I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing in exchange for review.
I'll admit, when I first picked up the book, I thought I wouldn't like it. I'm not a big fan of mushy romance novels, but this story is actually more complex than that. The main character is Christy Miller, a highschool student who's gone to church her whole life but never truly understood what it means to be a Christian. That is, until she met Todd. Todd began as a love interest, but as the pair get to know each other, Todd and his friends share with Christy about what being a Christian means.
Christy's struggles in the story are things real girls would experience, ranging from insecurity to peer pressure, and her emotions and reactions felt real. Her parents seemed like a real married couple with 2 kids. I feel like the author, Robin Jones Gunn, truly understands what it's like to be a teenager.
Overall the book is really good! I think I'd go out and buy it. In fact, I might go look at buying the next volume!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Getting to Know You, Learning to Love You!
I thought I'd tell you guys more about my original character, Karmin! The Marvel universe she lives in is a little bit of a twisted one. Besides having all of the Marvel characters as real people, media found in the real world also exists there. (Meaning I'm the writer; I'll do what I want!)
Now I don't own any of Marvel's material. I'm just a fan who's been inspired to write my own stories about these characters! (Karmin is mine, though.)
Karmin is a creation of Hydra, who grew her out of a test tube to become a master assassin. She was trained in several forms of martial arts, as well as street fighting. Her genetic composition allow her to rearrange her mass. That is to say, to take her bones and muscles and fat and all the other bits and change density, color, even chemical composition. When she takes the form of an existing person, she does not gain their memories.
Because she is a "test tube baby" and a former weapon of Hydra; there's a lot of details missing about her past. She doesn't remember Hydra, because the accident that released Hydra control of her also wiped her memory.
She's roughly 5' 2". She's got brown hair and she changes the length daily. Her eye color tends to change; that's the one detail she can never remember about herself, so when she morphs, she forgets to set her eye color right again. She withholds her weight, but most place it at 130.
Her code name is Shadow; her real name is Karmin. She doesn't have a last name. Her date of birth is unknown; she picked June 13th to celebrate. She's approximately 22. It's assumed her "birthplace" is somewhere in Europe, but she says it's Chicago.
She's currently living in New York with the Avengers. She's under the direct command of Nick Fury, who pays her in bagels and iTunes cards.
Her favorites list includes: Hipster music, bagels, talking with Bruce, pranking Tony with Clint, watching Russian spy films with Natasha, reading, and painting.
She's very loyal, has horrible sleeping habits, and is possessive of her stuff and her teammates.
I hope you liked reading this! Maybe sometime this week, I'll post a drawing of her. Leave comments to tell me what you think! Ok, that's it for now, I'm going to go watch Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Now I don't own any of Marvel's material. I'm just a fan who's been inspired to write my own stories about these characters! (Karmin is mine, though.)
Karmin is a creation of Hydra, who grew her out of a test tube to become a master assassin. She was trained in several forms of martial arts, as well as street fighting. Her genetic composition allow her to rearrange her mass. That is to say, to take her bones and muscles and fat and all the other bits and change density, color, even chemical composition. When she takes the form of an existing person, she does not gain their memories.
Because she is a "test tube baby" and a former weapon of Hydra; there's a lot of details missing about her past. She doesn't remember Hydra, because the accident that released Hydra control of her also wiped her memory.
She's roughly 5' 2". She's got brown hair and she changes the length daily. Her eye color tends to change; that's the one detail she can never remember about herself, so when she morphs, she forgets to set her eye color right again. She withholds her weight, but most place it at 130.
Her code name is Shadow; her real name is Karmin. She doesn't have a last name. Her date of birth is unknown; she picked June 13th to celebrate. She's approximately 22. It's assumed her "birthplace" is somewhere in Europe, but she says it's Chicago.
She's currently living in New York with the Avengers. She's under the direct command of Nick Fury, who pays her in bagels and iTunes cards.
Her favorites list includes: Hipster music, bagels, talking with Bruce, pranking Tony with Clint, watching Russian spy films with Natasha, reading, and painting.
She's very loyal, has horrible sleeping habits, and is possessive of her stuff and her teammates.
I hope you liked reading this! Maybe sometime this week, I'll post a drawing of her. Leave comments to tell me what you think! Ok, that's it for now, I'm going to go watch Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Christmas Photos!
Every year, the youth group I'm in goes and visits the big city nearby to bond with our small groups. I took some photos of the area and edited them to look super cool!
I hope you liked the pictures! I took all of these pictures with my camera phone and used pixlr.com to edit them!
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| It looks like the epicenter of some evil force! |
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| I love the old turrets. |
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| This one was edited to accent the snowflake lights. |
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| My friends and I bought plushies! |
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| This one wasn't edited; it was dark and foggy and the building looked awesome! |
Thursday, December 6, 2012
A Shadow In A Dark Room
This is the origin story for my original character, Karmin. She's a super-mutant set in the Marvel universe. However, you'll be able to understand the story whether or not you are familiar with Marvel stories.
There's one swear word. Sue me!
“Ugh, my head. Why does it hurt so badly?” I opened my eyes and looked around. It looked like I was in a parking garage or something. It was dark and dinghy and overall shady looking. All I know is I've got to get out of here. I got up and started moving towards the only door. I prayed it was the exit. I made my way out onto the street and started walking. As I looked around, I saw a couple signs that said “Chicago.” I guess that’s where I am.
Just then, I heard a shout behind me. “Hey baby!” a sleazy voice called out. Great. Exactly what I need right now. Some lonely bum chasing after me! “HEY!” he shouted again, getting angrier. I need to get away now, so I picked up the pace and walked faster. He started walking faster too. I couldn't keep running; he’d catch me before too long. I turned around and faced him and put my fists up and got ready to throw some punches. He came at me swinging for my face so I ducked and punched him in the stomach. He growled and pulled a switchblade out of his back pocket; he lunged at me and I grabbed his arm. All I could do was shout “STOP!” As soon as the word left my mouth, he dropped his knife and turned away with a very odd look in his eye. I was confused but took my chance. I grabbed his knife and left.
After walking for a while, I decided I needed to stop somewhere and think. I dug around in my coat pockets and found a credit card. It must have been mine. I went and got a hotel room, just to give myself some privacy and a place to think. I sat down on the bed and started digging through my pockets. There sure were a lot of pockets. Besides the knife and the credit card, I found $100 cash, some lipstick, and a cellphone with a dead battery. I’d have to find a charger for it. For now I had to try and remember the last thing that happened before I woke up, but try as I may, I couldn't remember anything. I couldn't remember anything. I can’t remember my name, or where I grew up, or what my parents looked like or if I had parents at all. Now I was really scared. In the process of my spazzing, my coat sleeve shifted and revealed a white, plastic wristband. I looked down at it. It was a hospital tag; the label said my name was Karmin. Well, that was helpful. I know my name, at least. It didn't list any last name, though, which seemed strange to me. Just then, there was a knock at my door. How did anyone know I was here? I walked to the door and checked through the little peephole. The man on the other side was waiting patiently, like he was sure I was here. He had dark, short cut hair and pale skin, but his trench coat covered his frame, so he seemed thicker than he might have been. Hesitantly, I opened the door. “Karmin! I've been looking everywhere for you!” he cried, “You woke up from your coma and completely flipped. You ran out of the hospital and disappeared.” Something felt off about this. I asked him, “Just who are you, exactly?” He sighed and spoke softly, “I’m your brother, Karmin.”
I didn't believe him for a second. Nothing about his story lined up. If I really did run out of a hospital, what am I doing fully dressed with a credit card and a cellphone in my pocket. There’s no way I’m going with this guy, whoever he is. I needed to get out of this hotel, but he was standing in my doorway. I was going to have to attack him if I wanted to get away. I faked like I was going to let him in and when he was distracted; I punched him square in the nose. He shouted, and covered his face. When he pulled his hands away, they were covered in blood. He growled and punched me in the stomach. I lost my breath, but I used the momentum from the punch to swing around and snap-kick him in the ribs. I heard a sharp crack and he doubled over. He didn't stay down long enough for me to escape. He hopped back up quick and punched at my face. His fist didn't connect; I rolled backwards in time to avoid the blow.
The moves I was pulling weren't the kind of thing most people could do. It felt to me like I had to have been trained to fight like this. But why do I remember how to fight? Why do I even know?
While I was busy thinking, the man was busy fighting. He punched at my face again, and this time he hit me. I felt my nose break and start bleeding, but I couldn't let that faze me; I had to keep fighting. I had lost any sort of advantage. He kept landing blow after blow and knocking me farther into the room. I stepped back and tried to gain my balance but before I could, he struck one final blow, and I broke through the glass window behind me.
I tried to grab the ledge as I fell, but I couldn't reach it. I was falling five stories toward the ground. Now would be a great time to be able to fly. Or at least the ability to recall my life so it can flash before my eyes. I tensed up, ready to hit the ground, when, I didn't. I was hovering a few inches above the ground. I dropped to my feet and looked around. The crowds that had formed started clapping. I guess they must have thought it was a publicity stunt. Man, my hands felt heavy; I looked down at them. I had on gloves of some sort; made of a heavy gold and red metal with big glowing circles in the center of the palms. I was wearing matching boots, too. Now I’m sure I didn't fall out of the window wearing these. I better start running though, the man in my room is going to be looking for my guts splattered on the ground and I don’t want to be around when he doesn't find them.
I ran for nearly an hour and I couldn't keep going. I looked around as I stopped to catch my breath. Right across the street from me was a billboard with the image of a sharp, handsome man in a red and gold robotic suit with the same gloves I was wearing! I looked at my hands; the gloves weren't there anymore. I looked at the board again; below the picture were the words “Tony Stark IS Iron Man”. Whoever Tony Stark was, he might have a clue about my current situation. After all, he’s connected to the tech that saved my life. I need to find more information about him. A mall might be a good place to check. He’s got to be a part of pop culture if he’s going around exposing any sort of secret identity.
I hailed a cab, because I was way too tired to keep running. “Where to?” the cabbie croaked. “The nearest shopping center, please” I replied. There was no guarantee I’d find any answers there; I might as well not even go, but it felt good to get off the streets. The way my day’s been going though, I wouldn't be surprised if the cabbie pulled a gun on me.
I made it to the mall without being shot at, so I handed the cab driver a bill and told him to keep the change. I walked in and looked around; I had no idea where to start. There weren't any newsstands or any place to purchase a magazine. I walked towards the restrooms, figuring there might be a map of the mall close by. There wasn't. Man, I’m so stuck. How do I go forward from here? All I've managed to do today is stay alive and learn my name. I walked into the bathroom, and stood in front of the mirror. I didn't even know what I looked like until now. Short, stocky, brunette and very plain; I’m not much to look at. My face looked off-kilter with my nose being broken. As I stared into the mirror something started shifting. I blinked, thinking my eyes were tricking my brain, but no, my nose really was changing shape! It straightened out, and the tip began to curve up. I audibly gasped! The dried blood on my face began to absorb back into my skin. How was this possible? Just then, a stall behind me opened and an official looking woman with long, wavy brown hair and a blue uniform walked out. She pulled out a walkie-talkie and radioed, “We've got her, Sir.” I turned to run, but another woman was standing behind me with a rag in her hand. She held it up to my face and…and…a…
Shit. Twice today, I wake up and I've got no idea where I am. I look around. There’s a black man sitting in the corner of the room. He’s bald and has an eye patch, like he’s a freaking pirate. I sit up; there’s nothing holding me down to the table, that’s a good sign. Then the man spoke, “There’s no point in trying to run. You’re on the S.H.E.I.L.D. Helicarrier, 6,000 feet up in the air. We’re currently transporting 300 agents as well as a few superheroes and a demigod.” “Well, when you put it that way,” I snarled, “I might as well stay put.” “Good to see you’re thinking straight,” he carried on, “My name is Director Fury, I’m the commander of S.H.E.I.L.D. and WE have been looking for you for a long time, Karmin. You blend into a crowd like a shadow in a dark room. Now you must be wondering why we've been looking for you?”
By this time, I was curious, so I answered, “Yeah, that’d be nice to know. And how did you find me?” “I've got agents all over the United States, and you fell out of a 5th story window wearing the Iron Man gear. Once we knew you were in Chicago, you weren't hard to find. As for why we tried to find you, that all goes back to Iron Man. Karmin, you were created by a terrorist group bent on world domination called Hydra. You were their master assassin; you are capable of astounding things. You were dispatched to Chicago to kill Tony Stark, the Iron Man creator and operator. Tony’s spoiled a good number of Hydra’s plans and they wanted him out of the way, but while you were doing your job, something happened that knocked you unconscious and undid all of the brainwashing Hydra subjected you to.” “How can I be an assassin? I’m short, and busty, and unwieldy. Fighters are light and skilled and sneaky.” “But that’s the trick up your sleeve, you look normal but at a moment’s notice you can become someone else altogether. However you’re an excellent fighter in your default form. You can change your appearance in any way you choose, which is why you were so hard to catch. You can also read minds, so you always knew where our agents were before they got close enough to shoot. We've also speculated that you can control people with the aid of physical contact, but we've never confirmed this.” He stopped speaking and looked me in the eye. I looked down at my hands. These hands have killed. This can’t be true, but it all feels familiar. As I stared down something bubbled onto the surface of my skin. A skull with snakes spreading out and around it. “What is this?” I asked him, “Is this something to do with Hydra?” “Yes,” he replied, “It’s their symbol; all of their agents bear that symbol.” It had to be true. I've never seen this symbol until now; I couldn't have just made it up. “Why are you telling me all this?” I asked. “Because I’m prepared to make a deal with you. You've killed a lot of people and cost me a lot of good agents, but I’m willing to offer you a chance to redeem yourself. If you work for S.H.E.I.L.D. you won’t serve time, you will be trained by the best, and we will work with you to expand your abilities.” “And if I refuse?” “We take you prisoner, and you’ll be locked into The Raft with all of the other mutant villains.” “I don’t want to be a killer. I want to redeem myself. I’ll come work for you.” I sighed. I’d just put my life into his hands. He smiled, “Good choice, now let’s get you down to medical to make sure there’s nothing wrong with your head. You’ll need to pick a code name now that you’re a S.H.E.I.L.D. operative, by the way.” “How about Shadow?” I said as I walked along side Dir. Fury.
There's one swear word. Sue me!
“Ugh, my head. Why does it hurt so badly?” I opened my eyes and looked around. It looked like I was in a parking garage or something. It was dark and dinghy and overall shady looking. All I know is I've got to get out of here. I got up and started moving towards the only door. I prayed it was the exit. I made my way out onto the street and started walking. As I looked around, I saw a couple signs that said “Chicago.” I guess that’s where I am.
Just then, I heard a shout behind me. “Hey baby!” a sleazy voice called out. Great. Exactly what I need right now. Some lonely bum chasing after me! “HEY!” he shouted again, getting angrier. I need to get away now, so I picked up the pace and walked faster. He started walking faster too. I couldn't keep running; he’d catch me before too long. I turned around and faced him and put my fists up and got ready to throw some punches. He came at me swinging for my face so I ducked and punched him in the stomach. He growled and pulled a switchblade out of his back pocket; he lunged at me and I grabbed his arm. All I could do was shout “STOP!” As soon as the word left my mouth, he dropped his knife and turned away with a very odd look in his eye. I was confused but took my chance. I grabbed his knife and left.
After walking for a while, I decided I needed to stop somewhere and think. I dug around in my coat pockets and found a credit card. It must have been mine. I went and got a hotel room, just to give myself some privacy and a place to think. I sat down on the bed and started digging through my pockets. There sure were a lot of pockets. Besides the knife and the credit card, I found $100 cash, some lipstick, and a cellphone with a dead battery. I’d have to find a charger for it. For now I had to try and remember the last thing that happened before I woke up, but try as I may, I couldn't remember anything. I couldn't remember anything. I can’t remember my name, or where I grew up, or what my parents looked like or if I had parents at all. Now I was really scared. In the process of my spazzing, my coat sleeve shifted and revealed a white, plastic wristband. I looked down at it. It was a hospital tag; the label said my name was Karmin. Well, that was helpful. I know my name, at least. It didn't list any last name, though, which seemed strange to me. Just then, there was a knock at my door. How did anyone know I was here? I walked to the door and checked through the little peephole. The man on the other side was waiting patiently, like he was sure I was here. He had dark, short cut hair and pale skin, but his trench coat covered his frame, so he seemed thicker than he might have been. Hesitantly, I opened the door. “Karmin! I've been looking everywhere for you!” he cried, “You woke up from your coma and completely flipped. You ran out of the hospital and disappeared.” Something felt off about this. I asked him, “Just who are you, exactly?” He sighed and spoke softly, “I’m your brother, Karmin.”
I didn't believe him for a second. Nothing about his story lined up. If I really did run out of a hospital, what am I doing fully dressed with a credit card and a cellphone in my pocket. There’s no way I’m going with this guy, whoever he is. I needed to get out of this hotel, but he was standing in my doorway. I was going to have to attack him if I wanted to get away. I faked like I was going to let him in and when he was distracted; I punched him square in the nose. He shouted, and covered his face. When he pulled his hands away, they were covered in blood. He growled and punched me in the stomach. I lost my breath, but I used the momentum from the punch to swing around and snap-kick him in the ribs. I heard a sharp crack and he doubled over. He didn't stay down long enough for me to escape. He hopped back up quick and punched at my face. His fist didn't connect; I rolled backwards in time to avoid the blow.
The moves I was pulling weren't the kind of thing most people could do. It felt to me like I had to have been trained to fight like this. But why do I remember how to fight? Why do I even know?
While I was busy thinking, the man was busy fighting. He punched at my face again, and this time he hit me. I felt my nose break and start bleeding, but I couldn't let that faze me; I had to keep fighting. I had lost any sort of advantage. He kept landing blow after blow and knocking me farther into the room. I stepped back and tried to gain my balance but before I could, he struck one final blow, and I broke through the glass window behind me.
I tried to grab the ledge as I fell, but I couldn't reach it. I was falling five stories toward the ground. Now would be a great time to be able to fly. Or at least the ability to recall my life so it can flash before my eyes. I tensed up, ready to hit the ground, when, I didn't. I was hovering a few inches above the ground. I dropped to my feet and looked around. The crowds that had formed started clapping. I guess they must have thought it was a publicity stunt. Man, my hands felt heavy; I looked down at them. I had on gloves of some sort; made of a heavy gold and red metal with big glowing circles in the center of the palms. I was wearing matching boots, too. Now I’m sure I didn't fall out of the window wearing these. I better start running though, the man in my room is going to be looking for my guts splattered on the ground and I don’t want to be around when he doesn't find them.
I ran for nearly an hour and I couldn't keep going. I looked around as I stopped to catch my breath. Right across the street from me was a billboard with the image of a sharp, handsome man in a red and gold robotic suit with the same gloves I was wearing! I looked at my hands; the gloves weren't there anymore. I looked at the board again; below the picture were the words “Tony Stark IS Iron Man”. Whoever Tony Stark was, he might have a clue about my current situation. After all, he’s connected to the tech that saved my life. I need to find more information about him. A mall might be a good place to check. He’s got to be a part of pop culture if he’s going around exposing any sort of secret identity.
I hailed a cab, because I was way too tired to keep running. “Where to?” the cabbie croaked. “The nearest shopping center, please” I replied. There was no guarantee I’d find any answers there; I might as well not even go, but it felt good to get off the streets. The way my day’s been going though, I wouldn't be surprised if the cabbie pulled a gun on me.
I made it to the mall without being shot at, so I handed the cab driver a bill and told him to keep the change. I walked in and looked around; I had no idea where to start. There weren't any newsstands or any place to purchase a magazine. I walked towards the restrooms, figuring there might be a map of the mall close by. There wasn't. Man, I’m so stuck. How do I go forward from here? All I've managed to do today is stay alive and learn my name. I walked into the bathroom, and stood in front of the mirror. I didn't even know what I looked like until now. Short, stocky, brunette and very plain; I’m not much to look at. My face looked off-kilter with my nose being broken. As I stared into the mirror something started shifting. I blinked, thinking my eyes were tricking my brain, but no, my nose really was changing shape! It straightened out, and the tip began to curve up. I audibly gasped! The dried blood on my face began to absorb back into my skin. How was this possible? Just then, a stall behind me opened and an official looking woman with long, wavy brown hair and a blue uniform walked out. She pulled out a walkie-talkie and radioed, “We've got her, Sir.” I turned to run, but another woman was standing behind me with a rag in her hand. She held it up to my face and…and…a…
Shit. Twice today, I wake up and I've got no idea where I am. I look around. There’s a black man sitting in the corner of the room. He’s bald and has an eye patch, like he’s a freaking pirate. I sit up; there’s nothing holding me down to the table, that’s a good sign. Then the man spoke, “There’s no point in trying to run. You’re on the S.H.E.I.L.D. Helicarrier, 6,000 feet up in the air. We’re currently transporting 300 agents as well as a few superheroes and a demigod.” “Well, when you put it that way,” I snarled, “I might as well stay put.” “Good to see you’re thinking straight,” he carried on, “My name is Director Fury, I’m the commander of S.H.E.I.L.D. and WE have been looking for you for a long time, Karmin. You blend into a crowd like a shadow in a dark room. Now you must be wondering why we've been looking for you?”
By this time, I was curious, so I answered, “Yeah, that’d be nice to know. And how did you find me?” “I've got agents all over the United States, and you fell out of a 5th story window wearing the Iron Man gear. Once we knew you were in Chicago, you weren't hard to find. As for why we tried to find you, that all goes back to Iron Man. Karmin, you were created by a terrorist group bent on world domination called Hydra. You were their master assassin; you are capable of astounding things. You were dispatched to Chicago to kill Tony Stark, the Iron Man creator and operator. Tony’s spoiled a good number of Hydra’s plans and they wanted him out of the way, but while you were doing your job, something happened that knocked you unconscious and undid all of the brainwashing Hydra subjected you to.” “How can I be an assassin? I’m short, and busty, and unwieldy. Fighters are light and skilled and sneaky.” “But that’s the trick up your sleeve, you look normal but at a moment’s notice you can become someone else altogether. However you’re an excellent fighter in your default form. You can change your appearance in any way you choose, which is why you were so hard to catch. You can also read minds, so you always knew where our agents were before they got close enough to shoot. We've also speculated that you can control people with the aid of physical contact, but we've never confirmed this.” He stopped speaking and looked me in the eye. I looked down at my hands. These hands have killed. This can’t be true, but it all feels familiar. As I stared down something bubbled onto the surface of my skin. A skull with snakes spreading out and around it. “What is this?” I asked him, “Is this something to do with Hydra?” “Yes,” he replied, “It’s their symbol; all of their agents bear that symbol.” It had to be true. I've never seen this symbol until now; I couldn't have just made it up. “Why are you telling me all this?” I asked. “Because I’m prepared to make a deal with you. You've killed a lot of people and cost me a lot of good agents, but I’m willing to offer you a chance to redeem yourself. If you work for S.H.E.I.L.D. you won’t serve time, you will be trained by the best, and we will work with you to expand your abilities.” “And if I refuse?” “We take you prisoner, and you’ll be locked into The Raft with all of the other mutant villains.” “I don’t want to be a killer. I want to redeem myself. I’ll come work for you.” I sighed. I’d just put my life into his hands. He smiled, “Good choice, now let’s get you down to medical to make sure there’s nothing wrong with your head. You’ll need to pick a code name now that you’re a S.H.E.I.L.D. operative, by the way.” “How about Shadow?” I said as I walked along side Dir. Fury.
So this blog will be where I'll post book and album reviews, nerdy pictures I happen to like, stories about my life and stories I've written. I hope you'll have a good time reading my blog!
So a little about me: I'm a big nerd. I like Doctor Who, Supernatural, Sherlock and The Avengers. My favorite types of music are Classic Rock, Oldies, Ska and Alternative. I'm on the AV team at my church and I also teach little kids on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. I guess that's it for now! Bye!
So a little about me: I'm a big nerd. I like Doctor Who, Supernatural, Sherlock and The Avengers. My favorite types of music are Classic Rock, Oldies, Ska and Alternative. I'm on the AV team at my church and I also teach little kids on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. I guess that's it for now! Bye!
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