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Accused Murderer Ranted About Pronouns, Trump Before Ex-Wife, Her BF Were Slain In NY Home Accused Murderer Ranted About Pronouns, Trump Before Ex-Wife, Her BF Were Slain In NY Home
Accused Murderer Ranted About Pronouns, Trump Before Ex-Wife, Her BF Were Slain In NY Home New details are offering insight into the mind of an accused murderer just hours before he allegedly gunned down his ex-wife and her boyfriend inside their New York home. The Long Island killings happened in St. James, at a residence on Brasswood Road, at around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28. Suffolk County Police said Daniel Coppola, age 50, put his 15-year-old daughter into his car before going inside and shooting his ex-wife, 50-year-old Kelly Coppola, and her boyfriend, 53-year-old Kenneth Pohlman. Earlier Report: Man Kills Ex-Wife, Her BF At St. James Home, Police Say Both vic…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Bank Manager From Hudson Valley Sentenced For Hiring A Hitman To Murder Brother-In-Law Bank Manager From Hudson Valley Sentenced For Hiring A Hitman To Murder Brother-In-Law
Bank Manager From Hudson Valley Sentenced For Hiring A Hitman To Murder Brother-In-Law A Hudson Valley bank manager is headed for federal prison after pleading guilty to plotting to hire a hitman to murder her own brother-in-law. Orange County resident Reshma Massarone, age 40, of Pine Bush, a hamlet of Crawford, was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison and three years of post-release supervision on Wednesday, Aug. 28, said Damian Williams, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.  “The defendant devised a chilling plan to have a member of her own family murdered for the low price of ten thousand dollars," said Williams. "Her plan was unthinkably heartless. For th…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
21-Year-Old Man Convicted Of Attempted Rape Of 13-Year-Old In Hudson Valley 21-Year-Old Man Convicted Of Attempted Rape Of 13-Year-Old In Hudson Valley
21-Year-Old Man Convicted Of Attempted Rape Of 13-Year-Old In Hudson Valley A 21-year-old Connecticut man who was apprehended after driving to the Hudson Valley for what he thought would be sex with a 13-year-old child has been found guilty, officials announced.  The conviction of Fairfield County resident Francisco Gomez of Norwalk for attempted rape was announced on Wednesday, Aug. 28 by Putnam County District Attorney Robert Tendy.  According to Tendy's office, Gomez used social media to entice a 13-year-old child from Putnam County to engage in sexual activity with him. These messages were later found by the child's mother and shown to authorities, wh…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Man Rapes Hudson Valley Girl He Met Online, Then Drops Her Off At School, Police Say Man Rapes Hudson Valley Girl He Met Online, Then Drops Her Off At School, Police Say
Man Rapes Hudson Valley Girl He Met Online, Then Drops Her Off At School, Police Say A man from the region who allegedly raped a Hudson Valley 15-year-old girl and then dropped her off at school has been charged by state police.  Albany County resident Benjamin Randall, age 22, of Cohoes, was charged on Monday, Aug. 26, in Ulster County in Ellenville on rape charges. According to New York State Police Trooper Steven Nevel, the department received a complaint in April from the 15-year-old that she met Randall on a social media site in March.  After speaking online for several weeks, she agreed to meet with Randall after school. Randall picked her up and drove…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
27-Year-Old Accused Of Having Sex With Teen He Met At Dutchess County Park 27-Year-Old Accused Of Having Sex With Teen He Met At Dutchess County Park
27-Year-Old Accused Of Having Sex With Teen He Met At Dutchess County Park A 27-year-old Connecticut man is accused of carrying on a consensual sexual relationship with a 15-year-old in a neighboring county in New York, authorities announced.  Litchfield County resident Kevin Brathwaite, of Sharon, was arrested on Monday, Aug. 19, and charged with second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor, Connecticut State Police said.  The teen told police she met Brathwaite in Dutchess County at Thomas J. Boyce Park in Wingdale, where she was watching her friends play basketball. He offered to drive her home, but she declined. She was 13 years ol…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Bomb Hoaxer Who Targeted Jewish Hospitals In NY Was Motivated By Antisemitism, Feds Say Bomb Hoaxer Who Targeted Jewish Hospitals In NY Was Motivated By Antisemitism, Feds Say
Bomb Hoaxer Who Targeted Jewish Hospitals In NY Was Motivated By Antisemitism, Feds Say A man is facing federal charges in connection with a series of bomb threats that were made against Jewish hospitals in New York. Domagoj Patkovic, age 31, of Portland, Oregon, is charged with making bomb threats and related offenses in an indictment that was unsealed in Oregon federal court on Tuesday, Aug. 20. According to prosecutors, Patkovic and others called in bomb threats to Jewish hospitals and care centers in New York City and on Long Island beginning in May 2021. During the calls, they allegedly made violent threats and threatened to detonate explosive devices. Patkovic himself…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Ousted NY Rep. George Santos Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case Ousted NY Rep. George Santos Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case
Ousted NY Rep. George Santos Likely To Face Prison After Pleading Guilty In Fraud Case Former Republican Congressman George Santos admitted to committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a federal court on Monday, Aug. 19, authorities announced.  The 36-year-old former inhabitant of New York's 3rd Congressional District seat on Long Island was facing 23 felonies, and a trial set to begin next month.  A federal judge will sentence Santos on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York said. According to federal sentencing guidelines, aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year minimum sentence.&n…

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by Josh Lanier
Lifestyle
YouTube Star, Boxer Jake Paul Seen During Police Boat Escort On Lake In Hudson Valley YouTube Star, Boxer Jake Paul Seen During Police Boat Escort On Lake In Hudson Valley
YouTube Star, Boxer Jake Paul Seen During Police Boat Escort On Lake In Hudson Valley Social media was abuzz after YouTube star and professional boxer Jake Paul was sighted during both a police boat escort on a Hudson Valley lake and a private helicopter ride.  The sightings happened on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 15, when Paul, an internet icon who began a boxing career in 2018, was seen in Putnam County during a ride on Lake Mahopac.  Paul was seen being escorted by Carmel Police officers in videos posted to TikTok, including one from user ryzy15.  @ryzy15 ♬ original sound - Martin Ryz In addition to the boat ride, Paul was also seen taking a privat…

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
Donald Trump Paints America In Collapse In Elon Musk X Interview Plagued By Tech Glitches Donald Trump Paints America In Collapse In Elon Musk X Interview Plagued By Tech Glitches
Donald Trump Paints America In Collapse In Elon Musk X Interview Plagued By Tech Glitches In an at-times rambling conversation plagued by tech glitches that jumped from fawning praise to forced questions, former President Donald Trump laid out his clearest thesis for his campaign: Vote Trump to preserve American supremacy around the globe and avoid a World War.  The conversation began about the assassination attempt on Trump's life. Musk said he was stunned at how close Trump was to losing his life. The former president said even his doctors couldn't believe his luck.  The former president said it was most likely divine intervention that saved his life. https://t.c…

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by Josh Lanier
Politics
'Sounds Like A Rejected Comedy Sketch': Internet Reacts To RFK Jr. Dumping Bear In Central Park 'Sounds Like A Rejected Comedy Sketch': Internet Reacts To RFK Jr. Dumping Bear In Central Park
'Sounds Like A Rejected Comedy Sketch': Internet Reacts To RFK Jr. Dumping Bear In Central Park In an election cycle filled with ridiculous news stories with more dangerously sharp twists than an unregulated carnival rollercoaster, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropped one of the weirdest news stories of this year on Monday, Aug. 5.  The presidential candidate announced he left a dead bear cub in Central Park because he thought "it would be fun for people." It wasn't, and Kennedy has been turned into a meme overnight.  Related: RFK Jr. Says He Dumped Body Of Bear Found In Hudson Valley In Central Park It all began after Kennedy posted a video of him telling the story to Rosea…

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by Josh Lanier
Politics
NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In COVID-19 Cases NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In COVID-19 Cases
NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In Covid-19 Cases Lawmakers in a New York county approved a controversial bill criminalizing mask wearing amid a summer bump in COVID-19 cases. On Long Island, the Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature passed the “Mask Transparency Act” by a vote of 12-0 on Monday night, Aug. 5. All seven Democrats abstained from voting. The bill makes it a misdemeanor for anyone 16 and older to wear a face mask in public spaces in the county. It also gives private businesses the right to prohibit masks on their premises. It grants exceptions for health or religious reasons, though that distinction will be determ…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says He Dumped Body Of Bear Found In Hudson Valley In Central Park Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says He Dumped Body Of Bear Found In Hudson Valley In Central Park
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says He Dumped Body Of Bear Found In Hudson Valley In Central Park In an apparent effort to get in front of a weirder-than-weird story about a baby bear, Independent presidential candidate Robert J. Kennedy, Jr. came clean on X and solved a 10-year-old mystery. Kennedy released the video on X on Sunday, Aug. 4, explaining to Roseann Barr that a story in the New Yorker is true about how he picked up a dead baby black bear in the Hudson Valley off the road in Orange County while falconing in Goshen in 2014. In the video, the former Northern Westchester County resident who lived in Bedford tells Barr how "a woman in a van in front of me hit a bear and killed …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Enticing, Sexually Exploiting Minors Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Enticing, Sexually Exploiting Minors
Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Enticing, Sexually Exploiting Minors A 23-year-old Hudson Valley man has been charged with sexual exploitation of minors to engage in alleged sexual activity. Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced Wednesday, July 31, that Rockland County resident Oscar Lemus of Haverstraw was arrested and detained following an investigation. As alleged in the complaint, Lemus is accused of allegedly using the screen name “lemus.xp” to meet a 14-year-old girl on social media and persuade her to meet him in Rockland County to engage in sexual activity. In March, Lemus also engaged in sexual activity …

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Ryan Reynolds Visits Popular Theater In Fairfield County Ryan Reynolds Visits Popular Theater In Fairfield County
Ryan Reynolds Visits Popular Theater In Fairfield County A hat and glasses couldn't hide the identity of the "Deadpool & Wolverine" star and Westchester County resident Ryan Reynolds when he walked into a popular Fairfield County theater to take in a movie. Reynolds, married to acclaimed actress Blake Lively, took his children to the Prospector Theater in Ridgefield this week. And even though Reynolds wanted to see the movie InsideOut 2 with his kids, which was sold out, they bypassed his own movie and headed for "Despicable Me 4" instead. The star, who lives with Lively and their four children in a $5.7 million mansion in Pound Ridge, just…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
New Fugitive Update: Hudson Valley Teen Murder Suspect Was Found Hiding In Airbnb New Fugitive Update: Hudson Valley Teen Murder Suspect Was Found Hiding In Airbnb
New Fugitive Update: Hudson Valley Teen Murder Suspect Was Found Hiding In Airbnb An 18-year-old who had been the target of a multi-state manhunt for the murder of a Hudson Valley man was found hiding in an out-of-state Airbnb.  Earlier Report: Teenage Suspect In Haverstraw Murder Of 29-Year-Old Nabbed In South Carolina Rockland County resident Yandie Martinez of Haverstraw was nabbed around 1:20 p.m. Saturday, July 27, in Piedmont, South Carolina, for the Monday, July 1, murder of Christian Alvarado in Haverstraw. According to Haverstraw Police Chief John Gould, Martinez allegedly shot and killed Alvardo inside a vehicle in the area of W…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Hudson Valley Police Chief Resigns For New Job Hudson Valley Police Chief Resigns For New Job
Hudson Valley Police Chief Resigns For New Job Employees from a Hudson Valley town bid farewell to their police chief, who resigned to take a new position. For the past 11 years, Police Chief Keith Dworkin has called Dutchess County and the Fishkill Police Department home, but on Friday, July 19, he said goodbye to take another position as chief in the village of Millbrook. In a Facebook post, the department said Dworkin had worked tirelessly during his four years as chief to promote community outreach, encourage public relations, and increase resident confidence in the police department. "Under his leadership, the community policing u…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
Former Trump Hater J.D. Vance Selected As Donald Trump's VP Candidate Former Trump Hater J.D. Vance Selected As Donald Trump's VP Candidate
Former Trump Hater J.D. Vance Selected As Donald Trump's VP Candidate Former President Donald Trump unveiled his vice presidential running mate late Monday afternoon, July 15.  US Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, age 39, was announced as the pick by Trump on Truth Social just ahead of his appearance at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The post reads as follows: "After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio. J.D. honorably served our Country in the Ma…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
Free Pool Access For Summer: Hochul Launches 'Get Offline, Get Outside' Campaign At NY Parks Free Pool Access For Summer: Hochul Launches 'Get Offline, Get Outside' Campaign At NY Parks
Free Pool Access For Summer: Hochul Launches 'Get Offline, Get Outside' Campaign At NY Parks As part of an initiative to promote physical and mental health among young New Yorkers, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that pool entry fees will be waived at state parks this summer. “Summer is here – get offline and get outside.” On Tuesday, July 2, Hochul announced that for the rest of the summer, there will be no entry fees at New York State Parks pools. It’s part of the “Get Offline, Get Outside” campaign, which encourages young people and families to prioritize their mental and physical health by taking a break from social media to enjoy recreation and social gatherings outdoors. Poo…

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by Sophie Grieser
Business
‘Is He Serious?’ NY Ice Cream Shop Owner Accused Of Stealing Employees’ Tips ‘Is He Serious?’ NY Ice Cream Shop Owner Accused Of Stealing Employees’ Tips
‘Is He Serious?’ NY Ice Cream Shop Owner Accused Of Stealing Employees’ Tips Social media is abuzz with outrage after a New York mother accused an ice cream shop owner of withholding customer tips that were given to her 15-year-old son and other employees. In a post on a community Facebook page Monday, July 1, the Long Island resident said her son quit his job at the Hauppauge business after the owner allegedly told him he “can’t figure out” how to separate tips that customers paid using a debit or credit card on his point-of-sale system. “I am not one who tips for every little thing, but people were tipping these kids on their credit cards, which they really apprec…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Alert Issued For 20-Year-Old Missing From Westchester Alert Issued For 20-Year-Old Missing From Westchester
Alert Issued For 20-Year-Old Missing From Westchester Authorities are asking for the public's help in finding a 20-year-old Westchester man who has been missing for several days.  New, Updated Report - New Update: Missing 20-Year-Old From Westchester Found New Rochelle resident Neyson Estela was last seen on Saturday, June 29 in the area of Pier 84 near West 4th Street and 12th Avenue in New York City, New Rochelle Police announced on Tuesday, July 2.  He had been running north after taking off his backpack and shirt, police said. Before that, Estela had been seen on Friday, June 28 around 5 p.m. while leaving 44 Pleasant…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Update: More Details Emerge About Kidnapping Case Involving Missing 15-Year-Old CT Girl Update: More Details Emerge About Kidnapping Case Involving Missing 15-Year-Old CT Girl
Update: More Details Emerge About Kidnapping Case Involving Missing 15-Year-Old CT Girl Authorities have released more information about a case involving a missing 15-year-old Connecticut girl who was found in the Hudson Valley after allegedly being kidnapped by a 24-year-old man.  New Haven resident Marcos Alex Mendez-Torres was taken into custody by Connecticut State Police on Wednesday, June 26 after also being arrested in the Orange County town of Montgomery, New York on Sunday, June 23 in connection with a kidnapping case involving a missing 15-year-old Connecticut girl, State Police announced on Thursday, June 27.  Earlier Report - 24-…

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
NY Voters Beware: Erroneous Polling Site Info Being Pushed By Text Scammers NY Voters Beware: Erroneous Polling Site Info Being Pushed By Text Scammers
NY Voters Beware: Erroneous Polling Site Info Being Pushed By Text Scammers Voters in New York are being warned about scammers who are trying to confuse them ahead of the state’s primary elections. The New York State Board of Elections has received reports from voters across the state who have received unsolicited text messages from an outside group pushing incorrect polling place information. “The State Board would like to remind voters that the best place to get information about elections and voting is directly from the New York State Board of Elections and the County Boards of Elections,” the agency said in a press release Monday, June 24. “Voters are enc…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children
Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children Big changes are on the horizon for those TikTok and Instagram feeds. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed new legislation Thursday, June 20, meant to combat what lawmakers called “addictive” social media algorithms aimed at minors, the first such law in the country. Under the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act, social media companies will be required to display content chronologically for users under 18 unless they get parental consent allowing them to show content that is selected algorithmically instead. Content that is algorithmically curated relies on a user’s behavior and past …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Beware Of 'Pig Butchering' Online Romance Schemes In NY: Attorney General Beware Of 'Pig Butchering' Online Romance Schemes In NY: Attorney General
Beware Of 'Pig Butchering' Online Romance Schemes In NY: Attorney General New York Attorney General Letitia James urged New Yorkers to be on high alert for increasingly common online romance scams that lead to the victims making fraudulent investments. Also referred to as “pig butchering” schemes, the perpetrators of such crimes will work to gain trust with their victims, “fattening” them up so they willingly provide the scammer money, James said in a Thursday, June 6 press release. Victims are usually targeted via dating websites and apps, social media, and unsolicited text messages. Earlier report - NY Resident Loses $341K In 'Pig Butchering' Scheme: …

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by Sophie Grieser
Business
Popular Eatery To Open New Location In Northern Westchester: Here's When Popular Eatery To Open New Location In Northern Westchester: Here's When
Popular Eatery To Open New Location In Northern Westchester: Here's When If you've been craving sweets, mark your calendars: a popular cookie company known for unique flavors is opening another location in Northern Westchester.  New, updated report - Update: Popular Eatery's New Location Now Open In Northern Westchester Crumbl Cookies will hold a grand opening for a new location in Yorktown Heights at 3333 Crompond Rd. Suite 2A on Friday, June 7, the company announced on social media. The company's locations are known for serving six unique flavors of cookies that rotate every week. Some of the company's 275-plus specialty flavors include co…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Weight Loss Drug Illegally Purchased On Social Media Sickens Westchester Woman, Feds Say Weight Loss Drug Illegally Purchased On Social Media Sickens Westchester Woman, Feds Say
Weight Loss Drug Illegally Purchased On Social Media Sickens Westchester Woman, Feds Say A wannabe social media influencer from New York hoping to cash in on the medication weight loss craze illegally sold Ozempic and other drugs on TikTok, sickening at least one victim, federal prosecutors allege. Long Island resident Isis Navarro Reyes, age 36, of Shirley, is named in a six-count indictment that was unsealed in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, May 1. Prosecutors allege that Reyes posted dozens of TikTok videos advertising and selling various misbranded and adulterated weight loss drugs, including Ozempic, Mesofrance, and Axcion, between November 2022 and January 2024. S…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Capital Region Man Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images Capital Region Man Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images
Capital Region Man Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images Years in federal prison await a man from the region who confessed to blackmailing underage girls into sending him sexually explicit images. Richard Nejame, age 29, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of receiving and attempting to receive child pornography in Albany federal court on Thursday, April 11. Prosecutors said Nejame messaged several underage girls on social media apps, including Snapchat, while pretending to be a teenage boy between October 2022 and May 2023. As part of his guilty plea, he admitted that he then convinced the girls to take nude pictures and videos of…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
School Shooting Threat On Social Media Prompts Police Response In Hudson Valley School Shooting Threat On Social Media Prompts Police Response In Hudson Valley
School Shooting Threat On Social Media Prompts Police Response In Hudson Valley Several Hudson Valley schools were put in lockout after authorities were alerted of a school shooting threat that was posted on social media and shared by students, police said. The police response resulted from an incident in Putnam County on Thursday, March 14 around 7:45 a.m., when the school resource officer assigned to Brewster High School learned of a threatening message regarding a possible shooting that was posted on social media, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said on Monday, March 18. Sheriff's deputies immediately responded to the school and enforced a lockout at all Bre…

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by Ben Crnic