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Diane Paulus sees immortality in ‘Finding Neverland’ – Orlando Sentinel

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

Diane Paulus was thinking about mounting a production of Peter Pan.

Then, a viewing of Finding Neverland, the movie explaining Peters creation, sent her in a new direction. The Tony-winning director was captivated by the 2004 film starring Johnny Depp as Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie.

Its about the power of imagination, she says. Its about J.M Barrie as a writer breaking rules which I love in the theater.

Plus, she was inspired by a couple of other fans.

I watched it with my two girls, Paulus recalls. I saw their faces light up.

The rest, as they say, is history. The touring production of Broadway musical Finding Neverland, directed by Paulus, opens Tuesday, June 6, at Orlandos Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

The musical explains how playwright Barrie came to create Peter Pan through his involvement with an unusual family.

Her daughters, Paulus says, would dance to the shows pop-flavored music while it was in development. It opened in 2014 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Mass., where Paulus is artistic director.

Now 10 and 12, her girls have grown up with the show, Paulus says. Finding Neverland debuted on Broadway in March 2015, with Matthew Morrison (Glee) and Kelsey Grammer (Frasier) in leading roles. It ran for more than a year.

I just always felt it was a show that could be shared across generations, says Paulus, who is based in New York. I saw the potential of kids coming to Finding Neverland and seeing the puzzle of how Captain Hook came to be, how did Tinker Bell happen?

Paulus, whose Tony came for the 2013 revival of Pippin, knows all-ages entertainment. She created Amaluna, a touring Cirque du Soleil show, and in 2003 directed The Golden Mickeys show for Disney Cruise Line. It would later also play at Hong Kong Disneyland, where it ran for more than a decade.

More people have seen The Golden Mickeys than any other show Ive created, she acknowledges with a chuckle.

Peter Pan wasnt part of that show He hadnt entered my life yet but Paulus has a theory on his storys enduring appeal.

Its about immortality, an immortality connected to the idea of a child, she says. A child inside us, the child we once were that maybe weve lost and that maybe we want to capture again.

mpalm@orlandosentinel.com

Diane Paulus sees immortality in 'Finding Neverland' - Orlando Sentinel

Off the Cuffs: Bibbs considers donation, cremation, cryonics – Cecil Whig

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

ELKTON I spent a fair amount of time in cemeteries last week, said Cuffs, explaining his recent absence from the local scene. Attending memorial services and visiting relatives graves.

Billy Bibbs and I nodded, encouraging the North Street Hotel curmudgeon to continue his report.

Peaceful places, Cuffs added. Usually pretty empty except on weekends and holidays. But during the workweek you might see a few workers doing landscaping and general maintenance. Opening up fresh graves for upcoming funerals.

Allows you plenty of privacy, and time to reflect upon your loved ones. Even talk out loud if you want. Nobody around to overhear your private thoughts.

Well, Bibbs said, that old fashioned burial-in-the-ground routine aint for me. Im going to get myself cremated. Save on cost, less aggravation to deal with, and no need to buy a clean white shirt and new suit plus Ill be doing my part to help the environment.

I nodded, offering no comment. I didnt care if Bibbs was tossed off the side of his crab boat into the upper Chesapeake, given a dirt nap in a county boneyard, or cooked to a crisp and had his ashes jammed in a jelly jar.

Cuffs thought differently, however, saying, You might want to think about donating your sorry stupid self to science, he said, sporting a smile. Maybe then some clumsy med student could look inside your thick skull and see what wires are crossed. Then wed find out why you were such a pain in all our backsides.

Jimmy, the saloons owner, happened to be passing by, and entered the conversation with a question: Have you ever heard of anybodys body being rejected for scientific study? From what I understand, years ago it was against the law. But now I hear they take everybody and anybody.

I couldnt resist, So that gives Bibbs two options. He can finally become some use to society as a scientific case study. Or spend the hereafter in a fancy vase, perched on somebodys bookshelf.

Id rather be scattered across the finish line at Delaware Park, Bibbs said. In fact, I think Ill make sure thats written down in my will.

Everyone enjoyed his remark, but when the laughter died down, Cuffs said, This cremation thing got me to thinking, so I did a bit of research.

Look out, said Jimmy, sounds like were moving into serious territory.

Did you know, Cuffs said, there are thousands. Maybe tens of thousands, of unclaimed cremated remains stacked in storage areas in funeral parlors across the country?

Youre crazy, said Bibbs, obviously annoyed, since he had announced bodily incineration as his preferred method of environmentally conscious disposal from Mother Earth. Where you getting that kind of information.

A bunch of articles on the internet focus on ashes left behind and never retrieved from crematoriums. Either because the family member forgot about the loved one, didnt want to pick him or her up, or didnt have the money to pay for the fireside service. So the undertakers hold onto Johnny or Jenney for as long as possible. Then, depending upon state law, they get rid of the remains as they see fit.

Sounds harsh, said Bibbs, his face displaying concern.

Looks like our pal Bibbs might be having second thoughts about his cremation determination, said Cuffs, as he slapped his perplexed friend across the back.

Entering into the discussion, I mentioned there were other problems with the disposition of ashen remains. Containers holding loved ones often become misplaced or lost by those entrusted with their care. Urns and vases are shoved into attics, storage sheds, and old trunks, or placed onto crowded basement shelves. Like boxes filled with old unidentified photographs, over time remains are forgotten. Until discovered years later by confused descendants or clueless strangers.

Theres also the so-called convenience of cremation that affects the ritual associated with the longstanding visitation process, Cuffs said.

Acknowledging the confusion apparent on the faces of the rest of the group, he added, My recent cemetery visits involved preparation for the trip, or journey. Locating the familiar resting place. Saying a few prayers, and having a brief conversation. Finally, placing a flag, special memento, or flowers near the marble marker.

That ritual, or process, is lost when the loved one is kept in a box on the bottom detergent shelf of a laundry room.

Youre exaggerating, challenged Bibbs, becoming more annoyed as the conversation continued.

Not so, I interjected. Over time, boxed or vased remains are treated with less reverence than a traditional burial site. I recall an unusual incident, when I was interviewing a couple of quirky historians in their home. As we sat down to talk, the wife brought out four fancy urns which held the remains of both sets of parents. She set them down on the coffee table, saying she thought her deceased relatives might enjoy listening to the interview.

Shaking his head, Bibbs said, Youre making that up. No way that ever happened.

Raising my right hand, I said, I swear on the remains of my late father that have been pressed into this diamond, worn on my right hand that I did not make up the statement about that interview.

What about the story of the diamond ring? Cuffs asked, as confused as the others by my addition of that little tidbit.

Smiling, I replied, Now thats a total fabrication, I said.

Picking up on my clever reply, Jimmy asked, So your ring or the wacky story is a fabrication from cremated ashes?

Ill let you decide, placing my hand on the table, and adding, By the way, theyre called cremation crystals, or cremations diamonds. A wearable trend thats increasing in popularity, environmentally friendly and, of course, politically correct.

Shaking his head, Jimmy said, What will they think of next?

Responding, Cuffs said, We havent even touched on cryonics deep freezing you after death. Only costs about $200,000, and you might end up in the same warehouse as Walt Disney.

I think we should put that topic on the shelf for another time, I said.

Yeah! Cuffs said, right next to Bibbs ashes.

Unless his relatives toss him out in an old outhouse, added Jimmy.

Or a yard sale, I said.

After the laughter subsided, Bibbs asked, If I donate myself to science, do I have to buy a new suit?

Nope, Cuffs said. Its even cheaper than cremation, and theyll take you just the way you are.

Count me in, Bibbs said.

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Off the Cuffs: Bibbs considers donation, cremation, cryonics - Cecil Whig

5 ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES EVERY MAN SHOULD BE AWARE OF – TORO Magazine

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

Until a couple of years ago, alternative medicine was an alien concept in North American culture. However, there appears to be a growing consciousness regarding alternative medicine as a better form of health care as compared to conventional medicine.

Conventional medicine is being viewed as a form of treatment that has numerous side effects. The approach of conventional medicine appears focused on the illness of the patient instead of their health. Physicians have also been blamed for intentionally downplaying better medicines in order to remain in business.

INTRODUCTION TO ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Generally, the approach of conventional medicine is based on the treatment of symptoms rather than the underlying cause of most ailments. For instance, oncology is basically focused on hammering cancer cells into submission, or amputating the affected areas as in the case of breast cancer. Alternative medicine on the other hand appears more focused on preventative treatment and holistic treatment. In other words, alternative therapies attempt to understand the underlying cause of disease in the human body.

Alternative medicine refers to any form of treatment or therapy that is outside western standards of medicine. There is no official definition of alternative medicine since it comprises so many varied forms of treatment and their efficacies have not yet been fully studied.

For instance; stress, poor dieting, and exposure to certain carcinogenic substances are among the underlying causes of cancer. Alternative medicine appreciates this and approaches treatment of cancer from the perspective of treating the mind, body, and spirit for effective and lasting treatments.

Conventional treatments, such as the use of painkillers and other strong drugs, chemotherapy and radiology have been found to harm the body more than the diseases they are meant to treat. Its no wonder, therefore, that many people are turning to alternative medicine as their primary form of treatment. Some physicians recommend the use of both conventional and alternative forms of treatment for the best results.

There are so many different alternative therapies available for patients, so lets examine the most common of these alternative medicines.

ACUPUNCTURE

This is an eastern form of treatment that has been practiced in China and other Asian countries for centuries. It involves inserting needles into specific areas of the body to induce relaxation and create an energy balance in the body.

Acupuncture is based on the ancient Chinese philosophy that health is attained when the human body and the universal forces are in harmony. Acupuncture therapists have, for decades, discovered acupuncture points which can be stimulated to attain this universe-body energy equilibrium.

By inserting fine and sterilized needles into these acupuncture points through the skin, the body re-orients itself to the universal forces. Further enhancement of stimulation can be achieved by using heat, electric shocks and pressure. Acupuncture combines needle insertion into the skin with other techniques such as cupping, massages, heat therapy and the application of traditional herbs for maximum outcomes.

Acupuncture is believed to cure a wide range of ailments. It is believed to evoke the bodys natural healing capabilities. It also enhances the natural body systems such as the endocrine, digestive, circulatory, and cardiovascular systems, ensuring your body works as if its new.

This therapy is renowned as a pain reliever, especially for patients with chronic diseases. It improves sleep, dissipates stress and increases the feeling of well-being.

ACUPRESSURE

Acupressure can be considered acupunctures cousin since they both operate on the same principles. The main difference between acupuncture and acupressure is that the latter uses pressure instead of sterile needles to get the job done.

Acupressure is believed to unblock clogged body energy paths to restore energy balance in the body. The therapist uses her fingertips, elbows, palms and feet to apply pressure to specific points along the meridian of the body.

Acupuncture has been recommended by physicians treating patients with cancer. It releases anxiety among patients, reduces cases of nausea which is a problem associated with cancer patients due to the medication they are undergoing and cures insomnia.

In a recent study acupressure was also found to be very effective in easing fatigue especially among breast cancer survivors.

AROMATHERAPY

Aromatherapy involves using a number of plant extracts that occur naturally to enhance the body, mind and spiritual health of patients through inhaling and smearing on the skin as an ointment.Most of the essential oils that are used for aromatherapy have strong, relaxing and tantalizing aromas and have been used for centuries. Some of these oils, such as frankincense, are mentioned in ancient religious texts suggesting that they have been in use for over 2,000 years.

Recently, CBD oils which are extracted from Cannabis have been gaining popularity among Americans and are often administered through vaporizing or dabbing. They are believed to be instant mood enhancers and give immediate relief to anxiety and stress. They also relax muscles and, as a result, improve blood circulation in the body.

Other essential oils, such as lavender, peppermint, rosemary, bergamot, chamomile and many others are used in aromatherapy. In general, these essential oils are good for relaxation, improvement of blood circulation, and creating the feeling of well-being.

This therapy doesnt need to be carried out by experts and can easily be applied as a home remedy for most patients. It is used, in most cases, as a complementary form of treatment to be used as a preventative form of treatment or alongside conventional treatment.

BALNEOTHERAPY

Balneotherapy is one of the oldest forms of treatment, and has existed since around 1700BC. There are references to ideologies of this therapy in ancient texts such as the Bible (certain people immersed themselves in the River Jordan and were cured of leprosy).This proves that it has been in use for centuries, but is now regaining its lost glory in the US.

As a therapy, Balneotherapy involves the use of water laced with minerals that are considered healthy for the skin. The treatments are used as mineral baths (also referred to as Dead Sea salt), sulfur baths, and radon-carbon dioxide baths. These baths are usually available in specific spas across the US.

According to a study in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, Balneotherapy has been found to be very effective in the treatment of rheumatological diseases such as osteoarthritis, chronic spinal cord and lower back pains, fibromyalgia and ankylosing spondylitis. It is also very good for the treatment of dermatological, allergic, and respiratory ailments among patients. Therefore, it is a form of alternative therapy that can be very beneficial to a wide range of patients.

MASSAGE THERAPY

Massage therapy is also something that has gained popularity among Americans. Initially, massages were viewed as a form of luxury for the rich. However, more and more people are going for massages for health reasons.

According to the American Massage Therapy Association, 53% of all Americans that underwent massage therapy did so because they were recommended by a physician. Evidently, it is no longer a hobby for the rich, but a necessary alternative form of medicine.

Massage therapy involves kneading and squeezing and other manipulations of the soft tissues of the body. These soft tissues include body muscles, and tendons and ligaments that connect muscles to the bones or other tissues.

People seek massage therapy for a number of reasons; to reduce stress, help relax the body, improve blood circulation, help heal injuries faster, relieve pain, and acquire the feel good feeling. There are very many types of massage therapies designed to meet the specific needs of the patient which are categorized into two.

Relaxation massages are generally geared around relaxing the bodys muscles and also relieving stress. They also calm the mind. Swedish massage is the main type of massage under this category. Relaxation massages are generally done by massage therapists in spas and massage parlors.

Deep tissue massage, or rehabilitative massage, is mainly given to patients recuperating from an injury or surgery. It is also given to patients who are bedridden to improve blood circulation in body tissues, relax muscles and relieve pain. This type of massage is performed by qualified medical practitioners who are qualified to perform the therapy. It is usually performed in hospitals, clinics, or the offices of chiropractors.

With the growing number of American believed to be stressed, massage therapy is something that can be done frequently to ensure you stay away from the doctor. However, it can cost you up to $500 for a monthly subscription. Its worth every dime though.

CONCLUSION

What makes alternative medicine preferable to conventional medicine is the holistic approach of alternative medicine. Therapies such as acupuncture are based on the ideology that the body has the capacity to heal itself if working properly.

Alternative medicine aims to relieve the stress that patients face and to make them feel good about themselves. Once the human body is calm and stress-free, its immune system is strengthened and can therefore fight off diseases. Therefore, alternative medicines aim to heal the mind, body and spirit and are considered a more complete form of treatment.

Conventional medicine is generally viewed as paying too much attention to the symptoms of the disease and avoiding addressing the underlying causes of these diseases. In addition, most of the treatments used in conventional medicine settings have a lot of side effects for patients.

Current trends indicate that alternative medicine will become even more popular in the future.

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5 ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES EVERY MAN SHOULD BE AWARE OF - TORO Magazine

Nutrigenetics, Weight Management, and Dietary Supplements – Nutritional Outlook

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

Could knowledge of our individual genetic variants guide us in making better, more personalized lifestyle choices, including the foods we eat and the dietary supplements we take? And could we leverage this information to mitigate our individual risk of obesity and other conditions? Experts in the fields of genetics, microbiology, the -omics (including metabolomics, proteomics, and more) and nutritional science generally say yesbut their opinions differ on what conclusions we can draw now with the information we currently have in this field, and how and when the science will be translatable into meaningful, scientifically sound commercial applications.

Much more than a trendy buzzword, nutrigenetics has as its main goal to understand the gene-based differences in response to dietary components and to develop recommendations that are the most compatible with the health status of individuals based on their genetic makeup, explains Jos M. Ordovs, PhD, director, Nutrition and Genomics, and professor, Nutrition and Genetics, at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University (Boston). Another way of putting it? Nutrigenetics is about how individual responses to food are driven by genetic differences.

Hooman Allayee, PhD, professor, Departments of Preventive Medicine & Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (Los Angeles), and president-elect, International Society of Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, adds, Nutrigenetics asks, Do the DNA differences between any two people make them respond differently to nutrients? The concept is based on relating genetic differences at the DNA level to the response to nutritional components.

This science is poised to disrupt the nutrition field and its blanket public-health guidelines as we now know them, and the potential applications hold tantalizing appeal for industry and consumers alike. The ultimate personalized nutrition comes, of course, from nutrigenetics, Ordovs says.

Characterizing the field as extremely complex, Ordovs explains that while he and his colleagues have been studying nutrigenetics for decades, it is, in his opinion, still in its infancy from a practical perspective. Early on, progress was limited by more-primitive technology and poor knowledge of the human genome, Ordovs says. Since then, technology has vastly improved, and our knowledge of the human genome is betterthough rather incomplete.

Still, Ordovs says, we have to integrate nutrition and genetics using very solid scientific approaches if we want the field of nutrigenetics to mature and yield meaningful solutions and applications.

Nutrigenetics & Weight Management: What We Know, What We Have Still to Learn

The question, What do we currently know about nutrigenetics, particularly related to obesity and weight management, and what can we do with that knowledge? yields varying answers depending on whom you ask. A portion of an American Heart Association statement published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics in 2016 and to which both Ordovs and Allayee contributed reads, Nutrigenomics has the potential to identify genetic predictors of disease-relevant responses to diet, and this potential and its applicability in the context of personalized nutrition have popular appeal. However, nutrigenomics has also been the subject of much hyperbole and has been ascribed much promise, particularly in the arenas of personalized nutrition, functional foods, and nutraceuticals. Unfortunately, the science has not yet fully delivered on this unrealized potential. The statement does acknowledge enthusiasm about possible clinical applications but maintains that the evidence base remains limited.

While the tone of that particular statement is one of cautious optimism, Tufts Ordovs does, in comments shared with Nutritional Outlook, point to promising findings related to nutrigenetics and weight management, including research performed at Tufts University that concluded that limiting saturated-fat intake may help promote healthy body-mass index (BMI) especially in people whose genetic makeup increases their risk of obesity.1 (For this study, researchers identified 63 gene variants related to obesity and used them to calculate a genetic-risk score for obesity for more than 2800 white adults. Participants with a higher genetic-risk score who also consumed more of their calories as saturated fat were more likely to have a higher BMI, the researchers found.)

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Nutrigenetics, Weight Management, and Dietary Supplements - Nutritional Outlook

WWE News: Jinder Mahal talks about fast food, supplements and accusations of PED use – Sportskeeda

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

Whats the story?

WWE Champion Jinder Mahal recently did an interview with GQ Magazine. They discussed a range of topics including the rumours of PED use, what supplements he takes, and his preference for fast food.

Jinder was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1986, and has a business degree in communications and culture from the University of Calgary. His uncle Gama Singh is also a professional wrestler, and the person who trained him wasthe legendary Stu Hart.

When it comes to fast food, Jinder says that you can actually eat very clean at Chipotle. He says that hell get chicken with lettuce and rice, but stays away from guacamole and sour cream. As for places like McDonalds and pizza delivery, he cannot remember the last time he had either.

Jinder also brought up his suspected PED use and his response in the following Instagram post:

He would tell GQ that most people dont realise the hard work that goes into getting your body into this shape. No one sees him going to the gym to do cardio first thing in the morning and most people dont realise that hydration plays a large role as well.

In regards to the supplements that he takes, Jinder stated that he takes only a few. He always has protein with him and uses amino acids and magnesium to prevent muscle breakdown and cramping. There is also a multi-vitamin/digestive enzyme packet he takes every morning.

Jinder will have his first title defence at the Money In The Bank pay per view on June 18th. He will try to keep the belt when he faces The Viper Randy Orton.

We cannot be the judge, jury, and executioner when it comes to a WWE Superstar taking PEDs, that is up to those who enforce the Wellness Policy. Its easy to look back at Jinder from two or three years ago and compare him to today and say yep hes on roids, but without any proof, its just a baseless claim.

Jinder has obviously put in a lot of work since his return to the WWE, and it is not just in his physique. There is a reason why he holds the WWE Championship now, and people should respect the hard work he has put in to get to where he is today.

Send us news tips atfightclub@sportskeeda.com

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WWE News: Jinder Mahal talks about fast food, supplements and accusations of PED use - Sportskeeda

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

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

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

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

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

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

Bagsvaerd, DENMARK

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

Garoppolo wants to play, open to extension – ESPN

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

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.

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"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

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

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

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)

Comment: On the contrary adoption is a pro-life issue – The Catholic Register

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

In the May 21 issue of The Catholic Register Peter Stockland wrote a sincere Comment piece about the need for renewal within organizations. I agree with him on this point.

I dont mean change for the sake of change, but the meaningful integration of new people with new ways of perceiving challenges. This is not necessarily an age thing. Its about ideas and implementation. Youth does not have a monopoly on good innovation any more than age has a monopoly on good implementation.

He is quite accurate in his analysis of the culture in which the pro-life movement has been working. Losses have accrued in a zeitgeist of relentless and ferocious hostility to life, and against an ideology of personal autonomy that borders on the mad, he wrote.

What prompts this response however, is the absurdity of this statement: I recently spoke with someone deeply involved in promoting and facilitating adoption. She described a truly Byzantine regulatory regime that is the reason adoption is such a distant second choice to abortion. When I asked why more political pressure isnt applied to unravel the crazy rules, she said bluntly its because the pro-life movement monopolizes the policy space with its all-or-nothing-at-all demands on abortion.

As a member of Campaign Life Coalition, there is simply not a pro-life lobbyist I know who would agree with this statement. It is patently untrue.

The all-or-nothing assertion is a bell-whistle term which usually refers to Campaign Life Coalitions non-gestational approach to legislation. It does not reflect the many bills and motions weve supported that have never ascribed an age-limit to this protection. But unknown to many people, in 2014 my colleague and I lobbied federal MPs on the provincial issue of adoption.

In the Harper government, there were many wonderful pro-life MPs who had been touched by adoption. We were allies on this file. A pledge in the 2012 Throne Speech to make adoption more affordable was enacted in the 2013 Economic Action Plans Bill C-60. The government allowed the $11,669 adoption expense tax credit to start basically when adoption paperwork was filed. This was great news and it also signalled to me that the government might be open to doing even more for adoptive parents.

After speaking with counsellors from a local crisis pregnancy centre, we presented several concrete proposals to the federal government.

Over the course of several months, we met with ministers of state, ministry staffers and a minister. It was during the course of our lobbying, between the 2013 and 2014 Canada Action Plans, that the government increased the adoption expense tax credit to $15,000. We put a spotlight on this issue and it led to a favourable announcement. No credit was given and no credit was taken.

Yet, despite a majority Conservative government that held a preponderance of pro-life and pro-adoption MPs, plus ministers of state and ministers who were very supportive of adoption, all we saw was this tax credit increase. Was this really a Campaign Life failure, a pro-life failure or a failure of a majority government that was indifferent to the pro-life movement?

That same year, Health Canada was again reviewing the abortion pill RU-486. I worked closely with some of our trusted MPs. Again, Campaign Life drew public attention to the dangers of the deadly drug combo. At the National March For Life, we used the theme RU 4LIFE to drive the message home. According to the press, approval of RU-486, marketed as Mifegymiso, was subjected to the longest approval process in Canadian history. We absolutely take credit for that.

That was followed by the 2014 federal election, when we worked on the nomination of 40 pro-life Campaign Life candidates. And we still found time to sell fruitcakes.

Too many pro-lifers simply do not know we can chew gum and walk at the same time. This cultural marathon is really a series of organizational sprints, 365 days a year.

Should organizations involved in the pro-life movement reflect on their approaches and strategies? Yes, they should. But perhaps a glimpse into the workings of the largest pro-life group in Canada can help to rebuild confidence in us and in the movements work.

We are one organization, working alongside others, in this zeitgeist of relentless and ferocious hostility to life.

(Brownrigg manages federal government relations for Campaign Life Coalition, Ottawa.)

Comment: On the contrary adoption is a pro-life issue - The Catholic Register

Are We Witnessing the Battle Involving an Antimary and an Antichrist? – National Catholic Register (blog)

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

Blogs | Jun. 1, 2017

Mary has vanquished Christian enemies for centuries. It is time we call upon her again to conquer all that is opposed to her and to her Son.

Several months ago, I raised the question as to whether our age is marked by anantimary movementseen in progressive feminism. If there is such a thing as an antimary, what would it look like, I asked:

Well, these women would not value children. They would be bawdy, vulgar, and angry. They would rage against the idea of anything resembling humble obedience or self-sacrifice for others. They would be petulant, shallow, catty, and overly sensuous. They would also be self-absorbed, manipulative, gossipy, anxious, and ambitious. In short, it would be everything that Mary is not.

In case we needed further evidence of how entrenched the antimary is, the recent news cycle features Planned Parenthood abortionists laughing about dismembering babies while Glamour Magazinegives instructionsfor DIY abortionpillsthat pair nicely with Chardonnay. (Okay, they didnt add the wine, but it isnt a stretch). Truly our zeitgeist is captivated (or captured) with distinctive antimary markings. This unprecedented movement of destruction, where a culture is led by female vice, not male brute force, has bled into every area of our culture with no man, women, child(or fetus) left untouched.

One of the more curious and revealing taboos seen in radical feminists, however, is their silence on women in Islam female genital mutilation, headscarves and burkas, polygamy, child marriage, 24-hour marriages to justify rape, and limited career opportunitiesall get a pass by this easily outraged group. Why? The answer seems to lie in the fact that radical Islam is guided by a similar spirit the spirit of an antichrist. Beheadings, rape, torture performed like sport while targeting Christians, Jews, and the innocent, are their calling card. The antimary and this new antichristian movement are opposite sides of the same demonic coin. The two came together with Kathy Griffin's beheading stunt this week.

They share a common mission: to eliminate all that is good, true, beautiful, and holy.

There is a catch, however. While these two are working in tandem now, like all unions with the devil, there will be a bloody divorce. The first stirrings of it are now surfacing in Europe, as we saw with the Manchester massacre.

While the New York Times still cant figure out what could have possibly motivated the suicide bomber, killing 22, Mark Steyn, spells out the issue in a fittingly titled article, Dangerous Woman Meets Dangerous Man. He writes:

Conversely, most other western citizens believe that, to invert Trotsky, if you're not interested in Islam, Islam won't be interested in you. Ariana Grande was eight at the time of 9/11, and most of her fans even younger. They have passed their entire sentient lives in the age of Islamic terror, yet somehow assume it's something compartmentalized and sealed off from them. "Dangerous Woman" is meant to be an attitude, nothing more - an edgy pose in a pop culture that lost any edge long ago; a great T-shirt, like the ones last night scavenged from the merchandising stands and used to bandage the wounded. It must come as a shock to realize there are those who take your ersatz provocations as the real thing, and are genuinely provoked by them.

As Steyn makes clear, women have been playing tough, but there is a chasm between their words and their actions. All the antimary tactics that have worked in the west to keep men in check tantrums, destroying reputations with inflated rhetoric, illogic are not going to be effective against this sort of antichrist.

Among the contributing factors to this antimarian rise are a libertine spirit, declining respect for the rule of law,and our never-seen-before financial wealth. No longer does poverty demand that we live together to scratch out a living with a division of labor suited to male and female gifts. Women simply havent needed men for their safety or material needs. But this too is changing, as women no longer feel free in Europe to go where they want, when they want, how they want. Trains arestarting to offerfemale only cars, pools have women only hours, and blonds are dying their hair black to avoid harassment. Something as commonplace as going to the theatre at night has women (and men) thinking twice about their safety.

Until we start to view the problem of Islamic Terrorism as a spiritual one and one that requires thatwechange there will be more of the same. We will continue to endure wholesale destruction of all that is good, true, and holy either until these two battle it out, with one clear winner. (Good money is on the side that has no fear of spilling blood, and not the side that remains willfully blind.)

There is a third alternative, however, that offers hope and a future. Christians must return to their faith and to the spiritual elements that we know destroy Christs enemy. As I wrote inThe Marian Option: Gods Solution to a Civilization in Crisis,after 2000 years, we know what these are: Mass, Eucharistic adoration, the Rosary, confession, Marian consecration. We know these things work. And there is more than enough evidence that Mary has been behind the vanquishing of Christian enemies for centuries. It is time we call upon her again to conquer all that is opposed to her and to her Son.

Are We Witnessing the Battle Involving an Antimary and an Antichrist? - National Catholic Register (blog)

6 things to do in Boulder County today, June 5, 2017 – Boulder Daily Camera

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

(Courtesy Photo)

More than just the 1994 Sundance surprise that launched Kevin Smith's career, it signifies a movement of low-budget (Clerks cost less than $30k, grossed $3 million) self-produced movies, often with non-professional cast and guerrilla marketing. It also captured a post-ironic zeitgeist, with its low-key dialogue, droll humor, and minimal plot. Sometimes seen as social commentary on the plight of the working class and youth without future, it has a loose structure of Dante's nine rings of hell, set in the actual convenience store and video rental where Smith worked, 7 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder; $6-$11; 303-444-7328.

Photo Exhibit at St. Aidan's Gallery Boulder area photographer Sandy Backlund is exhibiting her work at the Muriel Sibell Wolle Art Gallery at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church through July. She has lived in Boulder County over 40 years and specializes in photographing gardens, farmers' markets, travels and the outdoors, 8:30 a.m., St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, Boulder, 2425 Colorado Ave., Boulder; Free; 303-443-2503 or saintaidans.org.

Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas The Longmont Museum's hands-on summer exhibition series for families is back with an engaging show that reveals what living, breathing dinosaurs were really like. This exhibition highlights current research by scientists from the American Museum of Natural History and other leading paleontologists around the world, 9 a.m., Longmont Museum & Cultural Center, 400 Quail Road, Longmont; $8; 303-651-8374 or longmontmuseum.org.

"Heading Home: Field Notes" by Peter Anderson Heading Home begins with Peter Anderson's dharma-bum passion for the road, which leads him through the mountains and high deserts of the American West, and eventually lands him in an eccentric end-of-the-road town full of mystics, misfits, and other mountain dwellers. This book is a gathering of "field notes" observations, recollections, and stories along the way, where home is understood as a work in progress and the way is a road that never ends, 7:30 p.m., Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl St., Boulder; $5; 303-447-2074 or boulderbookstore.net.

Newspapers in Lyons since 1890, Exhibit 125 years of newspapers; five different First Editions, beginning in 1890. Issues will be changed weekly, so visitors can read the news and see what was advertised and reported decades ago. Visitors can also "put themselves in the news" and take home a digital souvenir of their visit through the interactive newspaper photo booth, 9:30 a.m., Lyons Redstone Museum, 340 High St., Lyons; Free; 303-823-5271 or rockymtretreats.com/lyons-event.htm.

Confident Cooking for Teens In this fun, five-day camp, young chefs will practice essential kitchen skills and master the fundamentals of cooking. Teens will enjoy working alongside classmates learning techniques for everything from grilling and searing to making pizza and pasta from scratch. We'll get hands-on and cover all the basics such as rules for handling knives, how to read and follow recipes, measuring and mixing, and the importance of kitchen safety. Teens will build on skills throughout the week and on day 5, they'll create an impressive menu of restaurant-style dishes. Teens ages 13-17 are welcome to join this popular summer cooking camp. Classes run about two hours each and last for five consecutive days, 12 p.m., Sur la Table, 1850 29th St., Suite 1004, Boulder; $250; 800-243-0852, 303-952-7084 or surlatable.com/browse/storeLocator/storeDirections.jsp?storeId=106.

6 things to do in Boulder County today, June 5, 2017 - Boulder Daily Camera

San Francisco, 50 years on from the Summer of Love | Travel | The … – The Guardian

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

Californias signature scent of marijuana permeates the warm air in San Franciscos Buena Vista Park. Dogs pant and people strip off. The arrival of an early summer has caught the Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood off guard. It is a distinctive, blissed-out atmosphere but still an age away from the drug-fuelled, music-drenched summer of 1967, when 100,000 people converged on the Haight.

Back then, people came to embrace a higher consciousness and obey the Turn on, tune in, drop out message that Timothy Leary had delivered earlier that year to 30,000 people in Golden Gate Park at the Gathering of the Tribes for a Human Be-In.

The area quickly became a test-ground for 1960s counterculture, with the political activists from Berkeley joining the bohemians of Haight-Ashbury.

Comparisons and reflections are expected this year, though, as San Francisco is busy looking backwards, marking the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, remembering and debating its legacy. The summer of 1967 was an optimistic, heady time, following on from the beat generations championing of sexual liberation and freedom, and the Trips festival in San Francisco the year before, when 10,000 people watched the Grateful Dead perform, many of them high on LSD having heeded the festival flyers words: The audience participates because its more fun to do so than not.

This was a short-lived, peak moment of trippy rock posters and social activism, cut short by an influx of violent heroin dealers into the Haight, subsequent overdoses and, eventually, tourist buses arriving to gawk at the hippies. Come autumn 1967, many of the flower children had decamped to rural communes and the original pioneers and visionaries were gone.

Today, Haight-Ashbury is still a living if touristy flashback to that seminal summer, a district of nonconformists, tie-dye stores and emporiums with names like Little Wing (after the Jimi Hendrix song) selling fringed waistcoats, anarchist handbooks and bongs. Distractions boutique declares it has been keeping Haight-Ashbury strange since 1976, while other stores mirror the style of the 60s. Theres Rasputin Records, with a psychedelic sign depicting the Russian mystic in the lotus position; the Blue Front Caf, advertising itself with a fantastic giant muscle-bound blue genie; and Hippie Thai, with its campervan logo and macrobiotic Thai street food. A huge mural above a fast-food cafe called Burger Urge illustrates the Summer of Love with Hendrix playing the guitar and Janis Joplin howling into a microphone. Buskers play harmonicas and Hare Krishna folk in orange robes tour the streets. You either love it or hate it.

From the open doors of Love on Haight, a shop on the corner of Masonic and Haight, Jerry Garcias weathered voice eases out the shop stereo only ever plays the music of former residents the Grateful Dead. Multi-coloured fractals and tie-dye designs cover not only the walls and ceiling but also the staff. Proprietor Sunshine Powers, self-proclaimed Queen of Haight Street, is a well-known local figure and her youthful mop of curly red hair makes her easy to spot amongst the psychedelic pile-up. Despite not being part of the original movement (Powers was born in 1980), she is a keen modern-day promoter of the 1960s message of peace, community and love.

What people forget is that all that hippy stuff sex and drugs and music was just frosting on the cake, says Powers, her signature green glitter facepaint sparkling. Social justice, community and healthcare, thats what really mattered. That was the main drive. This 50th anniversary also gives us the chance to show the original pioneers that were carrying on their causes. After all, they may not be around in 10 or 20 years time.

Its easy to dismiss the peace and love message as corny and pass, but Powers is convincing when she speaks of valuing people over things, and her beliefs are proven later when I learn of her considerable financial support of Taking it to the Streets, a charity helping vulnerable homeless youths, of whom there are many. (This is depressing given the torrent of wealth pouring into the city from nearby Silicon Valley. If the Summer of Love set out to end stark inequality in its own community, it appears to have failed, despite the efforts of people like Powers.)

Back outside, I step over paving slabs painted with large red love hearts, towards family-owned Guss Community Market. Its motto of local produce, local farmers, locally here for you lured me inside, as did the smell of sweet Californian berries mixing with the soft aroma of baked grains. Every conceivable wholefood is packed into every available space. The label on a bottle of organic kombucha, a fermented tea, claims, cringingly, that its number one ingredient is love and that it hails from a batch small enough to hug. Psychedelic posters advertising street-fairs from the past decorate the walls, acting as reminders that common ecological awareness and vegetarian lifestyles have been central to this part of California since the 60s. Organic food and Middle Eastern food, so popular worldwide today, was sold at the Monterey music festival of 1967, where Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead and the Mamas & the Papas all played.

Outside, posters advertise one of the biggest shows of the year: the De Young Museums Summer of Love exhibition (until August 20). I head there next.

De Young is a giant copper-clad museum in the open green spaces of three-mile-long Golden Gate Park, where goldfinches and turquoise jays flit between palm and eucalyptus trees. It is a cool, calming space.

In the garden, signs for the Summer of Love exhibition draw links and contrasts between 1967 and 2017. One reads hippie 1967, hipster 2017, seemingly ignoring the fact that hipsters emerged as a subculture in the 1940s. Another reads free clinic 1967, affordable care 2017, reminding us of the non-judgmental clinic set up in the Haight in 1967, complete with a bad trip room.

Inside, the roar of Jefferson Airplane introduces the exhibition. In one room, Ben Van Meters double- and triple-exposed images from the Trips festival are described as a documentary ... from the point of view of a goldfish in the Kool-Aid bowl. Fashion-focused rooms show the journey from uptight girdles and garter belts to loose, free-flowing maxi dresses and flared trousers. The first bell-bottom jeans, made in San Francisco at the Levis factory then on Valencia Street, are displayed. Flared, or boot-cut jeans, we are told, were originally made to fit over cowboy boots.

Today, the Levis store on Market Street, the main downtown shopping drag , has a rack of Summer of Love clothes inspired by the companys archive, including a two-tone suede jacket at $1,200. Its easy for corporations to jump on the Summer of Love theme, seemingly ignoring key messages about simple living, inclusion and community. In April, the San Franciso branch of department store Neiman Marcus held a pop-up called The Love Boutique, featuring vintage pieces from the 60s alongside new Balmain, Chloe and Alexander McQueen garments that cost thousands of dollars.

One of the best items in the exhibition, however, is one of the smallest. Made of goatskin and decorated with silk chain-stitch embroidery by Haight-Ashbury couturier Linda Gravenites, it is Janis Joplins exquisite handbag from 1967. Suspended in a glass case, it looks like new, its red beads still shining. Joplin told Vogue magazine in 1968 that Gravenites turns them out slowly and turns them out well and only turns them out for those she likes.

Later, I meet Greg Castillo, a counterculture expert and associate professor of architecture at Berkeley. He says some of the legacies of 1967 are more subtle and less dramatic than sex, drugs and rocknroll. The recycling logo, today one of the most recognisable in the world, is a direct product of that era. It was designed in 1970, its spinning, revolving graphic based on the mandala a symbol for the cosmos borrowed from eastern cultures. Its designer, Gary Anderson, has said that the spirit of the 1960s directly influenced his design.

Later, as a sunset turns the Californian sky bubblegum pink, I walk through Chinatown, making a literary pilgrimage to the landmark City Lights bookshop and publishing house. Open until midnight daily, Americas first all-paperback bookstore has been riding the counterculture wave since it was founded in 1953 by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, a veteran of the Bay area now 98 years old. It still publishes books on social and political issues, as well as the poetry it is best known for, much of which influenced the local 60s zeitgeist. Ferlinghetti famously published Allen Ginsbergs controversial 1955 poem Howl. A poster on the wall today announces that printers ink is the greatest explosive, while another reminds us that democracy is not a spectator sport. City Lights, with its wall of zines, still holds regular radical events and has held on to its anarchic charm.

Back at my hotel, the Zeppelin, in the theatre district, a couple of blocks from the alarmingly drug-addled streets of the Tenderloin and the department stores of Union Square, there is also an air of 67. The Doors Light my Fire released in May of that year is playing in the lobby and on the wall a giant mural of a doe-eyed girl with flowers in her hair overlooks the chill-out area. The staff are disarmingly friendly, too, and a general air of liberalism dominates.

The spirit of the Summer of Love does appear to linger in this city. Despite the vast and obvious inequalities which some say are steadily worsening San Francisco feels like a flexible and creative city, somewhere that is still capable of opening minds.

The trip was provided by American Sky (01342 886721. americansky.co.uk), which offers five nights at the Hotel Zeppelin from 999pp, including flights from Gatwick with American Airlines and room-only accommodation.

For Summer of Love events, see sftravel.com/summer-love-2017

See the original post:

San Francisco, 50 years on from the Summer of Love | Travel | The ... - The Guardian

A strategy that will make Canadian innovation flourish – The Globe and Mail

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

Wal van Lierop is President and CEO at Chrysalix Venture Capital.

Despite a decade of policies meant to foster entrepreneurship, Canadas technology industry remains frail. The Conference Board gives Canada a D on innovation, ranking us 13th among 16 peer countries. They are surpassing Canada in income per capita, productivity and quality of social programs.

Canada is weak in innovation by choice. Id like to discuss the reasons why and propose a solution.

Our federal and provincial governments ritually pledge funding for STEM education, startup tax credits and similar initiatives. These are nice gestures, but they alone cannot improve Canadian innovation. The disconnect is in our execution. Those funds have no clear aims.

Canada is still very much a resource-based economy. The predominance of traditional industries on the TSX testifies to that. If taxpayers want a return on investment, then innovation funding should maximize the value of our national assets.

Toward that end, I propose a strategic aim: Lets become the No. 1 developer and exporter of sustainable industrial innovations. Lets transform mining, hydrocarbons and forestry rather than abandon these sources of prosperity.

Government funds that stimulate industrial innovation achieve a double payout by increasing the value of our resources and by creating high-paying tech jobs. Let me put this in perspective: The revenue per employee in the B.C. mining sector was, according to a PwC study, more than $885,000 in 2015. Compare that with B.C.s digital-media industry, which had less than $150,000 in revenue per employee.

Industrial technology could strengthen our largest resource-based companies and protect them from foreign takeovers. Yet only a tiny amount of government funding reaches technology companies focused on natural resources. Its a disappointing mismatch a result of unclear strategy and poor incentives.

Today, fund-of-fund managers oversee the governments capital (i.e. your tax money). Many earn exceptional returns. Frequently, they finance the newest mobile apps in syndication with Silicon Valley firms. These capital-light innovations can turn a quick profit. However, fund-of-fund managers often shy away from capital-intensive innovations that take longer to commercialize and scale, let alone IPO. Thus, our tax money tends to stimulate innovation abroad rather than in Canada.

I dont blame our government or fund-of-fund managers for investing outside Canada. The financial markets have little appetite for heavy-duty innovation in traditional industries. They dont yet reward companies that embrace sustainability.

Look at NRG Energy from the United States, as an example. Their attempt to fill their portfolio with renewable energy sources ended with the ousting of the chief executive officer and tumbling stocks.

The dissonance between our strategic interests and use of capital has created a big-city bubble in Canadas tech sector. While we have winners from time to time, we struggle to sustain Nortels and BlackBerries for the long haul. The few successes we do have are small and sold to U.S. owners.

Along that path to a U.S. buyout, we subsidize thousands of small companies with SR&ED tax deductions and similar programs. In the Vancouver area alone, these allow 9,000 startups to survive for 12 years or more. At least 8,000 of them would be cut off if a commercial venture capital firm were in charge. Some people call this practice occupational therapy or dub us the too nice Canadian tech industry. Others call it political currency.

Wouldnt it make sense to prune actively and only strengthen startups that have good odds and the highest potential value for Canada?

One company scaled up can produce far more jobs and opportunities than dozens of small startups combined. Canada needs to produce Googles and Facebooks in the industrial sector. Were unlikely to beat out Silicon Valley in search, advertising and social technology, but we can win in industries that accentuate our competitive advantages. We have resources that Northern California doesnt have. The surest way to keep Canadian innovation at a D is to copy and fund the Silicon Valley model.

So, lets be deliberate not just in our ideas but also in our execution. Lets support innovations that maximize our inherent strengths and offer the greatest returns to our society. Its time to pop the Canadian tech bubble and develop the right strategy for our future.

A strategy that will make Canadian innovation flourish - The Globe and Mail

We’ll Always Have Paris: Trump’s Impact On The Climate Agreement – HuffPost

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

Last week I anticipated President Trumps shortsighted decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord and predicted that his actions might provide environmentalists with a common enemy to rally against. That seems to be happening. Former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg is organizing American corporations, states, cities and other institutions to commit to greenhouse gas reductions and be recognized by the U.N. as they fulfill the U.S. reduction obligations under Paris. Now all we need is a few billion dollars for renewable energy in the developing world and Trumps Rose Garden rant last week becomes truly meaningless. Bloombergs leadership and the rapid mobilization of leaders concerned about climate change demonstrates that Americas power resides both inside and outside the Washington beltway.

Withdrawing from the Paris Agreement was the most straightforward part of Trumps rhetoric last week. The truly convoluted part of his talk was his misread of the economic impact of environmental regulation and his ideas about how Americas economy will be revitalized.

It is true that some of our trade deals and regulations could be better, but the world has a global economy and America has the strongest economy in the world. The rules and our trade agreements cant be that bad if we seem to be winning. This horrible, depressed, crime-ridden America the president presented in his inaugural address and again in the Rose Garden may be the view he sees from Trump Tower, but its not the reality a majority of Americans experience.

Still, enough people are suffering that it makes political sense for him to try to serve as their voice. I get his motivation. But the part that really makes no sense is his idea that a vast increase in the fossil fuel business will generate an American economic boom. It wont.

The economic future does not belong to resource extraction industries. Communities that host these businesses know what I mean. The resource extractors come, they dig, drill, pump and spread money around but also strain local services and infrastructure. Eventually they leave, and the local folks get to clean up the mess.

Theres always a good economic reason that extraction comes to an end. The price of the resource might drop, the resource becomes harder and more expensive to get to, or cheaper alternatives are discovered. For the coal business, its been fracking and natural gas that caused them pain. For coal workers, it was mountain top removal and other mechanized forms of extraction that reduced the employment in mining. It is unbelievably deceptive of the President of the United States to articulate an economic strategy that calls for the revival of these businesses. The coal miners know that they need to prepare for a different type of work. They certainly know their children need to be prepared for change.

The nature of economic life is changing and it is very important that we look forward instead of backward. The U.S. energy sector added 300,000 jobs in 2016: most were in energy efficiency and renewable energy. According to the Department of Energys U.S. Energy Employment Report:

The report also notes that 2.2 million Americans are employed, in whole or in part, in the design, installation, and manufacture of Energy Efficiency products and services, adding 133,000 jobs in 2016. Modernizing our energy system to make it more efficient and less polluting is a growing business. Coal mining is a shrinking business. President Trump is doubling down on a loser.

The energy future, like the rest of our economic future, depends on technological innovation and ingenuity. We are now in the brain based economy. Software makes more money than hardware. A century ago most of our economy and most of our labor was in the production of food, clothing and shelter. Today, less and less of our GDP is in those necessary but relatively shrinking businesses. Massive investment in education, scientific research and infrastructure would result in economic growth. Running away from environmental rules and global treaties might help a few small businesses, but in the long run will cause economic damage. The benefits of a clean environment far outweigh the costs.

As an educator, I am biased, but I believe that the economic future requires us to attract, educate and employ the worlds best minds. That requires intelligent and encouraging immigration policy, improved public schools, great universities, and great quality of life in the cities that house Americas researchers and businesses. Great quality of life means clean air, clean water, health care, safe cities, stimulating and exciting cities, along with preserved and beautiful natural spaces. Walking away from a global climate treaty, discouraging immigration, and cutting spending on science and education make it more difficult for our communities and for our nation to be competitive in the brain based economy.

Fortunately, many of Trumps plans are being countered by other parts of our government, other institutions, and his own inability to form a competent government. Congress seems to be restoring some of his science budget cuts, the courts are countering his immigration policy excesses, and nearly everyone is trying to reduce their greenhouse gases. President Trumps visible attack on the climate treaty is disheartening, but it is far from the last word on the subject.

Paris, after all, does not mandate greenhouse gas reductions, it sets voluntary targets; Americas own Clean Air Act mandates reductions in greenhouse gases. This was decided in a Supreme Court decision handed down in 2007 when George W. Bush was president. The Court was responding to a lawsuit brought by a group of state attorneys general. The U.S. Supreme Court determined at that time that greenhouse gases were dangerous air pollutants. EPA was directed to develop regulations to reduce that pollution and Trump and his EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt are required to issue and enforce that regulation. Trump can withdraw from Paris, but he is sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution.

The U.S. must act, but what about the rest of the world? Climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions. Nearly every government in the world understands that and we have seen no retreat from the climate treaty since the presidents announcement. In fact, we have seen a broad and uniform recommitment to the goals of mitigating climate change. President Trump took a symbolic act to achieve a political objective. He kept his campaign promise, largely because he and his team do not understand the climate issue or the economic opportunity presented by the transition to a renewable resource based economy. While we still do not know the long-term impact of his action, the short term impact has been to mobilize a broad segment of the U.S. and global public in support of the agreement. The Paris agreement remains intact, despite Trumps reckless action. As Bogart told Bergman at the Casablanca airport: Well always have Paris. Of course, he meant the memory of what might have been. Lets hope we do better with the planet than Bogey seemed to do with the Nazis or his love life in the movie Casablanca. I suspect we will.

Our Turn: Pass SB 129, save 900 New Hampshire jobs – Concord Monitor

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

The House of Representatives has an opportunity to support New Hampshire jobs. Senate Bill 129 (the New Hampshire Clean Energy Jobs and Opportunity Act of 2017), the product of almost a year of hard work and compromise among numerous stakeholders, will be voted on today.

This much-needed, bipartisan clean energy bill advances biomass jobs, forest products jobs, sawmill jobs, clean energy jobs and solar jobs. These are good jobs and good industries right here in the Granite State.

SB 129 makes an important fix to New Hampshires renewable portfolio standards law (also called the RPS) that will help sustain the biomass power plants. Good paying New Hampshire jobs are literally at stake right now.

One needs to look no further than the biomass power plant in Alexandria, to see why SB 129 is necessary. The plant recently suspended operation. These plants support over 900 jobs and over $250 million yearly in economic activity in our state. SB 129 is critical to their survival. Without SB 129, the remaining biomass plants are likely to close by 2018 and these jobs will vanish.

The biomass industry is also critical to New Hampshires statewide natural resource-based economy and its scenic character. It is the one area where our energy policy intersects with our natural resource policy. Not only does the biomass industry produce electricity, but the biomass plants also serve as the market for low-grade wood.

With New Hampshire being the second most forested state in the country, biomass serves as a critical market for the states logging, forestry, sawmill and landowner communities. Proper forestry practices produce healthy forests for recreation, wildlife habitat and an annual $1.4 billion forest products industry.

SB 129 also supports and advances more than 1,200 solar-related jobs in New Hampshire. Solar continues to be a growing industry in New Hampshire. More jobs have been added in the clean energy job sector than in most other New Hampshire industries. These jobs also appeal to a younger workforce something New Hampshire desperately needs. SB 129 supports our solar industry and also expands its benefit to low- to moderate-income residential customers.

As we continue to promote New Hampshire as the state to locate business, we need to focus on growing our clean-energy sector. Without these opportunities, clean-energy companies will continue to shift and expand jobs in neighboring states.

Opponents have tried to label this bill as a hidden tax. This is far from the truth. The RPS was passed over 10 years ago. The programs and industries that have participated in the RPS have yielded significant benefit to the states ratepayers in terms of energy diversification, state economic activity, thousands of jobs and reducing peak demand, all of which contribute to lowering electric rates and the promotion of a strong New Hampshire economy. The RPS must be updated to remain competitive in our region. Many residential, commercial, municipal and industrial customers have taken advantage of the RPS to lower their electricity costs. We want this to continue.

How do you determine whether a law and program is worth the investment? We look at the return on investment.

Although RPS opponents continue to call it a subsidy and claim higher rates, the fact is our states renewable energy industries and programs provide value in lowering bills, creating and sustaining New Hampshire jobs, and providing economic activity that has a ripple effect in our economy. If we lost the biomass industry tomorrow, we would see small-business bankruptcies, lost taxes, lost jobs and an increase in unemployment in every region of our state.

Instead, our support of these renewable energy industries means we continue to receive the benefits of reduced electricity costs brought about by ensuring we have effective and updated renewable energy policies, like those in SB 129.

At the end of the day, the benefits in terms of jobs and economic activity far outweigh the cost.

It is time to move forward with this bipartisan effort to support and sustain our renewable energy industries. Its time to pass SB 129 and support our New Hampshire energy and related sector jobs.

(Jeb Bradley is a Wolfeboro Republican. Dan Feltes is a Concord Democrat. Herb Richardson is a Lancaster Republican. Robert Backus is a Manchester Democrat.)

Excerpt from:

Our Turn: Pass SB 129, save 900 New Hampshire jobs - Concord Monitor

Politics biggest determinant of economic future, says Page – Tbnewswatch.com

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

THUNDER BAY Kevin Page says the biggest threat to the global economy isnt oil prices.

Its politics, the former Parliamentary budget officer told a crowd of about 60 people on Thursday at a Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce-sponsored luncheon.

An economist at the University of Ottawa, Page said its undeniable the world is considered about the results of the most recent United States election and the impact on the economy going forward. And with good reason, he added.

But theres no need to panic, Page said.

Weve also seen there are a lot of checks and balances in the United States, so theres been a lot of pushback. President (Donald) Trump hasnt been able to push through changes on health care and (other) issues, Page said.

And were going to wait and see where they will go on climate change and other trade issues.

Page, who in 2013 drew the ire of former prime minister Stephen Harper when he took the Conservative government to court for not releasing details about planned austerity, said hes confident Canada is strong enough to get beyond the Trump rhetoric, especially when it comes to issues like the presidents decision to rewrite the North American Free Trade Act.

In the U.S. system they still need to pass laws. NAFTA will have to be passed by Congress. And I think Congress has a strong understanding of the trade relationships with Canada.

Its not just Canada that has Page concerned. Theres uncertainty throughout the world, from strongmen like Vladimir Putins interference holding Russias reins to the authoritarian measures in places like the Philippines, Turkey and North Korea.

The possible collapse of the European Union and Great Britains decision to opt out of the EU is also troubling to investors, who seek certainty when risking their money.

This hurts investment. And we need investment. If you look at investment numbers in Canada over the past five or six years, were pretty much flat, said Page, who this weekend will receive an honourary degree from his alma mater, Lakehead University.

Were going to need to deal with the politics. Its not going to happen quickly. Were stuck with what were stuck with. Then the question becomes how do we support our political parties in Canada to provide a different political direction?

Should Trumps isolationism increase, Thunder Bays resource-based economy could struggle further. The task of government will be to help find a new strategy and forge growth elsewhere.

We still have strong trading relationships with the United States, but where are the opportunities we can exploit with these emerging economies, be it India or China or Brazil? Its a difficult period, but it creates opportunities in that sense, for us to find those new relationships, Page said.

Its not easy, but Thunder Bay has lived through difficult times in the past, as well.

Politics biggest determinant of economic future, says Page - Tbnewswatch.com

Globe editorial: On pipelines, Ottawa must have the final say – The … – The Globe and Mail

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

Theres a battle brewing between British Columbia and the federal government that could have an indelible impact on the future of Canada. It comes down to one question: Can Ottawa effectively exercise its responsibilities if the provinces refuse to recognize its authority on controversial issues?

The issue at hand is pipelines. Last fall, the Trudeau government approved Kinder Morgans Trans Mountain expansion project, which will twin an existing pipeline along a route from Alberta to Burnaby, in Metro Vancouver. The decision came after a full review of the project by the National Energy Board.

In other words, Ottawa played by the rules and approved a project of the type that the Constitution places squarely in its jurisdiction: railways, canals, hydro lines, pipelines and other infrastrcture that cross provincial boundaries.

Ottawa also has clear jurisdiction over seacoasts, navigation and shipping, which ties into issues that arise from the fact that the pipeline expansion will increase tanker traffic in Vancouver harbour and along the coast of B.C.

And Ottawa has sole jurisdiction over trade and commerce, which is what this is mostly about. Getting the crude from Albertas oil sands or any other Canadian product from any other landlocked part of the country to coastal waters where it can be loaded onto boats and shipped to foreign markets goes to the heart of Canadas ability to be a successful trader.

On top of all that, there is a clause in the Constitution that gives Ottawa jurisdiction over projects that are declared by the Parliament of Canada to be for the general Advantage of Canada.

So its clear. Ottawa has authority over the Trans Mountain expansion project. That pipeline is critical to Canadas resource-based economy. And it appears to have the support of Canadians and British Columbians, who in polls last fall consistently backed Ottawas decision to greenlight the project.

And yet its not clear at all. British Columbia is poised to be governed by the New Democrats with the support of the Green Party; the two party leaders have promised to use every tool available to prevent the Trans Mountain expansion.

Those tools are considerable. If the NDP and Greens form government, they will be able to undertake a bureaucratic guerrilla war against the project.

The B.C. provincial government could collude with municipal governments to deny needed construction permits, which would cause delays and raise costs for Kinder Morgan.

They can also rescind the previous Liberal governments approval of the project and set new conditions on it. And they could side with the plaintiffs in the many court challenges, 19 and counting, brought by environmental groups, municipalities and First Nations, that claim that the federal approval process was flawed.

The NDP-Greens are also armed with political clout. They are positioning themselves as the defenders of B.C.s coastal waters. And, by trying to block the export of crude oil, they claim to be on the side of the angels in the fight against climate change.

Thats a tough combo for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to punch against. He has promised that the coastline will be protected by strict rules that minimize the chances of a tanker going aground, but the possiblity of a spill can never be reduced to zero.

And while there is a solid three-fold argument for building the pipeline Canada has to continue to exist as a resource-based economy while it and the rest of the world transition away from carbon; oil sands crude will continue to be shipped even without a pipe, by rail; and pipelines are safer than rail there is no question that the product it transports will ultimately contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

There are a lot of green votes at stake for the Trudeau government in the Vancouver area. The NDP and Green members know it, and they will use it to their advantage. In the end, they could kill the project by forcing delay after delay, while Ottawa, paralyzed by a fear of alienating voters, stands by.

That must not happen. Mr. Trudeau should stick to his guns and see the project through. There is a principle at play. Simply put, one provincial government should not have a veto over Canadian trade because of its geography. This has to be a national decision and that means the federal government and federal institutions.

As Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said last week, We can't be a country that says one of its two functional coastlines is only going to do what the people who live right beside it want to do.

We would go further than that. Provincial parties should not espouse the use of clever delay tactics for the sole purpose of usurping the duly exercised authority of the federal government. Trans Mountain has the law and Parliament behind it. That may not please its opponents, but their displeasure doesnt give them the power to undermine a valid federal decision.

Continue reading here:

Globe editorial: On pipelines, Ottawa must have the final say - The ... - The Globe and Mail

Basic income plan doable: Northern study – The Sudbury Star

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

It would cost an extra $15 billion a year to introduce a well-designed basic income guarantee in Canada, a new Northern Policy Institute report suggests.

It's money that would be well spent, Prof. Evelyn Forget said in her report, "Do We Still Need a Basic Income Guarantee in Canada?", published by the Northern Ontario think tank.

"The key is to find the right way to integrate the B.I.G (basic income guarantee) into all of the existing social programs that exist in the country," Forget said in a release. "Now is the time to address, head-on, the challenges and trade-offs that are necessary to create a universal B.I.G. that can meet the needs of Canadians in the 21st century.

"The challenges are real, but so too are the costs of doing nothing."

Forget said the calculating the costs of a basic income guarantee program can be tricky, especially if -- as critics argue -- people are less inclined to work. However, she said the evidence suggests basic income guarantee programs do little to change people's approach to work.

"If a B.I.G. reduces the incentive to work and, consequently, many more people rely on the program than anticipated, the costs will be much higher than calculated," she said. "If, as is more likely, there is little behavioural response for most people, then costs will be much more modest. The behavioural response is something we do not yet know without the results of the proposed experiment."

As the same time, Forget concedes a basic income guarantee program won't solve every social problem, but it can help ease the burden for Canadians struggling with poverty.

"We conclude that B.I.G., like any other social program, can address a variety of issues but cannot independently solve all social problems. If well designed, a B.I.G. can not only deliver a range of benefits, but can do so at a feasible cost."

In "Do We Still Need a Basic Income Guarantee in Canada?", Forget cites shifts in the economy leading to income insecurity and outdated social policies, as reasons why basic income is a much needed policy in Canada for people finding themselves falling between the gaps.

In calculating the costs of basic income guarantee, Forget uses payouts based on the plan the Ontario government will experiment with in three cities, including Thunder Bay. Eligible individuals will receive up to $16,989 per year, less 50 per cent of any income they earn. Couples will receive up to $24,027 per year, less half of any income earned. Ontario residents with disabilities will receive up to an additional $6,000 per year.

As a result, a basic income guarantee program using Ontario's numbers, and "targeted to those between 18 and 64, will cost Canadians approximately $30 billion a year, less the $15 billion we currently pay for income assistance. A net cost of $15 billion annually is not only feasible, it is about 5 percent of federal government expenditure and much less than we currently spend on seniors' benefits.

"We can afford it if we choose to afford it."

For her report, Forget, a University of Manitoba professor, examines Mincome. In the 1970s, Canada tested basic income guarantee in a field experiment in Manitoba called Mincome.

Almost 40 years later, Ontario is preparing for a three-year basic income guarantee pilot based on the model proposed in Hugh Segal's recent discussion paper for the Ontario government. It is through both of these lenses that Forget explores both key design principles for consideration, and estimated costs associated with such a policy at the federal level.

According to her report, key considerations should include:

- Basic income guarantee, or B.I.G., should be targeted and support should be gradually withdrawn as income increases.

- B.I.G should be targeted to adults (18-64 years of age).

- B.I.G should make no one who depends on existing income support programs worse off.

- Costs of a B.I.G should be allocated to those with the greatest capacity to bear the burden

- B.I.G should not be seen as a replacement for all other social programs.

Forget said while experiments with other basic guarantee income programs have been dropped without becoming policy, the changing workplace should compel governments to take a fresh look at the idea.

"Since the 2008 financial crisis, it has become increasingly impossible to ignore the growing numbers of workers who spend many years or their entire careers working on insecure, short-term contracts. Young people just entering the workforce struggle to find secure employment that makes use of their training and offers them anything like the salary, security and range of benefits previous generations took for granted.

"Older workers, displaced by technology, often lack the skills to compete for the jobs that exist. The workplace has never been welcoming to people with invisible disabilities, and support programs offered by the state are under pressure, as struggling workplaces faced with global competition offer even less room for the supports required by these workers. People who leave the workplace because of their own poor health, or to support family members, often do not qualify for any support until a lifetime worth of savings, intended to finance a reasonable retirement, is exhausted.

"B.I.G. offers ways to address some of these policy gaps, but we need to understand the choices involved in turning the idea of basic income guarantee into a specific policy that can be applied in the real world, and integrated with a range of existing and not entirely consistent taxation and social policies. Turning an idea into a policy requires careful choices and some compromise."

The paper is the second of a series that explores the various topics presented at NPI's Basic Income Guarantee conference held in Sudbury last October. Report topics include food security issues, potential models for a B.I.G. pilot, tax implications, and the potential impact on social innovators and First Nations communities.

To view reports, presentations from the NPI's BIG conference and explore comments and feedback from participants, visit http://www.northernpolicy.ca/big.

sud.editorial@sunmedia.ca

. . . .

More info

-- Northern Policy Institute is Northern Ontario's independent think tank. It performs research, collects and disseminates evidence, and identifies policy opportunities to support the growth of sustainable Northern communities. Operations are located in Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury.

-- Evelyn L. Forget is a professor in Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba and adjunct professor of Economics at McMaster University and the University of Manitoba. She is director of the Manitoba Research Data Centre and adjunct scientist at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy. Her most recent work examines the relationships between poverty, inequality, health and social outcomes.

. . . .

What do you think? sud.letters@sunmedia.ca

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Basic income plan doable: Northern study - The Sudbury Star

About That Universal Basic Income Idea – FITSNews

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Danzig

ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE

Our friend Robert Romano of Americans for Limited Government (GetLiberty.org) has a great piece up this week detailing the pitfalls of a proposed universal basic income system.

What is universal basic income? Itsa proposal in which the federal government would guarantee that all citizens whether they work or not receive a specified annual income (or basic income guarantee) beginning after their sixteenth birthday.

According to Romano, such a system would mark the end of capitalism as we know it. Specifically, he says adding this new entitlement would crowd out other potential opportunities in the economy. He also says it would dis-incentivize risk-taking and reward complacency wrecking individuals sense of purpose.

Individuals, working less, would transition to simply being consumers, Romano wrote.

Those are all good points and if politicians in the United States were to propose implementing a basic income guaranteeas a supplement toour existing entitlement behemoth, our founding editor Will Folks would most assuredly throw one of his legendary tin-foil hatted hissy fits.

Seriously something like that would completely set him off. And with good reason!

Entitlements are already bankrupting American taxpayers. Does anyone seriously think that our government which is currently$20 trillion in debt can afford to spend $2.5 trillion annually (at least) on a new entitlement program?

Of course not

But what if such a program was not offered in addition to existing entitlements but rather offered as a replacement?

If so, that would seem verysimilar to economist Milton Friedmans negative income tax. Under this plan, individuals below acertain monetary level would not only avoid having to pay income taxes, they would receive direct cash supplements from the federal government money they could spend on whatever they choose.

The goal of the negative income tax? Replacing the perverse, dependency-inducing incentives of the current welfare system and empowering a more consumer-driven benefits system all while eliminating vast swaths of bureaucracy.

We dont necessarily like any form of welfare, but its easy to see how such a system would be infinitely preferable to the current, ever-expanding maze of entitlement, we wrote in addressing this issue back in 2014.

Were hard core limited government libertarians here at FITSNews, but we try not go all in on our ideology or anyone elses ideology, for that matter. We believe in data, and we believe the data proves conclusively that the era of big government in America has been an unqualified economic failure.

In our view, it should be the policy of government at every level to focus on core functions and let the private sector do the rest. To the extent there needs to be a social safety net to provide for the poor, we have no problem with some sort of basic income guarantee or negative income tax so long as this benefit is provided in lieu of existing entitlements, not in addition to them.

Also we would insist upon certain work requirements for able-bodied recipients without children so as not to further perpetuate dependency in our nation.

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