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HTML is good for debugging, but is unsuitable for application use.
Specify the format parameter to change the output format.
To see the non HTML representation of the XML format, set format=xml.
See the complete documentation, or API help for more information. 
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<api>
  <query-continue>
    <recentchanges rccontinue="20150223123400|1271" />
  </query-continue>
  <query>
    <recentchanges>
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      <rc type="new" ns="1" title="Talk:Bed Bug Bites" pageid="430" revid="1274" old_revid="0" rcid="1279" timestamp="2015-03-07T12:46:03Z" />
      <rc type="new" ns="4" title="Wiki:Current events" pageid="429" revid="1273" old_revid="0" rcid="1278" timestamp="2015-03-07T12:39:08Z" />
      <rc type="edit" ns="1" title="Talk:Septic Tank Treatments" pageid="354" revid="1272" old_revid="1183" rcid="1277" timestamp="2015-03-02T13:37:23Z" />
      <rc type="new" ns="4" title="Wiki:About" pageid="428" revid="1271" old_revid="0" rcid="1276" timestamp="2015-03-02T13:01:06Z" />
      <rc type="edit" ns="8" title="MediaWiki:Sidebar" pageid="6" revid="1270" old_revid="1269" rcid="1275" timestamp="2015-02-23T12:51:28Z" />
      <rc type="edit" ns="8" title="MediaWiki:Sidebar" pageid="6" revid="1269" old_revid="1252" rcid="1274" timestamp="2015-02-23T12:39:55Z" />
      <rc type="edit" ns="1" title="Talk:Algae and Pond Maintenance" pageid="349" revid="1268" old_revid="1177" rcid="1273" timestamp="2015-02-23T12:35:09Z" />
      <rc type="new" ns="1" title="Talk:Mold Allergy" pageid="427" revid="1267" old_revid="0" rcid="1272" timestamp="2015-02-23T12:34:24Z" />
    </recentchanges>
  </query>
</api>