Let’s Move It!

Let’s Move It!

Time to get moving. Sitting is the new smoking.

Let’s Move It

D. S. Mitchell

 

Sedentary and Overweight

Our society is becoming more sedentary and overweight. Many of us spend hours behind a desk at our jobs.  We drive our cars to the fast food drive thru, never even getting out of our cars.  We use our computers to shop, without ever leaving the house.  With decreased activity people are increasingly complaining of posture related aches and pains, depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.

Too Much Sitting

Just like we enjoy eating and drinking too much, we enjoy sitting too much. We are surrounded by cars, snacks, elevators, sugary drinks and fast foods. The problem has become serious enough that the World Health Organization has a new agenda focused on encouraging physical activity.

Exercise For Mental Health

A “Black Dog Institute” of Australia study found that 1-2 hours of exercise per week can prevent depression. In addition to improved mental health multiple world-wide studies have shown that vigorous movement can stave off heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, fatigue, diabetes and even cancer.

Sitting Equals Smoking

Our country, and most of the industrialized economies are suffering from a “sitting disease”.  Physical inactivity is one of  the top 10 causes of disease and disability according to a recent study. That study attributed 1 in 6 deaths to “sitting” which is equal to smoking in that country.

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Clarence & Ginni Thomas Bad For SCOTUS

Clarence & Ginni Thomas Bad For SCOTUS

Clarence & Ginni Thomas Bad For SCOTUS 

How much longer before we take action against this most egregious and corrupt court in the history of the Republic? Time to introduce legislation that would require supreme court justices to adhere to the same ethics standards as other judges in this country. Clarence & Ginni Thomas are bad for SCOTUS.

By D. S. Mitchell

Low Public Approval of Supreme Court

According to recent Gallop polling the Supreme Court has its lowest public-approval rating in history—in part because it is viewed as being both overly politicized and corrupt. The 6-3 supermajority conservative court is facing ugly public backlash to numerous recent court decisions, most notably of course, the overturning of Roe. Clarence & Ginni Thomas are partly responsible for that low public opinion. It is becoming obvious Clarence & Ginni Thomas are bad for SCOTUS. The activities of Ginni Thomas are outrageous and are at last coming under scrutiny.

Chief Robert’s Defiant Versus Pro-Active

In December 2022, John Roberts in his Year-End Report on the federal judiciary defended the court. Robert’s rather than seek measures to improve the court and its public image Robert’s got belligerent, defensive, and down right defiant. According to Robert’s,  “The Judiciary’s power to manage its internal affairs insulates courts from inappropriate political influence.” The problem Mr. Chief Justice is that you and your court are not managing your internal affairs effectively or appropriately.

Conservative Supreme Court Justices Deny Partisanship

For at least the last year, member’s of the conservative wing of the court have been crisscrossing the country giving speeches defending the court against accusations that the justices have become legislators in black robes. These folks can talk till they are blue in the face, but it won’t change the fact that there is a back door to the Supreme Court that is open to ultra conservative activists and locked to the rest of us.

No Ethics Rules Or Regs For Supreme Court Justices

The Supreme court has no ethics rules or formal means of monitoring the behavior of individual justices or their spouses. There is a shadow world in which the conservative justices meet and greet with  conservative individuals looking for access to the court and their decision makers; a world where powerful and influential wives, such as Ginni Thomas hover over the court’s decisions.

Ginni Thomas’ Political Activism Has Become A Serious Concern

Certainly one of the most active political voices in the conservative world whose activities are highly questionable are those of Ginni Thomas, wife of Clarence Thomas. Ginni Thomas is giving the SCOTUS a black eye.The long voiced claim that the Justice’s opinions are politically neutral is getting harder and harder to swallow. In the case of Clarence Thomas the activities of his right wing activist wife Ginni Thomas  has become a serious issue of concern for the legitimacy of the court.

It Appears Ginni Thomas Has Her Thumb On The Scale

Mrs. Thomas is a lawyer that runs Liberty Consulting,  a political-lobbying firm. Until her emails to Mark Meadows on January 6th were made public, few Americans had ever heard of her. Those who had heard of her, dismissed much of her lobbying as harmless activities. However, it appears the Court is happily giving her allies major wins—on abortion, affirmative action, and gun rights.

A “Stench” Of Partisanship Permeates The Supreme Court 

In 2016 the Republicans, in an unprecedented move blocked President Obama’s nominee to the Court.  As a result  Trump was able to push through the appointment of three extreme right wing Justices. The Democrats have recently attempted to impose some ethics standards on the Justices—a response, in part, to what Justice Sonia Sotomayor has described as the “stench” of partisanship on the Court.

Ginni Thomas Hides In The Shadows Directing Radical Wing Causes

While Ginni Thomas tries to hide in the shadows she is kept busy working with many right wing activists who have brought numerous hot button issues in front of the Court. Ginni Thomas was once a director of CNP Action, a dark-money wing of the Council for National Policy. The Council of National Policy is a pressure group that connects wealthy donors with the most radical right-wing individuals in the United States. Ginni Thomas was formerly on the Turning Point USA advisory board. The Turning Point USA is a pro-Trump student group, whose leaders have boasted of sending busloads of protestors to D.C. on January 6th.

Many Think Ginni Thomas’s Behavior Is Appalling

 

Learning About OLED Technology

Learning About OLED Technology

 

Learning About *OLED Technology

*Organic light emitting diode

By D. S. Mitchell

 

If you are thinking about upgrading your current laptop, you may want to think about buying a PC with an OLED screen. Pronouce it OH-LED.  OLED is a carbon-based semiconductor film layer that emits light when electricity is applied.  The result is an amazingly beautiful image. I’m sure you’ve seen the superskinny TV’s and smartphones and PC’s. Well now, the technology is available in laptops.

Graphic designers, digital artists, photographers, video editors, game designers and animators love the clean, stunning images that OLED technology provides. The technology allows fast-moving images because of 120-Hertz refresh rates, something especially loved by gamers and movie lovers.

With OLED each pixel is its own light source, there is no backlighting required, unlike other screen technologies, such as LCD (liquid-crystal display). Because of this the screens produce incredible contrast levels. Those contrasts produce deep, dark blacks, colors on an OLED appear to jump off the screen. Furthermore OLED has the ability to display more colors with greater color accuracy. One manufacturer, ASUS, claims its OLED screens can display more than 60 times more colors than its LCD counterpart.

Another OLED advantage includes a greater consistency of brightness across the screen. An OLED screen produces up to 600 nits (a unit of brightness) whereas an LCD screens typically produces only 250 nits. This technology provides wider viewing angles which is easier on your eyes. OLED’s produce  up to 70% less harmful blue light than most LCD screens, because OLED’s use only the light needed without the white backlight.

There are a variety of factors that go into your decision to purchase a new laptop. Besides the processor, the engine that drives your PC’s performance, graphic capabilities a big deal for gamers, storage capacity, and the kind of drive (hard drive or solid-state, and how much system memory (aka RAM) you need, now add screen technology to the wish list.

Prices for an OLED laptop have come down in price recently. OLED’s are however, on the average $100 to $200 more than an LCD, with all other specs being equal. Some OLED devices have ultra-high-definition 4K displays and/or touch screens which also add to the laptops base cost. Those using the OLED display say they’ll never go back. So before you buy another LCD check out the OLED technology before you buy. I love it.

Old Wellness Myths Debunked

Old Wellness Myths Debunked 

Old Wellness Myths Debunked

By D. S. Mitchell

A recent article in the March 2023 AARP Bulletin by Michelle Crouch highlighted 16 well-known health myths. I’m sure you’ve heard most of these common beliefs and perhaps subscribe to one or more of them yourself. However, these long accepted health beliefs fail the test of time and science. So in an effort to limit misinformation, here are some assumptions about wellness that fall flat.

  • Myth: If  you are having an actual heart attack you will have chest pain. Recent studies indicate that 42% of women and 31% of men do not experience chest pain even when having a full blown heart attack. Symptoms that are nearly universal to most people having a heart attack are shortness of breath, light-headedness, nausea and perhaps even vomiting, back, neck, jaw, and pain in one arm or both. If you experience any of these symptoms don’t delay, call 911.
  • Myth: Everyone should take a daily multivitamin.  In 84 studies by Preventive Services Task Force there was no evidence that multivitamins have any benefit for nonpregnant adults. The best advice experts say is to eat a healthful diet of fruits and vegetables.
  • Myth: You need to drink 8 glasses of water a day. Where did this number come from? There seems to be no science behind the number. Like many things the origin of this myth is probably lost to the mysteries of time.  Urologists say you can tell if you are drinking enough water by the color of your urine. The darker and more concentrated the urine color tells you to drink more water. If the urine is very light, nearly clear, you are overhydrated.  Urine color should be light to medium yellow.
  • Myth: Running will damage your knees: Recent studies contradict this assumption. One of the largest recent studies indicated running actually protects knees and joints. Runners are half as likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knees as nonrunners. One important reason for this is that runners typically have stronger quadriceps than nonrunners which helps protect the joints.
  • Myth: 10,000 steps per day to promote longevity: Current research indicates that as few as 6.000 steps per day will promote longevity. A 2022 found that adults who walk those 6,000 steps can reduce their chance of early death by 50 to 60 percent.
  • Myth: Coffee dehydrates you: The research shows that although caffeine is a mild diuretic it can also stimulate your body to produce extra urine meaning liquid coffee counteracts any dehydrating effects. Another study found that people urinate the same amount whether they drink coffee, soda, tea or water.
  • Myth: Rest  when you have back pain: Resting for the first day or two after a back injury is fine. However, studies over the last fifty years indicate that you will recover faster if you remain active. Extensive bed rest usually makes most back pain worse. It is important to use your muscles or you will get progressively worse.
  • Myth: Avoid exercise if you are sick: Research has shown that mild to moderate exercise when you have an upper respiratory infection may help you feel better sooner. Laying in bed will weaken your muscles and predispose you to pneumonia. Light exercise promotes deep breathing and coughing which stimulates spitting up mucus.
  • Myth: Avoid dairy products if you have a cold: The theory that milk increases mucus has been around for several centuries. A recent study found no correlation between ingestion of milk with increased phlegm production or congestion. Another study found no difference in mucus production between cow’s milk or soy milk.
  • Myth: Air hand dryers are more hygienic than paper towels: Air hand dryers may save trees but they do not remove germs as well as paper towels. In fact, they may spread germs around.  One study noted that air borne bacteria counts were 27 times greater when jet air dryers were used.
  • Myth: A juice cleanse can help you lose weight and clear toxins: The hype promotes weight loss and cleansing. Research however, shows no such benefit. In fact, one recent study found zero benefit in detox diets.
  • Myth: You’ll get sick if you go out with wet hair or without a coat: There is no evidence that either of those activities can cause illness. Colds are caused by viruses not cold weather. However, cold weather can lower the immune response in humans, so if you encounter a virus you are more likely to get sick.
  • Myth: The flu shot can give you the flu: This claim is totally bogus and biologically impossible according to experts. The vaccine is made from inactive bits of virus. People who say they have gotten the flu after the shot may have picked up a different type of respiratory infection. It takes usually about two weeks for the flu shot to become fully effective.
  • Myth: Green or yellow sputum means you need an antibiotic: The green or yellow mucus is evidence that your body in fighting an infection. Most respiratory infections are caused by viruses, not bacteria, and antibiotics don’t work on viruses.
  •  Myth: CPR requires mouth to mouth contact: Studies of adults who experienced cardiac arrest outside a hospital found that cardiopulmonary resuscitation involving only chest compressions given by rescuers who were not professionals was just as effective, if not more effective than CPR administered with rescue breathing.
  • Myth: Cranberry juice cures urinary tract infections: Cranberries are linked with preventing not treating infections. If you have symptoms of burning while voiding you typically need antibiotics provided by your doctor.

Like most things in life if something is repeated often enough it becomes fact; even when there is no evidence to support the claim. Most of the items discussed in this article are not of life and death concern but when it comes to our health misinformation is potentially dangerous.

The Inflation Reduction Act At Work

The Inflation Reduction Act At Work

 

The Inflation Reduction Act At Work

By D. S. Mitchell

In the Winter edition of “Solutions,” a publication of the Environmental Defense there was a brief article on the Inflation Reduction Act by Vanessa Glavinskas.  Ms. Glavinskas explained five benefits to the average American to facilitate the transition to clean renewable energy.  The new law allocates $369 billion to address climate change and promote lower-carbon living through rebates and tax credits. Listed below are five areas of your home where you can start saving money today.

The Roof: Time to add solar panels. The new law provides tax credits of up to 30% to households that invest in clean energy. The credit is retroactive to 2022. The typical cost for a residential solar set up is around $19,000. In that scenario a homeowner would save $5,700. The cost of the system is usually recouped within 12 years.

The Driveway: The new law gives tax credits of up to $4,000 for buying a used electrical vehicle and up to $7,500 for a new EV. The EV must have final assembly in North America to qualify. This means some brands won’t qualify. So if it is important to you to get those tax credits make sure you confirm that the EV you intend to buy was assembled in the U.S.A.

The Kitchen: Gas stoves leak the super pollutant methane, comparable to 500,000 gasoline powered cars. Furthermore gas stoves also release the carcinogenic benzene. If you want to transition to an electric stove, oven, or range there are rebates of up to $840.

The Laundry Room: Heat pump clothes dryers, rarely seen in the U.S. but popular in Europe take a bit longer to dry a load of clothes but are much more energy efficient than traditional models. Qualifying households can get a rebate of up to $840.

The Thermostat: A heat pump is an efficient way to heat and cool your home. With a heat pump the system transfers heat between your home and the outdoors and can save you hundreds of dollars annually. Most U.S. households can qualify for a tax credit up to $2,000. Low income families may be able to qualify for a tax credit of as much as $8,000 per installation.

 

 

Carbon Capture Is B.S.

Carbon Capture Is B.S.

“Carbon capture and storage is a process in which a relatively pure stream of carbon dioxide from industrial sources is separated, treated and transported to a long-term storage location. For example, the carbon dioxide stream that is to be captured can result from burning fossil fuels or biomass.” Wikipedia

 

CARBON CAPTURE IS DANGEROUS BULL SHIT

By D. S. Mitchell

Oil companies are woke to the fact that carbon capture allows them to remain in business longer. I’m  sure there are CEO’s at the big oil companies who believe that all they have to do is bury their emissions and they can stay in business forever. CO2 is their industry waste, in other words, their damn garbage. It is the biggest driver of climate crisis and the greatest threat to our food and water supply. Carbon capture is a scheme of the fossil fuel industry that has found supporters in Washington, D. C.

The U.S. government, actually the U.S. taxpayer, is offering big bucks to companies working on carbon capture projects. The most conclusive thing we know so far about carbon capture is that it is a failure; a dangerous failure.  The dream of carbon capture “keeps the U.S. addicted to fossil fuels, degrades our agricultural land, threatens our water, and puts our communities and climate at risk.” Emma Schmit.

Summit Carbon Solutions, Navigator Heartland Greenway and Wolf Carbon are proposing nearly 4,000 miles of hazardous pipeline that will cross Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. Hopefully activists in those states will pressure state authorities to deny permits to applicants for these dangerous projects. In many cases these pipelines are seeking eminent domain to force landowners to deed them private property for the pipeline.

The question really is why when we know the safety concerns and the technology is a failure, why is our government still trying to make carbon capture happen? It is time to stop the scam. Time to stop the fossil fuel industry from playing games with our future.

5 Reasons Carbon Capture is Dangerous Bull Shit

  1. Carbon Storage And Transport Are Not Safe. When carbon pipelines rupture they can expel lethal levels of carbon dioxide, an invisible asphyxiant literally for miles surrounding the break. CO2 displaces oxygen, stalling combustion engines and impairing emergency response. CO2 can leak from storage containers and contaminate groundwater and soil.
  2. Carbon Capture A Colossal Failure. Billions of public and private monies have been spent over multiple decades developing carbon capture projects and it has proven a complete folly. The Densbury Pipeline outside Satartia, Mississippi and the Petra Nova coal plant in Texas are just two examples of leaks, ruptures, frequent shut offs and persistent technological problems.
  3.  Carbon Capture Is Energy Intensive. The United States emits approximately 5 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere annually. To capture a mere 25% of that figure would require nearly the entire electrical output of the nation.
  4. Carbon Capture Increases Emissions.  Due to both the life cycle of fossil fuels and the huge amount of energy required to capture carbon such projects in the U.S. have emitted more CO2 than it ever removed.  95% of the captured carbon is currently being used to extract more oil in a practice known as ‘enhanced oil recovery.”
  5. Carbon Capture Diverts Investments From Renewable Energy. Time is of the essence. We need to move to renewable energy to stop the worst effects of climate change, the greatest threat to our water, food, and a livable future. The switch from fossil to renewable sources will be slowed as long as the fossil fuel industry can convince the public and government officials to continue investing in carbon capture schemes instead of focusing on safe and proven clean energy solutions.

If you have little knowledge about the subject of carbon capture, now is the time to learn about it. Then once you understand the dangers please tell your Senator and your Congressperson that you want to stop wasting time and money on this bogus plan by the fossil fuel industry to stay in business forever.

Writing Is My Heart

Writing is My Heart

 

There are so many books being written I have had to get an assistant reader

Writing is My Heart

By D.S. Mitchell

I’ve been journaling and writing short stories since I figured out which end of the pencil held the lead. Most of my writing has been for my own mental health. In 2016 I started the Calamity News and Politics website. The website has given me a platform to talk about the things that are important to me, the news and the politics of the day. I have been able to write articles about issues that mean something to me and to the community.

I fully intend to continue the website. I’m just asking for a little patience as I finish up book three of my adult thriller series Chasing the Spider. The three books are Chasing the Spider, Stalking the Spider, and Embracing the Spider. If you are interested you can find book one on Amazon. The second book should be available next month.

Thanks again for being a Calamity fan, you are loved and appreciated.

Thanks again for your understanding and patience.

D.S. Mitchell

 

Snatching Santa

SNATCHING SANTA

SNATCHING SANTA

The age old battle of good vs evil played out at Christmas 

By D. S. Mitchell

It was a small noise that woke Santa. Something out of place in the middle of the night. He lay in the dark, wondering if he’d imagined, or possibly dreamt the sound. Mary Claus slept by his side, her steady breathing the only sound in their darkened bedroom.

“There it was again,” he said under his breath.

This time it seemed to be at the back of the house. It was the sound of feet on gravel, a noise that wouldn’t be noticed during daylight hours, but seemed magnified by the darkness. It was close to 3:00 am. He worried that a sneak thief might be trying to break into his toy shop.

The suddenness of the event shocked him. The front and back door were simultaneously kicked in, and several men rushed through the battered doors into the house. The sound of polished boots on hardwood floors echoed down the halls. Mrs. Claus gasped as they both sat upright. Santa started to get out of bed, but the light came on before his foot hit the floor.

Two men armed with automatic weapons stood in the doorway, blocking any possible escape. The taller of the two men took in the room in a glance before lowering his eyes to the bed. He narrowed his eyes and pointed his weapon directly at Santa.

“What do you want?” Santa demanded.

“Shut up,” was his answer.

The weapon remained on its target and the tall man warmed the trigger with an agitated finger before saying, “Get dressed old man, you’re coming with us.”

Santa could see the shadows of several men moving about the house, the intruders opening closets, drawers, and doors. Mrs. Claus screamed. Santa hushed her with a hug and whispered reassurances.

“I said get your ass out of bed, Chubby.”

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OPINION: Republicans Fear Merrick Garland

OPINION: Republicans Fear Garland

OPINION: Republicans Fear Garland

By Wes & Anna Hessel

 

Champion of Justice

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland is again seeking to bring justice to our nation, this time  by facilitating the FBI search and seizure of alleged classified documents from Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago residence. Much to the chagrin of Republican party, the files were said to have been taken from the White House upon Trump’s departure.

Justice Delayed

Mr. Garland, a Chicago native and Harvard graduate, should be an associate justice of the Supreme Court, but the obstructionist right-wing GOP controlled Senate, lead by Mitch McConnell, in March 2016 refused to even take up the then Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit’s nomination by President Obama.  This maneuver continued on until the nomination expired in January 2017, leading to the Republicans seizing the spot vacated by the late Justice Scalia to be filled by their extremist nominee Neil Gorsuch.

Obstruction of Justice

The Republican Party have now made Attorney General Garland their newest Public Enemy Number One, demanding his immediate resignation.  The GOP insists that they will investigate Merrick should they regain their control of Congress.  We must strenuously prevent this miscarriage of justice from occurring.  Mr. Garland, with his consistent record of protecting our nation and democracy, in no way deserves this treatment.

Capitol Crimes

Donald Trump’s involvement in the January 6th insurrection is chilling, at best.  Barring the very justified actions of the Justice Department would serve to let Trump quite literally get away with murder.   “The Donald”’s blatant refusal to intervene in the invasion of the U.S. Capitol makes him culpable for the deaths of those who lost their lives as a result of this heinous violent attempt to stop the peaceful Constitutional transfer of power to the rightfully elected Joseph Biden.

Pursuit of Justice

Attorney General Garland’s heroic efforts include adroitly standing up to a slew of Republican attacks.  He has masterfully led the investigation of Mr. Trump’s lies and crimes, with a courageous pursuit of truth regarding this vile attack on our democracy.  Merrick is quoted as saying, “We intend to hold everyone, anyone, who was criminally responsible for the events surrounding January 6th…accountable.”  We must support our Attorney General Merrick Garland in the prosecution of “45”, so that Trump will be banned from ever holding or even running for public office again.

No Just Cause

“The Donald”’s and his allies’ attempts to overturn the 2020 election must not remain unpunished.  As Mr. Garland fearlessly pilots the Justice Department’s examination of Trump’s involvement in the riot, the Republican Party is making every effort to halt this investigation.  Marjorie Taylor Greene has gone so far as to file articles of impeachment against our Attorney General.

Buy The Lie

Mr. Garland has stated that he, “personally approved”, searching Trump’s home in Mar-A-Lago.  There were 147 GOP members who voted to try to overturn the legal election results of 2020, including Ms. Taylor Greene, Ted Cruz, and Josh Hawley.  Apparently they buy into the lie that the election results were “stolen”, when in fact President Joe Biden had received the most certified votes of any presidential candidate in history.

Justice Served

And Merrick Garland has strongly demonstrated his lifelong quest for justice, beginning his illustrious career as a federal prosecutor in 1989.  His first prominent action was as one of the trio of the lead prosecution for the cocaine possession case of former Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Barry.  As Deputy Assistant Attorney General during President Clinton’s term, Mr. Garland oversaw the prosecution of such critical cases as the bombings in Atlanta during the Olympics and the “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski.

Boots On The Ground

He began leading the prosecution of the horrific truck bomb attack on the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in person on-site, and was the federal government’s primary attorney during the preliminary hearings for the two main co-conspirators, Terry Nichols and Timothy McVeigh.  Deputy Assistant Attorney General Garland was then integral in the selection of the team for their trial, and even garnered accolades from then-Governor of Oklahoma, Frank Keating, a Republican.

“Well-Qualified” Jurist

In September of 1995, President Clinton nominated Merrick for the eleventh seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.  Republicans in the Senate refused to bring his nomination to vote over an argument of whether that seat needed to be filled in the D.C. federal circuit, despite a highest possible “well-qualified” rating of Mr. Garland by the Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary of the American Bar Association.

Try, Try Again…

When Clinton was reelected, he renewed Merrick’s nomination in January 1997.  On March 19th when it was put to a vote, Mr. Garland was confirmed with the significant margin of 76-23, even with continued Republican Senate control.  The GOP Senators primarily voted for confirmation, amongst them Jim Inhofe, Susan Collins, Orrin Hatch, and John McCain.  His opponents were all Republican, with the likes of Jeff Sessions, Chuck Grassley, and Mitch McConnell.  He was elevated to Chief Judge of the district in February of 2013.

Stand Up And Be Counted

It is imperative that Attorney General Merrick Garland receives the support of the American people in his relentless pursuit to bring Donald Trump to justice.  The Editorial Board of the New York Times has called on Mr. Garland to prosecute Trump if there is “sufficient evidence”.  That there is such evidence is obvious, so we need to stand with the Times board and our U.S. Attorney General in pursuing Trump for his crimes.

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