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
I’ve just come here from The Australian; my blood boiling with rage over the situation in Victoria. There has been incompetence on an unbelievable scale.
I note that large numbers of the ‘cases’ are from sources unknown and being investigated. Is that just newspeak for pretending that there was no link with the BLM protest? The timing is pretty suspicious, is it not?
360
Annie I understand that BLM protest demonstrations are one source, but also ethnic groups said to be unable to speak or read English who are not well informed about social distancing, and a religious group that conducted weddings regardless of the restrictions.
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Yes. And the Russians have a different view regarding motivation:
“Andrei Novikov, head of Russia’s Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), told Russian state news agency Tass that the terrorists are using the health crisis to further their own agendas.
“While governments are trying to ensure health security, focusing on protecting the lives and health of their people, recruiters of international terrorist groups are not just taking advantage of the difficult situation in order to recruit more ‘Jihad soldiers,’ they are calling on infected members to spread COVID-19 as wide as possible in public places, state agencies and so on,” Novikov said.”
https://summit.news/2020/06/30/russian-anti-terror-chief-jihadis-are-intentionally-spreading-coronavirus/
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And don’t say we weren’t warned.
Warning from EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator
A few weeks back, Gilles de Kerchove, the counter-terrorism coordinator for the European Union had warned that terrorist organizations may make use of the coronavirus chaos to carry out deadly attacks in different parts of the world.
“The massive amount of money that will be spent to address the economic, social, and healthcare consequences of the virus risks being at the expense of security. We must prevent the one crisis ending up producing another,” said Kerchove.
The warnings from both the counter-terrorism experts have reportedly started worrying governments all over the world, and authorities believe that strict action plans should be made to thwart the diabolical terror plot.
https://www.ibtimes.sg/terror-alert-russian-security-warns-jihadi-plot-using-coronavirus-spreaders-47686
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“….strict action plans should be made to thwart the diabolical terror plot.”
That is globalist speak for increased intrusive state surveillance and more stringent laws for unspecific terror risks to remove personal freedoms.
You can usually spot the agenda at work when they say a “non specific threat” which translates into “we need an excuse to pass a bad law removing freedoms”.
110
Yes OriginalSteve. Your point is taken. Did you not see this:
The solution. Hire cheap “security” with no community support or proper training.
Now, think about those security firms contracted by Dan Andrews, the Victorian Premier, and his socialist government to ensure the quarantine of those Covid-19 possible travellers in their taxpayer funded Melbourne hotels.
Security?
The Victorian Government under its socialist Premier, Dan Andrews, has treated the Australian public like all socialists treat the public – with callous incompetence and malice.
Just don’t look too closely at the link between the “security” firms contracted (without public tender) and their links to the corrupt Victorian Labor Party. Oops. No. On the other hand, maybe the Crime and Corruption Commission, if it was doing its job, would be right across it. Don’t hold your breath – but something stinks.
Where do those “security personnel” come from? Moonlighting CFMEU I wonder? Labor Party heavies? No racial profiling suggested – but don’t look too closely. They’re not trained police officers, that’s for sure.
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Plenty of opportunities for the premier to parade his effrontery eh Annie!
50
Well it does kind of stretch credulity to accept that those who had been part of those rallies would freely admit it when faced with the consequences.
Honesty might sully the purity of the cause.
100
They don’t know what honesty is.
A total anathema to them.
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Annie, I find it interesting that just like in the USA, the biggest issues with law and order and infections are in left wing run states,. The worst issues with violence and gun violence are also in Leftists ( effectively lawless ) leftist states.
The fact the people were allowed in some leftist protest against police and medical advice to in effect what appears to be a reboot of the problem, so they can play “Lockdown” again.
I cant think of any other scenario that fits…
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It seems possible that a significant amount of “family” transmission is amongst cultural minorities for whom “diversity” means tgat they don’t have to follow the majority rules.
May be wrong, but still…….
130
Annie, illegal immigrants hiding in plain sight are not getting tested.
50
The Australian newspaper: Free ride for Tesla owners simply unfair.
A NSW Government Report proposes a road tax charge for Electric Vehicles on the basis that fossil fuel vehicles pay fuel tax for road maintenance, so it’s only fair that EV owners pay a road maintenance tax equivalent.
“Australian Electric Vehicle Association secretary and electric car owner Chris Jones said most EV drivers did not take issue with road-user charges as long as out it applies to all vehicles equally. “The issue we have is when they don’t apply to internal combustion engine vehicles”, Mr Jones said. “Yes, they have been paying for fuel excise, but they also do a lot of damage to the road”.
Mr Jones said “it seemed bizarre to single out EV owners and use them as “scapegoats” for an economic restructure to boost revenue from a falling fuel excise budget …”.
Extreme greenism is a worry I say.
150
Maybe now EV road tests will compare “fuel” costs by deducting fuel tax or adding an equivalent road tax for EV?
And include battery replacement as a fuel cost for EV owners?
By the way, a low price level EV retails $45-55K compared to an ICEV equivalent for less than half the price, which is a lot of servicing and liquid fuel cost before the EV owner breaks even on investment.
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Dennis,
You can’t say that, EVs get about 250km for 120kWh of electricity (Taking into account losses) costing about $36 not including charger amortisation or fixed electricity charges.
That 120kWh is 90% Coal at around 20% thermal efficiency after delivery to your wall. At that efficiency 90% or 108kWh of coal sourced electricity needs 87kg of Coal emitting 322kg CO2. Coal calorific value is around 6150 kWh per Tonne.
I buy about 50l of diesel to go 1000 km at about $1.20 per litre. Or 12.5l for 250km at a cost of $15. So EVs don’t have a fuel saving compared to the most efficient IC Engines, they cost MORE to fill.
CO2 emission of my Diesel car for 250km is therefore 12.5l x 2.6kg CO2 per lt or 32.5kg CO2, 1/10th of the EV.
150
I have never seen a figure for the opportunity cost of the extra cost of an EV.
I know that savers’ interest rates are negligible at present, but look at the interest rate one has to pay on credit card debt.
30
I think that the car registration should be based on the car weight. The heavier the car the higher the amount, as they would be damaging the roads more. That’s why trucks get charged more.
It might have a secondary effect on those who MUST BUY a small truck (usually called a SUV) which they can’t drive properly so they can drop the kids at school and go shopping.
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But weight is a factor now, the heavier the vehicle the more fuel used and fuel excise paid.
40
Graeme….
vehicle weight is usually proportional to fuel consumption, so yeah, bigger vehicles pay more.
30
While I think of it…. the last time that I did the measurements, the difference in external dimensions between a Commodore Wagon and a Landcruiser was so small as to be irrelevant. The ‘Cruiser could carry more loaded, but how many Toorak Tractors are?
20
I had that argument during a public debate on resident parking permits, the Pedestrian Council of Australia (NGO) claimed that 4WD should pay more per permit based on space used.
By the way, all street parking marked spaces are the same length.
You are right.
40
I remember once walking through south yarra. A flash flood had put the road under about 1 foot of water. A snowflake in a toorak tractor rolls up…takes one look at the water, does a u turn. …er…pardon?
And these are the people backing trendy climate change?
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Subaru Liberty 1512kg Subaru XV 1422kg Subaru Forestor 1520kg meh, hard to get excited
To make the weight argument hold up you have to cherry pick makes and models. People badmouth SUVS but really they are just todays station wagons
20
Plus, of course, EV’s get tax benefits such as a higher threshold on the luxury car tax. Not a bad lurk – subsidised purchase price, subsidised road maintenance and reduced tax on fuel! Despite 3 way subsidisation they want to be seen as victims as well!
30
Sounds like your Victorian Minister of Health & Quaratine Isolation & public safety is a doofus galah par excellence, from the same mould as Jacindarella’s Minister of Health who (finally) resigned today after months of D-minus excuses and (in)action.
With all the huffing & puffing coming out of Wellington, you’d think the exhaled carbon dioxide would turn the capital into a tropical paradise (or a scorching desert) but no, it’s a frigid windswept harbour town straddling earthquake faults staring south to Antarctica – perfect place for politricksters & their hangers-on.
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Used to be Helengrad.
00
(Apologies- I posted this already in the wrong thread)
Michael Levitt critiques the “science” of epidemiology and shows that only Sweden got it right.
From the mouth of the dangerous Australian bigot – Peter Doherty – who predicted 14,000 deaths if Australia followed the same path as the UK. He also gives himself away when he declares: “I only wish we could take the same approach when we’re talking about issues like climate science.” Source: https://vimeo.com/433350887/33bbbe4090
So Peter Doherty is a left-wing globalist, working on a vaccine as the only solution, and advising the Australian government and public. This dangerous bigot from Australia, who is more interested in “experimentation” [sic] than scientific facts, convinced that C19 will only be solved with a vaccine (no clues what his work involves), and all of the rest including the two young ‘scientists’, seem to be more interested in pushing globalist agenda’s like global warming, social and diversity agendas which have no place in science. They all nodded heads in sympathy and agreed with each other- what a performance! Thank God for the one sane person Michael Levitt who appears to have done more work on C19 than the entire rest of the group in this interview, and in a counterpoint to the two young social justice warriors, noted that he is witness to discrimination of many older scientists to make way for the young and diverse. Clearly there is no longer any respect for wisdom. The rest of the interview was like any other MSM farce.
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Wow, you bothered posing this libelous guff twice? Thank goodness for anonymity aye?
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Peter Doherty: Australia is “public enemy number one”, cites “couple of people”
http://joannenova.com.au/2015/04/peter-doherty-australia-is-public-enemy-number-one-cites-couple-of-people/
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This is a cure.
https://youtu.be/U4Qubuhs_Pc
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President Putin is holding an election to extend his term of office.
He’s had a huge vote in his favor to do just this.
The American Democratic Party is absolutely up in arms, claiming that the Russians are meddling in the Russian election.
Tony.
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Putin is the best man for the job;consider the alternatives, all left-wing internationalists. The Neo-Cons like to demonize Russia as it keeps their raison d’être going. Some nasty things go on in Russia, but the last thing they need is these subversive types from Leningrad and Moscow running the country.
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Covid 19 different tests – pros and cons
https://cen.acs.org/analytical-chemistry/diagnostics/Periodic-Graphics-guide-COVID-19/98/i25?utm_source=NonMember&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=CEN
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There is more to this than meets the eye
The following is a summary, as best as I understand it, of the process of rebranding Australia. When reading it, please think in terms of how the climate change scam gained currency. The parallels are plentiful.
1/ The theory: The Prime Minister (Malcolm Turnbull) decided that Australia needed rebranding. Being associated with the kangaroo was “old hat and common”. We needed a more effective way for the World to recognise Australia. What to do?
2/ Gather together a group of the country’s “A-lister” business people and other influencers from the cocktail circuit.
3/ Give the group a fancy name, one that smacks of authority, in this case “The National Brand Advisory Council”
4/ Provide a generous budget and a free hand to recruit “experts” who find the theory attractive, especially financially.
5/ Compelled by the belief in their own superior creativity (they were, after all, appointed on that basis) the theory needed justification. Without such justification, they would be seen (at least in their own minds) to have failed in the mission.
6/ Even a cursory glance at the theory, with a mere modicum of common sense and logic, would have exposed its origins as being steeped in vainglorious narcissism. What to do?
7/ With the persuasive power of $3 million and the dedication of a few arty farty trendies, they designed a logo so far removed from the kangaroo (universally associated with Australia) and the collective consciousness of every person on the planet that it is beyond comprehension.
8/ In order to disguise the nonsense, The Council chose to describe the dotty design in high sounding language reminiscent of the Sokal Hoax.
For example;
“Our proposed national brand mark balances a literal and abstract interpretation of a wattle flower. It’s an optimistic burst of gold positivity,”
And this;
“It speaks of warmth, expanding ideas and horizons, with the pollen-laden stamens radiating a sense of energy and dynamism. It is an authentic national symbol that is elegantly and undoubtedly Australian.”
And finally;
“Co-created with our Indigenous design partners Balarinji, the mark is embedded with a cultural richness and graphic voice that speaks distinctively of Australia.
For anyone, especially a Government Minister, to reject it as a load of cobblers would surely result in their removal from the invitation list on the cocktail circuit. In any event, who would want to admit that they don’t understand post graduate level international trading psychology? Que c’est embarrassont!
Just as with climate change, this is so ridiculous one is moved to wonder about a hidden agenda.
Posted on my blog http://www.dinosaurdiary.com.au
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As Barnaby put it -Bird Poo on the car windscreen!
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The last thing that crosses the mind of a fly that hits a windscreen is its backside.
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Fly bravado
“If I had the guts I’d do it again”
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Mr Republic Australia appears to be a student of Machiavelli and UK Fabian Society?
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Two minute clip on the seasonal influence on influenza-type diseases and WuFlu.
Very limited number of comparisons, but no more limited than many of the comparisons being made in arguments supporting lockdown.
I remain cautious.
https://youtu.be/ia8D7Gnq0TE
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Facebook censorship against conservatives is out of control. Yesterday I received a seven day ban for posting two memes critical of Che Guevara. So now Facebook is protecting the reputation of psychopathic communist killers.
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“FACEBOOK EXPOSED FOR MASSIVE ANTI CONSERVATIVE, ANTI-WHITE, ANTI-RIGHT CENSORSHIP”
https://richardsonpost.com/harryrichardson/17667/facebook-exposed-for-anti-white-anti-conservative-bias/
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Ex IPCC scientist hits out against the CAGW meme , not sure if this is old news .
https://principia-scientific.org/ex-un-ipcc-scientist-trashes-new-climate-change-report/?fbclid=IwAR16JBDrvbi2oQ7Tau7Cpjsmdwis7F6fhxutKFn3FFM3fEnt4TClGUmws5Y
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Form the green lefty Reserve Bank of Australia, an analysis of how renewables are eating coal’s lunch
https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2020/mar/renewable-energy-investment-in-australia.html
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It’s as if they’re actually proud of the huge economic destruction caused by unreliables.
At least they admitted:
“On this measure, a new generation-only renewable plant is much cheaper to build than a new fossil fuel plant. However, if the cost of storage is incorporated, the case is less clear.”
“Less clear” indeed. The cost of any usable storage is huge. Plus I don’t believe the claim whatsoever that the cost of building an unreliable generator is less than a reliable one. If you want to compare like with like it has to be on the basis of dispatchable power. That means comparing a coal, gas or nuclear power plant with an unreliable power plant of the same capacity with the same amount of dispatchable power. That means windmills or solar panels plus huge battery banks.
And if their claims are true that unreliables are cheaper, why do they need subsidies? If a free market is allowed to work, if the true cost of unreliables is less, then coal, gas and nuclear (if we had any) would naturally go out of business.
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“would naturally go out of business.”
Instead, they have to be forced out of business, as has a lot of manufacturing.
All because of the idiocy of the anti-CO2 agenda.
Australia is steadily becoming a country that “could have been”.
Even the Reserve bank has fallen for this “climate change™” anti-science, and it stifles any rational thought they might have had.
When Liddell closes, renewables CANNOT EVER replaces its 24/365.25 constant, dispatchable electricity supply.
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Why would companies invest in renewables when they are so much more expensive? Answer that and you have the real picture. And an explanation for why we gone from the world’s cheapest for the world’s most expensive electricity. Even though 85% of the power is still the same old reliable, endless, cheap coal power and sometimes 100% when wind is 0% and the sun is down.
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And renewables are not eating coal’s lunch. They are eating your lunch.
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In fact the coal and gas people are far happier to sell our coal and gas overseas than to let us use it!
Soon you will be paying for imported gas, as all our gas is going overseas. Along with all our coal.
You will have to import your lunch.
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Yep FREE-LOADER renewable (except hydro).. Coal and gas do all the work,
while so called renewables mince around only working when they feel like it.
No wonder those of the far-left, like you, so love them 🙂
How quickly you forget that for the peak evening period on a few days last week, there was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING from wind and solar
Investment is easy when you don’t have to take any actual real risk because you know that subsidies and mandates will bale you out.
That wholesale price increase was CAUSED by the intermittency of unreliable supply on the grid and the idiotic decisions to shut down coal fired power. Says so in black and white
Obviously you haven’t even read the link you posted….. so funny ! 🙂
You still haven’t dared to watch Michael Moore’s film have you. !
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Yes Andy he is the gift that keeps giving and almost never reads the article he links to , he is nothing if not consistent.
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From a comment by “joe Public” on Paul Homewood’s sie discussing the claim that Sydney is now on 100% renewable energy:
-“New South Wales’ largest operational wind farm (Sapphire) spent part of yesterday actually drawing power from the grid.
The irony being that black coal was perhaps helping prevent its turbines’ bearings from brinelling. “-
https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2020/07/02/city-of-sydney-goes-renewable/#comments
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Mike you also omitted that the https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2020/07/02/city-of-sydney-goes-renewable/#comments article exposes Sydney’s idiot Mayor telling bare-faced lies! Have you’ll demanded her resignation yet?
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Brinelling, I learnt a new word today. Thank you.
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Exchange of Energy between Black Bodies
Zoe Phin introduced the idea of “Aperture” recently to complicate the transfer of energy between two bodies using thermodynamics.
Aperture (I think) is the visibility of the two bodies from each other. I agree with Zoe.
In a simple case the radiative output of energy from a black body is E= sigma x T^4.
If two black bodies are exchanging energy the Energy flow is described by E=sigma( T1^4-T2^4). The formula assumes a 2 dimensional situation, where each body sees the other completely.
In a three dimensional situation the T1 and the T2 have to be multiplied by their respective “aperture:”. In the case of the Earth/Sun exchange this is dealt with by applying the Inverse Square Law. The output of the Earth is neglected entirely. Which is fair enough.
From the Earth the Aperture of the Sun is 0.5 degrees. The Sun is very hot (5273K at surface) and the E (energy reaching the Earth) is about 1370W/m^2. So (T1^4x aperture) is substantial.
From the Sum the “aperture” of the Earth is about 0.005 degrees (100 times less) and the Earth is quite cool (288K) so the size of (T2^4xaperture) is tiny by comparison and can be neglected.
Consequently the Sun heats the Earth. The Earth does reduce the energy flow from the Sun because it has a temperature but the effect is negligible.
20
Now I think about it a bit more; the aperature is the cross sectional area. The apparent diameter of the Sun (as seen from the Earth) is 100 times greater than the apparent diameter of the Earth (as seen from the Sun). So the relatiove apperature is 10,000:1.
30
MET Office: Climate Change will Force the UK to Endure French Holiday Weather
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2020/07/01/met-office-climate-change-will-force-the-uk-to-endure-french-mediterranean-holiday-weather/
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When I was listening the Michael Shellenberger on Sky tonight, his comments made me consider this question:
“Did the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change contribute to the rapid rise in CO2 emissions observed this century ?”
In fact, following the Kyoto Protocol, the rate of rise during the following decade was faster than at any time during human history. It would be interesting to explore this topic in more detail, especially regarding the effect of forcing the developed countries to offshore emissions intensive industry to 3rd world countries that have much lower energy efficient industries, much less nuclear capacity and far more reliance on coal. If this could be proven, it would certainly damage the reputation of the UN and the global climate movement as it would indicate that the UN did not regard CO2 emissions as a danger to the planet and knew of the consequences of introducing such a policy without imposing any CO2 restrictions on the developing countries.
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Serge- But who would think the UN, IPCC, or the ‘Framework’ would know anything?
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Oh such Trusting Sheeple!
I am over 80 and have been in the computer industry all my working life, first laid hands on one 6th June 1958 a Monday. I know many computer languages and systems, I have explored how computer viruses and malware work, at one point I almost went to work for an Aussie anti-virus concern. Ok enough with the preening.
Atmospheric CO2 measurements at Mauna Loa are produced by a computer which monitors the infra red absorbed by the atmosphere. IR source of exact value compared to IR reception a short distance away. That measurement varies considerably from day to day even from minute to minute so the computer smooths or averages the data over an unspecified time period and the statistics are produced as a very compressed graph.
Now I wont go on about lies, damn lies and statistics but consider this:-
The measurement system has to be calibrated periodically. The weather at all times is causing a variable amount of Ir at the surface of the detectors hence the diurnal characteristics of the data.
How do they calibrate their equipment, they measure specific amount of CO2 in sealed containers, again measured by computers. There will be a means of adjusting the calibration of the ‘live’ device.
The calibration system relies upon exactly the same SOFTWARE in the measurement equipment.
Rubbish in, rubbish out is a famous computer mantra.
So are flawed computer systems that check out every time but not against real world measurements.
Who you going to believe?
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has reduced anthropomorphic CO2 emissions yet Mauna Loa data shows that steady increase!
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6th June 1958 was a Friday but I have not allowed that inaccuracy to cloud my appreciation of your comment overall.
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My error, it was a queens birthday weekend so I assumed that it was the Monday, should have checked it out.
00
Our contribution to overall CO2 is so small that it would be easily overwhelmed by natural sources and seasonal variation. The Manau Loa and other observations only confirm what realists have been saying for decades.
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“The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has reduced anthropomorphic CO2 emissions yet Mauna Loa data shows that steady increase!”
A perfectly valid outcome if anthropomorphic contributions to atmospheric CO2 are very small compared to natural contributions to atmospheric CO2.
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a certain virus: 7/2 Mexico 5.4/58= = 9.3% increase/day new cases/active cases https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/mexico/
Brazil 45/520.8= 8.6% increase/day https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/brazil
India 19.4/208= 9.3% increase/day https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/india/
South Africa 81/724= 11% increase/day https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/south-africa
Iran 25/255= 9.8% increase/day https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/iran/
Egypt 15/464= 3% increase/day https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/egypt
Russia 6.56/215.3= 3% increase/day https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/russia/
USA 24.8/1471.7= 1.7% increase/day https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us
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Those are big increases Rob!
12
here’s another big increase:
MOSCOW — A nonprofit organization exposing corruption in Russia and run by opposition leader Alexei Navalny was designated Wednesday by the Justice Ministry as a “foreign agent,” crippling its ability to keep working.
A 2012 Russian law holds that any organization that receives foreign money to engage in “political activity” must register with the authorities and submit to time-consuming regular “audits.”
Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, known as FBK for its initials in Russian, has “never received foreign donations,” tweeted its spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh. The designation is nothing more than “an attempt to stop our activities,” she wrote.
Navalny, who has become the most prominent Russian critic of President Vladimir Putin, tweeted: “FBK has never received a kopeck of foreign money. All of FBK’s money comes from your donations (from citizens of the Russian Federation). The actions of the Ministry of Justice are absolutely illegal and, obviously, by direct order of Putin.”
In another tweet he wrote: “Putin is terribly afraid of FBK because he relies on the power of thieves, corruptioneers and bribe-takers. And we expose corruption. And we will not stop no matter what. Please support us.” Navalny also demanded that the Justice Ministry provide evidence to back up its claims.
Sergey Aleksashenko, a nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution and former deputy finance minister and first deputy head of the Central Bank of Russia, said on Twitter: “That’s what a full confession looks like: Kremlin can’t deny the results of FBK investigations.”
FBK specializes in reports concerning the real estate holdings of government officials, typically worth far more than what they should be able to afford on their state salaries. It has detailed Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s properties, including an “ancestral home,” assorted other mansions, a vineyard and a dacha that it valued at $343 million.
Vladimir Titov, acting chief of the Justice Ministry’s department for nongovernmental affairs, told Interfax that his agency had detected transfers to the foundation from Spain and the United States totaling about $2,000. The Meduza website reported that the money from the United States came from a Russian citizen who has a home in Florida.
The FBK and its staff members were subjected to more than 200 police raids during the summer, at the height of street protests over Moscow’s city elections. The raids were related to allegations that the foundation was engaged in money laundering. Yarmysh and Navalny deny that charge as well. Navalny was a leader of those protests — except for the many weeks he spent in detention as Moscow authorities repeatedly had him and many of his allies held on administrative charges. His political work is separate from the Anti-Corruption Foundation, but Russian officials have not paid much heed to that distinction.
On Tuesday the Interior Ministry announced that the Moscow police department is suing Navalny and other protest organizers for leading unsanctioned protests on July 27 and Aug. 3. The police are seeking $278,000 in damages as compensation for the costs they said they incurred. “The claimant requests compensation for the damage inflicted by deploying forces and equipment to ensure public order during unauthorized mass events,” a police spokesman told Tass news agency.
Those demonstrations were marked by some of the most brutal police measures in Moscow in many years, with thousands of people detained. Many Moscow residents viewed the police response as a signal that Putin’s government would no longer tolerate protests. Public reaction to the crackdown was largely negative, according to polls, and by the end of the summer the police had mostly backed off.
The criminal case, the damage-seeking lawsuit and now the “foreign agent” designation seem to suggest the Kremlin is moving to stymie the opposition by less physical means. “Using all possible methods they are destroying the competing political force by the elections of 2021,” Grigory Melkonyants, of the Golos elections monitoring association, wrote on Facebook.
Lyubov Sobol, an attorney for the Anti-Corruption Foundation who was barred from running for Moscow’s city council by the election commission, objected to the way the ministry publicized the designation announcement. “The Ministry of Justice has not given any proof of foreign financing of the Anti-Corruption Foundation; however it has managed to write up this news and distribute it among the propagandists,” she wrote on Twitter. “This is yet another attempt to frighten us, pressure us, get dirt on us, but it won’t work!”
71 organizations have been listed as foreign agents since the law was enacted, and it has largely made it impossible for them to keep working in any effective manner. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/prominent-activists-anti-graft-group-accused-by-russia-of-taking-foreign-money/2019/10/09/d4da7fa2-ea80-11e9-85c0-85a098e47b37_story.html
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“Japan Building 22 New Coal Fired Power Plants”
https://realclimatescience.com/2020/07/japan-building-22-new-coal-fired-power-plants/
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“The Fauci Hockey Stick”
“Fauci has crested a hockey stick of new reported COVID cases – by greatly increasing the number of tests being done..”
https://realclimatescience.com/2020/07/the-fauci-hockey-stick/
And from
https://chiefio.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/w-o-o-d-28-may-2020/#comment-131011
“cdquarles says:
1 July 2020 at 4:35 pm
“All: here is a mask paper: https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/2005/2005.10720.pdf. ”
And
“YMMV says:
1 July 2020 at 5:37 pm ” and subsequent comments re herd immunity
40
On solar power
“David Bidstrup. The brains trust strikes again”
https://catallaxyfiles.com/2020/07/02/david-bidstrup-the-brains-trust-strikes-again/
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“COVID-19: WILL THE LOCKDOWN KILL OR CURE?”
“The following excellent article comes from Swiss Policy Research. The links appear to be rock solid, though I have only had time to check out a few of them. Please let me know in the comments section if you find any problematic sections.
When Coronavirus first appeared, Governments panicked somewhat and locked down their societies. This was understandable as the risks were unknown. Some six months after the appearance of the virus, however, we know rather more. ”
https://richardsonpost.com/harryrichardson/17699/lockdown-may-be-killing-us/
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Extracts:
Point 14. Countries without curfews and contact bans, such as Japan, South Korea, Belarus or Sweden, have not experienced a more negative course of events than other countries.
Point 16. . . . no evidence of the virus spreading through aerosols (i.e. tiny particles floating in the air) or through smear infections (e.g. on door handles or smartphones). The main modes of transmission are direct contact and droplets produced when coughing or sneezing.
Point 17. .. no scientific evidence for the effectiveness of face masks in healthy or asymptomatic individuals.
Point 20. … virus test kits . . are prone to errors
Later- About remdesivir, the anti-viral drug developed at enormous expensive after pushing from Fauci, Gates, etc, that works only marginally, now has a massive order from the US gov. Reason- CCP19 is mutating itself out of danger to humans so there is no need for anything, “get that order in fast” ?
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The Balranald Shire, in the south-west of NSW, has enacted a “pedestal tax” that slugs $100 per toilet for any businesses that have more than two.
The charge predominantly affects tourism and hospitality businesses – such as motels, hotels, pubs and clubs – which are already hammered from the coronavirus recession.
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That sounds nuts; on what grounds do they justify this? It’s like taxing windows.
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UAH Global Temperature Update for June 2020: +0.43 deg. C
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2020/07/02/uah-global-temperature-update-for-june-2020-0-43-deg-c/
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Nice June weather in NSW. Not to cold except in the mornings. 🙂
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https://realclimatescience.com/2020/07/japan-building-22-new-coal-fired-power-plants/
japan-building-22-new-coal-fired-power-plants..
And guess who’s coal they will be using 🙂
Pity our politicians are so gutless, or stupid, as to not even consider building 2 or 3 of them to alleviate the shortage of dispatchable electricity supply and thus lower wholesale prices.
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Green logic fails …
Cenovus first to announce it’s shipping Western oil to Eastern refineries through the Panama Canal
Canadian oil producer taking 11,900-kilometre route after Energy East pipeline was scrapped
https://business.financialpost.com/commodities/energy/cenovus-first-to-announce-its-shipping-western-oil-to-eastern-refineries-through-the-panama-canal
… any greenie care to explain how shipping Alberta oil through the Panama Canal to New Brunswick is better for the environment than through a modern-day built pipeline?
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Gee I hope they dont collide with the carriers full of US wood pellets bound for the UK Drax wood burning power plant. That is another piece of Green genius.
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Coronavirus Update XX: Lockdown Madness 2.0: BIG UPDATE – Briggs, statical to the stars:
“Open Google, enter any three digit number followed by new cases. Like this: 123 new cases. Quotation marks are not necessary.
Amazing!
Seems to work with four digits too!
Looks like it’s from dodgy news sites, and from all times, but damn curious.
It’s like we said at the very beginning: every new number is fed into the system as if it were news, and it is published as if it were news, and Google picks it up.
It’s all automated.
Pure propaganda and fear.
https://wmbriggs.com/post/31496/
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Google’s manipulation of its users appears to know no bounds. It is pernicious and the fake data extends an to other search engines which come up against all this stuff generated by poorly thought out algorithms. It’s disturbing and yet it is allowed to happen. Go figure.
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Consider- Well thought-out algorithms.
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Whats the big deal ?
It just a typical google search on the numbers/ words you enter.
The results are for you to filter
Like most google searches, much of it is irrelevent
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I am perplexed about what I supposed to be amazed about
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HCQ treatment halves CV19 death rate in US, including heavily black patients
DETROIT – Treatment with hydroxychloroquine cut the death rate significantly in sick patients hospitalized with COVID-19 – and without heart-related side-effects, according to a new study published by Henry Ford Health System.
In a large-scale retrospective analysis of 2,541 patients hospitalized between March 10 and May 2, 2020 across the system’s six hospitals, the study found 13% of those treated with hydroxychloroquine alone died compared to 26.4% not treated with hydroxychloroquine. None of the patients had documented serious heart abnormalities; however, patients were monitored for a heart condition routinely pointed to as a reason to avoid the drug as a treatment for COVID-19.
The study was published today in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, the peer-reviewed, open-access online publication of the International Society of Infectious Diseases (ISID.org).
Patients treated with hydroxychloroquine at Henry Ford met specific protocol criteria as outlined by the hospital system’s Division of Infectious Diseases. The vast majority received the drug soon after admission; 82% within 24 hours and 91% within 48 hours of admission. All patients in the study were 18 or over with a median age of 64 years; 51% were men and 56% African American
https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3861460/posts
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Interesting Orson , especially given most proponents of HQC say it is best given before a patient reaches the hospitalisation stage. That is, these guys have shown it can be effective with an even wider range of patients. But they also seem to be saying they were only treated with HQC without the ZN and antibiotic.
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Anyone checked this out?
Tim Weiskel, “A Chapter in an Ongoing Crisis,” a contribution to the forum After the Pandemic: Which Future?, Great Transition Initiative (July 2020),
https://greattransition.org/gti-forum/pandemic-scenario-weiskel.
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At last a study which supports the use of hydroxychloroquine.
All the recent reported studies appeared to go out of their way to use the drug in ways that were least likely to show benefit. That seemed bizarre to me.
Even the current study did not try to replicate the methods of Dr Zelenko who emphasized early intervention ( from the onset of symptoms, not waiting until patients get to hospital) and a the addition of zinc.
Then we had the Lancet study, which seemed deliberately based on invented cases.
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Bloody Hell! US corona “data”!
“EXPLOSIVE – About All These “New” Positive COVID Cases – State Health Departments Manipulating Data, Changing Definitions..”
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/07/02/explosive-about-all-these-new-positive-covid-cases-state-health-departments-manipulating-data-changing-definitions/
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The renewables lobby maintains that wind and solar are cheaper now than coal or gas fired power stations, calculated on the cost of electricity produced.
But from what I can find out the lobby conveniently ignores the cost of back up systems, “firming”, that are needed to maintain grid stability as wind and solar energy cuts in and out, and feeder transmission line cost and maintenance costs.
When the number of wind turbines required to produce Capacity Factor energy output to match a typical power station’s generator units output plus firming costs are accounted for I cannot understand how wind and solar “farms” would be cheaper. And if they are why are the owners being directly subsidised by taxpayers and electricity pricing so high compared to before the transition to unreliable energy?
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Why not site wind farms offshore as being considered for Victoria?
https://stopthesethings.com/2020/06/29/want-the-worlds-most-expensive-unreliable-electricity-try-offshore-wind-power/
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This proves People are being murdered by the medical profession in the US
https://youtu.be/U4Qubuhs_Pc
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If a representative of the scientific community in a debate with Prof Michael Levitt exposes an agenda it needs calling out. Peter makes his position pretty clear by calling out his surprise that a “right wing government” even locked down. Then doubles down by making a completely arbitrary link to inaction on climate science. I would have thought your comment might have been more supportive of Prof Levitt since he shares expertise in modelling like you. Unlike the others in this debate who clearly did not debate him about his models or his data. I agree with his charge that scientists should be held accountable in a court of law for the direct damage caused by their erroneous advice around C19.
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Australian Department of Health data showed just 20,743 cases of influenza were confirmed across the country to June this year — compared with 132,424 cases in the same period last year.
The data showed 169 people contracted the flu in June compared with the same period last year, when 57,937 cases were recorded — equivalent to a 99.7 per cent drop in infections.
More than 8.5 million flu vaccines were administered by doctors and pharmacists between March 1 and June 30 this year, compared with more than 6.5 million in the same time period in 2019, and about 4.6 million the year before that.
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So, is it a very effective “flu vaccine”,..
Or was it the lockdown we had to have?
Will normal deaths from old age do a “catch up” over the next two years.
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Latest world temp, all down hill from here.
https://www.drroyspencer.com/wp-content/uploads/UAH_LT_1979_thru_June_2020_v6.jpg
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Looks like the Eden Monaro election will be won by labor with preferences from the shooters fishers and farmers party .
Interesting the swings against labor ,greens and nats .
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The land of the long white cloud becomes the canary in the coal mine.
https://thediplomat.com/2020/06/new-zealands-quiet-china-shift/
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