50 Genius Things Other Countries Have That Make The US Feel Like It’s Living In Another Century
Before anyone has the bright idea: universal healthcare, haha. Get it out of your system, dear internet.
With that said, check out all this cool stuff the world has! No, don’t look at it as if someone else has it better than you. Rather, consider it an idea that you can yoink and introduce in your own immediate surroundings because everyone deserves good things.
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Australian Company Introduces Glow-In-The-Dark Highway Paint Technology
I'm an Aussie. This is a great idea BUT I've never seen it anywhere yet!
UK Supermarket Has A Tag You Can Add For Carts With Wonky Wheels
In Singapore, Elderly Pedestrians Can Tap Their Identity Card To Have More Time At The Pedestrian Crossing
Swiping the card at a sensor gives its holder an extra 3 to 13 seconds to walk across, depending on the size of the crossing.
What a great idea. I usually make it half way across the road before the lights change.
If you’re reading this, it’s very likely you already know the answer to why there are borders between countries, why each country is different, and similar questions that deal with why someone has something and someone else does not.
But let’s humor the idea of there being singularity—like, what if there’d be just one country on Earth?
Traffic Light With A Shining Pole In Moscow, Russia
This Car Park In France Has Soft Barriers Between Parking Spaces To Stop People Scratching Other Cars
There Is A Swing Made For Wheelchairs At This Park In Mexico
It’s romantic to think that, in some senses, our planet can be seen as a single country—a single place where we as a species live. And that’s what we share.
Apollo 9 space mission member Rusty Schweikhart explained that when he first looked at Earth from space, he felt a profound shift in perspective. Looking at it, he knew there were numerous borders on it, yet you couldn’t even see them.
Japanese Government Sends Individuals Quarantining At Home Free Care Packages! Shown Is For 1 Person (Me) In Tokyo
My Australian Tax Return Shows Where My Money Went
Where's the category for tax rebates to Rupert Murdoch et al? I'd like to know how much I gave him (in case I want to touch him for a few bucks at some point)
Sewer Cover In Osaka, Japan
And various other places in Japan. :) Even more awesomely, a social tech company made an app where members of the public can report damage to sewer covers.
Despite Rusty’s idea, despite our species essentially coming from a single place and sharing the same ancestry, we somehow got to a point where there are around 200 countries, each living its own life, relatively speaking. Why? How? What happened for these borders and walls to pop up and separate us?
Cool Bike Repair Equipment On A Bike Path (Canada)
Nappies In Sweden Have A Father On The Packaging
Lights To Silently Get Your Waiter's Attention In Maastricht, Netherlands
One theory, validated by a number of studies, suggests that whenever people are made to feel insecure and anxious, the natural response is to cling to their identity and defend themselves against insecurities.
While criticized, the theory still explains why, in times of crisis and uncertainty, nationalism grows, and walls tend to be built.
This Stall For Your Dog Outside A Super Market In Copenhagen!
No petting, no taunting, no questionable treats, perfect! Just don't plan to spend the night there yourself. A writer for The Outline tried a similar booth and apparently they have cameras/sensors watching and the company will fine people who get in.
This Burger King In Norway Has A Apot For You To Empty Your Sodas In Before You Throw The Cup Away
This Toilet Flushes By Using Your Foot
This mechanism is located in a toilet in Mexico and you don't have to be a germaphobe to appreciate it. Unsanitary public toilets can lead to gut infections, lung and skin infections as well as STDs. If a stool doesn't look clean but you really need to use it, consider using tissue paper to open its door, using the toilet seat cover, and if there isn’t one, cleaning the toilet seat with a tissue paper before using it or even hovering closely above the toilet.
So, to avoid that, the psychologist behind these insights, Steve Taylor, explained that the other end of the spectrum is where folks who are well-off reside—folks who incidentally often don’t have a sense of group identity.
Instead, they have transcended beyond that concept and found a calmer life where folks aren’t pigeonholed into nationalities, borders, identities, and the like.
UPS In Italy Uses These "Bicycle Trucks" To Deliver Packages To Places In Narrow Streets Of Rome
In Poland DHL has it as well - really useful in the city centre
Train Seats In Japan Facing Outwards So You Can See The Scenery
Public Air Shower In Tokyo To Blow Pollen Off Hay Fever Sufferers
Taylor noticed that folks who went through extreme psychological trauma—a life-threatening diagnosis or a loss in the family—often entered this next step in human development. They wouldn’t feel like they belonged to some nationality, religion, race, whatever. Having lived something that intense has led them to lose their group identity because they no longer felt separate, fragile, or insecure. And so there was no need for some sort of quick fix in the form of nationalism.
The Trains In Japan Have Women-Only Cars
Supermarket Trolleys In Sweden Have A Map Of The Supermarket
It's about time we got something like this. Rick Paulas of the Pacific Standard has compared the current design of many grocery stores to casinos. "There are lights and sounds that re-focus attention every micro-second, carpet on the ground to offer cushion for our feet, an open-flow space from the slot machines to the poker tables to the roulette. But what's more important is what's not there: clocks on the wall, bathrooms, escape routes. The reason is obvious — can't spend money if you're not present—and they point toward why supermarkets attempted to get their customers lost."
But the whole point of Super Market design in the USA is to confuse and disorient the customer for as long as possible so they spend more money.
This Carousel In Hong Kong Has A Sea Turtle Mounted To The Floor For Disabled Children
We have these in the US too but they're usually not labeled for disabled people. Usually anyone can go one these.
So, once humanity stops individualizing itself through identities, only then will there essentially be one country. And once borders are out the window, then there’d be an increased chance of everyone having and enjoying the same nice things.
But do you notice how I say an increased chance? There’s always a catch.
This Ice Lolly I Bought In Korea Has A Little Tray To Prevent It From Melting All Over Your Hands
This Bill In Turkey Tells You How Much Each Person Would Need To Pay If You Split It Equally
Lisbon Consists Of 7 Hills. In Order To Make It Easier For Residents And Tourists To Move Between The Different Neighbourhoods, This Open-Air Escalator Was Installed
I went on one of these in Barcelona it was so funny and surreal... Until I felt ashamed of myself as older people marched past me on the actual stairs.
While an amazing concept, losing group identity won’t solve all of the world’s problems. It would solve plenty, but not all.
Remember that what works in one part of the world might not work in another. And, by proxy, there’d still remain that "oh, we have something you don’t" mentality just because of a simple lack of necessity. There’s more, but you get the point, right?
These Two Different Sets Of Shopping Baskets At A Department Store In Bangkok - For Those That Need Help Or Want To Be Left Alone
I need help shopping! But the baskets for that are pink! I am a manly man, I can´t take those! /s
In Belgian Train’s Toilets There Is A Sos Button Close To The Ground In Case People Fall And Can’t Get Up
This Pizza Box In Japan That Has A Handle In The Middle To Keep The Pizza Flat
Besides, there are easy solutions to these problems—either bring whatever it is that you want in and make it a thing, or go to this other country, experience it, and move on. No need to flex who has what.
But a person can still dream of a world where there’s a single country where everyone could possibly be able to experience Kinder Surprises. In any case, thank you for listening to my ramblings.
These Bins In Sweden Show You What To Recycle
They Have Pet Carts In Grocery Stores In Italy
Shopping Cart Cleaning Machine In Germany
So, what are your thoughts on any of this? Share everything that you want to share (within reason, though, kids are watching) in the comment section below!
There’s A Privacy Button That Plays Background Sound In The Toilet In Japan So Your Bombing Sounds Won’t Be Heard
Bus Stop In Norway With Books You Can Read While You Wait
Uk has these in ex phone booths as well as bus stops, like little community honesty library's
In Mexico They Label Their Food If They Have Excessive Sugar And Calories(Azúcares Is Sugars)
Same in Argentina (black hexagons for excess of calories, sugars or fats). In Spain, it has a "nutri score" label (graded , colour-coded) where A Green it's the best and E Red the worst.
In Morocco, Utility Poles Are Disguised As Palm Trees
A Public Bike Stand With A Built-In Pump
This cool multi-purpose mechanism was photographed in Utrecht, the Netherlands. And this doesn't come as a surprise. Cycling is a common mode of transport in the Netherlands, with 36% of the people listing the bicycle as their most frequent mode of transport on a typical day.
Hope it doesn't get hot on summer days. Imagine you go to pump your bike and bam! Surprise second degree burns
Knee-Activated Water Taps At A Supermarket, Italy
This Tank Style Stairs Dolly In Japan
Excellent attention to "this way up" signs by our intrepid delivery man. Good to know that even if you're living in the future and Optimus Prime made your dolly, the basics never change.
The Gum I Bought In Japan Comes With A Stack Of Paper For Easy Disposal
These Sprinklers On The Road Near The Ski Resort I’m At In Japan To Keep The Road From Freezing Over. (Salt Water If You Were Wondering)
I *really* never know what to make of these Japanese posts. So much technology. So much fragility.
Adult And Child Sized Toilets In A Single Stall - Auckland International Airport
This Toilet In Japan Has A System Of Occupied/Vacant Toilets Information
This ruins the fun out of all those movie scenes where the person is hiding in one stall whilst another flings open the doors of multiple others, getting nearer... And nearer.... Then BAAAMMM HERESSSS JOHHNNYYY
Bottle Caps In Italy Designed To Stay Attached To Bottle
In Norway, The Packed Meat Has A "Thermometer" That Tells You How Many Days Are Left Until It's No Longer Safe To Eat It
We have "Sell by" dates printed on the packages but I'd support these too. EDIT: Since I'm obviously unfamiliar with these, I'm going by the title which says "Tells You How Many Days Are Left Until It's No Longer Safe To Eat It" which is why I mention the "Sell By" date (which is a guide, obviously, and not a rule). Seemingly that's not the case, thank you for letting me know.
Japanese Police Cars Can Raise Their Blinking Lights To Be More Visible
How telling is it that I learned about this feature from anime? 🤭
This Heated Bench With A Wireless Charging Pad For Your Phone At A Bus Stop In South Korea
They Have Umbrella Vending Machines In Hong Kong
The Elevators In My Office Building Have An Umbrella Sign That Lights Up If It's Raining Outside (Osaka, Japan)
This Belgian Supermarket Has A Parking Spot Just For Pregnant Women
In a few specific areas, I can believe that. But no, they're not common here.
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Those are fairly common in the NE US too. We normally use a stroller symbol instead of a butt plug symbol though.
I've seen one at a library in the Atlanta area
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We've had "expectant mother" parking spots in the US for as long as I can remember. My children are over 30 years old and they had them when I was pregnant with them in a lot of shopping centers/grocery stores.
Where in Belgium is it? I see German and French but no Flemish.
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Hey! That symbol is identical to the Food Lion supermarket here in NC! The one on the sign.
I love this symbol it looks both like a pacifier and a female symbol that's preggers ♀️🤰 a 2 in 1 combo logo
We have parking spots for pregnant women in the US, but not as cute as these.
There use to be a lot of these where I live (South Florida) and I was excited to use them when I became pregnant...then all of a sudden they were all gone lol
They used to have expectant Mommy spots at CVS Pharmacies in Michigan, USA but they are no longer there,at least ones I've gone to.
In the US it's just called "family parking" for the pregnant and those with small children in strollers
I don't think it's common everywhere in EU. But there are at least two of these at every big supermarket/strip mall in Portugal, even in the small towns. Also a specific line where elderly, less abled, emergency personnel and pregnant people and families with young kids have the right to cut in front. But they are hardly required - when I was pregnant, everyone insisted on letting me go in front everywhere even when I didn't want to.
Is that not a thing in the States? We have these everywhere in Canada. Spots for families with young kids, too.
The ones in the US are usually for pregnant women and people with babies. I’ve actually never seen one that’s only for just pregnant women. They’re labeled like “pregnant / family” or something
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Canadian grocery stores have them as well. Just, with a much better image
We have these in Canada, with a different symbol (thanks for that!)
We have women only parking spots that acommondate for it too
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Dunno why you were downvoted, but Food Lion belongs to Belgian distribution group Delhaize - it's their logo you see on the pic.
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We've had these in Australia for decades. Although they're not for pregnant women, they're for anyone with a baby.
This Croatian Crosswalk Pedestrian Pushbutton Has A Tactile Display Of The Intersection
Uk in some places has raised markers on the paths for people to use as guides with their sticks
Weird Plastic Finger Covers To Eat Chips With In Korea
The title, "80 Brilliant Things In Other Countries That Americans Might Not Even Know Exist". Aside from the supposed brilliance why single out Americans? They aren't the only ones, BP.
Exactly, and to make it worse, most of these are also available in the US. Well, not the finger covers for chip eating, because that is just stupid.
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As a non American, I also find the title to be weird. It could have just been "80 genius things from all over the world". And still served the purpose. No need to spread negativity
I find it weird as well. BoredPanda has a truly disturbing history of bashing its readers from the US and treating them like a monolith. It’s honestly turned into xenophobia and they are losing readers because of it. I’ve actually written to BoredPanda about this and they do absolutely nothing about it and just write more listicles like this that create a divide. This has sadly become a really negative site between all the censorship and negative content.
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I think BP needs to stop the US bashing. There was no need for that in the title.
Suggesting the USA is not an innovative country is indeed rather weird.
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Sigh . . . so sick of this, BP. Writing from France. Other Bored Pandas - what are some other sites that you go to that you like? I think it may be time to migrate.
Honestly Reddit has all of this. Most of these posts are just compilations from Reddit. Like 95% of Bored Panda is just Reddit Digest.
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BP has degenerated into a bunch of snobby Europeans bashing middle class americans for not being "sophisticated enough". Get a f*****g grip. I could think of a bunch of stupid things Europeans do (paid bathrooms anyone?), but I don't because I don't like bashing entire continents of people.
So, for a list of "genius" ideas, there were definitely some good ones, some ones specifically for that particular area, lots of mediocre ones, several that are worldwide (including the US), and lots of one-use plastic waste (horrible ideas). NOT impressed.
BTW the US was included in several ideas on this list...so, BP maybe, just maybe DO BETTER!! Stop this asinine US bashing. The title could have been simply, "good ideas around the world."
Load More Replies... Why single out America? Why not just title this "Cool Things from Around the World"? To single out America comes off as hateful and bullying. I thought BP was supposed to be about positivity??
Nope, positivity doesn't draw them in, more clicks from negative, stupid s**t. It feels deliberate with the title of this asinine thread.
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Like so many other similar listicles on this site, it's fun to see innovative ideas, but my goodness... Not a single one of these things is ubiquitous in any country, nor is any one of them completely absent in the USA. You could find instances of every one of these things in the USA and then swap the title for, "Things the US has that make other countries feel like they're living in a different century". It would be just as weirdly hyperbolic and dripping with exceptionalism...
Have seen ALL of these in other recent posts. Why are we getting old c**p under a new title?
Because new material would require actual work...
Load More Replies... Bored Panda seems to love trying to pit one group against another. There isn't any reason for such behavior! If it isn't the US against the world, it is one generation against another. It seems like none of these sites can have a decent conversation, it all has to be making controversial statements to draw people in
All these shopping trolley posts. Is Australia the only country that has plastic shopping trolleys made from recycled milk bottles? They are superb.
I'd say there's probably about 10% plastic in my corner of the US. I wonder why that is
Load More Replies... I have seen many of these in the US: wheelchair swing, soft parking barriers, bike repair equipment, toilet with foot flusher, public mini library, utility poles disguised as trees, knee (or foot)-activated water tap, bike stand with pump, treaded cargo dolly, crosswalk pushbutton with tactile display
It seems any excuse to bash the USA is OK here -- even tenuous stuff like this. My nephew is in Lithuania training military personnel in border defenses. Give the USA-bashing a rest for a while, huh ?
American here. I'm in agreement that America needn't have been singled out. Having said that, America can do better.
Due to popular demand, I have made a thing of brilliant American things other countries should start doing: Free Restrooms Freedom of Speech Checks and Balances for leadership Pickup Trucks Respect for the working class Non corrupt Police Relatively low unemployment rates
To answer the why single us America's out... we're defensive. Just look how many clicks and comments they got for that alone
I knew this from the get go, it still didn't stop me... that's why America
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and other brilliant things which US utterly lacks such as social safety net, universal healthcare, access to abortion & family planning services, paid parental leave, paid time off, sick leave, labor rights, education that doesn't put you in debt for life...
Uhh, not sure where you got your information, but I live/work in the US and have an adequate social safety net, some paid paternal leave, paid time off, sick leave and labor rights (union). No universal healthcare unfortunately, but medical insurance. The a$$hats, ahem Republicans, are working to restrict abortion & family planning services, but they are still available in most states. You got us on the way, way too expensive US higher education system and predatory student loan industry. EDIT: had to fix some censored BS
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Calling one country smarter than the other is the definition of racism
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Life in Japan sucks in a completely different way. working constantly, always focused on others. In America, at least you have more choice on how to live your life.
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I know there are some amazing people in the US who are fighting for positive change and pushing back against the hatred spread by hyper conservatives who despise anyone different from them. As someone with family in the United Kingdom, United States, and Denmark and who has also lived aboard, there are sadly problems in every country. I understand that the US is having an incredible amount of problems with the growing rise of nationalism and even fascism. Thus, I think it makes a lot of readers frustrated when Bored Panda constantly treats its readers from the US as a monolith and repeatedly bashes them— it’s pretty disturbing as they do it weekly. There are a lot of US readers who are sick of getting bashed constantly when they are working to create positive change in their country.
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You speak as though none of those exist in any other country, which is shortsighted and wrong. Those problems you listed are happening in many countries all over the world.
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I think you missed the point. These are "Interesting things from around the world". It literally has nothing to do with the US. In fact many of these are available in the US. What country are you from? We can do a post with that as the title. ;-)
Load More Replies... The title, "80 Brilliant Things In Other Countries That Americans Might Not Even Know Exist". Aside from the supposed brilliance why single out Americans? They aren't the only ones, BP.
Exactly, and to make it worse, most of these are also available in the US. Well, not the finger covers for chip eating, because that is just stupid.
Load More Replies... As a non American, I also find the title to be weird. It could have just been "80 genius things from all over the world". And still served the purpose. No need to spread negativity
I find it weird as well. BoredPanda has a truly disturbing history of bashing its readers from the US and treating them like a monolith. It’s honestly turned into xenophobia and they are losing readers because of it. I’ve actually written to BoredPanda about this and they do absolutely nothing about it and just write more listicles like this that create a divide. This has sadly become a really negative site between all the censorship and negative content.
Load More Replies... I think BP needs to stop the US bashing. There was no need for that in the title.
Suggesting the USA is not an innovative country is indeed rather weird.
Load More Replies... Sigh . . . so sick of this, BP. Writing from France. Other Bored Pandas - what are some other sites that you go to that you like? I think it may be time to migrate.
Honestly Reddit has all of this. Most of these posts are just compilations from Reddit. Like 95% of Bored Panda is just Reddit Digest.
Load More Replies... BP has degenerated into a bunch of snobby Europeans bashing middle class americans for not being "sophisticated enough". Get a f*****g grip. I could think of a bunch of stupid things Europeans do (paid bathrooms anyone?), but I don't because I don't like bashing entire continents of people.
So, for a list of "genius" ideas, there were definitely some good ones, some ones specifically for that particular area, lots of mediocre ones, several that are worldwide (including the US), and lots of one-use plastic waste (horrible ideas). NOT impressed.
BTW the US was included in several ideas on this list...so, BP maybe, just maybe DO BETTER!! Stop this asinine US bashing. The title could have been simply, "good ideas around the world."
Load More Replies... Why single out America? Why not just title this "Cool Things from Around the World"? To single out America comes off as hateful and bullying. I thought BP was supposed to be about positivity??
Nope, positivity doesn't draw them in, more clicks from negative, stupid s**t. It feels deliberate with the title of this asinine thread.
Load More Replies... Like so many other similar listicles on this site, it's fun to see innovative ideas, but my goodness... Not a single one of these things is ubiquitous in any country, nor is any one of them completely absent in the USA. You could find instances of every one of these things in the USA and then swap the title for, "Things the US has that make other countries feel like they're living in a different century". It would be just as weirdly hyperbolic and dripping with exceptionalism...
Have seen ALL of these in other recent posts. Why are we getting old c**p under a new title?
Because new material would require actual work...
Load More Replies... Bored Panda seems to love trying to pit one group against another. There isn't any reason for such behavior! If it isn't the US against the world, it is one generation against another. It seems like none of these sites can have a decent conversation, it all has to be making controversial statements to draw people in
All these shopping trolley posts. Is Australia the only country that has plastic shopping trolleys made from recycled milk bottles? They are superb.
I'd say there's probably about 10% plastic in my corner of the US. I wonder why that is
Load More Replies... I have seen many of these in the US: wheelchair swing, soft parking barriers, bike repair equipment, toilet with foot flusher, public mini library, utility poles disguised as trees, knee (or foot)-activated water tap, bike stand with pump, treaded cargo dolly, crosswalk pushbutton with tactile display
It seems any excuse to bash the USA is OK here -- even tenuous stuff like this. My nephew is in Lithuania training military personnel in border defenses. Give the USA-bashing a rest for a while, huh ?
American here. I'm in agreement that America needn't have been singled out. Having said that, America can do better.
Due to popular demand, I have made a thing of brilliant American things other countries should start doing: Free Restrooms Freedom of Speech Checks and Balances for leadership Pickup Trucks Respect for the working class Non corrupt Police Relatively low unemployment rates
To answer the why single us America's out... we're defensive. Just look how many clicks and comments they got for that alone
I knew this from the get go, it still didn't stop me... that's why America
Load More Replies... and other brilliant things which US utterly lacks such as social safety net, universal healthcare, access to abortion & family planning services, paid parental leave, paid time off, sick leave, labor rights, education that doesn't put you in debt for life...
Uhh, not sure where you got your information, but I live/work in the US and have an adequate social safety net, some paid paternal leave, paid time off, sick leave and labor rights (union). No universal healthcare unfortunately, but medical insurance. The a$$hats, ahem Republicans, are working to restrict abortion & family planning services, but they are still available in most states. You got us on the way, way too expensive US higher education system and predatory student loan industry. EDIT: had to fix some censored BS
Load More Replies... Calling one country smarter than the other is the definition of racism
Load More Replies... Life in Japan sucks in a completely different way. working constantly, always focused on others. In America, at least you have more choice on how to live your life.
Load More Replies... I know there are some amazing people in the US who are fighting for positive change and pushing back against the hatred spread by hyper conservatives who despise anyone different from them. As someone with family in the United Kingdom, United States, and Denmark and who has also lived aboard, there are sadly problems in every country. I understand that the US is having an incredible amount of problems with the growing rise of nationalism and even fascism. Thus, I think it makes a lot of readers frustrated when Bored Panda constantly treats its readers from the US as a monolith and repeatedly bashes them— it’s pretty disturbing as they do it weekly. There are a lot of US readers who are sick of getting bashed constantly when they are working to create positive change in their country.
Load More Replies... You speak as though none of those exist in any other country, which is shortsighted and wrong. Those problems you listed are happening in many countries all over the world.
Load More Replies... I think you missed the point. These are "Interesting things from around the world". It literally has nothing to do with the US. In fact many of these are available in the US. What country are you from? We can do a post with that as the title. ;-)
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