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
How the net zero economy is the answer to the UK’s flagging productivity: https://ca1-eci.edcdn.com/250224-ECIU-CBIE-2024-Net-Zero-Economy-FINAL.pdf?v=1740388273 Another glossy not worth the paper it is printed on – and of course, it is full-colour with photos and lots of white space (can you imagine how much energy would be saved if government reports were black and white only and no photos!)
Not one mention of ‘regulatory burden’ or ‘subsidy’ anywhere… confusing ‘the economy’ with ‘the private sector’ – without the flows to and from government, this is pointless. (and why aren’t they crowing about all the taxes being generated by this fantastic ‘net zero’ economy….?)
Multiple disclaimers are buried in the methodology, eg
As a result of this bespoke approach, findings from this report may not completely align with existing studies.
the linkages between sectors are based on the 2019 input-output table, but the model is based on the latest official data on employment and GVA. The use of the 2019 input-output table was chosen as the shocks of COVID-19 would have a multitude of impacts beyond the scope of the model.
and then this beauty: “The net zero economy comprises of relatively new types of activity and will continue to evolve as new technologies become available. This means that our definition of the net zero economy needs to evolve with it. At the same time, the techniques for identifying these businesses and the data sources which provide us with an understanding of their activity are also developing”
So they can’t define the net zero economy, but they are able to measure it accurately?
100
Looking at who this Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit are I found they are funded by https://meliorefoundation.org/our-work
Really hard to figure out from their website exactly what these people do….but they do have a lot of interesting international jobs going: https://careers.meliorefoundation.org/
80
Just go Nuclear. A great Baseload Energy source.
130
Interestingly, they include Hinkely and Sizewell in the bucket of ‘renewables’ with solar and wind, rather than specifically identifying what is related to these v. large projects.
Not one photo of nuclear though – all wind turbines….
80
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.power-technology.com/data-insights/power-plant-profile-wellington-north-solar-farm-australia/%23:~:text%3DThe%2520project%2520is%2520being%2520developed,with%2520a%2520stake%2520of%2520100%2525.&ved=2ahUKEwiE24GX992LAxUyd2wGHcGHGr4QFnoECBsQAw&usg=AOvVaw2CElZhHl2-DS2kbMsD2m3f
00
I’m old fashioned, Vic’s lignite is the cheapest generation.
10
What “new technologies” are created in a country whose leaders have deliberately wrecked the economy? Isn’t wealth needed to create and utilise “new technologies”? Who will have the ideas and the drive to create “new technologies”? How many British politicians have any understanding of science, engineering or industry?
60
“What “new technologies” are created in a country whose leaders have deliberately wrecked the economy? ”
Unfortunately for the UK, voters kept returning the Conservatives for the 14 years from 2010 to 2024. However the voters should have been aware that the Tory governments cater for the middle class.
20
So do Labour governments – aka Blair / Brown.
The Conservative period also included the time of the Lib-Dem coalition – Nick Clegg wouldn’t work with Tories in campaigning but was ready to buddy up once he got close to power – it would have been better to not conclude the 2010 election than what came next. Then ran off to the US as soon as he was not longer politically viable.
Most simply aren’t bothered about being voters these days.
00
Includes a German elections map: https://www.eugyppius.com/p/cdu-and-spd-condemned-to-betray-their
70
So 1/4 of Germany voted for overt Communists, which IMHO is much worse than 1/4 for “extreme right” .
30
Some sentimentality / nostalgia is expected when the economic benefits of reunification have been so unevenly spread: https://www.destatis.de/EN/Themes/Government/Taxes/Business-Tax/maps-multinat-enterprises.html
00
So the ex communists voted for the “far right” and the ex capitalists voted for the censorious leftists. It must be hard to be German these days.
I wonder how long before East German separation talk begin
11
It looks pretty stark on a map rather than a table.
00
The Europeans are suddenly seeking a Peace plan for Ukraine.
Can’t fight a war if the US won’t fund it.
Checked the daily weather almanac for my area:
Highest temp was in 1918
Highest minimum temp was in 1930
Ave YTD temp is 3.5 °F below record
I’m cold.
The Pope is in critical condition but answering children’s emails?
140
Popebot?
90
When a King dies, it’s ‘Long Live the King’.
When a Pope dies, there is always another Pope.
70
When a queen has a child they fire a 21 gun salute, when a nun has a child they fire the old canon.
110
Trump’s proposal for compensation from Ukraine was brilliant. It puts Zelenskiyy in the position of conceding to Russian demands to end the war or giving up its mineral wealth to the USA to keep getting weapons to fight the war. I think that is referred to as a rock and a hard place.
Maybe Zelenskyy should approach China for weapons because Europe is short on them.
100
Realistically, the Europeans will do a deal with Ukraine on rare earth mining, so NATO in its present form is dead in the water.
Türkiye is the second largest contributor to NATO and they are determined that Crimea be returned to Ukraine, so the US can now take their bat and ball and clear out.
The monies needed to help Ukraine defeat the Kremlin will come from frozen Russian assets.
06
“Türkiye is the second largest contributor to NATO and they are determined that Crimea be returned to Ukraine, so the US can now take their bat and ball and clear out.”
Thanks for that bit of information of which, to my chagrin, I was completely unaware. Hopefully the egregious Elon Musk will rapidly follow
23
It was news to me also!
00
My scenario – in few days Ze declares passing the helm the Committee of National Salvation. Maybe his EU friends will help with, sort of, limited general elections or maybe it will be chosen by the Parliament.
Ze situation is interesting – he might stay as its Chairman though I do not think “modestly successful comedian” wishes to be a supreme leader.
But never say never – look at little grey mouse, with a nickname “okurok” (cigarette stub in English) who now manipulates the God.
OK, I apologise to sincere Christians for taking the Lords name in vain but even between many normal people, on this blog too, Trump is god.
21
Ze meant what he said and will resign if Ukraine becomes a NATO member or equivalent.
Remember he became famous in a comedy which laughed at corruption, so it was only a hop skip and jump to become leader of a populist movement. It has all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster.
There is still corruption (Soviet style) and the EU won’t admit them to the club until that is sorted out.
02
“Realistically, the Europeans will do a deal with Ukraine on rare earth mining, so NATO in its present form is dead in the water.”
Dont see the basis for that logical leap
“Türkiye is the second largest contributor to NATO and they are determined….”
On what basis? In defence spending % gdp and raw $s they are way down the list. You mean they have lots of troops or somethimg?
00
Apologies, it has the second largest army in NATO and is the host of the Allied Land Command headquarters.
Europe also needs the security of rare earths and they are experienced miners.
01
Its very clever as my understanding is that it was presented as an equal partnership which gives the US an incentive to protect its mineral interest in the Ukraine as well as the obvious economic benefits from such a partnership.
10
I guess i would need to see a resource map but I do get the feeling they are pi$$ing into the wind with this discussion as many of those resources are now sitting in another country. Many wont like that , but ignoring reality doesnt achieve much , however fashionable these days.
00
The resources are mostly in the Donbas and there is another player.
https://www.politico.eu/article/vladimir-putin-offer-sell-minerals-donald-trump-russia-occupied-ukraine/
00
Could it be better? The answer is yes.
The proof begins with people who manage money. If anything is evident from this history, it is that the task attracts a very low level of talent, one that is protected in its highly imperfect profession by the mystery that is thought to enfold the subject of economics in general and of money in particular. Inadequacy is protected further, we have seen, by the fact that failure is almost never at cost to those responsible. More often it has been an interesting subject for discussion, something that has given an added dimension to personality.
Finally, in monetary matters as in diplomacy, a nicely conformist nature and a good tailor and the ability to articulate the currently fashionable financial cliché have usually been better for personal success than an excessively inquiring mind. Effective action and associated thought provoke fear and criticism. It is for these and not the result that the individual is likely to be remembered. So, in the management of money, as in economic management generally, failure is often a more rewarding personal strategy than success.
There is reluctance in our time to attribute great consequences to human inadequacy – to what, in a semantically less cautious era, was called stupidity.
J.K, Galbraith Money Whence it came, where it went 1975
70
It’s all getting rather confusing here in the UK.
The BBC reported today that thousands of green jobs have been created, but list the following as examples of green jobs:
The BBC News covers green jobs in the UK, including roles in renewable energy, construction, and other sectors that help the environment.
What are green jobs?
Green jobs are roles that help restore or preserve the environment
They can be in traditional sectors like construction or manufacturing, or in new industries like renewable energy
In the UK, green jobs tend to pay higher wages and are less likely to be automated than non-green jobs
Examples of green jobs are:
Countryside ranger: Works on green spaces, such as planting trees to help reduce flooding
Ecologist: Helps restore environments like woodlands for plants and animals
Agronomist: Advises farmers on soil health and helps produce crops
Green jobs in the UK
In the UK, green jobs can be found in traditional sectors and in emerging industries. However, some groups, such as young people and women, are underrepresented in green jobs.
At the same time there is a shortage of skills in the building, plumbing and electrical industry that are needed if 1,500,000 houses are going to be built by 2030 (according to the government target.)
It seems that most of the real jobs in the electricity generating industry (solar and wind generation) are going to China, and at the same time North Sea oil and gas industries are being shut down.(No gas stoves or boilers allowed in new builds!)
We seem to be ‘going to hell in a handcart’, and this is before the new tax increases come into effect in April that will kill off any prospect of growth in the economy, except for government subsidised jobs.
170
I think they count the garbos as ‘green jobs’ because …. recycling. Also the people who work at the tips are probably ‘green’.
I also think there is a lot of other greenwashing in their count. Eg Searching for ‘wind farm’ jobs it initially looks like there are 132 vacancies advertised: https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/search?loc=86383&p=1&q=wind%20farm
But, of these, 75 are hospitality and catering and 17 are healthcare and nursing.
Only 8 actually look like they are for skilled trades.
‘Nuclear’ jobs there are 308 vacancies – but only 105 are engineering jobs. https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/search?q=nuclear&loc=86383
I think many of the 1000’s of jobs they claim are likely media and PR!
110
It’s often claimed that subsidy farms such as wind and solar plantations create a lot of jobs.
That may be true.
But it’s only because “green” energy is so remarkably inefficient. You need a huge amount of high maintenance short-lived infrastructure to produce a tiny amount of wildly varying output. This requires a lot of labour to maintain, contributing to the high cost of “green” energy.
Compared to a power station (coal, gas, nuclear, real hydro not SH2), you have a large, efficient, long-life machine providing constant output requiring relatively little maintenance and operational staff.
Mechanisation and economies of scale from the Industrial Revolution made far more efficient use of labour resources which meant people could work in diverse other industries. Thanks to the fantasy energy of the Left, we are now reverting to inefficient small machines with inefficient high cost utilisation of labour (except under TRUMP in the United States who are reverting to proper industrial power and energy production).
150
The UK could help the environment by stopping all the raw sewage discharges to waterways.
40
Notice how a lot of the green jobs dont actually produce anything and need to be paid for by taxing those who do produce something.
20
Labor is full of Burkes and you can’t trust any one of them! Australia is in danger of going hard left!
100
Elon Musk is one of the great forces of goodness in the world.
Obviously he is a force of goodness, because the Left hate him, even though they once loved him because he was making virtual signaling toys for rich woke Lefties (and now they boycott him and instead get their toys from China, made by slaves)
If he had not taken the huge financial risk of buying Twitter, which could have financially ruined him (and mightn’t ever be financially viable for the high price he paid), we would have never had a free speech platform which ultimately helped get TRUMP elected and which, after he removed censorship staff and policies, also helped expose Leftist lies and treachery in the United States and elsewhere throughout the world.
Musk even fought Australia’s e Safety Kommisar, a censor appointed by the fake conservative Liberal Party when she decided to censor the video of the terrorist attack against the Sydney priest even though he wanted it left up. In fact, it was censored in Australia, but she wanted it censored worldwide which was obviously beyond her jurisdiction. People in free countries can still see that video.
Had Musk not purchased Twitter, the world would be a much darker place today and would be rapidly descending into further evil under a Harris / shadow Obama US Presidency. The election of TRUMP, partly enabled by Twitter, allowed evil to be cast off in the United States, an ongoing process, and hopefully some of this will rub off in the rest of the West although we haven’t seen much change in our Uniparty policies in Australia and fake conservative Dutton has even bizarrely reiterated his commitment to the Paris Accords.
310
meanwhile, this murderer is the hero of the left: https://freeradical.zone/@tek/114059934519948469
(I know, still not through court and innocent til guilty, but they are aren’t admiring him coz they think he’s not guilty….)
40
Yes.
Luigi Nicholas Mangione.
The Left loves their murderers and psychopaths.
And look how they revere people like Mao, Ho Chi Minh (Viet Cong), Pol Pot, Che Guevara, Stalin, Mullah Omar etc..
You see young Leftoids with t shirts bearing the likeness of Che Guevara, seemingly not understanding (or maybe they do) that he was a racist, misogynistic, hater of homosexuals, mass murderer, concentration camp overseer, adulterer, had numerous children by different women whom he didnt support, animal abuser, a pyschopath and even came from a privileged background.
Video about Guevara: https://youtu.be/puG4b3uO_Kk
110
The public service are pretty cagey about their “expertise deficit” – there is a book out about it, but it is only available to subscribers to the Mandarin: https://www.themandarin.com.au/286539-webinar-bridging-the-public-service-expertise-deficit/
20
This disclosure:
That’s rather a radical and inflammatory political position for public sector professionals to espouse and advertise.
Does the premier public service publication believe our government is illegitimate?
70
I wonder in what universe they think all this polite sovereignty ceding happens? And also how people with no written language and no consistant spoken language and no knowledge of other countries existence could even discuss the topic?
30
More on the decline of Once Great Britain.
Why do you need a military when you have already invited in the army of military age males who are fanatical followers of the seventh century warlord?
The funny thing about the Red-Green Alliance, the bizarre association between the Left and followers of the warlord, is that once the followers of the warlord take over, they will not tolerate any of the Left’s “diversity”, women’s rights or LGBTQA+++ etc. which they pretend to support.
180
They need the Diversity Officers to manage the upcoming conscription: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/uk-army-conscription-update-as-ex-nato-chief-demands-return-of-national-service/ar-AA1zvOlM
I predict exemptions for those involved with the ‘net zero economy’ if they move to conscript….
50
C. Northcote Parkinson – author of Parkinson’s Law etc – was in a combined Service Unit when the 3 heads (Army, Navy & Airforce senior officers) were away for 2 weeks. Within 2 days there was nothing to do for the remanding staff (secretaries, filing clerks. dispatch riders etc).
It bought home to him that Work Expands with increasing Bureaucracy and that increasing numbers never makes the economy grow.
90
If one of the LGBBQ+-×÷ squad is killed in battle would it be called “killing a bird with 2 stones”?
/smirk
70
Sure the kiwis here will be interested to know that they are featured in a series on ‘pathways to positive public administration’ as ‘a government that is widely acknowledged to have proactively responded to the COVID-19 outbreak and effectively contained the virus for an extended period’ (see chapter 13)
https://www.elgaronline.com/edcollbook-oa/book/9781803929170/9781803929170.xml
“The ongoing pairing of public health official with the Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister signaled that the response was not only political but rested on a range of partnerships, appealing to the public’s trust in non-political leaders. One expert, microbiologist Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles, who has won multiple awards for her science communication efforts and had previously given media interviews on infectious disease such as Ebola and Zika, decided her role would be as a communicator to the general public.“
70
OK, I’ll be the first: Hissssss…
Ass. Pro. Siouxsie Pink-Haired Micro-Midget Muppet – thankfully we haven’t heard a squeak out of her since her bestest girlfriend fled to Boston, USA a few years back. May the Silence Of The Mutton continue.
70
She got a $20K settlement from her uni because they didn’t do enough to protect her from harassment. https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/auckland-university-ordered-to-pay-siouxsie-wiles-20-000-in-employment-case/ar-BB1pAxxQ
There is also a doco https://www.moviefone.com/movie/ms-information/mVd8516jpykJCIEroQKjq/main/
30
9 March – the UK government is going to support a national ‘Covid-19 Day of Reflection’
https://dayofreflection.campaign.gov.uk/
20
15 March – Beware the Ides of March.
Et tu Brutus?
40
I have had a few years of reflection already – I think I might make 9 Mar a day off
Meanwhile: https://drdavidcartland.substack.com/p/breaking-the-silence-the-conversations-bdf
10
Today’s quiz question.
Name the only even prime number.
10
Answered by the AI brave browser
According to Open AI ‘2’ is also the number of men required to decide to nurture a child
40
An even number precedes an odd number.
So is zero an even number? Has anyone ever asked zero if it ‘feels’ like an even number?
Does that mean that there are two even primes? And what about negative 2?
Does that mean that there are three even primes?
30
Zero is considered an even number.
It is not a prime number.
-2 is an even number.
Prime numbers by convention are only positive integers so -2 is not.
However:
See https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/1002459/do-we-have-negative-prime-numbers
A reference quoted there does consider that negative numbers can be prime.
(It doesn’t allow copying and pasting.)
10
Is zero a number or the absence of numbers?
30
Influenza Like Illnesses (ILIs) https://trusttheevidence.substack.com/p/clearing-the-air-around-influenza-54b
What this shows is that there are many agents that cause Influenza-like illness (ILI). If projected on a population of 10,000 people of all ages, the incidence of ILI is 700/10000, and the majority of agents are currently unknown.
The list of agents includes:
Influenza (11%)
Respiratory Syncytial Virus: RSV (6.1%)
Rhinoviruses (3.3%)
Parainfluenza viruses (2,5%)
Other agents (9.1%). These are likely to include metapneumoviridae, coronoviridae and echoviridae.
Unknown (68~%)
As we shall see in the next post, there is a rather large ghost at the feast.
30
Unknown because nobody looked or unknown because the agent wasn’t found AFTER a thorough look?
Big difference. Is the answer in the next post?
20
Unknown because the tests don’t find it.
Question is how many unknown agents are there… and is it even worth finding out the answer (I mean, for the pure science of exploring – yes, but for doing this through a whole public funded / disease control framework with loads of money type of answer finding) if testing doesn’t really serve a lot of purpose in treatment (by the time you get the test results back, you are either progressed to a worse illness you are being treated for or you are well).
How many tests do you run on ILIs?
Kind of like the how many injections are too many for a baby question.
30
Getting FERC to restore reliability just got a boost.
Will the President pursue grid reliability?
By David Wojick
https://www.cfact.org/2025/02/24/will-the-president-pursue-grid-reliability/
The beginning: “In an Executive Order (EO) the President is asserting a new degree of control over what are called the independent federal agencies. There are about 100 of these some of which have tremendous regulatory authority.
Of particular interest is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). A central mission of FERC is maintaining the reliability of America’s electric power grid. This mission has clearly failed as the grid has become dangerously unreliable.
The question is whether the President will use his authority to lead FERC to restore reliability? There are several ways he might do this which are discussed briefly below.
But first there is a much deeper issue that needs to be kept in mind, which is the questionable Constitutional legitimacy of these agencies. What are they independent of? The Constitution only provides for three branches of Government — Congressional, Judicial and Executive.
Claims that these agencies are somehow independent of these branches suggest a murky fourth branch which may be unconstitutional. In fact Justice Scalia said they were unconstitutional and we now have a conservative Supreme Court. So anyone thinking of suing to stop the President should be careful what they wish for.
Getting back to FERC the question is whether the President will get them to take the steps needed to restore grid reliability. I have previously written about two approaches which might work.
The first is very simple in that FERC merely declares a moratorium on connecting to the grid those large generators that are unpredictably intermittent by design. The increasing fraction of grid connected generators that are systemically intermittent is a major factor in the loss of reliability. See my “A simple way to save the grid from more wind and solar” here: https://www.cfact.org/2025/02/17/a-simple-way-to-save-the-grid-from-more-wind-and-solar/
A more elaborate approach is to activate FERC’s reliability regulation system in new ways. This system has failed to date but maybe it can be made to work.”
Lots more in the article. Please share it.
President Trump is now testing his authority to fire independent agency commissioners which could be needed at FERC. Stay tuned!
David
81
They have a right to FERC the grid?
30
Now, now, the grid has already been FERC’ed.
00
There is an international blood transfusion organisation that is aiming to organise a network of like individuals for supplies of blood from individuals not vaccinated with mRNA covid vaccines.
https://safeblood.net/
The default site is in German but there’s a drop down menu to select English.
In Nanny State Australia, you cannot do a directed blood donation to avoid blood tarnished by mRNA covid “vaccine”.
70
TRUMP still has a lot of work to do to eradicate wokeness from his land.
70
FWIW
“A Visit From Starmer’s ‘Have You Accepted Labour As Your Lord and Savior’ Goons”
https://hotair.com/tree-hugging-sister/2025/02/24/a-visit-from-starmers-have-you-accepted-labour-as-your-lord-and-savoir-goons-n3800143
Starmer is due to visit Trump – what odds he gets a “trumping”?
60
FWIW
“new preprint study published last week on OSF titled, “Conflicts of Interest, Funding Support, and Author Affiliation in Peer-Reviewed Research on the Relationship between Climate Change and Geophysical Characteristics of Hurricanes.” You’ll never believe this one. Well, you probably will believe it, but still.”
“What they did find was, and maybe you should sit down for this: “Non-governmental organization (NGO) funding was a significant predictor for an article to find a positive association between climate change and geophysical characteristics of hurricanes as a research outcome.”
USAID? The NIH? In other words, were the NGOs that funded the climate studies reaching the approved conclusions themselves funded by the United States taxpayer? I’d bet a lot. I’d even bet your money (after all, that’s what they’re using).
This study was just the latest icicle hanging from the expanding snowball of the great scientific deep freeze—where progress hibernates, and inconvenient truths are buried in snowdrifts of pre-approved conclusions. It is devilishly hard to have progress when the outcomes are predetermined and frozen in place, and where pseudoscience gets paid— leaving real scientists freezing in a ditch.”
More at
https://open.substack.com/pub/coffeeandcovid/p/blowback-monday-february-24-2025?
Followed by a look at Amish and autism
40
FWIW
Instapundit lead-in “ANALYSIS: True.”
“I’ve said it again, I’ll say it again. Taxpayer-funded NGOs function as a parallel government.
Even worse, many sitting members of Congress are directly involved in them. They see themselves as the real government, prioritizing debates with other bureaucrats on the global stage over serving the people they represent. ”
https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/1894050491912622543
Via https://instapundit.com/704694/#disqus_thread
40
In comments there
“Everything the Democrats would like to pass in Congress, but know they couldn’t, just gets done by an NGO.”
30
The leftist attacks on Elon Musk are a great example of how delusional they are. The man’s accomplishments speak for themselves:
1) Invented EVs, satellites and brain implant chips
2) Staunchly against any and all government subsidies, handouts, government contracts or government mandates
3) Extremely level-headed
4) Very much against climate change and those that take advantage of climate change hysteria (e.g. green battery claims)
5) Fun fact: one of the best video gamers which he explicitly stated in his Joe Rogan interview
6) A big proponent of the nuclear family
And despite all these accomplishments, he’s very low key and does not like to have the spot light on him.
30
..and the second coming of Jesus!
Love that one!
00
I was looking for the “sarc” tag ?,,,,,,did you forget it ?
10
I think so, could he/she seriously think Elon invented satellites and EVs?
00
“6) A big proponent of the nuclear family“
Surely you’re referring to the nuclear energy family, as opposed to the traditional mum, dad and the kids type nuclear family.
00
I thought he was pretty keen on the Dad, Mums and the kids scene..
00
Musks made his initial wealth from PayPal. That is often forgotten.
20
British Petroleum BP was founded by substantial money spent by one William Knox D’Arcy drilling for oil in the deserts of Arabia.
The money came from his investment in the copper and gold mine at Mount Morgan, inland from Rockhampton, Australia.
Brings to mind the old saying of problems for those who fail to learn from the lessons of history.
BP was created with money from mining and natural resource extraction and use. BP grew into a global leader from natural resources. BP might release that its future lies with resource use. That is where it has expertise, not in solar panels or windmills.
My employer company operated the mine and stood the whole cost of rehabilitation once it closed, paying the bills for 100 years of predecessors.
Another beneficiary of Mount Morgan money is the world famous Walter and Eliza Hall Medical Research Institute. It set them going until they became famous. I have enjoyed meals with friends in the old home where Walter and Eliza lived at Mount Morgan. It is all a lovely history that illustrates some of the diverse benefits from mining.
So far, I am still looking for social or commercial benefits from green schemes that seem to appeal to some sad people who cannot face reality and consume other people’s money rather than adding to it. Geoff S
120
Argggh, governments and bastardry, there was a push to create the great forest national park in Victoria, now due to some protests and support from the trade union movement, it appears that this “lock up” of the states forest assets particularly for recreational pursuits has been, shall we say, delayed. Never fear the latest move is to now invite the local land council to take a “native title ” claim to the federal court to give control of large sections of PUBLIC LAND to a tiny group ( 1%) of the population. Now I have no idea how “native title” works, however I will assume that free public access will simply vanish.
How will this “new” title be managed, dunno. How much will this “New” title cost the average Victorian, dunno. The only certainty is the general populace will be excluded, and, as surely as day follows night, the big fires will return.
80
Of note, COP30 will be held in Belém, Brazil, 10-21 November 2025. There were 65,000 participants at COP29 so there’ll probably more at COP30.
I am just telling you now because parking your private jet will be a real problem. You will need to make arrangements now or be disappointed.
50
You are joking, aren’t you?
Or will the private jets drop their passengers at Belém, fly about 2,000 km to Manaus and park until they fly back to pick up passengers from an exhausting session saving the world from jet travel?
30
My bet is that it will be a lot less than COP29. The Climate Hoax™ money is drying up courtesy of DJT.
40
https://blog.maryannedemasi.com/p/gardasil-on-trial-did-merck-mislead
Unlike cervical cancer, which is preventable through screening and treatable with early intervention, Dr Lee asserts the harms linked to Gardasil – such as autoimmune disorders and neurological complications – are unpredictable, difficult to treat, and often irreversible.
40
United Nations-
“The United States sided with Russia..to oppose a resolution condemning Russia as the aggressor against Ukraine on the third anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion. The motion passed ..with the support of 93 states…marking a downturn..compared to previous votes when more than 140 nations condemned Russia and called for its withdrawal.”
Macron and Trump- Macron determined to steal Russia’s foreign reserves, France is broke!
““Just so you understand, Europe is loaning the money to Ukraine – they get their money back,” Trump told reporters. Macron.. interrupted. “No, in fact, to be frank, we paid 60 per cent of the total effort. And it was – like the US – loans, guarantees, grants, and we provided real money,” ..there were $230 billion worth of frozen Russian assets in Europe, which should not be regarded as collateral. If these assets were handed over to Europe as part of a negotiation, then “it will be a loan at the end of the day, and Russia will have paid for that”, Macron said.
Trump.. “If you believe that, it’s OK with me,” he said. “But they get their money back, and we don’t.”
And in Australia, confusion in the head reigns-
51 per cent of voters back (Trump’s) plan to cut waste in the public service.
40 per cent of Australian voters back the idea of increasing oil and gas production after Trump pledged to “drill, baby, drill”
42 per cent reject Trump’s policy of withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change,
42 per cent saying they oppose scrapping rules that encourage diversity, equity and inclusion
and you can see what the vax does to people’s thinking-
49 per cent of voters said Australia should not withdraw from the World Health Organisation .
SMH today, along with our local warmongers pushing for Australia to arm up and get involved.
50
The Oz sees things differently.
‘Just because Donald Trump’s language drives the European status quo mad doesn’t mean the end of the Western alliance. It’s about reassessing priorities and reallocating burden-sharing.’
I heard whispers that Trump is becoming more unpopular at home, in the political cycle this is unprecedented, the honeymoon is over.
03
I’m pretty sure there are plenty of sacked public servants cursing his name (and worse) – but I think President Trump seems to know what he’s doing and won’t take fright about ‘whispers’, just as he ignored the appallingly wrong polling done before the election.
Ordinary people are aware that they shouldn’t believe (more or less) anything they are told.
40
In under 15 years, these allies that suppressed the Boxer Rebellion were at war with one another: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-Nation_Alliance
10
A while back I posted the links to ongoing “rare earth” mineral resource analyses from Simon Michaux, 2021/22/23/24, where he had specifically compared known economic resource deposits against projected demand for energy “transition”. Michaux’ basic point is that known economic resources are completely inadequate for the anticipated demand, by factors of up to 1000 in terms of 2019 output years for the really rare minerals (eg. germanium) and consequently alternate technologies need to be developed and deployed. I agree with his estimates, though not necessarily with the net zero concept.
When geologists analyse deposits, those analysed as having no economic value are placed in a huge queue at the very bottom of any list.
In a companion webpage to this site, it is intemperately insisted upon that “any fool” can find and mine deposits (exact quote). Such intemperance just ignores my previous paragraph. Geoscientific ignorance.
The category of economic deposits includes the cost of mining, processing, marketing, shipping etc – the Aus JORC Statement of Resource legally requires this, as do the US, Canada, UK standards.
This is posted here as the companion webpage does not allow comment.
30
Interesting transparency.
According to reported installed solar capacity and measured total output for Australia, covering all states:
In 2021 total installed capacity was 25,776MW with total output of 20,659,594MWh (Amazing performance at 2.195890342 hours per day)
In 2022 total installed capacity was 30,409MW with total output of 23,533,594MWh (Amazing performance at 2.120245597 hours per day)
In 2023 total installed capacity was 34,788MW with total output of 28,792,223MWh (Amazing performance at 2.267552186 hours per day)
If said installed capacity was gas or coal, and working 24/7, the solar output represents:
2021 9.15% of output capacity
2022 8.83% of output capacity
2023 9.45% of output capacity
At this rate, solar offers a solid 2 hours of electricity for a working day. (Some might like that)
2024 figures of installed capacity are stuck in September and yet to be updated (waiting with great anticipation).
https://pv-map.apvi.org.au/analyses
https://pv-map.apvi.org.au/live
50
2 hours per day when the sun is out – for the use of a lot of flat, useful land near the grid.
How much land – don’t worry – only a living room worth of land per person https://theconversation.com/no-threat-to-farm-land-just-1-200-square-kilometres-can-fulfil-australias-solar-and-wind-energy-needs-223183
Something odd is happening with the ‘Energy Fact Check’ site – it says it is Coming soon with a countdown, whereas the search results shows it publishing stuff since November last year…. https://energyfactcheck.com.au/2024/11/05/how-much-land-does-renewable-energy-use-and-will-it-affect-our-food-security/
20
Pffft! They lost me at-
“Solar and wind provide the cheapest electricity.”
My power bill hasn’t gone down at all!
50
With battery firmed solar, the minimum cost system has solar panels achieving CF of 5%; about half of what is being achieved by leaching off the existing grid using coal, gas and hydro to firm the output.
To get the best indicator of solar CF, you should focus on May and July when the insolation is low. For example, 30 May last year solar produced 60GWh; 31st 58GWh and 1 Jun 48GWh. Or consecutive CFs of 7.1%, 5.7% and 7.1%.
So if the solar was increased 15X to 525GW and there was a battery that could store say two days of rated demand of 1300GWh then Australia would have solar powered, battery firmed grid for a cost less than $2tr every 15 to 20 years.
When do governments realise that the CSIRO is not a credible scientific organisation.
50
A new age or massive collapse for the USA?
The U.S. economy’s creaking at the seams, and the peak’s already in the rearview. Policy uncertainty’s strangling confidence—businesses are bolting the doors on investment, and the whole machine’s grinding down. Government job cuts aren’t just a blip; they’re a wrecking ball with tentacles Reaching into every corner. Microsoft’s waving the white flag on AI spending, calling the top. Inflation’s clawing its way back above target, expectations are ticking up, MAG7 earnings are wobbling, and the rest of the world’s starting to lap the U.S. It’s a slow bleed turning into a gush, and the edge is closer than you think.
https://citizenwatchreport.com/7-signals-the-markets-teetering-on-the-brink-and-theyre-counting-on-you-missing-it/
But then:
Apple to Invest $500 Billion in U.S. After Trump Meeting With CEO Tim Cook — Will Add 20,000 Jobs Over Next Four Years
In a statement, Tim Cook said he was “bullish” about the future of American innovation.
“We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we’re proud to build on our long-standing US investments with this $500 billion commitment to our country’s future,” Cook said in a statement.
“We’ll keep working with people and companies across this country to help write an extraordinary new chapter in the history of American innovation.”
https://www.yourdestinationnow.com/2025/02/winning-apple-to-invest-500-billion-in.html
Apple is the largest tech company in the world and now worth about $3.7Trillion.
30
I put this up last night, but it was pretty late. Its not politics, its not warfare, its not disease that seals the fate of a country, its economics-
Martin Armstrong being interviewed- ‘Prepare for the end of democracies.’
“You know the interest expenditures in the United States are exceeding $1 trillion. The national debt was $1 trillion under Ronald Reagan in 1980… it’s not a sustainable system. And all Western governments are basically in the same boat with this…we will go through another sovereign debt crisis like this…then often, unfortunately, they use war as the excuse to default.
Even the United States, the Revolutionary War, the Constitution said they would honor the debts of the Continental Congress. They never did. In World War One, they defaulted on the debts, even Canada…France is in what, its fifth republic and each new government says we don’t pay the debts of the last one…Spain became the serial defaulter. I think it was seven times starting in around 1570. They successfully took themselves from the richest country in Europe to basically a third world status…
Governments only really act in their own self-interest. They always just want to sustain their power. It has nothing to do with the people or anything else. ”
Whole countries dissolving the big crash of 2032!
https://southfront.press/martin-armstrong-let-us-prepare-for-the-end-of-democracies/
00
Space X – February 24, 2025 NEW YEAR. NEW SHIP. NEW LESSONS.
The seventh flight test of Starship and Super Heavy flew with ambitious goals, aiming to successfully repeat the core capability of returning and catching a booster while launching an upgraded design of the upper stage. While not every test objective was completed, the lessons learned will roll directly into future vehicles to make them more capable as Starship advances toward full and rapid reuse.
On January 16, 2025, Starship successfully lifted off at 4:37 p.m. CT from Starbase in Texas. At launch, all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster started up successfully and completed a full duration burn during ascent. After powering down all but the three center engines on Super Heavy, Starship ignited all six of its Raptor engines to separate in a hot-staging maneuver and continue its ascent to space.
Following stage separation, Super Heavy initiated its boostback burn to propel the rocket toward its intended landing location. It successfully lit 12 of the 13 engines commanded to start, with a single Raptor on the middle ring safely aborting on startup due to a low-power condition in the igniter system. Raptor engines on upcoming flights have a pre-planned igniter upgrade to mitigate this issue. The boostback burn was completed successfully and sent Super Heavy back to the launch site for catch.
The booster successfully relit all 13 planned middle ring and center Raptor engines for its landing burn, including the engine that did not relight for boostback burn. The landing burn slowed the booster down and maneuvered it to the launch and catch tower arms at Starbase, resulting in the second ever successful catch of Super Heavy.
Very Long & Interesting Review
60
What I don’t get is why the USAID databases are down as opposed to read-only:
eg. this is where all contractor outputs and quarterly / annual / other project reports had to be loaded to:
https://dec.usaid.gov/
20
Maybe the whole situation is more complex than you think in terms of access and security and staffing
00
ALEXANDER DOWNER – Trump is right to call out Europe, and pivot to the Indo-Pacific
The arrogant Chinese live-firing naval exercises in our immediate neighbourhood should remind us how critically important a strong, purposeful and energetic United States is to our own security.
In February of that year, Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine. Three years later Russia controls about 17-18 per cent of Ukraine. Perhaps half a million people have been killed in that time.
That’s where we were when President Donald Trump arrived. He wanted to end the slaughter. He had two choices. Either launch a huge attack on Russian troops in Ukraine, driving them out of the country altogether, or negotiate a ceasefire with the Russians and leave the Ukrainians and the Europeans to negotiate a peace treaty.
America also has to deal with Iran and China. In the ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia, I’ve heard but cannot verify, the Americans have linked the ceasefire to Russian agreement not to supply Iran with S400 anti-aircraft missile systems.
What about the Europeans? Well, Trump was apparently shown a map of Europe recently that identified which countries made the most energetic contribution to the defence of the continent.
Poland and the Baltic republics were identified, and no one else. Trump then asked how big was the GDP of Germany, Britain and France. When told these countries were, in order, the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-biggest economies in the world, Trump understandably wondered why the Europeans were so incapable of defending their own continent and why they were so dependent on America. After all, Germany’s GDP alone is more than double Russia’s.
His perspective is that America is in an existential tussle with China, that Russia is a relatively small threat by comparison, and rich Europe should easily be able to take the lead in handling Russia – with back-up from America.
Australian Military needs to take lessons from how the Russia/Ukraine war has devloped into using low cost FPV (First Person View) Drones as outlined at 8 mins 56 secs to 11 mins in the following Video, plus the Russian High-precision guided bombs equipped with UMPK (Unified gliding and correction module) modules have been developed by Russia to convert unguided Soviet bombs into precision-guided glide bombs.
Iran & Houthis have also shown the power of Low Cost Drones, Sea Drones & Submarine Drones in the Middle East
The Ukrainian Purgatory – Österreichs Bundesheer
Premiered Feb 22, 2025
Almost 1,100 days after the start of the Russian invasion, clear trends are emerging. Austrian Military expert Colonel Markus Reisner compares the conflict to a well-known “David vs. Goliath” boxing match: The agile David (David Haye) misses the decisive “lucky punch”, while the higher endurance of Goliath (Nikolai Walujew) is increasingly becoming an advantage.
Reisner analyzes the situation in various theaters of war and sheds light on the use of drones. Finally, he looks at the Munich Security Conference, recent statements by US President Trump and their possible consequences — with sobering prospects for Ukraine and Europe.
30
https://hiddencomplexity.substack.com/p/sars-cov-2-persistence-and-impact
As well as tonsils, previous dental work or compromised teeth could indicate how long or how badly you will suffer from a COVID infection:
This interaction can help explain a few of the most unusual behaviors of the virus. First, it could explain why oral reservoirs are more common than reservoirs in other bodily regions. It also provides a potential mechanism, alongside immuno-inflammatory responses, for the observed worsening of oral health post-SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Secondly, this interaction could enable the virus, at least at a minimal level, to establish reservoirs in compromised teeth, those that have already undergone dental work. Last and most poignant to us, it offers a potential explanation for how SARS-CoV-2 interacts with and alters biofilm formation on resin composites, thereby creating a persistent reservoir niche within the oral cavity.
40
https://hedleyrees.substack.com/p/key-drugs-losing-patent-protection
The fact is, the big pharma gravy train coming to an end has been a well kept secret for many a year – SARS-CoV-2 were last chance saloon…
20
Abilify Maintena (aripiprazole), a long-acting injectable formulation of aripiprazole, received FDA approval in 2013 for schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder maintenance. In 2021, aripiprazole capsules ranked as the second most prescribed medication in the U.S., surpassed only by opioids.
10
How can a spiritual anomaly be treated with drugs? Asking for a friend 🙂
00
and of course, they had already rolled out that years’ flu vaccine which did not cover a corona virus so if people started getting sick after getting a flu vaccine, they would not get next years’ flu vaccine.
So all the COVID measures were taken to protect the existing annual flows of funds for the flu vaccines.
In the UK, they have the flumist programme in schools – spraying kiddies with chemicals and whatever – not for the kiddies, mind, but supposedly just to reduce the flus that are out and about to get the oldies (who are already getting flu vaccines so this seems an odd thing to want to do)
20
Australia bans all Kaspersky products on government systems
“After considering threat and risk analysis, I have determined that the use of Kaspersky Lab, Inc. products and web services by Australian Government entities poses an unacceptable security risk to Australian Government, networks and data, arising from threats of foreign interference, espionage and sabotage,” justified Stephanie Foster, Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs.
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/australia-bans-all-kaspersky-products-on-government-systems/
Total bollox driven by politics.
Kaspersky has always made its source code available to governments so we KNOW this is purely political.
So now they get to use “also ran” AV protection. Can’t wait for the first security breach!
30
bit late really anyway – if there is a backdoor, then it’s already been used. They still know where all the government workers live when they want to send in the drone swarm….
20
https://www.goingconcern.com/kpmg-is-the-latest-firm-to-quietly-pull-back-on-dei-initiatives/
KPMG US has pulled years of reports on its diversity, equity and inclusion programmes from its website after becoming the latest professional services firm to scrap DEI goals in the wake of Donald Trump’s election
The Big Four accounting and consulting firm deleted the annual “transparency reports” it has published since 2020 that described its effort to increase the representation of women and minorities at all levels of the organisation.
30
This is brilliant – if you work for KPMG the company posted a card to your spouse on Valentines Day to remind you to check the compliance register (conflicts of interest stuff – big 4 require you and your immediate family to report all interests and investments.)
https://www.goingconcern.com/forget-flowers-kpmg-wants-you-to-give-your-spouse-the-gift-of-compliance-on-valentines-day/
20
Dan Bongino now Deputy Director of FBI. I love the choice, it will add some muscle to Kash Patel.
https://rumble.com/v6ope2i-cutesy-time-is-over-ep.-2429-02242025.html?e9s=src_v1_ucp
50
Bongino’s experience in the NYPD and Secret Service should prove a real asset.
60
More than his experience, he will bring honesty and passion.
40
FWIW –
New York, a rock and a hard place
“Amicus Brief Filed In Glen Oaks Village Owners v. City Of New York”
https://hotair.com/headlines/2025/02/24/amicus-brief-filed-in-glen-oaks-village-owners-v-city-of-new-york-n3800153
00
Scientists have discovered the gene for human speech and transferred it to mice
A genetic mutation unique to humans could explain the emergence of speech. Researchers have found that inserting this variant into mice alters their vocalizations, opening a new avenue for understanding the origins of language.
https://www.techno-science.net/en/news/scientists-have-discovered-the-gene-for-human-speech-and-transferred-it-to-mice-N26552.html
/standby for the meaning of everything to be revealed
20
Fascinating! As long as the meeces don’t develop the same way as Charlton Heston’s monkeys!
30
..or demanding children.. or karens.. or… Nah, leave them dumb!
10
DON’T PANIC
10
Household solar panels create a ‘worry’ for energy boss
“Australia is leading the solar race worldwide thanks to widespread adoption of rooftop panels but the asset could present a serious challenge to the national grid in the short-term, a leading energy regulator has warned.”
Yet governments are still offering rooftop solar subsidies – what a waste.
Today at midday solar provided 57% of electricity demand, and spot price in Qld was negative $25/MWh.
What a way to (not) run an essential service.
30
Next week they will bleat (if it suits their agenda) how business must have certainty to invest. They will do it with an earnest tone and without a hint of hypocrisy.
10
“On his cornet he’ll bleat as they play on the street
And he stung me for five and a zac”
10
FWIW – and still they come!
“Stonewall, UK’s Largest Trans Rights Organization, Turned Out to Be a USAID Front”
https://hotair.com/david-strom/2025/02/24/stonewall-uks-largest-trans-rights-organization-turned-out-to-be-a-usaid-front-n3800132
60
What did Kenny Everett’s Marcel used to say?
Quelle surpise!
10
FWIW
“Yesterday, in response to Jeffrey A. Tucker’s post, SDA commenter ‘Trodwell’ posted something brilliant:
It’s not just that the voters demanded change. As Elon pointed out so clearly, if the U.S. remains on its present course, it will be bankrupt. There are no “managed bankruptcies” when the defaulter is the world’s largest economy and the global reserve currency. Trump and his cadre aren’t just saving America, they’re physically yanking the rest of the world’s profligate bankruptcies-in-waiting back from the brink and forcing them to follow suit. ”
More at
https://www.smalldeadanimals.com/2025/02/23/a-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity-to-fix-things/#comment-1995043
Featured comment today
https://www.smalldeadanimals.com/2025/02/24/featured-comment-32/
21
FWIW
“Trump’s Other Ukraine Problem”
“Making peace in the Ukrainian theater of war might appear to be a hapless task after decades and more of regional hostilities. The issue is immensely complex, as witnessed in the fate of the two Minsk Accords which sought to end the unresolved Donbas war beginning in 2014, fought between armed Russian separatist groups and the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the status of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.”
Much more at
https://pjmedia.com/david-solway-2/2025/02/24/trumps-other-ukraine-problem-n4937287
20
It would probably be more correct to say they fought over the status of the Kiev government installed after the US sponsored 2014 coup. This unleashed the violence directed at the ethic Russian eastern Oblasts.
50
How much better off we would be if USA simply sued for peace with the Japanese after Dec, 7 and climbed under the rock of Fortress America.
The world would have lived in eternal peace.
01
FWIW – not the usual hand wave
“Why Carbon Emissions Will Fall Under Trump”
https://hotair.com/headlines/2025/02/24/why-carbon-emissions-will-fall-under-trump-n3800141
00
FWIW
“Screaming at the Mirror”
“Mirror mirror, on the wall.
Who’s the most hypocritical of them all?
Remember the good old days when the progressive left refused to respond to a problem by projecting their own misconduct on others? Yeah, me neither. It’s been a time-honored tradition going back several decades.”
More at
https://pjmedia.com/dave-carter/2025/02/24/screaming-at-the-mirror-n4937281
20
Ever noticed on adverts for European tourism how empty of people Europe appears to be? the river cruise adverts and cruise ship adverts are the funniest.
In reality it is rare to be able to truly get away from other people anywhere in Europe, and definitely not anywhere on the tourist trails.
10
Clive Palmer, campaigning to the “right” of our political spectrum, won enough votes at the 2013 election to give him four seats and the balance of power in the senate.
He then fell under the influence of Al Gore, and delivered those votes which had been collected from the far right in our electorate to the far left in our parliament, to “protect” the Renewable Energy Target and the RGR government’s mad spending spree.
This then thoroughly thwarted the Abbott government’s landslide mandate as it underpinned the massive investment in so called “Renewables” and the tearaway debt that we find ourselves in.
This was surely one of the most significant events in the history of our federation, and nobody noticed.
Clive must expect that we will not remember it.
50
Thanks , a neat outline.
When I saw that he was using the MAGA theme I felt sick because of the mess he had made previously.
10