Showing posts with label Drinks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drinks. Show all posts

12/19/10

Authenic Ingredients In German Beer

More beer is consumed per capita by the Czechs and the Irish than the Germans, but the breweries in Germany are isolated from the rest of the world because of a German principle known as Reinheitsgebot, which means purity order.

Using this principle, brewers want to ensure that German beer includes the freshest and most authentic ingredients, and this process goes as far back as 15th century. The main ingredient in many German beers is barley malt, and beers not made with barley malt must be top fermented.

The other ingredients in most of the original classic and modern German brews are water and hops. The taste of these beers are popular around the world.

You can visit a brewery in Germany or try a number of varieties of German beer at local pubs and bars when traveling around Germany. There are a number of popular varieties you can try while on your beer tour of Germany.

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5/16/09

Caffeine In Coffee

Everyone knows that the beverage industry is truly a money generating enterprise. As such, there are thousands of advertising companies competing to be the one to ply the manufacturers' wares. Of course, coffee is one of these major beverages and just like bottled water, sodas and teas, they are all marketed around at least one main ingredient; caffeine.

Yet often, when dealing in the non-caffeine segment of the market, a consumer may notice that there are several terms that are used to describe the drink including caffeine free, naturally decaffeinated and just plain decaffeinated.

Actually, there is a certain amount of caffeine that is contained naturally in various coffees and teas, so if you really need your cup of coffee or tea to be non-caffeinated, then pay attention to the natural amount of caffeine that is in the product and then find out how the remainder of the caffeine is removed from a specific type or brand.

The results are very interesting if you do an internet search on how coffee is actually decaffeinated. You may find results to be confusing, conflicting and possibly even misleading. Manufacturers do not want to lose out on any of the consumers' money that is spent on beverages.

This can lead to manufactures telling the public whatever they think they want to hear about their product being caffeine free. Try doing a little of your own research on the methods that are used to extract the caffeine content from common beverages and you are very likely to be a lot choosier with your next purchase.

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3/7/09

Drinking Better Beers

If you are a beer drinker, then you probably have an opinion on what the best beers are and what breweries produce them. You may prefer domestic brews, or it may be that you prefer Canadian beer or German beer.

There are hundreds and hundreds of different brands and beer varieties so do not limit yourself to just one. You need to keep an open mind and think about all the possibilities that are out there on today's market. You may just find a brand new favorite to add to your list when you check out all that there is available.

As mentioned before, there are hundreds of types of varieties of beer and thousands of different types of breweries dotting the world. Even when the field of beers is narrowed down, there still is the debate between which is best, beer bottles or beer cans?

The truth is that you will get a better taste and view of the beer when you choose bottles. Beer in cans is still perfectly acceptable, so there is no need to cause a riot. If you cannot live without beer in cans, then choose that. It is after all a matter of taste.

If you truly want to open up your taste buds to all the beers available in the world, then it may help to join a local pub that has a tasting club. The menu usually features a wide assortment of brews.

Every time that you visit the establishment you can try a new beer from a different region of the world. That way, when it comes time to debate which beer is really best, you will be more informed.

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3/5/09

American Beer For That Refreshing Taste

There is always so much hoopla revolving around what beer is best. It becomes a source of national pride for many people. They believe beer brewing in their country is far superior to the brewing system of another company.

The focus of an argument regarding a nation's national brew is contentious. American beer may be better for some people because that is what they grew up around and what their parents drank. Anything else is just some would-be pretentious brew that is pictured alongside yachting clubs for the rich.

The real truth regarding the basic American beer is that it is brewed in much the same manner as every other brew found in the world. A German pint may cost you a little bit more to buy in the states but it does not mean that it is a brew that only aristocrats drink. Wake up and smell the yeast! Beer is beer no matter where you go and some people have forgotten that fact.

The point in choosing an American beer or one brewed in a different country is taste. In order for you to make an informed decision on whether or not to try a Canadian beer or one from any other country is that you have tried enough different varieties from various brewing manufacturers to know what you like in a cold beer.

Only when you have other tastes to compare it to will you know exactly what you like. Who knows? You may find out that you are a pilsner fan when all along you thought you only liked lagers.

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3/3/09

Tasting Refreshing Ales

The world of ales is larger than you think. You may already have a favorite type of beer but did you know that there are many different varieties and beer brewing manufacturer's all across the world?

There is a distinct different between the ale and the pilsner. Stouts and lagers are also very different from each other. All these fermented tasty beverages may have the word "beer" on the label somewhere but it does not make them all the same. The best thing you can do is to become informed and give other drinks a try.

Ales use a different brewing system than lagers, meads or stouts. A top fermenting brewer's yeast gives the ale a sweet, fruity taste. This taste is counterbalanced with the use of hops, which are added later.

The bitterness of the hops creates a perfect balance of sweet and bitter. An ale relies on this combination of yeast and hops to give it a rich, full bodied taste that still has a touch of sweetness and the bitter edge that is associated with an ale.

Finding a great ale is not very hard. Most major liquor stores carry a wide assortment and variety of ales for you to choose from. Instead of choosing your typical lager or pilsner, give an ale a try.

You may be surprised at how great it tastes. At the very least it will expose you to different flavor combinations and you may just discover a brand that suits your palate.

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2/9/09

Brewing Beer Process

There is nothing quite like sitting down to a cold beer after a long, hard day of work. The taste is soothing and refreshing. You may have your favorite microbrew, domestic or imported brand but how much do you know about the brewing process?

This process dates back to before the time of the ancient Egyptians and has been a part of most people's lives at some time or another. It takes skill and knowledge to brew a beer. Every beer drinker needs to know the basics of the process.

One of the best ways to learn about the brewing process is to visit breweries. The breweries often give visitors a tour of the history of beers and show how their products are made. You do not have to travel overseas to find a great tour. There are many famous breweries located right in the United States.

You can take a tour of the Budweiser facility in St. Louis, Missouri or you can see what Miller has going on in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But if you have your sights set on imported varieties of beer, then why not visit Germany, Belgium or Canada and try a German beer, Belgian beer or Canadian beer.

The brewing process has a long and illustrious history behind it. Each time you take a drink of beer, you are connecting with that past. It is only natural to want to learn more about the whole process.

Who knows? You may just find that you want to try homebrewing once you have all the information that you need. You will also know more about your own personal tastes when it comes to beer.

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2/7/09

Brewing Beer Tips

There is a fine tradition associated with most sports. No, it is not the hot dog covered with mustard, even though that is good too. It is the tradition of enjoying an ice cold beer while watching the game.

Known by other names, such as ale, pilsners, stouts and mead, enjoying a good brew has become a cornerstone of life for people throughout the world. Having a beer with friends over a friendly game of cards or while watching sports is a way for many people to enjoy some downtime.

Learning to make your own beer at home does require some skill and some knowledge. Homebrewing is very much the same process that manufacturers and professional brewers use all over the world. Before you even begin, you will need to learn the terminology. You will need to know about the different stages of the brewing process, as well as all of the equipment that you will need.

The best advice that can be given to you for your first time making your own beer is to buy a pre-assembled kit. The kit will contain all of the necessary ingredients and instructions that you need in order to succeed.

When you do purchase a kit, make sure and read all of the printed material that is included. You may find that you need to purchase additional supplies, such as beer bottles or a bucket. If the brewery store does not have these accessories and equipment, then you can always go online to a specialty website or Ebay.

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2/5/09

Home Brewing With A Home Brewing Kit

If you live in a rural area, then you know how difficult it can sometimes be to find a great cold beer to enjoy. Some counties and cities do not allow the sale of alcoholic beverages within their borders. Even if you get lucky and have a local bar or pub, you may not find the choices that you desire. One way to circumvent this problem is to give home brewing a chance. You can simply make the type of beer that you want.

Home brewing can seem overwhelming when you first get started. The easiest way to combat this dilemma is by purchasing a beer brewing kit. The kit should contain everything that you will need, as far as ingredients and instructions go. Most kits do not contain the necessary equipment though, such as beer bottles or a keg, so you will need to read exactly what is included with the kit. If the equipment is not included, then you will need to purchase that as well.

Home brewing your own beer can be a great pastime. Just imagine your friends and family sitting down with one of your own beverages. If at first your brew is not to your liking, then do not give up. There are many different beers out there to experiment with. The real joy of making your own beer is in experiencing the whole process. It may seem overwhelming at first but it will be well worth it when you have that finished product.

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10/10/08

The Bartenders Serving Your Favorite Drinks

Barkeeps are as old as pubs and taverns. In olden days, they worked under a different name, but they still had the same job. Today, the bartenders reflect the image of the establishments in which they work and influence the atmosphere of their working environment.

A happy bartender makes happy customers, and an unhappy bartender can make unhappy customers. A barman or barmaid not only creates the drinks, as well as serving those sitting at the bar, sometimes they are the entertainment for the bar itself.

T.V. and movies always show bartenders as great listeners. Not all bartenders are like that, but many will give advice, or banter with the customers, or offer directions. Long ago, when bars were smaller, the bartenders had an easier time of getting to know their customers because there were less of them. The bartender was friends with his customers. Like on the old T.V. show Cheers, many older bars had a familiarity to them that is difficult to find today.

When you visit a bar, try to notice the bartenders who are working there. Do they entertain? Do they have a particular flair about them? The bartender, however, may simply do his normal bartending duties, mixing drinks and taking the drink orders.

If you simply are looking for an after work drink or are looking to socialize with your friends, then the type of bartender you have might not matter. However, if you are looking for a truly entertaining experience, then finding a bar with flair bartenders can be a real treat.

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10/8/08

The Bartender With The Best Drinks

A bartending job is much harder than people might think. The bartender has many duties and responsibilities, and works long and hard for his or her money. Some people believe that the first profession in the world was in politics, and the second, bartending. Tending a bar is rather tricky, so bartending schools provide bartending training to show potential barkeeps the tricks of the trade.

A bartender is also usually responsible for keeping the bar stocked with supplies. Some of his or her responsibilities might include: keeping the bar stocked with alcohol, napkins, glassware, ingredients for drinks, and various other bar supplies.

In some places, the bartender is also responsible for bringing out appetizers or other food. In almost every case, bartenders have to keep track of the money customers spend or don't spend (if they have a tab), which can be a difficult task sometimes.

So, the next time you go into a bar and order a drink, think about how much responsibility the bartender has. His or her night involves much more than standing there mixing up the cocktail of your choice and listening to your problems.

It is easy to assume that the person behind the bar has an easy job because when you are being served they make it seem like you are their only customer. Yet, they have to make everyone they serve feel the same way. So, if the person making your drinks entertains you, sympathizes with you, or simply makes you feel comfortable, then they are doing their job well.

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9/2/08

Marthas Vineyard Island Wineries Tourist Attractions

The largest island in New England is an island called Marthas Vineyard. Sitting about 7 miles off of the Massachusetts coast and just south of Cape Cod, the island covers an area of about 240 square miles.

Discovered in the 16th century, the island was named for the vast amount of grapes found growing wild across the entire island. Vineyard Haven is one of the most well-known towns on the Vineyard today.

Marthas Vineyard offers a vast array of accommodations throughout the island. Reservations should be booked well in advance of visiting because it is so popular as a tourist attraction. Ferries are used to transport visitors to and from the island and most dock at Vineyard Haven and Oaks Bluff, which are the two most popular places to stay.

Vineyard Haven is known as the commercial district and offers a lot of shopping opportunities; Oaks Bluff has a great night life and lively entertainment. Other towns in the Up-Island area, such as Menemsha, West Tisbury and Chilmark offer standard hotel accommodations.

The economy of Marthas Vineyard depends heavily on tourism. The fact that the island is visited regularly by famous celebrities and people who are very wealthy helps to attract visitors. Many of these people own homes on the beaches.

Tourism offices offer day trips and excursions to Chappaquiddick Island, which is close by. Maps of the island, information about tourist attractions and general information are all available in Vineyard Haven at the Chamber of Commerce office.

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8/17/08

Professional Bartending As A Career

When looking at professional bartending as a career, there are many factors to consider. How large a demand is there for bartending jobs in your local area? Do you have the necessary experience, or is there a way for you to learn the skills needed? Do you enjoy mixing drinks and cocktails as a hobby? Are you comfortable with confronting people? Are you aware of the risks and benefits of being a bartender?

While keeping a friendly attitude is important for a female bartender, it is even more important to ensure that your customers do not misread your sociability. Some men can be dangerous when intoxicated, so they need to understand where the line is drawn.

Many bars now have a policy that all employees walk in groups of 2 or more to their vehicles at the end of the night, to minimize risks of unruly customers causing trouble. Watching for suspicious behavior, as well as refusing to sell alcohol to an already intoxicated customer, will also help reduce risks common to professional bartending. This may mean asking an aggressive customer to leave the establishment.

It is often said that the biggest risk for a bartender is becoming an alcoholic. Being around alcohol so often can be too tempting for some. If you can avoid getting sucked into that trap, you'll likely enjoy bartending as a career. The people you'll meet will be very unique, with many stories they're just dying to share.

You'll see friendships grow with co-workers, and enjoy a full time income while only working part time hours. Best of all, professional bartending is never "just another day at the office."

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8/15/08

Bartending School For More Skills

When you think of bartending you probably get the image of a glass twirling Tom Cruise or maybe even the humdrum life of The Simpson's very own bartender, Mo Sizlack. While these images go from one extreme to the other, the fact is that bartending, as a career or a hobby, lies somewhere in between the two.

If you have ever been interested in bartending at all, then you may have considered the option of attending a bartending school. There are many different options you need to weigh, in order to choose the right school, from skill sets taught all the way to tuition costs.

If you are looking for focused, hands on experience in a bartending school and wish bartending to be your career, then you will want to attend an actual school. There are several schools that provide extensive courses on bartending.

Bartending schools are highly attended, and introduce hundreds of new bartenders into the bar scene each year. These schools command higher prices, but the bartending training you receive will be well worth it! Most big name schools have locations across the country. Chances are there may be a bartending school in your neighborhood!

The range of expertise these schools provide is impressive, from training students how to effectively mix drinks, to being able to identify when someone has consumed too much.

Finding a job as a barkeep once you have finished the course at a bartending school isn't going to be as difficult as you might fear. The schools usually help their students to land a position at one of the many taverns and eateries that have need for great bartenders.

This is great, as it is one less thing that you have to worry about in your quest to find the bartending job of your dreams. It's also good to know that you are picking a profession that is not showing any signs of slowing down.

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8/13/08

Bartender Guide To Mixing Better Drinks

Mixing drinks and coming up with new drink ideas can be an enjoyable hobby. Having a good bartender guide that will help give you new ideas and mixed drink recipes can be a very useful tool.

Bartender guides are normally filled with numerous how-to guides and a variety of drink recipes that you can try and perfect at your leisure. You can be the life of your next house party when you mix up cocktails for your guests and show off your bartending talents.

Many large bar owners put out their own bartender guide for the bartenders in their establishments. While some may contain mixed drink recipes, others may be more about the actual running of the bar itself.

The guide may contain information about what items will be needed to stock the bar at all times and other useful information about how to run the bar effectively, such as opening and closing duties. This is often given for the head bartender so that they will know exactly what needs to be done to keep everything running smoothly.

Whether you are happy with being an at-home bartender or you aspire to hit the hot night spots to show off your bartending skills, a bartender guide is a huge help. You can learn to make drinks that will delight your friends and will even give you a leg up if you do decide to attend a bartending school and make a go at being a bartender.

For those who like to dabble in bartending as a hobby, after adding a few more recipes to their drink list, they just might decide that this could be a new career in the making. If so, then you can take your skills to a whole new level and it might just be the beginning of a whole new future.

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8/11/08

Flair Bartending Mixing Drinks With Style

Flair bartending, just as the name suggests, is something that is wonderful to watch. When the handsome man or beautiful woman behind the bar mixes you a drink with amazing dexterity and flamboyance you will be truly entertained, and will possibly end up enjoying your drink and evening even more. The performance is a special attraction and these skilled barkeeps are engaged precisely for their unique bartending services.

Flair bartending was introduced to the world by Jerry Thomas who was popularly known as "The Professor." The "Blue Blazer" was a cocktail created by Jerry by mixing hot water streams with Scotch whisky. This happened in the 1800's and become immensely popular in those days.

It was from this beginning that this type of bartending picked up recognition and popularity. The attraction of this special skill is such that today, these professional bartenders are hot favorites at all types of parties. Bars, hotels and similar institutions use their services to launch and advertise their premises, while new products also use this as a vehicle for advertising.

Many leading distilleries and hotels have organized special bartending events with flair bartenders, to gain mileage for their products or services. So popular has this profession become today that you can find special courses and diplomas offered on the subject.

If you're planning to stopover at a bar or pub this evening, then look for one that offers professional flair bartending. Yes, you do need that refreshing drink, don't you? If you have the time for a couple drinks and some entertainment, then why not enjoy some awesome, visual entertainment that flair bartenders offer. For free!!

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8/8/08

Bartending Service Allows You To Relax

Your favorite bar is probably where you go to unwind. You shake off all the day's stresses and chat with friends over a couple of drinks. Where would you be without a good bartending service? A good barman or barmaid knows how to effectively interact with patrons and this fact makes the bartender very important. His or her skill determines your mood.

Bars and clubs everywhere attribute their success to the quality of the bartending service they provide. The basis of this quality is in the bar's training programs. Poorly trained bartenders will offer poor service, whereas well trained bartenders will offer exceptional service, and will be adept at mixing a wide variety of drinks.

Some barkeeps these days are also skilled flair bartenders, offering exciting entertainment for the patrons. Most places in the world offer bar services of some kind, so bartenders are in high demand. At the very least, a bartender should have enough bartending training to be able to mix the basic drinks that customers request.

The most important thing for a bartender to remember is to keep things clean. A professionally conducted bartending service is one of the greatest assets an establishment can have. When you next visit a bar or club, and while you're there enjoying yourself and having a few drinks, give the bartender a nod, because it's his skill and art that enables you to have a good time.

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8/6/08

Bartending Tips For Better Drinks

Bartending is one of the most demanding careers out there. A barman or female bartender has to deal with patrons who are consuming alcohol, keeping late nights, as well as having to always having to present a happy appearance.

People don't like to see unhappy or slow bartenders. This makes it important to keep ahead of the new changes in the bartending game, whether you are new at bartending, or have been doing it for years. To aid you in this, it many be useful to learn some new bartending tips.

Once the basics are learned, the best bartending tips are in the methods you use to make the drinks. Knowing how to stir a drink properly before serving is a skill that any good bartender must have. The tools needed for this are: a spoon or stick, and a mixing glass. Pour the ingredients into the glass, and then stir slowly, clockwise.

Then pour the stirred liquid into a glass with ice. Stirring drinks this way should keep your customers happy. How you build a drink is also very important. Layering is an important technique that should not be overlooked. First the ice goes into the cup, then spices, then the alcohol itself. This may seem simple, but great bartending is all about how to do the simplest tasks with the greatest skill.

Maybe you are having trouble with a particular drink, or you are having difficulty mixing quickly and efficiently. Bartending tips are everywhere. Look them up online. There are many websites out there with great information. Buy yourself a book at the local bookstore, or even head down the road and chat it up with a fellow bartender.

You never know what kind of tricks they may be hiding up their sleeves. Once you get moving on new styles, perhaps you can learn some techniques from flair bartenders or even how to prepare a rare drink or two. There is no telling where your bartending career could go with a little extra knowledge!

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8/4/08

The Grape Through Time In History

If you want to learn a little more about grapes, wine and other things that the grape can be made into, then it is best to start at the beginning. Grapes are very healthy fruits to consume. Learning the history of grapes, as well as what kind of grape growing processes produce the best grapes is a great place to start. With this knowledge, it is possible to learn many other aspects of the wine and grape industry.

So what exactly is a grape? It is a round fruit that grows in bunches on a vine. There are a lot of uses for the grape. Grapes are used for things such as making jams and jellies, pressed to make wine, grape oil used to make grape seed extract, turned into grape juice, dried to make raisins and even turned into vinegar.

There are a lot of different colors and varieties of grapes too. Seeded and seedless, small and big and of course, the many different colors such as: purple, green, blue, red and pink. Every different variety has a different taste and use. Every different grape makes different flavored wines.

Grape growing is done in a vineyard and different grapes can survive in many different locations. Grapes supposedly were first introduced to Europe in 600 B.C. by the Phocaeans. However, because of a pesky bug, grapes did not come to the U.S. until much later.

So now you are ready to learn more about vineyards and wine. The grape is a great fruit to introduce into your diet, whether in the form of just the plain fruit, the dried version or through wines. You might even choose to have your grapes in grape jelly form. Whatever way you choose to eat it, they are great fruits.

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8/2/08

The Vineyard And Wine Making

Grapes are grown in vineyards. There are many different purposes for the vineyard, both for making wines and other uses. Anyone interested in grapes and wine-making processes should know a little bit about vineyards, such as their history, which dates back as least as far as Greek civilization. It is also important to learn what can harm the vines so that those problems can be minimized.

The first known usage of grapes was by the Greeks and Phocaeans. The Phocaeans brought many different things to Europe, including the vineyard. The areas of Europe that were most receptive to the vines were France, Spain, Italy and Portugal because they had the best climate for growing grapes.

Now these countries are known as the wine country. Other areas of the world had a harder time accepting the grapes because of the phylloxera bug. However, later on phylloxera resistant vines were discovered. The surrounding area of a vineyard is its terroir. This defines the growing conditions of each vineyard, such as slope, drainage, terrain and sun exposure.

The best conditions for big tasty grapes include lots of sun, proper drainage of the fields and proper pruning of the branches. In recent years, the demand for grapes has become so large that more and more countries are growing them, even if they have never grown grapes before. This drives the price of wines down a little, but good wine is always expensive.

The vineyard is an important place for grapes. Now you know a little more about different aspects of vineyards, such as the history of vineyards and what problems might arise in a growing season. All of these factors make it obvious why good wines and grapes are so expensive. But after tasting one, the price no longer matters.

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7/31/08

White Wines Make The Food Delicious

For everyone, from the high ranking wine connoisseur to a first time wine taster, white wines provide a tasty variety of flavors that can be matched with almost any food and are produced all over the world.

Vineyards are found in France, Italy, Germany, Australia, the United States and more. Here in the United States, California is known as "wine country" with Napa and Sonoma being the "it" spots to visit for wine tasting tours.

Food and wine are a natural combination for many people. White wines, being less robust than red wines, tend to go well with lighter foods, such as appetizers, salads, poultry and seafood. Which food goes with which white wine varies according to the flavor of the wine. Some have a citrus kick to them, while others are more rustic, taking on the flavor of grass or hay. But for some, it totally depends on their individual preference.

With so many white wines to choose from, why not try each one over time? Visit a vineyard or do taste testing in your local area. Take a tour of wine country out on the West Coast. Wine can be soothing after a long hard day and can add just the right touch to a gift basket for a friend.

If wine really intrigues you, then consider joining a wine club. They're great for helping you choose just the right wine for any dish, helping you locate a winery in your area and some even provide the history on certain types of wines.

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