AltWeeklies Wire
Ai, Poet Extraordinaire, Diesnew
The poet Ai, whose work was astoundingly varied and consistently forceful, passed away last week from pneumonia. She was 62. Ai was born Florence Johnson but changed her name to the Japanese word for love.
Weekly Alibi |
Erin Adair-Hodges |
03-30-2010 |
Books
In Memorium of the Anti-War Warrior: Howard Zinn, 1922-2010new

Howard Zinn was like a daddy to Boston University students of the Vietnam War era. The author of A People's History of the United States has been revered by generations of students, reviled by more conventional academics, and, mostly, re-read.
Boston Phoenix |
Raymond Mungo |
02-04-2010 |
Politics
People Who Died: Our Homage to Late, Little-Known Greatsnew

What we're doing here, as we do in this space each year, is take a moment to remember a few of the less celebrated citizens of the world who helped shape it in a way disproportionate to the size of their renown. They each deserve a public RIP in some way, and here it is.
Baltimore City Paper |
Baltimore City Paper Staff |
01-05-2010 |
Commentary
Michael Jackson: A Eulogynew

Why and how Jackson became the most famous person the century ever knew is a matter for the anthropologists. For us, here and now, Jackson was elemental and impossible to ever fully understand; fearsome and heartbreakingly beautiful; at once mortal and deathless.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
David Hansen |
07-01-2009 |
Music
Jazz Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard Diesnew

Hubbard, who died on December 29 at age 70 after suffering a heart attack in late November, remained almost peerless for 50 or so years with his chosen instrument.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
David Cotner |
01-09-2009 |
Music
Paul Newman, 1925-2008new
Paul Newman, who died last weekend at the age of 83, was that rarest of creatures, a movie star who turned himself into a great actor.
Boston Phoenix |
Steve Vineberg |
10-02-2008 |
Movies
Boston Media Legend Alan Lupo, 1938-2008new
Al Lupo, for decades Boston's gravelly voice of the people in both the daily and alternative press, died, after fighting cancer, on Monday, September 29.
Boston Phoenix |
Clif Garboden |
10-01-2008 |
Media
Infinite Loss: David Foster Wallace and the Troublesome, Inescapable 'I'new
"Was he a good writer?" asked the young sales clerk at Borders.
L.A. Weekly |
Gendy Alimurung |
09-19-2008 |
Books
Tags: David Foster Wallace, obituaries
Overhead Bagage: David Foster Wallace, 1962-2008new

DFW possessed a brain that was crowded with doubt -- about his own ability, sure, and in the larger sense, the ability of any of us to adequately express anything.
Boston Phoenix |
Nina MacLaughlin |
09-18-2008 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Tags: David Foster Wallace, obituaries
The God Who Capped Himself: Thomas M. Disch, 1940-2008new
In a literary culture that supposedly cherishes irony, the passing of such a master ironist has been remarkably little noted. That Disch likely took his life on July 4th (his body was discovered July 5) probably wasn't meant as tribute to our subtle wits either.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Ron Garmon |
08-01-2008 |
Books