The Fanonite

The Onion: Sources Warn Miley Cyrus Will Be Depleted by 2013

Unless Americans turn to alternative sources of entertainment, the ‘Hannah Montana’ star will soon be completely tapped out.

George Carlin (1937-2008), the sage, on the “American dream”.

John Nichols on George Carlin.

The last vote that George Carlin said he cast in a presidential race was for George McGovern in 1972.

When Richard Nixon, who Carlin described as a member of a sub-species of humanity, overwhelmingly defeated McGovern, the comedian gave up on the political process.

“Now, there’s one thing you might have noticed I don’t complain about: politicians,” he explained in a routine that challenged all the premises of today’s half-a-loaf reformers. “Everybody complains about politicians. Everybody says they suck. Well, where do people think these politicians come from? They don’t fall out of the sky. They don’t pass through a membrane from another reality. They come from American parents and American families, American homes, American schools, American churches, American businesses and American universities, and they are elected by American citizens. This is the best we can do folks. This is what we have to offer. It’s what our system produces: Garbage in, garbage out. If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you’re going to get selfish, ignorant leaders. Term limits ain’t going to do any good; you’re just going to end up with a brand new bunch of selfish, ignorant Americans. So, maybe, maybe, maybe, it’s not the politicians who suck. Maybe something else sucks around here… like, the public. Yeah, the public sucks. There’s a nice campaign slogan for somebody: ‘The Public Sucks. Fuck Hope.’”

Needless to say, George Carlin was not on message for 2008’s “change we can believe in” election season.

Read the rest of this entry »

George Carlin, a genius, is dead at 71. Mel Watkins reports.

George Carlin, the Grammy-Award winning standup comedian and actor who was hailed for his irreverent social commentary, poignant observations of the absurdities of everyday life and language, and groundbreaking routines like “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” died in Santa Monica, Calif., on Sunday, according to his publicist, Jeff Abraham. He was 71.

The cause of death was heart failure. Mr. Carlin, who had a history of heart problems, went into the hospital on Sunday afternoon after complaining of heart trouble. The comedian had worked last weekend at The Orleans in Las Vegas.

Recently, Mr. Carlin was named the recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. He was to receive the award at the Kennedy Center in November. “In his lengthy career as a comedian, writer, and actor, George Carlin has not only made us laugh, but he makes us think,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, the Kennedy Center chairman. “His influence on the next generation of comics has been far-reaching.”

In an interview with The Associated Press, Jack Burns, who performed with Mr. Carlin in the 1960’s as one half of a comedy duo, said “He was a genius and I will miss him dearly.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Today Now! talks with a diet book author who reveals that many things are surprisingly edible when you are driven mad by hunger.

How Can We Let Darfur Know How Much We’re Doing For Them?

Panelists discuss the tragic lack of media access in Darfur and how we can help Darfurians realize how much we’re helping them.

Legendary black rockers, Living Colour with one of their classics. Core Glover, the vocalist, is the brother of Danny Glover. Also check out the excellent video for the rockin’ Ausländer.

On a related note: Here is Monty Python with the People’s Front of Judea (or is it the Popular Front of Judea?).