From Mad Magazine

[Surya Gayatri]

2. +1! To this day, I recall the first Mad mag I ever

laid eyes on when I was 9 or 10. It was in the back seat of the family car of a little friend of mine, who was the daughter of a university professor in my home town.

Leafing through that issue was a lightening bolt experience that blew open my narrow red-state, RW-family reality.

For the first time, I began to suspect that there might be more out there than I'd been indoctrinated to expect.

Fell in love with Alfred E. Newman on the spot. Was blown away by "Spy vs. Spy". Laughed myself silly over the "movie" parody.

Mad had more than a little to do with honing my sense of humor and my liberal sensibilities.