The Mythical Child

I know I keep harping back to A Few Good Men, but I really do foresee one of those Courtroom drama moments on Wednesday when Gerry takes the stand.  Lets face it, he's quite a character. Will he try to flirt with the Judge as he did with lovely Sandra Felgueiras?  Will he treat the Defendants' lawyers as if they are a bit simple, maybe speak to them crossly, as though he were their dad? Will he discuss Team McCanns' very clear objectives, their wider agenda? Balloon days and candlelight vigils, a Madeleine Day for the whole world? 

Perhaps he will discuss the mental health issues suffered by himself and his wife.  Jeez, you'd need a couple of weeks for that and 'ologists' of every variety will be writing about it for years to come. For myself, it will be one big old blog with everything my itchy little fingers have been dying to say this past 6 years.  

But I digress, I am particularly looking forward to hearing about the McCanns' obsessive desire to keep all horrid headlines out of the UK.   Maybe a clue lies in Kate's reaction to the first police suspicions: 'what will my parents say'.  Indeed. 

By now it must be clear to the whole world and its wife, that the McCanns are using the Madeleine Fund to finance malicious libel actions against anyone who questions them.  Not content with the huge financial rewards the McCanns had already received, they also wanted the Law changed to protect them against any crisis they may have in the future,  Happily, the government momentarily regained its senses before altering the 1689 Bill of Rights to protect 'The Search for Maddie', and sanity prevailed.  

Madeleine didn't reach the age of 4, the mythical child did. The cherubic picture of Madeleine in her red dress, bore no resemblance to the up to date picture of the little girl clutching the tennis balls that had been taken that week.  Regardless, the cute toddler picture was the one the parents decided to go with and by dawn the tapas group were handing out hastily run off A4 copies of the baby faced Madeleine in her Christmas frock.  

The picture became iconic, the pretty angelic child grabbed our attention, appealed to all our maternal and paternal emotions. The mythical child drove the mythical search, the only thing real was the cash that was piling up.  By June 2007, the McCanns went from not knowing they needed a Fund at all, to a desperate need for more and more cash. The newspapers rushed to get first front pages of a pretty little blonde girl peeping out from her Moroccan Mother's backpack without questioning why on earth an impoverished family from rural Morocco would want to steal a western child?  The search became more ridiculous and the headlines more sensational.

The parents registered their copyright to the mythical Madeleine brand and saturated the media with heart rendering pictures and appeals to the masses.  Again and again, the parents told us there was no evidence Madeleine had come to any harm, she was a real, findable child who could be returned to her loving family if we all prayed and contributed to her Fund.     

The mythical Madeleine is growing up before our eyes, as age progression pictures remind us of how she might look now.  We have a 6 year old Maddie,  an 8 year old Maddie and even an Asian Maddie, handy I suppose if her skin changes colour or she is being raised by a nice family with a place in the sun.  The UK backed the 'Madeleine is alive' myth, our own Scotland Yard producing the most recent image for the McCann Fund Campaign and a Court is threatening a man with prison if he dares say otherwise.  

The thing is, what does 'search' actually mean? I think it should be clearly defined, because some of the more virulent McCanns supporters are criminally insane.  I fear for young blonde girls the world over.  Actually, I fear too for swarthy foreigners who walk funny and of course Victoria Beckham lookalikes.  Obviously, child snatchers, the lot of them.  But sticking with hope.  I doubt there is a doctor or dentist on this planet who is not aware of Missing Madeleine and her very distinctive eye, presuming of course that she is being well cared for.  The 'Cleveland' option is unthinkable.

From a non cuckoo land perspective, the fact is both the blood and cadaver dogs alerted in Apartment 5A and Madeleine has not been seen for more than 6 years.  Why then are people being prosecuted for believing she is dead? 

KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid

I am a huge fan of The Thick of It, UK political satire for the uninitiated, an hilarious programme once you get past the cussing.  I actually find it quite amusing the number of ways in which they can use and abuse the 'F' word.  The Thick of It gives we mere mortals, an amazing insight into the machinations of politics. The main protagonist, Malcolm, is supposedly based on Alistair Campbell*.  As the wonderful Armando Iannucci has not been sued, we can only believe it is pretty close to what actually goes on.

By dawn on 4th May 2007 the story of Madeleine McCann disappearing was headline news on all the channels.  A break in had occurred, and a child had been abducted.  There was no room for speculation, those were the facts. The journalists did not have to write their own scripts they were being provided with them, straight from the horses mouth via several relatives and McCann enthusiast Michael Wright. As we now know, it was a carefully manipulated campaign, designed to appeal to the public's heart and of course, its purse strings.  How did Gordon get involved.  Vanity probably.  Politicians love nothing better than a popular bandwagon to leap on, particularly one that includes a cherubic little girl with a photogenic family who embody all that puts the Great into Britain.  It must have been a huge Oops moment, when they discovered there was more to the case than first appeared.  By then of course, it was too late to backtrack and they had to grin and carry on regardless.  Again, I refer you to 'The Thick of It'.   

I think orders probably came from on high that the parents were to be treated with kid gloves in the half arsed hope that it would all go away.  If it didn't, the story of 'Missing Madeleine McCann' made global headlines and lots of [publicity seekers] wanted a piece of the action, and a mention alongside an appealing pic of the missing child. It shows their fans what kind compassionate people they are,   I doubt those wellwishers imagined the McCanns would still be whining about what a hard deal they had 6 years later, and asking for more cash to put it right. 

The tv studios embraced them, their mumsy she-wolves protecting the stricken parents from the mythical mobs of haters and pitchforkers trying to batter down the studio doors.  Those doubting the McCanns were clearly jealous of the charming couple's loving marriage/beautiful children (minus one)/comfortable life etc, etc.  If you weren't with them supporting the search, you were against them, ergo a hater, ergo a chav.  

Alleged threats brought them more headlines and more donations from nice people. The 'masses' obviously hated the McCanns because of their success. So, they made a tiny mistake. All parents do.  Shame on the rabble who were only booing them because they had all their own teeth and good jobs. Journalists empathised with them, they were PLU (People Lie Us), one or maybe two generations away of the tenements who had made good. The McCanns were nice people who go to properly run holiday resorts and hotels, just like them, not on half price boozy excursions to Benidorm. How could it possibly be their fault?  The prols were obviously too blinded by their lust for Kate's earrings and matching necklace to have any understanding of the case. 

I'm going to have to say it, there is an underlying class war going on here.  The 'pro's' tend to be right wing extremists whose favourite word is 'ban'. They can apply it to almost everything.  When they are not trying to ban things, they are advocating a good thrashing for the riff raff who have the audacity not to believe the saintly pair.  Not for them a kebab and a swig of white lightning, the McCanns' cocktail parties are probably wall to wall with ambassadors and Ferrero rocher. No doubt discussing high profile good causes they can attach their names too, whilst ignoring the most obvious good cause of Kerry Needham.  

But I digress, there will always be conspiracy theories surrounding this case, some may even have legs.  I see it more as a runaway train driven by person(s) who don't know how to stop.  Is it lunatic (A) with his wider agenda? or lunatic (B) with her obsessive hatred?  What a combo.  Keep it simple, stupid.

*I believe Alistair found it amusing.

Ps.  Is it just me who has a  bit of a crush on bad boy Alistair?  And could it be used as part of an insanity plea in the future?    

HATE AND GREED v TRUTH AND JUSTICE

So the kidnap threat gets filed away with all the other McCann press releases. No evidence of it. The trolls are not waving screenshots to back up the claim, and even if they did, they are not relevant (thank you Blacksmith ).   

The McCanns fought Goncalo Amaral's application for the trial to be heard in private. A small victory, but they got the press and cameras they wanted.  They got the headlines too, but at what cost to the twins, we can only imagine. This time however, it does not appear to have worked.  The public have not risen up in horror at the atrocities perpetrated on the suffering parents.  There have been no comforting chats about horrid anti middle class people who are jealous of them, on Lorraine's sofa and I doubt any stern letters have been sent off to the Portuguese Ambassador. The rioting in the streets Kate predicted hasn't happened.  Pretty sure the latest sensational headlines haven't helped the McCanns' press victim image one bit. Anyone following this trial will know they had a choice. Wonder what Hacked Off will make of that? 

People are beginning to question why the McCanns are pursuing a claim for 1.2m Euros from the detective who investigated the disappearance of their daughter.  They don't like his findings, who would? But does that really entitle them to all his cash and belongings? Hope they are not setting some sort of precedent.  'You said I did it, but can't prove it - gimme yer house'.  

What on earth is this trial all about?  Apart from money that is.  In my opinion, it is based on an irrational hatred that borders on insanity, and unbelievably a small group of professionals are going along with it.  What ho, nice work if you can get it.  They are however, faffing about telling us how depressed Kate was, how the twins may sometime in the future read something unpleasant (err, thats a future ALL kids can look forward to) and poor Gerry couldn't go on. Lets not forget, they could spare themselves (and us) all the pain simply by returning to Portugal en masse for a reconstruction and Kate answering the 48 questions. Its a bit like Dorothy's ruby slippers - it has always been within their power.  

Unfortunately their persecution of Goncalo Amaral has finally caught up with them.  They couldn't stop the trial - and they tried.  As expected, it has opened up all sorts of cans and worms are flying about everywhere.  Not least the revelation by Michael Wright that he has been 'monitoring' forums and social network sites since 2007. Has he sat on his hands for the last 6 year ignoring all the horrible things people were saying about his best buds?  

Those of us targetted by Team McCann's 'monitoring' would be very interested to hear more about this little revelation from the police.  Be in no doubt, the internet campaign has played a major part in this scam, and those of us on the receiving end of the 'monitoring' (defamation/intimidation/ threats etc) will be asking the police who the tormentors are and what action will be taken.  There is testimony that confirms this was an organised campaign.  But I'll save the internet wars for another day. 

Kate wants Goncalo Amaral to be miserable and live in fear.  But thats not enough, what she really really wants, are the royalties from his bestselling book. The McCanns did not sue Goncalo as soon as the book came out, they waited a year before issuing a Writ.

While the McCanns case is based on hate and greed, Goncalo Amaral's is based on truth, and justice for a little girl who went missing on 3rd May 2007, he has remained focused on seeing his job through until the end.  A hero of our time, a man who lost everything but kept his pride, his dignity and his honour. Now thats the film I want to see - the good guy comes up trumps!

For Goncalo this case is about the truth.  The truth that he and his team did not let the little girl down. The McCanns were lying when they said the PJ were doing nothing.  They had in fact launched the biggest missing child search in Portugal's history. Goncalo and his team worked night and day searching for Madeleine, giving up their holidays and neglecting their families.  The McCanns were criticising the police and most especially Goncalo on the world stage.  In the interests of Free Speech, was he not entitled to counter that with The Truth of The Lie?  





Truth of the Lie can be read here:
http://frommybigdesk.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/madeleine-mccann-in-books.html

GONCALO'S ACE

I think the kidnap threat is a sexed up version of the supposed death threats on the Madeleine Facebook group.  The McCanns were unbelievably successful with that particular scam and got the front pages of several tabloids.  Internet trolls are a hot topic at the moment and a great way to get sympathy.  By tweaking a few details they have made the latest version more sensational by changing the target from Kate to the twins.  Again, they are shamelessly using those children to manipulate public sympathy.  In my opinion that is wrong on every level and it needs saying!  

The story can no doubt be quickly disproved, but they have the headlines they wanted - 'Kidnap Threat to Twins'.  By the time it is revealed as a hoax, the damage will already have been done. All the public will remember is the kidnap threat. Similarly while most people recall that Goncalo's Amaral's book was banned.  The fact that the ban was overturned and it is back on sale passes them by.    

The McCanns still appear to be pulling the strings, they have learned a lot media tricks over the years.  Goncalo was obviously way ahead of us in asking for the trial to be heard in private.  He probably foresaw what was going to happen. The McCanns will fight back with what they do best. Negative propaganda. They are clearly prepared to get down in the mud and the blood and the beer with this latest outrageous story.  Lets hope the Judge can see the histrionics for what they are.  As for Dr. Amaral. he really doesn't have to do very much at all, he has an Ace up his sleeve - The Truth.  

FORCA GONCALO Part II

Almost a year ago I wrote a blog entitled Forca Goncalo, it was ahead of a trial that turned out to be postponed.  At that time I was irked at the personal attacks on Dr. Goncalo Amaral and the particularly vindictive way in which they used his marriage problems and personal life to attack him.

I wanted to speak out on behalf of warring couples everywhere and extend a middle finger to those smug marrieds who sit holding hands and never exchange a cross word. 

We cannot even begin to imagine the stress Goncalo and Sophia must have been under this past 6 years. The McCanns had launched the most successful media campaign for a missing child the world has even seen, and Detective Amaral was the evil baddie keeping the angelic cherub away from her tragic heroine mother.  The world hears what it wants to, and the basic fairytale premise was shifting tabloids by the baleful. 

In defence of Goncalo and Sophia, no human could have withstood the the pressure they were under.  And if on occasion the words, 'I love you, I hate you' have been thrown around, so what?  If a person goes through their life never having a love so passionate it drives them insane, I pity them.  Time heals, it gives you something to giggle about in your dotage. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtkIpuVmDkY

To Sophia and Goncalo

The calm, calculating McCanns however, remain firmly stuck together, God help them, surviving a trauma that would have torn most families apart.  Their relationship remains unscathed, apart from Kate's rather undignified 'I couldn't make love to Gerry' on the front page of the Sun.  In recounting her holiday, in her 'honest' book Kate merrily relates: Gerry off for his third tennis match of the day while she calmly bathes the three best behaved toddlers in the world. I personally would have rugby tackled him before he reached the door and set about him with a frying pan, while screaming 'its my holiday too'.  

In contrasting their own Stepford Family existence to the family life of the Amarals, they have placed themselves in the unfortunate position of having to hold hands and coo at each other whenever a camera is pointed in their direction.  One shudders at the thought. I know which couple I prefer.

The McCanns have been the perfect media couple.  A fine example of family life in Britain today (apart from losing a child) and role models for the riff raff. They were used to spearhead the Amber Alert Campaign, preaching to us (their fave role) Kate became Ambassador and Gerry headed up Hacked Off.  Hopefully there will be enough left in Fund to erect statues in Rothley town square. 

However, before they start knocking up the cement, they should know their automaton behaviour is fooling no-one other than their 'Misery' inspired fanbase.  Or 'the possessed' as I have come to think of them

The sane people in the UK, and there are still a few of us left, wish you all the best for tomorrow Dr. Amaral. You are a credit to your family, to the PJ, to your Nation, and to the fight for truth and justice everywhere.  Forca Goncalo.  

Oscar Wilde - A Libel Trial of Woe

Oscar Wilde with Lord Alfred Douglas 'Bosie'

In the summer of 1891, a passionate love affair began between two men, that scandalised society and ended the career, and some might say, the life, of one history's greatest literary geniuses.

Oscar Wilde

The magnificent Oscar Wilde, was by then 38, an established author,  and a renowned wit - the most sought after guest at every dinner party.  A flamboyant character,  he may not have been the full on 'Lord Byron - Mad, Bad and Dangerous to know', but he was perhaps a cheekier, some might say, more eloquent version - a linguist who could cram into a few words, that which the rest of us dare not say out loud - even if we could. His humour was risque, his lifestyle questionable, but this only enhanced his popularity, until that was, at the height of his fame he became locked in a legal battle, that no-one could realistically win.    

The whole saga began in the summer of 1891 when Oscar met the vivacious and strikingly handsome 22 year old Lord Alfred Douglas - Bosie, as he was affectionately known. It led to a passionate and tumultuous relationship between the pair, that would wreck the author's life and send waves of panic through the establishment.  Oscar Wilde's downfall began with a libel trial that would send shivers down the spines of potential libel claimants for evermore. 

Lord Alfred Douglas 'Bosie'

Bosie was the youngest son of the Marquess of Queensberry, yes he of the Queensberry boxing rules. The Marquess was one of the old establishment, a stern, angry man who had recently lost his eldest son and heir Francis, to suspected suicide.  There were rumours of an alleged homosexual affair between Francis and the then Prime Minister Lord Rosebery, when he had been Foreign Secretary.  Lord Queensberry was a melting pot of rage and his youngest son, Bosie's relationship with Oscar Wilde incensed him. 

The Marquess of Queensbury

From what we have have seen so far of this poisonous little tale, homosexuality was pretty rife among politicians and the landed gentry at that time.  But, like the poor dying of hunger, it was a taboo subject - something you didn't talk about at the dinner table. From what I can see and from the historical research I have done (Black Lace novels), the ruling classes were pretty much up to all sorts - as long as it didn't scare, or indeed involve, the horses.

The golden couple of the age, Oscar and Bosie, were a breath of fresh air in Victorian London.  They crossed barriers of good taste and propriety and encouraged others to do the same. It was all jolly good fun.  The saucy sniggers became full blown guffaws, corsets were unbuttoned and closet doors were flying open. Society was changing.  

Oscar strode the world's stage

'This angered the workhouse master, and he swore by all the Gods'*. Lord Queensberry was very angry indeed that his son was flaunting his unconventional relationship all around town.  He was determined to have revenge on Oscar Wilde, no matter what.  Thus began Lord Queensbury's campaign to wreck Oscar Wilde's life. The final straw for Oscar came when Lord Queensbury left a calling card with a hotel porter, accusing Oscar of 'posing as a sodomite'. Its meaning is open to interpretation, but in any event, the devastating evidence presented by the Defence during the libel trial rendered word games unnecessary.   

Why did Oscar go ahead with his libel trial knowing that so much could be brought against him?  Perhaps he felt he had no choice. The Marquess of Queensberry was never going to end his vendetta. In issuing his libel writ, perhaps he thought that his powerful rhetoric would win the day, and that the society he had charmed and enlightened would stand by him. Sadly, he was soon to discover that his meteoric rise to the highest echelons of society could only be matched by his catastrophic fall from grace.  When there is a threat to the establishment, they quickly close ranks.  You wont find any spontaneous choruses of 'Consider Yourself One of Us' in any Jane Austen ball rooms. 

As the great and good condemned homosexuality from the pulpits, Oscar Wilde served two years hard labour.  His fortune lost and any new found liberal attitudes towards sex had been stamped out. Sulky aristos climbed back into their wardrobes to read about dashing highwaymen and their wives resumed their tut tutting. Considerably more of God's little creatures were shot and torn to shreds to the shouts of 'tally ho', while the servants were made to pray more and work harder. I expect sales of flogging gear went up. 

Oscar Wilde became the martyr for their sins. He was the sacrifice they were willing to make in order to maintain the status quo. If they were seen to punish a sexual deviant, they couldn't possibly be guilty of it themselves. The only thing they lacked was a crucifix.   

I do not know why Oscar Wilde pursued his case to Court. He was indeed guilty of much he was accused of and he was guilty too, of believing that others could see the world as he saw it.  He may even have been naive, or perhaps brave, enough to think he could change public opinion, and perhaps even the laws on homosexuality.  He began by defending himself confidently, eloquently telling the world about the love that dare not speak its name.  But by the end, he was defeated.  The civil trial led to criminal trials [homosexuality was illegal] and a number of rent boys, were only too willing to appear for the Defence. Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years hard labour, his health was destroyed and he died far too young.   

The love that dare not speak its name

Perhaps love had driven him insane, who knows, maybe he was the Irish upstart who held a mirror up to the shallowness of the ruling classes.  It reflected their own hedonism, and it was held by someone who knew secrets about them. Perhaps the world did for a moment, tilt a little towards liberalism, but the influence of the sombre old Queen and her long dead dictatorial husband, brought society back to its rigid, ordered, Apollonian ideology, a society where there was no place for non conformists. Homosexuality clearly flew in the face of the accepted family values espoused by the glorious Regina, the aged Queen who refused to acknowledge lesbianism on that grounds that women wouldn't do that. Homosexual men did not fare so well.  They lived in fear of being blackmailed and caste out of society. Victorian values were firmly established during those years, and even now, sentimental old tories smile with fondness at the idea of restoring them. 

Oscar's libel trial was ill advised. Perhaps his passion had driven him into the realms of megalomania, a common trait in geniuses, he was not listening to the sound advice of his friends. He knew he was right to complain about Lord Queensbury's harrassment of him but in claiming libel he was putting himself in the dock.  

*Christmas Day in the Workhouse - Author unknown.    

THE PERFECT STORM

Scotland Yard are off to Portugal to interview the witnesses properly as the former arguidos claim the original PJ investigation was a sham and they want their names cleared. Good of the British government to oblige, as there is as much chance of finding a live child as there is of a snowball surviving a visit to hell. The police will of course have to go through all the motions, the McCanns are very demanding and they have got lawyers watching.  Some might think the authorities are pandering to the McCanns in going over the same ground as the PJ, some might even consider it a bit insulting, especially as the main reason seems to be, to appease a couple of doctors who are mad as hell. For the McCanns, no amount of financial compensation is enough - they want to be absolved of all blame too.  They have been left with an iffy name and the outrage of being made Arguidos buggered up what was until then a very profitable fund. So great is their need to clear their names (and sell papers) they even hoodwinked David Cameron into starting a review. Now we have a shower of nit wits flying out to PDL to interview every butcher, baker and candlestick maker with a swarthy complexion and a head shaped like an egg.  Full steam ahead with the McCann pleasing, their every wish is a command. 

Nevertheless, I think the end is nigh, we are beginning to see the coming together of a perfect storm - the illustrious pair have trodden on butterflies worldwide and high winds are now blowing in from every direction. The trial in Lisbon must go ahead.  The six months is up and no settlement has been reached.  If they want 1.2m Euros of Dr. Amaral's assets they will need to give evidence. Calling questioning Counsel a 'hater' is not an adequate reply.    

Here in the UK, Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson are due to go on trial.  Lets not forget the highlight of Ms Brooks' career was the Sun front page with McCanns' direct appeal to David Cameron to open a Review.  As we all now know, he said yes. Kerching on the tabloid sales. Despite all this, the McCanns seemingly have no gratitude to the press who elevated them to 'superstar' status.  Not only did they bite the hand that fed them, they attempted to rip its head off.  Reporting people to their bosses has been a tactic oft used in this dirty campaign, but who could have imagined that the Boss would end up in the dock. That must have been a bummer.

Unfortunately for Mr and Mrs McCann, they have become so used to people saying yes to them, they are probably still not aware that the press don't want to be gagged.  Hacked Off was doomed to fail, because anyone with an O-level knows that Freedom of Speech overrides the privacy rights of people getting up to no good.    

Lets now look at the multimillion pound Search. Scotland Yard not only have the complete files of the PJ, but they also have the files from Metodo3 and presumably Dave Edgar. Will they stand up to a close reading? We know they wont, so SY must ask, are the Drs' McCann really naive enough to be duped by 7 (?) firms of private investigators? The hot baked wind blowing in from the South, will be the trials for money laundering and fraud of the illustrious directors of Metodo 3. Their crazy Mr. Fixer (Marcos Correia) having hot footed it to Brazil. The Portuguese people already know that Metodo 3 paid Marcos Correia to get Leonor Cipriano to say she was tortured by Goncalo Amaral. She has just had 7 months added to her murder sentence for lying.  It might be worth noting here that the last, and possibly most notorious, sighting came from *Brazil shortly after Mad Marcos arrived.  

Closer to home, the Fund and the Campaign are inextricably linked to the whole case, as too, strangely, is their behaviour. Bizarrely, they have kept themselves in the public eye for 6 years - something I really cannot fathom. They could have made all this stop at any time, but truly believe that the public love them, or they will be made to, with the threat of prison for dissenters.  But I digress, they are not as clever as they think they are. The police have been studying victim tapes for years, they even employ experts, criminal psychologists, behavioural psychologists, body language experts etc and they have reams of material.  Where to start?          

Scotland Yard are now heading to Portugal with the eyes of the world watching them.  Do they dare risk a diplomatic incident by discarding all of the work done by the PJ, and opting for a swarthy foreigner?  The McCanns are not popular as they were in 2007.  They have squeezed public sympathy dry, and if they still have big backers, they were not apparent on their recent fundraisers.  Will David Cameron put his Eton cosseted head on the line for two doctors who are not 'real' PLU (People Like Us), but provincial upstarts.  Politicians like to align themselves to popular causes, and this one has lost its appeal.  

All the factors above are unstoppable, they have reached and gone beyond the point of no return. The McCanns must now pursue their claim for damages against Goncalo Amaral in a Court Room. Scotland Yard have all but promised us results, and are giving a running commentary.  As the detectives pack their bags and head off to the sunny Algarve, those of us who have followed this case know they won't find an abductor, because there isn't one. 

To find out more about the McCann case visit 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/HiDeHoCONTROVERSYofMadeleineMcCann/

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