Edgy George Carlin took the edge off of the daily grind

Some people found him a bit too baudy, even vulgar, but for most comedy fans, George Carlin helped take the edge off of the grind of many frustrating and stressful days.

Carlin died yesterday of heart failure, after a long and celebrated career of stand-up comedy, television and movie appearances.

What separated Carlin from most comics was his ability to take sensitive subjects, like abortion and obesity, and make them funny, even to pro lifers and overweight people.  Carlin understood who he was and believed his devout fans also got him.

“I have a kind of identity that I’ve carved out as my own, and people know that,” Carlin told the Daily Press in 2002. “I have this theatrically angry voice some of the time in my show, an aggressive tone, but I think people still see me as a kind of vulnerable person — an open, honest person laying it all out for your inspection.”

No critic could have put it better.

 

John McCain picture worth a thousand words

I ran across this picture in a very fine article at Think Progress.  With the presidential election still over four months away, it appears that Barack Obama is a shoo-in for victory. 

If McCain should pull it out, though, you have to think we’ll be seeing this picture almost daily.

Ever see Rodney Dangerfield’s Back to School?  McCain looks just like the young  character, Thornton Melon, after he shows his poor grades to his father and claims he’s trying.  His father barks back, “Then try harder!” 

This McCain shot is an almost exact duplicate of the face the the child actor makes following his father’s stern admonishment.

I envision McCain making this face and gesture at every press conference.

It will make for great material on Saturday Night Live.  Of course,  I’ll never be able to enjoy Back to School quite as much, now that I’ve seen this, especially if McCain should triumph in November.