Author Archives: James Farrell

An hour of my life stolen

Posted on July 19, 2011 by James Farrell

Since some episodes are good and others bad, I could never see the point of being either a declared friend or enemy of Q&A. But the bad have so thoroughly outnumbered the good this year that I’m about ready to … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Religion | 9 Comments

Can cricketers do Rudd’s job for him?

Posted on July 11, 2011 by James Farrell

Peter Roebuck, the Fairfax cricket writer, has joined Mike Atherton in suggesting a boycott of Sri Lanka. For England that means next year; for Australia, next month. It’s good to see that someone outside the cloisters of human rights activism … Continue reading →

Posted in Immigration and refugees, Politics - international, Sport-general | 15 Comments

Last chance to weep for Iceland

Posted on April 19, 2011 by James Farrell

‘You go with the information you had…’ I’m probably almost the last person to have seen Charles Ferguson’s documentary Inside Job. But the film is still showing in a few cinemas in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, so it’s worth making … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy, Films and TV | 9 Comments

Shorten and the cake

Posted on March 1, 2011 by James Farrell

Three things emerged from qanda last night. The first was that Malcolm Turnbull is out of control, and thinks he can undermine Tony Abbott at will. So there’s some fun in store. The other two are closely related. One is … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Economics and public policy, Politics - national, Uncategorized | 50 Comments

Pinchgut 2010

Posted on November 30, 2010 by James Farrell

Orpheus and Eurydice by Carlo Cignani (1628-1719) O everlasting gods! I see your lovely eyes and your beautiful face, and yet I cannot believe my own eyes! These are the sentiments of Orpheus on being reunited with Eurydice in Hades, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 1 Comment

The ‘raw, impassioned core’

Posted on November 19, 2010 by James Farrell

A fertile collaboration A brief reflection, albeit belated, on the passing of Henryk Górecki won’t be out of place in such a hive as ours of classical music enthusiasts. The Polish composer secured immortality with his Third Symphony. It’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Don’t cry, go and see Rigoletto!

Posted on October 12, 2010 by James Farrell

Joan Sutherland has passed on. Inevitably, obituarians are taking the opportunity to contend that she was the greatest soprano, or even the greatest singer, of the post war period, or even of the 20th Century. Others are content just to … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Theatre | 2 Comments