Author Archives: Dave-Begley-Poet

I am a poet with a rare terminal illness called multicentric Castlemans Disease. Poetry breaks me away from the pain for a time. It takes me out of this world into my fantasy world full of funny thoughts and a never ending conversation with myself. I like haiku and I’ve made quotes. Words are a joy. I like to try poetry and think I get by. I don’t expect to become famous but if I can give someone a smile or a good feeling for just a moment, then I feel it was worth it.

Kiev Residential building bombed by Russia

I have a few sources from the Ukraine, people who have family there or are there themselves.

One person I know is from Hungary and said they are concerned that Russia may attack Hungary.

Subliminal Cuts

Ofcom Replies to Complaint About Sky’s Collaboration With the Nudge Unit to Use Covert Psychological Techniques to Promote Climate Change Dogma

Towards the end of last year, Laura Dodsworth and I complained to Ofcomabout a collaboration between Sky U.K. and the Behavioural Insights Team – then part-owned by the Cabinet Office – to use “behavioural science principles”, including subliminal messaging, to encourage viewers to endorse and comply with the Government’s ‘Net Zero’ agenda. That is, Sky bragged about joining forces with a unit that was part-owned by the U.K. Government to use covert psychological techniques to try to persuade viewers to endorse one of the U.K. Government’s most politically contentious policies – and encouraged other broadcasters to do the same! Alarmingly, the joint report by Sky and the BIT also recommended broadcasters utilise these same covert techniques to change the behaviour of children “because of the important influence they have on the attitude and behaviours of their parents”.

In our complaint, Laura and I argued this was a breach of Ofcom’s Broadcasting code – in particular, paragraph 11 of section two, entitled ‘Harm and Offence’:

Broadcasters must not use techniques which exploit the possibility of conveying a message to viewers or listeners, or of otherwise influencing their minds without their being aware, or fully aware, of what has occurred.

Now, two months later, Ofcom has replied, effectively dismissing the complaint. You can read the full reply beneath our original complaint here, but this is the gist of it:

In the Guidance we outline that, among other things, whether an issue has “been broadly settled […] and whether the issue has already been scientifically established” should inform a broadcaster’s consideration of whether the special impartiality requirements in the Code apply to a particular issue. In our Guidance, we identify the scientific principles behind the theory of anthropogenic global warming as an example of an issue which we considered to be broadly settled. On this basis, we do not consider these principles in themselves to be matters of political or industrial controversy for the purposes of Section Five of our Code.

In other words, using covert psychological methods to persuade viewers to endorse climate change dogma and adapt their behaviour accordingly, e.g. switch to electric cars, is not a breach of the Broadcasting Code because the science of anthropogenic global warming is “broadly settled” and “scientifically established”.

What about the fact that many of the behavioural changes Sky is trying to persuade viewers to make also happen to be changes the current Government is promoting under the banner of ‘Net Zero’? On that point, Ofcom is slightly more ambivalent, leaving the door open to another complaint:

The U.K. Government’s position on net zero covers a wide range of policy areas around which there may be a degree of controversy. Policies on how governments deal with crises or controversies in general can be a “matter or major matter of political controversy or relating to current public policy”, even if the U.K. Government has a settled policy position on it. It is possible, depending on the specific content and context, that a broadcast programme containing discussion of specific net zero policy decisions by the UK Government may engage Section Five of the Code, and require consideration under the special impartiality rules.

Ofcom goes on to say that it has raised our complaint with Sky, but has been assured by Sky’s response, and for that reason, among others, won’t be taking our complaint any further:

Turning to your complaint, you did not identify any specific programmes broadcast by Sky which you considered to be in breach of the Code. As I have explained, Ofcom is a post-transmission broadcast regulator and as such, does not usually consider general complaints about a broadcaster’s policies. On this occasion, we drew Sky’s attention to your complaint. Sky has assured us that they retain full control of all editorial broadcast content on their channels, and they are aware of their obligations under the Code.
It is also important to note that, broadcasters have the editorial freedom to analyse, discuss and challenge issues across the board, including topics related to net zero policies. As set out above, a broadcaster’s right to freedom of expression can only be subject to restrictions which are in pursuit of legitimate aims, in accordance with the law, necessary, and proportionate. We must exercise our regulatory functions in a way which is compatible with those rights, and in line with our regulatory principles.

For these reasons, in light of the assurances given by Sky, and in the absence of a complaint about specific broadcast content, there are no grounds for opening an investigation into Sky’s editorial policies and general organisational strategy related to net zero carbon emissions under the Code.
Accordingly, we will not be taking any further action in relation to the general matters which you raised with us about Sky. However, if you do wish to make a complaint about a specific programme that you consider raises issues under the Code, then you can do this by submitting a complaint on Ofcom’s website.

Disappointingly, at no point does Ofcom address our concern about Sky’s use of covert psychological techniques to prosecute its green agenda or its intention to use these methods to bend the minds of children.

Needless to say, Laura and I have no intention of letting the matter drop. If you see a programme on Sky that you think uses covert psychological methods to brainwash you (or your children) into accepting ‘Net Zero’ gobbledegook please bring it to our attention by emailing us here.

You can subscribe to Laura’s Substack newsletter here.

By Toby Young / 23 February 2022 • 16.41

Iceland Lifts All Restrictions, Says it Wants “As Many People as Possible” to Catch Covid

After almost two years of restrictions aimed at curbing the transmission of COVID-19, the Icelandic Government finally announcedon Wednesday that all restrictions, including all testing and restrictions at the borders, will be lifted at midnight on Friday, February 25th.

The Minister for Healthcare, Willum Thor Thorsson, said that with the current level of infections, continued restrictions are useless. “Restrictions do not have any effect at this point in time,” he said. The Health Ministry also said the way to end the pandemic is herd immunity through infections, and it wants “as many people as possible” to be infected to achieve “widespread societal resistance”. Vaccines will not provide the necessary immunity.

OWID

Over the past weeks and months, mask mandates and strict limitations on gatherings have been in place, while infections have surged and the restrictions seem to have had no effect on transmission.

Iceland

As much as 81% of the population above the age of four has been vaccinated at least twice. Official figures now show a higher infection rate among double-vaccinated adults and children than among the unvaccinated, and the boosters clearly do little to curb infections, as the infection rate for the triple vaccinated is now around 70% of that for the unvaccinated, and approaching it slowly but surely.

Almost a third of the population has tested positive and based on a recent local seroprevalence study it may be estimated that the actual proportion of the population that has been infected is close to two thirds.

The use of PCR tests for the general population has been discontinued and the crowd waiting outside the main testing centre in Reykjavik dispersed just after the Government made its announcement on Wednesday.

Most of the people in the street interviewed by the media seemed happy to get rid of the restrictions. The director of the Icelandic national hospital was worried though, and said this was too early.

Despite the decision made this week, the Icelandic Prime Minister said the possibility of new restrictions later on could not be ruled out, for example in the case of a new variant emerging. After the Healthcare Minister‘s announcement regarding the lack of effectiveness of the restrictions, it might be expected that a decision to reimpose them would have to rest on a stronger foundation than before.

Thorsteinn Siglaugsson is an economist who lives in Iceland. Find him on his blog.

Stop Press: Poland is also lifting all restrictions from March 1st, except the mask mandate, oddly.

European Parliament Press Conference.

The European Parliament has held an important press conference over the pandemic with fingers pointing at senior figures and asking for their resignation.

I’ve added a YouTube link below to watch.

https://youtu.be/qhe20QRG_Rw

How Many People Died from the Covid-19 Inoculations?

How Many People Died from the Covid-19 Inoculation? An Estimate Based on a Survey of the United States Population(Working Paper)

This paper examines potential fatalities and injuries from the Covid-19 inoculation using an online “Covid-19 Health Experiences Survey” administered to a representative sample of the US population. The sample is composed of 3,000 respondents balanced on age, gender, and income to the extent possible. The survey was administered in December 2021, collecting information regarding respondents’ experiences with the Covid-19 illness and the Covid-19 inoculations as well as Covid-19 health experiences within respondents’ social circles. The survey also collected respondent economic and demographic information. Using these data, I find the following:

Covid-19 inoculation-related fatalities:

Assuming that all the respondents who know somebody who they believe died from the inoculation actually died from the inoculation, estimated fatalities are about 308,000.
Subtracting out those who may have died regardless of inoculation yields an estimated 260,000 inoculation-induced fatalities. This is an initial first pass estimate—more evaluation is needed.

Factors associated with being inoculated:

The likelihood of being inoculated is significantly less for those who identify themselves as African American, Hispanic, and Asian, and Republican or Independent. Democrats, Caucasians, and more the highly educated are more likely to be inoculated.
Those who indicated that they obtain information about Covid-19 from alterative news sources were less likely to be inoculated. Those who obtain information from mainstream news and official government source are more likely to be inoculated.
Knowing someone who experienced a significant health problem from the Covid-19 illness increased the likelihood of being inoculated.
Knowing someone who had been injured by the Covid-19 inoculation substantially reduced the likelihood of being inoculated.

The official position of the US government is that the Covid-19 inoculations have resulted in nine fatalities (CDC, 2022). The experiences shared by hundreds of respondents in this survey suggests that many people died or were injured following inoculation. Which data are more believable—nine fatalities or as many as 200,000 to 300,000 fatalities? Surveys have limitations in assessing the impacts of health interventions. However, this type of evaluation offers an important point of triangulation. The experiences of people captured in surveys generally should be consistent with official government data. In the case of Covid-19 inoculations, there is a tremendous divergence which should be cause for further inquiry. My hope is that this research will motivate a full and transparent examination by independent health and medical scholars to ascertain the degree of harm being caused by the Covid-19 inoculations.

The full paper can be accessed at: How Many People Died from the Covid-19 Inoculations? An Estimate Based on a Survey of the United States Population

In the UK it’s estimated only 1% of adverse effects are reported. With 1.4 million in severe adverse effects and 1,900 deaths on my last check 3 weeks ago this could be enormous. I know personally 6 that have died from the vaccine and one of those was my daughter’s 23-year-old best friend. A beautiful and fun-loving working young woman taken with a brain haemorrhage.

I know endless with many severe adverse effects, 2 on chemo, two with thrombosis, 2 with thyroid and 3 with heart problems and one who was in such a mess he thought it was the end. All these people are between 23 and 50. All fit and healthy.

I would rather be locked up for life than take their poison.

Police confirm use of controversial LRAD device at Canberra protest

What started out at the beginning of the week as the ‘stuff of conspiracy theories’ was eventually confirmed by Police.

Australian Capital Territory Policing admitted that they did use a Long Range Acoustic Device (also known as a LRAD) during the Canberra Convoy Freedom rallies outside Parliament House.

A number of wild theories and have emerged online about how the LRAD device was used in Canberra and claims of injury, but the actual effects are well documented.

Reports are still coming in on various injuries at the protest – most relating to what looks like sunburn and heat stroke. There are also clear allergic reactions from what some speculate might be contact with chemicals.

The LRAD device has two modes. One setting turns it into a crowd control tool – also referred to as a ‘sound canon’, ‘acoustic hailing device’, or a ‘sonic weapon’ – and the other mode, which is what was used in Canberra, makes the LRAD a loudspeaker or amplification device to relay messages to the crowd.

A spokesperson for police released a statement to The Epoch Timesconfirming, “ACT Policing has deployed several types of loudspeakers and amplification devices to quickly and effectively convey voice messages to large, and often loud, crowds of people during the recent protest activity in Canberra.”

However, this confirmation came only after One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts and Liberal Senator Alex Antic brought up the issue in Senate estimates on February 14.

Malcolm Roberts’ office was inundated with complaints from protesters all week wanting to know what had happened during the rally – prompting him to pass on these public concerns.

“That would be something that is with our police methodology which we would have to look at some type of public interest immunity claim, Senator,” said the Australia Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw, when questioned by Senator Roberts.
“Surely it’s in the public interest to know whether or not they [LRADs] were there without delving too much into it?”
“I’d have to […] If I could take that on notice, I’d have to get advice.”

Senator Antic, who attended Senate estimates virtually, held up a photo of the LRAD device beside members of the police force. Despite the visual evidence in front of Kershaw, he still chose to defer the answer.

“With the benefit of having that photograph which tends to confirm it [the claims that there was an LRAD present], we still can’t confirm that that device was there on the day?” asked Senator Antic, still holding the photograph.

Kershaw insisted that the question had already been taken on notice.

The LRAD was used in Canberra only as a means of communicating with the crowd.

Its use has, however, alarmed many public observers as the LRAD is technically a sonic crowd control weapon that, if used in its other setting, projects extremely loud sounds over long distances to cripple a crowd. The ‘alert setting’ on the device is particularly dangerous and has been known to cause permanent hearing damage, dizziness, disorientation, and brain damage.

Essentially the device ‘chirps’ at the crowd causing pain and potentially permanent hearing damage. Its use on crowds remains highly controversial, with the NYPD ending up in federal court where it was recommended that their use against protesters on the alert setting be suspended.

LRADs have been employed in military settings, such as by the United States in 2004, as a form of non-lethal combat. An LRAD was used against crowds at the 2009 G20 summit in its weaponised mode, causing serious and permanent injuries. It was also reported to have been used against the Occupy Oakland crowd in 2011.

Like a water canon pushes the crowd back with the force of a liquid, sound canons use waves of noise to bombard people. These can be targeted onto specific parts of the crowd.

In the US, it is frequently used on crowds in its loudspeaker mode, as was done in Canberra. Many other countries also employ LRADs for crowd communication purposes.

The Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police, South Australian Police, Western Australian Police, and Australia Victorian Police have all confirmed that they have purchased one of these devices. The Northern Territory and New South Wales police forces did not comment.

LRADs are used in a wide range of settings and by various government departments, usually on its loudspeaker mode. It is also used at runways, solar and wind farms and agricultural operations to frighten animals away from equipment.

The ABC ran a report concerned about the purchase of these devices back in 2016.

‘They can break up protests with loud, piercing sound, but Long Range Acoustic Devices can also cause permanent hearing damage. Australian law enforcement agencies are now investing in the technology, but sound and law experts say their potential use is extremely concerning.’

At the time, Melbourne University expert James Parker told the ABC, “The secrecy of the state around the tools, the weapons that it has and is capable of using on its population is something to be really, really concerned about. It expands the nature of police/state/military authority in a certain kind of way. It makes sound itself part of the arsenal that police and military and state institutions use.”

While there is no evidence that LRADs were used in their alert capacity in Canberra, there is a genuine question about whether or not police would have done so if the crowd was not as well behaved as they were.

The Canberra Convoy – created in sympathy with the Canadian Freedom Convoy in Ottawa – turned into one of the largest protests in Canberra’s history, culminating in a huge gathering in front of Parliament House.

During the day’s events, livestreamers and members of the independent press reported that they had a lot of trouble with their feeds. Attendees also reported poor or no reception for large parts of the day.

This is considered highly unusual, as the area around Parliament House has additional infrastructure particularly to deal with increased loads caused by protests and other political operations – given that it is the heart of Australia’s political landscape.

There are as-yet unconfirmed reports that two Telstra towers went down during the day, explaining why the other towers ended up overloaded resulting in what became a black spot for phones.

At least the Police Commissioner agreed with Senator Antic that – with only three arrests for a very large crowd – the protesters in Canberra were well behaved.
‘Mostly peaceful’ Kershaw agreed, but added that he did not like their attitudes. “Pretty well behaved. A lot of poor attitudes though, but there’s no offence for that. So police did cop a fair bit of abuse, but again, it didn’t cross into the criminal threshold.”

Compared to Black Lives Matter protesters in previous years calling ‘all cops bastards’, displaying artwork featuring burning police cars with the word ‘pigs’ written across them, and demanding the complete dismantling of the police force – the Canberra Convoy was very well behaved during the weeks it spent gathering size in Canberra.

Still, it would be of significant public interest to have a definitive answer on whether or not police had been authorised to use the LRAD in its other capacity.

Scary, Shocking Covid Stuff

Here are three things I read today that made me feel quite ill.

The governments in England, Wales and Scotland have all approved child murder and are now offering toxic, experimental jabs to children aged 5-11 years old. Having murdered thousands of elderly folk they’re now moving onto the little children. The drug they have approved for small children has been shown to be unnecessary and deadly when given to older children and adults. Any doctor giving one of these jabs to a small child, more vulnerable and developing, should be struck off, defrocked and hung, drawn and quartered before being arrested and thrown into prison for life. The same goes for any parent allowing their small child to be jabbed with this experimental poison. (Factcheckers might like to know that a poison is defined as a substance that, when introduced into a living body, causes illness or death. The covid jabs are known to cause illness or death and are, therefore, poisons.)
A court in New Zealand sent out a demand from the Ministry of Health for the sum of $330 for non-compliance with (utterly pointless) covid-19 testing. The recipient of the court order was warned that if they didn’t pay the court could issue a warrant for their arrest, suspend their driving licence, seize their property or take money from their income or bank account, report the overdue fine as part of a credit reference check (so that they couldn’t get a credit card or a loan), restrict their ability to sell a property and stop them travelling overseas. Anyone who thinks social credit is something dreamt up by conspiracy theorists clearly needs their head examined.
Devi Sridhar, who is apparently a chair at the University of Edinburgh, says she thought the British people would accept more intrusive surveillance. ‘I think I underplayed the societal differences between South Korea and the UK,’ she apparently said, ‘including the willingness of publics to be under different levels of surveillance and scrutiny.’ I firmly believe that the chair on which the Old Man sits has more brains than Ms Sridhar. (My video describing her views on covid jabs and children is still available to view on this website. The video is entitled ‘How many children will die because of this woman?’)

By Dr Vernon Coleman