Pishtacos article

http://www.slate.com/id/2239003/

Slate Magazine

17 December 2009

The Human Grease Murders
A mysterious crime in Peru revives a vampire legend that's more than 400 years old.

By Daniel Engber

Sick Boy Gets Mail

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/internet_rumor_about_ill_mexic.html

The Post-Standard [Syracuse, NY]
17 December 2009

Internet rumor about ill Mexico boy snowballs into avalanche of Christmas cards

By Debra J. Groom / The Post-Standard

Mexico, NY -- Day after day, thousands of Christmas cards are delivered to Jacob Hadcock in Mexico. Cards are coming in from Central New York, every state in the United States and countries as far away as England, Australia and China. They come from people who think 4-year-old Jacob is dying. [...]

Bank Robber Hypnotized Tellers (Russia)

http://www.globalpost.com/mobile?mid=5110292

GlobalPost

5 December 2009

Bank robber hypnotized tellers

By Kevin O'Flynn
Special to GlobalPost

MOSCOW, Russia - Bank robbers have threatened tellers with knives, shot their way into banks and tunnelled up into vaults. But one woman in southern Russia chose a more peaceful method: Police say Galina Korzhova hypnotised a bank teller into handing over tens of thousands of dollars in what is believed to be just one in a series of daring, if non-violent, bank robberies. [...]

Disney Characters Are First on the Lifeboats

[From the POPBITCH Newsletter, 10 December 2009.]

Disney's mouse and duck get special treatment

"This might be a story that does the rounds within the Disney parks, but I'm assured rather sincerely by a friend who worked a stint at one of the Disneylands that it is true.

"If a Disney cruise ship ever needs to be evacuated at sea, the protocol is that the people who get the first lifeboat (before the women and children) are two Disney employees. These two employees are required to take one Mickey Mouse and one Donald Duck costume with them so that when/if the children arrive to safety they can be greeted by Mickey and Donald so that they don't get upset thinking that they have gone down with the ship."

Fumes from Burning Bins Intoxicate Teens

http://www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/1185588_dump_this_deadly_craze

Tameside Advertiser [UK]
10 December 2009

Dump this deadly craze

Sue Carr

YOUTHS setting fire to wheelie bins in an attempt to get ‘high’ are at risk of killing themselves, a fire chief has warned.

Blue bins, used for paper recycling, are at the centre of the latest craze among youngsters in Tameside who wrongly believe an urban myth that the combination of fumes from the paper and burning plastic will give them a hit. [...]

TV Remote Stuck Up Man's Ass

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-world/2009/12/10/chinese-man-gets-remote-control-stuck-in-bottom-after-drunk-prank-115875-21886936/

The Mirror [UK]
10 December 2009

Chinese man gets remote control stuck in bottom after drunk prank

[...] Nineteen-year-old Huang Chen mystified medics when he turned up drunk at Hunan Hangtian Hospital in Changsha, complaining of unexplained pain from his rear end.

While being examined, the tipsy student turned over in bed, and inadvertently changed channel on the ward's telly.

Astonishing X-rays later revealed that the teenager had a TV remote control lodged up his backside. [...]

Asian Restaurant Serves Dog Meat, Claims Leaflet (Bristol, UK)

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Bristol-restaurant-dogged-smear-campaign-offers-163-10-000-reward/article-1588618-detail/article.html

Bristol Evening Post [UK]
9 December 2009

Bristol restaurant dogged by smear campaign offers £10,000 reward

A £10,000 reward has been put up by a Bristol restaurant owner to track down the instigators of a smear campaign which claimed it served dog meat.

Several customers have called Asian restaurant Cosmo on Clifton Triangle to tell staff about a leaflet put through doors in the surrounding area, which says the venue has been closed by environmental health officers for serving "suspicious meat". [...]

Kidney Thefts (Malaysia)

http://www.mmail.com.my/content/21043-kidneys-gone-after-sex-prostitutes

The Malay Mail [Malaysia]
7 December 2009

KIDNEYS GONE AFTER SEX WITH PROSTITUTES
Two claims of organ harvesting in JB reported

Yushaimi Yahaya

KUALA LUMPUR: Two calls to his handphone yesterday by men claiming that syndicates in Johor Baru were "stealing" kidneys from those who visit prostitutes in the capital of Johor has set Datuk Michael Chong's alarm bells ringing.

Chong said in the first case, the caller claimed that his friend had visited a prostitute and ended up waking in a bath tub full of ice. [...]

http://www.mmail.com.my/content/21229-kidney-harvesting-urban-myth

The Malay Mail [Malaysia]
8 December 2009

Kidney harvesting an urban myth

MARHALIM ABAS

KUALA LUMPUR: Johor police have not received reports of organ harvesting in the state. [...]

McDonald's Applie Pies Contain Chayotes (Australia)

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/money/money-matters/are-there-chokos-in-mcdonalds-apple-pies/story-fn300aev-1225807413552

The Daily Telegraph [Australia]
6 December 2009

Are there chokos in McDonald's Apple Pies?

John Rolfe, Daily Telegraph

THE MYTH: McDonald's secretly uses chokos in its hot apple pies to cut costs. [...]

Burglars' Code (UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/6703441/Burglars-tag-homes-to-let-each-other-know-which-are-worth-stealing-from.html

The Daily Telegraph [UK]
2 December 2009

Burglars tag homes to let each other know which are worth stealing from

A gang of burglars have been scrawling coded messages in chalk outside homes to let each other know which are worth targeting, police have disclosed. [...]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/03/burglars-code-chalk-marks-wall

The Guardian [UK]
3 December 2009

Is your home about to be burgled?
Chalk marks left by burglars on your walls could be a signal to rob you

Duncan Campbell

[...] Inspector Elaine Burtenshaw described the use of the symbols as "a troubling development". She is now asking local residents to alert the police if they spot them. This time the chalking of circles on the wall is said to mean that a wealthy person lives in the house, a circle with a cross over it denotes "nothing worth stealing", while others indicate whether the resident was "nervous and afraid" or has "already been burgled". [...]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1232496/The-Burglars-Code-Criminals-chalk-messages-pinpoint-targets-villains.html
Daily Mail [UK]
2 December 2009
The Burglars' Code: Criminals chalk messages which pinpoint targets for other villains

UPDATE: Peruvian Fat-stealing Gang

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1943539,00.html?xid=rss-topstories

TIME
1 December 2009

Peru's Fat-Stealing Gang: Crime or Cover-Up?

By Lucien Chauvin / Lima

Much of the world was shocked and titillated by news of alleged fat-stealing murderers in the Peruvian jungle. But the story may have a much more sinister underbelly. Could the allegation of homicidal liposuction possibly be a smokescreen to distract attention from other crimes, including, some local journalists say, the existence of a death squad that may be operating within the country's national police? [...]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N01394292.htm

Reuters AlertNet
1 December 2009

Peru suspends cop behind gang of 'human fat sellers'

By Terry Wade

LIMA, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Peru suspended its top organized crime investigator on Tuesday after he misled the country by saying he had caught a gang of serial killers who acted out an ancient Andean legend and sold their victims' fat. [...]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jZaOVgWyLvdQwV-K-yAXhCdG8N9gD9CAO4B00

The Associated Press

1 December 2009
Peru purges police, fat-stealing claims questioned
By ANDREW WHALEN (AP)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jZaOVgWyLvdQwV-K-yAXhCdG8N9gD9CCP7N00

Associated Press
4 December 2009

Peru's fat hangover: Garcia denies police killings

By ANDREW WHALEN (AP)

LIMA, Peru — Peruvian President Alan Garcia denied Thursday that his government invented a tale about murderous fat-thieves to distract from allegations of police death squad killings, saying the claim was fundamentally true even if it became exaggerated. [...]

Serenity Prayer

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/28/us/28prayer.html?_r=1&ref=us

New York Times

28 November 2009

Serenity Prayer Skeptic Now Credits Niebuhr

By LAURIE GOODSTEIN

A Yale librarian who cast doubt last year on the origins of the Serenity Prayer, adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous and reprinted on countless knickknacks, says new evidence has persuaded him to retain the famed Protestant theologian Reinhold Niebuhr as the author in the next edition of The Yale Book of Quotations. [...]

Garlic & Onions Prevent Swine Flu

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ijdkeoe-CqJgS7B8Sg38tmQaqrCwD9C2HSNO1

Associated Press
19 November 2009

Moldovan soldiers given onions to fight swine flu

CHISINAU, Moldova — Moldova's army is feeding its soldiers onions and garlic to help them ward off swine flu. [...]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/25/AR2009112503667.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Washington Post
26 November 2009

China sees huge rise in garlic prices
Speculators accused of cashing in on people's swine flu fears

By Robert Cookson and Patti Waldmeir
Washington Post Foreign Serivce

HONG KONG -- Garlic prices are hitting record highs in China, the world's biggest producer of the pungent bulbs, amid reports of a speculative bubble in the market even as people rush to buy it as a putative cure for swine flu. [...]

Sliced Tomato

http://www.nigerianmuse.com/20091127134354zg/articles/of-death-rumours-curses-and-superstitions

Nigerian Muse
27 November 2009

Of Death, Rumours, Curses And Superstitions

Akintokunbo Adejumo

[...] For many years now, the Nollywood actress, Sola Sobowale, popularly called Toyin Tomato has been rumoured as dead. It was said that she was arrested and beheaded in Saudi Arabia for committing drug related offences. Contrary to the rumours however, Toyin Tomato is still alive safe and sound. In fact I see her at Emukay Restaurant in London almost every weekend, the last being just last Friday. We are also constantly on the phone. She has never even been to Saudi Arabia, not to talk of being beheaded. For the past 3 years, everytime I visit Nigeria, people who know that I know Sola always ask me if the rumours were true, and I had to go to great lengths to deny this wicked rumour. [...]

Gang Initiation: Cop Claims He Was Attacked at Mall

http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/1023092.html

Belleville News-Democrat [IL]
24 November 2009

Fairview police say there is no truth to officer's claim that he was attacked at mall

BY JACQUELINE LEE - News-Democrat

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS -- Chief Ed Delmore said there is no truth to a widely circulated e-mail cautioning St. Clair Square shoppers that gang members are attacking patrons as initiation.

An off-duty Lebanon police officer mentioned in the e-mail told Fairview investigators he was attacked, but declined to file a police report and could not provide details of the crime, Delmore said. [...]

Greyhounds to be killed

http://gazettextra.com/weblogs/latest-news/2009/nov/27/greyhound-rumor-said-be-false/

The Janseville Gazette [WI]
27 November 2009

Greyhound rumor said to be false

By Associated Press

KENOSHA — A greyhound adoption group wants to silence rumors that hundreds of dogs could be put to sleep when Dairyland Greyhound Park in Kenosha closes. [...]

Blood-stained Concrete Removed

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/true-blood-what-the-forensic-pathologist-saw-1825727.html

The Independent [UK]
23 November 2009

True blood: What the forensic pathologist saw

It's splattered over vampire movies, TV shows and crime novels. But the bloody reality of guts and gore is even more fascinating than the fiction, writes New York pathologist Jonathan Hayes

[...] I've heard that when a member of one of New York's Orthodox Jewish sects (the Satmar and the Lubavitchers) is murdered on the street, their friends descend on the site with pick-axes to collect the blood-stained concrete; I've not seen that myself. [...]

Alligators in NYC Sewers

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/the-book-behind-the-sewer-alligator-legend/

New York Times
23 November 2009

The Book Behind the Sewer-Alligator Legend

By A. G. SULZBERGER

[An overview of the legend of alligators in New York City sewers.]

Murder Victims' Fat Used in Cosmetics (Peru)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/20/world/americas/20peru.html

New York Times
20 November 2009

Peru’s Police Say Gang Drained Victims’ Fat

LIMA, Peru (AP) — A gang in the remote Peruvian jungle has been killing people for their fat, the police said Thursday, accusing the gang’s members of draining fat from bodies and selling it on the black market for use in cosmetics.

Medical experts expressed skepticism, however, that a major market for fat might exist. [...]

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE5AJ2YB20091120
Reuters
20 November 2009
Gang accused of killing to sell human fat

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/peru/6613600/Peruvian-gang-killed-victims-for-their-body-fat-police.html
Daily Telegraph [UK]
20 November 2009
Peruvian gang killed victims for their body fat, police

Fisherman's Friend Prevents Swine Flu

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/11/14/swine-flu-cure-rumours-send-sales-of-fisherman-s-friends-soaring-86908-21820882/

The Daily Record [UK]
14 November 2009

Swine flu 'cure' rumours send sales of Fisherman's Friends soaring

John Ferguson

FISHERMAN'S Friend lozenges are flying off shelves - because people think they might cure swine flu.

Makers have been forced to increase production of their aniseed variety after health fears sent sales of the iconic lozenges soaring by 43 per cent since June.

The key ingredient star anise - or pure aniseed - is also contained in the swine flu treatment Tamiflu. [...]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/11/14/fisherman-s-friend-sales-soar-because-people-think-they-might-cure-swine-flu-115875-21820586/

Daily Mirror [UK]
14 November 2009
Fisherman's Friend sales soar because people think they might cure swine flu
By Stephen White

http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/articles.aspx?page=articles&ID=204545
The Grocer [UK]

24 October 2009
Focus On Winter Remedies: Coughs and sneezes spread... um... sales
Vince Bamford, The Grocer

Child Abducted in Asda Store (UK)

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2009/11/14/asda-child-abduction-text-message-hoax-the-full-story-86081-25164844/

The Huddersfield Daily Examiner [UK]
14 November 2009

Asda child abduction text message hoax - the full story

by Anne-Marie Senior, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SUPERMARKET chain Asda has quashed rumours of a child abduction at its Huddersfield store as “absolute nonsense.” [...]

The message in full: "Dear All. This is a very serious message that I hope you can pass on to as many people as you can.

“Last night at the big ASDA in Bradley a three-year-old girl went missing. Fortunately their policy when something like this happens is to lock the doors.

“The little girl was found in the toilets with two Romanian women, one shaving her head and the other dressing her in boys’ clothes. This comes from an employee who was there last night. Please pass the message round to as many as you can and remain extra vigilant with your own children.”

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Hoax-messages-claim-child-abducted-Asda-stores-Leicestershire/article-1517902-detail/article.html
Leicester Mercury
16 November 2009
Hoax text messages claim child abducted at Asda stores in Leicestershire

Swine Flu Causes Surge of Garlic Sales in Serbia

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iUAA2GCLG-ftUe92AbU5GN4aC4vgD9BUMV9G5

The Associated Press
13 November 2009

Swine flu causes surge of garlic sales in Serbia

By DUSAN STOJANOVIC (AP)

[...] "Garlic is the best, forget the vaccines," said Marko Jankovic, an elderly Belgrader, with the pungent smell of garlic obvious as he spoke at the crowded Kaleniceva Pijaca market. "From the vaccine, you can get sick. From garlic, you can only get bad breath." [...]

Thatcher Is Dead

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2212398

National Post [Canada]
11 November 2009

Fur flies over death of 'Thatcher'

David Akin, Canwest News Service

OTTAWA • With lightning speed, it spread from BlackBerry to BlackBerry among the 2,000 or so Conservatives in black-tie on Tuesday evening at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for the first True Patriot Love Tribute Dinner: "Thatcher has died." [...]

[Not Margaret Thatcher, it turned out, but Thatcher the cat, the 16-year-old pet owned by Canada's Transport Minister and named after the former British P.M.]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jJzwSTLf4N1KE3qgmxc01QqZA3sQ
The Canadian Press
11 November 2009
Cat's demise prompts rumours of Thatcher death, causes fur to fly

Carjacking Warning (UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/6538358/Carjacking-warning.html

Daily Telegraph [UK]
11 November 2009

Carjacking warning
Drivers urged to be aware of potential car-theft scam.

By David Williams

Motorists have been warned to be wary of a new carjacking ruse in the run-up to Christmas.

Thieves are reportedly leaving notes or leaflets on the rear windows of parked cars. Drivers don't spot the piece of paper until they start the engine and look over their shoulder to manoeuvre.

When they get out to retrieve the note carjackers are reportedly pouncing into the driver's seat and making off with the car.

Details of the ruse have been widely circulated via an anonymous email. [...]

Drug Trafficker's Critic Gets Head Shaved (Mexico)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-narco-women10-2009nov10,0,2499736.story

Los Angeles Times
10 November 2009

Women play a bigger role in Mexico's drug war

By Tracy Wilkinson

Reporting from Culiacan, Mexico - In the story making the rounds here in Mexico's drug capital, the setting is a beauty parlor. A woman with wealth obtained legally openly criticizes a younger patron who is married to a trafficker. The "narco-wife" orders the hairdresser to shave the first woman's head. Terrified, the hairdresser complies. [...]

Swine Flu Rumors (Ukraine)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/the-ministry-of-misinformation-flu-fears-and-rumours-paralyze-ukraine/article1356126/

The Globe and Mail [Toronto, ON]

9 November 2009

Flu fears and rumours paralyze Ukraine

SUSAN SACHS

[Some Ukrainians believe that the H1N1 virus can be contracted from imported food. It's also rumored that "helicopters have tried to disinfect Kiev by spraying it with chlorine gas."]

Tampered Treats (Halloween, 2009)

http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=11411508

WLBT-TV [Jackson, MS]
30 October 2009

Mid-South father found blades in bag of candy

CORDOVA, TN (WMC-TV) - A Mid-South father says he thought it was just an urban myth before he found razor blades inside a package of Kit Kat bars purchased at Wal-mart.

Zach Bourneman says his son wanted to dip into the Halloween candy a little early. But Bourneman received a scare when he opened the bag of treats. Inside the bag of miniature Kit Kat bars, he found two box-cutter blades wrapped in cellophane tape. [...]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/parents-find-razor-blades-needle-in-halloween-loot/article1347150/

Globe and Mail [Toronto, ON]
1 November 2009

Parents find razor blades, needle in Halloween loot
Toronto — Globe and Mail Update and The Canadian Press

Toronto Police are warning parents to take a closer look at their child's Halloween treats after a North York family discovered a razor blade in a loot bag. [...]

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/622568

The Record [Cambridge, ON]
1 November 2009

Syringe found in Halloween bag in Cambridge

CAMBRIDGE — Parents are being asked to check through Halloween candy after a girl brought home a syringe in her trick-or-treat bag. [...]

http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/news/article/139079

newsdurhamregion.com [ON]
1 November 2009

Needle found in Halloween candy
WHITBY -- Halloween was a lot scarier for a local family after a parent found a needle in a piece of Halloween candy last night. [...]

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/139413/group/home/

Grand Forks Herald [ND]
1 November 2009

GF resident reports needle in Halloween candy

By: Herald Staff Report, Grand Forks Herald

An officer from the Grand Forks Police Department took a complaint today from a citizen who said he was stuck by a sewing needle when eating his child’s Halloween candy, according to a news release. [...]

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9013857.html

The Chronicle-Herald [Halifax, NS]
1 November 2009

N.S. mom finds razor blade in applePolice warn parents to inspect candy
By THE CANADIAN PRESS

MELVERN SQUARE — RCMP are reminding parents to inspect their children's Halloween loot after a Nova Scotia woman discovered a scary surprise in her child's treats.

The Annapolis County woman told police she found a razor blade hidden within an apple that her child received Saturday night. [...]

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2009/10/31/story_candy_warning.html?sid=102

WBNS-TV [Columbus, OH]
31 October 2009

Pill Found In Child's Halloween Candy
ALEXANDRIA, Ohio — A parent reported to police that she found a prescription pill after her child went trick-or-treating, 10TV's Brittany Westbrook reported. [...]

The family claimed that the pill was pressed inside the cream-filled center. [...]

http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2157223

The Sudbury Star [ON]
2 November 2009

Halloween treat in New Sudbury contained a piece of glass
Greater Sudbury Police are asking the public to double check their kids' Halloween treats after a piece of glass turned up in a treat bag in New Sudbury Saturday night. [...]

http://granitebaypt.com/detail/134002.html?content_source=&category_id=&search_filter=&user_id=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&event_ts_to=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=1&sub_type=&town_id=

Granite Bay View [CA]
3 November 2009

Hypodermic needle found in kid's candy bag
Police investigating incident
Nathan Donato-Weinstein

[...] Roseville residents in one neighborhood are being urged to check their children's Halloween candy after a trick-or-treater reportedly found a hypodermic needle in his bag of loot. [...]

http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-news-tack-candy-story,0,2845963.story

KFOR-TV [Oklahoma City]
3 November 2009

Tack in candy
Russell Carter Reporting

EDMOND, OK -- An Edmond woman is upset after her eight-year-old nephew made a shocking discovery inside of his Halloween candy. According to Amy Gullett, someone stuffed a full size tack inside of a candy pumpkin and then placed it in her nephew's bag. Luckily he didn't eat it. [...]

http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/local/article/358626--cape-breton-police-investigating-after-pin-found-in-kid-s-halloween-candy-bar

Metronews.ca [Halifax, NS]
3 November 2009

Cape Breton Police investigating after pin found in kid's Halloween candy bar

Helicopters Carrying Taliban Fighters (Afghanistan)

http://www.iwpr.net/?p=arr&s=f&o=356886&apc_state=henh

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

Helicopter Rumour Refuses to Die
Many Afghans believe foreign forces providing support for insurgents in the north.

By Ahmad Kawoosh in Mazar-e-Sharif (ARR No. 343, 26-Oct-09)

Persistent accounts of western forces in Afghanistan using their helicopters to ferry Taleban fighters, strongly denied by the military, is feeding mistrust of the forces that are supposed to be bringing order to the country. [...]

Animal Shelter Mass Euthanasia

http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=242198&town=Southampton&n=Animal%20shelter%20supervisor%20dispels%20rumors%2C%20focuses%20on%20adoptions

The Southampton Press [NY]
27 October 2009

Animal shelter supervisor dispels rumors, focuses on adoptions

By Bryan Finlayson

The Town of Southampton Animal Shelter was deluged with phone calls last Thursday following the spread of an internet rumor that the facility was going to euthanize all of its 130 cats and 30 dogs within seven days. [...]

[The shelter's assistant supervisor complained that of the hundreds of people who called expressing concern about the rumor, not one was willing to adopt an animal.]

Baby Boom: Missouri, 2009

http://www.semissourian.com/story/1581881.html

Southeast Missourian
27 October 2009

Baby boom?: Winter ice storm might be causing uptick in births in coming weeks

By Michelle Felter - Standard Democrat

SIKESTON, Mo. -- It's been nine months since ice storms crippled Southeast Missouri, leaving many without electricity for days.

But things were apparently still heating up in some homes, as local hospitals are expecting an increase in births over the next few weeks. [...]