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A Lesson in Savings: Take It
to the Bank with
Thermocore®
and Larry’s Home
Designs
Energy-Efficient,
Insulated Panels Save Green All the Way Around—
Good for the
Environment, Great for Your Wallet.
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Welcome to Home-Building 101. Before we get into our lesson, let’s start
with a story. This is a story about a
person with a dream, a dream to live in a comfortable, well-built,
energy-efficient home. The person in our
story is conscientious and careful about the decisions they make. They conduct their own research and aren’t
afraid to spend a little extra time acquainting themselves with new
methods and
technologies if it means getting a better value for their hard-earned
money. Their thorough investigation of
the available options is commendable, and it puts them on the path to a
happy
ending.
In
short, this is a story about you. The
fact that you’ve reached this site
indicates that you are that careful, conscientious person featured in
our
little tale, and we’re glad that you are, because we have some exciting
information for you. So stick around and
see how the story unfolds.
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Introductions
Are in Order:
Before learning about a quality product, take some
time
to get to know the folks who are bringing it home to you.
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Larry’s Home Designs—who are we?
We’re a residential design
firm that’s been blessed with the opportunity to do independent, custom
home
design for people just like you for the last thirteen years. Our considerable experience has enabled us to
solve many design problems by working directly with both the builder
and the
homeowner.
While
builders want to do a good
job and keep the customer happy they also like to move quickly to keep
better profit margins. Homeowners, on the other hand, want
the job done
to their exact specifications without paying for more labor than
necessary.
Through our company’s efforts to better serve our clients, we’ve
discovered the
solution to balancing both sides of this equation, and we’d like to
pass it
along.
We’re
going to introduce you to a
product with which we have had significant success in our own
home-building
projects and then give you the opportunity to realize the unique
savings
potential this product offers through our low-cost, “Take-It-to-the
Bank”
opportunity. It’s our hope that you will
see the value for yourself and seriously consider using this product in
your
quest for quality housing, but we’re not going to abuse you with hype
or waste
your time with over-inflated and flimsy promises. “Just
the facts”—that was Joe Friday’s motto,
and it’s one we subscribe to as well.
And if the facts themselves can’t convince
you, then we might as well
pack it in and go home. So, are you
ready to learn more? Then get
comfortable; class is about to begin.
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The
Thermocore Advantage: Thermopanels:
Thermocore’s
insulated panels cut construction cost
and time; reduce energy costs over the life of your home; offer
superior
structural integrity, safety and comfort; and are better for the
environment
than conventional building methods. |
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Thermocore, a quality
manufacturer of building
materials, has designed a construction method featuring the use
of “S.I.P.s” or “Structural Insulated
Panels.” Okay, sounds fancy, but what is
it? Simply put it’s a building materials
sandwich. A very, very strong sandwich, we might add!
Each panel consists of a thick, solid piece
of Polyurethane foam inserted between two sheets of durable oriented
strand
board (O.S.B.). This creates a
structural I-beam effect and replaces previous stud-frame (or
“stick-frame”)
housing methods. It has proved itself to
be superior in several crucial areas.
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Controlling
Construction Cost and Time:
A slightly higher price for materials will lower
labor
costs and reduce the time it takes to build your home.
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We won’t tell you that
Thermopanels are cheaper than other
building materials; they’re not, because they’re a high-end, quality
product. Consequently, in a
pound-for-pound materials cost comparison, our S.I.P.s will be slightly
more
expensive than their stick-frame counterparts.
However, they will eliminate some of the other
construction costs and
time-consuming procedures associated with conventional, stick
construction.
● Less
Labor, Less Time
It’s considerably easier to install panels
than it is to frame a house. This
translates into a faster overall construction time and means that fewer
hands
are needed on the job site (hands that will be looking for a paycheck
when the
workday is over).
● Pre-Installation
Features and a Price Quote You Can Bank on
Thermocore distinguishes themselves from
the competition in that they
preinstall windows and electrical conduit
in the
factory. Other panel providers wait to
handle these procedures during the construction process (requiring the
use of
additional subcontractors and tacking on extra costs).
Thermocore’s method means that your final
price quote is what you will pay for your panels— period.
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Significant Energy Savings
over the Life of Your Home
Thermopanels will pay
you back year after year with lower heating and cooling costs because
their
insulating power is not compromised by factors that affect conventional
materials.
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If you’ve been dozing
in
class up to this point, you’ll want to tune in now.
This is where the true value of Thermopanels
shines through, and our “Take-It-To-the Bank” opportunity will give you
a
chance to see how Thermocore’s energy efficiency can benefit you in
your
mortgage negotiations. Also, you’ll need
to know this information for the final exam.
● A
Higher, More
Reliable R-Value
Okay, we’ve got to get
a little technical
here, but we’re sure you can handle it.
It’s actually pretty simple and it’s
information you’ll want to have on
hand whether you buy from us or keep shopping. Plus keep in mind,
science is
fun when it saves you money!
An R-value
is a number the building industry
uses to gauge how well a
product resists heat flow.
After
all, good insulation is all about keeping
warm air in during
the colder
months and keeping warm air out during the
summer
season. The better a product resists
heat transfer,
the more efficient
your heating and cooling systems will be, and that
translates into significant
savings. Most
insulation materials come with an
advertised r-value, but here
you need to be careful. These
R-values are measured under ideal conditions
that are
rarely duplicated in real-world applications.
And since the real
world is
where you live, most advertised
R-values won’t do you much good. Let’s
look
at a hypothetical scenario.
You remember this part from science class.
This is
where the teacher
stops talking and sticks in a video. You enjoyed it then;
you’ll enjoy it now.
Let’s be Frank about Hank
Hank is the proud owner of Hank’s
Happy Housing, LLC. Okay, so it’s not a
very catchy name, but then again, neither were the names of those
instructional
science videos. You’ve contracted with
Hank to build your new home, and you feel confident when Hank informs
you that
he only buys insulation with an R-value
rating of R-19, a good, respectable rating.
However, like many of his
colleagues, Hank is using 2x6 studs to frame his houses.
The problem is that a 2x6 is deceptively
named and really only measures 5 ˝ inches across, while the R-19
insulation
that Hank bought requires 6 ˝ inches of space to live up to its
potential. The one-inch difference forces
the insulation
to compress and lowers its actual R-Value.
There’s yet another problem lurking
in Hank’s 2x6 studs. Each stud he puts
in constitutes a thermal break. A
thermal break occurs when temperature-conductive material forms a
“bridge”
between the wall’s inner and outer “skins.”
In other words, it connects the inside to the
outside. Those 2x6 studs aren’t insulated
and conduct
cold air quite nicely. So while you’re
insulation (already less effective because it’s been crammed into a
smaller
space) is working hard to keep your house warm, cold air is slipping
into your
home through your studs. Electrical
boxes represent yet another thermal break.
With all of these
factors in mind, if we
gave your Hank-crafted house a “whole house R-value” (a gauge
of the
heat-flow resistance of the entire wall system) we’d find that his R-19
insulation that looked so good on the shelf is really operating at R-13.8. Where did those missing R-numbers go? Right into cold, thin air, along with your
energy savings. So even though the Big,
Bad Wolf didn’t huff and puff and blow Hank’s house down, our story
still
doesn’t have a very happy ending.
A True R-Value Is Our Value
How
does
a Thermocore house stack up against Hank’s?
Our construction process eliminates the
problems that rob conventional
stick houses of their R-value potential.
With no studs to compress the insulation
material or sneak in cold air,
and with our electrical outlets and conduit snugly embedded within the
wall to
prevent additional thermal breaks, our stated whole-wall R-24 rating
(R-40 for
roof panels) is real-world ready and won’t decrease due to construction
considerations.
● Your
Bank Account Will Thank You
We
told
you at the outset that Thermocore panels cost more up front. Now, in all fairness, we need to tell you
about what they will save you in the long run.
It’s best if you view these panels as an
investment with a solid, predictable return.
The Department of
Energy’s Oak Ridge
National Laboratory has found that S.I.P. homes have repeatedly
demonstrated
annual energy savings of 50-60% when combined with other high
performance
systems. The S.I.P. test homes that they monitored had heating and
cooling costs
as low as 45 cents per day.
That’s not hype; that’s fact.
How
much are you paying to heat and cool your home right now?
How much could you save with Thermocore?
Let’s look at the
savings Thermopanels
offer over time. On a typical 2,200
sq./ft. house, Thermocore has consistently found that energy costs will
be $80-$120
per month lower when using their insulated panels. And this has become
even clearer
with the spike in energy costs we are all experiencing.
Thermopanels will save you money,
GUARANTEED!!
And
if you ever decide to sell your home, your energy savings will continue
to
benefit you. S.I.P. homes typically have
an increase in their appraisal value of $25 for every dollar of annual
energy
savings. So even if you only saved the
lower-end amount of $80 per month on your energy costs, your home could
see a
$24,000 jump in its market value. Now,
we know this isn’t math class, but how does that equation sound?
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Structure, Safety and
Comfort:
Thermocore
delivers more than just energy
efficiency. Their panel system is more
structurally sound than stick construction and offers superior safety
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comfort as well. |
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Beyond the speed of their
construction and their capacity to save you money, Thermopanels bring
additional benefits to
your new home. Take the time to consider
these advantages.
● Structurally
Stronger
Building with panels results in
a sturdier home because of their special wall
design which has been proven to be 2 to 3 times stronger than
conventional
frame construction. Panel construction also eliminates shrinkage, nail pops
and the
warping and
twisting of studs.
● Safety
First
Protect the health and safety of
your family through panel construction.
Each
panel’s foam core has a class
1/A fire rating, slowing the rate at which a fire
will spread and
making Thermocore
homes more fire resistant than their
frame-built counterparts. This higher standard of fire resistance will
give you
peace of mind and may lower your homeowner’s insurance
premiums.
Thermopanels are also impervious to moisture and will never form mold
or
allow
dirt in their cavity, making for a healthier home environment.
● Turn
Your Home
into a Haven
Thermocore panels help you leave
the outside world outside—in more ways
than one.
Not only do they allow for more energy-efficient climate
control,
but
their dense foam core reduces the intrusion of outside noise.
Sorry,
Thermopanels will not keep your
children quiet. Folks, there’s only so much
we can do.
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Going Green:
Thermocore Is
Environmentally-Friendly
Using Thermopanels for
your new home reduces energy consumption and waste, allows for
recycling of
materials and eliminates the need for harmful chemical adhesives.
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Not only is our panel
system a better choice for your safety, your comfort and your wallet,
it’s also
a better choice for the environment, and our low-cost,
“Take-It-to-the-Bank”
opportunity will allow you to capitalize on this fact.
Here are a few of the ecological benefits:
● Homes
account for 15% of the nationwide energy consumption, and release
on
average
22,000 lbs of CO2 into the atmosphere
annually,
roughly twice
as much as the average car. Building an S.I.P. home that uses half the
energy has an ecological impact equivalent to
removing one
car from
America’s
highways.
● Pre-cutting
in the factory (including windows and electrical boxes) minimizes
cutting in
the field and therefore minimizes the amount of waste your
contractor has to
dispose of.
● Any
clean scraps leftover from production in the factory can often be
recycled.
● The
Polyurethane used in the panels serves as its own adhesive and
therefore bonds evenly
without the need to use additional adhesives during
the manufacturing
process.
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It’s What’s Inside
that Counts: Thermopanels vs.
Other S.I.P.s:
Not all insulated panels are
created equal. Compare Thermocore to the
competition and you’ll see the difference.
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After walking you
through the
benefits of S.I.P.s, it’s important to say that not all of them are
equal. Manufacturers differ in the types
of
insulation materials they use in their panels, and that difference has
far-reaching consequences. Most panel
systems use Expanded Polystyrene (E.P.S.), a product that’s been around
for
over 50 years. Thermocore’s structural
panels use Polyurethane, which was invented to improve upon the
shortfalls of E.P.S.
Polyurethane has a significantly higher R-value (told you that would
come up
again) than E.P.S., in fact it’s the highest-rated insulation per inch,
which explains
why it’s the choice of manufacturers of everything from freezers to
water
coolers to refrigerated semi-trailers. But
the benefits of Polyurethane over E.P.S.
don’t stop at its R-value. Take a minute
to scan the other reasons why a choice for Polyurethane makes more
sense:
● Better Fire Resistance:
E.P.S.
can be damaged by temperatures over 175 degrees, so it
offers little
fire resistance. Class 1/A rated Polyurethane
– the kind Thermocore uses –
can withstand
temperatures of 750 degrees without damage. Even at those
temperatures, it chars but does not burn, so it
minimizes the spread of fire.
In fact, the material normally self-extinguishes.
● Better Moisture and Chemical
Resistance:
Building
materials are rated for permeability, or how much
moisture can
seep through them. Typical E.P.S. is much more permeable than
Polyurethane, which is why many E.P.S.
manufacturers include interior and
exterior vapor
barriers when calculating R-values (be sure to read the fine
print when
comparing). In addition, most over-the-counter
chemicals won’t
damage Polyurethane, but common
petroleum-based chemical products
such as insect sprays
and many construction
adhesives will degrade E.P.S.
● Greater Density for Greater Strength:
At a minimum
density of 2.2 pounds, Thermopanels are more than twice as
dense as
those made
with E.P.S., which provides greater strength.
● Less Environmental Impact:
Typically,
E.P.S. panels are created in standard sizes and cut
at the jobsite
to fit your home’s requirements. The
scraps usually cannot be recycled. In
comparison, Thermopanels
are designed and constructed to your
specific
plans, so waste is minimal. The Polyurethane we
use acts as its own
adhesive for a strong, consistent
bond across the entire panel. E.P.S. panel
manufacturers
have to use separate glues with the quality
of the bond
dependent on how evenly the glue is spread
and how long it dries.
● More Value for Every Dollar:
There’s a
good reason why E.P.S. panels appear to be
cheaper: they cost
less to make. E.P.S. panel manufacturers buy materials in
finished form and
use very little equipment and labor to produce
panels. Of
course, the cost
is increased by
significantly more equipment and labor at the
jobsite.
Thermocore starts with raw materials and custom
manufactures each
panel
to your plans. But although it costs us more to make panels, that cost is
offset by the lower labor and energy costs. So
while E.P.S. panels may
appear to be
cheaper, Thermopanel construction is a much better value.
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Q & A
Your nagging
questions about
Thermopanels—answered!
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You’ve heard our
lecture, now
it’s time for some teacher-student interaction.
We’re sure that you have questions about
Thermocore, so before we
proceed with our “Take-It-to-the-Bank” opportunity, let’s anticipate at
least a
few of them and give you some straightforward answers.
Q: Are Thermopanels
structural?
A: Yes. Thermopanels
are not just
insulating materials but serve as the sturdy
building blocks of your
new
home.
Q: Can I use standard window jambs with Thermopanels?
A: Yes. Thermopanels are the first production
panels that can be used with standard
window jambs, so there’s no
need for costly window jamb extensions (as there is
with E.P.S.
panels).
Q: What kind of conduit is
used in your panels?
A: Thermocore uses the highest-quality electrical
components, installing
only
UL-approved products with a minimum
2-hour fire rating. They also follow
national building
codes and are careful not to run data lines with
traditional
electrical lines.
Q: Can I add to or alter my panels after they are installed?
A: Yes. Thermopanels can be modified in the
field, with most window
location and
electrical changes taking less
than 10 minutes.
Q: Do Thermopanels have studs?
A: Although Thermopanels do not use studs,
they’re designed with the same
construction
principles found in steel
I-beams, making them 2 to 3 times
stronger than today’s
stick-built walls. The foam core and the two
skins form an
I-beam matrix that is extremely strong and
lightweight. Unique tongue and
groove joints lock
the entire house together, making it a complete structural
system rather than a collection of separate wall sections.
Q: Who can install my
panels?
A: You have two choices here.
Option 1: The panel
assembly is so
easy that any reputable construction
company in your local area would be
sufficiently qualified to build your home
without any
trouble. In fact, we’ll throw in a free assembly manual
for handy
reference. Plus, if your contractor does have
questions, we’re just a phone call
away at no extra charge!
Option 2: Thermocore uses a
sub-contractor
installation crew that can travel to
your location and install
the panel system on top of your sub-floor or slab. And
you’ll pay only their straight regular pricing—Thermocore
adds nothing on top!
Only after you
approve the installation will
the crew consider their
work
accomplished.
Q: What happens if Thermopanels are exposed to fire?
A: The polyurethane foam we use incorporates a
fire retardant that gives
Thermopanels
a Class 1/A fire rating (the
highest rating for residential
construction). Unlike E.P.S. panels that
start
to melt at approximately 175
degrees, Thermopanels maintain their structural
integrity up to 750 degrees and
will never melt.
Q: Can Thermopanels be used
with any house design?
A: Virtually any house design can be built with
Thermopanels. In some
cases,
though, it may make more sense to use a
conventional roof with our wall panels.
Our staff will be happy to
discuss your
design with you and recommend the best
method.
Q: Do you need detailed
house plans to make a price quote?
A: No. We need the footprint of your home, an
elevation, the wall heights,
the pitch
of your roof and details
of any dormers you’re planning. With this information,
we
can provide an accurate quote.
Special Note:
This allows you to get a quote
from us if you are trying to calculate
your
budget before needing to have the
actual
construction plans that your local municipality and builder will
require.
If you already have a
set of plans we can
provide a quote from them as well.
When you decide to go ahead with a panel
home, we will work directly with the
Thermocore to provide the highest
level of
quality control over your individual
project.
Q: Does the R-value of Thermopanels degrade
over time?
A: Independent tests have
confirmed
time and time again that Thermopanel
R-values remain constant. In fact,
Thermocore sends aged panels out
to be
tested on an annual basis. All of their panels are tested in accordance with
A.S.T.M. C518 and are done in a laboratory
setting. Our most recent test on a
panel in excess of
three years old confirmed no loss of R-value. Studies at Oak
Ridge
National
Laboratories on various panels made with Polyurethane foam
cores
confirmed no
measurable loss of R-value. Polyurethane foam continues to
be the product of
choice for refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, coolers and
many
other common household products. Companies
like GE have been using
polyurethane for decades with obvious success and
product durability.
Q. How can I be sure there
is foam in my panels?
A. Thermocore employs state of the art infrared
technology to actually look
inside
each panel after it is made. Each
panel is inspected and stamped for quality
assurance.
Q. Do Thermopanels represent
a health hazard?
A. No. First of all,
if Thermopanels
represented a health hazard, we would not be
allowed to sell them and wouldn’t
sell them even if we could. No amount of
profit is worth endangering the lives of others! But
it may ease your mind
further to know
that the foam used in Thermopanels is the same foam used in
the cushions of your chairs and the pillows on
your bed.
Many of the E.P.S.
manufacturers have
tried to use scare tactics to sell
against the Polyurethane
manufacturers.
Truth be told, they will never show you
any documentation to prove what
they
are saying. As a matter of fact, medical
studies have proved the long
term
safety of Polyurethane foam panels. These
are medical professionals
conducting
real studies, not sales representatives
spreading rumors. Next time you
hear
something negative said about
Polyurethane foam panels, consider the
source and
look at the science.
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The Green Goes on:
We’ve Got
an Offer for You
A small investment in
a panel sample can help you qualify for a more affordable mortgage.
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We’ve already informed
you of Thermocore’s ecological advantages, and it would be nice if we
all were
so altruistic that we really put environmental concerns above our
financial
desires, but let’s be honest. Most of us
care more about saving money than about saving the planet. This is one area in which choosing Thermocore
insulated panels provides a happy overlap.
Thermocore’s ecological soundness can actually
reduce your
mortgage payments.
S.I.P. homes qualify for many Energy Efficient Mortgages (E.E.M.s) that
stretch
income-to-loan ratios. With that in mind, let us present you with an
opportunity to capitalize on this fiscal phenomenon.
We’ve learned that our customers experience
maximum success in their mortgage negotiations when they bring a sample
of
the material with them for their lender’s inspection.
The lender can then gauge more accurately the
energy-efficiency of the material and issue an E.E.M.
Consequently,
we here at Larry’s Home Designs are making available to you our
“Take-It-to-the-Bank- with-Thermocore” resource kit.
The kit includes a 9"
x 12" sample section (sizes will vary a bit, but all are
sufficient to show your mortgage provider) of
Thermocore’s paneling and all the detailed product literature you’ll
need to
make a truly informed decision. You may
feel that we’ve already given you an earful, but we’ve only begun to
scratch
the surface of Thermocore’s potential.
We’ll also include pertinent information and
strategies for maximizing
Thermocore’s impact on your mortgage.
Take the panel sample and the knowledge you’ve
gained to your lender and
see the savings for yourself.
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An Investment, Not
an Expense:
Choosing Larry’s Home
Designs triples the return on your cash output.
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It’s true that we’re
not
offering this kit for free. The total
price for the sample and informative materials comes to $75 plus
S&H. However, that initial payment can
actually
mean savings for you even beyond your mortgage reduction.
Should you decide to go with Thermocore and
to use Larry’s Home Designs as your authorized Thermocore sales
representatives, we will triple your $75 payment by deducting $225 from
the cost
of the custom plans for your new house which will be deducted from the
downpayment of your Thermocore. Not only
will you be getting a quality home built with materials that pay you
back every
month, you’ll also be getting our design expertise at a significantly
reduced
cost. This is one of the rare win-win
situations in life.
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In
the end, the decision lies
with you. You were the one who chose to
take the time to review our presentation (for which we thank you). You are the one who has to weigh what you’ve
heard. And you are the one who will have
to live with the results. We are
convinced that if you choose to invest in the Thermocore Advantage,
those results will be overwhelmingly to your benefit: a stronger, safer
and
more comfortable home; quicker construction; solid energy savings;
better
stewardship of the earth and the chance to tap into energy-efficient
mortgage
incentives. Our best wishes go with you
as you embark on your quest for your dream home. If
you have any questions that weren’t
addressed here, or if you’d like further information, please don’t
hesitate to
contact us at (717) 733-6857 or e-mail us by clicking here. Class dismissed.
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Our Guarantee: "Larry's
Home Designs is the industry's exclusive provider of the
Double-Accuracy Home Design Guarantee. Our 15 years of custom planning
experience, continuing education, and passion for detail results in 97%
first-time building permit approval. Professionalism, family-friendly
atmosphere, and flexible office hours smoothly bridge client desires
with contractor needs for an optimal design and building experience. We
guarantee our accuracy so that any design changes required by a builder
after construction begins due to design error, or plan changes
necessary for permit approval after the 2nd submission, are completely
free."
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