KV was our modern Mark Twain. He and his neighbor, Joe Heller, wrote two of the best anti-war in the last half of the twentieth century. He was a lovable curmudgeon who faced up to a lot of tragedy in his life and transformed it into art. I will miss his voice and his art.

As long as we're quoting the departed (from A Man Without A Country):

"George W. Bush has gathered around him upper crust C-students who know no history or geography, plus not-so-closeted white supremacists, aka Christians, plus, most frighteningly, psychopathic personalities, or PP's, the medical term for smart, persoanbale people who have no consciences."

For some reason the most vocal Christians among us never mention the Beatitudes. But they demand...the Ten Commnadments be posted in public buildings. I haven't heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, be posted anywhere. "Blessed are the merciful" in a courtroom? "Blessed are the peacemakers" in the Pentagon? Give me a break."

Sleep well Kurt.