This week we have a bumper edition…so much going on in the world! Should music be political? Pasastoo Ahmadi; The Swedish election corruption; The CDU implode in Germany; The Houthis chant; Xi Jinping and Donald Trump; Deaths from Euthanasia in Canada outnumber deaths from guns in the US; Gang violence in South Africa; Muslim Suicide bombers in Nigeria; Country of the Week – North Korea; Liberal Democrats support men in womens spaces; German serial killer misgendered; Palestinian activist turns out to be Israeli settler; Ed Milliband announces £88 million for Gaza whilst cutting UK army by £30 million; Newcastle Knights in Dreamland; Irish players snub Israelis; Brendan O’Neill on the takeover of the Irish elites; Fauda again; BBC reports terrorists as journalists; Hamas bodyguard protected in the UK; Shanana Mahmoopens a new refugee route for Pakistan and Afghaistan; The attack on RAF Fairford; Abu Humza’s wife gets another £70k for her state funded 5 bedroom home; Narnia goes woke; Muslims demand that John Cleese be cancelled; Death of the Pastors Wife; Die Fledermaus; The Bald President; Super Intelligence rather than Artificial Intelligence; Scotland’s Education Secretary on what Education is; University of Edinburgh drops Divinity degrees; The Sahara is shrinking; Feedback; Poetry – Shamus O’Rourke; Jesus in Swansea; Salve Regina and the Pope in France; Jerry Eze in Old Trafford; and The Final Word – Psalm 1with music from the Dave Brubeck Quartet; Pink; Parastoo Ahmadi; The Kim Sisters; The Mooranbong Band; Pink Floyd; Strauss; Rush; The Psalms Project;
A new feature is that I write an additional commentary on my Substack every week – here is this weeks BFA Plus
Here is the music used in this months podcast on Spotify….
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Catch up on last weeks episode here – Beauty for Ashes 48 – AFD, Thailand, Surrogacy, and Kale
Should music be political? Is that not like asking should the grass be green. It is difficult to think of a time in history where political movements, parties and individuals have not used music to promote everything from patriotism to revolution. The one constant is that through it all, however sincere your views or tastes are, the market rules. Ultravox learned this from Joe Dolce. Your report on the greening of the Sahara reveals a determination to apply the same questionable logic, normally used by climate alarmists. I would suggest that (a) yes, experimentation has shown atmospheric CO2 acts like a fertilizer. (b) Increased greening is based on satellite imagery which, I understand, is prone to inaccuracies . (c) That the “proof” that (a) causes (b) is not based on experimentation but on computer modelling. We should be very wary of computer modelling, particularly when it provides a result which reinforces our prejudices. Finally, sport can bring joy. Tell that to my fellow Dockers supporters!
Interesting comments Old Rocker. Yes – the fact that there is an increase in green may not be good news. An optimal ecosystem includes all species – if one species eg grass is too dominant then the system may look healthy but in fact be seriously degraded.