Category Archives: Life Extension

OTTAWA - A group representing thousands of small businesses says uncertainty over the fate of federal pandemic supports is causing its members to lose confidence in their financial prospects, and pushing the Liberals to provide more life support for ailing companies.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said sentiment in its monthly barometer from September showed the largest one-month drops since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.

The group said there has been a tumble in the short-term expectations for companies in the hospitality and construction industries, while retail and agriculture saw the deepest dive on their outlook for the next year.

With the majority of small businesses still not back to normal sales levels, the organization is asking the federal government to extend wage and rent supplements set to expire near the end of the month.

The federal budget bill passed at the end of June includes a provision that cabinet can extend benefits until Nov. 20. The Liberals would need to gain parliamentary approval for any more weeks of life.

CFIB president Dan Kelly said small business owners are at near panic levels'' about the impending end of supports, and are looking for a signal from the federal Liberals.

I want the subsidy programs to end too - they're super expensive - but if we do that before full COVID restrictions are lifted, we will see thousands and thousands of businesses flushed down the toilet,'' he said.

The ask to keep those benefits moving comes with a corresponding request to reshape the recovery'' benefits for out-of-work Canadians that will test the federal government. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in conversations has pressed stakeholders about how the government could extend business benefits, but not the same for workers.

The Liberals might err on the side of being more generous, but should let the pandemic relief programs end unless there is a really good economic reason, said Christopher Ragan, director of the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University.

I do not envy any government that is currently in this, but I do think you want to be careful about providing too many relief payments because that is going to stand in the way of a recovery,'' he said.

In late July, the Liberals announced an extension of the aid package and put off a planned drop in benefit values citing a slower than expected recovery.

The wage subsidy and rent relief programs have paid out almost $94 billion and $6.6 billion, respectively, and federal data show the number of claims for each has fallen over the course of 2021.

The benefits are calculated on business losses, and phase out as revenues rebound; the CFIB survey noted the share of firms barely making it by has dropped to the lowest level since the pandemic began.

The Canada Recovery Benefit has seen a similar drop in claims, and has paid out about $26.4 billion to unemployed workers who don't qualify for employment insurance, with weekly benefits set at $300.

The drop is also in line with rising job numbers that as of August put the country 0.8 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, even though businesses are reporting labour shortages.

An economic outlook from Deloitte Canada on Tuesday noted how this tale of two labour markets is playing out: Industries with jobs that can easily be done remotely have grown and now face problems attracting skilled workers, while job shortages in high-contact sectors like accommodation and food services may reflect ongoing health concerns or the effect of income support programs.

Chief economist Craig Alexander said the link between benefits and labour shortages is largely anecdotal. He added that some industries could also be facing labour shortages from declines in immigration.

There's so much disruption coming from health risks and barriers to the movement of workers, combined with the economic narrative that the story in the labour market is a complex one,'' he said.

As the worst of the pandemic appears, for the moment, to be in the rear-view mirror, Alexander said policy-makers are going to need to start thinking about how to unwind emergency support programs.

They're going to need to start thinking about how governments gradually wean the economy off of fiscal stimulus,'' he said.

But let's also still be clear that we're still in the crisis, the crisis hasn't passed, and so the notion of not wanting to apply fiscal austerity in the near-term is entirely warranted.''

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Feds pressed to extend benefits as small business sentiment sinks - BNN

9/29/2021

Tracerco has been commissioned to provide asset integrity data for an operator in the Gulf of Mexico seeking to extend the life of over 18 of their risers. Under the contract, Tracerco will deploy Discovery, a subsea computed tomography (CT) scanner designed for external scanning of pipelines and which operates along the same general principles as CT scanners used in hospitals.

As methods of oil and gas extraction have improved, many fields are still producing substantial quantities of oil and gas, and as such, operators are looking for methods to monitor and verify their risers condition to ensure ongoing integrity and extend their operational life. For life extension, regulators typically require a physical inspection to ensure the condition of the riser and CT, a technique which has an unparalleled ability to accurately and non-intrusively see through an item, can provide this information.

Technologies using CT such as Discovery provide operators with valuable inspection data on the entire pipeline, spanning the range from product to coating and all areas in between. It is a non-intrusive external scanning technique and is easily capable of scanning through several inches of pipeline steel with no requirement to remove any protective coating, regardless of thickness and material.

Tracerco was the first company to develop a subsea CT system and still holds the fundamental patent for the concept of subsea CT scanning dating back to 2011, says Jim Bramlett, Commercial Manager North America for Tracerco, Over the years since, Discovery has incorporated numerous additional patented innovations for optimizing the system.

Discovery will be used to inspect the risers and determine whether they can be extended past their original design life by gathering real time data on a variety of integrity issues including pipeline corrosion, pitting and wall thinning. This will allow the operator to work with the local authorities to get their permit extended and potentially realise billions in continued revenues from the asset.

Discovery provides the integrity insights to know the unknown enabling critical decisions regarding life extension to be made, continues Jim, and it does this while the risers are still in full operation. No need to interfere with production.

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Tracerco secures subsea inspection for life extension project of over 18 risers in the Gulf of Mexico - WorldOil

The Navy and the Air Force appear to be making a pushto supplement the Defense Departmentsgrowing fifth-generation fleet of F-35 stealth fighter jets with advanced, enhanced fourth-generation aircraft. The Air ForcesBoeing F-15EXEagle II and the Navys Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet jets could be described as 4.5-generation aircraft. These jets are helpful on the modern-day battlefield but their existence raisesinteresting questions. Just how sensible is itto build and deliver advanced fourth-generation fighters that might be incapable of counteringfifth-generation jets flown by Americasadversaries,such asChinas ChengduJ-20 and Russias SukhoiSu-57.

The basic airframe structure and design of the Super Hornet, many of which have been preserved, upgraded and sustained through the Navys Service Life Extension Plan, is still viable. Butsome military strategistsmay question the rationale for continuing to build enhanced fourth-generation aircraft such as the Eagle IIand Super Hornet. These aircraftare not quite advanced,stealthy and effectiveenough to truly rival enemy fifth-generation jetsand successfully counternext-generation enemy air defenses. And yet, they may be far too advanced for counterinsurgency or counterterrorism missions wherein the United Statesalready has air superiority. Sojust what kinds of missions are these enhanced fourth-generation aircraftbest suited to perform?

It does not seem feasible that a Super Hornetor Eagle IIcould ever truly be stealthy but it might be able to make itself less detectable to some extent. Would it be less detectable against fifth-generation Chinese and Russian aircraft? Or advanced S-400 Russian air defenses? Or would upgraded Super Hornets primarily be useful against lower to mid-level threat environments? That seems to be a fundamental question to answer when trying to decide whether a Super Hornet or Eagle IImight truly be used as a deterrent or combat asset. Incounterinsurgencyenvironments or areaswhere the Air Force maintains air superiority, a wide range of less expensive or light-air-attack aircraft might be just as effective.

For example, the Super Hornetproved to beuseful in Iraq. It was able to conduct more than justattack or bomb-dropping missions.It conductedoverhead surveillance, targeting andinformation connectivity. Perhaps advanced sensors, AESA radars and longer-range sensors might indeed prove extremely useful in high-end combat? It seems logicalfor the Eagle II to supplement, support or offer additional capabilities to an advanced fleet of F-35 fighter jets.Yet, givenconcerns about cost and sustainment costs, decisionmakers wouldlikely question the cost-value equation ofenhancingand delivering a newly built generation of fourth-generation aircraft.

Nonetheless, these aircraft are far from useless. The Super Hornetand Eagle IIare engineered with an advanced suite of next-generationcombat capabilities.

Kris Osborn is the defense editor for the National Interest. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the ArmyAcquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.

Image: Flickr / U.S. Air Force

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The Qualities and Faults of Fourth-Generation Fighter Jets - The National Interest

WASHINGTON The U.S. Navy this month accepted the first two Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet jets from Boeing, the company announced Sept. 27, kicking off a process that will create a better networked and more lethal fighter fleet.

Boeing will build 78 total new aircraft in the Block III configuration, which includes an Advanced Cockpit System built around a touchscreen display; the Tactical Targeting Network Technology, or TTNT; and Distributed Targeting Processor-Networked, or DTP-N.

The network will help link all the sensors from aircraft and ships in the battlespace to create a better operational picture for smarter targeting decisions, and the new processor has 17 times the computing power of the precious mission computer, Jen Tebo, Boeings vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18G projects, told reporters Sept. 23. Tebo added that the new, open-design processor can take on yet-to-come upgrades and capabilities.

The Block III jets are also built for 10,000 flight hours compared to 6,000 hours for earlier jets, and theyve been made stealthier and more survivable with additional treatments that reduce their radar cross section, Tebo explained.

If you think about where the capabilities are going in the future, its certainly around the airframe, certainly around the survivability piece, stealth technology piece. But the meat and potatoes in the future are really going to be around the networking and the mission systems, and this sets up the Super Hornet to be the risk-reducer and the bridge to get to Next Gen Air Dominance, she said, referring to the Navys next fighter program thats in the early planning stages.

Boeing is to deliver the new aircraft at a pace of about two per month.

At the same time, the Navy is putting its Block II Super Hornets through a life-extension program, and all aircraft going through those upgrades meant to fix wear and tear on the airframe and extend the jets from 6,000 to 10,000 hours of flight time will receive upgrades to the Block III configuration. Tebo said that if the Navy puts all its Block II aircraft through the modification program, the service would have more than 500 total Block III aircraft new and upgraded that would continue trickling into the fleet well into the 2030s.

Boeing delivered two test aircraft to the Navy last year, and the service tested the new systems and conducted carrier suitability tests with the new cockpit, said Kevin McLaughlin, Boeings director of Navy tactical aircraft programs. With the delivery of these first two operational Block III jets, the Navy can send them to China Lake, California, to undergo developing tactics, techniques and procedures for the new capabilities, which will allow the pilots to receive more information than before and work in coordination with more troops in the area.

Additionally, he said, pilots from the first operational squadron to receive Block III jets will travel to St. Louis, Missouri, this fall to begin learning the new systems in simulators at Boeings facility there.

McLaughlin, a career Navy F-18 pilot himself, said the touchscreen cockpit system will be a particularly important improvement. Older jets have three small screens that only display certain information each; the new cockpit has one large touchscreen display that could be configured like the previous display, if pilots are more comfortable in the beginning looking at a familiar display, but they can also be reconfigured to highlight information thats most important to a particular mission.

Tebo said the display will incorporate future capabilities such as artificial intelligence and decision aides. Earlier Super Hornets received upgrades about every other year, but the open-mission system on Block III will allow the Navy, Boeing or a third party to develop improvements or new capabilities.

By the end of the year, Tebo said, the Navy will have begun sending the jets coming off the production line to operational squadrons.

Boeing delivered its first two F/A-18 Block III jets to the U.S. Navy in September 2021. (Eric Shindelbower/Boeing)

The Block III jets will be ready to accept the Infrared search and track sensor system that will come online around the same time the aircraft are ready for their first operational employment. The jets will also be ready to accept a conformal fuel tank which Boeing originally pitched as part of the Block III design if the Navy decides to finish designing the tanks and buy that capability, Tebo said.

Boeings approach to modernizing the Navys fleet stairsteps up the capability of the jets while buying down risk on the next step of modernization, Tebo added.

The EA-18G Growler electronic attack jet is undergoing a modernization effort that adds in TTNT, DTP-N and satellite communication, she said. Boeing will take those same upgrade kits and use them for the Super Hornet service life modification as well as the Block III upgrade effort, adding in the advanced cockpit and the materials needed to extend the airframe by 4,000 hours. Once that effort is proven, the Growlers will receive upgrades to a Block II configuration with the advanced cockpit, which Tebo said Boeing will know how to efficiently install thanks to the Super Hornet work.

Theres a lot of learning that goes on between the two platforms, she said, with all of the learning ultimately informing the companys work on the Next Generation Air Dominance future fighter.

During the same event, Tebo also addressed foreign sales opportunities Boeing is pursuing. Switzerland chose the F-35 over the F-18 earlier this year, she said, but the company remains hopeful Canada or Finland will select the Super Hornet.

Canada, which would buy 88 jets, is an F-35 partner nation but already fields Super Hornets and is involved in the F-18 industrial base.

With Finland, the Growler is also part of Boeings offer, and Tebo said the EA-18G could be the differentiating factor that helps the company win a contract.

Additionally, Germany plans to buy Super Hornets and Growlers to replace its aging Tornado fighter-bombers as well as upgrade its multirole Eurofighters, but Tebo said the timing remains unclear. Boeing is continuing discussions with Germany until the countrys leadership is ready to sign a deal.

Megan Eckstein is the naval warfare reporter at Defense News. She has covered military news since 2009, with a focus on U.S. Navy and Marine Corps operations, acquisition programs, and budgets. She has reported from four geographic fleets and is happiest when shes filing stories from a ship. Megan is a University of Maryland alumna.

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Boeing delivers first Block III Super Hornets to the US Navy - DefenseNews.com

Former WWE NXT star Bronson Reed, also known as Jonah Rock, joined Insight with Chris Van Vliet to talk about his release from WWE in early August. As hes done in the past, Reed described how surprising the release was and how hard he took it.

Well it was very shocking at first, Reed said. I would be lying if I would say I wasnt upset and angry, and all the emotions that come with something like this. Its like the 7 stages of grief. Even though I didnt physically lose anyone, it was kind of like Bronson Reed had died. Id spent the last few years investing in myself and becoming that character of Bronson Reed. But now thats over and I have to look to something new. I am bringing back a little bit of what I did before WWE and becoming JONAH again, but it was hard. I have been able to deal with it pretty well though. Ive had hardships in life and in the professional wrestling business before that have sort of prepared me for if this day was to come. I just didnt think it would be any time soon.

What made the release all the more shocking was that Reed had recently made a commitment to stay with WWE past his original deal. He told Van Vliet he had signed an extension with WWE only months before he was released.

I started at the start of 2019 on a 3-year deal. Only at the start of this year, I signed a new 3-year deal, Reed revealed. I was blindsided that halfway through the year that I was released. Also with where I was placed in the card and how I was utilized, I didnt think it was coming.

Reed got the fall for his release, oddly enough, while watching that weeks episode of Smackdown. He detailed how he expected to be called up to the main roster and how all that combined to leave him more angry with WWEs decision than upset.

I got the call while I was watching SmackDown, Reed said. I was under the impression the last few months with WWE, I would be moving to a SmackDown or a RAW. When I got the call, I assumed it was about going to RAW or going to SmackDown. I was quite happy on the phone and ready to hear that news. When the call was that I was getting released, that mood completely changed. I was in shock and awe. I made sure to question why, and they didnt really give me a reason at all, which is even more frustrating because then you question yourself. Like, what happened? I think shock was the initial reaction, but then I was more angry than upset. There was a lot more that I could have done, but that got taken away. But now I see that it is an avenue for me to do that somewhere else.

As expected, Reed was asked about his next move and what promotions he could be seen in next. Similar to past interviews, he revealed nothing had been signed yet, but that hes talking to several promotions that fans know.

I am in talks with the major promotions that you would expect me to be in talks with, Reed said. Nothing is set in stone yet, but there will be soon.

Part of the reason Reed hasnt been more of a fixture since his release is due to immigration issues that have prevented him from working. He continued to stress to fans that hes working on getting those issues resolved, and how many fans dont realize how big of a hardship this is for foreign talent.

Thats a big thing that unless you are from a foreign country, you dont realize, Reed said. A lot of people who were released the same time as me, after the 30 days, straight away onto some independent shows. I have a lot of fans reaching out and saying, you should do this show. Ive also had a lot of independent promotions reach out to me, but legally, I will get in a lot of trouble if I do this. There are processes you have to do when you are a foreigner, and I am working on that.

You can watch the full interview below.

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Bronson Reed Says He Signed An Extension With WWE Prior To Release - Wrestling Inc.

Courtesy of Jamie Roth, WIRC-CAA| Special to McDonough County Voice USA TODAY NETWORK

MACOMB Thanks to ongoing partnerships with local organizations, Western Illinois Regional Council-Community Action Agency (WIRC-CAA) will once again host a budgeting class that is free and open to the public. One class will be held in Macomb and another in Galesburg.

During the two-hour class, attendees will learn about basic money management, how to design a budget, and how to track their progress. Instruction for each class will be provided by Tessa Hobbs-Curley, who is an experienced Family Life Extension Educator at University of Illinois Extension.

Pizza and refreshments will be provided to all participants during the class. Out of concern for the safety of all attendees, masks will be required when participants are not actively eating.

WIRC-CAA Public Relations Manager Jamie Roth said that this class was requested by people the agency serves. Our Community Services department sends out a survey to people who are assisted through WIRC-CAA, and this class is something that has been requested year after year, said Roth. Budgeting is a valuable skill that can help people feel empowered.

After 90 days, participants will have the opportunity to review their progress one-on-one with the instructor. This will be a great opportunity for people to get feedback about their specific situation, said Roth. To reward their hard work, participants who attend and participate in the first class and the follow-up class may qualify for a $25 Wal-Mart gift card.

The class in Macomb will be held on Monday, October 18, 2021 from 5:00 7:00 p.m. at Village at Wheeler Clubhouse, 1641 East Wheeler Circle. The follow-up class will be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at the same time and location.

The Galesburg class will be held on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 from 5:00 7:00 p.m. at Knox County United Way Meeting Room, 1215 Monmouth Boulevard. The follow-up class will be held at the same time and location on Thursday, January 20, 2022.

To register for either budgeting class, call WIRC-CAA at (309) 837-2997.

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Free budgeting class will be held in Macomb and Galesburg - McDonough Voice

By Dylan Deprey

Larry Bull realized it was time for his third album, the day he found out he was going to be a father.

He knew the project was going to be called Legendary the day his girlfriend agreed on naming their son, Legend.

The project got even deeper the day he lost a true legend: his father.

Larry Bulls music career has been nothing but legendary. From his days as the witty and eccentric extension beside Ar Wesley and Mike Regal, to rap battling his way through local and national leagues. His artistry and lyrical ability continue to grow exponentially.

The Larry Bull that appeared on his first project Levels would eventually become the infamous battle rap persona opponents learned to fear and fans would begin to love. The 2017 debut project showcased his bars and punchlines layered in humor and energy.

His second project, The Paper Route, was his time to experiment with new sounds, try different flows and flex his status as an artist. While the themes were braggadocios, he pledged to always have music with a message.

While constantly in-and-out of the studio in 2019, he was also building his name in the battle rap community alongside his Hoodlum Gang brothers: LL Coogi, Hoodlum, Jay Lopez and BMB Mike G.

Whether it was making his opponents physically leave the building mid-battle, to earning the Underground Battle League (UBL) championship belt, he went toe-to-toe with some of the best in Milwaukee, Midwest and eventually across the U.S.

After releasing his No Money and Black Conscience EPs, he felt it was time to give his fans a life update.

It was time to fully grow up, he said. Legendary, its self-explanatory. Everything behind losing legends, having my son, it all came together.

Larry Bull released his third full-length album Legendary on Sept. 24, 2021.

Its the reflection of the last three years of my life. I moved out, my father passed away, I became a father and created my own life growing as a rapper and battle rapper.

He said this project was him transforming into the full-fledged artist that he knew he always was. He wasnt just a rapper, and he wasnt just a battle rapper.

Its the embodiment of the two coming together as one to make a full person, infused with what was already therethe positive energy, poetic style of writing and voice that I avoided, he said.

Larry Bull is an open book on Legendary. He addresses his triumphs like signing a distribution deal, and dives even deeper into his trials like having a falling out with family after his father died. He wanted to be transparent as possible, especially with his messages to listeners.

Everything Im talking about, if I didnt settle it by myself, I cant tell you to handle it that way, he said. We are the teachers now, and a lot of people look down on the youth, but only a few people in his generation understand why theyre like that or have empathy.

He said the production was really about the grooves and the vibes. Whether its melodic track like Playground, or boom bap inspired cut like, Original, he floats over a cohesive sonic palette.

While giving shine to hip-hop greats with a rendition of DMXs Slippin on the track BLACK ICE, Larry Bull also pulls inspiration from the current generation. Basic song structure went out the window. A one verse song can go for three minutes as different cadences and flows give the listener that same ear candy theyre looking for with a hook. He said he also added more singing on the project, which might be new to fans, but has always been part of his repertoire.

Between his fathers voicemails scattered across the project, to his son on the Notorious B.I.G. inspired cover art, the album is a stamp on his growth and a time capsule for the legends in his life.

I owed people an album like this, he said. Its way more grown, its the gems.

The 15-track project features Iam.Hymn, Aliesa Nicole, Mocity. Production includes Mikeaknight_Beats, Mike Regal , Kofi Cooks and Money Bags.

Legendary can be found on all streaming platforms. Follow Larry Bull on social media.

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Larry Bull's Legendary is a Time Capsule for all the Legends in his Life - Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper

Cowboy Bebop is receiving a second wind of popularity thanks to the upcoming Netflix adaptation. Set to hit our screens in November this year, the series promises to induct more devotees into this iconic anime. Netflix is wisely putting the anime on its service around the same time so people can see just how damn good it is. Because it really isthat good.

Bebop is that rare beast that has something appealing in every episode. So, you can imagine how hard it is to whittle down the series to the 10 best episodes. But hey, well give it a try regardless! What are the top 10 best Cowboy Bebop episodes?

This is definitely one of the more action-packed Bebop episodes and easily among its best. This Spike-centric episode has the wisecracking ex-mobster go head-to-head with a murderous psychopath who happens to be an ISSP experiment gone wrong. Now embued with almost superhuman abilities, Mad Perriot who has the mentality of a child is determined to kill Spike.

What ensues is one of the most thrilling battle sequences in the series, as the two tango in an otherwise empty amusement park. The visuals are also pretty impressive, drawing somewhat from film noir amidst its slick animation. And while its not one of the most story-oriented episodes, itwill leave you on the edge of your seat.

On paper, Speak Like A Child doesnt sound like the most exciting twenty minutes of television. Basically, Faye receives a mysterious package from the Life Extension Service and subsequently flees, anxious that they might be chasing her up for the money she owes them. However, Jet is hugely curious as to the contents of the Betamax tape and thus, he and Spike set off to find a Betamax player to use it on.

The reason this episode is so good is down to what makes much of Bebop so good the character interactions. Jets determination to discover the tapes contents contrasts humorously with Spikes skepticism and indifference. It also subtly exposes Fayes loneliness after failing to win at the dog races, seemingly parting ways with the group for good, it isnt long before she returns. But mostly its how impactful the ending is, when its revealed the tape is a time capsule recorded by teenage Faye. Its emotionally effective and gives us the first glimpse into Fayes past.

The Real Folk Blues Part 1 sets up the finale of Cowboy Bebopwhile remaining one of the series best episodes. Here, Vicious takes over the Red Dragon Syndicate and Spike finally reunites with the mysterious Julia. All hell starts to break loose as it seems Spike and Vicious are destined for another confrontation.

The Real Folk Blues is great because not only does it deliver some fantastic action, it has incredible emotional stakes. Jets worrying over Spike also shows that the old goatdoescare for his partner deep down.

Jupiter Jazz is the first two-part episode of the series and man, what a two-parter it is. That said, Part 2 wins out by a fraction due to the way it ties up its story. It revolves around a former war ally of Vicious called Gren who spent a long time in prison due to being accused of being a spy. Turns out Vicious is the one who testified against him a bit of a bummer for Gren who admired him during the Titan War.

Jupiter Jazz is one of Cowboy Bebops best episodes for many reasons. It allows us to see just how messed up Vicious is, going so far as to frame supposed comrades. The experimental drugs Gren takes that have him involuntarily grow breasts also further adds to the craptastic nature of Bebops universe. The final ship battle scene is also great, followed by the ethereal coda Space Lion.

Toys in the Attic is reportedly Cowboy Bebops homage to Ridley Scotts Alien. This is an odd thing to say about an episode that centers around the groups attempt to expunge an anthropomorphic out-of-date foodstuff from their ship. Yet, the imagery of Spike warily investigating the gangs poorly-lit ship with a large gun seemingly confirms this.

The episode is memorable because every member of the Bebop crew gets their time to shine. Eds eccentricity, Fayes sarcasm, and Jets old man attitude are on full display here. That, alongside the episodes tension, makes this a worthy contender among Cowboy Bebops best episodes.

Ganymede Waltz gives us an insight into Jets past and the complex human drama that Bebop is capable of exploring. Here, Jet reunites with his ex-girlfriend on Ganymede while delivering a recently-captured bounty. Cue one of the saddest stories in the series.

We get a glimpse of Jets past love life in the form of Alisa. We see that Jet once had a stable, normal life with a woman he loved before his turbulent days as a cowboy. Yet, Alisa disliked the way Jet made all the decisions in their relationship and decided to call it quits. My summation doesnt do this beautiful episode justice, so watch this one as soon as you can.

The Real Folk Blues Part 2 is as gruelling a finale as you could hope for. Spike is finally reunited with the love of his life only for her to die in the middle of a gunfight. Now, with nothing to live for, Spike prepares himself for a final showdown with his arch-rival, Vicious.

This very Spike-centric episode finishes off Spikes character arc and the series whole. It ends ambiguously (is Spike dead or just unconscious?) but theres no doubt its a jam-packed finale with some profound character moments. See you, space cowboy.

What a series opener! Asteroid Blues does a stellar job of introducing us to Spike and Jet and their risky job as bounty hunters. Here, Spike and Jet are tasked with taking down a steroid-jacked dealer called Asimov Solensan a small-time criminal with a record of death following his every move.

The brilliant thing about Asteroid Blues is that it showcases everything that Bebop does so well. The slick animation, excellent fight choreography, the humor, the tragedy its all here. And the image of Katerinas corpse floating ominously in space will forever haunt your mind. Just pure classic excellence.

Hard Luck Woman is a great episode because it ties up two character arcs within the span of twenty minutes. And yet, despite that, its still an incredibly satisfying episode. But paradoxically, its also one of the saddest since it splits up our principal cast.

Here, Faye Valentine, who forgot her life before being carbon froze, finally learns about her past. So too does Ed, who meets their long-lost father. The tragic thing is that despite this, neither character is satisfied by their respective revelations, playing on the shows existential themes to a tee. We are left with a long coda scene, where Spike and Jet feverishly eat a bunch of eggs while their former shipmates flee the nest. The melancholy ballad Call Me, Call Me is used to devastating effect here and highlights the shows dramatic flair.

The Spike-centred episodes always have the most dramatic moments in the series. Ballad of Fallen Angels, the first episode to touch on his past, is no exception. We see the usually cocky, self-certain Spike Spiegel go serious as he locks horns with his old rival, Vicious.

Kicking off with his old bosss murder, the episode keeps you glued to the screen from start to finish. The most iconic scene, where Spike finally faces off against Vicious, is so beautifully animated and visually riveting, its the moment where people see why the series is so widely lauded. And then theres the flashback scene as Spike falls to his possible demise, which gives us images of his mobster past while a profound operatic score plays overhead. Its a beautiful example of the powerful subtlety of Bebops storytelling and but one example of why this episode is one of the series best.

What do you think are the best Cowboy Bebop episodes? Do you agree or disagree with this list? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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These Are the Top 10 Best Cowboy Bebop Episodes - The Nerd Stash

ADG20 Continues to be Well Tolerated in Healthy Volunteers with Prolonged Half-Life and Serum Virus Neutralization Activity Observed out to Six Months in Ongoing Phase 1 Study

Data from Quantitative Systems Pharmacology/Whole-Body Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling Support Evaluation of 300 mg Intramuscular Dose of ADG20 Given as a Single Intramuscular Injection in Ongoing Phase 2/3 Studies

Data to be Presented During IDWeek 2021 and 19th Annual Discovery on Target Conference

WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adagio Therapeutics, Inc., (Nasdaq: ADGI) a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of antibody-based solutions for infectious diseases with pandemic potential, today announced new data from the companys COVID-19 antibody program. Updated, six-month data from its ongoing Phase 1 study of ADG20 in healthy participants and data validating the selection of the 300 mg intramuscular (IM) dose given as a single injection that is being evaluated in the companys ongoing global Phase 2/3 treatment (STAMP) and prevention (EVADE) clinical trials will be presented during four poster sessions at the Infectious Disease Society of Americas IDWeek 2021, being held from Sept. 29 Oct. 3, 2021. In addition, Adagios chief scientific officer, Laura Walker, Ph.D., will present a subset of the ADG20 Phase 1 data as well as background on the identification and optimization of this differentiated antibody clinical candidate in an oral presentation at the 19th Annual Discovery on Target Conference on Sept. 30, 2021.

The continued strength of the safety and pharmacokinetic data from our Phase 1 study is encouraging and further underscores the potential impact an antibody like ADG20 which was designed to be potent, broadly neutralizing and delivered as a single IM injection could have on people with or at risk of COVID-19, said Lynn Connolly, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer of Adagio. These Phase 1 data combined with our dose selection strategy, which relied on our innovative modeling approach, have allowed us to initiate and advance our pivotal trials of ADG20 in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. We anticipate these data will support an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) application in the first quarter of 2022, which could enable us to bring an important treatment option to patients.

Phase 1 Trial UpdateAdagio is evaluating ADG20 in a Phase 1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled single ascending-dose study to assess safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), immunogenicity, and serum virus neutralizing activity of ADG20 ex vivo against SARS-CoV-2. Data from a six-month evaluation timepoint confirmed the extended half-life of ADG20, which approached 100 days based on data from the 300 mg IM dose that was given as a single injection. In addition, 50% serum virus neutralization titers at six months after a 300 mg IM dose of ADG20 were similar to observed peak titers with the mRNA-1273 vaccine and exceeded those achieved with the AZD1222 vaccine series. Importantly, ADG20 was well tolerated with no study drug-related adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, or injection-site or hypersensitivity reactions reported through a minimum of three months follow-up across all cohorts. Participants will continue to be followed through 12 months to assess safety and tolerability, PK, immunogenicity and serum virus neutralizing activity.

Phase 1 Poster Information: (633) Preliminary Results from a Phase 1 Single Ascending-Dose Study Assessing Safety, Serum Viral Neutralizing Antibody Titers (sVNA), and Pharmacokinetic (PK) Profile of ADG20: an Extended Half-Life Monoclonal Antibody Being Developed for the Treatment and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Dose Selection StrategyTo support dose selection for Adagios global Phase 2/3 STAMP and EVADE clinical trials, the company modified an existing quantitative systems pharmacology whole-body physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (QSP/PBPK) model to better characterize the PK of extended half-life monoclonal antibodies in serum and key sites of viral replication in the respiratory tract. Adagios model adequately a priori predicted the observed ADG20 serum PK in non-human primates (NHPs) and humans. The model was further optimized based on data from Adagios Phase 1 clinical trial and then applied for dose selection for STAMP and EVADE.

For the STAMP treatment trial, data compiled to date suggest that the 300 mg IM regimen has a projected ability to rapidly achieve and maintain target concentrations at key tissue sites of viral replication, including the ability to attain near complete (> 90%) and durable (> 28-day) SARS-CoV-2 receptor occupancy across a range of baseline viral loads. Further, for the EVADE prevention trial, data compiled to date suggest the 300 mg IM regimen has a projected ability to rapidly exceed target serum concentrations in the majority of simulated patients and to maintain potentially effective concentrations for up to 12 months.

Dose Selection Poster Information

The STAMP and EVADE clinical trials are currently ongoing and enrolling patients globally. For more information, please visit clincialtrials.gov.

About ADG20ADG20, a monoclonal antibody targeting the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses, is being developed for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. ADG20 was designed and engineered to possess high potency and broad neutralization against SARS-CoV-2 and additional clade 1 sarbecoviruses, by targeting a highly conserved epitope in the receptor binding domain. ADG20 displays potent neutralizing activity against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain as well as all known variants of concern. ADG20 has the potential to impact viral replication and subsequent disease through multiple mechanisms of action, including direct blocking of viral entry into the host cell (neutralization) and elimination of infected host cells through Fc-mediated innate immune effector activity. ADG20 is administered by a single intramuscular injection, and was engineered to have a long half-life, with a goal of providing both rapid and durable protection. Adagio is advancing ADG20 through multiple clinical trials on a global basis.

About Adagio TherapeuticsAdagio (Nasdaq: ADGI) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of antibody-based solutions for infectious diseases with pandemic potential. The companys portfolio of antibodies has been optimized using Adimabs industry-leading antibody engineering capabilities and is designed to provide patients and clinicians with a powerful combination of potency, breadth, durable protection (via half-life extension), manufacturability and affordability. Adagios portfolio of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies includes multiple, non-competing broadly neutralizing antibodies with distinct binding epitopes, led by ADG20. Adagio has secured manufacturing capacity for the production of ADG20 with third-party contract manufacturers to support the completion of clinical trials and initial commercial launch. For more information, please visit http://www.adagiotx.com.

Forward Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as anticipates, believes, expects, intends, projects, and future or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning, among other things, the timing, progress and results of our preclinical studies and clinical trials of ADG20, including the timing of our planned EUA application, initiation and completion of studies or trials and related preparatory work, the period during which the results of the trials will become available and our research and development programs; our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for, our product candidates; our ability to identify patients with the diseases treated by our product candidates and to enroll these patients in our clinical trials; our manufacturing capabilities and strategy; and our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those risks described under the heading Risk Factors in Adagios prospectus filed with theSecurities and Exchange Commission(SEC) on August 6, 2021and in Adagios future reports to be filed with theSEC, including Adagios Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. Such risks may be amplified by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of this date, and Adagio undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

Contacts:Media Contact:Dan Budwick, 1ABDan@1abmedia.com

Investor Contact:Monique Allaire, THRUST Strategic Communicationsmonique@thrustsc.com

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Adagio Therapeutics Announces New Data Highlighting the - GlobeNewswire

28 September 2021

Canada's Bruce Power has received approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for the commercial production of the medical radioisotope lutetium-177 (Lu-177) in its nuclear power plants. The project to produce the innovative therapeutic isotope, which is used in the treatment of prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumours, is a partnership between Bruce Power, IsoGen, Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) and ITM.

IsoGen, a joint venture of Framatome and Kinectrics, designed and manufactured the Isotope Production System (IPS) that will be used to produce Lu-177 by irradiating ytterbium targets inside Candu reactors at Bruce. The IPS is being installed as part of the ongoing Life-Extension Program, which began in 2016 and aims to add about 30 to 35 years of operational life to each reactor at the Bruce site in Ontario.

As the commissioning process continues there will be additional regulatory hold points to allow CNSC staff to confirm operational readiness of the IPS prior to the start of Lu-177 production, Bruce Power said. The company will finalise documentation and CNSC staff will review commissioning test results to verify the IPS meets its design and safety analyses requirements.

Irradiated targets will then be processed by Germany-based ITM to produce pharmaceutical quality no-carrier-added Lu-177, which will be marketed under the name Endolucin Beta.

Bruce Power is one of the world's largest producers of cobalt-60 - used for the sterilisation of single-use medical equipment as well as in cancer treatments - through its partnership with Nordion. The company said the approved Lu-177 project will expand its established isotope production and "solidify" it as an integral producer of critical medical isotopes. Chief Development Officer James Scongack said the Lu-177 project is a "game-changer" for the supply of medical isotopes and the global medical community.

SON has been working with Bruce Power to create economic benefits within SON territory - which encompasses the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula - by establishing new isotope infrastructure connected with lutetium-177 production, and last year became the first indigenous community to join the Canadian Nuclear Isotopes Council.

Chief Lester Anoquot, Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation, said: "It's very exciting times for SON as we move forward to the next phase of the Isotope project with Bruce Power We are proud to play a leadership role in the global fight against cancer, while building economic opportunities in our community."

The partnership, which includes an equity stake and revenue-sharing model for SON, is named Gamzook'aamin aakoziwin, which means 'We are Teaming up on the Sickness' in the traditional Anishinaabe language.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

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Regulatory approval for new isotope production at Bruce : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News