JoNova
A science presenter, writer, speaker & former TV host; author of The Skeptic's Handbook (over 200,000 copies distributed & available in 15 languages).
Jo appreciates your support to help her keep doing what she does. This blog is funded by donations. Thanks!
Follow Jo's Tweets To report "lost" comments or defamatory and offensive remarks, email the moderators at: support.jonova AT proton.me
Statistics
This will be costly (roughly 350 miles)
Hywind, floating windfarm, towed to Norway
from: www energyvoice dot com
“Located off the coast of Peterhead, the Hywind Scotland project is the world’s first floating offshore wind farm. Opened in 2017, the 30MW scheme consists of five 6-MW turbines and generates enough electricity to power the equivalent of 34,000 UK homes.
However Norwegian operator Equinor (OSE:EQNR) says that after more than six years of service, operational data has indicated the need for “heavy maintenance”.
All five units are now set to be towed to Norway for overhaul by the Wergeland group in Gulen – the same site where its Norwegian sister project, Hywind Tampen, was mobilised.”
160
The operating co must have made an awful lot of money if they can afford to build this thing, tow it to its site, anchor it then reverse the procedure 6 years later.
Profit or subsidy or has there been an actual loss involved?
180
Hadn’t heard of these nor imagined.
I have wondered how much power you could harvest with a kite.
90
Maybe 1.21 gigawatts.
I have wondered if Benjamin Franklin was just restarting someone’s Delorean.
40
Angus Og a cartoon character in the Glasgow based Daily Record newspaper once detached his Scottish island from the rest of the country and sailed it off to sunnier climes. 😎
60
How much will the maintence cost be after only 6 years operation? Towing to Norway does not sound to be a low cost exercise.
110
Presumably sailing, or solar powered ships to tow them to Norway. A real “Neverland” project.
Just how assanine can humanity become.
81
CO2 Lover writes this: (my bolding here)
So, keep in mind here how renewable power is so d@mned cheap.
Here we have an Industrial wind plant with a Nameplate of 30MW, so, at a Capacity Factor (CF) of 40% it effectively delivers the equivalent of 12MW to the grid. I quote 40% here, because the ‘blurb’ you read ‘says’ that Offshore wind is sooooo much better at generating its power, so, hey, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt here, because even that inflated value still makes this whole process ridiculous.
Okay, pretend we might do a cost comparison here. Okay okay, unfair unfair.
Lets then ‘muse’ perhaps on a new state of the art UltraSuperCritical (USC) coal fired power plant, you know just as a thought bubble, because there’s no way it would even be considered in this enlightened day and age of CO2 emissions and all that. But, well, we can dream eh!
Nothing too big now, because well, we all know how d@mned expensive they really are, so we’ll just do the comparison maths for an equivalent with this wonderful wind plant eh!
So just the one Unit, a 1200MW single Unit, and nowadays the Chinese can drive a single generator Unit of 1600MW. It will operate at close to 85% over its lifetime, but around 95% for the first five or more years, they’re so good, almost as good now as Nuclear power generation.
So 85% of 1200MW means it will deliver an equivalent 1020MW of energy to the grid, so that’s 85 times the power of this acceptable wind plant.
So using the equivalent cost of the wind plant of $AUD403 Million (GBP210 Million) then the USC plant should cost an equivalent of, umm, $34.26 Billion, and because the USC lasts double (well more like triple, but again ….. benefit of the doubt here) then that cost blows out to $68 Billion.
Yeah yeah yeah. I know ridiculous comparison really, because as we all know, renewable power is just so cheap!!!
Tony.
170
That’s just the cost of generating the average 40% CF amount of power. 12MW in this example. Being an average there are times when it’s much lower than the 12MW and another source of energy is required, or storage. So the cost is the cost of the wind facility, plus the cost of the second system to back it up.
The cost of a coal plant is just the cost of the coal plant.
The cost of the wind plant is the cost of the wind plant plus the cost of the coal plant (or equivalent back up).
(Not pretending I’m telling you anything you don’t already know.)
30
Strop,
Yup. And more, as you, too, doubtless know.
The bird-n-bat-chopper thingy needs to collect energy across many square miles – which then needs to be taken ashore [350 miles] by great big copper wires, which don’t come cheap.
And of course, Mr Putin – a reasonable man, as his Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, tells us every Tuesday – wouldn’t dream of cutting those cables if there was ever a disagreement about which end of a hard-boiled egg to open; whichever youngster runs the US would be equally reasonable, I am sure!
Auto
10
Here is the link:
https://masdar.ae/en/renewables/our-projects/hywind-scotland#:
The CSIRO should be looking at real world case studies and no be relying on their GIGO computer models
30
Repairs or decomissioning after 6 years?
https://www.equinor.com/energy/hywind-scotland
20
Just as well they are using electric tugs to pull the things to Norway otherwise think of the dent the journeys (home port to site, then tow to repair site in Norway, then back to home port then back to Norway then back to site for reinstallation then back to home port) will make to the 63,000 tonnes of carbon emmisions that it has saved over the 6 years.
And I’m guessing it wont be just one electric tug there would need to be a number to ensure control/safety. But then would these be just any sort of electric tug that can be taken out of their normal daily work for anything up to a month or two or were they part of the project and specially built?
Not to worry just concentrate on the fact that this is another great and successful project that has saved the world from boiling up and over heating. Sorry must dash its starting to rain and the washings getting wet.
40
Sky News host Caleb Bond says Shell’s decision to shelve plans for an offshore wind project in Victoria is a “bit of a red flag” for other projects across Australia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn4ETPawqN0
90
…and the rest…
Shell to cut offshore wind jobs, shifting focus away from green energy.
Facing rising costs and strategic realignments, Shell is preparing to lay off staff in its offshore wind division, particularly in Europe. CEO Wael Sawan, who has been steering the company away from renewables since taking over, emphasizes a focus on value over volume in the energy transition.
Rising costs in the offshore wind industry cited as a primary reason.
Shell’s strategic shift to prioritize profitable oil and gas production.
CEO Wael Sawan’s cost-cutting plan to save $3 billion by 2025.
Exiting renewable projects in Ireland and France
Plans to sell stakes in other renewable schemes.
https://citizenwatchreport.com/shell-to-cut-offshore-wind-jobs-shifting-focus-away-from-green-energy/
20
I wonder who owns the 34,000 homes that get powered by this installation. It must be a difficult life.
90
Old news – was mentioned back in January. Full story here:
https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2024/01/12/worlds-first-floating-wind-farm-hywind-scotland-faces-shutdown-for-heavy-maintenance/
20
So the towing is likely to be happening soon.
The maintenance work will be conducted in close collaboration with Siemens Gamesa, the turbine supplier.
Siemens Gamesa has recorded a €434m loss in its fiscal first quarter of 2024. The deficit compares to a €823m loss in the same period in 2023.7 Feb 2024
The joys of offshore wind energy!
40
Chris Bowen is going to love the idea of floating wind powered turbines. He’ll say, the wind is always blowing somewhere. Now we can move them each day to where the wind is.
40
The convoys to Geneva are under way, where they’ll meet on Saturday, the final day of the World Health Assembly, in a mass rally to reject the WHO.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=psqbX_u8rws&t=850
150
Convoys are coming from across France, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and UK.
.
Check out the routes:
https://www.roadtogeneva.com/convoy/
.
They’ll assemble in the Jura Mountains above Geneva and descend on the United Nations Headquarters, Place des Nations, on Saturday.
.
“Convoy travellers are invited to join us from Friday 31st May at our designated arrival site in Mijoux – a characterful location in the Haut Jura Mountains National Park –
on top of the world, 40 minutes drive from Geneva.”
.
https://www.roadtogeneva.com/arrival/
.
Event poster:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/m23MFSPWLsF_YSiw7kMawplTGX2WoU5nOMMkXu3BL_u4b9s3v9YhM06yh4XgT-FIddzmbLziSOsQwJez8FoB7xT-T669WBy6oDM=w655
150
Thanks Eddie, this is Good news.
60
It’s been a while but I thought it might appeal to my convoying to Canberra buddies over in Oz.😅
80
Those who had hoped that Trump, if re elected, would advance the cause of freedom or stop the nonsense by such as WHO, look set to be disappointed
He has been found guilty on all counts
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13475951/donald-trump-trial-live-jury-returns-second-day-deliberation.html
Surely he will be forced to withdraw if he is not actually in ail?
36
OMG. This is going to become interesting.
70
An extract from today’s Sydney Morning Herald (paywalled) :
” He faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison, though others convicted of that crime often receive shorter sentences, fines or probation. Incarceration would not prevent him from campaigning, or taking office if he were to win. ”
Cheers
Dave B
120
David, I believe they got that wrong.
My understanding is it’s up to 4 years for for each charge.
He has been found guilty of a non crime 34 charges so he could be jailed for up to and including 136 years
41
Bye bye USA – you just sealed your fate with the last nail.
Next up, pallets of bricks mysteriously appearing across the USA.
80
G’day again,
This ABC story seems to be a reasonable assessment of the situation:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-31/will-donald-trump-go-to-jail-what-happens-next-guilty-verdict/103917414
I wish him well.
Cheers,
Dave B
40
Not Canberra, but today Perth’s main roads and freeways will be clogged by truck and vehicle convoys, protesting against the planned closure of the live sheep trade.
110
We went to the big rally in Canberristan a while back, on foot.
The crowd size was very obviously understated by those being targeted for their unethical behavior in government.
70
Has your pink eye cleared?
07
The distinguished array of speakers lined up to speak at the World Freedom Rally in Geneva on Saturday.
🇨🇭ROAD TO GENEVA
Last CALL for Freedom! Are You Ready?
Say NO to the WHO! Say YES to freedom!
Speakers include:
🇨🇭 Philipp Kruse @KruseLawyer
🇬🇧 Dan Astin-Gregory @danastingregory
🇦🇹 Maria Hubmer-Mogg @MAHUMO20
🇺🇸 Andrea Nazarenko @DrAndreaPhD
🇺🇸 Susie Olson Corgan @susieolson
🇬🇧 Aseem Malhotra @DrAseemMalhotra
🇺🇸 Robert Malone @RWMaloneMD
🇺🇸 Jill Malone @JillGMalonePhD
🇺🇸 Ryan Cole @drcole12
🇧🇷 John Kage @JohnKageBr
🇨🇦 Jessica Rose @JesslovesMJK
🇺🇸 Del Bigtree @delbigtree
🇮🇹 Renate Holzeisen @RHolzeisen
🇺🇸 Steve Kirsch @stkirsch
🇺🇸 Bret Weinstein @BretWeinstein
🇲🇽 Alejandro Diaz @alejandrodiazmd
🇺🇸 Kat Lindley @KLVeritas
🇺🇸 Kristen Meghan Kelly @KristenMeghan
🇺🇸 Tammy Clark @Tammy_K_Clark
🇨🇭 Josef Ender @Josef_Ender
🇨🇭 Michelle Cailler @Cassandre2305
🇨🇭 Nicolas A. Rimoldi @narimoldi
🇨🇦 Jennifer Hibberd @HealthHibberd
🇨🇦 Brett Hawes @thetamarackman
🇳🇿 Geoff Sewell @geoffsewell
🇫🇷 Jean-Frédéric Poisson @jfpoisson78
🇫🇷 Florian Philippot @f_philippot
🇩🇰 Vibeke Manniche @MannicheVibeke
🇨🇭 Astrid Stuckelberger @Stuckelberger
🇺🇸 Brad Skistimas @FiveTimesAugust
🇨🇦 Jason Christoff @JasonChristoff6
🇺🇸 James Lindsay @ConceptualJames
🇺🇸 Marivic Villa @MarivicVillaMD5
🇬🇧 Rebecca Blech @SyntonicBirth
🇬🇧 Alan D Miller @alanvibe
🇨🇭 Noor Bin Ladin @NoorBinLadin
🇺🇸 Ernest Ramirez @rgvrunner01
🇮🇹 Dr. Giuseppe Tritto
🇮🇹 Maria Pia Sormani
🇮🇪 Dolores Cahill
🇩🇪 Beate Pfeil
🇩🇪 Margareta Griesz-Brisson
🇩🇪 Stef Manzini @StefManzini
🇩🇪 Katharina Koenig
🇺🇸 Amy Bohn @abohn76
🇬🇧 Robert Verkerk @VerkerkRob
🇬🇧 Meleni Aldridge @MeleniAldridge
🇳🇿 Helen Tindall
🇨🇭 Delphine Heritier De Barros
🇨🇭 Urs Hans
🇨🇦 Laura Lynn Tyler Thompson @LauraLynnTT
🇨🇦 Mark Hopkins
Are You Ready?
🗓 30th May – Convoy to Geneva
🗓 31st May – Freedom Celebration
🗓 1st June – Rally for Freedom
Say NO to the WHO! Say YES to freedom!
Join us: http://roadtogeneva.com
250
Their progress and events may be followed on Telegram, without needing a login, by selecting to preview their channel.
.
https://t.me/roadtogeneva
.
There’s further following of their progress on Facebook, which will eventually prompt for a login.
https://web.facebook.com/share/p/Cm65bfRrWfPV4pfm/
100
The death of these Giant Tortoises dumped in a Devon wood was pretty well reported around the world. Don’t know if it made it to OZ
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13476161/Electrician-admits-dumping-pet-giant-tortoise-bodies-woods-froze-death-Christmas.html
The guy concerned has admitted to doing it. Quite how anyone manages to acquire 10 giant Tortoises I don’t know as Devon is not their natural habitat!
90
I live on the Devon / Somerset border – you never know what you will find in the woods around here: https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/victims-somerset-gimp-fear-real-8900236?utm_source=mynewsassistant.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=embedded_search_item_mobile (they caught this guy eventually)
10
Wheren’t these Staff forceably jabbed just like inmates of Nazi Concentration camps in breach of the Nuremberg Code?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-30/sa-public-hospitals-in-internal-emergency/103915690
171
What difference would that have made in terms of getting Covid?
Neither safe, nor effective. Like Human Resources; neither humane, nor resourceful.
100
We have had 4 in the house with Covid – for me, other than drippy nose which has been cured with Betadine nasal spray with natural carragolese for Covid made in europe that I had purchased from Malaysia during Covid and had not expired – worked within 2 days, totally cleared, no problems.
The results of this study suggest that the Iota-Carrageenan nasal spray is safe and effective to prevent COVID-19 disease in hospital workers managing COVID-19 patients.
In our study we identified a risk reduction around 80%. The effect was obtained using the spray within the dosage that is approved for use by the health authority.
also
Initial findings from a study involving hospital staff has indicated that nasal spray Carragelose® containing iota carrageenan– a natural ingredient from red algae – could protect against SARS CoV-2 infections.
70
I use ‘flo travel’, no script required, so far so good.
51
I think Jo featured “Flo Travel” in a piece years ago, during the COVID bollocks. Contains 1.6mg/mL Carrageenan. Just buy it at the local chemist.
40
Interesting Old Ozzie. I use a nasal spray product called First Defence – for use whenever in risk situations or at first signs of a cold/virus. Prof. Emeritus Bob Clancy has always argued that Covid is a mucosal virus – enters via nose, travels to throat & then to stomach. Once there it enters the blood system…goes to lungs….
It seems logical, as these products do, to destroy the pathogen when in the nasal passages. And the nasal products certainly seem to work.
30
I had Covid-19 Delta the other day and it’s seriously hot!
The chilli sauce, that is! 😎
https://www.unclemungos.com/product-page/covid-19-delta-variant
10
Isn’t there another, even hotter one, given a later letter in the Greek Alphabet – Xi?
Auto
00
Edinburgh book festival ends Baillie Gifford sponsorship
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm553zrr3e4o
“The Edinburgh International Book Festival has ended its 20-year funding partnership with sponsors Baillie Gifford after pressure from climate change protesters. The move follows a similar decision by the Hay Festival in Wales last week.
“The investment company [Baillie Gifford], which is based in Edinburgh, has been a major sponsor of UK arts events but has come under scrutiny for its investments in fossil fuels. Book festival chairman Allan Little said they could nor deliver a safe and sustainable festival in August with the constant threat of disruption from activists.”
Much more at the link.
Not book-burning, yet …
Including – “Fossil Free Books and its supporters have made the Israel-Hamas war a campaigning issue alongside climate change.”
BBC phraseology.
Auto
110
More climate craziness from Edinburgh authorities
.
“NET ZERO MADNESS: Adverts for SUVs and cruise holidays are to be banned by Edinburgh council as part of a crackdown on promotion of the fossil fuel industry.
.
Welcome to the future of Net Zero censorship.”
.
https://x.com/NetZeroWatch/status/1796128337456140749
.
110
Yet more climate craziness from Edinburgh council from 1st. of June
.
“Remember, Edinburgh’s low emission zone will be enforced from Saturday 1 June.
.
Make sure you’re ready.
Need a blue badge exemption? ♿
See the zone map 🗺️
Check your vehicle 🚙
Motorbikes and mopeds can drive freely through the zone.
.
http://edinburgh.gov.uk/lez”
.
https://x.com/Edinburgh_CC/status/1795472450651627733
90
Australia’s corrupt CSIRO claims Nuclear Energy is too expensive – under instructions from their paymaster Clown Bowen
Meanwhile in the real world.
As Nick Cater points out below, Finland provides the perfect and obvious lesson for this Country, which, like the Germans remains wedded to the belief that it can run on nothing but sunshine and breezes.
In May 2022, Finland’s Greens became the first national environmental political movement to back nuclear energy. Have the Australian Greens taken note?
A requirement for a proposed 100-turbine wind project in Tasmania to shut down for five months to safeguard a critically endangered parrot has been overturned.
The $1 billion-plus project on Robbins Island in Bass Strait off the island state’s northwest was given approval by Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority in 2022 on the condition turbines shut down for five months a year when the orange-bellied parrot migrates.
The Bob Brown Foundation said the proposal was a calamity and would prove destructive for the parrot and other wildlife, including wedge-tailed eagles and Tasmanian devils.
The Bob Brown Foundation says a wind farm will prove destructive for the orange-bellied parrot.
“Instead of turning off wasted electricity, we will wreck another surviving stronghold of natural wildlife diversity in Australia,” Dr Brown said.
https://stopthesethings.com/2024/05/30/price-drop-finlands-grand-nuclear-move-delivers-cheap-power-bonanza/
120
Rolls-Royce gets Poland’s backing to drive forward nuclear power plants plan
120
Geological work begins on Poland’s first nuclear plant
80
Poland’s new nuclear plant to boost S. Korean industry in Europe
70
Interesting articles in there-
“Despite typically higher birth rates in the first quarter, the total fertility rate has dropped to 0.7, raising concerns that the annual fertility could fall below 0.6 this year. The number of deaths in March this year also increased by 7.6%, reaching 31,160. The figure exceeded births by 11,491, marking the 53rd consecutive month of natural population decline. “
So North Korea can walk in when the population falls to zero… or does South Korea import tens of millions of African Muslims to keep the country running?
..and the Govt continues to tax you when you’re dead!
“Many argue for revising South Korea’s high inheritance tax rates, which range from 10% to 50%, the second-highest among OECD countries after Japan’s 10% to 55%….The inheritance tax rate can rise to 60% if the inherited assets include a substantial shareholding,”
So you have to sell the share in the family business to pay the tax on the shares. Sounds like a Govt! And the bracket creep is typical too- A 200sqM apartment in flash Gangnam caught tax in 1997, but now a tiny 80sqM apartment in a cheap area is subject to it.
“A notable problem is the unchanged deduction limit of 1 billion won since 1997, while inflation has risen by 96% and per capita gross national income has increased 3.8 times.”
20
Australia’s corrupt CSIRO claims Nuclear Energy is too expensive. Then why is Bangladesh one of the poorest countries on earth building 2*1200 MWe nuclear power plants with another 2 proposed. The first 2 will be operational this year and next. They were started in 2017 1nd 2018 respectively, so 7 years construction time each. The construction cost of $12.65 billion was mostly a loan from Russia of 90% but loans have to be repaid.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooppur_Nuclear_Power_Plant
60
Not Only Bangladesh
To conclude, diligent nuclear regulations are the need of the hour as Africa is witnessing a significant surge in interest and dedication to integrating nuclear energy into national power generation strategies. With energy demand growing at twice the global average and over 600 million people lacking access to reliable electricity, exploring nuclear power emerges as an attractive option for nations seeking clean, dependable, and cost-effective energy sources.
https://www.nuclearbusiness-platform.com/media/insights/new-nuclear-in-africa-by-2035
It seems that Australia is heading for Third World status – while the Third World powers ahead.
30
The Gencost24 report is so blatent it is obvious they do not care what comments they draw in response.
According to the report..
*Nuclear installations in Australia would cost 2.8 times as much as any recent build elseware in the world. .
*Nuclear would have the same 30 yr life expectancy as Wind or solar ? ( 100% + underestimate for Nuclear, and a 100% overestimate for wind or solar !)
* Nuclear would only operate at a CF of 60% , compared to the 80-90% experience recorded from existing Nuclear facilities.
* Storage for intermittent wind and solar generation is assumed to be only neccessary to cover a rare 24 hour failure due to weather conditions ( no wind, little sun). A massive underestimate.!
Each of these independently makes a massive impact on the cost $/MWh,.. but when combined the cost implications are outrageous.
Why would the CSIRO make these facts so blatently public ?
71
Nuclear installations in Australia would cost 2.8 times as much as any recent build elseware in the world. .
Occupational health and safety rules written by the construction unions could be contributing to that?
In a related discussion, would people prefer a house is that 80-90% compliant with modern energy (non)usage or a house that is 100% compliant and costs 100% more?”
20
In Albanese’s Australia many people would just “prefer a house” – even with holes in the roof. Housing is already unaffordable for most young families seeking their first home and increase energy efficieny requirements puts new home further out of reach.
What used to be the Party of the working man (and woman to be politically correct) now hates the very people they are meant to represent.
40
Judith Sloan also did a great takedown of the GENCOST CSIRO figures in an article for the Australian. Then, lo and behold, Simon Holmes a Court did a “debunking” of her article via an extended X (Twitter) post. Because the guy has no interests in renewables whatsoever and he would never partly finance any teal coloured independent candidates on a platform of action for climate change would he? JS’s article indicated the foolishness of the GENCOST figures and modelling. She stated ” models are not science”, quite truthfully. But Simon challenged that notion, which indicates he has no understanding of any of the science regarding this subject whatsoever.
40
210
Dobbing yourself in. 🤣
100
Biden wants U.S. government to scan all images on your phone to comply with new AI rules
To supposedly stop people from exchanging non-consensual artificial intelligence (AI) images of a sexual nature, President Biden wants to probe everyone’s smartphones as part of a sweeping surveillance effort.
A press release from the White House explains the Biden regime’s desire for the tech and financial industries to take charge in stopping the creation and spread of abusive sexual imagery created by AI robots.
According to Biden’s handlers, “mobile operating system developers could enable technical protections to better protect content stored on digital devices and to prevent image sharing without consent.”
The plan is to have mobile operating systems such as Android and iOS automatically scan and analyze people’s private photos to determine which ones are sexual or non-consensual. Users would not have the ability to keep any of their images private from government spooks.
https://www.yourdestinationnow.com/2024/05/biden-wants-us-government-to-scan-all.html
Perhaps we could look at Joe’s kiddy sniff collection instead.
71
Monster ticks and voles spreading diseases across Europe. OMG Imagine a vole with ticks.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240528115000.htm
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1905273/warning-monster-ticks-invade-europe
30
you sure they weren’t monster Voles with ticks? sounds much scarier.
00
US POTUS campaign fun.
The great thespian Robert De Niro was prompted by the Biden folks to hold a little press conference outside the Trump trial.
He apparently wrote his own script.
Which you’d think after so many years in the business he would have learned he should not attempt.
TDS writ large.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HSOJ7lAUVY
Sketchy for the likes of moi to say, but the man is not very bright.
But I’ll check in with myslelf if I make it to my 80s.
150
Trump found guilty on all 34 counts.
Mission accomplished. For now.
90
How much kerosene does it take to douse a fire?
60
Convicted of 34 count of falsifying business records in the first degree – sans any underpinning felony being charged (alluding to a felony in court is not the same as proving one).
All based on the testimony of a serial perjurer and admitted criminal who was allowed to keep $50 000 of money he admits he stole (an uncharged) from Trump who submitted the invoices for the Trump Org to pay, after Trump had placed the Trump into a blind trust.
Of course, it will be overturned on appeal – the only point was to interfere in 2024 election.
90
“Of course, it will be overturned on appeal …”
I wouldn’t bank on that. The corruption at the heart of America’s ‘justice’ system seems to have reached a point where they simply don’t care how obvious their antidemocratic actions are. They really have conducted a coup.
120
In my view based on a defective and corrupt legal process.
The judge’s direction to the jury members indicated that the criminal offence was a composite of any of a number of offences and a specific subsequent misdemeanor offence. The latter offence was potentially modified by a legal determination of any of the former.
The judge directed that each jury member make their own determination about at least one of the prior offences, and that was sufficient to qualify them to make a determination of the latter offence as a felony (the most serious class of crime under US law).
The judge’s direction was so obviously contrary to US law that the direction amounted to advice by the judge to each jury member that they participate in an unlawful conspiracy.
50
I guess this is an opportunity for Trump to finally finish a sentence.
06
Did you name the right President or are you having a Biden?
70
Scott Ritter: “We’re Going to Destroy the World if We Go to Nuclear War”
31
FWIW – and here we go again
“An effective treatment for bird flu?”
“
Bird flu has been in the news a lot lately, with concerns about how America’s poultry production (both eggs and meat) may be devastated if it continues to spread. There’s also speculation that if a strain of bird flu, or H5N1 as it’s technically known, adapts to humans, the resulting epidemic could kill thousands.
What puzzles me is the insistence by the medical establishment of pushing “cures” such as Tamiflu or Relenza to treat H5N1. Yes, they offer some hope, and may alleviate minor doses of the flu: but there’s another option that’s been widely used in the Third World for years. That’s chloroquine, as well as its derivative hydroxychloroquine. You’ll doubtless remember their being advocated as a treatment for COVID-19 during the pandemic. Many, including myself, believe it’s because of the existing widespread use of hydroxychloroquine (as a prophylactic medication against malaria infection) and ivermectin (as a treatment for river blindness and other illnesses endemic to the continent) that prevented COVID-19 from gaining a foothold in Africa. So many potential victims were already dosed with an effective treatment that the disease simply couldn’t take root.”
More at
https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2024/05/an-effective-treatment-for-bird-flu.html
120
And a few words from Chiefio on that –
”
@Another Ian: Per “Bird Flu”:
Billy Gates was on film with that evil grin talking about how he’s going to have mRNA “vaccines” for everything and we’re all going to be jabbed up all the time … the better for his profits and all… (He didn’t say that last bit, but it is implied).
I’ll take NO mRNA based anything. They have already demonstrated that they do not understand what they are doing.
Will stay in the muscle where injected. FAIL. Found all over the body with concentration in gonads and liver along with circulatory system.
Will just make antigens to stimulate your immunity. FAIL (Not only do the antigens stay on your cell surfaces so your immune system is trained to attack YOU, but the immunity to the virus is fleeting at best and with Original Antigenic Sin issues).
Is Safe! BIG FAIL. Mycarditis, cancer increase, immune system depression, clots…
And Effective! FAIL.
Does not touch DNA. FAIL. Reverse transcriptase in the liver shown to sometimes turn it into DNA.
and on and on…
As far as I am concerned, the HUGE level of adverse events with Covid has demonstrated that mRNA tech is Not Fit For Purpose (at present and for at least a generation).
On the other side: We’ve lived with Bird Flu for thousands of years Just Fine. Unless the Lab Idiots make a Franken Flu out of it, there’s no new problem.”
https://chiefio.wordpress.com/2024/05/07/w-o-o-d-6-may-2024-macron-sends-fflegion-in-russia-nuke-drills-usa-flushes-cash-down-the-drain/#comment-170498
150
I can’t see any doubt that several franken flus are ready for release, once the powers that be are convinced that a safe and effective vaccine is ready. And unless the powers that be have a death wish once the powers that be are convinced that there are special vaccines and treatments to keep them safe.
40
I expect diseases among food animals will become a big thing in future because it’s such an easy way for a foreign power to sabotage its enemies. Of course that foreign power would have to possess fairly advanced virology capabilities.
40
Going again
“MODERNA SHARES RISE ON REPORT US GOV’T PREPARING FUNDING FOR MRNA BIRD FLU VAX”
https://richardsonpost.com/tyler-durden/36139/mrna-bird-flu-vaccine-for-the-next-pandemic/
10
Five flaws of the central banks: Central Banks destroying our economies | Mises.org
And they still don’t know what they’re doing:
1. Should we lower interest rates? For how long? (Greenspan guessed wrong, big time. Expressed some regrets after he was comfortably retired somewhere. Thanks Alan.)
2. Maybe we should buy more assets with new money we create? But what to buy? Private sector assets? Government bonds? How many? I dunno — Hey, our friends Blackrock can help with this!
3. . . Oops, I think we bought too many. Now let’s guess how many to sell.
4. Hey, here’s a thought: let’s pay interest on reserves! Okay, but how much? And do we pay it on ALL reserves, or just ‘excess’ reserves, or just ‘required’ reserves? Well, just try something and see what happens — like we always do!
5. How’s the new “Corridor System” working? Nevermind — failure isn’t a limiting factor for us — I mean, we’re not a business!
6. You say there’s a new “Floor System”. Tell me more….
80
I used to think it was the Central Bankers being left to pick up the slack on poor fiscal policy / spending decisions – just generally overall weak government. But, when none of them had the balls to call out the “lock downs” as ridiculous, I started to realise it is all just a big mess of people spending other people’s money for the benefit of their corporate mates
10
New study: Corporate investments in ‘carbon offset’ schemes were ‘probably junk’ that did nothing to negate pollution
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2024/05/new_study_corporate_investments_in_carbon_offset_schemes_were_probably_junk_that_did_nothing_to_negate_pollution.html
The Guardian, no less.
When the greenwash washes off even the left-leaning learn.
40
I read recently that Australia’s major superannuation funds were increasing their investments in fossil fuel companies, having reduced them in recent years in favour of renewables. Another sign that the green revolution is stalling?
70
There is no vaccine for a woke infection Steve. One of the country’s biggest Super funds, the Australian Retirement Trust, is revamping its investment choice options for its members from July 1. They have dropped their under-performing ESG option and restructured their ‘Australian Shares’ and ‘International Shares’ options, inter alia. Now the latter two have return objectives of “aims to match the returns of the performance benchmark and maintain a lower weighted carbon intensity”! Sounds like being underweight in fossil fuel companies to me, although despite my questions I could not obtain a plain definition of what ‘a lower weighted carbon intensity’ means. Caveat emptor, I guess. (Steve if you can recall your source I would be interested in the reference/link to ‘superannuation funds were increasing their investments in fossil fuel companies’).
10
“aims to match the returns of the performance benchmark and maintain a lower weighted carbon intensity”
I wonder what they do when those objectives clash? Which one takes precedence?
10
Australia rejoined the Free World today.
Dr Tess Lawrie
@lawrie_dr
It was an honour to speak at the WCH Australia official launch today!
With such an enthusiastic and dedicated WCH Australia Steering Committee, Australians now have a choice – #WHO and the #GreatReset or WCH and #theGreatFreeSet, a better way adventure to health, freedom and sovereignty for all!
There’s a better way with WCH!
http://worldcouncilforhealth.org
http://wch-australia.org
@WCHAustralia
.
https://x.com/lawrie_dr/status/1796242118052041115
50
I would never recommend anyone listen to or watch ABC news but you simply have to give it a few minutes today. It’s like the “Orange man bad and guilty” has found their collective G spot.
100
Just read the Comments in the Sydney Moaning Herald – SMH Readers Hate Trump
Meanwhile in America
The Most Dangerous Day in the History of Our Country in Our Lifetimes
“I can play the game; just tell me the rules.”
As the world now knows, former President Trump was convicted today of 34 criminal charges.
It was a shameless political verdict shaped by an unscrupulous prosecutor, aided by a corrupt and incompetent judge, and rendered by a jury that supposedly considered six weeks of testimony and 55 pages of complex jury instructions, and then deliberated for one day.
These are small minds, who do not give a flying fig leaf for the good of the Country.
They and those gleefully cheering the result do not care about the damage that they have done to the nation.
Some, although not all, doubtlessly lack both the intellect and a knowledge of history and human nature to recognize the fuse they have lit.
And the fact that some are well known public figures does not mean that the foregoing does not apply to them. It applies to government officials of every stripe – congressional representatives, attorneys general and prosecutors, lying CIA and FBI grandees, and to the platoon of pygmies in that New York courtroom.
I weep for my Country.
Not because one man was convicted, but because this New York judge, jury and prosecutors have flung this Country into a downward spiral from which we may never recover. I hope that I am wrong, but I fear that I am not.
One of my former law partners, a world class trial lawyer, when faced with an adversary who wanted to engage in unprofessional “hardball” litigation tactics would say, “I can play the game; just tell me the rules.” The Democrats have made the rules, and their opponents will have little choice but to play the game.
This is not a game that can or will be played by one side only.
The rules are now set. When Republicans have the chance, they will play the game. Many, perhaps most, will think that a response is mandatory and that “taking the high road” is no longer an option.
Instead, it would be regarded by the “progressive” left — that is to say those now in charge of the Democratic party — as weakness if they roll over and fail to respond.
This is an existential threat to the stability of our political system and nation.
That risk makes this the most dangerous day in the history of the Country, at least in our lifetimes.
120
“SMH readers hate Trump”
Or is that just the ones whose comments get posted?
140
Hunter’s laptop, Wuhan and more: ‘Disinformation’ and ‘conspiracies’ turn out to be true — again and again
Glenn Harlan Reynolds
Published May 30, 2024
Except that now we know it was all true, and that the actual disinformation came from those retired “civil servants” and the pundit class, who were more interested in protecting Joe Biden and defeating Donald Trump than in the actual truth.
“Disinformation” was a buzzword, but in truth it was also their goal.
Hunter’s laptop is not just genuine, it’s so genuine that a federal special prosecutor is entering it into evidence in Hunter’s trial on weapons law violations.
Chalk another one up for the “conspiracy theorists.” There was in fact a conspiracy — to keep the Hunter story on the down-low until after the election.
Of course, it’s not just allegations about the Bidens that get the “conspiracy theory” dismissal.
When the “Chinese virus” that is now known as COVID-19 appeared in 2020, we were told that it came from a bat sold in a wet market in Wuhan.
Many virology experts doubted that, and suggested that various molecular characteristics showed the virus came from a laboratory, such as the virus research lab located in Wuhan itself.
60
I’ve Never Voted for Trump. I Just Donated $300,000 to His Campaign.
50
I just donated $300k to Trump – X Article
10
The guilty verdict is seen to have cultivated more love for Trump in the hearts of Americans and persuaded never-Trumpers to vote for him in the upcoming presidential election.
Conn Carroll, commentary editor for the Washington Examiner, tweeted after the verdict was announced that he has “never voted for Trump,” but now he “would walk over broken glass to vote for him now.”
Carroll said Democrats have shown to be a greater “threat” to the rule of law than Trump.
70
Trump falls victim to a prostituted court of law — more reason for the court of public opinion to vote out Biden in November
By Post Editorial Board
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan got their way Thursday, maneuvering a jury of former President Donald Trump’s peers into finding him guilty of . . . something.
We’ll have to wait to find out exactly what, since Merchan had told the jurors they didn’t even have to agree on what exactly Trump did wrong: They could individually choose any of the (vague) theories the prosecution presented as to what other crime was committed to turn the supposed misdemeanors into felonies.
The violations of basic fairness in the trial were legion:
Merchan wouldn’t let the defense call an expert witness to testify that no federal campaign-finance law was violated; he routinely shut down the defense while letting the prosecution get away with gross violations, including telling multiple outright lies in its closing statement.
Not to mention indulging graphic and utterly irrelevant testimony from Stormy Daniels.
In this context, you can see why jurors didn’t realize that the only testimony indicating criminal intent on Trump’s part (something utterly necessary for a guilty verdict) came from Michael Cohen, a confessed serial liar who admitted to a personal vendetta against the defendant.
Nor see that Bragg’s team didn’t even show that Trump had actually falsified any business records.
All that should get the verdict tossed on appeal, but for now President Biden’s campaign can and will call Trump a “convicted felon” every minute through Election Day.
That is: Bragg and Merchan have completely prostituted the justice system for a purely political purpose.
50
Yes, i was under the impression that the laws Trump was accused of violating, were FEDERAL law, not State laws, a nd as such could only be prosecuted by a Federal court .?
…. So how did this situation ever arrise with a State prosecution ?
Certainly the US Justice system has shown its colors clearly .
But as a knowledgeable US commentator said immediately after the verdict…
…” this will put Trump back in the White House”
30
https://news.syr.edu/blog/2024/04/16/pitch-legal-analysis-of-hush-money-trial-facing-former-president-donald-trump/
You pay your attorney to settle a “matter” in or out of court.
20
MAGA War Room
@MAGAIncWarRoom
Joe Biden and the Democrats don’t get to use a sham trial to decide an election.
The only verdict that matters is at the ballot box on November 5th. Vote Trump!
20
Travesty
By Monica Showalter
The kangaroos are dancing. The Lincoln Project is celebrating. Joe Biden just put out a fundraising ad saying “let’s finish the job.”
President Trump was convicted on all 34 counts of .. something, a bookkeeping issue turned into a felony, with whatever the underlying crimes the jury picked (Trump wasn’t told) for a conviction, quite contrary to the Supreme Court’s 1999 Richardson ruling, that the jury must be unanimous as to the underlying crime. Justice Juan Merchan said otherwise and that was what the jury was told.
The justice, who bitterly complained about not being able to send one of President Trump’s executives to prison for a longer sentence than he did, again, over a bookkeeping issue, is sure to send President Trump to Riker’s Island, making himself a hero to the left, which will no doubt ensure that he gets richer.
Which seems about par, given the dishonesty of this entire case, one that makes the U.S. a global laughingstock on the world stage and will undoubtedly empower dictators to do the same to their political opponents.
So much was utterly wrong with this case.
As AT’s Andrea Widburg has noted upon the news:
The case is void ab initio —
Trump was not “informed of the nature and cause of the accusation” nor was he allowed to have an important witness in his favor, when the judge shut down testimony from someone who could have explained the campaign finance law. Not only did Merchan shut that down, he still let the prosecution make the campaign finance argument.
From the Comments
– Assassination is the only option the left has because this is only going to strengthen Trump.
How will that play out?
– I am not sure. I firmly believe that Dems will do whatever it takes to make sure that Trump never again sits in the Oval Office. Every insult they hurl at him seems to only make him stronger.
So I agree with you that assassination is the only option they have left.
40
Tucker Carlson warns Trump will win election ‘if he’s not killed first’ as guilty verdict marks ‘end of justice’
Carlson took to X, where his talk show has relocated, to give his take
‘Import the Third World, become the Third World. That’s what we just saw’
50
Trump trial travesty
By Washington Examiner
The term “kangaroo court” has seemed an apt and amusing term to apply to the trial of former President Donald Trump in Manhattan during the past month.
But now that, for the first time in history, a former president has been found guilty of felony indictments, it cannot be regarded as anything other than a dark day for the nation. Jurors decided Trump was guilty on all 34 counts, carrying the possibility of more than 100 years of jail time for business record violations that occurred over a decade ago.
It is a dark day, not because of the guilty verdicts but because this trial has been a travesty from start to finish. It is clear, first of all, that no one other than Trump would have been charged in this way. No one other than Trump would have had a prosecutor concoct such an absurd and disgraceful list of charges and twist the law to do so. It is indisputable that no person has ever been prosecuted as a felon for the misdemeanor recordkeeping crimes as Trump was. It’s odd, isn’t it, that the only person ever so charged should be a former president, the much-hated opponent of the current incumbent, who is leading in the polls only five months before Election Day.
The only reason Trump was charged and convicted of this crime is because he is Trump. This is what banana republics do.
Thursday’s verdict is the culmination of a series of smaller menacing events that, when put together, constitute a severe threat to the rule of law in our democracy.
A foreign billionaire bent on reimagining our entire justice system paid for the election of a radical prosecutor who explicitly ran on the promise of persecuting Trump.
That case was put before a partisan judge who donated to President Joe Biden and whose daughter has profited from Biden’s political career. That judge then rigged a jury, stacking the deck with absurd rulings and instructions, causing even liberal judicial observers to call into question the propriety of the proceedings.
All this took place in a city where the very same radical prosecutor lets repeat violent offenders off without any jail time, and Biden himself lets illegal immigrants run free.
What transpired Thursday isn’t justice. It is election interference. It is a flagrant abuse of the criminal justice system for nakedly partisan purposes that will tarnish our democracy for a long time, perhaps permanently.
40
Meanwhile, in Democrat California as reader Bill Thompson observes
Friday, 31 May 2024
Thanks to stalwart contributor Bill Thompson who writes thus of the US ‘justice’ system, where judges and prosecuting authorities are politically elected officials:
What are Americans to make of a US “justice system” which results in prosecutors in California now being unable to charge Sean Combs over his vicious, sustained 2016 assault on Cassandra Ventura, despite compelling video evidence emerging, because it was too long ago BUT prosecutors in NYC were able to cobble together a case against Trump, for victimless business book-keeping processes relating, not to an assault on a woman, but instead, an alleged payment of $130,000 to a woman, relating to an alleged consensual sexual encounter, around the same time as the alleged Combs assault occurred?
It seems to depend partly on politics? … Show me the man & I’ll show you the crime…
Cheers,
Bill T
20
The Clintons will already have a hit man lined up – another one to add to the Clinton Body Count.
https://books.google.com.au/books/about/The_Clinton_Body_Count.html?id=UEnkoAEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
20
A Great Time to spark the next Civil War in the USA.
All the world would benefit.
40
THE AUTHOR HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR:
Trump Found Guilty on Feast Day of Joan of Arc, Patron Saint of Prisoners and Hero of Patriots.
10
Now I am not a religious person, but if Jesus H Christ was to return to God’s creation in the Second Coming would he be treated in a similar manner to Mr Trump?
There are advantages to martyrdom.
Or I am just another Conspiracy Theorist?
30
More courts, more judges, more lawyers, more laws, more fines, more law schools, more government and fewer working people paying for it all.
I wonder if this is how the Roman Empire imploded?
50
Certainly was……read any work of Victor Davis Hanson…..a classical scholar who believes that affluence (the Romans called it “luxus” – the predecessor of our word Luxury) eventually destroyed the moral strength of Roman society.
20
FWIW
Re the US “justice system”
https://x.com/TheBabylonBee/status/1795953294558281872
40
Hmmm.. twitter is determined to ban Firefox from using its anti-tracking mode, there must be a lot of money in tracking cookies.
“https://x.com/TheBabylonBee/status/1795953294558281872” gives a black screen with “something went wrong. Firefox’s enhanced tracking protection (strict mode) is known to cause issues on X.com”
Not that I have ‘Strict mode’ on, but I figure they are trying to get people to drop ‘Normal mode’ as well and allow all trackers.
00
Love It!
Kangaroos Ask People To Stop Unfairly Comparing Them To U.S. Justice System https://buff.ly/4aFdPv9
30
Headline –
I predict we’ll hear more of him on ABC and SBS.
10
Bettina Arndt knocking it out of the park as usual
80
Poor old Yuendumu, always getting bad press. Despite it’s proud artists. I’m going to call an early winner for the Archibald
There are 1005 entries this year
Trying to find the ones they didn’t include
10
That link requires one to click on an acknowledgement of country or some such before you can access the art gallery of nsw website.
That is coercive and exclusionary behaviour – from a publicly owned and financed art gallery!
I find that unacceptable and offensive.
Needless to say, I haven’t agreed to their statement of abasement or proceeded to view the archibald entries.
80
Welcome to the club.
30
Friday sarcasm: draining the swamp
https://oshi.at/ewCJ/SlWD.gif
Sums up DC nicely.😆
10
Scary times. No one is safe anymore if they can convict a former president for felonies stemming from paying hush money to a porn star.
24
Now tell us what happened in the Oval Office with President Clinton and a young intern who wore a blue dress?
Quote by Henry Kissinger: “Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.”
40
“felonies stemming from paying hush money to a porn star”
Well, in light of the illegal bombing of Cambodia, after the probable instigation of the Gulf of Tonkin*, suppling four untraceable M3 grease guns for Pinochet to assassinate a rival general, multiple color revolutions to over throw inconvenient ‘democratic’ outcomes, a questionable Iraqi invasion, dallying in Syria in a civil war caused by Climate Change … 20 years in Afghanistan, only to pick up and walk away …
then there’s the possible US Gov viral research funding that launched a global ‘Pandemic’ …
*(Lyndon Johnson taped nearly all his phone calls. CSPAN used to play them on Saturday afternoons … yes, I’m that boring … I myself have heard his conversation with Robert MacNamara SECDEF … “I have the Gulf of Tonkin resolution ready to drop in the Senate after the incident tomorrow”.)
you are right on top of things as usual …
finally prosecuting a POTUS for covering up sex with a porn star represents the Triumph of Justice.
30
‘I’m Gonna Kill All the Jews’: NYC Pakistani Immigrant Arrested for Allegedly Trying to Run Down Jewish Students, Rabbi
“The Brooklyn man faces more than a dozen charges including attempted murder, attempted assault and hate crimes charges.”
From the Comments
– One of life’s constants – No matter where in the world, no matter when in time,
find M@slims,
find trouble.
31
My antennae are tuned to detect leftist bias and disinformation, but unfortunately, many don’t realise that’s what they’re being fed by the MSM. Another example today, in an article about Trump’s conviction, described Matt Walsh, not as a journalist or even media commentator, but as a “political activist”.
So now, not content with calling every conservative ‘far right’, journalists who lean to the right are going to be labeled ‘activists’ instead. Meanwhile the likes of Rachel Maddow, who froths at the mouth simply because somebody said ‘Donald Trump’ is called a journalist, along with her comrades-in-arms at CNN, ABC, BBC, MSNBC, etc, etc, etc.
90
Saving it for posterity…
With the horrible weather here I took some time to look into saving articles here, preserving layout/images/text/links and losing the sidebar fluff.
Actually it was ridiculously simple if you do it the right way, without the need for code parsing or the nightmare of attempting to selectively processing external links à la Winhttrack.
The technique works for any site/forum or blog too.
Another useful trick learned.😎
11
I was right with you for the first few words, then you switched to technobabble. Just tell me if I should care about whatever it is you said.
50
This should’ve been in the Babylon Bee, but apparently it’s not satire.
00
This should’ve been in the Babylon Bee, but apparently it’s not satire.
Hollywood movies rarely reflect climate change crisis, but some researchers want to change that
10
The Grumpy Economist
Inflation, Monetary and Fiscal Policy, and Japan, Part 1: A Different Narrative
JOHN H. COCHRANE
This is a paper I wrote for the 2024 Bank of Japan Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies Conference. pdf here if you prefer that format. – 36 Page PDF
Inflation, Monetary and Fiscal Policy, and Japan
1. A perfect monetary policy outcome
Japan is satiated in liquidity. The BOJ balance sheet is over 100% of GDP. Money is oil in the car. It’s optimal to drive the car full of oil, if you can do it without causing inflation. Japan has done so.
The stagnation narrative
Yes, Japan’s GDP growth has slowed, showing less growth than the US. But Japan’s GDP per working age person has grown faster than in the US. (Shirakawa 2023; Fernández-Villaverde, Ventura, and Yao, 2024.) Japan’s total GDP is growing slowly simply because its population is declining. Perhaps Milton Friedman (1968) should have extended his list of things that monetary policy cannot do. Monetary policy cannot create long-run growth. And monetary policy certainly cannot induce people to have babies!
On either per capita or per working age person basis, Japan got stuck substantially below the US level of output per worker, and remains in the general territory of Italy. (I use GDP per capita here and below because I don’t have easy access to the GDP per working age person data.) Japan’s productivity growth has been slower than the US (which itself has slowed down). But productivity growth is not a lack of demand problem.
With a well-educated, industrious, and thrifty population, homogenous society, the lack of pockets of isolated poverty and dysfunction, and general cleanliness, safety, and order that stupefy American tourists, Japan should have passed the US, as Singapore has. Still, Japan is 29th on the World Bank’s ease of doing business index, well behind the US 6. The easiest way for Japan to lower its debt to GDP ratio is to raise its GDP. And that takes microeconomic reform, not macroeconomic machination.
Growth Economics is clear: Each country catches up to the productivity frontier, until its level of microeconomic inefficiency stops it. That too, however, is something monetary policy can do nothing about.
The “bubble?”
Summary and regret?
In sum, I offer a plausible counter-narrative, based on simple growth theory rather than complex Keynesian macro. Japan switched from catch-up growth to frontier growth, at a level reflecting microeconomic inefficiencies typical of Europe. Asset prices fell. Interest rates hit zero and the inflation rate stopped. The BoJ was handed a golden opportunity, which it took. The zero interest, steady price level monetary Nirvana is hard to get to. To get there directly, a central bank has to wait out adverse temporary dynamics. Alan Greenspan talked about getting to the zero inflation ideal opportunistically in this way. Japan then lived 30 years of optimal monetary policy outcomes. And the real economy continued to follow real, “supply” driven forces, as it must in the long run.
00
I watched this doco a while back and it shows Japan’s rise, stagnation and fall. Very educational.
https://youtu.be/4qwhpzhmsJs?si=37a-ICHDcq7Y3h2F
10
SITREP 5/29/24: NATO Ramps Up Figleaf of Cross-Border Strikes
SIMPLICIUS
MAY 30, 2024
There’s no one big thematic development to cover today so we’ll just keep abreast of some side developments in preparation for the larger storms to come—so this will be a scattershot assemblage of interesting updates.
I’ll start with what is the most interesting news to me: Ukraine’s defense minister Umerov has stated in a new Reuters interview that Russia plans to insert an additional massive 200-300k troops into Ukraine.
Scroll down and watch Putin Videos on
In a news conference, Putin addressed much of the above discussed issues. Here are a few of the choicest highlights.
NATO operating the long-range weapons in Ukraine:
A President speaking straight commonsense vs Dribbling, Depends, Senile President Biden.
10
Putin Expects NATO, And Possibly Poland In Particular, To Escalate The Proxy War In Ukraine
BY TYLER DURDEN
President Putin shared a lot of insight about the NATO-Russian proxy war in Ukraine during the press conference that he held during his latest trip to Uzbekistan.
The first point of relevance that he made is that Zelensky is no longer regarded by Russia as Ukraine’s legitimate leader after his term expired. According to President Putin’s “tentative estimate” of this legal question, Rada Speaker Stefanchuk should now be seen as Zelensky’s legal successor.
Moving along, in response to a question about NATO chief Stoltenberg’s suggestion for members to let Ukraine use their arms to hit targets inside of Russia like the US just tacitly approved of Kiev doing, he reminded everyone that long-range precision strikes require space reconnaissance data. Since Ukraine lacks these capabilities, such strikes can only be carried out with NATO support, including through instructors inside Ukraine masquerading as mercenaries for plausible deniability purposes.
President Putin advised the West to think twice about this and then addressed Russia’s fresh push into Ukraine’s Kharkov Region, which he confirmed was in response to the shelling of Belgorod and aimed at carving out a “security area” exactly as he earlier warned he’d order if those attacks didn’t stop. On the topic of Belgorod, he lamented that the Western media doesn’t report on Ukraine’s strikes there, and hinted that his envisaged “security area” could expand to stop longer-range attacks if need be.
He was later asked about Ukraine inviting French “instructors”, to which he responded by saying that his forces regularly “hear English, French, or Polish on the radio” when listening in their opponents, thus confirming that their mercenaries have long been deployed there. Of those three, President Putin believes that the Polish ones are the least likely to leave, which is an allusion to Russian officials’ prior claims that it plans to annex Western Ukraine or at least incorporate it into a sphere of influence.
As for how he sees everything ending, he reaffirmed his commitment to peace talks and reminded everyone that it’s Ukraine that unilaterally froze this process, not Russia. Mid-June’s upcoming “peace talks” in Switzerland are only designed to “create a semblance of global support” for the West’s unilateral demands of Russia aimed at inflicting a strategic defeat upon it. Suffice to say, President Putin promised that this won’t succeed, and he concluded by saying that it’ll only be more painful for Ukraine.
Reflecting on his remarks, the Russian leader signaled that he’s sincerely interested in peace but is also preparing for an escalation in the conflict since NATO’s latest moves suggest that it’s still disinterested in compromising. The US is using Zelensky as its figurehead for implementing unpopular decisions aimed at indefinitely perpetuating this doomed conflict, after which it’ll likely replace him with someone else once public opinion demands it.
It’s therefore up to the West whether or not everything spirals into World War III.
30
I knew the fix was in for Trump when the White House revealed Biden would pull up his Depends adult diapers and give a talk after the verdict was released.
20
Data of 560 million Ticketmaster customers for sale after alleged breach
A threat actor known as ShinyHunters is selling what they claim is the personal and financial information of 560 million Ticketmaster customers on the recently revived BreachForums hacking forum for $500,000.
The allegedly stolen databases, which were first put up for sale on the Russian hacking forum Exploit, supposedly contain 1.3TB of data and the customers’ full details (i.e., names, home and email addresses, and phone numbers), as well as ticket sales, order, and event information.
They also contain customer credit card information, including hashed credit card numbers, the last four digits of the card numbers, credit card and authentication types, and expiration dates, with financial transactions spanning from 2012 to 2024.
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/data-of-560-million-ticketmaster-customers-for-sale-after-alleged-breach/
560 MILLION people – ah, the joys of having your data stored online.
Breachforums – up, taken down by the FBI, up again, taken down again by the FBI, up again and the FBI are powerless. 😆
00
If we ship coal, we have to worry if the shipment gets there and if it goes to the poor people of Ukraine without corruption. If we give cash to the EU, it is a lot easier – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-31/australia-to-send-20-million-to-ukraine-for-coal-supplies/103918878
00
” If we give cash to the EU, it is a lot easier ” –
You mean the “money longa finger” bit?
20
A Republic, If You Can Keep It
The story of America is the story of mankind’s long crawl from the swamp to the stars, a gradual realization of Justice and Equality for all.
We have always been a beacon of hope and an example to aspire to for liberty loving people all over the globe. Today, we did not live up to that mantle.
I do not care if you love or hate Donald Trump. I don’t care if you voted for him twice and plan to again, never voted for him, or never voted at all.
Every breathing American should be outraged by the gross miscarriage of Justice and political persecution perpetuated on the nominee of one of our major parties in the name of politics.
For the first time in history, both a candidate for president and a former president was convicted of a felony.
And what was his crime? Murder? R@pe? Grand theft?
No, Mr. Trump was convicted of a cacophony of hard to explain financial crimes related to an NDA and corresponding settlement with a porn star 20 some odd years ago.
Add to the mix a partisan district attorney who campaigned on jailing the president, a judge with a democrat political operative daughter working for the opposition, and a jury comprised of citizens of one of the nations most liberal bastions, and you have yourself a banana republic.
50
Met Gala Loser Balding 大老板
@BaldingsWorld
I respect the rule of law and believe we should treat President Trump like any other individual convicted of 34 felonies in New York City: just let him out
70
I used to think it was the Central Bankers being left to pick up the slack on poor fiscal policy / spending decisions – just generally overall weak government. But, when none of them had the balls to call out the “lock downs” as ridiculous, I started to realise it is all just a big mess of people spending other people’s money for the benefit of their corporate mates
00
Thank you Old Ozzie. Great assortment of very relevant articles on global developments that are simply astonishing.
60
Vicki,
Thanks – you might appreciate the following from live-in 10 year old Grandson – created the speech all by himself for School Comp
Prescient re the Future of Teaching
Imagine, a world without teachers. Where robots run schools, today I’m here to explain why I think teachers will be replaced by robots in the future. Because robots are smarter than teachers, they also don’t have bad days and can meet every student’s personal learning needs. Now let’s get started.
Okay, now let me just point out one major advantage. Robots, are way smarter than teachers. Think about it, something as simple as a google search engine can find millions of results in under a second. Now imagine decades in the future, when AI is much more advanced and sentient, right now companies are already manufacturing robots that can walk, and talk. Robots and AI can store lots of information and if programmed correctly don’t make mistakes or errors. AI also learns which allows it to asses what certain humans are good or bad at. Moving onto my next point.
A teacher hates nothing more that after a twenty minute lecture, a kid goes back to their desk, and says, “Miss, I don’t know what to do.” Like I stated earlier, AI can asses a kid’s strengths and weaknesses in learning. Some kids are visual learners and others can have something briefly explained to them and know what to do. This allows people to learn at their own pace and fully understand what they are being taught.
Another reason is that humans, get, sick. It’s natural. But robots don’t. Under most circumstances it’s good to have a set schedule. But when teachers are sick or away there are substitute teachers and most of the time they explain things completely differently, this leaves some kids dumbfounded. Plus, robots, simply don’t get tired. Charge it overnight then you have an enthusiastic, hyperactive teacher for the rest of the day. And if you’re concerned about things like human interaction, who says that in the future that robots won’t look, talk and feel like humans.
I think that teachers will no doubt be replaced by robots in the future because robots can meet every students learning needs, are smarter in general and don’t have bad days.
Thank you.
20
Grandson could be given the idea that it be students to be replaced by robots.
10
FWIW – Chiefio’s view
“Trump Convicted Of Being Not A Democrat Pawn”
https://chiefio.wordpress.com/2024/05/31/trump-convicted-of-being-not-a-democrat-pawn/
20
More Oz timber history
“Timber’s role in the rise of Australian butter”
https://www.robertonfray.com/2024/05/31/timbers-role-in-the-rise-of-australian-butter/
10
It might be a great time for a jaunt across the Taiwan Strait?
10
Vicki,
Thanks – you might appreciate the following from live-in 10 year old Grandson – created the speech all by himself for School Comp
Prescient re the Future of Teaching
Imagine, a world without teachers. Where robots run schools, today I’m here to explain why I think teachers will be replaced by robots in the future. Because robots are smarter than teachers, they also don’t have bad days and can meet every student’s personal learning needs. Now let’s get started.
Okay, now let me just point out one major advantage. Robots, are way smarter than teachers. Think about it, something as simple as a google search engine can find millions of results in under a second. Now imagine decades in the future, when AI is much more advanced and sentient, right now companies are already manufacturing robots that can walk, and talk. Robots and AI can store lots of information and if programmed correctly don’t make mistakes or errors. AI also learns which allows it to asses what certain humans are good or bad at. Moving onto my next point.
A teacher hates nothing more that after a twenty minute lecture, a kid goes back to their desk, and says, “Miss, I don’t know what to do.” Like I stated earlier, AI can asses a kid’s strengths and weaknesses in learning. Some kids are visual learners and others can have something briefly explained to them and know what to do. This allows people to learn at their own pace and fully understand what they are being taught.
Another reason is that humans, get, sick. It’s natural. But robots don’t. Under most circumstances it’s good to have a set schedule. But when teachers are sick or away there are substitute teachers and most of the time they explain things completely differently, this leaves some kids dumbfounded. Plus, robots, simply don’t get tired. Charge it overnight then you have an enthusiastic, hyperactive teacher for the rest of the day. And if you’re concerned about things like human interaction, who says that in the future that robots won’t look, talk and feel like humans.
I think that teachers will no doubt be replaced by robots in the future because robots can meet every students learning needs, are smarter in general and don’t have bad days.
Thank you.
00
BOM’s Climate Forecast Failure
10
FWIW
“Couple of Big Wind Developers Are Running Out of Gas”
https://hotair.com/tree-hugging-sister/2024/05/30/couple-of-big-wind-developers-are-running-out-of-gas-n3789346
20