The gentleman in the above image is Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, science fiction author and crackpot religion founder. The device he’s utilizing to get measurements from his vine-ripened friend is called a Hubbard Electrometer. He apparently used it to determine that tomatoes feel pain, even screaming out when they’re sliced.

Sort of makes you think that Tom Cruise’s linguine recipe, including “2 cups plum tomatoes — chopped,” is unduly cruel for a Scientology disciple.

The image above comes from Life magazine.

(Posted simultaneously to “Jelly-Town!”)