Properly Subversive: ‘Karens,’ Nazis and the old woman who yells ugly things in Downtown Mill Valley

Properly Subversive: Sherman R. Frederick

A local “Karen” spit fire at this humble little newspaper for a headline we ran in February. Yes, February!. The headline “Karen” objected to was this: 

 “The ‘pandemic’ is over.” 

She told us it was “misleading” and “false” and needs to be corrected immediately. 

Unfortunately for this “Karen,” she didn’t read the story or take note of the quotes around the word pandemic. 

Here’s the story:

“Marin and California will transition its response to COVID-19 from treating it less like a ‘pandemic’ and more like an ‘endemic.’ Marin’s COVID19 response guru, Dr. Matt Willis, who has guided the county into one of the best prepared COVID response places in America, issued that nuanced message in his weekly talk on Jan. 25.

“When a virus is a pandemic, it means it is spreading faster and broader than expected. When it is in endemic mode, it means it is occurring as ‘expected or normal,’ Willis said.

“That’s where Marin is now and going forward, Willis said, “we will follow the best science.”

“This change in terminology doesn’t mean that COVID-19 will disappear or become rare. It also doesn’t mean that at times mandatory wearing of masks, or stricter rules, won’t be required. It means we’ll find ‘layered approaches’ to live with the virus as has been done with the flu and other viruses.’ Gov. Gavin Newsom echoed that idea last week, saying the state is ‘preparing an endemic strategy.’”

Sorry, “Karen.” The headline and the story were not false or misleading. It was in fact right on and in no need of correction. 

I wish the hateful “Karens” of this world – especially the COVID variety – would think twice before stupidly reacting to things. 

But, you know they won’t. That’s why they are “Karens.” 

HATE MESSAGE

What makes these hateful people target this lovely county with messages of hate? Are we more receptive to the message? I wouldn’t think so. It’s gotta be more of a spiteful spitting into the wind at a county that is notorious for pushing back on such hate. 

One or more of these Nazi creeps distributed flyers in San Rafael on Sunday, July 24, that police said “cast aspersions on the Jewish community and spread antisemitic myths and conspiracy theories.”

Police launched an investigation. Hope they find the haters.

THE THROCKMORTON YELLER

If you regularly read Marinscope’s Cop Log, you may be puzzled by a weekly incident that takes place on the main downtown drag in Mill Valley. 

An elderly woman stands in her backyard and yells profanities laced with racial epitaphs at the top of her lungs. Her yelling reverberates throughout Throckmorton and generates calls to the police. 

Police respond. 

But the end result is always a knock on her door. She won’t answer. And, they tell her through the door that if she doesn’t stop the hateful yelling, she will be arrested. 

Now look, there’s undoubtedly something not normal going on here, so I don’t want to come off as a harsh SOB. But, obviously the system ain’t workin’ for both citizens within earshot of the profanities and the woman.

This bad behavior happens week-in and week-out, according to the Cop Log. Isn’t there something that can be done to address this outside of hauling an old woman with clear mental issues to the Marin County Jail? 

CLIMATE CZAR

In the “You Gotta Love It” file comes word from Corte Madera that the town will hire its first climate planning coordinator. It’ll pay about $180k and address wildfires, sea-level rise and all the nasty threats facing the planet via climate change. 

Will they hire another city worker who has to drive in from Petaluma to do the work? Let’s hope not.

GOOSE PROBLEM SOLVED

The San Jose Mercury News reports that Foster City has a giant goose poop problem. The number of Canada geese making a lagoon in the city home has tripled in two years and if it goes up again they may have to resort to killing some of them to keep the bacteria level in the lagoon’s water healthy for geese and citizens alike. 

Of course, this has activated the Bay Area’s animal rights folk who will no doubt make a big stink about it.

But, as always, I am here to provide a win-win solution. For details, please Google:

“How to roast a goose.” 

ONE MORE THING

– If you tell me that you don’t get musicals “because people don’t break out in song in real life” then you’re hanging out with the wrong people.

– I am reading a great book called “There’s A Hole In My Bucket” by Lee King.

– I hate it when people misuse “your” for “you’re.” There so ignorant.

— If the pants of liars really did catch on fire, watching the news would be so much more fun.

I’ll let myself out. Thanks for reading and until next week, avoid soreheads, laugh a little and always question authority.

(“Properly Subversive” is commentary written by Sherman R. Frederick for the Novato Advance, San Rafael News-Pointer, Mill Valley Herald, Ross Valley Reporter, Twin City Times and the Sausalito Marin Scope. Mr. Frederick is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Battle Born Media, a news organization dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)