How to win Samsung and Caribbean Airline Prizes in Digicel’s Gift of Christmas Promotion

Digicel is rolling out the Red carpet this year with their latest promotion, the Gift of Christmas Promotion.

The Gift of Christmas Promotion will run from November 23, 2017 – December 31, 2017. All customers who carry out a qualifying activity will receive five (5) entries into the Promotion to win daily, weekly or weekly grand prizes.

To qualify, all Digicel customer have to do are the following:

1.      Single top ups of $100 or more using any Digicel Top-Up method that includes

2.      Flexcards, Flex-e, DirectFlex, BankFlex, DataFlex, WebFlex, Phone 2 Phone, Direct Top Up, Digicel App Top ups, Digicel International Top Up and Digicel Online Top Up.

3.      10 minutes of accumulated talk time within 24 hours by Postpaid GSM customers

4.      Activation (new or renewal) of Quick Bundles by prepaid customer or sign up of new plans by Postpaid customers

5.      Purchase of handsets and SIMs in authorized dealer stores

6.      New Digicel Home Entertainment customers that purchase a package and existing customers that pay their bills on time and in full or purchase add-ons

7.      Minimum of thirty (30) seconds on an International call (incoming/outgoing) by prepaid or postpaid GSM customers

Good to note here that Credit U and Digi Loan do not qualify as top-up methods. Cumulative top ups do not count towards entry into the Promotion e.g. a customer who makes 2 top-ups of $50 each within 24 hours will not receive an entry.

So what are the prizes? And how do you win?

Daily Prizes in the Gift of Christmas Promotion - Credit Giveaways and Quick Pick Bundles galore

There are daily and weekly prizes but in order to win, customers will be asked “What is Digicel Jamaica’s tagline”. They then have to give the correct response of “Jamaica’s Bigger, Better Network” to win prizes.

Winners must present a valid Government issued photo ID (passport, voters’ identification card or driver’s license) and the Digicel SIM card to which the credit was added or the calls were made from.

Each day beginning November 24, 2017, Five Hundred (500) qualifying entries will be randomly selected by the Raffle Manager System. The exact draw days are as follows:

Digicel’s Gift of Christmas Promotion
Week	Qualifying Period	Draw Date
1	Nov. 23 - 29, 2017	Nov. 30, 2017
2	Nov. 30 – Dec. 6, 2017	Dec. 7, 2017
3	Dec. 7 - 13, 2017	Dec.14, 2017
4	Dec. 14 - 20, 2017	Dec. 21, 2017
5	Dec. 21 - 27, 2017	Dec. 28, 2017
6	Dec. 28 - 31, 2017	Jan. 3, 2018

Digicel will call customers (2) consecutive times only. If the Customer’s number is busy/no answer/off, goes to voicemail or if the customer does not want to participate in the Promotion (for example, for religious reasons), another customer will be contacted. If the selected customers from the first draw do not respond correctly or do not wish to participate then the additional back up winners will be contacted in the order in which they were selected.

Credit Prizes will be awarded to the first one hundred (100) customers that respond correctly in the following order, winning Quick Pick Bundles.

But that's just the beginning!!

Weekly Prizes in the Gift of Christmas Promotion - Samsung Prizes and Caribbean Airline Trips

Every Thursday starting November 30, 2017, Fifty (50) weekly qualifying entries will be randomly selected by Raffle Manager at Digicel’s Head Office between 1pm – 6pm.

These customers will be contacted by a Digicel Representative, with the first four customers who respond correctly on the first attempt, without being prompted, to win one of the following prizes up for grabs:

1.      2 winners of $500,000 cash

2.      1 winner of a Samsung  S8 smartphone

3.      1 winner of a Samsung 43” Smart TV & Wingle

For customers who make or receive an international call for a minimum of thirty seconds, every Friday starting December 8 - 29, 2017, Eleven (11) weekly qualifying entries will be randomly selected by Raffle Manager at Digicel’s Head Office between 1pm – 6pm. These customers will be contacted by a Digicel Representative in the order they were selected will be awarded one of the following prizes:

1.      Winner of a round trip to any Caribbean Airline destination (except Jamaica)

           

Weekly and weekly grand prize winners will be contacted by a Digicel Representative. Prize winners with the exception of daily winners are required to collect same from the Digicel Head Office at 14 Ocean Boulevard, Kingston or any other location so advised on the date specified. Prizes uncollected after fourteen (14) days from first contact remain the property of Digicel.

So that the wrap for the Gift of Christmas Promotion!!

How to connect TV to Computer using HDMI, Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter or Google Chromecast

In this era of cord-cutting and 4K gaming, connecting you TV to you computer is an essential skill. This is especially true if you have a very large screen QLED TV and you really want to see the higher resolution details in your graphic designs or a game you love.

So how do you achieve this holy grail of computer-TV interface?

How to connect TV-Computer - HDMI is the best

The easiest way to get your TV hooked up to a desktop or laptop is to just interconnect them. If you PC or laptop has a HDMI port, you can connect a HDMI cable between them as shown below:

There are a few different HDMI standards; the main thing to consider is the ports, which retain their shape no matter what standard. There is currently a HDMI 2.0, but this is for 4K gaming, which is around the corner but not here yet as explained in my blog article entitled “Why US$39 Amazon Fire TV Stick challenges @Roku and @Google Chromecast Streaming Sticks”. 

All HDMI Cables are the same, regardless of claims of cables being better than others; this is just a sales gimmick to get you to pay more money for the same cable. If you have a computer with a VGA output, best to get one of those HDM Cables with the VGA end or a VGA adapter as shown below.

Once you've plugged your HDMI cable into the TV, use the HDMI or Input button to list all of the ports currently in use on your TV. Just cycle through them till you find your PC!

But what if you have a short HDMI cable? Then maybe wireless is for you.

How to connect TV-Computer - Wireless via Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter or Google Chromecast

Sometimes a long cable just isn’t enough. So for you, there are a few options. If you’re running Windows 10 on your PC, you can take advantage of the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter.

The steps to use it are as follows:

1.      Plug the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter into your TV’s HDMI port

2.      Plug the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter little USB jack into one of your TV’s USB ports

3.      Click on your notification center on the bottom-right corner of your screen

4.      Click on the Connect button

Good to note that this option will cost you $40 or $50, depending on where you purchase the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter.

Also, it's good enough to watch movies, but gaming or anything with more than 30 frames per second gets garbled and becomes unwatchable or unplayable.

You can also use a Chromecast to cast directly to your TV from Google Chrome on MacOS or Windows 10.

All you need to do is follow the following steps:

1.      Plug your Chromecast into your TVs

2.      Start Google Chrome on your computer.

3.      Click the little sideways ellipses at the end of your search bar

4.      Click Cast.

5.      Select your Chromecast and you are good to go

Remember sharing is caring so share this with your friends trying to connect their TV to their computer.

Why VolkerWessels Plastic Roads for Netherlands is a good way to recycle Plastic

“Plastic offers all kinds of advantages compared to current road construction, both in laying the roads and maintenance.”

Rolf Mars, the director of VolkerWessels’ roads subdivision, KWS Infra, commenting on the plan to use plastic to pave roads in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Jamaicans struggling with plastic blocking our drains, take note!!!

The Netherlands could become the first country to pave its streets with plastic bottles.

This after the Rotterdam city council decided to use plastic as a greener alternative to asphalt as reported in the article “Netherlands to Build Roads With Recycled Plastic From the Ocean”, published Oct 21, 2017 by Joao Freita, Good News Network.

They're actually going forward with this crazy idea; a road made entirely from recycled plastic. Back then, Jaap Peters, from the city council’s engineering bureau, was upbeat on this idea on paper, quote: “We’re very positive towards the developments around PlasticRoad. Rotterdam is a city that is open to experiments and innovative adaptations in practice. We have a ‘street lab’ available where innovations like this can be tested.”

So what are the advantages of using plastic instead of asphalt to pave roads?

VolkerWessels and Plastic Roads – Putting Plastic Waste to good use

The construction firm VolkerWessels had unveiled plans on Friday July 10th 2015 as noted in the article “Crazy paving: Rotterdam to consider trialling plastic roads”, published Friday 10 July 2015 15.36 BST, The UK Guardian.

They plan to collect plastic from the ocean and recycle it to make the plastic roads. Not only will this gradually clean up all the plastic form the ocean, but it will also set a trend for the recycling of plastic to make other things.

For one, it requires  less maintenance than asphalt and can withstand greater extremes of temperature– between -40º to 176º Fahrenheit (-40º to 80ºC).. it can also be laid in a matter of weeks instead of months as lighter materials can also be transported more easily and efficiently as well.

Sections of the roads can prefabricated in a factory and transported, reducing on-site construction. This translates to shorter construction time and low maintenance and hence less congestion caused by roadworks.  Asphalt is responsible for 1.6m tons of CO2 emissions a year globally – 2% of all road transport emissions, so using plastic is good for the environment overall.

Plastic roads are lighter, reducing the load on the ground. They can also be made to be hollow, easier to install cables and utility pipelines below the surface without having to worry about them. Cutting through plastic roads to make changes would require either a laser cutter, making them easier to repair, albeit that would be unlikely, given the durability and long life of plastic.

Studies suggest that nearly any type of plastic can be used. Scientists are already in the final stages of testing the safety of the material, with the first roads will be built later in 2017. Truly, this is god news for the plant that everyone can emulate!!!

How to find work in Jamaica at Call Centers - 5000 CSA's for Hinduja in 2018 paid JA$64000 monthly

“Jamaica was a great nearshore choice because of its language and cultural affinity to the United States. In the next three to five years, we expect to grow to 5,000. However, that will depend on two factors - business demand and supply”

Hinduja Global Solutions country head for Jamaica and vice-president for business development for the Latin America and the Caribbean, Anand Biradar, commenting on their expansion plans for 2018

Jamaica's is slowly becoming a Call Center Mecca!! Call Center peeps at Advantage Communications, Hinduja, Alorica, Xerox, Elephant and Startek, I've got news more interesting than this picture of Yendi Phillipps wearing ONLY bodypaint

Hinduja Global Solutions is going for 5000 call center agent, double their current capacity as reported in the article “Hinduja To Double BPO Operations”, published Sunday October 8, 2017 by Avia Collinder, The Jamaica Gleaner.

Hinduja Global Solutions currently has 2,000 at three centers and has already invested US$10 million in its operations to date. Globally, the Hinduja Group employs 45,000 persons and serves clientele in:

1.      Banking

2.      Consumer electronics and technology

3.      Consumer packaged-goods industries

4.      Health care

5.      Insurance

6.      Retail

7.      Telecommunications and media

Its regional operations are mostly centered around Colombia but they got their start in 2013 with only 50 employees. Their latest push will see them investing some US$2 million in the new centre with the possibility to expand outside the capital, Kingston, where their operations are currently concentrated, being considered.

Hinduja Global Solutions currently has three (3) locations at the following places:

1.      Constant Spring Road in Kingston

2.      Worthington Terrace

3.      Saxthorpe Avenue

So any expansion may possibly include Portmore or Montego Bay to quote Hinduja Global Solutions country head for Jamaica and vice-president for business development for the Latin America and the Caribbean, Anand Biradar, quote: “In 2018 we might be looking at another facility, likely in Kingston. We might also look at Portmore or Montego Bay. To date, we have stayed in Kingston because it is closer to the airport and hotels, closer for our clients. We have also surveyed our workers and they want to come to the city and work”.

So what are the hurdles facing companies in the Call Center world?

Hinduja Global Solutions 5000 CSA's by 2018 - Challenges abound but the rewards are enticing

Jamaica less than 1% of a slice of the US$70 billion global BPO (business process outsourcing) business, but we have the advantage in terms of:

1.      Positioned in the Caribbean

2.      English speaking population

3.      Easily trainable workforce

But, there are challenges and issues that need to be addressed such as:

1.      Limited infrastructure

2.      Worker transport

3.      Worker attitudes

4.      Management shortages

Limited infrastructure is a problem, as very few facilities exist in Jamaica that is ready to just enter and set up business. Most BPO's have to spend money to renovate an unused building or office space in order to begin their services, quote: “There are not a whole lot of places with 'plug and play' facilities. It's just not there. This location was once a warehouse which we spent a lot of capital to upgrade”.

That last issue is very important as, FLOW, which is owned by Liberty Global, is the only Carrier grade telecom Provider in Jamaica and the Caribbean. BPO's rely heavily on the service of FLOW, which is notoriously fickle and prone to outages as hinted by Anand Biradar, quote: “First is telecommunications infrastructure. We only have one company - Cable & Wireless. There is no major issue as yet, but it could become a problem”.

The skills pool in Jamaica is also low, a many of the workers are High School graduates and not college educated as noted by Anand Biradar, quote: “For those on the telephone, a lot have not finished college. They are capable when trained, but the lack of education shows in their maturity and their ability. It is a lot of heavy lifting to groom them”.

This is logical; Jamaicans going to college are unwilling to tolerate being verbally abused on the phone after having invested that much money to get their degrees. As such, the attrition rate of 40% per annum of Hinduja Global Solutions is typical of the industry in Jamaica.

This is even with salaries that are fairly high: US$200 to US$300 per hour fortnightly. CSA's get added incentives for achieving KPI (Key Performance Indices) such as Schedule Adherence, Quality and Handle time along with others. This translates to $32,000 per fortnight, or $63,000 per month or $845,000 annually, which is not bad for an unskilled worker living with their parents.

The trick is to save as much as possible and use the money to plan your escape. So with Hinduja Global Solutions aiming for 5000 by 2018, getting a job in a Call center may be the stepping stone you need to further your education and get a more ideal job elsewhere.

University of Oxford says Cold Turkey better at quitting smoking than e-cigarettes

“A lot of people think that the common sense way to give up smoking is to reduce the amount they smoke before quitting,”

Nicola Lindson-Hawley of the University of Oxford, who led a new study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

People who vape or smoke e-cigarettes, I have bad news for you, as the myth of vaping has been laid to rest. What the absolute best way to quit smoking?

According to researchers at the University of Oxford, cold-turkey is best as reported in the article “The Best Way to Quit Smoking, According to Science”, published March 14, 2016 by Mandy Oaklander, Time Magazine. 

Researchers, who published their work in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, explored two options:

1.      Quitting cold turkey

2.      Gradually quitting  

Many have sought for answers on the best way to help people quit smoking. But which one works best?

University of Oxford and quitting smoking – Cold Turkey is best as e-cigarettes may be ineffective

Research done by Lindson-Hawley and her colleagues at the University of Oxford focused on 700 people in England who smoked at least 15 cigarettes a day but who were planning to quit. They divided the group as follows:

1.      50% were randomly assigned to smoke normally until their quit date, then to stop abruptly i.e. the abrupt group

2.      50% gradually reduced their smoking over the 2 weeks leading up to the appointed day i.e. the gradual-cessation group

Both groups receive the following support:

1.      Behavioral counseling

2.      Nicotine patches

3.      Nicotine replacement therapy i.e. gum, lozenges and mouth spray

Good to note that the research didn’t look at e-cigarettes which the Ministry of Health may plan to make prescription as noted in my blog article entitled “How Ministry of Health and Jamaica Customs Agency e-cigarette Mix-up hints at Prescription e-cigarettes”. 

The results that came out are quite surprising:

1.      49% of the abrupt group were successful quitters

2.      39% of the gradual-cessation group were successful quitters

The abrupt group did 25% better than the gradual-cessation group. But the real surprise came when the researchers examined smoking abstinence for 4 weeks after the quit date, and then 6 months later.

After 6 months:

1.      22% of the abrupt groups were still smoke-free

2.      15% of the gradual-cessation groups were still smoke-free

So clearly the cold-turkey method used by the abrupt group is still more successful, as a personal preference to quitting does not impact on the success of quitting to quote Dr. Lindson-Hawley: “Even if people wanted to quit gradually, they were more likely to quit if they used the abrupt method”.

It also suggests e-cigarettes may not be as good as often promoted by many albeit the quitting rates for the gradual-cessation group are not bad, just less as noted by Dr. Lindson-Hawley: “the quit rates we found in the gradual group were still quite good.........If there are people who really feel they can’t quit abruptly, and they want to quit gradually—otherwise they won’t try to quit at all—we still need to support them to do that.”

So the choice is still yours as to how you want to kick the habit.