From the desk of:

Have one for Kurt Today, Folks.

Today is a sad day, indeed.  One of the greatest writers of all time cashed in his chips and kicked off.  I’ll be celebrating his life with EXTRA amounts of Jim Beam tonight.  I know he was a good writer because everytime I opened one of his books…. nay…. even SMELT one of his books, it made me want to stop writing forever.   I was lucky enough to see him speak in St. Paul near enough the year 2000.  It was an amazing experience.

Not many know this, but Kurt Vonnegut served as honorary president of the American Humanist Society — an organization that is nearest to being able to sum up just about everything I believe in.   Their main ideas are centered around a common respect for fellow man — sort of a “don’t be evil” approach to self governance.  Vonnegut himself famously wrote that religion would be a helluva lot better off if Jesus would have just stopped after the sermon on the mount — and everyone paid better attention to those silly little Beatitudes.

“To whom it may concern: It is springtime. It is late afternoon.“

Goodbye, Kurt.  Thanks for brightening things up around here.

Born Ruffians – Kurt Vonnegut (Live on KEXP)