Aldux Huxley took mescalin in the spring of 1953. At this point in time mescalin had been researched for over seventy years. His experiences were not what his predictions entailed. He was prepared by descriptions by authors Blake and A.E. He was with trusted friends and the provider who is known as the investigator while the duration of the effects of the drug ensued.
His antcipation of visual shapes seen behind closed eyes was not what he saw as the first sign of the drug's effects. He was in his first hour of taking the drug when he noticed a row of lights that appeared to be dancing and with a golden light surrounding their ballet. Soon after he saw a row of red power nods, blinking powerfully and emitting strong red glows. The flowers in his study along with anything else he took notice of seemed to have a more vivid beauty to them.
His predictions of the drug's effects were close but in no means excact. He was in waiting of seeing large multi-colored geometrical designs that are lavisly deisigned with stones of great value. He was never invisioned by heroic figures and the bodies of large mammal animals. He did on occasion see gray strutures with his eye's closed, but not with as much color as things he could see with eyes open.
After sometime, his colleagues began to question the physicological effects the drug had on him. When Huxley was asked about spaital relationships he found that the answer elleuded him. He was no longer conciously pondering the basic ideas behind spaital relationships. His eyes and mind never even contemplated questions like "Where?--How far?--How situated in relationship to what?" This is might have something to do with his conception for the room that his friends described to him was slightly altered, in the sense that the corners of the room were not meeting in right angles.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Hunter S. Thompon's "Hell's Angles"
Hunter S. Thompson was one of two journalist to be accepted in the social cirlces of the notorious motorcylce outlaw club known as "Hell's Angles." He became associated with them to a level or casuality to even having them over to his house in large numbers. He was invovled with them on a dialy basis for near a year. His time's with them showed a keen insight on their way of life and their own take on American culture. He was lucky to have been able to be part of the counter culture of the sixities and have some sort of understanding as to why the memebers of "Hell's Angles" live life the way they do.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Anglo-Saxon Culture and Beowulf
"Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon Culture Blog Report:"
The Anglo-Saxons were greatly prided in the status of the warrior within their society. Any person of power was primarily a king, all of whom were remembered by their deeds and how they lead their life. Many different lives other than Beowulf’s are detailed within the poem. Shield a Danish king after his father the former king Sheaf, who was an orphan who grew to be king. His son, who’s name was Grain was wise with his position of importance and gave many gifts to common people while he was young so that they would follow him like his father and his father before him. Many but not all of these kings choose to be burnt in a ship for their funeral.
The Anglo-Saxon culture was also one similar to what is currently called the United Kingdom. It was for a large part isolated from the main body of the continent of Europe. This fact may have influenced the curiosity of the Anglo-Saxon culture to sail abroad and explore the outside world. This is all and well but in many cases these explorations turned into a mixture of curiosity and Anglo-Saxon warrior culture, a barbaric type of culture that may not be entirely understood by a culture that doesn’t uphold great amounts of loyalty. The Anglo-Saxons had only one way to build a reputation among their fellow people of culture in the highly disorganized and large Anglo-Saxon area of influence. Their words and actions were the only way a man would be known. Any great man who was known would be remembered by his deeds and his relations to other known people of great renown. This was because a high level of respect was absolute if peace was to be maintained, which it often was not.
It is easy to assume that a reputation was one that must be protected at all cost. If that cost is seeking help from heroes from the Anglo-Saxon culture, such as Hrothgar called upon aid to rid his country of Grendel. This level of seriousness was not only take into account for friends and the help they needed, but also the account of foes, which I can only assume greatly out numbered the numbers of friends one would find themselves with in the Anglo-Saxon culture. This grave statistic is enough to give any man in this era a sense of honor and at the same time a large ego that could lead whole kingdoms to war.
There are two main examples of these traits of the Anglo-Saxon culture exemplified in Beowulf, Hrothgar a noble and old king of the Danes who was a great king but not is plagued by an evil beast known as Grendle. He was a king of great renown and was a good example of Anglo-Saxon culture in the political sense, he was a King and harnessed great power because of it, power enough to will others to help him in his time of need, which shows that he was well known in his area of the world. The warrior who answered his request of help was a young Geat, the song of the Geat King Healfedene, Beowulf. He is the example of a Hrothgar in the making; he is a young man who must show his input to the world around him through fighting and adventure.
Beowulf was first and foremost an example of the Anglo-Saxon warrior culture. He was highly well known as a formidable warrior who was known for such deeds as fighting a "Family of Giants" and "Sea Monsters" and had come from his home land to Hrothgar’s kingdom to fight the troublesome Grendle. This showed that as a young man he sought fame and glory through his deeds, the number one to gain renown in a culture based on voyeurism.
Beowulf also showed the signs of respect that were expected in his culture. He honored the heroes of old such as Hrothgar. He was wise in knowing that to do deeds for the past deed doers "in bravery seeking a loyal friend" he would find the friends he sought. This also defined Beowulf as a man of character and a sense of loyalty to those whom he likes and seeks to be liked by.
He is also in a sense isolated much like the Anglo-Saxon culture was. Beowulf was a strong silent type who depended solely upon himself, his actions, and words to determine his fate. Much like the many kings of the various kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon culture. This is one of the main attributes a king of a proud people of a distinguished culture must posses.
Beowulf and various heroes mentioned in the poem of Beowulf are all very distinguished for various acts of bravery, courage, and daring. Their traits and much like the heroes we see today, their actions are very much different. The only heroes whose actions resemble the culture of Anglo-Saxon culture are action movie heroes who follow the violent barbaric nature of the Anglo-Saxon era. The real heroes of our modern day are very different from Beowulf, people whose actions are well known are known as celebrities and not heroes. Some of these are heroes in the sense they are well known, but not many have very heroic deeds under their belts.
Beowulf’s death was appropriate for his style of life. I figure he figured what many good musicians have figured out, it is better to burn out then to fade away. He was a famous and loved king for his slaying of Grendel and helping the Danes, and he could have chosen to die old and in peace, but this was not what Beowulf or any hero would do when a dragon was living in their region harassing their people. Though old and hardened by battle, weakened from time Beowulf rode out again to rise to the challenge life presented him. He fought the dragon bravery and in the middle of the battle the "dragon
A third time rushed, hot and battle-grim. He bit Beowulf's neck
With sharp tusks—Beowulf was wet with life's blood;
Blood gushed in waves." Yet even after this "The King controlled his senses, drew his battle knife, bitter and battle sharp, which he carried on his mail, and cut the dragon through the middle." These actions were Beowulf’s last before death. I felt he lived and died honorably in the Anglo-Saxon and heroic cultures.
The Anglo-Saxons were greatly prided in the status of the warrior within their society. Any person of power was primarily a king, all of whom were remembered by their deeds and how they lead their life. Many different lives other than Beowulf’s are detailed within the poem. Shield a Danish king after his father the former king Sheaf, who was an orphan who grew to be king. His son, who’s name was Grain was wise with his position of importance and gave many gifts to common people while he was young so that they would follow him like his father and his father before him. Many but not all of these kings choose to be burnt in a ship for their funeral.
The Anglo-Saxon culture was also one similar to what is currently called the United Kingdom. It was for a large part isolated from the main body of the continent of Europe. This fact may have influenced the curiosity of the Anglo-Saxon culture to sail abroad and explore the outside world. This is all and well but in many cases these explorations turned into a mixture of curiosity and Anglo-Saxon warrior culture, a barbaric type of culture that may not be entirely understood by a culture that doesn’t uphold great amounts of loyalty. The Anglo-Saxons had only one way to build a reputation among their fellow people of culture in the highly disorganized and large Anglo-Saxon area of influence. Their words and actions were the only way a man would be known. Any great man who was known would be remembered by his deeds and his relations to other known people of great renown. This was because a high level of respect was absolute if peace was to be maintained, which it often was not.
It is easy to assume that a reputation was one that must be protected at all cost. If that cost is seeking help from heroes from the Anglo-Saxon culture, such as Hrothgar called upon aid to rid his country of Grendel. This level of seriousness was not only take into account for friends and the help they needed, but also the account of foes, which I can only assume greatly out numbered the numbers of friends one would find themselves with in the Anglo-Saxon culture. This grave statistic is enough to give any man in this era a sense of honor and at the same time a large ego that could lead whole kingdoms to war.
There are two main examples of these traits of the Anglo-Saxon culture exemplified in Beowulf, Hrothgar a noble and old king of the Danes who was a great king but not is plagued by an evil beast known as Grendle. He was a king of great renown and was a good example of Anglo-Saxon culture in the political sense, he was a King and harnessed great power because of it, power enough to will others to help him in his time of need, which shows that he was well known in his area of the world. The warrior who answered his request of help was a young Geat, the song of the Geat King Healfedene, Beowulf. He is the example of a Hrothgar in the making; he is a young man who must show his input to the world around him through fighting and adventure.
Beowulf was first and foremost an example of the Anglo-Saxon warrior culture. He was highly well known as a formidable warrior who was known for such deeds as fighting a "Family of Giants" and "Sea Monsters" and had come from his home land to Hrothgar’s kingdom to fight the troublesome Grendle. This showed that as a young man he sought fame and glory through his deeds, the number one to gain renown in a culture based on voyeurism.
Beowulf also showed the signs of respect that were expected in his culture. He honored the heroes of old such as Hrothgar. He was wise in knowing that to do deeds for the past deed doers "in bravery seeking a loyal friend" he would find the friends he sought. This also defined Beowulf as a man of character and a sense of loyalty to those whom he likes and seeks to be liked by.
He is also in a sense isolated much like the Anglo-Saxon culture was. Beowulf was a strong silent type who depended solely upon himself, his actions, and words to determine his fate. Much like the many kings of the various kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon culture. This is one of the main attributes a king of a proud people of a distinguished culture must posses.
Beowulf and various heroes mentioned in the poem of Beowulf are all very distinguished for various acts of bravery, courage, and daring. Their traits and much like the heroes we see today, their actions are very much different. The only heroes whose actions resemble the culture of Anglo-Saxon culture are action movie heroes who follow the violent barbaric nature of the Anglo-Saxon era. The real heroes of our modern day are very different from Beowulf, people whose actions are well known are known as celebrities and not heroes. Some of these are heroes in the sense they are well known, but not many have very heroic deeds under their belts.
Beowulf’s death was appropriate for his style of life. I figure he figured what many good musicians have figured out, it is better to burn out then to fade away. He was a famous and loved king for his slaying of Grendel and helping the Danes, and he could have chosen to die old and in peace, but this was not what Beowulf or any hero would do when a dragon was living in their region harassing their people. Though old and hardened by battle, weakened from time Beowulf rode out again to rise to the challenge life presented him. He fought the dragon bravery and in the middle of the battle the "dragon
A third time rushed, hot and battle-grim. He bit Beowulf's neck
With sharp tusks—Beowulf was wet with life's blood;
Blood gushed in waves." Yet even after this "The King controlled his senses, drew his battle knife, bitter and battle sharp, which he carried on his mail, and cut the dragon through the middle." These actions were Beowulf’s last before death. I felt he lived and died honorably in the Anglo-Saxon and heroic cultures.
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