IRC: #techbytes @ Techrights IRC Network: Tuesday, December 28, 2021

schestowitz__[TR]

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> I agree. As a British "eccentric" I don't mind standing to shoulder

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> with other freethinkers and misfits, but I have to draw the line

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> between me and most of the 5G "crazies" :)

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> There are many interesting "rights" issues connected to >20GHz radio,

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> passive illumination, tracking arbitary objects by "quantum

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> signature", or just the prevalence of ugly antennae. None of them I

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> really want to go into as a tech writer because I am hugely under

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> qualified and ambivalent as to the risk-benefit trade myself.

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> Interestingly, did you know that Alan Turing wrote one of the most

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> extraordinary papers that relates to RF and health. It's in the

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> entropic equations of his "chemical basis of morphogenesis". When you

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> look at it in terms of information input, turns out that modulting

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> molecular dipoles may induce a different effect than (Brownian)

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> "heating" and possible mutational mechanism. Its probably buried the

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> noise floor of background radiation - I mean statistically living near

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> a granite rock throwing out alpha-particles gives 1000 times the

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> risk. But if it's talked about too much the real Luddites will seize

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> on it. So, I'm saying I don't believe in any risk myself, based on

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> evidence and theory I've seen, nut all the same I won't get drawn into

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> that speculation.

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> From a moral/legal standpoint though, it has a bearing. So long as

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> there is _any_ reasonable doubt (which any good scientist will admit

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> to), then exercise of choice not to be needlessly exposed to any

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> _percieved_ risk is still an important right.

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> So for me, as a father I feel okay to take a cautionary stance. A

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> _small_ factor in me refusing "smart meters" inside the house is doubt

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> over effects it might have on my kid... if I am wrong. Combining

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> falliblism with judgements against my better reason is a really

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> _uncomfortable_ position. Mybe that's why doubt is such a powerful

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> disinfo weapon?

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> But here's what makes a genuine libeal society difficult. I should be

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> able to abjectly refuse to have a 5G source near my house because the

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> flying-spaghetti monster forbids it. Not that my voice should have

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> effect, but it ought to be heard, and indeed taken "seriously" (at

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> least as musch as any other superstitious claim of religions etc)

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> This is where I think the arguments between FACTS! versus CONSPIRACY!

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> break down. And so I think my/our job is to de-escalate / de-polarise.

schestowitz__[TR]

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> all best.

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I've just published the part about 5G, sticking to facts.

schestowitz__[TR]

In a followup video, posted minutes ago, I mentioned the microwave oven for analogies.

schestowitz__[TR]

I've long said that approach difficult subject is possible, but you need to be careful and reread carefully (thinking, how will I be able to spin it? If I was my own enemy...). Or use video for full nuance to be visible. Without it, trouble begins because of out-of-context stuff.

schestowitz__[TR]

So far I've mostly avoided disaster, but some people still have a go at me:

http://techrights.org/2021/12/25/timewasting-letters/

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-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-techrights.org | Stupid and Legally-Invalid Threats (Physical Letters) | Techrights

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> I have edited "Dude, where's my future?"

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> to split off a part on "A healthy scepticism about progress" (which is

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> partly from my partner who was an NHS front line mental health worker

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> now in her own practice) and from other health workers I've

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> spoken to this year.

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> thanks

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Ah, OK, I've just 'pulled' text from that part yet. I will double-check that in my parts 3 & 4 texts there's no changes wrt your latest upload.

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I will, from now on, refresh each day just in case you make edits further down the page.

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Hmmm... you know what? Sod it, I'll publish part 3 now as I want to be sure I didn't miss some new edits. This means it'll still go into today's bulletin

http://techrights.org/txt

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schestowitz__[TR]

Dr. Andy Farnell shares his experiences from this past year -- a sporadic collection of thoughts that can hopefully start a dialogue about unhealthy and unethical trends in today's increasingly regressive if not Orwellian technology; he now focuses on pandemic response and knowledge sharing, as opposed to privateering and profiteering (this includes a modest proposal/critique of some problematic aspects of patent and copyright laws)abandoned

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abandoned (revised draft):

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<h3 id="org12f6073">A few little pricks</h3>

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<font size="5"><b><a name="top">T</a></b></font>hree doses of experimental mRNA technology entered my body this year, each left me feeling physically rotten for a day. Mentally fortified by the prospect of not dying from Covid and being less likely to <i>kill someone I love</i>, I say "Hooray for the biologists!".

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<p>

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In the technologist's room however, our view is of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/10/the-guardian-view-on-test-and-trace-count-the-true-cost-of-failure">£35bn elephant's arse</a> that was "Track and Trace". Early in the pandemic (March 2020) I ran a workshop for students on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematical_modelling_of_infectious_disease">models of contagion, percolation and dissemination</

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 400 @ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/10/the-guardian-view-on-test-and-trace-count-the-true-cost-of-failure">£35bn )

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 400 @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematical_modelling_of_infectious_disease">models )

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a>. We explored how we might use <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dining_cryptographers_problem">dining cryptographers</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-knowledge_proof">zero knowledge proofs</a> to build ephemeral anonymous contact graphs for forward and reverse tracing from QR codes and Wifi beacons. It took over a year, three changes of direction and a bonfire of public confidence for the NHS app to almost get there.

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 400 @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dining_cryptographers_problem">dining )

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 400 @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-knowledge_proof">zero )

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</p>

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<p><span class="pullQuote" style="width:300px">"Like so much mismanagement in this pandemic, pride, dishonesty and a fear of being forthright was our weakness. A key component for success is fast uptake and participation, so a good strategy is to carefully explain systems instead of <i>just lying about stuff</i>."</span>Of course we need <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38320072">better technologists in government</a>. Perhaps

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by <a href="https://theconversation.com/hard-evidence-is-the-uk-really-experiencing-a-brain-drain-38269">paying more</a>. But my point is that <i>"Trust Is Everything"</i>. We cannot build anything in a society lacking trust. And in 2021 governments have been burning it like rocket-fuel. By trying to pass off a surveillance system as a public health measure, and by involving crony consultancy with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 404 @ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38320072">better )

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2020/may/04/uk-government-using-crisis-to-transfer-nhs-duties-to-private-sector">creepy data-vampire corporations</a> the British government spooged away any hope of us quickly deploying life-saving solutions by inspiring public confidence.</p>

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 404 @ https://theconversation.com/hard-evidence-is-the-uk-really-experiencing-a-brain-drain-38269">paying )

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-www.theguardian.com | Business and finance news from Guardian US | The Guardian

schestowitz__[TR]

<p>Like so much mismanagement in this pandemic, pride, dishonesty and a fear of being forthright was our weakness. A key component for success is fast uptake and participation, so a good strategy is to carefully explain systems instead of <i>just lying about stuff</i>. I <a href="https://liberality.net/digital-immunity-certificates-coronavirus-and-big-data.htm">spoke cynically</a> on how authorities would prefer to ratchet on power and

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intrusive "social legibility" rather than progress an elegant solution that solved the immediate problem. I predicted a market for forged digital "vaccine passports" nearly two years ago.</p>

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 404 @ https://liberality.net/digital-immunity-certificates-coronavirus-and-big-data.htm">spoke )

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<p>Low tech <i>privacy-respecting</i> technology involving printable tokens was within reach from the start, based on the premise that <i>people don't want to get Covid</i>. This is crucial from a digital-realist's perspective. Tech is realpolitik and the intrusion of perverse power incentives was a key factor in failure. With no punitive stick attached, and no kick-back for the data-brokers, our government let precious weeks and months slip

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past. Listening back to my predictions saddens me to have been right and that our governments acted immaturely and predictably.</p>

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</div>

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</div>

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<h3 id="orgd768ece">Science 2.0</h3>

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<p>

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All said, it's been a year of miraculous advances in mRNA research yielding potential jabs against HIV, Lyme's Disease and an ever growing list. A great time to revel in science and feel proud to be a scientist! My mum had a hip replacement performed by a robot and was on her feet again in a week! All hail our surgical robot overlords.</p>

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<p><span class="pullQuote" style="width:200px">"I hope that 2022 will continue the trend of scientific truth triumphing over the apparatchik of petty politics and profiteering."</span>Yet I believe it's not that crisis engenders innovation so much as it forces down the hand of those resisting change. The Gates Foundation had to <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/gates-foundation-reverses-position-on-covid-vaccine-patent-protections-

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 404 @ https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/gates-foundation-reverses-position-on-covid-vaccine-patent-protections- )

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after-mounting-pressure/ar-BB1gtUCL">be shamed into</a> releasing their grip (with an unknown cost in lives). The backstory of Robert and Jill Malone's <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02483-w">long struggle</a> to advance a "shelved" mRNA research project seems typical of the frustration felt by scientists in so many fields who must swim against the tide of <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-00912-9">patent

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 404 @ https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02483-w">long?error=cookies_not_supported&code=58b97406-ddf9-4819-a5b8-add4ab047568 )

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madness</a>, and other rackets that constitute scientific research and publishing. I really think we are facing 21<sup>st</sup> century problems with hands tied by an 18<sup>th</sup> century mentality.</p>

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 404 @ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-00912-9">patent?error=cookies_not_supported&code=0a8196fe-5502-4e1c-92a5-de254687607f )

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<p>This sad and wasteful pattern is repeated in climate science and security engineering. So this year I <a href="http://techrights.org/2021/11/29/teaching-cybersecurity/">wrote about</a> the helplessness and <i>Cassandra Complex</i> felt by many of us working within a <i>collective delusion</i> around cybersecurity. After educating myself more on distributed file-systems and delving into the crazy legal debacle around SciHub, I wrote a little

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fictional piece set in a world <a href="https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/2048-information-unchained-and-even-schoolgirls-win-nobel-prizes">freed from the parasites that feed on science</a>. I hope that 2022 will continue the trend of scientific truth triumphing over the apparatchik of petty politics and profiteering.

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 404 @ http://techrights.org/2021/11/29/teaching-cybersecurity/">wrote )

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 404 @ https://www.timeshighereducation.com/search?e=404&search=opinion%202048%20information%20unchained%20even%20schoolgirls%20win%20nobel%20prizes%20freed )

https://twitter.com/MDX_0x0/status/1475896705258246157

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schestowitz__[TR]

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-@MDX_0x0: Excelent article!👉 https://t.co/D6ZosdCW8N https://t.co/D6GXSHVHCM

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-@schestowitz: Corporations that are not European are taking over the EPO itself and are meanwhile buying monopolies (control) in… https://t.co/rcG5YrxRUO

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-@MDX_0x0: Excelent article!👉 https://t.co/D6ZosdCW8N https://t.co/D6GXSHVHCM

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schestowitz__[TR]

⚓ https://nitter.eu/43blah/status/1475844054273470464

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 404 @ https://nitter.eu/43blah/status/1475844054273470464 )

schestowitz__[TR]

⚓ https://nitter.eu/43blah/status/1475844054273470464

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Dec 28 20:44

schestowitz__[TR]

[21:54] <ccccccccc> hi, got something I want to send you. what is a good way to sent you a plain text file?.. just use email?

schestowitz__[TR]

[21:54] <schestowitz__[TR]> yes

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[21:55] <ccccccccc> ok

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[21:57] <schestowitz__[TR]> checking mail...

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[21:58] <ccccccccc> what is your email address again... thought I had it somewhere

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[21:58] <schestowitz__[TR]> roy at schestowitz com

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[21:58] <ccccccccc> ok

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[22:06] <schestowitz__[TR]> your own essay?

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[22:07] <ccccccccc> no this was from some where on the ether from the days of bbs's

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[22:07] <schestowitz__[TR]> wow

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[22:07] <schestowitz__[TR]> so this is ancient

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[22:07] <ccccccccc> I thought about it just a lil while ago... could find no reference to it on the web.

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[22:08] <ccccccccc> I still had a printed copy hanging on my bulletin board..

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The Computer Industry Pecking Order

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Head of a Computer Company:

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• Can Leap tall building in a single bound

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• Is more powerful than a locomotive

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• Is faster than a speeding bullet

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• Can walk on water

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• Is top advisor to God

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Software Engineer:

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• Can leap over tall building in a few jumps

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• Is about as powerful as a locomotive

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• Runs a dead heat with a speeding bullet

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• Is a good swimmer

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• Is on speaking terms with God

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Senior Analyst:

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• Can leap buildings with a running start and a good wind

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• Is as powerful as a wagon

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• Hears the bullet pass by

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• Can dog-paddle his way to shore

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• Is generally ignored by God

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Analyst:

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• Crashes into the third story of the building

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• Is tied down to the railroad tracks

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• Is issued a cap gun and blanks

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• Sinks like a rock

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• Is an atheist

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Maintenance programmer:

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• Trips over the “Welcome” mat of buildings

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• Says, “Look at the big choo-choo”

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• Wets himself with a water pistol

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• Plays in the wading pool

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• Mumbles to himself

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The Programmer:

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• Crushes tall buildings and wades through the rubble

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• Kicks trains off their tracks

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• Catches bullets with his mouth and eats them

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• Parts water with a wave of his hand

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• HE IS GOD!!!