Head Start chief going?
Patsy Gardner says she didn't resign her post
By Andy Paras , Glenn Smith
Updated 10:55 a.m., July 29, 2008
Update: Gardner resigns
Gardner's resignation accepted
Patsy Gardner has resigned from her position as executive director of the Berkeley Dorchester Counties Economic Development Corporation.
Levy Berry, chairman of the board of directors, said in a statement Tuesday that the board accepted the resignation, effective today, following a meeting Monday night.
The board appointed Betty B. Harrison as the interim director.
Gardner
MONCKS CORNER — Tensions around the local Head Start program intensified Monday with conflicting reports that the executive director has stepped down.
Staff members said Monday that they heard reports of Patsy Gardner's departure, and Gov. Mark Sanford's office said it too had been informed she had resigned.
But Gardner told The Post and Courier that she did not resign.
Gardner did not return calls later Monday to address the growing number of conflicting reports.
Berkeley-Dorchester Counties Economic Development Corp. Chairman Levy Berry declined to comment on the reported resignation, citing "personnel" concerns.
"I can't talk about that right now," he said.
He referred questions to Head Start's Alabama-based attorney, who could not be reached for comment.
The reported resignation comes as state and federal officials are examining Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Head Start's funding and expenditures in the 2008 fiscal year following an audit.
Sanford press secretary Joel Sawyer has said there were a number of findings in the audit that prompted the review.
Sawyer said Monday that the audit has not been presented to the board yet, but that they had heard Gardner resigned. "We have heard that but we have not received any official notification," he said.
The ongoing scrutiny has soured multiple staff members who believe the program has been hurt by poor spending.
Johnethel Brown said she has been with the program for 42 years and now serves as director of the Head Start center. She said the staff and the parents are excellent, but the program has been hampered by poor management.
Brown said Gardner and the executive staff have spent too much money attending training seminars with their families in places such as Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island while teachers have not received a cost-of-living pay increase.
"The people in the office are just spending money on the wrong things," Brown said. "The children are just not getting the services."
Brown said at least 10 staff members have departed since spring, including several secretaries, a human resources worker and two or three bookkeepers. Brown said Head Start's Policy Council, which comprises parents and community members, plans to meet tonight and discuss the situation.
Berkeley-Dorchester Counties Economic Development Corp. runs the $12 million local Head Start program, which serves about 1,650 children in the tri-county area. Head Start provides education, health, nutrition and parent-involvement services for low-income children.
This is not the first time the early childhood program has come under scrutiny.
A rift between the Economic Development Corp. and the Policy Council nearly cost the agency its federal Head Start funding this year.
The council complained that it was being kept out of the loop on spending matters, and its members refused to sign off on the budget until just before a Jan. 31 deadline imposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which runs the program on a federal level.
The Health and Human Services Department briefly yanked its contract with Economic Development Corp. in early 2006, citing safety problems, crowded classrooms and playgrounds and lack of communication with parents.
The local agency said it corrected all concerns, and by November 2006 was allowed to keep receiving federal money. Recent federal reviews have generally been positive.
Reach Andy Paras at 745-5891 or aparas@postandcourier.com. Reach Glenn Smith at gsmith@postandcourier.com or 937-5556.
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captivated (anonymous) says...
How can you take your family to a training seminar? The lack of accountability in management and the executive staff is so obvious, Ray Charles could see it. Patsy should not only be fired, but also made to repay some of what she thought was "perks".
July 29, 2008 at 8 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ysillyme (anonymous) says...
Thomas1776 and coldbeer must have slept in or maybe together so I'll give it a shot. Has their ever been a social program, tax funded, and run by a minority that has worked? An annual audit might reveal why Berkley Co. Head Start buses refuel in CHARLESTON CO. at Millers Exxon Rte#17 which typically has the highest fuel prices around and yup; their black owned and operated.
July 29, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
I attended an education training seminar in Myrtle Beach in April. Well, I didn't actually go to the seminar, I was a guest of two educators who went there for five nights at two $150 per night Kingston Plantation suites. They were married friends staying in different suites and I had to stay in one of the extra rooms in the guy's beautiful three bedroom suite. I got there at 1 p.m. Saturday and left at 6 p.m. Sunday. There were a few hundred other educators too. The two I was with saved their restaurant receipts for reimbursement and I am sure they saved their gas receipts. Man what a job working for education! Spend, spend, spend!
July 29, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
Needless to say but the Kingston Plantation suites were taken care of by the education system too.
July 29, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RightisrightWrongiswrong (anonymous) says...
Let's all be realistic here. Patsy has been giving herself perks for a few years along with giving perks to others. Patsy is not the only one with dirty hands. Pasty is the ring leader but she has also had followers.
The state and federal government have been performing required audits. The way Pasty has been able to blunder through prior audits with success was by maintaining constant confusion in her finance department. During the month of July 2008 she terminated two key finance department employees without justifiable cause.
July 29, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
Think while on travel for any government there is something called prediem which must be followed. I think a audit is in order and all perks that are found should be repayed by these people. I think some of this would be criminal.
July 29, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jrickie4u (anonymous) says...
Now we have alot to say, where have you all been the past years. Stop being the judge in the newpaper and let the system handle the system. And far the racial comments stop showing the world your IQ scores. The PC didn't stop until they got Rusty, so I guess it Patsy turn.
July 29, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ln1959 (anonymous) says...
Early:
If it was a white woman, would you have blamed Affirmative action. I mean it help them out also.
July 29, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ysillyme (anonymous) says...
jrick~
What's racist about calling a spade a spade? Thats our tax money being pizzed away. If it walks and quack like a duck, it must be a minority in charge of a social program funded by .............not Millers Exxon on highway 17 with out of sight fuel prices.
July 29, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
early: I'm getting tired of your minority/affirmative action bashing!
Get over your animosity towards people of color getting/having more than you!
I didn't get my job through AA, my daughters didn't get into USC or Governor's school because of AA. My aunts either near or at six figures because they worked hard, even though they went segregated schools/colleges. I'm sick and tired of white people complaining about AA every time someone of color does something untoward in the business community!
Now if what Ms. Brown says is true then the ENTIRE management should be fired! This has nothing to do with affirmative action. It has everything to do with ethics. What was the excuse when executives at Enron pillaged pension funds for their lavish lifestyles? What was the excuse when Ms. Fiorini of HP was sacked because of questionable practices? Other examples:
*Fred Schiff (Bristol Meyers): inflating sales
*Sanford Weill (Citigroup): helped Enron set up sham companies
*Cal Turner (Dollar General): $162M to settle shareholder suits over accounting missteps.
*Martha Stewart: lying to SEC
What program did these white people receive their high level corporate positions through? The list goes on and on. If you are going to complain about corporate/educational/government fraud, please do so without playing the race card.
Whenever our tax dollars are being spent there HAS to be a more stringent oversight policy. There are two reasons so many people end up abusing the system. One is failure to develop TRUE oversight and two, failure to TRULY prosecute/punish the abusers.
There are many governmental programs that could do a world of good if only those placed in a position of trust were truly worthy of it.
I hope this Ms. Gardner if found guilty is so heavily prosecuted and is punished to the fullest extent of the law. Perhaps this entire situation could be a wake up call to others who wish to abuse the system.
July 29, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RightisrightWrongiswrong (anonymous) says...
eyfigueroa THANK YOU for your last sentence about Pasty!!!
And come on 'The board appointed Betty B. Harrison as the interim director.' Betty is a LOVELY and WONDERFUL lady and I don't believe her hands are dirty but her ability to manage is highly questionable.
The only way to clean up the mess at BDCEDC is to shut her down and redistribute the funds to other agencies that are actually working for the better of the less fortunate!
July 29, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
We ALL need to take a moment of silence and thank the REAL heroes of this article !! It was Mike Rose and "WILD BILL" COLLINS...!! That's right ...ever since that DRUNK (RANDY SCOTT) was busted; nothing has been the SAME up there in the BD Triangle. It must have been all of the "Behind the Scenes" sleuthing those two have been doing to put a "Shine" on everything UP there !!! Maybe they are displaying TEAMWORK and actually trying to get some WORK done before they take OFFICE!!
IF YOU ALL BELIEVE THAT...I HAVE SOME PROPERTY IN ALABAMA FOR SALE!!!
WHAT?? In the BLUE BLAZES is going on in OUR STATE???
WE ...YES WE ! Have to have a LAWYER FROM ALABAMA!! HOLY CRIMSON TIDE...BAT MAN!! I think we need to send some people back to "GREENBOW ALABAMA" !!! (FIST POUNDS POUNDS POUNDS!!!)
I'm sure that the HEADSTART Program has some positive points; but this is conduct UNBECOMING a South Carolinian? Everyone makes a mistake; BUT, ...REPEATEDLY?!!
LETs be sensible TOO..!! Depending on cicumstances that JUDGE JEAN "JUDY" TOAL deems appropriate; lets not get the TAXPAYER having to fork out excessive dollars to fund LAWYERS to clean the laundry! Let's hope people will be level headed. The last thing we need is a LAWYER fest over motel receipts and IPODS!!!
Will the real SLIM-SHADY please stand UP and give a RAP for the taxpayer??!!
I had a public education but 12 Million for approx 1700 kids?? Uh ..OH!!
July 29, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
ysillyme: "Has their ever been a social program, tax funded, and run by a minority that has worked?"
Ok, I'll bite.
What tax-funded social program ran by whites has worked?
If you are man enough to plainly state that Blacks are incompetent, then by all means be man enough to not only back up your assertion, but give me VALID examples that the converse is true.
Not only do I NOT make blankets statements about an ENTIRE race, but if I make an assertion I do EVERYTHING in my power to assure that it is based on fact and not conjecture.
I am not always correct, and I humbly admit when I'm wrong, but those times are very rare because I don't engage in conjecture, race baiting, stereotyping to begin with.
July 29, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
Patsy Gardner has resigned from her position as executive director of the Berkeley Dorchester Counties Economic Development Corporation
When is her trail scheduled
July 29, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
725gully (anonymous) says...
Before we start pointing fingers at Patsy, lets wait and see how this plays out, someone has to be the scapegoat.
July 29, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
Early: How about an apology for my Indian relatives and SLAUGHTERING hundreds of thousands of them? There will be none because the government will have to admit to the slaughter in order to apologize for it.
"How about an apology to my Jewish relatives which were killed by the Millions in WWII, we should have intervened sooner?" With all due respect to those who were personally affected by the Holocaust, the US should never be the world's police state. I firmly believe that basis of our intervention was just (the attack on Pearl Harbor). Helping the Jews, Catholics, Gypsies and the countless others that were being persecuted was not the paramount reason for our involvement in the war but by far the most moral.
"How about an apology for all my relatives killed in action protecting the freedom of this country?" There is no apology needed for the brave men and women who gave their lives to protect what we hold so dear. They don't need our apologies; they need our reverence and gratitude.
When I stand at the graveside of a fallen soldier/sailor/airman/marine/coastie I don't say 'I'm sorry".
I say thank you. I say that I will not squander the gift you gave me, freedom. I say that you have my deepest admiration and that you are my HERO.
BTW, I'm no fan of the reparations movement or this push for the government to apologize for the wrongs of the past. What's done is done. Yes, my mother was spat on, refused service in stores, made to drink from "colored" water fountains. She endured that much worse. However, she doesn't seek an apology, she demands respect and treatment that any other human being deserves and believe me, the government cannot regulate that.
July 29, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
Zoomru,,
I am glad to see you are a passionate person that seems to care about issues but do you think you can make a simple post without all the theatrics as if you are writing a novel or movie script. I really do think you could get your point across without all the "pounds a fist" stuff. Dude, this is a newspaper comment section, not an audition site for the next great Novelist. I think it distracts from what ever point you are trying to make, which is hard enough to figure out to begin with and makes you kind of silly and less likely to be taken seriously. Just making an observation.
July 29, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
Yes, Early, it had to be affirmative action. There is no way that she could have gotten that position without it being Affirmative Action. She could not have had the skills needed to take on the position and then once in office, like many others started abusing her position. Just maybe!
July 29, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Talk about AUDITS!!
Maybe we need to get Charleston County to do this...
http://www.islandpacket.com/news/loca...
Is this happening here with illegals??
July 29, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Jeff61......
I just try to be myself...but you do make a point!
Thanks
July 29, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kerwin1959 (anonymous) says...
Lots of emoting this a.m.! Granted, it will be interesting to hear what the audit says. The fact that the HR people have started referring all questions to the legal eagles might mean that Miss Patsy was forced to resign and they fear a wrongful termination lawsuit. Unfortunately, you can still fire someone in SC without having to give a reason.
Regardless, it smells like Miss Patsy has had her hand in the cookie jar.
And I wouldn't consider Kingston Plantation or Pawleys Island lavish............Monte Carlo and Dubai are lavish!!
July 29, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
I like and probably argee what your trying say dude,, its just your point gets lost in everything. I tend to quite reading your post mid way down because, well the reasons I gave. Not trying to slam you although it may be sounding
July 29, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Jeff61.....
These officials WE elect have no idea how TORQUED OFF we are? We were one of the origial 13 colonies and we are at the BOTTOM?? I DON'T THINK SO !!!
We work too hard and pay way too MUCH in taxes!
July 29, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
I totally agree with that..It is a very good point and you said it in two sentences LOL...
July 29, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
early: the only thing that is minimal is the amount of information that I've shared about me and my family. So your assertions that my accomplishments are minimal are ludicrous as since you have no idea what I've managed to do in the five decades I've been on this earth.
Of course, you may very well be angry, frustrated and embarrassed at me calling you out and oh so eloquently rebutting and refuting your assertions so I will forgive your ignorance today.
July 29, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
Early: Oh yeah, I'm half Black and half Puerto Rican. Not only am I proud to share those heritages, I in no way disregard one for the other.
Unlike how you may prefer, I do not 'choose' one race over the other. I've embraced both sides of the coin, I've lived in both worlds and I feel qualified and comfortable in speaking about issues regarding both Blacks and Hispanics.
Just as I feel comfortable in speaking about issues regarding women, parenting, motherhood, military service and many other and varied subject matters that I have personal experiences with.
JOIN THE MAINSTREAM? Well Mr. Early, why don't you tell me when I WASN'T in the mainstream? And when did I join it?
BLIND JOB PLACEMENT? I actually agree with you. If anything I believe my last name, gender and skin color has been a hindrance on occasion, especially when I was in the Army. However, instead of crying foul I plowed ahead and found my successes in spite of the hurdles (real or imagined) placed before me.
NEXT!
July 29, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
Eyfig: 3 / Early: 0
July 29, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...
Emotions are high. I was trying to trace how this article became a debate about affirmative action (I thought we had THAT Yesterday), but of course at the mouth of it all is Early, yet again. A woman is accused of some wrongdoing and she resigned from a high profile government job, and somehow this is equated to the evils of affirmative action....how?
Early, I suggest you leave your bitter and ill-informed rants until next week. You must be tired of getting owned on this board by eyfigueroa.
LOL Lovely.
July 29, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Test2007 (anonymous) says...
WHOA NELLY!
EY - Thanks for that. It made my day!
Lovely_One - LOL
July 29, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
ROFLMAO
I just read suec and number1 argument and tip toed in here and LAWRD have mercy
Tempature is rising......
July 29, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
SCdea, Test, and Girley, I am still waiting for a response from him from yesterday! LMAO!
July 29, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
I guess it would be hell to go through life being prejudice against half of ones self.
July 29, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madeaboutit (anonymous) says...
Well! this is the day the lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. My heart goes out to the Gardner family for this tragedy. BUT, SHE DESERVED IT! You have to know how to treat people. Most employees did not get treated right. Children did not get treated right. Sometimes they could not even get supplies for their school. IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE! The Executive Director was all for self. She did not care about other people. Look at the turnover of good employees that BDCEDC had. First of all she should not have been in that position. She did not have the experience. BOARD MEMBERS YOU MADE A BIG MISTAKE!
NOW! MAYBE WE CAN GET A RAISE OR TWO, BECAUSE IT WON'T BE GOING IN HER POCKETS.
July 29, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
jeff61: "I guess it would be hell to go through life being prejudice against half of ones self."
lololol
I'm wiping away tears. I just visualized myself wearing half a Klan uniform and half Black Panther outfit.
I had to pick myself up off of the floor.
Oh No! Here we go:
* Knife in one hand and gun in another
* Blue eyeshadow on my eyes and black eyeliner around the mouth
* cornrows on one half of the head and bottle blond on the other half
* fried plantains and bbq ribs for dinner
* pina colada in one hand and gin & juice in other
* driving a low-rider escalade (horn plays la cucharacha)
* play basketball and baseball VERY well
ahhh, you have to love cultural/racial stereotypes!
July 29, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
MONCKS CORNER - Tensions around the local Head Start program intensified Monday with conflicting reports that the executive director has stepped down.
Tensions is high on this board today too!
July 29, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
magnolia33 (anonymous) says...
Madeaboutit, I was with you and your concern for the children and their lack of supplies until you mentioned wanting a raise.
July 29, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
lovely, test, scdeac, girley: *blush*
I'm in a much better place now. lol
I'm immersed in interesting work and though I take a peek every so often, I'm no longer in the mood to "debate".
Especially with you-know-who.
July 29, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
Eyfig,
That is good to know because we thought we were gonna have to come over there and take your computer away for a little while. But, I thing our dear friend is down and out for now! I love him to death, but I swear sometimes I think he is two people posting under the same screen name.
July 29, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
lovely: I know it's weird. On many subject matters Early and I think quite alike. I guess he has good and bad days and perhaps lashing out at people on an anonymous board like this keeps him from lashing out at others in person. I don't know.
But gurrrrrrl, I had to get a Coke and smile 'cuz he pissed off this woman here today.
July 29, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
I am still blaming the heat and no coldbeer :>(
Ey and Sue have been on a roll today!
July 29, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
LOL @ a coke and a smile. Yeah, sometimes you have to back away from it and collect yourself. I have had to on many occasions.
July 29, 2008 at 3:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reallysad (anonymous) says...
This is a sad story. I am sure that this must be a mistake of some kind. If Mrs. Gardner was Executive Director.. I believe that she was too smart to do anything that would jeopardize her integrity and her leadership. But on the other hand I know 1st hand that folk are under paid at the Headstart program.
July 29, 2008 at 4:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Lovely_ONE........Girleygirl and the REST !!!
WE are going to BLAME the HEAT???
We are going to BACK AWAY and collect OUR SELVES???
We South Carolinians DON'T back away from ANYTHING!! Nothing...ZERO....ZIP...NADA!! WE ARE GOING TO TAKE BACK OUR STATE!!....PERIOD!! WE ARE ADVANCING !!!
WE need to stop nitpicking with each other and LAMBAST the officials that we have elected to represent US!!!
SO...who has oversight? WHO? I'll tell you who...WE DO!
The problem is that there has been NO TRANSPARENCY and our public officials have LET US ALL DOWN!! OUR newspapers are just as guilty!!
You mena to tell me that someone didn't raise eyebrows on the first budget that was presented from the very beginning? how about with subsequent filings?? I SMELL PAYOLA!! I blame all levels of GOVERNMENT!! CITY, COUNTY, STATE...and none OTHER than....you guessed IT! OUR FINE US REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS WHO PORK THIS MONEY BACK TO CERTAIN COFFERS!!! That means YOU ..DEMINT, CLYBURN, GRAHAM, and the LOT!!
When you fine elected officials dole out this PORK...you ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT...buck-a roos!! You hoots are accountable to the taxpayers!! YOU can't tell me that you don't request HOW the money is spent??? YOU DON'T FOOL ME ON THIS!!! As long as you get money coming around the backside to your re-election; you are BLIND ....dingBATS!
THESE ACTIONS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. IT IS CONDUCT UNBECOMING a SOUTH CAROLINIAN !
HANG THEM HIGH...SHAVE THEM DRY...THIS CRAP WILL NOT FLY!
July 29, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
zoomru, I would think that they would have a better eye on the Headstart program here in Berkeley/Charletson/Dorchester after the last fiasco with Rev. Meyers a few years back.
But they didn't learn from that. They just allowed things to continue as they were and not
do or pay attention to the audits that had been done all along.
July 29, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
When I read zooms posts I think of a picket line in front of city hall "HELL NO WE WON'T GO!"
Just kiddin' zoom. You are certainly passionate about the subject matters(s) at hand.
I can relate.
July 29, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RightisrightWrongiswrong (anonymous) says...
reallysad : Honey you need to WAKE UP! Patsy does not tell the truth even when it does not matter. It is really sad for Patsy's precious children but not Pasty.
God is in control and God is good all the time! Her children will survive as well as the Head Start children who will now be able to receive even better services. Julia Ellen Davis is one of the most caring professionals you will ever meet!
July 29, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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