The Puppet Masters
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The Puppet Masters
Intro to the Series
We get caught up in the little stuff — who’s president, how it happened, who to blame. We fixate on the face in front of the curtain — the clown or the statesman — but rarely ask who’s pulling the strings behind them.
We toss around vague culprits: “corporate America,” “the global elite,” “one world government.” But I don’t think it’s the oligarchs or the CEOs. I believe it’s the idealists — the ones who believe so deeply in their vision that they’ve become the puppet masters, manipulating outcomes in the name of the greater good.
So in this arena called politics, I’ll try to pull back the curtain. To shine some light on the power brokers we don’t elect, the movements we don’t see coming, and the hands guiding the show. I’ll offer some insight, some opinion — but the real mysteries? Those are yours to solve.
Because in the end, maybe the only real truth… is your truth.
‘Over Here’ No Kings and No ICE
I grew up with big screen HEROS, John Wayne, Eddie Murphy, and way to many more saving America from the Evils of tyranny during WW II, and still enjoyed Gary Cooper as SGT York saving
10% government stake in Intel – Good or Bad
Trump’s known investment profile: Public records and reporting show he has diversified holdings across multiple sectors (stocks, real estate, funds, etc.), including historical past holdings in companies like Intel. Yet, there is no indication that
1776 — The Number That Tells You Everything
But we have already established in this country that fair elections and accepted elections are not always the same thing. I have a sinking feeling we will find ourselves watching Second String Donny screaming foul
1776 — The Number That Tells You Everything – Video
But we have already established in this country that fair elections and accepted elections are not always the same thing. I have a sinking feeling we will find ourselves watching Second String Donny screaming foul
2026 Elections Toolkit & Voter Registration Deadline- Oregon
Real change and control is local. this is where you start. If you don't VOTE, don't complain.
2028 – The Presinator – Constitution, what Constitution?
Constitution, what Constitution?
A Beginner’s Guide to the Federalist Society
Influence: Huge impact on the judiciary. Many federal judges (including 6 current Supreme Court Justices with ties) are members or recommended by the group. Helped shape conservative legal thinking on issues like gun rights, free
A Conservative Case for Restraint
It falls to Republicans to make a hard but patriotic choice: Preserve one man’s ego, or preserve the constitutional order. The conservative answer should be obvious.
A few Dark Money Examples, Oh Yeah’s to sleep well with.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Most of us have already seen this — we just didn’t always know what we were looking at. A Few “Oh Yeah” Examples of Dark Money
A Real-Time Example (Why Markets React Faster Than Voters) – Healthcare in America
Industry groups warn of potential disruptions when 2027 coverage renews in late 2026, though final rates will not be set until April. This adds pressure to an already challenging Medicare Advantage landscape, where many plans
A War Being Run By the Second String
From the Author of The Long View From 1964 The first string was either fired or asked to resign. What we have left is the second string. At best.
All Eyes On Maine… 06/15/26
This week, we're going to Maine, where something historic just happened quietly and deserves to be said loudly. While Maine’s U.S Senate primary has been a focal point recently with party candidates Graham Platner and
America’s Health Policy, Why This Series Exists – Healthcare in America
Examine policy outcomes without assigning personal motive Use real examples to illustrate structural dynamics Move deliberately, one concept at a time Include guidance on what signals matter and where influence exists
Americans Are Feeling the Squeeze. Washington Must Do Better. 05/08/2026
Americans are anxious about the economy. People feel it every time they buy groceries, fill up their gas tank, pay rent, or open a credit card bill. Across the country, families are asking the same
An Open Letter to Governor Tina Kotek and Mayor Keith Wilson: Portland’s Welcome Wagon for the Uninvited Guests
Commandeer the Food Trucks: Rally a squad of our iconic mobile kitchens—Voodoo Doughnut for the sugar rush, Nong's Khao Man Gai for that Thai soul food hug, and a fleet of taco wagons from the
Anger in America, Part 1: Why People Are So Angry
The truth is, millions of Americans feel cheated. They feel as if the deck is stacked against them, no matter how hard they work or how carefully they play by the rules. They see the
Arabella Advisors (via the Sixteen Thirty Fund)
Distance from local impact National funding routed through professionalized networks can shape outcomes in local or state-level debates without local communities fully understanding where the support originated.
Are Our Leaders Focused on What Actually Matters? 05/01/2026
If you ask most Americans what is on their mind right now, the answer is simple: affordability. The cost of everyday life, from groceries and gas to housing and healthcare, has become the defining issue
As The New Year Begins, Let’s Move Forward
I support the Forward movement because it is one of the few efforts trying to pull American politics out of the tribal trench warfare it has been stuck in for far too long. I don’t
Back to that Daily Coffee.
So what is below is jumping into the middle of a discussion, but you should get the drift. We need to figure this stuff out, we need to act, not always react. You may say,
Ballrooms and BombShelters Part 1 Who The Hell Does He Plan On Bombing Next?
Trump says we can't afford daycare. Can't afford Medicaid. Can't afford Medicare. States can handle it. He's got one priority: "military protection." $1.5 trillion for defense in FY2027. Let that sink in. That's a 40%
Ballrooms and BombShelters Part 2 The Most Expensive Shed In History
But here's where it gets interesting. Trump called the ballroom — and I'm quoting him directly here — "a shed for what's being built underneath." Underneath is a massive military command center. Bulletproof glass. Drone-proof
Ballrooms and BombShelters Part 3 Clap Loud Enough and You Get A Star
Pete Hegseth — former Fox News host, current Secretary of what he now proudly calls the "Department of War" — just fired the Army Chief of Staff. During wartime. Nearly without precedent in American history.
Ballrooms and BombShelters Part 4 The Bill Always Comes To The Same Table
Daycare — gone. Your state's problem now. Medicaid — being gutted. Your state's problem now. Medicare — on the table. Your state's problem now.
Ballrooms and Breadlines: When Power Loses Touch With People
I can understand the conservative point of view here. I’m conservative by heart and by history. I believe in responsibility, not dependency. I’ve seen the waste, the abuse, the fraud that creeps into welfare systems.
Before We Go Any Further A Reality Check
The obvious goal with this set of foundation blocks isn't to fix the broken system. It's to provide a structure with enough strength that it cannot be so easily broken and manipulated again. The strength
Before We Go Any Further A Reality Check – Video
The obvious goal with this set of foundation blocks isn't to fix the broken system. It's to provide a structure with enough strength that it cannot be so easily broken and manipulated again. The strength
Betting Against The Economy, why would Trump do that?
When leaders or high-ranking officials make financial moves that profit from economic decline, it undermines the very foundation of public trust. Reports suggest former President Trump and some government officials may have engaged in activities
Between Socialism and Capitalism: Finding the Compromise
Between Socialism and Capitalism: Finding the Compromise Margaret Thatcher once said that “the problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” She meant that systems built entirely on redistribution can
But I always thought..
What's it going to cost to tear all that crap down? and what are we going to do with that pile of extra D's and T's?
Christian nationalism isn’t really about Christianity at al
The GOP has a unified voice. You can agree with it or despise it, but you always know what it is. Democrats keep waiting for permission to find theirs. That's not a messaging problem. That's
Coda: What We Know Now – Healthcare in America Series 1
The purpose here was not to provide answers, but to establish a starting point grounded in reality rather than ideology. Any serious conversation going forward has to begin with what healthcare actually is: partially market,
Control of Voting – If Trump Is Ousted: Does It Die on the Vine?
In my view, this is a long-game ecosystem (think tanks, donors, state parties) that's survived presidents before. Trump's a catalyst, but removal would force a tactical reset—not abandonment. The midterms are the pivot point; if
Covert Agency Manipulation
Notable Cases: Experiments like dosing people with LSD in public settings (e.g., Operation Midnight Climax in San Francisco) or the death of Frank Olson, a scientist who was unknowingly given LSD and later died under
Dark Money and Controlling The Narrative?
The articles in this collection discuss dark money in politics—anonymous or undisclosed funding from private individuals, organizations, or special interests that can influence messaging and narratives behind the scenes. Importantly, the presence of such hidden
Dark Money and Influence, It’s time to move on.
Not all dark money is a conspiracy and not all conspiracies use dark money.
Dark Money for Dummies — Part 1
“Dark money” sounds dramatic, like something illegal or conspiratorial. Most of the time, it’s neither. At its simplest, dark money is political spending where the true source of the money is hidden from the public
Dark Money for Dummies — Part 2
Once people understand what dark money is, the next question is obvious: If this creates so many problems, why does it exist at all? The short answer is not corruption or conspiracy.
Dark Money for Dummies — Part 3
The conspiracy's that aren't. Far cheaper Less crowded with competing messages Less scrutinized by media More consequential per dollar spent
Dark Money Today: From Montana to California and Beyond
Two months ago, we explored the Montana initiative as a test case for curbing dark money. The story didn’t end there. Today, states like California are building on that example, showing that structural solutions —
Do Not Get Into Political Arguments. It’s Not Worth It.
The game was designed so that nobody wins. Stop playing.
Do Not Get Into Political Arguments. It’s Not Worth It. – Video
The game was designed so that nobody wins. Stop playing.
Do some elites or movements support depopulation — quietly or not?
RFK Jr.’s rhetoric around detoxing children, rejecting vaccines, and elevating “natural immunity” taps into those old, unscientific veins — and when implemented from a position of power, they do carry population-level consequences.
Does you vote count, Damn Right it Does
This is a repost from Substack from the MeidasTouch Network 1 VOTE MeidasTouch Network 1d 🚨NEWS: Democrat Andy Thomson has won the Boca Raton mayoral race by just ONE vote. 🔵 Thomson — 7,568
Electorial College or Popular Vote
Democrats overwhelmingly favor the popular vote. Republicans strongly prefer the Electoral College. Independents lean toward the popular vote but are more divided. Overall, most Americans favor switching to a popular vote system.
EVENT ALERT: Portland Election Info Town Hall with Congresswoman Dexter, Representatives Nosse & Chotzen
RSVP today! Portland Election Information Town Hall on Friday, May 6th Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read, U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, State Representative Rob Nosse, and State Representative Willy Chotzen will hold a community town
Fast Forward 04/09/2026
We’ve officially kicked off our 2026 congressional endorsements, and this first slate says a lot about where this movement is headed. These are not typical candidates. They are leaders who have built careers solving real
Fast Forward 02/19/2026
As we read the news and see Americans concerned about the costs imposed on them by tariffs, Presidential and Congressional approval ratings exploring new lows, continuously swirling questions about accountability and association with Jeffrey Epstein
Fast Forward 02/26/2026
Tuesday’s State of the Union was another reminder of how divided Washington has become. Instead of laying out a vision that spoke to the whole country, the President spent much of the speech framing the
Fast Forward 03/05/2026
With Operation Epic Fury, the United States is now engaged in a serious military confrontation with Iran. The situation is dangerous and still unfolding. Six American service members have already been killed, and others wounded.
Fast Forward 03/12/2026
For generations, Americans have relied on a simple principle to protect our democracy: no branch of government should hold too much power.
Fast Forward 03/27/2026
Right now, people across the country are watching the same thing play out again in Washington, and a lot of them are asking a simple question: why does it always have to be like this?
Fast Forward 04/02/2026
Americans want elections that are secure and easy to participate in. Mail-in voting is one of the ways we make that possible. It’s back in the spotlight right now because of a new executive order
Fast Forward 04/17/2026
Bill — Viktor Orbán, long a symbol of democratic backsliding and the self-proclaimed creator of "illiberal democracy," was defeated by the very force he worked so hard to bend: the will of the voters. In
Fast Forward 04/24/2026
Bill — Just a few years ago, Virginia voters took an important step toward fairer elections. In 2020, they approved a redistricting reform that created a bipartisan citizen-legislator commission to draw political maps, with the
Fast Forward 3/19/2026
Early voting is now underway in Virginia. On April 21, voters will decide whether to allow a mid-decade redraw of congressional maps, revisiting a system designed to limit direct political control.
Federal Court Blocks Executive Order that Would Undermine Vote-by-Mail – Oregon
PRESS RELEASE Date: June 25, 2026 Contact: Connor Radnovich | connor.radnovich@sos.oregon.gov Federal Court Blocks Executive Order that Would Undermine Vote-by-Mail The executive order would have allowed the U.S. Postal Service to deny ballots to voters
Federal Judge Mark L. Wolf resigned, did we lose or gain a Champion?
Federal Judge Mark L. Wolf recently resigned from the District Court for the District of Massachusetts to protest President Trump's actions. In a published essay, he stated his resignation was necessary to speak out against what he
Fifteen Years later, Citizen United still is in the news and still the center of controversy
What can we do about it? As with anything thing in politics, the louder the voice, the more often it will be heard. You know where your phone is, you know where your email is,
Fifty Ways to Lose Your Congressman
If you are a Republican who wants a Republican, fine. Find a conservative who doesn't bow. Find someone honest enough to represent you rather than perform for an audience of one in Washington. Find someone
Fill Out Your Ballot with Confidence this Primary Election – Oregon
Date: May 5, 2026 Follow for elections updates: Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky, and Youtube Oregonians, The big May Primary Election is exactly two weeks away (Tuesday, May 19). County clerks started sending out ballots last
Gerrymandering, The Cowards Confession
Let’s be clear: this isn’t clever strategy, it’s cowardice. It’s the political equivalent of moving the goalposts because you’re afraid to lose a fair fight. Even when done in retaliation, it’s still rigging — a
Gerrymandering: The Fire Trump Lit—and Why Everyone’s Getting Burned
The new Texas map, rammed through under Trump’s influence, would give Republicans nearly 80% of the state’s congressional seats—even though they win just over half the vote. This isn’t just a tilt; it’s a landslide
Get Back to the Issues
Voters deserve more than fear and name-calling. It doesn’t matter if the attack ads come from the right or the left—they’re distractions. What matters is whether a candidate will look us in the eye and
Governing requires Thought not Fear
Governing requires thought, compromise, and foresight; dictating only needs instinctual levers: fear, greed, loyalty, and outrage.
Guest Post – Outrage Turned Us vs. Them Into Us vs. Us
That reality does not erase legitimate differences between left and right. It simply raises a different question: who benefits when citizens become so consumed by fighting one another that they stop paying attention to the
Guest Post – Outrage Turned Us vs. Them Into Us vs. Us – Video
That reality does not erase legitimate differences between left and right. It simply raises a different question: who benefits when citizens become so consumed by fighting one another that they stop paying attention to the
Guilt by Association: Your Silence on MAGA’s Shadow, You’re So Screwed
You didn’t run when you had the chance. Post-2020, when whispers of independence could’ve saved you, you drowned them out with the roar of primary fears and donor demands. You gave eulogies for the old
He’s At It Again. He Never Really Stopped.
What has changed is the urgency. He said it himself at the Turning Point rally this week, almost accidentally. He knows the historical pattern, that the president's party typically loses ground in midterm elections. He
Healthcare – Closure of State Run Mental Facilities and Increase in Homeless Population
Overall, Oregon's closures are a microcosm of a national policy that prioritized deinstitutionalization without the necessary infrastructure, directly fueling homelessness by stranding vulnerable people. If you're diving deeper for your healthcare series, sources like HUD's
Healthcare in America — Series II: When Care Can’t Wait – Podcast Prelude
In the first episode, we’ll explore what urgent care actually is, and what it isn’t. We’ll see how immediacy changes the rules, compresses choices, and forces decisions that no one wants to make lightly. In
Healthcare in America Series II – Kicker: Why We Struggle to Talk About the Unavoidable
Most conversations about healthcare skip this moment. We jump to policy, budgets, and blame. We treat crises as exceptions rather than as signals. But the truth is that someone always absorbs the weight when care
Healthcare in America Series II, Part 1 – What Urgent Care Actually Is (and Is Not)
Urgency collapses options. Decisions that would normally take days, weeks, or months are compressed into minutes or hours. There’s no time to compare prices, shop for the best facility, or negotiate who sees you first.
Healthcare in America Series II, Part 2 – When Systems Built for Efficiency Meet Urgency
Most healthcare systems are built around averages. Schedules, staffing, and workflow all assume a level of predictability. Efficiency depends on forecasting, and forecasting depends on stability. But urgent care doesn’t follow a curve or a
Healthcare in America Series II, Part 3 – Who Absorbs the Consequences When Waiting Isn’t an Option
Urgency does not distribute impact evenly. Some patients are more vulnerable than others. Some families are better equipped to navigate complexity. And some communities have far fewer resources. The system doesn’t decide this intentionally. It
Healthcare in America Series II, Part 4 – How the System Is Actually Structured
Most of the anger and confusion people feel about healthcare doesn’t come from bad intentions or unreasonable expectations. It comes from assuming that healthcare is a single thing — a place, a person, or a
Healthcare in America Series II, Part 5 – Why Emergency Rooms Are Overwhelmed (And It’s Not “Abuse”)
Healthcare in America Series II, Part 5 – Why Emergency Rooms Are Overwhelmed (And It’s Not “Abuse”)
Is this urgent care? Is it the emergency room? Is it safe to wait?
Healthcare in America Series II, Part 6 – Insurance Is Not Healthcare
One of the most persistent misunderstandings in healthcare is the idea that insurance and care are the same thing. They’re related — but they are not interchangeable. This confusion shapes expectations, frustration, and even how
Healthcare in America Series II, Part 7 – The Invisible Layer — Administration
Healthcare administration isn’t a single office or department. It’s a web of functions required to make modern healthcare operable:
Healthcare in America Series II, Part 8 – What Patients Are Expected to Know (But Don’t)
Which setting is appropriate? How urgent is urgent? Who coordinates what happens next? These expectations exist — but the instruction rarely does.
Healthcare in America Series III – Kicker: Security Is a Feeling. Risk Is a Structure
Healthcare debates often center on security. People want to feel protected — protected from catastrophic illness, from unexpected bills, from system failure. That desire is reasonable. It is human.
Healthcare in America Series III – Part 1 Risk Doesn’t Disappear. It Moves
When risk moves to individuals, it is often described in the language of responsibility. We hear phrases like “consumer engagement” or “skin in the game.” But exposure and empowerment are not the same thing. Responsibility
Healthcare in America Series III – Part 2 Invisible Risk Carriers
Clinical risk is inherent in medicine. But modern practice also carries moral and structural risk. Practicing under constraint — limited time, limited staffing, insurance limitations, documentation demands — forces tradeoffs. Liability exposure exists alongside ethical
Healthcare in America Series III – Part 3 When Risk Accumulates
At the community level, accumulation can reshape access entirely. When a hospital closes, travel times increase. Emergency response lengthens. Recruitment of clinicians becomes more difficult. Economic stability shifts. Healthcare infrastructure is not separate from community
Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Post 1 Administrative Oversight & Waste Reduction
Administrative tasks — billing, claims processing, coding, approvals — are necessary, but studies show U.S. administrative costs are roughly double those of comparable countries. That’s hundreds of billions of dollars each year that could be
Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Post 2 Price Transparency & Negotiation
Price transparency is not about “free market” ideology; it’s about clarity, fairness, and predictability. When patients see costs clearly, the system becomes easier to navigate — and wasteful practices are exposed.
Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Post 3 Integrated Care & Coordination
Integrated models — like Kaiser Permanente or other vertically coordinated systems — reduce these frictions by aligning care delivery, records, and financial flows.
Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Post 4 Incentive Alignment for Prevention & Chronic Disease
Chronic disease drives the majority of U.S. healthcare costs. Managing it is not just a clinical challenge — it’s also a matter of incentives. Even small changes in how care is reimbursed or structured can
Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Post 5 Rural & Underserved Access
Rural and underserved populations are canaries in the coal mine for healthcare stress. Structural interventions — not political promises — determine whether access is preserved.
Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Post 6 Technology & Telehealth Optimization
When combined with oversight, transparency, and coordinated care, technology turns abstract reforms into real-world improvements that patients can see and feel. The series shows that practical, achievable reforms exist, even without overhauling the entire system.
Healthcare in America vs Socialized Medicine Today- End of Series
Roughly half or more of U.S. healthcare spending already flows through government programs. We are not a pure market system. We are a complex blend.
Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Post 1 The $4.5 Trillion Machine
American healthcare is not a single program. It is a layered payment network built over decades — employers, insurers, federal programs, state programs, hospital systems, physician groups, pharmacy benefit managers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, compliance divisions, coding
Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Post 10 Reform Principles: Aligning the System
The U.S. healthcare system is enormous, expensive, and complex. But it is not irredeemable. By focusing on structure, transparency, and incentives, it is possible to reduce waste, improve access, and align resources with actual care.
Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Post 2 Who Actually Funds the Machine?
Employers contribute a significant portion of the premium, but economists generally agree those costs are built into total compensation. In practical terms, health insurance premiums come out of wages — whether workers see the deduction
Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Post 3 Where the Money Goes
Price negotiation occurs through insurers and pharmacy benefit managers, but patients often experience unpredictability in costs, especially for high-cost or specialty medications.
Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Post 4 Following the Dollar
Even here, the dollar is split: part covers the premium contribution from the employee, part comes from the employer’s share. Often, employees never see this money — it’s folded into total compensation. This means the
Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Post 5 Administrative Complexity: The Invisible Cost
Administrative complexity is invisible to most patients. You see your bills, your deductible, your co-pay — but rarely the thousands of small interactions behind them.
Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Post 6 Insurance Design: Why It Feels Complicated
Network design can be narrow, meaning that not every local provider is covered. This protects insurers from excessive risk but can frustrate patients who assume all doctors are treated equally under their plan.
Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Post 7 Chronic Disease: The Real Cost Driver
“The machine isn’t broken because of greed. It’s stressed because of chronic demand and misaligned incentives.”
Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Post 8 Rural Healthcare & Consolidation: When the Machine Strains
Even when care is “available” virtually, the real-world friction remains: long travel times, delayed treatment, and fragmented services.
Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Post 9 Incentive Audit: Who Really Benefits?
Structural Takeaways Complexity, consolidation, and financial engineering create winners and losers. The system works for efficiency and risk management, but not always for access, affordability, or simplicity. Understanding incentives is essential before discussing reform: any
Hey SCOTUS, it’s time to start doing what’s right.
It's time to put the Nation first and tell the Pumkin Head where to put it. Current Status Payments on Hold: Full November SNAP benefits are paused nationwide pending the 1st Circuit's ruling and potential
Hey Senator, the President didn’t Elect you, we did.
Stop pretending the party and the philosophy are the same thing “Rapid swings create unintended consequences — let’s slow this down.”
Hey, all you good Christians, someone you should pay attention to has made his point.
In a rare statement on U.S. politics, Pope Leo XIV expressed concerns over remarks made by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a meeting with military commanders, criticizing their confrontational rhetoric as
High‑Level Analysis: How a Bipartisan Containment Strategy Could Incentivize Both Parties
If the Epstein materials threaten individuals far more powerful than Trump, then Trump’s resistance to transparency might be driven by external pressure. In such a scenario, the political system — including members of both parties
How about some Real Free Speach
I'm thinking of a free speech challenge to Elon, is bot traffic free speech, is ad revenue theft free speech, is radical left or right hate bot meme attacks free speech or is an honest
How Citizens United Came to Be: From a Hillary Hit Piece to Unlimited Corporate Cash in Elections – Dark Money
Fifteen years later (and counting), the ruling birthed super PACs, record-shattering election spending, and ongoing calls for a constitutional amendment to overturn it. Polls show overwhelming public opposition across party lines. Was Citizens United a
How REAL Social Media FREE SPEACH Could Work
No child exploitation No credible threats of violence No doxxing of private individuals No coordinated foreign interference No impersonation or fraud #FreeSpeechTest #BotFree #SocialExperiment #HumanDiscourse #FreeSpeechTest #SocialExperiment
How to Protect your Voting Rights
Question what you are being told, check with your State, The State controls voting, not the Federal Government and especially not the current administration. You will lied to and you will be threatened. Follow these
How Trump is Controlling Free Speech
I asked Grok "Trump sues everyone who says anything bad about him, I see it as his way of eliminating free speech through intimidation, am I missing something here?" Searched for "Trump lawsuits free speech
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