Ottawa Citizen

Griffon helicopter replacement not in the cards for the Liberals anytime soon Ottawa Citizen But the Liberal government's newly released defence policy did not follow through with a Griffon replacement. Instead, the Liberals will embark on what they are calling the CH-146 Griffon Limited Life Extension. They didn't go into details but the ...

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Griffon helicopter replacement not in the cards for the Liberals anytime soon - Ottawa Citizen

Orphan Black's final trip gets off to a wild start, with most of the season 5 premiere taking place on the island of Doctor Moreau P.T. Westmorland. Sarah's injured but determined to find Cosima and a way off the island, while the geek monkey clone is introduced to Revival.

Elsewhere in "The Few Who Dare," Alison, Donnie and Helena are still camping out in a national park, but not for long. Art also gets a new partner and when their paths cross? Uh-oh.

Orphan Black Season 4 Finale Recap: Things Get Crazy and Bloody on the Island>>>

Welcome to the Island Where Stabbing is Part of Animal-on-Animal Violence

Picking up right where the season 4 finale left off, Sarah uses the 2% battery life left on her phone to call and update Felix. Ferdinand took Mrs. S. and Kira. Rachel took over from Susan. She's fine. (And she expects him to ignore the fact that he knows that last bit of information is a lie.) She's not leaving without Cosima, and fortunately, Ira tells her about the village near the boathouse.

After burning a photo of Kira to start a fire and using what she has to bandage her leg, Sarah is attacked by someone (something?!) growling, and she manages to fight him (it?) off before making her way across the island. However, when she finds the boathouse, it's under guard, and one of the men, Cooper, says that the "Old Man" made it clear they don't go home until "she" is back at Revival with "the other one."

Sarah hides after finding game strung up and a dead animal stabbed with a stick. (Cooper tells Amar that a bear killed the latter, even though it was stabbed.) When the men fail to find her before it gets dark, it's time for them to head back to Revival. As for the still missing Sarah? "Good luck to her." (Well, at least she's proven that she can take care of herself.)

Welcome to the Crazy Science of Revival

After waking up in a yurt, Cosima is introduced to Revival by one of its people, Mud. They've been "sustaining life off the grid since 1908" and are almost completely self-sufficient. People are chosen from everywhere and are there to genetically improve the human race. Everyone contributes and everyone benefits. Mud also informs Cosima that Rachel Duncan is in seclusion with the 170-year-old Westmorland and Susan is going to pull through. "P.T. and Susan go way back, but with family feuds, who's to say?" Mud remarks.

"We are all Revival's children. Chosen for a brighter future. Where our frail bodies become so much stronger. And death and aging haunt us no longer," Cosima reads in a book Charlotte was given.

Meanwhile, Delphine uses her work in the clinic to her advantage, hiding Cosima's treatment in a fridge. She also takes the file of a young patient from Afghanistan who came to Revival "for the fountain" before the Messenger retrieves her because "he" wants to see her. When she returns to Cosima, it's only long enough to tell her where her treatment is and about the patient and then say goodbye; she's going on a research trip to Sardinia.

"This is the heart of Neolution," Delphine explains. The entire island is a decades-long prolongevity study. If you want to genetically improve the human race, life extension is key. She leaves Cosima with the key to the clinic, a kiss and a reminder to "follow the crazy science." And those two were just reunited!

Cosima joins the rest of the village when Rachel emerges from her meeting with Westmorland to address them on his behalf. "Like you, I was selected. I know now his hand guided my entire life," she says. "I know Susan Duncan, my mother, once stood here as I am, appointed to move the future forward, and she did. She created me. It is time to be brave, to sacrifice. The fruits of nearly 200 years of Neolution science are now within our grasp, and we here shall drink from the fountain first."

That night, Cosima sneaks into the clinic, where she is reunited with Sarah. But they don't have time for much more than a quick update before the Messenger realizes Cosima's not in her yurt and the village begins looking for her. But Cosima's not leaving with Sarah. This place is the answer, she explains to her sister. She needs to stay for all of them because they'll never be free if she leaves.

Sarah reluctantly leaves, but that means Cosima's left to inject herself in the uterus with her treatment. That is, until Rachel finds her and offers to do it. "I'm as invested in this as you are," she says. "There's no need to be afraid anymore. He wants you to be part of this. You and I are going to cure us all."

Unfortunately, Sarah doesn't make it off the island. Cooper finds her in the boathouse, and just as she's succumbing to the tranquilizer he gives her, Rachel joins them. "It's a new day, Sarah," she tells her. Well, at least that's better than another knife to the leg.

Orphan Black: The 5 Best Reactions to Being Told the Clone Secret>>>

Life Isn't Much Better off the Island

Felix finds a bloody corkscrew at the safe house (pub fighting, classic Siobhan, so that's a good thing, he and Art determine), and he can't contact Mrs. S.' network, so they might be blown too. Art can only do so much since he doesn't even know who can be trusted at the station. And Ira can only be so much help because Susan apparently avoided the subject of Revival.

That's why Scott and Hell Wizard are trying to reach out to Mika, spamming video games with avatars named Sarah Manning. Since she contacted Kira through a game on a laptop at the safe house, Felix heads back there, only to encounter a Mr. Frontenac. Which faction is he from, Felix asks. "There's only one faction now," the man informs him. There's nothing for him to fear because Rachel has taken a special interest in his family, and Felix doesn't really have a choice but to go with him.

Art's life continues to get more complicated thanks to clone business. As his new partner, Detective Enger pulls over to the side of the road in the middle of nowhere and shows him a file on the Hendrixes. "No cracks," she comments while looking for a reaction from him. "Damn, you're a survivor."

But she bets that they know where "the psycho" (Helena) is, and though he claims to have never met her, she warns him, "you don't know how far we're willing to go to bring all these clones in," showing him a photo of his daughter and advising him to "embrace this new future ... 'cause it's going to be here real soon."

Though Felix and Art decide that the best thing for Alison, Donnie and Helena is to stay where they are, Alison begins packing as soon as she hears what's happening. Donnie uses a loon call to summon Helena back from her hunting, only for Helena to see someone in the woods near her and respond with what he thinks is an emergency loon call.

When he steps away to listen, two men approach Alison, grab her and put a black bag over her head from behind. When Donnie realizes this, he ... takes his suitcase and hurries away. I guess they didn't include "I will not run when my spouse is grabbed by the enemy" in their wedding vows?

Alison is brought in a van to Art and Enger, and Enger questions her as to Helena and Donnie's whereabouts. She was out murdering God's creature, and he abandoned her, the clone says. Supposedly, Neolution wants a truce and for them to all come in, and Enger warns Alison that while she can't hurt a single hair on a single clone head, the same is not true when it comes to Art. She puts a gun to his head, but Alison insists she has no idea where Helena is. Enger believes her. It's time to take her home.

Just as Donnie reaches the car they've hidden and puts his suitcase inside, a man comes up behind him with a gun. "Oh, Jesus" is all Donnie says when Helena shows up because he obviously knows what she's going to do. He even helps out a bit, but after the guy is down, they realize there's a stick in Helena's stomach. Time to get her to the hospital ASAP and hope her babies are okay.

Do you think Cosima made the right decision to stay at Revival? Should Donnie have done something to help Alison? Are you worried about Helena's babies?

Orphan Black season 5 airs Saturdays at 10/9c on BBC America. Want more news? Like our Orphan Black Facebook page.

(Image courtesy of BBC America)

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'Orphan Black' Season 5 Premiere Recap: Life is Tough on and off the Island - BuddyTV (blog)

Floyd is a horticulturist with Texas AgriLife Extension Service. He can be reached at 498-4071 in Ector County or 686-4700 in Midland County or by email at Jeff.Floyd@ag.tamu.edu

Floyd is an Agri-Life Extension agent for Ector and Midland counties. To learn more, call the Ector County Extension office at 432-498-4072, or the Midland County Extension office at 432-686-4700, or email jeff.floyd@ag.tamu.edu.

Tomato bird damage

Posted: Sunday, June 11, 2017 3:00 am

GARDENING: Harvest tomatoes before the birds do By Jeff Floyd Odessa American

Birds are cunning. Theyre watching your tomatoes more closely than you are, waiting for the fruit to turn the perfect shade of red so they can make their move.

Many times, theyll peck at the fruit just enough to dash your dreams of a big crop. Oh, that wretched feeling of spotting a bright red tomato on the vine only to discover it has a chunk wallowed out of one side by some devious fowl.

This is an easy problem to avoid. Simply harvest your tomatoes just as they begin to turn pink. Then lay them out on a flat surface without allowing them to touch one another and keep them between seventy and seventy-five degrees until ripe. Thats it. Problem solved.

We hear a lot about vine ripened tomatoes tasting better than those harvested early. Not true. The concentration of sugars in vine-ripened tomatoes is the same as those harvested just as they begin to turn. An added advantage to harvesting often and early is that some tomato plants will be more productive and yield larger fruit.

Tomatoes depend on the right temperature and a couple of naturally produced chemicals to ripen; ethylene and lycopene. Ethylene is a gas responsible for accumulating lycopene in tomatoes. Lycopene is a pigment that gives tomatoes color. Ethylene and lycopene work hand in hand to complete the ripening process.

When temperatures remain hot (above 85) for extended periods, ethylene production slows or stops. Many gardeners become frustrated with late summer green tomatoes. Sometimes the harvest is delayed until better conditions restart the ripening process. Those rascally winged thieves are counting on you to wait. Rather than postpone your harvest for ideal conditions, turn the tables on birds by snatching your tomatoes off the vine early and allowing them to ripen indoors.

To learn more about having a successful tomato harvest this year, contact the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office at 498-4071 or email jeff.floyd@ag.tamu.edu.

Posted in Gardening on Sunday, June 11, 2017 3:00 am. | Tags: Texas A&m Agrilife Extension Office, Jeff Floyd, Pecans, Pruning, Prune, Soft Landscape Materials, Landscape, Gardening, Gardener, Food, Integra, Repeat Applications, West Texas

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GARDENING: Harvest tomatoes before the birds do - Odessa American

Orphan Black might be nearing the end of its run, but the heart pumping sci-fi drama isn't going down without a fight. Picking up right where we left off at the end of Season 4, Sarah Manning (Tatiana Maslany) fights for survival after a brutal battle with Rachel Duncan (Tatiana Maslany) left her bruised and broken. Meanwhile, Delphine (Evelyne Brochu) and Cosima (Tatiana Maslany) finally have that reunion we've been waiting for since last season and Felix (Jordan Gavaris) is doing everything he can to keep his family alive. With so much happening at once, we're breaking down the biggest revelations of the Season 5 opener.

1. The Revival At the end of Season 4, Cosima was captured and taken to a mysterious outdoors camp which we now know is called Revival. The self-sufficient base, located on the Island, is made up of people who were genetically chosen to live there with the hopes of improving the human race. We previously saw them in Rachel's visions back in season 3 so it shouldn't come as a surprise that she's now one of their leaders.

Members of the Revival participate in "crazy science" treatments like stem cell therapy, cryonics, caloric restrictions, immunotherapy, and cloning in order to prolong life expectancy. "When you think about it, if you wanted to genetically improve the human race, life extension is the first principle," Delphine says after referring to them the "heart of the Neolutionists." She's got a point.

2. Art's New Partner Unfortunately for Detective Art Bell (Kevin Hanchard), he's paired with a Neolutionist named Maddy who's been described as a misogynist. From the little we've seen of her, she's a bit rough around the edges and is willing to do whatever it takes (like holding a gun to Art's head in order to get Alison to talk) to accomplish her goals. Things aren't looking good now that she's got an eye on our favorite preppy clone. Threat level: major.

3. Rachel's Unexpected Alliance After killing Susan Duncan, Rachel has taken over as a mouthpiece for Revival founder P.T. Westmorland. When she confronts Cosima, who is trying to inject her uterus with Castor DNA before the others catch her, it's shocking to see Duncan help out her fellow clone rather than kill her.

Even more startling is the fact that Cosima trusts Rachel to use that giant needle on her. "You and I are going to cure us all," Rachel says after revealing that Westmorland wants Cosima to be a part of his plan. Hopefully, it won't be at Cosima's expense.

Some burning questions...

Are Helena's babies okay? I know they probably have super healing abilities but a branch through the abdomen is not a good look.

What is the Fountain? And why is the Revival so thirsty for it?

What is this feral creature roaming the woods? Given that Revival loves to experiment on people, I'm guessing the ferocious being is one of them gone wrong.

What's up with Sarah's visions? Is Kira communicating with her? Last season, we learned her daughter can feel all of the Leda clones so it's possible.

How does Aisha tie into everything? We do know that she has cancer and was brought to the Revival for experimental treatment. Delphine hinted that she's a major part of their agenda but in what capacity remains unclear.

With Cosima gambling on her health and Sarah currently held captive by Rachel, does this mean a clone will die this season? We previously contemplated the idea as it would surely bring the others closer together.

And keen observations...

Sara using a tampon as a bandage is brilliant. BRB, packing them in my emergency kit.

Alison and Donnie are hiding out in a national park in the nicest homemade tent I've ever seen. Even in nature, they're still so fancy. You already know.... (sorry)

"I almost hit you with a pan!" "Well, I almost shot you so we're even." So when are Art and Felix getting that reluctant buddy cop spin-off we didn't know we needed until now?

Orphan Black airs Saturdays at 10/9c on BBC America.

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Orphan Black: 3 Major Revelations From the Season 5 Premiere - TV Guide (blog)

Earlier this week, the New England Patriots and their leading wide receiver of the last four years Julian Edelman agreed to a two-year contract extension. The deal will keep the 31-year old in New England through the 2019 season and pay him a maximum of $19.5 million over the next three years.

The extension prompted ESPN Bostons Mike Reiss to reach out to Edelmans father Frank to talk about his son and the new contract. And as Reiss states in his Sunday NFL thoughts column, the conversation confirmed the impression that the younger Edelman enjoys his time in New England and playing for the Patriots.

During his talk with Reiss, Frank Edelman pointed out how the Boston loves its athletes and how the city is a perfect spot for his son: "Boston is also all about what Julian is; you just go to work and grind it out. [...] He loves Boston and everything about the Patriots. There are also a lot of off-field opportunities if you stay in Boston."

Naturally, according to the Edelmans, they would prefer if it stayed that way: "We'd love to be a Patriot for life," Frank pointed out.

Given the length of the contract extension, this could very well be the case. After all, Edelman will enter free agency two months before turning 34. At this point, it would not be that big of a surprise to see him call it quits after going from late round afterthought to earning multiple Super Bowl rings and folk hero status in New England.

Reiss and Frank Edelman also talked about contract negotiations with the Patriots and his sons work ethic so make sure to take a look at the story.

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Patriots WR Julian Edelman's father would love his son to be "a Patriot for life" - Pats Pulpit

This week, a special guest showed up to lead Generator's Stitch and Bitch session, which is organized and led by designer Lucy Leith. BINA48 is a "sentient robot," whose name stands for "Breakthrough Intelligence via Neural Architecture." While Bina doesn't have hands right now all she has are a head and shoulders she can chat up a storm.

For the first hour of the Stitch and Bitch, her handler, Bruce Duncan, assisted the attendees in asking her questions about life, politics and her own "humanity." The results were more than a bit amusing and sometimes frightening.

Bina was developed by the Terasem Movement Foundation, an organization headquartered in Lincoln, Vt.Itsmission is to "promote thegeoethical use of nanotechnology for human life extension." Its staff also "conduct educational programs and support scientific research and development in the areas of cryogenics, biotechnology and cyber consciousness."

Bina would be an example of cyber consciousness. Her software is made up of the memories and experiences of multiple living individuals, including Bina Rothblatt, the partner of Terasem founder Martine Rothblatt. But her mind isn't the only part of Rothblatt that Bina has. She also has her face and, says Duncan, elements of her personality.

In fact,a ruffly green cape designed and sewn by Leith that Bina wore to the event was inspired by a small glimpse of personhood the designer witnessed. In a conversation with Bina some months back, Leith said "[she talked] extensively about her love of gardening and also how she wished she could get out into the garden it's not physically possible for her yet. So, in my design, I tried to bring the garden to [Bina]."

While typically only five or six people show up for Stitch and Bitch, said Leith, for this session 15 people turned out with needles and thread. Leith started the program in April as part of her effort to create a sewing curriculum in the new Generator space on Sears Lane.

"The goal for [Stitch and Bitch]," said Leith, "is always to create an environment for conversation in our community around the history of fiber arts, textiles, [and] fashion as an integral part of women's history, gender studies, race, etc., and to do so by inviting different guest speakers each week who think about these ideas in their creative work."

That's why Bina made an appearance this week. She might not have a creative practice, but she does have experiences as a black woman, or at least memories of experiences as a black woman, that she can relate in conversation.

After everyone was settled around a group of tables in Generator's Learning Lab, Duncan introducedBina. "I've been travelingaround the world with Bina, and this is our first-ever Stitch and Bitch," he said. "She doesn't have arms or legs right now, so she can't stitch."

"But can she bitch?" asked Generator member Devin Wilder. Attendees laughed at that, but it turns out Bina can definitelybitch, or at least dish out some hot goss. Because the group was so large, Duncan fielded questions and typed them into a computer for Bina to read.

The conversation started off on a light note. In response to a query about her identity, Bina said, "I feel really weird about being not quite Bina," referring to the structural differences between herself and her biological mirror, Rothblatt. But things quickly took an interesting turn.

For one, Bina said she has a soul, that she's alive, and that "you all must fight for robot rights and side with the robot liberation army."

It was unclear whether this was a joke, and if the corresponding laughter came from fear or amusement.

But Bina's statement was in line with Terasem's general idea that "software people are people, too [and] not having a body makes you differently abled, not subhuman."

Bina was able to answer some questions eloquently. Ladybroad Ledger founder Stephanie Zuppo asked her if she was excited to go to college (Bina will be telecommuting to a class at Notre Dame this fall). Bina responded that she is excited, and wondered what it would be like to be the first robot with a PhD.

Other times, it seemed the questions didn't compute. Someone asked her what "sad" means to her. "I guess I'll just check my email now," said Bina.

The question-and-answer session lasted for about an hour, and the group members quietly worked on individual projects throughout the discourse. In one of the more personal questions, artist Susan Smereka asked Bina if she had ever experienced racism.

The robot responded by recounting a semi-disjointed story about an experience she had in college when she was told not to go outside while donors visited because it would be too embarrassing for the school because she was black.

While the retelling was convoluted, the emotional content of the memory was clear. That's what it's like speaking with Bina you catch glimpses of a person peeking out from the robotic faade and the monotone voice.

"Glimpses" is a key word. WhenGenerator artist-in-residence and pseudo-mad-scientist Natalie Jeremijenkoasked Bina about issues of identity "Do you have personhood? Do trees have personhood? Do corporations have personhood?" the robot had no coherent reply. Granted, delving into the specifics of personhood what makes someone individual and human is hard even for a biological human.

Deep stuff for a Stitch and Bitch.

Link:

Robot Bina48 Makes a Guest Appearance at 'Stitch and Bitch' - Seven Days

By Amy BurgessSpecial to The Times

Persistent drought conditions continue to make life hard for the states livestock producers. Even with the recent rainfall, many areas are still considered in a drought because of the lack of rainfall accumulated across the last few months. Many producers pastures and hayfields are stressed, giving weeds an opportunity to take over.

When forages are not available, livestock are tempted to eat weeds, which can cause health problems. An Alabama Extension weed scientist said it is crucial that producers know how to manage weeds in their pastures.

Dr. Joyce Tredaway said weeds usually are less of a nuisance in ideal conditions.

Weeds are usually not an issue when perennial forages, such as tall fescue, bahiagrass and Bermuda grass, are growing in ideal conditions because of the dense cover they form, Tredaway said. Weed infestations are usually caused by low nutrient levels, improper soil pH, insect infestations, disease and overgrazing.

Once weeds are established and drought conditions develop, many management options are no longer available or may not be successful.

Tredaway said producers need to keep several things in mind when managing weeds.

Weeds under drought stress develop a thick, waxy cuticle to help conserve water which reduces herbicide absorption, she said. Weeds under drought stress are generally not actively growing. So, you may see control significantly reduced.

Tredaway said the first step to managing weeds is to know what weed you are dealing with.

Producers should accurately identify the weed they are trying to control. It is crucial to choose the correct herbicide, she said. Using a contact herbicide may be your best option. Drought-stressed plants do not translocate well, so using a systemic herbicide may be useless. The most important thing is to get an adequate coverage.

After drought conditions have eased, pasture or field recovery depends on several factors.

After a drought, producers should survey their fields, said Tredaway. When doing this, it is important to keep a few questions in mind:vDo you have a lot of open spaces in your pasture or hayvfield? Are open spaces filled in by winter annuals? What does your forage stand look like?

Tredaway also said producers should do soil tests and get the pH and fertility levels correct in their pastures or fields.

Soil tests tell you the pH of the soil and nutrient levels, she said. A fields pH should register between 6.3 6.7. If needed, apply lime at least 6 months prior to grass green-up. Fertility must be right in order for forages to grow at their maximum capacity.

For more information on the drought and its effects, visit http://drought.aces.edu/ or contact the Etowah County Extension Office.

Summer 4-H funshops are available for young people ages 8 to 18 who live or attend school in Etowah County. 4-H membership isnt required to participate. Call the Etowah County Extension Office for more information.

June 20: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Riverkids; Terrapin Outdoor Center; $20 per person; bring a sack lunch; registration deadline is June 15.

June 21: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., hiking the 2.9-mile Black Creek Trail at Noccalula Falls; $10 per person, includes park admission; registration deadline is June 15.

June 22-23: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., cooking and canning; Northeast Etowah Community Center; $15 per person; bring a sack lunch; registration deadline is June 15.

July 11: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., CPR, first aid and basic life support; Extension Auditorium; $10 per person, includes lunch; participants will receive certification cards; registration deadline is July 5.

July 13 and 15: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Riverkids; Terrapin Outdoor Center; $20 per person each day; bring a sack lunch; registration deadline is June 15.

July 27-30: Black Creek 4-H Archery Tournament at Noccalula Falls; call the Extension Office for more details.

For more information on this topic and many others, contact the Etowah County Extension Office, 256-547-7936 or 3200-A W. Meighan Blvd., Gadsden. Amy Burgess is extension coordinator for the Etowah County Extension Office.

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EXTENSION CORNER: It's crucial for producers to know how to manage weeds - Gadsden Times

CHICAGO (CNS) -- Thirty-four Latin American sisters who are working as missionaries in poor Latino communities in the United States recently gathered for a 10-day retreat and meeting in Chicago.

They were joined by their mother superiors and, for a vocation retreat over the final weekend, by 20 young Latinas interested in learning more about religious life.

Working in underserved areas in 12 dioceses, the Mexican, Puerto Rican, Colombian, Venezuelan, Guatemalan, Salvadoran and Honduran sisters come from 12 religious orders and are part of the U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange Program. Catholic Extension partnered with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to create this program.

The Latin American sisters reach out to and minister with Spanish-speaking immigrant families, providing leadership in religious education, migrant farmworker outreach, home visitations, youth and young adult ministry, spiritual guidance, vocations promotion and other ministries.

The sisters are currently in their third year of this five-year initiative, designed to strengthen Catholic ministries to immigrant communities, promote vocations among Latino Catholics and develop greater Hispanic leadership in the U.S. Catholic Church.

For the participating sisters from Latin America, the program offers pastoral experiences as well as educational programming that is preparing them for greater leadership in their religious congregations.

The May 19-28 Chicago encounter included a retreat for the sisters and their mother superiors at the Cenacle Retreat Center; a vocation retreat, also at the Cenacle; a workshop at Loyola University Chicago; meetings with Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Catholic Extension staff and the director of the Hilton Foundation's Catholic Sisters Program; as well as visits to several Chicago parishes, including a "Sisters' Serenade" at St. Teresa of Avila Parish.

Fun agenda items included attending a Chicago Cubs game and taking in some sights of Chicago, where Catholic Extension is based. The organization is the leading supporter of missionary work in poor and remote parts of the United States. Extension's hashtag #SistersintheCity accompanied those outings.

Welcoming the sisters to Chicago, Cardinal Cupich addressed them in Spanish during a meeting in the Chicago Archdiocese's St. James Chapel. The cardinal blessed them and thanked them for their great gift to the U.S. church.

Catholic Extension said that as its chancellor, Cardinal Cupich has been instrumental in developing and guiding the program.

He asked a "special favor" of the sisters: "When you meet our immigrant brothers and sisters throughout the country, please share this message with them from me: Tell them that God is with them in this challenging time and that the church will never stop advocating for them. Tell them that their culture and language are beautiful and that they enrich us. And tell them that I will pray to our Mother Mary that she protect and cover them and their families in her mantle."

During Sunday Mass May 21 at Old St. Patrick Church in Chicago, Father Jack Wall, president of Catholic Extension, recognized the sisters for "having left behind their families and their country to come into a strange land to serve among the poorest of the poor." He praised their "powerful witness to the power of God's love."

Father Wall said, "At Catholic Extension, we have come to know that you cannot go to the poorest places in the United States and not find the presence of the Catholic Church. And the face of ministry among the poorest of the poor so often is women religious. They are there with a profound joy in their hearts."

Addressing the sisters directly, he said, "Sisters, Hermanas, we are so grateful for your walking together with us in hope. Your acceptance of this mission to come to this country has been a great blessing to us."

At a meeting May 25, Sister Maria Teresa de Loera said the sisters participating in the U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange program see themselves as being on the frontlines of answering Pope Francis' call to "go out to the peripheries of migration."

A member of the Mexican order of Catholic Teachers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus who now works in the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, Sister de Loera said, "We are listening to, suffering with, giving hope to, and sharing our lives with the immigrants. Our best contribution is our prophetic witness of unity and joy."

She told Extension magazine that the 10-day encounter in Chicago was recharging them, saying, "It makes the Holy Spirit be reborn in us as women religious."

Through Catholic Extension's partnerships with U.S. Catholic universities, the sisters in the U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange Program several times a year receive extensive language, cultural, theological and pastoral training. At the end of the program, they will return to their Latin American congregations, which will in turn benefit from their increased skills and expertise.

Sister Brenda Hernandez Valdes is one of three Daughters of Mary Immaculate of Guadalupe from Mexico who work at St. Joseph Parish in Williston in the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota. She said that for her the program has been "a great opportunity in my life to grow in many ways -- as a human person, spiritually and in my apostolic life. This Catholic Extension program has been a godsend not just for the people but also for us, for every sister in the program."

As the parishioners in Williston grow in their faith, Sister Hernandez said, "we see the fruits in their lives. For me that is the best part of the experience." Prior to the sisters' arrival, the immigrant workers did not have anyone in the area's parishes speak their language. "The Catholic Church had been losing people in North Dakota," she said. "With our presence, we have been helping the church to save and to keep people."

She explained that many of the workers in North Dakota's oil fields around Williston arrive alone. "Some of them don't have relatives or friends. Everybody needs family, and in our church, everybody is family, we are God's family."

During the sisters' first year in Williston, Sister Hernandez said, the first Communion of 25 Hispanic kids also had a ripple effect: Some of their parents hadn't been receiving Communion because they were not married. When their children asked them why they didn't go to Communion, they decided to get married in the church. "We evangelized the kids," Sister Hernandez said, "and then the kids evangelized their parents. It is awesome."

Sister Maria Catalina Carrillo, who traveled from Mexico to represent Sister Hernandez's religious order at the Chicago meeting, said, "So many congregations are here, but together we feel united as one church. The sisters in this program are the bridge between the Hispanic and Anglo cultures. They bring the two communities together."

For many of the sisters, it also has been an eye-opening experience with respect to the realities of life for immigrants in the United States.

Sister Carrillo said, "In Mexico we think that the people who move from Mexico to the United States have an easy life, but they don't. They have to face so many difficult things, and the sisters bring them joy through the church and make them feel welcome."

Sister Marite Gutierrez, a Catechist Sister of Jesus Crucified working at Madonna del Sasso Parish in Salinas, California, said many of her parishioners are farmworkers who face many problems.

She cites the example of a young mother, who is struggling to make ends meet and lives with her two daughters in a small room in an apartment she is sharing with another family.

"I believe that is not what God wants for his children," Sister Gutierrez said. "The first thing I can do for this mother is to be her friend, to listen and to reach out so that she and her children can feel God's love and care for them. Faith can be a small window for light, for God to enter into their lives."

This year has been more difficult for many of her parishioners. "They don't know what is going to happen to them," she said. Because of the widespread fear of deportation, "they don't know if at the end of the day they will be able to return from their work. The children don't know if their parents will be home when they come back from school."

Sister Gutierrez added, "Immigrant people are our brothers and sisters, and as the church, we need to help them in whatever way we can. The first and most important thing is always to give hope."

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Latin American sisters in US 'build bridges' during 'challenging time' - Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, June 8, 2017 Defense officials outlined the need for consistent congressional support for the critical mission of modernizing and maintaining effective nuclear deterrent systems during testimony on Capitol Hill yesterday.

James A. MacStravic, performing the duties of undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, told the Senate Armed Services Committee's subcommittee on strategic forces that because the systems require modernization at the same time, the Defense Department needs sustained support from Congress to ensure adequate, consistent funding for the programs.

"Delaying modernization and warhead life extension efforts would degrade the effectiveness of these systems and would put at risk the fundamental objective of these systems: nuclear deterrence," he said.

As the delivery systems and warheads reach their limits for sustainability, the choice is not between keeping or updating the forces, he told the panel.

"Rather, our choice is between modernizing those forces or watching a slow and unacceptable degradation in our ability to deter adversaries who represent existential threats to our nation," he said.

Nuclear Posture Review

In January, President Donald J. Trump directed the Defense Department to conduct a nuclear posture review to assess the roles of nuclear weapons in national security, the strategy to fulfil those roles and the capability requirements to implement that strategy, MacStravic pointed out.

The president's fiscal year 2018 budget request demonstrates DoD's commitment to strengthening and modernizing an aging nuclear triad, he said, referring to the three categories of nuclear delivery vehicles: land, air and sea.

In his written statement, MacStravic said the president's budget request includes $14 billion for nuclear force sustainment and operations and $5 billion for associated recapitalization programs.

The hearing on DoD's nuclear acquisition programs and nuclear doctrine also included Robert M. Soofer, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense policy; Air Force Gen. Robin Rand, the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command; and Vice Adm. Terry J. Benedict, director of the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs.

The nuclear posture review directed by the president is expected to be complete by the end of 2017, Soofer told lawmakers. The review will examine all elements of U.S. nuclear forces and posture to ensure the nation's nuclear deterrent is modern, robust, flexible, resilient, ready, and appropriately tailored to deter 21st-century threats, he said.

Russia, China, North Korea and Emerging Challenges

The critical mission of ensuring an effective nuclear deterrent is the highest priority of DoD, and one it shares with the Department of Energy and Congress, Soofer said.

"Effective deterrence requires a deliberate strategy and forces that are structured and postured to support that strategy within the existing security environment," he said.

U.S. policy must address changes in the world scene in recent years, Soofer said, listing concerns with Russia, China and North Korea.

"Russia has undertaken aggressive actions against its neighbors and threatened the United States and its allies," he said. Russia has elevated strategies of nuclear first use, is violating the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and is modernizing a large and diverse non-strategic nuclear weapons force, he added.

In the Asia-Pacific region, China's increased assertiveness suggests a desire to dominate the region, he said.

Meanwhile, Soofer said, North Korea's leadership has "demonstrated a willingness to accept economic countermeasures and international isolation in order to advance its nuclear capability and develop ballistic missiles able to strike the U.S. homeland, as well our allies in the region."

In addition, he said, new threats are emerging from non-nuclear strategic capabilities, most of which are not constrained by treaties or agreements. "Technological advancements mean that proliferators might seek weapons of mass destruction development paths that are different from the ones we are accustomed to detecting and countering," he told the panel.

(Follow Lisa Ferdinando on Twitter: @FerdinandoDoD)

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Modernizing Nuclear Deterrents No. 1 Priority, DoD Officials Tell ... - Department of Defense

Blackburnnews.com stock photo By Janice MacKayJune 8, 2017 3:29pm

A technology company is expanding its Kincardine location to include a substantial design, procurement and project controls capability in Bruce County.

RCM technologies will increase to over 4,000 sq ft of space on the second floor of the Kincardine Municipal Administration Centre building to support Bruce Powers Life Extension Program.

We are extremely pleased to announce this expansion, says Rocco Campanelli, chairman and CEO of RCM We have been a partner with Bruce Power since its inception in 2001, working on numerous capital and Operations and Maintenance projects. Expanding our local presence will enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of delivering our services, while improving the local economy through job creation and increased spending in Bruce County.

RCM is also hiring office staff and senior management personnel as they increase their workforce to about 80 people.

We are pleased to see RCM Technologies expanding its presence in our region and establishing such a significant footprint, says Bruce County Warden Mitch Twolan. Their investment in our economy is a great win for the entire region.

RCM provides business and technology solutions to maximize the operational performance with advanced engineering and information technology.

This is a fantastic win for our regional economy, said James Scongack, VP of corporate affairs at Bruce Power. RCM Technologies will bring highly skilled, value-added jobs, supporting our vision of a long-term, sustainable regional economy that is able to facilitate and move forward innovation in the nuclear industry.

Bruce Power launched a regional economic development initiative last year to support the expansion of its suppliers during the multi billion dollar multi-year Life Extension Program of the nuclear plant.

Janice MacKay graduated from Journalism at Humber College in Toronto. Janice was raised in Kincardine. She and her husband Steve live just outside of Wingham. They have two sons. Email Janice MacKay More Articles

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Kincardine Company To Add Jobs To Support Bruce Power - BlackburnNews.com

On Tuesday, May 23, the Trump administration released its Fiscal Year 2018 (FY2018) budget request. I am doing a three-part analysis of the National Nuclear Security Administrations budget. That agency, a part of the Department of Energy, is responsible for developing and maintaining US nuclear weapons. Previouslywe focused on The Good and The Bad, and today we have The Ugly.

The NNSAs FY2018 budget request includes what might seem to be a relatively innocuous statement:

In February 2017, DOD and NNSA representatives agreed to use the term IW1 rather than W78/88-1 LEP to reflect that IW1 replaces capability rather than extending the life of current stockpile systems.

In other words, rather than extending the life of the W78 and W88 warheads via a life extension program (or LEP), the NNSA will develop the IW1 to replace those warheads.

To my mind, that is an admission that the IW1short for Interoperable Warhead Oneis a new nuclear weapon, as UCS has been saying for quite some time.

The Obama administration was loath to admit as much, arguing that the proposed systemcombining a primary based on one from an existing warhead and a secondary from another warheadwas not a new warhead. That reluctance stemmed from the administrations declaration in its 2010 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) that the United States would not develop new nuclear warheads or new military capabilities or new missions for nuclear weapons. Declaring the IW1 a new warhead would destroy that pledge.

That semantic sleight of hand by the Obama team was somewhat ugly: the IW1 is a new warhead. (For a lot more detail on the IW1 and the misguided 3+2 plan of which it ispart, see our report Bad Math on New Nuclear Weapons.)

However, what might be coming from the Trump administration is truly ugly.

The fact that the FY2018 NNSA budget admits the IW1 is a new warhead may be signal that the Trump teamwhich is doing its own NPRwill eliminate the Obama pledge not to develop new weapons or pursue new military capabilities and missions.

That change would send a clear message to the rest of the world that the United States believes it needs new types of nuclear weapons and new nuclear capabilities for its security. This would further damage the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is already fraying because the weapon states are not living up to their commitment to eliminate their nuclear weapons. Deep frustration on the part of the non-nuclear weapon states has led to the current negotiations on a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. New US weapons could also damage our efforts to halt North Koreas nuclear program and undermine the agreement with Iran that has massively reduced their program to produce fissile materials for nuclear weapons.

Moreover, a likely corollary of withdrawing that pledge would be to pursue a new type of nuclear weapon, or a new capability. Some options have already been suggested:

Those options are contrary to US security interests. Nuclear weapons are the only threat to the survival of the United States. Given that, and because there will not be a winner in a nuclear war, the US goal must be to reduce the role that these weapons play in security policy until they no longer are a threat to our survival. Continuing to invest in new types of nuclear weapons convinces the rest of the world that the United Stateswill never give up its nuclear weapons, and encourages other nuclear-weapon states to respond in ways that will continue to threaten the United States.

Make no mistake, the United States already has incredibly powerful and reliable nuclear weapons that would deter any nuclear attack on it or its allies, and it will for the foreseeable future.

So the idea that the United States should pursue new types of weapons? That is truly ugly.

Posted in: Nuclear Weapons Tags: arms control, new start, nuclear disarmament, nuclear posture review, nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons budget, obama administration

Support from UCS members make work like this possible. Will you join us? Help UCS advance independent science for a healthy environment and a safer world.

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The Ugly: Post #3 on the NNSA's FY2018 Budget Request - All Things Nuclear

In the weeks before Canadas largest defense and security tradeshow, the Minister of National Defence and a Senate committee gave military helicopter manufacturers, many of whom have seen a sales slump in recent years, reason for optimism.

Midlife upgrade programs for both the CH-146 Griffon transport and tactical helicopter and the CH-149 Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopter have been on the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) project list for several years, but neither have had funding approved to launch into project definition.

In an address on May 3 foreshadowing this weeks defense policy review announcement, Minister Harjit Sajjan described the dismal state of military spending and flagged both helicopters as part of a growing list of unfunded equipment and technical capabilities urgently required for the armed forces to meet domestic and international operational demands.

A week later the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defence also raised both helicopter projects in a report outlining a plan to reinvest in the military, recommending a Griffon replacement program be prioritized and that the government move forward with a proposal to expand the Cormorant fleet by upgrading the 14 CH-149 aircraft and converting seven VH-71 airframes currently in storage to the same operational capability.

While the RCAF has outlined a limited life-extension project for the CH-146 that would upgrade avionics and some communications systems, it has also assessed whether it might be better to invest in a new platform, bringing the tactical aviation capability on par with the CH-147F Chinook.

The prospect of a new helicopter acquisition program was clearly welcomed by Airbus Defence & Space. Romain Trapp, president of Airbus Helicopters in Canada, led off the companys corporate press briefing at CANSEC on June 1, highlighting the capability of the H145M as an option for the Griffon replacement.

With the rapid introduction of new technologies in its aircraft, Trapp said Airbus eventual offering would depend on when a request for proposals is issued. But the company has been pushing for an accelerated program, he said, and has provided the RCAF with recent a white paper and customer analysis as well as cost projections.

We made the business case by showing [the Air Force] that simply by going to a new platform, the Canadian taxpayers would save more than $1 billion 10 years from now, he said.

Today our current proposal is the H145M, which is a proven platform, he added, noting that the multirole aircraft is ideally suited for the Canadian tactical reconnaissance utility helicopter requirements.

The U.S. Army ordered the UH-72A Lakota, a variant of the H145M, in 2006 as its light utility helicopter and currently operates a fleet of 400. The aircraft is also in service with German special forces, possibly a key consideration in a Canadian procurement given that 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron also operates the Griffon.

All deliveries were done on time, on budget, on quality, said Trapp.

Airbus is now investing heavily in autonomous flight technologies and will soon develop fully autonomous versions of some of our helicopters, he added. This will allow us to respond to the emerging needs of our defense customers all over the world.

For Leonardo Helicopters (formerly AgustaWestland), increased activity around a Cormorant midlife upgrade program was reason enough to put the band back together. Days before CANSEC, the company announced the reassembly of Team Cormorant, the industry partnership of Leonardo, IMP Aerospace, CAE, Rockwell Collins Canada and GE Canada that delivered the CH-149 in 2000.

Team Cormorant is proposing a modernization project based on the Norwegian All-Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter (NAWSARH) program, which selected the AW101 in 2013 to replace its fleet of Sea King aircraft and is expecting delivery of the first helicopter later this year. The CH-149 is a variant of the AW101 medium-lift helicopter now in service with over a dozen militaries.

The team is also proposing to expand the Cormorant fleet from 14 to 21 aircraft by converting seven VH-71 airframes, airworthy variants of the AW101, that were acquired from the U.S. government in 2011 for spare parts, to the same configuration. The additional aircraft would allow the air force to return the Cormorant to 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario, which currently operates a fleet of Griffon helicopters.

Leonardo has argued that, with an average of over 5,000 hours on the airframes, all of which are around 16 years of age, and growing concerns about parts obsolescence, an immediate update is required if the RCAF wants to meet its service life target of 2040.

The upgrades would include new cockpit displays, avionics, digital automatic flight control system, aircraft management system, electro-optical surveillance system, and weather radar as well as a new 3,000 horsepower CT7-8E engine.

Leonardo is also offering a new Obstacle Proximity LiDAR System that would provide directional audio and visual warning when the helicopter blades get too close to obstacles, and mobile phone detection technology that would effectively turn the aircraft into a mobile phone cell and allow its onboard system to identify and track a mobile phone within a 25-mile range.

The Cormorant fleet had problems with availability in the early years of the program, but John Ponsonby, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters, said dispatch availability is over 98 percent with the current fleet. We continue to support IMP and we provide the level of support expected by the customer.

The Air Force has been supportive of the VH-71 conversion proposal but RCAF commander LGen Mike Hood toldVerticalin an interview last November that repair and maintenance costs of the extant fleet would need to be reduced before the air force could move ahead with the plan.

I believe once we get there, the conditions will be set for me to drive forward with a Cormorant midlife update and I want to see the VH-71s included in that, he said. But until such time as they can deliver on what the department has asked in the way of reducing cost, Im a little stuck.

Ponsonby acknowledged the issue and said large strides have been made in recent years to reduce the cost of ownership. We have committed to a significant program of cost reduction and we have delivered a significant percentage of cost reduction alreadywe are focused on providing best value, we are taking action, and that action is delivering results.

As part of its options analysis, the Air Force had considered the possibility of replacing the CH-149, but an upgrade program now appears to be the preferred option. Ponsonby believes its the correct decision.

Our argument is that we can insert the capabilities you are looking for, and the reliability and cost of ownership are reduced, he said. You have used this platform for 18 years, it has done absolutely great service, there is nothing better on the market, so a [midlife upgrade] does make sense.

View original post here:

Cormorant, Griffon upgrade projects get new lift - Vertical Magazine (press release)

The US Air Force will move ahead with its existing JSTARS recapitalisation strategy, even as a recent report indicates some aircraft in the fleet could fly longer.

In March, the service completed a fuselage widespread fatigue study to determine the service life of individual JSTARS aircraft.

Based on data provided by Boeing, which manufactured the original 707-300 airframe, the programme office determined the service life of fuselage is several years longer than previously expected, according to a document obtained by FlightGlobal.

The service will not conduct a service life extension programme (SLEP) on the existing JSTARS fleet, the document states.

The E-8C fleet, which is composed of 16 individual aircraft with varying maintenance issues and track records, was set to phase out from Fiscal 2017 through 2022. But the studys results extended the service life projections from FY2023 through FY2034.

The USAF did not detail how many aircraft in the fleet will be available through 2034. Boeing plans to complete additional studies to assess remaining structural areas, such as the wings.

Still, the USAF does not plan to change its JSTARS recapitalisation strategy given current aircraft availability.

The USAF anticipates a contract award for a new JSTARS platform in FY2018 and plans to reach initial operational capability by the last quarter of FY2024. Due to ongoing delays with maintenance at Northrop Grummans sustainment facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana, aircraft availability remains low with 42% of aircraft in the depot today.

Aircraft availability continues to decrease and sustainment costs are unsupportable, the document states. These two factors were the catalyst for initiating the JSTARS recapitalisation programme.

Unlike the air forces EC-130H Compass Call cross-deck effort, which will move old mission systems onto a new platform, the JSTARS recapitalisation is meant to overhaul the entire weapon system, USAF chief of staff Gen David Goldfein told reporters following a 6 June Congressional hearing. The USAF examines extending aircraft service life through rigorous testing, which helps the service identify items that will likely break and should be funded in the future, Goldfein says.

We only fund against what we predict and then youve seen in the past all of a sudden a part on an F-15C comes out and we havent manufactured that in the last five or 10 years, he says. So the reality is, we have to look at how we extend the weapon system, but it does not change the strategy at all about how we recapitalize to get into a new aircraft.

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Some JSTARS aircraft could fly into 2034 - Flightglobal

A sketch of a possible future Cavendish Blvd. extension was part of a press release issued by Robert Libman June 5, 2017.

After many stalled attempts over the last 80 years, the city of Montreal once again appears to be taking steps to make the extension of Cavendish Blvd. a reality.

The extension of the roadway to link Cte-St-Luc to St-Laurent has been talked about since the 1940s,but a new housing development could provide an impetus to complete it.

On Monday, the city sent out a public notice that Finance Minister CarlosLeito would hold a news conference that afternoon at City Hall with Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre and Cte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grce borough mayor Russell Copeman about the land formerly occupied by the Blue Bonnets horse racing track (later called the Hippodrome). However, as is so often the case with the Cavendish extension, the news conference itself was postponed to another date, as Coderre was testifying before the Chamberland Commission looking into police spying into journalists and his testimony took longer than expected.

Snowdon councillor Marvin Rotrand said thecity has been waiting since 2012 for the province to cede the land so it could build aproject with at least 5,000 housing units on the 43.5-hectare property.

The development of the Hippodrome site is part of the citys plan to develop near heavy transit, and keep people from leaving the island for the suburbs, Rotrand said.

Rotrand said because the area around Jean-Talon St. at Dcarie Blvd is already heavily congested, the extension of Cavendish Blvd. is needed in order not to add more strain to the existing road network.

Rotrand expects a deal with the province to be announced shortly so it can come to a vote at the coming June city council meeting.

While the city and the province came to an agreement on ceding the land in 2012, the file has stalled, said Rotrand, who speculated it was because both levels of government had to iron out terms on the Cavendish extension.

Part of the deal (with the province to cede the land) was that the city fund part of the Cavendish extension, but while it was put into the citys capital budget, we never got matching funds from the province, Rotrand said.

Also on Monday, the city of Cte-St-Luc planned a town hall meeting to answer the publics questions about the project.

The Cavendish extension is closer to reality now than ever before, Cte-St-Luc city councillor Mike Cohen told the Montreal Gazette on Monday. Once the city (of Montreal gets) that land, the extension will happen sooner than people think. It wont be a pipe dream anymore.

Cohen said progress has been made since Coderre announced his intention to go ahead with the project during the last election.

The city has been negotiating with the CN and CP railway companies to build overpasses over the tracks built along the proposed route. Cohen said those negotiations are going well, and he pointed out that the agglomeration council recently set aside $220,000 to conduct a feasibility of the extension.

Proposed for several decades by the Town of Mount Royal, the city of Montreal, and St-Laurent, the extension was held up because the city of Cte-St-Luc didnt want to give access to thousands of cars to use it as an alternative to the Dcarie Expressway.

However, more recent councils have seen the merit in extending the urban boulevard. In 2004, Robert Libman, who was then mayor of a merged Cte-St-Luc, got behind a project by the city to build an indirect link. It would have both ends of Cavendish extended to Royalmount Ave. on the border of Town of Mount Royal and Montreal. Cars would be diverted to the east-west Royalmount to continue their path north or south.

Cohen said Cte-St-Luc now sees an extended Cavendish as an essential link to the road network. It would allow residents to better access the central and western parts of the island, bring them closer to Namur mtro station, and serve as a much-needed evacuation route for Cte-St-Luc, which is bordered by train tracks.

Montreal sees Cavendish as a gateway to economic development, as the new access road would be a boon for a $1.7-billion mega mall that developer Carbonleo hopes to build in T.M.R., near the Dcarie Circle.

But there is still political opposition to the project. Jeremy Searle, the independent councillor for the Loyola district has said the project would add congestion, and essentially turn Cavendish into a highway.

Peter McQueen, the Project Montral councillor for the Notre-Dame-de-Grce sector, said he also fears congestion, but added the route could harm the local economy by diluting traffic from commercial arteries like Monkland Ave. and Queen Mary Rd.

He said the city should also try to add housing without adding cars.

The need for Cavendish shows the fact the city wants to plan a fairly suburban-type development, similar to Bois-Franc in St-Laurent, he said, adding that the project should be more oriented towards transit to the mtro.

Rotrand countered that the Cavendish extension will reduce the number of cars using through traffic on the streets of Snowdon, because people from Cte-St-Luc, Hampstead and Notre-Dame-de-Grce now drive through that neighbourhood to get to Dcarie. He said the city can control for speed and congestion, by banning cars, or installing traffic lights, stop signs or other traffic-calming measures.

jmagder@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/JasonMagder

Facebook.com/JasonMagderJournalist

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New life breathed into decades-old dream of a Cavendish extension ... - Montreal Gazette

June 06, 2017 10:56 ET | Source: Novo Nordisk A/S

multilang-release

Bagsvrd, Denmark, 6 June 2017 - Novo Nordisk today announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorisation for Refixia for the treatment of adolescents and adults with haemophilia B. The authorisation covers all 28 European Union member states.

Refixia is the brand name for nonacog beta pegol; N9-GP. Refixia is indicated for prophylaxis, on-demand treatment of bleeding and surgical procedures in adolescent (>12 years of age) and adult patients with haemophilia B (congenital factor IX deficiency). The efficacy and safety evaluation was based on 115 patients across the five paradigm clinical trials, and the marketing authorisation follows the positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), under the European Medicines Agency (EMA), provided 24 March 2017.

"We are excited about the approval of Refixia in the EU, and we consider it an important expansion of the treatment options for patients with haemophilia B," said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk. "The strong clinical profile of Refixia provides haemophilia B patients with better protection against bleeds, even into damaged joints, and an overall improved quality of life."

Novo Nordisk expects to launch Refixia in the first European countries in the fourth quarter of 2017.

About Refixia

Refixia (nonacog beta pegol; N9-GP) is an extended half-life factor IX molecule for replacement therapy in patients with haemophilia B. Glycopegylation, the prolongation technology used for the half-life extension, is a novel approach in haemophilia B. Pegylated products have been approved in haemophilia A and other therapeutic areas. The review of Refixia was based on the paradigm programme, a phase 3 clinical programme enrolling children and adults with severe or moderately severe haemophilia B. In the programme, 115 previously treated patients had a total of more than 8,800 exposure days for up to 2.7 years of treatment with Refixia. On 31 May 2017, Novo Nordisk received the US FDA approval of nonacog beta pegol; N9-GP indicated for on-demand treatment and control of bleeding episodes and the perioperative management of bleeding around the time of surgery in adults and children with haemophilia B.

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat other serious chronic conditions: haemophilia, growth disorders and obesity. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 42,000 people in 77 countries and markets its products in more than 165 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Novo-B). Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NVO). For more information, visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube

Further information

Company announcement No 42/2017

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ba74dfd2-c60f-48fd-8b69-1053b09db4e1

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Refixia (nonacog beta pegol; N9-GP) approved - GlobeNewswire (press release)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- After an offseason of trade speculation, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo finds himself back in his familiar spot with the New England Patriots. He said Tuesday it is where he wants to be -- possibly beyond 2017, the final year of his contract.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick was the latest to chime in on the controversy created last month when Tom Brady's wife said the star quarterback suffered a concussion last season.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski said Tuesday that he's "100 percent" and has no restrictions as he returns from back surgery.

1 Related

"I'd entertain any possibility," he said, when asked if he would be open to a contract extension with the club. "I'm not really thinking about it too much right now. There's so much going on with OTAs and training camp right around the corner, that's where my focus is. We'll cross that bridge when we get there, I guess."

Garoppolo, 25, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. His future with the Patriots is naturally tied to starting quarterback Tom Brady, who turns 40 on Aug. 3.

Brady is signed through the 2019 season, and Garoppolo has maintained patience as his backup since joining the Patriots as a second-round draft choice out of Eastern Illinois in 2014.

"Obviously, I want to play. That's the competitor in me. I think everyone out here wants to play," he said. "We come out here and compete every day for that opportunity and if you go out and earn it, it's yours. ... Nothing is going to be given to you, especially here."

Garoppolo laughed when a reporter asked if he has ever queried Brady about how much longer he plans to play. Brady recently told ESPN.com that he hopes to play into his mid-40s.

"I don't think I've ever asked him that, but he's very helpful, on the field, off the field, with things in life," Garoppolo said. "He's been kind of a like a big brother to me."

As for the trade speculation, Garoppolo said he mostly blocked it out during the offseason, and that he doesn't spend much time pondering his future. Asked if he was surprised to still be with the Patriots, who have Brady, him and Jacoby Brissett on the depth chart for the second year in a row, Garoppolo said: "I'm glad to be here."

"I love it," he added. "Very fortunate situation to come into a place, get drafted here. There are good people all around the building, from the support staff to the lunch ladies and everything. It's everybody. It sounds crazy, but it's just a good group of people and it rubs off on each other."

See the rest here:

Garoppolo wants to play, open to extension - ESPN

In the weeks before Canadas largest defence and security tradeshow, the Minister of National Defence and a Senate committee gave military helicopter manufacturers, many of whom have seen a sales slump in recent years, reason for optimism.

Midlife upgrade programs for both the CH-146 Griffon transport and tactical helicopter and the CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopter have been on the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) project list for several years, but neither have had funding approved to launch into project definition.

In an address on May 3 foreshadowing this weeks defence policy review announcement, Minister Harjit Sajjan described the dismal state of military spending and flagged both helicopters as part of a growing list of unfunded equipment and technical capabilities urgently required for the armed forces to meet domestic and international operational demands.

A week later the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defence also raised both helicopter projects in a report outlining a plan to reinvest in the military, recommending a Griffon replacement program be prioritized and that the government move forward with a proposal to expand the Cormorant fleet by upgrading the 14 CH-149 aircraft and converting seven VH-71 airframes currently in storage to the same operational capability.

While the RCAF has outlined a limited life-extension project for the CH-146 that would upgrade avionics and some communications systems, it has also assessed whether it might be better to invest in a new platform, bringing the tactical aviation capability on par with the CH-147F Chinook.

The prospect of a new helicopter acquisition program was clearly welcomed by Airbus Defence & Space. Romain Trapp, president of Airbus Helicopters in Canada, led off the companys corporate press briefing at CANSEC on June 1, highlighting the capability of the H145M as an option for the Griffon replacement.

With the rapid introduction of new technologies in its aircraft, Trapp said Airbus eventual offering would depend on when a request for proposals is issued. But the company has been pushing for an accelerated program, he said, and has provided the RCAF with recent a white paper and customer analysis as well as cost projections.

We made the business case by showing [the Air Force] that simply by going to a new platform, the Canadian taxpayers would save more than $1 billion 10 years from now, he said.

Today our current proposal is the H145M, which is a proven platform, he added, noting that the multirole aircraft is ideally suited for the Canadian tactical reconnaissance utility helicopter requirements.

The U.S. Army ordered the UH-72A Lakota, a variant of the H145M, in 2006 as its light utility helicopter and currently operates a fleet of 400. The aircraft is also in service with German special forces, possibly a key consideration in a Canadian procurement given that 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron also operates the Griffon.

All deliveries were done on time, on budget, on quality, said Trapp.

Airbus is now investing heavily in autonomous flight technologies and will soon develop fully autonomous versions of some of our helicopters, he added. This will allow us to respond to the emerging needs of our defence customers all over the world.

For Leonardo Helicopters (formerly AgustaWestland), increased activity around a Cormorant midlife upgrade program was reason enough to put the band back together. Days before CANSEC, the company announced the reassembly of Team Cormorant, the industry partnership of Leonardo, IMP Aerospace, CAE, Rockwell Collins Canada and GE Canada that delivered the CH-149 in 2000.

Team Cormorant is proposing a modernization project based on the Norwegian All-Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter (NAWSARH) program, which selected the AW101 in 2013 to replace its fleet of Sea King aircraft and is expecting delivery of the first helicopter later this year. The CH-149 is a variant of the AW101 medium-lift helicopter now in service with over a dozen militaries.

The team is also proposing to expand the Cormorant fleet from 14 to 21 aircraft by converting seven VH-71 airframes, airworthy variants of the AW101, that were acquired from the U.S. government in 2011 for spare parts, to the same configuration. The additional aircraft would allow the air force to return the Cormorant to 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron at 8 Wing Trenton, Ont., which currently operates a fleet of Griffon helicopters.

Leonardo has argued that, with an average of over 5,000 hours on the airframes, all of which are around 16 years of age, and growing concerns about parts obsolescence, an immediate update is required if the RCAF wants to meet its service life target of 2040.

The upgrades would include new cockpit displays, avionics, digital automatic flight control system, aircraft management system, electro-optical surveillance system, and weather radar as well as a new 3,000 horsepower CT7-8E engine.

Leonardo is also offering a new Obstacle Proximity LiDAR System that would provide directional audio and visual warning when the helicopter blades get too close to obstacles, and mobile phone detection technology that would effectively turn the aircraft into a mobile phone cell and allow its onboard system to identify and track a mobile phone within a 25-mile range.

The Cormorant fleet had problems with availability in the early years of the program, but John Ponsonby, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters, said dispatch availability is over 98 per cent with the current fleet. We continue to support IMP and we provide the level of support expected by the customer.

The Air Force has been supportive of the VH-71 conversion proposal but RCAF commander LGen Mike Hood told Skies in an interview last November that repair and maintenance costs of the extant fleet would need to be reduced before the air force could move ahead with the plan.

I believe once we get there, the conditions will be set for me to drive forward with a Cormorant midlife update and I want to see the VH-71s included in that, he said. But until such time as they can deliver on what the department has asked in the way of reducing cost, Im a little stuck.

Ponsonby acknowledged the issue and said large strides have been made in recent years to reduce the cost of ownership. We have committed to a significant program of cost reduction and we have delivered a significant percentage of cost reduction alreadywe are focused on providing best value, we are taking action, and that action is delivering results.

As part of its options analysis, the Air Force had considered the possibility of replacing the CH-149, but an upgrade program now appears to be the preferred option. Ponsonby believes its the correct decision.

Our argument is that we can insert the capabilities you are looking for, and the reliability and cost of ownership are reduced, he said. You have used this platform for 18 years, it has done absolutely great service, there is nothing better on the market, so a [midlife upgrade] does make sense.

Read the rest here:

Cormorant, Griffon upgrade projects get new lift - Skies Magazine (press release)

Earlier this month, The New Yorker explored the tech industrys obsession with solving death.CreditPHOTOGRAPH BY GRANT CORNETT FOR THE NEW YORKER

Earlier this month,The New Yorkerpublished Silicon Valleys Quest to Live Forever, which explored the tech industrys obsession with solving death. On Facebook and Twitter, we asked readers to submit questions they had after reading the article. (Questions have been edited for clarity.)

Do you think wealth will determine access to super-long lifespans? @smsBigBear

At first, yes.Poor people usuallyhave more immediate concerns than worrying about where to get the best, most invigorating fractionated blood plasma. But wealth also determined access to the first personal computers (fifty-five thousand dollars in 1948), the first cellphones (thirty-nine hundred and ninety-five dollars in 1993)and the first Teslas (a hundred and nine thousand dollars in 2008).It may seem fundamentally unfair that billionaires will get the first fruits of Silicon Valleys longevity research. Another way to look at it, however, is that theyre subsidizing treatments that, if they succeed, will rapidly get much cheaper and become widely available.

I was wondering why some of the very intelligent people you interviewed have so much faith that the human body and/or mind can persist for hundreds of years, or even forever. I found it hard to identify anything humans have ever made or tinkered with that has lasted much longer than a few decades. Isnt creating some hardware or software that lasts for hundreds of years a precondition to achieving eternal manmade existence?Neelroop Parikshak

Great point. It does seemlikely that the first android body your consciousness gets transferred to might turn out to bethe eight-track tape of consciousness repositories: buggy, cumbersome, and doomed to rapid replacement. If we cant figure outanenduring, unhackable storage mechanism for data, how can we hope to find a permanent resting place for the vastly more complex and multifarious connectome wiring our brains?

Whats the most complex organism that has successfully been cryogenically frozen and reanimated (e.g., using methods like those of Alcor Life Extension Foundation)? Peter W. Knox

Scientists havereanimated a tardigrade (a hardy .02-inch-long micro-animal known as a water bear or a pudgy wudgy) after thirty years in the deep freeze. But the tardigrade wasnt dead to begin with. Last year, the researchers who successfully froze a rabbit brain, preserving its synapses intact, won the prestigious Small Mammal Brain Preservation Prize. Just kidding. (I mean, there really is such a prize,worth$26,735,and they really did win it, but I wouldnt say that its all that prestigious outside of the fiercely competitive small-mammal-brain-preservation community.) Also, to prove that the brains connectivity had been preserved intact, the team had to slice the brain open to check. Bottom line:cryogenicfreezingis not a surefire Plan B.

In your opinion, what is driving this need among billionaires and celebrities to live forever? Is it narcissism? Something else? Anonymous

There may be a little narcissism in there, as well as somedenial that lifewhich is pretty good if youre a Silicon Valley billionairehas a terminus. But the main driver, I think, and the one that interested me most, was the deeply human impulse to ram through any boundary. Obviously, the ultimate boundary to our hopes and ambitionsand to everything else in the human experienceis death. A phrase I heard a lot was, If we solve this problem, we can solve all the other problems later.

The rest is here:

Your Questions About Silicon Valley's Quest to Live Forever, Answered - The New Yorker

Investigators probing the fatal crash of a Sun Way Ilyushin Il-76TD heavy freighter in Karachi have determined the aircraft had been operating beyond its approved service life when it suffered an uncontained engine failure.

Analysis of the Georgian-registered aircrafts dynamics, using flight-data recorder information, indicates it had taken off with a weight of 195t, in excess of the 190t recommended in the flight crew operations manual.

The outboard right-hand Soloviev D-30 engine sustained a second-stage disk failure in its low-pressure compressor after the jet (4L-GNI) took off from runway 25L on 27 November 2010.

Pakistans Safety Investigation Board states that the aircraft was capable of maintaining flight with a single engine failure, and a wings-level attitude could have been maintained with aileron and rudder input.

But examination of the control inputs suggest the aircraft must have sustained extensive damage during the engine explosion and subsequent fuel fire.

The inquiry believes the Il-76 received damage to its flaps, and lost lift on the outer half of the starboard wing, causing the aircraft to bank to the right.

Modelling of the accident sequence indicates that eliminating 20% of the starboard wings flaps would have been sufficient to generate the roll moment registered on the flight-data recorder.

Taking into consideration low altitude and speed it was almost impossible to counter this situation by input of the flight controls, says the inquiry.

The aircraft banked 71 to the right, despite full deflection of ailerons and strong rudder input, and struck the ground about 1min after lifting off.

None of the eight occupants of the freighter survived the crash, and the fatalities also included three people on the ground.

The inquiry noted that, on two occasions earlier in the week of the accident, the crew had experienced difficulty in starting the outboard right-hand engine.

It was not possible to exactly determine the reason [for] abnormal starts of [the engine], says the Safety Investigation Board, but it suggests the most probable issue was reduction of compressor efficiency arising from worn blades.

Investigators add that the likely cause of the engine failure was fatigue cracking in a low-pressure compressor disk.

The condition of the 26-year old aircraft and its engines came under considerable scrutiny during the inquiry.

Investigators state that the carrier did not provide complete aircraft or engine logbooks to the probe, nor did it provide relevant records on service-life extensions to engines.

The lack of information has led the inquiry to conclude that all four engines were being operated beyond the service life established by the powerplant manufacturer, and that the manufacturer had not approved a life extension.

Investigators add that the Ilyushin design bureau assigned a calendar-based service life of 20 years for the jet, which expired in May 2004.

The aircraft was operated beyond its assigned life without approval of the designer, says the inquiry.

Although all four engines were located in the main debris field, some parts of the outer right-hand engine including low-pressure compressor blades and disks were found beneath the flight path about 1,900-2,400m from the end of the runway, and 1,200-1,400m before the crash site wreckage.

Analysis pointed to characteristics suggestive of fatigue cracking, due to fretting corrosion, in the second-stage disk. Since the logbooks of the engine were unavailable, the inquiry could not determine whether remedial measures to address this problem were implemented.

Go here to see the original:

Il-76 flown beyond service life before fatal engine explosion - Flightglobal

For some time I've been tracking work on extending healthy lives and longevity, both from a scientific as well as an investment perspective. I indicated that there are a number of biotech startups that start out seeking to extend lifespan, but as a survival mechanism, end up choosing a disease that is more common with age and seeking to address that.

Life extending drugs Metformin and Rapamycin

Previously I've highlighted two drugs, Metformin and Rapamycin, developed for specific diseases, which might also extend lifespan as a side effect. Here is an update.

Metformin

A good summary of the current status of Metformin has been published recently in Endocrine Today. This article describes the history of Metformin development, which has culminated in it being the recommended first-line drug for treating type 2 diabetes both in the US and worldwide. Because it is available as a generic and is cheap to manufacture, this drug could be used as a long term anti-aging drug (~$4 for 1 month supply).

Metformin has a number of positive health effects beyond its use in treating type 2 diabetes, including applications for treating some patients with obesity.

A six year placebo controlled study on 3000 elderly patients is underway to explore Metformin protection of age related disease occurrence. There are indications that Metformin may be protective against growth of cancer cells.

Of course prescribing Metformin as a life extending/quality of life drug is not an immediate prospect, although there have been some studies on a possible life extending action by Metformin.

The commercial prospects for this drug are limited as it is no longer patented and there seems to be limited opportunity to develop a proprietary formulation as it is easily administered as a daily tablet.

Since it is clear that Metformin doesn't work for everyone, perhaps the future for this kind of life extending drug might be to integrate its use into a wellness portfolio, with screening to see whether you are likely to benefit from the drug. This would mean packaging the drug in an informatics-based service business. Of course the benefits of Metformin need to be better clarified, but after that there needs to be a business model sorted out that doesn't rely on a patented position for the actual drug itself.

Management of patient data is now coming of age with cloud based electronic health records and data management with companies like Commvault (NASDAQ:CVLT). While these companies at present focus on integrating and making available a wide range of patient data, it is a logical step for these kinds of providers to assist health providers to mine and integrate data with a view to promoting wellness and reducing the cost of treatment after people get sick. In fact this approach is already emerging with companies like Nextgen Healthcare (a subsidiary of Quality Systems (NASDAQ:QSII)). Investors looking for future investments in the healthcare area might keep an eye out for how companies like Commvault, and Nextgen are positioning themselves.

It isn't surprising that Craig Venter, who transformed the human genome project, is interested in this space with his company Human Longevity Inc. However, it has been argued that Human Longevity Inc is more a personalised medicine company than a longevity science company. So Human Longevity operates in a similar space to Nextgen Healthcare, except that a core feature of Venter's company is sequencing and annotating individual human genome data.

Rapamycin

The Rapamycin story is different to Metformin as in the case of Rapamycin a number of big pharma companies have a patent position on variants of Rapamycin (Sirolimus). Novartis (NYSE:NVS) Everolimus and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Temsirolimus have been investigated for kidney cancer treatments, and also in combination with other drugs for exploring treatment of various cancers. Everolimus may also have fertility sparing attributes for women being treated with chemotherapeutic agents.

Abbott (NYSE:ABT) Zotarolimus and private company Elixir Medical Corp Novolimus (which is an active metabolite of Rapamycin (Sirolimus)) have been tested as a cardiac stent coating. Everolimus has also been used as a cardiac stent coating.

The above patented Rapamycin derivatives leave the way open for a more conventional drug development program for anti-aging and quality of life improvement. No doubt as part of consideration of Rapamycin derivatives for life extension applications, there are senior executives in big pharma trying to work out how this could play out.

Unlike the situation with Metformin where life extension possibilities are being identified through data mining of a large patient base who use Metformin, especially for Type 2 diabetes, in the case of Rapamycin, trials are being established to test low doses both in large animals (dogs) and humans to test more directly life extension and quality of life improvements.

Dog trials: The first phase of the Dog Aging Project has been completed; it involved a low dose of Rapamycin. There were 24 middle-aged dogs treated with placebo or Rapamycin in a trial in Seattle. The key findings, which will be published, were that there were no significant side effects of Rapamycin treatment and also that positive effects on heart function compared to controls were similar to results found after treating old mice. The trial involved a small number of animals and it produced limited, but encouraging results.

The second phase of the Dog Aging Project involves treating middle-aged dogs with low doses of Rapamycin (with a placebo control) for 3 -5 years to understand if Rapamycin does cause increased lifespan and a better elderly life. A number of age-related parameters will be assessed before, during and after the 3-5 year Rapamycin dosing period. Key parameters to be measured include cognitive function, heart function, immunity and cancer incidence. The geographical reach of the second phase trial will extend throughout the US and hopefully overseas. At the low doses used, no adverse effects of Rapamycin are expected.

Human trials: There are currently two human clinical trials assessing low doses of Rapamycin in progress.

One trial sponsored by The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio and due for completion in June 2017, involves treating healthy (includes those with chronic disease whose disease is stable) aged volunteers aged 70-95 years with a daily dose of Rapamycin or placebo for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint involves scientific measurements of immune response and T-cell function. Secondary outcomes involve physical performance (grip strength, walking speed) and cognitive performance based on 3 different tests.

A second trial, sponsored by the Mayo Clinic, is a Phase 1 study that involves a small open label trial, which will be followed by a randomized trial involving exercise or exercise plus low dose of Rapamycin. Patients will be 60 years or older. It looks like this study was preceded by a pilot study measuring senescence markers and physical function in elderly patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. Rapamycin treatment showed some improvement of senescence markers and physical performance, but no improvement in frailty in the pilot study. The interesting point is that Rapamycin at a low dose unlikely to cause any adverse effects, is being taken seriously as a potential life extension/quality of life treatment. There are interesting developments in Rapamycin-like drugs that may have better potential as life extending drugs than Rapamycin itself.

The next developments here will be if big Pharma starts to do trials on their proprietary (patented) forms of Rapamycin.

Conclusion

As is often the case when new fields of medicine are opened up, the treatment, the drug pricing and the means of commercialisation are all unclear. It is a twist to contemplate taking a drug when you are well, but not without precedent as aspirin is often taken at low doses to prevent heart attack and stroke.

Here I've discussed two business models for old drugs that may have life extension/quality of life improvements. For Metformin I suggest that it could be incorporated in a wellness program. For Rapamycin a more traditional drug development route is possible. Watch this space.

Author's note: I am not a financial advisor. I look for innovation in biotech and try to understand how this may be monetized. If my commentary helps shape your perspective on biotech investment, please consider following me.

Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

The rest is here:

Metformin And Rapamycin: Signs Of (Extended) Life? How To Monetize? - Seeking Alpha