JoNova
A science presenter, writer, speaker & former TV host; author of The Skeptic's Handbook (over 200,000 copies distributed & available in 15 languages).
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Statistics
“The Duran ” interview Joe Kent, who recently resigned as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, over the Iran War:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kr6XCPUogM
21
I think the war in Iran is also a war against Iranian money being laundered through banking systems in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the UAE. Starmer is against the Iran war and for the Ukraine war because of the “Chatham House Rule” which protects the money launderers. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or the Office of the Supreme Leader serve as the primary conduits for these transactions. The U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) have identified billions and billions being laundered for the benefit of criminals in the Ukraine, Britain and Iran. Ukraine is next. That’s why Vance has been sent to Hungary. The 33 Freemasons of the City of London Corporation Court will be the last money launderers to fall. Then we can stop the boats. Then Trump will reveal all on (Freedom dot gov). In the meantime, Trump has ended U.S. intelligence-sharing functions with the British under Five Eyes (FVEY). Trump is getting his revenge against MI6 in Florida, so details are not expected on (Freedom dot gov) until after the trial against the BBC has concluded. Information revealed by (Freedom dot gov) could include the 1983 “Missing Dossier” VIP paedophile ring. British interference in American elections. GCHQ Codeword IRIS and the ‘Toxic Dagger’ Porton Down false flag operation, and links between the British attempt to stop Trump from becoming president and the Sergei Skripal poisoning hoax. DSMA Notices used to cover up ‘Toxic Dagger’ including information about Orbis Business Intelligence, Sergei Skripal, Nikolai Glushkov as well as Andrew Hope, and his links with A234 organophosphate nerve agents, and contractors at Porton Down. (Freedom dot gov) will expose far more than this link: https://expose-news.com/2026/04/10/the-long-history-of-the-uk-deep-state/
101
” Iranian money being laundered ”
What does the word ‘laundered’ mean? Iran earns money by selling oil, and that money goes in a bank account, simple. Its no different to the Americans selling weapons of mass destruction and banking the money.
Still, it will be interesting if the truth of those false flag events come out!
52
File it with “shadow fleet” and “sanctioned oil”
20
I think the British crime establishment pretends to impose sanctions on Iran, but money launders Iranian money for the benefit of the British crime establishment. But the British crime establishment do impose sanctions on Russia, because Putin stopped the British crime establishment from laundering taxpayer money to Russia for the benefit of the British crime establishment. And then to top that off, Putin wants to stop the British crime establishment from laundering taxpayer money to Ukraine for the benefit of the British crime establishment.
61
“Iranian money being laundered”?
For some odd reason, one US government provided top-tier “money-printing machinery” to Iran. They also provided the actual “plates” for various denominations of NU banknotes. And the special inks and paper.
ALL of this fell into the hands of the mad mullahs.
Is that “facility” still operating?
“Debasing” a currency via “counterfeiting” is quite a weapon. How much Iranian “funny-money” went into global circulation? How much of it is still floating about?
At that level of forgery, you need to get down to the chemistry of the inks and the “nature’ and grade of the paper.
Oz mint developed the “polymer” notes to thwart forgery. The process has (apparently) been licensed to several other countries, or in some other cases, the currency in question is minted in Oz and shipped off-shore. “Rumour” has it that there have been a couple of attempts to forge these polymer notes; clear panels and other “secret squirrel” features, included.
20
I recall Microsoft taking something like 18 months to develop a “secure” hologram logo on their software boxes. Took counterfeiters a few weeks to generate a very good copy. For proper security, you can never rely on any printed material.
10
My initial thoughts are that any counterfeit US notes printed in other countries would circulate in dodgy business mainly and as such would not enter US banking. AI agrees:
Peru got an honourable mention.
00
See my other Post: President Trump told us this was the “WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL RESET!!! President DJT”: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116380657463593385
20
I came across this century old piece the other day and thought it very apt for much of our own personal life and for those in Government
Reinhold Niebuhr’s prayer “God give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.”
251
The title says it all.
https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/deluded-trump-haters-are-like-monty-pythons-black-knight/
It mentions the Black Knight, must get round to finding it and watching it again. The stage show of Fawlty towers is in our town next week, so its coming home, as this was where the Pythons stayed in a local hotel and had such abuse from the owner that Fawlty Towers followed, modeled on the guy.
172
TDS – Trump Derangement Syndrome
51
I think it would be fair to say that the opinions in the comments are somewhat divided about this piece supposedly written by a Professor. Well worth reading the article and the comments, probably the largest number I have seen about an article in this forum
https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/the-rayner-effect-left-wingers-are-becoming-stupid-faster-than-right-wingers/
101
Something is definitely happening with people’s minds.
I notice it acutely with liberal minded friends I’ve known for decades.
Just yesterday one got very angry with me because I preferred the word sympathy over empathy.
We must have empathy not sympathy because somehow sympathy does not express enough care and just having sympathy has perpetuated historical wrongs.
I tried to argue that the difference was primarily functional in that empathy just means one actually experiences some else’s pain which is seldom a realistic possibility … unless one also becomes a victim.
(Actually I think that’s what they intend. There can be no justice until alleged historical victimizers are made victims.)
This person is the first person I ever heard use the term BIPOC (Black and Indigenous People Of Color).
I said, “isn’t that just everybody except white people?”
The reception was bad for that too.
I would attribute it less to IQ and more to cultish hysteria.
I believe some very high IQ folk somewhere with massive money and power are purposely promoting cultish hysteria.
Blatantly on display during Pandemic.
I fear I may forced to experience hysteria empathically.
Which will be a tough go because I haven’t even been able to muster sympathy for it.
221
“(Black and Indigenous People Of Color).”
Depending on what definition of “white” you prefer, some of us are either a real colour, or alternatively “no” colour. I prefer to call myself an indigenous person of the northern climes and therefore just another “person of colour” a different person to many, but still a person of colour!
51
BTW. Is the plural of BIPOC BIPOX?
30
I think its caused by the fact that rich people now vote for political party’s set up to represent poor people, but now are run by and represent selfish narcissistic rich people who claim to have empathy for poor people, but have never been poor themselves. However, in Britain there is no sympathy or empathy, from left-wing liberal liberals, for the vaccine injured or indigenous rape victims. I have sympathy for the vaccine injured and rape victims, but not empathy, because I have never been raped and have not been vaccinated since the 1960’s. I seem to have got measles from the measles vaccine, but my lack of empathy stems from not knowing it at the time.
70
On Sky yesterday a conversion trial of a waa diesel prime mover towing a double logging trailer (timber jinker) converted to electric motors and batteries system the conversion installer rated range as 400 kilometres. The trial was for one year in SA. The owner of the firm says it is not cost effective and the range averaged 200 kilometres carrying the loads of logs from forest to timber mill.
Imagine driving that vehicle interstate and recharging every 200 kilometres. Sydney to Perth !!! Even Sydney to Brisbane, let alone to Darwin and many other transport routes.
And how would an EV transport fleet be recharged, cost of charging stations, connecting to grid if available, supply of electricity if diesel was replaced as the “fuel”, and so on.
270
Oh DEAR!
Saving emissions using Electricity to transport timber to the mill, is uneconomic.
Does that mean we can’t burn wood to reduce CO2 (as per DRAX in the UK)?
Or are we going to be NET Zero much sooner than expected?
101
That is acceptable as you know, it is not wood chips/timber, it’s green biomass.
sarc
100
The government, the government can pay for it. They have infinite amounts of money, and the skill to spend it both efficiently and wisely.
Sorry, I don’t know what came over me…
241
That could all change soon. Last weekend, I saw a headline which suggested that the fans have mastered super capacitors.
If that is true. we are looking at a whole new world.
01
And the next weekend we will have cold fusion. Sorry for being skeptical. But having endured a few ordinary capacitor explosions in close proximity, would not want to be anywhere near a bank of large supercaps if they went up. Would make a lithium battery explosion seem like a tiny firecracker.
40
And how would an EV transport fleet be recharged, cost of charging stations, connecting to grid if available, supply of electricity if diesel was replaced as the “fuel”, and so on.
I think that would be called a rail network with overhead power lines?
I am not holding my breath waiting for the electrification of Australian rail outside of the urban commuter lines. In particular the line from Port Augusta to Kalgoorlie or Darwin.
as of 2022, with both Indian Railways and China Railway regularly operating electric double-stack cargo trains under overhead lines.
Railway electrification has constantly increased in the past decades, and as of 2022, electrified tracks account for nearly one-third of total tracks globally.
…
The Trans-Siberian Railway mainly in Russia is completely electrified, making it one of the longest stretches of electrified railways in the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_electrification
10
That could all change soon. Last weekend, I saw a headline which suggested that the Finns hapve mastered super capacitors.
If that is true. we are looking at a whole new world.
00
The Prime Minister in Singapore photo opportunity and media conference stunt with Prime Minister of Singapore to talk about a petrol and diesel fuel supply “guarantee” and about natural gas supplies from Australia needed for the Singapore electricity supply gas turbine generators.
To begin with Singapore is a closely allied nation, our PM acknowledged this and pointed to investment here, military training grounds and training here, university education of many Singapore citizens, and spanning way back in time. In fact, I am adding, Singapore is in the Top 5 foreign investment countries in Australia.
Our Prime Minister was only confirming via media arrangements for fuel supply spanning back decades !!!
However, while talking up Australia as a major food supplier, gas supplier to Asia Pacific and Singapore he answered a question about gas supplies and acknowledged for the first time as far as I am aware that Australia has many untapped gas fields to maintain future supply.
Must be that net zero emissions and transition away from fossil fuels is for Australians, government will continue to supply and collect tax revenue. In fact Treasurer Chalmers has just announced an $8 billion mining industry windfall tax collection.
141
I fail to understand what was he doing there, full stop.
Even a dollar spent on his trip must be taken from some useful purpose.
150
In times like these its better that our leader gets out to shore up lose ends and sign important documents on trade and security.
If he didn’t make the effort the right would have vilified him.
19
Singapore is a major allied nation for decades past, Singapore Government has military training grounds here and their Airforce keep many aircraft at a WA RAAF Base for security and pilot training purposes and they operate with the RAAF and sometimes RAAF fly to Singapore for joint exercises. Singapore is a major foreign investment source for Australia. Singapore Oil Refineries are a major supplier of fuels to Australia and have been for a long time, and Australia exports gas for Singapore gas turbine generator electricity supply and other needs. Many people from Singapore travel to Australia to attend universities.
Sign what new documents other than, if any were signed, a political stunt targeting gullible voters in Australia?
50
Albo and his offsider have to appear to be doing something.
‘Singapore and Australia are working towards a legally binding protocol on economic resilience and essential supplies under their free trade agreement, their leaders announced on Friday (Apr 10).
‘Speaking at a press conference with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the two countries have agreed to accelerate negotiations on the protocol, which covers energy and other critical sectors.
“This is not just about managing today’s crisis. It is about building trusted supply lines for a more uncertain future,” he said. (CNA)
03
Australia has had a trade agreement with Singapore for decades past
00
Tony Abbott confident that the Liberals can win the next election
https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/we-will-win-the-next-election-tony-abbott-confident-in-direction-of-the-liberal-party/video/bf0ae71da870b9e067388cec11057a17?amp
If Tony Abbott was the Leader of the Liberal
Party I might share his optimism.
The problem is that I have not yet seen any signs that the Liberal party parliamentarians even understand why they are loosing supporters, let alone trying the turn the ship around.
The Farrer by election is in 4 weeks. Let’s see what happens there.
351
I’m tipping the Libs will lose Farrer.
180
But to whom?
20
I think the Liberal Party is so infested with wokesters and so damaged, that it’s unfixable.
It’s former supporters know that which is why they’re moving to an actual conservative party, One Nation.
Clearly Liberal politicians don’t even understand why they consistently fail, just look at the latest debacle in Victoriastan where they tried to get rid of a sitting conservative Liberal, Moira Deeming, now reinstated due to issues with their preferred candidate.
I wish Moura Deeming would move to One Nation. The Liberal Party clearly no longer wants conservatives, it’s just Labor Lite.
310
I understand from Sky commentary that the VIC Liberal State Executive President is being called on to resign or be removed now, branches members grass roots not happy.
And that a Federal intervention (as done in NSW State Executive a while ago, not too long ago) is being suggested.
It appears that the rise from 2007 of the ghost squad LINO left is shrinking, for example the election by Liberal MPs several weeks ago of Angus Taylor as their leader and Leader of the Opposition by two-thirds majority, as compared to past musical chairs exchanges that were narrow margins.
Similar in the National Party and Matt Canavan was appointed unopposed I understand.
And now the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Coalition in Opposition are traditional Menzies Australian Liberal Party centre/centre left and they are talking immigration returning to past averages or less in the shorter term, meaning lower than Rudd Gillard “Big Australia” immigration all time record high intake and of course the now even bigger Australia Albanese Labor immigration intake that despite promises to cut has in fact increased.
They have discarded net zero (Glasgow 2021) and for all intents and purposes Paris ( end of 2015) is dead and buried internationally, and Coalition is talking about building from the Morrison Government 2018-2022 initiatives such as saving two oil refineries and planning to encourage the building of new oil refineries, and other fuel initiatives, and the mantra dig dig dig, drill drill drill coupled to their statement that everything Australia needs to be self sufficient is here already, just cut the red green black tape laws and regulations of Federal and States.
90
‘ … and the mantra dig dig dig, drill drill drill …’
I noticed Angus Taylor said that the other day, its a political mistake to use that mantra.
They only have to say we are a country rich in resources and its in our national interest to develop our full potential. Andrew Hastie and Matt Canavan have the capacity to carry this forward to a stunning victory.
37
They are saying that first and foremost, and sometimes adding dig and drill for impact purposes.
Listen or research what they are saying and, as I have posted here previously, the Morrison Government and Energy Minister Taylor oil and fuel initiatives 2018-2022, I have provided links
00
The mantra is associated with Trump and he’s on the nose, so no votes to be had.
01
“Andrew Hastie and Matt Canavan have the capacity to carry this forward to a stunning victory.”
Well, I hope not.. another term of a Left-wing Govt too paralysed to do anything except sit on the fence and hope nothing goes wrong would be too much!
They are just the Uniparty and will BS their way into power if they can, then do none of the things promised! They have had a decade or two to show themselves to be what they advertise themselves as, and have failed completely.
Do not trust the rats!
111
So combined Uniparty means Albanese Labor is guaranteed another three years from 2028 and Labor VIC another term in government as well?
And will the Microparty boost the preference distribution trickle down to Labor candidates again as in SA election?
10
If preferences trickle towards Labor then it means the Conservative side of politics doesn’t deserve to become government.
02
‘Well, I hope not …’
Its unavoidable, a revamped Coalition can defeat the incumbent, while One Nation is too radical for the average punter.
The so called uni party is just an Overton Window, the Coalition should win on climate and energy if they have the right platform.
15
Talking about the Liberals is a waste of time. The electorate has moved on and around the liberals as a conservative entity. They arent even listening.
150
I am in awe of the Labor, in particular, media management and spin doctor’s talents, their relentless negativity directed via left leaning media and social media, including social media Labor workers comments crafted to mislead, often union grievance points references are a giveaway, and in short, as Tony Abbott told journalists on the day he was replaced 2015 by PM Turnbull, do not accept leaks unless the wants to remain anonymous source is willing to be named. He suffered from cabinet leaking from of course the new left.
Public opinion is more easily swayed when we are all dissatisfied with the governance of our states and nation as a whole. I am as well.
However, the old “divide and conquer” still applies and despite Labor governments inflicting the most pain or hip pocket nerve damage the Coalition is painted as the enemy of voters?
Look at the Timeline of History, consider 1970 Whitlam Labor disaster and following Coalition Fraser Governmemt managing that recession before handing Hawke Labor 1983 a growing again economy and remaining Whitlam legacy problems, and a blueprint for major economic reforms called Campbell Report (economics professor) that with Coalition Opposition full support was implemented from 1985 and adopted by Lange Labor New Zealand, completed here after the recession Labor gave us from 1990 and Howard Government formed 1996.
Howard handed Rudd Labor in 2007 zero debt, big budget surplus, Future Fund sovereign wealth investments, strong economy and managed through the Asian Economic Crisis.
By 2013 Abbott Government inherited from Rudd Gillard Rudd new debt, budget deficits cumulative over 6 years, economy not great and, after a private sector audit report commissioned for the Labor 2013/14 Budget of many black holes of unfunded commitments Treasurer Hockey announced a several year “budget repair plan”.
Much more could be added but the fact is that Liberal-Nation governments have done the budget repairs and have been criticised for not doing more faster.
A Labor mantra is nothing done over 9 years of Coalition in government, and then when it suits their propaganda they criticise what has been done !!!
One Nation has adopted the Uniparty strategy and apparently more interested in Senate seats unwittingly undermines like minded Liberal and National parties and MPs.
40
The 2028 Federal election is not a Labor guarantee to win, however as I have posted previously about the numbers of seats and how psephology determines (like an actuary) the probability of a projected election outcome based on past results by electorate, by polling booths, by voting trends, etc., even the 2PP (two party preferred) opinion poll based as well guesstimate is not guaranteed.
Consider those numbers, parliamentary upper and lower houses, in part;
150 House of Representatives
Labor 94
Liberal-National 43
Independents 10
Greens 1
Katter 1
One Nation 1
In the Senate
Labor 29
Liberal-National 27
Greens 10
One Nation 4
At the SA state election recently Labor was returned to government comfortably, One Nation gained a few seats but One Nation preferences scattered and based on the trickle down preferential voting system favoured Labor candidates and the Liberals were not helped.
No doubt about the popularity contest of opinion polls now favouring One Nation and them catching up to Labor however will that at the VIC State election later this year result in another Labor win?
21
Not many LNP pollies realise that globalism is dead. They need to do a complete U-turn from the UN doctrine on the Climate Change™ hoax, no borders, First Nations apartheid and gagging free speech.
In simple terms, align with POTUS Trump or continue into economic destruction.
Their ABC has two choices ahead of them. Start to report accurately on what Trump has achieved and accurately on One Nation policy or adjust their staff numbers to reflect their income from Youtube.
Sky News Australia is estimated to make $4.3M per year from Youtube and it is rising strongly.
If burning carbon was a clear and present danger, then it would be necessary to destroy China’s economy to save the world. No one mentions that.
There is so much low hanging economic fruit in Australia after 25 years of going backwards that One Nation will be in power for a generation when they get into power.
170
Of course I agree completely Rick Will.
I am not a member of any political party, I was for a short time until very early twenties years of age but never since.
However I am very opposed to Labor Green Teals socialism and incompetent governance, it is repeated more often than not every time Labor are in government.
And right now, me having breathed a sigh of relief when Taylor and Canavan and the new Shadow Ministers were appointed several weeks ago because I was well aware of Matt’s years of pushing against the left and globalism impacting Australia adversely, and Angus with PM Morrison from late 2018 to 2022 trying to plug many holes impacting Australia from UNIPCC and UN HQ agreements and agendas.
20
I have commented previously at my concerns of the extensions of an i.d wallet. Some countries claim they are entirely voluntary, but practice shows it is very different. Latest example of smoke and mirrors comes from the EU who says digital i.d is not compulsory. However Germany, the largest state, is saying if you want to access social media then you have to use the EU i.d
https://reclaimthenet.org/eu-says-eudi-wallet-is-voluntary-germanys-spd-plan-says-otherwise
I hope some hacker makes the point that our data is at risk by hacking into one of the elite and stealing their identity. Come to think of it though, who would want to steal the identity of Macron or Starmer or some such nonentity.
However stealing the identity of ordinary people to order would I suspect be a service many criminals would be happy to use. How an ordinary person would retrieve their identity would I suspect be a scenario of Kafkaesque proportions.
141
” How an ordinary person would retrieve their identity would I suspect be a scenario of Kafkaesque proportions.”
That should be laid out in detail by Govt before any country introduces any digital ID. Exactly who you apply to, how you do it and how long it takes to get your name back, your bank accounts, your driving licence, your passport, medicare, pension cards and on and on..
…and how they differentiate the ‘new’ you from the ‘old’ you.
I imagine the architects of it all have never even considered it, however stealing the ID of CEOs in some of these companies pushing Govt to buy their ID programs would sharpen their focus.
100
If you have watched the movie, “Brazil”, with its Pythonesque script and cast, there is a scene in which a small insect lands on a typewriter and is promptly mashed by a key.
The splatter alters ONE “letter” in a name and black chaos ensues.
In a “digital world”, what could POSSIBLY go wrong?
And how fast would the “problem” spread and how far; all accompanied by official “plausible deniability”?
40
Hmmm, reminds me of earlier times, just a couple of years ago.
We were told by governments that the Covid vaccine wasn’t mandatory.
That was a lie.
The truth was that for thousands of people if you didn’t get the vaccine you were fired or were stood down.
A mate of mine applied for a job in mid 2024 and even then he was asked if he had been vaccinated.
Governments speak with forked tongue.
And then they wonder why they have lost the faith of the public.
140
I last week went to a bank branch (I have been a customer of that bank for 40 years ) to ask about my everyday account, an older cheque based account and a tiny rate of interest and what else I could have. The manager told me my account was out of date and didn’t I receive a letter late 2025. No I did not, so she searched my file and replied, I cannot find the letter.
Anyway, your debit card is no longer valid, strange as just before I visited the bank branch I used it to pay for breakfast and coffee in the same shopping centre. We can offer you two new accounts, one for everyday use and another savings with higher interest account, you move your monies by internet banking or by visiting a branch whenever you choose to do so. And, you can download a bank app to access your bank accounts and ATMs!!!
Not completely happy I agreed and the changeover was done, leaving my original account open.
I now have three bank accounts instead of one, and when I returned home an email appeared welcoming me to my new accounts and advising that my Debit Card would be in the mail soon.
Fortunately I keep a small amount of cash on hand mainly for travelling security when credit cards are not accepted or internet service not working at businesses.
I will not download that app, I do not trust the security and scamming potential from persons unknown nearby recording my phone usage as I use it.
40
A number of banks wonder why I will only conduct online financial transactions on my desktop computer.
Something about my smart phone being stolen, misplaced or more easily hacked? So, no smart phone wallet.
2FA through apps is a pain. Though perhaps better than an email or SMS to the phone completing the purchase via the phone.
Though I will risk the house break in. 🙂
My desktop computer is old school LARGE.
20
Smart phones can be lost, stolen, hacked.
2FA with an email or SMS to the phone completing the online phone transaction seems to be potentially risky.
I will continue with the use of only my old school very heavy desktop computer for online financial transactions.
OTOH the grocery company app limits things to their “discounts” not making payments.
20
site names paraphrased:
whos.amung.us….
and
ir-na-amazon-adsystems….
seem to be the speed limiting factor for the site today
00
Why is NASA using “obsolete” Nikon D5 cameras on the Artamis II mission?
https://youtu.be/rNEeV7vbICk
22
Do they?
BREAKING: NASA Selects Sony as Official Imaging Partner for Artemis Lunar Program — The First New Moon Camera in Over 50 Years
30
According to the video and numerous other sources they are using the Nikon D5 as their camera of choice. And for reasons explained in the video.
https://www.imaging-resource.com/news/nasa-shares-artemis-ii-moon-and-earth-photos-taken-with-nikon-d5/
https://petapixel.com/2026/04/06/the-10-year-old-nikon-d5-dslr-really-is-the-best-camera-for-artemis-ii/
https://www.techradar.com/cameras/dslrs/nasa-reveals-generational-earthset-photo-taken-on-a-nikon-d5-the-decade-old-dslr-with-one-secret-weapon-over-modern-cameras-for-space-photography
https://www.techradar.com/cameras/dslrs/nasa-reveals-generational-earthset-photo-taken-on-a-nikon-d5-the-decade-old-dslr-with-one-secret-weapon-over-modern-cameras-for-space-photography
https://nofilmschool.com/nikon-d5-space-camera
32
From the article I linked:
30
Fascinating. The devil is in the detail. Great care needed to ensure they minimise the junk on board.
Are they still holding it or is the crapper now working properly?
50
If NASA wanted bomb-proof, radiation-resistant cameras, the fabulous ANALOGUE Hasselblads from the Apollo days are probably in a “durplus” locker somewhere. 2.25 inch square imaging coupled with 25 to 65ASA film sock yields amazinf resolution.
120 roll film is STILL available.
30
They have iPhones, GoPros, and a Nikon Z9 as well as the D5. National Geographic also sent up a bunch of cameras (GoPros) and microphones to make a documentary. The external cameras on the solar panels are GoPros.
The D5 is still an incredible camera.
10
Probably because it takes 10 years to learn to use all the functions.
My digital camera is 10 years old and Instill haven’t read the manual!
50
Another sign of a split between Europe and the United States is the development of Euro-Office to replace Microsoft Office.
Europe wants its own “sovreign” software suite.
If they wanted to move away from Microsoft, that would be fair enough, but they could have used LibreOffice.
This is much bigger than just a software choice, but it represents a part of Europe’s abandonment of the Western Alliance and NATO and all the West stands for, especially as Western Europe now has open borders and is undergoing massive demographic change due to the mass importation of Third World people who don’t subscribe to Western religious, cultural or other values.
https://nextcloud.com/blog/press_releases/industry-initiative-launches-euro-office-as-true-sovereign-office-suite/
34
Typo: sovereign not sovreign.
31
So, the IRGC extortion scheme of $2mil per tanker is only payable in Yuan and crypto…
90
..that will mean the war isn’t over!
10
Religious wars CAN’T be ended by mediation, which btw is cancelled…
30
The fact they are attempting the extortion scheme indicates that for the IRGC it’s really about money and power. It’s certainly not the Iranian people. There are 800 tankers waiting.
It looks like Xi is their silent partner.
40
What’s really about money and power? The war the didnt initiate? How else are they supposed to pay for the damage inflicted by the US? The Strait was running normally a few weeks ago, and then something happened, I wonder what that was?
05
Xi is an honest broker trying to get a ceasefire. Yuan is legal currency and more stable than the Yankie dollar.
01
An underground coalmine has been given the green light to dig for a further two years, after the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) gave the green light to Delta Electricity’s extension of its Chain Valley colliery operations, in the Lake Macquarie region.
However, it explicitly prohibited transport of the coal for export or any other domestic use beyond supplying coal to the Vales Point power station.
Expect challenges in court to this decision
32
Why is export prohibited? Australia badly needs the cash.
60
Presumably the coal is reserved for China or India, or possibly Singapore; who ever sells us diesel.
No point in making our own diesel (or petrol or natural gas) when we can import it at higher prices (keeping the world tankers running).
70
Just be why Albanese Labor abandoned the Morrison Government project to build more oil/fuel storage in Australia and made provisions for emergencies by buying when the price of oil was low US oil valued at $94 million, Trump-Morrison deal, to be stored in the US until the additional storage facilities were built in Australia.
That oil was later agreed to be released for international foreign affairs purposes, Albanese Labor Government benefited from the sale at a profit, part of their bragged about new surplus for 2022/23. Treasurer Chalmers in October 2022, three months into that financial year, announced his “new” Budget that had turned from Treasurer Freydenberg (Morrison) Budget announced March 2022 for 1 July 2022 from deficit forecast to a surplus forecast.
No acknowledgement of the growing again post-pandemic economy and windfall tax receipts, cutting defence expenditures and other budget items, and that oil sale, and so on.
30
An article in today’s The Australian comments that there is an oilfield off the WA of a potential 250 million barrels of oil. The company gave up trying to secure funds to develop it.
40
Former Energy Minister Matt Canavan explained recently that when the discovered off SA oil field was tested the company planning the venture gave up when faced with State Government opposition and the red green black tape laws and regulations maze to safe through and related expenses incurred before obtaining approval and most likely to be refused.
50
Treasurer Chalmers has just announced a windfall receipt of unforeseen tax collection of $8 billion from the mining industry, meaning additional to what the Budget 2025/26 had forecast/estimated.
Minerals and energy industry, noting the limitations on prospecting, development of mine and gas/oil fields, shale oil deposits, by order Federal and the Federation of State governments that created the Federal Government, remain a major tax revenue source for governments all.
00
FWIW
“A satellite just captured images of a tsunami being born. Here’s why that’s a big deal”
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/a-satellite-just-captured-images-of-a-tsunami-being-born-heres-why-thats-a-big-deal
Via https://instapundit.com/788569/#disqus_thread
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FWIW – nothing like consistency
“Chuck Schumer Doesn’t Want You to See This Video About Iran”
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/04/09/chuck-schumer-doesnt-want-you-to-see-this-video-n4951616
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I was surprised by an answer that MS Copilot gave in response to – Why does ocean surface temperature not sustain more than 30C?
I would be interested in Grok’s response to that from anyone using Grok.
20
What did it say?
10
“Short answer because the ocean-atmosphere system strongly self-regulates once sea surface temperature approaches 30C. Several tightly coupled physical processes kick in and dump extra heat back to the atmosphere faster than the Sun can add it.”
I would say that the ocean surface temperature limit of 30C is now widely recognised. That alone condemns all climate models to the waste bin. All show tropical oceans warming strongly. Which is now widely accepted cannot happen.
I doubt there will be an IPCC AR7. The modelers are all scratching their heads and wish they did not begin their dead end careers.
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Hi Rick. This is a reduced reply from Grok. It always provides much moore than expected (!) so I have shortened it. I can supply more if necessary. Cheers.
The ocean surface temperature rarely exceeds ~30–31°C because of a powerful negative feedback mechanism involving evaporation, convection, and cloud formation that acts like a natural thermostat.Why the Ocean Has a “Ceiling” Around 30–31°CEvaporation is Extremely Efficient at High Temperatures
As sea surface temperature (SST) approaches 28–30°C, the rate of evaporation increases dramatically (it rises exponentially with temperature).
This does two things:It removes a huge amount of heat from the ocean surface (latent heat of vaporization — it takes a lot of energy to turn water into vapour).
It transfers that heat high into the atmosphere as water vapour.
Moist Convection and Thunderstorms Kick In
The massive evaporation creates very warm, moist air right above the ocean. This air becomes highly buoyant and rises rapidly, forming deep convective clouds and thunderstorms (often organised into clusters or tropical disturbances).
These storms act like giant heat pumps: they move enormous amounts of heat from the ocean surface up into the upper atmosphere, where it can radiate into space.
Cloud Feedback
The deep convection produces extensive high-level cirrus and anvil clouds, plus lower-level cumulus clouds. These clouds reflect a significant amount of incoming solar radiation back to space (increasing albedo) and also enhance the upward transport of heat.
The “Thermostat” Effect
This combination creates a very strong negative feedback: The warmer the ocean surface gets → the more vigorous the evaporation and convection → the more heat is removed and transported away → the harder it is for the surface to warm further.
As a result, open-ocean sea surface temperatures very rarely exceed 30–31°C, even in the tropics under intense sunlight. The few places where it briefly goes slightly higher (e.g., the Persian Gulf or Red Sea) are in very shallow, restricted waters where strong currents and mixing are limited.
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Conclusion from Grok re the ocean surface temperature:
“Real-World EvidenceThe highest reliably measured open-ocean SST is around 31–32°C in extreme cases (e.g., western Pacific Warm Pool during strong El Niño events).
During the record-hot periods of 2023–2024, even with unusually high global temperatures, the vast majority of the tropical ocean stayed below ~30.5°C.
This natural cap has been remarkably stable over geological time, which is one reason why coral reefs and tropical marine ecosystems have been able to exist for millions of years.
Why This MattersThis mechanism is one of the strongest stabilising feedbacks in Earth’s climate system. It helps explain why the planet hasn’t experienced “runaway greenhouse” conditions despite much higher CO₂ levels in the deep past. The ocean’s ability to self-regulate its surface temperature through evaporation and convection is a major reason Earth remains habitable.”
:
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Thank you Vicki. It is basically copying my work without acknowledgement – that is OK.
It does not give the actual mechanism, which I now know is convective overshoot that results in excess ice above 14,000m. That ice is micron size and has very slow descent so is persistent. Often not even visible from the surface but can be sensed in the lack of intensity of the Sun.
Convective overshoot often occurs at the onset of cyclic instability when the surface tempereature gets above 30C. Cyclones inevitably produce overshoot as does tornados.
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Rick, Grok is never finished! It responded:
What About Convective Overshoot and Ice at 14,000 m?Convective overshoot (where strong updrafts punch through the tropopause into the lower stratosphere) does occur in the most intense tropical thunderstorms, and it can loft ice particles to 14–18 km in extreme cases. However, this is a secondary phenomenon, not the primary capping mechanism.Overshooting tops are relatively rare and short-lived.
They occur after the main heat-pipe convection has already been triggered by high SST and high humidity.
The amount of ice they produce and the radiative effect is much smaller than the overall effect of the broad convective cloud field and the latent heat release/transport happening at lower levels.
In short: overshooting tops with ice at 14 km+ are a symptom of very vigorous convection, not the main reason the ocean surface temperature is capped.The Real Primary MechanismThe thermostat is best described as:Evaporation-driven (removes heat at the surface)
Convection-driven (transports heat upward)
Cloud-feedback-driven (increases reflection of sunlight and radiates heat to space)
And there is more! Will post if you like.
30
A little more- and I love the final sentence.. “I can go deeper if you like”!
What Actually Caps Ocean Surface TemperatureThe dominant mechanism is a strong negative feedback driven by surface evaporation + deep moist convection, which efficiently removes heat from the ocean surface long before temperatures reach levels that would produce significant overshooting tops with ice at 14 km+.Here’s the accurate sequence:Evaporation thermostat
As sea surface temperature (SST) rises toward 28–30 °C, evaporation increases exponentially. This removes large amounts of latent heat directly from the ocean surface.
Moist convection
The warm, moist air rises rapidly, forming deep cumulonimbus clouds and thunderstorms. These storms act as “heat pipes,” transporting enormous quantities of heat (sensible + latent) from the surface to the upper troposphere (typically 10–14 km altitude).
Cloud and radiation feedback
The resulting cloud cover (both low-level cumulus and high-level anvil clouds) increases albedo (reflecting more sunlight) and enhances long-wave radiation to space from the cold cloud tops.
This combined system creates a very effective thermostat: the warmer the surface gets, the stronger the cooling mechanisms become. As a result, open-ocean SSTs very rarely exceed ~30–31 °C, even under peak solar heating in the tropics.What About Convective Overshoot and Ice at 14,000 m?Convective overshoot (where strong updrafts punch through the tropopause into the lower stratosphere) does occur in the most intense tropical thunderstorms, and it can loft ice particles to 14–18 km in extreme cases. However, this is a secondary phenomenon, not the primary capping mechanism.Overshooting tops are relatively rare and short-lived.
They occur after the main heat-pipe convection has already been triggered by high SST and high humidity.
The amount of ice they produce and the radiative effect is much smaller than the overall effect of the broad convective cloud field and the latent heat release/transport happening at lower levels.
In short: overshooting tops with ice at 14 km+ are a symptom of very vigorous convection, not the main reason the ocean surface temperature is capped.The Real Primary MechanismThe thermostat is best described as:Evaporation-driven (removes heat at the surface)
Convection-driven (transports heat upward)
Cloud-feedback-driven (increases reflection of sunlight and radiates heat to space)
This system is remarkably effective and has kept tropical ocean surface temperatures within a fairly narrow band for millions of years, even during periods of much higher atmospheric CO₂.Would you like a more technical explanation of the energy balance (latent heat fluxes, radiative cooling, etc.), or shall I clarify how this interacts with climate models and why some narratives sometimes overlook this strong negative feedback?Happy to go as deep as you’d like.
20
Vicki
I took ChatGPT through this process before it was “widely” recognised less than a year ago.
I also have correspondence with CSIRO on this specific issue but they failed to give anything other than their climate model was middle of the road. All show tropical ocean surface temperature rising steadily so all are wrong.
I could get Grok to agree that the fundamental limit is overshoot. Because it inevitably occurs before cyclic instability sets in. The cooling of the surface following the first storm when surface temperature exceeds 30C is always more than subsequent cycling during the convective cycling.
Copilot does not yet acknowledge that this regulating process prevents thermoageddon but I got it to the point of not wanting to continue when I presented a graph that shows the change in sea level during the last 800kyr has a strong signal at 23kyr.
I can see that AI is really accelerating the understanding of real climate change but still a way to go.
Copilot is quite smarmy. It takes a position of authority. It will give a short response and then goes into “let me take you through the physics” and goes into Climate Change™ BS.
It would be interesting to suggest to Grok that all climate models show rising trend in tropical ocean surface temperature. Some CMIP3 models already show tropical ocean surface well above 30C by 2025. Have it confirm this and then get it to agree that the climate models are wrong because they fail to incorporate this important limiting mechanism.
I have calculated that the heat rejected this year from this process for 2026 will be 52.8ZJ. The trend is down in the SH and up in the NH. This is why cloud is increasing just north of the Equator. About the only latitude where there is more cloud this century.
University lecturers promoting the Climate Change ™ hoax are going to find it tough going as their smarter students throw this sort of information down their throats.
The world is fortunate an electrical engineer is responsible for Grok. Not a climatologist.
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FWIW – paywalled but you’ll get the gist
“The Hydrogen Highway Ends in a Traffic Jam”
“Charles Rotter California’s hydrogen car experiment has entered a phase where the gap between expectation and experience is no longer subtle. Drivers in Los Angeles recently waited in long lines to refuel. Some stations were offline. Others limited how much hydrogen could be dispensed. A network that exists comfortably in official counts became, under pressure, a small cluster of functioning pumps. NBC Los Angeles described the situation in plain terms:
“Drivers are dealing with long lines… som…
This post is currently for VIP and Premium Subscribers Only.
After 30 days it will be available to all users.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/04/10/10460539/
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FWIW
Sounds like just what we needed (/s)
“The Carbon Bureaucracy Nobody Voted For”
“Most Americans have never heard of the International Organization for Standardization.
That is exactly how its architects prefer it. While Washington debates energy policy in public, a quieter project is underway in Geneva, one that could reshape how American companies produce energy and what it costs them to do it, without a single public vote being cast, a single hearing being held, or a single elected official being consulted.
Last September, the ISO announced a strategic partnership with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to “harmonize” global emissions accounting standards. The GHG Protocol was developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, two organizations funded by the full cast of progressive philanthropy, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, the MacArthur Foundation, and several European governments, to be the world’s dominant framework for corporate carbon reporting.
The partnership’s stated goal is to combine the ISO’s technical standards with the GHG Protocol’s corporate and supply chain frameworks into one unified system. This could embed a global emissions reporting regime developed by international bureaucrats into American regulation..”
More at
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/04/10/the-carbon-bureaucracy-nobody-voted-for/
Sounds just like another thing onto which “Elbow” could leap enthusiastically?
40
Lithium-ion Battery Fires: Understanding Risks and Containment
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2026-03-01/lithium-ion-battery-fires-understanding-risks-and
The article’s emphasis is on risks to aircraft from thermal runaway.
An excerpt:
On average, there are two lithium-ion battery thermal runaway events per week; over half of those events occur during the cruise phase of flight, often the furthest point from a suitable airport.
50
Cyclone Malia seems to be fizzling out in the Solomon Sea. It did not move so having cooled the surface water it is running out of warm water needed to sustain it.
20
The BOM will be dissaponted. They must have been salivating.
50
King Charlie could have written another letter to the good people of Queensland advising them how climate. change causes wet seasons in the tropics. Something that had been known by the residents of equatorial regions since time immemorial. I’m sure the residents of the NT “appreciated” the kings advise to change the weather and accept his small donation to the flood recovery fund.
10
FWIW
“What Would We Do Without China?”
“Research papers that list Chinese institutions account for more than half of the retractions across 10 academic publishers, according to a new large-scale analysis.”
More at
https://www.smalldeadanimals.com/2026/04/10/what-would-we-do-without-china/
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Albanese Labor, Minister for Energy, Treasurer Chalmers have quietly dropped their after May 2022 commitment to net zero emissions raising of Renewable Energy Target to 82% of electricty supply by 2030 …
https://www.skynews.com.au/insights-and-analysis/quietly-removed-labor-omits-infamous-pledge-from-its-2028-draft-election-policy-as-battle-over-net-zero-turns-decisively/news-story/a2082cbc9963c994ed340917a647aae5
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No great skills in doing web searches but I did ask “how many hydrogen projects has Twiggy Forest been involved in.” Interesting list of things that haven’t worked! My favourite is the Gibson Island project in Queensland, put on the back burner because of HIGH ELECTRICITY COSTS. Once again the cheapest form of energy production has failed. Why doesn’t someone ask Chris Bowen why these projects don’t work?
how many hydrogen projects has Twiggy forrest been involved in
Andrew Forrest and his company Fortescue have been involved in over 100 green hydrogen and renewable energy projects globally. While the company originally aimed to produce 15 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030, it recently scaled back those ambitions and scrapped several major projects due to high costs and shifting political climates.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
+2
Current Status of Key Projects
Following a major restructure in 2024–2025, Fortescue consolidated its focus onto four core “priority” projects:
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
+2
Australia (Queensland): The Gladstone PEM50 electrolyser plant.
United States (Arizona): The Phoenix Hydrogen Hub.
Norway: The Holmaneset green ammonia and hydrogen project.
Brazil: The $5 billion Pecém green hydrogen project.
Hydrogen Insight
Hydrogen Insight
+3
Abandoned or Paused Projects
Several high-profile initiatives have recently been cancelled or deprioritised:
Gladstone Hydrogen Tech Plant (QLD): Mothballed in May 2025 despite prior milestone successes.
Arizona Hydrogen Project (USA): Scrapped or paused, with some blame cited on changes in US renewable policies under the Trump administration.
Gibson Island (QLD): Retrofitting of a fertiliser plant put on the “backburner” due to high electricity costs.
Liddell (NSW): Feasibility study with AGL was discontinued to focus on priority sites.
Tasmania: Plans for a “green hydrogen hub” at Bell Bay have faced significant delays or stalls.
Global Sites: Projects in Papua New Guinea, Kenya, and Canada have also seen work stop or progress stall without updates.
SMH.com.au
SMH.com.au
+9
Further Exploration
Learn more about Fortescue’s restructuring and the impact on their global hydrogen goals from the ABC News report.
Read an analysis of how political shifts affected the Arizona Phoenix Hydrogen Hub in The Guardian.
Examine the details of the Gladstone electrolyser facility and its funding in the Australian Financial Review.
Would you like to see a breakdown of the specific funding these projects received from the Australian government?
undefined
undefined
undefined
17 sites
Fortescue green hydrogen partnership with AGL at former Liddell …
18 July 2024 — hydrogen plans at the Liddell site were no longer a priority for the company, and it will instead focus on four other hydrogen pro…
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Twiggy’s hydrogen pipe dream costing taxpayers $600m – AFR
27 July 2025 — More than 130 projects linked to hydrogen have received federal taxpayer money going back to 2017, according to the government’s g…
AFR
Twiggy Forrest erases green hydrogen projects from website – AFR
4 Aug 2025 — Same for a partnership with a Texas hydrogen plant earlier this year. It stopped work on a green hydrogen project in Canada last y…
AFR
Show all
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What a pity he studied economics and politics, and not any branch of Science.
20
Rowen Dean on Sky discussed his mines hauler electric truck project of a few years ago announcement, apparently no manufacturer is prepared to supply as testing has not yet resulted in a commercially viable EV Hauler, they are of course very big vehicles and carry huge loads of iron ore, coal and other materials, and often from a pit deep in the ground up hill winding around the inner outside road.
So apparently the green billionaire is planning to have his own design built and is buying the chassis and other components less diesel engine and drivetrain.
The green hydrogen, solar paddock venturer.
10
I wonder how much he’s planning to rip off taxpayers for that sure-to-fail scam.
50
Same could be said of Ross Garnaut, with the recent Zen failure.
20
Who, me, panic?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/592051/north-island-on-alert-with-cyclone-vaianu-due-to-hit-from-saturday-night
Surely NZ’s Government Propaganda Outlet (GPO) wouldn’t crank-up the fear factor of an ex-cyclone heading our way – heck, it’s what [late] summers are all about: 58 years ago, almost to the day, ex-cyclone ‘Giselle’ nailed the North Island resulting in the sinking of the Wahine ferry in the entrance to Wellington Harbour (RIP). No greater maritime loss of life, due to an ex-troppo, has happened since.
The GPO’s next article is headlined:
‘What can you do if the weather forecast terrifies you’
Dr Feather, a clinical psychologist on some psycho ‘climate taskforce’, offers her advice to maintain wellbeing during times of *eco-stress*:
‘How we can learn to cope with New Zealand weather anxiety and climate fears in an age of disaster’.
40
Meanwhile in Australia 😱
https://www.mountainwatch.com/australia/mount-mawson/snow-cams
Barely above freezing and buried under snow – oops, or is that warming climate global change carbon fallout powder? ❄️
40
I know a few South Africans who immigrated to Australia to escape persecution under Mugabe’s evil reqime. They lost everything but over here were soon on their feet working hard and now have become highly successful, thankful to become Australians. That’s the type of immigrants Australia needs, not Wong and Albanese’s reckless mass migration of mostly unskilled welfare recipients.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/u-s-is-ramping-up-its-refugee-admissions/
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Third parties read WhatsApp chats.
Article at link.
50
Alex Hollings revisits the F-35.
So an F-35 WAS hit over Iran, prolly by a MANPAD but it survived and the female pilot was injured. And No! I’m NOT suggesting a male pilot would not have been hit in the first place.
Alex explains that the aircraft has been built Toyota tough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_1LyUAOI4Q
20
A very informative video.
I wonder if the F-47 will ever need to live up to its designation.
00
” I’m NOT suggesting a male pilot would not have been hit in the first place. ”
…depends where the first place is! Either way, I’m sure its extra painful!
30
I am in the habit of acknowledging POTUS Trump as the greatest leader in history. In some ways that could be regarded as an early call but just his peace deal with carbon elevates him to that status without all the other things this great human has already achieved.
This is further proof that I am not alone in having this view:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cakrC7dudus
Clearly many Hungarians agree.
God bless POTUS Trump and good health. Stay safe. Stay bold.
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FWIW
“Fossil Fuels Shine Light of Hope in Africa”
“Power interruptions are common for Nigeria’s largest city of more than 13 million people. It took me back to the 1990s in India, where energy production was a chaotic work in progress. Blackouts were a regular feature of our lives. Today, thanks to India’s enthusiastic use of coal, my children do not need candlelight to do homework. Coal-powered plants keep the lights on for 1.4 billion people. Blackouts still occur, but they are an exception.
I want that same simple certainty for African families. For decades, international aid organizations and financial institutions, held hostage by the red tape of the Paris Agreement and net zero fantasies, strangled funding of projects involving fossil fuels. Instead, modest incentives were offered to implement unreliable and expensive wind and solar power.
But the narrative is shifting. A flickering hope of industrial-grade light is appearing across the continent. From West Africa’s natural gas deposits to East Africa’s new pipelines and Southern Africa’s offshore basins, a story of promise is emerging. Africans are refusing to accept permanent impoverishment in the name of climate orthodoxy. They are breaking the shackles of alarmism and choosing abundant hydrocarbons as the only proven path to prosperity.”
More at
https://hotair.com/headlines/2026/04/10/fossil-fuels-shine-light-of-hope-in-africa-n3813711
More finger gestures to “Nut-Zero”
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Earth’s temperature history for dummies
https://x.com/WatchGorillaSci/status/2041903234206294332
40
‘Don’t believe Climate Claptrap!’
Excellent: no wonder Greenies don’t like Willie.
40
A story of age verification gone wrong
When Frey’s daughter signed up for Discord, she was 12 and technically not old enough to have an account. But like many kids who, regulators have found, commonly lie about their age to access social media platforms, she didn’t want to wait another year to join her friends on the messaging app. Hiding her age, she created an account that listed her as over 18 years old.
Now 13, the teen had been happily using the app for months when she suddenly got locked out of her account after clicking on a link from an attacker posing as Discord support. Since she didn’t enable two-factor authentication, the attacker was able to commandeer the account. Frey only found out what was happening when the attacker asked the teen to share her parents’ banking information if she wanted to get her account back.
Samantha Baldwin, a policy and research staff technologist for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), told Ars that Discord’s hesitancy to formally update the age setting is telling. Frey’s case shows why privacy advocates believe that age verification laws aren’t about “protecting children” but about “surveillance and censorship,” she said.
“That they would not recategorize a minor’s account demonstrates this clearly,” Baldwin said. “Discord is in the business of making money by selling their users’ personal data. They are implementing ‘age verification’ to meet regulatory compliance and to collect more data about their customers, not protect children.”
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/04/dad-stuck-in-support-nightmare-after-teen-lied-about-age-on-discord/
It was never about protecting kids…
40
They lost it. All if it. A story of government data loss
https://youtu.be/_k_70iqBCDc?si=XCd85BjcjazvAA4X
20
I have come to a conclusion that we are starting to resemble Ancient Rome, where there was an Emperor and Court, largely sycophants or those wealthy persons who benefitted from decisions (which they manipulated), an army, and the general public, slaves and an incompetent, but nasty secret service.
The army sometimes revolted and could set some other ambitious soldier on the throne, but they weren’t maintained properly for external threats.
The secret service enjoyed more and more funding, but never detected any dangerous subversion, because they would join it.
The currency was debased quite often and (for the rich) imported luxuries were their diversions. The general public, largely underemployed, were bought off with free bread rations and circuses.
Eventually Rome fell but the Empire endured (in a form) for many centuries in Constantinople.
Perhaps we should abandon Canberra?
40
SAw a number plate surround from ACT this morning…. “Canberra The Bush Capital” !!
Made me laugh, just as good as “Victoria The Education State” & “Victoria The Place To Be”…
Either the slogan-writers are arch-cynics or they have no idea at all.
50
Should read…’Canberra The Bulsh Capital’.
30
“Victoria the place to be – from”
40
Victoria is our second strongest education income earner and fairs well in an State based comparison. Not sure what’s comical.
The place to be was a Kennett era slogan, when NSW in a trough and VIC was doing well. The good old days I guess.
Once we are clear of parochial BS it’s pretty obvious all States have peaks and troughs usually triggered by political dogma and incompetence.
10
You just can’t make this up.
Yes, Australia voted for it as well.
80
Boring as it might be for some people I remind everybody about the Fabian Society of Marxists founded in the UK late 1800s and their new world order crusade, the associate branches like Fabian Society of Australia and ALP relationship/alliance, the infiltration of the United Nations soon after it was established late 1940s, Australian Labor Attorney General Evatt QC (see Communist Party of Australia connections) recommendation to the left leaning infiltrators that by convincing member nations to sign as many treaties and agreements as possible, and compliant governments of sovereign nations legislating laws and regulations (here Federation of States that created Commonwealth or Federal Government) that here are at all three levels of governmemt creating a spider’s web of three government levels to unravel.
And to top it off later additions to legislation, most recently a Federal Albanese Labor law limiting access to minerals and energy. States have limits on access as well. And to unravel the web governments need cooperative Upper House members, another reason why One Nation focus is on Senate seats and aiming for balance of power in Upper Houses.
What we need is conservative (Trump-like planning and enforcement MAGA) governments with control or friendly support in first and foremost Lower House (House of Representatives) and the Senates or Legislative Councils.
30
FWIW
“‘She Scares Me’: Ex of Soleimani’s Niece Refuses to Plead With ICE for Her”
“The U.S. State Department just revoked lawful permanent resident (LPR) status for the niece and grand-niece of the late mass murdering Iranian jihad leader Qasem Soleimani, whose relatives were enjoying lives of luxury in the United States even while vocally supporting the Iranian regime. Soleimani’s niece asked her ex-boyfriend to intervene with immigration authorities on her behalf, but he doesn’t want to have anything more to do with the crazy terror-lover.”
More at
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/04/10/she-scares-me-ex-of-soleimanis-niece-refuses-to-plead-with-ice-for-her-n4951652
20
Australia stops in 10 days
https://youtu.be/hxFdFHTH-Lo?si=Mbk-9RppPW0dxWjt
The Australia Institute says 10 days, ze blob says 40 for petrol.
Diesel is down to 7 days.
Who do you trust more?
https://www.fuelsecurity.com.au/
The masses are of course oblivious and trippin’ on Hopium.
Let the panic buying begin!
Long life tinned foods, powdered milk, vit pills, smoked eggs (last a year without refrigeration), protein powder, muesli, beans, nuts, dried fruit, pallet of wine. 🤭
40
I’ve smoked a few things in my life but eggs?
Admittedly I hard-boiled 1/2-a-dozen this morning for the next few days – egg sammies with salt/pepper & fresh parsley on brown bread, mmm… but smoking them? Like fish or bacon? Mmm… bacon 🤪
10
https://www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au/news/egging-on-a-smokin-hot-idea/
10
So much for electric truck fleet. Twiggy has told China that if they want iron ore, they need to send him some diesel.
80
It is far worse than diesel for businesses in Australia, I understand that container shipping companies are dumping containers at ports far from port of shipping documents nomination because of the fuel crisis. The businesses that hired the containers are paying extra rental time and port charges and fees and left with the problem of how to ship the containers to the customers.
And worse, if there could be worse, refrigerated containers of meat and other farm produce not guaranteed to be plugged in to power after being offloaded, do the ports have adequate electricty supply from the local grid or fuel for diesel generators?
What happens to the supply chain investors depending on delivery for payment?
Will the cargo be saleable?
50
Its time Australia took a rational review of its fuel options and natural resources.
Most ICEs can be converted to run on LPG or CNG. It has been done in the past with the Taxi fleets and modern liquid gas direct injection makes it even more efficient and cleaner.
With retail LPG prices still below $1.0 per liter , and domestic gas resources being enormous, maybe gas conversions should be reviewed ?
10
What’s to be reviewed? There are LPG shops around, you just need to book in.
My truck is entering its 16th year running on LPG. As you say gas injection works well and the diff between LPG and 91 isn’t real noticeable. May 5-10% increase in consumption depending what you are doing.
20
Lpg adoption could be a simple exercise, but the long therm advantage for fuel security would be with CNG (Compressed Natural Gas)
Currently CNG is restricted to commercial vehicles, so some regulation changes are required before it can be applied to domestic transport.
Honda proved the application to regular cars using home based refueling with compact gas compressors, hence avoiding the need for public regassing stations. But again , some states would have to review their attitude to domestic gas supply (Victoria !)
10
I have experience with both dual fuel Petrol and LPG switch between and Diesel-Gas being diesel and gas mixed and burnt as one fuel.
With diesel engine the efficiency of combined fuel burn results in much lower emissions as more of the diesel energy is utilised resulting in rear wheel power and torque gains (3 litre diesel example and injection ratio) of 20%, and cleaner exhaust of course
00
British citizenship test
https://lifeintheuktestweb.co.uk/british-citizenship-test-3/
Q24 says it all.
20
Coalition Leadership in 2026
Key Leaders
Angus Taylor: Leader of the Liberal Party
Matt Canavan: Leader of the Nationals
Political Focus
The Coalition is shifting towards a more nationalistic agenda, which includes:
Energy Policy: Emphasizing the expansion of fossil fuel production to lower energy prices.
Migration: Addressing national continuity and security concerns.
Economic Strategy: Responding to economic insecurity and adapting to changing conditions for younger Australians.
Challenges Faced
Polling and Public Support
The Coalition has experienced a decline in support, with recent polling showing:
Coalition at 22%
One Nation at 24%
Labor at 29%
Competition from Minor Parties
Rising support for minor parties, particularly One Nation, poses a significant challenge.
Voters are increasingly inclined to support independents or minor parties over major parties.
Leadership Changes
Matt Canavan took over the leadership of the Nationals following David Littleproud’s resignation.
The leadership change aims to rejuvenate the party’s image and strategy in light of poor polling results.
This new direction reflects a broader transformation in conservative politics in Australia, focusing on immediate economic concerns and a more assertive stance on national issues.
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Meanwhile in Germany – govt to block house purchases for those holding wrong views
Anyone who holds supposedly “false“ views could be prevented from acquiring real estate by the municipality in the future. This is the result of a bill from the Ministry of Construction by Verena Hubertz (SPD). According to this bill, municipalities should be granted a right of first refusal if the potential buyer of a property pursues “anti-constitutional activities“.
https://nius.de/politik/regierung-plant-vorkaufsrecht-hauskauf-gesinnung-pruefung-verfassungsschutz
Next up, those nice stripey clothes, popular in the 40’s.
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..maybe the goose-step will become popular again too!
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FWIW – careful of what you wish for –
“Dems Discover Pandering On Impeachment, 25th Amendment Has Costs”
https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2026/04/10/dems-discover-pandering-on-impeachment-25th-amendment-has-costs-n3813756
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And
“For Entertainment Only – The Firehose of Crazy
April 10, 2026 | Sundance | 178 Comments”
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/04/10/for-entertainment-only-the-firehose-of-crazy/
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FWIW
“WaPo Columnist Says Muslims Should Not Be Expected to Assimilate, and What Could Possibly Go Wrong?”
“It used to be taken for granted that immigrants to the United States would assimilate, adopt American cultural values, and become Americans. That idea, of course, was lost long ago as the lust for “diversity” and “multiculturalism” overtook the political and media elites, but up until Old Joe Biden opened the floodgates to any sentient being that could be relied upon to vote Democrat, most Americans took for granted the idea that people who settled in this country should obey the existing laws.
No more, however. On Wednesday, Shadi Hamid, a Washington Post columnist and professor at Georgetown University, wrote in the WaPo that expecting Muslims to adopt American values was just another manifestation of that “Islamophobia” that everyone is so desperate to avoid. Hamid argued not only that Muslims should not be expected to assimilate into American society, but that efforts to ban Sharia were as futile as they were “bigoted,” for Muslims simply weren’t going to give up Sharia, and that was that. In the midst of all Hamid’s bravado, however, he was extremely disingenuous about the nature of Sharia itself.”
More at
https://pjmedia.com/robert-spencer/2026/04/10/wapo-columnist-says-muslims-should-not-be-expected-to-assimilate-and-what-could-possibly-go-wrong-n4951659
“Taqiyya” comes to mind there
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FWIW – latest Kunstlers
“Not Bluffing
“And notice how nonchalant it sounds. Trump didn’t go for epic, carnage-heavy branding. He branded it the way you’d casually announce National Potato Chip Day.” American Debunk on X.”
https://www.kunstler.com/p/not-bluffing
And
“Games Nations Play
“I am sick of serving in Congress with immoral freaks who abuse their office and bring dishonor to the institution.” —Rep Anna Paulina Luna”
https://www.kunstler.com/p/games-nations-play
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FWIW
”
Matt Ridley thinks the Climate Parrot is almost dead”
“In a leader in The Spectator magazine, British science writer, journalist, and businessman Matt Ridley recently declared that “Finally, thankfully, the global warming craze is dying out. To paraphrase Monty Python, the climate parrot may still be nailed to its perch at the COP summit in Belem, Brazil – or at Harvard and on CNN – but elsewhere it’s dead.” He also said that Bill Gates’s apologia, in which he conceded that global warming “will not lead to humanity’s demise” after he closed the policy and advocacy office of his climate philanthropy group, is a further nail in the climate scare coffin. The decline of climate alarmism was the key topic in Ridley’s ICSF/Clintel Lecture: “The Great Climate Climbdown” (1 April).”
More at
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/04/10/matt-ridley-thinks-the-climate-parrot-is-almost-dead/
But –
“Claim: Green Nations are Poised to Become a New Superpower”
”
The committed are uniting into a big fluffy green ball of commitment.”
More at
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/04/10/claim-green-nations-poised-to-become-a-new-superpower/
Check the article’s conclusions
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And
“Welcome to 20% of Net Zero (oil & gas, not coal) – Think About It…”
“Dear Climate Crazies, Doom Goblins, and Gang Green- You are now living 20% of your dream…
In an odd turn, I find myself thinking that leaving the Strait of Hormuz closed might be the best thing we could do for the world. It is just 20% of the Oil & Gas only (NOT the coal or nuclear power) taken off line. Given that the “goal” of the Climate Crazies is 100% net zero by 2030 (last time I looked), we have simply moved 1 year closer to that goal, and will need to do the same every year… ’27, ’28, ’29, ’30 & ‘success’… so WHY bother to reopen it? It will just set the world back a full year on their “progress” to their “goal”…
Embrace the pain. Live with the economic collapse, the $10 / gallon gasoline & Diesel fuel. The hunger from food system collapse and the lack of damn near everything as shipping and international trade shudders to a halt. That IS what will come anyway, as long as the goals do not change.
So think of this as a small 20% “taster” of stopping oil & gas. Realize that more power comes from Coal, and that isn’t done yet (so really this is about a 10% “hit” of the total).”
More at
https://chiefio.wordpress.com/2026/04/10/welcome-to-20-of-net-zero-oil-gas-not-coal-think-about-it/
How long till “Elbow” realises that that last dribble of oil he found is not an adequate solution?
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All I can think is, yeah but it worked.
(It purpose has been served and it no longer requires propagandistic defense. Think Data Centers.)
A massive transfer of wealth.(1)
The turning of of a few generations of children into existential neurotics akin to medieval creatures with an unshakable belief in witches and doubtful of their sexual identity.
The re-emergence of F-ist like authoritarianism in Western Europe.(2)
(1) Via time travel. Materializing wealth productivity of future generations into the bank accounts of the elite via national debt.
(2)https://iclg.com/news/23755-germany-could-bar-afd-politicians-from-buying-property
Looks like Oz may not allow link.(Another victory)
Search Assist
‘Germany is implementing measures to prevent far-right extremists from purchasing or renting real estate by establishing an early-warning system and encouraging landlords to vet potential tenants more closely. This initiative aims to stop the spread of far-right networks in the property market.’
‘Climate Change’ and ‘Pandemic’ has altered people’s minds.
Rationality and actual science may win in the end, but already looks to me like a Pyrrhic victory.
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