Reflections from news and commentary of the day
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Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Dear Saudi Crown Prince Supporters: Your Hero May Allow Women to Drive, but He’s Also a War Criminal
Dear Saudi Crown Prince Supporters: Your Hero May Allow Women to Drive, but He’s Also a War Criminal: Mohammed bin Salman was celebrated by Silicon Valley and Hollywood titans during his U.S. visit. They ignored his role in the slaughter in Yemen.
Alfie Evans could be flown to Rome if latest appeal succeeds | UK news | The Guardian
Alfie Evans could be flown to Rome if latest appeal succeeds | UK news | The Guardian: Parents will seek to remove toddler from hospital, saying he has been breathing unassisted
Water unites us, so make it available to all | National Catholic Reporter
Water unites us, so make it available to all | National Catholic Reporter: Water literally is both the gift of life and a threat of death. In my home of New Orleans and many places like it throughout the world, we know too well the death-dealing power of water. While we have...
New York assisted suicide bill draws fire from disability rights group
New York assisted suicide bill draws fire from disability rights group: Disability rights activists are speaking out in opposition to a proposal in New York that would legalize physician assisted suicide.
Alfie Evans surviving after life support withdrawn, Vatican hospital ready to receive him
Alfie Evans surviving after life support withdrawn, Vatican hospital ready to receive him
https://cruxnow.com/church-in-uk-and-ireland/2018/04/24/alfie-evans-surviving-after-life-support-withdrawn-vatican-hospital-ready-to-receive-him/Clear signs of global warming will hit poorer countries first
Clear signs of global warming will hit poorer countries first: New climate-inequality tool quantifies how quickly the weather will veer beyond normal in different regions.
Tuesday, April 24, 2018 Fourth Week of Easter
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Lectionary: 280
Reading 1 Acts 11:19-26
Those who had been scattered by the persecutionthat arose because of Stephen
went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to no one but Jews.
There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however,
who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well,
proclaiming the Lord Jesus.
The hand of the Lord was with them
and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.
Gospel Jn 10:22-30
The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem.It was winter.
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,
"How long are you going to keep us in suspense?
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe.
The works I do in my Father's name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father's hand.
The Father and I are one."
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Monday, April 23, 2018
The 'deep state' is real. But are its leaks against Trump justified? | Jack Goldsmith | Opinion | The Guardian
The 'deep state' is real. But are its leaks against Trump justified? | Jack Goldsmith | Opinion | The Guardian: Even the most severe critics of the US president should worry about this subtle form of anti-democratic abuse
Trump’s Africa Policy Is a Continuation of Clinton’s, Bush’s, and Obama’s – LobeLog
Trump’s Africa Policy Is a Continuation of Clinton’s, Bush’s, and Obama’s – LobeLog: by Herman J. Cohen President Trump’s Africa policy appears to be off to a bad start. First, there was the unfortunate leak of a remark made privately to a group of U.S. senators in February in whic…
FORUM: The Value of a Single Human Life - ZENIT - English
FORUM: The Value of a Single Human Life - ZENIT - English: Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Wuerl: 'Every person has an obligation to respect and protect human life and dignity'
The Only Master of Life is God - ZENIT - English
The Only Master of Life is God - ZENIT - English: The World is Following an Evil Trend
Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter Lectionary: 279
Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Lectionary: 279
Reading 1 Acts 11:1-18
The Apostles and the brothers who were in Judeaheard that the Gentiles too had accepted the word of God.
So when Peter went up to Jerusalem
the circumcised believers confronted him, saying,
'You entered the house of uncircumcised people and ate with them."
Peter began and explained it to them step by step, saying,
"I was at prayer in the city of Joppa
when in a trance I had a vision,
something resembling a large sheet coming down,
lowered from the sky by its four corners, and it came to me.
Looking intently into it,
I observed and saw the four-legged animals of the earth,
the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky.
I also heard a voice say to me, 'Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat.'
But I said, 'Certainly not, sir,
because nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'
But a second time a voice from heaven answered,
'What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.'
This happened three times,
and then everything was drawn up again into the sky.
Just then three men appeared at the house where we were,
who had been sent to me from Caesarea.
The Spirit told me to accompany them without discriminating.
These six brothers also went with me,
and we entered the man's house.
He related to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, saying,
'Send someone to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter,
who will speak words to you
by which you and all your household will be saved.'
As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them
as it had upon us at the beginning,
and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said,
'John baptized with water
but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us
when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,
who was I to be able to hinder God?"
When they heard this,
they stopped objecting and glorified God, saying,
"God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too."
Gospel Jn 10:1-10
Jesus said:"Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate
but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.
But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice,
as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has driven out all his own,
he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,
because they recognize his voice.
But they will not follow a stranger;
they will run away from him,
because they do not recognize the voice of strangers."
Although Jesus used this figure of speech,
they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
I am the gate for the sheep.
All who came before me are thieves and robbers,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate.
Whoever enters through me will be saved,
and will come in and go out and find pasture.
A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy;
I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."
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Sunday, April 22, 2018
Regina Coeli Address: Good Shepherd Sunday and the Healing of a Cripple (Full Text) - ZENIT - English
Regina Coeli Address: Good Shepherd Sunday and the Healing of a Cripple (Full Text) - ZENIT - English: Regina Coeli Address: Good Shepherd Sunday and the Healing of a Cripple
Reading 1 Acts 4:8-12
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said:"Leaders of the people and elders:
If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved."
1 Jn 3:1-2
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
n 10:11-18
Jesus said:
"I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd
and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father."
"I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd
and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father."
Bishop Barron's Gospel Reflection
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Saturday, April 21, 2018
Whose Wars?
Whose Wars?
Israel continues to wag the dog for Middle Eastern wars
http://www.unz.com/pgiraldi/whose-wars/
Friday, April 20, 2018
Palestinians in Gaza are reminding us that they exist – LobeLog
Palestinians in Gaza are reminding us that they exist – LobeLog: by Hagai El-Ad Two million people live in the Gaza Strip. That’s a statement of fact, not opinion. Two million people live like prisoners in a prison built by Israel, and it seems that Israel’s sol…
Friday of the Third Week of Easter Reading 1 Acts 9:1-20
Friday of the Third Week of Easter
Lectionary: 277
Reading 1 Acts 9:1-20
Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,went to the high priest and asked him
for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that,
if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,
he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.
On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus,
a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
He said, "Who are you, sir?"
The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do."
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,
for they heard the voice but could see no one.
Saul got up from the ground,
but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;
so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.
For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.
There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias,
and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias."
He answered, "Here I am, Lord."
The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight
and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul.
He is there praying,
and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias
come in and lay his hands on him,
that he may regain his sight."
But Ananias replied,
"Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,
what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.
And here he has authority from the chief priests
to imprison all who call upon your name."
But the Lord said to him,
"Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine
to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel,
and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name."
So Ananias went and entered the house;
laying his hands on him, he said,
"Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me,
Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came,
that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes
and he regained his sight.
He got up and was baptized,
and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.
He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus,
and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,
that he is the Son of God.
Gospel Jn 6:52-59
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,"How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?"
Jesus said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood,
you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood
has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day.
For my Flesh is true food,
and my Blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood
remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me
and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
whoever eats this bread will live forever."
These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Bishop Barron's Comment:
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Opinion | Gaza: The Lesser Child of Israel’s Occupation - The New York Times
Opinion | Gaza: The Lesser Child of Israel’s Occupation - The New York Times: Israelis barely talk about Gaza, yet it is one of Zionism’s greatest victims.
Robot builds an Ikea chair. Everyone goes nuts. | ZDNet
Robot builds an Ikea chair. Everyone goes nuts. | ZDNet: The two-arm robot performed the 50 step assembly in about 20 minutes, making a mockery of the average dorm-dweller
Trump revealed the high-tech Chinese products hit by his tariffs—so China struck right back - MIT Technology Review
Trump revealed the high-tech Chinese products hit by his tariffs—so China struck right back - MIT Technology Review: The president’s bid to slow China’s technological advancement could escalate into a trade war, and end up disadvantaging American businesses in the process.
Survey Shows 27 Percent Pay Gap for Top Women Equity Partners | The American Lawyer
Survey Shows 27 Percent Pay Gap for Top Women Equity Partners | The American Lawyer: Even star partners pay a big price for their gender new research by Acritas found.
Martin van Creveld predicts a horrific long war in Syria
Martin van Creveld predicts a horrific long war in Syria: We ignored Martin van Creveld's warnings about Iraq and Afghanistan. Let’s not do so a third time.
The New Cold War Is Boiling Over in Syria – Foreign Policy
The New Cold War Is Boiling Over in Syria – Foreign Policy: Trump’s latest airstrikes are a new U.S.-Russian missile crisis that risks devastating escalation.
Why the Authoritarian Right Is Rising | Patrick J. Buchanan - Official Website
Why the Authoritarian Right Is Rising | Patrick J. Buchanan - Official Website: By Patrick J. Buchanan
A fortnight ago, Viktor Orban and his Fidesz Party won enough seats in the Hungarian parliament to rewrite his country's constitution.
To progressives across the West, this was disturbing news.
For the bete noire of Orban's campaign was uber-globalist George Soros. And Orban's commitments were to halt any further surrenders of Hungarian sovereignty and independence to the European Union, and to fight any immigrant invasion of Hungary from Africa or the Islamic world.Read more on Buchanan.Org...
A fortnight ago, Viktor Orban and his Fidesz Party won enough seats in the Hungarian parliament to rewrite his country's constitution.
To progressives across the West, this was disturbing news.
For the bete noire of Orban's campaign was uber-globalist George Soros. And Orban's commitments were to halt any further surrenders of Hungarian sovereignty and independence to the European Union, and to fight any immigrant invasion of Hungary from Africa or the Islamic world.Read more on Buchanan.Org...
Trump’s Incredibly Risky Taiwan Policy | ChinaFile
Trump’s Incredibly Risky Taiwan Policy | ChinaFile: So-called friends of Taiwan in the United States are putting the island at risk as never before. The Taiwan Travel Act, passed unanimously by both houses of Congress, and signed by President Trump on March 16, 2018 without reservations, could gravely erode the distinction between the United States’ official relationship with the People’s Republic of China (P.R.C.) and its unofficial relationship with Taiwan.
Syria: Trump’s Vietnam?
Syria: Trump’s Vietnam?: Syria: Trump’s Vietnam? by Patrick J. Buchanan - Ten days ago, President Trump was saying "the United States should withdraw from Syria." We convinced him it was necessary to stay."Thus boasted French President Emmanuel Macron Saturday, adding, "We convinced him it was necessary to stay for the long term."Is the U.S. indeed in the Syrian civil war "for the long term"?If so, who made that fateful decision for this republic?
Article: No Chemical Attack in Douma, Two International Investigative Reporters in Douma Write | OpEdNews
Article: No Chemical Attack in Douma, Two International Investigative Reporters in Douma Write | OpEdNews: Article: No Chemical Attack in Douma, Two International Investigative Reporters in Douma Write - Doctors in the hospital where the 'chemical attack' video was taken said that a group of people they did not know rushed into the hospital and poured water on children and adults they had brought with them, put oxygen type masks on the wet people, took videos of the scene and then left with those they had 'treated.' The doctor said the group had staged the scene and the attack.
Vatican Hospital is Ready to Care for Alfie Evans - ZENIT - English
Vatican Hospital is Ready to Care for Alfie Evans - ZENIT - English: Rome’s Bambino Gesu Pediactric Hospital Would Bear Expenses
Data firm leaks 48 million user profiles it scraped from Facebook, LinkedIn, others | ZDNet
Data firm leaks 48 million user profiles it scraped from Facebook, LinkedIn, others | ZDNet: Exclusive: Profile data was scraped without user consent or knowledge to "build a three-dimensional picture" on millions of people.
How War and Weapons Trading Are Fueling the Global Refugee Crisis – LobeLog
How War and Weapons Trading Are Fueling the Global Refugee Crisis – LobeLog: by William Hartung Few would argue that the world faces a refugee crisis, but not nearly enough is being done to prevent the creation of new refugees or to help those already displaced from their h…
Thursday, April 19, 2018
On the Criminal Referral of Comey, Clinton et al: Will the Constitution Hold and the Media Continue to Suppress the Story?
On the Criminal Referral of Comey, Clinton et al: Will the Constitution Hold and the Media Continue to Suppress the Story?
https://consortiumnews.com/2018/04/19/on-the-criminal-referral-of-comey-clinton-et-al-will-the-constitution-hold/
Robots Continue Attempting to Master Ikea Furniture Assembly - IEEE Spectrum
Robots Continue Attempting to Master Ikea Furniture Assembly - IEEE Spectrum: These robots are slow, careful, and successful, making them way better than humans at assembling an Ikea chair
Inside Rex Tillerson’s Ouster | The New Yorker
Inside Rex Tillerson’s Ouster | The New Yorker: Ronan Farrow on the rampant discord and disarray of Rex Tillerson’s State Department in the months leading up to the Secretary of State’s sudden dismissal.
Why Each US President Ends Up As Ruthless Interventionist These Days
Why Each US President Ends Up As Ruthless Interventionist These Days: Philip M. GIRALDI: Establishment politics has meant that the United States is now a rogue nation defined by its propensity to go to war. America’s bombing of Syria is illegal, immoral, ineffective and dishonest. It is past time for the United States to pull out its troops and leave the Syrians alone.
The Neocons Are Selling Koolaid Again!, by W. Patrick Lang - The Unz Review
The Neocons Are Selling Koolaid Again!, by W. Patrick Lang - The Unz Review: In 2004 I published an article in the journal, Middle East Policy that was entitled “Drinking the Koolaid.” The article reviewed the process by which the neocon element in the Bush Administration seized control of the process of policy formation and drove the United States in the direction of invasion of Iraq and the destruction […]
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
False Flags Are Real – US Has a Rich History of Lying to Start Wars
False Flags Are Real – US Has a Rich History of Lying to Start Wars: Use of the term ‘false flag’ is often met with raised eyebrows and accusations of conspiracism. But false flags are a very real and very present feature of geopolitics — and denying that is simply denying reality. Last week, the United States, along with the United Kingdom and France, bombed Syrian government targets, ostensibly in retaliation for an alleged chemical attack which was carried out one week before in the city of Douma.
The Department of Homeland Security Is Gearing Up to Spy on You
The Department of Homeland Security Is Gearing Up to Spy on You
DHS wants to monitor every journalist, blogger, publication, website, and social media influencer
https://russia-insider.com/en/department-homeland-security-gearing-spy-you/ri23184?ct=t(Russia_Insider_Daily_Headlines11_21_2014)&mc_cid=776a7e046b&mc_eid=64cda056c5
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Father of Alfie Evans: The Pope Told Me ‘No Child’s Life Should Be Taken Away From Him’
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Father of Alfie Evans: The Pope Told Me ‘No Child’s Life Should Be Taken Away From Him’
https://zenit.org/articles/exclusive-interview-father-of-alfie-evens-the-pope-told-me-no-childs-life-should-be-taken-away-from-him/
Gaza Deserves Our Support – LobeLog
Gaza Deserves Our Support – LobeLog: by James J. Zogby To say that the situation in Gaza is deplorable and desperate is an understatement. That impoverished strip of land on the Eastern Mediterranean has been deplorable and desperate …
Influential rabbi teaches would-be Israeli soldiers: Genocide is a mitzvah – Mondoweiss
Influential rabbi teaches would-be Israeli soldiers: Genocide is a mitzvah – Mondoweiss: Rabbi Ophir Wallas of the Bnei David Military Mechina was caught on video teaching young would-be soldiers that Israelis are, from the point of view of religious law, permitted to wipe out Palestinians, and that only fear of massive retaliation prevents that.
Contra Corner » America First—R.I.P.
Contra Corner » America First—R.I.P.: When the Cold War officially ended in 1991, Washington could have pivoted back to the pre-1914 status quo ante. That is, to a national security policy of America First because there was literally n…
San Francisco’s Big Seismic Gamble - The New York Times
San Francisco’s Big Seismic Gamble - The New York Times: The city’s building code does not protect its people from earthquakes nearly as much as you might think.
Arming the world: Inside Trump's 'Buy American' drive to expand weapons exports
Arming the world: Inside Trump's 'Buy American' drive to expand weapons exports: In a telephone call with the emir of Kuwait in January, U.S. President Donald Trump pressed the Gulf monarch to move forward on a $10 billion fighter jet deal that had been stalled for more than a year.
Syria: bottom line questions – LobeLog
Syria: bottom line questions – LobeLog: by Graham E. Fuller The Trump administration has just delivered several dozen military strikes against Syria purportedly aimed at chemical production and storage facilities. It was an act the inter…
Fr. Warren's Week Reflection Third Sunday of Easter
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Monday, April 16, 2018
Why China will win the global race for complete AI dominance | WIRED UK
Why China will win the global race for complete AI dominance | WIRED UK: Kai-Fu Lee – a former Apple, Microsoft and Google executive turned investor – is placing big bets on machine learning. And China is leading the way
What will happen when Earth's north and south poles flip
What will happen when Earth's north and south poles flip
http://www.businessinsider.com/earth-north-south-poles-flip-magnetic-field-2018-4?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=referralWatch The Moment A Child Asks Pope Francis If His Atheist Dad Is In Heaven | uCatholic
Watch The Moment A Child Asks Pope Francis If His Atheist Dad Is In Heaven | uCatholic: On a recent visit to the parish of St. Paul of the Cross on the outskirts of Rome, Pope Francis held a Q&A session with children. While most of the child asked questions such as “How did it feel to be elected Pope”, one child named Emmanuel, holding back tears, asked the Pope a very
The Culture of Netflix and Chill
The Culture of Netflix and Chill
https://blog.ascensionpress.com/podcast/the-culture-of-netflix-and-chill/?utm_source=Ascension+Press&utm_campaign=29fe6b2b4c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_10_12&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e09e12a778-29fe6b2b4c-351387457&goal=0_e09e12a778-29fe6b2b4c-351387457&mc_cid=29fe6b2b4c&mc_eid=2bb902f84a
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