Isinglass place of Russian isinglass. The bladders, once removed from the fish, processed, and dried, are formed into various shapes for use. Before the inexpensive production of gelatin and other competing products, isinglass was used in confectionery and desserts such as fruit jelly and "blancmange". Isinglass finings are widely used as a processing aid in the British brewing industry to accelerate the fining, or clarification, of beer. It is used particularly in the production of cask-conditioned beers, although a few cask ales are available which are not fined using isinglass. The finings flocculate the live yeast in the beer into a
The Used from poverty, homelessness, and substance abuse, panhandling for change in order to buy food. The members decided upon the name "Used" after friends claimed they felt "used" when contact with the band members waned as they became more engrossed in the project. The Used continued to write songs together and recorded a demo album in drummer Steineckert's bedroom titled "Demos from the Basement". Steineckert sent their songs to producer John Feldmann from the ska group Goldfinger. On hearing the song "A Box Full of Sharp Objects", Feldman helped The Used find a record label. Feldmann flew the band to Los