This is the Limerence Library of all the featured authors we’ve had.  Click on a book to be taken to the Amazon Page.

Tiffany Lovering: Tell us a little about yourself and how you started writing….
Elmore Hammes: I am a former computer programmer who is a voracious reader and have always
enjoyed writing fiction. I started to take writing more seriously when I first participated in National Novel Writing Month (www.nanowrimo.org) in 2003. I completed a very rough first draft of a novel for the first time that year, and have done so each November since 2003. A couple years ago I decided to devote my time to writing and assisting other authors with editing and formatting services. When I am not writing, I participate in our local community theatre (favorite role thus far would be the evil brother Jonathan Brewster in Arsenic & Old Lace), volunteering at the city animal shelter, helping build homes in Mexico twice a year through a mission group, and keeping my cats happy so they don’t kick me out of the house.

TL: Will you explain the plot of your novel, The Twenty Dollar Bill?
EH: It actually is comprised of a whole lot of mini-plots, as each short scene has a new viewpoint character. As a single twenty dollar bill is passed from person to person or goes from place to place, a new person takes over the story from their perspective. The bill is used as a device to shift the narrator, and by doing so the reader is shown how different people may interpret the same event, and especially the motivations behind the actions of those around them, in different ways.

TL: What inspired you to write a book about the life of a twenty dollar bill?
EH: I wanted to shine light on how people see life from their own perspective, and the assumptions we make other people may be mistaken. The bill was simply an easy method of switching who was narrating.

TL: Can you give a little bit of detail as to who’s hands the bill falls into?
EH: There are 41 people that either handle it or are in the room with it and take over the story. These would include a waitress, barber, student, gambler, taxi cab driver, bouncer, mechanic and many more. It even makes a journey into Mexico and back into the United States.

TL: Are your characters based on people you know?
EH: Some of them are composites or influenced by people I have met, particularly when it goes to Mexico (that portion was inspired from my mission trips there). But no one is an exact copy or even based on any one person.

TL: You have several novels available on Amazon. What do you enjoy the most about writing?
EH: Creating a world for other people to lose themselves in, as I have done with so many books in my lifetime.

TL: Do you have any advice for an author just starting out?
EH: Just the basics: read and write. The more you do of both, the better! Also, as easy as it is to self-publish now, don’t do it without having someone else read it first – preferably an editor or a writing critique group.

TL: Leave us with where to find you…
My Amazon author profile page has most of my published fiction on it (http://www.amazon.com/Elmore-Hammes/e/B006X50EDO ). I have a pretty basicwebsite (http://www.elmorehammes.com) that I will someday make pretty.

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In the hot, humid summer season, addressing oil-slick syndrome seems especially relevant.  No one has perfect skin, but with the wide variety of skin care treatments and products available there is a possibility for significant improvement. Everything I list has either worked for me or has been suggested enough in the skin care community (MakeupAlley, Allure, beauty gurus, skincaretalk.com, etc) to take notice. So throw out those Stridex pads and get ready to have your mind blown!

Side Note: I don’t actually recommend throwing out a perfectly good tub of acne pads. Though you must agree that Stridex pads tend to burn like a horrible monster, relentlessly slapping you in the face with rubber bands. In addition, I am not a doctor or a dermatologist; so please resist picturing me in a white lab coat with classy glasses and a clipboard in my hand.

Enjoy!

Use a Primer

If you take anything away from this article, let it be the importance of using a primer in your makeup routine. Primers are gel-like serums made up primarily of silicone that create a barrier between your skin and your foundation. This barrier helps to hold off shine as the oil can’t permeate the primer to ruin your makeup and prevents that mirror shine on your T-zone for a few hours. Primer also smooths out your skin texture, fills in pores and wrinkles, and perfects your foundation application. I recommend Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Primer, $ 7.94.

Get Regular Chemical Peels or Microdermabrasion Treatments

Your apricot face scrub just isn’t going to cut it when it comes to real skin improvement. Chemical Peels, superficial acids applied to the face, dissolve dead skins cells. This helps to purge the skin of trapped oil, dirt, and general ickiness that leads to the oil sheen. Microdermabrasion, a physical exfoliation using refined crystals, also removes the first layer of dead skin cells to reveal glower, healthier, less oily skin. Both treatments exfoliate enough to temporarily mattify your skin. The price ranges for the mainstream treatments in a high-end spa will make your wallet cringe but there are cheaper alternatives. You can get microdermabrasions for a fraction of the price at your local Beauty School/College, where students perform a variety of treatments under supervision. And nothing beats www.makeupartistschoice.com for safe  effective, and affordable DIY chemical peels. I love their Mandelic Acid peel!  Makeup Artist’s Choice 25% Mandelic Acid Peel, 2 0z, $29.95

Use a Clay Mask Weekly

Nothing sops up oil and shine like a good clay mask. The rich clay pulls out impurities and excess sebum to reveal fresh, matte skin. Be careful not to use more than twice a week or you could dry out your skin, which sets off more oil production later.  Argh! I recommend Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, $5.49.

Start Using a Retinoid

Retin-a is typically as an acne treatment or effective antiager but it’s also a miracle worker for oil/combination skin types. Retinoids work by delaying the growth of epithelial cells (the oil-warehouses of your face) and encourage the shedding and turnover of skin cells. The result is clearer, mattified skin. Official Retin-a is expensive and requires a prescription so you might want to try the generic Tretinoin cream alternative for similar results. I recommend Obagi System Tretinoin Cream, USP 0.05%, $30.06 . If you’re worried about the irritation retin-a can cause, you should try a quality retinol instead. I recommend RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream, $18.50.

Keep Blotting Sheets on Hand

Retinoids, Chemical Peels, and Clay masks are fine and dandy but sometimes you still need to do touch ups on the fly. Blotting sheets are perfect for wiping up shiny spots without smearing your foundation. It’s a nice security measure for special events or humid weather.  I love e.l.f. Shine Eraser Blotting Sheets, 50 sheets, $1.00.

Everything in Moderation

The majority of people with oily/combination skin assume that repeatedly using harsh cleansers, alcohol-based toners, and harsh exfoliation is the right way to deal with excess sebum. All these methods work to strip the oil to some extent but repeated use without proper moisturization and protection will lead to more oil to make up for the dry spell. It’s best to pair exfoliation and masks with an effective oil-free moisturizer and gentle cleanser. It’s also important that you protect your skin from the sun (which drys out your skin, ages it, and causes more oil) with a proper sunscreen. My favorite gentle cleanser is Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, $11.49.   A good sunscreen is Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer, $ 8.49. A great oil-free moisturizer is Alba Botanica Aloe & Green Tea Oil-Fre Moisturizer, $11.64.

Image Credit: qwellamedicalspa.com, makeupalley.com, amazon.com, store.shopcadermatology.com, swatchandlearn.com, dolly.ninemsn.com.au, womenskincare.org

Although some people would beg to differ, I quite liked most of the romantic-comedies that came out in the past year.  The likes of Midnight in Paris and No Strings Attached top my list and as embarrassing as it is to admit, I even liked Crazy,Stupid,Love.  I can only hope that this year will follow suit and put out some really original and first-rate rom-coms for us to indulge in.

I’ve compiled a list of romantic comedies that  are my favorites and some that I feel might be worth a watch.

 Loosies

Release date: Wednesday, January 11th

Starring: Peter Facinelli, Jaimie Alexander, Michael Madsen

Directed By: Michael Corrente

Storyline:  A young pickpocket in New York is confronted by a woman with whom he had a one night affair. When he is told that she is now pregnant with his child, he is faced with the choice of either continuing the life he leads or growing up and taking responsibility for his actions.

My Take:  It seems just a little too Knocked Up for me, due to the strong similarities in the two plot lines- a man who leads a free and reckless life,  the one night affair and the life-altering baby that is en route. Of course, Peter Facinelli is no Seth Rogen when it comes to comedy, but the trailer makes it seem that both Facinelli and Alexander are extremely well-cast in their roles and while Loosies may not have quite the humor of Knocked Up, it seems it certainly has more heart.

 Joyful Noise

Release date: Friday, January 13

Starring: Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer

Directed/Written By: Todd Graff

Storyline: It appears to be a movie version of Glee. The story of a small town choir aiming to win a national competition despite the talented and dangerous opposition they have to face. What is different, of course, would probably be the lack of excessive teenage drama that Glee is famous for.

My Take: It’ll be quite interesting to see Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah go head to head, as their characters have conflicting opinions of what they personally believe would lead the choir to victory. It seems like a good source of tension and conflict for the film. However the main focal points of Joyful Noise are music, love, and hope and it seems promising as a story of faith and determination, as the choir tries their absolute best to get what they originally set out for.

 16-Love

Release date: Friday, January 20

Starring: Lindsey Shaw, Chandler Massey, Keith Coulouris

Directed By: Adam Lipsius

Storyline: It is the story of a teenage girl who was once the best junior tennis player in the country, but is then injured and forced to live a normal life. She rediscovers the life that she ought to have lived in the first place and discovers something she thought she’d never have, love.

My Take: Lindsey Shaw plays the main role and personally, while I haven’t seen a ton of her work except for a few of episodes of Pretty Little Liars, I think she seems to be the perfect combination of the feisty player and helpless teenager, as she copes with her injury and learns to live life beyond the white lines of the court.

This Means War 

Release date: Friday, February 17^th

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy

Directed By: McG

Storyline: This Means War is a story about two top CIA agents who discover that they are dating the same woman and thereafter wage an epic war against one another.

My Take: This is something that I would watch just for the cast. When Chris Pine, Tom Hardy and Reese Witherspoon star in one movie, you know it’s going to be huge.  Being CIA operatives Pine and Hardy’s characters do not opt for menial and mediocre methods to win the heart of the woman they love. Their methods to eliminate the competition comprise of tranquilizer darts, indoor sprinklers, handguns and roundhouse kicks. And to add to the humor, comedienne Chelsea Handler also plays a role as Witherspoon’s witty and sharp-tongued friend. Looks like this one will be a winner.

Good Deeds

Release date: Friday, February 24^th

Starring: Tyler Perry, Gabrielle Union, Thandie Newton

Directed/Written  By: Tyler Perry

Storyline: The story of an extremely wealthy man who develops feelings for a single mother, right before his wedding.

My Take: As is standard for him, Perry will play the lead role of Wesley Deeds in this, as well as writing and directing. It is hard still to compare this one to his other movies, because I don’t think the trailer did justice to what the movie could be.  I usually find that Tyler Perry movies are either a hit or a miss and nothing in between, so if I had to take a guess, I’d say this one would be a hit.

 Movie pictures: www.imdb.com

Image Credit: Topsoft

Let It Happen is a pop-rock band that is on the rise. Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, these guys have been on a roll ever since they formed in 2009. From their features in J-14 Magazine, AbsolutePunk, and Substream Magazine, Let It Happen is getting some huge national buzz. They have just released their new EP, It Hurts, But It’s Worth It and fans are going wild. It Hurts, which was produced by the talented producer, Bryan Beeler (Chiodos, The Swellers), has a fresh sound and the band is full of energy and passion. Let It Happen has shared the stage with bands such as Hit The Lights, The Swellers, and Fireworks. Let It Happen is a band that loves the music, appreciates the fans, and works hard to create the perfect style.

I got the chance to talk with Let It Happen’s drummer, Sean Highley, about their new EP, Let It Happen.

Lawanda Johnson: Let’s start off with introduction. How did the band get started? What/who are some of your influences?

Sean Highley: We’ve been playing together in different bands for a lot of years, but started jamming pop-punk stuff in 2009. About a year and a half ago we decided to start taking it seriously and have been going strong ever since! As far as bands go, we are super influenced by bands like Jimmy Eat World, Relient K, and The Starting Line. They are all a big part of what we listened to growing up, and helped us to create what we are today!

LJ: Cool band name, Let it Happen. What’s the story behind the name?

SH: Thanks! Glad you think so. As I said before, we are all really big fans of Jimmy Eat World, and always have been. We got our name from their song on the Chase This Light album. Coincidentally, it has sort of become our motto as well. No matter how bad things might get in any given life, you just have to let life happen and know that in the end everything will be okay.

LJ: Congrats on your new release, It Hurts, But it’s Worth it. How long did it take to finish the album? What was the process like?

SH: We are all excited about It Hurts! We started writing the album over a year ago actually, and started trying to find the right fit as to who would record and produce the record. After talking to a few different producers, we decided on Bryan Beeler form Cinematic Sunrise because we liked the work he had done with his own band, The Swellers, and Chiodos as well. We were in the studio for two weeks recording, and worked 12-13 hour days getting everything just how we wanted it. It was a lot of figuring out what worked and what didn’t work, and how we could make the songs the best they could possibly be. Needless to say, we couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out!

LJ: What can fans expect from this album?

SH: When listening to It Hurts, But It’s Worth It, fans can expect to hear honest and relatable songs about life. It’s really important to us that we write songs about real things, and experiences. From Disconnect Routine through Hide and Seek, it is sort of a lyrical diary of a period in Drew’s life. We just hope that fans can listen to these songs and really take from it exactly what we put into it.

LJ: Name your dream collaboration.

SH: For me, I think my dream collaboration would be with a band like Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl has been really influential in my musical career and proves that you don’t have to be an Electronica solo artist to be successful in this day and age. Seeing them win Grammys from honest, real rock music is one of the main reasons I’m in a band.

LJ: What’s one city/state/country that you would like to perform in? Why?

SH: I would love to head across the pond and do some shows in London, England. It was such a big place for a lot of great music, and I would love to connect with the people over there in a way that the internet just can’t duplicate.

LJ: Any upcoming shows or events?

SH: We just announced that we will be heading out on tour with our friends from Syracuse, NY Of Fortune and Fame. They are a great band, and great guys! If you happen to live close to one of the shows, we would love to hang out and talk with you! Meeting new people in new places is always awesome!

LJ: Great I will follow up on that! Anything else you would like to share with Limerence’s audience?

Check out our new EP It Hurts, But It’s Worth It! It’s available on iTunes, Amazon.com, and our online store. We would love to hear what you have to say about it as well so post on our Facebook, or tweet us! We always respond.

For more information on Let It Happen, check out their sites:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Pure Volume

The Long Way Home by Karen McQuestion features four women who go on a road trip from Wisconsin to Las Vegas. Add the elements that these women are barely more than strangers, range in age from 20′s – 70′s, have conflicting personalities, and are all dealing with the loss of a loved one, and you have just a little of what Karen McQuestion does to put an authentic twist on a “done before” road trip plot.

Jazzy is a ray of sunshine that Marnie, Laverne and Rita haven’t seen in quite some time. When Marnie makes the decision to go to Las Vegas to reunite with the boy she helped raise, it’s Jazzy’s optimism that keeps the women moving forward both literally and figuratively. While I loved each of the characters for very different reasons, I must admit that Laverne is by far my favorite. I can picture the other three women rolling their eyes and becoming frustrated with this old woman but she does many things on the trip that I know I would do.

What I love about Karen’s novels is that she develops the characters throughout the story and you never really have them figured out until the end. The amazing thing about The Long Way Home was that I didn’t just love the four main characters, I also found myself mourning for those they lost. Each individual story was powerful and moving without being over the top.

I’ve only said this a handful of times in my years of reading, but I sincerely hope The Long Way Home goes from print to screen. There’s nothing in this novel that wouldn’t translate beautifully to a movie version, and I would be first in line to see it.

I rate The Long Way Home a perfect five stars and recommend it for anyone who enjoys an adventurous, heartwarming book with strong female leads.

Reviewed by Tiffany Lovering

Politickin’ P is making the music for the future. His thought provoking lyrics celebrates the postivity in hip hop and teaches the community that change and growth is neccessary. The Delaware native recently finished his J.D/M.P.A at the University of Baltimore and now Politickin’ P is giving his listeners a lesson with his upcoming album,  Crate Court Music: The Vanburen Years. On this album, which will be released at the end of this month, Politickin’ P raps about his childhood in Wilmington, DE and the struggles and accomplishments that has made him the man that he is today. With his last two albums, Compasslife: I-95 Music and The Ballot: Kill the Plutocracy have generated over 3,500 albums and singles sold. Politickin’ P is making moves and moving mountains as he climbs to the top in hip hop industry.

I got a chance to do a follow-up on Poltickin’ P to talk about  Crate Court Music album,  his collaborations and his traveling experience.

Lawanda Johnson: So it has been a while since we last talked. What’s going on in the life of Politickin’ P?

Politickin’ P: Well I graduated from the University of Baltimore Law School in December of 2011.  I’ve relocated to Atlanta where I’ve been working on my new project Crate Court Music at the legendary Hot Beats Recording Studio. 

LJ: You have two recent albums completed, The Ballot: Kill The Plutocracy was released last year and now  Crate Court Music will be releasing soon. That is a great accomplishment. Talk more on your experience recording those albums. How are they different or similar? Have you grown as an artist/songwriter? 

PP:Well Actually 2011 saw Politickin P release two albums, Compasslife I-95 Music and The Ballot Kill The Plutocracy.  Compasslife was a more eclectic album. The Ballot was more political and militant.  Crate Court Music takes me back to my roots and childhood growing up on 5th and Vanburen Street in Wilmington, DE.  It correlates my upbringing to the successful endeavors of my collegiate and adult years.

LJ: Once again, congratulation on The Crate Court Music album, what can your fans expect from this album? What inspired you to name the album as its title? 

PP: Thanks! I appreciate the support, basically Crate Court Music came about because a friend of mine told me I needed to tell our story, the Wilmington DE story.  When we where younger we’d attempted to play ball with the older guys and they’d deny us that opportunity.  We decided to get a crate from the cover store and nail it to a tree to play the game we love.  It’s that feeling of perseverance and innovation that Crate Court Music depicts.

LJ: Who are some of the artists such as J. Nicole, Ready Writerz, Milo Maestro that you worked with on this album? What was it like to colloborate with them? 

PP: Working with J.Nicole and The Readywriterz was once again a blessing our chemistry is just unreal.  Milo is my new bro; he’s a creative and multi talented songwriter, vocalist, and emcee. He defines art.  Our record Black Hoodie Syndrome will change the world.  The production on this album comes from Readywriterz, TJS, Sean Divine, Gizmodavillian, Gene, Bravestarr

LJ: What are some of your favorite tracks off the album and why?

PP: My favorite tracks are Black Hoodie Syndrome, Rise & Shine, Westside Forever, No Stormins, and Can’t Stop Mine. Each Song is just a vivid story of my life. I’m just so excited about this project.

LJ: What is one valuable message that you would like to spread to your fans, hip hop lovers, and the younger generation?

PP: Just become more ideologically sound, be a willing learner, value your education, become politically active, and never allow anyone to tell you information without questioning or doing research yourself; that’s how we prevent disenfranchisement.

LJ: I know that you have been travelling and doing shows. Talk more about your experiences and accomplishments.
 
PP: Yes so far in 2012 we’ve done 20 shows, we plan on hitting the road a lot more I can be booked or requested at agreatdayformusic@gmail.com .The road experience is invaluable because you get to see how folks respond to your music.  Being that the south is more call in response with hard drums oriented, my sound is quite different, but people have been embracing it which makes me very proud.  I had a MTV2 Commercial, which also was a huge career moment.

LJ: Who are some of you favorite artists right now in the game?

PP: Kendrick Lamar, Big Krit, Currensy, Nas (so glad he’s back), Nipsey Hussle, J.Cole, Common, T.I., Young Jeezy, B.o.b., to name a few.

LJ: What’s next for Politickin’ P?

PP: Crate Court Music will drop 5.29.12 via iTunes & www.politickinp.com, a bunch a shows, Im always working on my next project entitled “Politics As Usual”, trying to receive radio play, and a few other things in the works.

For more information, check out Politickin’ P on his website, www.politickinp.com.

Marie Symeou, from North London is the author of FROZEN IN TIME, a historical vampire fantasy set in Ancient Greece, which is the first book in her Blood of Gods Trilogy. Today she tells us all about her trilogy.

Tiffany Lovering: Tell us a little about yourself and how you started writing…

Marie Symeou: I have been an avid reader all my life, and as a child I loved to write short stories and make little books and magazines. As a dreamer, I find it hard to deal with real life and so I enjoy losing myself in music and writing and creating my own fantasy worlds. It is what I’ve always done. I write mostly historical fantasy and paranormal novels, and am hoping to break into screenwriting one day. I am also a singer/songwriter.

TL: Your book, Frozen in Time, is the first in the Blood of Gods Trilogy.
What is the trilogy about?

MS: At the heart of this trilogy are twin souls Philip and the wife he lost in childbirth, Amaranthea. After her death, Philip joins the army of Alexander the Great and here he meets the evil vampire Scylla, disguised as Amaranthea.She seduces him and makes him a vampire. The trilogy follows Philip as he tries to escape Scylla and whilst doing so he meets various other incarnated souls, both in this world and in the otherworldly realm of Demar.

In Frozen In Time, Philip is set a task by Zeus to destroy the evil Scylla. This now becomes Philip’s quest, as well as his search for Amaranthea’s soul. However, it appears that perhaps their relationship will always be doomed. And since he is now an immortal vampire, Philip has to question whether to give immortality to the ones he loves, or watch them grow old and die.

The trilogy is populated by Greek gods and goddesses, sorceresses, monsters and nature spirits and takes place over many time periods. Book 1 is set in ancient Greece, Book 2 is set in the Middle Ages and Book 3 is set in Regency times.

TL: What inspired you to write the book?

MS: My love of vampires, fairies, mythology, history as well as other interests such as reincarnation and the supernatural.

TL: Do you base your characters on people you know?

MS: No, not in the trilogy. Though some famous historical figures do make an appearance.

TL: Who is your favorite character and why?

In Frozen In Time I suppose it’s my lead vampire character Philip. I like the fact that he is so ancient so he can travel through time and evolve with history.Through his eyes I get to time travel with him and gain so much knowledge with the research I have to do. There are so many possibilities with him. He is very good-looking too and makes a great companion!

TL: When do you expect to release Book 2?

MS: I am hoping to release Book 2 in late summer.

TL: What has been you most memorable moment as an author so far?

MS: The feedback from readers. It’s great to know some people actually like what I write and are looking forward to the next book. It’s what keeps me motivated to write more.

TL: Thank you so much for joining me today. Leave us with where to find you…

Website: http://www.mariesymeou.com
Blog: http://www.marie-deepthinker.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Symeou-Author-Singer/119520001398734
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/marie_p_s

Summer is coming soon. Summer is for  fun, comfy, and bright styles that serve to freshen up your fashion palette. Sadly, in the midst of the wardrobe turnover some trends tend to keep past their expiration date. I’m going to cover what  needs to be detoxed from your closet and the appropriate, chic solution. But feel no shame. I still have a pair of uggs and feather earrings in my closet that I can’t seem to let go. Just know that the first step to style recovery is awareness. I would recommend a fashion therapist to guide you through the rest of the steps but most of them are awful people that cry alone in their luxury cars, binging on fast food. This has been proven on Conan O’ Brien. ‘Enough said.

Feather Anything (earrings, extensions, etc.)

Last summer the bohemian, tribal designs were a hit with laid-back trendsetters and feather accessories soon followed. What started out as a cute idea soon grew into a horrible monster of a trend that wouldn’t fade. Feather extensions and accessories were fresh for a time but these birdy additions are going to look stale fast with the competing flashiness of 2012 spring/summer fashion.

Solution:  If you can’t let go of a few feather in your cap then the roaring 20s’ fashion displayed at Ralph Lauren this season would suit your taste. A feather tucked into a lace skull cap or in a boa wrap give a slinky flapper outfit a bit of pizazz.

50′s Inspired Fashion

Vintage vixens, hipsters, and Mad Men fans couldn’t get enough of the pin-up girl sweetness and class of fifties fashion. Sadly, another era is creeping up to leave this classic statement in its shadow: the roaring twenties. The upcoming film adaptation of The Great Gatsby with Baz Luhrmann directing is getting designers, celebrities, and trendsetters excited everywhere.

Solution: I’m assuming you must be a vintage fan to wear this trend out this far so transitioning into the 20′s slinky, silky, glamorous dresses and accessories shouldn’t be too much of a pain. Start off with a drop-waist dress and a feminine, fitted hat with feminine details like lace, flowers, feathers, or peals and you should be on your way to the speakeasy days.

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