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<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="daily-dose">Daily-Dose</h1>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="#from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-vox">From Vox</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</a></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Complexities of the Ukraine Dilemma</strong> - The aid offered by the West may help, but it cannot relieve Volodymyr Zelensky of the terrible predicaments he must manage in the weeks ahead. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/03/28/the-complexities-of-the-ukraine-dilemma">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Radio Ukraine</strong> - A visit to Kraina FM, Ukraines “radio station of national resistance.” Plus, how some Black workers feel about returning to the office. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/radio-ukraine">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>In a World on Fire, Stop Burning Things</strong> - The truth is new and counterintuitive: we have the technology necessary to rapidly ditch fossil fuels. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/essay/in-a-world-on-fire-stop-burning-things">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Disillusionment of a Rikers Island Doctor</strong> - As a physician who cared for the oldest and sickest people in New Yorks jails, I thought the pandemic might create a portal to a better world. Two years later, I wonder if we missed our chance. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/essay/the-disillusionment-of-a-rikers-island-doctor">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Can Anyone Unseat Marjorie Taylor Greene?</strong> - Whatever hope remains for the Georgia congresswomans many detractors seems to depend on either a new lawsuit or a candidate whos been called “Marjorie with a brain.” - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/campaign-chronicles/can-anyone-unseat-marjorie-taylor-greene">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-vox">From Vox</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>Why community matters so much — and how to find yours</strong> -
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<img alt="Illustration of a flock of cute cartoon birds singing while walking in a line." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jADb3do81vzziQ-vMJFOjfam7FU=/0x0:2000x1500/1310x983/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70665637/GettyImages_1309995392.0.jpeg"/>
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Getty Images
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
A community can serve as a social safety net, but finding one and becoming a part of it is different from simply making friends.
</p>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="HkbQna">
Sam Zeff had always considered himself a pseudo-runner — a guy whod go for a jog somewhat consistently but who never signed up for a race. There was always a part of him that was afraid he wouldnt be accepted among other runners. Finally, Zeff, now 31, embraced the fear head-on and joined the Philadelphia chapter of November Project, a community-oriented fitness group. Instead of rejection, Zeff found a supportive group of athletes of all levels whose hard work inspired him to finish his first marathon in 2019.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Es9goy">
Since then, Zeff has joined other organizations based on his values: a group for men to discuss their emotions, and a virtual mentorship program where members of all ages from across the world offered insight and advice on how to live more authentically. Not only have these communities empowered him to explore different parts of himself, but he entered into a mutually beneficial relationship with people who celebrated him just as he celebrated them. “I always felt like I was too much and like I was doing things to get attention,” Zeff says. “The people in this group have been fanning my flames rather than trying to put them out.”
</p>
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Now, as he plans a move across the country from Philadelphia to San Clemente, California, hes relying on his ability to find community once more. Hes reaching out to other members of his groups whove moved to California and also mining his interests, like yoga and meditation, to figure out which classes he should take in his new city. Community, he says, is proof hes an essential gear in a larger social machine. “Youre part of a bigger picture that really wants to see everyone succeed,” Zeff says.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="BzvNQO">
As social creatures, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/good-company-why-we-need-other-people-be-happy-ncna836106">humans need interpersonal contact to survive</a>. These connections range from your inner circle of family and close friends to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/smarter-living/why-you-need-a-network-of-low-stakes-casual-
friendships.html">outer rungs of your social network</a> — other pet parents at the dog park, for example — and its important to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/884qnz/feeling-lonely-being-alone-social-nutrition">have this variety</a>. “To try and count on one person to fill all of your emotional and psychological needs is not a good thing,” says <a href="https://gilliansandstrom.com/">Gillian Sandstrom</a>, a senior lecturer in the psychology of kindness at the University of Sussex. “Theres research showing that you thrive more when you have lots of people to fill up various emotional needs.” Becoming a member of communities helps build this social diversity. However, finding community is much different from just making friends.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="XLeeyd">
According to clinical and community psychologist <a href="https://www.drdavidmcmillan.com/">David McMillan</a>, a community is defined by <a href="https://www.drdavidmcmillan.com/sense-of-community/article-1">four criteria</a>: membership, influence, integration and fulfillment of needs, and shared emotional connection. To be part of a community, you must feel a sense of belonging (membership), feel like you make a difference to the group and that the group makes a difference to you (influence), feel like your needs will be met by other group members (integration and fulfillment of needs), and feel that you share history, similar experiences, time, and space together (shared emotional connection). High school, college, and retirement communities, McMillan says, are examples of community: “In college, the world is organized around satisfying you,” he says. From extracurricular activities to communal living, the entire experience centers around group collaboration and satisfaction. While a community can consist of pairs or small groups of friends — and help foster those connections — community members dont necessarily need to be friends.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lBesXF">
In contrast, friendship “is an invested, dedicated, platonic relationship where two people who are friends with each other are committed to the growth, the well-being, the support, the thriving of each other,” explains <a href="https://www.katvellos.com/">Kat Vellos</a>, a connection coach, speaker, and author of the book <a href="https://weshouldgettogether.com/"><em>We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships</em></a><em>.</em>
</p>
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Fellow community members can lend a hand in unique and surprising ways. A neighbor can lend you the oddly specific pan you need to try a new recipe. An older person in your book club may have valuable insight into how to handle a conflict with your in-laws. You could find the résumé proofreader youve been looking for in another student in your cooking class. “When people talk about a 401(k) or insurance, community is that for your social life,” says <a href="https://smileyposwolsky.com/">Adam Smiley Poswolsky</a>, a workplace-belonging speaker and author of <a href="https://smileyposwolsky.com/friendship"><em>Friendship in the Age of Loneliness</em></a>. Think of it as a group of people who uplift one another and form a safety net for all of lifes moments.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="bKKfkm">
Crucially, community is not strictly a collection of people who have a similar affiliation, interest, or shared experience with each other, Vellos says. While fans of certain shows or musicians — or even consumers of specific products, like Peloton — may feel they are members of a community, they are not always invested in other members lives and well-being. (Fans or followers would be more appropriate terms for many of these groups, Vellos says.) While many communities exist online, there must be an element of reciprocity — all parties contributing information and support equally — for the group to thrive.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lny326">
Finding and becoming ingrained in a community doesnt need to be an arduous task, but it does require time and self-reflection. Vox spoke with four experts who provided tips on how to identify and find your place in a community.
</p>
<h3 id="ALOqaB">
Prioritize your values and interests
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="6B96Nt">
One of the easiest ways to find a group youd mesh with is to figure out where you wouldnt mind spending a few hours of your time. Consider your talents and interests or a skill youd like to learn, and seek out places to do those activities. If you love dancing, do some Googling to find dance clubs, studios, or meetup dance groups in your town. Maybe youve always wanted to learn to throw clay; a pottery class will put you in contact with others who value art, working with their hands, or learning a new skill — and you could specifically seek out a studio that hosts social events or otherwise attempts to facilitate wider connections.
</p>
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Poswolsky suggests seeking out groups that create together; the act of making something as a group facilitates closeness and brings you into contact with people of different ages, backgrounds, and stages of life. Whether its a performance or a neighborhood coat drive, anything youre creating together “is a beautiful way to build community,” Poswolsky says.
</p></li>
</ul>
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Neighborhood associations, religious and spiritual groups, and charitable organizations typically hold frequent meetings you can attend to learn about the groups mission, meet others, and volunteer at future events. Knowing what your values are is crucial to finding a community where you truly fit, Poswolsky says, and that can take work and soul-searching. If youre not religious but have strong political views, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkd8bm/how-to-find-and-join-a-political-community-organization-activism">joining a political organization</a> can help you find a community where you and others are working to promote change that aligns with your collective values.
</p>
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While its easier to join an already established group, you could also start one yourself based on your interests. If you want to build a community around hiking, for example, McMillan suggests posting online (say in a neighborhood Facebook group or retirement community portal) mentioning youll be hiking in a nearby park on Saturday if anyone would like to join. Others looking to make connections and get outside may take you up on the offer. Start small: Your budding community doesnt have to be hundreds deep. “Real nurturing community starts in small groups,” McMillan says. “It doesnt start with 100 people, it happens with a few. Finding those people and cultivating their interests and your interests … thats harder in a big group.” And dont panic if the first people who show up differ from you in terms of age, background, or ability. Part of the beauty of community is its ability to draw people from varying stages of life who can help open your eyes to new points of view and wisdom.
</p>
<h3 id="4oweYR">
Make it a habit
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="RJfdv6">
To forge a true connection with the group — and vice versa — youll need to continually show up and add value. “Youll develop closeness more quickly if you have that regularity and you dont have to agonize over scheduling,” Vellos says. Immediately add the next meeting date to your calendar and make it a point to consistently attend. Coming early with a snack or staying late to stack the chairs shows youre invested in the community.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="UWnRyJ">
Humans <a href="https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/mere-exposure-effect">have more positive feelings</a> toward familiar people, so seeing the same people on a repeated basis helps you both ingratiate with an already established group and with people you see regularly in your day-to-day life. Even if you dont interact with the baristas or other patrons at your neighborhood coffee shop, there is an unspoken sense of camaraderie. “You can feel like you know someone even if youve never talked to them if youve seen them enough times,” Sandstrom says. Focusing on your already established routines and the people you encounter while doing them — like walking the dog — can be the basis for community. “If you go at the same time to the same place, youre going to see the same people over and over again,” Sandstrom says. Even learning the names of fellow dog walkers and striking up a casual conversation can be enough to <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0146167214529799">improve your mood</a>.
</p>
<h3 id="XMgqPb">
Put energy into others
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gB9QnQ">
Because communities are made up of lots of people with varying opinions and life experiences, being an active member means regularly interacting with others in the group. But dont expect other members to immediately support you in your endeavors, want to do you a favor, or even engage in conversation with you. Forging these connections takes time and effort, and you risk rejection, McMillan notes — but to fully integrate into a community, you cant be a wallflower. “Its my job to<strong> </strong>put energy into other people and not just wait for them to put energy into me,” he says.
</p>
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When Sandstrom joined a community orchestra, she made a point of talking to a different person each time the group took a break in order to ease her way into the group. Shes also a fan of eavesdropping. “Its okay to admit that you overheard people talking,” she says. If you catch a few people at yoga class discussing your favorite podcast, take that as an opportunity to jump into the conversation and meet a few people in the process.
</p>
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Poswolsky suggests identifying one or two community members youre interested in getting to know better and asking if theyd like to have coffee. “Those simple gestures of reaching out create intention, they put out what youre looking for, and they dont overwhelm you,” he says. “Suddenly, other people are going to be inviting you to things because youre saying, Im going to take the time to have a conversation with someone.’”
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<h3 id="mOqegV">
But dont exhaust yourself
</h3>
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You dont need to join a dozen clubs or societies or introduce yourself to every neighbor on the block to have a community. Consider the time youre able to commit and how much energy youre able to bring to each meeting. Maybe becoming the organizer of a weekly canoeing group is too great a responsibility, but a monthly movie club where you can sit back and watch and discuss films is more your speed.
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Each new person you meet at your local mutual aid organization might not blossom into a deep friendship — and thats okay. The goal of community building isnt necessarily to make new friends (though that definitely can happen), but to build a network. The people who are a part of that network can remain acquaintances, Sandstrom says.
</p>
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This is Sam Zeffs approach as he considers his community- building plan in California: focusing his energy toward worthy people and causes. The rest will come naturally. “Im not married to having to be everyones friend,” he says. “Im going to be intentional with my time and make sure that the people that I am investing my time with are the individuals that I see as part of my future who can not only help me grow, but people who are willing to be helped as well.”
</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>One Good Thing: The movie you have to see if you loved Drive My Car</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="A shot of a young woman from shoulders up. Shes looking down." src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/kRdC1Z8IlyRBiEl4XUS-DD1BtSg=/553x0:3321x2076/1310x983/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70665513/wheelcover.0.jpeg"/>
<figcaption>
Kotone Furukawa in <em>Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy</em>. | Film Movement
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy explores the startling role of pure luck in our lives.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="o2shJx">
<a href="https://www.vox.com/22977466/drive-my-car-
explained-murakami-vanya-chekhov"><em>Drive My Car</em></a>, written and directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, is the stealth awards powerhouse of the year, an unusual berth for a long, quiet Japanese drama but certainly a deserving one. But if you were standing in line or sitting at a bar during a fall film festival in 2021, you might have found yourself in an unusual conversation: Which Hamaguchi film did you prefer?
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="8VEBsR">
Not which <em>of</em> Hamaguchis films — the director has made <a href="https://slate.com/culture/2022/03/drive-my-car-director-movies-oscars-streaming-
hbo.html">many celebrated ones</a>, often very long (2015s <em>Happy Hour</em> runs over five hours) — but which of his films that was currently making the rounds, because there were two. <em>Drive My Car</em> premiered in July at Cannes, beginning its long road to the Oscars. But months earlier, during the much wintrier (and mostly remote) Berlin Film Festival, <em>Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy</em> had nabbed the Silver Bear, the festivals second-place award, and had been winding its way around the world ever since.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="NuVSSE">
Theyre both great, but on balance, I enjoy watching <em>Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy</em> a hair more. It clocks in at two hours to <em>Drive My Car</em>s three, which doesnt hurt. But I also love how, structurally and thematically, it encourages the audience to lean in and listen, to connect the dots themselves — and how it shows the vibrant possibilities in the mostly ignored form of the short film.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lUynqI">
<em>Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy</em> is, in fact, three short films that play one after another. Theyre not linked by characters, settings, or plots. Instead, the link is in the title. All three films explore the strange surprises and chance encounters that can radically change us, the startling role of pure luck in our lives. Spin the wheel. See what happens.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="A young man and a young woman
are in an office, and you can sense tension around them." src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/SpiZJBN7mPuXzdlj6uigXEwOm9s=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23337208/wheel1.jpeg"/> <cite>Film Movement</cite>
<figcaption>
Kotone Furukawa and Ayumu Nakajima in <em>Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy</em>.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="25ojOp">
The first film, “Magic (or Something Less Assuring),” centers on Meiko (Kotone Furukawa), a model who shares a cab back from a shoot with her friend Tsugumi (Hyunri). Tsugumi met a new guy recently, and she excitedly tells Meiko all about their unexpected first date. Meiko listens placidly and with interest, but after she drops Tsugumi off, she heads straight for a surprising confrontation at a downtown office. An open-ended tale, were left wondering whats really happening here and what Meiko is planning for her future.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="RoVAwP">
“Door Wide Open” — the second film, and the longest — opens with a university class interrupted by the voice of a desperate student begging a professor to save his grade. That professor, Segawa (Kiyohiko Shibukawa), refuses. Sometime later, Segawa wins a prize, and two of his students watch on TV after a liaison. They are Nao (Katsuki Mori), a married mother of a toddler, and her younger boyfriend Sasaki (Shouma Kai), the student Segawa refused. Sasaki convinces Nao to act as a honeypot lure and take his revenge on Segawa by proxy, but things do not work out as planned.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="A professor and a
student are in his office. He looks stricken; she is reading a book out loud and watching him." src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/9XZ4z11cIb8sJPUvFQsNWnvRbPA=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23337214/wheel3.jpeg"/> <cite>Film Movement</cite>
<figcaption>
Kiyohiko Shibukawa and Katsuki Mori in <em>Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy</em>.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="GwIo8s">
The final segment, “Once Again,” is ostensibly set in a very near future (or perhaps alternate present), after some kind of virus exposed the worlds email and messaging data to everyone. Now, telegrams and snail mail are how people communicate. But that sci-fi setup recedes into the background of the story, in which Natsuko (Fusako Urabe), who was a bit of a loner in high school, travels to her high school reunion hoping to see an old flame. The attempt fails, but the next day she spots her by chance on a set of escalators. The woman (Aoba Kawai) invites Natsuko to her house for tea, but all is not as it seems.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="FMOtO1">
In all three stories, Hamaguchi is spinning a web of uncertainty for his characters and for his audience. The women at the center of each story feel out of place, alienated from their families and desires and the people around them. Meiko keeps a secret from Tsugumi, but shes also aching for a love she once had and rejected. Nao has tried every life path available to her and found ways to live without commitment, but an encounter with a man who knows who he is undoes her. And Natsuko, hunting for the only happiness shes ever known in the midst of a miserable life, is pushed by fate into feeling emotions she isnt sure how to process.
</p>
<figure class="e-image"></figure></li>
</ul>
<img alt="Two women, both on an escalator, look at one another." src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/b_QLTcYgDLyKkP8J-QXLApPoA24=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23337220/wheel2.jpeg"/> <cite>Film Movement</cite>
<figcaption>
Fusako Urabe and Aoba Kawai in <em>Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy</em>.
</figcaption>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="fdYW50">
Hamaguchis films often feature characters locked into long, surprising conversations, where motivations and feelings lie buried beneath placid surfaces. But listening to them, were kept guessing, wondering whats really going on in their hearts. Then their tales take unexpected left turns, and the result, for those of us paying attention, is the catharsis that comes with a good story.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="F1yk84">
Ive said that I like <em>Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy</em> a little more than <em>Drive My Car</em>. On repeat watchings, though, Ive come to believe that theyre both brilliant in their own way, showing Hamaguchis unusually deft touch with lengthy tales as well as shorter ones. For those who havent yet watched <em>Drive My Car</em>, <em>Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy</em> acts like an accessible introduction to a masters work. But even if you have seen the longer film — or if you just want to dive into three engrossing stories that leave you wanting more — <em>Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy</em> is a brilliant, beautiful, deceptive meditation on the forces that move us all.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="fWUZL2">
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy <em>is available to rent or purchase on digital platforms. For more recommendations from the world of culture, check out the </em><a href="https://www.vox.com/one-good-
thing"><em>One Good Thing</em></a><em> archives.</em>
</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Car dealers are charging buyers more because thats capitalism, baby</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="A car dealership parking lot. " src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/4EES6k4dvBWhWTthPADEKnXVrDY=/119x0:2003x1413/1310x983/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70665402/GettyImages_1210378202.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
If you want a new car right now, its going to cost you. | DigitalVision via Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Car dealers are charging way over sticker price — and consumers are paying.
</p>
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Its a wild time out there in the car market. Wild in a good way if youre a car dealer trying to sell a car. Wild in a less good way if youre a consumer looking to buy, which is the spot Richie Iglar recently found himself in.
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In the fall, he and his wife were in the market for an SUV and made an appointment at a Mercedes dealer in New Jersey. The salesman was “super nice” throughout most of the process, Iglar explained … until it came to the price. The dealership wanted to charge them $20,000 over the manufacturers suggested retail price (or MSRP).
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“We were both shocked and politely declined, saying while we would like to have the car, we cant justify over-spending for it,” he said. Iglar emailed another dealer trying to get a sense of what their markups were, and a week later they responded they were adding on $15,000. He decided to put a pause on buying. “I cant justify spending that much over sticker.”
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Iglar is hardly alone. Tens of thousands of dollars over the sticker is something of an outlier, but across the country, people on the hunt for a new vehicle <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-brand-of-sticker-shock-hits-the-car-market-11645851648">are being met with significant dealer markups</a>, thanks to supply shortages and high consumer demand. New car dealers have the upper hand at the moment, and some of them are willing to use it.
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“At the end of the day, its saying, Look, if you dont buy this, the guy right behind you or the gal three people behind you is going to, and theyre going to pay me $1,000, $2,000 more than youre willing to, so I have to go with them. Its one of the first times in history where the dealer has so much demand that they can actually do that,” said Ivan Drury, senior manager of insights at Edmunds, a consumer research company. “If there are five people raising their hand to buy the exact same product, you just go with whoever is bidding the highest.”
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According to Kelley Blue Book, <a href="https://www.kbb.com/car-news/average-new-car-price-declines-still-5k-higher-than-a-year-ago/">the average new car price</a> in the United States was $46,085 in February, <span class="math inline">$5,000 more than it was a year ago. Going by the Consumer Price Index, which measures what consumers pay for goods and services, new vehicle prices are &lt;a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.t02.htm"&gt;up 12.4 percent&lt;/a&gt; over the past year. (&lt;a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2022/02/13/used-cars-cost-more/6778705001/"&gt;Used car prices are up a ton&lt;/a&gt;, too, but for this story, were focusing on new ones.)&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="XSsAqJ"&gt;How much are dealer markups contributing to this average price increase? The answer is certainly not all of it, or maybe even most of it. But theyre not helping, either. “It comes down to if someones willing to pay it, and they can sell it and keep selling it, I think theyre going to ride that train as long as they can,” Iglar said.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="ooglNc"&gt;Amid the current inflationary environment, theres a broader debate going on about whats causing prices to rise. Some Democrats and economists &lt;a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/inflation-price-gouging/"&gt;argue&lt;/a&gt; that corporate greed is playing a role, basically saying that companies are taking advantage of the moment to boost their profits even when its not necessary, and contributing to higher inflation overall. Other economists have &lt;a href="https://apricitas.substack.com/p/are-rising-corporate-profit-margins?s=r"&gt;dismissed this&lt;/a&gt;, saying its a flimsy excuse, and that other factors, among them supply chain problems, increased demand, and commodity prices, &lt;a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/03/10/1085846628/corporate-greed-or-just-pandemic-pricing"&gt;have much more of an impact&lt;/a&gt;. After all, corporate greed wasnt invented in the pandemic.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="0IL9iT"&gt;I am not going to litigate whether profiteering — which is generally legal in the US — is driving up inflation. But its hard not to recognize that in some corners, businesses and CEOs and salespeople are likely looking at the current economic landscape and thinking, “Eh, why not bump that price tag up a little more?” And who can blame them? Thats capitalism.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="cpgehA"&gt;“Are they taking advantage of the situation? Yeah,” Drury said with regard to dealers. “I think theyre doing exactly what anyone else would if they were selling something too.”&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3 id="IQGOWR"&gt;This is capitalism. Welcome.&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;p id="YOAyZd"&gt;In an environment where goods are scarce, intermediaries can push up the prices to pocket the money. We are in an environment where goods are scarce, and where, because of inflation, people sort of expect prices to go up anyway, and so in some corners, theres a little bit of padding going on.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="fyI7Yi"&gt;Even in a moment like this, with inflation on the rise, the point of companies is to make money. Many executives have been &lt;a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/big-companies-keep-bragging-to-investors-about-price-hikes-2021-11"&gt;pretty open&lt;/a&gt; that theyre able to pass on price increases to consumers and keep their margins up, or do a little bit better. Procter &amp;amp; Gamble, for example, &lt;a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/procter-gamble-says-shoppers-are-unbowed-by- higher-prices-11642593626"&gt;has hiked prices on a variety of items&lt;/a&gt; over the past year, including diapers, razors, and feminine care products. It has helped them deal with rising costs but also has helped them increase revenue.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p id="xVy324"&gt;Are these price increases along the margins creating broad-based inflation across the economy? Many economists say probably not. But in the system we live in, when businesses big and small are in a position of power, they use it, and thats certa
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Previously, its been pretty rare for shoppers to pay above sticker price for new cars. Now, its pretty common.
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According to Edmunds, <a href="https://www.edmunds.com/industry/press/8-out-of-10-of-car-
shoppers-paid-above-sticker-price-for-new-vehicles-in-january-according-to-edmunds.html">82 percent</a> of customers paid above sticker price for a new car in January of this year. For some perspective, that figure was 2.8 percent in January 2021 and 0.3 percent in 2020. On average, transaction prices for a new car in January were $728 above the sticker price. In the same month in 2021 and 2020, they were more than $2,000 below it. For some higher-end vehicles, like the one Iglar was in the market for, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-brand-of-sticker-shock-hits-the-
car-market-11645851648">dealers are charging tens of thousands of dollars</a> above what manufacturers suggest.
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In more normal times, its car dealers that are often trying to undercut one another on prices to attract customers and compete. Now, with inventories so low, its customers who are competing with each other for vehicles.
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Bill Brunner, vice president and general manager at Paramus Chevrolet in New Jersey, told me that right now he has about 80 cars on his lot compared to what used to be 300, 400, or even 600 vehicles available. The scenario has created what he describes as a “balancing act” on pricing. “Our prices have definitely adjusted based on availability,” he said. “Having said that, we still need to be conscious of our customer base.” He knows some people have a budget. He also wants customers to come back next time their lease is up or they want to buy a new car.
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Brunner said hes starting to see some vehicles come through with more volume now, which will allow his dealership to be more competitive with the pricing. But it all really just depends on what they have. “There were some vehicles that we made better gross profits on than we would have if we had 100 of them in stock. Its just supply and demand. If we had two of a particular model instead of 100, our pricing structure is different. Its just the way it is,” he said. Brunner also noted the pandemic has been tough on dealerships, as it has been on a lot of businesses.
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Still, some auto manufacturers arent loving the situation and <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ford-gm-warn-dealers-charge-above-sticker-price-and-face-
repercussions-11644323580?mod=article_inline">have told dealers to knock it off</a> on some egregious price hikes out of concern it will hurt their brands. (A lot of people dont realize its the dealer that ultimately sets the price, not, say, GM or Ford.) Traditional auto manufacturers are also dealing with competition from companies such as Tesla, which sell direct to consumers. Plus, a number of car companies are launching electric vehicle products that they hope will expand their customer base, and many of those vehicles already come with long wait times.
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“You figure somebodys trying out your brand for the first time and its an EV product, you dont want to ruin that relationship by saying, one, youre going to wait, and two, you might pay more than you expected,” Drury said.
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In a February <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4484199-ford-motor-companys-f-ceo-jim-farley-
on-q4-2021-results-earnings-call-transcript">earnings call</a>, Ford CEO Jim Farley said that the automaker believes 10 percent of its dealers over the last year had charged above-MSRP prices and warned that “future allocation” of their models would be impacted by those policies, meaning the dealers in question might not be getting their most popular cars. <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ford-gm-warn-dealers-charge-above-sticker-price-and-face-
repercussions-11644323580?mod=article_inline">The Wall Street Journal reported</a> that GM also told dealers in a letter it might take action against a “small minority of bad actors” selling and leasing far above sticker price.
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<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-brand-of-sticker-shock-hits-the-car-market-11645851648">The Wall Street Journal</a> has also reported that Toyota and Honda have talked to individual dealers about charging above MSRP, too. Jack Hollis, Toyota Motor North Americas senior vice president of auto operations, told the publication he thinks dealers thinking only about the short term are making a mistake. “If that customer experience is great during this time, theyll be with you,” he said. The Journal noted that many dealers arent happy with the practice, either, because they worry it could damage the entire sectors reputation.
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To be sure, dealer markups are not the only thing contributing to price increases. “A whole slew of things” are making cars more expensive, said Stephanie Brinley, principal automotive analyst at IHS Markit. The pandemic has <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/28/business/auto-industry-supply-chain-problems/index.html">tossed the car industry into chaos</a> over the past couple of years. <a href="https://www.vox.com/recode/22336388/gm-chip-shortage-ford-
semiconductors-biden">Semiconductor shortages</a> and supply chain woes have caused major setbacks in production, and the costs of making and moving the cars have gone up as well. Brinley pointed out that many consumers also want more, costlier features, which drives prices, too. “Its a combination of trying to maintain margin and keep profitability up, but it cant be done if consumers dont want it,” she said.
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Many of the vehicles with the highest markups <a href="https://qz.com/2124564/ford-gm-are-cracking-down-on-dealers-for-inflating-prices/">are ones that are already pricey to begin with</a>. “If you have $50,000 to spend on a car, how bad can someone feel for you when they cant afford a $15,000 used car?” Drury said. “I dont feel bad for certain people when they can bid up the price.”
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Brinley pointed out its pretty easy to figure out what manufacturers suggest the price should be on a new car — the information is <a href="https://www.edmunds.com/inventory/srp.html?inventorytype=new&amp;bodyType=Sedan&amp;sort=bestDeal%3Adesc&amp;utm_medium=sem&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_account=main_search&amp;utm_campaign=segment_sedan_edmunds_dl&amp;utm_adgroup=best-
sedan-
used&amp;utm_term=buy_cars&amp;utm_device=c&amp;utm_matchtype=b&amp;utm_targetid=kwd-10660951&amp;utm_locinterest=&amp;utm_locphysical=9004362&amp;utm_keyword=buy%20cars&amp;utm_content=sem_landing&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw5-WRBhCKARIsAAId9FnRbBCS54KGc8BnvtabUI6JAsSQjROKASjL2NaGxjgQp5j3e8AhingaAnYeEALw_wcB">readily available</a> on the internet. If youre in the market for one, she suggests looking it up and then going from there. “Figure out what youre willing to pay, and if youve got a dealership that is charging more than you might be willing to pay, you might not get a car in the next two hours, it might be a bit more complicated, but move on,” she said.
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In the current landscape, you might have to be in “move on” mode for a while.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="SZCF9H">
<em>We live in a world thats constantly trying to sucker us and trick us, where were always surrounded by scams big and small. It can feel impossible to navigate. Every two weeks, join Emily Stewart to look at all the little ways our economic systems control and manipulate the average person. Welcome to The Big Squeeze.</em>
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<em>Have ideas for a future column? Email </em><a href="mailto:emily.stewart@vox.com"><em>emily.stewart@vox.com</em></a>.
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<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Indian Premier League 2022: the teams, top players</strong> - The Twenty20 extravaganza begins on March 26.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>CSK's Moeen Ali gets visa, will be available from second game</strong> - CSK are scheduled to play Lucknow Super Giants in their second match on March 31</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Indian Premier League 2022 | Dhoni hands over CSK captaincy to Jadeja</strong> - Chennai Super Kings will begin their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai on March 26</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Gavaskar says Jadeja is ready to lead CSK if Dhoni takes a break</strong> - Dhoni, who has been the CSK captain since the league's inception in 2008, could be playing in his last IPL this season.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Ashleigh Barty retires from tennis, resumes march to her own beat</strong> - The universally-loved Ashleigh Barty would have been chasing a career Slam at this years US Open</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Both Houses of Maharashtra legislature pass Bill to make Marathi language mandatory in official works of local authorities</strong> - State Minister Subhash Desai said the introduction of the Bill was necessitated as the Maharashtra Official Language Act, 1964 did not make it mandatory for the local authorities to use Marathi in their official works</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Watch | How are Coimbatores onion puffs made?</strong> -</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Through prohibition, Nitish wants to keep caste-neutral women vote bank: experts</strong> - In last one year, 158 people have lost their lives by consuming spurious liquor in Bihar</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Disbursal of ration benefits</strong> - Beneficiaries of Udayam scheme to get aid</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>CPI(M) will continue to oppose abrogation of Article 370: Yechury</strong> - We appeal to all secular forces to close ranks in order to save India for a better future</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Western leaders meet to discuss Ukraine support</strong> - President Joe Biden joins leaders of Nato, the EU and G7 in response to the invasion of Ukraine.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Russian warship destroyed in occupied port of Berdyansk, says Ukraine</strong> - Ukraines navy says the Orsk, which was used to ferry Russian troops, was hit in Berdyansk.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Ukraine war: Ukrainian fightback gains ground west of Kyiv</strong> - Authorities in the town of Makariv, near the capital, say Ukrainian flags are flying there again.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Russian veteran reformer Chubais quits job as Putin envoy</strong> - Anatoly Chubais, who was a special international envoy of the president, is said to have left Russia.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Ukraine war: Russian journalist Oksana Baulina killed in Kyiv shelling</strong> - Oksana Baulina died while filming destruction caused by Russian shelling in a Kyiv neighbourhood.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>MSI challenges Lenovo, HP with Tile-tracking laptops</strong> - MSI refreshed its Summit laptops with Tile trackers and 12th Gen Intel CPUs. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1843062">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Wolfenstein 3D secrets revealed by John Romero in lengthy post-mortem chat</strong> - Admits id Software was nearly acquired by Sierra—and we get Ken Williams response. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1843183">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A new picture of the hot water beneath Yellowstones geysers</strong> - Hot, mineral-rich water creates changes in electric fields that can be mapped. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1843226">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>AARP-backed social network looks to lure older users from Facebook</strong> - Platform focuses on shared interests, discourages off-topic political rants. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1843176">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>How to make online games less toxic? GDC devs debate moderation</strong> - Artificial intelligence, verbalizing feelings, and massively multiplayer horse games. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1842953">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</h1>
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<li><strong>My girlfriend shouted at me, “Youre always acting like a detective. I want to split up!” Eyes growing wide, I replied…</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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“Great idea! We can cover more ground that way!”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/808gecko808"> /u/808gecko808 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/tm2lof/my_girlfriend_shouted_at_me_youre_always_acting/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/tm2lof/my_girlfriend_shouted_at_me_youre_always_acting/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>Andrew Garfield, Tobey McGuire and Tom Holland got into an accident upon arriving at a party.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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As it turns out, theyre terrible parallel parkers.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/bullsaint"> /u/bullsaint </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/tlfnm2/andrew_garfield_tobey_mcguire_and_tom_holland_got/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/tlfnm2/andrew_garfield_tobey_mcguire_and_tom_holland_got/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>A lady approaches a priest and shyly tells him, “Father, I have a problem. I have these two talking female parrots but, they only know how to say one thing… they keep saying Hi, were hot… do you want to <em>fuck us</em>?’”</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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“Thats terrible!” says the priest. “But, I have a solution to your problem. Bring your two parrots over to my house tomorrow. I will put them with my two male talking parrots… to whom Ive taught to pray and read the bible. My parrots will then teach your parrots to stop saying that terrible filth, and your female parrots will learn to pray and worship the good Lord.” So the next day, the lady brings her two female parrots to the priests house. The priests two male parrots are holding rosary beads and praying in their cage. The lady puts her female talking parrots in with the male talking Parrots, and the female parrots say, “Hi, were hot. Do you want to fuck us?” One male parrot looks over at the other male parrot and screams, “put the bible away you idiot, our prayers have been answered!”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/--CoCaCoLa--"> /u/CoCaCoLa </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/tl8nr7/a_lady_approaches_a_priest_and_shyly_tells_him/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/tl8nr7/a_lady_approaches_a_priest_and_shyly_tells_him/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>Why did the sperm cross the road?</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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Because I put the wrong socks on this morning.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/taos__v"> /u/taos__v </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/tlz3li/why_did_the_sperm_cross_the_road/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/tlz3li/why_did_the_sperm_cross_the_road/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>Why are the Russian forces in Ukraine using the symbol “Z”?</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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Because the other half of the swastika fell off due to poor Russian maintenance.
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