Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with acid

I took acid for the first time have many questions

ascetic — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:10:59 -0800

Okay, my friend from work came over and then he, my roommate, and I were supposed to just take ecstasy and just chill out to trance music. Somehow my friend convinced us that we should take ACID. I have always told myself that I would never do it because I was afraid of going completely and utterly insane. So we literally tripped for almost 24 hours (each took several hits of the acid and around 4 rolls of E). It was REALLY weird and easily the most awesome experience of my life. I will never look at my house the same EVER AGAIN.

The most noticeable thing me for was that we became very obsessed with perspective. Is that normal? We all took turns "sitting" in my refrigerator and we literally BECAME the fridge. I sat there yelling "OOOHHHH MYYYYY GOODDDDDD" as my friends pretended to take condiments out of me. We also started speaking in gibberish and I could somehow understand them. We also started using a British accent (which scared the daylights out of my dog!!! I could also control the tempo of the music with my mind and I somehow synchronized the lights with my arms. If I raised my arms up in the air, the lights got brighter. As I lowered my arms, the lights dimmed.

I have a few questions though:

1) Is it normal it be really depressed and somber the day after? I got really emotional and cried uncontrollably at some points. I think that is from the E

2) Our trip is just in our head right? I mean, we slid around on our bellies on my kitchen floor and we were sliding like we were on a skating rink. What would it look like to someone who was not on acid? And what about the British accents? In our head, or where we really talking like that?

3) I noticed that several times throughougt the night, I would say stuff like "This is really fununununununun" and repeat the last syllable over and over. I felt very "manic" and would make "omomomomomom" noises over and over, and REALLY fast. What's that about? One person said from the meth in the E.

4) Lastly, what are the long-term effects of acid? I mean, say you use it once or twice a year? I am in college and get good grades and I am worried about ruining my cognition and/or memory. I value my ability to compute algebra problems.....

5) If I use the LSD spiritually and therapeutically, could it actually make my life better somehow? I would like to try to have healing sessions with my friends where we express ourselves artistically and talk about how we would like to improve our lives...

I need an adjustment

orville sash — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:07:52 -0800

I want some help applying effects and filters in Pro Tools and Reason I am sort of a newbie to home recording. I have been recording in both Reason and Pro Tools. I have the following questions:

1.) When I record a track in Reason, is there a way to go back over that track and adjust the knobs on the devices (like, for example, distortion module) so that those adjustments also occur in playback?

2.) Is there a way to "fade in" a filter or effect in pro tools, rather than processing the entire track with that effect? So it sounds as it was recorded at first and then the effect gradually fades in, modifying the track.

Bonus question:

Is there a way to do what I asked in #2 with Acid (the program, not the substance)?

Please note: I'm a total n00b, so I am going to need very specific instructions, I.E.: (click on the region button and go to ...) I don't really have the vocabulary of these programs down pat yet.

Thank you for your help.

What other substances might show up in a blood test for valproic acid levels?

Anonymous — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 06:17:02 -0800

What other substances might show up in a blood test for valproic acid levels? Asking for a friend:

Twenty-something female has been epileptic since she was a kid, and taking Depakote to control seizures. Her doctor ordered a fairly routine blood test to check for valproic acid levels, but since her last round of blood tests, she's gotten into the habit of smoking marijuana. She probably gets high once a week, on average, but sometimes more often. The lab order is written for a "Valproic Acid Level Test."

So on to the question: Is there any way to know whether her blood test for valproic acid might reflect her marijuana use? And if it does show up in a blood test, are there any legal repercussions? It seems like a valproic acid levels test shouldn't be looking for any other substances, and my instinct is that even if she tested positive for pot somehow, the doctor would just counsel her on the risks of drug use, but she'd like to know for sure.

Just FYI, she hasn't taken the blood test yet, but needs to schedule it in the next week or so.

Throwaway email at epilepsy.and.pot@gmail.com if there are any follow-up questions.

Making an mp3 from a Youtube video

cashman — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 18:05:07 -0800

I'm trying to make a high quality mp3 of the first 3:41 of this yt video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWz-x7YMVCk I have bass-increasing headphones and in them the song sounds great. But the mp3 I made is missing all of that. I tried to use audacity and acid to make mp3s of this video that sound good - capture the bass and the song in general. I can't do it without it sounding 'quiet' or alternatively, clipping. Can someone get me a high quality mp3 of this video of Red doing his live beatboxing?

My email's in my profile.

SkinCareFilter: Non-Toxic anti-aging skin care?

airguitar2 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:10:15 -0800

Help my skin glow while avoiding toxic chemicals! I'm 31, and I'm looking for skin care products that will give me gorgeous skin. (I currently battle dark under-eye circles and fine lines.) Problem is, a lot of chemicals in skin care products are linked to serious health consequences (neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, etc. etc.) .

So, my potentially quixotic quest: to find moisturizers with alpha hydroxy acid, cleansers, toners that are the least harmful and most effective.

Any MeFites have success with a similar quest? So far I've come up with Ole Henriksen as a potentially viable line or products-- success with this, or others? Thanks a mill.

Let's get chemical.

sindas — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:16:07 -0800

Hey Biochemists! Why exactly (in extreme biochemical detail) are pH balancing "Acid/Alkaline diets" a bunch of hooey? Do tell. Spare no boring detail.

Thanks.

Toilet works: slow flushing toilet

twistedmetal — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:42:38 -0800

My toilet is flushing slowly. Sometimes it takes 3+ flushes to completely remove waste. I have completely replaced all of the internals, and tried the CLR method. I have even manually cleared out the return / fill holes. It has helped some, but not enough. I think I need to use something stronger than CLR, like muriatic acid. The problem is I am on a septic tank and everything I read says do not use the muriatic acid method if you are on septic as it will kill all of the beneficial bacteria in the septic tank. So, my thoughts are to use the muriatic acid to clean out the bowl, but before the first flush, use baking soda to neutralize the acid as much as possible. Then flush. After about a week, add some RidX to help restore some of the lost bacteria and after another week or so, add another box of RidX. Is this a sound plan or should I abandon the muriatic acid idea completely?

The Eyes Have It.

BrotherCaine — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:36:46 -0800

Why do diabetics intermittently get little swaths of redness at the outside corners of the eye? I've had this happen sometimes (I haven't related it to sugars yet, I'll do more logging), and I've known two other Type I diabetics who exhibit this.

Alternate drink to coffee/tea?

zobot — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:16:10 -0800

I want to find a replacement for coffee and tea for a morning kick drink. My stomach is having problems with acid, especially from coffee and tea. I abandoned coffee and even though I like it, I am thinking about giving up tea (at least for a while). I'm looking for some ideas for alternative drinks that would help me get going in the morning. The tricky thing is some of the alternatives probably have a lot of acid too. I do sometimes try to get going by doing something physical, like a run or a bike ride, but often I just don't have the time in the morning

Welcome to the new you!

parmanparman — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:51:36 -0800

Ten days ago I learned I have a celiac disorder. I have lost almost 15 pounds and my eating patterns have drastically changed. Help me fill the void... My doctor confirmed the week before last that I have a celiac disorder, and to cut out gluten, barley, and spelt.

The first week of this was spent mostly at work. Which consisted playing the game of "Can I Eat This...I Can't Eat This". By last Saturday, I had gone from the 221 pounds I weighed at the doctor's to 209.5 on the scale in my house.

My diet is now extremely restricted. But, I am very worried about replacing the carbohydrates that I can't eat with meat protein because I don't want to see a jump in cholesterol. I also feel like some of defenses have gone: on Sunday I ate out to celebrate a friend's birthday and had a very bad reaction to an omelet. It was bad enough that I had to call in sick. I am now down to 207 pounds and I feel very weak and my clothes are not fitting very well.

I already cannot eat a lot of spicy food and I feel like I am doomed to a bland diet. I can't eat tomatoes, eggplant, cheese, beer, whiskey, chocolate, many things.

However, my acid reflux has totally gone away, so this is working and I am going to stick to it.

Any advice or help dealing with this Big New Reality would be helpful. Also, salad dressing recipes...

Taking acid, pros and cons?

JamesJD — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:43:13 -0800

Taking acid, pros and cons? Someone I know is considering taking a regular dose of acid. He is a relatively sensible, risk-averse individual, very in control of his life. Up until this point he has only smoked marijuana and drank occasionally.

What are the exact health risks (can it make you nauseous or lead to hospitalization)? Do they vary according to things like weight? Is there any relatively accessible site that describes the medical effects in neutral terms?

What are some precautions he should take in order to make sure that he will be safe? What factors are likely to lead to a "bad trip" (or a good trip?) and how bad are bad trips?

Who originally said: I live for drugs. It's great. Just lately I freaked out on acid. I freaked out very very badly.

elvissinatra — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:54:32 -0800

What is the source of the "I freaked out very, very badly -- I freaked out on acid" sample used by Thrill Kill Kult and Meat Beat Manifesto? This question came up a few years ago, and was answered. Unfortunately, the answer was incorrect. That thread is now closed. I eventually found the Capitol LSD album on ebay, paid $40 for it, and listened to the damn thing. It's pretty cool and all, but it does not contain that dialog snippet. Boo.

So I am still looking. I've been trying to find this for about 15 years. Someone must know!

Meat Beat Manifesto's "Acid Again" contains the following:

Question: Are you really happy?

Answer: I'm happier than I've ever been. I'm not happy. I'm not happy at all, really. Or I'm very sad. I'm not happy. I'm still fat. I don't feel very pretty, I really don't.

Question: You know a lot about drugs...

Answer: Oh, I live for drugs. It's great. Just lately I freaked out on acid. I freaked out very very badly. Now I don't think I'll ever taken acid again and before I thought that was the best thing in the world. I never want it again. Never acid again.

My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult's "Daisy Chain for Satan" contains a few additional snippets from the interviewee such as "I'm the white rabbit," "My friends turn me on," and "I could never afford it, I would never buy drugs."

Google does not have the answer to this question. Trust me on that. So this is going to require someone who knows the answer but has not yet entered it into any of the tubes on the internets.

I don't think the people in the band even know. But someone does... Are you out there?

What shall I do to bring my dentist to a small court for his negligence, and for how much?

dy — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:19:05 -0800

What shall I do to bring my dentist to a small court for his negligence, and for how much? I got a chemical burn to my face, about the size of a quarter, due to the negligence of my dentist. To make the long story short, it started two days ago when I went to have some filling work done for my teeth. The dentist accidentally mixed the water with the filling composite and smeared it onto my face. This triggered a rapid reaction with my skin. I was told at the time that I was probably allergic to the metal used for the high pressure tool piece. I did not buy his explanation and went to see my own doctor immediately. The next day I found out from the dentist that it was possibly an etch or acid burn by the composite. Today my own doctor confirmed me that it was indeed a chemical burn.

The burnt area is now dried up and is turning into a big dark scab. The burning sensation is going away, but the discomfort, as my doctor told me, will last for at least two weeks, not to mention that I have to show up like that at work everyday. According to my doctor, it’s unlikely to have scars afterwards in this case, but I’m still traumatized and scared to death with what if’s.

I’m furious that the dentist failed sending me to a medical clinic for immediate treatment upon my request. The funny part (not so funny) is that he treated me with Vaseline and recommended me to take Tylenol to ease the pain when this happened. I have been taking pictures of the burnt area everyday. I save all the notes from my doctor, visit receipts, and prescription. I want to see him at a small court, and want him to be responsible for his malpractice and negligence, and to cover all my medial expenses plus discomfort as the result. Shall I get a lawyer to represent me at this time or shall I settle this with the dentist by my own efforts first? If latter, what should I do first, and how much is reasonable to compensate my suffering, yet big enough for him to learn this lesson? Your inputs are greatly appreciated.

I have "Alien" sweat!

Alterscape — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:54:08 -0800

Help me save my theoretical new MacBook Pro from my Sweat of Doom! I own a well-loved 12" G4 powerbook. Over two years of heavy use, the wrist-rest portion of the case has slowly but steadily developed severe "pitting" in the areas where I typically rest the heels of my palms. My glasses frames exhibit the same issue over time and my optometrist tells me it's because I have very acidic sweat and there's very little I can do to correct the problem.

Several weeks ago, the pitting finally annoyed me to the point where I decided to buy a Marware Protection Pack (~$15) for my machine to see if the rubber wrist-rest protector would be good quality, cover up the pitting, and prevent further damage. After less than a month of use, the plastic is developing pitting and cracking of its own in the same places -- I'm almost certain it isn't a material defect because the damage only occurs where I rest my wrists!

I plan to buy a shiny new 15" MBP for grad school later this summer, and I want to protect it from this pitting mess, but the idea of ponying up $35 once every few months to replace a Marware Protection Pack wristrest irks me. Does anyone have any ideas less invasive than "wipe down the metal every few minutes during use" to prevent this mess and increase the longevity of the metal or whatever wristrest protectors I use?

All I want for Christmas is my old front teeth

rosemere — Sat, 26 May 2007 22:11:46 -0800

Coke Zero, or some other acidic drink, may have done a number on my teeth, or maybe I just have lousy Québecois teeth. About one third to one half of each of my incisors and canines (from the biting edge inwards) appear slightly translucent. My dental hygienist confirmed today that there appears to be some demineralization. Is there any effective treatment to remineralize them? Someone I know swears that taking 1000 mg of calcium citrate supplements every day remineralized his teeth and made them completely opaque again. My hygienist disagrees, and suggested I try a special (and expensive) toothpaste with bio-available calcium and phosphate instead, saying that topical application would be more effective, although she also said that the remineralization would not necessarily result in a visible change to my teeth.

Has anyone here successfully reversed the visible translucency in their teeth?

How can I create this sound effect?

cashman — Thu, 03 May 2007 12:34:03 -0800

How do I make that backwards echoish sound? I've never been able to figure out how to make that backwards echo-ish sound with vocals/music. I don't know what it's called, but to describe it, imagine someone saying "Yes we did". But the sound plays as if the "Y.." is echoed backwards (before, instead of after the sound), and it's smoothed out so it's just like one long sound as opposed to a repeating echo. But also, it builds somehow. So it comes out as "yyaaaaaaAAA-es we did". It's a neat little sound effect.

For a second I thought it was called a slow attack, but that doesn't appear to be it. You can hear it in Bill Hicks' Arizona Bay, I believe. At the beginning of one routine, the word "folks" is backward echoed. You can hear it in the verses of Dr. Dre's "Murder Ink" on his "2001" album.

I tried the reverse echo smoothing several different times, a few different ways and it didn't produce that effect. I'm not necessarily looking for how to do it with any specific software, though I have access to Acid, Audacity and other programs and that is welcomed. How do you make that sound?

Ah feel like ahcid

klangklangston — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 09:51:09 -0800

The best films to see while tripping? LSD, HDTV, surround sound, on DVD? Looking for visual effects, chromakey, 3000 miles from home, set controls for the center of the sun, etc. Especially interested in swirly, surreal, pleasant. Not sure I'm up for 120 Days of Sodom tonight.

My belly puzzles me.

joannemerriam — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:46:08 -0800

How come I get acid reflux from fatty foods, but not from dairy-based high-fat foods like ice cream and cheese and not from foods cooked in olive oil? What is my stomach doing differently?

Help for grubby iBook with MacBook disease?

Scram — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 12:55:11 -0800

What to do about discoloration issues similar to those grubby MacBooks... on a G4 iBook? My husband's G4 iBook, which he's had for about 18 months, quickly developed terrible discoloration all over the places his hands rest and on the trackpad. He has also had to go to the Apple Store to get individual keys replaced a few times, because the letters have worn away over time, which suggests there may either be something systemically wrong with the plastics on his machine, or perhaps that his sweat is chemically different than ordinary sweat.

The discoloration looks very much like the photos that have circulated of defective MacBooks, for which I understand Apple had been replacing the top plastic. And the trackpad, which has an egg-shaped horizontal area that is worn away in the center, feels slick and slimy compared to mine.

I'm not really happy with the appearance of my iBook either--I scrub with microfiber cloth and iClean (which I guess is really for the display and not the top of the machine, and maybe is not the best product to use) and can still always see the ghosts of my fingertips and palm prints, but it's nothing like the situation with my husband's machine. He's ashamed to take it out in meetings, since it looks like a dirty ape has been using it.

So my questions: has anyone heard of similar discolorations on iBooks? Will Apple replace it as they have for the MacBooks? And is there some other cleaning product we should be trying?

yrs sincerely,
the wife of the guy with the nasty iBook

Can't Stop the Acne

Napierzaza — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 21:12:06 -0800

It appears as if I have a acid sensitivity. I get acne fairly often (which apparently according to homeopaths can be from acid) and I also have chronic heart-burn issues that can become very painful. Unfortunately I am not willing to give up coffee, coca-cola or spicy foods. Maybe spicy foods, but caffeine is pretty important to me, I think caffeine pills are less acidic but I always end up strung out after a few months of a consistent periodic dose of caffeine. So is there anything that is cheap and discrete that I can eat to hopefully change the pH in my digestive juices? Is that a junk-science thing to say? I personally don't understand how adding such a weak acid as CO2 dissolved in water could change the amount of acid in my already acid-filled stomach...

Dealing With Stomach Acidity

unreason — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 05:38:22 -0800

How do I get rid of my stomach acidity problems? I've always had a horribly weak stomach, and a fairly acidic one. In the past few years though, I've had a lot problems with stomach acidity. It causes discomfort, a very easily upset stomach, and is all kinds of no fun. I think a major cause (although not the only one) is stress; I stress out very easily. My diet isn't the best (too much junk food), but I'm not munching on onions and pickles everyday or anything, and I tend to avoid high acidity juices like orange juice. Dito with my fitness level, I'm not a big exerciser, and I have a paunch, but I'm not obese or anything. I've tried Tums and that sort of thing, with little success. Does anyone have any good ways of dealing with this?

I am a golden god!

weaponsgradecarp — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 14:07:24 -0800

LSD in pop culture? I'm looking for a bevy of movies/documentaries/etc (the "I am a golden god!" scene from Almost Famous comes to mind) involving acid, LSD, what have you...my intention is to stitch the acid-related scenes together and show it as a video presentation detailing the prevalence of LSD in American culture. Basically, I'm getting out of doing any work for a stupid HS health class (which is completely frickin below me, as I've already taken AP bio, etc...) by voicing over other bits of movies.....

So, besides Almost Famous and the obvious choice of Fear and Loathing, what else is there...

If you've got the clip, or access to it on some sort of hosted medium, thats even better...

What can I do to let me breath?

geoff. — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 23:04:18 -0800

Can't sleep. In the Spring the left side of my throat got swollen and I couldn't breath out of my left nostril. I went to the ENT who said it was acid reflux that was causing the swelling (just by looking down my throat). Well I was given Prevacid and it eventually went away in the summer months. Just this week it started back up again. Just my left side! I can barely breath out of my left nostril, hardly any air comes out or goes in. The left side of my neck is also hard like it's tense. Any suggestions while I wait until I can get an appointment in? It's driving me crazy, I can't sleep! I'm not known to have allergies but may go out and buy a lot of Allegra.

And I'm not completely sure that acid reflux causes this as I don't have the traditional symptoms and it doesn't seem to be affected by what I eat. It's driving me crazy!

PPS I should mention that it's largely not there until 3:00PM-sleep.

Trying to source a dialogue sample:

djwudi — Sat, 19 Mar 2005 13:27:22 -0800

I'm trying to track down the source of a dialogue sample used most prominently in several My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult tracks and Meat Beat Manifesto's 'Acid Again'. It appears to be an interview with a girl describing her experiences with drugs. My Google searches have resulted in a lot of people talking _about_ this particular sample, but never the source itself. (Quotes inside...) Interviewer: "Are you really happy?"
Girl: "I'm happy as I've ever been...I'm not happy. I'm not happy at all, really. I'm very sad, I'm not happy. I'm so fat. I don't feel very pretty, I really don't."
Interviewer: "You know a lot about drugs."
Girl: "Oh, I live for drugs. It's great. Just lately I...freaked out, on acid. I freaked out very very badly. Now, I don't think I'll ever take acid again, and before I thought that was the best thing in the world. I never want it again. Never acid again."

Recording audio from Flash movies

dhoyt — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 19:07:38 -0800

I was inspired by this great post to make some of my own songs, using Harry Partch's virtual instruments, and record them into ACID Pro 4.0. How do I make those Flash movies my audio source? In other words, I'm usually running instruments into a Mackie board and then into the soundcard. To record the Flash, would I have to go out from my card, into the board, then back in again?

(My head always spins when figuring out audio routing, and the simple solutions often don't seem to work!)