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Saturday, April 14, 2007

Kurt Vonnegut Tribute

Strange but true.... just last Tuesday, 10th April, I'd read an article on Kurt, a favourite author when I was much younger and my mind a lot more agile about 20 years ago. A classic American counter-culture proponent, his last major book was 2005's "A Man Without A Country". Old memories re-ignited, I did a Google check, made some bookmarks to follow up on. Two days later, while checking the early morning headlines, I read that he had died. Shock? Definitely. Horror? True to form. But that's what Kurt probably was anyway, judging from his writings. Some links to follow up on:
here and here.

A dash of Kurt's wit and wisdom:

Well, the telling of jokes is an art of its own, and it always rises from some emotional threat. The best jokes are dangerous, and dangerous because they are in some way truthful. Interview, Mcsweeneys.net

During my three years in Vietnam, I certainly heard plenty of last words by dying American footsoldiers. Not one of them, however, had illusions that he had somehow accomplished something worthwhile in the process of making the Supreme Sacrifice. - Hocus Pocus

We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be. - Mother Night

Just because some of us can read and write and do a little math, that doesn't mean we deserve to conquer the Universe. - Hocus Pocus, 1990

A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved. - Sirens of Titans

Thanks for the memories. Rest in peace, Kurt.

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