Monday Open Thread

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150 comments to Monday Open Thread

  • #

    Huge news. MIT says one-day to seasonal battery technology does not exist! Only reasonably possible way to make wind and solar reliable. Cost is not an issue if the technology does not exist. Cost is literally incalculable.

    https://wattsupwiththat.com/2022/05/29/mit-weighs-in-on-energy-storage/

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    • #
      kevin kilty

      Any number of us have been say for years now that in terms of resources used, nonexistent storage, and needed overbuilding for sake of reliability, abandonment of fossil fuels to rely on wind and solar was a fantasy. I gave an invited talk on this topic at a college in 2007.

      To paraphrase a line from the movie “The Big Lift” people from MIT only believe other people from MIT.

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    • #
      Kalm Keith

      Extraordinary.

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      • #
        Robert Swan

        Kalm Keith,

        I’m afraid Kranky Keith has been borrowing your identity. Today’s several sarcastic responses to David+Wojick are a dead giveaway.

        Here’s a possibly related anecdote: I believe that when he wanted to make someone aware of the low opinion he had of their views, the great man Churchill would sometimes get out his hearing aid control box and ostentatiously turn it off.

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    • #

      Technically what they say is that today’s technology is far too expensive, which is what I have been saying. But the technology does exist.

      Their idea is to develop very low cost batteries using widely available cheap materials. We do not know this is possible so wind and solar deployment should wait and see.

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      • #
        Kalm Keith

        Incisive!

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      • #
        another ian

        “Then there is hope – but hope is not a strategy” – E.M. Smith

        “It is a fact that the German War Department has advertised (10th April 1940) for an ersatz accumulator, to be constructed almost entirely from materials found within the Reich. A prize of RM 10,000 is offered and the competition closes on 1st Jnuary 1941”

        R.V. Jones “Most Secret War”

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      • #
        Bodge it an Scarpa

        What is you opinion of Elon Musk’s new Graphene battery ? If all the claims made in the video are true then it could be a game changer
        https://fb.watch/dfMcfrz434/

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        • #
          robert rosicka

          There’s always a new battery on the drawing board but none ever eventuate.

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          • #
            Bodge it an Scarpa

            If you watched the video, it would seem that the Graphene battery has well passed the drawing board stage and may will have entered limited production.

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            • #
              Ted1

              Supercapacitors are already on the market, in use on a small scale. They are comparatively expensive, but not so much as to exclude hope that they can be produced more cheaply.

              I understand that it is graphene that malkes them technically possible, and graphene technology is still under development. If graphene can even part way emulate the silicon chip on production costs, this technology should revolutionise the energy market.

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    • #
      OldOzzie

      Even the Wall Street Journal Understands the Problem

      America’s Summer of Rolling Blackouts

      Green energy policies are making the nation’s electric-power grid increasingly unstable.

      By The WSJ Editorial Board

      Summer is around the corner, and we suggest you prepare by buying an emergency generator, if you can find one in stock. Last week the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) warned that two-thirds of the U.S. could experience blackouts this summer. Welcome to the “green energy transition.”

      We’ve been warning for years that climate policies would make the grid more vulnerable to vacillations in supply and demand. And here we are. Some of the mainstream press are belatedly catching on that blackouts are coming, but they still don’t grasp the real problem: The forced transition to green energy is distorting energy markets and destabilizing the grid.

      Progressives blame the grid problems on climate change. There’s no doubt that drought in the western U.S. is a contributing factor. NERC’s report notes that hydropower generators in the western U.S. are running at lower levels, and output from thermal (i.e., nuclear and fossil fuel) generators that use the Missouri River for cooling may be affected this summer.

      But the U.S. has experienced bad droughts in the past. The problem now is the loss of baseload generators that can provide reliable power 24/7. Solar and wind are rapidly increasing, but they’re as erratic as the weather and can’t be commanded to ramp up when electricity demand surges.

      One problem is that subsidies enable wind and solar generators to turn a profit even when the supply of electricity exceeds demand.

      Coal and nuclear plants, on the other hand, can’t make money running only some of the time, so many have shut down. Natural-gas-fired plants can help pick up the slack, but there aren’t enough of them to back up all of the renewables coming onto the grid.

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      • #
        Ted1

        You mention river water for cooling. I went with my father on a tour of the 2,000 MW Liddell power station when construction was nearing completion in 1965. I recall that the evaporation from the artificial lake attributed to the power station cooling was 34 cusecs. A quick calc says about 85 megalitres a day.

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      • #
        Bozotheclown

        From the WSJ article: ….

        output from thermal (i.e., nuclear and fossil fuel) generators that use the Missouri River for cooling may be affected this summer.

        I’d like to know where they get this information. The Missouri watershed is quite above normal flow rates and the central western US has been receiving above normal rain.

        I think this is either old information or more fake news.

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    • #
      DLK

      this has always been the case (obviously),
      but politicians have continued to pour money into technology that is not viable.

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  • #
    Vlad the Impaler

    Preliminary summary of the rally in Casper, Wyoming, by President Trump for Harriet Hageman (to displace Liz Cheney, Republican Primary on 16 August):

    Great rally, there were no issues or other security concerns; he’s as popular as ever (at least in Wyoming). I’m told there was live stream of the event, but I’ve not located where that happened (which would usually mean that there is a recording that can be accessed).

    Follow-up if I find some archive of the event,

    Vlad

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      kevin kilty

      My wife listened to it live. If I don’t hear from you before then, I will ask her about a podcast when she gets home later today.

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    • #
      another ian

      Try here

      “President Trump MAGA Rally, Casper Wyoming – 4pm MDT, 6pm EDT Livestream Links
      May 28, 2022 | Sundance | 404 Comments”

      https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2022/05/28/president-trump-maga-rally-casper-wyoming-4pm-mdt-6pm-edt-livestream-links/

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    • #
      Pulltheotherone

      Watched it live on Gettr via Real America’s Voice & RSBN broadcast. All his rally’s can be viewed on Gettr.
      You have got an excellent candidate in Harriet, her speech was very effective. Latest poll has her up by 30 points. https://gettr.com/streaming/p1br0473e8a

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      • #
        Vlad the Impaler

        Greetings to you, “Pull”,

        I and many other Wyomingites are hopeful that your information is accurate. Please note: I’m not saying it is inaccurate, I’m just hopeful that Liz is toast.

        I’ve received no less than four robo-poll calls (the ones where they give you the options for candidates, and you press the correct number on the keypad for the candidate of your choice). Obviously, someone is worried, and keeps ‘taking the temperature’ of the electorate. In the 48 years I’ve lived in Wyoming, I’ve only received one other poll call (it happened to be a live call, and it was Mitt Romney vs. Hussein.

        Thanks to those who have found the link; make sure you watch the presentation by Lauren Boebert from Colorado. For those who might not otherwise know, Weld County, just north of Denver, has petitioned to secede from Colorado and become part of Wyoming; parts of Western Colorado have floated the idea of becoming part of Utah. The Metroplex around Denver has become unresponsive to the needs of large parts of the State, so who knows what might happen.

        Thanks for everything, to everyone, especially you, “Pull”, and Another Ian.

        Vlad

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          Dave in the States

          I got a live survey call from a Liz acolyte last year. I won’t go into details, but I will say that I was apalled by the level of distain and contempt Liz has for her constituents. I have also lived in Northern Virginia for a few years. I know the good and bad of NOVA culture. She is all in for the Swamp.

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          KP

          “The Metroplex around Denver has become unresponsive to the needs of large parts of the State,”

          Yup! Ask anyone in the country outside of Sydney or Melbourne… In politics we just don’t count.

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  • #
    • #
      Kalm Keith

      That’s an inspiring link; its object of bypassing the Davos insertion in our society is something to think about.

      Don’t fight them; bypass them.

      I would like to have a competitor to the computer programme “Microsoft Office” that allows me to wave the finger at Billy gotes — other examples of “bypassing”?

      KK

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      • #
        another ian

        Have a look at Open Office and Libre Office.

        I’ve been using OO for years with just that intent.

        But seems ATM that Bing is at the better end of unbiased search engines

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        • #
          yarpos

          I have been using Libre Office for many years. Its a very competent product and you can produce files in its native open format or in a number of MS compatible formats. I havent found a downside to using it yet but my use is mostly docs and spreadsheets so I havent used the other components much.

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        • #
          another ian

          KK

          Put “libre office versus apache open office” into your search engine should give you a number of comparisons.

          IIRC they’re pretty much the same but Libre Office doesn’t need Java

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      • #
        Ted1

        it was always my observation that MS has just one killer product. Excel.

        All the rest, especially MS Windows, ride on the back of Excel.

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    • #
      Honk R Smith

      I have occasion to be on Johns Hopkins U. campus.
      Just noticed large new construction ‘Center for Global Democracy’.
      I’m sure it will be nice.
      Haven’t the slightest what ‘global democracy’ is.
      I think perhaps it includes mandated injections of something.
      I’m sure China is participating eventually, you know, after they modernize.

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    • #
      Vlad the Impaler

      And that was a ways into his presentation; there was also a part before The President spoke wherein local dignitaries had either live, or pre-recorded remarks, and also, Mrs. Hageman made a short speech, in which she asked for all of our votes. While standing in line (from 11 AM to 2:20 PM) everyone I spoke to was voting for Mrs. Hageman, hoping against hope that we can oust Liz Cheney from the November General Election.

      President Trump also mentioned the issue with the DemonCRATS who intend to ‘switch’ parties at the Primary Election polls, in order to vote for Liz Cheney, even though they won’t vote for her in November. Lest you think this is not legal under Wyoming law, it is. Obviously, it is a sign of the shallowness of DemonCRAT morals, and I pointed out in a letter to the editor of our local newspaper, tells me that DemonCRATs do not believe in free, and fair elections. While I tried to bring up the evidence presented in Mollie Hemingway’s Rigged and the movie, 2000 Mules, the editors removed those references from the published version of the letter.

      If you need to see 2000 Mules, it is somewhere on bitchute, and also Dinesh D’szouza’s website ( I do not think I am spelling that correctly ).

      A friend who was unable to attend, and lives in Colorado, is also searching for the most complete version of the rally. Very early on, Representative Lauren Boebert from Western Colorado gave one of the best rally speeches ever; the crowd was totally fired up by her! She called herself, ‘The RINO [Republican In Name Only] Hunter’, since many Wyomingites view Liz Cheney as a full-fledged RINO.

      The Primary is 16 August (a Tuesday here on this side of the Pond; it will be Wednesday for most of y’all Down Under). As early as possible, I hope to be able to put up a post for the Hageman vs. Cheney results. If you should happen to be one who makes entreaty with The Almighty, I know a whole lot of Wyomingites who would welcome your intercession on our behalf,

      Vlad

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  • #
    Petros

    Kalm Keith, that would be Libre Office.

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  • #
    Sambar

    Couple of examples of creative journalism in Australia.
    Ex #1 In “News.com” it is reported that the newly elected Prime Minister will have some difficulties fulfilling his election promises, however after “sweeping” the Liberal party from office the Labour Party has a clear “mandate” to push through its election promises.
    Well, if getting less primary votes than the encumbent party, then having the lowest vote count EVER to win office, with a couple of seats still in doubt and only 31% of voters thinking you are best choice, I suppose this must be true.

    Ex#2 Reported on main steam TV news last night of all the people currently in hospital 30% of these are either unvacinated or vacs status is unknown. These figures coming from a approximately 5% of the poulation who remain unvaccinated.

    Well great way to demonise the unvaccinated, but of course missing the point that 70% of people in hospital are fully vaccinated. No mention that vacinations at best appear to have very low rates of efficiency. The problem is those non compliant people no matter how small the numbers are!

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  • #
    DD

    Tony Heller comments on the latest ‘Arctic Report Card’:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy5noFG4LnY

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  • #
    OldOzzie

    Western Media Confirming Russia Solidifying Gains in Eastern Ukraine Donbas Region

    May 29, 2022 – Sundance

    The Associated Press [HERE] and more importantly the U.S. Intel Community outlet, the Washington Post [HERE], are beginning to change direction in their narration of the war in Ukraine.

    Both sources of information are starting to position Eastern Ukraine as a lost cause, with the Washington Post giving specific examples of conscripted Ukraine fighters who are abandoning the effort in the donbas region. As noted, “after three months of war, this company of 120 men is down to 54 because of deaths, injuries and desertions. The volunteers were civilians before Russia invaded on Feb. 24, and they never expected to be dispatched to one of the most dangerous front lines in eastern Ukraine.”

    The Ukraine commander, Serhi Lapko and one of his lieutenants, Vitaliy Khrus, “retreated with members of their company this week to a hotel away from the front. There, both men spoke to The Washington Post on the record, knowing they could face a court-martial and time in military prison.” Together, Lapko and Khrus describe the essential elements of a fragmented Ukraine fighting force up against a committed Russian military advance.

    Even the Washington Post admits the Ukraine central government is desperate to push morale boosting propaganda which seems constructed from the efforts of the U.S. State Dept, specifically the intelligence community within it. “Videos of assaults on Russian tanks or positions are posted daily on social media. Artists are creating patriotic posters, billboards and T-shirts. The postal service even released stamps commemorating the sinking of a Russian warship in the Black Sea.”

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    • #
      OldOzzie

      Zelensky Signals Donbas Could Soon Fall: “Indescribably Difficult” Russian Onslaught

      In a Saturday night speech Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave his most dire assessment to date of the status of Ukraine forces in the eastern Donbas region, where for over at least the last two months Russia has concentrated its forces, following the Feb.24 invasion of the country. Saturday marked the 95th day of the conflict.

      He described conditions there as “indescribably difficult” in what marks a notably pessimistic shift and negative tone for the Ukrainian leader, strongly suggesting the fall of Donbas – or at least whole regions such as Luhansk – could be imminent. He identified several intense ongoing battles in places with a large Russian force presence, including Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Bakhmut and Popasna. Sievierodonets in particular is scene of fierce up-close street battles.

      Jim Rickards
      @JamesGRickards

      Americans have been fed a steady diet of propaganda about Ukraine “winning.” In fact, Russia has taken Lyman (a key logistics hub) and has encircled the Ukrainian army in Sievierodonetsk. I’m not pro-Russian. I am pro-American, and pro-sticking to facts.

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  • #
    • #
      OldOzzie

      I suppose she has to do it for domestic political reasons, but Wong is wasting her time in the Pacific.

      The China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Action Cooperation Center was officially launched at the end of April.

      Hidden away in the CCP MiniTruth promise of Chinese altruism and free money lies an accidental truth about what the helpless little brown people can do for themselves:

      They could also change the traditional marine management model, to rent out marine space in exchange for necessary economic support, and require the lessee to manage the region with high standards.

      Translation: Cash for Big Fellas, Chinese factory ships trawl every living thing off the reefs.

      Traditional.

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      • #
        OldOzzie

        China’s Fishing Fleet Is Vacuuming the Oceans

        In the past five years, more than 500 abandoned wooden fishing boats, often with skeletons of starved North Korean fishermen aboard, have washed up on the shores of Japan. For years the cause was unknown, until it was found out that the likely reason was that “an armada” of Chinese industrial boats fish illegally in North Korean waters…. It is estimated that China’s fishing vessels have depleted squid stocks in North Korean waters by 70%.

        Most of the fishing vessels in China’s fleet are trawlers. “Fishing by trawling method sweeps out the seafloor in the south, and annihilates its resources,” a representative of the fishermen said.

        In a number of West African countries — Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and others — Chinese trawlers have for years “taken advantage of poor governance, corruption and the inability of these governments to enforce fishing regulations” according to the China-Africa project. “Today, the Chinese vessels largely operate beyond government control, prompting an increasingly serious environmental crisis brought on from over-fishing that also endangers local coastal communities who depend on these waters for their livelihoods”. In July 2020, six Chinese super-trawlers arrived in Liberia, capable of capturing 12,000 tons of fish — nearly twice the nation’s sustainable catch.

        In South America, Chinese predatory fishing is now so critical that in March, Argentina announced the creation of a Maritime Joint Command to combat the predatory fishing practices of foreign vessels.

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        • #
          Tel

          It’s easy to stop trawlers … just drop random metal junk onto the seabed to jag the nets.

          North Korea can do this anytime. Heck, they are smart guys I would presume they can think of even better ways to rip the nets … some arrangement of stainless steel wires and small floats would do the trick.

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      • #

        Well that aged well. Basically China has pulled back and past of the reason was Australia’s diplomacy lead by Penny Wong.

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  • #
    Greg in NZ

    Governor Gavin Newsom goes down with Covert-19 after meeting with Jabcinder to sign a climate pact between California & New Zealand. That’ll learn him.

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      Honk R Smith

      “a climate pact between California & New Zealand”

      Thank God, we’re saved.
      Totally worth all the fossil fuel expenditure to consummate the deal.
      Jacinda and Gavin consummating,
      Totally intentionally putting that image in your heads.
      Because I’m a humanitarian.

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      • #
        Ross

        Not before all those lovely Teal ladies save the earth first!! Labor Party doesn’t need them for the next 3 years, so there will be endless virtue signalling stunts by them. I can see the Teals signing climate pacts with NZ, California, Canada. etc The possibilities are endless.

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    • #
      Dave in the States

      So states are conducting their own foreign policy now? Kind of like the Japanese Army of the 1930s.

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      • #
        Greg in NZ

        Yeah, Dave, what’s up with that?!

        Wang Yi (?) from China is signing up ‘pacts’ with Fiji, Samoa, Kiribati, the Solomons… Cindarella gets a funny hat from Harvard, signs some mumbo-jumbo 2050 ‘zero’ carbon paper with CA’s governor, then warbles on about banning guns.

        She’s meeting your President Joe Dementia in the next few days – could be a ‘super-spreader’ event – they’re all ‘fully-protected’ AND boostered… yeah nah.

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  • #
    another ian

    The Fates with a sense of humour

    “TWO OF THE WORLD’S BIGGEST LOCKDOWN NAZIS MEET EACH OTHER, GET COVID.”

    https://instapundit.com/522795/

    Via http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/2022/05/29/please-tase-em-bro/

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      Annie

      My favourite comment on that thread:

      ‘Tyrannosarus Vax’.

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      • #
        Annie

        Were they both genuinely vaxxed or only saline injected for show?

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          Greg in NZ

          Annie, she went into ‘isolation’ a few days before the budget was released (very convenient) two weeks ago. The Covid Czar, Ashley Bloomfield, also got the bug and ‘isolated’. Now Newsom is ‘isolating’…

          ™Fully protected AND boostered™ the lot of ’em (cough!).

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  • #
    el+gordo

    ‘Sensible climate action has to be ‘top of the list’ for Dutton, Trent Zimmerman says.

    ‘The outgoing member for North Sydney says climate change should be the first policy that Peter Dutton reconsiders after he is elected leader of the Liberal Party.’ (SMH)

    ——-

    Dutton is a climate change skeptic in Opposition, waiting to see what legislation the government has on the table. Zimmermann will be shocked when his advise is ignored, the gloves are off.

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    • #
      Fritz

      According to the Climate Council “Net zero emissions refers to achieving an overall balance between greenhouse gas emissions produced and greenhouse gas emissions taken out of the atmosphere.”

      Ian Plimer has noted that Australia has reached and in fact, is well beyond net zero.

      See his comments on Outsiders:
      https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/outsiders/australia-has-been-at-net-zero-for-a-long-time-ian-plimer/video/0538227964ace8414356a15203cfb282

      and, his article in The Spectator:
      https://www.spectator.com.au/2022/05/australia-is-already-at-net-zero/

      On what basis have those in Canberra and elsewhere determined that we need to chase a target we are already meeting?

      If the figures he quotes on emission and sequestration are incorrect, what are the correct figures?

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      • #
        yarpos

        Its not about nett zero , whatever that actually means from time to time.
        Its about being seen to be “doing something” , about virtue signaling, about greasing the path to future UN/WEF roles and about appeasing a noisy minority. None of it has to make sense or actually achieve anything useful. Sadly it will actually be destructive.

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      Rupert Ashford

      Zimmerman? One of the has-beens? The ones who made a lot of noise and was endorsed by everybody in the Greens, Labor and the MSM, but then those same people who endorsed him and gave him a platform and a mike went and voted for Greens and Labor rather than for him? Now whodathunk?

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  • #
    OldOzzie

    LOOSE ENDS (168)

    • Okay, this whole inflation/supply chain thing has reached full-blown crisis stage:

    Burger Prices to Remain High as Cattle Ranchers Shrink Herds

    Burgers and steaks are set to stay pricey as U.S. cattle ranchers shrink their herds, further constraining U.S. beef production in the months ahead.

    Rising costs for feed and other expenses are leading ranchers to sell their calves into feedlots at a faster pace, according to federal data, leaving fewer cattle available for slaughter later this year and in 2023. . . Beef production in 2023 is expected to decline 7% and cattle prices are expected to increase to record highs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said this month.

    If you have a freezer (and backup generation for the likely summer rolling blackouts coming our way), stock up on beef now.

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  • #
    OldOzzie

    Top Ender
    says:

    May 30, 2022 at 8:50 am

    The Oz’s front page story today:

    Ruby’s Story: I didn’t want dad jailed, but I was scared he would kill me

    For testifying against a man who had mercilessly bashed and repeatedly r@ped his own daughter, Yuendumu woman Serita Ross was attacked with an axe. And, she says, it’s not over yet.

    By KRISTIN SHORTEN

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      Kalm Keith

      Violence; past, present and emerging.

      Surely this sort of thing isn’t the reason that children were once separated from their families?

      Stolen may have been the least worst option.

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      • #
        yarpos

        nobody ever finishes the because statement

        separated because …….
        arrested because …….
        incarcerated because ……

        there lies the twin risks of responsibility and consequences

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  • #
    el+gordo

    Moderate faction has plans to send the party into political wilderness.

    ‘Queensland Nationals backbencher Michelle Landry said the current policy clearly was not enough.

    “Climate change is something that we seriously need to talk about,” she said.

    “I think that it’s caused us a lot of grief and that we need to come to a serious decision about it.” (ABC)

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      el+gordo

      Little Proud wins, its the end of the Nats.

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      Len

      The silly Nationals have elected globalist David Littleproud as their leader`. He is full on for the Net Zero. Only thing they dodged a bigger bullet with Darren Chester not taking the leadership. Looks like One Nation will get the conservative Nats support.

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      • #
        el+gordo

        Yep, the association of cranky women is well pleased with itself.

        Perhaps the Party should split?.

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    Mayday

    Atlassian founder Mike Cannon-Brookes “has floated a proposal for the company (AGL) to phase out coal by 2035 – and make green loans available to customers to switch households to 100 percent renewable electricity.” source; SkyNews app; AGL drops plans to emerge coal business. 30/5/2022.

    With AGL coal sales at zero in 2035, does this turn AGL into a loan company?
    To qualify for that cheap 100% renewable green electricity loan, will you need to mortgage your house?

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      Ross

      MCB also stated that it would cost about $100k to convert each household to fully ruinable. He sort of let the cat out of the bag there. For him $100k would be loose change but to the average Aussie, a small fortune. It was his “let them eat cake” moment.

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        yarpos

        He left out the part where a fair chunk of that has to be renewed on a regular basis. No more just pay your power bill its life long penury to salve MCBs ego.

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      rowjay

      So Mike C-B has spent about $650 million for an 11% stake in AGL. He then intends to remove about 8,000 MW of firm coal-fired power from our grid by 2035, and replace it with what????

      The Australian Energy Council reported here for early 2021:

      The most recent GenCost (a collaboration between the CSIRO and AEMO which provides an annual update of electricity generation and storage costs) shows battery capital costs have fallen from $1964/kW to $1783/kW and from $491/kWh to $446/kWh.

      Why didn’t he instead propose to spend about $14 billion (8,000,000 kW x $1,750) and really build the worlds biggest battery at the Liddel PS site in the Hunter Valley to cover the loss of firm coal power? The answer is in the $400+ / kWh cost of battery power to the grid – makes the current obscene $200-$300/mWh wholesale price seem reasonable.

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      • #
        Chad

        $400+/kWh is the cost to BUY battery storage. No use it
        Battery storage adds about $100-$200 $/MWh to wholesale costs ($0.1 – $0.20 /kWh )

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        • #
          rowjay

          Thanks for the correction Chad.

          I suppose the owners of these large scale batteries will need to pay the going rate to have them charged, and then recoup their capital and operating costs when supplying power to the grid. Is this included in the additional “$100-$200 $/MWh to wholesale costs” mentioned above?

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  • #
    OldOzzie

    It’s Obama’s fault

    Our current period of political turmoil can be considered to have begun with the presidential election of 2008. The meteoric rise of a virtual unknown from the Illinois state Senate to the White House is fairly unprecedented. Though he lacked any depth of understanding of why things are the way they are, Mr. Obama was gifted with a commanding stage presence. After all, superficial appeal invariably trumps substance among the political activist community.

    Then came the midterm elections of 2010. The vast public resentment for the Affordable Care Act (AKA “Obamacare”) led to a “shellacking” of epic proportions, causing Dan Balz of the Washington Post to declare that the Democrats no longer had a “bench” from which new political talent could rise.

    When Obama was termed out going into the election of 2016, the Democrat establishment reached down to the bottom of the barrel and pulled out Hillary Clinton. She, along with the eminently forgettable Tim Kaine, lost to a total political novice who made little, if any, effort to control his public utterances.

    Mr. Trump, however, knew very well why things were the way they were. He also was an experienced problem-solver and resource organizer. Thus began an extended hair-on-fire period for the minions of the progressive left, whom Obama brought into positions of power within his government.

    In order to defeat Trump, the next time around, the progressive establishment had to further scrape out what was left of the barrel to acquire the archetypical empty suit. In order to protect Joe Biden from the 25th Amendment, they put an accomplished babbling fool on the ticket as well.

    Doubts remain as to the authenticity of the election that put Biden and Harris in charge of the federal government. But rather than directly defend the mechanics of the balloting process or justify the slanted news coverage that suppressed anti-Biden information, Biden’s defenders continue with a strenuous effort to impose official censorship of those who publicly challenge Biden’s legitimacy. What cannot be censored is that, in the same election that put Biden and Harris in office, the Republicans picked up fourteen seats in the House of Representatives. Go figure.

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      Zane

      Obama was a carefully groomed and selected globalist puppet. No one gets on the ticket of a US presidential election by accident, let alone into the oval office. Deep forces were behind the ” rise ” of the unknown Obama. Think Bilderbergers. Trump was seen as a buffoon, a 100-1 shot, thus was allowed to run against the DC swamp favorite Hillary. Or maybe they just made a mistake. They are not omnipotent. Nobody was more surprised than the Donald himself when he beat the Democrat’s cheat algorithms and won. Next time, they had to invent a fake pandemic to destroy him.

      🤣

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    From Terry McCrann in yesterday’s NSW Sunday Telegraph –

    Talking about the new Australian Federal Government and the new Treasurer and Finance Minister now in charge of the purse strings to the Federal Budget.

    “In Chalmers we have a fiscal fiend who’s spent his entire life managing and manoeuvring in the backroom of Politics and that of Labour Politics in particular. He does have a degree in communications, although as I noted earlier in the week, a tendency to hysterical exaggeration. As his right hand person overseeing the $626 Billion of your money heading for $800 Billion, he has a former Mayor of a large provincial city. Gallagher’s biggest previous job was ACT first minister. Clearly our finances and our future are in the very best of hands.”

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      Dennis

      “Chalmers returned to work for Wayne Swan in the Department of the Treasury, as deputy chief of staff and principal adviser (2007–2010) and then as chief of staff (2010–2013).

      He briefly served as the executive director of the Chifley Research Centre in 2013. In the same year he published Glory Daze, a book about the disconnect between Australia’s strong economic performance and popular discontent with government.”

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        yarpos

        Stand by for the “OMG, there is a massive $ blackhole” …. “it’s worse than we thought” …”some of our plans will be delayed, buts its all the LNPs fault” usual incoming government stuff.

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    Zane

    A few years ago at a public library foyer I noticed a poster from the Geelong council proclaiming ” Toward the Zero Waste Household “. This may be a harbinger of where things are headed, wastewise, together with bans on plastics. A while ago someone on a UK forum mentioned that where they lived in Scotland the council only collected rubbish every 6 weeks or so. In my locality, general rubbish is now picked up only fortnightly, and we have 4 bins taking up space outside. A purple-lidder for glass, a yellow monster for paper, plastics, aluminum and the like, a large green one for garden waste and food scraps – this is now collected weekly – and the smaller ” landfill ” bin. A larger-sized landfill bin can apparently be requested from the shire for those who need it. Glass is only collected once a month, the other recyclables fortnightly. So on occasion you have three bins lined up together on the nature strip. Next door is a block of 8 flats – great fun finding space curbside for 24 bins. Luckily not all of the flats are always occupied.

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      Annie

      I wonder just how much plastic goes into making all those bins?!
      We have a large bin for mixed recycling collected fortnightly here. We do not have a waste bin as it costs a huge amount for little waste on our part. If we did, it would be a weekly collection. We are in country Victoria and collect our rubbish in an old recycling bin which my husband takes to the local tip once a reasonable amount has accummulated. A charge is made but yearly costs are far lower for us.
      I have two plastic mushroom boxes (thanks Aldi) on the side in the kitchen. One is for fruit and veg scraps that the sheep love, the other for compost.

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        Annie

        Oh, and burnable rubbish goes into the campfire bin.

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        Chris

        Enjoy your plastic Annie. Just as bacteria adapted and now eat oil spills, other bacteria have developed a taste for plastic. They have been found in rubbish tips and in the floating plastic islands. Plastic can be recycled and reused, much more sensible than wiping out forests to produce paper bags.

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    Zane

    Well, AGL has now ditched its demerger plans and the CEO has resigned. The greens will be whooping and hollering. Expect more pressure on AGL to close its coal-fired generators and ” transition ” to ” clean ” energy.

    Not good.

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      KP

      That seems to be obvious, but if I was in charge I’d concentrate on the clearly-signaled collapse of the Australian grid without coal power, and start work on maximising the investment in coal stations. They could push harder for people to have to sign up for ‘green’ electricity or ‘reliable’ electricity and make the price difference noticeable. ‘Green’ customers get turned off at sundown..

      That spoiled kid Loose-Cannon-Brookes is whooping and hollering, he obviously has a lot of money to make in destroying AGL, and he might prove to be one of the most dangerous people in the country just because he is individually rich and not tied to a political party.

      “AGL’s board of directors confirmed it would abort an upcoming shareholder vote on the controversial demerger” I assume this means the other five didn’t want to lose their cushy sinecures by having shareholders vote the demerger down and then they ALL get fired. This way only the Chairman & CEO go. I’d love to see the arguments that lead to this decision.

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      Dennis

      Chilly here on the NSW Mid Coast today and warning of snow on the Great Dividing Range soon this week.

      Just after 2.00 pm 18C is the official temperature but I am about to turn the reverse cycle air conditioning onto heat because it is getting colder inside my home.

      And my firewood supply has not yet arrived.

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        Hanrahan

        It was a toss up here between taking off my shirt and switching on the fan. Decorum won and I switched on the fan.

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          el+gordo

          On the Central Tablelands NSW its cool and we are into our winter gear, fires going.

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            Greg in NZ

            20 C, 90% humidity, muggy nor’wester from the tropics today (after Sunday’s low in the mid-Tasman slammed us with torrential cats ‘n’ dogs). T-shirt, shorts and gumboots at work today.

            BoM’s calling sub-zero snow for Thredbo the next 6-7 days… you can have it.

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              Sambar

              “BoM’s calling sub-zero snow for Thredbo the next 6-7 days… you can have it.”

              No G in NZ the Bom is calling it a “polar blast”. We no longer have summer weather we only get “extreme heat” we no longer have cold fronts we only get “polar blasts”
              Never miss an opportunity to raise the terror level in the sheeple

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              Sceptical+Sam

              Snow? A very rare and exciting event.

              Let me get my sledge lined up.

              Didn’t that scientist of outstanding perspicacity, Dr David Viner, once say “snowfalls are now just a thing of the past”? Hmmm….. and that was in the year 2000.

              And, didn’t the incomparable CSIRO forecast the end of Australia’s snow fields some 16 years ago?

              CSIRO climate change expert Dr Penny Whetton says Australia’s mountain snow cover could be reduced by up to 54 per cent by 2020.

              “The probability of any precipitation falling as snow rather than rain is going to decrease, and any snow lying on the ground is going to melt more quickly,” she said.

              https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-05-28/global-warming-to-shorten-ski-season-csiro/2450790

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    Robber

    How not to build an efficient and reliable electricity generation system to meet demand that varies from an overnight low of 18,000 MW to an evening peak demand of 30,000 MW:
    Install 8,800 MW of generators on thousands of tall towers scattered across the countryside that on average deliver 2,600 MW but sometimes for days at a time deliver less than 1,000 MW.
    Install over 15,000 MW of solar panels that deliver on average just 2,800 MW, but vary from zero at night to 10,000 MW when the sun shines.
    Add 8,000 MW of hydro that can deliver peaking capacity except in times of droughts.
    Add 14,000 MW of coal-based generation but force it to vary output from 11,000 to 17,000 MW each 24 hours to respond to the vagaries of wind and solar output.
    Add 5,000 MW of gas generators that can ramp up and down to keep supply and demand in balance every second of every day.
    Now start to close coal generators and replace with more wind and solar – a disaster coming to your neighbourhood soon.
    Wait, I forgot to add batteries that occasionally deliver 100 MW for an hour or so.

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      yarpos

      and synchronous condensors and layers of management systems required to keep the whole expensive mess stable.

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    Dennis

    NSW Transport Electric Buses

    Made in China BYD EV and EB were going to be Made in Australia in New South Wales after a deal was done by the NSW Coalition Government woke LINO left Minister Matt Green, sorry, Matt Keen.

    But by chance I discovered what has not been in the general news as far as I am aware;

    UPDATE, 17 February 2022: Ambitious plans to build a new $700 million electric vehicle manufacturing facility in NSW have been scrapped, Drive understands.

    Sydney-based company Nexport – which is also the Australian distributor for soon-to-launch Chinese marque BYD – had previously promised to assemble zero-emission cars and electrify 8000 public buses domestically, while employing more than 2000 Southern Highland residents.

    However the undeveloped 94.5 hectare rural site originally earmarked for the project has since been listed for sale online, and Nexport has conceded its plans were never financially viable without tax-payer subsidies.

    ……………………

    Another example of taxpayer subsidies if the project had proceeded, so it looks like the demise of the woke LINO in NSW is proceeding well.

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    Zane

    I doubt many of the Teal candidates have ever worried about paying an electricity bill.

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      Dennis

      The now MP for Wentworth, Eastern Suburbs Sydney, was asked about renewable energy and the rising electricity prices and she replied that people can go to a website to find the best price, vaguely.

      She is an EV fan and wants us all to drive one, but said she would allow Range Rovers (Eastern Suburb Mum’s Taxi 4WD I believe she meant).

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        Dennis

        Another pale Green, North Sydney now MP I think it was, explained that she has no interest in economics or defence and would leave them to others.

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          yarpos

          Imagine the value add these light weight latte sippers will bring to Parliament. Their faces will be stuck in their mobile phones most of the time.

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      b.nice

      And certainly have never worried about someone else not being able to pay their electricity bill !

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    KP

    The West are struggling to cope with the destruction of their fairy tale about ‘Russia falling apart’.

    The Socialist Morning Herald article was all about how bad things will be for the average Russian yet managed to completely miss how cheap energy is in Russia. No doubt they will have to make more stuff in-house, whatever they can’t buy off China or India, but this paragraph sounds more like Europe & Australia..

    “Russia is being steadily consigned to Soviet-era conditions, where there were shortages of food and goods and its was reliant on poor-quality and technically inferior domestically produced items.”

    Already we have shops with empty shelves and long waiting-times for goods to be delivered, just let the power go down for a few evenings and we will all be back to the 1930s. We’re just so lucky we’re a food exporter.

    Mainstream propaganda has acknowledged the inevitable collapse of the Ukrainian armed forces. I’m sure the phone calls between Putin and Euro leaders suggested that long-range rockets go both ways and may go past Ukraine’s borders if they supply more powerful missiles to Ukraine, and Ukrainian defections & surrenders are increasing as they put un-trained conscripts with AK47s up against Russian heavy armaments.

    A bad situation all round, the only people happy are the Americans who still believe that can break Russia with this war.

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      Dennis

      The US should never have forced Russia to invade the Ukraine.

      /sarc.

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        Honk R Smith

        NATO Cold War military alliance against Soviet/Communist hegemony
        1989 Soviets stop Sovieting and commie-ing sort of.
        Former Soviet client states start becoming more or less independent.
        US military downsizes in wake of waning Cold War threat by turning all logistics over to ‘contractors’ keeping sharp edge forces at Cold War levels… Volunteer army works when there’s no more KP and less babysitting
        NATO begins absorbing former Soviet states
        GWOT arrives just in time to keep MIC busy
        Hunter makes new party binge buddies in Ukraine
        Daddy approves
        Daddy, who can’t remember where he is, gets most votes EVER and becomes POTUS
        Russians notice
        Daddy zips out of Afghanistan ending GWOT
        MIC sad
        Russians notice

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      Rupert Ashford

      The only people happy are the US Military-Industrial complex. Remember Trump cost them heaps with getting out of the Wars so The Big Guy is rewarding them nicely in return for their support during the election. Wonder if there’s 10% for him in this as well…

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      Hanrahan

      KP your true colours come out and there is a distinct shade of red there.

      If Russia and EU have a suicide pact and plug the oil/gas pipes it will be catastrophic for both buyers and sellers alike.

      It was a couple of days ago I read the figures and I am not as sharp as once was but IIRC for Russia to MAINTAIN current oil sales sans EU pipes, they would need to charter half the world’s SuexMax tankers to ship to India and China. Then there is the small matter of banking and insurance. Neither Russia nor India have an insurance co with standing to cover potential risk of seaborne oil tankers.

      https://youtu.be/zdPzV2yCDM8

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      another ian

      Seems to have missed that the Russian rise by bootstraps in living conditions from USSR might not be quite up to western expectations but is done by mostly means with in Russia. So the average Russian is largely not affected.

      And if they have a hankering for a hamburger IIRC Jack in a Box is still there

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    Rupert Ashford

    I see AGL has succumbed to the likes of Cannon-Brookes. Can anybody recommend good electricity providers in Victoria that are still kind of sensible?

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    another ian

    FWIW More covid doubts

    “Interesting Covid / vaccine link. Apparently, as many have suspected, the percentage vaccinated is far less than advertised. (At least in the UK) This then dramatically takes the already bleak vaccine effectiveness to a very strong negative, especially if one attempts to get all cause mortality numbers. (Which should be dead on accurate if the statistic takers made any sincere effort to track) The control group is still there, and apparently far larger than we thought. All cause mortality can be retroactively checked for every demographic, and the anti vaccine crowd needs to laser like, focus on that.

    https://beforeitsnews.com/eu/2022/05/dear-andrew-neil-uk-gov-report-admits-18-9-million-people-have-not-had-a-single-dose-of-a-covid-19-vaccine-there-are-now-30-5-million-vaccine-refuseniks-2687718.html

    Via https://chiefio.wordpress.com/2022/05/19/w-o-o-d-19-may-2022/#comment-157124

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      yarpos

      Here in Oz the vax agitprop machine used to publish days until the population reached 90% 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc booster levels at current rates of vaccination. Mrs Yarp used to like tracking this as it kept drifting out further and further. She noticed that the 3rd booster timing had drifted out to more than a year down the track. Today she noted they have quietly stopped reporting on it.

      Its been surprising and a little disappointing to hear some of our friends and acquaintances express great surprise when they contract covid despite having had 2 or three boosters. The really think its a vaccine and are immunized and seem puzzled and confused that the fantasy isnt real.

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        Sambar

        “They really think its a vaccine and are immunized and seem puzzled and confused that the fantasy isnt real.”

        Have to agree with you 100%. I know a few triple vaccinated and even some quadruple, the standard reply when I comment on their “status” is, well how much worse would it have been without the shots!
        Now this is purely my observations, I know a number of people that are unvaccinated that have contracted the dreaded covid, all have had mild symptoms and a reasonably quick recovery of 5 -7 days. Of the triple vaccinated that I know they all appear to have been ill 10 – 14 days.
        I also know 6 people that are triple vaccinated that have had strokes of various severity over the last 8 months. Coincidence possibly, because I am in a certain demographic, however in the previous 2 years only one acquaintance had a stroke and he was in a high risk category.

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      Chad

      Whilst i agree,…
      ……unfortunately, the IPCC definition of Net Zero considers only anthropogenic carbon emissions and sinks.
      Mr Plimer seems to have included natural sinks to offset the anthropogenic CO2, but omitted any natural CO2 sources.

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    Andrew McRae

    Surprising results:

    Merino sheep grazing under solar panels produce better wool, trial shows
    [A sheep stands alongside a long line of solar panels]
    Two farmers running merinos on solar farms in NSW’s Central West say their sheep thrive under solar panels, while wool quality has increased.

    I’m not normally a stock tipster, but just quietly, I’m expecting renewables to make a ewe turn.

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    another ian

    Sounds like a “Watch this space”

    “Did HSBC Stuart Kirk Kill the Climate Investment Industry?”

    https://wattsupwiththat.com/2022/05/29/did-hsbc-stuart-kirk-just-kill-the-climate-investment-industry/

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      David-of-Cooyal-in-Oz

      Thanks AI,
      Good to see the whole presentation.

      Perhaps that means that Cannon-Brookes will be able to be sued by AGL shareholders when it all goes bad? Or maybe Adam Bandt and his Greens for destroying a number of businesses through their organisation of disruptive demonstrations based on false propositions?
      Cheers
      Dave B

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    Kalm Keith

    From above
    https://joannenova.com.au/2022/05/monday-open-thread-5/#comment-2552595

    Thanks Robert,

    Over the many years I’ve posted here I’ve been “corrected” on occasion by others with better understanding of a particular issue. I appreciate that because it improves my understanding of that item and builds everyone’s understanding.

    Sometimes those correcting me were in error but it added to the exploration of the subject, and again I appreciated that.

    The link to a correction two years ago was the last of several that were off target and incorrect and pointed to a tendency for the other party to be more interested in appearing to be right rather than being so.

    e.g. Previous

    https://joannenova.com.au/2020/03/wikipedia-deletes-the-list-of-scientists-who-are-skeptics-of-the-sacred-consensus/#comment-2286644

    I struggled to cope with being put down on a topic when it was obvious that the other respondent didn’t have the basic understanding required and was asserting dominance to maintain an image?

    KK

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    Kalm Keith

    The way back machine the atmosphere, CO2 and CAGW Heating etc.

    https://joannenova.com.au/2020/02/thursday-open-thread-2/#comment-2278607

    Two years ago.

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    Kalm Keith

    That deadly gas.

    Kalm Keith
    March 7, 2020 at 12:47 pm
    The only point that needs emphasising about CO2 “IF” it selectively absorbed ground origin IR once above ground is this: It cannot hold onto or trap that “heat”.

    Equilibration with surrounding “air” molecules must be immediate, this gives rise to warming and consequent expansion of the parcel of atmosphere involved, which leads to vertical movement of that parcel: convection.

    The moving parcel will rise until it reaches surrounding air at the same level of internal energy aka the same temperature.

    Given that in this scenario it is obvious that the temperature of the gas parcel is in a process of reduction, it is ridiculous to suggest that stored “photons” are going to be sprayed towards the ground to cause any amount of the magical “Global Warming”.

    KK

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    OldOzzie

    DARPA Experiments With Soviet-Style ‘Ground-Effect’ Vehicle

    The Pentagon’s top research agency has unveiled a highly unusual kind of plane that is a blend between a hovercraft and an aircraft to skim the ocean’s surface to deliver cargo much faster than convention transport vessels.

    Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) “Liberty Lifter” uses a trick of physics known as the “ground effect” to reduce aerodynamic drag by only flying no more than the length of its wingspan above water. This allows the plane to travel much faster and carry large amounts of payload.

    Liberty Lifter “will combine fast and flexible strategic lift of very large, heavy loads with the ability to take off/land in water,” DARPA said in the press release.

    The agency pointed out the Soviet Union developed a ground-effect vehicle called ekranoplans, explaining that “these vehicles were high speed and runway- independent, but were restricted to calm waters and had limited maneuverability.”

    Ekranoplans was designed in 1975 and used by the Soviets in the late 1980s through the 90s. Only three Orlyonok-class ekranoplans were operational and flew 13 feet above the water at a top speed of 342 mph. They were nicknamed the “Caspian Sea Monster” and were only limited to good weather and calm seas. All three were retired by the late 1990s.

    DARPA’s Liberty Lifter appears to be an evolution of the ekranoplans and can operate in rough conditions or even sustained flight at mid-altitudes, something the Soviets could never achieve.

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      Chad

      So 45+ years after the Russians did it….DARPA builds a cartoon simulation !
      ….no doubt seeking a few billion more in funding.
      I bet it never happens !

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      Tel

      That was the F-111 if I remember rightly.

      And the cargo they were delivering was … you know.

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    b.nice

    Very low global Hurricane count over last 12 months….

    …. must be all that extra energy in the atmosphere. 😉

    https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/image_thumb-114.png

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    OldOzzie

    Why SO many Aussies are getting reinfected with Covid as experts warn people not to rely on immunity: ‘It’s not necessarily long-lasting’

    Latest 24-hour Covid Data:

    NSW

    5,855 cases, one death, 1,181 in hospital with 34 in ICU

    Victoria

    8,288 cases, three deaths, 550 in hospital with 37 in ICU

    Tasmania

    627 cases, one death, 46 in hospital with one in ICU

    Queensland

    2,872 cases, one death, 365 in hospital with four in ICU

    Northern Territory

    201 cases, no deaths, 11 in hospital with none in ICU

    Western Australia

    6,649 cases, four deaths, 317 in hospital with 10 in ICU

    South Australia

    2,220 cases, no deaths, 216 in hospital with eight in ICU

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    OldOzzie

    SAS soldier recalled after puzzling evidence in Ben Roberts-Smith case

    Perry Duffin
    Senior Court Reporter

    Interesting re this case when you read

    Bullets Flyin’, Soldiers Lyin’

    On March 4, 2007, Galvin and 29 of his Marines were ambushed by a suicide bomber and other insurgents while conducting a mounted reconnaissance patrol along Highway 1 in Bati Kot District. Rocked by the blast but mostly unharmed, the Marines defended themselves and aggressively counterattacked before aborting the mission and returning to base. By that point in his career, Galvin had deployed to combat numerous times, and so he “wasn’t excited or freaking out about the tactical situation” he’d just survived. The actual combat was fairly routine. Galvin and his Marines performed just as they had been trained.

    But within 30 minutes of returning to Jalalabad airfield, international media reports alleged the Marines had killed and wounded dozens of Afghans by firing indiscriminately into a crowd of civilians. The allegations were false and later disproven, but not before the Marines were condemned as criminals by the media, public, and top military brass. It took a lengthy inquiry and years of conflict between Galvin and the military bureaucracy to correct the record. And yet, “not once did any uniformed person get up and use a legal term such as “innocent” or “not guilty” to describe us,” Galvin said. “The damage was already done.”

    Galvin and co-author Sal Manna tell the full story in their new book, A Few Bad Men (Post Hill Press, 2022). What follows is a lightly edited transcript of our conversation.

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    OldOzzie

    Apparently Brighton has had an increase in home invasion robberies.

    Brighton wars, Judd v Andrews

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