Mexico: 7 detained in drug-cartel massacre that killed 9 Americans
Mexican prosecutors seven people linked to the November slaughter of nine women and children in an ambush have been detained.
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Tuesday, December 31, 2019
FOX NEWS: Mexico: 7 detained in drug-cartel massacre that killed 9 Americans
Mexico: 7 detained in drug-cartel massacre that killed 9 Americans
Mexican prosecutors seven people linked to the November slaughter of nine women and children in an ambush have been detained.
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FOX NEWS: Marines deployed to bolster security at US Embassy in Baghdad
Marines deployed to bolster security at US Embassy in Baghdad
Tensions escalate as protesters storm embassy; Trey Yingst reports.
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FOX NEWS: John Tiegen on embassy attack: This is a big slap in the face from Iraqis
John Tiegen on embassy attack: This is a big slap in the face from Iraqis
Former GRS team member from Benghazi John 'Tig' Tiegen reacts to protesters storming U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
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FOX NEWS: Picasso painting damaged by London gallery visitor, officials say
Picasso painting damaged by London gallery visitor, officials say
A 20-year-old man is charged with damaging a Picasso painting at London's Tate Modern gallery, police said Tuesday.
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FOX NEWS: Trump blames Iran for Baghdad embassy breach, says regime will be held 'fully responsible'
Trump blames Iran for Baghdad embassy breach, says regime will be held 'fully responsible'
Reaction and analysis from Kroll managing director Tim Gallagher.
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FOX NEWS: England allows civil partnerships for heterosexual couples
England allows civil partnerships for heterosexual couples
England and Wales have taken the unprecedented step of allowing heterosexual couples to opt out of traditional marriages and choose civil partnerships.
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North Korea threatens to resume nuclear and ICBM testing
Kim Jong-un says his country is developing a new 'strategic weapon', but leaves room for US talks.
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Australia fires: More than 200 homes burn down on coast
Australia's fires have killed at least three people in recent days and left hundreds homeless.
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What year is it?
While lots of people are celebrating the start of 2020, it's a different year altogether for some.
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The story of the aeroplane house in Nigeria's capital Abuja
Said Jammal has spent 20 years building the family's unusual home in the Nigerian capital Abuja.
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Are your friends bad for your health?
We tend to copy the way our friends and family behave, potentially leading us to put on weight or even divorce.
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Why mature dating apps are coming of age
An increasing number of older people are turning to dating apps for mature people, in a quest for love.
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What does it mean to be a black traveller?
Four millennials on being the first black person some people meet, and other issues for black tourists.
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The region which legislates who you can love
LGBT activists are mounting legal battles against the Caribbean's colonial-era homophobic laws.
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FOX NEWS: Pompeo: US will hold Iran 'accountable' for any 'malign activity,' after Baghdad embassy attack
Pompeo: US will hold Iran 'accountable' for any 'malign activity,' after Baghdad embassy attack
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reacted to the Tuesday attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad by suspected Iranian-backed militants, telling Fox News' Mike Emanuel that Tehran will always be held accountable for any "malign activity."
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FOX NEWS: Warren urges Democrats to 'imagine a better America'
Warren urges Democrats to 'imagine a better America'
Warren attempts to regain lost momentum; Ellison Barber reports.
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FOX NEWS: Trump to sign China trade deal January 15
Trump to sign China trade deal January 15
Critics push for more Chinese concessions; Rich Edson has the details.
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FOX NEWS: Pompeo: No plans to evacuate embassy or pull US troops out of Iraq
Pompeo: No plans to evacuate embassy or pull US troops out of Iraq
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reacts to attack on U.S. Embassy, looks ahead to next steps in Iraq and the rest of the Middle East.
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FOX NEWS: Up to 4,000 US troops could deploy to Middle East amid Baghdad unrest: officials
Up to 4,000 US troops could deploy to Middle East amid Baghdad unrest: officials
The U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division’s alert brigade has been issued orders to deploy rapidly to Kuwait amid the unrest in Baghdad, three U.S. defense officials told Fox News on Tuesday.
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FOX NEWS: Chief justice promotes civics education in year-end report
Chief justice promotes civics education in year-end report
Saying "public confidence in the judiciary" was at stake, Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday urged Americans to become more engaged in learning about the role of courts in promoting democracy.
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FOX NEWS: US blames Iran for US Embassy attack in Iraq
US blames Iran for US Embassy attack in Iraq
Trump speaks with Iraqi prime minister about attack; Kevin Corke reports.
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FOX NEWS: Joe Biden says he would consider a Republican running mate
Joe Biden says he would consider a Republican running mate
Bloomberg mocked for White House 'open office plan'; reaction and analysis on 'The Five.'
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New on SI: The Five Biggest Questions We Have Right Now About This NFL Coaching Carousel
As we usher in the new year, the NFL remains entrenched in the latest head coaching cycle. The Browns have let both their head coach and GM go. Jacksonville appears to be staying put for the most part. Jerry Jones is still unsure what he wants to do. What does this all mean?
The regular season is complete, which means the NFL coach hiring season is underway. And while you may be clutching a bottle of cheap André champagne preparing to count down to the new year and trying to forget that you bought an ungodly expensive
Peloton bike that you’re never going to use for Christmas (riding a bike as an adult… pretty boring!), the rest of the NFL world is busy politicking for new, better jobs.This hiring cycle has already featured some surprises. Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff are staying in Atlanta. The Jaguars’ power brokers are also back. Jerry Jones and the Cowboys are still unsure what, exactly, they want to do. It’s a fascinating period where anything can happen.
As 2019 comes to a close, here are the five biggest questions we have now on the coaching front…
1. What are the Browns planning for their next organizational structure?
Sashi Brown was promoted to run the Browns’ football operations in 2016, and the organization was sold as a three-way split between the personnel department, the coaching staff led by Hue Jackson and Brown, an experienced mediator used to solving complicated disputes. On paper, it was brilliant, and so was Brown’s plan to fast-tank the club into competitiveness, which he managed to do over the course of a few short seasons.
When the assets were ripe for return, Brown was fired and the team installed a more traditional general manager in John Dorsey and gave him carte blanche to spend the team’s trove of picks and hire its next head coach after Hue Jackson.
Now, the team is at a crossroads again. They’ve tried having a team president-type figure or football czar. They’ve tried to build themselves like the Patriots, Packers, Saint Louis Cardinals and Oakland Athletics. Nothing seems to be able to penetrate the lingering toxicity of the market.
The report du jour from Tuesday was that they’ve fired Dorsey in order to clear the deck completely for Ohio-native Josh McDaniels’s arrival from New England. McDaniels, who has long been a favorite of the Haslams, would obviously prefer a modified version of the Patriots’ setup, which gives him significant say in personnel and tight alignment with whoever carries the top personnel title.
The report makes some sense in that the Patriots were reportedly enamored with Baker Mayfield before the draft, and McDaniels runs the side of the ball that Mayfield would play on. New England liked Odell Beckham as well.
The problem? McDaniels has turned down his share of marquee gigs in the past and knows this is his last chance to get a head coaching job in the NFL… especially after leaving the Colts at the altar two years ago and running back to New England. Would he really stake his future on the Haslam family in Cleveland?
2. What is holding up the Cowboys’ divorce with Jason Garrett?
The longer Jason Garrett remains the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, the longer Jerry Jones has to wait to begin requesting interviews with future candidates. There are three different scenarios that I can imagine at the moment:
• Garrett is legitimately making a push to save his job, and it’s working. A pair of two-hour meetings on Monday and Tuesday did not result in his ouster, while a head coach was hired in Washington and a flurry of interview request permission slips began to blanket every front office in the league. Jones is behind the scenes trying to figure out a way to spin this to an obviously dejected fanbase hoping for a change.
• Jerry Jones knows who he wants to be the Cowboys’ next head coach and is waiting for that person to give him the green light. This would be a more sensible answer if we’d written this a week ago, back when Dan Mullen was still preparing the Florida Gators for the Orange Bowl and Lincoln Riley was still getting the Oklahoma Sooners ready for a beatdown against LSU. Unless scattered reports of Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott making the leap are true, or Jones is making some wild play for the trifecta of Ed Orgeron, Joe Brady and Dave Aranda at LSU (which, honestly, would be an incredible staff; I would hire Aranda to be a head coach in the NFL now), it would be hard to fathom what exactly for what he’s waiting. Bye weeks for top coordinators are coming up (Greg Roman, Don Martindale, Eric Bienemy, Mike McDaniel, etc.), and the window to get in line is closing fast.
• Jones is emotional and knows he’s running out of time but doesn’t care. Maybe he’s worried Garrett would walk right out the door and into a five-year deal with the rival Giants, which is a thought he’s expressed publicly before. Maybe he simply cares for Garrett and can’t bring himself to do it. Maybe there is an element of allowing the dust to settle, believing that good coaches will still be available outside of the frantic window and they’re worth waiting for.
3. How do the Giants recover from a bizarre Dave Gettleman press conference on Tuesday?
I agree with Charles McDonald over at the Daily News, who said that the most alarming part of Dave Gettleman’s long-awaited press conference on Tuesday was that he doesn’t seem to have a firm grasp on how the compensatory pick formula works. While the Giants will likely sign Leonard Williams, it will end up being over market price because Williams has an extraordinary amount of leverage given he was traded for. If they let him go, Gettleman’s claim that part of Williams’s compensation (third- and fifth-round picks) gets canceled out when the compensatory pick comes back isn’t necessarily true. Especially if the Giants plan on spending in free agency.
I wrote this week that the Giants opening is the best opening in football. That is still true. But privately, the organization is going to have to head off some of Gettleman’s public comments during interviews with prospective coaches. I don’t think Gettleman’s presence is significant enough to deter a good coach from taking the job. I do think that at some point, a coach may pull John Mara and Steve Tisch aside and say Hey, can we tone that down a little bit?
I think that Gettleman is used to operating as a general manager in a smaller market. In general, I think he’s more comfortable operating in a conversational, freewheeling style of speech that is fine in almost every setting except for that of embattled football executive facing questions for the first time in six months. If that is the only thing that needs to change significantly, the Giants aren’t in horrible shape.
4. Is Jacksonville making the right decision by sticking by Doug Marrone and Dave Caldwell?
Yes, in short.
I think owner Shad Khan and Tony Khan have done a solid job of getting to know the pulse and rhythm of their organization before uprooting it. Has the team missed on some players? Yes. So has every other general manager in football. Have they found significant value in the late rounds? Yes.
Giving Caldwell and Marrone the chance to operate a little more freely can help stabilize a franchise that has pockets of elite talent and could be good enough to compete in a wide-open division next year. At the least, it shows a willingness to target what the problems in an organization actually are, and not taking the easier step of just firing everyone.
5. Would LSU’s Joe Brady really make the leap to the NFL?
The report that Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale would target LSU passing game coordinator Joe Bradyas his offensive coordinator for a prospective staff doesn’t seem like huge news—but it is. Brady’s work revamping the long-dated Tigers offense has been nothing short of miraculous this season. It’s created the foundation for a Heisman Trophy campaign and National Championship bid.
To go a bit deeper: Brady practices daily against one of the most revered defensive coordinators in football, Aranda. His knowledge base would be attractive to a defensive-minded head coach and would instantly make a middling franchise difficult to contend with on one side of the ball.
Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.
Monday, December 30, 2019
'I feel complete' in Uganda - George the Poet
London-born spoken word artist and podcaster George the Poet reflects on belonging, diaspora and his Ugandan heritage before his first gig in the country.
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New on SI: Matt Rhule’s Most Likely NFL Landing Spot, Josh McDaniels’s Coaching Plan, More Black Monday Notes
Plus, the turning point for Carson Wentz and the Eagles’ offense, a quick preview of Patriots-Titans and an early top-10 mock draft!
If you stick around through our nuggets, I’ll give you guys a very, VERY early mock draft. Deal? Deal. Let’s go …
• I mentioned this on Twitter: the Giants have received feedback that some coaches would be lukewarm on the job based on what’s perceived as an old-school structure gone stale. The thinking there is that too many people have been in their jobs for 10, 20 or even 30 years, and that the organization needs a bit of a reset.
My understanding is that Baylor coach Matt Rhule is among those who feel that way. If he’s going to land back where he was assistant offensive line coach in 2012, there’ll have to be some changes in how things are set up.
• As we mentioned this morning, expect Rhule to be interviewed by least three places (New York, Dallas, Carolina), and expect that he’ll be very measured in his approach after what he went through last year. There’s no way he’s going to a place that isn’t aligned with him philosophically or tries to impose staff on him. He’s a natural fit in New York, and my feeling is they would be the most likely to land him.
• The Browns’ head coaching search could be similar to the Giants’—the way the franchise is set up could look different after the team hires a new coach. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has long been a favorite of the Haslams. He didn’t even get an interview last year in large part because GM John Dorsey led much of the search—and there was a belief that Dorsey was leery about hiring a head coach coming from a place where the coach is king (especially after his experience with Andy Reid in Kansas City, and what happened with McDaniels and Dorsey’s close friend, Chris Ballard, in Indianapolis). So if the Haslams choose McDaniels? It’s fair to say Dorsey would become a figure to watch.
• If you don’t believe McDaniels is ready for a head coaching job, look no further than the detailed plan he has for staffing. Redskins offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell is on his plan, along with Colts secondary coach Jonathan Gannon, who coached in Indianapolis the last two years because he was on McDaniels’s Ohio-heavy Colts staff list. To get the Cleveland native Gannon this time around, McDaniels would, presumably, have to make him defensive coordinator.
I think McDaniels would take either the Cleveland job or the Carolina job, if things are structured right.
• O’Connell has become an interesting figure. Incoming coach Ron Rivera could keep him in D.C.—he’s under contract and has a great rapport with 22-year-old quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Or he could wind up on McDaniels’ staff (sources say he’s on the Patriots OC’s staff list). The 34-year-old O’Connell is regarded as a future head coach, with great potential as a developer of quarterbacks and as a play-caller. McDaniels coached O’Connell as a player in 2008, his rookie year in New England.
• Dolphins offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea was let go, and I’m told that part of it was Brian Flores’s desire to move away from his Patriot roots on that side of the ball. Why does that make sense? My theory is that since Miami’s going to be really young the next couple years, running a scheme with the complexity of New England’s might be tough on the players developmentally. Which is why it wouldn’t surprise me if we see some more college ideas infused into what Miami is doing.
• A leftover from my conversation with Carson Wentz on Sunday night—I asked if the obvious turning point for the offense, halftime of the Week 14 game against the Giants in the rain, was the actual turning point. His answer:
“Everyone's asked that, and it's hard to kind of put your finger on one thing. I think the tempo offense helped, I think Coach [Doug Pederson] was dialed in with play calls. But at the same time, we just weren't executing in the first half. We knew we were just missing a lot of things and if we could just execute them at a higher level we'd be in good shape. And guys kept answering the bell and for me, it was just now or never to just, ‘Hey, trust whoever it is out there to make a play,’ and guys responded well and it's been fun.”
Like I said before, I believe Wentz’s ability to lift guys like Greg Ward up, which is in part due to the trust he’s referencing, is the Eagles QB taking the next step in his development. Which is huge for the whole franchise.
• The Titans are an interesting matchup for the Patriots, as New England prepares for its first wild-card game in a decade. There’s Mike Vrabel there, of course, who played for Bill Belichick from 2001-08. There’s defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who was Belichick’s defensive coordinator from 2006-09, and was a part of a Baltimore staff that won in Foxboro in the playoffs. There’s quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who was in the division for seven years. There’s former Patriots Logan Ryan, Dion Lewis and Malcolm Butler (though Butler’s on IR). And there’s GM Jon Robinson, who was Belichick’s college scouting director for eight years. Add that to the fact that Vrabel’s Titans blew up the Patriots 34-10 in Nashville last year, and Saturday night should be compelling.
• Seattle staffers spoke exceedingly highly of rookie linebacker Cody Barton in the spring and summer. I even had one compare his weekend at rookie minicamp to Russell Wilson’s in 2012, as far as having a young guy jump out right away. Well, now we get to see it. With veteran Mychal Kendricks down, Barton becomes the Seahawks’ strongside linebacker and will start for them against the Vikings on Sunday.
• Now, with the top 20 picks of the NFL draft set, something to get you ready for draft season …
1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
2. Washington Redskins: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
3. Detroit Lions: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
4. New York Giants: Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State
5. Miami Dolphins: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
6. Los Angeles Chargers: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
7. Carolina Panthers: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
8. Arizona Cardinals: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
10. Cleveland Browns: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.
2019 in news: The alternative end-of-the-year awards
From the ridiculous to the more ridiculous, the weird stories that caught the eye this year.
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Citizenship Act protests: Why fear has gripped Muslims in this Indian state
The Muslim community in Uttar Pradesh is living in fear after a new citizenship law came into effect.
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China internet: Top talking points of 2019 and how they evaded the censors
From rebellious numbers to state-backed trends, China's internet was a noisy place in 2019.
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Africa's year in pictures 2019
A selection of the best photos from across Africa this year.
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Tech 2019: Our biggest technology stories
Social media scandals dominate the list of the most-read news stories by the Tech desk this year.
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'Man on the Moon' moment - the year's big breakthroughs
The year of treating the untreatable: 2019 breakthroughs that could transform medicine.
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FOX NEWS: Masih Alinejad speaks out against Iran's crackdown on protesters
Masih Alinejad speaks out against Iran's crackdown on protesters
'The Wind in My Hair' author Masih Alinejad weighs in on tensions in Iran.
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Huawei: 'Survival will be our priority' in 2020
The firm admits life will be "difficult" after the Trump administration banned the firm in the US.
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UK and US considered Nigeria naval blockade over Saro-Wiwa execution
The UK and US considered an oil embargo after activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was hanged, document reveals.
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The digital links of 2019's global protests
Protests in Hong Kong, Chile and the Middle East all shared an online presence which helped connect the movements.
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New on SI: Ranking the Current NFL Head Coach Job Openings
If you were a potential NFL head coach looking for your next place of employment, how would you pick between the situations that are currently vacant?
For the third time since 2016, Giants owner John Mara has stepped to the lectern and answered questions about the future of the franchise at a major decision point.
The team’s divorce with Tom Coughlin was followed by the
in-season dismissal of Ben McAdoo and long-time general manager Jerry Reese. Then came Monday, when Mara announced that he would be letting head coach Pat Shurmur go and retaining general manager Dave Gettleman.It has been a turbulent finale to a decade that began with such promise (and a stunning victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI that seemed to breathe new life into the Coughlin regime). At each turn, there seems to be a special kind of animus reserved for Mara, as if he has willed the team to this moment. On Monday especially, he continued to combat the negative effects of his notorious loyalty to the bones of the staff he inherited years ago.
But after taking a quick look around the NFL at the other job openings, it’s hard not to wonder if we’re all not suffering from a lack of perspective. Assuming that Dallas tests the coaching market, joining Washington, Carolina, the Giants and Cleveland, how many situations actually seem better than what the Giants have to offer right now?
How bad—again, in perspective—is Mara’s desire to keep the franchise somewhat tethered to its glory years compared to the pitfalls that accompany the other openings?
Here’s an unofficial ranking of the best jobs of 2019, including Dallas. We’ll update the list should any surprise vacancies surface. The goal is to explore what a coach interviewing for a job might be thinking and how they might compare one landscape to the next…
1. N.Y. Giants
A coach’s biggest issue with coming to the Giants will be working with a general manager that seems proudly dated in his thinking, who isn’t necessarily fleet of foot on draft day and who allows some aged scouting tropes to impact his decision-making in free agency.
The counter to that? The Giants have typically been a forward-thinking franchise despite the dusty perception. While Tom Coughlin had the reputation as a temperamental old boomer, the Giants were one of the first teams publicly tied with the analytics produced by Pro Fotball Focus in the early 2010s. Coughlin was one of the first coaches to test GPS monitoring at practice. The team revamped their diet, nutrition and exercise programs several times in that span. All of those people did not disappear organizationally and could potentially counterweight Gettleman’s instinctual style.
I also wonder whether a coach could make something of the roster in their first season and, given that Gettleman will soon turn 69, slowly earn a slice of the pie in terms of the roster building process. Mara said on Monday that he was open to various non-traditional power structures depending on the coach (which, again, he may have to promise at the outset anyway). Adam Schefter also reported Monday that if a new head coach was that passionate about front office changes, they don’t seem entirely out of the realm of possibility.
Here are the pros: A stable franchise with a young, ascending player at quarterback. A star at running back. A few cost-controlled assets that can produce at skill positions on offense. And … about $70 million to spend in free agency next year.
2. Carolina
The obvious detractor to taking this job is uncertainty at the quarterback position and a very, very competitive division with three other established head coaches. Will Cam Newton be back and healthy? Otherwise, Carolina returns a decent supporting cast and will have a navigable amount of cap space (while it’s in the bottom third of the league, it’s theoretically enough to chase one or two free agents that could be central to a coach’s scheme).
The benefits? A new owner who wants to empower and legitimize his first hire, which tends to lead to more patience. The Carolina market isn’t daunting for a first-time football coach and an in-house push for a more fundamental understanding and implementation of analytics will only help the kind of coach who is willing to delegate.
3. Dallas
I’m slightly less bullish on this job than others but could be talked into moving them up a spot. Here’s the fear: if Jerry Jones is this smitten with Jason Garrett, will that impact the lens with which he views his next head coach? It could go one of two ways: Either Jones’s compassion for Garrett is a draw, signaling that the Cowboys simply treat all of their coaches this way … or it’s akin to being the dreaded rebound prospect for someone who just got out of a very serious long-term relationship.
From a roster standpoint, the Cowboys were built to win in 2019. A new head coach might find that the Ezekiel Elliott contract becomes more difficult to grapple with by the season. A resurgent Robert Quinn, Amari Cooper, Sean Lee and Byron Jones will all hit the open market and, theoretically, most of the team’s cap space will either be tied up on the franchise tag with Dak Prescott or a long-term deal to secure the quarterback.
With that in mind, there is immediate pressure on a new coach to win for an owner who will grow increasingly impatient with each season that passes.
4. Cleveland
They would be in last place in almost any other circumstance, though the one thing saving the Browns is a less-recent example of ownership meddling in draft decisions.
Cleveland has not had a coach for longer than two-and-a-half seasons since the Haslam family arrived in 2012. They have a top-heavy roster full of in-prime veterans who carry with them the expectation of winning right away (or, they’ll make it known their preference to play elsewhere). The offensive line needs serious repair. The success or failure of the franchise quarterback going into his pivotal third year will have a serious impact on job security.
I’ll be careful here not to label Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry with a broad brush, but this is a nucleolus of extremely talented people who will require someone with cachet and the ability to have immediate success. Someone who can get them the ball. Someone who can wrangle them during difficult times in a way that Tom Coughlin, Adam Gase, Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur and Hue Jackson were not in the past.
There have also been reported instances of opinion clashes between the team’s director of strategy and director of personnel as to the direction of the franchise. The job will be unattractive until someone makes it as much, which could be a draw for a big-name head coach with Super Bowl credentials who believes they can spearhead a legendary turnaround.
5. Washington
While all indications are that Daniel Snyder is doing the right things this time around, there is no track record of sustained harmony that he can point to. He was reportedly involved in the drafting of Dwayne Haskins. He recently told him not to play after an injury. Any candidate is going to need to possess a certain amount of trust that Snyder will ultimately recede into the owner’s box and let he or she run the team as they see fit.
But again, there is really no sustained track record of this.
Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.
Australia: Volunteer firefighter killed by 'freakish' wind
There are also concerns in Australia that "extraordinary fire behaviour" will increase the flames.
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FOX NEWS: Miami house fire traps children inside, at least 3 killed
Miami house fire traps children inside, at least 3 killed
At least three children are dead after being trapped in a house fire in Miami late Monday morning, according to reports.
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FOX NEWS: Religious groups attacked in Hanukkah stabbing and Texas church shooting
Religious groups attacked in Hanukkah stabbing and Texas church shooting
Hate crime increase across the country; reaction and analysis from the 'Special Report' all-star panel.
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FOX NEWS: Texas church member who shot gunman says he's 'not a hero'
Texas church member who shot gunman says he's 'not a hero'
West Freeway church members react to deadly shooting; Jeff Paul reports from Texas.
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FOX NEWS: President Trump condemns recent attacks on Jewish communities
President Trump condemns recent attacks on Jewish communities
Pompeo says fighting religious persecution is a priority; Gillian Turner reports.
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FOX NEWS: Suspect in Hanukkah stabbing attack had journal with anti-Semitic references
Suspect in Hanukkah stabbing attack had journal with anti-Semitic references
Anti-Semitic hate crimes spike in New York; Jacqui Heinrich reports.
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FOX NEWS: Pending home sales rise 1.2 percent in November
Pending home sales rise 1.2 percent in November
Home sales rebound from October decline; Fox Biz Flash: 12/30.
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FOX NEWS: Armed parishioner kills gunman at Texas church
Armed parishioner kills gunman at Texas church
Good guy with a gun praised for stopping shooting; reaction and analysis on 'The Five.'
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FOX NEWS: Ohio doctor charged with fentanyl-overdose murders of 25 patients sues hospital, claiming defamation
Ohio doctor charged with fentanyl-overdose murders of 25 patients sues hospital, claiming defamation
A critical-care doctor in Ohio accused of ordering overdoses of the opioid painkiller fentanyl in the deaths of 25 hospital patients has sued his former employer for defamation, according to a report.
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FOX NEWS: Ohio boy, 3, all smiles after trooper finds his lost toy on turnpike
Ohio boy, 3, all smiles after trooper finds his lost toy on turnpike
A state trooper saved the day for a 3-year-old boy whose favorite toy "booboo" flew out of his hands on the Ohio Turnpike, leaving him in tears.
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Sunday, December 29, 2019
Kim Jong-un calls for 'positive and offensive' security policy
The North Korean leader was speaking to senior party officials at a meeting in Pyongyang.
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Gay in Nigeria: 'Everybody sees me as an abomination'
Five years on from Nigeria's Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, discrimination seems to have worsened.
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FOX NEWS: Winter storm may hamper post-holiday travel
Winter storm may hamper post-holiday travel
Accuweather meteorologist Lauren Rainson has your forecast.
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FOX NEWS: National forecast for Sunday, December 29
National forecast for Sunday, December 29
Rick Reichmuth has your FoxCast.
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New on SI: NFL Playoff Picture: How We Got Here, Early Analysis of Upcoming Matchups
After plenty of action in Week 17, both expected (an Eagles win) and unexpected (a Dolphins win?!), the NFL playoff slate is one game away from being set. How did this all unfold?
An NFL season is hard to predict, but whether it is 2019 or ’29, one constant will hold true: Any given year hinges on the wild vacillations of Ryan Fitzpatrick. He is the gatekeeper, a niche component of the chaos theory, creating a perpetual state of disorder.
The Patriots found that out the hard way, losing a
27-24 stunner at home to the going-nowhere Dolphins thanks to a late touchdown drive from the freewheeling, lushly bearded quarterback. This momentary blip, combined with Chiefs’ 31-21 win over the Chargers, cost New England a first-round bye and the No. 2 seed. It will be the first time in a decade that the Patriots will be forced to pluck their way through the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs.Elsewhere, the playoff field took shape close to the way we thought it would. The Eagles gutted out an ugly, rain-soaked victory over the Giants with a handful of practice squad players, due to injuries. Philadelphia enters the playoffs the way they have grown accustomed to: On the heels of a thrilling, underdog narrative that their fans will never fully appreciate as they gear themselves up to rip members of the roster whom they have only learned about a week ago.
The Titans clung to the final spot thanks, in part, to some gutsy throws by Ryan Tannehill and some incredible receiver play by A.J. Brown, an emerging star worth keeping an eye on in the playoffs (going against the Texans’ second stringers helps, too). Derrick Henry—who has had 100-yard games in five of his last six weeks, including a 188-yard game against the Chiefs, a 159-yard game against the Jaguars and a 149-yard game against the Colts—went for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns, securing the 2019 rushing title in the process. In a playoff field lacking a bit in marquee running back names (Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook, Aaron Jones and Mark Ingram notwithstanding), he could be one of the biggest singular forces to be reckoned with.
All of a sudden, a Patriots team that failed to defeat one former Bill Belichick disciple at season’s end, now faces another in Mike Vrabel in the wild-card round. The Titans have earned a reputation as aggressively middling over the last few years, but who is signing up to face them right now in the playoffs?
Here’s a look at the playoff slate as it stands right now. We’ll update directly following a consequential 49ers-Seahawks tilt on Sunday Night Football…
AFC
1. Baltimore Ravens (BYE)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (BYE)
3. New England Patriots vs. 6. Tennessee Titans
4. Houston Texans vs. 5. Buffalo Bills
NFC
1. San Francisco 49ers (BYE)
2. Green Bay Packers (BYE)
3. New Orleans Saints vs. 6. Minnesota Vikings
4. Philadelphia Eagles vs. 5. Seattle Seahawks
Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.
Autism diagnosis: 'I want 40 years of my life back'
People diagnosed with autism in adulthood describe growing up believing they were "bad" or "alien".
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The Syrian town with more cats than people
The few remaining inhabitants of a bombed-out Syrian town take comfort from hundreds, perhaps thousands, of cats.
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The best space images of 2019
With some blockbuster space missions underway, 2019 saw some amazing images beamed back to Earth.
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'We can give a lot of the power back to the fans'
How two friends created an online storytelling platform with more than 80 million global users.
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Hunting the missing millions from collapsed cryptocurrency
On the trail of almost half a billion dollars lost when the Wex exchange collapsed in 2018.
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Medieval combat: A Chinese knight fights for his dream
A Chinese teacher with a passion for medieval combat hopes to take his hobby to the next level.
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FOX NEWS: Rep. John Lewis diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer
Rep. John Lewis diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer
Georgia Rep. John Lewis, a longtime congressman and civil rights leader, announced Sunday he's undergoing treatment for stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
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FOX NEWS: Karl Rove offers a breakdown of the 2020 Democratic primary field
Karl Rove offers a breakdown of the 2020 Democratic primary field
Rove on what's to come for Biden, Warren in the coming year.
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FOX NEWS: President Trump’s impact on the black community
President Trump’s impact on the black community
Reaction and analysis from Rush Limbaugh senior producer James Golden and Fox News contributor Rich Fowler.
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FOX NEWS: After string of anti-Semitic attacks, de Blasio laments hatred 'emanating from Washington'
After string of anti-Semitic attacks, de Blasio laments hatred 'emanating from Washington'
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio blames an "atmosphere of hate" for the recent increase in anti-Semitic attacks in his city and the surrounding areas, but in a Fox News interview, he passed at least some of the blame to the nation's capital.
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FOX NEWS: Sunday Morning Futures year in review: Investigations into origins of the Trump-Russia probe
Sunday Morning Futures year in review: Investigations into origins of the Trump-Russia probe
The year comes to a close with stunning revelations about America’s intelligence agencies, criminal activity and abuse of FISA court by individuals at the top of the FBI and CIA.
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FOX NEWS: Sen. Grassley on the impeachment trial impacting Democratic senators running for president
Sen. Grassley on the impeachment trial impacting Democratic senators running for president
Senator Chuck Grassley reacts to the Senate preparing for President Trump’s impeachment trial.
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FOX NEWS: Sen. Kennedy says 'there are no rules' when it comes to impeachment proceedings
Sen. Kennedy says 'there are no rules' when it comes to impeachment proceedings
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., wouldn’t choose sides on Sunday when questioned about concerns over Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s intention to coordinate with the White House as President Trump’s impeachment trial looms.
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FOX NEWS: Media frozen by impeachment
Media frozen by impeachment
Pundits debate Pelosi's delaying tactics.
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FOX NEWS: Warren's wine-filled fundraisers
Warren's wine-filled fundraisers
Detailed by paper after she slammed Buttigieg.
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New on SI: 2020 NFL Draft Order: Bengals On the Clock With No. 1 Pick
Here's the 2020 NFL draft order for the first 20 picks of this year's event.
The NFL's regular season wrapped up on Sunday meaning that the top 20 picks of the 2020 NFL draft have been set. The order of the remaining 12 picks of the first round will be slotted based on playoff performance.
Cincinnati entered Week 17 having already clinched the No. 1 pick in the draft, but a number of changes occurred on Sunday.Here's the NFL draft order prior to the postseason results:
- Cincinnati (2-14)
- Washington (3-13)
- Detroit (3-12-1)
- NY Giants (4-12)
- Miami (5-11)
- LA Chargers (5-11)
- Carolina (5-11)
- Arizona (5-10-1)
- Jacksonville (6-10)
- Cleveland (6-10)
- NY Jets (7-9)
- Oakland (7-9)
- Indianapolis (7-9)
- Tampa Bay (7-9)
- Denver (7-9)
- Atlanta (7-9)
- Cowboys (8-8)
- Pittsburgh (to Miami) (8-8)
- Chicago (to Oakland) (8-8)
- LA Rams (to Jacksonville (9-7)
New on SI: Browns Fire Freddie Kitchens After Disappointing Season
The Browns entered the 2019 season considered to be potential Super Bowl contenders, but will instead be looking for a new head coach after Freddie Kitchens' dismissal.
The Browns entered the 2019 season considered to be
among potential Super Bowl contenders. But after a 6-10 season, littered with inconsistent play and plenty of bad press, head coach Freddie Kitchens has been fired, the team announced Sunday."I would like to thank Freddie for his dedication and efforts this past season," general manager John Dorsey said in a statement. "We are disappointed in our results and feel a change is necessary. Freddie is a good man and good football coach. We wish he and his family nothing but success."
Kitchens was in his first full season as the Browns' head coach after being promoted this past offseason.
On the field this year, the Browns' offense was in the bottom third of the league and second-year QB Baker Mayfield failed to develop the way that many expected.
Kitchens and his team also found themselves in the news throughout the year, for all the wrong reasons. Under the rookie head coach's watch, DE Myles Garrett was suspended indefinitely for striking Steelers QB Mason Rudolph with Rudolph's helmet. The coach was later spotted wearing a "Pittsburgh Started It" in the weeks following the incident. Safety Tahir Whitehead was released after directing death threats at fans on Twitter following a loss, reports surfaced that Odell Beckham Jr. was dealing with a "painful sports hernia injury since training camp and Mayfield got into a spat with a local reporter, among other notable moments.
After the team's Week 16 loss to the Ravens which eliminated Cleveland from playoff contention, Kitchens insisted that the Browns were on their way to becoming consistent winners.
"We’re really close, and sometimes that gets lost in the shuffle," he said. "But we know how close we are. Our players understand how close we are. Our players understand how they could do better. Coaches understand how they could do better, and whenever we get those things flipped, it will change."
But that change will not occur under Kitchens' watch.
After falling 33-23 to the Bengals in Week 17, the Browns will now look to hire their eighth full-time coach since 2008.
FOX NEWS: Single mom drops over 150 pounds after dealing with brutal insults
Single mom drops over 150 pounds after dealing with brutal insults
After suffering through cruel comments about her weight, a young mom decided to take action.
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Australia fires: Thousands told to evacuate in Victoria
Residents and holidaymakers in a major tourist destination in Victoria are told to leave by Monday.
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FOX NEWS: 5 of 2019's most talked-about outfits: From Kim Kardashian's Met Gala gown to Brooks Nader's sheer dress
5 of 2019's most talked-about outfits: From Kim Kardashian's Met Gala gown to Brooks Nader's sheer dress
2019 has been quite the year for fashion.
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Samoa lifts state of emergency over measles epidemic
A mass vaccination drive was put in place as the disease spread and killed 81 people.
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FOX NEWS: Fox's new dating series is ready to take center stage
Fox's new dating series is ready to take center stage
'Flirty Dancing,' hosted by Jenna Dewan, puts a spin on dating shows by bringing blind dates to the dance floor.
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FOX NEWS: Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines for Dec. 29
Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines for Dec. 29
Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines for Dec. 29 are here. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment.
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'World's oldest rhino' Fausta dies in Tanzania aged 57
Fausta, a female eastern black rhino, lived in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
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Saturday, December 28, 2019
Trump faces criticism after sharing tweet naming alleged whistleblower
The president retweets a post naming the alleged whistleblower whose complaint led to his impeachment.
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Monsey stabbing: Several wounded at home of New York rabbi
Police say five people were stabbed when an attacker entered the home during a Hanukkah party.
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New on SI: Report: Redskins Remove Bruce Allen From Head of Football Operations Role
Washington has more than 100 losses and no playoff victories since Bruce Allen was hired as GM in 2009.
Bruce Allen was hired as the Redskins' GM during the 2009 season. After 10 years, enough is apparently enough.
Allen will no longer be running the team's football operations, according to JP Finlay of
NBC Sports. ESPN's John Keim later confirmed the news. According to ESPN, however, it is possible Allen will continue as the Redskins' president and help owner Dan Snyder try to get a new stadium built. His future role is not official yet and remains "somewhat unsettled."In the 10 years since Allen was hired, Washington has more than 100 losses and no playoff victories. The team has fired two head coaches during his tenure and has started more than 10 different quarterbacks.
When Allen joined the team, he was the first person hired by owner Dan Snyder to hold the GM title, a notable milestone after a decade of various front office arrangements that usually center around Snyder and Snyder's friend, Vinny Cerrato. He has been the primary decision maker in Washington's football decisions since the firing of Mike Shanahan in 2013.
The team will now look for a new person to head up the organization's football operations.
Despite rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins showing positive flashes at times, the 2019 season was largely one full of struggles for Washington. Jay Gruden was relieved in early October after the team's 0-5 start, its worst open to a season since 2001. And the team will again be last in the NFC East, finishing with a losing record for the third straight season.
The 3-12 Redskins finish their season on Sunday when it looks to end the Cowboys' year as well. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET.
New on SI: Marvin Jones Jr. Announces Death of Youngest Child
Marlo, the youngest of Marvin Jones Jr.'s five children, died on Friday.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. took to social media to announce his youngest child, Marlo, died on Friday. Marlo was
six months old.Jones wrote a tribute to his son "Marlito" in an Instagram post on Saturday.
"Yesterday the Lord called home a piece of my family’s heart, Marlo," Jones wrote. "It is hard to believe that our little angel, our fighter from day one, our son “Marlito” has unfortunately passed away and is no longer here with us."
The Lions also showed support for Jones and his wife, Jazmyn, in a statement.
Marlo was the youngest of Jones's five children. The wide receiver started his family two weeks after his freshman-year Cal bowl game, when Marvin Jones III, now 10 years old, was born. After Marlo was introduced to the world earlier this year, Jones tweeted that the “Jones Starting 5 is complete!”
Jones, who is on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury earlier this month, concluded his announcement about Marlo with a message for his late son.
"We didn’t get to see you run with your brothers and sister, you ran with them with your eyes everyday," Jones said. "We know that everything that We do from here on out will be with you. Every step we take, you will be with us. Whenever we have a bad day, We will think of your smile. We miss you already buddy and will forever love you. Rest peacefully our sweet baby boy. You have gained your wings."
Why international rock stars are flocking to India
U2, who recently performed in Mumbai, are one among many bands lining up to tour India.
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How crowds toppled communism's house of cards in 1989
The BBC's John Simpson recalls witnessing the communist bloc's collapse in three revolutions.
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Why Canada's cannabis bubble burst
Justin Trudeau legalised cannabis in Canada. So why are people still breaking the law?
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China and Twitter: The year Chinese diplomacy went social
This year saw a marked changed in tone from China, as more diplomats began using Twitter.
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FOX NEWS: National forecast for Saturday, December 28
National forecast for Saturday, December 28
Rick Reichmuth has your FoxCast.
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‘Gardening gives me a lot of peace’
Joanna is an urban gardener trying to reconnect with nature in Singapore.
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FOX NEWS: Eric Shawn: Attacks on Christians increase around the globe
Eric Shawn: Attacks on Christians increase around the globe
Opendoorsusa.org: 245 million persecuted, 4,136 killed because of their faith.
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FOX NEWS: Egypt minibus crash kills 22, authorities say
Egypt minibus crash kills 22, authorities say
A highway accident killed at least 22 people on Saturday after a truck collided with a minibus in Port Said, Egypt, about 125 miles north of the country's capital, Cairo.
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