In their ancient Dorset cottage back in the 1950s my grandparents took great pride in their almost equally ancient radio set, an apparatus as big as a suitcase, polished walnut on the outside and glowing glass valves within, and with an illuminated dial inscribed with what seemed to me the most exotic-of names; Hilversum, Schenectady, Kowloon. There was another radio in the kitchen, for ordinary listening; but for special occasions, as each Friday evening at seven,  we gathered around the drawing-room behemoth, and we did so in sacramental awe. more

Why is there so much suffering in the world and what kind of God would allow it to happen? Universal questions about faith and philosophy are at the heart of God on Trial, which was inspired by the legend that a group of concentration camp prisoners conducted a mock trial against the Almighty God. From all walks of life, a physicist, a glove maker, rabbis, a law professor and at least one criminal weigh the evidence and offer thoughtful arguments taken from history, science, theology and personal experience. Featuring Antony Sher (Primo), Rupert Graves (The Forsyte Saga, Take a Girl Like You), Dominic Cooper (Sense and Sensibility, The Duchess), Stephen Dillane (Anna Karenina, John Adams) and Stellan Skarsgård (Mamma Mia!), God on Trial explores unfathomable loss and unshakable faith.

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In the "Largehearted Boy Cross-Media Cultural Exchange Program" series (thanks to  Jami Attenberg for the title), authors interview musicians (and vice versa).

I have listened to Mark Everett's music for many years, but only when I recently read his memoir, Things the Grandchildren Should Know and watched the NOVA episode, NOVA "Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives" (airing nationally October 21st) did I learn of his often troubled past and famous father, Hugh Everett III, the quantum physicist.

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Surveillance Society--Science Fiction or Our Certain Future?

As I watched the new PBS movie The Last Enemy, I couldn't help but feel a certain uncomfortable mixture of resignation and dread. Not only does the movie depict a total surveillance society, but it does so quite convincingly. It makes you wonder. Are scenarios like those depicted in the film simply science fiction, or are they a glimpse into an inevitable future?

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