Monthly Archives: May 2015

Flannery O’Connor on truth

“The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.” Flannery O’Connor

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Robert Randolph and the North Mississippi All Stars

Check out Robert Randolph and the North Mississippi All Stars — known as The Word — performing “Come By Here” on Conan O’Brien. Click HERE.

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Mary, Motherhood, and My Inner Punk Rocker

By Angela Doll Carlson Special Mothers Day excerpt from Nearly Orthodox MY FAVORITE STATUE AT ST. TERESA OF Avila Church was that of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was situated at the front, close to the altar, near the … Continue reading

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Surprised by hope: Why Christians flocked to ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron,’ an atheist’s film

Christians were among a record number of Americans flooding theaters this weekend to see a Bible-quoting movie where good versus evil climaxes in an ancient church building. Yet, Joss Whedon, writer/director of “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” is an avowed atheist. … Continue reading

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Natalie Portman, Black Swan, and false idols

Natalie Portman on her Oscar from Black Swan: “I don’t know where it is,” she says. “I think it’s in the safe or something. I don’t know. I haven’t seen it in a while. I mean, [Black Swan director] Darren … Continue reading

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Americana Musicians Find Champion in Letterman

When David Letterman retires this month from CBS’s “Late Show,” musicians everywhere will be singing the blues as the talk-show host winds up more than three decades as their champion. Mr. Letterman’s departure is a particular loss for a genre enjoying a renaissance: Americana. … Continue reading

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The punk rock Orthodox priest

By Steve Beard The symbolism was profoundly countercultural. When Sergei Rybko lumbered onto the stage in between rock bands at a dingy nightclub in Moscow, his appearance was sure to provoke a whiplashed double-take. Draped in a flowing black cassock … Continue reading

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Selling the Blues

When tourists started showing up here, I couldn’t figure out what they saw in the place,” says Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, a 67-year-old blues musician and owner of the Blue Front Café. It’s a scruffy little drinking spot and informal music … Continue reading

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Tracy Chapman singing “Stand By Me”

Ben E. King, the lead singer for the Drifters and solo star whose voice graced classics like “Stand by Me,” ”There Goes My Baby” and “Spanish Harlem,” recently died at 76. Barely two weeks earlier, another legendary singer-songwriter, Tracy Chapman, covered “Stand … Continue reading

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