Lilit Marcus: August 2007 Archives

You can't escape from Michael Vick in the media these days. Since initial allegations rose a few months ago accusing the Atlanta Falcolns quaterback of participating in dogfighting. Now the state of Georgia is pressing criminal charges, and the NFL has officially suspended Vick without pay. His image looks irredeemable. People may not agree on whether abortion is wrong or who will make the best president in 2008, but it's practically impossible to get someone to say they hate animals and think it's a-ok to abuse and/or kill them.

So how do you redeem the irredeemable? Vick's taking a pretty conventional path. Following in the footsteps of Paris Hilton, Vick has found God. Jesus, more specifically.

If you're a "Lost" junkie like me, you're probably wondering how on earth you can possibly hold out until the next season begins in February. Fear not--you can join Beliefnet's new dialogue group to talk about religious themes on our favorite TV show. Here's the description of the group:

This will be a group to discus the television show "Lost" from a religious perspective. We'll take a look at the many Biblical allusions in the show, the overriding themes of sin and redemption, the diverse worldviews presented by the characters, and the mythology of the island. I am a Christian, so as moderator that will be my knowledge base, but members of all faiths are welcome to contribute and discuss how the show does or does not fit in the context of their religions. The dialogue group is a place for discussing Lost in the context of world religions, and it is NOT a place for preaching or attempting to convert others to your religion. Theological discussions will be confined to those that have a bearing on characters or events in "Lost."

Interested parties can sign up for the group (which launches 8/25) here.

Afraid you've gotten rusty while the show's on hiatus? Take this quiz to refresh your memory.

There are two kinds of reality shows: One where the contestants have to have some kind of talent or skill ("Top Chef," "Project Runway," "American Idol"), and one where participants are just chosen based on looks or personality ("The Real World," "America's Next Top Model"). CBS's "Big Brother" is obviously in the latter category. This summer's crop of contestants are a mostly useless, annoying bunch of numbskulls desperate to be on TV.

One contestant, Amber, has already scored a place on my hate list for spending approximately 21 hours out of the day crying. (About what, I have yet to figure out.)