A terrarium is a self-sustaining miniature ecosystem, capturing a slice of nature within glass. With the right conditions, terrariums can last for years, creating a thriving environment for plants to grow with minimal maintenance. But just how long can a terrarium live? Some have been known to survive for decades, even over a century, without intervention. The longest-living terrarium on record has been growing strong for more than 60 years, proving that with the right balance of water, light, and airflow, a terrarium can thrive indefinitely.

In 1960, David Latimer planted a tiny garden inside of a large glass bottle and sealed it shut. He opened the bottle 12 years later in 1972 to add some water and then sealed it for good. The self contained ecosystem has flourished for nearly 60 years.
For those who are wondering how this is even possible: the garden is a perfectly balanced and self-sufficient ecosystem. The bacteria in the compost eats the dead plants and breaks down the oxygen that is released by the plants, turning it into carbon dioxide, which is needed for photosynthesis. The bottle is essentially a microcosm of earth.

the plant used in this long experiement is tradescantia

The World’s Oldest Terrarium

The longest-living closed terrarium was planted by David Latimer in 1960. He sealed the glass container in 1972, and since then, it has remained almost completely untouched. Despite being watered only twice in over 50 years, the terrarium has continued to thrive. The plants inside recycle nutrients through a self-sustaining water and air cycle, proving how resilient a closed ecosystem can be.

The Glass Container and Initial Setup

Latimer used a 10-gallon glass carboy, a large, globular glass jug originally intended for storing liquids. On Easter Sunday in 1960, he carefully placed composted soil at the base of the carboy, along with a small amount of water. To plant the cuttings inside, he used a piece of wire to lower them through the narrow opening. The jar was sealed with a greased cork stopper, ensuring an airtight environment. Twelve years later, in 1972, Latimer decided to open the bottle just once to add a bit more water. Since then, the terrarium has remained sealed, functioning entirely as a self-sustaining ecosystem without any outside interference.

The Self-Sustaining Ecosystem

Inside the carboy, the spiderwort plant (Tradescantia) has thrived by cycling water, nutrients, and air. The plant’s leaves release moisture through transpiration, which condenses on the inside walls of the glass and falls back into the soil creating a miniature water cycle. The fallen leaves decompose naturally, providing essential nutrients for continued growth.

Despite being completely sealed, the ecosystem continues to regulate itself. During the day, the spiderwort undergoes photosynthesis, producing oxygen, while at night, it consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. The balance of gases, along with decomposing organic matter, has allowed the terrarium to sustain itself for over 60 years.

David Latimer’s Perspective

Latimer originally created the terrarium as an experiment, inspired by the bottle garden craze of the 1960s. He never expected it to last for decades but was fascinated by its self-sustaining nature. The terrarium has been kept in the same spot in his home, about six feet from a window, where it receives only indirect sunlight. Occasionally, he rotates the bottle to ensure even light exposure, but otherwise, it requires no care. Over the years, the terrarium has drawn interest from scientists and gardening enthusiasts alike. It has been cited as an example of how plants could sustain themselves in closed environments, similar to the concept of self-sustaining life support systems in space exploration.

Latimer’s Own Reflections and Statements

David Latimer has shared his personal impressions of the terrarium in various interviews, especially after the story caught public attention around 2013. For many years, the bottle garden quietly sat in his home (in the hallway under the stairs) without fanfare. Latimer eventually sent a photograph of the flourishing sealed garden to the BBC Radio program “Gardener’s Question Time” in the early 2010s, asking the panel of experts if his bottle garden was of any scientific or horticultural interest. This sparked media interest in his experiment – soon reporters and scientists were inquiring about the 50-year-old terrarium. The story was covered in major outlets like The Daily Mail and The Times, and Latimer, then about 80 years old, gave interviews describing the history of his unique houseplant.

It’s true that Latimer created a self-sustaining ecosystem inside a sealed bottle in 1960 that survived for more than half a century.

In speaking about his sealed terrarium, Latimer has emphasized how effortless its care really is. He has called it “the definition of low-maintenance,” noting that he’s “never pruned it” and essentially does nothing beyond occasional turning of the bottle. The plant seems to have self-regulated its growth once it filled the space, so there’s little for a gardener to do. In fact, Latimer humbly admitted that the bottled garden is “incredibly dull and doesn’t really do anything” on a day-to-day basis there are no dramatic changes to observe in a given week or month. However, he remains deeply proud and fascinated by its long-term survival. Latimer has expressed excitement to see “just how long it will last,” keeping the experiment going for as long as possible.

Now in his old age, he has even joked about the terrarium outliving him. He hopes to pass on this living bottle garden to his children in the future – and if his family isn’t interested in keeping it, Latimer has said he would like to donate the terrarium to the Royal Horticultural Society so that it can continue to be cared for and studied by others. Through his interviews and statements, David Latimer comes across as a pleasantly surprised caretaker: he started the project out of simple curiosity, and decades later he is as amazed as anyone that his sealed bottle terrarium is still green and thriving. It stands as a testament to nature’s resilience and the elegance of closed ecosystems, all born from one man’s idle experiment back in 1960.

Latimer, a retired electrical engineer from Surrey, England, created his bottle garden in 1960.

“At the time the chemical industry had changed to transporting things in plastic bottles so there were a lot of glass ones on the market,” Latimer told the Daily Mail in 2013. “Bottle gardens were a bit of a craze and I wanted to see what happened if you bunged the thing up.”

The concept was simple: He planted a spiderwort plant (tradescantia) inside a 10-gallon glass carboy and sealed it off from the outside world with a cork. He watered the plant once in 1972, and since then, the ecosystem has been entirely self-sustaining, requiring no further intervention.

The garden’s longevity testified to the principles of a closed ecological system. Inside the sealed bottle, the spiderwort plant undergoes photosynthesis — the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy to produce food and release oxygen — which sustains its own growth and the survival of microorganisms within the ecosystem. The water cycle is also self-contained, with moisture released by the plant condensing and returning to the soil. This self-sustaining cycle continued for more than 50 years.

“It’s 6ft from a window so gets a bit of sunlight. It grows towards the light so it gets turned round every so often so it grows evenly,” Latimer told the Daily Mail. “Otherwise, it’s the definition of low-maintenance. I’ve never pruned it, it just seems to have grown to the limits of the bottle.”

Latimer’s sealed bottle garden has sparked discussions about the potential applications of closed ecological systems in various fields, including space exploration and environmental conservation.

NASA’s research has shown that plants not only produce oxygen through photosynthesis but also help regulate carbon dioxide levels with their so-called air-scrubbing qualities, provide fresh food and even purify water, making long-duration space missions more sustainable and self-sufficient.

The Weather Channel’s story in 2016 was the last public update on the garden that Snopes could find; its status in 2024 was unclear. The Daily Mail reported that Latimer hoped to leave his bottle garden to his children, and if they didn’t want it he planned to donate it to the U.K.’s Royal Horticultural Society.

How Does a Terrarium Live for Decades?

The longevity of a terrarium depends on several key factors. When carefully designed, a terrarium can function like a miniature rainforest, where moisture, air, and nutrients continuously cycle through the system. Here’s how:

1. The Water Cycle A closed terrarium creates its own rain cycle. Water evaporates, condenses on the glass, and then drips back down to nourish the plants. This process prevents the need for frequent watering and ensures a steady supply of moisture.

2. Photosynthesis and Oxygen Exchange Plants in a sealed terrarium generate oxygen during the day through photosynthesis. At night, they release carbon dioxide. This natural cycle allows the terrarium to regulate itself without outside interference.

3. Decomposers Keep the Ecosystem Clean Fallen leaves and organic matter break down naturally, thanks to beneficial bacteria and microorganisms. These act as decomposers, recycling nutrients back into the soil, just as they would in a real forest.

4. Balanced Light and Temperature Terrariums need indirect light to keep the plants healthy without overheating the system. Excess heat or direct sunlight can cause condensation to build up too quickly, potentially leading to mould or plant stress.

Can Your Terrarium Live Forever?

In theory, a well-maintained terrarium could last indefinitely. If the balance of light, water, and nutrients remains stable, the ecosystem will continue cycling without the need for human intervention. However, external factors like overwatering, insufficient light, or an imbalance in plant life can shorten its lifespan.

To give your terrarium the best chance at longevity:

Choose hardy plants that thrive in humid environments, such as moss, ferns, and fittonia. Avoid overwatering – a single watering when setting up the terrarium is often enough for months or even years. Provide indirect light to encourage healthy photosynthesis. Monitor for mould and remove any decaying plant matter to maintain a healthy balance.

The longest-living terrariums prove that a well-balanced, closed ecosystem can last for decades with little to no care. Whether you’re starting your first terrarium or looking to improve your current one, focusing on the right conditions can help it thrive for years to come.

Thinking about making your own long-lasting terrarium? Explore our shop for DIY terrarium kits, beautiful glass containers, and everything you need to create a self-sustaining world of your own. source

Our Vision

Every day we work to provide an extraordinary place where smiles and laughter lead to wonderful memories with family members, friends, and caregivers. We want Morgan’s Wonderland to be a place where the common element of play creates an atmosphere of inclusion for those with and without disabilities while encouraging everyone to gain a greater understanding of one another.

Morgan’s Wonderland is just like any other theme park except for a culture and environment that assures 100 percent enjoyment by every person entering the Welcome Center. Unfortunately, countless children and adults with special needs do not have access to facilities that enable them to enjoy outdoor recreation fully. Morgan’s Wonderland is changing that every day.

The Inspiration

Call her a catalyst, a spark, an inspiration. Morgan Hartman doesn’t realize it, but her ability to smile through physical and cognitive special needs spurred her parents – Gordon and Maggie Hartman – to do things never before accomplished for individuals with special needs and their families. Morgan inspired the creation of a one-of-a-kind theme park and other initiatives benefiting the inclusive community.

The tipping point occurred in 2006 when Gordon observed Morgan wanting to play with other vacationing kids at a hotel swimming pool, but the kids were leery of Morgan and didn’t want to interact with her. Then and there, Gordon and Maggie resolved to create opportunities and places where those with and without disabilities can come together for fun and better understand one another. That led to the construction of Morgan’s Wonderland in an abandoned quarry in Northeast San Antonio. It’s apropos that the butterfly is the symbol of this unique theme park; soaring to one success after another is now commonplace.

When it celebrated its grand opening on April 10, 2010, Morgan’s Wonderland became the world’s first theme park designed with individuals with special needs in mind and built for everyone’s enjoyment. The completely wheelchair-accessible park features more than 25 elements, including rides, playgrounds, and other colorful attractions. From the very beginning, anyone with a special need has been admitted free of charge, no questions asked.

It is Morgan’s sincere hope that everyone with a special need – young and older, healthy or ailing, introspective, or outgoing – will be touched extraordinarily by Morgan’s Wonderland: a shrine of inclusion, an oasis of friendship, an unforgettable wonderland…Morgan’s Wonderland!

The Visionary

Native San Antonian Gordon V. Hartman sold his highly-successful homebuilding business in 2005 to pursue his and wife Maggie’s dream of helping children and adults with special needs. He proceeded to build nonprofit Morgan’s Wonderland, still the world’s first and only Ultra-Accessible, fully-inclusive theme park.

The phenomenal success of Morgan’s Wonderland – almost 3 million guests from all 50 states and over 120 other countries through park visitation and special events – encouraged Gordon to add award-winning Morgan’s Inspiration Island splash park, Morgan’s Sports complex, year-round Morgan’s Camp and Morgan’s MAC (Multi-Assistance Center). This latest venture involves more than 30 community-based organizations that provide both medical and non-medical services to children and adults with special needs. Morgan’s MAC sets a new standard for delivering coordinated care in an inclusive atmosphere through the guidance and follow-through of specially-educated team members known as Navigators.

All of Gordon’s innovations – and more to come – comprise Morgan’s, the umbrella organization that strategically coordinates planning, fundraising, marketing and communications for all its “family” members. In every endeavor, Gordon emphasizes the importance of inclusion, bringing together those with and without special needs and disabilities for interaction and a better understanding of one another. In addition to his many accomplishments through Morgan’s, Gordon has worked closely with governmental and community leaders on improvements that further add to San Antonio’s growing reputation as “Inclusion City, USA.”

The inspiration for all that Gordon has accomplished is his 30-year-old daughter Morgan, who’s dealt with physical and cognitive special needs since birth. In the beginning, Gordon’s guiding motto was: “Together, we CAN make a difference!” As a result of many successes and lots more to come, that motto now is: “Together, we ARE making a difference!”

Click here to read the full bio.

source

UPDATE: justcallmekoko has launched a new iteration of the Marauder (v6) for $60, which includes a sleeker look, options for external antennas, and the ability to update its firmware over Wi-Fi and/or SD card.

The original article continues below.

Penetration testers and security analysts looking for an easily-pocketable tool for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi testing purposes have another option, in the form of the ESP32 Marauder from security tester justcallmekoko.

“The Marauder is a portable penetration testing tool created for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth analysis,” the pseudonymous justcallmekoko explains. “It comes installed with a suite of offensive and defensive tools all running on an ESP32. I was inspired to create this tool by Spacehuhn’s deauther project. I wanted to bring similar functionality to the ESP32 and introduce new Bluetooth capabilities to the tool.”

“The tool itself serves as a portable device used to test and analyze Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices. Use this tool and its firmware with caution as the use of some of its capabilities without explicit consent from the target owner is unlawful in most countries.”

The firmware justcallmekoko has created is compatible with any ESP32-based development board, and designed to provide feedback via a 2.8″ ILI9341-based TFT touchscreen display. The pre-assembled versions take the firmware and install it onto a custom PCB with Espressif ESP32-WROOM chip at its heart and an integrated lithium-polymer charging circuit for power on the go.

The custom PCB is powered by an ESP32-WROOM. (: justcallmekoko)

The entire unit is then enclosed in a 3D-printed chassis, which in the case of the pre-assembled version comes in a selection of colors: black, “Galaxy Black,” neon green, and silver. Justcallmekoko warns, however, that “most of the work so far has been put into designing the hardware,” meaning that the current release has “limited firmware capabilities” — but that development is ongoing to add new features and functionality.

More details on the project can be found on GitHub, where the firmware, hardware, and 3D print files can be downloaded; the pre-assembled ESP32 Marauder, meanwhile, can be purchased from Tindie. source

source

An Unforgettable Experience at Firefly – A True Gem in Studio City!

Nine years after party-planner impresario Jeffrey Best opened this place, it’s still happening. Past the unmarked door, the bar is crowded with a usual mix of schmoozers and romancers, cocktail sippers and ardent talkers. The décor doesn’t look as if it’s changed a bit in the intervening years. Still the same books, the same inviting low red couches. Beyond the “library” lounge is the vast dining room. Two fireplaces give the room the feeling of a desert encampment.

The late-night menu continues where the dinner menu leaves off.

From the moment you step into Firefly, you’re transported into a world of elegance, charm, and ambiance. The atmosphere is absolutely stunning – dimly lit with cozy, romantic vibes that make it perfect for date night or a special celebration. The outdoor patio, with its twinkling lights and lush greenery, feels like something straight out of a movie.

The food? Absolutely phenomenal. Every dish we tried was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. Whether you’re a foodie or just someone who enjoys a great meal, Firefly delivers an elevated dining experience that satisfies on every level.

And let’s not forget the service – attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming. You can tell the staff takes pride in creating a memorable evening for every guest.

Firefly isn’t just a restaurant – it’s an experience. Highly recommend, and can’t wait to come back!

https://www.fireflystudiocity.com/

Placerita “white oil” was showcased at the 1876 Philadelphia World’s Fair. (Webmaster’s note: No, it wasn’t. It was discovered in 1899.) It was as clear as kerosene and able to burn 100 times longer than conventional oil. One can only imagine it caused quite a stir.

Oil production in Southern California started in the Newhall area around 1850, when natural oil seeps were crudely distilled and used as “burning oil” at the San Fernando Mission.

A quarter-century later, nearby Mentryville, some six miles east of downtown Newhall, was home to California’s first productive oil well, while the state’s oldest refinery was located off of Pine Street and produced 20 barrels of refined product a day.

But the phenomenon of Placerita white oil, a see-through form of crude oil coming straight out of the ground, is rare and occurs only in small quantities. Experts who examined it in a 1974 study for the county of Los Angeles called it “a unique geologic oddity.”

It is 83 percent gasoline and, according to local historians, it used to be put directly into early engines to make them run.

George Starbuck grew up in the vicinity of the natural seeps. As a teen-ager, Starbuck said, he would take a 5-gallon can to his great uncle Tom Walker’s white oil well, fill it up and pour the oil directly into his Model A Ford. Starbuck’s grandfather, whose cabin was nearby, built a contraption on top of the well that separated the white oil from water and natural gas.

Starbuck said he was not the only one catching freebies off the well. Others in the area knew about it and would fill up their tanks.

Just try putting crude oil in an old Model A and see how far it runs.

Close to the Placerita white oil well, another well was drilled that hit natural gas. Starbuck’s grandfather laid pipes that hooked into the natural gas line. The gas was used to light natural gas lamps in the home and burned 24 hours a day.

Starbuck distinctly remembers the peculiar natural gas smell in the home because the burners from the stove were kept on around the clock, too.

While the natural gas and white oil occur close to each other, it is not clear how they are related, if at all.

One could say Placerita white oil was refined by nature. The movement of the oil from the original source through the fine sands and clay of the San Gabriel Fault Zone created a natural filtration system for the clear, kerosene-like oil, according to the county study.

Only a fraction of the original crude oil moved from the sedimentary rocks into the cracks and crevasses within the “Placerita schist” (crystalline rocks) along the Placerita Fault.

Scientists have reasoned that the movement of the oil through the crystalline bedrock, creating the natural filtration system, was unusual.

Placerita white oil is still bubbling up today on the grounds of the Placerita Canyon Nature Center. source

White Oil Seep Do You Smell That?

 1. White Oil Seep Marker

What you are smelling is a pool of bubbling white oil. This very rare geologic feature of translucent petroleum has been filtered by nature. This special resource originates from deep within the earth in the Placerita Schist basement complex of rocks. Geologists have theorized that the oil traveled along the San Gabriel Fault Zone where it was filtered through various layers of sediments to get to its highly refined state. The oil is said to burn longer and brighter than kerosene and early local residents could pour it directly into their Ford Model T and Model A cars for fuel.

The Southern California oil industry started in the Newhall area in the late nineteenth century. In 1898 James Evans filed a patent on a mining claim which gave him title to the Placerita Canyon property. Evans then leased the land to the New Century Oil Co. to drill for oil. Imagine how surprised the oil drillers were when in 1900 the well started gushing white oil rather that the expected black gold! In 1901, the company entered a sample of crude oil into the Pan-American Exposition held in Buffalo, New York, which was the

Newhall near Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Unfortunately, the oil wells did not perform as expected and in 1902 New Century Oil went bankrupt while drilling additional wells. The company’s stock dropped from $1.00 per share down to $0.02 per share. By order of the court, all of their oil equipment assets were seized and auctioned off by the Sheriff.

Frank Walker
In the following years, Frank Walker (1886-1971), grandson to James Evans, inherited this Placerita Canyon property and used it as his primary residence along with his wife Hortense Reynier and their twelve children. Walker invented a contraption which allowed him to separate the water, white oil, and natural gas from the abandoned well. This enabled the family to capture the oil in a storage drum and route the natural gas directly to their cabin’s kitchen stove and lantern.

Erected 2013 by Placerita Canyon Nature Center. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 34° 22.515′ N, 118° 26.96′ W. Marker is near Santa Clarita, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Newhall. It can be reached from Canyon Trail near Placerita Canyon Road

2. White Oil Seep Marker Photographed by Craig Baker, March 26, 2024

 Located in Placerita Canyon Natural Area park. Hike 1½ miles east from the Nature Center, or ½ mile west from Walker Ranch Trailhead. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 19152 Placerita Canyon Rd, Newhall CA 91321, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Walker Ranch (approx. ¼ mile away); The Walker Cabin (approx. 1.1 miles away); Oil in Placerita Canyon (approx. 1.2 miles away); Oak of the Golden Dream (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Oak of the Golden Dream (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Oak of the Golden Dream (approx. 2½ miles away); Chinese Railroad Workers (approx. 2.7 miles away); In Honor of All Chinese Railroad Workers (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Clarita.

3. White Oil Seep — Behind the Marker

 

 

4. White Oil Gusher

5. Oil/Gas/Water Separator

Credits. This page was last revised on April 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 364 times since then and 114 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 27, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.

shopping

you’ll need an RTL-SDR unit. i recommend the dipole antenna kit as well, so you don’t need to make any additional purchases. if you’re a radio enthusiast already, you might have a better antenna available, but if you’re like me you do not and it’s worth the US$10. mine took a bit over a week to arrive. if you’re extremely unlucky, you might need two of them, but i was fine with just one. buy here

basic setup

once your RTL-SDR arrives, you’ll want to put together your antenna. if you’re lucky, like i am, you can just extend the antennas arbitrarily and it’ll work fine; if you’re cursed, the RTL-SDR website has resources on how long is ideal for various frequencies.

connect the antenna to the RTL-SDR unit, plug it in, and follow the RTL-SDR quick start guide. SDRSharp will work, or any of the other Windows options. some of what we’ll need is only available on windows.

once your RTL-SDR’s drivers are sorted out, find the specifications for police radio in your area on RadioReference. click your state, click your county, scroll down and see if there’s a link above a frequency table for you. if you’re lucky, there is, and if you click it there’s a page with a table with System Type and System Voice entries at the top. mine has a system type of EDACS Networked Standard and a system voice of ProVoice and Analog, so the rest of this assumes that’s what you’ve got as well. if not, good luck.

there should be a table for System Frequencies on your RadioReference page. start up SDRSharp and tune your radio to the first frequency listed there. you’ll probably hear a bunch of static and the UI will look something like this:

see how there’s one constant signal and a bunch of other signals that appear and disappear all over the place? well, that’s trunking, and the constant signal is our control channel. if you don’t see it, you can click and drag on the bottom axis of the top panel to change the view. once you’ve found that constant signal, click on it to get the approximate frequency, go back to your frequency table and the closest thing to that will be the exact frequency. it should sound like a series of weird beeps instead of static. remember that frequency, it’ll be important later.

update 2020-07-31: that control channel can change between the frequencies listed on RadioReference. if things randomly quit working, come back to this step, and see if the control channel has moved. i’ll mark down below the places that need changing accordingly.

specific setup

EDACS is a trunked system, so we’re using RTL-SDR’s trunked radio tutorial as our guide, mostly. that guide assumes we have two RTL-SDRs, but there’s a piece at the end explaining how to do it with just one. that sucks. i’m going to paraphrase it here.

first, we’re going to download the software we need: Unitrunker, VB-Cable, and DSD+ (extract both the regular and DLL downloads to the same folder). install unitrunker and VB-Cable and extract dsd+ somewhere convenient. you might need to reboot after installing VB-Cable because computers are bad. VB-Cable might set your default input and output devices to the wrong things when you install it, so switch them back if it does. https://www.unitrunker.com/download.html

or dowmload zippped MSI file from us HERE  UniTrunker-2.1.0.108

open up dsd+. it’ll open four different windows, one of them should have a list of audio input and output devices. check the number in the input list that goes with CABLE Output – for me it’s 3. pull up notepad and make a new file. since my input was number 3, i’m typing

DSDPlus.exe -i3M

in that file: if yours is not 3, put whatever the correct number is for you instead of 3. then, save the file, find your DSDPlus folder, make sure the type is set to “All Files”, and name the file run.bat. close dsd+, go to that folder, and open that run.bat file you just created. it should pull up dsd+ and if you’re lucky it’ll print

audio input device #3 (CABLE Output (VB-Audio Virtual ) initialized

or something like that. leave that open.

open up unitrunker. click the + to add a new receiver, and click the RTL2832 button to add your RTL-SDR. set your settings around like this:

the most important things are the RTL Device, the sample rate (2.56 msps), and the VCOs (2 VCOs). i do not know what a VCO is and i do not care enough to find out. we should now have two VCO tabs next to our info tab. the first one needs to look kinda like this:

the important things are the Role being Signal, the Park frequency being the control channel we found earlier (mine is 851.7625), and the Mute box being checked.

update 2020-07-31: if the control channel changes, this Park frequency is one of the two things you’ll need to update.

the second VCO should look kinda like this:

the important things are the Role being Voice, the Deemphasis box being unchecked, and the Digital Output being set to your CABLE Input. this means it will connect up with dsd+ listening to our CABLE Output.

press Play now; it should pull up a window with a Channels tab. the Channels tab should look something like this:

but the Frequency column will all be zeroes except for the control frequency we found earlier. you’ll need to copy over the rest of the frequencies manually from the RadioReference site.

update 2020-07-31: if the control channel changes, you’ll need to uncheck the Control box on the old control channel, and check the Control box on the new control channel.

press the stop button and the play button again, and everything should in theory be working. ideally, the Call History tab will be crowded and updating pretty frequently, and unitrunker will be passing things along to dsd+ which will give us the audio we want. technically, this is enough.

groups

the thing, though, is we don’t have context for any of this. for now, at least. RadioReference should have a table or several of talkgroups – the “list all in one table” button may come in handy – and we can use that information to figure out who we’re hearing, and have at least some control over who takes priority if multiple people in different contexts are talking at once.

find the main unitrunker window – it’s titled “Universal Trunker” and if you don’t have it open just click the home button a bunch until it opens – and then open the Systems tab and double-click the one that exists. open the Groups tab in that window, and it should give you a massive list with columns for ID, Label, and a bunch of stuff we don’t care about right now. the ID matches up with the DEC column in the RadioReference table, and the Label can be either “Description” or “Alpha Tag” or something you make up yourself if you feel creative. if you pay RadioReference $15 for a Premium subscription then unitrunker can import that data automatically.

once you’ve filled that all in, open the Sites tab and double-click the entry you see there, then open the Call History tab. the group labels you added should now be appearing in the Audience column; the LCN and Frequency should turn green for what unitrunker is currently listening to.

back in the Groups tab, you can edit the Priority values to control which groups will be chosen more often – as far as i can tell, higher priority groups will interrupt lower priority groups, and equal priority groups will just play whoever started talking first.

broadcasting

this setup lets you listen to things locally, but what if you want your comrades with no hardware to be able to also listen? the laziest option is to just stream the Call History window on Twitch or something, but in theory there are better options. RadioReference runs Broadcastify, which is designed for hosting police scanner livestreams, but they have to manually approve your broadcast, which is annoying for short term activity. you could run an icecast server yourself or something, but that takes effort to configure. honestly all of those kinda suck but those are your options as far as i know.

update 2020-07-31: you can also let your friendly neighborhood succulent run an icecast server for you; reach out to me if you need something like this. if you’ve got an icecast server, you’ll need to pay for (or otherwise obtain) VB-CABLE A+B, set up VB-CABLE A, and grab butt (broadcast using this tool).

you’ll need to set DSD+ to output to “CABLE-A Input” like how you set it to input from “CABLE Output” – Cable A is the fourth output in DSD+, so my run.bat now looks like this:

DSDPlus.exe -i3M -o4

run butt, pull up the settings, and under the Audio tab set the Input Device to “CABLE-A Output”. (for bonus points, set the Streaming Codec to AAC+.) under the Main tab, Add a new Server and put in whatever info your icecast server admin told you to use. now restart your DSD+ and hit butt’s play button to start streaming, and you should be running a livestream of your police scanner that is accessible over the internet. source

Understanding, Listening and Recording Trunked Radio Systems with an RTL-SDR and Trunk-Recorder

Since taking over three years ago, Levin has faced complaints that he is exploiting the magazine’s brand for profit without regard to its storied history in cannabis culture. His stoner street cred in doubt, Levin made a show of getting high as he fielded questions from potential investors.

“I can’t read your name because my eyes are going out after this bong,” the private equity tycoon told one questioner, before taking another hit to toast the impending legalization of medical cannabis in Virginia. Tracking stock sales in real time, he offered to smoke once more to mark the next investor who ponied up cash for shares online. Before anyone on the call could take him up on it, Levin went for it anyways.

“It didn’t even take someone investing to get me to take a bong hit,” he explained.

A few weeks later, the company blew a Securities and Exchange Commission deadline for disclosing its financial condition, forcing the stock offering to come to a halt.

High Times, long the biggest name in American weed, has fallen on hard times. Since its founding in 1974, the marijuana magazine of record has attracted a devoted audience not just among stoners who got high for fun, but also among growers and activists, who saw cannabis as a lifestyle and a cause.

For generations of readers it was “a voice in the wilderness,” explained former editor David Bienenstock, “talking about the damage of the drug war, talking about the racism of the drug war, talking about the medicinal benefits of the plant, teaching people all over the country and around the world how to grow this plant and pushing that culture forward.”

Constantly running afoul of authorities, the magazine became an icon of the counterculture and an indispensable guide to the underground world of cannabis. It also survived the suicide of its outlaw founder, the war on drugs, and three federal grand jury investigations.

But now that cannabis has become legal across much of the country, High Times finds itself in a different kind of trouble.

A review of SEC disclosures and court filings as well as dozens of interviews with former staffers and others with insight into its operations paint a picture of a company that has traded in its credibility in cannabis circles to chase big “green rush” profits that have not materialized.

Less than a decade ago, High Times was entering a golden age, poised to reap the rewards of the mainstreaming of weed, and riding the strength of a wildly successful events business anchored by its Cannabis Cup competitions. But the 2016 death of its longtime chairman Michael Kennedy unsettled the delicate balance of power within what had been, essentially, a family business. Levin’s private equity firm Oreva Capital led an acquisition of the company a year later, with participation from reggae star Damian Marley. High Times’ moves since then — to expand its live events, run its own dispensaries and open a delivery service — were supposed to position it as a 21st century media brand and a leading player in the growing business of legal pot.

The mid-May investor webinar started out unremarkably, with discussion of the company’s debt load, its prospects for an initial public offering and its plans for a stock split. Things took a turn when the string of financial jargon briefly gave way to the sound of bubbling water.

High Times chairman Adam Levin was hitting a bong.

Instead, there have been layoffs and resignations. Publication of its flagship print magazine has ground to a halt, and lawsuits have been piling up.

This latest chapter of High Times’ storied existence closely tracks that of the broader cannabis industry. The initial promise of the green rush has, in many quarters, given way to disappointment that legal cannabis has become a mercenary business, failing to benefit minority communities that have suffered from the drug war or even offer enticing returns to professional investors.

“High Times has become very emblematic of the corporatization of cannabis,” said a former editor, one of several departed employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing a non-disparagement agreement. “I can think of no better symbol than what has happened to it.”

The company has been selling stock to consumers at $11 a share, while disclosures show that savvier institutional investors have secured stock deals for an effective price that is much lower. The company has also repeatedly delayed plans for an IPO, raising the prospect that its stock might never trade publicly.

In several cases, High Times has announced acquisitions and collaborations, only to have other parties involved dispute the announcements or to have the deals quietly called off.

The CEO and minority owner of one Los Angeles dispensary said he was shocked to see High Times announce it had acquired a majority stake in his business, because, he claimed, the acquisition is not valid without his approval. “This dude Adam, he’s dreaming,” said the CEO, Alexis Bronson, who added that Levin stormed out of a recent meeting about the disputed acquisition.

The magazine has also been gaining a reputation in the industry for its sharp elbows.

In one case, the founder of a popular cannabis festival claims High Times intentionally drove him out of business, maneuvering behind the scenes to prevent his event from taking place, a charge that Levin denies.

The company’s new approach has alienated everyone from old-school stoners to former Mexican President Vicente Fox, who resigned from the High Times board early this year over concerns about the repeated delay of its planned IPO, according to his senior adviser, Juan Garcia. “Being a former head of state, we couldn’t let him get splattered with any malfeasance,” Garcia said.

Levin, who agreed to answer emailed questions, argued that he has set the company on a path to success in a challenging business environment and said he is looking to have the company’s stock trade publicly by October. “I understand that there will be those that believe High Times has lost its way,” he said. “This industry is cutthroat at times.”

The magazine’s road to this point has been a long, strange trip through 50 years of American history.

In the second half of the 20th century, the national culture turned to sex, drugs and rock ’n roll, and it got the magazines to match: Playboy, Rolling Stone and High Times.

The origins of the pro-drug periodical trace that cultural shift: from conformity to disillusionment to hope that consciousness-raising substances could usher in a world of peace and free love.

Born Gary Goodson in 1945 and raised in Phoenix, High Times’ founder was the son of a military contractor who died young in a car accident. Goodson studied business at the University of Utah in the early ’60s, but he increasingly strayed from his straitlaced trajectory over the course of that decade.

By the time he went off to college, advances in printing technology had dramatically reduced the cost of periodical publishing, and small, independent outlets were sprouting up across the country. When Goodson wasn’t studying business, he was heading off campus to hang out at the socialist Utah Free Press, a typically subversive organ of a growing underground press movement.

The underground press, in turn, fed a burgeoning counterculture that opposed violence and traditional mores.

The attraction of this counterculture only grew as Goodson’s peers began packing off to Vietnam to fight a war they did not believe in and psychoactive drug use became a political statement in favor of peace.

For America’s alienated youth, radical publications provided an outlet for their disgust with the status quo. “While people are being beaten, starved, and killed,” Goodson once said, by way of indicting mainstream papers, “you fill the pages of your rags with the news of bake sales and debutante balls.”

As President Lyndon Johnson ramped up American involvement in Vietnam, Goodson entered the Air Guard and learned to fly, but he soon left to enlist in the counterculture full time, returning to Phoenix to set up his own radical magazine, Orpheus. He supported the publication by smuggling weed, both by land and, thanks to his military training, by air. To avoid embarrassing his family, he began going by the name Thomas King Forcade.

Standing 5’7” and weighing just 120 pounds, Forcade made up for his slight frame with an outsized personal style: He grew his hair to shoulder length, sported a Fu Manchu mustache and crowned his smuggler chic look with wide brimmed hats. Occasionally, he wore a cape.

By the late ’60s, J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI came to view the underground press as a national security threat, and it helped local police harass publications across the country. An undercover narcotics agent infiltrated Orpheus and, in 1969, police raided its headquarters.

Fed up, Forcade left Phoenix and began running the Underground Press Syndicate, a network of alternative publications. The job put him squarely on the federal government’s radar.

In 1970, he was called to Washington and hauled before the President’s Commission on Obscenity and Pornography. He used his prepared remarks to condemn the “uptight Smokey the Bears of the totalitarian forest” who had summoned him and declared, “The only obscenity is censorship!” Then he withdrew a pie from his briefcase and smashed it in the face of a commissioner on live television.

Three years later, a grand jury indicted Forcade for an alleged plot to bomb the prior year’s Republican National Convention in Miami Beach.

He was acquitted after a two-day trial, but by then the war on the underground press had taken its toll. “With obscenity busts, they get your money,” Forcade once explained. “With drug busts, they get your people; with intimidation, they get your printer … and if you can still manage somehow to get out a sheet, their distribution monopolies … keep it from ever getting to the people.”

The underground press was waning, but Forcade was determined to keep its spirit alive. The next year, at 28, he started High Times out of a basement in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village.

Interviewed later by his wife, Gabrielle Schang, Forcade said the magazine’s founding was inspired by “a combination of nitrous oxide [also known as laughing gas] and fear.” He explained that after his acquittal, “I went into a long period of self-examination to determine what I wanted to do next. The ‘movement’ was over and I needed something to keep from killing myself out of boredom. And so, aided by many tanks of nitrous-oxide, I came up with High Times.”

Bienenstock, the former High Times editor, who researched Forcade’s life for his podcast, Great Moments in Weed History, said Forcade also wanted to build a publication that could withstand government suppression. “High Times was his attempt to start something new that was so far outside of the system that it wouldn’t be responsive to those pressures.”

For a drug smuggler and underground press activist, starting High Times was the logical next step. “To him,” Bienenstock said, “this was all part of one assault on a system that he saw as irredeemably corrupt.”

The first issue of the drug-centric magazine was intended as a spoof of Playboy, with a centerfold close-up shot of a marijuana flower in place of the older magazine’s pictures of naked women. To get the magazine out, Forcade distributed it through the dealers he sold his smuggled weed to.

The publication elevated an illicit pastime into a full-blown subculture.

“It united stoners all around the world,” the actor Tommy Chong has said. “We always knew that there were other stoners out there, but until High Times magazine came along, no publication had devoted everything to the weed.”

It was an instant hit, and its circulation quickly climbed into the hundreds of thousands. “High Times was a rocket. It was the Playboy of pot. It was the Playboy of drugs,” gushed Steve Bloom, who joined the magazine in the ’80s and rose to be its top editor.

At its outset, the magazine was something of a smuggler’s bible, full of tips and tricks for profitably moving the plant across borders. The weed coverage mingled with general interest reportage from around the world. Early issues included Bob Marley’s first-ever magazine cover, an interview with the Dalai Lama in India, and a conversation between Truman Capote and Andy Warhol.

The magazine published investigative work about the Mexican government’s spraying of the toxic pesticide paraquat on marijuana fields as part of its U.S.-backed eradication efforts, a policy that was possibly poisoning American smokers. The reporting by Craig Copetas spurred a Senate investigation and helped catalyze some of the earliest opposition to the federal government’s war in Latin America.

Much like its drug-fueled contemporary, Saturday Night Live, which premiered in 1975, High Times’ frantic first years were, according to Bloom, among its best.

“I understand the newsroom was pretty much cocaine, pot and nitrous everywhere” he said. “The quality of the magazine was completely top notch.”

To keep the wheels moving, each receptionist at the magazine’s office was assigned a back-up, in case they incapacitated themselves by smoking too much on the job.

The rocket ride did not last. In 1978, Forcade committed suicide at the age of 33 by shooting himself in the head. It was the end of an era. Forcade’s staff marked it with a gathering at Windows on the World at the top of the World Trade Center, where they rolled his ashes up in a joint and smoked him.

By the time of Forcade’s death, American culture was shifting again, with cocaine becoming the drug of choice everywhere from night clubs to high-powered investment banks. Set adrift by the loss of its visionary founder, High Times went along for the ride.

It ran articles like “Two lady coke dealers tell all” and “Freebase: The truth about smoking cocaine” and reprinted a 1917 essay by the English occultist Aleister Crowley opposing prohibition of the drug. The December 1980 cover featured a mostly off-camera Santa Claus holding out several lines of coke on a tray for a woman in a skimpy nightgown. One Star Wars-style centerfold featured clumps of cocaine superimposed into the vacuum of space like an asteroid field, complete with a futuristic spaceship firing lasers.

But over the course of the ’80s it became clear that cocaine was an inherently more dangerous substance than marijuana and that the traffic in it was more violent. The magazine shifted focus back to weed.

On the theory that it would be much harder for the government to eradicate the plant if people could cultivate it themselves at home, High Times put a new emphasis on growing your own. It also became more conventionally political under a new editor, Steve Hager, organizing rallies and agitating for hemp legalization.

Distressed High Times Suddenly Closes California Dispensaries

Some employees said wages, health insurance were not paid

High Times Holding Co., the publisher of the eponymous recreational drug magazine and media brands, has suddenly shut down at least three of its branded revenue-generating dispensaries in California.

Cannabis operations in Blythe, San Bernardino and Coalinga are permanently closed as of March 25. The closures come after months of failing to pay taxes, rent and health insurance premiums, according to dispensary employees and communications seen by CRB Monitor.

Former employees, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they had signed non-disclosure agreements, said they were offered no severance and some were owed back pay. Some took cannabis products from the stores as recompense, while others said they were not able to get needed medication in March because health insurance premiums had not been paid. They also said that High Times’ senior management, led by Executive Chairman Adam Levin and his half-brother and Operations Chief Maxx Abramowitz, gave the workers no notice of the impending closures, a possible violation of California’s WARN Act , which requires a company to give employees 60 days notice when a company-wide layoff is planned.

High Times bought the dispensary licenses and building leases in June 2020, in a deal with Washington-based Have A Heart and Florida-based Harvest Health & Recreation. Harvest paid $85.8 million in March 2020 for the HAH business, then turned about and sold the California locations to High Times a few months later for $80 million in cash and stock. The deal followed a series of breach-of-contract lawsuits and hearings with city officials before Levin succeeded in transferring the dispensary licenses partially into his name. A review of the dispensary licenses with the California licensing authority shows they are also still in the name of former Have A Heart founder Ryan Kunkel.

According to internal emails seen by CRB Monitor, High Times outside counsel Sharmi Shaw has told the state Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) that the company planned to surrender the licenses for the Coalinga store, set to expire on April 3, as well as those for the other two stores coming up for renewal. The Blythe dispensary license expires May 19, and the San Bernardino expires June 13, according to DCC records.

Shaw also stated to the DCC that the store’s inventory had been returned to distributors. But according to social media posts and interviews with several Coalinga employees, workers took some of the product in compensation for unpaid wages.

$100K tax liens

California state Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) records show the San Bernardino store, HAH 3 LLC, has at least two tax liens filed against it by the state, with a total unpaid tax bill of $103,000 as of September 2023. On February 28, the San Bernardino and Blythe buildings’ construction company, La Rocca Builders, also filed a judgment lien against the company.

High Times raised more than $35 million in a lightly regulated Reg A+ public offering in 2020 and promptly went on a buying spree in hopes to build a vertically-integrated cannabis production, processing and retail operation stretching from California to Arizona, Nevada, Illinois and Florida, at the height of the “Green Rush” heyday when cannabis asset prices were at their peak.

According to SEC filings made by the company last year, the company had taken secured loans from a venture fund called ExWorks for at least $28 million that had gone unpaid and resulted in litigation. All three closed locations also have UCC liens filed against them by ExWorks. High Times initially borrowed $11.5 million via a credit facility from ExWorks in 2017, which was later refinanced in 2018 into a $18.8 million senior secured convertible note carrying a $60,000 monthly interest payment, according to SEC filings. Levin offered a personal guarantee on the loan at the time.

Control in dispute

Who actually legally controls the dispensaries’ licenses is also up in the air now as ExWorks is also insolvent and has been assigned a receiver out of Chicago named Steven Kunkel, according to public filings and communication seen by CRB Monitor.

The SEC qualified High Times’ Reg A+ mini-IPO in 2018, in which unlisted shares were marketed to readers of its famed magazine and participants in its well-known Cannabis Cup events. But the SEC hit the brakes on the campaign in mid-2020 when High Times failed after several extensions to file timely audited annual reports. The last audited annual financials were filed in 2018, and the company was never taken public. In September 2023, High Times sold a piece of its brand licensing properties to Canadian-based Lucy Scientific.

Last September, Adam Levin was accused by the SEC of securities fraud involving a scheme to conceal paid promotions of a securities offering from at least April 2020 through August 2021. Levin was also accused of selling the Reg A+ offering after the SEC told him to halt it, according to the enforcement action. High Times settled with the SEC without admitting or denying guilt and agreed to pay a fine of $558,071.

High Times and Adam Levin did not respond to a request for comment as of press time. source

Hightimes Holding, other cannabis publishers may be shutting down

The cannabis industry may be booming, but publishers looking to cash in keep going up in smoke.

Hightimes Holding, which publishes the 45-year-old High Times magazine, warned shareholders in its latest SEC filing that it may not be able to continue operations.

“Because of recurring operating losses, net operating cash flow deficits, and an accumulated deficit, there is substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern for one year from the issuance of the financial statements,” the company said.

High Times has snapped up rival publications, including Dope, Culture and Green Rush Daily, and runs marijuana-themed concerts and events, but its crowdsourced IPO has stalled. It recently hired Toronto-based Lazer & Lazer to search for a new backer as it tries to dig out of $105.2 million in debts.

In its most recent earnings report, Hightimes Holding incurred a net loss of $11.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, on revenue of $10.7 million.

High Times is not alone. Civilized, which counted comedian Chelsea Handler as an investor has been taken over by New Frontier Data after burning through about $10 million in investment money, according to cannabis.net.

The website MassRoots, which raised over $20 million and managed to pull off a successful IPO in the past, has apparently gone dark in recent weeks, according to a report on cannabis.net. Its stock was trading at one third of a penny in the over-the-counter market on Thursday. MassRoots said on Nov. 15 that it was unable to file its third-quarter earnings report in a timely fashion. In the last quarterly report for the three months ending June 30, the company posted a net loss of $774,638 on net revenue of only $18,366.

CEO Isaac Dietrich insisted to Marijuana Business Daily recently that “our website will be back online shortly.” But when Media Ink tried calling the phone number listed in SEC documents, we heard a recording saying the call could not be completed. Dietrich had not responded to e-mails by press time. source

A Farewell to the Resort That Created the Vegas We Know

The 3,000-room Mirage hotel changed the face of the city when it opened in 1989, spurring copycats up and down the Strip

Iconic Mirage bids farewell to Las Vegas after 34 years on The Strip

When I turned 21 years old, I won over $35,000 from this hotel…. They got me so drunk I only left with $16,800 and a full weekend comp!

What happens when you stop drinking alcohol? Pretty much everything you’d expect—and also plenty that you might not.

Like, better sleep, less anxiety, and a clearer head, for one. And, glowier skin, hotter sex, and maybe even more connected relationships as well. But that’s not all: Recent studies show that the list of social, psychological, and physical benefits of teetotaling is ever-growing. It includes everything from more balanced hormones to a stronger immune system to reduced risks of heart disease, liver disease, and cancer. Plus, the potential of increased self-awareness, self-confidence, and higher self-esteem, too. As one doctor I recently interviewed put it, when you quit alcohol, “your entire body and soul improves.”

But swapping our evening glass of red wine for non-alcoholic spritzes and mocktails isn’t always super easy to do—even if you don’t officially struggle with an alcohol use disorder. That’s because alcohol is literally everywhere; its consumption is ingrained in our culture and societal norms. “Alcohol is the only socially-accepted mind-altering beverage in the world,” says Dr. Rafaat Girgis, a triple-board certified psychologist and the medical director at Moment of Clarity, a mental health treatment center in Orange County, California. “It’s served at parties, during meals, and on holidays; for most people, it’s just a part of daily life.” Which is why taking even just a short break for Dry January or Sober October—not to mention, quitting long-term—can often feel like it requires heroic levels of discipline.

One way to make it all a little easier: having a firm understanding of when you can expect to experience all the benefits. Anticipating everything that can occur after one day, one week, one month, and beyond can help you stay connected with the positive changes as they unfold— and remind you to give yourself some grace when temptations emerge. “Getting your body back to normal functioning depends on many factors, including your gender, current health, and your willingness,” explains Dr. Girgis. “Accept it, learn, and gain insight as you go.” After all, the body and the soul don’t improve overnight.

To that end, it’s also important to stay patient—and persistent. Good advice for any challenging situation, really, and especially when it comes to cutting back on or quitting alcohol. Tanya Mezher, a certified dietary nutritionist and the founding practitioner at functional medicine platform Malla agrees. “Recovery takes time, and setbacks may occur,” she warns. “Stay committed to your goals. The timeline varies from person to person, but noticeable improvements in physical and mental health can often be seen within a few weeks to months.”

With that in mind, here’s an overview of what you can expect in the short term and the long term when you stop drinking. Plus, a few more tips to help you succeed at every juncture in the journey. And remember: if you’re feeling hopeless or out-of-control because of heavy drinking, it’s important to seek professional medical support. You don’t have to go it alone and quitting cold turkey is not advisable. Call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline, which operates 24/7, 365 days a year, at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for more information.

@clarkkegleyPowerful Lessons From Quitting Alcohol

♬ original sound – Clark Kegley

What happens you stop drinking after one day

For many, experiencing the intense flu-like symptoms of a hangover—nausea, headache, chills, sweating, restlessness, anxiety, bowel upset, and inflammation—can be a powerful impetus for deciding to quit or, at the very least, cut back. Therefore, depending on how much alcohol you typically consume, the first day off can be a little, ahem, rough. But the good news is, the first 12 to 24 hours of sobriety is when the healing also begins. Notably, you’ll experience increased hydration as your reduced blood alcohol levels reduce. “This could be the most critical part of stopping without a medical intervention,” Dr. Girgis says.

After three days

It’s not uncommon to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms and cravings within the first few days of quitting; fitful sleep and low-level depression are also common. “This is the time where you are most vulnerable physically,” Dr. Girgis says, noting that this is often the point when many hopeful quitters succumb to the temptation to quell discomfort with a little “hair of the dog.” If you’re able to resist, the results will be worthwhile: you should start to experience better sleep, increased energy, and improved digestion by the 72-hour mark—and also noticeable skin clarity and increased levels of energy thanks to improved hydration. The liver, which is responsible for metabolizing alcohol, will also begin to reset and repair.

After one to two weeks

By now, you should be feeling a marked difference—and any improvements you’ve recently seen in your skin, energy, and sleep quality will only increase. Your immune system should be firing more effectively now, too, which can mean less chance of sickness, inflammation, and infection. Withdrawal symptoms should also have noticeably subsided at this point, freeing you to relish in the improvement in mental clarity and sharpness.

After one month

Like a downhill skier picking up speed, the momentum—and benefits—really start to build after a month. Liver enzyme levels and blood pressure have normalized, reducing the risk of cirrhosis and heart disease. Cardiovascular levels are also improved, which may also contribute to weight loss and visible changes in your physique.

After three months

You may suddenly notice you’re seeing the world through a rosier lens: At three months, emotions and mental health have stabilized leading to a more positive outlook and much cheerier moods. You may be feeling more creative and motivated, too, as any alcohol-induced brain damage or shrinking should begin to repair. Sleep patterns should be completely regulated by now, which means you could be jumping out of bed faster than you ever have before.

After six months to a year—and beyond

This is when most people really start to feel like a whole new version of themselves in all ways. Everything from anxiety to depression to sexual function should be majorly improved by now—and will only continue to benefit as the body repairs. The risk of developing certain cancers, as well as liver and heart disease are also more markedly reduced. And, many people also report more fulfillment in their relationships and work as their self-esteem and confidence increase. “My feelings is that it truly takes one year for your body to return to normal,” Dr. Girgis says. This is also when you may decide to never look back again; when you realize that quitting alcohol might just be, as he puts it, “the best choice you will ever make.”

Staying committed long-term

When it comes to staying on the wagon, both Dr. Grigis and Mezer say that it’s helpful to continue to set clear goals and seek support—whether that’s through a professional therapist, a medical advisor, family and friends, or organized groups. “Share your intentions with friends and family who can provide encouragement,” Mezer advises. And, don’t neglect the self-care basics. “Nutrition and hydration are your friends,” says Dr. Grigis. “Choose healthy foods and beverages, and remember to be physically active—even if it’s just walking around the neighborhood.” They both say these things can really help you stay focused and avoid potential triggers, both important factors in long-term success. “Know this,” Dr. Grigis says. “The decision to stop drinking is yours, and though it’s a daily commitment, it is possible—and wonderful.” source

I Quit Alcohol for 365 Days (why I’m NEVER going back)

“Life is so precious! Live with love, joy, happiness, and abundance.” I believe that the greatest gift you can give your family and your loved ones is a healthy you. I am sure that everyone has heard about alcohol abuse and addiction.

Alcoholism is one of the most common addiction forms. Alcoholism is a bad habit that affects all aspects of your life. Drinking problem can have a negative impact on our health, relationships, finances and many more.

Before you get to the point how quitting can change our lives, you should know about the consequence and effects of drinking alcohol:

INTERPERSONAL PROBLEM

People with Alcoholism suffer the interpersonal problem. They begin to draw out from family, relatives, and friends. They become argumentative and strained at home, at work, and with friends. Some people won’t even realize how badly they are affecting their family.

>HEALTH PROBLEM

Drinking is done for a short period of time but its effects are long term. It affects our complete body. Heavy drinking puts you at a risk of developing serious health problems.Such as heart disease, liver disease, certain forms of cancer and pancreatitis.

>LIVER DISEASE

Long-term heavy drinking develops alcoholic hepatitis or inflammation of the liver. It causes fever, jaundice and abdominal pain and can cause death.

>HEART DISEASE

Drinking alcohol causes the greatest risk of heart attack, increase blood pressure and heart disease.

>PANCREATITIS

The Pancreas help to regulate the body’s blood sugar. The Pancreas also digest food when we eat. Drinking cause inflammation of the pancreas which causes abdominal pain and weight loss.

OTHER ISSUES

There are many other problems related to drinking. As soon as you recognize it, you will know that you have a problem or the beginnings of a problem. Problems include thinking often about drinking, trying to stop drinking but unable to do, feeling guilty and embarrassed.

After reading these effects of alcoholism you sure want to quit alcohol. Quitting alcohol can be a life-altering decision and when you quit alcohol you will see how your life will improve. Here are the changes in your body when you quit alcohol.

After 1 hour

>Body kicks into full-blown detox mode to clear the alcohol from your body.

>Liver starts working overtime.

>Pancreas starts producing extra insulin which causes intense carb craving.

After 12–24 hours

> Blood sugar normalizes.

> Because of the diuretic effect booze has on bodies, you are going to be Dehydration.

After 48 hours

> Your body finishes its biggest detox hurdle.

> Cause headaches and tiredness.

After 72 hours

> Hangover side effects now out from your body you will start sleeping more deeply.

>Energy will restore.

>Quicker immune response in your body.

After 1 week

>Skin begins to look dewier and more youthful.

>Hydration restores.

>Reversal of alcohol-related liver damage.

After 1 month

>15% increasing its ability to filter toxins out of the body.

>Metabolism will restore leading to fat loss

>Reduce risk of cancer and decreased stress level.

After 1 year

> Risk of mouth, liver and breast cancers reduces.

> Blood pressure and pulse drop.

> Your liver fat will start decreasing.

After quitting alcohol you will feel that your life will improve. These are some reasons to quit alcohol. Though it’s not easy to quit but not impossible. There are many hospitals which provide Alcohol De-addiction services. source

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These 7 Body Benefits Will Spur You to Quit Drinking

Stopping Drinking Safely: Understanding the Detox Process

If you decide to stop drinking, it is important to remember that it will take some time for your body to physically wean itself away from alcohol. This is because over time, the central nervous system adjusts to the depressive effects of alcohol, which causes the brain to ramp up its response in order for the body to stay functional. In the absence of alcohol, this altered state causes a range of physical responses that make up what we know as withdrawal.

How Long Does it Take to Detox from Alcohol?

For people who have a moderate dependency on alcohol, the first 24 hours of sobriety may be uncomfortable as their bodies detoxify, but after three days generally people begin to feel better. Most people will have completely recovered from the physical symptoms of withdrawal after a month, and are beginning to notice their health returning at this time.

For heavier drinkers, symptoms of withdrawal may be more severe and require medically-supervised detox. Like for moderate drinkers, these symptoms will begin within 24 hours of stopping alcohol use, but generally continue for a longer period of time.

Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

Symptoms of withdrawal can differ based on the severity of the body’s dependency on alcohol, as well as what stage of withdrawal you are in. Generally, symptoms can occur as follows:

• 6 hours after your last drink: Symptoms during this period can feel a lot like a hangover, and may include things like a headache, nausea, sweating, vomiting, shaky hands, anxiety, and insomnia.
• 12-48 hours after your last drink: During this time, more serious problems can develop, including seizures and hallucinations.
• 48-72 hours after your last drink: A small percentage of people will experience deliriums tremens, or DTs, a severe symptom of withdrawal marked by delusions and lifelike hallucinations. This can be accompanied by heavy sweating, fever, elevated blood pressure, confusion, and a racing heartbeat.

If you are unsure of how your body will react to quitting drinking, consider reaching out to an addiction specialist to talk through different detox options and get a sense of what the first phase of recovery may involve. source

3 Ways Your Appearance Changes When You Quit Drinking

Alcoholism can ravage all aspects of your life, altering your behavior, damaging your relationships, wrecking your health, and destroying your self-esteem. Over time, the toll of alcoholism can leave you feeling and looking different from the person you want to be. You will see many beneficial appearance changes after you quit drinking, including in the mirror.

Negative Effects of Alcohol

Short-Term Health Risks

Excessive alcohol use has immediate effects that increase the risk of many harmful health conditions. These are most often the result of binge drinking and include the following:

• Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns.^6,7
• Violence, including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.^6-10
• Alcohol poisoning, a medical emergency that results from high blood alcohol levels.¹¹
• Risky sexual behaviors, including unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners. These behaviors can result in unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.^12,13
• Miscarriage and stillbirth or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) among pregnant women.^6,12,14,15

Long-Term Health Risks

Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems including:

• High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.^6,16
• Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum.^6,17
• Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick.^6,16
• Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.^6,18
• Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.^6,19
• Social problems, including family problems, job-related problems, and unemployment.^6,20,21
• Alcohol use disorders, or alcohol dependence.⁵

By quitting drinking, you can reduce the risk of these short- and long-term health risks. source

Below are three ways quitting alcohol can help you look (and feel) your best.

1. You Will Lose Weight

While Drinking: Consuming alcohol in excess can significantly impact someone’s body shape. For starters, alcohol is very high in calories.  There are seven calories in every gram of alcohol; for context, protein holds four calories per gram and fat has nine calories per gram. In addition, drinking alcohol activates the brain cells in the hypothalamus that make people feel hungry. This is the reason why after a night of drinking people tend to have the munchies. Lots of drinks plus extra eating equals a lot more calories than your body needs.

Alcohol also makes it more difficult for your body to burn any foods you eat. The body flags alcohol as a toxin, and the liver focuses on breaking down alcohol before any fat, carbohydrate, or protein. When the liver is constantly working to process alcohol rather than food, you start to gain weight. In the case of heavy drinkers, alcohol can cause so much damage to the liver that it stops functioning properly, which can lead to deadly conditions such as fatty liver disease or cirrhosis.

After Quitting: Weight loss happens during sobriety when someone replaces their old habits with new ones: sticking to healthier meals, no longer binge eating extra food while drinking, and, of course, no longer drinking all those empty calories. After quitting alcohol, your body can once again focus on metabolizing nutrients.

2. Your Skin Will Glow

While Drinking: When you are struggling with alcoholism, your skin is probably the least of your concerns. But the effects of drinking may be more serious than you think. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it causes more water to be processed through the kidneys. This leaves you dehydrated and causes dry patches, dull skin, fine lines, and dark under-eye circles. Your skin may become sensitive to the touch and feel uncomfortable, even itchy.

Chronic alcohol consumption also elevates the level of the stress hormone cortisol in the body, triggering alcohol-related premature aging. This stress can break down the skin’s collagen and cause inflammation, leading to wrinkles. Cortisol can also aggravate other skin conditions like rosacea or acne, causing flareups and breakouts.

After Quitting: By replacing alcoholic drinks with plenty of water, you are allowing your skin to rehydrate and flush out toxins through urine and sweat. Your skin will regain its natural, healthy glow as you replenish the necessary vitamins and minerals lost from active addiction.

3. Your Hair Will Grow

While Drinking: When alcohol dehydrates your body, it also dehydrates your hair. The lack of moisture causes thinning, hair loss, and dandruff on the scalp.  Hair shedding is compounded by alcohol triggering increased production of cortisol and the hormone estrogen.

Alcohol also inhibits nutrient absorption by harming the lining of your digestive system over time, damaging your intestines until they can’t transfer nutrients to the blood. Without proper protein, the production of keratin slows; this protective agent bonds hair cells together and your hair becomes prone to split ends and breakage. Similarly, zinc and folic acid, which are essential for hair growth, aren’t soaked up by your follicles.

After Quitting: Your hair will regain its former strength as your body begins to repair itself from the effects of alcohol. The rate your hair grows will increase, and you’ll notice the change from hair loss to fuller, shinier locks.

Leaving alcohol behind and pursuing sobriety brings favorable changes to your appearance that you might not have anticipated. As you start to look good, you’ll feel good about yourself, and when you look in the mirror, you’ll see the old you again. source

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‘I Gave Up Alcohol a Year Ago—I Feel 10 Years Younger’

I come from a family of drinkers so I grew up around alcohol. Whether we were celebrating or commiserating, alcohol was always involved. My paternal grandfather was actually born in a pub and named after it.

Sometimes I would buy wine in a box, decant it into a litre sized water bottle in the garage or bathroom and slug that down quickly. My behaviour became erratic and I wasn’t able to meet my commitments at work. When I was drunk, I would look in the mirror and say, “How did I get like this?” and then the next might I would be drunk again.

I was also an emotional wreck. I had trouble relating to my family and I would get angry very easily. I was irritable, restless and I didn’t sleep well. I got to a point where I knew that if I didn’t reach out for help, I would be a dead man.

On November 2, 2016, I had a week of vacation starting and I bought myself a case of 24 beers. I was going to ration them out and have three or four beers a night. I put my son to bed at 8pm and cracked open my first beer. By 11pm I had finished 19 of them. Something inside of me said: “Kenny, your life is no longer manageable.” It was true.

I reached out to a friend of mine who I knew was in recovery from alcoholism, something I had never done before. The next morning she took me to a meeting for addicts. I knew I was home amongst those people because each of them told a story that could have been mine. I finally realized then: I’m an alcoholic.

In the 12 Step program I learned that stopping on my own is not something that I have the physical or emotional capability of doing. That program worked for me, but if something else works for other people, that’s great. There are many ways to get sober and 12 Step is just one of them. However, it was foolish of me to stop drinking on my own without consulting a doctor.

In that first week I had to call a complete stranger, someone who had been through the program, and ask them to be my sponsor. That was hell. But that guy told me to call him and go to a meeting every day. When I said that was too much, I remember he replied, “well, you drank every day.” I had no rebuttal.

For the first 30 days I was on what is called the “pink cloud.” I was very happy; it was like coming out of a bad relationship. The “pink cloud” ended when my sponsor said that I had to clean up the mess I had made of my life and all the people that I had harmed. That was when it got difficult and I started having doubts about recovery. You have to address what led you down the path to wanting to alter your state in the first place. I just wanted my life back, but instead I was encouraged to fix the old one.

It took me about 10 months to get through all 12 Steps and eventually I chose to put my trust in a higher power, something I was taught by the program, though it doesn’t have to be God.

I realized that I had been angry about many things in my life, all the way from childhood. Part of the program is recognizing that and letting it go. Then you have to make a list of all the people that you’ve harmed and make amends to them. It’s not just apologizing, you actually have to mend the situation.

When I was drinking I would go onto social media every night and lash out at people. I was angry, spiteful and resentful to my friends and peers, and sometimes strangers. I had a lot of situations that I needed to make right.

I had also stolen from people and I had to pay them back. That was hard. I’m a family man so it was difficult for me to accept that I had stolen whilst under the influence of alcohol, or in order to become under the influence of alcohol.

So, life as a sober person was very difficult at the beginning. Although my wife doesn’t drink, I couldn’t go to places where alcohol was served and I became a bit of an introvert. At our family Christmas in 2016, I noticed there was no alcohol and a few hours in I asked my father why they weren’t drinking. He told me not to worry. I realized my family had collectively decided to abstain from alcohol for my sake. It was very emotional and it absolutely meant the world to me. Now, I don’t have an issue being around alcohol, but it was hard for a while. source

“Danger, no trespassing beyond this point” – it’s a sign you definitely don’t want to ignore

People are flooding to social media in horror over a cave which kills anything pretty much as soon as it goes inside.

If you’re the sort of person who would do what characters do in horror movies, or really what Aladdin did, then you should probably steer clear of this story unless you want to get any dangerous ideas.

Prepare for a new setting for your nightmares:

The deadly cave is located in Costa Rica, South America, on the edge of the Poas Volcano.

According to The Costa Rica Star, the cave is only small – measuring two meters deep and three meters long – but oh is it mighty.

When it was first discovered, a worker reportedly ended up getting sick – and that was only when he got ‘close to the entrance,’ not even inside. And animals have died almost instantly after entering.

But why is the cave so deadly?

Getty Images/ Federico Meneghetti/ REDA&CO/ Universal Images Group

Well, the cave’s oxygen levels are basically non-existent, instead it’s filled with carbon dioxide.

“At higher concentrations it leads to an increased respiratory rate, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias and impaired consciousness. Concentrations >10 percent may cause convulsions, coma and death. Solid carbon dioxide may cause burns following direct contact,” National Library of Medicine notes.

And a team headed up by Guy van Rentergem found the cave produces a whopping 30kg of carbon dioxide every hour, according to Rentergem’s YouTube video ‘Cave of Death in Costa Rica’.

How did so much carbon dioxide end up in the cave I hear you ask?

No one exactly knows, but one X account has suggested it is of ‘organic origin, resulting from underground mineral deposits subjected to high temperatures and pressures in the earth’s magma, where oxygen is absent.’

YouTube/ @gvr63

Despite being too deadly to actually enter, the cave is still a popular tourist attraction, nicknamed ‘Cueva de la Muerte’ (Cave of Death in Spanish).

The tourist center gives a demonstration of just how deadly the attraction is by lighting a torch and poking it into the entrance of the cave, showing how quickly the flame goes out as a result of the lack of oxygen and presence of carbon dioxide.

A sign outside the cave reads: “Danger, no trespassing beyond this point.”

So, even if you wanted to go in, you literally can’t, not only are you banned from entering – we all know some rule breakers out there – but the entrance is only small enough for animals and birds.

People have been flocking to social media in horror over the deadly cave.

One X user said: “Omg it’s terrible.”

“Oh… no no,” another wrote.

A third commented: “Whoa that’s crazy.”

And a final resolved: “Yet another cave I’m never entering.” source

A SINISTER “cave of death” in Costa Rica kills any living creature that dares to step inside.

The deadly cave is located on the edge of the Poas Volcano in Costa Rica and is strictly prohibited from entering.

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Cueva de la Muerte translated to Cave of Death from Spanish is a tourist attraction that doesn’t actually let anyone visit inside.

The terrifying placard outside of it warns: “Danger, no trespassing beyond this point.”

And the images of skulls are just a sign hinting to what could happen to trespassers.

But poor animals that can’t read the warning die instantly when they enter the cavity.

The reason behind eerie phenomenon in the Cave of Death is the high levels of CO2.

The cave itself emits nearly 100 per cent carbon dioxide, a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas that is highly toxic and can be fatal.

Guy van Rentergem and his team found out that the deadly pothole produces 30 kilograms of carbon dioxide per one hour.

Any breathing being that steps inside it dies almost instantly due to CO2 poisoning and lack of oxygen. source