So, those of you following the latest from Afghanistan may have seen this item, reported by CNN:

Taliban claim to have captured provincial capital of Gardez

From CNN’s Tim Lister in Spain

The Taliban says it has captured another provincial capital, Gardez, on Saturday. If confirmed, the capture of Gardez — which is the capital of Paktia — would occur as the Taliban advances to the national capital of Kabul.

Afghanistan has 34 provincial capitals.

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So, finally got around to posting two of the vids I got while there. The person I stayed with held the camera. It's simply pure joy for me to be near lions, and since I feel not even the slightest trace of fear, the sociable ones tend to be very relaxed around me (some aggressive lions in other zoos found me puzzling and weren't quite sure what to do as I didn't respond like other people to their snarls.)

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