Quickening

In pregnancy terms, quickening is the moment in pregnancy when the pregnant woman starts to feel or perceive fetal movements in the uterus.

Medical facts

The first natural sensation of quickening may feel like a light tapping, or the fluttering of a butterfly. These sensations eventually become stronger and more regular as the pregnancy progresses. Sometimes, the first movements are mis-attributed to gas or hunger pangs.

A woman’s uterine muscles, rather than her abdominal muscles, are first to sense fetal motion. Therefore, a woman’s body weight usually does not have a substantial effect on when movements are initially perceived. Women who have already given birth have more relaxed uterine muscles that are consequently more sensitive to fetal motion, and for them fetal motion can sometimes be felt as early as 14 weeks.

Usually, quickening occurs naturally at about the middle of a pregnancy. A woman pregnant for the first time (i.e., a primigravida woman) typically feels fetal movements at about 18–20 weeks, whereas a woman who has been pregnant more than once (i.e., a multipara woman) will typically feel movements around 15–17 weeks.

The Quickening

The Quickening is the fifth studio album by the southern California punk rock band The Vandals, released in 1996 by Nitro Records. Much of the album is characterized by themes of nihilism and anarchism, but presented with the tongue-in-cheek humor for which the band is known.

Both the band and the album attracted increased attention due to their involvement with the film Glory Daze. The Vandals recorded several songs for the film's soundtrack, including the main theme, and the soundtrack album was released on their Kung Fu Records label that had been started by guitarist Warren Fitzgerald and bassist Joe Escalante earlier that year. An independent music video was filmed for the song "It's a Fact" and two versions were released: one with clips from the movie and one without. Because drummer Josh Freese was not available due to other commitments, regular substitute Brooks Wackerman appears in the video as the band's drummer.

Reception

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Warren Fitzgerald, except where noted. 

Darkness (disambiguation)

Darkness is the absence of light.

Darkness or The Darkness may also refer to:

In film and television

In literature

Awake and Alive

"Awake and Alive" is the third single of the 2009 album Awake by the Christian rock band Skillet. It was released on February 15, 2010 to Christian Hard rock and Rock radio. Before release as a single, the song charted at No. 100 in the Billboard Hot 100 for one week and No. 16 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers after the release of Awake thanks to digital sales, becoming Skillet's first song to hit the Hot 100. The song also charted at No. 1 on Christian Rock.net. It has also debuted on Christian Rock charts at No. 12.

Track listing

Music video

The music video consists of the band playing the song live on stage. The video also features clips of the band backstage, and even some clips from some of their podcasts.

Meaning

When asked about the meaning of the song by Sterotruth.net, John Cooper (the lead singer of the band) had the following to say: "Tying in with “Hero,” here’s one about feeling like you’re falling under from all the stresses of life. Even though you feel like everyone around you is trying to take your hope away from you, no one has the right to do that and you shouldn’t allow those negative influences to weigh you down. Live what you believe and don’t be afraid to stand up for your faith."

James MacMillan

Sir James Loy MacMillan, CBE (born 16 July 1959) is a Scottish classical composer and conductor.

Early life

MacMillan was born at Kilwinning, in North Ayrshire, but lived in the East Ayrshire town of Cumnock until 1977.

He studied composition at the University of Edinburgh with Rita McAllister, and at Durham University with John Casken, where he gained a PhD degree in 1987. He was a lecturer in music at the Victoria University of Manchester from 1986 to 1988. After his studies, MacMillan returned to Scotland, composing prolifically, and becoming Associate Composer with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, often working on education projects.

Rising success

He came to the attention of the classical establishment with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra's premiere of The Confession of Isobel Gowdie at the Proms in 1990. Isobel Gowdie was one of many women executed for witchcraft in 17th century Scotland. According to the composer, "the work craves absolution and offers Isobel Gowdie the mercy and humanity that was denied her in the last days of her life".