Daily review 20/12/2021

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, December 20th, 2021 - 45 comments
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Daily review is also your post.

This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

45 comments on “Daily review 20/12/2021 ”

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  1. Bill 1
    20 December 2021 at 6:06 pm

    Some good stuff in this. And yes – turns out the fcken micro-chips are real 🙂 Yup. Seriously.

    • Fireblade 1.1
      20 December 2021 at 6:33 pm

      If it improves my 5G coverage, I'm in.

    • observer 1.2
      20 December 2021 at 6:49 pm

      Speaking only for myself, I don't click on YouTube links without some description of the source. It means nothing to say "somebody did a video".

      If you want me to have this in my browser history, and mess up my default YouTube settings, then please make the (small) effort to tell us what kind of "evidence" this is … if any.

      • Bill 1.2.1
        20 December 2021 at 7:23 pm

        The first few minutes are a run through of a promotional piece by Stockholm company Epicentre touting their "Covid Passport" chip that, for convenience, can be embedded in your arm.

        There are actually a whole load of similar promotional videos and paid for promotional pieces in journals and magazines from companies racing to be first in line to provide digital interfaces that are all essentially pieces of digital surveillance hardware and software.

        They all begin with Covid passports and go on to extol the virtues and convenience of digital ID.

        The remainder of the video is commentary by Max Blumenthal and Jimmy Dore on the parlous state of a self describing left that is unwittingly pushing and celebrating this shift to a "social credit" form of governance.

        • observer 1.2.1.1
          20 December 2021 at 7:31 pm

          Thanks for that. (Probably still won't bother watching it, as life's too short, but at least I know what I'm missing … ).

        • Pat 1.2.1.2
          20 December 2021 at 8:13 pm

          There is a Scandinavian company using micro chip implants as a security measure for access to corporate premises…recall an interview on RNZ some months ago how it was being trialed there as a precursor to wider roll out….Private company with Gov support if I recall correctly.

          • Bill 1.2.1.2.1
            20 December 2021 at 9:09 pm

            Might be the same one, given the company in the Jimmy Dore segment is based in Stockholm. (That. and their employees already have chips embedded in their hands)

            • Pat 1.2.1.2.1.1
              20 December 2021 at 9:26 pm

              Could be…reminded me of the interview as soon as I read your post, but my recall of the details are sketchy….remember thinking dystopian at the time

              • Bill …
                21 December 2021 at 12:41 am

                remember thinking dystopian at the time

                Nope. It's all good. No different to a dog’s registration chip or a web browser cookie. Apparently.

  2. Robert Guyton 2
    20 December 2021 at 6:29 pm

    And Bill, they were deployed, here in NZ, as the antivaxxers claimed, from day-one?

    Seriously?

    • weka 2.1
      20 December 2021 at 6:31 pm

      I'm curious how the microchip fitted through that tiny syringe needle.

      Anyway, the last few Bond movies demonstrate how to remove a microchip from one's arm. Handy.

      • Robert Guyton 2.1.1
        20 December 2021 at 6:34 pm

        A clever counter-organisation could fit micro-chips that tell a very different story – let's get creative, people!

      • alwyn 2.1.2
        20 December 2021 at 7:23 pm

        Back in 1989 some engineers at IBM managed to spell out the letters in IBM in an area that was 3 billionths of a metre long. That is 0.000000003 metres.

        Making a microchip to record all about what you are up to would seem to be child's play today. But don't even imagine I believe it was done.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_(atoms)#:~:text=IBM%20in%20atoms%20was%20a,the%20three%20letter%20company%20initialism.

        • weka 2.1.2.1
          20 December 2021 at 7:36 pm

          I was joking. The rabbit hole people believe there are tracking nanochips being delivered in the vaccine. Bill's link shows a regular microchip that is inserted into someone's arm (kind of like microchipping a dog I guess).

          • alwyn 2.1.2.1.1
            20 December 2021 at 8:17 pm

            "I was joking". And so was I. I only put the last sentence in because there are some nutters out there, and I wasn't thinking it of you, who actually seem to think that if you mention the topic you must be a true believer.

            I actually looked up syringe sizes though and the smallest I could find has an internal diameter 17,000 times the length of that little logo they made.

    • Bill 2.2
      20 December 2021 at 6:44 pm

      lol. Did you even watch the first few minutes of the vid that covers the micro-chipping?

      • Descendant Of Smith 2.2.1
        20 December 2021 at 7:21 pm

        Yeah you are being a dick. Trying to conflate the notion that the vaccine contains a micro-chip with the actuality that you can add your vaccine passport to a microchip and implant this in your arm.

        RFID chips have been around for a while – banking, hygiene in hospitals, etc. Nothing new.

        • weka 2.2.1.1
          20 December 2021 at 7:39 pm

          I thought the conflation was unhelpful too, because it messes up the public debate about privacy. If it's all just one big conspiracy theory, then why would people bother looking at or thinking about it.

          Meanwhile, we should be concerned about RFID etc and whether our neoliberal governments can be trusted on the emerging techs. Maybe we trust Ardern, would we trust Key and English? Collins? The people we can't even imagine in ten years time if societal shit is breaking down because of climate change or whatever the latest crisis is. You think even Ardern's Labour wouldn't go hardcore if they felt it was necessary?

        • Bill 2.2.1.2
          20 December 2021 at 7:39 pm

          Trying to conflate the notion that the vaccine contains a micro-chip.. Nope. That was Mr Robert Guyton did that.

          Anyway. I think you are missing the point. Deliberately?

          As of right now, people who don't have 'required' medical info on their phones are shut out from sections society for no sensible health reason whatsoever. This includes children who are being denied access to public swimming pools and other public amenities as well as extracurricular activities because they don't have the necessary digital passport required for entry or inclusion …students who now cannot attend exams or complete their studies for the same reason – that they have not submitted to an injection…teachers, psychologists, psychiatrists, councellors…the list goes on.

          As I've said above, there are suddenly a lot companies touting their wares quite openly. Most are "phone bound", but all extend well beyond any notion of a temporary Covid passport and into the realm of across the board digital ID that's intended use will determine access, or denial of access to society.

          And to think many of the same people who are so blase right now, are the same people who frothed and spat over any reporting around China's "social credit" system of governance.

          And if I'm a dick for pointing out the patently obvious, what does that make you – who can't or won't see it?

          In spite of the hell we’re being herded towards, the fact that a company just up and proudly touts its chip is quite funny in light of all the conspiracy theorists, no?

          • weka 2.2.1.2.1
            20 December 2021 at 7:43 pm

            you don't need a phone to use a vaccine pass. There are some issues around the database that is being managed by the MoH (afaik you can't get a pass without being registered electronically, but they can do that for people on the phone).

            So that's two different issues: one is the mandate and the pass. The other is whether we are adopting tech that will allow later governments to break privacy more easily. I think concern about both is warranted. Tying it to conspiracy theories muddies the debate (as you can now see).

            • Bill 2.2.1.2.1.1
              20 December 2021 at 8:04 pm

              The name of the Bill eludes me. It is going through Parliament right now and is about setting in place a framework around digital communications that Government sits at top or centre of.

              Another Bill (public submissions also closed) concerns the Reserve Bank creating and underwriting a digital currency.

              ANZ is already advertising its digital wallet (it can't be a full blown one seeing as how we are still a society that runs on cash for every day transactions, but I'm sure it can be upgraded down the road)

              The bio-metric digital ID system Aadhaar that was initiated by Bill Gates and Nandan Nilekani – and that has 1 billion Indians locked in – gives a bit of insight as to the reach and scope envisaged by the architects who wish us to be a part of their glorious future. (It ain't so glorious)

              And it cannot come into being unless all people, and crucially, today's children, are inculcated with the idea that a controlled digital domain extending into their private lives is benign and normal. That's why digital Covid passports for 5 year olds, although there is zero health rational for injecting 5 year olds and very little for any normal healthy person still of working age according to Covid death stats….

              • weka …
                20 December 2021 at 8:15 pm

                And it cannot come into being unless all people, and crucially, today's children, are inculcated with the idea that a controlled digital domain extending into their private lives is benign and normal.

                well that boat has already sailed. People have fridges that are connected to the internet and they don't get the same control over them that I might with my laptop for instance. The people that are into it are into it. Hanging out for the Jetsons I guess.

                I'm also concerned that the NZ police trialling face recognition software. There is some tech that just can't be trusted in the hand of authority.

                The push to get people to use voice recognition in call centres is another one worth keeping an eye on (thankfully WINZ seemed to have dropped the processes they were trying to establish).

                I don't see the NZ government as planning these things for nefarious purposes. Mostly people like the convenience and the cool factor of the new tech. I really like my smart phone and put up with the background intrusions on my privacy because it makes my life easier. We're well down that road (FB, gmail etc). I trust Labour more than I trust Zuckerberg, but that's probably because we have reasonable civil liberties watchdogs here. As I said above I also don't trust that Labour wouldn't go hard if it needed to. Think climate breakdown, a crippling GFC etc.

                Also don't believe that vaccinating kids is anything other than a genuinely held belief in the health system that this is a good and necessary thing.

                But I agree the tech developments that are outpacing ethics should be resisted.

                • Bill …
                  20 December 2021 at 8:42 pm

                  I don't think, fb, fridges, gmail and what not are not in same league. There's a huge difference between actors like the NSA harvesting meta-data and somewhat atomised entities trading harvested info back and forth, and having direct centralised access to the type of info these companies envisage.

                  As you say, it can seem quite convenient – which is the selling point.

                  However, when the booster shot is overdue….when committing a minor infringement leads to an instant demerit of "social credit" and a concomitant denial of access to some or other aspect of society…when environmental protest is deemed to be "domestic terrorism"…

                  The facial recognition will come. (It's kinda here) Again, in the name of convenience some people already unlock their phones with retina recognition. That will be harvestable, just as facebook is currently "scraped" and used to compile facial recognition data bases. The seven eleven dairies in Australia recently asked customers to fill out feedback questionaires on tablets – and swiped their faces for facial recognition purposes. The company "scraping" facebook (Clearview?) is fighting a court order to delete their data base and Australian police forces have been reported to be "playing" with the tech (make of that as you will)

                  Omicron might be the death of it. Kind of difficult to maintain bullshit about how swathes of society must lose their jobs and/or be denied meaningful participation in society because of bogus claims around public health, when and if we're just looking at a relative sniffle.

                  That, and there are definitely growing numbers of people – just ordinary not very political people following their gut feeling from my interactions – calling bullshit on public health measures that aren't.

                  • weka …
                    20 December 2021 at 9:34 pm

                    I don't think, fb, fridges, gmail and what not are not in same league. There's a huge difference between actors like the NSA harvesting meta-data and somewhat atomised entities trading harvested info back and forth, and having direct centralised access to the type of info these companies envisage.

                    Yes, but the point is that people who like the fridges or gmail or whatever don't have a natural aversion to privacy loss and will be more socialised into liking vax passes and then the next thing and the next. The socialisation into accepting loss of privacy is on a roll.

          • weka 2.2.1.2.2
            20 December 2021 at 7:44 pm

            In spite of the hell we’re being herded towards, the fact that a company just up and proudly touts its chip is quite funny in light of all the conspiracy theorists, no?

            Not really. That shit was going on before covid, and the conspiracy theorists make it harder to talk about the issues and get them taken seriously.

          • RedLogix 2.2.1.2.3
            20 December 2021 at 7:50 pm

            The step being taken here is that in the past our laws and regulations were generally framed as 'prohibitions'. In other words everything was permitted, except that which we agreed should be not allowed. These digital passports slide across this boundary and reframe society into everything is prohibited except that which is permitted. That's a radically different world.

            I'm not arguing this is necessarily what's consciously intended by its introduction, but the technology is so potentially ubiquitous that the 'technocratic tyranny' arrives under the guise of 'the greater good' or our 'greater safety' in a crisis – and never goes away.

            • Bill 2.2.1.2.3.1
              20 December 2021 at 8:07 pm

              These digital passports slide across this boundary and reframe society into everything is prohibited except that which is permitted.

              Aside from overlooking the granting and denial of access (to society), that captures it quite well. No you didn’t (overlook). It’s implied.

          • Robert Guyton 2.2.1.2.4
            20 December 2021 at 8:21 pm

            "Trying to conflate the notion that the vaccine contains a micro-chip.. Nope. That was Mr Robert Guyton did that."

            Disingenuous much, Bill.

            If your readers took the implication, it's certain that a clever bloke like you would have been extremely unlikely to have missed seeing that such an implication might be taken.

            Again, disingenuous. Much.

            • Bill 2.2.1.2.4.1
              20 December 2021 at 8:45 pm

              "Covid Mircochip is Here" with a picture of a cell phone…not a picture of a syringe. You trolled.

              • Robert Guyton …
                20 December 2021 at 9:03 pm

                As was suggested by others, you conflated.

                If you didn't do it wilfully, you failed to check before posting.

                Whenever you are challenged, you cry "troll'.
                Other posters too, took your post to imply the vaccine contains a chip:
                “Yeah you are being a dick. Trying to conflate the notion that the vaccine contains a micro-chip with the actuality that you can add your vaccine passport to a microchip and implant this in your arm.”
                and
                “I thought the conflation was unhelpful too, because it messes up the public debate about privacy. If it’s all just one big conspiracy theory, then why would people bother looking at or thinking about it.”
                Perhaps you were merely careless.
                Whatever.

                • Bill …
                  20 December 2021 at 9:07 pm

                  Whenever you are challenged, you cry "troll'.

                  Nope. And when I'm wrong, I'm easy enough about admitting that. (My response to KJTs comment yesterday for example)

  3. Tony Veitch (not etc.) 3
    20 December 2021 at 7:14 pm

    My puppy has been micro-chipped, so the technology is hardly unknown.

    But there is nothing in the video to suggest that there are micro-chips in vaccines! That's loopy territory!

    Sorry, meant to be a reply to Bill above.

    • Bill 3.1
      20 December 2021 at 7:43 pm

      But there is nothing in the video to suggest that there are micro-chips in vaccines! That's loopy territory!

      Yup. Agree 100%

  4. swordfish 4
    20 December 2021 at 7:16 pm

    .

    Recent Talbot Mills (UMR) Polling:

    • observer 4.1
      20 December 2021 at 7:33 pm

      Is that a new Talbot Mills poll? Do we know the dates?

      (Presumably post- Luxon's elevation).

      • swordfish 4.1.1
        20 December 2021 at 10:59 pm

        .

        Don't have the exact dates … but it's certainly Talbot Mills December Poll … based on previous TM fieldwork dates, looks likely polling started a few days after Collins was removed as leader (25 Nov) … with Luxon's elevation (30 Nov) probably taking place during (maybe in the earlier stages of) fieldwork … egs TM November poll dates (Oct 29-Nov 3) / TM October poll (Sep 28-Oct 5).

    • Gezza 4.2
      20 December 2021 at 7:34 pm

      National 31 is a surprise. New leader bounce is bigger than I expected.
      ACT 12. Former Nat supporters have deserted back to National it seems.

      • Blazer 4.2.1
        20 December 2021 at 7:43 pm

        They will come back to ACT-Seymour is being shot out of a cannon ,dressed as Santa Claus at Cornwall Park on New Years Eve.

      • observer 4.2.2
        20 December 2021 at 7:48 pm

        I'm sure I'm not the only Labour/Green voter who feared Luxon taking a sizeable chunk out of the "soft" Labour vote.

        If he hasn't (too soon to be sure) then National have placed their best bet, at a bad time for the government, and they've barely got their money back.

    • weka 4.3
      20 December 2021 at 7:40 pm

      Image width fixed. If you edit the comment after posting, and add width ="100%" inside the tag, it usually displays correctly.

  5. joe90 5
    20 December 2021 at 7:39 pm

    Nitwit up the road flies Trump and Gadsden flags.

    https://twitter.com/Makno20/status/1472544757503213571

  6. Pete 6
    20 December 2021 at 8:00 pm

    "Covid-19 Delta variant: Northland checkpoint advocate Hone Harawira lashes out at NZ Police."

    We don't know the order of events and the timelines involved. Whatever they were, some people were denied clearance to work at Covid-19 checkpoints.

    "It stopped a fireman, a school chairperson, a former MP, marae committee members, a teacher, and health provider staff from volunteering (biased, racist decision-making with no basis in fact)," Harawira wrote.

    Does that mean those people for some reason were deemed unsuitable by the police because of some 'history' with the courts? If a former MP, some RSA committee members, a teacher, and health provider staff with convictions who were not Maori were stopped from participation in the events, would it be called "a process that is racist to the core"?

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-variant-northland-checkpoint-advocate-hone-harawira-lashes-out-at-nz-police/44AHRGX6URSB3TM3MD2RQOOZAQ/