TIMES TODAY TT 140 | FEB 15th- 21st | 2022
RIGHTEOUSNESS
CONTENTS 1. My Pulpit message - notes | 3-4 2. How COVID Lockdowns Unlocked Hidden Good. | 5 3. My Inspiration | 6 5. My Entrepreneur | 7 6. My Health | 8-9 7. My Kitchen | 10 8. My Sports | 11
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My Pulpit Message - notes My Pulpit Message Notes are extracted from the sermon preached at the Nairobi Baptist Church (NBC) Ngong Road on Sunday 13th February 2022. Preacher: Reverend Munengi Mulandi, NBC Senior Pastor. Topic: Grow in Righteousness. Scripture - Matthew 5:17- 48 1.
Confirmation : Matthew 5:17-20
2.
Complication : Matthew 5:21-48
3.
Completion:
2. Complication : Matthew 5:21-48
Verse 17 - Fulfil
Six references, Jesus says, “It was said before, In the past it was said, but now I say.”
Verse 20 - Surpass Verse 48 - Perfect
They have this mindset of a Messiah who was coming, but Jesus comes and is interacting with the locals and He is so ‘kawaida’ (common), does He have respect for the law? And He confirms that this law shall not be abolished, but he also complicates it by giving these six statements that it was Jesus makes it abunsaid this way in the law, but he dantly clear, confirming the leescalates it even higher. gitimacy, veracity authority of This is the thesis on the Sermon on the Mount; that our righteous- It was said in the past, do ness and those of Pharisees is insufficient, because it is only ex- not murder, but now (verse 21) the law and the prophets. Jesus had no place for ternal action. We must reach the point of surrender, then we will even hatred is an issue. antinomianism. He was not have the One Who has fulfilled the law, has surpassed the righ- It was said, ‘Do not comanti law. He illustrates this by teousness of the Pharisees, the One Who is perfect and will make mit adultery’ (verse 27), but quoting two of the ten com- us that way. now even the lustful look is an mandments in Exodus 20:21, issue. commandment number six It was said, ‘Do not diabout murder, and verse vorce’ (Verse 31) Exodus 20:27 about adultery. Verse 33, it was said, ‘Do He expands their legitimacy, veracity and authority in the following not make this oath.’ ways; He says he is not here to abolish the law and the prophets. Verse 38, it was said, ‘Do not revenge.’ Verse 43, Love for the unloveable.’ Later Luke 24:27 Jesus’ walk - the Road to Emmaus, with the two disciples who were wondering what is happening, the Messiah Verse 21-26 - The law stated that ‘You shall not murder and difficult who will thought will save Israel has been put to death. As Jesus is as that law was, there many in the crowd who looked at themselves walking with them and they do not recognise Him, the Bible tells and justified themselves because they had shed not blood. But not us and He began to explain to them about Himself and what the only does Jesus confirm that law that you shall not murder, He comScripture said about Himself in all the law, beginning with the law plicates it by escalating it to a high level where, not only shall you and the prophets. So Jesus was not against the law and says in verse not murder in the physical shedding of blood, He goes deeper to 17 He is not here to abolish the law. the core, to the spring where murder rises from and He says, ‘If you hate, then you have broken the law. In verse 18 Jesus says, even the smallest detail, ‘the smallest accent/ mark that changes the intonation of a word, even those will not be overlooked.
1.
Confirmation : Matthew 5:17-20
Verser 19 - He gives a warning to those who disregard or ignore the law. Verse 20 - He says, this righteousness that is followed by the Pharisees, we must get to a place where we surpass it.
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My Pulpit Message - notes When Jesus goes to the inward attitude, then all of us are guilty. All of us have murdered if murder begins from the place of that hatred. Many of us have never murdered and this is because we never had the chance. If the opportunities were made right, you would have done it. We had began to measure the law by the externals, but Jesus says, let’s complicate it a little further because the externals are only what is visible, but the heart there is fullness of dark festering wounds of hurt, hatred, murder. It’s just that we don’t have the chance. The same thing He says with regard to adultery (verse 27-30). Like you and I many of the people at that time had not committed adultery, because the law had been reduced to the external, the outward appearance / action, but Jesus complicates it by taking it to the heart / inward attitude and says, if any of you looks with lust, then you have committed adultery. If many of us were brought before a court of law and accused of adultery, they would find no evidence, but when God with His Word has that spotlight/x-ray/CT scan into our hearts, we are all guilty. The law was not wrong, it was given, and the Pharisees had so perfected this observance of the law that they have given crafted many other rules to help them move back, as one getting ready to jump a higher hurdle, so that they could come and cross over it. Externally it looked like they could just clear the hurdle and go over to the other side. Jesus comes and says and confirms, this law, but as if it is not enough, he complicates it with a new higher hurdle that cannot be cleared with the external action because it needs internal motivation / propulsion. So Jesus gives three important words:
3. Completion Verse 17 - Fulfil
of the law that in their tithe, they even tithed the spices. Imagine being in the crowd and you know that even financially even the ten per cent you have not given? Jesus is saying, your righteousness must surpass those of the Pharisees.
Verse 48 - Perfect Only one person could do this and only person did, by fulfilling the law, Jesus Christ gave a righteousness that surpasses that of the law that in verse 48 when He would say, ‘Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect’, it became possible. We get to a point where we realise the hurdle / standard is so high, I cannot scale it, that brings a to a point of surrender, brokenness, giving up and being overwhelmed, that I cannot because the end of ourselves is the threshold of God, because only One person did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfil it. Small wonder when speaking to those on the Road to Emmaus, He tells them beginning with the prophets and the law, explaining how those Scriptures were talking about Him. Because He is the centre of Scripture and it is only His righteousness that can make us to scale the high hurdle. When the Bible tells us, ‘Make every effort’, ‘Work out your salvation with fear and trembling’ it is telling us to make deep effort in surrender. It is not wrong to desire to pray more, but in the desire to pray more, the effort, is not meritorious, but throwing yourself on the ground /surrender / brokenness. We ought to put effort in surrender because One and only One, came to fulfil the law, to surpass the righteousness of the Pharisees. One and only One was perfect. When we surrender to Him, the He picks us up and gives us the righteousness that exceeds the Pharisees.
This is the thesis on the Sermon on the Mount; that our righteous17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Proph- ness and those of Pharisees is insufficient, because it is only external action. We must reach the point of surrender, then we will have the ets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. One Who has fulfilled the law, has surpassed the righteousness of Jesus is saying that He has come to be the One to complete the Pharisees, the One Who is perfect and will make us that way. this righteousness that is required. This righteous standard given by the law He has come to make - I plead with you, read the Bible regularly, often, daily, for it says, sure that not only are we able to do the externals of observing it, but “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to my path.” we are able to fulfil this law because of the completed Sacrifice from the inside. So, spirituality moves from being anthropocentric (focused on man), to being theocentric.
Verse 20 - Surpass “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the
Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” -
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The Pharisees were so meticulous in their outward observance
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HOW COVID LOCKDOWNS UNLOCKED HIDDEN GOOD By Liz Omondi | Email: timestodayke@gmail.com |
It is said that, every cloud has a silver lining, yet when you think about the dark cloud of COVID-19 that covered the entire world, many have struggled to see that silver lining around it. Millions of people lost their lives, others source of livelihoods, while others sunk deep into depression. Is it possible that any good could come out of the pandemic?
ing. There are several testimonies I have heard where new opportunities arose for people and new businesses were birthed while others thrived, some spent more quality time with their loved ones and families were reconciled.
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called For 21st century socially active human beings, lockdowns according to his purpose.” As I spent more time with my huswas a completely strange phenomenon that had never crossed band and children at home, I had to think of creative ways we their minds, yet it had been experienced in past centuries and could do things together to make home a fun place to be. thus reminding of the Scripture in Ecclesiastes 1:9 that says “That which has been is that which will be, and that which has The children had to learn new ways of learning no matter how been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new uncomfortable it was. Regular office workers had to adapt to under the sun.” working remotely and still be productive. Church ministers had to find creative ways of doing streaming services online There are a couple of Biblical examples of lockdowns includ- and keep congregants engaged. Wearing masks was strange ing when God instructed Noah to build an ark where he and and uncomfortable, yet for the first time ever it meant boomhis family and living creatures, male and female of every kind ing business for the manufacturers of personal protective were going to be locked in the ark for a long period of several equipment (PPEs). days. As a wife and mother, I learnt to be a barber and a good one Genesis 6:5-8, 18-22 says, The Lord saw how great the wick- at it. I would have never learnt this ability had it not been for edness of the human race had become on the earth, and that the lockdown and the extra caution we had taken to avoid every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only contracting the disease at all cost. Unfortunately, this meant evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human less profit margins for the local barber. beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human After several years of watching my daughter’s hair being platrace I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and ed, I had to learn this skill on my daughter’s hair. Today, I have the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I perfected this art, that no longer have to take my young one to have made them.” 8 But Noah found favour in the eyes of the the salon and wait in queue for her to be attended to. This has Lord. helped me save lots of time and dollars that would have been used at the salon. 18-22 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will en- One of the hardest hit industries in our country during the ter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ lockdown was the hospitality industry. This meant the death wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living of cravings for restaurant food, or fast food lovers. But this creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two mama had to use her imagination and creativity to google of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every and tweak some of recipes used by some of the best restaukind of creature that moves along the ground will come to rants in town. And to her delight, wets her families appetite you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that with her food and has kept her family happy when she makes is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.” pizza and other extra delicious meals that easily rival top ratNoah did everything just as God commanded him. ed eateries. For the silver lining to appear, usually is hidden the beautiful, That is how COVID lockdowns unlocked hidden potentials sun’s rays behind the cloud so as produce the silver lining. in me. What’s your story? Encourage someone with your tesWithout the bright light, the silver lining would not be pres- timony by sending an email to timestodayke@gmail.com ent. Even with the cloud of COVID-19, there is that hidden bright light of potential, or good that would bring out the silver lin-
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My Inspiration Live a Giving Life
By William King | Email: kingwilliam189@gmail.com | image credit: families.com
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When you live a giving haps share your life, you live the best poslunch? sible life there is, but we all find ourselves in sitMaybe it’s just uations where we know your time. someone has a need that Sometimes, time we don’t think we can is more valuable meet. They may have even asked for help but we than money. Perhaps your sister just needs an enknow that we don’t have couraging word. Does enough to help them fishe need you to sit down nancially. Just let your light shine and you’re going to see mir- for twenty minutes and be a listening ear? Mayacles. You’re going to see doors open. Be an extravaThat doesn’t mean you’re be she just needs you to gant giver of what you have. empty handed. You alnod and say, “Yes, you ways have something to can.” We are never empgive. There was a young ty-handed because we boy who decided he was serve the Creator of the going to see Jesus, so that morning he packed his universe. sack lunch of five barley loaves and two fish, thinking it would take care of his hunger through the We need to have the abundant mentality of an day (John 6). extravagant giver, because when we put what we have in the hands of Jesus, no matter how great Later as he stood in a crowd of thousands watch- or small, it makes a difference. It might be holding Jesus, one of Jesus’ disciples approached him ing the door open for a stranger and saying hello. and said, “Son, I see you brought lunch, and Jesus It might be giving a bold prayer for them in the is asking for it. We have to feed all these people.” name of Jesus. I’m sure the boy thought, “Are you kidding? This is just enough for me.” Just let your light shine and you’re going to see miracles. You’re going to see doors open. Be an exNevertheless, he placed what he had in the hands travagant giver of what you have. Have the menof Jesus and that little bit of food was multiplied tality that says, “I may not have exactly what you and fed the huge crowd. You may not have exactly need today, but I have a prayer, I have a helping what someone is asking for, but do you have a hand hand, I have an encouraging word.” that you can lend? Can you give a little help, perTT 140 | FEB 15th- 21st | 2022
Every Good G S ift
ells
Entrepreneur
How leaders can navigate privacy with their team www.biblicalleadership.com | By Joseph Lalonde
As a leader, you’ll have a very interesting relationship with privacy. For starters, privacy in your business can relate to a few different things. On the one hand, it might cover things like customer or client privacy, meaning you have to keep their records and information private and secure.
If you ignored their personal issues, didn’t involve yourself and ask about their private life, nothing would change. You’d have a stressed employee that might stay stressed for many weeks or months, but you’ve actively changed that.
When the well-being of an employee is a
This type of privacy isn’t too challenging for a competent leader to handle. It’s simply a case of going through the right process- concern es, implementing a privacy management system, and staying in line with all the government and federal regulations. Here, we’re Secondly, it is a good idea to ask about someone’s private life talking more about privacy from an information standpoint, but when you feel their health & well-being are under threat. For that’s not the tricky relationship you’ll have. instance, you may see that an employee is showing signs of addiction. Speaking to them about this and helping them find the Instead, we’re going to cover privacy from the perspective of right help is a sign of a good leader because you’re actively caring both you and your employee’s personal privacy. What this means for your employees. is that you both have your work lives, which are more open to the world, and you have your private lives that are more closed If you suspect that an employee isn’t well or isn’t feeling too great off. As a leader, you really have to tread the line between what is for reasons related to their private life, it is okay to step in and considered open and private. For example, do you get involved intrude. It might feel as though you’re stepping over the line and in issues relating to an employee’s private life? Or, do you bring being nosy, but you’re not. You’re getting involved for a good your private life to work or maintain the utmost privacy at all reason; to help them out. times? Your initial answer might be that private lives should stay private. However, if you want to be a good leader, you need to know where to draw the line. That’s what we’re going to cover in today’s post: how do you know when to draw the line and stay out of your employees’ private lives?
When private life affects work life
This is often a scenario that bamboozles a lot of leaders. There are problems in an employee’s private life that are directly affecting them at work. These issues could be very personal, but they are impacting your business. In a scenario like this, the best leaders will take action and get involved. It may feel like you’re being intrusive, but talk to the employee and understand what’s making them stressed or agitated at work. From here, you can take action to help them deal with their private problems. As an example, they might be super stressed because they were in a car crash and suddenly had to pay for repairs, meaning they can’t pay their bills on time this month. As a gesture of goodwill, you could offer to pay them early so they can make the necessary payments. This might solve the problem, raise their morale, and get them back working at their best.
When you have lessons to share
Similarly, sharing your own private experiences can be a good idea at times. As a leader, you want to be an open book. You want your employees to know as much about you as possible, which will mean opening up your private life to them—to an extent. A leader that’s very private and closed off is hard for anyone to connect with. It can create a disconnect between the leader and their team, which is never a good thing. If you have snippets of information from your private life that you think will benefit your employees to know, share them. You can use them as a way of teaching lessons, while also helping you connect with them on a more grounded level. It paints you as a leader that’s also a normal human being, which your employees will like. In conclusion, there will be times when you shouldn’t pry and you should let your employees live private lives. Don’t pester them at home, don’t try to learn everything about them! But, there are instances where it’s okay to step over the line and ask about personal issues if you think their private lives are harming the business or harming their own health.
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My Health
Adult ADHD: A 21st century epidemic? www.medicalnewstoday.com | Written by Dr. James Brown and Dr. Alex Conner
function.” These are the higher thinking skills, such as planning, task management, cognitive inhibition, and working memory. Although often seen as a “new” disorder predominantly seen in children, ADHD was first described in medical texts dating back to the 18th century. And although it is usually diagnosed during childhood, most people continue to live with ADHD for their entire adult lives. National Teaching Fellow Dr. Conner is a reader in biomedical science communication at the College of Medical and Dental Sciences at the University of Birmingham, U.K. Dr. Brown is a reader in biomedical science at the College of Health and Life Sciences at Aston University, U.K.
ADHD in adults Recently, a growing number of people are first reporting ADHD symptoms as adults, partly due to high-profile cases or the impact of social media.
In fact, somewhere around 2.8%of adults are thought to Together, they co-founded the charity ADHDadultUK in live with ADHD, with the vast majority of these being un2021 to improve the lives of adults with ADHD through diagnosed. psychoeducation, advocacy, and peer support.
What is ADHD?
Despite this growing awareness, issues with healthcare resources, poor understanding among healthcare profesADHD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder in which sionals, and stigma around the disorder mean many adults the brain grows differently. This leads to deficient action struggle to get a diagnosis. from the chemicals involved in pleasure and reward. The neurological basis for the disorder means ADHD The name ADHD is a little unhelpful as those with the brains often search for ways to stimulate the chemicals that disorder do not have a deficit of attention, more a lack of have deficient action, which is why those with the disorder ability to control what they pay attention to. Even the hycan experience some or all of the core traits: inattentiveperactivity part isn’t always obvious, at least externally. ness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. ADHD is commonly associatedwith issues with “executive
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My Health These core traits can manifest themselves in several ways, including: There have been reports in some areas of referral times of up to 5 years or more. These extensive waiting times are Being unable to follow through on longer tasks or not due to the requirement for a specialist psychiatrist diagbeing able to start them. nosis. Being easily distracted by other tasks or thoughts. Seeking out activities, sometimes including risky behav- Even with a referral to a specialist, there are still chaliors, that provide an immediate reward. lenges. The individual has to show clear evidence of a sigRestlessness, either externally or internally. nificant number of ADHD traits, evidence of these traits Interrupting other people without wanting to. being present since childhood, and evidence that the disThe symptoms of ADHD are largely similar for both adults order has a moderate impact on two separate areas of a and children, although ADHD can present differently as person’s life, such as causing issues with work, education, we age. For example, inattention is the most persistent or in maintaining relationships. symptom in adults, and hyperactivity is less apparent. The surge in people seeking referrals means that even priADHD can be extremely debilitating if untreated. It has vate clinics have extensive waiting periods for diagnosis. been associated with a higher likelihood of reduced quality of life, increased risk of substance use issues, unem- While there is now a growing recognition of ADHD in ployment or underemployment, accidental injuries, sui- adults, many people still live with it undiagnosed for cide, and premature death, among other issues. any number of reasons: lack of awareness that ADHD in adults is a real thing, mishandling by healthcare profesIn addition, untreated ADHD is thought to have signifi- sionals, or diagnosis hesitancy — the fear of being labeled cant costs to society, with estimates of around £18,000 — with something that carries a stigma in society. around $24,400 — each year per untreated ADHD adult. This is due to issues such as medical care and unemploy- Understanding the condition in adults, taking it more sement costs. riously as a disorder, raising awareness of it both in society in general and among healthcare professionals, and Beyond the core traits of ADHD, an array of commonly investing in services to improve diagnosis times are esassociated co-existing conditions are reported in ADHD sential to deal with this growing issue. adults. Improving access to diagnosis and reducing the stigma associated with ADHD would open the door to treatThese co-existing conditions include a greater than three- ment, which can have a marked impact on living with the fold risk of mood disorders compared with non-ADHD disorder — such as improving self-esteem, productivity, adults, a twofold increased risk of having an anxiety dis- and quality of life. order, and increased risks for eating disorders and obesity. Additionally, around 70% of adults with ADHD also experience emotional dysregulation, making it difficult to control emotional responses. It is believed that almost all adults with ADHD have rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), a condition where real or even perceived rejection or criticism can cause extreme emotional sensitivity or pain. ADHD diagnosis As public awareness of adult ADHD increases, it has become apparent that receiving an ADHD diagnosis as an adult in the U.K. can be particularly difficult. TT 140 | FEB 15th- 21st | 2022
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My Kitchen These twice-cooked sriracha and honey wings are proof perfection exists Phoebe Wood | www. delicious.com.au
INGREDIENTS 1 cups (200g) plain flour 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda ¼ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground smoked paprika 2kg chicken wings, tips removed Sunflower oil, for shallow-frying 2/3 cups (165ml) sriracha 1 cup (250ml) runny honey 2 tbs finely grated ginger Toasted sesame seeds, to scatter Micro coriander, to serve
to 180°C (a cube of bread will turn golden in 15-20 seconds when the oil is hot enough). In 3 batches, fry chicken wings for 6 minutes or until just cooked through. Remove using a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel. 3.Meanwhile, place sriracha, honey and ginger in a wok or a large deep frying pan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Add wings to sriracha mixture and cook for 2-3 minutes until sticky. Scatter with sesame seeds and micro-coriander to serve.
METHOD 1.Combine flour, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon and paprika in a bowl and season with salt. Set aside a third of the flour mixture, then add chicken wings to the bowl and toss to coat well. Refrigerate for 20 minutes, then add the reserved flour mixture and toss to coat chicken. Place in the fridge for another 20 minutes (this will remove moisture from the chicken skin). 2.Half-fill a saucepan or deep-fryer with oil and heat
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My Sports Tundo promises to be back in a flash
www.standardmedia.co.ke | By Ochieng Oyugi | image credit: rove.me
The ongoing East African Safari Classic Rally (EASCR) has had several casualties.
good, performing better than the first one. I wish I started the competition with this one we have fixed,” he said. Tundo said he feels better with his return to the competition on Sunday, but just for fun.
Both experts and rookies seem to be suffering similar fates. It is quite unimaginable that the 5000km contest from Naivasha to Watamu is without continental champion Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo in the main classification.
“It was depressing, but now at least we are back, we won’t give up. We want to enjoy some days of rallying here, nothing serious though, just for fun. We aren’t going to be classified anyway.”
Their car suffered a puncture along the Poror-Kipsaos stretch, which was The 48-year-old Kenyan champion followed by a barrage of mechanical and his navigator Tim Jessop were gremlins. forced out of the rankings after blowing up their engine on the second day “We only did one day of the event. of the rally, in Nakuru. I knew we weren’t going far on the second day after the breakdowns; we “It was depressing. We are down but were just hopeful. not out,” Tundo told Standard Sports. “And it came to pass; second day, we “It’s obviously more disappointing to blew the engine and were forced to go out of a competition that early. Be- start rebuilding the car on the third ing out of the rankings knocked the day,” said Tundo. wind out of us. We were sad. I was not in my best spirits in Nakuru, but we While working on the vehicle, Tunhad to pick up ourselves up and get do realised the machine had an empback on the road,” Tundo said. ty block and a faulty camshaft, which they fixed. Tundo’s Triumph TR7 started having issues from the opening day after the “I have rebuilt a new one (block); from flag-off in Naivasha. brackets to the sensors. The engine is
“We are doing the remaining miles just for the thrill. No big deal. We will start planning for the rest of the year after February 18,” added Tundo. At the same time, Tundo approved cancellation of Stage 11 (Mwingi to Zombe route) on Sunday due to human traffic, but felt the organisers could have redirected Stage 12 (Kyululu market to Ithimba) to less populated areas. Ahead of this year’s race, Tundo said he was targeting a strong top 10 finish, if not winning a third title. He won in 2015 and 2017.
TT 140 | FEB 15th- 21st | 2022 The Times Today is a publication of Elizabeth Omondi Consultancy. P.O. Box 833-00100 GPO Nairobi. Tel: 0722 927792. www.thetimestoday.wordpress.com
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