My parents used to listen to this when I was little, usually while making dinner. I loved Garrison Keillor's voice, but I was too young to follow the stories or jokes. I just remember my parents crying with laughter and wondering what was so funny! Thankfully its still going so I can listen to it now. I love that show.

Garrison Keillor, he's so fabulous (and what makes APHC so special). The clarity of his gaze, the sharpness and grace of his words and wit, his warm and fierce heart. May he be taking extra good care of himself, so we have him around for a very long time.

Matt Taibbi is another one I hope is taking very good care of himself (a modern day Mark Twain), his observations of life and society are invaluable, enlightening, and so well written. And he covered the 2004 election in a gorilla suit, 'nuff said.

The characters and their choices. And the fishing dogs.

I think that Keillor captures a lot of lovable human foibles and expresses them with vivid imagery, even though his medium is radio. His stories are emotionally full even though his humor is dry, and therefore his style encapsulates irony.

Does that sound overly analytical? Probably. :-)

I remember hearing that during his two-year hiatus, he was trying to adapt to a different culture and he discovered that he really belongs squarely within his own Minnesotan heritage. He had, after all, lived in one region for almost his entire life.