George Carlin died last night of heart failure. It seems only natural to honor his passing by using one of the Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television.

(‘Cause the is the internet, where you can say ANYTHING YOU WANT. And most people do…which I think pleased Carlin.)

I grew up with George Carlin’s comedy and saw him and coked-out Robin Williams as the stand-up standards, and I admired both of them for staying in comedy when they sobered up.

I think Carlin’s insights on religion and politics may have directly influenced my own. Anyone can tell a successful dick-and-fart joke. It’s up to the real comedians to poke fun at our hang-ups and speak truth to power. George Carlin was the original Lewis Black, one of the first to call bullshit on the major powers in the geopolitical mess we’ve created, and his direct and creative challenge to our standard operating procedure will be sorely missed.