• U.S. unveils new terrorism alerts, scraps colors
• Wildfires spread across Texas
• India successfully launches three satellites into space

Last week I invited my writing workshop students to write obituaries describing the lives they hope to have lived by the time they reach the finish line. Some balked, thinking this was too creepy and might even jinx them into dying sooner rather than later. I’ve decided to thumb my nose at this potential curse and write up my own fantasy obit. Here ya go: Spike Gillespie died on May 4, 2074 at her home in East Austin. She was 110 years young. Though the cause of death remains fuzzy, an autopsy suggests she succumbed to the one-two combo of a head injury and “over licking.” Her son, Henry, 83, told investigators that two days before her death Gillespie was driving him to band practice, as she had every week for the past 70 years, when, as she was so fond of doing, she accelerated while approaching a speed bump, at which point her trusty Buddha statuette, which she kept on her dashboard to remind her not to flip-off shitty drivers, flew forward and conked her in the head. more ›

• Pakistani Taliban leader alive, threatens US attacks
• In the Gulf Coast, an “underground volcano of oil”
• White House criticized for response to oil spill

• Robert McNamara, Vietnam War architect, dead at 93
• Obama, Medvedev/Putin agree on nuclear cuts
• Obama's Russia visit to bring over $1.5 billion in deals

Jon Byron Bessent, proprietor of the northeast amp repair shop Tonecraft passed away at the age of 56 last Tuesday. Bessent had opened in the store with his wife Merlyn. more ›

Jeff Friedman (1945-2007) became involved in politics at the young age of 26 (fresh out of law school), when he joined the city council in 1971. Friedman's run for office was part of a reaction of progressives/pacifists city-wide to Austin officials' refusal to allow an anti-war protest after the shootings at Kent State [Statesman]. In 1975, Friedman became Austin's "hippie mayor", indicative of the new liberal movement taking charge of local politics (and it's pretty much been that way ever since). During his tenure as mayor, he helped to equalize electric rates, instated a public ambulance service, and aimed to make city hall a more accessible place. more ›

This was not a very happy week for the -ist network as one of our own, Phillyist co-editor Star C. Foster, passed away early in the week. Her wit, intelligence, and good nature shone through the site, making Phillyist an immensely fun read. She was loved by many and will be missed by all. Phillyist paid tribute to her this week with a heartfelt letter to her and an obituary. And now, the awkward... more ›