Heartbroken: New York Times media critic David Carr, 58, is dead. He collapsed in the newsroom, the paper reported, after moderating a panel discussion involving Edward Snowden and his chief chroniclers, documentarian Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald.
Anyone who read Carr’s columns or his memoir of crack cocaine addiction, “Night of the Gun,” couldn’t help but be impressed by his willingness to look at unpleasant facts and not blink. He was also fiercely loyal to his chosen tribe of journalists in general and the Times in particular. Collectively, we are crushed.
Here’s a roundup of 10 or so links to end this sad week for newspeople:
- Today is the first of three Friday the 13ths in 2015. What are the odds ? And for how long have we suffered from triskaidekaphobia (fear of Friday the 13th)? (EarthSky.org)
- Uh-oh. The second stress test for the new ISTEP this week was “a complete disaster … Kids did not get through it. Computers were freezing up. Everything was shutting down.” (IndyStar) | Listen to schools chief Glenda Ritz talk about the issues that led to the 12-hour ISTEP test on John Krull’s “No Limits” show. (WFYI)
- Second child dies after father shoots kids, injures wife in Paoli. (Fox59) | A fundraising page has been set up for the Randolph family’s hospital and funeral expenses. (GoFundMe)
- Have you scored your reservation for Valentine’s Day on Saturday night? Test your knowledge of the holiday and pick up facts to impress your special someone. (USA Today)
- If you and your sweetie are big on “geek” culture, your date may be this weekend’s Wizard World Comic Con. (IndyStar)
- I know the hot movie ticket is supposed to be “
Fifty Shades of Grey,” but instead, trust me: Rent or go see 2002’s “Secretary” with Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader. It’s a nuanced and intelligent — and yes, sexy! — examination of why some couples find fulfillment and even empowerment through BDSM practices. (BuzzFeed) - Actress Jamie Brewer (“American Horror Story”) is the first model with Down’s syndrome to appear on the catwalk during New York Fashion Week. (USA Today)
- The 2015 Indianapolis Colts can thank their hapless division (again) for providing them what appears to be one of the softest schedules in the NFL next season. (IndyStar)
- Tickets that matched Wednesday’s Powerball numbers were sold in North Carolina, Texas and Puerto Rico — marking the first time a winner was sold outside the continental U.S. (ABC News)
- Bobbi Kristina Brown’s aunt is hopeful about her niece’s health. “There are so many signs showing us that she will be OK.” (USA Today) | “Krissi” was involved in a traffic wreck days before she was found unresponsive in her home, a police report shows. (Yahoo GMA)
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What are you reading? Leave a link in the comments!
