TONIGHT ON "NEWSWATCH"
TWITTER TAKES ON WASHINGTON.
HOW SOCIAL MEDIA IS BEING USED
IN THE FISCAL CLIFF DEBATE.
PLUS HOW PRO-ISRAEL LAWMAKERS
ARE GATHERING TO SUPPORT THE
NATION.
AND HOW HIS FAITH PLAYED INTO
THE WRITINGS OF AUTHOR CHARLES
DICKENS, ALL OF THIS AND MORE
TONIGHT ON "NEWSWATCH."
GOOD EVENING I AM MARK MARTIN.
AND I AM HEATHER SELLS.
THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES PUSHED AHEAD
WITH A BIG DESIGNED TO OVERT THE
FISCAL CLIFF MEASURE DUBBED PLAN
B AND EXTENT BUSH ERA TAX CUTS
AND RAISE THOSE ON PEOPLE MAKING
MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS A
YEAR.
HOUSE SPEAKER BOEHNER IS CALLING
ON DEMOCRATS TO STEP UP TO AVOID
MANDATORY TAX HIKES AND SPENDING
CUTS ON JANUARY 1ST.
BOEHNER: THEN THE PRESIDENT
WILL HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE HE
CAN CALL ON SENATE DEMOCRATS TO
PASS THE BILL OR BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN
AMERICAN HISTORY.
MR. BOEHNER IS WILLING TO
CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE
PRESIDENT TO FIND A DEFICIT
CUTTING DEAL AND AVOID GOING
OVER THAT CLIFF.
PRESIDENT MEANWHILE IS USING
SOCIAL MEDIA TO GAIN SUPPORT ON
THE ISSUE. THAT'S RIGHT.
HE IS TAKING TO TWITTER TO
ENLIST THE MASSES TO PRESSURE
REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS.
JENNIFER WISHON HAS MORE.
REPORTER: COMMANDER IN CHIEF
ALREADY HOLDS THE MOST POWER
BULLY PULPIT.
HE HAS CREATED TWITTER HASHTAG
MY2K THAT STANDS FOR MY $2,000,
THE AMOUNT THE AVERAGE FAMILY
WILL LOSE IF TAX CUTS EXPIRE.
THE ESTIMATED 2,000 THEY'LL LOSE
IF AMERICA FALLS OFF THE FISCAL
CLIFF.
THE PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN TIME TO
PERSONALLY ANSWER TWEETS.
THERE WE GO, MY TWEET HAS
BEEN POSTED.
THAT IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.
SIGNING OFF IS BO FOR BARACK
OBAMA.
A WOMAN RECEIVED A PERSONAL
TWEET, SHE AND HUSBAND LIVE WITH
HER PARENTS.
INCREASE OF $2,000 FOR HER
AND HER HUSBAND, IN THIS HOUSE
HOLD WOULD MEAN $4,000 LOST.
REPUBLICANS ALSO USING
PRESIDENT'S HOUSE TAG SPEAKER
JOHN BOEHNER SHOWING A LINK TO
POLLING DATA AND CUTTING
GOVERNMENT SPENDING MORE POPULAR
THAN RAISING TAX RATES AND
THREATENING JOBS HE TWEETED.
PETER M. ABRAHAM TWEETS THERE
ARE NOT ENOUGH RICH PEOPLE.
WE NEED MASSIVE ENTITLEMENT
CUTS.
THE GOAL OF MY2K IS TO
COMPROMISE THE DEBATE.
AFTER THE ELECTION, OBAMA FOR
AMERICA SURVEYED AND NEARLY 80%
WANT TO KEEP VOLUNTEERING.
ON MR. OBAMA'S FACEBOOK PAGE, A
PERSONAL QUOTE WHEN THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE SPEAK LOUDLY, LOW AND
BEHOLD, CONGRESS LISTENS.
WE CAN EXPECT SPECIAL MEDIA TO
PLAY AN INCREASING ROLE AS HE
ROLES OUT THE AGENDA FOR HIS
SECOND TERM.
CBN NEWS, WASHINGTON.
THERE WERE HEARINGS ON THE
SKATING BENGHAZI REPORT, THE
FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
AGREES THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT
MADE DEADLY MISTAKES.
THEY SAY CONGRESS SHARES THE
BLAME AS WELL FAULTING LAWMAKERS
FOR NOT SUPPLYING ENOUGH MONEY
TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
FOUR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS
HAVE STEPPED DOWN IN THE WAKE OF
THE INDEPENDENT PANEL REPORT.
MISTAKES MADE, LIVES LOST AND
LESSONS NEED TO BE LEARNED.
MAJOR FAILURES AT THE STATE
DEPARTMENT AND HIGH LEVELS.
SECRETARY OF STATE HILARY
CLINTON IS EXPECTED TO TESTIFY
BEFORE CONGRESS SOME TIME NEXT
MONTH.
SHE IS ALREADY ADOPTED ALL 29
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE REPORT.
AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND
JUSTICE IS CALLING FOR RELEASE
OF IRANIAN-AMERICAN PASTOR FOR
HIS CHRISTIAN FAITH.
30-YEAR-OLD PASTOR SAEED ABEDINI
UNDERWENT A LIFE CHANGING
VERSION OF ISLAM TO CHRISTIANITY
AT 20 AND PROCLAIMING HIS FAITH
SINCE THAT TIME.
IN 2010 HE WAS GRANTED U.S.
CITIZENSHIP WHEN HE MARRIED HIS
AMERICAN WIFE.
THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT DOESN'T
RECOGNIZE HIS CITIZENSHIP.
HE WRITES THESE WALLS HAVE
CREATED MORE FERVER TO LOVE
OTHERS THROUGH SHARING THE
GOSPEL.
THE WALLS HAVE DEEPENED MY LOVE
FOR MY SAVIOR.
ACLU IS CALLING ON THE UNITED
NATIONS, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
AND CONGRESS DEMANDING SAEED
ABEDINI'S RELEASE.
FOR A LINK TO THE PETITION VISIT
CBNNEWS.COM.
CHRIS MITCHELL REPORTS, ONE
GROUP HOPES TO CHANGE BY SHOWING
THE WORLD THE MANY FRIENDS OF
THE JEWISH STATE
REPORTER: RECENTLY
PRO-ISRAEL LAWMAKERS GATHERED IN
JERUSALEM.
THE ISRAEL-ALLIES FOUNDATION AND
CAME TO LEND LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT
FOR ISRAEL.
WE ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT
NOBODY HAS DONE AND FORM A
NETWORK OF MORE THAN 500 MEMBERS
OF PARLIAMENT TO SUPPORT ISRAEL
AND SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE.
FOR US TO PROVIDE THIS GROUP A
MINI-U.N. GROUP IS VITALLY
IMPORTANT FOR ISRAEL'S ABILITY
TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS.
WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE IN MANY
COUNTRIES LIKE SOUTH AFRICA AND
LATIN AMERICA, CANADA.
WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS
THE SAME GOAL.
THE STRENGTH THAT IS NECESSARY
IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
KENNETH MASHOE STOPPED
LEGISLATION TO STOP EXPORTS.
OUR FRIENDS CAN DO WHAT THEY
ARE DOING AND WE WILL SHOW THEM
WE WILL NOT HAVE -- FOR AS LONG
AS WE ARE THERE.
I THINK SINCERELY, THERE HAS
NEVER BEEN A MORE CRITICAL TIME
TO STAND WITH ISRAEL THAN NOW.
TRENT LEADS ON THE U.S.
CAUCUS AND ISRAEL SITS ON THE
FRONT LINES OF BATTLE WITH
ISLAM.
I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE MOST
VITAL SECURITY ISSUES IN THE
WORLD AND AMERICA MUST STAND
WITH ISRAEL.
PEOPLE MORE AND MORE IN THE
CONGRESS ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT
THE PEACE OF THE ENTIRE WORLD IS
LARGELY PREDICATED ON WHAT
HAPPENS TO ISRAEL.
THE ISRAEL-ALLIES CONFERENCE
RELEASED A DECLARATION
SUPPORTING AN UNDIVIDED
JERUSALEM.
STATING THAT IRAN REPRESENTS A
CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO THE
STATE OF ISRAEL.
SO FAR 20 PARLIAMENTS MEET
AROUND THE WORLD.
IT IS MERGING APPRECIATION FOR
ISRAEL WITH POLITICAL ACTION.
BY THIS, WE ARE LOCATING
GRASS ROOTS, COMMUNITIES OF
BELIEVES THAT THANKS TO THE
BIBLE CLOSE TO ISRAEL AND WE ARE
GOING TO THE SPIRITUAL LEADERS
AND THE POLITICAL
REPRESENTATIVES.
IT IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
GROWS AND GROWS AND GROWS.
IT IS NOT JUST A POLITICAL
THING.
CHRIS MITCHELL, CBN NEWS,
JERUSALEM.
GUESS WHO IS MISSING FROM
CHRISTMAS IN BETHLEHEM THIS
YEAR?
THAT IS THE NAME OF THIS
CAMPAIGN SEEN IN THIS YOUTUBE
VIDEO.
JESUS IS PRACTICALLY MISSING IN
THE TOWN OF HIS BIRTH.
OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, I
HAVE BEEN NOTICING LESS AND LESS
OF CHRIST AND MORE AND MORE OF
SANTA AND SNOWMEN IN THE HEART
OF BETHLEHEM.
CHRISTMAS FOR EVERYONE, YES,
EVERYBODY CAN CELEBRATE
CHRISTMAS BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE
JESUS OUT.
CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT JESUS.
THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.
CORY PUT THE CHRISTMAS
MESSAGE IN ENGLISH AND ARABIC IT
SAYS JESUS, BORN TO DIE AND ROSE
AGAIN, INVITE HIM INTO YOUR
HEART SO YOU MIGHT LIVE.
PERSECUTION HAS DRIVEN MANY
CHRISTIANS OUT OF BETHLEHEM
DROPPING FROM 80-10% OF THE
POPULATION.
POPE BENEDICT HAS WRITTEN AN
ARTICLE FOR THE SECULAR
NEWSPAPER.
IN IT THE POPE ADVISES THE WORLD
TO USE THIS SEASON AS A TIME OF
SERIOUS THOUGHT CALLING
CHRISTMAS A TIME OF GREAT JOY
AND DEEPER REFLECTION EVEN
EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE.
THE VATICAN HAS WRITTEN FOR AN
ITALIAN RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS
MAGAZINE AND WEEKLY NEWSPAPER IN
MUNICH.
COMING UP, SOLUTIONS TO
SCHOOL SAFETY, HOW SOME SAY WE
SHOULD PROTECT STUDENTS.
ONE BY ONE, 26 VICTIMS OF
SANDY HOOK SHOOTING VICTIMS ARE
BEING LAID TO REST.
*
A PAINFUL IMAGE MARKS MOST OF
THE FUNERALS, LITTLE COFFINS
MUCH TOO SMALL.
NINE FUNERALS HELD WEDNESDAY.
MORE THAN 100 FIREFIGHTER
HONORED SEVEN-YEAR-OLD DANIEL
BARTON.
AT SIX-YEAR-OLD CAROLINE'S
FUNERAL, THEY WORE PINK.
FIVE MORE FUNERALS TAKING PLACE
TODAY.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE ON OUR
SITE SO YOU CAN PRAY FOR THE
VICTIMS, YOU CAN FIND IT AT
CBNNEWS.COM.
FIVE STATES WILL CONSIDER LAWS
TO ALLOW TEACHERS AND
ADMINISTRATORS TO CARRY FIREMANS
AT SCHOOL.
CRITICS FEAR GUN CARRYING
TEACHERS COULD DO MORE HARM THAN
GOOD.
IN TINY, WICHITA FALLS,
TEXAS, THEY ALLOW TEACHERS TO
CARRY GUNS IN THE CLASSROOM.
POLICY GOES BACK TO 2007 WHEN
THE SUPERINTENDENT BELIEVED IT
HAS AND WILL PREVENT A SCHOOL
SHOOTING. IF SOMEONE COMES
IN TO HURT MY LITTLE ONES, THEY
ARE KILLED.
I LIKE IT.
IT MAKES ME FEEL SAFER.
SINCE THE SANDY HOOK TRAGEDY,
SOME LAWMAKERS HAVE BEGUN
PUSHING THIS SOLUTION, ARM
TEACHERS AS A FIRST LINE OF
DEFENSE.
THINKING, SUCH A PLAN COULD HAVE
SAVED LIVES IN NEWTOWN.
I WISH TO GOD SHE HAD AN M-4
LOCKED UP IN HER OFFICE.
28 SCHOOLS HAVE ARMED
SECURITY STAFF, 20% OF PRIMARY
SCHOOLS, 54% OF MIDDLE SCHOOLS
AND 68% OF HIGH SCHOOLS.
QUESTION NOW IS, SHOULD TEACHERS
BE ARMED?
AT LEAST ONE COMPANY IS ALREADY
TRAINING THEM.
VIOLENCE NEEDS VIOLENCE TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
WE THINK FIREMANS ARE A GOOD
ALTERNATIVE.
BILL BOND DISAGREES.
PRINCIPAL AT HEATH HIGH SCHOOL
IN PADUCAH, KENTUCKY DURING A
SHOOTING.
MORE GUNS MEAN MORE GUN SHED.
A LOT OF INNOCENT STUDENTS
WOULD BE KILLED.
TEACHERS THEMSELVES ARE
DIVIDED.
MY GUT REACTION WOULD BE NO
WAY.
MORE GUNS, LESS SAFE THE SCHOOL
IS.
GROWING CONCERN ABOUT SCHOOL
SAFETY, ENTREPRENEURS ARE COMING
UP WITH NEW APPROACHES.
THIS BACKPACK HAS A SHEET OF
BULLET RESISTANT BODY ARMOR.
THIS MARINE DAD IS DOING HIS
PART.
HE IS STANDING GUARD PROTECTING
THE CHILDREN AT HIS DAUGHTER'S
SCHOOL.
HEAVY SNOW FALL AND STRONG
WINDS CREATING BLIZZARDS
CONDITIONS FROM KANSAS TO
NEBRASKA.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MILES PER
HOUR.
IN IOWA, RESIDENTS MET WITH A
MIX OF LOUD THUNDER AND SNOW.
SNOW LEFT TRAVELERS STRANDED AND
FLIGHT DELAYS.
ONE CANCELLATION, TWO DELAYS,
MISSED ONE PLANE BY THREE
MINUTES.
WE HAD INTENTIONS ON FLYING
OUT TO MINNEAPOLIS TO MADISON.
WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT COULD
HAPPEN WITH A OMAHA FLIGHT.
WE FOUND A RENTAL CAR AND TRY TO
MAKE THE DRIVE THROUGH.
FORECASTERS SAY AS MUCH AS A
FOOT OF SNOW COULD FALL IN SOME
AREAS.
UP NEXT, IT IS ONE OF THE
GREATEST CHRISTMAS CLASSICS THE
FAITH BEHIND "A CHRISTMAS
CAROL."
MANY FAMILIES MAKE IT A
TRADITION TO WATCH OR READ
CHARLES DICKENS, "A CHRISTMAS
CAROL" MOST PROBABLY DON'T KNOW
ABOUT THE MAN BEHIND THE STORY.
THE WORK OF DICKENS IS STILL
STUDY TODAY INCLUDING HOW HIS
FAITH INSPIRED HIS WRITING.
TODAY?
IT IS CHRISTMAS DAY, OF COURSE.
FROM THE SCREEN TO THE STAGE.
THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER
SCROOGE FROM MISER TO CHEERFUL
GIVER STRIKES A CORD IN THE
HEARTS OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN.
*
[SINGING]
ALL THESE VERSIONS ARE THE
RESULT OF CHARLES DICKEN'S
CLASSIC NOVEMBER "A CHRISTMAS
CAROL" HE LOVED THE HOLIDAY EVEN
QUOTED AS SAYING I WILL HONOR
CHRISTMAS IN MY HEART AND TRY TO
KEEP IT ALL THE YEAR.
MANKIND WAS MY BUSINESS,
COMMON WELFARE, CHARITY, MERCY,
FORBEARANCE AND BENEVOLENCE WERE
ALL MY BUSINESS.
GARY COLLINS HAS STUDIED
DICKENS EARNING A PHD AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS FOR
HIS WORK ON THE FAITH OF
DICKENS.
THAT IS WHAT IS PREVALENT,
THAT IDEA, THAT REAL
CHRISTIANITY, DICKENS USES THAT
TERM "REAL CHRISTIANITY."
THAT IS BEING LIKE JESUS.
COLLEGE DISCOVERED DICKENS
WAS A CHRISTIAN AND HIS FAITH IN
JESUS CHRIST SURFACES THROUGHOUT
HIS WORKS IN THEMES AND
CHARACTERS.
HE READ A LETTER.
ALL MY STRONGEST ELLE STRAGSS
ARE DERIVED FROM THE FIRST
TESTAMENT.
ALL MY GOOD PEOPLE HUMBLE,
CHARITABLE, FORGIVING, OVER AND
OVER I CLAIM THEM AND EXPRESSED
WORDS AS THE FOUNDER OF OUR
RELIGION.
THE WARNING TO SCROOGE
REFLECTS THE IMPORTANCE OF
IMITATING CHRIST.
TAKING CARE OF HUMANITY,
THINKING ABOUT MY FELLOW MAN,
DOING UNTO OTHERS AS I WOULD
HAVE THEM DO UNTO ME.
FOR DICKENS, THE GOLDEN RULE WAS
CRUCIAL.
THE CHRISTIAN FAITH OF
CHARLES DICKENS IS THIS LITTLE
KNOWN WORK WRITTEN OVER THREE
YEARS FOR HIS CHILDREN TITLED
"LIFE OF OUR LORD."
CRITICS ARE RIGHT.
IT IS NOT A FANTASTIC PIECE OF
LITERATURE.
IT IS -- IT SHINES A BRIGHT
LIGHT ON DICKEN'S FAITH.
HE IS THE SOUL EDITOR.
COLLEGE CALLS A LIFE OF OUR
LORD A GOSPEL HARMONY AND
INTERWEAVES IT INTO A SINGLE
NARRATIVE.
DICKENS SUMMARIZED LIFE OF
CHRIST FOR HIS CHILDREN.
MY DEAR CHILDREN, I AM
ANXIOUS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
SOMETHING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF
JESUS CHRIST.
EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT
HIM. A CHRISTIAN FAMILY AT
THE TIME WOULD HAVE HAD TWO
BOOKS IN THEIR HOME, THE BIBLE
AND A GOSPEL HARMONY.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION OF HIS
CHILDREN IS NOTHING DICKENS
WOULD LEAVE TO SOMEONE ELSE.
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY
IMPORTANT TOOL IN DICKEN'S
FAMILY FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
AND CHRISTIAN THINKING.
COLLEGE SAYS VERY FEW PEOPLE
KNOW ABOUT THIS PART OF DICKEN'S
WORK OR HIS CHRISTIAN FAITH.
LITERARY CRITICS DISMISSED IT AS
SUPERFICIAL.
EDUCATORS FOLLOWED SUIT.
COLLEGE FOUND HIMSELF CRITICIZED
WHEN PRESENTING HIS DISROTATIONS
AT ST. ANDREWS F
THIS ICON OF BRITISH
LITERATURE WAS SOME HOW OF
FAITH.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THAT
HOSTILITY, PEOPLE LIKE DARKNESS
BETTER THAN LIGHT.
A HANDFUL OF LITERARY
SCHOLARS HAVE DISCUSSED THE
FAITH OF DICKENS, THE GREATEST
WRITER'S IN HISTORY, COLLEGE
SAYS HE BELIEVED GOD WANTED HIM
TO WRITE THIS BOOK "GOD AND
CHARLES DICKENS, RECOVERING THE
CLASSIC VOICE."
ALL OF IT WAS GUIDED BY OUR
LORD.
IT WAS RATHER EASY TO GET A
PUBLISHER.
THAT IS NOT ALWAYS TRUE.
IT IS JUST A GOOD FEELING WHEN
YOU KNOW THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS
INVOLVED AND THIS IS NOT YOUR
PROJECT.
HE DEDICATES THE BOOK TO HIS
GRANDCHILDREN MAY YOU EACH FOUND
JOY AS DID DICKENS IN OUR
SAVIOR.
UP NEXT FROM TEACHING TOOL TO
CHRISTMAS TRADITION, THE HISTORY
BEHIND NATIVITY SCENES.
THE NATIVITY SCENE IS ONE OF
THE ICONIC IMAGES OF CHRISTMAS.
WHEN DID PEOPLE START DECORATING
WITH IMAGES?
WENDY GRIFFITH TALKED TO ONE
EXPERT THAT EXPLAINS THE
BEGINNINGS OF THE TRADITION.
ACE, I JUST LOVE NATIVITY
SCENES, THIS REMINDS ME OF THE
ONE WE HAD IN MY HOUSE GROWING
UP AS A CHILD.
WHEN DID PEOPLE START DISPLAYING
NATIVITY SCENES?
FIRST NATIVITY SCENE IS
BEGINNING WHAT WE LOOK AT TODAY
STARTED BY FRANCES OF CISLY,
EIGHT CENTURIES AGO.
HE INCORPORATED LIVE ACTORS,
PART OF A TWO-HOUR LONG PAGEANT
WHERE HE BROUGHT THE MANGER
SCENE TO LIFE FOR THE FIRST TIME
SO PEOPLE COULD REALLY
UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT
FIRST CHRISTMAS NIGHT.
THE NIGHT THAT JESUS WAS
BORN, WE KNOW HE WAS BORN IN A
MANGER, HOW ACCURATE IS A
NATIVITY SCENE LIKE THIS ONE?
WE DON'T KNOW.
THERE HAD TO BE ANIMALS, THE
CITY IS FULL, THEY WERE INSIDE
THE STABLE, NOT ON THE OUTSIDE.
WE KNOW THE SHEPHERDS ARRIVED.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW IS THE
MAJI, VISITORS FROM THE EAST,
KINGS DIDN'T COME TO THE MANGER.
THEY CAME MANY, MANY, MANY
MONTHS LATER AND VISITED MARY
AND JOSEPH IN THEIR HOME AND
SPENT THE NIGHT WITH THEM.
MOST OF THE NATIVITY SCENES ARE
NOT ACCURATE.
THAT ISN'T AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS
TO REALIZE MORE THAN ANYTHING
ELSE, THESE LITTLE NATIVITY
SCENES PUT THE FOCUS BACK ON THE
REASON FOR THE SEASON.
IT REALLY SHOWS US THAT GOD CAME
TO US AS A COMMON MAN SO WE
COULD ALL RELATE TO HIM.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU,
HEATHER, WHEN I AM LOOKING AT
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS WHEN I SEE A
NATIVITY, OH GOOD.
SO REFRESHING.
DEFINITELY.
"NEWSWATCH."
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AND QUESTIONS AT "NEWSWATCH" AT
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