From the The Universal Household Assistant or What Every One Should Know (1884), posted for xhappyx:

Headache — new remedy for. — A new remedy for headache has been found by Dr. Haley, an Australian physician, who says that for some years past he has found minimum doses of iodine of potassium of great service in frontal headache; that is, a heavy, dull headache, situated over the brow, and accompanied by languor, chilliness, and a feeling of general discomfort, with distaste for food, which sometimes approaches to nausea, can be completely removed by a two-grain dose dissolved in half a wineglassful of water, and this quietly sipped, the whole quantity being taken in about ten minutes. In many cases, he adds, the effect of these small doses has been simply wonderful, as, for instance, a person, who a quarter of an hour ago was feeling most miserable, and refused all food, wishing only for quietness, would now take a good meal and resume his wonted cheerfulness.    Headache and Cold Feet. — There are many who suffer from headaches and cold feet. If they would plunge their feet in cold water every morning, and use the flesh-brush every night, it would relieve them both.    Headache — several cures for. — 1. Coarse brown paper soaked in vinegar and placed on the forehead is good for a sick headache. If the eyelids are gently bathed in cold water the pain in the head is generally allayed.    2. In Potosi the most violent headaches, so very common there, are cured by putting the feet in hot water.    3. A mixture of ice and salt in proportion of one to one-half, applied to the head, frequently gives instant relief from acute headache. It should be tied up in a small linen cloth, like a pad, and held as near as possible to the seat of the pain.    4. We have known some extreme cases of headache cured in half an hour by taking a teaspoonful of finely powdered charcoal in half a tumbler of water. It is an innocent yet powerful alkali.    5. For sick-headache, take a tumbler two-thirds full of finely crushed ice, the juice of one lemon, and one teacupful of white sugar. The mixture, eaten by degrees, or all at once, will allay the feverish thirst, and quiet the disturbed, qualmish stomach, as it is not sweet enough to be nauseous.    6. Sick headache can often be greatly relieved, and sometimes entirely cured, by the application of a mustard plaster at the base of the neck. The plaster should not be kept on more than a quarter of an hour.    Headache (Billious) — cure for. — Dissolve and drink two teaspoonfuls of finely-powdered charcoal in half a tumbler of water; it will relieve in fifteen minutes. Take a seidlitz powder an hour afterward.    Headache (Nervous) — relief for. — Many persons find speedy relief for nervous headache by washing the hair thoroughly in weak soda water. I have known severe cases almost wholly cured in ten minutes by this simple remedy. A friend finds it the greatest relief in cases of "rare cold," the cold symptoms entirely leaving the eyes and nose after one thorough washing of the hair. The head should be thoroughly dried afterward, and avoid draughts of air for a little while.

I was just at the Fox News website. One of the story teasers (second story, directly below Falwell's death) read:

Hard Time at Gitmo Detainee cries 'torture,' says he was forced to use unscented deodorant and read newsletter full of 'crap'

If one clicks the link and reads the article, it does mention that the source for the story, a transcript of Majid Khan's military hearing, was "redacted" (in other words, parts that would not be in the best interest of the United States military were deleted). Buried deep into the article we also find this:

Ali Shoukat Khan said his son [Majid Khan] was kidnapped in Pakistan and that there, Americans tortured his son "for eight hours at a time, tying him tightly in stressful positions in a small chair until his hands, feet and mind went numb. ... He was often hooded and had difficulty breathing. They also beat him repeatedly, slapping him in the face, and deprived him of sleep."

"Fair and balanced™" is a joke. And a bad one, at that.

tagged by dan4th (changed wording):

Post 6 odd or weird habits/things/facts about you. Tag 6 people who you'd like to see do the same.

1. I regularly pick up things with my feet.

2. I speak Squirrel. Sometimes squirrels gather around me and random passersby take pictures.

3. I walk around in robes carrying a staff.

4. I do not live my life in chronological order.

5. I buy 5 gallon buckets of pickles for personal consumption.

6. I know a wide variety of obscure facts, but not as many obvious ones.

goldmourn, likeamermaid, purpleglitter, recoiling, vagrant, xhappyx

I was supposed to see dicotomygrrl tonight. Just before she was due to arrive, I received a panicked phonecall from purpleglitter. Dandelion's food was hurt and there was lots of blood. I ran over to purpleglitter's house with my shoes in my hand, not even taking time to put them on until we had already loaded Dandelion in the car and were heading off to Angell Memorial Hospital.

Prior to calling me, purpleglitter had put styptic powder on Dandelion, so the bleeding had stopped. He appeared to be doing well and half way there we questioned if he needed to go, but we decided it was best that he see a vet anyway just in case.

Even in the strange situation, rushed out in the night, Dandelion still did step ups for the attending vet. When the vet asked if he was flighted he took off from his finger as if to say "Of course I can fly".

He got right onto my finger and I scooped him up and handed him to the vet. He is a brave bird. The vet took him in back to the "exotics" ward. Dandelion was a bit shaken when he returned, but I gave him good scritches while the vet looked for Dandelion's records and he calmed down.

He apparently got his toenail caught in something and it broke off. It looks like he'll be alright.

Skye's lead test came back normal, meaning lead exposure is not the cause of her foot paralysis. It seems the two most likely causes now are a tumor or damage done due to possible egg binding. Either way, we'll likely find out tomorrow after her x-rays are done. She'll have to be knocked out for the x-rays, but she should be fine with that as the vet said other than her foot she is in excellent health.

I'm very worried about poor Skye. I don't think anything bad should happen to budgies ever.

Dilly is helping take care of Skye. He is such a good budgie and loves her so. I'm very impressed with him. We all love Skye. Skye is a pretty budgie bird.

Just got back from the vet. Skye has been having trouble using her left foot for the last week or so. The vet said that the foot is not in pain and is not injured. The problem, she said, is nuerological. The two likely causes are a kidney tumor pressing on the nerve or lead exposure. She took a blood test to for lead and the results will be back tomorrow. That seems the most likely cause at this point, and it is also the most treatable. Skye did very good at the vet and remained calm the whole time. I'm very impressed with her.

i've had a good week
haven't had much access to computers, so haven't really been posting
several people have squawked at me for my acid use
but i plan on taking it again if the opportunity arises
this displeases many, but i feel like it is good for me
i always learn so much
and i want to see the universe again
i didn't get to last time because i was to into fixing my brain

-----

skye the budgie came out of the cage for the first time today
she even landed on my head
it is not the first opportunity she's had to fly around though
before we got her, she escaped for four days
she's very lucky she survived in this cold climate

i've had to catch mr. squeaky once a day
he's got a scaly foot problem
i have to put medicine on him once a day
he hates it and bites me a lot
but he's just a little finch so it really doesn't hurt

-----

i'm going to northampton with purpleglitter on Monday
haven't been in years
i'm looking very much forward to it
check out how my old haunts are doing
i don't imagine i'll see anyone i knew from when i lived there
the turnover in the valley is quite high
but it will be an adventure none the less

Much of Mark Twain's work is still quite timely. Written in 1904, but published shortly after his death in 1910, The War Prayer is one of those works. For those of you who haven't read it (and for those of you who want to re-read it), here it is:

The War Prayer by Mark Twain It was a time of great exulting and excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism; the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and sputtering; on every hand and far down the receding and fading spread of roofs and balconies a fluttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun; daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue gay and fine in their new uniforms, the proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion as they swung by; nightly the packed mass meetings listened, panting, to patriot oratory which stirred the deepest depths of their hearts, and which they interrupted at briefest intervals with cyclones of applause, the tears running down their cheeks the while; in the churches the pastors preached devotion to flag and country, and invoked the God of Battles, beseeching His aid in our good cause in outpourings of fervid eloquence which moved every listener. It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast doubt upon its righteousness straight way got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safety's sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more in that way. Sunday morning came – next day the battalions would leave for the front; the church was filled; the volunteers were there, their young faces alight with martial dreams – visions of the stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender! – then home from the war, bronzed heroes, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory! With the volunteers sat their dear ones, proud, happy, and envied by the neighbors and friends who had no sons and brothers to send forth to the field of honor, there to win for the flag, or failing, die the noblest of noble deaths. The service proceeded; a war chapter from the Old Testament was read; the first prayer was said; it was followed by an organ burst that shook the building, and with one impulse the house rose, with glowing eyes and beating hearts, and poured out that tremendous invocation: "God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest, Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!" Then came the "long" prayer. None could remember the like of it for passionate pleading and moving and beautiful language. The burden of its supplication was, that an ever-merciful and benignant Father of us all would watch over our noble young soldiers, and aid, comfort, and encourage them in their patriotic work; bless them, shield them in the day of battle and the hour of peril, bear them in His mighty hand, make them strong and confident, invincible in the bloody onset; help them to crush the foe, grant to them and to their flag and country imperishable honor and glory – An aged stranger entered and moved with slow and noiseless step up the main aisle, his eyes fixed upon the minister, his long body clothed in a robe that reached to his feet, his head bare, his white hair descending in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale, pale even to ghastliness. With all eyes following and wondering, he made his silent way; without pausing, he ascended to the preacher's side and stood there, waiting. With shut lids the preacher, unconscious of his presence, continued his moving prayer, and at last finished it with the words, uttered in fervent appeal, "Bless our arms, grant us victory, O Lord our God, Father and Protector of our land and flag!" The stranger touched his arm, motioned him to step aside – which the startled minister did – and took his place. During some moments he surveyed the spellbound audience with solemn eyes, in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice he said: "I come from the Throne – bearing a message from Almighty God!" The words smote the house with a shock; if the stranger perceived it he gave no attention. "He has heard the prayer of His servant your shepherd, and will grant it if such be your desire after I, His messenger, shall have explained to you its import – that is to say, its full import. For it is like unto many of the prayers of men, in that it asks for more than he who utters it is aware of – except he pause and think. "God's servant and yours has prayed his prayer. Has he paused and taken thought? Is it one prayer? No, it is two – one uttered, the other not. Both have reached the ear of Him Who heareth all supplications, the spoken and the unspoken. Ponder this – keep it in mind. If you would beseech a blessing upon yourself, beware! lest without intent you invoke a curse upon a neighbor at the same time. If you pray for the blessing of rain upon your crop which needs it, by that act you are possibly praying for a curse upon some neighbor's crop which may not need rain and can be injured by it. "You have heard your servant's prayer – the uttered part of it. I am commissioned of God to put into words the other part of it – that part which the pastor – and also you in your hearts – fervently prayed silently. And ignorantly and unthinkingly? God grant that it was so! You heard these words: 'Grant us victory, O Lord our God!' That is sufficient. The whole of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words. Elaborations were not necessary. When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory – must follow it, cannot help but follow it. Upon the listening spirit of God the Father fell also the unspoken part of the prayer. He commandeth me to put it into words. Listen! "O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle – be Thou near them! With them – in spirit – we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with hurricanes of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it – for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen." (After a pause) "Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits." It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.

i'm feeling much better today
yesterday was tough
hours long panic attacks until i took 4mg klonopin and went to sleep
today i'm just relaxing
getting back on my feet
i don't know what caused yesterday's state
actually i kinda do
i just don't want to admit it
so i won't

purpleglitter and I sat down to write a poem together. We each took turns writing a line or two. This is what we came up with:

Salamanders alcoholic salamanders crawling up my spine you might not like the sound of that but the feeling's quite divine they come up from the frothy mud the babes no bigger than a bud their tongues are soft their feet are wet ooh, how sexy can it get? the creatures squirm in mass lay their grease upon my knees, betwixt my thighs oh! what a tease! upon the moss i lay to sleep 'neith the boughs and manders leap i hope to wake among my friends, greeted by their salacious grins

I had coffee with neodarkling at the Diesel Café last night. It's been a long time since I last saw her, and it was nice to catch up with her, as I haven't seen her in some time.

-----

My foot that I twisted before my trip to Plattsburgh is still sore. It was quite sore last night right before my to walk to purpleglitter's apartment. publicoenone insisted that if I walk that I wear more practical shoes (I was wearing platforms). When I told her I didn't have more practical shoes, she gave me a pair of tactical boots designed for SWAT teams. They fit perfectly and are surprisingly comfortable and go well with my pajamas.

I just had a very stoned conversation with my mom (myenergy) on the phone. It was very interesting. I almost said too many things. Things we don't talk about inside. The secret from us. We have to hide. But I want to see it. no. hide. hide.
i want to see it
no hide hide
i want to see it
no hide hide
run
run
run
fast
you don't want to know
who are you
me?
i'm me
really then who am I
well, you're you
it's really quite simple
where were we?
how am i supposed to know?
there's a bus outside
i hear it
i have a foot
no i have two feet
even if i can't see one of them right now
i believe it is there
i can sense it
i believe my senses
for some strange reason
because they often lie to me
at least 1/3 of the time.
maybe i shouldn't believe this
maybe i should ignore it
hmmm...
ow
that hurts
that really hurts
there's a place in my brain that really hurts
i don't like to go there
it is a bad place
it hurts to be near it
it really hurts there
i don't like that place
-----
moving
twisting
i feel like i'm going to vomit
too close
ground
move away
------
anyway
the talk with my mom
was a bit triggery
------
i really should be enjoying this
as i don't know when or where i will obtain more pot
being out really sucks
because i think i'm getting close to letting some things through
maybe i'll run away a bit less next time
learn that i don't need to be afraid of the pain
learn to go into the deep dark place
maybe i can
maybe

strobe light
loud music
turn down
but not off
i saw exploding circles earlier
and posiden
and ritual people in a forest
caring staffs
...
...
...
trauma x
here we are
floating
not thinking so much
purity of thought
moving
...
...
...
i appear to be doing three dots three dots three dots again
...
...
...
will i rebel?
will i slip in an extra dot just to be different?
...
...
...
purity of experience
i love purity of experience
it's just you and i here
hello
...
...
...
how are you?
where do you find yourself now?
why are you here?
...
...
...
what am i doing here?
i'm just sitting here
that is what i am doing
traveling down the page
typing my where somewhere
i'm a bit lost
and don't know where i'm going at the moment
but i'm sure i'll find something interesting
always do
...
...
...
i need to get some acid
pot and the strobe light are one thing
but with acid i think i could break through all this
this
this clutter
meant to distract me
i know
i designed it
i just have to figure out why
but i designed it specifically to hide why
which is very annoying
but i have played this game for many years now
i know how it works
i need some acid
make a few adjustments to the rules
...
...
...
where am i?
in someplace else
i'm not in the outer "reality"
but i'm communicating with it
are you there?
or are you here?
still reading
wondering if i'll rebel
add that forth dot
leave one off
...
...
...
maybe i won't
maybe by not rebelling today i'll be different
i'll rebel by not rebelling
...
...
...
my foot is asleep
i can't move
i am frozen
only my fingers and eyes have movement
everywhere else
i'm frozen
where are the doors
i don't have to move to reach them
i can move the doors toward me instead
...
...
...
good journey