Want to terrify the neighbourhood with a George W. Bush pumpkin design?

Toronto Star ^ | 28 Oct 2005 | Rene Johnston

[Fair Go]

Oct. 28, 2005. 02:38 PM

RENE JOHNSTON/TORONTO STAR Want to terrify the neighbourhood with a George W. Bush pumpkin design? Use the .pdf links in this article.

PUMPKIN CARVING STENCILS

> George W. Bush (PDF)

> Michael Jackson (PDF)

> Saddam Hussein (PDF)

> Zombiepumpkins.com: More stencils

At the stroke of midnight, George W. becomes a pumpkin: A how-to

It's arts and crafts time!

Want to carve your own pumpkin in the likeness of George W. Bush, Saddam Hussein or Michael Jackson? Here's how:

Find a nice, head-shaped pumpkin and scoop out guts

Download pumpkin carving stencils, designed by Raffi Anderian, using the links at right.

Affix stencil to front of pumpkin and start carving. We recommend a Dremel drill

After drilling, you may need to smooth out edges with a sharp knife

Insert candle and light it

For added effect, add dry ice, available at The Iceman (782 Adelaide St. W., www.the-iceman.com)

Note: You may need to hold some of the narrower sections of your face — M.J.'s delicate features, for instance — together with needles and toothpicks. Then again, such prostheses could make your creations that much more frightening

Run away screaming

Want more options than these three? For a far larger collection of creeptacular pumpkin stencils, check out www.zombiepumpkins.com.

[Fair Go]

What cretins!

[Iowa Granny]

The Star requires you to log in to get the links to the stencils. I guess I'll have to pass.

If you have access, I'd appreciate it if you'd read the artilce entitled "Tamiflu ingredients available right here in Chinatown" and let me know exactly WHAT the main ingredient is. tia.

[Fair Go]

Tamiflu's main ingredient plentiful in Chinatown
Star anise | The herb pictured below, reputedly in short supply for antiviral drug, is available at Toronto herb stores


ALBERT NERENBERG
SPECIAL TO THE STAR

---

The main ingredient for Tamiflu, the widely sought-after treatment for avian flu, is literally right under our noses.

While Roche, the Swiss manufacturer of Tamiflu (generic name: oseltamivir), suspended shipments of the anti-viral drug last week, citing a shortage of the Chinese herb it is made from, that herb can be had by ordering spareribs at most Chinese restaurants.

Tamiflu, which reduces the symptoms of avian flu but can't cure or prevent it, is made from star anise, a naturally occurring herb that is harvested in four Chinese provinces between March and May.

The licorice-flavoured herb is used in many standard Chinese dishes, including spareribs and five-spice duck.

It is known to bring out the flavour in stewed meats and is an ingredient in traditional Chinese five spice powder available in most grocery stores.

A survey of Chinese herb shops on Dundas St. W. found many were stocking the dried, strong-smelling, star-shaped plant that is also known by its Cantonese name, bat gok.

At least one store manager couldn't understand Roche claiming it could not supply enough Tamiflu because of the scarcity of the herb.

"Down in my basement, I've got crate after crate of star anise," says William Chiu, manager of Po Chi Tong Chinese Natural Herbs. Chiu sells the dried stars for $7 a pound.

In Chinese medicine, star anise has been used to treat respiratory blockage, which is the way some medical experts have said the avian flu kills its victims.

Star anise is a natural expectorant, which may point to its role in Tamiflu.

(It is also distinct from the Japanese variety of star anise that, in its tea form, was the subject of a recent FDA advisory about possible links to seizures and other complications.)

But before you race down to Chinatown to cook up your own batch of the alleged anti-viral wonder drug, consider this:

According to Roche, star anise and Tamiflu are very different things.

Roche uses the herb as a source of shikimic acid, which

is extracted from the seeds of the star anise and converted to epoxide in three chemical steps carried out at low temperature on seven separate sites.

At one point after that, the process produces azide, a highly explosive substance. The substance is only handled in tiny quantities, again at different locations, by specialized companies.

Finally, one year and many laboratories later (and barring a massive explosion), you get Tamiflu.

For practitioners of Chinese medicine, the natural source of Tamiflu is particularly intriguing.

"Tamiflu is a Chinese herbal remedy," says Chiu, who operates a large herb emporium with several doctors of traditional Chinese medicine working right in the store.

"They're basically taking the herb and pulling out a particular essence. That curative aspect of the plant itself is what led them to Tamiflu."

That's interesting, says Chiu, because, from a Chinese medicine perspective, it's evidence that there may be approaches to treating avian flu that don't rely solely on hoarding an under-supplied pharmaceutical product. Traditional Chinese medicine places emphasis on the careful use of natural herbs and the strengthening of the body's immune system.

"If you're worried about avian flu, strengthen your immune system," says Chiu. "Take ginseng, astralagus and wolfberry, and exercise. That's really the best way overall."

Chiu says, once the avian flu scare passes, the world might be hit by a different killer flu that Tamiflu will have no effect on.

"You may be better off protecting yourself, in general, naturally."

---

Albert Nerenberg is a Toronto

[FreedomPoster]

>>We recommend a Dremel drill

Don't knew why, but I had never thought of that. I may have to try making a fancy pumpkin, if I can still find a pumpkin to carve.

[Born Conservative]

The Star requires you to log in to get the links to the stencils. I guess I'll have to pass

www.bugmenot.com

[R. Scott]

How about something really scary, like Jihad Sheehan, Hanoi John, Chappaquiddick
Ted…

[FreedomPoster]

http://www.bugmenot.com

[R. Scott]

Anise – also great for cookies, pork chops, cheap rum…

[Iowa Granny]

thanks

[Fair Go]

Paul Martin

[Iowa Granny]

Thanks so much. I transfered this info to the Avian Flu Surveillance thread, then forgot to ping you to it. Going there now to get that done.

Thank you so very much for posting that information.

[R. Scott]

Fortunately for us, he’s an anti-American Canadian – not a anti-American American.

[DUMBGRUNT]

15 very detailed pumpkin carving patterns
Lily Munster, sun and moon, evil eyes, John Kerry, George W. Bush, Uncle Fester and more.
http://www.fabulousfoods.com/holidays/halloween/pumpplans.html


http://www.halloweencraftfreebies.com/pumpkinstencils.html

[Pusterfuss]

If you want a pumpkin stencil go here.

[I still care]

The scariest pumpkin I can imagine is Hillary.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Remember last year when the President's staff all dressed as something in regards to a story about the President? I forget the details, but I recall they were either getting on or off Air Force I. It was a tongue & cheek thing.

I don't mean to be insensitive to Libby and what he is facing, but I'd love to see Karl dressed as a frog this Halloween. Hey, Joe! This one's for you!

[nuconvert]

I like the way the Lurch stencil is right under Kerry's. Lol

[RoadTest]

These people are dying of terminal stupidity.

[TADSLOS]

[TaxRelief]

How to avoid/survive the flu:

Prevention: Sanitize with hand sanitizer repeatedly, but do not use anti-bacterial soaps.
Use rubbing alcohol, lysol or bleach on door knobs, toilet flush handles and light switches daily.
Walk outside daily. Fresh air and sunshine is a powerful preventative.
Eat lots of greens and berries during winter months.
Avoid sugar during the peak of flu season.
If you are running heat in your house, be sure to use Saline in your nose faithfully to keep nasal passages moist.

Exposure: If you think you've been exposed, have a small piece of black licorice.

Getting sick: At the first hint of runny nose, dry throat or chest cough--take cold eeze, echinacea, goldenseal, and licorice. Space these things out so there is at least 15 minutes between each item. I know some people who gargle with white vinegar if they are susceptiple to strep.

Drink Licorice Spice tea in the evenings.

Sick: If you succumb, go to bed. Do not take a fever reducer until fever reaches 104. If throat is very swollen and painful gargle (gently) with a 1tsp salt/8 oz water solution. Drink chicken broth , ice tea and gatorade. Broth is best. Try to drink 4 oz per hour. Take warm baths and showers.
Continue with licorice, echinacea and golden seal for two days as directed.
On day 2 of illness (if you are really sick) take 25 mg of zinc. Once and only once.
If you think you have bronchitis or pnuemonia, get antibiotics from your doctor.

Finally: Drink orange juice if you crave it, anytime.