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 |   This blog contains responses to blog prompts, & thoughts on spiritual or religious themes |
Disclaimer: Any views, about religion or sacred scriptures, expressed in this blog are my own and not the official views of the Baha'i Faith or any other religion. If you wish to know more about the Baha'i Faith, please check one of these websites: The Baha'i Faith: The Official Website of the Worldwide Baha'i Community  or Baha'is of the United States ."The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion. War shall cease between nations, and by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers." Abdu'l-Baha1                     Other Blogs and Journals Content Rating 18+ "Writing in Snow" "The Snowflake Chronicles" "Snow Melt" "More Snow Melt" "Welcome to My Life" "Melting Snow" "Memories of Snow" "Dreams of Snow " "Poem Experiments" "Devotional Poetry" Other Journals Content Rating ASR "Bicentenary Poems and Prose" "Treasures lie hidden beneath the throne of God; the key to those treasures if the tongue of poets." The Bab "O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose. May they follow Thy commandments and abide in Thy law. Help them, O God, in their endeavor, and grant them strength to serve Thee. O God! Leave them not to themselves, but guide their steps by the light of Thy knowledge, and cheer their hearts by Thy love. Verily, Thou art their Helper and their Lord." Bahá’u’lláh2 ![Merit Badge in WDC Soundtrackers
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Kamál (Perfection), 4 Mulk (Dominion) 176 B.E. - Monday, February 10, 2020
5 DAY TRUTH or FICTION BLOGGING CHALLENGE Blog Prompt for Day 1 - You've been keeping this from us, up until now, tell us about a time when you had a brush with the law. Cars Were My Downfall Cars were always my downfall. If it weren't for cars, I would have not criminal record. It started in the last century, sometime in my high school years, which was sometime in the 1960s. We had moved from Blackwell, Oklahoma, to Shawnee, Oklahoma. For some reason, I hadn't yet gotten my first driver's license. I don't know why I hadn't gotten my first license yet. I could have been afraid of the car or my gut feeling was telling me that there were police officers just waiting for me to screw up. My stepfather decided that I should get a license, so we went onto a country road where I could practice. That session didn't go very well because I was stopped by an Oklahoma Highway Patrolman for speeding or driving weird. I can't remember which, while this incident didn't result in me facing a judge it go my name in the local paper because I was stopped by the OHP. My next encounter with the law was in Blackwell. I moved back to Blackwell to take care of Grandpa Frank and Grandma Mary. I only had a learner's permit, and Grandpa could no longer drive because of dementia. When the officer ask me if I had someone with me when I came to the police station, I lied. I had came up by myself with only a learner's permit. I failed the test because I was so nervous that I ran a stop sign. I was fortunate that the officer didn't give me a ticket. We went back to the police station, he went into the building, and I drove home. I was lucky he didn't wait to see if someone got in the car with me. I eventually got my driver's license in Blackwell, Oklahoma. My luck finally ran out when I came to Las Vegas. Here I got three tickets, which I had to pay for. One was for speeding, another for running a red light, and the third was for parking the wrong way on a one-way street. I paid the court for those, probably more than if I'd had to pay for the earlier encounters with the law. After all, Karma eventually kicks in and when she does she's a bitch. |
Kamál (Perfection), 4 Mulk (Dominion) 176 B.E. - Monday, February 10, 2020 Artist: Louis Armstrong Title: Swing Low Sweet Chariot Lyrics3 Swing low, sweet chariot Comin' for to carry me home Swing low, sweet chariot Comin' for to carry me home I looked over Jordan, and what did I see Comin' for to carry me home A band of angels comin' after me Comin' for to carry me home Swing low, sweet chariot Comin' for to carry me home Swing low, sweet chariot Comin' for to carry me home If you get there before I do Comin' for to carry me home Just tell my friends that I'm a comin' too Comin' for to carry me home Swing low, sweet chariot Comin' for to carry me home Swing low, sweet chariot Comin' for to carry me home I'm sometimes up and sometimes down Comin' for to carry me home But still my soul feels heavenly bound Comin' for to carry me home Swing low, sweet chariot Comin' for to carry me home Swing low, sweet chariot Comin' for to carry me home I look over Jordan, and what do I see Comin' for to carry me home A band of angels comin' after me Comin' for to carry me home Swing low, sweet chariot Comin' for to carry me home Swing low, sweet chariot Comin' for to carry me home When and where did I first hear this song? I have no idea!. I've heard several different version, sung by numerous vocal artist. I know several of the versions have been recorded by different artist over the years, so Grandpa Frank might have had a recording of it. I could have heard it in church because the words suggest a song that would be sung in a Baptist church. I did a little research about the song, and found out it was written by Wallis Willis, who lived in Indian Territory (now Choctaw county) in Oklahoma. I also learned that it is now the official Gospel song of Oklahoma.4 Traditional Lyrics5 Swing low, sweet chariot Coming for to carry me home Swing low, sweet chariot Coming for to carry me home I looked over Jordan, and what did I see? (Coming for to carry me home) A band of angels coming after me (Coming for to carry me home) If you get there before I do (Coming for to carry me home) Tell all of my friends, that I'm coming there too (Coming for to carry me home) Footnotes |
Jamál (Beauty), 3 Mulk (Dominion) 176 B.E. - Sunday, February 9, 2020 Artist: The Academy Choirs Title: The Star Spangled Banner U.S. National Anthem Lyrics6 Oh, say, can you see? By the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming; Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming. And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air. Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there: Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave? O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In fully glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution! No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. Oh, thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust": And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. We love it so much, I think you do too. I don't very many clear images of my father. I remember a tall man, who drink coffee, sometimes with cream and sometimes black. I remember he worked at the Blackwell Zinc Smelter (the same place Grandpa Frank worked). I have a foggy memory of him carrying me on his back, and of setting on the front porch steps with him.  During World War II, Daddy served in the Army Air Corp--now the U.S. Air Force--and stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. At that time Mom worked at the County Hospital--now University Medical Center on West Charleston Ave.--as a maid. I remember Mom telling me she took a bust from Nellis to the County Hospital.  His name was Melvin Fay Darbe, he was born on a farm in Kansas on March 26, 1921, died someplace in Kansas on April 14, 1998, and is buried in the Lincoln Cemetery in Lincoln County, Kansas. I found out about my father's death when I did an internet search for him. Daddy is the child setting on the plow horse in the above photo, the man holding him on the horse is his father, Grandpa John. Daddy is one of the missing links in my life. I never saw him again after my parents divorce. One of my biggest regrets is that I never got to say good-bye to Daddy before he died. Now the only thing I can do is pray for the progress of his soul in the next world. "O Lord! In this Most Great Dispensation Thou dost accept the intercession of children in behalf of their parents. This is one of the special infinite bestowals of this Dispensation. Therefore, O Thou kind Lord, accept the request of this Thy servant at the threshold of Thy singleness and submerge his father in the ocean of Thy grace, because this son hath arisen to render Thee service and is exerting effort at all times in the pathway of Thy love. Verily, Thou art the Giver, the Forgiver and the Kind!" 'Abdu’l-Bahá7 Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 2 Mulk (Dominion) 176 B.E. - Saturday, February 8, 2020
DAY 2640 Prompt: If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write. — Martin Luther What do you think? Have you ever written anything that might change the world? Do you know of anyone who has written anything that might change the world? One Heart At A Time: To The Bab and Baha'u'llah One heart at a time, their writings are changing the world. One heart at a time, their scriptures are uniting humanity and healing the wounds of hate. One heart at a time, the knowledge of the Bab and Baha'u'llah spread the love of God across the Earth. |
Jalál (Glory), 2 Mulk (Dominion) 176 B.E. - Saturday, February 8, 2020 Artist: Luke Slott Title: One Hundred Thousand Veils Lyrics8 Come down and walk these roads around the city of Tehran where seven candles burn Follow me all you who claim to be possessed of charity down to the Crimson Sea One hundred thousand veils have covered the sun and darkest clouds have blocked and blackened the blue sky Did you hear the fate of those who educate who even in the grave find no respite from hate? Have you seen the youth who gave their lives for truth, that girl who kissed the noose and welcomed all abuse? One hundred thousand suns have fallen to earth with blasts that block the ears from hearing the new song. One hundred thousand veils have covered the truth How many mothers' cries are lost in the tumult? There is no war to fight you have no sacred right no holy book to cite to make these wrongs seem right Does it so offend to want this world to mend, to walk in hope to the end and see each man a friend? Come down and walk these roads around the cities of Iran which boast so much to man. Mr. Slott wrote this song for International Human Rights Day, which is December 10. The song is about the treatment of the Baha'is in Iran. They are persecuted by being imprisoned, killed, denied an education, and a way to make a living because of their faith. The incidents mentioned in the song refer to Baha'i youth in Iran who were killed because they refused to recant their faith. "Ask a Baha’i to deny any of the great Prophets, to deny his faith or to deny Moses, Muhammad or Christ, and he will say: I would rather die … A Baha’i denies no religion; he accepts the Truth in all, and would die to uphold it." Abdu’l-Baha9 Baha'i in Iran, once called Persia, have been persecuted from the inception of the Baha'i Faith. The Babi's, the predecessors of the Baha'is, were persecuted from the moment the Bab declared His mission in 1844. Baha'u'llah was imprisoned because it accepted the Bab's declaration as authentic, and exiled from Iran. The persecution of the Baha'is continued after Baha'u'llah declared His mission in 1863, and it still occurs today. Those of us who live outside of Iran, do our best to proclaim our faith. In addition, we do what we can to let the world know about the treatment of our spiritual brothers and sisters who are still living in Iran. Footnotes |
Istiqlál (Independence), 1 Mulk (Dominion) 176 B.E. - Friday, February 7, 2020 Artist: Luke Slott Title: Have You Heard? Lyrics10 Have you heard of the troubles of Moses? So much light on the earth He did shed. All the people, they rose up against Him and they rained down their darts on His head. He came with a message of peace, love and justice and the promise of a Great One to come when the wolf and the lamb will dwell together and the whole human race will be one. Have you heard of the sufferings of Jesus? How pure and selfless He was. All the people, they rose up against Him and put God’s only Son on a cross. He came with a message of peace, love and justice and the promise of a Great One to come when on earth it will be as in Heaven and the whole human race will be one. Have you heard of the sorrows of Buddha when He looked at the sadness of man? All the people, they rose up against Him and put nothing but sadness in His hands. He came with a message of peace, love and justice and the promise of a Great One to come when peace shall reign on earth forever and the whole human race will be one. Have you heard of the woes of Muhammad? All the bruises and abuses He bore All the people, they rose up against Him and they closed in His face every door. He came with a message of peace, love and justice and the promise of a Great One to come when all the people will be gathered together and the whole human race will be one. Now I don’t ask you to believe me when I tell you Bahá’u’lláh has come. I just ask you, my brother, to see me and the whole human race as one. Finally Friday! Perhaps I should say "Thank God It's Friday!" All though I think everyday should begin with "Thank God it's [place day of the week here]!" Everyday should be a day we give thanks for. Everyday we need to find at least one thing we're grateful for, because--I know from experience--gratitude alleviates sadness and depression. This morning I went to my podiatrist to have my toenail cut. All the way to the doctor's office I contemplated the song I would feature today. I didn't come to a decision on the way there, and on the way back I dozed on the paratransit bus. After I got home, I decided that since it is Friday, and the Feast Day of Mulk (Dominion) that I would listen to one of my favorite Baha'i vocalist. There are 41 days until March 20 and the beginning of a new Baha'i year. Since the vernal equinox occurs after sunset on March 19, Naw-Ruz will be celebrated between sunset March 19 and sunset March 20. The next Devotional Service will be on Sunday, March 1, I'll have to get a new Baha'i datebook at that time. I like "Have you heard?" because it demonstrates the concept of Progressive Revelation. That is each one of the Manifestations of God mentioned in the song were part of God's ongoing plan for humanity. Footnotes |
Istijlál (Majesty), 19 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Thursday, February 6, 2020 Title: Amazing Grace Artist: Judy Collins Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed. Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home. The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures; He will my Shield and Portion be, As long as life endures. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who called me here below, Will be forever mine. When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’d first begun. March 19, 2020 will be my Mother's 99th birthday. November 29, 2020 will be the 8th anniversary of her death. One of Mom's favorite songs was Amazing Grace, which was Grandma Mary's favorite song. Grandma Mary was Mom's mother.  Mom and Me After Mom's death, I lived in the house we shared for about a year before it was sold and I could move out. Moving out started a new phase in my life and in mourning Mom. I still mourn her, but in a different way. Now I can smile, instead of cry, when I remember her. When I was living in the house, I wrote the following poem. "Even Now" Even now, nine months after her death, I wake up in the middle of the night listening for the sound of the machine, the echoes of the oxygen concentrator, which sat on the left side of her bed. Even now, I hear her voice call my name and walk wearily down the hall before I remember that she now sleeps beneath a rose colored headstone in Palm Eastern Mortuary and Cemetery. I still hear Mom's voice in my dreams; however, instead of getting up to walk down the hall to check on her, I access the prayer app on my cell phone and say the following prayer reveal by 'Abdu'l-Baha13 for the progress of Mom's soul. "O Thou forgiving God! Forgive the sins of my loving mother, pardon her shortcomings, cast upon her the glance of Thy gracious providence, and enable her to gain admittance into Thy Kingdom. O God! From the earliest days of my life she educated and nurtured me, yet I did not recompense her for her toil and labours. Do Thou reward her by granting her eternal life and making her exalted in Thy Kingdom. Verily, Thou art the Forgiver, the Bestower, and the Kind." Footnotes |
ʻIdál (Justice), 18 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Wednesday, February 5, 2020 Title: Bridge Over Troubled Water Artist: Simon & Garfunkel Lyrics14 When you're weary, feeling small When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all (all) I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough And friends just can't be found Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down When you're down and out When you're on the street When evening falls so hard I will comfort you (ooo) I'll take your part, oh, when darkness comes And pain is all around Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Sail on silver girl Sail on by Your time has come to shine All your dreams are on their way See how they shine Oh, if you need a friend I'm sailing right behind Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind It's Wednesday, half-way through the first week of February 2020, and the waters of my life seem to be calming down. I've managed to pay all of the rent, I have enough money--between my checking account and savings account--to pay the bills that are automatically withdrawn. I still have to figure out how to pay the Internet bill and the electric bill, which come due around February 17 and 18. However, I don't think there will be much of a problem taking care of those or arranging payment. As I was listening to Bridge Over Troubled Water, I got to thinking about the difference between January 2019 and January 2020. This January was stressful, but not as stressful as last January. This year we've only encountered two mice (so far), while last year we encountered ten or eleven in January, alone. February started out stressful and colder, but I don't think it was more stress full than February 2019. It's colder then it was last year, but not more stressful. March will be stressful, but I don't think it will be more stressful than March 2019. I'll have to wait until March to find out. What has alleviated the stress? Prayer, meditation, and listening to music. The prayers revealed by the Bab, Baha'u'llah, and 'Abdu'l-Baha are especially helpful in relieving stress. The music I've been listening to the last few days is extremely helpful. True I have to be careful about the type of music I listen to. Blues, Jazz, and spiritual music are good stress relievers because I can set, listen to the music, and get lost. Those types of music also help to encourage my muse. Baha'u'llah is my bridge over troubled water. Footnotes |
Fiḍál (Grace), 17 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Tuesday, February 4, 2020 Title: Black Coffee Artist: Ella Fitzgerald Lyrics15 I'm feeling mighty lonesome Haven't slept a wink I walk the floor and watch the door And in between I drink Black Coffee Love's a hand me down brew I'll never know a Sunday In this weekday room I'm talking to the shadows 1 o'clock to 4 And Lord, how slow the moments go When all I do is pour Black Coffee Since the blues caught my eye I'm hanging out on Monday My Sunday dream's too dry Related Now a man is born to go a lovin' A woman's born to weep and fret To stay at home and tend her oven And drown her past regrets In coffee and cigarettes I'm moody all the morning Mourning all the night And in between it's nicotine And not much hard to fight Black Coffee Feelin' low as the ground It's driving me crazy just waiting for my baby To maybe come around My nerves have gone to pieces My hair is turning gray All I do is drink black coffee Since my man's gone away It's around 2:00 pm here in Las Vegas. I spent most of the morning in my ophthalmologist office for my regular six-month appointment. I my insurance pays for appointments every six months because I have cataracts, dry eye, and glaucoma. My next appointment is August 4. Before I left for the doctor's office, I had two writing.com travel mugs of coffee. When I re turned, I decided to check BahaiTeachings.org for any interesting articles. The article that caught my attention this morning was The Joy of Coffee with True Friends by Jaellayna Palmer. The article reminded me that it's been a while since I had coffee with friends. I usually drink my coffee of a morning, while I'm working online, which is no excuse for not having coffee with friends because I have Skype and a camera in my computer.After reading the article, I decided that I needed to listen to a little blues or Jazz. I was feeling a bit down and blues or Jazz usually brings out of my "brown study", as I like to call my episodes of depression or lonely feelings. If Jazz or blues don't change my mood then a spiritual music will. Anyway, Ella Fitzgerald singing Black Coffee brought me out of my slight depression and inspired me to make today's blog entry. Footnotes |
Kamál (Perfection), 16 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Monday, February 3, 2020 Artist: Paul Robeson Title: Motherless Child Lyrics16 Sometime I feel like a motherless child Sometimes I feel like a motherless child And sometimes I feel like a motherless child A long ways from home A long ways from home Come my brother A long ways from home A long ways from home Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone A long ways from home A long ways from home Come my brother A long ways from home A long ways from home For the past few days the first line of this Negro spiritual has been running through my head. I don't know where or when I first heard this song. I'm not even sure it was Paul Robeson who I first heard singing it. "Motherless Child", also called "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" , has been recorded by several different artist. I'm not going to attempt to remember when or where I first heard it, nor am I going to attempt to remember who I first heard singing it, because Paul Robeson's version is my favorite.Paul Robeson was singer, actor, social activist, lawyer, and athlete. Mr. Robeson accomplished a great deal in his life. He needs to be remembered because of his social activism and his rich bass baritone voice,I don't know why "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child" is running through my mind. It could be because I've been depressed and the song resonates with what I'm going through. I know that there have been times in my life when the song lyrics running through my mind have something to do with the my emotions. Footnotes |
Jamál (Beauty), 15 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Sunday, February 2, 2020 Title: Blessed is the Spot Artist: Elika Mahony Lyrics17 “Blessed is the spot, and the house, and the place, and the city, and the heart, and the mountain, and the refuge, and the cave, and the valley, and the land, and the sea, and the island, and the meadow where mention of God hath been made, and His praise glorified.” Bahá’u’lláh I went to the Devotional Services at the Las Vegas Baha'i Center this morning. One of the songs that the choir sang was "Blessed is the Spot." There are two things I enjoy going to devotional Services for several reasons. First, is the lack of preaching, instead of preaching someone gives a talk on the topic of the service. Second, is the words of the sacred scriptures or prayers put to music. In this case, either the choir sings or a music video created by a Baha'i artist is shown. When I go to YouTube and search for "Blessed is the Spot", I find several videos, with different artist, singing this prayer. Today's theme was Black History Month. One of the the speakers, who was black, talked about growing up in a Baha'i house hold and being exposed to people of different cultural, racial, and national backgrounds. Another speaker told the story of Hand of the Cause Louis Gregory. Mr. Gregory, a black man, was one of the early American Baha'is. He was a lawyer before selling his practice, so that he and his wife could go on a thirty year teaching trip across the United States. The Louis G. Gregory Baha'i Museum is in Charleston, South Carolina.A video talk by Masud Olufani, called Freeing Ourselves of the Stain of Racism . Mr. Olufani, a Baha'i, also tells about becoming a Baha'i and what he discovered through the Baha'i scriptures, and through reading famous black writers and poets. In this video, he quotes the Baha'i scriptures that emphasize the unity of humanity, and the reason that Baha'is believe that racism is America's Most Challenging Issue.I believe "Blessed Is The Spot" was a good choice for today's Devotional Service. This prayer shows that every place on Earth is blessed because one of God's names has been mentioned. Since every place on Earth is blessed, every human being--no matter what their culture, color, nationality, or religion--has been blessed by God. Footnotes |
Jalál (Glory), 14 Sulṭán (Sovereignty) 176 B.E. - Saturday, February 1, 2020 Song: One God Artist: Barbra Streisand and Johnny Mathis Lyrics18 Millions of stars placed in the skys By One God Millions of us lift up our eyes To One God So many children calling to him By many a different name One father Loving each the same Many the ways all of us pray To one god Many the path Winding their way To One God Brothers and sisters there are no strangers After his work is done For your God and my God Are one So many children calling outloud By many a different name One father Loving each the same Many the ways all of us pray To one God Many the paths winding their way To One God Brothers and sisters there were no strangers After the world was done Our God, yes your God, and My God Are one! It's a new month, so I may as well start it out with one of my favorite songs. When I searched YouTube for this song, I looked for the one sang by Barbra Streisand, who is one of my favorite female vocalist. You can't imagine how happy I was to find that Ms Streisand and Johnny Mathis, one of my favorite male vocalist, sang a duet. I don't think this video is a traditional duet, I suspect it's a mix of the song sang at different times by each vocalist. This makes no difference to me because it is well done, with appropriate photos from the Holy Land of Israel. I like this rendition the best because, for me, it symbolizes unity. The song, itself, embodies the concept of divine unity which goes beyond any one religion to take in all religions. It doesn't matter the religion or the name call God because there is only one God, who revealed all religions through many different prophets or manifestations. This version of the song emphasizes both unity of humanity and the equality of men and women. The unity of humankind is shown through the fact that both a black and white vocalist sing the song. Gender equality is expressed through the fact that the vocalist are a female and male, with their voices complimenting each other. Footnotes |
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