The Minister's blog: "articles...maybe we can learn something"

as found on: http://www.waningmoon.com/darkpagan/lib/lib0018.shtml Grim's Flogging FAQ Distribution Policy Comments, ideas and constructive criticism always welcomed. As with all of my postings, any archivist is welcome to copy and distribute this story appropriately without let or hindrance, provided that the distribution is free of charge and the entire posting remains intact and unedited. Disclaimer of a legal sort Striking the human body must be considered dangerous. As I am neither a medical nor a legal professional, the following is offered as my opinion only, not a recommendation for any activity. Nothing can possibly replace personal experience and learning directly from those who have been there before. There are now workshops and demonstrations available in larger cities, avail yourself of one. I have no control over the use of this information, use it at your own risk. And as ever, proceed with caring. WITH WHAT? A 'flogger' shall remain for the moment 'any flexible many-tailed striking tool where the tails are simple strips of leather or similar substances, designed for use on the human body'. In short, not bullwhips, braided cat-o-nines, crops, scourges, thudtoys and such, simply floggers. A braided cat is similar to a flogger in many respects, yet has a distinct 'feel', both these and floggers with knotted ends are left for another discussion. As floggers were less available in former days, many people made their own in various styles and weights. Even if you are not doing so, some basic principles of design might help you select a superior one from the regrettably large supply of the other sort. I shall not include specific designs, the subject has been done to death before, and they are readily available elsewhere. As Janet Heartwood has provided excellent information in her 'Heartwood Catalog', I have used a similar format in my materials listing below. Although I have not ordered from her and can give no opinion, her wares seem well received among posters here. (aside from Domina-"My next three floggers will be Heartwoods) Design notes For any given force, the smaller the contact area that force is concentrated in, the greater the potential for damage. Think of a knife edge as the extreme case. This is why quality flogger tails have rounded edges and tips; although sharp edges require less work and are less expensive, rounded edges are preferable. The wider the tail, the more surface area to be forced through the air, and again, the more lands at once on the skin. As a general rule for the same material, thin tails 'sting', wide tails 'thud'. Thin, rounded thong tails sting much more than 5/8 inch wide flat tails, for example. If all things are equal, the more tails a flogger has, the slower it travels, and the longer the tails are, the more leverage is gained. Both of the above make a flogger heavier, but the longer tails can make it disproportionately more difficult to control, therefore many of the 'standard' floggers have tail lengths between 15 and 22 inches. It is possible to do quite interesting things with a long flogger, such as laying it down an entire back at once, but this is not recommended for beginners as it can take serious practise to do well. Very short floggers have special uses for close work, one nipple at a time, that sort of thing. Floggers with perhaps 15 to 25 tails are average, twice that makes a heavier version of the same design. For safety, flogger tails must remain fixed to the end of the handle; this region is where the most stress occurs in use. A good covering knot will help reduce this strain, and keep the tails together. The handle must work with your hand, not against it, neither too large nor small for a proper grip, and a knot or swelling near the end of the flogger serves to prevent slippage. Short handles are better for control, longer handles provide more leverage. The weight of the handle must feel 'right' with the tails [something one must feel, not read about. If the sellers will not allow a cautious swing of prospective purchases, find another shop]. Beyond weight, width and length, the materials matter most. I have personal experience only with the following, perhaps others may share their knowledge as well. A selection from the below provides a range of severity and feelings from 'did you start yet?' to 'Omigod!'. Again in general, the softer and lighter the material, the safer it is [the harder/longer it may be used without risk], and the softer it feels. As ever, *the RESPONSIBLE TOP TESTS each implement on hirself before it touches a bottom, and checks for breakage or other safety problems before each use. Material List An ounce or two of loosely twisted cotton wool in a pillowcase folded lengthwise- this and the next two have been useful for those with no experience with flogging, yet much interest. Quite safe, I originally tested mine by repeated strikes to my own face with no effect. Chamois- a more permanent version of the above, a 3/8 inch tail width 20-tail is a specialized tool for flogging either a complete novice or one who prefers nearly no sensation. Noise, a very light skin-level sensation, and nothing else, tested as above. Of course it may also cause hir to look back at you and ask if that is all you plan on doing.... Fabric- silk and other softer fabrics can be made into floggers. Avoid fraying of edges by sewing the fabric into closed tubes, ironing each tube flat, then sewing the flat sides together along the long axis. Similar to chamois, more decorative colors available, and many fabrics are washable. Deerskin- soft and caressing, a tiny bit of sting, a bit of thud, and little else. Unless one is hitting exceptionally hard, a deerskin flogger can be used for a very long time without any notable skin reactions beyond a light flush. My personal favorite for light play or the less experienced. Light Nylon Cordage [1/8 inch diameter for a start]- Take 15 loops 34 inches long [circumference], tying them together in a knot at one end. Cut the other end [tail length now perhaps 15 inches], fray the cut ends and attach to a handle. Two sensations, a very light one from brushing with the tips alone, and a heavier one from the non-frayed section. Simple to clean, quite inexpensive, and different weights of cord are readily available. Elkhide- heavier than Deerskin, yet soft and compressible, almost entirely thud. A lovely flogger for a slow building scene, very easy to relax into, and can be used with astonishing force with little risk of harm. The next three are varieties of cowhide, the 'standard' leather. These are not specific cuts or tanning terms, but are classes of weight and type. Suede- in the lighter varieties, slightly harder than Elk, in the heaviest, just below the thick Topgrain below. Many floggers are made from various suede 'splits', these are inexpensive and simple to work. More thud and more sting than those above, may mark if swung sharply. Topgrain leather- smooth leathers create less friction than suedes, yet usually feel more 'sting-y' on the skin. Available in many weights, from light garment leathers to heavy saddle leathers, the more flexible varieties are recommended. Oil tanned thick leather- thick, heavy, and spongy leather, less flexible than thinner skins. Feels rather like an extremely heavy Elk as it compresses, yet a far more 'serious' thud. Bison- Interesting rough grain, heavy, rather inflexible, unless careful attention is taken the edges may cut the skin. Not a material for the beginner, but certainly something to use if desired. Rubber-flexible, yet quite 'harsh' feeling, stings rather like a thong flogger, leaves immediate marks. Different weight to air resistance ratio than any leather I am aware of. Exceptionally simple to clean. Horsehair- Extreme sting with no thud, entirely skin-level sensation of a very intense and itching sort. It is possible to break skin with horsehair, and it creates deceptively intense stinging at a very light touch. Cleanliness and body fluid precautions are required here, IMO. Additionally, most of these have tactile and scent qualities that may attract some, with the exception of the pillowcase, fabric, nylon, and the oil-tanned leather [much of which smells rather nasty]. All except the pillowcase may be made into floggers that look rather nice, and all of the above are now available ready-made through shops and catalogues. Technique Much has been discussed, experienced, debated, and counter-debated here and elsewhere on this personal topic, but as this is intended as a generic suggestion for the beginner, perhaps there is a possibility we might avoid the usual flamewar-of-the-moment? Of course it would be wonderful if others would add their own ideas to this basic outline [subtle hint]. (Domina has added a faq on corporal punishment from Slakkers Page that gives several methods of flogging.) WHERE? Where to flog? Where not? As 'flogging' is something that covers much by way of different activities, I have taken the liberty of separating it into 'light' [entirely sting, no deep tissue effects], and 'heavy' [sting and/or thud, reaching and jarring deep tissue]. *Hint* it is impossible to do 'heavy' flogging with a 20-tail chamois flogger, and quite difficult to do 'light' flogging with anything over deerskin in the materials progression cited above [with the exception of horsehair, again a sting-only material]. Of course all of these are merely physical *possibilities* rated solely on my own opinions of [relative] safety, all limits and preferences of top and bottom must also be considered. Where not to flog *under any circumstances* [obvious safety reasons] The face, head, neck, the fingers and toes, over healing skin [if you want it to ever heal]. Where to flog *extremely* lightly and carefully if at all [Really a gentle brushing motion rather than a striking one, tips of a *light* stinging instrument only, such as the chamois or horsehair above] The palms and back of the hands, over any joint, the lower front and back and sides between the top of the pelvis and the lower ribs [kidneys and other internal organs], the spine, the tops and bottoms of the feet. N.B. Both feet and hands contain many tiny bones, once broken, these rarely heal well. Joints do not respond well to stress internal or external. Crippling is neither safe nor sane, and unless one has an X-ray machine at call one cannot tell. Internal organs are more fragile than one might think, avoid thud entirely in their area. Many people have particular problems with body areas as well, do attempt the above *very* lightly indeed if at all! Where to flog lightly Lower legs, arms, inner arms, breasts, genitals [skin is more fragile there], upper shoulders [accuracy], top of buttocks near spine, the muscular ridge on both sides of the spine [accuracy], the ribs where not protected by muscle. N.B. There is some evidence that 'thud' on the female breast is not advisable for reasons of health, nipples are far better suited to strong stimulation. The top of the buttocks protect the coccyx, a small and fragile triangular bone at the base of the spine, avoid striking between the upper buttocks. Where to flog 'heavily' Buttocks, upper back on each side of the spine, thighs, lower shoulders. These areas are principally composed of strong bones protected by muscle tissue and a fatty layer, any other organs present are reasonably protected. There are reasons for these traditional areas being so traditional, they reduce the likelihood of major damage, making an extended safer session possible. Position Considerations Body position affects the position of both skin and muscles. If someone is bent over, the muscles of the rear lengthen and are not as thick, so the muscles themselves no longer protect in the same way. If the skin is stretched as well, it will feel more than it would if relaxed. Flogging someone who is standing unsupported may lead to falling, and seems foolish given the known physiological and psychological effects ['going away']. Standing bondage changes without warning to partial suspension if someone faints, plan for that possibility. HOW? Technique Repertoire The more ways one knows to do an action, the more effects may be created, and the less one's arm aches afterwards. Varying the motions has a good effect for top and bottom. Practise the following until you can do them from various directions and speeds, they all feel and work differently. Knowing the techniques is only one part, knowing which to use and when is beyond my ability to suggest in a post. Swinging Styles I know of four basic ways to end a stroke of any force: [1] The tails land 'flat', with all of the force hitting at once [the tails either bounce off or drop almost vertically after this]. [2] The tails swing 'through', with the some part of the tips hitting and moving past the target area. From there, you may stop them [see 'Accuracy-' below], or use some elliptical pattern to bring them round again, such as vertical or horizontal figure-8, circle, and the like. [2a] The tail tips strike, go past, then immediately return via a swift spinning motion. If fast enough, this can seem continuous and the light, sharp touch has some sensational advantages. [3] The tails are snapped or 'whipped' for a smaller point of stimulation that is more discrete and feels 'sharper'. [4] The tails land all at once on the body in a strongly forward motion resembling a punch or push more than a swing. Difficult to describe, and not as common, a hard thud stroke. Each of these and all their variations may be primarily accomplished by wrist motion alone, or with arm and wrist moving together, this depends on your strength and the effect you seek. A properly balanced flogger requires less effort, and may be used for a longer time with less fatigue. Skill I would like to add my voice to [I believe] Mauser's previous post on this, bad technique is simply inexcusable; although we are all fallible. misplacing a stroke is not something to be taken lightly. There is indeed an art to the physical act of flogging. This may be learned as any other physical art, by observation, thought, and practise. Practise in the air will teach you the balance of a flogger, but there is no substitute for actual impact. I believe it was STella who suggested a velvet pillow, and another person suggested suspending it in a way that allowed for movement. This works nicely, a safe and useful simulation. If you rarely find velvet pillows strewn about, a towel wrapped round a pillow will serve the same purpose, you will see the path of the flogger tails quite nicely in the nap of the fabric. When you are able to land all the tails in one area on the pillow, practise moving that aiming point about until you know exactly where it will land each time. Now practise varying the speed, pace and strength of the blows without sacrificing that accuracy. When you have that in balance, try these variations on your own leg, get the feel of that specific instrument, *then* consider using it on the willing form of another. Accuracy A flogger [as opposed to a crop or whip] 'flops around more', it naturally covers a wider area and is more difficult to control. If one avoids any spin on the handle, the first stroke may be accurate with the tails close together. Unfortunately the next ones tend to be less so unless some care is taken with the tails between strokes. The tails may be caught in the free hand between strokes, allowed to wrap gently on the top's torso or leg to gather them together, or hang straight down between strokes. Any of these options will make the next stroke more accurate as the tails will at least start together. It is possible to stop them in mid-air as well, but more difficult to cause them to swing together. With practise, a well-made flogger that is 2 inches in diameter with the tails gathered together may be precisely placed within a 3 to 4 inch target path. As a suggestion for beginners, start with the bottom reclining face down and the top kneeling or standing a-straddle, thus allowing gravity to assist in the guidance of the tails. Swinging at a body part that protrudes ensures accuracy. The buttocks of a standing bottom whose entire front is pressed against a rigid support are a classic example of this, a straight side-to-side swing with the tips of a flogger can strike only the intended area, leaving the lower back and upper thighs untouched. Costuming may help as well, certain corsets may provide some protection for the kidneys, and may act as a sort of armor against mishap. Wrapping If the middle section of tails strikes first on a rounded 'edge' of the body, and the tips 'wrap' following the curve, the tips actually accelerate far more than the original swing [physics, try it on something inanimate and see]. This is 'wraparound', and is usually a bad thing, causing inadvertent hard blows to areas one did not intend to touch at all, or ruining the controlled stroke one did intend. Keeping the flogger handle the same distance away from the skin as you did in practise will help here, as will being very careful to plan where the tips will fall at each stroke, avoiding curved edges to wrap around. Being 'tip conscious' is the best way to avoid wraparound, but placing a pillow to protect the side of a reclining bottom works as a temporary solution for those who have this problem [works neatly with 'whippy' canes and crops as well]. IN SCENE How Often? An average of one stroke every few seconds often proves best, with the exception of the spinning technique above, a fast version of which will seem constant. This 'blow-rest-blow' allows processing time to feel each sensation, and this rhythm once established may easily be changed for effect. No doubt some people will differ with me on this, but I maintain that it is a suitable pace to maintain in many cases. Increased speed near the end is also popular, and pacing oneself early on will allow for that. Scene Structure Different people seek to give and receive different experiences. I offer two quite diverse scenarios to begin the discussion, perhaps others might volunteer their own favorite experiences or methods. The slowly building endorphin encouragement Start slowly and lightly, begin by placing the flogger on the skin, holding the tail tips in one hand and the handle in the other, moving slowly to and fro on the skin. Then a slow caress with the tips for a bit, using more and more of the tails in a soft motion, building the movement into a partial swing, then a full swing. Vary placement gradually, work up and down the body in a methodical pattern with few surprises. When changing to a 'harder' flogger, repeat the above 'accustomization' process in minature, the ideal being that although the actual force applied increases markedly, the 'feeling' remains much the same, matching the growing ability of the bottom to enjoy the increasing sensations. In a person looking for this, it is often possible to cause a 'flying' sensation of complete relaxation, buoyed by trust and natural reactions of the body to slowly increasing stimulation, with little or no feeling of actual 'pain'. The overwhelming sensation More of a 'hard' style than the above, to take a bottom past the 'comfortable' area into one more likely to push hir strongly. Useful for 'sensation overload' and for those who seek a more 'painful' feeling. Beginning as above, vary the speed and intensity of the blows much more, pushing more, being less predictable. Work upper body and lower at seemingly random times, not allowing the bottom to grow used to the sensation before moving on. When changing instruments, do so with less subtlety, let hir feel the change as an increase in intensity. Should sie enjoy both sting and thud, use these interchangeably as well, surprise is often more effective than merely increasing the power of blows. Emotional and other considerations [IMO] A few suggestions in this admittedly most subjective area. A flogging of even the gentlest sort may have exceptionally strong effects on both participants; leaving time and energy to 'wind down' at the end of the session is, in my view, a requirement. Reassurance, a caress, or a simple touch during the flogging may do wonders also. Do not expect verbal responses if the flogging takes the bottom into new areas, sie may not be possible to speak readily, and it may be that sie will not be hearing well either. I find that flogging the front of the body, use of ear plugs and blindfolds, stringent bondage to open up delicate body areas, and making the bottom look at hirself being flogged all are more 'serious' and have more emotional impact than a 'simple' flogging. Bruises may appear immediately, not appear at all, or suddenly appear after as much as a day or two, depending on the body concerned, and most people have some reaction to such marks, whether positive or not. (Domina feels that if you are playing with someone, you should make sure that they can reach you AFTER the scene in case they have a reaction a day or a week later, which CAN happen. If you are playing, it is your responsibility to be there for the bottom in case of need.) Philosophy Flogging can be a powerful and loving act, top and bottom not separated by the flogger, but connected through it. While basic competence and sensitivity will increase the chances of this, caring does help a bit too.

Odd Facts Barbie's measurements (if she were life-size): 39-23-33 Coca-cola was originally green Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than for the US Treasury Smartest dogs: 1) border collie; 2) poodle; 3) golden retriever Dumbest dog: 1) afghan The Hawaiian alphabet has 12 letters First novel ever written on a typewriter was "Tom Sawyer" There are more collect calls on Father's Day than any other day of the year Heinz Catsup leaving the bottle travels at 25 miles PER YEAR It is possible to lead a cow upstairs but not downstairs Men get hiccups more often than women Men can read smaller print than women; women can hear better Chances that an American lives within 50 mi of where he/she grew up: 1 in 2. Amount American Airlines saved in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first class: $440,000 City with the most Rolls Royces per capita: Hong Kong State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska Chances of a white Christmas in New York: 1 in 4 Portion of US annual rainfall that falls in April: 1/12 Percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28 Percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38 Estimated percentage of American adults who go on a diet each year: 44 Percentage of Americans who say that God has spoken to them: 36 Percentage of Americans who regularly attend religious services: 43 City with the highest per capita viewership of TV evangelists: Washington DC Percentage of American men who say they would marry the same woman if they had it to do all over again: 80 Percentage of American women who say they would marry the same man: 50 Percentage of men who say they are happier after their divorce or separation: 58 Percentage of women who say they are happier: 85 Number of different familial relationships for which Hallmark makes cards: 105 Average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000 Percentage of Americans who have visited Disneyland or Disney World: 70 Average life span of a major league baseball: 7 pitches Portion of ice cream sold that is vanilla: 1/3 Portion of potatoes sold that are French-fried: 1/3 Percentage of Americans that eat at McDonalds each day: 7 Percentage of bird species that are monogamous: 90 Percentage of mammal species that are: 3 Number of US states that claim test scores in their elementary schools are above national average: 50 Portion of Harvard students who graduate with honors: 4/5 Chances that a burglary in the US will be solved: 1 in 7 Portion of land in the US owned by the government: 1/3 Only President to remain a bachelor: James Buchanan Only first lady to carry a loaded revolver: Eleanor Roosevelt Only president to win a Pulitzer: John F. Kennedy, for "Profiles in Courage" Only president awarded a patent: Abe Lincoln, for a system of buoying vessels over shoals President who discovered a new proof for The Pythagorean Theorem: Jimmy Carter Only food that does not spoil: honey Only bird that can fly backwards: Hummingbird Only continent without reptiles or snakes: Antarctica Only animal besides human that can get sunburn: Pig Ostriches stick their heads in the sand to look for water An eagle can kill a young deer and fly away with it In the Caribbean there are oysters that can climb trees Polar bears are left-handed Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair Eskimos never gamble The world's youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910 The youngest pope was 11 years old Mark Twain didn't graduate from elementary school Proportional to their weight, men are stronger than horses Pilgrims ate popcorn at the first Thanksgiving dinner Your nose and ears never stop growing Jupiter is bigger than all the other planets combined The parachute was invented by Leonardo da Vinci in 1515 They have square watermelons in Japan ... they stack better Iceland consumes more Coca-Cola per capita than any other nation

Drunken elk terrorises Swedish schoolchildren Fri Nov 10, 1:23 PM ET STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - A drunken elk is terrorising children at a school in southern Sweden. "That could be the problem. We could be dealing with a boozy elk," Jan Caiman, a police officer in Molndal, told the national news agency TT. The elk was probably eating fermented apples in a garden and had become inebriated, Caiman said. Elk can weigh as much as 500 kilos (1,100 lb) and personnel at the school described the erratic male as "completely mad". "The children are really scared," the receptionist at the school near Molndal in southern Sweden told the Gothenburg Post. Caiman said police had contacted hunters and that if the elk did not calm down, it could be shot.

Thai zoo to teach panda to mate with "porn" videos Fri Nov 10, 10:02 PM ET BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai zoo, which has hosted a couple of pandas for four years, will play "porn" videos for the male next month to encourage them to breed in captivity, the project manager said on Saturday. The pair -- living chastely together at the zoo in the northern city of Chiang Mai since arriving from China in 2003 -- would be separated in December, but stay close enough for occasional glimpses of each other, said panda project chief Prasertsak Buntrakoonpoontawee. "They don't know how to mate so we need to show the male how, through videos," Prasertsak told Reuters. He said Chuang Chuang, the six-year-old male, would be shown the videos on a large screen when he might be feeling amorous. "We'll play the video at the most comfortable and intimate time for him, perhaps after dinner," Prasertsak said, hoping Chuang Chuang would then use the techniques on Lin Hui, a five-year-old female. The zoo is hosting a four-day international panda conference that starts on Monday, drawing 200 wildlife and panda specialists from around the world

as found on: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061111/ap_on_fe_st/andy_griffith Andy Griffith sues Andy Griffith By COLIN FLY, Associated Press Writer 48 minutes ago MILWAUKEE - Forget the small-town belief in letting bygones be bygones. Andy Griffith, the actor who portrayed the sheriff of the fictional town of Mayberry, N.C., has sued a Wisconsin resident who unsuccessfully bid for the Grant County post after legally changing his name to Andrew Jackson Griffith in May. The lawsuit, filed Nov. 3 in U.S. District Court in Madison, alleges that William Harold Fenrick, 42, violated trademark and copyright laws as well as the privacy of actor Andy Samuel Griffith when he used his new name — Andy Griffith — to promote his candidacy for sheriff in southwestern Wisconsin. The lawsuit says the former Fenrick changed his name for the "sole purpose of taking advantage of Griffith's notoriety in an attempt to gain votes" and asks the court to order Fenrick to go back to his original name. Griffith's suit also asks Fenrick to publish disclaimers and an apology in Grant County newspapers, saying he has no association with the actor. It seeks unspecified damages and court fees. "Now that the election is over, if Fenrick is willing in some fashion to clear the record, we probably could find a way to resolve it," said Griffith's lawyer, Jim Cole. Fenrick protested that he did not benefit from the name change. "During this campaign I never sold or profited even one nickel from the use of the name Andy Griffith or any item bearing the name Andy Griffith — everything was a promotional item, and everything was given away for free," he said. The Platteville music store co-owner said he spent $5,000 on his failed campaign and changed his name to garner publicity for the race. Incumbent Sheriff Keith Govier, a Republican who has held the post for 10 years, won with 8,452 votes, followed by Democrat Doug Vesperman, who got 6,985. Griffith, an independent, had 1,248 votes. Fenrick described the suit as "incredibly absurd" and said he does not believe the public is "so brain dead" that they might actually believe that he is the famous actor. "For such an American icon, it's a pretty un-American thing to do to me," said Fenrick, who has about three weeks to respond to the filing. "There's no sense of humor. I can't believe how cheap and petty these people are," he said. "Do they seriously, seriously think anyone would mistake me?" Griffith, 80, is best known for starring in "The Andy Griffith Show," a 1960s show that remains one of the most popular series in TV history. He also played an unorthodox lawyer on "Matlock" in the 1980s and 1990s. Griffith, now retired and living in Manteo, N.C., also owns his own production company. He is recovering from recent hip replacement surgery. "He seemed in good spirits," Cole said. "It's not something personal, it's the matter of the requirement under the trademark law. If you don't police it, you lose it."

as found on: http://channels.isp.netscape.com/news/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20061107%2F1725668229.htm&sc=1501&floc=NI-ntk4 Barbados Faces Invasion by Giant Snails BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) - A breed of giant, ravenous snails that first appeared in Barbados five years ago has thrived on the tropical island, destroying crops and prompting calls for the government to eliminate the slimy pests. A nocturnal ``snail hunt'' last weekend reported finding hundreds of thousands of giant African snails swarming the central parish of St. George, the country's agricultural heartland where farmers had complained of damage to crops including sugar cane, bananas and papayas. ``We saw snails riding on each other's backs and moving in clusters,'' said David Walrond, chairman of the local emergency response office that organized 60 volunteers for the hunt. ``You're just crunching the shells as you're walking through.'' The volunteers sprayed government-supplied pesticides in gullies and other cool, low-lying areas where the snails are believed to breed, venturing out after dark to catch the snails as they emerge from spending the day underground. Walrond's brigade plans to continue its assault over the next three weekends. The snails, which are about the size of a human hand, are known to consume as many as 500 different plants and their mucous can transmit meningitis and other diseases.

as found on: http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s1235290.htm Columbus and America The school kid rhyme runs, "In fourteen hundred and ninety two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue". That much is true. The rest of it - that he discovered North America, that he was trying to prove that the Earth was round, and that Queen Isabella pawned her jewels - it's all false. If you want to get really picky, North America had been previously "discovered" some 20,000 years earlier. Even so, the sailor, Christopher Columbus, was not the first European to "encounter" North America. That honour popularly belongs to Leif Ericsson, and his Scandinavian colleagues, around 1000 AD. But more to the point, Columbus never actually set foot in North America. Christopher Columbus headed west across the Atlantic Ocean pushed by many forces. They included fear of both Islam and Portugal, the lust for gold and adventure and of course, the desire for lucrative spices (which were used as medicines, and for flavouring and preserving food). But the Ottoman Empire and other Islamic states made getting to the East for spices very difficult, whether you went by land or by sea. However, there was the long-discussed "long way around the world" to the East, by going to the West. All the astronomers, astrologers and master mariners knew that the Earth was a sphere. After all, when a ship came over the horizon, you saw the tip of the mast first, and the hull last - exactly what you would expect with a spherical planet. Indeed, way back around 250 BC, the Greek poet, astronomer and scientist, Eratosthenes, had measured the circumference of the Earth accurate to about 10%. In the early 7th century in Spain, the erudite St. Isidore of Sevilla had published one of the first encyclopaediae, and in it, he wrote that the Earth was spherical. As a result, educated Europeans were quite aware that the Earth was a ball. Columbus was also familiar with the calculations of the 2nd century AD scientist, Ptolemy, who had discussed travelling to China overland. Columbus had also read the travels of Marco Polo in the 13th and 14th centuries. Columbus was convinced that both Ptolemy and Marco Polo could be read to mean that China stretched a really long way around the back of the Earth - so that a determined navigator could travel to China in the East, by instead going West.Columbus mounted four journeys, none of which reached North America. His first journey of 1492 was funded by a consortium of himself, bankers, and the king and queen of Spain. (No, Queen Isabella did not have to pawn her jewels. That particular myth was started by Bartolomé de Las Casas, a 16th century Spanish historian.) In his first journey, Columbus visited San Salvador in the Bahamas (which he was convinced was Japan), Cuba (which he thought was China) and Haiti (where he found gold). His second journey (1493) was far better funded - possibly because his first expedition brought back gold, spices, parrots and human captives. He set off with at least 17 ships, holding cavalry, some 200 private investors and some 1,300 salaried men. He again visited Haiti (he called it Hispaniola, and was convinced it was the biblical land of Sheba) and explored more of Cuba. His third expedition left with six ships in 1498. He explored southwards, and set foot in Venezuela (which he was convinced was the temperate lowlands of an "Earthly Paradise".) His fourth expedition of 1502 had four ships. He visited Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. He was forced to beach his remaining two ships in Jamaica, and was castaway for a year. During that time, he did correctly predict an eclipse of the Moon to impress the locals, thus convincing them to provide him with food. Today, Americans celebrate "Columbus Day" on the second Monday in October, to remember the landing of Columbus in the New World on October 12, 1492. In reality, he never set foot in North America. The closest he got was to land on the island of San Salvador, in the Bahamas. So first, Columbus did not ever land in North America. Second, Columbus was not sailing across the Atlantic to prove that the world was round - all the educated people knew that it was round. No, Columbus was trying to find a better trade route to bring back lucrative spices from Asia. And to the end of his days, he was convinced that he had sailed to the Indies and China.

as found on : http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s1577701.htm Duct Tape A while ago, a spring in the on/off switch on my 20-year-old TV died. "It's easy", I said to my wife, "I'll just pull the 240V plug out of the wall, discharge the 25,000 volts off the TV set, pull the chassis apart, solder in a new switch, and put it all back together again". Well, she raised her eyebrows at me, and asked "Why don't you use duct tape, like this?", while simultaneously tearing a strip off from a roll that happened to be lying around, and taping down the switch down into the On Position. And so it came to be a semi-permanent, though effective, repair, needing a new strip of duct tape every week or so, a job that takes about 10 seconds each time. Most people believe that duct tape was invented for air-conditioning ducts - but it wasn't, and in fact, for some time, was not allowed to be used for that purpose. Duct tape was invented during World War II by Johnson & Johnson, which had much experience in adhesive surgical tapes. The military wanted a strong, waterproof self-adhesive tape to keep water out of ammunition cases. The first duct tape was a dull greenish cotton-mesh fabric, that was waterproofed with polyurethane sealant, which was then coated with a rubber-based adhesive. Not only was it strong, but you didn't need scissors to cut it - you could tear it, longways and crossways, by hand. At that time, it was called "Duck Tape" (as in Quack Quack). We don't know why, but there are three popular theories. One is that the soldiers called it "Duck Tape", because water rolled off it like off a duck's back. Another theory relates to the layer of cotton "duck" cloth. The third theory claims some kind of linkage to the amphibious vehicle called "duck", from the manufacturer's code of DUKW. And because it was used on ammunition cases, it was also called "gun tape". In the racing car business, it is called "100 mile-per-hour tape" and "200 mile-per-hour tape", because it will stay on cars at that speed. Airforce technicians call it "1,000 mile-per-hour" tape, because it will stick to the radome (radar domes) of jet fighters at that phenomenal speed. The very first use of the phrase "duct tape" (with a "T" as in Tango) seems to be in 1970, when the bankrupt Larry Plotnik Company of Chelsea, Massachusetts unloaded 14,000 rolls of the stuff. Perhaps it comes from the Latin, "ducere", meaning "to lead". By this time, a variety of duck/duct tape was being used to join sections of air-conditioning ducts. It had now evolved into a silvery version that was stronger, with a more powerful adhesive - and was nothing like the stuff you buy in hardware stores. HVAC (Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning) professionals wouldn't dream of using the inferior grades of tape. But even the top grades are not that good. In the late 1990s, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California looked at how much energy escaped from air-con ducts. Surprisingly, they found that clear polyester tape was better than the best HVAC-grade duct tape. In response, various US government bodies prohibited the use of duct tape in the HVAC industry - and so, the industry responded by developing new improved grades. A matt black version of duct tape is used in the theatre, music and entertainment industry, and is called gaffer tape. Duct tape was used by astronauts in the crippled Apollo 13 mission in 1970. They made an emergency carbon dioxide scrubber, which kept them alive. And there is a grade made specifically for nuclear reactors. On February 10, 2003, the US Department of Homeland Security broadcast that a terrorist attack was likely, and advised Americans to buy plastic sheeting and duct tape, in case of biological or chemical attack. In Scandinavia, duct tape is called "Jesus tape", because it can fix anything. But whatever it's called, it's magic stuff. A whole mythology has risen around duct tape. Ed Smylie was one of the NASA engineers who, on the ground, designed the lifesaving cardboard/duct tape assembly for the Apollo 13 astronauts. He said that he wasn't worried, once he knew the astronauts had duct tape on board. In 2005 he said, "One thing a Southern boy will never say is 'I don't think duct tape will fix it.' " It's claimed that the Do-It-Yourselfer needs only two tools - duct tape to stick stuff together, and WD-40 to unstick stuff. And Carl Zwanzig, the famous sci-fi fan, said, "duct tape is like The Force - it has a light side and a dark side, and it binds the Universe together."

as found on : http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s1260445.htm Zombie Zombies appear regularly on our TV screens, as more Tales of the Undead are unleashed upon us, and some old ones exhumed. But here's a surprise - zombies can be real. In real life, the zombies come from the Caribbean island of Haiti. They are a person who has been almost-killed, and then later raised from the almost-dead by a voodoo priest, to be used as slave labour for the rest of their miserable life. Zombies can move, eat, hear and speak, but they have no memory and no insight into their condition. There have been legends about zombies for centuries, but it was only in 1980 that a real-life case was documented. The story begins in 1962, in Haiti. A man called Clairvius Narcisse was sold to a zombie master by his brothers, because Clairvius refused to sell his share of the family land. Soon after Clairvius "officially" died, and was buried. However, he had been later secretly unburied, and was actually working as a zombie slave on a sugar plantation with many other zombies. In 1964, his zombie master died, and he wandered across the island in a psychotic daze for the next 16 years. The drugs that made him psychotic were gradually wearing off. In 1980, he accidentally stumbled across his long-lost sister in a market place, and recognized her. She didn't recognise him, but he identified himself to her by telling her early childhood experiences that only he could possibly know. Dr. Wade Davis, an ethnobiologist from Harvard, went to Haiti to research this story. He discovered how to make a zombie. First, make them "dead", then make them "mad" so that their minds are malleable. Often, a local "witch doctor" secretly gives them the drugs. He made the victim "dead" with a mixture of toad skin and puffer fish. You can put it in their food, or rub it on their skin, especially the soft, undamaged skin on the inside of the arm near the elbow. The victims soon appear dead, with an incredibly slow breath, and an incredibly slow and faint heartbeat. In Haiti, people are buried very soon after death, because the heat and the lack of refrigeration makes the bodies decay very rapidly. This suits the zombie-making process. You have to dig them up within eight hours of the burial, or else they'll die of asphyxiation. The skin of the common toad (Bufo bufo bufo) can kill - especially if the toad has been threatened. There are three main nasties in toad venon - biogenic amines, bufogenine and bufotoxins. One of their many effects is that of a pain-killer - far stronger than cocaine. Boccaccio's medieval tale, the Decameron, tells the story of two lovers who die after eating a herb, sage, that a toad had breathed upon. The other half of the witch doctor's wicked potion comes from the pufferfish, which is known in Japan as "fugo". Its poison is called "tetrodotoxin", a deadly neurotoxin. Its pain-killing effects are 160,000 times stronger than cocaine. Eating the fish can give you a gentle physical "tingle" from the tetrodotoxin - and in Japan, the chefs who prepare fugo have to be licensed by the government. Even so, there are rare cases of near-deaths or actual deaths from eating fugo. The toxin drops your temperature and blood pressure, and puts you into a deep coma. In Japan, some of the victims recovered a few days after being declared dead. Back in Haiti, once you've got the zombie-in-waiting out of the ground, you make them mad, by force-feeding them a paste made from datura (Jimsons Weed). Datura breaks your links with reality, and then destroys all recent memories. So you don't know what day it is, where you are and, worst of all, you don't even know who you are. The zombies are in a state of semi-permanent induced psychotic delirium. They are sold to sugar plantations as slave labour. They are given datura again if they seem to be recovering their senses. Datura (Jimsons Weed, Angel's Trumpet, Brugmanisa candida) contains the chemicals atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, which can act as powerful hallucinogens in the appropriate doses. They can also cause permanent memory loss, paralysis and death. The person who applies these chemicals to a victim has to be quite skilled, so that they won't kill them. There is a very small gap between appearing-to-be-dead, and actually being dead. So make sure that before you use a priest or witch doctor, you ask to see their qualifications...

as found on: http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/whattodo.htm What can I do to help someone who may be suicidal? ...a helpful guide, includes Suicide Warning Signs. Take it seriously. Myth: “The people who talk about it don't do it.” Studies have found that more than 75% of all completed suicides did things in the few weeks or months prior to their deaths to indicate to others that they were in deep despair. Anyone expressing suicidal feelings needs immediate attention. Myth: “Anyone who tries to kill himself has got to be crazy.” Perhaps 10% of all suicidal people are psychotic or have delusional beliefs about reality. Most suicidal people suffer from the recognized mental illness of depression; but many depressed people adequately manage their daily affairs. The absence of “craziness” does not mean the absence of suicide risk. “Those problems weren't enough to commit suicide over,” is often said by people who knew a completed suicide. You cannot assume that because you feel something is not worth being suicidal about, that the person you are with feels the same way. It is not how bad the problem is, but how badly it's hurting the person who has it. Remember: suicidal behavior is a cry for help. Myth: “If a someone is going to kill himself, nothing can stop him.” The fact that a person is still alive is sufficient proof that part of him wants to remain alive. The suicidal person is ambivalent - part of him wants to live and part of him wants not so much death as he wants the pain to end. It is the part that wants to live that tells another “I feel suicidal.” If a suicidal person turns to you it is likely that he believes that you are more caring, more informed about coping with misfortune, and more willing to protect his confidentiality. No matter how negative the manner and content of his talk, he is doing a positive thing and has a positive view of you. Be willing to give and get help sooner rather than later. Suicide prevention is not a last minute activity. All textbooks on depression say it should be reached as soon as possible. Unfortunately, suicidal people are afraid that trying to get help may bring them more pain: being told they are stupid, foolish, sinful, or manipulative; rejection; punishment; suspension from school or job; written records of their condition; or involuntary commitment. You need to do everything you can to reduce pain, rather than increase or prolong it. Constructively involving yourself on the side of life as early as possible will reduce the risk of suicide. Listen. Give the person every opportunity to unburden his troubles and ventilate his feelings. You don't need to say much and there are no magic words. If you are concerned, your voice and manner will show it. Give him relief from being alone with his pain; let him know you are glad he turned to you. Patience, sympathy, acceptance. Avoid arguments and advice giving. ASK: “Are you having thoughts of suicide?” Myth: “Talking about it may give someone the idea.” People already have the idea; suicide is constantly in the news media. If you ask a despairing person this question you are doing a good thing for them: you are showing him that you care about him, that you take him seriously, and that you are willing to let him share his pain with you. You are giving him further opportunity to discharge pent up and painful feelings. If the person is having thoughts of suicide, find out how far along his ideation has progressed. If the person is acutely suicidal, do not leave him alone. If the means are present, try to get rid of them. Detoxify the home. Urge professional help. Persistence and patience may be needed to seek, engage and continue with as many options as possible. In any referral situation, let the person know you care and want to maintain contact. No secrets. It is the part of the person that is afraid of more pain that says “Don't tell anyone.” It is the part that wants to stay alive that tells you about it. Respond to that part of the person and persistently seek out a mature and compassionate person with whom you can review the situation. (You can get outside help and still protect the person from pain causing breaches of privacy.) Do not try to go it alone. Get help for the person and for yourself. Distributing the anxieties and responsibilities of suicide prevention makes it easier and much more effective. From crisis to recovery. Most people have suicidal thoughts or feelings at some point in their lives; yet less than 2% of all deaths are suicides. Nearly all suicidal people suffer from conditions that will pass with time or with the assistance of a recovery program. There are hundreds of modest steps we can take to improve our response to the suicidal and to make it easier for them to seek help. Taking these modest steps can save many lives and reduce a great deal of human suffering. WARNING SIGNS Conditions associated with increased risk of suicide Death or terminal illness of relative or friend. Divorce, separation, broken relationship, stress on family. Loss of health (real or imaginary). Loss of job, home, money, status, self-esteem, personal security. Alcohol or drug abuse. Depression. In the young depression may be masked by hyperactivity or acting out behavior. In the elderly it may be incorrectly attributed to the natural effects of aging. Depression that seems to quickly disappear for no apparent reason is cause for concern. The early stages of recovery from depression can be a high risk period. Recent studies have associated anxiety disorders with increased risk for attempted suicide. Emotional and behavioral changes associated with suicide Overwhelming Pain: pain that threatens to exceed the person's pain coping capacities. Suicidal feelings are often the result of longstanding problems that have been exacerbated by recent precipitating events. The precipitating factors may be new pain or the loss of pain coping resources. Hopelessness: the feeling that the pain will continue or get worse; things will never get better. Powerlessness: the feeling that one's resources for reducing pain are exhausted. Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt, self-hatred, “no one cares”. Fears of losing control, harming self or others. Personality becomes sad, withdrawn, tired, apathetic, anxious, irritable, or prone to angry outbursts. Declining performance in school, work, or other activities. (Occasionally the reverse: someone who volunteers for extra duties because they need to fill up their time.) Social isolation; or association with a group that has different moral standards than those of the family. Declining interest in sex, friends, or activities previously enjoyed. Neglect of personal welfare, deteriorating physical appearance. Alterations in either direction in sleeping or eating habits. (Particularly in the elderly) Self-starvation, dietary mismanagement, disobeying medical instructions. Difficult times: holidays, anniversaries, and the first week after discharge from a hospital; just before and after diagnosis of a major illness; just before and during disciplinary proceedings. Undocumented status adds to the stress of a crisis. Suicidal Behavior Previous suicide attempts, “mini-attempts”. Explicit statements of suicidal ideation or feelings. Development of suicidal plan, acquiring the means, “rehearsal” behavior, setting a time for the attempt. Self-inflicted injuries, such as cuts, burns, or head banging. Reckless behavior. (Besides suicide, other leading causes of death among young people in New York City are homicide, accidents, drug overdose, and AIDS.) Unexplained accidents among children and the elderly. Making out a will or giving away favorite possessions. Inappropriately saying goodbye. Verbal behavior that is ambiguous or indirect: “I'm going away on a real long trip.”, “You won't have to worry about me anymore.”, “I want to go to sleep and never wake up.”, “I'm so depressed, I just can't go on.”, “Does God punish suicides?”, “Voices are telling me to do bad things.”, requests for euthanasia information, inappropriate joking, stories or essays on morbid themes. A WARNING ABOUT WARNING SIGNS The majority of the population at any one time does not have many of the warning signs and has a lower suicide risk rate. But a lower rate in a larger population is still a lot of people - and many completed suicides had only a few of the conditions listed above. In a one person to another person situation, all indications of suicidality need to be taken seriously. Crisis intervention hotlines that accept calls from the suicidal, or anyone who wishes to discuss a problem, are (in New York City) The Samaritans at 212-673-3000 and Helpline at 212-532-2400.