NFL Player Adrian Peterson’s ‘Mind Blown’ After Being Arrested for Domestic Violence at LAX

NFL Player Adrian Peterson’s ‘Mind Blown’ After Being Arrested for Domestic Violence at LAX


NFL free agent Adrian Peterson says he’s “mind blown” after being arrested for a domestic dispute he had with his wife at Los Angeles International Airport.

Peterson was arrested early Sunday morning over allegations of domestic violence aboard an aircraft bound for Houston, ESPN reports. Police responded to a call around 8:30 a.m. local time about “a verbal and physical altercation between a male suspect and a female victim.”

Peterson was booked at the Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Division with a $50,000 bail. On Sunday afternoon, he was released on bond ahead of the Super Bowl between the LA Rams and Cincinnati Bengals.

A rep for Peterson confirmed that Peterson and his wife, Ashley, “had a verbal argument” en route to Houston. During the spat, Peterson grabbed Ashley’s wedding ring and ended up scratching her finger.

The source said Ashley Peterson had no plans to press charges.

“This is a private misunderstanding between husband and wife and we anticipate it will all be resolved shortly,” the Petersons’ representative said in a statement.

Since the arrest, Peterson said he is completely surprised by the arrest over a minor dispute he had with his wife.

“I was literally mind-blown that they took me to jail,” Peterson told Fox 26. “They were like, ‘I’m sorry, Mr. Peterson, but because she had a scratch on her finger, [in] the state of California, we have to take you in.’”

“I sit there and watch the plane pull back and take off and I’m just like, ‘Wow! I cannot believe this is happening right now. I’m going to jail, and I literally didn’t do anything.’”

“It’s blown out of proportion,” he said.

“Me and the wife got into an argument on the plane. That was pretty much the gist of it. I ended up grabbing her hand and taking her ring off her finger. She didn’t press any charges. The state of California pressed charges because there was a scratch on her hand. Literally, that’s why I went to jail because the ring left a scratch on her finger. We just had a disagreement. I know the headlines: Domestic violence. You’d think I beat her up or something. It was nothing like that.”

Peterson insinuated that a fellow female passenger was the cause of the argument being blown out of proportion.

“She kind of made it more than it was and brought more attention to it,” he said.

“Only thing I will say is it looks horrible because Adrian Peterson [was] arrested for domestic violence. I don’t hit women. It’s not that type of situation, and it just looks bad. I’ll deal with it, and God willing, get the charges dropped and move on.”

Peterson’s latest arrest comes nearly eight years after being arrested in 2014 for allegedly beating his then 4-year-old son with a tree switch, NY Post reports.

After pleading no contest to a reduced charge of misdemeanor reckless assault, Peterson received two-year probation, was fined $4,000, had to perform 80 hours of community service, and was suspended from the NFL for one year.

Massachusetts School Fires Teacher Who Made Toddlers Wear Black-Face Masks For Black History Month

Massachusetts School Fires Teacher Who Made Toddlers Wear Black-Face Masks For Black History Month


Last Tuesday, a Massachusetts Montessori school teacher instructed a classroom full of toddlers to make and wear Blackface masks as a Black History Month project, NBC10 Boston reported.

The school has since issued an apology and terminated the teacher’s employment.

The incident, which occurred at IC Kids, a Montessori school in Newton, Massachusetts, came to light after one mother, Nadira Price, learned about what happened while picking up her children. She reportedly expressed her concerns to the school and withdrew them.

(Image: NBC10 Boston)

In an effort to alleviate the situation, IC Kids posted an apology on Facebook. The posting received heavy criticism. Since then, the school’s social media account appears to have been deactivated, according to NBC10 Boston.

“This is unacceptable and don’t really understand the concept of this project,” Pierce told the station after also posting her complaints on social media.

“The apology received was empty and then to go onto Facebook and see that apology was disheartening. I hope this is a lesson to possibly really prepare to do projects on cultures before doing them to avoid a hurtful gesture to a group of people.”

In addition to the apology, IC Kids wrote a statement regarding the “black Mask/blackface instance” and posted it on one of the institution’s windows. It stated that the daycare and preschool is now closed until further notice due to concerns about possible protests.

Statement taped to window outside IC Kids School.

“To celebrate ‘black history month’, a teacher in toddler classroom at ICKids planned and carried out an activity that involved black masks ‘blackface.’ One of the parents brought it to our attention and was offended; The teacher apologized to the parent,” the statement read.

The statement went on to address the previous Facebook apology, and confirm that the teacher responsible for the “planned and executed activity” had been “released from her employment.”

“While wording of Facebook apology was not the best statement, we were trying to send a message to say that research for toddler curriculum was not executed or completed in the manner that It should have been, so we apologize to every and anyone this may have offended,” the statement continued.

There has not been any reports of protests or demonstrations at the school.

Venus & Serena Williams’ Estranged 21-Year-Old Nephew Dead From Apparent Suicide

Venus & Serena Williams’ Estranged 21-Year-Old Nephew Dead From Apparent Suicide


An estranged nephew of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams passed away from suicide at the young age of 21, according to reports.

Alphonse Williams reportedly took his own life on February 3 after falling into a depressed state following his recent diagnosis of Peyronie’s disease, The Sun reports. The disease, which causes the curvature of the penis, can also cause serious depression in a third of sufferers.

Alphonse’s mother, Sabrina Williams, is heartbroken over the loss of her youngest of two sons but appreciative of the time she was able to spend with Alphonse.

“When my son attempted [to end] his life two and a half years ago, I asked God, save his life and give me a little bit more time, please,” Sabrina said. “And God answered my prayers. He did. He gave me two and a half years more than I expected.”

“I knew he was on loan and God called in that loan.”

Sabrina is the half-sister of Venus and Serena from father Richard Williams’ first marriage to Betty Johnson. She has been estranged from her father and his two athletic proteges since he left his first wife to pursue his dream of creating future tennis champions, Radar Online reports.

His journey to turn Venus and Serena into tennis champions was portrayed in the Oscar-nominated film King Richard. While actor Will Smith could take home his first Academy Award for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the real-life character has an estranged daughter who says she is done reaching out to that side of her family after years of trying to no avail.

“The rest of the family are now dead to me,” Sabrina said of her estranged father and siblings.

She believes that Alphonse, who also struggled with bipolar disorder, had overdosed on an unknown medication.

“He [Alphonse] was crying last Monday, hysterical crying. The week before, the doctor confirmed what he already knew, that he had Peyronie’s,” Sabrina revealed. “He had started back at high school, he was going into his fourth semester of computer engineering and was regularly seeing a counselor.”

The family is awaiting autopsy results to determine the exact cause of death.

“We know he’s taken some strong medicines which would have made him fall asleep, he would have gone into respiratory distress, but wouldn’t have known. He just never woke up,” she said.

The grieving mother admits to suffering from her own mental health issue in the past and has started to open the door for communication with her direct family to help heal.

“I told my family and was put in hospital for three days,” Sabrina said.

“You need to speak to someone. Mental health is a disease, but I want to tell other people: ‘You can get through this’.”

Sabrina has now made it her mission to help others battling with mental health in her late son’s honor.

“After that, it’s going to be a mission to reach out to help other people, it will be his legacy, I miss my baby,” Sabrina said. “That’s my life goal. I have an unconditional desire to help people.”

Sabrina Williams is currently working on a tell-all book about her estranged father’s alleged abandonment of his first wife and kids.

Four Black-Owned Breweries Release Four-Pack Beer Celebrating Pioneers In Black History

Four Black-Owned Breweries Release Four-Pack Beer Celebrating Pioneers In Black History


Four Black-owned breweries in California have joined forces to create a commemorative limited edition release with label art honoring heroes of Black history.

On February 1, a four-pack was released as part of the Second Edition Peoples Beer special.

Each different style of Hazy India Pale Ale has been crafted and brewed by Full Circle Brewing Co., Hella Coastal Brewing Co., Hunters Point Brewery, and Oak Park Brewing Co. (OPB), according to East Bay Times. The mixed beer, made with different formulas of yeast and hops, will be available at retailers throughout Northern California.

The label art, created by Milton Bowens, celebrates several Black historical pioneers, including Bessie Coleman, the first female African-American pilot; Mary Ellen Pleasant, a self-made millionaire in Gold Rush San Francisco who was instrumental in expanding the Underground Railroad; and Robert Abbott, publisher and founder of the Chicago Defender, which was the most widely distributed Black newspaper in its time.

 

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Sacramento’s Oak Park Brewing Co. brought new life to the Peoples Beer brand in 2020 to honor the legacy of Theodore Mack Sr. With a dream of launching America’s first Black brewery, Mack and a group of investors successfully purchased The Peoples Brewing Company in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, making the venture the first African American ownership of a major brewery in the country.

 

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Rodg Little, co-owner of OBP, decided then that he wanted to celebrate Black History Month in a new way.

“We reached out to three other Black-owned breweries–we wanted to be Black brewery-focused or -forward—and we just wanted to do something different. I don’t think anybody had done that before at the time. It was just like, ‘Let’s share the love.’”

OBP, alongside the other three breweries, is committed to movements that support inclusion, diversity, and equity in the craft beer industry.

“Across the nation, we’re less than 1 percent, and that’s including brewers, brewery owners, distributors, and people of color in the industry altogether,” Little said. “For Sacramento, it’s definitely a rarity–we only have two Black-owned breweries, so that’s iconic in itself.”

In efforts to grow the 1%, these breweries are making history every day all while recognizing those who came before them.

 

Commentary: Keeping up with the Joneses Has a New Look: Financial Literacy


More and more Black people are investing in the stock market, and with data that indicates 34% of Black households own equity investments, this is good news, right?

Well, not exactly. It is vital for Black households to consider how lifestyle marketers and social media might trigger financial trauma on the road to building wealth. 

As the culture shifts to embrace ideas around ownership, including equity investing, intellectual property, land, real estate, and even cryptocurrency, it’s clear that ownership—and public displays of ownership—is the new cool; but are we doing it to build wealth or are we doing it for the ‘gram? Lifestyle marketing via social media has many people questioning whether or not the race they are running and the pace they are running it is appropriate for where they are in their lives.

Screenshots of financial gains, credit line increases, and account balances meant to motivate and inspire might have the opposite effect. People may learn to covet the results that come as a result of years of study, trial and error, and a moment in time without taking into account the many failures that may have led up to that point—and that may follow—and compare those successes to their learning and building phase. This becomes a slippery slope as an original desire to build wealth can rapidly morph into greed and ego-driven attempts to flex for social media likes, follows, and even sales, a recipe for disaster for all involved. When did keeping up with the Jones’s start to look like financial education?

Unfortunately, this is not new or unique to our community, as is the case for many other things; social media simply amplifies it. 

Lifestyle marketing 

“I aspired to be poor” was one of the opening lines of my 2019 TED talk, where I describe growing up on Section 8 and deciding that when I was old enough to live on my own that I would get an apartment on Section 8. When I realized that homeownership was not only possible for me but probable after reading the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad, I decided to do everything I could to put myself in a position to own before 25.

I was disciplined and determined and saved a down payment of about $12,000 before I stumbled upon a real estate investing seminar with the “Rich Dad” name.

For the entire three days, the audience was sold on lifestyle, being able to provide for your family, taking action, etc. I spent my entire down payment on the base plan that covered topics, strategies, and information I would later learn I could find for much cheaper or free via Google.

Lifestyle marketing taps into the traumas you already have around money by making a connection between where you are and where you would like to be if you buy this program, course, etc. Many people learn the hard way that it takes a bit more than that high-ticket course or program to realize the success needed to change their lifestyle. Some even recognize that the marketed lifestyle isn’t even one that the marketer lives regularly, further exacerbating that financial trauma with mistrust toward financial professionals, educators, and coaches. 

Meme stocks, NFTs, and cryptocurrencies

Suppose you’re like me and have been burnt by a well-marketed product or program. In that case, you have two options: you put yourself out there again wiser and more informed about the triggers you have in making a decision, or you reject any attempts made to market to you and try to figure it out for yourself. Unfortunately, companies invest in marketing to both. Robinhood uses gamification to entice inexperienced investors and has been accused of manipulating customers via that gamification by Massachusetts regulators. At the height of the pandemic, we saw an increased interest in stocks from companies like Gamestop and AMC and cryptocurrency meme coins like Doge and Shiba Inu because of viral social media.

Even celebrities like Elon Musk, Mark Cuban, and Meek Mill got in on the action, prompting inexperienced investors to buy not because of explicit direction but because of articulated interest.

That’s not to say that money can’t be made investing in the asset classes mentioned. Still, it is important to consider the risks associated with investing as a whole, and that’s not a message echoed loud enough amid the screenshots and celebratory praises of massive overnight increases in value.

NFT’s or non-fungible tokens are now the asset class of focus with status attached to exclusive access and unique designs displayed across social media, from celebrities to your next-door neighbor. It can be easy to throw money at social media trends when your favorite stars are indirectly endorsing it—even if that money is needed for bills—which furthers the case for education and due diligence. 

To be clear, just because you participate in the purchase and sale of asset classes doesn’t make you an investor, and just because you are an investor doesn’t mean you’re financially literate. When we think about the need for more ownership and financial literacy in our communities, we also have to think about how to defend against the manipulation of our financial traumas, doubts, and desperation when being marketed to under the guise of “generational wealth” and “financial literacy.” 

Rahkim Sabree is a certified financial education instructor, author, speaker, and financial coach. His work has been seen or published in Business Insider, The Grio, Black Enterprise, Entrepreneur, Money magazine, Thrive Global, Parents magazine, and more. Follow him on Twitter or visit his website

Coalition of Faith Leaders Call for NFL to Move 2023 Super Bowl From Arizona Because of ‘Voter Suppression’


Faith for Black Lives and a coalition of over 400 faith leaders call on Chairman Roger Goodell and the National Football League to move Super Bowl LVII from Arizona in 2023 due to restrictive voting laws and the assault on our democracy.

Coalition leaders are demanding an urgent meeting with Chairman Goodell and NFL leadership in order to discuss the impact of voter suppression. The coalition is prepared to escalate their demand through disruptive, non-violent direct action if their requests are not met.

In 2021, Arizona passed three restrictive laws intended to limit the time voters can fix their absentee ballots, address signature issues and allow for the removal of voters from the vote by mail list. The majority of voters harmed by these laws are African American, Latino, and Native American voters, as well as rural voters and poor and low-income voters, according to a press release.

In a letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell, Faith for Black Lives said:

“Nearly thirty years ago, the NFL relocated Super Bowl XXVII from Arizona because of the state’s refusal to recognize Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We ask that you take the same action for Super Bowl LVII.”

“Are we called to be merely spectators of a sport we love, or are we called to act, as the NFL did the last time it stood up to Arizona? As two of the NFL’s slogans this season are ‘Inspire Change’ and ‘It Takes All of Us,’ who precisely are the us to be inspired, but the very spectators who also happen to be voters?”

“We are closer than ever to midnight for our democracy because Congress refuses to protect the right to vote,” said Rev. Stephen A. Green.

“Now is the time for corporate America to join the fight to redeem the soul of America. We invite Chairman Goodell to meet with us to discuss moving Super Bowl LVII from Arizona and refuse to invest in states that intend to limit access to the ballot. We intend to escalate our request through nonviolent direct action if our demands are not met promptly.”

 

Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer Will Host the 94th Oscars

Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer Will Host the 94th Oscars


This year’s Oscars Award producer announced the hosts for this year’s ceremony.

Will Packer, who is producing this year’s Oscars, revealed that Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes would be sharing hosting duties for the 94th Oscars®. This will be the first time that all three women are hosting the ceremony. The Oscars will air live on ABC and broadcast outlets worldwide on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

“This year’s show is all about uniting movie lovers. It’s apropos that we’ve lined up three of the most dynamic, hilarious women with very different comedic styles,” said Packer in a written statement.

“I know the fun Regina, Amy, and Wanda will be having will translate to our audience as well. Many surprises in store! Expect the unexpected!”

“We want people to get ready to have a good time. It’s been a while,” said Hall, Schumer, and Sykes.

Award-nominated actor and producer Hall will be starring in the upcoming Master where she also served as executive producer of the film. She is also producing and starring in Honk for Jesus, Save Your Soul.

Schumer is an Emmy®, Peabody, and Critics Choice Award-winning comedian, actor, writer, producer, and director. In her upcoming comedy series, Life and Beth, she is the writer, director, executive producer, and serves as its lead star.

The Emmy-winning writer, comedian, actor, and producer Sykes is a creator, executive producer, writer, and star of the comedy series The Upshaws. She can also be seen in the upcoming series History of the World; Part II.

The 94th Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby® Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood. The event will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.

The talented Packer is the founder and CEO of his own film production company, Will Packer Productions, and Will Packer Media, a television, digital, and branded content company. He has produced, or executive produced many movies that have earned critical praise throughout the years. Films that may be recognizable include The Photograph, Little, What Men Want, Night School, Breaking In, Girls Trip, Ride Along 2, Straight Outta Compton, No Good Deed, Think Like a Man Too, Ride Along, Think Like a Man, Takers, Obsessed and Stomp the Yard.

Packer has also been involved in television production as well. His list of television credits include That Girl Lay Lay, Blackballed, Ambitions, Bigger, Being Mary Jane, and Uncle Buck. Packer’s remake of Roots earned the producer an Emmy nomination.

Defamation Lawsuit Filed by George Zimmerman Against Trayvon Martin’s Parents Has Been Dismissed

Defamation Lawsuit Filed by George Zimmerman Against Trayvon Martin’s Parents Has Been Dismissed


The lawsuit that George Zimmerman, who shot and killed Trayvon Martin, filed against Martin’s parents has been dismissed by a Florida judge.

According to Newsweek, the lawsuit Zimmerman filed against Sybrina Fulton, and Tracy Martin for defamation and conspiracy has been dismissed by a judge in Florida.

In his ruling, Judge John Cooper in Tallahassee wrote that Zimmerman did not show “any fraudulent representation” in the lawsuit that also named attorney Ben Crump and others.

“There can be no claim for conspiracy to defraud if there is no adequately stated claim for fraud,” Cooper wrote in his order.

Zimmerman was acquitted on all charges in 2013 for fatally shooting Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old walking to his father’s girlfriend’s home in Florida after buying Skittles and iced tea from a convenience store in 2012. Zimmerman followed and approached Martin because he thought he was suspicious and then shot him during a scuffle, claiming self-defense. Zimmerman faced charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the case.

In a lawsuit filed by controversial right-wing attorney Larry Klayman on Zimmerman’s behalf, the former neighborhood watchman claims he was the victim of a conspiracy, malicious prosecution, and defamation.

Zimmerman’s legal team alleges that Martin’s former girlfriend, Rachel Jeantel, who testified as a key witness during Zimmerman’s trial, was an impostor, reports NBC News.

She is accused of standing in for Brittany Diamond Eugene — whom the suit says was Martin’s real girlfriend and is Jeantel’s half-sister — because she refused to testify.

In addition to naming Martin’s parents, Fulton and Martin, the suit alleges defamation by Martin’s family attorney Benjamin Crump. Several Florida prosecutors, the state of Florida and its law enforcement department, and HarperCollins, which published Crump’s book about violence toward Black people, were also named in the suit.

According to NBC News, shortly after filing the above lawsuit, Zimmerman filed papers against 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren. Zimmerman sued the Democratic presidential candidates for $265 million, claiming defamation based on their tweets in remembrance of Martin. The tweets were sent out on what would have been Martin’s 25th birthday.

In Florida, a federal court granted motions from the two candidates to dismiss the lawsuit soon after its filing, Courthouse News Service reported.

Atlanta Is Quickly Becoming A Growing Hub For Tech Companies To Find Black Talent

Atlanta Is Quickly Becoming A Growing Hub For Tech Companies To Find Black Talent


Major tech companies are flocking to Atlanta to grab up the city’s diverse tech workers in what is quickly becoming an “arms race” for IT talent.

Apple, Google parent, Alphabet, and Microsoft have all opened offices in the Peach State’s capital city in recent years. Additionally, CNBC reports that Visa is opening a new Atlanta office this year, where its chief diversity office will build relationships with startup companies and diverse tech workers.

“We know that our customer base at all levels includes the Black community, and we are not shy about wanting the Black community in our workforce,” Visa’s diversity chief, Michelle Gethers-Clark, told CNBC.

According to a CBRE 2021 report, Atlanta is the eighth-best city for sourcing tech talent. Additionally, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University are all based in the city and have partnerships with tech companies. Even HBCUs outside Atlanta are partnering with tech companies.

Not only does Atlanta have the IT talent and educational partnerships, but the Peach State is also emerging as a hot spot for cryptocurrency and bitcoin mining.

Fortune reports Georgia is attracting crypto miners due to its relatively low power prices and large amounts of nuclear and solar power, which allows mining companies to call them sustainable or emissions-free. Regulators in the state have also been friendly to miners, pushing the industry toward solar programs that enable companies to offset their emissions.

“At the end of the day, Georgia wants this business here,” Matt Schultz, CleanSpark’s executive chairman, told Fortune. “They’ve done everything in their power to grow Bitcoin in the state.”

Atlanta is also home to several tech incubators and innovation centers, including the Atlanta Tech Village, Atlanta Tech Park, and the Propel Center.

More than a dozen companies that were started or based in Atlanta have hit the threshold for unicorn status, meaning their valuations have reached over $1 billion, including Bakkt, Kabbage, which was purchased by American Express last year, and Calendly.

Swizz Beatz Confirms Verzuz Will Be Available On Instagram After Fans Criticize Subscription Model


Swizz Beatz had to ease tensions online after Verzuz fans blasted the brand for a move that would transform it into a subscription, pay-to-view model to watch future battles.

Last week, the Verzuz Instagram page shared a video promoting its Valentine’s Day battle between soul singers Anthony Hamilton and Musiq Soulchild. But instead of telling fans to tune in on Instagram Live, like in all of the past battles, Verzuz prompted viewers to sign up for a Triller Verzuz Pass to gain access.

“A night of amazing artists, music, and vibes!! We’re SOLD OUT for in-person tickets, but you’ll be able to watch on VERZUZTV.COM or in the @triller app!!” Verzuz captioned the post.

“To watch, sign up NOW for the #TrillerVerzPass (14-Day trial* included (*trial offer expires on 2/11!!,” they added.

 

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But after catching wind of the potential new subscription-based model, Verzuz fans took to Twitter to vent their frustration.

“We’re fighting inflation and #Verzuz expects us to pay for a battle that’s been free for 2 years? During Black History Month?? Please hang it up,” one user tweeted.

“#Verzuz used to be for the culture now it’s for capitalism. Tsk tsk,” added someone else.

“LMAO YOU GOTTA PAY????? Baby, this is DONE,” tweeted one user.

https://twitter.com/theygotkary/status/1493416795507671041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1493416795507671041%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.okayplayer.com%2Fmusic%2Fswizz-beatz-announces-verzuz-will-still-be-on-instagram-after-fans-balk-at-subscription-model.html

Meanwhile, Swizz Beatz was busy celebrating his wife on Valentine’s Day when he had to take time out of his to address all of the shade, Okay Player reports.

“See y’all rite here tonight on insta @verzuztv 😂⚡️ Who y’all rocking with @anthonyhamiltonofficial or @musiqsoulchild ? You can also watch in HD on verzuztv.com . I was out the country don’t ask me who did it 😂 it’s fixed 🤷🏽‍♂️ bless up 🙏🏽 love y’all”

 

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Swizz doubled down on his promise on Twitter, telling fans the Musiq Soulchild and Anthony Hamilton Valentine’s Day battle will be visible on Instagram.

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