Apple Joins Retailers Ending Sales of Confederate Flag Items

Games featuring the Confederate flag used in offensive ways are being removed from the App Store in response to the recent Charleston church murders.

Apple has joined the growing list of retailers that have been pulling products featuring the Confederate flag from their shelves and online offerings since the June 17 slayings of nine African-Americans by a 21-year-old White man in a racially motivated attack in a Charleston, S.C., church.

In response to the murders, Apple began contacting affected game developers on June 25, advising them that the company was pulling affected games from the iTunes App Store, according to a story by CNNMoney.  

"We have removed apps from the App Store that use the Confederate flag in offensive or mean-spirited ways, which is in violation of our guidelines," Apple said in a statement. "We are not removing apps that display the Confederate flag for educational or historical uses."

An Apple spokesman did not immediately respond to an emailed inquiry from eWEEK about the situation on June 26.

 

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In its communications with affected games developers, Apple cited its existing App Store product guidelines, which allow the rejection of "apps containing references or commentary about a religious, cultural or ethnic group that are defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited or likely to expose the targeted group to harm or violence," according to the CNNMoney report.

Apple also told the affected developers that their apps had been removed from the App Store, but the company said: "We encourage you to review your app concept and incorporate different content and features that are in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines."

The recent sensitivity about the Confederate flag mushroomed after photos surfaced of the suspect in the Charleston church slayings, Dylann Roof, posing with the flag on a Website that included racist messages. Roof has been charged with nine counts of murder in the case and the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the slayings, which occurred during a Bible study session in the church, as a hate crime, according to a June 25 report by Reuters.

A wide range of other retailers have been announcing their own efforts to remove products featuring the Confederate flag from their stores and online offerings in reaction to the Charleston murders, including Amazon, Walmart, Sears and others.

The shootings at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church ignited a heated reaction to the flag and its Civil War symbolism of racism and hate that remains today, particularly after the photos of Roof and the flag were uncovered. In addition to posing with the flag in photos, Roof also allegedly made racist remarks to his victims as he shot them, according to a June 26 Reuters report. The attacks have also inspired a groundswell of support for proposals among a growing number of elected officials to remove Confederate symbols and names from public buildings.

Apple's move to pull products featuring offensive Confederate flag references was perhaps foreshadowed by a Twitter post from the company's CEO, Tim Cook, a few days after the Charleston slayings.

"My thoughts are with the victims' families in SC," Cook tweeted on June 21. "Let us honor their lives by eradicating racism & removing the symbols & words that feed it."

source : Eweek

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Google Startup Aims to Bring Fast, Free Wi-Fi to Cities

Sidewalk Labs, the Google-backed urban innovation startup unveiled this month, has picked its first project—bringing free, fast Wi-Fi to cities around the world.

Today it announced it is leading a group of investors acquiring Control Group and Titan, among the companies working on the LinkNYC network to blanket New York City with free, superfast Wi-Fi. The two have merged to form Intersection, which will oversee the rollout of LinkNYC this fall and then seek to install similar technology in other cities.

Come September, tall, thin pillars with digital tablet interfaces and large ads slapped on the sides will begin to replace New York's derelict pay phone booths. In addition to offering free wireless Internet access to anyone in a 150-foot radius, they will include amenities like free phone charging, phone calling, Internet browsing, and access to local services and information. Through Titan's advertising network, Link could bring $500 million in ad revenue to the city over the next 12 years, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio's office. Sidewalk Labs declined to disclose its share of the revenue.

Sidewalk is targeting issues of modern cities such as pollution, energy, traffic, communications, and cost of living. "It was formed to look at the confluence of the physical and digital world to solve urban problems," Chief Executive Officer Dan Doctoroff said. He wouldn't say which cities he has in mind for the Wi-Fi push but predicted the technology will go global. "There are certainly places that it's immediately replicable," he said, adding that the idea is to "use technology not to make cities all the same, but enhance what makes them unique and individual."

Doctoroff was a deputy mayor of New York City under Michael Bloomberg and is the former CEO of Bloomberg LP, which owns Bloomberg Business.  

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Google Startup Aims to Bring Fast, Free Wi-Fi to Cities

Sidewalk Labs, the Google-backed urban innovation startup unveiled this month, has picked its first project—bringing free, fast Wi-Fi to cities around the world.

Today it announced it is leading a group of investors acquiring Control Group and Titan, among the companies working on the LinkNYC network to blanket New York City with free, superfast Wi-Fi. The two have merged to form Intersection, which will oversee the rollout of LinkNYC this fall and then seek to install similar technology in other cities.

Come September, tall, thin pillars with digital tablet interfaces and large ads slapped on the sides will begin to replace New York's derelict pay phone booths. In addition to offering free wireless Internet access to anyone in a 150-foot radius, they will include amenities like free phone charging, phone calling, Internet browsing, and access to local services and information. Through Titan's advertising network, Link could bring $500 million in ad revenue to the city over the next 12 years, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio's office. Sidewalk Labs declined to disclose its share of the revenue.

Sidewalk is targeting issues of modern cities such as pollution, energy, traffic, communications, and cost of living. "It was formed to look at the confluence of the physical and digital world to solve urban problems," Chief Executive Officer Dan Doctoroff said. He wouldn't say which cities he has in mind for the Wi-Fi push but predicted the technology will go global. "There are certainly places that it's immediately replicable," he said, adding that the idea is to "use technology not to make cities all the same, but enhance what makes them unique and individual."

Doctoroff was a deputy mayor of New York City under Michael Bloomberg and is the former CEO of Bloomberg LP, which owns Bloomberg Business.  

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SUMMARY OF THE BRAVE LITTLE PARROT

The brave little parrot

(source : Buddhist legend , rafe martins adaptation)

Apply the four levels of reading to the story "The Brave Little Parrot "

I.                Literal comprehension

The source of this story is Buddhist legend . this story basically represents the essence of Buddhism . once, lord Buddha was born as a little parrot . one day  , the home forest of the parrot caught fire. As he was flying to a safety place for life , he saw many fellow animals being trapped by fire with no chance of escape. suddenly a desperate idea to save their life came to his mind . he flew quickly to the river , dipped himself into the water , flew back over the raging fire, shook his wings and released the few drops of water which still clung to his wings . although he was badly affected by the extreme heat of the fire , he continued his effort to put out fire so that he could save the life of his fellows. At that time some gods were floating over the raging fire. When they saw the hopeless task of the parrot , they laughed at him . one of the god was touched by his great task . then he disguised himself as a golden eagle and flew down towards the parrot . he advised the parrot to stop his task and save his life but the parrot continued his task. The god who had disguised himself as an eagle grew ashamed and desired to help the parrot. Stream after stream of tears poured from his eyes and the fire died down . the miraculous rain gave new life to every thing . the grass , the plants and the leaves got new freshness . the parrot also got washed and got new colorful feathers and strength . not a single animal was harmed . finally , they gave a shout of "hurray" for their little friend and the miraculous rain of tear.

II.                Interpretation   

This story is trying to tell something about the essence of Buddhism . it tells the readers that helpfulness and kindness are the true essence of Buddhism . we should help others who are in difficulty and trouble being selfless. That is the best religion . we should not give up our task . we get success sooner or later . we get support for holy mission by others . this story is trying to tell the readers that a helpful and noble person is always respected and praised by others . we should have love for other creatures as well . this is also about the importance of courage for right work and confidence to have successful achievement  in life .

III.       Assimilation

In spite of being a meaningful story, here are some points that the critical readers don’t agree to . the readers of the scientific age don’t believe the parrot to be the reincarnation of Buddha . Does the god take rebirth as a parrot ? Does as eagle weep in such a miraculous way? Can the tears fall as a stream ?can all the birds , animals , and plants be restored in no time? Such incidents are quite impossible in real life . this story is not on the ground of reality . but it does not mean that there is nothing important in the story to tell to the readers.

IV.      Assimilation

This story has brought a great change in me. After reading this story I realized that kindness and helpfulness are the true essence of life. I understood the core of Buddhism . while reading this story I identified myself as the parrot . I felt as if I saw the incident . if I were in that situation , I would like to put out the fire like the parrot did . this story has aroused a sense of kindness and helpfulness in my heart . I knew the god helps those people who help others selflessly .

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FROM THIS LESSON

Ø THE BRAVE LITTLE PARROT CAN BE INTERPRETED AS AN ADVICE TO YOU ABOUT HOW YOU SHOULD CONDUCT YOUR OWN LIFE . EXPLAIN WHAT THIS ADVICE MIGHT BE.

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नेपाली प्रेम पत्र

** Nepali Love Letter By Swpnil Nirav ***अहो, फेरि अर्को मुटु चुँड्ने दिनले हामीलाई स्पर्श गरिसकेछ । समय कति बेगवान छ है, तिमीसँग भौतिक रुपमा टाढिएको पनि बर्षौ बितेछ । हिजो आज त चिठीपत्र टेलिफोन इमेल सबै सबै बन्द भए । तर झझल्कोमा अझै पनि तिमी नै तिमी छौ । सत्य, समयका कैयौ झरी असिनाले पखाल्दा चुट्दा पनि सम्झनाका तस्बिरहरु खुइलिएनन् ।
कति कति गाह्रो छ, कति कति मुस्किल छ सम्झनाको खेल पनि । नसम्झु जिउन मुस्किल ,सम्झु बाँच्न झनै मुस्किल । भन्न त भन्छु,आफुलाई सम्हालु रोकु अनि बिगत चट्ट भुलेर अगाडि बढु । तर जब जब त्यस्ता प्रेमिल साँझहरु दोहोरिन्छन अनि एक्लै एक्लै बसेर कल्पन मन लाग्छ,सम्झन मन लाग्छ ।त्यसो त पुरै जिन्दगी हराएर,कर्तब्य हराएर तिमीलाई सम्झेको हैन । तर जब पुरै जिन्दगी बिर्सेर कर्तब्य भुलेर आफैसँग रमाउन खोज्छु तब तिमी मसँग हुन्छौ ।

स्वर्णिम कति अमिल्दो छ हैन ? सामाजिकताको दह्रो खम्बा समाएर उभिएकी तिम्री स्वप्निल एकान्तमा कर्तब्य भुल्छे,जिन्दगी भुल्छे र तिमीसँग रमाउछे । चेतनामा म यी सब भुल्दिन तर कहिले काँही के त्यस्तो तन्द्रा छाउँछ कुन्नि ?
कहिले काँहि आफ्नो बडो माया लागेर आउँछ । लाग्छ,पलपल तड्पेर कति दगुर्नु समाज र संस्कारको पछाडी? त्यसो त अब अल्लारे रहेनौ हामी।अतः पारिवारिक कर्तव्य भुलेर प्रेमकै खातिर जिउज्यान अर्पन सुहाउदैन ।म अनि तिमी भेतिनुको गन्तव्य भेटिनुमै हाम्रो प्रेमको जीत छैन ।हाम्रा आफ्नाहरू बाट अलग्गिएर छुट्टिएर प्राप्त भएको प्रेममा न त तिमी खुसी हुन सक्छौ न त म नै ।भन्न त भन्छन-पहिले आफ्नो बारेमा सोच्नु पर्छ ।तर आफ्नो एकतर्फी खुसीका लागि नाता सम्बन्ध परिवेश लत्त्याएर म केहि सोच्न सक्दिन । र तिमी पनि सक्दैनौ । तिम्रा आफ्ना भई बहिनी आमाबाबु बाट अलग रहेर तिम्रो जिन्दगी पुरा हुने सक्दैन । जेहोस स्वर्णिम, तिमी तिमी नै रहेरै मलाई प्रेम गर र म म रहेरै तिमीलाई प्रेम गर्न चाहन्छु । यहाँ जति सुकै आधुनिकता या स्वतन्त्रताका कुरा चलुन हामी आ-आफ्नो वास्तविकता भुलेर प्रेमको छुट्टै संसार रच्न सक्दैनौ ।
हिजो आज प्रेमका खातिर ज्यान फाल्नेहरुको खुब बिगबिगी छ । तर प्रेम देखि हारेर ज्यान अर्पनेहरु प्रति मलाई सख्त घृणा छ । मान्छेले यसरी जीवनलाई सस्तो गरि तौलिएको देखेर मलाई बडो अचम्म लाग्छ । मान्छेको जीवन केवल एउटा सम्बन्धमा गएर टुंगिदैन । प्रेमका अलावा पनि उसको फराकिलो सम्बन्ध हुन्छ । र त्यो सम्बन्ध प्रति पनि त्यत्तिकै वफादार हुनु जरुरी छ जति ऊ आफ्नो प्रेमी प्रेमीका प्रति छ ।
स्वर्णिम, प्रेमका बिषयमा धेरै नै नकारात्मक धारणा छन र त्यसलाई मेटाउनका लागि पनि हामीले हाम्रो प्रेमलाई धमिलिन दिनु हुन्न । जेहोस यो भन्दा ज्यादा नलेखु । तिम्रो जीवन सुगम रहोस् ।
उही तिम्रो स्वप्निल

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प्रियशीलाई परदेशीको प्रेमपत्र"

मनकी रानी ,
 तिमीलाई हृदय देखी नै न्यानो माया असिम सम्झनाका लहरहरु,
अप्रत्यक्ष स्पर्शका लाखौँ रसास्वादनहरु !
सम्झनाले जती सताए पनी ,विछोडको पिडाले जती तड्पाए पनी भावानारुपी दियोमा, कल्पनारुपी आशाका दीप जलाउँदै तिम्रै सम्झनामा, भरोसा र आशामा बाँचिरहेकोछु। तिम्रो सुकोमल, पुर्णिमा सरीका वदनका आधिकारिकता म प्रती नै कायम गरी सकुशल र सुमङ्गल जिन्दगीलाई अगाडी बढाई रहेकी छौ भन्ने पुर्ण विश्वासका साथ सात समुन्द्र पारी प्रदेशी जीवनलाई आशै आशाको डोरीले कसेर बाँचेको छु।
                                                            नविनतम र उल्लेखनिय त केही छैनन, तै पनी तिमी प्रती उब्जिएका मायाका छालहरु मेरो हृदय र मस्तिष्कको सागरमा अटुट रुपमा तरङ्गित भैरहेको छ। यो वेगलाई केही हदसम्म भए पनी शान्त पार्न सेतो कागजमा शब्दहरुले रङ्ग्याएर तिम्रो अगाडी पस्कने जमर्को गरे।
 हुन त यो पिडा मेरो मात्र होईन,आफ्नो घर छिमेक समाज गाँउ ठाँउ देश तथा अङ्गालोमा बेरिन तत्पर रहेकी अनिता हरामलाई कोशौँ टाढा छाडेर यस मरुभुमी तुल्य देशमा विभिन्न किसिमको काम गरेर दिन गुजरा गर्ने हजारौँ नेपाली मध्ये म  पनी एक हुँ।
                                                                    माया प्रीती साईनोले वर्षौँ पार गरे तापनि वैशाँलु मन न्यानो स्पर्श र अङ्गालोबाट टाढा भएर होला काटेको घाउमा खुर्सानीको लेप लगाए जस्तो भैरहेको छ तै पनि मनलाई वेदना र चोटहरु बाट सम्हालेर दैनिक कार्य अगाडी बढाउन परेको छ।
                                                                                             , तिमीसंगको फोन एस.एम.एसको सहायताले मलाई तिम्रो नजिक पुर्याउने कार्य त गरिरहेकै छ तर तिम्रो यादले मलाई अर्धचेत बनाएको छ। कारण मेरा तिमी प्रती समर्पित चोखो, निश्चल, निर्मल र अबोध माया हो । म यो माया यो जुनीमा तिमी बाहेक कहीँ कतै बाट वैकल्पिक परिपुर्ती गर्न सक्दिन। समयको धैर्य राखी परिक्षण गरेर हेर , मेरो रगतको थोपा थोपामा आफुलाई पाउनेछौ। यो बिरानो ठाउँ यो बिरानो ठाउँमा न भाषा मिल्छ न भेष न लवाइ न त न खवाई न बसाँई न त सुताई नै मिल्छ तै पनी म प्यारी लजालुलाई प्रत्येक परिस्थितिमा सम्झिरहेको हुन्छु।
         यो बिरानो ठाउँमा म के नै पो गर्न सक्छु र, म भन्दा समय कोशौँ गुणा बलवान छ। यस्लाई म न रोक्न सक्छु न त छेक्न नै। औंसीका ताराहरु सुनौलो पुर्णेमाको आगमनको प्रतिक्षामा जसरी चिप्लिरहेका हुन्छन, त्यसरी नै दिनरात व्यतित भैरहेको छ। तर म पनी यो दुरताको कालो बादल फाटेर सुमधुर मिलनको स्वच्च बिहानी भेट भने अझै धेरै दुर भए जस्तो लाग्छ ।आशा छ यो दुरताको पर्खाल पनि 'रुप हराम' जस्तै स्वच्छ प्रेम गर्नेहरुको सामु हिउँ झै पग्लिएर बिलिन हुन बाध्य हुनेछ।
                                                                                     आउँदै गरेको विशेष दिन प्रेम दिवस (Valentine Day 14 Feb.) संसारका हरेक प्रेमी जोडीहरु भव्य मनाउने छन त नयाँ पुस्ताहरु प्रेम जोडी बनाउन एकले अर्कोलाई आ-आफ्नो तरिकले प्रस्ताव राख्नेछन। एक अर्कामा चिनो साटासाट अवस्य गर्नेछन, तर प्रेम दिवस जस्तो महत्वपुर्ण दिनमा तिम्रो अपुर्णता छाउनेछ........।।
                                                               नयन भरी आँशु नै आँशु छचलकिएको छ। तैपनि विगतका छोटा दिनको सम्झनाले मलाई निकै हर्षित तुल्याउँछ। सायद  लाग्छ ति आँशुलाई हर्षाश्रुको रुपमा लिएर दैनिक कार्यलाई निरन्तर्ता दिई रहेको छु।
                                                        दैनिक कथा व्यथा पिडा भोगाई विछोड तड्पाई हाँसो आँशु रमाईलो नरमाईलो क्षणका प्रतिबिम्व आफ्नै डायरीमा उतार्दा उतार्दै पनी तिम्रा लागी मनका बहहरुलाई कलम बाट जती नै व्यक्त गर्न खोजे पनी अपुर्ण नै हुंदो रहेछ। मेरा मनले व्यक्त गर्न र लेख्न नसकेका कुराहरु ‘अनिता हराम’को मनले पक्का पनी बुझ्नेछ। बारम्बार कलम चलाए पनी सेतो कागजमा मन बह ईच्छा चाहानाहरुलाई समेट्न गाह्रो हुँदोरहेछ।

तिम्रो यादमा तड्पिरहने यो मुटु 

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फेसबुक सँग बसेको पिरती

पिरती बस्यो फेशबुकसँगैप्रिय फेशबुक,मिठो सम्झना अनि धेरै मायाप्रिय फेशबुक, मलाई त आरामै छ अनि तिमी पनि आरामै छौँ होला भन्ने आशा गर्दछु । केही समय अगि सुनेको थिए तिमीलाई मनपराउने अनि एकदमै माया गर्ने साथीहरुको संख्या ५० करोड भन्दा पनि माथि पुगिसक्यो भनेर ! यो खबर सुन्दा र म आफु पनि तिमीलाई मनपराउने प्रशंसकहरु मध्येको एक हुँ भनी चिनाउन पाउँदा एकदमै खुशी लागिरहेको छ ।
प्रिय फेशबुक, मैले कतै सुनेको अनि पढेको पनि थिए, एकै नजरमा पनि माया बस्छ भनेर तर नढाँटिकन भन्नुपर्दा तिमीलाई भेट्नुभन्दा अगिसम्म यो सब कुरा झुठो हो जस्तो लाग्दथ्यो मलाई तर जब आजभन्दा करिब दुईवर्ष अगि इन्टरनेटको दुनियाँमा भ्रमण गर्ने क्रममा पहिलोचोटि तिमीसित भेट भयो मलाई यो कुरा साँचो हो भन्ने थाहा भयो ।.......
प्रिय फेशबुक, तिमीले मनमनै कति गफ हान्यो यो केटाले भन्यौँ होला तर धरोधर्म यो कुरा सोहै आना साँचो हो । मैले मात्रै होइन, तिमीलाई त म जस्तै कति हो कति साथीले पहिलो भेटमै मनपराउनु भएको छ । यदि विश्वास लाग्दैन भने अहिले यो प्रेमपत्र पढिरहनु भएको साथीलाई नै सोधन् , वहाँले तिमीलाई कति मनपराउनुहुन्छ भनेर ? वहाँले पनि तिमीलाई पक्कै पनि धेरै माया गर्नुहुन्छ भनेर मलाई पुर्ण विश्वास छ ।यो त भयो पहिलो भेटको कुरा, तिमीलाई भेटिसकेपछि मलाई पनि तिम्रो साथी बन्न मन लाग्यो अनि त्यसको लागि आवश्यक फर्म भरी साइन अप क्लिक गरी तिमा्रे साथी त बने तर सुरु–सुरुमा आफ्नो प्रोफाइल बनाउदाँ र एकाउन्ट कन्र्फमेशन गर्दा चाँहि तिमीले अलि अलि दुःख दिएर सताको पनि मैलेँ कहाँ भुलेको छु र ! तर तिमीले सुरुमा अलि अलि सताए पनि केही दिनपछि एकपछि अर्को गर्दै मेरो स्कुलदेखि क्याम्पससम्मका साथीहरु र अरु थुप्रै मिल्ने साथीहरु र आफन्तहरुलाई तिमीमार्फत भेट्न पाउँदा म कति खुशि छु भनेर तिमीलाई थाहै छ र तिमीले गर्दा अहिले त मेरो साथीहरुको एउटा सानोसंसार नै भइसकेको छ र त्यसको लागि तिमीलाई जति धन्यवाद दिए पनि अपुग नै हुन्छ तैपनि मेरो ह्दयदेखि नै मुरी मुरी धन्यवाद छ ।एउटै शहरमा र टाढा टाढा भएका सबै साथीहरुसँगको भेट अनि उनिहरुको फोटो र स्टाटशमा कमेन्ट हान्दा र अझ च्याटमार्फत अनलाइन भएको बखत प्रत्यक्ष कुराकानी गर्न पाउँदा मलाई मात्रै नभई सबै साथीहरुलाई खुशि लागिहाल्छ नि ! अझ आफ्नै फोटो र स्टाटशमा साथीहरुले हानेको कमेन्टको रिप्लाई गर्न पाउदाँको मज्जा त छुट्टै छ नि ।यि बाहेक अरु अनेकन सुविधा दिएर तिमीले मलाई मात्रै होइन करौडौँ साथीहरुलाई मोहोनी नै लगाइरहेकीछौँ तर केहि फेक प्रोफाइल र अश्लिल र विशेष गरी राजनीतिक नेताहरुलाई लक्षित गरी प्रकाशित गरीने सामग्रीले तिम्रो सुन्दरतामा कमि ल्याइरहेको छ । त्यस्ता सामग्री तिमीमार्फत प्रकाशन गर्नेलाई दण्ड र सजाय दिनुपर्ने बेला पनि भइसकेको छ । केही व्यक्तिहरुको त्यस्तो तुच्छ र घृणित कार्यले गर्दा म तिमीलाई गुमाउन चाहन्न , त्यही भएर बेलैमा केही कदम उठाउनु है तिमीले !प्रिय फेशबुक ,अब अरु धेरै के लेखुँ र साथीहरुलाई पनि बोर लाग्ला फेरी ! अँंं...खासमा कुरा के भनी म विशेष कारणवश हाम्रो देश नेपालको छिमेकी देश चीनतिर केही दिनको लागि जादैँछु र त्यहाँ कार्य व्येस्तताले गर्दा तिमीसित भेट गर्न नपाइयेला जस्तो छ । त्यही भएर जानु अगि तिमीलाई यो पत्र लेखेको, म केही दिनको लागि टाढिए अनि तिमीलाई भेट्न आइन भन्दैमा माया चाहिँ नर्मानु नि फेरी ! म केही दिन पछि आइहाल्नेछु नि ! त्यतिन्जेल पर्खि बस्नु है, म चाडै आउनेछु..........उही तिमीलाई धेरै माया गर्ने

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