Watch The Hilarious Saga Of These Cats Becoming Obsessed With A Blender

A trio of rescue cats in Langford, B.C. have taken turns atop a Vitamix blender box. The saga has fascinated social media users worldwide. A Facebook page dedicated to the cats has more than 19,000 followers. The couple says the saga has been a much-needed distraction amid grim news.

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New Study Finds This Simple Drink Choice Helps Gamers Stay Focused For Hours

For anyone trying to stay sharp through hours at a screen, the latest suggestion is pretty simple: reach for sparkling water. A new study led by researchers from the University of Tsukuba in Japan found sparkling water outperformed still water in helping casual esports players maintain attention and reduce fatigue during long gaming sessions. The researchers looked at a familiar problem for gamers. To keep concentration and alertness up over long stretches, many turn to coffee or energy drinks loaded with caffeine. The study team wanted to test a healthier option and see if sparkling water could help. The experiment involved 14 casual gamers, who played virtual soccer for three hours on two separate occasions. In one session they drank plain water. In the other, they drank sparkling water. The researchers then compared several measures, including reaction times, pupil size as an indicator of fatigue, physical stress and players' own reports of tiredness. Sparkling water came out ahead. "Compared to plain water, sparkling water significantly attenuated increases in subjective fatigue, enhanced enjoyment, and preserved executive function, along with preventing pupil constriction," the researchers wrote in their published paper. They also reported no difference in some other physical measures. "Heart rate, blood glucose, and salivary cortisol levels did not differ between conditions." The study was based in part on an existing hypothesis about carbonation and cognition. According to the source text, sparkling, or carbonated, water has already been shown to improve performance in some cognitive tasks. Researchers think the carbon dioxide in the drink may act on sensory receptors in the mouth known as transient receptor potential, or TRP, channels, which may increase brain arousal. This study did not test that mechanism directly. But the findings add to evidence that carbonated water may improve cognitive function in at least one real-world setting, such as prolonged gaming sessions. The benefits did not appear to come at the expense of game performance. Players said they felt more alert and focused when drinking sparkling water, and the researchers also saw signs they had better control over their virtual teams. "Notably, players committed fewer in-game fouls with sparkling water, while offensive and defensive performance remained unchanged," the researchers wrote. They said the overall pattern matched what they had expected to see. "These findings demonstrate that sparkling water contributes to alleviating both subjective and objective signs of cognitive fatigue during prolonged esports play, consistent with our hypothesis." The researchers also pointed to uses outside gaming. The source text says there are many modern activities people try to do while tired, including driving and late-night office work. A healthier drink option that may help focus could appeal beyond esports. Still, the paper comes with an important caveat around funding. The study was partly funded by a soft drinks company that makes sparkling water, including the brand used in the experiments. Two of the study's authors also work for that company, which could benefit if sparkling water gains a higher profile. The authors collectively said the funding sources had "no involvement" in the study design, data collection, data analysis or data interpretation. They also said the writing of the study and the decision to publish were made independently. The findings may prompt gamers to try sparkling water the next time they need to stay focused for a long stretch, but the study did not compare the drink directly with coffee or energy drinks. The researchers said more work is needed to test sparkling water against a wider range of drinks and in a broader group of people. They also said more detailed research could examine the biological effects behind the results. "The physiological mechanism underlying the observed effects of sparkling water was not directly examined," the researchers wrote. "While we discussed that carbonation-induced stimulation of pharyngeal TRP channels contributed to the effect, this was not examined directly." They said answering that question would need a different type of research. "Investigating this would require foundational studies, distinct from applied research in esports contexts, using approaches such as pharmacological interventions or TRP knockout animal models." The research has been published in Computers in Human Behavior Reports.

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Italy Shocks USA in World Baseball Classic with Dugout Kisses and Espresso Shots

Team Italy has found its own way to mark a home run, and it comes in a tiny cup. At the World Baseball Classic, the team has turned espresso into a dugout ritual. After a player goes deep, he gets handed a shot of coffee instead of a jacket or a string of handshakes. The espresso machine has been part of Italy’s setup since 2023, according to MLB.com, and it is still going strong as the team opens this year’s tournament 3-0. Team USA felt the effect Tuesday night in Houston, when Italy beat the Americans 8-6 in Pool B play at Daikin Park. Italy had already beaten Brazil 8-0 and Great Britain 7-4 on Sunday. Against the United States, catcher Kyle Teel, shortstop Sam Antonacci and right fielder Jac Caglianone all homered. Team captain Vinnie Pasquantino met each of them with a shot of espresso, then kissed them on each cheek. Italy manager Francisco Cervelli said the coffee celebration is no gimmick. "It’s something normal,” Cervelli said. “We got it on the bus. We’ve had it in the dugout, everywhere." Cervelli also said the tradition connects players to their ancestry. "In Italy, we drink coffee about 20 times a day," Cervelli, a former MLB catcher who won a World Series with the Yankees in 2009, said. "It’s a tradition. You’re walking down the road. You see a coffee spot, get some coffee. Then you chitchat, and then keep walking and do the same thing all over and over again. That’s how Italy is." Drinking hot coffee in a humid Houston dugout might seem unusual, but for Italy, it has become routine. The win over the United States put Italy in a strong position, playing Puero Rico in the quarter finals on Saturday. For now, Italy has the wins, the momentum and the espresso machine in the dugout.

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Pokémon Fossil Museum Draws Huge Crowds And Overwhelms Ticket Sales In Chicago

It did not take long for ticket buyers to jam the line. When tickets for the “Pokémon Fossil Museum” went on sale on March 3, thousands of fans logged on at the same time and overwhelmed the Field Museum’s website, NBC Chicago’s Izzy Stroobandt reported. At one point, more than 23,000 people were waiting in the virtual line for tickets. Chicagoan Genevieve Bookwalter was one of them. She eventually got tickets for her family, but only after waiting in a virtual line for eight hours, according to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Stefano Esposito. She said she knew the exhibition would be popular, but “didn’t expect it to be so crazy.” “This isn’t Taylor Swift,” she says. “This is Pokémon at the Field Museum.” The museum acknowledged the demand in an Instagram post and said it was troubleshooting issues with its ticketing platform. “Thank you all for your patience,” museum officials wrote in the post. “Even with additional web infrastructure, our site was overwhelmed from the enthusiastic response from all of you.” According to the museum, tickets from the initial batch are still available, and more will be released on a rolling basis. Fans need a separate timed-entry ticket for the exhibition, along with a general admission ticket for the museum. The exhibition opens in Chicago on May 22. It was created by the Field Museum, Japan’s National Museum of Nature and Science, and the Pokémon Company International. After debuting in Japan in 2021, the Chicago run marks the first time the show will be staged outside the country. The experience pairs creatures from the Pokémon video games, animated series and trading cards with the real fossils that inspired them. Visitors will see “fossil Pokémon,” including Tyrantrum and Archeops, displayed alongside real fossils and casts of dinosaurs and other creatures. The casts on view include Sue, a 40-foot-long Tyrannosaurus rex, and the Chicago Archaeopteryx, a fossil that sheds light on the evolution of birds. The exhibition also uses characters from the franchise and museum staff as guides. “Professors” from Pokémon and “Excavator Pikachu” will lead visitors through the show. Illustrations of Field Museum scientists, including chief fossil preparator Akiko Shinya, will also help guide people through the exhibition. Shinya said her favorite fossil Pokémon is Shieldon, which she compares to ceratopsids, a group of beaked, plant-eating dinosaurs that often had frills and horns on their heads. “Baby ceratopsids would’ve had shorter, narrower frills than adults’ broader, squared versions, kind of like the differences you see when Shieldon evolves into Bastiodon,” Shinya says in a statement. In a statement announcing the exhibition last year, Jaap Hoogstraten, the Field Museum’s head of exhibitions, said Pokémon sparks interest among fans in a way that connects with the museum’s work. Pokémon, created in 1996, stokes fascination and curiosity among fans “much in the same way the Field Museum encourages wonder and learning for its visitors,” Hoogstraten said. “Aligned with the Field Museum’s mission to connect us to the natural world, the ‘Pokémon Fossil Museum’ will inspire visitors to make new discoveries about some of their favorite Pokémon while offering a pathway to science, especially budding paleontologists,” he added. “Pokémon Fossil Museum” will be on view at the Field Museum from May 22, 2026, to April 11, 2027.

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The Bank Of England is Set to Put Nature On New Bills After a Public Vote

More than 26,000 people have voted to feature nature on UK sterling notes, replacing historical figures like Winston Churchill. This decision emerged from a public consultation conducted by the Bank of England, where nature was the top choice among 44,000 respondents, capturing 60 percent of the vote. The specific plants and animals to be depicted will be selected later this year. Scottish wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan, part of an expert panel compiling the list of potential wildlife images, emphasizes the importance of this change. "Nature is more than just scenery," he told euronews. "It is the living thread that binds our landscapes, our history, and our future together." The new banknotes are expected to inspire wildlife conservation efforts while also enhancing economic security. Victoria Cleland, chief cashier at the Bank of England, explains that introducing a new banknote series aims to increase counterfeit resilience. "Nature is a great choice from a banknote authentication perspective," she adds, noting its potential for developing security features that are easy for the public to recognize. Ali Fisher, founder and director of sustainability consultancy Plans with Purpose, views this shift as significant. "This is a powerful reminder of how deeply people feel connected to and value British wildlife," she says. "It’s a beautiful opportunity to put biodiversity literally in all our hands." The theme of Architecture and Landmarks was the second most popular in the consultation at 56 percent. Other themes included Notable Historical Figures (38 percent), Arts, Culture and Sport (30 percent), Innovation (23 percent), and Noteworthy Milestones (19 percent). Wildlife presenter and activist Nadeem Perera highlights the cultural significance of this change. “The wildlife of the UK is not separate from our culture,” he states. “Giving it space on something as symbolic as our currency feels both overdue and significant.” The UK isn't alone in celebrating nature on its currency. Scottish notes already feature animals like mackerel and otters. Norway's krone series includes wave motifs alongside Atlantic cod and herring. Switzerland shifted away from famous personalities in 2016; its banknotes now showcase elements like wind and water. In addition to these changes in Europe, future euro banknotes might also spotlight nature by featuring birds and rivers across Europe. The European Central Bank is considering these designs following a contest for EU designers in 2025. Fisher believes such cultural shifts are important during challenging times. “In a cost‑of‑living, climate and nature crisis,” she says, “small cultural shifts like this matter.”

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Altadena Musician Helps Fire Survivors Replace Lost Instruments

When Michelle Bellamy fled the Palisades Fire, one item pulled at her attention: Gretchyn, the acoustic Martin guitar a neighbor had given her years earlier, and the one she wrote all her songs on. She left it behind, thinking she would be back. Instead, the fire took the home she shared with her three children in January 2025. Months later, Bellamy got another guitar, this one from Pacific Palisades resident Abby Sher, who had stopped playing one of her “prized possessions.” The donation came through Altadena Musicians, a nonprofit started by composer Brandon Jay after the Eaton Fire destroyed his home and recording studio, along with the instruments he and his wife had collected. “The loss has led to this beautiful story,” Bellamy told USA Today, referring to the gift of “this amazing guitar that I’m forever grateful for from Abby.” Bellamy calls Jay a “matchmaker.” He has spent the months since the Los Angeles fires helping people replace instruments and audio equipment through donations. Jay said the idea took shape quickly after his own loss. No more than two weeks after the Eaton Fire started, he had a gig at Pasadena Neighbor Day. He posted on Facebook about the instruments he needed, and people he knew brought them to the show. That moment also sharpened what he wanted from replacement instruments. “I want to replace them with ones that I get from friends or from people in the music community,” Jay said. “I don’t want to just get some money from my homeowner’s insurance and then buy instruments that don’t have a story behind them, because it’s just going to make me sad that I don’t have the first guitar that I learned how to play on, or the harmonium that my mother-in-law gave us that my daughter wrote her first song on.” Altadena Musicians launched less than a month after the Eaton Fire broke out. Bellamy said she reached out over social media last year and heard back almost immediately. “And within 20 minutes after messaging them, Brandon texted me and was like, ‘Oh my God, I'm so thankful you messaged us,’” Bellamy said. She said Jay told her, “We've been looking for someone that lost a Martin that is the same description as the one you lost in the fire.” That led Bellamy to Sher. Jay said he likes donors and recipients to meet directly. When the two met in April 2025, they hugged, and Sher handed over the guitar, an instrument her brother had given her and one she had not played for years. “I would have sold it, as I had planned to,” Sher said. “But if I could help to restore her loss, that was the motivation for me in giving it,” she said. Altadena Musicians has also helped Sunny Lu, who lost her home and basement studio in the Eaton Fire. Lu narrates audiobooks, and on a Sunday in January, during an instrument drive for the nonprofit, she received an Apollo Twin X audio interface. Lu said the device allows for professional-level, quality sound output, and it was something she could not have justified replacing for herself anytime soon. “Because it's been donated and has its story, it also has been imbued with this new importance,” Lu said. “There's something about it reentering my life in this very special way where I feel like I need to give it the extra respect that it's due, because now I have like a duty and responsibility as the next, the next user, the next owner,” she said. The group has also inspired others. Gayle Nicholls-Ali, whose husband Rasheed Ali lost his recording studio in the Eaton Fire and who also lost her photography studio, said seeing Altadena Musicians pushed her to ask who was helping photographers. After talking with Jay in 2025 about how he built the group, she started Altadena Photographers, which also works to help people replace lost equipment through donations. Nicholls-Ali said that work also includes mental health support, connecting people to jobs, and helping with needs such as computers or access to a printer for photos. “We're thinking about holistically, how can we help beyond the camera gear?” Nicholls-Ali said. “How can we help?” Jay called her work “incredible.” Altadena Musicians launched an app in 2025 called Instrument Giving, described by the organization as a “wedding registry for musicians” that lets people list what they lost in the Los Angeles fires. Jay said he wants to expand it so people affected by disasters anywhere in the country can use it to replace lost instruments and equipment. He is also building something closer to home with the recently rebranded Altadena Music Center in Pasadena. Jay said the space has already hosted open mic nights, live music and a guitar repair evening. He plans to hold a grand opening later this year and said the site will also include a place for people affected by the fires to rebuild their record collections and a recording studio for community use. “The one super cool thing in all this is just people meeting each other and building a bigger music community, both people that are fire impacted and then other people that are just donating instruments and just meeting people that they're giving them to and staying in contact and coming and seeing them play live,” he said.

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A Truck Driver Just Helped a Teen Pilot Land a Powerless Plane Safely On a Florida Road

What started as a routine flight for a 19-year-old pilot turned into an emergency landing on a busy Florida road, with help from a truck driver who stepped in as the plane lost power just minutes after takeoff. Niko Bray was flying a small single-engine plane with a passenger on Friday afternoon when the aircraft suddenly lost power. The plane was only a few hundred feet above the ground, leaving Bray with little time to respond. “I knew I was only about 500 feet off the ground, so I knew I was going down for sure,” Bray said. Bray scanned the area for a place to land. He first considered a nearby coastal road, but quickly decided it was too tight. He then turned toward a wider road and prepared to bring the plane down in the middle of afternoon traffic. A truck driver saw what was happening and helped clear the way. The driver slowed traffic and held vehicles back, creating a path for the plane as it descended. Bray landed the aircraft safely and no one was injured. The landing happened at about 2:30 p.m. and prompted multiple 911 calls from drivers who saw the scene. Emergency crews arrived soon after, but the plane was already on the ground and the emergency had ended safely. Bray said the full weight of what happened did not sink in until he saw his mother again afterward. “Very grateful for her. She’s funded my dreams of becoming a pilot,” Bray said. “I’m glad to be able to hug her again, for sure.” 📸 credit: CBS 12 News

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This Miracle Berry Is Helping Cancer Patients Enjoy Food Again By Transforming Taste

For many people undergoing chemotherapy, one of the most frustrating side effects is losing the ability to enjoy food. But a small red fruit known as the miracle berry may be helping some patients rediscover the taste of their meals. The fruit, scientifically called Synsepalum dulcificum, is native to West Africa, where it is traditionally known as àgbáyun. It has a remarkable property: after eating the berry, sour foods can taste sweet. That unusual effect comes from a compound inside the fruit called miraculin. Researchers have found that when miraculin interacts with acidic foods, it activates the tongue’s sweet taste receptors. The result is an immediate shift in flavor perception, making sour foods taste sugary or mild. Scientists say this reaction can last about 30 to 40 minutes. While the berry itself does not treat cancer, it may help patients cope with a common chemotherapy side effect known as “chemo mouth.” Chemotherapy can alter taste in ways that make food unpleasant or even unbearable. Many patients report a persistent metallic or bitter flavor that makes eating difficult. “What patients report with chemotherapy is that they may develop a bothersome taste that could be described as metallic, rotten food,” said Mike Cusnir. Cusnir, who works at Mount Sinai Medical Center, has led early studies examining whether miracle berries can make food more palatable for chemotherapy patients. He explained that the berry does not prevent chemotherapy side effects or fight cancer directly. Instead, it helps restore the enjoyment of eating during treatment. For some patients, that can make a meaningful difference in daily life. Julie Ascen, who has been battling lymphoma, said the fruit has helped her reclaim something simple but important. “It is one of those miracles that, if you have this disease, you want to live your life and not have it control you,” she said. “And this lets it not control me; I can control myself.” Because miraculin breaks down quickly once the fruit is picked, miracle berries are often sold in freeze-dried form to preserve their effect. The plant can also be grown in certain warm climates. According to growers, parts of Florida provide conditions similar to the berry’s native West African forests, allowing it to thrive there. Outside of medical use, the fruit has also become popular as a novelty experience. People sometimes eat a miracle berry before tasting lemons or other sour foods, transforming their flavor into something surprisingly sweet. For cancer patients struggling with chemotherapy-related taste changes, however, the tiny fruit may offer something more meaningful: the ability to enjoy a meal again.

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Scientists Discover Hedgehogs Hear Ultrasound, Paving Way for Road Safety Innovations

Hedgehogs may soon get some unexpected help avoiding cars thanks to a surprising discovery about their hearing. Scientists have found that hedgehogs can hear very high-frequency ultrasound, a finding that could lead to new technology designed to warn the animals away from roads and other dangers. The research, led by Sophie Lund Rasmussen and colleagues in Denmark, suggests that ultrasonic deterrents could one day help reduce the number of hedgehogs killed by vehicles. Across Europe, road traffic is believed to kill up to one in three hedgehogs. Those losses have contributed significantly to the animal’s steep population decline in recent decades. To understand the animals’ hearing abilities, researchers worked with 20 rehabilitated hedgehogs housed in wildlife rescue centres in Denmark. Using a technique called auditory brainstem response testing, scientists placed tiny electrodes on the animals to measure electrical signals travelling between the inner ear and the brain. They then played bursts of sound through a loudspeaker at different frequencies. The results were striking. The hedgehogs’ brains responded to sounds ranging from 4 to 85 kilohertz. That means the animals can detect ultrasound frequencies far beyond what humans can hear. Humans typically hear sounds only up to about 20 kilohertz, while dogs can hear frequencies up to roughly 45 kilohertz. To better understand why hedgehogs can detect such high pitches, the researchers also conducted micro-CT scans of a hedgehog ear. The scans allowed them to build a detailed three-dimensional model of the animal’s hearing structures. The model revealed several previously unknown features. Hedgehogs have unusually small and dense middle-ear bones, along with a partially fused joint connecting the eardrum to the first bone in the chain. This structure makes the ear’s mechanism stiffer, helping it transmit high-frequency sounds more efficiently. Similar traits are found in animals such as echolocating bats that rely on ultrasound to detect prey. The findings could lead to new safety tools. Researchers say it may be possible to develop ultrasonic repellers for cars, lawn mowers and garden equipment that would warn hedgehogs and encourage them to move away before danger approaches. Because hedgehogs can hear extremely high frequencies, engineers might be able to design signals that remain above the hearing range of most pets. “Having discovered that hedgehogs can hear in ultrasound, the next stage will be to find collaborators within the car industry to fund and design sound repellents for cars,” Rasmussen said. “If our future research shows that it proves possible to design an effective device to keep hedgehogs away from cars, this could have a significant impact in reducing the threat of road traffic to the declining European hedgehog.” The study was published in Biology Letters. If the technology proves successful, scientists say it could become an important tool in protecting one of Europe’s most beloved small mammals.

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This Mom Named Her Baby After the Police Officer Who Helped Her During Delivery

Sometimes the trip to the hospital does not go as planned. For Kashanna Legette, it turned into a moment she says she will never forget and neither will the police officers who helped bring her baby into the world. The New York City mother went into labor on February 13 before she could reach the hospital. Her daughter, Zanovia, was determined to arrive early. “I have to go downstairs to try to get to the hospital. Then I didn’t make it to the hospital,” Legette recalled. Instead, the birth happened just outside her building. After calling for help, several officers arrived within minutes. Among them was Katerin Villar, who quickly checked Legette’s contractions and realized there was no time to wait for an ambulance. The baby was coming right away. Other officers stayed beside Legette, holding her hand and encouraging her to breathe while the delivery unfolded. Keanu Phillip, who is expecting a child himself, said he reacted the same way he would if a member of his own family needed help. Meanwhile, Roddmy Remy stepped in with a simple but meaningful gesture. He removed his jacket and wrapped the newborn to keep her warm. Legette was deeply moved by the officers’ kindness. “That was beautiful,” she said. The moment meant so much to her that she decided to honor Remy in a lasting way. She gave her daughter his name as a middle name. When Remy later returned to the hospital to pick up the jacket, Legette shared the news. “When I went back to the hospital to pick up my jacket and the mom told me the name, and I was, I was in shock,” Remy said. “And the first thing I did, I’m like, ‘Can I take a picture with you because this is probably the coolest thing that’s gonna happen in my career.’” The officers had originally been stationed nearby for crime prevention duties, but their quick response meant they reached Legette before other first responders could arrive. What could have been a frightening situation instead became a safe delivery and a memorable beginning for baby Zanovia. And thanks to one officer’s jacket and a mother’s gratitude, the story will now live on in her name.

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A Veteran is Raising Thousands To Get a Service Dog For This Teen With Disabilities

When Shawn Wintermote heard that a teenager in his community needed a service dog, he immediately understood how life-changing that support could be. Wintermote, a military veteran, relies on a service dog himself. The animal helps monitor his health and alert him to dangerous changes in his blood pressure. “I have a service dog, and she goes everywhere with me and detects my blood pressure and any signs of a heart attack. I couldn’t get away from the fact that we needed to do something,” Wintermote told The Argus-Press. The teenager he wanted to help was 14-year-old Zachary Cook, who lives with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. A trained service dog could assist with safety, independence and daily support. Wintermote decided to launch a fundraiser to help Zachary get one. He initially set a goal of $13,000, hoping to cover both the cost of the dog and the specialized training required. “In my mind, if we can raise enough money to pay for the dog, we’ll work on the training, so we set a goal for $13,000. It kind of felt we were shooting for the moon,” Wintermote told Mid-Michigan Now. “And shoot, I think we hit that number, I think in three weeks.” The fundraiser quickly exceeded expectations. Soon, Zachary would have a service dog named Kobe joining the family. Zachary’s father, Greg Cook, said the teenager is known for his kindness and positive spirit. “Everybody loves him and he has one of the biggest hearts. The kids at school love him. I mean, they just, are really good friends for him and they keep an eye out for him,” Greg Cook said. For Wintermote, helping Zachary was deeply personal. He said the teenager’s resilience and outlook have left a lasting impression. “His heart and his attitude have made me rethink my own attitude. so for him to go through what he’s going through, he’s a good kid,” Wintermote said. The community’s generosity did more than fund one service dog. Organizers say any extra money raised will be used to help another person receive a service dog as well. Meanwhile, Zachary’s family has also launched a separate fundraiser to assist with additional care and related expenses. For Wintermote, the effort shows how powerful a community can be when people come together to help someone in need.

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