• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem!
    • Login / Sign-up
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem!
    • Login / Sign-up
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish
No Result
View All Result
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
No Result
View All Result

News, yard art and beer

Guy Speckman by Guy Speckman
April 30, 2021
in Ponder the Thought
Yard art
7
SHARES
176
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Among all the societal underpinnings of the George Floyd murder trial was an aspect that impacts you and me nearly every single day in the modern world. Whether the issue rises to the level of race in America or police relations, I’m not sure, but it is a stealth like issue that is impactful on nearly every aspect of our lives.

One of the aggravating circumstances of the case is that the Minneapolis Police Department issued a press release about Floyd’s death. The press release said, in part, “Man Dies After Medical Incident During Police Interaction.” It went on to say, “a report of a forgery in progress. Officers were advised that the suspect was sitting on top of a blue car and appeared to be under the influence.” It continued with this explanation about the interaction with the police, “(Floyd) physically resisted officers. Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress.” It ended with “No officers were injured in the incident.”

RelatedNews

Budget, wars and tweets

Jesse James, Mother’s Day

Falling midgets, government propaganda

We all now know enough that this press release was certainly not completely true, but also reflected a biased view of the event. I’m not arguing the facts of that case. What I am pointing out is that government institutions have gradually become in charge of writing their own stories in the last 10 years and it is dangerous. It’s a compromised point of view that used to be filtered by traditional media.

We see it every day locally. Police departments, sheriff’s departments, local governments and schools are all over social media, telling you all the great things they have done today. They never tell you when things go bad. They just don’t. Their “stories” are often heavily shaded in their own viewpoint and they provide a misleading conclusion to nearly every event.

Some school accounts only report their athletic victories, never reporting on the losses. Police and sheriff’s departments blast out case details on social media and brand the “innocent until proven guilty” as “assumed guilty” before they even get charged by the prosecutor. It’s an overreach by local departments that is legally questionable and threatening to many of our societal norms.

If you think it is just government, think again. Corporations are big on this too now that they have megaphones of Facebook and Twitter to announce their “stories.” NFL teams now provide the most access to their own “beat writers,” paid for by the clubs. You think they are telling you the true background? Of course they aren’t.

The “traditional” news media have not helped their case by becoming partisan to a fault, but the entire process has made getting the “true” story more difficult than ever, despite the abundance of information and ways to communicate.


I wrote that serious stanza because I’m trying to become a better person. I can only assume that my time on this planet is limited after last weekend. My wife and I went to Pleasant Hill to shop for yard art. I had no idea I was “shopping for yard art” years old, but here I am; apparently near the end of time.

Anyway, they sell a bunch of metal junk from Mexico on weekends at a place called the Cactus Shack. They give you free beer and/or margaritas. There were lots of cigarettes and Trump T-shirts, so plan accordingly but I assumed you knew that when I said Pleasant Hill. I bought like $250 worth of the “art.” My part of this decision process was to simply shake my head in agreement to my wife and provide a valid credit card. If you are need of Mexican metal “art/junk” it’s my recommended go-to.

I also am a big proponent of the synergy of providing free beer and selling you things you might not “need.” Beer can sway the subconscious “want” into a “need” very quickly; highly recommended if you are selling “wants”.

(Guy Speckman can be reached at gspeckman@me.com or displaying tacky yard art)

Tags: Public Safety
Guy Speckman

Guy Speckman

Guy Speckman is a Landmark contributing columnist with his Ponder the Thought column. Speckman is the former owner of the Savannah Reporter, where the column appeared for nearly two decades. Speckman is a former city government manager, serving as city administrator in Maysville, Plattsburg and Savannah before entering business. He is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University (1989). He is originally from Plattsburg, Missouri. He and his wife own and operate a real estate valuation firm and a daily legal newspaper and are the parents of two grown children.

Related Posts

Budget, wars and tweets

Budget, wars and tweets

by Guy Speckman
May 13, 2022
0

The State of Missouri has passed a fiscal year budget. It nears $47 billion. Last year's budget was $36 billion. The largest budget increase in the history of the State of Missouri. If you still think Republicans are the fiscally...

15 Years Ago–May 9, 2007

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

It has been a hectic week for Platte County residents and business owners with property in low-lying areas, as heavy rains across the region have forced rivers and streams out of their banks. Areas in and around Parkville, Riverside, Tracy...

Platte City Police Department

City extends lease on temporary police station

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

Until the new City Hall/police station is ready Platte City's police department will continue to use its current leased location as a headquarters until the new City Hall/police station is completed later this year or early next year. City officials...

Goats

Growth, goats, golf carts and law firms

by Ivan Foley
May 6, 2022
0

Here's a little society news for you. Comedian Rodney Carrington's son is married to country singer Alan Jackson's daughter. I only know this because Rodney Carrington mentioned it during his recent comedy act at Ameristar. Trying to remember how many...

Next Post
Superhero

Your politics, my stories

Popular News

  • Area distillery releases first new bourbon in 30 years

    Area distillery releases first new bourbon in 30 years

    22 shares
    Share 9 Tweet 6
  • Bee Creek Bridge replacement set

    10 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 3
  • Large logistics park planned east of I-29

    198 shares
    Share 79 Tweet 50
  • Memorial Day Weekend Celebration planned

    7 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2
  • City extends lease on temporary police station

    7 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Call us at 816-858-0363

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe Online
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?