just some thoughts, plus what to do if exposed to SARS-CoV-2

[mellowtigger]

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

If you are a contact for someone who might be jailed, there are important limitations you should know as the recipient of that call from jail or prison. Does your phone network provider even allow "collect" calls on your phone service plan? Check that detail first. Calls from jail are collect, meaning that the recipient must acknowledge they will accept the cost for any communication before it is connected. https://fairpunishment.org/how-to-accept-collect-calls-from-jail-on-cell-phone-for-free/ TURN OFF wifi calling on your smart phone, if you are expecting such a call. Collect service is limited to cellular network. If the call routes through wifi, they will NOT be able to reach you. Your phone number also cannot be called if it uses a transfer service like Google Phone and others. Prisons frown upon such transfers and they may disable those numbers as destinations. To be useful as an jail contact, you need to share with people the direct number to your phone, not the privacy-filtered number provided by a service. Prisoners at long-term facilities may have better options than short-term prisoners at county jail. I don't know that any of these limitations are what prevented me from talking with anyone outside my cell. I just know that I repeatedly (!) used their phones to call 3 different outside destinations, but I never succeeded at reaching anyone that way. It was bothersome.

My first COVID-19 nasal swab shows negative. I'll keep testing every other day for a while.  Jails are as bad as schools for spreading the airborne virus.

The ACLU doesn't normally take legal cases from people. I filled out their web form anyway, noting that my arrest was part of the homeless camp issue that they are already involved with. I hope to hear back soon. If not, I'm already looking into other options. My case, though, doesn't neatly fit into the normal categories for deciding which lawyer is best experienced for your case. I'm not sure how to decide.

I emailed the Autism Society Of Minnesota.  I told them that the jail pamphlet handed to prisoners is inadequate.  If AUSM wants to work with Hennepin County (the largest jail in the state, or so I've read) to improve materials, I would be happy to help that effort.  I included many of the missing details that would help autistic prisoners (and by extension, everyone else) to know if they are arrested.

I was intending to do it anyway, but today I finally ordered some CBD. There are too many references to CBD being effective at blocking SARS-CoV-2 replication, so it should be a good non-prescription prophylactic whenever you're exposed, to help avoid the worst of the possible outcomes. Curcumin is also noted as being useful this way. There are even CBD+curcumin pills available. I ordered some of those today. I took a multivitamin this morning.

I was intending to drive to a nearby store and buy them at the counter. I discovered, though, that "This location is no longer offering instore visits due to the past unrest and safety of the area." I've been warning everyone for years that the USA is becoming a failed state. There is no pizza or grocery delivery here in the warzone, but luckily that store does deliver here. I ordered online, then they sent me an age-validator service. I submitted my photo ID and picture of myself with it, so they know I pass the legal requirement for the sale. I'm waiting now for the same-day delivery.  I added a noticeable tip to the delivery driver too.

Comments

[foeclan]

If possible, you might want to get a prepaid phone card next time, and maybe write the number down as well. That was one of the things they said people use on that site you linked.

[mellowtigger]

I drove by the T-Mobile store yesterday, and they confirmed that they support Collect calls, no special codes or plans necessary. Yes, I'll look into buying a prepaid phone card, so I can learn how that works.