Andy Warholism

Brian is Dead but Not that Brian

Dear friends,

It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the recent passing away of Dr.
Brian Fegan.

Brian was a dynamic figure for some 40 years in Philippine studies; a scholar
who was unfathomable about rice growing in particular, about which he wrote his
extensive thesis, as well as many other anthropological/cultiural aspects of
Philippine society.

Brian was admired by all who came to know him, and not simply for his remarkable
fluency in Tagalog. In the last 10 or so years he was employed as a consultant
on Philippine matters by international and Australian organizations, and,
knowing Brian, he was adept at his tasks, and told it as it was.

Brian had been suffering from asbestos induced illness for several years, and
died quietly in his sleep, always optimistic to the end.

With all sincerity, we will miss Brian and is indomitable character and profound
experience and guidance.

Eco

Umberto Eco is already 75 and he has a new engaging book about you.

Zizek

London Review of Books loves Zizek. You should, too, if you want to look wise at PCED.
On bioethics. He sort of approves it.
On the postmodern superego. You may!
On the free world
On the philantrophic enemy
On dreams
On what to do about capitalism

ProPublica

A new venture backed by philanthropies will start publishing investigative journalism articles beginning next year, looking to fill a gap being left as newspapers cut costs amid weak advertising. The organization, to be called ProPublica, will be headed by Paul Steiger, who was managing editor of The Wall Street Journal until earlier this year, the group said in a statement Monday. ProPublica will be based in New York and operate with a budget of about $10 million a year. But by the time it's fully staffed in 2008, it will employ 24 full-time reporters and editors. The group will officially launch in January. ProPublica will provide its articles free of charge through its own Web site as well as to leading news organizations. Richard Tofel, a former Dow Jones & Co. executive who will be general manager of ProPublica, said the group does not yet have arrangements with news organizations to publish the articles it produces.