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Irish bloggers will now have to declare when they're promoting a product in their posts

The ASAI aims to ensure that all marketing is easily identifiable from independent editorial content.

THE ADVERTISING STANDARDS Authority for Ireland has issued new guidance for bloggers and online influencers, calling on them to declare their marketing posts so that Irish consumers will not be misled.

The ASAI said that it had “begun monitoring blogs and online channels” and was already communicating with bloggers to remind that them that all marketing communications must be declared.

The aim of these guidelines, it says, are to “ensure that all marketing communications are easily identifiable as being separate to independent editorial content”.

In recent years, blogging has escalated from a pastime into big business, with popular bloggers known as “influencers” able to make thousands of euro every time they post, due to partnerships with brands and businesses.

One such example is Zoella, or Zoe Elizabeth Sugg, a prolific blogger and vlogger who reportedly earns up to €50,000 each month through sponsorship from brands.

Towards the end of last year, the Public Relations Institute of Ireland called for a set of rules to protect consumers from rogue influencers who fail to disclose advertisement payments.

Under the new guidelines proposed by the ASAI, “where celebrities or influencers are sponsored by brands or paid directly to promote a product, it must be clear these posts are marketing communications”.

In order to ensure that this is indeed the case, the ASAI encourages the use of clearly identifiable hashtags such as #Ad or #SP to signify an advertisement or a sponsored post.

ASAI chief executive Orla Twomey said: “The area of influencer marketing has seen a number of in-depth conversations both online and in the media recently as consumers voice their concerns about bloggers who may or may not be declaring marketing communications.

The new ASAI guidelines aim to address these concerns and develop a uniform set of standards applicable to both companies and the bloggers who deliver the marketing communications.

They add that the onus is on the advertiser to ensure that these guidelines are adhered to in sponsored content.

Read: Top Irish PR body seeks to curb rogue ‘influencers’ being paid to sell products and not admitting it

Read: Meet the talent agents that help internet celebrities rake in €50,000 for a single product placement

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32 Comments
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    Mute Patrick James Walsh
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:07 PM

    The Moriarty Tribunal report is nearly two thousand pages long, but the conclusions are much shorter to read and it`s freely available online without worrying about defamation, you can see exactly what happened when the second mobile phone licence was awarded.

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    Mute Morgan Freeman
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:19 PM

    Just read the wiki page for a nice short highlight.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moriarty_Tribunal

    O’Brien is Fine Gael’s Galway tent.

    296
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    Mute For Connolly
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:47 PM

    If you want to know how serious FG are about the findings of the Moriarty tribunal, you only need to look at the fact that over the course of the last 3 years they gave almost identical answers to Dail deputies questioning them on at least SIX separate occasions….

    http://www.thejournal.ie/moriarty-garda-investigation-2175890-Jun2015/

    “For three years, ministers have repeatedly given the EXACT same answer to Moriarty questions.
    Questions about the garda investigation into the tribunal’s findings have not disclosed much information since 2012.”

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    Mute von
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    Aug 10th 2015, 5:08 PM

    Haughy was a right skum b.g just like DO.B i cant Stand greed or dishonesty so these 2 individuals are the rot man kind.

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    Mute Richard Cynical
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    Aug 10th 2015, 5:08 PM

    a few good tribunals

    41
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    Mute Stephen Doyle
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    Aug 10th 2015, 1:57 PM

    Are we allowed to comment?

    314
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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Aug 10th 2015, 4:10 PM

    I’m still miffed that DOBs wolfpack were able to have my Twitter account banned from TheJournal and I’m still waiting on a reason why my account was blocked.

    115
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    Mute Wolf Pack
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    Aug 10th 2015, 4:43 PM

    Don’t be giving me a bad name Paul! I’ll sue you!

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Aug 10th 2015, 6:24 PM

    lol,
    Thanks for clarifying Wolf Pack.
    Your comment does highlight that association with DOB and his activities is not regarded in a popular light.
    Shareholders might take note.

    33
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    Mute For Connolly
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:03 PM

    Best way of the lot to deal with him. Make him the laughing stock he deserves to be, punctuated by questions about why the DPP hasn’t moved on the findings of the Moriarty tribunal.

    249
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    Mute Shakka1244
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:38 PM
    83
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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:36 PM

    The red thumbs are probably because despite been given an explanation Were Jammin you keep asking the same question.

    The burden of proof on a Irish court is far more difficult to achieve than at a tribunal. The DPP would need to ensure that any evidence produced at a trial including witnesses meets that burden of proof laid out in our justice system

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    Mute For Connolly
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    Aug 10th 2015, 4:09 PM

    And it takes 3 years for the DPP to determine this, despite the huge importance of the issue, does it Wayne?

    52
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    Mute littleone
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:26 PM

    The whole country is laughing and mocking the Man. No more than he deserves. This is highlighting the fact that someone is sitting on the Moriarty findings.

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    Mute littleone
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:00 PM

    The u sue suspects

    83
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    Mute Rusty Balls
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    Aug 10th 2015, 4:08 PM

    We’re laughing, the entire country is ridiculing ‘Gengis’ O’Brien. But at the end of the day no journalist will risk crossing him, our government have suddenly found their footwear very interesting and are afraid to say a word against him, even comedians wouldn’t joke about him. We laugh at being allowed to publicly speak out and comment about him. He’s not just winning, he has won. His reputation precedes him, it’s brutal and evokes fear, say or do anything against this man and there is a very real risk that he could destroy you. Not so funny, is it?

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    Mute littleone
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    Aug 10th 2015, 4:31 PM

    Rusty. The game is not finished yet. There is still the Moriarty findings which the DPP and government are still sitting on. Now to be sitting on something this long makes you wonder. He never sued Moriarty and that is telling . so yes the country could have the last laugh yet. Governments change and won’t all be pro dob. Fortunes are made but can also be lost..

    92
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    Mute von
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    Aug 10th 2015, 5:11 PM

    Rusty balls. He wont get far watch Karma tripping him and his family up Karma is not afraid of family. It should be good.

    54
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    Mute Dylan Drein
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:01 PM

    You post this article like it was just some piece of pop culture referencing fun without even mentioning why these hashtags are popping up every day of the week. People haven’t stopped talking about all of those things you list in the first paragraph, those things are exactly what people on social media are trying to highlight.

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    Mute That's all folks
    Favourite That's all folks
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:01 PM

    Dennis, ya little menace….!

    184
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    Mute john fairclough
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:15 PM

    The Sick Sense,
    I sue dead people!

    174
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    Mute Eddie Byrne
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    Aug 10th 2015, 1:59 PM

    Sue cant handle the truth

    131
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    Mute Infidel
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:12 PM

    The journal would be absolutely knackered without twitter. Do journalists ever have to leave journal towers for a story?

    107
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    Mute Sgt Pepper
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:18 PM

    I’m waiting on the AirBNB story breaking again today. That’ll be a good one. Airbnb landlords/residences are being hit with a retrospective tax bill @51% for last year.

    73
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:32 PM

    The Krays?

    21
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    Mute LesBehan
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:52 PM

    Inglorious ba5tard!

    (Removed in 10,9,8…)

    98
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    Mute Supernova
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:02 PM

    Dobs downfall

    53
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    Mute Sgt Pepper
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    Aug 10th 2015, 1:56 PM

    “We didn’t exactly believe your story, Miss O’Shaughnessy; we believed your two hundred dollars…I mean, you paid us more than if you’d been telling us the truth, and enough more to make it all right.”

    Maltese Falcon

    97
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    Mute Christy Nolan
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    Aug 10th 2015, 5:51 PM

    Your making the Maltese Cross. Stop it.

    25
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    Mute Morgan Freeman
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:01 PM

    Taxman v Sueman: DOB of Justice

    90
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    Mute Simon Moore
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:48 PM

    Sued in 60 seconds #DOBfilms

    78
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    Mute Shakka1244
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:50 PM

    Sueperman

    77
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:00 PM

    SPIDERMAN WITH THAT WEB…

    37
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    Mute Kevin Birns
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:31 PM

    “The man who sued God” (Billy Conolly)

    76
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:10 PM

    The Omen,
    Denis: Omen II
    Omen III: The Final Suing,

    62
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    Mute Supernova
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:13 PM

    The dobbit and unexpected suing

    50
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    Mute Sean Mac Diarmada
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    Aug 10th 2015, 4:07 PM

    “Citizen Shame”

    49
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    Mute Sean Mac Diarmada
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    Aug 10th 2015, 4:09 PM

    “The Maltese Falcon”

    40
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    Mute For Connolly
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:18 PM

    Meter, Sue and Dob too #dobfilms

    74
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    Mute Supernova
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:23 PM

    The dobfather

    49
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    Mute Francie Coffey
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:16 PM

    Denis Potter and Edna the half-blood Pr1ck.

    67
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    Mute Supernova
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:17 PM

    Insuedious 3 #dobfilms

    66
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    Mute Peter Higgins
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    Aug 10th 2015, 4:20 PM

    Just like Irish Water, Dennis is the Laughing Stock of the country. And deservedly so. He sees the writing on the wall for FG , IW and his ridiculous serial litigation. I don’t know where he goes from here, even his “political donations are toxic now. KARMA

    57
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    Mute Francie Coffey
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:58 PM

    Suing private Ryan, Suing in the rain, The Obrien ultimatum, Denis Darko, (un)Truman, Sue wars,

    52
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    Mute The Girl
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:42 PM

    The Guy That Sued Me

    52
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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:31 PM

    Shaft

    51
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:57 PM

    Denis Does Dallas?

    49
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    Mute The Girl
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:23 PM

    Sueby-doo, Where Are You!

    48
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    Mute Conor Power
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    Aug 10th 2015, 6:34 PM

    DOB is taking flack on the net and rightly so there is little else we can do. But how, on earth, is Michael Lowrey, DOBs architect, a man convicted of corruption and tax dodging still in our national parliament earning a wage from the taxpayer. I think that man deserves as much vitriol as DOB yet people actually elected him back.

    43
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    Mute von
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    Aug 10th 2015, 5:00 PM

    Dennis who is NOT the second richest as the banks own three quarters of his property if push came to shove he would be as rich as me hahahahaha and i depend on my salary for the hard work i do to pay my billd.

    30
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:23 PM

    Mr. Denis Takes a Vacation.
    The Quiet Denis.
    Denisula: Prince of Darkness,
    The Curse of FrankenDenis,
    The Denis Rides Out,
    Dr. Enda and Mr. Denis,
    To the Devil a Denis,

    Hammer Denis films, I mean Hammer Horror films lol.

    30
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:28 PM

    The Graduate:
    Mr. Denisson, you’re trying to seduce me…

    21
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:59 PM

    Dennis the Menace Christmas.

    26
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    Mute MGrey
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    Aug 10th 2015, 2:45 PM

    I got there first on Suelander Cianan :-)

    22
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:05 PM

    Peggy Sue Got Sued.

    18
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:12 PM

    The Man Who Would Be King.

    28
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    Mute Tom
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    Aug 10th 2015, 3:20 PM

    Started off funny. All fun until people lost the plot with #JeSuisWWN
    Narcissistic billionaire suing is not comparable to being shot for drawing cartoon.

    17
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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Aug 10th 2015, 6:18 PM

    The analogy is not that of being shot, the analogy is that of the chilling effect that DOBs henchmen / legal advisors have on freedom of speech.

    42
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    Mute Fergus O'Neill
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    Aug 10th 2015, 6:25 PM

    Dob Dredd
    “I am the law”

    16
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    Mute Paddy Fagan
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    Aug 10th 2015, 5:53 PM

    Minder. starring Dennis Waterman..

    16
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    Mute Jeffrey McMahon
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    Aug 10th 2015, 8:12 PM

    The Usual Suspects

    12
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    Mute Michael Keane
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    Aug 10th 2015, 9:07 PM

    anybody else notice that” bendover” kenny and “penis” o brien are wig twins

    12
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    Mute Sean Callan
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    Aug 10th 2015, 5:01 PM

    me thinks The jury could be out on this????

    12
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    Mute Lennie
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    Aug 10th 2015, 8:18 PM

    This is totally relevant http://youtu.be/WOHPuY88Ry4

    6
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    Mute Littleowl
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    Aug 11th 2015, 10:50 AM

    The Shawshank Redaction.
    The O’Brien Ultimatum
    O’Brien vs Kramer

    and more at https://twitter.com/SpinneyOwl

    4
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    Mute Frank L. Ludwig
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    Aug 10th 2015, 8:06 PM
    3
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    Mute Fergus Gaffney
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    Aug 11th 2015, 3:18 AM

    my comments are being redacted as I type them:-D

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    Mute Pearse Brannigan
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    Aug 11th 2015, 3:47 PM

    ” You have an excellent case, Mr Peabody, how much justice can you afford “. Punch.

    1
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