Where's the best place in America to live? by chrisisall

TALK STORY

Where's the best place in America to live?

POSTED BY: CHRISISALL
UPDATED: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 06:13
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VIEWED: 4978
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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 6:11 AM

I've lived in New York (Long Island), and it was ridiculously expensive; I live now in Massachusetts, and find it a little stoic in the peeps department...

Where should a friendly Libertarian Browncoat live that's cool and has a good economy?

Philly?

Inquiring Chrisisall

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 6:23 AM

ZISKER

Philadelphia is the greatest city in the world. I'm bias, though, I was born there. I'm living in NYC now and I miss it like hell - I'm going back once I'm finished with my four years in the service.

Philly has more colleges than any other greater-metropolitan area save Boston. It has a great art musuem and lots of other ones ranging in subjects from medical anomalies to science to natural history. It has beautiful areas where you can buy old houses relatively cheap. South Street is a nice little Bohemian district and always worth a great day of window shopping.

The anti-graffiti projects have resulted in beautiful murals all over the city. The city is still reasonably priced and I expect there to be a bit of an explosion soon as the suburbs are costing more and more. That said, city wage tax sucks.

God, I can't wait to go home . . .

Edit: Oh, and as a Browncoat: Philly was the focal point for the original old-school Independents

Fruit's Oaty Bar! Is a person from the mouse! Fruit's Oaty Bar! Makes your bust from yours female shirt! Continuously eats them! Let them cause you to be surprised!

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 6:40 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Zisker:
Philadelphia is the greatest city in the world.
That said, city wage tax sucks.

City wage tax?

I keep tellin' my wife that somethin seems to be calling me...
*Philly...Philly...*

Quote:

Fruit's Oaty Bar! Is a person from the mouse! Fruit's Oaty Bar! Makes your bust from yours female shirt! Continuously eats them! Let them cause you to be surprised!

OH no! I just got that out of my head last week!!!!!

Chrisisall

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 6:49 AM

ISAACSHEPHERD

Sadly I can't really answer your question but I can tell you where not to go, Toledo, Ohio. I'm not really sure what the common stereotype is among Ohioans or Toledo, but Toledo is a very dull town with a bad economy so it doesn't sound like you're kinda town.

Cleveland and Columbus are pretty nice but here it sucks. I've been here all my life. I'll be out of here myself once I graduate from college in a few years. Good luck in your quest. Wish I could help.

Ps. Any other Browncoats live in Northwest Ohio or Southeast Michigan? It seems like there isn't a lot of Brown around here.

IS

The Bible's a bit fuzzy on the subject of kneecaps.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 6:53 AM

GRIZWALD

Since Philly is located in Pennsylvania, I'm sure there's tax on everything, so a city wage tax doesn't surprise me. Mr. Grizwald grew up in Pennsylvania and still grouses about the head tax ("charged on everybody who has a head").

Personally, I love where I live, NE Iowa, but I don't know how many Libertarians there are. We tend to be pretty polarized, Republicans vs. Democrats, and I'm not sure there is much room for others. We have a surprisingly healthy artist community around here, and I think they're all Democrats.

At least all those I have asked are.

That said, there are also a lot of rednecks around here, and our idea of racial diversity is wearing a Vikings jacket into a Packers-friendly bar. I think this would be a great place to own a summer home but not live year round.

____________________________________________________
They could not take the sky from them -
Our Big Damn Heroes made a film!
I'm gonna see Serenity then
go back the next morning and see it again.
Cuz no one at Fox knew this show had no equal
C'mon Universal, and greenlight the sequel!

Click on my profile for my Annoyingly Long List of Firefly Links.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 7:08 AM

LANCER

I like Tampa Florida, and i agree with Grizwald we are very politically polerized, thought i dont know many Libritarians in the Tampa area besides my favorite radio host.

Well here I am

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 7:10 AM

NUCLEARDAY

I've only had so much experience with different places. Colombus, Ohio always looked like a good place but I only ever visited for the cons when Origins was hosted there.

Living in Michigan now, which is not always all that great a place. There's some good places out here, it has all four seasons, and the lakes tend to keep the weather from the extremes of the surrounding states. Out here near Lansing, though, it's in the top 5 or so cloudiest places in America.

Savannah, Georgia is likely my favorite place I've lived so far. Really pretty, once you get past the dirt, grime, and scourge of palmetto bugs. One of those places, though, that somehow every time you go out into town you always see something interesting going on. Likely, though, if I ever moved down that ways again I'd be looking more in the Tybee Island area.

________________________________________________
You can take my hope when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 7:34 AM

PENGUIN

Quote:
Originally posted by Grizwald:
Since Philly is located in Pennsylvania, I'm sure there's tax on everything, so a city wage tax doesn't surprise me. Mr. Grizwald grew up in Pennsylvania and still grouses about the head tax ("charged on everybody who has a head").

Personally, I love where I live, NE Iowa, but I don't know how many Libertarians there are. We tend to be pretty polarized, Republicans vs. Democrats, and I'm not sure there is much room for others. We have a surprisingly healthy artist community around here, and I think they're all Democrats. At least all those I have asked are.

That said, there are also a lot of rednecks around here, and our idea of racial diversity is wearing a Vikings jacket into a Packers-friendly bar. I think this would be a great place to own a summer home but not live year round.
__________
They could not take the sky from them -
Our Big Damn Heroes made a film!
I'm gonna see Serenity then
go back the next morning and see it again.
Cuz no one at Fox knew this show had no equal
C'mon Universal, and greenlight the sequel!

Click on my profile for my Annoyingly Long List of Firefly Links.

New Albin?? Pretty country up there...I want to visit in the fall...I'm originally from Spencer now living in Des Moines. It's a nice place...not too big, not too small. Taxes are hell!
__________________________________________

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 7:35 AM

CHRISISALL

I've visited Lansing, thought it to be a nice place, tho I didn't see all that much of it.
Sarasota and Tampa were good, but beachfront was expensive! My pop lives in Arizona, beautiful country, very western

, but sorta dry. Washington DC is where one of my best friends live, but again, expensive.
I'm thinkin' on stayin' in the NE somewhere, and I do like Philly...

Native New Yorker Chrisisall

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 7:36 AM

EVILDINOSAUR

CANADA!! :P lol

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 7:41 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by EvilDinosaur:
CANADA!! :P lol

I seen The Day After Tomorrow, no thanks.

But then, if it's good 'nuff for Nathan....

Mounty Chrisisall

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 8:19 AM

EARLY

A Libertarian? Try the Free State aka New Hampshire.

http://www.freestateproject.org

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 9:00 AM

DERANGEDMILK

Heres another for Tampa (coming from Tallahassee though). My parents still live there, I lived there for 6 years, my father was practically born and bred there (practically b/c he was technically born in jacksonville but they moved to Tampa before he could know the difference). Great city, just do us all a favor and vote against Rhonda Storms.
-e

"Storms getting worse."
"We'll pass through it soon enough."

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 9:00 AM

DERANGEDMILK

double post...sorry....I guess I could take this time to say don't move to Tallahassee, although Georgia ain't far and I liked Georgia when I lived there for 2 years....but I have a thing for really sweet tea...
-e

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 9:29 AM

NCBROWNCOAT

Does it have to be a city? I live in Eastern NC. We are a bit economically depressed and polarized politically between Dems and Repubs(I'm a registered Republican but thinking about reregistering as "no party" and as I vote for the person any way and am a middle of the road Republican anyway).

Washington NC is losing manufacturing jobs and has some very rural areas but it is very beautiful on the Pamlico River. Waterfront property is sky high (at least to us) but taxes are low-we have a lot of retireess from up North coming down here.

We are 25 minutes from East Carolina University in Greenville. There is a lively bar scene there and yesterday the UNC Board of Governors approved a Dental School there. There is already a Med school there so there is lots of intellectual persuits in the area.

The medical care is the best east of Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill and that area is less than 2 hours by car and the beach is only an hour and half away and the river is just half a block from my house.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 9:32 AM

CALLMESERENITY

I miss Philly, too.

You described it wonderfully, Zisker. I lived there for 5 years. At one time I was fortunate enough to live within walking distance to Fairmount Park. I spent many happy hours therein.

But I think my best and favourite Philly memory was the time I was walking around downtown with some friends and I stopped walking to make some point and realized I was standing on Benjamin Franklin's doorstep! His doorstep!

I love Philly.

Serenity, First Officer of Destiny
President of the Juggled Gosling Chatroom

I have a live journal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/callmeserenity/

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 10:52 AM

FREDGIBLET

Portland, OR is a pretty decent place. I live in Washington about a 20 minute drive from Portland so I don't have much firsthand experience with the economy, but the political climate is fairly Libertarian-friendly. The problem is that it's on the west coast and you are on the east, but if you are looking for a change of scenery...

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 11:16 AM

RUXTON

IsaacShepherd,
I graduated from DeVilbiss H.S. in Toledo, Ohio, a LONG time ago. Saw that city do a downtown renovation which helped its image immensely. Way back when, there was Dana Corporation, Willys Overland/Willys Motors/Kaiser Jeep, Owens Corning Glass (or was it Libby-Owens?) and a host of other U.S. corporations doing very well there. The general outpour of the U.S. economy to overseas/south-of-border locations has undoubted not done Toledo any good, but that city has always been one that rolled its streets up at sundown, so it seemed.

Chrisisall,
I suspect anyone looking for a good place to live ought to first establish a job that requires only Internet connection, and then go looking all over the country if not the world for a home place that pleases. This is precisely what I did, and though it took a great many years and lots of tears to accomplish, it was well worth all the effort.

Good luck.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 11:48 AM

CITIZEN

Britain, the 51st state

...

We've got the British-Commie-Nazi-Jew-Uber-Diktator Germany Queen here and rain, lots and lots of rain, plus a hose pipe ban because we don't get enough of the 'right kind' of rain.

What else? Erm we're real close to the French, and you can smell 'em across the channel if the wind blows right.

Erm, we've got the black cliffs of Dover, the most Libertarian buses in the world, and Trains that worship the tree and are so devot that they won't even move if there is a single leaf on the line.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity. But I know none, and therefore am no beast.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 12:06 PM

EMBERS

I just moved to Pacifica (small town on the coast just 15 minutes Southwest of San Francisco)...
the attraction is that it never freezes in the Winter and never gets really hot in the Summer
(or almost never?)
it is cool most of the year, foggy a lot, rainy a lot....
but not so much with the extremes of hot & cold.

I was in Iowa, which was very inexpensive...but WAY too cold...and then way too hot...with no break between those extremes (I would always go from having my furnace on to having the air conditioning on in the same 24 hour period).
I looked up and down the East coast, and they are also too extreme weather-wise....

of course Calif is expensive, but this little town isn't as outrageous as the city, and I don't think the city is as bad as NY or Mass (both of which are very expensive)....

so obviously I moved here because I thought it was perfect for me :)

BTW I have to add: a lot of really nice active Browncoats out here too!

**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse
have you checked out this thread?:
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=15816

and listen to 'I'm Going To See Serenity':
http://music.podshow.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=a0
c814e1229742ce77ed4497cbf4631c

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 12:24 PM

ZISKER

Exactly - see? So much history . . .

Arg! I forgot the best reason to move to Philly: THE FOOD! We've got Wawa's which has the best kwiki-mart coffee, scrapple, pizza that's on par with NYC's, the best pretzels and (drum roll)

REAL CHEESESTEAKS!

. . .you know what? The hell with the Army. I'm going AWOL and going back.

Fruit's Oaty Bar! Is a person from the mouse! Fruit's Oaty Bar! Makes your bust from yours female shirt! Continuously eats them! Let them cause you to be surprised!

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 12:56 PM

NCBROWNCOAT

Sorry my post was so disjointed. I did it on my lunch break and was writing real fast.

Washington (the Original Washington btw) is a great little town. We have 4 distinct seasons-winter, pine pollen, summer and fall and most activities center on the river.

Most importantly-we have STRAWBERRIES! Picked up two quarts of fresh, local strawberries after work, brought them home and ate 4 like Kaylee did in the pilot-Heaven.

Passes the strawberries around.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 1:10 PM

CHOKAI

Quote:
Originally posted by fredgiblet:
Portland, OR is a pretty decent place.

Yup Portland is a great city, can't beat Powells book store. The Pacific Coast North West in general is pretty good. It has mild weather (the rain really isn't as bad, we talk it up to keep people, especially Californians away). Summers are reasonably cool without a lot of bugs, usually the temps in the mid to upper 70s and a few warmer days here and there. During the winter skiing is less than an hour away from your house, but you rarely get snow at your house. And if you wanna get away you can visit our neighbors to the north in Vancouver. I hear Jewel lives up there and occasionally has shown up at Vancouver browncoat functions.

You got a vibrant killer, high tech diversified economy which keeps our job market hot. A highly educated population (Seattle is the most educated city in the US). And not to stereo type but lots of high tech computer people generally means lots of sci-fi fans and hence there are a TON of brown coats in Seattle.

It isn't very libertarian friendly though. West of the cascades is solid blue traditional democrat with far left in some of the cities. And the east of the mountains is solidly GOP trending a little to the far right themselves.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 1:50 PM

CALLMESERENITY

Quote:
Originally posted by Zisker:
Exactly - see? So much history . . .

Arg! I forgot the best reason to move to Philly: THE FOOD! We've got Wawa's which has the best kwiki-mart coffee, scrapple, pizza that's on par with NYC's, the best pretzels and (drum roll)

REAL CHEESESTEAKS!

. . .you know what? The hell with the Army. I'm going AWOL and going back.

I had this same conversation with a woman in line at the post office!

Don't forget water ice! Oh, how I miss water ice! Rita's water ice, layered with custard to make a gelati. And cannoli! I haven't had a decent cannoli since I Left Philly.

I miss Wawa somethin' fierce. Their bagels were better than the ones I get in the bread shops down here.

And I miss china town and the market on 9th street and Lincoln Drive and, ooh, I just miss Philly.

Serenity, First Officer of Destiny
President of the Juggled Gosling Chatroom

I have a live journal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/callmeserenity/

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 2:10 PM

KHYRON

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:
Originally posted by EvilDinosaur:
CANADA!! :P lol

I seen The Day After Tomorrow, no thanks.
But then, if it's good 'nuff for Nathan....

Mounty Chrisisall

Jewel lives in Vancouver! So come here! Although Vancouver's great even without Jewel.

Other people can occasionally be useful, especially as minions. I want lots of minions.

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Thursday, April 13, 2006 4:21 AM

GANEAGLA

Three Words

Santa Cruz, California

Its the perfect city. Small. Lovely Downtown. Beautiful Scenery right on the Pacific Ocean. Great University culture influences a vibrant culture for a smallish city. 1 hour drive to San Francisco. Fantastic Beaches. A Beach Boardwalk. A wharf with great seafood. Great music scene, good cinema, and very good restaurants.

... need I say more...

miss it

My current home of Dublin Ireland is okay too. Great for people who like fun. Bad for people who don't like disorganization or chaos.

San Francisco is beautiful as a dream but a true hassle to live in unless you are rich. Berkeley is too dirty.

Your sister's not a cold-blooded murderer. She's never been a planner. - Karen Tyler

"Day" is a vestigial mode of time measurement based on solar cycles. It's not applicable...
I didn't get you anything. - River Tam

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Thursday, April 13, 2006 5:29 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Chokai:

Yup Portland is a great city, can't beat Powells book store. The Pacific Coast North West in general is pretty good.

That's pretty close to Seattle, isn't it? Where genetically revved-up Ex-Manticore soldiers reside, right?

Chrisisall

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Thursday, April 13, 2006 6:08 AM

SERGEANTX

Quote:
Originally posted by Zisker:
Exactly - see? So much history . . .

Arg! I forgot the best reason to move to Philly: THE FOOD! We've got Wawa's which has the best kwiki-mart coffee, scrapple, pizza that's on par with NYC's, the best pretzels and (drum roll)

REAL CHEESESTEAKS!

....

Hmmm. I'm torn on the food. The cheesesteaks are great (I'm pretty sure there's a zoning ordinance requiring at least three steak and pizza shops on every block) but what I miss is Mexican food. There's woeful dearth of good Mexican places around Philly - probably goes along with relatively few Mexicans, but it is frustrating. I've also had a hard time finding any good barbeque.

As far as Philly in general, I like it. I've been here 6+ months now and loving it. Housing prices seem insanely expensive, but I'm comparing them with Kansas and Texas, so it's relative. The people seem nice enough and there's lots to do. The downtown area is really vibrant and a refreshing change from midwestern cities (where everything basically dies downtown after 6:00pm).

One of my first trips into the city was to see the Mummer's Day Parade, which turned out to be pretty solid proof that the people of Philadelphia are deeply bizarre.

One drawback is the signage on roads and highways. Seriously, it's pretty screwed up. I was ready for navigation to be a bit more challenging, given the older infrastructure and such, but they don't help you much. The signs for roads and exits, when they're there at all, are inconsistent and poorly placed, often times outright contradictory. At one point I considered the possibility that they were part of a conspiracy promoted by the New Jersey Tourism Board, because every time I tried to go somewhere in Philly I inadvertantly ended up in NJ.

One more thing about Philly. NO LEFT TURNS. Anywhere, in the entire city. You'll be shot on sight if caught making one. It's true.

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

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Thursday, April 13, 2006 6:10 AM

SERGEANTX

doubly

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Monday, April 17, 2006 6:23 PM

SASSALICIOUS

Madison, WI.

Though politically it gets polarized between the Democrats, the Greens, the ISO, and a bit of anarchists. There may be a small Republican presence as well . . .

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Monday, April 17, 2006 6:26 PM

SASSALICIOUS

Quote:
Originally posted by Grizwald:
That said, there are also a lot of rednecks around here, and our idea of racial diversity is wearing a Vikings jacket into a Packers-friendly bar.

Welcome to Green Bay, WI (where I spent most of my childhood), though we do have a large Asian population, primarily Hmong. Also, if anyone sees a large black man, they automatically assume he's a Packer.

Oh how I love Packer trash!

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Tuesday, April 18, 2006 9:44 AM

VERA2529

Quote:
Originally posted by Zisker:
Arg! I forgot the best reason to move to Philly: THE FOOD! We've got Wawa's which has the best kwiki-mart coffee, scrapple, pizza that's on par with NYC's, the best pretzels and (drum roll)

REAL CHEESESTEAKS!

Let's hear it for real cheesesteaks!!! I grew up in Philly suburbs (now live in Seattle) and everytime I go home I get a cheesesteak, I start salivating on the plane's descent.

Zisker, do you eat scrapple? Its another fave but I found in the frozen food aisle of my supermarket out here. So I'm not so deprived.

You forgot Tastykakes!! Ok, maybe I'll move back too.

Oops, forgot for a moment that I actually love living in Seattle.

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Tuesday, April 18, 2006 10:21 AM

ZISKER

HELL YES I EAT SCRAPPLE . . oh, how I miss it. I didn't know they sold it frozen now . . .might have to order it via the net or mail or something.

How do you like Seattle? I'm thinking of trying to get posted at Ft.Lewis

One day.
One plan.
One army/crew/passle* of Browncoats.

On June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.
(Help spread the Signal! Email me at seiryuu_@hotmail.com)

*Who cares? Just go out and support the effort on June 23rd!

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Wednesday, April 19, 2006 6:13 AM

VERA2529

Quote:
Originally posted by Zisker:
How do you like Seattle? I'm thinking of trying to get posted at Ft.Lewis

I love Seattle. There is always something to do indoor or outside. The rain issue is exaggerated a bit I think. That said you can't mind getting a little wet to do the things you like. I played rec league soccer out here and you play rain or shine, or storm, or huge puddles on the fields.

The greatest thing for me is no hot, humid summers like the east coast.

Ft. Lewis is south of Seattle. I haven't spent much time in that area so I can't give you the low down.

My plug for Seattle is that you can go to the opera in jeans and a t-shirt - you might not want to, but you could. That's why its the best place to to live.

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