Check here for more pictures and take not of the link in the Arcade and Gamer Groups section for StreetPass LA
Saturday, March 31, 2012
StreetPass SoCal 1st Anniversary Party!
Check here for more pictures and take not of the link in the Arcade and Gamer Groups section for StreetPass LA
Arcades in LA: Powersurge Feel The Power of the Modern Arcade
Wow, it's been a while since I reviewed a local arcade, I forgot I had a special title for these posts. Now were on Powersurge, it's the modern American arcade.
Powersurge
6081 Center Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 410-2120
I remember writing about it a year ago and even earlier when it just opened, two years back. It's console based. Only 360's and Wii's, no PS3's. They do have kinects set-up too. Another feature is some of the 360 are connected online, so you can play any online game you want. Some even have their stats built up from some many people playing. The place gets the new titles for you, what's popular and new.
You can pay hourly and it's cheaper than a movie if you play a game for an hour. Here are the rates, they seem fair and if you go for one of the big TV's or projection screen it's totally worth it. That means for an hour or two any title they have in their game library is yours.
From my experience I had a lot of fun on the projection screen playing a dancing game, but you can play anything on just this massive screen. Dancing and moving, I was in the zone as you might see in the video, just kidding, I know I'm frightful at it, but man it made me want to dance off. You can also get the classic 37" model to play on too.
Decor wise, it might be the cleanest arcade you've ever been in. Everything is nice and tidy, you get your own chair to sit and play your games with or a big basketball texture couch, or plenty of standing room. Don't worry about being next to someone they"ll space you out so you have your room. That is unless the place gets packed for a birthday. Did try the bathroom, totally clean, no writing on the walls.
If you've been to an art gallery, it somewhat looks like one, but there isn't any art up, at least that's what Roger Ebert would say, but to me all the screens with video game title screens playing is art to me.
At it's start I believe it wanted to focus on both exercise and video games and some games do get you active, they maybe wanted some video game exercises classes too. Yet, that's not going on right now, don't know if it didn't work or whatever, it sounds intriguing.
Staff was helpful and attentive, while I was there Jared, Jared and Noah were on que, getting games and drinks for whoever asked. They'll also help you out if you get stuck. There called game gurus, which is kind of a fun title.
There isn't any flaws with the place, your adjacent to a movie theater above you and plenty of places to eat, the worst thing might be the parking lot, which was two bucks when I was there. The other is it's not close to better known areas in LA. It is right off the 405. Other than that it's a smashing success. Any type of gamer could like it there,young and old, also if your considering getting a game why not play it for thirty minutes or an hour before trying it?
I'm going back there to play in May, maybe some Prototype 2.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Cartoon Network Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Cartoon Network is celebrating 20 years of cartoony goodness. They just sent out a press release from Cartoon Network Upfront which showcases what plans for the network has in store. I'm glad to see Adventure Time and Regular Show as retuning series, but not on the list is ThunderCats and Mystery Inc. . I'm not sure if that specifically means that the series have ended production, but it's definitely not a good sign. Most likely it means that they'll finish their runs this year. I just checked wikipedia and Mystery Inc is coming back in May, but by 2012 both shows are probably kaput.
New series coming out below all look awful except maybe Ben 10: Omniverse, might be fun. Beware The Batman all ready looks like a train wreck. That titles going to have to be changed by the time it comes out. It's childish idea of using new villain's to make it enticing seems like such a meanigless thing to base the plot on. They could just add new villains into the show with old villains too. Also CGI! WOW! CGI! Not excellent writing or directing being mentioned, but CGI!
*Nerd note the villains have been seen in animated form on Batman Brave and The Bold
press release on content
CARTOONNETWORK NEW SERIES
Nick Cannon Sketch Comedy Series: The series is a live-action, half-hour, sketch comedy show rooted in raw mischief, high energy and slapstick humor. You’ll never know what will happen next! Some of the silliest kids you know will make up this wild comedy troupe led by teen stars Jeremy Shada (Adventure Time), Brandon Soo Hoo (Enders Game, Tropic Thunder), Shameik Moore (Joyful Noise), Shauna Case (American Horror Story) and Chanelle Peloso (Level Up). Nick Cannon will bring the funny as creator and executive producer along with executive producers Michael Goldman and Scott Tomlinson. The series is being produced by Cartoon Network Studios in association with NCredible Entertainment.
Annoying Orange: Boasting more than 1 billion YouTube online views to date, Annoying Orange is the Web sensation transformed into a new television series that follows Orange and his buddies as they go on a wide range of adventures that take them from the fruit stand to parts unknown and everything in between. The television series was developed and will be produced by The Collective. Dane Boedigheimer co-created the television series with Tom Sheppard (Emmy Award-winning writer for Pinky and the Brain). Conrad Vernon (director of Madagascar 3 and Monsters vs. Aliens) will serve as executive producer for the series along with Gary Binkow and Dan Weinstein of The Collective. The series will premiere on Cartoon Network this summer.
DreamWorks Dragons: The Series: Picking up where the critically-acclaimed feature film, How to Train Your Dragon, left off, this weekly animated series follows the continuing adventures of Hiccup and his dragon Toothless on the island of Berk, along with the band of dragon trainers, all of whom now have dragons of their own!
Through their training,the kids are finding out the cool things dragons can do. Not only will theylearn more about their dragons, they’ll also discover new ones and battleagainst enemies as they explore worlds they never dreamed existed. Inaddition, the talented cast from the feature film—Jay Baruchel (Hiccup),America Ferrera (Astrid), Christopher Mitz-Plasse (Fishlegs) and T.J. Miller(Tuffnut)—will lend their voices to the series, which is produced byDreamWorks Animation and premieres this fall.
New LEGO Project: Following the instant ratings success of the CG-animated Ninjago, LEGO and Cartoon Network plan to expand their partnership with an all-new series from LEGO for 2013.
Ben 10: Omniverse: In the brand-new animated series, Ben 10: Omniverse, Ben will have a new character design that pays homage to his past, and he’ll have a whole new batch of aliens to battle. Beating the bad guys is just part of the superhero gig. With a little help from his new, by-the-book rookie partner, Ben explores the quirkier side of things in the alien underground and discovers enemies from his past looking for a re-match, all while a mysterious hunter is hot on his trail! With 10 new aliens at his disposal and a brand new lease on life, Ben 10 is back and more fun than ever! Matt Youngberg is supervising producer for the series, which will premiere on Cartoon Network this fall.
Ben10 is Cartoon Network’s most successful original globalfranchise. Since the premiere ofthe original Ben 10 series,created by Man of Action Studios, in 2006, the franchise has spawnedfour animated series, one animated movie, two live-action movies, a CG movie, afeature film currently in development, a widely-popular consumer products lineand has captured the imaginations of viewers on a worldwide scale.
Beware the Batman: A cool, new take on the classic Dark Knight franchise, Beware the Batman incorporates Batman’s core characters with a rogues gallery of new villains not previously seen in animated form. Along with backup from ex-secret agent Alfred and lethal swordstress Katana, the Dark Knight faces the twisted machinations of Gotham City’s criminal underworld led by the likes of Anarky, Professor Pyg, Mister Toad and Magpie. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, this action-packed detective thriller deftly redefines what we have come to know as a “Batman show.” Featuring cutting-edge CGI visuals to match the intricate twists and turns of the narrative, Batman steps out of the shadows and into the spotlight for an entirely new generation of fans. With WBA’s Sam Register executive producing, and Batman Beyond’s Glen Murakami and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated’s Mitch Watson producing, Beware the Batman, based on characters from DC Comics, is coming soon to Cartoon Network!
Total Drama: Revenge of the Island: It’s back to the island where Total Drama began with an all-new cast! Since the series’ host Chris took the show worldwide, CampWawanakwa has been abandoned and turned into a toxic nuclear waste dump—the perfect place for new and painful, cringe-inducing challenges! Fighting for the million dollar prize are thirteen wild new players. Total Drama: Revenge of the Island is produced by Fresh TV and will premiere on Cartoon Network this summer.
SPECIALSAND MOVIES
Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards: Hall of Game is Cartoon Network’s signature venture into the broadcast awards arena, created and produced in association with IMG Media, the production arm of global sports, entertainment and media company, IMG. This high-energy, multi-platform experience lets viewers decide who’s got game, by honoring their favorite sports stars and sports moments of the year. From the red carpet, to the never-before-seen stunts and surprises on stage, this unconventional celebration in 2013 will be led by a celebrity host and feature icons from television, film, music and sports, as kids experience an evening of humor and fun at the most raucous and biggest sports awards show ever presented on television.
RETURNIN GSERIES
Adventure Time
Regular Show
MAD
The Amazing World of Gumball
The Looney Tunes Show
Ninjago
Level Up
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Young Justice
Johnny Test
Pokémon
Green Lantern: The Animated Series
Almost Naked Animals
Casper's Scare School
Hero 108
Scaredy Squirrel
Sidekick
The Kid with a Bike Review
I mentioned the film The Kid with a Bike way back in November as part of AFI Fest for having a Wesker Resident Evil reference. Since then it's been playing around LA and is now showing up at The Landmark.
The Kid with a Bike is as simple as its title. A boring tale about a abandoned boy and his life without a deadbeat dad who just left him. You never get that involved and there's never a part that seems to matter as you follow the course of the boy being picked up by some hairdresser who feels sorry for him. At some points it makes no sense why the hair dresser is so nice to the young boy, he is a constant annoyance and at one point stabs her. I hated the main character throughout the movie and not in a anti-hero good way. There's strokes of great ideas, but mediocre camera work and completion make it something my friends could complain to me about being exactly what someone might think a french foreign film might be, boring. Couldn't they have gotten at some entertaining bike riding shots?
Don't see it. It be better to just ride a bike outside through a nice area and enjoy yourself.
Cartoon Hype: Wild Grinders Gay Acceptance Cartoon
With both Cartoon Network and Disney having major powerhouse cartoons based on superheroes and devoted hours on the weekend to said heroes how will Nickelodeon remain in the game? With the gayest cartoon ever, yes, Nickelodeon's new cartoon Wild Grinders might be the gayest cartoon ever with it's entire cast of skateboarders being gay. They're gay boys and girls and they live there life to the fullest with generic plots and the same characters you've seen a hundred times, except now their gay. Did I mention a gay talking dog, looks like Scooby Doo has some competition. I have to say way to go Nickelodeon, when major networks are coming up with superhero cartoons to grab the prime demographic of young males you come out with a show about gay skateboarders, way to take a chance
In honestly reminds me of the Gaystyle cartoon from Angry Boys. Will Nickelodeon be making some of the same products from the show like dick thermoses? Who knows?
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Movie Hype: Pasta Maker #2
This new drama doc looks fascinating. A piece on an actor who you might remember as an extra in a lot scenes from television and movies.
Dance Central Would Have Been Cooler
A whole lot of people showed up for the Zumba Fitness event I didn't hear about at LA Live. I honestly forgot there was a big television there as LA Live is completely under utilized, because well it sucks and it's overpriced there.
I wonder how many people were paid to show up or given t-shirts, because unless West Hollywood was invitied to the event it's the most colorful LA crowd I've ever scene.
I wonder how many people were paid to show up or given t-shirts, because unless West Hollywood was invitied to the event it's the most colorful LA crowd I've ever scene.
Movie Hype: Iron Sky & Beyond The Black Rainbow in LA?
Both Iron Sky & Beyond The Black Rainbow are due out for theatrical release says Moviefone in the next few days, but I can't find a theater in LA playing them, not even the independents.
I hope they get some showings, I'll keep you updated if I find any. Check the trailers belwo. Iron Sky is a comedic sci-fi look if Nazis were hiding on the moon all this time. Beyond The Black Rainbow is one of my favorite from AFI Fest dealing with a strange society that locked away a powerful telekenitc girl. It overflowed with style and and awesome 80's vibe.
I hope they get some showings, I'll keep you updated if I find any. Check the trailers belwo. Iron Sky is a comedic sci-fi look if Nazis were hiding on the moon all this time. Beyond The Black Rainbow is one of my favorite from AFI Fest dealing with a strange society that locked away a powerful telekenitc girl. It overflowed with style and and awesome 80's vibe.
Ultimate Spider-Man Release Party@ Meltdown
You can see Ultimate Spider-Man before it hits TV this Sunday in Marvel's idiotic idea of putting cartoons on Sunday Morning instead of Saturday. Paul Dini and Jeph Loeb should get you there just for being so cool.
BTW, did you know Thundercats is back, but it's now on Saturday. Anyway, if you have a DVR your good, but Sunday, Disney XD , what are you UPN 2. (local people should get that joke)
"On March 31st, the Marvel Universe is taking over Meltdown Comics with the Ultimate Spider-Man Launch Party! Catch the new series before it airs April 1 inside Marvel Universe on Disney XD with a sneak peek of the first episode! Enjoy a Q&A and signing with some of the biggest names in the business, including: Jeph Loeb, Paul Dini, and Man of Action’s Steven T. Seagle and Duncean Rouleau and other great talent, plus giveaways and more surprises!Marvel Television, Meltdown and NerdMelt bring you the best in family entertainment all day long!"
- 12pm- signings with creators and crew
- 1:30pm- Q&A with creators and crew
- 2:30- Screenings of the Ultimate Spider-Man premiere episode every half hour until 4:30
7522 Sunset Bl. LA, CA 90046
Movie Hype: Anchorman 2 Getting It On
Spectacular news! Anchorman 2 is going to happen, it's been at a crossroads over budget with Paramount and seemed like it wouldn't happen. Now it it is. I"ll have more details on it as it enters production, but for now check out Ron Burgundy on Conan telling us the news! Anchorman is one of my all time favorite comedies.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
ComicFest March 31
more info
FIDM Museum & Galleries
919 South Grand Avenue, Suite 250
Los Angeles, California, 90015
Weekly What To Do 25 Cent Nerf Gun Gangsters
Grauman's Chinese Theatre 25-cent Admission Days
"On MONDAYS, starting APRIL 2, @ChineseTheatres will offer 25-CENT ADMISSION to select CLASSIC FILMS which Premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theatre over the years in honor of the world famous theater's 85th! That 25-Cent ticket price is the same as it was on opening day in 1927!
We hope locals and visitors alike will come celebrate with us!"
Monday April 2
Moshe Kasher
Kasher in the Rye Signing
Wednesday March 28, 2012 7:00 PM
The Grove at Farmers Market189 Grove Drive Suite K 30, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Saturday, March 31, 2012 11:30 am
26 Bars in Downtown LA |
FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT
OPENING NIGHT
FRIDAY, MARCH 30
7 TO 10PM
...
ALL AGES!
FREE ADMISSION!
COMPLIMENTARY BEVERAGES
FRIDAY, MARCH 30
7 TO 10PM
...
ALL AGES!
FREE ADMISSION!
COMPLIMENTARY BEVERAGES
7:30pm until 11:30pm
13539 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
First Fridays @ Natural History Museum
Dinosaurs skeletons and music
"On the verge of being laid off, corrupt customs officer Choi Ik-hyun finds a methamphetamine shipment. His life turns around when he partners with the harbor city's biggest crime organization boss, Choi Hyung-bae, to make money off it. They eventually find out they are distant relatives. Hyung-bae helps Ik-hyun set up a business with the money from drug trafficking while Ik-hyun lobbies for his partner Hyung-bae. With his unique wit and ability to make people like him, Ik-hyun borrows Hyung-bae's power to take over Busan. But their golden days are numbered. In 1990, the Roh Tae-woo government administration declares a war on crime and a rift gradually occurs between the two men and in their organization."
CGV CINEMAS
621 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90005
"LAST SATURDAY'S" CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON Nerf gun modification art show
Nerf gun modification show too cool!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
8 'till Late
21-n-Over Only
Free Admission
$10=Food and Drinks
www.petragallerie.com
PETRA GALLERIE / SORO SOCIAL CLUB
1149&1151 S. Robertson Blvd. SORO LA CA 90035
American Magic Awards @ Magic Castle
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Movie Hype: Films Not Out Yet
A Boy And His Samurai
A samurai from ancient Japan befriends a single mom and kid in present Japan. Add fine pastry making and you have one family friendly movie. It's sad no ones picked this up in America nor has it been at any film festivals on the West Coast.
New Kids Nitro
A bunch of idiots get into trouble in epic proportions, I enjoyed the previous film New Kids Turbo. Strangely enough this is made by Comedy Central, but might never see the light day in America, because it's from Finland.
A samurai from ancient Japan befriends a single mom and kid in present Japan. Add fine pastry making and you have one family friendly movie. It's sad no ones picked this up in America nor has it been at any film festivals on the West Coast.
New Kids Nitro
A bunch of idiots get into trouble in epic proportions, I enjoyed the previous film New Kids Turbo. Strangely enough this is made by Comedy Central, but might never see the light day in America, because it's from Finland.
Children of the Plumed Serpent: The Legacy of Quetzalcoatl in Ancient Mexico
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more info
LACMA
5905 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90036
323 857-6000
Painting with Paul 6
Painting with Paul is back! Yes, the master artisan Paul is back to teach you how to paint and explore his friendship with those who matter most to him. This week's episode has guest model Gayvin a good friend that looks like a Gweedo for some reason the week this was filmed.
If anyone wants to do anything with the green screen background provided please go ahead and have fun.
Car Date Review One Hell of A ... In-N-Out Burger
Car Date isn't a hard film to describe, a man off camera lies to two woman about having some sort of a dating show, while the real point is to explain how to trick women into having sex with the viewer. Now this played at Sundance and just went up to the home market about three months ago. Now there isn't a pouring of outrage or anything big, because what the director, a man mostly off camera during the filming, is just a guy trying to get laid.
You start off thinking how weird is this is going to get or is their going to be a turning point, but no it's about a man teaching you what he calls mind control or what I would call really good skills on knowing human nature of some people. One of the strangest parts is the setup for things to be weird. Such as an interview with the driver of the car, which doesn't have any lines later on in the film. She's talked too then boom, hey, I'm on a date with two porn stars. The lovely ladies that you get to know and act super predictable are, yes porn stars. Victoria the blonde and Charlie are set up and planned out right away. If they weren't pretty the be more annoying, but they do get very annoying anyway.
If you've dated any girl you know the way they act isn't to off from these too. The levels that Lacy goes through explaining every point or when you see a word you should be paying attention to pop up make me think this might become a cult classic if more people find out about it. I could see a drinking game at the Downtown Independent with this film. A word is left up on screen, take another drink, you'll get drunk pretty fast. Like a lot films I see, I recommend watching with friends including women to see how they react and to laugh at some of the dumb moments.
Car date isn't going to win any award for cinematography, it's almost a bit weird that the camera is always on the two girls, but it's shot clearly and your not going to miss much of anything. I say the film isn't that deep unless you want to make it so. The man behind camera is trying to get some and is teaching you the best way he knows how to get some. If anything the only thing that might be true is how sucky real relationships can come by today in LA, as one of the girls Charlie brings up, you can go to a bar or a club, that's A crappy way to meet a girlfriend or boyfriend. That might be the only deep thing from the movie, the rest is a film about getting laid. It totally objectifies women, but that's how many men are and women who are just the same, looking to get laid and move on.
I talked a bit on the phone with Lacy and he's an LAian.... Los Angeleno.. I don't know what we call ourselves and I have a damn blog about the city, but he knows he's the city. What I might haved like about the film more than the odd premise was how local it felt, kind of like The Scenesters film I reviewed a while back. In-N-Out get mentioned for lunch by jingle. The date and "mind control" is still going on while there chowing down on some Animal Style burgers. Hearing them getting off and on Ventura made me think I was watching a friends home movie when he got lucky. There's talk of helping laborers outside of Home Depot and you might be able to figure what street their driving around on if you know the area. The ladies seemed like a lot you find in LA, which isn't just porn stars, but that attitude of somewhat of a valley girl.
Spoiler ahead
Got to say the ending was kind of a downer,d you get to a point where Lacy manages to get the chicks back to his pad for a good time, but there's know camera shot of underwear falling on the camera or one ending shot that he got some. It's just kind of let down. You don't even get in the house. I would have like one little shot where I'd go "Oh, he got laid, good for him"
End of spoilers
The films only 4 bucks and only available online, it less than an hour so you won't be learning how to "bang chicks with mind tricks" in very long. It seems worthy of Netflix or rental online.
Strangely enough, from Lacy himself, it was shot in one day, but cost six thousand dollars to make and post took six months, which kind of baffles me. He did it in his free time with editors and there most have been a lot more footage I'm not seeing, but this is his Lacy's first film and he never went to film school.
So see the film and test it out and maybe you'll get laid sooner then you think, just wear a condom and keep it safe. As a friend use to say "Condoms and safety belts" then he might have died of a sexual disease
Rick Lenz@ The Last Bookstore April 4th North of Hollywood Review
You can also get North of Hollywood
on AmazonRick is a cowboy, no he's a Dad, or has he recently gotten married, maybe he's too many things. Rick jumps around his stories and thoughts like all Alzheimer's patients. What you get from this is what it's like to be a Hollywood actor and what staying as one entails. It's a good look at the behind the scenes of tinsel town and one man's life wanting to be a star.
Writing in the book like "My reaction to having a large, metaphorical penis stuck in my mouth in front of hundreds of millions of people on Academy Award night is that I'm thrilled", tells you Rick loves to joke when he writes. Then there are lines like, "I've never forgotten his face. He will be one of the murder victims two years from now." Reading it feels like sitting next to Rick, like he's there with you spouting these horrible stories of him making it in Hollywood.
Not only did I like hearing the struggling actor exploits, but also hearing about LA. Different locales and shoots or just Rick remembering where he was when something in his life went up or down. There is a bit of that, he is an actor.
He's also been in some big name films over the years and met tinsel town's top leaving for some fun words from celebrities.
If you're an actor or in the entertainment industry in LA and you just might be, it's a long look at someone's life in somewhat the same beat. If not entertainment, it's still an attention grabbing read with insightful stuff about LA. Grab a copy and meet Rick while you can.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Batman Live Coming To LA
Here's the main website
Tickets for Honda Center
Tickets for Staples Center
I'll have more on this event leading up to it until the bat fans, same bat web site same bat time. Not really the same time. Sorry, but this is going to beat Spider-man's musical in New York into the ground.
Journey Review
Don't just imagine yourself in a sprawling desert as unknown seeker of what's out there, with a ever growing scarf and multiple not named companions in your journey, buy it now. Journey has you play as a unnamed character trans-versing a vast desert populated by ruins of some ancient unknown culture that might be linked to you in some way. Along the way you'll meet companions that can't talk to you, but merely make a sound that you can also see with light and a symbol. Together or alone you cover vast distances surfing the desert or fly for short periods using your scarf.Yes, your scarf indicates hot long you can fly and grows longer when you discover symbols that light up throughout the game. There's little to master as you'll be walking, floating/flying or sliding around this deserted desert. Simple puzzles that shouldn't take long to master and some sneaking past some guards are the hardships of this game.
The world is sometimes a composition of the desert, ancient ruins and the ocean. Many creatures and plants(?) resemble aquatic acquaintances. You"ll see parchment based seaweed, jellyfish and non-ocean parchment canines. The creatures I refer to look really nothing like dogs, but they seem like doggy companions none the less.
Companions in the human sense can come and go throughout your game. They appear like you a being protected from the desert and having a scarf. You can beat the game without someone, but it simply isn't as fun. Even though you never really talk your Journey with someone else stimulates you to carry on, look around more and simple enjoy the others company. A bonus for playing together is your flight power is regained while being near or with a shout from your unknown companion.
The story of Journey is deep with being simple enough for anyone to pick up on. It's like a Disney movie with out a annoying song to remember, still has a great soundtrack. Why are you alone in the desert, what's with these ancient ruins, what are you searching for? It will all be revealed when you play and see it for yourself.
I was so impressed by this game I tried to get a studio tour of thatgamecompany in Feb/March , but they were just too busy. I had followed a lot of the development including reading an article about a symphony orchestra lead online by one of the game makers to capture the touching music within the game. The third title from a game group that came out of USC and they seem unstoppable. There three title contract with Sony is up and know they"ll be making the games they want for multiple systems perhaps? Hope they keep it as nice as Journey.
Available now on PSN
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