David Bowie Box Set Review: Divine Symmetry: The Journey to Hunky Dory
(Rhino)
BY JORDAN MAINZER
It’s shocking to hear David Bowie sing, “Put a bullet in my brain / and I make all the papers” on a song titled “Tired of My Life”, the first track from his new box set Divine Symmetry. All exaggeration aside, consider where he was in 1971. Despite his clear artistic brilliance, he hadn’t had a commercial hit since “Space Oddity”. Perhaps he thought he was destined to be a one-hit wonder. When playing the song live at Friars Aylesbury in 1971, he called it the one “that we get over with as soon as possible.” (Of course, when he sang the words, “Ground control to Major Tom,” the audience erupted.) He was a new father. He was cooped up in a San Francisco hotel room on his first U.S. trip, thinking he had just met Lou Reed of The Velvet Underground when he had really met Doug Yule. Nonetheless, he recorded himself singing “Waiting for the Man”; like a lost folk recording, it shows Bowie adopting a Reed-like vocal inflection, just as he learned it, his guitars atonal, the song being passed from one generation to the next.
There’s not really a direct line from The Velvet Underground to Hunky Dory, but you can sense Bowie was uneasy, determined to do something new and unexpected if not completely shed what he had done up to the point. Divine Symmetry (subtitled The Journey to Hunky Dory) tells the story of Bowie’s first masterpiece, from its early demo versions, composed on piano as opposed to guitar, and his appearances on BBC Radio fleshing out the tunes, to alternate mixes and versions of singles and songs from the album. His early experiments, whether they eventually made Hunky Dory or not, foreshadow the shapeshifter we now know as one of the greatest artists ever. The theatrical piano stomp of “How Lucky You Are” (also known as “Miss Peculiar”) was originally offered to Tom Jones, to give you an idea of Bowie’s songwriting at the time and how it was viewed as worthy of an established, mainstream pop sex symbol. The melancholy vocal performance and guitar strums of “Shadow Man” and “Looking for a Friend” would eventually be recorded for Ziggy Stardust. “King of the City”’s bluesy guitar licks mirror the glammy, Stones-inspired stomps of Aladdin Sane. Refrains from “Tired of My Life” eventually showed up on “It’s No Game (No. 1)” from Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), a different decade entirely. And for what it’s worth, Bowie looks back when he demos “Song for Bob Dylan”. Though he’d say at Friars that the song is about Dylan rather than poking fun at him, the squeaky harmonica of the demo is undoubtedly tongue-in-cheek.
At the time time Bowie appeared on the BBC, the Hunky Dory songs still weren’t truly fully formed. On the recording, John Peel introduces guitarist Mark Carr-Pritchard as part of the band Arnold Corns, who had just recorded a song called “Moonage Daydream”. Mick Ronson and Mick Woodmansey were still part of Ronno. In other words, Bowie’s backing band, in their various incarnations, were still viewed as their own entities, with the potential to break out in popularity alongside Bowie as opposed to the footnote that we now know they are. Had Hunky Dory already been released, it might be a different story, but Bowie and company were still figuring things out. George Underwood takes lead vocals on “Song For Bob Dylan”, Dana Gillespie on “Andy Warhol”. “Kooks” features the same Neil Young-inspired acoustic melancholy it would eventually sport, though Bowie sounds especially sunken when he sings, “Don’t pick fights with the bullies or the cads / ‘Cause I’m not much cop at punching other people’s dads.” The most confident performance of the Peel set was “The Supermen” from the already released The Man Who Sold The World, a much more chugging version than the studio version, Bowie’s vocals booming like they do on the demos for “Life on Mars?” and “Changes”, but with much richer instrumentation behind him.
The one constant throughout Divine Symmetry, one that can rise above the box set’s faults, is indeed Bowie’s voice, whether on a live version of a pre-release “It Ain’t Easy”, a demo of “Bombers”, or the Bob Harris BBC Radio session version of “Oh! You Pretty Things”, just Bowie and Ronson. Of course, you can pick bones: Are the mono and stereo versions of the Peel sessions really necessary? Do we need all these recordings of Jacques Brel’s “Amsterdam”, Bowie desperately paying tribute to the very man who purportedly used a gay slur towards Bowie himself? Could we have left out the recordings from Friars that suffered from sound quality and feedback issues, inevitable since it was recorded to 2-track tape? Yes, of course, but we should be so lucky to continue to unearth vocal artifacts from a brilliant artist who left us too soon.
Ultimately, and amazingly, the highest highs on Divine Symmetry come from the alternate mixes, rare for a box set. Ken Scott’s BOWPROMO Mixes enhance the sharp, wincing guitars on “Eight Line Poem”, the lush strings and rounded bass notes of “Kooks”, and Ronson’s dual electric guitar lines on “Queen Bitch”. “Changes” struts more prominent horns, an essential saxophone solo towards the end. And the original ending version of “Life on Mars?” is flat-out hilarious; Scott recently described in an interview with Record Collector the story, involving the master take and a phone ringing in the studio. Like David Bowie himself, his songs will continue to change identity for years to come.
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Proud of You / Jobe Bellingham
ps i made this gif so give creds if u use it!
warnings: established relationship, fluff, bar setting
summary: tired you cozying up to your winner of a boyfriend. based loosely on the Sunderland vs Plymouth Argyle match and it’s (fictional) aftermath.
You sat patiently with the other wags for the majority of the first half. Your boyfriend was on the bench and so was his mate Chrissy. There were yellow cards thrown, One at your boys in red, and two at the opponents in green. Approximately one every ten minutes. You pulled your Sunderland scarf a bit tighter and sighed. To you, the match was plain and boring. You adored football, even teams other than Sunderland, but if it was Sunderland, your Jobe better be playing. A few minutes after Phillips earned his yellow, you heard cheers and cries erupt from the Stadium of Light. Everyone around you looked disappointed. Plymouth Argyle had scored. As you stared at the number nine on Hardie’s back, You felt it taunting you. That should be a red jersey, with a number 7 that read ‘JOBE’. If only were that easy.
Relief came for you as the ref blew his halftime whistle, reminding you your boyfriend still had forty five minutes to go out and prove himself.
You expected the manager to have him walk out onto the field, and start the remaining forty five, but he didn’t. Your sighs grew louder wondering when your man would get out there on the field.
seven minutes passed and you joined in with the roar of fans, as Roberts moved with the ball, you could tell if he passed it to Ekwah he would score. And he did, equalizing it for the two teams. You cheered for the Jobe-less Sunderland, wishing it had been your Jobe who scored the equalizer.
Seven more minutes passed and Clarke sank a second into the back of the net giving Sunderland an advantage over the visitors. It was like someone was winking at you with the number seven and everything associated with it. Good luck, Jobe. Jobe. Jobe is the number seven. You were sure in seven minutes his manager was going to sub him in. You were sure.
At the 65’ minute mark, two minutes before your seven minute timer would go off, Jobe was subbed in along with Chrissy in exchange for Abdoullah, and Pierre.
So, maybe I was wrong, about the seven minute thing but who cares, he's in now, you thought to yourself. You smiled as he ran up and down the field. as your timer begins to alert you, you see Neil make an amazing pass to Jobe and him just put that ball away in the corner.
You cheer so hard for him, yelling “That’s my boy!” and he celebrates with his teammates before turning to your section and blowing a few kisses. You begin to blush and the wags around you laugh and poke a bit of fun.
The rest of the game flew by, the result remaining where Jobe had left it. 3-1. You made your way to wait for the boys to shower. As you waited, Keeley, Alex Pritchard’s partner came up to you and talked with you about plans for the night and how they were all going out to a bar. You told her you’d run the idea past Jobe and she thanked you.
As he walked out to go see you the fresh-faced Jobe couldn’t help but smile. You ran to him and he picked you up and spun you around.
“I’m so proud of you! That was amazing Jobeee!” you exclaimed.
He grinned cheekily and tilted his head.
“You think so?” he asked.
You laughed and kissed his cheek as he put you down.
“I think some of the guys and their partners are going out for drinks if we want to join them,” Jobe said.
“Oh yeah, Keeley mentioned something yeah.”
“lets go out with them yeah?” he asks.
“Sure,” you reply as you leave to his car hand in hand.
Jobe and you make your way inside a bar close to the outskirts of the city. You see it’s been mostly cleared so the lot of you could hang out there without many disturbances.
You sat between Keeley and Jobe drinking just a club soda with lime since you didnt feel like drinking.
After a few hours and meters of seperation from Jobe, you began to get tired.
You crept into Jobes lap and cuddled into his neck with your eyes closed. His cologne was as intoxicating as alcohol to you and you breathed it in like it was your oxygen.
He rocked you back and forth humming and your ear was pressed to his chest listening to his heartbeat as it steadily pounded.
He kissed your hair and you smiled.
“baby, im so proud of you.” you said.
He laughed and picked you up bridal style, putting you in the car to bring you home
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that’s it!
a/n - I turned off anon requests bc literally the same person is using it over and over again for the same request and also left rude ones so i’d rather know who they came from. Requests are open but not anon… In due time i will turn anon back on. dw. Thanks for the understanding
thanks for reading! leave comments, like and follow! thank youu!
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Bin Man Complaint
Malcolm Pritchard was furious as he stood outside his house. Yet again the bin men had not collected his rubbish. This was the third time and he reckoned it was because they did not like him. He shouted down the road for them to come back to him but the two men in their HiViz turned and waved a couple of fingers at him and rode off in the truck.
‘Enough is enough’, he thought, ‘I am going down to the depot to make a complaint and get those two blokes fired. They are only bloody bin men. I am not being messed around.’
Later that morning he turned up at the depot and as he walked past this truck he saw the two blokes leaning against the wall having a cigarette, smiling at him. Both guys were big, not just tall but wide as well one with a beer gut who wore Hi Viz trousers and jacket, the jacket being unzipped to show his bare hairy chest. He had a shaved head and two days growth on his face, a thick neck and pierced ears. His mate looked huge with hi Viz trousers, a dirty vest and HiViz waistcoat. He had a crew cut and thick bushy beard.
‘Hi mate,’ one shouted,’ how’s your bin?’
‘Christ look at you,’ Malcolm responded, ‘you wont be smiling once I’ve seen your boss. Where’s the office?’
‘Find it yourself ‘the guy returned ‘if that’s your attitude.’
Malcolm was livid. He stormed to the back of the warehouse and saw the door marked Manager
Knocking loudly a voice from inside came back
‘Come in,’ a gruff voice sounded
Malcolm walked in angry and ready for strong words mainly to get the other two fired.
The Manager was sitting at his desk dressed in full Hi Viz, trousers, T shirt, and jacket all in bright orange. He took up all his seat, a big man with a shaved head, thick moustache his chunky hands spread across the table.
‘So what can I do for you?’
‘My name is Malcolm Pritchard and I wish to make a complaint.’
‘I am surprised Sir as we never have complaints at this depot.’
‘Well I am surprised you have not. My complaint is the two men currently in your garage’
‘What Bob and Pete?’
‘I don’t know their names but suffice to say action needs to be taken against them, For the last 3 weeks they have not taken my rubbish. They collect at everyone else’s house but not mine.’
‘Have you offended them in any way?’
‘Certainly not. They are clearly picking on me and I will not stand for it. This morning they gave me 2 fingers ignoring my requests. They are a pair of oafs and need to be fired.’
‘That is strong language Mr. Pritchard’
Maybe but I refuse to leave until you do something about is and take action against these idiots.’
‘Please sit down Mr. Pritchard and let me give you a coffee and we can talk a bit further.’
‘Only if you take some action.’
‘Of course I full intend to take action, ‘The manager said as he poured a mug for his guest.
‘Please have a sip or two first and we will sort it all out for you. You will be surprised what I can do for you’
Malcolm took a sip and thought it smelt a bit odd but decided to take another gulp so he could carry on
‘I am not happy with… ‘He suddenly found himself slurring his words and his eyelids becoming heavy.
‘There is something wrong with this coffeeeeeee’ he managed to say as he slumped asleep on the chair
He didn’t know how long he was asleep but the haze in his eyes started to clear and he lifted his head to see the vision in front of him. The Manager had moved and was now leaning against the desk immediately in front of Malcolm. He looked much bigger than when sitting in the chair, towering above him..
Malcolm was suddenly aware that he was sitting on the chair – naked and yet this did not seem to worry him. Where were his clothes, what had happened, how long was he asleep? However none of this seemed to matter in his foggy brain. What he did know was that the manager was in front of him and Malcolm was looking straight into his crotch.
The Manager started to rub his crotch and as he did so, the bulge was more obvious until Malcolm could see the large rigid outline in the Hi Viz
Malcolm only wanted one thing and that was to see the guys cock, he wanted to reach out and stroke that erect dick and he wanted more than that.
‘So Mal , us bin men are not so bad after all, eh I can see your eyes feasting on my cock. It stinks like a real binman but that’s what you want. Tell me Mal.’
‘Shit I love the sight of that cock of yours in your Hi Viz. Can I touch. Where are my words coming from Malcolm thought its not me yet its what I want.
‘Go ahead and do what you are really wanting. I’m waiting.’
Malcolm sat forward and taking one hand he started stroking the full length of the managers cock through his Hi Viz.
Feeling Malcolm’s hand rub over the nylon trousers made the Manager even more horny for what was to come.
‘You have a great cock there and I want to suck you dry.’
‘Well what are you waiting for.’
Malcolm took both hands to the Manager’s zip and roughly pulkled it down as he was desperate to see the full sweaty dick.
Malcolm unbuttoned the top and let the cock flip out with a whack.
As soon as the cock was free, Malcolm could smell the unwashed dick. It stank of sweat and piss and clearly had not been washed for days. But the smell was what Malcolm wanted, the stronger the better
‘You fucking love a bin man’s cock don’t you, Mal, quite a boner you have there. That tongue of yours is just wanting my dick down the back of your throat.’
‘Christ your cock stinks but I love the smell. The stronger the better.’ and with that he let his tongue lick the 8”fat head, savouring the rancid taste.
‘Its bloody great.’
‘Quit the talking and start sucking.’ The manager had had enough and grabbed hold of Malcolm’s head and moved his mouth straight down the shaft
‘So we are not so stupid now are we?’
Malcolm could feel himself gagging with the sheer size but his mind only wanted the full length down the back of his throat so he could feel the Managers pubes pressing against his lips.
The Manager forced his cock further and further down and Malcolm was not just gagging but he was gagging for more, he wanted every drop of cum shooting down his inside.
The Manager still with his hands around Malcolm’s head moved his body in and out at first slowly so he could feel the strong sensation and as it grew so did he face fuck Malcolm faster and faster and the more Malcolm wanted his cock erupting into his throat.
‘A right little sucker you’ve turned out to be. No complaints now you little bastard. You don’t get one better on a bin man. Take my fucking cock the whole way down, you’re going swallow every drop and its all coming your way.
‘I’m coming you horny little pervert Christ I’m ready’
And with that the Manager shot load after load a creamy white spunk down the back of Malcolm’s throat, Malcolm gulping the full force of cum. He was not going to let any drip out his mouth he wanted it all inside him.. He slurped it down..
The Manager took his cock out and wiped the last bit of cum across Malcolm’s face.
‘Shit man you love dick’
‘I love yours,’ Malcolm replied. ‘I want more.’
As the Manager zipped himself up he looked down at Malcolm.
‘Don’t think you are coming with that stiff dick of yours. I’m going out now but Bob and Pete want to see you after all your insults so I will leave them to you.’
He walked out and closed the door. Malcolm was feeling so horny after his blow job and put his hand over his dick to start a wank. When the door opened and in walked Bob and Pete.
‘Get yer hands off that fucking cock of yours now,’
‘But I’m feeling so horny’
‘No wanking got that.’
Malcolm responded ‘Id love to have a go at your pricks. I love cock.’
‘Don’t worry there’s plenty coming your way,’ Bob said rubbing his own dick ‘But first so you know what a real bin man smells like get a whiff of this. He held his arm out whilst grabbing Malcolm’s head and thrusting it towards his hairy armpit.
‘Now get a good smell of a sweaty bin bloke who hasn’t washed for a few days. Get your nose right into my hair and smell. Malcolm’s nose was rammed up tight into Bobs armpit the smell of BO so strong but for Malcolm it was perfect not only did he smell but his tongue was licking all over .
‘I love it ‘ Malcolm said
‘Well if you love it so much have a good smell of my feet,’ Pete said taking off his boots to reveal blackened socks. ‘Go on get your mouth and nose up against these cheesy feet of mine’
All these smells had Malcolm’s cock rigid with pleasure. As he took Pete’s foot is his hand massaging it as he let his nose travel all over under.
‘A right horny little bastard aren’t you. So much for that snotty Mr Pritchard. This is more like it the way you really are. Enough, now get up and lean over the desk.
Malcolm willingly stood up and bent over knowing full well what was coming his way.
‘I hope you’re gonna fuck me boys. Make sure you work my tits at the same time.’ This was not Malcolm Pritchard speaking but dirty Mal, the real Malcom that he had been hiding until that cup of coffee
As Pete pushed him down hard on the desk with one hand he reached into his HiViz trousers and pulled out his already erect prick
‘Jesus, I didn’t think my cock was as high as this. Right sweaty and I forgot to wipe of my cum after my wank this morning.’
He let a large gob of spit fall onto his meaty shaft and rubbed it in making his cock ready for entry.
‘Go on your little whore widen your legs so I can get my shaft right in.’ He let his thick head find Mal’s hole and once there started to move his cock in slowly as he wanted to feel the tight arse open to take the whole cock. Malcolm started groaning , with pleasure and was moving his arse back to take the full length as quick as he could
‘Shit that’ s a great dick you’ve got there Bob, go on ram it right up to the hilt,’ Mal pushed his arse back as far as he could so he could feel Pete’s pubes against he cheeks
Pete put both arms around Mal’s chest till he reached his tits.
‘So you like your tits worked do you, you fucking bitch well don’t think I’m gonna just give them a little rub.’
He put his finger and thumb around each tit and started pulling and twisting hard his head lowered at the side of Mal’s head digging his teeth into the neck
Mal twisted with pain but mainly pleasure making the arse even more open to Pete’s cock
‘Go on Pete more pleaaase. Shit I love the pain and with your cock inside me. I want you to come working my tits.
Bob was standing at the side rubbing his Hi Viz, showing a massive bulge which was tenting , his hand rubbing fast down the entire shaft length
‘Go on Bob take your dick out and let me see while Pete’s fucking’
‘So you wanna see Big Bob do you well you’ll be more than seeing.’
Bob reached in deep and pulled out his thick 10inch cock
Pete said ‘It always makes me horny seeing that dick of yours Bob and even better watching you wank as I fuck the living daylights of this bitch.’
‘I want that cock of yours Bob after Pete.’
‘Let Pete come first as he’ll widen that hole of you for me to enter’.
Watching Bob rub his hand up and down his cock made Pete work hard on Mal’s arse and mal was breathing hard watching that massive dick and worked his arse up and down Pete’s length faster and faster,
Go on Pete you’d better come so I can fuck this guy as I’m getting really worked up watching you.’
‘Don’t worry Bob, shit I’m coming. Arghhhh take the full load you bastard.’ Pete shouted as he gave a final lurch up Mal’s arse.
As he took his cock out so he smeared the leftover across Mal’s cheeks
‘He’s all your Bob, at least he’s now gelled up with my cum. He’s now gonna have both our cum mixing in that arse of his.
Bob pushed Pete out the way ‘H’es mine now. Go on bend over and get ready.’
It took Bob no time to find the arse opening and start to move his cock in , Mal wincing from the size
‘Christ Bob, its bigger than I thought, you’d better take it easy’
‘Fucking forget that, watching you be fucked by Pete has made me ready to blast a load. So you’re taking the full length and quick. He put both arms firmly around Mal’s waist and levered his full length up to the hilt
Christ you’re so big but it’ s fucking amazing
‘Once fucked by me you’ll always want big dick.’
Still with his hands around Mal’s waist he moved in and out taking his cock right out to the knob edge and then ramming it back in so he could feel the full length of Mal’s arse.
‘You little whore you’re ready for all my spunk ok?’
‘Go on shoot it the whole ay up, I’m gagging for it.’
‘Then gag because here it is.’
‘Fuck you’, Bob shouted as he let wave after wave shoot the length of Mal’s arse.
‘Take my fucking spunk.’
‘Yeah please more.’
Malcolm collapsed on the desk as Bob let his cock slide out, taking his hand to wipe off the remaining cum and then spread it over Malcolm’s back. ‘Take my cum inside and out’ he said adding a gob of spit to rub it in.
‘Better get in the shower Mal, and you’ll feel much better, just like us lads, you know those idiot binmen you talked about.. I’ll get some clothes for you for when you get out.’
Mal did as he was told and found the shower room. No soap but at least some hot water. He turned the water on and thought
‘Christ what a smell this water has, its like a mix of BO and rancid bins.’ He was about to jump out of the shower but something in him started to sniff the odour even though he thought it awful. The more he sniffed the more he found himself liking it, in fact he was loving it and breathing in deeply. He immersed himself under the shower and suddenly saw at his feet what looked like all his fair hair swimming around him and going down the waste. He put his hand up to his head and realized it had all gone, he was bald, smooth bald as though someone had just fully shaved all his hair off. He brought his hand down his face and no longer was he smooth but he had a thick stubble. He was not sure what was going on but he felt this was the real him. Looking down as the water covered him he could see thick black hair climbing up his legs which now looked more like tree trunks but big size 11 feet. The hair continued up past his pubes and up his chest , like a thick forest rising up to his neck. He started to move his hands over his chest and his little tits started enlarging bursting out into a pair of man boobs but it was his chest that started to balloon, not just a little but his belly kept going outwards. He had a huge beer gut hanging over his cock so he could not see his dick.. he held his gut feeling proud and gave a loud belch.
Getting out the shower he saw the lads had put out clothes for him which he got into. A thick pair of socks with holes in them which had once been white and were now yellow, a Hi Viz overall in orange which was ingrained with dirt and grease, he pulled it up and found it was tight getting over his gut so left it for the moment at his waist. And finally a pair of worn rigger boots with the steel toe caps showing.
��Fuck, this is my gear, what I am meant to wear’ he said to himself.
He automatically put his hand up to one pocket and took out a packet of Roll your own cigarettes and made one up as if he had been doing it for years. Lighting up he inhaled deeply and let it hang from his mouth. As he moved to take out a mobile he let rip with a loud fart, smelly.
‘Shit that’s a good one he thought loving the smell. Probably from the curry.’
He knew exactly what to look for on his mobile and searched for Tumblr and all the sites for Hi Viz men, that ‘s what turned him on, lots of builders, tradies and binmen in their gear, sucking one another off, having a good fuck with each other.
‘Shit some great photos here,’ he thought feeling his cock start to stiffen in his overall. The more photos he looked at the more his cock was rigid. Mal leant back on the bench and started rubbing his cock through the hi Viz.
‘I love feeling the Hi Viz nylon rubbing against me cock’ he said, ‘makes me so fucking horny so I can shoot a load.’ As he checked out the photos on his phone there was one of a guy being fucked in his Hi Viz with two cocks up him.
‘Fucking hell man that’s fucking great,’ he started rubbing the Hi Viz more, the precum oozing out onto his leg,
‘Jesus I’d love to be a cock up that young guys arse’, he thought’ His cock was stiff as a pole and he wanked more and more through the nylon. It was wanking in his Hi Viz he liked so much.
‘Christ I’m coming’ he shouted as he leant back further to allow his cock to shoot all the way down his leg. ‘Jeeesus,’ He shot load after load of spunk down his overall, feeling it running down his leg.
‘Fucking great’ as he took a last puff of his ciggie.
The door opened and in walked Bob and Pete.
‘You dirty bastard, Mal, wanking on the job. You’re a right fucking randy bin man’
‘Shit was great boys, I’ m letting the cum harden on my leg, love feeling that I’ve come in my Hiviz.’
‘Well Mal you’re the dirtiest of the lot of us’
‘Too fucking right and I’m proud of that mate.’
‘So I’m ready to get out there and get the bins on the lorry. I tell you this is the best job. Being in Hi Viz all the time makes any lad horny and best of all always dirty, Standing up he yanked his overall up over his belly but left much at top open to show off his thick hairy chest. He stood in front of the mirror and gone was that snotty Malcolm Pritchard. Instead this fat ,hairy lout of a bin man with a shaved head, heavy facial growth and thick arms , hands with ingrained dirt looked back at Mal. ‘Shit I look fucking brill’
He gave another belch.
‘Come on boys let’s be off and see what bastard gets annoyed because we don’t pick up his bins. We’ll make him pay and next time I get first fuck.’
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