Both solar and wind energy have fatal flaws – solar stops when the sun goes down or if a cloud blocks the sun; wind fails if the wind is too strong or too weak. But every day we hear of some fantastic and expensive plan to keep the lights on when these unreliable energy twins stop work.
The latest thought bubble from Mr Bowen (the Australian Minister for Generating Blackouts) is for him to be able to drain the energy from electric car batteries to back up a failing grid. He suggests that batteries could also power the house or sell energy into the grid. (They are already scheming on how to use smart technology to prevent homeowners from charging their own batteries when flicker power is fading.)
Bowen’s sole sensible comment was “electric cars are batteries on wheels”.
Read more: A Pilot Plant for Net Zero
It was many years ago that I first heard Kris Kristofferson's lament about Sunday Morning Coming Down. It was back in the days when I woke up with optimism and delight in my heart. Whilst I enjoyed hearing his sad song about loneliness and misery, I could not really identify with it on a mental or physical level. I was too full of the joy of life and the pleasure of what the new day would bring.
In fact, I almost enjoyed listening to his pain and being reassured that I, as a young 15 year old girl in the far off land of New Zealand had no idea what that song was about all those years ago. I truly did not.
The music of Bob Dylan and the likes were almost foreign to me, yet I enjoyed the songs and their laments about freedom and breaking chains. The worst chains I had experienced were the chains of parental dialogue: which involved me asking questions about my ability to do something and them saying " NO. "
While I was taught at school, I was taught to always question " Who? What? Where? When and Why "
Mum and Dad put food on the table and if I wanted to eat, I would sit down, shut up and eat what was put in front of me.
It never struck me until recently that this is what our governments are doing today.
Read more: It's Sunday Downunder and Normal is a Long Long Way Away..........
" I must go down to the sea again to the lonely sea and sky. All I ask is a tall ship and a star to sail her by "
So said poet John Masefield By far the most tantalising problem confronting mariners for centuries was how to calculate Longitude. Today we take latitude and longitude for granted.
We all know what they are but by far, of all the problems that have confronted mankind waiting to be solved by men of science, Longitude was the most insoluble ever.
It took over 2,000 years for a workable solution to be developed and in the intervening years it was the cause of huge and consistent loss of life at sea.
Read more: The Discovery of Longitude and the 2000 years it took to Solve the Puzzle
Solar generators won’t run on moon-beams – they fade out as the sun goes down and stop whenever clouds block the sun. This happens at least once every day. But then at mid-day on most days, millions of solar panels pour so much electricity into the grid that the price plummets and no one makes any money. And after a good hailstorm they never work again.
Turbine generators are also intermittent - they stop whenever there is too little, or too much wind. In a wide flat land like Australia, wind droughts may affect huge areas for days at a time. This often happens when a mass of cold air moves over Australia, winds drop and power demand rises in the cold weather. All of this makes our power grid more variable, more fragile and more volatile. What do we do if we have a cloudy windless week?
Read more: First Aid for Flicker Power - Wind and solar energy have a fatal flaw – intermittency.
We all witnessed what many are calling a Divine Intervention that saved a life because of a split second decision to look at a graph. As Trump's head turned to look at something on his screen, a bullet grazed his ear and we saw a man so close to death be spared by an act of God. It was a miracle.
It has made me reflect on quite how it happened, why it happened and whether or not is was just a simple " coincidence. "
Divine intervention is the concept that a deity or higher power actively engages in and influences the human world and events. This intervention can manifest in various ways, often considered miraculous or supernatural, that alter the natural course of events in ways that would not be possible through ordinary means. They can be life changing. they can be small insignificant things that happen every day in our lives.
But how many times have we said " Hell, that was lucky! "
The music of the Appalachians is a living tradition that tells the story of a people and their journey. From the rolling hills of Ireland and the rugged highlands of Scotland to the misty mountains of Appalachia, this music has traveled across time and space, evolving and enriching the cultural tapestry of America.
The Appalachian region of the United States, stretching from the southern tier of New York to northern Alabama and Georgia, is renowned for its rich musical traditions. This distinctive sound, often associated with bluegrass, folk, and old-time music, owes much of its origin to the Irish and Scottish settlers who immigrated to America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Their musical heritage, combined with the diverse influences encountered in the New World, gave birth to what we now recognise as Appalachian music.
After learning of JD Vance's roots in the Hillybilly hills of Kentucky, I was fascinated by people who grew up in these isolated but close-knit communities.
James David Vance, better known as J.D. Vance, has carved a notable path from a turbulent upbringing to a prominent role in American politics. Born on August 2, 1984, in Middletown, Ohio, Vance's early years were marked by instability and hardship.
Raised in a working-class family in Middletown, a town deeply affected by the decline of American manufacturing, Vance experienced firsthand the struggles that many families in the Rust Belt faced.
His mother, Bev Vance, battled addiction issues, leading to a tumultuous household environment. His father left the family when Vance was very young, and his mother had a series of partners, adding to the instability.
“For the average person, all problems date to World War II; for the more informed, to World War I; for the genuine historian, to the French Revolution.”
― Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn, Leftism Revisited: from de Sade and Marx to Hitler and Pol Pot
The 14th of July is celebrated every year in France. This national holiday commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, a pivotal event at the beginning of the French Revolution.
I sense that the weather conditions are right for a second coming of the storm that brought down the French Monarchy. All around the world, the people have had enough. And if it unfurls, after yesterday's attack on former President Trump, it will make the French Revolution look like a trial run. The People are singing and their voices are getting louder each day.
Today marks a dark day in American and global politics: a day when a political figure was shot at a rally for " Making America Great Again. "
How tragic and wicked our world has become. We have seen it all before. When Dark Shadows try to change things. Because from the dark shadows comes Great Light.
Assassinations and attempts on the lives of world leaders have long been part of the tumultuous fabric of global politics. These acts of violence have altered the courses of nations, shifted power dynamics, and left indelible marks on history. Today's attempted assassination of Donald Trump is something that is not a novel event. When a political enemy is seen to be more of a threat to the incumbent, the solution has often been to just eliminate the threat.
Read more: The Dark Shadows - Trump Triumphs Again... From the Shadows Comes Great Light
Crack Up or Crack Apart When the world gets grim, you’ve only got two choices:…
184 hits
Dusty Gulch Dispatch: The Croc Cavalry & the Great Duckening By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Special…
348 hits
The Warning of Gareth Jones: Who Owns Our Land, Our Water, Our Future? When we…
317 hits
"At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice,…
343 hits
As a teacher seasoned by years of studying history and upholding the integrity of language,…
475 hits
“The stupidity of democracy. It will always remain as one of democracy’s best jokes that…
412 hits
It was 19 years ago on the 4th of September 2006 that Steve Irwin rolled…
498 hits
Why Even a My Little Pony Rifle Makes More Sense than Gun Bans We have…
482 hits
Dusty Gulch Dispatch: The Great Literary Rebellion By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Special Correspondent (still in…
477 hits
I was 12 years old when "The Prisoner " came out. Sometimes, I would sneak…
510 hits
Ordinary people following rules - without questioning right from wrong - can enable harm. History…
458 hits
On September 3rd, Australia marks National Flag Day - a day that should fill us…
570 hits
Australia was never built on timidity. It was carved out by men and women who…
658 hits
It is hard to believe that twenty-eight years have passed since the world lost Diana,…
607 hits
Few figures divide Australians as sharply as Ned Kelly. To some, he is a larrikin…
752 hits
Paddy’s Golden Mischief: A Rat’s-Eye View of Dusty Gulch By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble, Chief Correspondent…
525 hits
We are told it’s all under control. Markets are managed, energy transitions are planned, and…
548 hits
In the shadow of a shattered empire, the Weimar Republic rose in 1919, promising democracy,…
581 hits
“Some of us may forget that, of all the Allies, it was the Australians who…
691 hits
When 5 Ducks Take on Snakes, Dusty Gulch Prepares for Bloodshed By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble,…
587 hits
" Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it…
623 hits
In early 1951, New Zealand’s waterfronts weren’t just bustling ports - they had become battlegrounds.…
686 hits
Ratty News Special: “From Gondwana to Dusty Gulch: The Ostrich Problem” By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble,…
643 hits
During World War II, Australia was a vital cog in the Allied machine, sending troops…
735 hits
Of all the magnificent units and regiments of the Australian Army I doubt if…
677 hits
The Emu War is one of Australia’s strangest historical events. In late 1932, the government…
600 hits
For nearly a decade, I’ve poured my soul into this blog. Twelve hours a day,…
563 hits
The Battle of Long Tan took place on August 18, 1966, in the Phuoc Tuy…
626 hits
We live in a strange age where even computers can sound like they care. AI…
495 hits
RATTY NEWS EXCLUSIVE: DIGITAL DINGO’S BIN BONANZA By Roderick (Whiskers) McNibble – Chief Correspondent, Dusty…
674 hits
On 6 and 9 August 1945, the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the…
580 hits
Democracy: Now With 97% Less Majority Rule Because who needs the will of the people…
741 hits