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Use an Oatmeal Box to Hold Yarn

This is great to use to hold your yard in an oatmeal box. Now no more knotted yarns while you are crocheting.

By Sheila from Wisconsin

Use An Oatmeal Box To Hold Yarn

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Craft: Valentine Electric Candle

Mon Amour (My Love) Valentine Heart Tin Electric Candle Shutter Box. Created with a metal heart tin and matching lid, miniature electric candle, clip art as inside background, mini silk flowers, mini wooden pieces, lace, doilies.

Bonne St. Valentin/Joyeuse St. Valentin - Happy Valentine's Day!

By Julie from Tenn

Mon Amour (My Love) Valentine Heart Tin Electric Candle Shutter Box

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Honey (Pitbull/Terrier)

Honey is a 10 week old pitbull/terrier mix. I've raised her since she was born. I also have her mother. She likes exploring.

By Amber from Gibson, NC

Honey (Pitbull/Terrier)

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Craft Project: Valentine's Day Coupons

Make this Valentine's Day special with the "14 Days of Valentine's" coupons! I made them using Photoshop, but you could also make them with craft paper, stickers, magazine cut outs, or printed items from your computer.

Approximate Time: 20-30 minutes

Supplies:

Computer
Photoshop
Photo paper
Scissors or paper cutter

Instructions:

Find free "digital scrapbooking paper" online by doing a search. Download and save to desktop.

Create a new document in Photoshop, 4x6 inches at 150 resolution will do the trick.

Open the "digital scrapbooking paper" from your desktop and drag into your new document.

Create the written text. Be creative!

Change text to create 14 days' worth of coupons.

Print out on photo paper.

Cut with scissors or paper cutter.

Leave one for your sweetie to find every morning from February 1-14!

Ideas for coupons:

Surprise Date

Massage

Heart-shaped Pizza

Clean and Wash Car

Pedicure

By Ci Ci from Yakima, WA

Valentine's Day Coupons

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Scenery: Lincoln City Sunset

Here is a late summer photo from Lincoln City, OR. Those are my two little boys in the distance. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and I love this time of day at the beach, right before sunset.

Jess in Oregon

Lincoln City Sunset

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My Frugal Life
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A Gallon of Water Shower

Have you ever not had hot water one morning and wanted to take a shower? All you need to do is heat up a 1/2 gallon of water in a good sized pot or tea kettle. You need an empty and clean one gallon milk jug with the type of lid that screws on and not snaps on.

Heat up an ordinary sized nail by holding it with pliers over your stove element, gas stove or wood stove fire. I put seven holes in the lid by poking through with the heated nail. Six around the perimeter but not close to the threads and one in the center. If you have only a really small nail than a few more holes will be needed. The most important thing is that you have to fill your gallon milk jug 1/2 full with cold water first. Then fill up the rest with your really hot water.

Now the best method is the "Navy Shower Method". By tipping the jug, wet your hair first and then shampoo. Leave shampoo in hair and wet the rest of your body by repeatedly tipping the jug (to let air in so it will release the water). Now with a bar of soap and a wet rag work a good lather up and scrub yourself well.

Now with the remainder of the water in the jug (which should still have 2/3 left), start by rinsing your hair first. Keep rinsing with the remainder of the water to completely rinse off. Every time I have been able to take a complete shower with one gallon of hot water and felt very clean.

By Anatole from United States

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Use Hand Sanitizer for Diaper Odor on Hands

After changing a stinky diaper, it is so hard to get rid of that smell on your hands. No matter how very careful you are, so wash your hands thoroughly as you normally would, and then use hand sanitizer, directly after washing your hands. It gets rid of the yucky odor and leaves you with only a clean, fresh scent! This works way better than just hand soap. I discovered this after many, many diaper changes, that hand soap was just not getting rid of the odor; no matter how careful I was when changing a diaper!

Source: I discovered this after many, many diaper changes!

By Karen from Union, SC

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Frugal Embellishments for Scrapbooking

I scrapbook all the time and I use them as gifts for family and friends. This is a hobby that can be very expensive, after you purchase paper and embellishments. I decided to save money on supplies I started cutting out objects and lettering from catalogs that we receive in the mail. I found all kinds of terrific sayings in beautiful lettering; lots and lots of designs to use as embellishments and even use some as bordering and framing. I have found school supply catalogs to contain lots of variety of different objects.

As you know embellishments can run between 99 cents to $4 or more in some shops. All I do is cut them from catalog and then crop them further to give them professional look and then glue them on. This has cut my scrapbooking expenses more than half.

By Connie from Sitka, KY

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Take Photos of Your Garden in Different Seasons

Throughout the spring and summer, snap photos of your gardens so that when planning the next year's gardens, you can refer to photos and decide what to plant where, what needs to be moved to where, etc. Unless you have a steel trap mind, this is very handy for remembering!

By Joyce from Benson, MN

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Garden Surprise for Valentine's Day

This takes some pre-planning but worth yearly returns. "Sneak" and plant very early blooming spring bulbs in someone's garden or lawn, prominent where they are sure to be seen. Try (easily) to find those that should be in full bloom during the week of the holiday. The recipient will find the garden surprise and wonder how it came to be. You can find a lovely card to send saying you hope your friend enjoys the Valentines Day flowers this year AND many years to come!

By Trace from Wartburg, TN

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Use a Divided Toddler Plate for Dieting

If you started your New Year out with a resolution to slim down, then I have a GREAT tip for you: buy a toddler sized three plate divider with a plastic lid. I purchased mine at Target for less than 2 dollars. You really get portion control and it is divided into 3 sections. It is a healthy way to go and it keeps you from over eating. It saves so many calories and you can feel your plate up without feeling guilty or over doing it! Perfect for you working gals, taking your own lunch, trying to save money and calories.

Source: I have a toddler and while packing his lunch for preschool it dawned on me to pack my lunch in one or at least eat out of one for meals. It saves so many calories and you can feel your plate up without feeling guilty or over doing it!

By Karen from Union, SC

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Use Tin Foil to Deter Cats from House Plants

I have read questions on how to keep cats out of your house plants. Simple, use tin foil. Lay tin foil around the plant on the dirt. Don't push it down onto the dirt or you will start to get some mold. Just lay it on top. Your cats will hate it, and your plants will be fine. Also, they do make colored tin foil if you don't want the plain silver.

By Laurie from Osakis, MN

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Make Oats Overnight

I want to feed my family whole grains and have found by experimenting that I can (wash first) one cup of oat groats and add 4 cups of water and cook the groats overnight (6 to 8 hrs) on low in my crock pot. They are ready in the morning. I have added raisins and other fruit and sometimes cinnamon to the groats while cooking. OR, one may add the fruit raw after cooking the groats. Easy and nutritious - and delicious!

By Billie from Melbourne, FL

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Time to Get Ready for Spring Gardening

It's winter, and I am covered in mailorder catalogs. I often have two or three open at a time, carefully making my selections of what I think I can grow this coming year. I also know some of the stores will have seeds for sale, very soon.

About 20 years ago, after my dad died, my mom encouraged me to learn to grow plants from seed. We didn't have a greenhouse, but we had each other, and books from the library. My mother let me drill holes in the ceiling of a south facing room. We put a table near the window, and there was a furnace duct underneath that table. I hung a four foot fluorescent light fixture with chain from the ceiling. We put one warm fluorescent bulb, and one cool bulb in the fluorescent light fixture. I layed newspaper out on the living room floor, and carefully put potting soil in several trays. Then I put paper towels, plastic on the table, and moved the trays to the table, and carefully put water in the trays. I let the soil soak up all the water, and checked the next day to make certain they weren't too wet or too dry. Then I very carefully put one seed in each spot on the trays, and slightly covered them with the soil in the trays. I made certain the light fixture was hung about a half an inch to an inch off the trays. I also had a clip on light fixture that people might use on headboards, and I put a plant light in it, and attached it to one side of the table.

To my astonishment, glee, and surprise, within a couple of days, some of the seeds had started to sprout! I nursed those seed trays, and if I saw any sign of green fungus, I just scraped it with my fingernail, then washed my hands. As the plants grew, I used the chain to raise the fluorescent light above them. I will never cease to be amazed at the germination of seeds. We never had a greenhouse, we used a south facing window in one of the rooms of the house, and suddenly I was transformed into my mother's good gardener. I used a spray bottle to keep the seedlings moist, without overwetting them, which can cause damping off.

One time, after this success, I started a tomato plant from seed in February. By the time I was able to plant it out into the garden in May, I had to transplant it into a huge 10 inch pot, and had to water it twice a day. It used up all of the soil nutrients I had planted it in, and in keeping it alive, when I planted it out, it was humongous! There was almost no soil left in the container. The tomato survived, and we had to give away tomatoes to everyone we could, besides the fact we had 18 more tomato plants.

If you can, till the ground. If you can't till the ground, leisurely spade, hoe, and shovel the ground. Pretend you are giving the ground a facial. I have seen people rush through this process like its rocket science or a microwave dinner or instant coffee. No! Give yourself at least a few days to get the ground ready. Enjoy it. Feel the soil on the shovel, the spade. Work it. Put everything and everyone else out of your mind, and just be with the shovel, the spade, the hoe. Feel it. And pull all of the grass and weeds and large rocks out. Then, use a garden rake, and once again, with the garden rake, feel the tilth of the soil. Know if you step on it, you will sink deeply into the soil. and that you will have to reshovel, and rake to get that soil back to it's glamour stage. I can't stand walking in a garden that doesn't have it's rows marked out, because all of that ground will have to be reworked.

Once you have the ground ready, then add the proper soil amendments, known as fertilizer. and work them in the soil. I once had an argument with my mother. She believed in top soil, and it worked for her. I don't know why. I believe in working top soil into the ground so the roots of the plants can utilize it. If top soil is sitting on top of the ground where the plant roots can't utilize it, and it just looks pretty, what good is it? Plants cannot survive without their roots, and I believe top soil should be tilled into the ground, or dug, spaded, or forked into the ground so the roots of the plant can benefit. Unless someone used too much fertilizer, that would kill the plants, then the top soil could slowly go into the lower soil instead of all at once.

I believe in the use of soil test kits, and have used them most years. I find the soil where I live is usually lacking in nutrients, and the soil test kits prove or disprove that fact, then I know what kind of fertilizer I need to amend the soil.

Also, make certain you know your zone hardiness. Last year, moving, I got started late on gardening, and several people told me I was too late for beets, but I wound up with good beets, and I'd never grown them before. That is when I truly discovered the idea of succession planting. One day, I sat down, and drew out on a piece of paper an ideal pumpkin patch garden for myself. It just came out of my mind.

Learn as much as you can about the veggie/fruit, trees, shrubs, whatever you want to grow, and when you think you learned it all, websearch, and find out more.

Source: I give credit to Nancy Bubil, "The Seed Starters Handbook," for helping me successfully start plants from seed.

By Carol from SouthBend, IN

Time To Get Ready For Spring Gardening

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Use Canning Lids for Marking Your Seeds

Don't discard those canning lid rings when they no longer are suitable for canning use. They are handy in the garden when you have young ones helping you with the gardening. Plant your seeds in the center of the rings or place the rings over young seedlings. It makes it easier for the young ones to distinguish what and what not to pull. The rings don't hinder the plants growth or production and can be use year after year.

By Timelessneed from Erie, PA

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Dear Webby's Joke of the Day

Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor

Rainbow Tea Party Ideas

I want to know how to make this year's rainbow tea at my church different. I have just been selected as the president over the women's ministry. Our colors are yellow, green, purple, and orange.

Sharon from Waco, Texas

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Patterns for Crocheted Doll Furniture

I'm looking for patterns for crocheted doll furniture of all kinds. Can anyone help?

Kelly from Stanton, MI

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Dirt Stains on Coat

My daughter's school coat has ground in dirt that I cannot get out, especially around the cuffs. I have sprayed stain remover and it does not help. Any suggestions?

L.W. from Minden, LA

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Cat Urine Bleached Leather Couch

I have a leather couch that our cat decided to use rather than the cat box. Unfortunately, there are a few areas that the urine or vomit took the color out of (merlot color). I've cleaned the couch and replaced the foam cushions, but is there a way to re-dye the areas that seem to be bleached out and are a little rough feeling? I've tried shoe polish, but it didn't work. Thanks!

JK from Phoenix, AZ

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Build-Up on Shower Curtains

I bought a shower curtain that claims to not get build-up but it ended up getting it anyway. Does anyone know how best to clean them or what is the best one to buy so there is no build-up?

Rosemarie from Lynn, Mass

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Jobs Working with the Elderly

I am just starting out in the gerontology program and I'm trying to find my place. I would like to work with elderly who are still fairly active and healthy. I have an art and design background, have done construction, love to travel, read and listen, dance and play. Are there opportunities for me?

Veronika from Portland, OR

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Sugar-Free Syrup Recipes

I need recipes for sugar-free syrups. Torani Sugar-Free Almond Syrup is hard to find and shipping costs are too high.

Sally from Henrico, VA

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Dog Not Coming Inside After Walks

My American Bull Dog does not want to come inside after his walks. He is walked 2 times daily and then I put him in the back yard. From the backyard he has access through a door to come into the house as well. He spends his day in and out of the house.

He is 5 months old and I have owned him for 5 days now. The previous owner just use to keep him indoors all day and night. Why does my dog not want to come inside after his walks? Do you think I should walk him more often than 2 times daily?

Jessica from Hialeah

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Nautical Themed Wedding Favors

My friend is having a July wedding and her theme is nautical. She's looking for favors that have that theme but can be of use later and not left on the table after the reception. Any ideas are appreciated and thank you in advance.

Bonnie from Zion, IL

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What Breed is My Dog?

What breed is my dog? He's 10 weeks and 12.5 lbs. His mom was a boxer/bulldog mix. The vet is estimating him to be a 40-45 lb dog. Any thoughts? We love him no matter what he is but we're curious. Thanks!

Colleen from Long Island, NY

What Breed is My Dog?

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Dog Will Only Listen to Me

Can you tell me why my aunt's dog will only listen to me?

Tanyshia from UK

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Crustless Quiche Recipes

I am looking for crustless quiche recipes. They would need to be gluten and wheat free. Thank you!

Laurel from Port Orchard, WA

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Looking for Homes for Sale

How do you find real homes? All I get is the various foreclosure rip off sites.

Jerilyn from South Bend, IN

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Storing Frozen Vegetables

What is the best way to store frozen veggies? Should they be cooked or uncooked? I would like to save them for soups etc.

Bridget from AZ

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Floating Silicon Egg Poacher

Has anyone tried those floating silicon egg poachers? Do they clean easily?

Holly from Richardson, TX

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Toilet Seat Keeps Getting Loose

What can be done to make the plastic screws on a toilet seat stay on tighter? Mine keeps getting loose and then the toilet seat shifts. It is very annoying! Thanks for any help you can offer here.

Mary Lou from Flanders, NJ

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Storing Canned Goods on Unheated Porch

Is it ok to store canned goods on a back porch that is not heated? Or would they freeze?

jmz2005 from IL

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Dachshund with Skin Problems

I have two mini dachshunds, short-hair. One has had the usual problem, short term, with summer grass, but the other has a far more significant problem that is ongoing. He scratches constantly and has raised lumps, especially on his underside.

Unlike virtually every other short-haired dachshund I've ever known, this one has smelly fur, which is very oily. His ears, too, get dirty quickly on the inside. His smell has decreased dramatically since I've changed him over to De Baircli Levy's Natural Rearing Diet, but I am still at a loss as to what to do. I cannot afford to put him on the vet's ongoing anti-histamine treatment, which is, I presume, what would be recommended.

His health otherwise is magnificent. He's around seven years old. If you have something to recommend, please don't give me brand names, as I can't always get the stuff available in other countries. Thank you for helping, in advance.

Leonie from Warrnambool, Australia

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Min Pin /Shih-Tzu Mix

I have a male min pin and I have a female shih-tzu mixed with pekingese. They have been breeding and they hung together last night. Does anyone know where I could go to find out what their pups would look like?

Brandy from Bullitt County, Kentucky

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Mounting Photo Collages

I have ten 12x18 collages, one of each of my 10 grandchildren. I cannot afford to frame each one, so would like ideas on how I might be able to mount them as a group on a wall. It would be okay to tack them onto something, but would like ideas about what that something might be. I have a nice wall by my entry door in a mobile home, that provides at least 80 inches of width.

The collages are each 12" high by 18" wide. I'm sure there are many of you who can visualize what I might do. The wall is painted paneling, so it is not entirely smooth. Just wondering what kind of material I might use on which to tack them. All I can think of is bulletin board-like stuff, but there must be more attractive and finished looks than that. Any ideas? I'm expecting to have to bunch them up quite closely to get them all up.

wondernana from Clovis, CA

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Where Do You Let Your Dough Rise?

Where do others put their sour dough starter to rise when the house gets cold at night? On top of the water heater is where I used to put it but, the new water heater feels cool on top. It is in a small pantry and may be warm enough but our house is allowed to cool to 65 at night. My last batch just soured and didn't turn out. I think I got it so hot that it killed the yeast because I put it on the hearth. Any help from you pros would be appreciated!

Judi from Elgin

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Diet that is Lowfat and Low-Carb

I am looking for recipes that fit with both low-carb and lowfat lifestyles. My honey and I both lost 60+ lbs doing the low-carb thing but after a recent sickness, I must now do lowfat. Any ideas will be very appreciated.

Annie from Williamsport, PA

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Paint Color Ideas for Room with Maroon Carpet

I want to paint my living room which has maroon colored carpet. I would like to use some brown colors but I'm not sure where to start or what to use for walls and trim. Any suggestions?

Sandy from Spokane

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Mayonnaise Separated After Being Frozen

I bought a gallon of Hellman's mayonnaise and it got pushed to the back of the fridge and froze! Does anyone know what I can do to fix the separation? I put it in a blender but it didn't work. I paid a fortune for this gallon of unused mayo.

Marisa from Cumberland, Maryland

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Preparing a Home for Someone With Cat Allergies

I am in the process of buying a townhouse but the previous resident had a cat or cats in the home and my daughter is allergic to cats. How can I throughly clean the house so my daughter doesn't end up having allergy attacks or asthma attacks? I am wondering whether it is worth it to buy this home if I have to invest in a lot of money just to clean it before we move in. Thank you.

Maria from Las Vegas, NV

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Removing Paint Odors

How do I remove paint odors in new paint before painting my walls?

Lynn from Florida

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Conditioning a Dry Leather Purse

What can I use to condition a leather purse that looks dry? I would like to use something that I already have in my home.

Sandy from Somewhere Over the Rainbow

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Adding Scent to Old Potpourri

I found some old potpourri in the closet recently but the smell of pumpkin is gone. I hate to throw it out since it's brand new, must have gotten misplaced. Is there a way of making it smell like pumpkin again? Thanks.

Bonnie from Zion, IL

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Removing Mildew from Curtains

I need to know the best possible way in which I can remove mildew off curtains, with linings? I tried ammonia but that did not work.

Louis from Durban, South Africa

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Shower Water is Cold During the Winter

We have plenty of hot water in the shower during the summer months, but when cold weather sets in within a matter of a couple minutes it slowly gets cool. As the years go on it gets worse and this year I don't even have time to wash my hair. When summer comes we have hot water during the full shower, including the hair wash. It seems to be only the shower that this happens to, other faucets are normal, including the tub.

Bonnie from Zion, IL

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Reviews of Hydroxycut

Has anyone ever tried Hydroxycut and if so what did you think about it? Thanks.

colts73 from Washington, IN

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Crafting for Fun and Money!

If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish.

More Information:
Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml

Growing: Stevia
By Ellen Brown

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana "Bertoni") is an all natural sweetener that you can grow in your garden. Native to South America (Paraguay), stevia has zero calories, zero carbohydrates and a zero glycemic index. It makes a wonderful substitute for sugar in your coffee or tea, and you can also use it for cooking and baking. Here's how to grow it.

Growing: Stevia

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Daily Thrifty Tips - January 23, 2009

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