{"id":278323,"date":"2023-12-19T07:48:08","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T07:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=278323"},"modified":"2023-12-21T06:49:27","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T06:49:27","slug":"this-week-in-the-new-normal-78","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=278323","title":{"rendered":"This Week in the New Normal #78"},"content":{"rendered":"

Off-Guardian \u2013 Dec 17, 2023<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Our successor to This Week in the Guardian<\/em>, This Week in the New Normal<\/a><\/em> is our weekly chart of the progress of autocracy, authoritarianism and economic restructuring around the world.<\/p>\n

1. Introducing CBDCs is a matter of \u201curgency\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Talking to the media this week, the head of South Korea\u2019s central bank claimed that the rise of \u201cstablecoins\u201d made the introduction of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) a matter of urgency.<\/p>\n

Coindesk reports<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis underscores the urgency for central banks to consider introducing central bank digital currencies (CBDC), whether retail or wholesale\u2026Their widespread adoption could diminish the role of central bank money and impair the effectiveness of monetary policies.\u201d<\/p>\n

South Korea is already piloting a wholesale scheme and is planning a retail trial early next year.<\/p>\n

In related news, Taiwan\u2019s central bank announced they had completed their own wholesale CBDC technical study this week<\/a>, while the Bank of Japan\u2019s CBDC trial has moved into phase 2<\/a>, but don\u2019t worry it\u2019s only going to store \u201cminimal user data\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, hot on the heels of the Bretton Woods Committee report from last month<\/a>, the Bank of International Settlements published their report on \u201cHigh-level technical requirements for a functional central bank digital currency (CBDC) architecture\u201d<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

2024 gonna be a fun year for CBDC watch.<\/p>\n

2. New Variant hits just in time for Christmas<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Have you guys heard of JN.1? It\u2019s the new Covid strain \u2013 an evolution of \u201cPirola\u201d \u2013 and it\u2019s being \u201cclosely monitored\u201d due to its \u201crapid spread\u201d.<\/p>\n

You know, just like all the other ones.<\/p>\n

Yahoo News reports<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Scientists are closely monitoring JN.1, which has sparked some concern due to its rapid growth rate and large number of mutations. However, the new variant is closely related to a strain we\u2019ve seen before. It\u2019s a direct offshoot of BA.2.86, aka \u201cPirola,\u201d which has been spreading in the U.S. since the summer.<\/p>\n

Oh, and it has symptoms that include \u201cSore throat, Congestion, Runny nose, Cough, Fatigue, Headache, Muscle aches, Fever or chills\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

You know, just like all the other ones (and the colds everyone has at this time of year every year for all of human history but never mind).<\/p>\n

This is barely news and the hallmark of the narrative in hibernation, little updates and developments that do nothing but remind the public that \u201cCovid\u201d is a thing.<\/p>\n

To quote Krusty the Klown: \u201cHere\u2019s a headline for ya, nobody cares!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

3. Tyranny Shouldn\u2019t Discriminate<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Writing in the Guardian<\/a>, Sonia Sodha is bemoaning that the UK\u2019s Television License laws \u201cdisproportionally impact women\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

According to the article, convictions for license fee evasion make up fully one-third of all female criminal convictions in the UK.<\/p>\n

For those of you who are in slightly less dystopian nations, the Television License is a tax you pay in the UK for watching the BBC. Refusal to pay is not considered a civil debt, but a criminal offense. They have posters about it\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

Yes, in the UK we are forced, under penalty of law, to pay for our own propaganda.<\/p>\n

Yet apparently the only issue Sonia has with this nationwide brainwashing tax is that it\u2019s sexist.<\/p>\n

BONUS: Weird scandal of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Apparently, a Senate staffer was caught recording himself having sex with an anonymous young man in a conference room in the Capital building. There is a video, which I don\u2019t want to embed, which was somehow obtained by The Daily Caller.<\/p>\n

Now, I don\u2019t doubt this stuff goes on \u2013 hell, this is tame I\u2019m sure. Consensual sexual activity between consenting adults is hardly a real scandal, no matter how inappropriate the setting.<\/p>\n

I just wonder what the point of the story is\u2026maybe there isn\u2019t one.<\/p>\n

Oh, the staffer was fired<\/a>. Obviously.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not all bad\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s nearly Christmas, listen to some carols and relax\u2026<\/p>\n