BostonUniStudent

BostonUniStudent t1_itvc3os wrote

It's not the least cool flag in America, but it's close. I always like the Arizona and New Mexico flags. Principles of flag making are kind of interesting if you want to go down a rabbit hole.

They used to say a flag should be simple enough a child could make it from memory. In the past, it was important to be able to see it hanging from the mast of a ship. The decision to include text on a flag is fraught. You'll have to be able to read it backwards 50% of the time. I personally like flags that are naturally occurring phenomenon. Like Alaska's astronomical flag, trees, fish, etc. Technically even the rainbow flag is a naturally occurring phenomenon.

https://www.reddit.com/r/vexillology/comments/y0uu1d/ireland_west_virginia/

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BostonUniStudent t1_ithyiyo wrote

And that slight inconvenience, which would be no more work than making an account here and typing your comments, is worth half a million lives annually?

(According to the estimates in the Michigan study, based on US numbers only)

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BostonUniStudent t1_itgv40e wrote

An opt out or presumed consent system could help also.

There are many viable and salvageable organs that are just thrown out as medical waste because we can't find the paperwork saying this person is an organ donor. Or because the additional barrier to declare yourself as one is too much effort for some people. Even though they would happily have saved other people's lives after they died.

https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/industry-dx/how-opt-out-donation-could-affect-us-waiting-lists

According to University of Michigan, this could provide up to half of the needed organs (52%).

Many countries are trending this way.

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BostonUniStudent t1_irw9nxg wrote

If it were me, I would make an online account. Just to see what letters they have for you. The paper trail will mostly be there in digital format, associated with your social security number. And it also makes appealing very easy.

I had to go through this process myself two weeks ago. I filed in Massachusetts, when I apparently should have filed in New Hampshire. I live in Mass, work remotely from here, but originally was hired in New Hampshire for a national remote company. I got misinformation from the Mass DUA call center. They recommended filing locally. But they just recommended I file for a waiver on the debt. I did it in 2 minutes. They make it easy online. And it was instantly discharged. You should find out if there's going to be any tax implications and stuff like that. But filing for a waiver on the debt doesn't claim ownership of the debt. And it doesn't preclude you from later filing a police report claiming fraud. It just would prevent them from attaching to your tax return when you file next year or quarterly.

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BostonUniStudent t1_irw88n8 wrote

Have you contested it yet? People do this without an attorney. And right now DUA is offering very lenient forgiveness on debts. You can talk to an attorney about this, but there are deadlines that approach quickly. You may need to put in a pro forma appeal before deadlines approach.

It's possible they just instantly forgive the debt, obviating the need for hiring an attorney later.

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