Happenings

CRA Fake Calls & Its Cognitive Implications

November 13, 2018 Happenings
CRA Scam

This is one of the sad truths of our society and a quite serious one too that CRA phone scams have turned away genuine CRA agents from connecting with their regular customers for the purpose of tax inquiries. Truth be told, I’ve been hounded by these low-lifers too but I have resisted the temptation to succumb to their lame tactics, although it did affect me mentally a lot. A few years ago, there were actual people posing as CRA agents and threatening you with dire legal consequences over the phone if you didn’t pay up, but now the game has shifted to using robotic voices which sound more artificial and funnier than the humans. The tactic to avoid being scammed could backfire as it happened in my case.

One sultry day, I received a voicemail from an individual named April claiming to be representing the “CRA” and asked for tax details. Besides this, she also left her agent ID, her contact details. I obviously ignored it assuming it might be a scam. Then some days later my phone rang and it was the same lady asking for my tax details, I rejected the idea and suggested I’d prefer to call the toll free number and provide any info they needed. Under the circumstances I thought that was the smartest thing to do. She acknowledged and gave her agent ID number along with her contact number which I reluctantly jotted down, I thought it was her futile bid to convince me about her ‘genuine’ intentions. She then asked me to call the toll-free and provide the details as soon as possible. When I called the CRA toll free number it was confirmed that the lady indeed was a genuine CRA agent. Heck! I then called April and couldn’t stop apologizing for my misdeeds but she took it in her stride and laughed about it. She said, a fake CRA caller would sound threatening, I tended to disagree on her viewpoint. But why did I not pick up any clues? Here’s what probably happened.

In the past, just like the real CRA agents the scammers had also provided an “agent ID” with a number to call, it doesn’t leave any clue in distinguishing between the two. But eventually, I believe, this whole phone scam thing has carried far too long and destroyed the credibility of the CRA and other entities who are at the frontline of public services. This damage is probably permanent, but here’s the question that we need answered – how could we make changes and bring that confidence back in the federal structures of our society?

Source: Canadians tuning out real Canada Revenue Agency agents because of phone scammers

Stan Lee – The Marvel-ous Storyteller

November 13, 2018 Happenings

No doubt, Stan Lee was an ingenious storyteller. Much as scores of comic book fans around the globe I am passionate about comic superheroes too, and none other than the “friendly, neighborhood” Spiderman impressed me with his web-slinging skills growing up as a kid. Having no sense of what the effort behind making a comic book meant, who the creators were, I was left enamoured by the colourful illustrations combined with the nail-biting tale, pages after pages. For me, this vibrant world of heroes with superpowers opened tremendous possibilities in escaping the childhood drudgery of teachers & homework finding solace in the creative imagery and dramatic action. If my memory doesn’t fail me it was the storytelling of Spiderman left beaten up by the Green Goblin that left a lasting impression on my mind. It was penned by Stan Lee.

This is a tribute to those more than a hundred characters that Stan Lee has left with us through his illustrious 95-year lifespan, its narrative leaving an impact through a mix of colossal duels and raging plotlines of planets in danger from the ever-so wicked villains. Talking of which, I also discovered Stan through his movie cameos that influenced me in much the same way as the glimmer of his creativity through his artworks. But I must sadly confess, that as a youngster when I was munching on the stories & the characters Stan Lee’s storytelling hardly mattered to me and I didn’t recognize his contribution in this mystical imaginativeness that kept me glued to my book, I chose to ignore him. But perhaps, it was his imaginative artworks and his unbounded flights of fancy that encouraged me to take my artistic skills from a hobby into a career in a bid to explore the creative ingenuity within me, in blending the content with colour for communication much like Stan Lee’s stupendous milestones.

So, thank you, Stan Lee. I know you are in a distant galaxy far far away now but your aesthetic imagination, your flamboyance and your unflailing smile, will persist upon millions of fans just like me. We will miss you forever!

Electric Vehicle National Policy For Canada

October 20, 2018 Happenings
Electric Vehicle Symbol

On September 22, 2017, the Ontario government entered into a formal agreement with the Province of Québec and the State of California to join their carbon market starting January 1, 2018.  More famously known as Ontario’s cap-and-trade program it meant that the province engages in putting a cap on the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) that businesses would emit. This was designed to fight the forces of climate change and reward businesses who reduce their greenhouse pollution. Furthermore, all the proceeds from the cap-and-trade Program were invested in projects, including incentivizing the purchase of an HFCV or an electric vehicle, that’d help to reduce greenhouse gas pollution province-wide. 

In particular, the cap-and-trade program was the primary tool to help Ontario achieve its ambitious GHG reduction targets of 15% below 1990 levels by 2020, 37% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. Under the regime, industrial sectors including manufacturing, electricity and fuel distribution are required to purchase emission allowances to cover each tonne of GHG emissions resulting from their activities and the combustion of fuel distributed.

McCarthy Tetrault

Electric Vehicle & HFCV Incentives

The cap-and-trade involved funding programs that would have helped reduce carbon emissions. One of the initiatives undertaken by the Ontario province was the ‘Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle and Charging Incentive Programs’ that offered rebates of up to CA$14000 on the purchase of electric vehicles and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles and rebates of up to CA$1000 for electric vehicle charging stations to offset the cost of a home or office station, apart from providing a distinct green licence plate, and overall, this was done to discourage the rampant use of internal combustion engines. The incentive program was so well-received, in fact, according to data compiled by Fleet Carma, 7,477 battery and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were sold in Ontario last year, an increase of 120 per cent from 2016 when increased rebates were implemented. Just as the efforts to fight climate change seemed to be on the right track, the newly elected government of Doug Ford repealed the cap-and-trade program on July 03, 2018, “to bring gas prices down and help lower costs for Ontario families and businesses”. I felt this was a disappointing move on the part of Ontario although whether it made economic sense is still being debated.

The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Strategy

An e-petition is being sponsored by Peter Schiefke, the Liberal Party MP from Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Quebec, for the Minister of Transportation for seeking a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) strategy by accelerating the deployment of electric vehicles. The list of countries below suggests Canada has a long way to go in setting targets for electric vehicles unlike some of its counterparts in the G7, and with provinces moving away from any commitment towards fighting climate change that should worry us all although the federal government has already released a draft proposal for introducing a federal carbon pollution pricing system.

In 2016, 14 countries already had electric car targets in place: Austria, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States (eight states).

Sign The E-Petition

If you’re a Canadian resident, here’s your chance to sign the parliamentary e-petition for pushing the federal government towards a zero-emission environment for our future generations and e-petitions with more than 500 signatures are guaranteed to be responded by the government. The last day for signing the petition is February 14, 2019, so act now!

Climate Catastrophe, Up Ahead

October 8, 2018 Happenings
Climate Catastrophe

In a news report that I read today, scientists at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have cautioned that we might be heading for a ‘climate catastrophe’. Titled ‘Global Warming at 1.5ºC’, the analysis which is authored by around 90 scientists at the IPCC, has suggested keeping global temperatures well under 1.5ºC, although we might be going completely off track & heading towards an increase of 3ºC instead! For a perspective, the Paris Agreement had a long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperatures to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels; and to limit the increase to 1.5°C, since this would substantially reduce the risks and effects of climate change. Back home in Canada, several provinces are now preparing to rally against the Trudeau government’s initiative to introduce a carbon tax plan, just as, to my surprise, the Ontario government under Premier Ford scrapped the provincial ‘cap-and-trade’ carbon tax plan, towards, what they described as, “fulfilling the government’s commitment to reducing gas prices by 10 cents per litre.”

The target of 2ºC which was previously thought as reasonably manageable the IPCC now suggests that even going past 1.5ºC is not an option anymore and it would significantly alter the planet’s livability. Hans-Otto Portner, a German scientist who co-chaired one of the panel’s working groups, says:

[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Every extra bit of warming matters, especially since warming of 1.5 C or higher increases the risk associated with long-lasting or irreversible changes, such as the loss of some ecosystems”.[/perfectpullquote]

Simply put, policymakers across the board need to strategize in integrating more sustainable ways to reduce carbon emissions by transforming the biggest calamity facing mankind today into their biggest opportunity to save the species tomorrow. It’s a wake-up call, to say the least.

How We Can Prevent The Climate Catastrophe

As consumers of this vast but fragile ecosystem, we have a grave responsibility to preserve the environment by preventing the temperature of our Earth from going beyond 1.5ºC. The IPCC report states that the ‘climate catastrophe’ could be avoided provided we make some rapid but significant changes to four big global systems – energy, land-use, cities and industry. And without the participation of individuals & entrepreneurs, that target may not be achievable. Here’s a checklist of what we all can collectively do to reduce the carbon footprint:

  • Buy less meat, milk, cheese and butter and more locally sourced seasonal food – and throw less of it away
  • Drive electric cars but walk or cycle short distances
  • Take trains and buses instead of planes
  • Use video conferencing instead of business travel
  • Use a washing line instead of a tumble dryer
  • Insulate homes
  • Demand low carbon in every consumer product

It’s not easy at all, but a sustained interest, widespread promotion & a shared commitment over a period of time could make our planet become greener and cleaner again.

Shazam A Song, Just Like That!

October 6, 2018 Design Happenings Technology
Shazam

I was late in discovering Shazam, just like some other apps, but I don’t regret it. I love listening to any form of music and being an ‘old schooler’, the “independent” sorts, I’ve not pledged my allegiance to either Apple Music or Spotify, although it’s becoming inevitable to avoid. Meanwhile, I’m satisfying my urge of listening to soul-stirring melodies through the droves of FM stations of this city who cycle their playlists like kids on a carousel ride, so you can’t miss out on any song now, can you? I also follow an alternative method to understand & discover different kinds of sounds, by visiting the various outlets & malls in & around Toronto. As I’m sifting through the garments or enjoying a meal I’m patiently listening to a soothing melody or a foot tapping anthem that would eventually stick in my head and wouldn’t let me breathe easy until I’m able to locate its creator’s credentials. Ugh! And a Google search would only be fruitful if I got the lyrics right which is challenging in all that chitter chatter in the vicinity, so Nah! Enter, Shazam.

Though I was always intrigued by this nifty app since even before Apple acquired it there wasn’t a practical use for me to experiment with Shazam, but its time had finally arrived. It was simple. I launched it and found the circular ‘S’ logo throbbing and inviting me to tap as a tune played at a busy H&M outlet. Even though it was faintly audible the microphone on the iPhone deftly captured the notes, and in a jiffy, it displayed not only the name of the artist but also the colourful album art, the lyrics, while giving me the choice to buy it on Apple Music. It also added it to a ‘My Shazam’ playlist so I won’t lose the information! The ‘Shazam-ing’ is so seamless & quick and searching for new music has become simpler and more exciting, and enjoyable now. No more anxiety over unknown melodies, eh. I never thought I’d say this but then Google feels weak for a change! So, if you’re late to the party just like me, give it a shot.