Lots of Awesomeness on Tap for May

April showers bring May flowers...and tons of fantastic fun here in the Bandit Lair. Here's a sneak peek at what's coming up this month.

May 3 -- The wonderful and talented Jo Davis returns to the Lair. Be sure to have your fans handy because she's got a new firefighter book out, Line of Fire. And the guy on the cover is mighty purty.





















May 4 -- It's time for another Bandita Launch Party! This time, we're celebrating the release of Christine Wells' Sweetest Little Sin. Isn't that cover simply divine?






















May 5 -- Tawny hosts fellow Harlequin Blaze author Samantha Hunter. Samantha's new release, Make Your Move, has a posh bakery owner who makes aphrodisiac cookies as a heroine and her naughty professor type business partner who just might be a wolf in geek's clothing. Oh, sounds delicious!




















May 6 -- Nancy hosts Gerri Russell, who'll be discussing the timeless allure of knights. I know the knight on the front of her latest cover is definitely alluring and, um, muscular. :)


















May 7 -- Kate is hosting New York Times best-selling author Susan Mallery. Her Chasing Perfect, the first in the Fool's Gold series, is out this month from HQN.
















May 8 -- Happy Birthday to us! We'll be raising the roof to celebrate the Lair's third birthday. Aunty Cindy has a special post from the Bandita Buddies planned that you won't want to miss.

May 19 -- Kathleen O'Reilly will be visiting the Lair to talk about summer love. Ah, summer love. And I like that tag line at the bottom of the cover...Some nights are made to be naughty.




















May 20 -- Hey, we've already had two parties this month. Let's have another. It's Launch Party time for Beth Andrews' Do You Take This Cop? from Harlequin Superromance.




















May 27 -- We're Launch Party crazy this month! Before May gives way to June, let's have one final bash for Anna Campbell's My Reckless Surrender, her latest historical release from Avon. Lots of giveaways and mayhem featuring cabana boys! Anna is starting the celebrations early -- hic -- after getting a Top Pick and a wonderful review from Romantic Times so who knows what state she'll be in by the end of the month?










To celebrate the release some more, Anna is giving away five copies of My Reckless Surrender (with that gorgeous, sensual, yellow cover) on her website. Just e-mail her at anna@annacampbell.info and tell her where and when My Reckless Surrender is set. Clue -- you might find out in the excerpt on her Books page. The contest closes May 31, and you can get more details on the Contest page of her site.

May 29 -- I turn 40! Wah!!! I will need commiserations and assurances that I don't look 40.Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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Margo's Winner!

Thanks, everyone, for a great day in the lair on Thursday! Margo has chosen her winner and it's:

EVA FROM FINLAND!

Eva, you've won your choice of either WILD or TAKEN BY THE LAIRD. Congratulations! Please email Margo on margomaguire @ yahoo.com (no spaces) with your snail mail details and she'll get your book off to you!Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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Tattoo Places

this tattoos very popular for all human...............Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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Stunning mineral illuminating powders with pearl powder and diamonds...

This post is actually part two of the Haul.

I wasn't planning on getting Laura Mercier's mineral illuminating powders - I didn't even know about them, to be honest - but once I'd tried them, I had to get them. There are two colours to choose from and I first got Starlight. Then I went back and got Candlelight, too. I adore these!



Starlight (L) and Candlelight (R)

Starlight is the lighter shade and it's described as a 'golden nude' on their website. It has a beautiful, soft shimmer that's supposed to give a natural, healthy glow. The ingredients are really glam: pearl powder, diamonds, emeralds and other precious / semi-precious stones!

It's definitely not for using all over the face but it's pretty as a highlighter. If you look at the swatches below, you'll see that Starlight is the most subtle because it blends in better with my skintone. MAC pigment Naked is rather pink and Vanilla is very white with a strong and visible sheen.


(from L to R) Starlight, MAC pigment Naked, MAC pigment Vanilla


In daylight (no direct sunlight)



In sunlight - sparkles are visible



In artificial light - also sparkly



Candlelight is more of a pink tone. It would add a nice bit of colour and shimmer to a beauty powder or light blush on the cheeks. It might even work as a blush on its own but I haven't tried that yet. Or as eyeshadow, actually. These powders are basically like MAC's pigments.


I swatched Candlelight alongside some random colours on a different day in different lighting (still outside). Candlelight ended up in the middle. Naked pigment is on the left and Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish on the right.



L to R: MAC pigment Naked, Candlelight, Soft and Gentle MSF


The one last thing that I got is the new Secret Finish - Mattifying. It comes in a small tube and the consistency is slightly strange; it's described as a liquid-gel that instantly absorbs excess oil and removes shine for hours. It's primarily for touch-ups.


I've only used this once so far but noticed that you have to be careful with the application. Don't try to rub the product in because that will 'push' the make-up around and possibly 'dilute' it. Better to spread it out on the back of your hand first, then just tap it into the skin. 


Whew. I think that's enough Laura Mercier for a while. Coming soon is MAC - the new collections that I wrote about in my wishlist. Yay! 
Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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Mo'nique State Theatre Tickets

In exactly two weeks from today, Mo'nique will be performing at the State Theatre in Minneapolis. The big day will be on Friday, May 14th and the show starts at 8 pm. Mo'nique first rose to fame in the UPN series The Parkers and since then has made a name for herself as a stand-up comedian hosting a variety of venues. Now is your chance to get a great deal on Mo'nique State Theatre tickets! Ticket King has some of the best seats in the house!! Check them out and grab yours now before they're gone!Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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Christian Louboutin‘s Third Barbie

Christian Louboutin‘s third Barbie collection is out! The limited-edition Anemone Barbie wore a satin chartreuse and purple gown with a bow. It also comes with four mini red-soled shoes. If you want to own this $150 fashionable doll, you can check Net-a-porter.com.

Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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Summer Concerts at the Minnesota Zoo

If you live in Minnesota and like to attend concerts, we've got great news for you! The Minnesota Zoo has a very nice lineup scheduled for this summer and Ticket King is carrying tickets to ALL the big events! Be sure to check our website to view our entire inventory of Minnesota Zoo concert tickets. There will be performances by Straight No Chaser, Blues Traveler, Gear Daddies, Dark Star Orchestra, The Wailers, Devo, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Greg Brown, Taj Mahal, Joan Baez, Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, Dave Koz & Jonathan Butler, Squeeze, Marc Cohn, Jimmy Cliff, Gaelic Storm, George Thorogood & many more!! But don't wait- these shows WILL sell out!! Get your tickets today while you can!Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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Marc Jacobs in Time Magazine World's Most Influential People

Marc Jacobs was named as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine. When I checked the Time Magazine's website, I was surprised by the story written by Victoria Beckham for her friend, Marc Jacobs. Victoria praised Marc Jacobs for the changes he had made with each of his collection. Marc Jacobs must be very proud because he is the only fashion designed that was included in the list.

Meanwhile, some artists and entertainers like Lady Gaga, Robert Pattinson, Sandra Bullock and Glee‘s Lea Michele were also featured on Time‘s list.

Click here to view the complete list.
Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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Haul: Aveda, Laura Mercier, OPI

My husband didn't change his mind, of course, so I had to return his shirts today. Got that money back - and headed straight for the beauty department. Here is what I got - and I'm keeping everything.

Aveda
I got bath salts called Soothing Aqua Therapy. It's supposed to refresh, hydrate and relax. I've never tried any bath products from Aveda before so this will be interesting. I also got samples (yay!) of their smooth infusion shampoo and conditioner. 








OPI
I got their nail and cuticle replenishing oil. I've been using this on and off for years. Apply to cuticles at night before you go to bed and you will wake up with nicer looking nails. Mine look absolutely terrible at the moment. 








Laura Mercier
I think Laura Mercier does great powders so I picked up a couple of those and a brow definer. 


First, the brow definer. It is a wax/gel in a pot, applied with a brush, that keeps hairs in place. It comes in three colours and I got it in Fair, the lightest colour.





It's not as dark as it looks in the first photo. Here's another pic, taken outside. 





Now for the swatch.  
After taking the picture on the left (below), I thought I was done so I started to rub it off. Then I noticed that I couldn't get it off. It had virtually stained my skin and it only came off with soap. Great for summer. 





The secret brightening powder is a very light powder made specifically to set concealer. This is an incredible powder, it's light, doesn't crease and is supposed to lighten the eye area with its tiny flecks of shimmer. In her book "Make-up Masterclass" (review coming soon) make-up artist Jemma Kidd lists her favourite loose powder as being this one.





It comes in two colours and I actually use #2, an off-white. But I wasn't concentrating (too busy looking at other products) and ended up with #1, which is very white. I can still use this so I won't bother returning it but don't you hate it when that happens? 


Anyway, the white one reminds me of MAC's Prep and Prime transparent finishing powder, except the MAC one is matte and Laura Mercier's is not. 



Secret brightening powder 2 and 1


What else... I got two mineral finishing powders. I won't go into that now. I tested it and wrote about it here.


There will be a separate post on the mineral illuminating powders because they are so amazing. 


Have you tried any of these products? 
Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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The Stations of the Resurrection--Eighth Station--Jesus Strengthens the Faith of Thomas

("The Incredulity of Thomas," by Michelangelo Merisi da Carvaggio)

The Eighth Station--Jesus Strengthens the Faith of Thomas

Leader: O Risen Christ, Light of the world, we adore you;
People: You allowed Thomas to believe in the way he understood best.

Thomas had been absent from the other disciples when Jesus had breathed the Holy Spirit upon them. When they told him of their encounter with Jesus, Thomas just glared at them and did not say anything for a long time. He had no doubt his companions had experienced something--but wondered if their desire and wishes to see Jesus again had not clouded reality for them. Perhaps they had met someone who reminded them of Jesus and they wished it so. Perhaps someone had played a cruel trick on them. Perhaps they were so grief-stricken they were having delusions.

Thomas was still grieving terribly himself. He simply did not want to hurt any more than he was hurting already. He didn't want to hear these stories--it did not make his own pain any better. So finally, he growled back, "You know what? I don't want to disagree with you, but I just can't buy it, as much as I love and believe in you. I won't believe it until I see it--and I'd have to feel the nail marks and the hole in his side myself before I could even begin to believe it."

A week later, the disciples were again behind closed doors and Thomas was among them. Suddenly, Jesus was again in their midst! "Peace be with you," repeated Jesus. He looked squarely at Thomas, holding out his hands. "Thomas, put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt, but believe."

The Gospel of John doesn't say whether Thomas actually did touch Jesus--that is left up to our imaginations--but whatever did happen caused Thomas to exclaim, "My Lord and my God!" What is clear, though, is that Jesus understood exactly what it took to come to Thomas on his own terms--and he was perfectly willing to do that.

Leader: Jesus came to Thomas to the way of his own understanding,
People: Just as Christ can come to us in the way of our own understanding.

Leader: Let us pray.
(a brief period of silence is observed.)

Lord God, perceiver of all things,
Sometimes it hurts too much to simply accept and believe your truth.
Sometimes when our worries and fears overtake us,
the gentle touch of your loving hand sears our flesh like acid.
It becomes easier to doubt than to believe.
Remind us in those moments
that we are loved by a Son with nail holes in his own hands
and a gash in his side, a Son who cries and bleeds,
and will not ask anything of us in our pain
but to simply touch his own wounds and feel one with them.

People: Amen.

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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Deep Fried and Delicious

by Jo Robertson




Okay, here’s the thing. I just lost ten pounds on Weight Watchers, and I’m feeling a tad smug and a bit self-righteous.


Almost wanna do the Nanna, Nanna Dance.



So I've been thinking of healthy foods even as I crave all kinds of sweets and fried goodies.


Last weekend the city of Stockton, California, held its annual Asparagus Festival. Since I live in the luscious San Joaquin Valley with its rich agricultural bounties, we have a lot of festivals: the Strawberry Festival (a favorite of mine), the Garlic Festival (I kid you not), and the Asparagus Festival among them.

I watched the news about the Asparagus Festival on television, learned it was touted by Sunset Magazine as the best festival ever.



Jeopardy even had a question about it:


"Stockton, California, doesn't have a festival for Britney Spears, but it does for one of these green spears." Would you have guessed correctly?

The TV segment showed thousands of volunteers dipping this beautiful, lovely asparagus into a batter and then deep frying it. Now I love asparagus. Cold or hot, it’s a delicious and healthy vegetable.

But deep-fried? OMG! I admit it’s probably very tasty, but why take a lovely, good-for-you veggie and make it unhealthy?

Now I can see deep-fried Twinkies. They’re unhealthy from the get go, so why not? But veggies deep-fried.



That’s just plain evil.

While surfing the Net I found other deep fried anomalies.



Like Deep Fried Pickles. And Deep Fried Coke.



You can view the coke recipe at http://www.ehow.com/how_5557181_make-deep-fried-coke.html



I was really interested in that one (momentarily forgetting all about Weight Watchers) because I figured I could substitute Pepsi for the Coke, right? There's no sugar in the batter -- they figure the can of coke has enough -- but the final fried ball is rolled in cinnamon and dusted with powdered sugar, then drizzled with -- yep, you guessed it -- Coke syrup!



What about you? Come across any unusual foods (with or without the deep frying)? What’s your favorite unhealthy snack? Okay, and in the name of national health, what’s your fave HEALTHY snack?

What does this have to do with writing, you say? I changed a recent Advanced Placement Language question to fit our romance readers.



"Write about a novel in which a food or banquet scene plays an important role in the book."


The AP folks intended the students to write about the banquet scene in Hamlet or the one in Macbeth where Banquo's ghost appears, but I tweaked the question to fit our romance readers.



Can you think of a food or banquet scene from a romance novel that plays an important part in the book?
Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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When a Chanel goes missing

There's some bad news... but first always the good news. (Or do you usually prefer to hear the bad news first?)

It was a beautiful, sunny day for sitting outside and sipping a Bellini, my favourite cocktail. I always order a bottle of sparkling water, too. Perrier used to be my mineral water of choice but now I prefer San Pellegrino - the bubbles are 'softer'.





I had a risotto with white asparagus and Parmesan. Hm, *** out of five, I would say. I had to add a bit of salt and pepper. The best risotto I've ever had was in some tiny Italian village which I can't remember the name of. I went there two nights in a row.





Then.
I took my wallet out of my bag. I also looked and looked for my coin purse but could not find it anywhere. (It's not at home, either.) Coin purse - yeah, who cares, at least it wasn't the wallet that I lost, right? Well, not when that coin purse was a CHANEL coin purse! I haven't shed any tears yet but I am a teeny weeny bit... ok, gutted. It was a limited edition thing that matches a handbag (that I still have) so I can't replace it. I probably left it in a supermarket so the odds of finding it are zero-nil-minus.


Sigh.


Then! I went to buy my husband a 'present' (some shirts). I got the extra boring plain white shirt and the boring plain blue shirt. I got a bit excited (can you imagine? in the men's shirt department) when I spotted something slightly different: shirts with subtle blue stitching on the collar. I thought they would make a nice change. Because it must get so boring wearing the same 'look' every day - suit, shirt, tie.








But you know what? My husband does not like them at all. OMG how B-O-R-I-N-G! How ungrateful! I am never, ever buying him anything anymore (even when it's with his money).


I have to return them. But tell me - are they really that bad? 
Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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Cheap State Theatre Owl City Tickets!!

If you're a fan of Owl City, you should know that the man behind the music, Adam Young, will be traveling back to his hometown of Minneapolis this Saturday for TWO performances at the State Theatre! The early afternoon performance will be at 2pm on Saturday, May 1st, while the later show will be at 7:30pm on Saturday. If you haven't bought your State Theatre Owl City tickets yet, have no fear! Ticket King still has a very nice selection to choose from starting BELOW face value at just $30 per ticket for main floor or balcony seats! Grab yours today before they're gone!
Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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Travel-friendly massage ball

It's such a pain when flights gets delayed. But once in a while it can be an opportunity in disguise. I was walking around the airport shops, bored, when suddenly I spotted one of these little reflexology balls. It's simply a ball with spikes, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.





Unlike a lot of other massage props I've tried, this one is relatively hard and doesn't give way too much when you press on it. So the massage is effective, if you want it to be.

I liked it so much that I rushed back to get some more before my flight - another back-up for me and one for my mother.

Do you have any favourite massage products?Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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Margo Maguire Makes Mayhem!

by Anna Campbell

It's my great pleasure to welcome back to the lair a wonderful fellow Avon historical writer Margo Maguire.
Margo's going to be talking about her great new release THE ROGUE PRINCE. Romantic Times called THE ROGUE PRINCE "a love story that reaches the heart with its inherent tenderness and pure romance."

Margo has just revamped her website so check it out for news and excerpts and contests! Sign up for her newsletter and you go in the drawing to win a signed copy of THE ROGUE PRINCE!

Welcome back to the Bandita lair, Margo. Your latest Avon release is THE ROGUE PRINCE which sounds absolutely delicious. Lovely cover, by the way! Can you tell us about this book?

That’s exactly what I’d call it – delicious – a tale you can sink your teeth into! To a large extent, it’s the hero’s conflicts that drive this story. Tom Thorne is a tortured young man who was transported at a young age to a penal colony for a crime he didn’t commit. He lives through the brutal years of his imprisonment by planning his revenge against the two young noblemen who set him up. When he comes into a vast fortune, he’s able to execute those plans. Tom comes home to England as the “Prince of Sabedoria,” with the intention of destroying his two accusers and their families, just as he and his own family were destroyed.


The heroine is Maggie Danvers, Lady Blackmore, an innocent bystander who is intimately connected to the two young scoundrels who falsely accused Tom. She’s the widow of one and step-sister of the other, but when she meets Tom, she doesn’t know him as anyone but the amazingly potent foreign prince. Maggie is a young, naïve mother of two little children, and when she learns how badly her husband and brother have duped her over the years, she decides to embark upon an affair of her own – with the prince who seems so interested in her. Little does she know that she plays a huge part in Tom’s schemes for vengeance.

What were the inspirations behind this story? It seems to me to have a touch of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO about it? Or is that purely coincidental?

Ahhh… funny you should ask! Yes, I’ve always loved THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (the book as well as the movie), and wished there was more romance (of course!)and I always wished it wasn’t quite so dark. And that the imprisonment part wasn’t quite so long, and that Edmond’s father didn’t die before he got out of the Chateau d’If … er, you get the idea, right? So THE ROGUE PRINCE begins a few years after Tom’s imprisonment, within days of his arrival in England. And the heroine has a character arc of her own – her late husband was her step-brother’s flunky who had no real talents of his own, which directly caused the downfall of the Blackmore estate.

It’s up to Maggie to try to salvage the estate for her little son, the heir. She must learn and grow …

I’ve noticed a bit of a trend toward royal heroes lately (Harlequins are awash with princes and kings!). What do you think is the appeal of a royal story?

I think it’s part of the fantasy, or the fairy tale, if you will. The characters are larger than life. I made Thomas so wealthy, his bank statement would make Bill Gates envious. With Tom’s money, any physical thing is within his reach. But there are emotional hurtles to overcome, and as we read about this kind of guy, we want to see him grow and risk it all because of a higher purpose.

What’s coming up next for Margo Maguire?

I’m working on a novel that will be out in March 2011, called SEDUCTION OF THE GOVERNESS. The heroine is a young woman who learns she was adopted by the straitlaced couple she always thought of as her true parents. My hero is a wounded Waterloo officer – a youngest son who never expected to inherit his father’s earldom and the guardianship of his little niece. The two are total misfits who come together in his old, ancestral hall in the Lake District, and find themselves facing a perilous situation.


Can you give us a glimpse into your writing day?

A good day or a bad day?

We’ll go with the good… I used to walk my dogs 2-3 miles every morning to get some exercise while I cleared my head for a day of writing, but when I injured my knee I had to stop. So my current routine is to ride my stationary bike for 40 minutes and then lift weights for another 15. I grab a quick shower after that, and I’m usually at my laptop by 8 am. I go through email and take care of other business for an hour or so, then get down to the creative stuff. I rehash yesterday’s writing – making corrections as I read. Then I get on with it, pushing the story forward (I’m a totally linear writer). After a couple of hours, I get restless, so I have some lunch, then pack up my laptop and head for my home away from home – Starbuck’s. I’m there practically every afternoon, so they know me well – and take great care of me! My Starbuck's “co-workers” are very protective of their resident author.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

I am the worst possible person to answer this question, and I’ll tell you why at the end of my sage counsel, but don’t read my punch line until you check out my three points …


The first thing I think an aspiring writer should do is to read like mad. Read everything, but especially the genre you think you want to write. I believe osmosis has a lot to do with how we learn to write. As you read, you get an unconscious “feel” for the genre and it will come out in your own settings, characters and voice.

Next, decide whether you want to write popular, saleable fiction. If you do, you have to see what kinds of books the current market supports, and not get hung up on a story that will only appeal to a limited audience. (Like certain Indie films – they get produced, and might be really good for what they are, but only 37 people go to see them).

Third, try not to let “experts” tell you how to do it. You have to learn your own process and follow it, and not get bogged down or discouraged because you think you’re doing it “wrong.”

And now for the punch line (and you’ll probably want to punch me!): I sold the first book I ever wrote, in 10 days from the moment I put the manuscript into the mailbox until I got “the call.” I never had to go through the uncertainty that most writers experience, never understood what it was like to receive a bunch of rejection letters. That came later, lol, when I was submitting proposals to my editors for subsequent books. I have a sneaking suspicion that if I hadn’t sold that first book, I’d have said, “Oh, well, I tried. I love my nursing career, and so that’s what I’ll be doing until they pry my white duty shoes from my cold, stiff feet!” Honestly, I was so naïve, I didn’t know how fortunate I was, not until I found out about RWA and all the active online author groups out there.

Wow, I'm guessing you have a few people gunning for you when you share that tidbit! Congratulations! Now, Margo, is there anything you want to ask our Bandits and Buddies?

I wonder what you think is the best writing advice you ever got. Did you hear your best advice at a conference workshop? Read it in a writing craft book? Or was it something one of your writing buddies said that just happened to resonate? Inquiring minds want to know!

Margo is offering one lucky commenter their choice from her backlist books WILD or TAKEN BY THE LAIRD (I'm rather taken by that cover, personally!). So get commenting, people, and good luck! Source URL: http://violeta-diario.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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