Stardust of Yesterday (Haunting Hearts Series)

Amazon.com

I hope you haven't missed this classic debut novel from 1996. Lynn Kurland writes with the same charm and flair as Jude Deveraux, and this clever and original ghost story is akin to the fabulous, Knight in Shining Armor. The book has garnered award nominations from Romantic Times and Romance Writers of America, and will definitely be a fixture on my "keeper" shelf. When Genevieve inherits a castle, she isn't expecting the incredibly sexy 13th century knight that accompanies it. Unfortunately, he's a ghost, so fantasy is all Genevieve and Kendrick de Paiget are able to share until Kendrick actually becomes corporeal, and Genevieve has to overcome her fear of the flesh. Hardly your normal problem with a ghost!

Customer Reviews:

mixed feelings.......2007-06-28

The story was perfect, but a little more explicit then her other PG,PG-13 books. I read her books because I know I can count on a clean story without too much descriptive sex. This story was perfect except for one or two paragraphs that left me disappointed in Lynn.I understand this is her first book so she had to do things the publishers way........I just wish that after reading all her other books that I didn't have to find an unexpected surprise in the last one i read.

This is what dreams are made of!!.......2007-02-23

Reading through some of the previous reviews, I'm struck by some of the comments. One, Amazon's review calls it akin to Devereux's Knight in Shining Armor. Stardust of Yesterday is MUCH MUCH better. They are not in the same league at all. Two, this is not a realistic story; it is a work of fiction. It shows great imagination. You're not supposed to read so much into it. Just read and enjoy. Three, Genevieve can be annoying and is child-like in her innocence but that only adds to the story. So she may not be the most relatable heroine. So what! You are better able to see and appreciate Kendrick's character for falling in love with her, just as she is. Yes, she just happens to be the only woman around but who wouldn't wish that they could captivate someone enough that they wouldn't think or care about anyone else? Kendrick was known as a womanizing knave in his day. He could have had his pick for a bride. If he wasn't a ghost stuck at Seakirk or if he had met Gen in his time, he wouldn't have given her a second glance. Now, that he has no other prospects he is able to see with his heart and soul rather than focusing solely on a physical attraction.

This story is beautiful. It is full of life and imagination. Only in your wildest dreams could you believe that someone could fall in love with a ghost. Their romance is bittersweet. The sacrifice of falling in love and wanting to be with someone you could never touch, kiss, embrace is heart-wrenching.

Stardust of Yesterday was my first book by Ms. Kurland and now I have read it four times! It never gets old. It's like seeing old friends again, full of memories and shared smiles. All of Ms. Kurland's stories are like that. I don't usually re-read books but these I have and they are all wonderful, each and every time. She has a great talent for imaginative, fun, charming romances.

If you're looking for explicit love scenes and blatant sensuality, look elsewhere. Those details are better left up to your imagination; they only take away from the beauty of the story. Ms. Kurland's books are sweet romances not bodice-rippers. I can honestly say that I am never disappointed and impatiently wait for her next installment.

Stardust of Yesterday by Lynn Kurland.......2006-08-11

A page turner... you do not want to put the book down...humorous. If you have read the rest her series of the family tree, it is easier to understand the different character's.
Lynn Kurland always puts a smile on my face as I read her books.

A great love story.......2006-07-10

Kendrick de Piaget is a renowned knight in medieval England who is cursed by a witch to forever roam the Seakirk castle. The only way to undo the curse is if he truly becomes the owner of the castle. The estate was stolen from Kendrick when he was murdered. So in order to release himself and his comrades from the curse, Kendrick has been methodically eliminating the descendants of the Buchanans.

When Genevieve, the last of the Buchanans, moves in, Kendrick goes through his haunting routine to terrorize her enough to sign over the castle. Instead, she decides that he's harmless and then blatantly ignores him. They eventually fall in love but it their relationship becomes excruciatingly bittersweet because, well, he's a ghost. I won't spoil the rest of the story but, of course, there is a happy ending and also, there is far more to the curse and you find that out as the story progresses.

I just love the characters. Genevieve is feisty, naïve, fragile, but yet courageous. Kendrick is everything you'd dream a knight could be: chivalrous, egotistical, loving, gentle, and endearingly possessive.

There are parts in the story that are so funny and some that'll bring a tear to your eye. The writing is really good. It's just enough to make you fall in love with Kendrick and Genevieve. Of course, I think my favorite character is Nazir, one of Kendrick's knights. He's fierce, merciless, and as a good a fighter as Kendrick.

My only complaint is the cover. I mean...what were they thinking?

If you can get past that ridiculous cover.......2006-04-12

...this really is one of the best Kurland's and I believe her first. Her sense of humor and great method of showing the he said/she said side of relationships surpasses time, literally. If you are looking for a great work of literature of course this book isn't it, but if want escapism, to laugh out loud and enjoy a happy ending, this is for you. Be prepared, she doesn't always do what you think she'll do..I just wish this woman would quit making me fall in love with ghosts! This is far above your average romance, very well written for thinking readers.

I saw an angel yesterday (A Stardust book)

Average customer rating:

I saw an angel yesterday (A Stardust book)
Christopher A Lane
Manufacturer: C.R. Gibson Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0837853052

The Stardust of Yesterday: Reflections on a Las Vegas Legend

Average customer rating:

A Good Book With A Large History Of Pictures.

The Stardust of Yesterday: Reflections on a Las Vegas Legend
Heidi Knapp Rinella
Manufacturer: Stephens Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 1932173706

Book Description

The shows! The stars! That out of this world big sign! The Stardust of Yesterday takes a look at this Vegas institution which has graced the skyline since 1958. Meet the big names who performed on the stages of the Stardust showroom along with the everyday people who worked behind the scenes.

* Foreword by famed magicians Siegfried and Roy who got their big break at the Stardust.

* Full of historical and contemporary photographs of the casino from its creation to the present.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Book With A Large History Of Pictures........2007-03-10

I actually bought this book in the lobby of the Stardust a week before it closed. Initially, I found it morbid that they already spoke of the Stardust in past tense about what a shame it was gone as I sat in my hotel room... in the Stardust. It was like talking about someone in past tense while they're in the room listening to your conversation, not quite as dead as conversation would lead one to believe.

That aside, the book tells a lot of history of the hotel/casino, and is filled with lots of great pictures and fond memories of guests and employees of the Stardust. The book covers a lot of behind-the-scenes aspects of the casino, the shows that ran during its existence, and the celebrities which frequented the casino.

I think the saddest part of the book was the fact that it really did point out how innovative the Stardust was in changing the face of entertainment on the Strip. Such a great hotel with a lot of personality, closed down to make way for yet another casino/hotel/condo/mall hybrid Vegas seems so intent on placing all over the Strip in lieu of everything else these days.

Since buying the book, I've been back to Vegas, and now the Stardust is indeed closed in the past tense, and torn apart in a lot of places to be readied for implosion. After reading the book and looking at the ruins, I found a bittersweet sense of admiration for a casino that seemed to be so important to so many people, and now is shortly about to be wiped away from existence forever.

An interesting and sentimental read for those who enjoy the history of 1950's Vegas and enjoyed the casino itself.

Book Description

"Offbeat, utterly endearing . . ." Booklist.A Hamish Macbeth Mystery.When Paul and Trixie Thomas move to the village of Lochdubh, Trixie jumps into things with a vengeance. She organizes an anti-smoking league, promotes vegetarian cooking, even starts a birdwatching society. It's too much . . . too perfect. It doesn't feel like the old Lochdubh anymore. So when Trixie is murdered, not everyone is exactly devastated. Constable Macbeth, head over heels in love with beautiful Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, must interrupt his romance at the most inopportune time to solve the mystery. But how to do that when the list of suspects includes the entire town?

Customer Reviews:

Poor Hamish.......2006-11-11

Just when Hamish McBeth feels Lochdubh is settling down so he can enjoy his life of lazy leisure, the town's newest arrival sets his peace loving life on it's ear. Trixie Thomas is the biggest pain in the rear the poor constable could imagine, bound to cause nothing but trouble by organizing all the other wives into her vision of perfection.

At first, all seems well, until gradually the husbands become less and less happy over the changes being made, and the wives seem more and more frustrated that they can't achieve the level of perfection Trixie demands. It's only natural then, that someone solves everyones' problems by doing away with Trixie, which of course, creates all manner of problems for poor Hamish. Not the least is the arrival of his worst nemesis, Dectective Chief Inspector Blair, who proceeds in his usual ham-handed manner to muck things up for Hamish.

As always, M.C. Beaton delivers with her Highland policeman in his murderously inclined village of Lochdubh. Hamish is a terrific creation, a man who is genuinely content to be where he is, except for his lack of success in the romance department. The books are always an enjoyable read and MacBeth is a warm, endearing character, especially for those of us who appreciate his lack of ambition and his desire to be allowed to go his own way.

Hamish Macbeth -- enough said.......2006-11-10

What is there to say about finishing a Hamish Macbeth mystery? You've had a delightful read, and the good news is another one sure to follow.

A Satisfied Man Looks for the Murderer of the Perfect Wife.......2006-10-07

Death of a Perfect Wife is my introduction to the Hamish Macbeth mysteries. Having enjoyed the book, I look forward to reading more in the series.

Unambitious, but happy, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth is the one-man police force in the village of Lockdubh in the Scottish Highlands. He has his dog, his sheep, friends and all the time in the world to enjoy life. The hardworking citizens there usually think of their relaxed Bobby as a bit of a goof-off. All that changes when an actual crime occurs that threatens the domestic happiness of many of the village's households.

When Hamish is not out poaching salmon or game, he's given to dreamily considering the delights of Priscilla, daughter of the snooty, hyphenated castle-owning family. He's obsessed with her . . . or his imagination of her . . . and finds it disturbing when Priscilla is seen being friendly with a new man.

Into this idyll comes Trixie Thomas, the new wife of reformed overeater, Paul Thomas. Trixie is the White Tornado of cleanliness. She also advocates healthy living, saving the environment and many other good purposes. Soon, all the husbands in Lockdubh are having salads and fiber instead of steak and potatoes, giving up smoking and being hectored to give up other bad habits at Trixie's instigation to their wives.

Trixie also makes no bones about needing money and is constantly scrounging up old furniture to furnish a bed and breakfast establishment. The uproar becomes even stronger when Trixie leads a group to stop a local farmer from knocking over a building with bats in it.

Then, the uproar takes a new turn when Trixie turns up dead. Blair, Hamish's sarcastic superior, takes over . . . but Hamish plods away on his own. The investigation is complicated when Blair's new superior decides that Hamish is the route to Priscilla's hospitality for his wife.

The mystery isn't very mysterious, but the novel does a fine job of exploring the ways that we mis-mate ourselves by the expectations we bring to relationships and marriage. Those misperceptions can cause a lot of harm.

I listened to the Recorded Books version of the book as portrayed by Davina Porter and found my enjoyment greatly enhanced by her imaginative use of Highland accents and verbal pacing. I recommend you do the same.

If you are looking for high action, high tech mysteries built around crime scene investigations, this isn't your book. If you like a good, light-hearted story, you'll have a ball!

Amusing, Unique, with Nice Scottish Background....g.......2004-04-01

This is a fine , short , to the point mystery with great Summertime Scottish scenes, eccentrics, cozy old fashioned couples who get hysterical over seeing theiri mate hug a friend of the opposite gender. An English couple move into this quaint Scottish village, start a bed and breakfast, and the wife converts many of the ladies into bat-saving environmentalists, non smokers, and vegetarians ! Some frustrated romance, upper crust lords, rough and tumble kiddies, and arsenic enter into the brew, and our detective-hero saves the day.And the very end is a real winner. my only complaint is many of the locals almost think the victim deserved her fate,including the detective..Still, a fine, Scottish mystery!

A Strong entry in the Hamish Macbeth Series........2003-09-02

The more that I read Hamish, the more that I like him. He is a totally understated, shy and smart village policeman. He has many endearing qualities, not the least of which is his naivety. In this book an English couple moves into Locdubh and opens up a bed and breakfast. Their arrival throws the whole village into an uproar because the wife, Trixie Thomas, is a do-gooder as well as a "tree-hugger". All the wives join with her and start dramatically changing their home lives, much to the dismay of their husbands. It doesn't surprise Hamish when Trixie turns up dead and he certainly has no dearth of suspects. Trixie antagonized a lot of people. It's up to Hamish to determine who was the one that got mad enough to kill. Along the way we meet more of our Lochdubh friends and Hamish triumphs again. Ms. Beaton's characters just seem to live and breathe off the page.

Average customer rating:

Death of a Perfect Wife
M. C. Beaton
Manufacturer: Recorded Books LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000PGA342

Past: Perfect! Present: Tense! Insights from One Woman's Journey as the Wife of a Widower

Average customer rating:

DGI
Must Have for New Brides of Widowers
If only I'd read this earlier
Thank You Julie! It's good to know I'm not alone!
What a pleasant surprise!

Past: Perfect! Present: Tense! Insights from One Woman's Journey as the Wife of a Widower
Julie Donner Andersen
Manufacturer: Weyant Press, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Grief & Bereavement | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Marriage | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0972271902

Book Description

Past: Perfect! Present: Tense! Insights From One Woman's Journey as the Wife of a Widower is wise, insightful and candid, a clear and captivating look at the unique and challenging life of a WOW. Mrs. Andersen writes with obvious knowledge and revealing personal experience that makes the book an easy and informative read. The book addresses how the WOW relates to the family and friends of the late wife -- and even the late wife herself -- while granting much needed support, understanding and empowerment to help the WOW protect herself at the same time. Like those who have never been divorced cannot understand its effects, only a WOW can truly understand a WOW's life. But Mrs. Andersen deftly paints such a clear picture that the reader who isn't a WOW will understand much more and the reader who is a WOW will breathe a sign of relief to have her feelings validated and find a common spirit. Mrs. Andersen covers the topics of grief, anger, guilt, insecurity and more without a maudlin attempt for justification. Instead she plows straight ahead into affirmations and resolutions that are sure to help a hurting WOW heal. Her "please do" and "please do not" list is right on target, enlightening and heartwarming -- a succinct source of strength and inspiration for those all too frequent encounters a WOW experiences.

Customer Reviews:

DGI.......2006-05-03

My advice to those who don't get it is to ask themselves if they could ever get over the loss of a parent or a child. The obvious answer is no. When you put the issue in this perspective I believe you can understand the widow/widower. My mom has never gotten over the death of my father and 23 years later I still cry over it.

But as they say, the only whole heart is a broken one and a widow/widower has much love to give from the depths of their whole heart.

Must Have for New Brides of Widowers.......2004-09-03

After searching many bookstores as well as the internet, I finally found the only book out there that deals with the many facets of marrying a man who has been widowed. This book is well written, objective, and sincere. It offers excellent advise for the many issues that will come up when entering a relationship under these conditions.

Not only was the book fabulous, but the author was actually available and answered my email when I wrote to ask her a question! I highly recommend it to anyone in or anticipating a relationship with a widower.

If only I'd read this earlier.......2003-04-22

In my naivete, I assumed that a man who'd known love before and lost it would be eager to find it again. I had no idea how wrong I'd been until I read Julie's book. Had I read this book before or at least during my year-long relationship, I probably would have been able to salvage it. I lost a great man because I didn't understand the complexities of his emotional life. Julie gets to the heart of the matter and puts things into a perspective than unless you've experienced it as a widow, you can't possibly understand it when dealing with a widower. Each relationship -- single, divorced or widowed -- has its own unique dynamic. But most of us understand the single or the divorced. Sadly, little is written about the widowed and the emotional dynamic there is inconceivable. This is the primer that all women should read if they even think they might date a widower. As we all know, men enter relationships differently from women, BUT widowers are a different breed altogether. This book puts it all in a perspective that makes you say, "NOW I GET IT!" when you can't imagine that you could be so blind!

Thank You Julie! It's good to know I'm not alone!.......2003-04-22

I am a young woman dating a wonderful man... who happens to be widowed... and have two beautiful children from the relationship. Because of my age and circle of friends, I don't know any WOWs (women/wives of widowers). This book was very helpful to me. When people were saying, "why isn't he over it" and "it's not been enough time" it made me angry. I didn't know that my feelings were very par for the course. For all of you dating widowers, it is a challenge and a there will be many obstacles in your path. But if you are willing to work through them, BE PATIENT, and most definitely read this book-your difficulties will be well worth the wait. I hope that I am as lucky to marry this man as Julie was to marry her husband. Thank you Julie.

What a pleasant surprise!.......2002-12-12

As a widow soon to marry a widower, I approached this book skeptically at first. I wrongly assumed that it might portray the bereaved in a bad light. Much to my pleasant surprise, Julie Donner Andersen writes with such extreme compassion and sensitivity towards the bereaved as well as her fellow wives of widowers that I was often moved to tears. Often, widows and widowers feel that no one will ever understand our losses nor our grief, which impedes recovery and closes the doors on opportunities to love again. This book helps to break down those walls and open up windows of discussion and communication between widows or widowers and their future spouses.
On page 10, the author hits the nail on the head: "Grief has no timetable. But one thing is for sure - widows and widowers NEVER 'get over it'. They just learn to cope over time. And, as harsh as it may sound, the sooner you learn to accept this fact, the stronger your marriage to a widower will be".

I must agree with the author that "people who have never experienced the loss of a spouse will never fully understand it" (page 96), but I still admire Mrs. Andersen's courage in revealing, with sincerity and honesty, what it's like to be on the other side of the coin, while at the same time coming very close to comprehending a loss she has never experienced herself.

It's not easy to be a widow or a widower, but neither is it a breeze to marry one. This book is an excellent guide for anyone in this kind of relationship. Thank you.

Average customer rating:
DEATH OF A PERFECT WIFE
M. C. Beaton
Manufacturer: St Martins Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OT4N96

Average customer rating:
Death of a Perfect Wife (Hamish Macbeth Mystery Series)
M. C. Beaton
Manufacturer: St Martins Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OT3KUY

Average customer rating:

One of my absolute favorites

One for the Morning Glory

Better than The Princess Bride

j.poulain.

The only Barnes i like

One For The Morning Glory
John Barnes
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Barnes, John | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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The Armies of Memory (Thousand Cultures)

Gaudeamus

A Million Open Doors (Giraut)

The Sky So Big and Black (Meme Wars)

The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories

ASIN: 0812551605

Book Description

The Tale began when young Prince Amatus secretly sipped the forbidden Wine of the Gods, leaving him half the lad he'd once been--literally--for his left side suddenly vanished without a trace!

But, as is often the case in Tales of this sort, the young Prince's misfortune was also a sort of blessing in disguise. For a year and a day later, four Mysterious Strangers appeared, and, as Amatus grew to manhood, they guided him on a perilous quest to discover his true identity--not to mention adventure, danger, tragedy, triumph, and true love.

John Barnes has been heralded as "one of the most able and impressive of SF's rising stars" (Publishers Weekly) for his widely praised novels including Orbital Resonance and A Million Open Doors.

Now, in One for the Morning Glory, John Barnes has crafted an artful and immensely entertaining fable that takes its place as a modern fantasy classic beside such enduring works as William Goldman's The Princess Bride and T.H. White's The Once and Future King.

Customer Reviews:

One of my absolute favorites.......2007-06-26

I first read this book when I was a sophomore in high school. I was blown away at the time, and it remains on my shelf of re-reads. I have recommended and lent it out many times, and replaced it when one friend was taking too long because I couldn't live without it.

It's a teddy bear of a book - comforting, lighthearted, next to my bed at all times, and continuing to get better as it and I age together.

One for the Morning Glory.......2007-01-06

I'll read anything John Barnes writes; they're all wonderful. I especially like the way he uses words! If you're a logophile, you'll probably get a kick out of his books.

Better than The Princess Bride.......2006-11-28

I've found most fantasy reading to be worse than romance novels. The plots, ideas and characters are so predictable that I skirt the library's fantasy section like a hospital wing full of plague victims. However, Barns' "One for the Morning Glory" is a real gem. Much like Goldman's "The Princess Bride" it plays upon the horrid stereotypes of the genre with great wit and charm. The story employs the usual cast of goblins, witches etc, but remains original and captivating while never taking itself too seriously.

If you like "The Princess Bride" but skipped through the many monotonous parts, "One for the Morning Glory" is definitely your kind of read. It moves quickly through a series of action packed adventures which reinvigorate this tired genre. It's a much better and frankly easier read than "The Princess Bride" and boasts equal amounts of charm, exploit and humor.

j.poulain........2003-06-12

in the book they eat protons and similies...
how great is that?!

The only Barnes i like.......2003-02-07

As a casual fan of sci-fi and fantasy, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was the first book I read by Barnes, and the only one of his I liked. It is a witty and humorous tale of the life of the main character, from toddlerhood to kingship. Mostly lighthearted, with moments of darkness, it is a tale in some ways reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm. Yet, the tale itself is a sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious jab at old folk tales, as well as stories with morals (though it has morals of its own).

Barnes has managed to effectively combine elements of the classical romantic (falling in love, ancient science, magic, and exploration) with post-modern storytelling and a solid splash of wittiness and puns.

It's a shame that this charming, intelligent and mostly honourable book is his only crowning achievement.

Average customer rating:
One for the Morning Glory
John Barnes
Manufacturer: ST MARTINS PRESS *
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000Q31YVK

Average customer rating:
Glory of the morning: A play in one act (The Wisconsin series of translated and original plays)
William Ellery Leonard
Manufacturer: Wisconsin Dramatic Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
ASIN: B000876C16

Average customer rating:
If Morning Glory wins;: A comedy in one act,
Helen F Bagg
Manufacturer: The Penn Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

United States | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0008C8XOU

Average customer rating:
Morning Glory Cottage Photo Frame: 6"w X 5"h X 2.5"d, Holds One 3" X 4"w Photo

Manufacturer: Lightpost Publishing (Thomas Kinkade)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 0012058106

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One for the Morning Glory.
John. Barnes
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTQOI4

Book Description

The US Department of Health and Human Services reports that close to 1 million children a year are identified as victims of maltreatment. In addition, the National Clearinghouse of Child Abuse and Neglect estimates that between 3 and 10 million children a year witness the abuse of a parent or caregiver.

In recent years, therapists, educators and researchers have learned a great deal about children and trauma. Findings suggest that recovery often depends on early childhood professionals who understand children and trauma and have the skills to help children and support families.

Hope and Healing is a guide for early childhood professionals who care for children in a variety of early care and education settings. The authors define trauma and help readers recognize its effects on young children. They also offer tips, resources, and proven intervention strategies for working with traumatized children and their families and for managing stress.

Customer Reviews:

Hope And Healing: A Caregiver's Guide to Helping Young Children Affected by Trauma (The Zero to Three Early Care Library .......2007-05-14

Very good book with much insight into the effects trauma has on small children. I would reccomend this book highly.

However, I do wish it had more info regarding exactly what to tell or how to explain death to a toddler whom's mother just died. I'm not sure there is a way to do this, as I am still searching for the answer to this question.

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