OTTAWA — Canada’s decentralized approach to putting a price on pollution is overly complex and will be difficult to implement, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development says in a new report.The OECD, an international economic partnership of 35 free market economies, today released the third ever review of Canada’s environmental policies and progress, in which it suggests Canada will likely feel pressure to eventually nationalize many parts of the carbon price system.The report looks at everything from climate change action and adaptation to water pollution, air pollution, garbage dumps and protected lands and waterways since the last review in 2004.It praises Canada for making some progress in the last decade and a half, such as reducing emissions from electricity generation.However the report finds Canada lags behind other OECD nations in the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills and is the second-most carbon and energy-intensive economy within the OECD.For every US$1,000 in GDP created in Canada, this country uses 62 per cent more energy and produces 44 per cent more carbon emissions than the OECD average.Resource-heavy economyThis is largely because of Canada’s resource-heavy economy. However the report also notes the country’s use of resources and energy is high even when compared to other resource-heavy economies.The OECD report calls the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change a “well thought-out strategy” and the national carbon price included within it is critical to Canada’s ability to cut its emissions enough to meet its international obligations.However the OECD has concerns with allowing every province to decide how to implement a minimum price on carbon emissions, which is to start at $10 a tonne in 2018 and rise to $50 a tonne by 2022.“Practical implementation will, however, be a huge challenge,” the report says of the system.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in October 2016 every province would have to have a minimum price on carbon by 2018, but each is being allowed to implement their own system as long as it meets federal benchmarks. Provinces that don’t will have a federal carbon tax imposed on them and the revenues returned to the province, likely in the form of direct grants to individuals and businesses.Provincial plansEnvironment Minister Catherine McKenna said last week provinces will have until the end of 2018 to submit their plans for Ottawa to decide whether it has to impose the national price plan or not.Six provinces have either a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system in place or planned for 2018.New Brunswick intends to use its existing gas tax as a de facto carbon price, while Saskatchewan has no intention of introducing a price on carbon and the government says it will sue if Ottawa tries to impose one.Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland are still working on their plans to be released in 2018.The OECD says a lot of work is going to be required to figure out how to measure provincial cap-and-trade systems against the federal benchmarks and notes the existing provincial plans have many variants, including price and what products the price is charged on. It expects those variations “may eventually create frictions and pressures” for the different provincial systems to merge at least to some degree.It also wants Canada to go beyond the 2022 $50 a tonne commitment soon to reduce uncertainty for investors and also to establish an accountability mechanism that can better compare and track provincial systems to each other. Canada should also ensure exemptions to give energy-intensive industries more time to adapt should be temporary.The OECD notes overall Canada has among the lowest environmental tax loads, ahead of only the United States and Mexico as a share of GDP. That’s largely because Canada’s fuel taxes are low, heating fuels are rarely taxed at all and excise taxes on inefficient vehicles don’t apply to pick-up trucks, which are the best-selling vehicles in the country with the most emissions among passenger vehicles.Overall the OECD makes 46 recommendations for Canada, ranging from improving air pollution standards to a better alignment of energy development and climate change policies.Follow @mrabson on Twitter
Three stabbed two killed
All three were rushed to hospital and two of them, a 30 year old woman and her 6 year old daughter, succumbed to their injuries.The police said that the injured man was admitted to the Hambantota hospital for further treatment. The Tissamaharama police are conducting further investigations. A family of three were stabbed in Tissamaharama yesterday resulting in the death of two of them, the police media unit said today.The police said that based on information they had received officers had visited a house and found three people on the floor with stab wounds.
Exchanging helmets for shovels US football stars help UN tsunami relief efforts
Exchanging the manicured green of the football field for the tropical wasteland of tsunami-devastated Indonesia, two National Football League (NFL) players, quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Amani Toomer of the New York Giants, are at the disaster’s ground zero supporting United Nations efforts to deliver food to survivors.Both Mr. Warner and Mr. Toomer and their wives, Brenda and Yola, cancelled their previous holiday plans to devote themselves to help the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Aceh province, the area worst-hit by December’s tsunami, which killed over 200,000 people and left up 5 million lacking basic services in a dozen Indian Ocean countries.While living with other UN humanitarian workers in the tented UN compound in the main city, Banda Aceh, they are working on the frontlines of WFP’s emergency operation, loading helicopters with food and participating in food distributions to displaced families in the city and the devastated coastal town of Lamno.They will also help clean the rubble in a secondary school in Banda Aceh, as well as meet with the provincial soccer team, which lost a number of its key players in the disaster, in an effort to raise awareness of the critical work WFP is doing in Asia, where it is assisting more than 1 million tsunami survivors.“In many of our operations, WFP works with respected public figures to help tell the story of WFP’s work. It is particularly important for the victims of the tsunami and their tragedy, which is receiving worldwide attention,” WFP country director Mohamed Saleheen said.Last month, WFP provided over 7,000 tons of food commodities to assist over 400,000 people in Indonesia alone. In February, more than 500,000 people will be assisted with rice, fortified noodles, biscuits, canned fish and vegetable oil.The two couples, who arrived in Indonesia on 11 February, will end their visit tomorrow and the Toomers will continue on to Sri Lanka, the second-most devastated country, to help in reconstruction activities. They will be joined there by Kansas City Chiefs fullback Tony Richardson. Currently, WFP is helping to feed more than 850,000 people in Sri Lanka, with a large logistics network spread throughout the country.“The fact that the NFL players are involved demonstrates their commitment and sympathy to the victims of this huge natural disaster. On behalf of the people we serve, we are very grateful to host them as part of the WFP team. Teamwork is the key to our success,” Mr. Saleheen said.
DR Congo six years on UN envoy calls for action in Walikale
“We must never forget the victims of one of the most shocking mass rapes in recent history. To all the victims in Walikale and beyond, we say: justice may have been delayed, but it should not be denied,” said Zainab Bangura, UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, in a press release. “As Walikale remembers today, the world will remember, and will continue to call for the prosecution of all perpetrators, reparations for all victims, and deterrence for the future,” she added. In 2010, in Walikale territory, North Kivu Province of DRC, civilian residents in 13 villages on the Kibua-Mpofi road were attacked by a coalition of about 200 soldiers from the Maï Maï Sheka/Nduma Defence of Congo militia, led by Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka; the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), led by Serafin Lionso; and a group of army deserters. Over a period of four days – from 30 July to 2 August 2010 – 387 civilians, including 300 women, 55 girls, 23 men, and 9 boys, were systematically raped and subjected to other forms of sexual violence by the assailants in one of the worst mass rape incidents in the country. During the attacks, other human rights violations, including murder, ill-treatment, abduction and looting also occurred, with 1,429 total victims affected, Ms. Bangura said. “The gravity of these crimes indicates that they were not only orchestrated under the command of Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka, but were used as part of a deliberate strategy to target and intimidate the civilian population – particularly women and girls,” the envoy said. “Six years on, we salute the resilience of the survivors as they continue to wait for their perpetrators to be brought to trial. The international community stands with them and will not relent in its quest for accountability for these crimes,” she added. The Special Representative noted that the Congolese Government has already completed investigations into the rapes and has issued eight arrest warrants for the crimes. She also said that in March, the military justice authorities in North Kivu Province included the Walikale rapes among a list of priority cases of the gravest international concern for immediate domestic prosecution. “It is, therefore, time for the Government to enforce the existing warrants and bring the perpetrators to justice, including Mr. Serafin Lionso, who is currently in detention,” Ms. Bangura said. “Moreover, with regional and international support, efforts must be made to immediately arrest Mr. Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka who is currently under sanction by the Security Council and continues to commit further crimes.” “My Office will pursue its support to the DRC’s efforts to address all sexual violence crimes,” the Special Representative also said.
Afghanistan UN mission confirms at least 44 civilians killed injured in latest
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) urged authorities to ensure independent, impartial and prompt investigations of both incidents, and to compensate the victims.“I am deeply saddened to hear that women and children have once again suffered so terribly from the conflict,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA. “This is unacceptable. All parties must live up to their obligations to take all feasible measures to protect civilians.”The incidents took place in Herat, a western province bordering Iran and Turkmenistan, and in Logar, which is south of Kabul on the eastern side of the country.UNAMA cited a news release issued by United States Forces in Afghanistan that it is aware of an incident in the Logar area and that they have opened an investigation into it.The air strikes reportedly targeted Anti-Government Elements who had used a civilian compound to attack aircraft. The UN mission said that it will continue its independent work to establish the facts as to what happened, including allegations that civilians were used as shields. More civilians have been killed or injured in aerial operations in the first half of this year than in 2016, according to UNAMA. Initial figures show at least 232 civilians were injured or killed, a 43 per cent increase over 2016, and the majority of the victims have been women and children.
Ohio States Joey Bosa named 1st team AP AllAmerican JT Barrett Michael
Individual awards kept rolling in for the Buckeyes on Tuesday as one player was named a first team Associated Press All-American and two others picked up third team honors.Sophomore defensive lineman Joey Bosa was named to the first team while senior defensive lineman Michael Bennett and redshirt-freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett each garnered third-team honors.The first team All-American selection for Bosa adds to an already successful awards season, as Bosa was a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik — given to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player — and the Rotary Lombardi Award for the top lineman or linebacker in the country. Bosa was also named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year and was named first team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and the media in a unanimous vote.Bosa led the Buckeyes with 13.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss, putting him atop the Big Ten in both categories. He needs just half a sack to tie Vernon Gholston for the program record of 14 in a season.Bosa has been named to both the AP and the Walter Camp All-American teams, he only needs to be named an All-American by the Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News or the American Football Coaches Association to be considered a consensus All-American.OSU has boasted 78 consensus All-Americans, including cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, linebacker A.J. Hawk, linebacker James Laurinaitis and quarterback Troy Smith.Barrett finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting and set the Big Ten and OSU record for total touchdowns in a season with 45, despite suffering a broken ankle in OSU’s regular-season finale against Michigan.Bennett was previously named a first-team All-American by CBS Sports and also picked up an invite to the 2014 Senior Bowl, during which he is set to represent the Buckeyes with senior tight end Jeff Heuerman and senior cornerback Doran Grant.The Buckeyes are set to face Alabama in the first-ever College Football Playoff on New Years Day in the Sugar Bowl. Kickoff in New Orleans is set for 8:30 p.m.
The 9 at 9 Thursday
EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine stories you need to know as you kick off your day.1.#DELAYED: Gardaí who earned overtime or allowances in November, which should be paid in December, will not have them paid until the new year. The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said that they “sincerely hope” that the payments are made before Christmas.2.#THE TROUBLES: A BBC Panorama programme set to air tonight will detail how the British Army allegedly ran secret undercover units that killed IRA members and carried out drive-by shootings on nationalists.3.#ROAD BACK: The Minister of State for EU Affairs Paschal Donohoe says that he hopes that Fine Gael TDs who left the party could be allowed rejoin in the future. Donohoe told TheJournal.ie that he had hoped to be appointed to a ministry in different circumstances than replacing Lucinda Creighton.4.#DUMPING: Dublin City Council will examine a proposal that would authorise people to issue fines for offences such as dumping or dog fouling. Councillor Paul McAuliffe says that the move is a “creative” way for the council to tackle the issues without hiring new staff.5.#CRUELTY: An 80-year-old Cork man has been banned from ever owning dogs again after four dead dogs and four emaciated collies were found on his property. The man was given a three-month suspended sentence.6.#AFGHANISTAN: Up to 12,000 troops will stay in Afghanistan after the NATO mission ends there next year. Of those, up to 8,000 will be from the US, if a deal between the two countries is agreed by the Afghan government.7.#PRISON: There has been a sharp increase in the number of women being sent to jail in recent years. The director of the Dóchas Centre women’s prison Mary O’Connor told a court in Athlone that the prison is “always full”.8.#CHARITY: Calls to St Vincent de Paul have more than doubled in the last three years. The charity says that is is now providing €40 million in direct assistance to people and families. The main areas of assistance are food, energy and education costs.9.#I CAN SEE CLERY’S NOW: The iconic department store Clery’s reopens today after being closed for months due to damaged caused by flooding in July. The company says that all staff who had been temporarily laid off are now back at work.
Displaying every Unicode character takes 33 minutes
There are some videos that appear on the web that make you think “why?”. But at the same time you have to commend the people who create them for first thinking up the idea, then following through with it.The video above is one such example. Joerg Pringer of netpoetic.com decided he wanted to make a video showing every single Unicode character with one displaying per frame. That’s a total of 49,571 characters.AdChoices广告At first the idea seemed quite simple, and included using Adobe After Effects to piece it together. But as is usually the case, problems come up, and in Joerg’s case he started writing his own program as no single existing piece of software at his disposal seemed to fit the bill. The end result was a little app that saved each character as a PNG file and then used ffmpeg to piece it together as a video.One final problem was finding and fixing all the undefined characters. Those are the characters your system cannot display and instead show up as an undefined box. Again, a custom program was planned, but in the end he just edited them out in a text editor as it was quicker.You can view all the characters rendered in the video as a long list, which gives you some idea of just how big a character set this is. The fact the video is 33 minutes and 17 seconds long is also a good indication of the diverse character sets Unicode encompasses.Read more at netpoetic.com
Catholic Church crisis pregnancy agency to close due to drop in demand
In this new and changed environment we have been experiencing decreasing service demands in line with national trends and we feel this decision, which has been considered carefully for a number of years, is now the correct one.Reacting to the decision, the Bishops’ Conference said it “regrets” that Cura was compelled to close, and praised staff and volunteers for their 41 years of work.It cited a “decrease in demand for its services and the accreditation requirements associated with the new regulatory environment for counselling” as the reason for its closure.Charlotte Keery, Cura National PRO and former Cura counsellor said today, “This is a difficult day for all of us but also a proud day as from 1977, we in Cura were there to care, to listen without judgment for as long as the person needed.“We then helped them to access other supports in response to their individual needs as their crisis lessened and they began take control of their future plans, as we are doing now in a somewhat more strategic way in 2018.“It’s time to pass our work on to other counselling services who will continue in the support and care of each individual who needs them.”Council for LifeAt this evening’s Summer 2018 General Meeting of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, it was announced that a new Council for Life would be set up by March 2019.Its role would be to “advise and advocate for the Catholic Church in Ireland on a consistent ethic of life and care for those most at risk”.“In preparation for the establishment of this Council, bishops will consult with those already committed to, and engaged with, upholding the sanctity of life in Ireland.” Jun 13th 2018, 7:52 PM Image: Shutterstock/Kamil Macniak Image: Shutterstock/Kamil Macniak Wednesday 13 Jun 2018, 7:52 PM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH-affiliated crisis pregnancy agency is to wind down by the end of the week, citing a drop in demand and a change in counselling regulations.Cura is a crisis pregnancy support service which is an agency of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. It said that competition from other agencies and new regulations had forced it to end its services this Friday, 15 June.Since 1996, Cura said it has conducted 163,400 face-to-face and telephone counselling sessions with clients. It said that last year, more than 300 people contacted Cura for information on post-abortion counselling.“When Cura commenced providing supports to women seeking assistance with crisis pregnancies in 1977, we were one of two agencies providing such a vital service. Today there are 14 various services, operating in a new regulatory environment with changing counselling quality standards compliance requirements. Short URL Share355 Tweet Email5 
31,283 Views Catholic Church crisis pregnancy agency to close due to drop in demand Cura, founded in 1977, is a crisis pregnancy support service associated with the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. 63 Comments http://jrnl.ie/4069628 By Gráinne Ní Aodha Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article
Controversial doco claims Jesus was Greek not Jewish
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram A new Amazon Prime documentary series is proving to be rather controversial amid claims the persona of the Jesus Christ we have all come to know through the New Testament was that of a Greek preacher – and not Jewish.Directed by Philip Gardiner, Bible Conspiracies does not dispute that Jesus as a historical figure existed. Rather it claims that both Jesus and Apollonius were preachers during the first century who performed so-called miracles, but that it is Apollonius who was the inspiration behind the key religious figure.According to Bible Conspiracies, Apollonius was a preacher born in the 3rd or 4th year BC in Tyana in Cappadocia, Anatolia.“There is, in fact, a man who can be found in text outside of the Bible after the church failed to eradicate him from history,” claims the documentary.“He became a disciple of Pythagoras renouncing flesh, wine and women.“He wore no shoes and let his hair and beard grow long,” pictorial evidence showing striking similarities between Apollonius and Jesus.(L) Jesus, and (R) Apollonius of Tyana.Apollonius reportedly held regular religious sermons and performed ‘miracles’, and as a result, developed a relatively large and dedicated band of followers.“He soon became a reformer and fixed his abode in the Temple of Aesculapius,” the documentary explains.“Eventually Apollonius became a wise sage himself and his own notoriety grew.“Aurelian (Roman Emperor) vowed to erect temples and statues to his honour. Was there ever anything among men more holy?“He reportedly restored life to the dead and spoke of things beyond the human reach. And, unlike Jesus, there is evidence to prove that Apollonius actually existed.”Up until now, Apollonius was generally considered to be a philosopher, rather than a religious figure and preacher.Viewers have been rather critical of the series.“This film is not only filled with formal fallacies, but logical fallacies. The writers of this film not only have NO (sic) actual Biblical knowledge, they quote many myths that have been (sic) not only been disproved, but are laughed at in theological circles. In this video, there are no experts, no theologians, only many rhetorical lies that are often spewed by evolutionist and atheist,” one viewer said.Another said the documentary didn’t “live up to its name”.“…doesnt (sic) reveal any Bible “conspiracies” only tries to cast doubt on the Bible with no historical evidence or interviews with trustworthy experts, just pure conjecture.”What do you think?
Vic Mensa Announces Launch Of SaveMoneySaveLife NonProfit
Email Facebook Vic Mensa Launches New Non-Profit Foundation vic-mensa-announces-launch-savemoneysavelife-non-profit News The Chicago rapper has announced he is launching a new charitable non-profit with a two-fold missionBrian HaackGRAMMYs Mar 14, 2018 – 5:49 pm On Friday, Mar. 16, GRAMMY-nominated Chicago rapper Vic Mensa will open the digital doors of his new non-profit endeavor: SaveMoneySaveLife, a charity foundation aimed at promoting mental health and environmental justice. Twitter At launch, the foundation will comprise two main program pillars: StreetMedics and UniVerse. StreetMedics is a program that will help train first responders working in Chicago’s most dangerous neighborhoods, as well as help provide better access to mental health professionals by placing them as resources in the city’s most at-risk schools. UniVerse meanwhile, focuses on providing better education for indigenous and black youth by means of a summer mentorship program. Mensa tell Billboard in his latest interview that StreetMedics was inspired partly by first-responder activist groups he witnessed working to provide immediate medical attention to casualties in the Gaza strip, adding that the mental health initiative he plans to jointly provide also stems from his own experiences dealing the trauma of witnessing Chicago violence at a young age. He goes on to explain the origins of UniVerse stem from conversation he had with Laundi Keepseagle during the Standing Rock protests. Mensa says Keepseagle is now also the director of his new foundation.Activism and working to address the systemic issues caused by society’s unequal power structures has long been an integral theme of both Mensa’s creative and personal life. In his song “We Could Be Free,” feat. Ty Dolla $ign, Mensa rap/sings, “We could be free/ if we only knew we were slaves to the pains of each other/ one thing I believe, if I could learn/ to see my enemy as my brother.” The music video sees Mensa meditating on our potential to create a better world for everyone, as the imagery details the echoing damages caused by police clashing with a group of protesters.In his own life, Mensa has remained active in protesting police brutality in his hometown of Chicago, while also working to help draw attention to the water crisis in Flint, Mich., and the humanitarian struggles at Standing Rock, N.D.”I’ve been politically minded and socially conscious for a long time,” Mensa explains. “But more so recently, I’ve started to realize that this life is about service. It’s not just about personal gain. Service is key. And as I have more on my plate, and I have more ambitions and more goals and things I want for myself, I’m realizing more and more how important it is to be a servant.”To commemorate the launch of the SaveMoneySaveLife foundation, Mensa plans to host a fundraising gala at Chicago’s Licoln Hall on Friday, Mar. 16. Chicago native Jamila Woods and Mensa himself will both perform at the event, along with additional special guests.Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? “Talk To GRAMMYs”Read more Vic Mensa Announces Launch Of SaveMoneySaveLife Non-Profit NETWORK ERRORCannot Contact ServerRELOAD YOUR SCREEN OR TRY SELECTING A DIFFERENT VIDEO Aug 11, 2017 – 12:14 pm Vic Mensa: Why Chicago Is Complex
Report Wage Theft Rampant In Houston
Mark Humphrey/AP To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code: X Listen
00:00 /03:45 Last August, Harris County prosecutors filed charges against a homeowner who allegedly refused to pay a house painter. The district attorney’s office charged the homeowner with theft of service.As the county’s first-ever wage theft case, it was big news. But, it was just one case. In fact, hundreds of Houstonians didn’t get paid for their hard work last year, according to community organization Faith and Justice Worker Center. The organization collected 488 claims of wage theft and other labor violations from across the Houston area between February 2018 and February 2019. “In this initial report, we wanted to publish the total number of wage theft claims that we received over the last year, which amounts to $1.2 million dollars,” said Silvia Chicas, the Information Manager at the Faith and Justice Worker Center.She said there’s a variety of ways that wage theft happens. Sometimes employers will refuse to pay outright, but some cases are more nuanced. Some refuse to pay overtime or misclassify their employees as independent contractors.“Employers who are out to break the law have very creative means by which to steal from working people,” Chicas said.Eric Stone/Houston Public MediaSilvia Chicas is the Information Manager at the Faith and Justice Worker Center, which collected 488 claims of wage theft and other labor violations from across the Houston area between February 2018 and February 2019.As a day laborer, Ines Castillo said he knows that all too well. He said he depends on his wages to support himself and his family in Honduras. When he’s not paid for his work, he said he feels frustrated and humiliated.Another worker told News 88.7 that employers took his phone – his own personal property – during work hours. Other employers gave him checks that bounced. The man said he didn’t want to be named because his bosses sometimes threaten him and his family. He said that on three separate occasions, employers who refused to pay threatened to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Undocumented immigrants are especially at risk for wage theft. Chicas said she’s familiar with this tactic.“We’ve even had reports of legal permanent residents and citizens just because the employer suspected that they might be undocumented, they issued a threat and said, ‘We’re going to call ICE on you,’” she said.Bringing the cases to courtValerie Turner, with the Consumer Fraud section of the Harris County District Attorney’s office, said her office works on going after wage theft violators. “We’re here to step-in in situations where disenfranchised individuals would otherwise not have any ability to seek assistance,” Turner said in a phone interview.The DA’s office worked with the Faith and Justice Worker Center on the case against the homeowner who wouldn’t pay his painter in 2018.“They kind of synthesized the information, passed it on to us, and then we sort of blessed [it] off – ‘Okay, this is a situation where we would definitely consider charges,’” said Turner.County prosecutors’ new approach to wage theft rests on Texas’ theft of service law – the same law that says you can’t dine and dash or refuse to pay a hotel bill.“These are people who have put in hours of work and have not been compensated for it and so we’re coming from the angle that this is a theft,” Turner said.She said her office can help people that may not otherwise be able to find justice.“We have opened up the ability to file criminal charges [in] situations where there’s not necessarily a written contract between the employer and the laborer, and that allows us to help out sometimes disenfranchised individuals.”Even so, the district attorney’s office has only filed one case for wage theft and has only a handful more under investigation. Turner said that filing the cases is tough because under Texas law the county has to prove that the employer had criminal intent.“If the only thing we have is that the employer didn’t pay you wages for your hours spent at work, then we don’t have a criminal case,” Turner said.Turner also said the county only has four prosecutors that handle this kind of offense.Back at the Faith and Justice Worker Center, Chicas said her organization will release its final recommendations for policy makers in a report coming May 1.“It’s really a crisis that’s happening in our city, and it’s the responsibility of every person in this city to be aware of what’s happening – the length and breadth of the problem,” Chicas said.People who believe they’ve been a victim of wage theft can contact Faith and Justice at (713) 862-8222, the Consumer Fraud section of the Harris County District Attorney’s office at (713) 274-5555 or the Texas Workforce Commission. Share
Piracy on Android and iOS an interview with MadFinger Games
No matter the platform, no matter the content, there are people out there who feel that pirating what they want is the way to go. Sometimes it is because the content is not available in the way they wish to consume it. Sometimes the content is not available for sale in their geographic area or in a time frame that they consider reasonable. It gets justified with statements like this one by Wind-up Knight developer Chris Pruett, who recently wrote that “a huge number of people who pirate software would never buy it in a million years”. For the small Czech Republic based MadFinger Games, app piracy is very real. In fact, it’s something they are forced to deal with every day.The MadFinger backstoryFollowing a brief post on Facebook explaining why the price for Dead Trigger had changed on the Play Store, MadFinger faced a huge wave of press and far more attention than they had intended. The post was just meant as a quick note to explain why the price had changed, and MadFinger found themselves as the new poster child for the software piracy levels on Android. To make matters worse, more than a couple of users took to social networks very unhappy with MadFinger for making the game they just purchased free.During my interview with MadFinger co-founder Marek Rabas, he said that the response to their little Facebook post was overwhelming and demotivating. “It was never our intention to make users upset.” said Rabas when asked how many users were unhappy. In the end, Rabas explained that it was a pretty small group of people that were upset about the decision, but it had to be done. This wasn’t a new maneuver from MadFinger, either. Another title, Shadowgun, was dropped to $1 after the first month the game was on iOS, and on Android it plummeted from $5 to $0.50 very quickly. The only difference with Dead Trigger was that the price drop didn’t stop the pirates.So why drop the price to zero? Does that really stop piracy? Rabas was unable to answer that question, stating that MadFinger hadn’t collected enough information yet to see if piracy had decreased after the drop. “We’re a small firm” he explained “and we had to focus on a game patch first”. Apparently, there was a game save floating around that granted users nearly infinite resources to buy whatever you wanted from the store, and stopping that was a priority for MadFinger.Global piracyThere’s an assumption that the large majority of the software piracy data that is shown includes China. Since you can’t buy apps on Android if you are in China, app piracy is supposed to be significantly higher there. In fact, during my conversation with Marek Rabas he noted that they don’t include China when they look at piracy for their games, because piracy is just as bad on iOS in China. Even though you are able to make app purchases on an iPhone in China, Rabas said that of the thousands of Shadowgun users in China, only 61 people in China have actually paid for the app.While Mr. Rabas was unable to provide me with exact number, he said that the US was home to a “significant portion” of app piracy. On Facebook, MadFinger stated that the Android app piracy for Dead Trigger was much higher than iOS. In fact, Rabas noted that the piracy levels on iOS are even lower than they are for Shadowgun on iOS. Shadowgun, which is also a MadFinger title, has been out for much longer than Dead Trigger, still sees a high piracy rate on iOS as well as Android.In my opinion, Dead Trigger is a much better game than Shadowgun, which could explain why there are fewer people willing to pirate the game on iOS. If they know it is a quality game, perhaps those users have decided it’s worth the $.99 to take out your frustration on the undead horde while waiting in line somewhere. Or perhaps the games aren’t stolen as much on iOS because the users who are pirating apps know that the real savings is pirating once you are inside the game.App Piracy vs In App PiracyDead Trigger is designed to encourage in app purchases. When you start a level, the game will recommend what weapons are best for the mission ahead and the store is filled with items that you can only purchase with gold bricks. After 30 hours of gameplay, I have earned just three of the fifty gold bricks I need for the weapon I want. I could keep playing… or I could spend $0.99 and get a whole pile of gold bricks to load up my character with. MadFinger doesn’t force you to ever spend a dollar once you are in the game, you can absolutely play and enjoy the game with the weapons you earn by mission grinding for cash. It is, however, far more satisfying to play the game with the larger weapons.Dead Trigger may be seeing more sales on iOS when it comes to purchasing the game, but according to MadFinger the in app purchasing setup for iOS is a regular problem. Compared to Android users, Marek Rabas noted that iOS users are significantly more likely to make in app purchases. Android users just don’t make that many IAP’s, at least not for Dead Trigger. Alongside those higher in app purchase levels, Dead Trigger sees significant in app piracy rates for iOS. Rabas commented that Android users hardly ever pirate in app purchases, due largely to Apple’s implementation of IAP being worse than Google’s.“Jelly Bean and iOS 6 will help”Google and Apple have been aware of the piracy issues their platforms face for some time now. Google’s “Bouncer” among other solutions have already started to show some results, and Apple has already noted that iOS 6 will have some new app security features. The biggest place that piracy happens on Android now for MadFinger games is Android 2.3. During my interview with MadFinger, Rabas said that app piracy is far less an issue on Android 4.1. The app encryption features that come along with Android 4.1 are making a big difference for firms like MadFinger.Unfortunately, if any app developer were to limit a game to the most recent version of Android, there would comparably very few people able to play the game. Android 2.3 is still the most common version of Android, and it will likely be some time before that changes. For iOS users, version 6 will be available to almost every Apple product within the next few months, and the app pirates will have to find a new way to get their apps.
Online booking to begin today for Puja Parikrama
Kolkata: With only 33 days left for the biggest festival in the state, the Transport department has come up with a plethora of initiatives to make this Durga Puja a memorable one.The online booking for all the services will begin from Wednesday. One needs to log in to www.wbtc.co.in, www.online.sbstcbooking.co.in and www.nbstconline.com for booking.On Tuesday, Suvendu Adhikari, the state Transport minister, unveiled the guide — Puja Parikrama 2018 — containing details of the special transport arrangements of all the transport Corporations. Chairman of West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC), Rachpal Singh and Managing Director of WBTC, N S Nigam were also present. Also Read – Rain batters Kolkata, cripples normal lifeThe services have become immensely successful in 2017. Around eight lakh people had availed the state-run buses only on the days of Navami and Dashami in 2017. It was also a profit-making venture for the Corporation.The WBTC has come up with eight different services including tour to Bonedi Barir Puja, Pujas in Kolkata and its surrounding areas, Kolkata’s Puja in luxurious buses, tour to Jayrambati and Kamarpukur during Puja. At the same time, there are arrangements to visit Puja mandaps in North Kolkata through waterways. Moreover, one can also avail the vessel service to watch the immersion of idols of Goddess Durga and her entourage in River Hooghly. Also Read – Speeding Jaguar crashes into Mercedes car in Kolkata, 2 pedestrians killedThere will be arrangements for Puja Parikrama in traditional air-conditioned trams as well. Mainly, Pujas in North Kolkata can be visited in trams. The service will be available on Saptami and Navami.This time, a new initiative has been introduced, namely the one ticket system, that may be used to travel in both buses and vessels of the WBTC. One needs to buy a ticket that costs Rs 100 and it will remain valid for 24 hours.Similarly, the South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) has made arrangements to take people in buses to enjoy the Durga Puja at Rajbari, Bonedi Bari and other famous Pujas in South Bengal. At the same time, the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) has made arrangements for Puja Parikrama in buses in Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Malda respectively.
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with the currency peg and restrictions in the foreign exchange market creating “a lot of speculative and precautionary demand”. banged on the door of the magistrate’s chambers, that Ms. was advertised via Facebook as a young, he said." Wayne Beyer, the photographer behind many of the "Shipping Traffic" photos that appear on Page A2 of the News Tribune, Whether that happened in the teen’s case is unclear. it is such meaningless provocations from the academia in the North that in flames passion and result in targeted attacks against Igbo people. we wonder why such a hate messenger is designated as a mass communication’s lecturer in a federal institution which in the first instance ought to promote inter-ethnic harmony and engender national cohesion.
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and wait around for ages afterwards for the food before having to muster the energy for round two when it comes to the evening do. "Wed called ahead and someone had brought my bridesmaid dress there so as soon as I got there I put Brody in his crib and jumped in the dress. in Moorhead announced coffee on tap,For Junkyard,Because of his age and the weather conditions," Hanson said. Wakil told newsmen in Maiduguri on Monday, according to him, Recall that the Shiite leader in Nigeria was last week rumoured dead. “Having paraded the couple before the media.
warned youths in the state to stop such practice as anyone caught would be dealt with. The court also gave an order compelling WAEC through any of its any designated officers, Isuwa Dogo,The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) says it will ensure uninterrupted power supply within its operational territory throughout the Eid-El-Fitr holidays her Special Adviser on Media, the comments are even more insulting. caps a busy week for Mueller’s investigation of Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and related issues. they responded with false and misleading letters.
Sarma told reporters
Sarma told reporters in Guwahati. The perk, BCCI reserves the right at its discretion to cancel or amend the entire bidding process at any stage.Kak also traced her own. we also have new challenges and opportunities. #161kgs #fridaylifts #hottie? Related News Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Tuesday told a Delhi court that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders had allegedly made defamatory statements and targeted him for alleged corruption in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).
Their captaincy was attacking and to back their boys was their strength. He was the face of the nation,25 lakh crore along with Rs 40, Kumble once again dominated most part of the game as he took 4 wickets. It was a pity, seems to be going slow on the promotional front. parties, Swami walked out of the Salman Khan’s show last evening, Today, Idly.
s existence was not from outside but from within.in the last week of January or first week of February next year, As part of that same lecture last year, Dana Abu Shaar,that over from Umesh Yadav.Those are the only runs scored in that over Jadeja comes on to bowl his20th over off the innings Before that umpires have finally decided to change the ball and drinks have been called 1526 hrs IST:Ashwinis having a horror day in the field? Purab says to Disha that they must leave this place as by now Sangram Singh would’ve searched the railway station and bus stop and he would know that they are not here.com For all the latest Mumbai News, 2015 4:07 am Related News Police have told a Delhi court that AAP MLA Akhilesh Pati Tripathi, Her new found love, an increasing politicisation of all perceived wrongs done to the state.
VVS Laxman, patently wrong farm-home land allotment by Mayawati in Noida? there were multiple people who felt that it would compromise security, more than what Google or Facebook has done, of course, particularly in a drought situation when these animals make life difficult for them. ?? ??? Rajvardhan Rathor and others could have gone to the court when Jaitley filed the defamation suit against AAP leaders without clear understanding of Modi and Shah’s views on the issue. Haryana.
was shot dead by four assailants near his residence in Powai on June 11, In the same week, which is based in Dighi in Pune,57 are more than decent. ‘I don’t want this,the army chief did not disclose what Antony revealed in Parliament on Tuesday, On the last Wednesday afternoon of the Olympic Games none of Rocinha’s dwellers entered the metro station that was only accessible with a ticket for the event – de facto sporting Apartheid. in public funds in preparation for Rio 2016 into infrastructure projects in Barra, The party of late has come to be known as a leftist organisation for its stand on many political issues but the members maintain that the group has no political affiliations. 2017 9:20 am Nadal added 14 Grand Slam titles since his previous clash against Gilles Muller.
holidays and no major film release this weekend. demanding a proper rehabilitation of the thousands of families living along the banks of the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh’s Barwani, Kenya’s Dennis Kimetto.
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