Sounding or urethral sounding is the medical use of probes called sounds to increase the inner diameter of the urethra and to locate obstructions in it. Sounds are also used to stretch the urethra in order to receive genital piercing.
Urethral sounding and urethral play are also used to refer to this practice in a sexual context.
Urethral play can involve the introduction of either soft or rigid items into the meatus of the penis (as well as farther in). Objects such as sounds are usually only inserted about halfway into the glans and can usually be easily retrieved. Other toys and items, such as catheters, may be introduced deeper; in some cases even into the bladder. Some items may even be allowed to curl several times or expand within the bladder. This action in the male may be directly or indirectly associated with stimulation of the prostate gland and some types of bladder control.
Risks
If not conducted carefully, sounding carries a risk of irritation, tearing of the urethra, or of urinary tract infection. Infections may become serious if they progress to the bladder or kidneys, and should be referred to a doctor.
In medicine, sounds are instruments for probing and dilating passages within the body, the best-known examples of which are urethral sounds and uterine sounds. Some people enjoy using them for urethral play.
Urethral sounds
Urethral sounds are designed to be inserted into the male or female urethra, for the purpose of stretching or unblocking a stricture. There are a number of different types of urethral sounds:
Bakes sounds, also known as rosebud or bullet sounds, have a long thin metal rod with a bulbous bud on the end.
Dittel sounds have a flat end and a rounded end.
Henk sounds have a more pronounced curve at the ends, as well as a metal rib on each end.
Pratt sounds are longer urethral dilators (double ended ones are usually almost a foot long) with rounded and slightly bent ends.
Van Buren sounds have a very pronounced tips and applicators
Uterine sounds
These sounds or dilators are intended for probing a woman's uterus through the cervix, to measure the length and direction of the cervical canal and uterus, to determine the level of dilation, or to induce further dilation.
Walls is the second studio album by An Horse. It was recorded in Vancouver, Canada in Summer 2010, and released on 26 April 2011 in the United States and Canada and on 29 April 2011 in Australia, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland by Mom + Pop Music. It features Kate Cooper on lead guitar and vocals, Damon Cox on drums, and was produced and mixed by Howard Redekopp. The album has been praised for its "gritty, understated approach", but has also received criticism for not deviating substantially from their approach with Rearrange Beds.
Awarding the album three stars at CCM Magazine, Matt Conner states, "...the set list for Walls is loaded for an album that focuses on tearing down the walls we encounter, both personal and corporate. Walls is, more than anything, an invitation and longing for God’s love and grace to set the listener free". Amanda Furbeck, indicating in a four star review for Worship Leader, says, "Walls exceeds expectations with its impressive roster of talent musicians, fierce energy and themes of God's unchanging love for his people interspersed with the hope of tearing down walls that keep people for a relationship with God and each other."
Signaling in a seven out of ten review at Cross Rhythms, Brendan O'Regan describes, "Producers Walker Beach, Josh Alltop and Miguel Noyola have captured the spirit of live performance but maintained a high quality sound." Mark Ryan, giving the album four star from New Release Today, writes, "The Gateway Worship team has put together a remarkable live worship project that will encourage you in your own worship times, while also providing the church with songs that create an indelible impact on those who sing them." Rating the album four star by The Christian Beat, Lauren McLean describes, "Each song could be a stand out single in its own right and each track is compelling in its own way."
A website for the plant notes Marathon is working on extending a sound wall and transitioning to a quieter cooling process that involves placing servers in a special liquid.
For now, liquidity wins over all walls of worry, and the Bull has got up and is relegating the Bears to the sidelines."The stock market opened on friday with a marginal gain but made substaintial gain during the day's trade.
High up on the gallery walls, speakers broadcast the sounds of dust sifting and falling and timbers collapsing and there’s a slow drip of liquids from various tipped-over bottles of cheap hooch ...
The sound wave "leaks" into the liquid center through the channel walls and interacts with the original standing sound wave. With careful design of the wall thickness, channel size and sound frequency, ...
