him on the peacefulness of the protest, and asked the protestors to break for a short time.
About fifteen minutes later, I heard shots fired. The police were using tear gas canisters, rubber bullets and smoke bombs. I couldn’t understand what had happened.
Chaos ensued. Panicking protestors ran in all directions. A few shouted to stick together: smaller groups would make easier targets for the police. Many started to chant “No violence!” My wife and I followed a large group up another street until we noticed a formation of heavily armored and masked policeman coming in the opposite direction. Bar and restaurant owners scrambled to close their doors. We turned. A canister landed not far from us. We headed up an apparently empty street only to encounter more police. Turning back and cutting across streets, we finally managed to reach a metro stop and catch a train away from the action. Others weren’t so lucky.
Read the full story at www.smartcardfactory.com!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Carpetbaggers go for contactless
Acting Inspector Glenn Spencer, from Canning Vale Police Station in Western Australia, said that contactless cards were now a clear target in WA home burglaries, with thieves rifling through purses and wallets specifically looking for Visa PayWave and MasterCard PayPass cards.
Knowing that there was a A$100 limit on the cards, the thieves were then going out and spending amounts up to that limit, confident they wouldn't be asked to prove their identity or input a PIN.
He said more traditional payment processes, which require some form of identification in the form of a PIN, are safer than the tap-and-go cards.
In the future it might not just be contactless cards that the criminals go after but Near Field Communications-enabled smartphones, which can also be used for contactless payments.
Only about nine per cent of the smartphones currently for sale feature an NFC chip. To make a contactless payment from most smartphones, people still have to either glue an NFC chip on to their phone or buy a slip-on case with an NFC chip – which is the approach Commonwealth Bank has taken to make its Kaching mobile phone payments application contactless.
By 2015, Gartner predicts that 50 per cent of smartphones will have NFC, but it notes that even in its most optimistic scenario NFC mobile phone payments will only lead to global gross revenues of US$750 million – for the entire industry – which would "be dwarfed by set up costs, transaction costs and fraud management smartcardfactory."
"The fact that the majority of these fees will simply be cannibalising existing revenue for banks and payment providers only makes the matter more concerning."
Antony Cahill, executive general manager of digital and direct for NAB, acknowledged that forecasts regarding smartphone NFC adoption were previously more aggressive than seemed warranted today.
However, he said, there had been lot of progress in mobile payments, and the logical next step was to make more use of the mobile phone. He predicts that more comprehensive solutions will appear in the market over the next six to 12 months, as the supporting ecosystem, comprising banks, card providers, phone makers and telecommunications companies, work together to create more compelling solutions.
Matt Barr, regional head of market development and innovation for MasterCard, suggests that part of the problem may be "if all you are doing is helping the phone versus a piece of plastic then you are not adding enough value."
He expects NFC-enabled phones will come into their own when there is a richer ecosystem so loyalty points can be viewed or used and coupons delivered to the phone can also be used contactlessly. By that stage he sees the contactless card and the NFC-enabled smartphone as being complementary payment systems rather than rivals.
As to the continued lack of an NFC-equipped iPhone, Cahill said that it would help if Apple had an NFC-equipped phone but he wasn’t sure it was the only thing holding back demand.
Gartner research director Sandy Shen acknowledged that if the iPhone 6 did ship with an NFC chip it would add momentum to the contactless payment market, but she warned that there was no guarantee of this as NFC promised relatively little benefit for Apple.
Shen said that while many NFC-enabled mobile phones started shipping in the second half of 2012 there were still relatively few in the market. She warned that "NFC will not be mainstream on mobiles before 2016."
"Apart from these technical issues there are behavioural issues. They (consumers) need a reason to make the behavioural switch – maybe that is giving them loyalty points."
She believed tackling consumer behaviour would prove a bigger challenge than overcoming any lingering technical issues.
A survey conducted on behalf of PayPal, and released this month, suggests, however, that there could be a latent consumer appetite for contactless payments via mobile phones. It discovered that four out of five Australians wished they didn't have to take their wallet everywhere; 23 per cent would take a smartphone rather than a wallet if they could only take one item; and 77 per cent had decided not to purchase something because the queue was too long, indicating a potential appetite for streamlined contactless payment.
"The phone is a slightly different animal" to a contactless card, according to Westpac's Harry Wendt, and more complex because of the challenge of loading the secure element on to the phone – either on to a dedicated NFC chip or on to the secure element of the SIM card, which relies on the support of telecommunications providers.
Westpac's 2012 trial saw 170 staff and partners (Optus and MasterCard staff) being offered the chance to use their mobile phones to make payments. That trial continues to run, but Westpac has yet to say when it might launch a product, although the inference from Wendt is that the main game won't start until NFC chips are natively installed in most mobile phones.
Earlier in May, Eftpos Payments announced that it would also begin mobile payment trials later this year, as the result of a five-year agreement signed with mobile-wallet developer C-SAM to create an Eftpos-branded wallet allowing mobile and contactless payments, and with the facility to store loyalty points and receipts too.
Bruce Mansfield, chief executive of Eftpos, said that contactless payments had gained traction in the last six months and were proving a substitute for cash in some transactions.
He acknowledged that there was also "some substitution from our products at the lower end" and that contactless had had an impact on Eftpos' growth, although he said the organisation was still on track to complete 2.5 billion eftpos transactions this year, up from 2.3 billion in 2012.
Mansfield said that, besides the smartphone trials, Eftpos was working on its own contactless solution but with the addition of an NFC-facilitated cash out facility, and this was likely a 2014 prospect.
Knowing that there was a A$100 limit on the cards, the thieves were then going out and spending amounts up to that limit, confident they wouldn't be asked to prove their identity or input a PIN.
He said more traditional payment processes, which require some form of identification in the form of a PIN, are safer than the tap-and-go cards.
In the future it might not just be contactless cards that the criminals go after but Near Field Communications-enabled smartphones, which can also be used for contactless payments.
Only about nine per cent of the smartphones currently for sale feature an NFC chip. To make a contactless payment from most smartphones, people still have to either glue an NFC chip on to their phone or buy a slip-on case with an NFC chip – which is the approach Commonwealth Bank has taken to make its Kaching mobile phone payments application contactless.
By 2015, Gartner predicts that 50 per cent of smartphones will have NFC, but it notes that even in its most optimistic scenario NFC mobile phone payments will only lead to global gross revenues of US$750 million – for the entire industry – which would "be dwarfed by set up costs, transaction costs and fraud management smartcardfactory."
"The fact that the majority of these fees will simply be cannibalising existing revenue for banks and payment providers only makes the matter more concerning."
Antony Cahill, executive general manager of digital and direct for NAB, acknowledged that forecasts regarding smartphone NFC adoption were previously more aggressive than seemed warranted today.
However, he said, there had been lot of progress in mobile payments, and the logical next step was to make more use of the mobile phone. He predicts that more comprehensive solutions will appear in the market over the next six to 12 months, as the supporting ecosystem, comprising banks, card providers, phone makers and telecommunications companies, work together to create more compelling solutions.
Matt Barr, regional head of market development and innovation for MasterCard, suggests that part of the problem may be "if all you are doing is helping the phone versus a piece of plastic then you are not adding enough value."
He expects NFC-enabled phones will come into their own when there is a richer ecosystem so loyalty points can be viewed or used and coupons delivered to the phone can also be used contactlessly. By that stage he sees the contactless card and the NFC-enabled smartphone as being complementary payment systems rather than rivals.
As to the continued lack of an NFC-equipped iPhone, Cahill said that it would help if Apple had an NFC-equipped phone but he wasn’t sure it was the only thing holding back demand.
Gartner research director Sandy Shen acknowledged that if the iPhone 6 did ship with an NFC chip it would add momentum to the contactless payment market, but she warned that there was no guarantee of this as NFC promised relatively little benefit for Apple.
Shen said that while many NFC-enabled mobile phones started shipping in the second half of 2012 there were still relatively few in the market. She warned that "NFC will not be mainstream on mobiles before 2016."
"Apart from these technical issues there are behavioural issues. They (consumers) need a reason to make the behavioural switch – maybe that is giving them loyalty points."
She believed tackling consumer behaviour would prove a bigger challenge than overcoming any lingering technical issues.
A survey conducted on behalf of PayPal, and released this month, suggests, however, that there could be a latent consumer appetite for contactless payments via mobile phones. It discovered that four out of five Australians wished they didn't have to take their wallet everywhere; 23 per cent would take a smartphone rather than a wallet if they could only take one item; and 77 per cent had decided not to purchase something because the queue was too long, indicating a potential appetite for streamlined contactless payment.
"The phone is a slightly different animal" to a contactless card, according to Westpac's Harry Wendt, and more complex because of the challenge of loading the secure element on to the phone – either on to a dedicated NFC chip or on to the secure element of the SIM card, which relies on the support of telecommunications providers.
Westpac's 2012 trial saw 170 staff and partners (Optus and MasterCard staff) being offered the chance to use their mobile phones to make payments. That trial continues to run, but Westpac has yet to say when it might launch a product, although the inference from Wendt is that the main game won't start until NFC chips are natively installed in most mobile phones.
Earlier in May, Eftpos Payments announced that it would also begin mobile payment trials later this year, as the result of a five-year agreement signed with mobile-wallet developer C-SAM to create an Eftpos-branded wallet allowing mobile and contactless payments, and with the facility to store loyalty points and receipts too.
Bruce Mansfield, chief executive of Eftpos, said that contactless payments had gained traction in the last six months and were proving a substitute for cash in some transactions.
He acknowledged that there was also "some substitution from our products at the lower end" and that contactless had had an impact on Eftpos' growth, although he said the organisation was still on track to complete 2.5 billion eftpos transactions this year, up from 2.3 billion in 2012.
Mansfield said that, besides the smartphone trials, Eftpos was working on its own contactless solution but with the addition of an NFC-facilitated cash out facility, and this was likely a 2014 prospect.
Monday, May 20, 2013
UK customers charged twice with contactless payment cards
Marks and Spencer, Pret a Manger and Transport for London customers have all reported automatic payment deductions from contactless payment cards while they were making payment by other means, renewing long-standing concerns over the security of contactless payment cards.
Are contactless payment transactions secure? asks the Smart Card Alliance security Q&A FAQ. "Yes," it says. "Contactless payment devices are designed to operate at very short ranges C less than 2-4 inches [approx 5-10 cms] C so that the consumer needs to make a deliberate effort to initiate the payment transaction."
But that hasn't been the experience of several customers at retailer Marks & Spencer. M&S is currently the UK's largest user of RFID-based contactless payments. It has just completed the installation of the technology in all of its 644 UK stores and receives some 250,000 contactless payments every week.
A report by the BBC taken from its Radio 4 Money Box programme describes the experience of two listeners who had payments taken unexpectedly and unintendedly from cards that were kept away from the card reader C in one instance, never nearer than approximately 30 cms. Further examples in the radio broadcast indicated similar occurrences at Pret a Manger and with Transport for London.
The problem is a classic example of the conflict between ease-of-use and security. The whole purpose of contactless payment is to make the process easier and more convenient for the user. It uses a very weak RFID signal that can, in theory, only be read within a distance of no more than 10 cms. But it is completely passive. That means that the customer needs do nothing more than present the card to the reader for the transaction to be completed automatically.
This passivity is the system's weak link. Currently contactless payment cards can only be used for payments of up to 20. However, in Practical Attack on Contactless Payment Cards, Martin Emms and Aad van Moorsel describe how an inexpensive combination of RFID reader and hidden camera can be used to silently read the card data and film the CVV security code. Armed with this combination, an attacker could then use the details to make more expensive card-not-present fraudulent online purchases and have the goods delivered to a separate address,
The solution, say the authors, is simple: such skimming frauds can be prevented by making the cards active rather than passive. "Card activation will be achieved by the application of pressure anywhere on the card, this should be possible whilst the card is still inside a wallet, thereby maintaining the convenience and speed of contactless payments." This would, of course, also protect customers from the inadvertent double payments as seen in M&S.
Mashreq won over the independent panel of expert judges to walk away with two of the most coveted trophies of the evening viz. 'Best Credit Card' and 'Best Debit Card' in the Middle East. The awards were given for developing unique and innovative propositions that offered significant and differentiated value to customers.A chip card is a plastic card that has a computer chip implanted into it that enables the card to perform certain.
The Cards and Payments Middle East awards held on May 14th showcased the best payments products the region's banks had to offer to their customers over the last twelve months. Nominations were received from banks in the UAE as well from the rest of the Middle East.
Farhad Irani, Head of Retail Banking Group, Mashreq, commented, "It is motivating to have the market recognize valuable payments propositions built on careful research and brought to bear by the most experienced management team in the region. Mashreq has a set of exciting innovations that will be launched this month in a bid to augment great proposition with best in class user experience. Being the Best Consumer Bank in the Region means we simply have to work hardest."
Nimish Dwivedi, Head of Payments, Mashreq commented, "We are very proud to have been awarded 'Best Credit Card' and 'Best Debit Card' in the Middle East. At Mashreq,A smart card resembles a credit card in size and shape. our cards business combines innovation, unique features and most importantly unmatched benefits that set us apart. This award is a recognition of our commitment to offering end-to-end payments solutions to our customers."
Dwivedi added, "SmartSaver Credit Card has recorded massive success since it was launched and we have continued to add exciting elements to the proposition to make it UAE's Best Everyday Card."
The award winning Mashreq SmartSaver Credit Card is the UAE's first ever Everyday Card to offer genuine savings on all domestic, international purchases, education and utility spends with no tiers; ensuring that customers earn Cashback on purchases starting from the very first Dirham. In addition the Card also offers customers up to 6.25% Cashback on every transaction, every time, at over 150 & growing partner outlets with no restrictions and no spend thresholds; thus creating the most powerful and value packed Cashback offering in the UAE. The partner outlets are spread across the country and include every possible category that comprises a customer's day to day spending.
The Mashreq Platinum Debit Card was re-launched as the UAE's Best Debit Card for International Travel. Mashreq's Debit Card holders can enjoy free and unlimited international ATM withdrawals and Cashback on their overseas spends. Moreover, customers can now look forward to enjoying their overseas holidays with ultimate peace of mind thanks to Travel Protect, a best-in-class travel insurance program that covers medical expenses, travel inconvenience, Purchase Protection, Wallet Protection not just for the Primary Cardmember but Supplementary Cardmembers as well and is absolutely free to all customers who make their holiday bookings with their Mashreq Platinum or Titanium Credit Cards or Mashreq Platinum Debit Cards.
Are contactless payment transactions secure? asks the Smart Card Alliance security Q&A FAQ. "Yes," it says. "Contactless payment devices are designed to operate at very short ranges C less than 2-4 inches [approx 5-10 cms] C so that the consumer needs to make a deliberate effort to initiate the payment transaction."
But that hasn't been the experience of several customers at retailer Marks & Spencer. M&S is currently the UK's largest user of RFID-based contactless payments. It has just completed the installation of the technology in all of its 644 UK stores and receives some 250,000 contactless payments every week.
A report by the BBC taken from its Radio 4 Money Box programme describes the experience of two listeners who had payments taken unexpectedly and unintendedly from cards that were kept away from the card reader C in one instance, never nearer than approximately 30 cms. Further examples in the radio broadcast indicated similar occurrences at Pret a Manger and with Transport for London.
The problem is a classic example of the conflict between ease-of-use and security. The whole purpose of contactless payment is to make the process easier and more convenient for the user. It uses a very weak RFID signal that can, in theory, only be read within a distance of no more than 10 cms. But it is completely passive. That means that the customer needs do nothing more than present the card to the reader for the transaction to be completed automatically.
This passivity is the system's weak link. Currently contactless payment cards can only be used for payments of up to 20. However, in Practical Attack on Contactless Payment Cards, Martin Emms and Aad van Moorsel describe how an inexpensive combination of RFID reader and hidden camera can be used to silently read the card data and film the CVV security code. Armed with this combination, an attacker could then use the details to make more expensive card-not-present fraudulent online purchases and have the goods delivered to a separate address,
The solution, say the authors, is simple: such skimming frauds can be prevented by making the cards active rather than passive. "Card activation will be achieved by the application of pressure anywhere on the card, this should be possible whilst the card is still inside a wallet, thereby maintaining the convenience and speed of contactless payments." This would, of course, also protect customers from the inadvertent double payments as seen in M&S.
Mashreq won over the independent panel of expert judges to walk away with two of the most coveted trophies of the evening viz. 'Best Credit Card' and 'Best Debit Card' in the Middle East. The awards were given for developing unique and innovative propositions that offered significant and differentiated value to customers.A chip card is a plastic card that has a computer chip implanted into it that enables the card to perform certain.
The Cards and Payments Middle East awards held on May 14th showcased the best payments products the region's banks had to offer to their customers over the last twelve months. Nominations were received from banks in the UAE as well from the rest of the Middle East.
Farhad Irani, Head of Retail Banking Group, Mashreq, commented, "It is motivating to have the market recognize valuable payments propositions built on careful research and brought to bear by the most experienced management team in the region. Mashreq has a set of exciting innovations that will be launched this month in a bid to augment great proposition with best in class user experience. Being the Best Consumer Bank in the Region means we simply have to work hardest."
Nimish Dwivedi, Head of Payments, Mashreq commented, "We are very proud to have been awarded 'Best Credit Card' and 'Best Debit Card' in the Middle East. At Mashreq,A smart card resembles a credit card in size and shape. our cards business combines innovation, unique features and most importantly unmatched benefits that set us apart. This award is a recognition of our commitment to offering end-to-end payments solutions to our customers."
Dwivedi added, "SmartSaver Credit Card has recorded massive success since it was launched and we have continued to add exciting elements to the proposition to make it UAE's Best Everyday Card."
The award winning Mashreq SmartSaver Credit Card is the UAE's first ever Everyday Card to offer genuine savings on all domestic, international purchases, education and utility spends with no tiers; ensuring that customers earn Cashback on purchases starting from the very first Dirham. In addition the Card also offers customers up to 6.25% Cashback on every transaction, every time, at over 150 & growing partner outlets with no restrictions and no spend thresholds; thus creating the most powerful and value packed Cashback offering in the UAE. The partner outlets are spread across the country and include every possible category that comprises a customer's day to day spending.
The Mashreq Platinum Debit Card was re-launched as the UAE's Best Debit Card for International Travel. Mashreq's Debit Card holders can enjoy free and unlimited international ATM withdrawals and Cashback on their overseas spends. Moreover, customers can now look forward to enjoying their overseas holidays with ultimate peace of mind thanks to Travel Protect, a best-in-class travel insurance program that covers medical expenses, travel inconvenience, Purchase Protection, Wallet Protection not just for the Primary Cardmember but Supplementary Cardmembers as well and is absolutely free to all customers who make their holiday bookings with their Mashreq Platinum or Titanium Credit Cards or Mashreq Platinum Debit Cards.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Former 'Pink Palace' poised to return hotel to prominence
Renovations to the hotel, 309 10th St. W., are expected to be completed by the end of November in time for the second annual Bradenton Blues Festival. When it opens, about 50,000 guests are expected to stay at the hotel annually, offering a $2.5 million economic impact to Bradenton. The hotel now has an official name, too: Hampton Inn and Suites Bradenton Downtown Historic District.
A Syracuse, N.Y.-based company, Widewaters Group, is in the midst of transforming the aging building into an elegant hotel. Folks are clamoring to have their event booked at the hotel and have contacted Widewaters Hotel Management Co., for possible dates before a sales manager was even in place, said Brian Long, director of development for plastic card.
"Some people have contacted the hotel management company and started a dialogue about events they wanted to book there," Long said, adding that spring training dates were of interest for at least one group. "Sometime in the summer we will have a sales manager on staff and that person will be working on events and group bookings."
Widewaters received more than $1 million in incentives and $1.5 million in tax rebates from the city for the renovation of the historic hotel, and broke ground in January. Construction is at the halfway point, revealing a new look for the building as workers turn their attention to interior improvements for the next several months.
"We've seen the emphasis the city and county placed on the renovation of downtown," Long said. "One of the main reasons we're involved in this is we believe they had a vision to be successful in that and we wanted to be a part of it."
Widewaters is in the midst of getting the building on the National Register of Historic Places and is adhering to strict National Parks Service standards for the $15 million rehabilitation. That's why folks are seeing white with turquoise tiles on the building instead of the pink, which wasn't original but came in the last 40 years. Inside, the hotel's lobby, ballroom and exterior walls will be returned to their 1920s charm as well.
"A lot of the legwork started three years ago when we first got into the project," Long said. "We had an historic architect that researched the hotel and researched a lot of pictures for the interior and exterior," Long said.
Working with both the State Historic Preservation Office and the Parks Service, Widewaters received certification that the property was historic, are working within guidelines for what needs to remain and what needs to be restored, and when finished, the entities will verify that Widewaters implemented the plan in order to receive certification, Long said.
"One of the most unique amenities is that the entire first floor is being restored to its historic time period -- the lobby and the vaulted great room in the rear of the building," he said. "That is something people have expressed interest in for banquets and wedding receptions."
The area is short on hotel rooms, and this will add to the inventory for the already-busy season of events planned, including rowing events along the Riverwalk. The hotel will offer people a place to stay after a day seeing spring training at McKechnie Field, or a play in the Manatee Performing Arts Center or shopping in the Village of the Arts.
Having another downtown hotel in place with amenities nearby has led to talks with major developers from Chicago, new York and Miami about other downtown projects and restaurants, said David Gustafson, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority.
ATF Special Agent Franceska Perot said CSB was not mentioned in Thursday’s briefing “because we were listing law enforcement agencies.” The ATF spokeswoman added: “The beginning portion of this investigation is strictly to rule out law enforcement issues. So it has to be conducted like a criminal scene.”
The ATF and State Fire Marshal’s Office didn’t provide any further details on what leads they may still be pursuing. Nor did they rule out the possibility that former West paramedic Bryce Reed, charged this month on suspicion of possessing pipe bomb-making materials, was involved in the explosion.
Because the criminal investigation took priority, entry to the blast site was tightly controlled. CSB investigators were not allowed in during the final week of the investigation. “It’s been a little tricky to exercise” right of access to the plant property, CSB managing director Daniel Horowitz acknowledged. “We’ve had only limited and intermittent access since the accident.”
CSB investigators have spent their time interviewing West Fertilizer Co. employees, first responders and customers of the plant. They’ve also been inspecting damage to surrounding neighborhoods — the explosion launched debris as far as 2.5 miles — and testing chemical samples. Officials anticipate several more weeks of field work, followed by months of more analyses and public hearings.
A 2011 initiative by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration excluded plants that distributed or sold ammonium nitrate from a list of targeted inspections. OSHA, which last inspected West Fertilizer in 1985, focused instead on manufacturers.
And none of the Texas agencies that had a role in regulating plants like West Fertilizer required liability insurance to cover damage caused by a fire or explosion. Yet other types of businesses — like children’s bounce-house operators and exterminators — are required by state law to carry some form of coverage.
The explosion in West caused an estimated $100 million in damage, but the plant carried only a $1 million liability insurance policy. Several lawsuits against the company have already been filed.
In a statement released after Thursday’s press conference, the CSB said it would examine “the effectiveness of regulatory coverage” by OSHA, the EPA and the state of Texas. The agency said it would study land use planning and zoning practices for “high-hazard facilities” that allowed vulnerable population centers like schools and residential areas near such plants. It would also review the emergency response to the fire, as well as preparedness planning in West, compared to good practices elsewhere.
A Syracuse, N.Y.-based company, Widewaters Group, is in the midst of transforming the aging building into an elegant hotel. Folks are clamoring to have their event booked at the hotel and have contacted Widewaters Hotel Management Co., for possible dates before a sales manager was even in place, said Brian Long, director of development for plastic card.
"Some people have contacted the hotel management company and started a dialogue about events they wanted to book there," Long said, adding that spring training dates were of interest for at least one group. "Sometime in the summer we will have a sales manager on staff and that person will be working on events and group bookings."
Widewaters received more than $1 million in incentives and $1.5 million in tax rebates from the city for the renovation of the historic hotel, and broke ground in January. Construction is at the halfway point, revealing a new look for the building as workers turn their attention to interior improvements for the next several months.
"We've seen the emphasis the city and county placed on the renovation of downtown," Long said. "One of the main reasons we're involved in this is we believe they had a vision to be successful in that and we wanted to be a part of it."
Widewaters is in the midst of getting the building on the National Register of Historic Places and is adhering to strict National Parks Service standards for the $15 million rehabilitation. That's why folks are seeing white with turquoise tiles on the building instead of the pink, which wasn't original but came in the last 40 years. Inside, the hotel's lobby, ballroom and exterior walls will be returned to their 1920s charm as well.
"A lot of the legwork started three years ago when we first got into the project," Long said. "We had an historic architect that researched the hotel and researched a lot of pictures for the interior and exterior," Long said.
Working with both the State Historic Preservation Office and the Parks Service, Widewaters received certification that the property was historic, are working within guidelines for what needs to remain and what needs to be restored, and when finished, the entities will verify that Widewaters implemented the plan in order to receive certification, Long said.
"One of the most unique amenities is that the entire first floor is being restored to its historic time period -- the lobby and the vaulted great room in the rear of the building," he said. "That is something people have expressed interest in for banquets and wedding receptions."
The area is short on hotel rooms, and this will add to the inventory for the already-busy season of events planned, including rowing events along the Riverwalk. The hotel will offer people a place to stay after a day seeing spring training at McKechnie Field, or a play in the Manatee Performing Arts Center or shopping in the Village of the Arts.
Having another downtown hotel in place with amenities nearby has led to talks with major developers from Chicago, new York and Miami about other downtown projects and restaurants, said David Gustafson, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority.
ATF Special Agent Franceska Perot said CSB was not mentioned in Thursday’s briefing “because we were listing law enforcement agencies.” The ATF spokeswoman added: “The beginning portion of this investigation is strictly to rule out law enforcement issues. So it has to be conducted like a criminal scene.”
The ATF and State Fire Marshal’s Office didn’t provide any further details on what leads they may still be pursuing. Nor did they rule out the possibility that former West paramedic Bryce Reed, charged this month on suspicion of possessing pipe bomb-making materials, was involved in the explosion.
Because the criminal investigation took priority, entry to the blast site was tightly controlled. CSB investigators were not allowed in during the final week of the investigation. “It’s been a little tricky to exercise” right of access to the plant property, CSB managing director Daniel Horowitz acknowledged. “We’ve had only limited and intermittent access since the accident.”
CSB investigators have spent their time interviewing West Fertilizer Co. employees, first responders and customers of the plant. They’ve also been inspecting damage to surrounding neighborhoods — the explosion launched debris as far as 2.5 miles — and testing chemical samples. Officials anticipate several more weeks of field work, followed by months of more analyses and public hearings.
A 2011 initiative by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration excluded plants that distributed or sold ammonium nitrate from a list of targeted inspections. OSHA, which last inspected West Fertilizer in 1985, focused instead on manufacturers.
And none of the Texas agencies that had a role in regulating plants like West Fertilizer required liability insurance to cover damage caused by a fire or explosion. Yet other types of businesses — like children’s bounce-house operators and exterminators — are required by state law to carry some form of coverage.
The explosion in West caused an estimated $100 million in damage, but the plant carried only a $1 million liability insurance policy. Several lawsuits against the company have already been filed.
In a statement released after Thursday’s press conference, the CSB said it would examine “the effectiveness of regulatory coverage” by OSHA, the EPA and the state of Texas. The agency said it would study land use planning and zoning practices for “high-hazard facilities” that allowed vulnerable population centers like schools and residential areas near such plants. It would also review the emergency response to the fire, as well as preparedness planning in West, compared to good practices elsewhere.
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