Scene from “The Dhamma Brothers”

A western Jefferson County prison dabbles in Buddhism. That’s the setup for the compelling documentary, “The Dhamma Brothers,” airing at 9 tonight on Alabama Public Television.

The film screened at the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival in 2008; see the trailer and our review.

From our review:

It boils down to men sitting on cushions, utterly silent for 10 days. This potentially dull setup makes for an ultimately engaging story. I’m sure this movie will win an award or two at Sidewalk, and will likely be the best one you see all weekend.

It airs following a new 2-hour documentary called “The Buddha.”

“The Dhamma Brothers” repeats at 1 a.m. Thursday and 5 a.m. Monday on APT. It also repeats on APT’s digital channel 10-2 at 9 p.m. May 2 and 12:30 a.m. May 3.

Date, location, lineup to be announced

Lilith Fair is headed for Birmingham. The tour stop is among 36 cities announced for the summer/fall tour through Canada and the United States.

The traveling music festival features a nearly all-female lineup, including Birmingham native Emmylou Harris. Other announced artists include Sarah McLachlan, Brandi Carlile, The Go-Go’s, Erykah Badu, Sugarland, Ingrid Michaelson, Kelly Clarkson, Ke$ha, Loretta Lynn, Norah Jones and Jill Scott. No word on who will perform in Birmingham, other than McLachlan.

Our best estimate places the Birmingham date in September. The likely venue would be the Verizon Wireless Music Center, given that Live Nation is producing the tour and owns the amphitheater.

Ticket prices for other cities range from $45 to $260.

The festival previously toured from 1997 to 1999, but the 2010 tour marks its first visit to Birmingham. Other nearby stops include Atlanta and Nashville.

Update April 11: Lilith Fair will take place at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Verizon Wireless Music Center. Tickets, $41 to $282, go on sale Saturday through Ticketmaster. No lineup has been announced.

Each still-hidden egg,
a ticking time bomb rotting
in its hand-dyed shell.

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Read more haiku.

Video: A look at the best from Peeps Show IV.

Have a joyous Easter, y’all!

And take a few minutes to admire the wonderful Peeps Show gallery from the Washington Post.

Eggs to hide, baskets
to deliver. A bunny’s
work is never done.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Uploaded on the
holy e-tablet are the
1010 commandments.

• • •

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The shy will speak, the
dead will rise, and blood will pour
from heaven’s earhole.

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Read more haiku.

The end of a long
day brings not relaxation
but a renewed hope.

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Read more haiku.

‘Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains,’ episode 7 recap

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

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What fools these Survivors be.

The April Fools’ Day edition of “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” has little in the way of pranks, misdirection or jokes. Instead, we see our Hero underdogs fight to stay alive, and our Villains sharpen their knives.

James “J.T.” Thomas Jr. of Mobile looks to bond these last five Heroes together, or face oblivion. Meanwhile, the Villains continue their infighting between alpha males Russell Hantz and “Boston Rob” Mariano.

Who got his groove back? Which power couple struggled with each other? And which fool fooled another fool? Find out, after the jump …

(more…)

‘Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains,’ episode 7 preview

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

Video: Preview for tonight’s episode.
Will Colby ever be a Hero?
Is the Boston Rob-Russell catfight headed for a smooch?

The good news? The Villains sent someone home last week. The bad news? The Heroes did, too.

James “J.T.” Thomas Jr. of Mobile is on a tribe of five. Will that be enough to make a stand against the dominant Villain tribe on “Survivor”?

And has Russell Hantz run out of tricks after his bold idol blindside last week? Can “Boston Rob” Mariano finally oust his rival?

Plus, bonus videos.

Video: The Villains cast their votes last week.

Video: The Heroes cast their votes last week.

Video: J.T. discusses the opportunity
to observe the Villains during Tribal Council.

Episode 6 recaps:

• Wade on Birmingham
• Birmingham News
• Host Jeff Probst: “It was one of the craziest things I’d ever seen: James trying to out run J.T. with a splint on his leg.”

“Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains ” airs at 7 p.m. Thursdays on CBS 42. Full recap tonight following the show.

• • •

Back up for grabs … more “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” at survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com.