The Erowid Review Comments http://www.erowid.org/library/review Reviews of books, articles, and movies en Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:48:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.2 by: scintillation http://www.erowid.org/library/review/review.php?p=296#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:20:28 -0800 693:296@http://www.erowid.org/library/review A very invigorating review. Thanks. A very invigorating review. Thanks.

]]> by: nick sand http://www.erowid.org/library/review/review.php?p=293#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:03:31 -0800 692:293@http://www.erowid.org/library/review During my conversations with SAM I was intrigued by the coughing spells as I had never observed this in the many trips I had guided over the years. Then I had a heart attack which was forewarned by back pains which is how, much later, the attack manifested. Then SAM developed lung cancer which manifested much coughing and made me speculate that acid can be predictive of failing health. This might be a way of prediagnosing disease and used as an aid to curing diseases before it is too late. If anyone observes this, report it to Erowid and we can collate the experiences and see if there is anything to this hypothesis. I agree that musical choices have profound effects on the type of trip one has. SAM had some terrible childhood experiences in which he was blamed for the death of his brother who died of meningitis. This might be the origin of his feeling universally responsible for something and had to be expunged. His terrible act of bravery to explore this horrid childhood experience must be credited. Indeed, his life after his 3 year experience was very happy and some people present at his death opine that he died enlightened. In the hospital the nurses called him the smiling one while he was dying a very uncomfortable death. A very wonderful and kind man was SAM and very modest. He was one of the few people to visit me in prison and we had never met before. He was a good friend and we were friends to the end and still… During my conversations with SAM I was intrigued by the coughing spells as I had never observed this in the many trips I had guided over the years. Then I had a heart attack which was forewarned by back pains which is how, much later, the attack manifested. Then SAM developed lung cancer which manifested much coughing and made me speculate that acid can be predictive of failing health. This might be a way of prediagnosing disease and used as an aid to curing diseases before it is too late. If anyone observes this, report it to Erowid and we can collate the experiences and see if there is anything to this hypothesis.

I agree that musical choices have profound effects on the type of trip one has. SAM had some terrible childhood experiences in which he was blamed for the death of his brother who died of meningitis. This might be the origin of his feeling universally responsible for something and had to be expunged. His terrible act of bravery to explore this horrid childhood experience must be credited. Indeed, his life after his 3 year experience was very happy and some people present at his death opine that he died enlightened. In the hospital the nurses called him the smiling one while he was dying a very uncomfortable death. A very wonderful and kind man was SAM and very modest. He was one of the few people to visit me in prison and we had never met before. He was a good friend and we were friends to the end and still…

]]> by: Lynton Stewart http://www.erowid.org/library/review/review.php?p=226#comments Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:34:45 -0700 689:226@http://www.erowid.org/library/review I was a “Medical Volunteer” at Edgewood Arsenal in 1967. We were NOT provided detailed consent forms, in fact most of us were deceived. I was told that I was a testing uniforms for chemical resistance. It turns out that I was given psychoactive chemicals (I still don’t know which ones). I was NEVER told that I would be given any form of psychoactive drug, I would have refused to do that. You see, I was a Neuro-Psychiatric Specialist, and i was aware of LSD and other drugs available, and what they could do to a person. It appears that being a Neuro-Psychiatric Specialist made me a target for their testing. I only learned in October 2009, that I was given psychoactive drugs (there was some paperwork on this buried in my military personnel file). Dr. Ketchum is a liar, first class. He knows damn good and well that those “volunteers” only volunteered because they were paid extra money to volunteer, were promised promotions and medals (which never came through by the way), etc. I received an extra $2 per day for participating, which was a reasonable increase in my military pay at the time. Having a wife and two children to support, I needed the extra money. The Army bought their volunteers, for a pittance, and then never came through on the promises they were given. Absolutely NO follow-up was ever done on me, by anyone. I was a “Medical Volunteer” at Edgewood Arsenal in 1967. We were NOT provided detailed consent forms, in fact most of us were deceived. I was told that I was a testing uniforms for chemical resistance. It turns out that I was given psychoactive chemicals (I still don’t know which ones). I was NEVER told that I would be given any form of psychoactive drug, I would have refused to do that. You see, I was a Neuro-Psychiatric Specialist, and i was aware of LSD and other drugs available, and what they could do to a person.

It appears that being a Neuro-Psychiatric Specialist made me a target for their testing. I only learned in October 2009, that I was given psychoactive drugs (there was some paperwork on this buried in my military personnel file).

Dr. Ketchum is a liar, first class. He knows damn good and well that those “volunteers” only volunteered because they were paid extra money to volunteer, were promised promotions and medals (which never came through by the way), etc. I received an extra $2 per day for participating, which was a reasonable increase in my military pay at the time. Having a wife and two children to support, I needed the extra money. The Army bought their volunteers, for a pittance, and then never came through on the promises they were given.

Absolutely NO follow-up was ever done on me, by anyone.

]]> by: Frank Lynch http://www.erowid.org/library/review/review.php?p=285#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:39:26 -0700 684:285@http://www.erowid.org/library/review Well researched and convincing this book adds a well-merited UK perspective to the many excellent books concentrating on the history of LSD in the sixties and seventies. While it doesn’t match Acid Dreams, which is a brilliant exposition from the US point of view, it nevertheless provides an excellent picture from a purely English perspective and is a very welcome addition to the literature on the subject. Well researched and convincing this book adds a well-merited UK perspective to the many excellent books concentrating on the history of LSD in the sixties and seventies. While it doesn’t match Acid Dreams, which is a brilliant exposition from the US point of view, it nevertheless provides an excellent picture from a purely English perspective and is a very welcome addition to the literature on the subject.

]]> by: Bruno Degazio http://www.erowid.org/library/review/review.php?p=295#comments Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:08:25 -0700 683:295@http://www.erowid.org/library/review Thank you for your interesting and informative essay on these two books, which deal with a critical point in our cultural history, where science and art (psychology?) approached and then fell apart again. Thank you for your interesting and informative essay on these two books, which deal with a critical point in our cultural history, where science and art (psychology?) approached and then fell apart again.

]]> by: Outpatient Rehab http://www.erowid.org/library/review/review.php?p=170#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:54:38 -0700 680:170@http://www.erowid.org/library/review i got a lot out of this book, I at one point of my life was heavily involved with drugs and the subculture associated with that. And even though I am abstinent now I really enjoyed it and found it educational. It really offered a new perspective on everything I had done when I was younger. I would recommend it. i got a lot out of this book, I at one point of my life was heavily involved with drugs and the subculture associated with that. And even though I am abstinent now I really enjoyed it and found it educational. It really offered a new perspective on everything I had done when I was younger. I would recommend it.

]]> by: lux http://www.erowid.org/library/review/review.php?p=283#comments Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:01:18 -0700 675:283@http://www.erowid.org/library/review Word is born. I love “Inspired Madness” as a triumphantly incomplete phenomenology of Burning Man. No book that strove for documentary completeness could come close to conveying the spirit of the event as vividly as this heap of jeweled shards. Also recommended for its surprisingly vivid account of BRC: “How to Survive the Apocalypse", the Burning Man rock opera. Word is born. I love “Inspired Madness” as a triumphantly incomplete phenomenology of Burning Man. No book that strove for documentary completeness could come close to conveying the spirit of the event as vividly as this heap of jeweled shards.

Also recommended for its surprisingly vivid account of BRC: “How to Survive the Apocalypse", the Burning Man rock opera.

]]> by: henru http://www.erowid.org/library/review/review.php?p=293#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:56:32 -0700 674:293@http://www.erowid.org/library/review “I am personally responsible for the failure of everything Western civilization has aimed at since the Renaissance". BWAGHAHAHWAWHWWABNWHAWHWH “I am personally responsible for the failure of everything Western civilization has aimed at since the Renaissance".
BWAGHAHAHWAWHWWABNWHAWHWH

]]> by: Jakerz Smith http://www.erowid.org/library/review/review.php?p=290#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:26:50 -0700 673:290@http://www.erowid.org/library/review I just emailed the publisher expressing my concern about the misinformation and lies spread throughout the ‘book’. I suggest you all do the same. I just emailed the publisher expressing my concern about the misinformation and lies spread throughout the ‘book’. I suggest you all do the same.

]]> by: Shhspngebob http://www.erowid.org/library/review/review.php?p=290#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:46:37 -0700 672:290@http://www.erowid.org/library/review Well, i have to agree that there are times where “zombie masters” is an appropriate term, as such with lobby-ers and politicians and corporations. The government really did (does) push cocaine! They give our children all sorts of Add Ocd bi-polar drugs! They (health services) get lots of people hooked or at least interested in opiates. Alcohol, antidepressant,medicinal drugs for things such as your heart (as opposed to eating right or exercising or such. just a loose example), and caffeine (in soda, tea or otherwise)commercials run wild! Chocolate contains theobromine, a relative to caffeine, a addictive stimulant found in many foods, candies, and breakfast cereals for kids. If we ever want to become a “drug free nation” (unrealistic)or at least anything nearer to that, and healthier, why dont we put an end to all the legal drugs, that in todays society are actually hard to Avoid!?! Well, i have to agree that there are times where “zombie masters” is an appropriate term, as such with lobby-ers and politicians and corporations. The government really did (does) push cocaine! They give our children all sorts of Add Ocd bi-polar drugs! They (health services) get lots of people hooked or at least interested in opiates. Alcohol, antidepressant,medicinal drugs for things such as your heart (as opposed to eating right or exercising or such. just a loose example), and caffeine (in soda, tea or otherwise)commercials run wild! Chocolate contains theobromine, a relative to caffeine, a addictive stimulant found in many foods, candies, and breakfast cereals for kids.

If we ever want to become a “drug free nation” (unrealistic)or at least anything nearer to that, and healthier, why dont we put an end to all the legal drugs, that in todays society are actually hard to Avoid!?!

]]>