Today's Tolkien Times
Today's Tolkien Times is a daily short-format podcast hosted by Alan Sisto, creator of the award-winning Prancing Pony Podcast. Each day of the week features a different theme, including Mailbag Mondays, Tolkien Tuesdays, Word-nerd Wednesdays, Third Age Thursdays, Fandom Fridays, and Silmarillion Saturdays. The podcast offers listeners a daily dose of Tolkien lore, language, and community engagement. It is available on major platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
Episodes
Week 123 - Friendship Friday: An Elf Will Go Underground
…and a Dwarf dare not! Join The Man of the West on the Paths of the Dead, and Legolas has to tell Gimli’s story.
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Week 123 - Third Age Thursday: An Ambush, Not an Absence
Join The Man of the West as Grimbold breaks out of the trap at the Fords, and we finally learn what really kept his friend away.
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Week 123 - Word-nerd Wednesday: A Mushy Language
What do moose have in common with the Nazgûl? Join The Man of the West for six of Mordor’s darkest names — and the Gaelic word for ‘ring’ that Tolkien swore he never borrowed.
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Week 123 - Tolkien Tuesday: An Unvisited Island
Join The Man of the West for the first half of Letter 247, where Tolkien frets that some magic dies the moment you visit it.
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Week 123 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Chance Our Luck
Not a lottery ticket The Man of the West would buy. Join him as Frodo and Sam take the one road left to them, and end up conscripted into Sauron’s army.
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Week 122 - Silmarillion Saturday: All Song Ceased
Join The Man of the West as Melkor and Ungoliant reach the Trees — and Valinor, which was sung into being, discovers silence alongside darkness.
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Week 122 - Friendship Friday: You Move Me, Gimli
Join The Man of the West as Gimli describes the caverns of Helm’s Deep with great detail and glorious prose, like… well, like Tolkien.
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Week 122 - Third Age Thursday: The Shieldwall Held
Midnight, a river of fire, and no sign of Elfhelm. Join The Man of the West as Grimbold makes his stand at the Fords of Isen — and faces a choice between glory and purpose.
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Week 122 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Horse-Joy
Join The Man of the West for one Old English root, four Rohirric names, and a word that has been galloping through the language since the Eurasian steppe.
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Week 122 - Tolkien Tuesday: And Good Detestable
The Ringwraiths would have said “my lord”, but not to The Man of the West. We close out letter 246 today — including some hard truths about Gandalf.
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Week 122 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Pieces on a Board
Join The Man of the West as Frodo and Sam crest the Morgai — and discover the plain of Gorgoroth is crawling with orcs.
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Week 121 - Silmarillion Saturday: Reconciled, In Word
Join The Man of the West as Melkor and Ungoliant come down from Hyarmentir, and Valinor holds a party. Moral of the story: hire private security.
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Week 121 - Friendship Friday: You Comfort Me
Join The Man of the West as Legolas and Gimli become two-thirds of the Three Hunters — from the breaking of the Fellowship, across Rohan, and into Helm's Deep, where two friends find the same word for what the other gives them.
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Week 121 - Third Age Thursday: Let Isen Be Their Snare
Join The Man of the West as two loyal commanders disagree about how to fight a battle Tolkien has already told us was lost.
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Week 121 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Brightest of Stars
Join The Man of the West for six words drawn from the cry that broke the Watchers — and from an older cry, in the dark of Shelob's lair.
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Week 121 - Tolkien Tuesday: Nice Master
It’s certainly not what Alan’s team members call him. Join The Man of the West as we continue letter 246 and visit the moment that Tolkien calls perhaps the most tragic in the entire Tale.
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Week 121 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Down and Down
But not to goblin-town; not yet. Join The Man of the West as Sam finds the way up to Frodo, and the two escape the Tower of Cirith Ungol — into The Land of Shadow.
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Week 120 - Silmarillion Saturday: With Both Hands
Join The Man of the West as we go back to where the whole tragedy begins — Melkor slips south to the lightless land of Avathar, and strikes a bargain with a dark hunger.
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Week 120 - Friendship Friday: Above All the Jewels
What Fëanor didn’t get after begging three times, a Dwarf gets at first asking. Join The Man of the West as Gimli leaves Lothlórien with three golden hairs and an unexpected wound.
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Week 120 - Third Age Thursday: Till Éomer Comes
Two wolfriders, a two-mile charge, and a horn in the dark. Join The Man of the West as Elfhelm reaches the Fords of Isen, and the Prince of the Mark speaks his last words.
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Week 120 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Full Power
Join The Man of the West for a black fence, a shadow that argued with itself, a mountain that watched the wrong way — and the Latin word Tolkien used to describe Gandalf.
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Week 120 - Tolkien Tuesday: Where Shall I Find Rest?
Join The Man of the West as we continue letter 246, where Tolkien turns from Frodo’s blame to Frodo’s wounds — and the question Gandalf wouldn’t answer.
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Week 120 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Climbs Backwards-Like
Join The Man of the West (who climbs forward, if at all) as we follow Sam in, and up, the Tower of Cirith Ungol on his quest to find Frodo.
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Week 119 - Silmarillion Saturday: Dark Fruit
Join The Man of the West as the last two sons of Fëanor wish they’d ordered oven mitts, and the Quenta Silmarillion comes to its end.
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Week 119 - Friendship Friday: I Need You Both
Two peoples, three Ages of grievance, and one wizard who refuses to give judgment. Join The Man of the West as we begin our look at An Unexpected Friendship.
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Week 119 - Third Age Thursday: Too Late
Join The Man of the West as Saruman’s trap closes around Théodred at the Fords of Isen — and Grimbold proves his worth.
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Week 119 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Through the Cenedril, and What Gimli Found There
That would be a very different book, Mr. Carroll. Join The Man of the West for a look at a river and a lake, six names, and a 1971 BBC interview with Tolkien
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Week 119 - Tolkien Tuesday: He Did That
Join The Man of the West as we begin a four-episode read-through of letter 246 — in which Tolkien defends Frodo, demolishes simple-minded heroism, and gives us the entire argument in three words.
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Week 119 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Boom. Clang.
Join The Man of the West as we approach the Tower of Cirith Ungol with Sam — from leaving Frodo’s body behind, to the Two Watchers at the gate.
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Week 118 - Silmarillion Saturday: Who Shall Release Us?
Join The Man of the West as the two surviving sons of Fëanor argue the theology of an oath sworn to Ilúvatar, with one simply asking: can we just do a little less evil?
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Week 118 - Friendship Friday: Two Is Enough
Four episodes, two cousins, and one Man with a regrettable attitude. Join The Man of the West as we wrap up our time with Merry and Pippin, from the road home to their beds set beside the great king.
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Week 118 - Third Age Thursday: Five Days
Join The Man of the West as we shift gears on Third Age Thursday and being a series-long read through of The Battles of the Fords of Isen from Unfinished Tales: and learn just how close Saruman came to winning the war.
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Week 118 - Word-nerd Wednesday: To Have and To Holdwine
Join The Man of the West for a pair of Sindarin words from Shelob’s Lair, and three Old English words from the open horse-lands of Rohan.
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Week 118 - Tolkien Tuesday: Crabbed and Not Too Legible
Tolkien’s writing, not mine — though my writing is rarely legible. Join The Man of the West as Tolkien, developing his ambidexterity, answers a reader's questions about runes and the gift of death.
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Week 118 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Filth Unnameable
No, not the latest hotel review from The Man of the West. Join us as we open Series 16 in the dark, fragrant comfort of Shelob’s Lair.
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Week 117 - Silmarillion Saturday: And Yet Unvaliant
Join The Man of the West — to whom this episode’s title does not refer… usually — as we read the climax of the War of Wrath, and Morgoth finally gets what’s coming to him.
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Week 117 - Friendship Friday: I Am Lonely
No, not me — I’m fine; it’s Pippin you should worry about. Join The Man of the West as we examine Merry & Pippin’s friendship during their time apart, and enjoy their warm reunion.
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Week 117 - Third Age Thursday: It Is Difficult to Keep Awake Here
Look, I’m trying to keep things exciting, but… oh, that wasn’t about the show. Join The Man of the West as we conclude our study of the Elves of Rivendell.
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Week 117 - Word-nerd Wednesday: His Children’s Joy
Join The Man of the West as this week’s linguistic deep dive includes a look at Estel, and a reminder of the Old English inspiration behind the beginning of the legendarium.
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Week 117 - Tolkien Tuesday: Petty Fencing
Join The Man of the West as he discovers Petty Fencing isn’t what you build when you just want to get even with your neighbor, and Tolkien gives a reader a fierce defense of Faramir, Éowyn, and their love.
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Week 117 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Just a Few More Little Steps
Sure, Gollum, sure. Join The Man of the West as we continue our journey with Frodo and Sam, climbing the Stairs of Cirith Ungol. Are you sure there isn’t an elevator somewhere, Gollum?
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Week 116 - Silmarillion Saturday: Glittering and Bright
Clearly not The Man of the West, today’s title describes the sight of Eärendil’s ship, Vingilot, as it sails into the heavens — freeing the Elves from despair, while filling Morgoth with doubt.
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Week 116 - Friendship Friday: Brush Up My Toes
Join The Man of the West as Merry acknowledges he has some work to do to catch up to Pippin as we continue our (now) four-episode look at their friendship.
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Week 116 - Third Age Thursday: Long It Endured
Join The Man of the West as we begin a two-part look at the Elves of Rivendell: this time featuring the tra-la-lally Elves.
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Week 116 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Not One Star; All the Stars
Break out your Quenya and Sindarin dictionaries as The Man of the West does his usual mid-week deep dive into the names of some familiar places.
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Week 116 - Tolkien Tuesday: Never Mind the Critics
As though Tolkien ever took them too seriously to begin with. Join The Man of the West as he looks at two letters closing out 1962, including how a neighbor literally influenced the shape of Tolkien’s world.
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Week 116 - Middle-earth Map Monday: A Shapeless Fear
Join The Man of the West as he continues his anti-bucket list of places to visit in Middle-earth with a trip through history to view the city known both as Minas Ithil and Minas Morgul.
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Week 115 - Silmarillion Saturday: And His Prayer Was Granted
Join The Man of the West as Eärendil wanders the lonely streets of Tirion, and Eönwë has a sense of dramatic timing.
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Week 115 - Friendship Friday: Good Old Merry!
Join The Man of the West as we begin a look at another friendship in the legendarium: everyone’s favorite troublemakers, Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took.
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Week 115 - Third Age Thursday: That What Should Be Shall Be
Galadriel takes the high road when faced with a no-win scenario, as The Man of the West completes a three-episode look at the Elves of Lórien.
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Week 115 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Any Excuse At All, Really
Join The Man of the West as he finds a reason to read a line from Galadriel’s Lament because… well, see above. Also: which of these words is not like the others?
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Week 115 - Tolkien Tuesday: Blow Me Up
Three short letters in the Revised and Expanded edition provide the usual combination of insight, wit, and kindness that characterize Tolkien’s letters.
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Week 115 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Corpse Candles and Carne Asada?
Join The Man of the West as we continue our itinerary of Places No One Wants to Visit: this time, looking at the lovely and refreshing Morgul Vale.
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Week 114 - Silmarillion Saturday: Move Their Hearts to Pity
We’ve been building up to this for a few series now, and it’s finally time to begin Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath.
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Week 114 - Friendship Friday: Not Yet Anyway
Join The Man of the West as we wrap up our four-episode look at the friendship of Frodo and Sam, from certain death on the slopes of Mount Doom, to their farewell at the Grey Havens.
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Week 114 - Third Age Thursday: An Island Amid Many Perils
We continue our look at the Elves of Lórien as the Fellowship encounter Haldir and make their way towards Caras Galadhon itself.
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Week 114 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Steep Streets
Join The Man of the West as we look at a few words from our visit to the darkness on Middle-earth Map Monday… and visit a golden river for a palate cleanse.
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Week 114 - Tolkien Tuesday: With Tears As I Wrote
We reach the second half of Letter 241 as Tolkien gives his Aunt Jane (and us) the story behind his work, Leaf by Niggle.
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Week 114 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Despair… Postponed
Join The Man of the West as we continue our travel journeys to only the worst places, this time to the Black Gate itself.
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Week 113 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Fairest of All the Children of the World
As if I need to tell you that today’s episode title has nothing whatsoever to do with The Man of the West. We conclude the tragic chapter Of the Ruin of Doriath with the loss of Beren and Lúthien, some unwelcome guests, and even more death.
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Week 113 - Friendship Friday: As Our Strength Lessens
Join The Man of the West as the friendship of Frodo and Sam grows stronger even in the most challenging circumstances.
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Week 113 - Third Age Thursday: Valiant and Wise
Clearly not referring to The Man of the West, today’s episode title actually speaks of Amroth, the King of Lórien, as we move west from Mirkwood to look at yet another of the Elven Kingdoms of the Third Age.
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Week 113 - Word-nerd Wednesday: On Top of Old Wet Head
Today’s Word-nerd Wednesday looks at several words from our Silmarillion Saturday readings, some of which are more noble sounding than others.
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Week 113 - Tolkien Tuesday: Now I Want a Grilled Cheese
Join The Man of the West as we begin another of the Professor’s letters to his Aunt Jane Neave: today, it’s all about the Welsh!
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Week 113 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Diseased Beyond All Healing
No, really, it’s just a mild cold… oh, the text? That’s a different story. Join The Man of the West as we follow Frodo and Sam’s miserable itinerary through the Dagorlad and the wastes before the Black Gate.
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Week 112 - Silmarillion Saturday: With a Different Voice
Join The Man of the West as we continue in The Ruin of Doriath, standing beside Melian in her grief. Mablung meets his end fulfilling his duty, and Beren rescues the stolen Nauglamír.
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Week 112 - Friendship Friday: I Was Serious
Join The Man of the West as we turn our 2-part look at Frodo and Sam’s friendship into four episodes instead: today, from Parth Galen to Cirith Ungol.
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Week 112 - Third Age Thursday: Good People… Mostly
Whether today’s title also applies to The Man of the West is up to you. Today, we take a look at the Elves of Mirkwood in (mostly) the Third Age, as we continue our look at the free peoples of Middle-earth.
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Week 112 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Frings — Not What you Thought
The Man of the West takes a deep dive into a few words from last week’s Silmarillion Saturday, including one that, it turns out, is long overdue.
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Week 112 - Tolkien Tuesday: Peacocks are Out
Well, yes — but I thought everyone knew that. Join The Man of the West as we look at another letter from the Professor to his illustrator on The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Pauline Baynes.
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Week 112 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Always Creeping
Today’s stop on our journey is not on The Man of the West’s bucket list, nor is it likely on yours. Come visit the charming wetlands known as the Dead Marshes.
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Week 111 - Silmarillion Saturday: Be Gone Unrequited
The Man of the West may be used to hearing those words, but today they’re meant for the Dwarves of Nogrod that are haughtily dismissed by Thingol, unaware of the danger he faces.
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Week 111 - Friendship Friday: Jump Down a Dragon’s Throat
We begin an all-new thing for Fridays, as we study friendships in Middle-earth, starting with perhaps the best-known example with Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee.
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Week 111 - Third Age Thursday: He Dwells There Still
Join The Man of the West as we begin a look at more people in the Third Age; having done a deep dive into all the different Men for two series, it’s time to visit the Elves, beginning in Lindon.
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Week 111 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Not Your Average Garden Gnome
Join The Man of the West for a Word-nerd Wednesday deep dive into Tolkien’s early name for the Elves we now know as the Noldor, and learn why he could use it Gnome-Or (just say it out loud… no more).
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Week 111 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Am Not Satisfied with ‘Hobbits’
It’s time for another out-of-context quote as episode title, as we begin another TTT series spending Tolkien Tuesdays in the Revised and Expanded edition of the Letters. Today, it’s more gripes about translations; anyone else not surprised?
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Week 111 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Twisted Knot of Hills
Join The Man of the West as he begins Series 15 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a Middle-earth Map Monday on the bleak hills of the Emyn Muil.
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Week 110 - Silmarillion Saturday: All Things Crooked
Húrin’s anger leads him to Doriath, where he throws jewelry at the King and finds himself gently reminded of the truth by Melian.
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Week 110 - First Age Friday: She Was Not Conquered
Join The Man of the West as we begin our time in Of the Ruin of Doriath, watching as Húrin is all-too-briefly reunited with Morwen before his heart turns to “stone within him”.
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Week 110 - Third Age Thursday: Riders Tall and Fair
We finish our look at Men of the Third Age as The Man of the West reviews the history of the Éothéod, their steadfast alliance with Gondor, and their move to the northern vales.
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