From On the Waterfront by Edward Levine (The New York Times)
19 Apr, 2009
Domains - Stewart Brand
Deceased 1960s pal he'd like to see again: Abbie Hoffman. He was brilliant and a card and dangerous to know and delightful in every way.
His best line: In 1966 I had buttons made with the paranoid-sounding slogan, “Why haven't we seen a photograph of the whole Earth yet?” Well, we got the photos from NASA in 1969.
Moving house: The Mirene is a working, 64-foot-long tugboat built in 1912. We take the boat out cruising from time to time. We turned the wheelhouse and skipper's cabin into our bedroom, with two rooms and a bath below.
Why a boat: The main thing is our houseboat community here, which is exceptionally congenial. The boat is inexpensive to live on, and you have no problem with earthquakes, wildfires or rising sea levels due to global warming.
Green living: I didn't choose the boat because it's green, but it is. It doesn't take much to heat 450 square feet. Cooling is no issue on the water. We have solar panels and a demand water heater and use biodiesel fuel when we cruise.
Morning routine: Get up at 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. The trip from the bedroom involves going down a ladder outside. I breakfast in the galley and then go off to work.
Job description: I design stuff; I start stuff; I found stuff. On the passport I put “writer.”
Bad trip: That was my first trip. I had 400 micrograms of LSD under quite clinical circumstances at a psychological research institute in Menlo Park, Calif. It was in a white room with therapists sitting around.
Good trip: In 1963 or '64 I showed up at the door of Ken Kesey, the novelist and LSD evangelist. I was involved in Kesey's Acid Tests, which were happenings where LSD made its way around and everyone was there to entertain each other.
Acid Test memento: I have my Acid Test graduation diploma. The conceit was, “Can you pass the acid test?” Mine was signed by Neal Cassady, who inspired Kesey and was the model for Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac's “On the Road.”
On the wagon: Since 1969 I haven't used psychedelics. I realized I'd seen all I needed to see.
Drug of choice: I'm stoned right now on two cups of coffee. I'm 70, and the easiest way to young-up your mind is to drink caffeine.
Worst thing about the 1960s: Let's see. I made the mistake of being married during the sexual revolution. Nice marriage; inopportune timing.~ more... ~
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