The Bivalvia comprise a class of marine and freshwater molluscs that have laterally compressed bodies enclosed by a shell consisting of two hinged parts. Bivalves include clams, oysters, cockles, mussels, scallops, and numerous other families that live in saltwater or in freshwater. The majority are filter feeders. Most bivalves bury themselves in sediment, where they are relatively safe from predation, though some others lie on the sea floor or attach themselves to rocks or other hard surfaces. A bivalve's shell(giant clam shell pictured) is composed of calcium carbonate, and consists of two, usually similar, parts called valves, which can open and close without becoming disarticulated. Adult shell sizes of bivalves vary from fractions of a millimetre to over a metre in length, but the majority of species do not exceed 10 cm (4 in). Bivalves have long been a part of the diet of coastal human populations, and pearl oysters are the most common source of natural pearls. Bivalves first appear in the fossil record more than 500 million years ago. The total number of living species is approximately 9,200. (Full article...)
Music recording certifications are typically awarded by the global music industry based on the total units sold or shipped to the retailers. These awards and their requirements are defined by the various certifying bodies representing the music industry in various countries and territories worldwide. The standard certification awards given consist of Gold (example pictured), Platinum, and sometimes Diamond awards, in ascending order; the UK also has a Silver certification, ranking below Gold. In most cases, a "Multi-Platinum" or "Multi-Diamond" award is given for multiples of the Platinum or Diamond requirements. Though all certifying bodies give awards for album sales or shipments, many also certify singles, paid digital downloads, music videos, music DVDs, and masterringtones. Additionally, some certifying bodies have separate threshold scales for works of domestic or international origins, varying genres, lengths, and formats. (Full list...)
Henrik Freischlader (b. 1982) is a German blues guitarist and singer. He began his career in 1998, and established his own label, Cable Car Records, in 2009.
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