Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

You can’t love your country only when you win.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

The revolution will be supervised.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

This really is a full service blog.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

Peak wingnut was a lie.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

I like you, you’re my kind of trouble.

Roe isn’t about choice, it’s about freedom.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

We still have time to mess this up!

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

I did not have telepathic declassification on my 2022 bingo card.

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Super Bowl Open Thread and Puppy Bowl Steel Cage Match

Reader Interactions

374Comments

  4. 4.

    gogol's wife

    My squee meter broke!

    Steve is magnificent in his disdain.

    ETA: That sound they make is hilarious.

  7. 7.

    Elizabelle

    Is that JCole’s voice? First time ever heard.

    Puppies are adorable. But neither looks like a poodle.

    Was Ginger a surrogate?

  10. 10.

    debit

    Thurston seems like kind of dick to be picking on his little sister like that. Nevertheless, adorable video. Thanks, John. Love the bonus of Steve watching from on high.

  14. 14.

    Betty Cracker

    Squeeee! Pups!

    Now, to repost my survey from below: Which QB is the most handsome, Brady or Wilson? Damn tough choice!

  21. 21.

    Mnemosyne (iPad Mini)

    It always amuses me how puppies wrestle with full on growling and then just kind of wander away and forget the whole thing. Getting ready to shift some stuff around in the craft room so we can move the last bookcase into place and I can finally start unloading some boxes.

  22. 22.

    Elizabelle

    The BMW i3 commercial was kinda cool. Most of them, not memorable.

    I liked that Detroit is back car commercial several years back.

    But what was the car company? Was it Clint Eastwood and Eminem …. hope there will be some good ads tonight.

  28. 28.

    shelley

    Is pulling on somebody’s tail a penalty offense?
    ****
    I was starting to think ‘what green throw?’ But I do like that quilty blanket that looks like it’s been sewn from nice old soft flannel shirts.

    Steve’s face radiates ‘who are those two little gnats?’

  29. 29.

    debit

    @Elizabelle: The vet did an exploratory surgery after xrays revealed a mass and found tumors all through the abdominal cavity. There was nothing to do except put him to sleep. I’ve had several good cries now and, while still sad, am okay.

  31. 31.

    Pogonip

    @Debbie: His sister will be beating him up tomorrow, don’t worry. At that age, Top Dog changes from hour to hour. If she was in real trouble, she’d yelp and he’d back off, probably wagging and grinning apologetically.

  32. 32.

    Morzer

    Looks like Brady’s deflating balls are the wind under the Seahawks’ wings. INTERCEPTION in the red zone!

  34. 34.

    Pogonip

    Thanks, John!

    You have a nice voice. In a more civilized, less corporate era, you’d have been a late-night FM host.

  41. 41.

    Morzer

    Marshawn Lynch is just something else. He’s like a blend of an energizer bunny and a pile-driver.

  42. 42.

    Violet

    @Elizabelle: Yeah, so far I’m completely underwhelmed by the commercials. The Katie Couric/Bryan Gumbel one was funny sort of. But that’s about it.

  43. 43.

    Elizabelle

    JCole voice and JFK voice all in one night.

    Embarrassment of riches.

    I think that’s JFK. Isn’t it?

  44. 44.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Elizabelle:

    I saw it a few days ago and laughed. I smiled the second time I saw it. By now, it’s old and predictable. I don’t really get the whole thing about releasing crazy-expensive SB ads before the game itself.

  47. 47.

    PurpleGirl

    @debit: Good to hear that you are feeling better.

    – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

    Thanks for the video JC. They sure are getting big. Rassling is a good way to play with each other.

  48. 48.

    Pogonip

    @Debbie: Ah, but did they wag their tails apologetically?

    Don’t worry. Even if he’s the dog equivalent of autistic and doesn’t get what a serious yelp means, it would bring Mom running from the kitchen, and probably John’s other 2 dogs as well; female dogs will drop what they’re doing and run to help a puppy in real trouble. I’ve even had a couple of people tell me about males doing the same, though I’ve never seen it myself.

  52. 52.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @debit: I meant to offer my condolences yesterday but I was late to the news. They leave such big paw prints on our hearts.

  56. 56.

    lamh36

    Sooo wait, the Terminator is a robot who ages…but ummm isn’t he supposed to be plastic?

    I mean…ook

  58. 58.

    JPL

    As if deflategate was not enough… nbc is reporting The Atlanta Falcons are being investigated by the National Football League for using “artificial” crowd noise during their games.
    just great

  60. 60.

    Violet

    @lamh36: Did you see SNL last night where D’Angelo’s band/singers onstage were wearing “Black Lives Matter” and “I can’t breathe” t-shirts? Making a statement!

  61. 61.

    NotMax

    Know there are folks here who travel for business and bring along their computer. Some might be interested to find out there’s now a full function printer/copier/scanner roughly the same size and weight (2½ lbs.) as a laptop machine which one can also carry along. A tad pricey, but not outlandishly so.

  65. 65.

    karen marie

    See how paranoid you people have me about posting pics, knowing you all will analyze them to death.

    Dear John, if you posted more pics more often there wouldn’t be time to analyze them to death. We would be busy catching our breath from so much awesome. The truth is you are too busy snuggling puppies.

    I am sure your mother thinks you should be more sharing. Don’t disappoint your mother.

  67. 67.

    jl

    Thanks for pupvid. I approve of Cole’s totally excellent fashion sense.

    However, the implied moral imperative of the film’s story arc and the oppressive though hidden intrusion of the director, clearly a narcissistic and egotistical disciple of the auteur theory of film, in addition to the botched attempt at a Dogme 95 revival, and the botched Hitchcockian surreptitious cameo are the only flaws

    All flaws of course attributable to the overweening producer/director, not at all the fault of the brilliant actors, who gave a bravura performance and valiantly almost rescued the enterprise, against all odds.

    But it is Cole’s first attempt at long form ensemble canine-feline film. There are signs of hope, even in this ‘dogs breakfast’, that he will mature and better work will follow.

  69. 69.

    lamh36

    @Violet: didn’t watch, but saw clips of it.

    Haven’t really watched SNL in years.

    But I will be catching the 40 anniversary show with Eddie Murphy

  72. 72.

    divF

    My plane is about to land in Newark, it appears just ahead of the snowstorm. Layover for 2 hours, then another plane (a commuter jet) out to Hartford. I think I will make it.

    Tomorrow I sit in a windowless conference room for 8-9 hours while the snow piles up, walk back to the hotel, then hope that there is a plane for me Tuesday morning to take to DC for the connection back to San Francisco. Where we have just had the first January since they started keeping records (the Gold Rush) with zero precipitation. Here’s hoping for a wet February and March, or it is going to be a tough year.

  74. 74.

    Tree With Water

    The best receivers on the market after this game will be very wealthy Seahawks next year.

  75. 75.

    Jeffrey Burr

    (formerly known as … I’m not telling)

    I haven’t checked in in a while, John, your dogs have all gotten younger! They’ve all become puppies.

    Time must be going backwards here. Okay that means if I hang out here I’ll get to go through my 20s again. On the other hand it also means going through puberty. Yikes.

    Well, carry on. Looks good.

  76. 76.

    Suzanne

    The puppies are glorious. The end table still sucks. But PUPPIES!!!

    We just heard the planes flying overhead that will be on the TV soon. I am rooting for Seattle, but more than anything, I just want this to be over and all the visitors to LEAVE so I can have my city back.

  77. 77.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    OT but our neighbor’s kid is coming into our house on a daily basis and stealing beer and cigarettes. I hate that I am going to have to talk to them about it because they have been our friends for 20 years but this shit has to stop.

  80. 80.

    Tenar Darell

    @Violet: That was great. The shirts and the red spot on the chalk outline at the end of “The Charade” were a powerful combination.

  83. 83.

    Suzanne

    @Violet: Yeah, weather-wise, they are lucking out, because it has been raining since Thursday, and it was all foggy this morning. That never happens here. But the fog burned off and it started being just awesome starting around noon today.

  91. 91.

    Suzanne

    Mr. Suzanne and I tried to go to downtown Scottsdale around 10 last night to check out some of the parties, but it was unbelievable madness and we couldn’t find a place to park.

    This McDonald’s ad sucks. I think the one with Cat’s in the Cradle is the worst one for the day so far, though.

  95. 95.

    Violet

    @Suzanne: This must be the Nice Super Bowl ads year. The one with Coke that’s going to stop internet trolls. The Cats in the Cradle one about dads. The McDonald’s “love” one. Boring.

  98. 98.

    Elizabelle

    I liked the Mindy Kaling “am I invisible?” ad for Nationwide.

    OK, that was the best Viagra — oh, it’s a Fiat ad, I have ever seen. LOL.

  101. 101.

    Elizabelle

    Taking myself out of moderation:

    I liked the Mindy Kaling “am I invisible?” ad for Nationwide.

    OK, that was the best blue p i l l — oh, it’s a Fiat ad, I have ever seen. LOL.

  102. 102.

    danielx

    Nominated for Understatement Of The Year Award: “Marshawn Lynch certainly is a big, fast, hostile, aggressive dude…”

    Yes, he is.

    See how paranoid you people have me about posting pics, knowing you all will analyze them to death.

    “You people?” Sounds positively Romney-ish, Cole, eh?

  103. 103.

    Elizabelle

    The drowned child ad — haunting.

    And why can’t we ever talk about firearms as a cause of child deaths and toddler as murderer? It’s so dishonest.

  105. 105.

    Violet

    I haven’t got into “The Blacklist” but I love James Spader. All the way back to “Pretty in Pink.”

  106. 106.

    Suzanne

    @Violet: I agree that the commercials suck, but honestly, Phoenix is a great place for the Super Bowl. The weather is awesome and the stadium is top-notch.

  109. 109.

    gogol's wife

    I am getting the impression from this thread that they just dispensed with the game this year and are running ads continuously.

  111. 111.

    shelley

    ‘Groundhog Day’ is playing on AMC tomorrow at 10 am. And again at 12:30 pm and again at 3 pm and again…….

  114. 114.

    Morzer

    @gogol’s wife:

    The game’s been a rather dour performance so far. Lots of the usual Dinking Dunknuts from the Deflatriots and Seattle not getting going on offence.

  123. 123.

    Elizabelle

    @BillinGlendaleCA: Ah. Will have to see it again for that.

    I heart Jeff Bridges. Cool dude.

    Lotta celebrity ads this year. More than usual? (Haven’t watched the Superb Owl in recent years …)

  125. 125.

    Elizabelle

    @lamh36: Cool that you recognized the narrator.

    I was thinking “baby Oscar Pistorius” and “aren’t a lot of prosthetics advances actually due to some Americans’ lust for war?”

  128. 128.

    JPL

    @Villago Delenda Est: Well the other problem that I have is the pup doesn’t like cheering and definitely doesn’t like the word f.k…. I’m trying to be good but it’s difficult. My adult sons think it’s hilarious and will text me about the dog during games.

  134. 134.

    Elizabelle

    This seems to be a really evenly matched game.

    Also: glad someone redeemed the “Chris Matthews” name.

  135. 135.

    Morzer

    Clearly I should denounce the Seahawks’ offense more often.

    That was some catch for the touchdown.

  137. 137.

    Tree With Water

    I have never cared for Pete Carrol but that was a gutsy call, perfectly executed.. in a Super Bowl. Wow.. my hat is off to you, sir.

  138. 138.

    cckids

    Why does whoever that announcer is keep saying “We’re knotted at 7, or 14?” I assume he believes it’s catchy?

    Hey, dude, stop trying to make “fetch” happen.

  140. 140.

    Villago Delenda Est

    Katy Perry apparently drives the Christianists totally apeshit. Like that’s difficult to do with such mental people, but still….

  143. 143.

    Morzer

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    My heart warms to that fine young lady.

    Note in case Madame Morzer should be reading this:

    When I said “warms” I meant to express a strictly platonic and non-adulterous political admiration.

  145. 145.

    My Truth Hurts

    I come to this blog because of Steve. All I care to see or read about is Steve. However the puppies are a good subplot. I approve.

  146. 146.

    Violet

    I have been way down the rabbit hole looking at James Spader in “Pretty in Pink.” Sigh. Such a bad boy. I totally fell for him.

  147. 147.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Tree With Water: The Seahawks were my NFL team, being we don’t have one in LA and I lived in Seattle for 3 years). But once they hired cheaty Petey, I lost interest.

  154. 154.

    Morzer

    @Bobby Thomson:

    I am just imagining Gruden commenting on Tweety. It’s an interesting little hallucinogen that might have some potential in the politics-football crossover market.

  160. 160.

    Elie

    Just gotta say that I hate the Patriot kissing Chris Collingsworth and Al Michaels and their rank favoritism for the cheater Patriots. To hear them tell it, the Seahawks might as well give up and concede defeat to the always “perfect”, never can be anything but, Tom Brady and the Pats. I just hate having to hear them. The suck. Chris Collingsworth’s one appearance in the Super Bowl he cost his team, the Bengals, a costly fumble to the 49rs. He should shut up.

  162. 162.

    Violet

    @Suzanne: Ohhh…loved him in “Secretary.” I love him in anything, really. He’s so great. If you haven’t seen him in “Pretty in Pink,” go watch it. You’ll fall in love all over again.

    I hate Katy Perry’s dress or outfit. It’s supremely unflattering.

  163. 163.

    Tree With Water

    @BillinGlendaleCA: I know exactly what you’re talking about. I am nonetheless forced to give the devil his proper due on that call. That play will definitely be remembered.

  168. 168.

    Elizabelle

    I kissed a dog and I liked it,
    the taste of that Milk Bone chapstick.

    Used to sing that to my pups.

  171. 171.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Morzer: I’m sure that will work with Madame Morzer. Koreans aren’t known for their temper or anything.

    (Looking forward to Korean food for dinner here).

  178. 178.

    Morzer

    @BillinGlendaleCA:

    The judgment of Madame Morzer is invariably just, salutary and educational.

    And I said that of my own free will without anyone leaning in over my keyboard.

    Honestly.

  180. 180.

    Bobby Thomson

    This is great. I haven’t laughed this hard during the halftime show since Prince got away with shadow penis.

  186. 186.

    Tree With Water

    I just watched 7 seconds of Katie Perry et.al. with the sound off. Then I reflect that the first Super Bowl wasn’t even sold out. Times change, and not always for the better, eh?

  187. 187.

    Heliopause

    First thought: Pats did almost everything they wanted in the first half.
    Second thought: Game is still tied.
    Third thought: More a question, really. I have the halftime show on with the sound down pretty low. Is any music being performed? In terms of visual production it rivals some recent Olympics ceremonies in pointless extravagance.

  188. 188.

    Jay C

    OK: can someone explain this to me? Is the SB Halftime show actually live, or is it (this year, as opposed to a lot ive seen) heavily edited?

    No one (not even a talent like Katy Perry) can change costumes THAT fast!!!

  192. 192.

    Elie

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    well I hate to reveal my bad taste, but I kinda liked the piece…I thought it was fun..not too overproduced with too much glitter, etc. Not so much after that, when the show adopts the usual glitter/rapper format, but there you go, different tastes…

  196. 196.

    Mike J

    @Jay C: Her regular stage show has a bazillion costume changes. Specially designed wardrobe, tear away stuff in layers. Yeah, she can change that quick.

  198. 198.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Suzanne: Call me obsessive, or just a curious and sloppy reader, but what was the problem with cookies in the closet? Were they taken/hidden without consent?

  202. 202.

    Elie

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    Ok. I guess I just thought that the beach thing was kind of fun and didn’t have the usual glitter thing…

    I like Katy Perry and Missy. No bad on them at all. I just want to see a fun performance…

  204. 204.

    Morzer

    @Mike J:

    A girl could get all hot and sweaty under those costumes. Might need some responsible older men to feed her grapes and cool her delicate young body with ostrich feather fans at critical moments.

    John Cole, your new career awaits!

  205. 205.

    The Pale Scot

    @Pogonip:

    In a more civilized, less corporate era, you’d have been a late-night FM host.

    Yep the Art Bell of West Virgina;

    Revealing that JRT’s are an alien species bent on world domination………….

  208. 208.

    Gravenstone

    Went out at the end of the half to clean my drive off. Come back in and it’s still fucking halftime? Ridiculous.

  210. 210.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Suzanne: I get it now. Stealth sugar/junk is to be discouraged, as are bug encouraging activities. Thanks for the answer.

  213. 213.

    Elizabelle

    I loved the little girls in the “throw like a girl” commercial.

    Wish we saw more of that.

  218. 218.

    Violet

    Okay, I missed the first bit of the second half. How did Seattle get the ball down the field so quickly?

  220. 220.

    Bobby Thomson

    Unfortunately you get only a handful of commercials repeated over and over when you stream it over the net.

  223. 223.

    Suzanne

    @a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q): We let them have junk food, but in limited quantities. I don’t like not knowing what they eat, yanno? We try hard, and are mostly successful, to have good stuff that they like to eat in the house, so finding out that she’s hiding cookies makes me pissy.

  235. 235.

    Randy P

    Not watching the game. But I am surfing this site:
    http://www.superbowlcommercial2015.com/
    Has not only the ads, but some backstories, some older ads and some interesting related info.

    The McDonald’s “pay with lovin'” campaign is… weird. And the other video they show about the making of McNuggets, that’s supposed to make me feel better about eating them (which I haven’t in years) made me so disgusted that I know I will *never* eat another one of those things.

    The Doritos ads are great (all the finalists from their 2015 contest).

    ETA: I guess it’s not all of them, at least not yet. Only those the advertisers were ready to release early.

  237. 237.

    Mary G

    Here’s how long it’s been since I watched television: First I spent 5 minutes looking for the remote, then I had to find new batteries for it, then I had to move a chair that got relocated by my physical therapist before I could turn it on.

    I don’t follow football, but I am rooting for the Patriots because of betting. Every Thanksgiving the people that I love predict who will win the Super Bowl and the World Series the next year, among other things. I said the Patriots totally off the top of my head and am thrilled they made it this far. I’ve never won the contest and was hoping to get at least one thing right this year.

  239. 239.

    Violet

    @Mary G: You can be proud your team got this far! Pretty good guess.

    Announcers mentioned that Chris Matthews Wikipedia’s himself and “the other guy” keeps coming up. Heh.

  250. 250.

    Elizabelle

    obnoxious Budweiser commercial.

    reminds you of all the better brews you could be drinking.

    I don’t care if they brew it in titanium casks. It’s … not that good.

  251. 251.

    Violet

    I wish the NFL would adopt the Rugby Union rule regarding the extra point kick. The kicker lines up aligned with the point where the score (the try) was made. That means the kicker doesn’t always kick from directly in front of the goal–it could be from the sideline or anywhere else.

  256. 256.

    Suzanne

    That Jeep ad was beautiful. Once again, we should make “The Land Is Your Land” our national anthem.

  257. 257.

    MomSense

    @debit:

    Oh I’m so sorry. I was really hoping it was something treatable. You did the right thing for your kitty but it’s heartbreaking for you. Big hugs to you.

  267. 267.

    Villago Delenda Est

    NE is back in the game…Seattle needed to terminate that drive to break their morale, and they failed.

    This thing is very much not over.

  269. 269.

    Mary G

    @debit: I haven’t been commenting much, but I have been reading along about Rufus, his tumor, the emergency Saturday surgery and the bad news and hard decision you have to make. You have my sympathy. You are probably in the “seeing the toy he loved and bursting into tears stage.”

  271. 271.

    Tree With Water

    @Mary G: “You are probably in the “seeing the toy he loved and bursting into tears stage.”

    Well, if she wasn’t, she probably is now.

  275. 275.

    MomSense

    The 11 year old girls at my house loved Katy Perry and the 11 year old boys were transfixed. They didn’t say much but I’m pretty sure there will be furious googling when they go home.

  276. 276.

    Mary G

    @Violet: Hi Violet, yes I am home in my own house and appreciating it more than ever before. My leg swelled up very badly and my physical therapist made me call 911. I was hauled off again for a bunch of tests in the ER, which were all good. No clot showed up. Just to be sure, they admitted me and “observed” me for three more days and wanted to make it four, but I talked my way out. The bones on the outside of the ankle are completely healed up, but the inside ones still have some little pieces that are taking their time with it. I understand it is normal and not to worry. No pain at all, thanks FSM,

  281. 281.

    Bobby Thomson

    Can’t believe they left Edelman wide open. He’s the MVP in a world where sports writers have a clue and don’t just give it to the QB.

  289. 289.

    Botsplainer

    The Pete Rose commercial was great. Wife (who has done a 180 since realizing on Friday I was hunting awesome apartments a three block walk from my office, multiple bars and restaurants catering to 30 something’s in the same block) asked about the bit with the hall. I got to explain about Hustle and Pete Rose.

    Made me happy.

  291. 291.

    Callisto

    @MomSense:

    They didn’t say much but I’m pretty sure there will be furious googling when they go home.

    Also, I’ll bet they looked her up on the internet.

  293. 293.

    Jay C

    @Elizabelle:

    Yes, for once the football has been better to watch than the ads. Super Bowl success, I guess

    Though ISTM that the Seattle defense seems to have taken the first half of the 4th Quarter off…

  295. 295.

    Suzanne

    ….and the Victoria’s Secret ad makes it official: this Superb Owl is all about the boobs.

  312. 312.

    Botsplainer

    @a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q):

    Not completely exited the woods (she did get me unbound from the unthinkable, and put me in a position to consider life without meeting mercurial demands and constantly compromising with someone who runs through resources madly while complaining.

    In other words, my money is our money and her money is her money

  313. 313.

    Tree With Water

    It’s like God said to Brady, “Just fooling with you this time. Congratulations”.

    And like the devil said to Carrol, “Dues time”.

  318. 318.

    Morzer

    You didn’t run BeastMode from the frickin’ half yard line?

    Jesus, Pete Carroll, what the hell are you smoking?

  326. 326.

    Jay C

    Victory handed to them on a silver platter….

    And they dropped the platter, slipped on it, and fell on their ass.

    Unbeliveable

  334. 334.

    Zinsky

    Wilson throwing a pass on the 3 yard line may be the worst call in the history of football. And then to end with a fricking fistfight – what a clusterf*ck!!

  344. 344.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Betty Cracker: Fisticuffs is about the only good thing that could happen right now. I haz a sad (maybe a mad) for the stupid play calling. Situations like that are what Marshawn Lynch is for, fer fuck’s sake.

    @Villago Delenda Est: Indeed. Sorry Seahawks. Now get a new coach, por favor.

  346. 346.

    Tree With Water

    @Violet: It is an historic blunder that NFL fans will remember and point to forever. People will cogently argue it’s the worst blunder in the history of the game. Marshawn Lynch was parked on the goal line, and they threw the ball. In a Super Bowl, with time running out..

  350. 350.

    raven

    All I can think of is how Georgia didn’t run the best running back in college football on the goal line against South Carolina and it cost us dearly.

  351. 351.

    Villago Delenda Est

    If that call had worked, we’d all be talking about how very ballsy it was.

    But it didn’t. So sorry, Pete, but it didn’t work, so you’re the goat.

  363. 363.

    Tree With Water

    @Villago Delenda Est: Honestly, I would not have. I have always held in that scenario a QB should hand it off to his best back in expectation the offensive line get it done. Even if that back doesn’t happen to be Marshawn Lynch. I’m with Collinsworth, and will never, ever understand the thinking behind the decision to pass the ball. Never.

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