Culture

funeral coffee tea funeral coffee tea

my stepmother called regarding the arrangement for my dad’s funeral she is actually my second stepmother and she wanted to do things informally in a manner that my dad would’ve liked you should understand that this stepmother is two years younger than I am and that she is very very cute well this was it the funeral banquet will be in the church hall but it won’t just be coffee tea and cookies it would be coffee tea and my dad’s favorite sandwich peanut butter and bananas what could I say? it’s true I said that that was his favorite sandwich but his favorite meal was steak and lobster and it was a dead silence on the other end of the phone

May 9, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Michael Casey

Pieces of a Man: On Gil Scott Heron Pieces of a Man: On Gil Scott Heron

The musician’s posthumous memoir, The Last Holiday, is as rich and ambiguous as his declaration that “The Revolution Will Not be Televised.”

May 9, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Franklin Bruno

Letters Letters

Bruce Springsteen, Death of a Salesman, Barbara Ehrenreich, Iran

May 9, 2012 / Our Readers

Maurice Sendak’s Cultural Influence Maurice Sendak’s Cultural Influence

Generally considered the leading children's book writer of the past century, his books were touchstones of youth for the generation born after 1960.

May 8, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Peter Rothberg

MCA’s Feminist Legacy MCA’s Feminist Legacy

How the Beastie Boys brought hope to female hip hop fans.

May 8, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Jessica Valenti

Goodbye MCA Goodbye MCA

For me, losing a Beastie Boy is like what losing a Beatle was to my father's generation.

May 4, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Peter Rothberg

Newt Departs From the Island of Poliwonks Newt Departs From the Island of Poliwonks

(The saddest leave-taking since Max left the Wild Things)   “Don’t go!” all the poliwonks started to croon. “What other Republican dared to harpoon The Mittster for being a heartless tycoon? Who’s left to start planning a town on the moon, As if he had stepped from the pages of Dune? Who never did hesitate once to impugn The press—his best foil—when it seemed opportune? Oh why, Newt, oh why must you leave us so soon?” But Newt, though quite portly, as well as jejune, Just floated away, like a hot air balloon.

May 2, 2012 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Marine Le Pen and the False Specter of European Fascism

Marine Le Pen and the False Specter of European Fascism Marine Le Pen and the False Specter of European Fascism

Americans who worry about dangerous trends overseas should take a look at warning signs much closer to home.

May 2, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Alexander Cockburn

Empty and Full: On Stanley Whitney and Jacqueline Humphries

Empty and Full: On Stanley Whitney and Jacqueline Humphries Empty and Full: On Stanley Whitney and Jacqueline Humphries

When is a little more than enough in a painting?

May 2, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Barry Schwabsky

Democracy and Education: On Andrew Delbanco

Democracy and Education: On Andrew Delbanco Democracy and Education: On Andrew Delbanco

In College, Andrew Delbanco explains the reversal of the postwar project of democratic expansion in higher education.

May 2, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Richard Wolin

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