Category Archives: Briefing Bingo

this ain't right

Curse of the Covid Briefing Bingo

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So, here we are kittens. Still naming these after Paul Naschy werewolf movies; in this case, Curse of the Devil or El Retorno de Walpurgis in the original. Why?

Because it’s 2020 and nothing makes sense anymore, that’s why.

El Retorno de Covid Briefing Bingo might have been a better title.

So.

Today we announce our brand spanking new Sixth Generation Covid Briefing Bingo Card, featuring even more ensemble-oriented content. And hey, do me a favour: if you’re sharing these cards around, oh, I dunno, some random Canadian civil servant Slack or the like, maybe include a link to this blog, eh? Because it’s only right and good to credit the creator and last time we had something like 600 downloads and only 45 hits on the blog, and that JUST AIN’T RIGHT, PEOPLE!

It ain’t right.

it ain’t and you know it

Play one card or play them all to win fabulous, completely imaginary prizes:

and here is our video from CPAC. Love how the person in charge of pre-loading these videos always says that it will go live at 420. Somebody has a sense of humour.

At a news conference on Parliament Hill, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provides an update on the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic. He is joined by federal ministers Navdeep Bains (innovation, science and industry) and Dominic LeBlanc (intergovernmental affairs), as well as Dr. Theresa Tam (Canada’s chief public health officer) and Dr. Howard Njoo (the deputy chief public health officer).

You can mark off your “Someone appears via videoscreen” square, and don’t neglect the new squares on the Sixth generation card. And we’ve got “Wears brown shoes with a blue suit WHICH IS JUST MORALLY WRONG”. And also “Audio issues” because the sound and video are not synched up.

Also “Begins in English, and “Maple Leaf Accessory.” I’m not so sure about that tie. It looks like something a preschooler would pick out, but it probably cost more than my day rate.

Does an extension of an existing program count as “Finds a new way to give Canadians money”? What the hell, mark it.

“Calgary” sounds funny in French. It just does, people. Funnier even than “Saskatchewan”. Listen for yourself.

Bains NEVER blinks. I mean, never ever blinks. That’s a great colour combination, that oxblood and grey. “Building back better” there you go. Minister Bains comes through for you.

3350+ new cases diagnosed daily, and an average of 44 deaths per day. And a vaccine is expected in early 2021. Good news there. Dr. Tam explains how limited supplies of vaccines will be parceled out to medical workers, etc, first.

There you go, “The Three C’s” which is on the 6th generation card. I knew we’d get it. Oh, and look: Dr. Njoo’s poppy is different. We have poppy diversity! #PeakCanada

Interesting, everyone is wearing their masks at the desk except when they are speaking. That’s new, and seems wise; analogous to wearing your mask in a restaurant when you’re not eating.

And we get “Drinks water” and “Addresses reporter by name. We still have that weird de-synch between audio and video, but it’s much less distracting when one is typing. AHA! “Someone says ‘sorry'” square active. Most Canadian square ever!

And Trudeau now mentions that he’s trying to wear a mask whenever possible, like when sitting on a panel not talking.

And there we have “donc” so mark that square. I love that word. Who knows why? And now mark off “Dr Njoo doesn’t wear his glasses.” I didn’t honestly think we’d ever get that square, but here it is! Who says this game isn’t exciting and fast-paced?

Yep, mark off your “Sign language interpreters swapped out” which appears to happen at 12 every day. Prolly a union thing.

Industrial Workers of the World Unite!

Oh come ON! My French is improving, but it’s not good enough to handle a question and answer neither of which are translated. Thanks, moderator, for catching it shortly after this question that I completely missed.

I’m going to count this question Dr Tam is answering as “Pushes responsibility to provinces” because she’s always asked why she doesn’t lay down national rules about Covid-19. The answer doesn’t change.

Trudeau looks very serious when asked about the European report on the US election, but he gives you a Very Serious No Comment, which is basically what he does every time, with varying degrees of seriousness.

“What do you need to see before Canada congratulates the winner”? That’s a great question from the CBC. Trudeau replies that he’s going to wait “until the outcome is sufficiently clear” which is pretty wishy washy. But you know he’s going to wait till after it’s official. Canada always does.

The Whole Foods anti-poppy question is asked. The Minister of Veteran’s Affairs has contacted them directly. And Trudeau frames it as “a mistake” which he suggests will be “quickly corrected” but he won’t make a law about it.

It’s hard to tell with the chyron there and the sign, but I think we have “Concerned Priest Hand Clasp” so mark that off as well as “Gesticulates” on the “where are the jobs?” question.

Meanwhile, in DMs, I have like eight different people trying to get my attention RIGHT NOW:

I’m not going to count “Building back better” as alliteration, although it IS alliteration. But it’s already a square and it’s pretty common. I can be a hardass sometimes. Oh, and mark “From the very beginning” which is I think on the first card.

For the Seventh Generation card, I should have a square for “I forget my coffee in the kitchen” because guess what happened?

“Camera follows Trudeau out of the room although someone else is speaking” mark that square.

The virus does not survive on cotton very long, Dr Tam is impressed. And so am I, because cotton is cheap af.

Minister Leblanc is not going to get a chance to speak. I’m going to go ahead and call this “Technical difficulties,” so mark that square off. Dr. Tam really gets into a groove when explaining pure science like aerosol spread etc.

Original sign language interpreters are back. Yes, pretty sure they swap out so they can have a half an hour for lunch.

Oh, Minister Leblanc does get a chance to speak. So un-mark your “Technical difficulties” square. We were hasty. As was he, I mean look at that tie. Just look at it.

Dr Njoo stresses that the #Covid19 vaccines, when they become available, will be free to all Canadians. Now there’s a question from CP: why testing numbers have fallen by 10,000 a day. Dr Njoo speculates that it’s because we are now testing only certain people rather than inviting everyone to be tested.

Interesting question about the cost of additional security measures for MP’s. They are apparently NOT RCMP so who? Minister Leblanc declines comment “The most effective security measures are those which are not discussed publically”. Hard to disagree with that.

Aight, that’s the end of the press conference. You can see the whole thing collated on the website, and WITH my glorious featured image, which Twitter hates and will not show you because it’s too awesome.

Fury of the Wolfman

Fury of the Covid Briefing Bingo

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Thanks for joining us on this historic day, a day when our neighbors to the south vote to choose their new overlord, less encumbered by Russian hacking efforts than they were last time, if somewhat more encumbered by gun-toting fascist voter intimidation. But we have faith, kittens. We, for once, have faith in America.

Our democracy must be not only the envy of the world but the engine of our own renewal. There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.

William Jefferson Clinton
Linus knows his shit.

It’s also historic because I’m going to try not to drop any F-bombs, in the probably vain attempt to get some rt’s from mainstream Ottawa. I already stopped calling him PM Zoolander: how much can one woman compromise, I ask yez???

Play one card or play them all to win fabulous, completely imaginary prizes:

And here’s our Cpac video:

At a news conference on Parliament Hill, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provides an update on the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic. The prime minister is joined by federal ministers Chrystia Freeland (finance) and Mary Ng (small business, export promotion and international Trade ) and by Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, and Dr. Howard Njoo, the deputy chief public health officer.

And yes, we are still naming them after Paul Naschy Wolfman films, because BECAUSE, that’s why. Today we’re doing Fury of the Wolfman, a classic with a glorious 19% on the tomatometer. And yes, “wolfman” is one word even if “hombre lobo” is two of them. What can we say? English is a capricious language.

In the comments after the post you’ll find some additional squares we missed because we were preoccupied with annoying reporters, sharp red dresses, the dog needing to go out, or similar matters of global import. So remember to check the comments, too.

Not sure why that photographer needs a lens half the length of his arm for this; he’s only about 15 feet from the Prime Minister’s desk. I guess in the age of digital photography “nostril hair resolution” is the standard.

And we’re off! Beginning with a statement of solidarity against terrorist attacks and sympathy to the victims of the latest attacks in Vienna and Kabul, among others. Excerpted below.

I want to offer my condolences to the victims and to all those grieving after the horrific shooting in Vienna that started in front of the city’s synagogue. We stand by the people of Austria, and Jewish communities around the world, who are reeling from this attack. There have been too many of these unacceptable acts of terrorism and violence in our world recently, including in France over the last few weeks, and at Kabul University in Afghanistan yesterday. Canada stands united with people everywhere in condemning these latest, terrible attacks.

These days, our world is facing all kinds of challenges. More and more, we are seeing the second wave of COVID-19 creating difficulties for several countries in Europe and elsewhere. The UK has announced a new lockdown. Belgium and France are experiencing a dramatic increase in hospitalizations. Their nurses and doctors are exhausted, and their hospitals are overwhelmed. The situation is worrisome and must be taken seriously. The second wave of COVID-19 in places like the UK, Belgium, and France is a wake-up call that Canadians cannot afford to ignore. Right now, this virus is being given the chance to spread. It’s being given the opportunity to grow. I know that’s hard to hear, but the numbers are showing us that our window to turn this around is closing fast. We have to work together—right now—to beat the second wave. It won’t be easy, but I know we can do it.

Prime Minister’s remarks announcing support for businesses and farmers

Mark your “Maple leaf accessory” and “Poppy” and “Blue suit” squares. Freeland is there, so I’m 90% sure you’ll get the “Pearls” square as well. Thank god, no brown shoes this time.

Discussing the surge in Manitoba, which is awful, we get “app” and “Second Wave” as you’d expect. And yes, there you go, “Finds new way to give Canadians money”. I spend half my time on Zoom telling my friends which federal money to apply for. An Ottawa lawyer told a friend of mine “I don’t know why anyone goes into crime. The legal money is so much easier to get.”

Is that not the most Canadian thing you’ve ever heard: create a digital poppy at https://mypoppy.ca/. And trudeau gives a message of sympathy to the family, friends, and colleagues of James Choi, who died in a live ammunition training exercise in Alberta.

Dang, that is a killer dress, and yes, mark your “Pearls” square. Freeland is appearing via video probably because she was recently exposed to Covid-19, as the app informed her. And mark your “Freeland’s papers go all the way across her desk” square. A woman after my own heart. Or work style, at least.

And now Minister Ng is up. Today is clearly Honorary Small Business Day, but when is it NOT in Ottawa? Sounds like SEO and building small business websites are going to be a growth industry for the short term at least. Woohoo! Monay for me! https://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/funding-financement/canexport/index.aspx Ugh, why do government sites have such ugly URLS?

Dr. Tam is reporting the stats, except Alberta because Alberta can’t get its shit together in time to report weekend results by Tuesday. Tories. She recommends a three layer mask: inner, outer, and filter. The Sister just gave me two of them, in fact, in truly Canadian buffalo check aka “The Arnprior Tuxedo” pattern. And I’ve GOT to put “The Three C’s” on the next bingo card.

Arnprior Tuxedo
The Arnprior Tuxedo

Dr. Njoo is breaking up, so mark your “Technical Difficulties” square. It’s probably just my internet, but whatever. You get a square! And YOU get a square! AND YOU GET A SQUARE!!!

Oooh, button-down shirt! An excellent Sixth Generation square, methinks. Give me a few days.

And now we are off to the questions. Mark your “Touches face” square. I thought that would have been trained out of all of us by now.

Very interesting: first question is on the death of Colton Boushie. Trudeau says he’s met with the family and understands directly from them what the grieving process is like, and how painful the delay is in getting the report out.

There you go, your “PPE” square is active now. I have literally no idea how Trudeau keeps all these figures in his head: billions transferred to provinces, sent to Canadian individuals, tax breaks, etc. It’s the most I can do to keep track of my fingers and toes.

On a more trivial note: there’s your “Drinks water” square, and at some point the sign language interpreters swapped out again, so mark that square. I wonder why they do that. Does one of them break for lunch at 12 precisely?

We got THIS FAR without a question about the US election, or even a mention in passing? 45 minutes, give or take. Gob. Smacked. Trudeau stresses Canada’s collaborative approach against the pandemic vs the “politicized” response in the US, which is as close as we are gonna get to “Shades Trump” so mark that square.

And mark your “Flu vaccine” square, which is I think on the fifth generation card.

Inneresting question about whether or not the changes in the US are irrevocable. Trudeau responds that all countries change over time, and that Canada is keeping a keen eye on the changes in the US. Mentions the victory against Aluminum tariffs. “Obviously elections matter.” He says Canada is well-positioned to work with the us “regardless of the outcomes of tonight”. Which, if you remember he thwarted the Trump Bully Handshake AND the punitive tariffs, you gotta give it to him.

I wish @CPAC_TV would focus their cameras on the chairs rather than the covid signage on the desks, because the faces are fuzzy. Minister Freeland interrupts Trudeau to give what is clearly a speech she’s been DYING to deliver, on the small business and personal economic supports for the economy. Which are basically listed in this Finance Department press release.

  • Over 3.8 million Canadians have had their jobs supported through the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, with over $45 billion paid out in subsidies as of October 25, 2020.
  • Small- and medium-sized businesses are strongly represented in sectors — like food services (i.e. restaurants), hospitality, tourism, and transportation — which continue to be significantly affected by the virus and the measures taken to contain it.
  • As of late October, the Government of Canada has approved over $2 billion in rent support, through the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance for small businesses. Rent assistance has helped over 138,000 small business tenants supporting 1.2 million jobs in Canada.
  • The new rent subsidy would pick up where the previous program left off, delivering direct, targeted, and accessible rent support to qualifying organizations affected by COVID-19 without the need to work through their landlords. It would provide a subsidy for eligible fixed property expenses, including rent and interest on commercial mortgages. The announced program parameters would apply until December 19, 2020 with future parameters in 2021 to be adapted and targeted as needed.

And now @JustinTrudeau is out.

https://twitter.com/RickSan84920819/status/1323681691366576129

And there’s your “hostile reporter tries a patently stupid gotcha question” which really should be on the 6th Gen card, where the reporter asks Dr. Tam why the instructions on masks have changed. BECAUSE SCIENCE THAT’S WHY, MORON. She strains my self-control, but I manage, after struggling mightily, to avoid an F-bomb. Dr. Tam avoids getting testy and simply answers that we now know much more about how masks work, because they were not really studied before, and reiterates that fit is very important.

“Titrate” would be a good sixth generation card square. Dr. Tam says that if we do our part we will reduce the spread, and when we reduce the viral spread we can begin to re-open. So the responsibility for the reopening is pushed to individuals and their choices, rather than to government. Because individual choices are what overwhelmingly effect the spread.

That’s a wrap! Not only did I make it through the whole thing without a single F-bomb, but I also did a proper Twitter thread this time: ah, the power of good coffee! Now, can I get an rt from @CanadianPM @cafreeland or @CPHO_Canada ?

Caffeine and Hate is all I need

Covid Briefing Bingo Rises from the Tomb.

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Yes, we are still naming these after Paul Naschy werewolf films, because why the fuck not?

Horror rises from the tomb

Horror rises from the tomb, as do I every morning, dear reader.

Play one board or play them all. Here are all the Covid Briefing Bingo cards to date.

Here’s your video. Is it my imagination or does Trudeau seem a little cranky today? Maybe just undercaffeinated; speaking for myself I find it hard enough to just tweet these briefings before coffee, never mind delivering one.

At a news conference on Parliament Hill, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provides an update on the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic. He is joined by federal ministers Marc Miller (Indigenous services) and Ahmed Hussen (families, children and social development), as well as Dr. Theresa Tam (Canada’s chief public health officer) and Dr. Howard Njoo (the deputy chief public health officer). Drs. Tam and Njoo also present the latest federal epidemiological modelling data.

Everyone is late again, so that’s good. My coffee is almost ready! And we salute you, Brave Reporter Who Sits In The Front Row. Mark off that square.

Head’s up, and here they come. “Blue suit with brown shoes WhICH IS JUST MOrALLY WrONG” and “Maple Leaf Accessory” and “Poppy” square active, as well as “Someone appears via video screen”. And “App” too. And it appears that my CAPSLOCK key needs help. As do I, capslock, as do I.

Oh, SOOOPER, my website is frozen. So guess you need to be on Twitter to do #BriefingBingo today. Loving that. I guess you should mark your “Technical difficulties” square; and they can’t seem to get Minister Hussen’s mic to work either so that’s double technical difficulties.

Yep, there you go. Mark the “Finds new way to give Canadians money” square. As usual. I gotta get me some of that. Well, not THIS money. Other money. I’m sure at some point they’ll announce targeted support for underemployed semi-retired bloggers-turned-journalists-turned-bloggers, right?

I tried to do a Twitter Thread but because I was undercaffeinated I screwed it up, alas. That’ll teach me to start before my coffee’s ready. Follow the hashtag #BriefingBIngo instead for today.

Immigration as a key part of the economic recovery? Compare and contrast to the US, where they’re putting their immigrants in cages and restricting entry to the country according to religion. Which, when paired with banning certain countries, is basically a shortcut to institutional racism.

I have dug up the Twitter accounts of the participants in the almost certainly vain hope of an RT at some point in the future, so here we go:

Dr. Theresa Tam:

Dr Howard Njoo, who does not tweet anymore:

Justin Trudeau:

Marc Miller:

Ahmed Hussen:

New app update? You can now enter the date you got tested and when notified, which will be very helpful. And it’s optional: it really is pretty good privacy-wise. Yeah, good luck to that guy headed for Boston. I’d wear a full Hazmat suit, myself.

Interesting that this briefing is primarily focused on safe water supplies to First Nations. High time. Past time.

Seriously though, when are they coming out with poppy-themed masks? Seems like a no-brainer to me. @RCL_DC get on that!

Pretty gross that we’re diagnosing significantly more cases daily than ever before. Beginning to second-guess staying in Ontario vs moving back to BC immediately. If they’ll even have me.

Gotta say, I am loving the Tam/Njoo teamwork here.

Science lessons with Canada’s leading medical specialists! The Two Doctors are walking us through how pandemics spread, and how if each infected person infects less than one other person it’ll die out.

My local bbq place re-opened for indoor seating for 1 DAY. Today the patio is open, tomorrow they’re pulling the grill out and putting it in the parking lot for tailgating. A healthy adaptation and good for sales, because it smells so good you MUST buy!

Looking at the infection rates for age groups. BRB, off to change my “target market’ on dating sites.

Interesting. Covid19 infection rates vary directly with other social challenges, ie poor people and the other marginalized groups are disproportionately hit by the disease. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau is the outlier here. But she had it before it was cool. Goddamn hipsters.

Yep, pretty clear that reopening schools was problematic. And here’s your reminder, before you bitch at me on Twitter, that I don’t care about how badly you needed the peace and quiet. Good to see fewer people in hospital with #Covid19. We now have support systems like #caremongering to help people stay home when infected.

GODDAMMIT! I forgot my coffee has been sitting in the kitchen waiting for me to notice it for 45 minutes. Clearly, I need coffee.

The Roommate finally got his #Covid19 test done. FINALLY. I’ve only been sick for 8 weeks. *chews anti-viral gummy* Meanwhile on CPAC, Trudeau looks particularly peeved today. Wonder why? Usually he only looks like that when he’s anticipating WE questions. Trudeau needs a coffee as badly a I do.

I like that tie. I’m so bored from the lockdown that looking at a tie that throws off weird moiré patterns on tv is the highlight of my day.

Dr Tam says that I should get rid of my roommate for my own safety. I’m on board. Wonder if she can hook me up with some ricin? We are supposed to decrease our contacts by 25% and basically since March I’ve seen The Roommate, The Sister, and 2 friends. And I ain’t killing The Sister: she takes me on scenic drives!

Opioid deaths have doubled in some FN communities? Interesting. Decriminalization seems like Not The Issue, in this case. We really need harm reduction. I mean, most of these drugs are not illegal, period.

For all that this briefing has a ton of information it’s been very poor on the #Covid19#BriefingBingo front. Basically all the squares were ticked in the first 90 seconds. C’mon, give us at least a “donc”.

Canadian arms were sold to Turkey and ended up being used by the Azeris in the current conflict. Export permits to Turkey apparently now suspended, says Trudeau.

And we’re on to the questions:

If you know he’s not going to comment on the US election, why did you ask the question? I mean, he gets asked this every single day and he’s never answered it once. You only get “We are keeping Canadians safe.”

Yet another question about safe drinking water on reservations. I’m glad to see the pressure on. This needs to be fixed. It’s been 150 years, people.

There’s a good question. Basically “What do you wish you’d done differently so that so many people don’t feel as alienated from their government?” Trudeau says “we will work with anyone from any party”. Mark “Shades tories” square & “Building back better”.

Oh, I missed it but yes, mark off your “Swaps out the sign language interpreters”. And good question about why there are so many outbreaks in healthcare settings, not long term care.

If I end up in the hospital, send flowers. Don’t visit. I mean, you were never gonna visit me anyway, but at least this way you might send flowers.

There’s your “PPE” square, mark that one off.

Question about the availability of the flu vaccine. If I ever get over whatever flu I currently have, I’ll get the shot. Week eight and counting, y’all.

“Big parties are off.” Dr Tam makes it clear even for, say, rich retired hockey players with brain injuries and terrible taste in politics.

I think I’m going to have to add a square for “Vigilant” for the next card. There we go, mark your “who we are” square. Do I have a square for “Every step of the way?” If I do, mark that square. And “addresses reporter by name”.

Mark your “Rapid tests” square, I think that’s in the fifth generation bingo card. Man, next time I’m going to have my coffee a good half hour before the briefing. And that’s a wrap!

Obama, Now Available in Vanilla

Covid Briefing from the Tomb

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Yes, we’re still naming these after old Paul Naschy werewolf movies, because why the fuck not? Today we’ve got a late start, which is unusual since the briefings moved to this plain briefing room in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building. Which nomenclature is surely going to be questioned the next time a statue is toppled. But the delay is a damn good thing, because I’m late and my coffee hasn’t finished brewing yet. You can tell, because I’ve already sworn twice.

Can’t wait till La Covid Briefing Bingo del Hombre Lobo

Our current and previous bingo cards:

And meanwhile, in Canada.

At a news conference on Parliament Hill, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provides an update on the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic. The prime minister is joined by federal minister Ahmed Hussen (families, children and social development) and Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada’s deputy chief public health officer.

Mark “journalist sits in the front row” and “Blue suit” squares. I should make a “starts late” square. Oh, and there’s “Building back better” so mark that off.

And there’s the “App” square as well. Oh, and I forgot “Begins in English” and “Maple leaf accessory” for the mask. And yes, certainly I’m over-thinking this because I’m bored, but I wonder what makes the difference between days we get “Bonjour à tous” and “Bonjour tout le monde.” I feel like on the latter days, le monde must have done something to get sent to the principal’s office.

Now we’re talking about the national homelessness strategy and the new Rapid Housing Initiative which is worth an even billion. The pandemic has added housing pressure, of course: how do you self-isolate if you live in public? For all that a billion dollars seems a great deal of money, one thing we do know is that every dollar invested in housing the homeless reduces social costs of homelessness by more than a dollar fifty.

There’s a “names small business” and I’m going to rule that the homelessness announcement as well as the rent supports and the rest altogether counts as “Finds a new way to give Canadians money.” Trudeau’s not the only one in a generous mood today.

The only drawback to doing these live is that my coffee is sitting in the kitchen waiting for me to get it, and I can’t. If you knew how good my coffee is, and how undercaffeinated I currently am, you would feel my pain.

And now Minister Hussen is unpacking the details of the anti-homelessness initiative. Glad to hear they’ve picked the right cities. Dr Njoo is going over the Covid stats, average daily case count is over 2,000 and the rate of serious infections is also increasing. Oh, and mark the “My aunt calls during the briefing” square, because yeah, she did.

I need to add another square for “The Roommate turns the tv up so loud I can’t hear the briefing on my noise-cancelling headphones” or would that be too passive-aggressive, even for a Canadian? What if I do it in French, so he can’t read it?

Lordy, it’s SO much easier to liveblog with coffee in me. Not that you care. The public is ruthless.

Now we have “audio malfunction” and “Throat malfunction” and I was in the kitchen getting my coffee, so I didn’t see if we got the “Drinks Water” square as well. Did we? LMK.

Good to hear the first question is about systemic anti-indigenous racism in the RCMP. And it’s not ducked, it’s given a fair “we need to do more” so tick off the “Calls someone out for bigotry” even if it’s the RCMP.

Oh, and two things are clear now that I see it on the laptop rather than the phone: the suit is grey, not blue, and I should have been doing these as Twitter threads all along, duh, oh well, next time.

On a question about the terrorist attack in France, Trudeau extends condolences to the victim, his family, and the nation of France. He states that terrorism is an act that is unlike any other, and unacceptable in any circumstance. I don’t think he named Macron at all; he did it by referring to the nation and the people of “our ally” France.

There are layers of irony in the fact that I’m liveblogging the anti-terroism, anti-pandemic, anti-bigotry briefing while The Roommate’s tv nearly drowns it out. He’s watching Game of Thrones, because of course he is.

And now we have questions about the by-elections, which added 2 Liberals to the total. Congratulating the winners was the first order of business in this briefing. And dammit, I missed it but you should tick off “Swaps out the sign language interpreters”.

And also Trudeau specifically points out that this means they have two women replacing two men, so we are that much closer to a correct and just gender split in the Commons.

“We are in an unprecedented global pandemic that really sucks.” Well, you can’t argue with that. Oh, and then mark the “Who we are” square, because he’s putting that on YOU. YES YOU. We got “Sucks” twice that I counted. Maybe it should be a square? It’s 2020. Seems appropriate.

And we’ve got “concerned priest handclasp” so mark that square too. This is a damn good speech. And there’s your “Thousand Yard Stare” and I’m not kidding. You should watch the video. We’ve only had it once before, when Trudeau was asked about the military report on the long term care homes. Which, yeah.

A reporter just asked the Prime Minister how he’s going to guarantee that information will not change from one week to the next during a global pandemic. Gee, I know someone who got a journalism degree, not a science one.

And yes, “Rapid testing” square also. And also “refers to reporter by name” from earlier. We now have the “Donc” and the “Stern Teacher Voice” squares in action.

I think I’m gonna call this “Pushes responsibility to provinces” when it comes to forcing the use of the app. And now Trudeau is out. Interestingly, the camera follows him out of the room even though Minister Hussen is in the middle of answering a question. Not the choice I would have made, but then I am not a camera op.

Why haven’t we had any Two Michaels questions recently? And I just noticed Canada has had fewer diagnosed cases than the US has had actual deaths. And among the diagnosed, our mortality rate is roughly half of theirs.

And there’s the unequivocal “pushes responsibility to provinces” so if for some reason you didn’t mark that square before, do it now.

Yay! Finally! Mark your “Second wave” square. “Social cohesion” sounds like the most Canadian social principle of all time.

And that’s a wrap. See you at some vaguely-defined point in the future.

Covid-19 Briefing Bingo: Introducing Seymour

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We have wronged you, people. We have failed you. Yesterday we introduced the Fifth Generation Covid Briefing Bingo Card, and we left one of the squares totally obscure! We apologize: only the most dedicated of raincoaster followers, the fine print readers, would know what was meant by “Seymour.” Bottom right-hand square.

Allow me to introduce you to Seymour.

Say hi to Seymour!

Seymour is the little jade or soapstone or whatever, possibly extraterrestrial green stone sculpture of a lion or a bear or an idol of some undiscovered species of Great Old Ones-worshipping alien that may or may not have been brought to Earth æons ago when the wriggling forms of primitive, protean life squirmed their way out of the mire and stood or crawled in the light of the sun for the first time.

So, yeah. It looks like a Seymour to me. So Seymour it is.

Anyhoodle, here’s today’s video for today’s Covid Briefing Bingo, which we are doing live for the first time since we got sick like six weeks ago, but were told “Oh, it’s not covid” BUT I’M OVER THAT NOW!

Covid Briefing for October 23 featuring Justin Trudeau, Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, and Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand, as well as Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, and Dr. Howard Njoo, the deputy chief public health officer.

Our previous bingo cards:

AND WE ARE OFF!

Check off “reporter sits in front row” and “Blue suit” and “Begins in French” for once, and also “Someone is present only on video” and BAM! Also “Vaccine.” Pretty good first 90 seconds. And ahem, more than one person was wearing “Blue or grey suit with brown shoes which is JUST MORALLY WRONG” so be sure to mark off that accursèd square.

And yet another “Finds a new way to give Canadians money” and “Names specific Canadian Businesses” and wow, also “Throat malfunction”. We’re going to get a row filled in today, I can just feel it! Oh yeah, there’s “Vaccines” again, and also “Drinks Water.”

And there’s “Gavi” from the second generation card. And “Refers to Dr. Tam” again, because she’s right there. Oh yay, we just hit the highest number of cases ever in one day. Soooooooper.

And now we are getting an explanation of how pandemics are, obviously, a social problem, and how following the advice of health experts can contribute to not only saving yourself from infection, but also stop the spread in its tracks. And how we damn well better.

A nice shout-out by Dr. Tam and Dr. Njoo to the Canadians working on fighting the virus through science. And lots and lots about “rapid testing” so mark that square on the Fifth Generation card.

At the 52 minute mark the sign language interpreters get swapped out. Do their hands get tired? That’s a square, so mark it off.

Now to the questions from the media: didn’t notice if there was a “drinks water” in the traditional place, but we got it earlier anyway. Ironically, first question, from APTN, about whether or not Trudeau’s government will meet its goal to lift boil water advisories on reservations by March 2021. And we get “Gosh, things are difficult, look at all we’ve done so far, Covid makes things hard, next question please.”

We do get the “Mentions a reporter by name” which is only fair, as they pretty much all call him either “Mister Trudeau” or “Mister Prime Minister” which, now that I think of it, must be very Freudian for him.

And there’s TorStar offering up the opportunity to give us the “Shades the US” square, but he just won’t do it today. The standard “What if the US goes all to hell on election day?” and the response is basically “Hey, they’ve been doing elections longer than almost anyone on Earth (hello, France) so we have faith they can do it this time.” Does Trudeau know something we don’t? Like that all those FSB hackers have defected and are living in a commune on Vancouver Island somewhere? OOH can you get me Phineas Fisher’s autograph?

That was a very half-hearted “Gesticulates” but it was a “Gesticulates” so mark that square off. Even if it’s thumbs-only, it still counts. Oh wait, now there’s some full-on gesticulation occurring. You can mark it off with a wide dabber now, instead of a narrow felt tip.

Haha, “Every step of the way” I thought we’d never hear that one again. I think that’s on the first generation bingo card.

Pretty awesome to hear more than one organization hammer the water quality on reservation question. Squeaky wheels and all that.

That said, I’m not sure “Okay you tried and failed, why should they trust you to get it right this time” is the narrative the Liberals would appreciate you pushing right now.

I don’t get the focus on rapid testing. The results are currently taking fewer than four days. Anyone can stay home for four days, no? Trudeau seems to agree, calling out “shiny new” things that people focus on, while the government has to ensure that they are both safe and effective before using them on Canadians.

Reporters are beginning to learn they have to say “with regards to this SPECIFIC example” otherwise Trudeau will generalize and macro-POV things till they are essentially meaningless, but comforting. And Trudeau’s out, putting on the mask so mark your “Maple Leaf Accessory” because we’re not going to give you that square every time there are flags present.

We’re not that easy.

So is that annoying little alert coming from my computer or CPAC or someone’s phone or what? Because it’s really fucking annoying. Aw, poopiecaca, and we do not say that lightly, it’s my headphones running out of juice. I may have to bail on this briefing prematurely. And I hate being premature.

Oh my god, have you ever seen anything more Canadian? Ministers complimenting one another on their fluency in the two official languages and being humble about their own abilities.

Okay, there’s your PPE square. I think that’s third generation card. And that’s it, my friends. I’ve got to bring the #Covid19 #BriefingBingo to a close because my headphones died so I can’t continue to use the laptop and The Roommate is watching his reruns and it’s his tv so as we all know the ownership of the means of entertainment (capitalists) are the dominant class (bourgeoisie). I won’t be booting him off the tv any time before The Revolution. And since there aren’t enough of me here to unionize (there’s only one of me, much to the relief of billions and the regret of a few. A happy few) that leaves me pretty much powerless.

See you next time, kittens.