S19.S07: Labor of Love

[Mod-Tranquilizer]

Kody helps Meri prepare to move away and they joke about their divorce, Christine and David look at wedding venues after only two months of dating, which leaves her kids thinking things are moving too fast.

[surfgirl]

This noodle-headed, misogynistic, LOSER was devastated when Sonny and Cher got divorced? WTAF?!? Does he realize that we can all hear him? 

Edited October 31 by surfgirl

[Yeah No]

He keeps saying that he was "just doing his duty" with the 3 OG wives, like it was nothing else to him but that. We all know that's BS, like we're gonna believe that there was absolutely NOTHING in it for him, yeah, right! 😏 He seems to have rewritten everything he did to get out of taking any responsibility for anything he did with them, including any love he may have had for them or any kids he had with them over 3 decades. He's blaming it all on his religion - He didn't do any of it because he wanted to do it, it was his "religion" that made him do it, yeah, that's the ticket! NOT BUYING IT, ASSHOLE!!!

So WTF was he actually doing there? Going through the motions with the other wives only because God told him to do it? Like it was a bitter pill to swallow but he was so devoted to God he couldn't say no? I've heard of sorry excuses before, but this one is truly pathological! And scary, not to mention how hurtful it is to his entire family!

 

[Soapy Goddess]

Kody wonders why he gets along better with Meri now (post divorce) than when they were married. Well, genius, maybe it's because you no longer feel obligated to pretend that you like her (never mind love her)? 

[Auntie Freeze]

"Murder face" is my take away from this ep. So she does see and recognise it. And yet stays.

[altopower]

I wanted to fast forward through the Christine/David wedding stuff. Cringy old news since we know they got married and we know where - because there was a two-part wedding special already! 

[Gramto6]

5 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Kody wonders why he gets along better with Meri now (post divorce) than when they were married. Well, genius, maybe it's because you no longer feel obligated to pretend that you like her (never mind love her)? 

And part of me thinks he is showing his "true colors" in these moments. Janelle had said when she first joined the family Kody and Meri were often silly together and seemed to have fun together.  I think he let his mask slip a bit, unknowingly, and we saw some of their "original" relations peek through.  We saw you Kootie!!

[GladysCravits]

Kody seems almost childlike when talking to Robyn, waiting for direction.

[Granny58]

watching Kody get teary eyed and dare I say remorseful about his failed relationships, I realized once again that they are characters in a show and this is this season's story arc....the redemption of Kody.  

[ginger90]

Just now, Granny58 said:

and this is this season's story arc....the redemption of Kody.  

It’s not working. 

[General Days]

I'm importing this from the Season 19 Live chat thread. When the thread is closed, you can't use the quote function, so please excuse the weird formatting.

I posted:

"It'd be cool to have a soul mate. It would be even cooler to have a big wedding." Is Christine effing kidding us? Girl, you're 50.

I know she missed out on a lot the first time around, but this planning the wedding before we're engaged and macking on each other when you knew it weirds out your kids is cringe-worthy.

 

@Soapy Goddess quote: 

Quote

 

Some people NEVER find their soul mate, so I say better late than never.

 

I'm thrilled that Christine seems to have found her soulmate at 50 (or any age). If she and David are as right for each other as they say they are, that is a truly wonderful thing, and I am happy for both of them, and for their families.

My issue was that she said it would be cooler to have a big wedding, than it would be to find her soulmate. Those are the priorities of a five-year-old, not a 50-year-old.

 

@Soapy Goddess quote:

 

 

Quote

And when you do find that special person, you don't need a piece of jewelry (engagement ring) to plan your wedding. An engagement is just a formality. And if both parties know and agree, they should be able to plan the venue (at least) because some favorite places are booked up to 1-2 years in advance.

 

In a couch segment, Christine told us the timeline of the Moab wedding venue excursion, in this episode:

"It's the end of January. We met at the beginning of December."

At another point in the episode, she also specifically said they'd been dating for six to eight weeks at the time.

To me, a ring does not an engagement make. Proposing and accepting (or otherwise making an agreement to marry) is an engagement, so I never thought about the formality of a ring. I thought about making a serious life commitment, with someone she'd known for less than two months.

When Christine said they weren't engaged, I thought they were looking at venues, even though they hadn't made a firm decision to marry. A ring didn't even come into my head.

However, I think that maybe Christine looks at engagement the way you do — that it's about the offer and acceptance of a ring. That sort of transactional context does better explain what she meant. 

 

@Soapy Goddess quote:

Quote

BTW, the "kids" should get used to their parents being affectionate. I'd rather see that than the alternative.

 

At six to eight weeks, that's not their parents being affectionate. That's one parent engaging in a lot of PDA with their latest flame, in front of kids who are clearly still getting used to that new flame (which is normal at six to eight weeks — the kids have more sense than either Christine or David). 

Of course, last season, we already saw her grind on David at their wedding reception — in front of everyone from small children, to their own children, to their parents — so I don't know why I expected more out of her. I guess she needs to get her second adolescence out of her system.

I hope they both have a happy life together. I just felt bad for the kids. It was clear how uncomfortable they were. 

In actuality, I happen to think Janelle is probably right -- that David and Christine just know enough about what they want to know they're right for each other. That said, I could not fault either Ysabel or Aspyn for being concerned that things were moving too fast, and I could not fault Matt, Ysabel, and Truely for being uncomfortable.

[Orcinus orca]

Sorry, life is not a fairy tale and the number of people who have decided someone is a "soulmate" in a couple of months must be infinitesimal.  You cannot possibly know anyone that thoroughly in that short a period of time.  Declaring truuuuu luvvvvv in two months is rookie teeny bopper move but not unexpected from Sparkle Pony.

[General Days]

Sparkle Pony. Ha. I love it.

[Emmeline]

11 hours ago, surfgirl said:

This noodle-headed, misogynistic, LOSER shithead was devastated when Sonny and Cher got divorced? WTAF?!? Does he realize that we can all hear him? 

I thought that comment was absurd.  Kody was born in 1969 and Sony & Cher were divorced in 1975.  So he was  devastated as a 6 year old?  I’m surprised he was even allowed to watch The Sony and Cher show.

[MaryMitch]

I love that Christine is so happy. If she wants a big wedding, she should have one. Personally I've always had the "get married at the courthouse" image in my own mind - I would feel embarrassed to get married in front of a bunch of people - but I do love weddings! Watching some of the flashbacks, I am reminded that Christine was the "mother" of not only her kids but Janelle's too, so it's about time she got to indulge herself.

[JoannKBC]

"We're not engaged yet, but we need to book the wedding venue..." Um, what? You've said you want to marry him and he's said he wants to marry you. You've agreed to want to have a wedding. You guys are engaged. I don't know what formal process Christine thinks engagement has to be - for her, it probably has to include an element of surprise, a photo shoot and a diamond ring - but someone should break the news to her that she's engaged.

[Shauna]

I found it interesting the way Truely was trying to come in between Christine and David, literally, pulling their hands apart.  I understand it was probably hard for her to see that and get used to it, but she would have gotten a strict talking to the first time it happened.  Yes, I understand Truely's position as I've been there before, but I wouldn't have stood for it to happen a second time.  

 

[SemiCharmedLife]

1 hour ago, Shauna said:

I found it interesting the way Truely was trying to come in between Christine and David, literally, pulling their hands apart.  I understand it was probably hard for her to see that and get used to it, but she would have gotten a strict talking to the first time it happened.  Yes, I understand Truely's position as I've been there before, but I wouldn't have stood for it to happen a second time.  

 

Truly was only doing what the rest of us were thinking---- enough with the PDA! ;)

Even though the episode wasn't Robyn-heavy this time, I managed to yell at the tv the two times she graced it:

She alluded to how bad she felt that  Meri was "hanging on" all those years.  Girl, YOU were responsible for that mess. You encouraged her to stay time and time again.  She had a harder time breaking the news to Robyn than she did to Kody.  We all saw it.

The princess got the wedding neither Janelle nor Christine were allowed to have, but she would have preferred a private ceremony.  Sure, Jan.  She is doing her best to paint herself as a poor victim who does everything for the family's best interests.  Does that include the 11 day honeymoon?

[altopower]

Taking this from the live thread:

Quote

"I want to watch the show and I do like hearing what they are thinking, to a point. But they need more watching them do and a lot less watching them talk, interminably, about what they think and feel ad nauseum."

Me, too. But really all they've done (except the wedding) for multiple seasons is sit around and talk to each other, usually outside. It was way more fun when the kids were younger and wanted to go DO things like hikes and crafts and had parties and there were big family gatherings.

Of course, we also had cringeworthy family church services and trips to the family therapist, and kvetching that Kody wasn't being fair. Oh wait, we still have that. But we also don't have most of the kids, either, and who can blame them for wanting to just live their lives for themselves? We also don't have that stupid joolry business, either, which is fine with me.

So we're left with more watching them talk separately and not even usually in groups of two, just to the camera. No more Salsa Brava vists for this group. I do like screen-on-screen insets with OG wives laughing at Kody and Robyn's talks. But this can't go on forever, and if it does, I'm not watching it.

[MamaMax]

Personally I don't believe in soulmates.  It's a fairy tale concept to me. I believe in love, in chemistry, in making a decision to live with and love someone forever and then doing the work.  Christine and David (at this point in the timeline) are in the hormone-heavy, exciting salad days of a romantic relationship. I also think they are a good match and will hopefully be happy together. I sincerely hope they don't find out any big surprises about one another. I just don't believe you can really know someone in such a short time. (Just listen to the podcast Betrayed LOL.) 

I REALLY dislike her attitude about her kids' feelings. Personally, as a mom, I would be prioritizing their feelings.   But I think its another example of the parentification of the Brown kids. The kids are talking like the adults "I want her to be happy but its so fast" and Christine is acting like a petulant teenager "You cant stop me."  

[laurakaye]

On 10/28/2024 at 4:17 AM, Soapy Goddess said:

Kody wonders why he gets along better with Meri now (post divorce) than when they were married. Well, genius, maybe it's because you no longer feel obligated to pretend that you like her (never mind love her)? 

And I think he's got the hots for her again because she's leaving his a$$.  He never thought she'd do it and she's done it.  I think it turns him on in some sick way.  Wasn't Savanah conceived when Janelle left Kody for several months?  And now he's trying to tell us that he kinda digs this Meri chick and wouldn't mind if she called him to let him know what's going on from time to time?

Kody - this is the woman you claim to have loathed since the day you married her, remember?  I know, I know - you also said that about Christine but then you decided it also applied to Meri.  I can see where you'd get confused about which of your three wives you started hating and when -the timeline is very fluid, especially when Robyn keeps rewriting it.  Remember when you called Janelle the Teflon Queen, tried to kick out "her" kids from HER house, and then you went out for hot lemon water and were stunned as to why she didn't want to bother with you anymore?  Is the perm solution finally starting to seep into your brain and that's why you're so confused?  Maybe you should go hide in your closet full of purple shirts and put on Sonny and Cher's Greatest Hits, cry it out, put on your murder face and then go chop up wood at Coyote Pass until you get your stories straight.  Don't worry - I got you, Babe.

[Shelbie]

The whole devastation at the breakup of Sonny and Cher is mind boggling to me. I simply cannot imagine my kids at the age of 5 knowing about a celebrity divorce or being devastated by it. They were far more interested in watching cartoons or kid shows.

He is an odd man.

[65mickey]

17 hours ago, SemiCharmedLife said:

The princess got the wedding neither Janelle nor Christine were allowed to have, but she would have preferred a private ceremony.  Sure, Jan.  She is doing her best to paint herself as a poor victim who does everything for the family's best interests.  Does that include the 11 day honeymoon?

Right just like she really didn't want the million $ mansion but was forced to live there. That is until she was forced to live in the 2.1 million $ mansion. But she is doing it for the family. I wonder how she feels when she looks at what she says on the show vs. how she really lives. 

[MamaMax]

2 hours ago, Shelbie said:

The whole devastation at the breakup of Sonny and Cher is mind boggling to me. I simply cannot imagine my kids at the age of 5 knowing about a celebrity divorce or being devastated by it. They were far more interested in watching cartoons or kid shows.

He is an odd man.

If he was upset by it, I would guess it was because his parents made a big deal about it. "SO TERRIBLE!" "UGH SO SAD" "WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDRENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN"

My parents used to use sleep away camp as a threat, they told me that's what kids whose parents wanted to be rid of them did in the summer. I grew up afraid they would send me. Then I met kids who went to summer camp and literally had the time of their lives and I was like <huh?>  Parents shape SO MUCH of how kids see the world. 

[Kellyee]

I have no real interest in what this show is morphing into. I wish Christine well, but I have no interest in her and David's relationship or their on-screen make-out sessions. The adults don't interact except the weird back and forth between Meri and Kody during this episode, and that was boring. The kids have mostly bailed on any meaningful filming, and I can see where the show is going. It will be the filming of 4 separate households. 

I only keep watching for the few minutes of interesting dialogue in each episode. Last time it was Gabe and Janelle. There was really nothing of interest this time. I am interested in the Janelle/Kody preview for next week, but that's about it. 

And someone needs to explain to Kody how he sounds when he opens his mouth. Especially how he sounds to his kids when he says he never loved their mothers and only got married out of obligation. If he never loved Christine and didn't even want to be around her, why did he seek to punish her so hard for leaving? Its all about his ego. 

[laurakaye]

So Kody and Robyn did buy the bigger mansion?  HOW???  With what money?

(does anyone have a link, I need to see this place).

[applewood]

I thought it was interesting that Robyn said she always wanted to be in polygamy but in recalling her own childhood she said her bio father was hardly ever present in her life.

[ginger90]

23 minutes ago, laurakaye said:

So Kody and Robyn did buy the bigger mansion?  HOW???  With what money?

(does anyone have a link, I need to see this place).

I sent you the address.

[General Days]

When people say "soulmate," I don't take it any more literally than I do when people use a brand name for the broader category (see: Q-Tip, Coke, Xerox, Kleenex").  

To me, it's shorthand for "the one," "the right one," or "the person I want to marry." I don't need to know if the speaker thinks that there is only one person in all of time and space with whom they were meant to be, or if they just mean, "the person I love, who loves me back."

If I have Scott Tissues, and someone asks me for a Kleenex, I'm going to give them a tissue. I'm not going to say, "No, I only have Scott Tissues in my purse."

[Granny58]

I think I'm going to give Kody a pass on being devastated by Sonny and Cher.  He was little and impressionable.  He probably enjoyed the show.  He grew up in a culture that values marriage FOR FRIKKIN' ETERNITY!  So yeah, it was likely his first exposure to it and it wigged him out a bit.  The world can be overwhelming when you're 6.  

[General Days]

3 hours ago, Granny58 said:

I think I'm going to give Kody a pass on being devastated by Sonny and Cher.  He was little and impressionable.  He probably enjoyed the show.  He grew up in a culture that values marriage FOR FRIKKIN' ETERNITY!  So yeah, it was likely his first exposure to it and it wigged him out a bit.  The world can be overwhelming when you're 6.  

 

I don't know. I'm two years older than Kody. I remember being quite sad about Sonny and Cher's divorce, but I only remember, because Kody brought it up. It's like he carried it with him, and that's a little weird (and maybe a little fake).

They had a weekly variety TV show, and it was the kind of show you could let your family watch -- singing and corny comedy. I can see how the Browns might have watched it, because my non-Mormon family did. 

I guess I give six-year-old Kody a pass for his devastation. I'm just not sure I give 55-year-old Kody a pass for using it as some sort of trauma touch-stone. 

[eskimo]

4 hours ago, Granny58 said:

I think I'm going to give Kody a pass on being devastated by Sonny and Cher.  He was little and impressionable.  He probably enjoyed the show.  He grew up in a culture that values marriage FOR FRIKKIN' ETERNITY!  So yeah, it was likely his first exposure to it and it wigged him out a bit.  The world can be overwhelming when you're 6.  

I was thinking along these lines as well.  I think he was saying that when Sonny and Cher divorced, it was the moment he realized that families can break apart. Not that he was devastated by their split specifically, but the sudden awareness of the whole idea of divorce. That's how I took what he said anyways.  🤷‍♀️

There, I've said something neutral about Kody, and now I feel yucky. 😆

[Denize]

7 hours ago, General Days said:

If I have Scott Tissues, and someone asks me for a Kleenex, I'm going to give them a tissue. I'm not going to say, "No, I only have Scott Tissues in my purse."

If Robyn is asking, the answer is "No, I am not giving you a Kleenex or a Scott Tissue because you aren't even crying!"

[JayDub1987]

Anybody else struggling to get through this season since it’s all old stuff that we already know? I mean, half the episode was the lead up to a wedding when there hasn’t been an engagement between two people we watched get married. 

[LilyD]

What I hated most about the whole series since Flagstaff, was  that we all knew we were being lied to. We all knew Kody never visited his other wives and kids. There was no polygamous family, but they kept on insisting there was. They kept on defending Kody’s erratic behavior, until Christine finally didn’t.

But this season, they all seem to have opened up about everything, confirming things we already knew. (Well, apart from K&R!) so yes, I kind of like this season, especially compared to the past few years. I watch it on my streaming service so occasionally skip through the David and Christine bits if it gets too much😉

 

[Gramto6]

Yes @JayDub1987 this season is so boring.  All of the new things we have seen would be hard pressed to make one segment. The way it is going the sum total of new scenes we will see would probably make one full episode put together.  So much repetition, scenes over, and over, and over again, enough already!

I'm sure TLC wants to use all the stuff they have in the can already, maybe a year and a half of filming. But I don't know if they can get our eyes on it long enough at this rate.  I think they'd be smarter to just show what is left in a couple one or two hour specials and leave out all the rehashing of older scenes. I don't know, this slow motion train wreck is getting really tedious/boring!!

I realize TLC is getting good ratings for it now, but how long can that last at this pace?

[Gramto6]

32 minutes ago, LilyD said:

But this season, they all seem to have opened up about everything, confirming things we already knew. (Well, apart from K&R!) so yes, I kind of like this season, especially compared to the past few years. I watch it on my streaming service so occasionally skip through the David and Christine bits if it gets too much😉

 

Yes, what new we are getting is definitely better than the past years, but we just aren't getting enough of it and what we get is so padded with old stuff, it makes it hard to sit through, to get the good bits.

[Soapy Goddess]

Spoiler

Why can't the link to the new house be posted? After all, everything about the Browns is for public consumption, including but not limited to, marriages, divorces, home births, and deaths. But a new house link is off limits? 🤔

 

[SunnyBeBe]

Interesting….Sonny and Cher divorced in 1975, while their show was still on….then, after their divorce, the show returned in 1976-77!  So, I guess the Browns take the same philosophy….even with acrimonious divorces, the show must go on.  😉

[Kellyee]

Quote

I think I'm going to give Kody a pass on being devastated by Sonny and Cher.  He was little and impressionable.  He probably enjoyed the show.  He grew up in a culture that values marriage FOR FRIKKIN' ETERNITY!  So yeah, it was likely his first exposure to it and it wigged him out a bit.  The world can be overwhelming when you're 6.  

But I think he sees himself as equal to Sonny Bono fame-wise. Which is comical. Maybe Sonny's estate loaned him the money for that new house. 

 

 

 

 

[LilyD]

Just curious @Gramto6and @JayDub1987 Do you think this season is worse than the Covid-19 season and the season after? I found those two incredibly hard to watch as it was just talking about nothing and Kody and Robyn trying to enforce some those  strange Covid rules upon the rest. 

 

[laurakaye]

8 hours ago, JayDub1987 said:

Anybody else struggling to get through this season since it’s all old stuff that we already know? I mean, half the episode was the lead up to a wedding when there hasn’t been an engagement between two people we watched get married. 

I could certainly do with less (or none) of Christine and David's make-out sessions, and I think going backwards with their wedding planning is a complete waste of time, but that's when I just pay more attention to whatever game I am playing on my iPad.  What I am liking is that the gloves are finally off and the truths we've known about all along are being told.  Kody's utter delusion isn't pleasant to witness, but I am enjoying Robyn coming to terms with the fact that her "murder-faced" husband now belongs only to her, by her own designs. 

Basically, I am sticking with this show until the bitter end.  Heck, I have watched Survivor since its inception and it's now on season 47.  I can make it through a few more seasons of SW, lol.

[ginger90]

4 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Why can't the link to the new house be posted? After all, everything about the Browns is for public consumption, including but not limited to, marriages, divorces, home births, and deaths. But a new house link is off limits? 🤔

I can tell you why I won’t personally post a link or the address. Even though it’s public information, it’s considered doxing. 

Edited October 30 by ginger90

[Granny58]

10 hours ago, JayDub1987 said:

Anybody else struggling to get through this season since it’s all old stuff that we already know? I mean, half the episode was the lead up to a wedding when there hasn’t been an engagement between two people we watched get married. 

kinda, yeah.  It was interesting the first time around, not enough for a rerun. 

[Orcinus orca]

1 hour ago, ginger90 said:

I can tell you why I won’t personally post a link or the address. Even though it’s public information, it’s considered doxing. 

It's also against forum rules to post an address.

[ginger90]

49 minutes ago, Orcinus orca said:

It's also against forum rules to post an address.

I’ve tried very hard to follow the rules. It’s really hard sometimes. 😁

[JayDub1987]

4 hours ago, LilyD said:

Just curious @Gramto6and @JayDub1987 Do you think this season is worse than the Covid-19 season and the season after? I found those two incredibly hard to watch as it was just talking about nothing and Kody and Robyn trying to enforce some those  strange Covid rules upon the rest. 

 

For me? Yes, it is. At least the Covid thing is was something we'd all lived through and it was kinda humorous to watch Kody and Cruella harp on thier rules. 

3 hours ago, laurakaye said:

I could certainly do with less (or none) of Christine and David's make-out sessions, and I think going backwards with their wedding planning is a complete waste of time, but that's when I just pay more attention to whatever game I am playing on my iPad.  What I am liking is that the gloves are finally off and the truths we've known about all along are being told.  Kody's utter delusion isn't pleasant to witness, but I am enjoying Robyn coming to terms with the fact that her "murder-faced" husband now belongs only to her, by her own designs. 

Basically, I am sticking with this show until the bitter end.  Heck, I have watched Survivor since its inception and it's now on season 47.  I can make it through a few more seasons of SW, lol.

Oh, I'm sticking with it to the end too. I'm not bailing out, but this season has been more background noise for me than actual watching stuff unfold. With how they've structured the filming/airing the last few seasons, this was always going to happen eventually. By "this," I mean seeing stuff that we already knew happened (Mary leaving, for instance). I'm happy for Christine, but dedicating so much screen time to the leadup to the wedding is absolutely insane to me when we literally all watched the wedding last year. That's why it's hard for me to feel really tuned in this season. 

[Denize]

8 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Why can't the link to the new house be posted? After all, everything about the Browns is for public consumption, including but not limited to, marriages, divorces, home births, and deaths. But a new house link is off limits? 🤔

Doxxing will get you banned from this site.  You can go to Zillow, choose Flagstaff, choose Sold homes and search for those for $2.1M.  It is brown with orange trim. It is also interesting to compare it with others in the same price range and others for sale. This one is less ugly on the outside than their first mansion and the kitchen & bathrooms are 22 yrs out of date, but it has A/C and city water & natural gas, so they won't have to sweat waiting for water and propane deliveries.

Edited October 30 by Denize

[ginger90]

12 minutes ago, Denize said:

You can go to Zillow, choose Flagstaff, choose Sold homes and search for those for $2.1M. 

This is exactly how I found it! 🤣🤣

[Gramto6]

6 hours ago, LilyD said:

Just curious @Gramto6and @JayDub1987 Do you think this season is worse than the Covid-19 season and the season after? I found those two incredibly hard to watch as it was just talking about nothing and Kody and Robyn trying to enforce some those  strange Covid rules upon the rest. 

 

 

1 hour ago, JayDub1987 said:

For me? Yes, it is. At least the Covid thing is was something we'd all lived through and it was kinda humorous to watch Kody and Cruella harp on thier rules. 

Oh, I'm sticking with it to the end too. I'm not bailing out, but this season has been more background noise for me than actual watching stuff unfold. With how they've structured the filming/airing the last few seasons, this was always going to happen eventually. By "this," I mean seeing stuff that we already knew happened (Mary leaving, for instance). I'm happy for Christine, but dedicating so much screen time to the leadup to the wedding is absolutely insane to me when we literally all watched the wedding last year. That's why it's hard for me to feel really tuned in this season. 

Totally in agreement with @JayDub1987!  Better, yes,  but that isn't saying much!!  And yes, I'm here to the end too....  LOL,  I'm getting pretty good at Mahjong, I might be a Master by the time SW fades off into obscurity!  😸

Edited October 30 by Gramto6
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