Nine Lives: From Stripper to Schoolteacher : My Year-Long Odyssey in the Workplace

Customer Reviews:

I worked with Ms Snowden in Vegas. This book is AMAZING!.......2007-06-19

One day a new waitress arrived at the Tropicana, she was quiet, kept to herself, but in Vegas, you don't ask questions; sometimes you don't want to know, other times you just aren't meant to know.
I had no idea this quiet one was an author! The poor girl fell victim to the cattiness of the other waitresses. I want to apologize for what she went through. I was fresh off the farm when I moved to Vegas and spent many a night walking home, crying.I know what you went through. (The town WILL toughen you up in time.)
When the local newspaper printed a short blurb about an author writing a tell-all book I had to get a copy!! Wow, WHAT A BOOK!-PLEASE write another!
And I'm sorry some of the girls were catty, you were sweet despite everything.

Move Over, Studs Terkel! Meet Your New Co-Conspirator.......2002-07-23

This book is a delight--it's a pop version of Studs Terkel's WORKING, only author Lynn Snowden goes Studs one better: Instead of just talking with people about what their jobs are like, she actually works the jobs! From the horrors of being a housewife (the scariest chapter in the book) to her in-your-face observations of males and their pseudo-sexual behavior (the time she danced as a stripper), Snowden seldom lets the reader down. She is enormously aware of the unimportance of her ego in each job, and she never patronizes those with whom she works. She really gets in there and does the job--with hilarious and sometimes angry abandon. This book is about the nine jobs you don't want your son or daughter to have, but, disturbingly, it's also a book about all jobs and the politics of the workplace. Let me out of here!

--Jim Reed, ...

Every High School kid should read this book.......2000-03-26

I'm also disappointed that this book is out of print. I think every kid should read this book since it will tell them a lot more about the world of work than the usual "Occupational Outlook Handbook" assignment given out by schools. The long hours and hard work of the roadie, the jerkish customers and low tips of the Vegas cocktail waitress are just a few things in this book that the kids might find enlightening.

a book you can read again and again.......2000-03-14

This is one of my favorite books to have around and let people read. Lynn Snowden is a most entertaining writer and I really enjoyed the brief peek into so many worlds. Her tour with Skid Row was my favorite since it's so foreign to me. It did crack me up how she had to learn certain basics about office work, such as how you are always supposed to look busy, and the low, low temperatures to keep you from falling asleep.

I agree with the previous reviewer: Lynn Snowden, it's time for you to write something else!

A Pleasure to Read!.......2000-01-31

Ms. Snowden's accounts of her adventures in nine different jobs demonstrate a brilliant understanding of the workplace and its effects on one's identity, while at the same time explaining this connection with a wonderfully witty and dry sense of humor. Addditionally, Snowden's ability to poke fun at herself and her assumptions about various jobs prior to doing them offer an excellent insight into and challenge our own preconceived ideas about upper, middle, and lower class occupations. It's quite obvious the author has a love for language (english, that is) and is thankfully influenced by writers such as Tom Wolfe and Martin Amis. I'm sorry to see her book is no longer in print as I believe it an enjoyable experience for anyone who's ever worked, or dreamed about working, anywhere. I do hope Lynn Snowden writes a second book, and on what, quite frankly, I don't care, due to the fact she could probably make boiling water interesting.

Average customer rating:

My Nine Lives
Diane Cilento
Manufacturer: JOSEPH MICHAEL (PENG
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Actors & Actresses | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0718149254

My Nine Lives: Chapters of a Possible Past

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A Frustrating Read
I devoured this book in a day
A Gift From a Modern Master
Evocative
Variations of a theme

My Nine Lives: Chapters of a Possible Past
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Manufacturer: Shoemaker & Hoard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

British | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1593760698

Book Description

In this, her first novel in more than nine years, in a career studded with distinctive and unique accomplishments, award-winning Ruth Prawer Jhabvala has written her most unusual book. My Nine Lives, "Chapters of a Possible Past," as the subtitle declares, is comprised of nine vignettes that lead from London to Delhi, from Hollywood to New York—all linked to portray a rich life, filled with spiritual searching.

After seventeen books, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala takes herself on as a subject, exploring the lives she may have or may have wished to live. My Nine Lives is a moving and intriguing book of truth, invention, history, and memory.

Customer Reviews:

A Frustrating Read.......2006-01-01

I must admit, I'm at a bit of a loss to see how so many people can sing the praises of this book. I found nothing overly deep in it, and the repeated theme felt like the author didn't trust the reader to get it on his own. I felt like nothing beyond the names and circumstances changed each chapter - the characters stayed the same. I didn't feel that any of the narrators presented really did all that much (beyond, of course, throwing away goals and family for the sake of loves which never lasted). I get the feeling that the author wants you to feel sorry for the narrators (indeed, I don't remember any of them describing herself in any truly positive way), but I simply cannot do that. It was a struggle for me to read, especially when I felt that the author tried (and not consistently) to make her writing an artsy endeavor. Other than that, it was (mostly) well-written, but the story telling, and even the subject matter, left something to be desired. An intriguing idea, just not, in my opinion, handled well.

I devoured this book in a day.......2005-07-04

This was the first book I'd read by this author; it will not be the last.

A Gift From a Modern Master.......2005-05-26

This book was a delight, absorbing and moving. The writing of Jhabvala is so fine, and the thematic device of returning again and again to different memories of one's past is so metaphysically transcendent, that it proves again the mastery of one of the finest writers of our age. Why she has not been more honored and awarded for the body of her work is beyond me. The only reason I give it four stars instead of five is because I'm still so in love with "Heat and Dust."

Evocative.......2005-05-04

The nine chapters in this book represent nine different imagined lives that the author might have had. You have to be told this in the preface, since you would not guess it. In each chapter the narrator and her parents have different names and are different people. Each story is plot-wise completely self-contained and could be read separately; but as we have been told that they are one person's fantasies of a life she could have led, we are more aware than we otherwise might have been that there is a similarity of tone and of feeling in all these stories, and that the themes that recur - a continental refugee background, experiences in India and in the United States, triangular relationships, artists of tempestuous personalities, and a kind of dependency by the central character on other people in the story - draw on genuine autobiographical material. It is all most beautifully done, and the author writes so well. The different personalities in the stories come magnificently alive - indeed some of them, especially the artists, are almost bigger than life. Melancholia is offset with humorous observation. The settings are evocative: the ones in India may be familiar from other novels about that country; but I have never yet read a better descriptions of life in the London boarding houses where so many German or Austrian refugees started their lives in Britain.

Variations of a theme.......2005-03-31

I was spellbound by this book and couldn't put it down until I reached the last page. For me this is always a sure sign that I hit gold at the bookstore.

I loved the variations of themes and Jhabvala's writing in these stories. The book's a bit like jazz. If you love listening to the same tune over and over again with different takes, different players, different scenarios and moments in time you'll be mesmerized by these nine stories.

Average customer rating:

OK
Clio answers all of histories mysteries!
This is a great book for BRIGHT children
pretentious
we all knew it...

My Nine Lives By Clio

Manufacturer: Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0689811357

Amazon.com

The strangest thing happened. The owner of a cat named Clio found a journal under an old couch--a diary that was clearly created by the clever feline herself, now in the joyous throes of her ninth life. The cat's owner knew this unusual historical document must be published! The journal, rough and enticing as a cave painting, begins in Mesopotamia, in 3000 B.C. "Alive! I yawn. I look around. I am in Mespotamia, the 'land between two rivers.' I see fields of wheat and rivers full of fish. I am getting hungry." That night, this valuable cat names the constellations! Life number two begins in China, in 1500 B.C., where Clio serves as the first sundial in the world--except when it's cloudy or when she's off chasing butterflies. She invents the alphabet in Rome in 600 B.C., and twists, flips, and travels through the year 1500, where she lives in Italy with Leonardo Da Vinci, eats cheese, and tests out his flying machine: "The experiment is a flop. But Oh! The views!" Life number nine begins in 1995, in Wisconsin, where nine kittens are born into their first, hugely historic lives. Is any of this conjecture, however delightful, based in fact? An appended section in the back tackles the validity of Clio's journals and unearths some astonishing facts and fictions. For example, "It has been pointed out that if the alphabet wasn't invented until life number three, then how were lives number one and number two written?" Harumph. Marjorie Priceman--illustrator of Lloyd Moss's Caldecott Honor Book Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin!--tickles our fancy again with her offbeat sense of humor and ever-artful style. A fun, tongue-in-cheek tribute to cats and their unquenchable sense of self-importance. (Ages 6 and older) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

What a discovery!

A remarkable book has been found -- the journal of a cat. Written between 3,000 B.C. and the present, this "first-feline" account by one Clio records her nine extraordinary lives, and contains information...that could rewrite history.

How fascinating to read, in Clio's own words, the story behind her naming of the constellations.

How charming to see miniature self-portraits illustrating her ingenious invention of the alphabet.

How beguiling to hear her description of making the Mona Lisa (clearly a cat aficionado) smile.

And there's so much more!

Discovered under a dusty couch by Clio's current owner, here is a startling document sure to astound historians, cat lovers, and children alike.

Customer Reviews:

OK.......2004-02-16

I thought my students would enjoy this book more than they did. While the book provides brief glimpses of different periods in history much of it was lost on the children. They did not like the illustrations.

Clio answers all of histories mysteries!.......2002-12-19

This book was a great find...It uses a unique perspective & unconventional narrator (Clio the Cat) to show how some of histories greatest achievements and inventions came about. For example...Clio helped her owners in Life #2 (China 1500 BC) develop a sundial! And...this journal answers the question that many have pondered...why the Mona Lisa is smiling!!!

A great find for teachers and parents!

This is a great book for BRIGHT children.......2000-07-08

My two children aged 9 and 11 love this book! It is entertaining, educational and simply beautiful to look at. It is a pleasure to find a childrens book that an adult can learn from, and enjoy. If you are looking for a higher level, witty and well written book, this would be an excellent choice.

pretentious.......2000-05-18

Although the illustrations were well-executed and fun, the writing was quite stilted. I kept thinking that the author was angling for a market. It didn't play to my children who are aged 7 and 11. They love cats and picture books, but found this story boring.

we all knew it..........1999-10-14

Yes, we all knew that cats are responsible for the development of civilization, and that we are all really just servants to the cats, true rulers of the earth.

I loved this book. The illustrations are wonderful, especially the "alphabet", as invented by Clio. And you don't even realize that you are being educated as you read!

Average customer rating:
My Nine Lives
N. T. Wang
Manufacturer: Writers Club Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Educators | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0595205372

Book Description

This is the story of a life in a turbulent world.

It starts with a privileged childhood in pre-revolutionary China and ends as an academician in the United States. It shows a constant struggle for excellence not for personal gain but for making a difference to society. It dares to tell the truth even if it is not in vogue. It should serve as a guide for every intelligent person.

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My Nine Lives
Clio
Manufacturer: Aladdin Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000Q9I9E4

Average customer rating:

My Nine Lives
Bob Kronemyer
Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1401073298

Average customer rating:

My Nine Lives in the Red Army
Mikhail with (Harry C. Stevens, Translator) and (Introduction byu Leslie C. Stevens, Vice Admiral, USN (Ret)) Soloviev
Manufacturer: David Mckay Co., Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0000CJCSI

My Nine Lives: A Procession Towards the One Life

Average customer rating:

My Nine Lives: A Procession Towards the One Life
Chloris Morgan
Manufacturer: Two Worlds Publishing Co Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0947823220

Average customer rating:

My nine Lives: chapters of a Possible Past
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Manufacturer: John Murray
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8B46W

Average customer rating:

Four Part Series 24 Cassettes

The Norman Vincent Peale Personal Success Series: (Part 1, Discover the Power Within You, Part 2 Understanding the Values That Drive Us, Part 3 Changing Your Behavior, Part 4 Action Plan- Set, Pursue And Attain Yor Goals)
Norman Vincent Peale
Manufacturer: Peale Center
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

Peale, Norman Vincent | ( P ) | Authors, A-Z | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000JYN07C

Customer Reviews:

Four Part Series 24 Cassettes.......2007-08-19

This is a 4-part series program; 24 audio cassettes devoted to topics such as discovering power within each person, values that drives us, ways of changing behavior, and finally "Action Plan". How to accomplish what want to accomplish in life.

Average customer rating:

Pursue your goals
Eric is just as good off the ice as on

Pursue Your Goals (Positively for Kids)
Eric Lindros
Manufacturer: Taylor Trade Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Inspirational | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Hockey | Biographies | Sports | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0878331670

Book Description

Using memorable anecdotes and personal reflections, Philadelphia Flyers Lindros recalls teaches kids the value of perseverance and how dedication and concentrated effort allowed him to skate through challenging situations to success.

Customer Reviews:

Pursue your goals.......2001-05-03

I am a sixteen-year-old fan of Eric Lindros, and, yes, I read (and proudly own) this children's book of his. I immensely enjoyed reading it, and actually found it quite inspiring. I feel that this book provides young kids with a new look at the life of a superstar athlete, such as Eric, and shows these children that people like him really are the same as you and me. The message he sends through "Pursue Your Goals" is wonderful, as it tells the children to always work hard and to never, ever give up on any of the goals or dreams they may have in life, no matter how difficult the road ahead may seem to be, because, in the end, hard work, a positive attitude, and dedication really do pay off.

Eric is just as good off the ice as on.......2000-01-24

Lindros is just a great person. Though his style of play makes you believe he's mean and nasty, in reality he is one of the good ones. His work with the Children's Miracle Network is amazing, and he truly loves kids! This book shows all of this. He is a great role model for kids.

Book Description

The Film Researcher's Handbook is a comprehensive reference guide to international film and video libraries, archives and collections. The Handbook will enable researchers to select footage sources by subject and location in the Americas, Asia, Australasia and Africa. Features include: a guide to the perils and pitfalls of footage research; information on fees, rights, copyright legislation and contracts; a glossary of key terms in film research; over 200 sources listed alphabetically by country and by subject.

Amazon.com

Harley-Davidson Lore: Origins Through Panhead is a collection of black-and-white photos culled from the Harley-Davidson archives spanning the first 60 years of the famous motorcycle manufacturer. For most of the book the photos, which date back as far as 1903, are simply allowed to stand on their own, uncluttered by text. In the back of the book, author Herbert Wagner supplements smaller reproductions of the plates with explanations of each photo's origin and bits of the Harley-Davidson mythos. Gearheads will love the meticulously chronicled changes in the Harley-Davidson design (were you aware that 1910 was the last year of the "beehive" motor with horizontal cooling fins in the head area?) and model nicknames like the "Silent Gray Fellow." Fans can track the Harley's growing popularity as a sport and pleasure bike, as well as its workhorse side as a delivery vehicle and military tool. Though Harley-Davidson novices may be briefly puzzled by insider notations such as "[A] prototype 61 OHV--the first Knucklehead" and "Everyone knows that William G. Davidson--better known as Willie G.--is H-D's vice-president of styling," this book will be readily enjoyed by anyone who admires the lines of a well-made machine. --Ali Davis

Book Description

From the first Knucklehead engine to the 1998 Fathead, Harley-Davidson(r) has generated as many adventures and great moments as it has clocked miles on the open road. Chronicle Books has partnered with this American legend to create an absorbing glimpse into the historical art and lore that Harley-Davidson motorcycles inspired over the first half of the century. The book features 125 duotone images-both classic and never-before-seen-from the famed Pohlman Archives, an exclusive collection of archival images revered by Harley(r) fans around the world. Arranged chronologically, these images capture the adventure and pioneering spirit of the machines, their makers, and their riders. Harley Davidson(r) Lore: 1903-1965 will be published in conjunction with an imaginative line of gift and stationery items, including a nostalgic road journal, a postcard box, and wall and engagement calendars. Beautifully designed and produced, this totally unique line of print products sets a new standard for Harley publishing and will capture the hearts of hardcore bikers, casual enthusiasts, and motorcycle fans everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

disappointing and too pretentious.......2001-01-09

Was very disappointed with this book. Before writing this review I read a review of the other book in this series titled "Harley-Davidson Lore: 1966 to Present". That review is completely applicable to this book also. So instead of writing the same message in my own words I took the liberty of taking a little cut and paste action.

"I looked forward to reading this book to learn about H-D tradition, company exploits, and product development. My reason for writing this review is to let others with similar interests know that this book offers very little on those subjects.

What Herbert Wagner has done is to merely compile a set of photographs of such things as H-D advertisements, products, and events, and annotate them in as spartan a manner as you could possibly imagine. This book borders on being completely uninformative!

Just as dissapointing is the format that was chosen by the author and his publisher. The beginning of the book, comprising the vast majority of the pages, contains photos without text. The end of the book is a series of pages that duplicate, in thumbnail sized images, all of the photos found in the beginning of the book. Next to each of these miniature images you will find a few words of descriptive text. Interestingly, the text is so small that it challenges people (even those with eagle-like vision) to read without squinting or without reaching for reading glasses."

Couldn't agree more. Adding that also the pictures in the body of the book are way too small. Maybe 25% of the page is used for a picture, the rest is blank. Either they should have selected a larger page size (if the 25% is important) or they should have used a larger portion for the picture.

The book looks & feels great inside & out........1999-12-17

That Hog lover in your life will be delighted by this classy collection of American Iron photographs. & these are beautiful, historic photos from as far back as 1903. Because the bikes speak for their own beauty, the viewer is pulled back just enough to allow for appreciation of the photographs, too, presented as in a gallery with lots of space around them. Wagner respects them & the tales they tell enough to save his commentary for the final pages of the book. Harley Davidson Lore looks & feels great inside & out. Wash your hands before you pick it up.

Bob Rixon

Harley Collectible Book.......1999-12-17

I feel this book portrays through the use of historical postcard type pictures an era of days gone by just like the title of the book says from Harley Davidson's birth in 1903-1965. Makes an excellent collectible for future generations to enjoy.

Customer Reviews:

The best "What's Amateur Radio??" book I've ever read.......1999-06-28

If you've ever wondered why your neighbor has more aluminum above his house than Alcoa, or thought it would be fun to talk to people around the country or world, buy this book!!

When I first thought about becoming a ham, this is the volume that convinced me I could and should. Mr Helms presents the varied world of amateur radio in a simple, informative, and humorous manner. The best first step into a wonderful hobby that he'll show you isn't as difficult as many think.

Best first book about Ham Radio.......1999-06-19

In comparison to other ham books, this is agreat first ham book. It's easy to understand, and it covers everything. If you already understand this stuff, get "Now You're Talking". If you already have your license, and want technical info, by all means, buy "The ARRL Handbook"! But, if you have ANY interest in ham whatsoever and you don't know a lot about it, BUY THIS BOOK!!! Trust me.

The best beginner's guide to Short Wave Listening.......1997-08-06

I first read Helms when I became interested in Ham Radio. His book was an excellent introduction. This book is also first-rate. Harry makes the subject very interesting and gives a lot of practical advice. This is what I found to be the best part of his book(s). He let's you in on the secrets. It's very much like having a very experienced DX'er chatting with you and giving you friendly advice. He takes the time to explain the technical terms, the options, the 'real world' of short wave listening so that you have a very straight foreward explanation of what it's really all about. And he has strong opinions! And a sense of humor! He has stories to tell about the excitement of DX'ing and relates it very, very well. I found out more about the technical and practical aspects of short wave radio from this book than from Mange's Passport [Which is an excellent serial book] Excellent advice about selecting your first SW radio, great advice about an outside antenna, a honest discussion about the need for 'grounding' your antenna (this will surprise you because of his contrarian view and logic) This book and Mange's Passport book are all you need to enjoy this hobby and save $.

Ham Radio Horizons : What Ham Radio is All About and How to Get Started

Average customer rating:

Ham Radio Horizons : What Ham Radio is All About and How to Get Started
Peter WB2D O'Dell
Manufacturer: ARRL
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O6E8QW

Book Description

Combining pristine sound quality with a comfortably retro-styled virtual rack (including a polyphonic synthesizer, mixing console, sampler, and drum machine), Reason has won legions of fans since its introduction. Now, everyone is singing its praises -- from bands like Nine Inch Nails and Prodigy to video producers. Here to show you why is the first Visual QuickStart Guide on the topic. Using simple step-by-step instructions and loads of visual aids, this friendly volume promises to have you up and running quickly -- using all of Reason's instruments, loops, effects, mixing capabilities, and drum kits. You'll also find complete coverage of Reason's essential features: from its extensive racks and sound banks to its lifelike, rear-rack cabling, as well as its effects, automation, integration with other audio programs, and more.

Customer Reviews:

Old Fader and Knob Guy.......2007-06-01

Man, I miss my racks of gear! Consequently, the transition to computer software recording was something that I avoided like the plague. When I discovered Reason and it's user interface (gotta love that rack) it seemed like an answer to my prayers. This book eased me right into the Reason 3.0 program. It actually makes it do-able, even for an old fader fart like me! Snatch this one up before they're out of print.

Great book for a total beginner!.......2007-05-12

I'm a musician of 20 years who has finally entered the world of virtual instruments (with some hesitation I must admit) and I must say that the Reason 3 for Windows & Macintosh book really helped me overcome those fears if you will. I'm not much for manuals because most, as most musicians know, speak about the product as if you've already used it and have prior knowledge about it. The Reason 3 book, however, puts everything on an easy to understand level and the pictures do help a lot but would be more helpful if some were in color.
In a nutshell, I cracked open the book and fired up my Mac on a Saturday morning and 3-4 hours later I was able to go in, pull up what I wanted and make some nice tracks. I'm still working on the mastering and some other odds and ends but I'm confident that this book will definitely get me through with flying colors! BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!

Reason for Hip Hop.......2007-01-09

I bought this for my son who has a small home studio.
He had the software but the manual was limited. He described
this book as the ulitmate tool. It revealed all the true capabilities
of the software. He said the software is useless without this book.

Una enciclopedia paso a paso.......2006-11-10

Si quieres conocer a fondo el funcionamiento del Reason, creo que este libro es una buena guia para comenzar. Te menciona paso a paso lo que debes hacer para trabajar con él.

Hasta ahora me ha resultado de muy buena manera trabajar con este libro.

It does the job but I want more.......2006-08-23

If you a looking for a fast guide so that you can produce simple music withou much thinking, try this one. I used it ans it gave me some insights, but I really missed more in-depth explanations of key concepts, and more explanations about the consequences of my tweaks. The tutorials as much more "do this and then do that", than "do this, and this will happen, otherwise, this will happen because of this", which I prefer.

I am now using the Reason Power! books, and it seems much more complete and satisfying for my needs. I like to understand everything I am doing to achieve a certain result, so that I can use this knowledge in order to do different stuff from that same process. Reaso Power! gives me more of that than this VQSG.

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