My Real Estate Comments

Macaroni and Cheese - Islero, the New Tapas Spot in Turtle Bay, Needs To Find its Footing - Village Voice

2008-04-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

Macaroni and Cheese - Islero, the New Tapas Spot in Turtle Bay, Needs To Find its Footing - Village Voice

After you eat the bacon, cut into the egg and the rest of the yolk flows out to enrich the wild mushrooms below. The plums and figs, a mix of port-soaked plums and figs with Serrano ham and Garoxta cheese, gets a manic zig-zag of balsamic reduction all over it. But fancy garnishes come off as silly when they’re trotted out just for the sake of it—especially at a place with a TV at the bar playing ESPN. But I refuse to pay $14 for a guy behind the bar to pour a little bit of bourbon into a glass, top it off with “chai-infused” sweet vermouth, and .....

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Chicago Plumber - A Friend in time of trouble.

2008-01-25T03:32:00.000-08:00

In Chicago, like most older cities, there are a lot of older houses around. The house that I lived in was built in 1854, and I think the plumbing was built in 1754. I know that sound impossible, but the plumbing in this house is very old, and extremely hard to work with.

I consider myself a bit of a handyman, atleast in my younger days. Nowadays, I'm too tired to even think about house repairs. But working on the plumbing on my house is the pits. So, what do you do if you need to have your plumbing worked on in Chicago?

Well, you find yourself a good plumbing resource like Chicago Plumbers. They have a great list of plumbers that are available in the Chicago area. They even have some plumbing tips, if you feel brave enough to try your hand at plumbing yourself. In any case, it's a great resource in finding a Chicago Plumber.

Here's Some Ways that Cosmetic Dentures Can Help You

2008-01-09T19:31:00.000-08:00

Here's Some Ways that Cosmetic Dentures Can Help You

Healthy teeth and a beautiful smile is not something we all enjoy, unfortunately. Some of us, due to various reasons, have suffered the loss of one or more important teeth due to which your chewing can be difficult or impossible as well as your personal appearance can be damaged by it.

Today, fortunately, there is a solution in order to bring back a healthy smile to your face and they are called cosmetic dentures.

Dentures That Can Change Your Smile

If you have bad teeth, you probably avoid smiling in front of anyone or, if you do, you probably cover your mouth in the process; bad or no teeth is a huge problem when you want to enjoy a good steak or even a plain cob. All these problems can be solved with cosmetic dentures, which can replace or even help the existing teeth.

Cosmetic dentures are made from scratch in order to imitate your own teeth and look as natural as possible. The process of replacing your teeth usually takes a few weeks depending on the specifics you need and can be fairly expensive however, most medical insurances should be able to cover this expense as well.

In order to get the right cosmetic dentures, you will need to consult your dentist and decide what material and plan would fit you best. Depending on the state of your present teeth and their number your dentist may decide to remove or keep them and work from there on cosmetic dentures. You can have a complete cosmetic denture, which is recommended as it looks better and will give you less discomfort than if you have several teeth dentures.

Discomfort will be part of the procedure and will last for a few weeks but with time you will get used to the dentures and the discomfort will go away. Cleaning and caring for your dentures is extremely important in order to prolong their life as much as possible. Dentures usually last between 5 to 7 years when you will need to replace them with new or remodeled dentures.

Helpful Tip

You will be surprised at the amount of people that are appealing to cosmetic dentures in order to get their lives back. It is a long procedure but at the end of it you will be able to be yourself again, smile and eat everything you once enjoyed and you have no reason not to enjoy it everyday of your life. So, contact a dentist today and find out your options in bringing back the smile on your lips again.

Looking For Accurate Bathroom Scales

2008-01-09T19:24:00.000-08:00

People who spend a great deal of time and energy on maintaining a certain body weight should consider purchasing accurate bathroom scales for their homes. These items come in two major types from which to choose. In order to pick one that is right for you, consider the following information.

Basically, the accurate bathroom scales come in a large spectrum when it comes to price range. You can find a really good product for a very reasonable price if you look hard enough. Some people prefer to invest a little more to insure that they receive the best product on the market but this might not be necessary when it comes to accurate bathroom scales.

One type of weighing scale that you might want to avoid if you have major weight issues is the standard mechanical type. I discovered the hazards of this older version while I was expecting my first child. I thought that the inexpensive version was among the accurate bathroom scales on the market but I soon discovered that I was sorely mistaken.

Being a weight-conscious individual I made sure that I followed a pretty good diet but I really had trouble exercising. This usually spells disaster for me when it comes to packing on the pounds. When I stepped on what I thought was one of the more accurate bathroom scales available I found that I gained a mere five pound in a month.

This didn’t seem quite right because I felt as if I gained much more than that but I argued that the scales don’t lie. Sometimes the older mechanical weight scales do. When I stepped on the scale at the doctor’s office I was stunned to find that I had gained almost fifteen pounds instead of five.

I argued that the nurse must have written the figure wrong because I had invested in one of the most accurate bathroom scales available. Unfortunately, the scale wasn’t so accurate. The unit was pretty old and it did have a crack. Part of the problem was my hopeful interpretation of the numbers as well.

After the embarrassing incident at the doctor’s office I decided to shop for accurate bathroom scales that fall into the second category: electronic. I found the perfect item and I never misread the numbers. They are as plain as day.

If your weight fluctuates, you might want to choose an electronic scale. You get a precise reading every time with no room for human error. These are the most accurate bathroom scales on the market, in my opinion.

The Joy Of Aparment Hunting

2007-10-02T16:21:00.000-07:00

My youngest child is moving away from home. I cannot believe that my daughter has completed her associate degree and has found an office manager position in a city sixty miles away from us. She has been commuting for the summer months, but with winter on the way she in going to move into the city. She knows that I am stressing about this so she asked me to go apartment hunting with her. She thought it would help me to know that she was in a safe place.

We started out early on a Saturday morning. She had made appointments with apartment building managers as well as two apartments that were in residential areas. The first apartment building that we went to was within walking distance of her job. This was close to the down town area that has several bars and night clubs. I think she was also thinking that she could walk home after drinking with friends. The apartment was located on the third floor of the building. On the first floor were shops and an attorney’s office. The building is quite old. The apartment was good size. There was a large living room and a kitchen and dining room area. The bedroom was very large. There was a walk in closet and built in dresser drawers along the window ledge. The bathroom was next to the bedroom. It had been updated to include a shower/tub combination, toilet and large vanity. For the size of the apartment the rent was quite reasonable and the location to her work was great, however they had no garages available and there was no security system in the apartment building. Neither of us liked the idea of strangers being able to access the hallways of the building.

The next appointment we had was two blocks away in a residential area. The apartment was in a house that had been remodeled to form two apartments. The apartment that was available was the upper level of the home. There was a nice living room and kitchen with a separate dining area and a big bed room and bathroom. The only shared area with the other renter was the laundry room area and the two stall garage. The rent was reasonable, but my daughter would be responsible for half of the utilities and heating costs. My daughter did not think she would like having to split up bills with someone she did not know. She decided that she would be more comfortable in an apartment building, so she called and cancelled the other appointment in the residential area.

The next apartment building we went to had a security system. The apartment was on the second floor and there was a garage for the car. The rooms were good size and the drive to work was only five minutes. She decided to rent this apartment and will move in next month.

Affordable New Houses

2007-09-30T20:58:00.000-07:00

The single most important purchase that you will ever make is your house.
While making a solid investment is ideal there are many affordable new homes
on the market today. You can consider different housing options that can
offer surprisingly low monthly home mortgage payments that are quite
manageable.

Many people believe that affordable new homes don’t really exist. However,
you may be surprised to discover that you may be better off buying new
rather than renovating an existing structure. With a little planning and
forethought you may find that you can even build your house from the
foundation up for relatively little money.

While the dream of building a house is prominent for some others find that
they just want to find affordable new homes that are in move-in condition.
There are many things that can go wrong during a new house construction
project and there is also a matter of time as well. Many are unable to
afford to pay for construction and monthly rent payments while waiting for
the project to be finished.

There are brand new houses on the market that are made of quality material
and are ready for the occupants to move right in. You may be surprised to
discover the many options available to potential homeowners who are in the
market for affordable new houses. Don’t think that you have to buy an older
house to be able to meet your monthly mortgage payment obligations.

In some cases an older house can cost you a fortune in updates and repairs.
You may find that your mortgage is affordable but you may also find that you
have to come up with a lot of money for renovations and updates especially
in the kitchen and bath. The repairs can add up very quickly and you could
wind up spending a lot more than you anticipated.

My husband and I thought that the only affordable houses on the market were
older handyman specials and we limited our search to those types of
structures. We were surprised to discover that renovating most of these
houses would cost more than buying a newer house. We decided to extend our
search into affordable new houses and were thrilled with the results.

After figuring how much it would cost to update the old houses we opted to
buy new. In no time at all we found ourselves in a lovely house that cost a
bit more than older homes we browsed. The affordable new homes were in
perfectly updated condition and they offered so much more for the money.

Affordable Apartments For Rent

2007-09-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

Whether you are searching for your first place or if you are moving to a new city affordable apartments for rent are probably really important to you. There are many options available to you in your search. The right rental property may be closer than you think and it may be easier to find than you ever dreamed possible.

The first thing that you want to consider is your income. If you fall within a certain yearly income you may be able to seek help from organizations like HUD. These groups offer low income tenants affordable apartments for rent. The great thing about these organizations is they work with your specific level of income. You only pay what you actually can afford.

Many individuals will not fall within the state guidelines to qualify for programs like HUD but if you do, make sure that you take advantage of the opportunity to find affordable apartments for rent according to your income. Those who don’t qualify for low income housing have other options to consider.

The first thing I did when looking for affordable apartments for rent was to start asking people I knew. I found this to be one of the most valuable resources available. Many friends and family members were eager to help me find a place that I could afford on my meager waitress income and I was shocked to discover how many unadvertised affordable apartments for rent there actually were in my area.

One of the nicest options available to me was an unadvertised rental that was behind a private home. The small building offered a cozy one bedroom suite that was perfect for me. This wasn’t one of the affordable apartments for rent that I put on my list but I really loved the place. It was just too far out of the way for me.

There were, however, plenty of other affordable apartments for rent and I had my eye on just the one that I wanted. It was in the perfect location and I already knew the landlord. The current tenant was about to move so I talked to the owner and asked to be put on a waiting list. If I hadn’t networked with friends and family I would have never known that the apartment was going to be available.

Of course, you can always find affordable apartments for rent by searching the newspaper but it is always a good idea to shop around. You want to become familiar with the neighborhood and consider how far you want to drive to work each day. Don’t forget to ask around. You never know what affordable apartments for rent will be available in the near future.

Dermatologist Skin Care

2007-08-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

It doesn’t seem to matter who you are, there’s one thing we all have in common. Our skin isn’t perfect. Whether you are fighting the battle of age and have developed a few wrinkles or acne seems to have taken up permanent residence on your face, you have likely struggled to find the right skin products that work for your unique situation. Many of us simply don’t have the time or resources to visit a professional dermatologist, so instead we try every cream and lotion we can find to see if it will finally work. This type of hit and miss approach is usually frustrating and costly. Instead of buying things and then trying them, research some of the available dermatologist skin care products to see which one will help you.

Infomercials for beauty products are everywhere today. You can typically find some type of infomercial running at almost every hour of the day. Most infomercials that promote skin care products feature some well-known celebrity who seems to have flawless skin. This can be discouraging for the typical woman who looks in the mirror and sees so many problems. There’s a new trend in these types of advertisements lately and that’s showing the spokesperson without any make-up. This is helpful as it allows the consumer the chance to see the transformation that takes place when the product is used. Almost every one of these beauty care lines is associated with a skin care professional that helped develop it. A dermatologist skin care line such as this may be just what you need.

I’ve long found that the best way to know whether something actually works is to find real people who have used the product. This is true with any of the dermatologist skin care products too. Even though a world famous doctor may have endorsed a product this certainly doesn’t mean that it will do the job it claims to. Ask others you know who have used the products in that skin care line about their results. If you can’t find anyone you know personally, do a check of skin care forums online to see what others have experienced.

Many of these beauty lines do offer a money back guarantee. For someone on a limited budget who doesn’t have any money to waste, this is a great way to try the products to see if they actually work for you. If they don’t and there is a guarantee in place, take advantage of it.

If all else fails, you really should consider going to see a professional doctor. Even though a doctor’s visit can be costly, it’s truly an investment in your appearance and self-esteem. With a dermatologist skin care regime, you can see results quickly and chances are after the initial visit you won’t have to make a second trip to their office. After all, skin is their specialty and they know exactly how to help you look and feel better.

The Best Anti Aging Skin Care Product

2007-08-18T03:11:00.000-07:00

There is a never ending search for the best anti aging skin care product. People are constantly looking for ways to turn back the hands of time.

Aging is not pretty. And it wrecks havoc with your self-esteem, yet it is a necessary side effect of living. Everyone wants to live, but nobody wants to suffer the roadmap that aging leaves on your body, particularly your face.

So, the quest begins to find a cure-all product that can make all the mean and nasty effects of aging go away. Does a magical anti aging skin care product really exist?

Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps the best we can do is slow down the aging process, and trip it up a bit.

Mini-Skirts

2007-08-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

The mini skirt has been part of most women’s wardrobes since the 1960’s, although the concept began in the 1920’s. Flirty, fun, and feminine, this skirt has earned it’s way into our closets, both as a fashion statement and a sign of liberation. With it’s countless cuts, materials, and colors, you are sure to find the mini skirt that’s right for you. However, because of this fashion diversity, it’s hard to tell just by looking which skirt will complement your figure. One skirt you see on a super model in Vogue may look awful on you, while another that looked unappealing might have a special charm to it once you’ve...

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Hollywood’s Best Kept Secret

2007-08-06T15:39:00.000-07:00

We all know that designer bags can cost a fortune and no wants to play a lot of money. Yet we all want to have the latest handbags and accessories. No outfit is complete without the perfect accessories to go with it. Thankfully there is a new secret that keeps women looking good without the high prices.

A Place where you can borrow Designer Handbags for as little as 5-20 dollars. Since I am a member I can tell you first hand what it’s like. The have plenty of designers to choose...

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Searching for Pond Supplies

2007-06-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

Hey, if you've been looking for a place to find good pond supplies, then I've got great news for you. There is a new website call www.tdr-search-engine.com that has just opened up.

This is a great web site for searching for Pond Supplies and Pond Kits. Just put in the type of Pond item you are looking for and hit return.

How and Why to Use a Mortgage Refinance Calculator

2007-02-14T22:07:00.000-08:00

How and Why to Use a Mortgage Refinance Calculator

Have you ever thought about refinancing your home mortgage? If you have, then it might help to do some research before you make up your mind completely. Eventually, you'll get around to visiting a loan professional, when that occurs, you need to be prepared. Preperation is the key. One of the best ways to discover more about reducing the cost of a mortgage refinance is by using a mortgage refinance calculator. Mortgage claculators are very handy and are easy and quick to use, and can give you with the...

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What to Look for in a Tattoo Shop

2007-01-29T12:34:00.000-08:00

What to Look for in a Tattoo Shop

Let’s face it – a tattoo is a work of art. With something so permanent being embedded into your skin, you will want to be absolutely sure that you hire someone who knows what they are doing when you get your next tattoo. Just because someone owns his or her own tattoo shop does not necessarily mean that they are an artist that can draw an amazing design on your body. When you get inked, you want someone who is the best in your neighborhood – someone that will be able to give you exactly what you want, and more for your money. Sure, the best may be a little more expensive, but why would you want some low bid tattoo artist to do a half-hearted job with something as permanent and beautiful as a tattoo?

When trying to pick what tattoo shop you should visit for your tattoo, you should always go by word of mouth. After all, there is....

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Evaluating iPod Cases and Picking the Right One

2006-12-15T16:12:00.000-08:00

Evaluating iPod Cases and Picking the Right One

Digital music players are here to stay. We jog with them, take walks in the park with them, have them playing while we sit by the window and look out at the rain. All this moving around with our iPods means we need to take proper care of them. That is the reason iPod cases are made.

iPod cases have one primary purpose - to protect the unit against the jarring that can occur should the unit be dropped on a hard...

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Advantages of Alternative Health Care

2006-12-15T16:03:00.000-08:00

Advantages of Alternative Health Care

Proponents of alternative health care often have some very clear reasons for choosing healthcare options other than traditional medicine. Here are a few of the reasons more and more people are seeking out and utilizing alternative health care to treat illness and maintain their health.

Perhaps the most common reason for choosing alternative health care is that the treatments involve using what nature has abundantly supplied us with...

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Avocado calories

2006-12-12T20:35:00.000-08:00

Avocado calories

For the first time listener's of this word, Avocado is a famous American fruit, which is available throughout the year in California and from June to march in Florida. This particular fruit is well known for its luxuriant creamy quality and placid slightly nutlike zest. They have a very high nutritional value. Avocados are optimum in vitamin A and potassium. But they are the uppermost resource of unsaturated fat in the entire of vegetable and fruit family. Due to their rich taste they can be blended with almost any edible item on your menu.

And due to their high fat content they have earned their nickname "butter pear". A medium sized Avocado contains as much fat as a quarter pound burger. Hence, people were initially advised against eating it. But now it's an altogether a different take over. As intuitionalists have discovered that fats of Avocado are monounsaturated, which actually lowers cholesterol levels, again eating it on the...

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Botox alternative

2006-12-12T20:32:00.000-08:00

Botox alternative

The ultimate way look control the aging factor is the control of wrinkles and dullness on the face. People become more and more cautious after the age of 40 as the skin glow begins to deteriorate and the people become much more concerned about it. People need not think about the botox treatment much as it is having an alternative called as protox that has guaranteed and effective results in a very short span of 30 days. Winkles are caused by the contraction of muscles and hence the ptotox works accordingly to reduce them. Even if the facial movements are excessive then there are chances of wrinkle growth. The best part of it is the reduction of wrinkles and the number of procedures and saving your money.

A short span of treatment:

If you are determined to reduce the wrinkle lines then this is an apt treatment for wrinkle reduction. Protox is the best way to...

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Leather Belt: Fashion Accessory For Men

2006-12-03T20:39:00.000-08:00

Leather Belt: Fashion Accessory For Men

The belt is one of the most common fashion accessories for men and women. They are not only used to make the pants fit snugly around the waist, but also to make a fashion statement. For women, any material can be used for a belt as long as it will complement the clothes that they wear. For men, however, the only material best for a belt is leather. The leather belt is the only kind of belt that men can wear to suit their clothing style.

There are many kinds of leather belt style available in malls and kiosks. The color of the leather belt is usually black and brown but nowadays, there are different shades of these colors available for the belt. There are belt manufacturers that go as far as making cream colored belts just to be different from the rest. Still, since men's fashion sense did not change much over the years, black and brown belts are still the...

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Bronze Too Expensive? Try Copper Patina Tile Instead

2006-12-03T20:36:00.000-08:00

Bronze Too Expensive? Try Copper Patina Tile Instead

Bronze is a highly sought metal. Its finish is very exquisite. It immediately screams a timeless flavor and a classic design. Furthermore, once incrusted with ornate and intricate embossments, bronze becomes a work of art that will reap a lot of pride for its owner. The problem with bronze, however, is that it's expensive. Few people can afford this metal, more so when a lot of it is desired to used for home applications.

Thankfully, copper provides a great alternative. These days, a copper patina tile is one of the more popular decorative surfaces that homeowners desire for the walls or floors of their own homes.

There are a number of reasons why a copper patina tile is...

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Backgammon Supplies

2006-11-30T19:57:00.000-08:00

Backgammon Supplies

The game of backgammon is one that will come as a set, usually not that expensive, but if you really want to enjoy the game of backgammon you will need backgammon supplies that are more to your personal liking, and more to fit your gaming needs.

Some of the various types of backgammon supplies out there include:

A flat surface ? a table where you can enjoy the backgammon game without the interference of others. Some people enjoy a sturdy card table but there are many types of octagon tables, which make you feel as if you are really focused on the game, and that the backgammon game is the center of attention.

A board ? while you can purchase the simple board game with complete supplies, customizing your experience is one well worth while. A large board one that shows points and rules, or such has become all the rage as backgammon players want to see more and experience more during their...

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Corner fireplace

2006-11-30T19:53:00.000-08:00

Corner fireplace

A fireplace adds the warmth and comfort you would want to give your home. It brings on a cozy feeling to the entire place and makes the room cheery and bright. Many a times, it is not possible to accommodate a fireplace in the middle of a room in a modern house. This may be because the house was constructed before and had no place for a fireplace in the original plan. Also the room size may be smaller and so a fireplace in the center could end up occupying lots of space. In such circumstances, one can choose to have a corner fireplace.

Why a corner fireplace?

Being in the corner, a fireplace can give your room a distinct look and at the same time not come in the way of your other design or décor plans. Empty corners can now be turned into the brightest spot in the room. A corner fireplace also ensures that seating space is not unnecessarily wasted in the center of the room and you can arrange your furniture as per your requirements. This way, one can blend the entire décor of the room for a uniform look that is elegant and rich at...

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Faux Fur Coat Information

2006-11-22T15:16:00.000-08:00

Faux Fur Coat Information

There will always be a controversy when if comes to fur coats. There are those who feel that such coats are stylish and wish to have one. Then, there are those who find that fur coats are a cruel waste of an innocent animals life and should no longer have a place in modern society. Then, there are those who find a compromise and opt to purchase a faux fur coat. Such a coat can also look just as stylish as a coat made with real fur and this is why that the faux fur coat has become as popular as it is.

A faux fur coat is created from a machine made fabric and can look identical to the fur of a real animal and, hence, like a real fur coat. The different types of faux fur coats that are available are quite voluminous. Are you looking for a mink coat? A faux version is...

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The Glory of Winter Boots

2006-11-22T15:11:00.000-08:00

The Glory of Winter Boots

It looks like the weather is getting kind of cold. With the exception of those who live in the gloriously warm climate of the Isle of Fiji, the winter time in many parts of the world is notoriously cold. In fact, it is not uncommon for the winter to bring about significant snowfall that can literally pile up several feet. Even simply opening the front door of a house and venturing out to the local 7-11 can turn into a brutal endurance test. Needless to say, such a venture is incredibly difficult if the person making the trek must rely solely on tennis shoes for footwear protection. Sorry, but sneakers by themselves just are not going to provide adequate protection and a pair of winter boots will be needed in order to make the trek workable.

Winter boots need not be beautiful looking or even remotely...

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Playing Tungsten Sudoku For A Neo-Traditional Step Forward

2006-11-19T18:37:00.000-08:00

Playing Tungsten Sudoku For A Neo-Traditional Step Forward

Americans, like people from everywhere else in the world, like games. This is especially true when the games are challenging enough that a great sense of accomplishment is achieved when solved. Further, with the drive towards education and improvement of intelligence quotients, the push for games like Sudoku is on the rise.

Yet any game such as Sudoku is often looked at strangely when played from a newspaper with pen or pencil. The reason for this is that so many people have computers these days and Sudoku is a numbers game on a graph. These two concepts could easily be merged and certainly would be compatible, and so they are reborn in the form of tungsten Sudoku.

Yet, one will ask: what is tungsten Sudoku, and how does it differ from an online version. First of all, tungsten Sudoku is available online or for one's own computer. As well, there is a person computerized version which is...

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