Rachinger on dirty politics 4 – Ben asks for help

Written By: - Date published: 3:08 pm, May 11th, 2015 - 48 comments
Categories: Dirty Politics - Tags: , ,

[Update: About a month after this post was published, shortly after The Nation covered Rachinger’s account of being offered money to hack this blog, allegations were made about Rachinger’s past behaviour. We’re not going to give the sordid story any oxygen here, but if true Rachinger’s behaviour was appalling and inexcusable. This new context should be kept in mind if you are reading this old post.]

Ben Rachinger was a dirty politics insider, he is telling his story. For the background please read other posts in this series. Ben’s blog is here. Alastair Thompson at Scoop writes:

Arguably therefore this is an exceptionally fine piece of undercover investigative journalism into a matter of national significance.

In his most recent post Ben has asked for help:

… I am completely broke. Homeless. Living moment to moment. Being threatened by the State and by ‘unknown’ assailants. I fear for my very existence. I have nothing left to give but multiple angles for getting to story out.

I’m working with big names in MSM to bring this story to light. They have been able to check the facts that I was an informant and that I attempted to lay a complaint against Mr Slater for Conspiracy to Hack.

I need help. I’m ashamed to ask for it but I’ve been encouraged to do so. I need time to write my story in long-form and get it out to you, the public. If you can assist me financially to do so…

You will be doing good work. I’ve been unbalanced in my story and interactions because bringing this to light has cost me everything. I’ve suffered greatly from being disbelieved but I want one more shot to make this stick.

My PayPal address — benjaminstephen1@gmail.com

My ASB bank account — 12–3216–0294208–00

I CAN and WILL finish this story. It may have huge impacts on the political scene. At the very least… We will have more information about our situation.

I apologise to those I have offended. I wish only good things for the future. …

Authors at The Standard have had no contact with Ben (though we have had independent confirmation of some details). We have no idea what to expect. Over to individuals what to make of Ben’s request.

(Update: Note that your identity / account details will be visible to Ben if making a donation via PayPal or his bank account.)

48 comments on “Rachinger on dirty politics 4 – Ben asks for help ”

  1. Tracey 1

    cant bring myself to contribute. not yet. dont see anything to give me the assurance i felt donating to Hager. Not saying not ever but not now for me.

  2. Amanda Atkinson 2

    The entre … drip enough info to spike interest, wanting – waiting – hoping for many to want the rest of the story (the main meal), then all of a sudden … guess what … “I can’t afford to write the rest … you only get it if you pay for it??” What a crock! He should have asked for the money up front before dishing up the entre. Then there’d at least be a chance to be believed. He has no cred now. What an idiot.

    • r0b 2.1

      I think that is unfair.

      I can’t say that I agree with the way that Ben has handled the release of his story, but I do believe that the pressure he is under, and the request for assistance, are genuine.

      Also note that he said “I CAN and WILL finish this story” – he’s not asking for anyone to pay for it, just for help.

      • Amanda Atkinson 2.1.1

        then he should have told people what he was intending and asked for the money up front ,, instead he chose to wet the appetite then use oldest sales strategy in book selling … “the takeaway” … it’s a strategy, it carefully planned, and it’s a crock. No cred now.

        • weka 2.1.1.1

          That’s not my reading of how things have unfolded. I doubt he was thinking he would need assistance when this started. You don’t have to like how he’s handled this but I disagree with your assessment of his character.

          • Amanda Atkinson 2.1.1.1.1

            fair do’s, saying he’s an idiot is commenting on his character which of course, I nothing about. I re-phrase it to, idiotic strategy that has now over ridden his his intentions, even if they are genuine. It just doesn’t look right, the timing is so bad. It’s either a hell of a coincidence, or it’s the “takeaway” book selling strategy.

      • weka 2.1.2

        I agree. I don’t like everything Ben has done and am aware of some things he’s done that are definitely not ok, but I also believe he is in a serious situation and needs help and I am glad he has asked.

    • Tracey 2.2

      It is slateresque i grant you…

      • Amanda Atkinson 2.2.1

        yes, thats the first thing I thought of when I saw this too, slaters donation wheel … if he wants inform us, just just typing for gods sake … gee whizz, if I had all this damaging info, I surely could plant my arse for a week a type it all out, without the need for finances.

        • weka 2.2.1.1

          Good for you. I know I couldn’t. Not everyone has the same abilities or situation.

          • Amanda Atkinson 2.2.1.1.1

            oh good grief, take a month then, the point is still the same … if you’ve got it Ben, just get on with it and write it. Besides, he’s working with the MSM (his words), aren’t they, according the The Standard, implicit in dirty politics? Surely you cannot support a story that is going to be caressed, screened, filtered and doctored by the conspiratorial right wing MSM in NZ.

            • weka 2.2.1.1.1.1

              I think you are full of it and just making shit up. Nasty and not needed on this thread irrespective of whether you trust Ben or not.

  3. Just saw this on Twitter:
    John Palethorpe retweeted
    ☃Pomplesqueak Anna☃ ‏@MsAnna_Jane 55m55 minutes ago

    Hi Twitter. Ben Rachinger has made threats towards me, please do not support him. Block, ban, report. Please.
    9 retweets 5 favorites

  4. twebb70 4

    Ben Rachinger is a grade A attention seeker and has been for years.

    While he has obviously gotten involved with some of the main players in the Dirty Politics story, it was all after the Hager book was published, and entirely of his own doing.

    He has made mileage out of pretending he knows who Rawshark is, when in fact he is relying on a fairly well circulated rumour.

    If you ask Ben any difficult questions about his story, he will attack you, block you and threaten to dox you. Ben has doxxed people in the past if their details are easily obtained from google.

    Ben pretends to be a hacker, and will provide advice to use possibly compromised security tools (such as Threema which is recommended by Ben).

    Ben has consistently big-noted the information he has, and Released snippets over and over again in various forms. Several times he has failed to finish his story.

    [r0b: With one deletion]

    Of course, this could all just be a smear job because the information he holds is so dangerous to vested interests like me, right Ben?

    • Tracey 4.1

      what you just wrote could apply to a guy called slater who has this blog site.

    • twebb70 4.2

      Thanks for editing that. That was a good deletion.

      I’d like to say I sincerely believe that Ben could do with some advice from his loved ones, or people with his best interests in mind, rather than the twitter followers who egg him on.

    • weka 4.3

      Lots of of assertion there from someone I have never heard of. No back up.

      “If you ask Ben any difficult questions about his story, he will attack you, block you and threaten to dox you. Ben has doxxed people in the past if their details are easily obtained from google.”

      I agree Ben has a history of outing people online, however I’d be more interested to hear from people like Giovanni Tiso or Matthew Dentith who’ve critiqued Ben’s actions, and have engaged with him meaningfully.

      • Tracey 4.3.1

        ““If you ask Ben any difficult questions about his story, he will attack you, block you and threaten to dox you. Ben has doxxed people in the past if their details are easily obtained from google.””

        I can see why Ben and Cameron ended up together. Both, it seems to me, indulge in at times nasty and hateful behaviours which suggests to me they both could spend more time on introspection and help to delve deeper into themselves. NIT talking about mental illness or diagnosis of same, but human nature, those who act in a nasty/vengeful way, imo experience have alot of emotional pain buried deeper.

      • Colonial Rawshark 4.3.2

        I’ve run into Ben online a few times; IMO he considers himself a masterful, smart online manipulator and political intimidator; I personally wouldn’t give him the time of day.

  5. tinfoilhat 5

    This is just really odd.

    Rather than money and this ongoing DP feud I can’t help but think Ben needs some kind of counselling and to stay well away from all the parties desperately trying to throw mud at each other I think they’re all toxic.

  6. weka 6

    Given how polarising this is, and given Ben’s level of vulnerability, I’m not sure what good will be served by the standard having a thread where people can slag off Ben. Am aware I might be stepping over a line here re ts, sorry.

    • r0b 6.1

      I think you’re right, will moderate comments from now on.

    • Tracey 6.2

      i am ambivalent about it too and being a vehicle for the financial help request…

      • weka 6.2.1

        I have less of a problem with the request being hosted, although i would feel more comfortable if he’d used something like givealittle. It looks like he needs some good people around him as much as money. Hard to judge from this distance though.

  7. JeevesPOnzi 7

    CHrist! where’s my long winded rant gone???

  8. JeevesPOnzi 8

    Why has he completely disappeared from TDB ???

  9. Rosemary McDonald 9

    FWIW I have no sound instinct for what is really going on here.

    But Ben, as a parent, can I suggest you turn to your family for support.

    No matter what you may have done, the door to home is usually kept ajar.

    You have been associating with some seriously exploitative individuals who have no interest in your welfare.

    Now, or in the future.

    Good luck.

  10. ianmac 10

    A long history of people being maligned online especially by those who have things to hide. So I am going on trust of Ben. Pity we aren’t all super smooth operators like certain politicians. Eh?
    (I gave a small donation via his bank account.)

  11. jenny kirk 11

    I am remembering Ben said he was profoundly deaf.

    Being profoundly deaf is a huge disability and although he may appear okay, and appear totally in control of what he is writing using a keyboard which is much more accessible to a deaf person than is speaking, I’m wondering if his disability has had more of an impact on what he does, and how he does things , without either him or others realising.

    Ben – you say you are now homeless. Please do go back to your parents’ home and seek some expert support and advice on whatever you think is happening. You need to have some friends around you.

    And maybe you could try and get in touch with the Deaf Association for support.

  12. jdickinson 12

    I have met him before – [r0b: deleted] he is depressed.

    He cannot be trusted [r0b: deleted – too many unfounded personal accusations]

  13. jenny kirk 13

    I am remembering that Ben said he was profoundly deaf.

    Being profoundly deaf is a huge disability which is not immediately obvious to normal hearing people. Despite Ben’s ability in using a keyboard (computer, internet, twitter, etc) there is a possibility that his deafness may have had more of a negative impact on how he puts things, or how he does things, than either he or others with normal hearing ability might realise.

    Like ianmac, I don’t like the maligning of others online (other than certain real politicians, that is !) and like Rosemary McDonald above – Ben, I would also like to suggest that you get back in touch with your parents and perhaps also you could seek support from the NZ Deaf Association.

  14. r0b 14

    I have to go, can’t moderate any more. I’m closing comments on this post – a full range of views has been expressed!

    I think it’s fair to say that discussion here is characteristic of the controversy that surrounds Ben on social media – see the first post in this series:
    http://thestandard.org.nz/rachinger-on-dirty-politics/

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    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
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    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
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    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
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    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
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    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
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  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
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    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
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  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
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    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
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    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
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  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
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    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
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    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
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    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
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    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
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    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
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    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
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    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
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    5 days ago
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
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  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
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    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
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    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
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    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
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    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
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    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
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  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
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  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
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    1 week ago
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
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    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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    1 week ago

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