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Tragic News

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 9:06 PM
George was one of my favorite comedians. I was bummed to find out he died too but kind of expected it given that he was in his 70s and had a history of heart problems.
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Posted by WP 3020 on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 9:43 PM
If one has nothing positive to give to the world then, perhaps in ones mind, one should die sooner rather than later. George had a way of bringing things (some so subtle we didn't notice it) to light and getting people to think about them, and that is  positive thing. I and others, with more educated guesses, think had he lived longer would have continued giving positively because he was always thinking. To me, he was a crusader and warrior for the freedom of common sense, individual thought and speech. Horrible? Tragic? Tomaytoe. Tamawtoe. I'm glad I took the time to listenHeadphones [{(-_-)}], ponderQuestion [?]Confused [%-)] and laughSmile,Wink, & Grin [swg] . He is and will be missed.
Railroads are "a device of Satan to lead immortal souls to hell." - an Ohio school board, 1831 - quoted in CTC Board 8/05 "If you ever wonder how you have freedom... Think, a veteran!!!" - My thought 1/08 Hey man, I don't have to try to remember the 60's... I lived too close to Eugene, Oregon.
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Posted by mecovey on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 10:41 AM
I laughed at George too - lines like "If a pig loses his voice is he disgruntled?" are, to quote Larry the cable guy, funny I don't care who you are. I wonder however if given his present circumstances, he still considers his anti God material funny. RIP? I don't know but I doubt it.
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Posted by Angus99 on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 12:14 PM

Regarding the commentary about whether 71 was/was not a reasonable lifespan, I am reminded of something Woody Allen once said (paraphrasing): "I don't want to live forever through my art, I want to live forever by not dying."

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Posted by lvanhen on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 12:28 PM
 R. T. POTEET wrote:

 

Pardon me, but George Carlin was seventy-one years old! can someone please explain to me what is so horrible about dying at the age of seventy-one years especially when you have had a twenty year history of heart ailments?

Not only heart ailments - he was not exactly a "drug free zone"!!Mischief [:-,]

Lou V H Photo by John
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Posted by ndbprr on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 3:58 PM
And what this all has to do with trains is????
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Posted by Rotorranch on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 4:41 PM

 ndbprr wrote:
And what this all has to do with trains is????

I believe, other than general discussion, the tie in to trains/model trains is that George played Mr. Conductor on the kids show "Shining Time Station"/ Thomas the Tank.

Rotor

 Jake: How often does the train go by? Elwood: So often you won't even notice ...

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Posted by loathar on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 5:41 PM

 ndbprr wrote:
And what this all has to do with trains is????

He was Mr. Conductor! (Don't you watch Thomas??Tongue [:P])

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Posted by trainfan1221 on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 6:16 PM
Besides there is nothing wrong with paying a tribute to someone who a lot of us obviously admired.  This is a place for trains of course but we all have communicated with each other enough to diverge about something of interest occasionally.
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Posted by zeis96 on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 9:01 PM
For anyone interested and I know it's a little late, but XM radio channel 150 is playing a tribute all day.

hi

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Posted by Tracklayer on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 10:09 PM

I wouldn't go so far as to say horrible, but indeed very sad...

I'd seen Carlin on TV as a kid and really never paid much attention to who he was. I always considered him to be that funny hippy guy until the late 70s when my brother-in-law told me who he was while watching an HBO special. After that I was hooked.

I know we all eventually have to go and I realize he had heart problems but I wish he could have been with us just a little longer...

Rest in peace George, and thanks a trillion for all of the laughs. There won't ever be another like you.

Tracklayer 

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Posted by Dallas Model Works on Thursday, June 26, 2008 12:06 AM

I grew up with GC but I fail to see what this has to do w/model railroading (not that I'm complaining).

Guess the mods who are so quick to jump on the seven dirty words are George fans after all!

 

Craig

DMW

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Posted by WSOR 3801 on Friday, June 27, 2008 3:05 PM
I guess watching him say (as The Conductor) "Mr. Topham Hatt was very cross" was the funniest part of the show, not using the 7 words.

Mike WSOR engineer | HO scale since 1988 | Visit our club www.WCGandyDancers.com

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Posted by Phoebe Vet on Friday, June 27, 2008 4:01 PM

To quote another famous entertainer:

A couple of people in here have a heart two sizes too small.

I didn't realize that 71 years should be enough for anybody with health problems.

I also noticed that the complaint about his shortcomings was worth mentioning, but the fact that turned his life around and was no longer a drug and alcohol abuser was not.

And last, but not least, it amazes me that some people think calling someone left leaning or a liberal is an insult.

George:

Thomas and I will both miss you.

Dave

Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow

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Posted by NorCalBob on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 5:40 PM
 twhite wrote:

I was sorry to hear of this--I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Carlin several times in the 1970's through a mutual friend of ours, the jazz drummer Joe Belardino.  Carlin was a very, VERY funny man and a really nice guy.  You're right, he'll be missed.

Tom

 

 

Tom, Joe Belardino is my late uncle and George was a friend of the family for many years. It's nice to see that people still remember Joe.

Rest in Peace George & Joe!

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