I was a young writer in NYC in the 80s, and had an editing job on East 48th St off Third Ave. One day I looked down from a high window and there across the street was Kurt Vonnegut having a smoke in front of his brownstone house. I opened the window and waved, and he happened to look up, and waved back with a big smile. Later I could see him across the street from window to window, his big curly head just visible, sitting at his desk---writing!
I remember that day all too well, I had seen both of yous waving at each other...I was out walking my dog on that fine summers day.. I was at the bench at the edge of the park when Bengie had decided to unload a steamy pile.. I had just lifted the pile into the bag which i was wearing as a glove when i seen both of yous waving. I waved too momentarily forgetting about the shit glove on my waving hand.. A pretty young thing thought I was waving at her, so i waved at her too...Later I would marry her.... And so it goes
Wait, that’s why she didn’t wave at me? I thought we’d hit it off that sunny day, and for a moment believed in love at first sight, and then she left with someone else and I drowned my sorrow at some Devil’s Kitchen bar next to some young musician. Anyway, long story short, that’s how I went on to become manage of CBGBs and later a close friend of Lorne Michaels.
Even at 82 years of age he was still the same intelligent, soft-spoken, down to Earth guy he always was. He was a national treasure if ever there was one.
It's somewhat strange wading through 31 years of life and finally finding your hero. It really took reading Sirens of Titan and Breakfast of Champions back-to-back to realize he's a large part of the little voice in my head. Thanks, Kurt.
I can relate. In the early 80's a friend of mine tried to turn me on to Kurt Vonnegut. I can't remember which book it was and I never finished it anyway. Now he is my favorite author. I think he is a throw back to common sense. Common sense has been replaced with political correctness.
Vonnegut was a great man. The most important thing from this video, in my opinon, is the quote at the end: that anybody who does great work wonders how they did it. There is a humility about those who do great things, because they don't seek fame or fortune
I can't get enough of him. Truly the master. I want to say something meaningful about the man and his passing and I want to use one of his many fantastic quotes or passages to show my gratitude and demonstrate my fanaticism, but in a world without Vonnegut, all that comes to mind is "Po-tee-weet"
I discovered Kurt Vonnegut long time ago, while I was a student, and somebody gave me a few books in English (English is not my first language) to read over the holiday. One of them was Breakfast of Champions. I read it while traveling home by train. I was amazed by the freshness and the wit I found in his writing . In time I read most of his novels. My favourite is Slaughterhouse five, but all are masterpieces.
He really did give a shit about the kids, literally one of the greatest modern writers, not because the stories are long and epic, but because he took us all on 200 - 300 page adventures which we never would forget. And we'd keep having to come back. And so it does go Mr Vonnegut, So it does go. And we will never forget you. c:
"The most important thing I learned on Tralfamadore was that when a person dies he only appears to die. He is still very much alive in the past, so it is very silly for people to cry at his funeral. All moments, past, present and future, always have existed, always will exist. "
I miss this guy. Very wise and inspirational man. I'm a horror author but Vonnegut is in my top 3 favorite authors: Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, and Kurt Vonnegut.
Ever since the snookas of Vonneguts work has enlightened me, I remain part of his karass, his work has been a kan kan and an ever reoccuring wampeter to all. Its sad that he has reached his Zah-mah-ki-bo but the snookas of Vonnegut lives on through his great works
Somebody once asked me to name my 10 favorite books, and I just had to smash all of Vonnegut's work into one entry, because it would have felt like cheating to list them out. My own work is obviously nothing like his (whose is?) but his work is very special to me.
@oNTOGC He was a humanist, he was the humanist poster-child. I adored that guy for that. In this country, at that point and time? Hell, even now, it's a stigma to publically say you're a humanist in any respect of the word, simply because it offends so many people. If anything, when I learnt his views, I felt a great deal more respect for the man.
It's a stigma to be a "humanist"? Maybe where you live, but in America, it seems to be the trendy thing at the moment. Publicly telling anyone humanity isn't the center of the universe nor are they entitled to be is something that is not tolerated on this side of the earth, in this day and age.
***** Hi James. Appreciate the response. However, I'd have to disagree with you on most all of the points you've made. I'm going to tell you point blank that if you truly think that "federal" organizations such as the Federal Reserve, "World Bank", "UN", and the International Monetary Fund (haven't done too much research into that last one) were created for the sake of humanity and/or environmental/animal/plant-life's benefit, you are gravely mistaken and have been grotesquely misled. I don't blame you for this. We are all more or less psychologically messed up do to our having being raised and conditioned in the way that we were since children (and still are on a daily basis by the way, judging from the fact that we're both on youtube). However, to deliberately turn one's face away from truth in favor of intentional delusion is something that is inexcusable of any human being, in my opinion. Communism, with its founders consisting of Karl Marx, along with the filthy scoundrels Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin to enslave the first communist nation, the Soviet Union, all promised, (just like the Communist Party did in China) the lower class be brought up to the higher class, and everyone lives in happy dippy rainbow land. What REALLY happened, though? Something lightly touched upon in our public "education" system's "history" books. The higher classes were brought DOWN, and the lowest classes stayed just where they were - with the addition of a freshly implemented totalitarian tyrannical government stepping them. Furthermore, anyone who had any opposition, in Soviet Russia or Communist China was brutally murdered. And when I say brutally, I mean BRUTALLY. Have a look at some of the protocols of the Jewish Bolsheviks in Soviet Russia, which includes specific details of killing the first-born son of a family if they do not submit immediately, among other depraved acts. You really need to wake up from this trendy communist-liberal nonsense you've been so effectively sold on, buying into that nonsense does far more than damage to yourself and your own life - you are effectively being used as a useful idiot by our masters. Those that own all the mass-media stations. All the mass media newspapers, news-websites. Those that own Google. Those that own CZcams. Those that own the Federal Reserve (not so Federal - Alan Greenspan himself admitted it was a private institution that acts independently of the U.S. Gov't and the President). Do you know how many MILLION innocent lives were brutalized and killed under these barbaric regimes? If you're curious - look it up yourself. How many died under Stalin and how many died under puppet-boy Mao. The numbers may shock you. Judging from your well-mannered response I am assuming that you are a generally well-meaning person - and I applaud that. You are probably White. However, it is vital you realize that one of the few things that are more dangerous than ignorance is a false sense of righteousness. In order for one to actually do good, he must look at a situation objectively. In doing so, one is able to logically and most accurately, in regards to the capabilities of the human mind, assess the situation in a way that will most likely result in a way that is intended. If the intention is good, then this will likely be the result. However, if one is under the spell of some false and largely fallacious ideology, the individual or group's good intention will be essentially ineffective and irrelevant, and their actions will manifest a negative result, regardless of their intention. Another thing that may come to surprise to you: the Democrats and Republicans are controlled by the same people. People are so blind that they are actually under the impression that these two monopolized political parties are the only ones, or the majority of the only ones in existence. Quite obviously, this is not the case. Ever heard of controlled opposition? The same group of so-called "people" control both sides of the argument. Those (unfortunately) currently in charge use this method of controlled opposition to yield several effects upon a given populous at once: 1. Illusion of choice 2. Increasing their chances of their seemingly impenetrable stranglehold on a host nation 3. A distraction from what's really going on behind the curtain (think of the Wizard of Oz as a funny analogy) 4. Weakening a populous by means of "Divide and Conquer" - dividing and pitting a nation of people against each other and themselves over minute or made-up differences in order to make said nation weak and easily conquerable. "A house that is divided cannot stand". Here's a place to start: Research the Federal Reserve and the Federal Reserve act of 1913. Then have a look at inflation. Research the history of Fiat currency and how it always inevitably collapses. I'll paste one easy quick-facts link right here for you: www.globalresearch.ca/25-fast-facts-about-the-federal-reserve-biggest-ponzi-scheme-in-world-history/5373609 Look forward to hearing back from you, James
So Kurt Vonnegut and Ronald Reagan once worked for the same outfit? If he was a PR executive and the Gipper was a traveling pitchman they HAD to have crossed paths.
My dad was a friend of Vonnegut's. Though I was only 8 when he died, I remember my dad being very torn up about it. There was a picture of Kurt and my dad on the fridge when he died. I didn't know what the big deal was, it was just some old man. Oh lord, if only I knew who that was at that time.
"I figured out how to keep humanity from hurling itself off the cliff. To start, we're all going to post our favorite Rant(s) on 11-11 at 11:11. ~ xoxo Hahn Furst” #FLICKiT #HappyBirthdayKurt #HappyBirthdayFyodor #HappyBirthdayLeo
I was a young writer in NYC in the 80s, and had an editing job on East 48th St off Third Ave. One day I looked down from a high window and there across the street was Kurt Vonnegut having a smoke in front of his brownstone house. I opened the window and waved, and he happened to look up, and waved back with a big smile. Later I could see him across the street from window to window, his big curly head just visible, sitting at his desk---writing!
very cool
I remember that day all too well, I had seen both of yous waving at each other...I was out walking my dog on that fine summers day..
I was at the bench at the edge of the park when Bengie had decided to unload a steamy pile.. I had just lifted the pile into the bag which i was wearing as a glove when i seen both of yous waving. I waved too momentarily forgetting about the shit glove on my waving hand.. A pretty young thing thought I was waving at her, so i waved at her too...Later I would marry her.... And so it goes
Wait, that’s why she didn’t wave at me? I thought we’d hit it off that sunny day, and for a moment believed in love at first sight, and then she left with someone else and I drowned my sorrow at some Devil’s Kitchen bar next to some young musician. Anyway, long story short, that’s how I went on to become manage of CBGBs and later a close friend of Lorne Michaels.
@@JudgeHoldem Dude, she was brother.
I think Vonnegut would like this comment and even the replies.
Even at 82 years of age he was still the same intelligent, soft-spoken, down to Earth guy he always was. He was a national treasure if ever there was one.
It's somewhat strange wading through 31 years of life and finally finding your hero. It really took reading Sirens of Titan and Breakfast of Champions back-to-back to realize he's a large part of the little voice in my head. Thanks, Kurt.
I can relate. In the early 80's a friend of mine tried to turn me on to Kurt Vonnegut. I can't remember which book it was and I never finished it anyway. Now he is my favorite author. I think he is a throw back to common sense. Common sense has been replaced with political correctness.
+kopytek36 You're gonna love it :)
Damn, same here. Also 31 and only read his stuff starting a few years ago.
His work has been so meaningful to me.
I’m just finding him and I can’t get enough. I want to fully immerse myself in his writings.
Kurt Vonnegut’s books sounds like he’s speaking to you
His country was all of mankind.
Well he's so disappointed he's disowned it was his meaning.
An honest man who will always be here...
Vonnegut was a great man. The most important thing from this video, in my opinon, is the quote at the end: that anybody who does great work wonders how they did it. There is a humility about those who do great things, because they don't seek fame or fortune
I can't get enough of him. Truly the master. I want to say something meaningful about the man and his passing and I want to use one of his many fantastic quotes or passages to show my gratitude and demonstrate my fanaticism, but in a world without Vonnegut, all that comes to mind is "Po-tee-weet"
I discovered Kurt Vonnegut long time ago, while I was a student, and somebody gave me a few books in English (English is not my first language) to read over the holiday. One of them was Breakfast of Champions. I read it while traveling home by train. I was amazed by the freshness and the wit I found in his writing . In time I read most of his novels. My favourite is Slaughterhouse five, but all are masterpieces.
He really did give a shit about the kids, literally one of the greatest modern writers, not because the stories are long and epic, but because he took us all on 200 - 300 page adventures which we never would forget. And we'd keep having to come back. And so it does go Mr Vonnegut, So it does go. And we will never forget you. c:
"How the hell did I do that? Anyone who does a great piece of work asks that" He does have a very good point if you think about it
Amen!
Humility !
One of the all-time greats. God bless you, Mr. Vonnegut.
Vonnegut is one of the greatest authors in 20th century. I can't even understand what was so wonderful in his books.
which have you read? I have only read his short stories, such as "Welcome to the Monkey House"
Last great American writer... Became an icon like Poe, Twain, Melville and Whitman in my opinion...
It was a sad day for all of history when Mr. Vonnegut died.
"The most important thing I learned on Tralfamadore was that when a person dies he only appears to die. He is still very much alive in the past, so it is very silly for people to cry at his funeral. All moments, past, present and future, always have existed, always will exist. "
So it goes...
Adhyayan Panwar And so on...
Lazaros David B
💜
I miss this guy. Very wise and inspirational man. I'm a horror author but Vonnegut is in my top 3 favorite authors: Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, and Kurt Vonnegut.
That's a good top-three you have.
So mad I’m already 20 years old and didn’t get to enjoy this mans writing during high school.
You're 25 now. You've still got at least 50 years to enjoy him. Use it well ; D
"A man without a man without a country" and he speaks of our public schools. This was a great man!!!
Wish you were here to celebrate your birthday Mr. Vonnegut.... 92 today.
God Bless you Kurt Vonnegut
Wonderful human being.
Amazing that eyes that lucid could be close to death. Amazing man
Ever since the snookas of Vonneguts work has enlightened me, I remain part of his karass, his work has been a kan kan and an ever reoccuring wampeter to all. Its sad that he has reached his Zah-mah-ki-bo but the snookas of Vonnegut lives on through his great works
The 14 dislikes to this film come from Bush and his family :)
Killing millions for profit is not smart. Maybe its brilliant to you and There are many more of you ready to kill ... for money and resources.
His laugh was like Barney Rubble. Loved him.
Somebody once asked me to name my 10 favorite books, and I just had to smash all of Vonnegut's work into one entry, because it would have felt like cheating to list them out. My own work is obviously nothing like his (whose is?) but his work is very special to me.
And so it goes
RIP Kurt Vonnegut
So it goes.
@oNTOGC He was a humanist, he was the humanist poster-child. I adored that guy for that. In this country, at that point and time? Hell, even now, it's a stigma to publically say you're a humanist in any respect of the word, simply because it offends so many people. If anything, when I learnt his views, I felt a great deal more respect for the man.
It's a stigma to be a "humanist"? Maybe where you live, but in America, it seems to be the trendy thing at the moment. Publicly telling anyone humanity isn't the center of the universe nor are they entitled to be is something that is not tolerated on this side of the earth, in this day and age.
***** Hi James. Appreciate the response. However, I'd have to disagree with you on most all of the points you've made. I'm going to tell you point blank that if you truly think that "federal" organizations such as the Federal Reserve, "World Bank", "UN", and the International Monetary Fund (haven't done too much research into that last one) were created for the sake of humanity and/or environmental/animal/plant-life's benefit, you are gravely mistaken and have been grotesquely misled. I don't blame you for this. We are all more or less psychologically messed up do to our having being raised and conditioned in the way that we were since children (and still are on a daily basis by the way, judging from the fact that we're both on youtube). However, to deliberately turn one's face away from truth in favor of intentional delusion is something that is inexcusable of any human being, in my opinion.
Communism, with its founders consisting of Karl Marx, along with the filthy scoundrels Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin to enslave the first communist nation, the Soviet Union, all promised, (just like the Communist Party did in China) the lower class be brought up to the higher class, and everyone lives in happy dippy rainbow land. What REALLY happened, though? Something lightly touched upon in our public "education" system's "history" books. The higher classes were brought DOWN, and the lowest classes stayed just where they were - with the addition of a freshly implemented totalitarian tyrannical government stepping them. Furthermore, anyone who had any opposition, in Soviet Russia or Communist China was brutally murdered. And when I say brutally, I mean BRUTALLY. Have a look at some of the protocols of the Jewish Bolsheviks in Soviet Russia, which includes specific details of killing the first-born son of a family if they do not submit immediately, among other depraved acts. You really need to wake up from this trendy communist-liberal nonsense you've been so effectively sold on, buying into that nonsense does far more than damage to yourself and your own life - you are effectively being used as a useful idiot by our masters. Those that own all the mass-media stations. All the mass media newspapers, news-websites. Those that own Google. Those that own CZcams. Those that own the Federal Reserve (not so Federal - Alan Greenspan himself admitted it was a private institution that acts independently of the U.S. Gov't and the President).
Do you know how many MILLION innocent lives were brutalized and killed under these barbaric regimes? If you're curious - look it up yourself. How many died under Stalin and how many died under puppet-boy Mao. The numbers may shock you.
Judging from your well-mannered response I am assuming that you are a generally well-meaning person - and I applaud that. You are probably White. However, it is vital you realize that one of the few things that are more dangerous than ignorance is a false sense of righteousness. In order for one to actually do good, he must look at a situation objectively. In doing so, one is able to logically and most accurately, in regards to the capabilities of the human mind, assess the situation in a way that will most likely result in a way that is intended. If the intention is good, then this will likely be the result. However, if one is under the spell of some false and largely fallacious ideology, the individual or group's good intention will be essentially ineffective and irrelevant, and their actions will manifest a negative result, regardless of their intention.
Another thing that may come to surprise to you: the Democrats and Republicans are controlled by the same people. People are so blind that they are actually under the impression that these two monopolized political parties are the only ones, or the majority of the only ones in existence. Quite obviously, this is not the case. Ever heard of controlled opposition? The same group of so-called "people" control both sides of the argument. Those (unfortunately) currently in charge use this method of controlled opposition to yield several effects upon a given populous at once:
1. Illusion of choice
2. Increasing their chances of their seemingly impenetrable stranglehold on a host nation
3. A distraction from what's really going on behind the curtain (think of the Wizard of Oz as a funny analogy)
4. Weakening a populous by means of "Divide and Conquer" - dividing and pitting a nation of people against each other and themselves over minute or made-up differences in order to make said nation weak and easily conquerable. "A house that is divided cannot stand".
Here's a place to start: Research the Federal Reserve and the Federal Reserve act of 1913. Then have a look at inflation. Research the history of Fiat currency and how it always inevitably collapses. I'll paste one easy quick-facts link right here for you:
www.globalresearch.ca/25-fast-facts-about-the-federal-reserve-biggest-ponzi-scheme-in-world-history/5373609
Look forward to hearing back from you, James
A true original!
Vonnegut Essay in March/April 2018 issue of Writer's Digest
Well Done Bravo!
There's something pitiful about this repetition of, "and so it goes" for almost 50 years now, in reference to Vonnegut.
How so?
Published in 1969, not '59.
Its 2022 and Vonnugut was so right abt G Bush and the state of our country then. What would he be thinking now 🤔
He'd be disgusted. Depopulation and mind control in full AI swing...
I corrected the title.
R.I.P
And so it goes.
So Kurt Vonnegut and Ronald Reagan once worked for the same outfit? If he was a PR executive and the Gipper was a traveling pitchman they HAD to have crossed paths.
My dad was a friend of Vonnegut's. Though I was only 8 when he died, I remember my dad being very torn up about it. There was a picture of Kurt and my dad on the fridge when he died. I didn't know what the big deal was, it was just some old man. Oh lord, if only I knew who that was at that time.
Wow, that’s cool!!! Great man and author!
"I figured out how to keep humanity from hurling itself off the cliff. To start, we're all going to post our favorite Rant(s) on 11-11 at 11:11.
~ xoxo Hahn Furst”
#FLICKiT
#HappyBirthdayKurt
#HappyBirthdayFyodor
#HappyBirthdayLeo
He died in 2007.
A man without a Savior.
Bds still going strong.
Wait, they turned Slaughterhouse Five into a movie??
Yes, and it got great reviews, even from Vonnegut himself
Busy, busy, busy
fantastic writer, but i kinda wish i hadnt heard his idealistic views, kinda lost some respect for him
Timequake was shit.