Sam Harris

I haven't checked all the other posts so I suspect someone has already noted the death of Kurt Vonnegut.  Humanists, atheists, agnostics, skeptics, deists of all stripes should observe the passing of this wonderful writer from our team.  Probably the best since Twain (obviously not a totally provable statement.)

Something he said a few years back (He did NOT give the speech about more sun screen):

A last request from the late Kurt Vonnegut:

I am, incidentally, Honorary President of the American Humanist Association, having succeeded the late, great science fiction writer Isaac Asimov in that totally functionless capacity. We had a memorial service for Isaac a few years back, and I spoke and said at one point, "Isaac is up in heaven now." It was the funniest thing I could have said to an audience of humanists. I rolled them in the aisles. It was several minutes before order could be restored. And if I should ever die, God forbid, I hope you will say, "Kurt is up in heaven now." That's my favorite joke.

Let me be one to say "Kurt is up in heaven now." 

Actually we know better.  Kurt is up on Trafalmador (?) with Montana Wildhack

Well said, H Finn, thank you for the post.

Thanks, Pete. I actually meant to post this on “other reading” but my technological skills failed me again.

Perhaps my favorite Vonnegut quote is

True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.

Parable, great quote.

Unfortunately, I’m 61 years old and lived to see that terror.

I think Vonnegut was being ironic. He knew this was inevitable.

[quote author=“Parable”]Perhaps my favorite Vonnegut quote is

True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.

In highschool, I recall an election for student-body president.  One candidate was the football hero, a bully who looked and sounded like a Mafiosa foot soldier - (jabbing a finger at the audience) “So I want yous guys to get out there ‘n vote for me.”  The other candidate was a short, sturdy girl who was (later) class valedictorian.  I made campaign posters for the girl.  The football hero punched me on the shoulder, so I couldn’t use my right arm for several days.  He won the election.

Unfortunately, I’m 61 years old and lived to see that terror

Actually, I consider myself fortunate to have reached 61, considering how badly I treated myself.  I know what you mean though.

In February of 2006, CBC Radio conducted an interview with an 83 yr. old Kurt Vonnegut. It’s one of the most brilliant pieces of conversation I’ve ever listened to.  You can catch this 10 minute piece at

http//www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2007/200703/20070320.html

This was a recorded replay of the original - you need to scroll down to the bottom of the page in order to find the audio prompt.

Bob