
News – Jeremiah Wright's return to the spotlight stirred up some indignant commentary from the Propeller crew. But the community also sounded off on LSD, insomnia, Iraq, and our impending rebate checks.
James: Regarding your comment that Hoffman "discouraged all recreational use", I'm sure you're correct. But I suspect because he was officially and also morally obliged to. Had he been publicly a promoter of "turn on, tune in, drop out" he could have been seen as responsible - and liable - for every acid mishap that ever occurred.
From what I've heard of his lifestyle he was, perhaps inevitably, a head.
He hung out privately with many of the more prominent acid-promoters/disciples, attended conferences which were far removed from the dry scientific realm and, I BELIEVE that he celebrated his 100th birthday with some recreational ingestion. I think I heard it on the BBC at the time but unfortunately can't find it archived.
He found time to visit Goa, where he was photographed communing with the hippie population and didn't look as if he was on a missionary rescue expedition..
A loveable old fellow whose whole life was irrevocably altered by his first acid trip!
"Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream...." Well, I'm sure you're right, he couldn't let himself become the dotty poster boy for DIY experimentation. As for Goa--I was there five years ago, and didn't ingest a single mind-enhancing substance. But perhaps I'm the exception to the rule.
Sorry! The Goa reference was a red-herring.. When I repeated the search i discovered that it was a picture of Hoffman with a hippy PERSON called Goa, not a picture of Hoffman IN Goa with hippies..
However, I found this quote from his 100th birthday celebration:
In many ways, the conference, LSD: Problem Child and Wonder Drug, an International Symposium on the Occasion of the 100th Birthday of Albert Hofmann, was a scientific coming-out party for the drug Hofmann fathered.
"LSD wanted to tell me something," Hofmann told the gathering Friday. "It gave me an inner joy, an open mindedness, a gratefulness, open eyes and an internal sensitivity for the miracles of creation."
Bent with age but still eloquent, Hofmann said he hoped the symposium would encourage the renewed therapeutic and spiritual use of LSD in supervised settings.
***
The BBC recording re his birthday which my gf believed was on her computer has the introductory remarks followed by silence..
Great review that has ended a rather exciting week in the political world and the year of the Presidential election!
Thanks James Marcus, keep them coming!
(And finally, there was this video. I couldn't bring myself to click on it for a while, because I thought it was that terrible James Blunt song--but how wrong I was! In fact, this Claymation masterpiece prompted an emotion-drenched exchange between two Propeller stalwarts. Said ind06 (who posted it): "It's not easy being blue." Responded ranchhand: "Oh indi my emotions are all over the place. Boo hoo that was beautiful." Stop, guys, I'm welling up again.)
You like me! You REALLY like me! :D
Notice on the Daily show, Jon Stewart was blaming the press for keeping Wright in the forefront. Ending how that was unfair and then bringing up Hillary's statement on her trip to Kosovo. The day before Jon was defending Wright in not realizing that Obama was preparing to distance himself from the wayward Reverend.
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Oooh, do I get to be the first to comment???
Apparently the answer is yes! Please speak directly into the microphone :).
Much better job James, and I am not just saying that because you use one of my post. It's a better read than last weeks. Good Job man.
ok well I just wanted to say this..but most of what Wright said I agree with. I mean I think the people who got upset over it were either in denial, ignorant, or just didn't want to believe it was true. America has had it's finger in a lot of pies, and something like 9/11 was bound to happen with all the crap that had been going on - unbeknownst to much of the public. It's sad but I think Wright is taking blame for a bigger issue - which happens to be ignorance of ones own countrys doings.
The only thing he was a bit off on was the CIA and the AIDS thing which is more a conspiracy then anything else. There was a lot of truth in what he said, he even mentioned America supporting Israel in its ever increasing attacks against Palestinian civilians. I'm concerned that people are going back to being over-protective of a military that is out of control.
BTW, great review!
James Blunt isn't so bad, "You're Beautiful" sucks, but some of his other stuff is really poignant and...dare I say, 'beautiful"?
Hmm, I should probably give him another chance, but "You're Beautiful" made me want to pour Listerine in my ears.
Just for you James.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjhi_FHxY8k
Try this:
http://music.propeller.com/story/2008/03/10/mel...
The song is lovely and the video is heart-wrenching. It may change your mind!
Whew, I feel better now..I thought I was the only person who wanted to vomit when I heard that love lorn twisted song..