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GeneralIntroductiontothePreCanonicalShorthandNotes The date on the page of Helen Schucmans Shorthand Notes which begins the dictation of chapter 1 of the Text volume is October 21, 1965. The notebook in which that page occurs has 25 pages of writing before the beginning of chapter 1, with the date on the earliest page being October 19, 1965. This material is called pre-canonical because it appears to predate the beginning of the dictation of A Course in Miracles. It is included in this edition for several reasons. 1) The material clearly indicates a conversation between Jesus and Helen was taking place prior to the dictation of the Course. 2) Helens claims to have been an atheist prior to the beginning of the dictation are thoroughly debunked by this material in which she quotes frequently from the Bible, calls on Christ in prayers, uses the word Amen and demonstrates a profoundly spiritual and prayerful attitude to issues confronting her, such as the illness of her friend Dave. 3) As the dictation begins, the conversations between Helen and Jesus continue and are interspersed with the actual dictation of the Course, sometimes alternating line by line. As such, this material is helpful to us in distinguishing what is the Course and what is side-bar discussions between Helen and Jesus. 4) We can see that Helens way of thinking is already attuned to a number of the major themes of the Course before it even began, suggesting that she had received significant instruction from Jesus in the basic thought system of the Course before the formal dictation began. In some instances the formal dictation appears to presume familiarity with but not explain particular concepts. Perhaps the explanations lie in her earlier notebooks which are not available to us. 5) We can see that Helen and Bill are already collaborating, that Bill is asking Helen to ask Jesus for him, and although she sometimes is resentful of this, she is encouraged by Jesus to help Bill in this way. 6) Bills difficulty in hearing directly is also explained in these pages.

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ITHINKthereisanerroraboutthisnot noticingandnotrememberingnames,etc.I DONTthinkitsonlyorevenprimarily projection.ItMAYbemoreafearofinvolvement orinteractionduetoaninterpretationof interactionasonedominatingandtheother subservientoronegettingandtheotherlosing. Youavoidthisifyoudontmeet.Orevensee. Abouttheideaofwhoevenbothersabout mesyndromeSEEMStobemorethanawayof denyingerror.WhileitDOESserveasa rationalizationforexploitingoneanother(ex:I calledHaroldBEFOREElkinwhowouldntknow me)ItMAYalsobeadenialofmyownstrength which,Ifear,hasbeenmisused. Imayevenhavesufferedalotformisusing it.(youtooBill)

aboutmeasateacheramongmystudents,but thesetwoinparticular?[[both]]?[[men]]?Theyfelt VERYstronglyaboutisit.AllIrememberisthatI wasconcernedabouttheirmajor,asameansof identification((later,orperhapsalso Psychologicallyevaluatetheirthreatvalue.If theywerenotPsychologymajors,chancesare(N 4:7)itdidnotmattertoomuch)

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Apparentlyonewasmajoringin Egyptologywhichwasapassionateinterestof his.((Ithinknowhewaspreparinghimselftod? gotoEgyptonanarchaeologicalmission))I dismissedhimasathreatbecausehisinterests wereobviouslynotrelatedtopsychology.((as nowconstitutedanyway)).SoIwassafe.((Bill thoughtthiswasamistake.)) TheotheroneIdidnotknowaboutbutI thinkIwasmuchmoreafraidofhim.Butyousaid Ishouldntgiveintofear.

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ThefallacynowisifIdontuseanythingof mineIwont(N4:5)hurtanybodysoIwontbe hurtmyself.Theobviousansweristhatparalysis wontgetyouanywhereliterallyaswellas figuratively. (P.M.)????realdepressionisveryrarenow. Distantiationistherightword,butthe distantiationisbetweenthesoulandthebody.It representsaremaininginability.

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Ithinkundertheprojectionandallthat stuffisahiddennostalgiaforthesoul.Wewantit backsoweliketoidentifywithitbecausethatis whatweAREreallyandsomewhereweknowit.

TellBill(urgent)itsoddthatIcouldnt rememberthecorrectquotationinasmuchas youdoittotheleastofthesemychildren/brother Ifirstdecidedthequoteprobablystopped withtheleastofthese 1andIwasmerely confusedaboutanadditionIwasstickinginbut whichwasNOTreallythere.ThenIcouldnt decide(N4:8)whetheritwaschildrennot brothers,andIwastoldtoaskyou. 2 ItISoddthatyouapparentlycouldnt decidebetweenthesametwoterms. TheOrderistobeSUREyouknowthisis importantforbothofus.

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DreamHostforthesoulthebodyisa templeandweknowoursareunworthythe crucifixionwasatotalrejectionofthebodyby ourselves(projection)anditsdestructionwhich wasreallyapurification.Asaresult,thesoul couldenterentirelyintothetemple,healit,and useitonlyconstructively. ButIstillthinkthatwehavetoplacethe (N4:6)soulOUTSIDEuntilthetempleisready. MaybethatswhattheSwordforGodcleansing meantbutIdonotthinkitshouldreallybeso literal.

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Note:IamafraidofCornelltoday.?the veryseriousconsultationsthereRe:datehandling. IfIcangetmysoulinplaceitwillbeallright though. IwasreallyquitedepressedthisA.M, whichisnowVERYunusual(Iused???toallthe time)ButhesaysBeofgoodcheerIhave overcometheworld.(N4:9)

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10/20/65C.D.P.HeatherRoseCutlerDave JohnWilliamsPaper

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Dream:IwastellingBillinfrontofsome sortofBoardthatIknewsomepeopleverywell whomtheyneededtohelpthemwithsomething. Billtoldmeverygently,thatperhapsIshouldbe carefulaboutcontactingthembecausetheydid notlikeme.Ihadbeentheirteacherbutheknew thattherewasageneralfeelingofdissatisfaction

Matthew 25:37-40 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 2 Curiously this appears to refer to the Biblical quote Helen uses in T 1 B 23e. which, from the page sequence, would appear to have been written much later. If this really does refer to that page (N 4:70)

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Iwasverygladyoucalled,becauseeven though??IdontTHINKIwasupsetbeyonda briefmoment.Iwentbrieflyandvery inappropriatelyintoshockwhenyousaidDotty iswaitingandyoucangetintoacabalone,cant you?ThereisNOCOMPETITIONatallbetween Dottyandme,andIthoughtchanceswereshe DIDneedyoumoreatthetime.IKNOWyoull neverabandonme. Sothecabwaswaitingatthecorner. ArathersurprisingthinghappenedwhileI wasmeditatingafteryourcall.Isaidjustwhat yousuggested:Iamquitedistressedabout somethingwhichisprobablyanerrorin perceptionofsomesort,andwouldyouplease straightenmeout.SohesaidindyingIlive.(N 4:10)Butbesureyouunderstandwhatitmeans.

whatwasobviouslyrealandveryintensehatred andinsistedonhidingitforreasonsofhisown whichisundoubtedlybad.

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Iwasquitesurprisedwithhowquicklyhe gottheideathatHEwasdoinghispart,aside fromwhateverhisfatherhadtoanswerfor,which wasaverydifferentissue. Chipsaidhewantedtogetridofthisand meantit,too,afterIsaidwhydontyoujust releasehimfromthis,becauseyoudontneedit. AndChipsaidhewantstolethisfatherrestin peaceandalsofindsalvationofhimself,butthat thiswasinterfering.

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IgotterriblyfrightenedbecauseIthoughtI mustbedying,andthenIfigureditsnotabad waytogojustrelaxandenjoyit.SoIjustgot resignedandverycalm.

MaybeImadeamistakebytakingthe mentalhealth(N4:13)rolehere,especiallyin viewofmyowndream,butIdontthinkso.The mistakemayhavebeenformeratherthanfor Chip. Dream:beingveryscaredandtiredand upset,Idopedmyselfupandwenttosleepearly, butIdidaskHimtopraywhileIknockedmyself outforashortpause.

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Andthenithappened.Isuddenlyrealized thatthiswasterriblyselfish,andIdecidedthatI reallylovedyouverymuchandifIjustdiedoff youwouldbeterriblyshockedandyourprogress mightevenbearrested,andafteryouhadgoneso fartoo. 3AndJonathanwouldnevergetoverit, becauseheisnotreadyyet,either,andneitheris Chip.(notthesmallcandalsoChipsremarkon thetrainthechipshavetogohisnameis Charles. SoIprayedthatIcouldstayaslongasI couldhelp,andwouldntitbewonderful!(N4:11)

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ThismorningitoccurredtomethatIhad norighttowasteanythingmoney,clothes,or myownlife,becauseeverythinghastobeused right.ItallhasaplaceinthePlan.Andyoumust NOTthrowgiftsaway.

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LifeisagiftYOUreceivetohelpyougain eternallife.ItisthemajorwayHecanhelpyou now. Lifeinsurance=andreallywhatyou SHOULD(N4:14)sayitisthatyouwanttolive aslongasyouareanyusetoHim,andthenyou willdojustthat.AndONLYgoodwillcomeofit toeverybodyAmen. SoIdecidedtodiesoon,whichIwould havedone.ThiswasnotadecisionIshouldmake, becauseitMAYbeaterriblewastewhichIwould havetoanswerfor.Butyoucanchangeprophecies ifyouchangeyourmind,somaybeIshouldsay IdratherleaveituptoHim.(BillImupset aboutthis,butIKNOWitsright)

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Icanonlybealrightthen.Iwasveryhappy aboutthisforawhile,andthengotfrightened,but ChipIthoughtChipwastheresoIgotup. InthesessionwegotontoChipsfather.He spokeofawholeseriesofepisodeshenever mentionedbeforewhichoccurredafterhismother went,andwhichclearlyemphasizedthathis fatherwasabastard.Herecountedthese(and thingswerereallyawful)withnoemotionatall, andwassurprisedtohearthathehadnevertold meaboutanyofthese,eventhoughhewasNOT LYING[OR][HIDING]anymoretothebestofhis knowledge. Isaidaprayerforhimwhichhewassortof stumblingaroundverbally,andthenaskedhim whyhe(N4:12)obviouslywantedtohangonto

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P.S.Ikeepforgettingthedream.Youand Jonathancamewithmetoevaluatemyown therapywithDr.K.Afterthesession,youand Jonathanagreedthattheworkwasgoingwelland K.wasgoodenough,not?pedestr,?limited (N4:15)

In between the lines is Please let me stay and help him a while longer.

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10/21/65 4ArmstrongVol.1C.D.P.John.Ws paperAskwhatisinterferingwithBills meditationandhowtoovercomethis.

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YoutaughthimwrongDave,butremember howgoodyoualwayswereinteachingthe emotionallydisturbedandteachhimrightnow.

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Billslist ======================================= ThecabdriveraskedifImindedmusicandI thoughtmaybeitwouldhelpmeprayforDave,so westartedwithamarchandIthoughtcomeon Dave,joinusweareallmarchingtogether.

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DearDave,showArniethatthespiritdoes NOTliveinthebrain.Turnthisstatementthe(N 4:18)rightway,andKNOWthattheSpiritcan healthebrainwhichitmade.ITISNOTtheother way.

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Andthenitwasaballet,andIthought comeonDave,Godhasroomforlighter momentstoo.

Releasethechildrenthistime,Dave please,forChristssake,Amen. Dave=rememberyourlittlegirl=sheis unmarkedeventhoughtshewasconceivedby accidentinauterusthatwassupposedtobe sterilebecauseitwassodamagedbyfibroid tumorstheysaidithadtoberemoved.

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Dave,dontgivein=youhaveareal mission=dontloseyourchance=miraclesARE thenaturallaw. ThenIaskedChristtohelpDaveknowHE wasthereandtoseeHimandknowthetruthso he(N4:16)couldbefree.

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Butitwasstillatemporaryhomefora perfectchild,againstalloddsaccordingtohuman medicine. Please,Dave,dontidentifywithyour brain.Knowyourownimmortality,andbreakthe prisonforArnieGold.Listen,please,Daveyou candestroy(N4:19)yourenemiesbymakingthem yourfriends. YouhurtArnie,buthelovesyou.Thank Godyoucanhelphimnow=Iamawedbyyour mission,andIprayIcanhelpChristtohelpyou= Dave=soonerorlateryouwillhaveto settlethis,andyoucansavethousandsofyears rightknow. 6 WeMUSTcallthechildrenback= Christwillgiveyouthemostnow,ifyou willtakeit,becauseyouhavereducedyourselfto theleast.TakeitforHim,whowantstogiveyou allpowerinHeavenandEarth.

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Ifanytwocometogetherinmyname 5= Dave,YOUmustbetheother=weneedyou=life heals,notdeath

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MaybewhileDaveissleepingour unconsciousmindscanreachChristandHewill uniteusinprayer=wecandoit,Dave. ((DaveoncestoodinArnieGoldswayand somehowinterferedwithhisprogress.Gold knowshemustforgivehimanddoeverythinghe cantoreleasehim.ThatswhyGoldlovedDave onsightandhasbeenpatheticallydevotedtohim. GoldisafraidtoletDavediebecauseheknows thisishiskarmicdebt.

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Daveisinthispositionnowbecauseof whathedidtoArnie.Andtheyarebothinprison. (N4:17) DavelistentomenowandletChristhelp youleaveittohimandrest= DONThurtArnieagainbywalkingouton him.Arnieneedsamiracletoteachhimthatthe brainisNOTtheseatoflifebutGodis.Hecan learnthisifyouarewillingtostayandteachhim. Helpsaveusall,Dave.PLEASEcooperate. YouoncedeniedthetruthtoArnieGoldso pleasereleasehimandyourselfnow.

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Dave,helpChristto(N4:20)reachyour Spiritanddontdependonyourbrain.Helpus Dave,andhearHim

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Dave,changeyouridentificationfrom DiamondtoPearlofGreatPrice,andclaimyour righttoforgivenessnow. YourSpiritandmineCANuniteandthen twoofusHAVEcometogetherinChristsname. Jesuspromisedtobethere,Dave. 7Yourbraindoes notmatterifyouwillunderstandlifeasJesusdid.

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This is the same date we see entered on folio 28 where the first lines of the Course are penned. This would suggest folios 15 through 27 were all written on the same day prior to the beginning of the Course. 5 Matthew 18: 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Thats really whats there in the Notes, know rather than now Note that on the next page, 20 the same error is made but noticed and corrected in-line. 7 Matthew 18: 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

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WhenHesaidFatherintoThyHandsI commendMySpirit 8Hewasreferringtohis ResurrectionnotHisdeath.Rememberand understandthatbecauseitcansaveyouknow (now)4Theanoxiaof(N4:21)HisdeathdidNOT hurthisbrain.Please,Dave=hearhimsayIam theresurrectionandthelife, 9andwhosoever believesinmeSHALLNOTPERISH. 10 Dave,itmeanssomethingthatyournames areDiamondandGold.Rememberwhereyour realtreasuresare. 11GoldhasthewholeN.I. watchingyou.Buttheyallthinklifeisbrain.Help themDave=youareateacher. ReneeAbraham=patriarch. Dave,youcanstillhearthecallCome forth 12=Lazaruswasalreadydead;yourenot.

1)Hedoesnthavemuchrealconfidence thatIwillgetthrough.Henever[just]claimshis rights.Heshouldbeginwithmuchmore confidence.ILLkeepmypromises,butyoudonot actasifyoureallyexpecthimto. 2)Thereisanotherkindof[related]error whichisillustratedbyhisquestionaboutwhen areyougoingtocallthehospital?Itsnotright tointerferejusttocheck.Itsselfish,butmore thanthat(N4:24)itmakesthingstoopersonal, whichalwaysimpliesdoubt.

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(N4:22)(misc.datesandaddressesomitted) _______________________________________________ _
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3)Hehastolearnbetterconcentration.His mindflitsabouttoomuchforgood communication.Suggestaveryshortphrase,like hereIam,Lord, 13anddontthinkof ANYTHINGelse.Justpullinyourmindslowly fromeverywhereelseandcenteritonthosevery words. Thiswillalsogivehimtherealizationthat hereallyIShere.Hesnottoosure. 4)Tellhimtobesurenottomistakeyour role.Ifheoverreactstooroverevaluatesyouasa person,bothofyouwillbeindanger. 5Heshouldtrytogethisownlist. (Armstrong)mayjustmeanhisownarmisstrong! (N4:25) Hethinksitstimeforsomeexplanations whichweareprobablyreadyfor.Thereare alwaysrisksinspeedups.Thewholethingwas undertakenbecausethingsweregettingbehind schedulebecausesomanypeoplepersistentlylost morethantheygained. Stop Illtearitupifyouwant.

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Ifyoudonotgetanyansweritisalways becauseyouaskamiss.

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IsaidHepromisedtocomewhenHewas calledonandBillasksanddoesnotreceiveand hasreallytriedtoaskandithasnotbeengranted tohim.Ithinkthedoorisajarabit,butIreally wouldntcallitveryopen.IsitallrightifIask forhimsincehewantsmeto. Icantanswerwhenheasksamiss.Whenhe asksrightIHAVEanswered.(N4:23)

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Hehasatendencytogetpartofananswer anddecidehimselfwhentodisconnect.Heshould askifthatsall. SinceIdontknowwhenhesgoingtoring offIhavetobeveryshortandevencryptic.It chopsmessagesuptoomuch. Thereisalsointerferencefromthreemajor areas:

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Nomaybetomorrow.NowJUSTWRITE THIS:Rememberyoure 14slipabouttheeffecton N.I.Andhisaskingwhenyouweregoingtocall up. BECAREFUL Also,tellBillaboutJonathansremarkI didnotlikeyouallsweetnessandlightIlike youalittlesharpifyougetwhatImean.And againbeverycareful.

Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. 9 John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 10 John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 11 Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 12 John 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

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(N4:26)A.M.Itcrossedmymindlast nightthatsomethingverywronghadhappened.I gotmadbecauseIthoughtIshouldntbeaskedto askforyouanditwasaformofexploitation

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Here I am Lord wording occurs in Special Message 4, which is dated November 16, 1965, 3 weeks later. Yes, she wrote youre rather than the apparently intended your.

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whichwasVERYdangerousformeand representedanavoidancetechniqueofyours.
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Ithoughtthewholethingwassodangerous thatIhadtotellyounottodoitagain.Brieflyit crossedmymind(butwithnoemotionalimpact atallwhichisALWAYSsuspicious)thatImight justresentaskingforsomeoneelsebecauseIprefer theexclusiveidea. 15 Pills?

askedyouwhoYOUwantedsoIcouldreallybe askingFORYOU.Thiswasessentialandexcept forthelist,whereIslipped,theanswershouldbe respected.

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Youhaveeveryright,infact,youSHOULD askmetoaskforyou.ThisisNOTaselfishgift, andITISarealone(thisupsetsmetoo).ItHASto beusedforothers,andparticularlyyou.

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ChristsaysIcantellsomethingiswrong wheneverIgetasnappyanswer.HEwouldnt saytellhimtogethisownlistthatway.The TONEiswrong. (N4:27) Thismorningitwasverycleartomethatin connectingwithyouIhavenotbeenrightsinceI

AskBillpleasetohelpyougetoverbeing meanaboutitfast. (Note:atthemomentIhaveseriousdoubts abouteverything.Thisisholdingeverythingup). ListJoeArmstrong

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Ed. Note: What follows on the next page is the first line of the Course.

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The question of resentment appears in folio 35 which is dated 23 October, or two days later than this.

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