What is Visa Provisioning?

In today’s fast changing and developing world, technology has taken over. Technology has dominated the world in many aspects. One such sector is the payment sector. The world is leaning towards the method of online payment. The drift towards it has been increasing rapidly with time. Now focusing on this area of online payments, we have an excellent system. It is Visa Provisioning.

Visa Provisioning is the system of online payment on a mobile phone. It helps in effortlessly downloading the payment account details on your mobile phone. This service is mainly convenient for mobile operating systems along with some other systems. Visa Provisioning is a service based on a technology called NFC. NFC stands for Near Field Communication. Come on, let’s have a look at this.

What is NFC?

NFC is wireless communication technology. It allows the users to exchange data between two devices in a short-range. It is considered to be expanding at a great pace for a newly launched technology. In some ways, it is better than Bluetooth too.

Features of Visa Provisioning

  1. Visa Provisioning works only with the NFC technology installed on mobile phones. This is the reason why it doesn’t work on some of the new mobile systems.
  2. It is known to be efficient for both Visa and Non-Visa transactions.
  3. It does an excellent job in transit applications as well.
  4. Payments can be effectively completed by this system over a distance too.

Working of Visa Provisioning

It can not be stressed enough that this only works with the NFC technology. Now let’s find out how this amazing system works. You just need to follow these simple steps and you are good to go.

  1. Firstly you have to activate the mobile payment system on your mobile.
  2. Now, just enter the correct password in order to proceed with the payment process. Make sure you don’t enter the wrong password because it will lead to the cancellation of the payment.
  3. Once you authenticate, the NFC technology will begin its work. It will exchange some payment account details and some credentials keys among its network.
  4. After completion of this process, you can download the details on your phone easily.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Benefits of Visa Provisioning Service

Visa Provisioning is a very beneficial system for online payments. Below are some benefits of the same. Let’s have a look.

  1. Smooth payment options – Contact less payments are done using NFC. Visa Provisioning system eases the process for the customers and as well as for the bankers and the transit operators.
  • Easy connectivity – This has great connectivity and can be used anywhere, anytime. The Visa Provisioning system has made this easy for all.
  • Advanced payments – Advanced mobile payments are being carried out by this system for years now. It has evolved and grew around the world. By this you can also link your mobile phone with you Visa account.
  • User friendly – This is a very user friendly network. It is easy to use. It provides quick payment options. It can also operate from a distance.
  • Secured network – Yes, Visa provisioning is a safe and secured way of mobile payments. It only requires an e-mail address for registration. This type of facility provides you the advantage of carrying out your payments in a much more easy and effective way. It also features many security measures like PIN authentication and stores all your data safely in a third party service provider.

How does Visa Provisioning Service Differ from Other Types of Mobile Payment Methods ?

Other mobile payment services also use the near field communication (NFC). Visa Provisioning services can be used for any type of cards whereas other methods are confined to their company.

The bank issuing your card can choose to allow Visa Provisioning service for your payment account as long as they meet the requirements. This will also allow their customers to take advantage of the card less payment options just by using mobile.

Another advantage of the Visa Provisioning Services is that they are instant transactions without needing any information.

The Future for Mobile Payments

As we all know, the future of the world lies in technology advancements over the coming years. Online and card less payments are just another addition to the perks of living in an advanced world. It makes the payments easier and safer as compared to the old methods.

The future of cash less payment methods is expected to grow continuously. Major online payment companies like PayPal and Apple Wallet are beginning to make a place for themselves in the market. It is due to their convenience factor and user friendly environment.

The Visa Provisioning Service only requires a single tap on your mobile screen and your money will be transferred or transacted in no time. The NFC technology ensures the safety of your personal details as well as takes care of the whole process of online payment.

How Does Visa Provisioning Service Work with Mobile Payments ?

Mobile payments are apparently considered different from the contact less payments. Contact less payments require both the card and the terminal to support this capability. They are referred to as NFC payments.

Mobile payments require that the device should be connected to Blue Tooth or Near Field Communication Technology so that the transactions can be made without having to swipe the card.

Using NFC technology creates an authorization for payments. You just have to tap on the eligible device name shown on their screen, for the transactions. It can be a store or any other appropriate location. You can use your fingerprint or your PIN number to complete the process of online payment.

How to Maintain Visa Provisioning Services ?

To maintain the Visa Provisioning Service, you need to visit your Visa account by either downloading the Visa Token Service or linking it with your mobile number for receiving a code. Then you can easily maintain your account.

For organizations, they have their own different processes for maintain the Visa Provisioning Services for their consumers.

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

Disadvantages of Visa Provisioning Services

  1. Can not make purchases from mobile apps.
  2. It is a third party payment method so additional fees may be required.
  3. Have to give up your privacy of the Visa account.
  4. Transactions may be declined in case of insufficient funds or incorrect account details.
  5. There is a higher risk of identity theft.
  6. There may be cases of credit card frauds.
  7. Unauthorized purchases can also be done by this method.

Some Companies that use Visa Provisioning Services

  • Amazon
  • Starbucks
  • Google (Google Pay)
  • Netflix
  • Samsung
  • Sony PlayStation Store
  • Apple
  • Dell Financial Services

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Why is Visa Provisioning Service important ?
  2. Visa Provisioning Services is important because it links your credit card to your mobile for easy online payments. It ensures safe transaction successfully.
  • How can you deactivate Visa Provisioning Services ?
  • To deactivate Visa Provisioning from your device, follow these steps :
  • Go to your mobile settings.
  • Tap on the ‘apps’ or ‘applications’ option.
  • Select Visa Provisioning Service from the list of your apps.
  • Click on the ‘uninstall’ button to deactivate your Visa Provisioning Service account.
  • What is Visa Provisioning Service 0$ ?
  • Zero dollar charge is a one time payment that requires validation of your mobile phone number and your address for a Visa card.
  • Where are Visa Provisioning Services currently available ?
  • It is currently available in the United States. It is not currently operating internationally. But other NFC transaction methods are in use over the world.

Why is Dowry Still Popular in India?

Dowry is basically the transfer of parental property, gifts, money or anything else of monetary value, usually by the wife’s family to the husband and his family upon marriage. Hence, dowry serves as a gift from the bride’s family to the groom’s family in consideration of their marriage and accepting the bride into the groom’s home. This practice of dowry is an old, obsolete and discriminatory practice. It has its roots in ancient Indian culture that placed women at an inferior position to men, such that women had to pay a price through dowry just to be with them. In older times, women had no individual identity and their identity was tied to their husbands through marriage. Dowry is a practice which took advantage of this convention and exploited women due to their inferior social position. With the change in times and beliefs, the payment of dowry has been prohibited under specific Indian laws such as the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 and subsequently by Sections 304B and 498A of the Indian Penal Code. However, the practice is still prevalent to a high degree in India today despite its prohibition, leading to things like harassment, domestic violence and even dowry deaths. There are many reasons for this.

Reasons for Dowry till existing

  • Firstly, dowry still exists in India because it is perceived as a source of easy income by the groom’s family. This is why we see the practice of dowry today predominantly in the rural areas and among the households of the poor. Without any of their own effort or hard work, and by simply relying on this social convention, the groom’s family can ask for dowry and gain wealth for free. Yet, research suggests that dowry is highly prevalent even among urban households and households of the rich and educated. This is unusual and it raises the question as to why someone who is educated and aware of laws indulge in the practice of dowry. Even recently in 2019, there was CCTV footage released of a retired Madras High Court judge Nooty Rama Mohana Rao harassing and beating his daughter in law for the payment of dowry. Hence, there are other factors that cause the practice of dowry to continue.
  • In most cases, due to patriarchy and preference of a boy child over a girl, the sex ratio in many states of India is disparate. This leads to a greater number of men compared to women. It could be argued that due to a greater number of men, dowry might hardly exist. However, this isn’t practically true, because the men having characteristics desired by the bride and her family are few. These characteristics include physical features, income, family status, etc. Thus, the bid for these highly demanded men leads to the existence of dowry. This is a typical market approach focusing on the demand and supply of desired partners which still exists in India today. Dowry is essentially the price to be paid to gain a husband or son-in-law, called the ‘groom price’.
  • Another reason for the prevalence of dowry is the notion of security. Research suggests that in-laws show more preference towards the daughter-in-law that brings a large dowry, giving her more autonomy and say in households matters and giving her fewer chores to do. In some cases, the bride herself encourages the payment of dowry as she sees it as a transfer of wealth from her paternal side to her husband’s side, leading to a rise in the financial position and status of her new family. Hence, the play of power and autonomy has led dowry to still exist.

Conclusion

Hence, we can see that despite its abolishment, dowry is still practiced to a large extent in India. This is because of the reasons stated above, and also generally because we are in a modern era with new requirements. We have an open economy which fosters free trade and globalization, which in turn has nurtured a consumerist attitude in us. The growing consumerism has affected the way dowry is perceived in India, and it is now being encouraged as it helps satisfy the consumerist needs of people. Furthermore, any attempt by a woman to file a complaint or report a case of domestic violence/harassment with regard to dowry is often silenced by the husband or his family by threat or coercion. Therefore, India must try its best to create some sort of support system for women and work to abolish the practice of dowry at all levels so as to remove this discriminatory practice from Indian society.

ARE FOOTBALLERS OVERPAID?

Pledge Sports are here to answer the question that’s been much publicised lately , “Are footballers overpaid? The last 10 years in world football has seen the biggest transfers ever to be made. More and more ” RICH OWNERS ARE TAKING OVER CLUBS” and we are seeing more and more disloyalty among clubs and players do not play for the badge anymore but instead the pay cheque . With more and more money continuously being pumped into the football economy , we cannot see the average player salary decreasing any time soon. In fact over recent years it seems money is not an issue anymore. The $3.6m average salary is Premier League player double equivalent figure in the German Bundesliga and France’s Ligue . Players in Spain’s La Liga earn an average of $2.4m annually , while the figure for Italy’s Serie A is $1.9m. Lets compare the average salary of the Premier League amongst other sports-

With Mesut Ozil closing out his deal in January 2018 , he now will remain at Arsenal until the end of 2021 season , earning a massive Rs 3,59,70,251 per week . the staggering fact is now only second in the highest prier league earners with Alexis Sanchez move to Manchester United has guaranteed him rs 5,13,86,079a week before tax and an estimated rs 2,67,20,76 annually . Whether the players deserve this insane amount of moneydue to their talent alone is what is up for DEABTE and depends on talent , debate, career length. In last , It seems no matter the result of debate , it cannot be denied that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. fFor the elite footballers in the world, they are earing extreme amount of money from not only playing football but huge endorsements deals and sponsorships else where . As for the lower league players across the world, it can be extremely difficult to find these deals and bounces i.e ., however you could argue the best get paid the best and rest will have to fight for the scraps!! So I guess the debate could go on and on.. The Biggest athlete sponsorship deal in sport are pledge sports in the global leader in crowd funding & sponsorships for sport.

Nelson Mandela International Day 2021

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”

Nelson Mandela

Introduction

July 18th every year is observed as the Nelson Mandela International day ever since 2009. Nelson Mandela’s full name was Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and he was also known as Madiba. He was born on July 18, 1918, in South Africa and died on December 5, 2013. He was a Black Nationalist and is popularly known as the first Black president of South Africa. He is also known for his negotiations in the 1990s with the then South African President F.W. de Klerk which helped in ending the apartheid system in the country. Later in 1993, both, Mandela and de Klerk received the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts.

Life

Nelson Mandela studied law at the University of Witwatersrand. He joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944 and became the leader of its Youth League. He established the first black law practice in 1952 in Johannesburg, his focal cases were of racial segregation. He was a part of drafting the Freedom Charter, a document demanding nonracial social democracy, in 1955. Because of actions against the apartheid legislation, he became a target and was banned and arrested on charges of treason in the year 1956 but was acquitted in 1961.

He was trained in guerrilla warfare and sabotage in 1962 but the same year he was arrested again and was sentenced to five years in prison. After the trial where he made his famous speech “I Am Prepared to Die”, he was sentenced to life imprisonment only narrowly evading the death penalty. During this sentence, he was held at the Robben Island Prison off Cape Town. He was released under the government of President de Klerk on February 11, 1990, soon after which he was made the deputy president of the ANC, he then became president of the party in 1991.

Mandela won the first elections by universal suffrage and also was sworn as the president of the first multiethnic government. In 1995, he established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) which’s work was to investigate human rights violations that took place during the apartheid. He then resigned from ANC in December 1997. He didn’t seek a second term and transferred the presidency to his successor in 1999. He established the Nelson Mandela Foundation in 1999 through which he kept working as an advocate of peace, reconciliations, and social justice.

Mandela and Gandhi

Mandela had said that Gandhiji was his role model and that he inspired him to lead South Africa on its journey of independence. He was also sometimes referred to as the “Gandhi of South Africa”. Although both of them did not meet each other, yet some similarities can be noticed such as, both emphasized moral power being a force to reckon with. Both of them were lawyers and spent time in Johannesburg’s old fort prison although it was during different years, Gandhiji in 1906 and Mandela in 1962. It is also said that during Mandela’s 27 years at the Robben Island prison, he was in the room full of books of Gandhiji, where he spent time meditating and reflecting to rid his soul of the bitterness. It was a big coincidence that two of the most inspiring world leaders had a connection to South Africa.

Conclusion

The theme of Nelson Mandela International Day 2021 is One Hand Can Feed Another. Everyone should take some time out to read about Nelson Mandela’s journey and then read about issues of violence and security around the world to understand better and play our part in the fight to make the world more peaceful.

References

Black Widow 2021 : MCU Studios

The 24th Film of Marvel Cinematic Universe based on a superhero named Natasha Romanoff. Black Widow is a 2021 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character of the same name. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Black Widow premiered on June 29, 2021, at various red carpet fan events in London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, and New York City and was part of the Taormina Film Fest, which screened on July 3, 2021. It was released in the United States on July 9, 2021, simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access for US$30, and premiered in 46 territories over the course of its first weekend. In the United States, it opened in 4,100 theaters, with 375 in IMAX, over 800 in premium large format, 1,500 in 3D, and 275 in specialty D-Box, 4DX, and ScreenX theaters.[

The team behind the movie

Directed by
Cate Shortland
Screenplay by
Eric Pearson
Story by
Jac Schaeffer
Ned Benson
Based on
Marvel Comics
Produced by
Kevin Feige
Starring
Scarlett Johansson
Florence Pugh
David Harbour
O-T Fagbenle
Olga Kurylenko
William Hurt
Ray Winstone
Rachel Weisz

Black Widow

Plot

In 1995, Russian undercover agents, super-soldier Alexei Shostakov and Black Widow Melina Vostokoff, pose as a normal family in Ohio with their surrogate daughters Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova. When the mission to steal S.H.I.E.L.D. intel is complete, the family escapes to Cuba and rendezvous with their boss, General Dreykov, who has Romanoff and Belova taken to the Red Room for training. Years pass, and Shostakov is imprisoned in Russia, while Romanoff defects to S.H.I.E.L.D. after bombing Dreykov’s Budapest office, apparently killing him and his young daughter Antonia.

In 2016, Romanoff is a fugitive for violating the Sokovia Accords. She escapes from U.S. Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross and flees to a safehouse in Norway supplied by Rick Mason. Meanwhile, Belova kills a rogue former Black Widow but comes in contact with a synthetic gas that neutralizes the Red Room’s chemical mind-control agent. Belova sends the antidote to Romanoff hoping that she will return to help Belova free the other Widows. When Romanoff unknowingly drives off with the antidote, she is attacked by Taskmaster, who is after it. Romanoff manages to escape Taskmaster and realizes that the antidote came from Belova. The two reunite in Budapest, where Romanoff learns Dreykov is alive and the Red Room is still active. Shortly after, they are attacked by Black Widows, and Romanoff and Belova evade the Widows and Taskmaster before meeting Mason, who supplies them with a helicopter.

Romanoff and Belova break Shostakov out of prison to learn Dreykov’s location. He tells them to speak with Vostokoff, who lives on a farm outside Saint Petersburg, where she developed the chemical mind control process used on the Widows. There, Belova reveals that while they were not a real family, she believed they were so. Vostokoff admits she sent their location to Dreykov, whose agents arrive and take them to the Red Room, an aerial facility.

Vostokoff and Romanoff use face mask technology to switch places before being captured, allowing Vostokoff to free Shostakov and Belova from their restraints. Meanwhile, Romanoff confronts Dreykov, who sees through her disguise. Romanoff learns Taskmaster is Antonia, who suffered damage so severe that Dreykov had to put a chip in her head, turning her into the perfect soldier, capable of mimicking the actions of anyone she sees, including several Avengers. Romanoff attempts to kill Dreykov but fails to harm him due to a pheromone lock installed in every Widow. Dreykov reveals that he controls Widows worldwide via his desk console. Romanoff intentionally breaks her nose, severing a nerve in her nasal passage to negate the pheromone, and then attacks Dreykov. Shostakov battles Taskmaster, while Vostokoff takes out one of the facility’s engines, and Belova searches for the other Widows, who are sent to protect Dreykov. Together, Shostakov and Belova lock Taskmaster in a cell.

Dreykov escapes as the Widows attack Romanoff, but Belova creates an antidote bomb that releases the Widows from the mind control. Romanoff gets into the control desk and copies the locations of the other Widows worldwide as the facility begins to explode and fall. Romanoff retrieves the two surviving vials of the antidote and frees Taskmaster from the locked cell. Vostokoff and Shostakov escape via a plane just as Belova takes out Dreykov’s helicopter, killing him. Romanoff gives Belova a parachute before battling Taskmaster in freefall. After landing, Romanoff uses the antidote on Taskmaster, freeing her from servitude. The freed Widows arrive as Belova, Vostokoff, and Shostakov say goodbye to Romanoff. She gives Belova the last antidote vial and the portable drive, telling her to find and free the other, still mind-controlled, Widows. As they leave with Antonia, Romanoff awaits Ross and his men, who have arrived to apprehend her.

Two weeks later, Romanoff reunites with Mason, who supplies her with a Quinjet. She leaves, intending to free the imprisoned Avengers.

Post Credit scenes

In a post-credits scene set after Romanoff’s death,Belova encounters Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine at Romanoff’s grave. De Fontaine assigns Clint Barton, whom she claims is responsible for Romanoff’s death, as Belova’s next target.

Bank of Maharashtra signs MoU with NABARD

  • Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) to boost ongoing developmental initiatives linked to priority sector lending in Maharashtra.
  • The MoU envisages joint initiatives for the assistance of farmers, farmer manufacturer organisations, joint liability groups, self help groups, rural artisans, weavers, agri-preneurs, agri start-ups, micro, small and medium enterprises in the State, BoM said in a statement.
  • Hemant Tamta, Executive Director, BoM, said with signing of this MoU, BoM and NABARD will work together towards complete improvement of rural regions of Maharashtra.
  • The MoU is basically meant to benefit farmers, farmer producer associations, joint liability groups, self-help groups, rural artisans, weavers, agri-preneurs, agri start-ups, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the State.
    • BOM is the convenor bank of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) of Maharashtra.

Coordination machinery

BoM is the convener of State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) for Maharashtra. Each State/ Union Territory in the country has an Bankers’ Committee. The Committee is an apex inter-institutional forum to create adequate coordination machinery in a State for its development.

SLBC is chaired by the Chairman/ Managing Director/ Executive Director of the Convenor Bank. It comprises representatives of Banks, RBI, NABARD, heads of government departments, among others. They come together and sort out coordination problems at the policy implementation level.

Representatives of various organisations from different sectors of the economy such as industry bodies, retail traders, exporters, and farmers’ unions, are special invitees in the SLBC meetings for discussing their specific problems, if any.

reference-https://affairscloud.com/bom-signed-mou-with-nabard-to-improve-psl-in-maharashtra/

K SHAPED…

It has been over a year, the world is still battling the devastating coronavirus pandemic. While rich countries more or less have managed to mitigate, to an extent the adverse effects of the pandemic thanks to their higher and faster vaccination coverage, low and middle-income countries are still desperately seeking vaccines to cover their vulnerable population groups.

US economy is slowly showing a positive uptick so is the case with other rich countries and China.US retail sales increased in June as demand for goods remained strong. Israel is considering the option of booster shots to its already largely vaccinated population after few instances of breakthrough infections. while Israel’s actions are truly justified given the severe nature of the virus, it sometimes feels a little unjust when we consider the cases of many low-income countries where healthcare workers are not even administered with a single shot. Vaccines nationalism as a result of the pandemic is not surprising and given the already deep wide divide between rich and poor countries the pandemic has further exacerbated this divide. Also within the poor and middle-income countries, the gap between the rich and poor has drastically increased.

According to Pew Research analysis, the number of poor in India is estimated to have increased by 75 million because of the pandemic recession. Many economists attribute India’s sluggish recovery post to the deadly second wave to dampened demand. While this may be true as the majority of the population in India fall under the low or middle-class category who’s the ability to spend has been severely compromised(affecting demand). But this is one side of the story. Recently Santosh Iyer vice president of sales and marketing, Mercedes Benz India, told that the company is seeing strong demand for its product, and supply-side constraints have made their customers wait longer. He further adds that sales and demand are back to pre-pandemic levels. This indicates that these upper classes especially in economic terms were not affected as Mercedes Benz’s target market usually comprises the upper class who prioritize luxury.

Hence the rich grew richer and the poor given their already vulnerable state further slipped into pathetic poverty.

TREE WALKS !!!!

TWO WALKING PALMS

Socratea exorrhiza is a palm native to rainforests in tropical Central and South America. This plant is nicknamed as the walking palm.

The tree supposedly “walks” from shade to sunlight by growing roots in the direction it wants to travel and then allowing the old roots to lift into the air and die.

Some say the process takes a couple of years while one paleo biologist suggests the tree moves two or three centimeters per day.

In a journal of The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation Dr. Bodley reported that the palm uses its roots to “walk away” from its germination point if another tree falls on the seedling and knocks it over.

This way, the tree can move away from obstacles that are major hazards for immature palms. 

The walking palm remains a strange “miracle” from nature !

today special

Sun Jul 18th, 2021

Caviar Day

There’s a delicacy that is the very definition of elegance in the minds of most people, it’s a mysterious word that brings together a longing for the better things in life, with a strange revulsion once you think too carefully about what it is. There are many things that are referred to by the same name, but only one of them stands as the one true caviar. True Caviar comes from one of a few types of sturgeon, and Caviar Day celebrates this taste of decadence, and the history behind it.

History of Caviar Day

Caviar has a strange history, when you consider the place that it holds in society today. The origins, however, remain the same. Caviar is the roe (or eggs) of the female of a number of species of sturgeon, with beluga being the most popular and well known variety of sturgeon. Long ago caviar was served for free in much the same way peanuts often are today, given away free to foster thirst and encourage people to imbibe even more.
Proper caviar comes in many colors, though it is most often a deep pearlescent black color, and can account for as much as 25% of a sturgeon’s body weight. For those who don’t know, a sturgeon can weigh in at 300lbs+, meaning a single sturgeon can produce up to 75lbs at a time. Caviar was so popular and the supplies so abundant that North America supplied almost all of the 600 tons a year that went to Europe each year.

Once the ban was put on Sturgeon fishing in the 1906 to protect the dwindling number of them in the ocean, the price of caviar started climbing. By the 1960’s, it was of such a price that it practically defined what it meant to have an elegant, expensive meal. The price has only gone up since then.

How to celebrate Caviar Day

Celebrating Caviar Day is delicious and adventurous. While beluga sturgeon may be outside the financial means of many people, that’s not the only kind of caviar there is. Caviar Day celebrates all of them, even the ‘imposters’ like Salmon, trout, carp, lumpfish, and many more. Get out there and explore the culinary delight that is caviar, and if you’re especially fortunate you can enjoy it from the bowl of a mother-of-pearl spoon. There’s no reason we shouldn’t all be able to eat like King’s and billionaires, if only for one day.

Key Info

DatesEvery July 18thHashtag#CaviarDay

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On His Blindness – John Milton :

🌟John Milton was the most renowned English poet of the 17th century. He was a polemicist, man of letters and civil servant for the commonwealth of England. He is best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost. Milton’s poetry and prose reflect deep personal convictions, a passion for freedom and self -determination and the urgent issue and political turbulence of his day. His ability to write was threatened and as a result his relationship with God became complicated.

🌟On His Blindness is a well known Sonnet of Milton composec in 1655. It express the deep grief poet fell for the loss of his eyesight. The poem takes the from of a patriarchal sonnet. Patriarchal sonnets traditionally focus on love and romance but Milton subverts this in order to explore his relationship with God.

🌟In this poem, Milton is struggling to understand what God expects of him now that he is losing sight. He is upset about wasting his talent. “And that one talent which is death to hide”. This line had a biblical reference to the talents (Matthew 25; 14-30). Here two people invest their talents to get reward. Their involvement brings them promotions. While another one just hides his talents in a hole, for that he is punished. Milton feels that God expects him to use talent for Writing poetry in a way that honors Him.

🌟Milton is disturbed that his lack of sight is preventing him from serving God when he wants to so roughly.

“Lodg’d with me useless, though my soul more ben:

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest he returning chide,”

🌟Milton’s ‘true account’ refers to his religious poetry. Much of his poetry was concerned with God’s relationship to mankind and he considered it a serious duty to write poetry that simultaneously made God’s mysterious ways more clear to people and honored God with its craft.

🌟Milton wonders if God still expects him to keep writing without his sight, and then decides that God is more forgiving than he was giving him credit. To knowing his condition and strong desire please Him. God wouldn’t expect anything that he couldn’t possibly accomplish nor would he punish him.

That murmur, soon replies: “God doth not need

Either man’s work or his own gifts “

🌟The last half of the poem has a calmer tone. It’s almost like Milton realize that while his writing that people can serve God on many different ways. “They also serve who only stand and wait”. It’s the intent and the grace with which one deals with hardship that counts. Milton fears that his Blindness will prevent him from doing God’s work. Patience tells him that even his idleness is useful to God if he continues to have faith in his writings.

Manufacturing Systems

What are Manufacturing Systems?

A collection of integrated equipment and human resources whose function is to perform one or more processing or assembly operations. Manufacturing systems essentially integrates and transform inputs (raw material, labour and machines) into output (final goods and services).

Components of Manufacturing Systems

  • Production machines: Most of the actual assembly work is accomplished by machines or with aid of tools. These machines are classified into- Manual, Semi-automated and Automated machines.
  • Material Handling Systems: Material handling systems include machines that help in loading, unloading of units, positioning of units, transporting and storage of work units.
  • Computer Control Systems: Computer control systems help in controlling the machines by communicating instructions, scheduling production, failure diagnosis, quality control, safety monitoring etc.
  • Human Resources: Human resources are essential to ensure smooth functioning of all systems. They operate and manage systems, monitor the process, ensure all machines are in optimum condition and working properly. In some cases, they even help in loading, unloading and positioning of units.

Types of Production Systems

  1. Intermittent: The flow of production is not continuous i.e., units are produced according to its demand or on order on a small scale in large varieties.
  2. Continuous: Flow of production is continuous and not affected by its demand. Units are produced on a large-scale for stocking and selling.

Intermittent Production System

It can be classified into 3 categories-

  • Project Production
  • Jobbing Production
  • Batch Production

In Project production, company accepts a single, complex order or contract. The order is to be completed within a specified amount of time at estimated cost. Requirement of resources varies with phases of production. In project production, many agencies are involved and interrelated. It is highly flexible but produced in low volume. An excellent example of Project Production is Construction.

In Jobbing Production, company accepts order to produce one or few units of a product strictly as per specifications given by the customer. It is also produced within a specified time at a specified cost. Units are produced in small lots and highly skilled labour is needed. An example of Jobbing Production is Repair and Tailoring services.

Batch Production: ‘Batch’ refers to a single production run according to demand. Batch size is the number of units produced in one batch size. It ranges from 100-1000 units. Every batch requires changes in Machine set-up. For example, daily production of numerous freshly baked goods in a bakery.

Continuous Production System

It can be classified into 2 categories-

  • Mass Production System
  • Process Production System

Mass Production System is also known as Repetitive Manufacturing System. Mainly one or two types of products are produced. Demand of such products is always high. Produced in large quantities and hence, mostly automated and handled by machines. This makes supervision easy. It involves limited work in progress. It also reduces per unit cost of production.

In Process Production System, a single product is produced and stocked. The product is standardised hence, there is hardly any scope for variety or customisation. It involves lower Work-in-Progress. It requires low skilled labour and skilled technicians. Automated/Mechanised systems are used for Material Handling.

Want to be a CYBORG….?

Cyborg can be defined as an organism that has enhanced ability due to the integrated of some artificial components or technology. The concept of a man-machine mixture was widespread in science fiction before World War II. As early as 1843, Edgar Allan Poe described a man with extensive prostheses in the short story “The Man That Was Used Up”. In 1911, Jean de La Hire introduced the Nyctalope, a science fiction hero who was perhaps the first literary cyborg.

Actual cyborgization attempts :
Yuval Noah Harari, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said- “ Humans may upgrade themselves to become cyber within the next 200 years merging man and machine to potentially live”. Although many technology companies have announced the plans to fuse machines and humans. The fact is the transformation has already begun. Here are some fascinating example from mankind who are already famous for being part human, part cyborg.

Jens Neumann
He’s the first person to have a completely artificial vision system, Neumann’s electronic eye is connected directly to visual cortex through brain implants enabling him to see lines and shapes. Latest reports say his vision has since then been restored.

Neil Harbisson
The world’s first ‘eye-borg’ to perceive colour as a sound on a musical scale, has an antenna attach it to his skull that converts light waves into sound waves, making it possible for the otherwise colour-blind cyborg artiste to conduct colour concerts, among other things. Also he co-founded the Cyborg foundation to help humans become cyborgs and different cyborg rights.  

Oscar Pistorius
Often called ‘The blade runner’ Pistorius created history as the first double amputee to compete against able body runner at international level in 2007. Since ‘the fastest man on no legs’ has competed at World Championships in Athletics 2011, which he won; Summer Olympics 2012 for able-bodied and won a gold medal at the Summer Para Olympics 2012.

Kevin Warwick
A cybernetics professor at University of Reading (UK ), he is one of the world’s foremost aspiring cyborgs, famous for experimenting with implants, including installing a microchip in his arm which allows him to operate select electrical gadgets.

Jesse Sullivan & Claudia Mitchell
Sullivan is equipped with bionic arm, which is connected through nerve-muscle grafting. But that’s not the real achievement. Sullivan can control the limb with his mind and experience warmth, coolness and the pressure of his grip. Claudia, the world’s first woman cyborg after getting outfitted with bionic limb.

Animal cyborgs

The US-based company Backyard Brains released what they refer to as the “world’s first commercially available cyborg” called the RoboRoach. The project started as a senior design project for a University of Michigan biomedical engineering student in 2010, and was launched as an available beta product on 25 February 2011.

The RoboRoach was officially released into production via a TED talk at the TED Global Conference; and via the crowdsourcing website Kickstarter in 2013, the kit allows students to use micro stimulation to momentarily control the movements of a walking cockroach (left and right) using a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone as the controller. Several animal welfare organizations including the RSPCA and PETA have expressed concerns about the ethics and welfare of animals in this project. In the late 2010s, scientists created cyborg jellyfish using a microelectronic prosthetic that propels the animal to swim almost three times faster while using just twice the metabolic energy of their unmodified peers. The prosthetics can be removed without harming the jellyfish.

BULLYING (Part-2)

How To Deal With Bullying At School?

The psychological damage bullying can cause is immeasurable. Having to go through the same thing again and again really breaks you down. According to statistics, ever seven minutes a child is bullied and 85% of the time there is no intervention (adult intervention-11% and peer intervention-4%). These statistics of adult involvement are dangerously low. In some of the cases parents are unaware that their kid is being bullied and in other, they just don’t interfere. Bullying, in all its forms is equally risky. People, especially kids in school who are susceptible to bullying need to know how they can deal with their bullies. This should be of utmost priority because we cannot let primitive years of a child to be shape up on the basis of someone else’s opinion.

How to handle bullying?

Ignorance is a bliss. Anytime anyone makes you feel uncomfortable or unwanted, it is smart to ignore or just retract yourself from the situation. Don’t dignify the bully with a response. Walk towards a group of people or towards a teacher or someone who would not put up with their act.
Communication is the key. It is always better to let your feelings out especially in case of bullying. Talk to an adult and let them know what you are going through. Kids could either stand up for themselves or they could get an adult involved if the situation gets out of hand. You can also talk to a teacher directly or can report it through an anonymous note. The important thing is to talk it out and report it.
Keep calm and just breathe. Anytime you find yourself loosing your calm over a slur or a comment, just take a deep breath. The bully’s goal is to get into your head and mess with your emotions. Don’t give them that satisfaction. Take few deep breaths and go to your happy place. However, while doing this make sure that you maintain proper eye contact with the bully. This will show them how strong you are and that you are unfazed by their little comments.
Stand up for yourself. After a certain point the situation just gets out of hand and you have a ball of white hot rage inside you. The best idea would be to suppress it and avoid lashing out. Instead, you must firmly make your point without losing your cool. Don’t insult the bully or use physical force, it will only make things worse. Try to handle the situation with maturity. And if you can’t, just talk to someone and let it all out.

As much as it is a child’s duty to inform their parents about their situation, the parents must also look out for signs to see if their child is being harassed at school. Some of the common signs are:
– not wanting to go to school
– having limited or no friends at all
– constantly bad grades
– nightmares
– change in behavior
These are some of the common symptoms parents must look out for in their kids especially if they start a new school or move to a new city.

In order to stop bullying it is necessary that all parties work together. The school, the teachers, the parents and the kids as well. Kids must be made so independent and strong that they are capable enough to fight for themselves and for those who face it. The school must create an open environment where the kids can talk about what they are dealing with. Bullies must be made aware of the impact their statements have on the other person and the receiver must report it so no one else has to deal with it in the future. Teach the kids to act in a calm manner. Don’t fight violence with violence. Being aggressive is not the answer. Make smart decisions and foster a positive environment for those around you.

Zika Virus: A New Threat to Humanity?

Zika virus disease is mainly spread by mosquitoes. For most people it’s a very mild infection and is not harmful. But it may be more serious for pregnant women, and causes birth defects.

Zika outbreaks have been reported in the Pacific region, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, and parts of south and southeast Asia. The virus was first discovered in monkeys in Uganda’s Zika forest in 1947.

Most cases of Zika virus disease are spread by infected mosquitoes biting humans. Unlike the mosquitoes that spread malaria, the Aedes mosquitoes are most active during the day, especially during morning, and late afternoon to dusk.

Most people have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they’re usually less and last around 2 to 7 days. General symptoms include rash, itching all over the body, high temperature, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, red eyes (conjunctivitis), lower back pain, pain behind eyes.

To prevent mosquito bites by using insect repellent that contains DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) on exposed skin after sunscreen has been applied. Always ensure there is no water stagnation at homes and its surroundings. Wearing loose clothing that covers your arms and legs and sleeping under a mosquito net can also help a lot.

Unfortunately, there’s no specific treatment for Zika virus. No vaccine is yet available for the prevention or treatment. Drinking plenty of water and taking paracetamol may help relieve symptoms.

Scientists believe that Zika virus is a cause of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare disorder in which your immune system attacks your nerves, causing weakness and tingling that usually begins in the feet and legs. The weakness can spread quickly and eventually paralyze the whole body if not treated immediately.

Kerala reported the first case of Zika virus in 2021. The first official case of the mosquito-borne viral infection was detected in the blood samples of a 24 year old pregnant woman in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala.

The patient was diagnosed and hospitalized at KIMs and the doctors confirmed that the woman is stable. 13 more samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune to find traces of the virus. She was suffering from symptoms like fever, joint pain, and skin rashes. Of the 19 samples sent to Thiruvananthapuram, 13 are health workers, doctors and are suspected to be positive. Five more people, including four women, have tested positive for the infection in Kerala yesterday, taking the case count in the state to 28. India had already seen Zika outbreaks in 2017 and 2018, with hundreds of cases reported in western Gujarat and Rajasthan as well as central Madhya Pradesh.

So, is Zika Virus really a threat to humanity? Though it is not fully guaranteed that deaths will not occur because of the virus, the chances of that happening are very rare and uncommon. Most cases have no or very few mild symptoms and a lot of times a person who got the virus will not even be aware that they have the virus or had it at some point of their lives. The virus is however dangerous to new born babies who get it from their virus infected mothers during pregnancy. Therefore, all of us must take necessary precaution to protect us and our surrounding from being a target for the Zika Virus.

General knowledge

General knowledge is very important in everyone’s life. The person without the knowledge is like the bird without the wings. It is very important to know what is happening across the world. So, it is very important to attain the general knowledge. To grab general knowlede, an individual must follow some of the techniques like reading books, articles, magazines, newspapers etc.

The newspaper consists of all the important things like the business purposes, sports, entertainment, some interesting puzzles, Hindi habits, food recipes, Current affairs etc.

Reading newspaper is an important thing because whenever an individual comes across a motivational thing, he or she will be motivated and focuses on the particular aspect. The individual will get to know the current affairs. The person will get a good grip on the general knowledge. solving puzzles improves the skills of the person. Reading about the healthy habits in the newspaper makes the individual to go for good and healthier meals.

Reading newspaper is very important because gives the chance to know what is happening around us. Early in the morning or evening whatever the time maybe, sparing at least 10 to 15 minutes of time on newspaper is a very good habit that an individual can develop.

The newspaper consists of all the important things like the business purposes, sports, entertainment, some interesting puzzles, Hindi habits, food recipes, Current affairs etc.

In one of the other way the individual develops good habits and focuses more on what they are trying to do.

Individual Differences :

Intelligence :

High scores on tests of general knowledge tend to also score highly on intelligence tests. IQ has been found to robustly predict general knowledge scores even after accounting for difference in age, and five factor model personality tarits. However, many general knowledge tests are designed to create a normal distribution of answers, creating a bell shaped curve.

General knowledge is also moderately associated with verbal ability, though only weakly or not at all with numerical and spatial ability. As with crystallized intelligence, general knowledge has been found to increase with age.

Long term semantic memory :

General knowledge is stored as semantic memory. Most semantic memory is preserved through old age, though there are deficts in retrieval of certain specific words correlated with aging. In addition, stress or various emotional levels can negatively affect semantic nemory retrieval.

Personality :

People high in general knowledge tend to highly open to new experiences and in typical intellectual engagement. The relationship between openness to experieñce and general knowledge remains robust even when IQ is taken into account. People high in openness may be more motivated to engage in intellectual pursuits that increase their knowledge. Relationships between general knowledge and other five factor model traits tend to be weak and inconsistent. Though one study found that extraversion and neutroticism were negatively correlated with general knowledge, others found that they were unrelated.

Predictor of achievement :

A number of studies have assesses whether performance on a general knowledge test can predict achievement in particular areas, namely in academics, proofreading and creativity.

Academic achievement :

General knowledge has been found to predict exam results in a study of Britush schoolchildren. The study examined congnitive ability and personality predictors of exam performance and found that general knowledge was positively correlated with GCSE english, mathematics, and overall exam results. General knowledge test scores presicted exam results, even after controlling for IQ, five factor model personality traits, and learning styles.

Proofreading :

General knowledge has been found to robustly predict proofreading skills in univeristy students. A study found that proofreading had a larger correlation with general knowledge than with general intelligence, verbal reasoning, or openness to experience. In a multiple regression analysis using general knowledge, general intelligence, verbal reasoning, five factor personality traits, amd learning styles as predictors, only general knowledge was a significant predictor.

Creativity

General knowledge has been found to have weak associations with measures of creativity. In a study examining contributions of personality and intelligence to creativity, general knowledge was positively correlated with tests of divergent thinking, but was unrelated to a bigraphical measure of creative achievemnet, self- rated creativity, or a composite measure of creativity. The realtionship between general knowledge and divergent thinking became non- significant when controlling for fluid intelleigence.

Game shows and Quizzes :

Many game shows use general knowledge questions for entertainment purpose. Game shows such as who wants to be a Millionarie? and fiteen to one centre their questions on general knowledge, while other shows focus questions more on specific subjects. Some show ask questions both on specific subjects and on general knowledge .