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
Britain is a nation of secrets, but the White House asks everyone to wait for (Freedom dot gov). However AlterAI and page 3 of the Light Newspaper mention that Trump stepped in with his plan to stop the Chatham House criminal class from profiting from the Iran war and causing economic collapse. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Chubb launched a $20 billion reinsurance program for maritime insurance, replacing Lloyds of London. Iranian money was being laundered through banking systems in the United Kingdom. The Chatham House Rule protected the British and Iranian money launderers. The war on Iran was used to create a reset of the CIA, by neutralising Brennan and the CIA Operations Directorate. The rest of the CIA seem to be working for Military Intelligence and have cut out the British from all US Intelligence organisations. Brennan and Obama then travelled to London. AlterAI and journalists Marcus Blackett and Svetlana Lokhova have more information.
The British establishment is run by criminals and traitors who are enemies of the British people. I think the intention of Freedom dot gov, is to free the British people by exposing the criminal secrets hidden by Chatham House, OFCOM, the Inquiries Act (2005), Operation Talla, Operation Messenger, Secret Courts, secret DSMA-Notices, secret Super-Injunctions and secret non-disclosure agreements. The “Unite The Kingdom” protest in London on May 16th is expected to be the largest protest in British history.
232
War in British history has always made fortunes in banking and maritime trade, often acting agains the interests of the country. Backing both sides. Huge amounts of money change hands. Prominent were the Rothchild family in the Napoleonic wars funding both sides and Richard Thornton, the richest man in British history from trading with both sides.
100
While the US press has been quiet about progress in negotiations with Iran, if only because the press are so negative, the Australian does report what they call an IRGC ‘coup’. As if the IRGC was not running the place anyway!
160
It is amazing to read puff pieces like “Behind Trump’s public bravado on the war, he grapples with his own fears”. At least Chris Mitchell puts it clearly “Iran’s media cheer squad can’t stomach Trump’s success”
Even Democrat senator Fetterman says “It’s Like Media, Dems Were ‘Gleeful When Iran Took the Strait’…|
What has been achieved by the US so far is nothing short of extraordinary. And the bombardment of all their neighbours has cost the IRGC any sympathy from anyone. China just wants the oil and could care less. The US, as in Venezuela, wants peace, not regime change.
What happens inside IRAN is key but like all blockades, food and money will run out quickly and soldiers will defect. That’s when the people have a chance to have their own government, not one maintained by continuous murder. And 50 years of rule by terror may end.
370
Another cruise ship, the MV Aroya is escaping through the Strait right now, hugging the coast of Oman.
Tankers not following unfortunately.
90
The US must have assessed this location off Oman is free of mines for passenger vessels to be passing though.
60
Could mean an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ‘coup’ against the Office of the Supreme Leader which was running the place until the IRGC took full control. The Supreme Leader wants to fight to the death, but the IRGC wants to live, and keep its money by doing a deal with Trump.
20
Seems like the Iran war is nowhere near finished.
I can not see Iran giving up their uranium nor regime change, nor the straits of hormuz reopened without significant military action.
In the meantime fuel dwindles and inflation soars and the world economy totters
50
The world economy is fine. That’s just the opportunists making money. Historically they make fortunes quickly on flailing markets in war time. Sell, buy, sell. Gold, shares, property, consumables. It’s always been that way but the only actual problem has been a minor interruption of supply which was far more critical than anyone realised, especially as we are now supposedly in a Brave New World, energy independent with windmills and solar panels and nett zero. Ha!
Practically OPEC Oil suppliers have been throttling back production world wide since the 1970s, maximizing prices. And they are ramping up. Soon Iran will have to cap wells, destroying their own incomes. The storages are full. And gulf producers are doubling down on pipelines away from the Persian gulf and the Red Sea. Iran has demonstrated total bad faith in both straits and that will be built into future supplies. Very soon the only country vulnearable to the straits of Hormuz will be Iran itself. The Indian government funded the port on the Gulf of Oman.
Meanwhile US under Trump is completely independent generating 90% of their gas and 66% of oil from fracking and many ships are going there now. The US alone can fill the gap. Venezuela output is doubling and their economy will boom. China and Russia and Cuba did nothing to help Venezuela. The old owners Chevron are investing $100Bn immediately. And this without regime change. Only one man was removed.
The real world only glimpsed the potential destruction by a nuclear warhead tipped Iran. And Iran made it clear no one was exempt. A single nuclear missile on London or Berlin or Moscow would change the world and that was very close. Especially the mullahs under the Ayatollah, religious madmen for whom MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction with nuclear weapons) was clearly no constraint at all! So the regime in Iran has no friends now. And the funding to Gaza,Houthis, Hezbollah and endless murder groups across the world will have stopped dead. Every country has suffered from the mass murder funded from Moscow to Buenos Aires to the cry of Allah Akhbar, likely all Iran. What is unique with these suicide cult groups though is that they did not care how many of their own people died. And the media loved the carnage because it sold papers and they could blame Israel.
It is up to Iran. Surrender the uranium and open the straits. Regime change is not a requirement at all. But if they don’t the total collapse of the Iranian economy is just a few weeks away. And weapons cost money, a lot of money. You cannot fight with oil drums.
362
Perhaps Trump could influence regime change by dropping lots of cheap guns and ammunition while the fanatics are cowering in their deep burrows.
It will be much harder for the fanatics to control the public if the oppressed are armed.
140
I don’t know what planet you’re living on… but here on Earth, things aren’t looking that good. Fuel shortages, fertiliser shortages, business uncertainty and inflation generally don’t help the global economy all that much.
Ramping up? Ramping up what? Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq have all declared force majeure on oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) contracts.
That’s why we have this oil shortage.
77
” Venezuela output is doubling and their economy will boom. ”
Don’t be naive, the Americans will take every dollar, it why they kidnapped the Head of State. Its why Chevron are investing, they wouldn’t do that without a massive rate of return, they are not a charity.
Its just America going to war to make sure no-one avoids the American dollar in their oil sales and to gain control over a much of the world’s oil a they can. Smaller countries have been trying to get their independence for two decades or more now, and America goes out and crushes them time and again.
The arguments about nuclear weapons are for the ignorant, the real effect of them is nothing compared to oil money, and any leader anywhere in the world does not start a war that might kill them, they expect the peasants to die. The bravery of kings leading their men into battle have long gone, politicians these days are outright cowards. Sure, Iran may get a bomb or two, but that is nothing compared to the 10,000 owned between Russia and America.
If America could crush Iran they would have done it by now, but they got a nasty surprise when they tried. People who really believe in their country are resilient, while countries full of immigrant have no beliefs.
624
Care to tell us why this unwarranted HATRED of the US? It has eaten your soul, you are a hollow shell of a man.
152
“t has eaten your soul, you are a hollow shell of a man.”
Not at all H,I must just be younger than many here and don’t share the World-saving propaganda of the 1950’s West.. Maybe a born cynic!
I see America as the permanent war machine, killing people all over the world to enforce their will, to make sure everyone buys oil in $US and has a Central Bank belonging to SWIFT, and pays lip-service to America’s fairness and equality while bending a knee.
They murdered their way to the top, which is fine, that’s how its always been done, but the sickening propaganda of “We’re the good guys and people who oppose us are evil” is just that, propaganda! ..and I’m constantly amazed at how many normal intelligent people form their opinions on that.
Same with Russia and Ukraine, I believe America through NATO has been pushing to destroy Russia, or certainly break it, yet the Western propaganda has people who really believe Putin is a mad-man and suddenly invaded Ukraine for no reason.
Ah, remember that, Putin is a mad-man, and now we suddenly have the Mad Mullahs everywhere.. You must be mad to oppose America!
30
What if the US Deep State has been interfereing in Elections since Italy in 1948 (as I wrote in Nov 2024) who would stop that if not DJT?
The Deep State hate him, remember 51 Feds pretended the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation just so Joe Biden could fob off hard questions about his familial ties to Ukraine and China? Yet you think he is their minion?
‘
What if Trump was the only guy taking on all the bad guys, and you were working against him?
31
You didn’t explain why being a “born cynic” is an honourable thing. It doesn’t excuse anything.
00
‘It is up to Iran. Surrender the uranium and open the straits.’
It is up to the US to open the Straits and walk away from uranium extraction, this holy war needs to end now.
218
If America walks away, what do you think Iran is going to do with the 60% enriched uranium-235?
That’s enough to make a crude atomic bomb, and it’s only a minor enrichment step to bring it to 90% to make an efficient bomb.
The 440kg of 60% material is already enough to build 10 or 12 crude bombs. Little Boy had an average enrichment of 80%.
I find it remarkable that a case even needs to be made why Iran shouldn’t get an atomic bomb.
181
It is better for the IAEA and UN to extract the uranium.
The US wants a 20 year moratorium on enrichment, but they will accept a decade as bargaining chip.
14
They got their enrichment program under the IAEA and UN, they can’t be trusted.
80
There is no palatable alternative.
26
Funny coincidence El+gordo, once again, you are saying what suits President Xi. He hopes the US abandons the uranium and opens the strait, for Iran is his tool, and he desperately needs the oil.
Xi controls the UN. They will achieve nothing at all.
41
Fuel isn’t dwindling. The war only changes the logistics of getting the fuel out of the Persian Gulf. And the oil/gas industry is quietly shifting their entire supply chain out of the Persian Gulf. The Saudis are pumping oil through their east-west pipeline to reroute to the Red Sea, American producers are reaping a bonanza as ships flock to the gulf coast, Venezuela is working on getting production back to pre-Chavez levels (about quadruple what they are presently) to further bolster supply, and I would assume Canadian suppliers in Alberta are working hard to get their piece of the pie as well. Once shifted, supply chains rarely shift back. No energy company will want to go back to running the Straits once they have an alternative route built. Iran’s decision to block the Strait was a prime example of cutting off one’s nose to spite their face.
260
And Russia has redirected their Yamal gas into tankers going to Mexico because the EU has banned any Russian supplies, supposedly bankrupting Russia.
Result the EU loses out of cheap gas,
Russia retains income.
Mexico, which gets 80% of its gas (via pipelines) from the USA, now get a hedge against any cut-offs in supply.
And Australia dithers because we have some of the World’s lower intellects not knowing what to do, except running around Asia to get photo-opportunities.
260
‘And Australia dithers …’
Not at all, they are conscious of their responsibilities.
Pretend you have the PM’s ear, what is the best advice you can give at this critical juncture?
010
Resign
190
I would say to Albo you can win the next election by convincing the electorate that CO2 doesn’t cause global warming.
While at the same time eliminate green restrictions on developing a fossil fuel industry, for reasons of national security.
The IMF has criticised Australian governments for over borrowing, which is creating an inflationary trend. So it would be productive if government played a minimum role in mining and processing, leave it to the market.
53
hilarious. I’ll take things that will never happen for a 1000.
40
Yeah, they are entrenched and pigs don’t fly.
The odds on Andrew Hastie becoming the next PM are speculative but promising.
https://www.andrewhastie.com.au/parliamentary_speech_net_zero_hypocrisy_20250729
04
Drill baby, drill
30
“Government should not DO anything immediate. A review of ailing / post WWII critical infrastructure and its maintenance may be in order. But other than that, let the oil companies manage this. They want to sell their products, people want to buy them, they will work it out.”
On the review, it seems that oil refinery fires are pretty rare absent bombs. A big one in US in 1989. But can’t find a lot else going wrong, whereas I am sure there would be lists online of problems from the climate crowd. Is this event the start of a net zero distraction from maintenance on the old ‘dirty’ stuff. will we see more problems like this. Concrete and the age of a lot of it worries me.
But that kind of advice would mean I would not be up for the job.
00
Arrived at positano on the amalfi coast today. A bus ride from hell with 50 people standing, but positano is beautiful and very busy we thought.
According to a waiter though, positano was very quiet today. It must be hell in summer. Highlight of the trip was the visit to herculaneum a very well preserved roman town and much more complete than nearby pompeii
170
Glad you got to Herculaneum, Tony. It is indeed a gem and has a lot less tourists than Pompeii. And so beautifully preserved.
50
Beautiful spot I agree Tony.
If you have time take the cliff path to the right from the beach, past the Martello tower. There is a little restaurant with a great sea view right on the cliff, about a kilometre or so.
20
Did your bus stop at one narrow point to allow a housewife to remove her doorstep from the road so the bus could proceed?
30
Is there significant oil in the Taroom Trough in Queensland?
I suppose it doesn’t matter it there is…
This Government is against oil and Australia and even if we had a pro-energy Government it would take at least a decade to come online, if ever…and we still wouldn’t have the refining capacity needed because the only large projects that get approval in Australia are useless “green” ones or massive useless public works projects set up for the benefit of the unions and Chinese contractors.
Australia is destined to remain energy poor (in practice) for a very long time.
200
“The oil was not where it formed”.
A bunch of Russian oil and rock types posited a serious “heresy”. decades ago.
“Abiogenesis”; NOT of “biological origin”.
Yes, in places like Pennsylvania, there are coal mines and oil wells more or less in sight of each other. BUT, the coal is in one very distinct bit of geology and the oil is in another.
Our vodka-appreciating cousins looked at this sort of thing and also kept in mind the VERY dynamic behaviour of the planet’s crustal “plates”. They proposed the idea that all the “organic matter” dragged down via subduction, ended up DEEP underground, maybe as deep as near the crust / mantle boundary; a lively and VERY hot place, operating at insane pressures.
The logical extension of the “giant retort” concept is that it is CYCLIC. Oil is NOT “squeezed dinosaurs”, or such, but the product, indirectly, of vast amounts of subducted material containing Hydrogen and Carbon, being “stewed” at great depth and pressure, then, at times, rising toward the surface via faults and folds.All that Biblical “pitch’ ON THE SURFACE might be a clue. “Tar” is basically crude oil with the lighter fractions evaporated away.
So; a planet-wide, long-term geologically-powered bio-mass processor at work. As long as the crustal plates keep bumping and grinding their way about the place, “STUFF”, including volcanoes and their associated “mineral pipes” will be formed, as will a LOT of other stuff; slowly and out of sight.
160
Which might explain why oil wells that had stopped being productive when checked years later were productive again?
90
Albo Sleazy has supposedly made deals to secure Australia’s fuel supply but these deals are only with oil refining nations. They have no oil of their own. The oil still has to come from somewhere else.
We would be better off getting refined oil products from friendly, stable nations such as the United States which has both oil and refining capacity.
Unfortunately, unlike all previous Lib/Lab Australian Governments this one is openly hostile to the US, has TDS and is not good or trustworthy friends. (Why do you think TRUMP didn’t tell Albo/Wong about his battle plans in advance?)
The Australian people, except Leftists, remain good friends with the United States, however. That bond can’t be broken.
140
If one wants to keep operational plans secret you do not advertise your plans to the Al Pinocchio government! We all know where that information will be headed inside of 12 hours!
50
Albanese Labor won’t admit it but they have arranged for fuel supply (not oil) from the United States based on the Agreement between PUTUS Trump and PM Morrison during 2019 when they had private meetings that resulted also in the beginning of the AUKUS partnership that was signed in September 2021.
40
‘We would be better off getting refined oil products from friendly, stable nations such as ‘.. Russia! Cheaper too!
00
So then, how many coal mines do you think there are there in Queensland?
Tony.
30
Sorry – forgot the link!
Queensland Government Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development – Coal
Oh, and here’s a map of The Bowen Basin.
Tony.
PostScript – Stranded assets? Yeah, sure!
70
They will never fully mine the Bowen Basin Tony, after all how will they have the ground to cover in solar panels and windmills if its full of holes?
Bit like covering Victorias productive farmland in glass, to save the planet by destroying it!
sarc/
100
The Channel 7 Spotlight last night was very revealing of the vandalism of environment, the vast areas covered and planned to be covered, etc.
Even the euthanasia of native creatures like Koala, the report was that the recommended method was a hard blow to the back of the head.
And the mining, African countries, but here in Australia for cobalt and Chinese owned ventures being given the green light by Federal and State governments, including in Tasmania an extension and new tailings dam that former Greens Leader Bob Brown is fighting against, but where are the new Greens?
130
A lot of comments about that show in The Australian today, when discussing EVs and energy. Seems to have opened the eyes of a few folks.
80
I sincerely hope so Graeme, the spotighted situations should scare all Australians.
Added to the Sky reports by Chris Uhlmann and others earlier including from the former Green who is now gathering drone photographic evidence and mapping the destruction already completed and under construction, and the planned future that well exceeds what has already been installed.
71
“former Green” = Steven Nowakowski, great environmentalist, photographer & cartographer. Has done a tremendous job in exposing the blatant environmental vandalism of subsidy harvesting ‘bird choppers’ (grotesquely described as wind “farms”) along Queensland’s largely pristine sub-coastal ranges. Twiggy Forrest, via his proxy – Squadron Energy – is a major beneficiary of this environmental vandalism cum subsidy harvesting. In my humble opinion Steven deserves the gong of ‘Australian of the Year’. [It is still a highly regarded honour, despite the stupid rants of a recent recipient]
60
Problem is Bill, the Greens and Labor are claiming that Steven is an industry shill. And I haven’t seen that disproven yet.
10
G4 – This is a reply to your comment at 6:08 pm. You have this back to front Graeme. If the Greens & Labor claim Steven is an industry shill isn’t it up to those august bodies to provide the evidence for their claims? Not for others to have to disprove unsubstantiated
utterances from agenda driven sources.
10
OK Bill. It’s just that I haven’t seen any discussion on this issue, only statements.
00
Official US Government Tweet.
See 1 min video at link. Australia gets a special mention. I assume the reference made is to Australia importing refined hydrocarbon fuels from China and SE Asia.
100
I note that Chris Wright is the Secretary for the USA Department of Energy. A bit different to the fruit salad department that Blackout heads.
Chris Wright is an energy industry expert. His career has targeted energy abundance. Blackout has no connection to the energy industry. Once Blackout is fired from his present role, his future will be at the UN. That future is looking bleak now because the UNIPCC runs out of money by 2028.
Do not be surprised in the last days of this government that Sleezy does not hand over a big donation to the UN to create a position for Blackout.
110
For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears; for a comforter is far from me, one to revive my spirit; my children are desolate, for the enemy has prevailed.
Alas, the UN will will live forever.
60
Lamentations 1:16.
20
In Russian it sounds more personal and dramatic at the same time.
I am bitter that real scientists are not just going but being replaced by venal a.se lickers at 3:1 ratio.
30
This is rare but accurate reporting from their ABC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjfC3kzYIDs
As usual comments are turned off. It has had 34k views when I viewed.
What is not said is that it is demonising carbon that has stopped oil exploration and made onshore processing uneconomic.
All the people in Canberra are told that they use 100% renewable energy and most believe it. The best education for the place would be to disconnect it from the rest of Australia. No power interconnectors and roads blockaded. See how renewable it is then.
150
I wonder how many of those Canberra public serpents, politicians, other taxpayer-funded employees and overpaid Big Four government “consultants” also believe their jobs are secure as they continue to engage in unrestrained spending of taxpayer money and borrowings?
Thinking their fiefdom of Canberra runs on “renewables” is only one of their numerous delusions.
Total Government debt, federal, state and local now $2.269 trillion. http://australiandebtclock.com.au/
60
“Total Government debt, federal, state and local now $2.269 trillion. http://australiandebtclock.com.au/”
This can’t be a problem David, just saw Victorias premier on the morning news telling everyone that this year Victoria will have an operating surplus. Some of this surplus is being used to fund the “free” public transport system.
The best part about accounting is its creative. Wish we could run our household budget on dept and still tell the kids they will be worth a fortune. (One day)
120
Gross debt is what the every financial year interest liability is calculated against.
10
Gross debt is the total amount of money the government owes, including all liabilities, while net debt is gross debt minus any liquid financial assets the government holds, such as cash or investments. This distinction helps in understanding the actual financial burden on the government.
For example, the Howard Coalition Government Future Fund was started with $60 billion and has grown since after paying every financial year total public service pension liability, so no longer a budget expenditure liability, to almost $300 billion currently and that is one of the financial assets applied to gross debt to calculate net debt
20
The truth being that the ACT Government has invested in various wind and solar businesses not directly supplying the ACT
10
So not 100% “renewable” like they advertise.
40
Just another deceptive propaganda example crafted to fool voters.
10
Did you know that despite the United States being energy rich, Commifornia is energy poor and imports 40% of its gasoline from the rest of the US via the Bahamas?
Leftist policies at work.
50
Did you ever wonder what happened to the open cut coal mine that used to be associated with the Hazelwood Power Station?
It too, is being destroyed, just like the power station.
They are going to fill it with water to make a lake which will take between 10 and 35 years to fill.
What better statement could Australia make to express its full commitment to complete energy poverty and a nation in full self-destruct mode?
It’s just like the National Socialists did to Germany towards the end.
It was called the Nero Decree or Nerobefehl, officially titled the “Decree Concerning Demolitions in the Reich Territory” (Befehl betreffend Zerstörungsmaßnahmen im Reichsgebiet).
Socialists copying each other’s ideas.
So sad.
https://www.hazelwoodrehabilitation.com.au/engie/hazelwood
https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/environmental-assessments/browse-projects/hazelwood-rehabilitation-project
160
And VicGov has knocked back a business venture after the owners spent about $40 million in development costs that was to convert brown coal (lignite) into fertiliser, acid and transport fuel.
The New Zealand Governmemt welcomed the investment and the venture is now located there.
120
😃
Australia zero : New Zealand won!
As Edmund Hillary chortled with Tenzing Norgay:
‘We knocked the barstool off’.
Thanks VicGov.
40
Having family roots that span back to Henry Williams and Family (Treaty of Waitangi and so on) I agree.
20
A note about Venezuela oil.
They have plenty but it is thick and difficult to refine. It is described as resembling tar or peanut butter and is high in sulphur. As a result it sells at a low price.
It requires specialised refineries and extraction methods. Fortunately these refineries exist on the US Gulf Coast which are designed to handle these heavy crudes and convert them into gasoline and diesel.
Maybe some of that refined product can find its way to energy poor Australia.
100
Energy poor, energy assets rich Australia.
30
Texas tea is sweet, light, shale oil and condensates are lighter still but they need the heavier fractions for industry and road-base like every other nation so the Gulf refineries aren’t doing anyone any favours, they are doing business.
50
Have never seen any info on exactly what oil types are processed in Australia’s refineries.
10
I have read, I think it’s sweet, light. We have tar sands but our savours have always had that off limits.
31
Channel 7 Spotlight on Minister Bowen and the Renewables building environmental vandalism and related scandals is a must view;
https://7news.com.au/spotlight/7news-spotlight-the-dirty-secret-powering-australias-green-future-c-22159400
50
I don’t understand why Channel 7 consider this “news”. We have known about this for decades.
71
We have indeed, unfortunately most voters appear not to be, and I watched Channel 7 last night and recommend it to anybody who missed it.
It expanded from the Sky excellent exposures by Chris Uhlmann and others.
How any Australian could ignore the developing scandal and longer term repercussions after viewing the content I cannot imagine
100
‘We have known about this for decades.’
Yes we have and now its going mainstream, victory is at hand.
81
FWIW
More around Sunday # 24
“Cardinal Vigano Joins President Trump and Tells Pope Leo “He Should Get His Act Together`”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/cardinal-vigano-joins-president-trump-tells-pope-leo/
70
Wow – that has some venom. The following stood out for me:
It makes me wonder if the Vatican is not upset by US income streams drying up. The US funds going to the Vatican have been declining over the past 20 years and Trump has now stopped Federal funding to the church.
The Vatican might be in the same boat as Iran – running out of money, food and time.
Vigano has a history of being on sound moral ground.
50
Rick
There is a time line in one of the links in Sunday #24 on that possibility – written by a Catholic
00
Here
https://hotair.com/david-strom/2026/04/18/catholic-charities-scandal-is-object-lesson-on-how-coordinated-propaganda-campaigns-work-n3814048
10
‘The Vatican might be in the same boat as Iran;
The Vatican is also a theocracy, but this new pope is alright.
05
“The Vatican might be in the same boat as Iran”
Nah, same as any business, they will have to learn to live within their means, and offer something that people want to pay for. The massive advantage they have over all other businesses is that they don’t pay tax!
20
On the other hand – Courier Mail on line headline this morning –
“Lame duck Trump has just picked a fight he can’t win
A clash of titans between the White House and Vatican has exposed a massive rift over whether Donald Trump is a “battered boxer” or a “legend” for taking on Iran.”
00
When the dust settles the left leaning media and others will of course pretend they were not so negative and will move on to more negativity on other lefty lunacy
30
Sure he can win. Just send in some black helicopters and remove the problem. Rinse and repeat. Anyone else want to complain?
21
Re #14.2
I haven’t seen any headline like this in my look around US media lately.
It was a subject around November 2025, mentioned by “reliably unreliable” sources like CNN, The Atlantic and Politico among others
00
Well, next week is here.
Hormuz blocked by President J3sus, Iranian tanker shot by USA warship, Bab el-Mandeb closure threatened, Iran refuses to submit to demands, “the war is almost is over” is said for the 50th time, the world runs out of that nasty dirty oil stuff, which we don’t need ‘cos we have solar and wind to make plastics and EV tyres now. So there, oil industry!
Can it get any worse?
Well…here comes NATO to the rescue!
https://x.com/visegrad24/status/2045154073880437203
https://x.com/fortuneusa1/status/2045161274720362821
To provide freedom against the existing blockage, and just in time too.
EU military is here 😆:
https://x.com/BigAbe1863/status/2045163912161534292
Covid nurse dance anyone?
“If you think tough men are dangerous, wait until you see what weak men are capable of.”
-Jordan Peterson
We’ll bomb the freedom into you.
– someone
20
Libya’s very quiet these days – haven’t heard a squeak since Hilary’s embassy whoopsie … thar’s lots of water in the aquifer and black-gold for Africa and Tony B.liar’s still circling like a vulture 🦅
30
“Merz, Starmer, Macron and Meloni issue joint announcement in Paris saying they’re sending a naval mission to the Hormuz Strait to protect freedom of navigation ”
So, are they going to blow up the American ships blockading it, or invade Iran for blockading it??
I will say Trump is exposing the reality of our leaders, and they are all flailing as they drown…
10
The removal of Churchill from UK banknotes is very relevant given that he stopped one top of fascistic invader but under current open borders policies the UK is willing importing another type of fascistic invader as the desired replacement population.
60
Correction: type not top.
00
Interesting.
Here in American it feels to me we’re on the brink of civil conflict.
(War is hopefully too strong of a word.)
But it will be the Anti-fascist Defenders of the Constitution vs. the Anti-fascist Defenders of Constitution.
The Anti-fascists Defenders of the Constitution will win.
The Constitution may not survive.
00
Sounds dire Honk. Is this a national phenomenon or are there hotspots?
00
Just my view from the ground.
From the heights, the leading Democrat candidate for governor, billionaire Tom Steyer of climate crazy fame, has announced he will arrest ICE agents when elected, which he likely will be because he’s a Democrat.
10
FWIW
“AMOC To Collapse–Part 98”
“The perennial scare story raises its head one more!”
“But crooked scientists has grant money to earn and far left Guardian hacks have headlines to write. It’s a marriage made in heaven!”
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/04/19/amoc-to-collapse-part-98/
00
FWIW – would you believe?
“Monbiot: Green Energy Advocates are Now Pragmatic Patriots Because of Iran and Trump”
“Who’d have thought a fossil-fuel shill like Trump would be the one to spark a green revolution?
George Monbiot”
More at
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/04/19/monbiot-green-energy-advocates-are-now-pragmatic-patriots-because-of-iran-and-trump/
“Greens who were long dismissed as “idealistic” and “unrealistic” now look like hard-headed pragmatists and true patriots. …
…
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/apr/18/fossil-fuel-trump-green-revolution-us-iran-renewable-energy
01
The Turnbull Times, named after the Australian who encouraged the on line news site to set up in Australia.
00
And don’t miss the comments at WUWT!
00
FWIW
I guess this answers the “Technology Imports Page” questions?
“INNOVATION, PALESTINIAN-STYLE:”
“Wikipedia has a “Palestinian inventions” page and literally half the entries are various types of bombs”
https://x.com/LevineJonathan/status/2045872099965694078
Via https://instapundit.com/791019/#disqus_thread
10
100
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the Government recognised that Australian refineries are under significant financial pressure and is committed to working with the sector to ensure it has a long-term future.
“Almost all Australians are reliant on fuel and it is the lifeblood of so many sectors in our economy. Our farmers and miners rely heavily on diesel to do their jobs and provide services, while the transport sector sources 98 per cent of its energy from liquid fuels,” Minister Taylor said.
“That’s why it is critical that Australia has control over its fuel security arrangements and the Government is making sure of that.”
The construction of diesel storage will not only secure our diesel supplies but will support up to 950 jobs, along with 75 new ongoing jobs, many in regional areas.
A minimum stockholding obligation will act as a safety net for petrol and jet fuel stocks, and increasing diesel stockholdings by 40 per cent.
The Government will work with industry over the next six months on the legislative and regulatory design of the package.
Refineries play an important role in securing Australia’s fuel security and putting downward pressure on fuel prices for consumers. Modelling has shown that a domestic refinery capability is worth around $4.9 billion (over 10 years) in value to Australian consumers in the form of price suppression.
The Government is committed to a sovereign on-shore refinery capacity despite the threat to the viability of the industry. This is why we will design a market system for a production payment that recognises those fuel security benefits. It has been designed to protect Australian families and businesses from the around 1 cent per litre increase that modelling shows will hit fuel if all refineries close in Australia. For refineries to receive support, they will be required to commit to stay operating in Australia.
The Government recognises that the future refining sector in Australia will not look like the past. However, this framework will protect Australian families and businesses from higher prices and will secure jobs in the fuel sector and in fuel-dependent industries, such as our farmers, truckers, miners and tradies.
2020 Minister for Energy Angus Taylor
NOTE: Two existing oil refineries stopped from closing down, deal done with POTUS Trump 2019 and PM Morrison for fuel and oil US supplies as needed, and planning interrupted by COVID-19 Pandemic from start of 2020, and abandoned after May 2022 by Albanese Labor
10
That’s a lot of words to say “We can’t run viable refineries so we will borrow billions and give it to them to shut them up or they will leave”
10
Barnaby Joyce, NSW National Party MP for many years and for some time National Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister in Coalition National-Liberal government.
Of course he is well aware of the Morrison 2019/2020 planning and actions through to 2022.
01
Cory Bernardi now a SA Member of the Legislative Council was for some time a Liberal Federal Senator.
11
There is a book by journalist Paul Sheehan, published 2003, he is a graduate of the Australian National University and the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York. He was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University.
His book Among The Barbarians is well worth reading to understand the period including 1970s to 1990s however, with due consideration for the propaganda many Australians repeat as if it was factual information his book The Electronic Whorehouse is an excellent exposure of the media left bias, and described as follows;
“I think we are dealing with an octopus … Advertising as news. It’s very skilfully done. The methods of seducing the media, (by notably left leaning spin doctors in media management departments of political parties, but also private sector businesses and marketing) the ingenuity of of the spin has reached the point where we, as a general public, have never been lied to by such sophisticated means as now.”
John Le Carre to Paul Sheehan
20
Paul Sheehan was very prescient in his understanding of where the West was headed all those years ago, I remember him well. He returned to Australia after a period overseas and was shocked at the slothfulness of thinking in the country that he had left. Sadly, he was not well received by complacent Australia. We are now seeing the playing out of his worst fears.
20
The USS Spruance apparently spent six hours convincing the Iranian cargo ship that the US is serious about its blockade:
“After Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room. Spruance disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s engine room. U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody.”
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-us-navy-seizes-iranian-ship-naval-blockade-11851189
The IRGC will now be busy setting up nurseries in the engine rooms of the Shadow Fleet, full of photogenic orphans. And kittens.
80
The internet is forever:
Kamala has just done a campaign ad standing in front of a petrol station, lamenting the high price of gas. The price-board reads $3.97. I have no idea why anyone would look but G. Maps shows the same board with a price of $4.53 when the camera car did the street, presumedly during the last administration.
BTW, What is she campaigning for? The (R)s could be so lucky that she is the (D) nominee in 2028.
70
Her word salads are so pathetically naive, one would be forgiven for thinking her law degree came out of a Kellogs Cornflakes packet
50
ACOSS & Oxfam go full Commie retard.
What better solution to a crisis than tax your way to prosperity?
And redistribute the wealth through Centrelink.
The mind boggles – would be unreal if it weren’t exactly what our Socialist Gubmint is aiming for.
10
It’s definitely a New World.
I remember when there were multiple races and only two reproductive genders … men and women.
Now there are multiple reproductive genders and only two races … people of color and the people without.
70
“People without colour”
I guess that they are “The Invisibles”?
30
“People without colour”
They would be beige people then.
00
The Ben Roberts-Smith trial disturbs me, not because I have a firm opinion of his guilt or innocence, I don’t, but because I SUSPECT that the SASR has had an attitude of “total war” which made them super hunters thus always on the ragged edge.
Only since AI have the heroics/deeds of the SASR in ‘Nam and Afghanistan been published, and I DO see the problem there. Until this year the SASR’s selection course has been unclassified and is covered well in Mark Donaldson VC’s book The Crossroad [a good read] but anything after that is classified, even pics of serving troopers have their eyes redacted.
In Phước Tuy province the Aussies had sole command with limited oversight by the Yanks but they did have some joint operations where US officers would patrol with SAS. As I said with AI I have no idea where fact finishes and repetition of “what someone else said” starts [I still don’t know how AI immunises itself from GIGO]. An underlying theme is that many US officers who always had a JAG officer over their shoulder were disturbed by SAS practices. Exactly what is not expanded on but I have not seen any suggestion of mutilation of bodies but they are sometimes “arranged for effect” with an ace of spades on their chest and if the videos are to believed they considered mind games to be part of the job.
How do you single out an individual to punish for a unit’s operating procedure? I thought we got past that after the Great War.
10
” I have not seen any suggestion of mutilation of bodies but they are sometimes “arranged for effect” with an ace of spades on their chest and if the videos are to believed they considered mind games to be part of the job.”
A mate of my Uncle’s, an Aussie, had photos from the Malayan Insurgency and I remember one of a soldier standing up holding up a head in each hand. I’m sure it was a ‘mind game’ for other locals thinking of joining the rebels, (or freedom fighters…) but it was considered quite normal back then.
00