Berkeley, UNIX, and LSD
There are two major products to come out of Berkeley: LSD and UNIX. We don’t believe this to be a coincidence.
— Jeremy S. Anderson
I can forgive Alfred Nobel for having invented dynamite, but only a fiend in human form could have invented the Nobel Prize.
— George Bernard Shaw
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
— Epicurus, philosopher (c. 341-270 BCE)
Years ago I struggled deeply with the Problem of Evil, i.e. the reconciliation of the existence of evil and suffering with the existence of a benevolent and omnipotent God. At the time, I found Dostoyevski’s novel The Brother’s Karamozov to be a great comfort and insight on the dilemma. I wish I had found Epicurus’ quote earlier in my life. The logic is compelling and impeccable.
The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending, then having the two as close together as possible.
— George Burns
Of course there is nothing to say that this brilliant snippet of communication wisdom should be limited to sermons. It is also the secret of a good speech, a good presentation, or even a good email.
Net it out, people.
There’s no such thing as a glass ceiling. It’s just a thick layer of men.
— Laura Liswood, Secretary-General Council of Women World Leaders
More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction.
Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.
— Woody Allen
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This is funny, but not true.
LSD was first synthesized by the Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann. Leary was just the first one to abuse it 🙂
You’re correct about Albert Hofmann to be the first to synth LSD, but 1. Leary WASN’T the first to ‘abuse’ it (Hofmann was…Bike day), 2. Post-bike-day, tons of psychiatrists and other people consumed acid prior to Leary.
Lastly, it is well known that presently there is a lab somewhere in Berkeley as a majority of VERY good acid blotters and crystal pours out of there and has been for a while. Derp.
“There are two major products that come out of Berkeley: LSD and UNIX. We don’t believe this to be a coincidence.” – Jeremy S. Anderson
Jay
It took me a while, but I just realized that your comment was to inform me of the author of the quote. I apologize for taking so long to realize this. I have updated the post to show Jeremy Anderson as the quote’s author.