Beauty for Ashes

This week we look at our contrasting world - a world which is filled with hatred and yet also happiness.   We look at the ten songs that make you happiest; the Essendon affair; the Brazilian election; Chess cheating; Armenia, Russia and Ukraine;  North Korea, Kamala and Japan; US debt; Indonesian football deaths;  the Panthers v. the Eels; The Quiet Girl; Loretta Lynn; and City Alight

Has fascism returned to Italy?   We look at the reaction to the election of Giorgia Meloni;  plus women rioting in Iran; the UK budget blues; Primark safe spaces; the Sussex police; can we fly to Fiji?  Jacinda Ardhern and Free Speech; Averting Armageddon; Chess Scandal; Jerry Allison; Hilary Mantel; Brother Andrew; Coolio and How Great is our God.....

Using the music from the Queens funeral and the most watched sermon in human history - we look at the worlds news.  Including Sir Lindsay Hoyle; Muslims and Hinus in Leicester;  Trinity College, Dublin;  Daniel Andrews and Bush Walks; Bill Maher; Ukraine; Taiwan;  The Irish Times; Byzantium in Gaza;  King Charles and Christian Faith; Reaction to the Archbishop's Sermon; AN Wilson;  and Sir James Macmillan 

What will the death of Queen Elizabeth mean for the world?  We look at reactions and discussion on this.   With Queen, John Anderson, Charles Moore, The New York Times, Gavin Ashenden, Zadok the Priest, Ben Judah, Oliver Cromwell and Charles 1, Liz Truss, the Muir of Ord Chippie, Patrick Harvie, Adam Bandt, Caitlain Moran, an Aboriginal Elder, King Charles, St Giles, Karen Matheson, Tim Farron, Tim Keller, Keith Getty and Stuart Townend - and of course, the Queen! 

 

 

(News of the Queens death came through after this was recorded - we will reflect upon her life next week!)  - this week we reflect on the way that humans, including our leaders, often blame others....including George Thorogood, Liz Truss, the Cabinet of Cronies;  Russia Profits from War;  The Melbourne Mural;  Trump on Germany; Whole Lotta Folsom; Dai Le - Vietnamese Refugee turned Australian politician; Netflix grooming children; Peppa Pig; Top Gear; Teacher Jailed for refusing to comply with Irish court over gender pronouns; Somalia; Matt Chandler; Brian McLaren; Britney Spears turns Atheist;  New Life Community Choir - 

This week we try to see the bigger picture behind local stories - including Gorbachev; Russian Gas; Ukaine and the people;  Harrison Ford wants to rescue the planet;  Australian Nuclear;  Pakistan floods; Meghan Markle;  Women only University jobs;  Dan Andrews shuts out Parents;  Sex 'work' as a career?;  Inclusive Gardening; Healthy tea drinkers; Florence and the Machine; When Love Comes to Town - U2 and BB King. 

This week with the help of Supertramp, Gary Moore, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Stuart Townend we look at the illogicality of the world and the logical answer.  Including the War in Ukraine; Covid in Sweden;  The ABC and Illogical Bias; Sam Harris and Lying for the Truth;  Volcanoes;  Regretting Being a Slut;  Harari and 'Unnecessary' Humans; Christopher Hitchens on Morality;  Steve Chalke on God's Pronouns;  and You're the Word of God the Father...

This week our main subject is food - using grain for fuel;  what food is good for you; espresso v cappuccino;   the argumentum hystericum; Kenya; the Norwegian Walrus; Woke Corporations; The RAF halts recruiting white men; California v. Florida - education; the Langya virus; Irish media rules; new UK cycling laws; Graeme Souness on the Man's Game; Hungarian Christian Rally;  Australian Anglican Schism; Nicky Gumbels farewell sermon - with music from Queen, the Beatles, Oliver, Weird Al Yankovich, Top Gun, Pinter Bela and Dave Henderson....

This week we look at the world through the lens of Leonard Cohen and the documentary Hallelujah!  Kenyan elections; which country is warming faster?;  the Great Barrier Reef; Carbon Offsetting; Rain in Seoul; Olivia Newton John and Judith Durham; self-identifying disabled authors; trans and non trans athletes; Woke jobs for the 'Brahmin Left; Tracy Ullman's Woke Self Help Group; Glen Scrivener and Lousie Perry; June Spencer; Lauren Daigle; Spotify Playlist....with music from PSY, Barwick Green, Kenya, the Lord's Prayer, the Seekers, Grease and of course Leonard Cohen. 

This week we look at the Commonwealth Games, England's women winning the European championships, Ube Zeller, Pelosi in Taiwan, Ukraine grain; energy in the UK, Germany and Australia; Ayman al-Zawahiri; David Trimble; Ron Sider; Tavistock; Nuclear War; the Lambeth Conference; with music from Ukraine, the Beatles, Elvis, the Stones, Christian black metal from Crimson Tide and the new song from City Alight...