Belgian postcard by P.I.A. Belgaphot, Bruxelles, no. 42. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

 

Marion Davies (1897-1961) was one of the great comedic actresses of the silent era. She starred in nearly four dozen films between 1917 and 1937.

 

Marion Davies was born Marion Cecelia Douras in the borough of Brooklyn, New York in 1897. She had been bitten by the show biz bug early as she watched her sisters perform in local stage productions. She wanted to do the same. As Marion got older, she tried out for various school plays and did fairly well. Once her formal education had ended, Marion began her career as a chorus girl in New York City, first in the Pony Follies and eventually in the famous Ziegfeld Follies. Her stage name came when she and her family passed the Davies Insurance Building. One of her sisters called out "Davies!!! That shall be my stage name," and the whole family took on that name. Marion wanted more than to dance. Acting, to her, was the epitome of show business and she aimed her sights in that direction. She had met newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and went to live with him at his San Simeon castle. They stayed together for over 30 years, while Hearst’s wife Millicent resided in New York. Millicent would not grant him a divorce so that he could marry Davies. San Simeon is a spectacular and elaborate mansion, which now stands as a California landmark. At San Simeon, the couple threw elaborate parties, which were frequented by all of the top names in Hollywood and other celebrities including the mayor of New York City, President Calvin Coolidge and Charles Lindbergh. When she was 20, Marion made her first film, Runaway Romany (George W. Lederer, 1917). Written by Marion and directed by her brother-in-law, the film wasn't exactly a box-office smash, but for Marion, it was a start and a stepping stone to bigger things. The following year Marion starred in The Burden of Proof (John G. Adolfi, Julius Steger, 1918) and Cecilia of the Pink Roses (Julius Steger, 1918). Hearst backed the latter film. Because of Hearst's newspaper empire, Marion would be promoted as no actress before her. She appeared in numerous films over the next few years, including the superior comedy Getting Mary Married (Allan Dwan, 1919) with Norman Kerry, the suspenseful The Cinema Murder (George D. Baker, 1919) and the drama The Restless Sex (Leon D'Usseau, Robert Z. Leonard, 1920) with Carlyle Blackwell.

 

In 1922, Marion Davies appeared as Mary Tudor in the historical romantic epic, When Knighthood Was in Flower (Robert G. Vignola, 1922). It was a film into which Hearst poured millions of dollars as a showcase for her. Although Marion didn't normally appear in period pieces, she turned in a wonderful performance and the film became a box office hit. Marion remained busy, one of the staples in movie houses around the country. At the end of the twenties, it was obvious that sound films were about to replace silent films. Marion was nervous because she had a stutter when she became excited and worried she wouldn't make a successful transition to the new medium, but she was a true professional who had no problem with the change. Time after time, film after film, Marion turned in masterful performances. Her best films were the comedies The Patsy (1928) also with Marie Dressler, and Show People (1929) with William Haines, both directed by King Vidor. In 1930, two of her better films were Not So Dumb (King Vidor, 1930) and The Florodora Girl (Harry Beaumont, 1930), with Lawrence Grant. By the early 1930s, Marion had lost her box office appeal and the downward slide began. Hearst tried to push MGM executives to hire Marion for the role of Elizabeth Barrett in The Barretts of Wimpole Street (Sidney Franklin, 1934). Louis B. Mayer had other ideas and hired producer Irving Thalberg's wife Norma Shearer instead. Hearst reacted by pulling his newspaper support for MGM without much impact. By the late 1930s Hearst was suffering financial reversals and it was Marion who bailed him out by selling off $1 million of her jewelry. Hearst's financial problems also spelt the end of her career. Although she had made the transition to sound, other stars fared better and her roles became fewer and further between. In 1937, a 40-year-old Marion filmed her last movie, Ever Since Eve (Lloyd Bacon, 1937) with Robert Montgomery. Out of films and with the intense pressures of her relationship with Hearst, Marion turned more and more to alcohol. Despite those problems, Marion was a very sharp and savvy businesswoman. When Hearst lay dying in 1951 at age 88, Davies was given a sedative by his lawyer. When she awoke several hours later, she discovered that Hearst had passed away and that his associates had removed his body as well as all his belongings and any trace that he had lived there with her. His family had a big formal funeral for him in San Francisco, from which she was banned. Later, Marion married for the first time at the age of 54, to Horace Brown. The union would last until she died of cancer in 1961 in Los Angeles, California. She was 64 years old. Upon Marion’s niece Patricia Van Cleve Lake's death, it was revealed she had been the love child of Davies and Hearst. The love affair of Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst was mirrored in the films Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941), RKO 281 (Benjamin Ross, 1999), and The Cat's Meow (Peter Bogdanovich, 2001). In Citizen Kane (1941), the title character's second wife (played by Dorothy Comingore—an untalented singer whom he tries to promote—was widely assumed to be based on Davies. But many commentators, including Citizen Kane writer/director Orson Welles himself, have defended Davies' record as a gifted actress, to whom Hearst's patronage did more harm than good.

 

Sources: Denny Jackson (IMDb), Wikipedia and IMDb.

 

And, please check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.

I was filming on the Micronesian island of Yap... Here a Yapese lady called Agnes had just offered me betelnut and tobacco from her handbag. It's a natural sedative that has been chewed on these islands for thousands of years, and so in the interest of cultural respect I accepted. It has the unfortunate side effect of turning your mouth red and so I spent the rest of the day looking like I had bleeding gums. In this image Agnes and I are resting on a giant rai stone - the traditional form of currency. Hundreds of these giant coins stand across the island - all originating from ancient quarries on the island of Palau 450kms away. The most valuable are those for which people had died whilst transporting them on rafts. #BBCEarth #EarthOnLocation #Yap #Micronesia #History #Pacific #Betlenut #Money #Coin #Currency

Cowslips at popham Airfield.

 

Cowslips (Primula Versis) are a wild flower and member of the Primrose family. Its name derives from "cowpat",(Old English "cuslyppe") from where Cowslips would spring up when they were common in the wild. Also known as Paigle, Key Flower, Fairy Cups and Mayflower. This hardy perennial grows to a height of 12 ins (30 cm), liking a well-drained and sunny aspect. Pretty clusters of small primrose-like yellow flowers on stalks during April and May.

 

According to legend, St Peter dropped the keys to Heaven and where they landed Cowslips grew (the flowers were thought to resemble a set of keys).

 

It has been used since ancient times to make wine, jam, tea and ointment. Indeed, Cowslip wine, made from the "peeps" (yellow petal rings) was thought to be a good sedative). Its natural habitat is in meadows and woodland, with a particular preference for chalky soil. It has also been used as a sedative. The whole herb/roots has also been used in the treatment of coughs and bronchitis. Cowslips have also been used for hundreds of years to treat spasms, cramps, rheumatic pain and paralysis - used to be called Palsywort for this reason. Leaves can also be used for healing wounds. Both the flowers and leaves often used to be eaten - young Cowslip leaves were eaten in salads or mixed with other herbs to stuff meat. Flowers can be eaten to strengthen the brain. In the 18th century, powdered roots boiled in ale were used for treating giddiness and nervous ailments. Cowslips used to be popular in Elizabethan knot gardens.

Edible Parts: Root, Stem,

Edible Uses: Vegetable, Asparagus, Salad,

 

Strobil (the fertile shoots in spring) - cooked and used as an asparagus substitute. They should be used when young but even so it is probably best to change the water, perhaps 3 - 4 times. One report says that they can be eaten raw, they are peeled and the shoot tip is discarded. It is said to be a very tedious operation and they should not be eaten raw in any quantity, see the notes below on toxicity. Some native tribes liked to eat the young vegetative shoots, picked before they had branched out, and would often collect them in great quantity then hold a feast to eat them. The leaf sheaths were peeled off and the stems eaten raw - they were said to be 'nothing but juice'. Roots - raw. The tuberous growths on the rhizomes are used in the spring. The black nodules attached to the roots are edible. It takes considerable effort to collect these nodules so it is normally only done in times of desperation. However, native peoples would sometimes raid the underground caches of roots collected by lemmings and other rodents in order to obtain these nodules. A further report says that the peeled stems, base of the plant, root and tubers were eaten raw by the N. American Indians, the report went on to say that this may be inadvisable.

 

CAUTION: Large quantities of the plant can be toxic. This is because it contains the enzyme thiaminase, a substance that can rob the body of the vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase. The plant also contains equisetic acid - see the notes on medicinal uses for more information. Avoid in patients with oedema due to heart failure or impaired kidney function .

 

MEDICINAL USES: Anodyne, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Cardiac, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic,

Galactogogue, Hemostatic, Homeopathy, Nervine, TB, Vulnerary,

 

Horsetails have an unusual chemistry compared to most other plants. They are rich in silica, contain several alkaloids (including nicotine) and various minerals. Horsetail is very astringent and makes an excellent clotting agent, staunching wounds, stopping nosebleeds and reducing the coughing up of blood. It helps speed the repair of damaged connective tissue, improving its strength and elasticity. The plant is anodyne, anti hemorrhagic, antiseptic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, galactogogue, hemostatic and vulnerary. The green infertile stems are used, they are most active when fresh but can also be harvested in late summer and dried for later use. Sometimes the ashes of the plant are used. The plant is a useful diuretic when taken internally and is used in the treatment of kidney and bladder problems, cystitis, urethritis, prostate disease and internal bleeding, proving especially useful when there is bleeding in the urinary tract. A decoction applied externally will stop the bleeding of wounds and promote healing. It is especially effective on nose bleeds. A decoction of the herb added to a bath benefits slow-healing sprains and fractures, as well as certain irritable skin conditions such as eczema. The plant contains equisetic acid, which is thought to be identical to aconitic acid. This substance is a potent heart and nerve sedative that is a dangerous poison when taken in high doses. This plant contains irritant substances and should only be used for short periods of time. It is also best only used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh plant. It is used in the treatment of cystitis and other complaints of the urinary system. The German Commission E Monographs, a therapeutic guide to herbal medicine, approve Equisetum arvense for urinary tract infections, kidney & bladder stones, wounds & burns.

 

OTHER USES: Dye, Light Pink, Yellow-grey, Fungicide, Liquid feed, Whistles, Paper, Polish, Sandpaper, Scourer

 

The stems contain 10% silica and are used for scouring metal and as a fine sandpaper. They can also be used as a polish for brass, hardwood etc.. The infused stem is an effective fungicide against mildew, mint rust and black spot on roses. It also makes a good liquid feed. A light pink dye is obtained from the stem. It is yellow-gray according to another report. The plant has been used for making whistles.

 

www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Equisetum+arvense

They are very small, but their smell is strong and simply fantastic! :)

 

Viola odorata is a species of the genus Viola native to Europe and Asia, but has also been introduced to North America and Australasia. It is commonly known as Sweet Violet, English Violet, Common Violet, or Garden Violet.

The species can be found near the edges of forests or in clearings; it is also a common "uninvited guest" in shaded lawns or elsewhere in gardens. The flowers appear as early as February and last until the end of April.

Flowers and leaves of viola are made into a syrup used in alternative medicine mainly for respiratory ailments associated with congestion, coughing, and sore throat. Flowers are also edible and used as food additives for instance in salad, made into jelly, and candied for decoration. A decoction made from the root (dry herb) is used as a laxative. Tea made from the entire plant is used to treat digestive disorders and new research has detected the presence of a glycoside of salicylic acid (natural aspirin) which substantiates its use for centuries as a medicinal remedy for headache, body pains and as a sedative. As a bath additive the fresh crushed flowers are soothing to the skin and the aroma is very relaxing.

 

Polish name: fiołek wonny

Edible Parts: Flowers, Stems, Leaves, Seed,

Edible Uses: Tea, Mead,

 

The herb and the fruit are sometimes used as a tea substitute. The flowers can be used in making mead.

 

CAUTION: Skin contact with the sap, or ingestion of the plant, can cause photosensitivity in some people. Common side-effects are gastrointestinal disturbances, allergic reactions & fatigue. If used with drugs classed as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine: Prozac, paroxetine: Paxil) symptoms of serotonin syndrome may occur: mental confusion, hallucinations, agitation, headache, coma, shivering, sweating, fever, hypertension, tachycardia, nausea, diarrhea, tremors. St John's wort can reduce the effectiveness of prescription medicine including contraceptive pill, antidepressants, immune suppressants, HIV medications, warfarin, digoxin.

 

MEDICINAL USES: Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Aromatic, Astringent, Cholagogue, Digestive, Diuretic, Expectorant, Homeopathy, Nervine, Resolvent, Sedative, Stimulant, Vermifuge, Vulnerary,

 

St. John's wort has a long history of herbal use. It fell out of favor in the nineteenth century but recent research has brought it back to prominence as an extremely valuable remedy for nervous problems. In clinical trials about 67% of patients with mild to moderate depression improved when taking this plant. The flowers and leaves are analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, astringent, cholagogue, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, nervine, resolvent, sedative, stimulant, vermifuge and vulnerary. The herb is used in treating a wide range of disorders, including pulmonary complaints, bladder problems, diarrhea and nervous depression. It is also very effectual in treating overnight incontinence of urine in children. Externally, it is used in poultices to dispel herd tumors, caked breasts, bruising etc.. The flowering shoots are harvested in early summer and dried for later use. Use the plant with caution and do not prescribe it for patients with chronic depression. The plant was used to procure an abortion by some native North Americans, so it is best not used by pregnant women. See also the notes above on toxicity. A tea or tincture of the fresh flowers is a popular treatment for external ulcers, burns, wounds (especially those with severed nerve tissue), sores, bruises, cramps etc.. An infusion of the flowers in olive oil is applied externally to wounds, sores, ulcers, swellings, rheumatism etc.. It is also valued in the treatment of sunburn and as a cosmetic preparation to the skin. The plant contains many biologically active compounds including rutin, pectin, choline, sitosterol, hypericin and pseudohypericin. These last two compounds have been shown to have potent anti-retroviral activity without serious side effects and they are being researched in the treatment of AIDS. A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh whole flowering plant. It is used in the treatment of injuries, bites, stings etc., and is said to be the first remedy to consider when nerve-rich areas such as the spine, eyes, fingers etc., are injured.

 

Other Uses: Dye, Red, Yellow, Gold, Brown, Tannin

 

Red, Yellow, gold and brown dyes are obtained from the flowers and leaves. A red is obtained from the flowers after acidification. A red dye is obtained from the whole plant when infused in oil or alcohol. A yellow is obtained when it is infused in water. The plant is said to contain good quantities of tannin, though exact figures are not available.

 

www.pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Hypericum+perforatum

  

Guy 199?-2013

 

How do I even begin to write this... we've had the pleasure of Guy's company for 10 long years and he's made an immeasurable impression on our lives. We were told he was 6 or 7 when we adopted him in 2003. There's so much to say and yet I'm at a loss for words. Whenever he was around I always felt comfort, joy and love.

 

Today I'm sad to lose my best friend, but there's also an odd sense of serenity. I know his suffering is over. He left me with his joyful spirit and many happy memories. A big "Thank You" to all my friends and Flickr friends for loving him as much. Having been able to share his wonderful moments with you has made this experience immeasurable. From the bottom of our hearts, "Thank you."

 

We left Guy with a bouquet of flowers from the yard and a lock of hair from each of us. He will be cremated and I plan on making a "Guy" urn.

 

Blogged:

tinyhaus.blogspot.com/2013/10/goodbye-old-friend.html

 

We started to notice Guy's health and agility slowing down about 2 or 3 years ago, but the last 6-8 months is when it really started to spiral.  We knew from then on we might have to euthanize him at some point.  Slipping away quietly in the night was unlikely and we didn't want to prolong his suffering.  It wasn't a matter of what to do, but when to do it...  I think this is/was the toughest decision we had to make.

 

There are many resources out there to help you gauge a pet's "quality of life".

Lap of Love has a great PDF/worksheet and I also found THIS checklist very helpful.  I thought the worksheet was helpful but too simple so I also took daily logs for about 2-3 weeks.  These were a few things I tried to observe:

Did he have a good night sleep?

Did he throw up or have diarrhea?

Had he moaned or seemed like he was in pain and if so the duration.

When and how much he ate.

When and for how long he slept.

 

By the end good days were when he was able to sleep and eat.  It has been at least 3 months since I saw any signs of enjoyment like rolling around or rubbing his face on the furniture.  I also like to take a lot of pictures of Guy, a hobby of mine.  I went through my library of photos and noticed that I hadn't seen a picture of him smiling in months.  Most were pictures of him sleepy or looking droopy.  I think in the last 2 weeks he had 5 or 6 "good days" and about 4 or 5 "bad days", with a few "meh" days. We made the choice on Sunday to let him go today.

 

We spent the entire day hanging out and I made him is favorite meal: fried steak.  He ate well and ate willingly.  He slept for most of the day with a calmness that I haven't seen in weeks.  There was no moaning or his usual signs of discomfort.  The sun was out and the sky was blue.  We'll always look back on how nice today was.

 

For those considering euthanasia, I would recommend a "home vet".  My good friend Kamala told me about this and it was the best advice I've gotten.  Guy went comfortably at home, on the couch in his usual spot.  The was not anxious or nervous, we held his paw until the very last moment.

 

If you're in the Seattle/nearby area we HIGHLY RECOMMEND Compassion 4 Paws and Dr. Sara.  She made the transition was smooth and painless, having here there was like having a good friend by your side as you go through this difficult passage.  Dr. Sara has amazingly empathetic spirit and she brings a very serene energy to the room.  We met for the first time today, my husband made the call and spoke with her previously.  She came in and we talked a little bit about Guy, she stroked him and got to know him.  They sat for a bit and she asked us if we were ready.  She then gave him a sedative which put him to sleep.  We got to hold him and hug on him for as long as we needed to.  We said our goodbyes and she proceeded with the final injection.  Guy just drifted away.

Catalog Number: 2016.026.0001

 

Date (Years): 1895

 

Description:

 

Business check from The Chattanooga Medicine Co., dated October 9, 1895. Stamped signature of J. Lupton, Treasurer. On the left is an etching of a woman standing above a Native American who is holding a tobacco plant in his hands. Surrounding them are banners that say “Take and be healed. The Great Spirit planted it.” To the right is a bank cancellation stamp dated October 14, 1895, Cassville, MO. The check is for the amount of $37.50.

 

In 1879 Chattanooga businessman Zeboim Cartter Patten and a group of friends established the Chattanooga Medicine Company. Its first two products, Black-Draught and Wine of Cardui, were so successful that they were sold well into the Twentieth century. Patten procured the formula rights to Black-Draught, a senna-based laxative, from the grandson of its originator, Dr. A. Q. Simmons. The name Black-Draught probably derived from the dark drink given to sailors in the British navy. Wine of Cardui was a uterine sedative, whose name derived from Carduus Benedictus, a synonym for botanical Cnicus benedictus. According to tradition, Wine of Cardui originated among the Cherokee Indians.

 

Fred F. Wiehl was the company’s first president, but Patten, in the role of secretary, guided the business to success. By the 1880s Patten had acquired almost total ownership of the company. Wiehl was succeeded as company president, first by the newspaper publisher Adolph S. Ochs, who was followed by developer Colonel A. M. Johnson before Patten took the title of president in 1891.

 

Successful at finding new products to sell, Patten used imaginative promotional techniques to market his products, becoming one of the early practitioners of mass-market advertising. He made the widely distributed Cardui Calendar and the Ladies Birthday Almanac popular throughout the South. The company became one of the region’s largest drug manufacturers. In 1906 Patten and his son-in-law, John Thomas Lupton sold their controlling interests in the business to Patten’s nephew and assistant, John A. Patten, who created a legendary force of salesmen and expanded sales into foreign countries.

 

For most of its history, the company specialized in producing medicinal products to relieve pain and discomfort. In 1935 Dr. Irvine W. Grote of the University of Chattanooga developed the analgesic balm known as “Soltice” for the company. In 1939 the company expanded its products, modernized its production and research facilities, and developed a chemicals division. During World War II the company became the largest producer of K-rations and a major supplier of ammonia. Postwar products include Pamprin, Flex-all, Icy Hot, pHisoderm, and Norwich aspirin. Today the company operates under the name of Chattem, Inc. In 1995 the specialty chemicals division was sold.

 

Source: tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=231

I did this page in YSM but i did it as a A4 in Scrapbook Factory so have now made it into a 12 x 12 layout and as it had about my favourite group The Bees Gees this would go with the prompt of Music today.

Here is a copy of the journaling:

 

Being in Form 5 at Bacchus Marsh High. We only attend school 4 days a week and had a study day on the Wednesdays, which is when i would do all my homework. I was studying biology and we had to measure parts of the human body, you know arms legs head etc. Well Nana (in her 80's) saw that their was a naked picture of a males body and she wasn't happy, but i thought it would be good to play a little joke on her so I said "Nana it's ok I only have to measure a penis and I'm finished." well I thought it was funny at the time but oh no was I in trouble, Nana went mad at Mum and Mum went mad at me, i think i only got yelled at and had to apologize to Nana. The things we do as a teenage.

 

I turned 18 in the May, my brother Lee was going to lose his license in the September so I got my license so I could drive the family around. The day I got my license the law was changing to you had to sit for a learner's permit before you start to drive, I was lucky that my driving teacher got a lot of us on this day for our driving test drive. That day I had got myself so worked i ended up at the doctors with Glandular Fever and was in bed for a week, but I did pass my test.

I had kept my new license in a special wallet in the glove box and one night at a friends my car got broken into and they stolen my license. I have never done that again.

 

In late October I got very sick and Mum was told I had measles and german measles, so they doses me up with a heavy sedative so I would sleep I remembering going to bed on Friday and waking I thought was Saturday to go to The Bee Gees concert (MY favourite group) to find out it was Sunday and I had miss it. Well I vowed that I would not go to any concerts until I had seen my beloved Bee Gees and I didn't get to see them until 1989. My Mum listen to the live tv show which I was at and low and behold she could make out my scream, how embarrassing, but it was a dream come true, after waiting 14 years for them to come back to Australia.

 

I didn't finish Form 5 as I didn't believe I would pass, so I went out and got a job as Group Leader for a Child Minding Center in Yarraville.

I also applied to join the Women's Royal Australian Army Corp (WRAAC). I had to wait until I was called up and was enlisted July 1976.

Edible Parts: Root, Stem,

Edible Uses: Vegetable, Asparagus, Salad,

 

Strobil (the fertile shoots in spring) - cooked and used as an asparagus substitute. They should be used when young but even so it is probably best to change the water, perhaps 3 - 4 times. One report says that they can be eaten raw, they are peeled and the shoot tip is discarded. It is said to be a very tedious operation and they should not be eaten raw in any quantity, see the notes below on toxicity. Some native tribes liked to eat the young vegetative shoots, picked before they had branched out, and would often collect them in great quantity then hold a feast to eat them. The leaf sheaths were peeled off and the stems eaten raw - they were said to be 'nothing but juice'. Roots - raw. The tuberous growths on the rhizomes are used in the spring. The black nodules attached to the roots are edible. It takes considerable effort to collect these nodules so it is normally only done in times of desperation. However, native peoples would sometimes raid the underground caches of roots collected by lemmings and other rodents in order to obtain these nodules. A further report says that the peeled stems, base of the plant, root and tubers were eaten raw by the N. American Indians, the report went on to say that this may be inadvisable.

 

CAUTION: Large quantities of the plant can be toxic. This is because it contains the enzyme thiaminase, a substance that can rob the body of the vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase. The plant also contains equisetic acid - see the notes on medicinal uses for more information. Avoid in patients with oedema due to heart failure or impaired kidney function .

 

MEDICINAL USES: Anodyne, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Cardiac, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic,

Galactogogue, Hemostatic, Homeopathy, Nervine, TB, Vulnerary,

 

Horsetails have an unusual chemistry compared to most other plants. They are rich in silica, contain several alkaloids (including nicotine) and various minerals. Horsetail is very astringent and makes an excellent clotting agent, staunching wounds, stopping nosebleeds and reducing the coughing up of blood. It helps speed the repair of damaged connective tissue, improving its strength and elasticity. The plant is anodyne, anti hemorrhagic, antiseptic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, galactogogue, hemostatic and vulnerary. The green infertile stems are used, they are most active when fresh but can also be harvested in late summer and dried for later use. Sometimes the ashes of the plant are used. The plant is a useful diuretic when taken internally and is used in the treatment of kidney and bladder problems, cystitis, urethritis, prostate disease and internal bleeding, proving especially useful when there is bleeding in the urinary tract. A decoction applied externally will stop the bleeding of wounds and promote healing. It is especially effective on nose bleeds. A decoction of the herb added to a bath benefits slow-healing sprains and fractures, as well as certain irritable skin conditions such as eczema. The plant contains equisetic acid, which is thought to be identical to aconitic acid. This substance is a potent heart and nerve sedative that is a dangerous poison when taken in high doses. This plant contains irritant substances and should only be used for short periods of time. It is also best only used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh plant. It is used in the treatment of cystitis and other complaints of the urinary system. The German Commission E Monographs, a therapeutic guide to herbal medicine, approve Equisetum arvense for urinary tract infections, kidney & bladder stones, wounds & burns.

 

OTHER USES: Dye, Light Pink, Yellow-grey, Fungicide, Liquid feed, Whistles, Paper, Polish, Sandpaper, Scourer

 

The stems contain 10% silica and are used for scouring metal and as a fine sandpaper. They can also be used as a polish for brass, hardwood etc.. The infused stem is an effective fungicide against mildew, mint rust and black spot on roses. It also makes a good liquid feed. A light pink dye is obtained from the stem. It is yellow-gray according to another report. The plant has been used for making whistles.

 

www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Equisetum+arvense

An antianxiety agent that is not chemically or pharmacologically related to the benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or other sedative/anxiolytic drugs.

BuSpar is supplied as tablets for oral administration containing 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, or 30 mg of buspirone hydrochloride, USP (equivalent to 4.6 mg, 9.1 mg, 13.7 mg, and 27.4 mg of buspirone free base, respectively). The 5 mg and 10 mg tablets are scored so they can be bisected. Thus, the 5 mg tablet can also provide a 2.5 mg dose, and the 10 mg tablet can provide a 5 mg dose. The 15 mg and 30 mg tablets are provided in the DIVIDOSE® tablet design. These tablets are scored so they can be either bisected or trisected. Thus, a single 15 mg tablet can provide the following doses: 15 mg (entire tablet), 10 mg (two thirds of a tablet), 7.5 mg (one half of a tablet), or 5 mg (one third of a tablet). A single 30 mg tablet can provide the following doses: 30 mg (entire tablet), 20 mg (two thirds of a tablet), 15 mg (one half of a tablet), or 10 mg (one third of a tablet). BuSpar Tablets contain the following inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, lactose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium starch glycolate. The 30 mg tablet also contains iron oxide.

Molly Bowman netting rainbow trout fry into buckets of sedative solution during an AQUI-S 20E field efficacy study.

 

Rachel Carson Award for Scientific Excellence (Group) – 2013

 

Photo credit: AADAP Program/USFWS

Violet has gone out of the room and Dr. Achilles jumps off his chair, ready to give Dr. Badcoke a piece of his mind…

 

Dr. Achilles (shakes his head angrily): “A higher percentage of sedatives?! Are you going to kill this guy?! You are already giving him too much! You put sedatives in some of the capsules and stimulants in the others, for God’s sake! He’s getting them mixed and irregularly on top of it! Are you going to cause him a heart attack, or what? You need to reduce his medication, not increase it!”

 

Dr. Badcoke: “Shhh! Calm down, Carl. I’m not going to increase his medication. I just said it to keep his mother happy.”

 

Dr. Achilles: “What? Then what are you going to put into those capsules? The same stuff again? It’s still almost as dangerous, because he doesn’t get it regularly.”

 

Dr. Badcoke: “Oh yes, she's going to give him one more dose of the previous stuff. All the rest from now on will be… placebo. I was expecting this, so I already have it ready for the silly woman to take with her. She’s not going to tell any difference between the stimulants, the sedatives and the placebo.”

 

Dr. Achilles: “Oh NO! Please don’t tell me you’re going to… (gasps) going to… stop giving him any meds?! Right after the next set of drugged cupcakes? His withdrawal symptoms will hit like a tidal wave! You’re going to kill him, do you hear me?! This is too much! I didn’t sign up for this! I agreed on making this guy act just crazy enough so we could have him locked up, not getting him killed!”

 

Dr. Badcoke (rolls eyes): “Calm down, Carl. He’s not going to die. Yes, he will be experiencing some ups and downs. I’m a genius, really. I have given Mrs. Crane irregular amounts of stimulants and sedatives to bake into cupcakes. I have made sure that Mr. Crane feels exited some days and exhausted other days. Sounds to me like he is already heavily hooked on both types of medicine, and they both have one common factor: withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking them. He is already suffering from withdrawal symptoms because he doesn’t take them regularly.” (gives a sly smile to Dr. Achilles)

 

Dr. Achilles: “Wait… This was your plan all along? You never meant for him to get his medicine regularly?”

 

Dr. Badcoke: “Of couuurse I didn’t! Did you honestly expect him to take it every day? In the form of cupcakes? Really? The best thing is that he is already so heavily hooked that he doesn’t need the medicine anymore. Everybody already sees how (makes quotations marks with his fingers) ‘crazy’ he is…”

 

Dr. Achilles: “Which he isn’t, really. You just want to get your Nobel, don’t you? You are actually playing with someone’s health and life for a Nobel prize!”

 

Galium odoratum is a perennial growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a medium rate. It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to July, and the seeds ripen from Jul to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Flies, bees, self.The plant is self-fertile. Found from Northern and central Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and Siberia.

 

Leaves - raw or cooked. The leaves are coumarin-scented (like freshly mown hay), they are used as a flavouring in cooling drinks and are also added to fruit salads etc. The leaves are soaked in white wine to make 'Maitrank', an aromatic tonic drink that is made in Alsace. A fragrant and delicious tea is made from the green-dried leaves and flowers. Slightly wilted leaves are used, the tea has a fresh, grassy flavour. The sweet-scented flowers are eaten or used as a garnish.

 

Sweet woodruff was widely used in herbal medicine during the Middle Ages, gaining a reputation as an external application to wounds and cuts and also taken internally in the treatment of digestive and liver problems. In current day herbalism it is valued mainly for its tonic, diuretic and anti inflammatory affect. The leaves are antispasmodic, cardiac, diaphoretic, diuretic, sedative. An infusion is used in the treatment of insomnia and nervous tension, varicose veins, biliary obstruction, hepatitis and jaundice. The plant is harvested just before or as it comes into flower and can be dried for later use. One report says that it should be used with caution whilst another says that it is entirely safe. Excessive doses can produce dizziness and symptoms of poisoning. The dried plant contains coumarins and these act to prevent the clotting of blood - though in excessive doses it can cause internal bleeding. The plant is grown commercially as a source of coumarin, used to make an anticoagulant drug. Do not use this remedy if you are taking conventional medicine for circulatory problems or if you are pregnant. A number of species in this genus contain asperuloside, a substance that produces coumarin and gives the scent of new-mown hay as the plant dries. Asperuloside can be converted into prostaglandins (hormone-like compounds that stimulate the uterus and affect blood vessels), making the genus of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry. A homeopathic remedy made from the plant is used in the treatment of inflammation of the uterus.

Dentistry @ www.drmahara.com/

 

Optimum Dental in Downtown Nanaimo is here to bring you the best possible experience in dentistry.

 

Dr. San Mahara is an exceptional dentist committed to giving you the best modern dental care has to offer. His practice is designed to help you and your family members achieve optimal health and improve the appearance of your smiles.

 

Dr. Mahara has specialized dental training in the following areas: Cosmetic Dentistry & Neuromuscular Dentistry; Sports Dentistry featuring PPM; Orthodontics with invisalign;

General and Family Dentistry;

Teeth Whitening.

 

Dr. Mahara’s professional background includes training at the world renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and the UBC School of Dentistry. He is Invisalign certified and a Member of the International Association of Orthodontics.

 

Dr. Mahara and his staff are committed to make your dentistry experience as comfortable and rewarding as possible.

 

Our Commitment to You

We strive to satisfy your needs and interests and provide the dental procedure that is best for you. We strive to treat to you as a guest and ensure your comfort at all times; We provide a written treatment plan, showing all costs and fees in advance, so that there will be no surprises, with financial options to find a way for you to maintain your dental health; We offer sedation dentistry using either nitrous oxide or oral sedative, and all of our practices revolve around Pain-free dentistry;

Option to seek a second opinion, or review any of our services or recommendations we provide; We believe our practice continues to grow by the referrals from our valued guest like you.

 

Dr. Sanjivan Mahara acheived his Doctor of Dental Medicine, DMD, degree at the University of British Columbia in 2004. He continued extensive training at the world renowned "Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies", in Cosmetics and Neuromuscular Dentistry.

  

Following graduation from UBC, Dr. Mahara and his family choose to reside in Nanaimo. Dr. Mahara enjoys being an integral part of his community, he is an active member of the local Dental Society, and has participated in the Community Dental Day, providing treatment for marginalized individuals ans families. He supports the Vanocuver Island University's dental students by making his office available for their practicum placements and hands on training. Dr. Mahara involves himself in local charity functions, organizations, school events and is passionate about the arts and entertainment in his community.

 

Tooth whitening is a quick and economical way to improve the appearance of your smile. After an in-office procedure of 1 hour, your teeth will look younger and brighter.

 

Alternatively, you can also do this at home. This involves either pre filled disposable trays, which are quick and easy or a custom made whitening system. Touch ups can be done regularly as required with every product.

 

For your whiter brighter smile, you have three options.

 

1. Pre Filled Disposable Trays

2.Take Home Custom Trays

3.In-Office Whitening

  

Office hours:

Monday: 8:30 - 4:30

Tuesday: 7:30- 4:30

Wednesday: 8:30- 4:30

Thursday: 7:30-7:00

Friday: 7:30- 2:30

Phone: 250-754-4322

Email: info@drmahara.com

Website:http://www.drmahara.com

Address: 5 -140 Wallace Street, Nanaimo,BC, V9R 5B1

 

Niccole Wandelear netting fish into buckets of sedative solution at the Bozeman Fish Technology Center.

 

Rachel Carson Award for Scientific Excellence (Group) – 2013

 

Photo credit: AADAP Program/USFWS

I got quite a scare today, my doggie George had a seizure or heart attack & I had to resuscitate him.

I had given him (for the first time) a sedative to calm him so that I would be able to groom him, he's resisted lately & his coat had become a mess. 5 mins after I started on him he gasped a few times & lost conciousness, after panicking for a moment I realised he wasn't breathing & I couldn't feel his heart beating either! So I banged on his back & his chest a few times & then breathed into his mouth in between screaming his name.

Then, thank God he took a breath ... of course I rushed him to the vet and on examination she said it was probably a reaction to the sedative (you can imagine how guilty I feel). So that's where he is now in intensive care.

It was when I got home I felt it the most ... an empty house ... an empty basket ... my husband still away, but at least he's back tonight ... and no George in his normal place at my feet while I'm on the computer.

He will be OK ... but it was very scary.

 

Other common names ...by RHS...

common valerian

all-heal

 

see more

Family

Caprifoliaceae

 

Genus

Valeriana can be annuals, herbaceous perennials or evergreen shrubs, with simple or pinnately lobed leaves and terminal sprays of small, white, pink or yellow flowers

 

Details

V. officinalis is an upright herbaceous perennial to 1.5m tall, with curiously scented pinnate leaves and rounded clusters of small pink or white flowers in summer

 

Plant range

Eurasia

 

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis, Caprifoliaceae) is a perennial flowering plant native to Europe and Asia.[1] In the summer when the mature plant may have a height of 1.5 metres (5 ft), it bears sweetly scented pink or white flowers that attract many fly species, especially hoverflies of the genus Eristalis.[2] It is consumed as food by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species, including the grey pug.

 

Crude extract of valerian root may have sedative and anxiolytic effects, and is commonly sold in dietary supplement capsules to promote sleep

  

As Jane Austen becomes the new face of the £10 note, Chawton House Library, the “Great House” where she whiled away many an hour, is hoping that at least some of the currency bearing her image will be directed its way. The charity is looking to raise around £150,000 over the next 18 months to stay afloat after its main backer withdrew support. It will also be applying for millions in capital grants over the next few years to transform its focus.

 

Valerian has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Hippocrates described its properties, and Galen later prescribed it as a remedy for insomnia. In medieval Sweden, it was sometimes placed in the wedding clothes of the groom to ward off the "envy" of the elves.[3] In the 16th century, the Anabaptist reformer Pilgram Marpeck prescribed valerian tea for a sick woman.[4]

 

John Gerard's Herball, first published in 1597, states that his contemporaries found Valerian "excellent for those burdened and for such as be troubled with croup and other like convulsions, and also for those that are bruised with falls." He says that the dried root was valued as a medicine by the poor in the north of England and the south of Scotland, so that "no broth or pottage or physicall meats be worth anything if Setewale [Valerian] be not there."[5]

 

The seventeenth century astrological botanist Nicholas Culpeper thought the plant was "under the influence of Mercury, and therefore hath a warming faculty." He recommended both herb and root, and said that "the root boiled with liquorice, raisons and aniseed is good for those troubled with cough. Also, it is of special value against the plague, the decoction thereof being drunk and the root smelled. The green herb being bruised and applied to the head taketh away pain and pricking thereof. wikipedia

 

The Elizabethan residence in Hampshire, built by the Knight family in the 1580s, was inherited by Jane’s brother Edward centuries later. He offered the nearby bailiff’s residence, now the Jane Austen’s House Museum, to his mother and sisters Jane and Cassandra. But the author was a frequent visitor to her brother’s home, eating and reading there, and walking in its grounds. “I went up to the Great House between 3&4, & dawdled away an hour very comfortably,” she wrote in 1814.

 

A first edition of Northanger Abbey in the Lower Reading Room at Chawton House

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A first edition of Northanger Abbey in the Lower Reading Room at Chawton House Photograph: M Focard de Fontefiguieres

The house had fallen into disrepair when American entrepreneur and philanthropist Sandy Lerner intervened in 1992. Lerner reopened it in 2003 as a library and research centre after extensive restoration, turning it into a home for early women’s literature. The library features an original manuscript in Austen’s own hand, first and early editions of her novels, as well as writing by women authors who inspired her, and others whom she in turn inspired.

 

Open to visitors since 2015, Chawton House is facing an uncertain future after Lerner stepped down from the board of trustees last year, and her foundation decided to focus on other projects. Before that, Lerner’s foundation had covered around 65% of its operating costs.

 

“We know Jane Austen’s Great House should be a major historic literary landmark but it does not currently have the facilities to reach its full potential,” the charity says on a newly launched website for its “urgent, large-scale” fundraising campaign. “It’s fairly urgent, but exciting as well,” said director of fundraising Jane Lillystone on Thursday.

 

An event in Dallas, Texas, organised by the Jane Austen Society of North America, has already raised $17,200 (£13,200) for the campaign, while Chawton House has just launched a social media campaign called TheDarcyLook, which is encouraging supporters to raise money by drenching a man wearing a white shirt – a la Colin Firth as Mr Darcy – in water, in homage to the ice bucket challenge.

 

“I hope Jane would have liked it,” said Lillystone. “She often had a very different opinion about things, and liked to tease, so I hope she would.”

  

The £150,000 goal is intended to cover operating costs over the next 18 months. Chawton House will also be applying for “at least” £7m in grants from organisations such as Arts Council England. The charity said: “We have ambitious plans to create a cultural, literary destination within the wider grounds of the Great House, offering larger and more extensive visitor facilities and providing an enhanced experience of the Chawton estate that was Jane Austen’s home throughout the final, productive years of her life.”

  

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The campaign is backed by authors including Chawton House patron Joanna Trollope, who called it “a fascinating Elizabethan house in itself, with some important Austen heirlooms, including books that we know Jane read. But it now also houses a unique collection of early writing by women – a library of which Jane herself would thoroughly approve.”

 

Treasures held in the collection include Mary Astell’s A Serious Proposal to the Ladies (1694) and Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), a first edition of Fanny Burney’s 1782 Cecilia, the closing lines of which inspired the title of Pride and Prejudice, and a dramatic adaptation of Samuel Richardson’s novel Sir Charles Grandison, which the House believes was used for private family theatricals, written in Austen’s own hand.

 

Lillystone hopes that, with the desired funding, Chawton House will be able to broaden its appeal to become a “literary destination” for schools, locals and tourists, highlighting the works of Jane and other early women writers. Its visitor numbers for 2017 are 4,313, since it began its open-house season on 20 March – up 100% on last year.

www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jul/20/jane-austen-chawton...

In September 1929, Eagles underwent successful surgery to treat ulcers on her eyes, a condition was caused by her sinusitis. Two weeks after surgery, on the night of October 3, 1929, as Eagels was preparing for a night out on the town, she fell ill and was taken to a private 5th Avenue hospital run. In the hospital waiting room, she suffered a convulsion and died.

 

Three autopsies were conducted over the following three months and reached three different conclusions as to the cause of her death, which was variously attributed as an overdose of alcohol, the tranquilizer chloral hydrate, and heroin in the successive autopsy reports. All three substances likely were in her system when she died, and it was suggested that the unconscious Eagels had received a sedative from the first doctor to treat her, and that subsequently a second doctor, not knowing she had already been sedated, had unknowingly given the unconscious actress a second shot, thus causing the overdose that killed her.

 

She was nominated for the Oscar in 1929 (posthumpously) but did not win.

Some post-bottle sucking on mummies finger. Check the little fingers around Patty's little finger.

 

Today was MRI day and Patty-come-home day. Both were successful.

 

The MRI involved tantrums and nurses running up and down to fetch Robin's dummy and later some milk. All because our little Missy couldn't keep her head still, or better said, didn't feel like keeping her head still. Despite the sedative she was given.

 

Oh boy...

 

In the end it all worked out, but when the event was over and the nurse moved Robin from the MRI machine to the mobile incubator, again, tantrums were thrown. By the time she got back on the NICU, she had crashed in a deep sleep, exhausted.

 

The results from the MRI will first be discussed within the child-neurologist/radiologist teams. That's because the images are subject to interpretation. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning they discuss most of the images in the group. Tuesday afternoon we will have a meeting with our pediatrician and neurologist to discuss the outcome.

 

Somehow we feel more hopeful. Despite the poor statistics and the high viral load. Robin is so responsive in a normal baby way, cuddly when tired and after feeding, grumpy, irritated and angry when hungry or messed with. And her movements are spot on for a tiny baby like her. It is simply hard to imagine that something is wrong in her head when you are around her. But, the numbers don't lie, and that's what we keep telling ourselves as well.

 

This weekend will be good. Patty is home. Feline and Tijn are with my parents. Most of the serious doctors are gone. So we will indulge in some good quality time with our girl and not worry too much. Tuesday and Wednesday will be though, because of the MRI results and the new viral load check. It must come down.

  

Edible Parts: Flowers, Stems, Leaves, Seed,

Edible Uses: Tea, Mead,

 

The herb and the fruit are sometimes used as a tea substitute. The flowers can be used in making mead.

 

CAUTION: Skin contact with the sap, or ingestion of the plant, can cause photosensitivity in some people. Common side-effects are gastrointestinal disturbances, allergic reactions & fatigue. If used with drugs classed as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine: Prozac, paroxetine: Paxil) symptoms of serotonin syndrome may occur: mental confusion, hallucinations, agitation, headache, coma, shivering, sweating, fever, hypertension, tachycardia, nausea, diarrhea, tremors. St John's wort can reduce the effectiveness of prescription medicine including contraceptive pill, antidepressants, immune suppressants, HIV medications, warfarin, digoxin.

 

MEDICINAL USES: Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Aromatic, Astringent, Cholagogue, Digestive, Diuretic, Expectorant, Homeopathy, Nervine, Resolvent, Sedative, Stimulant, Vermifuge, Vulnerary,

 

St. John's wort has a long history of herbal use. It fell out of favor in the nineteenth century but recent research has brought it back to prominence as an extremely valuable remedy for nervous problems. In clinical trials about 67% of patients with mild to moderate depression improved when taking this plant. The flowers and leaves are analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, astringent, cholagogue, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, nervine, resolvent, sedative, stimulant, vermifuge and vulnerary. The herb is used in treating a wide range of disorders, including pulmonary complaints, bladder problems, diarrhea and nervous depression. It is also very effectual in treating overnight incontinence of urine in children. Externally, it is used in poultices to dispel herd tumors, caked breasts, bruising etc.. The flowering shoots are harvested in early summer and dried for later use. Use the plant with caution and do not prescribe it for patients with chronic depression. The plant was used to procure an abortion by some native North Americans, so it is best not used by pregnant women. See also the notes above on toxicity. A tea or tincture of the fresh flowers is a popular treatment for external ulcers, burns, wounds (especially those with severed nerve tissue), sores, bruises, cramps etc.. An infusion of the flowers in olive oil is applied externally to wounds, sores, ulcers, swellings, rheumatism etc.. It is also valued in the treatment of sunburn and as a cosmetic preparation to the skin. The plant contains many biologically active compounds including rutin, pectin, choline, sitosterol, hypericin and pseudohypericin. These last two compounds have been shown to have potent anti-retroviral activity without serious side effects and they are being researched in the treatment of AIDS. A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh whole flowering plant. It is used in the treatment of injuries, bites, stings etc., and is said to be the first remedy to consider when nerve-rich areas such as the spine, eyes, fingers etc., are injured.

 

Other Uses: Dye, Red, Yellow, Gold, Brown, Tannin

 

Red, Yellow, gold and brown dyes are obtained from the flowers and leaves. A red is obtained from the flowers after acidification. A red dye is obtained from the whole plant when infused in oil or alcohol. A yellow is obtained when it is infused in water. The plant is said to contain good quantities of tannin, though exact figures are not available.

 

www.pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Hypericum+perforatum

  

This is a gorgeous piece! It is made of amethyst (AA grade) chip beads, light amethyst beads, labradorite coin beads, black bicone glass beads, seed beads and its a three stranded necklace. It measures 18 1/2" in length.

   

*Metaphysical Properties of Amethyst:

 

Also known as the "Sobriety Stone". Amethyst is purple quartz, and is a meditative and calming stone. It works in the emotional, spiritual, and physical planes to provide calm, balance, patience, and peace. Amethyst is also beneficial when dealing with legal problems and money issues, which can lead to prosperity and abundance. Amethyst has a gentle, sedative energy that promotes peacefulness, happiness, and contentment. Amethyst can help get rid of addictions (alcohol, drugs, smoking, etc.) and compulsive behaviors of all kinds. In the psychic and spiritual realms, amethyst is an excellent all-purpose stone that can increase spirituality and enhance intuition and psychic powers of all kinds. It does this by making a clear connection between the earth plane and other planes and worlds. Amethyst also protects against psychic attacks, especially during spiritual work, and protects one from thieves, and protects travelers. Physically, amethyst is beneficial for reducing withdrawal symptoms of all kinds, blood sugar imbalances, depression, general healing, left brain imbalances, headaches, arthritis, insomnia, nightmares, other sleep disorders, ADD/ADHD, generalized anxiety, ear aches, circulatory system issues, endocrine system problems, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, immune system deficiencies, and general healing.

 

Primarily, amethyst is associated with the third eye and crown chakras but can also open the heart chakra.

 

*Metaphysical Properties of Labradorite:

 

Labradorite has always been one of my favourite gemstones. balances and protects the aura, raises consciousness and grounds spiritual energies. It strengthens intuition and promotes psychic abilities. Powerful in revealing the truth behind illusions, labradorite banishes fears and insecurities, and strengthens faith in one's self and trust in the universe. It stimulates the imagination and calms an overactive mind, developing enthusiasm and new ideas. Labradorite treats disorders of the eyes and brain, stimulates mental acuity, and relieves anxiety and stress. It regulates metabolism, balances hormones and relieves menstrual tension. Labradorite treats colds, gout, and rheumatism, lowers blood pressure, and aids in digestion.

 

Labradorite is a feldspar mineral, and is also known as Spectrolite.

 

Please go to my profile page for more info: www.flickr.com/people/miranda310/

AJ, totally drugged out after a day at the hospital getting an EEG. He's got ADHD, so his EEG had to be taken without meds of any sort. Unfortunately, without meds, he didn't sleep at all the night before, and the sedative they gave him to make him sleep at the hospital really laid him flat!

 

Read all about it here.

 

(2007-09-28-aj-drugged-5116-new)

This is a gorgeous piece! It is made of amethyst (AA grade) chip beads, light amethyst beads, labradorite coin beads, black bicone glass beads, seed beads and its a three stranded necklace. It measures 18 1/2" in length.

   

*Metaphysical Properties of Amethyst:

 

Also known as the "Sobriety Stone". Amethyst is purple quartz, and is a meditative and calming stone. It works in the emotional, spiritual, and physical planes to provide calm, balance, patience, and peace. Amethyst is also beneficial when dealing with legal problems and money issues, which can lead to prosperity and abundance. Amethyst has a gentle, sedative energy that promotes peacefulness, happiness, and contentment. Amethyst can help get rid of addictions (alcohol, drugs, smoking, etc.) and compulsive behaviors of all kinds. In the psychic and spiritual realms, amethyst is an excellent all-purpose stone that can increase spirituality and enhance intuition and psychic powers of all kinds. It does this by making a clear connection between the earth plane and other planes and worlds. Amethyst also protects against psychic attacks, especially during spiritual work, and protects one from thieves, and protects travelers. Physically, amethyst is beneficial for reducing withdrawal symptoms of all kinds, blood sugar imbalances, depression, general healing, left brain imbalances, headaches, arthritis, insomnia, nightmares, other sleep disorders, ADD/ADHD, generalized anxiety, ear aches, circulatory system issues, endocrine system problems, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, immune system deficiencies, and general healing.

 

Primarily, amethyst is associated with the third eye and crown chakras but can also open the heart chakra.

 

*Metaphysical Properties of Labradorite:

 

Labradorite has always been one of my favourite gemstones. balances and protects the aura, raises consciousness and grounds spiritual energies. It strengthens intuition and promotes psychic abilities. Powerful in revealing the truth behind illusions, labradorite banishes fears and insecurities, and strengthens faith in one's self and trust in the universe. It stimulates the imagination and calms an overactive mind, developing enthusiasm and new ideas. Labradorite treats disorders of the eyes and brain, stimulates mental acuity, and relieves anxiety and stress. It regulates metabolism, balances hormones and relieves menstrual tension. Labradorite treats colds, gout, and rheumatism, lowers blood pressure, and aids in digestion.

 

Labradorite is a feldspar mineral, and is also known as Spectrolite.

 

Please go to my profile page for more info: www.flickr.com/people/miranda310/

Opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, is the species of plant from which opium and poppy seeds are derived. Opium is the source of many narcotics, including morphine (and its derivative heroin), thebaine, codeine, papaverine, and noscapine. The Latin botanical name means the "sleep-bringing poppy", referring to the sedative properties of some of these opiates.

 

The poppy is the only species of Papaveraceae that is an agricultural crop grown on a large scale. Other species, Papaver rhoeas and Papaver argemone, are important agricultural weeds, and may be mistaken for the crop.

 

The plant itself is also valuable for ornamental purposes, and has been known as the "common garden poppy", referencing all the group of poppy plants.

 

Poppy seeds of Papaver somniferum are an important food item and the source of poppyseed oil, a healthful edible oil that has many uses.

 

"The Huntington Library and Botanic gardens". San Marino. California.

 

Dentistry @ www.drmahara.com/

 

Optimum Dental in Downtown Nanaimo is here to bring you the best possible experience in dentistry.

 

Dr. San Mahara is an exceptional dentist committed to giving you the best modern dental care has to offer. His practice is designed to help you and your family members achieve optimal health and improve the appearance of your smiles.

 

Dr. Mahara has specialized dental training in the following areas: Cosmetic Dentistry & Neuromuscular Dentistry; Sports Dentistry featuring PPM; Orthodontics with invisalign;

General and Family Dentistry;

Teeth Whitening.

 

Dr. Mahara’s professional background includes training at the world renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and the UBC School of Dentistry. He is Invisalign certified and a Member of the International Association of Orthodontics.

 

Dr. Mahara and his staff are committed to make your dentistry experience as comfortable and rewarding as possible.

 

Our Commitment to You

We strive to satisfy your needs and interests and provide the dental procedure that is best for you. We strive to treat to you as a guest and ensure your comfort at all times; We provide a written treatment plan, showing all costs and fees in advance, so that there will be no surprises, with financial options to find a way for you to maintain your dental health; We offer sedation dentistry using either nitrous oxide or oral sedative, and all of our practices revolve around Pain-free dentistry;

Option to seek a second opinion, or review any of our services or recommendations we provide; We believe our practice continues to grow by the referrals from our valued guest like you.

 

Dr. Sanjivan Mahara acheived his Doctor of Dental Medicine, DMD, degree at the University of British Columbia in 2004. He continued extensive training at the world renowned "Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies", in Cosmetics and Neuromuscular Dentistry.

  

Following graduation from UBC, Dr. Mahara and his family choose to reside in Nanaimo. Dr. Mahara enjoys being an integral part of his community, he is an active member of the local Dental Society, and has participated in the Community Dental Day, providing treatment for marginalized individuals ans families. He supports the Vanocuver Island University's dental students by making his office available for their practicum placements and hands on training. Dr. Mahara involves himself in local charity functions, organizations, school events and is passionate about the arts and entertainment in his community.

 

Tooth whitening is a quick and economical way to improve the appearance of your smile. After an in-office procedure of 1 hour, your teeth will look younger and brighter.

 

Alternatively, you can also do this at home. This involves either pre filled disposable trays, which are quick and easy or a custom made whitening system. Touch ups can be done regularly as required with every product.

 

For your whiter brighter smile, you have three options.

 

1. Pre Filled Disposable Trays

2.Take Home Custom Trays

3.In-Office Whitening

  

Office hours:

Monday: 8:30 - 4:30

Tuesday: 7:30- 4:30

Wednesday: 8:30- 4:30

Thursday: 7:30-7:00

Friday: 7:30- 2:30

Phone: 250-754-4322

Email: info@drmahara.com

Website:http://www.drmahara.com

Address: 5 -140 Wallace Street, Nanaimo,BC, V9R 5B1

 

Folkloric

• No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.

• In Latin American traditional medicine, used for asthma and allergies.

• In Mexican traditional medicine, used as a sedative and tranquilizer for mental disorders and nervous excitement.

source: stuart xchange

View from Skyline Hospital... I moved this one forward because of the conversation going on in comments...

 

I had to go in recently to get a test done, and just had to grab a photo before going inside the hospital...

standing on the Skyline Hospital hill in White Salmon, Washington looking westward down the Columbia Gorge, across the Hood River Bridge and the city of Hood River, as well as the mouth of the river called Hood River. Gee, that could get comfusing... or maybe I am just comfused from the silly sedative. Oh don;t worry, just a screening, all is well... things were fine.

 

FInally got insurance, but if I have to work too many hours because everyone is sick, I could go over my income bracket and get kicked back off Washington Basic Health. Crazy, huh? Can't better myself or I cannot afford to live! now there is something seriously wrong in a world that allows such things.

 

I am babbling... but the other thing I found to be seriously wrong is how our county, if it receives 3 complaints about stuff on your property from anyone within 5 miles of your property, has the right to go in and clean up by taking EVERYTHING away, even stacks of firewood that are not stacked perfectly, and then fine you $20,000 that you have 3 years to pay off or they will foreclose and take your property away. This happened to 2 people I know of, old timers on old family property...

 

now THAT is sick and wrong!

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP

 

Topeka State Hospital doorknob

Gift of the Menninger Foundation

 

40-B Key to Topeka State Hospital

On loan from Bob Heintzelman

 

Lock and Key

 

Topeka State Hospital was an involuntary treatment facility. A small number of the patients were there by choice, but the majority had been committed by a court of law. The institution sat on a large tract of land and consisted of numerous buildings housing many different wards. The wards were all locked, so there were dozens and dozens of locked doors. In the older section, the doors had old fashioned dead bolt locks with see-through keyholes that locked and unlocked from both sides. They operated with the turn of a large master key labeled 40-B.

 

A person entering the ward would unlock the door, enter and be deluged by greetings, questions, requests, complaints and other clamor. It was easy to become so distracted that one could fail to turn and relock the door. If the person pulled the door shut but failed to relock it, the news of an unlocked door would spread quickly among the patients.

 

Some patients deeply resented and rebelled against being there. They watched for any opportunity to slip out to apparent, often short-lived, freedom. Others resented being there but would not try to leave; they seemed indifferent to an unlocked door. Many of the patients, for whatever reason, would soon report that the door was not locked and sometimes even admonish the person who committed the security violation.

 

Ball and chain

Gift of the Menninger Foundation, from Topeka State Hospital

 

In the days before sedatives, patients who were aggressive or difficult to control were chained, sometimes in the tunnels under the Topeka State Hospital buildings.

 

The Postcard

 

A postally unused postcard bearing no publisher's name. The image is a glossy real photograph.

 

The card was posted in Clacton-on-Sea using a one penny stamp on Friday the 10th. July 1931 to:

 

Mr. E. A. Ward,

43, Flexmere Road,

Lordship Lane,

London N17.

 

The message on the divided back of the card was as follows:

 

10/ 7/ 31.

Dear E,

Many thanks for sending

I. C.

The weather has been

glorious so far.

Kind regards to all.

Bert."

 

Cloche Hats

 

The photograph was taken during the era of cloche hats.

 

Cloche hats were close-fitting, helmet-shaped hats that hugged the skull. They had deep rounded crowns with no brim, or just a small curve at the edge. Cloche means bell in French, and these hats were so-named because they resembled large bells.

 

By the end of the 1920's, it had became fashionable to turn the brims on cloche hats upwards.

 

Clacton-on-Sea

 

Clacton-on-Sea is the largest town in the Tendring peninsula in Essex, England, and was founded as an urban district in the year 1871. It is a seaside resort that saw a peak of tourists in the summer months between the 1950's and the 1970's.

 

The town's economy continues to rely significantly on entertainment and day-trip facilities, and it is strong in the service sector, with a large retired population.

 

In 1936, Billy Butlin bought and refurbished the West Clacton Estate, an amusement park to the west of the town. He opened a new amusement park on the site in 1937, and then, a year later on 11 June 1938, opened the second of his holiday camps.

 

This location remained open until 1983 when, due to changing holiday tastes, Butlins decided to close the facility. It was then purchased by former managers of the camp who reopened it as a short-lived theme park, called Atlas Park. The land was then sold and redeveloped with housing.

 

A Royal Proclamation

 

So what else happened on the day that Bert posted the card?

 

Well, in Norway, a royal proclamation was issued claiming the uninhabited part of eastern Greenland as Erik the Red's Land.

 

Violence in Bavaria

 

Also on that day, outdoor political rallies were banned in Bavaria due to frequent violence.

 

Alice Munro

 

The 10th. July 1931 also marked the birth, in Wingham, Ontario, Canada, of Alice Munro. Alice is a Canadian short-story writer and 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate.

 

Nick Adams

 

Also born on that day, in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, was Nick Adams (stage name for Nicholas Adamshock). Nick was an American TV actor known for starring in the ABC western The Rebel. He died at the age of 36 of a prescription drug overdose.

 

On the night of the 7th. February 1968, Nick's lawyer and friend, ex-LAPD officer Ervin Roeder, drove to the actor's house at 2126 El Roble Lane in Beverly Hills to check on him after a missed dinner appointment.

 

Seeing a light on and his car in the garage, Roeder broke through a window and discovered Adams in his upstairs bedroom, slumped dead against a wall.

 

During the autopsy Dr. Thomas Noguchi found enough paraldehyde, sedatives and other drugs in the body "to cause instant unconsciousness." The death certificate lists "paraldehyde and promazine intoxication" as the immediate cause of death, along with the notation "accident; suicide; undetermined."

 

During the 1960's, drug interaction warnings were not so prominent as they later would be, and the American Medical Association has subsequently warned that these two types of drugs should never be taken together.

 

Francis Willford Fitzpatrick

 

The 10th. July 1931 also marked the death at the age of 68 of Francis Willford Fitzpatrick. Francis was a Canadian-born American architect known for his advocacy of fireproofing buildings. He died after being struck by a car.

 

An editorial in the 22nd. June 1907 issue of The American Architect and Building News reported that three architects had claimed credit for inventing the skyscraper:

 

-- Leroy Buffington for the 1884 Minneapolis Tribune Building

-- William Le Baron Jenney for the 1884 Home Insurance Building

-- Bradford Lee Gilbert for the 1889 Tower Building

 

The editorial stated that in the opinion of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Jenny had the better claim, although his design was similar to the framing of an 1856 shot tower in the great swamp of New York City.

 

However, the 13th. July 1907 issue of The American Architect and Building News contained a letter from F. W. Fitzpatrick refuting the conclusions of the AIA titled, "The Origination of the Steel Skeleton Idea."

 

In his letter, Fitzpatrick claimed that he himself had designed steel skeletons in support of church towers prior to 1883, and he had sketched the steel column and horizontal beam design for Buffington's 12-story Tribune building when he was working for Buffington in 1883.

 

Then in 1912, an article in The Washington Post credited Fitzpatrick with inventing the skyscraper. Claims about Fitzpatrick's role in early skyscraper design were not actively contested, but the opinion of the AIA may have been more accurate.

 

Fitzpatrick commented on the invention of the skyscraper:

 

"Nevertheless and notwithstanding, I feel a very

deep interest in the question.

You see, they accuse me of inventing the skyscraper.

I do know that I was one of the three men who first

sprung it upon an unsuspecting public, and have built

dozens of it, improved it, fought for it and have been

closely knit with it for forty years, and so I am just silly

enough, kind of Professor Tiernan-like, to defend the

child - since grown into rather robust maturity -

whether I be its sole or joint paternal relative."

 

Final Thoughts from F. W. Fitzpatrick

 

Fitzpatrick was a frequent contributor to various trade publications and newspapers. In his research, historic preservationist Ed Zimmer counted over 200 articles and letters to the editor by Fitzpatrick on architecture and other topics. Fitzpatrick's style was frequently grandiloquent and passionate, but his vision was often accurate:

 

-- On the United States Capitol Building:

 

"Grand in the glaring sun, magnificent in a storm,

weird and specter-like of a dark night, and a dream

of loveliness by moonlight, it stands unsurpassed,

from any point of view, by any building in the world."

 

-- On progress:

 

"Take Virgil or Horace, how frequently they touch

upon the glorious ascension of humanity from

savagery to civilization; but they likewise invariably

comment upon the decadence of that higher

civilization into a posterity more vicious than any

of its ancestors."

 

-- On government:

 

"The State has always punctiliously enforced the

laws that define the duties of the individual toward

itself, but it has, at least in times gone by, rather

reluctantly recognized its obligations toward the

individual, and has seldom added anything to its

code that obligated it in that direction."

 

-- A poem on China:

 

"In China there is no liberty of speech,

nor of the press,

but there is a public opinion and clearly

expressed, nevertheless."

 

-- On Social Security (postal insurance):

 

"How better may we correct that national tendency

(poverty) than by encouraging the laboring class,

from which all the others derive their strength and

are so largely recruited, to save money and be

provident against an evil time or old age?"

 

-- On the handwriting of President Cleveland:

 

"You think a great man, a big man in every sense of

the word, must needs write a great dashing hand?

Not at all. Look at that writing. To the uninitiated it

looks clerky.

It is the writing of a thinker, an original thinker, a man

who can and will do big things, and who brooks no

opposition while he is doing them."

 

-- On corruption at City Hall:

 

"It certainly is most distressing to have a good building

code and an able building inspector in a city and to see

those advantages completely nullified by a council that

will allow certain favorites, privileges not countenanced

by that code and that but spell danger to the entire city

and to all the work that has been well done."

 

-- On the use of concrete in construction:

 

"And so it goes, little by little, what threatened to be

but a craze, and a dangerous one at that, will be gotten

down to its proper sphere of usefulness, and concrete

will become, instead of a thing to be feared, a pliant

and efficient detail of construction."

 

-- On step-back construction in urban planning:

 

"Arrange it so that buildings can be carried up a

certain height, six or seven stories, on narrow

streets, eight or nine on wider streets, on the

street line, then recess or step back so many feet,

and go up another prescribed number of stories

on that line, and then another recess and up again."

 

-- On plate glass:

 

"Plate glass is one of the

great abominations of

modern architecture."

 

-- On the Lincoln Memorial:

 

"My prayer to Congress, to the architectural and to

the lay press, has been that this present appropriation

be diverted to such purpose rather than waste it as it

most certainly will be if the present plans are carried

out.

For Washington is already over-cluttered with Greek

temples, bronze men on circus horses, gravestones

stuck around our parks and streets and other such

"artistic junk" in alleged memory of our warriors and

other heroes.

We are surfeited with such art. In Heaven's name

don't inflict any more upon us!"

 

-- On the boring work of fellow architects:

 

"No, I am not clamoring for an inartistic solution of

our practical problems, but I do vociferously pray

and beseech my fellows to throw away their fetishes,

break up their golden calf and false gods, the Axis,

the Great Temple, the Antique, the abject worship of

All that Has Been."

British postcard.

 

Marion Davies (1897-1961) was one of the great comedic actresses of the silent era. She starred in nearly four dozen films between 1917 and 1937.

 

Marion Davies was born Marion Cecelia Douras in the borough of Brooklyn, New York in 1897. She had been bitten by the show biz bug early as she watched her sisters perform in local stage productions. She wanted to do the same. As Marion got older, she tried out for various school plays and did fairly well. Once her formal education had ended, Marion began her career as a chorus girl in New York City, first in the Pony Follies and eventually in the famous Ziegfeld Follies. Her stage name came when she and her family passed the Davies Insurance Building. One of her sisters called out "Davies!!! That shall be my stage name," and the whole family took on that name. Marion wanted more than to dance. Acting, to her, was the epitome of show business and she aimed her sights in that direction. She had met newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and went to live with him at his San Simeon castle. They stayed together for over 30 years, while Hearst’s wife Millicent resided in New York. Millicent would not grant him a divorce so that he could marry Davies. San Simeon is a spectacular and elaborate mansion, which now stands as a California landmark. At San Simeon, the couple threw elaborate parties, which were frequented by all of the top names in Hollywood and other celebrities including the mayor of New York City, President Calvin Coolidge and Charles Lindbergh. When she was 20, Marion made her first film, Runaway Romany (George W. Lederer, 1917). Written by Marion and directed by her brother-in-law, the film wasn't exactly a box-office smash, but for Marion, it was a start and a stepping stone to bigger things. The following year Marion starred in The Burden of Proof (John G. Adolfi, Julius Steger, 1918) and Cecilia of the Pink Roses (Julius Steger, 1918). Hearst backed the latter film. Because of Hearst's newspaper empire, Marion would be promoted as no actress before her. She appeared in numerous films over the next few years, including the superior comedy Getting Mary Married (Allan Dwan, 1919) with Norman Kerry, the suspenseful The Cinema Murder (George D. Baker, 1919) and the drama The Restless Sex (Leon D'Usseau, Robert Z. Leonard, 1920) with Carlyle Blackwell.

 

In 1922, Marion Davies appeared as Mary Tudor in the historical romantic epic, When Knighthood Was in Flower (Robert G. Vignola, 1922). It was a film into which Hearst poured millions of dollars as a showcase for her. Although Marion didn't normally appear in period pieces, she turned in a wonderful performance and the film became a box office hit. Marion remained busy, one of the staples in movie houses around the country. At the end of the twenties, it was obvious that sound films were about to replace silent films. Marion was nervous because she had a stutter when she became excited and worried she wouldn't make a successful transition to the new medium, but she was a true professional who had no problem with the change. Time after time, film after film, Marion turned in masterful performances. Her best films were the comedies The Patsy (1928) also with Marie Dressler, and Show People (1929) with William Haines, both directed by King Vidor. In 1930, two of her better films were Not So Dumb (King Vidor, 1930) and The Florodora Girl (Harry Beaumont, 1930), with Lawrence Grant. By the early 1930s, Marion had lost her box office appeal and the downward slide began. Hearst tried to push MGM executives to hire Marion for the role of Elizabeth Barrett in The Barretts of Wimpole Street (Sidney Franklin, 1934). Louis B. Mayer had other ideas and hired producer Irving Thalberg's wife Norma Shearer instead. Hearst reacted by pulling his newspaper support for MGM without much impact. By the late 1930s Hearst was suffering financial reversals and it was Marion who bailed him out by selling off $1 million of her jewelry. Hearst's financial problems also spelt the end of her career. Although she had made the transition to sound, other stars fared better and her roles became fewer and further between. In 1937, a 40-year-old Marion filmed her last movie, Ever Since Eve (Lloyd Bacon, 1937) with Robert Montgomery. Out of films and with the intense pressures of her relationship with Hearst, Marion turned more and more to alcohol. Despite those problems, Marion was a very sharp and savvy businesswoman. When Hearst lay dying in 1951 at age 88, Davies was given a sedative by his lawyer. When she awoke several hours later, she discovered that Hearst had passed away and that his associates had removed his body as well as all his belongings and any trace that he had lived there with her. His family had a big formal funeral for him in San Francisco, from which she was banned. Later, Marion married for the first time at the age of 54, to Horace Brown. The union would last until she died of cancer in 1961 in Los Angeles, California. She was 64 years old. Upon Marion’s niece Patricia Van Cleve Lake's death, it was revealed she had been the love child of Davies and Hearst. The love affair of Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst was mirrored in the films Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941), RKO 281 (Benjamin Ross, 1999), and The Cat's Meow (Peter Bogdanovich, 2001). In Citizen Kane (1941), the title character's second wife (played by Dorothy Comingore—an untalented singer whom he tries to promote—was widely assumed to be based on Davies. But many commentators, including Citizen Kane writer/director Orson Welles himself, have defended Davies' record as a gifted actress, to whom Hearst's patronage did more harm than good.

 

Sources: Denny Jackson (IMDb), Wikipedia and IMDb.

 

And, please check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.

Mesita de noche de Marilyn Monroe en la noche de su muerte.

  

Colección de Maite Minguez Ricart

 

Exposición: "Marilyn, más allá del mito"

 

Festival de Cine Clásico RETROBACK 2011

 

Centro Cultural Memoria de Andalucía

 

Granada, Andalucía

 

description from wiki

 

native to North America

   

Cleavers creep along the ground and over the tops of other plants, attaching themselves with the small hooked hairs which grow out of the stems and leaves. The stems can reach up to three feet or longer, and are angular or square shaped.

 

The leaves are simple, narrowly oblanceolate to linear, and borne in whorls of six to eight.

 

Cleavers have tiny, star-shaped, white to greenish flowers, which emerge from early spring to summer. The flowers are clustered in groups of two or three, and are borne out of the leaf axils.[4]

 

The globular fruits grow clustered 1-3 seeds together; and are covered with hooked hairs (a burr) which cling to animal fur, aiding in seed dispersal.[4]

Edibility

 

Galium aparine is edible. The leaves and stems of the plant can be cooked as a leaf vegetable, if gathered before the fruits appear. However, the numerous small hooks which cover the plant and give it its clinging nature, can make it less palatable if eaten raw.[5][6] Geese also thoroughly enjoy eating G. aparine, hence one of its other common names, "goosegrass".[7]

 

Cleavers are in the same family as coffee. The fruits of cleavers have often been dried and roasted, and then used as a coffee substitute (which contains a much lower amount of caffeine).[2][8]

Medicinal uses

 

Chemical constituents of Galium aparine include: iridoid glycosides, caffeine, asperuloside, monotropein, aucubin, phenolic acid, anthraquinone derivatives, flavonoids, coumarins, citric acid and red dye.[9]

 

As a tea, the plant acts medicinally as a diuretic, lymphatic, and detoxifier.[10][6] As a lymphatic tonic, it is used in a wide range of problems involving the lymph system, such as swollen glands (e.g. tonsillitis).[11]

 

Poultices and washes made from cleavers were traditionally used to treat a variety of skin ailments, light wounds and burns.[12] As a pulp, it has been used to relieve poisonous bites and stings.[13] To make a poultice, the entire plant is used, and applied directly to the affected area.[14]

 

The asperuloside in cleavers acts as a mild sedative, and one study showed that cleaver extract lowers the blood pressure of dogs, without slowing their heart rate, or any other dangerous side effects. Ethnobotanist Dr. James A. Duke recommends a dosage of one ounce of dried leaves to a pint of water, 1 to 2 teaspoons of tincture, or 2 to 4 grams of the dried herb in a cup of boiling water, three times daily.[15]

Other uses

 

Dioscorides reported that ancient Greek shepherds would use the barbed stems of cleavers to make a "rough sieve", which could be used to strain milk. Linnaeus later reported the same usage in Sweden -- a tradition that is still practiced in modern times.[12][16]

 

In Europe, the dried, matted foliage of the plant was once used to stuff mattresses. Several of the bedstraws were used for this purpose, due to the fact that the clinging hairs cause the branches to stick together, which enables the mattress filling to maintain a uniform thickness.[17][6]

 

The roots of cleavers can be used to make a permanent red dye.[18]

Why TV? Because You Are Giving It More of Your Life Than You Realize

- Time the average American watches TV each day: 4 hours

- Time the average 65-year old has spent watching TV: 9 years

- Number of hours per day that TV is on in an average U.S. home: 6 hours, 47 minutes

- Percentage of Americans that regularly watch television while eating dinner: 66

- Percentage of Americans who say they watch too much TV: 49

 

- Number of minutes per week parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 3.5

- Number of minutes per week the average child watches television: 1,680

- Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours

- Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500

 

- Number of murders seen on TV by the time an average child finishes elementary school: 8,000

- Number of 30-second TV commercials seen in a year by an average child: 20,000

- Percentage of local TV news broadcast time devoted to advertising: 30

- Percentage devoted to stories about crime, disaster and war: 53.8

- Percentage devoted to public service announcements: 0.7

 

Millions of Americans are so hooked on television that they fit the criteria for substance abuse as defined in the official psychiatric manual, according to Rutgers University psychologist and TV-Free America board member Robert Kubey. Heavy TV viewers exhibit five dependency symptoms–two more than necessary to arrive at a clinical diagnosis of substance abuse. These include:

1) using TV as a sedative;

2) indiscriminate viewing;

3) feeling loss of control while viewing;

4) feeling angry with oneself for watching too much;

5) inability to stop watching; and

6) feeling miserable when kept from watching.

 

Whew, you’re saying to yourself. That’s not ME. I don’t watch THAT much TV. I only watch educational programs, documentaries and Discovery Channel. I limit my viewing, I TiVo and skip the commercials, so I probably don’t have to worry about this at all.

 

Television can just as easily fill the same psychological need as food. You turn on the TV for comfort, as reward, for “company”, for some perceived “human” connection. You turn it on because, well, it’s there. And you let it run, assailing your brains with messages you can’t control, for hour upon hour every single day. When that TV is on, you are not present – not for yourself, nor for those around you. The television turns you into a spectator, not a participant in your own life. And the worst part is that you’re not even aware of what you are doing, and what you are missing as a result.

Solanum nigrum L.

Famiglia solanaceae

Nomi comuni: Erba mora, Erba Morella, Pomidorella, Ballerina.

Un’altra solanacea delle circa 2000 specie presenti, di cui una decina delle quali sono spontanee in Italia. Famiglia di cui fanno parte la melanzana, la patata, l peperone e il pomodoro.

Vegeta in tutto il mondo e in particolare nelle vicinanze delle zone frequentate dall’uomo (Sinantropica).

E’ una pianta tossica anche se, in uno studio risalente al 1927, il botanico svizzero Gustav Hegi, in un suo importante studio, sostiene che in alcuni casi, le bacche siano risultate commestibili, ossie prive delle varie sostanze nocive, come la Solanina.

Curiosità: Il nome generico sembra derivi dl latino “sollievo” in riferimento alle sue proprietà sedative e narcotiche, il nome comune dal colore delle numerose bacche di colore nere.

Nel Medio-Evo era inserita in una sorta di elenco di piante definito il “Catalogo della levatrice”; in oltre, durante gli interventi chirurgici, il suo succo veniva usato per anestetizzare il paziente.

Solanum nigrum L.

family solanaceae

Common names: blackberry Grass , Grass Morella, Pomidorella , Ballerina.

Another solanacea of about 2000 species , of which a dozen of which are spontaneous in Italy. Family which includes eggplant , potato, pepper and the tomato.

Vegeta all over the world and in particular in the vicinity of areas frequented by humans ( synanthropic ) .

It ' a toxic plant even if , in a study dating back to 1927, the Swiss botanist Gustav Hegi , in his important study , says that in some cases, edible berries have been found , ie lacking the various harmful substances , such as Solanine .

 

Curiosity : The generic name seems to derive from the Latin "relief" in reference to its sedative and narcotic , the common name for the color of many berries of black color .

In the Middle Ages it was inserted in a sort of list of plants called the "Catalog of the midwife", in addition , during surgery , its juice was used to anesthetize the patient.

 

Solanum nigrum L.

Familia Solanaceae

Nombres comunes: blackberry Grass , Grass Morella, Pomidorella , bailarina .

Otra solanacea de aproximadamente 2.000 especies , de las cuales una docena de los cuales son espontáneas en Italia. Familia que incluye berenjena, patata, pimiento y tomate.

Vegeta en todo el mundo y en particular en las inmediaciones de las zonas frecuentadas por los seres humanos ( sinantropica ) .

Es una planta tóxica , incluso si , en un estudio que data de 1927, el botánico suizo Gustav Hegi , en su importante estudio , dice que, en algunos casos , se han encontrado bayas comestibles , es decir, que carecen de las diversas sustancias nocivas, como la solanina .

 

Curiosidad : El nombre genérico parece derivar del latìn "alivio" en referencia a sus efectos sedantes y narcóticos , el nombre común para el color de muchas bayas de color negro .

En la Edad Media se inserta en una especie de lista de plantas llamados el "Catálogo de la partera" , además , durante la cirugía, se utilizaba el jugo para anestesiar al paciente.

One of the better shots of the Dragon Bolt with it's rider. Sadly, the boxes obscure the torso somewhat, but they were necessary to support the dragon and, at any rate, very little of the creature's belly (which I tried to make very rounded) would have been visible. I will attempt to photograph its belly quite soon, though.

---STORY---

Well, way back in 2012, I first saw the CGI model of the Dragon Bolt, and I fell in love with the concept. Upon seeing the set, I was half let down and half elated at the usefulness of the set. However, I wanted to build something that would do the CGI model justice. So I started to build. And I quickly ran out of parts, having finished only the front legs, the back ones, the rear end and its head. So I got three more copies of the set, as I was running out of blue. Now, eventually I managed to build the body, and the wings. However, I had nowhere near enough parts to finish the design. At this point, it's fall 2014. I take apart the wings and steal some parts from the dragon's back to use in other MOCs, my Golden Mask Contest entry taking up most of them. I get some more sets, most notably two copies of Surge and Rocka Combat Machine. Then, I hear about this contest. And I decide that I will finish this project, once and for all. And I get to work.

---BACKSTORY---

See www.customherofactory.wikia.com/wiki/Dragon_Bolt_(ThePurpleDragonNinja) for information on my canon's version of the Dragon Bolt. The rider is Abigail Katevnas, who has been assigned by the Hero Factory to research this species, which, despite probably being the most common species in the known galaxy, is quite obscure. As such, a wild Dragon Bolt has been captured and been trained to ignore Abigail to allow her to study it. For safety reasons, Abigail has been outfitted with special grip claws and a line to secure her to the Dragon Bolt in question. In emergencies, her wrist-mounted spikes can be used to administer sedatives.

---OTHER---

I think it's worth mentioning that this is, according to my canon, a newly adult Dragon Bolt. The CGI version or the set is about the size of an adolescent Dragon Bolt. I've also built a hatchling Dragon Bolt, which I will endeavor to post soon.

Griffen's story:

 

I decided it was time to hike out to the New Carissa and see the last of her removed from what I thought would be her final resting place. I thought it might be fun for the boys to hike across the dry mashes instead of four-wheeling or hiking down the beach. And it was fun, the big guys chasing each other and wrestling in front, the little guys tripping along behind. About two-thirds of the way to our destination, the boys came across the most glorious porcupine, the largest I have ever seen! It was as wide as my arm is long! How I wish I had gotten a photo! But I was too busy riding herd on the crew. Griffen (of course, it would be Griffen) ran in for a sniff before I even saw it, and returned sporting seven or eight quills. I was able to call Hamilton off.

 

I pulled several quills in the field, but Griffen caught on to that pretty quick, so we aborted our mission and headed home to get some help from Katie at the warehouse. After about half an hour of down-and-dirty wrestling on the office floor, we were only able to pull two quills. Katie was shaking, I was red in the face, and Griffen was stressed but showing no signs of weakening. I headed for the vet. I received my jaw-dropping price quote, $100 for the emergency visit, $320 more for quill removal, at the front desk. We then went to the examination room, where Griffen's general condition was evaluated. Mary, our vet, commented that he had a great heart, and also noted that he was very fit. She wanted to knock him out to remove the quills so that she could look under his lips and tongue and in his throat, which would have meant that I had to leave him. I really didn't want to do that, so after I demonstrated that we could fully examine his mouth and he would allow her feel around his throat, (just don't touch the quills, lady!) she agreed to give him a sedative, and with my help, pull them out in the examination room. Which would also, by the way, save me about two hundred bucks! After wrestling around on the floor for about fifteen minutes, she suggested we move into the hallway, where we would have more room and we could lay on top of him. She commented several times on his quickness and strength. After another fifteen minutes, we were down to one quill. She managed to pin him to the wall, and I was able to sneak the hemostats under his chin and grab the last quill before he knew I was there!

 

As I was paying the bill, she commented, and I quote, "This dog is as strong as a 110# dog, and I say that with some authority."

 

The sedative kicked in about the time we got home, and Griffen slept the night like a baby. I, on the other hand, awoke frequently to shift my aching body into a more comfortable position.

 

Although I've had dogs my whole life, I've never had a dog as strong as either Hamilton or Griffen. The only dogs I've known that compare to them in strength, are some of the sled dogs that I knew in Alaska. Little 40-45# dogs that you can hardly hang on to if they take a notion to go! I can only surmise that it is diet, as they were fed a high proportion of raw frozen salmon, and my guys are raw, as well.

Night 2 of OXW 2016

Austrian postcard by Iris Verlag, no. 399/2. Photo: Fanamet-Film. Marion Davies in Yolanda (Robert G. Vignola, 1924).

 

Marion Davies (1897-1961) was one of the great comedic actresses of the silent era. She starred in nearly four dozen films between 1917 and 1937.

 

Marion Davies was born Marion Cecelia Douras in the borough of Brooklyn, New York in 1897. She had been bitten by the show biz bug early as she watched her sisters perform in local stage productions. She wanted to do the same. As Marion got older, she tried out for various school plays and did fairly well. Once her formal education had ended, Marion began her career as a chorus girl in New York City, first in the Pony Follies and eventually in the famous Ziegfeld Follies. Her stage name came when she and her family passed the Davies Insurance Building. One of her sisters called out "Davies!!! That shall be my stage name," and the whole family took on that name. Marion wanted more than to dance. Acting, to her, was the epitome of show business and she aimed her sights in that direction. She had met newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and went to live with him at his San Simeon castle. They stayed together for over 30 years, while Hearst’s wife Millicent resided in New York. Millicent would not grant him a divorce so that he could marry Davies. San Simeon is a spectacular and elaborate mansion, which now stands as a California landmark. At San Simeon, the couple threw elaborate parties, which were frequented by all of the top names in Hollywood and other celebrities including the mayor of New York City, President Calvin Coolidge and Charles Lindbergh. When she was 20, Marion made her first film, Runaway Romany (George W. Lederer, 1917). Written by Marion and directed by her brother-in-law, the film wasn't exactly a box-office smash, but for Marion, it was a start and a stepping stone to bigger things. The following year Marion starred in The Burden of Proof (John G. Adolfi, Julius Steger, 1918) and Cecilia of the Pink Roses (Julius Steger, 1918). The latter film was backed by Hearst. Because of Hearst's newspaper empire, Marion would be promoted as no actress before her. She appeared in numerous films over the next few years, including the superior comedy Getting Mary Married (Allan Dwan, 1919) with Norman Kerry, the suspenseful The Cinema Murder (George D. Baker, 1919) and the drama The Restless Sex (Leon D'Usseau, Robert Z. Leonard, 1920) with Carlyle Blackwell.

 

In 1922, Marion Davies appeared as Mary Tudor in the historical romantic epic, When Knighthood Was in Flower (Robert G. Vignola, 1922). It was a film into which Hearst poured millions of dollars as a showcase for her. Although Marion didn't normally appear in period pieces, she turned in a wonderful performance and the film became a box office hit. Marion remained busy, one of the staples in movie houses around the country. At the end of the twenties, it was obvious that sound films were about to replace silent films. Marion was nervous because she had a stutter when she became excited and worried she wouldn't make a successful transition to the new medium, but she was a true professional who had no problem with the change. Time after time, film after film, Marion turned in masterful performances. Her best films were the comedies The Patsy (1928) also with Marie Dressler, and Show People (1929) with William Haines, both directed by King Vidor. In 1930, two of her better films were Not So Dumb (King Vidor, 1930) and The Florodora Girl (Harry Beaumont, 1930), with Lawrence Grant. By the early 1930s, Marion had lost her box office appeal and the downward slide began. Hearst tried to push MGM executives to hire Marion for the role of Elizabeth Barrett in The Barretts of Wimpole Street (Sidney Franklin, 1934). Louis B. Mayer had other ideas and hired producer Irving Thalberg's wife Norma Shearer instead. Hearst reacted by pulling his newspaper support for MGM without much impact. By the late 1930s Hearst was suffering financial reversals and it was Marion who bailed him out by selling off $1 million of her jewelry. Hearst's financial problems also spelt the end of her career. Although she had made the transition to sound, other stars fared better and her roles became fewer and further between. In 1937, a 40-year-old Marion filmed her last movie, Ever Since Eve (Lloyd Bacon, 1937) with Robert Montgomery. Out of films and with the intense pressures of her relationship with Hearst, Marion turned more and more to alcohol. Despite those problems, Marion was a very sharp and savvy businesswoman. When Hearst lay dying in 1951 at age 88, Davies was given a sedative by his lawyer. When she awoke several hours later, she discovered that Hearst had passed away and that his associates had removed his body as well as all his belongings and any trace that he had lived there with her. His family had a big formal funeral for him in San Francisco, from which she was banned. Later, Marion married for the first time at the age of 54, to Horace Brown. The union would last until she died of cancer in 1961 in Los Angeles, California. She was 64 years old. Upon Marion’s niece Patricia Van Cleve Lake's death, it was revealed she had been the love child of Davies and Hearst. The love affair of Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst was mirrored in the films Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941), RKO 281 (Benjamin Ross, 1999), and The Cat's Meow (Peter Bogdanovich, 2001). In Citizen Kane (1941), the title character's second wife (played by Dorothy Comingore—an untalented singer whom he tries to promote—was widely assumed to be based on Davies. But many commentators, including Citizen Kane writer/director Orson Welles himself, have defended Davies' record as a gifted actress, to whom Hearst's patronage did more harm than good.

 

Sources: Denny Jackson (IMDb), Wikipedia and IMDb.

 

And, please check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.

A prescription drug, widely known as lyrica, pregabalin is commonly classified as a sedative, an anxiolytic and a relaxant. It seemed a fairly innocuous drug; so innocuous that I dosed recklessly and got burned with it. I suffered a motion-like sickness, nausea and a very unpleasant inebriation lasting some hours. Subsequently I learned that the rate of fatality associated with its use is currently on a steep upward trajectory. If you are going to use this I would therefore urge the utmost caution.

 

Ref: www.DrugUsersBible.com

I genuinely laughed out loud when I saw this bottle, and knew I had to have it.

 

Belladona comes from a plant called "Deadly Nightshade", cuz..well, it's deadly. It's been used as both a medicine, and a poison for thousands of years. It's generally regarded as unsafe by modern medicine, on account of it being toxic, and whatnot.

 

I'm sure Belladona tastes a lot like death, so naturally you'd want to cover it in some chocolate to yummy it up a bit.

British postcard in the Colourgraph Series, London, no. C 35.

 

Marion Davies (1897-1961) was one of the great comedic actresses of the silent era. She starred in nearly four dozen films between 1917 and 1937.

 

Marion Davies was born Marion Cecelia Douras in the borough of Brooklyn, New York in 1897. She had been bitten by the show biz bug early as she watched her sisters perform in local stage productions. She wanted to do the same. As Marion got older, she tried out for various school plays and did fairly well. Once her formal education had ended, Marion began her career as a chorus girl in New York City, first in the Pony Follies and eventually in the famous Ziegfeld Follies. Her stage name came when she and her family passed the Davies Insurance Building. One of her sisters called out "Davies!!! That shall be my stage name," and the whole family took on that name. Marion wanted more than to dance. Acting, to her, was the epitome of show business and she aimed her sights in that direction. She had met newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and went to live with him at his San Simeon castle. They stayed together for over 30 years, while Hearst’s wife Millicent resided in New York. Millicent would not grant him a divorce so that he could marry Davies. San Simeon is a spectacular and elaborate mansion, which now stands as a California landmark. At San Simeon, the couple threw elaborate parties, which were frequented by all of the top names in Hollywood and other celebrities including the mayor of New York City, President Calvin Coolidge and Charles Lindbergh. When she was 20, Marion made her first film, Runaway Romany (George W. Lederer, 1917). Written by Marion and directed by her brother-in-law, the film wasn't exactly a box-office smash, but for Marion, it was a start and a stepping stone to bigger things. The following year Marion starred in The Burden of Proof (John G. Adolfi, Julius Steger, 1918) and Cecilia of the Pink Roses (Julius Steger, 1918). Hearst backed the latter film. Because of Hearst's newspaper empire, Marion would be promoted as no actress before her. She appeared in numerous films over the next few years, including the superior comedy Getting Mary Married (Allan Dwan, 1919) with Norman Kerry, the suspenseful The Cinema Murder (George D. Baker, 1919) and the drama The Restless Sex (Leon D'Usseau, Robert Z. Leonard, 1920) with Carlyle Blackwell.

 

In 1922, Marion Davies appeared as Mary Tudor in the historical romantic epic, When Knighthood Was in Flower (Robert G. Vignola, 1922). It was a film into which Hearst poured millions of dollars as a showcase for her. Although Marion didn't normally appear in period pieces, she turned in a wonderful performance and the film became a box office hit. Marion remained busy, one of the staples in movie houses around the country. At the end of the twenties, it was obvious that sound films were about to replace silent films. Marion was nervous because she had a stutter when she became excited and worried she wouldn't make a successful transition to the new medium, but she was a true professional who had no problem with the change. Time after time, film after film, Marion turned in masterful performances. Her best films were the comedies The Patsy (1928) also with Marie Dressler, and Show People (1929) with William Haines, both directed by King Vidor. In 1930, two of her better films were Not So Dumb (King Vidor, 1930) and The Florodora Girl (Harry Beaumont, 1930), with Lawrence Grant. By the early 1930s, Marion had lost her box office appeal and the downward slide began. Hearst tried to push MGM executives to hire Marion for the role of Elizabeth Barrett in The Barretts of Wimpole Street (Sidney Franklin, 1934). Louis B. Mayer had other ideas and hired producer Irving Thalberg's wife Norma Shearer instead. Hearst reacted by pulling his newspaper support for MGM without much impact. By the late 1930s Hearst was suffering financial reversals and it was Marion who bailed him out by selling off $1 million of her jewelry. Hearst's financial problems also spelt the end of her career. Although she had made the transition to sound, other stars fared better and her roles became fewer and further between. In 1937, a 40-year-old Marion filmed her last movie, Ever Since Eve (Lloyd Bacon, 1937) with Robert Montgomery. Out of films and with the intense pressures of her relationship with Hearst, Marion turned more and more to alcohol. Despite those problems, Marion was a very sharp and savvy businesswoman. When Hearst lay dying in 1951 at age 88, Davies was given a sedative by his lawyer. When she awoke several hours later, she discovered that Hearst had passed away and that his associates had removed his body as well as all his belongings and any trace that he had lived there with her. His family had a big formal funeral for him in San Francisco, from which she was banned. Later, Marion married for the first time at the age of 54, to Horace Brown. The union would last until she died of cancer in 1961 in Los Angeles, California. She was 64 years old. Upon Marion’s niece Patricia Van Cleve Lake's death, it was revealed she had been the love child of Davies and Hearst. The love affair of Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst was mirrored in the films Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941), RKO 281 (Benjamin Ross, 1999), and The Cat's Meow (Peter Bogdanovich, 2001). In Citizen Kane (1941), the title character's second wife (played by Dorothy Comingore—an untalented singer whom he tries to promote—was widely assumed to be based on Davies. But many commentators, including Citizen Kane writer/director Orson Welles himself, have defended Davies' record as a gifted actress, to whom Hearst's patronage did more harm than good.

 

Sources: Denny Jackson (IMDb), Wikipedia and IMDb.

 

And, please check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.

loaded into the back of a cold C-141 in Frankfurt enroute to Saudi Arabia. Three sheets to the wind, flying jackets on, blankets on heads and Sony Walkman's fired up for noise cancellation (sort of... louder noise on top of other noise) and imaginary fragments of magnetic heat. I remember suggesting meat hooks strung on overhead conveyor tracks to transport us in our cocoon sleeping bags with the Flight Surgeon injecting us with sedatives as we are loaded from the rear of the jet. Randy Leber, the best squadron commander the Air Force ever had, just gave me his typical frown and slapping of the forehead. "Jeez, Estabrook, don't you have someplace to go?" It was a long cold flight to the desert.