If the steady diet of superhero movies over the last dozen-or-so summers hasn’t given you indigestion, clear your plate for one more.Guardians is something else—a reminder of what summer blockbuster moviemaking used to be all about.

It was being moved by a single ant pallbearer. She zigged and zagged as she pushed and pulled the shiny beetle over the rough sidewalk.

In February of this year, we lost, prematurely, one of the best actors of all time: Philip Seymour Hoffman. Hoffman had a way of fully and convincingly embodying every character he played while often making his performances seem effortless. It’s such a gift and a relief, therefore, to see that his final leading role was worthy of his talent, and that his performance was nothing short of magnificent. Indeed, Hoffman carries A Most Wanted Man on his considerable shoulders.I recommend it highly to all who prefer intellectual engagement to action. It’s a well-made, well-told tale, and a perfect exit for […]

We are not responsible to simply assign blame and guilt—that would only deepen rifts that prevent a peaceful resolution. But we are responsible for the physical and emotional violence that continues to happen.

;I had wasted much energy blaming and criticizing other motorists over the decades. It finally comes down to a conscious decision to cut the blame and anger out of one’s own responses to what we see happening on the road.;

I have been traveling to Lithuania since 2004, often spending the majority of my summer there. Every five years the Song and Dance Festival grabs the attention of Lithuanians, many from around the world, for a week of traditional music, dance, costumes, and food. This July was my first chance to experience these events, something I had heard about ever since my first visit. (Latvia and Estonia also have festivals as well. The Estonian one is documented in the documentary The Singing Revolution.)Imagine listening to over 14,000 voices singing, with the sound amplified by an acoustic shell built just for […]

Sunday school tells children their needs are important and gives them valuable connections with special adults. Kids sometimes develop lifelong memories and love for their early teachers.;;

I hold that weaponized and surveillance drones are immoral. They are contrary to everything my Mennonite faith teaches.

Dystopian stories abound now in books, TV shows and movies. For example, back to back on TNTon Sunday evenings, we get Falling Skies, about humans fighting an alien race that is taking over the Earth, and The Last Ship, about a U.S. naval ship carrying a scientist working on a vaccine for a virus that has wiped out most of Earth’s population. Turn to FXand we get The Strain.While the film depicts much fighting, it judges the fighting as destructive, tragic and unnecessary. The heroes of the film are those working to bring healing and reconciliation.

I’m so jealous of Fun Moms. I want to be a Fun Mom, I really do. And sometimes I am, but it takes effort.;;