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Tag Archives: missouri

In the setting sun

05 Friday Mar 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

birds, Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, missouri

In west central Missouri today, a pair:

Cardinal. Cardinalis cardinalis.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/200. ISO 800, 400 mm.

Cardinal. Cardinalis cardinalis.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/200. ISO 800, 400 mm.

Campaign Finance: they’re going to need a bigger boat

05 Friday Mar 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

campaign finance, higher education, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PAC

Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C211584 03/04/2021 Missourians for Higher Education TIFEC 11150 Overbrook Road Ste. 210 Leawood KS 66211 3/4/2021 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

They’re new.

Missourians for Higher Education – Active
MECID: C211584
Committee Type: Political Action
Established Date: 2/18/2021
[….]

That’s not nearly enough.

There and Back Again

03 Wednesday Mar 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

B-2, birds, missouri

Yesterday over west central Missouri:

B-2 Bomber.
Nikon D7000, 3.5-5.6 DX 18-105 ED.
F 11, 1/2000, ISO 1600, 90 mm.

B-2 Bomber.
Nikon D7000, 3.5-5.6 DX 18-105 ED.
F 11, 1/2000, ISO 1600, 105 mm.

There were two. That’s $4,000,000,000.00 in one place.

Four years ago: “white haired nearsighted old guy standing silently on the quad holding a sign no one can read, upsetting protofascists.”

03 Wednesday Mar 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, Donald Trump, First Amendment, missouri, protest

“Make America Great Again” – in Russian.

The conversation:

UCM Police Officer: Hello.
Me: Hi, how are you doing?
UCM Police Officer: Pretty Good. What’s your connection to UCM?
Me: I teach here.
UCM Police Officer: You teach here?
Me: Yeah.
UCM Police Officer: Okay. I, I don’t understand your sign.
Me: Uh, it’s actually, it’s Russian.
UCM Police Officer: Okay.
Me: And, so I’m being sarcastic. It’s in Russian. So, it says “steladt Ameriku velikoy snova”.
UCM Police Officer: Okay.
Me: So, translated, it’s, “make America great again”. In Russian.
UCM Police Officer: Okay.
Me: So, it’s being sarcastic.
UCM Police Officer: Okay. So, ten four [into radio], um, so, did somebody give you permission to, to be out here holding your sign?
Me: [turn around, pat the bronze Bill of Rights First Amendment Plaque on the base of the flag pole].
UCM Police Officer: I understand that.
Me: Uh, huh.
UCM Police Officer: But in order to put signs out on campus you still have to go through the, the Union. There’s an office over there.
Me: Oh, really?
UCM Police Officer: Yeah.
Me: Well, it’s kind of interesting, ‘cause when I started doing this…
UCM Police Officer: Uh, hm.
Me: …the president of the university…
UCM Police Officer: Okay.
Me: …came up to me…
UCM Police Officer: Uh, hm.
Me: …and we talked, and he’s like, thanks for doing this.
UCM Police Officer: Okay.
Me: So, are we getting like, is there a policy problem, that we’re getting like a disconnect?
UCM Police Officer: So, apparently that is.
Me: Yeah.
UCM Police Officer: So, do you have an ID by chance?
Me: Yeah.
UCM Police Officer: Okay, can I see it?
Me: Uh, do you need to see it?
UCM Police Officer: Yes. Just so I know who I’m talking to [inaudible].
Me: Okay. Um, but I’m actually under no obligation to show you my ID, am I?
UCM Police Officer: Well, you’re a UCM employee, right?
Me: Yeah.
UCM Police Officer: So, anybody here at UCM that a Public Safety officer asks for an ID…
Me: Okay. Fair enough. Okay. [hand over UCM ID]
UCM Police Officer: Do you have your driver’s license?
[….]
Me: [hand over driver’s license]
UCM Police Officer: Uh, typically like if people want to put signs out and things, like I say, they go to the Union. [wind noise] Trying to remember what office it is. But, basically they just have you fill out a form and then [inaudible].
Me: And, and I understand in certain…
UCM Police Officer: [responding to radio] I’m sorry, go ahead.
Me: What’s, what’s kind of interesting, ‘cause it’s, like, inconsistent.
UCM Police Officer: Okay.
Me: ‘Cause there’ve been Public Safety people that have come by and seen me…
UCM Police Officer: [reading driver’s license number into radio] I’m sorry. I had people talking.
Me: Yeah, yeah. I understand. So, it’s like, so, it’s kind of interesting, ‘cause it’s kind of inconsistent because I’ve been out here probably for a couple of weeks.
UCM Police Officer: Okay.
Me: And so, Public Safety people come by, walk by, see me, they’ll walk by.
UCM Police Officer: Okay.
Me: Whatever. Ignore me.
UCM Police Officer: Okay.
Me: And, so, it’s kind of interesting to me. In, you know, the president of the university knows I’m out here. Other people in the administration, in the university know I’m out here…
UCM Police Officer: [into radio] Go ahead. Okay.
Me: [….] Uh, as long as I’m not interfering, you know, making noise or anything. It’s like, it’s like [gesturing to empty quad] is there like anything going on here that I’m disturbing?
UCM Police Officer: Right. Well, the, kind of what normally happens [crosstalk]. Um, let’s say you weren’t associated with UCM. [crosstalk] and you want to have your signs.
Me: And I understand that, too. [crosstalk]
UCM Police Officer: Basically what we ask is that you move to sidewalks along the [wind noise].
Me: Yeah, and that kind of thing. Yeah. [….] I did his here fourteen years ago.
UCM Police Officer: Okay.
[….]
UCM Police Officer: Like I say, you’re being peaceful and all that, [crosstalk] so I don’t really have a huge issue. I just needed to find out what was going on.
Me: Yeah. Oh, I understand that. Hello.
Second UCM Police Officer: How’s it going?
Me: Good. Good.
UCM Police Officer: Typically what they ask that you go through the Union. [to second officer] Do you know the office over in the Union that like approves signs on campus and stuff?
Second UCM Police Officer: Not off hand.
UCM Police Officer: And, um, but they basically authorize it and, and say it’s okay.
Me: Yeah, and, and I understand that. And, but, it’s my understanding is that nobody can really disapprove.
UCM Police Officer: Okay.
Me: You know, other than, especially since, you know, I’m not sitting here with a megaphone screaming at the top of my lungs and, you know, interfering with classes to be able to hear and stuff like that.
UCM Police Officer: Right. Yeah. Like I say you’re not shouting or…
Me: Nah.
UCM Police Officer: …or disturbing the peace. You’re just holding up signs.
Me: Yeah.
UCM Police Officer: Okay. What I’ll do, like I say, I got your name and everything and, and we’ll just kind of go from there.
Me: All right. Awesome.
UCM Police Officer: All right. Well, try to have a good day and enjoy this nice weather.
Me: Yeah, actually, it’s a little cool.
UCM Police Officer: It’s a little chilly, I agree.
Me: Yeah.
UCM Police Officer: Yeah, so, okay, all right, we’ll talk to you later.
Me: All right. Take it easy.

Previously:

A conversation at the flag pole (March 3, 2017)

Taking flight

02 Tuesday Mar 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

birds, House Sparrow, missouri, Passer domesticus

This morning in west central Missouri:

House Sparrow. Passer domesticus.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/500. ISO 400, 400 mm.

House Sparrow. Passer domesticus.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/500. ISO 400, 400 mm.

House Sparrow. Passer domesticus.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/500. ISO 400, 400 mm.

Heartland Pod: half-baked

02 Tuesday Mar 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Adam Sommer, Heartland POD, missouri, podcast

Ep. 53: Half-Baked & Fully Legal – w/Bharani Kumar from Crossing Paths PAC
MARCH 1ST, 2021 | 01:49:54 | E53

EPISODE SUMMARY
Adam Sommer gives an opening statement about not losing the important for the urgent, then “Let’s Have A Chat” with Bharani Kumar from Crossing Paths PAC on drug and criminal justice policy, “Talkin’ Politics” with Sean Diller, Rachel Parker, and Zack Schwartz on the drug war and voting rights, then “Last Call” on the potential for the Democrats to lose control of congress.

Offered without comment

02 Tuesday Mar 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Josh Hawley, US Senate

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Andy Borowitz, Josh Hawley, missouri, New Yorker, U.S. Senate

Josh Hawley (r) [2016 file photo].

Josh Hawley Seeks to Overturn Results of CPAC Straw Poll
By Andy Borowitz
March 1, 2021

“Inciteful”

01 Monday Mar 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Roy Blunt, social media, US Senate

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Corona virus, COVID-19, missouri, obstruction, pandemic, relief, Roy Blunt, social media, Twitter

It’s their world, the rest of us have to live in it.

Roy Blunt (r) [2016 file photo].

Obstructionist, too.

Senator Roy Blunt @RoyBlunt
Democrats claim additional funding is needed to get kids safely back in school.

Congress has already provided $67.5 billion to do just that.
So far, states have only spent about $5 billion of that money.

There are no excuses: it’s time to get kids back to in-person learning.
5:34 PM · Mar 1, 2021

Missouri School Districts and schools got that money? You sure about that? Show your work.

As usual, the responses are insightful:

Senator Blunt, your concern about schools opening is well-taken. Why don’t you go teach for a week in a school with inadequate ventilation and tell us what it was like?

Hey, Roy. Remember when you voted to acquit the guy who encouraged a violent mob to storm the capitol to execute your colleagues in an attempt to overturn the election? You’re a traitor and should resign.

There’s that, too.

It’s amazing how much the GOP is complaining about the American Rescue plan… not enough tax breaks or money for the wealthy in it for you? All the GOP is doing is complaining and trying to spread misinformation, but they never offer an alternative… why, why is that?

It’s in their nature.

How many different “stimulus bad” messages are you going to test?

The stimulus has a 70% approval making it the most bipartisan bill in a long, long time. You should get on board before it’s too late.

Narrator [in the future]: “It was too late.”

Roy,
@GovParsonMO is sending Missouri’s COVID relief funds to a “consultant” in Virginia to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars per month. It’s doing schools here a lot of good that way, right? MO schools aren’t seeing any of this yet! Protect teachers & kids.

If this is true, I suggest you investigate why this money has not been spent. Otherwise support the American Rescue Plan and stop holding the American people hostage.

The money for schools last until 2023. After that the money will be re-appropriated. If it’s too much we get it back. Do you not want schools to have assistance? Our schools in Missouri are struggling, so where is that magic $67.5 billion?

Senator, what percentage of MO schools are already open? What percentage of MO teachers are vaccinated? This information affects the validity of your complaints.

Hey @RoyBlunt – riddle me this; how many schools are open in Missouri? How many are closed? Why aren’t teachers in tier 1 group A? Seems as if you know Jack [Pile of poo] about your state.

I just wanted to thank you for putting up an inciteful argument based on policy and not “Dems are Evil and Trump is good (Which he is not)” language

Uh…

You first.
volunteer to be school janitor for first week of school

Vaccinate teachers. Update filtration systems. Make it as safe as possible.

Talk to Parson. Why did he hold onto $$. Don’t blame schools

Vaccinate our teachers first.

Twitter is not working for you lol

Better than Josh. Heh.

Call the Governor of MO and tell him to actually start working, if teachers have the vaccine, schools can open. Roy you are either clueless or you are just lying

So, it’s the Democrat’s fault that states haven’t spent that money?
Missouri is a red state.
C’mon Roy!!!

You ignored COVID all last year because it was inconvenient to your party, and now you want to act like _you_ in Washington know what’s best for all schools?

You have no credibility at all. You know that, right?

Narrator [in the future]: “He was hoping no one noticed. They did.”

Why do you have to lie?

How Much COVID Relief Money Is Left?
JAN 27, 2021

[….]

Excluding the recently-passed Response & Relief Act, about $220 billion (17 percent) of the remaining funds are policies that are meant to pay out over time, $235 billion (18 percent) are policies that the funding has simply not been disbursed yet, and $90 billion (7 percent) are from policies where little or no data is available.

As an example of policies that pay out over time, higher Medicaid matching payments to states will have ongoing costs so long as the public health emergency remains, so it will likely disburse over a multi-year period. We estimate the federal government has disbursed $55 billion in additional Medicaid funds so far, while CBO estimates they will ultimately disburse $165 billion. As an example of money yet to be disbursed, there are approximately $170 billion of EIDL loans available — out of $366 billion — for small businesses to apply for.

A final way to look at the funds remaining is by support category. We estimate the vast majority of allowed direct payments (recovery rebates) and 2020 tax breaks has been disbursed or committed, along with most income support spending such as unemployment benefits. More will be claimed as people file their 2020 tax returns and are paid expanded unemployment benefits into March.

[….]

This tweet is as tone deaf as you are blind. All but 1% of MO’s schools are back to in-person learning. You hail from a party that blames teachers for all this countries problems and disrespect us, yet expect us to ‘suck it up’ when called upon like this past year. #bebetter

Who in MO is not back in school? MO does not consider teachers as essential workers, starting teacher pay in MO is 49th. Republicans never support money for education. In Springfield we are having school. You Don’t support education.

There’s that.

Previously:

Sen. Josh Hawley (r): you first, asshole (April 15, 2021)

In the morning fog

27 Saturday Feb 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

birds, Black-capped Chickadee, Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, Carpodacus mexicanus, House Finch, House Sparrow, missouri, Parus atricapillus, Passer domesticus, weather

Today in west central Missouri:

Cardinal. Cardinalis cardinalis.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/640. ISO 800, 400 mm.

Black-capped Chickadee. Parus atricapillus.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/640. ISO 800, 400 mm.

House Finch. Carpodacus mexicanus.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/640. ISO 800, 400 mm.

House Sparrow. Passer domesticus.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/640. ISO 800, 400 mm.

Dark-eyed Junco. Junco hyemalis.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/640. ISO 800, 400 mm.

Black-capped Chickadee. Parus atricapillus.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 5.6, 1/640. ISO 800, 400 mm.

Putnam County, Missouri

27 Saturday Feb 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Corona virus, COVID-19, governor, Mike Parson, missouri, pandemic, Putnam County, vaccinations

Is this going to be the norm?

Today:

Putnam County Health Department

We have vaccinated the majority of our scheduled individuals and at this time have extra doses available that we need to administer today to avoid expiration. If you are a Missouri resident and meet the state criteria for Phase 1A or Phase 1B you may come and receive vaccine. Our clinic is at 803 South 20th Street at the PC-R1 School. Vaccine will be on a first come first served basis until our supply is depleted.

Thanks for your stellar planning and leadership, Mike?

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

Previously:

Leopold, Missouri – population: approximately 65 (February 25, 2021)

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