Friends of Erowid,

As promised, here is the second half of the recent updates to Erowid.org from the last two months.

Note, we just began a new matching donation campaign yesterday. All "plus-level" donations ($33, $50, $100, $150, $250) made before the end of February will be matched one-to-one up to a total of $1,000 by an Erowid Center supporter. For details, see:

http://www.erowid.org/donations/donations_campaign1.php

We welcome submissions, suggestions, criticisms, or corrections at submissions@erowid.org.

peace,
fire & earth

1. Psilocybin, Science, and Sacrament: A Look at the Research of and
   Response to the Johns Hopkins Study on Psilocybin and Mysticism http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/psilocybin/psilocybin_article1.shtml
   
   A deeper look at the historical context for the recent research into psilocybin's effects on healthy volunteers including methodological and theoretical issues and the reception of the story by the media. (From Erowid Extracts #11)
   
   
2. Photo Geekery: The Art of Photographing Psychoactives
   http://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/psychoactives_article1.shtml
   
   An article from Erowid Extracts #11 about the process of photographing psychoactives, from the information they can provide to the aesthetics involved. This online version includes color images.
   
   
3. Shulgin Lab Book #1
   http://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/shulgin_labbooks/
   
   The first of Alexander Shulgin's lab books has been scanned and put online. His lab books contain detailed experience reports as well as notes on chemical processes, formulas, sketches, and hand-drawn graphs.
   
   
4. MDMA Trick Tract
   http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/mdma/mdma_humor_chick_parody1.pdf
   
   This parody of "Chick Tracts" lays out a brief history of MDMA in illustrations with captions.
   
   
5. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Graduate School
   http://erowid.org/general/about/about_article8.shtml
   
   Report by Erowid crew member Lux about his first six months working with Erowid. (From Erowid Extracts #12)
   
   
6. 1980s MDMA Flyer
   http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/mdma/mdma_info12.pdf
   
   This single-page flyer, titled simply "MDMA: General Information", was written by Ann Shulgin in the mid-1980s and circulated among people trying MDMA for the first time.
   
   
7. Absinthe Basics
   http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/absinthe/absinthe_basics.shtml
   
   A summary of basic information about this thujone containing liquor.
   
   
8. Absinthe in the United States?
   http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/absinthe/absinthe_law1.shtml
   
   An overview of Absinthe's legal status in the U.S. (From Erowid Extracts #13 - the current issue!).
   
   
9. Amanita Basics
   http://www.erowid.org/plants/amanitas/amanitas_basics.shtml
   
   A summary of the basic information about the psychoactive Amanita muscaria and Amanita pantherina mushrooms.
   
   
10. Amanita Timeline
    http://www.erowid.org/plants/amanitas/amanitas_timeline.php
    
    Significant dates in the history of psychoactive Amanitas.
    
    
11. Heroin Basics
    http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/heroin/heroin_basics.shtml
    
    A summary of the basic information about heroin, the semi-synthetic opiate derived from morphine.
    
    
12. Khat Basics
    http://www.erowid.org/plants/khat/khat_basics.shtml
    
    A summary of basic information about Catha edulis (khat), the stimulant containing shrub.
    
    
13. Khat Timeline
    http://www.erowid.org/plants/khat/khat_timeline.php
    
    Significant dates in the history of Catha edulis (khat).
    
    
14. Datura Basics
    http://www.erowid.org/plants/datura/datura_basics.shtml
    
    A summary of basic information about the tropane containing Datura plants.
    
    
15. Hypocretin Vault
    http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/hypocretin/hypocretin.shtml
    
    A new vault with basic information and links about hypocretin.
    
    
16. Venlafaxine and Drug Testing
    http://www.erowid.org/pharms/venlafaxine/venlafaxine_testing.shtml
    
    Information about Venlafaxine (Effexor) and drug tests, including that it can cause a positive test for PCP on some drug tests.
    
    
17. Oxycodone Dose Vault
    http://www.erowid.org/pharms/oxycodone/oxycodone_dose.shtml
    
    Oral and insufflated doses as compiled from experience reports and clinical data.
    
    
18. The Transition to Amphetamine Abuse
    http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/amphetamines/amphetamines_info3.pdf
    
    This is a chapter from the book Uppers, Downers, and All Arounders, by Stephen Pittel and Ricardo Hofer.
    
    
19. [...] The MMPI as a Predictive Instrument in Methadone Maintenance
    http://www.erowid.org/references/refs_view.php?ID=7153
    
    A 1972 article about Methadone Maintenance from the Fourth National Conference on Methadone Treatment.
    
    
20. Erowid Extracts #13 - November 2007
    http://www.erowid.org/general/newsletter/erowid_newsletter13.shtml
    
    The table of contents of the current issue of Erowid's (hardcopy) member newsletter.
    
    
21. 31 new images were added, including:
    
    Nandrolone Bottle
    http://erowid.org/pharms/show_image.php?i=steroids/nandrolone_bottle__i2006e1939_disp.jpg
    
    Catha edulis (Qat) Leaves
    http://erowid.org/plants/show_image.php?i=khat/catha_edulis_leaf__i2005e0196_disp.jpg
    
    Comparison of P. cyanescens and its lookalike T. furfuracea (non-psychoactive)
    http://erowid.org/plants/show_image.php?i=mushrooms/tubaria_furfuracea__i2006e2154_disp.jpg
    
    
22. Ask Erowid: What is the difference between P. viridis and M. hostilis?
    http://www.erowid.org/ask/ask.php?ID=1773
    
    An examination of ayahuasca admixture plants, particularly M. tenuiflora (=hostilis), which is mentioned in most of the "ayahuasca" experiences posted on Erowid. [from Erowid Extracts #13]
    
    
23. Ask Erowid: Is "jenkem" for real?
    http://www.erowid.org/ask/ask.php?ID=3113
    
    A short discussion of a supposed practice that has received much media attention despite likely being a hoax or misunderstanding.
    
    
24. Art Vaults
    http://erowid.org/culture/art/
    
    January-February Featured Artist: Steve Hatchett
    http://www.erowid.org/culture/art/artists_h/art_hatchett_steve.shtml
    
    
25. The Erowid Review, two reviews added:
    http://erowid.org/review/
    
    "DMT: The Spirit Molecule" (A Mixed Legacy), reviewed by Lux
    http://erowid.org/library/review/review.php?ID=255
    
    "Roll Away the Stone", reviewed by Rendi Case
    http://erowid.org/library/review/review.php?ID=254
    
    
26. 506 New Experience Reports
    http://erowid.org/experiences/exp.cgi?DateRange&Y1=2007&M1=12&D1=13&Y2=2008&M2=02&D2=11
    
    One of the top rated experiences published was:
    "Substitute for Problem Drinking" (GBL & Alcohol), by Mouldy Grapefruit
    http://erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=62614
    
    

For a more complete listing of What's New at Erowid go to:
http://erowid.org/new.php

Conducts laboratory testing of street Ecstasy tablets.

Between Nov 1 and Jan 28, results were posted for 5 new tablets.

http://www.ecstasydata.org/results.php?A=DateRange&Y1=2007&M1=11&D1=01&Y2=2008&M2=01&D2=28

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