February 11, 2015

Influence: No, they don’t want to sell your data, it’s worse.

I recently read another comment containing the 'I don't want google getting more of my data to sell' and it reminded me of the question, 'why is your data valuable?', and the common myth that Facebook and Google etc want your data so they can sell it.

They don't want to sell your data, but the reality, is more sinister: they want the power to change your thinking.

Environment: Journey to grok One Finite Planet.

While throughout history there have been people who realised the Earth was finite, too few have stopped to fully contemplate grok the concept. Grok that the area of the Earth is finite, that the resources of the Earth are finite, and the time the Earth will exist is finite.

It was not until the 1700s that a significant number of people in different countries could even accurately picture the planet entire planet and appreciate the surface was finite, and not until the 1900s that the term 'sustainability' attracted significant attention, and people started to appreciate how resources are finite.

This missing piece in this picture is still time, with most people still having a time horizon that allows time for our planet can be considered infinite, even though finite, and there is less than 2% of time remaining for life on Earth.

My Journey To Understanding Population.

Population is a complex area. To arrive at my current point of understanding, it took me a number of light bulb moments over the years since 2013, with many realisations shattering some of my previous beliefs, and sometimes taking years to be ready to take the next step.

Here is a recap of my journey, and if you can move quickly from step to step, then you can absorb information faster than I can, but perhaps this information will inspire others on their own journey.

Explosion

Population Explosion: What happened to get to 8 Billion people?

Humanity has just experienced a population explosion. Whether you believe we are overpopulated or not, the facts are that we have just had a population explosion. Over two centuries of population peaking at 50x higher than the long term population growth, and peaking at 100x higher during the baby boom. Yet the explosion occurred with women having less babies than ever before, even during the baby boom, and is ending all by itself. So what caused the boom, why a population explosion when birth rates are falling? Will our population grow until we are living life like battery hens?

Overpopulation?

Overpopulation: starvation is the last symptom.

The Myth: Starvation will provide a warning of overpopulation. The Truth: In nature, we define overpopulation as when sustaining the population results in damage to the environment. Plagues are a problem were before the plague population starts to starve. Starvation will be a consequence only when overpopulation has resulted in environmental collapse that will result in a rapid population collapse. Starvation is useless as an indicator, by the time there is starvation all environmental food reserves have been consumed, and catastrophe is then unavoidable.

Climate Change And Other Pollution

Pop. Principles

Economics, Housing and other effects

Natural Environment

Leaders, Followers and Propaganda

Othering, Tribalism, Terrorism, and Religion

Covid-19

The Influence Industry and Polarisation

Power, Wealth Distribution: Farming Humanity

Hydrogen Future: Often Scams, Even If Not Intended, So Always Ask “Where does the hydrogen come from?”

Commenced: October 24, 2021

In the race to stop CO2, there are many scams involving hydrogen, but are the public or the backers being scammed? There are many myths, and in the end, Hydrogen is a light, but inefficient battery solution. This is an exploration of where Hydrogen may be a solution, and where it just does not add up.

COP27: Climate change action sabotage?

Commenced: November 16, 2022

Reports from COP27 seems indicate the key initiative this year to make wealthy nations cover the cost of the damages poor nations will incur as a result of emissions that have main originated from those wealthy nations. The proposal as it stands has a missing an essential piece, and trying to cover for that essential piece, appears most to likely to increase emissions, and move COP away from a focus on solving the climate crisis and instead toward just fighting over the cost. This is a troubled look at the key flaw in what has been put forward and the real solution that should be in place.

Did Al Gore nail it: Is climate change merely inconvenient, or is it an existential threat?

Commenced: November 16, 2022 Updated: November 16th, 2022

2022 Nov 16: First published.

Claims that +1.5oC warming would be 'catastrophic', and that climate change represents an 'existential threat' can be quite vague as just what is 'catastrophic' or an 'existential threat'? This webpaper, seeks to translate 'catastrophic' outcomes and 'existential threats' into more concrete outcomes. "We recognise climate change is a serious problem and are committed to net zero by 2050 in order to prevent the disastrous consequences anticipated to occur by around 2026" Typical government position: Is it ok?

Economic Activity: An Obsession With An Illusion Of Prosperity.

Commenced: October 20, 2021 Updated: November 11th, 2022

2022 Nov 11: Added Australia 'low wages by design' example.

Its the economy stupid. Voters want the best economic outcome, but by measuring the economy using 'Economic Activity', governments can effectively cheat the public. In many western societies, instead of maximum prosperity, governments often pursue maximum economic activity, which benefits big business and governments, but can result in an economy which in theory is going well, while at the same time individuals fall behind. This is the kind of economic policy makes frustrated voters turn to Trump and Brexit.

The Power struggle in Australia.

Commenced: November 1, 2022 Updated: November 1st, 2022

2022 November 1: First published.

From "the biggest corruption scandal ever" in Brazil, problems in Venezuela, human rights in Saudi Arabia and Iran, to the problems caused by lobbyists against action on climate change, an abundance of fossil fuels is a source of political power, yet rarely force for good, and Australia, with a wealth of coal and gas, is not spared. The current crisis in Ukraine not only drives up energy prices globally, but it also creates a dilemma for gas producing nations.

Peak Child: When, and what does it mean?

Commenced: May 25, 2019

Globally, the when is now. Although locally, experiences differ by location. Data now clearly confirms that globally, the world has returned to 'peak child', a precursor to a likely return to peak population, and the end of three centuries of a population explosion. Return to peak child means we could either return to the gradual growth levels of prior to the industrial revolution, or become a mature species, and exist in balance with nature and other living things. Perhaps even stop displacing other species?

Population Growth Advocacy: Mislead Immigration Support, or Greed & Tribalism?

Commenced: December 9, 2021

In Australia, as in many countries, there appears to be almost universal acceptance of perpetual population growth. Population growth is seen as: Desirable because it is the path to economic prosperity.Inevitable. Neither reflects reality. So why is it, that so few contemplate a finite population target, given we live on a finite planet?

Natural Climate Change: Surprises From Nature!

Commenced: November 10, 2019 Updated: September 30th, 2022

2022 September 30: Added CO₂ been always critical.

There is a lot of focus on climate change caused by humans, as there should be! But this focus can miss just how fragile the environment is even with us breaking things. Some of the surprises are in store when we explore natural climate change. This exploration of natural changes reveals that drastically reducing the Earths 'carrying capacity' in number of humans, or even completely inhabitable, are all eventually inevitable. Fortunately, we have millions of years to develop the means to avoid the worst natural climate disasters, provided we don't prematurely damage the delicate natual systems at work.

Why Population growth even before the explosion?

Commenced: August 21, 2022 Updated: August 15th, 2022

2022 August 15: First published.

Throughout history, although no other species on Earth has experienced such long term overall population growth, even before the recent population explosion, the human population kept slowly growing. Yes, we recently had an unprecedented population explosion, driven by is hidden by by the near elimination of previously tragic infant mortality, but against the background of long term growth, many of us never didn't even realise their was an explosion. But what drove population growth even before the explosion? What will now happen as the explosion ends?

The transition to EVs and its environmental impact.

Commenced: June 9, 2022 Updated: August 12th, 2022

2022 August 12: Major update to more reflect findings on what impacts the transition timeframe.

Its 2022, and only 1 in 8 new car purchases globally is an EV, and as only 1 in 4 car purchases is a new car, only 1 in 32, or around 3% of all car purchases, are an EV purchase. While the EV percentage is rising, there will be gas/petrol/diesel cars until at least 2045, and little reduction in emissions from the EV transition alone. As demand for EVs will continue to outstrip supply, no one will need to choose an EV to save the planet, or run out of other choices any time soon. Bans are to pressure manufacturers to move from protecting their existing assets and produce enough EVs to meet demand, rather than force consumers into ICEVs.

Why Hydrogen Cars are not the future, and EVs are here to stay.

Commenced: January 3, 2018 Updated: August 1st, 2022

2022 August 7: Updates information of fast refuelling.

After friend told me "I am not interesting in electric cars, because I will wait for hydrogen cars", I did the research, and found that such a future would make no sense, and will never happen. It turns out that hydrogen cars were never "the ultimate", are now worse at times or range problem, and they were only ever expensive to build and operate, higher emissions, limited interim stop gaps, for the time until we solved limitations of battery EVs.

Natural Optimum Population Responses: nature’s birth control.

Commenced: September 22, 2021 Updated: July 28th, 2022

2022 July 28: Added 'technical analysis' and the, quite illustrative, 'Elk' example.

Human birth rates are falling at a rate that has some fearing population collapse, but could this a natural biological repose to threats of overpopulation, rather than any cause for alarm? This raises the question as to what controls population in other species and, why is overpopulation rare? Would all species not population controlled by predators just multiply like bacteria in petri until dish resources are all consumed, or does nature, and even potentially humans, have other mechanisms to constrain population at a more optimum level? In practice, resource constraint and predation alone as population control would for many species would result in repeated huge population swings, so logically, there must be more. Analysing population mechanisms in other species may provide some interesting insights and possible answers to at least a large part of what is happing with birth-rates that will determine whether our future is population is one of: continued growth, collapse, or stability, on a planet where population of all life is not growing.

Next steps for mankind don’t include the Sci-Fi dream of a new home planet.

Commenced: May 31, 2016 Updated: July 26th, 2022

2022 July 26: Rewrite to update on progress of colonising the solar system.

There is a dream, often explored in science fiction, where humanity inhabits not just one planet, but many. While the dream is still centuries away, as is 'Earth 2.0', the reality, working towards small outposts on Mars or the Moon or even beyond is overwhelming compelling and can provide many rewards. Humanity may get back up outposts, but for centuries, will have no real second home, and over 99% of us will still need to live on our one finite planet.

Wealth & Happiness Vs Population: Farming Humans?

Commenced: December 8, 2017 Updated: July 22nd, 2022

2022 July 22: Add 'Fact check', Expanded Population and Happiness to a full section, linked 2022 happiness list.

The powerful and the wealthy argue that increasing population is good for the economy. But while, the larger the population, the greater the power in being leader of the population, if anything this leads to less individual wealth and happiness. Countries are a finite size with finite resources. More people means, on average, a smaller share each. Of course, everyone's share isn't equal, and those with enough wealth, can still even grow their share, leaving less for everyone else. It is not just politicians who benefit at the expense of the masses, as the larger the population, the greater the wealth of the most wealthy, and the more revenue to monopolies and the largest businesses on the stock indices.

The Population Growth Economy Ponzi schemes.

Commenced: February 24, 2015 Updated: July 1st, 2022

2022 July 6th: Refresh and reformat.

When it dawned on me that global economy is effectively a Ponzi scheme, it felt was a 'light bulb' moment'. But has anyone else seen this? I did an internet search and was not surprised to find that it has, indeed, dawned on many others as well. If you do a search, as I did, you will find many insights into this topic and that there are several different ways the global economy can be seen as a Ponzi scheme. Scary!

Ghost cities and ghost homes: housing finance crisis?

Commenced: June 15, 2022 Updated: June 22nd, 2022

2022 June 22 : Updated to add information on how desperate developers now accept grain as a deposit.

“Anyone who believes in indefinite growth in anything physical, on a physically finite planet, is either mad or an economist.”Attributed to Kenneth Boulding in: United States. Congress. House (1973) This applies to not just to population growth, but just maybe also to the growth in value of housing. This page is a look at 'ghost cities' and 'ghost homes', and the window they provide into how distorted investment can become in the pursuit of growth. The end result of the distortions can be overvalued assets funded by highly leveraged ordinary citizens. If that is the case, not just with ghost cities but beyond, the correction will clearly present a financial crisis.

Solar and Wind: Renewables alone not a substitute for fossil fuels.

Commenced: April 14, 2021

At least, not alone. Solar and Wind have proven to be successful partial cost effective substitutes for fossil fuels, neither wind nor solar is stored energy. Without strategies and adding stored energy available on demand, it is impossible to reach the goal of removing reliance on fossil fuels. Consider home solar. With solar panels you can reduce your electricity costs, but to go 'off grid', you need a battery or other energy storage for the solar power. Yet, the need energy storage is being installed, but not connected to the grid.

Can Peter Dutton repair the democracy ‘loyal opposition’.

Commenced: June 6, 2022

Democracy is under threat, and a significant part of the problem stems for the distortion of the current model of 'opposition'. While the politics of division and polarisation of the USA Trump republicans vs Biden democrats attracts most attention on the world stage right now, what happens in Australia following the recent election which saw democracy strike back (page coming soon), has the potential to provide the world with an alternate blueprint for the role of the opposition party, which could reinvigorate democracy and spread to the US and elsewhere. Is there an alternative to the current Republicans vs Democrats style, where 'opposition' is about each party demonising the other?

Big Oil, AKA Big Fossil: How real, and what about ‘big climate’?

Commenced: June 7, 2022 Updated: June 7th, 2022

2022 June 7 : First Version.

Yes, big oil clearly has a vested interest in arguing against climate change and downplaying risks, but on the other hand, aren't there also vested interests exaggerating and overstating the risks of climate change? Effectively 'big renewables', 'big science' or 'big climate'? This is a look at the financial might on each side of the argument, and the respective motives for each side to overstate their case. Is this really a balanced fight, or is it more like the might of 'big tobacco' vs 'whistle blower medical research' all over again?

The innocent child assumption: even Hitler?

Commenced: April 6, 2021

I recently watched an episode of "Comedians in cars getting coffee",(C6:E4 11:55) where Ricky Gervais has a photo of Hitler as a baby. And relates, "I talk about sci-fi, and I always go back and kill Hitler". And I go, I go, they go "well people tried all the time", and they go "No I'd go back and kill him as a baby". I go, "You'd go back, and kill baby Hitler, who hasn't done anything wrong yet, and just strangle him? Have you seen Hitler as a baby" and I pull out this photo and I go "He was adorable".

the surprises hiding in life expectancy numbers.

Commenced: May 17, 2022 Updated: May 20th, 2022

2022 May 20: Started discussion on further increase in life expectancy.

The main surprise is that life expectancy reveals very little about how long people typically live. From the 1500s till around 1800, life expectancy throughout Europe hovered between 30 and 40 years of age, and it was only as recent as the 20th century, that life expectancy rose from 49.2 to 80.3 years. Yet famous historical figures from 2,000 years ago, typically lived to around 70 or longer.

The Threat Of Gatekeepers: Extortion that drives inflation and eventually a dystopia?

Commenced: April 16, 2022

The internet was heralded as providing ‘disintermediation’, enabling everyone able to connect with everyone else directly. Yet, somehow, gatekeepers have emerged, controlling the ability to connect, and in many cases the potential to extort revenues for connecting people, with these additional additional fees resulting in increased prices and resultant inflation. Do we risk having legalised […]

Economic Growth: The Holy Grail, Or Another Myth?

Commenced: October 13, 2019

Economic growth. The holy grail of ensuring a prosperous society. Or is it, that, in the 21st century, increasingly economic growth could mean as few as just the wealthiest 1% get richer, while all others get poorer? Economic Growth: Is Economic Growth The Holy Grail, Or Is Its Desirability A Myth? Two sources of myth […]

Exploring The Roles Of Employment In Society.

Commenced: April 3, 2022

This is an an examination of the roles of employment in society. This a reference page as background to deeper explorations on the impact or robotics, the arguments for a 'living wage' or basic income, and other topics.

Peak Population 2055: Really? That soon?

Commenced: April 30, 2019

Is it realistic that Earth could reach peak population by 2055, there really the largest number of under 35s on Earth there will ever be? Peak newborns already? What is the reality, and what are the implications?

Robots & Job Terminations

Commenced: July 11, 2016

Job Terminators? There is a virtual barrage of reports warning that robots and automation could displace 40% to 50% of the workforce in the next few decades. During the almost 300 years of the growth age, new jobs have emerged to take the place of those replaced by automation. Will this continue, or as many […]

The Potential Scale and Impact of population growth: 7 trillion humans?

Commenced: March 8, 2017

7 trillion looks like a typo, but no, the maths shows that either by continuing the actual global population growth levels typical the 20th century, or achieving 2% per year (or far less than what is currently happening in Nigeria), the maths produce this number in a relatively short time! Alternatively, consider that if we […]

Wealth Tax: Good Idea? Bad Idea?

Commenced: October 17, 2019

Yes, another post on finances…but the Democrat candidates debate gets one thinking….now to the point. I do not like the idea of wealth tax. There is an enormous wealth inequality problem and while a wealth tax sounds like a direct solution, I feel there are problems with any implementation, such that there just must be […]

Covid-19 Immunity: Layers, immunity from vaccination vs infection, and the good news.

Commenced: December 5, 2021

Shrek: No. Layers. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers. Onions have layers. You get it? We both have layers.Shrek Instead of a single immune response, the human immune system can be though of as having several layers of immune response, that all fade at different rates. Immunity is a complex set of different layers all subject to change over time at varying rates, making comparison between immunity following vaccination or infection highly time dependant.

Opportune Arguments: Confirmation Bias Weaponised.

Commenced: February 1, 2017

Most of us have heard of confirmation bias. Opportune arguments are like a weaponisation of Chinese whispers, where the message is intentionally changed before being passed on, with the goal of using peoples confirmation bias as a path through their defences. Start with a message accepted through confirmation bias by a person with one set of beliefs, but add a twist designed to cross belief systems. But who is being manipulated, those promoting the new message, or those receiving it?

Population on a Finite World: No Vacancies.

Commenced: July 21, 2021 Updated: April 1st, 2022

2022 April 4: fix typos.

Every niche on Earth where life is possible, fills to maximum capacity with life, meaning except for brief periods following Earth changing events, there have been no 'vacant' liveable environments for over 4 billion years. Any increase in population of one species, requires a reduction in numbers of other species, in a process Darwin declared "survival of the fittest".

The electrical grid, V2G and EV Home Charging: Missing an opportunity for the planet.

Commenced: February 26, 2022 Updated: March 15th, 2022

*2022 Dec 16: Fully charged

Move to renewables for energy, and electricity for transport, and we solve the climate problem. But renewables require storage, and uptake of EVs requires home charging, and there is a cost to both. But what if electric vehicles could solve the "green power grid" problem, provide energy security, and avert a threat of increasing inequality, and reduce costs? It turns out this dream scenario is definitely possible but can be fully realised only if the home charging problem is solved.

Vaccines are an Experiment: With People As Guinea Pigs?

Commenced: October 10, 2021

Someone recently suggested to me that vaccines represent an experiment, and people are the guinea pigs. It is a very valid point that vaccinating an entire population is an experiment, and there are risks. The real questions becomes, what are those risks, does the “payback” justify the risks, and are steps to minimise risks adequate. […]

Narrowcast disunity: where does it lead?

Commenced: July 7, 2019

There was a news story recently, and I wondered , “if this is reported in other countries, how is it reported?”. In other words, how would the story look from a different perspective. I tried setting my google search to another country, and searching to see what would result. In fact I tried different search […]

Free Will: An Essential, But Dangerous, Illusion.

Commenced: March 5, 2022 Updated: March 1st, 2022

2022 March 8: corrections.

Is there such a thing as freewill? Aren't we just complex chemical reactions where the results of the reaction are entirely determined by the ingredients?

Carbon Capture and Storage: When it works, and why it doesn’t for work ‘blue hydrogen’.

Commenced: February 20, 2022

There are both vocal supporters and vocal opponents of carbon capture and storage, and there are arguments for both sides. This page goes beyond reporting on how carbon capture and storage fails to make current 'blue hydrogen' projects sustainable, and looks at the underlying principle that dictates why carbon capture and storage, despite having genuine valuable applications, can never enable 'blue hydrogen' to be environmentally sustainable, but is so popular politically.

Politics. Left & Right: Merit = Wealth?

Commenced: May 16, 2019

The labels ‘left’ and ‘right’ date back to French Revolution in 1789, but that history hardly conveys what the terms mean today. This post reviews that original concept and history, and looks further into how the concepts have evolved into todays positions of ‘left’ and ‘right’. This post starts discussion on how the concepts apply […]

What should we fear: The link from fear to hatred.

Commenced: December 19, 2015

The relationship between fear and hate. There are three immediate responses to fear: Fight, Flight and Freeze. In the longer term these correspond to : ‘active hate’, avoidance or ‘passive hate’ with ‘freeze’ being an immediate response with no long term result. To hate is to either to wish to avoid the source of fear, […]

Lead, Crime and Justice

Commenced: December 21, 2015

A quick internet search with the keywords ‘lead crime’ in the search bar will reveal many articles such as this which all propose that lead pollution in the air caused a dramatic increase in violent crime. Any victim of violent crime in affected locations has a right to feel disturbed by this, but what about […]

The Housing Price Trap: A global bubble?

Commenced: April 29, 2016

The Australian prime minister (Malcolm Turnbull) was interviewed on the ABC program ‘7:30’ answering questions on government policy regarding tax concessions for real estate investments. The Prime Minister spoke of the need to retain a specific tax concession because reducing the concession would reduce demand, and to reduce demand would result in lower prices. The […]

Left Vs Right: Ideologies Clash And Outrage

Commenced: November 25, 2020

What are these competing ideologies, and why do they clash? This page is the exploration of the what and the why of the left and the right. I expect to keep revisiting and updating this topic, as it seems too deep to fully analysis in one attempt. In particular interest to me is the question: […]

Peak Population: We May Never Return.

Commenced: October 12, 2021

For the environment, our peak population will be a nightmare. This page explores alternatives for the future of population, and the possibility that the current peak population will be the last time there are ever this many humans on Earth.

Economic Cost Of Peak Population: Market Crash in Japan, China, The World.

Commenced: November 24, 2021

The world has reached peak child, and is headed towards peak population. Many economic metrics collapse between peak child and peak population, resulting in bear stock markets and even collapses, all if the real economy and outside their investment portfolios, most people are relatively unaffected. Economic Ponzi Scheme Metrics. Peak Child and National Economies. Market […]

My Body My Choice: Polarization and Outrage, But Who Is Pulling The Strings?

Commenced: November 29, 2021

The whole “my body my choice” is perfect for polarisation, as you can be outraged because: People are being forced into medical choices for their own bodies. or People are making selfish choices that can cause harm to can harm others. Whatever you believe, “my body my choice” drives polarisation. I will look into each […]

Omicron Variant: For Better or For Worse?

Commenced: November 29, 2021

You would think a new variant of concern could not be a good thing, but it fact it is possible. The update (Dec 5th) is that while is is clear a variant could help, that variant may not be Omicron. Although this page will record data on omicron over time, given how long the virus […]

A Crisis Of Truth: Do ‘Alternate Facts’ Represent A Threat To Humanity?

Commenced: December 21, 2021

A key pillar to democracy is the establishment and availability of truth. Today, the establishment of truth is under question, and the availability of truth can be swamped by the availability of “alternate truths” based on “alternative facts”, creating what has been judged by the academy of sciences, to be a threat on the same […]

Births Per Woman: Not quite what you would expect.

Commenced: August 12, 2019

This is an exploration of what 'births per woman' means, and how it is measured. Key to discussion about population is population growth, which is most commonly analysed from 'births per woman', which is also called 'fertility rate'. But what is 'births per woman'? Answer: not quite what you might expect, which means a small adjustment is required for interpreting births per woman when predicting population growth.

Overpopulation solutions? See it as a ratio, not a number.

Commenced: December 28, 2020

As established in the previous exploration: Overpopulation, Starvation is the last symptom, overpopulation is exceeding 'carrying capacity'. Reducing the number of people is counterproductive if the action to reduce population, reduces carrying capacity. If society was to collapse, then even with 1/10 the people, we could still be overpopulated relative what we could then support.

Environmental Damage: The Overpopulation Indicator

Commenced: March 10, 2021

In nature, we define overpopulation as when the population is beyond number the environment can sustainable without environmental damage. Those warning of overpopulation, will often resort to warnings on the eventual starvation that would occur following environmental collapse. However, there are those who profit from overpopulation and are so rich they would not starve anyway, […]

Covid-19 & Vaccination Deaths: Statistically, Coincidences will distort reported deaths.

Commenced: January 23, 2022

I read recently about reasonable people protesting over post vaccination deaths in South Korea, echoing stories from around the globe about the underreporting of deaths following vaccination. Can most of these deaths be just coincidences? This question has me seeking the real story on what is happening, not just with deaths following vaccination, but also with deaths from the virus. Almost one year after my initial exploration of vaccine efficacy and safety, now there is data, not just projections, so it is time for a review, and this question needs answering for any such a review.

Novak Djokovic Australian Open Adventure(AO 2022) A Shakespearean Style Tragedy?

Commenced: January 5, 2022

Update: This was written prior to the escalation of events with the Australian Government escalating things by cancelling his visa. That update is now on the Djokovic PR story page, while this page will focus on the overall story of Djokovic and his image. Both pages will be updated after the events of the Australian […]

Vaccine Safety & Efficacy: As claimed?

Commenced: February 14, 2021

Are Covid-19 vaccines safe, or is there a risk of long-term side effects, or even changes to our DNA? Which vaccine is the most effective, and are the statistics from trials real? Someone asked me if am I worried about long term side effects from vaccines, prompting me explore what I could discover.

Covid-19 Aug 2021: Almost over, or still a serious threat?

Commenced: August 17, 2021

This is a follow up to “mid 2021, can we live with Covid-19”, as significant further information has become available. Currently updated as at August 22nd. Will Vaccines end the Covid-19 problem, or is it an ongoing threat? Risks vs Optimism: A range of futures is possible. Looking on the bright side. The Worst That […]

Coronavirus: Facts, Myths and Surprises (March 20th 2020)

Commenced: March 20, 2020

(go here for link to latest update) This is a collection of facts on the ‘novel’ coronavirus, together with some discussion on myths and surprises such as: how quickly it could all end we do not know the mortality rate how the world will probably forever changed the debunking and fact exploring on topic of […]

Covid-19 Cases Numbers: Not what we are told

Commenced: March 28, 2020

Media reports, and government data, repeatedly presents ‘numbers of Covid-19 cases‘. However, the data presented is not the number true count of all cases numbers, but some fraction of cases that have been confirmed by testing. It is typically not even governments best guess of case numbers – it is the smaller number: ‘confirmed cases‘. […]

Ignore Covid-19 Fake News: Conscience Is The Main Reason To Avoid Infection.

Commenced: August 13, 2020

The media paints a very misleading picture as to the main threat presented by Covid-19. The risk for society overall that forces governments to adopt lockdowns is the risk of overloading hospitals. For most individuals, the greatest threat is not to their own health, but the fear that they getting infected, it could trigger a chain of infections and if a parent or grandparent of a friend dies in the outbreak, then that could have resulted from their infection.

Djokovic: Rescued from PR Disaster By Australian Leader “Scotty from Marketing” Morrison!

Commenced: January 10, 2022

Overview. There are No Heroes: Morrison – Djokovic. The Timeline. Overview. Novak Djokovic had committed a nightmare public relations mistake, appearing to gloat at having managed an exemption from the vaccination requirements for the Australian Open tennis tournament. Not necessarily a crowd favourite to begin with, Djokovic’s public announcement of the exemption that he had […]

Covid-19 is NOT ‘binary’: Severity is as Variable as with a Car Crash.

Commenced: August 7, 2020

The severity of Covid-19, is as variable as the severity of a car crash, because just as with car crashes, infections range from so mild they are inconsequential, to severe.

Jobs in the ‘ECO’ age part1: outsourced & offshored?

Commenced: May 9, 2016

A friend was commenting on how her employer, a major ‘blue-chip’ employer, was transforming the workplace. The shift in emphasis is to less work needing to take place in the office, and more provision for people to work from home. The direction it is heading is for people only to attend the office for scheduled […]

Industrial/Growth Age vs Information/Eco Age

Commenced: May 3, 2016

Industrial/Growth Age Characteristics (discussed in detail later in the post) automation replaces manual labour time to travel continually decreases automation and culture spreads around the globe population growth is unprecedented economic markets expand rapidly the Christian religion is the dominant religion of the revolution Have I missed any? Most likely yes. Information/Eco Age Characteristics (again, […]

The population ‘catch 22’

Commenced: February 23, 2015

Abstract: There is a population ‘catch 22’ in that some countries with underlying population reduction continue to grow their population through immigration because these same countries are most attractive to potential immigrants. This hides the underlying population reduction, and produces an illusion that populations always grow. If you read this, chances are you live in […]

Australia in the Pandemic: Eye of the storm?

Commenced: March 24, 2021

This is a snapshot of the pandemic as of March 2021, looking at what life is like in Sydney Australia, and looking out at the world. The most recent case of a person infected in NSW , the state with Sydney as its capital, outside of quarantine was on March 17th and was a person […]

All Free? The Tech Industry is so dumb!

Commenced: March 4, 2021

Initially, it seems the tech industry is just dumb. You could think: “So they get me to watch adds, and they collect my data. It is not like letting them collect my data is going to cost me anything! It is not like Facebook, Google, Instagram, WhatsApp etc have some way of getting their hands […]

Population: Brace, the slow down has started!

Commenced: February 26, 2015

Surprising, global population growth is set to slow, because of changes to birth rates that have already occurred. Clearly families are not the size they were even 50 years ago. So why have we not already seen a change in growth? Is growth really going to slow down? The answer is that we have not […]

Biden vs Trump: A World Changing US Election?

Commenced: October 2, 2020

The US has an election this November, with the possibility of the winner being decided by the US congress, and not by the election itself. I am even going to suggest this is the most likely of all outcomes. How this is even possible, as well as how each outcome would change the world is […]

2020: Trump ‘wins’ on election Night?

Commenced: November 2, 2020

It is almost certain Trump will hold the lead in votes counted at the end of the night on November 3. While it is possible that Trump could still hold the lead once all votes are counted, Trump is extremely unlikely take the risk that will eventuate and will instead launch legal challenges to the […]

2020: Trump To Declare Victory on election Night? Violence and Intimation? (revision II)

Commenced: November 3, 2020

As I said yesterday, it is almost certain Trump will hold the lead based on votes counted at the end of the night on November 3. While it is possible that, were Trump to wait until the end of the vote count, Trump would still be in the lead, it seems less and less likely […]

OK, Election day over, who won and what now?

Commenced: November 4, 2020

Posted 2020-Nov-4 9:58am UTC As expected Trump effectively declared victory on election night, and has stated there will now be legal action call the election at the current point. Also as expect the vote was tight, and Trump does, again as predicted, hold the lead on the basis of votes counted so far, but is […]

Winners! but.. without the senate?

Commenced: November 5, 2020

Posted 2020-Nov-5 6:07am UTC (midnight Nov 4 US Eastern Time) Updated: There have been two big surprises on and following election day. The first, is how precisely election results have been in line with predictions: as predicted, Trump would narrowly lead on election night based on counted votes as predicted, Trump would declare victory on […]

US Election: Why The Flip The Switch States?

Commenced: November 6, 2020

The whole 2020 US Election scenario was extremely predictable. That is because it was predictable there would be states with an early count favouring Trump, even when the majority of the state voted for Biden. This ‘flip’ happens all the time. Imagine people in a large hall. The master of ceremonies asks ‘all those who […]

Donald Trump: Victory Still Possible?

Commenced: November 7, 2020

The US election is not officially declared. At least two days after even to me, it was clear the result would be around 306-232, there is still some uncertainty. Here in Australia, all 5 free to air Television networks had at least one digital channel focus on the US election on election day. I will […]

What if Trump isn’t lying?

Commenced: December 6, 2020

I know. There are a lot of claims that Trump “lies all the time”. But consider for a moment, what if Trump is not lying? What if he actually believes the things he says? More specifically, if you read all there is in this post, could you be forgiven for believing in many ways Trump […]

US 2020 Election: Never ending story

Commenced: January 6, 2021

Three new chapters of the story playing out: Partisan reactions to Trump call Georgia Sec of State Georgia Senate Elections The Presidential Confirmation Soap Opera On display is the huge disconnect between sides, and in general a lack of ‘theory of mind’. Theory of mind as a personal capability is the understanding that others have beliefs, desires, intentions, and perspectives that are […]

System Failure: USA, Jan 6th 2021

Commenced: January 13, 2021

Several issues related the events of this day highlight system failures for either the US, or in some cases, the entire globe ( I will update this page over the next few days). Recap 25th Amendment: Fail Impeachment? Social Medial: Fail Blame Protesters: Fail Biden Response: Fail Romney: Not a Fail Recap On Jan 6th, […]

Off Topic Surprise: Aslan Karatsev and how self- image can mask ability.

Commenced: March 22, 2021

Tennis. Not something I normally bother to commit thoughts on, but there is a surprise in tennis sufficiently intriguing that I am creating a page to track. This a story of how someone of amazing ability, can exist in obscurity, most likely in this case due to hurdles created by their own mind. Right now […]

Will An Actual Vaccination Conspiracy In Australia Backfire Internationally?

Commenced: September 27, 2021

Secret Covid-19 Future: The Truth From a politician? It seems in Australia we have a genuine conspiracy to deceive the public. This is a conspiracy in two steps, with many conspirators only committed to the more benign step one, but likely being drawn into the more worrying step2. The Two Step Conspiracy: The People Don’t […]

Vaccines: yes, some stories are too good to be true.

Commenced: March 17, 2021

I have been following Covid-19 since January 2020 I felt the world too complacent, through to today March 17 2021, when I now fear there may be too much faith in vaccines. Israel has been at the forefront of vaccination, and should provide an early indicator of what to expect. So today I thought I […]

Mid 2021: Eliminate it? Or ‘Live With’ Covid-19 and what follows?

Commenced: July 16, 2021

So far around 75% of countries who have lived with Covid19, most often not by choice, and around 25% of countries have lived in the shadow of Covid-19, but through elimination, mostly without Covid-19. Vaccinations may allow living with Covid-19 to be more palatable, but they also provide an opportunity for more countries to eliminate […]

Search: What Search Results do others see, and can search hurt me?

Commenced: September 16, 2021

Web searches give results tailored to you. Haver you ever wonder what other people see? Search Services Exist To Earn Money, And Show What They Want You To See. The Revenues Come From Providing ‘Tweaked’ and Biased Search Results and Information. Incognito or otherwise: Personalised Search Results (with bias) = Maximum revenue. Does the bias […]

Beyond COP26: 1.5°C Now Ensured, Where Next?

Commenced: November 4, 2021

Preventing 1.5°C Was Never Going To Happen. But Action Is Getting Real. So, Where Next?

Trump: Real Problem, No Solution

Commenced: May 31, 2016

The USA does have a real problem. Donald Trump has a campaign slogan ‘Make America Great Again’. So has America stopped being great? The USA has changed from a country where most people saw their incomes increasing and saw themselves getting richer, to a country where most now see themselves getting poorer. For people seeing […]

Population Explosion: What happened to get to 8 Billion people?

Date: March 9, 2021

Ukraine: Putin and China, method or madness?

Date: June 16, 2022

What if Russia and China both intended that the invasion of Ukraine would trigger global inflation and food shortages, and a potentially new financial crisis? That Putin sees himself in the image of Peter the Great and restoring the Russian empire is no secret, and is generally portrayed as evidence that Putin has completely lost the plot. But what if there is a bigger plan involving both Russia and China that starts with triggering a global financial crisis? A dangerous game by two desperate leaders needing to bring others with them as their own economies collapse.

WWIII?

Date: March 12, 2022

Was Feb 24th, the start of WWIII? Is it a world war of sanctions, troops and tanks, or nuclear? NATO, and specifically the US, seem to feel the risk of WWIII is so real, that they refuse Ukraine any assistance that could defeat Putin's forces and anger him further. Their hope seems to be "let him win on the battlefield but lose through sanctions".

Salami Tactics Battle In Ukraine: What Can Be Done To Stop Russia, and China, and Potentially, WWIII.

Date: February 27, 2022

Putin taking on 'the whole salami' in Ukraine, has advanced the world to a crisis with two potential outcomes: The invasion stalls long enough for Putin to lose power in Russia, leading to an end to expansionism not just in Russia, but most likely also improving the worlds relationship with China.The invasion succeeds, showing the response of nations as powerless in response to aggression, greenlighting a path that could lead to an extension of age of tyrants, and potentially WWIII.

1.5°C by 2026? Already +1.25°C in 2021: What You Are Not Being Told Other Than By Greta Thunberg et al., And Why Not.

Date: November 12, 2021

I started out wondering how much temperatures have risen so far, what is the best estimate for when will reach +1.5°C , and how bad is +1.5°C anyway. I expected that finding the first two answers would be easy, but it was not. I found the answers, and why they were not easy to find. I found that with warming at +1.0 in Paris in 2015, +1.5 logically seemed 50 years away, but in 2021 just 6 years later, we are halfway there at +1.25°C. Much changed during the Covid-19 distraction, and at this rate +1.5°C is set to be here by 2026, not the 2050 predicted at Paris.

New York, Sweden and the case for herd immunity.

Date: April 28, 2020

This post examines the idea that achieving herd immunity from an outbreak of Coiv-19 just might be a solid strategy. Not ‘let it rip’ herd immunity, which I will also review, but managed and optimised herd immunity where death and serious illness is kept to the lowest level possible. Two locations with that may have […]

The Irony of The Bloomberg 2020 Campaign

Date: January 28, 2020

From a variety of media reports, I had the impression that Bloomberg first held off entering the nomination race because as long as Joe Biden had it covered. But now, Bloomberg could emerge as assisting Bernie Sanders to defeat Job Biden.

So Long Mr. Putin, And Thanks. But Meanwhile….?

Date: March 3, 2022

War relies upon both sides feeling the other side are the "bad guys" The invasion of Ukraine has reached a point where Ukraine has defeated Putin in the global PR war, labelling Putin and the invaders the "bad guys", and requiring Putin to escalate measures to try to ensure the new does not spread to much in Russia, and in the military. Meanwhile, there is still a physical invasion war going on, and as Putin's desperation to hide reality increases, so will the resulting devastation.

Electric Cars: 2021, It Just Doesn’t add up (yet).

Date: April 19, 2021

Right now, without subsidies, buying an electric car does not add up. Currently there is a price premium, and as a result the cars only appeal to those happy to pay a premium to indulge a passion. Buyers are prepared to pay a premium for the environment or the acceleration, but right now, buying is […]

COP26: Were The Deck Chairs Sufficiently Shuffled?

Date: October 29, 2021

COP26. It sounds like a police officer who can't be named. For me it raises questions such as: Why "COP26" and what happened to the first 25 COPs?Are all decisions are made in advance, or is anything really agreed at the conference?Is there more than politicians and fossil fuel companies agreeing spin and token gestures?

Obama and Xi Jinping announcement: a huge step for climate action? Or a backward step?

Date: November 14, 2014

Obama is currently a ‘lame duck’ president with a hostile senate, and approval rating that suggests a likely hood the next US president may well be a republican. In Australia when the less conservative party took a position to take steps to address climate change, it became a call to arms for conseratives opposed to […]

Trump: Conceding? Or Plotting?

Date: September 27, 2020

The republicans in the senate have a clear motive for wanting a new supreme court judge appointed before the election, but with Donald Trump the motivation is not quite as clear. This page contemplates the possible motives of Donald Trump for his rush to appoint a new judge to the high court prior to the […]

The G20 outcome, a plan to make the earth a worse place?

Date: November 21, 2014

The recent G20 wrapped up with a commitment to target economic growth level for the G20 of 2.1% by 2018. Global population grwoth is over 1.1% so this means the worlds richest countries will be getting richer by just over 1% avove population increase per annum by 2018. Is there any suggestion that this addional […]

Foreign fighters: Is it really a surprise that ISIS/ISIL can recruit from the west?

Date: November 26, 2014

I have heard repeated media statements on how ISIS/ISIL managed to recruit young Sunni Muslims from around the world to join their cause. It has been stated that society must reach out to the Muslim community to stop these young men being recruited from their midst. Certainly these recruits from around the world join the […]

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s Australia Day Surprise: Another title for Prince Philip. Foolishness, or other motives?

Date: January 26, 2015

The Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, announced a ‘bold’ decision to award an Australian knighthood to the husband to the Queen of England, Prince Philip. I will provide background for the world majority with zero exposure to Australia’s relationship to the British royal family, but Australia ceased awarding knighthoods in 1986 as part of a […]

Australia: Yet another prime minister?

Date: September 20, 2015

On Monday September 15th, Malcolm Turnbull replaced Prime Minister Tony Abbott as the leader of the liberal party, ensuring Malcolm Turnbull would become the fifth prime minister (or head of government) of Australia within five years. This post looks at how this seemingly crazy frequency of change actually takes place, the underlying ‘crisis’ and implications […]

Australian Budget: Ignorance or Lies?

Date: May 4, 2016

Last night, the Australian Government announced a new budget. Many of the stated premises of the budget seemly clearly out of touch with the current reality. Either the government is unaware of the current reality, or the government is not being completely open with the electorate.

Brexit and Trump: Common Theme?

Date: June 24, 2016

I suggest there are two key points in common between the nomination of Donald Trump as the republican candidate, and the ‘Brexit’ vote in the United Kingdom: the failure of our economic system to deliver distribute of increased economic wealth a backlash against immigration Economics. The first point is that we have created a disconnect […]

Brexit: Litmus test, Labor vs Liberal

Date: July 1, 2016

Red or Blue? What will the litmus indicate in the Australian election just one week in the aftermath of the stunning ‘Brexit’ outcome? It could be argued that the ‘Brexit’ result will play to whichever party best manages to leverage the angle presented to them. The players and positions. Liberals Position: Strong and Steady. This […]

Syria: Why Assad did not use chemical weapons to kill Syrian citizens

Date: April 12, 2017

The proposal that Asad used chemical weapons in order to kill Syrians depends on the following steps, from the almost certain through steps with less and less certainty it was chemical weapons that were really to blame for deaths in the recent attack chemical weapons were in fact launched by forces supporting Assad, and not […]

The AUKUS FUKUS Fracas: Submarines, Really?

Date: November 3, 2021

This is an amazing diplomatic saga, that just could have an impact on the world political balance. Background. The Main Event. Round 1: Recalled Ambassadors. Round 2: Biden to Macron, “I was under the impression you had been told”. Round 3: Macron, “I don’t think, I know [Scott Morrison Lied]” . Round 4: Morrison: Denials […]

Lord Trumpemort And The Coup Eaters.

Date: December 12, 2021

As the youtube video to the right demonstrates, I am certainly not the first person to see similarities between Trump and Voldemort. In my case, the focus is on how and why they attract followers, or “coup eaters”, the Trump equivalent to “death eaters”, and the consequences of a possible return. The Plot Of Trump […]

Omicron Alert, Or Already Time For Alarm?

Date: December 6, 2021

I first looked at Omicron just under one week ago. The data since that time has already been sufficient to rethink my origin viewpoint. Recap: Previously. What Has Changed? S. Africa Cases! The Norway Party. The Big Hope: Less Dangerous Than Delta? Revised Summary. Conclusions(2 weeks later): Scary, But Not Earth Shattering.

Omicron Doom, But Australia Parties & Experiments: December 2021 snapshot.

Date: December 16, 2021

It is mid December 2021. The Covid-19 responses are as divided as ever, but in new ways: In Australia, almost all remaining Covid-19 restrictions are being removed on the same day as record case numbers. In Europe, UK and many other locations, restrictions are increasing. Who has it wrong, and why do I have this […]

From Covid-Zero to Worlds Worst Outbreak? Tracking Omicron, and The Australian ‘Pandemic-Over’ Experiment.

Date: January 4, 2022

On December 16th, I wrote on how, despite the world facing a looming Omicron surge, Australia and one state in particular in Australia (NSW), opened up as others introduced restrictions. The result is case numbers effectively an experiment, moving to “The Pandemic Is Over” and we can “live with the virus” position, and no longer […]

Why wait? We should end population growth NOW!

Date: November 5, 2021

I have been asked on a few occasions, why not end population growth now? It is not like we need to get more people first. Japan has stopped population growth, why not the rest of us? What are we waiting for?

China Population Surprise: Peak Population in 2022.

Date: December 19, 2021

I read a story on population in China that I found surprising in three ways. The Story and Surprises. Peak China. The story reports China has already reached peak population. Too Few Not Too Many: The author believes that despite over 700 million people in China in around 1970 being considered too many people, 1.4 […]

ScoMo Ingenious EV Plan: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, leading climate action blocker, stretching the truth again?

Date: November 19, 2021

After a long history resisting action on climate change, the Australian government finally 'committed' to net zero by 2050, and then did an about face from their previous 'anti-EV' stance and announced support for electric vehicles. Or did they?

Paradox Resolved: Why The Population Explosion Is Ending and birth rates falling.

Date: March 6, 2021

Surprisingly, humanity is at 'peak child' and looks to be heading to population stability and perhaps even 'leaving peak population' and correcting to a lower population. We are still have an overpopulated planet, following the population explosion, but at least the explosion is ending, due to 'births' per woman falling from over 6 prior to 1900, to 4.7 by around 1950, and to around 2.3 in 2021. So, why are birth-rates falling? There are countless studies of population trends, but in the end, most explanations for the fall in birth rates just don't add up.

Topics and Subtopics.

Monopolies: A global trend?

February 11, 2015 March 4, 2021

The wealth differential is increasing not just between rich and poor individuals, by in the corporate world as well. I have been thinking about the