Sunday

8.9 out of 10 based on 15 ratings

139 comments to Sunday

  • #
    Hanrahan

    My turn to be the insomniac tonight. 🙁

    We here know the value of D3 generally and in the fight against the wuflu but I stress its value fighting osteoporosis, a disease that tends to be understated. We have all heard of granny falling and breaking her hip. In reality the hip breaks and she falls. My lovely MIL suffered immobility for years after this and eventually this immobility caused (?) a clot in the brain.

    Over ten yrs ago I had Mrs H get a bone density test because of a developing hump. The results weren’t good and her doc prescribed a drug which reduced the reabsorption of calcium from the bone. This made no sense according to Dr Google so I started her on D3 and K2.

    A couple of weeks ago she got up in the wee hours and woke me when she hit the floor. her advanced dementia precluded her telling me where she hurt the hospital did a cat scan and gave her the all clear.

    Next day it was obvious that she hit the point of her shoulder, it was deep blue with a bruise spreading across her chest. The good part which prompted this missive is that she didn’t break any bones. Things are difficult enough without a broken collar bone.

    Osteoporosis is a dibiliating disease, take it seriously.

    400

    • #
      Steve

      Good call.
      Osteoporosis affects men as well although women are, I believe, at higher risk.
      As well as daily D3 (~4000iu) & K2 (~200ug), impact based exercise is recommended throughout life: running, walking, skipping, etc.

      90

      • #
        David of Cooyal in Oz

        Don’t forget vitamin D’s cofactors – specifically iron, zinc, vitamin C and magnesium. While your dietary intake may be sufficient it’s worth double checking.
        Cheers
        Dave B

        60

        • #
          David Maddison

          I think all people, regardless of age, should take daily, as a minimum C, D, K2, Zn and Mg.

          80

          • #
            Dave in the States

            My elderly father has been going through a patch of anemia recently. They put him on a iron regimen. The pills are 325mg with 65mg available of elemental iron. Every other day. Overdoses are poisonous. But every other day is as much as most people can process anyway.

            Some things I have learned in researching this:

            Vit C aids in iron uptake. The pills should be taken with a glass of orange juice. This also helps prevent the constipation associated with iron supplementation.
            Plant based iron needs vit C for absorption but meat based sources of iron are more readily absorbed.
            Turmeric will bind with the iron in the gut, so don’t take turmeric on the iron days.
            Zinc and magnesium compete with iron for uptake, so take the zinc and the Mg on the non-iron days. That will help overall uptake of all three.

            Some interesting things about anemia:
            Grapefruit lowers RBC count. Did not know that.
            Garlic lowers red blood cell count.
            Most antibiotics, especially the oral administered ones, lower RBC count. I-V antibiotics are preferred for treating infections in people with anemia.
            Vit E protects RBC
            Echinacea helps produce the hormone required to trigger production of new RBC.
            Physical exertion and becoming “winded” occasionally is required to trigger production of RBC.
            If on O2, then O2 saturation levels in the low 90% to high 80’s % will help produce more RBC than a higher O2 saturation level.

            60

          • #
            KP

            “I think all people, regardless of age, should take daily, as a minimum C, D, K2, Zn and Mg.”

            I’m a fan of grow your own food.. as much of the fruit & veges as you can find the time for, so its an old man’s hobby. You can’t beat food taken straight off the tree or vine or dug up just before cooking. No sprays, no artificial fertilizers or hormones, and it gives you the challenge of keeping the birds away! All the vitamins you need…

            80

          • #
            Environment sCeptiC

            In my experiment on myself as, not a vegan, vegetarian, carnivore, but one who eats to promotes the bacteria (bacterian) ‘bacillus subtilis‘ doing most of the heavy lifting in terms of nutrition and more than one aspect of the immune system functions such as ‘quorum sensing’ and especially production of vitamin K2 in nearly all animal world, then it is in view of those previous points made here may as well also report that no supplements are necessary in my experiment conducted over some time on my own, 63 orbits around the sun, organism.

            My method of fermenting beans using bacillus subtilis.

            Choose the beans, soy or other beans. My use is of soy beans mostly.

            Soak the beans approx one day depending on temperature.

            Steam or boil the beans until ‘mushy’ soft.

            When cooked, prepare inoculant. In this method, dry hay, rice straw or other non toxic organic baterial could be used, or even tea bags could possibly be used and making use of the properties of b Subtilis to form highly temperature resistant spore that b subtilis forms when not in the active vegetative state. In my case, my results are excellent using some native australian bull rush reeds make a great tea full of b subtilis spores. Bringing the desired tea mixture to the boil for a few minutes kills other bacteria without harming the b Subtilis spores and the result is poured over the freshly and still hot cooked soy beans and allow the inoculant tea to drain from the beans.

            Prepare a glass tray or jar with a lid and a layer of cloth or suitable fabric so that the plastic or other lid can still close tightly. The intermediate cloth layer is to prevent water dripping off the lid and back onto the beans. This maintains a high humidity in the jar or glass tray without dripping. In this system devised by me, a very high humidity is maintained without the danger of the beans drying out in the incubator.

            Incubate for at least two days at around 37°C to 38°C Body temperature is quite optimum.

            There are plenty of vids and images on what the result looks like and what the bio film generated by b Subtilis looks like so added info is easily found on the web.

            Discovering b Subtilis and K2 is magical.

            The ability to ferment beans and incorporate them in the diet is delivering in excess of 800 micro-grams a day. At this level, mitochondria energy output is increased by 30% according to some papers on it where the effect of K2 on energy output by mitochondria using the Seahorse assay by Agilent.

            Other than that assay made possible using the seahorse assay, my own organism seemed to reflect those results.

            11

      • #
        Simon Thompson

        I would also consider Boron supplementation too!

        30

      • #
        Geoff Sherrington

        Steve + many others here,
        You are playing with fire when you blog about promoting certain named additions to the diet of others. Example, Vitamin D3.
        D3 is sold easily by fringe, new age manufacturers like Blackmores. It commonly comes in 2 forms, D3 alone and D3 with calcium. Among other effects, it is said to make bones stronger. Calcium is one of the common 4 electrolytes, with Mg, Na and K. These have to be both in adequate quantities in the body and also in correct balance with each other. As a simplistic assumption, if you ingest more Ca, you can depress Mg.
        Calcium in the body is not a slow-moving concept, changing at slow rates like bone growing. I have seen several times a person going from normal to highly deranged mind as if in bad dementia, then recovery back to normal all inside 10 days. Possibly caused by D3 supplements of the wrong choice.
        You are really in dangerous territory when, lacking medical degrees, you fall for alternative medicine smooth talk. Selenium, someone said. When at CSIRO, I helped poison a number of sheep with a natural plant Neptunia amplexicaulis, an accumulator of Se. Se in excess in the body can replace sulphur in amino acids, making them different, dangerous beasts.
        Stop it, you amateur medicos, before you hurt somebody.
        Geoff S

        50

        • #
          Lucky

          True but unnecessary alarm created. That particular side effect of vitamin D3 in countered by taking supplement K2.

          Re: ” fringe, new age manufacturers ”
          These have a better reputation for consumer concerns than certain of the Big Names in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

          10

    • #
      tonyb

      Good news that no bones were broken. When in Austria recently I was surprised by how icy the pavements are left. I should imagine any elderly person venturing out during the winter over there is playing with fire.

      100

      • #
        RickWill

        Montreal is the worst place I have wandered around in icy conditions. It is so easy to end up on your backside on the ground. I figure people living there must choose shoes suited to the conditions.

        Calgary has its +15 walkways that get you out of the ice in the city centre.

        60

    • #
      John Hultquist

      I, and many others, will have great empathy for you with such struggles.
      My best wishes to you and to Mrs. H.

      100

    • #
      David Maddison

      Vitamin D and K2 at an appropriate dose are a non-prescription hormone and vitamin which are enormously beneficial in preventing common diseases and for which deficiencies are extremely common but for which most of the medical profession is profoundly ignorant.

      Perhaps this is by design by Big Pharma in collision with Big Government.

      Why use a cheap non-prescription supplement when you can use an expensive and likely ineffective or poorly effective one?

      An example (of many) is Prolia, a twice yearly injection for osteoporosis.

      https://www.drugs.com/tips/prolia-patient-tips

      Prolia reduced the risk of vertebral fractures by 4.8%, hip fractures by 0.3%, and nonvertebral fractures by 1.5%.

      Bone mineral density was increased by 8.8% in the spine, 6.4% in the hip, and 5.2% in the neck after three years of treatment with Prolia.

      It seems to be minimally effective, even assuming the above results are honest and not worse than that. Cost in Australia is $256 per injection from Chemist Warehouse but in Australia, the PBS/tax payer pays for eligible people who then pay $6.30 (I think).

      Your results Hanrahan and other anecdotal accounts suggest far better results with inexpensive supplements. That of course is why such supplements (taken according to appropriate protocols) are not promoted.

      (Not medical advice, do your own research and make your own decisions.)

      130

      • #
        Kim

        Vitamin D is a general system booster. B12 is important. Echinacea – an immune system booster – is useful to get rid of the flu etc – don’t overdo it as the body gets used to it. The Wu Flu may have reduced iron levels so it’s prudent to boost them. Magnesium and Zinc are important. Also Phosphorus, Selenium and Calcium.

        40

        • #
          John Connor II

          It also highlights the importance of weight training, even (or especially) in the elderly.
          Sitting in a chair all day as the elderly do is the worst thing you could do.

          Use it or lose it.

          100

      • #
        Hanrahan

        David, I assume it was prolia or similar, taken orally, that Mrs H was prescribed. Its action was described as reducing reabsorption of calcium from the bone. This is silly, the bone is living tissue and as must be regenerated. By leaving old calcium in the bone you may well increase the density but that old “stuff” would be like chalk, lacking strength.

        50

  • #

    Found these newspaper reports of a north Queensland rainfall event around Kuranda and Cairns in 1911.
    59 inches in three days at Mossman.
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66287518
    28 Inches in one day at Kuranda.
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/80000328
    These events could be seen on this map if the BoM system worked properly. Am wondering if faults like this are related to the prediction failure.
    http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/maps/rainfall/?variable=rainfall&map=totals&period=week&region=qd&year=1911&month=04&day=05
    Am also having trouble finding any records new or old from the sites that report the recent records. Are they official sites or home gauges?

    150

    • #

      Since found these details about one of the new record sites. Link here.
      “531029 108002 BAIRDS TM Rain/River Dept. Regional Development,Manufacturing & Water”
      That is a Queensland government department. Likely not there for many of the previous floods.
      The rainfall during the worst day of the 1911 event seems to be just under double the rainfall during the worst day of the recent event at Cairns.
      Cairns post office 2 of April 1911 @ 512.1 mM.
      Vs Cairns Race Course 18 December 2023 @ 278.2 mM
      Another paper from 1911.
      https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/89841288

      90

      • #
        PeterPetrum

        Thanks for that, Sliggy. Just had a Christmas letter from a friend in Switzerland who told me the rain in Cairns this year was caused by climate change.

        I’ll let him know!

        80

        • #

          Peter. I wish your friends a speedy recovery. You could explain that average days never happen because that would require every measurement everywhere to be exactly average. 1 in 100 year events are more likely but most days are 1 in 14 billion or greater.

          40

    • #
      robert rosicka

      Now I see why the 2 metre rainfalll was unprecedented this time , last time was 2 yards .

      50

  • #
    • #

      All these conspiracy theories that became reality now…..
      Is there still one not becoming fact in the meantime ?

      120

      • #
        David Maddison

        All these conspiracy theories that became reality now…..

        https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/mar/5/covid-19-conspiracy-theories-turned-out-to-be-true/

        COVID-19 ‘conspiracy theories’ turned out to be true

        Sunday, March 5, 2023
        OPINION:

        One by one, the myths and lies propagated by the ruling elites about COVID-19 are falling like dominoes.

        What was supposed to have been “misinformation” is the real deal.

        The “wet market” theory, which never made sense, is turning out to be all wet. Major government agencies — the Department of Energy and the FBI — now say that the virus probably leaked from China’s Wuhan virology lab. It didn’t come from a bat sandwich after all.

        Likewise, the lockdowns imposed all over the country did not slow the pandemic but did enormous damage. A year ago, Johns Hopkins issued a meta-analysis stating that while “lockdowns have had little to no public health effects, they have imposed enormous economic and social costs where they have been adopted.”

        We now know that natural immunity derived from infection is far superior to that of the so-called vaccines, which prevent neither infection nor transmission. The February edition of the liberal Lancet medical journal reviewed 68 studies, concluding that the vaccines lose effectiveness sooner than natural immunity.

        SEE LINK FOR REST [Sorry due to copyright I had to snip. – Jo]

        120

        • #

          Apologies for diverting the thread. I’m just being the pedant-of-microbiology, and ahem, just for accuracy’s sake, and this statement is wrong…

          “achieving herd immunity by allowing the healthy and young to get COVID-19 as they would any other virus. “

          Sigh. Thing is, We don’t allow our kids to catch smallpox with a 30% fatality rate. And in Singapore in Feb 2020 1 in 20 people got a severe infection, and 1% ended up in ICU. Since ICU bed capacity in any Western country is about 1 in 12,000, it doesn’t take much of an exponential curve to wipe out hospitals.

          Even assuming a 100% survival rate from a virus — the West will never let a new virus “run free” because the exponential curve will blitz hospitals within weeks. There will come a point when people in car accidents won’t be able to get an ICU bed which would be a complete collapse of modern healthcare. The West will never tolerate that situation.

          Natural immunity is usually the best, but gaining natural immunity in those first waves of a new serious virus is usually ghastly. I’m just saying the attitude that all viruses are good to go is wrong.

          It’s easy to forget we have lived in the greatest, safest era in human history, seemingly free of infectious major pandemics. And I hate to be the killjoy, but the next bioweapon (or even this one) may come with long term fertility / cancer /dementia risks that we don’t want. We have to find a way to stop gain of function reckless experiments…

          404

          • #
            CO2 Lover

            The mortakity rate for COVID was very low for healthy people under the age of 65 and especially low for those under 25.

            This was unnlike the “Spannish Flu” of 1919-1921 which had a high mortality rate amoungst young adults.

            The response to COVID was politically driven by ignorance (and greed) and not by medical knowledge.

            231

            • #

              “The mortakity rate for COVID was very low for healthy people under the age of 65”
              But re-infection still happens as the immunity wears off. It then makes the next re-infection more likely just like each booster makes things slowly worse. The dream of herd immunity leads you toward herd susceptibility. Both are walking toward the cliff. Learning to live with it means that it will still be here when today’s toddlers turn 66. Bugger natural immunity i would rather keep my innate immunity.
              Excess mortality was getting rapidly worse for Sweden and now the country seems to be gone off the list at Euromomo. https://www.euromomo.eu/graphs-and-maps

              31

            • #
              Fran

              Must say I stopped worrying when the data out of Italy indicated a mean age of death of around 82. It was the same later here in BC – Covid death age was > mean life expectancy.

              Denis Rancourt points out that, except for local problems like NYC, deaths by state correlate strongly with poverty and decreased use of antibiotics for post-viral bacterial pneumonias.

              20

          • #
            John Connor II

            But I would ask “which is worse?”, the disease or the “cure”?

            https://expose-news.com/2023/12/23/deadly-secrets-exposed-covid-vaccine-deaths-vaccinated/

            Obviously known high mortality diseases shouldn’t be untreated or ignored, but we’re not facing those (yet).

            I’m obviously a huge fan of natural immunity and see lesser illnesses as a gift, as they keep your immune system on its toes as it were.
            The crazy obsession with cleanliness is doing more harm than good as we know from the rise of superbugs.

            Take a population with your typical unnatural, processed food diet leading to poor health to start with, couple it with Fakevax ™ to really screw you over, then “introduce” any otherwise inocuous pathogen.

            You want to see clogged, unable to cope hospitals?
            Hold my beer.
            As they say in German restaurants – the wurst is yet to come.

            60

            • #

              “But I would ask “which is worse?”, the disease or the “cure”?”
              I would say both are exactly equal but why limit yourself to two options when there are an unlimited amount of better choices.

              20

          • #
            Vicki

            As someone who came down with the latest strain a few months ago, I can testify that immunity from my first round of Covid about a year ago has long gone. I remain unvaccinated. The best thing you can do is look after your health as best you can. Eat good food, take supplements & get plenty of exercise.

            This recent strain is quite nasty. I just hope Van Den Bossche is wrong in his belief that the strains will continue to be more severe due to the effects of large scale vaccination.

            120

          • #
            Philip

            Well said Jo.

            32

  • #
    tonyb

    Whilst this is a US study it probably also applies to much of Europe and Australia

    https://nypost.com/2023/12/22/news/2023-was-the-worst-year-on-record-for-housing-affordability-report/

    Soaring interest rates and a huge upsurge in migrants all needing housing is going to impact on affordability

    100

    • #
      David Maddison

      Most of those entering Europe and the United States are invaders rather than legal immigrants.

      But Western countries are still expected to house the invaders in preference to and priority over their own people.

      230

      • #
        el+gordo

        The Australian government has reduced the immigrant numbers to a more stable level, there was a little unrest amongst the locals.

        Interest rates should begin falling everywhere in 2024, so that will ease the pressure on the masses. Its all political economy from now on, Moody’s have downgraded the US and China to negative.

        No longer do they talk of recession, but something far worse. Will cash be king again?

        00

  • #
    tonyb

    Christmas Mayhem over here in the UK in shopping centres and roads

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12896157/customers-christmas-turkey-collection-queue-supermarkets.html

    People seem to have left things until the last minute. You would think the shops were closed for a week but it is only Christmas day they shut, so quite why there is such a frantic crush for food and drink I don’t know.

    Over there in Oz its probably already New Years day so Happy New Year to all Jo’s readers.

    60

  • #
    Honk R Smith

    Nothing to see here … move along.
    The oceans are boiling.

    Dr. John Campbell
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7vTqEmlkvw

    70

  • #
    Geoff from Tanjil

    The Australian BOM is forecasting heavy rain for Christmas day in Victoria.
    In my lifetime I can recall a three occasions where very intense summer storms dumped so much hail on Moe in the Latrobe Valley that ceilings collapsed and the ground looked like a winter snowfield. These storms came from the south and it was awesome to watch them roll in.
    One Christmas afternoon, in the late 60’s I was 10 or 11, we were about to go to visit friends and we heard what we thought was someone throwing rocks on our roof. We could not see anyone. There were more impacts and looking west there was a wall of dark swirling yellow from ground to sky. Then we saw the golf ball size hail stones smashing into the ground and onto the roof and my Dad yelling to get inside. The noise was incredible as our roof was corrugated aluminium, flat with about a 10-degree pitch.
    My dad bought a hail damaged car.
    These events seem to come every eleven years or so in our region so this year I’ll park under cover.
    Merry Christmas everyone and especially Jo, enjoy the chocolates😊

    130

    • #
      Ross

      Xmas day in 1995 we had snowflakes in Ballarat. That would be natural snowflakes, not the human type. That summer was really cold!! I think you could count the number of hot days on one hand.

      80

    • #
      alex

      ‘eleven years or so..’ is the solar cycle, the shortest one among several.

      20

  • #
    Skepticynic

    Our meticulously crafted and comprehensive climate plan, will guide us towards a future where floods are no longer annual anxieties, but distant memories.

    https://twitter.com/AlboIsPM/status/1738338302217113749?t=ccdOi9muBVWRit6afrnJAQ&s=19

    Our pathetic deluded moron of a PM actually believes this.
    Our children will be the ones who suffer.

    200

    • #
      David Maddison

      I had to check that that wasn’t a joke.

      Back in the day a media that bothered doing its job would pick up on this and heavily criticise him for such a serious and unscientific delusion.

      It would be nice (but legally almost imoossible) if people who follow his lies and suffer inevitable flood damage in future can sue the Government and ideally him personally for any flood damages they may incur as a result.

      Serious delusions have now become “truth”, a sign of how dumbed-down and heavily propagandised our society has become.

      140

      • #

        Re “I had to check that that wasn’t a joke.”
        Sorry to have to point this out. Ablo is less help than another elbo in the ribs but, the post comes from the,,,

        Australia labor Parody

        80

        • #
          David Maddison

          Oh, OK. I read it on the phone and “Parody” part was not visible.

          But it just demonstrates that the Left really have become a parody of themselves….

          60

        • #
          Ross

          TBH, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if , in fact, he said that. Remember Obama said he would stop the rising seas.

          70

    • #
      Bruce

      A bizarre delusion of a wanna-be deity?

      Rack it up with all the other psychotic nonsense poured out by these dangerous clowns.

      Old King Knut was NOT really trying to stop the tides, but demonstrating to his sniveling minions that there are actual limits to the divine power of kings. Sadly, in this benighted penal colony, that lesson seems to be studiously ignored in government circles. Not that they would care; as long as the “spillage” keeps flowing their way.

      As they say in the classics:

      “Memento Mori”.

      Remember mortality (death).

      This continent has been a land of “droughts and flooding rains”, since it snapped off Gondwanaland and started heading for the equator.

      It is patently clear that REAL knowledge is increasingly forbidden. “Interesting times” ahead. Get your “affairs” in order.

      100

    • #
      RickWill

      Our pathetic deluded moron of a PM actually believes this.

      And this is from another Labor PM:

      “By 1990, no Australian child will be living in poverty,” the then-prime minister told Labor’s election campaign launch on June 23, 1987.

      In reality Hawke is currently short by close to a million children:

      According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Australian poverty rate in 2019 was 13.6%. Where 3.3 million adults and 16.6% of children were reported. Which is around 4 million people are estimated to be in poverty. 50% of the medium income is considered to be below the poverty level.

      It is moronic to make such statements. Only gullible people take them in. So Also is going to fix the weather – the only suitable response is -What a moron!

      I venture into Victorian State forests to collect firewood. We pass through small communities nestled in forested areas. Some houses have 50m high trees within a few metres of the house. My wife literally shudders at the thought of being so close to such large wood that is prone to burn explosively. Nothing can save houses in these locations during a fire. Some of the new outer suburbs in Melbourne have large houses so closely packed that each is a fire risk to three or four others and each of those a fire risk to a similar number. I can imagine a single fire destroying an entire block. Also is not going to stop wild fires destroying houses no matter how many wind generators and solar panels are installed.

      Lots of places in Australia are built on river flood plains. They will always flood irrespective of what Also tries to do to change the weather. Growing up in Queensland, loss of the Bruce Highway somewhere due to flooding was almost an annual event.

      In the long run, the Southern Hemisphere is heading for milder summers and warmer winters. The NH is heading in the opposite direction but it will not be noticeable to most until the permafrost is advancing south again. Permafrost will bring permanent cold so eventually the warming oceans in the NH lead to cooling land. But that is centuries in the future. The UNIPCC and its is enablers have come up with the CRAZY idea that if you stop burning fossil fuels the weather will be perfect – this is simply moronic.

      Moronic is an informal adjective that means very stupid or very silly. It can be used to describe people, actions, or situations that are not intelligent or sensible.

      110

      • #
        Hanrahan

        I am not heartless and do not deny actual poverty exists. Living, as I do, away from the city I am unaware of just how much. I do know, however, that with the definition of poverty we use there will always be a significant number of people living below it.

        The poverty line here is stated as a percentage of the median national wage [I think 50%] while in China it is stated in US$ equivalent. I have checked this and the PL here would be upper middle class in China. We eat well in my house with a minimum of rice, potato and pasta but the evening meal for four seldom goes over $20. Granted there are no “hard yakka” workers who must eat a hearty meal.

        31

  • #
    David Maddison

    For those interested in old cars I’d like to recommend this YouTube channel.

    https://youtube.com/@ViceGripGarage?si=T9v8JPDGvHqP0u5X

    The guy in the channel buys non-running old cars online, all over the US, goes to the location, attempts to repair them to driveable condition onsite and then drives them home.

    It’s fascinating to watch and the guy is extremely knowledgeable, skilled and patient.

    I am not sure why he uses the UK spelling of vice (the tool) rather than the US spelling of vise. Perhaps their is a copyright issue with the name of the channel “Vice Grip Garage” and the trade name of the tool called a Vise-Grip.

    50

  • #
    Greg in NZ

    As predicted, albeit tongue-in-cheek, four months ago by this non-expert non-professor non-Coprolite, looks like we got ourselves another ‘White Christmas’ on the Southern Alps this *Year of Heat* 2023:

    24 Dec, Sunday: Heavy snow, gale NW
    25 Dec, Monday: Snow showers
    26 Dec, Tuesday: Southerly, clearing

    Forecast for Mt Cook/Aoraki and surrounding peaks during this year of “less than 10 years to go!”. Up north, where we’ve been threatened with ‘the climate of Sydney’ if we don’t change our ways [bring it on] it would appear Sydney now has OUR climate: 25C, rain, thunder. Welcome to 2024 and beyond – splash! splash!

    100

    • #
      David Maddison

      Great news. I might head up to Mt Donna Buang (closest snow to Melbournistan) and do a snow walk like I did on 8th September.

      50

    • #
      el+gordo

      Meanwhile in Shanghai it hasn’t been this cold in 40 years.

      ‘The unusually frigid weather ushered in by a powerful wave of cold air from Siberia has spread across China since the middle of last week, with many northern provinces rewriting December records as the mercury sank as low as minus 30 C in some cities.’ (Economic Times)

      50

  • #
    • #
      CO2 Lover

      The false claims that wind and solar power are the “cheapest means of producing electricity” because sunshine and wind are “free” as stated by clueless Albanese is easily disproven by the facts

      Residential electricity prices including taxes (February 2023) for France were 26.7 (c€/kWh) {70% nuclear power generation} compared to 49.5 (c€/kWh) for Germany which has committed to wind and solar energy and 48.5 for the UK which as failed to expand it nuclear power stations and has invested in unreliable wind power instead.

      Last year in Australia residential eelctricity prices went up around 20% and expect the same in 2024.

      Solar panels may indeed produce cheap electricty at noon on a sunny day in the middle of nowhere, but this electricity has to be transferred to where it is needed and back up sources required for when the Sun is not shining (same for wind power).

      The cost of batteries to back up a wind and solar only grid in Australia would be around $10 TRILLION AUD – and so will never happen.

      Meanwhile China is permiting two new coal fired powerstations every WEEK! And after the big freeze in northern China recently expect this number to go up!

      https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303812.shtml

      70

      • #
        Graeme#4

        Not all state electricity prices rose 20% – the WA SWIS grid price increased by around 7%. Australia’s average electricity price is A$0.27/kWh.

        12

        • #
          RickWill

          Australia’s average electricity price is A$0.27/kWh.

          I would like to see the calculation that confirms this. Supply charges run from $0.98/day to $1.72/day across Australia. The average home uses around 10kWh per day. So the service charge can be as high as 17c/kWh.
          https://www.canstarblue.com.au/electricity/electricity-supply-charges/

          The service charge is where most of the price action is because there is need for huge boost in transmission and distribution capacity.

          The energy components ranges from 26.6c/kWh to 45.3c/kWh:
          https://www.canstarblue.com.au/electricity/electricity-costs-kwh/

          So average householder consumer price could range from say 35c/kWh to 62c/kWh. So I find it hard to get an average of 27c/kWh in that range.

          There are billions of dollars being spent on the electricity supply system every year with no hope of lowering costs but all needed to be paid back at a profit. There is no prospect of the cost of electricity falling in Australia unless you are making your own.

          90

          • #
            ozfred

            And the stated per kwh price normally has the GST added on at the end of the invoice

            40

          • #
            Graeme#4

            We have had this discussion before Rick. As stated, the average was based on the quoted electricity price per kWh, averaging the quoted rates across the eight states and territories. And as I’ve stated before, really the only way we can compare our prices to other countries.

            00

            • #
              Graeme#4

              The website providing the average rates for each state and territory is: https://www.finder.com.au/average-cost-of-electricity

              10

              • #
                ozfred

                WA’s price did not include GST. though I must actually be paying a bit less than the maximum allowable for residential power

                28.01 + (2.80 GST) + (daily 100.4 divided by my grid supplied 9.74kwh/day “not including a bit less than 10 kwh/day from my roof top panels”)
                28.01 +2.80 + 10.31 = 41.12 for grid supplied kwh.

                I also note that RE supporters on the NEM power FB group do not support the idea that the cost of storage (battery or otherwise) should not affect the cost of power….. Perhaps someone could arrange a disconnect from the grid at sunset?

                20

              • #
                RickWill

                The finder web site just the energy component. And even the average there has to be higher than 27c/kWh. The service charge is the component that is rising the most and will continue to do so as the suppliers of all the Net Zero junk price to recover the costs.

                10

              • #
                Graeme#4

                Ozfred and Rick: you cannot compare electricity prices on a worldwide basis when you attempt to add in all the extras, as these extras are different everywhere and for every single person. I though that would have been obvious.

                01

              • #
                Lucky

                Graeme#4 says:
                The average quoted electricity price per kWh is
                really the only way we can compare our prices to other countries.

                Note the word ‘quoted’. Electricity cannot be bought at that so-called price. That figure is not a price, it is a cost, it does not include transmission costs which are substantial especially in low population density areas such as Western Australia.

                To repeat- the price of a thing is how much a buyer pays for that thing.

                20

      • #
        Barry

        Coal is just as free as wind. You just have to dig it up. Wind you need to make a windmill to catch it.

        Gas is just as free as solar, just drill a hole and out it comes. Sun you need to make solar panels to convert it.

        Renewables aren’t free.

        Fossil fuels are.

        80

        • #
          Hanrahan

          I have always said that coal is free, you don’t write a cheque to the maker. It costs to dig as it costs to harvest the wind.

          40

    • #
      KP

      “Like net zero, communism was based on a lie: that it would outproduce capitalism. But it failed to produce, and belief in communism evaporated. When the collapse came, it was sudden and rapid… A similar fate awaits net zero.”

      I’m looking forward to it!

      70

  • #
    David Maddison

    Douglas Murray is coming to Australia in March but tickets are already sold out for his Melbourne talk.

    I hope his visa isn’t denied by the Australian Government as it was for Donald Trump Jr. The Government disingenuously granted him a visa a day before he was due to speak which led to cancellation of the whole event.

    Australia is not a favourable place for visiting conservatives and fellow rational thinkers.

    You are only certain to get a visa if you are a visiting or migrating terrorist, not an anti-terrorist like Douglas or Trump Jr.

    151

  • #
    another ian

    Reviewing 2023 – looks like a good year to be out of –

    “Dave Collum’s 2023 Year In Review: Down Some Dark Rabbit Holes, Part 1”

    “Diverse people talk about all three! In any event, these allusions to Hollywood are not by chance. I have a growing sense that Hollywood is profoundly corrupt—I am not just talking drugs and sex—and is charged with “fictionalizing reality.” Got a problem with elite pedophilia and Satanic cults? I believe we do. Hollywood created Eyes Wide Shut starring Tom Cruise. The CIA was too dark and sinister, so Hollywood fictionalized it with The Good Shepherd starring Matt Damon. Assassins-in-training in the CIA’s MKUltra program getting into mischief? Call Matt off the bench again to play Jason Bourne. By anchoring public perception on fictional plots, Hollywood disarms reality. Hey: it’s just a movie, right?

    We now live in a nation where doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy knowledge, governments destroy freedom, the press destroys information, religion destroys morals, and our banks destroy our economy.

    ~ Chris Hedges”

    More at https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/dave-collums-2023-year-review-down-some-dark-rabbit-holes-part-1

    Punting open on 2024

    90

  • #
    CO2 Lover

    I bought a 1965 Ford Mustang fastback that had been sitting in the Arizona Desert for 20 years.
    Had it shipped to Ausralia – put a new battery in it and some petrol and it fired up!

    How many people wil be seeking out old EVs and replacinng the battery packs to make them drivable again?

    110

  • #
    another ian

    Another model for “elBowen”s Xmas stockings

    “Britain’s Net Zero Disaster And The Wind Power Scam”

    https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/britains-net-zero-disaster-and-wind-power-scam

    20

  • #
    david

    Osteoporosis is most difficult to treat.

    In my wife’s case after 20 years on “the latest” medications and the last 6 years on Prolia her bone density in the spine and hips is still falling but at a reduced rate. These injections have to be taken exactly on time.

    A trial some years ago where she didn’t take any medication for a few months showed her density had fallen alarmingly. There has been some recovery after 12 months back on the drug but not significant.

    As far as I am aware there is nothing on the horizon once you have had your safe quota (about 6-7 yrs) of Prolia.

    20

  • #
    David Maddison

    The last act of any nation, is to loot the treasury.

    ― Michael Rivero

    70

  • #
    David Maddison

    Make yourself sheep and the wolves will eat you.

    Benjamin Franklin

    60

    • #
      Old Goat

      David,
      The sheep fear the wolf , but it’s the shepherd that eats them . The shepherd does not protect them out of altruism. “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety” – Benjamin Franklin .

      40

  • #
    David Maddison

    As Ayn Rand put it in “Atlas Shrugged”:

    “Did you really think we want those laws observed?” said Dr. Ferris. “We want them to be broken. You’d better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against… We’re after power and we mean it… There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s the system, Mr. Reardon, that’s the game, and once you understand it, you’ll be much easier to deal with.”

    130

  • #
    Ross

    Osteoporosis seems to have attracted a couple of comments today. There was a report the other day ( see if I can find the link) of a large study where a correlation between the use of statins ( anti- cholesterol drugs) and osteoporosis was reported. It was a large study and seemed to be legit. But, as with all science, maybe a first report which then needs verification by other studies.

    50

    • #
      Ross

      Study of 350000 subjects in Austria. “ Osteoporosis
      Diagnosis of osteoporosis in statin-treated patients is dose-dependent
      Michael Leutner1, Caspar Matzhold2,3, Luise Bellach1, Carola Deischinger1, Jürgen Harreiter1, Stefan Thurner2,3,4,5, Peter Klimek2,3, http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3520-4105Alexandra Kautzky-Willer1
      Correspondence to Professor Alexandra Kautzky-Willer, Internal Medicine III, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria; [email protected]
      Abstract

      Objective Whether HMG-CoA-reductase inhibition, the main mechanism of statins, plays a role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, is not entirely known so far. Consequently, this study was set out to investigate the relationship of different kinds and dosages of statins with osteoporosis, hypothesising that the inhibition of the synthesis of cholesterol could influence sex-hormones and therefore the diagnosis of osteoporosis.

      70

  • #
  • #

    Satirical Review of Year 2023 by Dieter Nuhr
    Worth a longer look, 1h, it’s German, but it can be subtitled in Englisch. Of course these are German problems he talks about, but in very pointed way, lot of points discussed here too, climate, weather, energy, wokeness
    Enjoy.
    One explantion, as I just saw it as he talked about the first billion of Taylor Swift.
    The translation shows “pumped” (money) that will say “tap her for money”, as Germany hasn’t 😀

    20

  • #
    Lance

    Economic impact of Britain’s net-zero climate policies serves as a warning for America

    “The carbon costs the British government imposed upon businesses, according to the report, amounted to an average $128 per megawatt hour for electricity generated from coal and $51 per megawatt hour for electricity generated from natural gas. Those extra charges are in addition to the costs of the fuels, which averaged $150 per megawatt hour for coal and $160 per megawatt hour for natural gas……Renewables are not cheap, nor can they provide the reliability that modern societies expect and on which they depend. This report convincingly demonstrates how Britain was conned into net zero by deceptive and illusory promises of cheap wind power”

    https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/energy/report-economic-impacts-britains-net-zero-climate-policies-serve-warning

    Article is referencing Rupert Darwall’s paper, “The Folly of Climate Leadership”

    https://assets.realclear.com/files/2023/12/2321_2320_realclear-report-rupert-darwall-v7_1.pdf

    20

  • #
    CO2 Lover

    As a CO2 Lover I like to report on the benefits of CO2.

    The Sahara and Sahel to the south are actually shrinking, with vegetation arising on land where there was nothing but sand and rocks before The southern border of the Sahara has been retreating since the early 1980s, making farming viable again in what were some of the most arid parts of Africa. There has been a spectacular regeneration of vegetation in northern Burkina Faso, which was devastated by drought and advancing deserts 20 years ago. It is now growing so much greener that families who fled to wetter coastal regions are starting to come back.

    The greening cannot be explained solely by the increase in rainfall. There were vegetation increases in areas where rainfall was decreasing, suggesting another factor was responsible for the greening in these areas. This other factor might have been the rise of atmospheric CO2 levels. The aerial fertilization effect of the ongoing rise in the air’s CO2 concentration increases greatly the productivity of plants. The more CO2 there is in the air, the better plants grow. Rising atmospheric CO2 levels also have an antitranspiration effect, which enhances the water-use efficiency of plants and enables them to grow in areas that were once too dry for them.

    India and China are doing there best to assist the people living in the Sahara and the Sahel while our Labor politicans provide taxpayer subsides to Teal voters who will never vote for Labor!!!

    70

  • #
    John Connor II

    Court orders dismantling of French wind farm over bird deaths

    A court of appeal in Nîmes, France, has ordered the dismantling of an operational wind farm due to the threat it poses to local ecology including golden eagles in the area.

    In a ruling published on 7 December, the Nîmes appeal court upheld a previous decision that demanded the immediate “demolition of all the wind turbines” and restoration of the site within 15 months.

    Daily fines of €3,000 are to be paid by developer Energies Renouvelables du Languedoc-Valeco, a subsidiary of German energy company EnBW, if it does not comply with the demolition order.

    The onshore wind farm was commissioned in 2016 and is located near the southern town of Lunas in Languedoc, France.

    It has been the subject of a series of legal proceedings brought by residents and conservation groups, with the latter arguing that it was directly harmful to wildlife in the area, including golden eagles.

    https://www.windpowermonthly.com/article/1851391/court-orders-dismantling-french-wind-farm-bird-deaths

    Some good news for xmas.

    100

    • #
      Ross

      Lunas, that’s where Brittany Higgins went to live. Sounds a vey sensible town, but perhaps too good for BH. Apparently, there is no baker in town, but you buy your croissants from a vending machine. How do I know this, because the silly MSM seem to be reporting on this non-stop at the moment. They think it’s really important.

      30

      • #
        kmac

        Ross,
        You may have the wrong Lunas. There is another one near Bergerac and I think that is where they bought their house. I’m not the media tragic this suggests. My wife loves checking these sorts of facts and is rarely wrong.
        Great news about the demolition order though.
        Merry Christmas

        60

  • #
    David Maddison

    Copied from elsewhere. Relevant to Australia. Some corrections by me.

    I would like to give my DUNCE’S HATS to the following for Christmas 2023.

    1. All the stupid CEO’s who backed the “yes” vote.

    2. Attorney General for allowing all those criminals to walk the streets after being freed by the High Court.

    3. To the P.M. for being absent from Australia when Australians were doing it hard.

    I’m sure these “DUNCE’S HATS” will fit all very well.

    100

    • #
      william x

      Forget the dunces of 2023 there are too many.

      We should be congratulating those that were Dux of their class in 2023.

      I’ll start with this person:

      Jo Nova wins CFACT’s Dauntless Purveyor of Climate Truth Award 2023

      “Hailing from Australia, Joanne Nova has become a world-renown climate change blogger, author, speaker, activist, scientist, and television personality.
      She won CFACT’s Dauntless Purveyor of Climate Truth Award for 2023 for her tireless work in exposing the truth.
      The award was presented at the Heartland Institute’s 15th International Conference on Climate Change in Orlando, FL.

      Watch this tribute video to learn more about Nova’s background and impressive work. Congratulations Joanne Nova!”

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5_xUKIqzlU

      130

  • #
    John Connor II

    Junk Science Alert: Met Office Set to Ditch Actual Temperature Data in Favour of Model Predictions

    The alternative climate reality that the U.K. Met Office seeks to occupy has moved a step nearer with news that a group of its top scientists has proposed adopting a radical new method of calculating climate change. The scientific method of calculating temperature trends over at least 30 years should be ditched, and replaced with 10 years of actual data merged with model projections for the next decade. The Met Office undoubtedly hopes that it can point to the passing of the 1.5°C ‘guard-rail’ in short order. This is junk science-on-stilts, and is undoubtedly driven by the desire to push the Net Zero collectivist agenda.

    https://dailysceptic.org/2023/12/23/junk-science-alert-met-office-set-to-ditch-actual-temperature-data-in-favour-of-model-predictions/

    Defibrillator for Jo on standby. 😆

    70

  • #
    John Connor II

    Santa has arrived at my place! I think he’s “started” early. 😁

    https://imgbox.com/CD16sRpM

    BBQ ready?

    https://64.media.tumblr.com/bda0447d391e052ccf8ebe631c1fedf3/5e6eeb235e44022a-3c/s640x960/f0c987dbe8407fc2529396feff9de1f08e39ab81.jpg

    I’m outa here. Merry (meat laden) xmas to all.

    20

  • #
    CO2 Lover

    As a CO2 Lover I like to promote the benefits of King Coal – I grew up in Newcaslte which is the largest coal export port in the world and you can often see 20 or more ships off Nobby’s waiting for their load of coal. One grandfather was a coal miner. In my younger days I was on the design team of the Bayswater Power Station in the Hunter Valley.

    AGL under political pressure has announced the early closure of Bayswater in 2030-33 from 2035 – I bet this will no occur!

    Coal is a dense energy source, and it is cheap, versatile and readily transportable. To illustrate coal’s energy density, a Tesla battery that weighs over 500kg and takes 25-50 tons (i.e. thousand kgs) of minerals to be mined, processed, and transported, can store the same energy as a mere 30kg sack of coal.

    But then I might be getting a lump of coal in my Christmas stocking for saying such things!

    So Merry Xmas to all you “Climate” Deniers” and please post on what you get in your Christmas stocking.

    100

    • #
      Dennis

      I had distant relatives who were coal miners in the John Darling Colliery at Belmont that ceased production in 1987.

      It was closed because the coal seam was too far out under the ocean to be commercially viable, transporting miners to the coal face and transporting the coal back.

      I understand that there are a number of coal seams out to sea off the East Coast of Australia awaiting new technology to access.

      20

  • #
    Dennis

    Merry Christmas!

    60

  • #
    David Maddison

    Remember, from 1st Jan 2024, new houses in Victoriastan are not allowed to be connected to the natural gas network.

    So, no gas, and at the same time power stations are being shut down so there is a rapidly diminishing electricity supply.

    They really do want you to freeze in the dark.

    90

  • #
    • #
      David Maddison

      As per a comment on the video, Brown must support fossil fuels since he has actively worked against hydro and nuclear, now wind.

      Or perhaps he wants we non-Elites to just freeze in the dark.

      10

  • #
    RickWill

    For those true believers who think CO2 can alter Earth’s energy balance – Santa Clause comes tonight. Please leave carrots out for his reindeers.

    30

  • #
    David Maddison

    https://www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2022/01/07/reindeer-myth-buster/

    Myth 2 – Reindeer eat carrots

    But we aren’t sure where this tradition stems from as they do not grow in sub-Arctic habitats, and reindeer physically can’t eat carrots. Their lack of top teeth prevents them from chewing them down into a digestible size.7 Jan 2022

    00

  • #
    Kevin a

    Excess deaths
    Dr. John Campbell
    2023 16% more deaths in Australia. weeks 1 to 34
    2022 + 2023 = 44,000 excess deaths in Australia.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7vTqEmlkvw

    30

  • #
    el+gordo

    Adding weight to the argument that a warmer world produces more snow.

    https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2023/12/20/anchorage-is-closing-75-snow-season/

    00

  • #
    KP

    If anyone is still interested in The Great Game and how it is playing out between England and Russia, America and Iran, the West and the BRICS, there is a very detailed article here-

    https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/luongo-no-one-has-really-grokked-how-big-suezhouthi-gambit

    Closing the Red Sea and hence the Suez Canal will form a trap for the USA. Stop the Houthis using cheap drones to blow up civilian cargo ships, or give up the pretense of being the world’s policeman.

    10

    • #
      Honk R Smith

      I think maybe the US being “the world’s policeman ” might be anachronistic Cold War thinking.

      Seems to me that the Pandemic demonstrated a unified power structure that is obscure and post nation state.
      I am of the opinion that the the US 2024 POTUS installation will make the reality of this obscure structure obvious to most, though its’ power likely depends on maintaining its’ obscurity.
      (Gawd, the Kabuki Carnival Side Show is already unbearable.)

      We were taught no one is above that law.
      We can now see that excludes the people that hire and pay the police.
      George Floyd hysteria, lockdowns in Victoria, and lawfare on DJT have made clear our naive, movie script informed perception of ‘policing’.

      A power construct is clearly in place.
      As an American, I can’t tell what is is.
      And have no idea where “America’ ranks in the pecking order.
      I would figure 10 Carrier Battle Groups still amounts to clout, but that’s just a guess.
      I do doubt that Brandon controls them.*

      *(My opinions are for recreational infotainment purposes only, and any relation to reality is accidental and unintentional.)

      60

  • #
  • #
  • #

    Merry X-Mas to all readers and writers and their families !

    30

  • #
    Ireneusz Palmowski

    A large drop in the temperature of the Peruvian Current.
    https://i.ibb.co/cbmcr0s/nino12.png

    30

  • #
    MrGrimNasty

    Over the last week or so the forecasters have promised the wettest and/or warmest UK Christmas Eve or Christmas day on record. We will see….

    Either way, only chance of any snow is extreme north as some cold air digs back in later.

    00

  • #
    Ireneusz Palmowski

    Thunderstorms in Australia.
    https://i.ibb.co/Mhb5jvH/archive-5-image.png

    10

    • #
      Kalm Keith

      Yes. It was the most intense activity that I’ve seen here in NovoCastria.

      The width of the lightning bolts was amazing and there were frequently up to three strikes visible at the same time.

      I had a good view towards the ocean and the activity in the opposite direction, out west was just as frequent judging by the flashes.

      Hail followed, but thankfully it was only small stuff.

      00

    • #
      Tel

      This is what they were telling us at the end of November:

      http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/wrap-up/archive/20231121.archive.shtml

      The long-range forecast for Australia indicates December to February rainfall is likely to be below average across much of northern Queensland, the NT, Tasmania, southern and central SA, and north-west and western WA. Warmer days and nights are very likely almost nationwide. The Bureau’s climate model includes all influences on Australian climate when generating its forecasts.

      We got cooler days and nights for the most part with way above average rainfall in Qld. Prediction is hard.

      10

      • #
        robert rosicka

        The guy who does the Indigo Jones method of forecasting predicted a wetter than normal east coast and inland , even the big rain above Cairns , he is predicting another big rainfall event in the area .

        10