Mourning the Internet Famous: Randy Pausch’s Distributed Funeral

When the silent film star Rudolph Valentino died in 1926, thousands gathered in the streets of New York in such an excitable state that a riot broke out, injuring 100 people. It was a leading indicator that the medium and its stars held Americans in thrall.

Randy Pausch’s death on Friday provides an example of how we’ll mourn the passing of the internet famous. Pausch gained celebrity with his exceptional and touching "Last Lecture," which he delivered after he’d been diagnosed with fatal pancreatic cancer.

By Alexis Madrigal

Full Story: http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2008/07/distributed_funeral