At this point, it's likely that Ozempic has somehow come into your personal zeitgeist. The expensive, name-brand version of semaglutide — which, importantly, was originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes — has been in high demand after going viral on TikTok, where it's picking up a reputation as an effective weight loss aid.

"It's the most common medication that I get asked about," Dr. Sudeep Singh, a medical director at a concierge medical practice in Miami, told The Cut. "Everybody knows. Everyone's asking about it. My mom's asking. My neighbors are asking about it. The news is out."

Per a number of reports, Ozempic has been a celeb-guarded secret for some time now, oft-used by starlets who might feel the need to fit into a certain dress for a red carpet. Now the drug is becoming so popular that Novo Nordisk, its creator, has declared a shortage. Tragically, this is all starting to wreak havoc on the lives of actual diabetics, who don't just need the drug to lose a few pounds. They need it to live, and doctors are saying that they're starting to see panic from diabetic patients.

"We're getting calls from our patients who can't find it," Dr. Jonathan Fialkow, chief of cardiology at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, told the Sun Sentinel. Per the paper, Fialkow works with a number of diabetic patients with heart conditions.

"People need it for medical conditions, and pharmacies are out of it," he continued. "The manufacturers aren't able to keep up."

Ozempic, which first went to market in 2017, is what's called a "GLP-1 receptor agonist," which means that it stimulates insulin production and inhibits excess glucose from entering the bloodstream. In other words, it manages blood sugar. And while it's certainly a necessary medication for a lot of type 2 diabetics, there are a lot of very not fun side effects including diarrhea, vomiting and nausea.

But shedding a few pounds is one of those side effects too, and for a lot of consumers out there, it seems that the lure of drug-assisted pound-shedding is enough to outweigh the diarrhea and vomiting of it all — not to mention the reality that the drug, and now others like it, is in short supply for those with the illnesses that Ozempic actually intended to treat. (Last year, Novo Nordisk also started selling a version of semaglutide known as WeGovy that's specifically intended for weight loss, but that one is experiencing shortages as well.)

"Ozempic is not a weight-loss medication," Fialkow continued, adding that "these medications need to be monitored by your doctor."

To that note, while it's possible for weight loss hopefuls to buy Ozempic out-of-pocket, the long term effects still aren't known because nobody has been taking it for very long.

"These medications have been studied in certain populations of people with certain medical conditions," Fialkow additionally told Axios. "When we start using medications and other populations that haven't been studied, while they may be safe, we don't know."

Diet culture is insidious, and it creates immense pressure to slim down. But clearly, the price tag on Ozempic isn't just its extremely high literal price tag, or even the potential "puking your brains out" thing. If you're trying to get your hands on it for the sake of a few pounds gone, maybe, for the sake of those who need it to manage their chronic illness, consider putting it back on the shelf.

READ MORE: Florida diabetics scramble to find drugs suddenly popular for non-intended use: weight loss [Sun Sentinel]

The post So Many People Are Using a Diabetes Drug for Weight Loss That Actual Diabetics Are Having Trouble Getting It appeared first on Futurism.

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So Many People Are Using a Diabetes Drug for Weight Loss That Actual Diabetics Are Having Trouble Getting It

Stayin' Alive

NASA's astronaut social media handbook just dropped — and they've got some staunch guidelines for space tweeting.

As part of a public records request, NASA released to Vox an almost entirely unredacted copy of its current social media handbook for astronauts, and it offers a fascinating look into the agency's policies for the online astronauts it sends to space.

Overall, it's a reasonable document. One particularly interesting detail? It advises astronauts to please lay off of posting when their lives are in jeopardy. Good advice for us all!

Socialing

In a 2018 memo from the Johnson Space Center included in the records provided to Vox, NASA notes that along with not posting for personal or financial gain or exposing state secrets, "social media efforts should always be considered secondary to the safety of the crew and vehicle."

In another section of the guidelines, a slide reminds astronauts that "social media is voluntary and should be considered secondary to safety of mission and crew cohesion."

Politicking

Beyond bodily safety, political discretion is also repeatedly advised in the guidelines — an important detail, given the past and current tensions between the ISS' main players, the United States and Russia.

While some have criticized NASA for doing a bit too much social networking — the agency operates a whopping 700 social media accounts, including on Reddit, Twitch, and LinkedIn — it clearly takes a backseat to onboard safety.

Given how much can go wrong on both a mortal and interpersonal level while floating above the Earth, that's definitely a good thing.

More on the ISS: Amazing Video Shows What the ISS Would Look Like If It Flew at the Height of a Jetplane

The post NASA Tells Astronauts That Tweeting Isn't As Important as Staying Alive appeared first on Futurism.

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NASA Tells Astronauts That Tweeting Isn't As Important as Staying Alive

Cris Cyborg won her first boxing match Sunday night.

The legendary women's MMA fighter crossed over into the ring and beat boxing journeywoman Simone Silva via decision at Fight Music Show in Cyborg's hometown of Curitiba, Brazil. The bout went all eight rounds.

It remains unclear whether it will count as a pro bout or an exhibition.

Cyborg likely won every round. Her best sequence happened in the eighth and final round. She hurt Silva with a big left hook then tried to finish with Silva against the ropes. Cyborg landed several hard shots, but the game, durable Silva weathered them and even fired back.

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"I'm very happy with my first boxing fight," Cyborg told ESPN. "It was eight rounds. It's different for somebody coming in for the first time. But I know I've got a lot to prove. And I'm very happy."

Last week, Cyborg told ESPN she was open to competing in boxing again before returning to MMA. Cyborg, one of the top women's MMA fighters of all time, is currently the Bellator women's featherweight champion, though she is a free agent. Cyborg has indicated she likely will re-sign with Bellator. But she also has been named as a potential future opponent for boxing undisputed women's lightweight champion Katie Taylor.

There was some controversy during the week about whether this would be a pro fight or an exhibition. Silva is currently under a medical suspension by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), stemming from a knockout loss in a boxing match last month. Even though it was a knockout via body shot, the TDLR told ESPN it would not waive the mandatory suspension.

"[Silva] cannot be cleared early from that suspension since it arose out of her loss by KO," TDLR public information officer Tela Goodwin Mange said.

"The safety of the fighters is our greatest concern, and the medical suspensions exist for a reason."

Due to the medical suspension, the Organizacao Brasileira de Boxe (OBBoxe) opted to not sanction Sunday's fight as a pro bout, according to a report by MMAFighting.com. However, Cyborg reps told ESPN that her team was never informed it would not be a pro bout, and she said earlier Sunday that it would be overseen by the Associacao Paranaense de Lutas, a Brazilian sanctioning body for combat sports.

A spokesperson for BoxRec, one of the official record-keepers of boxing worldwide, said the website was informed by Brazilian commission officials that the bout between Cyborg and Silva was not licensed and "certainly would not be recognized as professional boxing."

Cyborg, 37, is the only fighter to hold MMA titles in four separate major promotions: UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator and Invicta FC. In MMA, the Brazil native who lives and trains in Southern California has lost just once since her pro debut in 2005, to pound-for-pound queen Amanda Nunes.

Silva, 39, has a 17-22 pro boxing record, and coming into Sunday's fight, she had lost nine straight.

See more here:

Cris Cyborg defeats Simone Silva by decision to win boxing debut - ESPN

When we think of cyborgs, what comes to mind? Ultra-futuristic beings with laser eyes and claw arms with a resemblance to Arnold Schwarzenegger. But the reality of cybernetic enhancement, or the integration of technology into our bodies to replace or enhance function, is very different.

We think of [cybernetic enhancement] as an ultra-futuristic technology, but the field goes really far back, said Dr Felix Aplin, from the Translational Neuroscience Facility at UNSW Medicine & Health. Already from the 1800s people had this idea that maybe you could use electricity to replicate some functions.

Alessandro Volta (1745-1827) and Luigi Galvani (1737-1798) were the first to prove that animals use electricity in their bodies, with early experiments using electricity to stimulate muscle contractions in frogs and other animals.

What really kickstarted this field in the mid-20th century was a proper understanding of neurons and neural networks, and that they effectively are using electricity to communicate, Dr Aplin said.

Dr Felix Aplin spoke about the future of cybernetic enhancement at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, after completing the UNSW Centre for Ideas UNSOMNIA program. Photo: Maria Boyadgis.

Increasing knowledge of neuroscience led to more and more people wondering, what if we connect the brain to technology? A cybernetic implant could replace lost function for someone with disability, for example the bionic ear, which already exists and has been made famous in Australia by the company Cochlear. Or it could even enhance existing function, like enabling someone to see in infrared, although this type of application is a little further off.

Enabling the brain and technology to communicate

Brains and computers both use electricity to communicate, but in fundamentally different ways. To translate between these two languages, we need neural interface engineering.

Neural, meaning, the brain. Interface: to connect or communicate with. Engineering: building stuff. So, my field builds stuff that communicates with the brain, Dr Aplin said.

In neural interface engineering, there are two main types of devices. Sensing devices read the signals from your brain and convert them into computer code that can drive, for example, a robotic arm of an amputee. Active devices take in information about the outside world, convert it into computer code, and then back into a format your brain can understand. An example of this is the bionic ear, which takes the input from a microphone and uses electrical pulses in a way that the brain can interpret as sound.

Cochlear implants are the most common example of cybernetic enhancement. Photo: iStock.

While progress is being made in both sensing and active devices, theres a long way to go.

While we understand more and more of how the brain functions, it remains one of the most complex systems in the universe. When we send electrical pulses to communicate with the brain, its like trying to surf the internet using morse code, Dr Aplin said. Finding more effective ways to talk to the brain beyond our current morse code approach has been my career focus. Theres a lot more work to be done.

People also assume that cybernetic implants will be machine-like and very clearly not human like Luke Skywalkers robotic hand in Star Wars, or Kanos laser eye in Mortal Kombat. But if that were the case, we would ultimately reject these devices, both physiologically and psychologically.

Our immune systems are terrified of anything foreign, for very good reason Bacteria are bad news, right? Dr Aplin said. We need to developbetter technologies that help us integrate artificially constructed components into our bodies without them being rejected.

In a way, you almost need to be developing mini circuits, which are made out of the same pieces, the same building blocks [as us]. Because its just too different to use chunks of metal with batteries.

Watch: Building better brains - and other ways to manage our bodies

Psychologically, we are also more likely to accept a device that looks like a normal part of our body. Humans have an innate fear of disrupting our sense of self and the idea of a cybernetic implant can be confronting.

If someone has a cyborg arm, they might be able to crush beer cans with their incredible cybernetically enhanced strength, but its going to look like an arm, Dr Aplin said. Because that's what we're comfortable with. We want these things to be integrated with ourselves.

Dr Felix Aplin spoke about the future of cybernetic enhancement at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, as part of a collaboration between UNSW Sydneys Centre for Ideas and The Ethics Centre.

The rest is here:

The cyborg of the future looks just like you - UNSW Newsroom

UFC legend Cris Cyborg has announced she will soon have an OnlyFans page.

But rather than the usual X-rated content found on the platform Cyborg, 37, is planning to share exclusive content of her traveling, training and giving back to the community.

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The Bellator superstar is one of MMA's all-time greats and is now looking to branch out in other ventures outside the octagon.

Cyborg announced on her official YouTube channel: "Hey guys I've been thinking a lot and it's a big decision, I know.

"But I've decided to make an OnlyFans account, for you. My channel is different.

"We're going to travel, training and giving back to communities. You're going to enjoy it, let's go!"

Cyborg hasn't competed since Bellator 279 in April when she defeated Arlene Blencowe via unanimous decision.

But she continues to dominate at Bellator as the reigning Bellator Women's Featherweight Champion.

The 37-year-old athlete holds a stunning record of 26 wins and only two losses in 29 matches across all promotions.

She hasn't lost a fight since 2018 when she was defeated by Amanda Nunes.

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE 10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

The UFC great has also recently crossed over to boxing and enjoyed a successful debut.

The Brazilian-American defeated Simone Silva via unanimous decision on Sunday.

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The secret is out UFC legend Cris Cyborg announces OnlyFans and promises followers will enjoy it... - The US Sun

GamesMaster, then, came along at just the right time to mine these emergent, interlocking seams of youth culture, glitz, and entertainment, and it wrapped the resulting raw goods in a package that was ground-breaking, good-looking, youthful, edgy, enjoyable, informative, funny, and, frankly, cool.

The shows look and feel was a strong factor in its success. Each series took place in a new location (in chronological order: a church, an oil rig, a prison, hell, heaven, Atlantis and a desert island) and the sets were always immaculately dressed, lit and realised. But, arguably, it was one on-air element, above all others, that was instrumental in the shows popularity: Dominik Diamond.

We already know that young Harry Hewland was the catalyst for GamesMasters existence, if only by virtue of his own existence. But what many people dont know is that he was also responsible for the decision to hire Diamond as the shows host. In a manner of speaking.

Diamond had reached the final 12 candidates to be a presenter on Channel 4s new flagship late-night magazine show The Word, but didnt make the final cut. Fortuitously for him and for us GamesMasters production team reached out to their equivalents in The Word to ask if theyd auditioned anyone who might be suitable for their new show, and Diamonds name was put forward. The tape for his GamesMaster audition, in which he commentated on a gaming challenge, peppering his performance with double-entendres about waggling joysticks, made the production team and, crucially, Jane Hewlands son, Harry laugh so hard that the deal was sealed.

It was the irreverent sense of humour that gave GamesMaster credibility with its audience: adolescent boys, Hewland told The Guardian in 2021. For the kids to like us, we had to be badly thought of by authority figures. Also, we had to be slightly weird, like a secret world they could join in. Its hard to read that last sentence without picturing Dominiks eyes casting a mischievous glint through the round lenses of his trademark specs.

For the first two series of the show Dominik Diamond had the floppy-haired, red-jacketed feel of a Butlins Redcoat revelling in the act of smuggling smut and cynicism over the heads of would-be censors at half-past six in the evening, no less. Audiences loved him, but Diamond though he loved the show wasnt quite so enamoured with his look. Especially the jacket. When McDonalds became the shows official sponsor ahead of series three, a combination of ideological objection and dissatisfaction with his own lack of creative control prompted him to hang up the red jacket, seemingly for good. He even filmed a death scene for the end of series two.

The rest is here:

GamesMaster: Before YouTube and Twitch, Sir Patrick Moore's Floating Cyborg Head Was the Best in Gaming TV - Den of Geek

Held in the town that Walmart built, its inaugural edition offered attendees a choose-your-own-adventure-style journey designed to blend art, music, and technology

A hush falls over the crowd as people crane their heads, looking up at the hundreds of twinkling lights unfolding across the sky in a slowly-changing formation. The lights are autonomous drones from Studio DRIFT, and what were watching is an immersive aerial installation designed to simulate birds in flight. As they drift across the sky, a man turns toward his friend and exclaims with unironic enthusiasm: Now that was music, art, and technology.

If I had said that myself, Id have been doing a bitbut hes not wrong. Were at the inaugural edition of FORMAT, an experimental festival celebrating (you guessed it) music, art, and technology, held in (you may not have guessed it) Bentonville, Arkansas. Featuring everything from live music and immersive installations to drag performances and sex therapy sessions, FORMAT saw the niche and mainstream intermingle: There were shows from popular musical acts like Moses Sumney, Beach House, Shygirl, and Phoenix unfolding alongside an experimental concert from human cyborg Neil Harbisson, and performances from contemporary artists like Jacolby Satterwhite, Nick Cave, and Doug Aitken. There was hypnotism and an NFT auction, an immersive 360-degree artspace, and a speakeasy that required you to enter through a porta potty; it was, in short, a grab bag of experiences intended to facilitate a choose-your-own-adventure-style journey for attendees, and to bring greater awareness to the Ozarks and its cultural offerings, which have expanded in recent years as part of a push to incorporate art into the daily lives of citizens.

At the forefront of these offerings is the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, nestled in hundreds of acres of forest trails. Designed by Moshe Safdie, it is the brainchild of Alice Walton, the daughter of Walmart founder Sam Waltona big player in the small town of Bentonville, whose influence is apparent there in forms obvious (Waltons original five-and-dime store, now the Walmart Museum) and unexpected (the hospitality groups, banks, and countless businesses owned or sponsored by the family). The more time I spend in Bentonville, the more I realize that Walmart (or at least the Walton family) rules everything around me: Even in my hotel room, I find testament to the Waltons in the form of a framed photo, oddly nestled above the toilet.

FORMAT is one of many cultural initiatives picked up by the Waltons. Its not the only offering that veers toward the experimental and contemporary: Not far from the festival grounds, the Momentarythe younger, edgier sister of Crystal Bridgesplays host to contemporary visual, performing, and culinary artists. Unlike Crystal Bridges, it does not have a permanent collection of its own, instead favoring an ephemeral approach: Exhibitions rotate in and out of the cavernous industrial building roughly every four months, not unlike roommates in the particular brand of Bushwick factory loft it resembles. (The building was once home to a cheese factory, and its signature architecture now serves as a driving force behind its site-specific exhibitions.)

Id be remiss not to mention that, with a net worth of roughly $212 billion, the Waltons are the richest family in the worldand while their monumental contributions are framed as generosity, they also support the familys efforts to preserve fortune across generations vis--vis tax loopholes, as the Dallas News reports. Operate globally, give back locally, was Sam Waltons mantra according to the company museum, and its an ethos shared by the familys younger generation, who are alleged to live modestly in the area while continuing to work on cultural development across sectors: from paving bike trails to promoting public art, to newer initiatives focusing on advanced mobility and healthcare. Its rumored that the younger family members are so unassuming that anyone we speak to, even a janitor, could be a Walton in disguise.

FORMAT kicked off at the Momentary on Thursday night with a performance from The War on Drugs. I have to admit, Ive never been to Arkansas, the frontman says before beginning his set, a phrase that would be repeated by countless musicians over the next couple of days. The first festival of its kind to be held in Bentonville, FORMAT is the latest in a series of initiatives designed to bring young people to the region. Its as much an art festival as it is a music festival, says Roya Sachs, who co-curated the festival with fellow creative director Mafalda Millies. The pair lead me on a tour of the grounds, pointing out its highlights as we trek around in 80 degree heat. (Its worth noting that the festival, which is held on Sugar Creek Airstrip, is about a half-mile walk from the nearest roada distance that you can traverse by foot, bus, or in the back of a golf cart. The guy driving ours tells us his skin care routine on request, and judging by the caliber of his products, he may be a secret Walton.)

During my two nights at FORMAT, I do my best to fade into the background, soaking up the energy of the space and the people in it. Over the course of each evening, the vibe shifts like the weather as one traverses the festivals many spaces; one minute, Fatboy Slim is dropping beats in a little red barn, and the next, youre witnessing Neil Harbisson, the worlds first human cyborg, tune into NASA Space Station for one of his cybernetic concerts. (I love you Neil! someone yells as he takes the stage and fixes his antenna toward the sky.)

During Harbissons keynote talk, where he explains the intention behind cyborg art and the invention of new organs, people keep turning to each other, asking variations of Is this real?; some people stand with mouths agape on the side of the stage, unable to believe the premise that this man hears color because of a bone-conducting implant embedded in his skull. Later, when Harbisson and I are speaking at one of the festivals many outdoor hang-out spaces, a man approaches us: Excuse me, he says, Im sorry to interrupt, but I have a question for you. Harbisson and I knowingly make eye contact, as we had just been talking about how hes frequently confronted by people in public in regards to his implant. But instead of addressing the antenna that visibly protrudes from Harbissons skull, he asks, Do either of you want to play hacky sack?

Such is the unique and constantly shifting atmosphere of FORMAT. There are people in flower crowns and glow-in-the-dark outfits intermingling alongside the work of todays preeminent artists, technologists, and sexologists. There are lines outside of the festivals merch booth, and also outside of the little tent in the Bizarre Bazaar, where Betony Vernon is conducting sex therapy. (Damn, people really are getting vulnerable in the club, a friend notes.) Elsewhere on the festival grounds, disco balls cast flashing lights over a pumped-up crowd. People squeal at the unexpectedly wet mist emanating from an art installation, or else run their hands over the fuzzy, tree-like columns erected by Icelandic artist Shoplifter. The vibe is unabashedly fun; in between breathtaking performances on Saturday night, Moses Sumney urges the cheering crowd to savor the present moment: This energy here tonight wont ever happen again, especially not in Arkansas, he says, then reconsiders: Or maybe it will!

Continued here:

Inside FORMAT, the festival bringing cyborgs and sex therapy to the Ozarks - Document Journal

Publisher No Gravity Games and developer Aiya Games will soon be putting Cyjin: The Cyborg Ninja on Switch. The game is scheduled to launch on October 6, 2022, the two sides announced today.

Cyjin: The Cyborg Ninja, a precision platformer with fast-paced gameplay and accelerated dashing action, is set in a cyberpunk world. Read more about the title below.

Imagine combining challenging precision platforming, pick-up-and-play gameplay, fast-paced action, a neon cyberpunk setting, and a ninja robot all into one game. Its time to test your platforming skills!

After suffering defeat at the hands of his arch-nemesis, the Shgun, Cyjin is left to rust in a robot graveyard. Awakening beneath a mountain of scraps, Cyjin returns to the land of the living with a single goal: to seek revenge against his foes and make them pay. Its not just lasers obstructing a path or the deadly spikes theres even a deadly army of hostile ykai-inspired robots. Can you find a way out?

Key Features:

ACCELERATED DASHING ACTION: Crush your enemies with quick acceleration! SWIFT & PRECISE PLATFORMING: Aim to choose a path and keep jumping! Watch out for hazards and obstacles just stay alive! EXCITING BOSSES: Intense boss fights that will challenge your skills! 2D CYBERPUNK SETTING: A world that blends Eastern themes with a cyberpunk vibe from the deep wasteland of the Junkyard to the traditional futurism of the Urbanscape. CHALLENGING PUZZLES: Puzzles require quick thinking and inhuman reflexes. Better start stretching those fingers!

And heres a trailer for the game:

Cyjin: The Cyborg Ninja will cost $9.99 on the Switch eShop.

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Read more:

Precision platformer Cyjin: The Cyborg Ninja hitting Switch next week - Nintendo Everything

Eddie Hearn has revealed that undisputed lightweight world champion Katie Taylor has a number of options on the table following her win over Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden in April.

However, the Matchroom chairman has said that plans for a rematch with the seven-weight champion at a packed out Croke Park in Dublin will have to be put on ice for the time being.

Speaking on the Lightweight Boxing Show, Hearn said: People are talking about maybe a crossover fight with Holly Holm or [Cris] Cyborg. There's other fighters, world champions as well. [Hyun-Mi] Choi, who's down at super featherweight, could be an option. Im disappointed we couldnt make the Serrano rematch, but she wanted another fight before she considered that.

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And then you've got the other undisputed all about to be undisputed, Chantelle Cameron, Jessica McCaskill. They actually could fight each other, which would be an absolute war because they just come forward or not. But, you know, I do believe that Chantelle Cameron and Jessica McCaskill are also potential opponents to Katie Taylor as well.

It has long been a dream of Taylors to fight at Croke Park and it was initially planned that the Bray Bomber would meet Serrano there in September. Although that fight doesnt look like coming into fruition this year, Hearn insists a rematch with the Puerto Rican superstar would be perfect for the stadium next year.

I think that has to be for the Serrano rematch. Youve got Cyborg, youve got Holly Holm - these are huge fights, but I feel like they'll happen later on in the year. We were pushing for September for Croke Park with Serrano - unfortunately, she didn't want that fight. So I think Croke Park would have to sit on ice for spring/summer of 2023.

Its a must for me - 80,000 at Croke Park for the rematch. I mean, that was the disappointing thing about not being able to engage Serrano in those talks. But it is what it is and, you know, we move on.

Hearn was speaking ahead of this weekends heavyweight rematch between Derek Chisora and Kubrat Pulev at the O2 Arena. Chisora is entering the bout on a run of three straight defeats, having been beaten by Oleksandr Usyk in 2020 and then Joseph Parker twice in 2021, andHearn admits that this is a must win fight for Del Boy.

He does [need to win]. The thing is, when you lose a fight, generally you come back with an easier fight. With Derek, I actually thought after the Parker fight, Look, theres a lot of people saying you should walk away. Let's come back with a good win and then he was like Whos out there? Give me [Adam] Kownacki, give me [Kubrat] Pulev...

I feel a bit for Derek because when you look at his losses: [Tyson] Fury twice, Oleksandr Usyk, Vitali Klitschko, got robbed against [Robert] Helenius, lost to Joseph Parker, lost to Dillian Whyte in two really close fights.

The moment he starts deteriorating in the ring, the moment he starts looking bad in training - that's the moment the people around him will go Derek, its time. People love Derek in the game, there's a lot of people that would say to him, Mate, you need to stop but hes sparring well, hes training well - he loves it. And the funny thing is, I said to him, If you beat Kubrat Pulev, youll probably fight Wilder or somebody like that, you know.

So I don't know what he's going to do, but I know he wants to winand I know we're going to get a great fight. The one thing with Derek just always, you know, when he turns up, he'll give you everything.

Also on this weeks Lightweight Boxing Show, Hearn talks about Anthony Joshuas camp ahead of his rematch with Usyk, the Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr rumours and the effect of Lawrence Okolie and Liam Smiths departure to Sky Sports.

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Holm, Cyborg, McCaskill And Cameron On The Table For Katie Taylor's Next Fight - The Sportsman

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Comic book writer David F Walker wrote the Cyborg comic book from DC Comics in 2015, talking about creating a whole world for the character within the DC Universe. However he only lasted for nine issues, before Marv Wolfman, the character's co-creator took over for the final three. Walker left saying it was fun, but it was time to move on. The character would later become a hot-button focal point regarding the differing versions of the Justice League movie, by Zack Snyder and by Joss Whedon, including the influence of Geoff Johns on the movie, and the experience of actor Ray Fisher. This week, he talked a little more on social media about his experience working at DC Comics on the character.

He was originally linked to an old Bleeding Cool story, about Cyborg returning to a more human-orientation, with more of his body as organic and male, after previous criticisms that Cyborg, as an African-American man had been castrated by DC Comics, and that David F Walker's proposed changes were welcomed at DC Comics by then-CCO Geoff Johns. Walker replied;

Untrue. All of my changes were met with opposition. I was the ONLY person interested in restoring his humanity. In fact, I was told that Cyborg needed to have more skin showing so he could have tattoos and be "thugged out."

When asked if it was then-publisher Dan DiDio or then-EIC Bob Harras, David F Walker replied;

No, it was neither of them. Nor was it Geoff Johns. It wassomeone who shall remain unnamed. It was NOT said to me by Johns, but it was said to me by several people in positions of power and influence. The original redesigns of Vic had his arms covered in tattoos. I went behind the back of editorial and asked the artist to not draw him that way.

For the recordI have NO beef with Geoff Johns and NO allegiance to Zack Snyder. I've met and talked to both, and neither is capable of walking on water, nor do they have horns and a pitchfork.

When it was suggested that the tattoo demand was because the character was an American football player, he replied;

No. You're wrong. The exact words said to me were "make him more thugged out." No one said "make him cooler or edgier," they said "more thugged out." And if you don't think that's dehumanizingwellthere's nothing more to say.

David Walker concluded, saying;

Honestly, I don't mind talking about CYBORG, but at the end of the day, it was a work-for-hire gig that didn't go as I had hoped (that's comics for you). I'd rather talk about the work that matters more to me personally, like THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY.

Well, happy to oblige! We can link to a previous article about The Black Panther Party by Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson from two years ago, where Walker stated;

Well I can tell you a few weeks ago as I was watching the news and it was the first night of the protests in Minneapolis after the murder of George Floyd and then progressively we watched city after city start to burn and people protesting and the entire time I was watching that I was thinking well I knew this was coming and part of the reason I knew this was coming because I'd read theKerner Commission's report as part of research for graphic novel that I just finished writing on the Black Panther Party and so I started talking to people and explaining to them what you're seeing in the news right now is nothing new, it's happened before and it was foretold in 1968 and in six months there's going to be a comic book, a graphic novel that's going to come out and you're going to learn more than you ever thought you would know about the history of police brutality and history of organized resistance and I think about that all the time, I think about everything that comics gave me when I was a kid.

As well as a preview of The Black Panther Party, published by Ten Speed Press last year.

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David F Walker on DC Wanting Tattooed Cyborg to be More 'Thugged Out' - Bleeding Cool News

Cast: Im Soo-jungRainChoi Hee-jinLee Yong-nyeoSon Young-soon

Geners: DramaComedyRomance

Director: Park Chan-wook

Release Date: Dec 07, 2006

Young-goon, mentally deranged and frequently electro-charging herself with a transistor radio, has been admitted into a mental institution. Firmly believing herself to be a cyborg, she refuses to consume like a human being. Il-soon is another patient, who catches the eye of Young-goon and soon becomes a close friend. Il-soon is now confronted with the biggest task: to cure Young-goon's mental problem and have her eat real food.

Unfortunately, I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK is not available on Netflix. Although you can access the vast library of shows and movies on Netflix under various subscription costs depending on the plan you choose: $9.99 per month for the basic plan, $15.99 monthly for the standard plan, and $19.99 a month for the premium plan.

They're not on Hulu, either! But prices for this streaming service currently start at $6.99 per month, or $69.99 for the whole year. For the ad-free version, it's $12.99 per month, $64.99 per month for Hulu + Live TV, or $70.99 for the ad-free Hulu + Live TV.

No, I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK is not streaming on Disney Plus. With Disney+, you can have a wide range of shows from Marvel, Star Wars, Disney+, Pixar, ESPN, and National Geographic to choose from in the streaming platform for the price of $7.99 monthly or $79.99 annually.

You won't find I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK on HBO Max. But if you're still interested in the service, it's $14.99 per month, which gives you full access to the entire vault, and is also ad-free, or $9.99 per month with ads. However, the annual versions for both are cheaper, with the ad-free plan at $150 and the ad-supported plan at $100.

As of now, I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK is not available to watch for free on Amazon Prime Video. You can still buy or rent other movies through their service.

I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK hasn't made its way onto the Peacock streaming library. Peacock has plenty of other shows and movies for only $4.99 a month or $49.99 per year for a premium account.

I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK is not on Paramount Plus also. Paramount Plus has two subscription options: the basic version ad-supported Paramount+ Essential service costs $4.99 per month, and an ad-free premium plan for $9.99 per month.

I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK isn't on Apple TV+ at the moment, sorry! In the meantime, you can watch top-rated shows like Ted Lasso on Apple TV with a subscription cost of $4.99 a month.

No, I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK isn't available to watch on Now TV Cinema. You can still gain access to other great shows and movies on Now TV Cinema for 9.99 a month.

I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK is not available to stream now.

Originally posted here:

Where to Watch and Stream I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK Free Online - EpicStream

What is Posthumanism and what does it mean for theology?

First of all, any movement or time period with the prefix post attached to it (Postmodernism for example) lacks substance by its very name. It is literally defined by what came before it, precisely as just coming after it. Today we live in an era that is built around this proliferation of the posts, which again, says nothing about itself. We may be able to conclude that it is all embracingall inclusive, as we commonly hear todayand for that reason the posts have no real identity per se because delimitation is simply denied and thus avoided.

A grandchild of Postmodernism is the more sinister Posthumanism, the dominant philosophy today. Philosophical Postmodernism seeks to deconstruct human reason while philosophical Posthumanism intends to deconstruct the human itself. For the posthumanists, the prior era (from the Enlightenment to the 20th century, roughly), that is, the era of Humanism, was too anthropocentric. The exceptionalism of man or past anthropocentrism suppressed the emergence of other types of beings, especially artificial beings according to them.

According to the posthumanists, the very notion of human must be reassessed. Posthumanism proceeds from the Critical Theory philosophy which basically re-interprets reality, with the Marxist binary lens, as those who are oppressors and those who are oppressed (believe it or not there is a Critical Cyborg Theory based on The Cyborg Manifesto). The goal is to erase all inequalities in many different aspects, depending what the focus of the specific Critical Theory is. In the case of Posthumanism, dualisms such as human/animal, human/machine, and, more in general, human/nonhuman are re-investigated through a perception which does not work on the oppositional schemata. In the same way, the Posthumanist deconstructs the clear division between life/death, organic/synthetic and natural/artificial.

Posthumanism leads directly to nihilism or the belief of empty values, since no immutability exists. It is an attack on nature itself. For that reason, it can, in no way, be accepted as a sound philosophy for true Catholic theological progress. True progress in theology stems from solid philosophy applied to the mysteries of our faith. There is definitely philosophical pluralism within the Catholic tradition, but this in no way means that Catholicism can be philosophically all-embracing. There are philosophies that cannot be accepted for orthodox theological progress. In fact, all the heresies are simply rooted in bad philosophy (Nestorianism, Modalism, Monophysitism, etc.). The Church has a duty in promoting good philosophy for the sake of having a theology that can convey the truths of the divine mysteries in human terms.

Posthumanism cannot be applied to our faith to make a good theology. In particular, Posthumanism would eliminate a good anthropology that would allow for a correct understanding of man according to divine revelation. If man is purely mutable, and can ultimately merge with the artificial forming a new being (a cyborg), then in what aspect is man created in Gods image and likeness? How could Our Lord Jesus Christ assume a nature of something that in our day needs to be essentially reassessed? Man is substantially body and soul and he cannot essentially change.

Posthumanism promotes not only an indifference towards the essence of man, but an outright hatred for it. According to this view, the artificial being must emerge and ultimately replace our outdated and rigid concept of man in the strictly naturalistic sense. However, the truth is that man is the synthesis of Gods creation (matter plus the spirit) and God loves man for his own sake. God not only created man but re-created man in Jesus Christ, His only Begotten Son. The love of man and his dignity is fundamental in Catholic theology, especially in Christology, and this dignity is something Posthumanism negates. Profound love has to be based on an immutable good, for true love is in a sense immutable. So we see here another clear example of bad philosophical anthropology leading to bad theological anthropology.

We see clearly today that Satan is attacking nature as a means to attack supernature. The assault is extremely intelligent and strategic. The demonic attacks on philosophy have always been for the sake of attacking theology. The devil knows well the intimate relationship between heterodox theology and the condemnation of souls.

I would say that the biggest hindrance to evangelization is precisely a prevalent erroneous anthropology, especially the Posthumanist view. For if we do not know what man is, we surely will not know what is man for. For the final cause of a thing is imbedded in its very nature. Let us ask Gods grace and do our part also in studying good solid philosophy, especially anthropology. Let us also avoid theologies that diminish the importance of philosophical (metaphysical) underpinnings, like existentialist theology for example.

In the end, the existence of immutability is vital for the salvation of our very souls. Truth is essentially immutable since it refers to universal concepts (truth, charity) or historical events (Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate), and these obviously never change. Truth is our only true guide in a changing world and the basis of all truth is Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Immutable Truth Himself.

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Posthumanism and Theological Anthropology - OnePeterFive

Welcome back to The Rundown, our daily breakdown on comic news stories we missed from the previous day. Have a link to share? Email our team at rundown@multiversitycomics.com.

In case you missed it, we interviewed cartoonist Hambonous about his webcomic Amunito.

Cover by Adriana Melo

Via Screen Rant, comiXology announced Beatrix Rose: Vigilante, an original series based on Mark Dawsons novels of the same name. Written by Stephanie Phillips with art by Valeria Favoccia, the series follows Beatrix a former asssassin for British intelligence as she takes on work for a triad group in Hong Kong. It is the first comic to be based on a Kindle Direct Publishing line of books. The five-issue series will run monthly exclusively on comiXology beginning Tuesday, July 12.

Titan and StoneBot Comics announced former Power Rangers artist Hendry Prasetya will pencil the upcoming miniseries Kamen Rider Zero-One. The book, written by Brandon Easton, is based on the 2019 incarnation of the long-running Japanese TV show, which took place in a futuristic Japan, and followed Aruto Hiden, a newly appointed tech CEO who becomes Kamen Rider Zero-One. The four-part adaptation will begin sometime later this year.

Rooster Teeth and Warner Bros. Animation announced an animated, direct-to-video Justice League/RWBY (pronounced Ruby) crossover film. Created by Monty Oum, RWBY is a fantasy series set in the world of Remnant, that follows four young women training to become huntresses, who protect Remnant from monsters known as Grimm. RWBY previously crossed over with DC in last years comic book series RWBY x Justice League, written by Marguerite Bennett with art by Aneke, Stephanie Pepper and Emanuela Lupacchino, however the film will reportedly feature a new storyline. It will be released sometime in 2023.

The CW announced Stargirl season three will premiere on Wednesday, August 31, at 8/7c pm. The new season, subtitled Frenemies, will see Brec Bassingers Courtney Whitmore/Stargirl contend with the return of Sylvester Pemberton, the original Starman (played by Joel McHale), as well as a murder mystery that will require help from Blue Valleys supervillains to solve. The CW also announced dates for several other shows in October, which you can view at the link here.

The crowdfunded documentary Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters will receive its first public screening at Los Angeless Million Dollar Theater on Saturday, August 13. The film will be preceded by a screening of Bride of Frankenstein, the 1935 horror classic that inspired much of Mignolas work, and followed by a Q&A with Mignola, filmmakers Jim Demonakos and Kevin Konrad Hanna, and Secret Movie Club founder Craig Hammill. You can find out more at AIPT, and order tickets at Eventbrite.

Following last weeks 30-second tease, Amazon Prime Video released a full trailer for Paper Girls, the series based on Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiangs comic of the same name. A time travel story, Paper Girls follows four newspaper delivery girls from 1988, who get embroiled in a conflict between rival factions of time travelers, and are brought forward to 2019, where they meet their older selves (one of whom, Erin, is played by Ali Wong.) Paper Girls premieres Friday, July 29.

Finally, David F. Walker opened up slightly on Twitter about his time writing DCs solo Cyborg comic, disclosing he was told that Cyborg needed to have more skin showing so he could have tattoos and be thugged out.' Walker, who confirmed the suggestions did not come from Dan DiDio, Bob Harras or Geoff Johns, said the ideas came from several [other] people in positions of power and influence. The original redesigns of Vic had his arms covered in tattoos. I went behind the back of editorial and asked the artist to not draw him that way. Walker ultimately wrote nine issues of the 2015-16 run; the last three issues were written by Marv Wolfman.

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The Rundown: July 6, 2022 Multiversity Comics - Multiversity Comics

Star Wars actor Ewan McGregor and Gina Carano once worked together before they were a part of the same franchise. As some may know, Carano and McGregor collaborated on the 2011 spy thriller Haywire, where Carano portrayed a secret agent. At one point McGregor accidentally struck Carano while filming a scene. But it did more damage to McGregor than Carano.

Carano had a prolific career as an MMA fighter before she transitioned over to Hollywood. Her first leading role was in the 2011 film Haywire, in which Oceans 11 director Steven Soderbergh cast her. Carano once explained that it was her last MMA fight with Cris Cyborg that caught Soderberghs attention. Even though shed lost the match, she left enough of an impression on the Oscar-nominated filmmaker to star in his spy thriller.

After I lost my fight to Cyborg he came out on a train from LA to San Diego and had a little lunch with me, she once told Den of Geek. We had talked and then at the end of the lunch he was like look, I wanna do a film with you. Theres no actors and theres no script, theres no studio attached to it, I just wanted to meet with you and see if youd be interested in anything like that and I was just likeI said yes!

The ex-Mandalorian star admitted she didnt know who the director was at the time, but she knew his films.

Yeah, I was with his films, I just didnt know who he was. Really I didnt know what it was that was involved with making films. I didnt know that the director is the guy with the vision. I just never thought about it, I guess. But it was definitely a Film 101 school for me, all of Haywire, she said.

Haywire was rounded out by a cast that consisted of Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender and Bill Paxton. McGregor in particular ended up doing a very physical scene with Carano that resulted in him accidentally striking the former fighter.

The only time I got hurt was when I punched Gina Carano in the head by accident, McGregor once told E-News.

But the Trainspotting actor revealed that he hurt himself more than he did his co-star.

I had a series of three punches, but the third onefor one reason or another I connected really hard on the side of her head, he continued. She was the one who got straight up and said, Are you OK? She was asking me if I was OK! But she was right because I almost broke my friggin hand!

Meanwhile, McGregor informed that Carano was absolutely fine.

Carano may have already had the physical requirements Soderbergh was looking for in his Haywire star. But he still went the extra mile to make sure Carano was psychologically prepared for the role. To do this, The Informant filmmaker had a real-life secret agent follow Carano around, and even considered kidnapping her.

Like method acting They put me with an ex-Mossad, thats like a solider and hed never done a movie either. So hes all excited, putting me through this training. So he puts a Gps (Global Positioning System) on my car and jumps me outside a hair salon, Carano once said according to Contact Music. He wanted to kidnap me but Steven Soderbergh said that would have been a little excessive. Is this how movies are made? Im quite paranoid now.

RELATED: The Mandalorian Cast Has Opinions About Gina Caranos return

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Ewan McGregor Once Nearly Broke His Hand Acting With Former 'Mandalorian' Star Gina Carano - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Never say never, right.

It has been seven years since the last time iconic MMA fighter Ronda Rousey (12-2-0) stepped into the octagon. When asked about a possible return to MMA during the Kurt Angle Show last Sunday (June 12), Rousey revealed theres only one fight shed be interested in returning to competition for Gina Carano.

MORE: SOURCE SPORTS: Ronda Rousey Says Ungrateful Fans is Why She Left WWE

Theres only one person theres only one person I would come back for, Rousey told Kurt Angle.I mean, Ive said it a million times. Its not like its something new. (Id come back) for Gina, man Gina Carano. Shes the reason why I got into fighting. Shes the reason why I knew it was a possibility. I will always be forever grateful. If she ever was like, Ronda, I want to fight you tomorrow at 205 pounds like, whatever the hell shed want. Im not saying shes 205 pounds; shes very svelte.

Rousey continued: If she wanted to come into my backyard and do the Rocky thing, you know, Ding-ding, and we just do it in the backyard, I dont care. I will fight Gina wherever she wants. And if she doesnt want to, forever, I will leave that offer there. Its a respect thing, not like a, F*ck you, Im coming to get you. Its just like, Hey, if you ever want to pull that card out, its there. I love her. Thank you, Gina, for everything youve done.

Gina Carano, 40, retired from MMA in 2009 after her first loss against current Bellator MMA champ Cristiane Cyborg Justino at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg in August 2009. Transitioning to acting shortly after defeat, Carano is recognized as the pioneer of womens MMA.

Rousey has had no interest in returning to MMA for a final bout since her loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. In her prime, Rousey was the face of the womens UFC division. A reigning champion from 2013 to 2015, she headlined five UFC events with her first against Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 in February 2013.

In 2019, Carano shared with ESPN that a potential super fight with Rousey was presented to her a fight Rousey always wanted with a million-dollar offer to fight a then-undefeated Rousey; however, didnt materialize because of Dana White according to Carano.

Carano told ESPNs Ariel Helwani: When Ronda Rousey became popular, I remember they (Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta) had finally called for a meeting, and I walked in this restaurant, and they looked like these two big muscly guys at the table in like the middle of Hollywood. I remember thinking, What took you guys so long? Ive been what took you so long? So they were like, OK, wed love to offer you a million dollars. Wed love to have that fight. And I was like, Well, that sounds great, but Im going to need you to do me a favor, then, because Ive been acting, Im not active in any gym. So its going to take me, you know, youre going to have to give me some time to build a team or join a team.

Its no secret that the idea of Rousey versus Carano would easily be one of the biggest fights in MMA history and draw record-breaking Pay-Per-Views buy. Unfortunately in combat sports, super fights often fall through due to a variety of reasons, ranging from money to politics to proper preparation.

And its not an easy thing, as Im sure all the fighters know, Carano continued. You have to find a team or build one thats going to be into what youre doing, and if you havent actively been a part of anything, you can walk in as Gina Carano or whoever, but youre still going to have to find the people who are really going to be there for you, and that takes time. So I told them, You got to be able to just sit on this for about six months, Dana. You cant say anything and let me get situated with that, because that sounds great and Id love to do it. So it was a nice dinner, and we all left positive. I left stoked, and I was like, OK, well this makes sense. This is my moment to come and be back in there.

MORE: SOURCE SPORTS: Ronda Rousey Knows Shes The GOAT So MMA Isnt Her Priority

Fans of the two icons have created dream fight simulations that showcased possible outcomes in support of the UFCs UFC 2 video game. You may watch the full womens bantamweight dream bout above via EA Sports.

Since the UFC, Rousey has become a WWE Superstar and the current Smackdown Womens Champion, alongside a flourishing acting career with roles in blockbuster film franchises Fast and Furious and Expandables.

Gina Carano has established herself as an action star with high-profile roles in blockbuster franchises like Fast and Furious also, Marvels Deadpool and Star Wars.

Watch the full Kurt Angle Show interview above.

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Ronda Rousey Will Only Return To MMA For Gina Carano Fight - The Source Magazine

Office working looking at an Excel spreadsheet. Image by Tim Sandle

Has the business world reached the tipping point for contract lifecycle management (CLM) adoption in the enterprise? If so, what does this mean for the enterprise and in-house legal teams? To gain an insight Digital Journal caught up with Andy Wishart, Contract Lifecycle Management Futurist and Agilofts Chief Product Officer.

Wishart is a widely recognized industry expert in developing contract management software and AI to enhance lawyer productivity through smart and easy-to-use solutions.

Wishart outlines six enterprise contract trends for how legal automation is altering the face of contract management worldwide.

General Counsels that Embrace the Cyborg Rise to the Top

Wishart: Its happened to other leadership professions. The best digital hunter wins, and CROs and CMOs who dont have a world-class tech stack to hunt, nurture, track, and analyze every step of their prospects journey from cold to sold, will lose out to the competition. They must have the appetite to understand deeply how the tech can deliver value for their business and fight for the right budgets and resources, or they simply can no longer hold these roles.

The same is true for General Counsels, as they drive priorities for their organizations. As automation has swept through operations, sales, marketing, and other critical functions, legal is one of the last bastions to be automatedand the age and expectation of instant visibility into a corporations risk and contractual obligations has dawned.

Legal pros who fail to push for and embrace digital transformation, which has accelerated from years to months in the pandemic, are in existential peril in their roles. The legal leaders who embrace the cyborg and bring their legal prowess together with the efficiency and intelligence of todays legal automation solutions are the only leaders who will advance in todays market.

Companies with Tweet Shift Contract Nimbleness Win the Market

Wishart: Weve just navigated through the worst of a pandemic, which still lingers and continues to shape business practices worldwide. We are all watching the devastating situation in the Ukraine. Weve just watched the worlds richest person buy a major corporation in a matter of days.

And in all those situations, organizations have been in a mad scramble to adjustto survive, to manage risk, to cancel contracts, to shift regions, to add new suppliers, to understand ramifications, and be instantly nimble. In a single tweet, markets can change, unrest can happen, and nimbleness and agility has taken on a new dimension. In 2022, your business needs to be able to shift on a tweet.

Bad Contract Processes Sink NPS Scores

Wishart: Insider info says one major corporation had a negative NPS, which was bad enoughbut an estimated 10 points of that was driven by a burdensome, frustrating, non-automated contract process that created a poor customer experience. Essentially no one can do business with anyone without a contract. And nearly all corporations are judged by their NPS scorecustomers choose vendors by them; investors make investments based on them. If your contract process is not streamlined, simplified, and world-class, youre behind before you even get started and your NPS scores will show it. Contracts truly are the DNA upon which your relationships with customers are built.

Recent results of global enterprise study show awareness of the criticality of CLM to customer satisfaction is indeed, on the rise, with improving customer satisfaction and ease of doing business coming as a top 5 strategic priority for CLM.

Legal Tech Efficiencies Fill Revenue Gap Caused by Slowing Global Growth

Wishart: Global forces like the pandemic, war, supply bottlenecks, and inflation are expected to decelerate global growth from 5.5% to 4.1% in 2022, according to the World Bank. While challenging, as companies look to not only survive but thrive in challenging headwinds, legal teams can confidently turn to the power of automation to enhance their ability to improve productivity in managing contracts. According to World Commerce & Contracting, companies using CLM could save an average of 9.2% a year in annual revenue that is typically lost to slow negotiations and missed milestones. And for larger organizations, that percentage is often 15%.

The hunger for revenue protection for legal teams is gaining ground. In a global study of enterprise buyers on CLM, 65% of respondents are focused on improving productivity as a key driver in purchasing CLM solutions to increase productivity and stop revenue leaks.

Legal Tech Pros Take on Unicorn Status

Wishart: Ten years ago, hiring a Salesforce administrator was nearly impossible. Employees who could optimize what had quickly become the system of record for companies worldwide were some of the hottest tickets in the market. With the advent of marketing automation and account-based marketing (ABM) tools, demand generation pros have become the new corporate darlings, drawing multiple offers and soaring salaries as the market scrambles to source from a talent base that is growing, but still small given these technologies have literally exploded on the scene.

That heat is moving to legal ops. As with any technology that has the potential to transform a profession, ensuring youre building and sourcing the right talent is key to your digital transformation, along with having the resources and talent to really put it to work for youand to date, many dont and are at risk. In 2021, Deloittes State of Legal Operations Survey found that only 35% of legal teams believe they have good tech skills.

Integrations that can Sluice Data Through Your Organization Win

Wishart: Data, when its trapped in your contracts and in file cabinets, holds unbelievable value for your organization. Having a line of sight to risk and business obligations lets you and every function in your business make better, more nimble business decisions that help companies grow, sending resources in new directions and holding back in others. The trouble is, without a CLM to unlock that data, and more important, be able to share that data with other solutions in its network ecosystem, its difficult to actually put that information into action. Thats why, like trapped water, CLM systems that can integrate not only seamlessly but widely with todays common enterprise solutions and let data sluice easily into other technologies are the most powerful. Sure, integration speed is importantbut thats table stakes. Todays most powerful CLMs need to connect hundreds, not handfuls of systems, and easily let data flow throughout the organization where it can truly help the business grow.

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A new breed of General Counsel with digital transformation skills are gaining top roles - Digital Journal

With the 2022 season on the horizon, I thought it would be helpful for fantasy general managers to brush away some cobwebs and remember why the elite are worthy of the top picks. Skill, opportunity, athleticism and even new additions at quarterback should help these top-tier players keep their gold status.

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

Everyone has seen what McCaffrey can do at the height of his powers: 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 receiving. Although Carolina still has issues at quarterback, McCaffrey did not need stellar QB play to go 1K/1K, so theres no reason to believe struggles at the position could stop him from doing it again. He will get plenty of carries, and the targets will still be there. Expect McCaffrey to get somewhere between 20 and 25 touches per game. Never forget that in his seven-game sample last season, he averaged 4.5 yards per rush and 9.3 yards per reception. If he would have played a full season, he would have recorded another 2,000-yard-plus campaign.

Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Ekeler is McCaffrey Lite, but he finally played a full season as a starter, and the results were undeniable. He was just shy of 1,000 yards rushing and added 70 receptions with over 600 yards receiving. Two years ago, those numbers were flipped; he had over 500 yards rushing and 92 receptions with close to 1,000 yards receiving. And last year he added 20 touchdowns. He is a points per reception (PPR) gold mine and plays in an offense tailor-made for his skill set. Is he the best runner in the league? No. Is he the best receiver? No. But Ekeler is good at both, and because of the weapons around him, he gets to operate in relative space.

Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

With a healthy Jameis Winston under center last season, Kamara was RB5 and well on his way to a repeat performance of 2020, when he ran for 900-plus yards, hauled in 83 receptions for over 700 yards and scored 21 touchdowns. Without Winston, though, the entire offense was disjointed, the quarterback position was unsettled, and Kamaras receiving numbers and touchdowns suffered. The positive takeaway is Kamara looked strong while carrying the football 240 times (the highest total of his career). Even with the additions the Saints made at receiver, look for Kamaras receiving numbers to climb back toward his career pace. More competent quarterback play and more weapons on the perimeter means there is less attention on the box, which will likely open things up further for Kamara.

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Who needs receptions when youre carrying the ball 332 times for 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns? Those numbers alone would have Taylor as the top PPR running back coming into the season, but just for fun, add 40 receptions for 360 yards and two additional touchdowns and youll see why he is the clear RB1. Thats what you call avoiding a sophomore slump.

So, what does he do in Year 3? Honestly, whatever he wants! The Colts have quality receivers on the outside, good tight end production and the best offensive line in the NFL. With the addition of Matt Ryan, defenses will need to pick their poison. Focusing all your attention on stopping Taylor could produce record days through the air for the Colts. Theres nothing to suggest Taylor is going to fall off anytime soon, especially when hes getting 20 carries and three targets a game.

Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

If you want to know why Derrick Henry is a top-tier running back, its this simple: He rushed for almost 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight games last season. Then, after sustaining an injury that would have ended the season of most players in the league, he was able to return in the playoffs. Simply put, hes an alien (or maybe a cyborg). Who needs receptions and receiving yards when you are knocking on the door of 2,000 yards rushing every season? Even if you dont want to say hes the best running back in football, its hard to argue that he hasnt been the most dominant back in the game over the past four years. Why would any fantasy GM doubt his ability to be ready to carry the load once again? The injury gave him the rest he needed after a four-year span culminating in more than 1,000 carries. The reset means many more defenders will be making business decisions before deciding to tackle Henry.

Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

No other receiver has experienced a season like Kupp did in 2021 and theres a good chance we have seen the best season Kupp has to offer. It is extremely difficult to duplicate 145 receptions, 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns when many of those numbers are predicated on factors beyond his control. But if youre a fantasy GM, getting your hands on Kupp can still be the difference between winning and losing your league. Why? Targets! In his past three seasons as a starter for the Rams, Kupp has been targeted 449 times. And hes hauled in 331 of those chances. That means he catches 73.7 percent of the balls thrown in his direction. So even when the regression occurs, it will still net him 150-170 targets, which will translate to well over 100 receptions and a fantasy impact that will still be extremely high. All of that production and nobody will tell you Kupp is the most athletic or even the most versatile. What they will tell you is he is surgical in his route running, and when you give him the opportunity, he makes you look like a genius for calling his number.

Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Jefferson is part of the influx of ultra-skilled and -athletic receivers who have taken the league by storm. After 88 catches on 125 targets for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie season, he followed it up with 108 catches on 167 targets for 1,616 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2021. Hes tall, he has long arms and he is fast, but he can also operate inside confined spaces. He has so many ways to catch the ball that all a quarterback needs to do is get it within the catch radius and theres a good chance it will be plucked by Jefferson. It also helps him to remain free from the attention of multiple defenders because they have to worry about Adam Thielen on the other side, Irv Smith Jr. at tight end and, of course, Dalvin Cook at running back.

Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

Kelce was finally usurped as TE1 in 2021 after a three-season reign as the best fantasy tight end in the NFL. Does that mean it is time to punt on him? Absolutely not! Its not like Kelce did not command respect last season. His performance would have made him a top-10 receiver in the league. With Tyreek Hill taking his talents to South Beach, 20 percent of the offenses targets are free to be dished out by the best quarterback in the NFL. Something tells me the Patrick Mahomes-to-Kelce combination will be lighting up scoreboards in 2022. If Kelce was targeted 134 times last season, how many targets will he see now that Hill is no longer there?

(Photo of Austin Ekeler: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)

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Fantasy footballs first tier: A refresher on why the top picks this year are so good - The Athletic

Whale skeletons stand guard around the coastline of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, a stark reminder of the damaging effects of military sonar. Sonar from ships and submarines is thought to be one of the contributing factors to whale strandings, confusing the whales' own sonar and casuing them to beach themselves on the shore.

This whale-unfriendly technology, however, may soon have a rival. Lori Adornato, a project manager at US military research agency Darpa, believes we could detect submarines by paying more attention to natural sound than blasting out pulses of sonar.

"At the moment we treat all this natural sound as background noise, or interference, which we try to remove," says Adornato. "Why don't we take advantage of these sounds, see if we can find a signal?"

Her project, Persistent Aquatic Living Sensors (Pals), eavesdrops on marine animals as a way of detecting underwater threats. Current air-dropped sonar buoys deployed by the military to detect enemy underwater activity only work for a few hours over a small area because of limited battery life. The Pals system could instead cover a wide region for months. It could provide a near constant way of monitoring coastlines and underwater channels. Adornato says reef-dwelling species that can be relied on to stay in one place are likely to be the best sentinels.

"You want to make sure your organism always is going to be there," says Adornato.

Pals is sponsoring several teams looking at different approaches using very different reef species.

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Laurent Cherubin is the lead researcher of the Grouper Guard team at Florida Atlantic University, working with goliath groupers. These fish, which can weigh up to 300kg (660lb), are common in US waters and produce loud calls to deter intruders.

"It's a loud, low-frequency boom," says Cherubin. "They are territorial and will boom at any intruder on their territory."

A booming grouper can be detected from 800m (2,640ft) away, though not every boom means a contact. As well as specific alert calls for intruders and predators, the grouper repertoire includes courtship sounds to attract mates threatening calls when staking a territory, and other sounds whose purpose remains a mystery.

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Why the US military is listening to shrimp - BBC

Karen Gillan has played Nebula, cyborg Daughter of Thanos in quite a few movies enough that the character has gone from villain, to reluctant ally, to a heroic Avenger, and we've seen an alternate timeline version that's bad to her robotic bones. It's been quite a ride for the Guardians of the Galaxy, but Gillan says James Gunn's upcoming third film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, is "the end of a chapter" and will be "amazing and sad."

Speaking to SYFY WIRE to promote the upcoming indie sci-fi film Dual, where she plays a woman and her clone who must fight to the death, Gillan teased what she could about Nebula's next appearances. The character will next feature in the fourth Thor movie, Thor: Love and Thunder, as Chris Hemsworth's Thor was last seen hitching a ride with the Guardians.

"Thor is going to be so much fun," she says of the Taika Waititi-directed film, set to hit theaters on July 8. "It's going to be hilarious in that Taika brand of comedy that we all love."

After that, we'll perhaps see a festive Nebula in the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, due this December on Disney+. ("Yay!" is all a giddy Gillan can say about that.) Then, on May 5, 2023, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will mark the end of an era.

"We're kind of coming to the end of this chapter of the Guardians as we know it. So there's a bittersweet nostalgic feeling settling in, for sure, as we film it," Gillan says. "We're closing out a chapter so you have to come and watch us close that out. It's going to be amazing and sad."

Gillan's Endgame performance as Nebula is somewhat similar to Dual, which hits theaters on Friday. Gillan stars as Sarah, a depressed, seemingly unambitious woman who is diagnosed with a terminal disease. She opts to take advantage of a technology that creates a clone of herself so that her loved ones won't have to grieve when she's gone. However, upon making a miraculous recovery, Sarah must face her clone in a government-mandated duel to the death, as there can only be one Sarah walking around. With one year to train and spurred by the fact that her family seems to like this clone more than her, the original Sarah readies to face herself.

The film, which is quirky, darkly funny, and sad in equal measure, was written and directed by Riley Stearns (The Art of Self Defense) and features his trademark dialogue style. The characters all speak in a deliberate, artificial, and overly expository way. This intentional affect, while perhaps off-putting at first, gives the movie freedom to find odd comedy or tap unexpectedly raw emotional truths.

But, Gillan doesn't think there's too much of a comparison to be made between two (or four) characters, even though both Sarahs speak robotically and the Nebulas are robotic.

"I would say that Nebula's pretty different from these characters," she says. "I mean, Nebula's part robot, but I don't really see her as very robotic. I would say she's more kind of affected by her upbringing with Thanos and her sister than any part of her that's robotic."

However, Gillan's experience making the blockbuster of all blockbusters that was Endgame did give her some great experience that helped with Dual.

"It was kind of good prep because I knew exactly how I liked to operate when acting opposite myself. I knew that, for Dual, I wanted a really great actress to act opposite so that I could react off of her, rather than someone reading off the lines who is not an actor or looking at an X on a stick," Gillan says, praising Finnish actress Katariina Havukainen, who stood in for the "other" Sarah on the set. "So that was really great. I wouldn't have thought of that had I not had Endgame experience before."

Dual opens in theaters on April 15.

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'Dual' star Karen Gillan says 'GotG Vol. 3' is the end of the Guardians as we know them - Syfy

MegaCon sci-fi, horror and anime convention hits Orlando from May 19-22, 2022 and the geek-fest keeps going with two rockin after-parties.

Moshi Moshi Productions, the producers of the official MegaCon 2022 after parties, is throwing a 90s Toons Gone Wild party on Friday, May 20, and a Mecha Disco on Saturday, May 21.

90s Toons Gone Wild at the Rosen Plaza Hotels 3Nine poolside bar and events area features celebrity guest Dante Basco, best known as Rufio in the 1990 Stephen Spielberg movie, Hook, and for his extensive voice work, including Prince Zuko in Nickelodeons Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Enjoy the DJ led dance party, full bar, giveaways, and more. Cosplay is encouraged, but not required. The party takes place from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Parking at the hotel is $5.

Discounted tickets are available for $15 through April 30 and $20 May 1-15. Full price general admission is $25 starting May 16, or $30 at the door.

VIP tickets ($450) include admission for four guests, hightop table with four chairs, one bottle of vodka, four craft mixers of your choice, no waiting in line, private VIP area, VIP badge, and entry into a VIP raffle with a prize worth $300. Ages 21 and up only, with photo ID.

Mecha Disco at Rosen Plaza Hotels executive ballroom celebrates its 12th year as what Moshi Moshi Productions calls the largest cosplay party in Florida. Dress up as a Mech, robot, cyberpunk, cyborg, or whatever gets your geek on.

The event includes 3 DJs, laser light show, dancing, multiple bars, a cosplay contest with $500 in cash and prizes, giveaways, photo ops, and more. The party takes place from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. with the cosplay contest at 12:30 a.m.

Discounted tickets are available for $25 through April 30 and $30 May 1-15. Full price general admission is $35 starting May 16, or $40 at the door. Parking at the hotel is $10.

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MegaCon 2022 after parties rock out to hits of the 1990s and Mecha disco - Attractions Magazine