Braves 46-35 and optimistic at midpoint

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N8

June 30th, 2011
4:56 pm

Murph, I love Foo Fighters, but calling them “alternative” is a stretch, don’t you think? It doesn’t get much more pop-rock/hard rock than that. The only thing that could remotely allow them to fall into the alternative category is Dave Grohl’s association with Nirvana. Some 17 years ago.

But yeah. I love the sound, the energy and pretty much everything about Foo Fighters. I’ve said it a thousand times. While Cobain was a helluva song-writer and his tunes (their tunes) changed the face of music forever….. he wasn’t even the best guitar player in his own band.

Grohl was meant to be where he’s at…. out front. But having that you were also the drummer in Nirvana isn’t too shabby to have on your resume either. LOL

timthebrave

June 30th, 2011
4:57 pm

Earl Williams , your entitled to your opinion just don’t act shocked that not everyone sees it like you

Heath

June 30th, 2011
4:59 pm

99-106 record right now for the NL vs the AL, with the Braves tied for the best NL record (8-4) with the Giants…

…makes the series loss to the Padres that much tought to swallow when we could have played an AL team, huh? :(

Murph

June 30th, 2011
4:59 pm

N8, hard to say… but whatever category they fall in to, Coldplay should be very, very far away from them in the iTunes listings.

Jose Reyes

June 30th, 2011
4:59 pm

Hey, I want to join the Braves, and with the way AGON is playing, it looks like you need me. Please pick me up. These Mets are horrible. :(

Shaun

June 30th, 2011
5:00 pm

RC and Bat, at the time nobody know if Ruth and his style of play was a passing fad. No one knew if Ruth’s reckless personality would cause him to be an ineffective baseball player.

Even some of the most lopsided trades in history only look bad in hindsight. The Len Barker trade may be an exception. Barker was a mediocre pitcher. I don’t know that there are many 3 players for 1 mediocre pitcher trades that work out well for the team trading for the 1 mediocre pitcher.

Heath

June 30th, 2011
5:00 pm

The Fish are the only NL East team with a losing record against the AL with a 5-9 record.

timthebrave

June 30th, 2011
5:01 pm

Fun talking to most of you. Have a good one….GO BRAVES

Murph

June 30th, 2011
5:03 pm

N8, have you listened to the entire Wasting Light album? I’d say that’s pretty alternative… reminds me a bit of old Smashing Pumpkins at times.

RC

June 30th, 2011
5:03 pm

Shaun, I take back every moment I’ve spent trying to defend you on this blog. You generally do a good job of presenting relevant information, it’s simply your delivery that rubs people the wrong way. But you just tried to justify the Red Sox trading Babe Ruth.

Really man?

Heath

June 30th, 2011
5:03 pm

Winning percentage against LHP = 56%, Winning percentage against RHP = 57.8%. Interesting considering we’ve heard a lot about our ineptness against LHP.

phil

June 30th, 2011
5:05 pm

timthebrave
June 30th, 2011
4:57 pm

Earl Williams , your entitled to your opinion just don’t act shocked that not everyone sees it like you

What Earl said made abundant sense…agree or not.

ppaddy123

June 30th, 2011
5:07 pm

It amazes me how quickly people are writing Heyward off. The KID is 21! He’s still growing and he’s STILL learning the game. Big league pitchers have found the hole in his swing. He’ll adjust. We’re not the Yankees or the Red Sox. We have to develop from the minors. Heyward will be a beast in the middle of the line up…….just give it time.

Bat Masterson

June 30th, 2011
5:08 pm

RC and Bat, at the time nobody know if Ruth and his style of play was a passing fad……… Even some of the most lopsided trades in history only look bad in hindsight. _ Shuan

Hey, I thought it was a great deal for the Yankees at the time and wrote so for the New York Morning Telegraph.

phil

June 30th, 2011
5:09 pm

Perhaps, ppaddy…hopefully….a few solid signs the last 2 games…

Shaun

June 30th, 2011
5:10 pm

RC, sure. Ruth was the Dennis Rodman of his day (for lack of a better comparison). They didn’t really know if his antics would eventually lead to his downfall. Combine that with the financial advantages to trading him, I think it was at least understandable.

phil

June 30th, 2011
5:12 pm

I can see Shaun’s point on Ruth….who could’ve known then?

Arkansas Transplant

June 30th, 2011
5:13 pm

Murph, I saw you sent some request in facebook, what would that request be? I haven’t been on there in quite some time.

DAP

June 30th, 2011
5:13 pm

shaun, i think the chances of gonzalez out playing hardy in the second half is about as good as gonzalez out playing brian mccann.

Murph

June 30th, 2011
5:15 pm

AT, I believe I sent you a X5 SB card for Wild Card Baseball… go play man! We have weekly prize leagues now.

Bat Masterson

June 30th, 2011
5:17 pm

RC, sure. Ruth was the Dennis Rodman of his day (for lack of a better comparison).

Shaun_
Are you crazy, Dennis Rodman, really? First of all Rodman did not play a lick on offense and secondly I never heard of Ruth running around in a wedding dress. Come on man, Ruth liked to have a good time, but he was not a lush FCS.

Arkansas Transplant

June 30th, 2011
5:18 pm

Murph, I need to get on there I guess. It’s just hard when I can’t access it from work and once I go home I’ve got so much going on it’s hard to find time to get on my computer. I’ll try to make some time though. I am however heading on vacation this weekend so I won’t be on there until next week some time.

ppaddy123

June 30th, 2011
5:20 pm

“God must love stupid people. He made SO many.”

Bat Masterson

June 30th, 2011
5:21 pm

Earl_

You are entitled to your opinion and others are entitled to respond to them. By the way I’m very interested in politics, but more so in policy, don’t try to set me up for easy jokes in that arena.

Earl Williams

June 30th, 2011
5:24 pm

Phil,Why,Thank You.You will probably have to prove that wasn’t me posting as you.

The Marlins MAY name new stadium Carnival Stadium.That would be appropriate since Loria and his crazed son-in-law have turned the whole thing into a circus. Place will hold around 37,000.By the conclusion of this season you will have people hiring high profile attorneys in a class action suit to get Suite deposits back.

T for Texas

June 30th, 2011
5:25 pm

Bat–

Has the construction industry picked up down there at all?

DAP

June 30th, 2011
5:26 pm

“God must love stupid people. He made SO many.”

dont blame God, blame the fall.

Veer

June 30th, 2011
5:27 pm

At this point Chipper should go ahead and take care of his knee by having that surgery.It will be nice to have him 100 percent in Aug/Sep for the playoff run.
Once Prado is back then he can play 3B.
I would like to think that Chipper’s current performance is reflective to his knee injury rather than anything else. Maybe this is how chipper would have performed regardless?
Maybe it’s the knee injury or maybe his time is up.

Father time catches up to everyone, It even caught up t Julio Franco.

David O'Brien

June 30th, 2011
5:29 pm

I know it’s a long flight and all, but I was wondering where Seattle ranked with you as a favorite major league city where you would spend 3 days? — BravesAC

Braves AC: In the top 3.

When the weather’s nice in Chicago, it’s in my top five. But the three that are in it for sure: Boston, San Francisco and Seattle. San Diego is the other, because of the weather and, uh, scenery. But the overall culture and vibe of those other cities, I like more.

Los Angeles and New York (when weather’s nice in NY) are right there below that top group, for me, and I also really like Denver on a nice day.

N8

June 30th, 2011
5:29 pm

Murph, I haven’t picked up the new Foo Fighters yet. Haven’t bought a CD or downloaded one from iTunes in a while. I previewed it when it came out. Seemed like the same old Foo Fighters to me.

I’m with you though, I don’t really care what you call it or classify it as. To me it’s just good music.

“Heyward will be a beast in the middle of the line up…….just give it time.” ppaddy123

Oh I have no doubt about him being a beast in the middle of the lineup. I’m sure the year he’s about to be a free agent, he’ll be healthy as can be and rake 45 HR. :-)

Veer

June 30th, 2011
5:30 pm

If we could some how get within 2.0 games of the Phillies before the final series prior to the all-star break then that would be nice.
Playoff atomsphere i would expect during the last 3 games to end the 1st half.

Phillies offense isn’t that great. Once you get past Howard, You are faced with Victarino, after him its easy. I think in the playoffs we have a shot at beating the Phillies provided they don’t upgrade in the OF.

N8

June 30th, 2011
5:31 pm

“Father time catches up to everyone, It even caught up t Julio Franco.”

Strange. All this time I thought Julio Franco WAS father time.

Bat Masterson

June 30th, 2011
5:32 pm

T for_

It has picked up a little bit. More stuff being put out for bid, and some things underway. One builder I have known for years started his first new house, about six weeks ago, since he finished his last one almost two years ago. Another guy I know thinks he is going to get very busy soon, but no contracts are signed so who knows. How about things with you?

Murph

June 30th, 2011
5:34 pm

I’m with you though, I don’t really care what you call it or classify it as. To me it’s just good music.

Yeah, it just bothered me when I heard Coldplay (whom I despise) on the Alternative station on Sirius earlier today. That would be like saying Queens of the Stone Age are easy listening.

Earl Williams

June 30th, 2011
5:35 pm

Bat,I actually went to a Michelle Bachman rally yesterday. I brought a copy of the New York Times and was still allowed to stay. Pretty open minded. i was of course very polite and only said “Good Luck, Congresswoman.” I was surprised by how petite she was.I was going to ask a question pertaining to need to trim defecits at the same time we can’t default on our obligations.Why I thought I would get to ask a question proves that I relate to Don Quixote.Of course no questions were taken and she was gone after the stump speech.Bunch of real old people there who don’t like the government. i would guess that does not pertain to Social Security, Medicare and Food and Drug Administration.Also might be wise to have someone without a private interest investigating those nuclear power plants.

N8

June 30th, 2011
5:37 pm

“That would be like saying Queens of the Stone Age are easy listening.”

Well, Queens of the Stone Age are MUCH easier to listen to than Coldplay! LOL.

I’m not a huge Coldplay fan. Don’t dislike them. Just not that into them.

phil

June 30th, 2011
5:39 pm

Bat – glad to hear of hopeful signs…

T for Texas

June 30th, 2011
5:39 pm

Oregon is dead. I am having some conversations with people in Texas and Kansas I know who are somewhat keeping busy, but as you said man–it is slow, rumours of work…but who knows. Crazy, crazy.

Bat Masterson

June 30th, 2011
5:40 pm

Early Lou_

You are treading on thin ice, do you want to get banned?

Bat Masterson

June 30th, 2011
5:40 pm

phil_

Thanks

phil

June 30th, 2011
5:41 pm

Michelle Bachman….and i think Gonzo is stupid?

DS1

June 30th, 2011
5:49 pm

Here, here DOB!! Showing some love to some west coast (and western w/ Denver) cities.

I took my dad on a tour a few years back to the Seattle stadium, and it was a blast. I think of Seattle, SF and Denver, I enjoy the ballpark at Denver better, but my fav city of the 3 is SF, with Seattle close behind.

:lol:

Mitchell

June 30th, 2011
5:50 pm

Braves “optimistic” at the mid-way point?

Great. Why wouldn’t they be?

They parted ways with Troy Glaus, Melky Cabrera, Yunel Escobar, Gregor Blanco, Jesse Chavez, Rick Ankiel, Kyle Farnsworth, Derrek Lee over the past year and yet somehow managed to get worse.

Last year’s pitching staff included Kenshin Kawakami who had but one win among ten losses but his team still had more wins at this point than the 2011 Atlanta Braves.

Explain that.

phil

June 30th, 2011
5:51 pm

Seattle is earthquake central inevitably….beautiful, yes. Smart place to live? No.

DS1

June 30th, 2011
5:52 pm

Mitchell

Here is your explanation: Your and idiot!

:lol:

phil

June 30th, 2011
5:52 pm

Mitchell – they lost a few more games this year….does that help you?

Bat Masterson

June 30th, 2011
5:53 pm

T_

Well i’m sorry to hear it. Its not like a builder can just pick up and go to an area that is doing well, though there are some. Just from what I see and hear I think it will take several more years, if ever, for things to return to normal. Normally when there is a down turn in the housing industry it weeds out the also-rans, you know what I mean, the half assed builders and trades people, this time the cream of the crop has been hammered too. I mean I could see all this coming a mile away and prepared for it, but damn, I never thought the top people would come to a complete halt.

I hope it picks up for you soon. Some things people here say would blow an outsiders mind. I had some dealings with PB and one woman I talked to, who normally works as a disaster claims insurance adjuster, said what we need here is a big damned hurricane. The thing is a lot of people think the same thing.

nolee

June 30th, 2011
5:53 pm

I was lookin’ for my Braves baseball blog, but I seem to have gotten lost. Can anybody help??

DS1

June 30th, 2011
5:54 pm

phil

Every city in the nation has issues: earthquakes, wildfires, volcanos, hurricanes, tornados, etc.

Heck, in northern Utah, I am in the range of a thermo meltdown when the volcano at Yellowstone blows! Maybe I should move 75 miles to the south…….

Big Nick

June 30th, 2011
5:55 pm

Murph– You still think Kemp is a FA after this year?

DS1

June 30th, 2011
5:56 pm

nolee

I have heard rumor that you are way beyond help……

nolee

June 30th, 2011
5:56 pm

more fact than rumor Wayne

phil

June 30th, 2011
5:57 pm

Bat – yep on the hurricane but it needs to pound an area that’s well insured…can’t believe i’m even saying that, but…

phil

June 30th, 2011
5:58 pm

DS1 – yes, in northern Utah, you are clearly doomed…

Nah, i’m just runnin my mouth…

Lollygagger

June 30th, 2011
5:58 pm

I live in Florida, so NO, we don’t need a big damned hurricane! Unless everyone wants oil prices to skyrocket once again when it damages oil rigs in Gulf. Careful what you wish for, people.

nolee

June 30th, 2011
5:59 pm

after living through two Bat, I find it hard to imagine folks saying something like that

Earl Williams

June 30th, 2011
6:00 pm

Maybe Freud.

Bat, Actually think that was one of those life defining moments with the housing bubble.Believe many young people will treat the bursting of the housing bubble like so many of their parents felt about the depression. It’s going to change the decision making apparatus for years.People will no longer be that speculative, will not buy more than they need and will see a home as a place to live and not to flip and if they buy another home it will be a vacation home that they someday plan to move to.I guess I’m saying it will be years before there is a recovery. Once burnt people will be very careful for a long time.

That wasn’t politics. Was it??

phil

June 30th, 2011
6:00 pm

None of us are wishing for it…

phil

June 30th, 2011
6:02 pm

Earl – Bachman lover…

Bat Masterson

June 30th, 2011
6:03 pm

phil_

Where do you live, if you don’t mind my asking?

Random

June 30th, 2011
6:04 pm

Furman Bitcher (June 30th, 2011 4:02 pm): “The only thing troubling for Philly should be that they only have 35 more home games where they have dominated with 45 more on the road where they have played close to .500 ball. The Braves have 42 left at home where they have played well.”

The Braves have “played well” at home??

The Braves record at home (22-17) is a mere game-and-a-half better than the Fillies’ record on the road (19-17). And they’re tied in the loss column.

phil

June 30th, 2011
6:04 pm

T for Texas

June 30th, 2011
6:07 pm

Bat-

I guess a hurricane would drum up business, but damn. Yeah, I was surprised at the extent of the weed out. The bottom feeders needed to be culled from the ranks up here, but I don’t know anybody who has been immune. Lots of folks just up and left from here. I thought I would be okay, as I had a niche going in the green building market, but with the way loans are being scrutinized people are saying “environment be damned, I want my max square footage.” Well, the very few people building are saying that. I hope it picks up for you down there, bud.

DS1

June 30th, 2011
6:08 pm

Kinda comical that the Braves have the 3rd best record in baseball (but then again, it is only June 30th) and Mitchell is still whining about what might have been………

I’m tellin ya, a 161-1 would be disappointing that we lost the single…..

:lol:

Bat Masterson

June 30th, 2011
6:08 pm

Lollygagger _

I live in Fl too, and I hear you, none the less. I hear the other too.

nolee

June 30th, 2011
6:11 pm

none the less. I hear the other too. Bat

not sure how to read that Bat, are you saying that you might agree with those saying that a hurricane might be desirable?

Earl Williams

June 30th, 2011
6:11 pm

Phil,Stop It!! You want me banned? I will describe no more field trips.

If you had a choice who would you exclude from your world:

Used Car Salesmen

Realtors

I will never forget the agonizing spiel when it was all coming to an end and they continued to promote their fluff and mangled numbers. It was really sad. I actually left Florida 2 years early after I saw my daughter’s former babysitter spend 225,000 for a home in Lauderdale that I don’t believe Jed and Granny would have lived in Pre-Oil Strike. I told my wife that we can’t be greedy. Sell the home in Boca and get to the Carolinas. My friends all laughed, I will say that I NEVER say “I told you so”, my not saying it does not help one iota.

phil

June 30th, 2011
6:13 pm

The Mitchell post was as senseless as many of mine…

Fire FW…

Bat Masterson

June 30th, 2011
6:13 pm

after living through two Bat, I find it hard to imagine folks saying something like that

nolie_

I know, it just goes to show you how desperate some people are. People that have worked in construction all their lives, good people that can’t feed their families. They know it would be a disaster, but they know they could get a job, too. Yeah it’s crazy.

Earl Williams

June 30th, 2011
6:14 pm

Is Mitchell considered worse than me? I really don’t know the history.

DS1

June 30th, 2011
6:15 pm

Well, it’s darned late here…… talk with you folks in a couple of days.

Bat Masterson

June 30th, 2011
6:15 pm

nolie_

No I’m not saying it is desirable. I’m saying I understand the thinking behind it is all.

Random

June 30th, 2011
6:16 pm

Shaun (June 30th, 2011 4:11 pm): “Limiting hits and walks is about the only way to limit runs. When you give up hits and walks more often than the other pitchers who are with you amongst the ERA leaders, that’s a good bet that your ERA is going to rise.”

Yeah, but among the top 20 NL ERA leaders (a/o 28 Jun), JJ ranked 16th in fewest Hits per IP, and 7th in fewest BBs per IP, putting him ranked 12th in lowest WHIP.

Ranking 12th in WHIP among the top 20 NL ERA leaders is no disgrace, nor any kind of warning sign that JJ is not as good as he appears.

It’s a red herring.

phil

June 30th, 2011
6:17 pm

Nolee – maybe you can’t read…who are “those” wanting a hurricane?

People hurting to support their families might well want a hurricane to drum up business…that’s just reality…i personally ain’t one of em…clear?

But storms do happen…florida is one big beach in mnay ways…i suspect a hurricane is imminent this yr or next….

Bat Masterson

June 30th, 2011
6:19 pm

T _

Its too bad about the green building, something along those lines, with the right kind of backing, could really help out. Thanks for the well wishes, right back at you.

nolee

June 30th, 2011
6:19 pm

-the interesting thing down here was that it did spark jobs for awhile but out of state-mostly Tex-Mex-labor got a huge amount of them. They poured in here like water over a dam.
And then there was a huge boom in housing prices which lasted for a few years until the bottom fell completely out.
Houses that had been selling in the 50-65 thou range jumped up to over 120 though and are now selling for 35 thou.

Earl Williams

June 30th, 2011
6:19 pm

I will write IF I read where people start voicing wishes for hurricanes to decimate areas so that individual financial status is bettered, Well, that should distract from any comments made about Dan Uggla. I guess a Category 5 might even increase overtime pay for medical personnel—Pretty crazy thing to say,isn’t it?

richbrave

June 30th, 2011
6:20 pm

Piedmont Blues

June 30th, 2011
5:12 pm
Any chance the Braves just cut KK loose, even though they’d have to pay him? Or do they let him continue to send him out there in AA and hope he turns it around?

With half a season left, I say,” let him stew in his own juice.” Keep running him out there with the bench players for support in a back-end spot-start role only. Give the regulars a day off, and some PT for the subs.

phil

June 30th, 2011
6:21 pm

No hurricane could be worse than a typical Uggly at bat….

nolee

June 30th, 2011
6:22 pm

Nolee – maybe you can’t read…who are “those” wanting a hurricane

phil maybe you can’t read. even talking about wanting one is abhorrent to anybody who has lived through one. I was originally talking about a comment about folks saying that one would help.nothing I said had your name on it did it dude? Pretty defensive it seems.

Lollygagger

June 30th, 2011
6:22 pm

well, hell. Let’s just wish for nuclear warfare so we can scrum up some business. That should be good for construction and insurance! People’s lives and property be damned…

Random

June 30th, 2011
6:23 pm

TennesseePaul (June 30th, 2011 4:23 pm): “WHIP gives you an idea of this. It’s hard to have a WHIP of 2.000 and not give up consecutive hits or walks. Keep that number closer to one and you’ll be doing well at limiting consecutiveness.”

Like, say — just as an example — JJ’s 1.14 WHIP?

richbrave

June 30th, 2011
6:23 pm

Earl Williams

June 30th, 2011
6:19 pm
I will write IF I read where people start voicing wishes for hurricanes to decimate areas so that individual financial status is bettered, Well, that should distract from any comments made about Dan Uggla. I guess a Category 5 might even increase overtime pay for medical personnel—Pretty crazy thing to say,isn’t it?

What’s new EARL?

phil

June 30th, 2011
6:26 pm

Come on…don’t play me for stupid….you were lumping me right in with your other imagined targets…just looking for a soap box, found you one, and i ain’t playing along with it…that’s all. No one here wanted a hurricane to hit, and talking about it doesn’t make it abhorrent….it’s simple economic reality and nothing more being discussed.

phil

June 30th, 2011
6:27 pm

Richbrave – amen on KK…

nolee

June 30th, 2011
6:28 pm

the way I see it is Why not just kill your neighbor and steal his assets, rather than suggest that a hurricane would be beneficial.
Pretty much amounts to the same thing in many cases if you’ve ever had any experience with the body bag handling you would realize that.
that is a non-specific “you” BTW phil.

phil

June 30th, 2011
6:29 pm

Lollygagger – good thought on that nuclear thing….safe, enviro-friendly…

PDOG

June 30th, 2011
6:30 pm

Earl Williams
Infante in a ulitity role would be just fine, he is just what the Braves need, someone who can play short as well as 2B,3B and all the outfield positions. Who would you rather have Lugo or Infante. Please understand my first choice is Liilibridge but with Florida falling out of the race Infante might be had at a cheaper price.

richbrave

June 30th, 2011
6:30 pm

MFin04

June 30th, 2011
2:51 pm
Jurrjens is a top 5 pitcher in the Majors and will be for the rest of his career as long as he stays healthy. When he has be healthy he has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. I’m not sure he’d pitching over his head. He really is this good. The only time he’s really struggled has been because of injuries.

That being said, no way the Braves would trade him. He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball and will continue to be so.

I’m impressed with the job he’s done since losing a bit of his giddy-up on that fastball. He’s adapted, and learned to pitch with what he has now. Always a sign of a great hurler in my estimation. Others may disagree, but there’s no quibbling with the facts . What a season so far.

Lollygagger

June 30th, 2011
6:30 pm

phil-

I respectfully disagree. As someone who has been through 3 major hurricanes, I find simply talking about hurricanes is abhorrent. I would never ever consider loss of life and property as a economic stimulus. In my opinion, that’s stuff that should stay in one’s head and not spilled into words or paper.

phil

June 30th, 2011
6:31 pm

Nolee – a hurricane would be beneficial to some…same as they’ve always been…

Saying it doesn’t make me evil…and it doesn’t mean i want it to happen.

Bat Masterson

June 30th, 2011
6:32 pm

That wasn’t politics. Was it??

Earl_

No and you may be right, too.

nolee

June 30th, 2011
6:32 pm

GTH phil. I was not lumping you in, I read the comment about what the woman said B4 I read any others cause that’s when I started paying attention to what was being said.
BUT your extreme defensive posture raises the question about how you really think about it. Folks don’t overreact like that for no reason yaknow

Earl Williams

June 30th, 2011
6:33 pm

Nolee, I do believe we agree. That does NOT make me want to reassess my position. I hope you feel the same way. Although I definitely don’t equate it with murdering your neighbor.

phil

June 30th, 2011
6:33 pm

I didn’t say it first but regardless, not saying it doesn’t make it any less true…

Money makes the world go round….sad but true…

nolee

June 30th, 2011
6:34 pm

phil

June 30th, 2011
6:35 pm

Nolee – gth? And i overreacted? Obviously you can’t be reasoned with and just don’t get my point…i give.

Lollygagger

June 30th, 2011
6:36 pm

phil is dead to me… moving on to actual baseball talk

phil

June 30th, 2011
6:36 pm

Nolee revealing those true colors when challenged…

nolee

June 30th, 2011
6:36 pm

I NEVER said you did say it phil

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