Earthquakes?

[Marrena]

Still a witch here. I see the million is coming to an end. Just curious though--I seem to have felt these last two recent earthquakes a day or two before they happened, and then when they happened the sensation lifted, before I had read the earthquake news.

Personally, if this is real, I don't think it's a paranormal ability since it seems some animals can do this. But if I can do this, would it qualify for the prize?

I think I will post here anyhow next time I feel this way, just because of my masochistic enjoyment of the mockery of you fine folks.

[Coveredinbeeees]

Don't just post here. Tell a journalist and a couple of professionals so that your media presence and affidavits are ready when you decide to apply. Time is a factor.

Bear in mind that you will want to be a bit more specific than you have been so far. There are earthquakes every day somewhere in the world so you'll want to stick a radius on your ability. You'll also want to state the minimum magnitude of the earthquake. If your claim is to be able to give a day or two's warning about a 'quake it will have to be about a quake of high enough magnitude within a small enough area that the odds of one occurring in that area in a two day window are very low.

I imagine you would not be allowed to make your prediction about regions which have just suffered a powerful earthquake as predicting that there will be aftershocks within two days of a powerful earthquake is certainly not paranormal.

Lastly, if I were you, I'd look into how well seismologists can currently predict earthquakes of the magnitude you claim within the radius you claim within a two day time frame. If they can be as accurate or more so then you can then you will have to eliminate the possibility from any test that you are simply obtaining scientific predictions.

[Marrena]

Whoops, sorry for posting this in the wrong area.

I need media affidavits? Dang.

Seems like earthquake above 5 on the Richter scale. No radius whatsoever, completely useless, like all the rest of the Pisces rising abilities.

[Coveredinbeeees]

I need media affidavits? Dang.

Only if you want to win the million.

Seems like earthquake above 5 on the Richter scale. No radius whatsoever, completely useless, like all the rest of the Pisces rising abilities.

There have been about 6 earthquakes in the past 24 hours with magnitudes greater than 5.0 on the Richter scale.

I'm no seismologist but, if the past 24 hours count as typical, being able to predict that a magnitude 5 or greater earthquake will happen somewhere in the world in the next two days is not going to win you the million.

If, on the other hand, you mean to say that the earthquake has to happen where you are, you would want to find out how often your area is struck by magnitude 5 or greater quakes.

[Skeptic Ginger]

Anyone can predict Earthquakes, Marrena. They predictably occur with regular frequency (http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/gen_info/magfrequency_e.php).

So if you want to prove you can predict earthquakes, you'll have to do better than any geologist could just going by frequencies and known fault lines.

[Marrena]

Ah, that happened quicker than I expected! Google is my friend, should have checked first. Who knew that there were that many 5.0+ earthquakes a year!

Thanks!

Probably will be back in another couple years.

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

I am thinking of that old adage “The one who smelt it, dealt it.” Marrena, quit causing so many earthquakes already. :p

-Kyle

[Marrena]

Right now I'm hexing to get Karl Rove arrested. I am also going to get some of the taobums to try to help me with a global cooling spell, right after the full moon.

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

Right now I'm hexing to get Karl Rove arrested. I am also going to get some of the taobums to try to help me with a global cooling spell, right after the full moon.

Wait on the Rove hexing. Bush will just patron him in January. Oh and you don’t need to use a global cooling spell. Just do your part by quit preaching and practicing your bull****, because it releases too much methane.

-Kyle

[steve s]

Who knew that there were that many 5.0+ earthquakes a year!


Ooh, ooh. I did! I did!

Most people just don't realize how common earthquakes are. Saying an earthquake will hit somewhere in the world tomorrow is like saying it will rain somewhere tomorrow.

Steve S.

[Jackalgirl]

Another cool site is the U.S. Geological Survey's earthquake center (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/). They don't just do US earthquakes, and they have a nifty reporting feature that lets you give your impression of a quake. I've used it several times -- earthquakes aren't uncommon here in northern Japan.

[Marrena]

Wait on the Rove hexing. Bush will just patron him in January. Oh and you don’t need to use a global cooling spell. Just do your part by quit preaching and practicing your bull****, because it releases too much methane.

-Kyle

I'm a witch--we don't proselytize.

However, I'm also a green witch, a greenie, and of course greenies do. I drive a hybrid, recycle, reuse, have wind energy offsets, buy local, have the right lightbulbs and of course vote.

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

Marrena, I am sure your spells (if you can make them work) would qualify you for the million bucks. You could use that money to buy me a hybrid and some new light bulbs. Or you could buy one of those fancy crocked witch hats and a broom. Just make sure the broom is a hybrid, because the old ones let off a lot of some real nasty emissions. :p

-Kyle

[Jackalgirl]

I'm with Kyle. Sympathetic (placebo) magic is one thing, but if you claim to have any actual measurable effect, it should be testable -- and, for that matter, very interesting. Can you describe one thing that you can do through magic that can clearly be said to be the result of that magic (and not have another explanation)?

As an aside, I though green witches don't hex people? Isn't hexing -- or cursing -- people black magic?

Edited to add: foolish me. I was thinking white magic vs. black magic. I have no idea what "green" witches are, or "greenies" are, unless you are talking about these (http://www.greenies.com).

[Brian-M]

Edited to add: foolish me. I was thinking white magic vs. black magic. I have no idea what "green" witches are, or "greenies" are, unless you are talking about these.

"Greenie" is another word for "environmentalist". I guess a green witch is someone who practices environmentally friendly witchcraft.

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

I guess a green witch is someone who practices environmentally friendly witchcraft.

LOL…it’s funny because it’s true.

[Dr Adequate]

Isn't hexing -- or cursing -- people black magic? Not when it's Karl Rove.

[Jackalgirl]

"Greenie" is another word for "environmentalist". I guess a green witch is someone who practices environmentally friendly witchcraft.

Ah. Well, then it all makes a twisted sort of sense. ; )

[Marrena]

Green witches usually are witches that use herbs and are very earth-focused in their practice.

To be honest, I don't think there's any magic that couldn't be explained another way. I think it's in the fundamental nature of magic. That's why I was surprised with the earthquake thing and immediately scurried here.

I'm very much into astrology, and in Western astrology things are divided up into earth, air, fire and water. The earth and fire realms basically cover the material world and energy and the expenditure of energy. The air and water realms are the magic realms, so to get a real world effect, the earth and fire elements need to get involved. That always leaves room open for a rational explanation. Just like the placebo effect, there is always an actual physical effect that does the heavy lifting, and a physician can point to that as the actual mechanism. It's just the improbability that makes it the placebo effect.

And I think the explanation for this is that air and water are not bound by time. For example, I go back to my younger self and reassure myself that things will work out, kind of like the kid in The Shining.

In other words, I guess I've made my peace with all this and realize that magic isn't real. It's imaginary, but there's an imaginary realm where it belongs, and to neglect it because it isn't real is to impoverish oneself as a person.

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

That's why I was surprised with the earthquake thing and immediately scurried here.

Good move.


And I think the explanation for this is that air and water are not bound by time. For example, I go back to my younger self and reassure myself that things will work out, kind of like the kid in The Shining.

This paragraph makes me say myself, “OH BOY!” kind of like Sam Beckett from Quantum Leap.


In other words, I guess I've made my peace with all this and realize that magic isn't real. It's imaginary, but there's an imaginary realm where it belongs.

I agree. In children’s books, fairy tails, and anything D&D related.

and to neglect it because it isn't real is to impoverish oneself as a person.

I disagree. Plenty of people who don’t have anything in their life “magic” related live a good quality life. Don’t get me wrong I do enjoy being a wizard when I play a D&D related video game. But that does not mean I have to go around claiming I am a wizard of some kind in real life. To me that’s just kind of lame.

-Kyle

[Marrena]

Well, for example my ex said to me "If you're such a hot witch, can't you do something about the Red Sox?" They were down three against the Yankees. If the Red Sox had lost, he would have said it proved that my magic didn't work. Now they happened to win, and keep winning. They won because they were good players and played well, and the Yankees choked.

I'm sure lots of people were hexing on that game, and praying and whatnot, I'm not saying I did anything. And if it was magic, there wouldn't be a way to untangle it from the rest of it, from the real world. But I'm glad I did it anyhow.

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

Well, for example my ex said to me "If you're such a hot witch, can't you do something about the Red Sox?" They were down three against the Yankees. If the Red Sox had lost, he would have said it proved that my magic didn't work. Now they happened to win, and keep winning. They won because they were good players and played well, and the Yankees choked.

I'm sure lots of people were hexing on that game, and praying and whatnot, I'm not saying I did anything. And if it was magic, there wouldn't be a way to untangle it from the rest of it, from the real world. But I'm glad I did it anyhow.

Ok, then riddle me this. What if there were two people who god loved the same, the first praying for team 1 to win and hexing team 2. Then the other person praying for team 2 to win and hexing team 1. Then let’s say everything else being completely equal in all ways, what happens? Who wins? Does god just smite both teams to make everything fair? Or will the universe implode over a quagmire like this? Maybe god will decide to sit this one out because he/she can’t choose favorite over his/her followers

I personally don’t think prayer does anything expect give people hope and a feeling of power over situations they have no control of. Let’s say a loved one is hurt. People will pray for that person to recover. Then if they do all credit is given to god and it is evidence that prayer works. Now if the loved one dies then they will give god credit still, but this time for taking their loved one to a better place. They seem to dismiss that prayer didn’t work in that situation, but continue to believe that prayer does work. What good is prayer if god will just do as he/she wants anyways?

-Kyle

[Sir Robin Goodfellow]

Well, for example my ex said to me "If you're such a hot witch, can't you do something about the Red Sox?" They were down three against the Yankees. If the Red Sox had lost, he would have said it proved that my magic didn't work. Now they happened to win, and keep winning. They won because they were good players and played well, and the Yankees choked.

I'm sure lots of people were hexing on that game, and praying and whatnot, I'm not saying I did anything. And if it was magic, there wouldn't be a way to untangle it from the rest of it, from the real world. But I'm glad I did it anyhow.


Dear witch,


Please put a hex on the Bruins, the Sabres, and especially the Maple Leafs. And throw a little good mojo towards the Canadiens.

[Marrena]

The only reason I could do the Red Sox thing was because it was fighting fire with fire--it was the curse of the Bambino. :D I hexed Babe Ruth and kept him occupied during the games. By the way, they won that World Series under a lunar eclipse. :p

What good is prayer if god will just do as he/she wants anyways?


You answered your own question--it makes people feel better

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

I hexed Babe Ruth and kept him occupied during the games.

LOL...that is pretty funny :p


You answered your own question--it makes people feel better

Well good at least we can agree on that.

BTW, I find conversations with you very interesting. You seem very open to logic and reason no mater the subject. You are not completely devoted to any cause or way of thinking. You openly admit that magic isn’t real. Everything about you there has critical thinker written all over it. But at the same time you defend magical thinking and study astrology. You participate in hexing and prayer. And most of all openly tell people you are a “Green Witch.” Now I mean no offence by any of this. You have great qualities as a person with out a drought. I just find all of it a bit interesting. For example, you are a “Green Witch” but you do not believe in magic. So in turn you do not believe in what you practice. You do not have faith in something that requires faith to do. Do you not see the irony in that? Or is there another reason behind what you believe vs. what you claim to be? You don’t have to answer I am just curious.

-Kyle

[Marrena]

I do believe in magic. I just don't believe it's real.

Let me put it this way. In another thread I'm talking about neurotransmitters. I've had very high dopamine for a very long time from taking very high doses of fish oil. Unlike having high dopamine from street drugs, high dopamine from fish oil doesn't impair the rational faculties--if anything, omega-3 fatty acids make one smarter. And unlike with schizophrenia, it's not a disease. I'm simply following the healthy diet we evolved on as humans, of a very well-fed hunter-gatherer. I happen to like being this way, the orgasms in particular. I work hard to stay in this brain state.

I am using myself as an extreme guinea pig and I'm taking higher doses of fish oil than I recommend to women. This has amplified a tendency that I have had since I was a child, of seeing another realm overlaying this one. There is an uncanny feeling of "walking with God," and it's hard to ignore the direct evidence of one's senses. In this realm astrology is very accurately predictive, and I use it much like a weather report. I know, for example that when the moon is opposing my natal Saturn, there will be a heaviness in my day, a mild depression and fatigue, and I can plan ahead.

I can mitigate these effects by increasing my serotonin level, but then I lose the orgasms.

It also explains why certain odd things happened in my past, which I posted a couple years ago so I've heard all the rational arguments as to why they were just coincidence, that when I cursed my ex-husband within hours a tree fell on his car, that I woke up in a cold sweat yelling on the morning of 9/11 from a dream that bad men were coming here to die, that my grandmother came to visit me and my aunt when she was in a coma and dying.

And then finally there's the tantric sex. I've had at least forty orgasms a day most days for the past six years or so, and I've had some remarkable physiological changes from that. I am firmly convinced these results are caused simply by the nervous system reacting in a certain way to certain stimulus, but aside from normal vaginal and clitoral orgasms, I also have orgasms centered in the chest and in the forehead that have very odd spiritual sensations that accompany the physical pleasure, and also once I had the very unusual experience of having an orgasm at the top of my head which was certainly a religious experience--I lost all sense of self, felt at one with the cosmos, lost track of time, it lasted about fifteen minutes. I know some drugs can produce a similar effect, it's purely physiological, but it's hard to just dismiss that out of hand, especially when the experience was clearly the natural experience of a healthy body. Our bodies are built to have these higher chakra orgasms.

So putting all that together, it certainly doesn't meet the definition of extraordinary claims require extraordinary truth, but from my point of view it would be irrational not to be openminded about such things, particularly when the health and psychological benefits of belief are so good. Having the conviction that one has some power over the universe is an encouraging thing, even if in my beliefs it's an alternate universe, that only obliquely touches the real one.

[mrshadyvale]

Damn you. I was reading all of the magic jive and stuff about hexing and the like, and I was fully prepared to come on in and be a confrontational prick.

Then you mentioned the curse of the Bambino and that the Yanks choked in that series.

You're good people, and I dig the interesting perspectives you have. Find a way to intersect the mega-sex with baseball and you have a fan for life.

Oh... but keep your herbs and spices away from the Cubs... I have money on them this year. Cheers.;)

[firestorm]

Witches are cool! If only they were real. :(

[Marrena]

I think they're pretty cool even if they can't actually do magic. Hard to dislike a religion where you do ritual naked outside, have ritual orgies, have sacred baths with lots of nice-smelling bath oils and things, and burn lots of incense.

Oh, and there's the herbal thing. I only take a little damiana here and there on rare occasions, but good to know one's options.

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

When I said:
You seem very open to logic and reason no mater the subject. You are not completely devoted to any cause or way of thinking. You openly admit that magic isn’t real. Everything about you there has critical thinker written all over it.

I take it all back because you made this statement:
In this realm astrology is very accurately predictive, and I use it much like a weather report. I know, for example that when the moon is opposing my natal Saturn, there will be a heaviness in my day, a mild depression and fatigue, and I can plan ahead.

I can’t stand that kind of non-sense way of thinking. Ok guy grab the witch. I’ll go and get my floggers gear and meet in my back yard. We will flog some sense into this witch yet.:p

-Kyle

[Marrena]

Flogging raises dopamine. Don't need it, coals to Newcastle!

I was with a dom and he remarked I went into subspace from a back massage the way other women went in from a sound spanking. And I get runner's high from a brisk walk. :D

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

Ok then since you like being flogged so much you leave me with only one option. Put the witch on the catapult. We will send her to the next village and make her their problem. And please don’t tell me you had an ex boy friend who used to catapult you around. If that’s the case I give up. :p

-Kyle

[Marrena]

I prefer to fly by broomstick, thank you very much. :broomstic

[quarky]

Imagination isn't exactly real, but reality tends to emerge from it. The precursor of a blue-print is thought itself...even though thought is quite intangible.

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

Imagination isn't exactly real, but reality tends to emerge from it. The precursor of a blue-print is thought itself...even though thought is quite intangible.

Interesting.

-Kyle

[Marrena]

That's sort of my point, that's why the placebo effect works.

[mrshadyvale]

Marrena, I have to say, I have met some crazy people who live under the nomenclature "witch." In all honesty, I had become prejudiced in my skepticism. I suppose it was too many ex-girlfriends putting "curses" on my "aura of self being" and stuff like that. One even called baseball "a pseudo-sport that is nothing more than a collection of pagan rituals stolen by Christians."

Figure that one out.

You have cleared me of my prejudice and, in my mind, have become the exception to the crazy rule. Thanks for slapping my mind into submission. ;) Cheers!

[Marrena]

Wicca was a fad for a while, especially with teenaged girls (thanks to the TV series The Craft) and before that, militant lesbians. Those groups seem to have lost interest in it and moved on to other things, and all the fluffy bunny and Dianic (man-hating) spellbooks have been remaindered.

I suppose I'm not really hardcore myself either. I stay away from the hard herbs. The flying ointment recipes I have would most DEFINITELY make you fly when applied to mucus membranes with a broom handle or other long cylindrical object--or kill you.

[mrshadyvale]

Wow. Thank you for letting us know that!

I found a "flying ointment" on Wiccapedia (get it? har har!) and was about to apply it to a broom. You might have just saved my life!

I have a friend who swears by a particular herb that "makes all food taste glorious, all music that of angles, and the most divine of comedy the inspired laughter of god." I don't know about that, but it certainly makes him want to play video games a lot.:rolleyes:

[mrshadyvale]

Correction: Angels (not angles)

Yeah, an herb that makes music measurable through use of a protractor.

[AbleSugar]

There are earthquakes every day somewhere in the world so you'll want to stick a radius on your ability.
Very true. Check out my neck of the woods. I could predict several a day.
http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/recenteqs_sub/index.html

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

That's sort of my point, that's why the placebo effect works.

I get what you are saying. But I am not sure the placebo effect applies to people doing magic. If some one takes some sugar pills for a back problems and claims it is gone that’s a placebo effect. See because there is an “effect” there. Now someone casting a spell over something they have no control over or contact with is more like playing a game of pretend. It’s like me using spells to try and cause an “effect” to the end of a movie I am watching. In reality I have a “NO effect” on the out come not a “placebo effect.”

-Kyle

[Marrena]

But witches don't cast those sort of spells, or at least they aren't supposed to. I've only done that twice--once on the Red Sox and once on Karl Rove. Witches only do spellwork on others when asked by them, so the spellee would know in that case--otherwise witchwork is mostly done on oneself.

Protection spells are the exception, but that's usually more to return the hostile energy to the source, or to deflect the blow. For example I did a deflection spell on Loss Leader to return his hostility to himself, but that was more a spell to not let it affect me. Witches tend to be people with porous psychological boundaries.

[Senex]

I do believe in magic. I just don't believe it's real.

Could you explain how this isn't a contradiction?


I can mitigate these effects by increasing my serotonin level, but then I lose the orgasms.
Serotonin shmerotonin -- keep these effects.


And then finally there's the tantric sex. I've had at least forty orgasms a day most days for the past six years or so, and I've had some remarkable physiological changes from that. I am firmly convinced these results are caused simply by the nervous system reacting in a certain way to certain stimulus, but aside from normal vaginal and clitoral orgasms, I also have orgasms centered in the chest and in the forehead that have very odd spiritual sensations that accompany the physical pleasure, and also once I had the very unusual experience of having an orgasm at the top of my head which was certainly a religious experience--I lost all sense of self, felt at one with the cosmos, lost track of time, it lasted about fifteen minutes. I know some drugs can produce a similar effect, it's purely physiological, but it's hard to just dismiss that out of hand, especially when the experience was clearly the natural experience of a healthy body. Our bodies are built to have these higher chakra orgasms.

You had me with the tantric sex and forty orgasms but started to lose me with the orgasms centered in the chest and in the forehead. Call me a traditionalist.

What are the names of these drugs :rolleyes:

So putting all that together, it certainly doesn't meet the definition of extraordinary claims require extraordinary truth, but from my point of view it would be irrational not to be openminded about such things, particularly when the health and psychological benefits of belief are so good. Having the conviction that one has some power over the universe is an encouraging thing, even if in my beliefs it's an alternate universe, that only obliquely touches the real one.

You can't argue with forty orgasms. May the chakras be with you :)

[Marrena]

What are the names of these drugs :rolleyes:



you can peruse

www.erowid.org

and get some names.

[Senex]

you can peruse

www.erowid.org

and get some names.

That is an informative site, thanks. Who knew I was drinking a psychoactive drug when posting? I always knew beer was a gateway drug to sex (it's shameful for me to recount but I will as a precautionary tale to other posters the many times women have taken advantage of me while I've been under the influence of beer. I shudder to recount the morning I woke up naked on the sorority couch.) Yet, beer only creates a sexual atmosphere, it really doesn't make for better sex (unless we're talking beer goggles and I won't go there). Beer doesn't equal 40 O's a day. I'm familiar with caffeine as well and that doesn't equal 40 O's.

Come on, which drug opens the flood gates ;)

[Marrena]

Oh, I thought you were wanting religious experiences without having to go to the bother of all the orgasms. If you want automatic mystical experiences, then something like fly agaric or LSD would do the trick, although far too dangerous for my tastes. I like having a functioning brain.

If it's orgasms you are after, it's much easier. Go on my diet. Men tend to respond within a week. Men should not take iron, but everything else is the same. It will increase libido, rigidity, and unfortunately may worsen premature ejaculation. If you are wanting the male equivalent of forty vaginal orgasms a day, which would be prostate orgasms, continue with the diet and use the Aneros. It's trickier for men to develop prostate orgasm ability than for women to develop vaginal orgasm ability, but the men who have, some leave me in the dust in terms of their orgasmic capacity. Your mileage may vary.

[Senex]

If it's orgasms you are after, it's much easier. Go on my diet.

Hmmm, I was hoping for more in the way of taking a pill.

[Marrena]

My diet mostly is taking pills, mainly very high dose fish oil.

[Senex]

My diet mostly is taking pills, mainly very high dose fish oil.

Yes! Boiling beets isn't my thing but taking those geletin fish oil pills is within my power.

Let's fast forward to next week --- who can I prove my new found prowess to :rolleyes:

[Marrena]

Week at the full dose--you should take at least a full week to ramp up, two weeks might be better. If you are only going to try the fish oil, take with multivitamin. Check with your doctor about drug interactions. Do not take high-dose fish oil if you are on blood-thinning drugs like Coumadin, take lots of OTC pain relievers, are on aspirin therapy, are scheduled for surgery, are allergic to seafood or have a defibrillator. Get a fish oil brand with EPA + DHA > 500 mg per one one-gram capsule, otherwise you will probably have digestive problems from the extra fish guck at this high dose.

130-pound person EPA 1700 mg, DHA 1300 mg daily
230-pound person EPA 3400 mg, DHA 2600 mg daily

dosages are approximate, adjust dosage to your weight, do not exceed the 230-pound maximum dosage, people under 100 pounds should check with a doctor or nutritionist for safe dosage. Discontinue if you notice excessive bleeding or bruising.

For best results, avoid all transfats and omega-6 fatty acids like polyunsaturated vegetable oils like corn oil, soybean oil, etc. Olive oil and butter are good, saturated fat is good. Avoid caffeine, energy drinks, alcohol before sex (although I see you noticed that one), cigarettes, and meals consisting only of starchy and/or sugary foods.

[Marrena]

Edited to remove advertisement.

Do not post commercial advertisements.

[Olowkow]

Edited to remove quoted remark.

Rule 3: You will not post any commercial advertisements.


Anyone who is thinking of eating large quantities of fish oil, unless he is an Inuit, should use extreme caution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_oil
However, the preferred source of Omega 3 should be from the fish's body, not the liver. The liver and liver products (such as cod liver oil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cod_liver_oil)) of fish and many animals (such as seals and whales) contain Omega-3, but also the active form of vitamin A (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_A). At high levels, this form of the vitamin can be dangerous. Early explorers to the land of the Inuit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit) were given raw liver by the natives, which contained a toxic overdose of vitamin A for the white explorers; however, the same amount was harmless to the Inuit, who had no other source of Vitamin A except animal livers.

[Marrena]

I said fish oil, not cod liver oil. Fish oil does not contain Vitamin A and D like cod liver oil does, there is no danger of vitamin toxicity. There are other dangers with too high a dosage of drug interaction, which I warned about in the post.

I think that's a pretty mild case of advertising but I will remove the post if you wish.

[SRW]

If you are wanting the male equivalent of forty vaginal orgasms a day, which would be prostate orgasms, continue with the diet and use the Aneros. It's trickier for men to develop prostate orgasm ability than for women to develop vaginal orgasm ability, but the men who have, some leave me in the dust in terms of their orgasmic capacity. Your mileage may vary.

I have some experience with this and am pretty convinced that you are not going to get more than three a day out of most men. Granted the best three you have ever had but there are some limiting factors. And if it is not done correctly the guy can feel empty with out being fulfilled. I dated a professional Dominatrix back in my wilder days.

[Marrena]

Prostate orgasms do not involve ejaculation. There are men over at the Aneros board who are able to have dozens of prostate orgasms in a row, and their descriptions of their sensations and also their comparisons with traditional male ejaculation orgasms correspond to my own observations and observations from other women with the ability to have both about the difference between clitoral and vaginal orgasms.

Of course stimulation of the prostate can aid in a regular male orgasm, just like stimulation of the vagina can help a clitoral orgasm along!

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

I guess we are talking about a different type of earthquake now aren’t we!

-Kyle

[Marrena]

I veer. :D

[Lilith]

I do believe in magic. I just don't believe it's real.

Let me put it this way. In another thread I'm talking about neurotransmitters. I've had very high dopamine for a very long time from taking very high doses of fish oil.
(snip, snip, snip)
I can mitigate these effects by increasing my serotonin level (... snip)

Marrena,
How do you know that you have very high dopamine. What kind of test was administered that provided a dopamine level measure? How do you know you are increasing your serotonin level - again I'm asking what tests are done to provide evidence of it.

[Gravy]

I guess we are talking about a different type of earthquake now aren’t we!

-Kyle:D

[Marrena]

Marrena,
How do you know that you have very high dopamine. What kind of test was administered that provided a dopamine level measure? How do you know you are increasing your serotonin level - again I'm asking what tests are done to provide evidence of it.

I have not had direct testing done on me (although I am certainly willing). I am relying both on studies showing fish oil raises dopamine and my own observation of brain states, likewise with serotonin. I have been on antidepressants and familiar with that sort of brain state, and am relying on other studies showing, for example that a meal with only carbs and no fats or proteins will spike up serotonin (JudithWurtmann MIT has done research there).

High serotonin affecting female libido (and male libido) is not controversial, studies show that a variety of antidepressants kill libido unless the antidepressant also raises dopamine (for example, Wellbutrin).

I have been trying very hard to get these things studied, and most FSD doctors I have spoken with when I explain the science behind my approach say that it has merit, but no one will work for free and IRB laws preclude me from Dr. Frankensteining and taken seriously. I wouldn't be able to publish without an MD doing the actual study. My study protocol does involve direct testing, of omega-3 fatty acid levels, hormone levels, etc.

[quarky]

Perhaps if you weren't having so many orgasms, you'd get that funding. orgasms can be embarrassing, and guys know this, intrinsicly. Are you focusing on female FSD docs? They should be more empathetic; less intimidated.

[Lilith]

I have not had direct testing done on me (although I am certainly willing). I am relying both on studies showing fish oil raises dopamine and my own observation of brain states, likewise with serotonin. I have been on antidepressants and familiar with that sort of brain state, and am relying on other studies showing, for example that a meal with only carbs and no fats or proteins will spike up serotonin (JudithWurtmann MIT has done research there).

High serotonin affecting female libido (and male libido) is not controversial, studies show that a variety of antidepressants kill libido unless the antidepressant also raises dopamine (for example, Wellbutrin).

I have been trying very hard to get these things studied, and most FSD doctors I have spoken with when I explain the science behind my approach say that it has merit, but no one will work for free and IRB laws preclude me from Dr. Frankensteining and taken seriously. I wouldn't be able to publish without an MD doing the actual study. My study protocol does involve direct testing, of omega-3 fatty acid levels, hormone levels, etc.

Serotonin level isn't the end-all measure to consider here. You can have all the serotonin possible, but without the right type and number of serotonin receptors, and in the right brain regions, you could still have a serotonin dysfunction.

When you raise serotonin levels, the number of some, if not all, serotonin receptors will decrease - including the autoreceptor that provides feedback to the serotonin-releasing cell. The number of serotonin transporters may also be affected, as well as the enzymes needed for synthesizing serotonin in the first place.

Add to this the idea that the serotonin receptors that are being affected by the release of serotonin reside on other neurons that themselves release glutamate, GABA, dopamine, etc.; changes to the serotoin system thereby cause a myriad of downstream effects, only a few of which we have an understanding of.

To measure your serotonin levels (by an indirect measure that isn't entirely reliable unless you want to keep a small tube in your brain in multiple areas 24/7!) would tell us little about (1) how it has changed from before you were taking fish oil because we didn't measure it then, nor (2) what downstream effects may or may not have occurred since you started taking fish oil.

I need to take a glance at those studies on fish oil and serotonin levels. Don't get me wrong, my understanding of fish oil is that it has plenty of good effects. But I want to see how conclusive the studies are regarding "serotonin levels" and all. Did ALL subjects show an increase in serotonin levels (which were measured how?) For how long was the effect apparent - did the study continue long enough to show that the effect is long-term? Or does the body adjust and begin to return to its pre-fish-oil levels? Etc.

I can't get to it now, but perhaps in a few hours.

[Marrena]

I've had three offers of funding from fish oil companies. They wanted method patent. I have aggressively put my ideas into the public domain, fish oil companies didn't like that.

I didn't want it made into a prescription medication, that's the opposite of what I am about. Women should have the power to do this on their own. So now that it's REALLY out in the zeitgeist, fish oil companies aren't interested.

I have no chance in hell of getting government funding. Nobody is getting funding right now, with the Republicans in office, grants are getting cut to the bone. Research scientists with five-page cv's can't get funding; as someone without previous publications, an untried area of study (this is an initial study) and of course something that encourages female sexuality there is zero chance for funding.

[Marrena]

Serotonin level isn't the end-all measure to consider here. You can have all the serotonin possible, but without the right type and number of serotonin receptors, and in the right brain regions, you could still have a serotonin dysfunction.

When you raise serotonin levels, the number of some, if not all, serotonin receptors will decrease - including the autoreceptor that provides feedback to the serotonin-releasing cell. The number of serotonin transporters may also be affected, as well as the enzymes needed for synthesizing serotonin in the first place.

Add to this the idea that the serotonin receptors that are being affected by the release of serotonin reside on other neurons that themselves release glutamate, GABA, dopamine, etc.; changes to the serotoin system thereby cause a myriad of downstream effects, only a few of which we have an understanding of.

To measure your serotonin levels (by an indirect measure that isn't entirely reliable unless you want to keep a small tube in your brain in multiple areas 24/7!) would tell us little about (1) how it has changed from before you were taking fish oil because we didn't measure it then, nor (2) what downstream effects may or may not have occurred since you started taking fish oil.

I need to take a glance at those studies on fish oil and serotonin levels. Don't get me wrong, my understanding of fish oil is that it has plenty of good effects. But I want to see how conclusive the studies are regarding "serotonin levels" and all. Did ALL subjects show an increase in serotonin levels (which were measured how?) For how long was the effect apparent - did the study continue long enough to show that the effect is long-term? Or does the body adjust and begin to return to its pre-fish-oil levels? Etc.

I can't get to it now, but perhaps in a few hours.

I should explain my hypothesis and experience better. My hypothesis is that female sexuality, on a physiological level is improved by four things:

1.) The right balance of neurotransmitters, and this is obviously very ballpark, I'm not sawing open women's skulls--high dopamine and moderate and steady serotonin

2.) Robust free testosterone, or in other words high normal total testosterone and very low (but healthy level) of SHBG.

3.) Good circulation, particularly genital circulation. This is more important for men than women, for obvious reasons, but women need it too.

4.) As an added bonus, for a woman to have vaginal orgasmic ability, strong PC muscle tone

I was working backwards on this; I suddenly developed spontaneous vaginal orgasmic ability and worked backwards to find the cause, isolating the things that contributed. It was pretty easy to test because I could reliably have orgasms at any time within a minute or less of flexing. I had other women try the diet, they had an improvement in libido, some developing vaginal orgasmic ability for the first time, and several reaching my level. My first thought was to give this to an FSD doctor to study, and of course I am still trying to do that, but after a while I realized if I wasn't out there telling women, no one would.

Anyhow, the fish oil increases dopamine. I have rodent autopsy studies and other studies showing this. I'm not sure about long-term studies. Fish oil also increases serotonin, which is good because I don't want women depressed, but the important thing is that it increases both at the same time, like Wellbutrin, so libido is preserved.

Fish oil also obviously improves circulation. There is also some indication that it can help with T levels, but that is speculative at this point, there isn't a study.

The diet also includes the RDA of calcium/magnesium/zinc because zinc lowers SHBG. I also tell women to avoid transfats and omega-6 fatty acids in the diet because they interfere with the omega-3 fatty acid effect, counteract. Saturated fat and monounsaturated fat help with testosterone, avoiding too many carbs avoids both the serotonin spiking effect described by Wurtmann and also the increase in SHBG over time.

I also tell menstruating women of course to check with their doctor first for hemochromatosis but recommend small amounts of supplemental iron because so many women are borderline anemic and that affects libido.

I tell women to avoid caffeine and energy drinks because they also raise serotonin. And to avoid soy products like tofu and soymilk because they interfere with testosterone. And if they are comfortable with the risk, to switch to a barrier method of birth control from hormonal birth control because it raises SHBG.

Finally, although more than half of the women who try my diet don't do this, I recommend that women strengthen their PC muscle with resistance exercise.

[Marrena]

My study protocol only looks at FSD and fish oil, with FSD standard metrics and controlling for robust free testosterone, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study with power calculation to determine appropriate N.

[Lilith]

I was working backwards on this; I suddenly developed spontaneous vaginal orgasmic ability and worked backwards to find the cause, isolating the things that contributed. It was pretty easy to test because I could reliably have orgasms at any time within a minute or less of flexing. I had other women try the diet, they had an improvement in libido, some developing vaginal orgasmic ability for the first time, and several reaching my level. My first thought was to give this to an FSD doctor to study, and of course I am still trying to do that, but after a while I realized if I wasn't out there telling women, no one would.


Briefly, because I'm trying to get "real" work done - your story, while interesting, is not scientific. It is the beginning of a hypothesis - you observe something, do some basic reasoning, and come up with a possible explanation for what you observed. The next step is to test your hypothesis. Providing fish-oil to others does not scientifically study it. You would need to have someone who is blind to the hypothesis provide fish oil to one set of subjects, and a placebo to the other set of subjects - neither set can know which group they are in. Then a person, who again needs to be blind to the hypothesis and to what treatment group each person was in, would need to gather the data on libido/orgasms. THEN you can analyze the data and see how well it supports your hypothesis.

IF it supports your hypothesis, you can say so - but you can't say that it proves your hypothesis. Other factors are always contributing to study outcomes (they confound the results, and are called counfounding variables) - for example, the subject chosen for the fish oil group may accidentally all have something in common that contributed to the results. If the two groups are treated at different times, other things that occur during that time may influence the results. etc. etc.

Next step - consider what confounding variables may have been there, and retest while trying to better control them. After that - report the findings so that someone else (not chosen by you) can replicate the studies and either support or not support your findings.

It IS possible that something else contributed to your increased ability to experience frequent orgasms. Including a physiological change that had nothing to do with fish oil whatsoever. I'm not saying that is what happened, just that it is possible. This is why the scientific method is so necessary - those other possibilities need to be considered and, if possible, ruled out.

[Marrena]

I certainly know this. I have been trying for years to get my study going.

Actually I did inadvertently do a blind test of the fish oil on myself. I was working with an MD who was connected with a fish oil company and obviously he wanted to study his product and he gave me free samples. I started taking it and within a few days my spontaneous vaginal orgasmic ability vanished. I knew that the product was mostly EPA and very little DHA, but at the time I thought it was the EPA that was the driving mechanism. I took a megadose of only DHA, and within several hours the spontaneous orgasmic ability returned.

Also I have had four women write to me who independently discovered the same diet, just didn't publicize it the way I have.

I should add that drinking a cup of coffee makes the ability go away, as does taking Deferol, a herbal product that increases serotonin.

[Lilith]

Actually I did inadvertently do a blind test of the fish oil on myself. I was working with an MD who was connected with a fish oil company and obviously he wanted to study his product and he gave me free samples. I started taking it and within a few days my spontaneous vaginal orgasmic ability vanished. I knew that the product was mostly EPA and very little DHA, but at the time I thought it was the EPA that was the driving mechanism. I took a megadose of only DHA, and within several hours the spontaneous orgasmic ability returned.

This is not a blind test.

[Marrena]

I know it is not an official blind test using a placebo that looks exactly the same as the tested thingummy, but it's as close as I'm going to get to a blind test in the real world since I didn't know that the fish oil I was then taking wouldn't work. It is the principle of blindedness.

My protocol is rigorous, my mentor assisted Pfizer in the clinical trials of Viagra on women (which failed). That's what he does, his metric is the standard for FSD testing and he's licensed it to me.

I just get frustrated for being accused of being non-scientific when I have done everything in my power to get an actual scientific test of this going.

[JoeTheJuggler]

Going back to the OP:
Still a witch here. I see the million is coming to an end. Just curious though--I seem to have felt these last two recent earthquakes a day or two before they happened, and then when they happened the sensation lifted, before I had read the earthquake news.
What exactly is "seem to have felt"? Either you did or you didn't, right? If you ever "feel" that an earthquake is going to come, you should write it down. Before long, you'll have some idea of how often you're right and how often you're wrong. As mentioned, earthquakes occur frequently, so you'll be right fairly regularly. Some statistics might give you some idea of whether your "feelings" are anything significant.

I suspect you didn't have any realization that you may have sensed an earthquake until after the fact. That is not significant in any way whatsoever.

Personally, if this is real, I don't think it's a paranormal ability since it seems some animals can do this. But if I can do this, would it qualify for the prize?
Some animals hear much lower frequencies than humans and can sense an earthquake before it might be apparent to us. However, I don't think there's any evidence that any animal can sense one a day or two ahead of time, which is certainly what you've implied here.

As for the MDC, I don't speak for JREF, but here's what I'd think: accurately predicting an earthquake without using geological or seismological information would probably qualify. The problem is, earthquakes happen relatively frequently, so just saying, "There will be an earthquake within the next few days" wouldn't be a very good test of your ability to make any sort of paranormal prediction. (I could, for example, predict that it will rain within 24 hours. I'm virtually 100% certain to be right because it will surely rain somewhere within that time period.)

A claim of the ability to predict an earthquake's occurrence within a certain time frame (say within 24 hours), and its magnitude within say two decimal points on the Richter Scale (remember, each full number means a 1000% or 10 times stronger quake), and its epicenter within some margin of error (say within two miles on the surface of the earth and ignoring the depth).

Either that, or you'd have to do it a very great number of times to say with any confidence that your results weren't up to chance.

Anecdotes of your sensing an earthquake after the fact are worth nothing at all.

[JoeTheJuggler]

However, I'm also a green witch, a greenie, and of course greenies do. I drive a hybrid, recycle, reuse, have wind energy offsets, buy local, have the right lightbulbs and of course vote.

A green witch? Doesn't that mean you're on the Prime Meridian?

[Marrena]

:rolleyes: oy :)

I was wrong about the earthquake thing. I may have a large woo streak on the side, but that doesn't mean I can't do science.

I thought of an informal blinded test. One guy tricked his wife into going on my diet, said it was for general health reasons. She didn't know, went on the diet, after a few weeks her libido jumped so high that he couldn't keep up and he confessed so that he could get her dosage down. That was over at Thunders, I left there in a huff a while back but the posts are still there.

[JoeTheJuggler]

:rolleyes: oy :)

I was wrong about the earthquake thing.

Oughtn't this other stuff be on a new thread then if we're abandoning the earthquake stuff?

I may have a large woo streak on the side, but that doesn't mean I can't do science.
I have no doubt that you can do science. I think anyone can. In fact, reproducibility is part of the point of doing science. It doesn't matter who does it.

I haven't seen much of any evidence that you are well versed in how to do a controlled test, though.


I thought of an informal blinded test. One guy tricked his wife into going on my diet, said it was for general health reasons. She didn't know, went on the diet, after a few weeks her libido jumped so high that he couldn't keep up and he confessed so that he could get her dosage down. That was over at Thunders, I left there in a huff a while back but the posts are still there.
So "informal blinded test" means anecdote.

The same as your "inadvertent blind test" above. It's an anecdote.

[Marrena]

This is my own fault for coming here with woo. But it is maddening.

*deep breath* At least here in the United States, people are not allowed to do medical testing on human subjects without passing an IRB. Part of passing one is the study must be overseen by a medical doctor (and there are a whole lot of other hoops to jump through, which we are ready for, we have the necessary forms, etc.). Without an IRB review, no reputable peer-reviewed journal will publish results.

Now, I have an MD ready to do the study (finally) and it took a whole lot of work just to get to that point. He's excellent, has his own FSD clinic. My protocol is rigorous and it is a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study, as I mentioned. I am good enough at study design that I was hired as a consultant by a surgical simulator company wanting to test their products, and my study design was more rigorous that the Ph.D. who had designed the previous study (I used a t-test and a before/after on the same individual doctors, so the N was big enough to satisfy the power calculation on the deviation of the metric--the Ph.D. didn't have a big enough N).

And I don't want to do some kind of furtive double-blind testing on my own, because part of what I want to screen out is women who have low free T. I want a real study, dagnabbit!

Generally all scientific studies start off with indications from strong anecdotal evidence. You say anecdotal like it's a bad thing. It's not my fault that that's all I have at this point. And yes I know that the placebo effect is huge when it comes to sex. But people who are very familiar with that buy my science. Dr. Irwin Goldstein was recommending my diet to his patients on TRT. Dr. Jennifer Berman was selling actual product based on my diet (her own proprietary fish oil).

[Lilith]

:rolleyes: oy :)

I was wrong about the earthquake thing. I may have a large woo streak on the side, but that doesn't mean I can't do science.

I thought of an informal blinded test. One guy tricked his wife into going on my diet, said it was for general health reasons. She didn't know, went on the diet, after a few weeks her libido jumped so high that he couldn't keep up and he confessed so that he could get her dosage down. That was over at Thunders, I left there in a huff a while back but the posts are still there.

This is not a blinded test - informally or formally.

The husband was not blinded to the expectations of what would support the hypothesis. You'd be amazed at how much he would be able to unintentionally influence the outcome of the test. Not because he is the husband, just because it has been shown that if a researcher is expecting a particular outcome (behavior, reply, whatever) he/she can very subtly and unintentionally influence the subject being studied.

I'm not saying that you can't do science, and I'm not trying to pick on you (honestly!) - I'm simply saying that what you have described here doesn't convince me that you have a solid understanding of what science is.

[Marrena]

It was a single-blinded test, not a double-blinded test.

I have a solid understanding of what science is. Christ.

[Lilith]

At least here in the United States, people are not allowed to do medical testing on human subjects without passing an IRB. Part of passing one is the study must be overseen by a medical doctor (and there are a whole lot of other hoops to jump through, which we are ready for, we have the necessary forms, etc.). Without an IRB review, no reputable peer-reviewed journal will publish results.

As I understand it, you only need an IRB approval if you are receiving federal funds for the research, or using facilities at an institution that requires IRB approval. Other than that, you can do what you like as long as you don't commit a crime in the process.

You don't have to have funds to conduct simple tests - and can do so following good scientific methods. You may not get your results published, but you may be able to convince others of your case and get this moved to a research institution.

[Lilith]

It was a single-blinded test, not a double-blinded test.

You're right. It is a single blinded test. I was thinking of the couple as subjects. Regardless, the results would be suspicious because it wasn't a double-blinded test, and the "researcher" spent a substantial amount of time interacting (presumably in ways that could affect her libido) with the "subject", and was, presumably again, expecting and hoping for the results he found.

Anyway - I was trying to be helpful and clear; but based on the tone of your replies, I do not feel it is worthwhile for either of us. Good luck to you.

[Marrena]

I already have convinced many doctors of my case and have a research institution at my disposal, an FSD clinic at Columbia University that is world-famous for FSD research. I've got the gold standard, and already an offer to publish in a peer-reviewed journal. I'm past that part.

If you know of research scientists willing to work pro bono, please let me know.

As I explained earlier, I had people interested in funding when there were potential patent rights floating around, but that's not an option anymore.

I'm sorry, I'm obsessed with this...and bitter.

[Marrena]

I find it fascinating that the same spirit of scientific skepticism leveled against my science was completely dropped in another thread when I showed that the pharmaceutical industry's two biggest cash cows, antidepressants and hormonal birth control, are snake oil.

The pharmaceutical companies themselves have admitted that they only have anecdotal evidence for efficacy of antidepressants, while covering up some pretty serious side effects, including increasing suicidal tendencies. And they have also effectively hidden the serious side effect of decreased libido for a large minority of women who take hormonal birth control, while so indoctrinating doctors into the necessity of women taking it that if a woman requests a cervical cap or diaphragm or non-hormonal IUD, she generally meets with a strong negative reaction.

Just those two types of medications net pharmaceutical companies over $16 billion a year, and yet the big hullabaloo on this site is yoga or acupuncture or whatnot. How on earth can medical science be seen as impartial when Big Pharma have so utterly corrupted it?

This place is useful for dispelling woo thoughts, which is why I keep coming back here every so often. Psychic powers, faeries, talking to the dead--it's great that this place gets rid of the flim-flam. But when it comes to medical science, really, believing that the state of American medical research is credible or unbiased is an act of faith that would make a snake handler blush. European medical research is in much better shape, and the German Commission E I'm sure would make many posters here apoplectic (although with the number of sceptics, I assume there are many Europeans posting here).

So enough with this place. And please examine your own beliefs in the purity of scientific research with the same anal scrutiny you give to every deluded woo yahoo who comes a-posting. :p

[luchog]

"Greenie" is another word for "environmentalist". I guess a green witch is someone who practices environmentally friendly witchcraft.
And quite a large number of the ones around here are Greeners (http://www.evergreen.edu/).