Urban Foraging And Bike Tour TONIGHT

Last minute, but you could run over after work and it looks awesome.

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Friday, June 14th, 5:30 pm

Nick Woebske and Galen Mook lead a bike tour at dusk around the perimeter of the Alewife Reservation. Edible plant expert David Craft, will educate riders on the vast amount of edible plants in the area at periodic stops. David has authored books on foraging, and does walks through out the Boston area.

Galen Mook is a bicycle instructor and ride-leader in the greater Boston area, with several years of experience working with Boston Bikes, the City of Cambridge, MassBike, and his own non-profit CommonWheels. He leads rides in and around the region (sometimes with musical accompaniment when he’s on his “drum bike”) and he truly enjoys showing off the area’s bike-ability to those who may be new to biking in an urban setting. For this event, he will be leading a casual, slow-paced and organized tour of the reservation, including a picnic at the end of the trip.

Bring a small snack and water bottle for picnic.

Sponsored by the Friends of Alewife Reservation. Participants will meet at the at the passenger pickup of the Alewife T-stop in Cambridge. Visit www.friendsofalewifereservation.org for updated information or call (617) 415-1884.

more details here (pdf)Go Green Edible Plant Bike Tour Flyer

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Boston Police District C-11 Presents Summer Safety Day & Bike Rodeo

Saturday, June 15, 2013
10:00am until 2:00pm in EDT

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MassBike PARTY!

Time is running out to get your tickets for Bike Night 2013 – but we’ve extended the deadline to make sure you don’t miss it! Tickets are on sale only until Tuesday, June 4th, so hit “Buy” right now to reserve your seat at Boston’s only cycling gala and fashion show! Support MassBike’s statewide advocacy and education programs helping more people ride bikes more safely, and be part of the Massachusetts cycling community’s signature event: Free bike valet parking A personal professional photo of you in all your finery 2 free libations courtesy of Sam Adams, Bacardi, Grey Goose and Robert Mondavi Sumptuous hors d’oeuvres Divine 3-course dinner Our famous Cycling Fashion Show Dozens of raffle prizes Amazing silent auction items Ticket sales absolutely end Tuesday or as soon as we sell out. Get your ticket now!            Ride by for the Party!                      Monday, June 3 (rain date: June 10)      Time: 5 – 9 pm, drawing@ 7:30 pm      Place: 55 Chester Street in front of Redbones     $15 gets you food & drink, bicycle valet parking by MassBike, and a ticket for the drawings. Additional tickets are $2.00 each or three for $5.00 – and you’ll want extras because our sponsors are donating some awesome prizes including the Grand Prize – a cargo bike from Alternative Needs Transportation! Also maps, swag, t-shirts, gift certificates & more swag. Music by The Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band  Party proceeds go to NEMBA & MassBike.

The MassBike Team 171 Milk St. Suite 33 Boston, MA 02109 Phone: 617-542-2453 Fax: 617-542-6755 Email: [email protected]

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Charles River Ride

Looks like a great time!  More here.

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Saturday, June 1, 2013 2:00pm in EDT

What better way to welcome the summer months than with a classic Boston ride? We’ll meet at the Allston Village Farmers Market and ride down the Esplanade to Charlestown, and return up Memorial Drive in Cambridge, ending at Riverfest on the Cambridge side. We hope to see you on this recreational, friendly ride that takes place almost entirely off the streets.

Here’s a rough map: http://goo.gl/maps/gEBHM

And here’s some info on Riverfest: http://www.bostoncentral.com/events/fair/p14962.php

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MassBike Mega Update

From MassBike:

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Get Your Bike Night Ticket By May 31!       Did you know you can support better biking around the state, and have a great time doing it? Don’t miss the swankiest bike party of the year –  ticket sales for “Bike Night: From The Bikeway To The Runway” close on Friday, May 31! All proceeds support our advocacy and education programs. Tickets will not be available at the door.   WHAT: An incredible evening of food, drink, and entertainment, bike gear, bike clothing, and bike people (Due to the generous support of the Westin Hotel and other sponsors, this is a $150 value for only $85, or $80 for members!)   WHERE: The elegant Westin Boston Waterfront in the Seaport District   WHEN: Friday, June 7, 2013, 6:30-9:00pm But that’s not all:   BONUS #1: Live models walking the runway wearing the latest in bike fashion from Craft, Primal, Hincapie, Sweet Spot Skirts, Club Ride Apparel, Ibex and many more   BONUS #2: Incredible raffle and silent auction prizes from Pedro’s, Duvine Adventures, Rudy Project, Top of the Hub, the Red Sox and dozens more!   BONUS #3: Stay overnight at the Westin at a deep discount, take a leisurely ride sponsored by Green Line Velo, and visit the Boston Cycling and Health Expo, all at the Westin!   BONUS #4: All proceeds support MassBike’s advocacy and education programs, like the  Massachusetts Bike/Walk Summit, the  Bikeable Communities Program, and  child safety education Time is running out - get your ticket right now!    MassBike Launches the 2013 National Bike Challenge in MA   MassBike is happy to present the   National Bike Challenge in Massachusetts. We are joining the other 50 states and the District of Columbia in this national contest to see which state can bike the most. The National Bike Challenge is sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists in partnership with Kimberly-Clark. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to keep the momentum of the MassCommute Bicycle Challenge through the end of September.   Register today!   The challenge is a very exciting opportunity for the Bay State! We have seen an explosion of interest in bicycling across the state, and this is our opportunity to show the rest of the country what a bunch of bike-nuts we really are. Don’t be ashamed of that 100-mile bike ride you did the other day just for fun – log it!   There are also a number of prizes available to win for those who consistently track rides lasting more than one mile each day. The more you bike, the better your chance of winning (and the better the prizes) will be!   For a step-by-step process for registering for the National Bike Challenge, click here. That page shows you how to register for Endomondo (the website the drives the Challenge) and how to create teams within your workplace or school. You can also register as an individual. If you have any questions, contact [email protected]. Tell Us Why You Support MassBike For the last 36 years, MassBike has been working hard topromote a bicycle-friendly environment  and help make bicycling better in Massachusetts. We represent over 3,000 cyclists across the state who see bicycling as a solution for the traffic, health and environmental challenges we face in our community. We couldn’t do it alone. MassBike depends on supporters like you to continue our work making bicycling a healthy and more sustainable means of transportation and recreation.   We’d love to hear why you support MassBike to feature it on our website and at events. Please take a moment to tell us: Your name (first name and last initial) Occupation (optional) Your home town How long you have been supporting MassBike, or how many hours you have volunteered Why you supported MassBike Email this to [email protected], extra points for attaching asmiling head shot. Thanks much in advance – as usual, we couldn’t do it without you! Bay State Bike Week Pictures, Flyers & More!     We have wrapped up another successful Bay State Bike Week. With 175 events across the state and an estimated 13,000 participants, this was a hugely successful year. We had events from the Cape to the Berkshires ranging from bike breakfasts to races and rodeos to film screenings.   What we need are pictures, flyers, and any other media you can send our way to post on our social media and the next newsletter! Please send any thing to[email protected]. Also let us know any photo credits or captions to add.   Read more here…. MassBike is Hiring!     We are excited to announce two great job opportunities: a part-time Bike Safety Instructor for the Boston area and a Project Coordinator based in Springfield, Massachusetts. If you or anyone you know would be interested in either of these positions, please send in an application. We are expecting to close the hiring process within a few weeks, so you’ll need to act quickly.   Bike Safety Instructor Our Instructors deliver the bike safety education for our Education Program. We currently have four instructors located around the state, but are looking for an additional instructor for the Boston Metro area. The key to this position is having a flexible schedule, as many of the classes we teach are during the day, though occasionally on nights or weekends. Ideal candidates will have teaching experience and are intimately familiar with bicyclist issues. Time commitment will only rarely exceed 20 hours per month. To see the job description, click here.   Project Coordinator We are searching for a top-notch candidate to help the City of Springfield build its bicycle and pedestrian network. The Project Coordinator is a full-time position based in Springfield that will work closely with staff from the City and from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. An ideal candidate would have a Master’s Degree or two to four years of experience doing related work. Spanish language skills and familiarity with or residency in Springfield a HUGE plus. To see the job description, click here.   Read more here… Up Coming Volunteer Opportunities   We know that volunteers make up a huge part of our success, so we want to make volunteering with us even better. Anyone who volunteers ten hours of their time will automatically earn a MassBike membership! Learn more about Membership Benefits.   To RSVP, email [email protected]   Monday, June 3: 4:30pm – 7pm & 7pm – 10pm - Bike Valet parking for Redbones annual bike party - At Redbones Barbecue, 55 Chester st, Somerville, MA 02144   Please join us at Redbones for bike valet parking, and of course great food and generous raffle prizes. This is a great event which raises money for MassBike & NEMBA.   Friday, June 7: 5:30pm-7:30pm - Bike Night Fashion Show - At the Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210   Coming to the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel on Friday, June 7th is MassBike’s Bike Night!  This suave soiree benefits MassBike and funds our numerous cycling advocacy and education programs.  We are looking for a handful of volunteers for the night to help with our bike valet service and guest check-in.  Bike valet volunteers will be needed from 5:30 to 9:30pm and our guest check-in volunteers will be needed from 5:30 to 7:30pm.  As a bonus, all volunteers will have access to purchase tickets for all our raffle prizes and bid on our silent auction items.  Since we greatly value our volunteer support, we will also be throwing a party at The Four’s Restaurant and Sports Bar at a time and date TBD for all those who come to help at Bike Night!  Bike Night is not to be missed so sign up to help today!   Tuesday, June 11: 5:30pm-8pm - MassBike Volunteer Night - At MassBike office, 171 Milk St, Suite 33, Boston, MA 02109 Come join us for free pizza and cold beer (generously provided by Harpoon) at our upcoming volunteer night. We meet every second Tuesday of the month. Volunteer nights are a great opportunity to help your state-wide bicycle advocacy group while having a good time and meeting great people. Volunteers help MassBike send out our monthly membership renewal reminders, prepare membership packets, and help out with other activities as they come up. Be sure to RSVP! To RSVP, email [email protected]

MassBike Calendar Wednesday, May 29 6:00pm, Public Hearing: Allston, City of Boston Traffic Signals – 15 Locations Project Thursday, May 30 7:00pm, Public Hearing: Beverly, Reconstruction of Rte. 1A (Cabot-Rantoul Streets) Friday, May 31 7:30am, Walk/Ride Day Monday, June 3 4:30pm, Bike Valet Parking: Somerville – Redbones Annual Bike Party 5:00pm, Redbones 17th Annual Bike Party & Benefit 7:00pm, Bike Valet Parking: Somerville – Redbones Annual Bike Party Tuesday, June 11 5:30pm, Volunteer Night Saturday, June 22 9:30am, Biking in the City for High Schoolers: Cambridge Members are an essential part of our success and are the driving force behind what we do at MassBike. Not a member yet? Join here. Thank you for your support!   Sincerely, The MassBike Staff

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Bikes Not Bombs Mega Update

Bike-A-Thon 2013 is only 5 days away! Register, Donate, Volunteer!

The Bike-A-Thon is the only ride in town where you might see a shark riding a tandem bike. Join us! Photo by Sean English

Register to ride!!

Sunday, June 2nd is just around the corner and Bikes Not Bombs needs YOU to join hundreds of riders for our biggest event and most important fundraiser of the year! Enjoy an amazing day of cycling while raising critical funds to support Bikes Not Bombs’ unique bicycle-based empowerment work in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and right here in Boston!

Choose from four scenic routes: a 15-mile ride that’s great for cyclists of all abilities, including families with children, a 25-mile ride that climbs into the Blue Hills, a 40-mile ride that’s filled with sweeping fields, babbling creeks, and shady groves, and a 65-mile ride that’s perfect for avid cyclists who want a challenge. Choose the ride that’s right for you, ride at your own pace, and have fun! Detailed route maps are available online.

All four Bike-A-Thon rides start and end at the park in front of the Stony Brook T Station on the Orange Line, at Lamartine and Boylston Streets in Jamaica Plain. Rides are fully supported with food, mechanics, cue sheets, rest stops, and following vehicles. You’ll be greeted at the finish line with gourmet lunch, live bands, face painting, and time to hang out with other cyclists. Riders also receive a limited edition 2013 Bikes Not Bombs t-shirt! Top individual fundraisers, teams, and youth are eligible for great prizes, like these awesome Aftershockz headphones, gift certificates to all sorts of cool places, and more!

There is a registration fee of $20 for folks 18 and older, and $10 for riders under 18. We try to make our ride as accessible as possible and keep a low fundraising requirement: $150 for riders 18 and older, $100 for riders 11-17, and $50 for riders ages 3-10. Once you register, you’ll receive an email packet with a pledge sheet and more info and you’ll also be able to make a personal fundraising webpage, which makes it easy for people to sponsor you online.

Find out more and register to ride today! And help spread the word on Facebook!

Photo by Joss Chadwick

Nevis Earn-A-Bike is a grassroots youth bicycle program, modeled after BNB’s own Earn-A-Bike, that provides bicycle mechanics training, leadership development and bicycles to young people throughout the island of Nevis in the Eastern Caribbean. Nevis Earn-A-Bike provides opportunities for young people to learn more about bikes, develop tangible and useful skills in bicycle repair and leadership, and build cross-community friendships. This program is in partnership with the Department of Social Services of Nevis, and has plans to expand to the neighboring island of St. Kitts.

This shipment of about 500 bicycles and parts will supply the Nevis Earn-A-Bike, and potentially the St. Kitts Earn-A-Bike, for at least the next two years. We’ll be loading lots of 24″ bikes, BMX bikes and 26″ mountain bikes. Come and join us!

TIME: Sunday June 16th from 10am to 5pm. Drop in for an hour or stay all day!

LOCATION: The BNB warehouse at 10 Harvard Street in Dorchester

DETAILS: Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Equal Exchange coffee is generously donated by City Feed & Supply!

Click here for more information and to RSVP!

Photo by Jasmine Laietmark

The Bikes Not Bombs Youth Bike-A-Thon team, “Team Swerve,” is putting the FUN in FUNdraising with an awesome and delicious event!

On Friday, May 24th, Team Swerve will be hosting the 2nd annual Super Soaker Scooper ‘Stravaganza from4-7 pm outside the Stony Brook T Station. Come on by and support our youth team by purchasing some delicious ice cream sundaes. Team Swerve is aiming to raise $4,000 and every dollar from this event will go directly to helping them reach their goal. Plus, who can say no to ice cream?? Read more, RSVP, and help spread the word on Facebook!

Feel free to contact Alumni Services Coordinator, Kenny at 617-522-0222 x102 or[email protected] for more information.

If you can’t make it, but still want to support the BNB Youth Team, you can donate online.

A bike drive is an event, often organized by a volunteer, to collect bicycles for Bikes Not Bombs. Large drives will sometimes bring in over 200 bikes! These drives help us extend our network of bike collection beyond our two locations in Jamaica Plain. If you have a bike to donate, you can always bring it to Jamaica Plain, but if you live further away, then hopefully you’ll be able to find a bike drive that is closer.

Upcoming Bike Drives:

• Carlisle, MA on Saturday, June 1st, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Sharon, MA on Saturday, June 8th, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
• South Dartmouth, MA on Saturday, June 15th, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Sherborn, MA on Saturday June 15th 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Northampton, MA on Saturday June 22nd 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Beverly, MA on Saturday June 29th 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Want to help bring Bikes Not Bombs’ bike collection to your town? We’d love to have your helporganizing a bike drive

Village Bicycle Project is hiring a Cadbury Bicycle Factory Maintenance Training Coordinator – a 9-month position in Ghana, from September 2013 – June 2014. The Coordinator is needed to initiate, coordinate, implement and report on bicycle repair and maintenance training programs in remote villages where The Bicycle Factory has donated over 17,000 bicycles since 2009. The position is for 30 hours / week on average, and will require extensive traveling to as many as 150 villages.

Visit the Village Bicycle Project’s website for more information on this exciting position!

Bikes Not Bombs extends Kwame Bidi a warm farewell and heartfelt thank you. Kwame has worked with BNB for the past 9 months on a temporary contract as International Programs Associate. During his time, he has helped BNB develop extensive systems of monitoring and evaluation for our International Programs, and he has provided increased support to our international partners. Kwame just completed his graduate studies in Sustainable International Development at the Heller School of Brandeis University, and is moving on to the next step in his career. Kwame, we will miss you, and we wish you all the best!!!

Photo by Stacy Rupolo

Bikes Not Bombs is currently accepting applications for Summer Earn-A-Bike and Fall Girls In Action.

• Summer Earn-A-Bike Session I - July 10 – July 26 (M-F, 2-6pm)
• Summer Earn-A-Bike Session II - July 31 – August 16 (M-F, 2-6pm)
• Fall Girls In Action September 9th – October 10th (M-Th, 3:30-6:30pm)

In these programs, participants aged 12 -18 choose a bike from those donated to Bikes Not Bombs, and not only learn the skills to build it up, but to maintain it as well. At the end of the program, once the bike is built, it is theirs to take home! Additionally, we go on bike adventures to explore some of the fascinating places Boston has to offer, and explore various environmental and social justice issues.

There are a limited number of spots available. Applicants are chosen based on application date, the applicant’s availability, and willingness to commit (Note: Girls In Action is only open to girls). To qualify for enrollment, BOTH the completed application and payment (cash, check or money order) must be submitted. Applicants who are not accepted will be notified and the program fee will be returned. Fee waivers are available.

If you have any questions please contact Ashley Leary at 617-522-0222 x101 or email[email protected].

Applications are available online. Mail or deliver the application & fee to: Bikes Not Bombs, 284 Amory Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

This summer, especially after the Bike-A-Thon, we’ll need extra volunteers to help around the office with easy tasks, such as data entry and envelope stuffing. If you or someone you know is available during weekday business hours, then this office volunteering role would be a great way to plug in and help out BNB! Scheduling is flexible. Please contact Sean Madsen at [email protected].

New Bike Shop Mechanic, Derek McIntire

The April and May Free Clinics at the BNB Shop have been a big success so far! For June, we have Practical Bike Fit on Thursday June 6th from 8-9pm, Basic Maintenance Wednesday June 12th from 8-9pm, and Flat Fixing Wednesday June 19th from 8-9pm. Check our website for more details. No need to sign up – just show up at 8pm! And don’t forget Tool Time, which is Monday June 3rd from 7-9pm and does require both a BNB Membership and advanced sign up.

Longtime BNB Shop employee Miguel will be leaving us to apprentice at the Center for Appropriate Transport in Eugene OR. He’ll be teaching bike mechanics as well as learning about and fabricating Cargo Bikes, one of which he hopes to raise money for and send back to BNB. Derek McIntire (also a former BNB employee) has returned to BNB as a shop mechanic. Derek just got back from working in Kenya with a community bike shop helping to train the staff in more advanced mechanics and shop operations.

We are now stocking two new panniers from Racktime. The Single-it ($60) is an individual pannier with organizing pockets, outer reflectors, and a waterproof rain cover. We are also stocking the Travel-it in two sizes (front-$100 and rear-$120). These are more traditional touring panniers with multiple pockets and an integrated rain cover. Both of these use Ortlieb’s proven QL1 mounting system (which means they attach similarly to the more expensive Ortlieb panniers) but are priced more competitively than the Ortlieb’s.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the Bike-A-Thon! We’ll be giving free bicycle safety checks to registered Bike-A-Thon riders in the morning and tabling in the afternoon.

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National Bike Challenge

Massbike is promoting the National Bike Challenge this year, a fun way to compete with other states to see what state is the most dedicated to cycling. See below for details, or read here.

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MassBike is proud to launch the National Bike Challenge in Massachusetts. This is a great opportunity to show the rest of the country how dedicated bicyclists in Massachusetts are! Building on the momentum of the MassCommute Bicycle Challenge, which took place during Bay State Bike Week, this friendly nation-wide competition runs through the end of September. We’re ready to hit the ground sprinting!

To register, do the following:

1. Visit NationalBikeChallenge.org and click “JOIN.”

2. Type in your Employer or School/University (optional).

3. If you are at a large employer, you can create teams within your company. To do so, click “Join a Team.”

4. Either create a team or join an existing team.

Prizes are given out on a monthly basis by the League of American Bicyclists. Powered by Endomondo, participants can track miles using a smartphone app or the Endomondo website. Once you register, all miles tracked through September automatically count toward the National Bike Challenge. Most importantly, we are competing against all 50 states! Let’s show them our biking prowess.

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Monthly Bike Parties Roll Into Boston; First Boston Bike Party Next Tuesday!

Greg Hum plays drums on his bike, organizes the annual Midnight Marathon Bike Ride, and rides bikes after eating too much. He shares stories and more on his personal blog, The Humble Cyclist. Tweet at him, bro: @thehum. 

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Back in 2009, BostonBiker reported back on some observations from adventures with the monthly San Jose Bike Party group bike ride:

1. 

   San Jose Bike Party

   1500 people, no joke this thing is huge

2. People stop at stop signs and red lights (mostly)
3. People in cars are nice to the party members
4. All ages (family, child, old, college, high school etc)
5.  People love their cruisers/low riders/choppers/old shitty mountain bikes out there.
6.  It is done at night
7.  Music is provided by several bike trailers, and a musical couch
8.  BIKE PARTY!!!!
9. Seriously…BIKE PARTY!!!!!

Fast forward four years, and I’m very pleased to announce that Shane’s observations are soon going to become a reality in Boston:

Bike Parties are coming to Boston, and the first one is next Tuesday night, May 28th! 

From the Boston Bike Party website:

Bike Party is a phenomenon which has grown out of San Jose, California and spread across the country.  Massachusetts has a vast and diverse biking community with a lot of potential for some great social rides, and it’s about time we got a Bike Party of our own!

The idea is simple: we have fun while riding around together on bikes.  It’s a monthly social ride to make friends, hang out with fellow bikers, and promote biking in the Boston/Cambridge area by showing all the walkers and drivers how we have a good time!

There is no cost to join us, and no obligation.  It’s just an informal bike night out around town to have fun and socialize.

Hopefully we’ll see you at the first Boston Bike Party!

1. Keep to the right lane and off of sidewalks
2. Never ride against traffic
3. Stop at red lights
4. Ride straight and predictably
5. Ride smart. Don’t ride inebriated or unsafely.
6. Remind others to be safe. Help remind others who aren’t following the rules.
7. Stick together! It isn’t a race to the end, it’s a social ride together. If the group is held back, wait. If you’re falling back (which is hard) catch up!

You are each responsible for your behavior! All participants ride at their own risk.

• Meeting location: Dewey Square Plaza
• Date: May 28th, 2013 
• Meet time: 7:30pm
• Ride Departure: 8:00pm
• Facebook Event Page | Boston Bike Party on Facebook
  

Elodie, Boston Bike Party’s founder, a recent Boston transplant and France native, felt inspired to bring Bike Parties to Boston after participating and falling in love with DC Bike Parties while living there.

The DC Bike Party Experience from Charles Pulliam-Moore on Vimeo.

I imagine an amazing party on wheels akin to the closest thing Boston has to a Bike Party: the annual JP Halloween bike ride:
.

I’ll have the Hum Drum out for this one. See you on Tuesday!

-Greg

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