Hello everybody. I'm a long time lurker and learner. I have a great deal of respect for the effort and care that has built this site. I'll try to contribute as I learn just a little bit more.

I have read several posts related to Zinc in the forum. I recommend reading the Wiki page about zinc metal: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc

Zinc metal can act as a strong acid. When Zinc dust is added to an acid solution it evolves hydrogen gas. If the acid is HCl, the Zinc metal forms ZnCl2 and hydrogen is liberated. When this happens, some of the free hydrogen in solution might pass near and bond with an oxide group to form an OH radical. When more hydrogen encounters the OH radical, a water molecule is formed and the oxide will be reduced. To summarize, in an acid solution, Zinc metal liberates hydrogen and it is the hydrogen that reduces DMT-N-oxide to DMT. The byproducts are water and ZnCl2.

Zinc can be toxic. The Wiki article mentions that swallowing copper clad Zinc pennies can corrode your stomach. The article describes someone who died from swallowing 425 "post 1982" pennies. Keep in mind though, lots of reletively harmless things contain Zinc. For instance, brass metal contains around 35% zinc metal and you don't really worry about touching or using brass or Zinc containing items (handrails, cookware, tobacco pipes, galvanized cans, batteries, musical instruments, galvanized iron etc.). You need Zinc in your diet and the USDA recommends ~15 mg per day. Under the right conditions it's possible to vaporize Zinc metal at around 285 degrees C (so a match or torch might be able to do this). To summarize, a little Zinc in your body is a good thing but it wouldn't be good to allow too much. Be careful.

Many metal products contain Zinc metal but many things containing Zinc aren't made of pure Zinc. One type of item that is made of pure Zinc is a device that is used on metal hulled boats (and ships) to prevent corrosion. This device is actually called a "Zinc". In the case of a steel hulled boat, a "Zinc" acts like a battery delivering electrons to the steel hull so that Iron Oxide cannot form (ie the boat can't rust). Most marine supply stores sell Zinc bars for this purpose. Just ask for a "Zinc" for rust prevention. They will have many shapes and sizes to choose from. In order to work properly, a marine "Zinc" must be made of very pure metal. Marine "Zinc" purity specifications have been defined (by the US Navy) and are listed below (in percent impurity):

ZINC MIL-A-18001-K (%)

Iron (Fe) 0.005 max
Cadmium (Cd) 0.025 - 0.07
Lead (Pb) 0.006 max
Aluminum (Al) 0.1 - 0.5
Copper (Cu) 0.005 max
Others (each) 0.10 max
Zinc (Zn) remainder

Marine "Zincs" are very pure (perhaps 10X purer than pennies).

Sincerely....cker

I didn't say so much about myself above and I'll add a bit more. Actually, ranting about Zinc does say a bit about my chemistry attitudes. I'll also repeat that I am sincere in wanting to contribute somehow. How that can happen I don't know, but I am sure there's some magic stuff happening in this neighborhood. I'll just poke around a bit.

I've had a liking for psychedelics for longer than I haven't. I often think and talk about what attracts me to them but I'm not sure I can say exactly what it is. Words like, "Gaining a different and purer perspective on life" describe reasons, but it seems more complicated than that. It's hard to even speak about that world from this one. I've heard others lamenting their inability to take the psychedelic experience back for use in this realm. I think it's an important goal but it really is quite hard.

I'm not so comfortable describing specific psychedelic experiences. My recollections about specific experiences sound so trivial when I put them into words. In my own head I have vivid memories filled with fantastic imagery, trails, self similarity, recursion, moving patterns, music, emotions and journeys. I wish I knew how to communicate all that with justice. I think you know what I mean. You've got those thoughts as well. It's just that I can't describe 'it' in a useful way. We probably don't even have the right language to use. I will say one thing about me, I tend to be a very visual tripper and I feel lucky about that.

I have a little experience with ego death. That state that can be very unpleasant but I seriously cherish some of those 'lessons'. How could that be? There's lots to be learned in both realms. Perhaps the contrast between the two make each one more exciting?

I hope that gives you a better feel for who I am.
Sincerely, cker

I like your intro essay, thank you for showing up!

Good info about zinc! Any particular reason why you posted specifically about this? And continuing on the subject: Do you have any idea what kind of impurities would be usually present in pure zinc ?

As for your words about yourself, im sure you're gonna be able to contribute, and you already started

I completely agree with you that its essential to integrate the psychedelic experience, hence why I give so much value to our health and safety section and the integration part.

Im sure a lot of us can relate that describing the psychedelic experience is very hard. I think the way to go about this is to, on one hand, find better ways of describing, whether by finding new words and expressions (sort of like the lexycon project is about), as well as artistically and so on. But also on the other hand I think we have to 'let go' and realize that we will never express it completely, that one has to live it to see, and that each experience is very unique. Going back to the integration part, I think that the key is that we let the psychedelic experiences we had speak to others implicitly by our actions. By being creative, by trying to keep our egos in control, by trying to be as self-aware and self-critical as possible, by being able to go beyond manifestations and see the 'light that shines behind reality'. I dont know, these are just some things that came to my mind.

You said you've had a liking for psychedelics, but you didnt mention specifically, did you try dmt/ayahuasca yet? What about extractions?

Anyways, hope to hear more from you soon...

See ya!

Thanks Endlessness. I do have a relationship with a small community of elfish playmates. They are quite the tricksters and know exactly what must be done to show their presence while evading capture or direct confrontation. I guess some elves are more social than the ones I know. I have felt some fear when trying to know them better. I don't imagine they like being pushed or controlled. I try to let them call the shots when in their domain.

I do not know about aya since I am hopelessly addicted to SSRI's. My doc prescribed them for depression long ago and they probably helped but I have had great difficulty getting off of them due to withdrawal side effects. There's alot I can say about that but it may be off topic. I do enjoy micro doses of cappi from time to time. It really has a relaxing effect on me.

As far as Zinc, I read questions on the forum regarding Zinc and I didn't see a good set of FAQ's so I thought I might be able to add a few helpful words. From time to time, I've had shelf-life issues and needed a Zinc supply of my own. The local marine store sells very pure Zinc (to the MIL Spec I posted). I think others have commented that you need Zinc metal (not something you buy as a vitamin suppliment). It's also true that some Zinc metal sources can have heavy imputities of Cadmium or Lead. That would not be good to ingest. Marine Zinc is very safe as far as Zinc goes. I worry a little bit about people harming themselves with too much ambition and too little knowledge. I recommend everyone take the time to 'know your Zinc'.

Finally, I am very interested in the idea of a new Lexicon. I've read the work of others (Leary, Shulgin, McKenna) but the topic seems to still need lots of work. I'm a big fan of the concept of synesthesia but just knowing what that word means can't communicate the feeling of it to an uninformed person. Another example is the question: How could you describe the color red to a creature without eyes? We can all discuss the color red because we think we see something similar from person to person. How would we describe red to someone who was blind from birth? I'm not sure, but to take that one step furthur, how would the blind person integrate knowing what red was like into their everyday life? Perhaps they would have trouble using a concept they couldn't sense in their normal life?

That could be fun to ponder.
Thanks....cker