Weekend Unthreaded

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156 comments to Weekend Unthreaded

  • #
    climateskeptic

    Looks like Abbott and the loony fringe have shot themselves in the foot.

    446

    • #
      Yonniestone

      Wanting to secure the country’s electricity supply,
      Stop immigrating people that that remain on permanent welfare or hate us and want to kill us,
      Cease funding to a foreign entity that serves no purpose than lining their pockets with our money,
      Protect our sovereignty from globalist elites,
      Eradicate the creeping cultural Marxism that destroys a Nations culture,
      Secure the country’s future water supply,
      Reduce the increasing national debt created by Labor(Turnbull)

      Yep they sure are loony.

      462

    • #
      el gordo

      ‘….loony fringe have shot themselves in the foot.’

      Ah no, I imagine the ‘fringe’ will be represented on the front bench.

      If Morrison only has moderates, with no talk of coal fired power stations, pulling out of Paris or abandoning the RET, then its curtains for the Coalition.

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      • #
        Deplorable Lord Kek

        I am thinking hung parliament

        40

      • #
        Phillthegeek

        His prob with that eg is that if he does and starts with:

        “talk of coal fired power stations, pulling out of Paris or abandoning the RET”

        Then it proves he has, like Turnbull, sold his arse to the right wing wreckers in the Libs.

        Not a good look if stability is what they are after. And if they cant get at least a resonable appearance of stability they are somehwat soggy toast come the election.

        Biggest advantage to the ALP at the moment is that they can go to the electorate and say that they have learned the lessons of the RGR wars, and PROVEN that they have a stable team and can deliver stable Govt…with actual policy and governance. Not the kaos we have had from the Libs. In the current context, being able to offer the electorate credible stability is a big thing.

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        • #
          el gordo

          It wasn’t a revenge move by Abbott to bring down Turnbull, its about policy.

          The Libs will find stability when the leader says we are pulling out of Paris, getting rid of the RET, patch up Liddell and build new Hele.

          All the leader has to do is woo back those Coalition voters who have deserted over policy, the leftoids will vote Green or Labor as they have always done, so they can be ignored. For a landslide victory Morrison will need to capture the undecideds with proof that he can get Australia back in the black and eliminate our debt.

          The chaos we have been experiencing is refreshing, Australia has earned the title of coup country of the world and Beijing is quietly horrified by our banana republic status.

          Johnny Howard reckons Abbot should return to the frontbench and I agree. What Ministry do you think Morrison will give the monk?

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          • #
            Phillthegeek

            It wasn’t a revenge move by Abbott to bring down Turnbull, its about policy.

            🙂 So long as people on the other side of politics continue to believe that eg…i’m happy.

            Its pretty much saying it all that anyone believes that the Libs actually had anything in the way of achievable policy in play.

            Peeople who do generally have just not been paying attention to anything outside of their need for confirmation bias reinforcement.

            One thing i found interesting during this is the support from the right wing fanbois for strongly authoritarian approaches. They seem fine with the idea of Dutton or some strong man to take control and crush teh “lefties” for the common good. And then wot?? They expect that whatever powers are used to achieve that wont be used to crush them like bugs??

            Also, why have Abbott back except to make sure that the ALP win by more seats?? His superpower is wrecking. ALP when he can and Libs between times just…because. 🙂 Wot do you guys want from him? Commissar for Policy Purity??

            You could kind of spin Abbott back in cabinet as giving the crazy uncle who keeps forgetting his meds quiet in the name of stability…but having Morrison signal in such a definitive way that he has sold his bum to the people who owned Turnbulls is not going to help out in voterland. And implicit in all that would be that the first time Abbott gets unhappy, the whole thing goes off again.

            Anyway, nice day here, time to get outside and let people reinforce the beliefs i like to see in the right.

            seeyahs!

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            • #
              el gordo

              ‘Wot do you guys want from him? Commissar for Policy Purity??’

              Speaking for myself, as an agrarian socialist, I want Abbott on the frontbench to replace Julie. He will be overseas most of the time.

              Julie is thinking about retiring, pity, she would make a good education minister.

              Morrison gets along well with Abbott, as he did with Turnbull, and Abbott has a strong fan base which would return to the fold. So who cares if we lose some wet votes.

              ‘…crush teh “lefties” for the common good.’

              Its the common good that got us into this mess, saving the planet for our grandchildren has created a pseudo Marxist consortium, and under Malcolm the Coalition was being drawn into this vortex. The backbench ginger group, seeing the event horizon, brought on a coup which has the capacity to bring on a scientific paradigm shift and turn the world upside down.

              Historians will say that the green/left lost the 2019 election because of the climate wars, suffering a massive defeat at the hands of the new economic rationalists.

              We need a strong centre right government to stand up to Beijing and Washington.

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              • #
                Phillthegeek

                Julie is thinking about retiring, pity, she would make a good education minister.

                eg, seeing a bit of stuff that indicates Bishop will go to the bckbench and not contest the next election. Makes it easier for Porter (apparently seen as future leadership material) to move to a safer seat. That said with the Cormanator and Cash the Claw deserting Bishop (all her votes except her own came from non-W.A. members) she must be feeling pretty much used and career wise has no where to go but down.

                Historians will say that the green/left lost the 2019 election because of the climate wars, suffering a massive defeat at the hands of the new economic rationalists.

                Hmmmm..lets agree to disagree on that one eg. I think you are misreading the influence of the coal-huggers outside of the “conservative” (actually self harming loony reactionaries) echo chambers.

                Will be interesting to see what the Nats demand in terms of ministerial appointments. They will for a cert go after energy and water. Wonder if Barnyard will get a gig?? 🙂

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              • #
                el gordo

                Barnaby should return to Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Energy to Craig Kelly and Environment to Greg Hunt.

                ‘…misreading the influence of the coal-huggers …’

                Looking ahead the Murdocracy through Sky News, Oz, Hun and Tele, will tell the people that coal is not a dirty pollutant. Then the ABC, Guardian and Fairfax will have a fight on their hands. Its the debate we have to have, so that the electorate can decide who is telling fibs.

                I’m ready for the battle, now that global cooling has kicked in we can’t lose.

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              • #
                el gordo

                Julie has resigned.

                Now we have to consider Marise Ann Payne, Minister for Defence.

                I nominate Peter Dutton to take her place, if she decides to depart.

                21

    • #
      Deplorable Lord Kek

      Dutton and Abbott stand for lower immigration and cheap electricity – views shared by a majority of the population.
      It is those disagreeing who belong to the ‘loony fringe’.

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    • #
      toorightmate

      I reckon that anyone who pays 3 times as much as they should for electricity is loony.
      All of us here in Australia are therefore looney.

      201

    • #
      MudCrab

      Looks like Abbott has caused the loony fringe to shoot Turnbull in the foot… and knee… and arm.

      Here are the big talking points;

      – NEG is effectively dead
      – Turnbull is no longer PM
      – Turnbull is now to leave Parliament
      – Bishop is no longer Dep PM
      – Abbott is still a major player and constantly mentioned in any discussion
      and
      – Abbott has done so without formally directly linking himself to the (unsuccessful) Dutton project.

      Pretty clear here that Abbott has come out of this pretty well. Not outstanding party in the streets well maybe, but he hit a lot of KPIs these recent days, while in comparison Turnbull in the space of two weeks has gone from ‘Great Victory’ to ‘We now look back on his time as Prime Minister’.

      In a broad sense we now have two possible ways forward.

      First is Morrison takes this change to blame everything on ‘previous’ change the policy direction (aka – start talking about immigration, coal and quietly ignoring Paris) and claw back to win the next election. Abbott remains on the winning side. Win by default for Abbott.
      Second is he goes Turnbull Lite because the ABC told him to, the voters prove the Newspolls correct and Labor win election. Liberals boot Morrison and Abbott, the proven highly successful Op Leader, steps back into the Big Chair. Win by default for Abbott (although at expense of country, but that would have been Morrison’s fault).

      Ever way Abbott continues to be THE most significant Australia political figure of the 21st century.

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      • #
        Ted O'Brien.

        MudCrab. There’s a very big elephant in your room, and you’ve completely missed it!

        The National Party.

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  • #
    TdeF

    Malcolm is gone. If he stayed, they were all history. He was clueless. The NEG was not a guarantee of anything except disaster.

    Now they have nowhere else to go but back to the conservative side.
    Morrison is likely a pragmatist. The only moves he can make are those suggested strongly by Abbott. Otherwise, he is a six month Prime Minister at best.

    Green and Labor policy to attract Green and Labor votes was Turnbull’s passion because he was always Labor/Green. Now the Coalition have to distance themselves. Otherwise they are just seat warmers.

    The simplest first step is to walk away from Paris. Every step after that gets easier.

    At the very least if they cannot establish real conservative policies quickly, there is no funding. Malcolm burned off the helpers, burned off the donors like Pratt and Malcolm is not around to throw in a few million. The McCormack foundation will refuse. No Abbott, no Abbott policies, no money.

    If they actually want to win the election. Repeal the RET. Have Hazelwood turn on again. Take Liddell back for exactly what was paid. $0.

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    • #
      TdeF

      Is it a coincidence that Andy Vestey suddenly resigned? No. Turnbull is gone.
      There are many next steps. None are great for AGL.

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      • #
        Another Ian

        But keep your eye on “behind the curtain” – Turnbull is going to want his “loan” back

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      • #
        Dennis

        Will the US citizen head of the AEMO leave next?

        Former New York power executive Hillary Clinton supporter.

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      • #
        Ted O'Brien.

        There has to be a link.

        For the good of the nation Liddell must not be shut down. But it was government policy that led AGL under Andy Vesy to shut it down.

        Did Andy Vesy see a change in policy coming? If so, what change?

        Or did he make a mistake? Was he pushed?

        00

    • #
      Bushkid

      I’m afraid it looks like Turnbull has his hand firmly up Morrison’s sock puppet, so I don’t expect any changes at all.

      Turnbull can and will still control policy from the sidelines, as it’s his money that bought the “Turnbull Coalition” (long may if rot), and he still believes he owns it.

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  • #
    The Deplorable Vlad the Impaler

    Here’s a question for all on the other side of the “Big Pond”:

    One of my jobs is teaching Math at our local community college (I am an Adjunct Prof.). I know this has been around a while, but I am wondering how pervasive it is.

    Last December, I was assisting a student who had an assignment on a publisher platform (i.e., on-line), and, as is typical, I was making a consistent error, so my “help” for the student was almost anything but.

    A young lady came over and offered to help; she held up her cell phone to the computer screen, and in just microseconds, the correct answer appeared on her screen (at which time I found my arithmetic error). As you might expect, I was floored by this.

    But it gets worse: when I asked her what this was on her phone, she indicated that she had no idea where it came from, it was just there, and, any subject that she was working on (Chemistry, Physics, and I believe she rattled off several more [but of course my eyes were beginning to glaze over at this point … … …]), and so she had perfect scores on all of her homework assignments.

    How she managed to pass any assessments (i.e., exams), I have no idea, but passing she was, and progressing towards an eventual degree.

    My question for those on your side of the Pond is this: can we expect that this ‘application’ on cell phones (and I would assume, other “mobile” devices, to expand and become the norm, in our societies? I have more than a little trepidation for what this foretells about our future, if that is the case.

    Thanks to all, my regards, and I look forward to your responses; please note that I will sit on the sidelines and observe, and most likely, not comment, unless a direct question is posed to me.

    Thanks,

    Vlad

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    • #
      Graeme No.3

      Vlad;

      Was the problem a written equation? I cannot see how the phone and the computer could communicate the problem otherwise (and yes I know about wireless and bluetooth connection).

      50

      • #
        The Deplorable Vlad the Impaler

        Hi Graeme,

        Yes; the screen showed the equation or problem, the phone “read” it, the same way you or I would, then solved it.

        TDVTI

        50

      • #
        Spetzer86

        Open Google Translate on your phone. Pick the source and target languages. Hit the camera icon. Point phone at text. Translation happens right on the screen.

        Math, if you had the right app, should happen just the same. A story problem would be a trick, but you could sort of see how it could work.

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        • #
          Ted O'Brien.

          That simplifies it. Fiddling through popular classics on youtube, I discovered Julian Kim, a Korean who sings what I call well enough. I then discovered him singing a song new to me, but all the text was in Korean. So I copied the Korean text into translate and got my identification – “Musica prohibits”. I like it a lot, and obviously haven’t put enough time into my music.

          Now you have shown me a better way to do it.

          10

    • #
      Richard Ilfeld

      We will soon discover the risk in this. If a pilot is flying in instrument conditions, and the controller vectors the plane into a mountain, some would crash, flying mechanically, and some would not, maintaining situational awareness.

      A generation of “students”, not maintaining situational awareness, will suffer massive harm at these helpful apps that are not especially secure. A large number will lose their savings by blindly authorizing payments; will be robbed as the bad guys know where they are….and aren’t, etc. Will be defrauded in a myriad of creative ways. We already see flash mobs of teens getting together on anonymous social to rob stores and malls, overwhelming security. When thought and awareness of context leaves “hey Google”, bad things will happen. Some will be “cute”. Some will be profusely apologized for and algorithms tweaks. And most will be undetected and unreported.

      A device with the wonderful capability to bring capabilities to the disabled can disable though dependency those having no need of it.

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    • #
      Rob Leviston

      Possibly Google Lens? I don’t ( or can’t) get it on my phone, but it apparently analyzes an image and gives you results of what you are looking at?

      40

    • #
      Peter C

      Impressive technology. I wish I knew how to use it. I might even be persuaded to upgrade to an I-phone type device.

      But what happens if it gives the wrong answer? Would anyone even know that it was the wrong answer?

      100

      • #

        Gives a whole new meaning to ‘trust but verify.’
        What might Feynman say?

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      • #
        The Deplorable Vlad the Impaler

        Hi Peter,

        My thoughts exactly; WHO is providing the answer, and what if there is intent to mislead? We’re struggling enough against the ‘taught what to think’ instead of ‘how to think’, and an attention span measured in nanoseconds, so I am giving more and more thought to retirement, rather than fight the beast.

        I only reached ‘official’ retirement age about five years ago, but kept going since I’ve felt fine, and would have no idea what to do with myself if I did, “retire”.

        Please, please provide any additional insights you might have; they are of great value to me (and that applies to all the Brainiacs at Jo’s, and Anthony’s, including our very lovely hostess, and her astounding ‘other half’).

        Regards,

        Vlad

        40

      • #
        Ted O'Brien.

        Peter, that rule always applies anyway.

        10

    • #
      theRealUniverse

      They (modern millenium generation students) will ‘read everything’ on the AI hones and know absolutely NOTHING., understand absolutely NOTHING about physics, chem, math etc. Or anything else.

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    • #
      Serp

      I noticed a very similar post on WUWT Tips and Notes in mid December last year and actually queried educators and other knowledgable types in my acquaintance about it but answer came there none. Here’s the pasted text I sent out in my inquiring email (unfortunately I suppressed the url):


      Since this is not worthy of a post in response to any article posted, I’m putting it here for anyone who might be involved (at any level) of education; While I am a Geologist (and had more Math than most Math majors would have taken in their academic tenure), I teach both Math and Geology at the junior college level.

      THIS IS A WARNING TO ALL:

      Recently, I was working with a student in a help center (at our college), and we were trying to get the answer to an on-line Math homework problem [there are many such platforms, so I do not think that this single platform is the only one that has been “hacked”, so to speak …]. Without meaning to do so, I made a consistent arithmetic mistake (nothing unusual there) that prevented us from getting the answer. Nearby, a young lady was working on an assignment, and when she realized that we were having trouble, offered to help.

      She proceeded to hold her cell phone (the camera part) up to the screen, and virtually the instant that she did, the correct answer appeared. At that point, I found my arithmetic mistake, but that is not the issue here.

      Stunned, I turned to the young lady and asked her what she did. Her response was that she held the cell phone up to the screen, let it scan it, and the answer appeared. When I pressed for the source of this software, she indicated that [as far as she knew or could tell], her phone just came with it. She did not buy or download any software.

      Then, she proffered this:

      “I use it in almost all of my classes: Physics, Chemistry, PolySci — — I get perfect scores on all of my on-line homeworks, no matter what. I have “A’s” in all of my classes!”

      I cannot explain to anyone the level of distress this put me into. As soon as I possibly could, I notified my immediate supervisor (the Math Dept. Chair), to get this info passed up the chain of command.

      I guess this software has been around for at least a couple of years, but what ever it is, it is expanding, and becoming pervasive, so that students do not have to exert any effort to earn a passing grade.

      If the reader saw the movie, “Idiocracy”, you know that in the movie, overall intelligence in humans declined, which is what I see happening here; the plot of the movie had a different cause for the decline in human intelligence, but sad to say, it would appear to be accelerated and aided by this software development.

      Please note, I am NOT talking about websites like Wolfram-Alpha. We actually tell our students about that website, and ask them to use it as a check on ‘ungraded’ homework, to gain understanding and capability. This is something that may be on every cell phone in at least the US, if the world.

      Ironic to all of this, a few weeks prior to this incident with the cell phone, a student of mine, and I, were chatting amicably. The student asked me what the biggest change I’ve seen in education has been, during my tenure at this facility. I answered, there’s been an overall decline in the ability of students to think, analyze, critique, and respond clinically to a proposal or hypothesis. Almost everything is rote response, without any real thought behind any statements they make or beliefs they hold.

      The short version of this is: people are letting things do all their thinking for them.

      (Sorry to post at such length)

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      • #
        Serp

        I had intended this as a reply to the Vimpaler at 3.

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        • #
          Chad

          Sserp,
          ?? Are you suggesting this is one of those “Fake” stories that get bounced around the net ?

          20

        • #
          The Deplorable Vlad the Impaler

          That’s the post I put at WUWT; I’m trying to find out about this application, and nothing came back.

          I’ve talked to other educators, and the apathy is overwhelming; one even said, ‘we should embrace technology, ‘ or something to that effect.

          Am I the only one who sees a problem here? I’m going to figure that as of now, I am the one who is insane, a la ‘if ten people tell you you’re crazy, you might want to listen.’

          Thank you, Serp.

          Vlad

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          • #
            spetzer86

            For math, it may be this app: https://mashtips.com/best-math-problem-solver-apps/

            It’s been around since at least 2014. Sounds interesting, but I haven’t tried it.

            30

          • #
            sophocles

            Yes, Vlad, it’s a big problem and an urgent one.

            All electronic aids—all phones, not just smartphones, all wrist-watches because of the i-watch, and even google glasses and, of course, calculators, are banned from examination rooms now for this very sort of reason.

            This makes examination setting and provisioning ever more difficult to achieve a suitable assessment.

            Some ideas which have been tossed around are:
            When calculations are required, either basic non-programmable scientific calculators can be issued/made available

            Or highly sanitized computers could be provided where the `sanitisation’ (an effective lock down) extends from the networking to the software.

            Disadvantages are immediate: should two types of calculator be available (post-fix or in-fix)?
            What computer environment?
            Supplying calculation machinery is a capital expense. Relying on student-owned is now no longer feasible and hasn’t been for a decade now.

            A 32GB flash RAM chip is the size of a postage stamp and has a standardized interface ranging from smartphones through cameras to calculators…. and beyond, including auto entertainment and navigation systems. (Cars are automatically banned from exam rooms …) Checking those is too time consuming to contemplate.

            All students should have this `roadblock’ explained at first day of class and be focused on manual method practices. Exams have had to be recast considerably because of this. It seems to be a losing battle. With advancing `AI’ I can see surgically embedded interface sockets not too far away … that could be advantageous in some ways … 🙂

            Perhaps slide-rules should be reintroduced, or the Cambridge or Etonian books of logarithm tables. All these have been suggested…. but students fight back with increasing innumeracy … 🙁

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    • #
      yarpos

      Over time we are relieving ourselves of the need (or disabling our ability, depending on your view) to know many things, as long as we have technology. Absent technology (mass power failur, EMP etc) it would get ugly very quickly. This trend has occured over a single lifetime and only increases.

      Technology has a smiley face and i worked in it for 40 years, but it is no friend of the common man.

      40

    • #
      Dave in the States

      I can surely see this happening in a casual climate change debate (assuming such a thing can happen as most people are bored to death by the topic)

      “My phone says your wrong.”

      “Well I’m taking about applying the scientific method to the question”

      “My phone says it’s not in question because the science is settled.”

      “I don’t agree that the science is settled.”

      “In that case my phone say’s you are a denialist.”

      “well I have seen evidence….”

      Cutting off the skeptic: ” In that case my phone says your a conspiracy theorist and I should not listen to anything you say.”

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  • #
    Mark M

    Australia’s ski resorts have been enjoying record-breaking snowfall this winter, prompting an extension to their season.
    The country’s biggest snow resort, Perisher, is now set to stay open until Sunday October 7, with the natural snow depth hitting 203.9cm.

    Perisher’s Chief Operating Officer, Peter Brulisauer, said  ‘With the most snow in 14 years we are excited to extend the season

    https://electroverse.net/record-breaking-snowfall-prompts-australias-resorts-to-extend-their-season/

    Icons under threat: The Alps

    A 2003 CSIRO report, part-funded by the ski industry, found that the resorts could lose a quarter of their snow in 15 years, and half by 2050.

    https://www.theage.com.au/national/icons-under-threat-the-alps-20051118-ge19jo.html

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    • #
      Dennis

      BoM has been working ever since to produce a trend to match.

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    • #
      Yonniestone

      Ah the slippery slope of recorded predictions.

      About 4 years ago I went skiing (first time) and there were a few posters up about climate change and the ski industry etc.. I asked some of the young workers there if they noticed any reduced snow cover over the years and they carefully said yes probably, later I asked the same question to a veteran resort instructor and he said no its going through a cycle that he’s observed over the years and was told about when he started his resort career and he wished they’d take the posters down as its bad for business. I guess belief in the ideal is more important than the truth now.

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  • #
    Deplorable Lord Kek

    Pretty sure I heard someone from the Liberal party post spill muttering something about ‘stopping the unions’.
    Seems they have no concerns about ‘stopping the UN’.

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  • #
    toorightmate

    I will give a 100% guarantee that Morrison will be better than Turnbull.
    Even if Morrison does an abysmal job, it will still be better than Turnbull.

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    • #
      el gordo

      True, but until we see his front bench its hard to judge.

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      • #
        Bobl

        If TA is on the front bench then I will judge there is a chance for us, if not then it’ll be clear Morrison is totally in the hands of the left wing of the party.

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        • #
          el gordo

          Agreed.

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        • #
          Phillthegeek

          it’ll be clear Morrison is totally in the hands of the left wing of the party.

          Thats crap Bobl, and a symptom of why a lot of the “analysis” from the right wing is spurious. More accurate to say it would mean he is NOT totally owned by the right wing of the party.

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          • #
            Bobl

            No, TA is one of the best people they have, right or left, if he is not on the front bench then he has been left out for ideological reasons. It’s clear.

            I will not support them until there is some proof they have changed, dumping Paris would be enough. The make up of cabinet is telling and it’s not looking good. Global warmist Hunt and Frydenburg.

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            • #
              el gordo

              We need to put Hunt back in Environment (free of Energy) so that he can explain how he got it so wrong. Our quickly organised scientific Blue Team needs to talk with the new Minister, who ever it is.

              Frydenburg is a closet skeptic so he should be a good Treasurer.

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              • #
                Phillthegeek

                Frydenburg is a closet skeptic so he should be a good Treasurer.

                seriously?? After him making a big thing of taking advice from the Hammock Dweller Costello??

                Actually, i’m still annoyed that after Howard got the flick, Costello didn’t step up and make Abbott his deputy in opposition. 🙂

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              • #
                el gordo

                Costello is alright, got us back in the black, and Josh should do the same if the Coalition wins next year.

                If the polls and punters are correct then Shorten will be PM and Albo the Infrastructure Minister, seeking tenders for a continental bullet train network.

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            • #
              Phillthegeek

              No, TA is one of the best people they have,

              Ok, assign a positive value for true to that assertion…just for arguments sake. 🙂

              That tells you all you need to know about what the Liberals are metastasising into.

              But hey, i’m fine with the Libs being influenced by people who believe that. Fer the guud of queen and country doncha no.

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              • #
                el gordo

                ‘…. just for arguments sake.’

                Morrison is trying to stifle dissent by giving crumbs to coup plotters, turning them into envoys and junior minister’s assistants, so that they keep quiet until the next election.

                Tony will need to consider his future as Opposition leader.

                00

  • #
    Rob Leviston

    I am really hoping, maybe beyond hope?, that the LNP WILL change direction under Scott Morrison, the ‘Accidental” PM!
    I mean, Malcolm Turnbull was leading the LNP by the nose, in a direction entirely of his own will, or so it would seem.
    Was the LNP under his spell?
    I hope so! Now that he has gone, will that spell be broken? And then the LNP can begin to settle back into into its conservative roots.
    There really needs to be a very clear difference between the Labor/Green madness, and the LNP. Even, almost, diametrically opposed! No more of this ‘it doesn’t matter who you vote for, the end result is the same’ mentality.
    There are certain key elements I am looking for,
    Exit the Paris Accord,
    Instate Tony Abbott to the front bench,
    A much more pragmatic and realistic approach to our power generation, that creates a level playing field, and includes coal and/or nuclear,
    A comprehensive review of our immigration policy.
    Anything less, and I remain skeptical of the LNP, and still remain outside of the ‘fold’.
    C’mon LNP! Give the people of Australia a party they can believe in and support!

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    • #
      Hanrahan

      I think Morrison is more pragmatic than our previous PMs. This could mean that he becomes wishy-washy without conviction or it could mean he is open to good advice and will act on it. Let’s see.

      I doubt he will dump Paris but he is unlikely to sign a commitment as Turnbull intended. That’s a bit better at least.

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      • #
        Dennis

        Turnbull already committed us to the Paris Treaty, signed by Minister Hunt in April 2016 and ratified in November 2016.

        What he intended via the NEG was to create an Australian law reinforcing the Treaty because foreign law or treaty cannot be enforced in Australia unless the government of the day allows it to be imposed.

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      • #
        Bobl

        We’ll be able to judge by whether Tony Abbott gets into cabinet

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  • #
    Richard Ilfeld

    It is a little bit scary that OZ is changing PM’s as frequently as Italy.
    Of course, in Italy they don’t run most of their government, deferring to the Brussels mafia.

    Sooner or later it comes down to this, more government is not better unless you are in government.

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      Hanrahan

      I don’t see how it can get better. The majority of the electorate wants a healthy economy and affordable power to enable this but the press, with their ABC in the van, will only support the loony left. As a result any CO2 obsessed gov will be resented by that majority while any sceptical one will never get a moment’s peace from the media.

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      • #
        Deplorable Lord Kek

        And then the UN lovin alt-left MSM has the nerve to complain about a ‘conspiracy’ amongst ‘right wing’ commentators on 2gb and Sky News etc.

        110

      • #
        theRealUniverse

        Affordable power will never happen unless the loons stop wanting to run the country on windmills and useless solar arrays as base grid energy.

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      • #
        PADRE

        Their ABC has already started with an interview using a handful of African immigrants in a hairdressing salon in Queensland and loaded questions to rubbish Peter Dutton. Then this morning I heard an interview with the energy spokesperson for ACOSS who repeated the CO2 causes floods, droughts, storms mantra. I daresay the previous PM will use his influence with his ABC to keep stirring.

        20

        • #
          Graeme No.3

          Sadly, no link available.
          Reminds of that Victorian era painting “heedless of their doom, the little victims play”.

          10

    • #
      yarpos

      I think we have a lot in common with the Italians in terms of a general she’ll be right attitude and a tolerance for chaos and a crappy train system

      00

  • #
    Harvey

    The Arctic ice extent today is greater than it has been on 25th Aug since 2014. So either
    a. Arctic ice extent is a poor measure of global warming, or
    b. Global warming is not happening, or
    c. Both

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      • #
        yarpos

        Its only a good measure when Al Gore uses it, and when nobody checks his predictions against reality.

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    • #
      el gordo

      b

      I draw your attention to the increasing mass balance in Greenland.

      https://realclimatescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018-07-03080118_shadow.png

      80

      • #
        Hanrahan

        During the war a USAF squadron got lost and were forced to land in Greenland. From wiki:

        On 15 July 1942, due to poor weather and limited visibility, six P-38 fighters of 94th Fighter Squadron/1st FG and two B-17 bombers of a bombardment squadron were forced to return to Greenland en route to the British Isles during Operation Bolero. The aircraft were forced to make emergency landings on the ice field. All the crew members were subsequently rescued. However, Glacier Girl, along with the unit’s five other fighters and the two B-17s, were eventually buried under 268 feet (82 m) of snow and ice that had built up over the ensuing decades.

        So we have an exact date and the crew recovering Glacier Girl know how much ice they dug through. So since the war, a period of heavy industrialisation and increasing car numbers, 82 M of snow collected. Doesn’t sound like warming has been an issue.

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      • #

        So are you saying that arctic ice extent is a good measure of global warming?

        00

    • #
      • #
        mikewaite

        The other plot in that link, el gordo, shows a remarkable inverse correlation between the sign of the AMO and the extent of sea ice(in the 1900-2013 period).
        That suggests a definite mechanism for arctic sea volume, in addition to some effect from CO2 forcing.
        However it then places the explanation on the mechanism for AMO variation, which seems imperfectly understood at present.

        10

        • #
          el gordo

          If we could focus our minds on the oscillations instead of temperature it would be a great leap forward.

          Anthony Watts is looking at the hiatus in China, official confirmation that CO2 doesn’t cause warming and H2O is the elephant in the room.

          ‘Since water vapour can be anywhere from 0 to 100 times the amount of CO2 in the air, any small increase of CO2 in most any local area is dwarfed by the water vapour content. Since CO2 only increases 1/2 % per year, and water vapour can increase up to 40000 times in any local area, there would have been runaway positive feedback from water vapour itself in a local area.’

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    • #
      Mary E

      But, but, https://www.npr.org/2018/08/23/641285739/some-of-the-oldest-ice-in-the-arctic-is-now-breaking-apart

      It doesn’t matter that there is more ice overall, and thicker than expected (or that some want to admit) – the OLD ice is breaking up! Melting! It is horrible!

      But wait – https://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/ says “After declining rapidly through July, sea ice extent decline slowed during the first two weeks of August. A new record September minimum is highly unlikely. Our 2018 projection for the sea ice minimum extent falls between the fourth and ninth lowest in the 40-year satellite record.” (My emphasis)

      10

  • #
    Hanrahan

    Sen McCain is refusing treatment for his brain tumour and his family has “pulled the plug”.

    I won’t be a hypocrite and mouth platitudes so I guess I have nothing to add.

    50

  • #
    Another Ian

    “There is clearly a big push by the Globalists to spread Islam all over the world. Why? Just to piss in the beer of all the Christian nations? Help sow discord and cause riots so we’ll need them to keep the peace? Or is it due to the nature of Islam also wanting a One World Domination? Is it recognizing a fellow traveler? A nice tool to clear out all those independent thinking Christian Nationalists? Maybe all of the above…”

    More at

    https://chiefio.wordpress.com/2018/08/24/lisa-haven-a-nice-summary-of-globalism-vs-trump-nationalism/#comments

    50

  • #
    Another Ian

    “SCOMO’s FIRST TEST WILL BE ABBOTT”

    More at

    http://pickeringpost.com/story/-scomo-s-first-test-will-be-abbott/8499

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  • #
    Jonesy

    First test…not signing the compact on immigration!

    60

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  • #
    el gordo

    ‘Former PM John Howard has urged Scott Morrison to field his “very best” team and return Tony Abbott to the frontbench.’ Oz

    Foreign Affairs?

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    • #
      TedM

      Knowing the vindictiveness of the previous PM I would expect that he had made an agreement with ScoMo, that his support for him was contingent on a guarantee that ScoMo would not include Tony Abbot in his cabinet.

      50

      • #
        el gordo

        I doubt that. In the heat of battle they only wanted to stop the centre right seizing power over the moderate faction, brilliant strategy by Turnbull, but now the PM must be inclusive and put together a winning team.

        So I suggest he split Environment from Energy, which seriously muddied the waters and closed down rational debate. They threw due diligence out the window based on flawed science.

        Greg Hunt for Environment, if he has the bottle to explain why we are pulling out of Paris, abandoning the RET, building new coal fired power stations and stopping Hydro2.

        Craig Kelly is up to speed on Energy and should be given a chance.

        Tony Abbott for Foreign Affairs to explain to the world why we are doing a Trump.

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  • #
    el gordo

    “He’ll need to show he’s completely different to Malcolm on three major issues: power supply and cost – i.e. ditch the Paris agreement – and he’ll need to reduce immigration almost immediately.”

    Ray Hadley

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    • #
      Serp

      Yep, ninety percent reduction immediately or a compounding fifty percent over four years should do it.

      50

      • #
        el gordo

        Reducing immigrants from a particular ethnic background may raise some hackles.

        My thinking is that Morrison intends to drought proof Australia and turn it into a Chinese market garden, food bowl of the Southern Hemisphere.

        50

  • #
    pat

    sounds good!

    9 Aug: World Bank press release: Caribbean Aims to Become World’s First Climate-Smart Zone
    26 countries and 40+ private sector partners create coalition to fast track climate action across the Caribbean
    • Prime Minister of Jamaica, The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, President of the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), Luis Alberto Moreno, Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson and World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jorge Familiar today announced the launch of the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator.

    • The Accelerator’s ambitious goal is to work with this unprecedented group of partners to make the Caribbean the world’s first climate-smart zone…

    • 8 Times Olympic Gold Medal Winner Usain Bolt, an Ambassador of the Accelerator, announced the Caribbean Accelerator’s $50,000 ‘Speed Award’ recognizing leading countries, business and individuals working towards a climate smart zone…

    • The Inter-American Development Bank announced that it will partner with the Accelerator to program and implement the $1 billion in funds that it pledged at President Macron’s Paris One Planet summit.

    • Global music superstar Sean Paul was announced with Bolt as Accelerator Ambassadors. They will be promoting the Accelerator’s call for climate-smart action in the region and globally.

    Kingston, Jamaica, August 9, 2018. A ground-breaking partnership to support the Caribbean’s ambition to become the world’s first ‘climate-smart zone’ launched today. 8 Times Olympic Gold Medal Winner Usain Bolt was in attendance to help fire the starting pistol for the Caribbean ClimateSmart Accelerator, which will be led by the Caribbean leaders to create the world’s first climate-smart zone…

    – IDB’s US$1billion commitment to climate-smart investments…
    This additional funding will build on an existing portfolio of over $200 million to support innovative solutions focusing on low carbon emissions, sustainable infrastructure and energy efficiency projects in the wake of natural disasters, drawing from ***low-cost blended finance and ***contingent credit facilities…

    Grenada Climate Smart City: The Government of Grenada announced the start of the implementation of a $300m project to create the world’s first “climate-smart city” with initial support from the ***Green Climate Fund (GCF) to help catalyse the project. Closely following a recent ***GCF investment into Grenada for a $48.7m climate-smart water project…

    ***The TIDES Foundation announced a generous grant of $200,000 to the Accelerator…

    40 other public and private sector organizations have joined the Accelerator’s wider coalition of partners. Some examples include: Bill Gates of Microsoft, Breakthrough Energy Coalition, ***Clinton Foundation, GSMA, Airbnb, The Nature Conservancy, Tesla, The Virgin Group, Willis Towers Watson, PwC, the Cadmus Group TIDES, Zero Mass Water, and the World Bank…
    https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2018/08/09/caribbean-aims-become-world-first-climate-smart-zone

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      yarpos

      Imagine the massive climate impact of the Caribbean nations. Of course they are eager to accelerate their subsidy farming on steroids. Has the been a better example of wealth transfer cloaked as climate change “initiatives “?

      10

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        Mary E

        At this point I don’t much begrudge most of the Caribbean any funds. Quite a few of those islands have been hit hard, repeatedly, by bad luck far beyond their own leaderships’ lack of sense – hurricane and earthquake – with only the playgrounds of the rich being rebuilt to anything near modern standards in some cases.

        No, while I dislike the reason for the gifting, I don’t begrudge the actual handout. I may, in the future, be quite unahppy if the monies are spent on more fancy toys for the rich and do little to improve over-all infrastructure and conditions.

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    Konrad

    It is great to see the back of climate botherer Malcolm Turnbull, however for the centre right voter a critical and immediate task remains.

    That is to recover the $444 million dollar Great Barrier Reef grant and put it under lock and key until a real program of coastal infrastructure improvements and farming practices changes can be drawn up, and appropriate entities such as engineering businesses and city and town councils can be identified for direct funding. A small charity with just 6 permanent employees whose directors believe “Climate Change” to be the greatest threat to the reef is clearly not the appropriate entity to control this substantial expenditure.

    Any such expenditure on reef protection must have tangible real world results that can be directly measured, and be primarily focused on infrastructure. Clear areas to target are:
    1. Improvements to sewerage treatment in cities, towns, and built up areas along the Queensland coast.
    2. Cyclonic storm-water filtration in cities, towns, and built up areas along the Queensland coast.
    3. Reed beds and bio-swales built on farms fronting rivers and waterways that flow to the reef to minimise fertiliser run-off.
    4. Physical Crown of Thorns Starfish eradication programs.

    No funds from this grant should be spent on nebulous intangibles such as “education”, “raising awareness” or “further study” that would normally be the preserve of universities, state and federal agencies or NGOs. Only expenditure with directly measurable physical results should be allowed.

    To the careless eye the rushed $444 million grant to an inappropriate charity may just seem like panicked virtue signalling by a PM in freefall trying to buy votes. But a sharper look tells us something is very wrong here. The charity given the grant had never applied for it. The charity was too small an organisation to handle such a grant. And alarmingly the bulk of the proposed programs were for unmeasurable intangibles. On balance of probability, this grant was not about virtue signalling for votes, rather the “virtue” of “saving the reef” was intended to deflect scrutiny of the grant or how the funds were distributed. $444 million of taxpayer dollars were being shifted somewhere, and given the rushed nature of the grant and the inappropriate recipient, it clearly wasn’t “the reef”.

    This $444 million grant from taxpayers money needs to be put under lock and key until a program of physical, measurable works can be planned. Letting Malcolm Turnbull have an environmental legacy is fine. However settling any other matter with taxpayer monies is right out of order.

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    • #
      Serp

      Looks like hedge fund seed money to me.

      60

      • #
        Konrad

        We can’t know for sure what the true purpose of the grant was, except that clearly not all funds would end up benefiting the reef. But as stated above, with a bit of public noise we can insure that the grant is spent on the stated purpose. Australians get measurable improvements in protection for the reef and Malcolm gets a legacy. No harm, no foul. All good.

        Hedge fund seed money? No, that’s not the likely answer. No one with over $200 million in personal wealth would be risking it all on a dangerous scheme to increase it a taxpayers expense. If I were looking for answers, I would be looking for persons involved in the grant process that had a personal liability to a corporate entity or other individuals that might exceed $200 million.

        Suspicions? Probabilities? Possibilities? We actually don’t need to know all the answers. We do know on the available evidence that something is very wrong. No accusations really need to be made. If the $444 million grant just gets spent on direct funding for measurable infrastructure and works we know will protect the reef, the possibility of any impropriety, real or possibly imagined, is eliminated.

        10

        • #
          Kinky Keith

          Hi Konrad.
          A few of us were wondering how Will J is going.
          Haven’t had a comment from him in quite a while.
          ?

          KK

          20

          • #
            Konrad

            I personally have had no contact with Will Janoschka in over 12 months. We never interacted except on comments on blogs. We had no direct email contact. I know he is acerbic, likes whisky and cats, but doesn’t tolerate fools gladly. My last easily found contact was in the comments section of the online magazine published by Science journal around 31 March 2017:
            https://disqus.com/home/discussion/sciencenow/lamar_smith_unbound_lays_out_political_strategy_at_climate_doubters_conference/
            Here Will is having a laugh at a prominent AGW figure I’m beating pillar to post on radiative physics. This “scientist” had never run into a hard sceptic before, let alone in a public forum and didn’t know what hit him. The link is to a Disqus comments archive, as Science decided to erase the entire debate from their site. You will note my opponent has returned after losing the debate and deleted all of their comments. That individual, the one Will is laughing at, is Dr. Jan P. Perlwitz of NASA GISS.

            Many moderators at climate sites misunderstood Will and I exchanging jibes, thinking it a full on flame war. It was only ever a game, we are just both insufferable persons. From our interactions at Talkshop dating back almost 7 years, he was able to guide me into replicating his ancient experiments into hemispherical LWIR emissivity/reflectivity of liquid water. While very cagey, I was able to deduce that Will had worked on IR science for the US navy involving empirical experiments before I was born. He was also involved in the initial line-by-line code later to be known as “MODTRAN”.

            Will’s comments often seem cryptic. Primarily because he’s grumpy, old and intolerant. Younger people should be smarter and waiting for those with better technology (such as quantum cascade LWIR laser) to catch up to their predecessors is intolerable. But his comments also seem cryptic because he doesn’t use the Maxwellian two stream approximation of radiative physics. And of course Will is right and Kiehl/Trenberth utterly wrong.

            I very much hope Will is still with us. His intolerance of sub-standard work on my part gave me the skills to slap Dr. Perlwitz into self deletion.

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            • #
              Kinky Keith

              Conrad,

              Thanks for that outline, his contributions here were often, as you say, cryptic, but through it all it was evident that he had a working understanding that was based on reality.

              That’s to say he was a Scientist.

              Before I forget, just came from the site you linked to.
              Your comment about Tyndall, CO2 and IR is great.

              It is intuitively obvious that, while in the atmosphere, CO2 may selectively absorb IR.
              We all agree with the climate botherers on
              that.

              The further Truth though, is that this situation is only fleeting as CO2 must equilibrate immediately with its neighbors and so cannot “trap heat”,

              The one thing that Will hammered was that the atmosphere was a Column of gas with a lapse rate and treated it as “windless”.

              An interesting guy.

              🙂 KK

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            • #

              Konrad, second your hope that Will J returns to JN.

              20

          • #
            Konrad

            Keith, I have replied. It’s stuck in moderation.

            10

            • #
              Kinky Keith

              Thanks.

              10

            • #
              Konrad

              Jo, please publish the comment in reply to Kieth currently stuck in moderation.
              It’s not a comment just for now, sure. Few will understand it now. But it’s a comment that should be here in this timeline now. It will only make sense in a decade’s time for most.

              20

            • #
              Kinky Keith

              Suggestion was made by PC that he is “gone”.

              10

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      Hanrahan

      $444 M would build a lot of starfish killing drones. Sadly another good project that seems to have withered on the vine for lack of funding because it is not an AGW project. The GBR is in danger but I believe the danger is the COT starfish.

      This is 3 yrs old:
      http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-31/cotsbot-hope-new-robot-will-stop-crown-of-thorns-starfish/6738320

      20

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    pat

    12 Aug: Jamaica Observer: Holness wants quicker response to climate smart proposals
    BY BALFORD HENRY
    Main speaker at the event, (Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness) noted that while the 2015 Paris Agreement had called for “unprecedented public and private investments” in climate-smart actions, there were still “artificial speed limits” standing in the path of these investments…

    “What does unprecedented mean? It means that we can no longer think in billions but ***trillions of dollars to be invested in climate-smart action,” the prime minister told the audience at the Branson Centre-resilience centre launch at the Assembly Hall of the UWI…
    http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/holness-wants-quicker-response-to-climate-smart-proposals_141173?profile=1373

    Clinton/Branson RockyMtnInst/10 Island Challenge:

    11 Aug: St. Lucia Star: ‘Relevant details’ of Bill Clinton’s Return Visit to Saint Lucia!
    Former president of the United States William Jefferson Clinton made his first visit to Saint Lucia 15 years ago…
    Credit for the back and forth must go to the day’s government that had hooked up with the Lebanese billionaire Gilbert Chagoury to make the presidential visit possible. Meanwhile the press was asking questions relating to cost (“an irrelevant detail” as far as deputy prime minister Mario Michel was concerned)—a subject that the opposition party professed to be particularly concerned about (see centre pages)…

    There was nothing secret about the purpose of Thursday’s visit: Bill Clinton’s official reason for being here was to attend the opening of the island’s first solar farm, located in La Tourney, Vieux Fort, to be operated by Saint Lucia Electricity Services. The project was made possible with assistance from the Clinton Climate Initiative and the Rocky Mountain Institute…
    The project had its start in 2013, when Saint Lucia signed up for the so-called ***Carbon War Room Ten-Island Challenge, the brainchild of Sir Richard Branson, to take Caribbean islands off fossil fuels and onto renewables…

    Actual work on the EC$20 million dollar farm began in 2017 and consists of 15,000 solar panels that will generate approximately seven million kilowatts of electricity annually—5% of Saint Lucia’s electricity demand. With the farm in operation, the company is anticipated to reduce fuel purchases by 300,000 gallons and supply 3,500 homes with electricity…

    (Clinton) went on: “This region could be completely carbon-free! What you have to figure out is how to get off the fuel that’s killing and bankrupting you and generate energy from the sun and wind. And while you do that, you have to become more resilient!”…
    “I have seen in Costa Rica, for more than six months, the entire country operated its full economy with no carbon emissions; zero! I say that, not to brag on Costa Rica, but we have to raise the others to that level. I hope that today will be a day which we’ll all be able to look back on with pride, five, ten, fifteen years from now, because it was the beginning of something remarkable and enduring.”…

    (Prime Minister) Chastanet revealed that “60% of our foreign exchange goes towards purchasing petroleum products”. With renewable energy, he said, “we don’t have to concern ourselves anymore about the price of oil”…
    The prime minister acknowledged the previous administration’s role in the initiative, and expressed confidence the project will be a “great success”…
    Also present at Thursday’s event were the Governor General Sir Emmanuel Neville Cenac, government ministers and opposition MPs, as well as representatives of LUCELEC.

    GlobalEnvironmentFacility (GEF): The Ten Island Challenge: Derisking the Transition of the Caribbean from Fossil Fuels to Renewables
    Funding Source: GEF Foundation (GEF website: The World Bank serves as the GEF Trustee, administering the GEF Trust Fund)
    Implementing Agencies: United Nations Development Programme
    Executing Agencies: Carbon War Room (Richard Branson), Rocky Mountain Institute (In 2014, Carbon War Room merged with Rocky Mountain Institute; 2014: Twelve Caribbean nations signed up to work with CWR to reduce their dependency on imported fossil fuels)
    Total Cost: 306,376,484.00 USD
    https://www.thegef.org/project/ten-island-challenge-derisking-transition-caribbean-fossil-fuels-renewables

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    • #
      pat

      just noting it would seem the St Lucia solar farm was funded by the St Lucia Electricity Sces Ltd (LUCELEC), not Clinton’s or the Lebanese billionaire:

      ***13 Apr: LUCELEC: 3 MW Solar Farm Now Feeding LUCELEC Grid
      Construction of the 20-million-dollar renewable energy project funded by LUCELEC started in November 2017.
      http://www.lucelec.com/content/3-mw-solar-farm-now-feeding-lucelec-grid

      a bit more on the 10 Island Challenge:

      Elms Consulting: Our Work
      ten island challenge
      From a “back of a napkin” concept through development to execution, elms led a high profile, global initiative for the Carbon War Room, a non-profit founded by Sir Richard Branson. Launched at Rio+20 by Sir Richard Branson and Christiana Figueres, with pilot island Aruba, the operation scaled up within two years to ten islands committing to transition their energy sectors to using renewable energy. Achieving much momentum and successful fundraising efforts, four years on, extensive execution programmes are under way across the Caribbean.

      The operation has impacted coordination across NGOs, particularly in the Caribbean region, creating a strategic partnership for execution between the Carbon War Room, the Rocky Mountain Institute, the Clinton Foundation, IRENA and CARILEC. On islands, and as a direct result of the operation, a number of renewable projects are in various stages of construction, procurement and planning in Aruba; Anguilla; Bahamas; Cayman; Montserrat; Colombia; Saint Lucia; Seychelles; and Turks & Caicos
      http://www.elmsconsulting.co.uk/our-work/

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  • #
    Hanrahan

    The left always has someone to blame.

    I was saying today that ‘Frisco has a massive problem with homeless. My son immediately answers that all the other states’ Governors bus their homeless to Cal and Florida so they don’t die on THEIR streets in winter. I had no reply to that.

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    TedM

    We have seen ScoMo Mk1 when he had good policies and told the truth. Then ScoMo Mk2 that lacked the aforementioned qualities, both of them. Now I await to see just which way ScoMo Mk3 goes.

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  • #
    Rich Wright

    The new Australian Prime Minister could gain some campaign ideas from studying the recent election in Ontario Province in Canada. A reform candidate ran on a platform of lower energy prices for the public, and won big.

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  • #
    Yonniestone

    Out of curiosity I’m asking if anyone here has actually driven or rode in a Tesla vehicle and if so what was your opinion of the ride quality & performance?

    Also I hope Elon Musk never gets into a scandal, Elon-gate would be really drawn out.

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    From Midweek Unthreaded
    =======================

    Chad

    August 25, 2018 at 4:51 pm

    Sheldon,

    So have you constructed a true combined “Global” temp map for the past 100 yrs to date ?

    Also the main issue i personally have is that graphical presentation of data is intended to make understanding the data much easier.

    Your “Global temp Contour” maps do not do that.

    They are much more conplex and difficult to understand than the simple line graph , but are still trying to highlight the same basic points.

    ==============================

    Sheldon Walker

    August 26, 2018 at 10:46 am

    Chad,

    there is a well known saying, “Everything Should Be Made as Simple as Possible, But Not Simpler”.

    I have made global warming contour maps as Simple as Possible. Any simpler, and they start losing information.

    A global warming contour map, makes warming rates OBJECTIVE. e.g. It is red, therefore the warming rate is…

    A line graph does NOT do this. You may look at a line graph, and say, “there is a definite slowdown/pause”.

    But Tamino looks at the same line graph, and says, “You are an idiot. There is NO slowdown/pause”.

    The warming rates on a line graph, are SUBJECTIVE.

    So you produce a linear regression from 2000 to 2012, and say, “Look Tamino, scientific proof of the slowdown/pause”.

    And Tamino looks at you, and smiles, and says, “You cherry-picked that date range. That doesn’t prove that there was a slowdown/pause”.

    With a global warming contour map, there is NO cherry-picking. It shows you EVERY possible warming rate (between 150,000 and 350,000 of them).

    NOBODY can accuse you of cherry-picking. That is why I developed global warming contour maps.

    Global warming contour maps, can be interpreted on a number of levels. Some simple, some complex.

    Colour is a simple level. The colour is red on contour map 1, and orange on contour map 2. Therefore the warming rate was greater on contour map 1.

    Even a 5 year old can understand that.

    Chad, perhaps you need to put a little more effort into learning how to understand global warming contour maps. It is well worth the effort.

    The main problem is NOT that global warming contour maps are too complex, it is that people are too simple.

    Learn about global warming contour maps, by studying Robot-Train contour maps.

    https://agree-to-disagree.com/robot-train-contour-maps

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    angry

    Scomo pops up on Macca’s Australia All Over Sunday morning radio radio program for a chat with Australians. Must be a first?

    Not a good sign if the LEFTIST ABC approve of him !!!!!!

    Houston, we have a problem!!!!!!

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    Phillthegeek

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dle0z-SU0AATg50.jpg

    A somewhat funny to lighten the mood. 🙂

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    Phillthegeek

    http://kevinbonham.blogspot.com/2018/08/australia-so-what-bloody-hell-was-that.html

    Interesting read that includes data on poll bounces after a leadership change.

    Note: KB is of a certes no “leftie” but always worth reading. 🙂

    23

    • #
      el gordo

      He doesn’t mention climate change or energy, how this coup is different, KB fancies himself a political scientist but he has a way to go.

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  • #
  • #
    PeterS

    Interesting observation by an outsider….

    I fully understand. The Australian government is in crisis and they are only looking at themselves and how to weather the economic storm. This constant change in the leadership reminds me of Rome as it headed into the Great Monetary Crisis of the 3rd century. From the time of Maximinus I (235-238AD) when he declared all wealth belonged to the State (Him), until 268 and the final overthrow of Gallienus in (253-268AD), there were 26 emperors in 33 years making the average reign just 1.26 years. So actually, you are beating the fall of Rome since your turnover rate is 6 political heads of state in just 11 years making it 1.83 years for an average reign. You are not there yet.
    This is a reflection of the declining state of politics and government on a worldwide scale. We are preparing a special report on politics which will include the upcoming American mid-term election.

    https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/international-news/australia-oceania/australian-politics-6-prime-ministers-in-13-years/

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      Hanrahan

      I reckon it was worth it, Australia needed a better PM not just the libs. Last week is already a memory for those outside politics. It would be a mistake for them to go with a labor like rule that makes a change too hard, they must be able to correct mistakes.

      Sure it will be raised by labor next election but they can’t crow too loudly.

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      Peter C

      American Mid Term Elections are going to be very important.

      I hope that Republicans that support the Trump agenda get elected.

      31

      • #
        Hanrahan

        I hope that Republicans that support the Trump agenda get elected.

        The whole world needs Trump, he is strongly anti-war. have you noticed nothing has got worse? A reasonable person could believe that there is disentanglement happening in the ME and NoKo has not fired a missile or detonated a bomb all year. To many these are peripheral, what matters is Stormy Daniels. YOUVE GOTTA BE KIDDIN ME!!!!

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      PeterS

      Looks like Morrison is taking the “fresh start” approach. I hope it works for his sake and ours but somehow I doubt it will satisfy all the disgruntled voting base.

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    Hanrahan

    A Vietnamese boat discovered in Australian waters AFTER they landed in the mouth of the Daintree.

    Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of radar and just how sparsely populated the peninsular is, I’m not going to knock anyone. Sheet happens.

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    Graeme#4

    Payne as foreign minister? What is ScoMo thinking?

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    • #
      angry

      Marise Payne charted a private jet for $35,000, said she was too fat to fit into scheduled flight seats!
      Let’s face it, that’s a lie!
      You can pull up arm rests!!

      AN UTTER DISGRACE!!!

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    Phillthegeek

    On Newspoll:

    56 / 44 to the ALP. 🙂

    Now the RW will take a spanking on this in the press. They deserve it. The TPP is certainly a bounce due to when Newspoll were in the field, but the worrying thing for the Libs and their fanbois will be that the ALP primary vote has a 4 in front of it.

    If they can maintain that primary @ 38+ then they winn the next election, and if they can keep it above 40 then the next Liberal PM is in nappies at the moment. 🙂

    A few tests for ScoMo happening and he’s maybe not passing as he should wot. 🙂

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      PeterS

      They can’t win the next election without the support of the so called “conservative commentators” like Alan Jones, Sky News, etc. who are just the reflection of the views of the conservative base. The ABC certainly will not back him if he shifts even just a tiny bit to the right of Turnbull, which he has to to bring back the conservative base. Morrison better be careful and try to get the conservative base on his side quick smart. He can’t have both them and the ABC against him at the same time. Are you listening Morrison?

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      • #
        Phillthegeek

        Peter, with respect, i suspect one of the take outs from the next election result will be what you call the “conservative base” is not as large as you would like to think. Also, much less significant in the TPP calculation.

        Anyone who identifies as your version of “conservative” is going to vote for, OR preference the Lib/Nats over the ALP regardless. Oh, they may send their primary vote to Corgi, PHON or one of the other small players, but unless they go informal (and then their vote doesn’t count anyway, good riddance).

        I think its more true to say that the Libs cant win the next election if they dont start to claim back some votes from the center of Australian politics. Thats a ways to the left of where the Libs are now, but if the Libs want to go right….thats ok with me. 🙂

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          PeterS

          I already know the so called “conservative base” is shrinking. I have often made the comment that Australia is nothing like America. It amuses me when I hear people that they wished we had a Trump. The fact is anyone like a Trump would have a humiliating defeat in an election here. We have to face the fact Australia is far more “left conscious”. As a result the LNP is a dying party. Their hope was to move to the left to try and survive but as Turnbull demonstrated that turned out to be an utter failure. We can’t have two left-wing major parties. If people prefer a left-wing party they will choose the ALP. The mere fact the LNP has ignored the “conservative group” only made matter worse not better. The only chance for the LNP to win back enough support is to show explain how they will make people’s lives better, not just in terms of power prices but in many other areas. If they can’t do that people will vote ALP because it’s the “safe” and “selfish” option – socialism is a great comforter to most people when they are in desperate need. Of course it’s smoke and mirrors and socialism will eventually destroy the nation.

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        Hanrahan

        He can’t have both them and the ABC against him at the same time.

        Has the ABC taken themselves out of play? Anyone who MIGHT vote liberal learnt to ignore them ages ago.

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          PeterS

          As I tried to explain above but not very clearly is that the LNP has to attract more support by appealing to people’s needs. Otherwise the people will choose the “soft” option, which is ALP. The people they need to attract does not just include so called “conservatives”. It has to include people who do listen to the ABC but are swinging voters.

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        el gordo

        ‘… start to claim back some votes from the center of Australian politics.’

        By staying in Paris that is his intention, but do you think immediately ending subsidies for renewables would be a popular move?

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      Hanrahan

      Taken in the midst of the coup. meaningless.

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    Serp

    Oh well in the lowering future when we’re gone nobody’ll even know there were people who scoffed at the notion of decarbonization.

    Anyway by now renewables in Australia is probably too big to fail in consideration of the range of institutional investors.

    Our feet have been nailed to the floor and our pockets are being rifled. Learn to enjoy it.

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