Rahul Fernandes
@newspaperwallah
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In love with news and @newspaperwalli. Views are my own, duh.
Joined April 2009
Divided by politics, united by Ola-Uber cancellations
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Don't worry, Amitabh Bachchan will also tweet. He's probably figuring the tweet number.
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I'm surprised they have Amit Shah's name on screen only five times
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Listening to Harsha Bhogle on commentary right now tells you why you need the best broadcasters, not necessarily the best cricketers. #INDvAUS.
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As an Indian, I want to apologize to every Pakistani person for this @makemytrip ad. This does not represent Indian values. It only represents the worst among us. (1/2)
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Dear Indian media, you’re crossing the line by showing pictures of Rishabh Pant in the hospital, including that one with his seared back. Please stop now, and instead show some decency.
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It takes a truckload of courage to go and speak to a pro-government 'journalist' in front of a hostile crowd. I haven't seen some of the boldest political leaders around the world do this.
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A chief minister and the prime minister, two men with stellar human rights records, meet in Ayodhya in the middle of a global pandemic to build a Hindu temple. You voted for this, India. You got it. Congratulations.
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Thread: My country has changed. In 1999, Pakistan beat India in the most dramatic and heartbreaking Test match, and a Chennai crowd gave them a standing ovation. In 2023, an Ahmedabad mob, again on its feet, chanted Jai Shri Ram as a Pakistan batter walked past after getting out.
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Thread:.I live in the US on a work visa. I’m among thousands of Indians unable to see their families because US consulates in India haven’t fully functioned through the pandemic. If I leave the US to see my parents, I won’t be able to return unless I get a consular appointment.
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My father joined Bajaj in its Pune HQ in 1967, when booking and owning a scooter was a big deal. Rahul Bajaj was an icon. My father retired in 2000. Many, many years before that, he named me after Bajaj. I’ve never liked how common my name is, but today I’m proud of Rahul Bajaj.
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India is crumbling, but make no mistake, it's not the virus that's bringing us down. It's the administration that has let us down. Please channel your anger. Save it for the next election.
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Criticize Rahul Gandhi, the Congress and the UPA as much as you like. But I don't believe they would ever suppress the media, distort the truth and weaken all institutions to the extent this government has. Feku has made Pappus of us.
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Dear people of Tamil Nadu, the rest of us are very jealous you have @ptrmadurai as your finance minister. Impeccable credentials, incredibly articulate, high-performing, and remarkably fearless. Not fair.
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Why do you need medical science when an entertainment channel can fight the virus?
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Thread: My father joined Bajaj in its Pune HQ in 1967, when booking and owning a scooter was a big deal. Rahul Bajaj was an icon. My father named me after Bajaj. Over the years I grew to admire him not just as business leader, but for his candour and fearlessness.
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Rahul Gandhi has been proven right on some of the biggest policy decisions in the last few years. Decisions that have turned out to be blunders. If you still choose to look the other way and call him Pappu, YOU are Pappu.
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Virat Kohli calling Rohit Sharma the best batsman in the world has to be one of the best things about Virat Kohli, the captain. He’s built a team with camaraderie we’ve seldom seen in Indian cricket.
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Proud of every India-born CEO who isn’t Indian and doesn’t live in India. But deride an Italy-born woman who made India her home, lost her husband, and renounced the PM’s job when she won it fair and square.
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History will be kind to this woman. For all the smear campaigns that she has endured, we've only seen her respond -- if at all -- with dignity.
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I've got goosebumps reading this. So rare and so delightful to see a sportsman speak out against the late Arun Jaitley. @BishanBedi is a role model. He'll lose a lot by doing this, but he'll earn, privately, the respect of many.
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There's never been a greater societal responsibility to show support for Muslims in India. No need to pontificate, no need to lecture them. Simply support them in any way you can. Some easy ways you can do this:.
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Once upon a time: Bleed Blue.Today: Jai Shri Ram. I lost my country sometime between these two periods in our history.
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I don't know who is in Sonia Gandhi's inner circle, and who is advising her. But if it still includes an old man with a light-blue turban, or her son who consults rural journalists and world-class economists, she's got her ear firmly to the ground. She's the best PM we never had.
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I’m rooting for Mirabai Chanu so Modiji gets a chance to talk to a person from Manipur.
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I'm so proud of the woke Indians in the US protesting all the racists attacks. I'm curious why they look the other way when Muslims are targeted in India. Not enough brownie points for speaking up in your American social circles? Or is it the inner hatred that comes in your way?.
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I feel bad for them. My mother did this to me many times as a child. She told me we were going an an outing and we’d end up at the hospital for an injection.
Two more NCP MLAs Sandip Kshirsagar and Sunil Bhusara also allege that they were unknowingly taken to the oath ceremony and that now they have come back and expressed support to Sharad Pawar.
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Now imagine you don't follow cricket and you come across this headline
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I’m full of admiration for @RichaChadha. As an actor, as an Indian citizen, and as a gold-standard example of an Indian celebrity.
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Thread: Over the last 10 years I drifted from my country, feeling helpless and hopeless. I never lost touch, but lost that feeling. This week something changed. Suddenly I feel resuscitated. Tears rolled down, and I sensed goosebumps. I felt hopeful after a long , long time.
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Today is a great day to identify all your secretive communal friends. Keep your eyes wide open.
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Unpopular opinion: Cricket matches in India don’t look great on TV. It’s invariably hazy, the outfield isn’t picture-perfect, the stands don’t look pleasant, and the ground is always full of hoardings from tacky brands. #INDvsNZ.
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The stereotyping using beards, the intentional grammatical errors. There’s nothing good about this. I hope the people who worked on this regret this some day. You’ll get a lot of support from the hateful social media crowd. Don’t mistake engagement for accomplishment.
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A Muslim friend from Bombay returned to the city after spending 10 years in London. Last night he told me about his struggle to rent in Bombay. Eventually the fact that his wife’s name doesn’t sound *as* Islamic as his worked in his favour. (1/3).
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Rahul Gandhi speaks to economists, migrants, the poor, and the press. I prefer a work-in-progress leader like him than that a fully ready but heartless, clueless, ruthless and theatric 'orator'.
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I get why people are critical of the Congress for its leadership crisis, and inability to reward its top leaders. But are we not missing out on the fact that a well-educated man is joining hands with a divisive political party that's changed the secular fabric of India?.
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Now it’s time to say sorry to Bangladesh for what we’ve done to their mascot, carried by Shoaib Ali, an ardent fan. This is how a rowdy crowd from Pune, my city, showed what we’ve become: hyper nationalist people incapable of respect.
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When we asked you to not vote for him because he is responsible for a genocide, you said he believes in development. He's slapped you in the face by giving you another genocide.
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I went to an Indian store here in the US to buy Alphonso mangoes from Ratnagiri, each (small) piece priced at $6. I’m re-watching Akshay Kumar’s interview of Modiji to decide how to eat them.
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Those visuals of Manmohan Singh tripping, struggling with his signature, and then going to vote at the Congress elections are so moving. His inspirational life — from his truly humble background to his world-class education, reforms and leadership — deserves a truthful movie.
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Remember, this is not just about Pakistan, it’s also about religion. What the mob did to the Pakistan batter in Ahmedabad was done to our very own Mohammad Shami recently. Islamophobia is deep in our veins, and now readily on our lips.
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A friend in Mumbai got married yesterday. The party was in a hostel for street children — with the street children.
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Ajinkya Rahane doesn't get credit for being as fit as he is. Quick in the slips, quick in the outfield, quick between the wickets. #INDvsAUS.
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Just an appreciation tweet for members of the Indian cricket team who’ve been on the road for so many months. You’ve given us so much joy, a little heartbreak, and distracted us from the mundane. Win or lose, rooting for you.
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The Rahul Gandhi interview with Kamiya Jani showed us a man who’s very real, very grounded. No spin, no theatrics, no humble brags, no self-pity. Just a remarkably decent, likeable and compassionate guy.
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Watching @surya_14kumar bat with @bhogleharsha on air is the most delectably artistic thing you can experience these days if you’re a cricket lover.
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And while I have your attention, I’d love for someone to explain why the US, while renewing visas for people to live and work here, requires one to fly to another country to get the visas stamped. This made little sense to me before the pandemic. Today, it feels sadistic.
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“The PM is speaking to the people of India. He can’t be lying.” - Rahul Kanwal’s innocence is as endearing as a pre-schooler. What’s he doing in a newsroom?
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I write reviews and share photos after my Airbnb stays, but nobody calls it a lasting legacy
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When the pandemic was at its peak in India, the great leader was busy with his theatrics and the mandir project. Rahul Gandhi was busy engaging with experts to identify solutions. Please don’t tell me There Is No Alternative.
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If Kohli mocked Pakistan online or said something nasty on the field, his social engagement would spiral, his stock would rise. Instead he chose the path of decency. For me he was the hero of the day, contributing a lot more than the 16 runs that show on the scoreboard.
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I’ve never found it so hard to get over the death of someone I didn’t know personally. Danish Siddiqui, when my kids are older, I’ll show them your work to educate them about our history. Because your pictures tell the most uncomfortable truths of our generation.
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I’m sharing this because I believe this issue has not received the attention it deserves. Those of us who work in Silicon Valley building products and services that have helped the world through this pandemic, deserve to see our families.
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When I was growing up in India, we were a deeply divided country but we heard phrases like ‘unity in diversity’, ‘Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Isaai, aapas mein sab bhai-bhai’. Government ads had celebs evoke ideals of secularism and pluralism. I worry kids today are growing up differently.
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As it turns out, the two years of the pandemic spanned two American governments. For Indians, it seems it doesn’t matter who rules America. (Ends).
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By speaking to renowned economists in a constructive manner without tearing down the government, Rahul Gandhi has shown the civility Indian politics desperately needs today. We deserve quality public discourse.
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Hey @TataSky, I'm trying to take Republic TV and Times Now off the list of channels I have access to. I'm unable to do this online. I want them off even if they're free to air or part of a news (or entertainment) package.
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@RCBTweets @kreditbee I think I've begun to love RCB as much because of all the content you put out every season. This was so well done.
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Slow clap for the person who introduced typos in Adani’s teleprompter. And congratulations to Raj Chengappa for sounding like Simi Garewal.
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That we feel gratified by mocking Pakistan, vilifying its people, and declaring our superiority speaks to our insecurity, and, frankly, our vacuousness.
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It's been a while since I've seen a Congress spokesperson as good as @Pawankhera. Comes prepared with facts, doesn't hold back, and manages to hit it out of the park in both languages.
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I’m on a Telegram group with 60,169 strangers who are trying to find an appointment – discussions have revolved around how people get blocked from the website for 3 days if they try logging in more than four times a day.
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Now, @Cleartrip, which I think is a way better platform, jumps in to set things right. (Unsolicited)
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Refusal to lease to Muslims is not new, even in Bombay. It transcends social class, and has stayed with us across political parties and generations. But it’s the absolute normalization of this practice that’s both new and needs calling out. (3/3).
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He’s a young man who’s given you so much to report, analyse and earn a living. And he’ll continue to do that, hopefully. In this moment, just pause and don’t be vultures.
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Indian actors are often accused of not being as outspoken and conscientious as their counterparts in the West. @ReallySwara, @RichaChadha and @taapsee speak with rare freedom, eloquence and dignity in a much tougher environment, and at great personal risk. They are super stars.
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There are other online groups where people discuss the pain of staying away from loved ones. Some are worried about employment, others fear children missing school. For me, my 80-year-old father’s health is a constant worry. None of these qualify for emergency appointments.
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The Rajiv Bajaj and Rahul Gandhi discussion is economic and political policy gold. They are critical of the government without getting personal. And they've been consistently constructive.
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Kane Williamson reminds me so much of Rahul Dravid. Never larger than life, but a top batsman in all formats, and a top captain. Also articulate, calm, respectful, humble, thoughtful. The kind of guy for who deserves more adjectives than Twitter’s character limit permits.
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Hire Muslims. In regular jobs, or for odd jobs. Stand up to that family member or teammate who openly or secretly doesn't want to.
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This Chesteshwar Pujara innings is worth an IPL orange cap earned over 14 games in 8 weeks across the country. But this man won’t get a contract. So we must find a way to acknowledge and compensate his excellence. #AUSvsIND.
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This means he can’t claim home rent allowance from his workplace because his name is not on the lease agreement. He grew up in Vasai, went to Xavier’s. It felt like a different India. Says he’s noticed a clear rise in religious intolerance all around him. (2/3).
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I wish this Indian team isn’t as foul-mouthed. We want tough cricket, but we don’t want ugly scenes in sport. There’s a reason we admired but never loved the Australian teams of the past. There’s a reason we loved Dravid, Tendulkar and MSD. #IndvsEng.
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To kick non-Maharashtrians out of the state. To rename our roads. To build more statues of Shivaji. To ban Valentine’s Day. And to beat up North Indian laborers.
Voted!
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Recently I’ve been so disillusioned meeting US-based NRIs who turnout out to be bhakts, it’s beginning to feel hopeless. Wanted to wave 👋 and send my love ❤️to this little Twitter bubble of secular, liberal non-bhakts who give me hope in humanity.
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Show some extra love to every Muslim around you. Tell them you are ashamed of the atrocities being committed against them. Tell them this is their country. And you'll choose smartly in the next elections.
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The ‘look they killed our soldiers’ argument doesn’t cut it. Pakistan is a troubled state grappling with terror. Its people, and its cricketers, are wonderful — much like our own.
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Last week, families in America got together for Thanksgiving. Over the next month, more people will come together. During this time, I predict the Telegram group will get larger, busier and grow more frustrated with no end in sight – not in the next many months, possibly years.
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From Jamnalal Bajaj to Kamalnayan Bajaj to Rahul Bajaj and now Rajiv Bajaj, this company has had such a rich history of leaders who speak truth to power.
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Thread: The caricaturisation of Rahul Gandhi over the last decade is as much a case study in successful propaganda politics as it is the naïveté of our generation, exacerbated by our limited public inclination and investment in studying social sciences.
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Rent out your homes to Muslims. From small towns to big cities, we've shamed ourselves so much by denying Muslims space in our buildings. Again, stand up to that bigot in your family.
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Just attended a fullhouse @kunalkamra88 live show in Pune. Blown away by every word he spoke — and in love with my city for laughing at the joke we’ve become.
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In a world where business people prefer sucking up to the government, Bajaj was that rare voice that spoke up freely. Which wasn’t a surprise because he came from a family closely involved with the freedom movement.
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When you watch ‘Vir Das: Landing’, you’re not just witnessing a comic on top of his game, you’re also seeing a fearless patriot with a spine. He’ll make you laugh, and he’ll make you ponder. Thank you, @thevirdas.
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We’ve used our cricketing power to bully Pakistan, and polarize people. We’ve refused to travel there, and we’ve disallowed their fans and journalists from visiting India for the World Cup.
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The most beautiful love story you’ll read — featuring our football captain and the much-adored @chetrisunil11, who inadvertently fell for the coach’s daughter.
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Today I will mourn the loss of Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan’s vertebral column.
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10 years back, our crowds chanted ‘Sachin, Sachin’, and it gave us goosebumps. I have goosebumps even as I recall those moments. We called Tendulkar our God, and nobody disagreed — no matter who you worshipped.
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On Independence Day, here’s my list of people who help make India better with their voice. There’s so much goodness, I’ll add more names. What’s your list?.@kunalkamra88 .@HartoshSinghBal .@IndiaExplained .@free_thinker.@RanaAyyub.@PSainath_org.@kunalpurohit.The Wire.@ravishndtv.
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That Indian cricketers have chosen to ignore the Darren Sammy issue confirms one thing: the Yo-Yo test doesn't examine the spine.
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Dive into online debates, including those WhatsApp discussions you prefer to ignore. Draft and send forwards too. Stand up for Muslims -- lives matter more than digital civility and cordial relationships.
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I’ll end on a note of hope: Virat Kohli, our best batsman, and someone who jumped to Shami’s defence in the past, gifted Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam a signed team jersey at the end of the match.
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As a family we’ve refused to sell our 1988 Bajaj Super purely for emotional reasons. My father rode it, then I rode it. It’s the oldest physical thing that connects me to my childhood.
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