Incredible Internal Cochlear Implants on the Way as Massachusetts Engineers Overcame All Obstacles

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Jul 8, 2024

An infant wearing a cochlear implant - credit Bjorn Knetsch, CC 2.0.

Biotech engineers have developed the first entirely internal cochlear implant that will allow users to move, exercise, swim, and enjoy a full range of human activities without worrying about external hardware.

This external hardware typically sits on top of the ear or around the head and prohibits all manner of vigorous activities—including sleep, since the device presses against the soft bones of the temple.

Despite these hindrances, cochlear implants are one of the most widely-used pieces of biotech on Earth, and have allowed over one million people to hear the world around them.

This doesn’t just include older people whose hearing has gone, but infants born deaf or hard of hearing who desperately need noise, particularly human voices, for normal social and educational development.

But because infants don’t realize the importance of the implant for their development, they’re liable to try and fiddle, or remove entirely, the external hardware, and with no other option, parents and physicians have to apply medical tape or childproof headgear that prevents them from removing it.

To try and remove this burden from all cochlear users, researchers at MIT, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, and Columbia University have pioneered the first cochlear implant that’s entirely surgically inserted.

Its novel design relies on the single-direction vibrations of a bone in the middle part of hearing canal called the umbo.

The team had to address many challenges to produce their prototype. The umbo vibrations are measured in nanometers—requiring an extremely sensitive microphone. A microphone so sensitive would also need to have gating properties to block the equally loud sound of the electronics working within it. It would also have to measure in the low millimeters.

Any implantable sensors would also have to cope with the dynamic fluid and hot environment of the human body. However, a fully implantable cochlear device would have major advantages as well. Because they are mounted on the sides of the head, the audio amplification device can’t avail the user of the noise filtering and sound localization cues provided by the structure of the outer ear.

MORE BIOTECH ADVANCES: Bioengineered Corneas Stand to Cure Blindness For Millions of People Around the World

The team overcame all these obstacles to create the UmboMic, a triangular, 3-millimeter by 3-millimeter motion sensor. It’s composed of a ‘piezoelectric’ material called polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF). Piezoelectric materials generate electrical charge when compressed or stretched, and when placed just barely against the umbo, the hearing bone’s vibrations generate the charge that powers the device.

The PVDF sandwiches a flexible printed circuit board, and to maximize the device’s performance, a low-noise amplifier enhances the signal while minimizing noise from the electronics. No amplifier that fit the teams’ specifications existed, so they had to build their own.

Karl Grosh, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan who didn’t participate in the research or development, told MIT Press that the capabilities of this totally new invention are both surprising and impressive.

MEDICAL TECH FOR THE FUTURE: UK Boy Has Brain Implant Fitted to Control Epilepsy Seizures in World First

“The results in this paper show the necessary broad-band response and low noise needed to act as an acoustic sensor,” said Grosh.

“This result is surprising, because the bandwidth and noise floor are so competitive with the commercial hearing aid microphone. This performance shows the promise of the approach, which should inspire others to adopt this concept.”

The team is now moving into animal trials.

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22 Tennessee State Parks Provide All-Terrain Wheelchairs for Visitors to Use

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Andy Corbley

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Jul 8, 2024

Tennessee has just launched a program offering at 22 of its state parks for providing all-terrain electric wheelchairs to visitors.

These allow disabled users to explore the beauty of the Volunteer State’s scenery for free to all kids and adults.

“We’re trying to extend other parts of accessibility so everybody feels welcome and invited to come to Tennessee State Parks,” deputy commissioner Greer Tidwell said.

There are only a few available at each park, so one TN news website recommends calling ahead and making a reservation.

“I thought that with a spinal cord injury, I would never be able to enjoy a nature trail again, and these chairs have just opened up that world again for me,” Tennessee resident Mary Lu Shipstad told Scripps News.

You can find the contact information for each park on the Tennessee State Parks website, which, however, is currently down for maintenance.

Tennessee joins a number of states and parks, including Colorado, Michigan, and South Dakota, as well as Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a National Park Service unit, that allow visitors to use or reserve off-road wheelchairs.

In 2022, GNN reported that Georgia and Minnesota also offer all-terrain chairs at some of their parks. Expensive and heavy, most of these states offer wheelchairs at only some of the parks, so always check before taking a disabled friend or loved one out for the day.

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A Polyester-Dissolving Process Could Make Modern Clothing Recyclable

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Andy Corbley

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Jul 8, 2024

Sci-Adv-2024-Chemical-Recycling-Textiles-4_NO-FILTER — - released by the study authors.

At the Univ. of Delaware, materials engineers have devised a chemical recycling method to separate artificial fibers like nylon from natural ones like cotton, promising a potentially breakthrough way to recycle clothing.

The fashion and textile industries account for around 10% of all world landfill waste, much of which isn’t recyclable. Polyester, spandex, and nylon textiles shed microplastics into the environment constantly, and most municipal recycling facilities don’t have the equipment to handle them.

At least as a whole there are methods of recycling these clothes, but when the fibers are combined with cotton or wool, they become impossible to recycle.

“We need a better way to recycle modern garments that are complex, because we are never going to stop buying clothes,” Erha Andini, a chemical engineer at the University of Delaware, told MIT’s Tech Review. “We are looking to create a closed-loop system for textile recycling.”

Andini is the lead author of a study on a process she’s pioneering, which is out today in Science Advances, that uses a solvent to break the chemical bonds in polyester and nylon, and cause the artificial threads to fall away from the natural ones. This allows for ideal recycling conditions in which both threads can be returned to this closed-loop system.

Using simple microwave energy to activate the solvent, the process is cheaper and more efficient as regards energy consumption.

Challenges still exist—some of the recycled artificial fibers have come out too degraded for further use, meaning the process loses significant value on the resale of the recycled product. The second issue is that while energy consumption is low, the solvent is noticeably expensive.

But having been awarded a fellowship for entrepreneurialism, Andani isn’t just a chemical engineer—she is focused on bringing the method to the market.

TACKLING FAST FASHION: Earn Credit From J. Crew by Helping Them Recycle Your Old Swimwear–Keeping Clothes Out of Landfills

“Hopefully, once we are able to get pure components from each part, we can transform them back into yarn and make clothes again,” she says. “It’ll be a matter of having the capital or not, but we’re working on it and excited for it.”

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“When it comes to forks in the road, your heart always knows the answer, not your mind.” – Marie Forleo

Quote of the Day

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Jul 8, 2024

Quote of the Day: “When it comes to forks in the road, your heart always knows the answer, not your mind.” – Marie Forleo

Photo by: Niklas Hamann

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Eating Baby Carrots 3 Times a Week May Provide Significant Health Benefits

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Jul 7, 2024

baby carrots-by engin akyurt-pubdomain — By engin akyurt

A new study found that eating a snack of baby carrots just three times a week significantly increased skin carotenoids in young adults. Levels of these phytonutrients were boosted even more when combined with a multivitamin containing beta carotene.

Carotenoids are responsible for the red, orange, and yellow pigments in many fruits and vegetables—and when it’s measured in the skin it shows how many fruits and vegetables you’ve been eating.

Higher levels of skin carotenoids are linked to increased antioxidant protection, and a lower risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and some cancers. This marker also reflects improved skin health and immune function.

“Previous studies have demonstrated that skin carotenoid levels can be increased by consuming three times the recommended serving of fruits and vegetables every day for three weeks,” said Mary Harper Simmons, a Master of Science in Nutrition student at Samford University.

“Our findings suggest that a small, simple dietary modification — incorporating baby carrots as a snack — can significantly increase skin carotenoid accumulation.”

Simmons presented the findings at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held June 29–July 2 in Chicago.

For the study, the researchers randomly assigned 60 young adults to groups that received a four-week intervention of either Granny Smith apple slices (the control group), 100 grams of baby carrots (around 1/2 cup), a multivitamin supplement containing beta carotene, or a combination of baby carrots and the supplement.

STUDY SAYS: Eating Pomegranates Can Help Alzheimer’s Patients Alleviate Symptoms

Before and after the intervention, they used a noninvasive research-grade spectroscopy instrument called a VeggieMeter to detect and quantify carotenoids in the skin of the study participants.

The team found that compared to their baseline levels, skin carotenoid scores were significantly increased by 10.8% in the group receiving the baby carrots and by 21.6% in the group receiving the carrots and the supplement. Skin carotenoid levels remained unchanged in the apple group, and in those receiving just the multi-vitamin supplement.

“We found that the combination of baby carrots and a multivitamin supplement that contains beta carotene can have an interactive effect on skin carotenoid accumulation,” said Simmons. “To get a beneficial effect, people should choose a multivitamin that contains beta carotene, and remember to eat baby carrots at least three times a week.”

Since carotenoid accumulation was not increased by multivitamin supplementation alone there could be differences in how carotenoids are absorbed, depending on whether they are from food or supplements.

HEALTH HACK: Keep Out All the Christmas Spices – They’re Powerful Antioxidants Known as ‘Nutraceuticals’

The researchers would like to explore the mechanism behind these findings and study the effects of other carotenoid-rich foods, such as sweet potato or green leafy vegetables.

The team noted that their current findings should be considered preliminary until a peer-reviewed publication is available.

WHAT’S UP DOC? Share the Health Snack Tip With Pals on Social Media…

47-Year-old Finally Pursues Lifelong Passion for Architecture in Adult Degree Program – to Graduate Next Year

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Good News Network

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Jul 7, 2024

Interdisciplinary Studies & Global Education (ISGE) — T.J. Wilt at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee – Photo by Sam Simpkins

T.J. Wilt at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee – Photo by Sam Simpkins

Unfulfilled by his successful career in business, a 47-year-old Nashville man seized an opportunity to finally pursue a lifelong passion, after passing it up during his college days, in favor of something more ‘practical’.

Now 47, Wilt is on track to graduate in May 2025 at age 48 with a Bachelor of Architecture,

Nashville native T.J. Wilt always had a passion for architecture, dating back to sixth grade when an inspirational art teacher had the class draw floor plans. But when it came time for college, Wilt pursued the expected path, earning a finance degree from Belmont University in 1999 followed by an MBA, and building a career in business.

Architecture remained an unfulfilled dream, until the pandemic prompted a reevaluation.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, it upended lives and prompted deep self-reflection for many, including Wilt. Faced with personal changes and dissatisfied with his corporate finance job, the father of three teenage boys decided it was time to finally chase his architectural aspirations.

“COVID made us all kind of take a step back and say, what’s this all about? What’s life all about?” Wilt said in a University news release. “I took that opportunity. I was like, you know what, I’m gonna go back and follow this passion that I’ve had forever.”

Discovering that his alma mater Belmont had just launched an architecture program, Wilt jumped at the chance to change his life. The Adult Degree Program provided a 40% tuition discount and credit for prior coursework, so he dove in headfirst, enrolling in the Fall of 2020.

He found kinship with a handful of “second degree seekers” in his class, and with other adult learners in the program—like Tess and Kim who’ve also made bold career changes in their 30s.

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“Kim, Tess and I were immediately lumped in together and I was thankful for that,” Wilt said. “We’ve all had career switches and we’ve all come back.”

A Role Model for His Sons

For Wilt, this second act is about more than just professional fulfillment. It’s about demonstrating to his sons that it’s never too late to courageously pursue one’s passions in life.

“My boys…to show them it’s never too late to follow a passion, it’s never too late to be happy,” Wilt said. “That was a big piece of it for me.”

Currently co-owner of a local outdoor retailer, Cumberland Transit, Wilt is making it work by structuring his small businesses to allow him to focus on his studies—and the future.

Designing the Future

“I’m not worried about when I graduate…I’m not worried about 20-30 more years of work. I have no plans to stop.”

FEELING DOWN? Improving Her Depression, Woman Tries Something New Every Day for a Year–And Vows to Keep it Up

Wilt relishes being part of history within Belmont’s first architecture graduating class and he’s grown close with his professors, including Katherine Kennon, as they shape the program’s future.

“We are all building the future of the program together, which is a priceless experience for me.”

Looking ahead, Wilt is excited to explore his love of mid-century modern design and sustainable housing—especially using shipping containers. But, while he dreams of designing timeless residential projects, his recent studies have also cultivated an appreciation for commercial architecture.

“I don’t want to build anything that’s going to be torn down in the next 10 years. I want something, whatever I build, I want to have people look at and say, ‘oh, that’s gonna stay there for the next 100 years, 200 years.’”

JUMP INTO YOUR FEAR: The Act of Conquering Your Fear Releases a Rush of Joy and Reinvention

When Wilt dons his cap and gown next spring, he’ll be realizing a childhood dream deferred but never forgotten. He’ll be showing his boys—and himself—that happiness and purpose are always within reach, at any stage of life, with a little faith and hard work.

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Family Brings in Peruvian Mom Who Hadn’t Seen her Son in 20 Years—And Captured the Tearful Moment on Video

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Good News Network

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Jul 7, 2024

family reunion by Nelly Bernal submitted — By Nelly Bernal

A Virginia family set into motion a heartwarming reunion between a mother and son after 20 years apart—and captured the moving moment on video.

Juan hadn’t seen his mother since he left Peru two decades ago. This week his children and relatives pulled off the perfect plan, all wrapped in the guise of celebrating his son Aiden’s birthday.

10-year-old Mia Bernal was in on the scheming that would surprise her father during her brother’s birthday party.

Under the cover of darkness, Grandma Josefina Mamita was flown into the U.S. from Peru’s capital, Lima, where she raised four children, including Mia’s dad, Juan.

“It’s been almost 20 years since he last saw her,” Mia told GNN in a letter.

“We picked her up at the airport at 4:00 in the morning while my dad was sleeping, so he didn’t notice anything.”

The plan was for everyone to gather at her Aunt Nelly’s house that night where the 75-year-old grandmother would emerge during the celebration.

“I had the idea for Aiden to blow out the candles and wish that our grandma was here,” explained Mia. “Right after that, she’ll show up and surprise our dad.”

“She also wanted to cook some of my dad’s favorite Peruvian dishes!”

THE ULTIMATE CLASS REUNION: A Teacher Promised His 1978 Class an Eclipse Party in 50 Years–And He Just Hosted It

Just as envisioned, Aiden made a birthday wish at the party as his family asked what he wished for: “that Mamita Josefina was here…” Suddenly she appeared, and pulled her son close for an embrace that lasted a long time.

As Mia predicted it was surely “one of the best surprises in his life”.

The day was particularly special because it’s the first time Josefina has ever traveled to America.

And, her arrival was just in time for July 4th, when the family planned to take her to the Independence Day fireworks extravaganza.

WAKING UP TO KINDNESS: Man Whose Dog Ran Away While He Was in a Coma Is Reunited Thanks to Strangers on Internet

Watch the tearful reunion in a video below…

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“Optimists think it will all be fine without our involvement; pessimists take the opposite position; both excuse themselves from acting.” – Rebecca Solnit

Quote of the Day

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Good News Network

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Jul 7, 2024

cliffs rocks ocean horizon limitless-cc-Daniel Sallai — By Daniel Sallai, CC license

Quote of the Day: “Optimists think it will all be fine without our involvement; pessimists take the opposite position; both excuse themselves from acting.” – Rebecca Solnit

Photo by: Daniel Sallai, CC license

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Who’s ‘Manning’ the Grills This Summer? Survey Says… Women

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Good News Network

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Jul 6, 2024

woman cooking-grilling barbecue kabobs-pubdomain CK & EVS — Photo by CK & EVS

Women are the “unsung hero” of the grill, according to a new poll.

The survey of 2,000 men and women revealed that 53% believe women are not receiving the notice or praise they deserve for their grill skills—yet the same goes for unappreciated men.

Half of the respondents (55% were men and 47% were women) believed grilling is a male-dominated activity, but the majority (53%) also agree that such a notion is outdated.

Indeed, the survey found that nearly half of women said it’s their time to shine at the grill this year, according to the survey conducted by Talker Research for Perdue.

Regardless of who’s doing the cooking, 74% believe that grilling is an art form—and 84% agree there’s nothing better than a summer meal straight from the grill.

Those who grill often said the top reason they enjoy it is that grilled food is some of their favorite to eat (63%) — they also like the opportunity to get outside (51%) and said that, generally, grilling just puts them in a good mood (42%).The random double-opt-in survey also explored what foods respondents rate as “must haves” when grilling in the summer.

Burgers topped the list of “must-have” foods for the grill (72%), followed by hot dogs (60%), with steak rounding out the top three (59%).

Meat stayed popular in the top five, as chicken breast (46%) and ribs (42%) were voted the next two must-have foods for any grilling occasion.

ALSO CHECK OUT: These Barbecue Foods Have Officially Gained ‘God Tier’ Status, Says New Poll

“If women are the unsung heroes of the grill, chicken is the underdog of grilled proteins,” said Jody Hallman, VP of marketing at the family-owned Perdue company. “(And) we believe grilling is an equal-opportunity activity that all members of the household can and should enjoy.”

TOP REASONS PEOPLE ENJOY GRILLING IN THE SUMMER:

Grilled food is some of my favorite to eat — 63%
I get to be outside — 51%
It puts me in a good mood — 42%
It’s a seasonal experience — 36%
It’s easy — 34%
It’s a chance to get together with loved ones — 32%
It’s healthy — 28%
It makes me feel proud — 24%
It’s quick — 23%

ARE YOU A WEBER WENCH? Share Your Grilling Prowess While Posting This on Social Media…

‘Out of this World’ UFO Vehicle Pulled Over by Police in 3 States – But They’ve ‘Come in Peace’

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Jul 6, 2024

UFO car pulled over by Crawford County Sheriffs Department in Missouri- FB - SWNS — The UFO vehicle pulled over by the Crawford County Sheriff's Department in Cuba, Missouri - Facebook

The UFO vehicle pulled over by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department in Cuba, Missouri – Facebook

Police officers in three states now have proof of intelligent life, after pulling over a UFO-like vehicle traveling across the country.

Officer Darin Layman first spotted the unusual vehicle along the Interstate 44 in Missouri last week. He stoped the driver ostensibly for committing a lane violation and displaying an expired license plate from Indiana, but also out of curiosity, too.

The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office posted images from the traffic stop, showing the UFO-style vehicle constructed out of metal panels with a clear, spherical roof.

In a humorous Facebook post, the sheriffs remarked that the “friendly humanoids have come in peace”.

They said the driver was also “warned about our strict enforcement of warp speed on the interstate” and to “keep his phasers on stun-only while traveling”.

Mr. Anderson was driving from Indiana to Roswell, New Mexico, for a UFO festival that kicked off July 5.

“Given the good nature of the driver and the interesting nature of the vehicle, we wished him safe travels to his destination,” said Officer Layman. “It was a great interaction.”

It happened twice in Oklahoma, where the vehicle needed brake repair. Officials let Anderson go with a laugh and a warning.

The third close encounter with giddy police happened in New Mexico, where Anderson and his companion Marilyn Dicks took photos and talked about the festival.

Steve Anderson with his UFO car and NM police –by Marilyn Dicks / Facebook

Since 1996, UFO enthusiasts have been gathering in Roswell, New Mexico to celebrate a 1947 incident, when an Army Air Force balloon crashed outside the city and led to speculation it was an alien spaceship.

The annual festival includes an alien chase, pet costume contest, and the AlienFest Light Parade.

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Watch some local news coverage from WTHR, the Anderson’s hometown…

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Astronomers Unveil Jaw-dropping New 3-D Movie of the Pillars of Creation (WATCH)

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Good News Network

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Jul 6, 2024

Scientists unveil jaw-dropping new view of the Pillars of Creation — Views of the towering celestial structure Pillars of Creation from NASA's Hubble and James Webb space telescopes

Views of the towering celestial structure Pillars of Creation from NASA’s Hubble and James Webb space telescopes

A team at NASA unveiled a jaw-dropping new visualization of the Pillars of Creation space formation.

Made famous after it was spotted in 1995 by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, the pillars, with their ethereal beauty form the heart of the Eagle Nebula.

The new 3D visualization also uses data from NASA’s more modern James Webb telescope to produce a detailed multi-wavelength movie of these towering star-birthing celestial structures—and it takes visitors into their three-dimensional structures, beyond the otherwise flat, two-dimensional images captured from telescopes.

“By flying past and amongst the pillars, viewers experience their three-dimensional structure and see how they look different in the Hubble visible-light view versus the Webb infrared-light view,” explained principal visualization scientist Frank Summers of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, who led the movie development team for NASA’s Universe of Learning.

“The contrast helps them understand why we have more than one space telescope to observe different aspects of the same object.”

NASA said the new movie (scroll down to view) helps viewers experience how two of the world’s most powerful space telescopes work together to provide a more complex portrait of the pillars.

NASA DISCOVERY: Earliest, Most Distant Galaxy Discovered with Webb Telescope Dates to 300Mil Years After Big Bang

3D visualization of the towering celestial structure Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula – NASA

Hubble sees objects that glow in visible light, at thousands of degrees. Webb’s infrared vision, which is sensitive to cooler objects with temperatures of just hundreds of degrees, pierces through obscuring dust to see stars embedded in the pillars.

“When we combine observations from NASA’s space telescopes across different wavelengths of light, we broaden our understanding of the universe,” said Mark Clampin, Astrophysics Division director at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

“The Pillars of Creation region continues to offer us new insights that hone our understanding of how stars form. Now, with this new visualization, everyone can experience this rich, captivating landscape in a new way.”

MEANWHILE, ON MARS: Scientists Puzzling Over Bright White Rock on Mars – the First of its Kind, Never Seen Before

Stretching 9.5 light-years, the Eagle Nebula lies in the Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way in the constellation Serpens, with the tower spanning more than twice the distance from our sun to its nearest star.

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Your Weekly Horoscope – ‘Free Will Astrology’ From Rob Brezsny

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Jul 6, 2024

Our partner Rob Brezsny, who has a new book out, Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle, provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free preview of the book is available here.)

Here is your weekly horoscope…

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY – Week of July 6, 2024
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
The Fates have authorized me to authorize you to be bold and spunky. You have permission to initiate gutsy experiments and to dare challenging feats. Luck and grace will be on your side as you consider adventures you’ve long wished you had the nerve to entertain. Don’t do anything risky or foolish, of course. Avoid acting like you’re entitled to grab rewards you have not yet earned. But don’t be self-consciously cautious or timid, either. Proceed as if help and resources will arrive through the magic of your audacity. Assume you will be able to summon more confidence than usual.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
All of us, including me, have aspects of our lives that are stale or unkempt, even decaying. What would you say is the most worn-out thing about you? Are there parts of your psyche or environment that would benefit from a surge of clean-up and revival? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to attend to these matters. You are likely to attract extra help and inspiration as you make your world brighter and livelier. The first rule of the purgation and rejuvenation process: Have fun!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
On those rare occasions when I buy furniture from online stores, I try hard to find sources that will send me the stuff already assembled. I hate spending the time to put together jumbles of wood and metal. More importantly, I am inept at doing so. In alignment with astrological omens, I recommend you take my approach in regard to every situation in your life during the coming weeks. Your operative metaphor should be this: Whatever you want or need, get it already fully assembled.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
When Adragon De Mello was born under the sign of Libra in 1976, his father had big plans for him. Dad wanted him to get a PhD in physics by age 12, garner a Nobel Prize by 16, get elected President of the United States by 26, and then become head of a world government by 30. I’d love for you to fantasize about big, unruly dreams like that in the coming weeks—although with less egotism and more amusement and adventurousness. Give yourself a license to play with amazing scenarios that inspire you to enlarge your understanding of your own destiny. Provide your future with a dose of healing wildness.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
“Your horoscopes are too complicated,” a reader named Estelle wrote to me recently. “You give us too many ideas. Your language is too fancy. I just want simple advice in plain words.” I wrote back to tell her that if I did what she asked, I wouldn’t be myself. “Plenty of other astrologers out there can meet your needs,” I concluded. As for you, dear Scorpio, I think you will especially benefit from influences like me in the coming weeks—people who appreciate nuance and subtlety, who love the poetry of life, who eschew clichés and conventional wisdom, who can nurture your rich, spicy, complicated soul.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
The coming weeks will be prime time for you to re-imagine the history of your destiny. How might you do that? In your imagination, revisit important events from the past and reinterpret them using the new wisdom you’ve gained since they happened. If possible, perform any atonement, adjustment, or intervention that will transform the meaning of what happened once upon a time. Give the story of your life a fresh title. Rename the chapters. Look at old photos and videos and describe to yourself what you know now about those people and situations that you didn’t know back then. Are there key events from the old days that you have repressed or ignored? Raise them up into the light of consciousness.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
In 1972, before the internet existed, Capricorn actor Anthony Hopkins spent a day visiting London bookstores in search of a certain tome: The Girl from Petrovka. Unable to locate a copy, he decided to head home. On the way, he sat on a random bench, where he found the original manuscript of The Girl of Petrovka. It had been stolen from the book’s author George Feifer and abandoned there by the thief. I predict an almost equally unlikely or roundabout discovery or revelation for you in the coming days. Prediction: You may not unearth what you’re looking for in an obvious place, but you will ultimately unearth it.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Aquarius-born Desmond Doss (1919–2006) joined the American army at the beginning of World War II. But because of his religious beliefs, he refused to use weapons. He became a medic who accompanied troops to Guam and the Philippines. During the next few years, he won three medals of honor, which are usually given solely to armed combatants. His bravest act came in 1944, when he saved the lives of 70 wounded soldiers during a battle. I propose we make him your inspirational role model for the coming weeks, Aquarius. In his spirit, I invite you to blend valor and peace-making. Synergize compassion and fierce courage. Mix a knack for poise and healing with a quest for adventure.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
What types of people are you most attracted to, Pisces? Not just those you find most romantically and sexually appealing, but also those with whom a vibrant alliance is most gracefully created. And those you’re inclined to seek out for collaborative work and play. This knowledge is valuable information to have; it helps you gravitate toward relationships that are healthy for you. Now and then, though, it’s wise to experiment with connections and influences that aren’t obviously natural—to move outside your usual set of expectations and engage with characters you can’t immediately categorize. I suspect the coming weeks will be one of those times.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
The “nirvana fallacy” is the belief that because something is less than utterly perfect, it is gravely defective or even irredeemably broken. Wikipedia says, “The nirvana fallacy compares actual things with unrealistic, idealized alternatives.” Most of us are susceptible to this flawed approach to dealing with the messiness of human existence. But it’s especially important that you avoid such thinking in the coming weeks. To inspire you to find excellence and value in the midst of untidy jumbles and rumpled complexities, I recommend you have fun with the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi. It prizes and praises the soulful beauty found in things that are irregular, incomplete, and imperfect.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
You are coming to a fork in the road—a crux where two paths diverge. What should you do? Author Marie Forleo says, “When it comes to forks in the road, your heart always knows the answer, not your mind.” Here’s my corollary: Choose the path that will best nourish your soul’s desires. Now here’s your homework, Taurus: Contact your Future Self in a dream or meditation and ask that beautiful genius to provide you with a message and a sign. Plus, invite them to give you a wink with either the left eye or right eye.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Last year, you sent out a clear message to life requesting help and support. It didn’t get the response you wished for. You felt sad. But now I have good news. One or both of the following may soon occur. 1. Your original message will finally lead to a response that buoys your soul. 2. You will send out a new message similar to the one in 2023, and this time you will get a response that makes you feel helped and supported. Maybe you didn’t want to have to be so patient, Gemini, but I’m glad you refused to give up hope.

WANT MORE? Listen to Rob’s EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES, 4-5 minute meditations on the current state of your destiny — or subscribe to his unique daily text message service at: RealAstrology.com

(Zodiac images by Numerologysign.com, CC license)

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“Doubt is the father of invention.” – Ambrose Bierce

Quote of the Day

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Good News Network

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Jul 6, 2024

Quote of the Day: “Doubt is the father of invention.” – Ambrose Bierce

Photo by: Elyas Pasban

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

He Became a Surgeon Because of Grey’s Anatomy – Now He’s a Consultant on the Show

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Andy Corbley

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Jul 5, 2024

Neurosurgeon Stephen Bergin with Ellen Pompeo-as Meredith-while consulting on 19th season of Greys Anatomy -SWNS — Neurosurgeon Stephen Bergin with Ellen Pompeo (as Meredith) while consulting on 19th season of Grey’s Anatomy / SWNS

A man inspired to become a neurosurgeon because of the hit TV hospital drama Grey’s Anatomy is now a medical consultant on the very show that convinced him to study medicine.

Now 35, Stephen Bergin first watched the show in high school and instantly became a regular viewer.

When he was in the fourth year of his residency program at Duke University Hospital, an announcement was made through the hospital that the show’s producers were recruiting medical consultants to work on season 19.

As a long-time fan, Bergin didn’t wait around to apply for the position.

“I was interested in it immediately because watching Grey’s Anatomy in high school inspired me to get into neurosurgery,” Bergin told the British news agency SWNS.

Stephen was selected to be a consultant—providing advice on script writing and guiding actors—and after a successful debut in 2022, the show kept him on to write for season 20 as well.

Now in the sixth year of his residency program, Bergin is currently involved with brainstorming ideas for season 21, after even appearing as an extra on one episode.

“The production always has medical specialists on staff for [consultation] and they like to have a resident in that bunch so all the resident storylines feel realistic,” said Bergin. “It was such a fun experience to be able to see all that goes into creating the show.”

“We would receive scripts from the showrunners or writers with lines in them that would literally say ‘medical, medical, medical;’ it was my job to fill in these lines with applicable medical jargon,” Bergin added, probably laughing.

Stephen also got involved in shooting the scenes and was on set during the filming of season 19’s mid-season finale “Thunderstruck” in October 2022.

Stephen Bergin pictured with cast members – SWNS

“I would also be consulted on what type of injury could bring two characters working in different medical departments together. For example, if they needed a reason for a neurosurgeon and a cardiothoracic specialist to be in a room together, I would come up with the injury that meant they were both needed,” he explained further.

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But as a fan of the show, some of the best memories were meeting and advising the cast members directly.

“Ellen Pompeo was going over her lines at one point and asked if there was an alternative way of saying something. I suggested a change which got approved and then Ellen chanted ‘The doctor saved the script!’ over and over again.”

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“I helped Caterina Scorsone, who plays Amelia Shepherd, understand the proper way to use a tool for the spine. She was so committed to doing a good job. They all were!”

Stephen now shares his experiences as well as general medical advice on his social platforms as @surgeonbergin.

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World’s Oldest Narrative Cave Painting Is at Least 51,200 Years Old, Scientists Say

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Andy Corbley

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Jul 5, 2024

A 51,000-year-old artwork that was found in a cave on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island in 2017 in an image Australia’s Griffith University released Wednesday. Griffith University - released

In 2021, GNN reported that a painting of a Sulawesi warty pig on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia had become the oldest cave painting ever discovered—dating back 45,000 years.

Well not only has that record been broken—with another painting on the same island—but the new discovery also sets the record for the oldest narrative story depicted through art: a hunting scene featuring human-bird hybrids from 49,000 BCE.

The painting was originally discovered in 2017 when scientists at Griffith University in Australia were surveying caves on the eastern Indonesian island of Sulawesi, with the hopes of using a novel method of producing a date called laser-ablation U-series imaging, with the U short for uranium.

The island’s special climate and topography have allowed these cave paintings and the pigments used to create them to survive tens of thousands of years longer than cave art found on other continents like Europe and Australia. Water leaking through the karst rock that forms the cave creates little popcorn-like buttons called calcites which protect the pigments like icing on a sponge cake.

The laser is shined through the calcites and is able to measure the age of the agglomeration of the initial calcite layer—the one closest to the paint. With this technique, the scientists were able to reassess dates in paintings surveyed earlier, producing new estimates that were at times 4,000 years older than previously thought.

What’s come about as a result is that the humans who lived on Sulawesi were practicing painting for purposes of ceremony, rather than for passing time, over 50,000 years ago.

“They were not common living spaces,” Renaud Joannes-Boyau said of the caves, which were difficult to reach.

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The co-author of the study published Wednesday in the journal Nature, Joannes-Boyau believes that the caves were places where humans would go “for a purpose and is probably linked to some sort of a ceremony.”

The enigmatic scene depicted on the wall is believed to represent a hunting narrative, but one born of imagination rather than reality. The stick figures are what are called in anthropology “therianthropes,” or human-animal hybrids.

MORE CAVE ART STORIES: Newly Discovered Rock Art Panels Depict How Ancient Ancestors Envisioned Creation and Adapted to Change

The figures imply that the artwork reflects imaginative storytelling rather than recording fact, as is believed in the case of some cave art which shows which animals could be hunted in which areas.

“That is something new, something very important, something that happened much older than we thought,” Joannes-Boyau told NBC. “Representation of human figures is already extremely rare, but storytelling of 51,200 years old is even more incredible.”

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Having Gratitude Linked to Lower Risk of Death Independent of Other Factors, Innovative Study Shows

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Andy Corbley

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Jul 5, 2024

gratitude grateful credit Nathan Dumlao — credit Nathan Dumlao

A new study looking at the effects of gratitude or being grateful on mortality risk showed that independent of classic mortality indicators of cardiovascular health, smoking, and chronic disease burden, grateful people showed lower rates of early death than less grateful peers.

The study examined over 49,000 older women in the nursing profession, and is claimed to be one of the first studies to investigate the effects of gratitude on mortality.

This is notable because gratitude is already associated with better biomarkers for cholesterol, immune system function, inflammation levels, and cardiovascular disease risk, as well as lower risks for depression, and better adherence to healthy hygiene like exercise and good sleep.

The authors noted however that a surprising dearth exists in the amount of insight on gratitude’s effects on mortality.

Gratitude was assessed with the 6-item ‘Gratitude Questionnaire,’ a respected, validated, and widely used measure of one’s tendency to experience grateful affect. It’s made up of 6 questions answerable by marking between 1 and 7.

The questions included “if I had to list everything I’m thankful for, it would be a long list,” and “I have so much in life to be thankful for”.

Study leader Ying Chen and her team found that, in comparison to women with lower gratitude scores, the most grateful tended to be younger, have a husband or partner, and be involved in social and religious organizations.

The average age of nurses who answered the gratitude questions was 79, and by the end of 2019, 4,068 of them had died.

Looking at those who died, higher gratitude scores were associated with a 29% reduced risk for death overall. When controlling for a history of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes, gratitude was still associated with a 27% reduced risk of death, and a 21% reduced risk after controling for lifestyle habits like smoking, exercise, drinking, and eating a healthy diet.

MORE ON POSITIVE MENTALITY: More Teens Than You Think Understand the Positive and Negative Aspects of Smartphones–Survey

Benjamin Levine, MD, a substantial force in the field of exercise physiology and cardiovascular health, has argued for physical activity to be tracked in hospitals as a vital sign—equivalent to temperature and blood pressure. He also advocates for people to look at exercise as personal hygiene, rather than something that makes up a ‘healthy lifestyle.’

Even out of shape, overweight, and sedentary people take showers, brush their teeth, and trim their nails, and Levine suggests exercise should be in the same bracket of consideration.

This new study suggests that permitting yourself time in the day to feel grateful should be something similar—personal hygiene, like brushing your soul in the same way you brush your teeth.

MORE NEWS LIKE THIS: Those Who Think Positively About Aging Are More Likely to Regain Memory, Landmark Study Shows

To that end, keeping a gratitude journal, making time for prayer, and inviting family members to announce what they’re grateful for at the start of a meal together, are all good ways to open your mind to grateful feelings.

Put reminders out where you can see them—tie a ribbon around a door handle so everytime you leave your house you’re reminded that you have one, or put a wallpaper on your smartphone that reminds you to be grateful for the things you have everytime you turn the screen on.

Aside for helping one feel better during the day, according to Dr. Chen’s study, it could save your life.

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Over 100 Dolphins Saved from Historic Mass Stranding in Cape Cod

By

Andy Corbley

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Jul 5, 2024

dolphins stranded in Cape Cod-WCVB YouTube screengrab-Fair Use — Credit: WCVB / YouTube screenshot

125 dolphins became stranded in shallow mud flats off Cape Cod, Massachusetts in what one rescue organization calls its largest single mass stranding event in decades.

The first report was initially understood to be 10 Atlantic white-sided dolphins close to shore off Wellfleet early Friday morning, triggering an overwhelming response from local marine conservation groups.

AmeriCorps of Cape Cod, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the New England Aquarium, the Center for Coastal Studies, and the Wellfleet Harbormaster, led by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

However as rescuers arrived on the scene, they eventually identified a total of 125 animals, the largest single mass stranding in IFAW’s 26-year history on Cape Cod, to group said in a press release.

“We arrived to what appeared to be 80 to 100 dolphins on the shallow mud flats of Wellfleet’s Herring River ‘Gut,’ a global epicenter for mass strandings,” said Misty Niemeyer, stranding coordinator for IFAW.

“We were able to provide supportive care, help those that were struggling, and keep them comfortable and ready for the incoming tide.”

The dolphins were herded in a highly coordinated response effort to encourage their movement back to deeper waters, first on foot and then switching to boating efforts as the water returned to high tide at 4:56 pm. Two IFAW vessels and the Wellfleet Harbormaster continued their efforts until sunset at 8:15 pm.

The Herring River ‘Gut’ is a frequent stranding location due to its hook-like shape, and extreme tidal fluctuations.

“This rescue had many challenges due to the number of dolphins, the large size of many of the animals, how spread out they were over a large area, the difficult mud conditions, and the complicated locations from which we could reach them,” said Niemeyer. “It was a 12-hour exhausting response in the unrelenting sun, but the team was able to overcome the various challenges and give the dolphins their best chance at survival.”

RESCUING ANIMALS: Hero Surfer Rescues Stranded Deer in Ocean – Photographer Captures Moment

As daylight fell, most of the dolphins seemed to have found their way to deeper waters offshore. A dozen or more remained swimming in the inner harbor at sunset Friday night.

The entire effort on Friday involved over 150 people, including at least 25 IFAW staff, and 100 trained volunteers.

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At first light Saturday morning, an IFAW team was on the water to find 10 of the dolphins swimming in a dangerous area, and efforts have been successful to herd them towards deeper water.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states that stranding can occur if the dolphins become disoriented by underwater noise pollution.

WATCH the story below from AP…

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“Genius is the ability to renew one’s emotions in daily experience.” – Paul Cezanne

Quote of the Day

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Good News Network

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Jul 5, 2024

sunset field crop farm feelings-pubdomain Julian Hochgesang — Credit: Julian Hochgesang

Quote of the Day: “Genius is the ability to renew one’s emotions in daily experience.” – Paul Cezanne

Photo by: Julian Hochgesang

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

World’s Most Popular YouTuber Builds 100 Homes for South Americans in Disaster Areas

By

Andy Corbley

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Jul 4, 2024

In a video entitled ‘I Built 100 Houses And Gave Them Away’ the world’s most popular YouTuber continued to demonstrate that his channel is for more than crazy videos.

James Donaldson, aka ‘MrBeast’ has 300 million subscribers, and they tune in to watch him perform crazy stunts, and in general do crazy things, like shredding a half-million-dollar Lamborghini and hiring a real assassin to try and hunt him down.

But the revenue from these wanton acts of viral content goes to more than just filming expenses—MrBeast has spent millions and millions on philanthropic causes.

Taking his ‘Beast Philanthropy’ series to Central and South America, the YouTuber targeted areas where natural disasters had left people homeless.

In Jamaica, a family living in a rural mountainous area lost their home in a landslide—they got a new modern home, as did another family whose house was flooded every time there were heavy rains.

In El Salvador, MrBeast paid for the construction of row housing a safe distance from a river that had recently flooded and washed a small community away. He also built a soccer pitch for the kids to play on, and paid for brand-new soccer equipment, shirts, and cleats for all the kids.

At this point, he had given away 50 family homes.

In Argentina, he and his partners transformed 15 structures in low-income housing areas into ones that were comfortable, weather-resistant, and had all basic amenities. By the time he had finished doing the same in Mexico, he had given away 83 houses.

In Colombia, in an area that had been dismantled by tornadoes, 17 families got new furnished houses.

ALSO WATCH: YouTube Star Known For Kindness Celebrates 20 Million Subscribers by Funding the Planting of Millions of Trees

All the families’ reactions to the classic blindfold reveal were caught on camera for a 9-minute montage of tears, jumping for joy, and celebrating in Spanish.

PHILANTHROPIC HEROES: Christian Bale Breaks Ground on 12 Foster Homes to House Hundreds of Transitioning Teens in California

This is just the latest installment in MrBeast’s philanthropic activities—some of which go to projects on his subchannel Beast Philanthropy. He’s dug wells for villages in Africa, helped 1,000 kids and young people get cochlear implants, and held several massive fundraisers for feeding families, constructing solar power stations, and more.

WATCH the whole video below…

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U.S. Marshals Find 200 Missing Children Across the Nation During 6-Week Special Operation

By

Andy Corbley

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Jul 4, 2024

photo by US Federal Marshall's Bennie J. Davis III

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), along with federal, state, and local agencies led a six-week national operation that resulted in finding 200 critically missing children, which includes endangered runaways and those abducted by noncustodial persons.

This is the second rendition of this coordinated effort, and so it was called Operation We Will Find You 2 (WWFY2). Running from May 20 to June 24 it focused on geographical areas with high clusters of missing children.

WWFY2 resulted in the recovery and removal of 123 children from dangerous situations. An additional 77 missing children were located and found to be in safe locations, according to law enforcement or child welfare agencies. The vast majority of these were runaway children, one case was a family abduction, and one was a non-family abduction.

The “dangerous situations” involved human trafficking, captivity by family relations, or situations of sexual exploitation, some involuntarily and others violently.

“One of the most sacred missions of U.S. Marshals Service is locating and recovering our nation’s critically missing children,” said USMS Director Ronald L. Davis on completion of the case. “This is one of our top priorities as there remain thousands of children still missing and at risk.”

Some of the most notable and frightening cases can be read on the USMS release of the operation, and included kidnapping in Michigan, human trafficking in Miami-Dade, sex trafficking in Arizona, familial kidnapping in Oregon, and potential infanticide in North Carolina.

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 enhanced the USMS’ responsibility in locating missing children by removing the need for there to be an offender or fugitive known to be connected to the case.

“There are no words to describe the terror felt by missing children, their families, and their communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful to the dedicated professionals of the U.S. Marshals Service and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who worked to find 200 critically missing children during this six-week operation.

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