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Author Topic: P.J. O'Rourke has Cancer  (Read 842 times)

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Offline Servonaut

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P.J. O'Rourke has Cancer
« on: September 30, 2008, 08:19:18 AM »
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-orourke28-2008sep28,0,3317114.story

Looks like it's treatable. Get well soon P.J.

Quote
Give me liberty and give me death
As one's mortality swings into view, be thankful for life -- and whiskey.
By P.J. O'Rourke

September 28, 2008

I looked death in the face. All right, I didn't. I glimpsed him in a crowd. I've been diagnosed with cancer, of a very treatable kind. I'm told I have a 95% chance of survival. Come to think of it -- as a drinking, smoking, saturated-fat hound -- my chance of survival has been improved by cancer.

I still cursed God, as we all do when we get bad news and pain. Not even the most faith-impaired among us shouts: "Damn quantum mechanics!" "Damn organic chemistry!" "Damn chaos and coincidence!"

I believe in God. God created the world. Obviously pain had to be included in God's plan. Otherwise we'd never learn that our actions have consequences. Our cave-person ancestors, finding fire warm, would conclude that curling up to sleep in the middle of the flames would be even warmer. Cave bears would dine on roast ancestor, and we'd never get any bad news and pain because we wouldn't be here.

But God, Sir, in Your manner of teaching us about life's consequential nature, isn't death a bit ... um ... extreme, pedagogically speaking? I know the lesson that we're studying is difficult. But dying is more homework than I was counting on. Also, it kind of messes up my vacation planning. Can we talk after class? Maybe if I did something for extra credit?

Read the rest it's pretty funny.
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Offline Wretched Excess

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Re: P.J. O'Rourke has Cancer
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2008, 08:27:20 AM »
my heart sank when I read the thread title, but it sounds generally encouraging.  prayers out for PJ.
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Offline Baruch Menachem

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Re: P.J. O'Rourke has Cancer
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2008, 09:17:58 AM »
I like his attitude.

He worked for it, so he is going to enjoy it.

I remember Malcom Forbes wrote a funny book about the topic when he got similar news.
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Offline Texacon

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Re: P.J. O'Rourke has Cancer
« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2008, 09:40:15 AM »
That was great!  Hope I can be as enlightened if I get ass cancer.  =8^)

KC
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  Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day.  Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

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Offline asdf2231

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Re: P.J. O'Rourke has Cancer
« Reply #4 on: September 30, 2008, 09:46:38 AM »
I still love the guy!

One of my favorite quotes of his:

"We will never get rid of war because it's just too much fun driving tanks through buildings and shooting foreigners."
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Build a man a fire and he will be warm for awhile.
Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life...

Offline EastFacingNorth

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Re: P.J. O'Rourke has Cancer
« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2008, 02:37:30 PM »
"How to Drive Fast on Drugs While Getting Your Wing-Wang Squeezed and Not Spill Your Drink" was the first thing I've ever read by O'Rourke, and still probably my favorite, although he is one of the better writers whose work I've had the pleasure to read.  Here's hoping to a full recovery.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: P.J. O'Rourke has Cancer
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2008, 02:39:02 PM »
Prayers for PJ -- even when confronted with the horror of cancer, he keeps his sense of humor: Man's greatest weapon against adversity.

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If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.

Offline Peter3_1

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Re: P.J. O'Rourke has Cancer
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2008, 03:11:51 PM »
P J's writing is as fully as can be. Tounge firmley in his cheek. Hope he beats this one.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: P.J. O'Rourke has Cancer
« Reply #8 on: September 30, 2008, 03:24:23 PM »
Does anyone have an email address for him?  I checked the LAT (I am a subscriber) and couldn't find one.
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If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.

Offline Airwolf

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Re: P.J. O'Rourke has Cancer
« Reply #9 on: September 30, 2008, 04:17:02 PM »
Hes funny. I hope he recovers.
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Offline Woody

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Re: P.J. O'Rourke has Cancer
« Reply #10 on: October 01, 2008, 12:20:23 AM »
I think we should all have a cigar and scotch in honor of PJ O'Rourke.

But then again, I may have a cigar and scotch in honor of it being October...
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-Eric Hoffer, "The True Believer", 1951
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