Open Thread – Tues 13 Sept 2022


The Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene Entering the French Entrenchments, Louis Laguerre, early 1700s

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Roger
Roger
September 14, 2022 9:11 am

The fact that [Bandt] felt obliged to say such words shows the power Thorpe has in shaping the Greens narrative.

Er…no.

Thorpe merely says out loud what Bandt thinks but ordinarily dares not say because he courts power when Elbow loses his majority.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 14, 2022 9:19 am

Ah, yes.
Trusted embalmers on the innernet.
Finding clots in 50% to 70% of bodies.
Ask yourself a few questions.
How many bodies are subjected to a full exploratory autopsy, involving power saws?
A tiny minority.
So how are these trusted embalmers discovering all these clots in the majority of the deceased?
Oh and having a shot of a large metropolis on a screen behind you does not make it “a news report of some sort”.
FMD.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 9:22 am

Biden Gets a Clue?

The Washington Post reported yesterday that someone woke up Slow Joe:

White House alarm rises over Europe as Putin threatens energy supply

White House officials are growing increasingly alarmed about Europe’s energy crisis and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats to force a bleak winter on the continent.

Seeking to punish Russia for the invasion of Ukraine and force a retreat, Western allies have moved to set a cap on what buyers pay for Russian oil. Putin last week said Russia would retaliate by cutting off gas and oil shipments, which could devastate Europe’s economy and hurt the United States by sending global energy prices soaring.

Of course this last sentence really ought to read, “. . .which would devastate Europe’s economy and Democratic Party prospects in the mid-term elections.”

In response to my post over the weekend about how the European energy situation is much more serious than people know, a reader writes in:

One of my kids just returned from the GasTech 2022 conference, ironically held in Milan this year. He is an engineer with a LNG shipping/regas firm. It was nothing like he or the execs from his firm had ever seen. Those same “confident” energy ministry staff from Euro governments are privately in a full fledged panic trying to secure reliable supplies.

One key problem is the lack of port delivery facilities for liquid gas product. Not quick to build—if ya ain’t got one now, won’t for 3-5 years. Normally you solve for this by using FSRU ships that are semi-permanently moored off shore and feed directly to distribution facilities. But there are only 4 dozen of these in the world and most are already contracted to places like Bangladesh. The industry is trying spin up some regas units built on unused exploration platforms—then just tow them into place. The Korean yards that build most of the tankers are fully booked three years out—so hard to rapidly expand the tanker fleets—and a lot of ships are aging out.

In one meeting a Pakistani speaker almost started crying describing the economic dislocation skyrocketing prices are causing. He was in a meeting with the Uniper execs…and as you wrote, they are on the brink of shutting down absent massive cash infusion. Looked like hunted animals. Unless Vlad turns the spigot back on can’t see a happy ending. And my understanding with facilities like aluminum smelters is you can’t flip them “on/off”. Have to run continuously—millions and months to deslag, clean and restart.

The Wall Street Journal confirmed some of this yesterday as well:

Europe’s energy crisis has left few businesses untouched, from steel and aluminum to cars, glass, ceramics, sugar and toilet-paper makers. Some industries, such as the energy-intensive metals sector, are shutting factories that analysts and executives say might never reopen, imperiling thousands of jobs.

P.S. Don’t look now, but it appears China may be coming to Russia’s aid:

The first in-person meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin since the start of the Ukraine war is expected to include discussions between the two leaders on how to deepen their economic ties as Russia faces setbacks on the battlefield. The meeting . . . is expected to take place this week at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Uzbekistan. . .

Chaser:

Europe needs China’s diesel if it does cut off Russia imports

Oh goody, let’s swap dependence on Russia for even more dependence on China.

Boambee John
Boambee John
September 14, 2022 9:25 am

m0ntysays:
September 14, 2022 at 8:31 am
Tom, I will take your recommendation under advisement. Life is too short to listen to bowtie-wearing performative fascists.

Can someone please translate this pompous twaddle into something even vaguely resembling the King’s (formerly the Queen’s) English.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 14, 2022 9:26 am

‘Can’t bear this bloody thing’: Charles’ pen battle goes viral

theaustralian.com.au01:00
Jacquelin Magnay
Europe Correspondent
@jacquelinmagnay
44 minutes ago September 14, 2022
106 Comments

King Charles’ battles with a leaky pen in an ante room at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland, has broken the internet.

In one flourish, the 73-year-old has shown he is of a very different temperament from his mother and reminded us of his fiery temper.

“I can’t bear this bloody thing, every stinking time,’’ he says, as he realises to his frustration that said pen was dripping all over his hands and, as he hands it to her, of his Queen Consort, Camilla, as he tries to sign the visitor’s book at his Northern Ireland castle home.

Certain of his forebears would probably have hurled the wretched implement clean across the room….

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 9:27 am

Lindsay Graham is not a Republican, but a Republican In Name Only (as I just explained to you).
I expect his new show on CNN will be announced shortly

He’ll have to stand in line behind Kinzinger, Cheney and Romney. On the other hand Stelter has now been levitated to lefty heaven, also known as Harvard, so there might be a position open at CNN for someone cheaper, and as we know RINOs are very cheap. I liked this:

People who didn’t watch him for free on CNN will now pay $54,002 in tuition to attend his lectures.

Maybe CNN should start offering degrees as a way to make some money.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 9:30 am

Interesting From the Comments

Don’t look now, but this is not just Europe’s problem.

Any other New Englanders on the board? Thanks to having shut down coal fired plants, and two nuclear plants, we are ~54% dependent on natural gas–~70% for Massachusetts.

And our push for wind and solar (still less than 6% of electricity production), is de-stabilizing the Grid. Thanks to New York (esp. Cuomo) and our own enviro-wackos blocking pipelines from the PA Marcellus gas fields in the US, we are heavily dependent on imported LNG coming into the Everett terminal by ship: international LNG from Trinidad, Algeria, and formerly during cold winters….Russia

for which we compete directly with….Europe! Prices are already skyrocketing (electricity doubled in NH last month). Shortages and blackouts — esp.

if a LNG tanker doesn’t show up on time — are a definite possibility. If you want to get really worried about the coming Winter, read Meredith Angwin’s “Shorting the Grid” and Doomberg’s “Is New England an Energy Crisis Waiting to Happen” (from last January). There was a FERC conference in VT about the coming NE Winter last week (a video may be up on YouTube), the conclusion of which was basically “pray.”

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
September 14, 2022 9:30 am

Children are being killed: 8x increase in Excess Deaths among Children in Europe since COVID Vaccine roll-out according to Official EU Data

So how does the latest Daily Expose (FFS, someone buy them a coffee) gel with Gez’s supported comment last night that the all-cause mortality for under-40s in this country since the start of covid has not changed one iota?

It’s almost like the Daily Troofer is throwing a broad cast net, anticipating they’ll get enough people with more money than sense to give them cash.

Mother Lode
Mother Lode
September 14, 2022 9:35 am

Wow that’s terrible. If he’d made it 14 weeks at least then it would be in line with socialist France’s abortion law.

Interesting.

It is the socialist way to see what we would consider a personal freedom to be at the expense of society in general.

A person who smokes is bad because illness and even death deprives society in general of what they may have produced for society. Economists will actually calculate how much production is forgone from their dying earlier, as if it was something they owed society which they have selfishly squandered.

Isn’t abortion, therefore, denying the state all the production that aborted baby might have produced?

Boambee John
Boambee John
September 14, 2022 9:37 am

m0nty-fa

The Republican base is cheering him along.

What is your evidence for this assertion (other than “Chatter on lefty blogs”)?

On this issue, at least, he is fully Republican. It’s the squishy Senators who are muttering out of the side of their mouths “not now Lindsay, wait until after the midterms when we have more flexibility” who are out of step with GOP voters.

ROFLMAO, now you are going “Full Obama”, and using it as some pathetic form of criticism?

Roger
Roger
September 14, 2022 9:38 am

Between the idea…and the reality…falls the enviro-whacko induced blackouts.

And a northern winter without reliable, affordable power is very long.

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 9:40 am

Dover

Should illicit drugs be illegal?

Top Ender
Top Ender
September 14, 2022 9:41 am

Bandana Man scores own goal:

The Australian Republic Movement will campaign for the ­removal of the British monarchy on currency, as the Albanese government leaves open the option of replacing Queen Elizabeth II on the $5 note with a national icon.

The Australian understands the ARM will call for the late Queen’s image to be removed from the $5 note while also urging the government to reconsider using King Charles III’s image on coins from next year.

The ARM, led by author and former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons, has suspended its campaign for a republic until the end of next week while the nation is mourning the death of the Queen.

Comments under the article are 100% against.

A selection:

Stephen
5 MINUTES AGO
Ahh, here we go! The psychological tricks ( removing the Sovereign from our currency) to slowly convince us we don’t need the monarchy as our Head of State. The Queen herself said, “ you have to be seen to be believed”. If we stop seeing, we forget. It’s the subtle moves theses people make that really get to me. I’m sure the ARM are at work on this stuff as we speak. Bandanna Man probably wants to be the replacement himself. Wake up people!

Fitzy’s hands on the republic will ensure it never happens. Talk about divisive. It would be a fitting memorial to the Queen to have her on the $5 forever.
Ken

Good to see the Australian Republic Movement is concerned with the major issues facing this country.
Simon Says

What a load of Republican rubbish at a critical time when defence is our priority and the British have our backs through AUKUS.
Fitzsimmons & Bandt belong in a kindergarten.
Micko

Fitzsimmons displays – with enduring regularity and consistency – poor timing, a sadly inflated sense of self importance, poor taste and and absence of either respect and good manners.

Australia has a constitutional monarch – now King Charles III – and is a member of the Commonwealth. If that ever changes (I repeat IF), that is the time to remove our constitutional monarch from our currency and NOT A DAY SOONER.
Doc Torg

Bandana Man back again. Give it up, fella.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 9:43 am

Sundance a little sceptical

The Machiavellian Intent of John Durham Surfaces inside His Court Filing, Outlining the FBI Hiring of Igor Danchenko as Confidential Informant

September 13, 2022 – Sundance

This is sickening to read, and perhaps even more sickening to accept. CTH has long outlined the belief that Bill Barr was the Bondo application to cover for the DOJ and FBI institutional rot, and John Durham was the ongoing spray paint application. The bottom line is to first understand a DC operation is ongoing to preserve the institutional credibility of the justice system; a credibility, which is – at this point, entirely destroyed; yet the effort continues.

In a court motion today [pdf HERE], special prosecutor John Durham outlines the case against Christopher Steele’s primary source, Igor Danchenko. For more granular information about the filing itself, visit Techno Fog [review article HERE]. The basic legal case brought by Durham is predicated on the notion that Christopher Steele’s source for his dossier, Igor Danchenko, willfully and intentionally lied to the FBI, and therefore Danchenko is guilty of purposefully misleading FBI investigators assigned to the Trump-Russia/”crossfire hurricane” investigation.

This is where we must stop pretending. The Durham premise of a “duped FBI” is laughable on its face. No one in the FBI or DOJ-NSD was “duped” by false information from Igor Danchenko. The lies were well known to be false, yet materially beneficial to the unspoken intention of the DOJ/FBI, which was to target Donald Trump. The corrupt intention of the DOJ and FBI is the important element that John Durham was appointed to protect.

John Durham is running a Deep State cover operation to protect the institutions of the DOJ and FBI from their prior activity. The bulls**t of pretending this is not his motive, well, quite simply, needs to stop. Just look at today’s filing itself, overlay the timeline, and you can see the corrupt intention of the FBI and John Durham’s clear objective to cover for them.

In a court motion today [pdf HERE], special prosecutor John Durham outlines the case against Christopher Steele’s primary source, Igor Danchenko. For more granular information about the filing itself, visit Techno Fog [review article HERE]. The basic legal case brought by Durham is predicated on the notion that Christopher Steele’s source for his dossier, Igor Danchenko, willfully and intentionally lied to the FBI, and therefore Danchenko is guilty of purposefully misleading FBI investigators assigned to the Trump-Russia/”crossfire hurricane” investigation.

This is where we must stop pretending. The Durham premise of a “duped FBI” is laughable on its face. No one in the FBI or DOJ-NSD was “duped” by false information from Igor Danchenko. The lies were well known to be false, yet materially beneficial to the unspoken intention of the DOJ/FBI, which was to target Donald Trump. The corrupt intention of the DOJ and FBI is the important element that John Durham was appointed to protect.

John Durham is running a Deep State cover operation to protect the institutions of the DOJ and FBI from their prior activity. The bulls**t of pretending this is not his motive, well, quite simply, needs to stop. Just look at today’s filing itself, overlay the timeline, and you can see the corrupt intention of the FBI and John Durham’s clear objective to cover for them.

The big picture takeaway is right there on the second page. Pay attention to the dates.

Main Justice kept a bag over Danchenko until they needed a scapegoat, created by Durham, to sell a narrative that Main Justice was duped. John Durham is charging Danchenko (working outside govt) with lying to the FBI while simultaneously avoiding drawing attention to the FBI/DOJ officials (inside govt) who knew Danchenko was lying and were willfully blind to it in order to continue attacking and investigating President Donald Trump.

James Comey, Robert Mueller, Bill Barr, John Durham, the Mar-a-Lago raid… it’s all one long continuum of the same targeting and coverup operation.

Bill Barr was the Bondo application and John Durham is the spray paint.

The entire system is corrupt.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
September 14, 2022 9:45 am

They had the excerable Marcia Langton on their ABCcess getting a lube change over “domestic violence against Aboriginal and first nations women and the need for a stand alone agency/policy specifically tailored for them”.

After tap dancing with some figures, generic ‘its awful” statements and trumpeting how “100 leaders /agencies came together’ she begans listing the causes of this disparity.

.1 Racism
.2 structual racism
.3 housing availability
.4 Lack of respect in the wider community

I switched off at that point, the lying maggott is not a fool so shes deliberately evading “causes’ which means shes happy to see women bashed as long as her ricebowl isnt disturbed.

P
P
September 14, 2022 9:54 am

Feast day of The Exaltation of the Holy Cross -Wed 14/09/22

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you,
because by your cross you have redeemed the world.

Anchor What
Anchor What
September 14, 2022 9:57 am

Question for B0N and anyone interested:
Feeding birds – there are opinions about everything! WIRES say raw meet lacks calcium, others say bread (I use finely diced fresh crusts or slices) is BAD.
offered a magpie a nice fresh worm the other day and it ignored it entirely. But it loves bread.

Roger
Roger
September 14, 2022 10:05 am

Marcia Langton…appointed by a Liberal-National government to co-chair the advisory group on the indigenous voice to parliament.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 14, 2022 10:10 am

Marcia Langton…appointed by a Liberal-National government to co-chair the advisory group on the indigenous voice to parliament.

Her genre is known, rudely, as “Air Conditioned Aborigines.”

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 10:10 am

thefrollickingmole says:
September 14, 2022 at 9:45 am

They had the excerable Marcia Langton on their ABCcess getting a lube change over “domestic violence against Aboriginal and first nations women and the need for a stand alone agency/policy specifically tailored for them”.

After tap dancing with some figures, generic ‘its awful” statements and trumpeting how “100 leaders /agencies came together’ she begans listing the causes of this disparity.

.1 Racism
.2 structual racism
.3 housing availability
.4 Lack of respect in the wider community

Read Page 70 on wards The Cunning of Recognition

An Excellent Read

Old School Conservative
Old School Conservative
September 14, 2022 10:11 am

Top Ender:
I heard Conroy say on Bolt’s show that 90,000 people stood in a respectful minutes silence for the Queen at a recent game.
Does that mean the AFL is Ok with honouring her service but only before men’s games, and that the AFLW won’t do the minute tribute just because aboriginal activists spoke out?
Hypocrites. Woke stupidity.

Anchor What
Anchor What
September 14, 2022 10:12 am

Laura Jayes is a comely lass, but sometimes falls flat on detail.
It’s Horse Guards Parade, not Horses Guard Parade.

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 10:13 am

Dover

Illegal as in putting users in jail.

cohenite
September 14, 2022 10:17 am

The mid terms are kaput. Bongino summarises what the demorats are doing. The doj/fbi/cia/irs are fully weaponised. I really can’t see how the US gets out of this peacefully. Trump lifted the rock on these creatures and now exposed they are not going to allow any further compromise.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
September 14, 2022 10:20 am

Awesome stuff.

Green vaginas

Labor overhauls Climate Change Authority to counter concerns of excessive business influence
Albanese government appoints three women with environmental backgrounds to board

The new members are the biologist Prof Lesley Hughes, a distinguished academic who has held government advisory roles and is a member of the Climate Council, Dr Virginia Marshall, a legal researcher who has worked on Indigenous water rights, and Sam Mostyn, a businesswoman and sustainability adviser who was chair of the climate advocacy group 1 Million Women.

Bowen said they would bolster the authority’s role in “providing independent advice to government on the reduction of the nation’s emissions and climate change policy”.

“With this expanded membership, the authority is better placed to oversee emissions reduction efforts and provide government with expert advice,” he said.

The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, said the appointments were “a welcome change from the coal and gas advocates appointed in the past”.

“I hope this is the beginning of the Climate Change Authority returning to a focus on the science of how we power past coal and gas and fight the climate crisis,” he said.

The authority was created in 2012 as part of a suite of climate policies agreed by the Gillard government, the Greens and independent MPs. The Coalition under Tony Abbott tried to abolish it, but failed. Instead, it cut its funding, slashed its staffing and sidelined its advice.

Dot
Dot
September 14, 2022 10:25 am

People likely wouldn’t use fentanyl if safer alternatives were cheaper and legal. Controlling supply in the end just makes hospital care more onerous on users and taxpayers.

Synthetic drugs are cheaper than beer in the UK, because of taxation!

Cue Bill Hicks: good drugs are coincidentally taxed drugs.

H B Bear
H B Bear
September 14, 2022 10:25 am

Turtlehead Bowen proving to be the ideal appointment.

H B Bear
H B Bear
September 14, 2022 10:30 am

Prof Lesley Hughes, a distinguished academic who has held government advisory roles and is a member of the Climate Council

I guessing Prof Hughes knowledge of the electricity grid stops when the plug is put in.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
September 14, 2022 10:31 am

Read Page 70 on wards The Cunning of Recognition

An Excellent Read

Blocked for me..
woe!

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 10:38 am

Anchor – They know what they want and what’s good for them. My magpies supplement their Coles mince with foraged insects, as do the noisies and kookas. And three star mince has as much rubbish in it as the supermarket can get away with, so I suspect there’s a fair bit of calcium from bone scrapings in it. Certainly they thrive on it. If you are concerned about calcium you can always try them on some cheese – which they usually like.

The only issues I see are various diseases the young ones get, but the same diseases affect others like the crested pigeons, who get very little food from me. So it isn’t diet related – just young immune systems not yet up to scratch.

What the wildlife people don’t understand is that wild creatures will get more calories this way, and as they eat more they burn off the extra calories by being more active. So if mince or doglog has less calcium than worms that doesn’t matter since they still get enough minerals by consuming more and burning off the excess non-calcium bit.

shatterzzz
September 14, 2022 10:38 am

Turtlehead Bowen proving to be the ideal appointment.

Like Bill, Tanya and several other Labor “luminaries” the granting of Labor Ministerial positions isn’t dependent on any “up top” abilities but on the “heriditary” electorates .. these seats are 99% guaranteed Labor at any election time and the incumbents know they are entitled .. after all, they are there until ‘retirement” so expect top table troughin’ preference as their just reward …….!

Roger
Roger
September 14, 2022 10:43 am

Like Bill, Tanya and several other Labor “luminaries” the granting of Labor Ministerial positions isn’t dependent on any “up top” abilities but on the “heriditary” electorates ..

Labor cabinets are determined by the factional leaders who represent their union masters.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
September 14, 2022 10:43 am

Tweet of the week.

comment image

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 10:44 am

thefrollickingmole says:
September 14, 2022 at 10:31 am

Read Page 70 on wards The Cunning of Recognition

An Excellent Read

Blocked for me..
woe!

thefrollickingmole

I emailed this address to myself for future reference and downloading

https://books.google.com.au/books?id=gqNSYV7xRZAC&pg=PA76&lpg=PA76&dq=violence+against+aboriginal+women+sencer+native+tribes+of+central+australia&source=bl&ots=a_iUMj8nsp&sig=ACfU3U162PHCXf1glf1wewEoy5vgJIyzpQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwim5pXa-5L6AhXfG7cAHXGOAssQ6AF6BAgfEAM#v=onepage&q=violence%20against%20aboriginal%20women%20sencer%20native%20tribes%20of%20central%20australia&f=false

Works for me on Firefox, Chrome & Safari

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 10:45 am

Labor overhauls Climate Change Authority to counter concerns of excessive business influence
Albanese government appoints three women with environmental backgrounds to board

Needs to be renamed CCC.
The Climate Change Coven.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 14, 2022 10:46 am

Labor cabinets are determined by the factional leaders who represent their union masters.

Yes.
Although there is a strong correlation between factional power and the granting of safe seats, the electoral margin isn’t the determinant of your position on the Liars totem pole.
It is the sway held by your union sponsors.

H B Bear
H B Bear
September 14, 2022 10:51 am

Stephen Conroy destroyed any fiction that Liar Ministers were appointed on merit.

zyconoclast
zyconoclast
September 14, 2022 10:52 am

Insulting librarians.

who knew a post about a Marxist lezo librarian would dominate the thread for 24 hours…

Lysander
Lysander
September 14, 2022 10:53 am

The mid terms are kaput. Bongino summarises what the demorats are doing. The doj/fbi/cia/irs are fully weaponised.

While Tucker does the “shock and awe” campaign pretty well, I was absolutely disgusted to see his report on many Trump-supporting US citizens being visited by armed FBI agents (the days after Biden’s Nazi-theme speech) in the wee hours of the morning simply because… they support Trump. One lady said she could hardly stay standing she was so fearful (despite never having broken any laws for her entire life).

Now ask yourself: How many homes of BLM rioters have armed FBI visited without notice?

Roger
Roger
September 14, 2022 10:56 am

Bowen said they would bolster the authority’s role in “providing independent advice to government on the reduction of the nation’s emissions and climate change policy”.

This ought to keep Bowen awake at night:

8.3 gigawatts of coal fired power will be withdrawn from the market by 2029 as plant is retired (some of it could go earlier than scheduled).

Presently only 1.32 gigawatts from other sources is scheduled to become available to replace it and presumably a good portion of that will be intermittent.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 14, 2022 10:57 am

“At the end of the day you’re a windshield or a bug.”

– Sun Tzu.

132andBush
132andBush
September 14, 2022 11:01 am

Do I believe Tucker Carlson, known in the past for wearing a bowtie in media appearances before he was given Bill O’Reilly’s slot on Fox, is as much of a fascist as he appears in his show? No.

You are so pathetic.
You can’t or won’t even define the term.
For people to claim you’re not a troll is to stretch credulity.
You can’t possibly believe what you say.
Tucker is for less government, lower taxes, personal responsibility and accountability for elected officials. So according to you this makes him Mussolinis’ love child.

Moron.

Helen
Helen
September 14, 2022 11:06 am

Thanks for the links Bruce, and note comment re truck – I must say though that accidents did not deter Honor Harrington!

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
September 14, 2022 11:06 am

Prof Lesley Hughes, a distinguished academic who has held government advisory roles and is a member of the Climate Council

Member of the Climate Council.
Open to anyone, for as little as $3/week.

The Daily Exposé of the climate disasteratii…

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 11:08 am

Haha, lesbians now are colonial fascists.
Also they certainly aren’t true Scotsmen.

Helen
Helen
September 14, 2022 11:08 am

Captain and I are planning retirement abode.

Independent power tick
Independent water tick
Plenty of rain tick

Anchor What
Anchor What
September 14, 2022 11:10 am

Thanks Bruce – I’ve been hammered by a friend over the villainous Bread! But they love it.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 11:10 am

The-Kharkov-Game-Changer

Pepe Escobar – Strategic Culture – Tue, 13 Sep 2022

Wars are not won by psyops. Ask Nazi Germany. Still, it’s been a howler to watch NATOstan media on Kharkov, gloating in unison about “the hammer blow that knocks out Putin”, “the Russians are in trouble”, and assorted inanities.

Facts: Russian forces withdrew from the territory of Kharkov to the left bank of the Oskol river, where they are now entrenched. A Kharkov-Donetsk-Lugansk line seems to be stable. Krasny Liman is threatened, besieged by superior Ukrainian forces, but not lethally.

No one – not even Maria Zakharova, the contemporary female equivalent of Hermes, the messenger of the Gods – knows what the Russian General Staff (RGS) plans, in this case and all others. If they say they do, they are lying.

There were no Russian Armed Forces in those settlements: only Rosgvardia, and these are not trained to fight military forces. Kiev attacked with an advantage of around 5 to 1. The allied forces retreated to avoid encirclement. There are no Russian troop losses because there were no Russian troops in the region.

Arguably this may have been a one-off. The NATO-run Kiev forces simply can’t do a replay anywhere in Donbass, or in Kherson, or in Mariupol. These are all protected by strong, regular Russian Army units.

It’s practically a given that if the Ukrainians remain around Kharkov and Izyum they will be pulverized by massive Russian artillery. Military analyst Konstantin Sivkov maintains that, “most combat-ready formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are now being grounded (…) we managed to lure them into the open and are now systematically destroying them.”

The NATO-run Ukrainian forces, crammed with NATO mercenaries, had spent 6 months hoarding equipment and reserving trained assets exactly for this Kharkov moment – while dispatching disposables into a massive meat grinder. It will be very hard to sustain an assembly line of substantial prime assets to pull off something similar again.

The next days will show whether Kharkov and Izyum are connected to a much larger NATO push. The mood in NATO-controlled EU is approaching Desperation Row. There’s a strong possibility this counter-offensive signifies NATO entering the war for good, while displaying quite tenuous plausible deniability: their veil of – fake – secrecy cannot disguise the presence of “advisers” and mercenaries all across the spectrum.

Decommunization as de-energization

Kharkov was preciously timed – as General Winter is around the corner; the Ukraine issue was already suffering from public opinion fatigue; and the propaganda machine needed a boost to turbo-lubricate the multi-billion dollar weaponizing rat line.

Yet Kharkov may have forced Moscow’s hand to increase the pain dial. That came via a few well-placed Mr. Kinzhals leaving the Black Sea and the Caspian to present their business cards to the largest thermal power plants in northeast and central Ukraine (most of the energy infrastructure is in the southeast).

Half of Ukraine suddenly lost power and water. Trains came to a halt. If Moscow decides to take out all major Ukraine substations at once, all it takes is a few missiles to totally smash the Ukrainian energy grid – adding a new meaning to “decommunization”: de-energization.

According to an expert analysis, “if transformers of 110-330 kV are damaged, then it will almost never be possible to put it into operation (…) And if this happens at least at 5 substations at the same time, then everything is kaput. Stone age forever.”

Russian government official Marat Bashirov was way more colorful: “Ukraine is being plunged into the 19th century. If there is no energy system, there will be no Ukrainian army. The matter of fact is that General Volt came to the war, followed by General Moroz (“frost”).

And that’s how we might be finally entering “real war” territory – as in Putin’s notorious quip that “we haven’t even started anything yet.”

It may now be painfully obvious that when the collective West is waging war – hybrid and kinetic, with everything from massive intel to satellite data and hordes of mercenaries – against you, and you insist on conducting a hazily-defined Special Military Operation (SMO), you may be up for some nasty surprises.

So the SMO status may be about to change: it’s bound to become a counter-terrorist operation.

This is an existential war. A do or die affair. The American geopolitical /geoeconomic goal, to put it bluntly, is to destroy Russian unity, impose regime change and plunder all those immense natural resources. Ukrainians are nothing but cannon fodder: in a sort of twisted History remake, the modern equivalents of the pyramid of skulls Timur cemented into 120 towers when he razed Baghdad in 1401.

If may take a “hammer blow” for the RSG to wake up. Sooner rather than later, gloves – velvet and otherwise – will be off. Exit SMO. Enter War.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
September 14, 2022 11:10 am

This ought to keep Bowen awake at night:

Not in the least.
They’ve passed LAWS, mandating 43% Less Carbon than competitors’ brands.

So it’s all legal and could face up to a Judge in a Court.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 14, 2022 11:11 am

Helensays:

September 14, 2022 at 11:08 am

Captain and I are planning retirement abode.

Independent power tick

I am thinking about buying an old Fergie and hooking up the PTO to one of those old dairy farm generators.

Anchor What
Anchor What
September 14, 2022 11:11 am

For people to claim you’re not a troll is to stretch credulity.
He’s only 95% troll, so that’s ok, apparently.

zyconoclast
zyconoclast
September 14, 2022 11:12 am

New Orleans Democrat mayor has declared economy class flights unsafe for black women, while insisting she wont repay $30,000 of taxpayers’ money blown on first-class flights to France and Switzerland.

Speaking at a press conference Thursday, LaToya Cantrell said: ‘My travel accommodations are a matter of safety, not of luxury.

‘As all women know, our health and safety are often disregarded and we are left to navigate alone.

The mayor insists that the trips and luxury travel expenses were necessary in order to better New Orleans itself.

But the city’s travel policy leaves little room for maneuver: ‘Employees are required to purchase the lowest airfare available…Employees who choose an upgrade from coach, economy, or business class flights are solely responsible for the difference in cost.’

The policy also states: ‘Any reconciliation of travel expenses that results in overpayment by the City requires that the employee reimburse the City within twenty business days’

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
September 14, 2022 11:13 am

Morons of the world unite. We don’t want to be lumped in with the Munties. We’ve been at it for ever and now some Johnnie come Latelys have overtaken us in the stupidity stakes. I’m not standing for it, a good lay down is in order.

shatterzzz
September 14, 2022 11:13 am

Labor cabinets are determined by the factional leaders who represent their union masters.

Yep! .. but you don’t get a “hereditary” seat without factional approval so your rise to Cabinet is “fast-tracked” from the beginning …..

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 11:15 am

Helen – Harrington had small fusion reactors, not fission ones. Be nice if we had them! Not so much annoying residual radioactivity when you turn them off.

As it happens as a break from history stuff I’m currently reading A Call to Insurrection, which is book 4 of a prequel series to the Harrington ones. The series is interesting because Weber, Zahn and Pope manage to make the technology grungy and believably more primitive to the Harrington series (which is set some centuries later).

zyconoclast
zyconoclast
September 14, 2022 11:15 am

If may take a “hammer blow” for the RSG to wake up. Sooner rather than later, gloves – velvet and otherwise – will be off. Exit SMO. Enter War.

About 6 months too late

Tom
Tom
September 14, 2022 11:18 am

Tucker is for less government, lower taxes, personal responsibility and accountability for elected officials. So according to you this makes him Mussolinis’ love child.

132andBush, it’s terrifying that someone with such a toddler’s comprehension of the world is allowed to breed. But it’s an expression of the freedom we take for granted — well past the point where “liberals” become fascists because fascism is suddenly fashionable.

And if there’s one thing a 21st century “liberal” regards as a fate worse than death, it’s being unfashionable.

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
September 14, 2022 11:21 am

Hey Bush
How goes the fungicide campaign?
We’re holding at the moment but would like a fortnight of fine weather to start the next run.

Mater
September 14, 2022 11:25 am

“He who goes to bed with itchy bum, wakes up with smelly finger.”

Sun Tzu or Confusius, can’t remember which!
Doesn’t matter, sound advice.

Roger
Roger
September 14, 2022 11:26 am

So it’s all legal and could face up to a Judge in a Court.

Electors enduring blackouts, however, will not be feeling philosophical about their situation or those responsible.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 14, 2022 11:26 am

Former MP Andrew Laming receives apology, defamation payout from Nine
Former federal MP Andrew Laming’s payout is understood to be among the highest for defamation to a current or former Australian politician. Picture: Sky News

James Madden
Media Editor
4 minutes ago September 14, 2022

Former federal MP Andrew Laming has been awarded a significant damages payout after he was defamed by the Nine network, which last year aired a series of reports accusing the Queenslander of taking an “upskirting” photo of a woman at her Brisbane workplace.

Dr Laming’s payout – the exact details of which have not been publicly disclosed – is understood to be among the highest defamation payouts to a current or former Australian politician.

Nine’s total liability in the case, including Dr Laming’s legal costs, is understood to have exceeded $1m.

In the weeks after the news reports, which aired in March 2021, Dr Laming had just asked Nine to remove the relevant stories from its digital platforms, offer a public apology, and pay the ex-MP’s legal costs to that point, which amounted to a few thousand dollars.

But Nine refused to comply, prompting Dr Laming to launch defamation proceedings.

In February this year, with the defamation proceedings under way but not yet resolved, Nine won a prestigious Walkley Award in the television/video news reporting category for its coverage of the “upskirting” claims.

Dr Laming was never charged over the incident.

After the matter was finalised in the Federal Court on Wednesday morning, Dr Laming released a statement.

“Nine’s apology to me has just been read on to the record in the Federal Court,” he said.

“The broadcaster has finally acknowledged that allegations they broadcast last year were not true.

“I was denied that due process and a fair hearing in the media, but it has come today.

“Two weeks ago, Nine dropped all of its defences to my claim. Today it acknowledged seeing material convincing it to unreservedly withdraw the serious allegations it made; and to publicly apologise to me and my family. It is highly commendable that they, like many senior political and media figures previously, have agreed to right wrongs and apologise when presented with the facts.

“As I stated over a year ago, the stream of bizarre allegations came from political critics. “None of it was true. The hurt and humiliation was borne by my family, my friends and work colleagues. At the time, there was no media interest in any facts that might threaten that narrative.

“I leave today with confidence in our defamation laws and our courts. Australians can remain proud of our free press that requires the media to report matters of public interest in a fair and balanced way. And when mistakes are made, as they were in my case, correct the record and apologise.”

Several other media and political identities, including Lisa Wilkinson and Kristina Keneally, have issued apologies to Dr Laming in the past year, after publishing the false claim that he had taken an “upskirting” photo.

Dr Laming sued the ABC’s Louise Milligan, who posted “Laming upskirts” on her personal Twitter account. That case resulted in Dr Laming being awarded $78,000 in damages, which was paid for by the taxpayer-funded broadcaster.

With legal costs added, the Milligan tweet cost the ABC about $200,000

Here’s hoping any payout to Ben Roberts Smith sets a similar record.

Cassie of Sydney
September 14, 2022 11:28 am

Good on Andrew Laming, he didn’t back down and he didn’t wimp out…..this is what you do with the garbage left and in particular, the garbage left-wing media.

Former MP Andrew Laming receives apology, defamation payout from Nine

Former federal MP Andrew Laming has been awarded a significant damages payout after he was defamed by the Nine network, which last year aired a series of reports accusing the Queenslander of taking an “upskirting” photo of a woman at her Brisbane workplace.

Dr Laming’s payout – the exact details of which have not been publicly disclosed – is understood to be among the highest defamation payouts to a current or former Australian politician.

Nine’s total liability in the case, including Dr Laming’s legal costs, is understood to have exceeded $1m.

In the weeks after the news reports, which aired in March 2021, Dr Laming had just asked Nine to remove the relevant stories from its digital platforms, offer a public apology, and pay the ex-MP’s legal costs to that point, which amounted to a few thousand dollars.

But Nine refused to comply, prompting Dr Laming to launch defamation proceedings.

In February this year, with the defamation proceedings under way but not yet resolved, Nine won a prestigious Walkley Award in the television/video news reporting category for its coverage of the “upskirting” claims.

Dr Laming was never charged over the incident.

After the matter was finalised in the Federal Court on Wednesday morning, Dr Laming released a statement.

“Nine’s apology to me has just been read on to the record in the Federal Court,” he said.

“The broadcaster has finally acknowledged that allegations they broadcast last year were not true.

“I was denied that due process and a fair hearing in the media, but it has come today.

“Two weeks ago, Nine dropped all of its defences to my claim. Today it acknowledged seeing material convincing it to unreservedly withdraw the serious allegations it made; and to publicly apologise to me and my family. It is highly commendable that they, like many senior political and media figures previously, have agreed to right wrongs and apologise when presented with the facts.

“As I stated over a year ago, the stream of bizarre allegations came from political critics. “None of it was true. The hurt and humiliation was borne by my family, my friends and work colleagues. At the time, there was no media interest in any facts that might threaten that narrative.

“I leave today with confidence in our defamation laws and our courts. Australians can remain proud of our free press that requires the media to report matters of public interest in a fair and balanced way. And when mistakes are made, as they were in my case, correct the record and apologise.”

Several other media and political identities, including Lisa Wilkinson and Kristina Keneally, have issued apologies to Dr Laming in the past year, after publishing the false claim that he had taken an “upskirting” photo.

Dr Laming sued the ABC’s Louise Milligan, who posted “Laming upskirts” on her personal Twitter account. That case resulted in Dr Laming being awarded $78,000 in damages, which was paid for by the taxpayer-funded broadcaster.

With legal costs added, the Milligan tweet cost the ABC about $200,000.

Cassie of Sydney
September 14, 2022 11:28 am

“Zulu Kilo Two Alphasays:
September 14, 2022 at 11:26 am”

Snap Zulu…ya beat me to it!

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 11:29 am

Scott Ritter: Why Russia will still win, despite Ukraine’s gains

Russia is no longer fighting a Ukrainian army equipped by NATO, but a NATO army manned by Ukrainians. Yet, Russia still holds the upper hand despite its Kharkiv setback.

The Ukrainian army began a major offensive against Russian forces deployed in the region north of the southern city of Kherson on Sept. 1. Ten days later, the Ukrainians had expanded the scope and the scale of its offensive operations to include the region around the northern city of Kharkov.

While the Kherson offensive was thrown back by the Russians, with the Ukrainian forces suffering heavy losses in both men and material, the Kharkov offensive turned out to be a major success, with thousands of square kilometers of territory previously occupied by Russian troops placed back under Ukrainian governmental control.

Instead of launching its own counteroffensive against the Ukrainians operating in the Kharkov region, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MOD) made an announcement many people found shocking.

The Russians announced via Telegram:

“To achieve the stated goals of a special military operation to liberate the Donbass, it was decided to regroup Russian troops…to increase efforts in the Donetsk direction.”

Downplaying the notion of a retreat, the Russian MOD declared:

“To this end, within three days, an operation was carried out to curtail and organize the transfer of [Russian] troops to the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic. During this operation, a number of distractions and demonstration measures were carried out, indicating the real actions of the troops which resulted in more than two thousand Ukrainian and foreign fighters [being] destroyed, as well as more than a hundred units of armored vehicles and artillery.”

To quote the immortal Yogi Berra, it was “déjà vu all over again.”

Phases of the War

Soviet and NATO Doctrine

The Third Phase – NATO vs. Russia

The Ukrainian battle plan has “Made in Brussels” stamped all over it. The force composition was determined by NATO, as was the timing of the attacks and the direction of the attacks. NATO intelligence carefully located seams in the Russian defenses and identified critical command and control, logistics, and reserve concentration nodes that were targeted by Ukrainian artillery, which operates on a fire control plan created by NATO.

In short, the Ukrainian army that Russia faced in Kherson and around Kharkov was unlike any Ukrainian opponent it had previously faced. Russia was no longer fighting a Ukrainian army equipped by NATO, but rather a NATO army manned by Ukrainians.

Ukraine continues to receive billions of dollars of military assistance, and currently has tens of thousands of troops undergoing extensive training in NATO nations.

There will be a fourth phase, and a fifth phase … as many phases as necessary before Ukraine either exhausts its will to fight and die, NATO exhausts its ability to continue supplying the Ukrainian military, or Russia exhausts its willingness to fight an inconclusive conflict in Ukraine. Back in May I called the decision by the U.S. to provide billions of dollars of military assistance to Ukraine “a game changer.”

Massive Intelligence Failure

Why Russia Will Still Win

In the end, I still believe the end game remains the same — Russia will win. But the cost for extending this war has become much higher for all parties involved.

The successful Ukrainian counteroffensive needs to be put into a proper perspective. The casualties Ukraine suffered, and is still suffering, to achieve this victory are unsustainable. Ukraine has exhausted its strategic reserves, and they will have to be reconstituted if Ukraine were to have any aspirations of continuing an advance along these lines. This will take months.

Russia, meanwhile, has lost nothing more than some indefensible space. Russian casualties were minimal, and equipment losses readily replaced.

Russia has actually strengthened its military posture by creating strong defensive lines in the north capable of withstanding any Ukrainian attack, while increasing combat power available to complete the task of liberating the remainder of the Donetsk People’s Republic under Ukrainian control.

Russia has far more strategic depth than Ukraine. Russia is beginning to strike critical infrastructure targets, such as power stations, that will not only cripple the Ukrainian economy, but also their ability to move large amounts of troops rapidly via train.

Russia will learn from the lessons the Kharkov defeat taught them and continue its stated mission objectives.

The bottom line – the Kharkov offensive was as good as it will get for Ukraine, while Russia hasn’t come close to hitting rock bottom. Changes need to be made by Russia to fix the problems identified through the Kharkov defeat. Winning a battle is one thing; winning a war another.

For Ukraine, the huge losses suffered by their own forces, combined with the limited damage inflicted on Russia means the Kharkov offensive is, at best, a Pyrrhic victory, one that does not change the fundamental reality that Russia is winning, and will win, the conflict in Ukraine.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 14, 2022 11:30 am

Snap Zulu…ya beat me to it!

Great minds, Cassie.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 11:30 am
Roger
Roger
September 14, 2022 11:32 am

Elbow’s putative squeeze Jody whatshername will attend the Queen’s funeral.

Couldn’t she have relinquished her place for someone who actually believes in our constitutional monarchy?

Fair Shake
Fair Shake
September 14, 2022 11:35 am

I have a work colleague who arrived back from Munich last night. He was there for 7 days. He described the mood over there as depressing bordering on panic. The offices he visited were of old East German build. No lights on in corridors. Lights are only on in rooms where people are working. Very depressing. They are seriously worried how they will keep the lights and heating on at home for the coming winter. Panic is just beneath the surface.
His final comment was we do not understand how serious this issue is over there and we are happily heading down the same road as them. FFS.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 11:40 am

Farmer Gez says:
September 14, 2022 at 11:21 am

Hey Bush
How goes the fungicide campaign?
We’re holding at the moment but would like a fortnight of fine weather to start the next run.

Driving down to Jindabyne last weekend from Sydney – Grass in paddocks between Canberra and Cooma looked Winter Brown, similarly Cooma to Jindabyne across Monaro Plains looked Winter Brown

Flying into Melbourne yesterday, it all looked very green and all dams full

(Ps As badly colourblind – Winter Brown describes my lawns in Sydney – might not be brown but looks like it to me)

m0nty
September 14, 2022 11:41 am

Convicted sex offender Scott Ritter is running pure Russian propaganda. The funny thing is, the Russians are probably not even paying him to do it.

Mater
September 14, 2022 11:46 am

Convicted sex offender Scott Ritter is running pure Russian propaganda. The funny thing is, the Russians are probably not even paying him to do it.

Who pays you?

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 11:47 am

Mr WMD Scott Ritter writing about Russia is like Christopher Steele doing it for Ukraine. I always LOL when I see Steele trotted out as a Russia Expert.

Vindman is the same. These guys would make excellent Terminators. They just never give up and go away.

m0nty
September 14, 2022 11:49 am

Uncle George pays me, of course Mater. Sweet, sweet Nazi gold.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 11:50 am

Golly, I just accidentally gave Monty a free kick. Sorry.
But Mr WMD Ritter really should retire and go do something harmless like collect postage stamps.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 11:51 am

FBI Tracks Down Mike Lindell On Hunting Trip, Surrounds His Car And Seizes Cell Phone

Prominent Trump supporter and 2020 election integrity skeptic Mike Lindell says he was stopped by the FBI Tuesday and had his cell phone seized.

While heading home from a hunting trip with a friend, Lindell said he was at a Hardees in Minnesota when “cars pulled up in front of us, to the side of us and behind us, and I said ‘they’re either bad guys or the FBI,’” he said. “Well, it turns out they were the FBI.

“I can’t even imagine that you can take someone’s phone because they want me to be a witness in the Tina Peters case. But I’m not a witness, they just want my phone.”

More:

Lindell is the latest Trump ally to receive a warrant or subpoena by the FBI. Last week, the Biden DOJ hit dozens of Trump aides and allies with subpoenas as part of their investigation into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 US election over claims of fraud that handed Joe Biden the White House, as well as the run up to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

Interesting how the Biden DOJ waited more tha 18 months – right before midterms – to initiate legal action against Trumpworld. And Biden said he wouldn’t weaponize the Justice Department.

Speedbox
September 14, 2022 11:52 am

OldOzzie says:
September 14, 2022 at 9:22 am

Great post and I have no trouble believing winter in Europe this year will be miserable. Some people die each year due to the cold but this year…….. (sigh). And for what? Fair Shake’s comments at 11:35am are also sobering.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
September 14, 2022 11:53 am

Electors enduring blackouts, however, will not be feeling philosophical about their situation or those responsible.

I’m relying on this.
After years of participating and following in the fossil fuel side of the argument in Europe and Australia, it’s pretty clear that the punters need a decent dose of experiential learning in order to give proper guidance to their elected elites.

They’re starting to get a taste now.
In two years the sunlit uplands of renewable energy will have lost most of its popular appeal in voterland.

I’m hoping stupid is self-limiting.

Tom
Tom
September 14, 2022 11:54 am

Couldn’t she have relinquished her place for someone who actually believes in our constitutional monarchy?

Hell, no! Being invited to QEII’s funeral is the height of fashion and a dinner party talking point for decades to come, ESPECIALLY for a lefty. The monarchy has nothing to do with it.

PS: the only Australian who got and deserves an invite to Her Majesty’s funeral is Sydney thoroughbred trainer Chris Waller, who trained horses for her — racing horses being QEII’s first love.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 11:56 am

Prominent Trump supporter and 2020 election integrity skeptic Mike Lindell says he was stopped by the FBI Tuesday and had his cell phone seized.

Pillows are dangerous weapons of mass destruction, obviously.
It’s amazing what a trained white supremacist can do with a pillow.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 11:56 am

Tim Ryan: We Need to ‘Kill and Confront’ Extremist Republican Movement

Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH), running for the open U.S. Senate seat in Ohio, said Tuesday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that the “exhausted majority” needed to “kill and confront” the extremist Republican movement.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 14, 2022 12:01 pm

Netherlands to apologise for role in slave trade
Bruno Waterfield, Brussels
Tuesday September 13 2022, 12.00pm BST, The Times
Save

The Netherlands will apologise for its role in the slave trade and set up a €200 million fund next year to raise awareness about the legacy of slavery.

The fund will mark the 150th anniversary of the Dutch abolition of slavery, decades after Britain outlawed it.

Mark Rutte, the prime minister, had previously opposed a national apology but, during a visit yesterday to Suriname, a former Dutch colony, he announced a change of mind. “That has really changed for me, partly because of the whole discussion that has arisen around the Black Lives Matter movement. That really made me think differently about it,” he said.

“Next year will be 150 years ago when it was abolished. Those are huge topics, we need to talk about them. Even though no one lives from that time anymore, it is still an unfinished chapter.” The big question will be the financial consequences of a state apology and whether reparations will be paid.

In 1863 the Netherlands was one of the last countries to abolish colonial slavery. Campaigners and historians say the changes took at least a decade to come into effect.

Wealth from colonies in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean fuelled the Dutch “golden age”. Amsterdam became the heart of the global economic system, leading to the creation of the first modern stock exchange and multinational corporation, the Dutch East India Company.

This autumn the government is expected to begin a national debate about the contemporary consequences of slavery before the official apology next year.

Last year a special advisory body recommended that the Dutch state “acknowledges, apologises for and restores the history of slavery”.

The committee, set up by Rutte’s administration in 2020, recommended making July 1, the date of slavery’s abolition in 1863, “a national day of remembrance attended by the King and the government”.

The first national day would launch “a national research programme into the history of slavery and its consequences today” with a special fund for “structural and sustainable financing of rehabilitation measures”.

Tony Blair apologised in 2007 for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, marking 200 years since the Slave Trade Act of 1807 which prohibited people trafficking from Africa, and was superseded by the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 12:02 pm

PS: the only Australian who got and deserves an invite to Her Majesty’s funeral is Sydney thoroughbred trainer Chris Waller, who trained horses for her — racing horses being QEII’s first love.

There was a nice story at Sky some days ago. Context being Bambi gifting Liz an iPod full of his speeches.

Scott Morrison says Queen behaved ‘like a schoolgirl’ after he gifted her a signed biography of Australian racehorse Winx (10 Sep)

Unsure of what to give Her Majesty, Mr Morrison revealed he had turned to former prime minister John Howard for advice on present ideas.

“And he said, ‘mate she loves horses, she loves her horses’, and so you know, we came up with the idea of the Winx biography,” Mr Morrison told Sky News chief anchor Kieran Gilbert.

“And so we brought it along and I had it in the little bag there as we met, we were bowing and holding this bag.

“We mentioned it to her and she was pretty keen to sort of pull it out. She pulls it out, like a schoolgirl, she’s flicking through and looking at the photos. And she knew all about Winx.”

It’s nice that he gave her such a fine present. Well done guys for coming up with that idea!

m0nty
September 14, 2022 12:03 pm

I’m waiting for the Winx autobiography.

Arky
September 14, 2022 12:09 pm

If may take a “hammer blow” for the RSG to wake up. Sooner rather than later, gloves – velvet and otherwise – will be off. Exit SMO. Enter War.

..
Utter horseshit.

Roger
Roger
September 14, 2022 12:09 pm

PS: the only Australian who got and deserves an invite to Her Majesty’s funeral is Sydney thoroughbred trainer Chris Waller, who trained horses for her — racing horses being QEII’s first love.

The father who lost three children to a drunk driver and subsequently set up a charity seems a decent choice too.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
September 14, 2022 12:13 pm

These guys would make excellent Terminators. They just never give up and go away.

One of the worst things about getting older is realizing the world is full of unflushable turds who, in saner times would be killed in a duel or confined to bedlam.

They just never… go… away…

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 14, 2022 12:17 pm

m0ntysays:

September 14, 2022 at 11:49 am

Uncle George pays me, of course Mater. Sweet, sweet Nazi gold.

It’s hard to know for sure, but this could be trolling.

johanna
johanna
September 14, 2022 12:19 pm

Driving down to Jindabyne last weekend from Sydney – Grass in paddocks between Canberra and Cooma looked Winter Brown, similarly Cooma to Jindabyne across Monaro Plains looked Winter Brown

Probably due to some heavy frosts recently – there’s been plenty of rain so it’s not lack of moisture. I reckon that in a month or so everything will be nice and green around here.

Indolent
Indolent
September 14, 2022 12:20 pm

Finding clots in 50% to 70% of bodies.
Ask yourself a few questions.
How many bodies are subjected to a full exploratory autopsy, involving power saws?
A tiny minority.

This was actually explained by an English undertaker some time ago. It sounds very morbid, but to make bodies look more natural for viewing they drain the blood and flush through with formaldehyde, which they used to be able to do with one incision near the neck. In the past couple of years, however, they’ve often had to make multiple incisions because of blockages and, on investigation, they’ve been finding clots in various lengths and thicknesses, as shown in this clip (any many previous ones).

Roger
Roger
September 14, 2022 12:27 pm

They just never… go… away…

Meanwhile, Julia Gillard is being touted as our next High Commissioner to the UK.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
September 14, 2022 12:28 pm

In Events dear boy, events news of the day.

ABCcess, lacking any local protests tries to gin up “international protests” against the Scabs gas project.

Where does it go to find people opposed to importing gas?
Go on Guess.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-14/greenpeace-activists-protest-woodside-scarborough-project/101376584

The operation is expected to export its first LNG shipment in 2026 and will emit millions of tonnes of carbon.

Greenpeace Germany campaigner Manfred Santen was involved in the August protest and said the activists stopped the ship for “half a day”.

“[We] made it clear that we think the damage or the potential damage to the marine environment in Australia is such a big risk that they have to step out of these projects,” he said.

Mr Sanfred said the environmental group was targeting German energy companies RWE and Uniper, who have entered into deals to purchase gas from Woodside.

Look at the sub-mong they have found to be the Australian ‘expert” on this.

Curtin University sustainability expert Peter Newman said the international attention was the beginning of a “continual series of protests” about the Scarborough project.

“The world is moving away from all forms of fossil fuels … gas is not a transition fuel anymore, it is simply a fossil fuel that needs to be banned and removed from the planet,” he said.
Professor Newman, who is also a lead author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said the protests would be concerning gas companies.

“They are worried because this is a continuation of a growing phenomenon that has got right into their shareholder meetings and boards,” he said.

“We need to be aware that this massive investment that’s beginning in the Pilbara for gas is likely to be stranded.”

Just how clinically retarded do you have to be to look at a place where thousands will almost certainly freeze to death this winter, and blithely state “the fuel which would have kept them alive must not be used”.
Its Pol pot levels of morality.

And our taxes pay for this useless eater to exist.

P
P
September 14, 2022 12:29 pm
Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
September 14, 2022 12:32 pm

In the end, I still believe the end game remains the same — Russia will win. But the cost for extending this war has become much higher for all parties involved.

I have 0% insight into the military situation, but it’s hard to argue with this statement.

Politically, Putin can’t give up, or deliver a soft-cock ‘victory’ to Russia.

Politically, the west can’t continue a proxy war indefinitely – even if Ukraine can.

Russia clearly has multiple ways to increase pressure on UKR and NATO – worryingly, up to using tactical nukes if Team Poot ever feels sufficiently threatened;

Economically, this is hollowing out Europe and Russia.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
September 14, 2022 12:34 pm

I’m hoping stupid is self-limiting.

Catching the m0ntypox is easier than the monkeypox. Listening to the news, or what passes for it this morning, 2 confirmed cases of homos dying of it in US. Only problem, homos not mentioned. The perennial stupid will be lining up to get inoculated. The medical experts* lining up with their hand out for frightening the natives once again. * most likely to contain falsehoods.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 14, 2022 12:44 pm

Trusted Embalmers = Philipino Faith Healers.

Boambee John
Boambee John
September 14, 2022 12:51 pm

Sancho Panzersays:
September 14, 2022 at 12:17 pm
m0ntysays:

September 14, 2022 at 11:49 am

Uncle George pays me, of course Mater. Sweet, sweet Nazi gold.

It’s hard to know for sure, but this could be trolling.

Who are we to reject the word of such an esteemed commenter as m0nty-fa? Of course it must be true.

Entropy
Entropy
September 14, 2022 12:59 pm

Hat Curtin university sustainability expert is an anti car nut.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 12:59 pm

Science news from Phys.org.

US presidential narcissism linked to longer wars
Amusing that the study ends with W in 2009…

Scientists say the best way to soothe a crying infant is by carrying them on a 5-minute walk
Will receive a Nobel Prize for Medicine, surely.

Erotophilia and sexual sensation-seeking are good predictors of engagement with sex robots, according to new research
He’s a grad student who is getting a PhD in sex robots. As you do.

Little Ice Age study reveals North Atlantic reached tipping point
All those Shakespearean SUVs.

Eating insects can be good for the planet. Europeans should eat more of them
The guy’s a Scot. Bugs would look inviting next to haggis and black pudding.

Food security: The world is hungry for a solution
UNSW prof says the answer is green socialism, of course.

How to make kelp aquaculture a better carbon sink
Seaweed and bugs, yum!

Decarbonizing the energy system by 2050 could save trillions of dollars, says new study
Defunding climate idiots would save even more trillions.

AI art is everywhere right now. Even experts don’t know what it will mean
Seeing that a toilet in the middle of a room is “art”, this is an improvement.

Bill Gates: Technological innovation would help solve hunger
That’s brilliant Bill! Amazing insight.

YouTube found to be especially bad for teens’ sleep
Bad for Cats too when Rabz has a music evening.

132andBush
132andBush
September 14, 2022 1:01 pm

Farmer Gez says:
September 14, 2022 at 11:21 am
Hey Bush
How goes the fungicide campaign?
We’re holding at the moment but would like a fortnight of fine weather to start the next run.

Same here, Gez.
Susceptible wheat varieties (in our case Rockstar) are penciled in for another dose in less than a week.
Resistant varieties are getting sorely tested and I’ve given up second guessing my decision not to spray my stuff.
All legumes are up to date but all applications for the next two weeks have to be aerial.
The rain that was probably not going to be enough to fill our dams and river systems has filled our dams and river systems and our paddocks!

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

Prominent Trump supporter and 2020 election integrity skeptic Mike Lindell says he was stopped by the FBI Tuesday and had his cell phone seized.

Seditious conduct is what got him.
Instead of selling pillows in a seditious manner, he should have just burned a few cities to the ground, firebombed some police cars, & beaten up a few small business owners.

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

m0ntysays: September 14, 2022 at 8:53 am

Do I believe Tucker Carlson, known in the past for wearing a bowtie in media appearances before he was given Bill O’Reilly’s slot on Fox, is as much of a fascist as he appears in his show?

A challenge for M0nty:
Copy & paste, or link to (with full explanation) of any fascist philosophies or conduct exhibited by Tucker Carlson on his show.

Salvatore’s forecast: M0nty will not be able to produce any examples of fascism by Tucker Carlson on his show, never mind comprehensive examples.

We stand by as it is now over to M0nty………………

Zyconoclast
Zyconoclast
September 14, 2022 1:15 pm

Another version of WMD…

Prime Minister Yair Lapid said he revealed “sensitive and relevant intelligence information” on Iran’s nuclear program to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, with whom he was meeting in Berlin on Monday.

bespoke
bespoke
September 14, 2022 1:16 pm

What does Sun Tzu say about casting such large net of blame you end up with few allies.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 1:19 pm

Faustus – Daniel Greenfield has this today:

The Only Thing We Know For Certain About The Ukraine War Is It Will Go On (13 Sep)

American coverage of the Russia-Ukraine conflict is mostly worthless and refracted through a local culture war prism in which people have picked sides based on the equally nonsensical claims Ukraine is progressive or that Russia is fighting wokeness. (Neither is true. They’re both ex-Communist nationalistic kleptocracies. Ukraine is better than Putin’s Russia, which has all of the corruption, some of the repression and little of the ideology of the USSR. But that’s a low bar.)

But the first thing we know about the Ukraine war is that it’s not going anywhere.

This conflict has been underway for centuries in one form or another.

99% of media coverage consists of trending hot takes that are pure nonsense.

What people need to remember is that despite what social media and media is telling you, this isn’t about governments. Putin and Zelensky are secondary to the overall nationalism and longstanding grudges between Russians and Ukrainians. And a territorial map that is every bit as messy and fraught as anything in the Middle East.

This problem didn’t begin yesterday. It’s not going away tomorrow. Any deal will just be a temporary truce that will set the stage for the next round of fighting.

That’s the problem. The ethnic Ukrainians and the ethnic Russians now hate each others’ guts and will continue to do so for the next generation or three. Both sides are stirring this up. This is becoming similar to the Partition of India, where the only possible answer is a mass migration across to two sides of a border. Which I guess would be located somewhere between Kharkov and the original border east of Donetsk, depending on which side gets to draw it on a map. It’s going to be really shitty, one way or another.

Speedbox
September 14, 2022 1:21 pm

Dr Faustus says:
September 14, 2022 at 12:32 pm

……….the cost for extending this war has become much higher for all parties involved.

And I think the price will continue to escalate.

Politically, Putin can’t give up, or deliver a soft-cock ‘victory’ to Russia.

Yep. Self-evident that not all Russians like or trust Putin but even fewer would appreciate international humiliation of their armed forces. Russians are deeply patriotic and the armed forces are revered.

Politically, the west can’t continue a proxy war indefinitely – even if Ukraine can.

The West will fight to the last Ukrainian. But I remain fearful that the beautiful cities of Ukraine could end up being extensively damaged and many lives lost. Escalation comes at little ‘blood cost’ to NATO/USA in that they are not on the receiving end of Russian missiles and artillery. NATO has deployed extensive resources into Ukraine and are acting in concert with the Ukrainian military which was to be expected but, the military deaths are not EU or American soldiers and the Ukrainian civilians will always bear the brunt.

Russia clearly has multiple ways to increase pressure on UKR and NATO……..

Indeed. Russia has huge resources available – it just remains to be seen how much they utilise.

m0nty
September 14, 2022 1:22 pm

Copy & paste, or link to (with full explanation) of any fascist philosophies or conduct exhibited by Tucker Carlson on his show.

Tucker Carlson defends Trump’s friendliness with brutal dictator Kim Jong-Un: “You’ve got to be honest about what it means to lead a country. It means killing people.”

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 1:23 pm

We stand by as it is now over to M0nty………………

Let me answer part of that for you, Drills. Tucker has certainly posited regressive, quasi fascist ideas on economics. Tucker has said several times that he would ban remote (self driving, automated) commercial traffic on American roads in order to protect truck driving jobs. He’s not exactly the golden haired boy. His position falls exactly in line with mandated fascist economic principles in this very point.

He’s good on other stuff, but he ought to leave economics alone.

Is there ever a times you don’t face plant?

Winston Smith
September 14, 2022 1:24 pm

Dover Beach:
Yes, what pile on?
I hardly commented at all yesterday until late.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 1:26 pm

The rain that was probably not going to be enough to fill our dams and river systems has filled our dams and river systems and our paddocks!

And is going to keep on filling them.

Australians bracing for another soggy summer as Bureau of Meteorology confirms a third consecutive La Nina is on its way (Sky News, 13 Sep)

Glad to see BoM catching up with us Cats. Maybe they should update their model assumptions a bit.

Diogenes
Diogenes
September 14, 2022 1:26 pm

NATO has deployed extensive resources into Ukraine and are acting in concert with the Ukrainian military which was to be expected but, the military deaths are not EU or American

I wonder what would happen if Russia and China implemented sanctions against the 11 of the G20 who have imposed sanctions on Russia.

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

m0ntysays: September 14, 2022 at 1:22 pm

Copy & paste, or link to (with full explanation) of any fascist philosophies or conduct exhibited by Tucker Carlson on his show.

Tucker Carlson defends Trump’s friendliness with brutal dictator Kim Jong-Un: “You’ve got to be honest about what it means to lead a country. It means killing people.”

Trump, as head of state, talks to a hard-left head of state.

Are you seriously suggesting that is Tucker Carlson behaving in a fascist manner?

We’ll take it that you are unable to post any examples of Tucker Carlson behaving in a fascist manner on his show.
Checkmate.

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

JCsays: September 14, 2022 at 1:23 pm

What a stupid answer to a serious question.
Though unlike M0nty you at least understood the question.

m0nty
September 14, 2022 1:28 pm
m0nty
September 14, 2022 1:30 pm

Trump, as head of state, talks to a hard-left head of state.

LOL, you’re not being serious.

Are you seriously suggesting that is Tucker Carlson behaving in a fascist manner?

Yeah, I’d say that endorsing extra-legal state killings is pretty fascist.

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

Trump, as head of state, talks to a hard-left head of state.

LOL, you’re not being serious.

Very serious.
Explain, using as many words as you need to, how that is Trump talking to an unstable unpredictable enemy is Tucker Carlson being fascist.

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 1:34 pm

Here’s Tucker praising Liz Warren – that doyen of social and economic liberalism.

Carlson praised Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s economic plans during the opening segment of his Fox News show last night.

After chiding Republican policymakers for not embracing “economic nationalism,” Carlson quoted Warren sounding off on American companies for not being sufficiently patriotic.

Warren’s comments were couched in language Republicans love: gratitude “for the opportunities America” provides, condemnation of those with “no loyalty or allegiance” to the country, lament of U.S. companies opening locations in Mexico and China. But they were also packed with evergreen left malcontent—casting blame on “free market principles” because the corporations that “control our economy” overvalue “the short-term interests of their shareholders,”

Carlson—an avid free-markets kind of guy until it was no longer what Fox producers and GOP leaders seemed to want—opined that Warren’s pro-regulation rant was “just pure old-fashioned economics” and that many of her policy prescriptions “make obvious sense.”

Here’s more from Tucker peddling socialist/ fascist economic which ironically fatboy would support whole heavyhearted.

Let me say, Tucker is very good on the anti-demonrat politics side of things but his economic is just appallingly fascist.

You really need to stop the face plants as you’re beginning to look like a pancake.

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

Yeah, I’d say that endorsing extra-legal state killings is pretty fascist.

You are wrong. Your knowledge of the world, & politics, is very retarded.
Are you so deluded that you believe only fascists engage in extra-legal state killings?

Is punching ‘nazis’ a fascist act?

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 1:36 pm

What a stupid answer to a serious question.

No, it’s a serious rebuttal to a very stupid question, which in your case always ends up as another face plant.

Though unlike M0nty you at least understood the question.

Lol.

You pancake face.

Speedbox
September 14, 2022 1:36 pm

Diogenes says:
September 14, 2022 at 1:26 pm
I wonder what would happen if Russia and China implemented sanctions against the 11 of the G20 who have imposed sanctions on Russia.

If China got in the game = a cataclysmic global economic meltdown probably resulting in WW3.

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

JC believes Liz Warren is a fascist. This is better than his sobfest of last night.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 1:39 pm

I wonder what would happen if Russia and China implemented sanctions against the 11 of the G20 who have imposed sanctions on Russia.

China is having their own problems with self-inflicted Covid mania. The energy price spike won’t be helping them much either, since they have to import lots of coal, oil and gas. That suggests they’ll stay on the sidelines.

Different for Russia. The energy price spike is pure gravy for them.

Russia’s Gazprom Doubled Oil & Gas Revenue This Year (Despite Volume Dropping In Half) (13 Sep)

EU Scraps Price Cap On Russian Natural Gas (13 Sep)

Russia 1 – Europe 0.

Boambee John
Boambee John
September 14, 2022 1:39 pm

m0ntysays:
September 14, 2022 at 1:22 pm
Copy & paste, or link to (with full explanation) of any fascist philosophies or conduct exhibited by Tucker Carlson on his show.

Tucker Carlson defends Trump’s friendliness with brutal dictator Kim Jong-Un: “You’ve got to be honest about what it means to lead a country. It means killing people.”

Hmmm, let’s contemplate some of the leaders who have followed that philosophy.

Lenin, Stalin, Kruschev, Mao, Xi, various Kims, Pol Pot, various Castros, plus the sainted Che, and the other well known leftist, Hitler. Mussolini much less than the others.

Now what do they have in common, oh, yes, they are all followers of varieties of collectivism.

Try again.

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 1:40 pm

Speedbox

Just walk through this as I’m thinking aloud. I like you’re contributions and there should be more.

If Russia really does end up having to retreat back to their old stomping ground before the war, would Rasputin dare use nukes? I think the odds would then head above 50%. What do you think?

If he did use nukes what would be the Western response?

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 1:40 pm

Oops, meant to blockquote the first para, which is from Diogenes.

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 1:42 pm

JC believes Liz Warren is a fascist.

Undoubtedly, you clown. Now please go away as you’re a total waste of space. You can’t even “pubble” anymore for obvious reasons. You fraud.

m0nty
September 14, 2022 1:44 pm

You are wrong. Your knowledge of the world, & politics, is very retarded.
Are you so deluded that you believe only fascists engage in extra-legal state killings?

Umm… yes? Is that a trick question? Or do you just have shit for brains.

bespoke
bespoke
September 14, 2022 1:45 pm

Liz Warren is a fascist. 

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

You can’t even “pubble” anymore for obvious reasons.

Not obvious, please explain those reasons.

You fraud.

Do tell……

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

Umm… yes? Is that a trick question? Or do you just have shit for brains.

What a stupid comment.
You believe only fascists ever commit extra-legal state killings.

Stick to “punching nazis” – that’ll keep you flat on your back in hospital for the rest of this year.

Boambee John
Boambee John
September 14, 2022 1:48 pm

m0ntysays:
September 14, 2022 at 1:44 pm
You are wrong. Your knowledge of the world, & politics, is very retarded.
Are you so deluded that you believe only fascists engage in extra-legal state killings?

Umm… yes? Is that a trick question? Or do you just have shit for brains.

Hmmm. Let’s see, Obama “droned” at least one American citizen living outside the US, with no legal due process.

Shit for brains.

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 1:49 pm

Not obvious, please explain those reasons.

Best if you explained you bullshit for the past several years.

Do tell……

Up to you, not me, you fraud.

Mater
September 14, 2022 1:50 pm

If he did use nukes what would be the Western response?

What did they do in response to the sniffles?

They locked themselves in their houses, wrapped themselves in plastic and hid under the basement bed.

“If it saves just one life!”

If it’s limited to the Ukraine, there’ll be no direct response from the West. They wouldn’t dare. They don’t have the testicular fortitude, nor commitment to principles.

132andBush
132andBush
September 14, 2022 1:51 pm

Let me say, Tucker is very good on the anti-demonrat politics side of things but his economic is just appallingly fascist.

He’s the same as the bloke who made the trains run on time?

Miss guided his views may be re the trucks (he found common ground with Chenk on that score) I think he has a concern for his fellow man that a lot of get rich at whatever the cost people don’t and will never possess.
I must’ve missed the part where he wants full blown, top down government involvement with society.

Timothy Neilson
Timothy Neilson
September 14, 2022 1:52 pm

m0ntysays:
September 14, 2022 at 1:30 pm

Yeah, I’d say that endorsing extra-legal state killings is pretty fascist.

Actually, did Carlson endorse “extra-legal” state killings?
Obviously being a head of government may involve sending troops into a combat zone (war or UN peacekeeping forces or similar), possibly imposing the death penalty, and having armed police forces combatting violent crime and perhaps needing to waste a few sociopaths to defend themselves and the public in the course of doing so.
None of those things are (or at least none of them need be) “extra-legal”.
True, Carlson was speaking in a discussion about atrocities and human rights violations but he made it clear that he didn’t endorse those things and was just saying that Trump had to live in the real world as US President, not wait for an ideal world to materialise. In that context of him explicitly saying he didn’t endorse atrocities or human rights violations, his reference to “killing people” was really just saying all leaders need to do unpleasant things and in the real world it’s not practicable to refuse to engage with leaders who do things that are both unpleasant and wrong.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 1:54 pm

Lenin, Stalin, Kruschev, Mao, Xi, various Kims, Pol Pot, various Castros, plus the sainted Che, and the other well known leftist, Hitler. Mussolini much less than the others.

I would’ve said Mussolini was like a pea in a pod with the rest of them. Ethiopia, Albania, invading fascist Greece. He only invented fascism after he was booted out of the Italian Socialist Party for not being internationalist enough.

Seems to be a thing that Benny is being reinvented as a penitent. Niven and Pournelle did that in their interesting and fun novel Inferno.

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 1:56 pm

Bush

Don’t go overboard with the hyperbole as I did say he’s good on some things. Making nice with Liz Warren means he’s appalling on the economics side. Read the piece. Warren is a fascist as are nearly all Demonics now. If it upsets you life view, then dust yourself off.

Carpe Jugulum
Carpe Jugulum
September 14, 2022 1:56 pm

bespoke says:

Liz Warren is a fascist.

Sun Tzu – The Art of War

Dot
Dot
September 14, 2022 2:00 pm

Actually, did Carlson endorse “extra-legal” state killings?

I don’t think he did. monty would praise Madeleine Albright, but boo Trump.

Dot
Dot
September 14, 2022 2:00 pm

Liz Warren is a fascist.

True.

m0nty
September 14, 2022 2:02 pm

Dubbya’s War on Terror did evoke a lot of extra-legal killings, it’s true.

Droning a purported terrorist in a foreign country is a lot different to crushing domestic political dissent with a truncheon in a police cell, though.

And yes, speaking approvingly of Kim is endorsing fascism. What deaths is he most known for? His own relatives, because they were a threat to his dictatorship.

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 2:04 pm

Nice story on Judaism in the regions posted at their ABC. It must have been the anti-semites day off at the state owned broadcaster.

Judaism undergoes a resurgence in the NSW Hunter Valley
Wait till they get back from their RDO. There will be hell to pay.

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

Best if you explained you bullshit for the past several years.

Yet I’ve never bullshitted.
I’m good, but I’m not a mind reader. Start by identifying even one piece of what you believe is bullshit.

Up to you, not me, you fraud.

I’m good, but I’m not a mind reader.
It is you who made the (repeated) allegation of fraud. It is up to you to explain wtf you mean by that.

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

speaking approvingly of Kim is endorsing fascism.

How is diplomacy toward a hard-core left….. endorsing fascism?

bespoke
bespoke
September 14, 2022 2:10 pm

I am not a librarian.

Timothy Neilson
Timothy Neilson
September 14, 2022 2:10 pm

m0ntysays:
September 14, 2022 at 2:02 pm

And yes, speaking approvingly of Kim is endorsing fascism. What deaths is he most known for? His own relatives, because they were a threat to his dictatorship.

Can you please quote, or refer to the time on your link for, the exact words where Carlson spoke approvingly of Kim?
Or, if you are implying that Carlson’s a fascist because (so you assert) Trump spoke “approvingly” of Kim, and Carlson said that a US President has to deal with the real world not an imaginary ideal one?

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 2:12 pm
Winston Smith
September 14, 2022 2:15 pm

Dover Beach:

They’re not word games. But I’ll grant you the floor, if this afternoon was a pile-on, why am I looking only at Winston?

What the Hell have I done now?

bespoke
bespoke
September 14, 2022 2:18 pm

What the Hell have I done now?

Drink 4x and collect used pantys as a hobby.

Arky
September 14, 2022 2:20 pm

bespoke says:
September 14, 2022 at 2:10 pm
I am not a librarian

..
Cheer up.
No one is perfect.

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 2:20 pm

What the Hell have I done now?

What you always do, you spiteful bed panning weasel. Speak to people directly if you’re attacking them or else fuck off. You’re such pathetic coward with zero to add to any discussion.

H B Bear
H B Bear
September 14, 2022 2:21 pm

It’s hard to know for sure, but this could be trolling.

mUnty knows he is just a paint-by-numbers Leftist. He is the Proletariat.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 14, 2022 2:24 pm

bespokesays:

September 14, 2022 at 1:16 pm

What does Sun Tzu say about casting such large net of blame you end up with few allies.

Sun Tzu says such a person is as dumb as a box of rocks.

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

You’re such pathetic coward with zero to add to any discussion.

Standards of civility not as high in some as in others.

Sun Tzu.

m0nty
September 14, 2022 2:31 pm

Of all the terrible things said in the OT lately, exhortations to drink XXXX must rate highly on the nastiness scale.

Lysander
Lysander
September 14, 2022 2:35 pm

And yes, speaking approvingly of Kim is endorsing fascism

Monty finally admits that State Communism is fascism. It only took a few years but we got there.

I was thinking Munted, why don’t you move to Chicongo and you can live out your leftist wet dreams for reals. You can be the fat white minority guy running away from the didndu’s with guns?

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 2:36 pm

Standards of civility not as high in some as in others.

Neither is making oneself appear something s/he isn’t.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 14, 2022 2:38 pm

Dover at 11:52 last night.

Have you not seen what the appalling Queerslander redneck has directed toward Rosie? Is Rosie a troll too then so anything goes?

I have, but Rosie seems able to deal with it and returns serve. I’d prefer not to see it, however; at least the piles-on she used to attract have more or less stopped.

Without being seen to be running interference for any particular Cat, this seems fairly subjective.
Are you saying your criteria for intervention in a “pile-on” is a judgement call on whether an anonymous poster is capable of defending themselves?
Some may recall a poster from Old Cat who seemed eminently capable of dishing it out in a stoush, but there were later claims that they suffered some sort of mental episode as a result. So, with respect, how can you make that judgement at a distance?
It also seems to imply that another Cat is not capable of defending themselves and requires a level of protection but again, that particular person projects a level of confidence, life experience and knowledge that would seem to indicate they are capable of defending themselves.
(I have tried to avoid names so we can focus on the principles in play here).

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
September 14, 2022 2:40 pm

Former federal MP Andrew Laming has been awarded a significant damages payout after he was defamed by the Nine network, which last year aired a series of reports accusing the Queenslander of taking an “upskirting” photo of a woman at her Brisbane workplace.

That 8th Dan character has a truly Faulty-esque predictive ability.

As if the Ben Batterham fiasco wasn;t enough of an embarrassment, he tried to argue that NSW laws applied to Laming even though the ‘offence’ occurred in Queensland.

Way to go, Karate Poof.

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

JC says: September 14, 2022 at 2:36 pm

Standards of civility not as high in some as in others.

Neither is making oneself appear something s/he isn’t.

Are you saying that while you seem a rude arrogant prick with an uncontrollable temper, you’re not really one?

Lysander
Lysander
September 14, 2022 2:41 pm

JC
I like lots of what Carlson has to say about the Rats and I won’t defend everything he stands for because I have my own beliefs in a fairly minarchist government with social conservatism…

However, his beef with automation and electric cars has also been somewhat based on big government/deep state control of power grids.

…my five cents… 🙂

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 14, 2022 2:43 pm

Bespoke at 1:16.
Sun Tzu also says:-
Many soldiers talk loudly of glorious martyrdom on the eve of battle. These are always found with clean hands when the battle concludes.

Lysander
Lysander
September 14, 2022 2:44 pm

In fact, the “talent pool” of politicians to select for elections here has become so shallow, I’m seriously thinking of advocating a (Greek-esque) electoral lottery system for every naturally born Australian, over 30 with no convictions, small business experience and no union background.

Can’t be worse than this lot!

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 14, 2022 2:46 pm

The mincing Karate Kid has gone missing.

Speedbox
September 14, 2022 2:49 pm

JC says:
September 14, 2022 at 1:40 pm

Firstly, thanks for your remarks.

Secondly, I think the likelihood of Putin using nuclear weapons, even just theatre versions, is vanishingly small – except where the border integrity of Russia is at high risk. In other words, unless we see a modern repeat of Operation Barbarossa with hordes of Ukrainians soldiers backed by actual NATO troops swarming across the border, air attacks on Moscow and St Petersburg, blockading of Vladivostok, Murmansk etc and wholesale sinking of Russian naval assets at sea……effectively the start of WW3, then no, I can’t imagine any other scenario where nuclear weapons would be used.

Having said that, Russia has extensive (huge) resources of non-nuclear resources and personally, I am concerned about the use of the hypersonic and thermobaric weapons. The larger thermobaric versions have a destructive blast radius of 300m. Therefore, 10 of these on Kiev would destroy ~3 square kilometres and the resulting fires would see a near repeat of Dresden. Rinse and repeat in Odessa and Lviv. Tens of thousands would be dead.

And what could/would the West do? Scream and yell, impose more sanctions……threaten a military response……expulsion from the Security Council…… but it’s all a military bluff unless they want to actually start WW3.

But, I don’t think Putin will order those weapons to be used against cities because once that genie is out of the bottle, he can’t be put back. I expect we will see a much larger effort against Ukrainian infrastructure with ‘conventional’ missiles – roads, bridges, electricity generation, water storage, rail yards/tracks etc. Meanwhile, territorial gains will be bolstered and this becomes a war focussed on infrastructure destruction – which Ukraine can’t win, even with western arms. A populace living without electricity, running water, deficient transport and with low food supplies will become restive eventually and demand a ceasefire – even on terms not previously agreeable. Ok, so it won’t capture the ‘hearts and minds’ of most of the Ukrainian populace, but will Putin care?

Virtually all who are west of the Dniper river are Ukrainian rather then Russian. As I have said in other posts, once you get to the western part of Ukraine, those people are almost more Polish or Hungarian. Yes, they share a common history but they are far removed, physically and philosophically, from Russia so their acceptance of Russia will never be forthcoming, no matter what. In which case, Putin may say “fvck ’em” and test the Ukrainian’s resolve to endure increasing deprivation whilst their soldiers fight, and die, without pushing Russia back to its borders.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
September 14, 2022 2:53 pm

Whatever the result of the war in Ukraine the best thing to come out of it will surely be the destruction of the wanton damage Renewables has inflicted upon us. Far fewer will die as a result. This in no way diminishes the sacrifice of those lives wasted already from either side.

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 2:54 pm

Lysander.

That’s not what I heard (from him), but perhaps he later modified his position. What I heard was that he was totally against allowing automated commercial transport because it would offload many out the job market and he didn’t want to see that happen. That reminds me of the position of the Australian union movement in the 80s just as the small office/personal computer was coming on-stream. They wanted to ban personal computers because it would eliminate clerical jobs. No kidding , this is what these geniuses were peddling.

This is stupid and could only be up-voted by new wave thought Leaders with an uncanny understanding of economics because they worked once worked in blue collar jobs. 🙂

On a serious note though, I did say Tucker is good value on those points I mentioned, but he leaves me cold on economics. That’s not even Trumpian economics, it’s Liz Warren crap.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 14, 2022 2:56 pm

Speedboxsays:

September 14, 2022 at 2:49 pm

JC says:
September 14, 2022 at 1:40 pm

Firstly, thanks for your remarks.

Secondly, I think the likelihood of Putin using nuclear weapons, even just theatre versions, is vanishingly small

The meeja love a beat up.
Last night’s headline in The Oz:-
“Will Putin use Nukes in Ukraine?”
This morning’s headline moves from localised tactical to WW3:-
“Will Putin use Nukes?”

JC
JC
September 14, 2022 2:57 pm

Great reply Speedbox . Appreciate anything you post.

Old School Conservative
Old School Conservative
September 14, 2022 2:58 pm

YouTube found to be especially bad for teens’ sleep

I think teens have moved well beyond YouTube and are engrossed at night with TicToc and chat rooms.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 3:00 pm

Chinese yuan hitting its stride in oil trade

Rising yuan-ruble trade for oil a threat to dollar dominance and next step towards internationalizing China’s currency

Xi Jinping’s campaign to replace the dollar with the Chinese yuan in the global energy trade is having a seriously great September.

Last week, Russian giant Gazprom announced an agreement to invoice payments for shipments to China in yuan and rubles instead of dollars. Oil colossus Rosneft PJSC is also rolling out Russia’s biggest-ever yuan-denominated bond. According to Bloomberg, Rosneft will seek bids for at least 10 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion) of bonds on September 13.

Rosneft’s foray follows similar transactions by other Russian commodity export powers like aluminum behemoth United Co Rusal International PJSC and gold miner Polyus PJSC. There are reports, too, that Russian oil producer Gazprom Neft is pivoting to yuan bonds, as is iron-ore miner Metalloinvest Holding Co.

That follows news on September 1 that top Russian officials, including central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina, are mulling “strategic” purchases of about $70 billion in yuan and other “friendly” currencies.

Just two weeks earlier, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, or SWIFT, said Russia had charged up to third place in nations employing the yuan in global payments. Russia is only behind Hong Kong and Britain for now.

In July, Russia supplied a 19.1% share of China’s total crude imports, its second highest on record after June’s peak. Indications are that the share rose even more sharply in August and in the current month.

The more China and Russia trade, the greater scope there is for President Xi to create a new payments model that puts the yuan at the center of such deals. The yuan’s rising role also can be seen in its fast-increasing share of transactions in foreign trading on the Moscow Exchange, which now accounts for 26% of dealing versus 6% in April.

Increased yuan-ruble fits with Xi’s longer-term goal of internationalizing China’s currency. It also could buttress Beijing’s case that Saudi Arabia should follow the leads of Russia – and Venezuela earlier – to discard the dollar in favor of the yuan.

Clearly, it’s not an easy transition for two of the globe’s most dollar-dependent economies. But intervening events have made conditions for such anti-greenback solidarity riper than US President Joe Biden in Washington may realize.

Fundamentally speaking, the US national debt topping $30 trillion amidst the worst inflation outbreak in 40 years is not the stuff of trusted currencies. Biden’s moves earlier this year to immobilize Russian central bank assets as part of global sanctions haven’t gone down well in either Beijing or Riyadh.

All this means, says analyst Louis Gave at Gavekal Research, that the global economy is officially entered the “age of weaponization.”

As Chaminade University’s McNally puts it: “the breadth and intensity of financial sanctions against Russia means that any government owning large amounts of US dollars in their foreign reserves, even US-aligned ones, are likely to question the full safety of these reserves.”

Boambee John
Boambee John
September 14, 2022 3:01 pm

m0ntysays:
September 14, 2022 at 2:02 pm
Dubbya’s War on Terror did evoke a lot of extra-legal killings, it’s true.

Droning a purported terrorist in a foreign country is a lot different to crushing domestic political dissent with a truncheon in a police cell, though.

Read more closely, the reference was to Obama, not Duddya.

Hmmm. “crushing domestic political dissent with a truncheon in a police cell”, is that somehow different to police beating an unarmed woman to death in the Capitol? Or shooting another dead?

Zyconoclast
Zyconoclast
September 14, 2022 3:05 pm

Whatever the result of the war in Ukraine the best thing to come out of it will surely be the destruction of the wanton damage Renewables has inflicted upon us. Far fewer will die as a result. This in no way diminishes the sacrifice of those lives wasted already from either side.

Don’t bet on it

LARRY FINK’S 2022 LETTER TO CEOS:

Most stakeholders – from shareholders, to employees, to customers, to communities, and regulators – now expect companies to play a role in decarbonizing the global economy. Few things will impact capital allocation decisions – and thereby the long-term value of your company – more than how effectively you navigate the global energy transition in the years ahead.
It’s been two years since I wrote that climate risk is investment risk. And in that short period, we have seen a tectonic shift of capital.3 Sustainable investments have now reached $4 trillion.4 Actions and ambitions towards decarbonization have also increased. This is just the beginning – the tectonic shift towards sustainable investing is still accelerating. Whether it is capital being deployed into new ventures focused on energy innovation, or capital transferring from traditional indexes into more customized portfolios and products, we will see more money in motion.
Every company and every industry will be transformed by the transition to a net zero world. The question is, will you lead, or will you be led?
In a few short years, we have all watched innovators reimagine the auto industry. And today, every car manufacturer is racing toward an electric future. The auto industry, however, is merely on the leading edge – every sector will be transformed by new, sustainable technology.
Engineers and scientists are working around the clock on how to decarbonize cement, steel, and plastics; shipping, trucking, and aviation; agriculture, energy, and construction. I believe the decarbonizing of the global economy is going to create the greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime. It will also leave behind the companies that don’t adapt, regardless of what industry they are in. And just as some companies risk being left behind, so do cities and countries that don’t plan for the future. They risk losing jobs, even as other places gain them. The decarbonization of the economy will be accompanied by enormous job creation for those that engage in the necessary long-term planning.
The next 1,000 unicorns won’t be search engines or social media companies, they’ll be sustainable, scalable innovators – startups that help the world decarbonize and make the energy transition affordable for all consumers. We need to be honest about the fact that green products often come at a higher cost today. Bringing down this green premium will be essential for an orderly and just transition. With the unprecedented amount of capital looking for new ideas, incumbents need to be clear about their pathway succeeding in a net zero economy. And it’s not just startups that can and will disrupt industries. Bold incumbents can and must do it too. Indeed, many incumbents have an advantage in capital, market knowledge, and technical expertise on the global scale required for the disruption ahead.
Our question to these companies is: what are you doing to disrupt your business? How are you preparing for and participating in the net zero transition? As your industry gets transformed by the energy transition, will you go the way of the dodo, or will you be a phoenix?

Mother Lode
Mother Lode
September 14, 2022 3:06 pm

But Nine refused to comply, prompting Dr Laming to launch defamation proceedings.

They refuse to comply because this normally works – not many people can quickly marshal up a legal team that can go toe-to-toe with the demonic hosts that large media networks can conjure up from chthonic realms. Add to this that j’ismists are a particularly poisonous and vindictive breed of hydra with multiple heads in Twatter, fakebook, new stories where they can repeatedly bring up the old claim and phrase it as if any judgement in their favour really addresses the substance of the accusation etc.

In February this year, with the defamation proceedings under way but not yet resolved, Nine won a prestigious Walkley Award in the television/video news reporting category for its coverage of the “upskirting” claims.

Of course it won’t, but things like this should put the spotlight on the credibility of things like the Wankleys.

You would think the award would be bestowed on stories that embody the highest virtues of j’ism – such as impartiality despite emotion, investigative rigour, and even courage. A Wankley winning story that has to be walked back and costs the media organisation record sums must be particularly tatty and lacking in verifiable substance.

But let’s face it. The MSM is a self-fellating gutter-press puking ink onto their scandal sheets.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 3:09 pm

China’s new hypersonic test tunnel zooms by US

Mach 33 test facility draws on Australian technology and marks a quantum surge past US Mach 7 test capabilities

China has just built the world’s largest free-piston driven shock tunnel, potentially widening its lead over the US and its struggling hypersonic weapons program.

The South China Morning Post reported that its Sichuan-based facility could simulate extreme flight conditions up to Mach 33, or 2.5 to 11.5 kilometers per second.

The facility has a diameter of 80 centimeters, twice the size of the X3 Expansion Tube at the University
of Queensland in Australia, which was until recently the largest facility of its kind.

The new facility can reportedly provide ground test support for developing hypersonic vehicles such as scramjet-powered aircraft by simulating the escape velocity from Earth’s gravitational field.

China’s new hypersonic wind tunnel is based on an Australian invention known as a Stalker tube, named after Australian scientist Raymond Stalker, who proposed the design during the Cold War.

Earlier hypersonic wind tunnels used expensive, explosive and challenging to store hot hydrogen gas, making construction and maintenance of these facilities costly and complex.

In contrast, Stalker’s design uses relatively cheap and inert high-pressure nitrogen gas to drive a piston to several hundred kilometers an hour. The design can compress air and burst through several strong membranes to generate extremely hot and fast shock waves as encountered by aircraft at hypersonic speeds.

The South China Morning Post article notes that the design was so successful that it enabled Australia to develop hypersonic-related technology, such as the scramjet, despite its limited resources and manpower.

It also notes that in 2020 the US signed an agreement with Australia for the joint development of a Mach 8 hypersonic glide vehicle in response to China and Russia’s advances in developing hypersonic weapons.

The South China Morning Post claims that China’s hypersonic wind tunnel marks substantial improvements over its Western-made counterparts. For one, it features a high-pressure nitrogen tank wrapped around the piston launching tube, which reduces vibrations that can affect test results’ accuracy.

It also reduces the size and complexity of the facility compared to standard Stalker tubes. The facility’s 840-kilogram piston also features a unique structure design and new materials, allowing full reusability and reducing operational costs.

Boambee John
Boambee John
September 14, 2022 3:25 pm

Earlier hypersonic wind tunnels used expensive, explosive and challenging to store hot hydrogen gas, making construction and maintenance of these facilities costly and complex.

i wonder did the Asia Times j’ismist who wrote the hypersonic research story really comprehend the meaning of this sentence for the future of the “hydrogen economy”?

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 14, 2022 3:30 pm

The MSM is a self-fellating gutter-press puking ink onto their scandal sheets.

You are too kind to them.

I was amused today that NYT is having a revolt. Their revolting journos don’t want to come in to work.

Please, please take this opportunity to enjoy your MSM schadenfreude! (13 Sep, via Instapundit)

The New York Times is experiencing labor issues, and I have to say I hope it goes on forever.

With any luck the reporters will go on strike and return sometime in 2480, so all the rest of us can get on with our lives without being subjected to the constant whinging of entitled Leftists living the high life in New York.

Reporters at the New York Times are up in arms over the paper’s demand that they actually return to the office 3 days a week rather than work entirely in their pajamas with an occasional jaunt to get a pumpkin spice latte.

The New York Post has the story, and I have to say a smile crept over my face as I read it.

“As of Monday, 1,316 Times workers had signed a pledge not to return to the office. This includes 879 members of the News Guild, but also members of the Times Tech Guild and the union for Wirecutter, the paper’s product-recommendation spinoff.

“People are livid,” Tom Coffey told The Post. A 25-year veteran editor at NYT, he works on the news desk and serves on the union’s Contract Action Committee.”

How dare the editor require us to come in and sleuth for stories! No longer writing stories while pissed and stoned or wanking on Zoom calls? How bourgeoisie!

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
September 14, 2022 3:38 pm

The MSM is a self-fellating gutter-press puking ink onto their scandal sheets

I would have added ‘in the manner of diseased octopi’, but that sentence is thoroughly acceptable.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
September 14, 2022 3:38 pm

This Lady said you had sex with her in the Library. I did not have sex with that Lady in the Library. I had sex with that Librarian behind the Library. Book him, Danno.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
September 14, 2022 3:40 pm

But Nine refused to comply, prompting Dr Laming to launch defamation proceedings.

Did Monty predict laming would lose bigly?

Crossie
Crossie
September 14, 2022 3:41 pm

bespoke says:
September 14, 2022 at 2:10 pm
I am not a librarian.

I am, or rather was until a few weeks ago.

Crossie
Crossie
September 14, 2022 3:42 pm

Wasn’t me.

Let it be known that I have not had sex with anyone in the library, any library.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 3:43 pm

Australia firing up East Asia gas security fears

China, Japan and South Korea nervously await an Australian government decision that could cap LNG exports

Despite being one of the world’s largest coal and LNG exporters, Australia still faces an energy sector crisis. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), responsible for operating the gas and electricity market, made history when it suspended the national electricity market on June 15, 2022.

Australia’s east coast gas market is also in crisis. The Gas Supply Guarantee — the gas industry’s mechanism to ensure that gas supply can meet peak demand in the National Electricity Market — has been activated twice since June this year.

The first activation in June capped the gas prices in the state of Victoria at AU$40 per gigajoule (US$27) to protect gas consumers from rising prices. AEMO then ordered Queensland state suppliers to provide gas to the state of New South Wales instead of overseas on July 19, 2022.

The gas price problem arose after Australia’s east coast started exporting LNG in 2015. This connected domestic markets with international gas markets. By making domestic consumers compete with consumers abroad, the Australian market became subject to international gas prices.

Connection to international markets has contributed to skyrocketing gas prices since 2020. The monthly Japan Korea Marker, a spot price benchmark for gas in East Asia, increased 14-fold in two years.

To protect gas supply security on the east coast, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recommended that the federal government activate the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism (ADGSM).

Since the ACCC forecasts that the Australian east coast could face a shortfall of 56 petajoules in 2023, the federal government may need to activate the ADGSM and consider export controls.

But given the arduous process of activating the ADGSM and the perceived “sovereign risk” associated with cutting exports, the federal government and LNG exporters have a mutual interest in avoiding its activation.

In an agreement with the Australian government in 2021, east coast LNG exporters committed to offering surplus gas to the domestic market before selling it to the LNG market in Asia.

As a net gas exporter, Australia’s crisis is more a price issue than a lack of supply. At the heart of Australia’s energy crisis is affordability.

But neither the ADGSM nor the gas exporters’ agreement can be expected to reduce the exceptionally high prices being inflicted on Australian consumers.

The government will need to find new tools to solve the affordability problem. One could be the installation of a gas reservation policy on the east coast similar to that in Western Australia. This would reserve 15% of LNG production from each LNG export project for domestic consumption.

But gas reservation policies could have a net negative economic impact on Australia and potentially discourage future investment.

Canberra could also introduce a LNG levy specifically on east coast exports. This would provide a favorable price differential so producers will be incentivized to supply domestic users first.

The government could also redistribute some of the profits from gas producers to customers to protect vulnerable consumers without distorting the gas market.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
September 14, 2022 3:43 pm

Something to take the shine off for Australian farmers.

This year should be awesome, prices and good volumes of products.

But…
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2022-09-14/europe-fertiliser-shutdown-as-gas-prices-soar/101430708
Europe’s fertiliser industry association says more than 70 per cent of the continent’s fertiliser production has been curtailed, as gas prices skyrocket.

Thomas Elder Markets analyst Andrew Whitelaw said it was “a pretty scary situation”.

“Gas and energy prices have gone absolutely bonkers and fertiliser plants are now saying ‘we cannot sell fertiliser based on the input cost of this gas’,” Mr Whitelaw said.

“So they’re starting to shutdown plants in Europe, which reduces a lot of supply from the global market and that is making [fertiliser] prices increase dramatically.”

Time to zip to Bunnings and grab a few bags of “weed and feed” and NPK for the fruit trees.

Or save your rubles and get an order in via Alibaba.
https://www.exportgenius.in/russia-exporters-of-fertilizer-npk

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 3:44 pm

Crossie says:
September 14, 2022 at 3:42 pm

Wasn’t me.

Let it be known that I have not had sex with anyone in the library, any library.

Not in the Old Fisher Library Stacks – SW Corner Sydney Uni Quad?

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
September 14, 2022 3:45 pm
Crossie
Crossie
September 14, 2022 3:48 pm

OldOzzie, not even at the Fisher Library.

mc
mc
September 14, 2022 3:50 pm

Whatever the result of the war in Ukraine the best thing to come out of it will surely be the destruction of the wanton damage Renewables has inflicted upon us.

I hope you are right GreyRanga, but I see little evidence of this outside the “rightwing/skynews” bubble in this country.

Indolent
Indolent
September 14, 2022 3:52 pm
Indolent
Indolent
September 14, 2022 3:55 pm

By what authority does the EU introduce a global anything? Who do they think they are, God? Don’t answer that.

Despite Hungary’s veto, the EU will introduce a global minimum tax

Zatara
Zatara
September 14, 2022 3:55 pm

Test

Zatara
Zatara
September 14, 2022 3:59 pm

LARRY FINK’S 2022 LETTER TO CEOS:

Don’t bet on it is right.

Larry Fink is Blackrock’s CEO. Rather than listen to his sustainable babble it might be better to look at what Blackrock is actually invested in… and it isn’t sustainables.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
September 14, 2022 4:00 pm

Indolent says:
September 14, 2022 at 3:52 pm

Election fraud in America: the evidence

More

The Biden Administration Has a Secret Plan to Interfere With the Midterm Elections

Do you remember earlier this year when Joe Biden refused to say whether the results of the 2022 midterm elections would be legitimate?

When a reporter asked him if he thought the upcoming midterm elections would be fairly conducted and legitimate without the Democrats’ voting legislation passed, Biden said, “Well, it all depends on whether or not we’re able to make the case to the American people that some of this is being set up to try to alter the outcome of the election.”

So, according to Biden, the upcoming midterms wouldn’t be secure, fair, or legitimate unless the Democrats’ voting legislation is passed. Well, they haven’t passed since, and Joe Biden’s agenda — and perhaps his presidency — is on the line in November. Without federalized elections rigging the outcome in favor of the Democrats, the Democrats are in a huge pickle.

So the Biden administration has a strategy to interfere with the upcoming midterm elections, and it’s refusing to provide any details about what the plan involves.

This all goes back to an executive order signed by Biden in March 2021 on “access to voting” which, as Breitbart News noted, “instructs federal government agencies to promote voter registration, help Americans apply to vote by mail, and ‘combat misinformation,’ among other measures,” and contains “a Democratic Party wish-list of ‘reforms’ that enshrines many of the practices that were adopted on a temporary basis during the pandemic-affected 2020 election.”

So the Biden administration has a secret plan to interfere with the upcoming midterm elections — elections that are widely expected to favor Republicans, even though polls are conveniently showing them as more competitive as of late. On top of that, Biden has clearly drawn a line in the sand, declaring Trump supporters to be enemies of democracy, an apparent attempt to morally justify efforts to “save” our democracy by interfering with our elections.

calli
calli
September 14, 2022 4:01 pm

Congratulations Rosie! A wee bonnie lass!

On bird feeding and mince vs. worms.

Can someone please tell me where the calcium is in an invertebrate? Ta.

  1. Waiting for the ‘eSafety Commissioner’ to demand that whomever is hosting this ‘online radicalisation’ material takes it down. No brainer…

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