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Tuesday

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108 comments to Tuesday

  • #

    Data centers are the physical internet
    By David Wojick
    https://www.cfact.org/2026/01/26/data-centers-are-the-physical-internet/

    The beginning:
    “Building new data centers has become highly controversial. This massive public debate suffers from a major confusion in that what data centers do is seldom mentioned, except that they do AI, which is also controversial.

    The vague name “data centers” itself contributes to the confusion. It sounds like they just store a lot of data, and what good is that? In reality, they should be called internet centers, because much of the internet’s essential processing occurs there. Internet processing is the primary function of data centers. You cannot logically love the internet and hate data centers as they are the same thing. A data center is a chunk of the internet in a box.

    The big problem is that most people have no idea how the internet works, so here is a highly simplified look at it.”

    Lots more in the article.

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    • #
      David Maddison

      The original conception of the Internet was that it was a collection of distributed data systems with multiple redundant communications links between them, designed to survive a nuclear war.

      Now that model is being reversed with more centralisation, which suits anti-freedom Governments like Australia’s just fine because it gives them more control.

      Users now exist within a few proprietary woke and (in Australia) Government controlled and censored platforms (Facebook, YouTube, etc., via the e Safety Commisar and new censorship laws) rather than navigating an open, mostly free web.

      Even though the original Internet was designed to survive a nuclear war, the current Internet (in Australia) is not surviving World War Woke.

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      Pete of Perth

      It’s a small black box with a red light on it. IT Crowd

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  • #
    Saighdear

    You’re so right “big problem is that most people have no idea how the MANY THINGS works” from cars to politics to how food grows.
    Recently there was a localised power cut – to be off for several hours = go home early from work ( in the winter time) . Says younger woman to elderly workshop supervisor ” How am I going to get home – ( in my car) ? EH? Car has its OWN electric lights ! – nothing to do with the Streetlights and power in factory going down! Some mother do have them! and then yesterday we had an abnormal l o ad suffering a Wheel & Axle malfunction on the Highway. Woman co-worker ( rear escort Vehicle ) told woman motorist to just overtake and go on your way, …. Naw…. was terrified in case load fell over on road !! ?? So just parked behind for 1/2 hr until the message drifted thru’, it was early Sunday morning and not much traffic. I just Dunno anymore where society has gone wrong . daft.

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    • #
      Johnny Rotten

      As Spike Malligna, the well known typing error, once said while acting as an Irish Porter at a Hotel.

      “Just follow me, I’ll be right behind yer”.

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  • #
    Paul Cottingham

    As of December 10, 2025, the Online Safety Act has required Substack to introduce age verification for users in Australia. This is to protect the Australian Government from ‘harm’ by children posting naughty pictures of Government officials. Robert Malone

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    • #
      David Maddison

      First they removed access to alternative ideas outside the Official Narrative from children. Now they will only have access to the Far Left propaganda taught to them in “schools” and approved media.

      Now, with the latest censorship laws, they are removing access to alternative opinions from adults as well. We are now expected to not criticise terrorist ideologies, for example. Because such ideologues are the future of Labor voters and of Australia.

      It will no doubt soon be forbidden to read or talk about the Saracen and Ottoman invasions of Europe the history of Europe, and the reason for actions of Charles Martel, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, Vlad Drăculea, Odo the Great, Pelagius of Asturias, Leo III, Alfonso I, Alfonso VIII, Ferdinand III, John Hunyadi, Don John, Prince Eugene of Savoy etc..

      With Australia’s new open-ended censorship laws there is no limit to the extent of prohibited and unapproved illegal thoughts. These laws are nation destroying, as is no doubt the plan.

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      • #
        ozfred

        It will no doubt soon be forbidden to read or talk about the Saracen and Ottoman invasions of Europe the history of Europe,

        Or the differences between “radical” and “fundamentalist”?

        40

  • #
    David Maddison

    Politicians keep telling us how hard they work. Just remember they are working for themselves and their puppeteers, not for YOU.

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    • #
      Dennis

      Before around 1970 our MPs Federal and State were predominantly ex-service men and women from the world wars, young and enthusiastic to build Australia and make our sobering nation stronger and a better country for all citizens, migrants welcomed as New Australians and encouraged to assimilate as the vast majority did.

      Consider the post-war years from 1946 to 1970 and the economic growth and increasing economic prosperity enjoyed, home ownership was encouraged and affordable once the wartime restriction were lifted. High employment coupled to growing manufacturing industry and other business ventures including the engine room for employment of small to medium businesses.

      The writing on the wall was invisible ink but United Nations established for very good reasons and purposes was slowly being infiltrated by leftists, notably the Fabian Marxists and related in Australia the Australian Labor Party and Communist Party of Australia. The Greens Party was founded much later.

      Australian Labor Attorney General Evatt, a Labor far left faction MP, and a lawyer, advised his UN based comrades to arrange for every member nation government to sign as many agendas and agreements as possible and legislate into member nation law with regulations attached, the plan was to get around constitutional laws.

      The returned soldiers, airmen and sailors who were elected to parliaments were young and enthusiastic patriotic Australians. They did not have the benefits provided now including the very large remuneration packages now provided.

      70

  • #
    David Maddison

    This is a letter I had published in the Herald Sun 25th July, 2017.

    There are moves to institute fixed four year terms for Federal Parliament. This might sound reasonable in principle but we have to consider the current crop of mostly useless, incompetent and anti-Australian idiots we have. The strategy must be that of harm reduction. How can we minimise the harm done to Australia and Australians by politicians? The answer comes from politicians themselves on the few occasions they aren’t lying. They say that longer fixed terms will enable them to achieve their “objectives”. Since their objectives are mostly harmful, let’s keep the current arrangement.

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    • #
      Forrest Gardener

      You got THAT published? Well done that man!

      The other side of the coin are the public serpents as you call them. The job for life mentality with inflated salaries must end. Implement fixed terms with no further employment on the public purse. Auditing on the way in and on the way out with an “invitation” to explain unexpected gains in wealth. Oh and accountability in the form of demotions and expulsion for incompetence and clock watchers.

      There is opportunity in the so called AI. At the risk of computer says no, the average public serpent could be replaced with the computing power in the average wrist watch.

      As somebody wiser than me once said, anybody who can be replaced by a computer should be. Private enterprise excepted.

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    • #
      Geoff Sherrington

      DM,
      Keep the current arrangement, but please, people, put a lot of thought into a sunset process that makes it much easier than now for voters to sack governments.
      The 1975 Whitlam sacking showed far too much complexity. Had to involve HM The Queen and her Aussie rep our Governor-General, for gawd’s sake. That event traumatised the lefty latte sector who have been trying ever since to make it harder to sack ’em.
      Let’s put serious thought into a new process to sack these fish rotting from the head. Other countries like Switzerland might have a petition type process.
      How about some ideas, readers. We have one Federal, six State, two Territory and a swarm of Local governments that frankly fail to charm this voter at the present time.
      Geoff S

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    • #
      David Maddison

      Incidentally, the Herald Sun editor altered one of my words. I originally said “traitors”, they altered it to “idiots”.

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      • #
        Lawrie

        The difference being the former know that they are screwing the country and the latter are doing it due to incompetence and ignorance. The editor probably had it right. It does beg the question of into what category the plethora of highly paid advisors and departmental public servants should be placed.

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        • #
          Jon Rattin

          Four year fixed term? A proper democracy would have a mechanism to employ a vote of no confidence midterm, much in the same way shareholders can vote out an incompetent CEO. I have no doubt that this mechanism, if it existed, would have been used in Victoriastan in the last few months to eject our unelected premier.

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          • #
            el+gordo

            Midterm elections ia an American concept, JD Vance is going to impeach the POTUS later this year.

            Better for Australia not to go that way.

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            • #
              Steve

              I think you meant 25th amendment (Congress can impeach, not the VP), and there is zero chance the 25th amendment gets invoked. It would be political suicide for the whole cabinet. Trump’s approval rating may be dropping among independents, but he’s still VERY popular among Republicans. If the cabinet invokes the 25th, they wouldn’t be able to get nominated to any office higher than dogcatcher on a Republican ticket. Plus, much of Trump’s cabinet owe political existence to him personally, not Vance and not the Republican party. If Vance really did flip on Trump, the Trump loyalists in the cabinet would be shown the door almost immediately after, so they have a great deal of motivation to block any attempt at invoking the 25th.

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              • #
                el+gordo

                Thanks Steve, you’re correct, so can the House impeach the whole regime?

                ‘Impeachment begins in the House of Representatives, where articles of impeachment are drawn up. These articles are then voted on by House members. Each article is voted on separately and requires a simple majority to pass. Once an article has been passed in the House, the president has been impeached.’ (wiki)

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              • #
                John F. Hultquist

                To impeach just means “to bring formal accusation”.
                After the House impeaches the president, the Senate holds a trial to determine whether to remove him from office. A two-thirds majority vote in the Senate is required for removal; if this majority is not reached, the president remains in office.

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              • #
                el+gordo

                On the grounds of cognitive decline.

                ‘Trump may have Alzheimer’s, claims niece.

                ‘Niece and fierce critic of Donald Trump, Mary Trump, claims he shows signs of Alzheimer’s disease, citing a ‘deer-in-the-headlights’ expression like his father’s struggle with dementia.’ (Oz)

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              • #
                Steve

                ‘Trump may have Alzheimer’s, claims niece.

                Is Trump’s niece a medical doctor who has examined him?

                Has she even have any personal interaction with him over the past couple of decades?

                No and no.

                So her opinion on his mental health is worthless.

                And even if the answers were yes and yes, it still wouldn’t matter because she in not an unbiased observer. She hates his guts and has an axe to grind. They haven’t spoken for decades and she has been trashing him in the press since long before he ran for president. She is incapable of giving a measured, professional opinion about the man.

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      • #
        Dennis

        Maybe fair enough alteration.

        After all traitors are idiots

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    • #
      Dennis

      I second that David, thank you

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    • #
      Ian George

      As MT said, ‘Politicians are like diapers. They need to be changed regularly and for the same reason.’

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      • #
        Jon Rattin

        I would assume you are talking about the disposable type of diapers as opposed to the reusable ones…

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        • #
          Jon Rattin

          Therein lies today”s lesson; All traitors are idiots, all politicians are diapers and diapers are useful whilst most politicians are useless. And used diapers can be disposed of without anybody objecting.

          That makes for one very messy Venn diagram…

          10

  • #
    David Maddison

    Interesting factoid.

    The first US Patent, later numbered X1 as there was no patent numbering system until 1836, was granted on 31 July, 1790 to Samuel Hopkins for an improved method of manufacturing potash and pearlash, important industrial chemicals. It wa signed by President George Washington, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and Attorney General Edmund Randolph. 

    https://invention.si.edu/invention-stories/licensing-first-us-patent

    https://patents.google.com/patent/USX1I1/en

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  • #
    David Maddison

    There are now huge numbers of videos on YouTube about the woke Left destruction of the Star Trek franchise with the Starfleet Academy series.

    Even White House advisor Stephen Miller and William Shatner have commented on it.

    It’s so woke and so DEI it’s absolutely cringeworthy.

    I haven’t seen a single positive comment about it, not even from Leftists.

    The Left destroy absolutely EVERYTHING they touch.

    Here is a review by Critical Drinker.

    https://youtu.be/okYYHwO3Ijs

    And another review.

    https://youtu.be/csXJFTJV75w

    Here is an excellent parody.

    https://youtu.be/hQ0wnxaEKug

    It’s difficult to see how any new Star Trek series or movie can ever return. And unfortunately the woke garbage that is Academy, can’t be unseen.

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    • #
      a happy little debunker

      Kurtzman Trek, aint real Trek, never will be…

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    • #
      Forrest Gardener

      There seems to be no future for the film studio model generally. And very little future for human actors.

      Oh well. It was good while it lasted. Well, some of it was.

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    • #
      Forrest Gardener

      More on topic my favourite comment was that the characters would be left alone by the borg because they are too dumb to be assimilated.

      May the force be with you. Oops wrong franchise and that one has been woked out as well. Completely and utterly woked. Totally gay as the kids would say.

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    • #

      All part of the plan. Very effective roll out of cultural marxism. Entertainment industries are mostly used for this mass transformation of society.
      Gender confusion, critical race theory, radical feminism, destroying the family unit/values, etc.
      Anyone worked out who “the left” is?

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  • #
    MrGrimNasty

    I don’t know how accurate it is, but the news in the UK makes it look like Australia Day has turned into an occasion for political demonstrations, and fears of violence, riots, and terrorism.

    I guess the politicians with their agenda of indigenous rights, voice, etc. would consider it a job well done. Divide and conquer.

    I saw one insane picture of a white woman with a placard saying she lives on stolen land. I’m sure she’s free to sign her home over to an indigenous family if she feels like that.

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    • #
      Graeme No.3

      MrGrim:
      Much the same for quite a few years.
      It started out as a claim that aboriginals should get more money from the taxpayers. Since then it has become the plaything of the Greens and Teals**.
      This year the demonstrations have been less publicised as lots of people have gone to the beach to avoid the hot weather.

      ** I don’t know if this usage has got to the UK – it refers to well off married woman who espouse left wing ideas. I am sure you’ve got them but possibly not by that name.

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      • #
        another ian

        FWIW

        Re

        “** I don’t know if this usage has got to the UK – it refers to well off married woman who espouse left wing ideas. I am sure you’ve got them but possibly not by that name.”

        The USA “AWFUL” also seems to have a “teal colouring”

        https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/ny-times-not-too-happy-over-new-acronym-for-liberal-white-women/ar-AA1UsHvv

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        • #
          another ian

          FWIW – A bit of research around that –

          I started looking for a word starting with “L” that avoided the clash between what “liberal” used to mean and its current common usage. I started with

          “liberal vs libertarian”

          “DDG Search Assist

          Liberals generally support a more active role for government in economic and social issues, advocating for policies that promote equality and social justice. In contrast, libertarians prioritize individual freedom and minimal government intervention in both personal and economic matters, believing that people should have the liberty to make their own choices without government”

          So seems that the Oz Liberal Party” has been presented with a decision point –

          – If it is actually now “libertarian” it needs a name change

          – If it has really migrated with the meaning then its direction is likely “hell in a handbasket”

          20

      • #
        Larry

        Also called “doctors’ wives”.

        Back in the day we referred to that generation of female Arts students as being enrolled in “Marriage 101”.

        They were at uni to get the easiest degrees possible while catching a law or medicine student.

        30

    • #
      KP

      A tale of two marches…

      Sydney’s Invasion Day protests draw thousands- Chants of “white man fight back” were taken up by the March for Australia crowd. Across the CBD, Indigenous protesters directed their ire towards Pauline Hanson.”

      Lamestream media’s view of it. On the one hand, the March for Australia-

      “Machine-printed yellow placards peppered throughout the crowd referred to issues including gas rights, housing and digital IDs. But immigration remained the major theme. Other signs said “Stop the white replacement” and called for mass deportation.”

      On the other hand, the Invasion Day Protest…

      The peaceful but angry crowd at the Invasion Day rally at Hyde Park – estimated by police to have reached 10,000 people – directed their ire towards One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, the federal government and the NSW premier’s new protest crackdowns. Speakers called for an end to Indigenous deaths in custody, more land rights, and for young people to “mobilise to fight Pauline”.”

      As the division within the society widens the Govt has its test case for the new speech censorship laws-

      Police arrested a 31-year-old man who allegedly made antisemitic remarks at open mic section of the event…“We will allege that the language that was used during this open mic session breached, well and truly, the line of free speech to incite hatred towards another group of the community,” Assistant Police Commissioner Brett McFadden said.”

      But no-one at the Invasion Day protest said anything bad, you are allowed to hate Pauline Hansen and her party it seems. The article was very clear to point out there were 2000 people at the March for Australia but 10,000 at the Invasion Day March. The future looks fun!

      https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/neo-nazi-chants-at-anti-immigration-rally-invasion-day-protest-draws-thousands-20260126-p5nx3k.html

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    • #
      Greg in NZ

      Another photo showed a bunch of pasty white city teenagers holding up signs stating:

      Always was, always will be”.

      For a moment I thought the photo was misplaced from a climate change™️ protest and these youngsters were clued-up, on ‘our’ side if you will, giving heaps to the Teal Urban Greenies (TUGs) who believe weather/climate should remain static, never changing. But sadly no, they were denying their own existence: another lost generation.

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    • #
      Ross

      Dont ever think that news reports are an indication of real world happenings. Where I was for Australia Day people were having a lovely beach day. Lots of family groups, plenty of relaxation with food and drink. Everyone really happy. The occasional Australian flag or the odd car showing similar. Nothing over the top. It’s the way it’s always been for me. Long weekend in some of the best weather of the holidays, right before school goes back. It’s why the timing of AD should stay that way. Or how it once was back in the 1980’s/90’s. That is, the closest Monday to January 26, so it’s always a long weekend. But the politicians got involved, there were committees formed and so the holiday was then instituted for 26/1, irrespective of what weekday it was. A really poor compromise in my opinion.

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      • #
        David of Cooyal in Oz

        Thanks Ross,
        And I agree with your view of the way we used to celebrate being Australians, and can report it was that way for as long as I can remember, and born in 1937.
        So I was able to have that long weekend followed by the short week to start the new year’s work for most of my working life until the pollies “improved” it.
        I also think we should revert to that and recognise that it took some weeks from the time the first fleet arrived in Botany Bay until the last convicts were disembarked at Sydney Cove.

        10

    • #
      Dennis

      Around the 1960s the small minority of the 3% of population identifying as having indigenous ancestry (and most also other ancestors) were mentored by the Communist Party of Australia and introduced to the USA Black Panthers for training and other advice.

      Led by a laws graduate who became a NSW public servant the activists organised a freedom drive and marches using buses for transport around Australia, his mother was an Aborigine and his father was Afghan.

      30

  • #
    farmerbraun

    The RBA comes in for a mention here:-
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYb5TOZE0LM

    Inflation appears to be accelerating . . . again.

    50

    • #
      David Maddison

      In Australia there is very little correlation between the Official inflation rate and that experienced by people who actually buy real things who mostly agree it’s about ten times higher, e.g. 25-30% actual rate experienced in the supermarket.

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      • #
        Johnny Rotten

        The CPI is the ‘Corrupted Price Index’.

        Not a very good indicater of Inflation experienced by the Consumer whatsoever IMHO.

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      • #
        Hanrahan

        You are not even in the correct post code.

        Rule of 72 says 25-30% since covid would be a tripling of prices. You can’t be serious.

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        • #
          KP

          “You are not even in the correct post code.”

          But still closer than the Govt’s lie of 3%. My coffee beans, $20/kg to $50/kg, Cadbury’s chocolate bars from $3 to $8, and then the irrelevancies of life have gone up almost as much. Anyone want to discuss the price of electricity WRT inflation? The only saving grace seems to be petrol & diesel, as they affect everything we buy.

          Still, lots more to come, all that money-printing since 2008 to account for yet, then Covid helicopter money on top.

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          • #
            ozfred

            The only saving grace seems to be petrol & diesel, as they affect everything we buy.

            Well the Aussie dollar seems to have stopped falling with respect to the US dollar, which prices the output of the oil industry. As well, the change of direction regarding the oil industry in Washington DC has lowered the international pricing.
            Even more flexibility in Argentina has seen a huge increase in oil industry outputs.

            40

          • #
            Hanrahan

            I’m sorry, I was thinking about food.

            10

          • #
            Hanrahan

            This reflects my experience, but I don’t live in a perpetual downer:

            Long-Term Shift (2021–2025)
            Average weekly grocery bills rose from $216 (2021) to $240 (2025) for a family of four.

            My vino has only gone up a little.

            10

            • #
              farmerbraun

              According to the inflation calculator , the item I was selling for $4 pre- Covid in N.Z. , needs to rise by $1.60, to maintain parity.
              You work it out.

              10

  • #
    Geoff Sherrington

    Richard Willoughby, a colleague and bright engineer, has an article today in Watt’s Up With That? aka WUWT.
    IMHO, it is observation-rich, calculation-rich and has a set of logical conclusions. It challenges the CO2 control knob theory and will reward readers who give it some deep study.
    Geoff S

    https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/01/26/changing-sunlight-weather-climate/
    [Link added – Raquel]

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    • #
      David Maddison

      Link? It doesn’t appear to be on the front page.

      .
      [Link added. (hope I got the right one). – Raquel]

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    • #
      Simon

      Featuring Excel-generated linear regressions, 200 Free Spins Only Today! and secrets that local millionaires don’t what you to know.

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      • #
        David Maddison

        What is your point? Are you saying that there’s something wrong with Excel linear regressions? How about addressing the facts presented?

        Standard ad hominem attack.

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        • #
          Simon

          I’m not sure what’s ad hominem about a comment on WUWT web page design and the suitability of Excel as an analytical tool….

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        Esra Taf

        Notice that Simon, a big fan of Michael Mann, is making no comment about Mann’s court battles. In his January 22 Order, Judge Irving concluded: “Dr. Mann throughout this litigation complained that he suffered lost grant funding directly stemming from the defamatory statements of Messrs. Simberg and Steyn, while providing very little in the way of specifics about the dollar amounts of his losses directly attributable to the statements (such as corroborating testimony from percipient witnesses), all while promising to illuminate the Court at trial. At trial, Dr. Mann elected through his attorneys to present to the jury a blown-up demonstrative, without redaction or explanation, a demonstrative intentionally prepared for its use at trial, which included a budget loss amount of $9,713,924.00, when the correct amount, previously corrected during a third round of discovery, was $112,000. . . . While Plaintiff and his attorneys find nothing wrong with such practice, the Court simply cannot condone such bad faith litigation tactics.” If Mann is prepared to lie in court, what bollocks is he prepared to spout about climate change in order to line his pockets with dishonest dollars. The “local millionaires” are the dishonest players such as Mann. After all, if he can claim almost $10,000,000 in lost grants, how much is going in to his pocket?

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    • #
      joseph

      Link worked for me. Thanks for posting. Looks like it will be well worth giving it some deep study.

      30

  • #
    David Maddison

    The Australian Government and the Left would be very pleased with the censorship approach of Caliph Omar.

    As Omar (Umar ibn al-Khattab) said when burning the Library of Alexandria, “If those books are in agreement with The *****, we have no need of them; and if these are opposed to The *****, destroy them”.

    Just replace the book, The *****, with “The Official Narrative”. Come to think of it, the Government would approve of either or both narratives.

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  • #
    Greg in NZ

    Just for a change: today’s weather.

    via Another Bloody Crock (ABC), BoM claimed [without evidence] the “extreme heat could last several days making it one of the longest heatwaves on record in Victoria … before easing with a southerly [cool] change”. As it always does.

    Meanwhile via Ass.Press (AP), 25 now confirmed frozen to death in the USA due to MWS [monster winter storm] from Texas & Louisiana in the south to Maine in the northeast, as Minnesota plunged to 40-below-zero Celsius – perhaps countering Australia’s 40-above-zero and a little bit more?

    ‘Heat’ apparently smashes/breaks/tumbles records while deadly frigid cold merely ‘sets’ records: hey it’s only weather after all, it’s not ‘climate’ like you guys are experiencing.

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    • #
      Peter C

      High Temperatures

      ABC last night claimed that the forecast 45C temperature for Melbourne today will be the highest ever recorded.
      I don’t know if that is true or not. And we may not even get there.
      Anyway they were cock-a-hoop about it as proof positive that dangerous climate change is happening now!

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      • #
        Peter C

        I see that the maximum forecast temperature has already been revised downwards to 43C!
        ABC will have to rewrite tonight’s headlines.

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        • #
          Earl

          No that will just allow them the chance to create the greater shock by adding “feels like 47C”.

          Yesterday a tv weather report I stopped at while browsing had all the area current temperatures with a “feels like” (FL) higher temperature figure next to each one. For one area the higher FL showed 39.9 and the voice over said they had 40. So even in that one report the “real” temp which was lower than the FL was relegated even further.

          I wonder if USofA reports are doing the public service announcement stuff and educating viewers how their current 40-below actually feels like 45-below?

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      • #
        Strop

        From the Argus, 8 Feb 1851.
        Referring to “Thursday” is referencing Thursday 6 Feb 1851. Otherwise known as “Black Thursday”.
        Report that temperature reached 47 C (117 F).

        THE WEATHER. — Thursday was one of the most oppressively hot days we have experienced for some years. In the early morning the atmosphere was perfectly scorching, and at eleven o’clock the thermometer stood as high as 117°, in the shade ; at one o’clock it had had fallen to 109 ° and at four in the afternoon was up to 113. The blasts of air were so impregnated with smoke and heat, that the lungs seemed absolutely to collapse under their withering influence ; the murkiness of the atmosphere was so great that the roads were actually bright by contrast.

        Black Saturday was 46.4 on 7 Feb 2009.

        Both those days are in Feb.

        January highest was 45.6 on 13 Jan 1939. But the BOM may have adjusted that down a little given their like to do that with older temps.

        So, No. If it does get to 45 it won’t be the highest recorded.
        So much for the ABC’s legislated requirement to be accurate.

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        • #
          Ian George

          Wow, Strop – at last someone who has actually checked the data. It’s 41.8C at 3:10pm so may rise a bit further. In 1908, Melbourne had five consecutive days of +40C. That January is still the hottest Jan for Melbourne on record – 31C average. But because it was before 1910, not officially recognised (even though it had a SS at the regional site).

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    • #
      Strop

      extreme heat could last several days

      North Central Vic is forecast to be 8 days in a row of 39-45. Currently on day 4.

      Melbourne on the other hand. Was 23 on Sunday. Around 40, 40+ yesterday today. Forecast to be 24 tomorrow.
      No heatwave.

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      • #
        Greg in NZ

        Thanks Strop, my exact sentiments.

        One (or two) hot day(s) now labelled a ‘heatwave’ – are you sure the boss of ‘quality control’ at the BOM/ABC isn’t an old cricket player/bowler from days gone by? 😃

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  • #
    John Connor II

    Big Australian supermarkets beef mince exposed

    https://youtu.be/yiGtib1MvRw?si=FMHzeOTkV83pEW6A

    I’ve certainly noticed these issues.
    I prefer meat from my local gourmet butcher for these reasons.

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  • #
    John Connor II

    Dow Jones to Gold ratio is now at a level only seen 4 times in history: 2026, 2008, 1973 & 1929

    https://citizenwatchreport.com/dow-jones-to-gold-ratio-is-now-at-a-level-only-seen-4-times-in-history-2026-2008-1973-1929/

    The USD has now also dropped to its lowest percentage of global reserve currency in a century, plus it looks like the USA is going to buy Japanese Yen to help with their economic crisis, which I mentioned a few weeks back.

    Interesting times…

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    STJOHNOFGRAFTON

    In response to the pessimistic views of Australia Day patriotism by KP on this site
    January 26, 2026 at 3:20 pm”, I offer:
    The Aussie spirit is still alive and kicking in the ‘bush’, at least where I live, anyroad. Many people around here display the Aussie flag all year round. The local pub reflects the history of our area. Historic photos are displayed on a couple of the original walls with faded photos of local Anzacs captioned with campaign notes and mates names plus photos of past camp drafts and rodeos. High up on another wall is a selection of wild boar heads. Most of us are patriots, we like our history. I’m happy to say that it’s still fairly “Clancy Of The Overflow” out here, where as AB Patterson opined “the bush offers joys that the “townsfolk never know”. Maybe KP should move to a country town like ours to get his Aussie spirit restored.

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      Hanrahan

      Maybe KP should move to a different country to get his Aussie spirit restored.

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        el+gordo

        Anarchists have a right to be heard, even if we disagree.

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        KP

        “Maybe KP should move to a different country to get his Aussie spirit restored.”

        I might have to if I want to enjoy the freedoms I had in the past.. I look upon my time here as a visitor on a long-term vacation. Any more Teslas in town and rude drivers in their giant utes crowding me I’ll happily go somewhere smaller. The worst thing about Covid was the way it pushed Sydney-siders out into the country!

        But as I asked yesterday, exactly what is this ‘Australia’ you are celebrating? A Govt system? The current Govt? Whatever happens on this island? …and how long do you expect the thing you celebrate to continue as the population changes with immigration.

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          el+gordo

          We are an immigrant nation, most fit in quite comfortably..

          I have a Nepalese doctor and he’s very professional and a good chap.

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          Hanrahan

          It is obvious you are unhappy here. For some time now I’ve wondered where you would be happy and my conclusion is “nowhere”, at least living among peers, not peons.

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    John Connor II

    Police Home Office to launch ‘British FBI’ to deal with serious crime UK-wide

    The government is setting up a National Police Service – dubbed the “British FBI” – to deal with organised crime, terrorism, fraud and online child abuse in a major change to policing in England and Wales.

    The new organisation, which will be announced by the Home Office in a white paper on Monday, means fraud, criminal gang and UK-wide counter terror investigations will no longer be carried out by a combination of existing agencies such as the National Crime Agency and regional organised crime units run by local police forces.

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jan/24/home-office-to-launch-british-fbi-to-deal-with-serious-uk-wide

    An increase in crime. Now what could possibly be behind that I wonder?

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      KP

      A British FBI… Now you know who will be using AI supercomputers to trawl every data package for criminals using the wrong pronouns. Treasury can add them to the budgets of the many different Govt Depts paying bureaurats to monitor social media every day to make sure we don’t influence the public’s opinion of the official narrative.

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      Gary S

      Their immigration department could fix the crime rate.

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    another ian

    FWIW

    “The production of SSAB Zero steel marks a new era in the steel industry. This material is crafted using hydrogen-reduced iron, a method that replaces traditional coal with fossil-free hydrogen in the ironmaking process. This technique, known as hydrogen breakthrough ironmaking technology (HYBRIT), was developed in Sweden and is a game-changer for reducing emissions. The steel is manufactured in Montpelier, Iowa, utilizing recycled scrap, fossil-free electricity, biocoal, and renewable natural gas, which significantly lowers its carbon footprint.”

    https://chiefio.wordpress.com/2025/12/24/w-o-o-d-24-december-2025-christmas-year-ending/#comment-180691

    Below that from Chiefio

    “I notice that they only use “scrap”, not reducing iron ore … So melting steel to make steel with funny fuels… Nor really making steel from raw materials.

    A trendy niche product at best, for virtue signalling with money pain, nothing more.”

    https://chiefio.wordpress.com/2025/12/24/w-o-o-d-24-december-2025-christmas-year-ending/#respond

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      Dennis

      Steels aint steels

      sarc

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      Sambar

      “biocoal, and renewable natural gas,”

      Biocoal, what is this? At face value I would say charcoal, the stuff used a couple of thousand years ago in the first foundries, so destroy a forest to save the world, don’t mention reduced efficiency as long as it works. Also I would like a definition of “renewable natural gas” is this harvested methane from sewage farms or old tip sites, it can’t come from the ground as this would make it a fossil fuel.
      Oh well, I’m impressed with the blurb, the actual facts may reveal that all is not as it seems.

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    el+gordo

    Guardian gets the China story half right.

    ‘Dennis Wilder, a senior fellow at Georgetown University and a former senior CIA analyst, said a power struggle was a more likely explanation than corruption. The purge “isn’t about corruption, it isn’t about leaking secrets, it is about a general that became too powerful”, he said.

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    John Connor II

    Third world recycling of old fluoro tubes

    https://va.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_t9h9x1hEXi1z23obp.mp4

    30

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    another ian

    FWIW

    One way to run a health system

    Starts here

    “Last week, Reuters ran an eye-opening article headlined, “US lawmakers press health insurance executives on affordability.” Representative Jason Smith (R-Mo.) published a clip from the Ways and Means Committee Hearing that is, perhaps, the best short explainer of everything wrong with Obamacare and our ‘healthcare’ system. It should be mandatory viewing for all Americans.”

    “At one point during the hearing, Representative Smith, Chairman of Ways and Means, asked the assembled CEOs a series of pointed questions about their companies. Here’s a rough transcript:

    SMITH: Which of your companies owns or controls a health insurance division? Raise your hand.

    CEOs: All raise hands.

    SMITH: Please keep your hand up if you also employ healthcare providers, or own clinics, specialty pharmacies, or any other kind of medical practice or pharmacy?

    CEOs: All raise hands.

    SMITH: Please keep your hand up if you also own or control a pharmacy benefit manager?

    CEOs: All raise hands.

    SMITH: Please keep your hand up if you lead a publicly traded company at which you have a legal responsibility to maximize shareholder value?

    CEOs: All raise hands.

    Chairman Smith wrapped up the electrifying segment like this: “We’ve established on the record that the largest health insurance companies are not just insurers. They’re also medical providers and pharmacies, diagnosing and deciding treatment for patients. They are also PBMs, another form of middlemen, managing drug benefits. They are increasingly controlling every aspect of our healthcare system.

    In other words, Obamacare created a three-tier system: hospitals, doctors, and pharmacies on the bottom; “pharmacy benefit managers” to negotiate drug prices in the middle; and insurance companies at the top. The big insurance companies responded to this perverse incentive by buying up the whole stack. Now they control the entire health process from stem to stern. No wonder their stock prices skyrocketed 10x since Obamacare was passed.

    Meanwhile, patients’ health outcomes have plunged.”

    More at

    https://open.substack.com/pub/coffeeandcovid/p/justified-monday-january-26-2026?

    And other things

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    David of Cooyal in Oz

    SUPREME COURT SHOCKER – 9-0 UNANIMOUSLY STRIKES DOWN Hidden State Law!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HOL-24VRMw

    Sounds big to me. And well caught. 23mins.

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    David Maddison

    China doesn’t use windmills for energy. They use coal. They build windmills and sell them to stupid people.

    Donald J Trump

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    KP

    So, a private company in the UK has created new viruses that infect E.Coli, and killed the bacteria more effectively than the wild types.

    A mixture of AI to design and new techniques for assembly mean this is the first step in artificial life creation.

    Well, what could go wrong? I hope you don’t need your E.Coli in your gut, this virus has probably already escaped!

    ‘For the last 4 billion years, all life on Earth has evolved by the trial-and-error process of Darwinian evolution by natural selection, which lacks any foresight or intention. Natural evolution now has a co-author. That co-author, the emerging ability of AI-driven genome design and genome construction technologies, has the potential to exist alongside natural evolution.’

    The next terrorism-

    “In a paper published last year, researchers used AI to design proteins that could mimic deadly poisons and toxins such as ricin, botulinum, and Shiga. They found that a large number of these weaponizable DNA codes could slip past the safety filters used by companies that print custom DNA sequences on demand.”

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15498221/Lab-grown-LIFE-AI-virus.html

    20

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    another ian

    FWIW

    “Storm Ferm: Remember Uri (centrally planned electricity ‘transition’ in Texas)”

    https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/01/26/storm-ferm-remember-uri-centrally-planned-electricity-transition-in-texas/

    10

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    Furiously Curious

    This lady has always seemed to have very good sources. Forget spy novels, reality is coming to town! The CCP in action.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-SFwWGTy0Y

    00