JoNova
A science presenter, writer, speaker & former TV host; author of The Skeptic's Handbook (over 200,000 copies distributed & available in 15 languages).
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Statistics
Irony.
https://www.wboy.com/news/tucker/coal-miners-help-push-tourists-dead-electric-car-in-tucker-county/
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Why ironic ? Coal fuels that car
100
The irony is at least two fold. EV owners think they are clean. When green energy fails, it’s backed up by fossil fuels and nuclear power, and in this particular instance by the human labor of coal miners.
70
The delusional Albo govt are happy to WASTE another 20 billion $ on the TOXIC, POLLUTING S & W disasters, but can’t help ordinary Aussies with their fuel costs.
Yet donkeys voted for these clueless loonies and seem to be very pleased with the result?
Just unbelievable but true.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2022/09/05/aussie-federal-government-cries-poor-on-fuel-taxes-but-still-has-billions-to-spend-on-climate-action/
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Dutton is going to pressure the government every chance he gets.
‘Cut power bills to ease living costs.
‘Opposition Leader tells Labor to live up to their election promises to help ease the cost of living ahead of an expected RBA rate rise today.’ (Oz)
193
Well Albanese and his Union Labor MPs did push cost of living hard during the election campaign to convince voters that Labor had a plan.
150
Dutton must push hard on the cost of living. Labor’s honeymoon will end but I think the media will do all in its power to suppress opposition to Albos agenda.
160
With a compliant media its unclear how this pressure will be exerted in a way that would even be noticed by the voting public. If they dont notice, the Government just shrugs and moves on.
101
Indeed, the government should be happy to do away with fuel excise. They want to ban the fuel. The propaganda should be we don’t need this tax revenue.
71
Tuesday is so yesterday
316
Do you ever know what day it is or where you are or the time of day or even your real name?
110
I’m thinking of changing my name to Wednesday
09
How about moving to another Blog……………..
70
Aye munn, that’s a good idea! Neither here nor there then – Like Tommy’s axe in the head Juss like that.
21
Here ya go. Some entertainment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v9y5eD67e4
Biden nailed that one.
50
That is not entertainment as that is so sad………………..
20
You’ll be on Tiu’s list
https://www.dictionary.com/e/tuesday/
10
Union Labor have again shown the opposition that their media management spin doctors are a class above the rest, the relentless negativity directing deceptive accusations against the former PM, the then Opposition Leader claiming to have been economics adviser to Labor PM Hawke but he did not work for Labor in Canberra and was a clerk for Labor Cabinet Minister Uren in his Sydney electorate office at that time. Bad guy, good guy, spin.
And now the Summit and more deceptive political theatre according to The Australian newspaper;
Everyone knows Jim Chalmers worked hard to extract as much credit as possible
for last week’s Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra. Now Diary has learnt that he
employed a string of backbench “seatwarmers’ – who weren’t technically invited to
the new government’s big dance – as part of his publicity drive.
Chalmers’s aim, it seems, was to win brownie points with junior Labor MPs by
allowing them to bask in the reflected glory of at least spending some time inside
the summit, despite not being invited. That explains why some happy snaps of the
backbenchers have popped up, carefully crafted to make it look as though they
were actually right in the heart of the summit’s proceedings.
151
That’s the game. Clowns to the left of me Jokers to the right.. stuck in the middle with you.
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Chump Change Chalmers.
40
A summit on jobs full of people who have never experienced under or unemployment.
What was the outcome ? Immigration I heard, 193000 per year. The increase in emissions from this is not a concern apparently, they’ll all have electric cars anyway, and electricity from hydrogen.
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To improve employment and skills, imo the TAFE system needs to be vastly reformed. The fee increase a few years back destroyed TAFE’s accessibility. Its like going to university basically.
They need to find greater efficiencies in the delivery of education to lower costs. That would allow greater engagement with skills and meeting demand. People want to train but the cost is prohibitive, and even the time. Qualifying people could be done far more efficiently.
For instance, I’d like to do a course in drafting. I always liked that kind of thing. But its outrageously expensive. Before the price hike it wasn’t that bad. So its not worth it.
Ive even done CAD before and its not that hard, just a matter of time at the screen, like driving an excavator. I don’t see why it has to be so expensive. All I want to do is draw house plans. Wouldn’t take much instruction to get you to a basic level.
I always found education laborious. Get to the point!
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“Immigration I heard, 193000 per year.”
Yeah right… what about the quality of the immigrants?? Anyone done a study on how well immigrants have done previously and where they were from? Are we picking immigrants who are not more help than a hindrance to society?? Do they all integrate equally?
These arguments should be thrashed out first!
All this crap about global warming and how it will ruin the world for our grandchildren is nothing compared to where politicians could send Australia down some path to! We don’t want to end up like Britain..
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A skilled migrant visa in a specialty that requires local certification / licensing should contain a COMPLETE list of the steps required to obtain such.
30
Imagine having such low aspirations that pretending to be part of that crowd makes you warm and fuzzy. There was a small chance they could be doing somrthing useful, but no.
10
More in the news today about the resignation of the Snowy Hydro CEO, that government owned company is building a gas fired generator at Kurri Kurri NSW, one of the two for NSW proposed by the Morrison Government and since approved by the NSW Coalition Government. Snow Hydro operates Red Energy electricity supply businesses.
Minister Bowen apparently insisted that the new generator must be fuelled with “green” hydrogen and when the CEO pointed out that none is available in commercially viable and reliable supply, and that if it is developed for commercial use the timing could be many years or decades into the future, there are many technical problems to overcome like transporting and storing hydrogen safely and without leakage. I understand that the CEO also pointed out that reliable generating capacity is essential because wind and solar even with “firming” back up cannot replace the power stations.
Another example of a politician lacking the knowledge and experience to assess a situation and unwilling to accept professional advice.
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The CEO Paul Broad has quit to avoid drama over green hydrogen.
“To think you can have hydrogen running into Kurri Kurri when there is no hydrogen being produced in Newcastle just doesn’t make any sense.”
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And he is spot on. Turtle Head Bowen is a First Class IDIOT !!!!!!!!!
50
Broad might have also added that there is not gas turbine currently developed that can run on hydrogen…
Infact anything more than 5% hydrogen mix in Natural gas, is a no go zone !
130
“there is not gas turbine currently developed that can run on hydrogen …”
That statement is anti-aspirational and anti-LWO.
We can’t allow details to get in the way of saving the planet.
At least he didn’t say only women can produce children.
So resignation is sufficient as long as he/she/they commits no wronngthnk moving forward.
130
Chad:
You are falling into THE ERROR OF NEGATIVITY. Technically you are correct but if hydrogen is fed into the turbine with lots of water then the flame temperature will be reduced – so would the output so the scheme would be uneconomic. Using lots of natural gas to dilute hydrogen rather cancels any benefit.
Then there is the point that burning hydrogen with air as the other feed will result in the generation of nitrogen oxides which (with water from the combustion of hydrogen) would result in lots of nitric acid in the exhaust.
To avoid a fog of nitric acid pollution the “solution” might be to combust the hydrogen with pure oxygen (as in the hydrogen torch which cuts through most metals e.g. turbine blades) due to the very high temperature generated, but that “stuffs the economics” as well.
What you don’t reallise is that the addition of BOWENSPEAK causes all technical difficulties to evaporate (or at least not be mentioned on the ABC).
100
Here is JCB in the UK with a hydrogen motor to power their ‘Diggers’ –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfS012FC8yM
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The rats that lived in my JCB will like the spaghetti under that bonnet.
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As sure as Twiggy is a rent seeker this show will come crashing down. Who will be held responsible?
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the “unforeseen perfect storm of events” will be held responsible
one thing for sure Daniel Andrews will not remember, there will be no minutes, or meeting recordings or any diary entries relating to the topic.
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As long as Twiggy is using his own money then good for him. And it might just work.
40
Bowen has the knowledge of a teenage girl from Sweden.
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Deborah Knight has called out the Prime Minister for trying to take credit for the pay rise for pensioners.
The maximum rate of pension will increase to $1,026.50 a fortnight for singles and $773.80 for each member of a pensioner couple.
The increase will be part of a routine recalibration to keep up with changes in the Consumer Price Index.
But Anthony Albanese has been crediting his government for the rise.
“What absolute rot!” Deborah said.
2GB
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The indexation rate being used is not the latest CPI figure either.
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Don’t worry, they can always apply to join the Hunger Games!
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2022/09/05/british-news-broadcaster-itv-creates-gameshow-for-desperate-viewers-to-win-chance-to-have-energy-bills-paid/
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oops, sorry, didn’t see Old Ozzie had already posted this link.
40
This is a recording of Julian Gillespie, lawyer, speaking at the COVID Inquiry 2.0 which is a cross-party, non-parliamentary inquiry and was held on the 17th August 2022. Interesting legal information and runs for about 30 minutes. Tom
https://www.malcolmrobertsqld.com.au/the-covid-inquiry-2-0/#htoc-julian-gillespie
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A couple of things Gillespie said in particular hit me. Firstly that AHPRA acted illegally in denying “informed consent” from the patient/doctor relationship, and secondly that doctors and other medical people breached their code of conduct in not ensuring the people they jabbed had, or even could have given such consent. He claimed the the code of conduct is legally binding, not merely useful guidelines.
Then there’s his opinion that the code of conduct cannot be negated by AHPRA.
(Since we’re into legal territory I must say that I am not a lawyer, and the above is my interpretation of a single viewing of the link Tides supplied.)
Well worth watching, and I thank Senator Roberts for holding his inquiry into this critical subject.
Cheers
Dave B
120
Uh Oh …
‘Struggling to stave off rolling blackouts Labor Day evening, managers of California’s beleaguered power grid declared an energy emergency alert Monday and warned that Californians might have to double or triple their energy conservation efforts to prevent the lights from going out.’ (The Sacramento Bee)
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The Late Great Golden State (YouTube videos)
Mike Stinson (original)
Dwight Yoakam (flashier)
10
The FBI raided Barron Trump’s room before Hunter Biden’s.
Let that sink in.
220
DON SURBER: A raid to get 1,693 newspapers?
Why on Earth did U.S. Magistrate Bruce Reinhart issue a warrant to raid Mar-a-Lago?
The stuff the FBI collected was not nuclear codes. It was a bunch of old magazines and newspapers.
He and the FBI had no business confiscating them.
A detailed list of what the FBI claims it took shows Reinhart’s was a general warrant, which the 4th Amendment bans. I suppose this is FBI standard operating procedure because although they are sworn to defend the Constitution, the agents never seem to bother following it.
The full list of items taken is here.
Overwhelmingly, what the FBI took were newspapers and magazines, either in full or just articles clipped from them.
President Trump obviously needed the 1,693 articles, newspapers and magazines to help his ghostwriter write his presidential memoirs.
Why did the FBI take them? What evidence does an old newspaper provide? That the media lied (or as we should call it now, FBI-ed)?
They also took articles of clothing and gifts.
The confiscation of items totally unrelated to national security shows that far from upholding the Constitution, Biden’s Boys were committing crimes. Taking Melania’s panties — or whatever articles of clothing they took — is not an act of investigation. Confiscating personal items is intimidation.
The 4th Amendment is quite clear that the police cannot go into your home and take whatever they want.
It says, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
If the warrant says the FBI can take newspapers, clothing and gifts, then Congress must impeach Magistrate Reinhart.
If it doesn’t, the 30 agents in the raid must be suspended without pay and prosecuted.
290
The FIB FAKED the Trump Photos
The original image
See the frames on the right…. Now zoom in a little.
Weird that the light and dark colored frames are EXACTLY the same size. That dark colored frame wold not fit in the room with the others but is the exact same size.
You want proof, here’s proof that the FIB completely doctored this photo. Note the intensity change at the box edge where the shadow is. A huge drop in brightness as ANYONE would expect from the box shadow.
Now see the slice thorough the FAKE time magazine photo.
The framed picture literally does not exist. Per any rules of lighting physics, there has to be some HINT of a shadow, yet there is no line visible or in the high resolution intensity slice. There needs to be at least a hint of difference in coloration but there isn’t. This is proof that the time photo is a completely fake add-on which just ‘happens’ to have an amazingly political context.
FAKE. Completely fake.
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I’m sceptical that this is faked.
Whoever wrote it can’t speak or write English for a start. He writes, for example:
That dark colored frame wold not fit in the room with the others but is the exact same size.
If it’s “the exact same size” then of course it’ll fit in with the others.
“Fit in the room”? He’s an idiot, but what would an idiot know about the difference between a room and a box? A bankers Box at that – designed to take larger than A4 paper); and, the idiot can’t spell either: “Wold”: signifies he received a post-modernist education – at best.
Secondly, if you look closely you’ll see that “That dark colored frame” which, supposedly, would not fit in the room (he means BOX), would in fact, easily fit into the box. All the frames have been slanted to the side to avoid the glare off the glass hitting the camera lens and causing flaring.
Believe the idiot’s analysis and you might as well believe RT’s piece on the UK Civil Service reissuing carbon paper; and, that the oil leak on the NS1 was the real reason for turning off the gas.
31
Jeff Id was one who got sent the files and helped break “Climategate”
51
I don’t care if he’s the Queen of France, he’s doing his reputation no good service by running such poorly researched and written material in this case.
Conspiracy nutters are of no use to man or beast.
20
MASSIVE crowd for Joe Biden in Pennsylvania today! ??
10:52 am · 6 Sep 2022
more
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/09/biden-barely-draws-dozen-supporters-labor-day-rally-pennsylvania-two-days-trump-drew-twenty-thousand-wilkes-barre-rally/
+
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/09/joe-biden-speaks-pennsylvania-union-members-labor-day-681-americans-tune-watch-white-house-youtube-channel-81millionvotes/
Vs
Donald Trump and Joe Biden Both held rallies in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania this week.
Here is what they looked like back to back.
Incredible.
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RNC Research
@RNCResearch
Biden: I ran for president to restore “decency” and “honor” and to treat “people with some respect.”
Biden has spent the past week smearing Trump voters as “backwards” and “full of anger, violence, hate, and division.”</
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WILKES-BARRE HAS SPOKEN
Donald Trump and Joe Biden held rallies in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania last week. How did they go? These videos tell the story:
Donald Trump and Joe Biden Both held rallies in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania this week.
Here is what they looked like back to back.
Incredible. pic.twitter.com/Xe7cWQzrQO
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 4, 2022
The level of public enthusiasm for Dork Brandon is near zero. But don’t be overconfident, because 81 millionLOL Joe Biden won the presidency with scarcely more enthusiasm in 2020. Still, I might be wrong, but I am pretty sure the Democratic Party isn’t counting on him to do it again in 2024.
40
Federal Judge Notes in Special Master Order a Quoted DOJ Citation That Joe Biden Ordered FBI Access to Mar-a-Lago Documents
September 5, 2022 – sundance
Page #2 and Page #3 of Judge Aileen Cannon’s ruling cites a quote from the DOJ own legal filing, dated May 10th, that Joe Biden ordered the National Archives and Records Administration to provide access to the FBI to review the Trump records. Note the quotation marks:
On May 10, 2022, NARA informed Plaintiff that it would proceed with “provid[ing] the FBI access to the records in question, as requested by the incumbent President, beginning as early as Thursday, May 12, 2022.” [citation]
August 24, 2022, Joe Biden was questioned about how much notice he had regarding the FBI raid on President Trump’s home at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
Question: “Mr. President, how much advanced notice did you have of the FBI’s plan to search Mar-a-Lago?“
BIDEN: “I didn’t have any advanced notice. None, zero, not one single bit.”
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Tom Fitton
@TomFitton
I’ve reviewed the special master decision victory for Trump. The federal US District Court Judge highlights FBI/DOJ failures to be forthright with court, failures to protect rights of Trump, leaks and other shady acts. If I were Biden gang, I’d look to drop this sham case ASAP.
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The Smoking Gun
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Federal Judge Orders Appointment of Special Master to Oversee Documents from FBI Mar-a-Lago Raid
U.S. District Judge from the Southern District of Florida, Aileen M. Cannon, has ordered a special master to “review the seized property, manage assertions of privilege and make recommendations thereon, and evaluate claims for return of property,” related to the FBI raid on Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. [pdf Ruling Here]
There are interesting aspects outlined within the 24-page ruling that deconstruct the position of the Dept of Justice and media, including a footnote [fn5] stating Trump lawyers asked for a special master appointment on the morning after the raid.
Within the ruling [pg 9] Judge Cannon outlines the issues at the heart of the legal matter, including the government taking President Trump’s personal medical records which has nothing to do with the nature of the warrant.
“According to the Privilege Review Team’s Report, the seized materials include medical documents, correspondence related to taxes, and accounting information. … The Government also has acknowledged that it seized some “personal effects without evidentiary value” and, by its own estimation, upwards of 500 pages of material potentially subject to attorney-client privilege.”
The DOJ was previously questioned in court about justice dept leaks to media creating an unfair and prejudicial bias against President Trump. The DOJ lawyers denied leaking yet admitted the media reports were evidence that someone within the organization was leaking information to the media, thereby creating a framework of public opinion the defendant cannot easily refute. Cannon writes:
“the Court takes into account the undeniably unprecedented nature of the search of a former President’s residence; Plaintiff’s inability to examine the seized materials in formulating his arguments to date; Plaintiff’s stated reliance on the customary cooperation between former and incumbent administrations regarding the ownership and exchange of documents; the power imbalance between the parties; the importance of maintaining institutional trust; and the interest in ensuring the integrity of an orderly process amidst swirling allegations of bias and media leaks.”
100
Unearthed Clip Completely Exposes Top January 6th Committee Member
It’s hard to pick the most grating member of the January 6th committee. I think for pure hysterical unseriousness, you’d have to go with Adam Kinzinger. He’s so bad that even the other members rarely acknowledge his existence publicly. Of course, Liz Cheney is in the discussion, though she manages to be a bit more cunning in her dissolution of all the principles she claims to hold dear.
But as far as the Democrats on the committee go, the choice is easy: Jamie Raskin takes the cake.
You see, Raskin objected to the certification of the 2016 election in an attempt to stop Donald Trump from assuming power. He’s never once apologized for or reframed his efforts. Instead, he’s acted as if they simply never happened, and certainly, the news media has shown zero interest in pressing him on the matter.
You see, he didn’t “deny” the election, they say. He simply objected on procedural grounds with no actual thought of overturning the results.
That’s what makes a newly unearthed clip from 2003 brought forth by the RNC so damning. It’s not just about his actions, which he would later take in 2016, but it’s a window into his intent over a decade prior.
Raskin’s language in the clip isn’t ambiguous. He outright accuses the 2000 election of being stolen, an allegation he now maintains is the gravest of sins. “Election denial” has become a phrase du jour on the left, and it’s been one the January 6th committee has used repeatedly to describe a segment of people they openly disdain and want to punish. Yet, here’s one of the committee’s top members claiming a presidential election was stolen, with George being a “court-appointed president.”
He goes further, though, delving into the false conspiracy theory that all the votes weren’t counted in Florida. The votes were counted multiple times in Florida following the 2000 election. Gore saw fit to try to force recounts until he won, and the courts finally said enough.
How do you square that with Raskin’s current proclamations and grandstanding? The answer is that you can’t square it, though he won’t be asked to do so
The point is this. Everything these people claim their enemies are, they actually are. Hypocrisy undergirds the January 6th committee and the Democratic Party. Raskin and others started the trend of denying election results before any Republican ever even entertained the idea.
50
Julie Kelly 🇺🇸
@julie_kelly2
CUE THE EXPLODING HEADS
Kyle Cheney
@kyledcheney
6 Sep
Here are the details of Cannon’s order, which bars DOJ from reviewing the documents for criminal purposes. Special master candidates are due Sept. 9. Trump does not get his documents back yet. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.618763/gov.uscourts.flsd.618763.64.0.pdf
10
British News Broadcaster ITV Creates Gameshow for Desperate Viewers to Win Chance to Have Energy Bills Paid
Yes, it’s like something out of a dystopian ‘hunger games’ movie, except it is unfortunately real life. ITV News in Great Britain is running a wheel-of-fortune type marketing campaign where desperate viewers can call in for an opportunity to spin the wheel and win having their energy bills paid.
Comrades, it is not a spoof, this actually took place today and it looks like it will continue due to popular demand. UK citizens are facing astronomical increases in energy bills as a result of the EU green climate change agenda in combination with Russia halting the export of natural gas. The price of natural gas increased 30% today alone as Russia cuts off supplies completely. Europe is on the brink of the worst economic recession in history.
ITV steps in with a promotional effort that shows just how bizarre this Build Back Better future has become. Perhaps next week viewers might be able to call in for a chance at winning extra food rations, chocolates or even gasoline. Here’s a video to show what is happening. WATCH:
90
Women’s record title holder scolds retired Serena Williams
Margaret Court claims that Williams never ‘admired’ her
Serena Williams’ achievements in tennis were hailed this past weekend by a robust chorus of admirers from Michelle Obama to Tiger Woods and LeBron James, but one name which perhaps won’t be added to the list is Australian tennis icon Margaret Court, who has delivered a put-down of the newly-retired American star.
Court remains perhaps the most enduring success story in female tennis, winning an unparalleled 24 Grand Slam singles titles in her career in the 1960s and 70s, but has more recently become a pariah in some circles due to her vocal stance in opposition to same-sex marriage and her support of gay conversion therapy, among other things.
“Serena has played seven years more than I did,” she added, noting that Williams had more opportunities to capture tournament crowds throughout her career.
“I finished in my early 30s. People forget that I took two years out. I first retired, like Ash Barty, when I was 25, thinking I would never return to tennis. I got married, had a baby, but then had one of my best years, winning 24 out of 25 tournaments.”
Discussing the modern era of tennis, Court added: “I would love to have played in this era. I think it’s so much easier.
“How I would love to have taken family or friends along with me. But I couldn’t. I had to go on my own or with the national team. People don’t see all that.
“We didn’t have psychologists or coaches with us. It’s a whole different world. That’s what disappoints me – that players today don’t honor the past of the game.”
210
Time for Rita’s Weekly Reality Check
THIS MIGHT BE THE POLITICAL AD OF THE YEAR:
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Angry Joe Biden Shouts He Beat Big Pharma This Year, by Providing them Billions and Forcing their Vaccinations on Americans
September 5, 2022 – sundance
Joe Biden was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin today, to shout at forcibly assembled union workers and celebrate Labor Day. In the middle of his prepared remarks to the crowd at Laborfest, where labor unions and their members gather annually, Biden exploded in an angry rant proclaiming he had defeated Big Pharma this year.
Even if you overlook the unstable nature of the delivery, it is somewhat of an odd outburst given the fact that his administration gave tens of billions to Big Pharma in the past 20 months, forced American workers to accept Big Pharma vaccines, and facilitated the biggest windfall profit for Big Pharma in history. If that’s what Joe Biden considers “beating big pharma,” well, I certainly can’t fathom what winning would look like.
80
Oops apologies bold – need to do better preview
20
Joe Biden Gets Lost on Stage — Starts Mumbling About “Rededudenedefet” this Year (VIDEO)
Joe Biden had another rough day today.
Biden traveled to Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to talk to captive union crowds and still the venues were empty.
At one point in his speech in Wisconsin Joe started mumbling about “rededudenedefet” this year.
TelePrompter: “Do you know how much we Reduced the deficit this year?”
Joe Biden: “Do you know how much Rededudenedefet this year?”
81
His minders are instructing him to be more forceful.
But he can’t keep up with the teleprompter when he is turning around and waving his arms.
So likely he has a hearing aid and just couldn’t discern the rapidly spoken words. There is no other explanation.
He doesn’t know what he is about to say. Or likely what he has said.
120
Biden Has a Labor Day Festival of Fail With Remarks in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania
But then at further remarks in Pittsburgh, he had still more difficulties. His crowd was minuscule. Looks like the last place anyone wanted to be on the holiday was with Joe Biden except for the union folks who were likely told to be there.
Finally, he again seemed to get lost as to what he was supposed to be doing at the end of his remarks, “Where am I going?”
30
Signs of cognitive decline
Forgetting appointments and dates.
Forgetting recent conversations and events.
Feeling increasingly overwhelmed by making decisions and plans.
Having a hard time understanding directions or instructions.
Losing your sense of direction.
Losing the ability to organize tasks.
Becoming more impulsive.
Lost, angry old man who has spent half his Presidency at home
and needs a rabbit for a minder.
Possibly Taiwan is still safe because anyone who can pull an army out of
Afghanistan without notice in 24 hours can launch a nuclear strike.
What is really odd is that while the army were ordered back a day later to save lives, no one disagreed at the time with
what must have been instant panic. A Plan? Only Joe Biden could have ordered thousands of soldiers to leave immediately without any plan
at all. And to abandon ten billion $ worth of arms, all their allies, supporters, buildings, families
and civilians. Can you imagine the drama mobilizing an entire army, half sleeping? And still no one says a thing. The story is that it could have been done better? Really?
50
Kim Dotcom @KimDotcom
A liar, a thief, a puppet and a senile elderly man walk into an Irish pub.
The bartender asks: “What are you having Mr. Biden?”
https://twitter.com/KimDotcom/status/1567120851656638466
10
Joe, Kamala, Nancy and Chuck. What could possibly go wrong?/sarc
00
Oh, wait! The DOJ and the FBI will fix it! Silly me!
00
Massive Power Outages Across Bay Area after California’s Grid Operator Declares Emergency Amid Soaring Temps
Meanwhile in the Democrat hellhole of California
Thousands of customers across the Bay Area were without power Monday afternoon amid a blistering heat wave.
California’s grid operator on Monday declared an energy emergency amid soaring temps.
Californians were strongly urged to use less energy today between 5pm to 9pm to avoid rotating blackouts.
People were urged to turn off appliances, turn up their thermostats and avoid charging electric vehicles during the peak hours.
80
Now if China was able to make wind turbines, solar panels and electric vehicles out of thin air for the rest of the world then there might be a chance that by the end of the century the weather will be all good again. However China consumes 4,000,000,000,000,000 grams (Pg) of the black stuff to make the woke stuff. And making woke stuff leads to all of Earth’s resources being directed at that single objective.
That means the weather will never be perfect again and California will always enjoy heat waves. In fact, the long term trend in spring solar intensity at 40N ensures Californian summers will be increasingly conducive to pleasant swimming conditions and less rainfall. A bit like Bussellton, WA is now.
So if warm weather is requiring power cuts now, my forecast is that it will get a lot worse.
If you live in California and want to live comfortably, move away from the cities, set up your own power supply and have enough land to grow trees for heating needs. By the way, winters will be getting colder.
90
Researchers Discover a Material With Brain-Like Learning Capabilities
Vanadium Dioxide has the ability to “remember” the entire history of past environmental stimuli.
During his research on phase transitions in Vanadium Dioxide (VO2), Mohammad Samizadeh Nikoo, a Ph.D. student at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne’s (EPFL) Power and Wide-band-gap Electronics Research Laboratory (POWERlab), made an unexpected finding. When relaxed at room temperature, VO2 has an insulating phase and experiences a sharp insulator-to-metal transition at 68 °C, where its lattice structure changes.
According to Samizadeh Nikoo, VO2 has a volatile memory: “the material reverts back to the insulating state right after removing the excitation.” He set out to find how long it takes for VO2 to change from one state to another for his thesis. However, his investigation took a different turn: after collecting hundreds of measurements, he discovered a memory effect in the material’s structure.
The researchers discovered that VO2 may recall its most recent external stimulus for up to three hours. “The memory effect could in fact persist for several days, but we don’t currently have the instruments needed to measure that,” says Matioli.
The finding made by the study team is significant since the memory effect identified is an innate property of the material itself. Engineers depend on memory to complete various calculations, and materials that may improve the calculation process by increasing capacity, speed, and miniaturization are in high demand. VO2 checks all three of these boxes. Furthermore, its continuous, structural memory distinguishes it from typical materials that store data as binary information depending on the manipulation of electrical states.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-022-00812-z#citeas
Now that’s interesting!
30
OldOzziesays:
September 6, 2022 at 12:37 pm
Chanticleer
Why Australian investors should care a lot about Europe’s gas crisis
If investors need a simple (and arguably over-simplified) view of why Europe’s deepening crisis matters, they should consider bathroom tiles.
Why bathroom tiles? Well, Spain is the world’s fifth largest producer of ceramic kitchen and bathroom tiles and last week Spanish media reported that a large tile producer has shut down due to the explosion in energy prices.
According to Bloomberg’s energy guru, Javier Blas, the cost of turning clay into a ceramic tile has soared 1,047 per cent over the last 12 months – and now there will be fewer of them coming out of Spain in the first place.
You may not be about to buy bathroom tiles, but you can bet there are plenty of renovators and builders around Australia who will in the next 12 months. And the prices they pay for imported tiles will be going up, regardless of where they come from.
It’s a small and maybe silly example of how Europe’s energy crisis will be exported around the world, but it’s one that will be repeated across various sectors of the global economy as European industry is put under severe pressure by savage rises in gas and electricity prices.
120
we import stuff? who knew?
40
OldOzziesays:
September 6, 2022 at 12:32 pm
New Queensland land tax will ‘drive away investors’
The Queensland opposition said the Palaszczuk government’s new land tax regime was an “unprecedented” assault on interstate investors that could force up rents and drive investment out of the Sunshine State.
As investors prepare to be slugged thousands of dollars for their interstate holdings, Liberal National Party treasury spokesman David Janetzki called on Treasurer Cameron Dick to release the economic modelling behind the new tax hike.
NSW Finance Minister Damien Tudehope questioned the constitutionality of the new land tax regime, which will rely on the goodwill of revenue offices in other states to share information to become effective.
“It is a national land tax levied by the state,” he told The Australian Financial Review.
In December last year, Mr Dick announced the changes to land tax to include interstate land holdings, claiming some interstate investors “exploited tax-free thresholds in different jurisdictions to minimise their tax obligations”.
In an Australian-first, landholders will have to voluntarily disclose their interstate holdings in other states before being taxed for their Queensland holdings.
Interstate investors have now started to work out how much they will be slugged when the scheme begins on January 1 and apply from the 2023-24 tax year onwards.
A Sydney-based investor told the Financial Review on Monday that his land tax bill would jump by about $27,000 next financial year as a consequence of the state’s new tax rule.
Tax experts said the aggregation of interstate property rules was not closing a tax loophole and looked more like a “tax grab”.
Real Estate Institute of Queensland chief executive Antonia Mercorella said no other state or territory charged land tax based on the value of properties held across Australia and outside the jurisdiction where the tax was collected.
“This new land tax regime is as unique as it is illogical,” she said.
“There’s plenty of reasons to invest in the Sunshine State, but with this land tax regime the Treasury has not only knocked the confidence out of the Queensland property, it’s delivered a king hit.”
60
It may be unique in Australia but its not unique. Quite a few countries apply tax to your total income and assets regardless of where its located.
40
Income?
USA and Eritrea are apparently the only two countries interested in world wide income even if a non resident in the home country
10
Old Qld became New Qld when Joe dumped Death Duties. People and cash flooded into Qld almost overnight and haven’t stopped since. Wonder if the imposition of this new tax will either stop the flood, or worse, push people out as quickly as the former removal of death taxes grew the State?
40
Why I’m glad to see the back of my Ukrainian refugee: As someone whose family escaped persecution, Tanya Fox wanted to help those fleeing Vladimir Putin’s war. But months later, she dares to say the unsayable
70
This is a brilliant article for so many reasons. The gullibility of English folk born out of their compassion, and the gross ungratefulness of the receiver of the charity, that wasn’t even required.
This is the very reason, the core of why our society stands little chance. Too nice for our own good. You’re bound to be taken advantage of. And you are.
50
The news is that oil, gas, coal, uranium prices have gone through the roof, worldwide. Quadrupled, even 10 the price.
And supposedly because of a hot dry summer. Now wait for the cold snows of real winter.
It will be fun to hear how governments spin their way out of this.
Everyone is turning coal plants on again, restarting nuclear and putting off closing down existing plants.
All the feel good anti energy Climate extinction is running head on into real extinction, entirely manufactured by bureaucrats as the push the world agenda to ‘decarbonize’. And in Colorado the ‘smart’ meters have turned off people’s airconditioners. And in Green California, you cannot charge your electric car.
So much for carbon credits and a Global Reset. Any government which does not bring power prices down and fast will be history.
And on every front, Donald Trump is being proven right. Power independence is political independence. The big question is when the UK will permit fracking.
It’s utter madness to let people freeze to death because you are trying to stop warming.
170
Stolen from above: California.
People were urged to turn off appliances, turn up their thermostats and avoid charging electric vehicles during the peak hours.
and when winter comes you will find exactly the same thing, except that your trusty electricity supplier will turn down your thermostat for you, so it’s off to live in the basement in Colorado when the temperature outside is -40C/-40F.
90
‘Everyone is turning coal plants on again, restarting nuclear and putting off closing down existing plants.’
Wrong, TdeF. Australia stays true to the course and more. Mr Bowen, so learned, so successful in the last Labor Government, a brilliant realist who beats science every time, has Australia doubling down on his already ‘successful’ renewables energy scheme. He sees the future for what’s left of Australia when he is finished. Australia is to be the world leader in exporting renewable energy to the world.
Even with what is happening to Europe and elsewhere in their rush to renewables and retirement of alternative energy sources – he would say they just didn’t go far enough fast enough. He stands out like a beacon. He also is brilliant at financing where a simple $1T will rewire the joint and buy Big batteries to act as reservoirs like water, and we will all be on clover.
110
Only in the Australian context where unlike most of Europe, we are not yet dependent on imported energy. Coal is still delivering and our biggest export. Besides fracking and nuclear are banned. Victoria and South Australia are basket cases where manufacturing has ceased, such as car manufacture. The Southern states are becoming Public Service states where everyone works for the government or companies which service the government.
Australia is running on taxes on mining and as long as our coal and iron ore are setting export records, we are fine. No thanks to a succession of governments which are trying to shut both mining and farming. A Hydrogen super power. What sort of fantasy trip is Andrew Forrest enjoying? It’s great to be a billionaire to whom real science is a mystery.
90
Who in their right mind is going to want renewables after this debacle is done.
40
interesting analysis
The Russo-Ukrainian War
A Six Month Retrospective
Big Serge
– How I Think About War
– The Kiev Thunder Run
– The Donbas Grind
– Slow Burn and the Economic Calculus
– What Comes Next
My overall prognosis is very simple: I believe that Russia has degraded Ukraine’s military capabilities beyond repair, and is now doing the methodical work of grinding away the rest, while forcing the west to bear the unexpected burden of propping up the Ukrainian state and army.
At a certain point, two things will happen that will accelerated the pace of Russia’s gains. First, Ukrainian military capability will be attrited to the point where they can no longer effectively offer static defense, as they are doing now in the Donbas. Secondly, western support for Ukraine will begin to dry up, at which point Ukraine will be exposed as a failed state that cannot function independently.
110
I’ve seen this propaganda in the Indochina war when we were told South Vietnamese we re driving back the communists. NVRM regulars at the gates of Saigon, but hey! We’re winning. Hearts and minds and all that napalm. This war in Ukraine must finish and Russia gets to keep its buffer – and ethnic majority and stuff Zelensky the poser.
80
Ukrainians paid for the failure of the Kherson counteroffensive with 3000 dead and 7000 wounded
The Russians on the “Southern Front” received large reinforcements for half a day via the Crimean bridge
The elite Ukrainian units that attempted the “Kherson counter-offensive” for the past six days did not achieve anything, and they paid for that with huge casualties and losses.
They briefly took over Blagodatnoe and another smaller settlement and wedged themselves into Russian positions southeast of Suho Stavok, 3-4 kilometers away, but the counterattack was so powerful that they had to return to their starting lines with two captured positions.
In the last 24 hours, the Ukris had 230 casualties, and they also lost 23 tanks and 27 armored infantry fighting vehicles, plus two Su-25 assault rifles.
In the six days of the Kherson counter-offensive, at least 3000 people died and 6-7 were wounded.
Thousands of wounded filled all the hospitals in Krivo Rog, Nikolaev and Odesa.
Therefore, the Kiev junta has suffered a serious defeat on the “southern front”, where the balance of power will only worsen to its detriment. Because, on September 9, reinforcements arrived for the Russians via the Crimean bridge. Not only in weapons.
60
Old ozzie
That is a link from a Russian govt web site. The information on it is nonsense. We will have to wait and see how the offensive works out .
31
Russia is finished in Ukraine.
14
A good article- covers important points like..
“Meanwhile, analysis from the Royal United Services Institute (a UK based defense thinktank) came to the sobering conclusion that manufacturing in the west is too degraded and too expensive to keep up in a war like the one being fought in Ukraine right now. A few highlights of that report:
Annual American production of artillery shells is sufficient for only two weeks of combat in Ukraine.
Annual Javelin anti-tank missile production is, at best, sufficient for 8 days of combat.
Russia burned through four years worth of American missile production in the first three months of the war.”
Russia will continue to deplete America’s army hardware and destroy Ukraine’s ability to fight until Mr Putin is satisfied with the result. A great lesson for the West as it enters it’s terminal decline.
70
miltonf says:
September 6, 2022 at 7:32 pm
Exactly Dover. Get a load of this slag too…– I guess when your well paid puppet of the Washington War Machine that’s how you think
Ukraine’s First Lady to Struggling Britons: You Count Pennies, But We Count Casualties
Ukraine’s First Lady’s message to Britons facing crippling energy bill hikes and a cost of living crisis is that while they might be “counting pennies”, her county is counting casualties.
“There is no comparison to the suffering of people here, but at home in the United Kingdom, as you acknowledge, people are facing very painful choices because of the soaring cost of energy that’s going to make things very tough for people,” said BBC presenter Laura Kuenssberg in an interview with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s wife, First Lady Olena Zelenska.
“What would you say to our viewers watching at home, who feel desperately sorry for what’s happening to your people but also feel desperately worried about their own ability to pay their bills, to keep a roof over their head. What would you say to them?”
“I understand the situation is very tough. But let me recall that at the time of the Covid-19 epidemic, and it’s still with us, when there were price hikes, Ukraine was affected as well,” the First Lady answered.
“The prices are going up in Ukraine as well. But in addition our people get killed,” she continued.
“So when you start counting pennies on your bank account or in your pocket, we do the same and count our casualties.”
00
dover0beachsays:
September 6, 2022 at 7:25 pm
Baron of the Taiga
@baronichitas
·
1h
????: The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry demands EU countries outlaw opposition protests and rallies for the duration of the war (this comes after 70,000 took to the streets in Prague).
00
Whaaa? Zelensky’s thugs are telling the EU to repress it’s own people? WTF?
The New Donbas
@TheNewDonbass
·
15h
BREAKING: The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has called for EU countries to outlaw opposition protests and rallies for the duration of the war, as discontent over energy prices grows.
10
UKRAINE: A McKinsey & CO Restyled Operetta of Corruption
There are two parallel universes operating in Ukraine: The one presented from 2014 to 2021, and the one rewritten like a Hollywood movie with CIA input/guidance. This grandly orchestrated McKinsey & Co restyled operetta would also apply to Saint Zelensky, his wife, and his friends who all became cabinet members upon his election. Fun Fact!
In 2018- 2019 Zelensky’s ‘sprawling network’ of offshore accounts became the subject of the Pandora Paper Scaper scamerati. Later the Panama Paper Caper also named Zelensky. All accounts were co-owned by Zelensky with four members of his Sitcom crew and friends; Shefir, Borys, Yakovlev and Bakanov. They were opened in 2012. His election platform was that he would not be as corrupt as his predecessors – so he transferred title to his wife and his friends for some of these offshore accounts. While the valuations are not known, The Guardian reported some properties in London and Westminster were valued at $1-$2 million each. The accounts pay dividends to Zelensky’s wife. None of the funds paid Ukrainian taxes. To date, Zelensky has refused to provide data on these offshore accounts.
While claiming to have a net worth of $1.5 million, Veterans Today claims Zelensky recently bought a $34 million villa in Miami. When Zelensky was elected in 2019, he immediately appointed his benefactor, Kolomoyskyi’s lawyer as head of the Presidential Administration for Ukraine. Kolomoyskyi is reportedly worth $1.8 billion – give or take… Not including Zelensky, there are exactly 7 billionaires in Ukraine where the gdp pp is $3727.
The deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of the Opposition Platform – Party For Life Ilya Kiva, claims that Zelensky’s offshore accounts hold more than a billion dollars. They go through banks like First Union Bank, Deutsche Bank, Banque Nationale de Paris. According to the deputy, the movement of such funds would be impossible without the control of the authorities of Germany and France:
“Zelensky has accumulated $1.2 billion in the Dresdner Bank Lateinamerika in Costa Rica during the two and a half years of his presidency. This money was transferred to the president by Ukrainian oligarchs, such as Rinat Akhmetov, Viktor Pinchuk, Igor Kolomoisky.”
Hardly the working class Hero Sainted across the US and EU!
While the Ukrainian president continues to conference via video, there is never any noise interference that would indicate a war was just outside his window. The reception is clear, without static, and could easily be a stage set in Zelensky’s Miami villa.
WHY? Why would the EU and US masquerade this president who has obviously r@ped his country? Biden et al. The et al being all the Corporations that wanted access to the resources of Ukraine including giants such as Lockheed Martin, Monsanto, Raytheon, NIH, etc…
20
In 2016, Oliver Stone created a documentary on the corruption, torture, and depravity that is – Ukraine.
Since 2001, US ‘economic aid’ to Ukraine has totalled over $4.2 billion representing 68% of the total aid, or $6.17 billion. Why is the US such a LARGESS benefactor? Pay-For-Play. Before the 2014 Colour Revolution coup in Ukraine – the GDP pp was $4030.
So despite ALL the influx of billions by foreign government/taxpayers, Ukraine’s economy pp dropped nearly 10%. Where did the money go?
Obviously NOT into the economies productivity investment – instead it went into the Pay-For-Play investment – 110% for me and -10% for Ukrainians.
A 2020 US Department of State Document outlining the corruption in Ukraine aligns with an Amnesty International document of the same time period. The summary of abuses include:
“Significant human rights issues included: unlawful or arbitrary killing; torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of detainees by law enforcement personnel; harsh and life-threatening conditions in prisons and detention centers; arbitrary arrest or detention; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; abuses in the Russia-led conflict in the Donbas, including physical abuse of civilians and members of armed groups held in detention facilities; serious restrictions on free expression, the press, and the internet, including violence, threats of violence, or unjustified arrests or prosecutions against journalists, censorship, and blocking of websites; refoulement of refugees; serious acts of corruption; lack of investigation of and accountability for violence against women; violence or threats of violence motivated by anti-S@mitism; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting persons with disabilities, members of ethnic minority groups, and lesbian, gay, bis@xual, transgender, or inters@x persons; and the existence of the worst forms of child labor.”
20
The show they tried to cancel. Lessons from across the ditch
On Monday 22nd August, the night before the Rights & Freedom Coalition’s Peoples’ Court rally on parliament steps in Wellington, Counterspin Media was about to live stream 2 key interviews with two prominent guests from Australia. The Counterspin crew experienced several unusual and unexpected anomalies causing problems with the streaming systems, and as the stream went out live, it was so degraded that the audience could not view it.
At the same time, Avi Yemini was prevented from boarding a flight from Melbourne to cover the People’s Court rally.
Three days later on Thursday 25th August more than one location was searched by the police and Counterspin’s production systems were seized in a police search, which also resulted in the arrest of the Counterspin Media hosts. This show, Episode 73, was seized in the raid as it was being prepared for re-release. The Show has now been restored so it can now be exhibited as it was intended.
Here is the show you were supposed to see on 22nd August, and appears to be a show “they” didn’t want you to see.
Episode 73 – Lessons from Across the Ditch
Tonight we talk to Australian Senator Malcolm Roberts and Maria Zeee of Zeee Media on the Geopolitical climate our cousins in Australia are currently facing and what they see happening in the future.
https://theinfowar.tv/watch?id=6314781f25f81d4831d3776f
Apologies for the Alex Jones BS product promo…
40
One wonders why the NZ Government is so terrified of a journalist (Avi Yemeni).
Perhaps because the self-confessed communist PM Ardern said this:
https://youtu.be/MJjq_K9M4EQ
The Left don’t tolerate the truth or alternative opinions.
80
NZ Maori MP Winston Peters appeared on Sky News recently and warned Australians not to follow the Labour NZ PM Ardern’s Maori legislation that will divide the nation and effectively give the small minority and voice lower than the majority. In other words the voice referendum here is very similar political agenda, despite not details being provided here, to the NZ legislation.
Winston Peters leads the minor party that formed the alliance with Ardern Labour to form government, but Labour now has a small majority without an alliance.
90
That remains one of the most ominous utterances from a politician in the last one hundred years.
Orwellian.
61
Thought for the day:
The difference between a drug cartel and the government is that the cartel doesn’t force you to take their drugs.
150
OldOzziesays:
September 6, 2022 at 2:53 pm
UK energy crisis is a burden of war
It would be a crime and a folly to let the domestic costs of the war fall disproportionately on the least well-off. Solidarity in sharing these burdens is obligatory. In wartime, markets are not sacrosanct.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. The UK has rightly supported Ukraine’s cause in its war with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Today’s soaring gas prices are as much a weapon in Putin’s fight as missiles directed at Ukraine and, like them, they will kill.
It would be a crime and a folly to let the domestic costs of the war fall disproportionately on the least well-off. Solidarity in sharing these burdens is obligatory. So, too, is willingness to shed shibboleths. In wartime, markets are not sacrosanct.
Price controls, even rationing, must be on the table.
an overall price shock (with inflation likely to hit 20 per cent), and a contractionary shock to gross domestic product.
The distributional shock is the most important. According to ING, even with the measures already taken by the government, the cost of energy could rise from 12 per cent of household disposable income for the lowest decile in 2021, to 41 per cent between October 2022 and September 2023.
Even at the sixth decile it could go from 4 per cent to 14 per cent of disposable income. This would be a massive (and massively unequal) squeeze on people’s real incomes.
This is war. The government must act. Tinkering is not enough. Go big. Be bold.
Financial Times
30
They will be playing Vera Lynne WW2 songs over speakers in the street next, invoking the spirit of the blitz and all that. Anything to distract.
70
Johnny Rotten says:
September 6, 2022 at 4:45 pm
Here is a comparison of inflation in the UK v Russia. And they think that Sanctions work?…………..LOL
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sun-Inflation.png
40
A call on governments to reform the fuel excise
The NRMA is calling on Australian governments to transition from the antiquated fuel excise model to a more progressive and equitable ‘user pays’ charging system to ensure the necessary funds to build and maintain roads over the long term.
Fuel excise in Australia is set to return to its full 46 cents per litre on the wholesale price of petrol and diesel on 29 September 2022, following a temporary reduction to ease cost of living pressures.
The NRMA believes now is the right time to consider a ‘Road User Charge’ model that will improve the current tax system and help to ensure greater fairness for road users as Australians transition to more fuel efficient vehicles, including fully electric variants.
Transitioning the fuel excise to a Road User Charge model should be revenue neutral and not increase the overall tax burden on motorists.
Reform should also include consolidating other road-related taxes and charges, including registration and stamp duty, to simplify the system and improve transparency for motorists.
Critically, a Road User Charge should not create a further barrier to the uptake of EVs in Australia. Last year, the NRMA supported introducing a 2.5c/km (indexed to CPI) charge on EVs, but only from 1 July 2027 or when EVs represent 30 per cent of new vehicle sales.
To accomplish this, the NRMA proposes a phased approach to introduce this Road User Charge model:
Phase 1
Rationalise the tolled motorway network
Network-wide charging will improve simplicity, consistency and user equity.
Multiple trip charging caps could benefit rationalisation and support heavy users.
Phase 2
Replace fixed charges, including registration and stamp duty, with a distance-based charge
Distance-based charging will remove inefficient and inequitable fixed charges.
Distance-based charging can underpin further road pricing reform.
Phase 3
Replace fuel excise with a distance-based charge, including caps to ensure cost neutrality
Distance-based charging will remove a regressive and unsustainable tax.
Distance-based charging at the state and territory level would effectively administer a ‘tax switch’, giving states greater control over decision making that impacts their road network.
Phase 4
Introduce variable charging based on location, time of day and type of vehicle
Variable charging will improve user equity and enable dynamic traffic management.
Network efficiency will enhance asset utilisation.
Phase 5
Adjust changes over time to ensure sustainable roads and transport funding
Enables flexible charging based on consumer propensity to pay and funding requirements.
Enables improved decision making in relation to capital expenditure and maintenance.
10
isnt an excise charge per litre effectively a distance charge? dont see the great leap forward in their proposal and see a world of issues in its practical implementation.
150
“Distance-based charging can underpin further road pricing reform.”
If that means more money spent on country pot-hole tracks.
I’m all for it ! 😉
30
Distance based charging is probably code for live electronic tracking….
210
Saw a sign on the back of a car recently.
“I’m not drunk, just dodging potholes”
70
Maybe the NRMA should STFU. Australians have enough taxes to pay. Build better roads if traffic damages them so much. Hint: some Roman roads have survived 2000 years.
80
The people who make our roads must have failed roadbuilding school, also I believe none of them are aware that trucks use our roads, they are built for light passenger cars.
20
In WA the government ran down the railways servicing our widespread small towns around the wheatbelt. They sold a line off to a private enterprise company and then demanded the company fix up the mess, which logically it refused to do. Today there are so many roadtrains carting grain and ores to Bins and ports that the roads by the end of the summer and the trucking season are a mess. This is especially so with distorted bitumen mounds pushed up on the asphalt sides which makes passing these huge vehicles very dangerous. So, every off-season of the year huge costs get committed to repairing what will again become a mess after the next season. It is hard to believe that putting down and maintaining rail lines can be more expensive than the cost of the Statewide road renewals and repairs we see every year. Then comes renewables or very high cost ff vehicles of the future.
The cost of more social welfare extensions in buying government has enormous implications for the regions which provide most of the export income of the nation. Politicians know the city populations dwarf the regional. Buying power of governance therefore resides in the cities and it is showing in the pandering to the interests of the inner city localities and distribution of the tax dollars. The cities won’t know what hit them when their populations succeed in destroying the fossil fuel industries and Australia becomes totally impoverished from the loss of export dollars and the servicing of the enormous Federal and State debt.
30
I only half fill my tank to reduce fuel ageing and gumming. Wouldn’t dream of using hydroscopic alcohol blends. [Who does for a 2c saving?]
I’d be all for distance travelled charges replacing some of the annual rego.
But I drove a lot of Ks while in business so I would have voted the other way then. 🙂
31
Cash Rate up 0.5%
https://www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2022/mr-22-28.html
40
Which translates to about another $200/month the masses will have to find for a $500k mortgage.
30
What another 0.5 percentage point rate rise will mean in September
$500,000: Up $145 to $2,472 from $2,327
$600,000: Up $173 to $2,966 from $2,793
$700,000: Up $202 to $3,460 from $3,258
$800,000: Up $231 to $3,955 from $3,724
$900,000: Up $260 to $4,449 from $4,189
$1,000,000: Up $289 to $4,943 from $4,654
Calculations based on the cash rate rising to 2.35 per cent from 1.85 per cent, which would see a popular Commonwealth Bank variable climb to 4.29 per cent from 3.79 per cent
A borrower with an average $600,000 mortgage will now be faced with a $173 jump in their monthly mortgage repayments as the central bank battles the worst inflation since 1990 and borrowers deal with the highest cash rate since February 2015.
The latest increase means this borrower would have seen their monthly mortgage repayments surge by $573 since early May.
The Reserve Bank of Australia has enacted a fifth successive interest rate increase.
On Tuesday the RBA board lifted the cash rate by another 50 basis points to 2.35 per cent.
The seven-year high increases the repayments on an $800,000 mortgage to $1000 a month since May.
Use our calculator below to see what Tuesday’s increase of 50 points (the right toggle button) means for your mortgage repayments.
10
2006 Federal Budget figures;
Average Mortgage Interest Rates
Labor up to 1996 – 12.75%
Howard Coalition up to 2006 – 8.80%
30
Back in those days “the masses” were hard pressed to get a loan. 20% deposit, proven savings record the bank would at least talk to you.
A long time ago but I think my interest was an unremarkable 12% or thereabouts.
Millennials think we were gifted our houses. There was no middle class welfare then, no grants.
50
Add general inflation plus the compounding effects of energy (electricity, gas, and oil) on inflation and we have an economic disaster unfolding in real-time.
Most of the electorate still doesn’t get it yet, but the effects of this active vandalism of the nation are now baked in – the tsunami is already on its way. By the time those on the beach see the danger and start running, it is very likely to be well beyond too late.
Even when enough wake up, and hopefully survive, it will take many years (probably decades) to recover from this assault on a once-free people, if it is indeed possible at all without first enduring a complete societal collapse.
The government (regardless of stripes) denies any of this is happening. Just take more borrowed money and throw it at renewables, which are free, of course, which is why they must be heavily subsidised (how’s that for cognitive dissonance).
Or, got an inflation problem? Just appoint your mates to tribunals and commissions and get them to give everyone a pay rise equal to or greater than inflation. That’ll fix it!
Seriously, the ideological idiocy is unbounded and shows no discernable signs of stopping, or even slowing down.
Good luck to us all. We will need it, and apparently, it is all we’ve got.
110
The government is based in Canberra. So none of this is happening in their world.
Canberra has reduced electricity prices this year. Canberrans award themselves pay rises as they choose. You have to pay people lots of money to attract them into the swamp that is Canberra.
90
Once upon a time our PM would name and shame banks which didn’t pass on interest rate risers to savers with the bank.
Neither ScoMo nor Elbow have said a word. Standard accounts still receiving 0.1%
30
Isn’t it odd that unlike Gillard, worthy female PM’s such as Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi, Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Benazir Bhutto didn’t make a big deal about their gender or supposed misogyny.
101
“Czech Republic First” – More than 100 000 people protest in Prague over soaring energy prices, government policy toward Russia, Czech Republic
At the end of August 2022, electricity costs in the Czech Republic became the highest in Europe.
Protesters threaten strike and coercive action if the government doesn’t resign by September 25.
They say this is the future for all governments that act against the interests of their people.
The protesters gathered under the banner of “Czech Republic First” – demanding that the country’s coalition take more steps to rein in surging energy costs.
They called for the end of sanctions against Russia and the establishment of a new gas supply deal, the resignation of the country’s prime minister and to immediately stop supplying Ukraine with arms.
https://watchers.news/2022/09/05/czech-republic-first-more-than-100-000-people-protest-in-prague-over-soaring-energy-prices-government-policy-toward-russia-czech-republic/
Demands the government resign…
Note: watch Sep. 25 😊
Meanwhile:
80% of Rapid COVID-19 Tests the Czech Republic Bought From China are Wrong
Up to 80 percent of the 300,000 rapid coronavirus test kits ordered that the Czech Republic ordered from China are not working properly, according to regional hygienists who have tried the tests.
The test kits, worth 54 million korunas (€1.83 million), show false positive as well as negative results. This is because rapid tests cannot reliably detect infection in its initial phase.
The information came from hygienists from University Hospital Ostrava in the east of the country. Health officials thus labeled the rapid coronavirus tests as unreliable as they allegedly failed in 80 percent of cases. As an example, health experts described a case of a man who tested positive for coronavirus, but the following test showed that he was not infected.
https://www.praguemorning.cz/80-of-rapid-covid-19-tests-the-czech-republic-bought-from-china-are-wrong/
70
I have a a local store here in SE Melbourne that sells products made in the Netherlands. Mostly unusual food stuff. My favourite is Dutch Licorice but there are some different and interesting snack foods. They also had a coffee shop attached that attracted trade and sold some of the Dutch eats as well. The coffee shop has closed due to availability of staff.
The owner told me that it is getting hard to get product out of The Netherlands now. More suppliers are closing doors. Covid was bad but it is worse now. All her siblings live in The Netherlands and are getting worried about the coming winter.They expect it to get bad.
100
Too bad if they live in a ‘smokeless’ zone, can’t use wood or coal for heat.
00
Australian Children Are at the Forefront of an Experimental New Social Engineering Program
In February this year, Anthony Albanese, pledged $6 million towards a new eSmart Digital License program involving Australian schoolchildren aged 10 to 14.
‘eSmart’ was launched in December 2021 by the Alannah & Madeline Foundation in partnership with the DQ Institute and Accenture, a Rockefeller-funded company that was recently awarded a $230 million contract to overhaul Australia’s Director ID program.
Under the benevolent guise of ‘cyber-security’ and “helping children navigate the online world”, the eSmart program seeks to embed ‘Social and Emotional Learning’ (SEL) assessments and measurements within the education system.
Using “gamified learning”, “interactive story worlds” and “relatable scenarios”, children must achieve “milestones” and “earn badges” before being rewarded with an eSmart Digital License.
Those overseeing the program will be monitoring its impact and accuracy, tweaking it here and there, as they aggregate and analyse the data against a globally standardised set of S.E.L metrics.
Currently, there are over 2,200 eSmart Schools across the country involved in the Foundation’s self-described “behavior-change initiative”.
It is being trialled here first, but the goal is to expand it worldwide.
Developed by the founder of D.Q Institute, Dr Yuhyun Park, another of Klaus Schwab’s ubiquitous Young Global Leaders, the program uses “AI-based linking and predictive methodology” to customise its “assessment and scoring” tools.
The D.Q Institute is also a member of the Global Coalition for Digital Intelligence, which includes:
•WEF
•OECD
•World Bank
•IEEE World Standards Association
All are heavily involved in the ed-tech and digital identity agendas.
https://www.australiannationalreview.com/lifestyle/australian-children-are-at-the-forefront-of-an-experimental-new-social-engineering-program/
Like religion and terrorism – brainwash them at impressionable ages for a population of compliant sheep who believe whatever you preach to them.
70
Anything that uses the word “smart” for branding, or any prefix including “i”, “e”, or “my”, is total junk.
90
WEF Puppet Trudeau says restrictions & mandates will be reimposed in Canada this fall & winter if a 90% 3x vaccine compliance target is not met
The Canadian Manchurian Candidate PM, whose science background starts and ends with his previous profession as substitute drama teacher, is now threatening PSYOP-22 lockdowns.
Where in the Canadian Constitution does it give anyone in government the right to not just force EUA (yes, there will forever be an “emergency”) experimental eugenics injections, but any medical procedure whatsoever?
There is no possible way that endogenous production of cytotoxic spike proteins could ever confer immunity or attenuation of symptoms. This is clearly a slow kill bioweapon and nothing more.
As such, the Canadian government and all of the other governments pushing these injections are wholly illegitimate, and thus criminal.
https://2ndsmartestguyintheworld.substack.com/p/breaking-wef-puppet-trudeau-says
…and the moose stroll casually through the tumbleweed towns and cities formally known as Canada…
Life after people.
20
Bruce in WAsays:
September 6, 2022 at 5:23 pm
Ah, Western Australia, my Western Australia …
a state in which to raise families, with an easygoing lifestyle the envy of so many …
and a police state the next:
Did you know that in Western Australia you can be charged for drink driving, even if you have only had alcohol after going home and sitting on your couch? Sounds ridiculous, but it is entirely true.
Read it and weep.
70
Reaching the sanctuary of your home has never been like crossing the Mexico border in the westerns.
Given “cause” they have always been able to test you at home. If you’ve scratched your car take your wife to bed BEFORE you drown your sorrows. I’m not suggesting that might be a reason to drink. 😀
20
Been playing with VPN connections just because I can. My protonmail subscription provides a VPN connection. The next level up provides multiples with better performance. The entry level gives a choice of three connections via Netherlands, Japan or USA. The next level up has many exit points.
Everything is pretty transparent when using Japan or USA, the Netherlands seem to trigger authentication issues and alerts in some sites and most notably Google.
30
It is now 34 years since James Hansen alarmed the US Congress about imminent Global Warming. People and governments rushed out to install renewables, wind turbines and solar panels, to combat our inevitable demise. Since then, we have seen power costs rise, despite negligible suppression of Earth’s temperatures. I challenge the believers in settled climate science to compete a table showing, year by year, 1. the numbers of installed solar panels, 2. the numbers of wind turbines, 3. the numbers of coal-fired power stations shut down,and 4. the price per megawatt hour of electricity. Come on, believers! Defend your religion (if you can)!
50
CO2 and CEMENT, our great Chancellor cum PM at the time, Gordie Broon ( should have remained with his Family in the Sunday Paper ) famously increased our costs by taxing Cement production as a big CO2 emitter: Take a listen to this very informative talk with Jamie M. Gentoso, Chief Executive Officer of US Cement Operations
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=386875965739347 which I fell over on the new UK channel earthx tv.
10
When they ban internal combustion (IC) cars they will have to impose a tax on them to replace petrol taxes. There will be no saving of running costs compared to IC cars.
But the Left have always hated personal mobility.
Ultimately they will ban all private transport as well.
50
The left elite will surely not ban all private transport. Not when they are the only ones who have it.
40
There IS NO SAVING of running cost by using an EV !
10
Musing today over the gist of a comment I made about things we have lost that actually worked, but I betters thought they knew better , and often now seek to rebuild some fractured version of them again:
– we used to have Universities that sought to actually educate, promote learning and critical thinking and launch competent professionals
– we used to have a TAFE sector that sought to train and educate those with a more practical hands on nature
– we used to be able to provide low income people with housing commission homes
– we used to have a Police force we could respect and rely on
– we used to have Defense Force focused on protecting Australia
Today I learnt that Meals on Wheels is going to be replaced by a once a week delivery of frozen meals from one of the commercial meal prep companies. They seem to completely misunderstand or deliberately ignore what that service delivered to the frail and elderly.
I guess those that never knew what was , when we were smaller and poorer, will never miss it.
150
Meals on Wheels relies on voluntary cooks and drivers. Maybe Aussies are selfish with their time.
40
Aye indeed, …. that’s just it …. ‘they’ were all USED. ( don’t like the modern vernacular for it now ) and as for the Meals on WHeels – our SWRI used to ( still does ? – I’ve NO IDEA ) do that – a “RURAL” thing – demonstrates the city dweller attitude as differing from the rest of us: as in so many other things – EVs and pollution. MAybe we country folk should shun them from visiting our open space clean air countryside. That WOULD go down well.
40
The next time a Leftoid tells you that we have to eat insects to “save the planet”, remind them that even if that were actually true and not a lie, that the food conversion ratio of crickets and chickens is about the same, 1.5 and 1.6 respectively.
So eating chickens would be about as efficient as eating crickets, assuming there was a legitimate reason to do it, which of course there isn’t.
But they still want us, the non-Elites, to eat the crickets because they are returning us to pre-Enlightenment times and serfdom.
References for food conversion ratio:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/environment/a-semi-autonomous-cricket-farm-to-feed-the-world#:~:text=Crickets%20require%20just%201.5%20pounds,for%20every%20pound%20of%20pork.
https://www.alltech.com/blog/how-do-you-measure-performance-poultry-industry#:~:text=For%20broiler%20producers%2C%20an%20FCR,at%20converting%20feed%20into%20food.
61
Who’s going to mow all the grass when the cows and sheep aren’t eating it, that’s what I want to know!
70
Bushfires
50
Its just going to be left to rot and produce all those nasty decay gases that are the cause of climate change, then at a later date someone can get a grant to show that by introducing cows and sheep etc to grazing lands they will actually bind up some of those “nasty” compounds and thereby become beneficial to the planet.
You know, like the example of burning wood pellets to produce electricity, carbon neutral don’t ta know.
10
T-shirt observed yesterday on a young dog walker in my neighborhood.
Note, I live walking distance from a major science University.
“F*(k CO2”
“F*(k this virus”
Wanted to stop for a conversation … with the dog.
130
Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania was a pivotal moment in history
Most of President Trump’s supporters, including myself, agreed with Mark Levin that the raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home was “the worst attack on this Republic in modern history. Period.”
That is one reason I joined thousands of like-minded people in Wilkes-Barre, PA this past Saturday to show support for the man who has been so unrelentingly demonized by the left that it has begun to feel like an attack on every single one of us. President Biden’s speech last Thursday night only validated that feeling.
Stalwart supporters came not only from around the Commonwealth, but from across the country. It was exactly because of current events that so many of us felt overwhelmingly drawn there — and I soon realized that it would be one of the greatest, most meaningful experiences of my life.
It was like a family reunion with 12,000 strangers. We were there to merge our shared pasts, to bear our current struggles, and to advocate for a leader who is the loudest and clearest voice defending our hopes for the future.
“These are the people they are mocking,” I thought. Good, hardworking people who would give you the shirt off their backs or risk their own lives to pull you out of a burning car. Yet they are hated because they won’t apologize for adhering to the social norms that have held the fabric of our country together.
These are the folks that have maintained “the permanent things” against all odds. This T.S. Eliot phrase, popularized by Russell Kirk, kept swirling through my mind as I waited with the huddled masses. These are the people with strong convictions of justice and honor and enduring moral order that Kirk wrote about:
A society in which men and women are governed by belief in an enduring moral order, by a strong sense of right and wrong, by personal convictions about justice and honor, will be a good society —whatever political machinery it may utilize; while a society in which men and women are morally adrift, ignorant of norms, and intent chiefly upon gratification of appetites, will be a bad society — no matter how many people vote and no matter how liberal its formal constitution may be.
I met many more of these first-generation Americans, some with shirts that read, “Latinos for Trump” and even a car that proclaimed, “Vietnamese for Trump!”
Folks expressed themselves with T-shirts, others with hats, flags, or buttons.
Among some of the best T-shirts were these:
“I used to be a Deplorable, but now I’ve been promoted to Ultra MAGA”
“Mean Tweets and Cheap Gas 2024”
“Trump was right — about everything”
I was struck by the fact that with everything they’ve already launched against him, including the intimate violation of raiding his home; and still anticipating the medieval siege weapons they have yet to drag through the moat in hot pursuit, Trump could still take to the stage as focused, motivated, and inspiring as he was. While the raid on Mar-a-Lago was unprecedented, Trump’s bold response in Wilkes-Barre the other night was also a pivotal moment in history.
Maybe it’s because now more than ever, it’s clear to him — and to all of us — that he is fighting to protect every one of our own little Mar-a-Lagos.
150
As in 2020, Trump speaks to tens of thousands and Biden speaks to tens
Now, it’s 2022, and once again, Trump is speaking to tens of thousands and Biden is speaking to tens. What can and should we take away from that?
The head-to-head comparison comes from Benny Johnson, who put together a video showing Trump’s and Biden’s appearances in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It’s important to note that Wilkes-Barre is part of Luzerne County, a Republican-majority county. However, that majority is not equal to, say, San Francisco County, where Biden claimed 85.26% of the votes to Trump’s 12.72%—something that’s a totally believable result if one knows that San Francisco is self-destructing because of its unopposed leftism.
In Luzerne, the vote split 56.7% for Trump versus 42.3% for Biden. In other words, although Trump carried the day with almost 87,000 votes, over 64,000 people still supported Biden. Both men have a lot of supporters who can turn up at their rallies.
When it comes to Wilkes-Barre rallies in 2022, the video from Trump’s rally makes it look as if all 86,929 of Trump’s voters tried to squeeze into the venue, and all the attendees are wildly enthusiastic. Meanwhile, the video from Biden’s rally shows what looks like a debate at a high school gym when the candidates are the two pathetic losers whom no one in the school likes. The room is mostly empty, and the energy is non-existent:
110
The great man once said, ‘ they are not coming for me, they are coming for you, I’m just standing in the way’.
70
Great show, Joe! Pitifully small crowd of union workers rock up to support President Biden’s Labor Day speech in Pennsylvania – as his crucial midterm election campaign ramps up
From the Comments The B’Obvious!
Why does nobody in our popular media ever ask the next obvious investigative question… “How did a man so unpopular with the electorate, as he was in 2020, manager to get more votes than any other president in history?”
30
Hold fast good Ozzians, like our POTUS, I’m sure Dan will soon emerge as a valiant warrior against Pharma.
https://www.bitchute.com/video/e5lDJVOfEIcR/
30
Excellent statement by Jordan Peterson to Twitter CEO.
https://youtu.be/0S5WP4GGliA
20
The Next Pope Should at Least be Catholic
Pope Francis doesn’t like America. Pope Francis doesn’t like capitalism. It is unclear whether Pope Francis even likes Catholicism.
Whatever the case may be, he seems to be doing everything he can to dissuade Catholics from remaining in the Church, and to keep prospective Catholics from joining.
When certain Christian leaders, such as the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, or the Southern Baptist Convention president, J.D. Greear, speak, nobody listens. Why? Because they sacrificed Christendom, and the glorious civilization it produced, upon the altar of wokeness a long time ago. When the pope speaks, people still listen. But that’s rapidly changing, and for the same reason.
A few of Pope Francis’ more memorable pronouncements are worth noting:
The first Pope, the apostle Peter, was willingly nailed to a cross in defense of his faith. Pope Francis won’t even display a cross for fear of offending people. The words of his god are found not in the Bible, but in 19th century revolutionary tracts and on the pretentious yard signs of gated communities. The faithful masses are screaming for real leadership rooted in courage, humility, and genuine concern for the suffering of Christians, not in condescending elitism.
If the cardinals don’t deliver, Catholics will walk.
70
It would appear that a lot of the Plebs do not like Capitalism. However, they seem to like the benefits of Capitalism.
Such as, washing machines, fridges, motor cars (Pope Mobiles for the Pope), Aircraft (fly anywhere), Medicines, FOOD, WINE, BEER, clean water, energy on tap (maybe not so much now), mobile phones, computers, the Internet and a lot lot more.
So how can these people that don’t like Capitalism make the World a better place?
Not Build Back Better and all that tosh surely……………LOL
60
If people don’t understand capitalism (or more correctly free enterprise) they should read Milton Friedman’s book “Free to Choose” or watch the series of the same name, available on YouTube.
Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt27lKoC5LS4wbD28Jkv95UUm9H7wbVO4
30
3 months of NSW data show it’s not the unvaccinated in hospitals with Covid
Is NSW Health aware that there are barely any unvaccinated patients being hospitalised with Covid? In last week’s Covid surveillance report, there were 0 (zero) unvaccinated patients hospitalised with Covid. In the past 3 months, there was a grand total of 21 unvaccinated patients (0.2%) out of a total 9, 348 Covid hospitalisations.
The remaining 9, 327 is comprised of:
4+ dosed (1, 935),
3 dosed (3, 274),
2 dosed (1, 762),
1 dosed (122),
Unknown (2, 234).
NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard’s vaccinations may be up to date, but unfortunately, his Covid FAQs are not.
Incidentally, the NSW Covid FAQs are out of date in more ways than one. They state that vaccinated people have less chance of catching and spreading Covid, but the latest NSW booster drive campaign exemplifies the messaging pivot we are seeing nationally and internationally. Government and health officials are moving away from ‘Vaccines protect the community by preventing infection and transmission’ to, ‘Vaccines protect the community by preventing hospitalisation. Save our hospitals!’.
If the vaccines are improving outcomes for the 87% of the NSW population who has taken them, and yet these people are still over represented in hospitalisation and death (which they are), then we should see the 0 dosed overwhelmingly, unequivocally, absolutely drowning the hospitals and mortuaries with severe illness and death. We’re not seeing that. Further, if the high rates of 3 and 4+ dosed people being hospitalised and dying with Covid is proof that Covid is so deadly that even 4 vaccine doses can’t prevent hospitalisation and death, then we should see ungodly numbers of hospitalisations and deaths with Covid reported for countries with low vaccination take up when controlling for other factors.
https://rebekahbarnett.substack.com/p/3-months-of-nsw-data-show-its-not
Moose in Canada, kangaroos in Oz…
70
From the Daily Express Know why your fuel bills are soaring? 20 years of ‘renewables’ lies, says JOHN CONSTABLE Evan H said that ” ……. only aware of the substance beginning to surface since I saw parts of a TV prog last night – LATE ( I wonder why ?) Lecky prices all simply related to price of GAS. So no matter if you really are 100% Wind or solar, you will still have to pay the going rate set by the GAS price. What a Con – as elaborated upon in this article. Promoted in the MSM / TV news Current affaires programs, Jerme Whine ? nope. Now we know ” Yes I fell over that program too in the middle of a sudden neighbouring incident to which I had to attend. …. So what now ? NOBODY has EVER said that GAS price regulated wind & solar or other power, PRICE. – why not Nuclear, or, or …. ?
Found it, see here : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/6121508.stm and here https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006t14n
40
How do Italians pronounce “Pelosi”?
I can roll “Ricciardo” off the tongue with a fake Italio accent, easy, but not sure about “Pelosi”. Doesn’t have that same pizzaz.
None the less her Italian heritage eminently qualifies her for the Ambassadorship to Italy, a post left vacant for some time now just waiting for her face saving escape after Nov, or is that Jan?
I’m sure Little ‘Ole Wine Drinker Pauly P will approve.
50
Off topic
00
Its an open thread.
Donald is a charismatic personality and visionary.
https://notrickszone.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Trump-warned.png
30
Assuming commercial fusion power is possible, have you hear about the limitations on the supply of tritium?
Today, most of the world supply comes from Canada’s CANDU reactors but these have an uncertain future under Canada’s woke government.
The CANDU reactors produce 500g per year and it sells for US$30,000 per gram.
The ITER fusion reactor will need 12kg. Others projects will also need it.
The entire world stockpile is only 25kg and rapidly decaying.
The Half-Life of tritium is only 12.5 years, it is rapidly decaying and needs constant new supply.
Video: https://youtu.be/VHZMW0AmAKw
20
There’s somewhere around 100 kg of tritium in warheads. Might not be a bad thing to get some from there.
30
The need for good guys having nuclear weapons hasn’t gone away. Each weapon that uses it contains 4-5 grams.
10
Martyr goes to jail.
‘Irish teacher jailed over trans pupil row.
‘The teacher at a Church of Ireland school was jailed for an indeterminate time after refusing to address a transitioning student as ‘they’. (Oz)
60
Yes, the Irish appear to be particularly strong supporters of the child transgender tragedy.
20
Top Endersays:
September 7, 2022 at 7:36 am
Irish teacher jailed for indeterminate time over trans pupil row
JACQUELIN MAGNAY
EUROPE CORRESPONDENT
@jacquelinmagnay
A schoolteacher at a Church of Ireland school has been jailed after refusing to address a transitioning student as “they” rather than “he”.
Enoch Burke was this week found in contempt of court for refusing to stay away from Wilson’s Hospital School in Co. Westmeath pending an investigation by the school board into his refusal to address the student in the manner preferred by the student.
Mr Burke had attended the school to prepare for the return of classes this week, and had been in an empty classroom when arrested by gardaí on Monday morning and taken before the Four Courts in Dublin. The court was told Mr Burke had breached the terms of the school’s suspension and also an ex-parte injunction.
Judge Michael Quinn sentenced Mr Burke to an indeterminate time at Mountjoy prison for being in contempt of court, by not staying away from the school.
After the ruling, Mr Burke, who teaches his students German, politics and history, said: “I love my school, with its motto Res Non Verba, actions not words, but I am here today because I said I would not call a boy a girl”.
He added: “It is insanity that I will be led from this courtroom to a place of incarceration, but I will not give up my Christian beliefs.” He said his views on transgender were also the ethos of the Church of Ireland and that of the school.
Rosemary Mallon, legal counsel for Wilson’s Hospital School’s board of management said it was with a “heavy heart” and last resort that it sought Mr Burke’s committal to prison, but the teacher had continued to attend the school, despite a court order which it had obtained last week.
Oz
40
Wow, Europe Household Electric Bills Estimated to Jump by $2 Trillion Next Year, That’s 12% of Their GDP
September 6, 2022 – Sundance
What is predicted to happen in Europe is just stunning, literally stunning.
♦Context – According to official data from the World Bank, the combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the European Union was just over $17 trillion US dollars in 2021. That is the last calculated measure. The combined GDP value of European Union represents roughly 12.78 percent of the world economy.
According to analysts for Goldman Sachs, the current energy crisis in Europe has increased electricity prices at a rate that is increasing almost daily. Within the data it is now estimated that households within the EU will pay an additional $2 trillion for electricity in the next year.
Put that $2 trillion into context with their GDP, and that scale of energy cost would be wiping out 12% of the purchasing strength within the total EU economy. Forget about buying anything else, if this analysis is correct Europeans will be buying food and energy, nothing else.
If you consider what that means, it is bordering on full economic collapse of western Europe.
60
Well, when his plans failed Hitler blamed the Germans and left them to suffer in the ruins. Looks like the current dictators will make a quick exit (to prepared boltholes in warmer climates).
20
johanna says:
September 7, 2022 at 12:49 am
This from mh at Adam’s. He is spot on.
mh says:
September 6, 2022 at 10:54 pm
Thanks to Vladimir Putin, the lie of wind and solar power has been exposed.
Europe was running on Russian gas while pretending they were being powered by ‘Green’ energy.
Quite so.
Putin has ripped the mask off the greenies, and for that we all owe him thanks.
Not the nicest guy on the planet, but one of the smartest.
40
Winston Smith says:
September 6, 2022 at 6:41 pm
A bit of side wind there, pilot.
10
The two pilots in the following videos also earn their salary.
00
From newcatallaxy Blog
Winston Smith says:
September 6, 2022 at 7:39 pm
rickw:
Changi POW Camp’s lathe:
Brilliant!
The R. Bradley Lathe
– Home-made in a Prisoner of War Camp –
If you think making a lathe at home is difficult, this might just encourage you to have a go. This is a true testament to human ingenuity.
10
more evidence on media as an organ of “the party”
it’s more than just democracy that drowns in disinformation
the more lights you turn on, the more cockroaches you find scurrying for cover.
00
If you don’t immediately se3e a problem with this story read the comments or take a course in recognition of firearms
“How The War Was Won”
http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/2022/09/06/how-the-war-was-won/#comment-1681427
00
And brings to mind that earlier victory story – which, on close analysis, was seemingly achieved with paint ball guns
00
How those sanctions are hurting Russia
http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/2022/09/05/from-the-frontlines-of-the-sanctions-war/
10
Ben Garrison sums up Democraps in one Cartoon
backed up by
Tom Stiglich
and
A.F Branco
10
Top Endersays:
September 7, 2022 at 5:40 am
Peter Dutton wants to “remain open-spirited and generous-minded” about an Indigenous voice to parliament but he is demanding more answers from Labor on how the body would work.
The Opposition Leader used the joint Coalition partyroom meeting on Tuesday to say he would not come to a position on the body until he received more detail from the government.
“Labor seems to be making it up as they’re going along, they can’t answer even the most basic questions,” he told MPs. “They say that the voice will only apply to policies that apply to Indigenous Australians but surely foreign policy and defence policy affects Indigenous Australians.
“We still don’t know what the body is going to look like, how it will be made up, and which communities will be represented and how they will be chosen.”
Liberal MPs told The Australian they did not believe Mr Dutton would ultimately support the voice proposal.
In Labor’s caucus meeting on Tuesday, MPs received a briefing on the voice referendum from Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and West Australian senator Pat Dodson.
Senator Dodson, the special envoy for the implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, said “we have narrowed down our task this term to entrench a successful referendum”.
Mr Dreyfus said the “slow build” campaign would work only if it was driven by the community.
Ms Burney was asked by a Labor MP about how to refer to the claim by the Greens that a treaty should come before the voice.
She said the government’s position was for a voice to come in the first instance and noted work would happen concurrently on forming a Makarrata commission to oversee the treaty process.
She also urged MPs against being distracted by what the Greens were proposing.
With Victoria already commencing treaty negotiations, Senator Dodson said the state was “in a different stage of the debate to the rest of Australia”.
“In the voice, representatives will not be from (political) parties. Their point of reference will be First Nations communities.”
Anthony Albanese also stepped up his pitch this week for business to embrace an Indigenous voice to parliament, using his address to the Australian minerals industry dinner on Monday to advance the case.
“A voice to parliament is a matter of common courtesy and common sense,” the Prime Minister told attendees.
“It pays respect to the extraordinary privilege we have to share this ancient continent with the world’s oldest continuous culture. And it recognises the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have a say on the decisions that affect their lives.
“Nothing more – but nothing less.”
He said the voice was a “straightforward act of Australian decency” and “Australian fairness should be above politics.”
“For a referendum to succeed, we will need to recruit and embrace every advocate and ally and supporter, from ‘every point under the southern sky’,” he said.
Oz
10
Zulu Kilo Two Alphasays:
September 7, 2022 at 8:58 am
Breaking News
Labor to introduce Bill to encourage Australian pensioners to downsize their homes
September 7, 2022 – 6:57AM
Australian pensioners will be encouraged to downsize and free up their larger homes for younger families under a potential new law.
Labor will on Wednesday introduce a Bill to parliament that would give age pension recipients more time before the proceeds from the sale of their homes affect their pension payments.
The Albanese government’s legislation would give pensioners an additional 12-month asset test exemption on their home sale proceeds.
Labor says the exemption is designed to give people more time to purchase, build, rebuild, repair or renovate a new principal home before their pension is affected.
Under the new Bill, the assets test exemption would be extended to 24 months for principal home sale proceeds, with an additional 12-month extension available in extenuating circumstances such as a natural disaster.
The changes would see the deeming rate on principal home sale proceeds that pensioners intend to use to purchase a new home significantly lowered from 2.25 per cent per year to 0.25 per cent per year.
The deeming rate is an assumed rate of return on financial assets which is used in determining pension amounts.
More than 8000 pensioners downsized last year and Labor hopes this number will increase if its changes are legislated.
“We don’t want people putting off downsizing to a more suitable home because they are concerned about the impact it could have on their payment rate and overall income,” Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said.
“These changes will give pensioners more flexibility to find a suitable new home and it will hopefully free up larger housing stock for younger families who need it.”
The legislation comes two months after ABS data revealed the number of spare bedrooms in Australian houses had increased from 12.7 million in the 2017-18 financial year to 13 million in the 2019-20 financial year.
Census data released at the end of June also revealed about one in 10 Australian houses were vacant, with the majority of those thought to be holiday homes and investment properties.
Labor can easily get legislation through the lower house, but it needs the support of the Greens and one crossbencher in the Senate in order to pass laws without the Coalition.
Why don’t they just introduce a Bill, allowing them to confiscate those houses, and give them to the “poor?”
Death duties, anyone?
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“If You Don’t Want A CIVIL WAR, Vote For Democrats In November” – Psychopath Kathy Griffin Threatens Civil War On Republicans
Kathy Griffin, the same psychopath who took photos and released a video of herself holding the decapitated head of President Trump, is now declaring civil war if Americans don’t vote for Democrats in November.
The Gateway Pundit previously reported on her unapologetically grotesque stunt and her following attacks on the President’s youngest son, Barron.
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Why electric vehicles aren’t cost-free environmental saviours
A new book finds the shift to Teslas and their competitors, financed by tens of billions of dollars of subsidies, also involves significant environmental and geopolitical damage.
Clean cars drive some very dirty businesses and grubby regimes. That’s the main takeaway from Henry Sanderson’s fine new book Volt Rush: The Winners and Losers in the Race to Go Green.
Among the winners he describes are copper miners exploiting child labour, nickel miners dumping tonnes of waste into the sea, corrupt business people paying off venomous African politicians, and a host of Chinese billionaires. It’s a far cry from the sanitised vision sold to Tesla owners.
Volt Rush is a useful corrective to the utopian rhetoric that portrays electric vehicles as cost-free environmental saviours. Sure, they help limit the greenhouse gas emissions pouring into the atmosphere and heating the planet. But the shift to Teslas and their competitors, financed by tens of billions of dollars of government subsidies worldwide, also involves significant environmental and geopolitical damage.
Happily for readers, Sanderson hasn’t produced a 288-page guilt trip. While the author is clearly a geek – he says the most exciting part of electric cars is the battery – he has written a rollicking tale of greed, politics, and technology populated by a remarkable assortment of brigands, despicables, and visionaries.
They include an ultra-Orthodox Israeli who has exploited the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the scale of King Leopold II of Belgium, a Chilean whose marriage to the daughter of the country’s dictator helped him dominate the lithium mining business, a one-time pal of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs who pitches mining as humanity’s salvation, and a Chinese billionaire who bought an Airbus A319 to chauffeur his wife and lover.
An overlooked secret
Batteries are the heart of electric vehicles, and China is at the heart of advanced battery production. According to Sanderson, the industrial policy that helped turn China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology, or CATL, into the global battery leader involved subsidies and protectionism –unsurprising given China’s goal of dominating the next generation of cars and trucks. Beijing has mandated that 40 per cent of vehicles sold in China by 2030 must be electric.
As part of its strategy, Beijing denied subsidies for several years to electric vehicles using foreign batteries, making the foreign battery-makers uncompetitive in China. That gave CATL a protected market and a big advantage over South Korean firms, which were ahead at one point technologically and remain big rivals.
But government aid doesn’t fully explain the company’s success. Beijing and local governments in China also encouraged entrepreneurship, relentless cost-cutting, and foreign investment – even under the turn to state-owned firms that began in 2013 under Xi Jinping.
In CATL’s case, founder Robin Zeng ditched his job at a state-owned company in Fujian province and began working on batteries, initially with a former IBM scientist from Taiwan. Eventually, Zeng cut a deal with BMW’s Chinese joint venture to produce electric vehicle batteries. BMW’s stringent requirements helped raise CATL’s game high enough for it to become the go-to supplier for other automakers.
CATL now looks to emulate telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies in selling leading-edge equipment globally. In other words, in some clean industries China now isn’t ripping off innovation but producing breakthroughs.
One overlooked secret to China’s renewable energy success is ruthless domestic competition that drives down prices globally. While rock-bottom Chinese prices for solar materials and components, for instance, pushed European, Japanese, and US competitors into bankruptcy, they also helped make solar power affordable. The question for policymakers then becomes whether to shut off Chinese imports to help domestic businesses or open the doors wider to help domestic consumers. University of Wisconsin solar specialist Gregory Nemet has called China’s solar cost-cutting a “gift to the world”.
Sanderson is a reliable guide to China’s global technology role. As a Bloomberg reporter in China, where we crossed paths, he co-wrote China’s Superbank, a look at how China Development Bank bankrolled the global expansion of Chinese firms. Then as a commodities reporter at the Financial Times and executive editor at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a market research firm, he poked around in mines from Chile to China to Congo.
A messy business
Green future
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Zyconoclast says:
September 7, 2022 at 11:26 am
Trend detected.
Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Rt Hon Thérèse Coffey MP
and
Belgian Minister of Health Maggie De Block
And
Admiral Rachel L. Levine Assistant Secretary for Health
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White House Can’t Shake Major ‘MAGA Republican’ Miscalculation
Summed up by
Gary Varvel Cartoon – MAGA Republicans are Coming
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Stories have been circulating that the Thwaites glacier is about to slip into the ocean and flood the world, but this theory has no scientific foundation.
https://www.scienceunderattack.com/blog/2022/1/10/no-evidence-that-thwaites-glacier-in-antarctica-is-about-to-collapse-94
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This has been the slowest start to the Hurricane season in 30 years and NOAA has been caught short.
‘More tropical storms and even some hurricanes will almost undoubtedly form in the waning months of hurricane season 2022, but based on what we have seen thus far, it is highly likely NOAA’s ominous warning of more, more powerful storms in 2022 will fail to materialize—a fact for which we can all be thankful.’ (Heartland News)
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“21 Million German Households, Industry Suffer Body Blow as Green Energy Scheme Disintegrates”
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2022/09/06/21-million-german-households-industry-suffer-body-blow-as-green-energy-scheme-disintegrates/
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“Note the Net Zero energy sources for California.
https://mobile.twitter.com/JunkScience/status/1566980996725182464?cxt=HHwWgMC8-cG6hL8rAAAA
This was yesterday, but I imagine today is much the same.
Gavin Newsome should now shut off the natural gas power plants. ”
More here
http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/2022/09/06/o-sweet-saint-of-san-andreas-125/#comments
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and linked there
https://instapundit.com/541018/
With a term new to me
“BANANAs (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything), “
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A note of hope – maybe
“Labor Day Assessment”
https://kunstler.com/clusterf*-nation/labor-day-assessment/
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2 must-reads for anyone who still thinks that SARS-CoV came out of Wuhan:
https://unherd.com/2022/08/how-dick-cheney-created-anthony-fauci/
https://unlimitedhangout.com/2021/10/investigative-reports/moderna-a-company-in-need-of-a-hail-mary/
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