George Carlin dies

It's worth the link, just to see the word 'splenetic' used.

Many (including us) think Carlin lost his way in his later years, though he had a devoted following right to the end. Even at his worst, Carlin never lost the integrity on which his best barbs depended. He never shied away from skewering his own audience when he felt it was warranted. He was never unoriginal, and set trends rather than following them. At his best, he was simply brilliant, and the timing for his most inspired jibes could not have been better.

On the subject of the screeds of his later years, Carlin said the following:

“Scratch any cynic, and you’ll find a disappointed idealist.”

Still, when pushed to explain the pessimism and overt spleen that had crept into his act, he quickly reaffirmed the zeal that inspired his lists of complaints and grievances. “I don’t have pet peeves,” he said, correcting the interviewer. And with a mischievous glint in his eyes, he added, “I have major, psychotic hatreds.”

We wonder if Jesus is, at last, bringing Carlin his pork chops.

UPDATE: Jerry Seinfeld remembers Carlin.

AND: Carlin's website.

AND: George Carlin's last interview. (A must-read.)

AND: What you can learn from watching 800 minutes of George Carlin.