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Every generation looks back at its youthful period with nostalgia; everything was better when we were kids and nobody can convince me otherwise! However, there's something about my generation, the early millennials, that does make us special. We grew up in a time of unprecedented technological change; for example, we were born with the cassette, the CD came and went (don't even get me started on the Minidisc), then it was Mp3, iTunes, and finally Spotify. All in the space of a few years!

The technology that kids now take for granted was refined over the years through our experiences. We eventually got the internet but we needed to wait for it to connect. We had phones, but they were connected to our houses until Nokia came along with SMS and snake. Oh, and we had something similar to Netflix too, but you had to go to rent a tape or DVD at the videostore. Looking back, these things might seem incredibly basic and inconvenient now, but we loved them! And I'll take my Nirvana/Soundgarden/Faith No More mixtape over your Jonas Brothers Spotify playlist any day of the week...

We here at Bored Panda have created a list of all those 'struggles' that we had with technology back in the day, and they are sure to bring back some good memories. Do you recognize a few of these? Scroll down to check them out for yourself, and share your own stories in the comments!

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Luis Milian
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew people who would text with this type of phones without looking at the phone

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What has happened to some of these technologies? Have they become completely obsolete, or are some still in use? Let's have a brief look at some of the old 'essentials' that are no longer in everyday use.

Fax machines: According to Pocket Lint, the fax machine was essentially a modern version of the telegram. "It allowed people and businesses to transmit scanned documents from one phone number to another," they write. "The recipient would have the joy of a printed copy of the document bursting forth from their machine. This was all done by a transmission of audio frequency tones that were deciphered at the other end. These days, fax machines have largely been rendered obsolete by the invention of email, the internet and advancements in computing technologies." 

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Just Kristi
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeap, had one of those myself... Was always a hard choice, which one to pick

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Luis Milian
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

when someone would pick up the phone without asking if you were using AOL. lol

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Analogue and dial-up modems: Before broadband and 4G networks came along we connected to the World Wide Web via analogue and dial-up modems.

"These marvels of technology required an open phone line and a lot of patience to get working. If anyone called while you were connected to the 'net then you'd immediately lose connection. Browsing the web was slow and painful, but it was a thing of beauty and showed promise for the future that we now live in," Pocket Lint explains.

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Floppy disks: Floppy disks first appeared in the 1970s, as a means of storing data from the first 'personal' computers.The first was the 8-inch floppy disc, capable of storing just 80 kilobytes of data. "As the floppy disks got smaller, their storage capacity grew and by the mid-1980s the 3.5-inch floppy disk was able to store a respectable 1.44 MB.  Floppy disks were unfortunately vulnerable to magnets and heat, and easily corrupted. By the 1990s software size meant many disks were required for most applications (Adobe Photoshop required over a dozen disks to run) so CD-ROMs began to take over. The floppy disk now only lives on as a save icon in most software applications."

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Portable music players: There have been many types of portable music player over the last few years, from cassette players like the Sony Walkman, CD players like the Sony Discman, Minidisc players and MP3 players.

"We have both fond and frustrating memories of each of these players," Pocket Lint writes. "Whether it was fighting Walkmans to save a chewed up tape or desperately trying to fit a portable CD player into a coat pocket."

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"Perhaps one of the least popular formats of optical-based digital storage was the MiniDisc. With a high storage capacity of as much as 1GB, these discs could hold up to 45 hours of audio in a compact format. The MiniDisc appeared at a time when CDs were still dominating and thus struggled to gain popularity in the marketplace. MiniDisc sales began to dwindle when MP3 players started to gain popularity and were finally killed off as a format in 2011 when Sony ceased production."

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JessG
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was that big clunky accessory you could put on it to light the screen, but it was a terrible glare

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Kaisu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never learned how to play minesweeper, so I just clicked at the squares, hoping the next one wouldn't blow everything up

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Vinyl records: This is one piece of technology that has been reborn, while other audio formats have come and gone. "Vinyl records are probably one of the oldest and most long-lasting formats for storing audio recordings. Available in varying formats since the late 1800s, the vinyl record is still in production today and is another format that's sworn to be the best by audiophiles and sound enthusiasts alike. The format has even had a sales resurgence of late."

Another piece of retro technology that seems to remain relevant for enthusiasts is the Film camera. "The traditional film camera has basically long since been pushed from the mass market by the modern age of the digital camera."

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"No longer do we need to rely on reels of film or trips to the local shop to get them processed. Digital cameras, SD cards and modern computing systems mean we can snap away happily and see the results of our photos instantly with far less hassle and expense."

Still, for artists, professional photographers and retro lovers, the process of creating a photograph the old fashioned way represents a challenge and a certain satisfaction that digital photography lacks.

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Kathy Baylis
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As the youngest in my family, I was not only the remote, I was also the indoor antenna. I remember, especially in bad weather or when the wind was blowing in the wrong direction, standing next to the TV with the antenna (which sometimes had aluminum foil wrapped around the top lol) in my hand so everyone else could watch the program--- which I generally got to see sideways. Sometimes I think that was part of the reason my parents had me (JK!).

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Carol Emory
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if you wanted to record your favorite songs..you'd better break out the cassettes

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Allie G.
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My 9 year old niece asked why we say "roll down the windows." I felt so old.

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debrina blackmoon
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4 years ago

try beating the sudden rain

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John Shannon
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still have this on a '91 Toyota pickup (called a Hilux in the rest of the world). 350,000 miles and I never had to fix the windows or anything else. Change the oil, new brakes, that's it. I can't figure out half the doo-dads on my wife's car. One of them swivels the headlights in the direction you're turning. I think.

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Nicola Morley
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My kids know the joys of manual windows, I still own a 1998 Ford Fiesta. Only car we have that has stood the test of twenty years. There’s a tape player and I need to open the boot manually to the rest of the car!

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Rebecca Cote
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a 2003 neon that had auto front windows and manual back windows...strange that was.

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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i do. my mom just got a really stripped down car for like 1000 bucks it is so hard to open the windows and sometimes they get jammed

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Fbomb
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Added points for having a dog that chewed it into a spikey ball.

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Kanyinsola Sadiq
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my mom had a car like this when i was born till i was 7 and the thing to wind your window down broke it was 2008 when i was born and how it broke was my moms friend son drove her car to the wall and it crashed

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Queen MT
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

oml in Pakistan i still have to use that in my drivers car cuz its kinda old XD

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Sivi
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never forget my panic when we were about to enter a tunnel as I had the window down. I was just five and this weighed a ton.

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Rabbit Carrot
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cars are still made with these. I have them in my brand new car.

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Sophie Hobson
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never was a 90s kid, but I remember this full well. The worst part was that I could never reach it because I was too short and my siblings would never help me

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Wing Hong Chan
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was a very little kid when my mom's car had this, so I used my foot. It was a struggle.

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Alexa
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The struggle is still there today! Unfortunately cars are still made with these.

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Kioh81
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to show my kids how to even use this!! They were so confused!!! 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🙃🙃🙃

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Pretty Pangolin
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The handle broke off my driver's-side window - fortunately the window was up at the time.

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Bamboozled Panda
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my family cars still have this feature (That car was bought in 2011 though.) XD

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Calypso poet
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom has a 2015 Sonic, it has them on all 5 doors. 2005 S-10 also had them. One less expense.

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Sans
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

strength and my dad has a car like these and I'm a gen Z from 2007 so don't act like I didn't have this

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David Jeu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When i use one nowadays it feels like pulling up a drawbridge ^^

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Shelbey Hershman
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was born in 2002. And we had a truck that had these handles. I would always try so hard to roll the window down Lol

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Oathbraker
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or turn the wheel. Yay for hydraulics! Try to drive old soviet- era Lada, Moskvich or a lorry/ truck and you won't need to go to the gym for muscles.

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Kururi.Orihara
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You will when you hang out with your family members who have like 50 year old cars. That's the only way I understand this one actually.

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Galaxies Dawn
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

actually, the first car i remember my mother having, had crank windows, i was around 3-7 YRS old

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Foxxy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg, I remember those, you could even get eraser and crayon ones.

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Kaisu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Having to constantly delete texts was so annoying, I used to have a phone that had room for only 30 messages

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Sandy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Holding it gently like a newborn on the bus so it wouldn't skip lol

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Sunzilla
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We used to pull the jack out of the wall, then there would be ringing, instead of a busy tone for the caller. Made them think we weren't home...

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DforDorothy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dropped the Ball once on my toenail as a kid and it went all black... Glad the "laser" mouse doesn't cut my toe if i drop it. 😕

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rena
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah we also had to sing that song we were looking for to that cute guy in the CD store so he could hopefully help us find it.

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Foxxy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Always gotta have quick fingers to hit the record button when you hear a song you like on the radio.

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Daria B
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Two of my cousins and I actually managed to get the three of us on one keyboard playing Bomberman. ♥

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Foxxy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have gone from having 2 large phone books delivered down to 1 small phone book.

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Oathbraker
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's more like early 2000's, but I still remember doing it. The quality was terrible though. Thank god for lossless audio.

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Kaisu
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or if you were home sick and there was nothing in the middle of the day except like infomercials and chats

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Kaisu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The era before texting was a nightmare for introverts like me who hate not knowing who might answer the phone

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ANDREA SERRANO MORALES
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this happened to one of my toy story disc and i cried for hours begging my mom to go back and buy me another one, and shes like" u already watched that movie, dont u think u watched it too many times" not the motivational quote that i was looking for mom.

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Jarno Flinkers
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I loved the old cardridges. Those were finished products, no DLC, no updates, no what so ever. Yes some games were buggy, but it had charm.

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Foxxy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You could also remove the little tab on the side or cover it in black tape, that way it can’t be recorded over.

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Carol Emory
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey..I used to work at Nintendo in the 90's. All these sheets of paper were common in our call center...lol

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Spirit Tae
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The costs of it was enough to have parents request a detailed bill. Discovered when those calls were made: internet after midnight, give away

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Daria B
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Come back to me when you tell me about your Walkman struggles. *fancy hand gesture*

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Always running out of credit.

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Jarno Flinkers
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Still have this phone. It belonged to my grandfather and he accidentaly made some selfievids on them. So every time i feel like it, i can listen to his voice.

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Renee Kamphuys
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We still have this in the Netherlands because ppl went mental when it was supposedly to be discontinued.

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