ARMY DAYS XXIII

what the hell are relatives about?  they don't understand that funerals are not about them. 

as we were pulling away from my dad's funeral, inappropriately, uncle mike told me that i owed him for the limo he rented.  i rolled up my limo-window in his face.  not a proper time to be an a'hole.  he and my other uncles, visiting from montreal, probably went to a brothel afterward.  what else would they do?

my semi-sociopathic cousin, nat, showed up fresh from a korean assignment in full dress uniform and was busy telling everyone how he won the war and how he escaped injury when his jeep overturned.  not surprising, knowing his reckless driving. 

my mom had to make a display of every religious and superstitious ritual ever contrived by man many of which must have been handed down from ancestors and old wives in transylvania over the centuries.  she was covering all bases.  mostly she believed in reincarnation.  maybe sorta' buddhist(?), so she did not want bad karma or something.

y'know it might be good policy, if you attend a funeral just show up, keep your mouth shut, and go home quietly.  its not about you.

having to return to my post in denver was not undesireable considering the alternative having to associate with relatives.  go army!!!!


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NO RELATIONS - JUST REMINISCING ABOUT NEW JERSEY



SORTA LIKE NEW JERSEY


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CHOW-A-THON WITH GRANPA DON XXII

cherry season -- 6 ounces fresh cherries


tea party people are faced with the eternal question, "your money or your life?" and of course they answer, "OUR MONEY!". they will fight to the end for their right not to support the country.  "DIE SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS".


bran muffin

they're obviously on someone else's payroll.  you elected them, you're stuck with them.




coffee


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ARMY DAYS XXII

the next morning, my mom and i visited my dad at forham hospital.  not facing reality, i proclaimed that he'll be ok as his pulse seemed good to me.  what the hell do i know?

two hours later, at his store, we received a call that he was dead.  one of the people on the ward said that he sat up and may have looked around before falling back and dying.  i doubt that he saw jesus and heaven.

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the funeral arrangements were interesting being that i found out that i was from a religious family even though we never went to any church, celebrated any holy days or even thought about praying.  it was news to me.  i was given the instructions to give to the funeral director, contacted relatives and extended my emergency army leave.  they couldn't get along without me.

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ARMY DAYS XXI

B-39

i was stalled awhile in st. louis waiting for a flight heading to new york city.  a left over bomber (B17? -B39?) from the german-bastard war ii allowed me transportation.  i can't recall eating, sleeping or having to relieve myself.  its great to be young. these necessities must have been accomplished routinely.

B17 INTERIOR

we made an emergency stop in philadelphia.  the radio was out.  after fixing it and taking off i could see telephone poles and wires really close thru an open port near and below my feet.  not to worry, nothing can happen to a young person.

it must have been very late at night when the plane landed on long island.  after being stopped by two MPs, showing them identification and papers as i left the airport, getting local transportation, and headed home.  yes, i know its hard to believe there were MPs because i can't recall ever seeing MPs again.

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KAMIKAZI NATION

those of you who would rather hold your breath 'til you turn blue, feel free to do so.  the rest of us prefer to go on with our lives.  crawl back under the rock from where you came.

thank you for your cooperation.

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Crystal Bowersox - You can't always get what you want studio version american idol 9 top 12



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ENTERTAINMENT OVERLOAD

sorry america, i can't use anymore entertainment or communication devices.  you'll have to get out of economic difficulties on your own.

i own an ipod for audiobooks; an ipod for music and apps; two desktop computers; one laptop; cable and internet access; netflix; magazine and newspaper delivery; and in the empty spaces go to movies, plays, and museums; plus the usual household chores of the middle class.  i gave away my kindle because reading is almost a chore when pushing a button on a device is available.

so sorry.  those mysterious job creators, whoever they are will have to do their stuff ... ummm ... magic on their own - if they exist.  i know every two-bit business guy thinks he's a job creator.

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not bad, for springsteen that is.



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CHOW-A-THON WITH GRANPA DON XXI

sample breakfast

hummis and crackers ... sabra has the best hummis

i'm thinking this am that being president is a really tough job if you're taking an interest.  obama has to fight off one a'hole at a time and they keep sending in replacements.

the spicy ones are the best like chipotle hummus, and jalapeño hummus

other parts of our government at least have backups.  the supreme court hides out in its building and no one knows who they are.

no, i am not advertising this stuff.  i only buy it when its on sale.

budget deadline is eight days away.  fortunately congress and i get paid in seven days.  too bad for the rest of you.

coffee - yea


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THE NO-EATING WEIGHT LOSS DIET

successful participants

i'm currently on the no-eating weight loss diet.  this diet made famous during the german-bastard war ii  when almost one billion pounds of excess weight was lost around the world including greeks, ukrainians, poles, and others.  the japanese also did a good job in adding to the literature for this diet.

even though i've modified the diet with some fruit and vegetables it is very effective.

so far i've taken off about four pounds.  another four pounds and i'll be perfect.  of course at 150 years old you will not look like an athlete.

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is this betty white's granddaughter



1954 Clip of a young Betty White singing "Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)"

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ARMY DAYS XX

fordham hospital

early in november i was notified that my dad was ill and in fordham (the death) hospital located at southern blvd. and fordham road.  many check in, few check out.  in those days there were public hospitals you could go to - no medicare or medicaid.  my dad believed in hard work and dedication and never up to then had a sick day.

i was granted leave, packed a bag and went to the local military airfield.  since fitzsimmons was an army hospital and the harry-truman- korean-chinese-bastard war had recently ended, cargo planes with our casualties were still arriving.  i didn't wait too long before a plane arrived that was going in my direction.   i was issued a parachute, which i had no idea how to use, and allowed to board.  the plane was going to st. louis and then on to BAMC with burn victim casualties. 

 i got off in st. louis to continue my journey to new york city.

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Fifties TV: Kay Starr singing two songs on 1952 Variety Show



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CHOW-A-THON WITH GRANPA DON XX

.. mmm ... fresh peach

is this for real?  mr. nobody, grover norquist, whoever the hell he is trumps the constitution and the welfare of america.  this guy having the support of mysterious people controls congress and the world.  wtf.  robotic congress people march to his drumbeat.

fresh coffee.  must take out garbage 

back from garbage run. 

some people are saying that the wendi show at the murdoch hearing was a staged event.  no matter, it was a display that all wives should emulate.

microwaved egg on bread.

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FROM ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF ALL TIME, MARS ATTACKS.

TO SAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND THE PLANET, YOU CAN LINK INTO THIS YOUTUBE SONG:

Slim Whitman " Indian Love Call " http://youtu.be/kXULwgzezUg

MAKE THEIR HEADS EXPLODE.

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CHOW-A-THON WITH GRANPA DON XIX

cantaloupe

rupert murdoch playing at being senile old man at hearings.  being the same age, its hard to believe that i am smarter than him.

coffee

it seems that the hacking habit is like a bowl of potato chips.  you just can't have only one.

wheaties and milk 

certainly, wendi murdoch, was the star of the show, protecting her man by throwing herself at the shaving cream attacker.  lucky guy, murdoch, not many wives would do that.  many of them would ask their husbands, "what did you do to provoke that guy?".

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DEDICATED TO WENDI:



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NOSTALGIA DAY I

one froggy evening





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ARMY DAYS XIX

clyde and i hung out together for awhile.  i have no idea now as to how we teamed up or were separated.  he was from ossining, new york and for some forgotten reason it was amusing that he could see sing-sing prison from his town.

another guy, who was from kansas, i hung with was in another class knowing people such as the peet family.  you know like in colgate-palmolive-peet.  he did mention that a trip to, nuevo laredo, when we were at BAMC was ... ummm ... worthwhile.

there were a variety of people i was acquainted with of all types and socio-economic classes.  i leave the analysis to academics who sat on their butts for 200 college credit hours.

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ARMY DAYS XVIII

although i had a bad case of denver-ennui disease there was one interesting adventure:

somehow i was included in an auto trip to rocky mountain national park.  i have no idea how this occurred.  probably, clyde was the link.  this trip was paid for by an officer who was a casualty of the harry-truman-korean-chinese-bastard war.  the officer, his (youngish) mother, a male nurse, clyde, and me went on the trip.

we stayed overnight and had meals at a fully equipped large cabin in the park.  comfortable and adequate to accomodate all of us.

clyde and i slept in the same room.  i was up and about early the next morning.  clyde asked me later that morning, was i ... ummm ... visiting the officer's mother.   no, i wouldn't do that but  ....... it was an interesting idea.

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ISN'T THIS THE SONG IN, "MARS ATTACKS", THAT MAKE THE MARTIANS HEADS EXPLODE?

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EDUCATING GRANPA DON

two important things i've learned from the great minds running this country, congress and the president:

1.  STOP THE BLEEDING.

2. DON'T KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

previous intelligence i've absorbed is - don't put the cart before the horse who won't drink the water after you've brought him to it.

and if you walk around a cemetary three times with a garlic clove necklace you'll ward off evil spirits.

and most important of all:  THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS.

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179TH AND VYSE, BRONX, NY (PART LXVI): LIFE BEFORE DEATH IN (ugh) NEW JERSEY

using artie's car, me, artie, and mortie a very unlikely group actually managed to pick up three girls at the ccny friday night dance.  they wanted a ride to a pizza place on westchester ave, near the bronx river.  i was sitting in the back with the girls.  they paid no attention to me.  we separated ways at that point.  on the bright side i had ..mmmmmm ..  pizza.

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ok - what the hell ----------



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ARMY DAYS XVII

fitzsimmons army hospital (ca.  1973)

the army is like a concierge service.  you don't have to think of a thing.  everything is taken care of.  i can't even recall my arrival in denver.  it was like being on a tour without having to tip the tour guides.  my problems later in my life with DOD  and the idiots and drunks was that i was trying to think and take my job seriously.  just do textbook problems.  no thought, please ---- NO THOUGHT ZONE.

the accomodations at fitzsimmons were comfortable.  the food was excellent.  my only problem was that denver is boring .... boooorrrrinnng.  we didn;t even have to exercise.  being naturally lazy, i was getting fat and flabby.  it almost makes sense that the u. s. army require some level of physical fitness - POT-BELLIES NOT WELCOME.

i managed to elude any distasteful chores at fitzsimmons army hospital by either disappearing or being incompetent.  how the army selected me, the most uncaring person to help nurture and aid people is a mystery to me.

one day i was led by a lady-nurse to a floor in a building with a gazillion beds and mattresses and told to make them all.  after actually making a few of them, i found a bookcase, selected a book, sat down in a comfortable chair, and started reading.  after awhile the nurse returned and i had to listen to a long reprimand.  she must have been taking lessons from my wife and mother-in-law.  just shoot me.

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179TH AND VYSE, BRONX, NY (PART LXV): LIFE BEFORE DEATH IN (ugh) NEW JERSEY

CARS

artie bought a car. occasionally he gave lesser people like me a ride to our school (ccny). he wasn't the best driver, complaining that the sidewalks were built too close to the street.

i was allowed to use my dad's car.  on one occasion at evening's end after double dating with artie and dropping off my date i drove artie and his date to her home.  he said, "i'll be right back", as he escorted her into her building.  i waited and waited and waited and ..ummm.. waited.  eventually leaving.  when i saw him the next day he said i shoulda known that "i'll be right back", meant he wouldn't be right back.  he shoulda at least winked.  not that i woulda understood.  a very smart person - not always reliable.

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ARMY DAYS XVI

colorado springs - all these western cities look the same.....

my vacation (paid for by the u.s. army and you) in san antonio was over sometime in oct. i was fully medically class trained to qualify as a flunky in an army hospital.  uso and nco club dances and beer now only memories, we were shipped off to fitzsimmons army hospital in denver to get hands on flunky experience.

on our flight to denver we stopped at el paso for a delicious lunch (on you) and then a quick stop in colorado springs.

if you are not a casualty, the army is a great, brainless occupation.  yea!

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CHOW-A-THON WITH GRANPA DON XVIII

canned peaches - fast and yummy

looks like obama will have to invoke the 14th amendment.to pay our debts.  i'm sure that supreme court justices, scalia, thomas, et al will look forward to overruling this decision and defaulting on our obligations like deadbeats do.

coffee ....

too bad about rupert murdoch's empire starting to crumble.  i'm especially pleased that a person of the same age as i and with his enormous wealth looks so bad.  i have better hair, posture and muscle tone.  not good but better.   aaaaggghhh .... did i die?    ...............  no, i'm still here.

toast.

 i'm confused about the republican paradigm, "no new taxes".  over the past week i've paid a new tax on my cell phone plan, paper bags will be taxed in montgomery county, the fees at my bank and brokerage account are increasing, the govt. is printing money, arbitrarily setting low interest rates, fudging cost of living numbers, and other stuff.  nevermind ......................

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LIFE AFTER DEATH IN (UGH) NEW JERSEY

spent over 2 hours at the wash. dc smithsonian folklife festival yesterday.  for two old people that was a full day.  i know i had a good time because i can still remember it and have images in my little old head.

no sense describing it when you can get a glimpse at:  http://www.festival.si.edu/ 

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Diana Ross & The Supremes



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IRONMAN BLOGGER

JUST RAMBLIN' AS I READ OF DEREK JETER'S 3000TH HIT.

my new ironman blogging streak is at 214.

previously as you recall i had a continuous blogging streak from january 21, 2009 to december 11, 2010.  on december 13 shortly after midnight i blogged:


"my ironman blogging streak is broken. i have published a blog every day since january 21, 2009. continuing this streak was so close. the wife and i returned from our excellent weekend adventure in NEW YORK CITY (DID I MENTION NEW YORK CITY) (yea!) last night at 11:57. aware of my potential breaking of my streak motivated me to dash .. ummm .. stroll to my computer and try to beat the clock. unfortunately, booting up and getting on to this site was not timely. so i went to bed and got my zzzzzs. so close, so sad."

it is said that the record blogging streak is held by dr. prof. eric blusterman who has been in his parents basement and DOD blogging since the inception of the interfacerthing.  i aspire to his greatness.  yea, dr. prof. blusterman.

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youtube comment: "The PC folks can go cork themselves - what a wonderful bit of film.".

p. s.  joan davis not known for sexiness is  ... ummm .. not bad.



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CHOW-A-THON WITH GRANPA DON XVII

tomato juice


GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT

bobby thomson

i was busy packing draperies on a part time afternoon job for one buck an hour while attending college when at,  "3:58 p.m. EST on October 3, 1951",   "... Bobby Thomson drove a pitch to deep left field for a walk-off home run to clinch the pennant for the Giants.".  i heard the radio in another establishment through my open window in the garment center building.

the giants went 50-12 over their final 62 games.  "....the Giants frequently stole pitch signals from the bleachers over the last few months of the regular season. Bobby Thomson, who would figure prominently in the upcoming playoff, was one of the hitters who chose to receive the signs. ..."  whoa - athletes trying to get an advantage in order to win.  i'm shocked.

** source wikipedia

microwaved egg and bread in "pam" ed dish.


i of course was earning enough money so i could date a young lady.  years later i encountered her at rockaway beach.  she was mad at me about something like i owe her.  what is it with women?

coffee please.
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CHOW-A-THON WITH GRANPA DON XVI

THE BABE

i'm obsessed by the eternal question, did babe ruth call his second home run in game 3 of the 1932 world series?  after doing extensive research - wikipedia and a chicago sun-times article - i have concluded that no one including ruth can say for sure.


... mmmm ... breakfast

a complete reading of both articles will show that i am right.   Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens (who was at the game) in a "60 minutes" interview says it happened.  ruth himself 10 years after the event (1942) said it didn't.  my take is that with so much stuff going through his brain in that moment he wouldn't recall a specific gesture or he was just yankin', root's (the pitcher) chain.

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   the sources of my extensive research ---

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/6003607-417/babe-ruths-called-shot.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babe_Ruth's_called_shot


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CHOW-A-THON WITH GRANPA DON XV

gehrig and ruth

standard breakfast-

coffee!

just finished, "Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig by Jonathan Eig ".  an amazing documentary about an amazing, talented, and humble person.  in this time of regurgitating politicians, engineers, and just plain dumb-luck people this true tale will grab your gut.

...  mmm ... oatmeal.

contrary to some reports on the internet, eig, says that, goldwyn, of mgm was brought to tears when presented with gehrig's story for the movie, "pride of the yankees".  he made it into a love story.  gary cooper, the star of the movie wasn't that interested because he didn't know much about baseball and had other irons in the fire.  it was nominated for ten film awards.

going for newspaper and i'm done.

being 150 years old many of the events, and players of the book are contemporary to me.

Lou Gehrig's Farewell SpeechLou Gehrig's Farewell Speech

                                               Lou Gehrig's Farewell Speech
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179TH AND VYSE, BRONX, NY (PART LXIV): LIFE BEFORE DEATH IN (ugh) NEW JERSEY

generic college girl

one night while still on winter break on or after new year's eve artie took me along to accompany his girl friend's friend who attended cornell. i decided it would be interesting to pretend to be a machinist instead of the unemployed, snobbish, useless college student that i really was. how was i to know that a girl going to cornell preferred a deadbeat, uppity college brat to a hard working american guy. being stubborn and enjoying it i stuck with my story. at the end of the evening, artie told her the truth that i was a (useless) college guy. she apologized to me for her attitude but the damage was done, the evening was over.

let this be a lesson to you.  as, kurt vonnegut, said, "you are what you pretend to be".

nevermind, i know that most of you have delusions of grandeur, so this will never happen to you.

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CHOW-A-THON WITH GRANPA DON XIV

RONALD REAGAN AND GROUPIES

sweetcorn for an appetizer

groan - new ronald reagan statue: "A statue of Ronald Reagan is unveiled in London - ten feet tall, cast in bronze and commissioned by the Reagan Foundation. ..."

coffee, please

stauss-kahn still under the gun.  hang him.  he must be guilty of something.  the hangman can never make a mistake.

some grapes and i'm done

getting sick of imus especially his grotesque guests like fox news laura ingraham and his dumb wife. his one plus is that he referrred to bachman as flakey. bachman would have problems in my grade school.  she would be considered a very poor student.

i'll go back down the dial to, becky quick.  the problem at cnbc is that sidekick, joe kernen is so annoying.

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THE AMERICAN INQUISITION II

at the courtroom hearing: 

.....  i misspoke when i said, " ... your god .... ".  i meant our god.  i love our god.  he/she? loves me.  we love each other and you and everybody.  god bless us every one.
and ronald reagan was of course one of our founding fathers who was against slavery except for union members.  he was perfect and single handedly crushed the soviet union by cutting taxes for rich people who are rich because they are better.

judge:  i accept your humble explanation but you must be penalized for your mistakes.  i decree that you must have your nose straightened and take up alcohol consumption to help you think clearly.

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COMING SOON: THE AMERICAN INQUISITION

remember the spanish inquisition.  well, soon to begin is the american inquiition

a loud knocking at the door:

hi.

do you love and adore our god or do you want to be burned at the stake?

of course i love your god.  he's the bestest.  here's $20 to continue your good work.

what is your position on taxes?

ugh, i don't pay enough taxes.  rich people should pay less taxes because they create jobs by doing what they do best: creating jobs, creating jobs, creating jobs, and creating jobs.   did i mention that they create jobs?

abortion?

you never can have too many people like blow flies on a turd.

what do you think of ronald reagan?

he had a mental problem.  didn't he?

take him away and burn him.

AAAARRRRrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhhh................................................

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CHOW-A-THON WITH GRANPA DON XIII

ESCAPING FROM NEW JERSEY

having a bagel and coffeee.

reminiscent of the old days when escaping from (ugh) new jersey on a sick day or something.  after using the path (Port Authority Trans-Hudson)  train from hoboken i would stop off at a cart outside the 34th and 7th exit, get on the line and get the best coffee and bagel with real life regular commuters.  this was before nj transit trains terminated in penn station and big foot people were able to come in directly from the caves of northern (ugh) new jersey.

more coffee.

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179TH AND VYSE, BRONX, NY (PART LXIII): LIFE BEFORE DEATH IN (ugh) NEW JERSEY

a bunch of us teenagers chipped in and bought an old car from some neighborhood guy on 179th street for $25.  we were sorta taken advantage of.  only elliot had a driver's license.  never registered or insured (what's that?) the car broke down on its maiden voyage to orchard beach on pelham parkway.  i wasn't even there.  didn't even get a ride for my share ($5).  for all i know the car is still on pelham parkway.  the guys just walked away.  walked home of course.

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