Greeting
From the Chair
From the Vice Chair
2011 Convention
LPM Affiliates Contest
West Michigan's Sizzlin' Summer
Other LPM News
   Nathan Allen
   Great Lakes Bay Freedom Festival
   Greg Stempfle Archive Efforts

Image of the Month
Quote of the Month
Past Blast
Letters
Book and Movie Reviews
Contacts
Calendar

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Welcome to the June 2011 issue of the online newsletter of the Libertarian Party of Michigan, the Michigan Libertarian. The newsletter is our main vehicle for sharing what's happening for Libertarians in Michigan. You may manage your subscription by going here or visiting our Web site www.mi.lp.org (same as www.michiganlp.org).

Believing in the Cause

My fellow Libertarians,

I first want to thank you for being a believer in our party and its cause. Second, I want to take a moment and highlight the plans we have in the works for the year ahead.

1. Communication that is unified
2. An active outreach program to the colleges in our state. Especially to the existing chapters we have in place right now.
3. An activation plan to help new members get engaged with their affiliates.
4. An aggressive plan to grow membership by simplifying the answers.

I hope this brief outline gives you some ideas where we can go in the year ahead.

In Liberty and for the Republic,
James H Lewis II Chair.

An excerpt from Todd's regular comments to his Livingston affiliate:

Convention was a great time! The speaker from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy updated us on Pro-Liberty efforts in the state government (unfortunately his speech was too short) and then we heard from our Keynote speaker from the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association on the Gestapo tactics local and federal law enforcement agents against “legal” establishments and individuals…a very enlightening talk... Now to my comments for the month…

... With the stroke of a pen, the governor who has said he is all about creating jobs for a prosperous Michigan deleted 1,000 jobs. When “Hail Snyder” got rid of the 40% tax credit for the film industry, two of our three newest movie studios that were built by and manned by Michigan workers have closed their doors, idling better than a thousand workers and we also lost a $250 million remake of a film to the City of Cleveland. I believe that “Hail Snyder” is doing all he can to bring our state to its knees so the Feds can move in and take us over.

BHO (Barack Hussein Obama) has stated more than once his disdain for our Constitution…including the 10th Amendment. We need to get behind the move to recall “Hail Snyder” and push our candidates hard in 2012! As I see it right now, BHO will win a second term despite the RINOs (Republicans in name only) winning the Senate back, controlling both the House and Senate. Remember it takes just 30 days of doing something to make it a habit, so keep up the practice: Lock-Step and Hand Raising 101! By the way…tall black boots are optional.

Have a great Memorial Day and thank a Vet if you get the chance to!

Todd Richardson
Vice-Chair

For full text of Todd's 'Comments,' access this Google docs Weblink.

Assembly in Midland at the Valley Plaza Resort on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Michael LaFaive of the prestigious Mackinac Center welcomed us. Platform committee, Bylaws committee, officers: James Lewis, Chair; Todd Richardson, Vice Chair; Mary Buzuma, Secretary; Denee Rockman-Moon, Treasurer. Followed by resolutions, breakout work for membership growth, and meeting of the new LEC. Lunch, Cocktails and Banquet, Michael Komorn of MMMA. [Food and drink service outstanding. Kudos to Bill Gelineau for organizing.]

It was a bright and clear day in mid-Michigan as approximately 50 LPMers converged on the Valley Plaza. All is vintage in libertarian land as evidenced by this auto billboard in the parking lot.

New LEC (field of eight):

• Andrew Hall
• Jay Longtain
• Pam Sanderson
• Tim Kiernan
• Larry Johnson

Photo shows l to r: Tim Kiernan, Andrew Hall, James Lewis (chr), Mary Buzuma (sec), Lawrence Johnson, Pam Sanderson, Todd Richardson (v. chr), J. Longtain. New Judicial Committee (field of seven) resulted in election of Will White, Bill Gelineau, and Daniel Grow.

What was perhaps lacking in numbers was more than made up for by enthusiasm and the obvious willingness of people to step up and apply complementary skills. It really is impressive the variety of aptitudes all willing to work for a common objective: to build a flourishing Libertarian Party for today and tomorrow. More youth, and the enthusiasm is contagious. New LEC is pictured at right.

Having covered a few of these, regardless of one's views of the party mission, one may readily accept that these are good people doing good things. There’s a familiarity with the platform debates and Robert’s Rules, then the simple humor afforded by unique personalities expressing their sentiments… and reasons. The party is as healthy as I’ve seen it—from the perspective of universal cooperation and benevolence, also with more youthful participation at leadership levels—and you can see the prospect of real growth. Many workers, no complainers, some stars, some budding superstars. If we were a pro football team we'd be a contender... assuming no lockout applied to the voters' awareness.

The speaker at the banquet, Michael Komorn of Michigan Medical Marijuana Association, was simply wonderful, recounting horror story after horror story of the current Michigan regime blatantly ignoring the law and terrorizing civilians with relentless police-state attacks on marijuana patients: men, women, and children. New chairman James Lewis made a passionate statement to the effect that "it can happen here," just as lawless Nazi stormtroopers tyrannized the populations of Germany on the way to the death camps. It will happen here if 'good men do nothing.'

A rally for the Medical Marijuana Act and constitutional liberty was held in Lansing on May 5. The people must take back our state and our country back from all the Republocrat thugs du jour.

LPM Affiliates:
Win $500 by bringing friends to your party!

Denee Rockman-Moon
denee.rockman-moon@live.com
810-241-8561

An anonymous donor to the Libertarian Party of Michigan is offering $500 to the affiliate that brings in the most NEW members (not renewals) to the LP from May 1, 2011 until October 31, 2011. The money may be used in any way the winning affiliate wishes to further the cause of liberty in its area. Here are the rules:

1. Any brand new member (not renewal) to the LPM or national LP residing in Michigan counts. A member is defined as someone who has donated $25 or more to the LPM or LP and has signified his or her agreement with the LP statement of principles.
2. Unless a new member indicates otherwise in writing, he or she counts for the affiliate that covers the address given on the membership application. New members may join any affiliate they wish and indicate where they want to be counted, but they may only be counted once for purposes of this contest.
3. The LPM membership director will tally the new member counts and report results in the Michigan Libertarian every month. The winner will be announced and a check awarded at the next LibertyFest Dinner.

Affiliates, the contest is running. Start your engines.

Sizzlin' Summer Plans

We are organizing several events for the coming months and hope you will join us. Josh Lillie and Dan Johnson took a trip down to South Haven to borrow a seven foot tall statue of liberty from the South West Michigan Libertarians. The statue along with some materials from Secretary Nick Sundquist and Josh’s trailer are being fashioned into a liberty float. The plan is to be involved in as many events as possible this summer.

After the parade in Muskegon on Memorial Day, coming right up is the Carson City Frontier Days Grand Parade on Saturday June 4th at 2PM. This event also includes a float contest of which the winner will receive a $250 prize and lead next year’s parade. Here is a link to the schedule of events for the weekend. Please contact Josh Lillie and tell him you are coming to walk in the parade. Then show up, it’s really easy. Joshlillie77@gmail.com

There are also efforts to be involved in a parade on the 4th of July in Grandville and have a blood drive in late June, if you are able to offer yourself as a volunteer for either of these events again email: libertarianwmboard@gmail.com. Mark your calendar, the next membership meeting will be Tuesday June 14th, 6:30PM at Perkins Restaurant 5121, 28th St. Grand Rapids. Join us for food, fun, chat and conspiracy to overthrow the republicrats, by the will of the people of course.

Lastly, scouting has begun for candidates for next year. We are also looking for campaign managers and treasurers, these roles are equally important also. Why has the hunt started so early you ask? Well… we are planning to have some educational events starting this summer in the local area for candidates and campaign team members. We want our candidates and their teams educated and ready going into 2012. If you even have had the thought of running for office or being involved in a campaign and this sounds interesting to you please contact Josh Lillie. Joshlillie77@gmail.com

Nathan Allen RIP

It is with great sadness that I write you this evening that Nathan Allen passed away Sunday (after a long battle with cancer. Nathan was a long-time activist for libertarianism in Oakland County. He has served most ever position available for the LPOC over the past 10 years. He also spent one year at the chair of the Libertarian Party of Michigan, and just last year was a king maker receiving enough votes as a Libertarian to make up the difference between the Democrat and the Republican candidates in the State Rep. District 39 race. Our deepest condolences to friends and family, many of us would consider ourselves at least one if not both. For more information, including flowers etc., take a look at this resolution honoring Nathan passed at convention last month.

Jim Fulner
Communications Director and Past Chair
Libertarian Party of Oakland County

Great Lakes Bay affiliate to host 2011 Freedom Festival

The Great Lakes Bay Regional affiliate of the Michigan Libertarian Party will be hosting the 2011 Freedom Festival, charity event this summer. The formal event date and location will be announced later this month. We would like to extend our sincere condolences to Michael and Denee Moon for their loss of Michael's father. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. J. Longtain has been elected to succeed Al Chia Jr. as Chair. We thank Mr. Chia for his service to our organization. We look forward to strong affiliate growth in the coming year. We would also like to thank Mr. Pat Clawson for his service to the Libertarian Executive Committee from 2010 - 2011. His candid wisdom has been an asset to our organization.

Greg Stempfle working on the LPM archives

I am taking the next three months off before I start working on my PhD at Wayne State. During this time I plan to tackle a bunch of project I have not had the time to work on until now. One of these projects is to deal with all of the LPM historical stuff I got from Bill Shotey and from the former LPM office in Hazel Park. When the office closed, I took a large file cabinet and box of VHS tapes.

I recently hooked up a VCR to my PC so it’s pretty easy to make digital copies of the tapes. I am not going to make DVDs of them as I am trying to steer away from most forms of physical media. Relevant content can be uploaded to Youtube or other places, otherwise I will be happy to transfer the data to anyone who asks. So far, most of the tapes contain television interviews with Harry Browne, Jon Coon, and Tim O’Brien. Once I transfer all of them, I will make a list of the programs. Anyone who wishes to know what I have come up with for archiving and/or wants to have access to any particular item, please review the document at this link and then contact me at stempfle@hotmail.com..

Dancing is now illegal in Police State Amerika. Dancing terrorists struck the Jefferson Memorial on May 28th in an apparently coordinated effort. However, it is unclear if dance attacks affected other national monuments but authorities have been placed on high alert. View the dance attacks here.

Do you remember when it was the people, who were being arrested, who hid their faces? Police actually told these dancing perps that they would be arrested for making videos! A Day In The Park - coming soon. Apparently we can do away with the legislative branch of government. Whatever the police say is now the law. If the police say "shut up" the first amendment has been suspended.

Regarding the Patriot Act: when a majority of Congress issues and maintains an act that blatantly and admittedly violates every premise of the US Constitution, they are guilty of high treason; they need to be arrested, then prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law—if found guilty by a jury of their peers, they must pay the ultimate penalty. My rights and yours are not subject to a majority vote of traitors.
– Brian R. Wright

Take a stroll down memory lane with this excerpt from one of the longest-running state Libertarian newsletters. Today, check out the June-July 1991 issue. Click on this link for the full PDF version of this newsletter.

Former editor and LPM archivist Greg Stempfle has compiled the entire body of available Michigan Libertarian newsletters up on this page of the LPM Website.

Hello Libertarians,

May this letter find you in good health and in good spirits. You know you’re doing something right when Democrats and Republicans are sending you tons of hate mail.

Well, that's exactly what my new, controversial, eBook is doing. My name is J.L Slough and I have never voted for a Republican or Democrat presidential candidate. I have voted for Libertarians as it the only sane option to Democrats and Republicans. I am writing to you and all your members to tell you about my new eBook, Why We need a Third Party. It is available for download at a modest fee on your PC/Mac, Amazon Kindle, Smart Phone Device, (I want to reiterate you don't need a Kindle to read it) at this link.

We all know that two people can't always agree on everything, but we can agree on this “We serve only one special interest group, and that is the American People." In closing I would like to encourage all of you to keep up the good fight. No matter how bad things get, please don’t give up. I would also like to thank you for purchasing my eBook and help me with getting the word out!

Thank you,
God bless you, America, and all her good People,
J.L. Slough

Editor's Note: Despite the commercial overtones of this "letter to the editor," it sounds as if the book has merit to Libertarians and libertarians on some level. Caveat emptor as always. If anyone does download (for $2.99 I believe) and read the book, I'll be glad to print a review.

The following review excerpts are courtesy LPM Webmaster Brian Wright's commentary and review site, The Coffee Coaster. If you would like to submit book or movie reviews (or commentary and articles for that matter) please notify the editor.

Movie Review
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Not just a Yuletide feel good movie __ 10/10

This is a 10-star movie—IMDb gives it a whopping 8.7 rating—, truthfully, and it's actually a movie about ideas in rather a subtle fashion. The audience is drawn into the story of George Bailey growing up in a small New York town, Bedford Falls. He's all full of enthusiasm and idealism, primarily to launch into life by traveling the world and having unbelievable adventures—away from this small-town world, where nothing happens, and even less is of any interest to him—followed by returning to America and being a wildly successful inventor and industrialist. George even anticipates our modern-day (still government-thwarted) industrial hemp potential with an idea for making plastic out of soy beans. [Full Review]

Book Review
Incident at Sakhalin (1995)
The true mission of KAL Flight 007
by Michel Brun

As a result of more than 10 years of research, Michel Brun captures the truth in this marvelous document, which at least four governments have conspired to conceal. Incident at Sakhalin not only obliterates the official story—a lone civilian airliner flies innocently off course where the evil Soviets, bloodlust in their eyes, shoot it down without so much as a "Hey, you!". The book does far more, by showing that as KAL 007 approached the Russian Island of Sakhalin, so too did a number of US military and reconnaissance aircraft in an ill-conceived 'black' provocation operation that turned into a two-hour battle in which 30 or more US Air Force and Navy personnel were killed and 10 or more US aircraft were shot down. [Full Review]

June 1 – LP of South West Michigan Executive Committee Meeting – 6:00 – 6:50 pm at IHOP, 1981 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor. Guests are welcome. Followed by: Round Table Political Forum hosted by the LP of South West Michigan. 7-9 pm at The Livery, 190 Fifth St, Benton Harbor. Visitors are welcome to participate. Contact Bill Bradley, wbradley@i2k.com 269-637-4525, or Dan Grow, grow.daniel@gmail.com.

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June 2 – Wayne County LP Monthly Meeting – 7 p.m. - Kiernans Steak House, 21931 Michigan Ave, Dearborn (at Monroe). Contact Ray Warner, 313-598-3666 raymondrand@yahoo.com

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June 2 – Livingston County LP - 7-8:30 pm. The Livingston County LP meets the first Thursday of each month at Cleary's Irish Pub, 117 E Grand River Ave, Howell 48843 (non-smoking area). The meeting will have 4 parts: Mingling (over dinner, if you want), studies in liberty, news and party business. Contact Todd Richardson, chair.livingstonlp@gmail.com.

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June 4-5 – Motor City PrideFest – Hart Plaza, Detroit - We have had an information booth at this event (used to be in Ferndale) for over twenty years. It’s our best outreach to the gay community. If you would like to volunteer to staff the booth, contact Raymond Warner, 313-361-2522, raymondrand@yahoo.com

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June 6 – Great Lakes Bay Region LP - Monthly Meeting – The group meets on the 1st Monday of the month. Dinner at 6, meeting at 7 at Damon’s, 4960 Towne Centre Rd, Saginaw Township, MI 48604 (off Tittabawassee, just west of I-675 at exit 6). Everyone interested in liberty from Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac and Tuscola counties is invited. Contact Denee Rockman-Moon, denee.rockman-moon@live.com.

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June 7 - LP of Washtenaw County Monthly Meeting -7 to 9 pm at Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor (In the Parkland Plaza west of Ann Arbor). LPWC now meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month. See its website at http://lpwc.wordpress.com. Contact Paul Giuliano, pgiulian@umich.edu.

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June 14 – LP of West Michigan Monthly Meeting – 6:30 pm. Join the LPWM on the second Tuesday of the month at Perkins Restaurant, 5121 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512 (just off I 96). Contact Nick Sundquist, Nicholas.sundquist@yahoo.com, 231-750-5468

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June 14 – Capital Area LP Monthly Meeting – 7 pm at former LPM office, 2722 E Michigan Ave, Ste 22, Lansing (park and enter in back). Contact Will Tyler White, 517-349-3806, whitewi5@msu.edu

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June 15 – Libertarians of Macomb County Monthly Meeting - All members of the Libertarian Party, their friends and family, and anyone interested in learning more about the LP are invited to attend. The meeting begins at 7:30 but feel free to join us for good food and conversation at 6:30 pm at the Loon River Café, 34911 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights. Contact Jim Allison, jim.e.allison@gmail.com

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June 15 – LP of Oakland County Monthly Meeting – The LP of Oakland County meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. 6:30 pm dinner, 7:30 meeting. Sila's Restaurant, 4033 W. 12 Mile (2 blocks east of Greenfield), Berkley. Contact Jim Fulner, fulner@gmail.com

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June 28 – LP of Calhoun County Monthly Meeting - Executive Committee, 7 p.m. Please contact Jack Worsham for location. (269) 963-2679, WORSHAM74@aol.com

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July 4 – Happy Independence Day!

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July 6 - LP of Washtenaw County Monthly Meeting -7 to 9 pm at Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor (In the Parkland Plaza west of Ann Arbor). The LP of Washtenaw County has changed its meetings to the first Tuesday of every month. You can see more announcements and information regarding the LPWC at its new website, http://lpwc.wordpress.com. Contact LPWC Chair, Paul Giuliano, pgiulian@umich.edu

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July 6 – LP of South West Michigan Executive Committee Meeting – 6:00 – 6:50 pm at IHOP, 1981 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor. Guests are welcome. Followed by: Round Table Political Forum hosted by the LP of South West Michigan. 7-9 pm at The Livery, 190 Fifth St, Benton Harbor. Visitors are welcome to participate. Contact Bill Bradley, wbradley@i2k.com 269-637-4525, or Dan Grow, grow.daniel@gmail.com

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July 7 – Wayne County LP Monthly Meeting – 7 p.m. - Kiernans Steak House, 21931 Michigan Ave, Dearborn (at Monroe). Speaker: Scotty Boman. Contact Ray Warner, 313-598-3666

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July 7 – Livingston County LP Monthly Meeting - 7-8:30 pm. The Livingston County LP meets the first Thursday of each month at Cleary's Irish Pub, 117 E Grand River Ave, Howell 48843. Join them to discuss local and national news from a Libertarian perspective. Contact Todd Richardson chair.livingstonlp@gmail.com for details

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July 11- Great Lakes Bay Region LP - Monthly Meeting – The monthly meeting is moved by one week due to the holiday. Dinner at 6, meeting at 7 at Damon’s, 4960 Towne Centre Rd, Saginaw Township, MI 48604 (off Tittabawassee, just west of I-675 at exit 6). Everyone interested in liberty from Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac and Tuscola counties is invited. Jay Longtain, jlongtain@yahoo.com

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July 12 – LP of West Michigan Monthly Meeting – 6:30 pm. Join the LPWM on the second Tuesday of the month at Perkins Restaurant, 5121 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512 (just off I 96). Contact Nick Sundquist, Nicholas.sundquist@yahoo.com, 231-750-5468

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July 12 – Capital Area LP Monthly Meeting – 7 pm at former LPM office, 2722 E Michigan Ave, Ste 22, Lansing (park and enter in back). Contact Will Tyler White, 517-349-3806, whitewi5@msu.edu

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July 20 – LP of Oakland County Meeting – 6:30 pm dinner, 7:30 meeting -The LP of Oakland County meets the third Wednesday of the month at Sila's Restaurant, 4033 W. 12 Mile (2 blocks east of Greenfield), Berkley. Contact Jim Fulner, fulner@gmail.com

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July 20 – Libertarians of Macomb County Monthly Meeting - All members of the Libertarian Party, their friends and family, and anyone interested in learning more about the LP are invited to attend. The meeting begins at 7:30 but feel free to join us for good food and conversation at 6:30 pm at the Loon River Café, 34911 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights. Contact Jim Allison, jim.e.allison@gmail.com

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July 26 – LP of Calhoun County Monthly Meeting - Executive Committee, 7 p.m. Please contact Jack Worsham for location. (269) 963-2679, WORSHAM74@aol.com

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August 19-21 – Libertarian State Leadership Conference and Libertarian National Committee Meeting – Chestnut Hyatt Regency hotel, downtown Columbus, Ohio. More information: http://lsla.lpin.org/

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More... For all events, see the full online calendar on the Website:
http://www.mi.lp.org/Shared Documents/Calendar.aspx The Michigan Libertarian ONLINE is distributed on the first of each month. Send calendar events and news articles by the 25th of the prior month to:
e-newsletter@michiganlp.org

Note: The final print edition of the Michigan Libertarian is available online at http://www.mi.lp.org/Past%20Newsletters/ Michigan%20Libertarian%2038.2%20summer%202009.pdf

The Michigan Libertarian is published/posted on the first of each month. Send calendar events and news/articles to e-newsletter@michiganlp.org by the 25th of the prior month. The Michigan Libertarian is one of the longest-running Libertarian newsletters in the country, debuting in 1973 shortly after the founding of the Libertarian Party of Michigan. The "new" Michigan Libertarian (a predominantly online version) debuted on August 1, 2009 and replaced the weekly LPMOnline and the printed-and-mailed ML.  We will post the newsletter on the Website and deliver via email on the first of every month. A printed version of the new Michigan Libertarian will be sent free to anyone who signs up, which you may do at the LPM web site www.mi.lp.org (or www.michiganlp.org).

LPM members who need a hard copy may request one be mailed to them by contacting
e-newsletter@michiganlp.org or calling the LPM toll-free number 888-Free-Now.

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Newsletter URL (Webpage address for this issue of the ML):
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