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BVB
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Prolific Koi
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous [Re: BVB]
#28320879 - 05/15/23 05:52 PM (8 months, 9 days ago) |
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Anonymous #24
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Another side benefit of quitting drinking you start to look years younger than what you actually are.
Even if you drank your self into looking older than what you are.
Its kind of insane.
Edited by Anonymous (08/17/23 01:37 PM)
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Prolific Koi
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Facts, it’s actually one of the craziest things imo. The biggest change is in the EYES. The Wake up experience.
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Anonymous #24
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The next mission i think for my region is to get AA and NA meetings happening again in the Local jail for my county.
Wheb Covid happened they quit having meetings there and they havnt wanted to open them back up again.
So I think we are going to try and light a fire under their ass to get meetings going on again there.
Edited by Anonymous (08/17/23 01:54 PM)
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Prolific Koi
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Registered: 12/26/22
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If you end up trying to make this work please share! That would be such an accomplishment, and if it doesn’t work, whatever you tried something amazing.
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stubb
Dahg Rastubfari


Registered: 03/23/19
Posts: 1,310
Loc: Memory
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Not an alcoholic myself but one of my best friends in the whole world is, dude's one year sober and happy as a clam. Inspired me to learn more about AA and I just want to say y'all got a great system in place.
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🆃🄴🅰🄼 🅲🄻🅸🄽🅶🅆🆁🄰🅿 You wake up. The room is spinning very gently round your head. Or at least it would be if you could see it which you can't. It is pitch black. > TURN ON LIGHT
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Prolific Koi
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous [Re: stubb]
#28324798 - 05/18/23 01:14 PM (8 months, 7 days ago) |
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Lol my best friend has learned a lot from me and me from him. He struggled a little bit with addiction and then saw what happened to me haha. Pretty awesome the support we get from amazing beautiful people like yourself willing to learn and accept us for the life we had to give up and what it takes to keep our shit clean! Love man.
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BVB
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They've only recently got the prisons opened up in my area and it's a slow process. Both men's and women's. Struggling for volunteers and they keep shuffling around the population, so attendance fluctuates. We've been taking meetings into rehabs. Great times! Keeps it really fresh. Only a handful of people are really paying attention, but the message is being spread.
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Prolific Koi
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Registered: 12/26/22
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous [Re: BVB]
#28354541 - 06/10/23 01:59 PM (7 months, 15 days ago) |
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And that’s all that matters! Thanks for the inspiration. That’s pretty incredible man. Doing the good work, that’s for sure. Love and bless.
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Prolific Koi
CheeseHead



Registered: 12/26/22
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 Bless and love today. Thanks for keeping me sober.
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Prolific Koi
CheeseHead



Registered: 12/26/22
Posts: 556
Loc: Lakeshore, MN
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Hey y’all! Another day to be grateful for the beautiful life we now have. Grant me the serenity today, to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference! Peace, amen, bless, and love. A lot of shit can rub me the wrong way, I ask for help today, please lord I trust you to handle the things I cannot tame. I have faith today. Love you all
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Prolific Koi
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Registered: 12/26/22
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 Good night for a night aye? Bless. Praying for the misfits tonight!
AA Thought for the Day The AA way of living is not an easy one. But it’s an adventure in living that is really worthwhile. And it’s so much better than our old drunken way of living that there’s no comparison. Our lives without AA would be worth nothing. With AA, we have a chance to live reasonably good lives. It’s worth the battle, no matter how tough the going is from day to day. Isn’t it worth the battle?
Meditation for the Day The spiritual life has two parts. One is the life apart—the life of prayer and quiet communion with God. You spend this part of your life apart with God. Every day your mind can be set in the right direction so that your thoughts will be of the right kind. The other is the life impart—imparting to others what you have learned from your own meditative experience. The victories you have won over yourself through the help of God can be shared with others. You can help them by imparting to them some of the victory and security that you have gained in your life apart.
Prayer for the Day I pray that I may grow strong from my times apart with God. I pray that I may pass on some of this strength to others.
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nektar61
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Only ever went to AA meetings as support for my late husband, he didn't get sober and died of drugs. I've been to a lot of Al-Anon though, and worked the steps with a sponsor.
I have a question for people currently going to AA meetings. Are psychedelics mentioned, and if they are, do people get shouted down?
I've heard the phrase "Green and Serene" for people who are sober except for pot. And "Califronia Sober" for people who are sober except pot and psychedelics.
Bill W. did LSD in recovery. He was really excited about early research in the 1950s using it to treat alcoholics. It's an the official AA publication, the book Pass It On: The Story of Bill Wilson and How the A. A. Message Reached the World.
Bill got shouted down by square old drunks back then for being excited in meetings about LSD, they said LSD was "taking your alcohol in pill form." haha
Most people at the meetings I went to with my husband didn't like people talking about drugs, he got shouted down a couple times for mentioning it.
But he was a drunk as well as an addict, and Step 3, about being there to help, and not turning away people with a desire to stop drinking, I think should have applied.
His sponsor had told him to skip "hipster meetings" and only go to book study meetings that are mostly old guys who just work the steps and don't talk about their day.
Though I think maybe if my husband had gone to meetings where he related with the people on a social level more, he might have stuck with it more.
So do people in AA meetings today talk about using psychedelics to help with not drinking, either with a therapist or on their own or with friends? and if they do, do they get shouted down?
Thanks, Kat
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Edited by nektar61 (06/19/23 12:21 AM)
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Prolific Koi
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous [Re: nektar61] 1
#28365469 - 06/19/23 12:24 PM (7 months, 6 days ago) |
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Wow, thank you so much for sharing and bringing up a great question. I am sorry for your loss and makes me happy to hear that Al-anon I actually struggle with this, I haven’t been to a meeting in a bit now and it’s arguably the biggest reason why people stay sober. I remember when I checked myself into treatment, a speaker/sponsor came in and he started off the meeting by saying he thought he higher power was mushrooms for like 8 years. He started drinking again though. I was looking at the person who started this thread and noticed they were banned, lmao I was thinking last night, “what if he was the guy” could you imagine? I know there are people who take mushrooms, not many but there are. I don’t think it’s looked up to and it’s probably thrown under the rug. I would be honest about my experience with it but I haven’t yet, I guess it kinda scares me which contradicts my entire program. I’m going to make a real effort to be more open about my experience with mushrooms and life in AA for if I truly am in a good spot, I should have nothing to worry about, I’m doing the program and that’s all that matters, if I find it effects to many alcoholics negatively, maybe I won’t share as much or be more selective with the audience.
I’ve heard all that too, and I actually kinda agree with it if we aren’t careful. California sober is wine too I think. That’s never worked for a true alcoholic. I met a VERY active sponsor who led meetings IN treatment and he shared that he still smoked and that it helped him at night with his ptsd, anxiety, sleep, and prayer. I do it in the same way, sometimes I might abuse it. Bottom line is it can work if you can work the program just as well. I have to be careful with how I use mushrooms too. Although mushrooms led me to treatment, I am an alcoholic/addict so they can turn into the same thing booze was for me. Hahah I can relate to the pill form of booze if that’s the intention for taking it, to fuck yourself up just to feel something. I think the psychedelic part of it is tricky and harder for people to accept, when sober works just fine. I don’t believe there is a better way in life but I do think there is a difference between surviving and thriving. It’s probably why I don’t take mushrooms all the time, when I was, too many answers lol. And tbh that was probably was Bills true vision, but at least he got the gold nuggets out there, all that matters really. Mushrooms are too much for the average joe trying to beat a disease that fucks so many of us. I might get heat for this but shit is cancer. Except it’s even more sick and hidden. At least we have the opportunity to ask god for help and begin to start changing our lives. Never too late.
I’m going to have to read that book! Very excited, thanks! Hey and FUCK those people for shouting down to your husband. That’s in no way shape or form AA. If they were in my group in our peer led treatment center, those guys would either be kicked out back on the street for not wanting to get better or they absolutely need the most HELP. Aa is a place where anyone can be open about their addictions and usage, as long as they are willing to get better and accept the fact that they have NO power over this disease unless they ask god and fellow addicts alike trying to get better for help, there is hope. There is more than hope, there is a beautiful life waiting on the other side, but shit will never be easy. It’s a simple program buts it is not EASY. I am very very sorry to hear about that experience you had with your husband. I wish I could have met the man, sounds like a beautiful soul deep down. The fact that you guys went is a beautiful thing and that’s a good memory to have at least. You did everything you could at that time for him. Inspiring. I really think that’s why peer led treatment centers and Aa groups are the way to go, I’m 25 and that shit just doesn’t slide anymore, there are so many kids and adults now a days struggling to stay sane and if some old timer crab can’t listen to new shit coming threw the door, maybe they need to check themselves back in to treatment! Like everyone’s shit stinks! No sorry is worse than the next addict/alcoholic, we know what we know. It’s all the same lol, but we do look to some people and say damn, if we through all our shit in a pile together, I bet ya I’d be the first one running to go grab mine to bring back. Book study meetings are proven to work believe it or not, it does suck sometimes and I’ve had some horrible boring meetings, but I find when I sit through them and actually listen, these old guys are living proof of beating an addiction. They may be boring as hell sometimes but we don’t always have to live exactly how they would. They may not have the same experience as someone who trips but I’d argue that the biggest trip is the discipline knowing that not taking anything is the REAL high. This is actually fucked and I never wanted to believe it, it’s true. When I checked myself in, I hallucinated about 5-10 throughout the course of recovery. When we put our body, minds, and souls in a place of surrender to god and the way of life, it’s a crazy feeling. That feel small to feel huge feelings. Goosebump fuzzies. Now I still get that every now and then, but nothing compared to when I first started my journey with God and through the program of Aa. Hmmmmmm looks like I still got some work to do! Hahah. Idk what the fuck a hipster meeting is but I’d guess people would probably say the same thing about me right? Like I’m on the shroomery talking about Aa lol.
I personally can relate with your husband, and I think millions of others can as well and I think it’s why I haven’t been to a meeting in recent months. Psychedelics will always be tricky when it comes to Aa. Aa is just a manifestation of the mushrooms I like to think of it. Aa just simplifies it. Mushrooms we trip hard for a couple hours, and then we’re done. Aa it’s a never ending trip. Even if you aren’t at a meeting, we think, live, pray, and help others like we’re at the meetings. The meetings might be the dose of mushrooms. Only difference is the addict was forced to find God, his or her higher power or die essentially. I’ve been in and out of the hospital countless times from booze fentanyl, and coke. I am very grateful for the life I now have, and I spend every minute of it trying to make amends for the past life which almost ruined me.
Side note: mushrooms help me with my ptsd. Sophomore year of high school I took 2 tabs of a research chem named 25i b boom or something fucked. I remember taking it after school so we headed up to the top of this hill we called the peak. Was up there for like 2 hours tripping absolute dick, friend told me I was talking to people that weren’t there but it turned out that he was just fucking with me. Anyways I believed him. All my other friends show up because they heard I was having a bad trip, so they started packing a bowl. We smoked it and then we’re just sitting there for a bit but in my mind it felt like eternity and I could have sworn they fake packed like a million bowls just to make me feel better. It was a nightmare but wtf they were just trying to help lol. I thought I was losing my mind, which I was lol. I get a text from my dad, “hey you got your therapy appointment at 5 today fyi” oh fuck like it can’t get any worse right? I actually fucking went… I almost forgot how to drive my car and the whole way there I couldn’t believe I didn’t crash. I got through the entire appointment somehow, I don’t remember any of it. Like did he even know? Who fucking knows haha. That shit fucked me up and I couldn’t look at anyone in the eyes for years. Mushrooms really helped me with that trip, I still today get tracers and shit from it.
Sorry for your loss Kat, I am very happy to hear that you kept Al-Anon in your life. I know some great people who live by Al-anon, and I learn so much from them, my mother being one of them, she’s an angel. Praying for you and your husband today. Bless and love.
AA Thought for the Day We have this choice every day of our lives. We can take the path that leads to insanity and death. And remember, our next drunk could be our last one. Or we can take the path that leads to a reasonably happy and useful life. The choice is ours each day of our lives. God grant that we take the right path. Have I made my choice today?
Meditation for the Day Your real work in life is to grow spiritually. To do this you must follow the path of diligently seeking good. The hidden spiritual wonders are revealed to those who diligently seek this treasure. From one point to the next, you have to follow the way of obedience to God’s will until finally you reach greater and greater spiritual heights. Work on the material plane should be secondary to your real life’s work. The material things that you need most are those that help you to attain the spiritual.
Prayer for the Day I pray that I may keep growing spiritually. I pray that I may make this my real life’s work.
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Prolific Koi
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Registered: 12/26/22
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AA Thought for the Day One of the most encouraging facts of life is that your weakness can become your greatest asset. Kites and airplanes rise against the wind. In climbing up a high mountain, we need the stony crags and rough places to aid us in our climb. So your weakness can become an asset if you will face it, examine it, and trace it to its origin. Set it in the very center of your mind. No weakness, such as drinking, ever turned into an asset until it was first fairly faced. Am I making my weakness my greatest asset?
Meditation for the Day Whenever we seek to worship God, we think of the great universe that God rules over, of creation, and of mighty law and order throughout the universe. Then we feel the awe that precedes worship. I, too, must feel awe—feel the desire to worship God in wondering amazement. My mind is in a box of space and time and it is so made that I cannot conceive of what is beyond space or time, the limitless and the eternal. But I know that there must be something beyond space and time, and that something must be the limitless and eternal Power behind the universe. I also know that I can experience that Power in my life.
Prayer for the Day I pray that I may accept the limitless and eternal Spirit. I pray that it may express itself in my life.
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BVB
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous [Re: nektar61] 1
#28376336 - 06/27/23 09:53 AM (6 months, 29 days ago) |
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Personally, I microdose 0.15g about 6x a week with the occasional light trip. I've tripped 3x on 1-1.5g since I stopped drinking in October 2021.
Mushrooms and AA do not mix for me. AA is #1 in my life while the mushroom is just another outside support like church, physical activity, work etc. The only time the two mix is when I'm talking with my sponsor. He knows what I do. Has told me that it's not part of the program but he's not going to stop working with me nor tell me to take a 24-hour chip. He's even given me the green light to be a sponsor to other's and I've been working with a newcomer for about a month now 
Legality aside, it's just a medication for me. SRI's, SSRI's, SNRI's all have failed to treat my depression. AA alone doesn't quite do the trick for it. AA helped with my drinking problem, absolutely, but it's not a cure-all. The mushroom helps get me connected and living. There are people in the program on anxiety medications, amphetamine medications, pain management, suboxene, etc. who don't drink ODAAT, live a happy sober life and maintain a strong program. All the more power to them! It's not something I'd care to share openly in a meeting as, in my opinion, it doesn't belong. I've heard in the past people share about their different medications. I didn't hear of them getting "shouted down" but I'm sure it's talked about with their support group outside of meetings, as it should - hopefully in a healthy/ constructive manner. It's not part of the message for me. No problem. Not every meeting is going to be delivering 100% of the message, we need to hear the pain and problem too! I have yet to hear anyone openly using psychedelics to help them recover. If/when I do, I'm not going to approach them intentionally with the thought that psychedelics help you recover as that's not my story. AA helped/ is helping me to recover from alcoholism, not psychedelics.
For me, it's between God and I. That's it. If I can't face God, stand tall, express what I'm doing confidently to God, then maybe what I'm doing is wrong. I keep my sobriety date because I am confident there's no misuse of the mushroom. AA is #1.
TL;DR In my opinion, medications are not part of the AA program and probably shouldn't be brought up in a discussion meeting. Keep it between God, yourself, your sponsor and anyone else in the program you trust. Those who do shouldn't be shouted down, however, mind/ mood altering medications should be kept separate when discussing working the AA program. Probably even discouraged if one can avoid the medication.
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nektar61
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous [Re: BVB] 1
#28376356 - 06/27/23 10:14 AM (6 months, 29 days ago) |
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Quote:
BVB said: TL;DR In my opinion, medications are not part of the AA program and probably shouldn't be brought up in a discussion meeting....
I think there is a lot to argue against this, unless it's a meeting that has a specific rule of "no drug talk."
One is the AA pamphlet "problems other than alcohol", which discusses drugs as "taking your alcohol in solid form."
On the same hand is the Big Book story "Doctor, Alcoholic, Addict", which is canonical AA and discusses shooting speed and morphine in detail.
Then there is the fact that Bill W used LSD in recovery while AA was still being written, in the 50s, I think before the 12 traditions were finished, before the 12 and 12 was published. I don't have a copy of the Bill W. story to check. Anyone here have it? I'm also not sure he ever said when he was doing LSD, but it was during the 50s, when Sandoz was sending out massive amounts of samples to psychiatrists to try with patients, especially with alcoholics.
Then there is the Tradition 3, "The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking."
That means you can be an addict as well as an alcoholic and be in AA.
Tradition 4: "Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole."
says a group can allow discussions of drugs. Though it also means a group can have a rule of "no talking about drugs." There could even be a group called "Alcohol only" were the point of the group is to only talk about alcohol, and not drugs.
Because "all you need to start a new meeting is a resentment and a coffee pot."
Tradition 5 "Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers"
basically says a groups should allow discussions of drugs.
Probably means don't turn addicts away and don't shout them down.
Then there is fact that any AA meeting in a major US city with a membership under 75 years old is going to have a lot of shares that mention drugs. It's unavoidable. As I heard a meeting speaker start his share "There are drugs in my story, when I was out there drinking I wasn't practicing for membership in Alcoholics Anonymous."
NA started by addicts who were shouted down from AA meetings in the 70s, but since that doesn't happen much anymore, AA meetings and NA meetings are pretty similar, and similar shares are allowed.
The people are just better looking in AA because they didn't hit as deep a bottom as people who have to break the law for drugs. -
Quote:
BVB said: I have yet to hear anyone openly using psychedelics to help them recover.....
If they weren't illegal, I'd suggest you start a meeting with the focus on discussing them as part of recovery.
Bill W would love probably have loved shrooms. He loved to garden and liked growing things and liked tripping.
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Edited by nektar61 (06/27/23 10:35 AM)
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Prolific Koi
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Registered: 12/26/22
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Re: Alcoholics Anonymous [Re: nektar61]
#28376553 - 06/27/23 12:56 PM (6 months, 29 days ago) |
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Great discussion and I agree with both of you! If it works it works, personally I would probably be open to talk about it during a meeting knowing full well I might get discouraged, that’s okay, Aa is a place of discussion and honesty, if I am not ready to accept the fact that most people probably won’t agree, Aa won’t work for me. I think there are some people in Aa who are more willing to have that conversation, lol pick your right battles I guess. Sometimes I just don’t think it’s worth it, I can save people who aren’t as familiar with Aa on here too, introduce them to the program. God is my go to and mushrooms will always be secondary.
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nektar61
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Registered: 07/04/20
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Quote:
Prolific Koi said: Great discussion and I agree with both of you! If it works it works, personally I would probably be open to talk about it during a meeting knowing full well I might get discouraged, that’s okay, .
Yes.
I heard someone talk at a meeting, guy who picked up a "just for today" (zero days sober) chip, said in his share he'd been shouted down in a meeting before about drug talk and stormed out and used for a long time after that. Not all on the meeting, but at least a little bit. This was a couple decades ago.
In the old timer AA meeting I used to go to, they had some NA schedules and after they'd shout someone down for drug talk, they'd give you an NA schedule and semi-lovingly invite you to go there. haha
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