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Post by 3bid on Dec 18, 2010 21:42:22 GMT -5
Okay, it's time to direct the invasive manly chat & chatter to a devoted thread where such activities should be localized.
Manny recently made a suggestion and we laughed about it. But, perhaps, now is the time to give his idea a shot. A thread somewhat complementary to the Hot Tubbers, called The Men's Steam Room.
Of course, it remains to be seen if this plan will have any lasting effect. I have some hope that it can allow the forum to enjoy more orderliness. Manny has his doubts; we shall see. I say what the heck, let's give it a shot.
-3bid
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Post by NobleForce2 on Dec 18, 2010 22:06:27 GMT -5
Keep the pasties and peroxide away from Georgie. It blinds him. Everyone watch Warren and make sure he keeps his hands to himself.
Hey, this is fun. Pour me a Guiness, but face it away from Georgie so it doesn't get jealous of his thicker head. Def no double entendre intended there. After all, this is the men's steamroom.
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Post by marbearcat on Dec 18, 2010 22:32:30 GMT -5
Anyone here have either a nook color or kindle 3g e-reader? If so, a quick review?
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Post by agfadoc on Dec 18, 2010 23:47:30 GMT -5
I have a Kindle.. I like it mainly because I can use the software and read on my Android Phone, get home and put in on the PC, or pick up the kindle and read in bed, I like the portability of the software and interoperability. usually because of Reference material, or if I am into a good book, I use my phone to read on lull times, (or come on this board) or use the Kindle while on flights or waiting on flights.
The Kindle IMHO is the better device, it is lighter, longer battery life, free 3G, great wireless antenna, and the screen is simply amazing in bright or dim light.
One downfall is that in order to get the amazing battery life, it doesn't have a back light, but the case you can buy at Amazon with the light is the cat's meow, driven off of the device battery, no messing around.
Yes it does web browsing, but my phone does it better.
Overall I would buy it again, and if you are into reference, reading, and carrying your collection around with you, then it rocks.
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Post by marbearcat on Dec 18, 2010 23:52:02 GMT -5
Thank you agfadoc. I too have a \\\\\DROID///// phone. Using it right now too.
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Post by agfadoc on Dec 19, 2010 0:01:32 GMT -5
Thank you agfadoc. I too have a \\\\\DROID///// phone. Using it right now too. Love Android and the Swype Keyboard.. I have the EVO, and if you go over XDA developers, they have a ton of things you can make your phone do.. And if you are looking to increase battery life, the extended battery rocks.. Check this out...being on the phone helping someone with their computer for 1 hour and 44 minutes, being on for 16 hours and I am at 65% with lots of web browsing through wifi....,but I never would have gotten this kind of battery life without rooting and the extended battery. I can finally use the active wall papers, this one is a flame that is burning continuously. I get about one and a half to two days on the battery. Third and fourth shot is the Kindle Software... Man I love technology.
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Post by agfadoc on Dec 19, 2010 1:05:29 GMT -5
Since we are talking about manly crap... spaceweather.com/RARE LUNAR ECLIPSE: The lunar eclipse of Dec. 21st falls on the same date as the northern winter solstice. Is this rare? It is indeed, according to Geoff Chester of the US Naval Observatory, who inspected a list of eclipses going back 2000 years. "Since Year 1, I can only find one previous instance of an eclipse matching the same calendar date as the solstice, and that is Dec. 21, 1638," says Chester. "Fortunately we won't have to wait 372 years for the next one...that will be on Dec. 21, 2094." WHEN TO LOOK: The total eclipse lasts more than an hour from 02:41 am to 03:53 am EST on Tuesday morning, Dec. 21st. Any time within that interval is a good time to look. For other time zones, consult Shadow & Substance's animated eclipse. ALL-CLEAR IN THE STRATOSPHERE: Earth's stratosphere is as clear as it's been in more than 50 years. University of Colorado climate scientist Richard Keen knows this because he's been watching lunar eclipses. "Since 1996, lunar eclipses have been bright, which means the stratosphere is relatively clear of volcanic aerosols. This is the longest period with a clear stratosphere since before 1960." Consider the following comparison of a lunar eclipse observed in 1992 after the Philippine volcano Pinatubo spewed millions of tons of gas and ash into the atmosphere vs. an "all-clear" eclipse in 2003: Keen explains why lunar eclipses can be used to probe the stratosphere: "At the distance of the Moon, most of the light refracted into the umbra (Earth's shadow) passes through the stratosphere, which lies 10 to 30 miles above the ground. When the stratosphere is clear, the umbra (and therefore, the eclipsed Moon) is relatively bright. On the other hand, if the atmospheric lens that illuminates the Moon becomes dirty enough, light will be blocked and the eclipse will appear dark." This is timely and important because the state of the stratosphere affects climate; a clear stratosphere "lets the sunshine in" to warm the Earth below. At a 2008 SORCE conference Keen reported that "The lunar eclipse record indicates a clear stratosphere over the past decade, and that this has contributed about 0.2 degrees to recent warming." What will the eclipse 21st eclipse look like? "The stratosphere is still fairly clear, and the December 2010 eclipse should be normally bright," predicts Keen. "I welcome any and all reports on the brightness of future lunar eclipses for use in my volcano-climate studies. While actual brightness measurements (in magnitudes) made near mid-totality are most useful, I can also make use of Danjon-scale ratings of the eclipse. Please be sure to note the time, method, and instruments used in your reports." Submit your observations here.
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Post by agfadoc on Dec 19, 2010 1:12:18 GMT -5
endoftheamericandream.com/archives/16-nightmarish-economic-trends-to-watch-carefully-in-201116 Nightmarish Economic Trends To Watch Carefully In 2011 If you only watch the "economic pundits" on television, it can be very confusing to figure out exactly what is happening with the U.S. economy. One pundit will pull out a couple statistics that got a little bit better over the past month and claim that we have entered a time of solid recovery. Another pundit will pull out a couple statistics that got a little worse over the past month and claim that we are headed for trouble. So what is the truth? Well, if you really want to get a clear idea of what is really going on you have to look at the long-term trends. There are some economic trends which just keep getting worse year after year after year, and it is those trends that tell the real story of the decline of our economic system. As you examine the long-term trends, you quickly come to realize that the U.S. is trapped in an endless spiral of debt, the middle class is being wiped out, the U.S. dollar is being destroyed and America is rapidly becoming a post-industrial wasteland. Posted below are 16 nightmarish economic trends to watch carefully in 2011. It is becoming exceedingly apparent that unless something is done rapidly we are heading for an economic collapse of unprecedented magnitude.... #1 Do you want to see something scary? Just check out the chart below. Since the beginning of the economic downturn, the U.S. monetary base has more than doubled. But don't worry - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has promised us that this could never cause inflation. In fact, Bernanke says that we need to inject even more dollars into the economy. So if you are alarmed by the chart below, you are just being irrational according to Bernanke.... #2 Thousands of our factories, millions of our jobs and hundreds of billions of dollars of our national wealth continue to be shipped overseas. In 1985, the U.S. trade deficit with China was 6 million dollars for the entire year. In the month of August alone, the U.S. trade deficit with China was over 28 billion dollars. Nobel economist Robert W. Fogel of the University of Chicago is projecting that the Chinese economy will be three times larger than the U.S. economy by the year 2040 if current trends continue. #3 The United States is rapidly becoming a post-industrial wasteland. Back in 1959, manufacturing represented 28 percent of all U.S. economic output. In 2008, it represented only 11.5 percent and it continues to fall. Sadly, the truth is that America is being deindustrialized. As of the end of 2009, less than 12 million Americans worked in manufacturing. The last time that less than 12 million Americans were employed in manufacturing was in 1941. #4 The number of Americans that have been out of work for an extended period of time has absolutely exploded over the last few years. As 2007 began, there were just over 1 million Americans that had been unemployed for half a year or longer. Today, there are over 6 million Americans that have been unemployed for half a year or longer. #5 The middle class continues to be squeezed out of existence. According to a poll taken in 2009, 61 percent of Americans "always or usually" live paycheck to paycheck. That was up substantially from 49 percent in 2008 and 43 percent in 2007. #6 The number of Americans living in poverty is absolutely skyrocketing. 42.9 million Americans are now on food stamps, and one out of every six Americans is now enrolled in at least one anti-poverty program run by the federal government. Unfortunately, many of those that have been hardest hit by this economic downturn have been children. According to one new study, approximately 21 percent of all children in the United States are living below the poverty line in 2010 - the highest rate in 20 years. #7 Many American families have been pushed beyond the breaking point during this economic downturn. Over 1.4 million Americans filed for personal bankruptcy in 2009, which represented a 32 percent increase over 2008. The final number for 2010 is expected to be even higher. #8 The U.S. real estate market continues to stagnate. During the third quarter of 2010, 67 percent of mortgages in Nevada were "underwater", 49 percent of mortgages in Arizona were "underwater" and 46 percent of mortgages in Florida were "underwater". So what happens if home prices go down even more? #9 More elderly Americans than ever are being forced to put off retirement and continue working. In 2010, 55 percent of Americans between the ages of 60 and 64 were in the labor market. Ten years ago, that number was just 47 percent. Unfortunately, it looks like this problem will only get worse in the years ahead. In America today, approximately half of all workers have less than $2000 saved up for retirement. #10 In the United States today, there are simply far too many retirees and not nearly enough workers to support them. Back in 1950 each retiree's Social Security benefit was paid for by 16 workers. Today, each retiree's Social Security benefit is paid for by approximately 3.3 workers. By 2025 it is projected that there will be approximately two workers for each retiree. #11 Financial assets continue to become concentrated in fewer and fewer hands. For example, the "big four" U.S. banks (Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo) had approximately 22 percent of all deposits in FDIC-insured institutions back in 2000. As of the middle of 2009 that figure was up to 39 percent. #12 The Federal Reserve has been destroying the value of the U.S. dollar for decades. Since the Federal Reserve was created in 1913, the U.S. dollar has lost over 95 percent of its purchasing power. An item that cost $20.00 in 1970 would cost you $112.35 today. An item that cost $20.00 in 1913 would cost you $440.33 today. #13 Commodity prices continue to soar into the stratosphere. Ten years ago, the price of a barrel of oil hovered around 20 to 30 dollars most of the time. Today, the price of oil is rapidly closing in on 100 dollars a barrel and there are now fears that it could soon go much higher than that. #14 Federal government spending is completely and totally out of control. The U.S. government budget deficit increased to a whopping $150.4 billion last month, which represented the biggest November deficit on record. But our politicians can't seem to break their addiction to debt. In fact, Democrats are trying to ram through a 1,924 page, 1.1 trillion dollar spending bill in the final days of the lame-duck session of Congress before the Republicans take control of the House of Representatives next year. #15 The U.S. national debt is rapidly closing in on 14 trillion dollars. It is more than 13 times larger than it was just 30 short years ago. According to an official U.S. Treasury Department report to Congress, the U.S. national debt is projected to climb to an estimated $19.6 trillion by 2015. #16 Unfortunately, the official government numbers grossly understate the horrific nature of the crisis we are facing. John Williams of Shadow Government Statistics has calculated that if the federal government would have used GAAP accounting standards to measure the federal budget deficit for 2009, it would have been approximately 8.8 trillion dollars. Not only that, but John Williams now says that U.S. government debt is so wildly out of control that it is mathematically impossible for us to "grow" our way out of it.... The government’s finances not only are out of control, but the actual deficit is not containable. Put into perspective, if the government were to raise taxes so as to seize 100% of all wages, salaries and corporate profits, it still would be showing an annual deficit using GAAP accounting on a consistent basis. In like manner, given current revenues, if it stopped spending every penny (including defense and homeland security) other than for Social Security and Medicare obligations, the government still would be showing an annual deficit. Further, the U.S. has no potential way to grow out of this shortfall.The more one examines the U.S. economic situation, the more depressing it becomes. The U.S. financial system is trapped inside a horrific debt spiral and we are headed straight for economic oblivion. If our leaders attempt to interrupt the debt spiral it will plunge our economy into a depression. If our leaders attempt to keep the debt spiral going for several more years it will just make the eventual crash even worse. Either way, we are headed for a financial implosion that will be truly historic. The debt-fueled good times that we have been enjoying for the last several decades are rapidly coming to an end. Unfortunately for the tens of millions of Americans that are already suffering, our economic problems are only going to get worse in the years ahead. So what do you think? Do you agree that the U.S. economy is doomed? Please feel free to leave a comment with your opinion....
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Post by agfadoc on Dec 19, 2010 1:19:01 GMT -5
theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/tipping-point-25-signs-that-the-coming-financial-collapse-is-now-closer-then-everTipping Point: 25 Signs That The Coming Financial Collapse Is Now Closer Than Ever The financial collapse that so many of us have been anticipating is seemingly closer then ever. Over the past several weeks, there have been a host of ominous signs for the U.S. economy. Yields on U.S. Treasuries have moved up rapidly and Moody's is publicly warning that it may have to cut the rating on U.S. government debt soon. Mortgage rates are also moving up aggressively. The euro and the U.S. dollar both look incredibly shaky. Jobs continue to be shipped out of the United States at a blistering pace as our politicians stand by and do nothing. Confidence in U.S. government debt around the globe continues to decline. State and local governments that are drowning in debt across the United States are savagely cutting back on even essential social services and are coming up with increasingly "creative" ways of getting more money out of all of us. Meanwhile, tremor after tremor continues to strike the world financial system. So does this mean that we have almost reached a tipping point? Is the world on the verge of a major financial collapse? Let's hope not, but with each passing week the financial news just seems to get eve worse. Not only is U.S. government debt spinning wildly toward a breaking point, but many U.S. states (such as California) are in such horrific financial condition that they are beginning to resemble banana republics. But it is not just the United States that is in trouble. Nightmarish debt problems in Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Belgium and several other European nations threaten to crash the euro at any time. In fact, many economists are now openly debating which will collapse first - the euro or the U.S. dollar. Sadly, this is the inevitable result of constructing a global financial system on debt. All debt bubbles eventually collapse. Currently we are living in the biggest debt bubble in the history of the world, and when this one bursts it is going to be a disaster of truly historic proportions. So will we reach a tipping point soon? Well, the following are 25 signs that the financial collapse is rapidly getting closer.... #1 The official U.S. unemployment rate has not been beneath 9 percent since April 2009. #2 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are currently 6.3 million vacant homes in the United States that are either for sale or for rent. #3 It is being projected that the U.S. trade deficit with China could hit 270 billion dollars for the entire year of 2010. #4 Back in 2000, 7.2 percent of blue collar workers were either unemployed or underemployed. Today that figure is up to 19.5 percent. #5 The Chinese government has accumulated approximately $2.65 trillion in total foreign exchange reserves. They have drained this wealth from the economies of other nations (such as the United States) and instead of reinvesting all of it they are just sitting on much of it. This is creating tremendous imbalances in the global economy. #6 Since the year 2000, we have lost 10% of our middle class jobs. In the year 2000 there were approximately 72 million middle class jobs in the United States but today there are only about 65 million middle class jobs. #7 The United States now employs about the same number of people in manufacturing as it did back in 1940. Considering the fact that we had 132 million people living in this country in 1940 and that we have well over 300 million people living in this country today, that is a very sobering statistic. #8 According to CoreLogic, U.S. housing prices have now declined for three months in a row. #9 The average rate on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage soared 11 basis points just this past week. As mortgage rates continue to push higher it is going to make it even more difficult for American families to afford homes. #10 22.5 percent of all residential mortgages in the United States were in negative equity as of the end of the third quarter of 2010. #11 The U.S. monetary base has more than doubled since the beginning of the most recent recession. #12 U.S. Treasury yields have been rising steadily during the 4th quarter of 2010 and recently hit a six-month high. #13 Incoming governor Jerry Brown is scrambling to find $29 billion more to cut from the California state budget. The following quote from Brown about the desperate condition of California state finances is not going to do much to inspire confidence in California's financial situation around the globe.... "We've been living in fantasy land. It is much worse than I thought. I'm shocked."#14 24.3 percent of the residents of El Centro, California are currently unemployed. #15 The average home in Merced, California has declined in value by 63 percent over the past four years. #16 Detroit Mayor Dave Bing has come up with a new way to save money. He wants to cut 20 percent of Detroit off from essential social services such as road repairs, police patrols, functioning street lights and garbage collection. #17 The second most dangerous city in the United States - Camden, New Jersey - is about to lay off about half its police in a desperate attempt to save money. #18 In 2010, 55 percent of Americans between the ages of 60 and 64 were in the labor market. Ten years ago, that number was just 47 percent. More older Americans than ever find that they have to keep working just to survive. #19 Back in 1998, the United States had 25 percent of the world’s high-tech export market and China had just 10 percent. Ten years later, the United States had less than 15 percent and China's share had soared to 20 percent. #20 The U.S. government budget deficit increased to a whopping $150.4 billion last month, which represented the biggest November budget deficit on record. #21 The U.S. government is somehow going to have to roll over existing debt and finance new debt that is equivalent to 27.8 percent of GDP in 2011. #22 The United States had been the leading consumer of energy on the globe for about 100 years, but this past summer China took over the number one spot. #23 According to an absolutely stunning new poll, 40 percent of all U.S. doctors plan to bail out of the profession over the next three years. #24 As 2007 began, there were just over 1 million Americans that had been unemployed for half a year or longer. Today, there are over 6 million Americans that have been unemployed for half a year or longer. #25 All over the United States, local governments have begun instituting "police response fees". For example, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has come up with a plan under which a fee of $365 would be charged if police are called to respond to an automobile accident where no injuries are involved. If there are injuries as a result of the crash that is going to cost extra.
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Post by likethecigars on Dec 19, 2010 3:13:04 GMT -5
Okay...
The most Politically Incorrect character ever envisioned or created, in the history of fictional media, is a guy by the name of James Bond; brought to us with a heartfelt "thanks" to that fellow who thought that Halloween should be a National Holiday (that's "spook" talk, for those not in the know)... Well, there's no fooling you, obviously; yes, you guessed it: Ian Fleming.
Unfortunately, old James has been castrated in the last two Bond films. It may have something to do with Sony getting the "rights" to Bond, that is, the portion that Eon doesn't own... It's a bit sad to watch a James Bond Film and realize it's just an advertisement for Sony...
But, back in the day when "men were men and cars had 400+ horsepower (from the factory)" James Bond was a different sort of character...
He was every teenage boy's dream... And every mature man's dream, too... And, before the whole world shifted its rotational axis and people still lived life for life and for simple enjoyment, even women likened and envisioned themselves as having the sexiness, charisma, and smarts to be a "Bond" girl, too...
Seriously, here was a guy who was good looking, smart, suave, sophisticated, had all the women he wanted, drove the coolest cars, had the most bad-assed gadgets ever made, and on top of that, heaven's forbid, got paid to kill people, as well.
Now, I don't know about the rest of you guys, but it just doesn't get much better than that! From a fantasist's POV, of course.
So, then, let's see what you guys have to say:
1) Who is your favorite "Bond"? 2) What is your favorite "Bond" Film? 3) What is your favorite "Bond" vehicle? 4) Who is your favorite "Bond" "Girl"? 5) Who is your favorite "Bond" villain? 6) What is your favorite "Bond" gadget?
I suppose, I need to go first...
1) Roger Moore - The first Bond film I ever saw had Sir Rog in it, needless to say, he will always be the "real" Bond to me.
2) Moonraker - Yes, that's the truth. It was the first Bond film I ever saw and the only other movie (apart from Star Wars) that I have ever waited in line to see. That was at the Lensic Theater in 1979. I saw Star Wars there, too, in 1977 (the only other film I waited in line to see). I was just a child back then... Truly, a CMKX virgin...
3) Lotus Esprit Turbo (with my apologies to David Brown - that's the "DB" in Aston Martin).
4) Kristina Wayborn(?) from Octogirl thingy. Wow, what a body! She was like 40-years old when she filmed that! She couldn't act for crap, but who really cared...
5) That would be "Jaws."
6) He had some gadget that "Q" gave him, heck, I don't even remember what film it was in... But it was like those "X-Ray Specs" they used to sell in the back of comic books, you know, promising that you could see a woman's body under her clothes and stuff.
Hey, what can I say: I'm a red-blooded American pervert. And quite proud of it.
Okay, now, don't be shy... What sayeth you...?
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Post by z06mike on Dec 19, 2010 6:47:11 GMT -5
Okay, it's time to direct the invasive manly chat & chatter to a devoted thread where such activities should be localized.
Manny recently made a suggestion and we laughed about it. But, perhaps, now is the time to give his idea a shot. A thread somewhat complementary to the Hot Tubbers, called The Men's Steam Room.
Of course, it remains to be seen if this plan will have any lasting effect. I have some hope that it can allow the forum to enjoy more orderliness. Manny has his doubts; we shall see. I say what the heck, let's give it a shot.
-3bid Orderliness! ;D
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Post by brockley on Dec 19, 2010 10:16:31 GMT -5
Can I have another Beer..? And pass the pretzels ... I think were going to be here a while....
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Post by Ed Jagacki on Dec 19, 2010 11:25:57 GMT -5
Well, cigar guy... I am obviously quite a bit older than you...
1) Who is your favorite "Bond"? Sean Connery 2) What is your favorite "Bond" Film? From Russia With Love... 2nd - Thunderball... 3rd- You Only Live Twice 3) What is your favorite "Bond" vehicle? Loved them all... not enough of a gearhead to differentiate 4) Who is your favorite "Bond" "Girl"? Ursula Andress from Dr. No (Honorable mention to Barbara Carrera?) 5) Who is your favorite "Bond" villain? Can't remember his name (From spectre... with the cat in his lap) 6) What is your favorite "Bond" gadget? mini-helicopter with weapon system comensurate with today's fighter planes...
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Post by georgie18 on Dec 19, 2010 11:36:44 GMT -5
Well, cigar guy... I am obviously quite a bit older than you... 1) Who is your favorite "Bond"? Sean Connery 2) What is your favorite "Bond" Film? From Russia With Love... 2nd - Thunderball... 3rd- You Only Live Twice 3) What is your favorite "Bond" vehicle? Loved them all... not enough of a gearhead to differentiate 4) Who is your favorite "Bond" "Girl"? Ursula Andress from Dr. No (Honorable mention to Barbara Carrera?) 5) Who is your favorite "Bond" villain? Can't remember his name (From spectre... with the cat in his lap) 6) What is your favorite "Bond" gadget? mini-helicopter with weapon system comensurate with today's fighter planes... Ed I left a warm wonderful hot tub to come into a sweaty steam room for this... ;D ;D......BLOFELD WAS HIS NAME....
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Post by georgie18 on Dec 19, 2010 11:44:49 GMT -5
Keep the pasties and peroxide away from Georgie. It blinds him. Everyone watch Warren and make sure he keeps his hands to himself. Hey, this is fun. Pour me a Guiness, but face it away from Georgie so it doesn't get jealous of his thicker head. Def no double entendre intended there. After all, this is the men's steamroom. Noble you silly little boy...I brought my own pasties with little tassels but I can use the peroxide thanks Warren and I will dye each others hair tonight..but it was mighty noble of you to make the offer...nothing to get jealous about ....I got the free pasties as a bonus gift when I had the operation..I traded in the head for the no frills model....
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