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Written by Andrew Olson - View Profile
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Friday, 13 April 2007 |
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When I heard the news a few days ago, the morning after his death, I had a hard time going to work. I had a hard time even getting motivated to take a shower. Yet, I had never even met the guy. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. is in my opinion, one of the greatest American writers of all time. How could you not love the guy though? If you ever heard him speak during an interview, or read any of his books whether they were autobiographical or fictional, you wouldn't have had a pulse if you didn't react.
"Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand." I mean how can you not laugh at that? But besides being the greatest satarist of second half of the century, Vonnegut was also a humanitarian. As funny as he could be, it was needed, because his scathing and undeniably thought-wrenching lines would make you wallow in gloom at the futility of it all.
"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."
Not only was Vonnegut on top of his game in the political arena, he was also an amazing social critic. Who else would consider suing the big tobacco companies for NOT killing him? As he said in an interview last year, and I'm paraphrsing here, Phillip-Morris has put labels directly on the packaging that states cancer and death, yet here I am at 83. Of course, no one would have found it funnier than Vonnegut himself about the cause of his death, a fall in his Manhattan home. Vonnegut also shared with biting humor the importance that brain-numbing, body-destroying, anti-social invention that has become the height of everyone's lives on our society (And Yes I'm talking to you all of you who watch American Idol and CSI and Heroes and Friends, oh god don't get my started on friends) Vonnegut said simply, "One of the few good things about modern times: If you die horribly on television, you will not have died in vain. You will have entertained us."
Regardless, if you have never picked up a Vonnegut novel, the next time your few years of life watching an hour or half an hour? of American Idol, pick up one of his books instead. It will be like nothing else you've ever read before, and there's always American Idol 9 through probally 35 to throw your life away on season after redundant and pointless season.
"I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center." --Take Vonnegut's advice and stay from that center, get busy!
"I am eternally grateful.. for my knack of finding in great books, some of them very funny books, reason enough to feel honored to be alive, no matter what else might be going on."
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. 1922-2007 who died from complications of tripping, so it goes, and from all of us who have felt honored to be alive when reading your books, a big warm hug.
Never to be forgotten
--Drew | Only registered users can write comments.
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Ravings, rantings, and gibberish. (36)
writen by: Drew
What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew |
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
| | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
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|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
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