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
Here is an engineering analysis of the Iberian Peninsula Blackout which caused loss of power to 50 million people and due to an intermittents-dominated grid.
It’s by Engineers Australia who I think are fully woke but nevertheless offer the analysis at the link below.
190
Their suggested “solutions” seem to be only tinkering around the edges, and not prepared to admit that the fundamental problem is the preponderance of unstable renewables with a lack of grid mechanical inertia. Engineering organisations need to be honest about the problems with adding too much renewables.
50
Recently the Minister for Energy and climate change delegate claimed that fifty percent of electricity in Australia is now from “renewable energy”, but did he mean wind-solar or include hydro power stations?
If 50% was from say wind turbine installations, much worse if solar, then the average capacity factor rating AEMO is 30% to 35% and as we here know an independent study indicated 29% achieved.
Therefore 50% installed must be on average 14.5%???
Less than half the recommended maximum, subject to cost-benefit analysis for adding “renewable energy” to a power station generator supplied grid system.
40
The US Marine Corp (the subgroup of the US Navy that are allowed to wear the heterosexual uniforms) have an unofficial motto …
“if it absolutely, positively has to be destroyed over night.”
I’ve also heard it said about military affairs ….
“amateurs study tactics and strategy, professionals study logistics “.
I seem to notice over the years, that my beloved US military can deliver massive of amounts of resources, especially with things that go boom, anywhere with impressive speed and professionalism.
But I think we may we made need to bring in some amateurs to figure out the plan afterwards.
Actually, strategically and tactically achievable goals before delivery would be preferable.
70
I think the amateurs are the problem. The Macedonians, Romans, Mongols, Ottomans, and British were able to win wars and create Empires because they didn’t expect their armed forces to double as diplomats, policemen, and social planners. You sent them in, they killed everything that stood against them, and left a rump force behind to manage the new territory with the promise that the rest would return if things didn’t go smoothly. No one wanted them to return, so things went smoothly. Brutality was the rule of the day prior to the late 20th century. It was ugly, violent, and cruel but it worked.
Much of the problems of today are due to the abandonment of the brutal old ways. But sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. Which was better for the local populations, cruel pre-WWI Ottoman rule over the middle east, or the past 100 years of enlightened western proxy rule? The Ottomans may not have been kind, but they knew how to run a society in that region of the world and keep everyone in line. Jews and Christians who were willing to live as dhimmis could actually live safely under Ottoman rule and were strong minorities across the MENA countries. How is that working out today? Jews are all but nonexistent in that part of the world outside of Israel, and Christians have declined by around 90% over the past century. Same goes for every one of the ancient empires mentioned. They may have been cruel, but they were not crippled by navel-gazing and trying to be kinder and gentler conquerors. Sometimes being crystal clear on consequences and brutally and efficiently doling them out when needed saves lives over the long run.
162
Right .
So escalate to de-escalate.
Got it.
02
John Mearsheimer refers often to “the Escalation Ladder”.
13
The amateur thing was a bit of sarc.
I don’t know if I agree about the historical brutality vs modern sentiments.
Us Americans vaporized two Japanese cities, and that’s just the half of it.
The Romans, though brutal, allowed their conquered populations to retain their own religions as long as there was genuflecting to Jupiter and the taxes were paid.
So there was positives to occupation, as we know from Monty Python.
The war crimes thing is a bit of window dressing for the winners.
The Pax Americana post WWII created an impression and probable myth of modern less brutal warfare.
That good old time Rock n’ Roll can come back really fast if the lid comes off.
In my humble marginally educated opinion, the modern Progs with their ‘Be Kind’, No Human is Illegal, ‘inclusion’ and ‘equity’ and stuff, are the ones what could most likely to go Jacobin Reign of Terror level rikki tic if they get the chance.
I just never even heard the point of American military operations in Afghanistan articulated by anyone.
Possibly because they might have been too brutal for polite discussion.
Seasonal warfare for sport and profit like a 14th Century Teutonic crusade.
60
“The Pax Americana post WWII…”
LOL, which year was that?
04
The Cold War may look nostalgically pax-ful in the near future.
40
On the back of the Monroe Doctrine.
‘Pax Americana, Latin for “American Peace,” refers to a period of relative international stability and global hegemony led by the United States following World War II in 1945. Characterized by US economic, military, and political superiority, it fostered a Western-led order aimed at avoiding global conflict, often through containment policies and alliances.’ (wiki)
20
As a irrational Kiplingist – rikky tic comes from Jungle Book?
10
ADF senior ranks have targeted even SASR soldiers for alleged “war crimes” relating to Afghanistan deployment, the QC contracted to carry out the inquiries case by case identified several suspects but to date none have been charged as far as I am aware. One, a VC recipient, SASR, was funded by an Australian media billionaire who was incensed that our decorated soldiers have been singled out and shamed by media without being found guilty.
As I understand it Australia accepted International Court for war crime judgements, and as PM Howard once told journalists no foreign organisation or individual can enforce anything within a sovereign nation unless the government permits it.
I further understand that the investigation-inquiries here were a genuine attempt to avoid international involvement.
20
There is a number of AI “garbage” docos based on some facts about the SASR on the net. I watch for amusement only and only after 5 0’clock.
According to these, the SAS methods were “suspect” back in ‘Nam days, so much so that the Yanks were quite uncomfortable around them and some refused to do deep patrols with them. As indicated I have no idea where fact finishes and fiction starts with these stories but I suspect a little bit, maybe more, is true.
11
In Vietnam ADF and US encountered ruthless resistence fighters using tunnels and disguised entrances, typically a platypus style hole in a riverbank entered by going head first from above water and then the tunnel turned up to dry area. Jungle tunnels and hidden entrances, pits with sharpened bamboo man traps, tunnels with side tunnels used to spear enemy “tunnel rats” armed soldiers heading in, and many other hazards. “Civilians” on motor bikes throwing a grenade into a city cafe where soldiers were on recreational leave.
ADF unlike US went slowly through the jungle off well used tracks to gain maximum cover in silence.
One experience that the most hardened soldier could not stomach explained to me by a mate and former school mate who was a conscript was a wounded section soldier left not for much time with the plan to return and carry him to a safe evacuation site (helicopter) and when they returned from the patrol he was tied up knees under chin and warned them not to approach because he had been fitted with explosives. He asked them to finish the job and they had no choice.
20
You will not see it on Western news channels – as (alas, not frequently) Ukrainians advance into a town or village, there are bodies scattered on the road.
Couple of soldiers walking In front of a column and very carefully attach a long rope to a body part before pulling it to the side…
Some might say – it is a war, what do you want ?
I say: those Ukrainian soldiers know who they are dealing with.
10
I received a government conscription call up letter and date for medical check, I was at that time serving in the Army reserve then called Citizens Military Force, in a NSW Regiment. I attended the medical which took quite a while and only had one item when asked if I had anything to add, a broken jaw ligament from a boot kick accident while participating in a military exercise while in a camp training. The doctor called another to check but they said nothing and dismissed me. A couple of months later I received another letter advising I was not required to serve. A while later I resigned from the CMF because I thought why am I doing this if I cannot be a regular soldier. The ligament healed by itself as a GP told me it would, option to have a procedure to repair it.
00
I have two friends who are Vietnam era SAS. Nothing that I have heard of their experiences suggests suspect methods.
10
I remember one of my favourite comedians, Jim Davidson, doing some troop entertainment shows in Norther Iraq some years ago. Of course he included lots of jokes about the military, especially taking the mickey out of officers, but also the American air support which he said was responsible for turning big rocks into little rocks.
20
A picture was posted at Michael Smith News website (where has it gone?) years ago of a group of ADF senior officers wearing skirts and makeup.
00
And remember the fuss after the overseas deployments of ADF about symbols like badges of honour displayed unit by unit of crusader-style warriors of several styles and meanings?
Do these woke civilian fools really not realise that war is warriors fighting trained enemy soldiers and/or guerrillas who are like Hamas Palestine/Gaza soldiers masquerading as civilians?
50
Here is a video about how Britain erased the inventor of the world’s first electronic digital computer, Colossus, made in WW2 to decipher the German Lorenz cypher which was more complex than Enigma.
Tommy Flowers’ work was classified for 30 years after the war and he failed to get the credit he deserved until thr mid 1970’s.
It’s a tragic example of Britain’s obsession with excessive secrecy long after any requirement for secrecy has ceased to exist.
Note that even though Colossus was programmable, it was a dedicated cryptographic computer and not a general purpose Turing-complete computer for which credit goes to ENIAC.
Unfortunately the video is AI but it has some good content.
170
A good coverage. However, I thought that the original “Heath Robinson” machines did a lot of very good decoding of Enigma traffic before Colossus was operational.
And I disagree with the bland statement that heat is not a significant factor in vacuum tube lifetimes. My years of experience working with vacuum tubes clearly showed that if their working environment was kept cool, their lifetimes were significantly increased. In fact, I would say that heat is the major factor, not running them continuously, as running continuously decreases the cathode emissions.
I still maintain vacuum tube equipment, some of which runs all day every day, and the equipment continues to function quite well. Other vacuum tubes are turned on and off throughout the day, and these valves, probably now over 60 years old, at still functioning.
20
She must be really worried about 1) rising sea levels, 2) rising interest rates which she ordered.
Like all Government appointees I guess she is a Leftist, being a graduate of the London School of Economics, much of which is a hotbed of Fabian and other socialist schools of thought.
130
Are you admitting that you have not invested in lower Great Dividing Range property yet?
sarc
10
The Fabians were rooted out of the LSE in the 1960s.
10
FWIW today’s Coffee and Covid newsletter
“Macron’s ‘never’ lasted 48 hours. Palestine condemned Iran. Hamas is ‘considering’ disarmament. Zelensky raced to Mar-a-Lago. And nobody is connecting the dots— because it would make Trump look good.”
Connecting dots – starts
“It might be history’s fastest flip-flop. On Tuesday, March 17th, French President Macron vowed, “France will never take part in operations to open or liberate the Strait of Hormuz.” Two days later, on Thursday, France signed a joint statement expressing “readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait.” Womp, womp. The Wall Street Journal reported, “22 Countries Signal Readiness to Help Secure Strait of Hormuz.” ”
Much more, getting to –
“And nobody asks what any of it means. The corporate media won’t tell you any of this because it might make Trump look good. Trump isn’t talking either, because (1) it would tip his hand, and (2) he wouldn’t get decent coverage anyway, so why bother? But it is becoming crystal clear that Iran is the linchpin in a global puzzle box that includes forcing NATO to the table; ending the Ukraine war; brokering permanent Middle East peace; yes, protecting Israel; giving Palestinians a real shot with real money behind it; and all the while making historically good deals for America.”
https://open.substack.com/pub/coffeeandcovid/p/fizzles-fears-and-flip-flops-monday?
130
FWIW
“Aussie Fuel Crisis: “Is this a safe area to leave my automobile?” ”
“This evening I looked into the eyes of someone in hell – mortgage rates and electricity bills soaring, gasoline prices near doubling in a week, but he has a family to support.”
More at
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/03/23/iran-war-aussie-oil-crisis-is-this-a-safe-area-to-leave-my-automobile/
Concludes
“But let’s be serious. I don’t expect the politicians whose incompetence created the current mess to come up with any practical solutions to the problems their incompetence has caused. If they had any idea what they were doing, they would never have created such a mess.”
100
And the comments
10
Agree with incompetence of politicians but the public serpents are the ones who dreamt up all this carp.
The public serpents aka advisors then fed the carp to the politicians promising it will make them all look good.
And nobody ever remembered the fable of the emperor’s new clothes.
81
The Minister for Energy and other Albanese Labor Government knew the answer to fuel crisis, Labor Rudd Gillard legislated transition away from fossil fuels, and as soon as the news about Iran began they issued their advice to Australians – go out and buy a premium retail price Electric Vehicle.
20
And the Oscars©️ for ‘Hottest Evah’ goes to:
https://wmo.int/publication-series/state-of-global-climate/state-of-global-climate-2025
Despite snow for Africa, a dearth of cyclones (and bushfires?), extinct animals being found alive & well, a good growing season thanks to benign & pleasant climate(s), the UN/WMO have declared the planet is on fire, the seas are boiling and humanity is on the verge of self-combustion because 0.042% devil’s gas.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/590395/2025-confirmed-as-one-of-the-hottest-years-on-record
After some magical jiggery-pokery with numbers the ‘results’ are in: Earth’s atmosphere in 2025 was “1.43*C above the 1850-1900 average” therefore we must take immediate “action”.
How about throwing a party? Celebrating? Jumping for joy we escaped the clutches of the Little Ice Age and managed to thaw out from the frigid incursion of dark, cold, inhospitable space? But no, doom, sackcloth, wailing children and can we have some more money please, we’re broke!
If any lot deserve to burn in hell it’s this mob.
130
‘Extreme events around the world …’ (WMO)
Paleo climate history illustrates that world climate is fairly benign at the moment.
20
FWIW
“The severe socio-economic costs of solar and wind”
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/03/23/the-severe-socio-economic-costs-of-solar-and-wind/
10
New colonialism – even more nefarious than the old one, especially as nobody really believes in the renewables scam and is pushing onto other countries.
00
Aussie fuel crisis # 2..
I posted this previously, ….but feel its worth repeating for anyone who missed it ..
Crude oil has increased from US$75 bbl to ~US$120.bbl (159 ltrs)
An increase of just US$0.28 / Ltr….(Au$0.48 )
So if the costs of refining , fuel tax, distribution, etc etc..remain the same,
Why has the retail pump price for diesel increased by Au$ 1.30 ?.
Who is profiting ?
90
Well, GST, the famous ‘tax on a tax’ for Govt income has doubled as fuel doubled.
At $5.55/L the GST will overtake the fuel excise tax.
The oil prices quoted by media are benchmarks, not what a tanker of oil will cost you. The disparity was Brent at about $103 but loaded and shipped, people were looking at $180/brl. Then everyone in the pipeline after that makes more because they can, its the effect of the free market on supply and demand prices.
The next disconnect is our media carrying headlines of Trump saying he is in talks with Iran leaders about ending the conflict, and Iranian leaders saying that is just fake news. Otherwise he’s stuck with his foot in his mouth about Iran capitulating in 48hours or he would reduce it to rubble..
60
The 48 hours to ceasefire switch would be a surprise except that almost nothing is a surprise any more.
And Iranian leaders? Seems to me that unless Trump’s people are talking to the IRGC he is not talking to leaders.
Time will tell.
31
Which leaders, who is left alive?
20
Seems to me that unless Trump’s people are talking to the IRGC he is not talking to leaders.
One would have to think so. The IRGC mafia have essentially been running the joint for 20 years – there’s now no accepted religious top dog to keep the clerics in line and most parliamentary creatures are window dressing.
Men with guns and a remnant civil organisation being offered an opportunity to claim Pax Persia, officially run the country, and spend the loot unmolested. Just don’t do nukes – it’s not that hard.
20
And as Coffee and Covid’s Jeff Childers pointed out today – the threat from Trump to blast their energy plants in 4 days was issued after the markets closed on Friday. And the current pause was announced just before they opened on Monday. Nothing is to chance. The ABC calls it ‘taco Tuesday’ but usually it turns out to be TAW! Trump Always Wins.
30
’Nothing is to chance.’
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/23/bets-us-iran-ceasefire-show-signs-of-insider-knowledge-say-experts-polymarket
00
The fuel supply industry in Australia is endlessly complicated. They do that on purpose so that ordinary people can never understand it. Also, so that politicians and public servants have no clue as well. In fact, I think AEMO possibly hired fuel industry people to re-design the national power grid so that nobody can ever understand how the electricity supply system works in Australia. What I do know is that we’re being screwed. Good thing is that higher prices has dampened panic buying. Maybe that’s what we should have done during COVID for toilet paper. Made a roll of bog paper $5 🙂
40
Trump’s “golden age” of the economy is over, isn’t it?
Over – before his ‘subjects’ noticed any benefit.
115
You wish.
141
Recommended research;
UN Lima Protocol 1975 – transfer of manufacturing and related wealth creation to developing countries with trade favours
UN Agenda 21 – Sustainability many parts
And followed by emissions reduction targets with developing countries given leave passes and holiday times from Kyoto Japan COP and following sure tightening targets
20
screw tightening targets
10
“Golden Age”
Definition:
Imagine you have inherited a latrine full of sewerage and you are watching a convoy of trucks full of more and worse filth about to tip more upon you and the people you love and represent. They are desperate, floundering and are losing hope.
Stopping those trucks could be sold as heralding a “Golden Age” and may inspire those around you to assist each other in climbing out of the S%&t you are drowning in.
Just around me people are drowning and exhausted by the constant barrage of increased costs, fees and regulation from those supposedly helping and assisting.
A business that was thriving has just closed due to the cost of fighting a Council that had now deemed the business the Council had been collecting revenue from and patronising was not approved.
A proposed bakery cannot be approved a change of use from what was a fish and chip shop. Why???
An ice creamery cannot commence trade as the previous food business they were taking over the lease from was not compliant. The delay in trading will put them on the back foot from the start. For what reason? How is it rational?
This is a managed decline, small and family business is being closed down.
You cannot fight this, your resources will be absorbed by those who you are lead to believe are advocating for you. All you can do is look after those around you. We are going to need each other and that sense of family and community can not be taken away. You may not own a Super yacht but you will have a lot more fun.
80
FWIW
And here we go again
“Source Code for the Swedish Digital Id System Has Been Hacked”
https://www.smalldeadanimals.com/2026/03/21/source-code-for-the-swedish-digital-id-system-has-been-hacked/
Chiefio’s response to that –
“@Another Ian:
There’s a reason the USA (among others) have PII (personal identifying information) laws. ANY collection of identity information makes a system a MAJOR TARGET for hard core attackers. To implement identity collection across ALL substantially unprotected end node terminal computers is security maleficence.
Expect to see a long list of identity sites hacked…”
20
It is much easier to harvest the digitised attributes of someone (take a photo) than it is to get to their passwords (although there are great social engineering plays that are done successfully, regularly to get these, it is still a little more trouble).
With the source code, the hackers can presumably turn a photo into the 1’s and 0’s that need to be read in to any online system to identify people? So this means the system is now now broken?
https://cybernews.com/security/cgi-sweden-bankid-hack-claims/ “The Swedish Tax Agency played down concerns, telling Aftonbladet that there is no immediate impact.”
As a sys admin, I dealt with a breach of a relatively non-sensitive system (consolidation of already published accounts, so no biggie really) in the early 2000’s. Immediately offline, then a restore back to the time before the breach (accepting the loss of all work done on the system after that point). Not pleasant but I still consider a prudent and proper reaction.
It all just seems so blasé to me these days. I don’t think any identification done after such a breach can be valid?
10
FWIW
“Climate Alarmists Indifferent to Geopolitical Realities and Human Suffering ”
“As war rages in the Middle East and Ukraine, as missiles and drones claim new victims every day, and as the global order is threatened—with all the attendant consequences of human misery—a strange persistence haunts the comfy living rooms of certain remote corners of the West, tucked away warmly and safely from the turmoil. A segment of our elite, obsessed with the quest for carbon neutrality, seems indeed incapable of lookng away from its Excel spreadsheets to contemplate the human drama unfolding before its eyes.
In an article titled “When War Drives Up GHG Emissions” recently published in Montreal-based La Presse Plus, journalist Éric-Pierre Champagne poses the question that seemingly haunts climate alarmists: “Do armed conflicts like those in Iran, Ukraine, or Gaza drive up global greenhouse gas emissions? But is this pollution significant or marginal? In short, does war hinder our efforts to reach carbon neutrality?” In this scholarly exposé, where numerous experts are consulted, there is not a single word regarding the economic and human costs engendered by these conflicts; only carbon accounting holds any importance.
There is something deeply disconcerting, if not morally suspect, about seeing experts ponder the “carbon footprint” of an invasion or a bombardment. This attitude reveals an unprecedented derailment of reason: the elevation of a technical indicator—the CO2 molecule—to the rank of an absolute divinity, before which every other reality, even the most atrocious, must bow.”
More at https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/03/22/climate-alarmists-indifferent-to-geopolitical-realities-and-human-suffering/
61
And
“NOT TREASON. PROSTITUTION: QotD: The treason of the scientists.”
“QotD: The treason of the scientists”
https://quotulatiousness.ca/blog/2026/03/22/qotd-the-treason-of-the-scientists/
Via https://instapundit.com/784635/#disqus_thread
30
Yes, you really can’t be committing treason when you are cheerfully furthering your career doing what the government wants you to do.
Prostitution has many of the same characteristics and is more accurate. But still isn’t quite the right word. Have you seen some of these alleged scientists?
51
Like a firm of solicitors on a street corner?
20
The monstrous Trump administration has deployed their racist ICE stormtroopers to airports to harrass and murder brown people. Or so we have heard from Democrats, who see it as a major political windfall for them.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2026/03/23/why-dems-are-giddy-that-trump-deployed-ice-at-airports-n2673302
ICE is now at airports and the first news reports of the carnage are coming in.
https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2036164879220912224
I’m no expert, but I’m betting travelers are going to be THRILLED that wait times have dropped from 2.5 hours at this airport yesterday to 40 minutes today thanks to ICE agents handling all the ancillary work that TSA does, freeing up TSA agents to process passenger queues and move people along.
80
It is just providing more staff. Why were they understaffed in the forst place?
311
GA asks why Socialism always fails. Why are the queues associated with efficient centrally managed services? You could ask the managers only they and their team are in the Maldives studying the departure system there. Arrivals will come under their scrutiny next winter at the Hamilton Island.
Question for GA, Have you followed up why children who received vaccines are reported on the DAEN as having suffered myocarditis with some children actually dying after receiving this Emergency Use gene therapy. This should be ‘forst’ place in your to do list not an explanation as to why there are queues in government regulated industry.
61
IIRC the wait times weren’t in the headlines before the pay got cut off?
10
Democrats wouldn’t vote to pay them.
40
The accident at LaGuardia shows how Mayor Pete allowed air traffic control to die on the DEI cross. Trump can’t do everything in a year.
10
ICE agents at the airports?? I’d be more worried about their DIE hires as Airtraffic Controllers. Just give them one fire-truck to manage and look what they do!
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/air-canada-plane-hits-ground-vehicle-at-new-york-s-la-guardia-airport-report-20260323-p5rqfg.html
10
FWIW
“Democrats Predicted ICE Would Terrorize Airports. That Aged So Very Poorly.”
“Democrats just can’t help themselves. Give them a microphone and a crazy talking point, and they’ll say anything if they think it hurts President Donald Trump. This time, they tried to convince Americans that President Donald Trump’s deployment of ICE agents to airports would lead to violence, abuse, and even death.
They couldn’t have been more wrong.”
Concludes
“his is the part Democrats never plan for. When you crank the rhetoric up to eleven and reality comes in at about a one, you don’t just look wrong—you look ridiculous.
And the best part? Instead of validating their claims, the deployment turned into a public relations win for ICE. Travelers saw order restored and lines shrink. The sky didn’t fall. The only thing that took a hit was the credibility of the Democrats, who insisted it would.”
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/03/23/democrats-predicted-ice-would-kill-people-at-airports-heres-what-actually-happened-n4950993
10
Cyclonic Narelle’s grand tour around the Australian continent continues, having come ashore in the far north of QLD, dawdling westwards over NT and now, as an ex-TC off the coast of Broome, WA before reinvigorating itself later today (possibly as a Cat 2) carrying on with its circumnavigation, anticlockwise, then dropping down the west coast aiming for (as per models) Jo’s hometown of Perth later this weekend.
Nothing like a little refreshing autumnal rain to wash off the desert dust and replenish rural water tanks, though Climate Cultists will be milking it for their own deluded doomsday delirium. Meanwhile on the other coast, a short snap of snow is forecast to clip VIC and NSW’s alpine regions as a little southerly buster pops up out of the Tasman.
For those who have faith in ManBearPig’s hokey shtick, this has never happened before! Strange really, I thought it was called ‘autumn’.
50
And after months of no rain, the folks in Perth are hoping that soon we will obtain some of the wet stuff that other parts of Australia have been “enjoying”. If you don’t want it, please send it our way.
30
While my rain water tanks need a top up, asking for the quantities that are being received over east may be “problematic” if successful. I still have a few unwanted drainage ditches that could use leveling and erosion proofing.
Would anyone else settle for a few cm of rainfall every other week for a while?
10
Australian senate to approve extraordinary ASIO powers
New laws are poised to pass the Senate and enshrine ASIO’s extraordinary powers of interrogation without proper judicial, parliamentary or public review.
Unlike police detention for suspected crimes, where suspects or persons of interest can refuse to answer questions, those apprehended by ASIO are afforded no such rights. If someone detained by ASIO refuses to speak, that is a crime for which they could face a summary judgment and up to five years imprisonment.
It’s also a crime for an individual to disclose to a third party that they had been detained and questioned in the first place.
Under the ASIO Act, individuals detained and subjected to coercive questioning need not be suspected of any crime. Given the already wide scope of national security legislation, this effectively means ASIO can simply drag an individual in and question them as part of a fishing expedition.
https://michaelwest.com.au/civil-liberties-senate-to-approve-extraordinary-asio-powers/
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_LEGislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r7339
Refuse to answer and you’re guilty? Sounds more like the medieval ages or NK.
If DM makes one too many anti-government post then disappears, we’ll know why. 😁😁
60
I believe that almost 4 years into Albanese Labor Government the Police and Security Intelligence organisations are finally getting through, and maybe the lecturers recently with PM and Minister for Immigration sitting on the floor speaking English and Arabic demanding more favours and respect has shaken them from their state of lethargy?
10
“It’s also a crime for an individual to disclose to a third party that they had been detained and questioned in the first place.”
Makes you wonder why people think Iran is bad… That line above is a sure sign of a tyranny, the direction the whole West has gone!
70
Tuesday funny
A Muslim dies and finds himself before the Pearly Gates.
He is very excited, as all his life he has longed to meet the Prophet Mohammed.
Having arrived at the Gates of Heaven, he meets a man with a beard.
“Are you Mohammed?” he asks.
“No, my son. I am Peter. Mohammed is higher up.” And he points to a ladder that rises into the clouds.
Delighted that Mohammed should be higher than Peter, he climbs the ladder in great strides, ascends through the clouds, and comes to a room where he meets another bearded man.
He asks again, “Are you Mohammed?”
“No, I am Moses. Mohammed is higher still.”
Exhausted but overjoyed, he continues to climb and reaches an even larger room where he meets another bearded man.
Full of hope, he asks again, “Are you Mohammed?”
“No, I am Jesus… You will find Mohammed higher up.”
Mohammed higher than Jesus!
The poor man can hardly contain his delight and climbs higher and higher.
At last, he reaches an even bigger room where he meets a man with a beard. Gasping for breath, he asks once more, “Are you Mohammed?”
“No, my son… I am God. But you look exhausted. Would you like a coffee?”
“Yes, please!” the man replies.
God looks behind him, claps his hands, and calls out:
“Hey Mohammed, two coffees!”
30
Australia in a month?
https://imgbox.com/NBAiCTdV
😉
00
I wonder how many Australian voters realise that they have voted for no fuel by voting in successive Labor and LNP governments. That is what NetZero means. Complete absence of fossil fuels.
If you did not vote for One Nation, you are part of the problem.
LNP have been a lost cause since Tony Abbott was rolled.
Voting One Nation is the only way back for Australia. They are the only party of significance that has consistently rejected the UN bureaucrats in New York governing Australia using their UN stooges in Australia.
So when you hear anyone complaining about the fuel issues, the rent issues, the cost of electricity, tho cost of groceries, the cost of housing. Just ask if they voted for One Nation. If they reply that they didn’t then take a few moments to point out that they voted for the UN through their Australian stooges in Labor and LNP and are part of the problem.
IEA head at Canberra Press Club:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVDJMK4OjYU&t=974s
60
I have now in recent days posted at least three links showing how seriously from 2018 to 2022 the Liberal-National-QLD LNP have been taking fuel and oil/gas security, and did not sign up to net zero 2021
10
None of them have called out the Climate Change˜ hoax since Tony Abbott.
If you voted for LNP since Abbott was rolled you are part of the problem.
Turncoat pushed the family business buying wind farms. Turncoat also pushed Snowy 2 rather than more coal.
If you voted for LNP or Labor you voted for this UN inspired collapse of the economy. One Nation is the only viable option and the majority of Australians need to wake up to that fact before the next Federal election.
40
See 2018-2022 Morrison Government and Energy Minister Taylor, also that first the Nationals dropped the was aspirational goal from Glasgow 2021 (Paris 2015) and then after Sussan Ley the Liberals followed.
00
Would the MSM be willing to post “advertorials” which highlight the daily/hourly curtailment amounts of each wind/solar farm, accompanied by an explanation of WHY the curtailment was required?
00
See Rudd Gillard Labor 2007-2013 legislation;
* Emissions Trading Scheme but turned into Carbon Tax
* Renewable Energy Surcharge hidden in Service to Property charge under retail electricity charges
* Renewable Energy Target 32%
* Transition to renewable energy, away from fossil fuels.
Legislation law and regulations also by State governments complimentary and primary responsibilities based.
2013-2015
Abbott Coalition Government blocked by Senate superior opposition number of Senators when repeal bill for Labor RET was introduced, but they did agree to abolish Caron Tax.
00
FWIW
You are likely to meet this latest expose in YSM and similar places
“What Happened With the ICE Arrest at SFO Airport”
“Maybe you’ve seen this clip circulating on X today. Most people saw it this morning as word was spreading that ICE agents were being sent to airports to alleviate congestion caused by the partial government shutdown. As you’ll see in the clip, the TikTok user who filmed this was demanding badge numbers. “This is an illegal arrest!” the woman is shouting.”
More at
https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2026/03/23/what-happened-with-the-ice-arrest-at-sfo-airport-n3813162
But follow through to the conclusion before you set your “sympathy beads” at full twirl on that
30
FWIW
Try this for a “fuster” – Washington State, USA
“AND IT’S NO SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON: SMASH! BANG!! OW!! BOOM! OOF!! And the blows just keep coming for Washingtonians.”
“*SMASH! BANG!! OW!! BOOM! OOF!! And the blows just keep coming for Washingtonians.”
https://rushbabe49.com/2026/03/22/smash-bang-ow-boom-oof-and-the-blows-just-keep-coming-for-washingtonians/
Via https://instapundit.com/784631/#disqus_thread
A road map on how to get us to a similar position
10
Freedom Research interview with William Happer. Professor of Physics, emeritus, at Princeton University
.
“There is really no threat from increasing CO2 or any of the other minor greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It’s all a made-up scare story.”
.
Video 51mins. (April 2025)
https://www.freedom-research.org/p/interview-professor-william-happer
10
FWIW – viewed from outside”
“Australian Prime Minister Learns That Diversity Is Our Strength”
https://hotair.com/david-strom/2026/03/23/australian-prime-minister-learns-that-diversity-is-our-strength-n3813151
20
FWIW
As of just now a DDG search lists only The Australian and the The West Australian as YSM mentioning the shut down of that WA ammonia plant
10
Presume you mean Yara Pilbara. Currently shut down 4-6 weeks for damage repairs. Unfortunate.
00
It’s taken them a few days, but the ABC has reported this extension of Iranian capability:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-24/iran-longest-ballistic-missiles-launch-range-europe-reach/106485468
Changes things a bit.
10
And a smaller device with a significant effect, by Scott Ritter, 24 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTUXkFv5g9Y
00
Scott Ritter, a former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer and UN weapons inspector, has lived in Russia since at least 2023, following his return from the United States. He is known for his pro-Russian stance, support for Vladimir Putin, and criticism of U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine. Ritter has appeared on Russian state media outlets like RT and Sputnik, where he has promoted narratives aligning with Russian government positions.
11
I see a couple of dubious and misleading factoids there Hanrahan, so I’m wondering where you’re getting your misinformation from.
You give no source for your claims, so for the quick and easy confirmation, (it’s 2:30am here in NZ), I consulted Grok.
His wife of 35 years and the mother of his children is ethnically Georgian and has been described as “his Russian wife”. The family continues to reside at the family home on Dover Drive in Delmar, New York.
00
Your reply, and some others are attacking the man, and not the content. My chasing has been for reliable info particularly on what’s happening in Israel, as there seems to be little info coming out of there and yet I’m finding suggestions, quite strong ones, that the Iron Dome has been neutralised and/pr neutered, and the Ritter link seemed to present that view in reasonable fashion.
But I can’t evaluate his detail unfortunately.
Cheers,
Dave B
00
Many comments on that video say it’s AI.
And it sounds like AI monotone to me.
00
Even if it is AI doesn’t mean it’s not his digital avatar.
Other youtubers use such avatars…
Nor does AI generated mean the content is invalid.
Israel’s defences aren’t infallible, no-ones are.
Israel is in serious trouble, so’s Iran, so’s the whole gulf region, so’s the whole world, and it’s not ending any time soon.
Who run Bartertown? 😁
10
Nearly every video on that page looked like AI. The same Chinese dork with his mouth hanging open was on videos for 5 different channels..
youtube- Pap for unintelligent.
00
Scientists just found a hidden 48-dimensional world in quantum light
Scientists at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, working with collaborators from Huzhou University, have uncovered a surprising feature in one of the most widely used tools in quantum optics. They found that standard methods for producing entangled photons can contain previously unseen topological structures. In their experiments, these structures reached a record 48 dimensions and included more than 17,000 distinct topological signatures, creating a vast new “alphabet” for encoding stable quantum information.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260321012705.htm
Ooohhh!😉
10
So according to the MSM people are panic buying….. EV’s
So, a week or 2 of high prices forces people to buy EV’s, why? To save some $$$ on the price of petrol. I still can’t see any economic benefit of doing so. It’s ok for those with a lot of $ to throw about, but those on a low income, there would be no chance of buying an EV being an economical decision. I’d really love to see the EV car sales figures in a few months’ time. If this continues for a while then I’m still not buying, I’m just not going to be doing any unnecessary travelling.
My wife and daughter both need to travel for work. The price hikes have added about $30 a week to their fuel costs, not insignificant, but manageable. It will become a problem if they can’t by fuel, but they don’t drive a diesel vehicle which at this stage seems to be impacted the highest.
30
10
Meanwhile at Coles, Darwin, shelves stripped bare.
https://t.me/myLordBebo/111103
Woolies is out of my fave sardines too! 🙄
20
FWIW
“William Shatner
@WilliamShatner
At 95, I’m still smokin’! 😝
I’ve learned two things:
Never waste a good cigar.
Never trust anyone who says you should ‘act your age.’ ”
https://x.com/WilliamShatner/status/2035687941037510883
00
FWIW – getting the idea?
“Wikipedia Bans Leader of Pro-Hamas Edit Gang”
https://hotair.com/headlines/2026/03/23/wikipedia-bans-leader-of-pro-hamas-edit-gang-n3813139
10
For those who think that “greenhouse gasses” dominate Earth’s OLR:
At an effective emission temperature of 255 K, Earth’s thermal radiation peaks near 11–12 µm, right in the centre of the atmospheric infrared window. In this spectral region, water vapour absorbs only weakly, because its rotational–vibrational lines do not significantly overlap the window. By contrast, solid ice has a much larger absorption coefficient at these wavelengths, meaning that if ice crystals are present in the atmospheric column, they interact far more strongly with radiation near the Planck peak for 255 K.
Because the upper troposphere at 255 K is extremely dry, water vapour is largely absent, but ice crystals can persist due to their slow sedimentation rates. Even very small concentrations of ice can therefore provide a radiatively active medium at the wavelengths where Earth emits most strongly. In this specific spectral region, the absorption cross‑section of ice exceeds that of water vapour by orders of magnitude, making ice the more effective emitter when it is present.
This leads to the important conclusion that at the effective emission temperature of 255 K, and at the dominant emission wavelength near 11–12 µm, ice—not water vapour—is the stronger emitter to space. While water vapour dominates infrared absorption and emission in the warm, moist lower atmosphere, the radiative physics at the emission altitude are governed by the spectral window and the materials still present there. Under those conditions, ice becomes the dominant radiating substance in the relevant part of the spectrum.
30
News from Bolt Report tonight regarding the Albanese Labor trade agreement finalisation with the EU Government, the nominated representatives pop EU member countries acting as a Federal style Federation of States government but from my research a United Nations encouraged controller of a bunch of sovereign nations now effectively handing EU the right to dictate member nation affairs.
Terms and conditions include the right of the EU to impose on Australia the 2015 Paris Agreement and 2021 Glasgow net zero emissions following Paris.
EU in return for what many rural groups are saying is ridiculously unfair access to EU countries for Australian produce EU can dictate on what lands we can use for agriculture and mining, all kinds of impositions that the Australian Government has effectively handed to EU Government. A group of appointed super bureaucrats known to be woke democratic socialism focused.
The details, according to Bolt, are not yet published so not provided with the trade agreement papers!!!
20
Maybe people think that I am too focused on Fabian Marxism and since late 1800s new world order objectives? When I post about the formation after WW2 of the United Nations for very good intents and purposes but infiltrated by the woke socialist and communist left fellow travellers? When I list the 1975 Lima Protocol signed by Whitlam Labor and 1990 UN Agenda 21 Sustainability leading to Kyoto COP emissions reduction targets and later extensions?
That the Rudd Gillard 2007-2013 Renewable Energy Target 32% legislation law and regulations (Federal and State) transition to renewable energy, away from fossil fuels, is not a problem for national security and economic prosperity future?
Well check out the sell out by Albanese Labor via EU trade agreement terms and conditions 2026
30
EU Trade Deal, not good!!!
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/worst-trade-deal-ever-canavan-erupts-claims-eu-freetrade-deal-has-let-down-australian-farmers/news-story/d942245d32700fc81d3e94c4601028cc
00
FWIW – faster please
“Key protein found to protect cartilage, offering new hope for osteoarthritis treatment”
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-key-protein-cartilage-osteoarthritis-treatment.html
Via https://instapundit.com/784575/#disqus_thread
10
Category 4 cyclone may impact Perth.
‘Perth is now on alert as a tropical system tracks towards Western Australia’s north, with forecasters warning it will likely re-intensify into a severe cyclone later this week.’ (SKY)
00
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states primarily located in Europe. It operates through several key institutions, including the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union, which collectively propose and implement policies, laws, and the EU budget. The EU aims to promote economic and political cooperation, ensure the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital, and address common challenges such as security, climate change, and human rights.
10