"What remains of the word democracy among the community of complainers who repeatedly herald its end? An empty front, cardboard scenery with nothing behind it."
The quote is especially poignant as it has become the battle cry of the Western World's naysayers. It poses the very real question: What indeed remains of the word that represents the essence of all free societies when its very meaning is debased by outlandish accusations of its demise?
The use of language as a weapon of political war is not new; indeed, it is as old as history. Yet we claim we have evolved over the millennia. It appears not and we can clearly see that by their words, the barbarians of our time betray themselves. Too many put expediency, political aims, and manipulation, ahead of accuracy.
Reality check: US support requires support for the US
Not a single day has gone by that Trump's influence has not made headlines. He has only been in office for a couple of months, but he has already changed the world. Great successes in closing the border, the elimination of DEI, Drill-Baby-Drill policies, and DOGE exposure of waste and fraud. And of course, some controversial calls have prickled not only the media but much of the Western World. By rolling out a whole range of MAGA policies there has been a less visible but perhaps even greater impact on Western allies. By scrutinizing every investment by the US to ensure that there is some benefit, and no cost to the US, Trump is first identifying the problem. The threat of withholding US funding to organisations that promote policies that do not advantage the US, or disadvantage the US, will cause a total re-think of where they invest. This policy will trickle through the woke West and cause a gradual re-alignment.
The impact of this policy is well covered by a recent video, specifically addressed to Australian Universities, it applies equally to all Australian institutions and indeed any institution worldwide that receives, or wants to receive, funding from the US.
Motivation for Oldies
Forgive me if you regard calling out 'oldies' as discriminative. I feel I am permitted because I certainly qualify. that is not a 'shucks, sorry to have to admit it" but a "proud and loud declaration of having survived and flourished for over 70 years". Why this bravado about age, you may well wonder?
Simple! I happened to come across a recent and quite uplifting short presentation by Jordan Peterson. If you are approaching or have passed the 70 milestone, you will find it inspirational and even if it does not bring instant happiness, may put a smile on your face. Worth the 7 minutes.
Egyptian Woman's exposes Islam
With the Hamas-Israeli war re-started we are once again on tenterhooks. No doubt the demonstrations in our streets will restart, and passions will again run high. Given the left-leaning media always places greater emphasis on the deaths of 'innocent civilians', our fellow citizens are conflicted. Most people identify with Israel, as being the victim of barbaric Hamas terrorists, but then again Israel is strong and the number of deaths seems disproportionate. It is hard, but necessary, to remember that no deaths would have occurred or be occurring if Hamas had not started the war, not taken hostages, or if they would now return the hostages and lay down their arms.
While Hamas is the weaker side, it is the aggressor, the war will only stop if Hamas returns the hostages and disarms. I guess the coming months will be difficult. If Israel fails to conclude the war with Hamas' unconditional surrender, then, history tells us, it will happen again.
Some people do get it, and I have seen many a video from Middle Eastern Muslims who dare speak out and apportion blame where it is due. Here is another one. This one is by an Egyptian woman raised in Gaza who managed to leave and go to America. There she gained a better knowledge of the West and could clearly see the differences between the Muslim and Judeo-Christian cultures.
Well worth a view.
Did CC Cause California Conflagration ?
We are used to wild claims about the impact of climate change. Climate Zealotry knows few bounds. Most recently the catastrophic wildfires in California have received wide coverage as an example of the terrible consequences of Climate Change. Most of the mainstream media covered the fires and accepted these claims without question. While some attention was given to alternative views, especially given the new Trump administration does not accept the CC association, the left-leaning media promoted the CC causation as a fact.
Their case was supported by a 'scientific report' that provided 'proof'. But, as is often the case, closer analysis shows that the claim is not supported by the mathematical analysis used to support it. Sabine Hossenfelder, theoretical physicist and YouTuber, has analyzed the paper and identified the misrepresentation.
I won't get into the technicalities, but Sabine's analysis shows that their conclusion is NOT supported by their own data. It also shows how the media can be manipulated by the CC zealots, but in most cases, they are already CC activists themselves.
In any case, here is Sabine's video. Worth a view, if you don't mind some technical analysis.
Islam-o-phobia
Islamophobia has been a clarion cry of many Muslim community representatives when confronted by any criticism of Islamic terrorism. The term is used, all too blatantly, to tamp down even justified criticism of terrorism, perpetrated in the name of Islam. The tendency for Muslim community leaders to try to quell such criticism, instead of calling it out, remains a significant impediment to the elimination of these terrorists. After all it provides them cover, instead of exposure and isolation. But that is a topic for another day.
I was struck the other day by this short video that exposes all too real and all too blatant Islam-o-phobia. It occurred during an interview of Richard Dawkins by Piers Morgan and exposed Dawkins' shameful Islam-o-phobia. I don't think I will ever think of him in the same way again. He has betrayed his scientific credentials, to tell the truth without fear or favour.
But you be the judge. Watch the short video below.
Bowen gaslighting the cost of renewables
If you have ever listened to Chris Bowen, Australia's Climate Czar, you would hear his incessant claim that renewables are the cheapest form of electricity generation and that nuclear is the most expensive. Given Bowen is a member of the government he has managed to stack the data compiled by supposedly independent bodies to support his claims. Many energy experts have analysed his claims and called out the false assumptions on which his claims are based. Here is another short video by Aidan Morrison of the Centre for Independent Studies. He provides a short but compelling analysis of the false assumptions used by Bowen. Worth a view, only around 10 minutes.
Israeli Arab drops truth bombs on BBC
We should not be surprised that an Israeli Arab would condemn Hamas and support Israel, but seeing it on the BBC is unusual. So it is well worth seeing this video. Perhaps over time even the BBC will re-align its moral compass.I am always an optimist.
Europe is in a downfall. It is not just me saying it, but most European leaders admit the serious problems they face. The demographic problem, the energy problem, the inability of Europe to defend itself, the widespread and increasing social dislocation.
So why has this happened? After all, Europe has been at peace for 75 years. By any measure, Western Europe is rich, and even Eastern Europe fares well compared to most of the world. The answer must be mismanagement.
Over the past two decades, we have seen the economically strongest countries, Germany, France, and UK, mismanage two vital components of the well-being of a country: energy and immigration. Climate Change zealotry has increased the cost of energy, which has decimated manufacturing industries, mostly exporting them to countries not conforming to the decarbonization dogma. Uncontrolled immigration has seen an influx of large numbers of African and Middle Eastern migrants who become a drain on the economy and stress social cohesion. These migrants have been very slow to integrate into European culture, and this has resulted in increasing crime rates, including terrorism. This, in turn, is causing the rise of right-wing anti-immigration parties and may lead to vigilantism.
Who is to blame? In democratic countries, the problems can rarely be attributed to a single individual. However, Germany's Angela Merkel has been the major architect of the policies that have led to the sad state in which Europe finds itself. At least, that is the conclusion historian Victor Davis Hanson has proposed in his video titled " Germany is falling apart before our eyes. "
He makes a compelling case, well worth a view.
Australia's Energy policies are bonkers!
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I will let the meme tell the story.
Australia's energy policies are bonkers. QED!
Alberta's Pandemic Report recommends against COVID vaccination
I have seen so many of these that I am becoming reluctant to include them in the weekly posts. Yet, having listened to it, it is compelling. Not so much for the conclusion (spoiler alert, that COVID vaccination is not recommended), but the insights into the way bureaucracies operate to suppress the truth. The shading of facts, the misinformation on treatments like Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin and even vitamin D. are all quite absurd and, in my opinion, criminally negligent.
Well worth viewing this interview of Dr Gary Davidson by Jan Jekielek as part of the Epoch Times' American Thought Leaders program.
CC the Grift of the Century
In the first of what is a 2 part in depth review, The Gatestone Institute has focused a critical eye on Climate Change,which it has labeled "the Grift of the Century". One would say "you had me at the title". My first response was, Wow, the tables have turned. Such headlines would have been unheard of just a short pre-Trump while ago. While these analyses are overdue they are welcome. We need to have this type of analysis come from the left-leaning media too. I can see that will be slow, but hopefully they too will return to some proper analysis, sometime.
The article is well worth read, but to whet your appetitie here are some of the summary points; -
"Perhaps the climate hoax is actually not about saving the environment? What is it, then?
Climate change is largely caused by solar flares. So far, at least, there is not a blessed thing anyone can do about them. Many industries offer grants for papers that support the efficacy of their products that relate to climate change. Solar flares, regrettably, do not offer grants.
(In) 2015 Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the UN's Framework Convention on Climate Change: "This is the first time in the history of mankind that we are setting ourselves the task of intentionally, within a defined period of time, to change the economic development model that has been reigning for at least 150 years, since the Industrial Revolution."
That would mean the destruction of capitalism and the world economy, however long that takes.
When the global elites arrived in Davos, Switzerland, in 2023 to discuss the urgent need to declare climate emergencies, they did so using more than 150 private jets.
Any journalists or commentators who dare to question or oppose the climate change orthodoxy are immediately shunned as "climate deniers" and met in the legacy media with an instant end to their careers.
"What is, in my view, even more dangerous, is the quasi-scientific form that their many times refuted forecasts have taken upon themselves." — Former Czech President Vaclav Klaus, The New American, December 22, 2009.
"For the last 16 years, temperatures have been going down and the carbon dioxide has been going up and the crops have got greener and grow quicker. We've done plenty to smash up the planet, but there's been no global warming caused by man.... I still say it's poppycock! If you believe it, fine. But I don't and there's thousands like me." — David Bellamy, English botanist and former BBC broadcaster, The Daily Mail, January 22, 2013.
It is no wonder that the climate change scam won the day. Few people have been willing to risk their livelihoods to fight against the manipulation."
Australians were hit hard by the COVID pandemic! No, the virus did very little damage, and we fared better than most Western Countries, but this is a big BUT!. The unprecedented extreme overreach of both state and federal governments, the medical fraternity, the media broke all the norms in a free society.
After instituting extreme lockdown laws without passing them through the normal legislative processes, the police enforced them most aggressively.
An old lady sitting in a park on a bench with a mask on was told to move on,
The Premier of Victoria castigated citizens for watching a sunset on a beach,
The Premier of Queensland prevented critically ill citizens from NSW from attending their hospital: "Queensland hospitals are for Queenslanders".
Citizens who had left Australia for an overseas trip were not allowed to return to their country even with valid passports,
Citizens were not even allowed to leave the country.
Family members were not allowed to visit dying relatives in hospital,
police violently attacked lock-down protestors,
individuals were arrested and charged with unknown crimes for a social media post advertising a protest.
Thousands of residents were fined for breaking the most ridiculous ad-hoc lockdown rules, driving outside the nominated 5 km from home, no wearing a mask, not moving fast enough when walking through a park
Do any of these make sense in a free society? But shame on us, we Australians, on the whole, accepted this overreach. Not all of us, mind you. Many did protest, but they were generally cast out, demonized. Yes, demonized by many who should have known better. Our legal fraternity let us down. After all, they should have spoken up about this overreach. Our media let us down; after all, they too should have asked more questions and held these petty dictators to account. Our medical fraternity let us down, as they put no value on the very freedoms that were being denied to citizens. Families with children locked into small spaces for months, with but a few allowed excursions, have a long-term effect on the family.
And most importantly, Australia's Human Rights Council let us down. They remained stumm. They failed to speak up; they condoned by silence. Now, years after the events, they have produced a report. And yes, they now acknowledge that there was an overreach. Yeh, right! It only took years to say what was evident at the time. This mob has proved themselves useless, and the whole lot should be fired. If only we had a Trump-like overhaul of the bureaucracy, they would indeed be disbanded. But I can only dream.
I was only planning a few words to introduce Avi Yemini's recent video on this subject, but I seem to have dropped into a diatribe. Still, I do feel better getting it out. After all, this site is called Grappy's Soapbox, so you will forgive me an occasional rant.
Israel recently declared it has suspended all aid entering Gaza. Is this reasonable? Indeed it has received widespread criticism. But as always seems to be the case when Israel is concerned, the truth is somewhat buried. Here is a short video that puts the move by Israel into perspective.
With major emitters China, India and the US no longer committed to Nett Zero, the climate dogma has lost momentum. Countries with lower contributions to world emissions are re-evaluating their commitments. Just today, Canada has abandoned Nett Zero ambitions. After all, why would any country sacrifice their standard of living to achieve significant cuts to their emissions when such cuts will not have any impact on global emissions? Watch this space.
What is the greatest thing AI did for humanity?
We have watched in wonder at the rate of development of AI. Virtually every week, we hear of a technological breakthrough or the release of a new product. AI companies are receiving massive investments, and their stock prices are setting records. Their use is still in its infancy but is growing rapidly.
I have had a play and have posted at times showing my results (see On the Grapevine WE 9 Mar 25). For students, it is like having a personal tutor and a best homework buddy. For any office worker, it is a valuable personal assistant, writing and correcting text, creating images and presentations, preparing proposals, reviewing documents, even developing new ideas. Given their ready availability at zero or low cost, it is no surprise that every single enterprising administrator is already using it. Those who do use it well have increased their productivity. No doubt, this is a growth area.
These are not minor benefits, but the potential is much greater. AI has the potential to increase the rate of scientific discovery, which will greatly benefit all of mankind. In one of my recent posts, I mentioned that AI has already contributed to the doubling of the life of lithium batteries (see AI Creativity Challenge). But the most significant contribution to science I have seen so far is AI's success in mapping the structure of proteins. This is a fantastic story, but it is a bit too technical to provide detail. In summary, over the past 5 decades, thousands of scientists have managed to map the structure of about 150,000 proteins. Then, using an AI model specifically designed for the purpose, just 15 scientists have mapped 200,000,000. That is virtually every known protein. I think this qualifies as the most significant scientific contribution of AI so far. I expect many such breakthroughs in the years to come.
This video tells the story, but it is quite technical and about 25 minutes long.
Contrary to claims by too many Climate Zealots, the greater the penetration of renewables, Solar and Wind in an economy, the greater the cost of energy and the lower the living standards. This is a sobering conclusion and seems paradoxical. Why would this be true if solar and wind power are totally free whenever the sun shines and the wind blows? The problem is intermittency. Neither sun nor wind are available all the time. This means any society that needs energy 24/7 needs backup energy to cover the periods, and the backup system must provide as much energy as would have been provided by the renewables. This requires two energy systems instead of one, doubling the cost.
Bjorn Lomborg covers this and much more in his interview by Dave Reuben as part of The Reuben Report. Well worth a view.
Now, if we could only tell Chris Bowen, Australia's Minister of Energy and Climate Change, to watch this video, perhaps Australia could walk back the decarbonization crusade that is already damaging Australian living standards.
AI doubles EV battery life!
In a new and under-reported breakthrough, Chinese researchers have used AI to identify an additive that can be used on lithium-ion EV batteries at what was thought to be their end-of-life and revitalise them for full second life. Remarkable but apparently true—I say apparently as it sounds too good to be true—the results have been published. Watch this short video from The Electric Viking for the details.
VZ asks for forgiveness
It did not take long! I guess Zelensky has been told , most probably in no uncertain terms, that he had stuffed up. Perhaps I am being a wee bit uncharitable, and he realised it himself. Still he had no choice. No doubt Trump and team will hold make him squirm for a little while, but I still expect the deal will be done.
This was not necessary, and hopefully Zelensky has learned his lesson, but I suspect not yet. Unfortunately this has provided more ammunition to the isolationists in the right making Trump's job more difficult. C'est la vie.
Jordanian Politician stands with Israel
Why should this be news? After all why shouldn't Israel's neighbours support it against Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists? Why indeed?
It seems many of Israel's neighbours avoid open declarations of support for the Jewish state. This is often interpreted as their supporting the terrorists, but it is just as likely that the politicians are simply avoiding "harm". In many cases, this can be direct physical harm. Still, even if not, it can come through isolation from their social groups with potential loss of their political status and position. So they are just scared.
With this background, we must laud the bravery of those willing to risk everything to declare their support for Israel.
Not surprisingly the video was published by a Jewish commentator. It is disappointing that the mainstream media seem to avoid articles where Israel's neighbours speak up in support of Israel. Could it possibly be an anti-Israel bias?
The context of his words and the words themselves are covered in this short video.
Reverberations of OO fracas
Last Friday's fracas in the Oval Office has reverberated across the world. The steps taken by Trump and his team following the blow up have been single-minded. Zelensky has tried an apology of sorts, but this was after he talked with European leaders and received great adulation. Europe has offered much overdue commitments, however predicated on US continued support. Trump has subsequently suspended all weapons shipments to Ukraine. This has received widespread criticism from Western countries and, of course, Democrats and those for whom Trump cannot do right. But he has widespread support in the US, both due to the many isolationists in the MAGA group and also from Republicans who feel the US has borne the bulk of the costs in a European war with Europe not bearing its share.
No doubt this is a moving feast. Trump is exposing Zelensky and Europe to the hard truth that without the US, Ukraine would lose the war and its independence. That Zelensky was arrogant in his demands when 'he has no cards'. I do not believe this is irretrievable. Zelensky needs to come to the table, apologize for his poor approach, then simply sign the minerals deal. Under the circumstances, that deal is very fair, giving 50% of the profits to both parties, with the US undertaking the development. If Zelensky fails this simple task, then my guess is that he will be replaced by others willing to make this commitment.
Given Putin's personal animus against Zelensky, after all, as a comedian, Zelensky mocked Putin quite wildly, and Zelensky's resignation may help a peace deal.
Alas, we will see soon enough.
In the meantime Konstantin Kisin presented his autopsy on the fracas. Well worth a view, as always.
Zero, zilch, nada, COVID Vaccine efficacy!
Many studies have reported various levels of efficacy for COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Many of these studies are retrospective, covering periods when the virus was active in 2021 and 2022. These studies showed various levels of protection, mainly from severe disease. But viruses are tricky creatures they mutate generally to become increasingly contagious but decreasingly virulent. Over time, you are more likely to be infected but suffer less from the disease.
However a recent study by Sara Garazo in Quebec Canada has looked at vaccine efficacy over the full period from 2021 to 2024. The results are noteworthy. The most recent version of the vaccine, when working against the most recent mutation of the virus has zero efficacy. So it will not reduce infection, it will not reduce the virulence of the virus, but may still have the deleterious side effects of the mRNA virus. This is a staggering conclusion when you look at the widespread encouragement by our medical communities to continue to vaccinate people of all age groups , and especially the elderly. This is criminal negligence!
I learned of this study from a recent video of a discussion between John Cambpell and Professor Robert Clancy. It is well worth a view,
Are we living on stolen land?
The world of politics is small. A political strategy in one country seems to appear by magic in another where it again seems to be relevant. I was reminded of this truism when I came across one of Prager U's short videos. It had me as soon as I read the title "Are we living on stolen land?".After all this seems to have become a dominant accusation at Australians in many recent divisive demonstrations led by pro-indigenous militants. The video encapsulates all the arguments posed by this land-stealing accusation in Australia. It also put into context all the arguments to refute such claims.
So it is a must see. PragerU's videos are no longer automatically posted on YouTube, after YouTube ridiculous censorship, so you need to follow this link "Are we living on stolen land?"
It seems the strategies to destroy social cohesion, by socialists and marxists, is the same no matter what country in which it is applied.
An old saying is that you cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs. For a few weeks now this has come to mind when hearing the machinations Trump and his team have undertaken to try to stop the war started by Russia by invading Ukraine. Trump's rhetoric cozying up to Putin and distancing himself from Ukraine has shaken some confidences. But don't worry, after all, you do need to break eggs when you make an omelette. Trump was preparing a rather tough egg for a bit of cracking.
Alas, that was so yesterday! In a short 10-15 minutes. at a fully televised Oval Office public press conference, that hard egg wriggled out of the delicate deal-making hands of the Trump team and fell. Yes, it fell, not onto the fry pan or even onto the kitchen bench, but onto the POTUS's pristine carpet, and it cracked. It cracked well and truly, and there is no telling if this Humpty Dumpty can be put together again by any number of the king's horses and men.
It has been a shockingly undiplomatic fiasco! No doubt the fault will be attributed to Trump and Vance by some left-leaning commentators, but only a few. A vast majority will blame Zelinsky. WTF was he thinking? It is inexplicable. It did not take a high level of diplomatic sensitivity or even expertise in military strategy to understand that the POTUS should be respected in his office and especially in a public meeting. It did not require Zelinksy to kowtow, but required him to be respectful, hold his fire, and address any disagreements off line. By his own obstinacy, he has set-back the negotiation that has proceeded well and in all probability would have stopped the war.
Zelinsky has been a brave, committed, and smart leader of his people, at their time of need. For 3 years he has managed to keep his borders reasonably intact despite facing a nasty no-holds-barred attack by Russia, a much stronger adversary. So it is especially jarring that he has failed so publicly when peace for his country was within arms-reach.
Perhaps all is not yet lost, but it seems to me that Zelinsky needs to be some groveling and soon. Otherwise, it will require his being replaced to restart the process. No doubt costing many lives on both sides.
I have been following the extensive commentary on this fiasco and would like to share two short videos that seem to best summarise where we stand.
The first by Victor Davis Hanson; -
The second by General Keene; -
We remain stunned, and hopefully, the opportunity for peace is not foresaken!
