Angel in the whirlwind: an exercise in patriotism -- Song of ourselves: narcissism and its discontents in a bipolar nation -- No celestial railroads: a literature for democracy -- Bloodier than blood: risking all on resurrection -- Signposts up ahead: taking our own temperature -- I'm ready for my close-up: fine-tuned realities -- Long loneliness: experimenting with the unexpected -- When the Man comes around: living in light of a glorious appearing.