21 Comments

You will never run out of things to talk about or respond to...etc, with various hanging prepositions. They are all engaging, given your style. You are right: What we know is not nearly enough, but it made no sense removing the mad, angry and armed mentally ill removed from hosptial where they could have gotten aid. No, the wordy, "Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) kicked in and another police officer, trying to help someone's home, was shot dead .His family is now without him. More and more armed wackoes await. HOW CAN WE GET THE GUNS BACK? WE CAN'T! NOR CAN WE GET THAT POLICE OFFICER BACK.

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This was hilarious. I especially like your note about experience. I heard a similar thing about wisdom: that it comes from a series of non-fatal errors. I'm glad you're still out there and I'm glad you write this.

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I wish U would plan a visit to “my little corner of the world”…but I don’t see it scheduled on your 2024/2025 line up. I live in Birmingham, Al. And I don’t see your venue coming anywhere near me - in the Heart of Dixie. I would actually travel a bit just to be with you for one evening. Barbara

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You are a priceless treasure. The gypsy story rings true to me. Wherever you came from, thank you for being here!

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I know what you mean about the gypsy story. I was always very different from the rest of my relatives, but they were loving and accepting so I turned out OK. I’m still somewhat

odd, but I don’t care.

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If Garrison said it, I believe it. We're so glad your plane did not crash. rr

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No. We have enough cults already!

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I wanna hear about the afterlife, without the blizzards. As usual, you are wonderful.

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Okay, Boomer (times two)…

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The Baby Boom began after World War II. GK was born in '42.

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Thanks GK,

Might David Powell be related to John Wesley Powell, for whom Lake Powell is named?

RTK

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I doubt it. We'd like him to be but we've found no evidence.

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As a pre-octogenarian Boomer, I say than you for being what you have always been. The aliens did not love you enough to keep you, so they gave you up. We humans are glad.

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Airplane Mode Scofflaw Saves Eternal Soul of Former Porn Addict

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I experienced a oxygen bag drop don some years ago. Cabin decompressed and filled with fog. The screaming was, to say the least, unnerving. My neighbor's O2 bag inflated and deflated. Mine did nothing. At that time there were no messages that "even though oxygen is flowing ...." Emergency landing and a different plane on which to continue. Nevertheless, flying commercial was better then than now.

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I have noticed a trend whereby you have increased the tempo and frivolity in your posts....I like it. I do enjoy you slower, measured, sometime subtle stories, but the upbeat, in yer face stuff is hilarious, and a welcome change.

Actually, it doesn't matter how you put it out there, just that you keep putting it out there! Thank You

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Thank you for making me laugh out loud. I loved your books, then cassette tapes, your radio show and now these stories. You may repeat stories, but being 80 I most likely won’t remember from the first time!

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I was a Swedish Baptist PK in Saint Paul in the 50s. I survived in spite of five church services a week and too many potluck dinners. One of my few remaining neurons contains memories of Being in a large classroom at Bethel College, where dad taught homilietics and seeing a fired up Hubert Humphrey campaigning for the Senate. His high, shrill voice continues to haunt me, although I will take it over most of what I hear these days.

I am sure you have spent time with politicians over the years and would be interested in hearing any remembrances of those encounters? Either that or more of your recollections about church potlucks? I remember being mesmerized by the levitating canned pears/bananas/ipeaches in the green Jell-O, and being continually surprised at finding small marshmallows on top of every vegetable. This did not seem to happen at home.

Keep up the good work! Truth and beauty are in rare supply… good to hear that octogenarian stand-up is still in demand!

Steve Curtis

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Most of the politicians I've known managed to lose and so didn't get Humphrey's share of attention. Back when I lived in St. Paul and had a big hourse, I put on fundraisers for candidates and I always loved when the crowd gathered in the back garden and the candidate stepped to the microphone and spoke to us. It's a moment of truth and some came through loud and clear and I respected them whether I agreed with them enttirely or not.

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Yes, good politicians can deliver a moment or two of truth. I did market research and consulted with a few. The research was clear – people are drawn to high ideals, and I recommended a bit of ‘soaring rhetoric’.

Some had that capacity - and benefited from raising us all up. That is -You can’t just offer half a chicken you have to promise the whole thing!

Turns out human beings have a frontopolar cortex that lights up when we hear about some ideal benefit in the world. When it lights up, we are allowed to break our strong bias for repetition (‘It hasn’t killed me yet!’) and do new risky things in pursuit of that ideal.

I blame the frontopolar cortex for much of what’s happening in the world today. Idealism run-amuck.

Thanks for painting the Lake Wobegon picture. Many of us appreciate your soaring rhetoric about every day life.

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Wayne and I thank you for the laughs tonight. We needed them! Hoping very much to see your show and finally thank you in person (although I know you probably dislike such things) next time you’re in NY or Connecticut!

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