I decided to take a suggestion that someone made (Stephanie?) about maybe using Sunday to revisit some of my older posts. Here's one that was originally posted back about a year and a half ago:

Unlike many people, I am not inspired by important people in history, whether they were statesmen, warriors, politicians, inventors, authors, artists, scientists, or mimes. I understand the impact that many of these people had on our lives, but I can't bring myself to care. All I can think is that if I had been there, I would have done it better.

I am solely inspired by comedians. That's it.

* Bill Cosby taught me how to tell a story.
* Steven Wright showed me the right way to do a one liner.
* Chevy Chase made stupid and clumsy into a type of ballet.
* John Candy balanced the line between hilarious and frightening.
* Steve Martin interspersed bittersweet drama with laughs.
* Sarah Silverman demonstrated that you don't have to have balls to have balls.
* Dana Carvey created laughs out of life's mundanities.
* Gallagher used slapstick for insightful political commentary.
* Mel Brooks broke the fourth wall at all the right times.
* My mother educated me on using gallows humor to deal with life.
* The Zucker Brothers and Jim Abrams defined filmic parody as an art form.
* William M. Gaines said it was okay to be immature as an adult.
* Jerry Seinfeld exemplifies the idea that money doesn't make you funny.
* Denis Leary gave me ways to make anger funny.
* Weird Al Yankovic weaves lyrical tapestries effortlessly.
* Conan and Andy identified the humor in absurdity.
* Andrew Dice Clay took profanity so far it became funnier than ever.
* Trey Parker and Matt Stone understand that smarts and morbid humor aren't mutually exclusive.
* Ben Edlund threw archetypes into the wind and created genius.

This is just a small list of those who inspire me or have inspired me. Whenever I approach a situation, I think about how one of those guys would have done it, and what would have garnered the most laughs. And I adjust my approach accordingly.

Who inspires you?