Happy Monday, everyone! Today's puzzle was constructed by a Monday-favorite constructor, Janice Luttrell.
Theme: Lob-Stars
Lobsters are the stars of this puzzle. Let's look at the themed entries and see why.
17 Across. *Vintage spot for a bubble bath: CLAW FOOT TUB. 
27 Across. *Undertaking that could have a good or bad outcome: ROLL OF THE DICE. This idiom comes from the idea that one rolls dice in a game of chance.
<This one was my favorite themer because ROLL felt the most transformed from this clue to the reveal.>
 |
| Am I alone in thinking that this disembodied hand is a bit creepy? |
48 Across. *House pet that oinks, familiarly: POT-BELLIED PIG.
64. The "surf" of surf and turf, often, or what the first word of the answer to each starred clue can be: LOBSTER TAIL.
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| ...not in my house! |
64. The "surf" of surf and turf, often, or what the first word of the answer to each starred clue can be: LOBSTER TAIL.
Surf and turf is a meal which includes seafood and (usually) red meat. This reveal is saying that the seafood side of a surf and turf dish is often LOBSTER TAIL. Additionally, the first words of the three themed answers can be behind (at the TAIL end) of the word LOBSTER, giving us LOBSTER CLAW, LOBSTER ROLL, and LOBSTER POT (trap). 
We have more clues to review so let's get cracking...
Across:
1. Prohibited by social custom: TABOO. I'm not touching this one with a ten-foot pole.
6. Collect over time: AMASS. help for those who know someone with a hoarding disorder
11. "WandaVision" actress Dennings: KAT. her IMDb page
14. Hawaiian greeting: ALOHA.
Aloha 'Oe is a Hawaiian folk song covered by many artists.
The title means "farewell to thee." (Yes, ALOHA can mean either "hello" or "goodbye".)
Actress Tia Carrere sings this version, accompanied by guitarist Daniel Ho.
15. "It's not just you": ME, TOO. I first filled "It's me," like the famous break-up line, "It's not you, it's me."
16. Oral health org.: ADA. American Dental Association
19. Director Howard: RON. Top 10 Ron Howard Movies
20. London art gallery: TATE. This is a 3-minute walk-through video.
21. Delta rival renamed in 1997: USAIR. Delta helped us know that we needed an airline name.
22. Picnic spot: PARK.
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| Seinfeld character George Costanza |
19. Director Howard: RON. Top 10 Ron Howard Movies
20. London art gallery: TATE. This is a 3-minute walk-through video.
21. Delta rival renamed in 1997: USAIR. Delta helped us know that we needed an airline name.
 |
| USAir changed its name to US Airways in 1997 as part of a rebranding plan. |
22. Picnic spot: PARK.
Madmen 1960's family picnic scene in a PARK (1:05 min.)
Watch what they do with their litter at the end.
Was this behavior ever OK? It is completely TABOO today.
23. "You really __ us down": LET.
25. Channel changers: REMOTES. aka clickers
32. Festive night, often: EVE.
33. Big name in sneakers: NIKE. This is the trailer for a 2023 film about how NIKE introduced the Air Jordan basketball shoe in 1984-85. 👍👍
34. Tear conduits: DUCTS.
37. Three __ salad: picnic staple with legumes: BEAN.
39. Works hard: TOILS.
42. "Pygmalion" playwright George Bernard __: SHAW. My Fair Lady was based on this play.
43. "Star Wars" prequel series starring Diego Luna: ANDOR. Andor is a 2022 Disney+ TV series that tells the story leading up to the movie, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016).
45. Many a black-clad teen: GOTH.
47. __Clean: laundry brand: OXI. 
52. Expanse for clear sailing: OPEN SEA.
54. Pt. of TGIF: FRI.
55. Glass piece: PANE.
56. Ruffle: FRILL. Think of an adornment on a garment.
59. Stately shade trees: ELMS.
63. List-shortening abbreviation: ETC. ETC shortens a list because every item does not have to be included.
66. Outdoor gear co-op: REI. Since REI is a co-op, it is different from other sporting goods retailers (such as Dick's). Anyone can purchase a life-time membership for a one-time fee. Each year those with memberships get dividend credits towards future purchases. The credit amount is dependent on the total amount the individual spent on REI purchases in the previous year. Note that membership is not a requirement for making purchases at REI stores nor on their website.
67. With sincerity: TRULY.
68. Actress Davis with two Oscars: BETTE. Geena (also five letters) Davis is another actress with two Oscars -- 1989 Best Supporting Actress and 2020 Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
69. __-purpose flour: ALL. I buy the unbleached variety. 
70. Passover meal: SEDER. This piece discusses the connection between 69-Across and the Passover meal.
71. Money-grubber's trait: GREED. If only money-grubbers would put their efforts towards noble deeds....
Down:
25. Channel changers: REMOTES. aka clickers
32. Festive night, often: EVE.
33. Big name in sneakers: NIKE. This is the trailer for a 2023 film about how NIKE introduced the Air Jordan basketball shoe in 1984-85. 👍👍
34. Tear conduits: DUCTS.
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| I think I've mentioned before that eyeball anatomy details creep me out. |
37. Three __ salad: picnic staple with legumes: BEAN.
 |
| This one has four BEANs but I chose it because I like when wax BEANs are one of the BEANs. |
42. "Pygmalion" playwright George Bernard __: SHAW. My Fair Lady was based on this play.
43. "Star Wars" prequel series starring Diego Luna: ANDOR. Andor is a 2022 Disney+ TV series that tells the story leading up to the movie, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016).
45. Many a black-clad teen: GOTH.
54. Pt. of TGIF: FRI.
56. Ruffle: FRILL. Think of an adornment on a garment.
59. Stately shade trees: ELMS.
63. List-shortening abbreviation: ETC. ETC shortens a list because every item does not have to be included.
66. Outdoor gear co-op: REI. Since REI is a co-op, it is different from other sporting goods retailers (such as Dick's). Anyone can purchase a life-time membership for a one-time fee. Each year those with memberships get dividend credits towards future purchases. The credit amount is dependent on the total amount the individual spent on REI purchases in the previous year. Note that membership is not a requirement for making purchases at REI stores nor on their website.
67. With sincerity: TRULY.
68. Actress Davis with two Oscars: BETTE. Geena (also five letters) Davis is another actress with two Oscars -- 1989 Best Supporting Actress and 2020 Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
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| Geena Davis being honored in 2020. |
71. Money-grubber's trait: GREED. If only money-grubbers would put their efforts towards noble deeds....
Down:
1. Diplomatic skill: TACT.
2. Penne __ vodka: ALLA. This dish is served often at the XWD Cafe.
3. Bathtub toy: BOAT. Perhaps a tot or tyke or lad can play with one in a 17-A CLAW FOOT TUB.
4. "Can't win 'em all": OH, WELL.
5. Clumsy sort: OAF.
6. Singer-songwriter Tori: AMOS.
7. Self-referential: META. Def.: (adj.) Making or showing awareness of reference to oneself or to the activity that is taking place, especially in an ironic or comic way.
Below is a META comic with a META theme from XKCD.
8. Apparel: ATTIRE. and 18 Down. Apparel: OUTFIT.
9. Turned bad, as milk: SOURED.
10. Weep audibly: SOB. Don't SOB over SOURED milk. Actually ... the way the clues are written ... SOURED milk is over SOB.
11. Board-breaking move in a dojo: KARATE CHOP.
12. Be wild about: ADORE.
13. Sleeveless tops: TANKS.
8. Apparel: ATTIRE. and 18 Down. Apparel: OUTFIT.
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| I am currently reading a memoir about the 1930s. This apparel is from that decade. |
9. Turned bad, as milk: SOURED.
10. Weep audibly: SOB. Don't SOB over SOURED milk. Actually ... the way the clues are written ... SOURED milk is over SOB.
11. Board-breaking move in a dojo: KARATE CHOP.
12. Be wild about: ADORE.
13. Sleeveless tops: TANKS.
22. "Hocus __": 1993 film featuring a trio of witches: POCUS.
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| (l. to r.) Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, and Kathy Najimy |
24. Forever and a day: EON.
26. So-so, informally: MID. MIDdle
27. Country star McEntire: REBA.
28. Brick __ pizza: OVEN.
29. Writing instrument with an inapt name: LEAD PENCIL.
Here’s a myth buster: There is no lead in pencils. Rather, the core is made up of a non-toxic mineral called graphite. The common name “pencil lead” is due to an historic association with the stylus made of lead in ancient Roman times. source
30. Boxing ref's ruling: TKO. "Referee" is shortened, so is "Technical KnockOut".
31. "Firefly Lane" actress Katherine: HEIGL. (b. Nov. 24, 1978) She got her big acting break when she landed the role of Dr. Izzy Stevens on Grey's Anatomy (2005-2010).
35. Car for hire: TAXI.
36. Gulp from a bottle: SWIG.
38. "... said __ ever": NO ONE.
30. Boxing ref's ruling: TKO. "Referee" is shortened, so is "Technical KnockOut".
31. "Firefly Lane" actress Katherine: HEIGL. (b. Nov. 24, 1978) She got her big acting break when she landed the role of Dr. Izzy Stevens on Grey's Anatomy (2005-2010).
36. Gulp from a bottle: SWIG.
38. "... said __ ever": NO ONE.
40. Texter's giggle: LOL.
41. Suppress, as a yawn: STIFLE. This is a 2:31 min. comedy video by Daniel Koren on five ways to hide a yawn:
44. Some NFL blockers: Abbr.: RTS. Right Tackles are offensive lineman who block for the quarterback.
46. She/__ pronouns: HER.
49. "__ I forget ... ": BEFORE.
50. Tiny headphone: EARBUD.
 |
| Those of you who have wired EARBUDs get this one. |
51. Weight watcher: DIETER.
52. Verdi composition: OPERA.
La donna è mobile from Verdi's Rigoletto (with English subtitles)
53. "Lion" Oscar nominee Dev: PATEL. From JzB's January 15, 2025 blog:
Dev Patel [ b. 1990] is an English actor and filmmaker. He has received various accolades, including a British Academy Film Award and nominations for an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. Patel was included in Time's list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2024.
57. __ of Wight: ISLE.
58. Space travel meas.: LTYR. "Measure" is abbreviated, so is "light year". This is a measurement of distance -- not of the time required to travel a distance. Mars is 4.3 light minutes from Earth. On the other hand, Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system outside of our solar system, is 4.4 light years away. NASA 3-min. read
60. After curfew: LATE.
61. Tiny arachnid: MITE. All arachnids have eight legs and, unlike insects, do not have antennae. The bodies of arachnids are divided into two sections: the cephalothora (in front) and the abdomen. A tIck is another four-letter arachnid.
62. Iditarod vehicle: SLED.
64. Mil. officers: LTS. Military and Lieutenants -- not Left Tackles (See 44-Down.)
65. Biopic about a Supreme Court justice: RBG. This film came out in 2018.
Today's grid:
 |
| This is me in Key West in 2018. I remember DH wanted to share my key lime pie but I was feeling shellfish that day. |
...and that's the end of this tale. Have a great day everyone!
43 comments:
“Andor” was an unknown, but nothing else was in this typical Monday “walk in the park.” FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
The reveal remained unrevealed on this one, and d-o completely missed the theme. SOP, it seems. ANDOL/ANDOR? 64d clinched the decision. Thanx, Janice and sumdaze. This one was perfect for a Monday.
FIW, missing my SWAG @ ANDOo x oTS. No idea about the film, but the lineman had to be O, L or R. I thought there might be a James Bond subtheme, with "OO" in TABOO, ME TOO and NO ONE, so I ROLLed THE DICE with "O." Craps.
Toy BOAT is also a tongue twister used to improve enunciation.
"Ruffle" is also ceremonial drum play.
Remember the beautiful Lionel Richie love ballad TRULY?
ISLE of Wight is also a nearby county in Virginia, sporting one of the oldest county governments in the country. The county seat is Isle of Wight, but the largest community is Smithfield, of Smithfield meats fame.
Thanks to Janice for the fun Monday puzzle, and to sumdaze for another fun review. But remember, there is a money-grubber behind nearly all of those university, hospital and museum buildings that are named for someone.
Took 4:20 today to fish this one out.
I knew today's actress (Bette) and today's writer (Shaw).
I'd say this was, indeed, a SubG-endorsed walk in the park.
FIR. To me this seemed more Wednesday like than Monday. There was a smattering of proper names, some known and others not so much. But just a tiny taste of crunch to it.
The lobster reference was fun and the solve was somewhat rapid, but overall this was a very bland puzzle in my opinion.
Usual Monday. (Didn’t a POTUS say he’d provide “A LOBSTER in every POT” 🦞?? )
Inkover: meh/MID,
“Hocus” POCUS: a corruption of the Latin phrase intoned by the priest at the consecration: ”hoc est corpus meum”…
Gram had an original cast iron CLAWFOOTBATHTUB, it was ginormous or maybe being a tot it seems that way. I remember I had a BOAT called “Nauty-less” a soap dispenser (LIU just found it on ETSY! A 1960 Avon product!!)
” Edith strikes back!! “I told ya to STIFLE!!”
Big name in sneakers: The CIA? 😁
As usual, saw the WandaVision series but don’t remember the cast. “Firefly Lane”?… It’s always “Use a number 2 LEAD PENCIL” what about a number 1 and 3 onward(s)….
Was reviewing Sunday’s reveal and remarks . Someone said in the comments that “puns are the lowest form of humor” 🤨
So…. Bend over. 😆
As to the gospel parable about the poor “Widow’s MITE” : apparently she didn’t contribute two copper coins but a small spider 🕷️ 😳
The Yiddish version of the Hawaiian folk song, a lament, “ALOHA Oy”
Nestled at the bottom of a trunk. …. ATTIRE
Item denied in cheap coach seats ….. FRILL
Convenient corn cob holder … EARBUD
both or either …. ANDOR
Is that sleeveless top a gift for me? ____ !! … TANKS
Enjoy the week
Janice's puzzle today was pretty straightforward, with a clear theme. But what put it in a higher echelon to me is that Janice had the best interests of the solver in mind. For instance, she inflicted on us zero annoying overused staples like ACAI and OREO and ALE; and more important, she deftly scattered obscure words (there were a handful) all around the grid. So there were no Naticks.
I liked the theme. Interestingly, two of the theme answers were literal, but the third, ROLLOFTHEDICE, was idiomatic.
Thanks, sumdaze, for your helpful review, as well as the cute photo from the Keys. And thanks, Janice, for your refreshing and thoughtful Monday challenge.
Hi All!
Thanks Janice for a nice puzzle to introduce the work-week. Your theme is making look forward to dinner already.
Fun expo, sumdaze. You knots comic is why I went to the Beats by Dre cordless EARBUDs ;-)
WO: Meh -> MID
ESPs: KAT, ANDOR
Fav: ATTIRE | OUTFIT clechos
Today, my Mental Floss WOTD calendar tells me a group of tigers is called and ambush. A quick Google confirmed and added a streak of tigers is also acceptable.
I'll file that away with a murder of crows, et.al.
Great puns & All in the Family clip, Ray-O!
Cheers, -T
"A chicken in every pot" is mistakenly attributed to Herbert Hoover, in his 1928 campaign. It was actually the Republican party's slogan that year.
Good Morning:
What a clever theme and a well-hidden reveal, to boot! I agree that there was a bit of crunch for a Monday, but nothing that perps couldn’t resolve. My only nit is the overuse of fill-in-the-blanks clues for common, ordinary words such as Let, Bean, All, Oven, No One, Her, etc. This practice is not only annoying to the solver, but it diminishes the creative capability of the author, IMO.
Thanks, Janice, for a delightful take on one of my favorite foods 🦞 and thanks, sumdaze, for a delightful review. Enjoyed the Verdi and the Richie interludes and the Mad Men scene. You’re the cutest lobster I’ve ever seen!
Have a great day.
PSA - There are two types of rope construction, braided and twisted. By extension, most things like EAR BUDS, garden hoses and extension cords are managed like braded rope. You coil twisted rope in a circle, classically around your upper arm and wrist. If you do that with braided construction devices you will end up with a tangled mess. Braded lines and similar constructions want to be coiled in figure eights. (I didn't learn that from sailing, I learned it as an engineer in a TV station. Camera cables are thick, long and expensive. I was taught their husbandry as a new hire.)
this reminds me of a story...
And if you ever visit The Isle of Wight, be sure to take a ride on the chairlift to view the Needles.
Very nice recap Sumdaze. I guessed the R in Andor. It could have been Right Tackle, Left Tackle or even Nose Tackle. No problems otherwise. Meta was a learning moment.
And “a car in every backyard to boot”
🚗
Musings
-I mentioned recently that calling steak and shrimp “surf and turf” doesn’t cut it for me.
-AMASS: My sister is a hoarder and I have subtly and not so subtly offered to help her declutter but she just changes the subject. Their car has not been their garage in 20 years.
-NFL fans only – I wonder if anyone on the Buffalo Bills said that to Dalton Kincaid after the Chiefs game two Sundays ago.
-If you enjoyed My Fair Lady, you must see the 1938 movie Pygmalion which is the same story sans music. It is available all over the internet for free.
-It was kismet when Kim Carnes’ voice was chosen to sing Bette Davis Eyes
-My youngest daughter has tremendous TACT but her older sister is more like my mother
-APPAREL and OUTFIT – Will double knit bell bottoms ever come back into style? :-)
-HEIGL upset the Grey’s Anatomy show runner Shonda Rhimes and “Boom!” she was gone.
-NFL LT’s make the big money to protect the QB’s blindside.
-Lovely write-up Renee.
Fine Monday-level puzzle. Fun theme, I love LOBSTER, I have finally learned REI, no erasures, but, but, I did leave the unknown for me ANDOR without its last consonant. I should have tried to guess. Regardless, I’m quite happy this morning.
Thank you sumdaze, lots of good stuff.
Hola! Very little time as I have to meet my peeps for breakfast. Nice puzzle and easy solve. Thank you Janice and thank you, sumdaze. IMO, and remember I am a desert dweller, LOBSTER is way over rated. Without butter, it has no taste.
I've been to REI only to buy a gift for someone. i know Katherine HEIGL from the movie "One Hundred Dresses.
Have a wonderful day, everyone!
Dear friends, I have been away from The Corner for a while, caring for my wife who is very ill. She is undergoing aggressive treatment for an aggressive cancer which we only just discovered in November. (For you medical pros, it is hypopharyngeal carcinoma.) We have been spending most of our time working on getting her better and getting our affairs in order. There is so much to do.
On a technical note, it seems AT&T shut down my email when we upgraded from old DSL to broadband, and nobody seems to know how to restore it. So, my old email address, john-doering@att.net, no longer works. If any of you has that address in your contacts, please delete it. I can still be contacted at jcdoeringsr@alumni.stanford.edu.
Good wishes to you all.
But aren't nose tackles only on defense? But the clue could have been OT, offensive tackle. The Pro Bowl positions are only OTs and DTs. Guards too.
I believe it was "27 Dresses."
Inflation, am I right?
How dare you denigrate the "cockroach of the sea?" In addition to lobster's high cholesterol, butter makes the dish high in saturated fats! (This message brought to you by the College of American Cardiac Surgeons.)
Thank you, Jayce, for taking a moment of your precious time to check in with us. I do miss your comments. Please know that our hearts go out to you and your wife during this difficult time.
Jayce, so very sorry for what you and your wife have to endure. Yes so much to do during those trying times. She’s lucky to have á caring husband like you. Best wishes for á favorable outcome. .
H-Gary. I saw your LOBSTER comment yesterday and, having already solved today's puzzle, I thought you could do a Groundhog Day-style repeat today. We also recently talked about' rebranding' and 'Rigoletto'. Funny how that works.
Lucina. I connect Katherine Heigl with "27 Dresses", too. I also sometimes mix up the title with the well-known children's book, "The Hundred Dresses" by Eleanor Estes. It was published in 1944.
Wednesday-on-a-Monday this week, only due to my usual gripe: FAR too many names: 18. Fortunately, I only DNK 8, but as I have said before, with a name, you either know it or you don't. CWs are supposed to exercise your mind by making you use logic, plus be flexible mentally with multiple possible definitions/meanings for a clue. Not for names. And names like HEIGL just look so wrong, perps become suspect. O.K., off my soapbox. Other than the names, a nice CW, FIR in 14, more time than my typical Monday. I was finished with the fill before I looked for (and found) the theme. Thanx JL for a mostly fun and clever CW. Thanx too to sumdaze for the as always fun and informative write-up. I slept very poorly again last night. While trying to sleep, I wondered: Is someone who doesn't know how to milk a cow udderly useless?
-T. I have a book you might like -- "An Exaltation of Larks" by James Lipton (Yes, that guy from "Inside the Actors Studio". This book says a streak of tigers. Some of the other groups on that same page are an aarmory (yes, 2 a's) of aardvarks, a bloat of hippopotami, a totter of giraffes, and a prickle of porcupines. Fun stuff!
All the comments about ANDOR made me ask myself how I knew it. I realize now that I was confusing it with the planet Endor. Endor is the one where they did the filming at Redwoods National Forrest. The internet says, "There is no connection whatsoever between ANDOR and Endor". Ha! Every once in a while, getting something wrong helps me get something right.
Prayers and best wishes to you and your wife while you go through this chapter in your life.
Delightful Monday puzzle, many thanks, Janice. And Sumdaze, your comments are always helpful and a pleasure. Thank you, especially, for posting that lovely "Rigoletto" recording today.
Well, very few parts of that animal competition were TABOO, and so all the owners shouted "ME TOO," and they were greeted with ALOHA, as they brought in their critters. The two favorites were the POT-BELLIED PIG and the LOBSTER, of course, and the children just ADORED them. It didn't take a ROLL OF THE DICE to predict that they were going to win. As a prize, the little kids all fed the critters BEANS and other healthy animal food. When the competition was over, the owners took a TAXI to take a trip to the ocean, where they got on a BOAT and enjoyed a brief voyage on the OPEN SEA. A good day for both people and animals.
Have a great week coming up, everybody. And Jayce, I wish you and your wife an especially productive and good week.
Jayce - you have my/our prayers and thoughts as you go through this battle with the cancer with which your wife was diagnosed - be well and know your friends here at The Crossword Corner are thinking of you
Jayce - that's so sad to learn. Make sure to make time for self-care and feel free to come to The Corner if you need to vent or just escape. We'll all be thinking of you. -T
Joyce, best wishes and prayers for you and your wife in the dark of the storm.
Thanks sumdaze! Just added it to my Amazon cart. -T
Jayce, please know that you and your wife are in our thoughts and prayers. We’re here for you whenever you need us. 🙏🏻
Jayce- sorry to hear this news about your wife’s cancer. We have missed you here. Thanks for letting us know, and be assured that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this hard time.
So sorry to hear about your DW. With modern immune therapy combined with radiation, it is not hopeless. I'm sure all here on the blog are wishing you and your DW the best.
Marvellous Monday. Thanks for the fun,
Janice and sumdaze (great shellfish photo!).
I FIRed and saw the LOBSTER TAIL theme at the reveal.
Like others here, I WAGged the R in ANDOR.
All other unknowns had friendly perps.
My POT BELLy PIG was too short for its spot - ah, BELLIED.
I noted that the PIG was crossed by CHOP.
We see at least one performance at the SHAW Festival in Niagara-on-the- Lake every year. Many of Shaw’s plays are no longer enjoyed by today’s audiences and plays by other playwrights are also performed. (The same is true at Stratford where Shakespeare’s plays are only a few of the offerings. )
No confusion here between that Left tackle and Lieutenant here. Although Canadian/British pronunciation is Leftenant, I more commonly here the American Lootenant.
Wishing you all a great day.
Jayce, please know that your wife and you are in my prayers.
I missed whatever is happening with Jayce's wife. Can someone fill me in please.
Jayce, I am so sorry about what is happening with your wife. Please be assured of my prayers for her and you as well and do keep us posted on her progress.
If you don't mind will you tell us her name. In prayer I like to say the name.
My wife’s name is Christina.
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