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lieven

@thisislieven@c.im

mastodon 4.7.2

i write among other things // queer // neurodivergent // millennial // progressive // multicoloured // european // yes that is my mouth

82 Followers

156 Following

50 Posts

Joined July 23, 2026

musings:

https://paper.wf/thisislieven

lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 3w ago

Replying to

@fname@kamloops.social I had no idea this was called CamelCase. Someone pointed it out in a post recently and I have made it a point to use in my own hashtags since. I've noticed with the hashtags that show up when you write one most suggestions lack CamelCase. It'd be great if that could be fixed. Generally how that works can do with some improvement in which suggestions are shown as there are often many for what is the same thing.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 3w ago

Replying to

@MiaMarkTwo@syzito.xyz @Nickiquote@mstdn.social That's one difficult thing people often forget. There are many communities around the world, primarily but not only rural, where FB is the social infrastructure. Want updates from the school of your kids? Sport clubs? Local government? It's all Facebook. That needs to change and it's not that difficult to do really but you can't really blame people for using the platform when it's either that or effectively being shut out of your own local community.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Replying to

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to What I appreciate about your threads is how it's not so much about revealing new things but placing them in new contexts. It's a neurodivergent mind at its best. 😀 It helps the rest of us process our own stories and our collective story in a different way and, frankly, I think there's even a healing aspect to it. In my own story work I have always tried to tie the personal to the systemic. Often my own story but also those of others. I've found it to be a very effective way to help people understand just how society is stacked against some people. What I find remarkable is that you can get people to admit this but then it still comes down to personal responsibility and the work of the individual to make life work for them. It is so entrenched in people's minds that it's 'you' and not 'us' that is the problem. I have more to say about the actual content of your thread but it's too early on my end to really come to anything coherent. Hopefully later today.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1w ago

Replying to

@WeirdWriter@caneandable.social Maybe there's someone willing to do an illustration (I can't help you there sadly)? Here's the alt as I would write it: A young tabby cat looks straight into the camera. They have piercing blue eyes which are simultaneously adorable, fierce, mysterious and a little menacing. There is no knowing what's next but whatever it is this kitten will be part of it.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Nox Mobility has just revealed the design for its night trains. It's possibly the best design for a regular night train? I love the overhead double bed!

I really hope they become a successful player in the market.

Starting in March 2027 (Hamburg-Munich).

https://youtu.be/TiuQeDUyZ98

#NoxMobility #NightTrain #Travel #TravelEurope #Trains

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

I was just reminded of this thread by journalist Sarah Jeong who accidentally found herself in the middle of the South Korea demonstrations calling for then-president Yoon's impeachment and arrest almost two years ago.

It's really good but also hilarious. Worth the read.

It's also not news but perhaps it's inspiration.

https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjeong.bsky.social/post/3lcfxvft4u22g

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 3w ago

Replying to

@MiaMarkTwo@syzito.xyz @Nickiquote@mstdn.social Just realised I developed proper fedi-brain. I read instances as servers.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Replying to

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to To me, one of the best things of being neurodivergent is our ability to detect patterns others won't. Where others may be able to go from A to B to C we go from A to cuboid to water. I have my own occasional brilliant moments but from what I've seen you're having them consistently. It's important. We have to keep fighting for ourselves but also the world. Understanding the how and what of it all is the basis of doing that. That said, one of the worst things of being neurodivergent is that few people actually listen.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

Replying to

@jon@gruene.social I think you've derailed, Jon.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

RE: @stephie_hamburg@norden.social

Centrism enables Fascism.

Too many people keep advocating for the politics of 10-20 years ago, a return to 'normal' - completely ignoring the path of the last 40+ years that brought us where we are today. By and large the work of centrists (liberals, neoliberals, whathaveyou).

The narrative that only centrists can fix it isn't just wrong - it's the exact opposite. This is the narrative we need to counter, and luckily we're getting more and more significant wins the world over to do just this.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

This is an interesting, if sobering, study on the sexual behaviour of Gen Z. The sample is only from the US but I think you will see similar results elsewhere, at least in Europe.

Basically - life is made impossible for everyone and twice so for young people which also greatly impacts their intimate lives.

The gay guys are doing well though!

https://sexsurvey.playboy.com

#GenZ #Sex #Research

sexsurvey.playboy.com

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

Replying to

@mynameistillian@plush.city Are you familiar with the Finnish approach? They've been able to massively reduce homelessness and actually offer sustainable help through a housing first approach. It's not perfect but one of the best programs out there. And yes, hostile architecture is vile but Czechia is far from alone in doing this.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Replying to

@mynameistillian@plush.city I just checked. Kazakhstan did participate in Intervision last year...

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Replying to

@celeduc@mastodon.social Sort of a chicken-egg thing. Are the evil ones responsible or those who enable it? I expect better of the Sanchez government but perhaps that was always a little naive to begin with. And I don't quite understand how we've ever allowed the media to be so concentrated in the hands of the few.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Replying to

@mynameistillian@plush.city When suddenly you're the racist for pointing out racism. White people need to grow some thick skin and/or take responsibility for their actions, seriously.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Replying to on wandering.shop

@troublewithwords@wandering.shop Well, it's not so much me but everybody else pronouncing hyperbole wrong.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Replying to on mstdn.social

@Nickiquote@mstdn.social The EU has all the legislative tools in place to ban Twitter. It's absolutely insane our leaders allow for this to happen while the harm it does on both the individual and societal level is extreme. If anything is a clear example of what gets priority this is it.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 3w ago

Replying to

@s1m0n4@ohai.social I know Kallas is in support and Kubilius has been calling for it from the day he stepped into his role. The Council is where the problem has always been. Frankly, both Councils as the leaders have been reluctant at best as well. I'm not sure if something has changed or that VDL spoke out of bounds (wouldn't be the first time). Based on reporting the latter seems more likely but no journalists were in the rooms where this may have been discussed, so who knows? Sadly, the Council of the EU does a fairly good job at keeping things watertight.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 3w ago

Replying to

@s1m0n4@ohai.social I haven't read that yet but VDL did announce a European Security Council (which is not her call but it's a first step, or actually 100th step but renewed I guess). I know we have some (toothless) defence infrastructure but am unaware of a Defence Council? Ordinarily I would have written off the UK as a potential member given their US sycophancy but when it comes to defence it may be different. Burnham also hasn't shown much colour yet on this issue sso who knows (though I don't expect much). I'm not well informed enough on Australia to have an opinion. In my ideal scenario we keep NATO for now but build up our own similar organisation as Europeans and allied nations - fully on the basis of equality, without big dogs - and ditch NATO as soon as we can. And that includes no more US bases in Europe.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 3w ago

RE: https://mastodon.social/@eunews/117284760267886336 Well, I'm glad we're in it together with Canada this time - may it give our European leaders the strength and courage to hold firm.

mastodon.social

European News 🇪🇺: "Trump says EU letting Canada become an associate …" - Mastodon

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 3w ago

@_elena@mastodon.social I believe you were looking for this? https://c.im/@thisislieven/117280347392386467

Quoting

@thisislieven@c.im

First look at the EU Kids Act (BOOOO) https://bsky.app/profile/patrickgradyy.bsky.social/post/3mvmmyk7lwa2y #EU #EUPol #EuropeanUnion #EUKidsAct

Open quoted post

lieven: "First look at the EU Kids Act (BOOOO) https://…" - C.IM

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

Replying to

@KatyElphinstone@mas.to All of this, and when the world is willing to recognise these aspects of us not only can we thrive but contribute in a very specific and significant way across all layers of society to the benefit of us all. Sadly this doesn't happen anywhere near often enough though. (sorry for being a bit late to the party)

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

Looking at the state of the world what weighs heaviest on me is that I just don’t understand it. From a rational perspective I get the various interests. Why the harm done to Y is to the benefit of Z. Why having power is cool. Why money is great to have. Why the short term is more fun than the long term. All the yadas. But when I approach it from my heart, on that deep emotional level, my id perhaps, I do not understand how we as humans can do what we do. It just does not compute.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

I hate when a business tells you 'thank you for the trust you place in us' - I never said I did and I most likely don't. Also: thank you for your patience (while we half-heartedly try not to fix whatever hellscape we unleashed on you). My patience is forced and it takes me considerable effort not to explode. Acknowledging the actual reality of the situation fosters far more goodwill and might actually earn my patience. Fuck your thank you.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

Replying to

@malteengeler@legal.social This a good read, thanks for writing it. If I may add something in regards to verification, which applies to W but also other spaces: There are groups for who this can be incredibly problematic and even traumatic. LGBTQ+ people, especially those who are gender non-conforming, people with visible disabilities and people of colour often do not pass these kinds of verifications for different reasons (but tech being centered on cishet able-bodied white folk might have something to do with this). Then there's also the issue that a lot of people have a name or gender marker in their ID that does not reflect who they are and with whom they do not identify other than forcibly so. There are numerous reasons for this and often it can't just be changed, or takes a lot of effort and money. These people have an impossible choice to make.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

Replying to on eigenmagic.net

@daedalus@eigenmagic.net There's something joyous about this post arriving close to midnight for me. Reminds me of the times where that was indeed the start of the 'day' all too often. Actually, maybe it's also sad that's not the case anymore.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Replying to

@UsagiTsukino@kolektiva.social Integrity would be nice but it's probably a safer bet they'll bring a stop to climate change. Sadly it comes down to us to educate others and help them understand why these laws aren't what they claim to be - quite the Herculean task.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

Replying to

@mynameistillian@plush.city I've dealt with it my entire life and it sucks. What makes it more difficult is that so many people act like it doesn't exist because it tends to be less literal and explicit than, say, the US but in a way that makes it worse. It are the micro-aggressions and the denied opportunities and such. Or always having to present your ID when you cross a Schengen border where others don't have to. It's somewhat addressed but at the same time they're addressing it for decades now and little has changed. I tend to deliberately hang with diverse and multi-national crowds where it doesn't really exist, and those communities are plenty across Europe. They can also help you navigate these things as well as whatever bureaucracy you may face. Also, queer over gay spaces (i.e. the more alternative and underground rather than the mainstream gay bars). Find, no: claim, your space and Europe can be wonderful. Also, you've been here for a day, maybe give yourself some time to find what works for you.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 3w ago

Replying to

@_elena@mastodon.social Supposedly VDL will also speak about it tomorrow (have your popcorn ready? - they sure are hyping the SOTEU). According to the Europe Morning Post it will be discussed in the Commission today and Thursday presented by both VDL and Virkkunen. It will apply to socials, gaming and AI. Unless something leaks my guess is we just have to wait. The ambiguity may also be strategic for a long time to come though.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Replying to

@celeduc@mastodon.social You think this is nefarious from the Spanish government or are they just too stupid to understand the basic foundations of the internet? Generally Sanchez seems to try to do the right thing but also gets it quite spectacularly wrong at times - at least that's how I perceive it.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

Replying to

@EUCommission@ec.social-network.europa.eu It's nice you enact policy directly benefitting your social media spox @hpod16@eupolicy.social 😀 (generally it's a good thing though, and with my weekly dye job I am grateful too)

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 3w ago

Replying to

@BaronessWinter@beige.party @fname@kamloops.social oh i got bad news for you. in my writing zero caps is a deliberate style choice i often employ. in fact, even my name - online and real - is stylised in lower case.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 3w ago

Replying to

@s1m0n4@ohai.social As a side note: I enjoy these back and forths we've been having. We're both knowledgeable but from slightly different angles. It's interesting. 😀

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

Replying to

@jon@gruene.social Do you have access to Galileo? Maybe that works - and is our own European system to boot!

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1w ago

Replying to

@MossyQuartz@social.vivaldi.net @WeirdWriter@caneandable.social I am no cat expert and, frankly, cats tend to love me more than I love them. That's to say I may well be wrong but as I understand it that 'M' marking on their forehead is what makes it a tabby. My approach to alt text is to be descriptive enough that you get an idea of what's in the image but beyond that focus more on what it evokes and, often, add something a little funny or unexpected. Not saying one way or the other is better but that's how I like to do it.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Macronist, former French PM and 2027 presidential candidate Gabriel Attal calls for the United States of Europe (there's some important detail in the article). Ditch the name (jfc), but do steam ahead. He seems to have little chance of winning though. https://www.euractiv.com/news/time-to-build-the-united-states-of-europe-says-french-presidential-hopeful #GabrielAttal #France #EU #FederalEurope #FrancePresidentialElection

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

I just read something on how affordable or free childcare is considered to be instrumental in gender equality. I find that weird. Whether or not you can afford childcare has nothing to do with whom of the parents goes to work and who stays home. Men, on average, are paid better for the same job. That's an issue. Traditional expectations on how cishet couples arrange life are an issue. The way we treat moms vs how we treat dads. That's an issue. The accessibility of childcare is an issue too. But not in regards to gender equality. Think we're blaming the wrong thing here. As per usual. #ChildCare #GenderEquality #WomensRights

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

Replying to

@fallen_angela@tech.lgbt That seems to be failing. I don't really follow it but since a few people posted about it I checked if something was happening and several members of the tv cast have spoken out against her. Does make you wonder why they want to be in one of her projects... (the argument that she's just some far away producer not otherwise involved really isn't enough). @jonathanreed@techhub.social @BenRiceM@mastodon.social

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

Replying to

@NickEast_IndieWriter@mastodon.art I never mind, and sometimes love, when fantasy and science fiction sets its own set of rules how medicine or science or whatever works but few things I loathe more than when the internal logic doesn't hold within the story. It just pulls me right out of it. Set your own rules - sure. But then don't go breaking them (or come up with some ridiculously tortured explanation). It happens far too often. @fantasy@lemmy.world @bookstodon@fedigroups.social @books@lemmy.world @reading@fedigroups.social @worldbuilding @humor@fedigroups.social @humor@lemmy.world @aiop

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

Replying to

@MAKS23@mastodon.social Ukraine is effectively the front line of Europe. If Ukraine falls Europe has a big, big problem. That's the selfish argument. The moral argument is that Ukraine has the right to determine its own future and supporting them is simply the right thing to do. For Europeans even more so given that Ukraine is part of Europe and, hopefully, also part of the EU in the not-too-distant future. Stubb is one of the better leaders we have in Europe, though I do wish he could let go of the atlanticist mindset (Canada excepted).

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 3w ago

Replying to

@s1m0n4@ohai.social I've been called a shill for Russia because I dare be critical of the EU or that I've fallen for US or Russian propaganda (reddit mostly). It's annoying, though I've found the atmosphere on Mastodon considerably better. People are also a little bit more knowledgeable here. Sad to hear you had some other experiences. You're hoping to work for the EU? That's awesome. I do think the EU is ridiculously restrictive in who qualifies for a position, which also harms the EU at large if you ask me.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

Replying to

@fraggle@social.coop I'm well aware and it's just maddening. In a sense all these movies based on video games are also a reboot? Just in a new format. That's not always a bad thing but Minecraft is not exactly high culture? Not critiquing it as a game but not sure it's worthy of other formats (it's also infiltrating theme parks now). There's a link between culture, politics, corporate, media - whatever else. I keep having a whiplash because we are regressing at rapid speed but there's also a movement that says it's been enough (hence the arrival of fediverse for a start). The question is what will win and I fear it won't be the right side. @jonathanreed@techhub.social @BenRiceM@mastodon.social

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Oh fun the Dutch hate the gays now. (It's not quite that extreme but this is seriously bad and shocking) HBSC study on kids found in 2021 that 78% of girls looked positively at homosexuality, that number is now 51%. For boys that was 40% dropping to 22%. This is an international study but as I understand it data from other countries is yet to be published. Just casually checking the news across Europe on a Sunday evening and oh they hate my community now. If you don't know how this feels - it's a punch to the gut every single time. https://nos.nl/artikel/2631829-nederlandse-jongeren-zijn-veel-negatiever-gaan-denken-over-homoseksualiteit #LGBTQ #GayRights #Netherlands #HBSC

Nederlandse jongeren zijn veel negatiever gaan denken over homoseksualiteit

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

I try not to think in stereotypes but in this case, well, yeah...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/23/fears-mount-that-next-un-chief-will-downgrade-climate-action

#UN #UNSecretaryGeneral

theguardian.com

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 1mo ago

Replying to

@mynameistillian@plush.city It takes time. When life becomes normal it's likely to suddenly hit you (it did for me). When you've just done some groceries at the same store for the 100th time, walk home and barely noticing the streets around you, just chilling at home with a cuppa and a good book. Something like that. It's the ordinary that makes a place your home.

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Cowardice.

And it's problematic the Dutch coordinating body of public broadcasters won't back one of its members even when the people by and large support the (temporary) Dutch withdrawal of Eurovision.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/netherlands-eurovision-2027-return_uk_6ab3d223e4b08976697d2576

#Eurovision #Netherlands #NPO

huffingtonpost.co.uk

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 3w ago

First look at the EU Kids Act (BOOOO) https://bsky.app/profile/patrickgradyy.bsky.social/post/3mvmmyk7lwa2y #EU #EUPol #EuropeanUnion #EUKidsAct

Patrick Grady (@patrickgradyy.bsky.social)

🚨 So the EU's social media ban (EU KIDS ACT) is finally here. 🧵

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 3w ago

Replying to on social.coop

pol

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Interrail has a massive sale going on.

50% for 'global' passes longer than a month, 15% for everything else. You have up to a year to activate the pass.

Available to anyone anywhere in the world.

h/t @seatsixtyone.bsky.social

https://www.interrail.com/en

#Interrail #Trains #Europe

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lieven @thisislieven@c.im

· 2w ago

Replying to

@panda@assemblag.es @KatyElphinstone@mas.to Blindboy is great, I've heard some of his stuff. My podcast rotation is rather heavy as is so he's not among my regular listens but maybe I should reconsider.

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