Tuesday, March 16, 2010

ABE


Robot pal that explored the ocean floor -- via the New York Times

Charles Moore

The man who took this photograph and many more documenting the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s -- via the New York Times

Monday, March 15, 2010

Carol Clerk

UK music writer Carol Clerk wrote a great tome about The Pogues, among other works -- via The Quietus, Music That I Like and Facebook

Lesley Duncan


Singer/songwriter Lesley Duncan wrote one of the best love songs ever -- titled, appropriately, "Love Song." She recorded it with Elton John on his "Tumbleweed Connection" album. She sang backup on "Dark Side of the Moon" as well. Via NME

Patrick O'Connor


It's a bit late, but here's someone with no formal education or special advantages who by sheer dint of will became an excellent writer and connoisseur of the arts -- via the Times of London and the Guardian. Bravo, sir!

Miguel Delibes


Prolific Spanish writer was well-loved -- via the Guardian and Yahoo News

Peter Graves


The iconic 60's actor was unafraid to spoof his own image -- via the New York Times and the L.A. Times





Saturday, March 13, 2010

Kissinger death watch: is this headline inflammatory?


Henry Kissinger, Nobel Peace Prize winner and/or unindicted war criminal, diplomat par excellence, advior to Presidents . . . the fact that he went to the hospital in South Korea with a sore tummy made all the major news outlets run a few paragraphs this morning.

However couched in concern it may be, reports such as this are signals the media sends to tell the home office to update the obituary summaries, dust off the photos, and reedit the timelines. Kissinger is a major historical figure (and a character in John Adams' opera "Nixon in China"), and there is something inherently vulturous about both the original report -- and this post.    



Why this fascination with the impending deaths of the famous and powerful? We will of course keep you posted.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Merlin Olsen


Hall of Fame football tackle, actor, commentator -- and FTD flower guy! Via the New York Times



Dorothy Janis

Dorothy Janis with Ramon Navarro in the 1929 film "The Pagan."

Juanita Goggins


Groundbreaking legislator dies in unhappy circumstances -- via MSNCBC

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Corey Haim


The adjectives in obits for this actor will be "troubled," "teen heartthrob"  -- via the L.A. Times and KTLA