Select Page ::

Springfield, region playing key role in development of flying car technology with Air Force – Springfield News Sun

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

That testing and LIFTs presence at the airport is part of a larger effort by the Air Force to aid in the development of that type of technology.

LIFT joins BETA Technologies and Joby Aviation, two pioneer businesses in the field of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, to work with the Air Force at the airport in Springfield as part of a project called Agility Prime.

The Air Force recently launched the $35 million program, seeking to create and speed a commercial market for advanced air mobility aircraft, this news organization previously reported.

At the same time the Air Force is seeking to create a supply chain to support production of that type of aircraft, sometimes called air taxis.

There was also a groundbreaking last year at the Springfield airport for an advanced urban air mobility technology simulator facility to aid those companies working on that technology.

LIFT Aircraft unveiled their new electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport Friday where it will be tested. The flying car is the first to arrive in Ohio, and is supported by a recent $226,000 grant from JobsOhios Ohio Site Inventory Program in infrastructure investments at Springfield airport. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

The airport was recently awarded a $226,000 grant from JobsOhios Ohio Site Inventory Program (OSIP) for infrastructure work to support charging stations and flight simulators for flying car technology.

Elaine Bryant, with the Dayton Development Coalition as well as with JobsOhio, said Springfields close proximity to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base makes it ideal for this type of project.

It allows our Air Force engineers and professionals to come out to the airport here and actually lay eyes on actual hardware and potentially work on it alongside these companies as they continue to do the research and development required for this new industry, Bryant said.

We are also very excited about the potential to manufacture. As these companies do their research testing, we look at the deployment stage of this, she added.

Tom Franzen, the director of economic development for Springfield, said that the companies working at the airport as part of Agility Prime will eventually lead to more local growth surrounding the new industry.

To have these leading (eVTOL) companies here at the airport is really just creating that ground floor. It is going to build momentum and other companies are going to follow, he said.

Franzen said the companies will use office space at the airports hanger as well as at its terminal. He said the next step would be to build a two-story office building at the airport that would also feature an associated hanger.

Matthew Chasen, CEO of LIFT Aircraft, instructs Tom Franzen, Springfield Assistant City Manager, on how to fly LIFT Aircrafts electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport Friday. The flying car is the first to arrive in Ohio, and is supported by a recent $226,000 grant from JobsOhios Ohio Site Inventory Program in infrastructure investments at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

He said the city is still exploring that option and has estimated that the project would cost $7.5 million. The goal is to have an official announcement made by the summer.

Chasen said his company has developed a plan for the testing of its aircraft that will range from low altitude flights to flying higher, faster and further as well as deploying a ballistic parachute.

This is one of the first aircraft in the world of its kind to enter production. There are a handful of companies that are developing different types of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. There are all sorts of stages and configurations, he said.

Chasen said the aircraft will be simple and small and will conform to the Federal Aviation Administrations ultralight classification. It also does not require a pilots license to fly.

He said that is a different approach than a number of companies that are building multi-passenger commercial air taxi aircraft, which takes longer to develop.

This technology works like a drone. You just tell it where to go and the autopilot computer interprets your commands and adjusts the RPM of the electric motors, Chasen said.

Continued here:

Springfield, region playing key role in development of flying car technology with Air Force - Springfield News Sun

J.P. Mascaro & Sons invests in safety and GPS technologies for its fleet – The Mercury

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

AUDUBON J.P. Mascaro & Sons is investing more than $2 million in safety and GPS technology for its fleet of more than 630 vehicles. The Montgomery County-based solid waste service company is installing safety surveillance cameras from Safety Vision LLC and GPS technology from EquipmentShare.

The partnership will help J.P. Mascaro ensure safe fleet operations, increase efficiency in serving customers and provide real-time asset tracking for the companys on-the-road vehicles.

It is a project that began for the company about two years ago, according to Pasquale Mascaro, president of J.P. Mascaro & Sons. The company identified its needs and set out to select long-term partners for the company.

Customer service and employee safety are at the core of our business, and this technology will further strengthen our commitment to these areas of our business, Mascaro said.

The company evaluated several systems and ran test programs on each. According to spokesman Frank Sau, the was looking for a camera with HD quality that works in all elements.

Since the majority of the cameras are located outside the vehicle and our vehicles run in all elements, the cameras need to be able to withstand the elements and also provide clear video at all times, he said in an emailed response to questions.

In addition, the company wanted to have a record of where each truck is and its route.

Starting Jan. 26, as part of its Safe Service = Success campaign, the company began the full roll-out of installation of Safety Visions mobile video surveillance cameras in its fleet vehicles. By Friday, Feb. 5, installation had been completed on 11 trucks, according to Sau.

These trucks had systems installed in many different configurations so we could see what works best for each truck and body style. Now that we know how each truck will be configured we are in the process of determining what equipment will be needed for each of the remaining systems, he said, adding that the process is expected to take about 30 days.

The cameras will be installed for complete 360-degree coverage of the vehicles and will be forward-facing, rear-facing, interior cab, and then along each side of the vehicle facing toward the back of the truck, according to Sau.

Rear-load residential trash trucks will have a seven camera system installed on each vehicle, with the two additional cameras located at the back of the truck looking down at the drivers helpers on the rear of the vehicle. Other trucks will have a five camera system installed.

All of the companys sales vehicles and passenger vans have had a two camera/GPS system installed on them for more than a year. The two-camera system has a forward facing and interior facing camera.

According to the company, the system will benefit drivers by ensuring they have the information they need to be as safe as possible. The cameras, which also capture 360-degree coverage of vehicle accidents, will help J. P. Mascaro & Sons' leadership and management teams understand why, when, and how accidents occur on the job.

With EquipmentShare Track, J. P. Mascaro & Sons can use real-time and historical GPS location data, paired with specialized reporting, to ensure customer sites are visited according to schedule, according to the company. EquipmentShare Track allows any equipment asset or vehicle in J. P. Mascaro & Sons' fleet to be located, tracked and monitored on any internet-connected device.

With the data, J. P. Mascaro & Sons can identify troublesome stops and reschedule trucks to further improve customer service and reduce its costs.

J.P. Mascaro & Sons relationship with EquipmentShare has been ongoing for more than a year, according to Sau starting prior to the pandemic. The GPS technology is being installed on all on-road equipment, as well as trailers and other company assets that need to be tracked/located on an ongoing basis.

Sau said the installation is well underway, and is expected to be completed within 90 days. He added that all trucks receiving GPS trackers will also receive cameras.

Tracking and locating our trucks with EquipmentShares telematics combined with Safety Vision LLCs full 360-degree camera coverage on our vehicles lets us be more productive in our roles, James Mascaro, director of special projects for J.P. Mascaro & Sons, said in the release. These systems allow us to provide a higher level of service to our customers, along with the ability to help keep our drivers safe on the roads through coaching and training.

He added that the technology solutions will help the company accomplish service objectives.

Sau said little to no training of drivers is required for operation of the systems. Before launching the project, company officials met with employees at each operating division to explain how the system works, why we are installing the system, what the systems capabilities are and answer any questions from our team, he said.

Original post:

J.P. Mascaro & Sons invests in safety and GPS technologies for its fleet - The Mercury

A glimpse of alien technology or an errant space rock? – The Independent

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

vi Loeb has spent a lot of time thinking about how to explore the interstellar wilds. A prolific astrophysicist at Harvard University and chair of the advisory committee for Breakthrough Starshot, a project that aims to send probes to the nearest star system, Loeb envisions shooting powerful lasers at lightsails thin, reflective spacecraft akin to mirrors to accelerate them to star-hopping speed.

So when a bizarre object from interstellar space hurtled through our solar system in 2017, Loeb readily admits that he was primed to see it as a glimpse of alien technology an extraterrestrial lightsail rather than some errant space rock.

In his book Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth, Loeb lays out his case that the unusual traveller, named Oumuamua after the Hawaiian word for scout, was an artificial relic crafted by savvy aliens. While this exotic explanation of the object serves as the backbone of the book, Loeb's broader argument grows out of his bewilderment with the blowback to his hypothesis, which he regards as an omen of imaginative decay and anti-alien bias in the scientific community. The search for extraterrestrial life has never been more than an oddity to the vast majority of scientists, he writes. To them, it is a subject worthy of, at best, glancing interest and at worst, outright derision.

Sceptics who fit that description should take seriously the meticulous defence of the alien origin story offered in Extraterrestrial. To bolster his case, Loeb points to the unexplained properties of the first known interstellar visitor: its extreme dimensions, its perplexing brightness, and the dramatic speed boost that sent it careening out of our telescopic sights.

Proponents of a natural origin for Oumuamua have suggested that it was an elongated planetary splinter or a loose cloud of dust grains. Loeb questions whether an alien origin is any more far-fetched than these explanations, given that scientists have never seen splinters or clouds of this nature inside the solar system. Scientists have also speculated that 'Oumuamua's sudden acceleration in the outer solar system was caused by bursts of evaporating ice, a phenomenon known as outgassing. As a counterpoint, Loeb points to the lack of evidence picked up by telescopes of an outgassing event.

Like an astronomical Sherlock Holmes, a character often invoked in the book, Loeb concludes that the simplest explanation for these peculiarities is that the object was created by an intelligent civilisation not of this Earth. You don't have to share his conviction to be impressed by the breadth of his argument.

Loeb is less successful in casting the controversy he has sparked as a sign of myopic reluctance, within academic circles, to concede that humans might not be the only sentient, spacefaring beings in the universe. Throughout Extraterrestrial, he returns to the refrain and yet it deviated to describe 'Oumuamua: a nod to the legend that Galileo muttered And yet it moves, referring to Earth, in response to his coerced recantation of the sun-centric model of the solar system.

Independent Culture NewsletterThe best in film, music TV & radio straight to your inbox every week

Loeb makes clear that he does not consider himself to be a neo-Galileo. And yet he sees parallels between Galileo's critics and his own. Recall the clerics who refused to look through Galileo's telescope, he writes. The scientific community's prejudice or closed-mindedness however you want to describe it is particularly pervasive and powerful when it comes to the search for alien life, especially intelligent life. Many researchers refuse to even consider the possibility that a bizarre object or phenomenon might be evidence of an advanced civilisation.

He lovingly recalls his father double-checking the rooftop TV antenna to ensure that the family could watch the Apollo 11 moon landing

The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) spent decades on the fringes of science, in part because of the relative lack of empirical methods available to constrain doubts about aliens during the 20th century. Over the past two decades, however, an explosion of observational techniques and discoveries many of which Loeb describes has revolutionised astrobiology and SETI.

Thousands of exoplanets (worlds that orbit other stars) have been detected since the 1990s; some telescopes are now explicitly tasked with assessing their habitability. A central mission of NASA's Perseverance rover, due to land on Mars in February, is to look for signs of Martian life. China has built the world's largest single-dish telescope to scan the skies for evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence.

On Venus, the possible detection of a chemical associated with life has evoked visions of aerial microbes in the Venusian skies. In the star system Alpha Centauri the target of Breakthrough Starshot a recently discovered exoplanet is sloughing off radio signals, stoking speculation about alien technosignatures.

These advances and observations have practicalised the search for alien life in the minds of strict empiricists, which blunts Loeb's charge that the conservative scientific community considers the field to be a waste of time. It's not that his claim is to some degree inaccurate, but rather that the energy in emerging research about aliens is overshadowing the grumbling of doubters.

The cover of Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth by Avi Loeb

(handout)

Loeb has been at the centre of media storms and peer backlash about his hypothesis for years, feeding his concerns that institutional groupthink is limiting the scope of scientific inquiry and leaving society ill-prepared to cope should an unambiguous detection of ET take place.

The cosmic wonder and contrarian streak that inspired Extraterrestrial took root in Loeb's youth. Raised on his family's farm in Beit Hanan, a village south of Tel Aviv in Israel, Loeb had an idyllic childhood. He lovingly recalls his father double-checking the rooftop TV antenna to ensure that the family could watch the Apollo 11 moon landing, and credits his mother for gifting him with the life of the mind. He describes a formative boyhood memory, in which he deliberates about conforming with other kids and hints at a lifelong instinct to buck convention. The science I do is connected by a direct line to my childhood, Loeb writes. It was an innocent time of wondering about the big questions of life, enjoying the beauty of nature, and, among the orchards and the close neighbours of Beit Hanan, not caring about my status or standing.

With a passion for philosophy and an interdisciplinary background, Loeb describes himself as a somewhat accidental astrophysicist. He bubbles over with so many ideas that he scribbles them down in the shower on a waterproof whiteboard.

While it's tantalising to imagine that Oumuamua was our first brush with aliens, Loeb writes most memorably about collecting shells on the beach with his daughters, brainstorming trippy new studies with his many proteges, and seeking comfort in the view of the night sky from our lonely planet. In the end, Extraterrestrial is at its best when it is down to earth.

Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth By Avi Loeb. John Murray Press, 20

View original post here:

A glimpse of alien technology or an errant space rock? - The Independent

A Better Bureaucracy Can Close the Gap Between Defense and Commercial Technology – War on the Rocks

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

As it is currently organized, the U.S. government is ill-equipped to deal with the growing number of national security challenges that exist at the intersection of commercial and defense technology. Innovation opportunities are slipping between Washingtons organizational gaps, and Americas enemies are too.

President Joe Biden has already taken several steps that suggest he recognizes the gravity of this problem. He has elevated the science adviser to a Cabinet-level position, appointed a number of talented individuals to high-level cyber security posts, and created a national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology. But more changes are needed. Most importantly, Biden should create a deputy national security adviser with sufficient staff and authority to coordinate innovation and technology policies across the entire government.

Blurred Lines

From artificial intelligence to biotechnology, U.S. national security is inexorably and increasingly intertwined with commercial technology. Unlike in the Cold War, advancements in areas with important national security implications come from private sector research labs and are driven by consumer demand rather than government directives. Yet it remains unclear who in the government now sets policy for or has final say over issues that cross the boundaries between academia, defense, commerce, and diplomacy. In addition to the National Security Council, bureaucratic contenders currently include the Commerce Department, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Aviation Administration, Council of Economic Advisers, Treasury Department, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Office of Management and Budget.

In theory it is the National Security Council that should coordinate a whole of government response that brings together tools from different agencies to address emerging threats. Indeed, this was the purpose for which the council was created in 1947. However, Cabinet members who are responsible for vertical portfolios still manage the governments large functional agencies, and there continues to be significant overlap between those who handle commercial, defense, and diplomatic policy.It is this organizational design that creates blurred bureaucratic lines and weakens U.S. national security.

There are a number of specific areas where these blurred lines led to subpar policies that undermined Americas technological competitiveness and left the country weaker against adversaries like Russia and China. Consider four recent examples: semiconductors, drones, the SolarWinds hack, and SpaceXs Starship.

In the absence of a coordinated technology and industrial policy, the United States has become dangerously reliant on computer chips produced in a handful of countries for all its defense and commercial needs. Originally, all of Americas computer chips were produced in Silicon Valley. Today, none are made there. The United States is dependent on two companies, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in Taiwan and Samsung in Korea, for the chips used to build a substantive part of its defense electronics. Around 60 percent of the chips Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. makes are for American companies. Even Intel, the supplier of most of the central processing units used in desktop computers and data centers, will be outsourcing manufacturing of its next generation of chips to Taiwan. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has announced that it will build a chip factory in the United States, but even when complete it will produce less than 3 percent of the companys capacity in Taiwan.

In the case of drones, the U.S. government also missed an opportunity to maintain the countrys competitive edge. Where there was once a nascent U.S. commercial drone industry, the Chinese company DJI now controls 69 percent of the global market. Not only is DJI at the cutting edge of such crucial drone technologies as motors, speed controllers, radio modules, cameras, and artificial intelligence, but it has also allegedly used its hobby drones to map U.S. military installations. As a result, the former assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics lamented that the lack of Defense Department support for American drone startups was a critical missed opportunity.

In some cases, the danger is more immediate. The SolarWinds cyber attacks revealed how the failure to secure commercial software can compromise even well-secured government networks. In this case, the Russian government exploited commonly used civilian network management software in order to infiltrate the Treasury, State, and Defense departments. By adding malicious code to the SolarWinds update tool, hackers gained access to the data of 18,000 customers including many in the U.S. government.

Efforts to harden government agencies and protect sensitive information against infiltration will fail so long as adversaries can circumvent them through commercial companies. Private companies have lobbied Congress against requirements that would mandate expensive investments to secure their systems. Furthermore, financial penalties for large-scale breaches of commercial companies are trivial. SolarWinds received national attention because it was an attack on the government, but cyber attacks on private companies continue unabated.

Finally, the fate of the SpaceX Starship offers an example of how government oversight agencies can stifle innovation when they are unable to keep pace with the speed of contemporary technological development. In temporarily halting test launches of the SpaceX Starship, the Federal Aviation Administration sought a lengthy investigatory period that put unnecessary roadblocks in the way of a company that is transforming access to space. In innovation, failure is part of the process. Test rockets blow up, test airplanes may crash. If you do not push the envelope and discover the limits of your design you are not innovating fast or far enough. It goes without saying that you strive to minimize loss of life and property, but the rules governing innovation programs should recognize a heightened need for speed. The U.S government appreciated this when developing rockets and experimental aircraft in the 1950s and 1960s better organization could help it apply this understanding again today.

Reorganize to Win

To solve these problems, the White House needs to ensure there is a single organization that has stewardship of all the issues that cross existing lines between national security, commerce, and technology.

An effective way to do this would be to create a new deputy national security adviser. Armed with sufficient resources and influence, this position would be given real responsibility to help shape the budget, trade policy, and alliance strategy. This adviser would ideally sit on both the National Security Council and National Economic Council, where they could coordinate policies covering a range of technological and scientific issues. These would include the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, biotech, hypersonics, and microelectronics, to name just a few. This position would also be responsible for building a civil-military alliance for protecting civilian assets and incentivizing private companies to do work with a national security payoff. The reach of the new deputy national security adviser could also be enhanced by putting appointees in key agencies such as the Department of Defense, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy who would be responsible for leading and coordinating innovation policy across the government.

The Biden administration may opt for a different form of reorganization. Several plausible alternatives have been proposed. Regardless of the approach, the important thing is for Washington to recognize and close the organizational gaps its adversaries have exploited.

Steve Blank is an adjunct professor at Stanford University, 8-time serial entrepreneur, ex-member of the Defense Business Board, co-author of Hacking For Defense and the NSF I-Corps and co-creater of the Lean Startup Methodology.

Joe Felter is the former deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asia. He is currently at the Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation at the Hoover Institution. He is a former U.S. Army special forces and foreign area officer and previously served as Director of West Points Combating Terrorism Center.

Raj M. Shah is the Managing Partner of Shield Capital and Chairman of Resilience. Previously he was the head of the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx) and an F-16 pilot in the Air National Guard with multiple combat tours. A serial entrepreneur, hes a visiting fellow at Stanfords Hoover Institution.

Image: Defense Department

A Better Bureaucracy Can Close the Gap Between Defense and Commercial Technology - War on the Rocks

Global Blockchain Technology Market 2021-2026: Focus on by Use Case, Business Model, Solutions, Services and Applications – ResearchAndMarkets.com -…

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Blockchain Technology Market by Use Case, Business Model, Solutions, Services and Applications in Industry Verticals 2021 - 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report examines the technology, leading companies, and solutions in the evolving blockchain ecosystem. The report evaluates current and anticipated use cases for blockchain and assesses the market potential globally, regionally, and segmented by deployment type and industry vertical.

The report also evaluates key players, solutions, and use cases. The report also assesses the prospect of integrating blockchain with other technologies including IoT and artificial intelligence. The report includes detailed forecasts by use case, application, and industry verticals from 2021 - 2026.

Blockchain and related distributed authentication and accounting technologies are poised to transform ICT, and is so doing, causing substantial disintermediation across a wide variety of industry verticals. Lessons learned in FinTech and traditional banking from the deployment and operation of decentralized authentication, clearing and settlement will be applied towards many telecom and computing problems for the benefit of many industry verticals. The impact will be wide-ranging, including everything from investing/trading to the legal cannabis industry, and very deep in terms of changes to supply chains and relationships between vendors, customers, and peers.

Integration and operation of Blockchain technology will redefine how various industries operate, dramatically improving efficiencies, and reduce the cost of doing business. For example, start-up companies have been launched to provide software and microchip hardware that facilitates connected devices to operate on blockchain. Products have been designed to encrypt data, distribute information to blockchain-connected machines, and monetize these machines.

One important technology integration area is the Internet of Things (IoT), which is a very promising area as we anticipate that the use of Blockchain in IoT networks/systems will be one of the most important means for authenticating and authorizing transactions. For example, HYPR provides solutions to reduce cybersecurity risks in IoT devices through its decentralized credential approach. Their products reduce the need for passwords in a centralized server, replacing them with biometric and other password-free solutions. This provides for IoT devices that are virtually unhackable from a social engineering perspective.

We also see Blockchain as a Service (BaaS) representing a key service offering for many market segments as a means of solution introduction and scalability via a cloud services model. For example, AI in supply chain management solutions combined with blockchain technology market solutions to dramatically improve SCM. In the US alone, there are more than 500,000 shipping companies. This concentration of shipping and trade routes can cause data transparency and storage issues. Blockchain can solve these issues by providing data transparency.

Select Report Findings:

Key Topics Covered:

1.0 Executive Summary

2.0 Introduction

2.1 Evolution of Payment Industry

2.2 Payments Value Chain and Blockchain

2.3 Blockchain Technology

2.4 Early Blockchain Implementations

2.5 Blockchain Technology SWOT Analysis

3.0 Blockchain Ecosystem and Marketplace

3.1 Blockchain Types and Stakeholders

3.2 Blockchain Applications

3.3 Blockchain Application in Industry Verticals

3.4 Blockchain in Internet of Things

3.5 Blockchain as a Service

3.6 Blockchain Stakeholders in ICT

3.7 Blockchain to Improve Cybersecurity

3.8 Blockchain Investment Analysis

3.9 Important Blockchain Consortia and Associations

3.10 Blockchain Solutions in Industry Verticals

4.0 Blockchain Market Dynamics

4.1 Market and Technology Drivers

4.1.1 Increased Blockchain within Traditional Financial Institutions

4.1.2 Digitization for Improved Service Realization and Error Prevention

4.1.3 Cloud-based Service Delivery Models

4.2 Challenges and Opportunities

4.2.1 Security Issues

4.2.2 Regulation and Governance

4.2.3 Mergers and Acquisitions

5.0 Blockchain Market Case Study

5.1 Blockchain Asset Management and Real Estate Case Study

5.2 Blockchain Case Study for Government in the UAE

5.3 Honeywell Aerospace creates online parts marketplace with Hyperledger Fabric

5.4 SGX Used Amazon Managed Blockchain for an Innovative Payment Solution

5.5 Zug Digital ID Case Study

5.6 ING Group: KYC System on Blockchain

5.7 Streamlining Efficiency in Logistics with IoT Blockchain

5.8 Palm Oil Industry Case Study Using Blockchain and IoT

6.0 Blockchain Market Outlook and Forecasts 2021 - 2026

6.1 Global Market Forecast 2021 - 2026

6.2 Blockchain Markets by Solution 2021 - 2026

7.0 Blockchain Vendor Analysis

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qs822a

See more here:

Global Blockchain Technology Market 2021-2026: Focus on by Use Case, Business Model, Solutions, Services and Applications - ResearchAndMarkets.com -...

Shareholders Of Materials Analysis Technology (GTSM:3587) Must Be Happy With Their 101% Total Return – Simply Wall St

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

The main point of investing for the long term is to make money. Furthermore, you'd generally like to see the share price rise faster than the market Unfortunately for shareholders, while the Materials Analysis Technology Inc. (GTSM:3587) share price is up 66% in the last five years, that's less than the market return. However, more recent buyers should be happy with the increase of 38% over the last year.

Check out our latest analysis for Materials Analysis Technology

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

Over half a decade, Materials Analysis Technology managed to grow its earnings per share at 7.3% a year. This EPS growth is slower than the share price growth of 11% per year, over the same period. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did five years ago. That's not necessarily surprising considering the five-year track record of earnings growth.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

We know that Materials Analysis Technology has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? You could check out this free report showing analyst revenue forecasts.

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Materials Analysis Technology, it has a TSR of 101% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

Materials Analysis Technology's TSR for the year was broadly in line with the market average, at 43%. That gain looks pretty satisfying, and it is even better than the five-year TSR of 15% per year. It is possible that management foresight will bring growth well into the future, even if the share price slows down. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for Materials Analysis Technology you should be aware of.

We will like Materials Analysis Technology better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on TW exchanges.

PromotedIf youre looking to trade Materials Analysis Technology, open an account with the lowest-cost* platform trusted by professionals, Interactive Brokers. Their clients from over 200 countries and territories trade stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and funds worldwide from a single integrated account.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. *Interactive Brokers Rated Lowest Cost Broker by StockBrokers.com Annual Online Review 2020

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

Excerpt from:

Shareholders Of Materials Analysis Technology (GTSM:3587) Must Be Happy With Their 101% Total Return - Simply Wall St

How to have a better relationship with your tech – MIT Technology Review

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

Our dependency on tech has soared during the pandemic. The app analytics company App Annie found that people spent around 4 hours and 18 minutes per day on mobile devices in April 2020. Thats a 20% increase from the year before, equating to an extra 45 minutes per day of screen time.

Research shows that theres nothing intrinsically wrong with spending more time on screensespecially right now. Apart from the benefits of connecting with friends, family, and coworkers, turning to tech can help us manage difficult emotions and even reduce stress.

Not all screen time is created equal, though. Some online activities do bring a degree of risk. Spending long periods passively scrolling through social media, for example, is linked to greater feelings of envy and loneliness, and a higher risk of depression.

What, then, should we do in the months ahead to make sure our relationship with tech stays as healthy and constructive as possible at a time when were all so reliant on it?

Its far too simplistic to tell ourselves were going to cut down on our tech usage.

The answer depends somewhat on your own proclivities. You might be the type of person who feels soothed and inspired after spending a half-hour curating themed boards on Pinterestbut mindlessly scrolling on Instagram for the same amount of time might make you feel tired and irritable.

Regardless of who you are, though, I believe we can all benefit from a more deliberate approach to how we spend our screen time. Our goal should be to find our personal tech balance. Recognize that what works best for you may not be what works for everyone else.

Here are some of the ways we can change our behaviors and mindset to achieve a better balance in the weeks and months ahead.

Build your awareness. Its difficult to change any behaviors when were not clear on what they look like. A good place to start is by tracking where you spend your screen time by using an app, like Moment, or your phones built-in tools. Remember that tracking alone isnt enoughyou must check these stats regularly.

Checking in is important because studies suggest we tend to underestimate how long we spend scrolling and swiping. Tracking will provide some perspective and give you a sense of which changes you may want to make.

I also suggest doing regular mood check-ins every few hours anytime youre online. As we scroll, its often not clear which conversation, app, or Twitter thread has colored our mood. By consciously checking in with yourself, you can better home in on what triggers bad feelings and decide what activities to avoid or dial back in the future.

Go here to read the rest:

How to have a better relationship with your tech - MIT Technology Review

PG&E to Deploy New Risk Modeling and Fire Spread Technology to Further Reduce Wildfire Risk – Business Wire

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a proposal filed today with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E or the Utility) detailed its ongoing strategy to reduce wildfire risk, increase situational awareness, and deploy new technology and models to help keep customers and communities safe. Improvements to its 2021 Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program were also proposed.

PG&Es 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) enhances the companys ongoing, comprehensive Community Wildfire Safety Program designed to address the growing threat of severe weather and wildfires across its service area.

The last few years have demonstrated how Californias wildfire season continues to grow longer and more devastating. We are continuing to evolve to meet the challenging conditions to more effectively reduce wildfire risk, said Sumeet Singh, Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer. We are accountable to our customers and our communities that we are privileged to serve. The safety actions and programs outlined in our Wildfire Mitigation Plan provide details for our continued commitment to the critical work of providing safe and reliable service.

The 2021 WMP focuses on three key areas:

Reducing More Wildfire Risk at a Faster Pace Using Improved Risk Modeling

For 2021, PG&E is implementing a new Wildfire Risk Model that can comprehensively assess and prioritize its safety work, including system hardening and enhanced vegetation management. This builds upon the previous model and uses advanced software and machine learning for predicting fire ignitions and improving fire spread simulations for determining the potential impacts of a wildfire.

This new technology will allow us to more accurately prioritize our efforts within the highest fire-threat areas, said Debbie Powell, Interim Head of Electric Operations. Because of this advanced model, customers may see a shift in where we are conducting wildfire safety work in the coming years. We appreciate their patience as we adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Continuing to Improve Public Safety Power Shutoffs

The core purpose of PG&Es PSPS program is to keep customers and communities safe during extreme weather events. The company will continue to build on its 2020 PSPS improvements and work to make the program better for customers and communities as part of the 2021 WMP plan.

These efforts, many of which build off progress made in previous years, include:

Building Upon Important Safety Work Completed in 2020

In 2020, PG&E completed important safety enhancements and investments to help keep its customers and communities safe including:

PG&E also embraced feedback that it received from regulators, its federal monitor and others on gaps in its processes in 2020 and is working to further improve in 2021.

Impact to Customer Bills

The forecasted cost of wildfire mitigation programs described in the plan is about $3 billion each year for two years (2021-2022). The costs reflect PG&Es best estimate of the costs for the proposed programs as of Feb. 5, 2021. Actual costs may vary substantially depending on actual conditions and requirements.

PG&Es 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan is subject to public review and approval by the CPUC. PG&E strongly supports and encourages its customers and communities to provide feedback and participate in this important public process.

Customer Preparedness Resources

For more information about preparedness resources, visit PG&Es Safety Action Center. The Safety Action Center provides information to help customers keep their family, home, and business safe during natural disasters and other emergencies. The site includes tips on how to create a personalized emergency plan, what to pack in an emergency supply kit, and how to prepare in advance for power outages and PSPS events. To learn more, visit safetyactioncenter.pge.com.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the beliefs, expectations, estimates, future plans and strategies of PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (the "Utility"), including but not limited to the Utility's 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions, which management believes are reasonable, and on information currently available to management, but are necessarily subject to various risks and uncertainties. In addition to the risk that these assumptions prove to be inaccurate, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements include factors disclosed in PG&E Corporation and the Utility's joint Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, their joint Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, and their subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. PG&E Corporation and the Utility undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether due to new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

Continue reading here:

PG&E to Deploy New Risk Modeling and Fire Spread Technology to Further Reduce Wildfire Risk - Business Wire

Tessitura Network Taps Rackspace Technology to Accelerate Business Growth & Develop New Features for the Arts and Culture Community -…

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rackspace Technology (NASDAQ: RXT), a leading end-to-end multicloud technology solutions company, today announced the successful completion of work with Tessitura Network, an enterprise CRM for performing arts organizations, museums, and other cultural, educational and media entities.

Through the partnership, Rackspace Technology helped Tessitura transition its software hosting from a legacy collocated hosting center to a managed hosting environment on AWS, ultimately allowing Tessituras team of creative-minded engineers to develop new features for users.

Tessitura is a non-profit, member-based organization serving hundreds of arts and cultural organizations around the globe through a unified digital platform. The technology helps organizations build and maintain connections with prospects, donors, members, single-ticket buyers, subscribers and more.

However, the company has been hosting its software in a collocated hosting center since the mid-2000s and managing its own hardware became a distraction from its core business: serving arts and culture organizations. Tessitura quickly realized its need for modern technology and a trusted managed service provider to maintain its competitive edge. The company turned to Rackspace Technology to help make the transition to managed hosting with AWS.

The Rackspace Technology team leveraged an architecture-based managed services and security-focused services approach to the project. To experience the full benefit of AWSs cloud solutions, the Rackspace Technology team implemented Public Cloud Service Blocks, a flexible solution that will allow Tessitura to use the appropriate managed services based on the companys current needs and add or remove additional services as the needs change.

The Rackspace Technology team served as a true trusted partner throughout this project, said Ron Wilson, CTO at Tessitura. Partnering with Rackspace Technology has made us far more advanced, in ways we couldnt have been great by ourselves.

With the Rackspace Technology solution, Tessitura has the scalability, monitoring and security that it was looking for. With the increased scalability, the company can now focus on their app and adding features which enable their cultural and arts customers to create more meaningful connections with their audience.

The Rackspace Technology team set Tessitura up for future growth and scalability by helping us harness the vast amount of computing resources AWS Service Blocks has to offer. The solution has also allowed the team to focus on delivering the world-class features that help its members get their jobs done.

Choosing Rackspace Service Blocksfrom AWS provided the Tessitura team with the scalability, monitoring and security needed to support the companys future growth, said Jeff DeVerter, CTO Solutions at Rackspace Technology. The Tessitura team can now focus all of their attention on continuing to innovate and serve the needs of the arts and culture community.

About Rackspace TechnologyRackspace Technology is a leading end-to-end multicloud technology services company. We can design, build and operate our customers cloud environments across all major technology platforms, irrespective of technology stack or deployment model. We partner with our customers at every stage of their cloud journey, enabling them to modernize applications, build new products and adopt innovative technologies.

Media ContactNatalie SilvaRackspace Technology Corporate Communicationspublicrelations@rackspace.com

Originally posted here:

Tessitura Network Taps Rackspace Technology to Accelerate Business Growth & Develop New Features for the Arts and Culture Community -...

Smartphone technology in bid to revolutionise early detection of kidney disease – GOV.UK

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

Patients with diabetes and high blood pressure are benefiting from pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) that turns a smartphone camera into a clinical-grade tool to detect early kidney disease.

NHSX, the digital transformation arm of the NHS, is supporting Healthy.io to offer 500,000 patients technology-supported home-testing kits over the next 3 years. More than 3,500 patients have already received their kits.

Patients taking part receive a simple test kit and smartphone app that allows them to test, scan and transmit their results to their GP within minutes, without leaving home.

The technology developed by Healthy.io essentially turns patients smartphone cameras into medical devices analysing testing images and producing results regardless of lighting conditions, setting or camera type.

With chronic kidney disease affecting around 1 in 10 people in the UK, this new testing and technology is designed to reduce unnecessary trips to the GP and hospital. It should encourage more people to seek an early diagnosis, ultimately saving thousands of lives each year.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:

This is another brilliant example of how innovative technologies are transforming healthcare and improving lives. Patients are able to receive a diagnosis sooner, saving time for clinicians so they can spend more time on treatment, and ultimately saving more lives through earlier diagnosis.

This innovation is another step forwards in making high-quality healthcare more accessible in some cases without leaving the comfort of your own home.

Matthew Gould, Chief Executive of NHSX, said:

Artificial intelligence holds enormous potential for the NHS and in many areas is already providing radical benefits for patients and clinicians.

The use of this latest testing technology is another huge step forward enabling us to provide earlier diagnosis of disease and improve patient care and treatment outcomes while also freeing up NHS staff.

The technology is one of 42 innovations that are being supported by the first round of the AI in Health and Care Award programme, managed by the Accelerated Access Collaborative in partnership with NHSX and the National Institute for Health Research.

In a project at Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, the team found that by allowing people with type 1 diabetes to self-test at home, the testing rate rose from 0% to 79% among the consented untested population. Almost 1 in 5 were found to have abnormal or highly abnormal results.

Dr David Lipscomb, diabetes clinical lead at Sussex Community Foundation NHS Trust, said:

The service has enabled us to identify and prioritise follow-up care for people who may have early-stage chronic kidney disease that could have otherwise gone undetected.

It allows us to offer our patients a new way of engaging with their care that is more convenient for both patients and staff.

With Healthy.ios CKD Early Detection Service, people receive a test kit by mail, which includes a standard urine dipstick, a urine collection pot and a patented colour board. An app guides the user through the test, which includes scanning the dipstick on the colour board using a standard smartphone camera.

Using AI and colourmetric analysis, the app is able to read the dipstick results equivalent to a lab-based device. Results are then shared instantly with the individuals GP practice, which can follow up if there is an abnormal result.

During the ongoing pandemic, by offering at-home tests to populations at higher risk, such as those living with diabetes, the NHS can provide an easy alternative to visiting the clinic.

The technology is being tested and evaluated over a 3-year period to explore its benefits at scale before a potential roll-out across the NHS.

Dr Indra Joshi, Director of AI at NHSX, said:

Technologies like this have great potential to identify serious disease earlier, and can empower people to make the lifestyle changes needed to help better manage their condition.

Enabling people to self-test at home using their smartphones camera can ease the burden on frontline services whilst encouraging uptake of an important test that is far easier to conduct at home.

Through the AI Award we are testing some of the most promising AI-based innovations to see if the NHS should consider spreading them on a much larger scale to even more patients.

According to an independent evaluation by the York Health Economics Consortium, if rolled out nationally Healthy.ios solution has the potential to save more than 11,000 lives and save the NHS at least 660 million over 5 years.

Katherine Ward, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director of UK and Europe, Healthy.io, said:

Chronic kidney disease is a silent killer and has a major impact on society, yet very few people are aware of its dangers. Early detection of the disease from the comfort of home will help people avoid dialysis or transplant and will be a huge cost saving for the NHS.

The NHS has been at the forefront of the AI revolution with the creation of the NHS AI Lab within NHSX and the 140 million AI in Health and Care Award programme, which in September announced the first 42 innovations approved, each receiving a share of over 50 million.

The package also includes funding to support the research, development and testing of promising ideas that could be used in the NHS in future to help speed up diagnosis or improve care for a range of conditions including sepsis, cancer and Parkinsons.

The NHS is committed to becoming a world leader in the use of AI and machine learning, aiming to reap the benefits that range from faster and more personalised diagnosis to greater efficiency in screening services.

To deliver technology for use in health and care, the NHS AI Lab in January published A Guide to Good Practice for Digital and Data-driven Health Technologies, setting out what the NHS is looking for when it buys digital and data-driven technology for use in health and care.

Read the full Sussex case study

Read a case study of the service that won an HSJ and BMJ award

Read the York Health Economics Consortium estimate of cost savings

Read the NICE Medtech Innovation Briefing on the product

Originally posted here:

Smartphone technology in bid to revolutionise early detection of kidney disease - GOV.UK

OpEd: Fast-Tracking Caribbean COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience – South Florida Caribbean News

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

by Deodat Maharaj, Executive Director Caribbean Export Development Agency

Deodat Maharaj Executive Director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency

[BRIDGETOWN, Barbados] COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc in 2021. BBC hasreportedthat as of1stof February2021, more than100 million people have been infected with the virus. 2.2million people have diedacross nearly 200 countries. Thereare still over382,000new cases every day.Although both rich and poor countries have faced the full wrath of thepandemic,the difference is,the developed countriesare buffered by their wealthenabling themtorecover faster than anyone else.

On the other hand, we in the Caribbean continue to take a battering. Much like our shorelines during a hurricane. But,unlike a Hurricane Irma or Maria,which created unprecedented destruction in a matter of hours in 2017,with COVID-19, soon it will be almost one year thatthis pandemic has been inflictingcontinuoushardship onthelives and livelihoodsof our people.

Caribbean countries have largely managed well from a public health perspective.However, on the economic side, notwithstanding best efforts, the impact has been harsh.Tourism as the mainstay of the regions economyhadseenrecordtourist arrivalsin 2019of 31.5million stayover visitors. It is now a mere trickle.Given that tourism accounts forbetween 34 and 48 percent of totalGDP in countriessuch asThe Bahamas, Barbados, and Jamaica. Theeffecthas been massive.

Looking ahead,it is not all doom and gloom. Wehave a unique opportunity to press the reset button onourdevelopment agenda with businessbecominga keypartner on the path to recoveryand resilience. To achieve this,Caribbean countriesfirstlyrequire a sustained and forensic focusto createtheenabling environment for business to flourish.The World BanksEase of Doing BusinessReport2020ranksmostCaribbean countries in the bottom half of countries globally. The exceptions are Jamaica and St Lucia whichareranked at71 and93respectively.

Caribbean countriescan and must do better. There is no prize for second place in this increasingly competitive world.Wemust accelerate efforts to improve the ease of doing business,including the establishment of special purpose unitswith the exclusive responsibilityforbreaking down of barriers to doing businessandfast-trackingimplementation ofhighprioritypolicies.We also need to look at other experiences. Mauritius isasmall island faced with similar challenges like the ones we have. Nonetheless, they have consistently improved in their ease of doing business ranking. And, in the same2020World BankReport wasranked 13 in the world. This is higher than Australia,Canadaand Germany.WecancertainlylearnfromMauritius.

Secondly and closelyconnected to the ease of doing business is the imperative of attracting foreign direct investment to generate jobs,growthand prosperity.ThoughCaribbean countries have been makingconcertedefforts to attract foreign direct investment, the results have been mixed.There areindividual success stories including in the natural resourcerichcountrieslike Trinidad and Tobago and Guyanaas well as in the tourism sector. However,we are not attracting foreign direct investment on the scale required to achievethe creation ofmuch needed jobsand generate inclusive growth.

Like everywhere else,COVID-19 has accentuated thechallenge of attracting investment. TheEconomic Commissionfor Latin America and the Caribbean4had projected a decline in foreign direct investment to Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020by about50%. With many economies across the Region ina state ofprolonged shutdown,the downward investment trend for 2021 is expected to be even more precipitous.

Newstrategies and approaches are requiredto bring investment to our shores. These include proposingprojects that are regional,wheremore than one countrycan be packagedto an investor.There is strength in numbers.Caribbean Export has already started working to strengthen and improve the Regions capacitiesto attractforeign direct investment. Itsupportsthe Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies(CAIPA)to increasecollaboration amongnationalinvestment promotion agencies.Also,Caribbean Exportinconcertwith CAIPA has identified strategic sectors for targeting such asagrotechnology; businessprocess outsourcing;renewableenergy; andbiotechnology.

Thirdly, weneed toramp upsupport to micro, small and medium sized businesses. These businessesare the lifeblood oflocal economies.They need to beinnovative, agile and leveragetheopportunities provided by digitalization.Going forward, a package of support is required combining know-how,access to financeandinnovation.

Caribbean Exportprovidesfinancialsupport to firms through its Direct Assistance Grants Schemeand Direct Support Grants Programmewith funding from the European Union.These grantsassist regional firms tomeet the financial challenges brought on by thepandemic. It also helpsbuild their competitiveness and export capacity. Caribbean Export isalsoproviding direct technical assistance to firms.Much more needs to be done.

Finally, regional integrationisindispensable.Simply put,as individual states, ourpopulations and markets are too small in this vast global marketplace. Therefore, actingindependently or singularly is no longer an option.Working collectively is the only way.Building trade, investment and overall business relationships outside the English-speaking Caribbean is also critical.Thework of Caribbean Exportin bringingthe CARICOM countries and the Dominican Republic together is a good example which must be supported.

In summary, creating an enabling environment for business to flourish, adopting new approaches to attracting foreign direct investment is vital. In addition, supportingenterprises at the local level are all vital to fast track COVID-19 recovery. Caribbean Export as the lead agency for private sector developmentin the Region is committed to this agenda to help create jobs,growthand prosperity for our people.

Deodat Maharaj is the Executive Director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency. Deodat can be reached at:dmaharaj@carib-export.com(Twitter: @deodat_maharaj)

Circular Economy Coalition launched for Latin America and the Caribbean – UN Environment

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

Bridgetown, Barbados, 1 February, 2021 - A new initiative to support Latin America and the Caribbean in the transition to a circular economy as part of the COVID-19 recovery was launched today.

The Regional Coalition on Circular Economy was announced during a virtual side event at the XXII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of the region, hosted by Barbados and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).

The Coalition will support access to financing by governments and the private sector, with special emphasis on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in order to promote resource mobilization for innovation and the implementation of specific projects in the region.

Coordinated by UNEP, the Coalition will be led by a steering committee composed of four high-level government representatives on a rotating basis, starting with Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Per for the 2021-2022 period.

As extracting, wasting and doing business as usual can no longer be supported by the planet, it is key to build a common regional vision on circular economy. The Coalition we are launching today will help precisely to do that and to implement concrete and measurable practices, said Carlos Correa, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia and Chair of the Coalition.

Correa participated in the side event along with Mariano Castro, Vice Minister of Environmental Management of the Ministry of the Environment of Peru, Rolando Castro, Vice Minister of Energy and Environmental Quality of the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, and Walter Verri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining and Uruguay. .

A circular economy is a resilient, diverse and inclusive economic model that creates opportunities for a sustainable growth that moves away from a take, make, waste mentality. It fosters long-term economic productivity and green jobs, while tackling global challenges like climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.

The initiative will count on eight permanent strategic partners: the Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN), the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy Coalition (PACE), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the World Economic Forum (WEF) and UNEP.

Driven by eco-design, a circular economy eliminates waste and pollution, keeps products and materials in use, and regenerates natural systems. Adopting these principles can reduce the use of raw materials by up to 99%, contributing to protect biodiversity, according to UNEPs International Resource Panel.

While the current climate discussions focus on switching to renewable energy and energy efficiency matters, which will tackle 55% of the total GHG emissions, circular economy can help address the remaining overlooked 45%, which are generated by the way we make and use products and the way we produce food, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

The Coalition aims to implement a circular economy approach through collaboration between governments, businesses, and society as a whole.

The creation of this coalition reaffirms the regions commitment to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, with special emphasis on SDG 12, Sustainable Consumption and Production, through the promotion of innovation, sustainable infrastructure, and an inclusive and circular economy, said Leo Heileman, UNEP Regional Director in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Acknowledging that unsustainable consumption and production patterns are the root cause of the three planetary crises we face todayclimate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, we have a unique opportunity to rethink our linear economy and reshape our unsustainable consumption and production patterns, he added.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

For more information, please contact:

Regional Communication Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean, UN Environment Programme.

See the original post here:

Circular Economy Coalition launched for Latin America and the Caribbean - UN Environment

Biggest Swell of the Season Kisses the Caribbean – Surfline.com Surf News

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

Puerto Rico has always existed on the fringe of American society. Not a state although many argue it should be the Connecticut-sized tropical island is an outlier. A commonwealth. A territory. But when, say, the biggest NNW swell of the season stampedes toward the Greater Antilles all juiced up by 50-foot seas and 65-knot winds, Puerto Rico becomes the boss dog of the boneyard. The Hawaii of the Atlantic. The best thing American surfings got going this side of Death Valley. (And the likely destination where the ONeill Regional Wave of the Winter: Caribbean could be won. More info.)

Mikey Wright, masochistic and marvelous at a Puerto Rican slab. Video: Darren Muschett

Low pressure pushed off the East Coast last week, tapping into the warm Gulf Stream waters and rapidly intensifying into a potent, hurricane-force low last Thursday, explains Surflines Mike Watson. While the storm did track pretty quickly off into the Atlantic, hurricane-force winds on the west side of the storm were aimed right at Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

Whens the Next XL Swell? Rincon | North Coast, Puerto Rico | Barbados

Tres Palmas was still chucking em on Sunday. Photo: Micah Weaver

On Saturday morning, January 30th, PR was already on the cook from this monster whose origins could be traced all the way back to the U.S. West Coast a week earlier. Resident freak waves like Gas Chambers had the size but not the consistency, and the trade winds were already having their way with the more coveted zones. This sent most of the top dogs scurrying to PRs most dependable big-wave joint, Tres Palmas, where Rincon photographer Darren Muschett graciously kept us in the loop for the next two days:

Rio Donaldson, detonation negotiation somewhere in Puerto Rico. Photo: Alex Hayes

Saturday, 10:30am: Solid 15 faces coming through for Wesley Toth and a few unknown riders 11:42am: Hopefully it picks up a bit more and gets a little steeper once the tide drops. Brian Toth said its not happening anywhere up his way [Isabela], so hes heading down to surf Tres now Sunday, 8:53am: Miguel Canals caught the wave of the morning at Tres Palmas. Miguel is a local legend. He works for NOAA doing Rincn buoy report data and is a marine science professor at Mayaguez University 2:36pm: Brian Toth, Craig Prothers, Carlos Cabrero and Leif Engstrom are out there 11:56am: Tres is still firing. Wind went a little more to NE, so its cleaner, more offshore. Leif, Carlos, Wesley and a few unknown surfers are out. Some cleanup sets

Its been a really fun winter for medium-size surf, says Montauk/PR split-resident, Leif Engstrom. I cant tell you a week where we havent seen at least one head-high day. But this swell was something special. Vid: Chase Walker

Watch Live Cam Streams from Puerto Rico: Marias | Puntas | Jobos

A few years ago, Wesley Toth shied away from professional surfing and pursued a career in veterinary medicine instead. Wise choice. And apparently, his surfing hasnt suffered one bit. Wesley was one of the standouts at Tres this weekend. Photo: Darren Muschett

Know before you go

The swells been insane, so much fun! Wesley told us on Tuesday evening. And its still pumping! I need a massage. Photo: Jorgito Rivera

The swell filled in on Saturday and held strong on Sunday for the Caribbean, Watson continues. Unfortunately, the strong low brought a cold front near the islands and strong NE/ENE winds along with it. Nonetheless, Puerto Ricos premier big-wave spot, Tres Palmas, was able to handle these winds.

Samantha Sibley. Photo: Alex Hayes

By noon on Sunday, reports from other spots started circulating as the swell continued to pulse. Gas Chambers sorted itself out; in fact, according to some sources, it was the first time the place has done its thing since Hurricane Maria (2017). Meanwhile, a smattering of pasty East Coast surfers did their best to blend in with well-bronzed local aces at some decidedly unmentionable reefbreaks. Vans teamrider/Weird Waves host Dylan Graves didnt hesitate to make the trip back home. Saffa pro Shane Sykes made the trip, as well. Even Aussie madman Mikey Wright, who was last seen charging an Oahu outer reef during Super Swell Saturday, seemingly sprung out of thin air to put on a show at Aguadillas most notorious righthand slab. He got some proper doughnuts, as well. And if he hangs around the islands long enough or, even better, decides to sample the blizzard bombs of the Northeast Wright can expect a bakers dozen more.

High-Res Wind Forecast for Puerto Rico

Dylan Graves actually made this wave watch closely as he pulls out the back. Vid: Darren Muschett

We continue to see additional surf from a secondary, trailing low-pressure system early this week, Watson finishes. Although surf heights trend away from the survival-mode we saw this weekend toward a more rippable size heading into the middle of the week.

Same island, entirely different vibe. Photo: Babby Quiones

No matter how shallow you think this West Coast Barbados spot is, trust us, its shallower. Ihave a bunch of cuts everywhere,all fire-coral paper slits, explained Josh Burke, who traded tubes with friends likeJordan Heaselgrave, pictured here. Weeach probably hit the reef 50 times in the last two days.My brother got slammed, too, luckily he was wearing a helmet. Photo: Casper Rodriguez

Its been a great two days learning about the different waves on the west side, Josh Burke continued. I really wish that coast got swell more often. Vid: Niall Thomas

As talented as he is eccentric, Hector Santa Maria was on his own trip, as usual. Ever the beacon of positivity, Hector said,So grateful to see everyone smiling and enjoying our beautiful island. Photo: Micah Weaver

Hector Santa Maria and Angel Alvarez express themselves. Vid: Jerrys Gallery

I was just getting beatings mostly, Dylan Graves said, humbly. Maybe talk to the other boys [laughs]. Photo: Jorgito Rivera

Nico Moreda, limber and locked inside one of his beloved secret spots. Photo: Jorge Figueroa

Underground charger Jesse Prothers emerged triumphantly to wrangle one of the biggest sets of the swell at Tres Palmas. Photo: Darren Muschett

Its my first time in PR and Im so stoked to be seeing and scoring all the different waves around here, said visiting Saffa pro Shane Sykes. Everyone is super welcoming and amped to have you with them in the lineup. Its been an insane experience!Vid: Alex Hayes

This slab is not called the Gringo Eater, but wouldnt it be cool if it was? Photo: Jorgito Rivera

Max Torres, Tres Palmas. Photo: Jorgito Rivera

Detailed Forecast Analysis: Puerto Rico | Barbados

SWELL SIGNATURE:Storm Location and Movement:954mb low tracking through the west-central AtlanticStorm Wind: Satellite observed 70kt hurricane-force windsStorm Seas:Satellite observed 52 seasSwell Travel Time: Two days to Puerto Rico, 2.5 days for islands to the eastSwell Height, Period and Direction: Rincon nearshore buoy recorded 10 at 14s NNW swell on Saturday afternoon

Continued here:

Biggest Swell of the Season Kisses the Caribbean - Surfline.com Surf News

Caribbean Currents: Coffee is another favorite flavor of the islands – The Philadelphia Tribune

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

It is wintertime and it is cold but nothing that a warm cup of coffee cant cure.

When it comes to flavor and blend, coffee enthusiasts around the world choose the aromatic flavors of coffee beans grown in the Caribbean. Islands like Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Puerto Rico are the largest producers of coffee in the Caribbean region.

Those islands are blessed with beautiful mountainous areas where the air is cool, the soil is rich and there is no shortage of water because it rains frequently. That combination is a gift from natures bounty because it is perfect for coffee farmers. And the plants thrive.

Some would argue that there are no differences when it comes to taste and flavor of a nice hot cup of coffee coffee is coffee. This is not so for experienced coffee connoisseurs and seasoned coffee drinkers who can pick the flavor they love from among hundreds of other flavors.

The coffee produced in Jamaicas Blue Mountains, for instance, is monitored by Jamaicas Coffee Industry Board to ensure that the quality of Blue Mountain brand is consistently superior. The Blue Mountains are Jamaicas tallest, with elevations of 7,402 feet. Jamaicas Blue Mountain coffee has a refined and mild taste with a pleasant creamy sweetness yet subtle bitterness.

To demonstrate the wide reach of these coffees, one testimonial to the Blue Mountain Brand came from a soldier stationed in Afghanistan. The devoted coffee drinker said that making a pot of Blue Mountain coffee makes the soldiers lives so much better because it keeps their minds from troubling issues of the day.

In the Dominican Republic, the most popular coffee brand is Santo Domingo, which is grown mostly in the Pico Duarte mountains. Those mountains are the highest in the Caribbean, over 10,000 feet high. Many coffee lovers have described the medium-roasted Santo Domingo coffee beans as having a combination of flavors including a fruity taste that is like combining berries and citrus. Others have described the taste as nut-toned and chocolatey, which explains why the beans natural subtle sweetness yet moderate light acidity earns the label of a full-body taste.

Haitis popular Rebo Coffee also has its own distinctive taste. Many people say it has a chocolatey taste combined with a fruity flavor. The coffee was first cultivated in 1734 in Haiti in a place then known as Santo Domingue.

Yaucono is the main coffee brand of Puerto Rico. Yaucono is said to have a chocolate and caramel flavor. The distinct difference of this coffee is that it has no bitterness. The flavor combination is usually described as smooth. Coffee farms are located all over the island in areas between 2,400 and 2,780 feet in altitude.

Most coffee produced in Jamaica, Haiti and Dominican Republic is packaged for export to the United States and Europe. In the U.S., coffee shops, cafes and convenience stores such as Wawa, McDonalds, Dunkin donuts and Starbucks offer a wide array of coffee options.

Starbucks main focus is coffee. They offer more extensive and sophisticated types of coffees: brewed coffees, clover brewed, cappuccinos, flat whites, lattes, macchiatos and mochas. Wawa offers a lot more than coffee, and their coffees are more basic, such as mild roast, medium roast, bold roast and a limited offering of cappuccinos and lattes. Dunkins main product is doughnuts, complemented by Americano coffees, lattes, mochas and macchiatos.

Today, coffees and all variations of coffee (lattes, macchiatos, hot or iced) are mainstream from the East Coast to the West Coast. Barista (coffee bartender) is the buzz word for a person who creates and serves a concoction requested by patrons. I can recall my grandmother creating her own recipe for a combined cocoa and coffee drink, everything fresh from the tree. It was delicious!

Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow and we are in for a lengthy winter, so next time you feel the urge for a cup of coffee, try one of those Caribbean coffees. It may transport you to a warm sunny beach somewhere in the Caribbean.

Go here to read the rest:

Caribbean Currents: Coffee is another favorite flavor of the islands - The Philadelphia Tribune

The World’s 10 Biggest Cruise Ships – Cruise Industry News

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

Cruise ships, over the last few decades, havent just grown in number, but also in size. Today's biggest ships are nearly three times bigger than the 1988-built Sovereign of the Seas, considered the worlds first mega cruise ship.

1. Symphony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International)

Tonnage: 227,625 tonsCapacity: 5,400 passengers Built: 2018Length: 362.1 metersBeam: 47.4 metersSailing regions in 2021: Caribbean

2. Harmony of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International)

Tonnage: 227,625 tonsCapacity: 5,400 passengers Built: 2016Length: 362.1 metersBeam: 47.4 metersSailing regions in 2021: Caribbean and Mediterranean

3. Allure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International)

Tonnage: 220,000 tonsCapacity: 5,400 passengers Built: 2010Length: 362 metersBeam: 47 metersSailing regions in 2021: Caribbean

4. Oasis of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International)

Tonnage: 220,000 tonsCapacity: 5,400 passengers Built: 2008Length: 361.6 metersBeam: 47 metersSailing regions in 2021: Caribbean, Bahamas, and East Coast

5. Mardi Gras (Carnival Cruise Line)

Tonnage: 183,900Capacity: 5,200 passengers Built: 2021Length: 337 metersBeam: 42 meters

6. Iona (P&O Cruises)

Tonnage: 183,900 tonsCapacity: 5,200 passengers Built: 2020Length: 337 metersBeam: 42 metersSailing regions in 2021: Northern Europe and the Canaries

7. AIDAnova (AIDA Cruises)

Tonnage: 183,900 tonsCapacity: 5,000 passengers Built: 2018Length: 337 metersBeam: 42 metersSailing regions in 2021: Mediterranean and the Canaries

8. Costa Smeralda (Costa Crociere)

Tonnage: 182,700 tonsCapacity: 5,224 passengers Built: 2019Length: 337 metersBeam: 42 metersSailing regions in 2021: Mediterranean

9. MSC Grandiosa (MSC Crociere)

Tonnage: 177,100 tons Capacity: 4,888 passengers Built: 2019Length: 331 metersBeam: 43 metersSailing regions in 2021: Mediterranean

10. Spectrum of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International)

Tonnage: 168,666 tons Capacity: 4,100 passengers Built: 2019Length: 347 metersBeam: 41.4 metersSailing regions in 2021: China and Southeast Asia

Coming Soon

The ranking is slated for major changes in the next few years, with large cruise ships entering service for several brands.

1. Wonder of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International)

Tonnage: 227,625 tons Capacity: 5,448 passengers Built: 2022Length: 362.1 metersBeam: 47.4 meters

2. Global Dream (Genting Cruise Lines/Dream Cruises)

Tonnage: 208,000 tons Capacity: 5,000 passengers Built: 2022Length: 342 metersBeam: 46.4 meters

3. MSC World Europa (MSC Crociere)

Tonnage: 205,700 tons Capacity: 5,400 passengers Built: 2022Length: 330 metersBeam: 47 meters

4. Icon Class I (Royal Caribbean International)

Tonnage: 200,000Capacity: 5,000 passengers Built: 2022Length: TBDBeam: TBD

View original post here:

The World's 10 Biggest Cruise Ships - Cruise Industry News

Sweet Potato Is The Caribbeans Regenerative Giant – Forbes

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

Originally domesticated in Latin America more than 5,000 years ago, sweet potatoes currently grow in more developing countries than any other root crop, with up to a million tonnes produced in the Caribbean per year (FAOSTAT, 2016). Identified as the fifth most important food crop in the developing world, and one of the main crops identified for Caribbean food security, sweet potatoes produce more biomass and nutrients per hectare than any other food crop. This superfood has immense potential to fuel Caribbean development, not only in the alleviation of food insecurity and as a nutrition crop but also from the perspective of climate adaptation and mitigation, and as a driver of economic development.

Sweet potatoes are able to grow in a variety of settings and conditions. Small and subsistence farmers have the ability to produce the crop on small parcels of marginal or inferior land without pricey inputs such as labour, fertilizers and irrigation allowing rural communities to take charge of their own production and food security. As sweet potatoes have gained importance as a strategic crop, many production systems have transitioned to larger, commercial-sized acreages.

The largest producers in the region are currently Jamaica (43,188 tonnes in 2019), Haiti (42,002 tonnes in 2019), St Vincent and the Grenadines (2,500 tonnes in 2019), Dominica (2,385 tonnes in 2019) and Barbados (2,093 tonnes in 2019). (FAOSTAT)

Sweet potato is conducive to sustainable growth, producing high yields per unit area of land with limited impact to air, water, land, soil or forests and can grow at both high and low altitudes, with a smaller environmental footprint than other staple crops. It easily adapts to harsh environmental conditions also making it a climate-resilient crop and provides environmental benefits with respect to climate change mitigation and soil health.

As a perennial, or crop that lives for 3 or more years, the sweet potato crop does not need frequent replanting or reseeding which means that it is not damaging to the soil and can grow in extremely dry conditions.

Raw Caribbean sweet potatoes

In 2020, Dr Angela Alleyne, Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry at the University of the West Indies (UWI), conducted research on 15 varieties of sweet potato across five Caribbean countries, and identified several drought-tolerant varieties under commercial production in Dominica (SDPW-01 and SRDY-DOM), Grenada (Cricket Gill and Hucky), Jamaica (Ganja and Fire on Land), and St. Lucia (SSLYY). These climate resilient varieties are an excellent choice for production as the region continues to experience more severe dry seasons.

Recently, the Up-lifter variety of sweet potato, in Jamaica, was also identified for its role in soil protection. Farmers have reported that within 10 weeks of planting, the crop covers the soil, preventing erosion.

Sweet potatoes present an excellent opportunity for food waste reduction most parts of the plant are edible, including leaves, roots, and vines. Regional processors have reported that between 30 and 50 per cent of production typically gets thrown away in processing, but with some creativity, this is avoidable.

An effective role for the underutilized parts of the sweet potato plant, for example, is in animal feed. Not only is sweet potato a nutritious option for animals, but studies have suggested that animals fed on high protein sweet potato vines produce less methane gas, helping to reduce the 220 pounds of harmful emissions that a single cow produces each year.

From a nutritional perspective, sweet potato is a super food. Sweet potatoes are rich in carbohydrates, micronutrients, antioxidants and fibre and produce more edible energy per hectare per day than wheat, rice or cassava. The leaves and shoots are good sources of vitamins A, C, and B (Riboflavin) and the flesh is one of the best food sources of beta carotene, a powerful antioxidant that the body can convert to vitamin A. Just 125 grams of sweet potato can meet the daily Vitamin A requirement of a preschool child, thus protecting that child from stunting and night blindness.

Globally rising food prices and reduced availability of staples such as cereals and grains has led the governments of the region to establish food and nutrition security goals to reduce reliance on imports, through import substitution with traditional staples, such as sweet potato.

Sweet potatos role as a strategic food crop was highlighted in Grenada, during COVID-19, when the population was at its most vulnerable.

What we have seen here at CARDI is a massive increase by farmers and home gardeners in sweet potato production, and this took place as a result of COVID-19, explained Reginald Andall, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) representative to Grenada. People have taken it into their own hands to try to increase their local food production, and this is the first year in many years that we have seen such a great demand for sweet potato planting material.

According to Dr Greg Robin, Jamaica country representative of CARDI, there is an under-tapped income opportunity for regional producers, in that the Caribbean imported approximately $57.4 million worth of sweet potatoes in 2019. Trinidad and Tobago imported 393 tonnes of sweet potatoes during that year alone.

And at a consumer level, not only is sweet potato nutritious and delicious, but it is also affordable. In June 2014, a research team obtained the average prices and nutritional benefits of one hundred and fifty eight commonly consumed foods across six parishes in Jamaica, after which they were ranked. Sweet potato was found to be the cheapest food to make it into the top ten.

In the region, the root vegetable has been typically used in its primary state, either baked, boiled or fried, as an accompaniment to a protein, or as a key ingredient in traditional dishes such as sweet potato pie or Ducana, a dumpling or pudding made from sweet potato, grated coconut, sugar, flour, coconut milk, and/or water, raisins, ginger, grated nutmeg, salt and vanilla extract.

Sweet potato is the candy vegetable, says Barbadian Chef, Jason Howard. Its one of my favourite vegetables to cook with as it has the perfect texture and taste and is very versatile when transformed into a powder or liquid form.

6 hour roasted sweet potato with scotch bonnet confit, carrots, coconut stewed peas with stuffed ... [+] cabbage parcel and finished with a vegan jus, by Barbadian Chef, Jason Howard

Due to a growing health consciousness among Caribbean consumers there has been an emerging market for value added products made with sweet potato.

In recent years, agri-processers have begun to convert the crop into starch, flour, alcohol, confectionery, snacks, purees and thickening agents, nutraceuticals, animal feed, and other value added products.

In September 2020, it was announced that CARDI would be collaborating with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to set up a solar-energy drying project to produce flour from sweet potato in Grenada. That project is ongoing.

In September 2020, Onel Williams, owner of food services company Essential Goods and Services Trading Ltd, producers of the Nella's Foods JA brand, launched Nella's Tendaronis, Jamaicas first sweet potato pasta.

Onel Williams with Nella's Tenda Ronis, Jamaica's first sweet potato pasta

In Barbados, agri-food processor Carmetas transforms the succulent Bajan sweet potato into a variety of value added options including Carmetas Sweet Potato Flour, Carmetas Marion Sweet Potato Cookies and Carmetas Sweet Potato n Spice Sorbet.

Starch and flour processing from sweet potato has provided the opportunity to create new economic and employment activities for rural households, while adding nutritional value to local food systems. Repositioning sweet potato production and its potential for value-added products will optimize its food systems benefits to the region.

Sweet potato is the Caribbeans regenerative giant. It is adaptable to a wide range of uses, from food security crop to cash crop, from human nutrition to animal feed, from fresh food to processed products and as a strategic regenerative crop for the community, the economy and the environment.

See the original post:

Sweet Potato Is The Caribbeans Regenerative Giant - Forbes

At Brooklyn’s KOKOMO, the Diversity and Harmony of Caribbean Food Are on Full Display – The Daily Meal

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

This story is part of an ongoing series in honor of Black History Month on the diversity, roots and evolution of Black cooking and cuisine in America.

When you think of Caribbean food, what do you think of? Jerk chicken? Beef patties? Plantains, perhaps? If thats the case, youre not wrong. But the culture and the food of the dozens of countries and thousands of islands within the Caribbean Sea is remarkably diverse and encompasses so much more than that.

Caribbean food is a reflection of its Indigineous, African and colonial roots. Beginning in the 15th century, islands of the Caribbean were colonized by the Spanish, Dutch, French and English, who in turn brought enslaved people from West Africa to work the sugar cane plantations. Immigrants from across Asia, particularly China and India, and the Middle East also began to occupy the region. The culinary traditions from these cultures mingled across the islands and resulted in a multitude of regional cuisines.

That melange and continued evolution of Caribbean cuisine is showcased by married couple Ria and Kevol Graham of Williamsburgs KOKOMO.

A lot of people don't know just how diverse the Caribbean can be. There are a lot of cultures that kind of became a melting pot similar to New York, says Ria, who is Trinidadian. Where it's really expressed is through the food. We try to reflect that in the restaurant by making it as diverse as we can in comparison to the actual Caribbean. We wanted to reflect that and educate people that it isn't just an Afro culture going on there, there are many cultures that are embodied in everything that we do as West Indians.

One example of the diverse origins of what is now regional cuisine is the Jamaican dish saltfish and ackee. In fact, saltfish and ackee is the national dish of Jamaica, but neither of the main components of this dish are native to the island.

Ackee is a tropical fruit that was brought to the West Indies from West Africa during the 18th century. It now grows across Jamaica, and once the fruit opens up, its harvested, canned and sold across the island as well as exported.

Then there is saltfish. Also known as bacalao or salted cod, saltfish hails from Europe and was originally brought to the Carribean because it was heavily preserved and lasted well on long ship rides. Cod cannot be found in the warm waters of the Caribbean, so the ingredient must still be imported from the North Atlantic.

Today, these two ingredients from different parts of the world make up a signature dish of the country that is indicative of the history and flavors of the Caribbean especially when they're cooked together with bell pepper, onion, tomato, and, of course, some signature heat courtesy of a Scotch bonnet pepper.

Bacalao is very popular in the Latino-Caribbean culture, in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. In Jamaica, one of our most popular dishes is bacalao, but we call it saltfish. So, that's how we tie those cultures together, says Kevol. Indeed, the national dish of St. Lucia is green fig and saltfish made with green bananas, not figs while Trinidadians enjoy saltfish bujol, a vibrant salad made with rehydrated saltfish.

Saltfish and ackee, as well as Caribbean food at large, is continuing its evolution on U.S. shores. At KOKOMO, the Grahams serve their ackee on a flatbread and bring in some of the Carribbeans Latin influences. Instead of saltfish, we did grilled shrimp, which is served with a tomato confit and a Scotch bonnet cilantro sauce, which is bringing in the Hispanic heritage that we have throughout the Caribbean, says Ria. The flatbreads are also a nod to the restaurants location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and the pizza culture in New York City.

We figured out a way to combine all different influences that come to the Caribbean and combine that with the flatbread, which came out amazing, says Ria. For instance, oxtail is one of the most popular dishes in Jamaica, and we put that on flatbread with some fried onions and tomato confit. Another example is our rasta pasta flatbread. It's got penne pasta and alfredo, but it's mixed in with jerk seasoning, which gives it a very powerful taste.

In addition to flatbreads, KOKOMO frequently plays with Caribbean staples on its menu, from an all-American burger with a guava sauce to Canadian salmon with yuca mash.

The curry, of course, also has a similar twist. We wouldn't feel like an authentic [Caribbean] restaurant without curry, says Kevol. But rather than going with a traditional curried goat, they instead swapped in lamb shank as a nod to the Middle Eastern vibe that we have going throughout the Caribbean.

Whether its oxtail on flatbreads, lamb curry or shrimp and ackee, Caribbean cooking both new and old is centered around one thing: love, which the Grahams emphasize is the core of their restaurant. The story of KOKOMO is an expression of our love for each other and love for the Caribbean, our love for culinary arts and our love of bringing people together, Kevol says.

And like a good love story, Caribbean food done right takes time. Braising meat to make it fall-off-the-bone tender and simmering sauces until the spices punch you in the face with their fragrances are integral elements of the cuisine, which KOKOMO respects in the kitchen.

We don't take shortcuts and try to elevate every dish here to make people feel like they're getting food they're familiar with but on another level or by pairing it with a different dish. That's how we stand out, Kevol says.

I think the Caribbean culture has been safe, he reflects. We want to change the narrative of how people view Caribbean food.

Follow this link:

At Brooklyn's KOKOMO, the Diversity and Harmony of Caribbean Food Are on Full Display - The Daily Meal

Air Canada to Suspend Flights to the Caribbean and Mexico – AviationPros.com

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

Air Canada said that, beginning Jan. 31, it is temporarily suspending flights to Mexican and Caribbean destinations for 90 days in response to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, particularly during the spring break period. The decision, designed to achieve an orderly reduction in service and minimize customer impact, was taken in collaboration with the Government of Canada following consultations.

"Air Canada believes a collaborative approach with the Government of Canada involving all air carriers is the best means to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially given concerns around the variants of COVID-19 and travel during the spring break period. Through consultation, we have established an approach that will allow us to achieve an orderly reduction in service to these destinations that minimizes the impact on our customers and will support important public health goals to manage COVID-19. System-wide the incremental impact on Air Canada's cash burn is not material given the already reduced levels of passenger traffic resulting from COVID-19 and travel restrictions," said Calin Rovinescu, president and chief executive officer at Air Canada.

Following consultations with the federal government, Air Canada has agreed to suspend operations to 15 destinations beginning Jan. 31 until April 30. To help ensure Canadians are not stranded abroad, Air Canada plans to operate a number of one-way commercial flights from affected destinations after Jan. 31 in order to return customers at the suspended destinations to Canada.

Affected customers will be offered full refunds given the services are being suspended with no alternative available.

Suspended destinations include:

Read the original post:

Air Canada to Suspend Flights to the Caribbean and Mexico - AviationPros.com

An exceptional weekend ahead for 15 entries of the 3rd Annual Caribbean Multihull Challenge – Sail World

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

by Sint Maarten Yacht Club 5 Feb 05:46 PST 6-7 February 2021

Racing a Regatta, it seems almost like a foreign activity these days, but not in Sint Maarten! 15 participants will compete in the third annual Caribbean Multihull Challenge this upcoming weekend, Feb 6 - 7 and it is bound to be exceptional.

Competitors will be racing in the first Caribbean Regatta of the season and the competition is looking top-notch. Racing will commence in Simpson Bay and participants will be navigating their boats through the crystal-clear waters surrounding Sint Maarten, in what looks to be a steady 20 knot breeze.

Entered for this year's Caribbean Multihull Challenge is a mix of hot racing machines, such as Todd Slyngstad's Nemo, a HH66, which will be up against the third-place winner of last year's Multihull 1 division Arawak, a Joubert-Nivelt Custom design, and the first-place winner of the multihull 2 division Tryst, a Dick Newick design.

Todd is no stranger to racing in Sint Maarten having competed in the first edition of the Caribbean Multihull Challenge in 2019 on Fujin. This boat, owned by his brother Greg Slyngstad, former Microsoft executive, was flying down the courses at double-figure boat speeds, so it came as no surprise that they took home the Most Worthy Performance Trophy. Let us see if Nemo finds a way to success this year! Local competitors Enola and Le Tri should not be underestimated and could very well be boats to watch in this class.

In the Multihull Cruising Class we find an eclectic group of competitors, including 3 Leopards: the 47-footer Seaduction, Spellbound a 45-foot Leopard and the Leopard 46 Aravilla, newly acquired by Dana Clark. Whereas Seaduction and Spellbound are skippered and owned by local sailing veterans Petro Jonker and Ian Martin, Dana Clark is bringing in local knowledge through the Kidz at Sea Program taking several students on board Aravilla.

While the Leopards will have a battle of their own, let's not forget about the other entries in the cruising class. Jetwave Avalon, owned by Andrew Morgan from Perth, Australia, is a Peter Wormwood Ocean 55, described by Andrew as "a big version of the Stiletto Small Racing Cat". Having spent the lockdown in the Caribbean he could not miss out on sailing the Caribbean Multihull Challenge in Sint Maarten. Another cat to appear on the line for the cruising class start is Jean-Michel Ricourt's Guimamalou.

New to the Caribbean Multihull Challenge are the F18s, better known in the Caribbean as the beach cats. With five entries they have their own class and will fly up and down Simpson Bay on lengthy windward leeward courses. You better set up your chair in Simpson Bay Beach because these sporty boats are spectacular to watch.

This year a lot of praise goes to the sponsors and supporters of the event. These challenging times make it difficult to organize anything, let alone an event of such magnitude.

"We always pride ourselves on our planning and organizational skills, but this year we just didn't know what to expect. Can people come, how many people can we expect, will people want to race, so many questions were not answered until the past couple of weeks. Praise goes to our terrific and loyal sponsors, Caribbean Multihulls, Moorings, Yacht Club Port de Plaisance and Oris who stuck with us through all the uncertainty and last-minute decision making. Divico and Amstel Bright are applauded for joining the sponsor pool this year and of course we can be most grateful for the Maritime School of the West Indies, Celine Charters and Zeebest for supporting us with the logistics. The Sint Maarten Yacht Club can be proud of having such great international and local support!" states General Manager, Michele Korteweg.

Racing will start this Saturday in Simpson Bay, this two-day event will finish on Sunday with a prize-giving at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club implementing proper COVID protocols.

More information at http://www.smyc.com/caribbean-multihull-challenge

Read the original post:

An exceptional weekend ahead for 15 entries of the 3rd Annual Caribbean Multihull Challenge - Sail World

Caribbean World Series: Would Cuba have done well if invited to this years tournament? – Call to the Pen

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

From what my eyes have seen in this Caribbean World Series so far as talent goes, I believe the exclusion of Cuba from the tournament was a grave mistake. Subpar Venezuelan, Colombian, and Panamanian squads have made some games unbearable to watch.

Would Cuba have fared well in this edition of the Serie del Caribe? Plenty of factors have led me to assume they would. In my opinion, only the Dominicans (guilas Cibaeas) on paper would have a better squad.

My first reason would be the offensive firepower Cuba would bring into the tournament. A lineup with Nippon Leaguers Alfredo Despaigne, Ariel Martnez, and Yurisbel Gracial to start would be problematic for plenty of these pitching staffs in the tournament. Now we also need to factor in Erisbel Arruebarruena who hit .333 with 10 dingers and 23 runs batted in with Guasave in Mxico this winter. Roel Santos and Yoelkis Guibert would bring dynamic speed and occasional power to this lineup, while Lisban Correa and his 30 dingers in Cuba this season would add more thunder to an already loaded batting order.

Cesar Prieto, who is Cubas most sought after prospect would also add a versatile and clutch hitter to a lineup of mashers. In my opinion, Cans presence in this tournament would keep Prieto from being the best second baseman in the series.

A pitching rotation headed by Yariel Rodrguez of the Chunichi Dragons and Saltillos Lzaro Blanco who is 4-1 with 1.22 earned run average in the CWS would rival even the DRs staff. Lefty Yoennis Yera who was 3-0 with a 3.58 ERA in Mxico this winter would also give Cuba a quality lefty in the rotation. A bullpen that would include flamethrowers Livn Moinelo (NPBs Pacific Division Pitcher of the Year), Raidel Martnez (21 saves in NPB), Andy Rodrguez (SoftBank Hawks), and Yunior Tur would be very formidable.

Cubas bench would be staffed by Rafael Viales who hit 19 long balls this season in Cuba and can play everything on the field, except pitch. Yordan Manduleys inclusion would also add versatility to the bench and a timely bat, while Guillermo Avils and Yordanis Samn would add thunder and options in late inning situations. Santiago Torres at second and Geisel Cepeda ( the legendary Frederich Cepedas cousin) would round out the bench with another two of Cubas top prospects at their positions.

Leaving Cuba out only takes away from the tournaments attractiveness, appeal, and lore. A solution must be found to include the largest of the Antilles in the Caribbean Series.

Cubas record in the last three Caribbean Series it participated in (not counting the Semifinal and Final):

2017:3-1 (Semifinalist)2018:3-1 ( Semifinalist)2019:2-2 ( Runner-up)

Between 2017-2019 Cuba went 8-4, this Cuban team man for man can only be matched by a Dominican Republic squad this is chock full of major leaguers on paper.

What a Cuban team could have possibly looked for the Serie del Caribe and what team each player plays with outside of Cuba:

Lineup:

Roel Santos CF (Tabasco/Hermosillo)Csar Prieto 2B (Tabasco)Yurisbel Gracial 3B (SoftBank)Alfredo Despaigne DH (SoftBank)Lisban Correa 1BErisbel Arruebarrena SS (Guasave)Ariel Martnez C (Chunichi)Dennys Laza RFYoelkis Guibert LF (Culiacn)

Rotation:

Yariel Rodrguez RHP (Chunichi)Lzaro Blanco RHP (Saltillo)Carlos Juan Viera RHP (Los Mochis/Saltillo)Yoennis Yera LHP (Guasave/Saltillo)Vladimir Baos RHP

Bench:

Yordan Manduley SS (Magallanes)Guillermo Avils 1B (Los Mochis)Yordanis Samn DHRafael Viales tilSantiago Torres INFGeisel Cepeda OF

Bullpen:

Pablo Guillen RHP (Aragua)Yoen Socarras RHPFrank Madan RHPFrank Medina RHPYunior Tur RHPAndy Rodrguez RHP (SoftBank)Livan Moinelo LHP (SoftBank)Raidel Martnez RHP (Chunichi)

Read the original post:

Caribbean World Series: Would Cuba have done well if invited to this years tournament? - Call to the Pen

Select Page ::