The Colony
Faith and Blood in a Promised Land
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Narrated by:
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Ann Richardson
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By:
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Sally Denton
About this listen
On the morning of November 4, 2019, a caravan of women and children was ambushed by masked gunmen on a desolate stretch of road in northern Mexico controlled by the Sinaloa drug cartel. Firing semi-automatic weapons, the attackers killed nine people and gravely injured five more. The victims were members of the LeBaron and La Mora communities-fundamentalist Mormons whose forebears broke from the LDS Church and settled in Mexico when their religion outlawed polygamy in the late nineteenth century. The massacre produced international headlines for weeks, and prompted President Donald Trump to threaten to send in the US Army.
In The Colony, Sally Denton delves into the complex story of the LeBaron clan. Their homestead—Colonia LeBaron—is a portal into the past, a place that offers a glimpse of life within a polygamous community on an arid and dangerous frontier in the mid-1800s, though with smartphones and machine guns. Rooting her narrative in written sources as well as interviews with anonymous women from LeBaron itself, Denton unfolds an epic, disturbing tale that spans the first polygamist emigrations to Mexico through the LeBarons' internal blood feud in the 1970s and up to the family's recent alliance with the NXIVM sex cult, whose now-imprisoned leader, Keith Raniere, may have based his practices on the society he witnessed in Colonia LeBaron.
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We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families
- Stories from Rwanda
- By: Philip Gourevitch
- Narrated by: Philip Gourevitch
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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An unforgettable firsthand account of a people's response to genocide and what it tells us about humanity. This remarkable audiobook chronicles what has happened in Rwanda and neighboring states since 1994, when the Rwandan government called on everyone in the Hutu majority to murder everyone in the Tutsi minority.
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Things you'd never imagine
- By LEE on 12-27-19
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A Storm of Witchcraft
- The Salem Trials and the American Experience
- By: Emerson W. Baker
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
- Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Beginning in January 1692, Salem Village in colonial Massachusetts witnessed the largest and most lethal outbreak of witchcraft in early America. Villagers - mainly young women - suffered from unseen torments that caused them to writhe, shriek, and contort their bodies, complaining of pins stuck into their flesh and of being haunted by specters. Believing that they suffered from assaults by an invisible spirit, the community began a hunt to track down those responsible for the demonic work.
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Wow....riveting and tragic
- By TeamDowager on 10-23-15
By: Emerson W. Baker
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United States of Jihad
- Investigating America's Homegrown Terrorists
- By: Peter Bergen
- Narrated by: Nicholas Guy Smith
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Since 9/11, more than 300 Americans - born and raised in Minnesota, Alabama, New Jersey, and elsewhere - have been indicted or convicted of terrorism charges. Some have taken the fight abroad: An American was among those who planned the attacks in Mumbai, and more than 80 US citizens have been charged with ISIS-related crimes. Others have acted on American soil, as with the attacks at Fort Hood, at the Boston Marathon, and in San Bernardino. What motivates them, how are they trained, and what do we sacrifice in our efforts to track them?
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More multi-culty dreck
- By Peter on 02-06-16
By: Peter Bergen
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100 Amazing Facts About the Negro
- By: Henry Louis Gates Jr.
- Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
- Length: 14 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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With élan and erudition - and with winning enthusiasm - Henry Louis Gates Jr. gives us a corrective yet loving homage to Rogers' work. Relying on the latest scholarship, Gates leads us on a romp through African, diasporic, and African American history in question-and-answer format. Among the 100 questions: Who were Africa's first ambassadors to Europe? Who was the first black president in North America? Did Lincoln really free the slaves? Who was history's wealthiest person? What percentage of white Americans have recent African ancestry?
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great book
- By Anthony Costello on 06-14-18
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Blood at the Root
- A Racial Cleansing in America
- By: Patrick Phillips
- Narrated by: Patrick Phillips
- Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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National Book Award finalist Patrick Phillips tells Forsyth's tragic story in vivid detail and traces its long history of racial violence all the way back to antebellum Georgia. Recalling his own childhood in the 1970s and '80s, Phillips sheds light on the communal crimes of his hometown and the violent means by which locals kept Forsyth all white well into the 1990s.
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when is white history month?
- By Bailey on 03-06-18
By: Patrick Phillips
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Where the Jews Aren't
- The Sad and Absurd Story of Birobidzhan, Russia's Jewish Autonomous Region
- By: Masha Gessen
- Narrated by: Christina Delaine
- Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1929, the Soviet government set aside a sparsely populated area in the Soviet Far East for settlement by Jews. The place was called Birobidzhan. The idea of an autonomous Jewish region was championed by Jewish Communists, Yiddishists, and intellectuals, who envisioned a haven of post-oppression Jewish culture. By the mid-1930s tens of thousands of Soviet Jews, as well as about a thousand Jews from abroad, had moved there.
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The Jewish World of Our Ancestors
- By Roberta L. Ruben on 06-16-18
By: Masha Gessen
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Malcolm X
- A Life of Reinvention
- By: Manning Marable
- Narrated by: G. Valmont Thomas
- Length: 22 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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Of the great figure in 20th-century American history perhaps none is more complex and controversial than Malcolm X. Constantly rewriting his own story, he became a criminal, a minister, a leader, and an icon, all before being felled by assassins' bullets at age 39. Through his tireless work and countless speeches he empowered hundreds of thousands of black Americans to create better lives and stronger communities while establishing the template for the self-actualized, independent African American man.
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invites further reading on Malcolm X
- By connie on 05-14-11
By: Manning Marable
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The Terror Years
- From al-Qaeda to the Islamic State
- By: Lawrence Wright
- Narrated by: John H. Mayer, Lawrence Wright
- Length: 17 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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With the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Looming Tower, Lawrence Wright became generally acknowledged as one of our major journalists writing on terrorism in the Middle East. This collection draws on several articles he wrote while researching that book as well as many that he's written since, following where and how al-Qaeda and its core cultlike beliefs have morphed and spread.
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Contains much old material from "Looming Tower"
- By peter on 09-21-16
By: Lawrence Wright
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Neighbors
- The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland
- By: Jan T. Gross
- Narrated by: Rory Barnett
- Length: 3 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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One summer day in 1941, half of the Polish town of Jedwabne murdered the other half, 1,600 men, women, and children, all but seven of the town's Jews. Neighbors tells their story. This is a shocking, brutal story that has never before been told. It is the most important study of Polish-Jewish relations to be published in decades and should become a classic of Holocaust literature. Jan Gross pieces together eyewitness accounts and other evidence into an engulfing reconstruction of the horrific July day remembered well by locals but forgotten by history.
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interesting
- By A. Adams on 10-11-20
By: Jan T. Gross
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A Thousand Hills
- Rwanda's Rebirth and the Man Who Dreamed It
- By: Stephen Kinzer
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Paul Kagame grew up as a wretched refugee. He and a group of comrades, determined to force their way back home after a generation of exile, designed one of the most audacious covert operations in the history of clandestine war. Then, after taking power, they amazed the world by stabilizing and reviving their devastated country.
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Best Most Comprehensive Work on Rwanda
- By Greg on 07-30-10
By: Stephen Kinzer
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Gangster Warlords
- By: Ioan Grillo
- Narrated by: James Cameron Stewart
- Length: 14 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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In a ranch south of Texas, the man known as The Executioner dumps 500 body parts in metal barrels. In Brazil's biggest city, a mysterious prisoner orders hit men to gun down 41 police officers and prison guards in two days. In Southern Mexico a meth maker is venerated as a saint while enforcing Old Testament justice on his enemies. A new kind of criminal kingpin has arisen: part CEO, part terrorist, and part rock star, unleashing guerrilla attacks, strong-arming governments, and taking over much of the world's trade in narcotics, guns, and humans.
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Good analysis and interpretation, but...
- By James H. McDonald on 10-30-19
By: Ioan Grillo
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"I was one of 28 children born to my dad and his three wives. Indoctrinated to believe that the outside world was evil, and that I resided among the righteous, I was destined to marry a man chosen for me by the Prophet. I would then live in harmony with my sister-wives, bear many children, and obey and serve my future husband in this life and throughout eternity. But my innocence didn't last long." Flora goes on from there to tell the dramatic true story of how she ultimately escaped and has been rescuing women and children from the FLDS.
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So sad!
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Favorite Wife
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She had no choice in the matter - none of the girls did. Her mission was to give birth to and raise many children in devoted service to a shared husband. Susan was 15 years old when she became the sixth wife of Verlan LeBaron, one of the leaders of a rogue Mormon cult, who was engaged in a blood feud with his brother that from 1972 to 1988 claimed up to two dozen lives. In this gripping and eloquent book, Susan Ray Schmidt tells the story of growing up on the inside and of her ultimate escape with her children from an oppressive and violent life.
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If you have 22 hours to kill...
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Stretching the Heavens
- The Life of Eugene England and the Crisis of Modern Mormonism
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Eugene England (1933–2001) — one of the most influential and controversial intellectuals in modern Mormonism — lived in the crossfire between religious tradition and reform. This first serious biography, by leading historian Terryl L. Givens, shimmers with the personal tensions felt deeply by England during the turmoil of the late 20th century.
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Not for the faint of heart - but excellent!
- By Bill on 01-15-22
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Cult Insanity
- A Memoir of Polygamy, Prophets, and Blood Atonement
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In Cult Insanity, Spencer reveals the outrageous behavior of her brother-in-law Ervil---a self-proclaimed prophet who determined he was called to set the house of God in order---and how he terrorized their colony. Claiming to be God's avenger and to have a license to kill in the name of God, Ervil ordered the murders of friends and family members, eliminating all those who challenged his authority. Cult Insanity is a riveting, terrifying memoir of polygamist life under the tyranny of a madman.
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Not as good as the First
- By Debra A on 12-07-09
By: Irene Spencer
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The Colony
- By: Audrey Magee
- Narrated by: Stephen Hogan
- Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
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It is the summer of 1979. An English painter travels to a small island off the west coast of Ireland. Mr. Lloyd takes the last leg by curragh, though boats with engines are available and he doesn't much like the sea. He wants the authentic experience, to be changed. He doesn't know that a Frenchman follows close behind. Masson has visited the island for many years, studying their language, and is fiercely protective of their isolation. But the people who live on this rock have their own views on what is being recorded, what is being taken, and what ought to be given in return.
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Missing 15 pages at the end
- By Madeline on 09-04-22
By: Audrey Magee
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The Profiteers
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The tale of the Bechtel family dynasty is a classic American business story. It begins with Warren A. "Dad" Bechtel, who led a consortium that constructed the Hoover Dam. From that auspicious start, the family and its eponymous company would go on to build the world, from the construction of airports in Hong Kong and Doha to pipelines and tunnels in Alaska and Europe to mining and energy operations around the globe.
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Your Liberal Bias is showing
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"I was one of 28 children born to my dad and his three wives. Indoctrinated to believe that the outside world was evil, and that I resided among the righteous, I was destined to marry a man chosen for me by the Prophet. I would then live in harmony with my sister-wives, bear many children, and obey and serve my future husband in this life and throughout eternity. But my innocence didn't last long." Flora goes on from there to tell the dramatic true story of how she ultimately escaped and has been rescuing women and children from the FLDS.
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So sad!
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She had no choice in the matter - none of the girls did. Her mission was to give birth to and raise many children in devoted service to a shared husband. Susan was 15 years old when she became the sixth wife of Verlan LeBaron, one of the leaders of a rogue Mormon cult, who was engaged in a blood feud with his brother that from 1972 to 1988 claimed up to two dozen lives. In this gripping and eloquent book, Susan Ray Schmidt tells the story of growing up on the inside and of her ultimate escape with her children from an oppressive and violent life.
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If you have 22 hours to kill...
- By BarB on 03-30-20
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- Narrated by: Fiona Givens
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Eugene England (1933–2001) — one of the most influential and controversial intellectuals in modern Mormonism — lived in the crossfire between religious tradition and reform. This first serious biography, by leading historian Terryl L. Givens, shimmers with the personal tensions felt deeply by England during the turmoil of the late 20th century.
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Not for the faint of heart - but excellent!
- By Bill on 01-15-22
By: Terryl L. Givens
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Cult Insanity
- A Memoir of Polygamy, Prophets, and Blood Atonement
- By: Irene Spencer
- Narrated by: Laural Merlington
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In Cult Insanity, Spencer reveals the outrageous behavior of her brother-in-law Ervil---a self-proclaimed prophet who determined he was called to set the house of God in order---and how he terrorized their colony. Claiming to be God's avenger and to have a license to kill in the name of God, Ervil ordered the murders of friends and family members, eliminating all those who challenged his authority. Cult Insanity is a riveting, terrifying memoir of polygamist life under the tyranny of a madman.
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Not as good as the First
- By Debra A on 12-07-09
By: Irene Spencer
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Missing 15 pages at the end
- By Madeline on 09-04-22
By: Audrey Magee
What listeners say about The Colony
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Sue Smith
- 07-05-22
Great story, tolerable narrator
Having read Jon Krakauer's *Under the Banner of Heaven,* I was highly motivated to listen to this well reviewed book. Terrific content! However, the narrator's slow, light voice lacked all authority, even when sped up to 1.10 rate. Her voice is much better suited to children's literature.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Jennifer Murray
- 07-13-22
Excellent blend of Mormon history and true crime
Seamlessly blends Mormon history with lesser-known aspects of polygamous clans in Mexico and their connections to Mexican politics, El Chapo Guzman, and the famous NEXVIUM cult. A must for fans of Under the Banner of Heaven.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Rachelle
- 05-15-24
Incredible
What an amazing story. I’ve read nearly all the literature about Mormon Fundamentalism and this one really is top notch. Up there with Under the Banner of Heaven. The flow of the story along with the wealth of information was just incredible.
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- C. Sizemore
- 10-25-22
Great story, terrible narrator
The headline says it all. Narrator vacillates between computer voice and stumbling through sentences. This book deserves better. Proceed at your own risk.
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- Laura FitzSimmons
- 10-27-22
Crisp woven and bizarre facts
At first I thought the narration was too passive, but I was wrong. This book is so well written and researched that a more forceful performance would be a distraction.
Fascinating.
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- cmptr
- 07-26-22
Fascinating story...terrible narration
This well-researched story of why several Mormon women and children were murdered on a road in Mexico is engrossing, going back to the founding of the LDS church and its historical splinterings and internal debates over polygamy and other doctrinal issues. The intersections of this history with Mexican politics, American society, and international drug cartels are grim. The quality of Sally Denton's writing and research kept me listening to the end. HOWEVER...this narrator did not seem to care about this story at all. Her flat narration, bored tone, and frequent mispronunciation of Spanish words made me grit my teeth all the way through the book.
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- L. Pavela
- 10-16-24
Very dull
Great factual information, but it reads very slowly, and it is very dull. I really can’t recommend this book.
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- Spencer
- 07-06-22
perfect for fans of Under the Banner of Heaven
Great book about a recent event that was covered entirely without nuance at the time. What happened when a Mormon family was slaughtered in Mexico is still not known but there is a lot more to the story than we will ever know.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 12-13-22
fascinating and gruesome true story of Mormons
An interesting story about a Mormon group who live in Mexico and have various fraught relationships with cartels and locals. I found the most interesting part to be the history of Mormonism, which I knew nothing about. The modern history is pretty gruesome and I couldn't always follow why things happened, but it is eye-opening .
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- JBSmoove2
- 07-16-23
If You Ever Wondered Why the Nixvm Guy Attracted the Attention of the Feds
Sometimes you encounter world events that confuse you. You take the time to notice that something out of the ordinary is happening, but you don’t really dig too deeply into why that thing is happening. Such is the case with so-called cult leader Keith Raniere, an infamous, 1980s-early-90s multilevel marketing scammer who somehow remained essentially ignored by the feds while he bilked Canadian billionaire heiresses out of 100 million dollars. The feds weren’t even interested in him as he brought third-rate Hollywood actresses into his organization. Yet, when he gets involved with a bunch of Mormons down in Mexico who are calling attention to the fact that United States policies created an unstable, war-like state of affairs, just south of the border, and the US government jumps into action.
The man is convicted, and likely will spend the rest of his life in jail, so commenting on his activities is useless. What is interesting is that the only reason why he’s in jail appears to be the fact that he was intimately involved in calling attention (flamboyantly) to the dangerous state of affairs in Chihuahua, Mexico. One assumes that he would still be bilking Canadian billionaire heiresses out of their money, getting loopy Hollywood actresses to do things most people wouldn’t think about doing, and otherwise living the life of Riley, had he not convinced Mexican Mormons to protest the hell-scape US policy created in their neighborhood.
Everything else about the book is boring.
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