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Film / TV / Theater Review, Religion, Sexuality

Sacred Cinema: Part II

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April 8, 2025

Part II of my four-part Medium essay series, “Sacred Cinema,” has been posted today. In today’s part, “Robes, Swords, and Sandals,” I discuss the 1953 film, The Robe, which was the first Biblical epic I ever saw. This installment features lots of photos, including one of me at the age…
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Culture, Film / TV / Theater Review, Religion

Sacred Cinema: Part I

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April 7, 2025

With Passover beginning on Saturday evening (April 12) and ending on Sunday, April 20, the day that both Western and Eastern churches will be celebrating Easter to mark the 1700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, I thought this was as a good a time as any to publish…
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Culture, Politics (Theory, History, Now)

Winton Bates on Political Entrepreneurship

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April 2, 2025

My friend, Winton Bates, with whom I’ve had many wonderful exchanges, has published a very thought-provoking essay on his Freedom and Flourishing blog, which asks the question: “Can the concept of political entrepreneurship help us to understand authoritarianism?” As Winton puts it: I discuss the relevance of the concept of…
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Music

Song of the Day #2188

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March 23, 2025

Song of the Day: Any Love, words and music by David “Hawk” Wolinski, is featured on “Masterjam,” the fifth studio album of the funk band Rufus, produced by the legendary Quincy Jones. This 1979 recording features the vocals of the great Chaka Khan, who turns 72 years old today! Check…
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Music

Song of the Day #2187

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March 22, 2025

Song of the Day: Love X Love, words and music by Rod Temperton, appears on the 1980 album, “Give Me the Night,” produced by the great Quincy Jones and featuring George Benson, who delivers this song with his distinctive vocals and guitar licks. I had the immense pleasure of meeting…
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Culture, Remembrance

A Yellow Flower for a Green Day

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March 17, 2025

The Snowman is Baaaack!!! This time, he’s dressed for St. Patrick’s Day! In addition to the shamrocks and green, this year’s display is accented by a new pot of beloved yellow Daffodils. Daffodils in these parts are omnipresent at this time of year—so much so that they have become the…
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Film / TV / Theater Review, Music

Song of the Day #2186

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March 2, 2025

Song of the Day: Challengers (“Pecado”), words and music by Enrique Mario Francini, Armando Pontier, and Carlos Bahr, is performed by the talented Grammy-winning Brazilian artist, Caetano Veloso, in a lush bossa nova arrangement. The Veloso rendition, which explores the overpowering nature of forbidden love, is featured in this provocative…
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Film / TV / Theater Review, Music

Song of the Day #2185

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March 1, 2025

Song of the Day: Twisters (“Nature’s Masterpiece”), composed by Benjamin Wallfisch, is a pensive cue from the 2024 standalone sequel to “Twister” (1996). The flick is a fun addition to the disaster film genre and Wallfisch’s soundtrack captures the rollercoaster ride of nature’s masterpiece—and wrath.
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Film / TV / Theater Review, Music

Song of the Day #2184

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February 28, 2025

Song of the Day: The Godfather (“Manhattan Serenade”), music by Louis Alter, lyrics by Howard Johnson, with alternate lyrics by Harold Adamson, was first recorded in 1942 by both the Harry James Orchestra, with vocalist Helen Forrest and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra with vocalist Jo Stafford. It has shown up…
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Film / TV / Theater Review, Music

Song of the Day #2183

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February 27, 2025

Song of the Day: The Subteranneans (“Soundtrack Suite”), composed, arranged, and conducted by Andre Previn, is a key part of the 1960 film based on the 1958 novel by Jack Kerouac. The score is a jazzfest featuring trumpeters Art Farmer and Jack Sheldon, valve trombonist Bob Enevoldsen, alto saxophonist Art…
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