Maturin

Just wanna say that Meshuggah's "Catch 33" album is freaking amazing. Highly recommended to those who haven't heard it yet.

Re: Iboga, after some experimentation... Using the Volcano vaporizer (analogue model) turn that sucker all the way up to 9 (225-230 degrees celsius) is the way to go. Even then, the "mist" factor is fairly low...unlike a certain other herb, which at this level would be like having a thick cloud in your vape bag.

From my experience as a regular kava drinker and as someone who has taken these pills...I'd say 4-5 to get a nice kava effect. That is if the effect you are after is the kava intoxication, and not for therapeutic purposes. Although I strongly urge you to get the natural stuff if you can, and consume it the traditional way. It is still available in some locations.

Voivod. Circa the albums "Dimension Hatröss" and "Nothingface".

Does anyone know the correct temperature for Tabernanthe Iboga?

Hi Torsten, Being a bit of a n00b, with Absinthe I'm wondering if you could answer my questions. I recently found some Polish rectified spirits in my local Dan Murphys (95% alcohol) and bought it with the intent of using with La Fee. I assumed that this would be better than buying some high alcohol Vodka or the like, so as to get a more "real" Absinthe flavour. Would you recommend using this? Also, is it okay to mix up the entire bottle (it's 500mls) all at once, or is it better to do just mix what you plan on drinking in one session? Do you have any recommendations regards the sugar used, or the quality of water (tap versus spring) in trying to replicate a more "authentic" taste? Thanks in advance.

A Review of the Volcano Vaporiser (Note: This is a fictional story, and drug use is not condoned or supported. All characters and situations are a figment of the author's imagination) The User John Doe had been a user of Marijuana for roughly 19 years prior to his experience with vaporising. Mostly he used pipes, as he disliked smelly bongs. John has never experienced any of the reported problems associated with smoking Marijuana long term, eg. paranoia, anti-motivational syndrome, psychosis or whatever. (As a side note, he believes this to be mostly bullshit and thinks the majority of people who claim this are blaming a herb for their own personal deficiencies or for previous, undiagnosed mental problems*. But we digress...) The only two problems John has had with Marijuana are (a) habitual use (bordering on mild addiction**), and ( b ) shortness of breath and wheezy lungs. Being that problem (a) is not going to diminish (he says he is NOT going to stop, he enjoys it too much) - that problem ( b ) might be overcome by a healthier alternative to smoking. Alternatives to Smoking John has eaten his share of cooked Cannabis in his time, but generally dislikes the effects as opposed to smoking. It has a qualitative difference in that it is characteristically more of a "body" stone than a "head" high. It is also far harder to dose himself. It takes far longer to come on, and only then can he surmise whether he has had too little (not a problem, but annoying) or too much (can be a bit unpleasant). So that only left the concept of vaporising. After extensive research, all signs pointed to the Volcano as the best product. Other vaporisers give flaky results - if the reviews he read are to be believed. Unfortunately, the Volcano is very expensive. John decided that his lungs were worth more in the long run, and that if he added up what he has spent on buying Marijuana, he couldn't complain too much. So, taking a calculated risk, he bought a Volcano, hoping like hell he wasn't going to be disappointed. First Reactions After reading the manual, and working out what to do (YouTube has some footage if the reader is interested)...he vaporised his first few hits. Wow, he thought, it's like warm Marijuana flavoured air! Very subtle; unlike taking a big hit on a pipe. The effects were qualitatively different. At first, he felt like he wasn't getting as high. A few more "hits from the bag" convinced him that, with the temperature he had it set on, he had to have a few more hits to get to his preferred level of highness. The high was characterised as being much more in the head, and less of a body stone. Some of the differences included a marked increase in visual acuity. Colours were much brighter. In truth, he hadn't felt like this since his early days of smoking almost 20 years ago. In his stoned, contemplative state he wondered if this was due to the fact that in his early days, outdoor grown Sativa was what he had bought...and this was much more likely to achieve a THC "head" stone. In contrast, the last decade (at least) has seen most Marijuana to be indoor grown Indica strains - characterised by a more "body" stone, heavy feeling. The Marijuana John vaporised was the latter, but targeting the THC (as opposed to all of the other constituents found in Marijuana) made it feel more Sativa-like. It was nice, but maybe not quite what he had been used to. Also, it didn't feel like it lasted quite as long. He found his thoughts easy and flowing, and it was definitely enjoyable. Giving it Some Time After 3-4 months of happily getting used to the Volcano, he felt like maybe it wasn't quite as good as smoking it. It was just...different... How did it really compare? Was it just a little more subtle? Or was he not quite sure whether it was just the immunity he had built up from inhaling for awhile. Anyways, he decided to try smoking some again...in effect, to see if he could tell the difference. So out came the smelly old pipe... He blazed a number of cones over a period of a week - and found himself disappointed! Actually, he thought, the pipe isn't better, after all. He had wondered if his first reactions from the Volcano were just stoned "jibber-jabber" of the mind, and if he had been fooling himself a little. Expectations can alter the experience, he thought. After going back to vaporisation he came to the conclusion that, in fact, the Volcano was FAR better. No, he felt, it was a different high. A high he liked more than one got from smoking. In regards to the Volcano, it was slightly more hassle to set up, a few more "tokes" were needed than piping...but it was better. A better stone, or at least just as good. It is worth stressing here, that John doesn't say the differences are massive, instead they are subtle. He doesn't want to give false impressions. Further Thoughts It took John time to get used to the effects from the Volcano...and a little bit of persistence. Psychologically, even getting used to breathing "warm air" (as opposed to harsh smoke) took some time to get used to. Remember, he had been smoking for years! Now, he says, he wouldn't go back for quids, and would only consider having a pipe when having a Volcano around (and AC power) was not possible. (This generally is not a problem for him, because he doesn't smoke much outside the house anyway). Another huge benefit he found was that his buds definitely lasted a bit longer. This is due to his "action plan". After a few months of vaporising and experimenting he has come to his own conclusions for his preferred effects. He sets his volcano just slightly higher in temperature than what is said to be optimum for THC***. After 4 or so "bags", he turns it up slightly higher still to extract the last few molecules. Depending upon how little Marijuana he has, he may go even higher in temperature. Although in theory the THC should have gone by now, in reality he says you can still get a little high from doing this. Yes, he is aware this might be negating the "cleaner" effects of a vaporiser...but even here, he says, it is far, far cleaner than smoking. How Do His Lungs Feel? So, to recount, the reason he bought the thing was to save his lungs...how did that go? According to him, it's freaking brilliant. Lets put it this way, he says, look at the inside of a pipe or bong, even after as little as 5 to 10 cones. Black, sticky, smelly horrible tar/resin that is also going into his precious lungs. The Volcano? The "loading chamber" (equivalent of the cone piece) of the vaporiser does become sticky and a little brown over time, but it takes a HUGE amount more Marijuana to pass through to achieve anything like a pipe (with 5 to 10 cones worth, it would be barely perceptible). The manual states the bag**** should be used for about 100 goes before being replaced. John - being the lazy stoner he can be - didn't bother to change the bag for almost 6 months(!) and it was only a little brown around the mouth piece. Opening the bag, he could feel the stickiness, but NOTHING like that of a pipe/bong. There are claims that vaporising cuts out up to 95% of the tar intake, and John can DEFINITELY vouch for that (if seeing is believing, at any rate). And After 6 Months? Well his lungs do not feel amazingly different, to be honest...but he certainly doesn't have the wheeziness he once got after choofing his way through an ounce. There is far less shortness of breath, and after riding his push bike, he doesn't feel like his lungs are burning. He has also noticed something strange in the last month or so...his sense of smell has been enhanced. Does this correspond with vaporising? John has a hunch that it does. Things taste better. What About The Volcano Itself? You get what you pay for in this world, and the Volcano is very well constructed. It has given John no hassles, whatsoever. Everything is easy to clean, and easy to take apart. The unit itself, although it gets warm, never gets hot. You won't burn yourself on it. Another plus is that John's house does not smell like the main stage of the Big Day Out anymore. There is still an aroma, but not the sickly, cloying smell of burning herb. The smell is much more like the smell of unburned Marijuana, which...uh...makes sense really!! Final Verdict So, after 6 months of using the Volano, and having a relapse of smoking 2/3rds of the way through his experiment, he definitely says vaporising is the way to go. Yes, it's expensive. But he thinks his lungs will thank him in the years to come. Well there you go, thanks to (fictional) John Doe for allowing me to write his opinions of the Volcano. Notes * The author realises this is a contentious issue. Still, John Doe holds this opinion. If you have problems with smoking Marijuana short or long term, it would seem obvious to stop. If you feel bad doing it, why do it? And why ruin its reputation for the rest of us? ** "Mild addiction" in this context means that John's life has not been compromised in any way from his habitual use. He works in a professional job, pays his bills and taxes, and is generally a good citizen. He sometimes wishes he did not smoke as much as he can do, but it doesn't affect his life. Nagging from girlfriends has been his main problem regards habitual Marijuana use. *** The Volcano used is the analogue model. The temperature gauge is said to be best set at 5 for Marijuana. John found setting it at 6 was a little better. Yes, he is aware that that means more constituents are added to the mix...maybe that is why he likes it better that way. **** The bag, by the way, is the same material used in oven bags. Hence it is non-toxic and very safe.

I'm confused. If Kava is now S4, and Happy High Herbs and Shamans have all stopped selling it...then why is the Kava Hut in Adelaide still fully open and running? I went there only a few days ago and had a few shells. And you can still buy some...although it is expensive (not the fault of the Kava Hut). According to the the owner, she contacted the TGA about all this when she heard customers from HHH telling her it was all illegal, etc. - and the TGA (who, of course, know about her business) said that nothing has changed since the importation ban. What is going on?

Do you sell them separately online? 'Cos I have only found reference to your mate kits.

Actually, the US embargo was altered to allow the sale of medicines for humanitarian reasons. From wikipedia: "...the embargo was relaxed by the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act, which was passed by the Congress in October 2000 and signed by President Bill Clinton. The relaxation allowed the sale of agricultural goods and medicine to Cuba for humanitarian reasons." Of course, it is lots more fun to bash America, rather than blame the shitty Cuban government. It's such a great political climate in Cuba that everyday hundreds of Americans risk their lives and that of their children by paddling across a dangerous ocean strait on anything that can float!! And this is an embargo from the USA only...what about all the other countries selling medicine? Why not buy off them? Surely there are other countries that market aspirin and standard antibiotics? The above link contained a link to http://www.cubasolidarity.net/aawh.html, a report written in 1997 - back when the embargo still included medicine. Maybe the journalist could have gotten a little more up-to-date? The web name "CubaSolidarity" is a bit of a give-away as to their political leanings. Anyways, there are plenty of opposing viewpoints, and in the spirit of balance, I present this one (again, biased in their political beliefs) :- http://www.canf.org/Issues/medicalapartheid.htm Here is a quote: " A group of Cuban doctors recently arrived in the United States said they were "mystified" by claims in a recent report of the American Association for World Health (AAWH) that the United States embargo is to be blamed for the public health situation in the country. According to these doctors, "we . . . can categorically and authoritatively state that our people's poor health care situation results from a dysfunctional and inhumane economic and political system, exacerbated by the regime to divert scarce resources to meet the needs of the regime's elite and foreign patients who bring hard currency." "

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What creach said.

Hahaha, I agree - the man is something of a buffoon. I could never quite get how this was portrayed. Yes, obviously it was wrong...but the left-wing-luvvies really made such an issue of this without rationally thinking about it. The most telling point regards this scandal was that someone within the American military dobbed in the dickheads responsible. Which is to say, yes there are bad eggs everywhere, but there are plenty of good people willing to stand up and do the right thing aswell. It would have been relatively easy for America to hide this (or at least try), but they went public with it - thus reinforcing some transparency of their actions in Iraq. The overwhelming vast majority of coalition soldiers are doing their job best they can, and are not evil warmongers.

Auxin - I personally will not boycott American goods, that would only hurt the average Joe...and I don't see that as a good thing. Nor is my hate all-consuming I totally accept the verdict of the American people to elect whom they want - it's your democracy! (Hope you voted.) GreenDreams makes some excellent points. Especially the one about everyone being an expert - so on that note, my 2 cents worth!! Democracy & capitalism = good. Stone-age religions (of any kind) interfering with non-believers = bad. "im still young at 22 but im sure older people will know for a fact their countries have changed from what they where during a freer time a few decades ago" - well I'm 35, and I believe democracy is alive and vibrant. Whose to blame for restrictions ranging from not being allowed nail-cutters on board planes, to not being allowed to photograph basic infrastructure without suspicion? Crazy Islamic jihadists, that's who - not Western democracy. Nor do I subscribe to any type of woe-is-me victimhood about years of oppression. Countries in the Mid-East sitting on oil have all the opportunity in the world to bring their countries up to a standard of living that we have in the West. They are held back by themselves. Both Germany and Japan rebuilt their countries after WW2, and have done so in spectacular fashion - and in short time. When America pulls out of Iraq, watch it disintegrate. This will not be the fault of America, this will be tribal in-fighting at its very best. Crazy jihadists will blame the West, say we are weak and terrible oppressors - and then they will continue on their merry path to oblivion.

I could be wrong, but... I'm sure I read some years back about this push to have condoms in jail, and there was some opposition to it - because sex was illegal in prison. The prevailing idea was that, yes it was illegal, but it would help stop the spread of HIV and other STD's. Kind of like needle exchange programs. At least that's what I remember, but I have no sources to back me up.