Friends of Erowid,

It's been two months since the last Announcement. We have been up to our eyeballs in preparations for the next issue of Erowid Extracts, our member newsletter. This issue focuses on the personal nature of the psychoactive experience and the value and challenges of trying to communicate about those experiences. This includes an analysis of the eight LSD surveys we conducted last fall.

If you aren't already a member, now is a great time to join so you can get the new issue hot off the press in 2 weeks. To join, visit: Erowid.org/donations/

We welcome submissions, suggestions, criticisms, or corrections at submissions@erowid.org.

peace,
fire & earth

SheShamans & Magic Mamas
June 23-25 : Geyserville, CA
http://sheshamans.com/

A conference by and about women psychonauts. This weekend camping event includes speakers, catered food, and all-night music on Saturday. Some indoor accomodations are available. SheShamans looks like it could provide a more intimate setting than most conferences within which to share wisdom about womens' issues and the role of the feminine in both current and traditional use of psychoactives. People of all genders are welcome. [Erowid is not involved in the organization of this event.]

1. Matching Donation Drive a Success!
   
   The spring matching donation drive was a great success. We used all the available funds with two weeks to spare. More than 110 donations were matched during the three month drive. Thanks everyone!
   
   
2. Notes on the Persistence of LSD in Humans
   Erowid.org/chemicals/lsd/lsd_pharmacology1.shtml
   
   We've been updating the page about the myth that LSD stays in the body "forever" and this is a brief article by Jim Ketchum discussing research into how long LSD persists in the body. Also see the updates to: Erowid.org/chemicals/lsd/lsd_myth1.shtml
   
   
3. Kava, an Ethnomedical Review
   Erowid.org/plants/kava/kava_article1.shtml
   
   Overview of Kava culture and use by author and educator Chris Kilham, adapted from his University of Massachusetts Teaching Notes 2000-2005.
   
   
4. New Phyllomedusa bicolor Vault
   Erowid.org/animals/phyllomedusa/phyllomedusa.shtml
   
   Philomedusa bicolor is a large green noctural frog that lives in the trees of the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon. Adult frogs secrete a material which is used by the native Mayoruna indians as a hunting aid.
   
   
5. The Sonoran Desert Toad Archive
   Erowid.org/archive/sonoran_desert_toad/
   
   As of April 2006, Erowid began hosting a static historical snapshot of this website about Bufo alvarius toads.
   
   
6. New Albizia julibrissin Vault
   Erowid.org/herbs/albizia/albizia.shtml
   
   This plant is native to Asia and is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat depression and anxiety.
   
   
7. One New Ask Erowid Question
   Erowid.org/ask/ask.cgi?ID=3107
   
   "Do poppy seeds really contain active levels of opiates?"
   
   
8. Law Vaults
   
   Psychoactive law pages added for five countries including brief summaries and links.
   
   Sweden
   Erowid.org/psychoactives/law/countries/law_sweden.shtml
   Japan
   Erowid.org/psychoactives/law/countries/law_japan.shtml
   Netherlands
   Erowid.org/psychoactives/law/countries/law_netherlands.shtml
   Pakistan
   Erowid.org/psychoactives/law/countries/law_pakistan.shtml
   Israel
   Erowid.org/psychoactives/law/countries/law_israel.shtml
   
   
9. Flotation Tanks Vault
   Erowid.org/tech/floatation/floatation.shtml
   
   Links about this device, first designed in 1954 by John Lilly, and used for inducing sensory deprivation and altered states of consciousness.
   
   
10. Art Vaults
    Erowid.org/culture/art/
    
    Twelve new artists were added to the Visionary Art Vaults in the last two months.
    
    April Featured Artist: H.R. Giger
    Erowid.org/art/artists_g/art_giger_hr.shtml
    
    May Featured Artist: Kazuhiko Nakamura
    Erowid.org/art/artists_n/art_nakamura_kazuhiko.shtml
    
    
11. New Image Vaults
    
    Fourteen new image vaults were added, including:
    
    Erowid.org/plants/tea/tea_images.shtml
    Erowid.org/plants/lactuca/lactuca_images.shtml
    Erowid.org/pharms/amineptine/amineptine_images.shtml
    Erowid.org/pharms/buprenorphine/buprenorphine_images.shtml
    
    
12. New Image Additions
    
    Fourty-two new images were added, including:
    
    Psilocybe semilanceata
    Erowid.org/plants/show_image.php?i=mushrooms/psilocybe_semilanceata24.jpg
    Bufo alvarius toad
    Erowid.org/animals/show_image.php?i=toads/bufo_alvarius__i2005e1977_disp.jpg
    Flowering Milk Thistle
    Erowid.org/herbs/show_image.php?i=milk_thistle/silybum_marianum_flowers__i2005e0276_disp.jpg
    Lupinus nootkatensis
    Erowid.org/herbs/show_image.php?i=nootka_lupine/lupinus_nootkatensis1.jpg
    Mescaline Sulfate
    Erowid.org/chemicals/show_image.php?i=mescaline/mescaline_sulfate__i2006e0387_disp.jpg
    Cocaine
    Erowid.org/chemicals/show_image.php?i=cocaine/cocaine__i2004e0662_disp.jpg
    Lactuca virosa
    Erowid.org/plants/show_image.php?i=lactuca/lactuca_virosa1.jpg
    
    
13. Twenty-four Books added to the Library/Bookstore including:
    Erowid.org/library/books/
    
    "Dangerous Harvest", by Michael K. Steinberg et al.
    Erowid.org/library/books/dangerous_harvest.shtml
    "Medicinal Herbs: A Compendium", by Beatrice Gehrmann et al.
    Erowid.org/library/books/medicinal_herbs.shtml
    "The Playful World", by Mark Pesce
    Erowid.org/library/books/playful_world.shtml
    "Lysergic Acid & Ritalin in the Treatment of Neurosis", by T. Ling & J. Buckman
    Erowid.org/library/books/lysergic_acid_ritalin.shtml
    "Altering American Consciousness", by S.W. Tracy & C.J. Acker
    Erowid.org/library/books/altering_american_consciousness.shtml
    
    
14. 533 New Experience Reports
    Erowid.org/experiences/exp.cgi?DateRange&Y1=2006&M1=03&D1=23&Y2=2006&M2=05&D2=29
    
    

For a more complete listing of What's New at Erowid go to:
Erowid.org/new.php

Conducts laboratory testing of street Ecstasy tablets.

Between Mar 23 and May 29, results were posted for five tablets.
http://www.ecstasydata.org/results.php?A=DateRange&Y1=2006&M1=03&D1=23&M2=05&D2=29



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