Oisin’s Journey to Grand Design

Singer/songwriter Oisin O’Neill chats with astraea about how he came to create Grand Design, released on 25 May.Check out Grand Design on oisinoneill.bandcamp.com We observe the strange coincidence that Grand Design was released on 25 May, the day celebrated by some for “The Glorious Revolution” of truth – a fictional event, and now also to …
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We are mad as hell. Will we remain charred and broken or will we rise from the ashes?

The anger held back for years has been released by the murder of George Floyd in broad daylight, on camera. It has been growing for years. Black people are right to voice their frustration and anger at the encouraging role of the government in oppressing minorities. Everyone is angry, everyone is afraid. When the institution …
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What’s up this new year …

Kung hei fat choi! This traditional Cantonese greeting means “May you have great wealth!” and is expressed at Chinese new year often followed by Lai see dow loi, meaning “Give me me lucky money” ;-).  There are many new years celebrated around the world starting from October (eg Divali in India) to the ancient Babylonian …
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Impeachment – There is a problem.

There is a problem. Trump did nothing wrong. That’s how Mitch and friends see it. Put yourself in their shoes and you can see with their eyes. They all would have done the same. They would have protected their interests. Why look after other people instead of yourself, after all? The people supporting Trump believe …
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Fossil Free Food

There’s no such thing. Everyone knows that fuel is used to grow our food and that petrochemicals are used to feed and protect food. But it’s probably worse than we realise. Most food has more fossil fuel energy in it than natural, current energy. It takes about 10 fossil fuel calories to produce and transport …
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Good and Bad People

The truth about “good people” and “bad people”. From “Guards! Guards!” by the great Sir Terry Pratchett.  (Guards! Guards! is recommended reading for these  fractious political times.) Setting: As the dust settles the Patrician speaks with the Captain of the Night Watch (a civilian police force, i.e. of the people not of the state, it …
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