October 2005 | Page 3 of 3

A Canary in the Culture War Coal Mines

October 14, 2005 / Klint Finley

Phyllis Curott talks about the growing problems of censorship for pagan authors, publishers, and bookstores.

Every book brings a certain amount of screwball mail, nasty mentions on fundamentalist websites and even threats. This most recent book seems to have really touched a nerve as there’s been an increase in all of these. And again I’m not alone in this problem. As I’ve traveled around the country I’ve learned that many bookstores – Pagan and “New Age” — are experiencing increased harassment and threats, including death threats. Like I was, many of the storeowners have been reluctant to mention their situations, feeling that it was something they just had to deal with, by themselves.

Full Story: Witchvox: A Canary in the Culture War Coal Mines

Marijuana might cause new cell growth in the brain

October 13, 2005 / Klint Finley

New Scientist reports:

A synthetic chemical similar to the active ingredient in marijuana makes new cells grow in rat brains. What is more, in rats this cell growth appears to be linked with reducing anxiety and depression. The results suggest that marijuana, or its derivatives, could actually be good for the brain.

Full Story: New Scientist: Marijuana might cause new cell growth in the brain

Call me square, but I would be surprised if marijuana actually, like, made you smarter.

Did you know that hydergine, an ergoloid like LSD, is approved to treat senile dementia? And like LSD, it was invented by Albert Hoffman.

Sex magick links from Wes

October 11, 2005 / Klint Finley

Wes has sex magick on the brain, and shares his links:

Mutato Nomine: yet another sex magick social network & more.

Why Do DMT Users See Insects From A Parallel Universe?

October 11, 2005 / Klint Finley

From Cliff Pickover’s site:

“Something in the insect seems to be alien to the habits, morals, and psychology of this world, as if it has come from some other planet, more monstrous, more energetic, more insensate, more atrocious, more infernal than our own.” — Maurice Masterlinck, Belgian playwright, 1862-1949

Full Story: Reality Carnival: Why Do DMT Users See Insects From A Parallel Universe?

(via Posthuman Blues).

Alan Moore and Brian Eno interview transcripts

October 7, 2005 / Klint Finley

The BBC “Chain Reaction” interviews featuring Stewart Lee interviewing Alan Moore and Alan Moore interviewing Brian Eno have been transcribed.

Alan Moore interview at Comic Book Resources.

Brian Eno interview at Read Yourself Raw.

(via LVX23).

Jim Carrey in The Number 23 movie

October 7, 2005 / Klint Finley

Wow, this is crazy:

In the movie, Carrey will play a man obsessed with a book he’s read that seems to be about his life. The problem is that the book ends with a murder. The number 23 figures prominently in the book’s plot.

Full Story: Empire Movies: Jim Carrey in The Number 23

(via LVX23).

Smoking China chimp kicks habit

October 4, 2005 / Klint Finley

BBC:

A female chimpanzee in a Chinese zoo has managed to kick the habit after smoking for 16 years, Xinhua news agency reported.

Full Story: BBC: Smoking China chimp kicks habit

Bruce Sterling on J.G. Ballard

October 4, 2005 / Klint Finley

Bruce Sterling talks about J.G. Ballard:

To me these late-Ballard pieces, these Shepperton pieces – Cocaine Nights, Super-Cannes and so forth – really seem like gentle chiding from somebody who’s recognised that his civilisation really has gone mad. They’re a series of repetitions that say, “Look, we’re heading for a world where consensus reality really is just plain unsustainable, and the ideas that the majority of our people hold in their heart of hearts are just not connected to reality”. I think that may be a very prophetic assessment on his part. I think we may in fact be in such a world right now – where people have really just lost touch with the “reality-based community” and are basically just living in self-generated fantasy echo chambers that have no more to do with the nature of geopolitical reality than Athanasius Kircher or Castaneda’s Don Juan.

Full Story: Ballardian: ‘Child of the Diaspora’: Sterling on Ballard

(via Notes from Somewhere Bizarre)

Technoccult

Mutate Your Mind

MonthOctober 2005