finding cain

A few months ago, the world was introduced to a novel coronavirus—a pathogen that causes COVID-19. The disease has evolved into a full-blown pandemic, and has already claimed the lives of more than two hundred thousand people worldwide. Experts fear that number could get far higher. Pandemics have played a role in shaping the course of human history. Empires have fallen. Generations have been annihilated. In 1518 in France, the weirdest plague to strike mankind occurred: The Dancing Plague. For no apparent reason, hundreds of people began dancing in the streets uncontrollably, and they continued until they dropped dead. "From a distance they might be carnival revellers. But closer inspection reveals a more disquieting scene. Their arms are flailing and their bodies are convulsing spasmodically. Ragged clothes and pinched faces are saturated in sweat. Their eyes are glassy, distant. Blood seeps from swollen feet into leather boots and wooden clogs. These are not revellers bu...

I'm a creature of repetition when it comes to movies and television programs. When Fight Club appears in the TV schedule, I sit through it for the nth time, already knowing every line of the screenplay. I have been rewatching The Sopranos from my quarantine couch. And believe it or not, the HBO series made its debut 21 years ago. On the surface, it's about crime, hate, and philandering mobsters, but it's more than that (as most mafia stories are). It's also about family, love, loyalty, and people standing up for themselves and each other. There are three moments from The Sopranos that stand out clearly in my memory. First, when Adriana got whacked. Second, when Dr. Melfi, was raped in a parking garage. Third, and my favorite, was the scene in which Chris and Paulie Walnuts got lost in the woods. What began as a simple task for the two - killing someone from the Russian mob - fell apart when the guy escaped and vanished into the snow-covered forest. Before Chris ...

Have A Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics is an upcoming documentary from Netflix featuring a bunch of celebrities, including Ben Stiller, Sting, the Grateful Dead's Bill Kreutzmann, Anthony Bourdain, and more talking about drugs like LSD, shrooms and mescaline. I think you will enjoy this doc if – You're into mind expansion and tripping. – You like seeing Nick Offerman playing another arrogant genius. – You prefer your documentaries to be fun and satirical, because life these days is getting rough. – Sarah Silverman is your life guru. – The concept of alternate universes and time loops appeals to you. – Hearing A$AP Rocky talking about his penis makes you ecstatic. – You are not yet exhausted by the endless parade of documentary series on Netflix. Written and directed by Donick Cary, Have A Good Trip is out on May 11. Check out the trailer below:

People are finally figuring out that weed is a fantastic aphrodisiac The Last Juke Joint Meet the woman using art to demystify sex work The Book of the Dead: A Practical Guide for the Recently Deceased What It's Like to Have Your Severe Depression Treated With a Hallucinogenic Drug The Rise of the Millennial Sitcom A King in His Castle: How Donald Trump Lives, From His Longtime Butler 6 cool things you can make from old jeans The Art of the Playlist Meet Gaelynn Lea, the winner of NPR's second annual Tiny Desk Contest Closing Apps to Save Your Battery Only Makes Things Worse How one man found his way out of depression, thanks to Alan Watts

The folks over at the  Time-Lapse Blog had some expired pills from the cabinet, so instead of throwing them away, they decided to dissolve them in water and film them in time-lapse. According to the site, the pills "took significantly different amounts of time to dissolve." The red one dissolved the fastest, while the green Excedrin "took forever to fully open." Thanks for the tip, Mike.

Back in the 70s, print ads offering all kinds of cocaine paraphernalia could be found in popular magazines like High Times and Hustler . The World's Best Ever , one of my favorite art and culture sites, unearthed a bunch of vintage advertisements promoting spoons, straws and vials for the sophisticated coke users. Here are a few of my favorites:

Some people find writing under the influence a breeze. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde  during a six day, six night cocaine binge. Ken Kesey penned One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest while he was on LSD. British novelist Lee Child, author of Killing Floor and 61 Hours , admits he writes while high on cannabis.    While it's true that using psychoactive substances can help bring your creative endeavors to life, it can also make you think something's a great idea, when in reality, it's just a random, nonsensical shit. In 2004, while on vacation in Boracay, I tried to write inside my hotel room after partaking in some dope festivity: five bong hits, two bottles of light beer and lots of pizza. This was the result: I'm here at the beach, a mere mortal in boardshorts and sandals, breathing some fresh air while walking on a hot summer evening. You're inside your expensive hotel room, typing away on your laptop while listen...

Our dinner included small chunks of crocodile meat served on a sizzling platter. It wasn't the first time I've eaten croc, but it was the first time I've done it with my wife. Anne is not into exotic dishes, but she took a small bite just to try it. The meat was tender and delicious, and I ate the sisig like candy. I smiled at my wife and sipped my beer. A few minutes later an old friend called, sounding stressed out.    They found him living alone in an old concrete house in Santa Magdalena, a nice little coastal town in Sorsogon, bounded by Bulusan, Matnog and Irosin. They found him after three years of rigorous searching, three years of false tips, and three years of unanswered prayers.    On the night of April 23, 2012 in Makati City, Danny stabbed a 27-year-old car salesman in his right shoulder. The victim was found in his two-bedroom condo unit bleeding, half-naked, but still alive. There were bruises on his face and abdomen, and different drug parapherna...