The Frugal Life News

Puppy FAQs

2013-05-18T10:30:00.000-04:00

From Dr. Jane Bicks

At Life’s Abundance, we’re celebrating puppyhood. This is partly because we just launched our brand new Large Breed Puppy Food, but mostly because WE LOVE PUPPIES.

Dr. Jane is tackling some frequently asked questions when it comes to baby dogs. Dr. Jane applies her considerable talent and demonstrates her insider’s knowledge in the review of just a handful of commonly posed queries, like …

Why does my puppy have hiccups?
What sorts of vaccinations does my puppy need?
How common a medical problem are worms?

Do what’s best for your pups, now and in the future, by reading the latest post from Dr. Jane now.

DIY Repair Tips Save You Money

2013-05-18T08:30:00.000-04:00

From Family Handyman

There are some household repairs that are so simple that even the pros feel bad about charging for them (really!). Many of these plumbing, heating, electrical, air conditioning, and appliance repairs are simple things that homeowners overlook.

Other solutions in this collection are less obvious, but all of these repairs can save you a big chunk of change the next time something goes wrong.

Low water pressure at the faucet?

Your toilet's not a garbage can

Got a leak?

No hot water?

Refrigerator not cooling?

No flame at the gas burners?

Electric stove burner not heating?

An electrical outlet doesn't work

Not getting enough heat?

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15 Ways to Upcycle Pillowcases

2013-05-18T05:29:00.000-04:00

From Care2.com

My favorite pillowcase crafts work with the design of the pillowcase. You’ve got that wide seam around the opening and all of the sturdy, serged side seams, and often instead of cutting apart the whole pillowcase, you can make those already-stitched parts work for you.

You’ll see some of this in the selected projects on the next few pages. Read the entire article.

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12 Surprising Uses for Garlic

2013-05-11T10:32:00.000-04:00

From Care2.com

There’s so much more to garlic than cooking and vampire slaying. From treating cold sores and athlete’s foot to repelling mosquitoes and repairing glass, click through for some clever ways to use garlic. Read the entire article.

If you don't want to work with fresh garlic, it's also available as garlic oil gel caps, high-potency odor-controlled tablets, and powdered garlic capsules.

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How to Build a Self-watering Planter System

2013-05-11T07:30:00.000-04:00

If you like fresh vegetables and herbs from the garden but don't think you can have a garden of your own, this is the project for you. The Family Handyman editor, Elisa Bernick shows you how to build a sub irrigated planter (also called a self-watering planter) that will allow you to grow your veggies without having to water continually. You can take that summer vacation and all will be well when you return. Watch the how-to video now ...

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The Facts About Poop

2013-05-11T06:02:00.000-04:00

The Facts About Poop infographic

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Bringing Home a New Puppy

2013-05-04T09:39:00.000-04:00

So, you’ve decided to adopt a puppy … great idea. Now what?

If you don’t know the answer to that question, you should definitely check out the newest episode of Pet Talk with Dr. Sarah.

Accompanied by a cuddly fur-ball of cuteness, our staff veterinarian will share her insights and helpful tips to get you and your family up-to-speed on the ins-and-outs of welcoming a new puppy into your home.

Sarah covers all the basics, from what products your new puppy will need to be comfortable, how to make your house safe from curious, ground-level eyes, tips on communication (the cornerstone of training), ideas about diet and health, and much more, all covered in this short video. Watch the latest episode of Pet Talk now!

10 Affordable Date Ideas

2013-05-04T09:35:00.000-04:00

Are you looking for affordable date ideas so that you and your spouse can go out from time to time without needing to climb your way out of debt afterward?

Here are some suggestions that can help, and maybe they’ll get you thinking of some other possibilities. Read now ...

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High Pesticide Levels Found in Celestial Seasonings Teas

2013-05-04T07:09:00.000-04:00

Well, here we go again. Another "natural" food company hitting the dirt.

Tests showed high pesticide levels in 91% of Celestial Seasoning samples. Ten (10) out of eleven (11) tested were found to contain dangerously high pesticides. Read the entire article.

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RECALL: Many Brands of Pet Food

2013-05-01T12:11:00.005-04:00

by Jay P. Margedant

President, Flint River Ranch

We've had a lot of calls & emails of concern about the recall by Natura ™ (bought by Proctor & Gamble the other year) products and what's happening in this industry.

Obviously, there is still a lot of fear in the pet community about origin of ingredients, bacteria and salmonella, in particular. For those who don't know, Natura ™ has issued a recall last week on their product line(s) due to salmonella contamination.

This recall affects all of their product lines (EVO, Innova, Karma, Healthwise and California Natural) with an up expiration date going up to March 24th, 2014. They want it all discarded.

I don't know if Natura's issue is just with chicken-based products. I believe that they are pulling a lot of products so that they get every product that could present a contamination issue. Their goal is to insure pets don't get sick, and the purchasers of their products don't either.

Bacteria; in slight amounts, can actually be handled by a healthy pet fairly well as pets hold food in an acidic gut for a good period of time before it gets passed into the rest of the digestive tract. Bacteria will be destroyed by digestive acids in the stomach and not cause a specified risk to a healthy pet. Humans on the other hand digest food quicker than pets, constantly put our fingers to our faces & mouth and we'll get sicker from the residual salmonella that is still viable when it gets into our digestive tract.

Now, I'm not saying that this recall isn't necessary, or that we should be content with salmonella in our pets' products and not be reactive. Quite the contrary, we should all be vigilant about bacteria around our food preparation area and the proper handling of all pet food products and treats.

Flint River Ranch has been active in insuring that all of our products are provided from certified sources and we test ingredients and monitor all aspects of our production and maintain its cleanliness. To date, Flint River Ranch has not been part of any recall and we continue to try our best to make sure that we don't ever have an issue like this happen (we don't wish this issue on any manufacture, much less their customers).

I guess it's the nice part of being one of the "little guys"; we're not trying to jam a million pounds of products out into the market. We focus on small batches of established, holistic formulas. We're not trying to be all things to every possible customers. We focus on the quality of our ingredients and foods, not on how much we could produce.

In all, manufactures do not want you to get sick from handling their products, which is the main reason for these recalls; to prevent human illness from handling these products. No illnesses have been reported; either human or animal, with this current Natura™ recall, yet the public frustrations at continued recalls is apparent.

Related Article:

Safe Handling of Pet Products

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Safe Handling Tips for Pet Products

2013-05-01T12:11:00.002-04:00

by Jay P. Margedant

In the 17 years that I’ve been in this business, I’ve met all types of pet owners. But one thing that continues to amaze me is how casually people store and handle pet food. Pet food, treats, bones and chews are “food” items. Just because we aren’t the ones eating it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t handle it as a perishable item. You wouldn’t leave baby formula out, so why do some folks handle pet food so carelessly?

I would like us to all remember some of these issues the next time we feed our pets:

• Some companies add flavoring in the form of fats to their treats. Fats attract bacteria, dirt, bugs and the like. Some of this fat can get on your hands as you handle their food/treats. Wash with soap and hot water each and every time you handle your pets’ products to eliminate the possibility of passing the fats to other surfaces or to your face & mouth. Washing your hands after handling your pets’ food and treats will also insure that if there is a bacteria issue, you’ll eliminate risk by keeping your hands clean.

• Wash your pets’ food bowls. I’m amazed at how many folks just add more food to their pets’ bowls. Food bowls need to be cleaned & dry each time you use them. You wouldn’t use the same plate again without cleaning it, would you? Same with your pets’ dishes.

• Wash your pets’ water bowl out daily, too. Allow to be clean and dry before using again. Flint River Ranch has always suggested the use of filtered water too. Cats and small dogs could benefit from the use of distilled water; they just don’t need the chemicals from our city water.

• Wash your pets’ toys. Many toys will have extended life from a good cleaning every couple of days, and you’ll get rid of the salvia and dirt from when you pet last used it. Plush toys can be inspected, mended (if your dogs are like mine) and then washed like towels. I’ve found that they hold up pretty well and also when machine dried you’ll eliminate any bugs that may have found their way into the toy.

• Rubber chews, plastic throws and tug toys can be added into the dish washer and ran through a cycle. We actually do this once a week along with their bowls so everything gets a really good sanitary cleaning. I would suggest that you monitor the heat setting to insure that nothing gets scorched with extra heating. I actually just turn off any heat settings and let them dry normally.

• Pet bedding and rugs. Best way to keep fleas and bugs down is to regularly vacuum and wash your pets bedding often.

• If you use canned food, store any extra in the refrigerator with a tight seal. 15 seconds in the microwave and/or some hot water will easily refresh it for the next meal (take it out of the metal can if you nuke it).

• Storage of dry foods; Flint River Ranch has always advocated keeping your pets food in the bag it comes in, rolled down and clipped shut. Keep the bag in a temperature constant, cool, dark room. I keep mine pets food in the pantry floor. When the bag is empty, throw it out.

• If you use a container for your pets’ food, insure that it is a “food safe” container. If possible, keep the food in the original bag and keep it in the container. Our bags are meant to keep your pets food safe, dry and stable until empty. Never add new food onto of old; you must completely use all of the food up, clean and allow the container to dry before adding more food into it. (which is why we suggest keeping the food in its original bag) It may still be the same formula, but never add new product into old.

• Bones, Toobles and Bully Sticks all have a naturally higher amount of fat in them. Definitely clean your hands after handling them, and I suggest feeding these products outside so that your dog doesn’t leave a lot of crumbs around.

• Antlers are generally some of the cleanest treats available. However, it is good to pick them up after a few days, clean them under some running water and allow them to dry again before giving back to your dog. As with bones and other hard treats, properly supervise your dog as they are chewing on them to stop overly vigorous chewing. Dogs have harder teeth than we do, but if too vigorous they could cause some chipping or damage.

• Here’s one that a lot of us don’t think about but washing your pets paws before they come inside. If you keep your pet in a fenced-in area, the possibility that they can walk inside with gunk and germs on their paws is there. Not to mention the normal household kitty who has a litter box in your house. Wiping their paws off as they come out of their box will go a long way to controlling the dirt and bacteria that they are walking around in as they use their box.

None of this is really new and we don’t need to panic, but I hope this is a good refresher about safe handling practices concerning our pets and the items in their lives. Is salmonella an issue in our world? Sure, not just in pet food but in our own products that we come in contact with every day. But it can be dealt with by continued practice of safe food handling and including our pets’ products. And by insuring that we never, ever touch anything that we might put into our mouths until after we have cleaned our hands and any surface that our pets’ products may have touched.

Keeping their world and ours clean is the most important practice we all need to adhere to. And when in doubt, clean it!

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What's Hiding Behind Buzzwords in Job Ads?

2013-04-21T03:30:00.002-04:00

From Fortune Management

You've heard the job ad jargon so often, your eyes glaze over: detail-oriented, fast-paced work environment, team player. But these well-worn phrases can expose the dirty little secrets of your potential future employer.

Read enough help-wanted advertisements, and you'll soon realize that they all basically sound the same. Jargon like "detail-oriented" and "self-starter" is so overused that the positions advertised begin to sound unremarkable: part of the expected landscape of hunting for a job.

But if you stop and think about what all of these buzzwords are signaling, you'll realize how much information you just might miss if you fail to read between the lines. First of all, when employers fall back on the same old jargon to advertise positions, it could very well be that they actually have no idea ... Read the entire article.

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Good Tourist/Bad Tourist Visiting the U.S.

2013-04-21T03:30:00.001-04:00

From Twenty-SomethingTravel.com

Along with the fluffy pink cherry blossoms ( and abundant sunshine, something else begins popping up in Washington around April. Tourists. From April to August DC is awash with out-of-towners. Great locust sized hordes of them clog the metro and swamp the mall.

I will say up front: everybody is a tourist at least some of the time . It’s not that I feel any innate superiority to the visitors to my city. I always try to be charitable and treat them as I would like to be treated.

The fact is though, that there are some really inconsiderate ... Read the entire article.

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5 Steps to Being Happy at Work

2013-04-21T03:30:00.000-04:00

From AARP.org

Feeling stuck or underappreciated? Here's how to ask for new responsibilities — and recognition

There are plenty of ways you can lose satisfaction in your job.
You may have outgrown your position and feel you're overqualified. You're stuck in a rut, bored by the day-to-day routine. Or you're angry and frustrated at not getting the opportunities and accolades you've earned.

Take a breath. You can get things back on track. But you will have to gather up your courage and have the "talk" with your boss.

If you're like me, the whole idea of meeting with your boss to talk about your future is scary. But if you want change, speak up. Your happiness depends on it.

The conversation needn't be contentious. After all, your boss probably has no idea of your frustration. Instead, use ... Read the entire article.

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Surefire Ways To Get Kicked Off A Plane

2013-04-14T03:30:00.002-04:00

Surefire Ways To Get Kicked Off A Plane

Refusing to wear your seat belt is just one way to get kicked off a plane.
We all know by now that stupid comments like joking about bombs can get you booted from your flight. But it turns out that plenty of other things can you tossed, as well. From taking pictures to wearing your politics on your sleeve (literally) --here are things you should avoid if you want to make it to your destination on time.

1. Take a picture

Once inside the plane, policies vary on taking pictures, depending on the airline. Some will allow snaps, but only of your friends, family and fellow passengers. Other carriers say no pictures at all. Generally the “no photos” rule exists to eliminate the chance someone is doing surveillance.
Booted: Recently, Mathew Klint on a United Airlines flight from New York to Istanbul, was ejected after taking pictures of the cabin with his iPhone. Klint says he was writing a review of the business class service. The cabin crew told him that photos or video was prohibited without getting permission first.

2. Wear offensive clothing

That irreverent t-shirt with the swear words might help you pick up the chicks in Bushwick, Brooklyn. But TSA and airline staff vet people for clothing that may make passengers nervous or upset. And it doesn’t have to be just ... Find Out More.

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Tips to Avoid Tax Audit, How to Avoid IRS Audit

2013-04-14T03:30:00.000-04:00

9 Tips to Avoid a Tax Audit
This handy guide can help prevent scrutiny from the IRS

Last year, about 1 percent of 143 million tax returns were audited by the Internal Revenue Service. Put another way, that is nearly 1.5 million Americans who had to endure what the IRS more politely calls an "examination."

1. Know your risk

You want to be able to document every deduction and keep that proof for at least three years from your filing date. Certain ZIP codes, like those in higher-income neighborhoods, have a higher audit rate, says tax ... Read the entire article.

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Gigi's Herbal Heartworm Success Story

2013-04-13T09:57:00.000-04:00

My friend, Robin, sent me another heartwarming heartworm story from one of her many happy clients. She's been helping people and pets with heartworms for a very long time. Her website has a lot of such testimonies, but I love to share one from time to time in this blog.

There are many heartbroken stories of pet owners who didn't find Robin's website, so if you can help me share this information, more dogs will be able to live and make their human family soooo happy!

Here's Gigi's story submitted by her family:

Our family is extremely partial to boxers and we have always bought them from breeders. However, this time we decided to rescue one. As God would have it, the day we set aside to look for a dog, there was one at a pound, only 45 minutes away!

We (all six of us) went to meet Gigi. Poor baby! She was skin and bones and terrified of everything ... especially people. I was a little nervous about getting her, thinking she might bite one of the children out of fear, but my husband reassured me that she wasn't aggressive and he would like to take her home.

With four children around, Gigi didn't have a chance at staying afraid of people. They loved on her, hand fed her, slept with her, brushed her, walked her, etc. She has become the best dog we have ever had; the most loved dog in the world.

So when we took Gigi in for a routine check-up and found out that she had a severe case of heartworms (apparently contracted at least 4 months before we adopted her), we were devastated! The vet recommended that we either euthanize her, or put her through a $1000+ regimen. We couldn't afford the treatment, so we went home and told the children what the vet had said. They cried for two days and gathered up their life savings (about $20) to help pay for "Gigi's heartworm poison."

I was already treating my family with essential oils, so it occurred to me that there must be some way to treat my pets naturally as well. Google, here I come! Lo and behold, Bandit's Buddies popped up! So I ordered the regimen and began it right away.

Fast forward to her next routine check-up (6 months later). I asked for the heartworm test to be done, just hoping that the severity would be down to moderate or mild. The vet came in with the results of all the tests and said, "Gigi is a very sweet, healthy dog. Just make sure you brush her teeth regularly."

That's it?! So I asked about the heartworm test ... (drum roll, please) ... NEGATIVE! In 6 months! Wow! I barely restrained myself from doing cartwheels and expressed how pleased I was. That was when the vet rechecked the chart, realized that Gigi had previously been diagnosed as being heartworm positive and started back-pedaling ... "Oh, our test must be defective! We'll need to send the blood work out to another lab!" It has been two weeks and I haven't heard a peep from her! -- The Geurink Family

Read more about Bandit's Heartworm Program.
Read Bandit's Heartworm Story.
Read about Bandit's Prevention or Maintenance Program.

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Repair Electronics or Buy New – Consider 3 Things

2013-04-06T04:00:00.002-04:00

To Buy New or Repair: That Is the Question
How to know when it is — and isn't — worth repairing a broken appliance or electronic device

Boy, it feels like just yesterday you were breaking that new laptop out of the box. But it's been four years and now you can't turn it on without strange windows popping up on you. And why does it shut down without warning lately?

To buy or repair? That's the question when it comes to electronics. — Istockphoto

You could pay your local tech person to fix it. But are you better off simply buying a bug-free new one? It's a question all people grapple with from time to time — whether it's the dishwasher, the fridge or an electronic gadget.

"The common thought is that 'they don't make them the way they used to,' but we found that's not ... Read the entire article.

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Owe Money to Uncle Sam? What the IRS Can and Can’t Do

2013-04-06T04:00:00.001-04:00

Owe Money to Uncle Sam? What the IRS Can and Can’t Do

If you are unable to pay your tax liability, your account ends up in the IRS collection department and that can leave you wondering what they are going to do. While your mind might wander to what kind of penalties they can impose, it’s important to know your rights.

Many clients have come to me saying “I didn’t pay my taxes when they were due last week. Is the IRS going to levy my checking account?” The answer is no, at least not right now.

The IRS has a set procedure when it comes to collecting unpaid taxes. First of all, it takes a couple of weeks (sometimes longer depending on when in the cycle your return is received) to process your income tax return. If you file on April 15, the peak day of tax season, it may take as long as six to eight weeks for the IRS to figure out that you owe. If you file on Jan. 15, it will probably take the agency a week to process your return. Even then, you have until April 15 to pay without the beginning of collection activity.

Once the IRS knows you haven’t paid, automatic collection activity begins--but only the ... Read the entire article.

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15 Household Uses for Bike Inner Tubes

2013-04-06T04:00:00.000-04:00

15 Household Uses for Bike Inner Tubes
Turn your cycling habit into a recycling gold mine!

If you’re prone to daydreaming about such things, you might see a parallel between conventional bike inner tubes and the incandescent light bulb. Both technologies were cool and innovative in their day, but now they’re about as “with it” as bloodletting is to modern medicine. The problem is that bike tubes and light bulbs are pretty cheap to buy and very cheap to produce, so the juicy profit margin discourages innovation.

Anyway, the next time you’re daydreaming, maybe you can do all cyclists a favor and come up with an affordable puncture-resistant inner tube (and a better light bulb than the CFL while you’re at it). In the meantime, here are some ways to reuse all those old tubes. Tip: Wash all tube materials to remove that slippery coating and general yucky tube residue.

1. Exercise Resistance Bands

Screw some straight lengths or loops of tube to a wall or sheet of plywood, using wood blocks to prevent tearing at the connections. Stretch the tubes every which way for the ultimate

Read the entire article.

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Long-term Sad Effects of a Happy Meal

2013-03-30T10:30:00.000-04:00

From Kimberly Snyder's Blog

What I propose to do here is to start you thinking, really thinking, about the implications of every fast food meal. Some will say “Everything in moderation,” but I say not so with fast food. Each fast food meal digests to leave hormones, steroids, next-to-impossible to digest oils, cheap refined sugars and so many other horrible substances in your body that we made a whole infographic (below) on the subject.

Please share this with friends and family members that eat fast food. Maybe next time old Micky D’s calls out to them they turn their back and go somewhere healthier to eat or just eat a simple, but infinitely healthier meal at home.

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How to Deal With Unhealthy Stress Caused by Debt

2013-03-30T09:31:00.000-04:00

We all know that paying down debt has positive effects on your finances. But have you ever realized that it can have positive effects on your health and overall well-being too?

It’s true! Getting out of debt has intangible benefits and can help you become a happier and healthier person.

Last year when I became debt free, I discovered first hand, how interconnected being in debt is with the overall health of your mind and body.

Four of the five top causes of deaths in America, being heart disease, stroke, cancer and lower respiratory diseases, can be triggered by stress. One of the main stressors on our bodies is the financial problems we encounter everyday. Read: How Debt Affects Your Health.

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Get Better Birdhouse Nesting Results

2013-03-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

From Birds & Blooms

There are few bird-watching experiences more rewarding than setting up a birdhouse and having a pair of birds select it as their home to raise young.

Not all backyard birds use houses, including many popular species like cardinals, orioles and goldfinches. But enough common birds do nest in birdhouses to make it worthwhile to set up a few to see what happens.

About 30 bird species in each region of the country are so-called cavity nesters, which means that most of them will also use a birdhouse. Bluebirds, purple martins, house wrens, chickadees, tree swallows and house sparrows are the most common occupants. You might also be able to entice nesters like wood ducks, screech-owls, woodpeckers, titmice and nuthatches.

But setting up a successful birdhouse isn't as simple as "build it and they will come." There are several key factors to consider that will give you the best chance to attract nesting birds. Attract more nesting birds with these five basics.

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Use Herbs to Freshen Your House

2013-03-23T10:12:00.000-04:00

From Networx.com

Our sense of smell is one of the strongest ways we connect to our memories. Pine needles conjure up the holiday season, this or that soap takes you right back to Grandma’s house, wet earth for spring and pumpkin spice for autumn; it goes on and on.

Surrounding ourselves with pleasing scents is an easy, effective way to provoke feelings of comfort and calm. Here are 7 simple ways to get your groovy fragrance on.

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Tips for Buying an Energy Efficient House

2013-03-23T10:03:00.000-04:00

From Care2.com

With increasing consumer awareness of environmental issues, it’s growing much easier to find energy efficient homes, but it helps to be armored with some tips before you set out on your home buying journey.

Savvy buyers can find the perfect house for their needs and negotiate the best deals. If you’re using a real estate agent, which is a very good idea unless you’re familiar with real estate transactions, look for one who has experience with green homes. Some may have attended certification programs on green real estate, while others simply have experience based on previous home sales and the community in general.

As you conduct interviews to find the right real estate agent for you, ask about prior experience, the kinds of homes on the market, and recommendations the agent may have for you. Read the entire article.

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