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Monthly Archives: October 2020

Mixed messaging

22 Thursday Oct 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

missouri, neighbor, Trump, yard signs

This afternoon in west central Missouri, just across the street:

Let’s see.

There are now over 220,000 deaths from the pandemic because he knew but didn’t (and still hasn’t) created or followed a plan. Masks anyone? Check.

He’s gone to the Supreme Court to remove protections for pre-existing medical conditions. You all realize that the millions of Americans who have contracted COVID-19 now have a pre-existing condition? Check.

Donald Trump paid $750 in federal taxes. Small check.

He spent around $135,000.00 to pay off a porn star for services while he was married to his third wife. Family values? Check.

Immigrants seeking asylum with their children – legally – separated at the border from their children who were placed and held in cages. Now we just learn that over 500 of those children will probably never be united with their parents – because of the cruelty and incompetence of Donald Trump and his administration. You good with that? Check.

Grift? Cruelty? Misogyny? Check.

2020 has not been a good year. Is that keeping America great? Just asking. Check.

We could go in in this vein – it’s a really long list.

Then this thing about praying for America. Is it prayer from one denomination only? Are others welcome to do so, or is it an exclusive club? Just asking. Because you know, there are Wiccans, and Jews, and Muslims, and Buddhists, and more in America. And Athiests.

And then that little bit of projection. Is that in response to the signs in my yard? The ones, you know, that just indicate support for candidates. Cults do that – their true believers consider support for another candidate an unforgiveable insult to their cult leader and they must respond in kind.

There was a Trump yard sign across the street in 2016. We’ve never bothered to meet them. We never will.

Campaign Finance: making the rubble bounce

21 Wednesday Oct 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance, Missouri Governor

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

campaign finance, governor, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PACs

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C201190 10/21/2020 Democratic Governors Association – Missouri Democratic Governors Association 1225 Eye St NW, Ste 1100 Washington DC 20005 10/19/2020 $250,000.00

C201190 10/21/2020 Democratic Governors Association – Missouri Democratic Governors Association 1225 Eye St NW, Ste 1100 Washington DC 20005 10/19/2020 $625,000.00

C201352 10/21/2020 A Stronger Missouri Democratic Governors Association – Missouri 1225 Eye St NW Ste. 1100 Washington DC 20005 10/19/2020 $625,000.00

C201352 10/21/2020 A Stronger Missouri Democratic Governors Association – Missouri 1225 Eye St NW Ste. 1100 Washington DC 20005 10/19/2020 $250,000.00

C201352 10/21/2020 A Stronger Missouri Keep Government Accountable PO Box 414435 Kansas City MO 64141 10/19/2020 $500,000.00

[emphasis added]

Make it bounce higher.

Nicole Galloway (D) [2016 file photo].

I’m not ready to make nice

21 Wednesday Oct 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

cluelessness, Good German, mailbox, missouri, privilege, Warrensburg

I never will be.

“Oh, so you noticed my replacement 4 x 4 after some asshole stole the previous yard sign and wire?”

This showed up in our mailbox today:

Hi! How are you? I am a neighbor of yours in the lake ridge/country view area. I have been pondering lately what I can do to be the change I want to see. This is not a chain letter, nothing bad will happen to you if it stops with you. But it IS an invitation to be a small part of something I hope could be GOOD for our community. I am randomly selecting 5 people who are advertising their support for the opposing political platform and performing a random act of kindness (I wanted to bake cookies but feared in our current political climate you’d worry they were poisoned or something lol). My hope is to demonstrate that it’s possible to have differences of opinion (even pronounced ones) and still go out of our way to be kind. If I’m wrong this will be a very short experiment lol. If I’m right, I’m hoping you will consider paying it forward and selecting a few people you can pass kindness onto. My only request is that they be people you don’t necessarily see eye to eye with; that can be politically, or religiously, or even that neighbor with the obnoxious dog. And you don’t need to spend a lot of money; you can bake cookies, do a gift card, or even just write a letter of encouragement. It’s a small thing but I pray it will be a step towards reminding us that we’re neighbors first. Thanks for reading and enjoy your coffee! – Your neighbor

(You’re welcome to reproduce any part of this letter to use for your random acts or obviously to come up with something all your own!)

Your privilege betrays you.

Your cult of personality betrays you.

Aber der Mond verrät mich.

Chain letters? What serious adult gives a shit about chain letters?

“I am randomly selecting 5 people who are advertising their support for the opposing political platform and performing a random act of kindness (I wanted to bake cookies but feared in our current political climate you’d worry they were poisoned or something lol).”

You think a perky note and a cup of coffee make up for four years of hell? 220,000 deaths? Gross incompetence? Your cult leader knew in February.

Your cult leader spent around $135,000.00 to pay off a porn star [a more honorable profession than anything he’s ever done] for services while he was married to his third wife. Family values.

What ever happened to that giant caravan in 2018? We do have children in cages, separated from their parents. Because they were brown and legally seeking asylum. And now we find out that over 500 children will probably never be reunited with their parents. You okay with that? Because you’re voting for it.

Who paid for the wall? It came out of the Department of Defense budget, not from Mexico.

Access to health care? This one is personal. Why is your cult leader suing in federal court to do away with pre-existing condition requirements for insurance? Speaking of COVID-19. You do realize that close to ten million Americans now have an additional pre-existing condition, right?

At its peak, 32.5 million unemployed workers?

[….] Of the 32.5 million workers who are either officially unemployed or otherwise out of work because of the virus, 11.9 million workers, or 7.2% of the workforce, are out of work with no hope of being called back to a prior job; 5.7 million workers, or 3.5% of the workforce, are out of work and expect to get called back to a prior job but likely will not; and 14.8 million workers, or 9.0% of the workforce, are out of work and can reasonably expect to be called back. That means the share of the workforce that is out of work and has no reasonable chance of being called back to a prior job is 10.7% (7.2% + 3.5%).[….]

Merrick Garland. Do some reading. Then tell me that what’s about to happen to our judiciary for the next forty years is justified by your cult of personality. Spare us all the “pro-life” bullshit. It’s not true. It never has been.

Do you think twenty dead elementary school children and six dead adults in Connecticut and hundreds more all over the country is the price we pay for “freedom?” That’s what you’re voting for. And I mean this seriously, fuck you for that one.

Oh, you’re right about the cookies. They would have definitely gone in the trash. Lol.

I don’t associate with people I don’t see “eye to eye” with. You think that sounds harsh? Exercise whatever cognitive ability you have remaining and look up “Overton Window.” I’ll wait. There is no equal opposing views or reasonable dialogue when it comes to the extremes inherent in your cult of personality. That ship sailed decades ago.

“…I pray it will be a step towards reminding us that we’re neighbors first…”

I don’t pray. “Neighbors first?” How about humanity first. Or compassion first? Or charity first? Your obvious political choice is autocratic grifter first. Own it.

If you’re voting for a Fascist, racist, misogynist for President guess what that makes you?

If you ever wondered what you would have done if you were in Germany in the 1930s, you’re doing it now.

The problem for me is you’re the type of good German who might be pleasant to my face, even present me with a gift card for coffee, and then you’d stand around with your hands in your pockets when the Gestapo showed up to take me away.

I don’t drink coffee. I’m burning the card. And you can take your sanctimonious self-righteous hypocritical note and shove it up your ass.

Oh, and fuck off. I mean that sincerely.

Change of season

21 Wednesday Oct 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

birds, Blue Jay, Cardinal, Dark-eyed Junco, missouri, Robin, Tufted Titmouse

This morning in west central Missouri. The all decided to show up.

Cardinal. cardinalis cardinalis.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/250, ISO 1600, 400 mm.

Dark-eyed Junco. Junco Hyemalis.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/160, ISO 1600, 400 mm.

Tufted Titmouse. Parus bicolor
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/160, ISO 3200, 400 mm.

Tufted Titmouse. Parus bicolor
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/160, ISO 3200, 400 mm.

Tufted Titmouse. Parus bicolor
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/160, ISO 1600, 400 mm.

Robin (American). Turdus migratorius.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/160, ISO 3200, 400 mm.

Blue Jay. Cyanocitta cristata.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/160, ISO 1600, 350 mm.

Johnson County, Missouri – COVID-19 – Statistics – October 21, 2020

21 Wednesday Oct 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Today from Johnson County, Missouri Community Health Services:

Johnson County, Missouri

Cumulative Positive Cases: 1626

Deaths: 15

Whatever you do, don’t read the social media comments.

Wear a damn mask. And while you’re at it, wear some damn gloves.

Stay Home. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Good luck to us all.
#FlattenTheCurve

Yes, this. Exactly this.

21 Wednesday Oct 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) [2020 file photo].

An ad:

There is only one America. No Democratic rivers, no Republican mountains. Just this great land and all that’s possible on it. With a fresh start – cures we can find, futures we can shape, work to reward, dignity to protect.

There is so much we can do if we choose to take on problems and not each other. And choose a president who brings out our best.

Joe Biden doesn’t need everyone in this country to always agree, just to agree we all love this country and go from there.

I’m Joe Biden and I approve this message.

There you go.

We will all go together when we go

21 Wednesday Oct 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

public domain, texts, Tom Lehrer

WE WILL ALL GO TOGETHER WHEN WE GO
words and music by Tom Lehrer

When you attend a funeral,
It is sad to think that sooner o’
Later those you love will do the same for you.
And you may have thought it tragic,
Not to mention other adjec-
Tives, to think of all the weeping they will do.
But don’t you worry.
No more ashes, no more sackcloth,
And an armband made of black cloth
Will some day never more adorn a sleeve:
For if the bomb that drops on you
Gets your friends and neighbors too,
There’ll be nobody left behind to grieve.

And we will all go together when we go.
What a comforting fact that is to know.
Universal bereavement,
An inspiring achievement,
Yes, we all will go together when we go.

We will all go together when we go.
All suffused with an incandescent glow.
No one will have the endurance
To collect on his insurance,
Lloyd’s of London will be loaded when they go.

Oh, we will all fry together when we fry.
We’ll be french fried potatoes by and by.
There will be no more misery
When the world is our rotizerie,
Yes, we all will fry together when we fry.

Down by the old maelstrom,
There’ll be a storm before the calm.

And we will all bake together when we bake.
There’ll be nobody present at the wake.
With complete participation
In that grand incineration,
Nearly three billion hunks of well-done steak.

Oh, we will all char together when we char.
And let there be no moaning of the bar.
Just sing out a Te Deum
When you see that I.C.B.M.,
And the party will be “come as you are”.

Oh, we will all burn together when we burn.
There’ll be no need to stand and wait your turn.
When it’s time for the fallout
And Saint Peter calls us all out,
We’ll just drop our agendas and adjourn.

You will all go directly to your respective
Valhallas.
Go directly, do not pass Go,
Do not collect two hundred dolla’s.

And we will all go together when we go.
Ev’ry Hottenhot and ev’ry Eskimo.
When the air becomes uranious,
We will all go simultaneous.
Yes, we all will go together
When we all go together,
Yes. we all will go together when we go.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT
I, Tom Lehrer, and the Tom Lehrer Trust 2000, hereby grant the following permission:
All the lyrics on this website, whether published or unpublished, copyrighted or uncopyrighted, may be downloaded and used in any manner whatsoever, without requiring any further permission from me or any payment to me or to anyone else.
[….]
In other words, all the lyrics herein should be treated as though they were in the public domain.
[….]

2020. So many ironies.

Well, yes

20 Tuesday Oct 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Joe Biden, science, social media, Twitter

Joe Biden (D) [2020 file photo].

This evening:

Joe Biden @JoeBiden
Listening to scientists is not a bad thing.

I can’t believe that has to be said.
5:05 PM · Oct 20, 2020

Joe Biden (D) [2020 file photo].

Campaign Finance: the wringing of hands…with lots of cash

20 Tuesday Oct 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

campaign finance, Mike Parson, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, Uniting Missouri PAC

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for Uniting Missouri, an extremely well-funded right wingnut PAC propping up Missouri Governor Mike Parson (r):

C180490 10/20/2020 Uniting Missouri PAC HEALTHPAC PO BOX 60 JEFFERSON CITY MO 65102 10/19/2020 $20,000.00

C180490 10/20/2020 Uniting Missouri PAC MISSOURI PORK PAC 6235 WEST CUNNINGHAM DR COLUMBIA MO 65202 10/19/2020 $27,350.00

C180490 10/20/2020 Uniting Missouri PAC REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION – MISSOURI 2020 1747 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW SUITE 250 WASHINGTON DC 20006 10/20/2020 $1,500,000.00

[emphasis added]

Nervous, eh?

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

Previously:

Campaign Finance: a case of nerves (October 2, 2020)

Campaign Finance: there’s plenty of money to pass around (October 9, 2020)

You’re not “pro life” if you can’t be bothered to wear a mask during a pandemic… (October 13, 2020)

Spending that campaign cash: A very expensive combination of irony and satire… (October 16, 2020)

Johnson County, Missouri – COVID-19 – Statistics – October 19, 2020

20 Tuesday Oct 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Corona virus, COVID-19, Johnson County, missouri, New Zealand, pandemic, statistics

Yesterday, from Johnson County, Missouri Community Health Services:

Johnson County, Missouri

Cumulative Positive Cases: 1601

Deaths: 15

Whatever you do, don’t read the social media comments.

Johnson County. Missouri has a population of approximately 53,000 people.

In New Zealand (the country) for comparison:

As at 9.00 am, 20 October 2020
Total – Change in last 24 hours
Number of confirmed cases in New Zealand 1,531 – 1
Number of probable cases 356 – 0
Number of confirmed and probable cases 1,887 – 1
Number of recovered cases 1,829 – 5
Number of deaths 25 – 0
Number of active cases 33 – -4
Number of cases currently in hospital 0 – 0

The population of New Zealand is approximately 5 million people.

Multiply the case numbers of New Zealand by a factor of 95 and you get the approximate totals for the State of Missouri. Though New Zealand definitely has more sheep of the genus Ovis.

Wear a damn mask. And while you’re at it, wear some damn gloves.

Stay Home. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Good luck to us all.
#FlattenTheCurve

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