In Victoriastan (Australia) the current ruler, Jacinta Allan (Dictator Dan’s loyal puppet) temporarily made all public transport free for April and May followed by half price fares until the end of the year.
It was supposedly to avert the fuel crisis and not a stunt for the November election.
No one seems to be concerned at the cost of all this “free stuff” in Australia’s most heavily indebted and dysfunctional state. It will no doubt cost billions, but the voting masses neither understand or care, neither does the non-Opposition Liberal Party.
In fact, they Liberals are also offering free or cheap transport stuff as part of their election platform. Summarised from Gulag AI:
Liberal Party Public Transport Policy:
$2 Daily Cap: A pledge to cap daily metropolitan Myki fares (Zones 1 and 2) at $2 per day for full-fare passengers and $1 for concession card holders.
Healthcare Workers: A promise to provide completely free metropolitan and V/Line public transport for over 260,000 Victorian healthcare workers.
V/Line Fares: Proposals to slash V/Line fares by 50% and offer completely free travel on regional lines if a train is replaced by a bus.
So come to Victoriastan, it’s lots of free or cheap stuff for everyone.
The next election will be about which Uniparty factional voters can vote themselves the most free stuff from the public treasury.
“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits…”
Please DM,
Can you check your quotes for spelling.
It is not ‘largess’. Correct is ‘largesse’.
I see this word with wrong spelling several times a week.
Ta. Geoff S
Both largesse and largess are acceptable spellings for the same noun, which means extreme generosity, liberal giving, or a generous gift of money.
You can verify their definitions and usage notes directly through resources like Merriam-Webster or the Cambridge Dictionary.
Here is how to choose between them:
Largesse (with an “e”): This is the traditional, French-derived spelling and is by far the most common and preferred choice in modern formal writing.
Largess (no “e”): This is an accepted, simplified variant. While you will still see it in literature and various publications, it is less common today
Here is a quite interesting YouTube channel by a young European fellow, Lukas, who built his own solar powered electric boat, Helios 11, that he lives on with his girlfriend and cruises the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean. He is planning an open ocean “blue water” version to cross the Atlantic and beyond.
Electric is quite suitable for such projects and he has backup sail and plans backup ICE as well.
It’s quite impressive and a rare sight to see someone of that relative youth who is capable of building something like that with their own hands, doing the requisite calculations and implementing the relevant decision matrix.
Sorta like the van life crowd.
It’s all party lights and amazing scenery in their vlogs but the reality’s different.
All those young adults building campers with a mattress, 20l jerry can of water and a roof fan with blue light that can be seen for km’s. “It’s a professional conversion mate!” No idea. 🙄
Cramped, isolation, mould issues, legal hassles, running and maintenance costs, waste disposal…
Look at the guy’s electrical setup. HMOG..He can’t spell busbar. 🙄
Vibration, salt air and water, unbalanced cabling and loads.
No doubt he’ll be on the nightly news with a “solar boat catches fire” story.
Yes, an amusing build story, but practicality rules, or should.
Yes, aspects of his electrical installation can be criticised and people have commented. No doubt he will take note and fix it.
The point is he did this himself, is learning as he goes, is on a budget and no “experts” to advise him and is a pioneer which is more than most people of his age would want to or be prepared to do. And he has built a boat that has already travelled over 3000 km over European waterways and seas.
I think he should be lauded, not criticised.
Perhaps you can contact him and tell him how it should be done?
Don’t get me wrong DM.
I’m not knocking him because I can, but because he *could and should* have done some serious learning before starting. I’ll be the first one to praise those that do, and do the job properly.
I know, the wild blue yonder and freedom is enticing but batteries getting tossed around out on the water in a storm is a very bad situation to be in, and a fire worse.
It’s all sh#ts and giggles until it goes pear shaped.
Nope, sense and safety first. No apologies.
Would you encourage a newbie to learn by opening up a microwave oven without background research first?
I hope not.
Alan Colbeck set an early Australian inland waterway distance record for a solar-powered boat in the late 1980s/early 1990s (exact year not specified in sources, but around the time solar boating gained notice in Australia). 
He helmed the twin-hull catamaran Solecist, powered by a 12-volt outboard motor and five 45-watt Solarex solar panels. The boat cruised along the Murray River in South Australia, covering 1,826 km (about 1,135 miles) in 41 days.
I worked with Alan back in the late 70s early 80s. He was a very clever electronics technician – a former radio operator in the UK merchant navy during WWII.
He held two Guinness book records for the longest solar powered boat journeys.
I am sorry I have no photos of his boat or him,
There’s another interesting YouTuber called InTooDeep that bought a 70ft Luxury yacht “cheap” and fixed it up and converted to electric power. Not sure where he got his money as none of it seem cheap to do.
Yesterday I posted about possible basis for a class action for “poor” people to recover some of the money they have been forced to handover to more wealthy people. MS Copilot suggested a possible avenue: A class action could allege that the Clean Energy Regulator relied on unreasonable or outdated economic modelling when setting STC and LGC obligations, causing consumers—especially non‑solar, low‑income households—to bear disproportionate and unjustified costs. It would argue that the Regulator failed to consider relevant distributional impacts, resulting in an administratively unlawful burden that systematically disadvantaged a definable class of electricity consumers.
The quick estimate for STCs from “poor” to home owners with rooftop solar is $47bn.
For LGCs from “poor” to grid scale wind and solar is $19bn.
I wonder how many Labor/LNP/Green UN-party voting renters realise they have been subsidising mine and many other old white mens’ electricity bills for well over a decade.
Another interesting observation I made during the NetZero conference and previously noted was the presence of Vinnies – the charity organisation. They have been involved in the “community engagement” and the presenter pointed out that it is a hard sell to tell people thjat wind and solar farms will lower electricity bills when the obvious is occurring. Vinnies actually produce the most authorative report on rising electricity costs because they get a lot of calls from people suffering energy bill stress. This is a link to the Vinnies energy site: https://www.vinnies.org.au/national-council/advocacy/energy
Copilot advises – The Clean Energy Regulator has never warmed low income or non-solar households that they are subsidising wealthier housholds through STCs and LGCs.
Gavin Duffy presented at the NetZero conference. He is the one involved in community engagement and is conflicted over what he sees as the compelling need to save the planet but the high impost on low income and now the environmental damage in the bush.
I am registering.
Vinnies would probably help in organising a class action against the CER. It should not be up to a charitable organisation to pick up the pieces of the wreckage the CER is inflicting.
ABC far from ‘back on track’ despite news director Justin Stevens’ exit, Chris Kenny warns
The shock resignation of embattled ABC news boss Justin Stevens will not fix the organisation’s systemic “ideological bias” or prevent further editorial failures, according to Sky News presenter Chris Kenny.
May 28, 2026
Australia’s public broadcaster is far from being “back on track” despite ABC news director Justin Stevens announcing he was quitting the role, Chris Kenny has warned.
The scandal-plagued news boss, who was on a salary of $667,900, blamed personal and professional factors for his mysterious exit.
The announcement brings an end to Stevens’ 19-year career at the ABC, including four years spent as news director.
Perhaps all the staff of “their ABC” will go on strike in support of their ousted leader.
Who knows, with a bit of luck they could be on strike for a year or two…or ten.
It’s nice to dream sometimes.
‘ABC’s outgoing director of news Justin Stevens didn’t appear before the hearing in Canberra after his sudden resignation yesterday.
‘Mr Stevens’ announced his exit less than 24 hours before the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was scheduled to face questions at 9am in Parliament House.’ (The Nightly)
When Marks was questioned today about Steven’s’ sudden resignation and whether he was pushed, Marks didn’t explicitly deny that Steven’s might have been encouraged to leave.
Marks has known for awhile that Stevens wanted to quit, too much flack. Being grilled by the Senate might have ruined his future career prospects, so he voluntarily jumped.
In the State of Origin game between Queensland & New South Wales. There was a send off and the game was 13 versus 12 men.
With New South Wales making a come back Nathan Cleary scores a try. But… did anyone see the bear hit in the back by a wayward pass from dummy half that preceded the try?
Not likely as the replay lacks that particular clip.
So why are the commentators and players not talking about the bear?
The most amazing thing occurs post game, Gus Gould is speechless and advises it would be unwise for him to comment.
Little wonder our approved Climate Experts remain silent.
Today’s Coffee and Covid has a look at the US asylum claims industry –
Starts here
“Yesterday, CBS ran a story under a boring headline designed to make your glazed eyeballs glide right past it, “DHS memo directs ICE to ramp up asylum-related fraud cases.” But buried deep in its bland beige exterior was a fairly explosive piece of news: the federal government is now authorized to civilly or criminally prosecute the activist lawyers who have long been coaching their clients to lie.”
“OH, YOU MEAN PEOPLE IN ACTUAL DANGER FOR THEIR LIVES? Trump to admit 10,000 more white South Africans as ‘emergency’ refugees after racial violence claims. Trump claimed the South African government is inciting ‘racially motivated violence’ against White Afrikaners.
“The president has claimed white farmers and Afrikaners are experiencing a “white genocide” enabled by South Africa’s government, which officials and prominent Afrikaners have vehemently denied.”
Well, just open the door to all white SAFs and see how many come.. If RSA is still a great place to live there won’t be many. The ’10-pound Pom’ did a lot for NZ in the 1950s-60s, and I’m sure a few hundred thousand white South Africans would be better than a lot of immigrants the USA is letting in.
Stories from people I know still living there suggest a lot would love to leave but can no longer afford it.
Are we living “1984” yet?
Paul Joseph Watson reporting on a Belgium man who is being prosecuted for telling the truth about immigration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf89IDphl6Y
We are bombarded with “progressive” ideas.
A man is a woman is a man.
Politicians and bureaucrats can’t/won’t define what a woman is.
Diversity is our greatest strength.
Then we have this…
The Australian Government is looking at reviewing laws to fight climate change misinformation and disinformation.
We all know who will be targeted.
Anyone going against the narrative will be in the cross hairs.
The narrative that has failed on so many predictions that makes a politicians lies pale in comparison.
Every day when I read about a new super-duper technology in storage, stability control, network support, inertia, etc, I’m reminded about Ansett, which collapsed in part due to Ansett having a wide variety of technologies which overcomplicated its operational costs. Our renewables super-duper grid is going to make Ansett’s logistics look like a set of Lego.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday ordered the Ministry of Communications to restore international internet access to its pre-January status, his spokesman said, while IRGC-affiliated media questioned his authority to make such a decision.
Now the regime needs to stand down and have fair and free elections plus hand over all of the nuclear materials.
Don’t let the 40,000 Iranians slaughtered by the regime die for nothing.
I wonder if Leftists, who overwhelmingly support the brutal, misogynisic regime actually realise it was Leftists that helped install the present regime in 1979, only to be slaughtered themselves once they fulfilled their usual role of being ignorant useful idiots?
Leftists were purged between 1981 and 1983 and then in 1988 Khomeini issued a fatwa ordering the mass execution of thousands of imprisoned leftists and political opposition members. Stupid useful idiots, as usual.
History will record the early 21st century as the era of the “Great Betrayal.” We witness a profound moral collapse within Western academia, media and political movements — a collapse defined by a deafening silence regarding the systematic butchery of the Iranian people by the Islamic Republic, contrasted against the ever-present, mobilized rage against the State of Israel’s war in Gaza. This disparity is not an accident of geography or a result of ignorance. It is a calculated, ideological alignment. The Western Left — comprising Marxists, post-modernists and self-described “progressives” — has abandoned the Enlightenment principles of liberty, secularism and universal human rights in favor of a “Red-Green” alliance with Islamic totalitarianism.
We must confront the brutal truth: The Left’s obsession with Israel can be seen as a cover for deep-seated antisemitism and a hatred of Western civilization. The Left has been supporting movements that are increasingly anti-Western, anti-capitalist and anti-Zionist. The Iranian people, who yearn for a secular, pro-Western democracy, support a movement that does not align with the modern Left.
The Left perceives the Islamic Republic not as a theocratic tyranny, but as a victim of “American imperialism.” Consequently, they view the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom not as a liberation movement, but as a “color revolution” instigated by Western intelligence.
Ukraine has been entombing its 330 kV power transformers in huge anti-drone and anti-missile sarcophagi. But here is how Russian fiber-optic drones have been “threading the needle” in taking them out by deftly passing through the obstacles to the main transformer rooms themselves:
Master filigree work of Russian fiber optic drone operators who navigate through the high voltage power maze and manage to hit the main transformer unit.
“Let there be light,” said the pilot and punctured the transformer.
The fiber-optic FPV drone “KVN” strikes the 330/110/10 kV auto-transformer inside the hastily constructed sarcophagus at the “Sumy-Severnaya” 330 kV substation.
The FPV drone operator ignores targets in the form of construction equipment, rushing after the main prize and hitting electrical equipment, the equivalent value of which is estimated at hundreds of millions of rubles.
Kyiv is not a military industrial complex and the Ruskies have warned foreign diplomatic staff to leave the capital because they are going to flatten it.
Diplomats have given the finger to that.
More importantly, the logistics road to Crimea is being cut off and the end is near.
Do you deny that the road to Crimea is being cut? Drones are patrolling it selecting military vehicles, allowing civilian traffic to pass. The Kirsch Bridge is weakened and the train barges that cross the strait are kaput.
“And while the Ukrainian side likes to cheer on the recent modest successes on the Russian logistics line there, they completely ignore the parallel attacks Russia has begun on Ukraine’s own rear, which goes from Kiev to the Polish resupply corridor in the far west of the country:
Ukrainian transport companies’ pages report that Russian drones are attacking cargo trucks on the Kyiv-Chop highway. This is the main logistical route to western Ukraine. It is used to transport weapons and aid from the Polish airfield in Rzeszów and from Germany. Cargo trains carrying similar military supplies also travel on this route.”
“ANYTHING INVOLVING AFRICA IS BURIED IN LAYERS AND LAYERS OF LIES AND CONFUSION, SO I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE TUNING OUT, SORRY: The Ebola Story You’re Getting Is True. It’s Also Built to Be Forgotten. There is an Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo. People are dying. The official account is accurate and incomplete, and the missing parts are the ones that explain everything.”
“The Ebola Story You’re Getting Is True. It’s Also Built to Be Forgotten.
There is an Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo. People are dying. The official account is accurate and incomplete, and the missing parts are the ones that explain everything.”
Our GP recommended we get an RSV shot each. (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). It just became free for over-75s and Aborigines.
We did. We spent the next 2 days hammered by adverse side effects. Sleepiness, body pain, mental lassitude. Reactions youngsters do not often get, but they still profess knowledge.
Internet search for RSV side effects demonstrated yet again how the vaccine authorities have lost the plot. The writing at Federal Dept of Health sites is like treacle. Thousands of words, near zero information. Over and over “Safe and Effective” in a mash of bland propaganda.The inquiring reader is locked out of technical detail. This scientist was told of registration procedures to be filled in, no promise of acceptance, before any Chemistry was to be made available. Even medicos have barriers to entry.
This is for RSV. I took a look at Covid vaccines. Nowhere did I find a mention of global reports of adverse effects. The reader is invited to believe that there are none, or very few.
This bland propaganda approach is not to be tolerated. We all live in a world where bad things happen. Our Health Dept is required by ethics to tell the truth. This is not the same as writing turgid essays to help spread or avoid blame when things do go wrong medically.
Current chatter is that we have too many bureaucrats. Read their junk to see if you agree. Geoff S
“Our Health Dept is required by ethics to tell the truth.”
Only if they get caught out not lying but by omission, not quite telling the whole truth. Words are specifically chosen to allow interpretations or miss understanding.
Watch Malcolm Roberts in Senate estimates, attempt to nail down “truths” and watch how hard the responders wander around an answer without actually giving one. I am sure the health dept staff also attended the “how to evade” direct specific answers workshops.
Tell the truth eh? Means nothing in a world where there is apparently more than one truth. In fact, there can be many now that ‘truths’ are indistinguishable from opinions.
“Side effect” is a marketing term.
There are only effects.
Medical use of the term is marketing.
In the good old days, the medical system only marketed medical, with Pandemic it branched out into politics.
I just finished putting up my Hanta decorations, now I have to switch back to Ebola.
The effect of green houses gasses is catastrophic warming.
The side effect is a planet capable of sustaining life.
This has been happening for years, but now the pace is increasing, putting a brake on the US military industrial complex.
‘Japan and China led the exit, selling $47.7 billion and $41 billion worth of U.S. Treasuries in March. Luxembourg (13.7 billion), Taiwan ($12.7 billion), Saudi Arabia ($10.8 billion), India ($7.6 billion), Canada ($6.9 billion) and the United Arab Emirates ($5.8 billion) were also among the major sellers.’ (Yahoo)
EG, ever heard of the “Yen carry trade”? The world borrowed Yen at near zero rates and invested it anywhere they could get a small return.
Japan’s benchmark interest rate is currently 0.75%, the highest level since September 1995.
Even this low rate means the borrowers are selling $s to buy Yen, repaying loans. Japan owns the problem, not the US.
The yen carry trade is a financial strategy where investors borrow Japanese yen at historically low interest rates to invest in higher-yielding assets denominated in other currencies, such as U.S. Treasuries or emerging market bonds. This strategy exploits the interest rate differential, with annualized returns typically ranging from 5% to 6% on dollar-yen trades, provided the yen remains stable or depreciates.
Key dynamics include:
Mechanics: Investors borrow yen (often at near-zero rates) and convert it to foreign currencies to purchase assets with superior yields, leveraging the spread for profit.
Risks: The trade is vulnerable to yen appreciation and rising Japanese interest rates; a strengthening yen increases the cost of repaying loans, potentially wiping out gains and triggering forced liquidations.
Market Impact: Unwinds of these leveraged positions can cause significant global market volatility, leading to sharp sell-offs in equities and bonds as investors rush to repatriate funds.
Current Context: The Bank of Japan’s gradual shift away from ultra-easy monetary policy, including rate hikes, has narrowed the interest rate gap and increased the risk of a carry trade unwind, threatening global financial stability.
AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts.
The yen carry trade is unwinding primarily because rising Japanese interest rates and a strengthening yen have eliminated the profit margin that sustained the strategy for decades.
Narrowing Interest Rate Gap: The Bank of Japan has moved away from ultra-low rates, raising its policy rate from -0.1% to 0.25% in July 2023 and allowing government bond yields to surge past 1.7% in 2024. This increase in borrowing costs erodes the spread between cheap yen funding and higher-yielding foreign assets like U.S. equities and bonds.
Currency Appreciation Feedback Loop: As Japanese yields rise, the yen strengthens, forcing investors to buy back yen to repay loans. This increased demand pushes the yen higher, which further increases the cost of repaying the debt, creating a self-reinforcing spiral of forced selling and position liquidation.
Leverage Amplification: Many positions were heavily leveraged (10:1 to 20:1), meaning modest shifts in interest rates or currency values trigger margin calls and rapid deleveraging, accelerating the unwind across global markets.
While estimates suggest the core leveraged carry trade is in the hundreds of billions with broader exposure in the low trillions, analysts note this is a funding shift rather than a credit crisis, with contagion risk remaining relatively low compared to historical systemic crises.
In the end Japan, Canada and Taiwan are ruled by the USA, so they have little room to manoeuvere. Trump has certainly upset the smooth sailing of US borrowing, no-one knows what he will do next and which asset is safe.
It would have been more productive if POTUS had studied the Art of War.
“The worst thing you can possibly do in a deal is seem desperate to make it. That makes the other guy smell blood, and then you’re dead. The best thing you can do is deal from strength, and leverage is the biggest strength you can have.” (DJT)
IIRC – Another of Trump’s re-namings has gone from
“Rules for radicals” to “Rules for Republicans”
And the voters in the preliminaries for the mid-terms seem to be cleaning house his way –
“Watch Live: The WAR Zone Podcast With Wayne Allyn Root Presented by The Gateway Pundit-President Trump’s Perfect 118 for 118 Endorsement Record After More Primary Wins”
‘While only about a third of the GOP primaries for 2026 have wrapped up, Trump-endorsed candidates have emerged triumphant in 110 congressional primaries — 101 House races and nine Senate races, along with eight gubernatorial campaigns, according to a Fox News tracker — including the most hotly contested races of the cycle.
‘Among the longtime incumbents to fall foul of Trump’s electoral sway were Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), as well the president’s arch-nemesis in the House, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).’ (NY Post)
Looking at AEMO and Aneroid Energy it seems that for the last three months wind has produced at <20% CF or 2 gW or 17% demand average*. Not impressive.
Demand percentage of 17% close but the generation has averaged close to 2700GWh/month. That averages to 3.75GW. That puts CF around 27% for the 13.5GW installed capacity.
Average NEM demand is running around 23.7GW including rooftops.
There has been a number of consecutive days when wind has been well under 10% of the generation. Or less than 2GW but then there will be a good day when it averages 5GW.
Demand as the evening peak kicks in and solar dies is 27MW. Wind providing 1.7MW. So build 13.5GW of wind capacity and you get 1.7GW from when it is really needed. There is no transition. Australia is completely dependent on clapped out coal fired power stations.
The problem for wind now is that it cannot accept high negative prices because LGCs are down to $2/MWh. That means coal is forcing wind to curtail more often.
I’m having an epiphany where I’m understanding that the mega wealthy are part of the ecosystem, necessary, as are lions on the Veldt.
Of course they have more than their fair share, but what is “fair”? Some will say I have too much, I am a widower with a big house. My point is that their capital, by definition, remains stable, it cannot be moved as easily as changing a bet from red to black, return OF capital is more important than return ON capital so it is spread around. (Not talking about Musk). Whole nations (over)depend on these funds to keep operating and at a personal level they fund the banks from which we borrow to buy and do business.
‘Bowen quietly diverted funds to keep battery scheme afloat.
‘The Climate Change Minister’s home battery scheme has blown out from $2.3bn to $8.5bn, with the government quietly redirecting Clean Energy Regulator funds to keep payments flowing.’ (Oz)
“Former Senior CIA Officer With Top-Secret Clearance ARRESTED After FBI Raid Home And Seize 300 Gold Bars Worth $40 Million — Plus $2 Million Cash And 35 Luxury Watches”
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In Victoriastan (Australia) the current ruler, Jacinta Allan (Dictator Dan’s loyal puppet) temporarily made all public transport free for April and May followed by half price fares until the end of the year.
It was supposedly to avert the fuel crisis and not a stunt for the November election.
No one seems to be concerned at the cost of all this “free stuff” in Australia’s most heavily indebted and dysfunctional state. It will no doubt cost billions, but the voting masses neither understand or care, neither does the non-Opposition Liberal Party.
In fact, they Liberals are also offering free or cheap transport stuff as part of their election platform. Summarised from Gulag AI:
So come to Victoriastan, it’s lots of free or cheap stuff for everyone.
The next election will be about which Uniparty factional voters can vote themselves the most free stuff from the public treasury.
210
Trust and believe in your appointed caring pollies oh ever faithful ones. Believe brother, believe!
Psstt…I have just the book for you:
https://imgbox.com/3NgzfbST
I’ll need my off-grid camper more than a polly and Hopium pills before the elections.😎
20
Please DM,
Can you check your quotes for spelling.
It is not ‘largess’. Correct is ‘largesse’.
I see this word with wrong spelling several times a week.
Ta. Geoff S
60
I honestly see this word spelled at all once a year at most. You hang out in more eroodite circles than me.
24
Pedants [another word seldom written] should be ignored. 🙂
Note: The site is playing up like a second hand lawnmower.
21
In further news,
33
You’ve learnt something.
11
Geoff, it is a quote so I quote it exactly as per the source, no alterations to original material.
32
Government largesse is a good thing when people are feeling the pinch and the Liberals would be mad not to jump onboard.
14
Here is a quite interesting YouTube channel by a young European fellow, Lukas, who built his own solar powered electric boat, Helios 11, that he lives on with his girlfriend and cruises the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean. He is planning an open ocean “blue water” version to cross the Atlantic and beyond.
Electric is quite suitable for such projects and he has backup sail and plans backup ICE as well.
It’s quite impressive and a rare sight to see someone of that relative youth who is capable of building something like that with their own hands, doing the requisite calculations and implementing the relevant decision matrix.
https://youtube.com/@lukas-truenorthyachts
60
As Europe collapses, he is well placed to remain free and independent living off-grid and off-continent.
60
Sorta like the van life crowd.
It’s all party lights and amazing scenery in their vlogs but the reality’s different.
All those young adults building campers with a mattress, 20l jerry can of water and a roof fan with blue light that can be seen for km’s. “It’s a professional conversion mate!” No idea. 🙄
Cramped, isolation, mould issues, legal hassles, running and maintenance costs, waste disposal…
Look at the guy’s electrical setup. HMOG..He can’t spell busbar. 🙄
Vibration, salt air and water, unbalanced cabling and loads.
No doubt he’ll be on the nightly news with a “solar boat catches fire” story.
Yes, an amusing build story, but practicality rules, or should.
41
Yes, aspects of his electrical installation can be criticised and people have commented. No doubt he will take note and fix it.
The point is he did this himself, is learning as he goes, is on a budget and no “experts” to advise him and is a pioneer which is more than most people of his age would want to or be prepared to do. And he has built a boat that has already travelled over 3000 km over European waterways and seas.
I think he should be lauded, not criticised.
Perhaps you can contact him and tell him how it should be done?
70
Don’t get me wrong DM.
I’m not knocking him because I can, but because he *could and should* have done some serious learning before starting. I’ll be the first one to praise those that do, and do the job properly.
I know, the wild blue yonder and freedom is enticing but batteries getting tossed around out on the water in a storm is a very bad situation to be in, and a fire worse.
It’s all sh#ts and giggles until it goes pear shaped.
Nope, sense and safety first. No apologies.
Would you encourage a newbie to learn by opening up a microwave oven without background research first?
I hope not.
11
I worked with Alan back in the late 70s early 80s. He was a very clever electronics technician – a former radio operator in the UK merchant navy during WWII.
He held two Guinness book records for the longest solar powered boat journeys.
I am sorry I have no photos of his boat or him,
50
There’s another interesting YouTuber called InTooDeep that bought a 70ft Luxury yacht “cheap” and fixed it up and converted to electric power. Not sure where he got his money as none of it seem cheap to do.
10
In Belgium a former MP has been convicted for telling the truth.
https://youtu.be/Zf89IDphl6Y
41
In the following video a US black businessman/entrepreneur discusses black youth misbehaviour.
The problem is, if it’s not allowed to be discussed it can’t be addressed.
https://youtu.be/GqPe8SN0VZ0
21
Yesterday I posted about possible basis for a class action for “poor” people to recover some of the money they have been forced to handover to more wealthy people. MS Copilot suggested a possible avenue:
A class action could allege that the Clean Energy Regulator relied on unreasonable or outdated economic modelling when setting STC and LGC obligations, causing consumers—especially non‑solar, low‑income households—to bear disproportionate and unjustified costs. It would argue that the Regulator failed to consider relevant distributional impacts, resulting in an administratively unlawful burden that systematically disadvantaged a definable class of electricity consumers.
The quick estimate for STCs from “poor” to home owners with rooftop solar is $47bn.
For LGCs from “poor” to grid scale wind and solar is $19bn.
I wonder how many Labor/LNP/Green UN-party voting renters realise they have been subsidising mine and many other old white mens’ electricity bills for well over a decade.
Another interesting observation I made during the NetZero conference and previously noted was the presence of Vinnies – the charity organisation. They have been involved in the “community engagement” and the presenter pointed out that it is a hard sell to tell people thjat wind and solar farms will lower electricity bills when the obvious is occurring. Vinnies actually produce the most authorative report on rising electricity costs because they get a lot of calls from people suffering energy bill stress. This is a link to the Vinnies energy site:
https://www.vinnies.org.au/national-council/advocacy/energy
Copilot advises – The Clean Energy Regulator has never warmed low income or non-solar households that they are subsidising wealthier housholds through STCs and LGCs.
90
I note from the Vinnies link that there is a webinar coming up on June 3. This is the registration form:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eDhwOCzbR8G2X1lhclP2EQ#/registration
Gavin Duffy presented at the NetZero conference. He is the one involved in community engagement and is conflicted over what he sees as the compelling need to save the planet but the high impost on low income and now the environmental damage in the bush.
I am registering.
Vinnies would probably help in organising a class action against the CER. It should not be up to a charitable organisation to pick up the pieces of the wreckage the CER is inflicting.
60
ABC News director resigns.
80
Who knew that the ALPBC had a News Director?
Surely, the person was a Director of Propaganda…………..
70
His departure might not alter the organisation’s ideological bias, but there is always hope, there are rumours that a Reuter’s man will replace him.
22
Marks today didn’t explicitly deny that Steven’s was encouraged to depart.
00
I’d be surprised if the replacement comes from outside the far left fold, perhaps internal, BBC, CBC , Guardian, SMH or even ex PBS.
00
Looks like the Reuters guy is already announced. Another middle aged white man, outrageous.
00
Perhaps all the staff of “their ABC” will go on strike in support of their ousted leader.
Who knows, with a bit of luck they could be on strike for a year or two…or ten.
It’s nice to dream sometimes.
20
There is more to this story.
‘ABC’s outgoing director of news Justin Stevens didn’t appear before the hearing in Canberra after his sudden resignation yesterday.
‘Mr Stevens’ announced his exit less than 24 hours before the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was scheduled to face questions at 9am in Parliament House.’ (The Nightly)
02
When Marks was questioned today about Steven’s’ sudden resignation and whether he was pushed, Marks didn’t explicitly deny that Steven’s might have been encouraged to leave.
00
Marks has known for awhile that Stevens wanted to quit, too much flack. Being grilled by the Senate might have ruined his future career prospects, so he voluntarily jumped.
31
Did you see the Bear?
Or in the World of Sports.
In the State of Origin game between Queensland & New South Wales. There was a send off and the game was 13 versus 12 men.
With New South Wales making a come back Nathan Cleary scores a try. But… did anyone see the bear hit in the back by a wayward pass from dummy half that preceded the try?
Not likely as the replay lacks that particular clip.
Found it “Now what happens here”? at 2 mins
So why are the commentators and players not talking about the bear?
The most amazing thing occurs post game, Gus Gould is speechless and advises it would be unwise for him to comment.
Little wonder our approved Climate Experts remain silent.
20
FWIW
Today’s Coffee and Covid has a look at the US asylum claims industry –
Starts here
“Yesterday, CBS ran a story under a boring headline designed to make your glazed eyeballs glide right past it, “DHS memo directs ICE to ramp up asylum-related fraud cases.” But buried deep in its bland beige exterior was a fairly explosive piece of news: the federal government is now authorized to civilly or criminally prosecute the activist lawyers who have long been coaching their clients to lie.”
More at
https://open.substack.com/pub/coffeeandcovid/p/squidly-wednesday-may-27-2026-c-and?
I wonder what a questioning look at Oz would produce?
70
FWIW
“OH, YOU MEAN PEOPLE IN ACTUAL DANGER FOR THEIR LIVES? Trump to admit 10,000 more white South Africans as ‘emergency’ refugees after racial violence claims. Trump claimed the South African government is inciting ‘racially motivated violence’ against White Afrikaners.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/trump-white-south-african-afrikaner-refugee-cap-b2983824.html
Though I half expect he’s doing it to twist the left’s tail.”
https://instapundit.com/799488/#disqus_thread
40
“The president has claimed white farmers and Afrikaners are experiencing a “white genocide” enabled by South Africa’s government, which officials and prominent Afrikaners have vehemently denied.”
Well, just open the door to all white SAFs and see how many come.. If RSA is still a great place to live there won’t be many. The ’10-pound Pom’ did a lot for NZ in the 1950s-60s, and I’m sure a few hundred thousand white South Africans would be better than a lot of immigrants the USA is letting in.
Stories from people I know still living there suggest a lot would love to leave but can no longer afford it.
11
Are we living “1984” yet?
Paul Joseph Watson reporting on a Belgium man who is being prosecuted for telling the truth about immigration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf89IDphl6Y
We are bombarded with “progressive” ideas.
A man is a woman is a man.
Politicians and bureaucrats can’t/won’t define what a woman is.
Diversity is our greatest strength.
Then we have this…
The Australian Government is looking at reviewing laws to fight climate change misinformation and disinformation.
We all know who will be targeted.
Anyone going against the narrative will be in the cross hairs.
The narrative that has failed on so many predictions that makes a politicians lies pale in comparison.
80
See #3. 😊
10
Sorry DM.
I didn’t check before posting.
Great minds though eh?
20
yes…yes we are… the evidence is plain to see, despite being told to not believe our lying eyes and ears..
30
Even Orwell couldn’t have foreseen all that is happening now.
Robotics, cyborgs, brain implants, planetary vaccines, Anthropic’s AI emergent emotions…
Oh for simpler times like 1984. 😁
20
‘Are we living “1984” yet?’
Donnie is big brother, it was in the Alaskan agreement.
01
Every day when I read about a new super-duper technology in storage, stability control, network support, inertia, etc, I’m reminded about Ansett, which collapsed in part due to Ansett having a wide variety of technologies which overcomplicated its operational costs. Our renewables super-duper grid is going to make Ansett’s logistics look like a set of Lego.
30
Internet back up in Iran (partially):
10
Now the regime needs to stand down and have fair and free elections plus hand over all of the nuclear materials.
Don’t let the 40,000 Iranians slaughtered by the regime die for nothing.
I wonder if Leftists, who overwhelmingly support the brutal, misogynisic regime actually realise it was Leftists that helped install the present regime in 1979, only to be slaughtered themselves once they fulfilled their usual role of being ignorant useful idiots?
Leftists were purged between 1981 and 1983 and then in 1988 Khomeini issued a fatwa ordering the mass execution of thousands of imprisoned leftists and political opposition members. Stupid useful idiots, as usual.
70
Re Drones and future requirements for war
on https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/russia-tells-western-diplomats-to
scroll down to
Ukraine has been entombing its 330 kV power transformers in huge anti-drone and anti-missile sarcophagi. But here is how Russian fiber-optic drones have been “threading the needle” in taking them out by deftly passing through the obstacles to the main transformer rooms themselves:
Master filigree work of Russian fiber optic drone operators who navigate through the high voltage power maze and manage to hit the main transformer unit.
“Let there be light,” said the pilot and punctured the transformer.
The fiber-optic FPV drone “KVN” strikes the 330/110/10 kV auto-transformer inside the hastily constructed sarcophagus at the “Sumy-Severnaya” 330 kV substation.
The FPV drone operator ignores targets in the form of construction equipment, rushing after the main prize and hitting electrical equipment, the equivalent value of which is estimated at hundreds of millions of rubles.
Objective control data confirm the target hit.
Talk about Threading the Needle – Amazing!
60
Kyiv is not a military industrial complex and the Ruskies have warned foreign diplomatic staff to leave the capital because they are going to flatten it.
Diplomats have given the finger to that.
More importantly, the logistics road to Crimea is being cut off and the end is near.
13
“and the end is near.”
Looks like “el gordo” is giving the favourite marching placard another airing
30
Do you deny that the road to Crimea is being cut? Drones are patrolling it selecting military vehicles, allowing civilian traffic to pass. The Kirsch Bridge is weakened and the train barges that cross the strait are kaput.
30
Don’t take my word for it.
https://cepa.org/article/russias-land-bridge-becomes-a-highway-to-hell/
Ukraine will encourage the Russians to leave Crimea peacefully.
01
Is that one of those all knowing outfits that takes as gospel what they are told by Ukraine about the state of things?
20
It is a bit, just look at the other articles it lists…and it does come from Washington!
Still, you need to read propaganda from both sides.
30
Maybe that’s why they haven’t dropped the Kirsch bridge: Give the Russians an path home.
00
“And while the Ukrainian side likes to cheer on the recent modest successes on the Russian logistics line there, they completely ignore the parallel attacks Russia has begun on Ukraine’s own rear, which goes from Kiev to the Polish resupply corridor in the far west of the country:
Ukrainian transport companies’ pages report that Russian drones are attacking cargo trucks on the Kyiv-Chop highway. This is the main logistical route to western Ukraine. It is used to transport weapons and aid from the Polish airfield in Rzeszów and from Germany. Cargo trains carrying similar military supplies also travel on this route.”
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/russian-officials-walk-back-threats
10
FWIW
“YEAH, I KNOW WHAT HE MEANS: Perspective.”
“Perspective”
https://tomknighton.substack.com/p/perspective
Via https://instapundit.com/799495/#disqus_thread
00
FWIW
“ANYTHING INVOLVING AFRICA IS BURIED IN LAYERS AND LAYERS OF LIES AND CONFUSION, SO I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE TUNING OUT, SORRY: The Ebola Story You’re Getting Is True. It’s Also Built to Be Forgotten. There is an Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo. People are dying. The official account is accurate and incomplete, and the missing parts are the ones that explain everything.”
“The Ebola Story You’re Getting Is True. It’s Also Built to Be Forgotten.
There is an Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo. People are dying. The official account is accurate and incomplete, and the missing parts are the ones that explain everything.”
https://www.malone.news/p/the-ebola-story-youre-getting-is?r=7yrqz&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer&triedRedirect=true
https://instapundit.com/799497/#disqus_thread
00
Our GP recommended we get an RSV shot each. (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). It just became free for over-75s and Aborigines.
We did. We spent the next 2 days hammered by adverse side effects. Sleepiness, body pain, mental lassitude. Reactions youngsters do not often get, but they still profess knowledge.
Internet search for RSV side effects demonstrated yet again how the vaccine authorities have lost the plot. The writing at Federal Dept of Health sites is like treacle. Thousands of words, near zero information. Over and over “Safe and Effective” in a mash of bland propaganda.The inquiring reader is locked out of technical detail. This scientist was told of registration procedures to be filled in, no promise of acceptance, before any Chemistry was to be made available. Even medicos have barriers to entry.
This is for RSV. I took a look at Covid vaccines. Nowhere did I find a mention of global reports of adverse effects. The reader is invited to believe that there are none, or very few.
This bland propaganda approach is not to be tolerated. We all live in a world where bad things happen. Our Health Dept is required by ethics to tell the truth. This is not the same as writing turgid essays to help spread or avoid blame when things do go wrong medically.
Current chatter is that we have too many bureaucrats. Read their junk to see if you agree. Geoff S
120
“Our Health Dept is required by ethics to tell the truth.”
Only if they get caught out not lying but by omission, not quite telling the whole truth. Words are specifically chosen to allow interpretations or miss understanding.
Watch Malcolm Roberts in Senate estimates, attempt to nail down “truths” and watch how hard the responders wander around an answer without actually giving one. I am sure the health dept staff also attended the “how to evade” direct specific answers workshops.
50
Tell the truth eh? Means nothing in a world where there is apparently more than one truth. In fact, there can be many now that ‘truths’ are indistinguishable from opinions.
30
“Side effect” is a marketing term.
There are only effects.
Medical use of the term is marketing.
In the good old days, the medical system only marketed medical, with Pandemic it branched out into politics.
I just finished putting up my Hanta decorations, now I have to switch back to Ebola.
The effect of green houses gasses is catastrophic warming.
The side effect is a planet capable of sustaining life.
40
This has been happening for years, but now the pace is increasing, putting a brake on the US military industrial complex.
‘Japan and China led the exit, selling $47.7 billion and $41 billion worth of U.S. Treasuries in March. Luxembourg (13.7 billion), Taiwan ($12.7 billion), Saudi Arabia ($10.8 billion), India ($7.6 billion), Canada ($6.9 billion) and the United Arab Emirates ($5.8 billion) were also among the major sellers.’ (Yahoo)
04
EG, ever heard of the “Yen carry trade”? The world borrowed Yen at near zero rates and invested it anywhere they could get a small return.
Even this low rate means the borrowers are selling $s to buy Yen, repaying loans. Japan owns the problem, not the US.
20
30
Financial engineering gone bad, from memory Japan was rolled by Reganomics, so they started buying US bonds.
In the present situation there is a flight from US Treasuries, buy gold futures.
01
In the end Japan, Canada and Taiwan are ruled by the USA, so they have little room to manoeuvere. Trump has certainly upset the smooth sailing of US borrowing, no-one knows what he will do next and which asset is safe.
11
This is another maiden speech from ONP in the SA parliament.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzg9XJFKISA
This speech sounds like it came from reading this blog.
The story on the Voice will make you scream – WTF.
He comes with a vendetta.
20
The US is bombing Iran again, thinking it will speed up peace negotiations.
Iran knows that stalling for time will sink any hopes of Donnie getting accolades at the midterms.
06
Is destroying “fast boats” laying mines and missile sites painting aircraft “bombing Iran”? I don’t think so.
120
‘I don’t think so.’
You might be right, the fog of war.
It would have been more productive if POTUS had studied the Art of War.
“The worst thing you can possibly do in a deal is seem desperate to make it. That makes the other guy smell blood, and then you’re dead. The best thing you can do is deal from strength, and leverage is the biggest strength you can have.” (DJT)
00
He wrote something similar in the similarly named Art Of The Deal I believe.
20
H
IIRC – Another of Trump’s re-namings has gone from
“Rules for radicals” to “Rules for Republicans”
And the voters in the preliminaries for the mid-terms seem to be cleaning house his way –
“Watch Live: The WAR Zone Podcast With Wayne Allyn Root Presented by The Gateway Pundit-President Trump’s Perfect 118 for 118 Endorsement Record After More Primary Wins”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/05/watch-live-war-zone-podcast-wayne-allyn-root-214/
00
We aren’t quite there yet.
‘While only about a third of the GOP primaries for 2026 have wrapped up, Trump-endorsed candidates have emerged triumphant in 110 congressional primaries — 101 House races and nine Senate races, along with eight gubernatorial campaigns, according to a Fox News tracker — including the most hotly contested races of the cycle.
‘Among the longtime incumbents to fall foul of Trump’s electoral sway were Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), as well the president’s arch-nemesis in the House, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).’ (NY Post)
20
D-day of August (oil reserves hit sludge/no restart levels) is looking more certain by the day then.
Bunker anyone? 😎
Now, why would Iran, who want to impose transit fees on every ship MINE the very waterway they need?
More Whitehouse spox bs..
04
Jeez you’re dumb. They lay mines near the far coast, leaving a channel they can police.
90
And the “far coast” means more A 10 opportunities
00
FWIW
“New York State Renewable Permitting Scandal”
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/05/27/new-york-state-renewable-permitting-scandal/
Enthusiasms and unexpected outcomes
10
Sounds like Central Qld
00
What’s happening in Qld? Should I be worried?
00
H
IIRC the CQ stuff is all flat – in the interests of renewables.
So you don’t have to worry about that.
00
FWIW
“EV Pixie Dust Effect: Ferrari Unaware of Woke Jaguar Commercial”
https://hotair.com/tree-hugging-sister/2026/05/27/ev-pixie-dust-effect-ferrari-unaware-of-woke-jaguar-commercial-n3815338
00
Looking at AEMO and Aneroid Energy it seems that for the last three months wind has produced at <20% CF or 2 gW or 17% demand average*. Not impressive.
* As I read it.
20
Demand percentage of 17% close but the generation has averaged close to 2700GWh/month. That averages to 3.75GW. That puts CF around 27% for the 13.5GW installed capacity.
Average NEM demand is running around 23.7GW including rooftops.
There has been a number of consecutive days when wind has been well under 10% of the generation. Or less than 2GW but then there will be a good day when it averages 5GW.
Demand as the evening peak kicks in and solar dies is 27MW. Wind providing 1.7MW. So build 13.5GW of wind capacity and you get 1.7GW from when it is really needed. There is no transition. Australia is completely dependent on clapped out coal fired power stations.
The problem for wind now is that it cannot accept high negative prices because LGCs are down to $2/MWh. That means coal is forcing wind to curtail more often.
10
A wind CF of 27% is very close to Tony’s figure of 29%.
00
I stand by my 20% CF for the last 3 mths. Just saying I’m wrong is just an opinion. Maybe Tony can report on the last 3 months.
00
It was a calculation based on data.
The data is all here:
7848GWh in 89 days.
Average of 3.67GW. With 13.5GW installed, that is 27.2%. (I rounded it)
00
The data is all here:
All where?
00
H
Changing subject
Remember a post or two ago on how New York City balanced its budget with a New York State windfall?
Well it wasn’t enough –
“Mamdani just got a multi-billion dollar bailout from New York State taxpayers to salvage New York City’s socialist mess.
Lady Thatcher’s quote is undefeated.”
Another $US $ billion
https://x.com/KevinRobertsTX/status/2058923430473326864
Via https://instapundit.com/799730/#disqus_thread
10
I’m having an epiphany where I’m understanding that the mega wealthy are part of the ecosystem, necessary, as are lions on the Veldt.
Of course they have more than their fair share, but what is “fair”? Some will say I have too much, I am a widower with a big house. My point is that their capital, by definition, remains stable, it cannot be moved as easily as changing a bet from red to black, return OF capital is more important than return ON capital so it is spread around. (Not talking about Musk). Whole nations (over)depend on these funds to keep operating and at a personal level they fund the banks from which we borrow to buy and do business.
Forgive me, ’tis late.
10
‘Bowen quietly diverted funds to keep battery scheme afloat.
‘The Climate Change Minister’s home battery scheme has blown out from $2.3bn to $8.5bn, with the government quietly redirecting Clean Energy Regulator funds to keep payments flowing.’ (Oz)
40
All stolen from low income renters and those without rooftop solar.
60
FWIW
“Former Senior CIA Officer With Top-Secret Clearance ARRESTED After FBI Raid Home And Seize 300 Gold Bars Worth $40 Million — Plus $2 Million Cash And 35 Luxury Watches”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/05/former-senior-cia-officer-top-secret-clearance-arrested/
10
As reported, he started his criminal enterprise last November and was arrested six months later. Pretty quick, most of the loot will be recovered.
10