gregmelia

I like the stories of John LeCarre. So on the one hand, I like how Radio 4 are dramatising all the George Smiley books this season On the other hand, I’m disturbed how Merck & Co, a pharmaceuticals company, are reported as acting in a very ‘Constant Gardener’ fashion, though it’s really not actually surprising. [...]

How would one of the most influential theologians and church leaders of all time, have responded to one of the biggest issues facing Christianity today? Christians seem very good at preoccupying themselves with having spats about creationism, but current theologian/scientist Alister McGrath has written a very informative article in Christianity Today magazine about the views [...]

A new government internet game encourages people to hammer the heads of children without cycle helmets. Violent films are age-restricted in case they feed ideas to vulnerable minds, but the new, fairground shoot-em-up style Knockin’ Noggins game gives 10 points for every non-helmeted child that you hit with a big mallet, as soon as they [...]

I preached this yesterday, in St Cuthbert’s’ evening service. The readings were Acts 1:9-14 and Zechariah 14:2-22 As you’re probably aware, this Thursday is Ascension day. Ascension day holds one enduring memory for me. It’s the day when I once heard a preacher preach a sermon that included the phrase “space-time continuum”. When vicars do [...]

What’s the greatest threat to our planet? Is it nuclear war, overpopulation, automobiles, cow flatulence, pestilence, aliens? Nope. The greatest threat to our planet is … Cul-De-Sacs That’s right, cul-de-sacs, tract lawns, private homes, strip malls, traffic jams, subdivisions, franchise-built parking lots, three garages, clogged roads, 20 minute car trips to work, church, eat, shop, [...]

Mark Cavendish won the pink race leader’s jersey on Saturday, after his Columbia High Road team won the opening Team Time Trial stage of the Giro D’Italia – the world’s second most prestigious stage race after the Tour de France. Cav managed to hold onto the jersey for a second day, but lost it today [...]

People’s perception of safety has nothing to do with the reality. A striking current example can be found in the National Audit Office’s new report: DfT: Improving Safety for Pedestrians and Cyclists. Many people I know are too scared to cycle on our roads (or at least they say they are). However, look at the [...]

They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; 17 they have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. 18 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. Psalm 135:16-18 You must not worship the LORD your God in their way. [...]

Despite being a youth worker, I found a use for my electronics degree last night: debunking film stunts. Hollow Man (starring Kevin Bacon, of Apollo 13 fame) is about a scientist who makes himself invisible, but then starts doing all the things you can’t really do when people can see you, rape, pillage, murder etc. [...]

Are Critical Mass rides pro-cycling or anti-car? I’m not talking about the common accusation that a large group of cyclists occupying an entire lane is anti-car in itself; that merely shows how far our perceptions have been shaped by car dominance. Roads are for transporting people, not automobiles, so if most people choose to use [...]