The New York Times: George Carlin Dies at 71

“I don’t have pet peeves. I have major, psychotic hatreds.”

Throughout most of my teenage years, George Carlin was my favorite comedian. When I was 13, I went to see him perform live in Springfield, Mass. Afterward, I bought several of his albums and began memorizing them. His style of observation, his verbal patterns, and his unique brand of wordplay were a major influence on my own sense of humor.

Little known trivia fact: George and I shared a birthday, May 12.

I had always hoped I might get to meet him someday. Alas, I guess not.

Nothing much will seem funny today, methinks.

Good-bye, George.