MPhasis has launched HyperGraf for big data analytics to fascilitate real-time decision-making. It comes from MPhasis Next Lab. It provides real-time and actionable customer engagement insights across data points. It is cloud-based platform. It enables to innovate and take strategic decisions. It bridges the gap between internal data within an organisation and the external data and third party data. External data could come from credit rating, multi-media, social media and open data.
Month: June 2015
Nude Models for Art Schools
Just as cadevers are important for the medical students, nude models are important for the art students. Such models are given a fee of Rs 1000 per day. Models are anytime better than photographs for study purposes for two reasons –muscular tension and emotions. In the USA, su,h models are gym trainers and ballet dancers. In India, they come from a poor background. As they have to sit for long hours, they suffer crom cramps and back-ache. When they are exhausted, they are given relaxing poses. Live portraits in Maharashtra are common since the days of the British regime. As there is stigma attached to this type of modling, students will have to paint soon from pbotographs. Male models are difficult to get. There is a fear that they may be a corrupting influencr on the female students. Many students and at times professors volunteer to double as male models.
Exclusive Credit Cards by Invitation
There are credit cards for high net worth individuals or ultra rich. These are available by invitation only. Dubai First Royale MasterCard is one such card. Most members are Emiratis, but it is open to clients other than Emiratis. The card has a dedicated relationship manager, and a life style manager. It organises anything for the client. Another exclusive card is American Express Centurion Card ( Black Card ) . It was launched in 1999. You have to build a history of relationship with American Express to get the invitation. And you must have held American Express Platinum Card at least for a year. Black card is pricey ,$ 5000 a year in fees and the initial set up payment of $ 5000. You will have to maintain yearly spending of at least $250,000. There are a host of benefits, you can access exclusive lounges at the airports, flivht upgrades, free hotels and a 24 hour concierge. Many hold the opinion that instead of the Black Card, it is better to hold the Platinum Card, as it offers more or less the same benefits.
54 Years of Jyoti Kalash Chhalke
Jyoti Kalash Chhalke complete 50 years in 2011, and has now entered 54th year in 2015. This song is written by Pandit Narendra Sharma and was set to music by Babuji Sudhir Phadke, and sung by Lata Mangeshkar. It was picturised on Mina Kumari and Master Ajiz for the film Bhabhi Ki Chudiya (1961). The original story was picturised in Marathi Vahinichya Bangdya (1953). It was a story of Y G Joshi. This song uses two symbols — jyoti and kalash and has retained its freshness even today after 54 years.
Jyoti kalash chhale, jyoti kalas chhalke
Hue gulabi lal sunahre, rang badal ke
Jyoti kalsh chhalke…1
Ghar aangan van upvan upvan, karti jyoti amrut se sinchan
Mangal ghat dhalke, mangal ghat dhalke
Jyoti kalas chhalke…2
Ambar kumkum fal barsaae, ful pankhudiya par muskaye
Bindu tu hi na jalke, bindu tu hi na jalke
Jyoti kalas chhalke…3
Paat paat birva hariyala, dharti ka mukh hua ujaala
Sach sapne kalke, sach sapne kalke
Jyoti kalash chhalke…4
Usha ne aanchal felaya, feli sukh ki shital chhaya
Neeche aanchal ke, neeche aanchal ke
Jyoti kalash chhalke…5
Jyoti Yashoda dharti gayya, neel gagan Gopal kanhaiyya
Shyamal chhabi jhalke, shyamal chhabi jhalke
Jyoti kalsh chhalke,,,6
Officer’s Choice (OC) : World’s No. 1 Liquor Brand
India in liquor consumption is the second largest market ( consuming 290 million cases ) after China ( consuming 620 million cases ) which is number 1 in the world. Just five states of India contribute to 78 per cent of liquor consumption.
Many countries have an indigenous liquor to boast about, e.g. Tequila in Mexico, Vodka in Russia and Baiiju in China. India does not have such an indigenous spirit, but it produces European spirits here which are called India-made foreign liquor ( IMFL ).
Smirrnoff vodka from Diageo was the number 1 brand in the world but has now been dislodged from this numero uno position by Officer’s Choice from Allied Blenders. In 2014, Officer’s Choice sold 28.4 million cases ( or 255 plus million litres ). Smirnoff sold 25.6 million cases. The third brand is McDowel No.1 from United spirits.
Officer’s Choice is a 27-year old brand in 2015. It was originally targeted to blue collar workers, and daily wage earners. It is now sold across the segments. Its premium versions are Officer’s Choice Blue and Officer’s Choice Black. OC Blue was launched three years ago. OC offers good value for its money. OC is made from grains, as against other whiskies which are made from molasses.
Retail distribution is through 65000 licensed outlets. There is one outlet per 18000 people in the country. It is very low than the global average.
Because of heavy taxes, retail prices shoot up, which are sometimes as high as six times the ex-distillery price. Taxes on liquors contribute substantially to the state exchequer — say 16 per cent of the overall tax revenues.
OC’s sales by volume equals four times the Titanic tank Cameron built for the Hollywood movie. Roughly, its sales convert into a quarter bottle every Indian citizen. Its 100 times the size of an Olympic-size swimming pool. It is more than three weeks of milk collected by Amul.
Aviation History
Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright — popularly known as the Wright brothers — were mechanically gifted. This quality they had inherited from their mother. They were good at school, but illness prevented them from attending college. Smithsonian Institution in 1899 responded to Wilbur’s query on the list of books on aeronautics. They pursued all the works. They studied the weather data of Kitty Hawk, which they selected as the ground for their experiments. They did work for three years on rudders, wings and their ratios and angles. After this preliminaries, they installed an engine on the plane. They built a wind tunnel to study wing designs. They also constructed a launch catapult. All experiments were documented. They designed their pioneering aircraft — each and every part was machined by them. Dec 17, 1903 at 10.35 AM Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USA. After four years of work,history was created. The plane was air-borne for 12 seconds. Orville was at the controls. A photograph was snapped.
Later they improved the design at Ohio. They could succeed in longer flights. First the French and then the Americans joined the bandwagon. They patented many things, and became wealthy. A decade after Kitty Hawk, airplanes used in the World War I showed how they can be used as war-birds. Wilbur expired in 1912. Orville was alive till 1948.
Biomedical Waste
Any waste generated during —
- diagnosis, treatment or immunisation of human beings or
- animals or
- in research activities in the production or testing of biologicals.
Bio-medical waste consists of —
Solids such as:
- catheters, tubes
- disposable geuins, masks
- scrubs
- surgical staplers
- gloves, surgical sutures and staples
- wound dressings
Liquids such as :
- blood
- body fluids
- tissues and cells
- organs
- tissue cultures
Sharps such as :
- razors, scalpel, blades, lancets
Materials made of glass such as:
- curvettes and slides
Materials of metal such as :
- stylets, needles
Plastic materials such as :
- pipettes and tips
- syringes
Laboratory waste such as:
- animal carcasses
Hazardous chemicals with biological components
Medicinal plants
Radio active material with biological components.
Norms
- Bio-medical waste shall not be mixed with other waste.
- It should be segregated into containers/bags at the point of generation prior to its storage, transportation, treatment and disposal.
- Untreated waste should not be stored for more than 48 hours.
- If necessary to store more than 48 hours, the authorised person must take the permission of the presented authority and ensure that the waste doesnot effect human health and environment. ( Source : MPCB ).
Dont’s for Carrying Yourself
- Wear your husband’s T-shirt
- Dress down
- Go out without jewellery
- Wear one colour
- Wear crocs
- Wear cropped linen trousers that are crushed
- Wear a watch for an evening out. It is inelegant.
- Save that expensive dress for fancy occasions. If you have spent a fortune, wear it.
- Highlight your upper eyes with a pencil.
- Get stuck in a style rut.
- Underplay your looks.
- Feel guilty about being glamorous.
Advertising and Economy
We have already discussed how advertising evolved in the previous century. Organisations built their business taking advantage of advertising. In a growing economy, there is more marketing and advertising spend and the consumers are favourably inclined to consume more. There is an overall growth in the sales revenue and media revenue. Advertising expenditure grew in India by leaps and bounds.
When the recession sets in, the first axe falls on the advertising expenditure. There are studies to show that if advertising is maintained in recession, the firm stands to gain from the competitor’s market share who is sluggish in advertising.
In a down turn, the media advertising agencies suffer as the ad expenditure is ourtailed or diverted elsewhere. Both the print media and electronic media are affected adversely. Agencies experience lower billings and reduced profits.
The relationship between advertising and economy has two dimensions. Advertising is a major source of information for the consumers enabling them to exercise their choice from a wide array of products. Advertising is the only guide to the consumers to learn about the new products. The other dimension is the pull effect of advertising on the consumers who ask for the advertised product from the retailer. That is similar to exercising control over distribution and pricing. The consumer has to pay the price desired by the advertiser.
Thus there are views and counter-views regarding the role of advertising in the economy. Advertising does influence several economic elements including pricing, consumer demand and competition.
Pricing
The question is whether advertising increases the prices people pay for the products or reduces them. There are cogent arguments on both the sides. As advertisement is expenditure that is passed on to the consumer, naturally they pay a higher price. In addition, advertising takes away the market share of the competitive products, and so the competition increases its ad spend, and thus cycle of higher prices sets in. There is an entry barrier to the new comers, as they cannot match the financial muscle of the established players. Since competition is restricted, the higher prices do not come down.
There are counter-arguments. Advertising lowers the price by stimulating sales and raising productivity. The per unit cost of the advertises product is lower. Advertising keeps the buyers well informed about products and pricing. Buyers are in a position to take the comparative view and choose the brands which suit their purpose at the most affordable prices. In other words, advertising empowers the buyers to choose the suitably priced products. In some countries, even professional advertising of doctors, lawyers and accountants is legally permitted so as to augment competitive pricing.
Consumer Demand
The effect advertising on consumer demand is a complex issue. There are a number of variables that can affect the demand — advertising being one of them. The other variables could be demographic changes, income and life style. However, one thing is crystal clear. Advertising stimulates the demand for a new product. Had it not been for advertising, it would have been difficult for the companies to market newer versions of smart phones and tablets.
In recent years, there is a growth in product categories, e.g. on-the-counter medicines. Advertising helps the companies to snatch a bigger portion of that growth.
Advertising is, however, helpless in reviving obsolete products, e.g. out-of-fashion garments, or manual typewriters.
Apart from stimulating demand, advertising can be used to subdue the demand for products in short supply, e.g. conserve energy, save water.
Advertising enables an organisation to defend its market share when the market is static.
Competition
Massive advertising of the leading firms cannot be matched by a new entrant, and hence it is said that advertising dampens competition. However, advertising can be used as a tool for entry into the new market by differentiating the product or by inviting attention to it. This calls for creativity and effective advertising. Just advertising is not enough to make a product competitive. There should be an improved product too, and advertising must get some reasoning to promote it. You have a good product, and you advertise it well. That is the formula for success. The combination beats the competition. Advertising slowly builds a brand by emphasizing its salient features and by establishing a connect between the product and the users.
Shylock Gang
Internet is vulnerable to malicious bits of software sent out to spy or steal. In 2011, a banking Trojan was detected that sneaked into the computers to drain the bank accounts. It was tricky since even after deletion it re-installed itself. The malware files had fragments of Shakespear from The Merchants of Venice. This discovery led to the naming of this malware — Shylock. By 2014, Shylock had infected 1 lac plus computers. Money was getting transferred from the UK accounts to Russian accounts. The Russian nerds had created this malware. They were organised crimanals. The National Crime Agency ( NCA ) tied up with the agencies across the nations to tackle the menace, and also sought co-operation from Microsoft since the malware used its operating system. Several domain names in the servers that allowed talk to infected PCs were blocked. The US data in domain registry was diverted under court orders to Microsoft sinkhole set up to gather data. The gang was using legitimate websites to deliver the malware. Once inside the computer, the malware waited for a banking transaction. There was no way the investigators could reach registries for the old Russian sites. They got in touch with Eugene Kaspersky, from a Russian cyber security firm. They suspended 75 Shylock domains. The whole operation was called Operation Disputed. Since then, the malware has been wiped out, and there is no report of any losses from the banks. The Shylock gang, however, remains at large.