Image by Curtis Means / Pool / Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty / Nintendo / FuturismUnitedHealthcare has just promoted one of its C-Suiters to CEO and the dark humor is already pouring in.Six weeks after Brian Thompson was gunned down in the streets of Manhattan, UHC announced that it was naming Tim Noel, who formerly ran the insurance company's Medicare and retirement department, to the chief executive role. Almost as soon as that news dropped, social media lit up with gallows humor about the position's deadly history."Imagine getting that promotion?" wrote one X-formerly-Twitter user wrote. "I'm thinking Tim Noel may just be the bravest CEO in all of America."Others were far more pointed in their welcomes to the longtime UHC executive."I don't think it's THAT interesting that Tim Noel, new CEO for UnitedHealth, lives in Minneapolis," a Bluesky user quipped. "Minneapolis is where the UnitedHealth headquarters are located, so it just makes sense that he, and other CEOs, would live there, in Minneapolis, which as everyone on earth knows, is in Minnesota!"On the Eat the Rich subreddit, meanwhile, the vibe was nothing short of feral."Looks scrawny," wrote a user whose display imagefeatures suspected Thompson assassin Luigi Mangione dressed like a saint. "Needs fattening up like the last one. Then itll be good eating!"Obviously, nobody isactually calling for any harm to Noel, who has worked at UHC since 2007. As with Thompson's murder, these jokes instead highlight the rampant frustration Americans have with the gatekeepers of their healthcare a bitter resentment that burst to the forefront of the national conversation after Thompson's assassination last month.That anger was on full display in other posts and comments accusing Noel of being a "serial killer." Given that he likely ran UHC's Medicare department during at least part of the period when the company nearly tripled its post-acute services denial rate from 8.7 to 22.7 percent for Medicare patients, they might not be that far off the money, at least technically speaking.Share This Article

Stress is a normal part of life. While everyone feels stressed at times, it shouldn't affect your day-to-day functioning. If you experiencechronic stressand exhaustion that's affecting your daily life, it may be a sign that something deeper is going on, such as cortisol imbalance.Both high and lowlevels of cortisol-- also known as the "stress hormone" -- can leave you dealing with symptoms that make you feel "off" and unlike yourself. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to check in on your body and better manage your stress levels. If you believe you have a cortisol imbalance or are generally concerned about your health, be sure to consult a doctor before making any drastic changes.What is cortisol? Over- or under-functioning adrenal glands lead to symptoms of burnout. Wenjin Chen/Getty Images Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. Cortisol is the body's primary stress hormone, says Melissa Groves Azzaro, a registered dietitian and author of A Balanced Approach to PCOS. The hormone is produced in the adrenal glands in response to internal or external stressors.Most people know cortisol for its role in the "fight-or-flight" response, which is important, but cortisol actually plays many other roles in the body.In addition to curbing any body functions that are nonessential in a fight-or-flight scenario, cortisol also:Helps control blood sugar levels and blood pressureActs as an anti-inflammatoryAssists with memory formationRegulates metabolismThe majority of your body's cells contain cortisol receptors, so it's animportant hormone, but like any hormone, too much or too little of it can be detrimental to your body and health.Signs of a cortisol imbalanceEveryone's experience with cortisol imbalance will differ, particularly when differentiating between high and low cortisol.Symptoms of high cortisol include:Weight gain, especially in the abdominal areaAnxiety and irritabilityTrouble falling asleep and staying asleepNervousnessShakinessHigh heart rateBlood sugar and blood pressure instabilitySymptoms of low cortisol include:All-day low energyFeeling "wired but tired"Severe fatigue and lack of focusSugar and salt cravingsApathyLow libidoMemory problemsWhat causes a cortisol imbalance? Prolonged stress is the main cause of cortisol imbalance. ER Productions Limited/Getty Images"Generally, a cortisol imbalance can come about due to extremely high stress or prolonged stress," Azzarro says. "While there are clinical diagnoses of high (Cushing syndrome) and low (Addison's disease), which require medical treatment, there is a large spectrum of 'out of range' cortisol levels or inappropriate cortisol patterns that can affect our day-to-day lives."Importantly, cortisol imbalances aren't always a simple matter of high or low. Having a cortisol imbalance can also mean your cortisol is too high at certain times of day or too low at other times, rather than a constant surplus or shortage.Regardless, there are some common culprits behind cortisol imbalances of every type.StressExcessive and prolonged stress is the primary cause of cortisol imbalance, whether high or low."High cortisol happens when the body perceives a stressor," says Dr. Tara Scott, a functional medicine doctor. "Your brain doesn't know if you are running from a bear or have a deadline at work."Excess cortisol increases your heart rate, makes you more alert by increasing norepinephrine (a neurotransmitter that can also make you feel anxious) and increases your blood sugar, Scott explains."Low cortisol occurs after prolonged stress, when your body sends a negative feedback signal to the brain saying, 'We have plenty of cortisol down here, don't stimulate more production!'" Scott says. So, your brain decreases adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, the hormone that stimulates the production of cortisol), and periods of low cortisol occur. Levels may fluctuate during the day or can be low all day long, Scott says.Exercise Too much exercise can throw off cortisol levels. PeopleImages/Getty ImagesExercise is considered eustress, or good stress, Azzaro says -- up to a point. "While there is an immediate rise in cortisol with exercise, the overall impact is to improve mood and lower stress. But if we overexercise, the stress becomes detrimental," she says.Azzaro recommends considering your overall life stress when planning an exercise regimen. If you aren't getting enough sleep and you're battling high stress at work, it may not be the best time for you to incorporate high-intensity exercise, Azzaro explains."If you are finding yourself getting sick more often or feeling depleted after a workout, rather than energized, you are probably working out too hard for your current cortisol levels," she says.NutritionThe foods we eat can help reduce cortisol or spike it, says Lauren Minchen, registered dietitian and nutrition consultant for Freshbit. "Processed foods that are rich in carbs and sugar may immediately help lower cortisol at first, but the blood sugar spike caused by these foods can actually, over time, increase stress, inflammation and cortisol levels in the body," Minchen says."Sugar is known for being one of the biggest cortisol triggers, and white refined flour foods produce a similar blood sugar spike and cortisol effect, so eating foods high in these ingredients regularly can lead to elevated cortisol over time."Alcohol and caffeine also impact your cortisol levels, and consuming too much of either or both over time impacts your cortisol levels. Alcohol increases inflammation, which places stress on the body, triggering cortisol production. Withdrawal from intoxication also stimulates more cortisol in the bloodstream, Minchen says."Depending on how much coffee one regularly drinks and how high their cortisol levels are day to day, increasing caffeine intake may have little to no effect on raising cortisol even more," Minchen says. "This effect may lead to actually feeling more tired with more caffeine, due to adrenal gland burnout. The adrenals can only work so hard before they are no longer able to keep increasing cortisol production."On the flip side, eating healthy whole-food carbs, such whole grains, fresh fruit, legumes and potatoes, can provide help with cortisol management. Also, consuming a balanced amount of protein, carbs and fats helps your body receive the energy it needs to keep blood sugar available and stable, which ultimately helps keep cortisol under control, Minchen says.How to fix high or low cortisol levels Resting is the best way to correct high or low cortisol. Adam Kuylenstierna/EyeEm/Getty Images"It's not super sexy," Azzaro says, "but your body is telling you to rest. The dirty work of correcting a cortisol imbalance is to identify what the root cause of the imbalance is and then correct that to bring cortisol back into balance."We discussed general causes of cortisol imbalance above, but dig deeper. Go past "diet" or "exercise" and ask yourself if your hormone levels are wacky because of:Your jobRelationship stress (significant other or family)Hustle culture/doing too muchLack of sleepToo much of one type of exercise (probably HIIT)Alcohol or caffeine consumptionLack of mindfulness or stress-management practicesAlso, it's important to identify your specific imbalance, says Inna Melamed, a pharmacist and functional medicine doctor. Ask your primary care provider if they run hormone tests or if they can get you a referral to an endocrine specialist. Or order an online cortisol test to take at home and send to a lab.This step is crucial because what works to correct a high cortisol level may not work to correct a low cortisol level. To really get to the root cause, "Testing ideally should be for both cortisol, DHEA, sex hormones and even melatonin just to see a better picture of one's adrenal health," Melamed says. Your symptoms might be the product of multiple hormone imbalances.Fixing a cortisol imbalance will take a lot of work and patience. First and foremost, get some rest. When you do feel rested, try making a list of all possible stressors in your life -- and be honest.Then, write down how you could go about reducing each stressor. Maybe you reduce your weekly workout routine from five sessions to four; maybe you have a serious talk with your partner about stress levels and home responsibilities; maybe you ask your boss to lighten your load at work for a while (or even better, take some time off completely).High or low cortisol levels can make life much harder than it should be. Battling constant stress, anxiety and fatigue is not easy, and as always, if you need mental health support, use the resources available to you.

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You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereIn Marvel Rivals, players have been diving into the gameplay, while choosing from an extensive roster of heroes, which is divided into three unique categories: Duelists, Vanguards, and Strategists. Throughout Season 0 and into Season 1, players demonstrated obvious preferences, with certain characters emerging as fan favorites owing to their unique skills and gameplay mechanics.The Duelists, known for their attacking talents, have seen a diverse range of heroes emerge, but one character, previously deemed underrated, has made an unexpected rise to the top. Storm, the X-Mens weather-controlling mutant, has proven to be a game-changer in Season 1s competitive matchups. Despite her initial poor selection rates in Season 0, a succession of buffs have changed her into the seasons highest victory rate hero.This meta-shift caught many players off guard, as Storms ability to control the battlefield with wind, rain, and lightning has proven to be quite powerful.Storm emerges as Duelist with highest win rate in Marvel Rivals Season 1 competitive modeAccording to stats gathered by the popular X page Rivals Assembled, Storm currently has the highest win rate in Marvel Rivals Season 1 across all ranks in competitive mode. Her win rate of 56.22% makes her a top choice for players and the only duelist to climb that status so rapidly while just weeks into the new season.Storm win stats in Marvel Rivals Season 1. Image credit Rivals Assembled.But her OP stats dont just stop there. Shes also the second-highest banned hero in competitive lobbies with a 45.66% ban rate, only behind Hulk which means clearly the competitive teams do not want her in any of their matches which can easily turn the tide for a team.However, her pick rate is clearly in the 17th position among all heroes with 14.01% proves shes not a popular choice when it comes to other Duelists such as Winter Soldier, Moon Knight, or even Scarlet Witch.Some players have offered some suggestions to tackle the Storm problem in competitive lobbies where one wrote, Letting her move that fast and freely during the ult was a mistake. Make it stationary and give it the ability to pull enemies to the center of the thunderstorm for massive damage.While players are tackling balancing issues with the latest nerfs and buffs in Marvel Rivals, fans on the other side are having a hard time trusting leaked heroes after rumors of fake characters being planted by devs have gone viral.Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Larry Ellison says AI will enable a vast surveillance system that can monitor citizens.Ellison, the billionaire cofounder of Oracle, shared his thoughts on AI during a recent meeting.Oracle, a software company, is aggressively pursuing AI projects.Walking down a suburban neighborhood street already feels like a Ring doorbell panopticon.But this is only the start of our surveillance dystopia, according to Larry Ellison, the billionaire cofounder of Oracle. He said AI will usher in a new era of surveillance that he gleefully said will ensure "citizens will be on their best behavior."Ellison made the comments as he spoke to investors earlier this week during an Oracle financial analysts meeting, where he shared his thoughts on the future of AI-powered surveillance tools.Ellison said AI would be used in the future to constantly watch and analyze vast surveillance systems, like security cameras, police body cameras, doorbell cameras, and vehicle dashboard cameras."We're going to have supervision," Ellison said. "Every police officer is going to be supervised at all times, and if there's a problem, AI will report that problem and report it to the appropriate person. Citizens will be on their best behavior because we are constantly recording and reporting everything that's going on."Ellison also expects AI drones to replace police cars in high-speed chases. "You just have a drone follow the car," Ellison said. "It's very simple in the age of autonomous drones." He did not say if those drones would broadcast the chases on network news.Ellison's company, Oracle, like almost every company these days, is aggressively pursuing opportunities in the AI industry. It already has several projects in the works, including one in partnership with Elon Musk's SpaceX.Ellison is the world's sixth-richest man with a net worth of $157 billion, according to Bloomberg. Ellison's children have made names for themselves in the film industry. His daughter Megan Ellison founded her production company Annapurna Pictures in 2011, and his son David Ellison is set to become CEO of Paramount after it completes its merger with Skydance Media.

Welcome back to Week in Review. This week were diving into OpenAIs newly released AI agent, called Operator. We also look at where TikTok stands after being resuscitated, whether its time to go back to Tumblr, and more! Lets get into it.OpenAI launched a research preview of Operator, a general-purpose AI agent that can independently perform certain actions like book travel accommodations, make restaurant reservations, and shop online. When users activate Operator, a small window will pop up showing a dedicated web browser that the agent uses to complete tasks, along with text explaining what the agent is doing. The feature will first roll out to U.S. users on ChatGPTs $200 per month Pro subscription plan.Elon Musk and Sam Altman are fighting on X about Stargate. The enormous infrastructure project would funnel as much as $500 billion from investors like SoftBank and Middle East AI fund MGX into data centers that support OpenAIs AI workloads. But Musk claims that Stargate doesnt have the money it says it does. Its important to note, though, that he is not a neutral party and happens to be embroiled in a lawsuit with OpenAI.Hackers found a way to remotely unlock, start, and track millions of Subarus, according to a report from Wired. Two security researchers discovered vulnerabilities in a Subaru web portal that allowed them to hijack car controls and track driver location data. Subaru has since fixed the vulnerabilities after the researchers reported their findings to the Japanese automaker.This is TechCrunchs Week in Review, where we recap the weeks biggest news. Want this delivered as a newsletter to your inbox every Saturday? Sign up here.NewsImage Credits:MrBeast/YouTubeUnpacking Samsung Unpacked: Samsungs annual Unpacked event was this week, featuring the reveal of its Galaxy S25 line, new features for Gemini Live, advancements in smart home technology, and more. We put together a handy recap of every reveal you might have missed. Read morePerplexity launches an AI agent: The AI-powered search engine startup launched Perplexity Assistant, which the company says uses reasoning, search, and apps to help with daily tasks. The assistant is available for Android devices and can take multi-app actions. Read moreWill MrBeast buy TikTok? YouTube celebrity MrBeast is in talks to join a number of bids for TikToks U.S. operations, though he hasnt chosen one exclusively yet. While MrBeast is certainly wealthy, it is his celebrity that has attracted multiple bidders. Read moreFitbit gets burned: Fitbit settled with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission over a long-standing defect that caused some wearers to sustain burns. Fitbit will pay a $12.25 million penalty for the issues surrounding the Ionic smartwatch. Read moreTime to dust off your Tumblr blog: Tumblr has finally launched Tumblr TV, a GIF discovery feature a decade in the making that has since evolved to also host short-form videos to compete with TikTok. I wonder if the fandom GIFs I made in 2012 are still there Read moreNow, thats what I call smol : A team at AI dev platform Hugging Face has released SmolVLM-256M and SmolVLM-500M, which theyre claiming to be the smallest AI models that can analyze images, short videos, and text. Read moreThats one way to get a charge: Carnegie Mellon researchers debuted Power-Over-Skin, whose technology allows for electrical currents to travel through human skin to power things like blood sugar monitors, pacemakers, and even consumer wearables. Read moreStripe axes 300 employees: The fintech giant is laying off 300 people, according to a leaked memo reported by Business Insider. However, Stripe plans to continue hiring in 2025 to grow its total headcount by 17%. Read moreMeta copycats CapCut: Meta announced a new video editing app called Edits shortly after ByteDances video editing app CapCut was removed from Apples App Store and the Google Play Store as part of the U.S. TikTok ban. Read moreJust in case TikTok goes dark for real: While TikTok is back online in the U.S., its future remains uncertain. Bookmarking backup service Dewey has a solution that saves your favorite TikToks and allows you to access them at any time even if TikTok disappears again. Read more

In BriefPosted:9:18 AM PST January 25, 2025Image Credits:Dimitrios Kambouris/Rock and Roll Hall of Fame / Getty ImagesPaul McCartney calls on UK government to protect artists from AILegendary musician Paul McCartney is warning against proposed changes to UK copyright law that would allow tech companies to freely train their models on online content unless the copyright holders actively opt out.In excerpts of an interview with the BBC, McCartney said the government needs to do more to protect musicians and other artists.Were the people, youre the government! he said. Youre supposed to protect us. Thats your job. So if youre putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or youre not going to have them.McCartney isnt necessarily opposed to the use of AI in creating music indeed, he took advantage of the technology last year to clean up an old John Lennon demo and create what McCartney called the last Beatles record. However, he suggested that AI (or at least AI with a loose approach to copyright) poses an economic threat to artists.You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they dont own it, and they dont have anything to do with it, and anyone who wants can just rip it off, McCartney said.Adding that the moneys going somewhere, he said the financial rewards for creating a hit song should go to the artist, not just some tech giant somewhere.Topics

Hi !Im trying to find ressources, tutorial, or explanation that touch the subject of stencil mask/buffer, , im planning to make a portal/rift with depth like something else is behind it, and after looking around i got told this was a technique that could work great, i sadly really cant understand the principle behind it or find a good tutorial that explain the principal?how to build that shader/effect ?I understand that a Plane i acting ask a transparent mask that then show only in that plane the thing masked to the rest of the scene, but aside that i really cant warp my head around how to actually make the whole system happen/function.Any help or good tutorial welcomed ! Sorry if that has been asked before !

Established by Congress in 1913, the Federal Reserve System is the nations quasi-public central bank. Its primary functions are to set monetary policy, supervise and regulate banking institutions, maintain a stable financial system, and provide financial services to the U.S. government, the public, and domestic and international financial institutions. Organized in 1914, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston is one of 12 district banks across the country and serves the six New England states. Construction for the Boston Reserves Renaissance revival bank was begun in 1920 and finished in 1922, but was outgrown in the second half of the 20th century. The original building would be landmarked and is now known as the Langham, a luxury hotel. Planning began on a newer office and a site was acquired on waterfront land cleared from Urban Renewal in the late 1960s. The current building was constructed between 1972 and1974, and occupied by the bank in 1977. Designed by the firm Hugh Stubbins & Associates, the complex occupies a full city block, with the 32-story tower and a 4-story section serving as the bulk of the mass. A 600-ton major steel structure called a truss marks the beginning of the towers offices above the breezeway. The exterior is natural anodized aluminum, which acts as a curtain wall and weatherproof facing. The aluminum spandrels or eye-brows shade the building interior from the sun in the summertime and allow more sunlight in the winter months. Love it or hate it, this building is extremely significant architecturally for its Modern design and materiality, and for its engineering. It has become a visual landmark and anchor into Bostons dense Downtown.

The Night Agent. Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland in episode 201 of The Night Agent. Cr. Siviroon ... [+] Srisuwan/Netflix 2024SIVIROON SRISUWAN/NETFLIXUpdated 01.25.25 See updates below.After a nearly two-year wait one of the best shows on Netflix just dropped its second season, and its great. If you enjoy high-octane action, nefarious terrorist plots and plenty of tense espionage, youre in for a treat.The Night Agent is a no-frills, unpretentious spy thriller that should please anyone who enjoys the genre. It combines a competent plot with a likeable cast of heroes and villains. The second season is out now on Netflix, but if you missed the first you should definitely start there.Season 1 of The Night Agent introduces us to the secretive Night Action program, a top-secret federal team of spies that investigate corruption within the United States government, finding moles and double-agents in the CIA and even the upper echelons of power.The story follows Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) who is given a job answering a telephone in a secret room in the White House. Hes basically the dispatcher for Night Action, but soon he finds himself caught up in a plot that stretches all the way to the Oval Office. He meets Rose (Luciane Buchanan) after he receives a distress call, and from here things go from bad to worse. The duo is faced with double-crosses, intense chases and plenty more as they try to stay alive and figure out whos pulling the strings.MORE FOR YOUSeason 2 adds a few new layers of complexity to the mix, juggling several subplots filled with intrigue, international espionage and even more dire stakes. Just like the first season, this is a series that isnt trying to be super sexy or super smart, but carries out its spycraft with workmanlike efficiency. Yes, its over-the-top a lot of the time, but its leads are down to earth and relatable and its entertaining from the get-go.If youre looking for a binge this weekend, and especially if youre a fan of shows like Slow Horses, Reacher, Killing Eve and Jack Ryan, do yourself a favor and give The Night Agent a shot.Update 1.25.25While The Night Agent is a fun spy show, its not the only one you should check out if youre a fan of the genre. Here are a few other spy thrillers that are must-see TV and should help scratch that particular itch.Slow Horses (Apple TV)Slow Horses is the only show on Apple TV that gives Severance a run for its money. This is the sharpest, most tightly-paced and written spy shows currently airing. Its also hilarious. Gary Oldman leads a tremendous cast as Jackson Lamb, the curmudgeonly, slovenly boss of Slough House, where MI5 sends its rejects. Every season so far has been absolutely brilliant, edge-of-your-seat television.The Night Manager (Hulu)This BBC limited series is based off the 1993 novel by John le Carr. It stars Tom Hiddleston as the night manager of a Cairo hotel who gets mixed up in a dangerous plot. Hugh Laurie plays a ruthless arms dealer. The cast is rounded out by Elizabeth Debicki, Olivia Colman, Tom Hollander and David Harewood. Like all le Carr espionage, this is a slow burn that builds up to a crackling finale.Homeland (Paramount+)One of the best spy thrillers of all time, Homeland is a must-watch entry in the genre, and with eight seasons this should give you plenty to watch. The first season is still one of the best seasons of TV Ive ever seen. Claire Danes plays bipolar CIA operative Carrie Mathison. She suspects that a recently released POW, Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) has been turned into a double-agent by his terrorist captors. Mandy Patinkin plays Carries boss, Saul Berenson. While the series has its low points, its still solid from start to finish.The Spy (Netflix)Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen is best known as Borat and it is a bit shocking to see him play such a serious role in The Spy, but he does a terrific job as Eli Cohen, a real-life Israeli Mossad spy who infiltrates the Syrian government in the lead-up to the Six Day War. Based on real events, this is a genuinely compelling spy drama and Cohen is terrific. Not necessarily the most thrilling of these spy thrillers, but still worth a watch.Patriot (Prime Video)Patriot is both wildly underrated and very, very quirky and weird. Michael Dorman plays a depressed spy / musician named John Tavner on a mission to stop Iran from going nuclear. Terry OQuinn plays Tavners father, also an intelligence officer, and Michael Chernus (who youll recognize as Ricken from Severance) plays his bumbling brother. The show is . . . genuinely very off-kilter. Its nothing at all like what I was expecting. Give it a shot.The Americans (Hulu)One of my favorite spy thrillers of all time, The Americans follows the dangerous lives of Phillip and Elizabeth Jenningsplayed by Matthew Rhys and Keri Russelltwo Soviet spies who live in America and pretend to be Americans. They have perfect accents. They have a family, and their kids dont even know the truth. As they lead their normal, suburban lives, they also carry out crazy espionage missions for the KGB. Its not only an incredibly tense series, its also a morally complex one, where you really struggle with your feelings about these characters. Noah Emmerich also stars as the Jennings neighbor who, it turns out, is an FBI officer working in counter-intelligence. Another series that starts off strong and gets all the way to the finish line intact.