Recipes and Essays

The Message of the Musical

The Message of the Musical

My friend in London, Jane, has just sent me a copy of a new book, “You’ve Got To Have a Dream: The Message of the Musical” by Ian Bradley published by SCM Press this year. The thesis is that musicals are cultural icons of our 

Copyright: One small victory at a time

Copyright: One small victory at a time

A victory for the community and free speech this past Thursday. Students who sued Diebold Election Systems won their case against the voting machine maker after a judge ruled that the company had misused the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and ordered the company to pay 

Debates and Spin

Debates and Spin

On Chicano.org You can vote about who won the debate last night . This is not a scientific sample, and there are only four votes at this time (5 counting mine), but it is a good, healthy internet latin@ involvement at the grassroots. It is 

Thoughts before the Debates

Thoughts before the Debates

When I was in Spain and Germany, it was bolstering to my convictions when I saw US politics from across the ocean. Most with whom I spoke fear the US greatly. Others find it is a sign of a lack of morality in the American 

Children and Violence in Our World

Children and Violence in Our World

It is interesting that the two Signis Prizes at the San Sebastian Film Festival are both awarded to stories about children who are defenseless in a hostile world. In both films the best in people is evoked by the children. The Grand Prize was awarded 

Cielito and Midw inter Dream

Cielito and Midw inter Dream

Blogging is tough because connecting from my laptop is not easy here in San Sebastian. also, watching so many films keeps me running from one theatre to another. I’m at the airport on the way to Dusseldorf and thankful that there is wireless here and 

John Sayles Film

John Sayles Film

Am serving on the Signis Jury at the San Sebastian Film Festival and watching lots and lots of films. The week started off slowly with not much that interested me. Woody Allen did his world premiere of Melinda and Melinda. yawn. Just now i saw 

Different Visually

Different Visually

It’s 4:15 AM in Apeldoorn, Holland and I can’t sleep due to my jetlag. I’ll get up soon and go swim before starting my meetings here. I went quickly to two websites to collect some info and was struck at the difference viaually and programmatically 

Questioning Religion

Questioning Religion

These days at the 4th Conference on Media, Religion and Culture have been full of exciting people from all over the world. Every minute of the day is full of either interesting workshops, papers and panels–or coffee/beers with friends and new acquaintances doing interesting research 

Media, Religion and Culture Conference

Media, Religion and Culture Conference

Am on my way to the 4th International Conference on Media, Religion and Culture. Louiseville, Kentucky is the site. The occasion is also the launch of a book co-edited by Peter Horsfield, Mary Hess and myself, “Belief In Media.” The page for this book is