Over 48 hours of user-created audio is uploaded to the internet every minute, a figure that is increasing exponentially. Maelstrom is a sound installation that draws on this material in real time, constructing shifting walls of sound from thousands of audio fragments. By organising these fragments based on their tonal attributes, they collectively form a vast instrument, whose properties are affected by global internet activity. A score composed specifically for this instrument voices an endless series of chord variations, dynamically generated by an array of live processes.
Maelstrom builds a tornado of tonal cluster chords around its spiral speaker system, engulfing the listener in the swirling mass of information that is now an integral part of our day-to-day lives.


text:
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">

<TITLE>
All Classes
</TITLE>

<META NAME="date" CONTENT="2013-02-11">

<LINK REL ="stylesheet" TYPE="text/css" HREF="stylesheet.css" TITLE="Style">

All Classes

Actor

ActorEnum

ActorPanel

ActorPanel.Action

AddCommand

Bar

Blob

BodySprite

Box

Circle

CollisionMask

CollisionMask.COLLISION_MASK

Command

CompositeDrawable

Convert

Drawable

Editor

Foo

Game

LayerPanel

Level

LevelLoader

LevelLoader.LevelParameter

LevelView

ParamPanel

PropertyChangeCommand

RemoveCommand

RockCave

SelectMoveCommand

SysPanel

WorldPanel

WorldPropertyChangeCommand

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Retail therapy, or shopping, is one of the few things in this world that can put a smile on anyone's face. It lets us look at pretty things, try them on, and actually take them home. If regular shopping excites us, how much more shopping when items are on sale? But don't let your inner shopaholic get the better of you. We're here to help you shop smarter and bag the items that would really spark joy for you!
Once you find out about a sale, make sure to go as soon as possible. Every day you wait results in your options and sizes diminishing until you're left with the discarded pieces. Don't go crying on the floor when you miss your size for that beautiful pair of black heels you need! A Sale also often has additional special offers for members and cardholders of the specific brand, that's an extra discount you wouldn't want to miss.
Easier said than done but setting a realistic budget could help you immensely. Resist the temptation to go over the budget you decided, chances are you won't really need the items you add to your list.
As much as possible, pay with cash. Knowing that you'll be paying via credit or debit card might make you feel like you're not overspending because you aren't forking over wads of cash but the bank statement the following month might shock you. Withdraw the right amount of money you've decided from your budget and use it wisely.
Plan before you go shopping. Wear a comfortable outfit such as a loose dress and slip-ons so you can easily try on the clothes you're eyeing. Make sure you also take care of your necessities first! You can eat beforehand at a nearby restaurant in the mall or grab a snack to munch on while walking around so you can shop in peace and avoid getting hungry easily.
Planning the items you want to buy alongside a solid budget plan will help in curbing impulse spending. Make a list of items you need and rank them according to priority. To maximize your budget, you can mix and match items within your spending limit such as purchasing a pair of pants and two or three blouses that go well with it.
Stick to the classics, the ones whose styles you are already familiar with and are comfortable wearing daily. For one person it could be trousers, so then buy a couple of pairs for everyday use. It could be plain shirts, office blouses and polos, or even underwear. These items, although they may look alike, can actually help ease your everyday decision of what to wear to work.
Friends are not just a distraction to you when it comes to shopping. Yes, you might goof around and make fun of yourselves but they can help you in choosing clothes that would fit you perfectly. Their opinions on the pieces you try on and model for at the fitting room definitely matter! And besides, it's more fun to shop with a group of friends rather than alone.
One way to maximize your budget and get the most out of the sale is to grab those Buy 1 Take 1 bundles. Look out for these offers and you just might get two of the products you like for the price of one! Now that's a steal.
Be a smart shopper and don't buy the first item you lay your hands on. Take the time to look around and compare prices and quality because you never know if you'll hit the gold mine and get the best discounted piece in the department.
You can always find discounted clothes on sale that match your taste but finding great quality bags and shoes are tricky. If you happen to encounter a bag with a style you like and a quality that could last you a few years, purchase it. It's an investment. Hunting for the best bags and shoes during a sale might be taxing but you're a winner in the long run.
Shopping during sale season doesn't necessarily mean burning a hole in your wallet. If you're smart enough, you can make the most out of it and come out with extra cash to spare.
Prices are dropping at SM City North EDSA! Score amazing finds at The Great Northern Sale on February 1-3. Enjoy up to 70% off on selected items!


text:
Just remember: While you don't have to track your calories during your eating window, you shouldn't let things turn into a free for all. "It's smarter to still eat moderately," Peterson says. Stick with mostly healthy, minimally processed foods like lean proteins, complex carbs, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. As for portions? Eat until you're satisfied, not stuffed.
"I drink low-fat, organic chocolate milk every day—usually after my morning workout," says Elisa Zied, RDN. " Not only do I love the taste, but I also know it delivers a valuable mix of calcium and vitamin D that I might not otherwise get enough of. The drink also provides high-quality protein that's filling and helps preserve lean muscle mass, which is something that tends to decline as we get older. Even though it has some added sugars, research suggests that low-fat chocolate milk is a great beverage to aid muscle recovery after a workout." Discover our own Eat This, Not That! Chocolate Milk Diet!
#5) It can level up your brain, including positively counteracting conditions like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and dementia. As explained here in this TEDx talk by Mark Mattson, Professor at Johns Hopkins University and Chief of the Laboratory of Neurosciences at the National Institute on Aging, fasting is grounded in serious research and more studies are coming out showing the benefits:
The ketogenic diet has been studied in at least 14 rodent animal models of seizures. It is protective in many of these models and has a different protection profile than any known anticonvulsant. Conversely, fenofibrate, not used clinically as an antiepileptic, exhibits experimental anticonvulsant properties in adult rats comparable to the ketogenic diet.[58] This, together with studies showing its efficacy in patients who have failed to achieve seizure control on half a dozen drugs, suggests a unique mechanism of action.[56]
More good news: Snacks are totally allowed (and I'm not just talking about carrot sticks). There are plenty of packaged options out there designed for keto fans. FATBAR is one of them. These snack bars have 200 calories, 16 grams of fat, and four grams of net carbs. They're also plant-based and are made with almond or cashew butter, cocoa butter, coconut, pea protein, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds.
The other thing that worked out in my favor was that it felt dang good. Granted, the first couple of hangry days were no fun, but on the other side of that, my energy levels skyrocketed, eating became an experience to be enjoyed rather than just food to be wolfed down, and everything seemed to have more flavor. Did strawberries always taste so sweet?
Understanding the potential adverse effects of intermittent fasting is limited by an inadequate number of rigorous clinical trials. One 2015 review of preliminary clinical studies found that short-term intermittent fasting may produce minor adverse effects, such as continuous feelings of weakness and hunger, headaches, fainting, or dehydration.[33] Long-term, periodic fasting may cause eating disorders or malnutrition, with increased susceptibility to infectious diseases.[33]
#5) It can level up your brain, including positively counteracting conditions like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and dementia. As explained here in this TEDx talk by Mark Mattson, Professor at Johns Hopkins University and Chief of the Laboratory of Neurosciences at the National Institute on Aging, fasting is grounded in serious research and more studies are coming out showing the benefits:
In the United States, intermittent fasting has become a trend among Silicon Valley companies.[24] According to NHS Choices as of 2012, people considering the 5:2 diet should first consult a physician, as fasting can sometimes be unsafe.[22][25] A news item in the Canadian Medical Association Journal expressed concern that promotional material for the diet showed people eating high-calorie food, such as hamburgers and chips, and that this could encourage binge eating since the implication was that "if you fast two days a week, you can devour as much junk as your gullet can swallow during the remaining five days".[26]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Dance Gavin Dance welcome back Tilian Pearson following sexual assault allegations
Dance Gavin Dance have welcomed Tilian Pearson back to the band after the vocalist departed this summer amid sexual assault allegations.
The first allegations against Pearson emerged in early June, when a woman claimed on Reddit that she'd been "preyed upon" by the singer across several interactions. Pearson responded to her allegations directly, writing in a statement of his own that "every sexual act was purely consensual".
Another Reddit user, however, claimed shortly afterwards that Pearson had forced her into sex. He subsequently stated that he felt their encounter to be "a consensual experience" and claimed he would "be entering an intensive therapy program to address this issue head on".
Numerous other allegations came to light on social media around that time, with Dance Gavin Dance sharing a statement on June 3 in which they confirmed Pearson would be "stepping away from the band".
Later, the group were removed from the Coheed And Cambria tour where they were due to appear as the support act.
Now, as Consequence reports, Dance Gavin Dance have posted a statement online to announce that Pearson has returned to the fold. They began the message by alluding to the death of their bassist, Tim Feerick, in April. "If the past year has taught us anything, it's that everyone handles grief differently, and Tilian is no exception," the post reads.
"When Tilian opened up to us about his substance abuse problem that had spiraled in recent months, we all agreed that he needed time to reset his life to avoid the tragic fate of so many artists before him."
DGD continued: "We are a resilient group who has always believed in redemption, and we have seen the hard work that Tilian has been doing to address and overcome an issue that has plagued him for years.
"That's why we are welcoming him back to the band. We are proud of his progress and we look forward to seeing all of you on the road next year."
A post shared by Dance Gavin Dance (@dancegavindance)
In a separate statement, Pearson said the loss of Feerick had "sent [him] down a self-destructive path" but he once again denied any wrongdoing in regards to sexual assault.
"I've spent the past few months in a rehab program for alcohol alongside an intensive series of therapy sessions to reassess my life and how I want to live it," the singer wrote.
"It became clear to me and my bandmates that this is what had to happen for me to continue with the group, and I will always appreciate their understanding, support, and the time that they have given me to get my life together."
He went on: "I hate the power that I have allowed alcohol to have over my life. I want to apologise to the band and all of the fans of Dance Gavin Dance and assure you that my mistakes are purely my own and should never be a reflection on the other members.
"It's also important for me to address something that has been twisted and misrepresented during my absence from the band. The work I have done on myself and my substance abuse issues has nothing to do with any kind of sexual misconduct. I have never had sex or any kind of intimate relationship without the consent of a partner."
Pearson concluded: "I hope this clears up the events of the last few months, and I'm excited to reunite with the band and see you all on the road in 2023."
Dance Gavin Dance released their 10th studio album 'Jackpot Juicer' in July, and toured the record over the summer. Former member Kurt Travis replaced Tilian Pearson for those shows.


text:
Devon Conway Wiki, Biography, Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Girlfriend, Family, Net Worth, Current Affairs
January 26, 2023 by Jitendra kumar
Devon Conway Wiki: Devon Conway was born in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, on July 8, 1991. This New Zealand left-handed batter, who went by the name Devon Philip Conway, had a very interesting career. He started out playing domestic cricket for South Africa. He moved to New Zealand in 2017 and began playing cricket for the national team there. Conway is an aggressive hitter who bats as the opening batter. Devon Conway was roped in by Chennai Super Lords in the uber sale of Goodbye IPL 2022 for one crore. Conway will have the opportunity to participate in the Indian Premier League for the first time in IPL 2022.
Devon Conway was born on July 8, 1991, and as of the year 2021, he is 30 years old. He was born in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa, to parents who are Afro-American. He has held that nationality ever since he was born. Devon Philip Conway was his birth name, as it was given to him by his parents when he was born. He is a cricketer with a lot of popularity and talent. He currently plays international soccer for New Zealand. Read the article below to learn everything you can about him.
Devon Conway Wiki
1 Devon Conway Wiki
2 Devon Conway Wiki Details
3 Devon Conway Biodata
3.1 Physical Appearance
4 Devon Conway's Family Details
5.1 Domestic Career
5.2 International Career
5.3 IPL Career
6 Devon Conway Favorite Things
7 Net Worth
8 Devon Conway Social Media Accounts
Devon Conway began playing cricket when he was just 12 years old. He began his cricket process while learning at St. Johns School, Gauteng. He participated in numerous matches for his college team and contributed to their victories. In 2009, he graduated from college and was selected to play cricket for the Gauteng team. He was successful for his home team while playing for Gauteng for a number of years.
Through his participation in numerous games, this cricketer has procured national glory. Devon Conway is currently hitched to his long-term sweetheart Kim Watson in South Africa On 23 July 2020, Devon got drawn in to his long-term sweetheart Kim Watson. She was very supportive of his career and they had been a perfect couple. They are now an excellent example of a happy married couple. To learn more about his personal details and career accomplishments, please scroll down to the article provided below.
The long-term partner of this famous cricketer is now married. Kim Watson is her name. South Africa was the location of their wedding. She became famous by marrying this well-known sports star, but little is known about her. They had now established a new life and relocated to New Zealand. She had provided him with greater career support. Despite being a star player, he led the team to victory during this IPL season. His pre-wedding ceremony was attended by every IPL teammate.
Devon Conway Wiki Details
Full Name Devon Philip Conway
Nickname Devon
School St John's College, Johannesburg
Profession Cricketer
Category Trending
Official Instagram id www.instagram.com/devonconway
Check Also: Muskan Jattana Wiki, Biography
Devon Conway Biodata
Spouse Kim Watson
Nationality South African, New Zealand
Net worth 1 million US Doller
Height In feet: 5'11"
In meters: 1.8 m
Weight In kilograms: 70 kg
In pounds: 154.3 lbs
Body measurements Chest: 40″
Waist: 29″
Biceps: 13″
Eye Color Dark brown
Devon Conway's Family Details
Spouse or Wife N/A
Father Denton Conway
Mother Sandy Conway
Siblings Candy Conway (Sister)
Charne Conway (Sister)
Devon's father Denton Conway, his mother Sandy Conway, and his two sisters Candy Conway, Charne Conway
Check ALSO:-Babar Azam Wiki, Biography, Age, Height
Domestic Career
South Africa was where Devon Conway began his domestic career. He was selected for the 2015 Africa T20 Cup squad and played for Gauteng, his home team. During the tournament, he played three matches and scored 53 runs. But he didn't get much opportunity to show what he could do, so he moved to New Zealand at 26 years old. In 2018, Devon Conway began playing for Wellington and was gotten in the crew for Plunket Safeguard season 2018-19. He scored a double century in his second match. During the total season, Conway played well and finished the season as the most elevated run-getter. He scored 659 runs across seven matches.
Devon Conway scored 327 runs in an innings against Canterbury in the Plunket Shield season 2019-20. He set a record for the most runs by a New Zealand player in a domestic match with 393 in the match. Devon Conway finished as the team's leading run-scorer for the second season in a row. He scored 543 runs during the season. Conway won the award for New Zealand's Best Men's Domestic Player in 2020.
Devon Conway was selected for the New Zealand squad for a T20I series against West Indies after the International Cricket Council (ICC) granted Conway permission to play for New Zealand in August 2020. Devon Conway made his international debut against West Indies in a Twenty20 International on November 27, 2020. He was included in the Test squad a few days later, but he was not allowed to play in the playing-11.
Devon Conway made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in March 2021. Conway smashed a century in the third match of his career, assisting his team in winning the match. On June 2, 2021, Devon Conway made his Test debut against England. He became the 12th batter to achieve the record and the second to score a debut century at Lords with his century. In the match, Conway notched his highest debut score in England with a double century.
IPL Career
During the Indian Premier League Auction in 2021, Devon Conway was not purchased. In 2021, his starting price was 50 lakhs. Devon Conway was roped in by Chennai Super Rulers in the uber closeout of Goodbye IPL 2022 for one crore. However, due to his marriage, he missed the first few games of the season.
Devon Conway Favorite Things
Favorite Color Blue
Favorite Food Not Known
Favorite Player Unknown
Favorite Actor Unknown
Favorite Actress Unknown
Favorite Game Cricket
Source of income Cricket
Car Collections It will be updated soon
Devon Conway Social Media Accounts
Website None
Facebook DevonConway
Twitter devonconway
Instagram @devonconway
Anushka Banerjee Wiki, Biography, Age, Height
Rajeshwari Gayakwad Wiki, Biography
Anushka Banerjee Wiki
Jhulan Goswami Wiki
Categories Trending, wiki
Ali Fazal Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Girlfriend, Family, Net Worth, Current Affairs
Taylor Swift Wiki, Biography, Age, Height, Weight, Husband, Boyfriend, Family, Net Worth, Current Affairs
GSEB SSC Result 2023 gseb.org Gujarat 10th Board Result Name wise Roll No wise & School wise


text:
Life of Faith
Sunday's Coming (free email)
Sunday's Coming Premium
Sunday Morning Matinee
Preachers on Preaching
Carol Howard Merritt
Elizabeth Palmer
CCblogs Network
Notes From the Global Church
On Art
The Christian Century
From the Editor/Publisher
Are we sure we're right?
When we fall in love with our own moral positions, we lose sight of how to stand up against evil.
by Peter W. Marty
Some rights reserved by Sarah G.
A similar pattern emerges every time there is a mass shooting. Media report on the number of dead and wounded. Then coverage moves on to explore the shooter's motives. The public weighs in as well, combining guesswork and curiosity as people puzzle over how such a dastardly act could happen. "Good people don't do this kind of thing," the reasoning goes. "Only bad ones do."
This thinking helps feed the narrative that God makes only two kinds of people. One kind is righteous and can be trusted to behave honorably regardless of what they have in their hands. The other is unrighteous and cannot be trusted for any good.
Peter W. Marty
@PeterMarty
Peter W. Marty is editor/publisher of the Century and senior pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa.
Apr 11, 2018 issue
The problem with this crude dichotomy is that it rests on a naive view of human nature. "If only it were all so simple," writes Alexander Solzhenitsyn. If only evil people committing evil deeds could be separated from the rest of us, we might be fine, he implies. "But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being."
Reinhold Niebuhr's assessment of human virtue was equally cautious. He regularly pointed out that evil is often done not by obviously evil people but by righteous people who forget the limits of their righteousness. The Bush Doctrine which encouraged the Iraq War has been roundly criticized for ignoring this very truth. Conventional wisdom of the day was essentially, "Hey, there's this Axis of Evil across the ocean; but we're the good guys. If any nation is exempt from fallen human nature, it's us."
Sorting through the thicket of self-righteousness is complicated. Even though the Bible informs us that we have no righteousness of our own, we retain a high degree of confidence in our moral rectitude. Self-criticism can be tough to engage. Admitting individual wrong is hard. We fall in love with our own moral positions.
When I contemplate the ministry of Jesus, it strikes me that he seems less interested in taking the right stand on different issues than in standing in the right place. Try reading the Gospels sometime with an eye toward where Jesus physically positions himself. It appears that he stands between the woman accused of adultery and the scribes and Pharisees ready to stone her. He threads his way through a crowd to stand at the bedside of Simon's mother-in-law. He goes into a kitchen in Cana to chat with the servers about a wine problem. He climbs out of a boat to meet a raging demoniac who frightens everybody nearby.
Fifty years ago last month, U.S. Army helicopter pilot Hugh Thompson positioned himself face-to-face with Lt. William Calley. Thompson had been flying over the Vietnamese village of Son My when he observed a massacre in progress. Hundreds of unarmed women and children were lying in a ditch, freshly slaughtered by Calley's platoon. Thompson put down his chopper between the advancing U.S. ground forces and the fleeing villagers. That's where he jumped out to angrily confront Calley about his war crimes.
Doing the right thing at the right time requires that we position ourselves in the right place. High school students tired of gun violence understand this when they stand at legislators' doors. All of us can pursue the moral courage to stand in the right place, which may be more important than any certainty over taking the right stand.
A version of this article appears in the print edition under the title "Are we sure we're right?"
CommentShare Tweet
You've reached your article limit.
Get Century articles in your inbox. SIGN UP
When we advertise our righteousness, it becomes self-righteousness
What we can learn from the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector
Imprinted on idols
Like goslings, we tend to attach ourselves to the wrong things—like political parties.
How Christian Trump voters chose fear over compassion
Fear is a terrific uniter, but it's a strange way to carve out a Christian life.
Words we can't take back
How do we retool after we speak irreverently or caustically?
Churches obsessed with their right to reopen are missing the point
Genuine Christian faith is larger than the US Constitution.
Sunday Morning Matinee podcast
Lectionary articles
Sunday's Coming email
Magazine issue archives
© 2021 The Christian Century. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Contact Us


What are you most proud of? I'm happy that it came out tasting so good! I'm not known for my cooking skills, rather I'm better known in my household for the lack of cooking skills. But to quote my son, "This is the best pizza I ever had!" What advice would you give someone starting this project? If you're trying to do this with a young child, it takes lots of time, so prepare the dough ahead of time and just do the making/baking part.
Congratulations! Pizza looks delicious. I've been making my own for the last year and you're son is right "It is the best pizza ever" Good idea about preparing the crust ahead of time. Keep it up.
Thanks! We made another one the weekend after and will continue making more of these... even my picky hubby loved it!


text:
Demonetisation: SC refuses to grant interim relief, refers cases to constitution bench
New Delhi, Dec. 16 -- The Supreme Court on Friday refused to grant any interim relief in a batch of cases challenging the government's demonetisation scheme and referred them to a constitution bench. "We hope that the government is sensitive and responsible in dealing with the issue and we leave it to their best judgement," said a bench comprising chief justice T.S. Thakur and justices D.Y. Chandrachud and A.M. Khanwilkar. Senior counsels P. Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal appearing for the petitioners had sought extending the time limit to use the scrapped currency in certain categories and allowing district cooperative banks to handle banned Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes. "We are not inclined to grant interim relief and interfere with the government's fiscal policy," the court said. The bench also stayed proceedings in various high courts across the country challenging the demonetisation scheme and transferred them to the apex court. Around 9 questions were framed by the apex court for consideration by a constitution bench that is likely to hear the case in January. A constitution bench consists of 5 or more judges to hear cases that require interpretation of the constitution. Published by HT Syndication with permission from MINT.
Next Article India needs seamless integration of public transport: Suresh PrabhuThursday, April 06, 2017
GST bill tabled in Tamil Nadu assembly amid ruckus Wednesday, June 21, 2017
After farm loan waiver, UP govt looks at waiving loans for physically challenged Wednesday, June 21, 2017


Superstar footballer, Lionel Messi who isn't on international duty and not among the Argentina squad to face Guatemala and Colombia, shared these photos of himself taking his two sons, Thiago and Mateo, to school. See more photos below. The post Lionel Messi shares photos of himself taking his sons to school appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.


text:
Muscle Spasms in Athletes Could Be the Yips
HomeConditionsnervous system
By Patricia, Facty Staff
Dystonia is a collective term used to describe involuntary body movements, tremors, and muscle contractions that lead to reduced motor skills. While some may experience these symptoms throughout their entire body, specific manifestations of the disease can affect only the hands and arms. "The yips" is a colloquial term used in athletics to describe the sudden inability to perform that seems to come out of nowhere. For a long time, most people believed the issue was purely psychological.
1. About the Yips
The term "yips" originated in the 1920s. It was used to describe a jerky motion of unknown origin, presumably born from weak nerves. In 1973, Steve Blass, star pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, suddenly lost his ability to throw accurately, and his name became synonymous with pitchers losing fine motor skills. In golf, the yips usually manifests as involuntary wrist spasms during putting, and in cricket, bowlers lose their accuracy and form, much like pitchers. Doctors suggest that people with elevated stress, anxiety, and perfectionist tendencies are more at risk of developing the condition.
woraput / Getty Images


The evening will open with a welcome reception at 5:30 pm with cocktails and hors d'hoeuvres and local entertainment.
The award presentations will begin at 7:00 pm and the Chair of the College Board of Directors will act as evening host. Presentations will be showcased in three segments allowing more networking time for our attendees and setting and clearing the dinner courses. We will invite College champions and past award recipients attending the evening to join us on stage and introduce the various awards and sponsors.
To close out the evening at 9:00 pm, we are pleased to reinstate the post dinner dessert reception to allow additional networking time for our attendees. We are excited to announce we've brought on HIROC as our post-reception sponsor!
Don't miss out on what's sure to be a magnificent and enchanting evening!
For more information about the Honouring Health Leadership Event, please contact Brianna Lavoy at blavoy@cchl-ccls.ca.
Click here for the complete list of the 2019 National Award Program recipients.


text:
Int. J. Morphol., 30(1):61-63, 2012.
Understanding the Processus Vaginalis! The Abdomino Scrotal Hydrocoele
Entendiendo el Proceso Vaginal! El Hidrocele Abdomino-Escrotal
Arcot Rekha & A. Ravi
Sri Ramachandra Medical College and reserach institute, Chennai-600116, India
SUMMARY: A knowledge of the embryology and descent of the testes is essential for all clinicians. Congenital hydrocoele, though an embryologic anomaly can present in adulthood. A abdomino scrotal hydrocole must be considered when a mass in the lower abdomen co exists with a scrotal hydrocoele.
KEY WORDS: Embryologic anomaly; Processus vaginalis; Patent processus vaginalis; Abdomino scrotal hydrocoele.
RESUMEN: El conocimiento de la embriología y el descenso de los testículos es esencial para todos los clínicos. El hidrocele congénito, aunque es una anomalía embriológica se puede presentar en la edad adulta. Un hidrocele abdomino-escrotal debe ser considerado cuando una masa en la parte inferior del abdomen co existe con un hidrocele testicular.
PALABRAS CLAVE: Anomalía embriológica; Proceso vaginal; Proceso vaginal latente; Hidrocele abdomino escrotal.
The testes develop from the genital ridge in the lumbar region in the seventh week of intra uterine life. They begin their descent towards the scrotum (in the twenty eighth week of intra uterine life), and a fold of peritoneum, the processus vaginalis (PV) paves the way with the gubernaculum as the rudder. Failure of obliteration of the PV, gives rise to the variants of the congenital hydrocoele
A 30-year-old man sought medical attention with complaints of a fullness in the lower abdomen associated with discomfort. Examination revealed a rounded mass in the right lower abdomen 4¥4cm in size, and the lower border was not well appreciated. The patient also had a swelling in the right scrotum that was soft cystic, fluctuant and trans illuminant (Fig. 1) (a vaginal hydrocoele). There was no obvious cross fluctuation between the two. Baseline laboratory values were normal and ultra sound showed a cystic mass in the right lower abdomen and the scrotal ultrasound showed a hydrocoele. Computerized tomography (CT) showed a cystic mass in the region of the superficial ring in close proximity to the spermatic cord (Fig. 2). Traction on the right testis showed some mobility of the mass.
Fig. 1. A vaginal hydrocoele in the patient.
Fig. 2. CT showed a cystic mass in the region of the
superficial ring in close proximity to the spermatic cord.
At surgery, the abdominal mass was found to be arising from the spermatic cord (an encysted hydrocoele), which on very careful dissection showed a fine channel extending inferiorly to the vaginal hydrocoele (Fig. 3). The abdomino scrotal hydrocele was excised and the PV was ligated.
Fig. 3. Surgery of the abdominal
mass arising from the spermatic cord.
A patent processus vaginalis (PPV) has been estimated to be present in 80-95% of all male newborns, declining to 60% at one year of age, 40% at two years, and 15-37% thereafter. It represents a natural communication between the peritoneum and scrotum through which bowel or peritoneal fluid may descend. The testes develop from the genital ridge and make their way aided by the PV into the scrotum (Benjamin, 2002). During the process of normal testicular descent, the role of numerous mechanical components has been hypothesized, including a normal gubernaculum, epididymis, intra-abdominal pressure, and the innervation of the gubernaculum by the genitofemoral nerve (Belman, 2001). The PV develops within the gubernacular mesenchyma that invades and migrates into the scrotum, and provides a potential space into which the testis descends. The regression of gubernaculum testis and the obliteration of the PV normally occur soon after the testicular descent has been completed (Cozzi et al., 2008). Therefore, both events may occur in response to the same stimuli. This route will also allow the passage of other intraperitoneal fluid including blood, as seen occasionally following splenic rupture, and peritoneal dialysis fluid in renal patients. The PV obliterates and in the normal adult is a layer over the testis. Collection of fluid between the layers of the tunica vaginalis is called a vaginal hydrocoele.
The other variant of the PPV is a congenital hydrocoele where the communication extends through the deep inguinal ring into the peritoneum. The patient gives a history of the mass that is not apparent on waking up, but appears progressively through the day. A cough impulse is present, but it is not possible to reduce the swelling due to "the inverted ink bottle effect".
The infantile variant is where the PV extends up to the deep ring but is not in communication with the peritoneum. In the encysted hydrocoele of the cord a portion of the PV, somewhere in the course, traps and retains the fluid. Traction test is typical of this swelling.
The abdomino scrotal hydrocoele is the variant where a fine channel connects the abdominal and the scrotal component. Cross fluctuation is often elicited except when fibrosis obliterates the channel partially (Saharia et al., 1979; Chang et al., 2010; Hisamatsu et al., 2010).
The congenital hydrocoele differs from the hernia in that in the latter, bowel loops or omentum attempt to descend through the defect, while in the former it is only peritoneal fluid. Long standing and large hydrocoeles may be associated with testicular atrophy. Elder also showed that 64% of epididymides were abnormal when the PV was completely patent, while only 11% were abnormal when the PV was incompletely patent in boys with hydrocele/hernia or undescended testis (Elder, 1992).
For diagnosis and treatment, a careful history and a methodical clinical examination clinch the diagnosis. CT and sonography are aids in diagnosis (Karmazyn, 2010). Diagnostic laparoscopy is useful in identifying asymptomatic patent processus vaginalis. Treatment consists of surgical excision and ligation, though there are some reports of spontaneous obliteration (Toki et al., 2003). An inguinal approach to ligate the processus vaginalis is the mainstay in treatment (Ho et al., 2010). Laparoscopic ligation is making rapid strides towards becoming the gold standard (Wilson et al., 2008).
Belman, A. B. Abdominoscrotal hydrocele in infancy: a review and presentation of the scrotal approach for correction. J. Urol., 165(1):225-7, 2001. [ Links ]
Benjamin, K. Scrotal and inguinal masses in the newborn period. Adv. Neonatal Care, 2(3):140-8, 2002. [ Links ]
Cozzi, D. A.; Mele, E.; Ceccanti, S.; Pepino, D.; d'Ambrosio, G. & Cozzi, F. Infantile abdominoscrotal hydrocele: a not so benign condition. J. Urol., 180(6):2611-5, 2008. [ Links ]
Chang, Y. T.; Lee, J. Y.; Wang, J. Y.; Chiou, C. S. & Chang, C. C. Hydrocele of the spermatic cord in infants and children: its particular characteristics. Urology, 76(1):82-6, 2010 [ Links ]
Elder, J. S. Epididymal anomalies associated with hydrocele/hernia and cryptorchidism: implications regarding testicular descent. J. Urol., 148(2 Pt 2):624-6, 1992. [ Links ]
Hisamatsu, E.; Takagi, S.; Nomi, M. & Sugita, Y. A case of bilateral abdominoscrotal hydroceles without communication with the peritoneum. Indian J. Urol., 26(1):129-30, 2010. [ Links ]
Ho, C. H.; Yang, S. S. & Tsai, Y. C. Minilaparoscopic high-ligation with the processus vaginalis undissected and left in situ is a safe, effective, and durable treatment for pediatric hydrocele. Urology, 76(1):134-7, 2010. [ Links ]
Karmazyn, B. Scrotal Ultrasound. Ultrasound Clinics, 5(1):61-74, 2010. [ Links ]
Saharia, P. C.; Bronsther, B. & Abrams, M. W. Abdominoscrotal hydrocele. Case presentation and review of the literature. J. Pediatr. Surg., 14(6):713-4, 1979. [ Links ]
Toki, A.;Watanabe, Y.; Sasaki, K.; Tani, M.; Ogura, K. & Wang, Z. Q. Adopt a wait-and-see attitude for patent processus vaginalis in neonates. J. Pediatr. Surg., 38(9):1371-3, 2003. [ Links ]
Wilson, J. M.; Aaronson, D. S.; Schrader, R. & Baskin, L. S. Hydrocele in the pediatric patient: inguinal or scrotal approach? J. Urol., 180(4 Suppl):1724-8, 2008. [ Links ]
Prof. Arcot Rekha
Prof. of Surgery
Sri Ramachandra Medical College
and Reserach Institute,
Chennai-600116
Email: rekha_a@yahoo.com


Stalking in the second degree.
5. Commits the crime of stalking in the third degree, as defined in subdivision three of section 120.50 of this article, against ten or more persons, in ten or more separate transactions, for which the actor has not been previously convicted.
Have you been charged with Stalking in the Second Degree in NYC?


I recently have been bothered a program known as Universa. The file seems to create exe's of the name win####.temp.exe which launch two popups known as ULWindowURL and ULWindowSeek. I've been trying everything to get rid of the stupid thing yet nothing has worked so far. I've run adaware, spy-bot, and hijack this. All are saying I'm clean, which unfortunately isn't the case. Google has only turned up others facing the same problems.
I opened up the offending programs from the temp folder with a hex editor. The program calls the standard window dlls and pretty much standard functions (such as GetProcAddress). The only two ones that seem to be different than just a standard windows app are the last two: OleCreate and SetTimer. What the two are being used for is pretty obvious from the description of its behavior.
I'd like to monitor the folder where these files are being installed (Windows\Temp) and record what file is creating the exe's found in this folder. Whether it be by a program that is already created or a custom job, I'd like to find out if this is possible. I know of FileSystemWatcher allows one to monitor a directory for changes. However, I have been unable to find a more powerful version which allows one to know which file/program/process made the change to the directory. Something like this, if practicle, would allow me to track down the source of my pesky problem and eliminate it. Any suggestions as to how I could go about doing this?
You should get a good idea of the persistent behaviour of whatever is running on your system.
This can give detailed info on each process, like what handles it has. This can guide you in using the other two programs.
Thanks Salem. Helpful as always (I guess some things never change).
Note: This manual removal process is difficult and you run the risk of destroying your computer. We recommend that you use the automatic removal process.
Maybe they can help you out.


It is an extremely busy time of year in my garden, and I imagine in your own lawn and garden as well. While a lot of the cool weather vegetables are nearing the end of their time in the garden for now, a lot us are looking forward to the warm-weather vegetables. Vegetables such as tomatoes, okra, beans, peppers and eggplant come to mind. Most vegetable gardeners spend the most time on tomatoes. We spend the most time staking them, harvesting them, preserving them, and picking out which cultivar we want to purchase and plant. I make the decision on which ones to grow by past experience. There are a number of tomatoes that provide consistent harvests year after year. There are also a few that may lack in the number of fruit produced, but I like the taste so much that it does not matter.
Decisions, decisions, decisions! The possibilities are almost endless when it comes to tomatoes. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of choices, especially if you start your own from seed. Poring over the seed catalogs can be very overwhelming. Probably the biggest debate right now is whether to choose a hybrid or an heirloom tomato. Many questions have been asked about the advantages / disadvantages of the two. It may be easiest to start with what exactly hybrid and heirloom mean.
The term heirloom tomato has several definitions. In the commercial industry, it may refer to tomato cultivars (open-pollinated, we will get to that) introduced before 1940 or tomato cultivars that have been around for more than 50 years. And some will debate 50 years, calling an heirloom a tomato that has been around for 100 years. In a loose definition of the term, heirloom tomatoes refer to tomato cultivars that have been passed down through generations by saving the seed from the plant and replanting the next year. Often these heirlooms take on the name of the area /family where the seeds came from. For example, Cherokee Purple. This is an heirloom tomato most of us are familiar with. The seeds from this tomato were shared from a gentleman in Tennessee. The seeds had been shared with his family generations prior from Cherokee Indians in the area.
Heirloom tomatoes are open pollinated. Open pollinated tomatoes are plants that will keep their genetic traits if the seed are saved and planted again. Open pollinated plants can be self-pollinating or cross-pollinating. Tomatoes, for the most part, are self-pollinating (as are most beans and lettuce). This simply means the flower pollinates itself (with a little help from the wind and the buzzing of insects that shake the flower). The seeds saved from tomatoes grown this year can be replanted next year to get the same type plant. There will always be some genetic diversity when saving heirloom, open pollinated seeds. That is how nature works. For the most part, though, the genetic characteristics of the plant will remain. Other plants are cross-pollinating. The flower does not pollinate itself, but depends on others (insects, wind, even bats!) to transfer pollen from one flower to another. One example is squash. To save the seed from an heirloom squash, the plant should not be planted with other squash type vegetables where cross-pollination may occur. Have you ever noticed a strange squash plant growing out of your compost pile? This was probably the result of a squash fruit that was thrown in the pile. The seeds germinated, but had cross-pollinated with another squash-type plant the year before.
I think there are a lot of heirloom tomatoes that are quite tasty. Black Krim is one I really like. There are a few strains of Brandywine that I also grow year after year. Aunt Gertie's Gold is another one, a large golden beef steak type. The great thing about heirlooms are the wonderful colors, the odd shaped leaves and the taste of some are unsurpassed in my opinion. Unfortunately, they also have their downfalls. The seeds were saved from year to year because of their taste. This mean most heirlooms have little to no disease resistance. Soil diseases may wipe them out quite quickly. They definitely take extra care in the garden. Fruit production is not near the production of some of the hybrid tomatoes. In fact, a lot of heirlooms take a long time to produce that first fruit. I have waited until fall many times to pick heirloom tomatoes that were planted in the spring. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Very tasty. This is a general statement. Some heirlooms may produce all summer long. Some may never succumb to disease pressures. For the most part, they do not produce as much and incur more diseases than hybrid tomato plants.
Now on to hybrid. Hybrid plants are not genetically modified organisms (GMO). That is a common misconception. A hybrid tomato plant is a tomato plant that is the cross of two open pollinated tomato plants by controlled pollination. Controlled pollination means the pollination was done by hand. A hybrid tomato plant has two parent tomato plants. The parents were chosen by their desirable traits such as disease resistance, heat tolerance, fruit color, shipping ability, and even height. The pollen from one is used to pollinate the other. The seed is taken from the fruit. The resulting plant from the seed is then a hybrid or F1 plant. By controlling the pollination, the plants from the seed will be the same. For example, a pack of Celebrity (F1 hybrid) seeds will grow into Celebrity tomato plants all the same.
Hybrid tomato plants also have a space, a big space, in my garden. They are bred for a reason. Many exhibit resistance to a lot of plant diseases such as Big Beef and Celebrity. The Talladega tomato is resistant to two viruses along with other tomato diseases. The list of hybrid tomato plants and their attributes are long. After you grow different varieties for a few years, you will have your favorites.
If you routinely save your seed from heirloom plants to plant the following year, do not count on doing the same with hybrids. Remember, hybrid tomatoes are the result of two separate parent plants. The seed saved from the fruit of the hybrid (F1) tomato plant will not produce the same plant. The seed may produce plants more like the parents. You really have no idea what traits the new plants will have.
When choosing tomatoes for your own garden, you may want to give heirloom and hybrid tomatoes both a chance. I have found a place for both in my own garden.


Royal Guard is a pinball machine from 1968, manufactured by D. Gottlieb & Co.
This game has received 7 approved Pinsider ratings and currently has a rating of 7.611 out of 10.
This game ranks #135 in the Pinside EM Top 100.
39 Pinsiders have this game in their collections.
IT'S ALIVE!, (take 2)- 1968 Gottlieb Royal Guard - continuing saga.


The final round of the 2013 NHL Playoffs are set to begin tomorrow and the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks are the final two teams standing and will face off for this year's title. It is safe to say the two teams that will be battling it out for the Stanley Cup deserve to be here and it is no fluke they've made it this far.
Lets take a look at the path both teams took to get to this point.
The Bruins were almost eliminated in the first round by the Toronto Maple Leafs who forced a game 7 after trailing in the series 1-3. The Leafs even went up 4-1 during game 7 before allowing 3 unanswered goals to force overtime. Then the dagger through the heart came, when Patrice Bergeron, who tied the game late to force overtime, finished the comeback to stop the comeback in the extra frame.
The Bruins made easy work of the New York Rangers in the second round jumping out to a 3-0 series lead and closed out the series in 5-games after a speed bump in game 4. The third round came just as easy for the Bruins, when they swept the star studded Penguins. The Bruins only allowed the Pens to score two goals, you read that right, two goals, during their 4-game series, a task well deserving of the Eastern Conference Championship.
Out west, the Blackhawks' run through the regular season continued into their post season. They made easy work of the Minnesota Wild in the first round, winning the series 4-1 and winning every game by a margin of at least 3 goals.
Much like the Bruins opening round matchup against the Leafs, the Blackhawks had trouble taking care of the Detroit Red Wings in the second round. The Blackhawks initially went down 1-3 in the series and had to win 3 straight games, 1 of those in Detroit, before advancing to the Conference Final.
Chicago then had to knock off the defending Stanley Cup Champions before being able to advance to the fourth and final round, a task they took care of in 5 games. The Hawks proved to be the only team to defeat the Kings at Staples Center during the playoffs, and eliminated the Kings in Chicago in a thrilling double overtime game 5 win.
Needless to say the Bruins and Blackhawks have had their moments where it was not a sure thing they would make it to the Final, or even make it out of the opening rounds for that matter. But, several things are apparent for both teams and have proven key for their run for the Cup.
Both teams have rode the play of stellar goaltending. Bruins goaltender, Tukka Rask, and Chicago's Corey Crawford have been the playoffs' top performers and have looked unbeatable at points of the post season. Chicago and Boston have gotten the support from depth players like David Krejci and Bryan Bickell, along with their stars like Patrick Kane and Brad Marchand.
One thing is certain, which ever team is fortunate enough to get their names engraved upon the best trophy in sports they will have earned it.
Buckle up, it's going to be a hell of a series.
Using the "create your replica handbags" online configurator, hermes replica handbags clients can easily customize their louis vuitton handbags by choosing which words or phrases they want included on the stylish 3D printed purses. The user friendly online configurator, which generates the digital image of the prada replica handbags as you use it, also allows for clients to visualize the final product before placing their order.
I wish I could get there. This might be a good opportunity to spend some great time.


Payday Loans & Personal Loans in Fulton, MO.
The population of Fulton, MO in 2019 counting up to 13,103 people. More than 15% of employed adults in Missouri apply at least onse a year for a Payday Loans from $100 to $1,000. And as the time shows, more than 983 people, even with bad FICO credit score get approved for small-dollar loan.
Personal installment loans are used by more than 47% of occupied population. It's obout 3,079 people.
Personal Loans such as mortgages, credit cards, auto loans and rents are borrowed by 83% of adult (from 18 to 65 years of age) residents of the state - it's 5,438 lending service users.
Short-term Payday Loans up to $1,000 and long-term Personal Loans up to $15,000 in Fulton, Missouri.


A computer is a combination of hardware and software.
Software provides the invisible instructions that control the hardware and make it perform specific asks. Knowing computer hardware isn't essential to learning a programming language, but it can help you better understand the effects that a program's instructions have on the computer and its components.


The Pixies' "Doolittle" is to be thirty years old this month, it was the second studio album by American alternative rock band Pixies, released in April 1989 on 4AD Records. The album's offbeat and dark subject material, featuring references to surrealism, Biblical violence, torture and death, contrasts with the clean production sound achieved by the newly hired producer Gil Norton. Doolittle was the Pixies' first international release.
Pixies released two singles from "Doolittle", "Here Comes Your Man" and "Monkey Gone to Heaven", both of which were chart successes. "Debaser" the opener from that classic album, "Debaser" is a lot of people's favourite Pixies song. When they play it live, it's a guaranteed catalyst for chaos on the floor. Played live or on record, it's a song that illustrates the alchemy that the Pixies are capable of at their peak. If you strip it down to its base elements, there's really nothing to it , Black Francis' nonsense lyrics – nominally inspired by the Buñuel/Dali surrealist film Un Chien Andalou, but essentially meaningless, though well-suited to being barked out by the frontman, Along with Joey Santiago's four-chord riff and simple finger-picked accents and Kim Deal's characteristic bassline for beginners.
Of course when it all comes together, driven by one of David Lovering's best performances on drums and executed with passion and panache and more enthusiasm than a band that's starting to fall apart should be able to muster, it's a majestic, superlative, enduring, adrenalized, alt-rock classic. augmented by Kim's backing vocals. Joey doesn't have to shred when he's making such an uplifting, joyous noise and that bassline – well, that's trademark Pixies.
This album "Doolittle" still sounds sensational three decades on – from Debaser through to Gouge Away. The Pixies, at their best, aren't so much a band as a group of alchemists.
This new edition will also feature an HD transfer of the original stereo mix by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. The album was reissued back in 2014 for its 25th anniversary. The album has been cited as inspirational by many alternative artists, while numerous music publications have ranked it as one of the most influential albums ever. A 2003 poll of NME writers ranked Doolittle as the second-greatest album of all time.
This blu-ray audio of Doolittle was released on 9th December and is on Amazon in the USA and is available to pre-order from the 4AD Records store.


text:
Home Breaking The doctor told me how the psychiatric evaluation could affect verdict Ephraim
The doctor told me how the psychiatric evaluation could affect verdict Ephraim
the Psychiatrist Eugene Fomin commented on the likely direction of the actor Mikhail Yefremov staged a "drunk" road accident in Central Moscow, on psychological and psychiatric examination.
According to him, the disorder of Ephraim is quite obvious — alcoholism. The expert urged to consider not only the scandalous episodes involving Ephraim, described in the media. "In the media described only a few episodes, in fact, it is obvious that there were many more, — the expert believes.
Fomin in an interview with "Evening Moscow" said that the results of psychological-psychiatric examination are sent to the court and taken into account in sentencing. He expressed the opinion that "in sentencing the special role of the examination will not play". The doctor acknowledged that "there are situations when a person may be justified by the disease." "But this is not the case," — said Fomin.
He said that in the case of alcoholism, "the patient persists the critic, he is aware of the disease and gives itself in it the report".
Earlier today it became known that Ephraim can refer to psychological-psychiatric examination. Also in his criminal case can conduct a technical examination of his car.
a Terrible accident occurred on the evening of 8 June, when actor went on the Garden ring in Moscow into the oncoming lane and collided with a van. The driver of the van died in hospital.
Yefremov is currently under house arrest.
Previous articleApproved the Energy strategy of Russia until 2035
Next articleTurkmen state employees for almost a day spent on the road to greet the President


text:
Pincer movement: Why ending whaling in Iceland will be a team effort
By Vanessa Williams-Grey | 08/02/2014
I'm just back from a short trip to monitor whaling activities in Iceland. In my last blog, I described feelings of anger and sorrow as we watched healthy, endangered fin whales landed and butchered – almost certainly to join other hapless members of their species in industrial freezers in Japan. As I write, at least 58 fin whales have already died this season. Minke whales, too – 19 at the last count – are being killed, largely to feed tourists, many of whom are seemingly unaware that the locals themselves almost never touch the stuff. Too many whales killed, cruelly and needlessly.
If logic and economics were the only determinants, whaling would have ended a long time ago. However, there is neither logic nor profit behind the hunts: the minke whalers constantly flirt with bankruptcy whilst fin whaling endures thanks only to subsidies from a single stubborn yet wealthy man.
So what can be done?
My feeling is that, just as an orchestra cannot function without its string or woodwind section, or a football team without its goalkeeper or defenders, so the campaign against whaling in Iceland must be a team effort if it is to have any chance of success. It is up to all of us who care passionately about whales and want to stop the scourge of whaling to work together to attack the problem from several angles simultaneously. It is this pincer movement which will ultimately have the best chance of success.
Whilst in Iceland, we talked to politicians, journalists, the whale watch community, tourists and local people. Back home, we speak regularly to governments, IWC (International Whaling Commission) commissioners, as well as to our supporters and the general public. We also work closely with other like-minded animal welfare and conservation organisations. It is clear that everyone has a role to play, both domestically and internationally and, rather like a jigsaw puzzle or a spider's web, each individual action both links into, and supports, other actions in the growing push against whaling.
Here are some of the things WDC and our allies are doing to fight whaling in Iceland:
We're congratulating politicians and journalists who ask probing questions about the whaling within Iceland. Questions were recently asked in the Althingi (Icelandic parliament) regarding welfare issues, including secrecy surrounding 'time to death' rates, and monitoring and surveillance of the hunts, and opposition MPs have demanded an economic review of whaling (due to be published later this year). One political commentator shared with us his view that any support for whaling from certain sectors of the population on the basis of some perceived 'traditional, romantic attachment to the sea' would soon shift if there was a risk that Iceland might become isolated on the world stage due to its whaling.
We're working to support the local whale watch community and contest the whalers' argument that the two industries can happily co-exist: We've long supported the Icelandic whale watch industry's efforts to promote the responsible viewing of live whales. This also means countering the whalers' assertion that the two industries can happily co-exist. This latter point was brought home forcibly to us during our visit when we spoke to guides working aboard a whale watch vessel operating in Faxafloi Bay.
They told us that, the day before our arrival, some passengers had become distressed at the spectacle of a fin whaling vessel passing with two dead whales strapped to the side, heading for the whaling station. The guides also shared their impression that local minke whales, a species renowned for their friendly curiosity, were less willing to approach vessels due to minke whaling activities just outside the 'no whaling zone' in the bay.
Several people have speculated that this could be a learned survival mechanism – after all whales are intelligent animals and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that the more docile, curious minke whales are also those most easily picked off by the whalers' harpoons. This is merely speculation of course, but if true, it is a pretty damning indictment of the way the whalers exploit and betray the minkes' innate trust of humans. Worryingly, it also means that whale watch encounters could become less satisfying, because wary whales are obviously less enjoyable to watch. Iceland offers amazing whale watching opportunities and the industry has long been a brave and outspoken opponent of whaling. As such, it deserves our full support.
We're urging like-minded governments and IWC commissioners to strongly condemn commercial whaling in Iceland (and elsewhere). WDC attends key meetings and we provide briefings to our official representatives, including for the recent CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) meeting in Geneva, and the upcoming 65th IWC meeting in Slovenia, this September.
We're publicizing the strong links between fin whaling and one of Iceland's largest seafood companies, HB Grandi. Kristjan Loftsson owns Hvalur hf, Iceland's sole fin whaling company and is also Chair of HB Grandi: this latter has also allowed Hvalur to use its processing facilities. We're working with other NGOs to ask major high-street retailers and suppliers across Europe to audit their seafood supply chain for the presence of Grandi products, and explaining our belief that consumers won't want to purchase seafood linked to whaling. Already some big names including Findus Group, High Liner and Whole Foods have blacklisted Grandi because of its links to whaling and it is likely that more will follow. We will be publishing the results of our audit this summer.
We're asking tourists not to eat whale meat whilst in Iceland and explaining that, contrary to popular belief, this isn't a 'traditional' dish and in fact, consumption by tourists is what is keeping the industry alive since only 3% of locals regularly eat whale meat.
We're countering prevailing myths used to justify whaling, including the still-circulating but easily debunked 'whales eat all our fish' argument: this recently morphed still further, as revealed in a recent vox pop interview on the streets of Reykjavik, when a local man declared: "There are too many whales. They eat all the fish, causing the puffins in the Westman Islands to die out. The whales are eating so much fish that the birds and other species can't get any food."
In short, we're fighting Icelandic whaling on every front: economic, geo-political, scientific and ethical. My strong belief is that this 'pincer movement' is having an effect and the whalers are being squeezed from several angles.
If ever there was a time to keep the pressure up, that time is now. If ever there was a time to force the whalers to blink first, that time is now. If we stand together and keep the faith, we can consign whaling in Iceland to the past, where it belongs.
Help us stop the transfer of whale products through EU ports
Posted in Blogs & Articles and tagged Fin whale, Iceland, Minke whale, Whaling


A new study published in JAMA states that the key to weight loss is in the quality of the diet, not the quantity of food. Put that together with the fact that obesity is the most common reason for Type 2 diabetes and one has good reason to try again.
Doctors tell patients to lose weight and "watch what you eat" however the process is not always easy. This artical shows how eating healthfully can also help us lose weight. Click on the link to read more.


As ~this~ enters the battlefield, you may pay 2 life. If you don't, it enters the battlefield tapped.
Zendikar Expeditions mythic rare As Blood Crypt enters the battlefield, you may pay 2 life. If you don't, Blood Crypt enters the battlefield tapped.