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Great Ways To Use Fresh Herbs In Cocktails

Warren Bobrow
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Great Ways To Use Fresh Herbs In Cocktails

Nearly everyone has been to their local garden store and ogled over the varieties of fresh herbs that you can grow on your windowsill garden. Who knew there were so many different kinds of basil? And how about all that mint? Are there enough days of growing season left for every different kind of mint, pared with all those incredible bourbons on your groaning shelves?

Well, worry not. I’m going to make a few suggestions of which herbs you should be growing in your mixology garden and some simple ways to use them.

Rosemary

Photo by Flickr user Health Gauge

In my current release, The Craft Cocktail Compendium, I discuss the importance of subtlety of flavor over flash in craft cocktails. Digging deeper, I discuss being mindful of balance over loud and sometimes disparate flavors in carefully crafted drinks. When you’re using the best spirits that money can buy, why cover up their delicate flavors with the taste of wood and oil? Case in point: I call to view the idea of placing an entire branch of rosemary in a craft cocktail as purposefully destructive to the idea of subtly of flavor in a drink.

As a cook I’d never put an entire branch of rosemary in any dish that was meant to be subtly flavored. Why? Because rosemary is extremely potent. Just one or two little sprigs is enough to flavor a 20-pound pot roast, so why drop an entire branch of this wild shrub onto your tongue? That’s all you’re going to taste for the remainder of the day. Rosemary oil and the rosemary wood, over that costly bourbon or those lush freshly squeezed citrus juices is all you are going to taste. Rosemary is incredibly potent. I’ve been watching bartenders light it on fire too- and make little jokes about how it smells like weed when burnt further banishing any hope of tasting subtler flavors into the history books. May I please suggest using a just a couple needles instead. And if you want more flavor, perhaps you should consider using some rosemary bitters or prepare a rosemary tincture from alcohol and JUST a couple needles of rosemary? It’s super potent. Your cocktails wouldn’t miss it if you used less! Be mindful!

Mint

Photo by Flickr user Edsel Little

There are dozens of varieties of mint available today. It’s as if the entire country of England gave up their secret herb gardens and their rarest varieties of mint finally joined the legions of drinkers across the “pond”. I’m always interested in augmenting my cocktails with the freshest and crispest mint varieties as they are introduced. Some of these are: Orange mint, Chocolate mint, Thai and Vietnamese mint (oily and strong!) and the litany of spearmint, peppermint, apple mint and many more- with more coming out all the time. But my craft cocktails are defined by one specific type of mint. It is one that lives in a protected grotto, deep in the undiscovered woods. Its roots gently nourished by the cool waters that flow from beneath the ground at the foot of an old oak tree.

Branch water is what I call that pure water and Kentucky Colonel mint is the variety that I seek over all others. I’m pretty sure that the genus of this mint is from Kentucky and that the mint is Spearmint- through and through. I know from personal experience just how beguiling Kentucky Colonel mint is when spun into a mint julep, hand turned in an ancient copper-core, sterling silver julep cup. This cup that hopefully belonged to your great grand-pappy should always be polished to a soft shine and glistening with frost and possibilities. Don’t hold on to it for too long, your fingers will stick to the soft, semi-precious metal. Drink up while the ice is fresh and sparkling against your lips and the spear mint burns your nostrils slightly. Kentucky Colonel mint is what you should be growing in your mixology garden. Eschew all the rest! They’re just trendy.

Thyme

Photo by Flickr user cookbookman17

I love using Thyme in craft cocktails and in punch. But I must warn you, the wood is dangerous! It wants to get caught in your throat-and if it does, you will certainly not be happy about it. So when using thyme in a craft cocktail may I suggest doing one of a few things to make your life- and that of your friends much better. First, wash all herbs that you use in your cocktails extremely well. There is nothing worse than discovering that the pigeons upstairs have made your thyme variegated from their left behinds. Wash the thyme well and get rid of all of the spindly wood. You can toss this into a chicken stock or in the compost as well. It’s up to you.

I like to burn a bit of thyme on a surface that is flameproof and capture the sweet smoke inside a cocktail glass. The sticky smoke will coat the inside of the glass leaving behind a tasty reminder of the French countryside. Build your cocktail from there. Gin works with a touch of Vermouth and a few tiny leafs of thyme. Quite salubrious and if I might say- add a slice of freshly cut cucumber to the mix and stand away! Briliant!

Sage

Photo by Flickr user Isaac Wedin

Oh my, sage. If there’s anything I like making margaritas with, it’s a burning leaf of fresh sage. Chris Milligan, the intrepid mixologist at the Secreto Lounge in Santa Fe, takes a smoldering leaf and places it under ½ of a Boston Shaker. The smoke lazily fills the space of the shaker, ice is added along with agave syrup, fresh lime juice and really fine tequila. The cap is placed on, and the Boston Shaker is thrust, back and forth, back and forth until the shaker is frosty and ice cold. Then the mixture is strained over ice into a glass and the procedure is repeated until the imbiber is feeling no more pain. Or much of anything else. And that is why we enjoy cocktails! Go visit Chris Milligan, and tell him I sent you.

Basil And Thai Basil

Photo by Flickr user Nate Steiner

Basil is not just for pasta any longer. When gently slapped against your palm, the oils ooze out leaving the perfect foil for a Ramos Gin Fizz or even crushed against your cocktail glass before you fill the glass with your gin (never vodka) martini. Just gently crush the tender leaf or slap it against your palm- making for a lovely soft sound. I also like to make Vietnamese-style beverages like freshly crushed sugar cane juice with a chiffonade of Thai (or Vietnamese-style) basil. A touch of lemongrass and good Martinique pale or white rum will take your palate to another level with and infusion of condensed milk. You can even take this mixture to another level by infusing the condensed milk with decarbed cannabis. It’s up to you.

Here is a lovely cocktail that can use a leaf of slapped basil at the end.

Hoochie Coochie Man

Serves 2

Photo by Glenn Scott Photography/Quarto Publishing Company

In India, where temperatures regularly hit three figures, cooling beverages are a must. Enter the lassi, a yogurt-based drink that’s akin to a smoothie. My favorite version features mango puree—or, in a pinch, mango sorbet or sherbet—paired with thick Greek-style yogurt and a snow shower of crushed coconut water ice. If you’re making a Hoochie Coochie Man, you’ll want to correct it with a little cannabis-infused light rum. Try infusing your rum with Critical Kush, a mostly-Indica strain. It has deep aromatics of Asian spices, freshly turned soil, and a concentrated pungency that’s the right contrast for the sweetness of the mango and the yogurt. And there’s enlightenment in each sip. (This strain of Kush is a powerful full-body relaxant, though, so no driving or bicycle riding allowed!) Top off your Hoochie with a couple drops of creole bitters, which were originally invented as a remedy for dysentery.

  • 4 ounces (120 ml) mango puree
  • 4 ounces (120 ml) Greek-style yogurt
  • 1 ounce (30 ml) cannabis-infused light rum (I used Martinique rhum agricole)
  • 1 cup crushed coconut water ice
  • 1 basil leaf slapped gently (an oxymoron, right?)
  • Creole-style bitters

Combine all the ingredients in blender and process until smooth. Divide between two Burgundy wine glasses with plenty of freshly crushed coconut water ice. Dot each with a couple drops of the Ccreole bitters.

Slap a piece of basil and garnish or cut into a chiffonade and spin into your cocktail before pouring into the glass for a drink without any basil that you can see, but you will taste!

How To Talk About Cannabis With The Elderly

Mary Schumacher
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How To Talk About Cannabis With The Elderly

Whereas youth (12-17 year olds) cannabis usage has dropped in recent years with cannabis becoming less taboo and more mainstream, so has the senior population (55+) of marijuana imbibers increased substantially. Still, we’re talking about a generation who was raised and matured with vicious anti-cannabis propaganda and the “gateway” myth. Now may be the time to rehash the topic with someone in your life who could benefit greatly from the herb if they were to either pick it back up or pick it up for the first time.

This isn’t an easy topic to broach, whether you’re an adult child talking to your aging parents, a senior who has seen the light and wants to spread it to others or an ambitious millennial trying to pass on the good word, you’re likely to meet with resistance if resistance is what has been taught. Here are some tips on how best to broach medical or recreational cannabis with a senior who could really use it.

First, let’s get a few things out of the way, no patronizing, no arguing, no raising of the voice even and especially no talking over arguments that will likely arise. So yes, listen to the senior in question’s concerns and then address them gently, but head on.

Talking points can include cannabis prohibition’s racist roots, the inability to overdose and die on cannabis and that a plant with so many benefits has reestablished a place in society, and could possibly do so in the senior’s life. Ask about aches, pains, arthritis, inflammation, sleeplessness or any other discomforts that can come with age and can be treated with cannabis.

Don’t expect this to be a one time talk. Prepare yourself with the best knowledge you have, and then put in your time. Sometimes even a simple icebreaker about cannabis in the news can lead to greater discussion or at least set the stage for marijuana to be a topic that’s not so controversial anymore.

Cannabis is an enhancement plant and even if the senior in your life is in perfect health, they will likely still benefit from its – yes – daily use. Remember though that this is a journey and you can’t just say: this is the destination. Ease into the conversations and let them form naturally. You might even be surprised to find it’s not as difficult a subject to broach as you first feared.

Even though seniors may have been raised with scare tactics when it comes to the drug pot, there is enough publicity, studies and statistics to make a case for medical or recreational cannabis. The tides are turning and it’s up to those in the know to make sure no one gets left behind on the path to wellness.

Stalking Someone On Tinder Just Got Easier

Maria Loreto
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Stalking Someone On Tinder Just Got Easier

Dating apps were created to get rid of the awkward first encounter; to give you the feeling that you’re not meeting up with a complete stranger, even though you are. It takes guts to walk up to someone and introduce yourself, making it clear that you want to date them or hang out with them with purposes other than friendship.

Tinder wants to create something new by pairing you up with people who hang out at the same bars and places than you with their new feature, aptly called “Places.” Currently undergoing its testing stage in Australia and Chile, Places is an attempt for the company to facilitate something more than a hookup, with the belief that people who go to the same places and events have similar interests and thus more potential for relationships.

Dating apps have become so pervasive and part of our day to day lives that they’re basically another side of social media. You swipe for a while, maybe with your friends or with a drink, and then you do something else. You might meet up with someone, but the odds of that resulting in a relationship are few. Samantha Stevens, Tinder’s director of location products claims that Places wants to “create more genuine connections and higher quality conversations,” deepening what other dating apps are offering nowadays.

Wired reports that Places is a collaboration between Foursquare and Tinder, gathering information from both apps and that it’ll be completely optional for users. Once someone decides to turn on the feature, the app will gather data from places you go, such as restaurants, venues, and bars, avoiding unromantic and potentially dangerous spots such as your doctor, your bank, and other non-social activities. The app is also designed to put your spots on the map once you’ve left the place and 30 minutes have passed, avoiding a current broadcast of your location.

What Can You Expect For Your First Acupuncture Appointment

Maria Loreto
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What Can You Expect For Your First Acupuncture Appointment

For those who’ve never experienced it, acupuncture sounds kind of counter intuitive. The practice of having small needles inserted into different areas of your body shouldn’t lead to relaxation and stress relief, but it is what it is. Studies demonstrate that acupuncture does the job, providing benefits for patients’ mental health, blood flow, pain, stress and inflammation on the body.

Bustle reports that, for first timers, going to the acupuncturist should be a very similar experience than going to any other doctor. Daniela Freda, licensed acupuncturist, claims that first time patients should expect a discussion and review of their symptoms and an analysis of their medical history. After that, “the acupuncturist will perform a Chinese Medicine examination by taking the wrist pulse and looking at the tongue. Then, they will determine the treatment plan and administer the acupuncture.”

The most stressful part of an acupuncture appointment is obviously the needles. We’ve been conditioned to associate them with pain and discomfort, but acupuncture needles are much thinner than regular ones. According to Freda, the needles cause much less sensation than others. A lot of people also wonder about the risk of infection that comes with using needles, which Freda claims that is a moot concern since licensed acupuncturist are required to use sterilized needles only once.

A licensed acupuncturist will talk you through the entire process and will probably “insert about ten needles in different parts of the body and the needles are retained for twenty to thirty minutes.” The experience is also meant to be relaxing, where there rooms are private and filled with soft music and dimmed lights.

Like most alternate methods of medicine, acupuncture is a personal experience that largely depends on your level of comfort with the practice. For the most part though, patients claim that it produces almost magical results. “I went in expecting to see little, if any, improvement. Immediately after that first session, I felt calm and slightly pleasantly disoriented. I felt some immediate pain relief, but it was subtle. What had been a deep, throbbing pain was now more of a dull, steady ache,” said an acupuncture patient. A lot of people agree.

Nike Is Making Fanny Pack Flip Flops Just In Time To Ruin Summer

Maria Loreto
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Nike Is Making Fanny Pack Flip Flops Just In Time To Ruin Summer

Nike’s Benassi slides are infamous. They’re overused, ugly and expensive, yet for some reason people still fight over them because they’re “comfy” and easy to slip on — no matter how bad they make people’s feet look. Now, because there’s not enough craziness in the world, Nike has decided to stick a fanny pack on top of them, resulting in flip flops with pouches, allowing you to store change, toe rings, and other small objects.

These Benassi slides will be called the “Fanny Pack” collection and will come in three different colors: green/blue, pink/black, and black. While the images of the flip-flops were first leaked though US11, Nike has yet to make an announcement regarding when the items will be available for purchase, or who the designer is behind this awful and unpractical idea.

The images and rumors sent the internet spinning, with many users wondering why the flip-flops were even created in the first place, and with other psychos claiming that they’re the best thing they’ve ever seen.

CBD Market Set To Grow 700 Percent By 2020

Mike Adams
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CBD Market Set To Grow 700 Percent By 2020

America is crazy for cannabidiol (CBD). Despite the fact that this non-intoxicating derivative of the cannabis plant is still illegal in the eyes of the federal government, much of the population is now at least curious about the therapeutic benefits of CBD products. The mainstream hype over this compound has contributed to an enormous market over the past few years, generating sales in awards of $820 million in 2107.

But this bizarre market is expected to increase exponentially, according to a new report from the Hemp Business Journal. It shows the CBD market could grow by 700 percent within the next two years.

The CBD market is interesting because the majority of consumers, while on a mission to experience the medical effects of the substance, have no idea what they are actually purchasing. Some CBD products, like those sold in dispensaries in legal marijuana states, are extracted from the cannabis plant. These items can contain up to 30 percent CBD. Yet there are hemp-based versions, arguably the most popular, which are sold in health food stores across the nation, containing only around 3.5 percent of the compound.

The market is so muddled that counterfeit CBD products are even showing up in states from Utah to Tennessee. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that these goods do not contain any CBD at all — they are manufactured in the same manner as K2 and Spice – and they are dangerous to the consumer.

Nevertheless, Americans are dropping large chunks of change on CBD products in search for a wonder drug to treat ailments from chronic pain to anxiety. Some people are even leaning on this substance to do more – cure cancer, stop their children from having epileptic seizures, slow down early onset Alzheimer’s disease and, perhaps, further their quest to live forever. It’s a weird world. The population has become convinced that CBD is wherewithal to medical downtrodden, and it is putting its hard earned money on it. The latest report shows the CBD market could be worth $2 billion by 2020.

The numbers are impressive considering that the U.S. government still considers CBD a banned substance. Even the hemp-derived CBD-lite products sold in 7-Eleven and Walmart are still technically violating the terms of the Controlled Substances Act. But that could soon change. There is a push in Congress right now to legalize industrial hemp nationwide.

Regardless of whether this happens or not, there is certainly no sign of a slow down in the marketing of CBD products in the United States. Yet there is much more to health and wellness than CBD. Although this compound is considered the most medicinal part of the cannabis plant, research has shown that it is more effective with THC.

Couple Loses Child Custody Over Medical Marijuana

Terry Hacienda
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Couple Loses Child Custody Over Medical Marijuana

You know marijuana laws are unjust when parents are jailed for six days and lose custody of a teenage son suffering from seizures. But that is exactly what happened to Matthew and Suzeanna Brill, a Georgia couple who gave their son cannabis to hele reduce his seizures. The medicine clearly worked. The law, in this case, clearly failed.

Before cannabis treatment, David, 15, was experiencing about 10 seizures a day. Frustrated by the red tape involved with Georgia’s medical marijuana program, the Brills were stuck between a rock and a hard place. They bought their cannabis illegally, but the smoked marijuana eliminated his seizures entirely. In fact, he went 71 days without suffering a debilitating seizure.

“I’m a father that did what it took to make sure my son was OK,” Matthew told CBS News. “For our son, it was a miracle for him,” he added.

But since the treatment did not conform to the state’s laws, David’s parents were charged with reckless conduct. Georgia’s medical marijuana program, like many in the South, are quite onerous for patients and their families. And there currently is a six-year waiting list to get a medical marijuana card, according to Suzeanna.

Related: NCAA Denies Football Player CBD Oil For Epilepsy 

Instead of waiting for their underage son to turn 21, the Brills took the proactive step of saving their son’s life. Six more years of 10 seizures a day would be nearly 22,oo0 more episodes and that was just not a solution for the family.

According to the CBS report:

[S]omeone alerted the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services. The couple said they spent six days in jail. On April 20, David was removed from the Brills’ custody. That day, he had a seizure and had to be rushed to a hospital.

“When I talked to him tonight… the 10-minute phone call I was allowed to have with him, he is on the verge of going into a seizure,” Suzeanna said.

David is currently living in a group home about 60 miles from his parents.

The Georgia Division of Family and Children services said in a statement, “Case managers continue to work with the parents…so the family can be restored as quickly as possible.”

The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services is with the Brills “so the family can be restored as quickly as possible.”

Red Wine Is The Best Alcohol For Great Sex And Here’s Why

Amy Hansen
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Red Wine Is The Best Alcohol For Great Sex And Here’s Why

Everyone knows booze is called “social lubricant” for good reason. It helps us loosen up and relax and go with innocent urges we might otherwise deem too risky when we’re totally sober.

Now that the cooler months are rolling in, it’s plausible more people will be hunkering down with a bottle of cozy red wine over its chillier counterparts. And that is actually a really good thing because red wine, it turns out, is excellent for the sex drive.

That’s got to be at least one reason why most babies are born in late summer, right?

Everyone knows booze is called “social lubricant” for good reason. It helps us loosen up and relax and go with innocent urges we might otherwise deem too risky when we’re totally sober. A glass or two is the perfect push we give ourselves when we want to impress, have fun and/or feel Olivia Pope level confident.

https://giphy.com/gifs/drinking-scandal-sd6NCj9QyJbk4

It also helps us have really great sex (well, as much as it can).

Italian researchers learned awhile ago that red wine has compounds that increase a person’s sex drive.

According to VinePair:

What the researchers uncovered was that the red wine specifically increased blood flow to women’s erogenous areas, which in turn led to increased levels of desire. The researchers were quick to point out, however, that after more than a drink or two the other effects of alcohol began to take hold, which led to a less pleasurable experience. Moderation, it seems, is key.

https://giphy.com/gifs/biglittlelies-hbo-shailene-woodley-3og0IU2ayAqGgJ2VfW

Red wine has also been found to boost testosterone levels in men. According to researchers from London’s Kingston University:

…a compound in red wine, known as quercetin, partially blocked the action of an enzyme called UGT2B17, which looks for testosterone and then sends a message to the kidneys to excrete it.

The team of researchers also found the results were the same for red wine extract in supplement and food forms. Many plant-based foods such as apples, peppers, leafy greens and citrus fruits contain the same active compounds in red wine, such as quercetin.

The next time you want to enhance date night without completely ruining it, split a bottle of wine with your lover and retreat to bed. Calling it a night after a couple of glasses each will help ensure you don’t wake up the next morning feeling completely destroyed. Nice and slow is the name of the game.

https://giphy.com/gifs/campoviejouk-red-wine-3ohzdZOJ0CNxrY1PS8

Baller: 6 Of Our Favorite Joints and Blunts on Instagram

Sam Jones
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Baller: 6 Of Our Favorite Joints and Blunts on Instagram

Instagram is one of, if not the only, tolerable social media platform. There’s no constant bombardment of news and bad jokes like on Twitter, no obnoxious political arguments and baby pics like on Facebook, and no weird emojis that only teens understand like on Snapchat. So it makes sense that people would feel comfortable posting photos of themselves smoking variously sized joints and blunts. Below you’ll find our favorites:

Cross-Joint

A cross-jont is famously difficult to make (for us, at least), which is why spotting one in the wild (on Instagram) is notable. Behold below a flawless cross-joint made by a gentleman named Sir Stoned. Well done, Sir Stoned.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BP-dJs9DDq1/

Big-Ass Joint In Front Of A Big-Ass Pizza

Nothing goes together like weed and pizza, so this photo is a no brainer to include. It is, as the title above implies, a picture of an absolutely gigantic joint in front of a huge cheese pizza. We’re writing this near lunch time, so we’re extremely jealous of whoever took this photo.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BP_ZrRCByiQ/

Donut Blunt

While we doubt the blunt below is actually functional, we admire its craftsmanship. Also, once this guy does smoke, he’ll have the perfect munchies cure right there.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BP885bBgwGd/

Tattooed Model Rolling A Joint

Few things could improve the natural beauty of a well-rolled joint, but having a beautiful model pose with one certainly works.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BP_X3JmhktW/

Cake Joint

The downside, if there is one, to most joints is their plain white color. So why not give them so color? Below view a photo of a joint decorated to look like a cake.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQAxLSVloaK/

Mural of Drake Rapping Into A Mic Made Of Weed

An important piece of art for the turbulent times we live in.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQBA-w7BdPA/

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Jeff Sessions Called Out By ‘The Onion’ In The Best Way Possible

Terry Hacienda
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Jeff Sessions Called Out By ‘The Onion’ In The Best Way Possible

Need a chuckle for the weekend? The Onion delivers the laughs this week with a hilarious “news in brief” spoof of embattled Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his dicey standing with his boss, President Donald Trump.

Ever since Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation early in Trump’s presidency, the two have been having trouble getting along. The Onion combined this controversy with Sessions’ long record of reefer madness propaganda to deliver a hilarious takedown of the attorney general. All with tongue planted firmly in cheek.

Under the dire headline “Inconsolable Jeff Sessions Tries To Commit Suicide By Smoking Joint,” The Onion its best shot at the nation’s top cop. The short brief begins:

Following months of bruising criticism from Democrats and President Trump alike, an inconsolable Jeff Sessions was reportedly trying to commit suicide Thursday by smoking a joint. “I swore I’d never take the coward’s way out, but what choice do I have?” said a teary-eyed Sessions, carefully laying a sealed envelope containing his farewell note on a tool bench in his garage as he raised a lighter to the marijuana cigarette with trembling hands.

Accompanying the story is a doctored photo of a disconcerted Sessions about to spark up a joint in an undisclosed garage. This is not the first time the satirical “news” site has poked fun at Sessions’ antiquated position on cannabis.

Last year, in its regular man-on-the-street interview series called “American Voices,” it parodied Sessions’ suggestion to revive the D.A.R.E. program, a money-losing failure. The question and answer from a “random respondent”:

Q: Attorney General Jeff Sessions reportedly wants to revive the 1983 Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, although many studies have questioned its effectiveness. What do you think?

A: “A hip, charismatic rockstar like Jeff Sessions could be just the thing to get teens interested in anti-drug education again.”

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