http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Carlin

Sorry. My tribute to George Carlin somehow got connected to a totally unrelated thread.

You can learn who George Carlin was by picking up any newspaper today, watching the news or asking a friend. It was a remarkable man of our time.

Don

Dan and Marilyn Quail are probably not in mourning about it (see the routine “People Are Stupid” on Utube), nor are the Bushes or other Republicans and religious people likely to be in their prayer modes on his behalf, but I regret that George Carlin will not be giving any more live performances. I admired and enjoyed George Carlin. I liked his philosophy, his perspectives, his material, his delivery, his courage, his intellect and his varied and extraordinary contributions encouraging more rational thinking while making us laugh like hell. I’m glad he lived long enough to hear of his Mark Twain Award, to be conferred in November – I’m sure he welcomed the association with Samuel Clemens.

I’d add, “RIP” except I never really understood the “RIP” idea. When you don’t exist anymore, doesn’t that make both “rest” and “peace” sort of automatic, certain fringe benefits of being dead? Another famous person died recently, namely Tim Russert. You would think from the press coverage that Russert was a god, not just one of the better or the best TV commentator. I’m guessing George Carlin won’t get such treatment. I’m bummed that George is now resting in peace. Shit. Fuck. And also those other five forbidden words, too.

He was awesome, in my opinion, and an infidel saint, for that matter - by being an anti-saint. It would be hard to pick a favorite from his dozens of memorable routines, but I will. Carlin did not believe in a sky god who made up 10 things you could not do, else he would burn you for a long time. His take on the 10 commandments is my favorites Carlin routine. Here are his much improved three commandments:

1) Thou shalt always be honest and faithful to the provider of thy nookie.

2) Thou shalt try real hard not to kill anyone, unless of course they pray to a different invisible man than you.

Carlin added a third. He first noted that, “Two is all you need; Moses could have carried them down the hill in his fuckin’ pocket. I wouldn’t mind those folks in Alabama posting them on the courthouse wall, as long as they provided one additional commandment:

3) Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself.

Farewell, George Carlin. Thanks for everything.