Geoffberner

@Geoffberner@zeroes.ca

Jewish singer/songwriter/accordion player/novelist/some kind of activist maybe. Living on territory belonging to the Musqueam, Squamish and Tseil Waututh peoples. Pronouns: He/Him. #COVIDisAirborne #BringBackMasks #Defundthepolice. Member, BC Greens.

Profile pic is the flag of the old Yiddish Bund--a black square ringed in gold on a red field.

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Geoffberner, to random

Tell somebody today that COVID is not mild. COVID is not harmless. COVID is not inevitable. COVID is not over.

Geoffberner, to random

Facebook is awash in people complaining that they don't know what's wrong with them and their doctors don't know either. It's Long Covid but doctors are forbidden by the state to believe in that so they just tell them they have no idea and imply that it's probably nothing. It's harrowing to see it over and over.

skaly, to random

Almost 3 months into the war and I just wish it ended. I've been seeing it as legitimate for ages now and I still understand why it's still going, I don't know better than our army leaders, maybe it should keep going to avoid Hamas of strengthening back but I also know that Bibi has a very good reason to keep it going because he knows he'll be in jail otherwise. I don't know, I'm just an artist, but I'm sickened by all this death here and there. I don't want it to last longer than necessary.

Geoffberner,

@skaly necessary to achieve what? Are you under the impression this is making Israel safer? They've killed 10 thousand little kids and zero important Hamas figures. All they've done is help Hamas. Which is what Bibi does. Kill kids and help Hamas. What do you think the incompetents who allowed the attack might "know" that you don't?

Geoffberner,

@skaly ok. Thought you were getting ready to see the reality of the senseless slaughter of innocents. I hope you get there.

Geoffberner, to random

BC news readers and reporters, Dr. Bonnie Henry will probably get trundled out soon to reassure us about Covid and the collapsing healthcare system. Here's a handy list of her fave phrases for misleading the public, plus translation:

  1. "We're not seeing (X)"--We're deliberately not looking at (X), because if we looked, we would see it and that would mean we're failing.
  2. "We know that (X)"--We have zero actual evidence to present for (X), but you should just accept it as something that "makes sense". Because we "know" it. Like when Trump says that "everybody is saying" something.
  3. "We've always said that (X) was likely to happen"--In the recent past, we said that (X) would certainly never happen, e.g., the triple-demic. We need everybody to forget that now.
  4. "And that's why we encourage people to get vaccinated."--Just reminding you that we have no interest in offering any help or protection to people except vaccines.

Have I forgotten any other big ones?

etherdiver, to random
@etherdiver@ravenation.club avatar

Imagine saying something as dumbfuck ignorant as, "The 90s were nearly bereft of good [music]" and meaning it...

Yeah, this is in reference to another post but I don't want to get in trouble for calling someone "dumbfuck ignorant" so I'm posting it standalone.

Look, just because you stopped listening to new music in 1983 doesn't mean good music stopped being made then.

Geoffberner,

@etherdiver so true. So tired and kind of baffled from watching my contemporaries fall into the "Music these days is crap. And you can't say anything these days. And kids? Can't tell the girls from the boys!" trap just like the old men we grew up with.

johncormier, to random

Was reading an article recently about lead plumbing in the Roman Empire, and it got me thinking about our own population-level cognitive decline due to Covid. Has anyone done research or modelled what happens to critical systems like health, education, transportation, etc if the workers experience, say, a 5% decline in cognitive skills? I’d be curious to know at what point these systems simply can no longer perform their core missions and break.

Geoffberner,

@johncormier I'm hoping that something different will happen. The horror of AIDS was instrumental in getting people to come out, and gay rights were transformed in the west. Maybe Covid is the trigger for a real "moment" for disability rights? Maybe all these newly disabled people can find each other, realize they're not to blame for their situations, and organize?

Geoffberner, to USpolitics

People are all talking about Zuckerberg and the other billionaires' doomsday bunkers so I thought I'd share my song about all that. By the way, one of the Murdoch boys has one up the North Coast of BC he doesn't want you to know about. I met one of the servants who had to sign an NDA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz4fP5s_Vc4

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

Just to balance things out, tell me an artist, that as far as you know, seems to be a decent person, as well as a great artist!

Geoffberner,

@RickiTarr I met Billy Bragg a bunch of times. He really is in fact the person he puts himself forward to be. He's a good man.

augieray, to random
@augieray@mastodon.social avatar

“Stop trying to get people to wear a mask. They're never going to do so.”
“Stop trying to get people to stop smoking. They're never going to do so.”
“Stop trying to get people to wear seatbelts. They're never going to do so.”
“Stop trying to get doctors to wash their hands. They're never going to do so.”

The future is changed and lives are saved--eventually--by people willing to continually encourage people to do unpopular but safe things.

Geoffberner,

@augieray I always try to remind people about our society before M.A.D.D.: people thought drunk driving was hilarious. Drunk driving was played for laughs in movies. It took at least ten years and a hugely-rated TV Movie where Mariette Hartly gave the performance of her life to significantly move public opinion.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdoxLwu5HkI

tantramar, to random
@tantramar@nojack.easydns.ca avatar

Something to keep in mind about Republicans: they’re seeking to criminalize the people who won’t vote for them. It’s the old playbook behind the war on (some) drugs. It’s just another voter suppression tactic.

Geoffberner,

@tantramar the left should counter that, by doing the same: No participation in democracy for those holding over $2 million in assets.

waldoj, to random
@waldoj@mastodon.social avatar

The popular evidence that homeschooling is effective is largely premised on the research of one man. His research turns out to be garbage. One notable group has found that homeschooling can be regressive, harmful, and enable abuse: his children. https://wapo.st/41dMz3T

Geoffberner,

@waldoj is there any evidence that state schooling benefits children? We know that suicide rates among children go up on school days and go down during holidays and even single days off. So is there any evidence for schools?

leftylabourtech, to Canada
@leftylabourtech@mstdn.social avatar

The dental care plan being rolled out in today is means tested, not universal, limited in scope, being rolled out at a glacial pace, with claims processed by insurance giant Sun Life, and Service Canada only being involved in dealing with Sun Life's inevitable screw ups.

Yet, the is crowing about it like it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Geoffberner,

@leftylabourtech @johnefrancis BC's multi-billion dollar deal with Shell Oil to build hydro dams for them so they can use the power to frack the shit out of northern BC with free water says that the government can't tell people the terms of the deal, or face massive penalties.

shoq, to random
@shoq@mastodon.social avatar

Meanwhile, I went laxative shopping for my mom and was absolutely stunned that in one year, they have almost doubled the price of even the generics to anywhere from $18 to $29, for a basic Senna product. That’s predatory and despicable, given that millions of seniors rely on these basic custodial products. Of course, liberals warned this would happen when the big consolidation of drug stores happened over last 10-20 years while we were busy yammering on social media about …

Geoffberner,

@shoq don't forget "There's a war in Ukraine so we have to raise the price of bread right away we have no choice that's war for ya"

Geoffberner, to random

I feel like there's been a recent shift of the messaging coming from the corporate press etc. From Never Talk About Covid to Never Worry About Covid But Maybe Wear a Mask. I guess that's progress?

marcelias, to random
@marcelias@mas.to avatar

I'm sorry this pisses some people off, but it's true.

A vote for No Labels, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West or any other third-party candidate is effectively a vote for Trump. Not voting is as well. https://www.democracydocket.com/opinion/donald-trumps-plot-against-america/

Geoffberner,

@marcelias it's amazing how many people believe this without any evidence. Let's see some evidence that fringe weirdo voters are potential Biden voters? All these "sorry to be so pragmatic" nodding wisely people. But no evidence. Just that classic "It just makes sense". No, it doesn't. Stop obsessing about this tiny percentage of voters. My evidence says that the better a lefty weirdo like the Green Party does in a state, the more likely the Dems are to win it. Where's yours?

Geoffberner, to random

Headline should read: "Everyone is Sick Now Because Public Health Let Covid Rip." I hate this "things suck now, get used to expecting less, peasants!" tone that centrist journos are taking lately. https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-flu-rsv-pneumonia-1.7052339

Geoffberner, to random

Here's me posting the traditional Chanukah song I wrote a while ago. Destined to be a holiday classic in some universe somewhere. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJxq19A_Ae0

Geoffberner, to random

Looks like the Germans are gonna keep fucking with Jewish people until us lefty Jews realize just how bad anti-semitism really is. Thanks for showing us the way, Germany. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/dec/07/a-frenzy-of-judgement-artist-candice-breitz-on-her-german-show-being-pulled-over-gaza

KimPerales, (edited ) to climate
@KimPerales@toad.social avatar

The US is a leading voice at Cop28: "Today, we're demonstrating through action how the world can and must meet this crisis"

Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirms the US’s pledge to contribute $3B to the Green Climate Fund.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/02/politics/kamala-harris-cop28-saturday?cid=ios_app https://gdb.voanews.com/cf3c3b6e-f9b4-4791-ac8f-7bab505dedb0_cx0_cy4_cw0_w408_r1_s.jpg

Geoffberner,

@KimPerales yes, they lead the hypocrisy while they expand fossil fuel production.

Geoffberner,

@KimPerales I don't understand why they just had to do that? Why would it be bad for the price of oil to rise? Would that not spur market investment in non planet destroying energy sources?

Geoffberner, to random

I know this is a wild fantasy but it would be nice if someday some Canadian journalist asked the Prime Minister why he's allowing Medicare to be dismantled by Covid and neglect in ever province in confederation. My fantasy goes even further. The reporter asks follow up questions about enforcing the Canada Health Act when the PM tries to pass the buck to the Premiers.

CultureDesk, to books
@CultureDesk@flipboard.social avatar

John Le Carré's groundbreaking novel, "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold," is 60 this year. For Crimes Reads, novelists Paul Vidich and Joseph Kanon discuss the legacy of this masterpiece, which transformed spy fiction from the polish of James Bond to the grim reality of the Cold War, introduced the idea of the "mole," and even influenced real-life espionage.

https://flip.it/Mn8wKl

@bookstodon

Geoffberner,

@CultureDesk @bookstodon I re-read it recently. The description of The Wall was great. The insight into how weird spies was great. It's pretty weird about Jews though. He uses Jews to make a point. Then he kills them off. Also to make a point. It's not exactly an antisemitic book. Philosemitic in a creepy way? Much like Little Drummer Girl.

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

What songs do you think are too good for their subject matter, like a song for an ad that's actually good, or a children's show theme song that slaps, ect?

Geoffberner,

@RickiTarr "Gaston" from Beauty and the Beast. 1000% cleverer internal rhyme scheme than the movie deserved.

Geoffberner, to music

Today is my birthday. If you want to give me a present, you could listen to and share my latest music thing if you want. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=723IM_rlp7k

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