So 2020 was a bit of a dumpster fire. And by a bit, I mean a giant, steaming shitshow. But I got through a bunch of products, so yay? Per my usual, the following is a lengthy af list of products that I used or destashed, complete with notations unfit for human consumption, generally sweary thoughts, and rather crap formatting. Some of my 20 in 2020 pan list are included in this breakdown, but a full recap post on that adventure will be coming shortly. tldr: 78 haiskin/perfume/cosmetic products used/destashed, minus a midsummer destashing session that I forgot to document. Huda Beauty Kayali Vanilla|28 (Sample) Impressions: This is a nice, warm vanilla fragrance. Its pleasant (and oddly the same scent) at initial application and dried down. If you could get rid of that slightly chemical scent in VS Amber Romance, it would be this perfume. Wear time on me is about 4 hours. Easily wearable in most situations, unlikely to offend anyone’s nose. Weirdly, my sample is purple, but the stock image on Sephora is pale pink and it isn’t that old…. Repurchase: $85 for 50mL for glorified VS Amber Romance? Fuck outta here…. CORSX Acne Pimple Master Patch 24 count (KB) Impressions: I love these lil guys. Super handy to have around for hormonal acne flares. They stay on my face throughout the night, which is impressive given that I’m a restless sleeper. Repurchase: Definitely The Creme Shop x Hello Kitty Celebrate Me Time Sheet Mask (LE) (KB) Impressions: The cuteness of this is adorable. The mask is printed with HK’s signature bow and cute accents. Pleasantly watermelon/sugary scented, well moistened mask. Does this do anything outstanding? No. Repurchase: Also no. But it was a nice 20 minute experience that made my skin happy. L’ador Tea Tree Scalp Clinic Hair Pack (KB) Impressions: This is the loveliest thing for getting rid of dry winter flakes and deep cleaning from summer product scalp buildup, especially when used with a shampoo brush. My husband even likes it for his scalp psoriasis. My only gripe is that I have yet to find a US vendor for this. Shipping from South Korea takes a small eternity. First world problems, I know. I just have to remember to order multiples at a time. {ed. note, this now is available from a US vendor (sokoglam.com) at a slightly higher price point. Score!} Repurchase: Definitely BH Cosmetics Stellar Lash (DS) Impressions: I love this mascara. Its like TF’s BTS’ nicer, older sister. Similar performance, but not as heavy or gloopy. Brushes are similar, but I think SL’s is a bit smaller. The bottle stopper is much more proportionate to the brush head as you don’t get metric tons of product on the wand like you do with BTS. Repurchase: Yes. I’ve got a full size of this mascara on my 20 in 20 pan list as well. The Doux One Love Co-Wash Impressions: I’m sure at one point in time I liked this product because it didn’t immediately get binned. However, at the time of review I’m trying to recover from some hair fuckery due to an incompetent stylist so I’m super salty about everything. At the moment, I like exactly three things about this product. 1) The packaging 2) The pale pink color 3) The fact that this bitch empty and gets to be yeeted into the recycling bin. Partial credit for being available at my local Target. Repurchase: No. {ed. note, I am rethinking my position on repurchasing this. I think it would be lovely for wintertime when I’m not sweating as much. I am also mostly recovered from the hair fuckery.} Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Conditioner Impressions: I really like this whole line. The smell is incredible. The conditioner is thick without being too difficult to work with. Absorbs nicely into the hair. Good balance between moisture and protein. This is too heavy for my hair as a regular conditioner. I use it as a deep conditioner once or twice a month. This seems to be the sweet spot. Repurchase: Yes The Creme Shop x Hello Kitty Complete Cleansing Makeup Wipes (LE) (KB) Impressions: Husband and I were out of the country visiting relatives over the Christmas holiday. I didn’t want to bring the full arsenal of cleansing products (and I wasn’t planning on wearing much makeup anyhow) so I picked these up. No lie, I was surprised how much I like these. The strawberry rosé scent is really nice and they did a good job of removing makeup without stripping my skin or stinging my eyes. Each wipe was moist and the compact packaging (great for travel!) had a nice locking lid, in addition to the interior sticker seal. Repurchase: Probably not. These are LE and I really only purchase wipes for travel purposes. If these are still around the next time I travel, then I would definitely repurchase. If they’re gone by then, I would likely purchase something comparable from the same brand. Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Glow Impressions: This is quite possibly my favorite lip gloss ever. I rave about it to anyone and everyone who asks about it. Repurchase: Yes. The next purchase will likely be in another shade, but I can always count on Glow. Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation, 228 Soft Tan Impressions: There’s nothing really *wrong* with this foundation, though I would have to say the “poreless” is a lie. But maybe that’s just me. I get good wear time out of this and it is fairly lightweight. Decent coverage, though I’m not a fan of how it looks built up. I’m tossing this because it is way too dark; at least two shades too dark while wet and between three and four shades once dry. Its also pretty old; I bought it when I was living in Hawaii and I haven’t lived there for a few years. Repurchase: Probably not. Its fine, but there are other foundations that I like better (with better shade ranges) that I would rather wear. Too Faced Cocoa Powder Foundation, Medium Impressions: I love this. It is everything I ever wanted in a powder foundation. In a compact. Has a nice sponge (crap sponges are a pet peeve). Applies nicely with said sponge or with a brush. Lightly scented. Good coverage. Behaves itself as a standalone or as a light helper to BB creams. I finally panned this one (which took ages) and I’ve got one more in backup. Repurchase: Sadly, no. This has gone the way of the dodo, like so many of the products us Old Bats love. I’m contemplating TF’s Born This Way Powder as a substitute, but the mixed reviews give me some concern. I have plenty of setting powders to get through before I buy another powder foundation, plus I’ve had my eye on RCMA’s colorless powder for a while. LA Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer, Medium Beige Impressions: I used to like this. I really did. But, not any more. My skin (specifically, my Old Bat under eyes) cannot take thick cosmetics anymore. While playing with some application techniques & cocktails to thin the product out, I came to the realization that this it also completely the wrong shade & undertone for my skin now. I have been victimized by my own shitty lighting. {ed. note: I suspect my skin tone changes are due to a combination of winter-induced paleness and some sneaky lightening ingredients in current skincare regimen. Will investigate further.} I had a decent amount of product left, but it had been open for a while and the formula was starting to change a bit. I decided that money wasted is still wasted, regardless of if it sits in my stash or in the trash. Since I hate clutter, in the bin it went. I don’t miss it. Repurchase: No, unless it is for Halloween/costume party related purposes. You can’t beat the coverage or shade range for the price. IPKN Moist & Firm BB Cream, Medium (KB) Impressions: I like the SPF. I like the scent. Applies nicely and has good coverage. I get decent wear time out of this. However, it oxidizes like a mfer. Doesn’t matter what primer I use, doesn’t matter if I freshly wash my face right before application, setting powder, no setting powder, primer vs no primer, it oxidizes. Which is a shame because its a pretty good color match at initial application. But within an hour its two shades too dark and orange. I’ve had success combating that with mixing in blue color corrector, however *insert ain’t nobody got time for that meme here*. It might just be too moisturizing for my skin. Repurchase: No, which is super disappointing. Back on the hunt I go. Elizabeth Arden My Fifth Avenue (DS) Impressions: This is one of the most generic smelling perfumes I’ve ever tried. Lasts maybe 2 hours on my skin, which is just sad. I get absolutely no citrus (which is supposed to be a top note), just a vague, generic floral, and a hint of musk. It isn’t offensive by any means, its just….there. It is quite light and would be a nice summer option, but this is definitely not for me. Repurchase: No Wet N Wild Photofocus Stick Foundation, Classic Beige Impressions: I'm sure this is a great formulation for someone. I am not that person. This did nothing for me. Emphasized all my texture/pores/fine lines. Just sat on my skin. Amazingly, it looks even worse on camera. I swear I look 10 years older wearing this. This bad boy gets yeeted into the trash with zero regrets. Repurchase: Hard no. LA Girl Slim Shady, Darkest Brown Impressions: I fucking love this thing. Its cheap. Doesn’t have funky undertones. Is pigmented. Its retractable. Can be blended easily, but doesn’t melt off as soon as you look at it. It even has a nice spoolie. Repurchase: Yes, yes, a thousand times yes The Creme Shop x Hello Kitty Celebrate Whipped Cacao Hand Cream (LE) (KB) x3 Impressions: This is a nice lil hand cream to keep at my desk or in my purse. It isn’t strong enough to bring my skin back from full on lizard status, but its fine for restoring moisture after washing my hands. It absorbs fairly quickly. The scent is not obnoxiously heavy and fades pretty quickly. Basically, there’s nothing special about this Repurchase: This is a LE product, so its no longer available. However, if if it weren’t LE I don’t think I would repurchase Chapstick Lipbalm, Spearmint Impressions: This was a desperation purchase. Except for the (very faint) mint flavoscent, I enjoyed nothing about this. Too waxy. Not moisturizing. Repurchase: God no Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer (mini) Impressions: I enjoy just about everything this primer offers, except for the pump. When you get about halfway through the bottle, it just turns into this leaky, gloopy shitshow. It doesn’t impact the primer’s performance, but greatly decreases my desire to use it. Repurchase: Maybe. If the alleged NYX dupe is comparable, then probably not. But I do like it enough to for it to be a repeat contender. Colourpop Brow Boss Gel, Clear Impressions: This is a nice lil’ gel. Has good hold, dries down matte. Plays nicely with every product I’ve thrown at it. Even works pretty well as a primer. It even has a good price point. Repurchase: Maybe. I’m currently wearing my brows pretty short and filling them in with ABH brow gel [I find it easier to work with than Dip Brow] , so I don’t have a current need for a clear product. However, if that changes I would likely repurchase. L’Oréal Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation, Natural Beige Impressions: Pretty decent color match. Decent amount of glow without veering into glitter. Plays nicely with most primers I’ve tried it with, but it does not like the Hourglass Mineral Veil; I put those two together and Hello! Texture City. I get decent wear time. The packaging says that this is medium coverage and I would mostly agree, but it can get cakey quickly. I do like that I can sheer this out with a face serum pretty easily. Repurchase: Maybe? I’m not mad at it. It performs better than some prestige brands I’ve tried. I’ve got a few other foundations to get through in my stash and a couple on my post no-buy list to try out. As long as they don’t change the formula, I wouldn’t mind going back to this. Mario Badescu Facial Spray (Aloe, Chamomile, & Lavender) Impressions: This does absolutely nothing for my skin. It smells lovely though. And its a very pretty shade of purple that complements the packaging. Those are literally the only redeeming things I can identify. Repurchase: Hard no. The Body Shop Shea Nourishing Body Butter Impressions: This is good in the drier winter months and is great for year-round application to feet and elbows. However, it is too damn heavy for the rest of my body in the warm, humid months. Repurchase: Probably not. I like the coconut one better. I’ve also learned that I only need to have one of these on hand at any time since I’m shit at remembering to apply moisturizer to my body. Love Beauty and Planet Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Lucious Hydration Hand Lotion Impressions: This is, quite possibly, one of my favorite hand lotions ever. I love the scent. I love the quick absorption time. I love the scent. I love the lack of greasy residue. Did I mention I love the scent? Because I do. I want everything in my house to smell like this, always. Repurchase: Yes Wet N Wild Megaslim Skinny Tip Eyeliner Impressions: The eyeliner itself is okay. I’ve tried two skinny/micro liquid liners and have come to the realization that they’re just not for me. It likely has to do with my eye shape (hooded, close-set, AND deep-set) I binned this because I literally can’t remember when I opened it and I have this thing about liquid liners being open for extended periods of time. I’m pretty sure I opened it before Mr. Lew and I started house hunting and that was early 2019. Repurchase: No. I have this crazy idea that I want to give the Tarte Amazonian Clay liner (in the tube) a chance again. Or just suck it up and stick to pencil liners. The Creme Shop x Hello Kitty Pink Water Creme Ultra Dewy Face Cream (LE) (KB) Impressions: I really like this, but I don’t think its quite moisturizing enough for my winter skin. Its a very light, slippery texture. Absorbs fairly quickly into the skin without being too sticky. Really nice watermelon (?) scent that isn’t overpowering. Nice, heavy packaging. Doubles nicely as a lightweight hand cream. Repurchase: Sadly, no. This was a Winter Holiday LE release. I very much liked this formula and would be open to buying something comparable from the brand for summer months. [Ed. Note: This is back in stock on Creme Shop’s website as of 22 October 20, so I may acquire myself a jar to help combat the Differin-induced dryness & flaking that is my skin rn] NYX Lip Lingerie, Exotic Impressions: I like the color (a richer sort of MLBB) and the coverage, but it drives me crazy that this never dries down. I don’t mind a little bit of tackiness, but this constantly feels wet and sticky. Repurchase: No. There are other liquid lip formulas (Colourpop, NARS Powermatte) that I like much better. Girl + Hair Under Hair Care Protective Restoring Balm Impressions: I bought this with the intention of using it to keep my hair & scalp moisturized when I started wearing more protective styles aside from the Curly BunTM. I had the brilliant idea that I would do my own box braids. Utter. Fucking. Fail. As is this product. Like a lot of products geared towards “natural” hair, this is much too heavy for my fine AF hair. Two days after putting a SMALL amount on my scalp, I was still a greasy betch. I love the packaging (squeeze nozzles ftw!) and the scent is pretty nice. Repurchase: I like the idea of this product, but ultimately its a no from me. I am interested in trying out other products from this company though. Blueberry Bliss Control Paste Impressions: I bought this on the recommendation of one of my favorite natural hair YouTubers. I don’t particularly care for the scent. Its definitely fruity and sweet, but not that I would immediately identify as blueberry. This does a great job at adding shine, an okay job at controlling the frizz halo, and a shit job at holding my edges. Additionally, something in this strongly disagrees with my scalp. I’ve used it about a dozen times and EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. my scalp gets dry and itchy af and flaky. Repurchase: Hard no. Chapstick Lipbalm, Strawberry Impressions: This was a desperation purchase. Except for the (very faint) berry flavoscent, I enjoyed nothing about this. Too waxy. Not moisturizing. Repurchase: Nope Dionis Goat Milk Skincare Natural Goat Milk Hand Cream, Water Flowers & Sea Salt x2 Impressions: This is a great lil hand cream in a lovely scent. Absorbs pretty quickly. Nicely moisturizing. Does a good job of holding off handwashing-induced lizard skin. This is another one of those scents where I would not object to ALL THE THINGS smelling like. Repurchase: Yup The Creme Shop x Hello Kitty Lip Balm, Winter Apple Pie (LE) (KB) Impressions: The packaging is adorable (pink macaron shaped pot) and that’s about all I like. The scent is okay, but I would never in a million years identify this as apple pie. Or an apple. Or anything apple-adjacent. There is no artificial flavor, but the taste of the actual balm is no bueno. It isn’t particularly moisturizing and has a tendency to just sit on top of your lips, never really absorbing in. It might be useful as a sleeping pack, but the thick, waxy nature of the balm is pretty off-putting and challenging to work with. I may keep the container to use for decanting purposes or travel purposes IF THIS FUCKING PANDEMIC WILL EVER END. Repurchase: No. This was a Winter Holiday LE product. Even if it was in their regular catalog, I wouldn’t buy this again. Essence Melted Chrome Liquid Lipstick, Copper Dropper Impressions: This is really nice packaging, particularly for a budget brand. The tube feels substantial. The wand handle matches (mostly) the lipstick shade and a good chunk of the tube is transparent so you can see how much product you have remaining. I will never, ever pan this because this lipstick gives me the WORST case of butthole lips. I don’t even like metallic lipstick, let alone metallic liquid lipstick. WTF even was I thinking. That said, the wear time is pretty good. Repurchase: God no. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream, Copenhagen Impressions: I fucking love this lip cream, but damn if this shade isn’t a pain in the ass to get even. Even with matching lipliner, I still can’t get an even coat. Which is super frustrating because I love dark berry/goth-adjacent lipsticks. Repurchase: Product yes, shade no Taliah Waajid Protective Styles Bamboo, Biotin & Basil Restoring Serum Impressions: I love this as a scalp treatment, either in conjunction with a deep conditioner or on its own. I’m not sure if it actually does anything for promoting hair growth, but it does make my scalp feel nice. Repurchase: God I would love to. This particular product has either been discontinued or reformulated into another product. The original formulation (of dubious age/authenticity) is still available on Amazon, but at a ridonkulous markup. I may try the new version once I make a dent in the current inventory. Creme of Nature Sulfate-Free Moisture & Shine Shampoo with Argan Oil Impressions: For a sulfate-free shampoo, this produces a surprising amount of lather. I love the smell; spicy and exotic and warm. Kind of reminds me of Dior Hypnotic Poison. Cleanses well and does provide a decent amount of shine. Strangely helps with detangling. One of my faves. Repurchase: Hell yes. CARE:NEL Special Lip Care Lip Sleeping Mask (KB) Impressions: Got this on Amazon as a dupe for the OG Laneige lip mask. This came in a three pack and I *think* this is the last one. The product is nice and thick and lasts most of the night. The mask (balm? goo?) is slightly sweet-scented, but not aggressively so. Repurchase: Maybe? I don’t think this is functionally different than Lanolips, but it is a good product that does work well. Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Leave-In Conditioner Impressions: This has a ridiculously strong almond smell at first application, though it mellow out fairly quickly. This made my hair crunchy as shit. I don’t know what moisturizing properties it was supposed to have, but my bottle clearly missed out on them. The sprayer is nice though. Repurchase: Hard no. Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask x2 Impressions: Like most Neutrogena products, I love the way this smells. This is a really nice drugstore deep conditioner. Actually does what it says on the label. My biggest gripe is that, at only six ounces, I go through this way too fast because of the ridiculous amount of hair I have. Repurchase: Probably Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Mist (KB) Impressions: There is something in this (pretty sure its the fermented yeast) that my skin loooooooves. Very faint smell, good sized bottle, gloriously fine spray. If I can ever figure out how to get the top off, I’ll likely decant my setting spray into it. Repurchase: Hard yes Missha Time Revolution Clear Toner (KB) Impressions: I can’t nail down what it is about this product that works so well with my skin. It doesn’t seem to do anything special at first appearance, but I can tell when its presence is lacking in my routine. Maybe its the fermented yeast, might be the gentle AHAs/BHAs, but whatever it is, I love it. Repurchase: Yes Creme of Nature Intensive Conditioning Treatment with Argan Oil Impressions: This entire product line is one of the best smelling things I’ve ever put on my body. This conditioner is a little weird. Too rich for a regular conditioner, not quite rich enough for a full on deep conditioner. I haven’t tried leaving this on overnight, but 15-30 minutes (my hair is dry AF, don’t judge me) is about right for a nice little pick me up. If CoN ever decides to branch out and put out body care scented like this, it will be the the only body wash I used forever and ever, amen. Repurchase: Hard yes Dionis Goat Milk Hand Cream, Vanilla Bean Impressions: Like the other scent in this product line I’ve tried, I love this cream. It is hydrating and absorbs quickly. However, there is something in this scent’s fragrance that wants to stab me in my frontal lobe. Its sweet and vanilla-y, but there is another note (vaguely cinnamon-adjacent) that is just too damn much. Oddly, that note isn’t present in the vanilla bean lip balm, which I love. It took me a couple times to realize that using this hand cream was almost guaranteed to give me a low-level migraine, so I gifted it to Mom, who finished it in like a week. Repurchase: Product, yes. Scent, no. Colourpop Ultra Glossy Lip, Free Spirit (LE) Impressions: I’ve been looking for a dupe for an early 00s L’Oréal lip gloss (that was this glorious, mostly opaque caramel) for the better part of a decade. To date, I am still stymied in my search because this gloss ain’t it. The packaging is cute and the gloss itself is okay, but doesn’t last for shit. The color, which seems quite opaque in the tube, but is utterly invisible on my lips. The brush turned into an angry hedgehog within about a month of use, which has never happened with other CP glosses. In short, a total fail. Whomp. Repurchase: No. This shade was part of the LE Frozen II collection. Even if it wasn’t, I still wouldn’t repurchase this. COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in one Cream (KB) Impressions: This bad boy has never failed me. High concentration of snail mucus, which my skin loves. Pleasant smell. Reasonable price, if you don’t buy from Ulta. Easily sourced at multiple US-based vendors. Hella sticky though. Repurchase: Yes, once I make a dent in my utterly ridiculous skincare stash Skinfood Peachy Jelly Soothing Gel 90 (KB) Impressions: This smells like a peach jolly rancher. I fucking love that. Lightweight, which is great for the hot & humid South. This will not fix Winter Lizard Skin, but it is great for healthy skin barriers that need some gentle love. I prefer to use this on my body post-shower, but it is also nice as a sleeping pack or to chill skin out that has had too many actives on it. Absorbs fairly quickly, but can get sticky if you go ham on application. 8/10. Would recommend. Bonus tip! Keep this bad boy in the fridge for a delightful cooling experience. Repurchase: Yes, but I’m not sure if its still available. The packaging says it is LE, but its still in stock at Skinfood’s website. Ulta (my original sale point) no longer carries it, so who knows. If I can repurchase, I will. I have several backups of this and the Aloe, which I kind of want to try on my hair… Clinique Take the Day off Cleansing Balm (travel size) Impressions: This was a desperation purchase. I needed a small, balm/solid cleanser to take with me last Winter Holiday to go in my carryon as the husband and I were travelling overseas. This was the only thing I could find in the timeframe I had that was small enough to meet my needs, that was NOT a bar of soap. This is very effective at taking makeup off. Its also effective at trashing my skin. I ended up hate panning it when I ran out of my beloved Heimish and everywhere was out of stock thanks to Ms. Rona. At this point, I’m permanently swearing off all Clinique products except Black Honey. Repurchase: Hard no Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base (DS) Impressions: This is nice. Hydrating without making me oily. Plays nicely on its own and with most of my foundations. Doesn’t break me out. Thick, without being too heavy. HOWEVER. Baby girl smells like Lemon Pledge and that shit lingers. I can honestly say that I’ve never had a cosmetic smell like a household cleaner before so….. Repurchase: Maybe. I’m not mad at it, but I don’t know if I love it enough to get over the Lemon Pledge smell. Morphe Continuous Setting Mist Impressions: I was on the fence about repurchasing this last year (this is one of my backups) and I’m still on the fence about repurchasing because I find the brand to be somewhat problematic and some of their partnerships to be very problematic. However, some of their products are really great. Like this mist. Its still one of the best I’ve ever tried. I’m still open to looking for something comparable, but the aerosolized mist is just *chef’s kiss*. Ethical consumption in capitalism is such a bitch. Repurchase: ? ***pretend there are detailed reviews of the big ass box of hair & makeup products that I destashed but couldn’t be bothered to document, mmmkay?*** The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA Impressions: I bought this on a whim after reading some promising reviews on Reddit. I also needed something that could travel with me as Mr. Lew and I were traveling for 2019 Winter Holiday. I kind of liked it at the time, but not so much anymore. I think I liked it because it was winter (cold) and I was in the mountains (dry air). Upon returning to warm & humid Florida, this doesn’t seem to do anything for me. I’ve struggled to use this as a face moisturizer, hand cream, and body lotion. I’m giving up. Repurchase: No, unless I’m traveling again and need something to get me through for a few days. The Creme Shop x gudetama Gold Peel-Off Mask for Nose (LE) (KB) Impressions: I suspected this would be crap when I bought it, but I was hopeful as I liked other LE offerings from this brand. I was sadly disappointed. This took forever to dry and barely did anything to my skin. Its got a pleasant smell and is a lovely shade of gold. That’s about it. Repurchase: No Bioderma Atoderm Ultra-Moisturizing Lip Balm Impressions: I picked this up on the recommendation of a fellow MUACJ Redditor and HOLY SHIT! This is one of the best lip balms I’ve ever used. Which is somewhat baffling because there is nothing revolutionary about the ingredients. But somehow, these French wizards hit one out of the park. Lightweight, but moisturizing. Not sticky. No flavor. Weirdly, vaguely smells like blue raspberry. But it somehow works. The only thing I’m slightly salty about is how quickly I’ve gone through the tube. Repurchase: Hell yes Mizon Original Skin Energy Collagen 100 ampoule (KB) Impressions: I think I like this. And I think it works, but I’ve been really inconsistent about using it so its hard to tell. I generally like Mizon ampoules and find they absorb rather quickly. They make my preferred HA. Repurchase: One more time to actually see if it does anything of note. Sixteen92 Super Natural Hair Serum, Malum Malus (DS) Impressions: I received this as a DS with the Fall (Halloween? Falloween? IDK) 2019 CAoS set I purchased. Malum Malus is my favorite scent in that line and the fragrance lasts a long time without being overpowering. The serum itself is a bit thicker than I’m used to, but is okay. Repurchase: Probably not, unless I just *really* fell in love with a scent and needed to wrap myself in it. I have other serums that I prefer and am much more likely to repurchase Shea Moisture Mongongo & Hemp Seed Oils High Porosity Moisture Correct Masque Impressions: I really love this. It provides such a moisture injection to my hair in addition to the protein my high porosity hair needs. Nice and thick. Great smell. Really needs a cap to absorb into the hair Repurchase: Hell yes. The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Impressions: I kind of like this and can tell it has had an improvement in my hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. However, it hasn’t done much for my texture and has minimally improved brightness. Its cheap and doesn’t irritate my skin. I’m not wild about the dimethicone, but it isn’t a deal breaker. Repurchase: Maybe once more. I’m incorporating more Vitamin C products in my routine to address the lack of brightness. If those work well, then I likely won’t repurchase. Hask Cactus Water Prickly Pear See Oil 5-in-1 Leave in Spray Impressions: Got this for my mom, who ended up not liking it that much. This plays surprisingly well with my hair. It conditions without being heavy and is sort of okay at managing the frizz halo. I detangle in the shower so I can’t really say whether this does anything for that. The scent is quite lovely and the mist is nice & fine. Repurchase: Definitely Design Essentials Natural Almond & Avocado Moisturizing & Detangling Sulfate Free Shampoo Impressions: I’m not mad at this. Easily accessible, reasonable price point. Does moisturize. Not as detangling as the CoN Argan Oil but does have a bit of slip to it. The scent is not my favorite, but it doesn’t linger so I’m not going to hold that against it. It does its job and does it fine; I’m just not wowed by it. Admittedly, I don’t think I’ve ever been wowed by a shampoo so I might be expecting too damn much. Repurchase: Maybe one more time to see if I really like it. Majestic Pure Cosmeceuticals Rosehip Oil Impressions: I like this, but struggle to use it in warmer months. Its great for the winter and plays nicely with my skin, hair, and cuticles. It is too heavy to use as an allover scalp treatment, but is good for the occasional dry patch. Repurchase: In a smaller container, for sure. This 4 ounce bottle took me ages to get through and it went off before I could get more than halfway through. The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics Impression: I don’t care for this. It does nothing worthwhile for my skin. Fell for the Reddit hype. I’m definitely going back to my KB HA. Repurchase: No Too Cool For School Rules of Mastic IX Cream (KB) Impression: I’m not mad at this. It has a lovely smell, is quite thick, and nicely moisturizes my skin. This is great at bringing back winter lizard skin, but its a bit too much for non-winter facial skin. My mom quite enjoys it as a hand cream, but its too strongly scented for her face. Repurchase: Maybe? I’m still on the fence. Creme of Nature Pure Honey Moisturizing Dry Defense Conditioner Impression: This conditioner is the shit. Its got slip, a nice scent, wallet-friendly price, bottle that fits nicely in my hand, and provides delicious, delicious moisture. Repurchase: Hell yes Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Treatment Masque Impression: I genuinely adore this masque. I love the scent. I love the way it makes my hair feel afterwards. My only gripes are pretty minimal; I wish it was slightly less thick (its kind of hard to spread in my hair) and had a smidge more slip. Repurchase: Yes Sunday Riley Good Genes Impression: I used to love this and then they went and reformulated it. And now I’m not sure how I feel about the new new. I don’t think its as strong as it used to be, but that may be a factor of my super inconsistent usage. I like that its vacuum sealed and the product itself is protected from light. I’m not the biggest fan of the scent, but it isn’t nearly as aggressive as the Bobbi Brown vitamin face base that reeks of Pledge. Repurchase: I’m reserving judgement on this. I want to buy this one more time, consistently use it, then make a final decision. {ed. note: upon further reflection, I will not be repurchasing this} Fanofi Micro-Needle Soothing Patch (KB) Impressions: These are delightful for taming the occasional hormonal cystic acne. Repurchase: Yes Dionis Goat Milk Skincare Natural Goat Milk Hand Cream, Sea Treasures Impressions: This is a great lil hand cream in a lovely scent. Absorbs pretty quickly. Nicely moisturizing. Does a good job of holding off handwashing-induced lizard skin. This is another one of those scents where I would not object to ALL THE THINGS smelling like. Repurchase: Yup Physician’s Formula Healthy Lip Liquid Lipstick, Vitamin Beet Impressions: I got this several years ago in a vault that was heavily on sale. This is the last of the remaining tubes. The lipstick itself is okay, nothing revolutionary. I enjoy the triangle-shaped (tulip?) applicator. I hate this color and have absolutely no intention of ever wearing it. Repurchase: Nope NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment, American Woman (DS) Impressions: I genuinely like this formula. The application is a bit finicky due to how close the cap is to the doe foot, but I’m not going to hold that against it as this is a DS. The color is perfectly fine, a pinkish-brown MLBB shade. However, I own approximately 25 products this color and its time to destash. Repurchase: Formula yes, color no. Sephora gloss, Lady Luck Impressions: Ever met a person and then immediately forgot everything about them because they’re so bland? That’s this gloss. The color is pretty in the tube. The packaging is nice. And that’s about it. Repurchase: No. Its nothing against the product itself, but it doesn’t spark joy. Lime Crime Velvetine, Beet It (GWP) Impressions: Got this as a gift with purchase from a Postmark order. Repurchase: Nope Lanolips Hydrating Lip Luminiser, Beach Pop Impressions: I bought this in the hopes that it would be as awesome as their multipurpose balm. I was sadly, sadly disappointed. I like absolutely nothing about this product except the color. It smells horrible, tastes worse, and is stupidly thick. Repurchase: No Lanolips Hydrating Lip Luminiser, Desert Glow Impressions: See above Repurchase: No The Ordinary Buffet Impressions: I honestly couldn’t tell you if this did anything for my skin. It was hella sticky though and didn’t sting, so it has that working in its favor. Repurchase: No Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Aelopile (imp) Impressions: Scent description from website: Glowing amber and citrus, labdanum, verbena, cedar, and oud. I definitely get amber, some verbena, and oud. This wears warm and spicy on me, but not aggressively so. I suspect this would be lovely in a room oil warmer. Repurchase: Yes Estee Lauder Beautiful Belle (DS) Impressions: This goes hard on the white floral with very light rose & musk and virtually no other notes. This is a very heavy fragrance to me, but I think that’s due to the gardenia, which I’m quite sensitive to. A generic, inoffensive fragrance that’s not remarkable in any way. Pretty much the antithesis of what I like my perfumes to smell like. Repurchase: Hard no Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab The Apothecary (imp) Impressions: Scent description from the website: Tea leaf with three mosses, green grass, a medley of herbal notes, and a drop of ginger and fig. I get the fig and some heavier tea notes. I much prefer the scent in the tube; there you can pick up the ginger, grass, and some sort of herbaceous notes. On my skin its still nice, just not my cuppa. Repurchase: It does not spark joy, so no. Dionis Goat Milk Skincare Natural Goat Milk Hand Cream, Water Flowers & Sea Salt Impressions: I have accepted that I am a Stan for these hand creams. I am just obsessed with them. I want everything to smell like this. Repurchase: Yup Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Mist (KB) Impressions: My skin loves this Repurchase: Sadly no. This product is no longer made and I can’t find a reasonable dupe in mist form. I’ve replaced this in my routine with Neogen Real-Ferment Micro Essence.
[Review] Mini-Reviews of my Black Friday Haul (Benton, Klairs, The Plant Base and more!)
Just a little about my skin type and areas of concern. I am 40 years old with skin that is very, very dry especially on my cheeks and forehead. I also have red patches on my cheeks and my chin that vary in intensity depending on what’s going on with my skin. When my skin is happy the redness is so faint that I barely need makeup, when my skin is pissed I look and feel like I have a sunburn. My skin is VERY fussy, but a random kind of fussy that makes me very nervous about trying out tons of new products since I never know what is going to set my skin off. It will react to an ingredient in some instances but not others, for instance it loves the Klairs scented toner but will react really poorly to other products with citrus oils. I try to stay away from most alcohol, dimethicone and anything with heavy artificial fragrance since those seem to be the consistent things that make my skin most unhappy. My skin is quick to let me know when it doesn’t like something and reactions range from small, itchy breakouts to full on blood red/burning reactions. Thankfully it’s also quick to forgive and recover as long as I immediately stop whatever the offending product is.
Despite all of this, I decided to take a chance on Gothamista’s Box of Holiday Skincare Wishes since the products seemed like they would suit my skin, plus it was such a good deal! I also splurged on several items from Soko Glam plus one ill-fated Amazon purchase, so I thought I’d give little mini reviews!
I'm From Rice Toner Observations: This toner is watery in texture and milky in color with zero fragrance. You have to shake it up a little before using since there is separation. It sinks in quickly and doesn’t leave any stickiness. The bottle is a fairly generous amount, and even though I’ve used it almost daily in both my morning and evening routines, there is still plenty of product left.
Verdict: I immediately fell in love with this toner! I noticed brightening effects within a week, and it also seemed to make a huge difference in the redness of my cheeks/chin. When I use 2-3 layers of this, my skin feels calm and beautifully hydrated. I also love that there is no scent to it! Will definitely repurchase.
Klairs Soft Airy UV Essence SPF50+ PA++++ Observations: The texture of this was surprisingly pleasant, almost like a lightweight day moisturizer as opposed to a sunscreen. There is a very faint scent to it, kind of a citrus type thing, but doesn’t smell like alcohol or that typical “sunscreen” smell. There is zero white cast, and I have found that this manages to be moisturizing while also being cosmetically elegant. I didn’t observe any pilling or greasiness while using this.
Verdict: I need to use it a few more times before I can really come to a will/will not repurchase decision, but it seems to be good so far with no breakouts, irritation or clogging!
I’m From Honey Mask Observations: This mask has a gorgeous scent, almost like caramel but without being sickly sweet! The texture is thick and easily spreadable (a little goes a long way), while also managing to stay in place and not be drippy or runny. It doesn’t ever dry down, so it’s very comfortable to wear even for an hour or longer. It rinses off easily, especially if you do it in the shower.
Verdict: I was nervous about this mask since I’ve had issues with honey products in the past, but this mask is so comforting and a pleasure to use. I like to put it on when I first wake up (after washing my face) and leave it on for an hour or so while I drink my coffee and get ready for work. I leave it on for my whole shower to keep my skin from drying out from the hot water, and then rinse it off right towards the end. My skin is always soft, intensely hydrated and glowing afterwards with no irritation, redness or breakouts. Will absolutely repurchase if I run out before the winter is over.
Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream Observations: This is the 1st time I’ve gotten the 60ml tube as opposed to the 30 ml jar. The tube is SO much easier to use and I find myself reaching for it a little more than when I purchased it before in jar form. It’s fragrance free with a texture that seems to be about half gel, half cream. I find that it seems to sit on top of my skin rather than sinking in.
Verdict: This is the second time I’ve purchased Klairs calming cream during my AB journey. I can’t say that I am super blown away by it, I’d love to use it as a day cream but it’s not hydrating enough for me. In fact, it also seems to dry out my cheeks a bit. It is decent to have around as a spot treatment for my cheeks and chin when they are very flushed, but I think I’ve finally determined that the Soon Jung Cica Balm might perform better for me as a calming aid. Probably wouldn’t go out of my way to repurchase unless it's part of a gift set.
I’m From Vitamin Tree Mask Observations: This is a truly interesting mask. The texture is a very thick paste and isn’t quite as easy to spread/apply as the I’m From Honey. You have to be more generous with application due to the thick texture, since it has a tendency to skip over areas during the spreading process. It does have a very natural, earthy smell that I didn’t mind, but may bother some people, kind of like a cross between cut grass and vegetable soup. You need a little bit more elbow grease to wash this one off, and I found that little bits ended up in my eye. I highly recommend washing it off in the shower. You have to store this mask in the fridge, so it’s a little less convenient to use unless you do your routine close to the kitchen or have a skincare fridge. While it doesn’t dry down completely it does dry out a little bit, but not an uncomfortable amount to where you can't move your face.
Verdict: I’ve only used this mask 4 times so I don’t know that I’ve had enough time to form a full opinion about it, but will say that it doesn’t irritate my skin or cause any issues. My skin did feel smoother after using it, but I don’t know that I noticed any major brightening afterwards. Probably won’t repurchase.
Benton Cacao Moist and Mild Toner Observations: This is a very light, watery toner with zero fragrance (sorry to disappoint you chocolate lovers!). It is easily layerable and I’ve found it to be very gentle. It plays nicely with other toners when used in the 7 skin method.
Verdict: If you are a fan of the Soon Jung toner, then you will likely like the Benton as well. While this is gentle, hydrating and my skin liked it, I probably won’t repurchase simply because Soon Jung is a better value for the same performance.
Neogen Rose Cleansing Water Observations: It’s very generous bottle for the price point, and my first bottle lasted me at least 4 months. While I typically try to stay away from scented products where I can, it’s hard to resist this one since it smells like fresh roses. The scent is pretty strong so if you’re not into that, you won’t like this. There are real rose petals in the bottom of the bottle, which is fun when the bottle is full and annoying when the bottle is nearing the end and you’re trying to get the product to come out but they clog it up! It does a really nice job of sweeping away makeup without being irritating.
Verdict: This is actually my second bottle of this cleansing water, but I really love it! I am unable to use oil cleaners, so this is part of my nightly 2 step cleansing routine. I start with the Neogen Cica Cleansing Foam, then use the cleansing water to catch any rogue makeup. In my experience it’s very gentle and doesn’t irritate my skin at all. Will repurchase.
The Plant Base Time Stop Collagen Ampoule Observations: Very thick, amber colored ampoule that is fragrance free. I absolutely love the dropper packaging it comes in, and it always dispenses the perfect amount of product. The texture almost comes across as a light facial oil without being greasy, and it sinks easily into the skin.
Verdict: This ampoule kicks the ass of the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum both in performance and price point. I was shocked at how much of an immediate difference this made in my skin when I started using it. I’m a month in now and the fine lines near my eyes have definitely plumped out, as have the lines near my mouth/forehead and my skin is GLOWING. Will definitely repurchase!
Soon Jung Cica Balm -Panthensoside 5 Observations: Thick, creamy texture with zero fragrance. Melts nicely into the skin and spreads easily. Performs decently under makeup if you give it enough time to dry down a little, but I prefer using it at night.
Verdict: I’ve found this balm to be a nice tool in my skincare kit for spot treating my skin when it’s irritated, and for me it performs a little better than the Klairs Calming Cream, and at a better price point. I definitely notice improvements in redness and texture after using. Probably will repurchase, although this current tube should last me awhile.
Soon Jung Sleeping Pack-Panthensoside 5 Observations: The texture is thick but silky without having that gross oily silicone feeling that I can’t stand. It spreads easily, and if you give it a couple of minutes before laying down, it does seem to sink in and cause less pillow transfer. No fragrance. It has a weird twist cap that makes getting the product out a bit difficult, but at least you won’t over apply I guess?
Verdict: I had given up on the idea that I would ever be able to use a sleeping pack until I found the Soon Jung. Most packs seem to be loaded with dimethicone, which my skin hates, and/or are loaded with fragrance and other stuff that majorly pisses off my skin. This pack is an absolute dream to use and I fully credit it for being the thing that turned my skin around this winter since I wasn’t waking up with dried out skin, so it had a fighting chance of starting the day off right. It feels like a hug for your face when you put it on at night, and I wake up with the softest, calmest skin. I even like to use it on my lips after I apply toner and lip balm to them, and my lips have never felt better. I was worried this may clog my pores, but I’ve gone a month now without any issues. I’ve only skipped using it a couple of nights and immediately paid the price the next day when my skin felt dried out by lunchtime. After a week I ordered a second tube to keep in my Smaug skincare stash since I don’t want to be without it this winter! Will repurchase forever!
The Plant Base Waterfall Moist Balanced Hyaluronic Acid 100 Observations: Ampoule is fragrance free and has a thick, clear gel texture that spreads easily on the skin. If you apply it towards the end of your routine, it's very sticky and will pill up, but I had success applying it first thing. Just like the Time Stop ampoule, it comes in a really neat dropper packaging that easily dispenses the right amount of product.
Verdict: At first I was so disappointed in this ampoule that I was close to giving up on it. It was causing my other skincare and makeup to pill up when I would attempt to apply it like a typical ampoule towards the end of my routine. I finally figured out the secret to using it, which was to take a pea sized amount and gently press it onto my still wet face as soon as I stepped out of the shower in the morning. Total game changer! This makes my face feel so calm and hydrated, and stops that instantly tight feeling that usually happens when I get out of the shower. It works beautifully when used with the 7 skin method. Will repurchase!
Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Sheet Mask Observations: Mask comes in two pieces and is heavily fragranced with tea tree. The essence in the mask is clear and slightly thick. The fit of the mask worked decently for my face, and the texture of the mask itself was fairly comfortable.
Verdict: I don’t know what is supposed to be calming about this sheet mask, because not only is it a complete pain in the ass to get out of the package and unfold, but it smells like turpentine. It also made my face feel like it was on fire after I took the mask off. When I woke up the next morning, my skin looked irritated and I had a pimple on my cheek. Will not repurchase.
Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask Observations: Interesting texture! It starts out almost as a jello type texture, but immediately melts into the skin when you start rubbing it in. It smelled heavily of lemon oil, in fact I may have said “Oh God, this smells like Pledge” when I opened the jar. If you have sensitive or reactive skin, this is not the product for you.
Verdict: Have you ever opened a skincare product and known immediately you shouldn’t have put it on your face, but did it anyway? There were so many glowing reviews online, plus my skin loves the Klairs toner, that I figured it would be fine. But dear readers, it was not fine. Not only did this cause a slight burning sensation, but I woke up with two big pimples and redness on my cheeks and chin the next day. I gave it to a friend who absolutely loves it, so at least it didn’t go to waste! It’s a shame, I really loved the texture and it also made my skin feel hydrated, just irritated. Will not repurchase.
Benton Cacao Moist and Mild Cream Observations: Before I get into my observations, I must note that I got this from Amazon. I don’t think it was a fake, but I wonder given that it smelled heavily of alcohol, which is not something that is noted in any reviews of this cream I’ve seen online. I’d be interested to hear from other people who use/like this cream if that’s typical or not. The texture was fine, just like any other typical lighter weight cream, and it spread easily on the face and sank in nicely. There was a cooling bordering on burning sensation that I didn’t like AT ALL after application.
Verdict: This was my biggest disappointment, especially since I was looking for a good basic day cream. My skin absolutely HATED it, which was surprising given that it likes the toner in this line and also loves the Steam Cream. I tried to use it for a week, and started getting redness in my cheeks and bumps/breakouts where I normally don’t get them. My skin also looked greasy by the end of the day, which is hilarious given that my skin is normally so dry that I often use facial oils during the day under my makeup just to keep hydrated, and even that doesn’t make me look oily. As soon as I stopped using it, my skin texture became smooth again and the breakouts/bumps are starting to heal, so it was definitely the cream. Will not repurchase.
[Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory] Martin Bormann, the head of the Nazi Party after Hitler's death, was the Paraguayan millionaire who fabricated the fake Golden Ticket. He did so to try and steal Wonka's business secrets.
tl;dnr: What it says in the title. Martin Bormann, coming out of hiding as a Paraguayan millionaire with a supposed Golden Ticket, sought entrance into Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Bormann likely assumed that he could either buy Wonka off with his wealth, and/or to try to steal Wonka's business secrets by gaining entrance to his factory. Evidence I: Martin Bormann, Nazi and South American Millionaire It's been confirmed that the Paraguayan millionaire who produced the Golden Ticket is, in fact, Martin Bormann, who assumed leadership of the Nazi Party after Hitler's death. While the director claims that he meant to use Bormann's photo as a joke, especially given the claims of "Nazis fleeing to South America" after WWII. However, for the sake of this theory, and assuming that the Wonka-verse is an alternate universe from our own, that Bormann, who died shortly after Hitler in our universe, indeed managed to flee to South America successfully after WWII. Let's say that Bormann, in the Wonka-verse, then somehow makes a fortune by going into business, becoming a millionaire by 1971, the year the events of the film, for argument's sake, take place in. Evidence II: Why Bormann Fabricated a Golden Ticket If Bormann is a "Paraguayan millionaire", then what Bormann made his millions in, or from? Given how Veruca Salt's father made his fortune in the peanut industry, another candy-related sector, let's assume that Bormann made his millions in none other than the cocoa, or chocolate, industry. More specifically, Bormann likely made his fortune as one of South America's "cocoa barons".
During the late 19th and much of the 20th century, a small patch of paradise in southern Bahia, a state in Northeast Brazil, was the #1 producer of cocoa in the world. It was also the realm of Brazil’s cocoa barons. Cacao trees were native to the Brazilian Amazon. But in the 1700s, Brazilian colonists decided to see if cacao would take to the fertile soil of the coastal region surrounding the tiny town of Ilhéus. Cacao thrives in the shade, and the native Atlantic forest – a rainforest more ancient than the Amazon – provided a natural canopy that allowed trees to reach heights of 40 feet. In the late 1800s, spurred on by industrialization, the world’s cocoa market exploded. Adventurers from Brazil and around the world sailed, rode and even walked to Bahia’s “Cocoa Coast.” Many dreamed of making vast fortunes by planting this cash crop. For decades, precious cocoa was known as “black gold.” Planters who grew rich from its trade became known as “cocoa barons.” In keeping with their title, the “barons” built grand plantation estates furnished with the finest European trappings. They drove to Ilhéus in gleaming American automobiles and checked into grand hotels. They wiled away days at luxurious beach houses with names such as Praia dos Milionários (Millionnaire Beach). At night, they gambled away fortunes while drinking Champagne, and smoking cigars lit with 500,000 real bills. On Sundays, lavishly attired cocoa baronesses went to mass at the new and opulent São Sebastião Cathedral. Meanwhile, their husbands took refuge in the nearby Bar Vesúvio. From the bar, a secret passage led to the Bataclan. In this swank “cabaret,” barons could indulge in more earthly pursuits with European call girls. The chime of church bells warned them that services were ending. That masses lasted three hours was due to an agreement between the barons and priests. Those who gave extra long sermons were handsomely rewarded. (Source)
Additionally, Bormann being a cocoa baron, while tying in with his potential motivation for fabricating the Golden Ticket (not only bringing attention to himself, but his business, as well as giving him a shot at the grand prize), also fits with his past as a particularly sadistic, anti-Semitic Nazi. While cocoa farmers suffered, their baron bosses made millions.
...there was a lot of resentment about the wealth of the so-called cacao colonels -- the owners of large plantations -- compared to the lives of the farm workers. "Cacao elites used to say that the best doctor in the area was Varig and Vasp, which were the two airlines that would take you out of town," said Mary Ann Mahony, a professor of history at Central Connecticut State University. "In the '80s, there was no running water, no indoor plumbing, no electricity, nothing." [...] "[The farmers themselves] were very poor," Aquino recalled. "They wouldn't know how to read and write." Mahony recalled seeing payroll sheets from the 1970s, where workers "were signing with their fingerprint, because they were illiterate." Novelist Jorge Amado describes the scene aptly in his book, The Golden Harvest. Ilheus is "a city of money and cabarets, of dauntless courage and dirty deals." And on the cacao plantations, "the cacao fields are the work, the home, the garden, the cinema, often the cemetery of the workers. The enormous feet of the hired hands look like roots, bearing no resemblance to anything else. The visgo of cacao sticks to their feet and never comes off, making them like the bark of the trunk, while malaria gives them the yellow color of nearly ripe pods, ready for picking." "There were slaves that worked in cacao," Mahony summarized. "Most of the people who worked for [the cacao colonels] lived in illiteracy and darkness." [...] "It's related to being bad or not. The employer had the right to take from the employee clothes, food, house," Aquino recalled. "The minimum wage was so little." Many employers took advantage of this system. (Source)
Additionally, agriculture in Paraguay, unlike in Brazil, was just having the start of its expansion in 1971.
Growth in agriculture was very rapid from the early 1970s to the early 1980s, a period when cotton and soybean prices soared and cropland under cultivation expanded as a result of agricultural colonization. Growth in agriculture slowed from an average of 7.5% annual growth in the 1970s, to approximately 3.5% in the mid-to-late 1980s. (Wikipedia)
Evidence III: Wonka's Awareness / Planting Spies It's well-known, even within the movie itself, that Willy Wonka himself was not only aware of the potential consequences and implications of his Golden Ticket event, but that he kept his desired outcomes fully, tightly controlled. This is evidenced by his use of one of his employees, Wilkinson, as an actor for "Slugworth" to tempt the children with money; as well as the "convenient" locations [and winners] of all five of the true Golden Tickets, among other pieces of evidence, as seen in this theory here, as well as one here. It's quite obvious that the entire purpose of Wonka holding the Golden Ticket event to begin with was to find a worthy heir and successor, one he could bestow his chocolate factory onto. Enter Martin Bormann, South American cocoa baron millionaire, who, like everyone else, hears of Wonka's Golden Ticket sweepstakes. Bormann, also a mega-weathy businessman, and one clearly who built his millions over the years, likely also did what Wonka did: send out spies, or "feelers", to research Wonka, and gather as much information as possible on Wonka and his factory. It's even quite plausible that Bormann, if a giant in the cocoa / chocolate industry, may have been one of Wonka's direct rivals...or, as a major cocoa seller and supplier, "played the field" among chocolate and candy makers, or sought to be one of the ones to steal Wonka's secrets. Bormann may have even sought to steal Wonka's secrets to purposefully distribute among other chocolate makers, as competition often helps drive additional profits...and more chocolate makers means more clients to buy Bormann's cocoa, and more money for Bormann. Indeed, Grandpa Joe, who used to work for Wonka in the 2005 adaptation, also has this exchange with Wonka:
Grandpa Joe: Mr. Wonka, I don't know if you remember me, but I used to work here in the factory. Willy Wonka: Were you one of those despicable spies who everyday tried to steal my life's work, and sell it to those parasitic, copy-cat candy-making cads? Grandpa Joe: No, sir. Willy Wonka: Wonderful, welcome back.
This follows the book as well:
Years before Charlie had his visit to the factory, Willy Wonka ran his candy business with regular workers, not "little funny colored people." But because Willy Wonka was the greatest candy maker in the land, his enemies sent spies into his factory, stole his ideas, and recreated his greatest candy creations. This produced overwhelming paranoia in Mr. Wonka. His solution? Fire all his workers and shut down his factory. In fact, it's revealed in the first movie that Grandpa Joe used to work in Wonka's factory and was one of the unlucky workers let go (an addition from the story in the original book). So, rather than develop a security solution or management solution to deal with these spies, like a sane person would, Willy Wonka fired his entire workforce. In the case of Charlie's parents, the Buckets, and probably numerous other families who relied on those jobs for their livelihood, it pushed them into poverty. The degree of misery caused by Wonka's decision never made it into the story. Although we hear nothing about the town where the factory resides, it's probable that the city, or at the very least the neighborhood, was decimated by that decision. Yet, instead of being thought of as a villain, Willy Wonka is considered a hero. He's the creative genius who just wasn't allowed to be free to be himself and do his thing. (Source)
Given this addition, there's a few things that stand out to me: one, that Wonka was clearly so upset, and so angry, at discovering the spies at his factory, or at his wit's end, that he fired everyone; and two, that he did so in a way that implies that, instead of viewing his employees as people, he viewed them as servants, or even slaves...ones that he could dismiss at a moment's notice. To this end, in both the 1971 and 2005 adaptations, Wonka doesn't seem to develop more perspective for how badly he treated his former workers and employees (Grandpa Joe and the Bucket family included) until he discovers, and "adopts", the Ooma Loompas. With the Oompa Loompas, Wonka seems to learn how to treat others with compassion, giving the Oompa Loompas a safe haven and home, and voicing his feelings of pity and sympathy for their plight. Wonka's previous, callous attitude towards his workers and employees, especially given the poor treatment of South America's "cocoa barons" towards their farmers, to me, points to Bormann and Wonka having had a previous, close relationship / business partnership, perhaps even a friendship. This is especially true, given that Wonka would be several decades younger than Bormann (Gene Wilder was 37-38 years old when he filmed his role as Wonka; by 1971, Bormann would have been around 71 years old, with a birth year of 1900). Bormann likely provided, and sold, South American cocoa initially (exclusively) to Wonka as part of a business partnership, and likely even helped Wonka grow his chocolate empire and business (as Wonka selling more chocolate meant more cocoa profits / sales for Bormann)...before ultimately Bormann got greedy, sending spies to Wonka's factory, and also supporting and selling to other chocolate and candy makers, like Slugworth. Additionally, Bormann, being an older millionaire, may have even provided the initial investment, or money, to Wonka to build his chocolate factory, and start his business empire, to begin with. This also explains how, and why, Wonka previously saw it as "more than acceptable" to fire all of his workers at once, and seemingly, close his factory: he learned it from Bormann. Feeling utterly betrayed by his own cocoa provider and business partner, Wonka lashed out, utterly withdrawing from the public eye...but he never forgot what Bormann, and his enemies and rivals, did. Indeed, Wonka, with his idea for the Golden Tickets, and after what happened to him with the spies incident, directly anticipated his enemies and rivals trying to, once again, steal his secrets. This is evidenced in the film when Wonka pays Wilkinson to pose as Slugworth, offering a "test" to each of the children, to see which one of the kids would be able to withstand temptation and manipulation from corrupt, greedy businessmen. Indeed, Slugworth "whispering" into each child's ear seems to mirror the plausible recreation, or echo, of Bormann (or another greedy buisnessman) having "whispered" into a young Wonka's ear, tempting and offering him money. However, there was one thing that Wonka did not take into account: that Bormann would try other cunning, sneaky methods to try and gain access to Wonka's factory...or that his sweepstakes actually didn't prevent a rival businessman from obtaining a Golden Ticket. Evidence IV: The "Fake" Golden Ticket From the film, we know that Bormann supposedly fabricated the "fifth Golden Ticket". Yet that Golden Ticket was somehow "proven to be fake". I see two potential options for what actually happened, or may have happened:
Bormann, indeed, fabricated the Golden Ticket. However, Wilkinson, posing as Slugworth, approaches Bormann, and sees that the ticket is fake, or another employee of Wonka's claims it's fake...or Wonka himself leaks, or announces, that the Ticket is a "fake", as he knows the location of the last Golden Ticket, and it's not in Paraguay, but the UK.
Bormann, like Veruca Salt's father, paid his employees to find him the Golden Ticket. Thus, his Golden Ticket was real, but because Bormann was an adult, as well as a millionaire (along with the other speculation I mentioned above), Wonka, or his representative(s), claimed that Bormann's Ticket was a fake. [According to the original drafts of the book, Wonka also sent out seven (7), not five (5), Golden Tickets, which would also explain this; Wonka may have quietly produced 1-2 more Golden Tickets, in case of scenarios like this.] Or Wonka stole or confiscated Bormann's Ticket, claimed it as a fake, and then resent it out, this time to its "intended target", Charlie Bucket.
Today we return to /todayilearned for a wonderful treat: Native American history. Approximately one year ago, a Professor Xavier learned that the Americas were home to a host of cities supporting huge populations. Given the unfortunate state of precolumbian history in American schools, this revelation was sure to be a shocker. But even Nostradamus could not have predicted the poo that would fly within: http://np.reddit.com/todayilearned/comments/1fvc34/til_native_americans_had_cities_ranging_in_size/
"These mounds—not unlike European cathedrals in spiritual or architectural significance" Spiritual significance I can understand. But how exactly are earth mounds as architecturally significant as the Cathedrals they were building in Europe around the same time period?
There are two issues with this statement. Perhaps most notably, not all Indians1 constructed primarily with earthworks. Let's use one of the examples from the linked article: the Chaco Canyon society. Beginning in the 9th century A.D., Chacoan society began to develop. By the end of the 11th century, a massive network of roads covering thousands of miles connected an area larger than Portugal.a One ritual center for this society is contained in what is now called Chaco Canyon. For those not familiar with the site, Chaco canyon is 53 square miles of harsh, dry desert. The area is bitingly cold in the winter and blisteringly hot in the summer. Water management is a constant battle and the area is nearly uninhabited as a result even today. Yet in the middle of this extreme environment, the Chacoans constructed at least 14 great houses and nearly 100 smaller residential structures. The greatest of these is called Pueblo Bonito, a massive complex of over 600 rooms constructed of stone and mortar rising to over 5 stories in its heyday. Reconstructed images can help one understand the sheer scale of this structure. Nearby, the Chetro Ketl great house contains a large raised plaza on a hill. One might be forgiven for assuming this hill was natural, but it isn't. The entire hill on which the site is constructed was deliberately created by the Chacoans simply because they felt like it. In fact, Chaco Canyon as a whole is so enormous and sustained such a large population when it was used that the local landscape could not provide the resources. The nearest sites suitable for the agricultural production required are 40 miles away. Tens of thousands of trees were systematically harvested and shipped, sometimes upwards of 60 miles. Millions of stones were used to construct the walls and roads. The trade networks of Chaco canyon stretched from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Cacao and Macaw feathers were traded from Mexico. Buffalo was traded from the plains to the Northeast. Chacoan society challenged almost anything in Europe at the time. Even one of greatest buildings of the period, the Monreale, was scarcely taller than Pueblo Bonito. Now we can address the implicit, secondary issue: Earthworks are not inherently inferior to stonework. Monk's mound at Cahokia has a larger footprint than the Great Pyramid of Giza. A large earthwork isn't a matter of simply throwing dirt together, particular at the scales the scales Cahokia was working with. It takes sophisticated knowledge of erosion, dirt, and the ability to orchestrate vast labor pools. Large earthworks are a massive undertaking that are difficult and expensive to construct even today.
"No one believes me when I tell them the majority were killed by diseases from the white man and they had huge cities." That's because it's not true. Majority were not killed by disease. Just because some dumb fuck like jared diamond says so doesn't make it true. The great majority indians ( in north america ) were killed in the 1800/1900s - hundreds of years after contact with the "white man" and the white man's disease. It's funny how the white man's disease didn't kill off the asians, african, aborigines or white men? It's funny how the white man's disease doesn't kill off the indians that we discover in the amazon. The indians were simply wiped out.
Unfortunately this is completely and utterly wrong. Let's start with the juicy assertion that the old world never had to deal with these diseases. First of all, smallpox had been a plague for thousands of years.b We know it spread through Egypt around 1145 B.C. because Ramses V contracted it. In 8th century Japan, mortality rates for the smallpox epidemic are estimated at close to 30%. By the 12th century, crusaders brought it back and epidemics ravaged Europe from the 14th century onwards.c The disease similarly decimated Chinese and Indian urban centers from the 7th Century onwards, although inoculation techniques were reportedly used to help control the disease.2 Every region of the world has had issues with these diseases at some point in history. Oh, and those Indians in the amazon? Mortality rate that exceeded 99% for some tribes.dCurrent researchers don't infect people with smallpox because smallpox is extinct in the wild. It doesn't exist outside of some very tightly monitored laboratories in the US and Russia. Transmission of other diseases is still considered a major issue for researchers. For those who are interested in an overview of the spread of disease in the new world, Dobyn's paper is a good survey of the literature.
"In thirty years, about 70% of the Taínos died." Utter bullshit. Smallpox/measles/chickenpox/spanish flue/bubonic plague combined would not reduce a population by 70%. But lets say it was. So what? It would take the remaining 30% a couple of generations for the population to bounce back. What happen to that population?
Sure, except for the fact that they were enslaved and later subjugated by the Spanish, their lifestyle destroyed, and their native lands colonized. Except for those very minor things, they probably could have bounced back from a depopulation so severe that it makes post-war Russia's depopulation look like child's play.3
Let me put it this way. If the early settlers had given the natives all their disease and then left, there would be hundreds of millions ( at least ) of natives in america.
Hundreds of millions is on the high side of even pre-columbian population estimates for all of the Americas. Dobyn places the number at 112 million in his 1966 paper,e which is widely considered a good upper estimate on the true number.
That's my fucking point moron. There is NO EVIDENCE of the death rate of the natives. Everything is MADE UP ( PURE GUESSES ). We DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE POPULATION WAS. We DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY DIED from what. So every stat is BULLSHIT. Do you know what historians estimate the pre-columbian native population to be? Anywhere from a few million to over 100 million.
This is badhistory of a different sort. In fact, we can provide approximate pre-columbian estimates for population in many regions of the Americas and we know relatively well how many were left by the time contact was strongly established. After that period, we still have access to even more accurate population accounts. While precise numbers are impossible to come by, our mortality estimates are far from "PURE GUESSES".
"These mounds, not unlike European cathedrals..." Uh, yeah. Piles of dirt are EXACTLY like buildings built to stand for hundreds of years. There glass windows and hinged doors are so similar to dirt. Duh, people.
They had patches of dirt with lots of people and a few structures...not real "cities"
Tenochtitlan had a population between 70,000 and 300,000.f Paris, the largest city in Europe at the time, had between 100,000 and 300,000 people. Mesoamerica as a whole may have been the most densely populated region in the world at the time. Cholula, the second largest city in the Aztec Empire and home to perhaps as many as 100,000 people before Cortes, is home to the world's largest pyramid, dwarfing the Egyptian pyramids that so amazed Europeans. In fact, the cities were so large a map was necessary to attach to Hernan Cortes' letters when they were published. Let's not forget Teotihuacan either. I'm not sure about anyone else, but that certainly doesn't much resemble a patch of dirt to me. While the great Mesoamerican cities may not have had the same technologies and social structures as European cities, they could rival anything in Europe in size and "city-ness".
90% of the native population was killed off by disease carried by blankets.
I am not going to repeat a debunking of this tired myth that everyone seems to believe. Here's the obligatory /askhistorians post. Footnotes and Sources 1 I will continue to use the word Indian to refer to all indigenous peoples of the Americas due to the lack of another appropriate term with enough generality. 2 As pointed out by KaliYugaz, the evidence for inoculation techniques in Asia during this time period is flimsy. 3 To quote Eisenhower:
When we flew into Russia, in 1945, I did not see a house standing between the western borders of the country and the area around Moscow. Through this overrun region, Marshal Zhukov told me, so many numbers of women, children and old men had been killed that the Russian Government would never be able to estimate the total.
aMesa Verde Settlement History and Relocation: Climate Change, Social Networks, and Ancestral Pueblo Migration Linda S. Cordell, Carla R. Van West, Jeffrey S. Dean and Deborah A. Muenchrath Kiva, Vol. 72, No. 4 (Summer, 2007), pp. 379-405 b J. N. Hays . "Epidemics and pandemics: their impacts on human history". ABC-CLIO (2005). pp. 151. chttp://whqlibdoc.who.int/smallpox/9241561106_chp5.pdf] d HERN, Warren M. Health and demography of native Amazonians: historical perspective and current status. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. (2005) vol.7, n.4, pp. 451-480. e H. F. Dobyns. Estimating Aboriginal American Population: An Appraisal of Techniques with a New Hemispheric Estimate (1966) f Sanders, William T. "The population of the central Mexican symbiotic region, the Basin of Mexico, and the Teotihuacan Valley in the sixteenth century." The native population of the Americas in 1492 (1976): pp. 85-150. EDIT: bad population estimates by me
I have recently come to appreciate Filippo Tommaso Marinetti's Futurist Manifesto again. It's easy to reject some of the ideals he proposed, especially with the knowledge we have today. We know today that speed is wasteful and that the machines cease to be fascinating and start to be bothersome when they dominate the landscape. Still, the manifesto has to be understood and appreciated in its own context. Italy was the remnant of a former glorious civilization. Whereas England, the United States, France and increasingly Germany too were changing the world and entering unknown territory, Italy was clinging onto its past. It's stifling to the young to be forever living in the shadow of the accomplishments of their ancestors. To Marinetti, a country with too many museums becomes a graveyard. Most interestingly perhaps, Marinetti argued that the young cling onto the past because the future is denied to them. I think this is more relevant today than ever before. It's especially true for Western Europeans. Whereas the Indians, the Chinese, even the Eastern Europeans to some degree, can look forward to a glorious future, as Western Europeans we grow up surrounded by a sense of former glory. The cognitive coping mechanism for long has been to deny the glory ever existed. "No, we did not accomplish something amazing. The British empire left nothing but genocides behind and the fact that homosexuality was officially illegal until the latter half of the 20th century is an unspeakable atrocity." The man in denial will state. When you lose your girlfriend, the girl was a bitch all along. When you lose your empire, the empire was a racist mistake all along. Simultaneously there has been a kind of guilty indulgence in the past, especially by women. Young women enviously watch television drama series about an era in which they would have been confined to the kitchen or expected to feign lightheadedness at the slightest upsetting incident. An era when wearing pants would have led people to think you've lost your mind and marriage was sufficient to rob you of any meaningful sense of autonomy. An era when men where vile, cruel, bigoted, jealous, authoritarian and possessive, rather than cowardly begging for the world's approval. You won't openly acknowledge that this is the era you yearn back for of course. No, if pressed, you will readily claim to look forward to the glorious future when a woman earns as much money as a man for her meaningless cubicle labor and can walk around campus bent over spreading her asshole without any misogynist rape apologist daring to suggest that she's "asking for it". Only then can we rest. The exact problem we're dealing with is that this era is never coming back. Some of you might be able to live as modern day hunter-gatherers scouring through the remnants of Western civilization a few decades from now, but what we had two centuries ago simply won't come back. When you can finally make peace with this simple principle, you can finally respond to the changes of your environment and begin to adapt to it. Of course this isn't just true for lonely young women yearning for a Mr. Rochester to come sweeping them up. It's true for ponytailed intellectuals struggling to reconstruct the religion of their ancestors based on fragmentary writings by Icelandic bishops and Norwegian black metal lyrics too. Wodan lies dead in his grave next to Mr. Rochester. The thing to do is to take that impulse, to forget all context and to see where it leads you. The greatest art in history was created by people who raised a giant middle finger to the context they were born into. The past stops being better than the present when you stop yearning for it. This is the 21st century and I'm glad to be a human being born today. I'm taller and healthier than any man in my family. I can become a secret millionaire by hacking a Bitcoin exchange, I can grow giant redwood trees in my backyard, I can take psychedelics to communicate with archetypal entities and I can simulate entire worlds through the press of a button. It's a good thing that the stories we write today will not be the same as those written in the past. If this era was not meant to be, the laws of physics would have prohibited it from coming into existence. It's frightening, it's unprecedented and it's unbelievable, but if you can't deal with this phenomenon laid out in front of your eyes, then the error lies within you, not without. The only thing I can think of that the past has to offer to the present is Marinetti's manifesto of youth. The Futurist Manifesto is a celebration of youth. We're no longer building on the foundations of the past, it's time to build something entirely new. I do not believe in the blind worship of science and technology. I only believe in science and technology infused by the audacity of youth. Only a young man dares to ask why Neanderthal man has not arisen from his grave already, a question to which a conclave of stiff old men have nothing to offer but tiresome hesitation and doubt. Do you think we will use the tools you passed on to us to finish your simplistic humanist project? Are we but an extension of your self? No, we are beings of our own and we will build something entirely new with them. We do not even fear the failure you have set us up for, because our goals are entirely different from yours. Peak oil, climate change? Ha! We scoff at your condolences old man! Success to us is when our emaciated corpses nourish the wolves and the Neanderthal man opens the oysters growing in our abandoned underwater office complexes with his bare knuckles! We do not fear destruction, we celebrate it! We are youth and we respond to every warning you have to offer with nothing but fearless audacity. I see before me, a society that is entirely dominated by youth. We will do what nobody before us has done, which is to invade and colonize old age without mercy, until finally it loses its stranglehold over society. How will it be accomplished? You will not age. Two centuries ago, the thought that a thousand children could be born and only six would not live to see their first birthday would have been inconceivable. Today we take it for granted. I do not preach the abolition of death, because we do not fear death. I see something much more realistic ahead of us, which is a society where we understand what causes us to age and choose to say no to it. Old age exists for a reason. It made sense when only a few of us lived to see it. It's fine to have a single wise patriarch in a village, it becomes oppressive when they form the majority of the population. Today we are brought into this world with a near guarantee that we will live to see old age ourselves. I think old age is a folly. Around the age of thirteen there will come a time when you will be building a tree house with your friends, some younger children will pass by, you will feel embarrassed and return to loitering on the street. It is at this moment when you die. Everything from this point on is a shadow of your true self, a culturally sanctioned alternative for what it is you really hoped to accomplish in life. Your true self still lives as a ghost within the unfinished tree house. If you listen carefully, you can hear his haunting cries when you stop playing video games because your girlfriend thinks it's for losers, or when you miss the bus because you're afraid of looking foolish by running. He struggled to breathe when he heard you enrolled in computer science. He always thought he would grow up to be a goat herder. But youth doesn't die of old age. Youth dies of neglect. I can nourish my youth and I do so on a daily basis. Like a tropical animal brought back to a zoo, we are only just beginning to discover its diet. Psychedelics cause a lasting change in human personality, increasing our openness to experience to the degree that we appear decades younger. This isn't the end of what we can do, it is the beginning. I will readily admit that I am a transhumanist. But my transhumanism isn't the blind worship of progress. Like the Aka pygmies of the Congolese rain forest, I believe that I can merge with Jengi, the spirit of nature. In the process, I become something more than merely human. A potato is not starch. What starch is, is a basic building block that a potato uses to amplify its own essence. We seize this starch and we use it to allow our own body to grow itself. But what happens when we consume coffee, or cacao? The same can not be argued. It is clear the the coffee plants leaves its own fingerprint upon us. You can recognize a man under the influence of coffee quite readily, but you can not recognize whether a man has had a lifetime supply of potatoes pass through his intestinal tract. Some plants turn us into a composite organism, like a Lichen. As human beings we are defined by our minds, but what defines a plant? The essence of a plant is defined by the chemical substances it produces that set it apart from the other plants. What you have to understand is that you are not in control over these organisms. They manipulate you. You are no different from the mouse infected with T. Gondii that seeks out the scent of cat urine for reasons he does not understand. The scent of freshly cut grass sends volatile compounds into the air that suppress anxiety in your brain in the same manner as it does in a rat. The toxic mold growing in your shower releases chemical substances that induce depression. So what are you then? Man the conqueror? You operate entirely within the constraints placed upon you by organisms around you and within you, like a puppet on an invisible string. So my transhumanism is not a rebellion against nature, but a counter-revolution. I submit to the totality of the world around me and recognize myself as nothing more than its instrument, subject to an order too complex for me to understand. I merge with what I consume, whether I like it or not. If I consume the hopelessness and existential dread of a pig that has grown up without ever seeing mud or sunlight, I become its misery. Vitamin D, Omega 3 ratios, I don't care about the emotionally detached lexicon you use for it to give yourself an aura of credibility and professionalism. My understanding is the same as that of an African pygmy who worships the forest that lives on within him. But how does this relate to youth? Because of their diet and lifestyle, Amazon men in their 80's have arteries of Americans in their 50's. Those who live in alignment with the natural world around them remain young. And what is the role of science and technology? Science and technology serve merely as instruments, to allow us to learn to live in alignment with the natural world. Science is a tool, what matters are the goals it is used for. We can use science as one of many tools to become symbiotic organisms, integrated in nature. The reward we earn is the freedom to cast off the cloak of old age. What we have to understand and accept is that youth will not come to us through a techno-fix. You will not upload your mind to a computer. No, the organisms around you are the holy grail you yearn for. I believe that ultimately, we will even push forward the very concept of menopause. The cultural revolution this entails is a spectacle to behold. Today all men around the world yearn for and compete over a woman roughly between the ages of twenty and thirty. It is their biological imperative. The woman does not understand the gift she is given, until her body eventually loses its splendor and she can merely look back upon youth with envy. We increased our life expectancy from around 40 in the 19th century, to almost 90 years today. But why? Why is a woman's reproductive window today the same as it was in 1800? We have merely extended senility. I would sacrifice every year after 65 without a moment of hesitation, if it would grant me ten more years of childhood. Rhetoric is cheap, I understand. But I believe the possibility is there. Consider the case of Brooke Greenberg, who still appeared in every sense of the word as an infant until she died at age twenty. She still had her baby teeth and the size and mental age of a one year old. I'm not yearning to be an infant forever, but it reveals the untapped biological potential that exists. In theory, we can delay every step in the aging process. We already know how to accelerate these steps, you accelerate them yourself when you smoke a cigarette, inject steroids or eat a hamburger. Rats have seen their hair regrow and muscles strengthen through chemical substances that kill their senescent cells. These substances can kill the cells that prohibit your fat cells from multiplying too, the consequence being that a forty year old woman could still have the full cheeks of a twenty year old. Stem cells injected into the hypothalamus allow the hypothalamus to rejuvenate and send a signal of youth to the rest of the body. The list of accomplishments booked in recent years is too long to bore you with here. What I am arguing is as following: An extension of physical youth will bring about a cultural and political renaissance. I don't care what happens to retirement, raise the retirement age to a hundred years for all I care. Those who are truly intelligent and have a fiery untamable passion for life burning inside of them, who see a form of beauty around them so vast and all-encompassing that they could not begin to articulate it, will manage to extend their youth for decades. We will see women in their sixties conceiving naturally and seventy year old freegan crust punks hitching rides on freight trains. "But what about Down syndrome?" Down syndrome is not caused by old age itself, it's caused by a woman running out of high quality eggs and the body responding by resorting to whatever egg is still available. The body is capable of a degree of regeneration that we do not recognize. It used to be thought that neurogenesis does not occur in adults. Then we discovered it happens in the hippocampus and the striatum. We now know that neurogenesis occurs in the hypothalamus too, from where the aging process is imposed upon the rest of the body. Similarly, we used to think a woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have. We now know that certain conditions can cause a woman's body to spontaneously grow new eggs. Because of our modern healthy diets, the age of menopause is increasing across Europe. The speed of aging is the speed at which we decay, minus the speed at which we regenerate. If the prior can be reduced and the latter increased, we bring about a dramatic decline in the speed of aging. We have known for years how to slow the decline, but now we are beginning to understand how to increase the speed at which we regenerate. Cannabidiol can be used to promote the differentiation of stem cells into neurons. It thereby rejuvenates the brain. What we have started exploring so far is merely the tip of the iceberg. Today we face the prospect of a revolution of youth. I can not think of a more exciting time to be alive.
A Droplet of Consciousness in a Kingdom of Infinite Existence. (LEVEL 5 TRIP REPORT)
A heroic tale of two psychonauts and the psilocybin sage. (HERO DOSE) Preface The date was May 24th, 2015. My good friend Z had called me in the morning and proposed the idea of taking medicinal mushrooms... Not just any but one of the strongest strains known to man, the famous Penis Envies (PE). I have already acquainted myself with this prized strain of mushroom earlier this year so I knew what I was getting myself into. After debating for a short time, we decided to take a full 3 grams each. A dose I was longing to do. Most of my journeys have been accompanied by 2-2.5 grams, which is an extremely powerful dose in itself however none of those journeys were as deep and profound as this one. Preparation I developed a method for consumption which I religiously do each time I use this medicine. I mix raw, melted cacao with a superfood paste to create an organic, raw product. This time, I mixed the grounded mushroom with a Goji paste to make a raw superfood patty. With a double boiler, at a low temperature, I melt down the cacao then distribute it along with the patty into a custom mold which leaves a beautiful Metatron cube print on the finishing chocolate. Set & Setting After we made the chocolates, we head over to Z's friends estate. The house was a spectacular display to say the least. A legitimate museum of invaluable keepsakes. There were ancient relics and artifacts, abstract art, archaic weapons from around the world, beautiful pieces of furniture, all types of unique novelties, 3D models of sacred geometry, huge crystals and elements from nature all through the manor. The ambience had a very eastern yet modern feel about it. The Fengshui was extraordinary. It was complete with a large pasture and barn in the backyard which had horses roaming around. The set and setting was warm, picturesque, and beyond adequate. Once we settled down, we set our intentions and ate half of the chocolate. We then took a walk through the backyard into the forest which was joined by a gate from the property. As we were walking, the medicine started to set in. The lush trail of plants, roots and vines started to gently morph within the naturalistic environment. The onset came on pretty abrupt so before we got lost in the swiveling vines, we set course back to the manor. Once back, we sat down to smoke a joint where things started to get interesting. Our reference of time was so warped that the whole experience felt like it did not happened chronologically but more so happened as one juncture with various points of experiences. I will do my best to piece together what seemed like an infinite moment. Our only grounding device was a voice recorder that was keeping track of earth time. This was our compass back home. The Voyage As the medicine was setting in I played Global Drum Project (a percussionist group) on the surround sound to help guide our consciousness. The medicine was starting to take over and at this point all we could do was lay on the carpet and let the music take us away. It wasn't long before I started transfiguring. It felt so effortless to let go of all tension and physical bounding and shift into a higher frequency. Within seconds my being became infinite in all directions. I was no longer a definition of my physical environment. Everything that I knew on a mundane level was completely stripped away. The pixels of this 3rd dimension were unraveling at an unfathomable rate. The node of my egoic mind was only but a droplet of consciousness in an everlasting kingdom of infinite existence. Nothing made sense in practical human terms yet it all made sense in the grand scheme of things. I eventually entered into this space-void which was extremely expansive. It felt like an endless tesseract-temple made out of photonic information. This dimension had an eccentric soundscape to it. I translated the carrier waves as deep woousz, sharp electromagnetic waves and metallic clicks. There was no musical pattern or tempo to it, just modulated vibrations from another plane of existence. After catapulting through multiple realms, I came across a sacred mothefeminine presence that brought me into her awareness. It was a comforting entity and soothing experience. As I continued to flow in this space-void, I encountered these other peculiar entities that gave off a copacetic energy as we greeted each other. They emitted a curious vibe with good intentions. They were conveying a message that I interpreted along the lines of "Whats up my lower dimensional friend, you're a funny looking one". Its form was partially tangible to my senses yet I could make out a whimsical harlequin that was continuously absorbing then exerting its own energy in a torus style vacuum. After these encounters I had to get up and gather some composure. The house felt like a hyper dimensional space ship traveling at light speed hitting turbulence. Time and space were completely distorted and the qubit units of the physical realm were all mesh together beyond the point of recognition. The environment was a soup of colors, shapes and sounds. It got pretty rough and for some time I was staggering around like a drunken space pirate. Z and I decided to eat another quarter and walk outside to get some fresh air and catch the sunset. It was an awe-inspiring view; the milky pink sky was swaying away as we gazed into the horizon. It was such an overwhelming moment that we got on our knees and eventually laid face down on the soft pasture. My very essence dissolved into the soil and melded with the benevolent spirit of mother nature. It was as if I was communicating with every aspect of the organic world at once: plants, beasts, birds, fish, insects, water and land. It was a healing and solemn moment as I felt my heart-space expand immensely As we got up, Z took me over by the barn where he retrieved two 24k, gold plated pyramidal structures constructed for meditational purposes. We brought them back to the house to mediate under later in the night. The Trial For Sanity As the 3rd quarter of the chocolate started to gain its effects on us, Z was starting to have the infamous bad trip. Z was an experienced psychonaut who has used various plant medicines before however he must have underestimated the power of this strain of mushroom. He called his brother to talk and could hardly piece words together as he was trying to describe what he did last night. I could tell his brother was getting a kick out of it. I was signaling to hang up the phone to focus back on our reality. At this point Z had to purge and went to the bathroom to do so. The medicine was hitting hard and Z wanted to find an escape. At this point we were so deep in the abyss there was no telling if we'd ever find our way back to our normal ways of human existence. Our sanity was put on trial. The subjective world of anthropological ideas and concepts we once knew were only a vague remembrance of our old identities. We were two pioneers stranded on a multidimensional island in the ocean of the cosmos, struggling to grasp the conditions we were subject to. This was complete ego death. Z wanted to grab my amethyst crystal I brought and smash the glass table in the lounge quarters to anchor himself back to human reality. I was doing my best to comfort him out of the bad trip letting him know he is the controller of his experience; to tap into his warrior spirit and take control of his thoughts. He really wanted to end it all but I told him that he must give into the moment and allow each frame of the experience to pass. After he got over his bad trip I suggested that we take the last quarter and go back outside to smoke another joint. We weren't expecting what happened next. Man vs Wild As Z approached the sliding glass door, a family of raccoons precariously came up looking for food. I thought the scene was entertaining and attempted to feed the raccoons a banana. Z quickly talked me out of that idea, which was probably best. The last thing we needed in our state of mind was a family of rabid raccoons taking over the house and attacking us. So we were stuck inside for some bit. Once the raccoons left. I had the urge to go outside again. I grabbed a huge dagger to fend off the raccoons and went to the screened-in patio. A rush of excitement jolted over me as I was about to go out into the wild. There was a huge sense of liberation in this act of breaking free from that fear based state regardless of the potential dangers that entailed. Z wasn't all too receptive with this idea and we joked around about Murphy's law. Z said he'd rather not go outside as it poses physical dangers and risks. He stated it was a Jewish thing. As Z was watching me venture off into the outback safely from the patio, he bumps into a cabinet and almost knocked over some expensive antiquities. He relays his revelation that maybe it was safer outside. We both laugh at the paradoxical episode as he joined me. Revelations We smoked some herb then brought the 24k gold pyramidal structures in the backyard to mediate in. I felt a strong grounding while under the gold pyramid. Images of sacred geometry flashed in my minds eye. After the meditation, we went out into the pasture as the moon was setting in between two palm trees. We started to philosophize about how everything in existence are just particles of the God source with their individual points of reference, experiencing itself unto itself. The fact we were existing so independently yet so connected at the most fundamental core was an epiphany beyond any linguistic expression. No words could describe that absolute moment where two sentient beings comprehended each other synchronically as one. It was a communion of all that is experiencing itself from different subjecting points in our expressive existence. While outside, Z taught me some tai chi which helped me understand how energy could get stuck inside you. I was circulating my stuck energy with movement and intention as he taught me different techniques. After our tai chi session, we went back inside the manor where we found the most amazing invention... The water bed. I laid down and just drifted back into infinity as subtle thoughts arose. I came to realize that regardless of where your at in the world, despite what class, race, or culture you stem from, we all share the same constitutional experiences. Do away with the labels and all thats left is raw emotion. The highs and lows the stock broker on wall street experiences are the same highs and same lows as the indigenous child in the amazon jungle experiences. We all draw from the same life force no matter what physical facade you cover it with. The Descent The medicine was finally wearing off. There was a sense of solace that came over Z and I. We gambled our sanity, wandered to the deepest corridors of our minds and conquered the heroic trial of the psilocybian mushroom all while integrating revelations, alternate realities and a sacred communion with all that is. Epilogue It has now been 3 days since that exhaustive journey and I feel so content with all elements of life. I feel whole and connected. Understanding and tolerant. Appreciative and knowledgable. I am no longer confined by the dogmas of incomplete concepts construed by my mind that tell me "This is the [apparent] reality". I know there is only one ultimate reality that each of us attempts to interpret the best we can. I feel a transparent communion with the creator of all that is and I tribute these marvelous epiphanies to the use of plant medicines. With that notion said, I endorse any individual interested in altering their consciousness [with the right intention] through the use of plant medicines to aid in a better understanding of what their existence is all about. -Ovi
A Droplet of Consciousness in a Kingdom of Infinite Existence. (LEVEL 5 TRIP REPORT)
A Heroic Tale of Two Psychonauts and the Psilocybin Sage. Preface The date was May 24th, 2015. My good friend Z had called me in the morning and proposed the idea of taking medicinal mushrooms... Not just any but one of the strongest strains known to man, the famous Penis Envies (PE). I have already acquainted myself with this prized strain of mushroom earlier this year so I knew what I was getting myself into. After debating for a short time, we decided to take a full 3 grams each. A dose I was longing to do. Most of my journeys have been accompanied by 2-2.5 grams, which is an extremely powerful dose in itself however none of those journeys were as deep and profound as this one. Preparation I developed a method for consumption which I religiously do each time I use this medicine. I mix raw, melted cacao with a superfood paste to create an organic, raw product. This time, I mixed the grounded mushroom with a Goji paste to make a raw superfood patty. With a double boiler, at a low temperature, I melt down the cacao then distribute it along with the patty into a custom mold which leaves a beautiful Metatron cube print on the finishing chocolate. Set & Setting After we made the chocolates, we head over to Z's friends estate. The house was a spectacular display to say the least. A legitimate museum of invaluable keepsakes. There were ancient relics and artifacts, abstract art, archaic weapons from around the world, beautiful pieces of furniture, all types of unique novelties, 3D models of sacred geometry, huge crystals and elements from nature all through the manor. The ambience had a very eastern yet modern feel about it. The Fengshui was extraordinary. It was complete with a large pasture and barn in the backyard which had horses roaming around. The set and setting was warm, picturesque, and beyond adequate. Once we settled down, we set our intentions and ate half of the chocolate. We then took a walk through the backyard into the forest which was joined by a gate from the property. As we were walking, the medicine started to set in. The lush trail of plants, roots and vines started to gently morph within the naturalistic environment. The onset came on pretty abrupt so before we got lost in the swiveling vines, we set course back to the manor. Once back, we sat down to smoke a joint where things started to get interesting. Our reference of time was so warped that the whole experience felt like it did not happened chronologically but more so happened as one juncture with various points of experiences. I will do my best to piece together what seemed like an infinite moment. Our only grounding device was a voice recorder that was keeping track of earth time. This was our compass back home. The Voyage As the medicine was setting in I played Global Drum Project (a percussionist group) on the surround sound to help guide our consciousness. The medicine was starting to take over and at this point all we could do was lay on the carpet and let the music take us away. It wasn't long before I started transfiguring. It felt so effortless to let go of all tension and physical bounding and shift into a higher frequency. Within seconds my being became infinite in all directions. I was no longer a definition of my physical environment. Everything that I knew on a mundane level was completely stripped away. The pixels of this 3rd dimension were unraveling at an unfathomable rate. The node of my egoic mind was only but a droplet of consciousness in an everlasting kingdom of infinite existence. Nothing made sense in practical human terms yet it all made sense in the grand scheme of things. I eventually entered into this space-void which was extremely expansive. It felt like an endless tesseract-temple made out of photonic information. This dimension had an eccentric soundscape to it. I translated the carrier waves as deep woousz, sharp electromagnetic waves and metallic clicks. There was no musical pattern or tempo to it, just modulated vibrations from another plane of existence. After catapulting through multiple realms, I came across a sacred mothefeminine presence that brought me into her awareness. It was a comforting entity and soothing experience. As I continued to flow in this space-void, I encountered these other peculiar entities that gave off a copacetic energy as we greeted each other. They emitted a curious vibe with good intentions. They were conveying a message that I interpreted along the lines of "Whats up my lower dimensional friend, you're a funny looking one". Its form was partially tangible to my senses yet I could make out a whimsical harlequin that was continuously absorbing then exerting its own energy in a torus style vacuum. After these encounters I had to get up and gather some composure. The house felt like a hyper dimensional space ship traveling at light speed hitting turbulence. Time and space were completely distorted and the qubit units of the physical realm were all mesh together beyond the point of recognition. The environment was a soup of colors, shapes and sounds. It got pretty rough and for some time I was staggering around like a drunken space pirate. Z and I decided to eat another quarter and walk outside to get some fresh air and catch the sunset. It was an awe-inspiring view; the milky pink sky was swaying away as we gazed into the horizon. It was such an overwhelming moment that we got on our knees and eventually laid face down on the soft pasture. My very essence dissolved into the soil and melded with the benevolent spirit of mother nature. It was as if I was communicating with every aspect of the organic world at once: plants, beasts, birds, fish, insects, water and land. It was a healing and solemn moment as I felt my heart-space expand immensely As we got up, Z took me over by the barn where he retrieved two 24k, gold plated pyramidal structures constructed for meditational purposes. We brought them back to the house to mediate under later in the night. The Trial For Sanity As the 3rd quarter of the chocolate started to gain its effects on us, Z was starting to have the infamous bad trip. Z was an experienced psychonaut who has used various plant medicines before however he must have underestimated the power of this strain of mushroom. He called his brother to talk and could hardly piece words together as he was trying to describe what he did last night. I could tell his brother was getting a kick out of it. I was signaling to hang up the phone to focus back on our reality. At this point Z had to purge and went to the bathroom to do so. The medicine was hitting hard and Z wanted to find an escape. At this point we were so deep in the abyss there was no telling if we'd ever find our way back to our normal ways of human existence. Our sanity was put on trial. The subjective world of anthropological ideas and concepts we once knew were only a vague remembrance of our old identities. We were two pioneers stranded on a multidimensional island in the ocean of the cosmos, struggling to grasp the conditions we were subject to... This was complete ego death. Z wanted to grab my amethyst crystal I had brought and smash the glass table in the lounge quarters to anchor himself back to human reality. I was doing my best to comfort him out of the bad trip letting him know he is the controller of his experience; to tap into his warrior spirit and take control of his thoughts. He really wanted to end it all but I told him that he must give into the moment and allow each frame of the experience to pass. After he got over his bad trip I suggested that we take the last quarter and go back outside to smoke another joint. We weren't expecting what happened next. Man vs Wild As Z approached the sliding glass door, a family of raccoons precariously came up looking for food. I thought the scene was entertaining and attempted to feed the raccoons a banana. Z quickly talked me out of that idea, which was probably best. The last thing we needed in our state of mind was a family of rabid raccoons taking over the house and attacking us. So we were stuck inside for some bit. Once the raccoons left. I had the urge to go outside again. I grabbed a huge dagger to fend off the raccoons and went to the screened-in patio. A rush of excitement jolted over me as I was about to go out into the wild. There was a huge sense of liberation in this act of breaking free from that fear based state of mind, regardless of the potential dangers that entailed. Z wasn't all too receptive with this idea and we joked around about Murphy's law. Z said he'd rather not go outside as it poses physical dangers and risks. He stated it was a Jewish thing. As Z was watching me venture off into the outback safely from the patio, he bumps into a cabinet and almost knocked over some expensive antiquities. He relays his revelation that maybe it was safer outside. We both laugh at the paradoxical episode as he joined me. Revelations We smoked some herb then brought the 24k gold pyramidal structures in the backyard to mediate in. I felt a strong grounding while under the gold pyramid. Images of sacred geometry flashed in my minds eye. After the meditation, we went out into the pasture as the moon was setting in between two palm trees. We started to philosophize about how everything in existence are just particles of the God source with their individual points of reference, experiencing itself unto itself. The fact we were existing so independently yet so connected at the most fundamental core was an epiphany beyond any linguistic expression. No words could describe that absolute moment where two sentient beings comprehended each other synchronically as one. It was a communion of all that is experiencing itself from different subjecting points in our expressive existence. While outside, Z taught me some tai chi which helped me understand how energy could get stuck inside you. I was circulating my stuck energy with movement and intention as he taught me different techniques. After our tai chi session, we went back inside the manor where we found the most amazing invention... The water bed. I laid down and just drifted back into infinity as subtle thoughts arose. I came to realize that regardless of where your at in the world, despite what class, race, or culture you stem from, we all share the same constitutional experiences. Do away with the labels and all thats left is raw emotion. The highs and lows the stock broker on wall street experiences are the same highs and same lows as the indigenous child in the amazon jungle experiences. We all draw from the same life force no matter what physical facade you cover it with. The Descent The medicine was finally wearing off. There was a sense of solace that came over Z and I. We gambled our sanity, wandered to the deepest corridors of our minds and conquered the heroic trial of the psilocybian mushroom all while integrating revelations, alternate realities and a sacred communion with all that is. Epilogue It has now been 3 days since that exhaustive journey and I feel so content with all elements of life. I feel whole and connected. Understanding and tolerant. Appreciative and knowledgable. I am no longer confined by the dogmas of incomplete concepts construed by my mind that tell me "This is the [apparent] reality". I know there is only one ultimate reality that each of us attempts to interpret the best we can. I feel a transparent communion with the creator of all that is and I tribute these marvelous epiphanies to the use of plant medicines. With that notion said, I endorse any individual interested in altering their consciousness [with the right intention] through the use of plant medicines to aid in a better understanding of what their existence is all about. -Stephen Overton
On May 10, 2015 my wife scheduled a surprise for my birthday, which was on May 3. Although I did my best to guess what it was, I was in for a major surprise. I figured we were going for a couple’s massage or the Cirque De Soleil show. Instead we were headed towards Bowness and ended up at a store called, The Light Cellar. She said surprise, “We are going to learn about and make chocolates”. I was very surprised and there was no way of guessing what we were going to do. As we walked upstairs we were a part of a class which had about 24 people. Most people who attend have been to The Light Cellar on many occasions and knew the TeacheOwner, Malcolm Saunders. The Class As the class began, Malcolm went through his experience with food and, of course, chocolate. As he began to tell his story I listened to him from 2 perspectives, 1st to learn and enjoy the experience and 2nd to learn on how my wife, Lien, and I could use what we were learning as a business idea. Malcolm covered how he traveled to different countries and learning about the Cacao Bean and other raw and super foods. He mentioned one experience when he was driving down the rural roads in Costa Rica and seeing rows and rows of Cacao (kaa cow) beans being harvested. As the class went on, he passed around different items so we could also touch, taste and experience what we were learning about. We tasted Cacao Butter, the Cacao Bean from Ecuador and Bali, different types of natural sugars and different berries. He explained the different health benefits of Cacao and Cacao Butter and how the Cacao Bean went from the tree to the bag on the shelf. Malcolm gave facts about Cacao. Example, how the butter which is typically a by product in the process went to the cosmetic industry and how the Cacao Bean was used as a currency before the Peso was introduced. Malcolm sited a few books that lent credibility to the information he was teaching by using books by David Wolfe as a resource. He also gave us some history on commercial chocolate vs. raw food chocolate. My Experience As the introductions part of the class come to an end and it became time for us to become the, “Chocolate Alchemist” as Malcolm calls it. We used only raw, organic and super foods as a part of our ingredients. All though we were to make only one batch of chocolates, I asked Malcolm if I could borrow one of his molds. I started with my base chocolate ingredients which was Cacao Butter, Cacao power, Vanilla Bean and Lucuma, as a sweetener. Then poured a small about into the first mold. I then add another ingredient, mixed that in to my base of 4 ingredients, and poured the new mix in to the mold. My Creations I did this another 8 times where I would keep adding ingredients. In the end I added Honey, Cherries, Coconut shreds, Goji Berries, Mulberries, Cinnamon, A combinations of Rose petals, Ginseng, Chaga, Peppermint extract and of course Cheyenne pepper. I love my spice and I was in the zone. Every time I added a flavor I would taste it, then decided if I needed to add more of the same or add another ingredient before I added that to the mold. I practiced layering my flavors even more. I would only pour chocolate in half the single mold and then add a flavor in the middle and then add a new chocolate flavor on top. Wanting to make my own chocolates, something that would be different, then everyone else in the class was my goal. After we had a chance to finish with our chocolates and put them in the fridge to set, Malcolm brought the class back together, to learn how to make Fudge and Almond Milk. The fudge was awesome and the milk was very good. He made it right in front of us and it only took a few minutes. Lien looked at me and said, “We are making Almond Milk at home from now on. We are not buying that store bought, packaged, full of preservative stuff anymore.” And what do you say to your wife guys? Sure babe. After the Class When the class finished, the 3 hours passed quickly. It only felt like we were there for 90 minutes. During and after the class people asked questions to find out more about the process of making chocolate, ingredients and shelf life. When the class was done, we make our way to the main level. This gave us a chance to browse the vast selection of items offered. Many people made a purchase so they could make chocolate at home. They have a wide variety of natural, organic, raw and superfoods to choose from. Summary If you live in or visit Calgary, and want to know a healthy community story to visit I would recommend, The Light Cellar. I do not make money to promote The Light Cellar and am not paid to say this. I am saying this based on my personal experience, and the experience of my wife, with the friendly and knowledgeable staff. They take great pride in help you and answering questions you might have. If you are looking to purchase items they have a great selection and of course you can purchase tea, elixirs and Chocolate’s they make in house. In Closing Did you enjoy this article? Please share this on your favorite social media platform and leave a comment. Let readers know what you liked best. If you would like updates by email, when the next article comes out, sign up for the email updates. If you are not able to visit Calgary, you can purchase cacao by following the link provided so you can make your own chocolate at home. Each book purchased from Amazon allow us to use the proceeds to build and grow DYLT. Thank you for your continued support.
A Droplet of Consciousness in a Kingdom of Infinite Existence.
A heroic tale of two psychonauts and the psilocybin sage. (HERO DOSE) Preface The date was May 24th, 2015. My good friend Z had called me in the morning and proposed the idea of taking medicinal mushrooms... Not just any but one of the strongest strains known to man, the famous Penis Envies (PE). I have already acquainted myself with this prized strain of mushroom earlier this year so I knew what I was getting myself into. After debating for a short time, we decided to take a full 3 grams each. A dose I was longing to do. Most of my journeys have been accompanied by 2-2.5 grams, which is an extremely powerful dose in itself however none of those journeys were as deep and profound as this one. Preparation I developed a method for consumption which I religiously do each time I use this medicine. I mix raw, melted cacao with a superfood paste to create an organic, raw product. This time, I mixed the grounded mushroom with a Goji paste to make a raw superfood patty. With a double boiler, at a low temperature, I melt down the cacao then distribute it along with the patty into a custom mold which leaves a beautiful Metatron cube print on the finishing chocolate. Set & Setting After we made the chocolates, we head over to Z's friends estate. The house was a spectacular display to say the least. A legitimate museum of invaluable keepsakes. There were ancient relics and artifacts, abstract art, archaic weapons from around the world, beautiful pieces of furniture, all types of unique novelties, 3D models of sacred geometry, huge crystals and elements from nature all through the manor. The ambience had a very eastern yet modern feel about it. The Fengshui was extraordinary. It was complete with a large pasture and barn in the backyard which had horses roaming around. The set and setting was warm, picturesque, and beyond adequate. Once we settled down, we set our intentions and ate half of the chocolate. We then took a walk through the backyard into the forest which was joined by a gate from the property. As we were walking, the medicine started to set in. The lush trail of plants, roots and vines started to gently morph within the naturalistic environment. The onset came on pretty abrupt so before we got lost in the swiveling vines, we set course back to the manor. Once back, we sat down to smoke a joint where things started to get interesting. Our reference of time was so warped that the whole experience felt like it did not happened chronologically but more so happened as one juncture with various points of experiences. I will do my best to piece together what seemed like an infinite moment. Our only grounding device was a voice recorder that was keeping track of earth time. This was our compass back home. The Voyage As the medicine was setting in I played Global Drum Project (a percussionist group) on the surround sound to help guide our consciousness. The medicine was starting to take over and at this point all we could do was lay on the carpet and let the music take us away. It wasn't long before I started transfiguring. It felt so effortless to let go of all tension and physical bounding and shift into a higher frequency. Within seconds my being became infinite in all directions. I was no longer a definition of my physical environment. Everything that I knew on a mundane level was completely stripped away. The pixels of this 3rd dimension were unraveling at an unfathomable rate. The node of my egoic mind was only but a droplet of consciousness in an everlasting kingdom of infinite existence. Nothing made sense in practical human terms yet it all made sense in the grand scheme of things. I eventually entered into this space-void which was extremely expansive. It felt like an endless tesseract-temple made out of photonic information. This dimension had an eccentric soundscape to it. I translated the carrier waves as deep woousz, sharp electromagnetic waves and metallic clicks. There was no musical pattern or tempo to it, just modulated vibrations from another plane of existence. After catapulting through multiple realms, I came across a sacred mothefeminine presence that brought me into her awareness. It was a comforting entity and soothing experience. As I continued to flow in this space-void, I encountered these other peculiar entities that gave off a copacetic energy as we greeted each other. They emitted a curious vibe with good intentions. They were conveying a message that I interpreted along the lines of "Whats up my lower dimensional friend, your a funny looking one". Its form was partially tangible to my senses yet I could make out a whimsical harlequin that was continuously absorbing then exerting its own energy in a torus style vacuum. After these encounters I had to get up and gather some composure. The house felt like a hyper dimensional space ship traveling at light speed hitting turbulence. Time and space were completely distorted and the qubit units of the physical realm were all mesh together beyond the point of recognition. The environment was a soup of colors, shapes and sounds. It got pretty rough and for some time I was staggering around like a drunken space pirate. Z and I decided to eat another quarter and walk outside to get some fresh air and catch the sunset. It was an awe-inspiring view; the milky pink sky was swaying away as we gazed into the horizon. It was such an overwhelming moment that we got on our knees and eventually laid face down on the soft pasture. My very essence dissolved into the soil and melded with the benevolent spirit of mother nature. It was as if I was communicating with every aspect of the organic world at once: plants, beasts, birds, fish, insects, water and land. It was a healing and solemn moment as I felt my heart-space expand immensely As we got up, Z took me over by the barn where he retrieved two 24k, gold plated pyramidal structures constructed for meditational purposes. We brought them back to the house to mediate under later in the night. The Trial For Sanity As the 3rd quarter of the chocolate started to gain its effects on us, Z was starting to have the infamous bad trip. Z was an experienced psychonaut who has used various plant medicines before however he must have underestimated the power of this strain of mushroom. He called his brother to talk and could hardly piece words together as he was trying to describe what he did last night. I could tell his brother was getting a kick out of it. I was signaling to hang up the phone to focus back on our reality. At this point Z had to purge and went to the bathroom to do so. The medicine was hitting hard and Z wanted to find an escape. At this point we were so deep in the abyss there was no telling if we'd ever find our way back to our normal ways of human existence. Our sanity was put on trial. The subjective world of anthropological ideas and concepts we once knew were only a vague remembrance of our old identities. We were two pioneers stranded on a multidimensional island in the ocean of the cosmos, struggling to grasp the conditions we were subject to. This was complete ego death. Z wanted to grab my amethyst crystal I brought and smash the glass table in the lounge quarters to anchor himself back to human reality. I was doing my best to comfort him out of the bad trip letting him know he is the controller of his experience; to tap into his warrior spirit and take control of his thoughts. He really wanted to end it all but I told him that he must give into the moment and allow each frame of the experience to pass. After he got over his bad trip I suggested that we take the last quarter and go back outside to smoke another joint. We weren't expecting what happened next. Man vs Wild As Z approached the sliding glass door, a family of raccoons precariously came up looking for food. I thought the scene was entertaining and attempted to feed the raccoons a banana. Z quickly talked me out of that idea, which was probably best. The last thing we needed in our state of mind was a family of rabid raccoons taking over the house and attacking us. So we were stuck inside for some bit. Once the raccoons left. I had the urge to go outside again. I grabbed a huge dagger to fend off the raccoons and went to the screened-in patio. A rush of excitement jolted over me as I was about to go out into the wild. There was a huge sense of liberation in this act of breaking free from that fear based state regardless of the potential dangers that entailed. Z wasn't all too receptive with this idea and we joked around about Murphy's law. Z said he'd rather not go outside as it poses physical dangers and risks. He stated it was a Jewish thing. As Z was watching me venture off into the outback safely from the patio, he bumps into a cabinet and almost knocked over some expensive antiquities. He relays his revelation that maybe it was safer outside. We both laugh at the paradoxical episode as he joined me. Revelations We smoked some herb then brought the 24k gold pyramidal structures in the backyard to mediate in. I felt a strong grounding while under the gold pyramid. Images of sacred geometry flashed in my minds eye. After the meditation, we went out into the pasture as the moon was setting in between two palm trees. We started to philosophize about how everything in existence are just particles of the God source with their individual points of reference, experiencing itself unto itself. The fact we were existing so independently yet so connected at the most fundamental core was an epiphany beyond any linguistic expression. No words could describe that absolute moment where two sentient beings comprehended each other synchronically as one. It was a communion of all that is experiencing itself from different subjecting points in our expressive existence. While outside, Z taught me some tai chi which helped me understand how energy could get stuck inside you. I was circulating my stuck energy with movement and intention as he taught me different techniques. After our tai chi session, we went back inside the manor where we found the most amazing invention... The water bed. I laid down and just drifted back into infinity as subtle thoughts arose. I came to realize that regardless of where your at in the world, despite what class, race, or culture you stem from, we all share the same constitutional experiences. Do away with the labels and all thats left is raw emotion. The highs and lows the stock broker on wall street experiences are the same highs and same lows as the indigenous child in the amazon jungle experiences. We all draw from the same life force no matter what physical facade you cover it with. The Descent The medicine was finally wearing off. There was a sense of solace that came over Z and I. We gambled our sanity, wandered to the deepest corridors of our minds and conquered the heroic trial of the psilocybian mushroom all while integrating revelations, alternate realities and a sacred communion with all that is. Epilogue It has now been 3 days since that exhaustive journey and I feel so content with all elements of life. I feel whole and connected. Understanding and tolerant. Appreciative and knowledgable. I am no longer confined by the dogmas of incomplete concepts construed by my mind that tell me "This is the [apparent] reality". I know there is only one ultimate reality that each of us attempts to interpret the best we can. I feel a transparent communion with the creator of all that is and I tribute these marvelous epiphanies to the use of plant medicines. With that notion said, I endorse any individual interested in altering their consciousness [with the right intention] through the use of plant medicines to aid in a better understanding of what their existence is all about. -Ovi
Cacao, (Theobroma cacao), also called cocoa, tropical evergreen tree (family Malvaceae) grown for its edible seeds, whose scientific name means “food of the gods” in Greek. Native to lowland rainforests of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins, cacao is grown commercially in the New World tropics as well as western Africa and tropical Asia. Cacao Tree Facts and Chocolate Facts with Statistics ... The Upper Amazon hybrid cacao trees are known for producing the most fruit at the earliest age. How many flowers does one cacao tree have? One cacao tree can produce over 6,000 flowers in a year. 2. The cacao tree grows to be about 30 feet tall bearing white flowers and colorful fruit. 3. It takes a cacao tree about five years to produce its first fruit, otherwise known as a cacao pod. 4. The cacao pod has a hard shell, is shaped like a bloated cucumber, and is usually red, yellow, or orange. 5. Chocolate is a staple in most households, but not everyone knows that Cacao undergoes a long journey from the tree to the finished product. Cacao nibs are an increasingly popular "superfood" that consist of pieces of the cacao bean that have been fermented, dried, and roasted. cacao nibs aren't exactly sweet, as no sugar has been added, but they are packed with natural chocolatey flavor and ... Cacao trees grow in the Amazon Basic, Orinoco River Basin, Ghana, Philippines, Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Ecuador, Togo and a few Caribbean islands. The cacao tree grows to 10-30 feet in height and bears fruits four years after planting. The fruits of the cacao tree are called cacao pods. The Cacao Tree is a shade tolerant, moisture loving, understory rainforest tree. It naturally favors riparian zones so often in the wild is found along rivers. The trees live for up to 100 years, but cultivated trees are considered economically productive for only about 60 years. A small tree native to the Amazon Basin, the cacao tree grows throughout the tropics, mostly in Africa. The fleshy fruit of the cacao tree contains brown seeds called cacao. Fermenting and ... The cacao tree is native to South America and Central America. Let’s find out more interesting facts about cacao trees below: Facts about Cacao Trees 1:the cacao beans. The people grow cacao trees because they want to get the cacao beans. They can be used to produce chocolate, coco powder and cacao mass. Facts about Cacao Trees 2: the leaves ... The great Amazon Rainforest is located in South America and covers most of the Amazon Basin. This Basin covers 1.7 billion acres and 1.4 of it, is where the Amazon Rainforest lives and grows. The Amazon Rainforest covers parts of Columbia, Peru, Brazil and Ecuador. Facts about Cacao 3: before the conquest of Spain. Before Spanish conquered Mesoamerica, the common currency in the region was cacao beans. Facts about Cacao 4: the crops of cacao trees. Today, West Africa occupies 70 percent of the cacao trees in the world. Not all areas in the world can grow cacao trees.
25 Facts About the AMAZON RAINFOREST 25 FACTS - YouTube
Grab an umbrella and some bug spray because we're about to forage for 25 abundant facts about THE AMAZON RAINFOREST!Tune in each week for 25 crazy, cool, epi... 10 Mind Blowing Facts About The Amazon RainforestHave a suggestion for a future video?Leave a comment or send us a tweet!Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/Bra... http://www.paucarina.com - Tours in Iquitos and Loreto Region on Amazon River Cacao / Chocolate Tree: There are three main cultivar groups of cacao beans use... Made by Harry Steele This video gives you information about:0:25 Amazon's Location0:52 Sections of the rainforest (Emergent layer, Canopy layer, Lowerstory l... How one murder changed the fate of the Amazon.This is Part 2 of Vox Atlas: The Amazon, a three-part series about the world's largest rainforest, why it's in ... This short from Dan Childs and Nick Werber beautifully captures the way one community is learning to live in balance with their environment. For decades the ... Why Do We Need Trees? Watch facts about trees herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_KMN8532coDo you know Interesting Facts About Nature. Why Do We Need Trees... BigTree Farms in Bali presents the worlds only true raw cacao Butter and powder. Presented by Ben Ripple organic Farmer and founder of Big Tree Farms.To orde... A quick video on making chocolate homemade from scratch. I show the cacao tree, cacao pods, fermented beans, nibs and the final process in making chocolate. ... In this episode of How To Make Everything: Chocolate, Andy travels to Chiapas, Mexico where he plants a cacao tree and harvests it's fruit.Learn more about s...
