Category Archives: Evolution

Pay-per-view streaming returned to the world of curling last weekwith a twist.

The World Mixed Doubles Championships in Geneva once again saw World Curling Television use the Recast (recast.app) service, which charges 0.50 per match. This is the same service that was used at the Olympic Qualifying Event and European Championships earlier this season,which prompted thiscolumn, as well as the recent mens and womens worlds.

Regional blackouts were applied (for example, any game shown on TSN was not available in Canada on Recast), but there were at least two matches per draw that were given the full broadcast experiencewith on-site commentary, multiple cameras and production, and so on.

Now for the twist. If your favourite team didnt make the cut for coverage, the WCF added a light coverage option to the three other matches that werent given the full treatment. Light coverage consisted of two stationary cameras pointed at the two houses in a split-screen presentation, and the action was shown without commentary, replays or alternate angles.

Scores of the other four sheets ran along the bottom of the viewers screen.

WCTV light coverage view

The audio wasnt great, as the players microphones werent on and they had a microphone picking up ambient noise near the ice (and the microphone for sheets A and B must have been near the ventilation system or something, because there was a lot of white noise going on there).

This light coverage costs 0.25; half as much as the matches with commentary, bells and whistles.

While the level of coverage matches that of a curling club dabbling in streaming league play league to YouTube, at least it gives the option to be able to follow any game, which is a vastly superior experience than waiting for line scores to update after each end. Well probably never see four or five fully-produced games at onceother than at the Olympicsso this light coverage, which has been requested on many a curling chat group over the years, is a fine compromise.

While cable TV sports coverage isnt going away, internet streaming is on the rise and will only get more commonplace. I know most will grumble about having to pay to watch a match, but these are essentially micro-transactions, and compared to what you have to pay to subscribe to a cable channeleither directly or through a cable subscriptionthis doesnt break the bank.

So, the question that I asked back in December remains how much is broadcast curling worth to you?

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The Evolution of Curling Coverage - Sports Illustrated

Adam Lau and John Moore.Photo: Ken Howard

On Saturday night, Version 2.0 of the Mason Bates-Mark Campbell opera, THE (R)EVOLUTION OF STEVE JOBS, opened brilliantly as a mainstage production of the Atlanta Opera, in its East Coast premiere, under Tomer Zvulun's taut direction and Michael Christie's smart baton. To say the audience greeted the work joyfully would be an understatement.

It's a production that humanizes the protagonist without making him into a silly putty version of the brilliantly creative, decidedly intuitive yet often mean-spirited man who changed the face of personal computing, telephonics and communications in general.

I say that this is Version 2.0 of the work is because the original production started life less than five years ago at the Santa Fe Opera in a glitzier mood, which helped win the opera's recording a Grammy. In many ways it's the same opera, about the same character, with a little changed score and libretto.

Yet, it's not the same. It has certainly connected the dots in the story of Jobs. The result is that Zvulun's production--which started life at the Austin Opera before going to Kansas City Lyric Opera and now Atlanta, before making other stops-has managed to humanize him, at least to my eyes.

Here, we see Jobs as more of a man, the good and the bad of him, in a delicate balancing act. That is no small accomplishment, by the way, because everyone has their perceptions of the myth of Jobs.

With its compelling score by Bates that combines the melodic and the technologic, the driving and the calm, the sound and the solemn, it melds with the libretto, created by Campbell. That consists of a series of vignettes that jump back and forth in Jobs' life-one that is not linear at all but circular--and show the human part of the man's story, which was important to his philosophical growth.John Moore. Photo: Ken Howard

At the opening, the fine cast brought the material to life, working with the carefully wrought creative work of Bates and Campbell to make it sing in all senses of the word. There were first-rate performances, including John Moore as Jobs, driven and visionary, with his forceful baritone; and mezzo Sarah Larsen as his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, who taught him much about life, using a luxurious voice.

Joining them in other major roles were tenor Bille Bruley as his technology co-conspirator Steve Wozniak, a good vocal and dramatic contrast as techie to the more artistic side of Jobs; soprano Elizabeth Sutphen as his clueless early lover, Chrisann, mother of his daughter; and, most assuredly, bass Adam Lau as his Buddhist spiritual guide, Kobun, who was alive to Jobs even after his physical death.Adam Lau and John Moore.Photo: Ken Howard

Working with the creators' material, the director and conductor helped the cast turn the story of this life, which might have been somewhat repulsive in lesser hands-Jobs could become ugly on a dime, e.g., denying his fatherhood of his girlfriend's child--turn out smartly.

It did that by returning to some of Campbell's original intentions in his libretto, under the careful hands of Zvulun (he's also the company's general and artistic director) and his creative team: conductor Michael Christie; scenic and costume designer Jacob A. Climer, who came up with some clever scenic effects for the multi-level set; projections designer S. Katy Tucker; and lighting designer Robert Wierzel.

Together, all the pieces of the production connect the dots of the technology wizard's journey, looking backward, as Jobs once said in a commencement speech at Stanford, "You have to trust that the dots [in your past] will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something-your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach never let me down and has made all the differences in my life."

You can trust in THE (R)EVOLUTION OF STEVE JOBS to give you a rich experience in contemporary opera.

For information about tickets for the remaining performances at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, see the Atlanta Opera's website. In addition, the opera will be live-streamed, using the Atlanta Opera's eight-camera system, to your preferred device on May 6. It can be pre-ordered for $19.99.

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BWW Review: (R)EVOLUTION OF STEVE JOBS by Bates and Campbell under Zvulun Closes the Circle on Apple's Creation - Broadway World

Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy ( left) and Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch teamed up on a series of landmark legislative health care achievements, such as the Ryan White program on AIDS treatment, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the first major federal child care law. John Duricka/AP hide caption

Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy ( left) and Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch teamed up on a series of landmark legislative health care achievements, such as the Ryan White program on AIDS treatment, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the first major federal child care law.

When it comes to health policy, former Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, who died Saturday at age 88, leaves a complex legacy of major legislative achievements, changing positions, compromises and fierce opposition. In many ways, though, Hatch's evolution and leadership on health policy during his four decades in the U.S. Senate mirror that of the Republican Party.

When he came to Washington as a neophyte politician after an upset victory in 1976, Hatch was a conservative firebrand, one of the early leaders of the "New Right" bent on dismantling the federal welfare state and banning abortion. A former trial lawyer, the new senator had never before held public office.

But the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 and the Republican takeover of the Senate that made Hatch chairman of the powerful Labor and Human Resources Committee (now the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee) turned him into something of a pragmatist. That pragmatism, it should be noted, was somewhat forced: Even though Hatch was technically the chair, there were enough moderate Republicans on the panel to give the ranking Democrat, Massachusetts' Edward Kennedy, effective control over what could be passed by the committee.

So Hatch learned to compromise and to legislate. In 1984, he negotiated with liberal Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., what is still referred to as the "Hatch-Waxman Act." It's better known as the law that allowed, for the first time, approval of generic copies of brand-name drugs. Although far from a panacea, it is still the single-biggest advance in the fight to rein in high drug prices.

When the Democrats took back the Senate after the 1986 elections, Kennedy became chairman of the committee and Hatch, the ranking Republican. The two teamed up on a series of landmark legislative achievements, from the Ryan White program on AIDS treatment and the Americans with Disabilities Act to the first major federal child care law. And while Hatch was a strong foe of national health insurance, he and Kennedy ultimately pushed through Congress in 1997 the bill to create the Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides low-cost health insurance for low-income families who don't qualify for Medicaid.

The stridently anti-abortion Hatch was outspoken about his support for federal funding for research on embryonic stem cells derived from aborted fetuses. "I think it's the ultimate pro-life position, because I believe being pro-life is not just caring for the unborn but caring for those who are living," he told NPR in 2007.

But like much of the Republican Party in Congress, Hatch returned to his conservative roots after the election of President Barack Obama in 2008. A supporter of the so-called individual mandate requiring people to have health insurance when it was the quasi-official GOP position in the early 1990s, Hatch became an outspoken foe. "Congress has never crossed the line between regulating what people choose to do and ordering them to do it," he said in 2010.

After moderate Utah Republican Sen. Robert Bennett was ousted in a primary in 2010 and replaced by conservative favorite Mike Lee, Hatch grew more conservative to win reelection in 2012. His final term in the Senate was marked by efforts to overturn the Affordable Care Act and further restrict abortion access. The devout Mormon, who in his spare time wrote lyrics for best-selling Christian music, even called the ACA "the stupidest, dumb-a** bill that I've ever seen. Now some of you may have loved it; if you do, you are one of the stupidest dumb-a** people I've ever met." He later apologized for the statement.

A former Kennedy aide, Jim Manley, told The Salt Lake Tribune that "no one epitomizes the rightward lurch of the Republican Party more than Sen. Hatch."

In one final twist, however, Hatch pushed as his successor the 2012 GOP presidential nominee, Mitt Romney. In just his first few years, Romney has become one of the most moderate Republicans in the chamber. That may prove to be Orrin Hatch's final legacy.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. It is an editorially independent operating program of KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation).

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Sen. Orrin Hatch's legacy tracks the GOP's evolution on health - NPR

Mark Hixon diving.

Six faculty members at the University of Hawaii at Mnoa have been listed among the top 1,000 scientists in the disciplines of ecology and evolution. In the top 1% of their fields, UH scientists were ranked among 166,880 colleagues evaluated by Research.com.

School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technologys (SOEST) Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) Researcher Brian Bowen; SOEST Pacific Biosciences Research Center Professor Emeritus Michael Hadfield; School of Life Sciences Professor Mark Hixon; SOEST Department of Oceanography Professor Emeritus Craig Smith; SOEST HIMB Researcher Robert Toonen; and SOEST HIMB former director, the late Ruth Gates, were ranked among the worlds top scientists for ecology and evolution.

The ranking is constructed using the H-index data (a metric for evaluating the cumulative impact of an authors scholarly output and performance) gathered by Microsoft Academic and included only prominent scientists with an H-index of at least 30 for scientific papers published in the field of ecology and evolution.

This recognition demonstrates the superior quality of work by our faculty, providing further evidence of our status as one of the worlds great research universities, said UH Mnoa Provost Michael Bruno. Their research in ecology, conservation, and human impacts on the environment have led the way toward countless impactful discoveries, and we are proud to have them as part of our UH ohana.

Bowens research program is designed to resolve the origins of marine biodiversity in the service of conservation. Since joining the HIMB faculty in 2003, he has conducted range-wide genetic inventories of Hawaiian and Indo-Pacific reef fishes to inform the design of marine protected areas. Bowen is co-author of the best-selling textbook Diversity of Fishes, which will be published in a third edition later this year.

Hadfields scientific interests lie mainly in marine invertebrate larval ecology and metamorphosis and the roles of marine bacteria films as cues for larval settlement. His long-term research goals are aimed at understanding the factors that determine where larvae of bottom-living invertebrate animals settle and metamorphosea key to understanding how seafloor communities are established and maintained on all surfaces under salt water.

Hixons expertise is the ecology and conservation biology of coral reefs, presently focusing on how seaweed-eating fishes benefit corals. He has also studied kelp forest fishes, hummingbird behavior, deep-sea communities, fisheries ecology, and the invasion of the Caribbean Sea by Pacific lionfish.

Smith has strong interests in biodiversity, disturbance ecology and human impacts in seafloor ecosystems. He has conducted research in Antarctica, mangroves, submarine canyons, whale-fall communities, cold seeps, continental slopes, and abyssal plains to obtain a broad perspective of natural and stressed marine ecosystems. His most recent work includes assessing the impacts of climate warming on Antarctic fjord ecosystems, and designing marine protected areas to mitigate biodiversity loss from deep-sea mining.

Toonen has used lab and field experiments, molecular genetics, and computer modeling and more in an effort to address a variety of biological questions. From assessing cues for larval settlement to population genetics of marine invertebrates, sharks and turtles, to coral bleaching and conservation, Toonen approaches research from an ecological perspectiveto scale up from genes to individuals to populations.

Gates was a tireless innovator and advocate for coral reef conservation. Coral reefs around the world have experienced massive die off as a result of warming ocean temperatures, increasing acidity, pollution runoff from land and other threats. The focus of her most recent research was creating super corals, coral species occurring naturally in the ocean that could be trained to become more resilient to these harsh conditions. Gates passed away in 2018.

This recognition is an example of UH Mnoas goal of Excellence in Research: Advancing the Research and Creative Work Enterprise (PDF), one of four goals identified in the 201525 Strategic Plan (PDF), updated in December 2020.

For more information, see Research.com.

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6 UH faculty recognized among top scientists in ecology, evolution | University of Hawaii System News - University of Hawaii

For many audiences, Spring Awakening was such a revelation because they had never seen anything like it before. Frank Wedekinds 1891 coming-of-age story isnt the most obvious choice for a Broadway musical, but the stage adaptation is one of the most beloved pieces of theater from the last twenty years. The fanbase is passionate and voracious, and I distinctly remember seeing the original Broadway cast back in 2007 (and I had Dont Do Sadness as a ringback tone for the longest time). For HBOs Spring Awakening: Those Youve Known, the cast reunites for a benefit concert, and, even if you didnt like the Duncan Sheik musical, you will be floored by the true journey towards adulthood.

Who can you trust to come back for a reunion more than theater kids? At the start of the pandemic, the schedules of every original Broadway cast member was open, and a benefit anniversary concert was proposed. At the start of Michael John Warrens documentary, we see stars Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele preparing at their apartments and venturing off to their first rehearsal, and the anticipation to get back together is palpable. Not only is it reunion for the cast members of this landmark musical, but Broadway had just slowly opened mere months before this concert took place in November of 2021.

What made Spring Awakening so unique is that it was a timeless story of self-discovery with modern influences. Sheik composed a truly contemporary rock score filled with aching and yearning even though the characters were dressed in 19th century German clothes and holding microphones. It was thrilling because it felt so new and traditional at the same time. Michele recalls how her husband asked her, Is it like Rent?

When the cast is together again, it is an emotional experience. Groff unexpectedly starts to cry when Michele sings the first few notes of Mama Who Bore Me during rehearsal, and, even though the material lends itself to angst and raucousness, there are only tender feelings amongst this group. In confessionals, Michele details just how deeply she fell in love with Groff as they started working together, but its Groffs recounting of his own coming out experience that really tugs at your heart. Director Michael Mayer thought the actor might be gay, but he told himself that he would let Groff come out on his terms, if he felt so inclined.

Those Youve Known is beautifully edited. It bounces around from those confessionals to footage of the original production in 2006 to the eventual benefit concert last fall. Even though 15 years have passed, some of the movements on stage are exactly the same.

The film does detail the musicals worrisome preview attendance numbers and its triumphant night at the Tony Awards, but thats not what this film is about. These actors and creatives have the ability to lovingly look back at the piece of art that truly changed them. Michele is not the same performer that she was when she originated the role of Wendla at the age of 14, and Groff, surely, approaches the lyrics of Melchiors songs (especially the emotional finale) with experienced eyes. The timbre of the actors voices is familiar yet shaded with experience and time.

There is a lot of beauty when it comes to reminiscing. We all wish we could go back or change something about ourselves, but the cast of Spring Awakening wouldnt have it that way. They created a purple summer so singular and meaningful that its more about the journey than the destination.

Spring Awakening: Those Youve Known premieres on HBO on May 3, and it will be available to stream the following day on HBO Max.

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'Spring Awakening: Those You've Known' Celebrates the Evolution of Art and Self - Awards Daily

NEW YORK & PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Drawbridge, a premier provider of cybersecurity software and solutions to the alternative investment industry, today unveiled its new corporate brand identity reflecting the companys evolution into a modern technology partner for more than 800 alternative investment funds and their portfolio companies. The rebrand caps a period of continued hyper growth and technology advancements that have enabled Drawbridge to deliver the industry's leading all-in-one cybersecurity platform to help its global clients navigate the dynamic cybersecurity landscape.

Built and led by fintech industry pioneers and cybersecurity experts, Drawbridge enables alternative investment firms to bolster their cybersecurity posture to minimize risk, meet evolving regulatory requirements and confidently transact with clients and counterparties. Its award-winning all-in-one cybersecurity platform enables users to easily perform nonstop due diligence, assess risk, monitor for security breaches and test their protection with unprecedented independence and insight. Drawbridge clients are empowered to continuously detect and remediate cybersecurity vulnerabilities, enabling them to leverage Drawbridges extensive solution portfolio with as much or as little guidance from Drawbridges expert professional services team as possible.

"Drawbridge was founded with a steadfast commitment to client success and technology innovation. While that philosophy has never changed, our business itself has evolved, and we realized our brand needed to evolve with it, said Jason Elmer, Founder and CEO, Drawbridge. The significant investments we have made over the past four years in our people, products and services have enabled us to evolve into a true modern technology company, and were proud that our new brand supports this mission and vision while positioning us for future success.

The rebrand follows a milestone year for Drawbridge marked by product innovation, continued global expansion and a 166% annual increase in its client base. In 2021 Drawbridge secured a growth equity investment from Long Ridge Equity Partners and heavily invested in key industry talent with strategic senior and board appointments and multiple new product offerings. The companys stellar growth is a result of expanded business with existing clients and significant new client acquisitions.

Elmer continued, "The unprecedented geo-political risks and cyber threats weve witnessed over the past several years have demonstrated that the need for robust cybersecurity programs has never been greater, especially in the financial services sector. Were proud that our state-of-the-art platform has made Drawbridge the partner of choice for more than 800 financial services firms that have selected Drawbridge to provide them everything they need to manage their comprehensive cybersecurity programs, molded to each clients specific needs. We are excited to continue evolving in tandem with the dynamic cybersecurity landscape to ensure we have the right talent and technology to help protect our clients against the most daunting cyber threats.

About Drawbridge:

Drawbridge is a premier provider of cybersecurity software and solutions to the alternative investment industry. Its proprietary platform helps firms manage their governance, risk and compliance (GRC) requirements while combatting sophisticated cyber threats and third-party risks. Drawbridge's platform connects business, compliance and IT to empower firms to centralize and manage their most robust security programs, improve their risk profile and raise institutional capital. With a tested team focused on value delivery and a 800+ strong customer base, Drawbridge offers unmatched customer service and flexibility to help businesses proactively manage vulnerabilities, plan for growth and reduce complexity.

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Drawbridge Rebrands to Highlight its Evolution and Commitment to Client Centricity and Innovation - Business Wire

Benedict Wong talks about Wongs evolution from the first film to now in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Like most superheroes, Doctor Strange has a sidekick/partner, and since they both appear in Strange Tales #110, that has been Wong. Single named like Adele, Drake, and Beyonc, the steadfast character who never fails to get the job done has been portrayed by the brilliant Benedict Wong since the first Doctor Strange. Thankfully, the character of Wong had a much-needed overhaul, and in no way resembles his early comic book counterpart as Stranges servant. In the films, he is one of Stranges teachers, his friend, and as of Spider-Man: No Way Home, he is also his boss.

Who is Zombie Strange in Doctor Str...x

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From steadfast music-loving guardian librarian to the Sorceror Supreme, Wong has had quite the journey throughout his time Marvel Cinematic Universe. He may not have headlined many films, but his scene-stealing performances have garnered numerous headlines. He saves Tony Stark in Infinity War then geniusly leaves before it gets really bad. He cracks a joke in the biggest battle the universe has ever seen, and he takes out Abomination by himself in a cage match. Wong has made a huge impact in the MCU and Benedict Wong shares his thoughts about the evolution of the character from the first Doctor Strange film.

RELATED: Sam Raimi Talks Bringing Horror To Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

When I first took the job six years ago, we moved away from the old source material. And we developed and crafted this no-nonsense field general librarian who has continued through 4 or 5 of the movies and is now no-nonsense Sorcerer Supreme. I love where were going with this and the character progression of that. And yeah, well see what unfolds with this.

My biggest fear about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is that they kill Wong. It might be one of those things like when The Walking Dead killed off Glen. Yes makes a meaningful impact on the story, but also there is still so much story left to tell. Benedict Wong steals the show every time he is on screen. Whether it is him asking for a tuna melt or singing karaoke with some new friends after dropping world-breaking news to them. Benedicts Wong words give me equal parts assurance and fear. Because in terms of job progression he is at the top, so that could be it. But as for character, there is still far more to go.

RELATED: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: Michael Waldron and Sam Raimi Discuss The Craziness of Filming During Production Changes

Also, Benedict Wong did say he and Kevin Feige are due for another discussion later in the interview, so it seems unlikely there would need to be another discussion if his character is already gone. But well have to wait and see when Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness releases in theaters on May 6, 2022. Tickets are available now.

Release Date:May 6, 2022Director:Sam RaimiScreenplay:Michael WardonProducer:Kevin FeigeExecutive Producers:Louis DEsposito, Victoria Alonso, Eric Hauserman Carroll, Scott Derrickson, Jamie ChristopherCast:Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, with Michael Sthlbarg, Rachel McAdamsDescription:In Marvel Studios Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the MCU unlocks the Multiverse and pushes its boundaries further than ever before. Journey into the unknown with Doctor Strange, who, with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses themind-bendinganddangerousalternaterealitiesoftheMultiversetoconfronta mysteriousnewadversary.

What do you think about Wongs evolution? Do you alreadyhave your ticketstoDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? Will wong keep the title of Sorcerer Supreme? Let us know what you think in the comments below and be sure to share all your theories with us onTwitter.

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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: Benedict Wong Discusses Wong's Evolution from the 1st Film - The Illuminerdi

Zebulon Ellis, Monicaa Blaire, Patrice Lovely and Cheryl ,Pepsii, Riley onstage during Tyler Perrys Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned play at James L Knight Center.Photo: Vallery Jean (Getty Images)

Tyler Perry worked feverishly to raise money for his first play, I Know I Been Changed, which he started writing in 1992. Some of his professions included being a bill collector, car salesman, bartender and waiter. Perry managed to save up $12,000 to put on the production. It took off in its seventh staging in 1998 at House of Blues in Atlanta. The Chitlin Circuit, which brought creative performances to Black venues and communities, can be traced back to Vaudevillian entertainment in the early 20th century. Cut to 1998 an Im doing the exact same thing ... traveling around to African-American people, Perry told The Arsenio Hall Show in 2013. He has written, directed and produced nearly two dozen plays, including I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Behind Closed Doors and Diary of a Mad Black Woman.

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The Evolution of Tyler Perry - The Root

Howie Roseman shocked the NFL Thursday night when he traded picks 18 and 101 to the Tennessee Titans for Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Brown. The move came as surprise to fans all around the NFL and finally gave the Philadelphia Eagles the big-name wide receiver they have been looking for. With his addition, the offense is going to look a lot different next season.

Prior to Thursday night, the Eagles had the worst wide receiver grouping in the NFC East, a case can be made they now have the best of the division. The addition of A.J. Brown gives them a legitimate wide receiver opposite of DeVonta Smith now. There is no WR1 or WR2 on the Eagles anymore. Its more of a case of having a 1A and 1B situation.

The happiest man in the room now is easily Jalen Hurts. He and Brown share a strong friendship, and Jalen was pulling for the Eagles to trade for the talented receiver. Phillys offensive weapons now consist of Smith, Quez Watkins, Dallas Goedert, and A.J. Brown. Jalen Hurts now has all the talent he needs to prove he is the future of this team.

With the addition of Brown, the Eagles now possess one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. It was no secret they were looking to add wide receiver talent to the team, and they landed one of the best young wide receivers in the NFL. The skillset Brown brings to the table is something this team hasnt seen in years.

His ability to make contested catches is something that matches up perfectly with DeVonta Smiths speed. Brown is also extremely hard to tackle in open space and is one of the most physical wideouts in pro football.

The Eagles offense last season was solely based on the success of the rushing attack. Now, they have the weapons on the outside to cause serious havoc for opposing defenses. With the majority of the offense returning and the addition of a Pro Bowl receiver like A.J. Brown, Philadelphias offense is in a position to put up a lot of points in 2022.

The rushing attack is still there, and its one of the best in the NFL, but with a dynamic duo at wide receiver, the Eagles wont be a one-dimensional offense next year. They have the ability to control the ground game and also make big plays in the air. Hurts has all the tools. Now, it is time for him to show why he is the man for Philadelphia going forward.

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Expect continued evolution in the Eagles offense thanks to A.J. Brown - Inside the Iggles

In 2008, Murakami et al.1 described a partial manus of a theropod dinosaur, consisting of metacarpal I and manual unguals I-2, II-3, and III-4 from the right side in a concretion, from the upper Campanian Osoushinai Formation of the Yezo Group in Nakagawa Town of Hokkaido Island of Japan (Fig.1ac). The Yezo Group is composed of mainly Upper Cretaceous marine sediments and rich in invertebrate and vertebrate fossils, including sharks, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, turtles, pterosaurs, non-avian dinosaurs, and birds. So far, dinosaur materials of hadrosaurids, tyrannosauroid, and nodosaurid, in addition to the Nakagawa theropod, have been reported from the group2,3,4. The Nakagawa specimen was identified as a maniraptoran dinosaur and Murakami et al.1 argued further that it may belong to a derived therizinosaur because of the lack of a groove between the flexor tubercle and the proximal articular surface of the unguals. It was extremely difficult to resolve the identification of Nakagawa specimen to the family level or lower at the time of publication because of the limited comparative information in the literature. However, more recent studies have provided a great deal of information on therizinosaur unguals, permitting comparisons of manual morphologies among therizinosaurs and for testing the phylogenetic status of the Nakagawa specimen5,6,7,8,9,10.

Map of Japan, showing the location of Nakagawa Town and other dinosaur localities (a). Two other names in red are locations of other therizinosaur materials. This figure was created by using Adobe Photoshop 21.2.0 and Adobe Illustrator 24.2.1 (https://www.adobe.com/). A photo of the concretion containing materials of Paralitherizinosaurus japonicusgen. et sp. nov.before preparation (b). Dark parts in the concretion are exposed bones of Paralitherizinosaurus, showing that all elements were preserved in this block. See Murakami et al.1 for stratigraphic column of the Oshoushinai Formation and the horizon of the specimen. Manual unguals and silhouette of Paralitherizinosaurus japonicus, showing recovered skeletal elements in white (c) (Courtesy of Genya Masukawa). Life reconstruction of Paralitherizinosaurus japonicus (d) (Courtesy of Masato Hattori).

Asian therizinosaurs radiated in the Early Cretaceous, and their diversification continued into the Late Cretaceous. The Late Cretaceous taxa are larger than the Early Cretaceous forms in body size, exemplified by Therizinosaurus cheloniformis from Mongolia with elongate, large and nearly straight manual unguals. Manual unguals of therizinosaurs have a large diversity in shapes and functions. Based on the shape analysis with extinct and extant mammals by Lautenschlager10, basal therizinosaurs, such as Alxasaurus and Erliansaurus, have short and compact unguals for a proposed generalist functionality because these are placed near the boundaries of the morphospace of scansorial, fossorial, and terrestrial mammals, whereas other therizinosaurs with elongate unguals occupy outside of these mammals for potentially different functions. Only Nothronychus has unguals like those found in fossorial mammals. Because some therizinosaurs such as Beipiaosaurus and Therizinosaurus, have similar unguals to those of ornithomimosaurs, elongate unguals are presumed to have a similar function, possibly to pull the base of branches to bring leaves to their heads10.

Therizinosaurs have been found mainly from the Cretaceous deposits in Mongolia and China. All of the Early Cretaceous taxa, except Falcarius, have been named from China so far, and two taxa are recovered from northern (Alxasaurus from the Inner Mongolia)11 and northwestern (Suzhousaurus from Gansu Province) regions12. Other Chinese taxa (Jianchangosaurus, Beipiaosaurus, and Lingyuanosaurus)6,13,14 were recovered from the Jehol Group in the Liaoning Province of China, located in the eastern part of the country. The Late Cretaceous therizinosaurs have been discovered from the Gobi Desert (Inner Mongolia of China and southern Mongolia) except for Nanshiungosaurus (Guangdong Province in the southeastern China along the Pacific). Although it has not been named yet, therizinosaur materials have been recovered from the Bissekty Formation in Uzbekistan, which may represent more than two taxa9. However, we follow Sues and Averianov9 in their treatment of the Bissekty therizinosauroid material as a single taxon. Japan, which was located at the eastern edge of the Asian continent during the Cretaceous before the opening of the Japan Sea during the Miocene, has produced two therizinosaur specimens from the Lower and Upper Cretaceous deposits15,16 (Fig.1a) but neither is named because of the fragmentary nature of the specimens. The Nakagawa specimen is the third therizinosaur from Japan. It is important because it is the youngest occurrence of therizinosaurs from Japan and preserves important elements that enlighten our understanding of its finer-scale taxonomic identification as well as providing insights into and morphological function.

This study will describe the Nakagawa material in detail, compare with other therizinosaurs, demonstrate its phylogenetic placement within Maniraptora/Therizinosauria, quantify the ungual shapes through geometric morphometric analysis to elucidate the evolution and function of therizinosaur claws, and discuss its paleogeographic and paleoecological implications.

Detailed information is provided by Murakami et al.1 and summarized here. This specimen was contained in an isolated concretion as float, sitting near the confluence of the Rubeshibe River and 36 Ten-zawa Creek in Nakagawa Town in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan (Fig.1a). The concretion was discovered in an area where the Nishichirashinai Formation (Coniacian to lower Santonian) is exposed. Murakami et al.1 concluded that it was originally from an upstream area, where the Oshoushinai Formation (early Campanian) crops out because of the presence of the inoceramid bivalve Sphenoceramus in the concretion and the features of lithofaces (heavily bioturbated matrix and fine grain size), which matches the Osoushinai Formation. The depositional environment of this formation is considered as deeper than outer shelf because of the lack of storm deposits. The concretion is roughly 25cm15cm15cm (Fig.1b). It is plausible to consider that all materials belong to a single individual based on its depositional environment and close proximity of all preserved elements as mentioned by Murakami et al.1.

Theropoda Marsh17.

Coelurosauria von Huene18.

Therizinosauria Russell19.

Therizinosauridae Maleev20.

Paralitherizinosaurus japonicus gen. et sp. nov.

Zoobank ID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8397F6AE-4791-4EE6-B6CF-B25950FB617C (for this publication), urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7934F3DA-B1CA-4CAA-B5E4-86D41B93E7CE (for the new genus) and urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BC19DCA2-8F4A-4FDC-83C4-B9EB8D3C30EF (for the new species).

Etymology Paralos means by or near the sea in Greek, therizo means reap in Greek, and sauros means reptile in Latin. Specific name, japon refers to Japan.

Holotype NMV-52 (NMV, Nakagawa Museum of Natural History, Japan), a partial vertebra and a partial right hand, including metacarpal I, proximal ends of unguals I and II, and nearly complete ungual III (Fig.1c).

Horizon and locality The Osoushinai Formation (early Campanian) of the Yezo Group in Nakagawa Town in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.

Diagnosis A therizinosaurid with the following unique characters: dorsoventrally flattened metacarpal I (dorsoventral height less than half of transverse width) with no rotation of the axis of the distal end; presence of proximodorsally projecting dorsal lip in digits I and III; a shallow depression at the proximal portion of ungual III-4, connecting to the collateral groove; the presence of proximally extending ventral process; a weak flexor tubercle expressed as a small ridge.

Description and comparisons The original study described four manual elements from the right side (metacarpal I and manual unguals I-2, II-3, and III-4), but this study identified another bone as a partial cervical centrum (Fig.2) although the fragmentary nature of this bone limits the certainty of its identification. We interpret the specimen as the anteroventral portion of a cervical centrum. Therizinosaur presacral vertebrae are highly pneumatic8,14,21, a condition that is present in this specimen. The parapophysis is ventrally placed on the lateral surface. Two laminae, posterodorsal and ventral laminae, extend posterior to the parapophysis. The arrangement of the posterodorsal lamina is similar to the centrodiapophyseal lamina in Northonychus8. Ventral surface is flat and featureless.

A partial vertebra of Paralitherizinosauruss japonicus gen. et sp. nov. in anterior (a) and right lateral (b) views. This figure was created by using Adobe Photoshop 21.2.0 and Adobe Illustrator 24.2.1 (https://www.adobe.com/).

Metacarpal I is nearly complete. It is 57.87mm long, which is approximately twice the length of the transverse width (29.41mm) at the proximal end. In anterior view, the distal half of metacarpal I diverges medially by 17 degrees from the contact surface with metacarpal II (Fig.3a,a,c,c). A similar condition is present in two Chinese therizinosaurids (Alxasaurus and Erliansaurus), while the shaft of metacarpal I is nearly straight in basal therizinosauroids (Falcarius and Jianchangosaurus) and the therizinosaurid Therizinosaurus5,14,22. The shaft width (21.72mm) is roughly two-thirds of the proximal width. The medial border of this element is strongly concave in anterior view (Fig.3a,a), whereas it is nearly straight in Nothronychus and Therizinosaurus and weakly concave in Falcarius, Alxasaurus, and Erliansaurus5,8,11,22,23. The width of the proximal end is greater than the dorsoventral height (24.47mm). In proximal view, the proximal end is triangular with three processes: medial, anterolateral, and posterolateral processes. In their preliminary description of this specimen, Murakami et al.1 noted that the presence of a rectangular buttress was not clear because of its preservation. Our examination shows that the base of the ventrolateral process is preserved, and a ridge extends ventrally from the process, indicating the presence of a rectangular buttress (Fig.3b,b,c,c). The buttress would underlie the ventral surface of the metacarpal II if entirely preserved, and this is a synapomorphic feature for the clade of Therizinosauroidea11. In anterior view, the proximal edge of the proximal end between the dorsal and mediolateral processes is straight as in therizinosaurids (e.g., Alxasaurus and Therizinosaurus). Falcarius has a concave proximal edge of the proximal end for a dorsomedial notch22. The proximal surface has a depression with a size of 21mm14mm (Fig.3e,e). The medial edge of the element bears a medial ridge (Fig.3d,d), connecting the medial process of the proximal end and medial condyle of the distal end. This feature is present only in Therizinosaurus and diagnostic for this taxon5. The cross-section of the shaft is triangular as in Therizinosaurus, whereas it is oval in Falcarius22. It is anteroposteriorly compressed, and its dorsoventral height is 10.12mm, less than half of lateromedial width of the shaft. A rotation of the axis of distal end from the long axis of the element is noted in Falcarius22 and Erliansaurus, but this rotation is absent in Paralitherizinosaurus. The distal end has lateral and medial condyles, separated by a shallow sulcus (Fig.3f,f). The lateral condyle has a circular collateral ligament fossa, whereas the medial condyle lacks a fossa and has a flat medial surface. A collateral ligament fossa is absent in Falcarius22 and Therizinosaurus. The medial condyle is proximally positioned with respect to the lateral condyle in therizinosaurs, but this condition is more subtle in Paralitherizinosaurus.

Right metacarpal I of Paralitherizinosauruss japonicus gen. et sp. nov. in anterior (a), posterior (b), lateral (c), medial (d), proximal (e), and distal (f) views. (a) to (f) are corresponding images in black and white with labels. This figure was created by using Adobe Photoshop 21.2.0 and Adobe Illustrator 24.2.1 (https://www.adobe.com/).

Manual ungual I-2 preserves only lateral side of the proximal end (Fig.4a,b,a,b). It has a dorsal lip, which is a proximodorsally projecting process above the phalangeal articular surface of manual unguals. This process is commonly seen in manual unguals of therizinosaurs, oviraptorosaurs, and dromaeosaurids24. In derived therizinosaurs, Therizinosauridae, no taxa have a dorsal lip in manual ungual I-2. The only therizinosaur with a dorsal lip is the basal therizinosaur Beipiaosaurus13. In lateral view, the outline of the surface is like the other manual unguals of Paralitherizinosaurus (Fig.4a,a).

Right manual unguals of Paralitherizinosauruss japonicus gen. et sp. nov. Ungual of digit I in lateral (a) and medial (b) view. Ungual of digit II in proximal (c), lateral (d), medial (e), dorsal (f), and ventral (g) views. Ungual of digit III in proximal (h), lateral (i), medial (j), dorsal (k), and ventral (l) views. (a) to (l) are corresponding images in black and white with labels. This figure was created by using Adobe Photoshop 21.2.0 and Adobe Illustrator 24.2.1 (https://www.adobe.com/).

Manual ungual II-3 preserves the proximal portion of the element and exhibits a pronounced dorsal lip as seen in Falcarius, Lingyuanosaurus, Alxasaurus, and Therizinosaurus (Figs. 4df,df and Fig.5)6,11,22,25. The ventral surface of this lip forms a dorsal portion of the phalangeal articular surface. The medial side of the base of the lip has a shallow depression, extending ventrally (Fig.4e,e). The ventral half of the medial surface has a wide depression. A depression on lateral and medial surfaces of proximal portions in Jianchangosaurus, Lingyuanosaurus, and Therizinosaurus is continuous from the collateral groove6,14,25. Ventral to the phalangeal articular surface bears a ventral process, which extends slightly more proximally than the articular surface, similar to the condition observed in Erliansaurus (Fig.4e,e,g,g). It is square in lateral view as in Therizinosaurus. The phalangeal articular surface is divided asymmetrically by a vertical ridge, and the medial side is larger than the lateral side (Fig.4c,c).

Comparisons of manual unguals in digits I-III of therizinosaurs. An image at the lower left corner is a photo of the proximoventral end of Therizinosaurus ungual in oblique view. Not to scale. This figure was created by using Adobe Photoshop 21.2.0 and Adobe Illustrator 24.2.1 (https://www.adobe.com/).

Manual ungual III-4 is transversely narrow as in other unguals (Fig.4k,k,l,l) and strongly curved as in other therizinosaurs, other than Therizinosaurus5,25 (Fig.4i,i,j,j). The collateral groove on the lateral surface of this element approaches the dorsal margin of the ungual distally. Although the distal end is missing, the collateral groove may be extended to the dorsal edge of the distalmost part of the ungual in Paralitherizinosaurus (Fig.4i,i), which is a potential diagnostic feature for Therizinosauroidea6. The groove at the proximal end is close to the ventral edge of the ungual, like the ungual of digit II of Therizinosaurus and isolated unguals from the Bissekty taxon (Fig.5), and is continuous with a shallow depression. This depression is much smaller than the ones observed in Jianchangosaurus, Lingyuanosaurus, Nothronychus, and Therizinosaurus6,8,14, which have a large triangular depression. Extension of the collateral groove to the proximal end is only seen in isolated unguals of the Bissetky taxon (Fig.5). The medial surface of the ungual is flat and featureless (Fig.4j,j). Distally, the collateral groove is faintly present and migrates dorsally towards its tip. In most therizinosaurs, both the lateral and the medial surfaces have distinct collateral grooves. The asymmetry of features on the lateral and the medial surfaces is present to some extent, but this strong asymmetry may be a unique feature for Paralitherizinosaurus. The ungual has a dorsal lip at the proximal end (Fig.4i,i,j,j). In Therizinosauria, a complete set of manual unguals is rarely preserved but has been reported in five taxa (Falcarius, Beipiaosaurus, Martharaptor, Erliansaurus, and Nothronychus). Among these taxa, only two taxa have a dorsal lip, which is present in digits II and III in Falcarius and in digits I in Beipiaosaurus. Three therizinosaurids (Lingyuanosaurus, Alxasaurus, and Nothronychus) preserve the manual ungual of digit III, but none of these taxa preserves a dorsal lip because of damage, suggesting the presence of a dorsal lip in manual ungual III-4 may be unique to Paralitherizinosaurus. At the base of the dorsal lip is a shallow depression as in the ungual of digit II. The phalangeal articular surface is divided by a vertical ridge, but it is nearly symmetrical (Fig.4h,h). Ventral to the articular surface has a ventral process, which extends more proximally than the articular surface. This large ventral process is present in the ungual of the digit III of Erliansaurus. The ventral surface of the ventral process bears a weak ridge, which is a flexor tubercle. The original description of this ungual interpreted that the flexor tubercle was missing because of bioerosion1. Subsequent preparation of this ungual shows that this portion was not damaged and there is an extremely weak flexor tubercle on the ventral surface (Fig.4l,l). A similar condition is present in Therizinosaurus (Fig.5), where the other therizinosaurs have a strong flexor tubercle.

Continued here:

New therizinosaurid dinosaur from the marine Osoushinai Formation (Upper Cretaceous, Japan) provides insight for function and evolution of...