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Sir Ian McKellen Questions Prince Harry's Aptitude and Criticizes the Late Queen
In a candid interview with "The Times", Sir Ian McKellen, the esteemed 85-year-old actor, shared his thoughts on the challenges of royal life, with a particular focus on Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex. McKellen, known for his distinguished career and sharp wit, didn't hold back in expressing his views on the difficulties of existing within the British monarchy. Reflecting on Prince Harry's experiences, McKellen suggested that the Duke might not have been intellectually equipped to navigate the complexities of royal life. "Hats off to anyone who manages to stay sane in that world," he said, before speculating, "As for Harry, he’s probably not bright enough or doesn’t have the right friends to really help himself." Despite his critique, McKellen expressed empathy towards the Prince, emphasizing that he was "most definitely on Harry’s side." McKellen's observations seemed to be influenced by his recent reading of Prince Harry's memoir, *Spare*, which recounts the Duke's personal struggles and revelations. The actor acknowledged the immense pressure faced by members of the royal family, noting that even those who appeared to cope, such as the late Duke of Edinburgh and the current King, seemed to carry deep scars. "The Duke of Edinburgh managed to stay sane in that world, although even he was deeply, deeply eccentric and I suspect deeply unhappy. Same with the present King. He sort of survives, but he is clearly damaged," McKellen reflected. Beyond his commentary on Prince Harry, Sir Ian also shared his personal experiences with the late Queen Elizabeth II, who knighted him in 1991 and awarded him a Companion of Honour medal in 2008 for his contributions to drama and equality. McKellen did not shy away from critiquing the Queen's demeanor during their encounters, describing her as "bloody rude" and speculating that she was "quite mad at the end." Recalling a specific incident, McKellen recounted how the Queen's remarks during a medal ceremony left him feeling dismissed. "When I received a medal for acting, she said, ‘You’ve been doing this for an awfully long time.’ I said, ‘Well, not as long as you.’ I got a royal smile for that, but then she said, ‘Does anyone still actually go to the theatre?’ That’s bloody rude when you’re giving someone a medal for acting. It meant, ‘Does anyone care a f--- about you because I don’t. Now off you go!’" McKellen added that the Queen's handshake during the encounter felt like a dismissal, as she pushed him away when he tried to take her hand. In reflecting on the lives of the royal family, McKellen expressed a degree of sympathy, acknowledging the difficulties of being born into such a public and constrained existence. "Imagine being born into the Royal family. I’ve been in public life a bit, but these people are in prison. They can’t do anything normal. Can you imagine having to be nice to everyone you talk to?" McKellen, who is currently recovering from a fall during a performance at the Noel Coward Theatre in June, has been taking time off from acting to recuperate. Despite his recent injuries, the two-time Oscar nominee hinted at a potential return to his iconic role as Gandalf in a new *Lord of the Rings* film being planned by Warner Bros. As he continues to recover, his candid reflections offer a rare glimpse into his personal views on the British monarchy and the individuals within it. Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-09-10 Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe -
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Labour's Britain: A Landscape of Bluster and Inaction
In the heart of Oxfordshire, a £51 million car park, sprawling across 19 acres with 850 spaces, stands as a symbol of mismanagement and unfulfilled promises. From above, it resembles a meticulously designed racing circuit, with ring roads, bus shelters, and perfectly painted parking lines. Yet, despite its grandeur, this car park is destined to remain empty for years to come. The reason? It cannot be connected to the main road just a few meters away due to halted improvements on the A40 dual carriageway, thwarted by planning and cost issues. This colossal waste, an island of empty potential, is a fitting metaphor for the current state of Britain under the Labour government led by Keir Starmer. The situation in Eynsham encapsulates a broader pattern: a government that excels in bluster, blame, and endless tinkering without achieving meaningful progress. The Labour government has quickly mastered the art of shallow interference, paying lip service to socialist ideals without the conviction to implement them effectively. A prime example is their recent decision to withdraw the winter fuel payment for older people, citing a supposed £22 billion financial black hole left by their predecessors. This move, predictably unpopular, has prompted the government to suggest that around 800,000 pensioners eligible for pension credit should navigate a complex online application process to claim what is rightfully theirs. The idea that elderly citizens should jump through such hoops, entering verification codes and deciphering CAPTCHA challenges, is absurd. Many would rather forgo the payment than endure the ordeal, highlighting the government’s failure to adopt a more pragmatic approach, such as issuing automatic payments based on existing data. This penchant for tinkering is evident in other areas as well. The government’s proposals to ban smoking in public spaces, for instance, represent an unnecessary intrusion into personal freedoms. The same can be said for their musings on regulating concert ticket prices, as illustrated by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy's outrage over "vastly inflated prices" excluding ordinary fans from live music events. These are not the pressing issues of the day, yet they consume the government’s attention while more significant challenges, such as the overhaul of the food manufacturing industry, are ignored. Even in matters of foreign policy, the Labour government’s approach is one of token gestures rather than substantive action. Their decision to tinker with arms exports to Israel, issuing 30 export licenses in response to alleged humanitarian violations, is nothing more than a weak nod to the pro-Gaza wing of the party. Meanwhile, Angela Rayner returns from her Ibiza holiday, spouting slogans like "remediation acceleration" on the Today programme, while remaining silent on more serious issues such as the fatalities at the Notting Hill Carnival. Labour won the right to govern after the chaos of the Tory years, but their current trajectory risks squandering this opportunity. Instead of bold actions, they offer half-measures and empty gestures. Like the car park in Eynsham, their policies may look impressive on the surface, but without the infrastructure to make them work, they remain unused and ineffective. If Labour continues to tinker without tackling the big issues, they will find themselves splintered and sidelined, their chance to lead slipping away, leaving Britain as empty and directionless as that Oxfordshire car park. Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-09-10 Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe -
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Congress Faces Intensifying Battle Over Government Funding as Shutdown Looms
As the September 30 deadline to avert a government shutdown looms, Congress is facing significant internal conflicts, particularly among Republicans, which could lead to a prolonged funding battle. Both parties are firmly entrenched in their positions, with some Republicans even expressing doubts about their own party's strategy as government funding is set to expire in less than a month. Lawmakers returned to Washington with the urgent task of preventing a shutdown. While the upcoming elections might reduce the likelihood of a funding lapse, the debate is expected to be contentious. House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), unveiled a plan that ties a six-month stopgap funding measure, also known as a continuing resolution (CR), to legislation that demands stricter proof-of-citizenship requirements to register to vote. "Today, House Republicans are taking a critically important step to keep the federal government funded and to secure our federal election process," Johnson declared, emphasizing the necessity of ensuring that "only American citizens can decide American elections." In recent months, conservatives have increasingly called for a stopgap that extends beyond December, anticipating the potential return of former President Trump to the Oval Office in January. Their goal is to avoid a massive end-of-year omnibus spending bill. Despite the urgency, Johnson's plan has already faced skepticism within his own party. Some Republicans caution against assuming the outcome of the November elections, with concerns about burdening a newly elected Congress with a complex appropriations process. One House Republican voiced concerns about the challenges for newly elected members who may lack understanding of the appropriations process, especially with the debt limit also looming in January. Additionally, there are doubts about the wisdom of attaching the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act to the CR, given the strong likelihood that the Democratic-controlled Senate will reject it. Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), accusing him of wanting "illegals to vote in American elections." Rosendale argued that Republicans should focus on passing all 12 appropriations bills, rather than pursuing a strategy that is likely to fail. Despite the internal divisions, some Republicans, like Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), who is the lead sponsor of the SAVE Act, are pushing for the GOP to unite and move forward. Roy emphasized the need for the party to strategize effectively over the next two months, stating, "But we got to figure out what we’re going to do about government funding, and we got to figure out what we’re going to do about picking a fight that differentiates us from Democrats." Democrats have strongly opposed the GOP’s plan, with Shalanda Young, director of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, accusing Congressional Republicans of wasting time. Young emphasized that there is a clear, bipartisan path to responsibly fund the government, warning that the proposed six-month CR ignores pressing needs that could have severe consequences for defense, veterans, and communities. The funding battle also coincides with concerns from both parties over a $3 billion budget shortfall facing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This shortfall, largely attributed to the PACT Act, a landmark law passed in 2022 that expanded VA health care, could disrupt benefit payments for millions of veterans and survivors in October if Congress does not act by September 20. Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), the top Republican on the subcommittee responsible for VA funding, acknowledged the urgency of addressing the shortfall, expressing a desire to ensure veterans do not miss critical payments. Credit: The Hill 2024-09-10 Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe -
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International Manhunt Launched After Horrific Coffee Attack on Baby in Australia
Australian police are collaborating with international authorities to track down a man suspected of pouring boiling coffee on a nine-month-old baby in Brisbane. The shocking and seemingly random attack, which took place last month, has left the infant with severe burns to his face and limbs, sparking widespread outrage across the nation. The incident occurred on August 31, when the baby was at a picnic with his family in a suburban park. According to witnesses, a “strange man” approached the family and suddenly emptied a flask of boiling coffee onto the child before fleeing the scene on foot. The infant was quickly given first aid by those nearby, and an off-duty nurse rushed him to her apartment to cool his burns under cold water. Despite their efforts, the baby suffered dramatic injuries that have already necessitated multiple surgeries, and his parents anticipate a long and challenging recovery process for their son. Queensland Police have issued an arrest warrant for a 33-year-old man wanted on charges of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, a crime that carries a possible life sentence. However, in a frustrating twist for the investigation, the main suspect managed to flee the country before authorities could apprehend him. The man reportedly left Australia from Sydney airport just six days after the attack and only 12 hours before police were able to confirm his identity. Det Insp Paul Dalton, who is leading the investigation, described the case as one of the "most complex and frustrating" of his career. He confirmed that police are aware of the suspect's name and the country to which he has fled but are withholding this information to avoid compromising their ongoing investigation. The suspect is described as an “itinerant” worker who has traveled to Australia multiple times since 2019, with addresses in both New South Wales and Victoria. Authorities believe the man is knowledgeable about "police methodologies" and has been engaging in "counter-surveillance activities" to evade capture. The baby’s parents, speaking to the media on Monday, expressed their devastation upon learning that the suspect had escaped the country. "It sounds like they were very, very close in catching him, and this obviously means that we're going to have to wait who knows how long to get justice for our son," the baby’s mother told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Despite the horrific ordeal, the boy’s father noted that their son is in "good spirits," though additional skin graft surgeries may still be necessary. In the wake of the attack, a GoFundMe page set up to support the baby boy and his family has raised over A$150,000 ($100,000 £76,000), reflecting the strong public sympathy and desire to help in the face of such a tragic event. As the international manhunt continues, authorities remain committed to bringing the suspect to justice and providing some measure of closure to the distraught family. Credit: BBC 2024-09-10 Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe -
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Harrowing Allegations Emerge Against Andrew and Tristan Tate
Two women have come forward with disturbing allegations against controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate, claiming they were raped and strangled by him. These women, whose accounts are unrelated to the ongoing Romanian case, shared their traumatic experiences with the BBC. Additionally, for the first time, a third woman has alleged that she was raped by Andrew Tate's younger brother, Tristan Tate. The Tate brothers, Andrew, 37, and Tristan, 36, are currently facing serious charges in Romania, including human trafficking, forming an organized group to exploit women, and in Andrew Tate's case, rape. If convicted, they could face over a decade in prison. Both brothers vehemently deny the charges. Despite being under house arrest in Romania, Andrew Tate is also under investigation for new allegations, including having sex with a minor and trafficking underage individuals. The two British women, who are not involved in the Romanian case, provided detailed accounts of alleged rape and sexual violence by Andrew Tate, dating back over a decade when he lived in Luton. One of the women, referred to as Anna (a pseudonym), recounted her horrifying experience in 2013. After a few dates with Tate, she returned to his house where he suddenly assaulted her. “He started kissing me... and he just looked up at the ceiling and said, ‘I’m just debating whether I should rape you or not.’ Out of the blue, he just grabbed me by the throat, smashed me to the back of the bed, strangling me extremely hard,” Anna recalled. She says that Tate then raped her and afterward sent her disturbing text messages and voice notes, one of which said, “Am I a bad person? Because the more you didn’t like it, the more I enjoyed it.” In another message, he wrote, “I love raping you.” Tate even tried to dismiss the strangulation as a joke, texting, “Are you seriously so offended I strangled you a little bit?” When asked by the BBC about these messages, Andrew Tate declined to comment. Anna reported the alleged attack to Bedfordshire Police in 2014, and two other women made similar allegations. However, in 2019, the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against Tate. Another woman, identified as Sienna (a pseudonym), shared a similar story. She described meeting Tate in Luton a decade ago and having what she considered a consensual one-night stand. However, during a subsequent encounter, she alleges that Tate attacked her, putting his hands around her throat during sex, causing her to lose consciousness. When she regained consciousness, she realized he was still having sex with her. “I was absolutely terrified,” she said. “I just remember gasping for air... It was rape.” The morning after, Sienna noticed she had a bloodshot eye, which she later learned is a common injury in domestic abuse cases involving strangulation. A friend of Sienna confirmed to the BBC that she had told him about the incident at the time and that he saw her eye injury. Sienna did not report the assault to the police, a decision she now regrets. BBC Panorama is aware of five women in the UK who have said they were strangled by Andrew Tate during sex. When interviewed by the BBC last year, Tate denied ever strangling or having non-consensual sex with any woman, stating, “I know I've never hurt anybody. It's not in my nature to hurt people.” Prosecutors in Romania allege that the Tate brothers were trafficking women into the country for exploitation. The case file includes statements from women who describe feeling controlled by the brothers, with some women not allowed to leave the house alone. Credit: BBC 2024-09-10 Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe -
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Jen Psaki Expresses Concern for President Biden During a Difficult Summer
MSNBC host and former White House press secretary Jen Psaki recently opened up about her concerns for President Joe Biden during what she described as a "heartbreaking" summer. Speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival in a conversation with The Atlantic writer Mark Leibovich, Psaki shared her personal reaction to the infamous June debate that raised questions about Biden’s ability to serve another term. Psaki, who worked closely with Biden during her time as his press secretary, admitted that her initial reaction while watching the debate was not focused on the political implications. “Well, watching it, my first reaction was not, ‘Oh my gosh, Trump is going to win the election.’ That was not my reaction. I care about him as a human being. And my first reaction was, I do care about him a lot, was like, ‘Is he OK?’” she said. Her concerns were rooted in her personal connection with Biden. “Honestly, it was like, ‘Is he OK? And I don’t say that because I was feeling like I was going to go on Twitter and be alarmist, but I care for him as a person,” Psaki continued. “I was worried about him as a person.” Following the debate, media and Democratic allies quickly called for Biden to step aside, as many were alarmed by his performance, which left him appearing confused, unsure, and with a raspy voice. These concerns about his age and mental acuity resonated with many, despite Biden initially dismissing the debate as just a "bad night." However, he eventually decided not to seek re-election, instead endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. Psaki, who was the MSNBC host on air when the news of Biden’s decision broke, admitted that she became “emotional” while informing viewers. She reflected on the challenging period that followed the debate, describing it as an “incredibly difficult roller coaster” for Americans. “The summer, I think, was heartbreaking and difficult for so many people. People who loved him, people who were fearful of Trump winning, people who loved Harris, people with all sorts of emotions within this country,” Psaki said. She emphasized that her concerns were not just those of a political commentator but also of someone who experienced the events on a personal level. “And as much as I was on television talking about this, I experienced that too, as a human being,” she added. Psaki concluded her tenure as Biden’s press secretary in May 2022 and has since become a prominent figure on MSNBC, where she continues to provide political analysis. Credit: Vice 2024-09-10 Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe -
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Trump Vows to Jail Those Who Engage in "Unscrupulous Behavior" During the 2024 Election
Former President Donald Trump, who has consistently pushed the false narrative that the 2020 presidential election was stolen through widespread fraud, recently escalated his rhetoric by threatening to imprison those he perceives as engaging in dishonest activities during the 2024 election. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump reiterated his baseless claims of election fraud, accusing Democrats of "rampant Cheating and Skullduggery." He warned that the upcoming election would be monitored with "the closest professional scrutiny" and vowed to prosecute anyone involved in what he described as "unscrupulous behavior." “The 2024 Election, where Votes have just started being cast, will be under the closest professional scrutiny and, WHEN I WIN, those people that CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law, which will include long term prison sentences so that this Depravity of Justice does not happen again," Trump wrote. He extended his warning to a broad group, stating, “Please beware that this legal exposure extends to Lawyers, Political Operatives, Donors, Illegal Voters, & Corrupt Election Officials. Those involved in unscrupulous behavior will be sought out, caught, and prosecuted at levels, unfortunately, never seen before in our Country.” This threat marks one of the most comprehensive he has issued since announcing his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, targeting not only his usual adversaries but also those indirectly involved with the election, such as donors and election workers. This move is reminiscent of his 2016 campaign, where he repeatedly threatened to jail his opponent, Hillary Clinton, though he typically refrained from attacking those on the periphery. The impact of such rhetoric has already been felt by election workers, who have faced numerous threats following the 2020 election. Among them are Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss, whose lives were dramatically altered after Trump and his allies falsely accused them of fraud. In the months leading up to the 2020 election, Trump began spreading unfounded warnings of election interference, which intensified after his loss and culminated in the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, as his supporters attempted to prevent the certification of Joe Biden's victory. Trump has begun to make similar statements as the 2024 election approaches. During a recent speech in Wisconsin, Trump emphasized the GOP’s focus on election integrity, suggesting that if Republicans manage to prevent Democrats from cheating, his campaign efforts would be largely unnecessary. “We gotta stop the cheating. If we stop that cheating, if we don’t let them cheat, I don’t even have to campaign anymore,” he said. “We’re going to win by so much. In the meantime, too big to rig, too big to rig.” After the 2020 election, Trump and his allies filed numerous lawsuits in an attempt to overturn the results, all of which were unsuccessful. As the 2024 election draws near, some Democrats have expressed concerns that the GOP's legal maneuvers in key battleground states are intended to cast doubt on the results should Trump lose again. Credit: NBC News 2024-09-10 Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe -
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The Vanishing Hurricanes: A Quiet Season Baffles Forecasters
In a year where meteorologists predicted a potentially historic hurricane season, the Atlantic Ocean has been unusually quiet, making history for an unexpected reason. For the first time in over half a century, the Atlantic has gone through the late summer without a single cyclone, a time when multiple storms would typically be churning. Phil Klotzbach, a renowned meteorologist, and others in the field had anticipated a flurry of hurricanes, yet as weeks passed without any significant activity, the silence became more unnerving. Even those outside the meteorology world began to ask, “Where are all the hurricanes?” Klotzbach, who leads one of the most respected hurricane season outlooks, found himself considering a midseason update in late August, an acknowledgment that this year’s forecast might be off the mark. He ultimately decided against it, hoping for a new system to emerge over Labor Day weekend. However, the anticipated storm never formed. The Atlantic’s unexpected calm has left meteorologists wrestling with confusion and criticism, as they had confidently predicted an active season. “Everyone was going big,” Klotzbach said, reflecting on the widespread expectations for more than two dozen storms. This season's quietness stands in stark contrast to the dynamic Pacific typhoon season and the record-breaking heat experienced across the Northern Hemisphere, which led to devastating wildfires, floods, and scorching temperatures. Even though meteorologists can identify some factors contributing to this lull, they struggle to understand why these factors have dominated the weather patterns that would typically fuel intense storms. Many of those who warned the public to prepare for a dangerous season now find themselves in the awkward position of almost rooting for storms to avoid losing public trust. Klotzbach, who accurately predicted the devastating impact of Hurricane Beryl in July, initially felt reassured in his forecast, which called for several storms of Beryl's magnitude. But as time passed without any new storms, he was taken by surprise. “It’s definitely taken me by surprise,” he admitted. “I think any meteorologist being honest would say the same.” The ingredients for a busy hurricane season seemed to be present. Ocean temperatures across the Atlantic have been extraordinarily warm for over a year, providing ample fuel for storms. A La Niña climate pattern, which typically produces favorable conditions for Atlantic storms, has been building for months. “This season is looking to be an extraordinary one,” NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said back in May. But despite these conditions, the past month has been eerily quiet. This unusual calm could hint at future trends. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has suggested that climate change might make hurricanes less frequent, even as it increases the likelihood of those that do form becoming more intense. So far, this year’s atmosphere has been too stable for storm development, with unusual warming observed in the upper layers of the troposphere. Additionally, many potential storms have fizzled out as they drifted from African monsoon clouds into the Atlantic, further north than usual, outside the zone most conducive to storm formation. This shift is something meteorologists have never had to account for before. “It’s kind of hard to predict something in the system that you’ve never seen before,” said Matthew Rosencrans, NOAA’s lead seasonal hurricane forecaster. Meteorologists are now grappling with the possibility of a busted forecast, a scenario they all hope to avoid. Seasonal forecasts, which are made months in advance, lack the precision of daily weather predictions. They can assess the likelihood of storms but cannot predict specific anomalies like the unexpected position of the African monsoon. “These are factors that are not fully understood by anyone,” said Jon Porter, chief meteorologist for AccuWeather, which recently downgraded its own hurricane season predictions. Forecasters like Klotzbach remain cautious yet hopeful. “There’s still 60 percent of the hurricane season left to go,” Rosencrans noted. But as doubts grow, so does public skepticism. If hurricanes fail to materialize, the effect could be lasting, with people potentially disregarding future warnings due to the “cry wolf” effect. Tobias Vorlaufer, a researcher at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, emphasized the importance of careful communication to maintain public trust. For Klotzbach, transparency is key. He knows that his dire forecasts have heightened public attention, and with that comes the risk of losing credibility. “That’s not something you want to lose,” he said. Credit: WP 2024-09-010 Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe -
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Must Read Its Happening - Law to Tax Overseas Income Now in Progress
Do you really think they're thinking once about any consequences? Not a chance, there's a very good chance these goons will attempt to enact this BS and once someone notices that everyone with a few million dollars or more in investments has left the country they will attempt to backtrack but it will be too late by then. Many people are currently abandoning the UK due to burdensome taxation which may also be about about to rise based on what I've been reading. Thailand would do well to encourage these multi millionaires to move to Thailand but instead they're guaranteeing that none of them ever spend more than just a few months there. -
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Baht becoming ridiculously strong
37,41 Thb for 1 Euro say's Google just now this night at 03-17 hour Thai time -
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I'm cheating on my wife and I can't help it.
His voice just seems to come across so strongly no matter the handle...haha. -
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/TV & Film Modern Sci-Fi Movies
I just completed this quiz. My Score 70/100 My Time 172 seconds -
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