Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Pork PR for increased Production - Jamaicans don’t like Pork Because they cannot cook it

What is one Man’s poison, signor,

In another’s meat and drink

Beaumont and Fletcher, Love’s Cure, III, 2

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has decided to undertake a study to determine what may at first seem a strange question to spend US$93,000 (JA$8.4 million) of JSIF (Jamaica Social Investment Fund) money studying for six (6) months: why Jamaica’s consumption of Pork is so low and improving production.

This as faithful reported from the horses mouth, the Jamaica Information Service in the article “Pig study to gauge Pork possibilities”, published Thursday, October 06, 2011 JIS, The Jamaica Observer.

A Press Quote from the Senator Robert Montague, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries: “The Pork Industry has been selected by the ministry as one of the priority growth areas within the agricultural sector. This is so because the Pork Industry has a comparative, as well as a competitive advantage across the Caribbean”.

After all, despite our apparent disdain for the white meat, it very popular abroad, with an average global consumption of forty five kilograms (45kg) per person per year! Locally CBG (Caribbean Broilers Group) is fighting the low consumption level of six (6) kilograms per person per year, the lowest in the world, as stated in the article “CB spent $400m to get more Pork eaters”, published Wednesday, April 06, 2011, The Jamaica Observer.

So why the interest in making Jamaican’s eat more Pork? Increased local consumption means increased interest in its production among Pig Farmers. This translates to an available base from which to build a quality stock of Pig Breeders thereby making export viable, if not possible.

Initiatives thus far to get Jamaicans to eat Pork, such as a suggestion by the JPFA (Jamaica Pig Farmers' Association) in 2009AD to introduce Pork Patties as stated in the article “Pork patties, anyone?”, published Monday, September 21, 2009 by Garfield Myers Editor-at-Large South/Central Bureau, The Jamaica Observer has largely fish-tailed.

President of the JPFA Angela Bardowell commented on the then lower than normal Pork consumption, pointing to a lack of support, quote: “A lot of the reasons given by persons for not producing (and selling) Pork patties is that consumers don't want (traditional patties) to mix with the Pork”.

Another of my hair-brained ideas given away back in April of 2009AD while conversing with Shurpower Engineers en route to set generators on autostart, I’m afraid, that failed!

The Dioxin contamination scare of Pork and Eggs in Germany earlier in January 2011AD was certainly not helping as stated in the article “Germany halts pork, egg sales in dioxin scare”, published Saturday, January 08, 2011, AP, The Jamaica Observer. Add to that the increasing level of health consciousness among Jamaicans as it relates to the perception that Pork is fattening, despite not being unhealthy Red Meat compounds the issue, as this health consciousness cuts across religious dietary lines.

Curiously, under the previous Minister of Agriculture, Senator Dr. Christopher Tufton in 2010AD, attempts were made to halt a perceived slide in Pork production due to high feed costs and low returns. Of course, local consumption levels play a part: if nobody is eating, then why spend money to raise Pigs that are hard to export?

The Pig Industry employs some six thousand, five hundred (6,500) people and contributes 1% to of Jamaica's GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Its dent in the importation of foreign Pork was estimated at US$12.2 million.

However, after six (6) yeas of increased local production in 2002AD from 5.5 million kilograms to 9.1 million kilograms in 2008, the year that the US Recession hit in 2009AD saw a dip in production. 737,527 kilograms of Pork from a lofty high of two million (2,000,000) kilograms of Pork in 2007AD is a long way down and serious enough to raise alarm bells in the Pork Industry, due to expensive inputs.

Thanks to our organic farming methods, our Pork could fetch higher prices for merely using so-called Organic methods of production. So the rational of Senator Robert Montague, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries is spot on.

But why do Jamaicans have such a low consumption of Pork to begin with? Possibly because Jamaicans cannot cook Pork? Which would explain why most Jamaicans fear cooking Pork, fearing that “consumers don't want (traditional patties) to mix with the Pork”.

The obvious evidence comes from the fact that despite the presence of a strong Seventh Day Adventist and Rastafarian religious movement on the island, their numbers are not large enough to influence people not to eat Pork. People eat what they like to eat, Jamaicans having a taste for Fast Food.

Curiously, the Red LionFish (Pterois volitans) may face a less precarious popularity climb among the Jamaican populace due to the general ease with which the poisonous delicacy can be rendered safe and nice to eat.

Plus a good PR campaign with the support of Media Personalities and Dancehall Artiste such as Yendi Phillipps, Miss World 2007 and Miss Universe 2010, representative of Rainforest Seafoods will make this a future delicacy served up by the Fast Food chain KFC Jamaica as per my blog article entitled “Rainforest Seafoods vs the Lionfish - KFC iTwist in Yendi Phillip's Emerald Forest”.

So my predictions for the outcome of the six (6) month study by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the JSIF can be predicted. Before Pork can become popular, Jamaicans have to be made to know the various means by which one can cook Pork by a clever Public Relations Campaign. Once this is successful, Jamaicans will consume more port and in turn, local production will increase to pre-US Recession levels and thus make exporting viable.

I am fresh out of ideas, so new thinking on this is required, possibly involving Dancehall Artiste endorsement and a nice jingle to drive home the idea of Pork as an easy meat to cook. PR Campaign to get Jamaicans to learn to cook Pork.

Much as there exists a PR Campaign and partnership with Rainforest Seafoods to encourage people to eat Red LionFish (Pterois volitans) “Rainforest partners with Gov't to control invasive lionfish”, published Sunday, May 01, 2011 by Julian Richardson Assistant Business Co-ordinator, The Jamaica Observer.

JPS Co cleared on Digital SmartMeters but chastized on 10-year backbilling - Future Plans from the Penguins of Madagascar

We, in the conduct of this investigation, have found absolutely no evidence to suggest or even substantiate any claim that the electronic meters that are being installed by the JPS are inaccurate.

 J. Paul Morgan, Head of the JPS Co Review Team

Folks the Report on the shenanigans of the JPS Co (Jamaica Public Service Company) is out and about scaring us just in time for Halloween on Monday October 31^st 2011! In the article entitled “Report on JPS ready”, published Thursday, October 20, 2011, The Jamaica Observer, the OUR (Office of Utilities Regulation) indicated its readiness to reveal its findings.

Curious, as they [OUR] are themselves need in investigating after making recommendations based on the say-so of Washington DC-based Energy consultant Castalia, who for reasons unknown, poo-pooed Energy Sector Liberalization, stating it would increase JPS Co rates for Residential and Commercial Customers as analyzed in my blog article entitled “Minister Clive Mullings retrogade step on Energy Sector Liberalization - JPS Co's Monopoly An Inconvenient Truth”.

So the results are out and a lot of Jamaicans are displeased: JPS Co has gotten a slap on the wrist as per the article “JPS in the clear”, published Saturday, October 22, 2011 BY ALICIA DUNKLEY Senior staff reporter, The Jamaica Observer.

The newly installed Digital Meters are not responsible for the overbilling, as no conclusive evidence points to this being the case as per the article “New electricity meters are accurate”, says review team, published Saturday October 22 2011, The Jamaica Gleaner. Sure they are more accurate, being as they are Digital and not electromechanical.

This as the JPS Co Review Team, lead by J. Paul Morgan, tested a set of forty (40) Electrical Meters: twenty (20) Electromechanical and twenty (20) Digital. He concluded thus, quote: “We have come to the conclusion that about 18 per cent of the accounts where meters have been changed, there is going to be some problems associated with those accounts”.

Translation: some of those people will notice slight increases in their bills, as pointed out in the article “Brace for Bigger JPS Bills – New accurate Meters are installed”, published Sunday October 9^th 2011, Tyrone Reid, The Jamaica Gleaner.

But with a sample size of only six thousand (6000) meters slated to be installed (note, slated…that’s not the full installed base of Digital Meters!) by the JPS Co, based on their Press Release by  JPS Co Corporate Communications Manager Winsome Callum as referenced in the article “Brace for Bigger JPS Bills – New accurate Meters are installed”, published Sunday October 9^th 2011, Tyrone Reid, The Jamaica Gleaner indicates that they could not be the source of all those incidents of overbilling.

After the guinea pigs [Residential and Commercial Customers using Digital Meters] have made the successful run though the mill and stuff, a slated roll-out of seventeen thousand (17,000) meters will be then installed using one (1) of the four (4) optional settings for the Digital Meters as explained in my blog article entitled “JPS Co New Digital Meters are all Smart Meters - Winsome Callum's A Simple Twist of Fate”.

A foible of logic overlooked by those seeking to pillory the JPS Co which the level heads at the JPS Co spotted and pointed out in their report. Plus, the Digital Meter upgrades is a test run for a future island wide replacement of electromechanical Meters for the more accurate Digital meters, as parts are in short supply in an international market slowly drifting away from the older technology.

More sensibly, the Digital Meter “Guinea Pigs”, six thousand (6000) strong,  are a part of JPS Co move towards a Remote smartmetering facility (….for they are smartmeters, the JPS Co Corporate Communications Manager words merely Media Obfuscation!!) that accommodates the possible coming of these new “Pre-Paid” Electricity services.

Not to mention the ultimate way to combat JPS Meter Power thieves as per the article “Power thieves multiply”, published Saturday October 22, 2011, The Jamaica Gleaner, as these Digital Meters cannot be tampered with so easily, as these Digital Meters are tamper-proof. Plastic insulator on the JPS Co lines will deter throw-up connections.

Services from the JPS Co that will make using electricity like topping up credit on your mobile phone as explained in my blog article entitled “JPS Co New Digital Meters are all Smart Meters - Winsome Callum's A Simple Twist of Fate”.

Flip the script a bit: imagine buying only the amount of electricity to use in a house for the number of days you plan to stay? And paying not a penny more, a welcome boon to those Jamaicans living in the so-called Garrisons that the new Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness plans to dismantle as per the article “'End Garrison Politics Now'”, published Monday October 24, 2011, The Jamaica Gleaner.

After the successful test of the more accurate JPS Co Digital Smartmetering facility, JPS Co can do that and more as my article suggests. Interestingly too, it also paves the way for the baby steps in Energy Sector Liberalization via Net Billing (I prefer Net Metering!!!), Power Wheeling and Alternative Energy Caps increases to 15MW as explained in my blog article entitled “Ministry of Energy Clive Mullings alters the JPS Co License for Energy Sector Liberalization - Jamaica and The Sun Salutes You”.

Ok.

So the hyper-accurate JPS Co Digital smartmeters are cleared. The backbilling practice was unfair and hopefully, upon review, should be repealed. Again J. Paul Morgan, Head of the JPS Co Review Team, quote: “There is absolutely no basis on which they can establish how long ... the customer has been receiving and benefiting from that service.”

A real talker, he went further, quote: “No matter how you cut it, there is an allegation of some sort of wrongdoing and the company then tries to apply the full force of the provisions, in that, they can recover for the statutory period of six years. They don't have the means to apply the appropriate test to prove that the individual has been using the service for that period.” Couldn’t have said it better myself!

So as the boffins at JPS Co are cleared to continue their smartmeter expansion, with future benefits to all and a welcome mat spread out for competition, Penguins of Madagascar Style!

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime to debut on November 9 2011AD - Nvidia Kal-El invites Apple iPad to Game On

You cannot chose our battlefield

The Gods do that for you,

But you can plant a standard

Where a standard never flew

Nathalia Crane, The Colors

Asus debut of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer was well documented in my blog article entitled “Asus Transformer vs Apple iPad 2 - X-Men First Class for Ludacris' Numba' One Spot”. Since the publication went live, this above article has not seen a dip in it top billing on my blog. Why I have not a clue, as I did not “pimp” this article any more than I have done any other posts on my little corner of the Internet.

So I am pleased to announce, with some trepidation that Asus, the little Taiwanese company that could, has decided to up the ante and go with Nvidia’s Quad-Core Processor, codenamed “Kal-el” as described in my Geezam blog article entitled “Nvidia and the Quad-Core Kal-El CPU – Android leaves A5 Dual-Core Processor in the Dust” for their next Gaming engine.

Yes, folks, Apple is truly in trouble. And no it’s not a statistician’s mistake as opined by the obviously piqued  GigaOM Editor Kevin C. Tofel in the article “1 in 4 Tablets from last quarter run on Android? Hmmm…...” published October 21, 2011, 7:23am PT By Kevin C. Tofel, GigaOM.

Probably he needs to associate with some Google Android peeps (they don’t like the name fanboys!!)!!!

Apple WAS in trouble since the frightening statistics published on my blog article entitled “Android Tablets Marketshare gain over the Apple iPad - Clear and Present Danger” and the my Geezam blog article entitled “Android Tablets gain on the Apple iPad – Here Comes the Hot Steppa” from Strategy Analysts some two (2) months before in August 2011AD.

Still awaiting confirmation of this shocking stats……my prayers are being sent in earnest to the Apple Gods, hoping that they have a Tablet packing the fabled A6 Processor packing Quad -Core and some serious Games.

This time around Asus and it tong twisting Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime (a little long on the name Asus!) is not only redefining the Tablet, but the Portable Gaming rig as well!

Packing Google’s latest revision of Google Android 4.0 aka Ice Cream Sandwich destined to take over the world of appliances as well as per my Geezam blog article entitled “Apple’s Revolution: Android @ Home and IceCream Sandwich in 2015AD”.

Asus has this their latest, spanking new Tablet slated to debut on Wednesday November 9^th 2011AD named, quite aptly, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime as mentioned in the article “Asus' new Android Transformer Tablet going quad-core”, published October 20, 2011 12:46 AM PDT by Stephen Shankland, CNET News - Deep Tech. Asus Chairman Jonney Shih debut of their latest challenger was made on October 20 2011 at the AllThingsDigital conference in Hong Kong.

Point to note: That name may be the imaginings of the trolls at EnGadget. so I’ll wait till the launch before I start calling it by EdGadget’s nom de plume.

Those of you who are also fans of my writing on my other little corner of the ‘Net, the Geezam blog, may recall I had similar sentiments about the HTC Flyer Tablet as decked out in my Geezam blog article entitled “HTC Flyer – A Tablet for Gaming”.

Back then, a Tablet packing a Nvidia Tegra 2 Dual-Core Processor months before Apple debuted the Apple iPad 2 as adored in my Geezam blog article entitled “Apple iPad 2 – Dual-Core Easy Skankin’” that made Dual-Core Processors standard was news!

Now it appears, it Asus’ turn to ramp up the innovation engine with the debut of their first Tablet running a Quad-Core Processor, again made by Nvidia, as backed up by reports form ZDNet in the article “Asus reveals next-gen quad core Transformer”, published October 20, 2011, 6:11am PDT By Gloria Sin ZDNet.

The prophetic declaration in April 2010 by Hideo Kojima in Tokyo appears to be coming to pass, quote: "In the near future, we'll have games that don't depend on any platform. Gamers should be able to take the experience with them in their living rooms, on the go, when they travel -- wherever they are and whenever they want to play. It should be the same software and the same experience”.

This as captured in my blog article on the Apple iPad as a Gaming rig, which it was great for, if you liked simple game that required little in the way of accelerated 3D Graphics and AI (Artificial Intelligence) as per my blog article entitled “Apple iPad in the Summer of 2010 - The Death of the video Game consoles”

That folks, is how serious this Quad-Core development, as effectively it portend doom for the Apple iPad and the Strategy Analytics numbers are showing this very assertion. Now the fantasy of a Gaming Tablet, a REAL Gaming Tablet has a date.

I just hope the performance in terms of battery life while gaming or online, speed and responsiveness of the capacitive touch interface does not disappoint, as the details are scant.

And most likely the Video Game Data Pirates are getting ready to take advantage of the surge in Gaming as per my prior prognostications in my blog article entitled “Apple iPad and Video Game Piracy - The Saint”.

My finger are crossed for a serious push for Cloud Gaming to allow the playing of more graphics intensive games and protect Games in the process as predicted in my Geezam blog article entitled “Console Gaming’s Downfall – Future is up in the Clouds”.

Thus I mark this date on my calendar and await news mainly relayed by bragging from my Android-phillic friends.

But Android, watch your six! Despite what the statisticians say, Apple is getting ready to Game On with the Apple iPad 3! Fellow Apple Lemmings and sheep, stand your ground!