Month: November 2019

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20 Jokes About “National Treasure” That Deserve to Be Shared

I feel like there’s really no way to hate the movie National Treasure. It’s a silly premise, sure, and the dialogue leaves something to be desired, but the leads have good chemistry and the sidekick character has comic timing for days.

Plus, it’s inspired these 20 posts, and really, that makes it an instant classic.

20. Please, please let this happen.

19. It is quite the 180, but that’s what makes it so amazing.

18. We will all fight you.

17. Describe your perfect date.

16. Riley Poole is the only one with common sense, here, and we love him for it.

https://justin-bartha.tumblr.com/post/118833228877/riley-poole-would-survive-a-horror-movie

15. Yeah, no hanky panky during the film, sir.

14. More proof you can’t trust Rotten Tomatoes.

13. I could get behind that.

12. It can say anything you want, really.

11. Season 1 of Game of Thrones all makes sense, now.

10. No one is going to argue with you I don’t think.

9. Yeah, what if THAT?

https://hansgrubr.tumblr.com/post/151736899889/maybe-the-real-treasure-was-the-declaration-of

8. With responses like that, you could have been IN the movies!

7. Isn’t life great when it comes full circle like that?

6. Maybe he’s a big fan of lemonade?

5. Even Lin Manuel is a fan.

Image Credit: Tumblr

4. It really was real all the time.

3.There’s no way around it.

https://modernlifehistorian.tumblr.com/post/172831781482/when-you-read-about-the-declaration-of

2. I’d almost forgotten about this amazing moment.

1. I would like to read this essay now, please.

I’m off for a rewatch, because yeah. I love it.

Do you like this movie? Why or why not? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

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A 13-Year-Old Developed a Better Hyperloop for Moving Trains

Caroline Crouchley, a 13-year-old student of Garden City Middle School, is proposing a better, safer hyperloop train, building on an idea pushed by Elon Musk in 2012.

Currently, tech companies are working to get a hyperloop functioning in India, hoping to transport people between Mumbai and Pune in only half an hour. A trip like this would normally take many hours by car.

Companies developing hyperloop transportation are using designs that put people into pods that move inside low-pressure tubes. The hope is that with resistance removed, pods will be able to go very, very fast. In fact, they’re being tested running 700 miles per hour.

Crouchley’s design would not move that fast, but her system is still twice as fast as trains in use now.

Her solution involves pneumatic tubes constructed to run alongside train tracks – and according to the young inventor, it should be less expensive to build and operate than the conventional hyperloop technology. It’ll also be safer, which is a major selling point for a mass transit technology.

She told CNN, “My design can rely on 100% renewable energy, so it eliminates the need for a diesel engine or an electric motor, which makes the train lighter, so it can move faster.”

Crouchley’s innovative idea made her a finalist in the 2019 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

The major challenge with hyperloops, which put pods inside a partial vacuum tube, is the potential for collapse – if the tube breaks, the pods aren’t going to survive. But with Crouchley’s design, the train is operating outside of the tube, eliminating that danger and also making use of existing infrastructure and equipment.

It’ll work like this: a magnetic shuttle system will operate inside the pneumatic tubes. More magnets will attach the train to the shuttle, allowing the shuttle to act like the train’s engine.

How does she envision her idea moving forward? She told Fast Company, “My plans are to open-source my project to teams of engineers, scientists, and universities such as MIT and Harvard to solve the complex mathematical equations and physics required to make the idea a reality.”

Hyperloop has many critics who say it will never be practical to use, but Crouchley sees her solution as an intermediary design that has viability in the near future.

At any rate, technology usually starts with the big picture question. It’s the little steps that make the answer reality.

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This Is What You Should Do If You Lose Your ID Before a Flight

If you’ve ever experienced that panic when you’re ready to leave for the airport, and suddenly can’t find your I.D., then you know the hopeless feeling of mentally watching your fun (or necessary, if it’s for work) trip go right down the drain.

So, what should you do when it happens to you?

First of all, it’s important to find and pack any other documents you have that can identify you or help your case (assuming you don’t have a passport or Global Entry card) – a Social Security card, birth certificate, bank card, insurance card, even utility bills – because you’ll likely have to explain your case to (a hopefully sympathetic) security officer.

If they approve what you’ve brought, you’ll be able to proceed through security with a boarding pass that proves you’ve shown some form of ID.

If they don’t, fear not – you can still complete the TSA’s “identity verification” process, which will include “collecting information such as your name, current address, and other personal information to confirm your identity.”

It will take up to an additional two hours, however, so make sure you arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare.

Also, it can be a pretty intense process. From one redditor who went through it:

“I give him my name, date of birth, and SSN. He tells me he’s going to relay some questions to me, then proceeds to ask some general questions (credit report-type stuff) then some non-general questions (what cities my parents were born in). After I answered all the questions they gave me the enhanced pat-down and then sent me to my flight.”

If you’ve got copies of your id, you’ll want to bring those, just in case.

Also, with the advent of READ-ID, all of this advice might soon be obsolete. So there’s that.

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This “Revolutionary” New Air Filtering Device Might Be a Big Deal in the Fight Against Climate Change

Are you listening? Good.

A carbon dioxide filtering device that can capture carbon dioxide from the air at just 400 parts per million has been hailed as a “revolutionary” instrument for tackling our climate crisis.

Sahag Voskian and T. Alan Hatton, chemical engineers at MIT, developed the method, which captures CO2 by passing air through special charged plates.

Carbon dioxide from the gas intake reacts with the electrodes in the device. Each electrode is coated with a carbon nanotubes and a polyanthraquinone compound. The device acts sort of like a battery, and as it charges, it absorbs carbon dioxide passing over the electrodes. As it discharges, it releases the greenhouse gas it has collected.

The carbon dioxide it releases during the discharge can be recycled to feed greenhouse plants, or even used in carbonated beverages.

Dr. Voskian said, “All of this is at ambient conditions — there’s no need for thermal, pressure, or chemical input. It’s just these very thin sheets, with both surfaces active, that can be stacked in a box and connected to a source of electricity.”

The biggest advantage to this way of filtering is the low energy cost: one gigajoule of energy for every ton of carbon dioxide captured. Compare that to the 1-10 gigajoules (depending on the concentration of CO2 taken in) used by alternative methods. Plus, if to expand the systems capacity, they only need to add more electrodes!

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The study describing the new system was published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science.

The scientists have even created a company called Verdox that plans to build a plant to scale the process up for commercial use.

Cleaner air with lower energy. There’s a real future for that.

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Airplanes Aren’t Allowed to Fly Over These 5 Places

You’ve probably heard rumors about places you aren’t allowed to fly over (also, places that the Pope refuses to fly over), but it’s all just been speculation and hearsay for me up until now.

BUT NO LONGER. I did a little research and decided to learn about the actual places airplanes are not allowed to fly over and why, and here we are!

Some of these are probably pretty obvious, but some might just surprise you a little bit…

Here are 5 places in the U.S. that planes are not allowed to fly over. Enjoy!

1. Washington, D.C.

 

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It makes a lot of sense that there is a no-fly zone over D.C. Think about it: the president, congress, the Supreme Court, the seat of government is all centered in our nation’s capitol.

2. Camp David

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Have a great weekend! ––––– President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (both at right) stand with their children, Caroline Kennedy (sitting astride her pony, »Macaroni«) and John F. Kennedy, Jr., at Camp David in Frederick County, Maryland. »Macaroni« is wearing a Moroccan saddle, which was presented as a gift for Caroline by King Hassan II of Morocco during his state visit on March 27, 1963. March 31, 1963 ––––– Photo: https://bit.ly/2K02uwj ––––– #MuseumTHEKENNEDYS #THEKENNEDYScollection #Kennedyfans #Kennedyfan #MuseumOnTour #JFKLibrary #JohnFKennedy #PresidentKennedy #KennedyFamily #Washington #CarolineKennedy #JackieKennedy #JacquelineKennedy #FirstLady #JohnFKennedyJr #Marocco #Maryland #CampDavid #tgif #HappyFriday #familytime #mylittlepony #November

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Camp David in Maryland is another residence for the president, so naturally it makes sense that the area around it would be a no-fly zone. The country retreat is about 70 miles from the White House.

3. Area 51

One of the most mysterious places in the United States, Area 51 sits in the Nevada desert and is the inspiration behind countless movies, TV shows…and memes. Area 51 is a highly-classified military base, so you know that no planes are going to be flying over this patch of land.

4. Disneyland and Disney World

 

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Okay, this might be one of the locations that you didn’t expect to see on this list. Why is it a no-fly zone, you ask? During the 1980s and 1990s, the theme parks were bombarded by aerial advertisements flying overhead and officials wanted to get rid of those nuisances. There’s also a safety component, as both parks are among the most significant tourist destinations in the country.

5. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

 

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This area covers over one million acres in Minnesota and was declared a no-fly zone back in 1949 when President Harry Truman signed an executive order. The boundary waters are one of the only few no-fly zones that are purely recreational.

Cool, right?

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This Is Why You Can’t Get a McRib Any Time You Want

The McRib.

I know there are people out there who love it, crave it, and count the days until it returns, even after the rather startling (if not surprising) truth about its ingredients is now public knowledge.

But if so many people are ready to fork over their cash year-round, why does McDonald’s insist on holding out?

Well, you’re about to find out, so hold onto your Happy Meals, my friends…

It’s not as surprising as you might think. Basically, it’s all about the marketing.

According to CNN, McDonald’s doesn’t actually believe you’d buy the McRib year round; they think the seasonal nature of the product is exactly what makes it so popular.

When fast food chains employ a “limited run” item, they know diners are more motivated to make time to grab not just one, but several, while it’s in season – something they might not do if it were available any ol’ time.

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Finally!!!!!! #mcrib #seasonal #iamloved

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The McRib first appeared in 1981, but it didn’t do well, so McDonald’s removed it from the menu in 1985. When it returned in 1994, people gave it more of a chance, and by 2005, it became a regular on McDonald’s recurring menu. Consumers should also know the sandwich contains 70 different ingredients, which include, “pig bits like tripe, heart, and scalded stomach.” Add in some azodicarbonamide, ammonium sulfate, ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides and more.

Nowadays, people are actively excited when it comes back around, instead of feeling like it’s just one of many options they could get whenever.

And if you’re looking to cash in on the latest McRib season, please enjoy yourself responsibly – and if you’re anything like me, don’t forget your antacid.

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A Woman Is Teaching Her Dog to Speak…And It Looks like It’s Working

When I was a young boy, I dreamed about my dog Quincy being able to talk. I’d think about the conversations we’d have and all the great adventures we’d go on together. He was my best pal, and his being able to talk would just be the icing on the cake…

As you’ve probably figured out by now, Quincy never learned how to talk and my childhood was ruined. But this story gives me hope for the future!

Christina Hunger is a speech-language pathologist who is working on teaching her 18-month old dog Stella to speak…seriously. Hunger (what a name) says that Stella already knows 29 words…which is 29 more than Quincy ever knew…

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Hello there everyone!! ? Welcome to the Hunger for Words community! I’m THRILLED you’re here! I feel completely honored by this outpouring of enthusiasm and inspiration ✨✨ Here is a fun Stella series to kick off this new chapter! • Jake and I were discussing taking Stella to Petco. She was certainly listening…! • Video 1: Stella said “Goodbye outside.” This is the third time in the past few weeks that Stella has combined “good” and “bye” to say “Goodbye” instead of just “bye”! • Video 2: Jake said he wanted to hang our spice racks first, started the project, and Stella told him, “Later Jake” ?? (Translation: Do that later, I want to go!) • Video 3: Stella came full circle with her message and told us she was REALLY ready to leave by saying, “Bye bye bye good bye!” (Looks like we have ourselves a little @nsync fan ?) • I hope you all have a great day!

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So how is she doing this? Well, Hunger is training Stella to use an adaptive device usually used by young children.

Hunger also says that, in addition to the 29 words, Stella can form five-word phrases and sentences.

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Stella uses language differently when she’s in a heightened state versus when she’s calm! • Today when she heard some noises outside and wanted to go investigate, I told her we were staying inside. • Stella responded by saying, “Look” 9 TIMES IN A ROW, then “Come outside.” She was clearly in a more frantic state, and her language use matched that. We all sound differently than normal when we’re in distress, Stella included! • I’m impressed that Stella is communicating with language during her more heightened states, not just when she’s calm and in a quiet space. This shows me that words are becoming more automatic for her to use. It’s similar to when a toddler starts using language to express himself during times of frustration instead of only crying. That happens when it’s easy for the toddler to say words, not when he’s still learning and it takes a lot of focus to talk ?? • • • • • #hunger4words #stellathetalkingdog #slpsofinstagram #speechtherapy #AAC #ashaigers #slp #corewords #SLPeeps #slp2be #earlyintervention #languagedevelopment #dogsofinstagram #dogmom #doglife #dogs #guarddog #animalpsychology #doglover #dogvideos #sandiegodog #catahoula #blueheeler #smartdog #dogcommunication #mydogtalks #animalcommunication #interspeciescommunication #loveanimals

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Stella is using a system that has a number of buttons, each of which plays a particular word out loud when it is touched. Hunger started teaching Stella how to use the device when the pup was only eight weeks old, and Stella can now let her owner know when she needs help, when she wants to take a walk or go play, if and when she misses a certain family member, and if she’s feeling distressed.

Hunger said, “The way she uses words to communicate and the words she’s combining is really similar to a two-year-old child.”

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I AM MIND BLOWN ? Last night after coming inside, Stella said “Come eat come play.” I was pretty sure she meant that she wanted to eat dinner then play, but I asked, “Do you want to eat or play?” to clarify. • Stella licked her lips, paused, and responded, “Want come eat.” After Stella ate, she immediately dove at her toy and started playing. • AHHH! This is amazing for so many reasons! Stella told me a sequence of two things she wanted to do. Then, I asked her a question containing two options, and she answered with a short phrase confirming her original message! Stella even expanded her own phrase from “Come eat ” to “Want come eat.” The speech therapist side of me is completely amazed, and the dog mom side of me is incredibly proud. Yay, Stella!! • • • • • #hunger4words #stellathetalkingdog #proud #slpsofinstagram #speechtherapy #AAC #ashaigers #slp #corewords #SLPeeps #slp2be #aacawarenessmonth #earlyintervention #languagedevelopment #dogsofinstagram #dogmom #doglife #dogs #animalpsychology #doglover #dogvideos #sandiegodog #catahoula #blueheeler #smartdog #dogcommunication #mydogtalks #animalcommunication #interspeciescommunication #loveanimals

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Hunger is basing the training off of Augmentative and Alternative Communication, known as AAC. Hunger has learned that even though dogs can’t speak like humans do, they can express themselves in other ways, such as barking and jumping. Hunger also said that she wants to eventually teach other dogs to “speak” as well.

You have to admit that this is a pretty incredible story and the progress that Hunger has made is very impressive. Follow her Instagram page to follow this excellent journey. Go Stella!

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‘The Office’ Version of ‘Clue’ Lets Players Figure out Who Killed Toby

If you’ve spent time watching the American version of The Office, you know that Toby Flenderson is always the whipping boy. Michael Scott, the mediocre bossman, can’t stand the sight of Toby and lets him know every chance he gets that he’d prefer Toby quit his job and not show his face around the office any longer.

So it makes perfect sense that in the Clue The Office board game, players are tasked with finding out who killed poor Toby, where the murder took place, and what weapon was used.

In the game, you can play as one of six characters: Jim Halpert, Pam Beesly, Dwight Schrute, Angela Martin, Stanley Hudson, or Andy Bernard. You can’t play as Michael Scott because, as you might have guessed, he will be doing everything he can to get in the way of your investigation. The mystery will take you throughout the Dundler-Mifflin universe, including such spots as the warehouse, the kitchen, Michael’s office, and the employee parking lot.

It looks like the board game is currently out of stock on the Hot Topic website, but keep an eye on that link if you want a chance at scoring one. It may even be worth it to venture to *GASP* your local shopping mall to see if they have one of these babies in stock because they’re going for $200 on Amazon.

This would make a great gift for the holidays though, wouldn’t it? We all know how many people out there are obsessed with The Office, so get busy hunting for one of these ASAP. Got it? Good!

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This Beer Company Puts Dog Photos on Cans to Help Them Get Adopted

It’s so sad to think about how many abandoned, stray, homeless animals there are across the country. Dogs and cats that are just waiting to find a safe, warm, loving home where they can live out their days in peace and comfort.

And while there are countless shelters and organizations doing great work out there in regard to rescuing and adopting animals, there’s always room for more help, right? Damn right, there is. Fargo Brewing Company in North Dakota recently joined forces with a local animal shelter called 4 Luv of Dog to create beer cans featuring perfect pooches who are looking to get adopted.

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Please join us Monday, November 4th at 5pm for a very special Not-For-Profit event with 4 Luv of Dog Rescue! For this event we have packaged our Fargo Original Lager into 6 packs of cans where each individual can is labeled to highlight a different “Oneder” Dog! These Oneder dogs are special pups who have had a particularly hard time finding their forever home. Some of these dogs, while being great with people, have a hard time socializing with other dogs and therefore don’t get to come to foster puppy meet & greets which makes it difficult for people to get to know how great they really are! It’s our hope that through this event we can raise a little awareness about these “one”derful pooches and hopefully find them homes of their own! Proceeds from this event will benefit @4luvofdogrescue so please come join us in support this very worth cause for paws!

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The dogs featured on the six-pack of cans are referred to as “Oneders” because they have had a harder time getting adopted due to socializing issues with other canines. On their Facebook page, Fargo Brewing Company said, “It’s our hope that through this event we can raise a little awareness about these ‘one’derful pooches and hopefully find them homes of their own!”

The pups featured on the six-pack are Nyx, Bizzy, Jensen, Hobie, Moby, and Virginia.

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⠀This week’s ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀#OnederDogWednesday is… ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ?Jensen? Jensen is a special boy who has quickly stolen the hearts? of many of the building volunteers? He loves being with people and is a great little buddy. He is also a huge snuggle bug and loves to lay on the couch? Jensen is easy to please and is most happy when he is with people and has a ball in his mouth☺? He does great on a leash and loves to explore? Unfortunately, Jensen is still waiting to find a foster home? But he’s hoping his sweet smile will win someone over soon? • If you want to learn more about Jensen, apply to adopt or foster, donate to his care, or see all available dogs, visit 4LuvOfDog.org or click the link in our bio? • #OnederDog #sogoodyouonlyneedone #nextbestfriend #adoptme #dogrescue #pittie #adopt #donate #educate #sponsor #volunteer #FOSTER

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The idea for the collaboration came from a man named Jerad Ryan who volunteers at the dog shelter and also works at a company that produces beer labels. Ryan said,

“I approached my boss about donating beer can labels to a brewery willing to feature our dogs. He loved the idea. I asked Fargo Brewing if they would be willing to do this for us and they loved it too. They have gone above and beyond with donating profits and having an event where the public can come and meet our Oneder dogs, as they don’t get to attend events with the other dogs. The response from the community has already been amazing and heartwarming.”

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Happy ✨#OnederDogWednesday ✨ to Nyx! You may be the perfect home for Nyx if you: ❤ Want to feel like a rock-star ?‍?whenever you get home #1fan ? Appreciate Nyx's need to patrol the perimeter of your backyard ?#noneedforsecurity ? Love a dog who has their own way of showing you they love you back ❣ #unique ? Don't mind the little extra care a senior dog needs in their retirement years ??#seniordogsrule ? Like smart dogs who can shake, spin, lay down and sit ?#smarterthansomepeople ? Have blankets that are snuggle-worthy ? #zzzz ❤ Live in a home with no small children or other animals ? #nothanks ? Smile when you look down and see a little white dog looking back up at you like your very own little happy shadow ?? #unconditionallove Nyx is house and kennel trained and has been waiting a long time for her forever home to find her! #alreadyperfect ?‍♀️ You can share this post to your story to help get Nyx adopted?? And you can learn more about Nyx, apply to adopt, or donate to her care at 4LuvOfDog.org ? or by following the link in our bio #4luvofdogrescue #onederdogsneedlove #cleartheshelters #onederdog #jackrussel #terrier #adoptme #dogrescue #adopt #foster #volunteer #donate #educate

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Take some time to browse 4 Luv of Dog’s website to see what wonderful dogs are up for adoption. More of this, please!

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Microsoft Japan Adopted a 4-Day Work Week and It Boosted Productivity by 40 Percent

Might this be a sign of things to come on this side of the Pacific Ocean? Let’s hope so.

Microsoft Japan recently trialed a 4-day work week and announced the results from the experiment.

Two big takeaways: the employees enjoyed the four-day week very much and productivity increased by 40%. Shorter, more efficient meetings were noted as one factor for the boost in productivity (DUH).

Microsoft called the experiment the “Work-Life Choice Challenge Summer 2019,” and it lasted for five weeks for the company’s 2,300 employees in Japan. Microsoft Japan president and CEO Takuya Hirano said, “Work a short time, rest well and learn a lot. It’s necessary to have an environment that allows you to feel your purpose in life and make a greater impact at work. I want employees to think about and experience how they can achieve the same results with 20 percent less working time.”

The employees of the company had to be more efficient with their time, which meant shorter meetings or remote meetings. That in turn led to more productivity. In addition to that good news, electricity use by the company dropped 23.1%, and employees printed 58.7% fewer pages of paper.

A whopping 92% of Microsoft Japan’s employees said that they enjoyed the shorter work week (surprise surprise). The company said it plans on repeating the 4-day work week trial next summer and might expand the experiment to other times as well.

I, for one, think this is a great idea if you work in an office or another job where people have to be present in order for things to be accomplished. I know that I would’ve preferred working four 10-hour days in my old office jobs as opposed to five 8-hour days.

What do you think? Share your ideas about this topic in the comments.

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