                       .literature.of.refined.embodiment.
                         http://www.prysm.net/~dsanders
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                 ;         |          !           |          ;      
                           ;          |           ;                 
                                      ;                             
                                 july, i996
          
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
           disclaimer
            
               
     No long paragraphs of meaningless babble.  Mearly, if you don't like
 it, don't read it.  If you do something you have read about in this
 magazine which is illegal, we are not responsible.  Hopefully, you have
 enough sense to know that everything in this mag is STRICTLY for
 informational purposes only...

      
 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/                     poetry and prose     
 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/    The Necromancer

 I Strive To Be Someone I Am Not,
 Bitter Feelings Go About me,
 I Aspire To Be Something,
 But Will Always Be Nothing,
 I Wish For Someone To Rescue Me,
 But To My Avail No One Will Come,
 I Have All The Material Things I Could Wish For,
 But I Have Learned In Life Money is Not The Only Thing That Matters.
 The Only Thing I Wish For Is For A Little Love And Support,
 They Say They Love Me With Their Constant Screams,
 But All I See is Hate Inside Them.
 I Feel I Am Getting Furter From Them,
 I Fear This The Most Becose Of My Love For Them.
 I Wish I Could Run,
 Run Far Away From Here,
 I Feel My Presence Is Not Wanted Here.
 I Wish I Could Fly Like An Eagle In The Sky,
 But It Is For My Luck,
 That I Will Lay Here And Die,
 For I Shall Decompose And Poison The Earth I Am Rested In.
 For My Life Is Constant Darkness,
 And I Rarely Do See Light.
 My Good Intentions Dissolve Over Time,
 The Good of My Heart Has Been Extinguished By The Bad,
 For My Blood Now Grows Cold And Now, I Must Go.
 
                 
                  rip  
                 @->--

 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/    The Necromancer    

 Suicide

 The Blood Drips Steadily Into The Sink,
 So Tired...
 I Watch The Blood Pour Down The Drain,
 I Wonder What They Will Say,
 They Never Took Me Seriously Before,
 But Perhaps They Will Now,
 My Life Pours Down The Drain,
 Why?
 Why Were They So Creul,
 Dont They Understand.
 So Tired...
 For So Long I Have Waited,
 Hoping For Better Things,
 A Better Life,
 Perhaps This Is It.
 There Is No Point In This Existance,
 Who Will Find Me?
 Mom?
 Dad?
 The Ones Who Supress Me So.
 They Will Never Understand Why.
 How Could They.
 I Can Feel My Life Slipping Away,
 Such A Welcomed Feeling,
 So Long Awaited...
 And Finally...
 I Am Gone.
 

 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/    Mina    


 Torture

 Weave a circle round him thrice
 Pay no heed to his advice
 His mouth we close with a fine wire
 And a needle to make it much tighter
 Should he try to get away
 Surely we will make him pay
 Nail his feet into the floor
 So that he can see the door
 Tie his hands behind his head
 And if they move, he will be dead
 Rub some syrup all over his chest
 And let the ants keep him from rest
 Hold his head for count of 1-10
 Under water again and again
 If he lives what fun it will be
 To tickle him under his knee
 Caress his balls until he creams
 Then squeeze them til he screams
 Deprive him of the human touch
 Since he likes the rest so much.

                -Mina

 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/    Mina    


 Sailors Vendetta

 Palest stars, blackest night
 Fire burns, refusing light
 All along the shore they come
 Long lost sailors coming home
 Cold wind whispers 'What's not right?'
 People scream and run in fright
 Death white hand reaching out
 For a lover full of doubt
 She, unfaithful a hundred years
 Grandaughter sheds grandma's tears
 For when the death news came that day
 To another man's arms she strayed
 Now that she's long dead and gone
 He will ruin her love-child's spawn
 Now the sun shines bitter light
 To end the sacrificial rite
 Just before it lit the shore
 Sailor, child, town were no more.

                 -Mina


 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/                     interviews     
 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/    Inquisitor's Interview with Visigoth (iCE)                     

 Ever curious as to why Visigoth so eagerly and hastily left ACiD to join iCE?
 Ever decided, man I have no life except reading this shit?  Well, this is the
 article for you...  On sale now for only $9.95!!  Buy now, while supplies
 last.


  So, what all forms of art do you do on the computer?
 -
 <Visigoth> I render, and draw in fractal design painter, for print and web
  pages now mainly

 <Visigoth> although I work in photoshop and others
 -
  What would it take if a regular Joe User wanted to get you to do his
  VGA for his WWW page?
 -
 <Visigoth> money! ;> I do it for a living now
 -
  Oh yeah...  One size fits all.  :)
 -
 <Visigoth> <puzzled> money fits all ;> seriously, the reason I do it for a
  living is because I really enjoy it, I don't do much in trade anymore
  because I get so many requests (as do all people)
 -
  So, instead of on the computer, what all art do you do outside of the
  computer?
 -
 <Visigoth> I sketch out ideas for work mainly, but when I'm not working,
  I'm usually veg'ing or doing something else
 -
  Heheheh, yeah, well, it's a living.  So, are you like supporting yourself
  on just your artwork?
 -
 <Visigoth> pretty much, just bought a new system, p133, so I'm doing okay,
  working for yourself is feast or famine sometimes though, looking for a
  house to rent
 -
 <Visigoth> speaking of which, ultimate fighting championship 8 is on
  tonight, real brutal fighting event, one of my favorite things in the
  world, get it on pay per view (small plug)
 -
  Pay Per View, eh?  You ordering Wrestle-Mania?
 -
 <Visigoth> NONONO! this is REAL fighting, if you haven't seen it you, I
  guess you just have to, no fake bullshit... real blood, no nice karate
  moves, just real fighting

 <Visigoth> if it wasn't they wouldn't be trying to ban it in most states
  ;>

 <Visigoth> it's worth the 20 bucks
 -
  Just try the TuffMan Competition...  Even better... :)
 -
 <Visigoth> when's the next one?
 -
  Not sure...  I believe there is one next month.
  Hold on and lemme go and smoke real quick...
 -
 <Visigoth> okay, okay, you and Cat both smoke, heh

 <Visigoth> hey smoking boy!! I gotta go woik on my web page, hurry up!!
 -
  Okay, sorry cat...

  So, we won't focus on this subject, but I'm kinda curious.  What DID
  happen between you and Acid?
 -
 <Visigoth> quit calling me CAT!!! ;>

 <Visigoth> basically a long, ugly breakup...
 -
  Because you didn't like how he ran things?
 -
 <Visigoth> I quit, ran the net for radman as a favor after I was out, and
  had considered him a friend

 <Visigoth> he never bothered to keep up with me, or even tell me when he
  found someone else to run the net, I called up his pager as soon as I
  found out and told him I thought he was an ungrateful sh+thead or some
  such

 <Visigoth> he called me back, told me never to leave a message on his
  pager like that again, I said since I spent a year of my life in his
  group I'd do what I pleased, then he told me to 'change my phone number'

 <Visigoth> after that little argument he avoided talking to me for half a
  year

 <Visigoth> anytime I mentioned him in any conversation I'd forward the
  mail to him, anyway, to make a long story longer, never heard from him
  again, but some of his little acid kiddies would mail bomb me etc..

 <Visigoth> anyway, I think I was very open, and that most of acid acted
  like children, I'm glad I left.. the artists put up with a lot in that
  group, okay, on to other shit

 <Visigoth> heh, okay, glad you asked about acid?? :>
 -
  Well, it got a good answer...  :)

  Okay, "on to other shit..."

  Where do you get the ideas for your art?
 -
 <Visigoth> just pop into my head usually.. I'm sure they come from things
  I see in part too, but pretty abstract
 -
  Ah.  I just can't see how you'll be hanging around one day and when a
  picture of a demon with a sickle standing in a field of blood pops into
  someone's head.

  Guess it's your think not mine...   :)
 -
 <Visigoth> hey, you just came up with that, it's easy :>
 -
 :: I almost felt flattered when he told me this until I remembered where I had
   the idea.  It was a VGA he and CatBones did together while in ACiD. ::
 -
  But then, there is the designing part to do...  I *KNOW* I can't do
  that...  :)

  How do you like your new home (ice) ?
 -
 <Visigoth> I enjoy it a great deal, I'm individualistic, but I find I get
  along with most of the people in there, and they have some experienced
  render artists that I can learn from, etc.. :>
 -
  Hey, fun and education mixed...  What a concept...  And you told me
  earlier that your homepage is going to be up soon...  What will the
  address be?
 -
 <Visigoth> it's up now, but it's going to be reworked majorly...
  www.cris.com/~visigoth
 -
  Oooh...  even better...  :)

  So cat, what are you working on for the next Ice pack?
 -
 <Visigoth> Shadup about CAT?!!!! hehe.. I toss in stuff that relates to my
  work a lot of the time, sometimes I'll just sit down and do a pic for
  fun, but mostly for work now

 <Visigoth> hell, just call me Cat I guess ;>

 <Visigoth> that's what you've done the whole time, hehe

 <Visigoth> Cat on the brain
 -
  Cat is a phrase, dammit...  Haven't you ever heard the word 'slang'?  ;>
 -
 <Visigoth> sure ;>
 -
  Heheheh...  Well, CAT...  I'll letcha back to your Web Page designing...
  Appreciate the time...
 -
 <Visigoth> okay Phluey

 <Visigoth> grin
 -
  Hmmm...  You make me sound like something you spit...  Gee, thankx!

  :)

  Anywayz, I'll check ya later...
 -
 <Visigoth> later man
 -
  latah.

 Well, a little insight on Visigoth and his 'interesting' personality.
 And by the way, if you ever meet him on IRC, don't call him cat. :)

        inquisitor
        maquis@prysm.net

 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/    Inquisitor's Interview with CatBones (ACiD)                      


 Wondering aimlessly around IRC one Monday, I happened to stumble upon a
 great oppertunity that I could not pass up.  I found CatBones.  A GREAT
 VGA Artist for Acid Productions.  Since he has been my favorite artist
 since I began to look at his art, I decided to interview him.  Going back,
 I would've have more to say, but since I can't, here's what I did say and
 how CatBones reacted.


  So cat, how long ago was it that you started to draw VGA's and stuff
  on the computer?
 -
 <CatBones> I started doing computer grafx in the army, about 10 years ago.
  the technology of the time sucked real bad, but I liked it so I stuck
  with it.
 -
  Well damn...  It lookz like you made the best of the primitive technology
  to learn how to do the stuff you do...
 -
 <CatBones> Yeah. The basics are the same, but the methods were horrible. A
  pic that takes me 3 hours now took me all day then.

  Okay, one thing I have to check...  I've heard rumors of your
  sexuality...  Just kinda curious if your a Mr. or Mrs.
 -
 <CatBones> Heh. Mr. Cat.
           Cat Spencer.
 -
  Ahhh, I see...  Just had to clear that up real quick.  :)  So, how much
  experience do you have with VGA (education-wise)
 -
 <CatBones> Well, part of the reason I joined the army was for college
  benefits. I took advantage of that, and the army paid a lot of my
  college. I've done A LOT (i mean a LOT) of arts/graphics credits, though
  I never finished my degree. When I started tattooing I quit persuing
  formal education. Since then I've put all my commercial art training to
  work honing my vga skill and my tattoo art.
 -
  So, if I saw you in a tattoo parlor, could you tattoo one of your VGA's on
  my chest?  :)
 -
 <CatBones> Shore I could. My tattoo work is really better than my vga stuff
  though.
 -
  Well, then forget it.  :)  Anywayz...  I heard you were in Ice before Acid...
  True?
 -
 <CatBones> Yes and no. I was in ACiD for over a year, then personal
  conflicts caused me to leave. I joined iCE, but was only in for a month
  (1 pack) and then came back to acid.
 -
  Hmmm...  Who was the personal conflict with and what all went down?
 -
 <CatBones> Um, well it was between me and rad man. Several factors were
  involved.  I was opposed to some new acid policies for one. And I was
  really lagging on a commercial project I was helping acid out with, the
  t-shirt deal, so there was some stress between me and rM over that.
  Everything worked out right tho, and I came back after we talked thru a
  lot of stuff.
 -
  So, what convinced you to re-join Acid?
 -
 <CatBones> Oh. Well, I had a personal reason why I really couldn't stay in
  iCE, and acid is 'the other' big group, so I wanted to go back.
 -
  Hmmm...  And what did you not like about Ice?  Or would that be prying
  too far?
 -
 <CatBones> Nah, I ain't getting into that again. You can find it in some
  other interviews. ;)
 -
  Oh gee, archiving...  Yippee.  :)
  You said you wanted to be in 'the other' big group.  Does that mean you
  enjoy the publicity that Acid brings you?
 -
 <CatBones> Yeah. The distribution.
  ACiD gets everywhere, a ton of pd boards and all that shit too.
  No little groups' packs get out like an ACiD pack does, and
  that's what it's about for me, getting it to other people.
 -
  Ok, I see.  So, setting Acid and Ice beside us for a moment, what do you
  enjoy doing when you don't have a VGA to draw?
 -
 <CatBones> I tattoo. I airbrush. I draw. I spend most of my leisure time in
  some art medium or another. It's what I like to do most.
 -
  Hey, what ever paddles your canoe...  Gimme a little background info
  on ya...  You married or anything?
 -
 <CatBones> I'm married. I'm 31, I've been married 11 years.
 -
  Yeah, true love and all that stuff, eh?
  :)
 -
 <CatBones> Of coz..
  =)
 -
  Coo...  Well, cat...  the worst part for you is over...  =)  I'm about
  out of questions and such...
 -
 <CatBones> OkAy man, It's been a hoot. =)

  Yeah, same to you...  :)  Thankx for the time and who knows...  maybe
  we'll chat again...
 -
 <CatBones> yup. l8r mangO.
 -
  latah cat...
 -


 It may not have been much, but it's a little taste of how CatBones is
 like in person.  Anywayz, I gotta jet so I can get to my woman's house
 by 5:15p.  Latah...

        inquisitor
        maquis@prysm.net

 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/                     informative articles     
 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/    Nootropic Drugs part 1: Piracetam           by: Ragnarok          
                                                               the Damned
 Nootropic Drugs : Part i - Piracetam         Written by: Ragnarok
                                                           the Damned
                         NOOTROPIC DRUGS


     PIRACETAM

   "Last year a friend took me to hear Sun Ra and his Intergalactic
 Arkestra as a birthday present. I had just received a bottle of
 800 mg tablets of Piracetam. My friend and I each took nine of the
 tablets (an "attack dose" they call it in the literature) before
 entering the hall. The music began 30 minutes later. I found myself
 able to concentrate as never before. I was
 completely lucid with absolutely no sense of intoxication. For the
 first time in my life I could hear each individuals horn's timbre
 (Sun Ra has about 10 horn players, often all playing massed
 harmonies.) My friend has worked as a professional
 saxophone player. He, too, reported extraordinary hearing and
 concentration abilities. My ears felt as though the were being
 stimulated from all directions at once, but the feeling was
 entirely pleasant. I was enthralled."
 
   Piracetam has been the subject of intensive research for over 15
 years, and has not only proven to be a powerful intelligence
 booster and cerebral stimulant, but also, even in massive acute
 and chronic dosages, appears to be nontoxic and to produce no side
 effects (it's so nontoxic one FDA employee reportedly
 claimed that since huge doses produce no toxic effects, it can't
 possibly have any pharmacological effects and must be
 physiologically inert). It is so remarkable in its effects and
 safety that its discovery by UCB Laboratories in Belgium sent
 virtually every other major pharmaceutical company scrambling to
 develop its own cerebral stimulant. This "Smart pill race" has
 resulted in the creation of a new drug category called the
 nootropics, from the Greek words noos (mind) and tropein (turn),
 meaning "acting on the mind".
 
   Some of the nootropic drugs being tested now on humans include
 vinpocetine (being developed by Ayerst Laboratories), which speeds
 up learning, improves memory and recall and seems to block the
 action of substances that disrupt memory; aniracetam
 (Hoffman-La Roche), which appears to be about ten times more potent
 in improving and protecting memory than piracetam,
 pramiracetam (Warner-Lambert/Parke Davis), which seems to improve
 learning and memory by enhancing the firing of neurons in the
 hippocampus (a key to the formation of long-term memories), and
 oxiracetam (Ciba-Geigy), apparently two to three times as
 powerful as piracetam (intriguingly, research shows that when
 oxiracetam is given to pregnant rats their offspring proved more
 intelligent that control groups--similar findings have been
 reported for the offspring of pregnant rats kept in "enriched
 environments," as described in the "Research Update" elsewhere in
 this issue). All of these substances seem remarkably nontoxic and
 free of side effects.
 
   As yet, there is no nootropic drug that is approved by the FDA for
 sale in the US, but, keenly aware of the multi-billion dollar
 potential of nootropics, the drug companies are pouring big bucks
 into research that will satisfy FDA requirements by proving how
 they work (still not well understood), and by proving their
 effectiveness in treating medical problems such as Alzheimer's
 disease and senility. In this article we will focus on the most
 extensively tested and widely available nootropic compound,
 piracetam.
 
   Piracetam has been proven to boost learning and memory in normal
 subjects as well as those who suffer cognitive deficits, and is
 also a cognitive enhancer under conditions of hypoxia, or too
 little oxygen (recent expeditions to climb Mt. Everest have
 included piracetam as an "essential" medication to treat
 frostbite and memory lapses causes by altitude). A variety of
 clinical studies with human subjects, including studies of young
 healthy volunteers, healthy middle-aged subjects with some memory
 decline, elderly subjects, elderly subjects with senility, and
 alcoholics, have proven that piracetam enhances cortical
 vigilance, improves integration of information processing,
 improves attention span and concentration, and can produce
 dramatic improvements in both direct and delayed recall of verbal
 learning.
 
   It's effective in the treatment of dyslexia, stroke, alcoholism,
 vertigo, senile dementia, sickle-cell anemia, and many other
 conditions, enhances the brain's resistance to various injuries
 and boosts its ability to recover from injuries, protects the brain
 against chemicals such as barbiturates and cyanides, and is widely
 used throughout Europe and Latin America (where it is sold over the
 counter).
 
   The subjective effect described by a lot of people is that it
 "wakes up your brain". In fact, it selectively stimulates the
 anterior or frontal part of the forebrain--that part of the brain
 that has evolved most recently, rapidly and remarkably in the
 course of our evolution from ape to human, and which is the seat
 of our "higher functions."
  
   Piracetam works in a number of ways to increase energy within the
 brain. First, it steps up the production of adenosine
 triphosphate (ATP), the energy storage and energy generating
 molecules within our cells. It also boosts cerebral metabolism by
 improving cerebral microcirculation (blood flow), increasing the
 brain's use of glucose, and increasing the brain's oxygen
 utilization. It also seems to enhance protein syntheses in the
 brain (it's been proven that protein synthesis is an essential step
 in laying down long-term memories).
 
   SUPERCONNECTING THE BRAIN. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of
 piracetam is that it has been proven to increase the flow of
 information between the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
 As a result of experiments with human subjects one researcher
 concluded that piracetam causes the hemispheres to become
 "superconnected." Since there's increasing evidence that high level
 brain states--brilliance, insight, creativity, flow, peak
 performance, being "in the zone"--are a product of the integrated
 and synergistic functioning of both hemispheres simultaneously, we
 might suspect that piracetam enhances not only simple learning and
 memory but creative or syntheses thinking.
 
   Piracetam's capacity to superconnect the hemispheres becomes even
 more intriguing in light of the evidence indicating that many of
 the most widely used mind machines and techniques for brain
 enhancement (such as binaural beat frequencies and the sound and
 light machines) function in part by facilitating integrated
 hemispheric functioning. This raises the possibility that since
 both the machines and piracetam seem to facilitate
 interhemispheric communication, there might be a potentiating or
 synergistic effect when such mind machines are used in
 combination with piracetam, resulting in a quantum leap in brain-
 enhancement effects.
 
   PRECAUTIONS: Piracetam may increase the effects of certain drugs,
 such as amphetamines and psychotropics. Adverse effects are rare
 but include insomnia, psychomotor agitation, nausea, headaches and
 gastrointestinal distress.
 
 DOSAGE: Piracetam is supplied in 400mg or 800mg tablets. The usual
 dose is 2400-4800 mg per day in three divided doses. Some
 literature recommends that the first two days a high "attack" dose
 should be taken. We have noticed that when some people first take
 piracetam they do not notice any effect until they take a high
 dose. Thereafter, they may notice that a lower dosage is
 sufficient. The drug takes effect in 30 to 60 minutes.
 
 SOURCES: piracetam is not sold in the US. It can be purchased over
 the counter in Mexico or by mail order from the address below.
 
 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/    Nootropic Drugs part 2: Hydergine           by: Ragnarok          
                                                               the Damned


      
      HYDERGINE

   "I first tried Hydergine six years ago during a visit to see my
 Dad at Christmas. He and I started taking 9mg and results were
 apparent to us both within two days. He was in his 40s, and began
 to remember events from when he was in his 20s as clearly as if
 they'd happened yesterday. What was interesting was that the events
 were nothing outstanding--just ordinary times. In other words, the
 everyday events had been stored away all these years, it just took
 some chemical prodding to jog them loose into the conscious mind.
 I was in my early 20s and had similar memories going back to my
 childhood years. A unique opportunity had been presented to us to
 sit down and really share in the joys that our life had brought us.
 What a gift!"
 
   A wealth of research going back over 20 years suggests that
 Hydergine may be what psychologist-pharmacist Ross Pelton calls
 "the ultimate smart pill." The substance, whose generic name is
 ergoloid mesylates, is made from a natural, organic source: the
 ergot fungus of rye plants (it was discovered at Sandoz
 laboratories by the visionary chemist Dr. Albert Hofmann, also
 known for his discovery of another ergot derivative, LSD 25). It
 increases mental abilities, prevents damage to brain cells, and
 may even be able to reverse existing damage to brain cells.
 
   Hydergine acts in several ways to enhance mental capabilities and
 to slow down or reverse the aging processes in the brain. A few of
 the huge number of beneficial effects scientists have
 attributed to Hydergine include: increased protein syntheses in
 the brain; reduced accumulation of lipofuscin in the brain;
 increased quantities of blood and oxygen delivered to the brain;
 improvement of memory, learning and intelligence; beneficial
 improvements in brainwave activity; increased metabolism in brain
 cells; normalization of blood pressure; and increased production
 of such neurotransmitters as dopamine and norepinephrine
 (neurochemical messengers essential to the formation of memory,
 and also associated with arousal, alertness, elation and
 pleasure). Hydergine also functions as a powerful antioxidant and
 thus protects the brain against the damage caused by those
 infamous rascally free radicals (unstable and extremely reactive
 molecules produced by normal metabolism, which cause damage
 associated with aging, cancer and cardiovascular disease).
 
   One way that Hydergine may enhance brain functioning is by
 mimicking the effect of a substance called nerve growth factor
 (NGF). NGF promotes the growth of dendrites--the long branching
 fibers by which neurons receive information from other neurons.
 Scientists studying the effects of learning on the brain have found
 it is directly related to dendritic growth. Hydergine seems to work
 by the same neurochemical pathway as NGF to produce neural growth.
 
   While Hydergine is widely used for the treatment of senility,
 scientists have also studied its effects, both short term and long
 term, in normal healthy humans; these studies noted
 significant improvements in a variety of cognitive function,
 including alertness, memory, reaction time, abstract reasoning and
 cognitive processing ability.
 
 PRECAUTIONS: If too large a dose is used when first taking
 Hydergine, it may cause slight nausea, gastric disturbance, or
 headache. Overall, Hydergine does not produce and serious side
 effects, it is non-toxic even at very large doses and it is
 contraindicated only for individuals who have chronic or acute
 psychosis.
 
 DOSAGE: The US recommended dosage is 3mg per day, however, the
 European recommended dosage is 9 mg per day taken in three
 divided doses. Most of the research has been done at levels of 9
 to 12 mg per day or higher, and there is some evidence that 3 mg
 per day is simply insufficient for significant cognition-
 enhancement effects. It may take several weeks or even months
 before Hydergine produces noticeable effects. Hydergine (though
 not its generic counterpart) is available in a sublingual form,
 and there is evidence that sublingual doses reach the brain in
 greater quantity.
 
 SOURCES: Hydergine is available in the USA with a doctor's
 prescription, and approved by the FDA for the treatment of senile
 dementia and insufficient blood circulation to the brain--your
 doctor may not be familiar with the uses discussed. It can also be
 purchased over the counter in Mexico or by mail order from overseas
 (see below). In many cases these mail order companies sell the
 generic form, Ergoloid Mesylates. The FDA has rated the generic as
 biologically equivalent to the Sandoz product. More testing needs
 to be done on the question.
 

 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/    Nootropic Drugs part 3: Vasopressin         by: Ragnarok          
                                                               the Damned



           VASOPRESSIN

   "The most immediate result I get from using vasopressin is
 increased clarity and alertness. I can be logical without the usual
 speediness associated with caffeine use. After five minutes I've
 noticed that I'm busily accomplishing tasks that I'd been putting
 off for a week. The duration is about two hours for the energetic
 feelings. Overall, I feel my short-term memory recall improving
 over the past two weeks of using vasopressin. It seems that the
 longer I use it, the more I can rely on my mind to be a portable
 note pad."

   "I have smoked pot on a more or less (usually more) daily basis
 for 20 years. When I read that vasopressin is inhibited by pot, I
 found a source for buying some. Now I notice that when I use
 vasopressin with marijuana I still get stoned, but I have little
 or none of the 'dummying down' effect of the pot. And what a
 surprise to find that vasopressin intensifies orgasms!"
 
   Vasopressin, called "the memory hormone," is a natural brain
 peptide, stimulated by acetylcholine and released in the
 pituitary. It actually helps create, imprint, and store memories,
 and is essential to remembering. Apparently vasopressin is
 involved in picking out and chunking together related bits of
 information from the stream of consciousness, integrating these
 chunks into coherent structures, and then "imprinting" these images
 or concepts into long-term memory by transforming
 electrical impulses into complex proteins that contain memories
 and are stored away in the brain. The act of remembering the stored
 information is also mediated by vasopressin.
 
   Over 20 years ago scientists discovered that vasopressin had
 extraordinary effects on the memory of laboratory animals--
 preventing chemically and electrically induced amnesia, actually
 reversing amnesia, and dramatically boosting the memory and
 intelligence of normal animals. These findings spurred much
 research into the cognition-enhancement effect of vasopressin on
 humans. Among the key findings are that small doses of the
 hormone can have striking success in quickly reversing traumatic
 amnesia (amnesia caused by injuries such as car crashes), can
 reverse age-related memory loss and actually restore lost
 memories, and can produce sharp improvements in learning and memory
 using measures such as abstract and verbal memory,
 organizational capacities, recall, attention, concentration, focus,
 short-term memory, optical memory, and long-term memory. It also
 boosts performance in such areas as reaction speed, visual
 discrimination, and coordination.
 
   Vasopressin pours out during moments of trauma or extreme
 arousal, which may explain why those times seem to be so deeply
 imprinted in our brains, and are remembered with such clarity.
 Vasopressin is also released by cocaine, LSD, amphetamines,
 Ritalin, and Pemoline (Cylert). Those who make frequent use of
 these drugs deplete their brain's vasopressin supply. The result
 is depression, and a decline in cognitive function. The frequent
 user's response to this depression is to take more of the drug,
 thus trying to wring more vasopressin out of their depleted brain:
 ultimately the well runs dry. Vasopressin, however, is not a drug
 but the actual brain hormone that has been depleted, so it can
 produce dramatic and virtually instantaneous improvements in mood
 and mental functioning.
 
   Unlike stimulants, alcohol and marijuana do not deplete but
 actually suppress the release of vasopressin, which could account
 for the loss of memory many have noticed when drunk or stoned, or
 when trying to remember events that occurred while they were high.
 Vasopressin can reduce the harmful effects of these drugs and
 enhance alertness, reaction speed and concentration.
 
   Anecdotal evidence suggests that vasopressin can produce a state
 of euphoria accompanied by self-confidence, energy,
 assertiveness, and a sensation of extreme mental clarity. Many
 believe it is ideal for situations in which lots of new
 information needs to be processed and remembered--such as
 studying for an exam, learning a language, ploughing through
 difficult or complex works. Some use it for more mundane
 purposes, such as when they have to drive late at night and want
 to remain alert.
 
 PRECAUTIONS: Vasopressin can occasionally produce the following
 side effects; runny nose, nasal congestion, irritation of the nasal
 passages, headache, abdominal cramps, and increased bowel
 movements. Angina sufferers should not use vasopressin, since it
 can trigger angina pains. Vasopressin has not been proven to be
 safe for use during pregnancy.
 
 DOSAGE: Vasopressin usually comes in a nasal spray bottle. Most
 studies showing memory improvement have been done with a dose of
 12 to 16 USP per day, which is one whiff in each nostril three to
 four times per day. Vasopressin produces a noticeable effect within
 seconds.
 
 SOURCES: Vasopressin (known as Diapid and produced by Sandoz) is
 available in the USA with a doctor's prescription, but keep in mind
 that your doctor may not be familiar with the uses we have
 discussed (it is approved by the FDA for treatment of diabetes
 insipidus). It can also be purchased over the counter in Mexico or
 by mail order from overseas (see below).
 
 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/    Nootropic Drugs part 4: Obtaining           by: Ragnarok          
                                       Nootropics              the Damned



       
         HOW TO OBTAIN COGNITION-ENHANCEMENT SUBSTANCES BY MAIL ORDER.

   While some of the substances described above are not available in
 the U.S., or are available only by prescription, it is easy and
 quite legal to obtain these substances by mail order. One reason
 some of these substances are not available in the U.S. is that they
 have not yet gone through the extraordinarily expensive and lengthy
 process required to obtain FDA approval. This does not mean however
 that it is not quite legal to use these substances. And some of the
 substances have been approved by the FDA for limited medical
 application. This does not mean that it is not quite proper to use
 these substances for "unapproved" purposes.
 
   In the April, 1982 issue of the FDA Drug Bulletin, the agency
 included a policy statement clarifying the question of
 "unapproved" uses for drugs, clearly stating that "'unapproved'
 uses may be appropriate and rational in certain circumstances, and
 may, in fact, reflect approaches to drug therapy that have been
 extensively reported in medical literature... Valid new uses for
 drugs already on the market are often first discovered
 through serendipitous observations and therapeutic innovation." In
 sum, the FDA clearly approves of the "unapproved" uses as an
 important means for innovation and discovery.
 
   Also, though it is not widely known, a July, 1989 FDA ruling now
 makes it quite legal to import effective drugs used elsewhere but
 not available in the U.S. The FDA now allows the importation and
 mail shipment of a three month supply of drugs, for personal use,
 as long as they are regarded as safe in other countries. The new
 ruling, FDA pilot guidelines chapter 971, was made as a result of
 heavy pressure from AIDS political action groups, which insisted
 AIDS sufferers were denied access to potentially life-saving
 substances that were widely used abroad but were still unapproved
 for use in the U.S.
 
   InHome Health Services, a mail order pharmacy in Switzerland, is
 one of a number of companies established in response to this new
 FDA ruling. InHome carries a wide variety of drugs for cognitive
 enhancement, life extension, and the treatment of AIDS which are
 not available in the US.
 
   All of the drugs discussed here can be purchased without a
 prescription. You can request a full price sheet by writing to:
 InHome Health Services, Dept. E, POB 3112, CH-2800 Delemont,
 Switzerland. Those who want to order some of the substances
 described above right away may send a personal check for the amount
 of the item(s) plus $13 for shipping. Some sample prices (in June,
 1990) are:

           * Centrophenoxine (250mg x 60) $19
           * Hydergine (4.5mg x 28 tablets) $16.50
           * Phenytoin (Generic Dilantin, 100mg x 100) $8.80
           * Piracetam (800mg x 60 tablets) $16.60
           * Sulbutiamine (200mg x 30) $12.50
           * Vasopressin (5ml spray) $8.75
 
   You must include the following signed statement with your order.
 "I hereby declare that the products I am purchasing are not for
 commercial resale. They are for my personal use only. The supply
 ordered does not exceed three months usage, and they are used with
 the consent of my physician."
 
   Another company with higher prices, but possibly faster service is:
 
 INTERLAB
 PO Box 587
 Newport Pagnell
 Bucks MK 16 8AA England
 
   Again include this signed statement with your order: "I hereby
 declare that the products I am purchasing are not for commercial
 resale. They are for my personal use only. The supply ordered does
 not exceed three months usage, and they are used with the consent
 of my physician."
 
         This article could not have been written without the assistance
         of MEGABRAIN REPORT: THE PSYCHOTECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER. I encourage
         you to send for their literature @
 
 MEGABRAIN REPORT
 POB 2744
 Sausalita, Ca. 94965
 
                  
                   peaceandloveandfearandloathing

		       Ragnarok the Damned


 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/    Fall of InfiNet and Rise of InfiNet II      by: Heretic           

 G> What happen to the original InfiNet?

     That is a tough question to answer here.  I don't know... I guess that of 
 late I've been trying not to bring up InfiNet I, as it gives the impression 
 that this net's focus is to be an InfiNet I hate club.

     But anyway, I knew that sooner or later someone who is new to the net & 
 had no prior experience with InfiNet I or the players on Infi II would ask,
 so I'll give you a straight, no bullshit answer to your question.

    Basically, InfiNet I was a Freedom of Information network that came *this*
 close to embracing Free Speech.  Now, back in June of last year the founder
 of the network, Mitch Waas, couldn't take any more from a particular poster
 from a BBS in California that was on the net by the name of Miskatonic 
 university, and the poster, who is still around on other networks, was Mike 
 Christy.  So, Mitch Waas decided that the way to eliminate the problems with
 this user would be to delete the entire Miskatonic University system off of 
 his network.  That was the beginning of the decline of InfiNet I.
 His actions angered many, and brought about the existance of Free Speech
 Net, which was founded by the SysOp of M.U, Crawling Chaos... who now goes
 by the handle "Grimm".

     Mitch had nothing but problems after his hasty decision, and rationalized 
 his censorship to mostly himself, and was praised by those who he appeased by 
 performing the deletion;it was network politics at it's worst.  And so this 
 continued until November of last year, which brings us to another chapter in 
 this illustrious story.

     Mitch Wass dropped the network entirely in the lap of an individual named 
 Psyber, who was basically Waas's right hand man in the network.  The
 reasoning as his phone bills, which were out of control... so the man had no
 choice but to drop the network and sell his equipment off to pay creditors.
 But I digress.

     When Waas dropped the network, several sysops of the net, myself & 
 Redbeard were among them, spent several days contacting those who had been 
 lost when Waas dropped out due to session passwords, etc.  And then another 
 character, Wicked, who had unceasingly given Waas heartfelt arguments over
 the M.U. mess made a reappearance, along with the posters from Miskatonic
 University.  At that point the net was at a juncture of either living or 
 dying, and so I took up the fight against Mike Christy, Wicked, and others
 in order to attempt to save the network from death.  Unfortunately, Psyber
 was an unstable man who saw enemies everywhere... and after nearly a month
 of this fighting, Psyber committed the same griouvous error that Waas had
 previously made;he first banned Mike Christy, then Wicked.  

     I was not comfortable with these events in any way, and I expressed my 
 dissatisfaction with Psyber over the turn of events.  Finally, back on
 January the 7th I could no longer remain silent over things that I found
 reprehensible on that network.  And so, I posted a request for a gated echo,
 very similar to what is currently running between InfiNet II and FSN for the
 purpose of working out the hatred that existed between the two networks.
 And that was the beginning of the end.  At that point, it came to my
 attention that I was losing mail on my bbs due to a problem with my mail
 tosser... and for the first time, I will say what I feel really happened.

     Now, I had a user on my system by the name of RTSparrow, and her lover 
 Wolf Moon.  She is the one who brought the problem to my attention initially, 
 and I did attempt to discover what the problem was... well, by the time that
 I figured out what the source of my problem was, she had already been posting 
 netmail to Psyber from another system in the net, run by a psychotic wench by 
 the name of Heart.  And so, while I am attempting to argue my point for the 
 gate, RTSparrow, Heart, Psyber, and a few select others worked together in 
 order to discredit TBT on the network.  Sound ridiculous? Believe it... read 
 on.

     Psyber posted a message proclaining that *I* was a message censor, etc.
 as did Heart, and RTSparrow.... now, I backed up my problem and it's 
 resolution with facts, but the "other" side was incapable of doing so.
 And unfortunately things simply went downhill from there.  This went on for 
 several weeks... and then Psyber also dropped out, but not before he handed 
 the net over to his resident echo-list/moderator coordinator, Gemini.

     Now, backing up a bit here... I believe that it was actually Psyber who 
 was censoring the mail on his end.  He was the NA, and I polled directly to 
 the man.  And now, after considering the bizzarre situation, and the rest... 
 the only way that the mail could have been selectively disappearing is if 
 Psyber himself were the culprit.... why? Because I honestly believe that 
 Psyber is/was emotionally disturbed/insane.  He had to have been, considering 
 who he handed a Freedom of Information network to.

     Next chapter.

     And so, even after the disappearance of Psyber, the accusations against
 my system continue to grow, without a shred of evidence to back them up.  I 
 attempted to be reasonable, but I also lost my cool on several occasions, as 
 it was obvious that my system and downlinks were being deliberately screwed
 by power factions on that network.  And then it happened... Gemini forbade 
 anyone from my system from posting about our grievances with the network, or 
 we would face deletion.  He indicated that I would have to collect
 depositions from each member of my system that felt that the accusations on
 InfiNet had harmed TBT.  Well at the same time, he allowed certain posters
 and systems, mostly from Lousiana... namely RTSparrow, Heart, and Maverick
 (who was given 318 hub status along with me, despite the fact that he lives
 3 *blocks* away as a slap in face) to post whatever they cared to about how
 horrible I was, and how worthless my users were.

     Now,  I worked dillegently to get his "depositions", and I had several 
 very heartfelt messages from my users who did feel that InfiNet had
 griviously wronged my system and it's users.  I was in the middle of this
 when Gemini decided in a fit of Pique to delete my system.  After a few days
 of shock, I decided to ask Redbeard, who is with us today for a feed, which
 as a host he was able to give me...

     At any rate, I went back onto InfiNet I with the sole intention of 
 exposing it for the sham that it had become, beginning with Psyber, and
 ending with the ultimate censor, Gemini.  I railed against the hypocrisy and 
 preferrential treatment that was the norm under Gemini, and I attempted to 
 expose the truth for all to see on that network.  And I wasn't the only one 
 who had the integrity to stand against the oppressor... but all the while, we 
 knew that Gemini was a censor through and through, and that he would never 
 allow freedom of information or free speech on his network.

     Next.

     And so, myself, Redbeard, Rising Force, and Hobo conspired together to
 rip the net away from Gemini.  

     The final straw was a 3 full page letter which basically said that no 
 opposition to policies or the net admin/dictator for life would be 
 toleratied, and that "offenders" would be met with immediate deletion.  It
 must also be added that Gemini stated several times that he manually tossed
 each message on the network, and deleted any that he did not care for...  the
 man is my antithesis.

     We could take no more, and therefore we rebelled by creating InfiNet II, 
 which is based on Freedom of Speech/Freedom of Information... those of us who 
 carried through with it and stuck with it believe in what the original 
 InfiNet's old purpose was about... and so we spend collectively a large
 amount of time, effort, and money to start the net and to keep it going.
 And that's a kind of dedication that you simply don't see on networks.

     But anyway, we hashed out our rules, decided on Free Speech, and then...
 I became the NA.  That's where the *real* pain began... with the Zone change. 

     The Zone change from 69 to 68 is not as simple as it sounds.  The initial 
 nodelist, which was a carried over one from InfiNet I, was a total and 
 complete mess.  The scheming was horrible... so I took a dive into it, and 
 after many cigarettes and too much coffee, we ended up with a highly 
 efficient, easily managable, and flexible nodelist which is my pride... hey, 
 it worked on the first try, except for a few errors which I corrected the
 next day... but it wasn't bad for a beginner.

     And so you have InfiNet II today.  Things are stable, new systems are 
 coming online, and systems that had remained with Gemini are beginning to
 FREQ the infopack for the net... and others are carrying both nets for
 their own reasons.

     On the InfiNet I side of the house, nodes are dropping like flies,
 demands for posts from InfiNet I systems or face deletion from the net
 fly from Gemini, public resignations from sysops are made...  and InfiNet I
 discovers that Censorship leads to disappearing systems, fewer posts, and,
 eventually, a dead network full of happy censors who suck up to the NA and
 tell each other how "awful" InfiNet II is...  when they've never had the
 balls to login to see what the network is about.

     But anyway... I didn't mean to write this book... the whole thing has
 been bothering me for quite some time, and I suppose that I needed to let
 off a little steam... but I will tell you one thing... I did not and do not
 support this network as a means of revenge against Gemini.  I do feel a
 great deal of anger towards Psyber and Gemini for destroying something that
 I loved dearly... so understand that this network is a net that is grown out
 of love and dedication for what the name InfiNet was about, and what it IS
 about in the form of InfiNet II.

     And there is no point in wasting anger and hate towards Gemini and the 
 other censors of InfiNet I.  They are blissfully destroying their network
 post by post, demand by demand... which is apparently what they are content
 with.

     I leave them behind in their self-imposed prison along with the other
 former sysops of InfiNet I, and move on to creating far better things by 
 creating a far better net....

     Heretic

  ::: If you are interested in InfiNet II, the pack is within this month's
      Lore archive under the name INF20696.ZIP :::  

 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/                     essays
 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/    A Thinking Essay                            By: Poseidon         

 It seems odd when I look at the world and notice what reality is.  I see 
 people.  Many different kinds of people.  And I'm not speaking of just 
 physical differences, but moral-wise, manner-wise, personality-wise, and 
 knowledge-wise.

 There are many people of the type of which I will be writing about.  
 However, I am not closely associeated with them, so I'll be talking about 
 a general group rather than an individual.  The people I'm talking about 
 are the social scum.  Now, you may think of social scum as homeless 
 people, or bums.  I don't think that's true.  Social scum is defined, to 
 me, by the people who you look at, and wonder how they got the way they 
 are.  I don't know how our fine society produced some of these people.  
 For example, gangsters.  Do they find their life glorifying?  Do they not 
 realize that the will soon die?  That their choice lifestly will lead to 
 the end of their lifestyle - to the end of their life?  They need to grow
 up.

 I feel that the world is lacking mature people greatly.  I mean, I'm a 16 
 year old kid, and when I sit down and think about the knowlede and wisdom 
 that I do possess, I am amazed.  I know college students that I could 
 out-smart in my sleep and I am a mere junior in high school.

 I stated earlier that our society was fine, unbelieveably outstanding.  
 However, sometimes I sit and wonder, how can it have such an 
 inappropriate rate of failure when it comes to producing quality human 
 beings?  Is it really society?  I don't think so.  When it comes right 
 down to it, the individual has the ultimate choice.  When they decided to 
 be a gangster or an insecure teen who has to be obnoxious at all times to 
 get the proper amount of attention.  These people I speak of are those 
 who so greatly need and want respect, but don't have a clue as to what 
 the word means.  The people that tell our teachers to shut up, or just 
 simply give them a hard time when humor is not intended, basically 
 testing their patience.  However, everyones decision-making process is in 
 a sense learned.  The pick up some sort of values and morals in their 
 childhood.  But who taught them?  Is it their parents?  I don't know.  We 
 could be right back to blaming society.  That's the problem.  People 
 spend too much of their time blaming rather than claiming.  They blame 
 the responsiblity rather than claim the responsiblity.  And society is 
 just an easy "person" to blame it on.  But we ARE society, all of us!!  
 So, really, we blame ourselves without realizing it.  Should we blame 
 ourselves?  Is if OUR fault that inner-city black childre are making poor 
 decisions?  or that our classmate tells the teacher to goto hell?  Maybe 
 when the class asshole does something like that again, it could be our 
 responsiblity to tell the asshole that he needs to show some respect.  
 That he needs to go sit in a corner and think about the pathetic everyday 
 activity he calls a life.  You can expect a smartass comeback most of the 
 time, but if enough people tell him, or if you tell him enough times, he 
 may get it straight that people don't gain respect through disrespect, 
 and that he needs to take the time to actually sit down, look inside and 
 find himself.  Find out who he really is.
 
 Honestly, I don't even know who I am.  I'm overwhelmingly hypocritical.  
 I have all this knowledge, I tell it to people, I tell them tha tthey 
 only need to do this and that, but when it comes to my own life, I just 
 can't apply all this knowledge to easily.  Maybe that the problem with 
 our society.  It sounds believable.  We just don't always do what we know 
 we should do, and what we know is right?  Why not?  I'd have to say that 
 we are too frightened by the possible consequence that happens to be 
 negative.  Even though, the positive possiblitiy is a much more great 
 reward than the negative punishment, we'd rather leave things as they 
 are, and not take the risk.  We'd rather just let society sit there and 
 rot.  Remember, we are society.  Why would you want to watch your image 
 rot?  That doesn't make sense, but that's what we do.

 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

 Just a few things to think about in your everyday life.  If you'd like to 
 comment on this essay, please e-mail me at poseidon@tcfn.org and let me 
 know what you liked or disliked.  Thanx a ton!

 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/                     miscellaneous 
 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/    The Mormon-Egyptian Connection              By: Ananael                      
                            

  1 Nephi 1:2   "Yea, I make a record in the
 language of my father, which consists of the
 learning of the Jews and the language of the
 Egyptians."
 
  The Mormon religion is based on the Judo-
 Egyptian religion, The Mormon's are a
 Christian religion, one of the mormon Articles
 of Faith states "We claim the privilege of
 worshiping Almighty God according to the
 dictates of our own conscience, and allow all
 men the same privilege, let them worship how,
 where, or what they may."
 
  The conection with the Egyptian religion
 consists of Nephi's family and the teachings
 of Abraham. Nephi and his family came from the
 middle east to the north american continent by
 way of the sea about 600 bc.. They were guided
 by the compass named Liahona, the words of god
 would apprear on the the sphere (the Liahona
 was a golden sphere with two spikes/poles
 coming out from each end) until they were
 read.

  The pyramids in central america where built
 by the decendants of Nephi's family, The
 ancient cities in central and south american
 continent have baptismal fountians in most of
 them, and on a wall in one of the pyramids in
 mexico, there is a painting of a battle
 between the tribe of Nephi (Nephites) and the
 tribe Laman (Lamanites) in which the Nephites
 where killed off, only Moroni survived. When
 Moroni finished writing on the Golden Plates.
 He hid them in a stone box on a hill. He
 covered the box with a large stone.
 
            keep safe My Friend,

                 ANANAEL

 Comprised form The book of Mormom and The Book
 of Mormon Stories for beginners. Published by
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
 Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.

 ---/`\    /-----------------------------------------------------------------
        \/                     

