1. Comment #198223 by AdrianB on June 23, 2008 at 11:54 am

RIP

:(

Other Comments by AdrianB

2. Comment #198235 by Greybishop on June 23, 2008 at 12:21 pm

Sadly, sorely missed.

A comedian who never failed to make me laugh and think at the same time.

"Some people don't like you to talk about cancer.
Some people think that if you talk about it, it might happen.

Some people are really fuckin' stupid."

Thanks George.

Other Comments by Greybishop

3. Comment #198238 by studiorat on June 23, 2008 at 12:29 pm

Thanks for helping to open my mind, George. Though your humor, you opened my eyes to a lot of the world's ridiculous shit (like, GOD for one).

I raise my glass to you.. You'll be missed.

Other Comments by studiorat

4. Comment #198239 by Arcturus on June 23, 2008 at 12:30 pm

Indeed, you will be missed George ...


I always enjoyed his shows, he was the best!

Other Comments by Arcturus

5. Comment #198240 by ClemIsMe on June 23, 2008 at 12:30 pm

Unreplaceable. In my house growing up all you had to say was "It's Meatcake!" and everyone would fall about the place. For a comedian, five decades of truly relevant and quality material is astounding. Right to the last special, he always found the angle that seemed so obvious in retrospect. It really feels like my favorite uncle died.

Other Comments by ClemIsMe

6. Comment #198245 by Lithium_joe on June 23, 2008 at 12:37 pm

A sad day indeed.

George Carlin: Legend.

Other Comments by Lithium_joe

7. Comment #198264 by DamnDirtyApe on June 23, 2008 at 1:05 pm

Concur with the man's wisdom.

ALL GLORY TO THE SUN!

Other Comments by DamnDirtyApe

8. Comment #198268 by Andr3w on June 23, 2008 at 1:10 pm

One of the great comedians of our time, George Carlin was the man.

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9. Comment #198272 by HitbLade on June 23, 2008 at 1:14 pm

WHY NOT BEN STEIN!?!?!?

...there is no god...

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10. Comment #198274 by movingshadow on June 23, 2008 at 1:17 pm

graduated from old fuck, to dead fuck

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11. Comment #198275 by moderndaythomas on June 23, 2008 at 1:18 pm

I've seen this, I don't know how many times, and it never fails to make me laugh till I cry.

Bravo George.

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12. Comment #198279 by Vaal on June 23, 2008 at 1:27 pm

Class! Never seen him before. I will be sending this one on to my friends. A great loss, the more comedians the better to satirize the nonsense of religion.

Edit: Not sure I believe in the Sun God. I live in England and have never seen him :-))

Other Comments by Vaal

13. Comment #198290 by 82abhilash on June 23, 2008 at 1:55 pm

George Carlin will live on in the memory of those that admire him. George Carlin will live on in the memory of every new generation that can appreciate his work. BUT WHY NOT BEN STEIN!!!

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14. Comment #198295 by c4chaos on June 23, 2008 at 2:04 pm

love the guy! unlike other comedians, Carlin, made us laugh and think, deeply.

unfortunately, religion may be bullshit, but it's a BS that is so not dead.

godspeed Mr. Carlin, goodspeed.

~C

Other Comments by c4chaos

15. Comment #198300 by Border Collie on June 23, 2008 at 2:17 pm

Fifty years ago started saying the things we wanted to say, but were afraid to. Too late now,
but imagine this ... a Carlin - Hitchens "debate" ... we'd have no unbroken ribs ...
Good-bye Mr. Carlin, this reality won't be the same without you.

Other Comments by Border Collie

16. Comment #198312 by Vanitas on June 23, 2008 at 2:44 pm

Goodbye, George.

May your remains be as welcome in the earth as will your memory always be with us.

Other Comments by Vanitas

17. Comment #198333 by Katherine on June 23, 2008 at 3:18 pm

What an utter shock - will miss you, George!

Other Comments by Katherine

18. Comment #198376 by cjnkns on June 23, 2008 at 5:00 pm

He was great at his job.

You'll be missed George! RIP.

Other Comments by cjnkns

19. Comment #198381 by chuckgoecke on June 23, 2008 at 5:13 pm

Although I'm a white guy with a shaved head, I will still badly miss George. He will forever be a part of me.

Other Comments by chuckgoecke

20. Comment #198382 by Dhamma on June 23, 2008 at 5:16 pm

RIP George.

I started watching some of his stand-ups only a few months ago, and I liked his effective way to make the obvious even more obvious (as Jesus apparently was a kicker at too).

Your clips will live on!

"... But he loves you!" haha =)

Other Comments by Dhamma

21. Comment #198396 by dragonfirematrix on June 23, 2008 at 6:29 pm

George may be gone, but George is still great!

Other Comments by dragonfirematrix

22. Comment #198397 by atheist_peace on June 23, 2008 at 6:30 pm

Joe bless you!

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23. Comment #198398 by Overmann on June 23, 2008 at 6:31 pm

RIP George, you were one of my last remaining role models.

Other Comments by Overmann

24. Comment #198399 by SnaG05 on June 23, 2008 at 6:40 pm

Goodbye George, you were the best. Hopefully there is someone out there who can carry on your tradition. I have "Faith there is".

Other Comments by SnaG05

25. Comment #198401 by Saerain on June 23, 2008 at 6:45 pm

I thought it would be more appropriate to post his last public word on death before his death: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2yhiiZAz3MY

Other Comments by Saerain

26. Comment #198402 by raistallica on June 23, 2008 at 6:50 pm

What a truly sad loss to comedy, freethinkers, and atheists alike. George Carlin had a huge effect on my life , and he will be sorely missed. He will live on forever in his comedy, let's just never forget him.

Other Comments by raistallica

27. Comment #198405 by Dispiracist on June 23, 2008 at 7:25 pm

"He loves you and he always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, all-wise, somehow ... just can't handle money!"

There was an interesting documentary on ABC (Australian) last night where the jounalist raises the question of whether christian sects now need to be government regulated because of the enormous financial impact they are inflicting on Australian families.

The interviews are mainly horror story (financial horror) interviews with victims of family breakups.

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2008/20080623_bcf/interviews.htm

Other Comments by Dispiracist

28. Comment #198414 by dantemm on June 23, 2008 at 8:09 pm

Carlin got it right...

~Dan
http://jazzsick.wordpress.com/

Other Comments by dantemm

29. Comment #198415 by BeyondBelief on June 23, 2008 at 8:12 pm

I rarely have a profound sense of loss over the death of celebrities, but I can only equate how I feel today as being very similar to December 8, 1980, when John Lennon was shot. And then I was only a stupid 14 year old.

If you think of the world and its players as a grand tug of war, our side... the side favoring free speech, liberalism, demystification of taboo subjects, rationality... lost a heavyweight.

Raise a glass in memory of George today, and toast him with the only 7 words I assume he would want to hear in commemoration of his passing: "Shit. Piss. Fuck. Cunt. Cocksucker. Motherfucker. and Tits!"

And Josh, if you edit this, the terrorists win. :-)

Other Comments by BeyondBelief

30. Comment #198421 by TeraBrat on June 23, 2008 at 9:27 pm

Someone on another forum I'm on put this together.

I would never want to be a member of a group whose symbol was a guy nailed to two pieces of wood.

-- George Carlin

I credit that eight years of grammar school with nourishing me in a direction where I could trust myself and trust my instincts. They gave me the tools to reject my faith. They taught me to question and think for myself and to believe in my instincts to such an extent that I just said, "This is a wonderful fairy tale they have going here, but it's not for me.
"
-- George Carlin, in the New York Times, August 20, 1995


Religion: If this [word] offends you, welcome to the world of sane and realistic critical thought. More harm has been done to the collective human psyche by religion than by all the fucking and cocksucking since the dawn of time. By the way, many religious people (including the ordained) fuck and suck each other's cocks all the time.

-- George Carlin, from the language warning sequence introducing the his website, www. geogrecarlin. com, that existed in late 2001 and early 2002

Instead of school busing and prayer in schools, which are both controversial, why not a joint solution? Prayer in buses. Just drive these kids around all day and let them pray their fuckn' empty little heads off.

-- George Carlin, Brain Droppings

George CarlinI'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death.

-- George Carlin (attributed: source unknown)

We created god in our own image and likeness!
-- George Carlin (attributed: source unknown)

I finally accepted Jesus -- not as my personal savior, but as a man I intend to borrow money from.

-- George Carlin, Brain Droppings

I've begun worshipping the Sun for a number of reasons. First of all, unlike some other gods I could mention, I can see the Sun. It's there for me every day. And the things it brings me are quite apparent all the time: heat, light, food, a lovely day. There's no mystery, no one asks for money, I don't have to dress up, and there's no boring pageantry. And interestingly enough, I have found that the prayers I offer to the sun and the prayers I formerly offered to God are all answered at about the same 50-percent rate.

-- George Carlin, Brain Droppings

Here's another question I've been pondering -- what is all this shit about angels? Have you heard this? Three out of four people belive in angels. Are you fucking stupid? Has everybody lost their mind? You know what I think it is? I think it's a massive, collective, psychotic chemical flashback for all the drugs smoked, swallowed, shot, and obsorbed rectally by all Americans from 1960 to 1990.
Thirty years of street drugs will get you some fucking angels, my friend!
-- George Carlin (attributed: source unknown)

What about Goblins, huh? Doesn't anybody belive in Goblins? You never hear about this. Except on Halloween and then it's all negative shit. And what about Zombies? You never hear from Zombies! That's the trouble with Zombies, they're unreliable! I say if you're going to go for the Angel bullshit you might as well go for the Zombie package as well.

-- George Carlin, You Are All Diseased

I don't have any beliefs or allegiances. I don't believe in this country, I don't believe in religion, or a god, and I don't believe in all these man-made institutional ideas.

-- George Carlin, quoted from Reuters / Variety "Notable Quotes" for April 25, 2001

I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don't have as many people who believe it.

-- George Carlin, Brain Droppings

This is a little prayer dedicated to the separation of church and state. I guess if they are going to force those kids to pray in schools they might as well have a nice prayer like this: Our Father who art in heaven, and to the republic for which it stands, thy kingdom come, one nation indivisible as in heaven, give us this day as we forgive those who so proudly we hail. Crown thy good into temptation but deliver us from the twilight's last gleaming. Amen and Awomen.

-- George Carlin, Saturday Night Live

The two big mistakes were the belief in a sky god -- that there's a man in the sky with 10 things he doesn't want you to do and you'll burn for a long time if you do them -- and private property, which I think is at the core of our failure as a species. That's the source of my indignations, my dissatisfactions, however it comes out on the stage. I feel betrayed by the people I'm part of, these creatures, these magnificent creatures.

-- George Carlin, Orange County Register, March 1997

We use up words like "spiritual" so fast in this culture. Twenty years ago "spiritual" had a distinct meaning. But now there's a lot of jack-off thinkers who just love to talk about the spiritual. And there is a lot of bogus -- is "bogosity" a word? It should be -- a lot of bogosity in these spiritual seekers. So you have to find another way to express it. I just call it "how I fit.
"
-- George Carlin, Orange County Register, March 1997

George CarlinIn the Bullshit Department, a businessman can't hold a candle to a clergyman. 'Cause I gotta tell you the truth, folks. When it comes to bullshit, big-time, major league bullshit, you have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims: religion. No contest. No contest. Religion. Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told.

Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man -- living in the sky -- who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do.
And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time!
But He loves you.

He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, you talk about a good bullshit story.
Holy Shit!
-- George Carlin Politically Incorrect, May 29, 1997

You know who I pray to? Joe Pesci. Joe Pesci. Two reasons; first of all, I think he's a good actor. Okay. To me, that counts. Second; he looks like a guy who can get things done. Joe Pesci doesn't fuck around. Doesn't fuck around. In fact, Joe Pesci came through on a couple of things that God was having trouble with. For years I asked God to do something about my noisy neighbor with the barking dog. Joe Pesci straightened that cock-sucker out with one visit.

George Carlin I noticed that of all the prayers I used to offer to God, and all the prayers that I now offer to Joe Pesci, are being answered at about the same 50 percent rate. Half the time I get what I want. Half the time I don't. Same as God 50-50. Same as the four leaf clover, the horse shoe, the rabbit's foot, and the wishing well. Same as the mojo man. Same as the voodoo lady who tells your fortune by squeezing the goat's testicles. It's all the same; 50-50. So just pick your superstitions, sit back, make a wish and enjoy yourself.

And for those of you that look to the Bible for it's literary qualities and moral lessons; I got a couple other stories I might like to recommend for you. You might enjoy The Three Little Pigs. That's a good one. It has a nice happy ending. Then there's Little Red Riding Hood. Although it does have that one X-rated part where the Big Bad Wolf actually eats the grandmother. Which I didn't care for, by the way. And finally, I've always drawn a great deal of moral comfort from Humpty Dumpty. The part I liked best: "and all the king's horses, and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty together again." That's because there is no Humpty Dumpty, and there is no God. None. Not one. Never was. No God.

-- George Carlin (attributed: source unknown)

If this is the best God can do, I'm not impressed.

-- George Carlin, Napalm & Silly Putty (2001)

I think it's the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.

-- George Carlin, appearing on A&E Biography

Other Comments by TeraBrat

31. Comment #198423 by Chispita on June 23, 2008 at 9:43 pm

Tera Brat - thank you. I enjoyed that.
This is the way I will always remember George.

Other Comments by Chispita

32. Comment #198425 by DalaiDrivel on June 23, 2008 at 9:57 pm

"Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man -- living in the sky -- who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do.
And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time!
But He loves you. "

Thank you Terabrat for the quote.

This to me is the finest comedic dissection of religion and its insanity that I have ever heard or read. It's priceless.

I never actually had any exposure to George Carlin before this, but I knew then that he was a damn astute fellow!

Other Comments by DalaiDrivel

33. Comment #198436 by paulwwww on June 24, 2008 at 12:01 am

I can recall listening to George Carlin back in the 70's, on LP's. Maybe I am showing my age. :-) May he be remembered for a long, long time to come.

Other Comments by paulwwww

34. Comment #198465 by Adam Morrison on June 24, 2008 at 3:59 am

I remember catching him on 'Just for Laughs' or some other comedy channel special years ago. He's fantastic and I would have loved to see him live.

I think I'll use a couple of his lines next time a poofist tries to convert me.

Other Comments by Adam Morrison

35. Comment #198471 by Ed_ on June 24, 2008 at 4:58 am

Hugely sad. We have lost one of the best.

Other Comments by Ed_

36. Comment #198569 by Teratornis on June 24, 2008 at 9:05 am

Comment #198471 by Ed_:

Hugely sad. We have lost one of the best.

Soon enough, computers will pass the Turing test, and then everyone's computer will be as funny as they want it to be.

In the meantime, it's time for a new talent show: America's Next Top Atheist Comic.

Everyone is replaceable.

Other Comments by Teratornis

37. Comment #198571 by Steve Zara on June 24, 2008 at 9:07 am

Comment #198569 by Teratornis

What an appaling and tasteless comment.

Other Comments by Steve Zara

38. Comment #198601 by Animavore on June 24, 2008 at 9:40 am

No way!
I didn't even hear of this til now. Man I love this guy.

I would say R.I.P. but, he's worm bait now. Well at least he is immortalised in digital form and what more could anyone hope for.

Other Comments by Animavore

39. Comment #198608 by Teratornis on June 24, 2008 at 9:54 am

Comment #198571 by Steve Zara:

What an appaling and tasteless comment.

Did I offend your sense of what is sacred? If so, I can think of no better way to honor a man who dedicated his entire life to offending the pompously religious with comments designed to strike them as appalling and tasteless.

"I think it's the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately."

I guess we have found your line.

Do you really have no ability whatsoever to empathize with George Carlin's victims? I enjoy offending them as much as the next cynic (although I don't get paid for it like Carlin did), but at the same time, I feel sorry for them.

If you are in the habit of succumbing so readily and so mindlessly to the emotions of offense when one of your own sacred cows gets prodded ever so slightly, I feel sorry for you as well. Particularly when Carlin almost certainly would have decried any attempt to set him up as some sort of idol.

Other Comments by Teratornis

40. Comment #198612 by Steve Zara on June 24, 2008 at 9:58 am

Comment #198608 by Teratornis

I am not actually a huge fan of Carlin. I did not know his work that well. This is not about what is sacred. I do know that many were upset by his loss, and to say that "Everyone is replaceable" is just crass, no matter who died.

Other Comments by Steve Zara

41. Comment #198614 by The Reverend Dark on June 24, 2008 at 10:03 am

Steve,
I don't think it would be too out of place to crack jokes, whether good, bad or utterly tasteless in fond remembrance of Carlin.

While I agree that I initially found the replacable comment harsh, it brought a smile to my face when I remembered Carlin's monologue on dogs (Tippy) and how when one dog died, you went back to the pet shop... Here it is.

You were probably out walking your dog, which is what I'm usually doing. Walking my dog. Cause I love my dog. I love all my dogs. I love every dog I ever had. I remember em all. And I love every one of them. Still love all my dogs, and I've had me a lot of goddam dogs. In my lifetime, I have had me a bunch of different dogs. Because you do keep getting a new dog don't you? You just keep getting one dog right after another. That's the whole secret of life. Life...is a series of dogs. It's true! You just keep getting a new dog, don't you? That's what's good about them. They don't live too long. And you can go get a new goddam dog. Sometimes, you can get a dog that looks exactly like the dog you used to have. Right? You shop around a little bit, and you find a dog identical to your former dog. And that's real handy cause you don't have to change the pictures on your mirror or anything. Right? You just bring the dead one into the pet shop. Throw him up on the counter and say, "Give me another one of them. That was real good." And they'll give you a carbon copy of your ex-goddam dog.

We are all replacable, it does not mean we were not loved.

Cheers,
The Reverend Shayne Dark

Other Comments by The Reverend Dark

42. Comment #198617 by Steve Zara on June 24, 2008 at 10:05 am

Ah well.

Foot in mouth again.

Sorry. Especially to Teratornis.

Other Comments by Steve Zara

43. Comment #198618 by Podaar on June 24, 2008 at 10:06 am

Dead? Really?

I just saw him....

:)

Other Comments by Podaar

44. Comment #198623 by Teratornis on June 24, 2008 at 10:13 am

Let's not forget: the silly human tendencies to worship heroes and weird out over death are the foundation for religion. It's relatively easy to prune off the trappings of religion, but much harder to excise its causes.

Carlin got to enjoy a life as fine as any human at his time in history could reasonably have hoped for. He needs no reverence, nor would he have wanted it. He left an enormous body of work which we can amuse ourselves with for a long time.

Right now there are plenty of equally-talented young comics coming up. Some might even find a way to mock the tendency to grieve over Carlin, and make it funny.

The world's cemetaries are full of rotting worm-eaten bones that once belonged to legions of people who took themselves quite seriously. One would think that consciously understanding our fate would help people get over themselves, but sociobiology is stronger than (selective) rationality.

Other Comments by Teratornis

45. Comment #198625 by Quine on June 24, 2008 at 10:16 am

Teratornis, my compliments on a succinct post.

Other Comments by Quine

46. Comment #198626 by Teratornis on June 24, 2008 at 10:17 am

Comment #198617 by Steve Zara:

Sorry. Especially to Teratornis.

No apology necessary. I'm quite sure I deserved it - that was the point.

Other Comments by Teratornis

47. Comment #198629 by Teratornis on June 24, 2008 at 10:18 am

Comment #198625 by Quine:

Teratornis, my compliments on a succinct post.

The effort of stopping so quickly is excrutiating. I'm glad someone appreciates it.

Other Comments by Teratornis

48. Comment #198638 by Quine on June 24, 2008 at 10:34 am

It gets easier with practice. Try writing some Haiku.

The great wings soar
Through skies of words
Quiet thought
Chooses only a few

Other Comments by Quine

49. Comment #198640 by Teratornis on June 24, 2008 at 10:38 am

OK, how about:

If I master
The art of quickie
Will women like me?

Other Comments by Teratornis

50. Comment #198645 by The Reverend Dark on June 24, 2008 at 10:44 am

Terrible to fear
That your death might give rise to
Worm cholesterol

Other Comments by The Reverend Dark