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“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure!”
| VBA's Positive News |
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Canada invests in marketing for innovative organic farming
The Canadian government has announced a CAD$330,000 investment to promote organic farming and food production. The two-part initiative seeks to help organic farmers improve production and profits for the domestic market and abroad. The Canadian Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz spoke positively of the grants, saying that the investment would help improve market competiveness for high-quality organic foods.
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US: Consumer confidence at more than four-year high in October
US consumer confidence rose in October to its highest in more than four years as Americans were more upbeat about improvements in the labour market, a private sector report showed on Thursday. Consumers 'appear to be in better spirits approaching the holiday season', Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Centre, said in a statement.
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Sustainable farming, organic food: Eight lessons for America from Anatolia, Turkey
The allure of an environmentally responsible, low-pesticide kind of agriculture is a logical outcome of the eco-conscious gestalt that partially defines this new generation. In mid-September, author Ellen Freudenheim visited western Anatolia in Turkey where such ideas as 'small farm', 'organic', and 'locally-grown' are so old hat they predate the fez. And from that trip, some words of wisdom for young American wanna-be farmers with sustainability on their minds.
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Ancient history of Republic of Cyprus at the heart of Europe
An exhibition portraying the ancient history of Cyprus and the island's everlasting character as a point of cultural interaction between peoples of the region has opened in Brussels, Belgium. The exhibition, entitled 'Ancient Cyprus: Cultures in Dialogue', will run from 31 October 2012 until 17 February 2013 and is organized by the Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus.
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Video of the Day:
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World Round-Up
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Congress, government go into battle mode
Determined not to crack under the onslaught of civil society activists and the charges of corruption flowing thick and fast, the United Progressive Alliance government and the Congress have donned the combat gear.
Ahead of a public rally, scheduled for November 4 on the Ramlila Grounds here, intended to be a show of strength, when the party will take on the Opposition and its other detractors frontally, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rallied his troops, addressing the entire Union Council of Ministers — freshly reshuffled — at a special meeting here on Thursday.
This would be followed by a stocktaking and strategy exercise — labelled as a “samvad baithak” — on November 9, when the senior-most leaders in the party and the government gather at Surajkund, on the outskirts of the national capital, Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said.
Sources in the party said that by then, it was likely that the rejig in the organisation would be over.
Those attending the meeting would be all Congress Working Committee members as well as those looking after the party affairs in the States, all Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State holding independent charge.
The discussions would centre on the current political situation, the economic challenges and the shortcomings in the implementation of the government’s flagship programmes.
The Prime Minister’s message at Thursday’s meeting was that it was time for every one to work unitedly to improve governance and work towards bringing in investment to boost growth so that there would be money for infrastructure and social sector schemes.
The government was “working against the political calendar” — a reference to the fact that the general election is less than two years away — but that should not make his colleagues “lose sight of the fact” that they were “also involved in the task of nation-building.” In short, they should lose neither heart nor nerve.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
The adventures you long for will be plentiful today. You'll be in unusual surroundings, and the new people to meet there will be exceptionally interesting. You'll let go of any concerns you have and find fresh motivation to embrace the future rather than looking backwards. After a stimulating day, you'll be drawn to quiet, serene locations near the water. If possible, search for fine-dining opportunities with a musical background.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
Today you likely will be short on leisure time and long on paid or volunteer work. You will set the agenda in either case, and those around you will be pleased to follow your lead. Various political events may be a big part of your weekend. These may be related to the pending general election or the politics of the organizations you're a part of.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 The stars suggest you are either in new personal or business relationships or in a fresh phase of existing ones. A current partner who was more available and attentive in the recent past may now seem distracted or detached. You could be anxious about this and do more than your share of the relationship work. However, both professional and personal partners may have financial concerns they do not want to discuss just yet.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
The stars will support a romantic Saturday with your significant other. The two of you not only play well together, but you will become a high-functioning team when addressing any serious purpose. Projects you might approach together may be related to a joint financial matter or those of a non-profit that benefits children or the environment. Your daytime recreation likely will include sports, but when the Sun goes down, a candlelight dinner for two at home would provide a happy ending to your busy day..
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 Put final touches on as many ongoing projects at home or work as possible, especially those connected with real estate and other property. One will not be ready to close the books until you make an important decision - you may have considered it for a long time. The stars hint that necessary maintenance and upgrades will be more labor intensive and costly than anticipated.
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Car companies get festive boost, but some miss the bus
NEW DELHI: After struggling for the last couple of months, car sales got a boost as festive spirits lifted customer sentiment, leading to higher footfalls at showrooms and better sales. Companies, however, remain cautious about post-festive season prospects due to high interest rates and the uncertain economic scenario.
According to October numbers released by automobile companies, leading players like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and Honda saw volumes go up year-on-year. However, Tata Motors - the fourth-biggest passenger vehicle maker - continued to remain under pressure as its volumes slipped 16% to 21,119 units against 25,124 units in the same month last year. The company's Indica range saw numbers go down by 38%, while the Indigo range recorded a dip of 8%.
Maruti, which launched a new version of the Alto 800 mini car last month, witnessed 87% growth in volumes at 96,002 units. The high rate of growth was on a low base as the company had a strike at its Manesar factory in October last year. The car market is expected to see some pick-up in the coming months, said Mayank Pareek, managing executive officer (sales & marketing). "We expect the second half of the fiscal to be better than the first half. Some sort of improvement is expected now, and this should sustain, I think."
Hyundai witnessed a growth of 8% at 35,778 units against 33,001 units in the same month last year. "The festivals brought in a positive growth in domestic sales, with resurgence in petrol variants... In the coming months, the challenge would be to convert customer interest into sales as the general inflationary trend, high fuel prices and interest rates are still keeping customer sentiment low," said Rakesh Srivastava, VP (marketing and sales) at Hyundai India.
M&M, which recently edged past Tata Motors to become the third-biggest passenger vehicle maker, had a strong month as it sold 26,932 units at a growth of 44%. The company, which launched a mini SUV in the Quanto recently, expressed concern over the high interest rates. "The reduction of 25 basis points in CRR in the RBI credit policy is a positive step. This, however, is not likely to result in a decrease of interest rates for corporate or retail credit. Hence, the current financing rates will still remain high for auto industry customers, which is a cause of concern," said Pravin Shah, chief executive for M&M's automotive division.
Bike makers also had a healthy month. Hero MotoCorp, which had witnessed pressure on sales in previous months, witnessed 3% growth as it sold 5.29 lakh two-wheelers against 5.12 lakh in October last year. "We hope that the improved market sentiment will sustain as we go forward into the rest of this fiscal," said Anil Dua, senior VP (marketing & sales).
However, General Motors saw volumes go down by 33% and Ford by 6%. "The market continues to remain subdued due to high interest rates and other negative sentiments. The festival season also did not bring any excitement to the market," said P Balendran, VP at GM India.
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Fitness facts all women must know
Not finding the time for fitness due to household chores and grocery shopping? To ward away hazardous ailments and keep yourself toned, it is important to adhere to a set fitness regime.
Many Indian women, particularly after reaching a certain age, feel that good looks do not matter much. However, the discussion here is not about good looks but of health. A fitness routine is as important for older women as it is for a teenager or a young girl.
Regular physical activity will not only help you tackle weight-related issues but will also enable you to prevent conditions associated with weight gain, like rheumatoid arthritis and varicose veins. Still not motivated enough? Here's a list of some important fitness facts for women that will help you to get moving.
Avoid obesity: With the dangerous bulging obesity ratios in India, recent statistics revealed that almost one in six women in the country are overweight and are in dire need to trim for avoiding health hazards associated with obesity. This is due to the increased adoption of sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits.
30 minutes a day: Your fitness level can be improved by merely adding a few minutes of movement into your daily routine. According to fitness experts; just 30 minute workout for 5 days a week is sufficient to overcome the adverse effects of inactivity and sedentary lifestyle.
You can also incorporate minor changes in your daily lifestyle like taking the stairs instead of the lift, parking the car in the last row of the parking lot and walking briskly for a few minutes between your parked car and your office.
The importance of de-stressing: Women are more prone to stress and pressure as compared to men and this, in turn, leads to various health issues. Work on basic relaxation and breathing techniques whenever you can - even while performing your regular chores.
Muscle and joint pain: Be careful not to neglect any kind of muscle tightness or joint pains as everything in your body are interlinked with each other. Overlooking such fitness factors may affect the proper functioning of other body joints and muscles as well. Hence, ensure that you address such issues at the earliest.
Cardio and weight training: The ideal fitness program for women should include exercises that increase their muscle tone and elevate their heart rate. A continuous, repetitive aerobic workout plan that affects all the large muscle groups in their body is the best option, when coupled with adequate strength training to retain and develop bone density.
Consistency: To see any form of measurable changes in your fitness levels, you should continue your workout and fitness program for a minimum of 12-13 weeks.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
Today you may incur unusual expenses connected with your home, family, and neighborhood. The unique circumstances in your community now might be weather-related or due to a political or financial event. If you have children, they may also require additional funds but your resources will be adequate. Out-of-town guests will be helpful in many ways. Conversations with distant friends will provide fresh insights.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
There may be tension around both international and local financial matters today. Even though this will be a day of leisure for you, it may be wise to track these unfolding events. You may have benefited from the sale or purchase of property, but your other obligations may have increased. Before the day is over, you will make an important decision about your money management style. Family members, friends and co-workers will be your most dependable resources. Low-key entertainment featuring good conversation with like-minded individuals will please you tonight.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 Your employer, family, and others in your community will look to you for leadership today. They will follow through with your suggestions and be grateful for your advice. You may make important decisions for one of these groups when others hesitate to do so. The stars reveal unusual cosmic energy throughout your astrological financial sector. You should be able to sort it out soon.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
While there is cosmic evidence that you and your partner want to be together today, life likely will interfere and delay your meeting until another time. You and your sweetie may cross paths when headed in different directions. If you have children, they will stay close to you. You may have a vague hunch that there are many events that concern you going on behind the scenes; your intuition is correct. Ask questions, and a family member or neighbor may fill you in.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 After a restless night, you may need additional time to relax. Although you currently may micro-manage the changes at work and home, more may be expected of you in both locations now. The more high-tech skills you possess, the more popular you'll be. Several new and unique situations will demand original, creative solutions. Your personal confusion about a money matter likely will be a simple mistake that will be easy to correct. You'll discover fine recreational opportunities in an artistic public setting tonight.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 The people who work for you and with you may need your guidance today. Your private life may need to be put on hold in order to manage unfolding public and professional events. However, your personal and business partners will be nearby to assist you so you'll still be able to enjoy one another's company this weekend. Although one concern will be revealed as a non-starter, another connected with business relationships of employees will need attention now. A good public relations person might be your best resource now.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
You may be drawn away from home and into the public sphere today. There may be a flurry of unusual events in and around the usual locations you frequent on Saturday and also at your place of employment. You possibly may be called into work or linger longer while shopping or running errands. You likely will have many phone calls from friends, business associates, and co-workers who want to discuss changing local events as they develop. Invite loved ones to join you tonight to discuss the day's developments.
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Moral Story
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SMS
“3 nice thoughts-
“Kill the tension before tension kills YOU”.
“Reach your goal before goal kicks YOU”,
“Live LIFE before LIFE leaves YOU”:-).”
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
Love will not serve those who do not live for her, and in her, and to whom she is not the breath of life.
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.
Husband: can u be the moon of my life?
Wife: Awww Yes sweetheart..!
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Husband: Great! then….
Stay 9,955,887.6 kms away from Me..!!!
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Four new Scotland-India education projects announced
NEW DELHI: The cabinet minister for Culture and External Affairs unveiled four Scottish-India education initiatives on Wednesday, which include a partnership between Robert Gordon University and an Indian technology school, an Indian work-placement programme for UK graduates from Dundee University, collaboration between Scottish academics from Queen Margaret University in developing sustainable tourism businesses in rural India and a new diploma launched by Scottish Investment Operations.
The announcements were made at the 'Innovation in Education' round-table in New Delhi which was organised by Scottish Development International, in partnership with India's Planning Commission and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. At the round-table, which was also attended by senior representatives of four Scottish education institutes, Hyslop led the discussion on the importance of innovation in education for India to achieve its economic goals, along with the critical need to increase the employability levels of students.
Hyslop said: "With the world's fourth largest economy and second highest growing economy, India is an important trade and investment partner for Scotland with 13 Indian companies investing up to £700 million in the past five years. In turn, India is looking to secure its future growth through innovation and Scotland offers a wealth of technological innovation expertise and cutting edge research and development which are helping India achieve its goals. In particular, our expertise in education, financial and business services, energy and healthcare present significant opportunities for Scottish businesses trading in India. Increasing business links in these areas forms a key component of my visit."
India Country Manager of Scottish Development International, Mark Dolan said: "The Scottish education sector has a long standing relationship with Indian universities and companies - seven universities and higher education institutes already have a highly successful presence in India. Today's announcements reinforce the Scottish Government and Scottish Development International's continued commitment to support education and human resource initiatives in India as part of our strategic engagement with the country's government and business community."
Announcements made during the round-table included - Robert Gordon University (RGU) signed an agreement with the Maharashtra Institute Of Technology School Of Telecom Management (MITSOT) affiliated to the Maharashtra Institute of Technology (MIT), Pune University which will see MITSOT students, as part of their two-year Postgraduate Diploma in Management, spend two semesters at RGU undertaking its MSc International Business, followed by a third semester dissertation project under RGU supervision at MITSOT; Scottish Investment Operations (SIO), an Edinburgh-based body launched the Investment Accounting Diploma, which is an industry made professional qualification backed by the world's largest financial institutions and designed to raise the quality of human resource in the financial services industry globally.
The significant growth in asset management in India (47% between 2003 and 2009) and the success of a pilot programme in India earlier this year has prompted the launch of this global qualification in the Indian market; Dundee University has been chosen to run a UK wide work placement programme as part of the UK-India Education and Research Initiative, which will help UK graduates enter the Indian workplace and experience living and working in India, in order to gain a strong understanding of one of the world's fastest emerging economies; Queen Margaret University (QMU) is running a joint project with the Indian YES Bank and the Scottish Government which uses the expertise of Scottish academics to develop sustainable tourism businesses in rural India led by the local communities.
In November, the partnership will launch the "Edge of India", a co-operative tourism network of rural villages, to the global tourism sector at the World Travel Market in London. Pawan Agarwal, higher education and culture adviser from the Planning Commission of India, who jointly ran the event with Scottish Development International and FICCI, said: "We are delighted to partner with the Scottish Government and Scottish Development International in organising this workshop on 'Innovation in Education'. The Indian Prime Minister has declared this as the decade of innovation and the key to promoting innovation is cross-learning from each-others' experiences. We at the Planning Commission are engaged in strategic thinking about education and fostering innovation by cross-learning and as a result, partnership with Scotland is at the heart of our work."
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I am willing to bat at any number, says Rahane
MUMBAI: Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday insisted he does not have preference for a particular batting position and that he was willing to bat at any number.
India A coach Lalchand Rajput had said before the warm-up game against the visiting England team that Rahane 'likes to bat at number 3, giving a clear hint that Murali Vijay and Abhinav Mukund would open the innings.
"I am not particular about which number I should bat. I will be happy to bat wherever team management wants me to. I just want to score runs," said the Mumbai batsman after scoring a half-century in the second innings of the drawn tie.
Rahane said he was pleased with his second innings effort of 54 in 98 balls after scoring just four in the first essay.
"I am happy with my second innings effort after the disappointment in the first. It will give me confidence going forward to the Ranji Trophy game tomorrow (against Railways at the Wankhede Stadium)," he said.
The 24-year-old batsman praised bowling effort of Yuvraj Singh, who returned a career-best first class haul of 5/94.
"Yuvraj bowled very well. He bowled well in the T20 World Cup too (in Sri Lanka). He is a useful bowler."
The Mumbai batsman and reserve Test opener had a good look at the England bowling during the game and termed the attack in the game as decent.
"They bowled well and in good areas. Their bowling was pretty decent. (Spinners) Graeme Swann and Samit (Patel) bowled in right areas," he said.
England pace spearhead James Anderson, who claimed four wickets in the game, said the visitors were not concerned about a part-time bowler like Yuvraj getting a fifer.
"I don't think. We got a couple of guys getting hundreds and a couple others getting fifties. Spinners are going to get wickets here as the wickets have a little bit of turn," he pointed out.
England skipper Alastair Cook (119) and all-rounder Samit (104) scored hundreds in the game while Jonathan Trott (56) and wicket-keeper Matt Prior (51) scored half-centuries.
Anderson said that his team had a decent outing in the middle. "We had a pretty good work-out. I think we got what we needed to get out of the game," he said.
He also praised the batting of Cook and Patel. "He (Cook) was very determined and showed by example. Samit was outstanding. He was calm and controlled."
Anderson said while fast bowling partner Steve Finn's right thigh strain was unfortunate, it also offered the other pacers in the squad a chance.
"Injuries do happen. It's unfortunate. But it gives others a chance," he said.
Finn was injured on the opening day while fielding and limped off the field after a four-over spell in which he did not take any wicket.
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Jab Tak Hai Jaan
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Jab Tak Hai Jaan
Movie Name : Jab Tak Hai Jaan
Release Date : November 13, 2012
Genre : Romance
Producer : Aditya Chopra
Director : Yash Chopra
Music Director : A R Rahman
Cast : Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma, Anupam Kher, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh.
Synopsis:
Jab Tak Hai Jaan is an upcoming 2012 Indian romance film directed by Yash Chopra and written and produced by Aditya Chopra under their production banner Yash Raj Films.
The film features Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma in lead roles, making it the first film to pair Khan and Kaif and the second collaboration between Khan and Sharma after Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. I
t was Yash Chopra's fourth film to feature Shahrukh Khan in the lead role, the former returning as a director after eight years post Veer-Zaara which released in 2004. Jab Tak Hai Jaan is Yash Chopra's last directorial venture before his death on October 21, 2012, just three weeks before the release of the film.
Yash Raj Films has always been very secretive about the stories of their films. However, it has been revealed that Anushka Sharma, who is playing the leading role in Jab Tak Hai Jaan, works for Discovery Channel and makes a documentary on Shahrukh Khan's life in the film.
Anushka Sharma told a leading daily, "I am Akira. I work for the Discovery Channel. And I am on a quest to discover the truth behind the compelling story of The Man Who Cannot Die."
In Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Shahrukh Khan plays Samar, who is an army officer, employed with a special unit of the forces. Anushka Sharma is always fascinated with Army Officer's daring lives. So, she convinces the channel team to produce a documentary on Samar's life. The audience will discover the entire story of the film through Akira's eyes.
Rahul Johri, senior vice president and general manager - South Asia, Discovery Networks Asia said, "We are honoured to have associated with one of India's foremost film stalwarts - the late Yash Chopra."
The background score and soundtrack is composed by A.R. Rahman while the lyrics are penned by Gulzar. The film is scheduled to release on the six-day Diwali weekend which begins on November 13, 2012.
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The Statue of Liberty's tablet is two feet thick.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
Keep your dream
I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs.
The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my horse. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.
“That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.
“He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, `See me after class.’
“The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, `Why did I receive an F?’
“The teacher said, `This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you’ll have to pay large stud fees. There’s no way you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, `If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’
“The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, `Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.’ “Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He stated, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.”
Monty then turned to the assembled group and said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.” He added, “The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week.” When the teacher was leaving, he said, “Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption not to give up on yours.”
“Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.”
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“We can win life by all means if we simply avoid two things in our lives.“Comparing with others” and “Expecting from others.” ”
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