IIED at the UN Ocean Conference

IIED and partners will be hosting and participating in several events at the UN Ocean Conference from 27 June to 1 July, in Lisbon, Portugal.

The ocean covers 70% of the Earth’s surface and is home to up to 80% of all life. It generates 50% of the oxygen we need, absorbs 25% of all carbon dioxide emissions and captures 90% of the additional heat generated from those emissions. 

The first UN Ocean Conference, in 2017, was seen as a game changer in alerting the world to the ocean’s problems.

The UN Ocean Conference is designed to provide a space for the international community to push for the adoption of innovative, science-based solutions for the sustainable management of the oceans.

2022 is also the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022). IIED is a supporter of IYAFA 2022, whose vision statement is “a world in which small-scale artisanal fishers, fishfarmers and fish workers are fully recognised and empowered to continue their contributions to human wellbeing, healthy food systems and poverty eradication through the responsible and sustainable use of fisheries and aquaculture resources.”

IIED’s researchers and partners will be among those in Lisbon showing how small-scale fisheries and aquaculture are crucial to people’s nutrition, food security, sustainable livelihoods and wellbeing worldwide.


Saturday, 25 June 2022 

Oceans media workshop – reporting on Lisbon

Press briefing 

Hosted by: China Dialogue Trust and Earth Journalism Network

IIED’s Cristina Pita will be on a panel discussing the challenges and solutions to sustainable fisheries, looking at: illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; subsidies; governance; small-scale fisheries; technology and capacity-building. This is an invitation-only event for journalists from developing countries.


Monday, 27 June 2022

Small in scale, big in value: stocktaking, partnerships and solutions in support of small-scale fisheries 

Side event

Time: 11.30am-12.45pm
Venue: Side event room 1
Hosted by: Government of Peru with Sweden, Norway and FAO
Partners: Including IIED; members of the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA) 2022 International Steering Committee (ISC); and official IYAFA 2022 supporters

Speakers: Including Mario Jesus Cavero Polo, vice ministry of Fishing and Aquaculture, Peru, IYAFA 2022 ISC chair; minister of international development, Norway; IPC Working Group on Fisheries member; minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia; Shakuntala Thilsted, WorldFish, Winner of the 2021 World Food Prize; Tanzania government representative; Chef Rodrigo Pacheco, Latin America; Manuel Barange, director, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, FAO 

Small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers hold enormous potential to promote transformative changes in how, by whom and for whom fish and fishery products are produced, processed and distributed – with positive ripple effects felt throughout the global food system. 

The IYAFA 2022 UN Oceans side event will provide information to delegates to inform their deliberations on Sustainable Development Goal 14 while emphasising interlinkages between the goals towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. It will take participants on an inspiring journey across regions, told by fishers, fish workers, policymakers and others on how to provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.

 Increasing the visibility of artisanal small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers


Wednesday, 29 June 2022

Sustainable fishing: solutions and innovations to help developing economy and small-scale fisheries in Indonesia and beyond

Side event

Time: 10-11am
Venue: Pacifico 1+2, Hotel Melia Lisboa Oriente, Avenida Dom João II, 1990-083 Lisbon
Hosted by: Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), government of Indonesia

Over a third of global fish stocks are overfished. However, there is growing evidence that fishing sustainably protects the ocean and can support communities and economies dependent on fishing indefinitely. But small-scale fisheries and developing economies often lack the investment, data, management structures and knowledge to ensure sustainable fishing.

These countries are also disproportionately reliant on fishing for economic growth, livelihoods and food. Fifty-four per cent of the global export value of fish comes from developing economies: they account for most of the world’s 39 million wild capture fishing jobs, primarily within small-scale fisheries and fish provides over 50% of the protein intake in many developing economies. As a result, failure to support these vital fisheries threatens the delivery of multiple SDG targets. 

At a panel discussion which will include IIED’s Cristina Pita, participants will hear from Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in Indonesia, about the Indonesian government’s work with the Marine Stewardship Council and others to identify challenges facing fisheries, gather better data and develop a fisheries action plan resulting in 50 Fisheries Improvement Projects bringing together stakeholders from industry, NGOs and government to help fisheries move towards better management practices.

This event will be held in person and has limited space. Registration is essential

‘Historic increase’ in pensions in 2023, says PM – ECO News

Portugal’s prime minister said on Monday the government would comply with the law, and in 2023 there would be a “historic increase” in the value of pensions by the combined effect of the drastic rise in inflation and high economic growth recorded this year.

This perspective on the evolution of pensions next year was transmitted by António Costa at a CNN Portugal conference, which included a special broadcast of the programme “The Uncertainty Principle”.

Asked by journalist Carlos Andrade, the programme’s moderator, about the budgetary strategy of his executive to respond to the phenomena of rising inflation and interest rates, António Costa maintained that in the last six years, from a political point of view, it has already “become clear that the government has a conservative logic in budgetary management”.

“The government always prepares for the worst, always wishing for the best – and so far, it has turned out well. But if the interest rate rises, we know that expenditure on interest rates will surely increase,” he pointed out.

Regarding forecasts for inflation, Costa said that, as a result of this upward trajectory, next year, “the increase in pensions will be historic”.

“There is not the slightest doubt that we will comply with the formula that has existed since the 2007 reform. The laws exist to be complied with”, stressed António Costa, having former social-democratic leader Pacheco Pereira and socialist deputy and former minister Alexandra Leitão in the audience.

According to Costa, this law “means that next year there will be a historic increase in the value of pensions”.

“An increase due to the combination of registering this year an abnormally high value of growth very much by the comparative effect of last year and a historical increase also very significant of the inflation rate,” he justified.

“These two effects combined will generate a large increase in pensions next year. This is data that we know,” added the prime minister.

In this programme, he insisted on his government’s goal to conclude an agreement on competitiveness and income within the framework of social dialogue, “foreseeing, precisely, how the goal of the weight of wages in Gross Domestic Product being equal to the European average, that is, 48%, can be achieved.

Regarding salaries, namely in public administration, António Costa reaffirmed the principle that the update would be negotiated with the unions next year.

“It will consider the principle of annual updating, which will be maintained. Secondly, we are going to keep the careers unfrozen. That will happen next year. And what is the amount? That will have to be negotiated with the unions,” he insisted.

UCI Baseball Loses Final Game of Series vs. Kansas State, 5-3

The UC Irvine Baseball team (22-15, 9-6) lost to the Kansas State Wildcats (21-18, 3-9), 5-3, at Frank Myers Field at Tointon Family Stadium on April 24. This match concluded a three-game weekend series against the Big-12 opponent, in which Kansas State won two games and UCI won one. 

Strong fielding defined the first inning as both UCI and KSU failed to score any runs in the nascent moments of the game. Although Kansas State’s junior outfield Dylan Phillips was able to steal second base to put the Wildcats in scoring position, a flyout caught by UCI’s redshirt junior infielder Justin Torres promptly ended the inning.

Torres carried that defensive momentum over to his offense, knocking a ball out to center field for a single and then stealing second to put the Anteaters in scoring position with no outs. Then, UCI played fundamentally to earn the first run of the match-up. Sophomore catcher Thomas McCaffrey hit a single, freshman outfield Myles Smith hit a sacrifice bunt to advance runners, and then a fly out from redshirt sophomore outfield Luke Spillane got Torres home. UCI led 1-0 in the second inning.

UCI’s lead did not last long with KSU’s redshirt freshman infielder Brady Day’s homer to right field to tie it up at one apiece. 

In the third, UCI’s redshirt senior first baseman Ben Fitzgerald hit a home run for an RBI single to take back the lead for UCI, 2-1. Both teams were unable to score the rest of the inning, continuing into the fourth.

However, the Wildcats took complete control of the game in the fifth and sixth innings. KSU’s sophomore infielder Nick Goodwin dinged one home for two runs in the bottom of the fifth to lead 3-2. Then in the sixth, junior outfielder Cole Johnson hit a homer for two more runs to put Kansas State ahead, 5-2. 90 pitches in, UCI head coach Ben Orloff had no choice but to send relief in for starting redshirt sophomore pitcher Cameron Wheeler.

UCI had a chance to tie the game up at the top of the eighth. With two Anteaters on base, sophomore catcher Abraham Garcia-Pacheco hit a single to bring graduate infielder Jacob Castro home. UCI failed to capitalize and ended the inning with two runners on base, trailing 5-3.

The Anteaters could not get on base in the ninth and lost the final game of the weekend, 5-3. In the end, UCI left 10 runners on base compared to KSU’s four.

Looking ahead, UCI will jump from Big-12 to Pac-12 as they take on the UCLA Bruins at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Tuesday, April 26 at 6 p.m. for a single game. 

Angus Wong is a Sports Staff Writer for the spring 2022 quarter. He can be reached at [email protected].

Brett Day on Instagram: “I don’t think I have ever seen as many Blue Jays as I have over the last few days. This flappyboi was singing his song early this morning. Gear: Pentax K-3 III, Pentax DA* 300mm f/4 #birds #birbs #oklahoma #bluejay #birdwatching #birdphotography #nature #naturelover #k3markiii #pentaxk3iii #k3iii #teamricohimaging #teampentax #shootpentax #birdsofinstagram”

[]
0&&j(“Error receiving SSRData: missing keys “+g.toString());var h=document.getElementById(a.eid),i=[];h?a.gks.mwp_ssr_enabled?u(h):l():j(“Error locating root element: “+a.eid);function j(a){if(k())return;d=!0;eventEmitter.emitOnce(“FIRSTPAYLOADINJECTED”,!1);v(a,”ERROR”)}function k(){return!!e&&e.status===”ERROR”||d}function l(){j(a.disabled_status)}function m(b){window.qpl_inl(a.cavalry_get_lid,b)}function n(a){p(a)||j(“Checks for useMatchViewport failed”)}function o(b){if(k())return;var c=b[0];if(!c){j(“Empty SSR payload received”);return}i.push.apply(i,b);r(b);b=c.fizzRootId;var d=c.payloadType,e=c.status;if(b===null||!d||e!==a.success_status){if(e===a.disabled_status||e===a.bad_preloaders_status||e===a.unknown_boundaries_status){l();return}j(“Error processing SSR payload “+(c.id||”Global”)+”: “+e);return}d===”FIRST”?(s(b||””),f=!0):d===”LAST”&&(f||s(b||””),m(“ssr_injected”),m(“ssr_inline_injector_ready”),v(“”,”INJECTED”))}function p(a){return!window.matchMedia?!1:a.every(function(a){var b=a.dimension,c=a.numPixels,d=a.operation;a=a.result;d=q(d,b,c);return window.matchMedia(d).matches===a})}function q(a,b,c){return”(“+a+”-“+b+”: “+c+”px)”}function r(a){a.forEach(function(a){m(“ssr_received_”+(a.id||”global_failure”))})}function s(b){while(h==null?void 0:h.firstChild)(h==null?void 0:h.lastChild)&&h.removeChild(h==null?void 0:h.lastChild);b=document.getElementById(b);if(h&&b){var c=b.childNodes;while(c.length)h.appendChild(c[0]);b.remove()}a.gks.comet_ssr_wait_for_dev||t()}function t(){eventEmitter.emitOnce(“FIRSTPAYLOADINJECTED”,!0)}function u(a){a.style.display=”none”}function v(d,f){window.__onSSRPayload=b,window.__onSSRViewportGuessValidation=b,a.gks.comet_ssr_wait_for_dev||t(),e={clickEvents:c,msg:d,processedPayloads:i,status:f,unbindListeners:b},eventEmitter.emitOnce(“ALLPAYLOADSINJECTED”,e)}window.__isReactFizzContext=!0;window.__onSSRPayload=o;window.__SSREventEmitter=eventEmitter;window.__invalidateSSR=j;window.__logSSRQPL=m;window.__onSSRViewportGuessValidation=n;window.__shouldIgnoreSSRStaticId=a.should_ignore_static_id;a.gks.comet_ssr_wait_for_dev&&(window.__comet_ssr_continue=function(){t()});typeof window.requireLazy===”function”&&window.requireLazy([“ReactDOMComet”],function(a){m(“ssr_reactdom_ready”)})};var eventEmitter={emit:function(a,b){eventEmitter.events[a]&&eventEmitter.events[a].map(function(a){return a&&typeof a===”function”&&a(b)}),eventEmitter.eventsEmitted[a]={args:b}},emitOnce:function(a,b){a in eventEmitter.eventsEmitted||eventEmitter.emit(a,b)},events:{},eventsEmitted:{},on:function(a,b){var c=eventEmitter.eventsEmitted[a];if(c){b&&typeof b===”function”&&b(c.args);return}!eventEmitter.events[a]?eventEmitter.events[a]=[b]:eventEmitter.events[a].push(b)}};]]> Brett Day on Instagram: “I don’t think I have ever seen as many Blue Jays as I have over the last few days. This flappyboi was singing his song early this morning. Gear: Pentax K-3 III, Pentax DA* 300mm f/4 #birds #birbs #oklahoma #bluejay #birdwatching #birdphotography #nature #naturelover #k3markiii #pentaxk3iii #k3iii #teamricohimaging #teampentax #shootpentax #birdsofinstagram” hc&&document.documentElement.classList.add(“_8ykn”);]]>

Source

Tagged:

Pastor-led shelters bring schooling options to migrant kids

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — His completed geometry exercise in hand and a smile lighting up his eyes above his face mask, Victor Rodas rushed to the teacher as other students were still drawing.

“I’m winning the race!” the 12-year-old exclaimed. “I’m already done, teacher. I beat everyone.”

Being enrolled in a school program designed for migrant children in Ciudad Juarez, Victor does have a leg up on many others like him who, fleeing poverty and violence, lose months or even years of schooling on their journeys.

Giving them access to education is a daunting and urgent challenge.

Just in this vast desert metropolis next to El Paso, Texas, thousands of migrant families have hunkered in shelters, waiting to cross into the United States. They’re prevented from seeking asylum there by U.S. policies that made some wait in Mexico for their court hearings and banned others under a pandemic-era order set to expire May 23.

Pastor-run shelters have partnered with educators to help — either busing children to an alternative school that teaches everything from math to reading to dealing with emotions, or bringing in specially accredited teachers.

While the curriculum is not religious, faith animates these projects, as it does many other migrant relief efforts at the border. It also informs many of the educators, who recognize schooling as crucial to the youths’ future, including their ability to socialize and eventually find jobs and feel at home wherever they end up.

“They get integrated in the educational system so they can keep gaining confidence,” said Teresa Almada, who runs Casa Kolping, where Victor studies, through a local organization funded three decades ago by lay members of Catholic parishes. “It’s also important … that the families feel they’re not in hostile territory.”

Victor’s oldest sister, Katherine Rodas, 22, fled death threats in Honduras with him and two other siblings she raised after their mother died. While she and her husband are so fearful of gangs that they don’t dare leave their Catholic-run shelter, she leapt at the chance for the children to be bused to Casa Kolping.

“They say the teacher always takes good care of them, plays with them,” Rodas said. “They feel safe there.”

Their shelter, Casa Oscar Romero, is named for a beloved Salvadoran archbishop, known for ministering to the poor, who was assassinated during his country’s civil war and later made a saint by Pope Francis. Many housed at this shelter and elsewhere in Ciudad Juarez fled Central America; growing numbers of Mexican families from areas engulfed in cartel warfare are arriving, too.

For a while after the school program started in October, teachers encouraged parents to join their children in the classrooms to build trust. Among them was Lucia, a single mother of three who fled the Mexican state of Michoacan after a drug cartel “took over the harvest and everything” in their home. She asked to be identified by just her first name for safety.

“Education is important so that they can develop as people and they’ll be able to defend themselves from whatever life will put before them,” Lucia said as she made breakfast in the small communal kitchen at the shelter, where the family had lived for nine months.

Her daughter Carol, 8, already had on her mask and pink backpack, ready to run ahead of the pack as soon as the school bus’s arrival was announced.

About three dozen children from Casa Oscar Romero and another religious-run shelter attend Casa Kolping. First to third graders like Carol gather in one classroom, and fourth to sixth graders like Victor meet across the hallway in a large room whose windows frame views of El Paso’s mountains.

Across the border, Victor imagines, schools will be “big, well-cared for,” and will help him reach his goal of becoming an architect. He already practices drawing detailed houses, when he can find paper.

“If you ask the kids, their biggest dream is to cross to the United States,” said teacher Yolanda Garcia.

Many parents see no point in enrolling children in school in Mexico, where they don’t plan to stay. Also, many public educators are reluctant to admit migrant students, for fear of losing teacher slots if class sizes shrink when they leave suddenly, said Dora Espinoza, a primary school principal in Ciudad Juarez. She actively reaches out to families, including at a shelter two blocks from her classrooms.

“Why all that paperwork if the kid is going to be gone in two weeks” is one argument that makes promoting child migrant education such a challenge, said Paola Gómez, Mexico’s education officer for UNICEF. The U.N. child protection agency helps finance Casa Kolping as a pilot program, where attendance gets a kid transferable credit for both Mexican and U.S. schools.

In addition to uncertainty, poverty and discrimination keep nearly half of refugee children from school worldwide, according to the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR.

But the biggest barrier is insecurity. Hounded by violence in their hometowns and preyed upon by gangs along the journey — often right up to a shelter’s doors — many parents are afraid to let children out of their sight.

The faith-run programs address that by providing secure transportation, as in the case of Casa Kolping, or bringing instructors directly to the migrants, as in the case of another Ciudad Juarez shelter, Buen Samaritano, Spanish for good Samaritan.

Still, the children take serious traumas with them to the classroom.

“‘Teacher, I’m here because they murdered my parents.’ They tell it in detail, children don’t cover anything up,” said Samuel Jimenéz, a teacher at Buen Samaritano on a recent blustery afternoon. “In the moment they’re here, we can take them out of that reality. They forget it.”

Led by a Methodist pastor and his wife, Buen Samaritano housed more than 70 migrants that day, half of them minors. Children swept swirling desert dust out of the temple area, where the altar was curtained off to create the classroom.

Ten-year-old Aritzi Ciriaco, a fourth grader from Michoacan who had been at Buen Samaritano since August with her parents and grandparents, couldn’t wait to get started on the day’s Spanish exercises. She worried that learning English and navigating U.S. schools would be hard once they cross the border.

“The teachers were telling me that there you can’t miss a single class,” Aritzi said “Still, it’s good to know other countries.”

Other challenges for the instructors include catching up students who arrive unable to read or write.

“We are faced with all kinds of falling behind,” said Garcia at Casa Kolping. “But most of all, with a lot of desire to learn. They missed school. When you give them their notebooks, the emotion on their face … some even tell you, ‘How lovely it feels to learn.’”

One chilly spring morning, one of her students, Juan Pacheco, 12, struggled with a punctuation exercise taught in Spanish — his first language is Mixtec, one of the many Indigenous tongues in Mexico and Central America.

He had spent more than eight months at Casa Oscar Romero after his family fled the Mexican state of Guerrero, where cartel fighting made it too dangerous to farm even their meager plot of beans.

But with some coaching, Juan successfully completed another task faster than his classmates: drawing a banknote, a cooking pot, a radish and an ear of corn, and explaining which one didn’t fit with the others.

“I don’t like to talk much, but yes, I’m a good student,” Juan said, beaming.

LONG BEACH’S SUBLIME CELEBRATE 420 WITH THE FIRST-EVER MUSIC VIDEO FOR THE “40 OZ. TO FREEDOM” ANTHEM “SMOKE TWO JOINTS”

THE VIDEO FOR SUBLIME’S BAKED COVER MARKS ANOTHER CHAPTER IN THE ONGOING 30th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLASSIC ALBUM

WATCH THE “SMOKE TWO JOINTS” VIDEO HERE

LOS ANGELES, April 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Sublime, the Long Beach reggae-punk trio, unveil the first-ever official music video for “Smoke Two Joints,” the stoner classic from their immortal 1992 debut LP 40 Oz. to Freedom. Directed by Scott Felix, the video follows the care-free morning, afternoon and night journey of a young skater (played by Maleah Goldeberg) as she cruises through 90’s Long Beach with a posse of fellow skaters which features OG Sublime friends DJ PRODUCT 1969© and The Dagger Crew. The video also features a special appearance of Sublime’s original touring van in all its glory.

Sublime found their niche at house parties: uniting Rastas, surfers, skaters, frat boys, cholos and ink-covered outcasts with a free-flowing melting pot approach that, much like the region itself, was impossible to pigeonhole. 

This video for “Smoke Two Joints” was produced by Miranda Pacheco and executive-produced by Surfdog/DKM, Leonard Williams, Dane Morck, and the Sunflower Pictures. Shane Paul McGhie plays Dr. Toby; Cyrus Hobbi plays Security Guard Denton; Doug Kampner and Tricia Cruz play her scolding mom and dad.

Earlier this year, Sublime also launched their official cannabis line REEFERS by Sublime with its first available offering, a ‘Smoke Two Joints‘ two-pack of curated cannabis pre-rolls, exclusively available now at select Southern California licensed retail dispensaries including 420 Central in Santa Ana & Costa Mesa.

Sublime took this novelty song from an obscure Oregon jam-reggae group, The Toyes, and turned it into a stoner anthem. The turntable cuts juxtapose Beyond the Valley of the Dolls reefer madness propaganda with a sampledelic scratched hook supplied by Eazy-E. And this dropped in ’92, far before the legion of DJ Premier imitators made the sound the boom-bap default. Apart from the Beastie Boys and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (whose Freaky Styley was a fundamental influence), few others had yet synthesized hip-hop into guitar music so artfully.

Sublime’s double-platinum selling 40oz. to Freedom belonged to Long Beach, to Los Angeles, to California. It invents its own wild dialect with a shaggy genius often lost in translation, a series of obscene surprises, soundtracking a house party that never ends, always in danger of getting busted up. 

About Sublime: “We’re not trying to write punk rock. We’re not trying to write reggae. We’re not trying to write ska,” Sublime’s Bradley Nowell told KROQ in 1995. “We’re just trying to write a good song.” They did exactly that—time and time again. “What I Got,” “Santeria,” “Wrong Way,” and “Doin’ Time” remain innovative staples from the ’90s alternative boom. But they accomplished even more: In less than a decade within the national limelightthe laid-back Long Beach trio spawned an entire genre—fusing reggae grooves, punk grittiness, ska energy, back porch folk introspection, and hip-hop swagger. Decades after the tragic death of singer-songwriter Bradley Nowell, Sublime remains an institution: They’ve sold over 18 million albums to date, their songs have been streamed almost 3 billion times (and counting); and their merchandise, emblazoned with the iconic sun logo, dominates sales at retailers like Target, Urban Outfitters, Hot Topic, Spencer Gifts and Walmart. Most importantly, the music remains timeless—a rite of passage for misfit listeners who refuse to color within the lines of conventional genre. 

About UME: Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) is the global catalog and special markets division of Universal Music Group. Working closely in concert with UMG’s record labels, territories, and operating companies, UMe provides a frontline approach to catalog management, an emphasis on strategic marketing initiatives and creating opportunities in new technologies.

About Surfdog/DKM: Surfdog/DKM is an entertainment company, founded in 1985 and located in Encinitas, CA, which includes DKM Management, Surfdog Records, Surfdog & Surfmutt Music Publishing, and Surfdog’s Java Hut Cafe. Surfdog/DKM has a diverse and acclaimed roster and, since its inception, has worked with a number of legendary and iconic artists, including Brian Setzer, Eric Clapton, UB40, Sublime, Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics), Glen Campbell, Joss Stone, Stray Cats, Butthole Surfers, Dan Hicks, Slightly Stoopid, and many others. Surfdog/DKM is involved with several environmental charities including Oceana, Surfrider Foundation, Sea Shepherd, among many others, and is proud that our Encinitas offices are GreenPoint Rated and operate as a certified California Green Business and remain a member in good standing with 1% For The Planet.

SOURCE Universal Music Enterprises

NFL teams under pressure as option deadline looms | Yardbarker

The deadline for teams to exercise the fifth-year options on first-round picks from the 2020 NFL Draft approaches, and teams must make their decision by May 2. As the pressure rises, teams will make hard decisions on whether to give large one-year guarantees to players who already required investments of high draft capital.

With a week to go, only five of the 32 players selected in the first round have had their options picked up: quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa, wide receivers Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs. However, a few remaining names feel like a matter of “when” and not “if,” like quarterback Justin Herbert and cornerback A.J. Terrell.

While some choices feel like no-brainers, others are more difficult. The Green Bay Packers, who recently traded away long-time quarterback Aaron Rodgers, are looking toward a dilemma with quarterback Jordan Love. Despite entering his fourth season in the NFL, Love has played just 10 games for The Pack, starting one.

Love is expected to be the team’s starter next season, but the Packers will have to make a decision on his fifth-year option before then. With Love not meeting specific thresholds due to a lack of snaps played, his price tag would be a guaranteed $20.27 million in 2024. If the Packers decline his option, Love will be a free agent following the 2023 season, but if they accept it, the Packers will be tied to the Utah State product for guaranteed money regardless of how he performs in his first full season.

The large quantity of guaranteed money is part of what makes the process of the fifth-year option so difficult. Some teams may decline fifth-year options because of injury concerns, such as the Washington Commanders and the New York Jets.

Chase Young, a former No. 2 pick for Washington, has played just 12 games over the last two seasons. While the Commanders most likely will want to retain the former Defensive Rookie of the Year, his guaranteed $17.45 million price tag may be too much for his injury risk. Similarly, Jets tackle Mekhi Becton has played just one game over his last two seasons, making his cost of $12.57 million a lot to handle.

Another interesting player to monitor is Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The former LSU Tiger fell out of favor in the Chiefs backfield in the 2022 season, playing a career-low snap rate of 32%. With the emergence of rookie seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco, the price of Edwards-Helaire’s option may be more than the Chiefs are willing to accept. Despite being the cheapest of all the options from the 2020 NFL Draft, Edwards-Helaire would be owed more in 2024 ($5.46 million) than Pacheco’s entire rookie deal ($3.74 million).

Another tough call will come from the Denver Broncos, who have reportedly been shopping wide receiver Jerry Jeudy ahead of the 2023 season. Jeudy is owed a potential $14.12 million on his fifth-year option, and the Broncos don’t seem to want to be the team to make that decision.

Jeudy has been good, catching 157 passes for 2,295 yards and nine touchdowns so far in his NFL career. However, he might not have made the jump toward stardom that was expected of him yet. The Broncos are currently projected to be nearly $31 million over the cap in 2024, according to Spotrac, and with Denver facing a financial crunch, Jeudy may have to be a casualty the team will be forced to accept.

Pacheco Information Technologies: Revolutionizing Online Retail

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Internet of Things (IoT) Technologies
    1. Positives of IoT in Online Retail
    2. Negatives of IoT in Online Retail
  3. Data Analysis and Big Data in Online Retail
  4. Blockchain in Online Retail
  5. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Online Retail
  6. The Future of Online Retail
  7. Conclusion

Online retail has been revolutionized by the rapid advancements in technology. In recent years, this sector has garnered a significant amount of attention due to the emergence of Pacheco Information Technologies, a company that has been at the forefront of innovative solutions. This article explores the various technologies employed by Pacheco Information Technologies, as well as the benefits and drawbacks these innovations bring to the online retail space.

Internet of Things (IoT) Technologies

IoT technologies have enabled devices to communicate seamlessly with one another, improving the efficiency of data collection and transfer. Online retail businesses have incorporated IoT to optimize supply chain management, create targeted marketing campaigns, and enhance overall customer experience.

Positives and Negatives of IoT in Online Retail:

Positives of IoT in Online Retail

  • Improved Inventory Management: IoT allows for real-time tracking of inventory, reducing stockouts and ensuring proper stock levels.
  • Personalized Marketing: The data gathered from IoT devices can help create targeted marketing campaigns to cater to individual customer preferences.
  • Enhanced Customer Experience: IoT can provide customers with a seamless and efficient shopping experience, from personalized recommendations to simplified payment processes.

Negatives of IoT in Online Retail

  • Security Concerns: The increasing connectivity of devices heightens the risk of cyber-attacks and data breaches.
  • Privacy Issues: The collection of large amounts of customer data can lead to potential privacy concerns and the misuse of personal information.
  • Costs: Implementing and maintaining IoT systems can be expensive for small and medium-sized online retailers.

Data Analysis and Big Data in Online Retail

With the surge in available customer data, online retailers are leveraging data analysis and big data technologies to gain powerful insights into consumer behavior. Pacheco Information Technologies offers various data analysis tools and solutions, leading to improved decision-making and enhanced business performance.

Benefits of Data Analysis and Big Data:

  • Better Decision Making: Retailers gain insights into customer trends and preferences, enabling more informed decisions on pricing, inventory, and promotions.
  • Increased Sales: Data analysis tools can analyze historical sales data to help predict future trends and optimize supply chain operations.
  • Improved Customer Satisfaction: Understanding customer preferences through data analysis enables retailers to create personalized experiences and develop more effective marketing campaigns.

Blockchain in Online Retail

Pacheco Information Technologies also offers blockchain solutions for online retailers. Blockchain technology introduces a secure and transparent environment for digital transactions. This innovation combats issues such as fraud and increases trust throughout the supply chain.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Blockchain:

Advantages of Blockchain in Online Retail

  1. Enhanced Security: The decentralized nature of blockchain technology ensures greater security, preventing unauthorized access and tampering.
  2. Increased Trust: Blockchain’s transparent record-keeping fosters trust among consumers and other stakeholders within the supply chain.
  3. Reduced Costs: The elimination of intermediaries lowers transaction costs and fees, making processes more efficient.

Disadvantages of Blockchain in Online Retail

  1. Scalability Issues: Due to the growing size of data blocks, blockchain may encounter scalability and performance issues.
  2. Regulatory Uncertainty: The ever-evolving regulatory landscape can pose challenges and complications for businesses using blockchain technology.
  3. Complexity: Blockchain’s complex nature may deter smaller businesses from adopting the technology, impacting its potential for widespread usage.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Online Retail

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have transformed various aspects of online retail, ranging from marketing to customer service. Pacheco Information Technologies utilizes AI/ML to provide smart solutions, helping retailers stay ahead of their competition.

Benefits and Drawbacks of AI and ML in Online Retail:

Benefits of AI and ML in Online Retail

  • Improved Personalization: AI-powered recommendations and marketing strategies cater to individual customer preferences.
  • Enhanced Customer Support: Virtual assistants and chatbots provide instant, 24/7 customer assistance.
  • Predictive Analysis: Machine learning models help predict trends and customer behavior, optimizing various business strategies.

Drawbacks of AI and ML in Online Retail

  • Implementation Costs: The upfront cost of implementing AI and ML solutions can be a barrier to entry for some businesses.
  • Data Privacy Concerns: Risks associated with data collection and storage involve potential breaches of customer privacy.
  • Workforce Displacement: The automation of various tasks may lead to job losses and reduced need for human labor.

The Future of Online Retail

As Pacheco Information Technologies continues to innovate and develop cutting-edge solutions, the future of online retail promises increased efficiency, personalization, and data-driven decision-making. However, businesses must carefully balance the use of these technologies with considerations for security, privacy, and potential workforce displacement.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Pacheco Information Technologies has played a significant role in revolutionizing the online retail landscape. IoT, data analysis, blockchain, and AI/ML technologies have fundamentally changed the way businesses operate, offering numerous opportunities for growth and success. As the company continues to lead the charge in technological innovation, the future of online retail is undeniably exciting.

Give it up for PATRÓN Perfectionists 2023! | The Cocktail Lovers

PATRÓN Perfectionists isn’t just another cocktail competition. It’s a program designed to stimulate, educate and motivate everyone taking part. Which goes beyond the 15 very talented global finalists. Having been on the panel of judges and mentors for this year’s series of challenges at the global final event in Mexico, we can honestly say that we’ve been inspired, too.

The setting certainly helped. As stunning as the photographs of the location are, they only tell half the story. Stimulation came from everywhere – the Hacienda PATRÓN and everyone who makes up the Familia PATRÓN – including the bartenders and Hacienda PATRÓN team; the terroir and the bounty of ingredients it yields. Add that to the expertise of Global Director of On-Trade Excellence for PATRÓN, and leader of the Perfectionists program, Lauren Mote and the various teams who made it all happen and you have the perfect recipe for a global final that made for a truly unforgettable experience.

The challenges

It was all-change this year. Out goes the one presentation behind the bar scenario and in its place came three thrilling challenges spread over three days. Each took in a different set-up, drew on different facets of the bartenders’ skills and provided invaluable insights and appreciation of Tequila and Mexican culture as well as offering a masterclass in hospitality.

Also new for PATRÓN Perfectionists 2023: not one but four trophies. One for the person who dazzled and delighted the judges most in each challenge and one for the PATRÓN Perfectionists 2023 Global Winner. Background sorted, here’s a recap of what has been our favourite week of the year.

Challenge #1: ‘Field To Flavor

Presentation: Bartenders learned of the challenge concept and rules 30 minutes before they began

Take out: Discovering and experimenting with the flavours of Mexico

A selection of the local bounty available in the Mexican Market Stall

The first challenge was new and a surprise one, taking place in the spectacular setting of one of the PATRÓN grower collective’s agave fields. What better backdrop to showcase an array of fascinating and little-known ingredients from the region? Mamey, yaka, guayaba, xoconoxtle – they may not be familiar to anyone outside Mexico but they were just a few of the delights on display in the ‘Mexican Market Stall’. More than just looking good, each product was specially selected by local expert and judge, Chef Ana Martorell, for the bartenders to acquaint themselves with and be inspired by. The aim of the challenge? To create a cordial to use as a base in a unique and delicious highball comprising 45ml of PATRÓN Reposado Tequila topped with unflavoured soda.

Telmo Pacheco and Gabriel Pons get familiar with ingredients from the Mexican Market Stall

With only 45 minutes to create said cordial (using a hitherto unknown ingredient plus supporting products from the PATRÓN pantry set up on site) this challenge tested the bartenders’ ability to think on the spot, keep calm under pressure and of course, showcase their understanding of flavour and how to make a super tasty drink. Which they did. In spades. 

There was no verbal presentation, instead the creations were proffered to judges Ana Martorell, Giulia Cuccurrullo and ourseves by the PATRÓN waiting team, along with a recipe card completed by each competitor.

Challenge winner: Choni Song, China

Cocktail: Guanabana Highball

45ml PATRÓN Reposado Tequila
60ml Guanabana cordial*
Top with soda
Garnish: a slice of toasted Guanabana
Glassware: Highball
Method: Build

*Guanabana Cordial
250g guanabana  
100g honeydew melon  
50g green bell peppers  
Lime oleo saccharum (250g caster sugar:4 lime peels)
150ml lime juice 
150ml St-Germain Elderflower liqueur 
50ml apple vinegar 
250ml coconut water

Challenge #2: The Stories We Share

Presentation: Behind the iconic Copper bar at Hacienda PATRÓNs ‘La Casona’ wing

Take out: Delving into Mexican culture

The next day it was over to the fabulous Copper Bar located in La Casona at the Hacienda PATRÓN. Here, as the title suggests, the focus was on storytelling, in particular stories celebrating the ‘esencia’ of Mexico – in other words the authentic truth of the country and its people. From its artists and folklore to its music and films, all of these and more were brought to life by our clever and creative bartenders in an original PATRÓN tequila cocktail.

With advance warning of the challenge and a more familiar set up in which to present (i.e. behind the bar), they took immense pride in telling their stories and the drinks they inspired. Everything from Mayan tattoos, to Mexican chefs and artists was referenced in the eight-minute presentations and all styles of drinks were cogitated, deliberated and digested by judges Ivy Mix, LP O’Brien and Harrison Kenney.

Challenge winner: Alex Boon, Australia

Cocktail: Fire of Love

Alex’s Fire of Love serve

45ml PATRÓN Silver Tequila
15ml Amontillado Sherry
20ml Thomas Semillion Verjuice
50ml clarified black cherry juice
20ml lacto fermented black cherry syrup
30ml pasilla & jalapeno chilli steeped milk

Garnish: Edible chocolate/cherry gel cherry
Glassware: Volcano Mountain Glass
Method: Carbonated using force carbonation and poured from decanter into chilled glass.

Challenge #3: Mi Mesa Es Tu Mesa

Presentation: At the table

Take out: Embracing the art of hospitality and delivering a memorable experience for the guests

The final challenge saw yet another format: two dining tables placed in the centre of the Copper Bar. LP O’Brien, Giulia Cuccurrullo, Ivy Mix and Haba Flores presided over table one, while table two was taken up by Harrison Kenney, Ana Martorell, Tara Fougner and we’re happy to say, we were there too. Not your average set up admittedly, but this, another new strand to the program, wasn’t your average challenge.

Here the bartenders had to design a memorable table side hospitality experience, featuring a neat PATRÓN Tequila serve paired alongside a super tasty non-alcoholic creation that brought out the best in both nose and flavour of the neat PATRÓN core variant chosen. Boy, did this one rock their boats. We were treated to a veritable smorgasbord of exciting tablescapes and complimentary liquid delights, ranging from a Swedish Midsommer celebration to a stroll through a foggy Loch in Scotland. 

Challenge winner: Max Macauley, United Kingdom

Cocktail: Cranachan, paired with PATRÓN Añejo Tequila

Max served his non-alcoholic Cranachan in a flask alongside PATRÓN Añejo Tequila

80ml fresh raspberry juice
60ml honeybush tea
20ml Scots Pine Oleo
10ml lapsang glycerite
8ml raspberry vinegar
0.3g lactic acid solution
1.5ml salt solution
75ml Almost Burnt Oat Cream

Garnish: Honey tuille with raspberry dust and a campfire spritz
Glassware: Quaich (a traditional Scottish drinking vessel)

After 45 presentations spread over three days (plus a bonus Speed Rack challenge – just for fun and to raise awareness and money for charities in Mexico), rounded up with an outstanding celebration dinner by the wonderfully energetic Chef Ana Martorell, it was time for the scores to be totalled up and the PATRÓN Perfectionists 2023 winners to be announced. And while you’ve probably seen the results all over social media, that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth saying again. Give it up for the challenge winners, and the amazing Mor Koral, founder of Salt & Spirit company in Tel Aviv for taking the top overall spot.

Mor Koral with her well-earned, handcrafted PATRÓN Perfectionists trophy

“For me PATRÓN Perfectionists has been a journey that started in 2017, when I first took part in the program in Tel Aviv. Since then, I’ve been dreaming of making it to the global final at Hacienda PATRÓN, in Mexico. I am so incredibly excited to have been able to join this amazing group of people and celebrate my culture, rituals and ingredients alongside PATRÓN Tequila in its very home. Thank you everyone for embracing the stories and creations, I’ve shared with you, from my fellow bartenders to the judges and the PATRÓN team. I cannot wait to contribute to some inspiring projects with the PATRÓN Familia back home in Israel and around the world with the global bartending community!”

For more from Mor, tune in to the exclusive PATRÓN Perfectionists 2023 podcast episode, on April 20.

Mor, Mor, Mor – The PATRÓN Perfectionists 2023 global winner’s drinks

From left to right:
Field to Flavour – A guava horchata based PATRÓN Reposado highball, made with a home-made cordial of guava, honey, rice syrup, lime juice, sherry, cinnamon, and ginger. 

The Stories We Share – A cocktail called El Mundo Magico, inspired by late surrealist and Mexico-resident artist Leonora Carrington, with PATRÓN Reposado, atole de elote, Mexican falernum and lime.

Mi Mesa Es Tu Mesa – Mor put in place a collective ritual around a Mazet style dinner. Rotating around the table at the rhythm of music, judges participated in setting up the food feast with typical Israeli ingredients cooked by Mor. A tribute to togetherness and conviviality, Mor’s service featured a neat serve of PATRÓN Silver accompanied by her non-alcoholic creation Frankincense & More: clarified ‘labneh’ cheese water, holy honey syrup, lemon juice and water.

The bartenders

And let’s hear it for the full super star line-up who all did themselves and their respective countries extremely proud. Give them a follow and keep up with their journeys:

The PATRÓN Perfectionists 2023 line-up
Happy judges in front of the fabulous Copper Bar

The judges

From left to right:
Tara Fougner, co-founder and CEO of Thirsty Media, award-winning journalist, community leader and content creator from the Bar World Top 100 Most Influential list, Miami.

Keep up to date at academiapatron.com

Hot Coco helps Isotopes to a sizzling start, including Tuesday night win – Albuquerque Journal

What can you say about Coco Montes?

That he’s maybe a little quiet. A calm voice that never wavers. Deliberate when he speaks.

Not one to say anything out of place – if at all.

“He doesn’t say much,” Isotopes manager Pedro Lopez said with a smile. “Even his jokes are really mellow. He’s not loud, by no means.”

Maybe that he’s never in a hurry. Steady no matter what’s going on, no matter what he’s doing.

Sign up for our free Daily Sports newsletter

“Everything seems to be at the right pace,” hitting coach Jordan Pacheco said. “That, to me, is who Coco is: just a guy that puts it on 65, cruise control and he’ll get there when he gets there.”

In El Paso last week, Fernando Tatis Jr. had one of those weeks that’ll live on in the hearts of Chihuahua fans and the minds of opposing pitchers for some time: 14-for-20 with six homers in four games. Few go back to the big leagues in more style.

But it was Montes, Albuquerque’s reserved do-it-all infielder, who took home Pacific Coast League Player of the Week honors after going 11-for-26 with four doubles, a triple, three home runs and 12 RBIs.

After going 1-for-5 with a triple in Tuesday night’s 13-10 Isotopes win over the Oklahoma City Dodgers — the first of a six-game home series for Albuquerque — Montes was hitting .379/.461/.727 with four home runs, seven doubles and two triples. A relatively torrid start, a nice honor to boot.

“It was cool to have a good weekend, get recognized,” Montes said prior to the game. “But (the) important part, as always, we won the series. Which is nice. We did not do a lot of that last year.”

Things are a little different this year. Tuesday’s win moved the Isotopes to 10-6, four games over .500. Winners of two of their first three series, taking four from a Chihuahuas team with a Major League Baseball MVP candidate in the lineup on a rehab assignment.

And for an organization that’s steadfast in its belief the best way to develop players is by winning, that goes a long way. That a 15th-round MLB Draft pick is in the center of it all isn’t too surprising to those around him.

“(Montes has) got a quiet confidence about him,” Pacheco said. “Guys respect him. And when he goes to work, he’s working. It’s just a pleasure to watch.”

About the work. Montes started last offseason like a lot of guys, revisiting what worked and what didn’t throughout the year.

His overall plate discipline had improved and the numbers reflected as much. But his exit velocity, the speed of the bat as it comes off the bat, had suffered as a result.

Montes knew his EV was at his best when he got his hands set in a certain way, something he picked up in Double A Hartford. He went back to that without sacrificing any of his swinging cues.

The result?

Montes shrugged. “I think it’s going well so far,” he said.

Furthermore, there’s his defensive improvement. Montes split his time evenly last season between second base (36 starts), shortstop (36 starts) and third base (34 starts) and has played mostly at second this season. Lopez said they plan on getting Montes more reps at shortstop and maybe in the outfield.

“It’s my job as a professional to do that,” Montes said. “I don’t really try to look at too much (at) developing. I just think about preparation. Making sure I do what needs to be done – get my ground balls, work on my base running, my hitting, my plate discipline, all that stuff.”

“Coco handles Coco,” Pacheco said. “I just try to stay out of Coco’s way. I’ll throw him whatever. Whatever he needs me to do in the cage, that’s what we work on.”

Triple A, Pacheco said, is where the mental part of the game really catches guys on the rise. Players have to find a way to not just work, but do it the right way. Get off the “emotional roller coaster” and deal with what they can’t control.

“Most can’t at this level,” Pacheco said. “They gotta learn. They just gotta have the experience and go through it. Whereas, a guy like Coco, I feel he’s got that mental toughness to kind of be able to handle that.”

The same player and same approach every day. No matter what, it’ll be at his own pace.

“I think that’s what he does really well,” Pacheco said.

‘TOPES WEDNESDAY: Vs. Oklahoma City, 6:35 p.m., 610 AM/

95.9 FM

PROMOTION: 50-cent hot dog night

PROBABLES: Dodgers LHP Robbie Erlin (1-0, 6.75) vs. Isotopes RHP Jeff Criswell (1-2, 15.00)

TUESDAY: Nate Jones hit a second-inning grand slam, and Albuquerque outslugged Oklahoma City 13-10 in the opener of a six-game series. Oklahoma City catcher Hunter Feduccia went 5-for-5 and drove in five runs. (Box score: Albuquerque 13, Oklahoma City 10; updated PCL standings)

TRANSACTIONS: The parent Colorado Rockies on Tuesday recalled RHP Peter Lambert and optioned RHP Connor Seabold to the Isotopes. … The Rockies sent OF Randall Grichuk to Albuquerque Tuesday for a rehab assignment. He missed spring training after undergoing bilateral sports hernia surgery.

Next Page »