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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 27, 2008 9:23:10 GMT -5
WESTPORT, Conn. - Paul Newman, the Academy-Award winning superstar who personified cool as an activist, race car driver, popcorn impresario and the anti-hero of such films as "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke" and "The Color of Money," has died. He was 83. Newman died Friday after a long battle with cancer at his farmhouse near Westport, publicist Jeff Sanderson said. He was surrounded by his family and close friends. In May, Newman he had dropped plans to direct a fall production of "Of Mice and Men," citing unspecified health issues. He got his start in theater and on television during the 1950s, and went on to become one of the world's most enduring and popular film stars, a legend held in awe by his peers. He was nominated for Oscars 10 times, winning one regular award and two honorary ones, and had major roles in more than 50 motion pictures, including "Exodus," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "The Verdict," "The Sting" and "Absence of Malice." news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obit_newman;_ylt=AvrH2pZMd46lb6bZFC8ZnLlv24cA
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 27, 2008 9:22:25 GMT -5
WASHINGTON - President Bush says he's confident that Congress will pass a financial bailout bill very soon. He says the $700 billion rescue plan being negotiated on Capitol Hill this weekend is aimed not at Wall Street but Main Street. The president says in his Saturday radio address to the nation that he knows many people are frustrated by the economic situation. He says that when the government asks taxpayers to pay for Wall Street's mistakes, it doesn't seem fair. And he says if it were possible to let every irresponsible Wall Street firm fail without affecting Americans and their families, he would do it. But Bush says that is not possible in the current situation. news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080927/ap_on_bi_ge/financial_meltdown;_ylt=AqkZJbbUXkQBcYn5CL_RLhoDW7oF
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 27, 2008 9:20:55 GMT -5
County School Board Chairman Kenny Smith and several County Commission members said Thursday that the Hamilton County Schools are not adequately training students for jobs that will be offered at Volkswagen and Alstom. Mr. Smith said, "We can do it, but we are not doing a good job right now." He said potential VW workers are not being adequately trained in the county schools for the aptitude tests that will be required. Mr. Smith said he continues to seek backing for a stronger vocational program in the county schools. He said, "I'm beginning to take the school administration don't support it." www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135860.asp
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 27, 2008 9:15:49 GMT -5
Gov. Sonny Perdue on Friday released the latest information on fuel production from the Gulf of Mexico and asked Georgians to continue to conserve fuel. A number of stations in the Chattanooga area are without gas, including some across the line in North Georgia. Gov. Perdue said: Power outages – There are still more than 410,000 people without power in Texas, including some fuel production facilities. Crews are making rapid progress restoring power – yesterday about 485,000 people were reported without power. www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135961.asp
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 27, 2008 9:15:27 GMT -5
District 9 City Councilwoman Debbie Gaines said Friday she has decided not to seek re-election. She said she enjoyed serving, but wanted to focus on future business ventures. Ms. Gaines, who previously was legislative administrator to the County Commission, said, "After careful consideration, I have made the decision not to stand for re-election to the Chattanooga City Council this March. This choice was an extremely difficult one, balanced between my dedication to service to our great city and the need to concentrate on current and future business ventures. "It has been a great honor and privilege to serve the citizens of the 9th District. Together we have achieved many great things that have helped make our community and this city a better place to live. www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135951.asp
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 27, 2008 9:14:56 GMT -5
"In response to public concern," Mayor Ron Littlefield has instructed the city Public Works Department to suspend the chip seal process of resurfacing area roads. The chip seal resurfacing process is an application of an asphalt mixture followed with an aggregate rock or gravel cover. The mayor's office said, "Chip seal has many positive objectives including providing skid resistance and a moisture barrier to prevent future deterioration. The chip seal process costs $19,000 per mile and has a life expectancy of 7-12 years. Alternatively, mill and overlay resurfacing cost $112,000 per mile and has a life expectancy of 10-15 years." “Chip seal resurfacing is a reliable method for paving or resurfacing streets. Because all resurfacing requires asphalt, a petroleum product, and considering the drastic price increases we are currently facing, chip seal is a responsible use of taxpayer dollars." www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135928.asp
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 26, 2008 9:12:17 GMT -5
LOS ANGELES - The state of California has a warning for its 36 million residents: Do not flush pharmaceuticals down the toilet or drain, or they may end up in a river near you. Or, it turns out, even in the drinking water. State and local officials are teaming with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a "No Drugs Down the Drain Week," starting with events Oct. 2. The program recommends that drugs be dropped at special collection sites or tossed in the trash. The event comes less than two weeks after The Associated Press published an investigative report about the dangers of flushing millions of pounds of unused pharmaceuticals annually by the American health care industry and consumers. The ongoing AP investigation has revealed that tests show the drinking water supplies of at least 46 million Americans contain minute concentrations of pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, anti-convulsants and mood stabilizers. news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080926/ap_on_re_us/pharmawater_california;_ylt=AluYcvqTCIEsEtPgSOvfLccDW7oF
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 26, 2008 9:11:45 GMT -5
NEW YORK - As the debate over a $700 billion bank bailout rages on in Washington, one of the nation's largest banks — Washington Mutual Inc. — has collapsed under the weight of its enormous bad bets on the mortgage market. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. seized WaMu on Thursday, and then sold the thrift's banking assets to JPMorgan Chase & Co. for $1.9 billion. Seattle-based WaMu, which was founded in 1889, is the largest bank to fail by far in the country's history. Its $307 billion in assets eclipse the $40 billion of Continental Illinois National Bank, which failed in 1984, and the $32 billion of IndyMac, which the government seized in July. One positive is that the sale of WaMu's assets to JPMorgan Chase prevents the thrift's collapse from depleting the FDIC's insurance fund. But that detail is likely to give only marginal solace to Americans facing tighter lending and watching their stock portfolios plunge in the wake of the nation's most momentous financial crisis since the Great Depression. news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080926/ap_on_bi_ge/washington_mutual_future;_ylt=AmjXBb3n.Bw6pCpzbi6h1q0DW7oF
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 26, 2008 9:10:02 GMT -5
A new 12-screen movie theater with stadium seating will be built downtown, replacing the Bijou Theatre, officials of the RiverCity Company said. The new Carmike movie theater will be built at a current parking lot at Third and Broad. Officials said construction on the 2,500-seat theater will begin in December and it should be ready in November 2009. New commercial space is also planned on the block, where the Haney Building once stood. www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135857.asp
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 26, 2008 9:08:31 GMT -5
A group of East Ridge citizens on Thursday afternoon filed an ouster petition against East Ridge Mayor Mike Steele. The petition alleges Mayor Steele is guilty of "misconduct in office and/or willfully failing or neglecting to perform the duties of the office." It was filed with Criminal Court Clerk Gwen Tidwell, who said it was the first time she had received such a petition. She said she checked the law to see if criminal court was the right vehicle for the petition and found it could be filed in criminal or chancery court. www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135871.asp
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 26, 2008 9:07:54 GMT -5
Sen. Lamar Alexander said the nation's current fiscal crisis could imperil the Volkswagen plant planned for Chattanooga's Enterprise South Industrial Park. He said VW officials told him at the opening of the VW U.S. headquarters in Herndon, Va., that they were having trouble getting credit. Sen. Alexander said that if VW cannot get financing for its cars, then that planned VW plant "doesn't have any jobs." www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135876.asp
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 24, 2008 7:48:06 GMT -5
Dr. James Nunally said in a letter to the board of the Southside/Dodson Avenue Health Centers that his request for a pay increase has been "purposely met with numerous delays and impediments in order to prevent a salary increase." He also asked board members for "the immediate and complete cessation of harmful, false and misleading statements" against him. However, the board's finance committee on Tuesday night again delayed action on his $60,000 pay hike request. The board was given a chart from staff members Albert Barnett and Bill Hicks that showed revenue climbing under Dr. Nunally over a previous midwife setup except for the last couple of years. www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135732.asp
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 24, 2008 7:47:14 GMT -5
The Election Commission on Tuesday declined to take a stance on the eligibility of Rob Healy to run for mayor, saying the issue is not before it unless he submits a qualifying petition. Mr. Healy has picked up papers to run for mayor, but has not yet returned them. The deadline is not until Dec. 18. Election Commission members indicated they would call a special meeting on the Healy matter if necessary. Jerry Summers, Election Commission attorney, said he agrees with City Attorney Randy Nelson and State Election Coordinator Brook Thompson that Mr. Healy does not meet the qualifications. However, he also agreed with attorney Nelson that there is uncertainty about the matter. www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135710.asp
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 24, 2008 7:46:03 GMT -5
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Filmmaker Michael Moore released his latest documentary for free on the Internet on Tuesday, marking a first for the maverick director who aims to encourage young people to vote -- preferably for Democrats -- in November's U.S. presidential election. "Slacker Uprising," a feature-length film documenting Moore's tour of swing states during the 2004 presidential election year, was made available for a free download instead of being released in movie theaters. The maker of the award-winning anti-Iraq war blockbuster "Fahrenheit 9/11," said in a statement the gesture was "entirely as a gift to my fans." "The only return any of us are hoping for is the largest turnout of young voters at the polls in November," Moore said. news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080923/en_nm/us_moore_ents;_ylt=Auq1pCcZEdHxZ1drhoe6RIADW7oF
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 24, 2008 7:44:55 GMT -5
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Sue Garrett, in Las Vegas for a birthday party earlier this month, went to what she considers extraordinary lengths to hold down the cost of her trip. "We decided to sit through one of those blasted timeshare presentations to get a free hotel room," said Garrett, who lives in Los Angeles. She turned down the timeshare but earned herself and her husband a stay on the Las Vegas Strip for her trouble. Similar stories are heard all over Las Vegas these days, where resorts are discounting and even giving away room nights just to attract enough people to keep their roulette wheels and slot machines spinning. Vegas barreled through previous U.S. economic recessions with no problem, but the current slowdown -- marked by home foreclosures and then high gasoline prices -- has had a much bigger impact on the gambling mecca than economists expected. news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080923/bs_nm/us_lasvegas_casinos;_ylt=AoZAzIUIDkGWOal46E3RufwDW7oF
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 24, 2008 7:44:18 GMT -5
Hamilton County Government will hold its 19th Annual County Fair at Chester Frost Park this weekend. Some of the highlights of this year's fair include: - Eudora Farms World of Animals
- Little Miss and Mr. County Fair Contest
- Live Entertainment on Three Stages
- Four Hot Diggity Dog Shows
- Cheerleading Competition
- Dance Expo
- Petting Zoo
- Complete Lineup of Equestrian Demonstrations
- Home Centered Competitions
- Blue Ribbon Exhibitions
- Over 100 Food, Craft and Commercial Vendors
Admission is free. This year there are two ways to get to the Fair. Take a bus from Northgate Mall or Middle Valley Recreation Center, or take the Fat Cat Ferry from Harrison Bay State Park. Bus tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children 3-12. Boat tickets are $7 per person. Strollers and wheelchairs are easily stowed and transported to the Fair. Those with handicap tags will be directed to a special location within the park and transported to the fair grounds. www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135678.asp
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 24, 2008 7:42:35 GMT -5
Officials of the Trust For Public Land are asking the city of Chattanooga to contribute $500,000 toward a $2.5 million goal for saving 92 acres of Stringer's Ridge in North Chattanooga. Rick Wood, TPL executive director, said the plan is to convert four scenic and historic hills into a public park for mountain biking, hiking and birdwatching. Mayor Ron Littlefield said the city has found $150,000 toward the project and will come up with the rest of the requested amount. But Councilman Jack Benson said he wants other local governments to be asked to contribute, including the county. www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135717.asp
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 24, 2008 7:41:31 GMT -5
If there are any onine strips at comics.yahoo.com that you would like to suggest to be carried, please do so here.
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 23, 2008 8:05:41 GMT -5
The only black juror asked to be removed from the jury in East Tennessee's first federal death penalty case. The juror told the court that she works part-time and her employer is refusing to pay her the difference between her salary and what the government pays her for jury duty. U.S. District Judge Curtis L. Collier did not make a decision on the request today, but said he will decide tomorrow. Media reports about a prosecutor saying that 24-year-old Rejon Taylor, the defendant, described the Chattanooga jury in a recorded telephone conversation as "racist rednecks" has defense attorneys asking for a mistrial and change of venue. Jurors earlier convicted Taylor in the 2003 murder of Guy Luck after less than four hours of deliberation. They are scheduled to begin the sentencing phase of the trial Tuesday. www.newschannel9.com/news/taylor_971740___article.html/hearing_death.html
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 23, 2008 8:03:24 GMT -5
Lawmakers raised doubts Monday about what would be the largest government bailout in American history, but a bigger, more terrifying question lurked right under the surface: What if it doesn’t work? Failure, says one insider, is not an option. “The alternative is complete financial Armageddon and a great depression,” said a former Federal Reserve official. “Where do they go after this? Well, the U.S. government could nationalize the banking system outright.” A few months ago, that idea would have been laughed out of the room. But no one’s laughing anymore. news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080923/pl_politico/13769;_ylt=AvKc2NbRwx3VjyrvxT7gsPOs0NUE
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 23, 2008 8:02:48 GMT -5
MIAMI - Al Ray is so strapped for cash, the only time he eats out is on Wednesday or Sunday, when the local McDonald's sells hamburgers for 49 cents. Ray lost his engineering job last November, and has been working as high school tutor, scratching out about $1,000 a month — if he's lucky. He struggled to make his $1,400 monthly mortgage payment and $330 monthly homeowners' association fee until May, when he stopped paying. Ray, 44, is looking for work and renting out a room in his two-bedroom condo in Davie, Fla., for $500, but his monthly income doesn't match his expenses and he's facing foreclosure. "I barely have money to survive," he said. news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080923/ap_on_bi_ge/cash_strapped_homeowners;_ylt=AsMuDGzihTodYWAgRv6OQA8DW7oF
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 23, 2008 8:01:33 GMT -5
LONDON (Reuters) - Archaeologists probing the secrets of Stonehenge, Britain's most famous prehistoric monument, said on Monday it may have been an ancient pilgrimage site for the sick who believed its stones had healing qualities. It has always been a mystery why bluestones, the smaller stones that form part of the circle, were transported around 155 miles from Preseli Hills in Wales to Wiltshire in southern England. Archaeologists from Bournemouth University, who carried out the dig in April -- the first at Stonehenge since 1964 -- believe the bluestones were revered as healing stones. "It was the magical qualities of these stones which ... transformed the monument and made it a place of pilgrimage for the sick and injured of the Neolithic world," a statement from the archaeologist team said. news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080922/sc_nm/britain_stonehenge_dc;_ylt=AsPoGcCVK19MfjRtum76GgsDW7oF
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 23, 2008 8:01:05 GMT -5
INDIANAPOLIS - A shortage of road salt and skyrocketing salt prices could mean slippery roads this winter in communities across the nation as officials struggle to keep pavement clear of snow and ice without breaking their budgets. Heavy snow last year heightened demand for salt, and now many towns can't find enough of it. The shortage could force many cities to salt fewer roads, increasing the risk of accidents. Other communities are abandoning road salt for less expensive but also less effective sand or sand-salt blends. "The driving public may be the ones who suffer on this," said Robert Young, highway superintendent for northwestern Indiana's LaPorte County, which has 20,000 tons of salt on hand — only half as much as needed to last a normal winter. Because of the shortage, three companies refused to bid on the county's request for more. news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080922/ap_on_re_us/road_salt_shortage;_ylt=AiYQyC8mKjNkGxSjAFAWLTkDW7oF
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 23, 2008 8:00:34 GMT -5
The Chattanooga Area Food Bank needs your help to fill up trucks for Hurricane Ike victims. Volunteers are loading up at least one 18-wheeler to send to Texas on Wednesday afternoon. They hope to send two trucks with help from the community. Victims need things like non-perishable, easy to consume foods along with baby items, pet food, and personal hygiene items. wdef.com/news/chattanooga_food_bank_collects_items_to_send_to_hurricane_ike_victims/09/2008
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 23, 2008 7:59:17 GMT -5
CHATTANOOGA — The Tennessee Regulatory Agency (TRA) announced today that it will approve a 4.37 percent water rate increase, substantially less than the 20 percent increase requested by the Tennessee American Water Company. "The people of our fine city and county have spoken and voiced their immense displeasure with the growing business plan of TAWC coming back year after year asking for totally unsubstantiated rate increases," said Chattanooga businessman Randy Baker, chairman of the Fight the Hike citizens campaign. TAWC spokesperson Kim Dalton said in an e-mailed statement, "We are disappointed with the outcome of the TRA decision and we do not believe the decision is in the best long-term interest of our customers or the water system." www.newschannel9.com/news/increase_971748___article.html/american_rate.html
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 22, 2008 6:47:22 GMT -5
LEWISTON, Idaho - Jolee Bacon really sizzles when it comes to hog-calling. The northern Idaho woman took first place Saturday in the competition at the Nez Perce County Fair. She has raised several champion pigs for 4-H contests. Bacon says she calls pigs every morning and night with her 9-year-old daughter, Jacey. Bacon won the crown over as she started her hog call with a few loud snorts and a long, drawn-out "sooey." news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080922/ap_on_fe_st/odd_hog_callers;_ylt=Ar70Gai0z6WTuJ9JZC9PNSUDW7oF
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 22, 2008 6:45:21 GMT -5
WASHINGTON (AP) — Since the nation's birth, Americans have discussed race and avoided it, organized neighborhoods and political movements around it, and used it to divide and hurt people even as relations have improved dramatically since the days of slavery, Reconstruction and legal segregation. Now, in what could be a historic year for a black presidential candidate, a new Associated Press-Yahoo! News poll, conducted with Stanford University, shows just how wide a gap remains between whites and blacks. It shows that a substantial portion of white Americans still harbor negative feelings toward blacks. It shows that blacks and whites disagree tremendously on how much racial prejudice exists, whose fault it is and how much influence blacks have in politics. news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-race-in-america;_ylt=AobtGcfsPCYvcpnfCjKrFlOs0NUE
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 22, 2008 6:44:33 GMT -5
A pool of mosquitoes in Hamilton County has tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to on-going mosquito surveillance conducted by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department. This is evidence that West Nile Virus is present in our community. The Health Department reminds everyone to protect themselves against mosquito bites and to remove potential mosquito habitats from their property. Mosquito season will continue through late October. "Although we have had no reported human cases of West Nile Virus in Hamilton County, it's more important than ever that people take steps to protect themselves," said Bonnie Deakins, director of Environmental Health Services at the Health Department. The WNV positive mosquito pool came from Sector 5 which includes zip codes 37302, 37315, 37363 (south of I-75), and 37412. Since the Health Department has confirmed the presence of West Nile Virus in sector 5, the Health Department will no longer be accepting birds from Sector 5 for WNV testing. www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135475.asp
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 22, 2008 6:43:03 GMT -5
A Criminal Court jury on Saturday found Dyron N. Yokley guilty of second-degree murder in the 2007 slaying of Tyus Steele. Yokley, who has a prior armed robbery conviction, faces a possible 25-40 years in prison. He was found not guilty of aggravated robbery and felony murder. Sentencing will be on Nov. 17 by Judge Barry Steelman, who presided over the two-week trial. www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_135580.asp
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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 20, 2008 9:33:59 GMT -5
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is asking Congress to let the government buy $700 billion in toxic mortgages in the largest financial bailout since the Great Depression, according to a draft of the plan obtained Saturday by The Associated Press. The plan would give the government broad power to buy the bad debt of any U.S. financial institution for the next two years. It would raise the statutory limit on the national debt from $10.6 trillion to $11.3 trillion to make room for the massive rescue. The proposal does not specify what the government would get in return from financial companies for the federal assistance. "We're going to work with Congress to get a bill done quickly," President Bush said at the White House. Without discussing details of the plan, he said, "This is a big package because it was a big problem." news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080920/ap_on_bi_ge/financial_meltdown;_ylt=AmlXzjW80o0sa9Vp09xahiwDW7oF
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