RTRfm

Eaton Breakfast - Strikes Back

Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 +0800

Comedian Jimmy James Eaton joins Peter Bar for breakfast.

Always quirky and unusual – Jimmy talks to Pete about Troy Buswell, unicorns and … getting kicked out of home!?!?

Des Bishop's dad was nearly James Bond

Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 +0800

There’s a comedian in town with a lineage as convoluted as a daytime soap plot and who can make mirth out of misery.

Des Bishop’s a London born Irish comedian brought up in New York whose Dad was very nearly James Bond.

Not everyone can say that…

Des joined Pete for a chat about his latest work, _ My Dad Was Nearly James Bond_ that’s inspired by the appreciation Des has for his dad.

It’s about fatherhood, how his dad was meant to play James Bond (in place of George Lazenby) and … his illness.

Call for Early Cancer Screening

Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 +0800

A Breast Cancer specialist has said women should be checked for Breast Cancer at a younger age to prevent the need for radical surgical procedures.

PROFESSOR IAN BENNETT told the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress that a national screening program should be put in place for young women with a family history of the disease.

His statements are at odds with the Breast Cancer Screen Program, who recently recommended women with a high risk of Breast Cancer not be screened.

PROFESSOR IAN BENNETT joined Meri Fatin to discuss the matter further.

Twit... or Twat?

Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 +0800

It seems that an awards ceremony doesn’t go by without somebody losing their job the morning after…

Earlier this week, Comedian and columnist for Melbourne’s The Age newspaper CATHERINE DEVENY was sacked from her position at the paper following her twitter coverage of the Logies at the weekend.

Her comments about celebrities like Bindi Irwin and Rove McManus received criticism from fellow columnists, talkback radio hosts and fellow tweeters.

Meri Fatin spoke to Lecturer in Internet Studies at Cutin University DR TAMA LEAVER to discuss the ins and outs of social networking…

Making Bread on Breakfast

Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 +0800

Breakfast’s own culinary expert Luke Bolton returned to speak to Peter Barr after a fun night baking in his kitchen with his children.

With bread on his mind, the banter began…

Days of Change

Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 +0800

Brooke spoke to Gary Warden about a social networking for sustainability program called daysofchange and Helene Fisher about her experience at the Findhorn Ecovillage in the UK and how she applies that experience to facilitating change here in WA.

For more information check out daysofchange.org and findhorn.org.

Basement Birds

Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 +0800

Four of Australia’s premier singer/songwriters have come together to form one supergroup – a bit like the Travelling Wilbury’s but much younger.

One’s the front man for WA’s most successful band, one alternates between heading one of Perth’s indie darlings and knocking out solo songs under a non de plume.

Another has played in a number of adored local outfits and threatens to release a solo album soon, and the fourth is one of Sydney’s most successful singers.

They’re Kev from Eskimo Joe, Kevin Mitchell aka Bob Evans, Steve Parkin and Josh Pyke – together they’re Basement Birds and two of them joined Mr Barr for Breakfast.

There’s trouble in paradise….

Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 +0800

Divisions have deepened in Australia’s Wilderness Society following a weekend meeting that resulted in two opposing groups claiming to control the community-based environmental protection organisation.

It’s got messy with allegations of mismanagement, bullying, deceit and the election of a new national committee.

The incumbent leadership has failed to recognise this group.

So, what’s wrong with the Wilderness Society?

The group’s Executive Director Alec Marr joined Peter Barr on Breakfast…

Youngblood is visited by the Western Independent.

Sat, 01 May 2010 00:00:00 +0800

The Western Independent is a paper put out four times a year by Curtin Journalism students.

It offers an independent voice to Perth’s Mainstream news outlets.

To give Youngblood’s regular Youth News segment a bit of a shakeup, Adrian spoke with the deputy editors of the publication – Laura and Caroline.

Green Light For Sean Brown and the Red Lights

Sat, 01 May 2010 00:00:00 +0800

Sean Brown and the Red Lights are a local alternative rock band who mix sweaty grunge and classical training to make their sound.

They’ve just recorded their self-titled debut EP at Central Tafe and to chat about it Mr Brown joined Adrian in the studio.

Movie Squad - Iron Man 2

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0800

It’s that time of the week again as Paul Grace and Patrick Pittman don their catsuits for another turn in the Movie-Squad-mobile, captained by Iron Man Barr.

Only one movie this week and it’s a big ‘un…

‘Iron Man 2’ – directed by Jon Favreau. Starring Robert Downey Jr, Gwenyth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Don Cheadle.

Plot – After confessing his identity as Iron Man to the world, Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) comes under fire from the United States Government who demand he hand over the powerful weapon that is the Iron Man suit. As the Government attempts to create a duplicate suit with the assistance of Stark’s rival, Justin Hammer (Rockwell), Tony’s long time friend Jim Rhodes (Cheadle) is put center stage in the conflict. Meanwhile, a mysterious and dangerous foe emerges in Ivan Vanko (Rourke), who creates an alternate and powerful persona known as Whiplash in order to exact revenge on the Stark family once and for all… it isn’t long before he unites with Hammer in an effort to destroy Iron Man. With the arrival of his shady new assistant Natasha Romanoff (Johansson), and persistent recruitment attempts from S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Stark needs all the help he can get in order to overcome the obstacles.

Verdict: It seems like the story in this film is the thing between the awesome explosive set pieces, even though the screenplay had help from Justin Theroux who has previously worked with David Lynch. Cheadle works better as Rhodes than Terrance Howard in the first film but it was a bit blunt to use a completely different actor. There is absolutely no reason for Scarlett Johansson to be in the film other than for being Scarlett Johansson. The unnecessary ground work for the forthcoming Marvel conglomerate film The Avengers was kind of annoying and that’s the only reason Samuel L Jackson is in the film.

On the plus side – Robert Downey Junior is still totally awesome. He boozes and goes off the rails a little bit more in this film, possibly mirroring real life. But we have to say, Mickey Rourke totally stole the show as comeback kid number 2. His stereotypical Russian bad guy accent is awesome. At times we were gunning for him over Tony Stark.

All in all its a flabby movie that could have been better. It’s a fun, silly and wacky film but the first Iron Man was way cooler. And the ACDC soundtrack totally worked.

Kaki King - Junior

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0800

Didn’t know much about Kaki King before having a listen to this album, Junior. After getting her confused momentarily with King Khan, the only thing I found out about her before chucking her on was that she hailed from Altanta, Georgia, and had recorded in New York. I was hoping for a rich grungy southern vocal, but there’s something almost Swedish about her voice – kind of sparse, cold. King’s guitar, however, is warm and lush, complex and layered.

There’s a lot of pop numbers on this album, with some tracks sounding almost synthesised though I think all the instruments are real. Track 6, “My Nerves That Committed Suicide” is a bit more hearty, with some nice solid drums and rich instrumentation. I think that one benefited from a lack of vocals. The final song, “Sunnyside”, gave me a taste of what I was hoping for: just a heartfelt folk ditty by a woman with a guitar. It made me want to chase up her early stuff to see if there’s more like it, on albums that perhaps weren’t quite so produced.

Overall, the dominant soft pop sound of “Junior” doesn’t really do it for me, however if smooth guitar and/or pop melody are your thing then you may very well enjoy this album.

Countdown to the Pines with the Tucker Bs

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0800

The countdown continues to WA’s biggest celebration of local music.

In the Pines is back with an enormously excellent line-up that includes one of this town’s infamous freaks of raucous rock – men who pick you up on the side of the road and take you on a trip you’ll never forget.

They’re the Tucker B’s and they join me for Breakfast.

Federal Govt shelves ETS

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0800

When the Rudd Government was elected in 2007, the party’s climate change policy was central to its campaign.

Three years on and their Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme’s been shelved until 2013.

The legislation’s already been blocked twice by the senate and doesn’t look likely to be passed any time soon.

So why has the scheme received so much opposition?

And how committed is the government to fulfilling their election promise of lowering carbon emissions?

A poll, conducted by Auspoll on behalf of the Climate Institute, Conservation Foundation and other groups, shows climate change is still of great concern to two-thirds of Australians.

And the Climate Institute’s CEO John Connor joins me.

K Rudd in review

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0800

The Rudd Government’s shelving of its Emissions Trading Scheme’s been seen by many as a failure to deliver on a core component of its forthcoming election strategy.

With that election announcement looming, what other policies have been delivered, and what others are now sitting on the shelf with climate change policy?

Dr Ian Cook is a Senior Lecturer in Politics & International Study at Murdoch University and joins me to review Rudd.

Cut n Paste Get Ready to Party!

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0800

Most portable press comes in the form of a newspaper or a magazine but not this one.

Cut n Paste are a DVD street press that offer an alternative and they’re based in Perth.

On the brink of releasing their new issue, and a big party to go with it, John MacLiver from Cut n Paste spoke to Peter Barr on brekky.

Greens Come Clean

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0800

Weeks before the state budget is to be announced the Premier Colin Barnett has sacked Treasurer Troy Buswell.

The decision came after it was discovered that the treasurer had an extra-marital affair with Greens MP Adele Carles and on top of that had used taxpayer funds to pay for their secret meetings.

Carles says she spent her own money on the four month affair, which ended recently.

Will this damage the Greens and what now?

Greens Member for North Metropolitan Region Giz Watson joined Peter Barr on the Mag.

Bruce Peninsula - A Mountain Is A Mouth

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0800

I have a cousin called Bruce, he lives in Dapto and this band sounds nothing like him. This is a truly remarkable album – a theatrical journey down canyons, through gullies, over sweeping prairies. It sounds like hollering back and forth to a dear family member across an unfathomable canyon.

I don’t know the main vocalist’s name but this guy’s voice is sublime – similar to the whispered growl of M. Ward, but manlier, grainier, like ragged cliffs beaten by the ocean.

This album is large, epic, theatrical. Many of the tracks feature call and response between the growly man and a shouting chorus of men and women creating a lush soundscape like no other. This album is emotionally complex: at once aggressive, calming, and uplifting.

A Mountain is a Mouth sounds like hunting for survival in the wilderness, running through a forest being chased by a loping bear, crossing a choppy sea in a small canoe, arriving on a rugged undiscovered land with your tribe, your people; a chorus of them.

I can’t really single any tracks out, they all run together through this epic journey; a piece of music and of myth. A Mountain is a Mouth a weighty, wild, moving masterpiece.

Chutney Delight!

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0800

Luke Bolton has a lovely pear and he wants to share it with you.

A demon in the kitchen, he joined Peter Barr on Breakfast to whip up a Spicy Pear Chutney.

Flora and Fauna

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0800

On this weeks program Katherine Howard brings us a snapshot of the rally held outside parliament house on April 22 calling for the protection of the Beeliar wetlands. For more information go to www.savebeeliarwetlands.com
Kate heads out to a roadside verge and finds out why over 200 people participated in the great Carnaby’s cockatoo count of April 7th 2010. For more information go to www.birdsaustralia.com.au
Kath speaks to Dr Rob Davis from Edith Cowan University about the impacts of palm oil plantations on the local bird life on an island off the coast of Papua New Guinea.