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Wednesday

8.4 out of 10 based on 11 ratings

128 comments to Wednesday

  • #
    Tonyb

    There was a large Freedom rally in London at the weekend. Amongst those at the forefront were Tommy Robinson and Katie Hopkins. This account was written by the editor of the publication formerly known as The Conservative Woman so would be considered right of centre but not far right.

    https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/the-unite-the-kingdom-rally-my-first-hand-account/

    The numbers attending were exaggerated by the organisers but underestimated by the MSM and probably numbered up to 250,000. There were another 1.5 million watching the livestream

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    • #
      Vladimir

      The New Party (add few more points to the List in Jo’s editorial) should declare their ambitions to correct outdated Australian Parliamentary practices – we all have a dozen or more examples.
      I say – ambitions, they will not be achieved in a term or two, but somebody must call a spade a spade: current situation there is a Kabuki Theatre.

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    • #
      Annie

      If that Palestinian march on the Sydney harbour bridge was reckoned to be 94,0000 people (was it really?), then the Unite The Kingdom rally in London was very many times that. See even the Grauniad’s aerial footage of it!

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      • #
        Strop

        A Guardian journalist claimed the crowd at the Palestinian march on the Sydney Harbour bridge was up to 300,000, and that the police estimate of around 90,000 was grossly under. The journalist arrived at their number by multiplying the 2.5km length x 30m width of the marching group, and applying a body count of 3-4 people per square metre. 4 gives 300,000.

        There is no way you can get even 3 people per square metre, let alone 4, in a walking group waving flags and banners.
        Aerial video of the march shows a great variance in density with a number of larger gaps and space.
        Anyone can measure out a square metre and imagine 3 or 4 people standing tightly in it. It is tight. Then have them walk and wave flags. No way.

        The 90k figure is probably thereabouts.

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  • #
    Tonyb

    This account of the London rally was written by one of the contributors to the Daily Sceptic-the free speech online publication. This again would be considered centre right unless you are a leftie then it would be considered extreme right.

    https://dailysceptic.org/2025/09/15/what-i-saw-at-the-unite-the-kingdom-rally/

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  • #
    Honk R Smith

    Meanwhile on the new religion scene.
    The latest one (which those here have witnessed evolve from humble roots in ‘Global Warming’ to Wokism) …
    has now devolved to the Old World tradition of ‘convert or be un alived’.
    Come on, we all saw it coming.

    170

  • #
    Skepticynic

    (Judiciary Committee Chair), Senator Chuck Grassley just announced that an FBI whistleblower revealed to him an FBI project called “Artic Frost” that targeted groups like Charlie Kirks TPUSA!

    He says that they are releasing those documents TODAY!

    “In total, 92 Republican targets, including Republican groups and Republican linked individuals were placed under investigative scope of Arctic Frost.”

    “On that political list was one of Charlie Kirk‘s groups, turning point usa. In other words, arctic frost wasn‘t just a case to politically investigate Trump.”

    “It was the vehicle by which partisan FBI agents and Department of Justice prosecutors could achieve their partisan ends and improperly investigate the entire Republican political apparatus.”

    “So, today Senator Johnson and I are making these records public for the entire country to see. I hope a lot of people are interested in seeing what government can do when various agencies have a political agenda.”

    https://x.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1967940081668264137?t=hukGDoIoMNwXXqEOs3BmFA&s=09

    Video 03:29

    … Arctic Frost wasn’t about law enforcement, it was the Deep State’s wet dream — a political hit list with 92 Republican targets, Charlie Kirk’s TPUSA included, all being spied on by partisan FBI clowns with DOJ cover. That’s not “oversight,” that’s straight-up election rigging with badges and guns. Grassley and Johnson dropping those records today is like pulling the curtain on a mafia racket. The FBI wasn’t investigating crime, they WERE the crime.

    https://x.com/Dan_Brisbois/status/1967948407994995114?t=6XYzLatbJbRroSe6uLjC5Q&s=19

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  • #

    National Academies fast track CO2 is bad study release is Sept 17 (USA):

    https://mailchi.mp/nationalacademies/new-study-announced-on-greenhouse-gas-impacts-47fj2f1f4s-4867299?e=c3c03e3b28

    Definitely fast. Alarmism ho!

    Should be fun punching this big bag of green stuff.

    111

  • #
    David Maddison

    A second person has been charged with Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

    He wasn’t directly involved but a nuisance who delayed police action finding the real assassin.

    F A F O

    https://conservativebrief.com/old-man-who-95149/

    According to the report, Zinn went up to the police right after Kirk was killed and yelled, “I shot him, now shoot me.” Police said he wasn’t carrying a gun and arrested him.

    During a police interview, Zinn admitted he did not kill Kirk but said he wanted to cause a distraction “to draw attention from the real shooter,” according to court documents reviewed by Fox 13.

    According to court papers, the fake shooter said he “wanted to be a martyr for the person who was shot” after being taken to a local hospital for medical reasons.

    Police said that his first words slowed down the investigation into Kirk’s death and wasted police time and energy at a crucial point in the case.

    He is charged with obstruction of justice, which is a second-degree felony.

    SEE LINK FOR REST

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  • #
    David Maddison

    Was there a far Left terrorist network also involved in the Kirk assassination?

    Liberal Hivemind discusses.

    https://youtu.be/70kNprNd7uU

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  • #
    David Maddison

    President Donald TRUMP initiates criminal investigations into violent far Left political organisations.

    Liberal Hivemind discusses.

    https://youtu.be/ZoYPbVPgLLk

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  • #
    David Maddison

    Australians voted AGAINST “The Voice” in a referendum.

    However state Governments like Victoria are proceeding with a version of it anyway.

    For overseas readers this is a supplementary parliamentary race-based Apartheid “advisory” body, unelected by the people.

    “The Other Side” discusses:

    https://youtu.be/8XpGAWl3xzA

    The politicians couldn’t care less that you voted NO. It’s a disgraceful rejection of the wishes of the Australian public by the “institutional left” in politics, media, government and academia. You voted no, but they’re doing it anyway. …

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    • #
      Steve

      I’m pretty sure that contempt for the preferences of the unwashed masses is a prerequisite for politicians and bureaucrats.

      140

  • #
    Gregor Melekhov

    David,if you continue down this track, Jo’s site may get more unwelcome attention.

    021

  • #
    David Maddison

    And yet most Labor politicians are more loyal to China than they are to Australia and are frequent visitors, often with no actual reason stated. Even the PM spent an unusually long five days there, his second visit, even though he has never bother to visit President TRUMP.

    https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/china-could-disable-or-detonate-aussie-evs-warns-top-cyber-expert-20250915-p5mv8n

    China could disable or detonate Aussie EVs, warns top cyber expert

    Sep 16, 2025

    The Defence Force’s top digital warfare official says Australia is already at war online, as Malcolm Turnbull’s former cybersecurity tsar warned Chinese-made electric vehicles were surveillance devices that could be remotely disabled or allowed to explode.

    Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, who leads Defence’s cyber and space operations, said the force faced frequent attempts to hack its systems by actors seeking financial gain, state secrets and information on its capabilities.

    “Those cars that we talk about, whether they’re electric or not, are listening devices, and they’re surveillance devices in terms of cameras.”

    “Let’s talk potential scenarios. Take off the safety features of household batteries so that they overcharge. Take off those same safety features for electric vehicles. Just turn them off from the manufacturer so that those vehicles explode. Degrade their ability to drive at peak hour in select cities,” he said.

    SEE LINK FOR REST

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    • #
      Peter Fitzroy

      You are right, we should ignore our largest trading partner, and put our faith in TACO. After all what’s a 20% tariff on our iron and steel, especially when China could not be bothered to place a similar tariff on our exports.

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      • #
        David Maddison

        TRUMP placed a 50% tariff on Australia’s steel and aluminium exports to the US because these products are heavily subsidised by the Australian taxpayer.

        This is due to them no longer being able to be produced at a competitive price due to the shut down of Australia’s traditional energy supply causing high prices.

        TRUMP wants unsubsidised products.

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        • #
          Sambar

          David. Was forced to read a book written by Dr Karl, (long winter night, insomnia, oh well) This book describes his life and in it he mentions working at the Wollongong steel mills in the 1970’s . He states that major extensions were required to some part of the mill and steel to build these extentions was “bought from China” as it was cheaper. He stated that the grade of steel required was produced by the mill but was “To expensive”. Oh well.

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        • #
          Peter Fitzroy

          While there aren’t direct “subsidies” in the traditional sense, the Australian beef industry receives government support through compulsory levies collected on sales, which fund research and development (R&D) and marketing through organisations like Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

          You are making assertions without any link to facts.

          but that is typical

          06

          • #
            Strop

            Australian beef industry receives government support through compulsory levies collected on sales

            No. Levies are charged to the producer on livestock transactions. The producers pay the levy to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). If MLA invests money into research and development then the government will match it dollar for dollar if the R&D invested in meets the governments eligibility criteria.

            The levies the producers pay to MLA get used for other purposes too and not matched by the government.

            I suppose you can argue whether that’s the beef industry getting government assistance or the research industry. But the beef producers are paying.

            Farmers do get exemptions from the fuel excise tax. Which anti-fossil fuel groups claim is a subsidy to the fossil fuel industry. It’s not. Farmers would buy the fuel whether the tax was payable or not so it doesn’t help the fossil fuel industry and should not be counted as a fossil fuel subsidy. It’s a tax exemption to help the consumer by keeping production costs down.

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          • #
            Hanrahan

            But a levy on sales is industry funding, not gov. Our beef industry is generally clean.

            The US is shocking with subsidies. They pay farmers NOT to grow crops.

            10

      • #
        Steve

        put our faith in TACO

        Strange to hear an Australian referring to Trump as TACO, given that Australia is one of the few countries where Trump has stuck to his guns on the higher tariff rates. You can believe Trump ‘always chickens out’ if that makes you feel better, but the truth is the tariffs were only a negotiating ploy that were designed to bring trading partners to the negotiating table to … negotiate. Since Albanese has not chosen to seek a new deal, Australia is stuck with the higher tariff. Bold strategy Cotton, let’s see if it pays off.

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        • #
          yarpos

          Meh, he’s a lefty, he regurgitates memes and talking points. Its what they do.

          60

          • #
            el+gordo

            Its political economy front and centre, regime change is happening in Beijing, the end of totalitarianism and the masses hungry for democracy.

            This is good news for Australia, China is our biggest trading partner.

            Its time to quit the US Alliance, starting with the AUKUS subs.

            14

            • #
              Steve

              If you think America is an arrogant, overbearing, selfish, and inconsiderate ally (which they certainly can be at times), just wait until you are under China’s thumb. The USA may be a deeply flawed ally, but it’s the best one you’ve got.

              100

            • #
              yarpos

              Ackshually I was tslking about PF

              30

        • #
          Graeme4

          I thought that the TACO epithet arose when the left claimed Trump wasn’t doing anything about Iran. Shortly after, he authorised the bombing of the underground nuclear sites. I find it amazing that some folks are still trying to make the label stick to a world leader that is actually doing something to improve his country, while ours continues to wreck our country.

          30

    • #
      KP

      “even though he has never bother to visit President TRUMP.”

      even though he has never been invited to visit President Trump… Trump has no time for him at all, he’s just a nuisance getting in the way.

      90

  • #
    David Maddison

    For those who use CB radio in Australia, the ACMA has introduced some new regulations.

    Extremely surprisingly for an Australian Government department, they are mostly beneficial such as allowing FM on 27MHz (already permitted in USA and Europe) and Internet linking of communications channels and digital ID of channels if you voluntarily wish to transmit your call sign or location.

    Video by Ham Radio DX.

    https://youtu.be/_hkYt6clMnE

    30

  • #
    David Maddison

    Only six weeks away folks.

    Yes, time flies.

    The next Lake Goldsmith Steam Rally is November 1st & 2nd, 2025.

    https://www.lakegoldsmithsteamrally.org.au/

    There is a large collection of

    restored steam engines
    traction engines
    steam rollers
    internal combustion engines
    farm tractors and
    a restored farm cottage displaying old wares.

    See the working 90 tonne steam shovel and working steam powered ‘power’ generating display.

    60

    • #
      David Maddison

      It’s about 2 hours drive from Melbournistan.

      20

    • #
      MichaelB

      Lake Goldsmith steam rally has been running for over 60 years now I think, and by far the best rally of steam engines, vintage machinery, and old industrial stuff in the country.

      Highly recommended, and your kids will not only love it but be educated about old Australia too.

      Don’t forget to groan (or close your eyes) as you drive past the Stockyard Hill wind farm though…

      80

  • #
    another ian

    FWIW

    “MET OFFICE SHOCK: UK Temperature Network Goes From Bad to Even Worse in Just 18 Months”

    https://wattsupwiththat.com/2025/09/16/met-office-shock-uk-temperature-network-goes-from-bad-to-even-worse-in-just-18-months/

    90

  • #
    David Maddison

    ABC (Australia) (far Left taxpayer funded media organisation) journalist John Lyons had an interaction with President TRUMP which didn’t go well for Lyons. Out of nowhere Lyons asked TRUMP about his business dealings as President to which TRUMP explained that his kids were running the businesses.

    I bet Lyons never asked Biden about his business dealings.

    You can see three short videos at:

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-17/donald-trump-john-lyons-exchange-before-anthony-albanese-meeting/105781624

    150

  • #
    another ian

    FWIW – for the covid record

    “‘PFIZERGATE’: EU Commission Forced To Admit That COVID ‘Vaccines’ Were Given to the Population Without ‘Complete Safety Data’ ”

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/09/pfizergate-eu-commission-forced-admit-that-covid-vaccines/

    160

  • #
    KP

    SMH is all for Australia’s internet censorship-

    “Studies show young Australians are turning to social media as a primary source of news. As hate speech, misinformation, and toxic commentary proliferate, many young users are left without the critical skills to navigate and interpret harmful content they encounter online. This is why the social media ban to protect young Australians must be applauded….Social media has become a key tool of governing for Trump, who uses his own TruthSocial site to spread his rhetoric. Globally, social media platforms have experienced a proliferation of extremist views, with algorithms steering foul content to young, vulnerable users.”

    So, social media is bad, and Trump uses it for his propaganda… Pretty well sums up SMH editorial view.

    The Govt is slightly different, they’ve realised a mandatory Age ID for all Australians will hurt them, so its all fuzzy lines at the moment. They’ve hit the “Guilty until you prove yourself innocent’ system again, the common one for modern Western Govts.

    “While the platforms must satisfy the watchdog that they have taken “reasonable steps” to remove the accounts of the under-16s, there will be no legally enforceable standard for accuracy. ESafety will be able to launch legal action if platforms cannot demonstrate they have taken the required steps, which may differ from platform to platform, with fines of up to $50 million for breaches.”

    Aussie, the test dummy for the world..

    100

    • #
      Graeme No.3

      In 1971 the SMH announced that the Great Barrier Reef would be dead by Christmas.
      Glad to see they have maintained their usual practice.

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    • #
      David Maddison

      Social media has become a key tool of governing for Trump, who uses his own TruthSocial site to spread his rhetoric.

      They’ve inadvertently admitted that it’s essentially about suppressing TRUMP and other conservative viewpoints.

      130

      • #
        David Maddison

        The original claim was that it was meant to prevent cyber bullying.

        Now it’s about suppressing non-Leftist opinions.

        The children will still get plenty of Leftist opinions from their “teachers” however but have no online source of conservative viewpoints. And most kids don’t read books or visit libraries so they’ll become highly indoctrinated drones with no access to alternative opinions, as is the plan.

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      • #
        Froggy

        To me David that has been the end game for a while……”orange man bad”

        30

      • #
        Hanrahan

        Truth Social wouldn’t exist if the keepers of faith hadn’t banned him from Twitter.

        10

    • #
      Steve

      SMH is all for Australia’s internet censorship

      Of course they are. All legacy/corporate media outlets are on board with censoring social media, because social media is absolutely DESTROYING their ability to control the narrative and turn a profit. Social media is doing to them what eCommerce did to brick-and-mortar bookstores, what ride-sharing apps have done to taxi cab companies, and what Turbo Tax and other software have done to tax preparers.

      They are dinosaurs who actually know what that big red streak in the sky is and are doing everything in their power to stop it. Too bad for them that the asteroid is coming whether they like it or not.

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    • #
      Steve

      many young users are left without the critical skills to navigate and interpret harmful content they encounter online

      That might be the funniest sentence I have read in weeks. It’s not the young kids who lack online savvy to sort the wheat from the chaff that are the problem. It’s the boomers who are glued to MSNBC, Fox News, ABC, SMH, BBC, etc. and eat up everything they serve with blind credulity. The #1 source of misinformation by miles and miles and miles is corporate media, not social media, and older demographics absorb it without an ounce of skepticism.

      61

      • #
        yarpos

        Based pn my experience talking with a 100 + mostly boomer car club members, that right there is at best a poor generalization and at worst a complete load of cobblers

        80

      • #
        David Maddison

        I think that’s a very boomerphobic comment Steve. All the pro-freedom people I know are boomers and I expect most readers and writers here as well.

        90

        • #
          Steve

          I’ve got no problem with Boomers. I am very nearly one myself (I’m an old GenXer who just missed the cutoff by a few years). But the demographics are undeniable. Corporate media is almost exclusively consumed by boomers and the last vestiges of the greatest generation. Only about 10% of the cable news audience in the USA is in the prime demographic for advertisers (25-54 years old). The other 90% is 55+ year olds (under 25’s barely even register in the cable news ratings). I assume the demographics in Australia are similar.

          10

      • #
        Strop

        It’s not the young kids who lack online savvy to sort the wheat from the chaff

        It’s got nothing to do with being online savvy. The line about not having the “critical skills to navigate and interpret harmful content” is about being able to process info with wisdom. Not navigating the internet. It wouldn’t matter if the info is in a book, on TV, the teaching at school, or the internet. It’s not the medium. It’s being able to smell a rat, understand motive, think critically, and not be exposed to certain content that is the issue.

        older demographics absorb it without an ounce of skepticism

        You’ll have to explain why the ABC’s ratings have fallen so much. Especially radio. My guess is it’s the Boomers and Gen-X ers who aren’t willing to absorb without question.

        No group has a monopoly on critical thinking. Confirmation bias is a problem when getting people to think critically.

        00

    • #
      Steve

      Social media has become a key tool of governing for Trump,

      The horror!

      The American president … governing? How dare he!

      who uses his own TruthSocial site to spread his rhetoric

      LOL

      Truth Social only has about two million active users. Trump may have made some decent money off it when it launched, but it’s reach is TINY (Facebook measures it users in billions, Twitter in hundreds of millions). If he’s spreading misinformation there, he’s not spreading it very far.

      80

      • #
        yarpos

        Mmmm only abou 5x CNNs viewership. The real point is how much it gets reported on by other media and the ability to control your message without filters and editing. LOL indeed.

        40

        • #
          Steve

          Whenever Trump decides to retire his thumbs, that place is going to dry up and blow away like a tumbleweed. His official account is the ONLY reason people still use it.

          00

  • #
  • #
    RickWill

    Two bits of news on the wind energy front for Victoria yesterday.

    Premier in China renegotiating Dan’s belt and road initiative for Chinese build, own operate infrastructure to rob Victorians forever.

    It soon followed that the proposed offshore wind auctions were cancelled:

    The Victorian government has postponed the auction process for offshore wind farms in Gippsland.
    The auction, which would have allowed developers planning offshore wind projects to bid for government support, was expected this month.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-16/victoria-offshore-wind-auction-delay/105778708

    I expect the European and Australian groups will be cast aside for Chinese developers to get first look because they have the capital and need to have guaranteed returns.

    Getting Chinese investment into grid assets will be challenging if they look at what is happening to the grid. Rooftops are robbing demand with SA the best example:
    https://i0.wp.com/wattsupwiththat.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SA-SW-1758059793.0151.png?fit=%2C&quality=75&ssl=1
    Wind could have easily supplied the demand through the day but had to be heavily curtailed when the rooftops robbed their demand.

    The only source of generation in Australia that can grow without restraint is rooftops. Rooftops remove their demand from the grid. So the grid generators lose volume as each rooftop comes on line. Are the Chinese looking at this? They are certainly benefiting from the money going into solar and batteries for Australian households.

    90

    • #
      Ronin

      Which one can be curtailed the easiest.

      10

      • #
        ozfred

        Having had a smart electric meter which was only randomly communicating its data back to the power supplier (advantage of the nearest neighbor being a kilometer away), I had the opportunity to talk with the technician installing the new meter (now with TWO antenna). And if the new antennae don’t work properly, then more sensitive versions are available.
        Communications is a mesh, with access required to both the meter “network” and the internet.
        The important bit of information was that the only thing under supplier control was the ability to restrict exports to the grid. In other words, short of losing grid power or voltage rises to above the inverter levels, the solar panels and inverter would continue to supply power available “behind the meter”.

        00

      • #
        RickWill

        It is not a matter of easy. It is a matter of economics. The grid solar has very limited opportunity to recover any costs from negative wholesale prices below the value of LGCs so they pull out first. Then wind pulls out next. The small amount of gas is being directed to stay connected and get compensated for that.

        Rooftops have no price signal so only back off if the street voltage reaches the allowable limit.

        10

  • #
    Greg in NZ

    From sociocryospheric hysteria – all glaciers must be equal – to symphony for the seize – note phony spelling of seas.

    A young NZ-Samoan, Joshua Pearson, was granted finances to compose a tune for the planet, so he seized on the seas surrounding Tuvalu (not that he’s ever been there) as that polyp in a coral mine will be “under water by 2150” if we don’t follow Greta Inc.

    2150 now? Have we been granted a reprieve or is it merely yet another govt-sponsored B-grade RNZ misspelling typo error error error…

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/concert/programmes/three-to-seven/audio/2019004038/composing-in-a-changing-climate

    Drawing on Tuvalu’s dot.tv adoption of all things 1 and 0 (sounds binary to me) the ‘composition’ is called Digital Nation: Navigating the changing environment – whoa hang on, is it the environment or the climate that’s changing? – Joshua’s piece sounded like (the 30-seconds intro I listened to so you don’t have to) a blend of electronic synthesised whale screeching on a violin or Frank Zappa played backwards on half-speed, or even slower.

    If this is our musical future . . .

    50

    • #
      John in NZ

      Tide gauge in Tuvalu shows 3.20 =/- 1.72mm/yr sea level rise.
      https://sealevel.info/MSL_graph.php?id=732-012

      No sign of acceleration.

      That would be about 16 inches (400mm) by 2150 AD.

      Coral growth can easily keep up with that rate of rise.

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      • #
        Hanrahan

        Coral growth can easily keep up with that rate of rise.

        When the GBR started it was a shallow fringing reef on the then edge of the continent, the continental shelf. As the ice melted and the seas rose, slowly, the coral grew up, on top of the broken coral. We now have bommies with sheer edges to the depths 50m below. If a bommie toppled like one of the Apostles did, it would be gone forever. The coral could not regrow from those depths.

        Rising sea levels would just mean less bleaching.

        The first time I swam the reef I recall vividly the feeling of swimming over the coral trying not to scratch my stomach then getting to the edge and there was nothing below me, the sea bed was too far down to see. I felt like I was flying, strange feeling.

        20

    • #
      Ronin

      ” as that polyp in a coral mine will be “under water by 2150” if we don’t follow Greta Inc.”

      Clown obviously knows nowt about coral.

      40

  • #
    Hanrahan

    Jessica Tarlov: We need to have a conversation.

    Gutfeld: Charlie was having a conversation and got shot.

    60

  • #
    David Maddison

    Noam Chomsky (1998): “The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum—even encourage the more critical and dissident views. That gives people the sense that there’s free thinking going on, while all the time the presuppositions of the system are being reinforced by the limits put on the range of the debate.”

    50

    • #
      el+gordo

      Different levels of consciousness I can accept, but limiting freedom of thought only works to a point.

      Beijing has kept the masses passive and obedient through material progress, but now that has dried up and people are becoming unruly.

      The world has changed since 1998, everyone has a phone and are fully connected to everyone else. Gossip and innuendo, conspiracy theories and misinformation, we are fully informed.

      They say that 3i/Atlas is 50 kilometres wide and believe it or not, from a different direction comes an even bigger one.

      01

    • #
      Steve

      Taking a wrecking ball to the Overton Window is arguably Trump’s greatest strength. He says things that you aren’t supposed to say in this day and age, and doesn’t give a flying fig if it upsets people. In doing so, he gives others courage to do the same.

      20

    • #
      Dry Liberal

      Hey DM, any chance you could answer my question at 18.1.1.1 yesterday?

      00

  • #
    David Maddison

    Here is an excellent Australian short movie (15 mins) called Utopia (by Kosta Nikas, 2019) about what it will probably be like in Australia’s near future and that of other Nanny States. It will definitely happen if conservatives remain silent.

    So let’s establish or build up an existing pro-freedom conservative party and get on with it.

    I urge you to find 15 mins to watch this movie.

    https://youtu.be/vJYaXy5mmA8

    50

  • #
    Earl

    The green dream is still alive and burning ever brightly. As already mentioned in the past LG have been addressing a burning issue with some of their solar energy batteries since around 2020 when the problem started to manifest. I saw the ads they had occasionally run on tv suddenly become more frequent and more graphic with actual video of a battery on fire but didn’t realise the behind-the-scenes tussle that the ACCC was waging to get the business to act. According to AI:

    “LG Energy Solution Australia has entered into a court-enforceable undertaking with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to significantly increase efforts to locate and remediate faulty LG solar energy storage system (ESS) batteries, which pose a fire risk due to potential internal short-circuiting. This action follows a proposed compulsory recall notice issued by the Assistant Treasurer in February 2024 due to concerns that LG had not taken satisfactory action to prevent injuries, particularly as around 4,400 affected batteries remained unlocated.”

    So just as last year’s fire risk got more concerted attention along comes a new one with today’s announcement that:

    “A popular Tesla-branded home battery has been urgently recalled across Australia after alarming reports of units catching fire and damaging homes.”

    Roll on barbie season.

    50

    • #
      Chad

      Tesla said the battery cells affected were supplied from a third-party supplier.

      Tesla will remotely deactivate affected Powerwall 2 systems that are online to mitigate any risk of overheating until the replacement can be carried out.

      It is not impossible that some of those cells were supplied by LG,
      Tesla have certainly used them in the past.
      And i would be uncomfortable with any external party having control over my personal equipment
      Remember, a storage battery can be a very effective and powerful incendary device if the BMS is manipulated, or overcharged and thermal protections are disabled.

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        Graeme4

        The “Tesla big battery” in SA used Samsung cells, because Tesla said it couldn’t supply that many batteries in its contracted time.

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    Dennis

    Green hydrogen out, billions of dollars of taxpayer’s monies wasted already, and now;

    A brave new world where planes and trucks are fuelled with low-carbon liquid fuel made from Australian canola oil is the centrepiece of the Albanese government’s blockbuster new investment in tackling climate change.

    The Albanese government will announce on Wednesday it is investing $1.1 billion to help unlock the economic opportunities on offer from low carbon liquid fuels.

    Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the liquid fuels investment aimed to deliver sustainable fuels that can “power our trucks, cargo ships and planes into the future.

    “The global net zero transformation is an enormous economic opportunity for Australia and producing low carbon liquid fuels is an important part of that opportunity,’’ he told news.com.au.

    “Becoming a world leading producer of low carbon liquid fuels is a really big chance for Australia to be part of a really important growing global supply chain.”

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    • #
      David Maddison

      It’s odd that all these fantasy projects cost $1 billion or more.

      Follow the money trail.

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      • #
        KP

        ‘Follow the money trail.’ … Cannon-Brooke or Twiggy at the end of it I expect! Jut astounding how our money gets thrown at these people!

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  • #
    John Connor II

    Save money, live better

    https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9dbaf7e663a11178c7eb0be7c8bf123/919cee00574fc869-81/s1280x1920/ecbef4051b4863ae4010b300fe94b1169823bc8e.jpg

    No, you’ll serve me free of charge like you used to!
    The yanks need to watch the UK where the consumer backlash forced stores to bring back proper service.

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    • #
      Sambar

      The cost of doing business is providing service. Although places like supermarkets remove their “service” the prices DO NOT drop to reflect this. Just another way to add to the billion dollar profits.
      Remember how getting rid of service station attendants was going to lower the cost of fuel.. Doesn’t seem to have worked out very well.
      Likewise the mailing out of paper bills was part of “doing business” now in many instances this attracts an additional charge.

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      • #
        yarpos

        Noticed a service station in Lilydale has gone to a full US style pay at the pump operation. Couldnt tell if its staffed at all. Its at a busy intersection so no geekage time. Under a generic label like UPay or similar.

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        • #
          Sambar

          Seems to be a trend even with servos in our district offering 24 hour fuel supply by swiping the card after hours. Maybe trials to get rid of people altogether.
          Had an interesting encounter at a bank a couple of days ago. tried to deposit a cheque at the counter, teller refused to accept this deposit and instead instructed me to go out into the street and deposit it through their ATM. Demanded a staff member come out and walk me through the process (Just to prove a point). I am actively looking at changing banks but really they will all wind up the same eventually.
          This bank should have a new advertising campaign showing how doing your banking in the street is “safe” “secure” and “quick” none of which this new system actually will be.

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            KP

            “Demanded a staff member come out and walk me through the process (Just to prove a point).”

            Yes, if they charged me $5 for a checkout clown I would be the slowest old fart getting groceries up onto the counter ever! …and after that I’d pull out my purse and my wallet to slowly count out the exact change..

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          Hanrahan

          In a previous life I ran a servo, a real servo: Start the pump running, check the oil, sell a pint of 30, “your top hose is soft, can I book you in?” Replace the cap and bring the change back to the driver.

          And No! it wasn’t hard sell, old Holdens/Fords needed constant checking. I would have saved many motorists an expensive repair, and they never thanked me. lol

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    Earl

    From the curiouser and curiouser files.

    With all the immigration toing and froing going on I wonder how many people realise it is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday today (17 September 1950).

    Q. What made me think of this? A. Walking out of a Brisbane suburban shopping mall and one of those floor stand rolling advertisement signs presented a picture of him underneath a heading wishing him happy birthday. Indeed best birthday wishes to the gentleman, and many more.

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    Ian

    “Interestingly a headline in The Australian states heatwave death numbers far above last century, research shows. As Australia’s landmark climate change forecast shows heatwaves are set to spike, new research shows heatwaves killed more than 1000 people from 2016 to 2019.

    New research from Melbourne’s Monash University shows heatwaves killed 1009 people in the four-year span. That compares to 4555 deaths since 1900.

    The research comes as Australia’s major national climate risk assessment projects the number of severe to extreme heatwave days to increase from four per year to 18 if temperatures rise 3C.

    Poorer, older and disabled people are more likely to die because of a heatwave, the researchers found.”

    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/heatwave-death-numbers-far-above-last-century-research-shows/news-story/1e59e6d3303e7bd1d79c8d0e61d51344

    When The Austtralian, a newspaper strongly in support of climate sceptics, publishes an article that leans strongly toward the climate believers perhaps it is time climate sceptics had a reappraisal of their views

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    • #
      Strop

      There are a number of factors contributing to increased deaths in recent years than say last century. It’s not just heat related.

      Population growth. More people, more death.
      We have 5 times the population as in 1920, more than 3 times the population as at 1950, nearly double the population at 1980.
      We also had a largely young population through last century.

      Air-conditioning wasn’t as prevalent last century with lower deaths for really not much of a difference in temperature.
      e.g. In Melbourne the average days per year above 40 deg was 2 for most of last century and was still only 2.2 from 2009 to 2019.

      A notable factor would be a good chunk of the population now being susceptible due to having well exceeded average life spans. Just like dementia is far more prevalent these days. Instead of dying at 75 from a heart attack, due to better health care we now have people dying at 90 from dementia.

      When The Austtralian, a newspaper strongly in support of climate sceptics, publishes an article that leans strongly toward the climate believers perhaps it is time climate sceptics had a reappraisal of their views

      It’s an article about a research paper. I’m not surprised The Australian published it because unlike the ABC they don’t typically try to hide things that could be construed as not supporting a narrative. If you are a regular reader of the Australian you would have seen through the Voice debate many articles published by authors of both sides. Not the typical case elsewhere.
      This is not an article that leans toward climate believers vs sceptics. We know more people will die from heat if there is more heat. That’s not the debate. The debate is why there is recorded warming and are the catastrophic predictions sound predictions. On the death stats there will also be a debate about what the figures actually mean, such as my above comments about factors contributing to an increase in deaths, and whether it’s purely warming or whether it’s demographics or a combo.

      Did you take note of Jo’s chart the other day showing there are far more deaths from cold than heat in Australia?
      https://joannenova.com.au/wp-content/cheng-australia-2018-4-ga1_lr-col.gif

      Deaths from cold were 10 times the rate of deaths from heat. So, based on your logic, if the Guardian writes an article about less deaths from cold due to warming, then “climate believers” will need to reappraise their views.
      But it only works one way of course. Climate change means more cold and more heat. Global warming doesn’t actually mean more warmth. Did I get that right? 😉

      Interestingly the claim is made that the extreme heat deaths are more than the combined total deaths directly caused by all other natural hazards. They make this claim despite cold being a natural hazard, and cold resulting in far more deaths than heat. It’s a false claim being pushed by “climate believers”.

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      yarpos

      Odd they are talking absolute number not per 100,000 with a backdrop of rapid population growth and urbanisation.

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      another ian

      Or a good time to have a look at whether The Australian has gone full “YSM”

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      Steve of Cornubia

      We were told large numbers of people died from Covid but, when the actual data was drilled, they were including people who died from heart attacks, falling off ladders, liver disease, etc but happened to test positive for Covid. This was to jack up the numbers, keep the scare going and get more people queuing at the jabbatoir.

      I have been sceptical of ‘official’ stats ever since, especially when those stats are used to justify a pre-existing agenda.

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        KP

        “I have been sceptical of ‘official’ stats ever since, especially when those stats are used to justify a pre-existing agenda.”

        Definitely! How does heat kill you and what defines death by heat? If the temperature is below 37deg and you die, do they call that a heat death? I’d need to see a lot more medical definitions that were beyond arguments before I believed propaganda article like that.

        “New research from Melbourne’s Monash University shows heatwaves killed 1009 people in the four-year span.”

        Quite laughable compared to how many the Covid vaxx killed!

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    another ian

    FWIW – on the EV front

    “Not a Bad Thing: Remember All Those Electric Buses Kamala Paid For and We Didn’t Get?”

    https://hotair.com/tree-hugging-sister/2025/09/16/not-a-bad-thing-remember-all-those-electric-buses-kamala-paid-for-and-we-didnt-get-n3806873

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    John Connor II

    Weird Wednesday: the Ratfish has 8 rows of teeth on its forehead

    The spotted ratfish, a relative of sharks, measures about two feet long and is found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. The species belongs to a group of cartilaginous fish called chimaeras (also known as ghost sharks), and its males have a distinct feature called a tenaculum. This appendage juts out from the ratfish’s forehead and is used to grasp females during mating. What’s more, the tenaculum seems to be covered in sharp, retractable teeth.

    https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-deep-sea-fish-has-teeth-on-its-forehead-and-it-uses-them-for-sex-180987300/

    Go on creationists, explain that one! 😆

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  • #
    yarpos

    EV market reality German style

    https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/09/evs_more_hype_than_reality.html

    Shirley these games wouldnt happen here?

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    • #
      KP

      The reality of what Govt thinks the EV market is like is shown here-

      ” generous depreciation rules, allowing up to 75% of the purchase cost to be claimed in the first year.”

      They know the cars will be worthless in 5 years.

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    another ian

    FWIW

    “House Hearing with Meteorologist Chris Martz & Dr. Roger Pielke Jr. on Playing God with the Weather – A Disastrous Forecast”

    https://wattsupwiththat.com/2025/09/16/house-hearing-with-meteorologist-chris-martz-dr-roger-pielke-jr-on-playing-god-with-the-weather-a-disastrous-forecast/

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  • #
    Rafe Champion

    EVENING GRIDWATCH WED 17 SEPT

    AT 7 PM EASTERN TIME IN AUSTRALIA THE WIND WAS CONTRIBUTING 11% OF DEMAND IN THE EAST. CAPACITY FACTOR 17%
    AND 10% IN THE WEST.
    https://www.nem-watch.info/widgets/RenewEconomy/

    TEXAS
    https://www.gridstatus.io/live/ercot
    4 AM WIND 26% SOLAR 0

    BRITAIN
    https://grid.iamkate.com/
    10 AM WIND 52% SOLAR 3%

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    another ian

    FWIW

    https://patriotpost.us/cartoons/36213

    Spirit alive in Oz?

    (Via SDA)

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    another ian

    FWIW

    “Fugitive Scientist Behind Vaccine and Autism Studies Arrested for Stealing $1 Million From CDC

    Danish scientist Poul Thorsen — co-author of influential 2002 and 2003 studies often cited to dismiss a vaccine-autism link — was arrested in Germany and may be extradited to the U.S. on charges of embezzling nearly $1 million from the CDC. His arrest raises new questions about the integrity of the studies used to shape vaccine policy worldwide.”

    https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/poul-thorsen-scientist-behind-vaccine-autism-studies-arrested-stole-one-million-cdc/

    Via SDA

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    another ian

    FWIW –

    “An Examination of a University Professor in 2025”

    “Tamar Shirinian is the latest in a long list of academics that have been canceled in recent days. Here’s what she posted.

    Rather than focus on that, let’s take a look at her academic credentials:”

    “The fact that nitwits like this can get a Ph.D. based on such nonsensical fluff is an insight into how incredibly broken “higher” education in America and Canada is.”

    https://www.smalldeadanimals.com/2025/09/16/an-examination-of-a-university-professor-in-2025/

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    Dave in the States

    https://x.com/jameshartline/status/1968047290238845331?s=58

    And Drumroll please (make sure you have an abundance of popcorn before reading): The archives continue to bring it. Armed Queers SLC leader Ermiya Fanaeian, organizer for the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSLweb) AND University of Utah Faculty staff, according to his profile on his Twitter account in 2022.

    The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) is a communist political party in the United States. PSL formed in 2004, when its members split from the Workers World Party…

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    Dave in the States

    https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/09/marxist-lgbtq-paramilitary-group-utah-under-investigation-fbi/

    A group under investigation by the FBI for having potential foreknowledge of Charlie Kirk’s assassination has a leader with some damning ties to both the federal government and the United Nations.

    10