Sarah Blahovec
@Sblahov
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Disability civic engagement expert. Queer & disabled. Schnauzer mom and fiber artist. Owns more heating pads than you. Opinions my own. she/her/hers
Alexandria, VA
Joined October 2011
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Pinned Tweet
I created an
#AltTextPalestine
toolkit with information on how to participate and combining practices I've used + learned from others on here. It's a work in progress so let me know if you have any tips or ideas to share!
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Since we're sharing our favorite tweets of all time, this ranks with the Dean Browning one for me.
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It annoys me that job applicants are supposed to "explain gaps on their resume." Whether the gap was from raising a child, having a serious illness, or traveling the world, I feel like employers shouldn't have the right to determine if it's a "good enough reason."
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I can't believe I'm sitting in an ADA compliance webinar where this was just given as an example of compliant and accessible design.
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Basically everyone I know:
1. Has COVID
2. Has someone close to them who has COVID
3. Is immune compromised and trying desperately to avoid getting COVID because it could kill us
4. Is overworked due to COVID causing shortages and overwhelm at work
Give people grace.
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I saw someone say the CDC Director is recommending wearing a mask again and was in disbelief, but went to look up the video and...
...the CDC Director recommended wearing a mask.
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I don't want to be "at the top." I want a job that gives me health insurance and a livable income, and that doesn't take away my quality of life with hours-long commutes that completely drain me as a chronically ill person.
Unpopular opinion: you can’t remote work or freelance your way to the top.
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I'm not a person, I'm multiple comorbidities wearing a trench coat.
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Nothing makes me angrier right now than the fact that I'm seeing disabled people suddenly be denied accommodations again by organizations and schools who easily provided those accommodations for the past year, but will no longer do that because of "getting back to normal."
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Just sitting here thinking of all of the disabled and immunocompromised students who were told that giving them virtual attendance as an accommodation was "impossible."
BREAKING: Columbia just announced all classes will have a virtual attendance option starting tomorrow.
Organizers say this is another win for Gaza solidarity camp protesters who seek to disrupt campus life as usual until Columbia divests from Israel.
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The two inspiring displays of unity I've seen in 2023 are
1. Labor unions
2. Everyone going "this dog must have a reason"
Biden's dog Commander bites Secret Service agent at the White House, causing injuries which were treated by medical personnel, spokesman says
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There is no disability justice without a free Palestine
Kidney patients in northern Gaza are living in difficult conditions as the Israeli war continues
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So, the cops in my town sent letters to people ONLY in low-income housing saying they'd arrest anyone wearing a ski mask.
Now the police chief has to go door-to-door and apologize to the residents for the letter, thanks to pushback.
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I raised that disabled people have said that this is bad, they responded that we are focusing on compliance today and that usability is another discussion.
It absolutely isn't a different discussion. Something that is unsafe but compliant is not accessible.
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We need to have a LOT more discussion about how usability matters as much as compliance because something that is compliant can still be an accessibility nightmare.
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I am passionate about my job, but the absolute worst part of it is having to deliver the news to a disabled person on SSDI that they can't run for office (usually an unpaid local office) without losing their benefits. Today it was to a disabled veteran.
#CripTheVote
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People getting mad at Lizzo for playing a historical flute is pure misogynoir.
And as others have pointed out, preserving an instrument means preserving its playability. I have to pull out my violin and maintain it even though I haven't really "played" it in years.
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As a disabled person, I've been very discouraged during this conference by what feels like a theme of viewing the ADA only as protecting the government from complaints of noncompliance and lawsuits and not actually about making the country accessible for disabled people.
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One thing I feel really uncomfortable with is the emphasis on how Fetterman's disability is temporary, as if him temporarily being disabled/needing accommodations is integral to seeing him as qualified for elected office.
Permanently disabled people are qualified, too.
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This isn't the only time this week where I've felt like there is a massive disconnect between ADA coordinators and disabled people.
We need disabled people to lead in this space. Adherence to standards without usability is such an issue.
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I should've known this was coming. An ADA Coordinator said on day one "our job is administrative, not advocacy" and "it is really tough when we get lawsuits because we work so hard."
They see their duty as protecting the government from suits, not affirming our civil rights.
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Friendly reminder:
1. Your body has opiate receptors
2. Many people can't use weed for many reasons including medical, economic, and legal reasons (that need to be changed)
3. Use the pain management methods that are best for you
4. Don't spread misinfo to market your brand
friendly reminder that your body has an endocannabinoid system. not an ibuprofen, advil, or opiate system. smoke that weed.
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I feel like there's a lot of unexamined ableism when it comes to how breastmilk is discussed.
Breastmilk has some benefits, but as a formula-fed baby, I know that my parents went through a phase of guilt in thinking that formula feeding played a role in my developing Crohn's.
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On my regular Saturday hike: two ladies passed us, my dad said once they past one indignantly said "did you see that girl? She had a button that said to stay away from her."
Not sure who needs to hear this but immune compromised people have a right to go out in nature.
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Museums without benches are so ableist.
I can't even lean to take pressure off my knees because I can't lean on the exhibits.
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"Surgeons in Al-Shifa hospital are now operating without painkillers."
My stomach just sank.
Right now, in Gaza, the situation is horrific and catastrophic.
Those hospitals and clinics that have not been evacuated are overwhelmed and are barely functioning. No electricity, no medical supplies. Surgeons in Al-Shifa hospital are now operating without painkillers.
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Dear people who don't wear masks: PLEASE
1. Don't get confrontational when I try to step off the elevator because I don't want to ride with you. I am literally giving you the elevator.
2. Actually believe people who say they're on immunosuppressants.
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Folks saying this isn't in the US, I know it is in Canada. But it was given as an example in an ADA compliance webinar as compliant with the 2010 guidelines.
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I just don't see how employers should be privy to that information. I can't imagine the reason for a gap actually factors into whether an applicant will be proficient at the job.
IDK why I was thinking about this last night.
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Saw that "annoy an ER doctor in one Tweet" with ER docs venting their disdain for patients, let's have some fun:
Annoy a disabled or chronically ill person in one tweet.
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It is becoming clear that this field overwhelmingly favors nondisabled people who can be seen as "impartial" on our civil rights.
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I am a severely immunocompromised person with a note from my doctor that it is unsafe for me to serve on a jury without a mask mandate. I was denied an accommodation to keep myself safe, as
@AlexandriaVAGov
will neither require masks nor grant an accommodation to keep me safe.
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It feels like another twisted facet of capitalism that makes companies think they're entitled to make judgments about whether you "deserve" a job after a gap. And oftentimes, they may use that information (particularly about illness or having a child) in negative ways.
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So, I'm JUST starting to get my ADA Coordinator certification, but I looked at the 2010 standards and they say that ramps with a rise greater than 6 inches require handrails on both sides.
So unless I'm reading that wrong, this would not be compliant.
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There's also something there about the capitalist expectation that you're continuously employed, otherwise you're doing something wrong.
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@F1reFlow3r
@BellezaDeAltura
Black parents have to give their Black children "the talk" from a young age and warn them that they could be killed by police. It is white privilege that shields us from having to know this.
What's scarring is that racism is killing Black people. Be outraged about that.
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Believe disabled people about our pain. Appropriate pain management is a human right and a life and death issue.
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Dear speakers: please PLEASE remember that speaking into the microphone is an access need for many and no matter how loud you think you talk, it isn't loud enough (and if people are using assistive listening devices, they are often dependent on the mic)
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I'm seeing a lot of companies committing to assisting employees with abortions.
That's good and they should do that. But I have yet to see today a company commit to not donating to anti-choice politicians.
They need to do that too.
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Just saw a YouTube video "Uber driver surprises passengers with puppy!" And the ableds LOVE untrained puppy for an adorable Uber gimmick, but god forbid you're a passenger with a trained service dog asking drivers to follow the ADA, then you're a class traitor.
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It also seems overwhelmingly white, which is a major equity issue. ADA Coordinators are decision makers. They evaluate and prioritize which access issues get fixed and play a big role in the direction of government resources in a community.
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The way our country works is that disabled people who receive social security disability insurance and Medicaid literally are not allowed to run for and hold elected office.
That includes positions that involve only a few hours a month, far from a 40-hour work week.
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Sitting here thinking about how the formula shortage is absolutely something that is going to harm disabled people in very significant ways.
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Someone just got mad at me for mentioning that disabled people crawled up the capitol steps to get the ADA passed because they decided that this was a negative thing.
Begging folks to learn about the Capitol Crawl before commenting on it.
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We know you can provide these accommodations. We know they aren't an undue burden, you just find them inconvenient and refuse to do it. And most disabled people don't have the time, energy, and resources to challenge that.
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@chescaleigh
She lost her mother to gun violence as well according to one article I saw. My heart hurts for her father.
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"I have trust in my own immune system to protect me from COVID" LOL what's that like? My immune system identified my digestive system as a threat in 2008 and has been attacking it daily ever since.
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Just watched a video about airlines breaking wheelchairs and in the comments section, an abled said that a hard carrying case should be made for wheelchairs and a bunch of ableds were applauding and expanding upon this idea.
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I am BEGGING disabled people to stop using "disabled people are loyal to employers" as a talking point.
No, disabled people are terrified that they will experience discrimination and not be able to get a job elsewhere so we stay with whatever we can get.
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The solution, by the way, is to LISTEN TO DISABLED PEOPLE and design planes that are ADA compliant.
It's never to create some impossible carrying case that would cost a buttload of money and would be impossible for one person (especially a wheelchair user) to lug around.
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I don't know how they would "restrict guns for mental illness" but I've seen some people propose a registry of people with mental illness.
HELL. NO.
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More than just holding office, you can't even campaign. Last month I fielded a call about a cancer patient who ran for his local city council. He lost his benefits.
And the Social Security Administration doesn't even tell people they will penalize them for running for office.
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And I still don't want to lose the context of regardless of whether this has the necessary grade to be a ramp, it was built in Canada in the 1980s and isn't an appropriate example for 2010 ADA standards.
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Important reply:
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I am stunned. I just got a bill from my May 22 hospital stay at
@sibleyonline
from an UNSOLICITED SURGERY CONSULT, from Dr. Thomas Zorc & his nurse who don't take my insurance. For these unwanted 10 minutes I now owe $2,300. CC
@DonBeyerVA
@MarkWarner
@timkaine
1/
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LA Times has an IG post about COVID spread at big concerts and said "wear a mask if you're immunocompromised or at risk of getting COVID."
Isn't that second one....everyone?
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What we're not going to do is sweep in and argue that disabled and chronically ill people are no longer allowed to use the terms "fatigue" and "brain fog."
My experience with fatigue and brain fog predate my experience with COVID.
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Every government or media post about masks for COVID right now:
"It might be time to maybe consider pondering the possibility of perhaps sometimes wearing a mask a little bit."
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The portion of the slide, for reference (alt text included)
The irony of this presentation being called "Learning from Others' Mistakes" and this isn't one of the mistakes
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I've talked to lawyers about this and they didn't see a path forward for litigation. The only hope is legislation. I do know some members of Congress are considering introducing legislation to address this and other issues with social security.
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@mpgPhD
As someone who is high risk and has bad allergies (but loves walking and hiking), I'm planning on adopting masks into my lifestyle long term. I didn't get a single cold or flu this season, and my allergies are so much better on high pollen count days if I wear a mask.
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I'm sitting here thinking about a disabled person having to lug around a hard carrying case for their 400 pound wheelchair and am just ready to throw my phone.
1 person brought up different sizes of wheelchairs and got a "well OBVIOUSLY there need to be different size cases."
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While there is a ban on ski masks in my town, nobody's ever been arrested just for that.
They're calling sending that letter only to residents of low-income housing "a mistake." Ooooook.
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I want to sit with two things simultaneously being true:
1. Voter suppression, gerrymandering, and a racist electoral college are making this race much closer.
2. Millions of Americans, mostly white people, still sided with fascism, white supremacy, and hate today.
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Dear people who ride elevators maskless: my immunosuppressants don't care if you are "completely healthy," and holding a hand loosely over your face is not a mask.
Sorry that you think I'm rude for not wanting to ride an elevator with you, but I don't want to die.
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I'll tell you this: your disabled and chronically ill friends are not okay tonight. They're terrified. Check in on them. Support them. Hold space for them.
I'm only speaking as a disabled person here. I'm checking in on my Jewish friends right now. This is a blow.
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I'm a disabled hiker. I hike with a cane and a knee compression sleve or brace. I've been told by others that "I shouldn't do that," and have gotten weird/dirty looks because I
#MakeAbleistsUncomfortable
. My doctors are fine with it and it is nobody else's damn business.
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Made another COVID tweet so I'm sure some weirdos will be here soon to call me names and tell me to [redacted] because these always seem to bring the most trolls
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To be clear, if you get angry at immunocompromised people for doing things that keep us safe (and actually benefit you), like us getting off the elevator you want to ride unmasked even though we were on there first, you just hate immunocompromised people.
That's eugenics.
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For everyone saying "it's time to move to a different country:" disabled people can't do that. Other countries have immigration rules that discriminate against us.
Many of us cannot or will not leave. And so we stay and fight.
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Also while an embarrassing door-to-door tour of shame brings great feelings of schadenfreude, I don't like the idea of residents having additional interaction with cops who preemptively treated them like they committed crimes.
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CW
#COVID
ー19
I'm chronically ill & had to fight for medical accommodations in work & school settings for over a decade. I deal with guilt regularly about my needs. I wasn't prepared for how I would feel seeing ableds now embrace the accommodations they've fought me on for years
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Also, be aware that I had to specifically request their response above and wait for a few months for them to get back to me. It isn't available ANYWHERE on their website.
So SSDI recipients don't even know that they could be penalized, because SSA doesn't tell them.
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I don't know who needs to hear this, but disabled and chronically ill women don't get a break because we're not feeling well. It isn't a period of respite.
Also, "going to prison" and "going to the psych ward" are traumatizing experiences and not some sort of vacation.
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Please don't come here to explain why this question is asked. I know why it's asked. I'm saying I disagree with it, and if you wonder why, read the multitude of responses from people who have experienced everything from illness to assault and felt like they had to disclose it.
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Update: I just looked at the slide they showed and their argument was that this has a slope of less than 5% and isn't a ramp AND that it is an accessible route? AND it was on the slide for ramp compliance.
So many choices were made here that I don't understand.
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A reminder on tonight of all nights:
Women aren't the only ones who need abortion access. Please be mindful of how you tweet.
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There is no disability justice without a
#FreePalestine
.
A Palestinian shouts & cries after the massacres of the occupation which ended in killing a blind man
He said “This is a blind man... why is he killed?”
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Ugh, screw it. I'm coming off of private.
To everyone pearl clutching about Fetterman needing a reasonable accommodation, read this extremely relevant piece
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For anyone who is interested in reading how the
@SocialSecurity
Administration penalizes people for campaigning, here is what they have to say:
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Good afternoon to disabled people and disabled people ONLY.
Disabled people are sounding the alarms on how the careless attitude towards COVID and the Omicron variant is going to kill or make people seriously ill, and so many ableds continue to ignore us.
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My dad, who is in severe pain and in need of a double hip replacement, is being denied tramadol, because the insurance is saying that he has "received the maximum tramadol he was allowed for three months"--two weeks worth of medication.
This is so unbelievably cruel.
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I want to thank every single person who has contributed a "this looks like" today because I've seen everything from "Human Frogger" to "the stairs of the Death Star" and I'm enjoying all the creative comparisons. You all are funny.
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As someone who has 4 risk factors for COVID, I don't consider the deaths of people like me from COVID to be "encouraging." Our lives are fulfilling. We deserve to live, not be seen as acceptable collateral damage.
#EugenicsByCDC
#NoBodyIsDisposable
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This was the Circuit Court of
@AlexandriaVAGov
.
Exactly how am I supposed to keep myself safe when I'm severely immunocompromised and literally forced to go somewhere without a mask mandate?
And regardless of the answer, nobody should be laughed at for an accommodation request
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This is textbook ethnic cleansing.
Netanyahu is shopping around a proposal to US Congressional leaders to “thin out” Gaza’s population and expel the surviving residents into neighboring countries.
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Just personally speaking, I don't think I'd try to act like me or my white ancestors understand oppression more than a Black woman does, but that's just me.
My grandparents helped hide Jews fleeing southern Italy in railroad tunnels, and then lived in those tunnels for weeks, eating dirt and grass, until American soldiers came through. You bought a kaffiyeh from Amazon and glamped for a week on the middle of Manhattan.
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The person I asked in Jury Services laughed at me when I requested an accommodation.
All of the people who say "just stay home if you don't want to get COVID," I'm not allowed to stay home under threat of penalty.
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But I really worry that legislation like this won't be able to pass Congress at this time.
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@NiallStanage
It's easy to take a side on protests that are decades in the past and no longer controversial.
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If I don't do this, the violin could become damaged.
And what is the point of preserving a musical instrument if you don't preserve its playability? The reason it exists is for music. Its beauty and value are diminished if it is unplayable.
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Columbia University student radio is reporting "they cannot see the street" because of how many police in riot gear are preparing to enter campus.
I don't want to hear SHIT about the threat of fascism months from now.
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