Royal Wedding Photos

We were lucky to witness the live coverage of the wedding of the royal couple. The live telecast over the weekend would definitely erupt into celeberations over the weekend across the UK. It has been a extra ordinary day which was without much a controversy unlike the previous wedding of Prince Charles with Camilla.

After a long long time the british monarchy is witnessing a royal wedding. The mystical union of Prince Williams and Kate. The procession towards the westminister is lined with plenty of enthusiastic crowd. The bride was glowing in all her hallowed glory, with her bridal attire.

Her travel towards the Church in a Rolls Royce was telecast live, it was akin to the fame earned by her mother in law. Prince WILLIAM in his uniform looked handsome to the core. Forsaking all other temptation and will look after her prince in sickness and health, till death do us apart. The oath was administered, in richer or poorer, according to god s will.....both of them promise to remain faithful to each other.

The wedding ring was adorned on the bride by the Prince. Thus the marriage was solemnised. The priest sought the blessings of the lord for fulfilling the covenant. Thus the blessings of the lord was showered on the couple.

May the lord bless the couple with glorious years of living happily ever after..........Amen

God our Father, we thank you for our families; for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage.

In the busyness of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy.

Strengthened by our union help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen." Rev Richard Chartres

Sidelights :  While all the ceremony has been going on, Mark Hughes, our security correspondent, has emailed with some less pleasant news:

Further eight arrests in the royal wedding security area, including one for sexual assault.

Total breakdown is now: 1 sexual assault 1 assault 1 criminal damage 1 drugs 3 drunk 1 wanted on warrant 1 offensive weapon 4 breach of peace 1 public order 3 theft and one other, which is as yet unspecified.

Following reports of anarchists putting masks on at Soho Square, police have invoked sections 60 and 60a of the criminal justice act 96 on whole of royal wedding security zone - about one mile radius. Section 60 allows police to stop and search anyone without suspicion. 60a allows officers to arrest people if they refuse to remove face coverings.

ACK : photos courtsey BBC, Economic times; News courtsey Telegraph UK

SONY H3 DIGI CAMERA

I have bought SONY H3 from Reliance Digital in March 2008, in view of its feaures. It has 10 x zoom and 8.1 mp resolution. Most of the features can be mastered in quick succession. The stamina battery which is supposed to last for 3 days does not last that long. Of course one has to re charge at the end of the day. One can shoot as many as 551 pictures if one juggles with 8/5/3 MP resolution settings. If one requires high 8 MP pictures for print then one can go for it, otherwise switch on the 5 OR 3 MP. The face detection and flash settings operate on their own logic still i have to figure out how. Luckily the steady shot feature does work, so far only 2 blurr photographs are taken out of 551 pictures. I was not able to have the music review on slideshow. It requires registration through the CD. The colours due to cloudy atmosphere seems a little dull, despite me setting the image brightness feature to plus bar. After downloading the picture browser through the CD i am not able to register the product nor delete the software from the system. I am stuck I have to clarify how to download music now, this feature is available to certain countries only

PURCHASE OUTLET : Reliance digital at Cunningham Road. They offered me Brothers Printer with additional payment of Rs 2500. After sales service under 3 year warranty scheme will be carried out only by authorised showrooms. Reliance digital will not undertake any service, nor are they competent, so please don t get carried away by their sales talk. SERVICE CENTRES : Sony has 4 service centres in Blore and they are planning for spares centralised factory in Blore. Very professional i got my flash settings corrected with 5 minutes and software problem clarified.

Features

8 MP resolution
10 X optical zoom
2.5 LCD screen
9 settings incl. Manual
Lithium Battery -
Video recording
Software compatible for Youtube & metacafe.
1 GB memory card - expandable to 4 GB
Battery charger
Download cable
GPS location .
Musical slideshow
On screen editing.
Camera Pouch can cause scratches on LCD

The after sales service of SONY is excellent, their main service centre is located on Mysore Road.  I got my blurring of pictures corrected the first time around.  Secondly the flash blew off and it was replaced.  Thirdly the settings button was damaged, this too was changed.  All these repairs would have costed at least 5 k if 3 years warranty was not applicable.  Now i have decided to use the camera once a way so that it lasts for another 3 years post warranty expiry.

SAMSUNG CAMCORDER

I had always vied to possess a video cam for shooting beautiful sceneries and action sequence.  I decided to check out on  a holiday to buy a good one.  I visited  E Zone showroom where I thought I will get a good deal.   But unfortunately the response from their sales staff was not so supportive.   I gave up and then visited WHIZZ showroom to check out.  The salesperson over there was just cunning like a fox, I fell into the trap.  He convinced me to buy Samsung 173i DC VP brand.  He promised me regarding the performance, of the cam, which does not have night shot provision  Further on top of it I was charged Rs 19990, Rs 1490 above the MRP.  Samsung cam had 3 years warranty, which at that time. Sony was not providing, which I had in mind.  Now Sony is providing 3 years warranty.  

          

It is real shocker for me because the Label on the box is Rs 24990/- with Samsung seal.  I checked their website and I found that  Rs 18500/- is the actual MRP.  Now my attention was all diverted towards collecting evidence that he has overcharged.  I collected the Samsung brochure from Digital showroom which clearly mentioned MRP as Rs 18500/- for DC VP 173i.  I approached the cunning salesperson and threatened to take WHIZZ and Samsung company to the court, for which he was definitely guilty.  Luckily I preserved the out box.  He reluctantly parted with Rs 1500/- excess charged.  I can’t imagine how a reputed company is allowing the dealer to print its own Label, or if the prices have been slashed and the company has not made it public.  Sony too had slashed it prices and immediately informed all dealers to bring down the prices, which is ethical way of doing business.      

          

Now, the functions of the set is not satisfactory at all.  The company had provided a trial version of Inter video software which company person and dealer have been claiming all throughout, we never give trial version.  However I installed the CD, despite promise of HOME Demo by the dealer WHIZZ.  After 21 days, the trial software expired and obviously it had to be deleted and reloaded wherein some sort of virus to jam the functions have been embedded.  Consumers should be wary of intalling trial version, whether in games or other software.  The company person wanted to desperately take back the original CD from me which I refused to hand over.           

   

The DVD function in 173i is not at all upto the mark.  The battery indicator goes off after half discharge so rapidly, that it corrupts the DVD recording.  One may not get to view the same or finalize the DVD.  The recording on the memory stick works fine but it is VGA version, therefore the resolution is very bad.  Basically this cam is suited for well lit indoor shooting with adequate lighting only.  Outdoor shoots picture quality is not upto the mark.  Overall I would not recommend this product even though they are providing 3 years warranty.  Funny part is that they have only one service centre located in one corner of the city.  Sony has 4 showrooms, I had to go for Sony H3, which had beautiful video recording quality on a still camera, even though it is VGA version.  Consumers are advised utmost caution when they decide to buy Samsung product, because they support the dealers with hefty margins and be wary of buy @ WHIZZ who manipulate MRP labels itself..

After a regular follow up and servicing centre visits, I found the samsung team was able to get the DVD camcorder running.  But I was not given solution for viewing the DVD immediately.  One fine day I got a call from Ganesh that a new and improved software full version is ready I can come and collect it.  

I went on the appointed day and collected the software from Krishna who has recently joined the organisation, but was kept informed by Ganesh even though he was on tour to Bellary.

The first day I installed the software and was unable to still view the DVD.   I started using the software, which is wonderful as one keeps learning.  Again I did not want to give up mastering the usage of software for editing the DVD from the camera.  

It is is a little complicated process, the version which I saw in their showroom played on USB being connected but this software does not download automatically.  Which means one has to use the technical skill inorder to download.  

Meanwhile I tried to use the software to edit my images for video formatting to upload on Youtube.  I just tried various methods of editing photos and videos it worked.  I was able to upload, but other features such as compression I have to learn still.

I only hope Samsung improves and appoints personnel who are expert in software installation so that the demo is provided in the dealers showroom.  

Epilouge :  The final tryst with Samsung service was when i gave the camcorder for repair, it was corrected after 45 days, my warranty had expired but still they fulfilled the promise of ensuring the DVD drive working.  Hope it lasts me for another 5 years, since i have paid a fortune for this contraption

BSNL is the Best telecom provider ?

I just had an experience of not visiting the telephone office for my telephone with BSNL, the linesmen came with the form and took the form and submitted the forms and then came and connected the line.  Well what my petrol cost to run up and down I paid him as tips.  The same linesmen came and connected internet too.  I remember BSNL had waiting period and I was surprised to recieve a call from BSNL office that your internet connection can be installed and they were asking my permission to go ahead.  I gave the green signal and called up the linesmen who quickly bought the router and installed the same.  

The other day my line got disconnected and had to be re-configured, so I called up the call centre and after 5 trials, even though they are private operators, they are more arrogant than the BSNL STAFF.  But however I was taken through an elaborate procedure of reconfiguring.  So one has to bear with such arrogance, never mind.  We are interested in getting our seamless broadband connectivity.  

10% FLAT commission to all the employees on selling SIM cards, Telephone lines, etc will work wonders for the morale.  Just see the change BSNL will become a Navaratna.  I saw the same change effected in KSRTC, when a novel idea was mooted of giving out 1 CTV every day.  The ticket collections went up skyrocketing the loss making KSRTC turned into profit.  Now if incentives have to be disbursed why not do it and get rid of the scourge of corruption.  From peon to CMD if they earn incentives the coffers of BSNL will fill up to the brim.  Even the technical staff should be included.  

Stick and carrot approach is the only way to correct BSNL.  Let us not sink a titan, let us save them from being taken over by private.  The advantage of BSNL is their technical expertise and correct billing.

To my surpise my unlimited broadband which was being charged @ 900 pm is automatically reduced to 750 pm.  Will any private operator do it ?  I am sure BSNL will further reduce it to 500 pm which will increase their revenue.  

Of course a changed approach will see BSNL emerge as a Samsonite.  MTNL is more professionally managed why not BSNL.  Let us help to change the mindset of BSNL staff.  

There has been ever increasing complaint on BSNL style of functioning and problems created by the corrupt staff of BSNL.  But the fact remains that BSNL is known for its correct calibration of billing system.  Some may say that is a fallacy because the linesmen misuse some customers line by connecting it to a commercial user illegally.  The fact remains the system is right but men are wrong.The Japanese came out with a innovative solution when faced with a technical glitch of one soap box was empty of its content, see the approach of two companies :        

One of the most memorable case studies on Japanese management was the case of the empty soapbox, which happened in one of Japan ’s biggest cosmetics companies. The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a soapbox that was empty. Immediately the authorities isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soapbox went through the assembly line empty. Management asked its engineers to solve the problem. Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the soapboxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but they spent whoopee amount to do so. 
  
But when a rank-and-file employee in a small company was posed with the same problem, he did not get into complications of X-rays, etc., but instead came out with another solution. He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line.. He switched the fan on, and as each soapbox passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line. 
    
Moral: 
  
1.. Always look for simple solutions... 
  
2.. Devise the simplest possible solution that solves the problems... 
  
3.. Always focus on solutions & not on problems...

          

This case study reveals that problems afflicting BSNL can be fixed only through innovative means a)     Announce incentive scheme of 10% to all employees of BSNL on sale of SIM card, Prepaid, Landline deposits, etc etc.
          

b)       Trap BSNL staff who are corrupt and dismiss them from service through CBI.

          

c)       Ensure motivation of staff in customer handling and empathy

          

d)     Create an environs of  customer interface with management.

          

e)     Reward exemplary employees based on consumer feedback   

       

The idea is that BSNL should survive intense private competition and ensure that the Navarathna remains intact.  I am sure like what was done in the Railways by Laloo Prasad with BSNL it is much more easy and quicker.


On the sidelight 2 G scam has not affected BSNL at all, since they have not paid any bribe or sought favours, they have escaped the charges of Telecom scam.  I hope BSNL becomes a public listed company, with employees relenting the inevitable.  

RELIANCE FRESH

Reliance fresh @ RMV is my favourite joint for shopping my daily needs including vegetable, fruits and some groceries. In the beginning i used to shop at Fraser town when it opened newly in 2006. Those were the days when Reliance had the philosophy that they should compete with vegetable vendors. The vegetable vendors @ Fraser town outbeat their strategy by emptying the stores within 30 minutes. Stock out was a frequent phenomenon in their outlet, primarily because the shopkeepers used to purchase and re sale them in their outlets.

This was really frustrating as a consumer, instead of agitating against Reliance management vendors were happy to empty their shelf and defeat the purpose of passing on the gain. The management increased the frequency of refilling but it never succeeded in preventing the stock outs.  This could been a model for wholesaling the product like Metro, but Reliance was unable to cash in on the opportunity.

In UP the hawkers went on rioting against Reliance fresh. It forced them to down the shutters. Even today i am not sure Reliance has opened their showrooms. Nevertheless the Reliance management learnt the trick and the ropes to increase the price almost to market levels. Instead they planned to disburse loyalty points by issuing a card.

There is no substitute for great team work. This is proved in the store employees loyalty in serving the customers. I used to complain to them that there were stock outs of Goodlife, Amul curds, Paneer etc. Now they have improved their supply chain in these items. Mushrooms are always available in the outlet, but it is tad expensive and I avoid purchasing them. Vegetables are nowerdays in far and few quantities due to the fear of getting rotten.  Remember Subiksha, it had to down its shutter because vegetables started rotting and emanating stink in their outlets.

There is acute shortage of power in Blore and malls have been advised to switch off their AC s in the morning hours. A novel solutions have been arrived to supply vegetables in the morning hours so that it does not raise a stink in the night. Remember Subiksha, the outlet used to raise a stink as soon as one enters. Instead of inviting customers it used to repel the customer and keep the employees in bad mood. Some employees are provided with tablets above their PC for fainting as an exigency.(guess the Mall)

With regard to pricing i find that Reliance comes out with some scheme or the other. The recent scheme is the that of scratch card. On every purchase of 300 the customer is entitled for scratch card. Prize amount varies from 25 to 300. I was lucky to get once 100 off coupon and other times 25 and 50 off. I keep collecting points on each and every purchase too.

On purchase of 1 litre tetra pack of Amul milk, till recently they used to give Rs 5 off, but now the scheme has been withdrawn. No other Mall was offering this facility which obviously means they were pocketing the same. B Natural apple juice is now available @ 49 per litre. I have not found this scheme in other stores as on date.

However one of negatives is that there is no non veg available in the MALL. Probably it is for the fear of raising a stink. I think they will definitely find a solution in future. Maybe have a seperate enclosure. I am sure Mukesh ambani s ambiition to delight the customer will be fulfilled.  Non-veg seperate counter was opened and it was shut down due to lack of business.  It is sad that Reliance had to withdrawn from selling Non Veg in seperate counters.  The basic flaw in their business model was that they did not have sufficient refrigeration facility.  Secondly the staff were not committed to ensuring loyal business, and finally most of the stuffs were disposed off at 50% price.


I would rate Reliance fresh has now perfected its model of selling vegetable and fruits to a large extent.  They are able to access consumer demand and accordingly procure the items.  Secondly the staff play a major role in ensuring success of retail business, Finally pricing and schemes have been passed to the consumer.  Many malls have the habit of pasting revised price sticker as and when the price increases, which i feel is a retrograde step.  Instead they can  allow the consumer the benefit of old pricing for a few days, it would gain more consumer loyalty. Among the Malls i have visited i find that Reliance is one of the best managed.  


Negatives :  Complaints of wrong billing, Parking facility, Loyalty card tampering, etc have been noticed.