JoNova
A science presenter, writer, speaker & former TV host; author of The Skeptic's Handbook (over 200,000 copies distributed & available in 15 languages).
Jo appreciates your support to help her keep doing what she does. This blog is funded by donations. Thanks!
Follow Jo's Tweets To report "lost" comments or defamatory and offensive remarks, email the moderators at: support.jonova AT proton.me
Statistics
David Viner Day
From NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT
By Paul Homewood
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2024/11/20/david-viner-day/
David Viner – March 2000
“within a few years winter snowfall will become “a very rare and exciting event””.
“Children just aren’t going to know what snow is,”
David Viner Day has arrived early this winter!
More than 200 schools close and trains cancelled as snow causes disruption across parts of UK
Tuesday 19 November 2024 at 7:06pm
https://www.itv.com/news/2024-11-19/snow-causes-travel-disruption-across-parts-of-uk
280
Was the first one, “Don’t eat yellow snow”?
230
We have winter here. 6-inches of snow on the ground. Minus 7 degrees F. last night. Yesterday, ice and snow were frozen so hard on a car’s windshield, that I broke the plastic ice scraper trying to remove it.
I noticed in my feed, in a vlog video from Japan, that they have winter too. They have snow on the ground, and it’s minus 1 degree C in central Honshu.
220
And it’s only November 2024. Technically, still Autumn. Climate Change alright. Not the Warming but the COOLING.
Better get those Nuclear Power Stations built asap if you don’t want to use the plentiful Coal/Gas. Oil will still be needed for Transportation.
270
Rapid CO2 driven Global Warming should be most noticeable in warmer nights, fewer frosts and later onset of winter. Nope. We have been waiting now 36 years since rapid Global Warming was announced by new Presidential Candidate Al Gore. And rapid started 250 years ago. I think a dictionary revision of the word rapid is in order. And living next to the beach, I am still waiting for that sea level rise. But The Science says it, so it must be true. As the economy crashes and everything is banned and electricity costs soar and blackouts are likely, it must feel a bit like Berlin in 1945, wondering if Hitler was right after all.
270
The UK, US, Japan, and New Zealand:
4 weeks exactly to our summer solstice and snow is dumping down on our Southern Alps and ski fields and high-country foothills.
2023 ended with snow on New Year’s Eve, 31 December, and 2024 began with snow on 1 January – on both our main islands – and it’s snowed every single month ever since, 11 out of 12 so far: a flurry or 2 next month and it’s a Full House, despite pointy heads shouting the complete opposite (the Viner Syndrome?).
And some shyster called Jan Burke chose today of all days to announce NZ has slipped from 37th to 41st on the slippery slope of self-sabotage, ie. ‘fighting’ ©️©️©️™️ with ruinables. Burke by name, burk by nature.
130
How to Stop Zelensky – NOW. Trump You Better Listen!!!!!
From Martin Armstrong –
[SNIP]
What these people are doing is outrageous. Boris Johnson killed the peace deal, and now over 1 million Ukrainians have died for that. He and the rest are trying to beat Hitler’s death record for the Guinness Book of Records. Zelensky is also firing British STorm Shaddow missiles into Russia. These people are desperate for World War III by December.
Trump & RFK had better come out and make it known, or we will see a major war into 2026. (1) inform Zelensky all money will be cut off, including for all his government employees and their pensions, (2) he will put a ban on any investment in Ukraine, and BlackRock will not be able to give him hundreds of billions to line his pockets for rebuilding, (2) pull all funding from NATO, (3) impose trade restrictions on any European nation that supports war against Russia and funds NATO.”
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/world-news/war/how-to-stop-zelensky-now-trump-you-better-listen/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=RSS
96
Whoops. There were too many Exclamation Marks so Post Number 2 has been moderated. Please delete as I have reposted the post without the Exclamation Marks. Ta.
30
Its being reported that the Russians are preparing to send an ICBM (without a nuclear warhead) into Kyiv. There must be some truth to the rumour because the American Embassy has pulled out all their staff.
Its time the US pulled out of NATO and let the Europeans defend themselves.
” … impose trade restrictions on any European nation that supports war against Russia and funds NATO.”
That is absurd.
03
“Its being reported” covers so much random BS why should we beleive this random BS? The Russians can send any of their missile fleet to any part of Ukraine. The ICBM to Kiev sounds like a fevered 20 something journos imagination. Perhaps some North Koreans will ride it in Dr Strangelove style, or maybe one of the F16 game changers will shoot it down.
10
The US Embassy has left the country, their intel is reasonably good.
01
Putin Launches Mass-Production of Nuclear Shelters for his People –
:Russia has begun mass production of mobile nuclear bunkers. This is in response to Ukraine’s use of Western US and British missiles to attack deep inside Russia to destroy its conventional capability so NATO can launch an invasion by March/April 2025.
This has coincided with Mr Putin’s change of Russia’s doctrine to lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons to include the use of conventional weapons by Ukraine. Russia’s defense ministry said Ukraine attacked an ammunition stockpile in the Bryansk region using missiles supplied by the US military’s MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).
Russia has also ordered the production of its mobile nuclear bunkers to protect citizens. They are shelters capable of protecting people from the light radiation of a nuclear explosion and radioactive contamination of the surrounding environment. These are known as “KUB-M” and will protect 54 people for 48 hours from the air shock wave and light radiation of a nuclear explosion; penetrating radiation and radioactive contamination of the area; high-explosive and fragmentation effects of conventional weapons; falling debris from building structures; dangerous chemicals; fires. Unlike traditional, stationary bunkers, mobile bunkers are built to be easily moved from one location to another, often on vehicles or trailers. They can be equipped with advanced shielding, air filtration systems, and other necessary survival equipment to withstand the harsh conditions of a nuclear event.”
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/world-news/war/putin-launches-mass-production-of-nuclear-shelter-for-his-people/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=RSS
Far fetched or not? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
93
Oh, there’s soooooo much more outside the public arena of information, which can’t be disclosed here.
You can only hint at what to do and warn so often. More than enough time has been given.
Anyone thinking of selling that Oz real estate investment property they don’t really need should do so NOW.😉
01
Fallout shelters were part of the building code on Switzerland . Over time as thing relaxed they became wine cellars, junk rooms and gun safes. I guess a few may be being renovated these days.
10
‘Russia has also ordered the production of its mobile nuclear bunkers to protect citizens.’
Its a stunt.
01
https://uk.yahoo.com/finance/news/uk-pension-fund-loses-more-060029531.html Aviva Investors will put three incinerators into administration this week after pouring millions of pounds into what has been described as the country’s “dirtiest form of power generation”. = but it got rid of all the PPE ripoffs!
60
“In what looks set to be a win for free speech Down Under, critical support from independent senators for the Australian Government’s controversial misinformation bill has collapsed completely.
The Labor Government needed votes from four out of seven independents to pass the bill, but as of today, every single one of the seven independent senators on the crossbench has declared their opposition to the bill.
Formerly undecided Senator Lidia Thorpe today stated her intention to vote against it, due to concerns that “white-dominated institutions” would regulate what constitutes truth, which would would “further erase, suppress and misrepresent First Nations narratives and activism.”
Senator David Van appears to have been swayed by public and/or peer pressure, changing his stance from for to against the bill. In Parliament today, Senator Van said that “at first glance, the bill seemed to be a reasonable approach to tackle harmful content on platforms,” but that on further examination, “there are such significant defects in the bill that means it should not pass as drafted.”
It looks as though a meeting with American free speech activist Michael Shellenberger, who is in Australia at the moment, also had something to do with Senator Van’s change of heart.”
From an email sent to me yesterday by George Christensen of Nation First.
220
Does this simply mean the censorship regime as per COVID/Twitter files remains in place?
00
How to Stop Zelensky – NOW. Trump You Better Listen –
From Martin Armstrong –
“They (Z and the others) should be charged with war crimes. It is the act of war itself that benefits NOBODY. The best a soldier can hold is to come home alive and intact. They get NOTHING from war. I lost most of my high school friends to Vietnam. McNamara admitted he died and that they were wrong back then as well. What did they die for? Strip clubs in Vietnam today?
What these people are doing is outrageous. Boris Johnson killed the peace deal, and now over 1 million Ukrainians have died for that. He and the rest are trying to beat Hitler’s death record for the Guinness Book of Records. Zelensky is also firing British STorm Shaddow missiles into Russia. These people are desperate for World War III by December.
Trump & RFK had better come out and make it known, or we will see a major war into 2026. (1) inform Zelensky all money will be cut off, including for all his government employees and their pensions, (2) he will put a ban on any investment in Ukraine, and BlackRock will not be able to give him hundreds of billions to line his pockets for rebuilding, (2) pull all funding from NATO, (3) impose trade restrictions on any European nation that supports war against Russia and funds NATO.”
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/world-news/war/how-to-stop-zelensky-now-trump-you-better-listen/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=RSS
102
There is every sign that Putin is listening even while Storm Shadows are hitting Russia. And the German Chancellor called Putin. Meanwhile the hawks in France and Britain and the US are desperate to keep the war going, even with the real risk of WWIII. And Biden’s government is pushing all the cash and armaments then can and authorizing long range missile use. The hawks face the real prospect that Putin and Trump will stop the war and the flow of billions in armaments. War is incredibly profitable. And there is even the mad idea that it is about achieving peace. That has never been the point of war. The war to end all wars was a lie.
191
And I have never understood why Boris Johnson wants war on Russia. But I suppose he wants everyone to buy his book to find out.
140
The Brits have a pathological hatred for Russia and Putin in particular.
There have been a lot of commentators with either military or security services background questioning whether the polonium and novichock used for poisonings came from Porton Down.
11
Zelensky’s ATACMS Gambit: Nuclear Red Alert or More Empty Provocations?
SimpliciusNov 20, 2024
As could be expected, immediately upon receipt of “authorization” from Biden, Ukraine reportedly launched an ATACMS strike on the Russian 67th GRAU depot in Bryansk region.
Putin is still reacting with the seriousness of due diligence given the apparently confirmed nature of ATACMS use on Russian territory. As such, he again made headlines by ratifying the new nuclear doctrinal shifts.
The doctrine of course allows Russia to respond with nuclear use against overwhelming air attacks or attacks from a proxy aided in large part by a major nuclear adversary.
Three major things can be said about this situation:
The first is
that doomers and pro-UA content mashers hyperfocus on Ukraine’s occasional inconsequential strikes while, as always, ignoring the monstrous daily strikes of equal or greater capacity that Russia doles out regularly. For instance, in the same span that this ATACMS strike occurred, Russia blew away two major enterprises with fireball plumes as large as the claimed 67th GRAU one, seen from miles away.
The second thing.
Ukraine’s choice to use its very scarce remaining ATACMS stockpiles on some useless Soviet depot with no connection to the SMO is very telling. It once again reveals that Ukraine has no hope of actually winning the war kinetically and does not even bother trying to use the ATACMS against actual useful targets in the field. Instead, Zelensky deliberately chooses some defenseless backwater ‘showpiece’ to make a headline splash because an old Soviet stockpile will create the largest visible mushroom cloud to wow observers, while having no appreciable effect.
The third and most important thing.
Though Putin had to make some escalatory show, it’s more realistic to expect Russia not to react in any overt way until Trump’s term settles in. Putin is aware that an outgoing senile despot who doesn’t care if the world burns behind him may seek to start WWIII, and that Zelensky may see his final two months’ chance to provoke Russia into overreacting. As such, it’s best for Russia to do nothing, and continue grinding the offensives which are destroying Ukrainian lines everywhere.
171
Mostly good stuff, but why do you say Putin at 72 is senile?
And despot is extreme too and describes almost all world leaders, say 75% of which are in military dictatorships. Like Venezuela. Who would replace Putin? Don’t forget half of America claimed Donald Trump was ‘literally Hitler’. It’s a very difficult country and the world’s largest and improving greatly since 1992 especially under Putin. I don’t see how replacing Putin is going to solve anything. And cannot understand Johnson and Macron. France and England do not have a great history with Russia over the last 200 years and they were the aggressors. And sold Alaska to America specifically to stop British expansion West. Russians know their history.
121
TdeF,
Perhaps a re-read of OldOzzie’s quote would be in order… Which leader comes to mind when the word senile is used? Outgoing might be a hint too. Not so sure about despot for him though. Perhaps crackpot. Definitely not sexpot.
80
Ahem… Biden is the senile outgoing despot referred to.
30
It’s My World War III Party And I’ll Cry If I Want To
To some degree, it’s expected that an outgoing administration would try to get as many of their policy initiatives through before the next administration takes hold of the reins on January 20.
But what can be said about the Biden administration’s sudden urge to approve Ukraine’s use of U.S.-provided missiles for deeper strikes into Russia, relaxing restrictions on long-range weapon deployment?
Previously, Biden firmly resisted such approval, intent on avoiding any escalation he believed might pull the U.S. and NATO into direct confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia.
Now, all of a sudden, it seems like a good idea?
Just when you thought the Biden administration couldn’t leave one more flaming brown paper bag of dogsh*t on the steps of the White House for President Trump…
For me, this move straddles a familiar line between incompetence and outright nefariousness.
It’s frightening that there are so many policy prescriptions in the United States that leave me baffled as to whether or not people are just exceptionally stupid or if they have malevolent intent.
40
‘For me, this move straddles a familiar line between incompetence and outright nefariousness.’
Biden was cowardly in not allowing Ukraine to use the longer range missiles earlier, it would have shortened the war and saved many lives.
Putin is a megalomaniac and nothing short of a Ukraine victory will suffice.
As I mentioned up thread, Putin is thinking of sending an ICBM into Kyiv, mad as a hatter.
211
I’m impressed that you know what Putin is thinking, but I’d rather like to see some evidence to support your “knowledge”.
80
Tell me I’m dreaming, with a million war dead, see for yourself.
‘A megalomaniac is a pathological egotist, that is, someone with a psychological disorder with symptoms like delusions of grandeur and an obsession with power. We also use the word megalomaniac more informally for people who behave as if they’re convinced of their absolute power and greatness.’
(Vocabulary.com)
02
Yes you are dreaming and a drawn into simplistic orange man bad style name calling while ignoring the last 20 years of regional history.
40
The Russians think the last thirty years were WW3 and now this is the beginning of WW4.
I won’t back down, Putin is pure evil.
13
Sometimes I think I’m the only one that doesn’t know Trump’s every thought and personality trait. Everyone else reads him like a book, then writes the book.
00
‘Meanwhile the hawks in France and Britain and the US are desperate to keep the war going, even with the real risk of WWIII.’
You are just making stuff up, its essentially misinformation.
01
The Swamp may be trying to lay legal snares for the incoming administration, hoping that Trump and associates will appear to violate the Logan Act, or engage in communications that could be construed as meddling or colluding. Doing nothing until after the inauguration may be wise.
150
Hopefully Putin also does nothing big until a sensible Administration arrives in DC. He needs to do something in response and I’d think that increased targeting of US and UK forces in Ukraine would probably shake up both governments enough.
20
https://dissidentvoice.org/2024/11/intimidation-and-abuses-fuel-fears-of-prince-harry-charity-investigation-whitewash/ African Parks stands to make millions of dollars from its management of Odzala-Kokoua and other Protected Areas, by selling biodiversity credits, which it calls “Verifiable Nature Units, (VNUs)” and carbon credits. African Parks says its pilot projects, including Odzala, “aim to issue VNUs for 2024 and 2025.”
21
Interesting news note from COP 29:
“Developing countries are united in wanting a figure of $1.3 trillion a year. But they have proposed different numbers for how much of that should be provided by governments, excluding private finance mobilised by public money. The Arab Group wants $440bn to be provided, India is proposing $600bn and small islands say $900bn. All three figures are still on the table, as well as the current target of $100bn, according to the Australian minister co-chairing the talks, Chris Bowen.”
Bowen co-chairs the finance negotiations. There is always one each from developed and developing countries. These talks are going to fail.
160
Meanwhile while Blackout Bowen contnues to Destroy Australia with Renewables – Labor Treasurer Chalmers joins in to Help
Labor gambles with nation’s future for political points
A day after Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s ideologically driven political move to “outlaw’’ Australia’s longstanding and deep involvement in next-generation nuclear research with our closest AUKUS allies, Jim Chalmers is ready to gamble with the nation’s economic future by politicising the $230bn Future Fund.
According to the Treasurer’s spin, the government will “modernise’’ the highly successful sovereign wealth fund – one of the best legacies of the Howard-Costello government – “to ensure it can play an enduring and prominent role in our economy’’.
Yet altering the mandate of what the fund’s founder and former chairman Peter Costello described last year as a “once-in-a-century asset’’ should set alarm bells ringing.
180
Dr Chalmers’ statement was laced with qualifiers, caveats and contradictions.
But while providing “the same strong returns to the government’s balance sheet”, he also insisted the fund would support “national priorities where it can’’.
It would do so by “complementing the significant investments made by our specialist investment vehicles, including the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, the National Reconstruction Fund, and Housing Australia’’.
Experience shows investment in green energy and housing, especially by governments, is not risk-free. Government-backed investment entities inevitably have elements of “picking winners’’.
That is why it would be naive not to be concerned that Dr Chalmers’ overturning of almost 20 years of established practice will create an unacceptable risk for the fund. It was established in 2006, as Dr Chalmers recounted, to strengthen the commonwealth’s long-term financial position and to cover unfunded superannuation liabilities.
100
Might as well close it: Chalmers’ big call leaves fund without a future
It’s Jim Chalmers’ big chance to put his loopy ideas about ‘reinventing capitalism’ to become a ‘values-driven’ system into practice. Labor has never really liked the Future Fund because it’s a reminder of Peter Costello’s success.
The mandate will be adjusted to fit in with the Labor government’s pet projects – housing, green projects and infrastructure.
It may sound dramatic, but this is the end of the Future Fund. I’m pretty sure David Murray and Peter Costello, former chairs of the fund, will agree. The final outcome is only too clear.
Instead of the chair and the guardian focusing on getting the best returns for taxpayers, the ultimate owners of the fund, they will now be obliged to consider making investments in the preferred government areas.
Judith Sloan – Contributing Economics Editor
130
Chalmers the stock picker makes a bad call on Future Fund
The Future Fund has thrived by having the independence to make its own financial calls. The Treasurer wants to trash this with his own risky bets.
Eric Johnston – Associate Editor
Jim Chalmers has started down a very dangerous financial path by directing the $300bn Future Fund to start backing his pet projects.
This is a fundamental change to how one of the single biggest pools of money belonging to all Australians is managed.
One of the great strengths of the Future Fund when it was set up by former treasurer Peter Costello two decades ago was that it had the right protections so it could invest for the long-term irrespective of the whims of government.
That’s for the best, because the very real structural challenges now hobbling the budget is all the proof we need that politicians make lousy money managers.
The Labor Treasurer couches his plans for a mandate shift as requiring the Future Fund to consider “Australia’s national priorities” in making its investments decision.
Chalmers has been prescriptive by laying out three investment themes – increasing the supply of residential housing in Australia; supporting the energy shift to net zero; investing in Australian-based infrastructure that adds to economic resilience and security.
These might be worthy nation building programs but they aren’t good financial bets.
140
ALP sets out pre-poll stall: let’s keep spending
Jim Chalmers has paved the way for additional government spending in the lead-up to the election, as he warned the mid-year fiscal update would show tepid economic growth figures.
JACK QUAIL and GREG BROWN
90
Is Chalmers living in the same country as the rest of us?
Are you better off than three years ago? More Australians, like Americans did a fortnight ago, are saying No.
Tom Dusevic- Policy Editor
120
Apart from ‘the vibe’, what has this government actually achieved?
Next year, it’s 50 years since the defeat of the Whitlam government and voters will have their chance to mark the anniversary by dispatching a first-term government that’s worse than Whitlam’s.
Peta Credlin – Columnist
It’s a big call to do it given it’s not since 1931 that a first-term government has failed to win a second term but on every measure, the Albanese government is failing Australians.
Our national security, economic strength and social cohesion are all in decline and are all being undermined by the policies and attitudes of what’s clearly the worst government we’ve ever had.
As I said, it’s a big claim given the chaos of the Whitlam years, and the border security disaster and mammoth governmental waste of the Rudd-Gillard era. Plus, the cognitive dissonance of the Turnbull aberration when an instinctively centre-right government was led from the centre-left.
Still, ask yourself this question: is there anything at all that the Albanese government has actually achieved, other than winning office in 2022?
170
And every one is about buying Green votes. I am so sick of this pandering by all parties to the Greens. The Green vote is plummeting. Why prop them up? Nothing about the Gaza/Hezbollah/Hamas/Iran conflict is about the environment, just international communism. And the Greens are bleeding votes as people realise they are just communists.
160
“Snake” Chalmers?
As always, Jim, FOLLOW THE SPILLAGE.
80
Future Fund investment shake up comes with risks
Jim Chalmers insists Labor is making only a subtle change to the sovereign wealth fund’s investment mandate.
But getting politicians involved is a slippery slope.
John Kehoe – Economics editor
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is heading down a slippery slope by nudging the $230 billion Future Fund towards Labor’s priorities of supporting the energy transition, the supply of residential housing and infrastructure.
The fund’s investment success has depended on the board of guardians making investment decisions independent of government to maximise long-term financial returns for taxpayers and future generations.
70
Governments to gamble $110b off the books in hidden spending boom
Michael Read – Economics correspondent
The federal and state governments will spend $110 billion “off-budget” over the next four years, with a new report from the Centre for Independent Studies warning the explosion in public sector investments risks exposing taxpayers to sharp write-downs on dud assets.
The Reserve Bank of Australia admitted earlier this month that it had been surprised by the magnitude of the recent increase in public sector spending, which has reached 27.3 per cent of GDP and some economists blame for prolonging inflation.
50
Treasurer eyes a once-in-a-century pot of taxpayer gold
Jim Chalmers’ fundamental change to the Future Fund provides investment ‘priorities’ where there were none – priorities that align with Labor’s political and ideological agenda.
Dennis Shanahan – National Editor
There is a real danger that the independent Future Fund, which was set up to invest its returns and have its earnings boost the budget bottom line, will morph into a directed investment scheme like the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which already exists to help renewable energy.
As Peter Costello – the man who made the Future Fund possible as treasurer in the Howard government and who chaired it successfully for so long after retiring from parliament – has said: politicians must be kept away from the investment strategy and locked out of the cash box.
Costello once said: “The Future Fund can only be spent once. Then it’s gone.”
50
The first step in the raid on the Future Fund was in handing leadership of it to the green zealot Greg Combet back in January; should Labor win the next election wave goodbye to those hundreds of billions of AUD. Peter Costello must be spinning in his grave had he died already.
50
Who or What was That? – Don’t Worry, That’s Our Renewables Super Power Support Team!
140
It is Only Australian Taxpayers Money!
Bowen funding a grifters’ picnic – $175M of your money to God knows who for ‘Climate Change’
Joint media release: Australia contributes $50 million for loss and damage from climate change
19 November 2024
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong
Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Chris Bowen MP
Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP
Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Josh Wilson MP
Australia will contribute $50 million to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, to assist countries impacted by the climate crisis.
Australia recognises the devastating impact climate change is having on the livelihoods, security, and wellbeing of climate vulnerable countries and people, particularly in the Pacific region.
This contribution complements our foundational $100 million commitment to the Pacific Resilience Facility, our $50 million contribution to the Green Climate Fund and the incorporation of climate change action as a central pillar of Australia’s international development program.
Joint media release: $125 million to support the Pacific’s renewable energy transition
16 November 2024
Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy
The Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery
The Albanese Government is partnering with Pacific nations to improve energy security and scale up energy grid transition with a $125 million investment in renewable energy.
50
Matt Rennie warns Labor’s renewable energy plan could cost more than $600b as delays plague the path to net zero
A leading energy expert has claimed Australia could spend more than $600 billion on Labor’s renewables plan as more questions about costings have been raised after Sky News’ latest investigation The Real Cost Of Net Zero.
James Harrison – Digital Reporter
A leading energy expert has claimed Australia could spend more than $600 billion on Labor’s renewables plan as questions about costings have been raised since Sky News’ latest documentary, The Real Cost Of Net Zero.
The prediction comes after a report from Frontier Economics said Labor’s $122b price tag for its renewables-only approach to net zero was more than half a trillion dollars short, with the energy experts arguing the actual cost is $642b.
Sky News’ Chris Kenny put the key detail from the report to energy expert Matt Rennie on Wednesday night after playing a clip from Chris Uhlmann’s documentary, which touched on the costs from firming renewable energy.
“Is it any wonder that now we’re now talking about a $600 billion transition?” Kenny said.
Mr Rennie then raised questions about the efficiency of the renewables transition and how this could impact the total cost.
“If it was being done on time and at the scale that was necessary, it would be (about $600b),” Mr Rennie said.
“I suspect we’re going to need a little bit more than that as we look to firm up even beyond that.”
50
A great documentary by Chris Uhlmann. Bowen features frequently, spewing his misinformation that the Sun and wind are free.
80
Craig Kelly@craigkelly
What a complete farce – here’s a video from the “Australian Pavilion” at the climate wankfest at Baku – funded by Australian taxpayers.
Imagine, all that coin to pay for constructing an exhibition stand, flying a delegation half way around world , setting up video facilities to record it all – and they get 5 people to attend.
I wonder if this would pass muster if we had an Australian D.O.G.E ?
50
And it looks like two out the five attendees are either working on something else or looking at their phones.
20
To start her session she said, “Whilst we’re not on Australian lands, I’d still like to start with acknowledging the traditional owners of Australia and the Torres Strait Islands and pay my respect to ……..”
10
That was about as far as I watched. That was enough.
50
Read on:
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/world-news/war/zelensky-4-days-ago-wanted-peace-message-from-ukraine/
72
Bombshell poll reveals majority of Ukrainians think ‘territorial concession required’
More than two years of death and destruction later, the majority of Ukrainians want the country to negotiate to end the war with Russia immediately.
A new poll released Tuesday revealed that 52% of Ukrainians want peace to be negotiated as soon as possible and nearly four in 10 Ukrainians (38%) want the country to fight until victory, according to a Gallup poll conducted between August and October.
The current attitudes toward the war reflect a massive shift from the overwhelming view at the beginning of the conflict.
The overwhelming majority of Ukrainians wanted to fight until victory (73%) after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in the immediate months after the war.
Support for the fight did not appear to slip in 2023, though more than twice as many Ukrainians at the time wanted to continue fighting (63%) over negotiating peace (27%).
The polls suggest fatigue for fighting has exacerbated this year as support for negotiating peace nearly doubled (52%) and for the first time reached a majority.
The rising war fatigue comes at a time when Russia has made military inroads on the front lines in recent months despite Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region.
30
Gallup is dodgy, here is the real poll.
https://www.iri.org/news/iri-ukraine-poll-majorities-believe-in-defeating-russia-support-recapturing-lost-territory/
06
‘I do not believe his election was fair.’
Zelenskyy was fairly elected, he won the popular vote for his comedic effort to stamp out corruption.
24
Labor’s nuclear pact withdrawal ‘a catastrophic strategic mistake’, business wants future option
ROSIE LEWIS and GRAHAM LLOYD
Business and industry leaders are urging the Albanese government to include nuclear as a future energy option, warning “we shouldn’t tie one arm behind our back”, as Labor’s withdrawal from an international collaboration on next generation nuclear power is labelled a “catastrophic strategic mistake”.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles defended the government’s decision to reject an invitation from the UK and US to join a new agreement to speed up the deployment of nuclear technology to help decarbonise industry and boost energy security, declaring Labor wouldn’t go down a civil nuclear industry path.
The major parties accused each other of being an “embarrassment” over their respective energy policies, after the UK was forced to correct a media release that stated Australia was “expected” to sign up to the Generation V International Forum.
Australia has been a member of the Gen IV pact since the Turnbull government joined up in 2016 and, through the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, has worked on collaborations on generation four nuclear energy systems and research and development projects.
But government sources said because Gen V had a big focus on expanding the nuclear civil industry, it was becoming less relevant to Australia and the nation would not be a member.
90
Labor ‘troglodytes’ burying heads in sand on nuclear power
Sky News host Peta Credlin blasts the lack of “policy integrity” and “intellectual consistency” from the Albanese government.
This comes amid Labor supporting nuclear power at sea for the AUKUS deal, whilst demonising its applications in Australia’s energy supply.
“This deal between the UK and the US signed overnight is an extension of the pro-nuclear agreement signed by 31 nations at last year’s COP meeting to triple the world’s nuclear energy capacity by 2050,” Ms Credlin said.
“Meanwhile here at home, Labor troglodytes bury their heads in the sand.
“For a government that keeps demanding that the Opposition detail and cost its nuclear policy, the Albanese government is suddenly remarkably coy about its future emissions reduction target.”
80
Shadow minister claims Labor’s approach to energy policy will leave Australia ‘poor, weak and dependent’ on foreign powers
The shadow climate change minister has painted a bleak picture of what Australia’s future could look like under Labor’s energy policies, claiming the nation would become “poor, weak and dependent on foreign powers”.
Laura Grassby – Digital Reporter
Debate over Australia’s approach to cutting emissions was reignited this week following the release of a new investigation into the “true cost” of net zero by political contributor Chris Uhlmann.
The probe found key industry experts believed gas would be essential in securing the reliability of an electricity grid which relies primarily on wind and solar generation.
The shadow minister was also quizzed on whether the Coalition would consider dropping out of the Paris Agreement if elected, with many commentators suggesting US President-elect Donald Trump may do so after his inauguration in January.
The historic agreement was created at COP21 climate talks back in 2015 when 196 parties agreed to pursue efforts to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Mr O’Brien confirmed the Coalition has no plans to exit the agreement.
“I think with all the argy-bargy in Australia on climate change and energy, at least we do have a degree of consensus on the need for us to get to net zero by 2050,” he told Sky News host Laura Jayes.
70
The bizzaro world of Mr FitzSimons, reverse barometer of the nation
In the Australia Peter FitzSimons embraces, the Republic of Australia has voted decisively for the voice, horse racing has assumed the same ethical status as bear baiting and rugby league is now touch footy.
Except none of those things actually happened.
Jack the Insider – Columnist
To be so fundamentally wrong so often is an exquisite skill. Nine Media columnist Peter FitzSimons is the reverse barometer of the nation in that whatever opinion du jour catches his fancy, the reverse will almost certainly be realised.
If proof were needed, on the eve of the Melbourne Cup FitzSimons claimed the race “no longer stopped the nation”.
On cue, the stands at Flemington filled to bursting on the first Tuesday in November. Some 1.68 million Australians watched the race in 2023. In open defiance of FitzSimons’ column, 2.22 million Australians flicked to Channel 9 and cheered the field home.
His is a view of the world seen through teal-coloured glasses.
It is an exploration of Sydney’s north shore values, where progressive political expressions exist only in suburbs where real estate agents invariably invoke the “leafy green” chestnut.
Planet FitzSimons is a bizarro world of sanguine moral certainty with just a whiff of classism.
190
There was interesting discussion on the merits or otherwise of his military books. Turns out that he pays student to do the underlying research. I don’t mind some of his books, but agree with many commentators that some of them read more like non-fiction novels than history, as he has a habit of inserting dialogue where none existed, or wasn’t recorded. However, his recent book on the charge at Beersheba was quite good, if a bit melodramatic.
00
Agreed. Fitzsimons is a story teller. Not a historian. He likes to entertain with some colour.
A few years ago Fitzsimons gave the Andrew Olle Lecture speech and cited a few lessons learned from colleagues. After each one he said, “I didn’t get than then. But I get it now”. But when he spoke about Michelle Gratton he said,
(my bolding)
A disappointing admission from someone who many call an historian. But, when he tells his history “stories” he doesn’t let the details get in the way.
30
That was interesting. The many comments on the bandana man in The Australian today were very enlightening. It seems most readers of military history have the same opinion about his books – many dumping their book gifts received from well-meaning family.
It seems that when he is invited to give a talk, it’s all about him and his ego.
30
This is a Car Ad?? – How Business has lost the plot!
Jaguar. Go woke, go broke.
Copy nothing. #Jaguar pic.twitter.com/BfVhc3l09B
— Jaguar (@Jaguar) November 19, 2024
UPDATE
Hi, @Jaguar. I fixed your awful ad. It took two minutes. https://t.co/KGUhRpHNHZ pic.twitter.com/75UWo0bbaS
— Huff (@Huff4Congress) November 20, 2024
60
Jeremy Clarkson Explains Jaguar Owners – 1 Min 27 Secs
60
FWIW
More on Russia shutting off gas supplies to Austria – start here and follow the thread
https://chiefio.wordpress.com/2024/11/18/biden-authorizes-ukrainian-use-of-us-long-range-missiles-a-move-that-is-a-go-for-w-w-iii/#comment-173912
30
Again here’s Trump’s new Energy Secretary talking to Dr Steven Koonin 3 years ago.
But why do we have the clueless, uneducated Chris Bowen loony while the US have a very well educated expert like Chris Wright?
Again Dr Koonin won all of his first 5 debates easily but was voted a draw with Dr Pielke jnr.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nizA7hjZg9c&t=985s
60
FWIW
Some thoughts on that G20 photo minus Biden from today’s Coffee and Covid newsletter. Starts at
“While all these perilous world events were unfolding, Joe Biden was haplessly wandering around the G20 Summit in Rio de Janiero and somehow managed to be late for the group photo of all the world leaders who attended. The AP ran the story headlined, “Photo-shoot fail: Biden, Trudeau miss traditional photo with world leaders at G20.” For some reason, the other leaders didn’t wait even though they were told Joe was coming.”
https://open.substack.com/pub/coffeeandcovid/p/dont-mess-with-texas-wednesday-november?
60
Sleepy Joe has never known when he was coming or going.
30
The country’s biggest aluminium smelter says green target unreachable
Angela Macdonald-Smith – Senior resources writer
The new chief executive of Tomago Aluminium, the country’s biggest electricity user, says the smelter’s goal of switching to a predominantly clean power later this decade is not achievable, derailing its emissions reduction targets for 2030 and putting the plant’s future at risk.
Jerome Dozol, who took over as chief executive in July, said the energy price on offer was too high for the Tomago smelter near Newcastle to keep running without government assistance.
He called for “urgent action” to secure continued operations at the plant, whose existing electricity supply contract with AGL Energy expires at the end of 2028.
90
Just send money. But who’d blame them when the government sets itself up as a patsy.
30
But how can it be? The ACT claims to do it, the major supermarkets claim to do it, Bowen tells us its cheap and effective. What is Tomago management on about?
20
As yesterday, I see all these mad government ideas as disorganized, contradictory, controlling. Like vowing not to go nuclear while trying to buy nuclear submarines? What? Is it because China does not want us able to defend ourselves? And who is the feared enemy for whom we need these submarines? What a nonsense!
The very idea that governments should tell us what to think, what to read, what we can say is part of a new and growing idea that governments actually rule us. These are public servants, not our ruling class! That was never the idea of government.
Federal governments are for our defence, customs, international relations, immigration. Everything else is State or Council. The Federal government was not formed to tell us what to think and what we could read or teach our children.
This new anti carbon Green anti Israel government is extreme. Violent Green views on the never ending conflict in Cannaan, a conflict which dates back at least 10,000 years. And ideas like transvestites, slavery, the death of meritocracy or that governments were our appointed investors of our money.
As for apologizing endlessly to aborigines while handing out $42Billion a year for no one knows what. That is not the role of government either. Now Climate Reparations overseas? What? Who decides these absurdities? And who gave them that right?
I believe the growth of a dominant public service bureaucracy, the ‘swamp’ in Australia, United States, Canada, Britain, Freance and especially the EU is stealing total control over our lives. And forcing us to pay social levies for their extremist ideas.
The 2022 legislated 35% CO2 tax on all big companies is a tax on all Australians, except it is not a tax so it is never in the news and we pay it in soaring imports, soaring costs, loss of jobs so a river of cash goes into Canberra in the form of certificates which they hand out to their chosen partners in this world wide rort. You never read about it. And it is not even in the budget. There is NO carbon tax. Just carbon dioxide legislated theft in all our bills now, not just electrical power.
Consider the tripling of Coal revenues in Victoria by Daniel Andrews. The only ones who can legally buy coal are the power stations so it is a tax on free electricity by our own government. Why? And the government promised us electricity prices would go down?
By the way, the new massive CO2 theft will be most obvious on aircraft and travel and trucking and shipping. No government has the right to force people to buy Carbon certificates because of some story about science. A story which has never been proven.
What we really need is a High Court challenge to these illegal laws mandating theft. And electricity prices would halve overnight. But then people would stop building ‘free’ windmills and ‘subsidized’ solar farms. These are supposed to lower electricity costs when they do nothing of the sort. They are money printing machines for which we are forced to pay against our will. A CO2 tax is NOT the will of the people. So it is CO2 theft.
President Xi must be laughing all the way to the bank as we have hidden taxes on our own coal, cars, transport, manufacturers and seriously cripple our economy to buy his windmills and solar panels. And Chalmers is now directing our savings to his favorite Green projects? Again, it’s not his money!
Australia is being robbed by politicians and illegal Green laws. And now theft of our savings as if they belong to the Government? Get rid of these illegal laws. And halve the size of Canberra. Which is the only place there really are tens of thousands of Green jobs dedicated to robbing Australians. More Robin Hood jobs, stealing from Australians and giving to the Chinese. Without any legal or legitimate reason to do so.
151
FWIW
“Jaguar Cars Butchers Its Iconic Reputation with Disgusting Woke Rebrand — Elon Musk Issues The Perfect Response”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/jaguar-cars-butchers-its-iconic-reputation-disgusting-woke/
70
When the going gets wierd the wierd turn pro.
10
FWIW
“Dead Cat Flounce”
“#Faguar” gets a link
https://www.smalldeadanimals.com/2024/11/20/dead-cat-flounce/
75 comments so far
20
Here’s where your $440million went-
“‘Worst fears realised’: One-third of corals dead on section of Barrier Reef…survey results, completed by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) over a stretch of reef from Cooktown north to Lizard Island, show a vast amount of the corals have perished…“These initial surveys from AIMS are our worst fears from this year’s coral bleaching event being realised. It can’t get repeatedly hammered like this. We are fast approaching a tipping point.””
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/worst-fears-realised-one-third-of-corals-dead-on-section-of-barrier-reef-20241119-p5krtl.html
All sounds familiar, Chicken Little is getting busy!
90
“Record temperatures were set during this year’s bleaching, with the mean sea surface temperature in 2024 more than 0.19 degrees above the previous record set in 2017.” Wow! Scary stuff.
The Great Barrier Reef is up to 250 km wide. And 2400km long. The sea temperature varies by at least 3C from one end to the other. And in this gigantic area the size of Germany, you get currents, pools, exposed coral, tides, surges and coral which is desperate to live as close to the surface as possible can suffer bleaching.
The idea that humans control this in any way is absurd. Like the extent of the floating ice at the North Pole. Or the snow cap on Mt Fuji.
The Great Barrier Reef park was created by law in 1975. Prior to that it didn’t exist. It is now a gigantic money whirlpool in Paradise. And Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull’s stolen $444million has disappeared without a trace.
How much more money will flow like a river on the idea that we humans control everything? It’s an incredible fantasy. And there is nothing else to do in Cooktown. Climate Change is now their biggest industry.
120
And before that (in 1971) the Great Barrier Reef would be all dead by Christmas. (SMH also)
30
There is nothing wrong with coral bleaching. The coral recovers. Coral Alarmists at work once again.
90
Musk, Ramaswamy’s Government Reform
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, have been appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), a non-governmental entity tasked with reducing wasteful federal spending.
Here are the key aspects of their plan:
1. Mission: DOGE aims to “dismantle government bureaucracy” and slash excess regulations, with a goal of cutting $2 trillion from the federal budget (nearly a third of the government’s annual spending).
2. Structure: DOGE will operate outside of government, providing “advice and guidance” to the White House and Office of Management and Budget (OMB). It will not be an official government department, requiring Congressional approval.
3. Leadership: Musk and Ramaswamy will lead the effort, with Musk serving as the public face. Ramaswamy has proposed mass layoffs at federal agencies, citing his experience in the private sector.
4. Timeline: The DOGE plan aims to conclude its work by July 4, 2026, with Musk stating that it will be done “much faster.”
5. Funding: The Trump campaign did not disclose how DOGE will be funded, leaving questions about whether Musk and Ramaswamy will be paid for their work.
6. Staffing: DOGE is seeking “super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries” willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting, with Musk stating that “compensation is zero.”
7. Approach: The DOGE plan is expected to focus on reducing discretionary spending, with Musk advocating for the elimination of hundreds of federal agencies and Ramaswamy proposing the mass layoffs of federal bureaucrats.
Critiques and Concerns
1. Lack of authority: DOGE lacks the authority to implement changes without Congressional approval, raising questions about its effectiveness.
2. Inadequate funding: The lack of disclosed funding sources and compensation for Musk and Ramaswamy has sparked concerns about the sustainability of the effort.
3. Unrealistic goals: The proposed $2 trillion in cuts may be unrealistic, given the mandatory nature of two-thirds of federal spending (Social Security and Medicare) and the limited scope of discretionary spending.
4. Potential for partisan bias: The DOGE plan’s focus on reducing government bureaucracy and cutting spending may be seen as a partisan effort, potentially undermining its credibility and effectiveness.
Conclusion
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s DOGE plan aims to reform government by reducing wasteful spending and dismantling bureaucracy. While the effort’s goals are ambitious, its structure and funding mechanisms raise concerns about its feasibility and effectiveness. The success of DOGE will depend on its ability to navigate these challenges and deliver meaningful reforms without compromising its non-partisan and non-governmental nature.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/musk-and-ramaswamy-the-doge-plan-to-reform-government-supreme-court-guidance-end-executive-power-grab-fa51c020?mod=hp_opin_pos_0
90
America is terrified of nuclear war, but Russia wants it! Mick Ryan, some loser from the Aussie Army, now a hopeless war hawk for the West.
“…Russian strategy considers nuclear weapons as part of its strategic deterrence and counter-escalation approaches. Throughout the war in Ukraine, the Russian leader has constantly referred to nuclear weapons. He does this because he knows US President Joe Biden is terrified of World War III. By rattling the nuclear sabre, Putin has deterred the US from providing enough weapons to provide a decisive edge to Ukraine’s military and he has ensured NATO has not escalated the conflict. Putin’s use of nuclear weapons as a tool of strategic coercion has worked just fine before this change in doctrine.”
“Putin is demonstrating to his fellow dictators how to succeed in 21st century confrontations and wars against democratic nations.”
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/putin-s-chilling-nuclear-threat-has-one-strategic-target-20241120-p5ks6w.html?js-chunk-not-found-refresh=true
30
Glenn Greenwald Outlines the Clear and Present Danger as Biden Administration Directly Attacks Russia
November 20, 2024 – Sundance
Glenn Greenwald appears for an interview with Tucker Carlson on the topic of the Biden administration directly making a decision as they exit the White House to attack Russia and provoke a direct war between U.S-led NATO and Russia.
Greenwald notes the accurate context of the recent decision to provide, launch, target and direct ATACMS missiles to hit targets inside Russia. This is not the U.S. providing Ukraine with weapons for use. This is the USA using the auspices of Ukraine geography to launch missiles into Russia that can only be launched, directed and targeted by U.S-NATO members.
Ukraine does not have the targeting systems or satellites to use these longer-range ATACM missiles for strikes into Russia. Ukraine is merely the launch geography for the U.S/NATO to launch missiles directly into Russia. President Vladimir Putin specifically said he has clear eyes on what this deployment means. WATCH:
On an ancillary note, having spent three months inside Russia this summer and having the associated contacts therein, the Russian government is currently in the process of shutting down their nation in preparation for what comes next. All of the previous rules and regulations for entry visas are essentially gone. You will not read this anywhere else, but I can assure you Russia is isolating in preparation for war. This is not a good sign at all.
Having spent some time in the weeds this morning, I’m not sure the current trajectory is reversible before President Trump’s inauguration. President Trump is going to face a considerable challenge.
Without doubt the Intelligence Community control agents in the Biden administration are monitoring every call and intercepting every contact that President-elect Trump might have in the next 6 weeks, in order to ensure their objectives are accomplished.
This action is coming from the people deep inside the IC and State Dept who are committed to fomenting a serious conflict with Russia and Vladimir Putin as the White House is about to change hands. We previously said to watch out for this lame duck session.
50
“Right of Recall”laws in action !! .https//www.zerohedge.com/political/63-voters-demanding-her-recall-soros-backed-bay-area-district-attorney-concedes. Think of how much better off Australia would be if the voters had access to this procedure.
60
And allow “Write in candidates” too
51
I’d still like to start with a “Not this candidate” option.
20
“None of the above”
and those votes are counted and displayed along with the others.
30
And they gave to do it over again with all different candidates if “None of the above” gets more than 50% on preferences.
00
Extraordinary Interview with Javier Milei, President of Argentina
November 20, 2024 – Sundance
The interview below is a little complicated at first on the issues of economics.
If you are not an economic wonk, or deep research into the theories and realities of how finance and human activity can transact in the world of economics, it might be a little complicated.
However, if you are a person who enjoys a deep discussion on the intricacies of the battle between economic freedom -vs- socialism, then this is for you.
Lex Fridman does an excellent job of asking a short ‘big picture’ question, then listening to a lengthy response and answer. The interview is very substantive and as the interview progresses beyond the economic issues, Argentina President Javier Milei pulls back to give perspective on the real battle within the financial ‘west’.
The first hour is wonky, complex and full of answers about what a very intelligent President Milei did to correct the course in Argentina. The second hour pulls back to the broader landscape of freedom. Find some quiet time to enjoy and absorb. WATCH:
30
Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction
Javier Milei
(00:00:00) So what is the difference between a madman and a genius? Success.
Lex Fridman
(00:00:10) The following is a conversation with Javier Milei, the president of Argentina. He is a libertarian, anarcho-capitalist, and economist, who campaigned with a chainsaw that symbolized his promise to slash the corrupt bureaucracy of the state. He stepped into the presidency one year ago, with a country on the brink of hyperinflation, deepened debt and suffering from mass unemployment and poverty. He took this crisis head on, transforming one of Latin America’s largest economies through pure free market principles. In just a few months in office, he already achieved Argentina’s first fiscal surplus in 16 years, and not just avoided the hyperinflation but brought inflation down to its lowest in three years.
3:27 – Economic freedom
8:52 – Anarcho-capitalism
18:45 – Presidency and reforms
38:05 – Poverty
44:37 – Corruption
53:14 – Freedom
1:07:26 – Elon Musk
1:12:54 – DOGE
1:14:56 – Donald Trump
1:20:56 – US and Argentina relations
1:28:05 – Messi vs Maradona
1:36:58 – God
1:39:05 – Elvis and Rolling Stones
1:42:45 – Free market
1:49:46 – Loyalty
1:52:23 – Advice for young people
1:53:49 – Hope for Argentina
20
Transcript for Javier Milei: President of Argentina – Freedom, Economics, and Corruption | Lex Fridman Podcast #453
This is a transcript of Lex Fridman Podcast #453 with Javier Milei. The timestamps in the transcript are clickable links that take you directly to that point in the main video. Please note that the transcript is human generated, and may have errors. Here are some useful links:
Go back to this episode’s main page
Watch the full YouTube version of the podcast
Table of Contents
Here are the loose “chapters” in the conversation.
Click link to jump approximately to that part in the transcript:
0:00 – Introduction
3:27 – Economic freedom
8:52 – Anarcho-capitalism
18:45 – Presidency and reforms
38:05 – Poverty
44:37 – Corruption
53:14 – Freedom
1:07:26 – Elon Musk
1:12:54 – DOGE
1:14:56 – Donald Trump
1:20:56 – US and Argentina relations
1:28:05 – Messi vs Maradona
1:36:58 – God
1:39:05 – Elvis and Rolling Stones
1:42:45 – Free market
1:49:46 – Loyalty
1:52:23 – Advice for young people
1:53:49 – Hope for Argentina
30
Here is an up to date talk between Chris Wright and Dr Roger Pielke jnr.
I don’t think there’ll be much disagreement between these two intelligent men , but I’m sure we’ll learn some more about the Science and recent data.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2024/11/20/there-is-a-design-problem-in-climate-policy-featuring-dr-roger-pielke-jr-chris-wright-liberty-2/
30
BTW try and watch Dr Pielke’s talk because in just 20 minutes he’s thrown the biggest bomb into their silly narrative that we’ve seen for the last 30 years.
The next 40 minutes is a Chris Wright organised Q & A and I’ll watch it soon and I hope the thinkers at this blog have the time to understand that this is the real deal.
20
I agree with one of the WUWT comments – there wasn’t much new being said in that hour. I think that Chris Wright’s recent presentation, a lot shorter, was more to the point. Sorry, but Prof. Pielke Jr reminded me on Bjorn Lomborg, not that the comparison is bad in any way.
10
Viner seems to be the UK version of Flannery.
30
Mesopotamia Through the Millennia
REVIEW: ‘Land Between the Rivers: A 5,000-year History of Iraq’ by Bartle Bull
In the years on either side of General Petraeus’s surge (2008) I spent many a month living in Baghdad covering culture for the Wall Street Journal’s arts section. That meant abiding not in the secure Green Zone but out among the locals—very rare for outsiders—unarmed, unembedded, and frequently exposed to the city’s turbulence in search of stories:
Turns out there was another outsider who also spent time wandering in and around Baghdad imbued by the same thoughts. A New Yorker named Bartle Bull covered Iraq as a freelance journalist from 2004 to 2008, visiting ancient sites like Babylon, even embedding with the Mahdi Army early on.
But he felt so infused with the spirit of the place that he ultimately dedicated a decade to writing a sweeping chronicle of Baghdad and its environs down the ages: Land Between the Rivers: A 5,000-Year History of Iraq. (Mesopotamia means land between rivers in Greek.)
The result is a book that will infuriate historians aplenty. However readable, diverting, or erudite, and the book is all those things, it impinges stage by stage on the terrain of specialists. From early Mesopotamian (2700 B.C.) to Biblical to Alexandrian to Sassanian and Ottoman down to the short-lived Hashemite monarchy’s brutal end in 1958, each phase is already ring-fenced by expert scholars. Not least by opinionated local ones.
One can only imagine the nightmarish challenge of organizing an epic historical narrative of this kind because the country that is now Iraq (from the Sumerian word Uruk) retains at best a slippery identity of its own across the centuries.
Rather, it often serves as the receptacle of empires and cultures that start elsewhere and decant over or through it: the Persian, Hellenic, Arabian, Turkish, and so on.
The author himself, from the perspective of 5,000 years, notes as “essentially ephemeral … any politics, wars, factions, foreigners and rulers.” Faced with delineating the calendar and character of successive empires, worth a hefty volume each, Bull often uses the shorthand device of entering the story through an exemplary protagonist who embodies the era.
Deploying a recurrent story-telling approach helps vary the pace and creates overlapping rhythms, giving the perfect cadence to the country’s long jumble of narratives. He then identifies overarching meta-themes that thread through the epochs.
20
Deploying a recurrent story-telling approach helps vary the pace and creates overlapping rhythms, giving the perfect cadence to the country’s long jumble of narratives. He then identifies overarching meta-themes that thread through the epochs.
Shades of Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome
The Masters of Rome series is a collection of seven historical novels written by Australian author Colleen McCullough, set in ancient Rome during the last days of the Roman Republic. The series chronicles the lives and careers of prominent historical figures, including Gaius Marius, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Pompey the Great, Gaius Julius Caesar, and the early career of Caesar Augustus.
Key Features
. The series spans from January 1, 110 BC to January 16, 27 BC, covering the tumultuous period of Roman history marked by power struggles, civil wars, and the transition from republic to empire.
. Major historical figures appear throughout the series, including Mithridates VI of Pontus, Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, Publius Rutilius Rufus, Quintus Sertorius, and others.
. The novels are known for their meticulous adherence to historical record, with McCullough drawing heavily from ancient sources such as Livy, Plutarch, and Cicero.
. The series explores themes of politics, power, and personal ambition, as well as the tensions between aristocratic and plebeian interests, and the struggle between the old ways of doing things and the need for change in a rapidly expanding empire.
20
So, nothing’s changed…
except it was warmer back then.
30
Trump through Chinese eyes. A reasonable take, from people who don’t like the CCP. 17 mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBnABOQrerA
10
China is slowly becoming ungovernable. The lie flat attitude and the A4 paper protest are hard to crack down on.
The world IS overpopulated but I am too old to pretend to know about solutions and no one would listen anyway. Solve your own problems.
00
How pediatricians created the peanut allergy epidemic
Peanut allergy is one of the most common among children in Australia and in the United States. A US expert explains how doctors may have inadvertently turned it into a major health problem.
“Hi, my name is Chase, and I’ll be your waiter. Does anyone at the table have a nut allergy?”
My two Johns Hopkins students from Africa, Asonganyi Aminkeng and Faith Magwenzi, looked at each other, perplexed. “What is it with the peanut allergies here?” Asonganyi asked me. “Ever since I landed at JFK from Cameroon, I noticed a food ap@rtheid — food packages either read ‘Contains Tree Nuts’ or ‘Contains No Tree Nuts’.” He told me that even on his connecting flight to Baltimore, the flight attendant had made an announcement: “We have someone on the plane with a peanut allergy, so please try not to eat peanuts.” “What’s going on here?” Asonganyi asked. “We have no peanut allergies in Africa.”
I looked at them and smiled. “In Egypt, where my family is from, we don’t have peanut allergies either,” I said. “Welcome to America.”
Many well-meaning pediatricians and parents read the recommendation and thought, “Why take chances?” A generation of pediatricians adopted a simple mnemonic to teach all parents in their offices: “Remember 1-2-3. Age 1: start milk. Age 2: start eggs. Age 3: start peanut products.”
Despite these efforts, the problem got worse, and by 2004 it was clear that the rate of peanut allergies was soaring. Emergency department visits for peanut anaphylaxis — a life-threatening allergic swelling of the airways — skyrocketed.
A Children’s Snack Leads to a Eureka Moment
Dr Gideon Lack, a pediatric allergist and immunologist in London, had a different view. In 2000 he was giving a lecture in Israel on allergies and asked the roughly 200 pediatricians in the audience, “How many of you are seeing kids with a peanut allergy?” Only two or three raised their hands. Back in London, nearly every pediatrician had raised their hand to the same question. Startled by the discrepancy, he had a eureka moment.
Many Israeli infants are fed a peanut-based food called Bamba. To Lack, this was no coincidence, and he quickly assembled researchers in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to launch a formal study. It found that J@wish children in Israel had one-tenth the rate of peanut allergies compared with J@wish children in the UK, suggesting that genetic predisposition was not responsible, as the medical establishment had assumed.
Lack and his Israeli colleagues titled their paper “Early Consumption of Peanuts in Infancy Is Associated with a Low Prevalence of Peanut Allergy.” However, the 2008 publication was not enough to uproot groupthink.
61
FWIW
“Col. MacGregor: Trump & The Storm Of The Century”
Four questions posed
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/col-macgregor-trump-storm-century
30
Wow ! What an avalanche from Putin’s apologists this morning.
A quick look into very near history shows that Putin had already signed truce / peace / ceasefire / agreements with his smaller neighbours.
And broke them.
43
Where was this Vlad? I’m always keen to see the wrong side.
00
See on YouTube current troubles in “independent” Abhazia which used to be part of Georgia.
Check the “independent Transnistria Republic” which used to be part of Moldova.
Talk to Armenians about ОДКБ (a mutual defence treaty with Russia) – pretty sure they use only 4-letter words.
00
Makes you wonder why they are queuing up for BRICS
10
BRICS isn’t a banking alternative it is an attempt to organise barter.
00
Four old dams being dismantled on the Klamath River in Northern California, to return it to its wild state. Well they are old and uneconomic. Interesting, but no mention of Ashville, or Andalusia, where dams were not built, or removed, resulting in a few problems. What was the Klamath’s history before damming? Beautiful country, and who has ever heard of the Trinity Alps?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN5tLzJhe8o 12 mins
20
Putin really is a nice bloke, if not for Boris Johnson and BlackRock he would never invaded Georgia.
Oops! Sorry, I meant – Central African Republic.
01
The CAR?? It would only take two jeeps with machine guns to take that place over.. Do you have an article for the invasion? I haven’t heard of it.
00
For your watching displeasure – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIjZX6ft02k&pp=ygUVd2FnbmVyIGluIGFmcmljYSAyMDI0
00
Mmmm yes Russia has been a real problem on the African continent
00
BMW boss says ban on new petrol, diesel car sales a ‘big mistake’
The boss of German brand says laws forcing car makers to only sell zero-emissions cars will cause job losses and devastate Europe’s automotive industry.
BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said the ban on the sale of new vehicles with petrol and diesel engines in Europe – and other places around the world – from 2035 is a misstep threatening the livelihoods of thousands of workers.
Speaking at the Automobilwoche Kongress in Berlin, Germany, BMW Blog reported Mr Zipse saying the move to only selling zero tailpipe emissions cars in Europe – which will outlaw sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles – is a “big mistake”.
Set for introduction in 2035, the law could halve the size of Europe’s automotive industry, Zipse added, while suggesting many countries in the European Union (EU) will still not be ready for electric cars only.
The comments published on BMW Blog come days after the German coalition government fell apart, prompting a general election set for 23 February 2025 while the nation’s auto industry faces increasing pressure.
10
Dear accomplices, please indulge me for few minutes of your valuable time.
The way I see next few years –
a) Labor will keep US ambassador but replace their Leader who will declare a brand new defence policy based on unmanned military vehicles,
which allowed them “to save trillions” by cancelling nuclear submarine project, keep China & watermelons happy and win next election.
b) Soon Russian side will suffer major losses, both military & political, allowing the European side to work out a compromise and humanitarian ceasefire, lasting few years during which former parts of USSR will attempt to transform into working states. The degree of success will vary.
Oh, yes ! Zelensky will be declared Borden Chmelnitsky of the 21st Century and canonosed.
10
Awfully sorry for my auto spell checker:
Bohdan, not Borden and canonised, not canonosed.
Seriously, though – Zelensky was blamed here for being a Papist and also a Zionist, just make your minds!
00
“a) Labor will keep US ambassador but replace their Leader who will declare a brand new defence policy based on unmanned military vehicles,
which allowed them “to save trillions” by cancelling nuclear submarine project, keep China & watermelons happy and win next election.”
Trump will be assassinated and nobody will make America great again. Zelensky will use American missiles on something important and in return Russia will sink a US aircraft carrier. The Trump replacement will bellow and bluster, but nothing will happen. The rest of the world sees America for what it is and joins the BRICS. Australia cancels the subs and joins the BRICS too.
“b) Soon Russian side will suffer major losses, both military & political, allowing the European side to work out a compromise and humanitarian ceasefire, lasting few years during which former parts of USSR will attempt to transform into working states. The degree of success will vary.”
Two more years of the Ukraine war with NATO putting troops on the ground gets them nowhere. America falls apart into a crime-ridden third world hell-hole, Europe is destroyed by the immigrants so NATO signs a peace treaty with Russia. The former USSR states forsake Europe and join the BRICS. The world relaxes, unless you’re living in the West.
10
FWIW
“WaPo Wonders: Why Won’t Trump Let ‘Deep State’ Vet His Nominees?”
https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2024/11/20/wapo-wonders-why-wont-trump-let-deep-state-vet-his-nominees-n3797173
There is a line from a John Prine song that goes
“A question’s not really a question when you know the answer too”
30
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Funny how the law of natural consequences kicks in. What did the bad guys think was going to happen after their appalling conduct?
If the world is lucky we are about to see a modern version of the renaissance.
10
Did the deep state allow Trump to vet their nominees in 2020?
I’m not a historian but I’m unaware of any US conservative who put their head above the parapet NOT having an accuser from the distant? past willing to purger themself.
10
Why be so scared of using Nuclear Power to generate electricity?
Australia’s OPAL research reactor: Behind the scenes –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiAkelzSIGg
Around 4 minutes of Australian Excellence and Expertise.
00
FWIW
The Link Between Blood Types And Risks of COVID-19, Cancer, And Other Diseases
https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/link-between-blood-types-and-risks-covid-19-cancer-and-other-diseases
00
We are close to the Kessler syndrome
https://youtu.be/Bi9EW9xhqAU?si=o7uMS11pBRGO3Lxy
With satellites capable of speeds over 20,000 km/h, we’re looking at an orbiting metal sandstorm.
00
Did the Roll-Out of Community Notes Reduce Engagement With Misinformation on X/Twitter?
https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3686967
Their materials and methods section is difficult to understand. One thing I have not found yet is how they can categorize a tweet as misinformation prior to the Community Notes feature being rolled out.
Another complication in interpretation is whether people retweeted tweets specifically to bring attention to the Community Note attached to it.
Another issue identified by the authors is that fact-checkers won’t take notice of a tweet until after it has already become popular. Their solution?
Sounds like a Minority Report style department of pre-crime. They don’t say that the tweet will be withheld, just that it gets to fact-checkers faster. I can imagine Musk could lend some Grok power to implementing such a “pre-selection” function.
00
“One thing I have not found yet is how they can categorize a tweet as misinformation ”
Its not hard… Misinformation is anything I disagree with. (Results may vary depending on the individual user)
The best would be to leave a tweet up but label it as misinformation once it has been accused of it, such as-
“We have been told to label this tweet as misinformation by the Dept of XXX”
10
FWIW
“The Canadian Premiers Want an Exclusive Free Trade Agreement with America”
“Ontario Premier Doug Ford says that he, and the other Canadian premiers want a direct free trade deal with America, excluding México altogether.
This is likely a good idea for Canada but here’s a suggestion for the Trump administration:
1 – Trudeau must resign immediately.
2 – Require a Festivus-like event on Pay Per View, where Trump’s surrogates get to highlight the endless rhetorical attacks of Canadian politicians and bought-and-paid-for legacy media talking heads against him over the past 4 years. David Freiheit, Tamara Lich, and Jordan Peterson should host this week long, 3 hours per night event. Live public apologies from the “offenders” will be mandatory or negotiations will be called off. All money raised should be given directly to helping Canadian & American military veterans who are struggling in Trudeau’s economy.
3 – Demand that Canadians be given full free speech rights, equivalent to the U.S. First Amendment, written into law before negotiations can proceed forward.”
https://www.smalldeadanimals.com/2024/11/20/the-canadian-premiers-want-a-separate-free-trade-with-america/
“The art of the deal”
00
The Mocker: Congrats, Anthony Albanese, for earning China’s red star stamp of approval
Hey everyone, guess who just picked up the school’s good citizen award? None other than our Anthony. Beijing announced on the eve of the G20 assembly in Rio de Janeiro it would bestow Albanese with a red star stamp.
This is up there with the Nigerians giving out awards for good governance, the Saudis hosting a global Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, and the Swedes being the ultimate authority on fine dining.
It is not the headmaster handing out Albanese’s award, but the school bully.
Granted, Albanese is not the first Australian politician to be commended for his obeisance to the Middle Kingdom. Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews proved a useful lackey by signing a Belt and Road agreement with China that Beijing used to undermine the Morrison government.
The toadying increased tenfold when then-WA premier Mark ‘Mao’ McGowan, during his official trip to China last year, called for Albanese and all state and territory leaders to hold a national cabinet meeting in Beijing.
But obsequious premiers are of limited use. China’s aim has long been to divide the Five Eyes alliance, and to do that it must cultivate one of the respective heads of government.
00
FWIW
“Shake Up HHS
The department, exposed during the pandemic for its incompetence and groupthink, is in desperate need of reform—which Robert Kennedy Jr., whatever his flaws, will pursue.”
“No federal department needs a major institutional shakeup more desperately than the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency’s “expert” authority was the basis on which President Biden and the vast majority of governors issued a variety of mask, vaccine, and lockdown mandates that undermined Americans’ basic freedoms, while achieving next to nothing in return.”
More at
https://www.city-journal.org/article/shake-up-hhs
10
Porsche’s new car ad
https://x.com/Porsche/status/1859293440422363642/
Jaguar’s trippin’ marketing team should watch this.😆
20
That farmer must have quite a collection of nice jackets and caps. Great car ad though.
10
Porsche selling an exhaust note? They are just as lost as Jag.
00
So they’re being stolen already!
00
Opening for Peter Dutton and Liberal Party in Australia
Trump’s education pick Linda McMahon has a national school-choice mandate
Election night marked a seismic shift in the politics of K-12 education in America, as victories of pro-school-choice candidates in states like Texas, coupled with President-elect Trump’s school-choice mandate, unveiled the beginning of the end of the teachers’ unions’ 40-year dominance in American politics.
Decades of conventional wisdom and billions of union political dollars have made supporting school choice a risk for candidates.
But voters broke that dam in 2024, and Trump and state-level leaders are riding the wave.
Taxpayer-funded school choice:
FAVOR IT 265 votes 74.65%
OPPOSE IT 67 votes 18.87%
NOT SURE 23 votes 6.48%
355 total votes – Thanks For Voting!
Trump campaigned unequivocally on school choice, calling it “one of the most important things we’re going to be doing” in a Fox News interview and saying he would “absolutely” sign legislation establishing a federal tax credit scholarship for K-12.
When Trump nominated Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education Tuesday, he drove the point home. “Linda will fight tirelessly to expand ‘Choice’ to every state in America, and empower parents to make the best Education decisions for their families,” he stressed in his announcement.
00
FWIW – re “free speech” etc
“Tweeting the poop emoji at a cabinet minister, quoting politicians inexactly, calling a Green fat & stupid – all of this is criminal speech in the freest and most democratic Germany of all time”
https://www.eugyppius.com/p/tweeting-the-poop-emoji-at-a-cabinet
However, if you have read the books by Sefton Delmer,
“Trail Sinister” (1961) and “Black Boomerang” (1962)
you will be less suprised.
His WIKI gives details of his depth of knowledge of both Hitler’s Germany and Germany post WW2.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sefton_Delmer
I don’t remember which book gives his suprise at some of the pre-WW2 powers that got slid into the post WW2 West German constitution that allow things like this.
00
A new paper on COVID vaccine effectiveness starts with the assumption that without vaccine, you are four times more likely to get COVID. https://wherearethenumbers.substack.com/p/et-tu-john Result – vaccines saved millions.
01