Father of LSD Albert Hoffman dies at 102

Albert Hofmann, the father of the mind-altering drug LSD whose medical discovery inspired — and arguably corrupted — millions in the 1960s hippie generation, has died. He was 102.
He died Tuesday at his home in Burg im Leimental, said Doris Stuker, a municipal clerk in the village near Basel where Hofmann moved following his retirement in 1971.
For decades after LSD was banned in the late 1960s, Hofmann defended his invention.
"I produced the substance as a medicine. ... It's not my fault if people abused it," he once said.
The Swiss chemist discovered lysergic acid diethylamide-25 in 1938 while studying the medicinal uses of a fungus found on wheat and other grains at the Sandoz pharmaceuticals firm in Basel.He became the first human guinea pig of the drug when a tiny amount of the substance seeped onto his finger during a laboratory experiment on April 16, 1943.
"I had to leave work for home because I was suddenly hit by a sudden feeling of unease and mild dizziness," he subsequently wrote in a memo to company bosses.
He said his initial experience resulted in "wonderful visions."
"What I was thinking appeared in colors and in pictures," he told a Swiss television network for a program marking his 100th birthday two years ago. "It lasted for a couple of hours and then it disappeared."Three days later, Hofmann experimented with a larger dose. The result was a horror trip.
"Everything I saw was distorted as in a warped mirror," he said, describing his bicycle ride home. "I had the impression I was rooted to the spot. But my assistant told me we were actually going very fast."
"The substance which I wanted to experiment with took over me. I was filled with an overwhelming fear that I would go crazy. I was transported to a different world, a different time," Hofmann wrote.Hofmann and his scientific colleagues hoped that LSD would make an important contribution to psychiatric research. The drug exaggerated inner problems and conflicts and thus it was hoped that it might be used to recognize and treat mental illnesses like schizophrenia.
For a time, Sandoz sold LSD 25 under the name Delysid, encouraging doctors to try it themselves. It was one of the strongest drugs in medicine — with just one gram enough to drug an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people for 12 hours.
LSD was elevated to international fame in the late 1950s and 1960s thanks to Harvard professor Timothy Leary who embraced the drug under the slogan "turn on, tune in, drop out."
But away from the psychedelic trips, horror stories emerged about people going on murder sprees or jumping out of windows while hallucinating. Heavy users suffered permanent psychological damage.
The U.S. government banned LSD in 1966 and other countries followed suit.
Hofmann maintained this was unfair, arguing that the drug was not addictive. He repeatedly argued for the ban to be lifted to allow LSD to be used in medical research.Peter Oehen, a psychiatrist in the Swiss town of Biberist, says substances such as LSD and MDMA — also known as ecstasy — can produce results where conventional psychotherapies fail.
"They help overcome the wall of denial that some patients build up," said Oehen, who met Hofmann and has studied his work.
Hofmann welcomed a decision by Swiss authorities last December to allow LSD to be used in a psychotherapy research project.
"For me, this is a very big wish come true. I always wanted to see LSD get its proper place in medicine," he told Swiss TV at the time.
Hofmann took the drug — purportedly on an occasional basis and out of scientific interest — for several decades.
"LSD can help open your eyes," he once said. "But there are other ways — meditation, dance, music, fasting."
Even so, the self described "father" of LSD readily agreed that the drug was dangerous if in the wrong hands. This was reflected by the title of his 1979 book: "LSD - my problem child."
In it he wrote that, "The history of LSD to date amply demonstrates the catastrophic consequences that can ensue when its profound effect is misjudged and the substance is mistaken for a pleasure drug." Hofmann retired from Sandoz in 1971 and devoted his time to travel, writing and lectures.
"This is really a high point in my advanced age," Hofmann said at a ceremony in Basel honoring him on his 100th birthday. "You could say it is a consciousness-raising experience without LSD."

Culled from associated press/yahoo news.

Vera Ikeji

Someone asked me to post pictures of me, i have obliged them.

I have hundreds of pictures, but i think these ten will do. lol. On vacation, Jan. 2008
March 2008, at the Eko hotel and Suites
Photo session last year
Celebrating the new year. Jan. 2008
Relaxing at home At work
Another photo session last year
Chilling at home
Yet another photo session last year, lol.
At work

Daughter kept in cellar for 24 years by her father

An Austrian man, 73 year old Josef Fritzl has been arrested for keeping his daughter in captivity for 24 years. Elizabeth Fritzl at 18.

Elizabeth Fritzl was 18 when her father tricked her to go with him into their cellar. He drugged and handcuffed her, locked her up and then made her bear him 7 children, 1 of whom died few days after he was born(he was a twin).

3 of the children, Lisa,15, Monika,14, and Alexander 12,all lived normal lives with their father/grandfather and their grand mother while the other 3, Kersten,19, Stefan, 18 and the youngest child Felix,5 were kept in the cellar with their mum. These kids were locked up all their lives without fresh air, sunlight, nor activity with other people, NOTHING!

Elizabeth's father, Josef, forced her to write a letter saying that she was well, but couldn't support her children and would like her parents to take charge of them. This letter was 'supposedly' left by Elizabeth in front of her parents door step along with the three children.(This was how the other three children came to live normal lives).

This carried on for years without anyone knowing anything about it. What baffles me is that his wife,Rosemary, Elizabeth's mum claims not to know anything about her daughter's captivity. I find this VERY hard to believe though.

What brought this whole incident to light was Kersten's ailment. On April 19, Elisabeth's eldest daughter was admitted to a hospital suffering from an unidentified infection.
Doctors, unable to find any medical records for the girl, appealed on TV for her mother to come forward. Fritzl then accompanied Elisabeth to the hospital on April 26 where Elisabeth revealed this startling information. This led to the investigation that led to the discovery of this abomination.

I keep wondering...how did she manage to have 7 kids without help? Who helped her when she was in labour? Who bathe the toddlers? How did she manage each time she got pregnant? How come her mother NEVER suspected anything? 24years is a loooong time for something of that magnitude to go on without suspicion from those who occupy the house.

Elizabeth decided to talk to the police on the condition that she would never have to see her father again and that her kids would be properly cared for.

Neighbours are amazed that this went on for so long. They said they regarded the Fritzl's like every normal family. They said they saw Josef Fritzl as a responsible, doting grandfather to the 3 kids. He is a retired electrician who was involved in community actvities and so on. They had no suspicion of what went on in their household.
Josef Fritzl was arrested after the information given by Elizabeth. Intially, he refused to talk to the police but later confessed to sexually abusing his daughter for 24 years. He gave the police the secret combination numbers to the cellar, which is now being ransacked by the police.

Forensic team are currently searching the house to know what may have happened there and to know how the children and their mother coped for years without sun light nor fresh air.

This picture on the left is a part of the cellar where this monster locked and repeatedly raped his daughter. The one above is the corridor which led to the rooms.

UPDATE:

Holiday video footage of this monster on holiday in Thailand has been released(today 01-05-08). In the videos, this monster was seen frolicking with friends, having fun and acting like a normal tourist. He was seen riding an elephant, enjoying a massage(as seen in the picture below) and having a good time at restaurants. Laughing and looking happy while his daughter and her kids were locked up underground. While in Thailand, his friends said he bought dresses and some other female gifts and jewelries, when asked him whom he shopped for, he simply said it was for his 'mistress'.

One of the tenants who lived in the house said he always heard noise coming from underneath the house and also said he always saw Josef taking food and lots of water down there, but never said anything about it.

Elizabeth is currently in a psychiatric hospital and has now been reunited with all of her kids. She has got vitamin deficiency and look 20 years older than she really is, while the two boys communicate with each other using animal noises, even though they can talk like normal human beings. Fortunately, their mother taught them to read and speak. They also had TV in the cellar, which helped them see events around the globe. They are trying to cope with sunshine and seeing other people for the first time, and they are doing well.

Kerstin is currently recovering from her ailment.

I keep wondering, what if he had died, what would have happened to those people in the celllar?

More update(05/05/08):

Josef Fritzl's sister-in-law claims that he was arrested several years ago for raping a 24yr old nurse in her home. She claims he only served 1 year and half in jail before he was released. The police however, are trying to get police records detailing this incident, they doubt if they will get the record because according to them, criminal records are usually erased 15 years after the crime have been committed.

The prosecutor in charge of this case is set to meet with Josef Fritzl for the first time either on wednesday or on thursday. Austrian police officials said they had to go through 8 doors to get to the cell where the victims were held captive.

Hospital officials say Kersten's health is improving but still serious.

The reunited siblings have been given toys to play with to aid their recovery.

Pa Abraham Adesanya

Just heard on the radio this morning that Pa Abraham Adesanya died yesterday.

May his soul rest in peace

Frank Lampard

I am not a Chelsea fan, but my most sincere sympathy goes to Frank Lampard. He missed the previous Chelsea game to be with his mum who was down with acute pnuemonia, she later died yesterday, thursday 24th April, at age 58.

He will miss tomorrow's game against Manchester United and it is not certain if he will play in the second-leg final of the champions league game next wednesday.

A statement from Chelsea read: "The club will be offering all the support it can to Frank and his family at this time. Everybody at Chelsea Football Club is absolutely devastated to hear the tragic news of the passing away of Pat Lampard, Frank's mother".
"Our sincerest and deepest condolences go out to Frank, his father Frank senior, sisters Natalie and Claire, and to their immediate family and friends."

May her soul rest in peace.

Friendship

Friendship Between Women:

A woman didn't come home one night. The next day she told her husband that she had slept over at a girlfriend's house. The man called his wife's 10 best friends. None of them knew anything about it.

Friendship Between Men:

A man didn't come home one night. The next day he told his wife that he had slept over at a buddy's house. The woman called her husband's 10 best friends. Eight of them confirmed that he had slept over, and two claimed that he was still there.

Lagos State Government BRT Buses

Some ignorant people are trying to sabotage the effort of the Lagos state government.
Yesterday, a friend of mine bought a ticket for one of the BRT(Bus Rapid Transit) buses at the National stadium, he presented his ticket and proceeded into the bus. They moved from Stadium to Barracks where more people boarded the bus, but what happened there angered him a lot.

He said bus fare was taken from passengers but tickets were not issued, when he confronted the ticket collector about this, he ignored him. He found this very annoying and started yelling at the conductor, telling him that his conduct was corrupt, fraudulent and was a sabotage to the effort of the State government. Other passengers in the bus supported my friend and asked the conductor to issue tickets. Yet he ignored them.

My friend decided he was going to copy the bus number and report the case to those in charge in Alausa. This frightened the guy who issued ticket, he panicked, alighted at a designated bus-stop, liased with some of the ticket sellers, came back on baord and started issuing tickets to those who had paid, but had not been issued tickets previously. My friend ignored this and persisted that he was still going to report the fraudulent act.

An elderly LAMATA official who was in the bus, told my friend to let it go, he said ' they are young boys and they have to eat'. My friend told the old guy that he was disapointed in him and was going to report him as well for 'aiding and abetting', he started begging my friend to have mercy. Everyone in the bus, as well as other passengers started to beg my friend to have a change of heart and not report the perpetrators. Eventually he agreed not to report any of them but asked them not to try to cheat the government again. (As if that would change anything).

For those of you who do not know about the BRT project, check out these links http://www.mynaijanews.com/content/view/1112/2/

http://news.dailytrust.com/content/view/3274/38/

UFO sightings

Every time, people claim to see UFOs in the sky. Why is it that we in Africa, never see any UFO? I always laugh when i hear about these sightings. lol.

We have UFOs here everyday, with all the witches and wizards who do not want others to succeed. Corrupt government officials are UFOs, cos they commit all these atrocities and get away scot free.

I think we do not see UFOs because they are too scared to fly past Africa. However, if they did and their 'space craft' crashed, this is what will happen. People will go to the crash site, gather parts of the space craft and sell them as spare parts in the local market.

If there were 'aliens' on the craft, they will be captured and kept in a room where people will have to pay huge amounts of money just to see them. hahaha. They might even be cooked and eaten or used for money ritual or something, Hahaha.

UFO ko. UFO my black ass!! haha.

Donations to poor Africa countries

Every day you hear wealthy philanthropists, celebrities, and all these other people donating millions of dollars to so called African countries to alleviate the poverty situation here.

However, what these people do not know is that, they are not helping Africans, they are enriching VERY few individuals in Africa.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have donated millions of dollars to several charity organisations in Africa. George Clooney donated $5.5million to a charity organisation recently. Warren Buffet has donated millions of dollars to various charity organisations in Africa, various musicians and actors have come together to donate money to help Africans in the past, and the most recent event was the American 'Idol gives back' event, Gordon Brown, Snoop Dog, Ellen Degeneres and a host of other people were there to raise funds for these poor children.

I got this from Idols give back website:
"IDOL GIVES BACK, the historic Emmy Award-winning television event and music celebration airing Wednesday, April 9 (7:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, will raise awareness and funds to benefit six charities. including: the Children's Defense Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More, Save The Children, U.S. Programs and the Children's Health Fund.
This year's event, beginning at a special 7:30 PM start time, will be bigger and more ambitious than ever. Robin Williams, Celine Dion, Forest Whitaker, Billy Crystal, Dane Cook, Kiefer Sutherland, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Jennifer Connolly, Elliott Yamin, Fantasia and Amy Adams join previously announced international talent and sports figures Bono, Brad P
During the show, viewers will be able to make donations via toll-free lines and the Internet. Idol Gives Back Foundation charitable causes are also generously supported by corporate partner"

They say they have been able to save more than a million children. News flash..... those millions of children are still suffering, their financial and health situations have not improved. These donations are given to these organisations but i don't think it gets to these families/children.

I have been to a lot of African countries and i have seen people who live in slums. The sight is pathetic and it baffles me when i see people make these donations on TV and everywhere.It always makes me wonder where the donations are transferred to.

Go to Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Rwanda, and other war-torn parts of Africa. It's really pathetic.

There are various ways by which these people can give money to these suffering people.

*They can go to the streets, (after they have given money to obtain permission from some government officials of course) gather these children up and give these monies individually to their families.

*Build homes or schools for these people, like Oprah did.

*Build well equipped hospitals in towns or villages and make available, free medical treatment for the impoverished

*Provide basic amenities for the community, etc.

This way, whatever it is donated, money, relief materials, etc, will get to the people who REALLY need them.

Council complaint letters

Listed below are genuine clips from council complaint letters:

1. My bush is really overgrown round the front and my back passage has fungus growing in it.

2. He's got this huge tool that vibrates the whole house and I just can't take it anymore.

3. It's the dog mess that I find hard to swallow.

4. I want some repairs done to my cooker as it has backfired and burnt my knob off.

5. I wish to complain that my father hurt his ankle very badly then he put his foot in the hole in his back passage.

6. Their 18 year old son is continually banging his balls against my fence.

7. I wish to report that tiles are missing from the outside toilet roof. I think it was bad wind the other night that blew them off.

8. My lavatory seat is cracked, where do I stand?

9. I am writing on behalf of my sink, which is coming away from the wall.

10. Will you please send someone to mend the garden path? My wife tripped and fell on it yesterday and now she is pregnant.

11. I request permission to remove my drawers in the kitchen.

12. 50% of the walls are damp, 50% have crumbling plaster and 50% are plain filthy.

13. I am still having problems with smoke in my new drawers.

14. The toilet is blocked and we cannot bath the children until it is cleared.

15. Will you please send a man to look at my water, it is a funny colour and not fit to drink.

16. Our lavatory seat is broken in half and is now in three pieces.

17. I want to complain about the farmer across the road; every morning at 6am his cock wakes me up and it's now getting too much for me.

18. The man next door has as large erection in the back garden, which is unsightly and dangerous.

19. Our kitchen floor is damp. We have two children and would like a third, so please send someone round to do something about it.

20. I am a single woman living in a downstairs flat and would you please do something about the noise made by the man on top of me every night.

21. Please send a man with the right tool to finish the job and satisfy my wife.

22. I have had the clerk of works down on the floor six times but I still have no satisfaction.

23. This is to let you know that our lavatory seat is broke and we can't get BBC2.

Killdozer Marv

52 year old welder Marvin Heemeyer lived in Grunbee Colorado fixing vehicle mufflers. His small repair shop was located near a concrete factory called Mountain Park. To Marvin and his neighbors' horrors, the owners of Mountain Park decided to expand the factory, forcing the
people living near-by to sell their land to Mountain Park. Sooner or later the factory's neighbors gave up, except for Marvin.
Having tried every way possible, the owners of the factory failed to acquire his land. However all the surrounding land was now owned by the factory, which resulted in Marvin's shop getting cut off from the rest of the world.
Marvin tried everything in his powers to restore justice. Obviously, the city council and other politicians of the state were on the factory owners' evil capitalist side. It's not surprising that Marvin lost the case to the owners, in court.
After that Marvin was also given a $2500 fine for not having a connected sewer line. When paying the fine, Marvin attached a note to the check and ticket that read "Cowards". He was just one of those who would not give up.
On the 4th of June, 2004 during a rainy day Marvin rolled out into town on a bulldozer reinforced with metal sheets.
He started with the concrete factory, destroying building after building, until the factory was demolished.Then it was the city council's turn followed by the town hall, then the bank, the public library, the fire station, a warehouse, the local paper and other buildings belonging to the mayor.
Having tried to stop Heemeyer, the police finally understood that Marvin's bulldozer was unstoppable. More than 200 bullets were fired at the vehicle, causing no harm at all. The police force then decided to battle the titan with hand grenades. Once again their efforts were useless. Later a vehicle rigged with explosives was put in Marvin's path to destruction; it also had little luck in stopping him.
Marvin returned fire using two semi-automatic .23 caliber rifles and a single .50 caliber semi-automatic rifle through specially designed holes in the vehicle's front, left and right sides.
All the police were able to do, was evacuate 1500 inhabitants (the town's population was 2200) and block all the roads, including a federal highway that lead to the town.
Marvin's war ended at 4:23 PM. Having just finished destroying the Gambles Mall, the bulldozer suddenly stopped. The only thing that could be heard coming from Marvin’s death machine was smoke out of a damaged radiator.
At first the police officers were too afraid to approach the thing. Trying to get Marvin out of his fortress, they had to make a hole in the armor.
When they finally got through, Marvin was already dead. He wasn't going to get into the enemy's hands alive.
Despite the great damage to property (13 buildings were destroyed, most requiring hundreds of thousands of dollars to be replaced), no one besides Heemeyer was injured; observers noted that Heemeyer appeared to go out of his way to avoid injury to bystanders.
The governor said that the city looked as if a tornado had just gone through.
Later an investigation was carried out. It was discovered that Marvin's creation was so strong that even a powerful artillery blow would onlycause minor damage. The bulldozer was totally covered in sheet metal, with each piece being at least half an inch thick. In places, the vehicle's armor was over one foot thick, consisting of concrete sandwiched between sheets of steel to make ad-hoc composite armor.
To fit the bulldozer with this shell, Marvin had to use a self-made crane. "Lowering the protective armor onto the vehicle, Marvin knew he wouldn't be able to get out"- said police officials.
Marvin packed the interior with supplies such as water, food, ammo and a gasmask. To control the killdozer, Marvin used 3 monitors and a couple of video cameras. In an event of the cameras being blinded by dust, they were fitted with air compressors.
It took Marvin 2 months to design the Killdozer, and according to sources, 1.5 years to build it.
"He was a fine lad", - said the people that were close to Marvin. "They shouldn't have made him angry". "If he was your friend, he was your best friend. And if he was your enemy, well he was your worst and most dangerous enemy." - said Marvin’s friends.

Soundcity Music Video Awards

Hey people, urs truly was at the Soundcity Music Video Awards (SMVA) last night with two of my sisters, Linda and Laura.
The event started very late. It was supposed to start at 5pm but didn't start until about 9pm.
Go to linda's blog http://lindaikeji.blogspot.com/ for more details.
These are few pictures from the concert. I laughed, took several pictures and had very good fun.

Freshly ground

Laura Ikeji and Gbemi

Nas and Sheila Okonji

Nas and Charly Boy

NAS had fun. He was supposed to perform only two songs, but he couldn't stop. He kept going on and on until his bodyguard walked up to him and adviced him to stop.

Mohit allstars performing on stage.

Urs truly.

Freeze, Dbanj and Ashionye were the comperes of the night. Dbanj thrilled the crowd, he didn't stop amusing people. If he ever decides to quit music, he should become a comedian. We couldn't stop laughing at the show.

BONGANI

TEACHER: Why are you late?

BONGANI: Because of the sign.

TEACHER: What sign?

BONGANI: The one that says, "School Ahead, Go Slow."
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TEACHER: Bongani, why are you doing your math sums on the floor?

BONGANI: You told me to do it without using tables!
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TEACHER: Bongani, how do you spell "crocodile"?

BONGANI: "K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L"

TEACHER: No, that's wrong

BONGANI: Maybe it's wrong, but you asked me how I spell it!
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TEACHER: What is the chemical formula for water?

BONGANI: "HIJKLMNO"!!

TEACHER: What are you talking about?

BONGANI: Yesterday you said it's H to O!
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TEACHER: Bongani, go to the map and find North America .

BONGANI: Here it is!

TEACHER: Correct. Now, class, who discovered America ?

CLASS: BONGANI
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TEACHER: Now, Bongani, tell me do you say prayers, before eating?

BONGANI: No sir, I don't have to, my mom is a good cook.
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TEACHER: Bongani, your composition on "My Dog" is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?

BONGANI: No, teacher, it's the same dog!
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TEACHER: What do you call a person who keeps on talking, when people are no longer interested?

BONGANI: A teacher

Random weirdness

There is nothing one won't see. Check out these weird adverts and pictures.

Nice eh!