The Tenacious Asylum

The Home for Controlled Insanity

Issue #003, Thursday, September 30, 2004

From Command Central

Hello folks! This is the long-anticipated third issue of the hotly-debated, much-loved Tenacious Asylum. To see the first issue click here, or for the second issue, click here.

In this issue, I'm going to talk a little less about current events. No, not because I've lost interest, but simply because I've chosen to spend time on other matters. I was spending at least two hours a day finding out about things, and right now I've got more important priorities in my life. Sorry, folks. But don't worry, this is still going to be a really, really awesome issue of the Tenacious Asylum!!!

Many of you received a note a few weeks back saying that I had a sick aunt I had to visit in Las Vegas. Believe it or not, I was being a little deceitful. I actually went there for fun (along with my buddy Andrew), and nothing but. In fact, I don't even have an aunt living in Las Vegas! Ha!!!

So, how did my trip go, you ask? Did I come back with glitter in my eyes and an exploding wallet. Well, actually (and surprisingly enough), no! I came back with red in my eyes and an empty wallet. You see, despite many people wishing me good luck prior to leaving, it did not materialize in the 'winning big' department. That's not to say, however, that I had NO luck at all. I ended up clearing US customs no problem, I didn't do go jail, and I'm proud to report there were no trips to the hospital. I'll speak more about Vegas in Ranting and Raving.

I'd like to thank all those who have written in. It's still a trickle, but I'm hearing from more and more people so I must be doing something right!

Finally, a correction to what I mentioned about Marc Emery in the last issue. I mentioned Marc was put in jail for what he did in the summer of 2003. In fact, he performed the act of civil disobedience that got him 3 months' hard time in March of 2004. I will now fire the entire fact-checking department (although I'll rehire them soon-after because there's no one else who wants the job!)

Ranting and Raving

This week's topic: Leaving Las Vegas

I had a fun, eye-opening trip to Las Vegas. I didn't walk away with riches, but I most definitely walked away with lessons! Here's a few lessons learned:

Lesson #1: Check Your Bags Carefully

With the alternate lifestyle choices many of us have, it's important to remember that US customs may not take kindly to some. When packing your bags, be sure to check all pockets. An unchecked pocket might contain, say, a chunk of hash. Although a fine treat to have before going to bed in your hotel room, the prospects of being denied entry into the US (at the very least) should stop anyone from bringing in concealed drugs, knowingly or otherwise!

Lesson #2: Prepare for Lost Luggage

Being on a charter flight, and never having lost luggage in the past, I assumed that I would be receiving my luggage inside my hotel room on night #1 as promised. It happened that way for Andrew, no problem. I didn't get off that lucky. My suitcase was nowhere to be seen. I called the bell desk, they called the luggage deliverer (who picks up your luggage at the airport and delivers it to you). Day two, and still no bag. Day three, and I receive a phone call telling me that my bag decided to take a holiday in Germany!!! I finally got my bag the day before leaving. Along with my change of clothes, my bag contained all my toiletries along with my contact lens case & cleaning solution.

So, kids, what has wearing the same set of clothing and not taking out my contacts for three days taught me? Quite simply, pack what you absolutely need in your carry-on bags. You toiletries, cell phone charger, along with at least one set of clothes. Believe me, being in the sweltering heat of Las Vegas for three days with no change of clothes sucked!

Lesson #3: Just Because It's Cheap to Get to Vegas, Doesn't Mean It's Cheap to Stay in Vegas

We had a great package--only $440 for air from Van and four nights' stay at the Imperial Palace, located dead-centre on the Vegas Strip. It was a last-minute deal. Not wanting to miss out, I decided to plunk down the cash to go and budget the rest later. Big mistake.

I researched shows, attractions, night club prices, buffets, etc etc etc before leaving. Every show worth seeing is at least $80US. Buffets are around $15-$20US. Night clubs on the Strip are at least $20 to get in, along with $10 drinks! Not having a lot of cash, I decided to only go see what I absolutely wanted to see and eat most of my food at Subway or Quiznos. Of course, if I were to hit it big-time, I would have done a lot more!

In short, Las Vegas is expensive. Unless you are planning to win big in order to pay for everything and have the 'full' Las Vegas experience, bring along a wad of money!

Lesson #4: Pace Yourself

Before leaving for Vegas, I spoke to a friend who'd been there in the past year. He was there for only a couple of nights, and told me that it almost killed him due to overindulgence. Since its nickname is 'Sin City', I wasn't too surprised to hear that. Too bad I didn't heed his warning!

On night number one, we got drunk as fuck. I lost a little money gambling, but not too bad. On night number two, we drank the same but didn't get quite as drunk. I was in a mood for some more gambling. Although I didn't feel as drunk, that doesn't mean my mind was all there. I started losing at the blackjack table and tried to win back my losses. It didn't work. I ended up blowing way more than I thought at the time.

By day three, I was starting to run out of money. I got really really really drunk as fuck that day. It was great time, though. I got to sing Lady by Kenny Rogers at our hotel's karaoke hour at Tequila Joe's. The crowd loved me! We met the waitress and her boyfriend and hung out with them afterwards.

With two days to go, I awoke in a haze. I wasn't feeling too great, but considering I'd had around 30 drinks the night before, it could have been worse! Anyway, from excessive gambling and getting a little too exited the first couple of days, I found myself with no money left. No cash, and only a few bucks on my credit card to last me the next two days.

By not pacing myself and relying too much on winnings to support me, I spent the last two days in bed, or by the pool reading one of my many self-help books. Essentially, without money there's not much to do in Vegas except marvel at all the big hotels and casinos, which gets boring pretty fast.

Lesson #5: Don't Expect to be a Winner

I'm not stupid. I knew before going that way more people go to Vegas and lose than win damn thing! In spite of all my logic and rationale, however, there was a kernel inside me that wanted, no demanded, that I win. Part of me felt that it would be the only way to justify spending a bunch of money I couldn't afford to spend only to lose a bunch of money I couldn't afford to lose.

I suppose I had a very typical Vegas experience. Although I did have a good time in Vegas, what I wanted was the much-ballyhooed experience. That would only come with a lot of cash going in or winning while I was there. I took a chance, and wouldn't you know it, I rolled the dice and just crapped out!

Big Brother BlahBlah

Rather than tell you wassup down south this time around, I'll recommend a web site:

AlterNet - http://www.alternet.org

From AlterNet's mission statement:

AlterNet is a highly acclaimed Internet information source that provides readers with crucial facts and passionate opinions they can't find anywhere else. Since its inception in 1998, AlterNet has grown dramatically to keep pace with the public demand for independent news and now provides free online content to over 1.5 million readers every month. Relying solely on word of mouth and viral marketing, AlterNet is unique in that its success has come entirely from its readers, who demand reliable information and use it to take action.

AlterNet deals with both world and US issues. It is definitely left-leaning. Their news coverage is a welcome refreshment from anything you see on TV (save for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart). They've got lots of links to other progressive-minded organizations. I highly recommend you checkout AlterNet!!!

Canunck Knocks

What's going on in Canada, you ask? I have no idea. Hah!

Your Brain on Drugs

You want to know wassup in the wide wide world of drugs, the drug war, and drug reform? Awesome, have I got the Web site for you:

The Media Awareness Project (MAP): Drugnews  - http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/

This is the de facto site to discover what's going on in the drug world. The MAP Web site has links to everything surrounding drugs, both pro- and anti-drug war. My favorite section is its massive database of articles pertaining to drugs and drug policy. Using a group of volunteers distributed worldwide, it scours news sources daily and posts anything relevant. Usually around 50 to 100 articles are posted daily. Drugnews isn't biased either--you'll find articles and letters to the editor that are all over the map on supporting drug reform. Anyone wanting to become either drug reform-literate or keeping up-to-date on media reports vis-à-vis drugs must check out Drugnews!!!

Getting to Know You

A little change of pace here, finally. I'm not going to profile myself (yet) again. Anything you don't yet know about me would probably be illegal for me to post. Ha!

My Cat Tom

Name: Tom (named so because he is a tomcat.)

Species: Felis catus, domestic short hair (DSH) variety of tabby.

Age: 14.5 years old

Diet: Riplees Ranch, reduced fat formula.

Temperament: Laid-back. He's kind of arrogant, being the dominant cat of the house. He loves new people. He loves play with people's hands and draw blood with his super-sharp teeth. Front claws be damned, he cuts just fine without them! He loves being petted and brushed. He's never been a vocal cat, which I appreciate. Nor is he fond of sleeping on or near people. He does his own thing most of the time, and comes around when he wants to be cuddled. He's never clingy nor demanding of attention.

Likes: People, being held for short periods, being pet or brushed, having his teeth brushed, tuna, boxes (the smaller the better!), plastic bags, hair licking.

Dislikes: Dogs, other dominant cats, frantic hyper behaviour.

Dan's History with Tom: "Tom was born deep in the backwoods of Central Saanich, BC. I've had Tom since Feb. of 1991, when he was 7 weeks old. I fought hard to get a cat...six months of family therapy, believe it or not, before my dad would give in! I don't remember how he was when he was young--it was so long ago. Tom was delcawed when he was about two years old. Don't be mad at me--it was either the claws or Tom who had to go, and my dad wouldn't have it any other way. I was too attached to Tom to give him up.

"We lived on a road that had quite a bit of traffic. Despite Tom's desires to be a free-range kitty, we kept him indoors. In the summertime, though, I'd put him on a leash & harness in the back yard, where he was free to eat grass and lay in the sun. He also enjoyed playing with the squirrel that would visit our patio for peanuts.

"When I moved into a house with three roommates in 2000, Tom came with me. It was along another busy road, so I kept him inside or on a leash. He was none too happy at first, having never lived anywhere but one place. After a day of staying under my bed, though, he slowly emerged from hibernation and after a week of massive sniffing he took to the place quite well.

"Tom was king of the household, until, one fateful day, my roommate Andrew got a cat! It was a small kitten at first, but Jimmie soon became a hormone-raging adolescent. He would play-fight with Tom, battling for supremacy. Tom took it quite well, considering he'd only been around humans up till now. But Tom was almost 10 years of age by then, and not up for long battles. Jimmie just wouldn't let up though. Battles became competitions of endurance, and in spite of Tom's larger size, Jimmie quickly began winning.

"Before things got too heated between Tom and Jimmie, I moved. It was an apartment this time, so yet again Tom remained inside. He would walk on the balcony railing and I was nervous whenever he did that (we were on the third floor above a concrete parking lot.) He never did fall, though, and to this day I'm grateful that he doesn't get too cocky when balancing on the railing.

"Due to things beyond my control, I had to give up Tom for a while. Luckily a friend living in the same apartment building as myself took him. He did surprisingly well. You see, Tom loves new people. My friend always had lots of visitors, so Tom was never at a loss for being petted!

"After four months of separation (with semi-weekly visits), Tom, myself, and my other cat Doobie headed for the outskirts of Metchosin. This time, Tom became an outdoor cat. He never strayed far--all he wanted was to eat grass and sniff around the house.

"Unfortunately, due to further things beyond my control, we had to move almost right after we'd arrived. Luckily I found another rural area to move into, meaning that Tom could remain an outdoor cat. I even installed a 'cat door' for him & Doobie to go in and out as they pleased. Tom never strayed, but he'd sometimes follow me to the lake nearby and would lounge while I fished.

"Unfortunately, due to further things beyond my control, we had to move soon after we'd arrived. This time, it was back to an apartment. Fortunately, because he'd been used to confined spaces for so long, Tom didn't seem to mind too much (although he still always tries to run out the door!) This time, because I'm growing wheatgrass, Tom doesn't have to go anywhere except for the balcony to get grass."

Tom at Present: "Tom's an old man now, but he wears his age well. I attribute this mostly due to his diet. I've never had any health problems with him, although he used to be overweight. He's a little slower than he used to be, but it's kind of hard to tell because he sleeps 20 hours a day! Sometimes Tom & Doobie chase each other around. He doesn't run for long and doesn't like to jump distances, but he's got it in him still when he needs to!"

Web Site of the Week

bodybuilding.com

http://www.bodybuilding.com

This is a megasite for info on weight training and nutrition. There's two parts to the site. The first is an e-store that sells lots of nutritional supplements. Its prices are the best I've found anywhere, even Costco! A word of warning though--non-US customers can have problems with customs if they order the wrong product. Be sure that what you're ordering is available here in Canada too, just to be safe.

The kickass part of the site, though, is the article database. There are a myriad of professional and amateur bodybuilders, athletes, and nutrition experts who write articles on the site. It doesn't matter if you're a seasoned athlete wanting to look for an edge, or just a regular person interested in finding out about nutrition--it's all here. There's so much information, and some of it contradictory between authors, but the search engine make life a little simpler. Check it out!

Word of the Week

Compunction noun remorse of conscience; scruple. compunctious adjective conscience-stricken; regretful; remorseful.

Dan’s Book Club

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

This book is simple--and that's the great part! The four agreements are as follows: be impeccable with your word, don't take things personally, don't make assumptions, and always do your best. While the concepts might seem so obvious that many people dismiss thinking about them, this book explains them in an amazing way. Using the ancient wisdom of the Toltecs as a basis, Ruiz (who is a direct Toltec descendent) discusses each agreement in depth. At the end, you will understand how and why they are so important to life. This is a great book to follow up your reading of The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer, which was last issue's Book Club selection.

TV Land

Curb Your Enthusiasm Sundays from 10pm to 10:40pm on Showcase (Ch. 28 in Vic)

From the co-producer of Seinfeld comes this hilarious comedy. It's been around in the US for some time now but came to Canada just over a year ago. Larry David is basically a real-life George Costanza. The show is partly-scripted, partly improvised. There's lots of guest starts including Richard Lewis and Ted Danson. Best of all, it's really funny! I don't watch many comedy sitcoms these days, but I always make time for Curb... Check it out!

Music Mania

The Chronic by Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg

Yah, I know this is an old album from way back in '92. And maybe you don't like rap. I didn't either, until my friend Neil had me listen to this masterpiece. This album jumpstarted my 'rap' phase, which lasted a couple of years. In all that time, though, The Chronic stood out from the rest. I still listen to it to this day. It's hardcore to the max. Sex, drugs, violence. It's all there. But it's also a masterpiece of hip-hop music, which mixes in funk, jazz, and soul into its rhythms. It's also Snoop's first major performance on a record, and in my opinion he's even better here than in his debut solo work, Doggystyle. If you're going to own one rap album in your music library, Dr. Dre's The Chronic is da bomb! Check it out!

Product Placement

 Entertainment Book 2005

Do you eat out? Do you golf? Do you shop? Do you travel? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you need an Entertainment Book! The company puts out an edition for nearly every part of North America. It's the best coupon book I've found. There's 2-for-1 coupons for tones of regular and fast-food restaurants, golf course discounts, retail discounts, hotel & car rental discounts, and much much more.

How much must you spend for a product like this, with thousands of dollars in savings contained within? $500? No. $100? Try again. $50? Getting closer. For only $30, yes, $30 (for the VanIsle edition), you can have an Entertainment Book of your very own. That means with only one or two uses you've already paid for the price of the book!

I've used it for several years now and have saved hundreds and hundreds of dollars. In fact, I like it so much that I started selling them! I only sell them for a short while (till the school kids saturate the market.)

The Entertainment Book makes a great gift too.

Victoria residents, call me as soon as possible at (250) 882-9821 and start saving today...don't delay!

Dan’s Learning Centre

 Vitamin D: The Next Vitamin C

Vitamins have gotten increasing exposure in the past few years due to studies that have found, for example, that Vitamin C boosts the immune system, as well as the anti-aging, free-radical killing properties of vitamins C & E. In future issues I will discuss all of the vitamins in turn. I want to start, though, with a vitamin that isn't mentioned as much in the media. I'm talking, of course, about our friend Vitamin D.

What good is vitamin D (aka vitamin Daylight)? Well, it's directly involved with the body's use of calcium. If we don't have sufficient vitamin D then our bodies can't make proper use of calcium. That can lead to a whole host of bad things, including obesity, weak bones, hypertension (high blood pressure), depression, and much more.

Where do I get vitamin D and am I deficient? That's where the problem rests. In Canada, very few people get enough sunlight, especially in winter. Plus, we're told everywhere these days to where SPF 3000 sunscreen and to never go into the sun, or else. While sunburns are bad and can lead eventually to skin cancer, we all need some sunshine. That's because the main source of vitamin D is the sun! You see, the UV-B rays hitting our skin causes chemical reactions that produce vitamin D. By wearing sunscreen, we completely stop UV-B rays and therefore even sunbathers can be vitamin D-ficcient.

Is the sun the only option? If you can't get at least 10 minutes of non-sunscreen wearing sun exposure daily, then you need to take steps to make sure you get enough D. Cold-water fish have some D, as well as milk that's fortified with it. Unless you plan on eating fish liver daily, or drink 10 glasses of milk a day, though, you need supplementation.

How much D? First let me say it is possible to OD on D. It's fat soluble, meaning that your body can store it until it becomes toxic. But that's not likely unless you take a lot of D supplementation. Most multivitamins contain 400 UI (Unit Intakes) of D, which is twice the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for most adults. In Dr. Art Ullene's Complete Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs, he recommends 400 UI. The latest research, mentioned in the latest issue of Reader's Digest, suggests that as much as 1000 UI might be the most optimal. The actual amount is probably somewhere in between.

The point is, in Canada, especially in winter months, you're not getting enough vitamin D. Guaranteed. So, at the very least, take a multivitamin containing 400 UI of D. You can also add a calcium supplement with vitamin D, which normally has another 200 UI per dose. After that you're laughing! By the way, you can ask your doctor to get you a blood test that'll tell you exactly how much D you have in you right now.

Find out more about vitamin D in the October 2004 issue of Reader's Digest or go to http://sunlightandvitamind.com/ . If you're really interested in knowing a boatload about the sun and vitamin D, buy The UV Advantage by Michael Holick, M.D., Ph.D.

Master-debating: Question of the week

Last Week's Question: Have you ever heard of the dangers of microwave ovens before? Now that you know, what are you planning to do? Stop? Cut down? Nothing? Does it concern you?

Reponses to Last Week's Question

I received a response...yeah!! Even better, it's an excellent counterpoint to my article in Issue #002 titled Microwaves: Faster Food and Faster to the Grave. Enjoy reading, along with my response. (emphasis added by myself)

I hadn't heard about this particular issue with microwaves before. 
Since I hadn't, I decided to check out the links provided. What am I
planning on doing? Nothing.

Even with the best of intentions, many studies are wrong, incomplete,
or inaccurate. This is a given and well known to anyone who watches the
news in some form. The two sources listed in the Asylum use the same
information for the most part, and may therefore be considered a single source.
(The other cited more items, but I only have so much time.) The
all-natural.com article reprints an article from Nexus magazine which in turn reprints
an article in Acres Magazine. Third hand, as it may be, but still much
better than the grade school book report in the refle.com, which won't be
referenced from here on in.

First is the year of this article, 1994, was a decade ago and the study
referenced was two years prior to that. Nothing more recent?

Next mentioned is that a lawsuit was filed.  Even if the lawsuit was a)
real (no docket number, etc.  In fact, I wasn't able to determine the Norma
Levitt mentioned was a real person) , b) accurately represented by the
few lines in the article (was the case about a number of different issues,
microwaving being just one of many?), and c) resulted in victory or a
settlement (we all know what the American civil litigation process is
like), it still has contains absolutely no evidence of anything.  The author
of the article states "the microwaving altered the blood and it killed her",
but lists nothing to indicate this is anything beyond speculation.

Next up is Hans Hertel.  He is noted as "a scientist who is alarmed at
the lack of purity and naturalness in the many pursuits of modern mankind",
which means he has a bias.  This bias does not necessarily mean his
research is biased, but it is worth keeping in mind.   The study was described
as being "small but well-controlled".  In this case, small means 8 people. 
A study of eight people of different ages and nationalities is flawed
before it begins.  Even if the people who consumed the microwaved food were
all diagnosed with cancer the next week, the results would not be
considered significant* (statistically significant is a mathematical term) by the
vast majority of scientists.  There are also a number of details about the
control of this study that go unaddressed in the article, but in
fairness one is not likely to read those details in any non-scientific synopsis. 
My confidence in the results of this study is very, very low.  Further
comments by the activist/scientist Hertel are based on this study and follow the
convictions held by Hertel before the study took place.  Please note
that I'm not saying these results are rubbish, rather that they simply do
not constitute scientific evidence of any sort.

After that is the multinational corporate conspiracy against these
results. As this 'gag order' has nothing to do with the accuracy of the claims,
I won't mention it other than note that the other author of the study,
Bernard H. Blanc, recanted his support.  It is implied that he did so only
because of the legal action.  Maybe it was because he believed the study to be
flawed. I don't know what exactly took place, but there is more than
one reasonable explanation.  Again, my confidence in this study is not
strengthened.

Up next is "Infant Danger".  This section of the article seemed to be
the most scientifically sound by a good margin, until I really got into the
details.  A study, published in a respected, (mostly) independent, and
(usually) scientifically reviewed medical journal is presented (my
awareness of this particular publication is second hand, but it does have a good
reputation to the best of my knowledge).  However, it is mentioned
immediately afterwards that the study was flawed.  Ok, we'll give the
author credit for mentioning a fact that doesn't support the his or her
point, which is a good sign.  A more detailed study was apparently done
and states:

"Microwaving appears to be contra-indicated at high temperatures, and
questions regarding its safety exist even at low temperatures."
The final statement of the study conclusion reads:
"This preliminary study suggests that microwaving human milk could be
detrimental. Further studies are needed to determine whether and how
microwaving could safely be done."

Please note that this study was only done on the milk itself and not
any effect on the young human body.  This indicates two things.  First, the
research is much easier to do accurately.  Milk is easy to study
compared to a complicated living creature.  Secondly, the research is very limited
in scope and doesn't ask the question of what effects, if any, microwaved
food has on the adult human body.  One cannot make a link between the two,
even if one's "gut feeling" says they should.

Using terms such as "appear" and "questions...exist" are hallmarks of
proper research - state what can be stated as facts.  A statement such as "I
heard the moon was made of green cheese", is an accurate, factual statement. 
It doesn't mean the moon, in fact, is made of green cheese, but rather
that the speaker heard a statement and is repeating it.  The authors of this
more detailed study state that they have indications, but no conclusions. 
Fair enough.

What can be concluded after a critical review of this article?  Not
much besides, "microwaving human milk could be detrimental".  If that makes
you want to give up microwaved food, by all means, do so.  Personally, my
biggest problem with microwaves involves flavour.  I'll still use it
for leftovers.

Regards,
The Captain

Footnotes
* see Damned Lies and Statistics by Joel Best

Dan's response:

Very well-written article, my good Captain! I must agree with you that the research cited in the articles I referenced are not extensive nor entirely conclusive in nature. I absolutely believe that more research is needed. And that is the problem. The results merit further research, of which there appears to have been very little. Because of the way the US FDA classified microwave ovens, there was very little onus on the companies to prove the safety of irradiating foods with microwaves. You mentioned that the anti-microwavers had bias going into the research, but I must mention my belief that it's likely the researchers who were funded by the microwave oven manufacturers have a helluva lot more bias!

It's fine and dandy to do nothing in the face of the evidence mentioned--notwithstanding the conclusions you might come up with (on a non-scientific basis, albeit) when you consider how microwaves heat food, why it tastes different, and the increase of radiolytic compounds. But I believe that by taking a wait-and-see philosophy, your need for absolute scientific certainty could be the death of you.

DDT, PCBs, CFCs, thalidomide, cigarettes--they caused a great deal of harm before the harm was 'scientifically' proven. They were all products signifying the marvel of human technology. They were all thought of as hunky-dory at first. Then people started to question whether they caused more harm then good. Even with some anecdotal evidence, it wasn't enough to stop them until a great deal of damage had already been done.

Although the evidence towards microwaves causing harm might not be definitive, my biggest problem is that they haven't been proven not to cause damage to foods that can be passed on to humans. So, by all means take a chance and microwave everything under the sun. Just know that you are taking a chance--in my mind, the jury's still out on microwave safety.

Until I hear information that refutes the studies' findings, I'm happy to relax and wait a little bit longer for my meal.

This Week's Question: Do you have an Entertainment Book 2005 yet? Have you used one in the past? Will you buy one off me (please say yes!)

It's Quotation Not Quote!

 All killer, no filler -- Adam Mackenzie

Kittie Corner

Doobie loves them boxes too!!! This is where she sleeps while I'm at the computer.

NASCAR Nellies

A tragic story to tell. I'm in a NASCAR pool, you see, and in celebration of the Nextel Cup playoff system, we had our own playoffs starting with 10 races left. I had a horrid start to the season, only for it to turn around. In fact, I was doing well in overall points and my record was tied with Nic's, who was just squeezing into the playoffs with one race left. Guess who I was facing the last pre-playoff week--Nic.

Things looked good going in. I was on a roll. Jarrett and Jeff Burton were both holding their own. Even my fifth driver, Jeff Green, was scoring some top-20s. Nic had stagnated in the pool the past few weeks. Because I was ahead in overall points by a long shot, even if our win-loss records were the same, I would have made it into the playoffs.

Fate was not on my side, however. It was a bad week for me and a good week for Nic. From my perspective it was a deadly combination resulting in my hopes and dreams shot to hell. Oh well, I know I'm not the first person to be pissed off for losing a playoff chance at the last moment--if not for a bad day at the track, three or four Nextel Cup drivers had high hopes coming into the final pre-playoff race, only to have their asses handed to them on a silver platter.

Ask Dada Dan

Question: "Dear Dada Dan: I spend way too much money going out to restaurants, golfing, renting cars, and staying at hotels. Is there anything I can do that won't involve changing my lifestyle?" -- Budget Conscious Betty in Victoria, BC

Answer: "Well, Betty, I won't ask what you do for a living. Ha! Anyway, I'm glad you asked! I've got just the solution--it's called the Entertainment Book 2005. It chalk-full of discounts and coupons for places all over Vancouver Island. The hotel and car rental coupons are for all over North America! It's easy to use--just find the coupon you're looking for, pull it out, and voila--savings savings and more savings!

Some people tell me that they always forget to use it. Besides smoking less weed, the other option is to put it where you can't miss it. There's no good reason why you can't locate it by your front door. Or better yet, keep it near you always by putting it in your purse or in your car's glove compartment.

If you go out a lot, why not buy two books? At only $30 apiece, the book pays for itself almost right away.

Even better, Betty, you can call me direct at 882-9821 and I'll get one out to you ASAP! Good luck and enjoy the savings."

Letters from the Funny Farm

Hey Dan,

    Many thanks for the Tenacious Asylum. You rock! Next issue, I think Matt & I were going to write some columns. What is the submission date? Take care

                        --Mark Atkinson, Langford, BC, Canada

To answer your question Mark, the submission date is anytime!!! The sooner the better, of course, but thanks a lot for your interest and feedback to the Tenacious Asylum. Keep it coming!

"Dan,

Thoroughly enjoyed the new issue [#2] (as expected). Also, are you a member of ZNet? If not, you should join. It's a great newsmagazine/blog/essay site, and they often get input from great thinkers like Chomsky etc.... Anyway, this might be old news to you, but if not, go to http://www.zmag.org. I usually find them very informative, and you'd probably really like it. Take care!

            -- Cheryl E. Peters, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Thanks Cheryl. Yes, I'd been to ZNet long ago but hadn't been there since. It's nice to refresh my memory. I agree with Cheryl on its validity in keeping people informed. Folks, check it out! Also, a special thanks to Cheryl for talking to others about this newsletter and being the first patient of the Tenacious Asylum to email me the names of others needing to be checked in.

Hey man

Sorry I didn't respond to issue one, though it was well-received. It's nice to see you sticking it out, there's something about issue #2 that provides a better sense of accomplishment. Congrats for sticking it out. I don't know if you have any understanding of colour theory, but red and green [two of Dan's favorite colours] make brown [Dan's first favorite colour]. So it appears that your childhood self had a good sense of integration, you used to like both your favorite colours in combination long before you'd defined them individually.

                    -- Jenny McClelland, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Wow Jenny! I had no clue about colour theory and that red and green make brown. Thanks for the insight!

Hey Dan!

 

I have been on the road for a couple of weeks now, and would love to see some more of your newsletters. I bet you have lots to inform the masses about, especially after spending some time on the strip...VEGAS!!!  Was it all its hyped up to be???? or ?????

 

Hope you are recovering from that insanity and getting ready for the next adventure, wherever that may lead you!

 

Take care!

 

San

Hey Sandra...thanks for the support! I hope that you've enjoyed this issue as much as the first two. Stay tuned for more insanity...!

Final Word to and from the Wise

Done. Issue number three is done. I think I'll go celebrate by exercising on the elliptical trainer for an hour. Yeah!

Stay tuned for the next issue, which will hopefully have even more input from the Asylum's patients--that is, I mean YOU! I like where this is going, so keep it up.

Until next time, remember to control the insanity! Dan.