My great uncle used to be the world’s leading authority on lichen. Or so I’ve been told by numerous other relatives.
You know when someone goes to see a ‘psychic’, and they have a reading, and they come away all impressed by how ‘amazingly accurate’ it was? Well, assuming the person giving the reading is not actually psychic (which is a very safe assumption), these amazingly accurate ‘hits’ are achieved using a process called ‘cold reading’.
This simply means giving a reading ‘cold’ i.e. without any prior information. Not to be confused with ‘cold reading’ as in the acting community, which means reading an audition script at first glance.
I’ve written what it widely regarded as the definitive book on cold reading. James Randi has said I’m probably the world’s leading authority on the subject. I have sold the book to customers in 35 countries aroud the world, and I get invites to go to most of these countries and give lectures, talks and demonstrations. I may even be booked on the New York TV show, ‘The View’, in late November, to discuss this very subject.
So, I don’t know if I am the world’s leading expert, but a few people seem to think so, and it’s a useful thing to know about because there are ‘psychics’ using this technique all over the world. Funny point: I published the book myself because I wanted to and that’s the business I work in anyway, but even so, no major publisher wanted to handle it. They all said ‘We’d rather carry on publishing books about psychic powers as if they’re real, because they sell better’.
:o
Oh this is embarrassing. Most of the published literature on African rue (Peganum harmala) is related to chemistry of the various phytochemicals the plant produces. I have to admit I’ve only skimmed this literature so far since my research is more on ecological aspects of the species. Alkaloids in general are poisonous, since they form crystals in the kidneys. The chemistry of African rue leaves and seeds is very complex, and I doubt that the specific most poisonous chemicals have been identified. Two that spring to mind are harmine and harmaline. No, I don’t know their chemical structures. 
Rue is considered a shrub in the botanical sense, but I’m guessing you mean in the medicinal sense. A hallucinagenic compound can be derived from the seeds, and it has also been used in traditional medicines and ceremonies.
The uses of the plant are listed above, though a primary gesticulation for its entry into New Mexico in the 1920’s or earlier is that it was being used as stuffing in camel saddles.
Alkaloid concentration is actually higher in leaves than in the seeds. I wouldn’t call anything on the seed coat “deadly” as one would be hard-pressed to willingly eat enough of the whole seeds to cause death.
You’d be hard-pressed to get any oil out of the seed, but if you do, I wouldn’t suggest consuming it. If you’re interested in extraction, there are some fine Danish websites that go into the details. 
Effective control strategy- this is more in my depth. The jury’s still out, though repeated applications of a combination of herbicides appears to be the about the only option for eradicating an established rue population. Also, contrary to common sense, herbicide applications may be more effective while the plant is under drought stress. Diligent repeated mowing of plants before viable seed is produced is another, though not very cost-effective, option. Maintaining a healthy native plant community appears to be the best strategy for preventing African rue establishement.
Shoot. I said “will be” not “am” right?
Um, I invented a very basic language that was made simply to write on cave walls. So seeing as how I’m probably the only person that can read it that would make me the worlds leading expert on it wouldn’t it?
I’m also probably one of the only people to know how to make an effective crossbow out of PVC and household materials.
Chalk me up as another anointer of the soles of iazins feet with fragrant oils. Wow
That’s quite interesting. If you cared to write up details of your experience, I’d be interested in reading it.
Iazin, I’ve read various pieces on cold-reading, including the piece in “TheOuterEdge” by RH but it was only about 15 pages long. It was interesting, but I was wanting a more comprehensive piece. How would one go about buying your book? I’m fascinated by cold reading, and have followed James Randi’s career for decades. If he thinks you’re probably a leading authority in it, then that works for me.
JZ
John Zane the only way to get my book is from me, via my website. See my profile.
(Note to Mods: I did not submit my post to try and solicit interest in my book or as an advert for it. I was just answering the OP. If I’ve contravened some rule about non-commercial posting, I didn’t mean to and please delete my post. I tried to reply to Zane individually, rather than in this thread, but his profile doesn’t allow it.)
Ianzin, chalk me up as someone else who would love to get my hands on your book.
While I’m at it, is there any one book you’d recommend to a card guy who wants to branch out into mentalism? (I already have 13 Steps.)
Dr. J
Well, I’m probably the most knowledgable person outside of the state of South Carolina on planning a destination wedding in Charleston. The only people who can match me are the wedding planners who live and work in Charleston. So there are maybe 10 people? And all of them biased because they do it for a living.
Not exactly the sort of thing that gets one on the lecture circuit.
And say, Max, my husband helped make 3D Studio.
That looks interesting, I’d like to know how to do it. I tried to reach you but your email option is turned off. Could you perhaps email me?
Max–cool job! I do have one question–what’s with Army Men already? There’s only, what, 50 of those games?
No. I don’t even know things that I thought I knew. The more I learn, the more I realize how ignorant I really am. Kinda depressing actually, so I drink beer and watch TV.
I’d say I’m one of the top three experts on Panama’s birds, and the one with the most up-to-date knowledge on distribution. The other two haven’t been working in the country recently.
Idle daydream:
The 737 bucks and lurches incessantly; the man next to me is vomiting for the third time in five minutes. The engine on the right is strangely silent, but the rushing air howls outside like the voice of doom -our doom- and the cabin is filled with the crying of babies and screams of the terrified.
A stewardess emerges from the cockpit, her eyes wild and her hair matted with the sweat of terror. I watch her as though through the wrong end of a telescope, somehow presciently aware that destiny will be calling on me soon, and with the lives of a hundred helpless people at stake. She picks up the cabin microphone; even this far away, I can see her hand shaking.
“Is there anyone here,” she pauses and swallows; her voice is hoarse with strain, “who knows anything about model cars?”
A sudden surge of power and confidence courses through my
I’ve just gotta know: how does one misspell Eve Golden?
“Jane Silver.” “Sarah Bernhardt.” “Evehiking Goldenboot,” with a silent “hiking boot.” Use your imagination.
And I’m not a leading expert in anything, but my wife’s grandfather (now deceased) wrote a multiple-volume book on submariner medicine that was the standard reference for several world militaries for decades. He was also one of the pioneers of the substance-abuse treatment field. And my wife’s father (on the other side) formulated an evolutionary model – the “Red Queen” theory, or “running to stand still” – that was much favored until Gould came along with punctuated equilibrium.
Yeah, I married into an intimidating family. 
I’ll bet they’re intimidating if your wife has fathers on both sides!
Your wife’s grandfather (which I presume you meant) was Leigh Van Valen? Now I’m impressed!
Yes, that’s the guy, but no, I meant my wife’s father. My wife’s mother’s father was the medical genius, and my wife’s father is (he’s still at the U of Chicago) the aforementioned paleontologist.
Perhaps someone please verify what an expert is? Do you have to be clever to be an expert? One could be an expert in cleaning floors, and you don’t need qualifications for that.