dicta \ 'dik-te \ n. [L. fr. neut. of dictus, ptp. of dicere] (1599) 1: a noteworthy statement: as a: a formal pronouncement of a principle, proposition, or opinion b: an observation intended or regarded as authoritative 2: a judicial opinion on a point other than the precise issue involved in determining a case 3: a legendary coach of the Chicago Bears football team from 1982-1992. 
George Carlin died yesterday, vacating the throne of Best Comedian he inherited from Lenny Bruce. By popular election and divine decree, Lewis Black is now king (I do not have the time to make this shit up).
Carlin's act entitled "Seven Dirty Words You can Never Say on Televison," portions of which appeared on two different albums (Class Clown and Occupation: Foole), was the basis for FCC v. Pacifica Foundation, in which the Court determined that the FCC has the power to regulate content on the airwaves and set decency standards. The Court included a complete transcript of the routine as part of the record. Which just goes toward failing to disprove what Justice O.W. Holmes, Jr. said (and is often referenced in regard to this case) "You cannot define obsenity without being obscene."
Carlin had the power to push everyone's buttons at once. What follows is perhaps my favorite Carlin quotation, a response to the Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, and Carlin's opening line at Carnegie Hall:
"Have you ever noticed that the women who support abortion rights are the ones you wouldn't wanna fuck anyway?"
Well, Carlin was (as he often said) issued a ticket to watch the freak show we call life. He punched his ticket yesterday. Along with the loss of Tim Russert, we are in bad shape for the upcoming election.
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