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ALERTS:
Part one of the Kurt Files' interview with Kurt Browning is up. In it, Kurt talks about Improv-Ice and Battle of the Blades. Part two, where Kurt answers a variety of questions, including some fan-submitted questions, is now up here.
Tickets for Canadian Stars on Ice are now on sale.
Tickets for Thin Ice are now on sale. Thin Ice takes place Mar. 18-21 at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut, and will air live on ABC Mar. 19 and Mar. 21.
TV ALERTS: (check local listings)
- 2/4/10 - Athletes in Motion (starring in short film) - 7PM ET/4PM PT - Bravo! (Canada)
* All competitions feature Kurt Browning as commentator.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
New developments: 2/5/10
- Another morning, another radio interview. Kurt was interviewed on 98.1 CHFI this morning. The interview will be re-aired during the Weekend Edition morning show tomorrow (2/6) at around 9:10AM, and you can listen live, or just listen to the interview online.
- since 2/4/10:
- Kurt Browning's "In the Groove" short (directed by Clarence Ford) will be aired on Sunday, Feb. 7 (7PM ET/4PM PT) on "Athletes in Motion" on Bravo! in Canada. For more info: Athletes & Artists Pay Tribute to Vancouver 2010 in ATHLETES IN MOTION and Bravo! FACT website
- Kurt Browning did the rounds on Toronto radio stations this morning, showing up on at least Fan590, CP24, and Newstalk1010. You can listen to or download some of the interviews (thanks to Sherry for the links):
- Cynthia Phaneuf and Jamie Sale & David Pelletier have been added to the cast of Canadian Stars on Ice.
- Elena Berezhnaya has been added to the cast of Thin Ice, and 3 pairs have been announced: Shae-Lynn Bourne & John Zimmerman, Jamie Sale & Patrice Lauzon, and Elena Berezhnaya & David Pelletier. Four more skaters still TBA!
- Kurt Browning talks about Patrick Chan: Chan quickly rises to the top of men's figure skating (CTVOlympics, 2/1/10)
- since 1/22/10:
- On Tuesday, Kurt Browning was interviewed on the B-Mac & Rintoul Show on Team 1040 Sports Radio in Vancouver. It was a fairly lengthy interview - almost 14 minutes long - and very candid, covering Kurt's thoughts on the Olympics, Canadians, his own experiences, and the challenges of competing in figure skating in general. Team 1040 makes its shows available via podcast - Kurt's interview is about 39 minutes into hour 1 of the Jan. 19 show - or you can download just the Kurt interview here (please right click and save to your own computer, don't play it off my site).
- Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, Marie-France Dubreuil & Patrice Lauzon, Joannie Rochette, and Jeff Buttle have been added to the cast of Canadian Stars on Ice.
- since 1/14/10:
- Katarina Witt has been added as a judge to Thin Ice, and Jamie Sale and Patrice Lauzon have been added as competitors. Read the press release. Tickets are on sale now.
- The Canadian Championships are taking place in London, ON right now. Don't forget to tune in on CBC for Kurt's commentary of the event. Some articles with Kurt quotes or mentions from the event (thanks Sherry):
- since 1/1/10:
- Happy New Year, everyone! As you recover from your celebrations, why not read part two of the Kurt Files' interview with Kurt Browning?
- The results of fan voting on who won Improv-Ice will be announced during the broadcast of Brian Boitano's Skating Spectacular on NBC today, from 4-6PM (check local listings).
- since 12/25/09:
- Hope you caught the NBC broadcast of Improv-Ice today. Don't forget to vote for Kurt at NBCOlympics.com!
- Kurt Browning appeared in a short called In the Groove which will air on Bravo Canada, in the Jan. 24, 2010 episode of Bravo Fact! Presents: The Olympic Games. For more information, click here.
- since 12/24/09:
- Got a Christmas present for you Kurt Browning fans. Kurt was kind enough to answer a bunch of questions for the Kurt Files a few weeks ago, which I'm posting as a two-part interview. Part one, in which Kurt talks about Improv-Ice and Battle of the Blades is up now. Part two, in which he talks about a variety of topics, and answers a bunch of fan-submitted questions, will be posted next week as a New Year's gift. Enjoy, and don't forget to tune in Christmas Day from 3-5PM to NBC to watch Kurt in action in Improv-Ice!
- There is a new, fairly long (about 10 minutes) interview with Kurt Browning available for download in mp3 format on this site. In it, Kurt talks about his Olympic predictions, carrying the Olympic torch, Improv-Ice, and some other topics.
- since 12/20/09:
- since 12/18/09:
- The Olympic torch is expected to arrive in Mississauga at around 11:50AM on Dec. 18, but the entire Mississauga portion is supposed to run somewhere between 10:37AM and 1:50PM. The portion Kurt and Gabe will be doing should be close to the Bell Headquarters in Mississauga. You can watch the torch relay live online: Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. You can also follow it via Twitter @CTVOtorch.
- Kurt Browning did an interview with Global Calgary yesterday talking about the Petro-Canada Canadian Athlete Family Program: Morning News: Kurt Browning
- There's a tiny bit of Kurt in the video on the Olympic Torch Relay through Toronto here: Olympic Torch Approaches Toronto (CityTV)
- since 12/17/09:
- Kurt Browning will carry the Olympic torch after all, with his son Gabriel, for 300 meters in Mississauga on Saturday. He is involved in Petro-Canada's Canadian Athlete Family Program, which will host two members of every athlete's immediate family, providing tickets, meals, accommodation, and transportation to venues. For more information, read this great article: Kurt Browning makes the Games a family affair. Thanks, Sherry!
- Kurt was on 97.3 EZ Rock yesterday morning, helping the EZ Mornings show with their "Olympic Torch Relay" in inimitable Kurt Browning fashion. Check out the shaky but hilarious 1-minute video on YouTube.
- Some great photos from Sharilyn of Kurt doing the WAVE in Toronto yesterday: Sharilyn's Flickr.
- CP24's video of Kurt Browning at the WAVE last night can be found here: Kurt Browning awaiting the Olympic torch (scroll down to the video in the player window).
- An article about the Petro-Canada Canadian Athlete Family Program with quotes from Kurt: Petro-Canada looking for two families to chronicle Vancouver Games
- See a clip of Kurt and Ron MacLean as Cannon Dolls in the Nutracker last week at the beginning of the Coaches Corner vid for Dec. 12: Coach's Corner.
- since 12/14/09:
- 12/12/09:
- Kurt Browning has suffered a 1/2" tear to his abductor muscle (his injury from the Abbotsford Holiday Festival on Ice show) and will be off the ice for weeks. He will also not be participating in the Olympic Torch Relay.
- I've gotten my photos from the Abbotsford Holiday Festival on Ice show up, finally: Holiday Festival on Ice 2009. I'm also adding dates for US syndicated broadcasts of the show to the Holiday Festival on Ice Events page.
- since 12/9/09:
- Kurt Browning and Ron MacLean will be appearing as Cannon Dolls in the Share the Magic dress rehearsal of The Nutracker on Dec. 11, 2009 @7PM. Share the Matic is a free evening at the National Ballet of Canada for underprivileged children and their families.
- The Penticton Western-News has a Facebook album of photos from the Holiday Festival on Ice show in Penticton: Holiday Festival on Ice
- since 12/6/09:
- Tickets for the 2010 Canadian Stars on Ice tour have gone on sale via presale. Passwords include CHAMPIONS, SKATE (for Hamilton), and MEDALISTS (for Toronto). Visit the following link for dates and ticket links: http://starsonice.ca/presale/.
- Holiday Festival on Ice has been sold to broadcasters in China (China Central Television), Japan (Space Vision Network), South Africa (Supersport Int'l Pty. Ltd), and the United Kingdom (British Sky Broadcasting. If you're in one of these countries, check your listings. It is also airing in syndication on a variety of networks in the US, so check your local listings (if you do find it, email me the information).
- since 12/6/09:
- Kurt Browning is currently touring with Holiday Festival on Ice, and is skating to "Christmas Medley" by John Sheard, and "Hallelujah" by the Canadian Tenors. My review of the Abbotsford show can be found: Holiday Festival on Ice 2009 review. Photos to come. HFOI will air on CBC on Dec. 16, and will be syndicated in the US and other countries.
- Articles about Holiday Festival on Ice:
- since 12/1/09:
- Kurt Browning will co-host a new pro skating reality competition called "Thin Ice" that will take place at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods on March 19, 2010 and March 21, 2010, airing live on ABC. The show will be broadcast internationally, and the judging split between viewer votes on ABC.com and a panel of judges, which includes Kristi Yamaguchi and Dick Button. So far, Shizuka Arakawa and Shae-Lynn Bourne have been announced as competitors. There have been several articles with more details about this competition:
- Kurt Browning appears briefly in a documentary about Olympic hopefuls training for the 2010 Winter Games outside of their native countries, in a segment on Tugba Karademir, who Kurt has choreographed for. The documentary will air in seven languages on various channels in the US, some of which have already aired it. It airs on CTV on Dec. 12 at 5PM. For more information and airdates, read the press release. Thanks, Earene!
- Kurt Browning was at the Bay Store in Vancouver Saturday to launch a commemorative poster series called the "Canadian Sport Heroes Collection", which includes a painting/poster of Kurt. Read the press release and see a picture of Kurt's poster. Thanks, Sherry!
- Kurt's segment on Tellement Sport the other week is available to view online: La vie continue...avec Kurt Browning. It's a nice interview that covers a lot of ground in a very short amount of time. Thanks, Amelie!
- SkateBuzz has a fun interview from Skate Canada where Debbie Wilkes interviews Kurt. SkateBuzz.com
- since 11/27/09:
- Kurt Browning will be at the Bay Store in Vancouver from 2-4PM on Saturday as part of the Olympic mascot birthday celebration. The first 100 people there will get a free signed poster. Holiday Event Warmup
- The Canadian Stars on Ice site has been updated with the 2010 tour schedule: Canadian Stars on Ice site.
- Since 11/20/09:
- Kurt Browning will be on Tellement Sport on Radio-Canada on Saturday, 11/21, which is aired at 12:30PM, and repeated at 3:30PM (check your local listings). The show will feature a segment on Joannie Rochette, Patrick Chan, and Alain Goldberg, and another segment on Kurt Browning on his life sine retiring from amateur skating. For more information, click here. Thanks, Amelie!
- Kurt is at Skate Canada this weekend, commentating for CBC. He's been spotted practicing on the ice at the Aud, and has been interviewed in a few articles about the competitors:
- Congratulations to Jamie Sale & Craig Simpson for winning Battle of the Blades last weekend. And great news for 2010 - CBC has officially announced that the show has been renewed for fall 2010.
- since 11/14/09:
- Battle of the Blades comes to a close this weekend with some exciting performances in both Sunday's performance show and Monday's hour long results show before crowning the winning pair, who will win $100,000 for their charity of choice. Sunday's show features all 3 remaining pairs collaborating on a group number, as well as a group number featuring all eight men. Monday's results show features performances from Kurt Browning (Brickhouse!), Barbara Underhill & Paul Martini (first time since 1998), Jamie Sale & David Pelletier, and Marie-France Dubreuil & Patrice Lauzon. For more information: Three pairs battle for Blades crown. Another great BOTB article: Finalists say it's been a long haul as Battle of the Blades finale looms. And a NY Times article: Opposites on Ice Make 'Battle of the Blades' a Hit Show in Canada.
- Kurt Browning will be one of the torch bearers in the Olympic torch relay as it crosses Canada on its way to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Kurt will be carrying the torch Dec. 18 in Brampton, ON. Brampton's relay celebration takes place 4-6PM in City Square: Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay - Brampton Community Celebration. For the list of Olympic athletes taking part in the relay: 2010 Olympic Torch Relay Features Canadian Olympians.
- Kurt will be appearing at the Olympic Mascots' Birthday Party at the Olympic Superstore (inside the Bay store at 674 Granville St, downtown Vancouver) on Nov. 28, according to this blog.
- Kurt Browning appeared on ET Canada on Thursday night, along with other skaters from Battle of the Blades. On the show, they confirmed that Battle of the Blades has been renewed for another season.
- The Globe and Mail has a short article on Kurt: What I'm Watching / Kurt Browning. Thanks Sherry!
- since 11/9/09:
- Kurt Browning is the first "Canadian Children's Book Centre Idol" and will help to kick off a week of "Gold Medal Reading" during TD Canadian Children's Book Week, Nov. 14-21. To read more about this, including a quote from Kurt, click here.
- since 11/6/09:
- Beverley Smith's blog talks about Kurt landing 3-toe/3-toe combos, and 2-axel-1/2 loop-3 sal combinations while entertaining the crowd before Battle of the Blades on Sunday: Watching the skate wars from afar.
- Shawn Sawyer and Ekaterina Gordeeva have been added to the cast of Holiday Festival on Ice. Tickets are still on sale. For more information, go here.
- Kurt Browning appeared on the Vibe 98.5 Morning Show yesterday morning as part of their SO YOU THINK YOU CAN SKATE $10,000 Charity Challenge.
- According to his Twitter, Kurt will be skating to Brickhouse at the Battle of the Blades finale on Nov. 16 on CBC. Don't forget to tune in!
- since 11/4/09:
- since 11/3/09:
- The 2009 edition of Canadian Stars on Ice will air on CBC on Dec. 2, 2009 at 9PM. Holiday Festival on Ice will air on CBC on Dec. 16, 2009 at 9PM.
- George Stromboulopoulos did his "Dare to Remember" on The Hour last night, skating with Kurt Browning in a Leafs jersey. The full episode is up on the CBC site, but is geo-blocked to just Canada. Hopefully they will post an un-blocked clip in their video archive or on YouTube for the rest of us.
- since 11/1/09:
- If you missed Kristi Yamaguchi and Friends today, or want to see it again, it will re-air on the Hallmark Channel on Friday, Nov. 6 from 8-10PM.
- There are more videos up on the Kurt Browning Facebook fan page, including Kurt talking to Takeshi Honda about his 3-quad program, and Kurt showing us some behind the scenes footage of Battle of the Blades and his typical day.
- since 10/30/09:
- Don't forget to tune in Sunday to see Kurt skate to the Backstreet Boys in Kristi Yamaguchi and Friends - Nov. 1 4-6PM ET/1-3PM PT on NBC!
- There's a fun video up on Kurt's Facebook fan page of Patrick Chan interviewing Kurt: Patrick Interviews Kurt. Check it out! The Facebook page also has links to other fun videos that have been previously seen on Skatebuzz and YouTube.
- since 10/27/09:
- since 10/26/09:
- George Stromboulopoulos is doing "A Dare to Remember" for the Stephen Lewis Foundation to raise money for people living with HIV and AIDS in Africa. His dare? To skate with Kurt Browning while wearing a Leafs jersey. Donate online at A Dare to Remember and tune in to The Hour the week of Nov. 2 to see if George pulls off his dare.
- Kurt Browning will be doing commentary on all the Grand Prix events (except Cup of China), as well as Skate Canada, Canadian Nationals, and Worlds for the CBC main network this season. Check out the TV Schedule for times and dates.
- Kurt Browning will skate in Art on Ice in Switzerland in March 2010, after the Olympics. There will be six shows in Zurich, and two shows in Lausanne. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit the Art on Ice 2010 event page.
- My photos from Kristi Yamaguchi and Friends are up on the Photo Evidence page. Have photos from both dress rehearsal and the show. Dress rehearsal photos are from the opposite side of the rink. Enjoy!
- since 10/24/09:
- since 10/21/09:
- The Rick Mercer Report did a hilarious segment on Battle of the Blades with Tie Domi and Tuffy Ladret last night. Kurt Browning makes a brief but funny appearance from the 4:22-4:50 mark, but the whole segment is worth watching: YouTube clip.
- since 10/17/09:
- Skatebuzz now has a video of Kurt Browning interviewing Patrick Chan about his injury and withdrawal from the Cup of Russia.
- since 10/15/09:
- Kurt Browning will be commentating the Trophee Eric Bombard for CBC, during their broadcast on Sat, Oct. 17 from 1:30-4PM.
- Skatebuzz has posted a "Behind the Scenes of Battle of the Blades" with Kurt Browning video. Don't forget to check out the other video content on that site as well - there are a lot of videos featuring Kurt. He does Skating 101 segments on all six jumps, and interviews a number of people, including Tracy Wilson.
- since 10/13/09:
- At last night's Battle of the Blades results show, Kurt Browning performed a full program - jumps, spins, footwork and all - in hockey skates to Frank Sinatra's Luck Be A Lady. By all accounts, it was a great performance.
- since 10/8/09:
- since 10/7/09:
- Put up my first impressions review of Improv-Ice tonight. I won't have time to write a better, more fleshed out review, so I figured getting it up sooner was better than nothing. Also, check my Twitter feed for tweets from the show and rehearsal. Pictures to come.
- Battle of the Blades got tremendous ratings Sunday night - almost 2 million people tuned in, making it the 2nd highest premiere in Canadian TV history. There's a lot of press coverage out there, not gathering it because there's just too much, but just do a Google News search to dig it up.
- since 9/27/09:
- The Ticketmaster link for Battle of the Blades tix: Ticketmaster.ca They go on sale noon Monday. Thanks, Sherry!
- since 9/25/09:
- Tickets for Battle of the Blades go on sale Monday, Sep. 28, 2009 at 12 noon EST. More information to come on how to buy the tickets. Kurt is scheduled to perform the second Monday and the very last show, for those who want to see him skate (though things are always subject to change).
- since 9/21/09:
- Skate Canada has launched a brand new website, Skate Buzz, "co-hosted" by Kurt Browning, which has an incredible amount of Kurt video content. From the intro video on the front page, to videos interviewing skaters, behind the scenes in Japan at Friends on Ice, demonstrating the 2-flip, doing a photo shoot with Ron McLean and more, the site is a treasure trove for Kurt fans, as well as Canadian skating fans in general. Check it out! Skate Buzz has also started a YouTube Channel.
- since 9/18/09:
- Battle of the Blades is gearing up with new articles and promotional material. Visit the Battle of the Blades website for more features, and check out some promotional videos and web exclusives (including Tie Domi vs Kurt Browning) here. Unfortunately for non-Canadians, the video content is geographically restricted to Canada-only. The first episode will be recorded live from Maple Leaf Gardens on Oct. 4. Ticket information still to come.
- since 9/15/09:
- Kurt Browning will be in the cast of Holiday Festival on Ice, visiting four cities in BC and AB in December. Tickets are on sale now for the Abbotsford, Penticton, and Dawson's Creek shows (Dec. 4, 5, and 6, respectively). For more information, visit the Holiday Festival on Ice event info page.
- Kurt was in Vancouver last week for the Skate Canada High Performance Camp. Via Twitter, he mentioned shooting footage for the new Skate Buzz website. Check back later for more information on this new site.
- since 9/9/09:
- Kim Johnston at MY96 was kind enough to send me the mp3's of Kurt's radio interview on MY96 yesterday. In this 15 minute interview, they talk to Kurt about Battle of the Blades, the first quad, a bar in Caroline, the Pedigree Pet Adoption program, the Olympics, and a host of other topics (the hosts did their homework). Download Part 1 and Part 2 here (please do right click and save those files, do not play them off my site to save me bandwidth).
- since 9/8/09:
- Kurt Browning talked about Battle of the Blades this morning on the MY Mornings show on MY96 Radio in Medicine Hat, AB.
- since 9/5/09:
- Sachi has written a nice review of Friends on Ice with lots of detail about Kurt, which is now up on the Miscellaneous Fan Stuff page. Thanks, Sachi!
- The CBC Battle of the Blades site now has a feature where you can select the hockey player/figure skater pairings you'd like to see on the show, and then see what other fans think. This isn't voting on who will be paired - the pairs have already been chosen - just a chance to predict who you think the pairings will be. If you're a member of Facebook, the Battle of the Blades Facebook page also has a promo vid with Kurt Browning talking about this feature.
- The Alberta Teachers' Association has an article on Kurt Browning's favorite teacher as part of their 2009 Summer Series: Kurt Browning's Favourite Teacher.
- Last week, Kurt appeared on The Big Early on Fan 590 to talk about Battle of the Blades. Listen to the interview here on the Fan590 site.
- since 8/25/09:
- Kurt was a big hit in Japan this past weekend at Shizuka Arakawa's Friends on Ice show. He skated to I'm Yours and Papa Was A Rollin' Stone, as well as a "World Champions" group number with Shizuka Arakawa, Yuka Sato, Shae-Lynn Bourne, Evan Lysacek, Qing Pang & Jian Tong. There are a number of reports in this FSU thread.
- since 8/20/09:
- Maple Leaf Gardens has been announced as the venue for the live broadcasts of Battle of the Blades, premiering Oct. 4, and continuing for seven weeks until Nov. 16. For more information, click here.
- since 8/13/09:
- since 8/12/09:
- All the skaters and hockey players have been announced for Battle of the Blades. The skaters will be Jamie Sale, Barb Underhill, Shae-Lynn Bourne, Isabelle Brasseur, Marie-France Dubreuil, Christine Hough-Sweeney, Jodeyne Higgins, and Kristina Lenko. The hockey players are Glenn Anderson, Tie Domi, Bob Probert, Craig Simpson, Stephane Richer, Sean Burke, Ken Daneyko, and Ron Duguay. Read the press release. Thanks Sherry!
- The internet presale for Improv-Ice starts at 10AM PT today, 8/12, and continues until 10AM tomorrow. Ticketmaster.com. For more show information, click here.
- since 8/11/09:
- Kurt Browning will be performing in Improv-Ice on Oct. 6, 2009 in Anaheim, CA. The show features the Goo Goo Dolls, and will have the skaters improvising programs to one contemporary piece of music, and one Goo Goo Dolls song, with the audience voting on who skated the most creative program. For more details, read the press release on FSU. Tickets go on sale Fri, Aug. 14.
- According to his recent tweets, fans will have the opportunity to vote for which skater is paired with which hockey player at the Battle of the Blades website. This feature doesn't seem to be live yet, but keep an eye out.
- since 8/10/09:
- Follow the Kurt Files on Twitter! I'll be posting updates and tidbits there so you know when the Kurt Files has been updated.
- Tickets to Kristi Yamaguchi and Friends go on sale via Internet presale this Thursday, Aug. 13, and then on sale to the public on Monday, Aug. 17. The show is Oct. 23 in Phoenix, AZ. Go here for more information.
- since 8/6/09:
- Kurt Browning was a surprise guest at the Mariposa Charity Gala tonight in Barrie, ON. According to Mevrouw on FSU, Kurt was introduced first off, and skated to I'm Yours.
- since 8/5/09:
- Kurt Browning will be skating in Shizuka Arakawa's Friends on Ice in Yokohama, Japan. There will be four performances on Aug. 22 and 23, 2009. For more information, visit Friends on Ice, or if you can't read Japanese, I've extracted what I can via Google Translate on the Kurt Files' Friends on Ice page.
- since 7/31/09:
- since 7/29/09:
- Kurt Browning will be skating in Kristi Yamaguchi & Friends in Phoenix, AZ on Oct. 23, 2009. Check out the 2009-2010 Events Page for more information. More information on Kurt's fall events to come.
- since 7/9/09:
- I've updated the 2009-2010 Events page with information on six Disson shows for the upcoming season. No news yet on whether Kurt will be a part of any of the casts. Along with the Stars on Ice broadcast on Jan. 3, 2010 from 4-6PM EST on NBC, there will be a total of 10 televised shows this season. More information to come on the remaining two shows as well as the casts of these shows.
- since 7/3/09:
- CBC Radio 2 has started a "Summer Road Trip Playlist" series, weekly releasing a new playlist of road trip songs, picked by a Canadian celebrity. Kurt Browning's got the kickoff playlist for today, Friday July 3, offering 15 songs, along with his notes on each song. Kurt fans will recognize several of the songs (and artists) on Kurt's list. Check it out: Take a Road Trip...With Kurt Browning. Thanks to Alice for the pointer!
- since 6/25/09:
- Battle of the Blades has been getting a lot of press in the last few days due to CBC's press release. While many of the articles simply repeat the press release, some are more extensive and talk to some of the hockey players and others. I'm adding links to some of the more interesting ones on the Battle of the Blades event page.
- since 6/23/09:
- More information about the Battle of the Blades show that Kurt Browning is hosting this fall on CBC has been released. The Kurt Files now has a Battle of the Blades event page to track information about the show. It will air this fall starting October 2009 on CBC.
- I've added a 2009-2010 Events Page to the site, which currently includes information on Battle of the Blades and three Disson shows. This will be updated as I get more information.
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