Jammin’ For The Animals II, 7/30-31 @ Blue Falls Grove

The Reading festival season is alive and kicking again with the second annual Jammin’ For The Animals Festival, an event benefiting the Humane Society of Berks County in memory of festival organizer’s brother, Bobby Jones, being held at Blue Falls Grove in Ontelaunee Township.

The second year also brings the addition of a second night of live music, with the festivities to begin on Friday evening (7/30) with two very solid bands, and did we mention, a Grammy Award wnner to fill in the gaps (and from what the rumor is, to sit in with BOTH bands to make the first evening, an epic night of improvisational jams and dueling solos).

The camping music & arts festival returns to Blue Falls Grove, a family fun picnic & camping site for over 26 years, complete with an Olympic size swimming pool (additional discounted cost), fishing (license required), over one mile of creek front, volleyball, basketball, hiking, and horseshoes.  It is adjacent to 3,000 acres of watershed and a 1,000 acre lake for fishing and it has become famous recently as the site of the “birthday party episode” of  the “John & Kate Plus 8” reality television series.

Gates will open at 5pm on Friday, July 30th with Grateful Dead tribute band, the Good Lovin’ Jamband kicking off the music at 6:30pm.  Grammy-winning guitarist David Cullen, a Berks County native, will be providing the “tweener” set before premier Pennsylvania bluegrass band Cabinet hits the stage to headline the first evening at 8:30pm.  There will also be an acoustic campfire jam with the members of Cabinet immediately following their set on the main stage.

Gates will re-open at noon on Saturday, July 31st with events for children and adults of all ages.  Scheduled events are juggling & hula hooping workshops, tie-dying & pottery workshops, piercing & tattooing seminars, glassblowing, fire performances, live painting in the art village, disc golf, Chinese auction, raffles, as well as dozens of kids activities in their own pavilion.  This is all happening while non-stop premier live music is going on from 1pm until 10:30pm with artists including Mike Miz, Flux Capacitor, Fellswoop, George Crow & Cody Chelius, Dakini, Estaban & Friends, and headlining the event is breakout gospel, funk, organic groove jamband, Natural Breakdown.

In only its second year, the Jammin’ For The Animals festival is leading the way in captivating the small, hassle-free festival scene with the caliber of music one would normally see at a larger festival.  Combine the top notch music with workshops, kids events, raffles, and a variety of vendors of all kinds with proceeds benefitting a great cause in the Humane Society of Berks County, and what you get is a great festival with a great vibe – something +VIBES is proud to be a part of.   

PlusVibes Productions will be providing the light show for the festival, as well as greeting you at the front gate and patrolling the grounds as the VIBES PATROL.  Our good friends at Scarlet Sound will be providing the crisp sound.

This event is an ALL-AGES, rain or shine, family-friendly (please be kind to the people AND the environment) event.    Friendly pets are also welcomed (leashed only).

A limited number of advance tickets are available for $30 for the weekend through CHRIS at PlusVibes Productions, at the Brass Lantern, and at the additional ticket outlets listed on the MySpaceand Facebook pages.  

Tickets will be available at the gate for $40.   NO DAY PASSES are available.  We highly recommend you take advantage of the discount and guarantee your ticket (we’re expecting a big crowd) by purchasing your ticket now.

Children under 10 are admitted free with adult.  Camping is available for an additional $5 per person (to be paid at front gate).

For more information or any additional quesitons, email info@plusvibes.com.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.    BRING A FRIEND!

GRATEFUL DEAD night monthly with GLJB @ the Brass every 3rd Friday

After a successful celebration of the birthday of Grateful Dead leader, Jerry Garcia, last month at the Brass Lantern, the members of the Good Lovin’ Jam Band (GLJB) were asked to return for a monthly residency.

Every third Friday until 2010 (or beyond), starting this Friday at 9pm, PlusVibes Productions is especially proud to establish a consistent monthly spotlight on Grateful Dead music once again in Reading, at the Brass Lantern.

It’s been some years since the likes of Grateful Dead cover bands such as Living Earth, Double Dose, and Solar Circus (just to name a few) frequented the Reading area in small clubs like the Brass Lantern, Mr. Charlie’s, The Strand, and Top of the ROC (all but the Brass have long since closed).  With all of those bands dissipating over the years it has been extremely difficult to find a solid replacement until now. 

The Good Lovin’ Jam Band has filled the shoes of its predecessors in providing a complete show for Grateful Dead fans,  starting off with a set by Pangea Acoustic, a set by Neo Trio, and ending with combination of both openers to form the Good Lovin’ Jam Band for two full sets.

It’s a 4-set night of magical music in tribute to a band that’s influenced the ears of happy-hippie listeners since the 1960′s – the Grateful Dead.  We’re sure that all Deadheads will be satisfied in the right on performance that the Good Lovin’ Jam Band provides each and every show.

Take a listen or download the GLJB show from August here.

Here’s all the information:

The Good Lovin’ Jam Band

    every third Friday at the Brass Lantern

featuring Pangea Acoustic & Neo Trio

9pm – 2am
21+ only

$5 at the door

Friday, May 21st
Friday, June 18th
Friday, July 16th
Friday, August 20th

The Brass Lantern offers:
 - $2.50 domestic drafts, $6.50 pitchers
 - $3 Jager, Rumplemintz, Blackhaus, & other shots
 - Wings, Burgers, Nachos, Patty Melts, Salads, & more
 - Kitchen open until 9:45pm!
 - Friendly service & great overall vibe

+VIBES joins Berks Jazz Fest ’10 – hosts Grammy winnner

After many years of showing tribute to Berks Jazz Fest by hosting live jazz during the festival’s traditional days at the Brass Lantern, +VIBES has become a member of the Berks Jazz Fest in 2010 and together they will be bringing you two premiere (non-ticketed) events, each to be listed and promoted by all Berks Jazz Fest media outlets.

On Friday, March 19th, the very first day of events of Berks Jazz Fest, the Brass Lantern will feature its very first Grammy award winner on its stage in David Cullen, appearing with the Good Lovin’ Jamband, a Berks County bred Grateful Dead tribute band.

David Cullen is a world-reknown Classical guitarist and has won a Grammy Award for BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING.  He has performed with Will Ackerman, Samite, Michael Manring, Victor Wooten, The JacoBig Band and with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance from the Hartt School of Music.

David has performed throughout North America for Classical Guitar Societies, Jazz Festivals, and Performing Arts Series.   He has released 9 CDs for the acoustic guitar label Solid Air Records and his recordings have been featured on NPR stations across America.

In honor of all that is jazz, David and the Good Lovin’ Jamband, whose drummer is David’s brother (Matty), will be performing a very special set in tribute to “Jazz Is Dead” in which the classic tunes of the Grateful Dead are performed all instrumental with a heavy jazz edge.

David has been known to play Grateful Dead tunes at local solo acoustic shows for many years in the Berks County area, and the combination of the full band with David leading on Classical guitar is mind-blowing.  It will be a historic event for the Brass Lantern and PlusVibes Productions is extremely excited for this event!

On Saturday, March 20th, the Brass Lantern will be hosting Reading-native and another jazz-guitarist,  Josh Taylor with his trio.  Josh is a seasoned guitar veteran and is versed in many styles including jazz, blues, rock , bossa nova, Latin, and flamenco.  He has played at various Berks County venues over the years, including gigs at Bixler’s Lodge, The Brass Lantern, The Inn at Reading Cabana Bar, and Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base at the Crowne Plaza, and he has been involved with Berks Jazz Fest for many years – a time when his expertise can shine, and he can capture an audience on his very first note.

Josh is joined onstage by local stand-up bassist, Trey LaRue who is the full time bassist in The Kingpins, a self proclaimed “tortured, mean rockabilly” band also based in Berks County, and drummer John Fundyga, who plays in various projects including local veterans, John King’s Dance Band and the Ukrainian Club House Jazz Band.

We expect both nights to be fantastic nights with great crowds, so we recommend you get there early.  We’ll have the fireplace stoked and the mood set to “jazz lounge” at the Brass Lantern for these and all shows during the Berks Jazz Fest celebration.

WE’VE JUST ADDED ANOTHER JAZZ FEST EVENT.  The Dirk Quinn Band will be coming back, fresh off their latest tour, on THURSDAY, March 25th at 9pm.

Here’s all the information:

Berks Jazz Fest 2010

March 19th – 28th

Good Lovin’ Jamband @ The Brass Lantern

with very special guest, and Grammy-award winner,

David Cullen

Friday, March 19th, 2010

9pm – 2am
21+ only

$7 at the door

——– – ——– – ——– – ——– – ——– – ——–

the Josh Taylor Trio @ The Brass Lantern

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

9pm – 1am
21+ only

$6 at the door

——– – ——– – ——– – ——– – ——– – ——–

the Dirk Quinn Band @ The Brass Lantern

THURSDAY, March 25th, 2010

9pm – 1am
21+ only

$5 at the door

——– – ——– – ——– – ——– – ——– – ——–

The Brass Lantern offers:
- $2.50 domestic drafts, $6.50 pitchers
- $3 Jager, Rumplemintz, Blackhaus, Kettle, Stoli & other shots
- Wings, Burgers, Nachos, Patty Melts, Salads, & more
- Kitchen open until 11pm on weekends!
- Friendly service & great overall vibe

Roots, Rock, Reggae Weekend @ The Brass Lantern

It’s another edition of ROOTS, ROCK, REGGAE at the Brass Lantern starting Thursday, December 17th and running through Saturday, December 19th.

Beginning on Thursday the 17th is the final edition of “Thirsty 3rd Bluegrass Thursdays with the Manatawny Creek Ramblers” for the year.  Daniel Bower’s traditional bluegrass (roots) group has been faithfully providing foot stompin’ throw downs every month bringing traditional tunes to the forefront, in addition to catchy original numbers (of course with that bluegrass feel).  The Ramblers have brought in some quality guest musicians such as Kris Kehr (mandolin) and Johnny Kilgore (guitar) over the months to make every night a special evening of friends and music at the Brass Lantern.

Friday the 18th brings 2009′s final “Grateful Dead Night” at the Brass Lantern.  Matty Cullen’s troupe of seasoned Deadheads comes together to bring another 4-set night of authentic Dead tunes (rock) with opening sets by Pangea Acoustic and the NeoTrio, and then a full two sets at the end of the evening with a collaboration of the two opening acts coming together to form the full band, the Good Lovin’ Jamband.

These nights bring out all kinds of guest musicians.  In October they brought a second percussion kit, manned by drumming veteran, Rob Wolfe, and the night was filled with the authentic feel [of two drummers] that the Grateful Dead brought to the stage every night.  And we’ll let you in on a little secret – scheduled in March, during the world re-known Berks JazzFest, Grateful Dead night will have a little jazz twist in it, with the guys bringing in very special guest, and Grammy Award winning guitarist, David Cullen for an extremely  rare “Jazz Is Dead” set at the Brass Lantern.

Stay tuned for more information on that show coming in early 2010. 

Saturday the 19th completes the triangle with another “Reggae Night” at the Brass Lantern.  We are pleased to announce a special one-night-only show featuring our old friends Mystic Rebel and special guest Jah Witness. 

Mystic Rebel has blessed the Brass Lantern with many irie reggae nights in years past, showcasing mainly the music of the legendary Bob Marley and the Wailers, and we are very happy that they will be reuniting for another special evening of positive vibrations.

+VIBES Productions is very excited for the fantastic music coming up THIS weekend.  It is very important during this holiday season that we bring you the music that makes you smile!  So we encourage you to take a break from your holiday shopping (aka the “craziness”) and come out and let loose with your family in music at the Brass Lantern.

We hope to see you there.

Here’s all the information:

Thirsty 3rd Bluegrass Thursdays

with the

Manatawny Creek Ramblers

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

9pm – 12am
21+ only

$4 at the door

————- – ————- – ————- – ————–

Grateful Dead Night

with the

Good Lovin’ Jamband

with opening sets by

Pangea Acoustic and the Neo Trio

Friday, December 18th, 2009

10pm – 2am
21+ only

$5 at the door

————- – ————- – ————- – ————–

Reggae Night

with

Mystic Rebel and very special guest Jah Witness

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

10:30pm – 2am
21+ only

$5 at the door

All shows are at the Brass Lantern.

Thirsty 3rd Bluegrass Thursdays @ The Brass

PlusVibes Productions is proud to be hosting a series of monthly bluegrass shows at the Brass Lantern every third Thursday each month, with local bluegrass favorites, the Manatawny Creek Ramblers. 

The series will run through the fall, occurring every third Thursday of each month, and is being billed “Thirsty 3rd Bluegrass Thursdays with MCR” in conjunction with the best beer special around - $1.25 Miller Light drafts.

Members of MCR include Daniel Bower (Frog Holler, Society Beat) on guitar and vocals, a recent addition and sometimes called the “hardest working man in [Berks County] showbiz” is Kris Kehr (Kris Kehr & the Stone Poets, The Youngers, formerly of The Recipe) on mandolin and vocals, Michael Beaky on banjo, and Josh Sceurman (Frog Holler) on bass.  They bring traditional bluegrass medleys and intricate originals from the “hills” of Oley, Pennsylvania (also known as “Pennsyl-tucky”).

 
They recently (June) released their seven song EP “Meet Me by the Moonlight” and have been supporting their debut EP vigorously with frequent showcases at the West Reading Arts on the Avenue series and stops at the Steel City Coffee House (Phoenixville), the Sterling Stage String Fling (Sterling, NY),  the extremely eclectic Stir Fried Festival (Snipes Farm), and two Sunday summer nights at Union Jack’s (Manatawny), with the first on Sunday, July 19th at 6pm.

The Ramblers’ biggest accomplishment  in 2009, thus far, was receiving 2nd place in the highly acclaimed Delfest Music Festival’s Bluegrass band contest.  Despite the deluge of rain that trounced the grounds, they emerged and found themselves playing better than ever and, from what Kris has said, they lost to “a truly professional contestant, a national touring band”.  More recently, they have announced their addition to the Jerry Fest (Kempton), August 7th & 8th, a posthumous celebration of the life of Grateful Dead leader, Jerry Garcia.

The Brass Lantern and PlusVibes Productions would like to invite everyone for a foot-stomping, good old time with the established Manatawny Creek Ramblers, starting THIS Thursday at 9:30pm, and continuing every third Thursday of each month.

Here’s all the information:

Thirsty 3rd Bluegrass Thursdays

with the

Manatawny Creek Ramblers @ The Brass Lantern

every third Thursday each month

9:30pm – 1am
21+ only

$4 @ the door

The Brass Lantern offers:
 - $1.25 Miller Light drafts
 - $3 Jager, Rumplemintz, Blackhaus, Kettle, Stoli & other shots
 - Wings, Burgers, Nachos, Patty Melts, Salads, & more
 - Kitchen open until 9:45pm!
 - Friendly service & great overall vibe

Hope to see you there.

J.Wail vs aNdu and DJ Spacecase, Sept 3rd @ The Brass

Rolling through the Brass Lantern

• Conjurer download

again on Thursday, September 3rd (this time with a drummer, called aNdu) is touring work-horse Jonah Gabriel Lipsky, aka J. Wail School for Scoundrels ipod , taking the live electronic funk to a higher level.

The Wanderers rip His MySpace blog describes his vibe as, “…[in] the dawn of an age of digital wizardry where gadgets seem to surge in song, congealing in an amalgamation of buzzes, beeps and blips…the pulsing of machines and pounding of concrete and steel in symphonic collage power our world.  J. Wail rises to the call of the sonic traffic controller, poised behind a palette of electronic devices with his Telecaster

The Killing Room move

in hand.”

J. Wail

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, although a native New Yorker, has spent extensive time in Asheville, NC and Phoenix, AZ but is now currently based in Denver, CO.  At the age of 2, Jonah’s mother passed away leaving behind a beautiful classical guitar that she once played. The cherished guitar was later passed down to him and, although he rarely takes it on stage, the symbol, connection, essence, and inspiration of his mother and her guitar resonates deep within his soul.

J. Wail‘s enthusiasm and strong desire to share and spread his music has earned him a reputation as one of the hardest working, up and coming artists in the touring industry. His current tour has logged over 50,000 road miles, countless air miles, and 150+ shows performed on all corners of the continent, as well as Alaska and Hawaii.

He creates innovative club-funk-rock through innovative techniques using live guitar, bass, vocals, synthesizers, and live electronics.   His ability to experiment and improvise nightly has led to several appearances and collaborations with some prominent musicians.

On-stage guest jams have included national artists Michael Travis/Jason Hahn (EOTO/String Cheese Incident), Dean Ween (Ween), Brock Butler (Perpetual Groove), Ekoostik Hookah, Tom Constanten (Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame, ex member of the Grateful Dead), and members of the Brazilian Girls.

J. Wail has performed opening slots for national artists such as Bassnectar, Particle, Perpetual Groove, Toubab Krewe, Boombox, and DJ Le Spam & the Spam Allstars.

In between catching his favorite band, Phish, around the country, J. Wail has still been working hard in 2009, playing stretches of after-parties for acts such as EOTO, Bassnectar, Bob Weir & Ratdog, and even setting up impromptu stages at various Phish show lots, as well as jumping onto as many festivals rosters that he can get into, such as the Tall Tree Lake Festival (Illinois) in June and the upcoming Gemstones Conscious Alliance Benefitin Lowell, Massachusetts on September 4th.

The Deep film

With the addition of a live drummer, aNdu

, to the mix, more creative possibilities opened up for Jonah onstage, and the now “live band” is tearing through cities across the U.S. and beyond!

Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstone dvdrip

Special guest, local dance/dubstep DJ, DJ Spacecase will be spinning before the main show and in between sets.

Here’s all the information:

PlusVibes Productions presents…

J. Wail vs aNdu

with special guest DJ Spacecase

Live at the Brass Lantern

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

9pm show
21+ only
$5 at the door

• Joe Dirt divx

The Brass Lantern offers:
 - $1.25 Miller Light drafts until midnight
 - $3 Jager, Rumplemintz, Blackhaus, Kettle, Stoli & other shots
 - Wings, Burgers, Nachos, Patty Melts, Salads, & more
 - Kitchen open until 9:45pm!
 - Friendly service & great overall vibe

San Fran’s Montana Slim String Band, 9/25 @ The Brass

Supporting their album, Slim Pickens, is San Francisco area’s bluegrass artists, Montana Slim String Band at the Brass Lantern on Friday, September 25th.

PlusVibes Productions is proud to have the opportunity to host such fine musicians from the West coast, stopping through on their way to the Dragonfly Fall Equinox Festival right up the road from the Brass Lantern at Blue Falls Grove on Saturday, September 26th.  They are the second band at that festival, right after Pennsylvania bluegrass favorites, Cabinet.

The Brass Lantern show will be especially sweet in that they will have all night to really showcase what Montana Slim are all about.  They will performing two full sets of fantastic originals, with a few covers thrown in there, bluegrass style.

The members are Sean (lead acoustic guitar/vocals), Brent (mandolin/vocals), Turi (fiddle/vocals), Jesse (rhythm acoustic/vocals), and Dave (upright bass).

“Passionate vocal harmonies, reflective lyrical tales, and solid foundational bass rhythms can all be found in Montana Slim’s original youthful interpretation of bluegrass,” says their MySpace blog in reference to their style of music.

Their tour around the East on this swing include stops in Burlington, Philadelphia, Cambridge, Boston, Narragansett, and State College before ending their Eastern run in Reading at the Brass Lantern and at Blue Falls. 

They return home to California in the beginning of October for a quick hometown show at the Cafe du Nord and then take short a break until heading to Groveland (CA) on October 29th for the 4-day Las Tortugas Dance of the Dead Festival, and will share the stage with wide pool of musicians and bands those four days, including Umphrey’s Mcgee, Tea Leaf Green, Ivan Neville’s Dumstaphunk, Nathan Moore, and Hot Buttered Rum (just to name a few – see entire list here on Jambase!).

This will be a fantastic night of bluegrass at the Brass Lantern - a night influenced by a West coast approach sometimes called “newgrass”.

Come see what it’s all about.

Here’s all the information:

Montana Slim String Band

2 full sets

Live @ The Brass Lantern

Friday, September 25th

10pm – 2am
21+ ONLY
$7 at the door

Boris Garcia on Saturday, 5/16 @ the Brass Lantern

Bob Stirner’s (Living Earth) latest project, BORIS GARCIA, is a band whose genre is hard to pin down.  Blending elements of bluegrass, folk, rock, and reggae, and reinforcing these elements with eloquent psychedelic jams, they definitely fall into the category of “jam band”.  More often, they are classified on the scene as “jam grass,” and they stand out as a unique powerhouse on any bill. 

Joe Dirt trailer Bound movie

For the last 2 years, Boris Garcia has shared the stage with many notables such as Donna Jean, David Gans, Tim Carbone, and Buddy Cage (to name a few), and they have also been featured at many festivals and in many theatres, so it is a rare treat to catch them at such an intimate venue like the Brass Lantern.  The Brass Lantern has been working with Bob Stirner, with his (now defunct) Grateful Dead tribute band Living Earth, since it started having live music, and now they hope to host Boris Garcia annually (at least) as the band continues to grow or for as long as they are willing to come back.

Reading (and surrounding area) music fans are sure to be in auditory-bliss this night.  Is that even a saying, “auditory-bliss”?  It surely will be a Wikapedia entry, come Saturday, May 16th!

Always Outnumbered the movie This is one band you have to see for yourself to formulate your own opinion as to what genre they fall under. 

Reading’s own, ACOUSTIC PANGEA, will be starting off the night, Grateful Dead style, with a very special set at 9:30pm.  Brian & Dan are working the Reading circuit diligently The Host movie full , with shows 4 to 5 nights a week.  With a wide repertoire of Dead classics, they are sure to play some of the obscure ones each set.  And who knows? With the avid Deadheads they are opening for, we may see some special guests onstage with them this evening.  There will be a ton of musical talent in the building this night.

• The Apartment download

Here’s all the information:

Boris Garcia

Exorcist: The Beginning full

Batman Returns film

   with special guest Acoustic Pangea 

Saturday, May 16th, 2009
@ The Brass Lantern
      1350 North 12th Street
      Reading, PA  19604
      610-372-9311

9:30pm – 2am
21+ only
NON-SMOKING venue

$9 @ the door

Gran Torino hd

The Replacement Killers movie download

Ronnie Penque (NRPS) Friday, May 8th @ The Brass!

Murder Party movie download Touring steadily over the last few years with David Nelson Jindabyne buy and the New Riders of the Purple Sage, bassist & singer/songwriter Ronnie Penque is a seasoned musician, playing for over 30 years.

Through those years, Ronnie has played with many other bands and great musicians including Jack Casady, G E Smith, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Vassar Clements, Peter Rowan, Jeff Chimenti, Mark Karan, Bob Matthews, Melvin Seals, Robert Hunter, John Popper, Keller Williams & many more.
 

Most recently, Ronnie & the New Riders of the Purple Sage brought in 2009 with a New Year’s Eve bash at the Silo Nightclub.  Donna Jean & the Tricksters and the Juggling Suns were also on that bill.

Exorcist: The Beginning movie full

The Ronnie Penque Band is appearing this Friday night, May 8th at the Brass Lantern, 1350 North 12th Street at 10pm.  The 5-piece ensemble brings to the table, fantastic original jams blended with some NPRS Always Outnumbered rip

Bound movies

and Grateful Deadcovers thrown in there to make it a magical night for all those attending.  He will be sure to leave his mark on Reading, Pennsylvania and we hope he will keep Reading in his touring rotation, whether it is with his band or with NRPS.

We are positive that his vibe is one-in-the-same as the Brass Lantern’s.

Please come out and show your Reading support.  It’s sure to be one NOT to miss!

Here’s all the information:

The Golden Child release Ronnie Penque Band
The Cellar Door buy

Batman Returns on dvd

Friday, May 8th @ The Brass Lantern
21+ ONLY / NON-SMOKING show
10pm – 2am (2 sets)
$8 at the door The Apartment on dvd

Straight from Jambands.com, The Dead’s Christmas Gift

As the true incarnate of positive vibes,  The Dead has something to say about new young Deadheads and the positive vibes that the Dead and their fans emanate:

Jambands.com writes:

12/24/2008
The Dead has released another video directly to its fans through YouTube. Much like a similar video issued last week, the uncredited clip is believed to be directed by longtime photographer Danny Clinch and features both interview and performance footage from the group’s recent Penn State gig.

Read the entire article.

 

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