Over at “Reason” Magazine, editor Nick Gillespie waxes philosophical over the death of LSD synthesizer and user Albert Hofmann. According to Gillespie, also a user, “Hofmann’s ‘problem child’ (as he wryly dubbed his discovery) has been a major and generally positive influence through many aspects of society … . Blowing peoples’ minds is never an easy thing, and not always a good thing, but Hofmann is an inspiring figure, in large part because he never lost his taste for scientific inquiry and rational analysis while expanding the borderlands of human consciousness.”
On a more personal note, Gillespie thanks Hofmann for “indirectly inspiring the greatest couplet set to music (‘Things ain’t what they used to be/Cary Grant’s on LSD’).”
Also on a personal note, I’d like to thank Dr. Hofmann (with irony) for indirectly inspiring the very worst joke I ever heard (courtesy of the unlamented London Lee*):
“Did you hear about the hippie who mixed LSD with prune juice? He really took a trip!”
It took more than rim shot to save that one.
Afterwords
Storming Heaven: LSD and the American Dream by Jay Stevens is a wonderful piece of social history.
*What is really to be lamented is that LL is still alive and performing (but you don’t have to see him). He’s probably still doing the LSD/prune juice joke. It’s probably his killer line! God help us all!
