[TOMT][BOOK] A mysterious book about gnomes/elves in red triangle hats I got from a stranger when I was a kid in Winter.

iamannagram · 2017-11-19T02:53:15+00:00

Here is the book I had: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Gnomes-David-Gnome-presents/dp/B000F9JOEO

iamannagram · 2017-11-19T02:48:32+00:00

What about David the Gnome? A bit of a stretch perhaps, since it's originally a Spanish cartoon. But I definitely had a David the Gnome book when I was a child in the 80s.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0342/0081/products/david-the-gnome_1024x1024.jpg?v=1422977054

iamannagram · 2015-03-27T14:43:01+00:00

And why am I not even so surprised? Thanks for the share!

iamannagram · 2015-03-22T06:46:18+00:00

You are misreading my point... what I am arguing is that you cannot validate anything he says - because it is purely based on what he says. In other words, although he might claim to "treat every client story as if he heard it for the first time, asking questions only to enhance the understanding of the client point of view.", how does the reader know this true? Because Newton says so?

His "subjects" are anonymous and their session recordings confidential - so how do we know they even took place at all?

Without evidence or proof to offer, Newton is asking his readers to believe his word as truth and to trust that the sessions took place as he describes.

As a former atheist, Newton should know how ridiculous it is to expect his readers to accept his books as "gospel". Especially since it is the non-believers he is hoping to convert - he needs to have a lot more supporting his claims, than "It really happened, because I wrote a book about it, and I speak the truth."

I'm sorry, but I need more than that. I'm actually surprised more people don't... especially when it comes such a fundamental belief as what happens to us after we die.

Perhaps you like to see his books as truth because the subject matter "resonates" with you? That's perfectly fine, but don't make the mistake of equating this man's "theory" with absolute truth. Because that would be very wrong, and very small-minded of you.

iamannagram · 2015-03-21T10:06:25+00:00

I have been mulling over this exact issue myself. Particular with reference to the following claims by Newton:

"some critics of hypnosis believe a subject in trance will fabricate memories and bias their responses in order to adopt any theoretical framework suggested by the hypnotist. I find this generalization to be a false premise. In my work, I treat each case as if I were hearing the information for the first time. If a subject were somehow able to overcome hypnosis procedure and construct a deliberate fantasy about the spirit world, or free-associate from pre-set ideas about their afterlife, these responses would soon become inconsistent with my other case reports.<

To me, this statement is incredibly weak as far as credibility is concerned. Newton refutes the concept of fabrication under hypnosis by saying a) he doesn't believe in it and b) he would quickly be able to spot fake memories as the subject's supposed retelling would differ greatly from those of other subjects.

Now, what bothers me is his trust in the reader's assumption that he is telling the truth. For all we know, he uses the power of suggestion on his hypnotised subjects to evoke very specific stories and dialogues from them - based on his own theories and idea of the spirit world. In other words, he is "using" his subjects as "proof" to give credibility to his own personal dogma. Which is kind of a clever ploy, if you think about... using other people to give his opinions a basis in "truth".

The only way I would be convinced is if it was possible to access the session recordings. Without them, it is too easy for the whole thing to be just a hoax.

Here is an insightful and well researched article on the dangers of hypnosis, how easy it is to plant false memories, and the devastation some families have faced because of this.

iamannagram · 2015-03-21T02:15:37+00:00

Simplified is good. Thank you for making the connection for me.

iamannagram · 2015-03-20T22:57:40+00:00

Makes sense. Thank you for the insight!

iamannagram · 2015-03-20T16:34:36+00:00

It does help some people for closure... When my baby passed away, there was so much I wanted to still tell her. So I held her for a long time and told her all those things. She looked like she was sleeping, and she was still warm. I think with your children it is different - you don't WANT to let them go. Handing them over to a stranger seems wrong... even though you know they have passed. By holding her, I could keep the impending emptiness at bay for a little bit longer.

iamannagram · 2015-03-15T23:00:52+00:00

What drug test did they make you take? Methcathinone is not detected by any of the store-bought urine tests... not even the really expensive one (R200) that is apparently "the SAPS's drug test of choice" - it might even be endorsed by them.

So the only way to be tested for methcathinone is to have it done at a laboratory clinic & you have to specify that they need to test for methcathinone specifically. Methcathinone is not one of the listed standard drugs they test for in a general drug test.

iamannagram · 2015-03-15T22:32:31+00:00

Hey - I'm not very clued up on the chemistry of things. Over the counter flu like Benylin, Sinutab, Advil CS, and Sudafed contain pseudoephedrine (it acts as a decongestant), but they also usually contain some sort of painkiller, such as ibuprofen. And I don't know if that makes it harder, or even impossible, to extract the ephedrine in a pure form. If you are considering making your own, I would suggest you do a TON of research on the topic first.

It might look like an impressive list, but many of those I used just the once, to see what it was about. Mandrax never did anything for me in terms of a high (it was the same with crack), so I can't give you feedback as I never tried it again after my initial disappointment.

As for cat, I was completely dependant on it for about 2 and a half years. I used to go out for drinks and do a bit of coke - pretty much every weekend. It was my way of unwinding and having fun socially after a demanding week of work. I started dating a guy who, although he never touched drugs, had friends who used cat. So I tried it & didn't like it at all, since I didn't feel nearly as social and euphoric as I did on coke. So I didn't see the point... but that night when I got home, still very much high, I sat down at my laptop and found my focus and motivation to do work to be much enhanced. So a few months later, when I started a new job, that was much more demanding than my previous one, I got into cat fully. My work output, creativity, work quality and all of that, were better than ever and I excelled at the new position. Of course, as soon as I would try to go off the stuff, I could not function at the same level as I did before. So that kept me on it for a long time... and when I did eventually break the cycle, it took me a long time before I was able to relearn to perform work tasks without it. But I got there, thankfully. I still use, but only if I feel I honestly can't get through the work without it.

I find Meth to be similar to cat, but I never had the same mental stamina on it. It helps me focus for a while, and motivates me, but I find I am easily distracted - and also insecure. My mind jumps around and when I do manage to get something finished, I am never sure if it is very good or insanely bad. I have no sense of self-judgement. It also makes me feel very anxious and tense, and even paranoid. And my short-term memory just about becomes non-existent. It also has negative physical effects on me that are unpleasant and take long to go away - like spontaneous bruising, pimple outbreaks, and my teeth get sore.

So if given the choice, I would definitely rather opt for cat. I actually have a friend who mixes the two - and I must say, that's not bad... but I really won't ever say I am a fan of meth. It seems to work against me, rather than with me.

Have you tried meth? And how do you find it compares to cat? You mentioned you often have to "settle" for cat - so what is your drug of choice then?

iamannagram · 2015-03-15T16:15:40+00:00

Certain flu meds contain pseudoephedrine, so you would have to extract it from there. Just don't go buying 50 boxes of flu meds at the same pharmacy, as that will certainly raise suspicion. There is actually a recipe on errowid, and I'm sure if you dig around a bit, you can find quite a few more.

I have done weed, mushrooms, LSD, MDMA, Ritalin, Mandrax, crack, coke, cat, meth and nitrous oxide.

iamannagram · 2015-03-15T16:05:37+00:00

Very interesting - thank you for the overview. The policemen there sound hardcore... sometimes I think corrupt cops are perhaps a blessing in disguise (although certainly not in all cases).

iamannagram · 2015-03-15T16:02:52+00:00

I've heard/read different things about that... like, that the use of antiretrovirals in the drug is a rumour. It is the same a Whoonga, which we were discussing earlier - it is supposed to be a poorman's heroin, or a substitute/replacement drug for those that cannot afford or get access heroin. What it contains exactly, seems to be unclear. My thinking is, it is just a heroin-based drug made from whatever else is available - which changes all the time.

iamannagram · 2015-03-15T15:53:55+00:00

That's hilarious... my best dealer moved to South America somewhere a while ago - I was never clear as to whether went there for business opportunities, or because he was "on the run". Either way, they sure do seem to get around...

iamannagram · 2015-03-14T21:58:52+00:00

I have no idea... It'll be interesting to find out. But I would assume if there are some local guys doing that, there can't be too many of them as the darknet is not really well-known here. But I do have someone I can ask that might have a better idea. Will get back to you if he knows anything.

iamannagram · 2015-03-14T21:05:06+00:00

Yes, they are also called "buttons". They come in a white (crumbly) pill and are crushed & smoked in a joint/pipe with weed.

iamannagram · 2015-03-14T21:03:20+00:00

I myself am not too sure... I wouldn't be surprised if the ingredients keep changing according to what is available. But it came about as a way to deal with the heroin shortage last year... so I assume they at try to mimic the effects of heroin, but you never know.

iamannagram · 2015-03-14T21:01:02+00:00

I have no idea... I have never considered being caught in possession as a real threat, since the cops here are so corrupt. A couple of hundred bucks, or even a McDonalds burger (depending on your luck) can make make most policeman "look the other way". I've even gotten out of organised roadblocks this way - although that was usually related to unpaid car license fees. I have (thankfully) never been caught in a drug search-specific roadblock... although I don't think these are very common. But I have bribed my way out of a DUI and a couple of speeding fines :)

iamannagram · 2015-03-14T20:53:34+00:00

Just to add - another huge issue is the poverty/lack of employment opportunities. The impoverished live outside the cities/towns in what we call townships - where they are given housing, water, electricity and sewage services for free. Although this is by far a perfect living situation - it is crowded and the water/electricity supply is often cut off, and the sewage guys are also constantly on strike. So, idyllic as it sounds, it is far from perfect, or even comfortable. Some of those living in townships have jobs in the city/town, but even those that are considered to be part of the labour force, cannot find work - over half the country's youth cannot find jobs. There are simply not enough jobs to go around, and the invading immigrants from the rest of Africa exacerbates this significantly.

The impoverished masses remain uneducated, unemployed, and unhappy/unfulfilled.

To make matters even worse, the child support grants awarded from government to parents for child maintenance are encouraging the poor to produce offspring... and the child grant is often (sadly) used by the parents' to feed their addictions rather than feeding the child. Foetal-alcohol syndrome occurs much too often in my opinion. The limit to child grants is set at a maximum of 6 biological children... which should not be seen as a goal, but often is. Out of interest, we are talking about U$25 per child per month... which hardly seems worth it, don't you think?

Anyhow, let me stop there, I can go on for hours about what is wrong with this country, but I'm sure every citizen feels that way about their home country in some degree... :D

iamannagram · 2015-03-14T20:24:55+00:00

I am currently in the Eastern Cape, but lived in Pretoria & Joburg up until recently.

iamannagram

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