JoNova
A science presenter, writer, speaker & former TV host; author of The Skeptic's Handbook (over 200,000 copies distributed & available in 15 languages).
Jo appreciates your support to help her keep doing what she does. This blog is funded by donations. Thanks!
Follow Jo's Tweets To report "lost" comments or defamatory and offensive remarks, email the moderators at: support.jonova AT proton.me
Statistics
Don’t you just love Microsoft?
BILL GATES’ MICROSOFT CAN ERASE YOUR ENTIRE COMPUTER – AND MOST PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE IT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE
https://x.com/HustleBitch_/status/2018685772170227967
90
Are Apple any better?
20
Are they or are you making baseless accusations?
00
Linux is the answer.
40
The issues around OneDrive and SharePoint have been well documented. Use at your own risk and keep important stuff backed up elsewhere.
51
A belts-and-braces approach to data backup is recommended.
20
My Win 11 machine keeps telling me I’m not logged into OneDrive and I need to log in. Does that stop my files being transferred to One Drive?
I now have a Linux laptop. I think I will do my next batch of work on that.
60
Hi David, what Linux Distro do you have on your laptop and how are you finding it; as from your previous posts you’ve thinking of moving to Linux for awhile.
00
FWIW
https://accordingtohoyt.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/asdtaet.png
20
Clickbait…
Not remotely true.
A well known fact (to technically informed people anyway) for a long time now, and covered by well known youtube tech channels in recent months because of this concern.
I don’t use the cloud at all.
Linux won’t fix anything. Groan.
30
Not remotely true. Linux and being away from the MS world in general has greatly simplified my computing life.
50
If you’re happy with the crude native Linux apps, fine.
The modern business world and power users like me use products like MS Office, Photoshop and an exhaustive list of other apps that will not run on Linux.
Linux’s Gimp vs Photoshop or Affinity Photo (what I use) or ACDSEE. Riiight…
The humble not-tech-savvy home user will be ok on Linux.
I might run it in a VM for fun someday.😁
10
Thats all most , non mines bigger than yours, users need. Therefore to say it solves nothing is a nonsense really.
10
It’s not one-upmanship, just a statement of what is. I run unique powerful software that ONLY runs on Windows.
Linux is 3% of the global market and has been static for years.
There’s a reason for that. Guess what it is.
The end.
10
While it may not fix everything, at least Linux platforms survive power-down sequences. Out of all the computer-based systems that exist in a local Museum where I assist, only the Windows-based systems give perpetual trouble.
30
I should have added that the last company I worked for was using small board computers using Windows in their equipment. In the end, the many reliability problems meant a huge software revision to switch all products over to a Linux platform.
21
Agreed.
Regular checks on One Drive to ensure “Always keep on this device” is ticked is essential. And always ensure that you have back up all important files onto separate solid state devices.
20
I received this on a climate email list. I don’t have an account on AlterAI myself but someone asked it the following question.
190
CONTINUED
120
The last paragraph was collated by the AI?
The last paragraph addresses a question that was not asked of the AI.
?
00
The way it was quoted in the email, it appears to be part of what AlterAI said.
10
Regardless of whether AlterAI is a LLM or a “Natural Intelligence” pretending to be a LLM, the fact of adding this publication to the literature which AI must scan , must produce a slight weighting towards the truth, assuming that the answer given is close to the truth.
30
Sorry to sound like a broken record, BUT and it’s an enormous BUT
The so called AI software has no way of knowing the truth.
That is the giant flaw. All it can tell you is what people or other computers have said. And that is why it spouts falsehoods and then apologizes when you correct factual errors.
Q: why did you lie to me
A: I have no way to tell I am lieing.
The whole AI thing is a crock.
60
Is it even possible that the thousands of millions of words on this very question , published by skeptics over the last twenty or so years, none of it refuted, the alarmists preferring to resort to name – calling etc. by way of reply, have actually produced a body of literature sufficient for a LLM to have produced this result?
I am thinking of the substantial effort put in at Delingpoles column at The Daily Telegraph by the skeptic lobby, for example.
90
When I retired I used to go to the State Library and read the Scientific Reports from the 3 & 4 IPCC conferences. After struggling through those without finding anything definite at all, nothing except “might” “possibly” “may” or “models show” etc. I decided that Climate Change might happen but “Climate Change Scientists” had no idea at all.
180
An excellent summary. In one case, a single IPCC person replaced the entire scientific summary with his own words.
30
‘Regional context — such as cooling areas or natural oscillations (AMO, PDO) — is ignored, even if discussed in the full report.’
Its a travesty.
01
As per #2: “Climate change is affecting the intensity of extreme weather events”.
Hokum religious dogma, mindlessly repeated by acolytes (‘believers’ as opposed to ‘den!ers’) of the old/new One World Religion, as espoused from on high by sly priests to lowly illiterate peasantry.
For example (as heard on State radio this morning) in the lead-up to Friday’s Waitangi Day celebrations (read: protests), a young Maori activist who had attended COP30 has organised a meeting of the tribes (mob/nation) to discuss what most of us here would call typical summer weather yet he incanted as “Climate change is affecting the intensity of extreme weather events” endangering his whanau (family).
As if his distant ancestors, signing a treaty with Queen Victoria’s representative back in 1840, were concerned about ‘the weather’ or if the last rainfall was a little wetter than the one before… No, they wanted muskets so they could teach their cousins in the next valley a lesson or two about ‘utu’ (revenge), as well as having ‘the colonialists’ act as policeman and safekeeper of their ‘mana’ (reputation).
Plus they admired the top hats British wore – feathers were so 1839 – and their rum went down a treat with the young female wahine slave girls. Kapai chur bro!
110
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/585892/climate-change-a-priority-for-iwi-leaders-at-waitangi
The cocky little punk (see photo) Taane, has confused ‘models’ and ‘projections’ for observed and recorded data:
“The data [sic] shows us that these climate catastrophes are going to keep coming, more frequent, more severe”.
Young naïve proud Taane was among 13 Maori who flew to COP30 last year to update their brainwashing / propaganda: how’s this for pure AI meaningless corporate mumbo-jumbo –
“One of the key learnings for me was the importance of data sovereignty and data strategies harnessing environmental data to help us in our climate-based decision making”. WHAT?!
Pou Tangata (stick people) chairperson, Rahui Papa (ban Earth) added his tongue-in-cheek wisdom of the aged:
“I’m picking that, with my weather crystal ball… it’s going to happen time and time again”.
What – the tribes are going to axe for more and more money from the bl**dy colonialists? Tumeke bro, tumeke (too much). Aroha.
60
The experts are all over the Science!
I liked this fact?
Not to be outdone!
Howell notices the effect on the elderly. I wonder why this section of our population who generally trust the ABC would be living with fans and airconditioners turned off, locked up, isolated, lonely and fearful.
“We see lots of cases, especially of the elderly population who are very high risk of becoming dehydrated or actually suffering from heat stroke or more acute illness,” she said.
And we can rely on a climate scientist to understand why.
You cook from the inside!!!
Crikey where can I go to vote for Net Zero? I definitely should move to a safer colder climate where there are less deaths in winter than summer. No way do I want to be cooked from the inside!
80
So much wisdom and humour on Jo’s blog – my one trusted* source of hilarity and fack-shill info: thanks Jo & co.
* OK there’s a few more but Jo’s No.1 😁
40
Victoriastan’s former dictator, Dan Andrews was hospitalised weeks ago with a mysterious illness but it has only just been reported what the nature of his illness is.
https://7news.com.au/news/former-victorian-premier-daniel-andrews-reportedly-recovering-in-hospital-following-neurological-episode–c-21510081
Unfortunately the hospital admission coincided with the court case he was to testify or make a submission to relating to the boy on the bicycle he says ran into his car which seriously injured the boy.
I do hope he has a full and speedy recovery so he can attend or make a submission to the court case so he can clear this long-running matter.
.
[Podcast, 6 episodes ranging from 6 to 16 mins. https://bikeboymedia.podbean.com/
Available at other podcast hosting services. – Raquel]
151
This neurological episode may be linked to the other episode some years ago when he fell down the stairs at the entrance of his house, suffering horrendous injuries, which made him unavailable for work for some weeks(sarc).
130
These are the stairs he was alleged to have fallen down.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/revealed-the-steps-that-brought-down-dan/news-story/ef9c56c8204bebfb9a0298e139ef7f74?amp
There are alternative theories about what happened.
50
Not medical qualified at all but I would suggest brain damage.
60
Closely related to his politics and “associations”?
60
I’m not suggesting a link, but December 19 was also the date for documents to be actioned in another legal matter. Something to do with dodgy stuff on an island.
40
I diagnose you with a case of severe pangs.
Pangs doc?
That’s correct; you are suffering acute pangs of guilty conscience.
What is it doc?
A conscience is when you feel bad after doing the wrong thing.
But doc, it never happened with all my other wrongdoing.
Ahhh! This time you didn’t get away with it.
120
…and I’m sure it’ll have the integrity of the Clinton’s testimonies…
30
X certainly lit up when this news happened. All the adherents to the bike boy story, couldn’t wait to make comments. The funniest- Cath ( his wife ) after Dan’s ( or is it Daniel?) loss of consciousness, apparently first rang a staffer for advice. Then waited 17 minutes to ring for an ambulance. Anyone who follows the Bike Boy story will know what that means.
20
Aa they say, import the Third World, become the Third World.
180
Also Germany, the UK and any other countries following the “renewables” rubbish propaganda.
70
Ignore Treasurer Chalmers of the Albanese Labor Government Australia and read and listen to the advice from private sector economists and financial people about the failing economy and reasons including excessive spending/squandering of tax monies collected, intermittent unreliable electricity supply and retail price rises (24-25% forecast for 2026) and generally poor management.
40
How’s that ‘heat wave’ going over there – as it’s summer I’m guessing it’s still kind of warm. And how’s the rest of the planet doing? Brrrrrr, we may be in for an early winter:
Amundsen / South Pole: -40 C
Arctic / North Pole: -25 C
Greenland Summit: -18 C (it’s a heatwave!)
Wellington, NZ capital: 17 C
Mt Cook Village: 3 C
Mt Hutt ski area: BURIED UNDER SNOW ❄️ ❄️ ❄️
Greg’s spot by the beach up north: 24 C & sunny 😎
90
Vostok, Antarctica, recorded a record low for this time of year on 2 Feb. -49.8 C.
(records only started about 70 years ago.)
70
Out of interest was listening to the BOM’s seasonal summary and outlook. The young female meteorologist presenting the video went on for ages to describe the past couple of months. But could have easily said ” it’s been hot and dry” – you know, like summer. Then explained how the coming months could also be hot and dry. Really sensational stuff. But then finished off with the usual lie because she mentioned that the waters off northern Australia were warmer than normal and that this could cause higher potential cyclone activity.
30
‘ … could cause higher potential cyclone activity.’
Its a throwaway line without substance.
My seasonal forecast, the East Australian Current is chilling out and the pointy end of La Nina can be seen in the top right hand corner. All in all, an average season is looming.
https://classic.nullschool.net/#current/ocean/surface/currents/overlay=sea_surface_temp_anomaly/orthographic=-222.31,-20.86,1060/loc=134.057,-18.033
00
Two years old.
But worth a re-run.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyW4SMK0Fpc
20
Don’t forget to let folks know where the link leads.
20
Still no clarity emerging from China:-
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2026-02-03/gone-too-far
30
As you said, no clarity is emerging from China.
Too much barrow pushing in the article for my liking. The forces at work are large and almost completely unknowable. This fellow seems to be doing the equivalent of predicting next week’s lottery numbers.
Sometimes things just have to play themselves out. And then with the advantage of hindsight we can be proven to be wise or foolish.
31
Yep, all bets are off, Xi is completely mad.
That was a very good essay, thanks fb.
21
China has always had considerable form in disposing of leaders who have passed their use-by-date.
The disposal of The Gang of Four comes to mind.
A dignified retirement is the best choice always.
10
Reports are coming in saying that there have been large, unexplained PLA troop movements in and around Beijing, also in some other regions. They are said to be ongoing. They include what is claimed to be footage of explosions and what sounds/looks like a large missile explosion.
Intriguing if true, but of course a big question is, “Who controls the PLA now?”
20
There is more clarity in Canberra, Andrew Hastie is reading the Art of War by Sun Tzu,
10
According to Lei, Xi was in a weak position and yet tried to regain control of the military. This has failed and the armed forces don’t recognise him as supreme leader.
The invasion of Taiwan won’t happen, so no need for AUKUS.
00
FWIW
“One of the BIGGEST Bombshells Yet Buried in Latest Epstein Doc Dump and MUST-Read Thread Breaks It Down”
“Man oh man, this latest Epstein doc dump has not gone well for our pals on the Left, especially people like Bill Gates. Full disclosure, when we saw the email where Gates begged Epstein for antibiotics he could slip his wife in case he had an STD from Russian hookers (we know, that sounds like we’re making that up but we’re not) we thought it couldn’t possibly get worse for him.
We were wrong.
This thread about pandemics from the Epstein doc dump is a DOOZY:”
More at
https://twitchy.com/samj/2026/02/03/epstein-covid-thread-bill-gates-n2424622
30
Anyone mentioned the Aussie former pollies dirt yet?
20
Another view of sections of the Epstein Files..
How Jeffrey Epstein Gained Power Over the Global Elite
20
Interesting start to the video and a very interesting topic but way to long for me.
Out of interest who are the two presenters?
00
The guy on the right is Rory Stewart, a UK politician who ran against Boris Johnson for PM a little while back.
More about him at Rory Stewart SLAMS Former Prime Minister
Read his book – very revealing about the UK political process.
FG – you should persist with the Epstein link and fast-forward to the last 5-10 mins.
The other gent is Alistair Campbell – one-time journalist turned one-time UK PM adviser. He and Farage do not get on.
00
Let me get this right.
At some stage Gates learned that he had contracted a disease. And rather than getting a prescription from a discreet GP he went to Epstein.
Or at some stage Gates feared he might have contracted a disease. And rather than getting advice from a discreet GP he went to Epstein.
Something seriously screwy (no pun intended) going on there.
20
The Bondi Pogrom terrorist’s legal defence is being funded by the taxpayer. A private law firm is being paid, not a public defender.
https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/courts-law/alleged-bondi-shooter-naveed-akram-makes-huge-legal-move/news-story/aa780bfb5d9a01fd71aeabd95c169db5
40
As the old movies sometimes commented – “the plot thickens”
30
Or the Irish adaptation –
“The thick plottens”
30
Why? That doesn’t pass the pub test.
Does this terrorist have some characteristic that is different to the rest of the population?
PS. I wonder if our wonderful E Kommissar will class that as hate speech?
20
The demographic from which the terrorists came are important Labor Party constituents and voters-for-life.
20
Passes their own test OK. It is a win-win-win.
There is crude Russian expression perfectly describing behaviour of current elites, something like “to wolf down into three throats”.
Whatever the circumstances, you need it or not, even at time of war and famine, grab for themselves all within reach.
Australians are paying for defence of their killers.
10
Having been asked to defend a few people accused of serious crimes the scenario playing out it not unusual.
The court would not want the defendant to be represented by a duty lawyer. The workload of the duty lawyer would simply not allow them to present proper representation even if it was only for sentencing following a guilty plea.
And that is why Legal Aid would be involved very early on to ensure that the defendant has representation. And even though every solicitor on the criminal roster is obliged to take on the next defendant on a sort of taxi rank system, it still needs to happen and the solicitor needs to retain a barrister because of the seriousness of the charges.
So as I say this is not unusual. And that does not mean that the process is not dirtied up by political interference.
And although I was primarily a commercial litigator these machinations among others are why in the end I retired from the profession. There has to be a better way.
30
Everything there is to know on the subject can be seen from two cases – of a certain Cardinal and of a certain young couple, entertaining themselves after hours in the seat of democracy.
Personally, I know what justice worth, being charged double the indicated by price be a lawyer who judge refused to listen to.
20
How about Albanese and Burke forking out for his defence, as they are fully responsible. We could take it out of their parliamentary superannuation funds.
50
FWIW
For the “green hydrogen fuel” supporters
“THE NEW SPACE RACE:”
“Unable to tame hydrogen leaks, NASA delays launch of Artemis II until March”
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/02/unable-to-tame-hydrogen-leaks-nasa-delays-launch-of-artemis-ii-until-march/
Via https://instapundit.com/773797/#disqus_thread
“Just sayin'”
50
FWIW
“And so It Begins: AIs Now Talking With One Another Behind Our Backs”
https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2026/02/02/and-so-it-begins-moltbot-ais-talking-behind-our-backs-n4949002
10
FWIW
To borrow a line from another performance analysis –
“A distressing spectacle ladies and gentlemen. But Gad – what a critic!”
“THE WRATH OF KIRK: William Shatner’s fiber commercial is on pace to get more views than the woke new Star Trek show.”
https://youtu.be/kf6wg-FjVfM
https://instapundit.com/773634/#disqus_thread
20
But – a “Hold my beer!”
“Disney Doubles Down on Woke Agenda, Elevates Theme Park Radical Josh D’Amaro to CEO”
https://pjmedia.com/michaelcantrell/2026/02/03/disney-doubles-down-on-woke-agenda-elevates-theme-park-radical-josh-damaro-to-ceo-n4949078
Determined they are
20
Here is a video from 12 years ago of the horrors of indoor wood/dung stove cooking in Nigeria. Note that their solution is clean burning wood stoves rather than electric, probably because they know they will not be allowed cheap and reliable fossil or nuclear electricity or gas by the World Bank.
https://youtu.be/aELeIVRqdDM (Under 5 mins length.)
00
“While climate challenges have made the launch date difficult to predict, Artemis II will take off on February 8 at the earliest.”
Darn climate, just read at news.com that the proposed Artemis mission to the moon will possibly be delayed by an “unpredictable” climate at the launch site.
They couldn’t possibly mean “Weather” could they?
20
Yes.
It might be hot or cold.
Windy or not windy.
Stormy or not stormy.
Raining or not raining.
Hailing or not hailing.
Humid or not humid.
Thunderstorms or no thunderstorms.
NASA always has a number of launch windows.
Latest launch windows to account for unfavourable weather are listed at:
https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/artemis-ii-mission-availability.pdf
20
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference is happening from 27 April to 22 May 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York
Will the outcome for 2026 be any different?
10
‘Will the outcome for 2026 be any different?’
Its going to be more like Star Wars.
‘An influential Russian state television pundit has suggested Russia should target Elon Musk’s satellites in space with nuclear weapons.
“I don’t understand why, for example, Elon Musk’s satellites are not a legitimate target for us,” Vladimir Solovyov, a well-known state television presenter closely linked to the Kremlin, said in a clip circulating online on Monday, dated Sunday. “One nuclear weapon detonation in space, as I understand it, solves this problem.” (Newsweek)
00
To demonstrate what how sick some elements of Australian society have become, posters revering the remaining Bondi terrorist were posted all over the Melbourne CBD with the label “Aussie” over the weekend.
https://youtu.be/5sTDwA4MXNA
10
On a lighter note:
Do others think the way I do? Reading about Gates’s troubles with Russian ladies, STD and covert antibiotic administration, “bridge tournaments” were mentioned. Curious and poorly informed re modern jargon, I looked them up on Urban Dictionary and drew a blank. I thought those tournaments might be like the games Meghan Markle is reported to have played on the boats of the rich and famous.
Nothing so interesting, one, or some, of the Russians really WAS a bridge player. How mundane. 🙁
10
Psssttt.. can I interest you in some Wayfair furniture? 😉
00
FWIW
“One Reason Only For Germany’s Heating Gas Crisis: Its Hardcore-Dumbass Energy Policy”
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/02/03/one-reason-only-for-germanys-heating-gas-crisis-its-hardcore-dumbass-energy-policy/
20
On a lesser note:
VDH is unwell having had a tumour removed from his lung. My longterm favourite blogger.
20
FWIW
“Painful Side Effect of Statins Explained After Decades of Mystery”
https://www.sciencealert.com/painful-side-effect-of-statins-explained-after-decades-of-mystery
Via https://instapundit.com/773693/#disqus_thread
10
And
“Scientists Create “Off-the-Shelf” Cartilage That Safely Guides the Body To Regrow Bone”
https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-create-off-the-shelf-cartilage-that-safely-guides-the-body-to-regrow-bone/
00
The article talks about calcium being pumped into the muscles. But years ago, I also heard that the statins also have the effect of dumping cholesterol into the muscles. Makes sense, if you lower blood cholesterol it’s got to go somewhere. The most humorous aspect of the muscle ache reaction following statins. The main British health institute that recommended and assisted development of statins for cholesterol control maintain there are no major side effects. But then run a lab testing people for potential side effects from statins.
20
Liberals are now demanding VETTING for any federal agent being sent to Minneapolis.
“We have no idea who they are, or where they come from!”
You literally can’t make this up…
Liberals are the most hypocritical human beings in the world.
40
Just call them ‘undocumented agents’, then lefties will be perfectly happy.
10
They should be vetted, otherwise it might give the impression that they are only a posse.
00
00
FWIW
Some serious reading here
“The Prince of Nigeria Grew Up: AI and Phishing Scams”
https://pjmedia.com/jamie-wilson/2026/02/03/the-prince-of-nigeria-grew-up-ai-and-phishing-scams-n4949057
00
Mojib Latif in hiding after failed prediction.
https://notrickszone.com/2026/02/03/climate-scientist-who-predicted-end-of-heavy-frost-and-snow-now-refuses-media-inquiries/
00
Australia should be asking the same questions of our many failed climate predictions folks.
00
FWIW
“Troll Kings! Conservative Group Sends San Fran Lefties Into a RAGE With ICE Super Bowl Billboard”
https://twitchy.com/grateful-calvin/2026/02/03/ice-super-bowl-billboards-in-san-francisco-n2424648
00
FWIW
“Three Radical Ideas to Reform the Scientific Enterprise”
“In his forthcoming book, I Told You So!: Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right, science journalist Matt Kaplan shined a light on some of the pitfalls of the current system through which science is done. More importantly, he also offered some solutions. Here are three of the most radical:”
More at
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/02/03/three-radical-ideas-to-reform-the-scientific-enterprise/
00
FWIW How not to run a health system
“Why Skyrocketing Premiums Were Inevitable With Obamacare’s Design”
“The Affordable Care Act would “bend the cost curve” in health care, “moving the health care system toward higher quality and more efficient care.” So said a White House statement in 2013.”
“Many people now agree that didn’t happen.
“We pay more than any other country in the world for worse health care,” Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) said while campaigning for office in 2024.
“Families pay more, get less, and we’re left with few choices,” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) testified in a December 2025 committee hearing.
A combined 70 percent of Americans believe the U.S. health care system is either in crisis or has major problems, according to a 2025 Gallup poll.
Health insurance premiums have more than doubled since Obamacare began in 2014, rising twice as fast as inflation. And satisfaction with the cost of health care registered a record low in 2025, at 16 percent.
How did that happen?”
More at
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/why-skyrocketing-premiums-were-inevitable-obamacares-design
00
FWIW
“Gradually then suddenly”
https://x.com/BarbaraBalCPC/status/2018765114946593099/photo/1
“This sounds eerily like what Greece did during its debt crisis: forcing pension funds & banks to bail out national priorities, leading to massive losses for retirees.
https://x.com/BarbaraBalCPC/status/2018765114946593099
https://www.smalldeadanimals.com/2026/02/03/gradually-then-suddenly-35/
I guess “Elbow” has heard of the idea?
00
Snowy 2 black hole deepens, cost now up to $14.4bn and still climbing, with the contractor effectively been given a blank cheque. Boring machine Florence was unstuck and has travelled another 6kms. Another boring machine Monica was added in December to speed up progress, but is still sitting idle.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/margin-call/snowy-20-hit-by-fresh-cost-blowouts-despite-ministers-on-track-claims/news-story/1dcf87eb3813afbfa2e7889a01feb884
(Paywalled)
20