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An Iceland volcano erupts again but spares the nearby town of Grindavik for now
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Marco Di Marco And David Keyton
Published Aug 23, 2024 • 2 minute read
082324-Iceland-Volcano-Eruption
View of the lava fountains pouring out from the new eruptive fissure opened at Svartsengi volcanic system, Iceland, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in a similar location as the previous eruptions. The fissure is 3 km north of Grindavik. Photo by Marco di Marco /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted Thursday evening for the sixth time since December, spewing red lava through a new fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
The eruption began shortly after 9 p.m. following a series of strong earthquakes and within the hour a 4-kilometer (2.4-mile) fissure cut through the Sundhnukur crater.
Iceland authorities say the eruption’s effects remain localized with road closures but do not threaten the population.
Halldor Björnsson, head of weather and climate at the Norwegian Meteorological Agency, told the Icelandic news portal Visir, that unlike previous eruptions, the lava flow is not heading for the town of Grindavik that was largely evacuated in December when the volcano came to life after being dormant for 800 years.
Magnus Tuma Guðmundsson, a geophysicist, who flew over the eruption centers this evening told the website that “if this continues like this, Grindavik is not in danger because of this. Of course, we don’t know what will happen in the near future, but it is likely that this has reached its peak and then it will start to subside like the other eruptions.”
As news of the eruption spread, hundreds of curious onlookers drove to nearby vantage points for a view of the stunning natural phenomenon that has become a key tourism attraction.
“We just thought that it was the northern lights,” said Mahnoor Ali, visiting from Maryland in the U.S. “It’s like the coolest thing I’ve seen in my whole life, honestly.”
Friends Ameerul Awalludin from Malaysia and Shohei Miyamito from Japan were with an Icelandic friend when they heard the news and quickly rushed to near the eruption.
“We have like a volcano as well,” said Miyamito, but “we cannot see lava like this.”
But for people living and working on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the regular eruptions and ensuing evacuation orders will undoubtedly be met with frustration.
The repeated volcanic eruptions close to Grindavik, a town of 3,800 people about 50 kilometres (30 miles) southwest of the capital, Reykjavik, have damaged infrastructure and property and forced many residents to relocate to guarantee their safety.
The few who had returned were forced out once again Thursday night as strong winds blew plumes of toxic gas over the town.
The nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal spa — one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions — was also evacuated with social media videos showing sirens blasting around dusk.
Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, averages one eruption every four to five years. The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed clouds of ash into the atmosphere and disrupted trans-Atlantic air travel for months.
The eruption is not expected to impact air travel.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Marco Di Marco And David Keyton
Published Aug 23, 2024 • 2 minute read
082324-Iceland-Volcano-Eruption
View of the lava fountains pouring out from the new eruptive fissure opened at Svartsengi volcanic system, Iceland, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in a similar location as the previous eruptions. The fissure is 3 km north of Grindavik. Photo by Marco di Marco /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted Thursday evening for the sixth time since December, spewing red lava through a new fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
The eruption began shortly after 9 p.m. following a series of strong earthquakes and within the hour a 4-kilometer (2.4-mile) fissure cut through the Sundhnukur crater.
Iceland authorities say the eruption’s effects remain localized with road closures but do not threaten the population.
Halldor Björnsson, head of weather and climate at the Norwegian Meteorological Agency, told the Icelandic news portal Visir, that unlike previous eruptions, the lava flow is not heading for the town of Grindavik that was largely evacuated in December when the volcano came to life after being dormant for 800 years.
Magnus Tuma Guðmundsson, a geophysicist, who flew over the eruption centers this evening told the website that “if this continues like this, Grindavik is not in danger because of this. Of course, we don’t know what will happen in the near future, but it is likely that this has reached its peak and then it will start to subside like the other eruptions.”
As news of the eruption spread, hundreds of curious onlookers drove to nearby vantage points for a view of the stunning natural phenomenon that has become a key tourism attraction.
“We just thought that it was the northern lights,” said Mahnoor Ali, visiting from Maryland in the U.S. “It’s like the coolest thing I’ve seen in my whole life, honestly.”
Friends Ameerul Awalludin from Malaysia and Shohei Miyamito from Japan were with an Icelandic friend when they heard the news and quickly rushed to near the eruption.
“We have like a volcano as well,” said Miyamito, but “we cannot see lava like this.”
But for people living and working on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the regular eruptions and ensuing evacuation orders will undoubtedly be met with frustration.
The repeated volcanic eruptions close to Grindavik, a town of 3,800 people about 50 kilometres (30 miles) southwest of the capital, Reykjavik, have damaged infrastructure and property and forced many residents to relocate to guarantee their safety.
The few who had returned were forced out once again Thursday night as strong winds blew plumes of toxic gas over the town.
The nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal spa — one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions — was also evacuated with social media videos showing sirens blasting around dusk.
Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, averages one eruption every four to five years. The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed clouds of ash into the atmosphere and disrupted trans-Atlantic air travel for months.
The eruption is not expected to impact air travel.
An Iceland volcano erupts again but spares the nearby town of Grindavik for now
Iceland authorities say the eruption's effects remain localized with road closures but do not threaten the population.
Study shows aging speeds up in mid-40s, early 60s
Author of the article
enette Wilford
Published Aug 25, 2024 • 2 minute read
New research that looked at the “non-linear” timeline of aging found that people age quickly in two bursts: During mid-life and about two decades later.
Watch out if you are in your mid-40s and early 60s because if you are not already feeling old, you might soon.
New research that looked at the “non-linear” timeline of aging found that people age quickly in two bursts: During mid-life and about two decades later.
Biological and chronological clocks may not be in sync, according to a new study from Stanford University that was published in the journal Nature Aging.
Researchers analyzed more than 135,000 types of molecules affected by aging in 108 people between the ages of 25 and 75 and tracked for age-related changes every three to six months.
They found that people age rapidly in at least two spurts: Once at age 44 and again at age 60.
“We’re not just changing gradually over time; there are some really dramatic changes,” Michael Snyder, director of the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine at Stanford University and the study’s co-author, said in a statement.
“It turns out the mid-40s is a time of dramatic change, as is the early 60s — and that’s true no matter what class of molecules you look at.”
While it was a small sample tested, the findings have serious health implications, given the risks of cardiovascular disease, dementia, Parkinson’s and other problems increase with age.
The two time periods were impacted differently, however.
For those in their mid-40s, the study noted significant changes in molecules related to alcohol, caffeine and fat metabolism, heart disease and skin and muscle, suggesting people’s bodies break down booze and fats less efficiently around this time.
For people in their early 60s, there was a “rapid decline” in immune regulation and researchers also found that there were significant molecular changes linked to carbohydrate and caffeine metabolism, kidney function and heart disease, as well as in skin and muscles.
Researchers initially thought the significant changes that occurred during the mid-40s was related to menopause and perimenopause, but a closer look at the data found that the shifts happened for both women and men.
The study noted that lifestyle factors such alcohol and caffeine intake and exercise levels could be driving the changes rather than simply just chalking up the changes solely to biological aging-related shifts.
Xiaotao Shen, a computational biologist at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and study co–author, told the Washington Post that the findings help better understand what drives these changes in the shifting molecules.
“If we can find the drivers of these changes, we may even be able to find ways to slow or even reverse the drivers of the aging at these two time points.”
med.stanford.edu
torontosun.com
Author of the article
enette WilfordPublished Aug 25, 2024 • 2 minute read
New research that looked at the “non-linear” timeline of aging found that people age quickly in two bursts: During mid-life and about two decades later.
Watch out if you are in your mid-40s and early 60s because if you are not already feeling old, you might soon.
New research that looked at the “non-linear” timeline of aging found that people age quickly in two bursts: During mid-life and about two decades later.
Biological and chronological clocks may not be in sync, according to a new study from Stanford University that was published in the journal Nature Aging.
Researchers analyzed more than 135,000 types of molecules affected by aging in 108 people between the ages of 25 and 75 and tracked for age-related changes every three to six months.
They found that people age rapidly in at least two spurts: Once at age 44 and again at age 60.
“We’re not just changing gradually over time; there are some really dramatic changes,” Michael Snyder, director of the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine at Stanford University and the study’s co-author, said in a statement.
“It turns out the mid-40s is a time of dramatic change, as is the early 60s — and that’s true no matter what class of molecules you look at.”
While it was a small sample tested, the findings have serious health implications, given the risks of cardiovascular disease, dementia, Parkinson’s and other problems increase with age.
The two time periods were impacted differently, however.
For those in their mid-40s, the study noted significant changes in molecules related to alcohol, caffeine and fat metabolism, heart disease and skin and muscle, suggesting people’s bodies break down booze and fats less efficiently around this time.
For people in their early 60s, there was a “rapid decline” in immune regulation and researchers also found that there were significant molecular changes linked to carbohydrate and caffeine metabolism, kidney function and heart disease, as well as in skin and muscles.
Researchers initially thought the significant changes that occurred during the mid-40s was related to menopause and perimenopause, but a closer look at the data found that the shifts happened for both women and men.
The study noted that lifestyle factors such alcohol and caffeine intake and exercise levels could be driving the changes rather than simply just chalking up the changes solely to biological aging-related shifts.
Xiaotao Shen, a computational biologist at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and study co–author, told the Washington Post that the findings help better understand what drives these changes in the shifting molecules.
“If we can find the drivers of these changes, we may even be able to find ways to slow or even reverse the drivers of the aging at these two time points.”
Massive biomolecular shifts occur in our 40s and 60s, Stanford Medicine researchers find
Time marches on predictably, but biological aging is anything but constant, according to a new Stanford Medicine study.
‘DRAMATIC CHANGES:' Study shows aging speeds up in mid-40s, early 60s
New research that looked at the timeline of aging found that people age quickly in two bursts: During mid-life and about two decades later.
Red meat again linked to Type 2 diabetes risk
Author of the articleostmedia News
Published Aug 25, 2024 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 2 minute read
A study out of England has backed up research from Harvard University showing that eating too much red meat and processed meat can increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Guess it’s not baloney after all.
A study out of England has backed up research from Harvard University showing that eating too much red meat and processed meat can increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, the New York Post reported.
Researchers at Cambridge University compiled data from 31 different studies across 20 countries — including 18 unpublished studies — and factored in the age, gender, health-related behaviour, energy intake and body mass of almost two million participants.
They found that eating 50 grams per day of processed meat — about two slices of ham, according to the Post — was linked to a 15% higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes within a 10-year span.
Eating 100 g of unprocessed red meat — about the equivalent of a quarter-pound burger — was linked to a 10% higher risk, while the same amount of chicken was linked to an 8% higher risk that “remains uncertain and needs to be investigated further,” according to researchers.
“Our research provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of an association between eating processed meat and unprocessed red meat and a higher future risk of Type 2 diabetes,” senior study author Nita Forouhi said, via the Post.
“It supports recommendations to limit the consumption of processed meat and unprocessed red meat to reduce Type 2 diabetes cases.”
The study supported recent findings by Harvard University researchers, who found a “significant link” between Type 2 diabetes risk and the heme iron found in red meat and other animal products.
The Harvard study also said that heme iron may also cause inflammation, while some research suggests it may increase the risk of colorectal, pancreatic and lung cancer, according to the Post.
Experts say there are “pros and cons” of eating red meat, which is high in protein, vitamin B12 and selenium but also rich in saturated fat.
“Depending on the processing, (red meat) can be high in sodium and preservatives,” Dr. Ruchi Mathur, an endocrinologist at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, told the New York Times last year. “None of these are good for our health.”
The Cambridge researchers warned that there were limitations to their study, including inaccurate reporting by participants on what they ate and other variables. However, they said the study “provides more concrete evidence of the link between consumption of different types of meat and Type 2 diabetes than was previously possible.”
Nearly six million Canadians were living with diabetes in 2022, according to the Diabetes Canada. Health Canada said that about 90% of people diagnosed with the disease have Type 2 diabetes, which means the body can still make insulin but can’t process it properly.
nypost.com
torontosun.com
Author of the article
ostmedia NewsPublished Aug 25, 2024 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 2 minute read
A study out of England has backed up research from Harvard University showing that eating too much red meat and processed meat can increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Guess it’s not baloney after all.
A study out of England has backed up research from Harvard University showing that eating too much red meat and processed meat can increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, the New York Post reported.
Researchers at Cambridge University compiled data from 31 different studies across 20 countries — including 18 unpublished studies — and factored in the age, gender, health-related behaviour, energy intake and body mass of almost two million participants.
They found that eating 50 grams per day of processed meat — about two slices of ham, according to the Post — was linked to a 15% higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes within a 10-year span.
Eating 100 g of unprocessed red meat — about the equivalent of a quarter-pound burger — was linked to a 10% higher risk, while the same amount of chicken was linked to an 8% higher risk that “remains uncertain and needs to be investigated further,” according to researchers.
“Our research provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of an association between eating processed meat and unprocessed red meat and a higher future risk of Type 2 diabetes,” senior study author Nita Forouhi said, via the Post.
“It supports recommendations to limit the consumption of processed meat and unprocessed red meat to reduce Type 2 diabetes cases.”
The study supported recent findings by Harvard University researchers, who found a “significant link” between Type 2 diabetes risk and the heme iron found in red meat and other animal products.
The Harvard study also said that heme iron may also cause inflammation, while some research suggests it may increase the risk of colorectal, pancreatic and lung cancer, according to the Post.
Experts say there are “pros and cons” of eating red meat, which is high in protein, vitamin B12 and selenium but also rich in saturated fat.
“Depending on the processing, (red meat) can be high in sodium and preservatives,” Dr. Ruchi Mathur, an endocrinologist at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, told the New York Times last year. “None of these are good for our health.”
The Cambridge researchers warned that there were limitations to their study, including inaccurate reporting by participants on what they ate and other variables. However, they said the study “provides more concrete evidence of the link between consumption of different types of meat and Type 2 diabetes than was previously possible.”
Nearly six million Canadians were living with diabetes in 2022, according to the Diabetes Canada. Health Canada said that about 90% of people diagnosed with the disease have Type 2 diabetes, which means the body can still make insulin but can’t process it properly.
Significant link found between heme iron, found in red meat and other animal products, and type 2 diabetes risk
Higher intake of heme iron, the type found in red meat and other animal products—as opposed to non-heme iron, found mostly in plant-based foods—was associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health...
eurekalert.org
Red and processed meats linked to Type 2 diabetes risk: new study
Maybe don’t go ham on the ham.
nypost.com
Sink your teeth into this: Red meat again linked to Type 2 diabetes risk
A new study has backed up research showing eating too much red meat and processed meat can increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Flexibility can stretch out your lifespan, study suggests
Author of the articleostmedia News
Published Aug 25, 2024 • 2 minute read
It’s not a stretch to suggest that those who can’t touch their toes face a higher risk of death, according to a new study.
It’s not a stretch to suggest that those who can’t touch their toes face a higher risk of death, according to a new study.
It’s not a stretch to suggest that those who can’t touch their toes face a higher risk of death, according to a new study.
Researchers in Brazil assessed the flexibility of some 3,000 middle-aged people and found that those who found the toe-touching exercise difficult could be five times more at risk of death than those who can.
The system called Flexindex examines how people can stretch in 20 ways using seven different joints, the U.K. Daily Mail reported. Examples included being able to touch your toes and being able to touch the back of your left shoulder with your right hand over your head.
People received scores of between 0 and 80 and the end of the tests.
Recent analysis published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports shows that experts found people aged 46 to 65 with higher Flexindex scores had between two- and five-times better odds of surviving the next decade.
Of the more than 3,000 participants included in the analysis, about one in 10 were dead at its conclusion.
Survivors had a nearly 10% higher Flexindex score compared to those who died, according to the authors from the Exercise Medicine Clinic in Rio de Janeiro.
Women with a low Flexindex score had almost five times higher risk of dying, researchers said, while men with a low score had almost twice the risk once factors of age, obesity and existing health conditions were taken into account.
“Being aerobically fit and strong and having good balance have been previously associated with low mortality,” said Dr. Claudio Gil S. Araujo, an author on the paper.
“We were able to show that reduced body flexibility is also related to poor survival in middle-aged men and women.”
The doctor added that, as flexibility tends to decrease as we age, people might opt to include stretching exercises in their routine and medics might consider flexibility assessments in physical health evaluations.
Flexibility, alongside aspects like balance, is considered one of the signs of overall good physical health.
dailymail.co.uk
torontosun.com
Author of the article
ostmedia NewsPublished Aug 25, 2024 • 2 minute read
It’s not a stretch to suggest that those who can’t touch their toes face a higher risk of death, according to a new study.
It’s not a stretch to suggest that those who can’t touch their toes face a higher risk of death, according to a new study.
It’s not a stretch to suggest that those who can’t touch their toes face a higher risk of death, according to a new study.
Researchers in Brazil assessed the flexibility of some 3,000 middle-aged people and found that those who found the toe-touching exercise difficult could be five times more at risk of death than those who can.
The system called Flexindex examines how people can stretch in 20 ways using seven different joints, the U.K. Daily Mail reported. Examples included being able to touch your toes and being able to touch the back of your left shoulder with your right hand over your head.
People received scores of between 0 and 80 and the end of the tests.
Recent analysis published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports shows that experts found people aged 46 to 65 with higher Flexindex scores had between two- and five-times better odds of surviving the next decade.
Of the more than 3,000 participants included in the analysis, about one in 10 were dead at its conclusion.
Survivors had a nearly 10% higher Flexindex score compared to those who died, according to the authors from the Exercise Medicine Clinic in Rio de Janeiro.
Women with a low Flexindex score had almost five times higher risk of dying, researchers said, while men with a low score had almost twice the risk once factors of age, obesity and existing health conditions were taken into account.
“Being aerobically fit and strong and having good balance have been previously associated with low mortality,” said Dr. Claudio Gil S. Araujo, an author on the paper.
“We were able to show that reduced body flexibility is also related to poor survival in middle-aged men and women.”
The doctor added that, as flexibility tends to decrease as we age, people might opt to include stretching exercises in their routine and medics might consider flexibility assessments in physical health evaluations.
Flexibility, alongside aspects like balance, is considered one of the signs of overall good physical health.
The flexibility test that reveals if you're at risk of dying early
Brazilian researchers assessed the flexibility over 3,000 middle-aged people and found those with lower scores had a far higher chance of dying within a decade compared who were more supple.
Flexibility can stretch out your lifespan, study suggests
It’s not a stretch to suggest that those who can’t touch their toes face a higher risk of death, according to a new study.
Nevada men face trial for allegedly damaging ancient rock formations at Lake Mead recreation area
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Published Aug 25, 2024 • 1 minute read
Two men allegedly seen in a screengrab of a video damaging the rock formations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada.
Two men seen in a screengrab of a video allegedly damaging the rock formations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada. Photo by Lake Mead National Recreation Area - National Park Service /Instagram
LAS VEGAS — An Oct. 8 trial date has been set for two Nevada men accused of damaging rock formations estimated to be 140 million years old at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
A federal indictment charged Wyatt Clifford Fain, 37, and Payden David Guy Cosper, 31, with one count of injury and depredation of government property and one count of aiding and abetting. The U.S. Department of Justice said the men could each face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The two Henderson residents were arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service and made their first court appearance Friday, at which they both pleaded innocent and were released on a personal recognizance bod, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Authorities said Fain and Cosper allegedly pushed rock formations over a cliff edge around Redstone Dunes Trail at Lake Mead on April 7, resulting in damages of more than $1,000.
The Lake Mead National Recreation Area just outside of Las Vegas draws around 6 million visitors every year and spans 6,071 square kilometres of mountains and desert canyons.
Authorities said staffing levels mean park officials often rely on the public to also keep watch over resources within park boundaries.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Published Aug 25, 2024 • 1 minute read
Two men allegedly seen in a screengrab of a video damaging the rock formations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada.
Two men seen in a screengrab of a video allegedly damaging the rock formations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada. Photo by Lake Mead National Recreation Area - National Park Service /Instagram
LAS VEGAS — An Oct. 8 trial date has been set for two Nevada men accused of damaging rock formations estimated to be 140 million years old at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
A federal indictment charged Wyatt Clifford Fain, 37, and Payden David Guy Cosper, 31, with one count of injury and depredation of government property and one count of aiding and abetting. The U.S. Department of Justice said the men could each face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The two Henderson residents were arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service and made their first court appearance Friday, at which they both pleaded innocent and were released on a personal recognizance bod, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Authorities said Fain and Cosper allegedly pushed rock formations over a cliff edge around Redstone Dunes Trail at Lake Mead on April 7, resulting in damages of more than $1,000.
The Lake Mead National Recreation Area just outside of Las Vegas draws around 6 million visitors every year and spans 6,071 square kilometres of mountains and desert canyons.
Authorities said staffing levels mean park officials often rely on the public to also keep watch over resources within park boundaries.
Nevada men face trial for allegedly damaging ancient rock formations at Lake Mead recreation area
A trial date has been set for two Nevada men accused of damaging rock formations estimated to be 140 million years old.
Why are high-risk sex offenders still being released?
Author of the article:Brad Hunter
Published Aug 26, 2024 • 3 minute read
EVIL PERSONIFIED: Pedo child killer Joseph Fredericks.
The late pedo child killer Joseph Fredericks.
Joseph Fredericks had been out of the joint just two months.
Unreformed, unrepentant, his twisted perversions unquenched.
Fredericks had a sexual penchant for children. He had been sprung after serving two-thirds of a five-year sentence for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy. There were scores of other victims along the way.
Murder victim Christopher Stephenson.
Murder victim Christopher Stephenson.
On July 18, 1988, the evil pedophile — never deemed a dangerous offender — stalked 11-year-old Christopher Stephenson through Shopper’s World and then, using a knife, he pounced.
Christopher’s body was found the next day — Father’s Day — in a Brampton field.
Today, cops will often make a public announcement to let the public know there’s a violent sexual offender in their midst. But this seems like it’s the only thing they can do given the mountain of obstacles they face in courtrooms, at the Supreme Court and in Ottawa’s corridors of power.
Now it’s another pedophile whose name has been emblazoned in newspaper headlines and newscasts.
Convicted sex offender Joseph Faulkner, 31, is living in Brampton after being released from custody on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.
Convicted sex offender Joseph Faulkner, 31, is living in Brampton after being released from custody on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.
His name is Joseph Faulkner. He is 31 years old and shares Fredericks’ sexual bent.
Peel Regional Police put out a warning that Faulkner is a high-risk sex offender and he’s back on the streets of Brampton and Mississauga. Faulkner, cops noted, poses a “danger to children.”
We’ve been down this road before with Faulkner, who went down on sex charges and breaching his conditions. He is now bound by two probation orders.
As most of us know, probation orders aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. These orders are generally devoid of consequences. A perusal of the police blotter tells us this.
Faulkner’s conditions dictate he can’t be around any children under 16 unless accompanied by an adult approved by his parole supervisor. He is at an “elevated risk of re-offending,” cops stated.
In 2023, Peel police put out a similar warning. He had just finished another stretch for sex crimes. About 11 minutes after he was released, he was back in custody for theft and breaching his conditions.
And now Faulkner is back in the saddle.
Even though cops issued the warning, they reminded us that we should all remember that “his rights are guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms Act.” The April 2023 warning was nearly identical.
Someone thought horseback lessons with kids was a good idea for Taylor Dueck.
But at least we got one. RCMP in Kelowna wanted to put out an alert on serial sex offender Taylor Dueck, but soft-on-crime bureaucrats torpedoed the cops’ pleas — even though warnings about him had been issued in the past.
Dueck then allegedly went on to sexually assault another child, an 11-year-old girl, at a Kelowna equestrian facility. The case remains before the court.
Apparently, no one knows how this happened.
With Fredericks, there were eight children who were victimized by the Smiths Falls-born pedo. And yet at his trial for first-degree murder, his parole officers admitted they had lost track of him.
In addition, they weren’t up to speed on his rather breathtaking aplomb for sexually assaulting children. Nor were they in the loop on his mental illness.
Fredericks was convicted of first-degree murder in 1989.
One headshrinker told an inquest into Christopher’s murder that Fredericks would “rape the family dog” if a boy wasn’t available.
While the system completely dropped the ball in the matter of Fredericks, the jailhouse code filled the void. On Jan. 3, 1992, the notorious pedophile was stabbed to death with a pair of shears at the old Kingston Penitentiary.
No one claimed the body.
bhunter@postmedia.com
X: @HunterTOSun
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Brad Hunter
Published Aug 26, 2024 • 3 minute read
EVIL PERSONIFIED: Pedo child killer Joseph Fredericks.
The late pedo child killer Joseph Fredericks.
Joseph Fredericks had been out of the joint just two months.
Unreformed, unrepentant, his twisted perversions unquenched.
Fredericks had a sexual penchant for children. He had been sprung after serving two-thirds of a five-year sentence for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy. There were scores of other victims along the way.
Murder victim Christopher Stephenson.
Murder victim Christopher Stephenson.
On July 18, 1988, the evil pedophile — never deemed a dangerous offender — stalked 11-year-old Christopher Stephenson through Shopper’s World and then, using a knife, he pounced.
Christopher’s body was found the next day — Father’s Day — in a Brampton field.
Today, cops will often make a public announcement to let the public know there’s a violent sexual offender in their midst. But this seems like it’s the only thing they can do given the mountain of obstacles they face in courtrooms, at the Supreme Court and in Ottawa’s corridors of power.
Now it’s another pedophile whose name has been emblazoned in newspaper headlines and newscasts.
Convicted sex offender Joseph Faulkner, 31, is living in Brampton after being released from custody on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.
Convicted sex offender Joseph Faulkner, 31, is living in Brampton after being released from custody on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.
His name is Joseph Faulkner. He is 31 years old and shares Fredericks’ sexual bent.
Peel Regional Police put out a warning that Faulkner is a high-risk sex offender and he’s back on the streets of Brampton and Mississauga. Faulkner, cops noted, poses a “danger to children.”
We’ve been down this road before with Faulkner, who went down on sex charges and breaching his conditions. He is now bound by two probation orders.
As most of us know, probation orders aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. These orders are generally devoid of consequences. A perusal of the police blotter tells us this.
Faulkner’s conditions dictate he can’t be around any children under 16 unless accompanied by an adult approved by his parole supervisor. He is at an “elevated risk of re-offending,” cops stated.
In 2023, Peel police put out a similar warning. He had just finished another stretch for sex crimes. About 11 minutes after he was released, he was back in custody for theft and breaching his conditions.
And now Faulkner is back in the saddle.
Even though cops issued the warning, they reminded us that we should all remember that “his rights are guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms Act.” The April 2023 warning was nearly identical.
Someone thought horseback lessons with kids was a good idea for Taylor Dueck.
But at least we got one. RCMP in Kelowna wanted to put out an alert on serial sex offender Taylor Dueck, but soft-on-crime bureaucrats torpedoed the cops’ pleas — even though warnings about him had been issued in the past.
Dueck then allegedly went on to sexually assault another child, an 11-year-old girl, at a Kelowna equestrian facility. The case remains before the court.
Apparently, no one knows how this happened.
With Fredericks, there were eight children who were victimized by the Smiths Falls-born pedo. And yet at his trial for first-degree murder, his parole officers admitted they had lost track of him.
In addition, they weren’t up to speed on his rather breathtaking aplomb for sexually assaulting children. Nor were they in the loop on his mental illness.
Fredericks was convicted of first-degree murder in 1989.
One headshrinker told an inquest into Christopher’s murder that Fredericks would “rape the family dog” if a boy wasn’t available.
While the system completely dropped the ball in the matter of Fredericks, the jailhouse code filled the void. On Jan. 3, 1992, the notorious pedophile was stabbed to death with a pair of shears at the old Kingston Penitentiary.
No one claimed the body.
bhunter@postmedia.com
X: @HunterTOSun
HUNTER: Why are high-risk sex offenders still being released?
Peel Regional Police put out a warning that Joseph Faulkner is a high-risk offender and is back on the streets of Brampton and Mississauga.
Toronto’s whooping cough cases more than double pre-pandemic average
Toronto Public Health is reporting 99 cases so far this year
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Published Aug 27, 2024 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 2 minute read
Whooping cough cases are on the rise in Canada with some provinces reporting more than double their pre-pandemic averages.
Whooping cough cases are on the rise in Canada, with some provinces reporting sharp increases compared to pre-pandemic averages.
As of June, Ontario has seen 470 whooping cough cases, compared to the five-year average of 98, a provincial dashboard shows.
Toronto has reported 99 cases so far this year, while Ottawa has seen 76 — more than double the pre-pandemic annual averages recorded in those cities.
More than 11,670 cases have been reported in Quebec so far this year, a significant jump from the annual average of 562 cases between 2015 and 2019.
The majority of whooping cough patients are between the ages of 10 and 14, a spokesperson for Quebec’s Health Ministry said in an email to The Canadian Press.
The last peak of whooping cough activity in the province was in 2019, when 1,269 cases were reported, the email said.
These figures came on the heels of a whooping cough outbreak declared last week in New Brunswick with 141 cases reported so far, exceeding the five-year average of 34 cases per year.
The highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease also known as pertussis is on the rise across Canada, chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said last week.
The illness can be very serious and even life-threatening, especially for very young children, Tam said Friday in an interview.
“We call it the 100-day cough,” she said. “It can lead to (a) significant amount of coughing for a very long time.”
Whooping cough is a cyclical disease that increases every two to six years, public health officials say.
It’s a persistent cough that begins with cold-like symptoms and evolves over several weeks to include coughing spells that often end with a “whoop” sound when an infected person is catching their breath.
A rise in whooping cough cases has also been reported in the United States and elsewhere, prompting the Pan American Health Organization to issue an alert in July encouraging countries to ramp up their surveillance and vaccination coverage.
torontosun.com
Toronto Public Health is reporting 99 cases so far this year
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Published Aug 27, 2024 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 2 minute read
Whooping cough cases are on the rise in Canada with some provinces reporting more than double their pre-pandemic averages.
Whooping cough cases are on the rise in Canada, with some provinces reporting sharp increases compared to pre-pandemic averages.
As of June, Ontario has seen 470 whooping cough cases, compared to the five-year average of 98, a provincial dashboard shows.
Toronto has reported 99 cases so far this year, while Ottawa has seen 76 — more than double the pre-pandemic annual averages recorded in those cities.
More than 11,670 cases have been reported in Quebec so far this year, a significant jump from the annual average of 562 cases between 2015 and 2019.
The majority of whooping cough patients are between the ages of 10 and 14, a spokesperson for Quebec’s Health Ministry said in an email to The Canadian Press.
The last peak of whooping cough activity in the province was in 2019, when 1,269 cases were reported, the email said.
These figures came on the heels of a whooping cough outbreak declared last week in New Brunswick with 141 cases reported so far, exceeding the five-year average of 34 cases per year.
The highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease also known as pertussis is on the rise across Canada, chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said last week.
The illness can be very serious and even life-threatening, especially for very young children, Tam said Friday in an interview.
“We call it the 100-day cough,” she said. “It can lead to (a) significant amount of coughing for a very long time.”
Whooping cough is a cyclical disease that increases every two to six years, public health officials say.
It’s a persistent cough that begins with cold-like symptoms and evolves over several weeks to include coughing spells that often end with a “whoop” sound when an infected person is catching their breath.
A rise in whooping cough cases has also been reported in the United States and elsewhere, prompting the Pan American Health Organization to issue an alert in July encouraging countries to ramp up their surveillance and vaccination coverage.
Toronto’s whooping cough cases more than double pre-pandemic average
The public health agency is reporting 99 cases in Toronto so far this year compared to the pre-pandemic five-year average of 38.
Huh. Don't you realize that sexualizing children is ok? They're even doing it in schools. So why so much concern about a pedo? In fact, pedophilia is a word that "shouldn't be used anymore" because why? It's "demeaning." Our society has become vile & our kids are at risk not only on the street but in schools, in organizations supposedly run FOR kids et al. It's disgusting. Protecting our kids has become almost antithetical in society now.Why are high-risk sex offenders still being released?
Author of the article:Brad Hunter
Published Aug 26, 2024 • 3 minute read
EVIL PERSONIFIED: Pedo child killer Joseph Fredericks.
The late pedo child killer Joseph Fredericks.
Joseph Fredericks had been out of the joint just two months.
Unreformed, unrepentant, his twisted perversions unquenched.
Fredericks had a sexual penchant for children. He had been sprung after serving two-thirds of a five-year sentence for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy. There were scores of other victims along the way.
Murder victim Christopher Stephenson.
Murder victim Christopher Stephenson.
On July 18, 1988, the evil pedophile — never deemed a dangerous offender — stalked 11-year-old Christopher Stephenson through Shopper’s World and then, using a knife, he pounced.
Christopher’s body was found the next day — Father’s Day — in a Brampton field.
Today, cops will often make a public announcement to let the public know there’s a violent sexual offender in their midst. But this seems like it’s the only thing they can do given the mountain of obstacles they face in courtrooms, at the Supreme Court and in Ottawa’s corridors of power.
Now it’s another pedophile whose name has been emblazoned in newspaper headlines and newscasts.
Convicted sex offender Joseph Faulkner, 31, is living in Brampton after being released from custody on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.
Convicted sex offender Joseph Faulkner, 31, is living in Brampton after being released from custody on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.
His name is Joseph Faulkner. He is 31 years old and shares Fredericks’ sexual bent.
Peel Regional Police put out a warning that Faulkner is a high-risk sex offender and he’s back on the streets of Brampton and Mississauga. Faulkner, cops noted, poses a “danger to children.”
We’ve been down this road before with Faulkner, who went down on sex charges and breaching his conditions. He is now bound by two probation orders.
As most of us know, probation orders aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. These orders are generally devoid of consequences. A perusal of the police blotter tells us this.
Faulkner’s conditions dictate he can’t be around any children under 16 unless accompanied by an adult approved by his parole supervisor. He is at an “elevated risk of re-offending,” cops stated.
In 2023, Peel police put out a similar warning. He had just finished another stretch for sex crimes. About 11 minutes after he was released, he was back in custody for theft and breaching his conditions.
And now Faulkner is back in the saddle.
Even though cops issued the warning, they reminded us that we should all remember that “his rights are guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms Act.” The April 2023 warning was nearly identical.
Someone thought horseback lessons with kids was a good idea for Taylor Dueck.
But at least we got one. RCMP in Kelowna wanted to put out an alert on serial sex offender Taylor Dueck, but soft-on-crime bureaucrats torpedoed the cops’ pleas — even though warnings about him had been issued in the past.
Dueck then allegedly went on to sexually assault another child, an 11-year-old girl, at a Kelowna equestrian facility. The case remains before the court.
Apparently, no one knows how this happened.
With Fredericks, there were eight children who were victimized by the Smiths Falls-born pedo. And yet at his trial for first-degree murder, his parole officers admitted they had lost track of him.
In addition, they weren’t up to speed on his rather breathtaking aplomb for sexually assaulting children. Nor were they in the loop on his mental illness.
Fredericks was convicted of first-degree murder in 1989.
One headshrinker told an inquest into Christopher’s murder that Fredericks would “rape the family dog” if a boy wasn’t available.
While the system completely dropped the ball in the matter of Fredericks, the jailhouse code filled the void. On Jan. 3, 1992, the notorious pedophile was stabbed to death with a pair of shears at the old Kingston Penitentiary.
No one claimed the body.
bhunter@postmedia.com
X: @HunterTOSun
HUNTER: Why are high-risk sex offenders still being released?
Peel Regional Police put out a warning that Joseph Faulkner is a high-risk offender and is back on the streets of Brampton and Mississauga.
Good you were able to bleed off some of your ample supply of stupidity and malice. Maybe those who have to deal with you daily will have an easier time of it.
’Tornadoes over water’ seen in Quebec, across Eastern Canada this summer
Some of this year's Quebec waterspouts are the first to be documented along the St. Lawrence River since 2017.
Author of the article:The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
Morgan Lowrie
Published Aug 29, 2024 • Last updated 2 days ago • 2 minute read
Northern Tornadoes project has confirmed several waterspouts were recorded in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia in August. There two waterspouts formed near Îles-de-la-Madeleine Aug. 23, 2024.
Northern Tornadoes project has confirmed several waterspouts were recorded in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia in August. There two waterspouts formed near Îles-de-la-Madeleine Aug. 23, 2024. Photo by Marc-Andre Bourgeois-Gaudet /The Canadian Press
Marc-André Bourgeois-Gaudet was in his boat off the shores of Îles-de-la-Madeleine last Friday when he saw several funnel clouds descending from the sky like tornadoes.
As he got closer, the rain started falling harder than anything he’d ever experienced, he said. “It was like having a waterfall fall on my head.”
The Northern Tornadoes Project, based at Western University, has confirmed that a number of waterspouts — also known as tornadoes over water — occurred in recent days in Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Both Iles-de-la-Madeleine and Inverness, N.S., reported the weather phenomenon on Aug. 23, while another formed over the Lake of Two Mountains near Vaudreuil two days later. There have also been a number in Ontario in August, most in the Great Lakes area.
David Sills, executive director of The Northern Tornadoes Project, said a waterspout is simply a tornado that forms over water instead of land.
“A tornado is a rotating column of air that extends from the lower part of the storm cloud to the surface, and the surface can be either land or water,” he said.
Waterspouts have been in the news in recent weeks, ever since a superyacht sank during a storm off Sicily last week, killing seven people. Italian civil protection officials said the storm may have stirred up a waterspout at the exact place where the British-flagged Bayesian was moored.
While a waterspout can cause damage if it hits a boat directly, Sills said most are far less destructive than their land counterparts. He said most have wind speeds of between 90 and 130 kilometres per hour — weak by tornado standards — and are given a rating of EF-0.
Because cooler air over lakes tends to suppress thunderstorm activity, “it’s more the exception than the rule that you have a strong tornado coming in off of a lake,” he said. However, it does happen, including when a tornado formed as a waterspout over Lake Huron in 2011 before slamming Goderich, Ont., as a destructive F3.
Waterspouts can “certainly sink a boat,” but most are slow-moving enough that they can be avoided, he said.
Bourgeois-Gaudet, from Iles-de-la-Madeleine, said he never felt truly in danger during his close encounter with the waterspout. He said that while the water was a little choppy, the wind was never high enough to risk capsizing. “The hardest part was seeing where I was going” due to rain.
Sills said that since the tornadoes project started in 2017, its members have documented about 15 waterspouts a year. This year, they’re already up to 18 confirmed or suspected events, making this year slightly above average so far, he said.
The waterspouts in Quebec drew plenty of attention — likely because they’re not reported as frequently as in the Great Lakes area. Sills said some of this year’s Quebec waterspouts are the first to be documented along the St. Lawrence River since 2017 — but that’s likely only because more people are seeing them and documenting them, often on social media.
“The conditions certainly can happen there,” he said, adding, “I wouldn’t say it’s rare, just not well documented.”
He said that, due to improved reporting, the number of tornadoes documented in Canada has risen from about 60 per year prior to 2017 to close to 100 on average.
torontosun.com
Some of this year's Quebec waterspouts are the first to be documented along the St. Lawrence River since 2017.
Author of the article:The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
Morgan Lowrie
Published Aug 29, 2024 • Last updated 2 days ago • 2 minute read
Northern Tornadoes project has confirmed several waterspouts were recorded in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia in August. There two waterspouts formed near Îles-de-la-Madeleine Aug. 23, 2024.
Northern Tornadoes project has confirmed several waterspouts were recorded in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia in August. There two waterspouts formed near Îles-de-la-Madeleine Aug. 23, 2024. Photo by Marc-Andre Bourgeois-Gaudet /The Canadian Press
Marc-André Bourgeois-Gaudet was in his boat off the shores of Îles-de-la-Madeleine last Friday when he saw several funnel clouds descending from the sky like tornadoes.
As he got closer, the rain started falling harder than anything he’d ever experienced, he said. “It was like having a waterfall fall on my head.”
The Northern Tornadoes Project, based at Western University, has confirmed that a number of waterspouts — also known as tornadoes over water — occurred in recent days in Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Both Iles-de-la-Madeleine and Inverness, N.S., reported the weather phenomenon on Aug. 23, while another formed over the Lake of Two Mountains near Vaudreuil two days later. There have also been a number in Ontario in August, most in the Great Lakes area.
David Sills, executive director of The Northern Tornadoes Project, said a waterspout is simply a tornado that forms over water instead of land.
“A tornado is a rotating column of air that extends from the lower part of the storm cloud to the surface, and the surface can be either land or water,” he said.
Waterspouts have been in the news in recent weeks, ever since a superyacht sank during a storm off Sicily last week, killing seven people. Italian civil protection officials said the storm may have stirred up a waterspout at the exact place where the British-flagged Bayesian was moored.
While a waterspout can cause damage if it hits a boat directly, Sills said most are far less destructive than their land counterparts. He said most have wind speeds of between 90 and 130 kilometres per hour — weak by tornado standards — and are given a rating of EF-0.
Because cooler air over lakes tends to suppress thunderstorm activity, “it’s more the exception than the rule that you have a strong tornado coming in off of a lake,” he said. However, it does happen, including when a tornado formed as a waterspout over Lake Huron in 2011 before slamming Goderich, Ont., as a destructive F3.
Waterspouts can “certainly sink a boat,” but most are slow-moving enough that they can be avoided, he said.
Bourgeois-Gaudet, from Iles-de-la-Madeleine, said he never felt truly in danger during his close encounter with the waterspout. He said that while the water was a little choppy, the wind was never high enough to risk capsizing. “The hardest part was seeing where I was going” due to rain.
Sills said that since the tornadoes project started in 2017, its members have documented about 15 waterspouts a year. This year, they’re already up to 18 confirmed or suspected events, making this year slightly above average so far, he said.
The waterspouts in Quebec drew plenty of attention — likely because they’re not reported as frequently as in the Great Lakes area. Sills said some of this year’s Quebec waterspouts are the first to be documented along the St. Lawrence River since 2017 — but that’s likely only because more people are seeing them and documenting them, often on social media.
“The conditions certainly can happen there,” he said, adding, “I wouldn’t say it’s rare, just not well documented.”
He said that, due to improved reporting, the number of tornadoes documented in Canada has risen from about 60 per year prior to 2017 to close to 100 on average.
’Tornadoes over water’ seen in Quebec, across Eastern Canada this summer
Some of this year's Quebec waterspouts are the first to be documented along the St. Lawrence River since 2017.
Gee, look who is calling me "stupid" Your comments are actually just as "stupid" as mine, but you don't see it. Your ridicule isn't becoming!!
venomous sea worms washing up on Texas shores, scientists say
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Ben Brasch, The Washington Post
Published Aug 29, 2024 • 3 minute read
Jace Tunnell
Jace Tunnell with the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies holds up a fireworm he caught this week in Corpus Christi, Texas. (Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies)
If you have your life together and worry for nothing, sorry to tell you: Venomous sea worms are washing up on Texas beaches, and, if touched, they’ll make you feel like your skin is on fire.
The bristle worms – known to scientists as Amphinome rostrata – have recently found themselves along the Texas coast, according to the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. A scientist at the institute who found one said he hasn’t seen them in three to four years.
An April 14 Facebook post from the Institute calmly laid out the situation: “WARNING!!! Your worst nightmares are washing up right now in the form of fireworms!”
Marine bristle worms are found all over the world, from the Gulf Coast of Texas to the scuba-diving haven known as the Poor Knights Islands, located east of the Tutukākā coast in New Zealand, according to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
The worms were first described 250 years ago by Prussian naturalist Peter Simon Pallas on page 106 of his 1766 Latin book “Miscellanea Zoologica,” according to NIWA. They can grow to be about eight inches long.
Each worm is composed of 60 to 150 different segments covered by hollow bristles that easily get stuck in human skin and deposit painful venom, said Jace Tunnell, the institute’s director of community engagement.
The worms live between two and a half and nine years, he said. They reproduce sexually and asexually, meaning, as he put it, “I could cut this thing in half and it could regrow.” Their predators are fish and crabs.
Each one of the 28 different species of the marine bristle worm can hurt humans, he said.
Tunnell told viewers that he has never felt the wrath but understands that the venom can also cause dizziness in addition to searing pain. If anyone is unlucky enough, he suggests quickly covering the problem area with tape and then ripping off the tape to remove the bristles. Then, like with a jellyfish, he says to wash the area with white vinegar and warm water.
But, bad news: “It’s gonna be painful no matter what.”
Tunnell talked about the Texas fire worms in a YouTube video after finding one along the Gulf Coast in Texas on a log covered in the gooseneck barnacles the worms feed on.
The next video YouTube’s algorithm suggested was lighter on the science and heavier on the drama from a channel named Brave Wilderness that has earned 21.5 million subscribers. The gimmick: Two guys get attacked and stung by venomous and dangerous animals from all over the world, allegedly under the supervision of trained professionals.
Mark Vins delivers a pained performance in a video titled “BURNED by a Giant Fireworm!” After nine minutes of talking in the YouTube cadence de rigueur, Vins brushes a fire worm on his arm and quickly starts having a bad time. The veins in his neck sticking out like the bristles in his arm, he describes the pain through gritted teeth. After talking for a bit, he uses the tape and says he feels immediate relief.
A month later, he said later in the video that the pain would come rushing back whenever he even began to sweat. He said he has scarring on his arm.
Using the very proprietary Brave Wilderness “Bite/Sting Index” rating scale (which is based on intimidation, pain and aftermath), Vins rated it a 9 out of 10.
So, if you don’t trust the scientist, trust the YouTuber and don’t touch these worms.
![Worm[1].png](https://forums.canadiancontent.net/data/attachments/22/22691-000173cfe104bcb47af3501072e7f499.jpg "Worm[1].png")
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Ben Brasch, The Washington Post
Published Aug 29, 2024 • 3 minute read
Jace Tunnell
Jace Tunnell with the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies holds up a fireworm he caught this week in Corpus Christi, Texas. (Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies)
If you have your life together and worry for nothing, sorry to tell you: Venomous sea worms are washing up on Texas beaches, and, if touched, they’ll make you feel like your skin is on fire.
The bristle worms – known to scientists as Amphinome rostrata – have recently found themselves along the Texas coast, according to the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. A scientist at the institute who found one said he hasn’t seen them in three to four years.
An April 14 Facebook post from the Institute calmly laid out the situation: “WARNING!!! Your worst nightmares are washing up right now in the form of fireworms!”
Marine bristle worms are found all over the world, from the Gulf Coast of Texas to the scuba-diving haven known as the Poor Knights Islands, located east of the Tutukākā coast in New Zealand, according to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
The worms were first described 250 years ago by Prussian naturalist Peter Simon Pallas on page 106 of his 1766 Latin book “Miscellanea Zoologica,” according to NIWA. They can grow to be about eight inches long.
Each worm is composed of 60 to 150 different segments covered by hollow bristles that easily get stuck in human skin and deposit painful venom, said Jace Tunnell, the institute’s director of community engagement.
The worms live between two and a half and nine years, he said. They reproduce sexually and asexually, meaning, as he put it, “I could cut this thing in half and it could regrow.” Their predators are fish and crabs.
Each one of the 28 different species of the marine bristle worm can hurt humans, he said.
Tunnell told viewers that he has never felt the wrath but understands that the venom can also cause dizziness in addition to searing pain. If anyone is unlucky enough, he suggests quickly covering the problem area with tape and then ripping off the tape to remove the bristles. Then, like with a jellyfish, he says to wash the area with white vinegar and warm water.
But, bad news: “It’s gonna be painful no matter what.”
Tunnell talked about the Texas fire worms in a YouTube video after finding one along the Gulf Coast in Texas on a log covered in the gooseneck barnacles the worms feed on.
The next video YouTube’s algorithm suggested was lighter on the science and heavier on the drama from a channel named Brave Wilderness that has earned 21.5 million subscribers. The gimmick: Two guys get attacked and stung by venomous and dangerous animals from all over the world, allegedly under the supervision of trained professionals.
Mark Vins delivers a pained performance in a video titled “BURNED by a Giant Fireworm!” After nine minutes of talking in the YouTube cadence de rigueur, Vins brushes a fire worm on his arm and quickly starts having a bad time. The veins in his neck sticking out like the bristles in his arm, he describes the pain through gritted teeth. After talking for a bit, he uses the tape and says he feels immediate relief.
A month later, he said later in the video that the pain would come rushing back whenever he even began to sweat. He said he has scarring on his arm.
Using the very proprietary Brave Wilderness “Bite/Sting Index” rating scale (which is based on intimidation, pain and aftermath), Vins rated it a 9 out of 10.
So, if you don’t trust the scientist, trust the YouTuber and don’t touch these worms.
‘Worst nightmare’ venomous sea worms washing up on Texas shores, scientists say
Each one of the 28 different species of the marine bristle worm can hurt humans, he said.
Massachusetts health officials report second case of potentially deadly mosquito-borne virus
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Steve Leblanc
Published Aug 29, 2024 • 2 minute read
BOSTON — Massachusetts health officials on Thursday announced a second confirmed case of the mosquito-borne eastern equine encephalitis virus in the state.
A second case of the virus in a horse was also confirmed.
The human case is a woman in her 30s. Both were exposed in the area of Plymouth County that was aerial-sprayed Tuesday night. Both became infected before spraying was performed.
The detection of the latest case comes after a New Hampshire resident infected with the virus died, state health authorities said Tuesday.
The Hampstead resident’s infection was the first in the state in a decade, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services said. The resident, whom the department only identified as an adult, had been hospitalized because of severe central nervous system symptoms
Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages and is generally spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The first Massachusetts resident infected with the EEE virus this year was a male in his 80s exposed in southern Worcester County.
Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said people should take steps to prevent mosquito bites.
“We expect that the aerial spraying will help prevent risk for EEE from continuing to escalate in the area, but it does not eliminate it completely,” he said.
About a third of people who develop encephalitis from the virus die from the infection, and survivors can suffer lifelong mental and physical disabilities.
There is no vaccine or antiviral treatment available for infections, which can cause flu-like symptoms and lead to severe neurological disease along with inflammation of the brain and membranes around the spinal cord.
There have been 76 EEE-positive mosquito samples detected so far this year in Massachusetts.
Officials in some Massachusetts towns have urged people to avoid going outdoors at night this summer because of concerns over the virus.
A 2019 outbreak included six deaths among 12 confirmed cases in Massachusetts, and the outbreak continued the following year with five more cases and another death. Two of three people infected in New Hampshire in 2014 died.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Steve Leblanc
Published Aug 29, 2024 • 2 minute read
BOSTON — Massachusetts health officials on Thursday announced a second confirmed case of the mosquito-borne eastern equine encephalitis virus in the state.
A second case of the virus in a horse was also confirmed.
The human case is a woman in her 30s. Both were exposed in the area of Plymouth County that was aerial-sprayed Tuesday night. Both became infected before spraying was performed.
The detection of the latest case comes after a New Hampshire resident infected with the virus died, state health authorities said Tuesday.
The Hampstead resident’s infection was the first in the state in a decade, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services said. The resident, whom the department only identified as an adult, had been hospitalized because of severe central nervous system symptoms
Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages and is generally spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The first Massachusetts resident infected with the EEE virus this year was a male in his 80s exposed in southern Worcester County.
Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said people should take steps to prevent mosquito bites.
“We expect that the aerial spraying will help prevent risk for EEE from continuing to escalate in the area, but it does not eliminate it completely,” he said.
About a third of people who develop encephalitis from the virus die from the infection, and survivors can suffer lifelong mental and physical disabilities.
There is no vaccine or antiviral treatment available for infections, which can cause flu-like symptoms and lead to severe neurological disease along with inflammation of the brain and membranes around the spinal cord.
There have been 76 EEE-positive mosquito samples detected so far this year in Massachusetts.
Officials in some Massachusetts towns have urged people to avoid going outdoors at night this summer because of concerns over the virus.
A 2019 outbreak included six deaths among 12 confirmed cases in Massachusetts, and the outbreak continued the following year with five more cases and another death. Two of three people infected in New Hampshire in 2014 died.
Massachusetts health officials report second case of potentially deadly mosquito-borne virus
Massachusetts health officials on Thursday announced a second confirmed case of the mosquito-borne eastern equine encephalitis virus.
What to know about the mosquito-borne virus circulating in the Northeast
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Victoria Bisset, The Washington Post
Published Aug 30, 2024 • 3 minute read
One person has died and some communities are restricting activities as eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, circulates in the northeastern United States. The mosquito-borne disease is rare but serious, with about 30 percent of people who contract severe EEE dying and others developing neurological issues.
Here’s what to know.
What is EEE?
Eastern equine encephalitis is spread by bites from infected mosquitoes. The disease can cause brain inflammation and may impair a person’s neurological and nerve functions.
A few cases are reported in the United States each year, usually in eastern or Gulf Coast states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. EEE is most common from late spring through early fall and near bodies of water.
Eastern equine encephalitis got its name because it was first detected in horses.
How do you get EEE?
EEE typically circulates between mosquitoes and birds usually found in freshwater hardwood swamps. People who live or work near wetlands, swamps or wooded areas and spend a lot of time outdoors are at a greater risk of contracting EEE, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The infection most often affects children under 15 and adults over 50. People with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, organ transplant recipients and diabetics, may experience severe symptoms.
As mosquito season has gotten longer in much of the contiguous United States due to climate change, scientists have expressed concern that the risk of mosquito-borne infections like EEE could grow.
What are the symptoms?
While many people have no symptoms, signs of the less severe form of EEE may include chills, fever, joint pain and muscle pain. This form of the disease, known as febrile illness, typically lasts one to two weeks, and most people recover fully.
A severe infection, or neurological disease, could be marked by confusion, diarrhea, drowsiness, headaches, high fever, seizures, loss of appetite and vomiting. Many people who recover from serious infections have long-term physical or mental problems.
Symptoms often appear four to 10 days after the bite from an infected mosquito.
Where have cases of EEE recently been reported?
There have been at least six cases of EEE in humans so far this year, with infections confirmed in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Wisconsin.
One person, a resident of Hampstead, N.H., whose age and gender have not been made public, has died. In Massachusetts, where health officials said several communities are at elevated risk of EEE, some towns are closing parks after dusk, restricting outdoor activities and rescheduling public events.
There were seven cases of EEE in humans last year – far fewer than in 2019, when 38 cases were recorded.
Is there a cure or vaccine?
No, there are no vaccines against EEE in humans or medicines to treat it.
What should you do if you think you have EEE?
EEE symptoms may resemble those of the flu and there’s no specific test for the virus, so talk to your health-care provider if you were recently bitten by a mosquito and have symptoms, or if you have a weakened immune system.
Rest, fluids and over-the-counter pain medicines may help relieve symptoms, the CDC says, but patients with severe infections may require hospitalization.
How can you avoid getting EEE?
The advice for preventing an eastern equine encephalitis infection is the same as that for other mosquito-borne illnesses, such as the West Nile virus: Avoid getting bitten. Specific suggestions include using mosquito repellent, wearing clothes that cover your skin, such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and rescheduling outdoor activities to avoid the hours between dusk and dawn.
While certain essential oils may protect against mosquitoes, there has not been enough research into protection times and safe and effective concentrations for use on skin. Ultrasonic or wearable devices do not usually repel mosquitoes.
Make sure your window screens are in good condition and have a proper seal, and regularly check around your home for standing water, debris or empty containers where mosquitoes could breed.
Massachusetts officials are conducting mosquito-control spraying in some counties this week to target insects carrying eastern equine encephalitis.
EEE probably can be transmitted through blood transfusions, so people recently diagnosed with eastern equine encephalitis can help prevent it from spreading further by not donating blood for four months following their illness.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Victoria Bisset, The Washington Post
Published Aug 30, 2024 • 3 minute read
One person has died and some communities are restricting activities as eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, circulates in the northeastern United States. The mosquito-borne disease is rare but serious, with about 30 percent of people who contract severe EEE dying and others developing neurological issues.
Here’s what to know.
What is EEE?
Eastern equine encephalitis is spread by bites from infected mosquitoes. The disease can cause brain inflammation and may impair a person’s neurological and nerve functions.
A few cases are reported in the United States each year, usually in eastern or Gulf Coast states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. EEE is most common from late spring through early fall and near bodies of water.
Eastern equine encephalitis got its name because it was first detected in horses.
How do you get EEE?
EEE typically circulates between mosquitoes and birds usually found in freshwater hardwood swamps. People who live or work near wetlands, swamps or wooded areas and spend a lot of time outdoors are at a greater risk of contracting EEE, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The infection most often affects children under 15 and adults over 50. People with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, organ transplant recipients and diabetics, may experience severe symptoms.
As mosquito season has gotten longer in much of the contiguous United States due to climate change, scientists have expressed concern that the risk of mosquito-borne infections like EEE could grow.
What are the symptoms?
While many people have no symptoms, signs of the less severe form of EEE may include chills, fever, joint pain and muscle pain. This form of the disease, known as febrile illness, typically lasts one to two weeks, and most people recover fully.
A severe infection, or neurological disease, could be marked by confusion, diarrhea, drowsiness, headaches, high fever, seizures, loss of appetite and vomiting. Many people who recover from serious infections have long-term physical or mental problems.
Symptoms often appear four to 10 days after the bite from an infected mosquito.
Where have cases of EEE recently been reported?
There have been at least six cases of EEE in humans so far this year, with infections confirmed in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Wisconsin.
One person, a resident of Hampstead, N.H., whose age and gender have not been made public, has died. In Massachusetts, where health officials said several communities are at elevated risk of EEE, some towns are closing parks after dusk, restricting outdoor activities and rescheduling public events.
There were seven cases of EEE in humans last year – far fewer than in 2019, when 38 cases were recorded.
Is there a cure or vaccine?
No, there are no vaccines against EEE in humans or medicines to treat it.
What should you do if you think you have EEE?
EEE symptoms may resemble those of the flu and there’s no specific test for the virus, so talk to your health-care provider if you were recently bitten by a mosquito and have symptoms, or if you have a weakened immune system.
Rest, fluids and over-the-counter pain medicines may help relieve symptoms, the CDC says, but patients with severe infections may require hospitalization.
How can you avoid getting EEE?
The advice for preventing an eastern equine encephalitis infection is the same as that for other mosquito-borne illnesses, such as the West Nile virus: Avoid getting bitten. Specific suggestions include using mosquito repellent, wearing clothes that cover your skin, such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and rescheduling outdoor activities to avoid the hours between dusk and dawn.
While certain essential oils may protect against mosquitoes, there has not been enough research into protection times and safe and effective concentrations for use on skin. Ultrasonic or wearable devices do not usually repel mosquitoes.
Make sure your window screens are in good condition and have a proper seal, and regularly check around your home for standing water, debris or empty containers where mosquitoes could breed.
Massachusetts officials are conducting mosquito-control spraying in some counties this week to target insects carrying eastern equine encephalitis.
EEE probably can be transmitted through blood transfusions, so people recently diagnosed with eastern equine encephalitis can help prevent it from spreading further by not donating blood for four months following their illness.
What to know about the mosquito-borne virus circulating in the Northeast
Here's what to know.