January 2009
28 posts
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“Listen, punk. Hysteria is the best rock...
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“I believe our state must enter rehab. Moral rehabilitation.”
– —Illinois State Senator Randall Hultgren (R), before casting a vote to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D).
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WatchUPDATE: I’ll be posting footage to this entry over the weekend as soon as I get the session audio.
UPDATE: I apologize for these technical problems. The bandwidth at the venue came to a screeching halt and has precluded us from streaming live. I’ll post our tape as soon as I can. Thank you, and let me have it. Trent
Live Video: Krista with David Brooks and E.J. Dionne Trent Gilliss,...
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Ad Astra Per Aspera » download (mp3, 2:12) Andy...
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"The Bullets in My In-Box" →
Shiraz Janjua, Associate Producer
A nice piece in the New York Times on the perils of reporting on the Israel/Palestine issue. Here at SoF, we’re trying to find some way of addressing the recent conflict, and exploring a few tentative ideas.
I realize I’m not saying anything here. As much as I can personally hope for peaceful resolution of the situation, I’m afraid of that can...
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Repossessing Virtue: Greg Epstein on Human...
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"The Bonfire of China’s Vanities" →
Shiraz Janjua, Associate Producer
Our guest from this week’s The Buddha in the World program, Pankaj Mishra, wrote an interesting piece in the New York Times about the literary scene in China, specifically focusing on the work of Yu Hua and his novel Brothers. Not specifically related to what he was talking about in the program, but worth a read nonetheless. His skeptical take on the Asian...
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Repossessing Virtue: Ayman Amer on No-Interest...
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WatchElizabeth Alexander and Stephen Colbert Kate Moos, Managing Producer
I loved the inaugural poem Elizabeth Alexander read earlier this week — with its quiet, understated beginning, and how it wound up to this:
Some live by love thy neighbor as thyself, others by first do no harm or take no more than you need. What if the mightiest word is love?
Love beyond marital, filial, national, love that...
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"The Trials of Ted Haggard"
Trent Gilliss, Online Editor
The first entry I wrote for SOF Observed (which was never published as it was part of a blogging trial) was about the fallen Evangelical pastor Ted Haggard. More than two years ago, news had broken about his then-alleged homosexual entanglement and solicitation of crystal meth. The e-mails were making rounds among the SOF staff.
Not only were all of us shocked like...
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"Prayers for the New President" →
Trent Gilliss, Online Editor
If you’re not a regular of TIME’s Swampland blog and are a political junkie, then I suggest you subscribe to their RSS feed (or at least bookmark the site). Our previous guest, Amy Sullivan, posted an insightful recap of yesterday’s prayer service to launch President Obama’s first day in office.
From (left to right) First Lady Michelle Obama,...
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Mary Doria Russell on the Music of Little Green...
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Library of Congress Seeking Inaugural Sermons and... →
Trent Gilliss, Online Editor
A colleague at the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) alerted us to an effort taking place at the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center. They’re looking for audio and video recordings of sermons and orations commenting on President Obama’s inauguration.
This sounds like an exciting project and something to which I’d love...
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"On Editorial Responsibility" with Photos →
Trent Gilliss, Online Editor
Choosing leading images for each program is often a joyful experience. But, the editing is a sensibility game that leaves one restless at times. I want something evocative, differentiating — a photo that captures the bouquet of the program and not just the finish at the back of the mouth. For SOF, this means no stock images, no trite photography, no incredibly small...
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Repossessing Virtue: Pankaj Mishra on the Dangers...
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Forming My Imagination about "Speaking of Faith"
Krista Tippett, Host
I’m personally thrilled to be doing this week’s show — which took a few of us up to one of my favorite places in the world, St. John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota. St. John’s is one of the largest Benedictine communities in the world and has always been a remarkable place. Its wide orbit has touched many lives and many leading...
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WatchThe Process of Creating the St. John’s Bible Trent Gilliss, Online Editor
Our show for this week — called “Preserving Words and Worlds” — focuses on the pioneering and valiant efforts of manuscript preservation being spearheaded by the Benedictine monks of the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library at St. John’s Abbey & University. The importance of the words and...
