Round One
Boner Candidate #1: WELL, AT LEAST WE DIDN’T BURN A HUNDRED PEOPLE THIS TIME
Great White have apologized for playing a controversial show with no social distancing, mandatory masks or other COVID-19 safety protocols. “Great White would like to address our Thursday, July 9, at First on First Dickinson Summer Nights concert in North Dakota,” the band wrote in a statement. “We understand that there are some people who are upset that we performed this show, during this trying time. We assure you that we worked with the Promoter. North Dakota’s government recommends masks be worn, however, we are not in a position to enforce the laws. We have had the luxury of hindsight and we would like to apologize to those who disagree with our decision to fulfill our contractual agreement.” The band continued, “The Promoter and staff were nothing but professional and assured us of the safety precautions. Our intent was simply to perform our gig, outside, in a welcoming, small town. We value the health and safety of each and every one of our fans, as well as our American and global community. We are far from perfect.”
Boner Candidate #2: THERE’S A LOT OF MONEY IN STANDING UP TO KARENS
An online fundraiser collecting “tips” for a San Diego Starbucks barista who denied service to a customer after she refused to wear a face mask has amassed over $100,000 in donations from supporters who believe the barista did the right thing. The GoFundMe page for barista Lenin Gutierrez — whose story has made national news — had reached $100,155 as of 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, far surpassing its original goal of $1,000. A message posted to the GoFundMe page on behalf of Gutierrez thanked supporters and noted that the donations would “change the trajectory of Lenin’s future for the better.” According to the fundraising page, Gutierrez will receive 100% of the donations and plans to use the money to pursue his dreams of becoming a dancer. “He also wants to donate to some organizations in the San Diego community,” the post added. Gutierrez is set to meet with a financial advisor this week to help him manage and invest his funds. On June 22, San Diego resident Amber Lynn Gilles, 35, posted a photo of Gutierrez on her Facebook page, shaming him for denying her service. The social media post read: “Meet Lenen from Starbucks who refused to serve me cause I’m not wearing a mask. Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption.”
Boner Candidate #3: I’M NOT FEELING VERY DEFENDED
(KUTV) — A Utah group has been organizing what they call flash mobs, where they show up to grocery stores without face masks. The group “Defending Utah” has organized the demonstrations, and said they have plenty more planned for the future. Supporters who agree with their anti-mask message sign up on a phone list and get a text with the location of what store to meet at the day of the flash mob. “In a world of masks, who is left to defend your rights?” That is the question asked in a YouTube video made by Defending Utah. The video shows one of their demonstrations where they walked into a store without face masks on. “They’re going to do it again and again and again, every single Thursday,” the video goes on to say. “Now you don’t have to shop in fear.” A spokesperson for Defending Utah, Scott Bradley PhD, wouldn’t go on camera, but said the group sees mask requirements as an encroachment of their freedoms. “Our freedoms are never lost at once, but through baby steps. The statewide mask campaign is an attempt by the state to break up the population into giving up control of their bodies before attempting further encroachments on our freedom,” Bradley wrote. “It is long past time to draw the line in these small steps in defense of our constitution.”
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Round Two
Boner Candidate #1: WE’LL BE REVIEWING THE ‘TOMAHAWK CHOP’
The Atlanta Braves said in an email to season-ticket holders Sunday that they will not be changing their nickname but will take a further look at the future of the tomahawk chop. The email was shared on Twitter by Paul Lukas, a journalist who runs the Uni Watch blog. He received it from a Braves season-ticket holder. The Braves confirmed the contents of the email when contacted by ESPN. “The Atlanta Braves honors, respects and values the Native American community,” the letter says in part. “As an organization, we have always drawn strength from our diversity and respect for everyone. That will never change. “We have had an active and supportive relationship with the Native American community for many years. Last fall, we furthered this relationship and pledged to meet and listen to Native American and tribal leaders from many areas, including the Eastern Band of the Cherokees [EBCI] in North Carolina. As a result, we formed a cultural working relationship with the EBCI and have also formed a Native American Working Group with a diverse collection of other tribal leaders to collaborate on matters related to culture, education, outreach, and recognition on an on-going basis.
Boner Candidate #2: I’M SURE SCHOOLS WILL DO WHAT’S RIGHT
President Donald Trump spent a lot of the last week talking about re-opening public schools in the fall. As the Daily Beast reported, his campaign has done polling on the issue and found that it could be a winning electoral issue for him. The catch is that it’s only a winning electoral issue if people actually trust that you will be able to responsibly reopen schools. For that reason, Trump’s PR push is sort of self-defeating—if you were actually the person who was going to responsibly open public schools, you wouldn’t have just started thinking about it in July. And, perhaps, you wouldn’t make the point person for all of this Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. On CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, DeVos was asked by host Dana Bash to clarify what public-health experts were telling her about “the appropriate level of transmission for a school before it has to shut down.” It’s gets at the big question at the heart of all of this—what’s the plan? Everyone wants schools to reopen. It comes down to whether the conditions on the ground will allow it. Schools aren’t little epidemiology labs; they need guidance.
Boner Candidate #3: MUST’VE BEEN A KILLER PARTY
A man in the US who attended a COVID-19 party thinking the virus was a hoax has died after he became infected. His last words to the nurse at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio Texas were: “I think I made a mistake. I thought this was a hoax, but it’s not.” Dr Jane Appleby, chief medical officer at the hospital said in a recorded statement the unnamed patient who was in his 30s told a nurse the COVID-19 parties were held by someone who had tested positive to see if the virus was real. The patient became critically ill and died last week. Dr Appleby said she was sharing the story to raise awareness about COVID-19 as Bexar County, where the hospital is, has seen a spike in cases recently. She said the rate of positive tests is 22 per cent. “This is a concerning increase from a positive rate of about five per cent only several weeks ago,” Dr Appleby said.
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