The Bravery is another New York band that has found recent success and in May they released their second album, The Sun And The Moon. The following video is from the album and the song title is Time Won't Let Me Go.

You can also find a remix of the song on the band's MySpace page here. The remix is worth a listen if you enjoy more of a dance beat.

Sam Endicott, the lead vocalist, has a voice very reminiscent of Robert Smith of The Cure though I view the overall sound of the band to be far less moody. The band is described as a "synthesis of disco and synth rock".

Ingmar Bergman, perhaps one of the best film directors to have ever lived...a man driven to create beautiful images, has died at the age of 89.

I found the following quote at Wires and Light and, in my opinion, nothing can better capture the essence of Bergman's passion for film. The quote is from the obituary of his cinematographer, Sven Nykvist.

“Sometimes I probably do mourn the fact that I no longer make films," Bergman wrote. "Most of all I miss working with Sven Nykvist, perhaps because we are both utterly captivated by the problems of light, the gentle, dangerous, dreamlike, living, dead, clear, misty, hot, violent, bare, sudden, dark, springlike, falling, straight, slanting, sensual, subdue, limited, poisonous, calming, pale light. Light."

The following video clip is from Bergman's film, The Seventh Seal, and it also captures his commitment to light as the fundamental ingredient of film. The clip is in Italian and though I could have found other clips, few would have offered such a brilliant use of light. If I may, I would suggest that the viewer simply turn off the sound and enjoy the visual imagery that defined Mr. Bergman.

The following two video clips are from the PBS program, Bill Moyers Journal, and they are the second part of a two part posting at Thought Theater. The first half can be found here.

The first video clip is the completion of the discussion outlined below which appeared in the first posting. The second clip is Moyers own reflections on the war in Iraq. It is a poignant segment that highlights the service of a soldier who lost his life in Iraq against the statements recorded by Max Blumenthal at the College Republican National Convention.

It is startling to see the degree to which these young Republican's have adopted the rhetoric of the Bush administration. This final segment also leaves one to wonder how many of those who endorse this war would actually be willing to make the sacrifice to serve in the U.S. military. In using the Blumnethal clip, Moyers provides an illumination of these subtle but significant distinctions.

From the prior posting:

This latest edition of the Journal had an excellent segment titled Al Qaeda And Iraq...a discussion with Fawaz Gerges, author of two books, The Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global and Journey Of The Jihadist: Inside Muslim Militancy and Brian Fishman, a Senior Associate at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.

This is one of the most informative conversations on the situation in Iraq, the war on terror, and the many complex obstacles which the United States faces in dealing with the inhabitants of the Middle East.

Anyone who has listened to the Bush administration's simplistic characterization of the Iraq situation or the war on terror should watch this program. Frankly, I doubt anyone can come away from watching this discussion and feel better about the daunting task the United States undertook with the invasion of Iraq. Further, it would be very difficult to conclude that the latest strategy will succeed or that the President has faced up to the enormity of the situation.

The following two video clips are from the PBS program, Bill Moyers Journal, and they are the first part of a two part posting at Thought Theater. The second half will be posted later this evening.

This latest edition of the Journal had an excellent segment titled Al Qaeda And Iraq...a discussion with Fawaz Gerges, author of two books, The Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global and Journey Of The Jihadist: Inside Muslim Militancy and Brian Fishman, a Senior Associate at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.

This is one of the most informative conversations on the situation in Iraq, the war on terror, and the many complex obstacles which the United States faces in dealing with the inhabitants of the Middle East.

Anyone who has listened to the Bush administration's simplistic characterization of the Iraq situation or the war on terror should watch this program. Frankly, I doubt anyone can come away from watching this discussion and feel better about the daunting task the United States undertook with the invasion of Iraq. Further, it would be very difficult to conclude that the latest strategy will succeed or that the President has faced up to the enormity of the situation.

The Daily Show attempts to make sense of the latest rhetoric coming from the Bush administration with regards to staying in Iraq. Before the segment is over, Stewart points to the many contradictions and finally concludes that the task of understanding why we remain in Iraq may be unachievable. I'm right there with him.

Bohemian Rhapsody is probably my favorite Queen song...perhaps because it reminds me of my senior year in high school. When I think back on those times, it was a period of great change and expanding social awakening. Each day was filled with new experiences and the world was immense.

I have fond memories of that time in my life and it's always heartening to reconnect with them. Music has always been my means of keeping track of the years and when I hear a song that brings me back in time, it is both rewarding and inspiring.

The following video is from an appearance by Richard Dawkins on The Hour. The program begins with host George Stroumboulopoulos providing a biographical look at Dawkins and his views on religion.

In the interview Dawkins discusses his book, The God Delusion, and what motivated him to write the book. Dawkins posits that religion leads people astray with myths and stories that have little basis in truth.

Dawkins also discusses the benefits that people believe they receive from religion and though he understands the dynamic, he feels religion often leads people to ignore the discernable truths that exist in the modern world.

The National appeared on David Letterman last night and if I were a betting person, I would wager that they are going to be big. The song in the video clip is called Fake Empire and it is from their new album titled "Boxer".

The group originated in Cincinnati and is now located in New York. They have been around for a while and they have a dedicated and distinctive following but they have yet to garner any significant mainstream attention. Their most recognized album, "Alligator", earned them notable acclaim for an independent album.

The group has a sound that is hard to describe. Fake Empire is an interesting mix of vocals reminiscent of Crash Test Dummies' Brad Roberts in the groups well known hit, Superman's Song. The instrumentation builds slowly and is led by melodic keyboards which are eventually layered with strings and then the song closes with a slowly expanding and upbeat brass finish...all accompanied by an oddly laced injection of drums.

You can read more about the band on their MySpace page which can be found here. Keep an eye on this band and, by all means, feel free to share your own impressions and feedback.

The following four video clips are the second part of a two part posting of Bill Maher's HBO special, The Decider, which aired this past weekend. The first part can be found here.

As you may be able to tell from the title of the special, Maher's focus is on President Bush who fashions himself as "The Decider"...and Maher wastes no time dissecting and eviscerating George Bush and all that he represents.

Maher covers a wide range of topics including religion, sex, politics, gay marriage, drugs, and much more. Anyone that enjoys Maher's humor shouldn't miss this performance.

Bill Maher's HBO special, The Decider, aired this past weekend. As you may be able to tell from the title of the special, Maher's focus is on President Bush...and he wastes no time dissecting and eviscerating George Bush and all that he represents.

Maher covers a wide range of topics including religion, sex, politics, gay marriage, drugs, and much more. Anyone that enjoys Maher's humor shouldn't miss this performance.

The following four video clips are the first part of a two part posting. The second posting will follow later this evening.

In the following video clip, Richard Dawkins, the author of The God Delusion, speaks about his views on god and truth and his lofty goal of persuading people to understand that there is nothing wrong with disbelief...that it is a reasonable position to hold.

He touches on the comfort a belief in god can provide as well as the danger it can present when one thinks that one is being directed by a divine being. In that regard, he references George Bush's thoughts on the war in Iraq and the fact that many evangelicals actually seek the end of the world since it is the promise of the return of Jesus Christ.

Tammy Faye Messner was a living caricature for many years. On Friday, the controversial woman with the trademark mascara tears succumbed to cancer. As I watched her final interview on Larry King, I found myself looking at her to see if her faith was sustaining her or if the fear of death had become overwhelming. I can’t say I came to any conclusion except to say that she remained Tammy Faye to the very end.

Say what you will about Tammy Faye Messner, but the world will be a little less colorful without her here. As a kid, I grew up when television evangelists were just beginning to emerge. On Sunday mornings as I was looking for something to watch on TV, I would often stop for a minute or two and watch Tammy Faye.

As I've thought about why, the one thing I remember was her remarkable ability to cry. No doubt crying can be manipulative, but somewhere in the back of my mind I always suspected she was just a soft hearted person who happened to find her way to notoriety.

In many ways, she reminded me of my great aunt Dorothy...from Kansas. Dorothy was also a very colorful person who always had a new hairdo, lots of makeup, and her signature painted on eyebrows. Many people who didn't know Dorothy probably saw her like Tammy Faye...a strange animated character with a gift for gab.

Like Tammy Faye, she never let it trouble her that her appearance always drew second glances and judgmental whispers. Dorothy was just being herself and those who took the time to actually know her always found a heart of gold. She had a knack for connecting with people in a real way such that anyone who met her knew she saw your heart first and the rest was irrelevant.

I never met Tammy Faye and frankly I don't know that much about her but my instincts tell me she was a lot like my aunt Dorothy. When the Bakker's world fell apart, somehow Tammy Faye found that the gay community had a good heart and she never forgot it. Flawed as she may have been, I suspect she recognized a good heart because she also possessed one.

How ever one sets out to judge the worth of others, one would be hard pressed to find that many Dorothy's and Tammy Faye's...simple people who simply lived their lives as they knew how...people with an innate kindness who weren't afraid to share their unedited thoughts and feelings without reservation. When I think about that, I'm certain the world would be a better place if we had a few more of them.

I found the following tribute video on YouTube. The video is set to Damien Rice's song, The Blower's Daughter. The song gained attention as part of the soundtrack for the movie Closer. I think it was a fine choice.

I've also included the music video for The Blower's Daughter below the tribute clip. You can find more about Rice on his MySpace page here.

Mute Math, a band originally from New Orleans, performed their song Typical on Letterman the other night and anyone that likes to watch a great drummer will love this video. You can tell this guy loves what he is doing and I loved watching him.

The actual music video for the song is pretty cool as well so I've included it below the Letterman performance. You can find more information about the band on their myspace page here.

Christopher Hitchens has appeared on numerous programs and forums following the release of his latest book, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.

The following video clips are the second half of a two part Thought Theater posting of a panel discussion including Hitchen's views on atheism...or what he prefers to call anti-theism. The first half can be found here.

I have seen Hitchens on a number of programs and, in my opinion, this may be his most educational comments on the subject. Anyone seeking to understand the basis of Hitchens' thoughts on god and religion would benefit from viewing this program.