Free Republic

Studs Terkel died this afternoon at his home on the North Side of Chicago. The 96-year-old Pulitzer Prize-winning author, television pioneer, theatrical actor, radio host for nearly half a century, unrepentent leftie and friend of the little man passed away peacefully after a short time in home hospice care. "He had a very full, eventful and sometimes tempestuous life ," said his son Dan. "It was very satisfactory."

Chicago author Studs Terkel has been getting a good deal of recognition recently. CNN carried a Reuters article that began, "American original Studs Terkel, the author and oral historian who for decades gave a voice to working men and women, turned 95 Wednesday." To Senator Barack Obama, "Studs Terkel is not just a national treasure - he's one of Chicago's treasures. For more than 50 years, his writings, broadcasts and interviews have illuminated the American experience." According to ABC News Chicago, "Terkel is a liberal's liberal." Chicago Sun-Times columnist Neil Steinberg writes of Terkel : "He was a TV star...

Studs Terkel isn't dead. And he's a little concerned we're already writing his obituary. On July 4, Studs slipped and fell at home. At 92, it took a toll on some bones and muscles. With the help of his doctors and physical therapists, he's much better now, but he is keenly aware when his pals come to visit that we're all giving him the once over to make sure he's all right. He spots it and puts a stop to it immediately by declaring, "There are three stages of life, I've decided. There's youth, middle age and, finally, 'You look...

On October 13 to 15, Congressman Dennis John Kucinich will formally announce his campaign for the presidency at events in 11 states. An additional banquet has been added on the 16th in Washington, D.C. The first announcement will be made at noon on the 13th in Cleveland City Council Chambers in Cleveland, Ohio. A reception will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Cleveland in the Ballroom of the Sheraton Hotel. Congressman Kucinich will depart at 1:50 p.m., and hold events in Detroit, Mich.; Manchester, N.H.; and Madison, Wis.; before flying to Albuquerque, N.M., on the evening of...

Conclusion of article: In the workshops, the actors were encouraged to probe their own experiences and feelings about race, no matter how buried, and some of what was uncovered has made its way into the script. "It took tremendous courage to be in those sessions," he said. "The actors had to exhume a lot of suppressed stuff. Luckily we had two very good facilitators along the way." Schwimmer catapulted to stardom on NBC's "Friends," the decidedly whitebread sitcom that only began to introduce a black character in recent episodes--after a decade on the air. Of course TV is not real...