Sci-Fi Short Film: Like Us - DUST
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Date: 2024-04-01
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Comments and reviews: 35
fantuzastic
I’m reacting to some of the comments below regarding the decision to end the life of a person who is locked in a terminal state with no chance of recovery. At the age of 85, my mother had a serious stroke which left her paralyzed on her right side, and most importantly, with Expressive Aphasia. She was no longer able to leave the bed or even sit up without assistance. The Aphasia left her unable to communicate her thoughts, but it was obvious that she had some understanding of what I said to her. I could ask her questions, trying to satisfy her wishes, but she was unable to respond in any manner- she couldn’t nod her head, or smile, or indicate whether she was happy or sad.
I went to see her every day for seven weeks. The hospital was constantly asking me to sign authorizations to perform various tests on her. I began to think they were using her as a test subject. But, of course, the idea of terminating her life was not on the table. It was a bizarre and depressing cycle- the same routine day after day with no possibility of any type of recovery. It even reached the point at which she had to be on a ventilator! It’s tragic and obscene that our society forces individuals to continue to exist in this type of limbo. And if someone like me, a loving son, were to end that life, I’d be prosecuted for 1st degree murder. It’s utterly insane!
A strange thing occurred at the very end. One afternoon I said, Goodbye. I’ll see you tomorrow. and she did something she’d never done before- she lifted her left arm a little and waved goodbye to me. I was stunned! I had to split because I had some other plans, but I couldn’t stop visualizing her waving goodbye. I began to wonder if that was an indication that she was having some return of her ability to communicate. I was looking forward to seeing her the following day!
When I arrived that next day, the room she had been in was completely cleared out. The bed was made. You’d never know there had been a person in there the day before! When I asked where she was, they told me- rather matter of factly- that she had died in her sleep the previous night.
Two ideas have been with me since that final episode: 1) How fervently they kept her in a state of physical and mental torture, but after she died, it was as if she’d never existed! 2) She waved goodbye to me- something she had never done before- because she knew she was going to die that night! It’s a pretty freaky image!
I mention below, but I’ll give a quick reference here, regarding the difference between being reluctant to let someone go. and the unwillingness to be the agent who terminates someone’s life.
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I’m reacting to some of the comments below regarding the decision to end the life of a person who is locked in a terminal state with no chance of recovery. At the age of 85, my mother had a serious stroke which left her paralyzed on her right side, and most importantly, with Expressive Aphasia. She was no longer able to leave the bed or even sit up without assistance. The Aphasia left her unable to communicate her thoughts, but it was obvious that she had some understanding of what I said to her. I could ask her questions, trying to satisfy her wishes, but she was unable to respond in any manner- she couldn’t nod her head, or smile, or indicate whether she was happy or sad.
I went to see her every day for seven weeks. The hospital was constantly asking me to sign authorizations to perform various tests on her. I began to think they were using her as a test subject. But, of course, the idea of terminating her life was not on the table. It was a bizarre and depressing cycle- the same routine day after day with no possibility of any type of recovery. It even reached the point at which she had to be on a ventilator! It’s tragic and obscene that our society forces individuals to continue to exist in this type of limbo. And if someone like me, a loving son, were to end that life, I’d be prosecuted for 1st degree murder. It’s utterly insane!
A strange thing occurred at the very end. One afternoon I said, Goodbye. I’ll see you tomorrow. and she did something she’d never done before- she lifted her left arm a little and waved goodbye to me. I was stunned! I had to split because I had some other plans, but I couldn’t stop visualizing her waving goodbye. I began to wonder if that was an indication that she was having some return of her ability to communicate. I was looking forward to seeing her the following day!
When I arrived that next day, the room she had been in was completely cleared out. The bed was made. You’d never know there had been a person in there the day before! When I asked where she was, they told me- rather matter of factly- that she had died in her sleep the previous night.
Two ideas have been with me since that final episode: 1) How fervently they kept her in a state of physical and mental torture, but after she died, it was as if she’d never existed! 2) She waved goodbye to me- something she had never done before- because she knew she was going to die that night! It’s a pretty freaky image!
I mention below, but I’ll give a quick reference here, regarding the difference between being reluctant to let someone go. and the unwillingness to be the agent who terminates someone’s life.
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crypto-radio8186
These DUST movies Seize my Soul anf This One has me weeping, when she shoots her with the Thirty Ought 6, I once shot a person like that, Oy Vey, Tramatic but not creepy scarey, Excellent Science Fiction, I been reading Science Fiction sinve 1958 Andre Norton (Alice Mary Norton) and robert A Heinlein. I loathed the TV/ Hollywood SciFy filbs of the 1960, s- through all these years Now at &73 years I Survived To Watch the Highest Form of Artistic rendering. I am glad to be alive. [smiley face]
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These DUST movies Seize my Soul anf This One has me weeping, when she shoots her with the Thirty Ought 6, I once shot a person like that, Oy Vey, Tramatic but not creepy scarey, Excellent Science Fiction, I been reading Science Fiction sinve 1958 Andre Norton (Alice Mary Norton) and robert A Heinlein. I loathed the TV/ Hollywood SciFy filbs of the 1960, s- through all these years Now at &73 years I Survived To Watch the Highest Form of Artistic rendering. I am glad to be alive. [smiley face]
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shubhankardas6854
i think it was the husband who was silently communicating with the alien and asked her to take his life so that his wife can live her life, and maybe he was the one who told the alien to give a kiss to the wife's forehead on his behalf. and it was confusing for the alien at first and then later when he did it she saw how upset kathie was and it finally got to her when she herself felt the emotions and love of human beings. or the feeling of sadness. so she decided to leave.
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i think it was the husband who was silently communicating with the alien and asked her to take his life so that his wife can live her life, and maybe he was the one who told the alien to give a kiss to the wife's forehead on his behalf. and it was confusing for the alien at first and then later when he did it she saw how upset kathie was and it finally got to her when she herself felt the emotions and love of human beings. or the feeling of sadness. so she decided to leave.
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andrewhancock2451
The acting was great, but the story itself I found to not entirely sensible. An advanced being would know to communicate what was going on, including communicating with the husband and the husband's wishes. In terms of plot holes, the elephant in the room was that the basic communication did not take place, seemingly to in order to create a massive misunderstanding. It comes across as a highly contrived plot device in order to drive a dramatic ending.
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The acting was great, but the story itself I found to not entirely sensible. An advanced being would know to communicate what was going on, including communicating with the husband and the husband's wishes. In terms of plot holes, the elephant in the room was that the basic communication did not take place, seemingly to in order to create a massive misunderstanding. It comes across as a highly contrived plot device in order to drive a dramatic ending.
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danhouseholder6784
I really enjoyed this short video! I admit, when I saw the craft crashing I assumed aliens would heal Jim. Cliche'. Then, after observing the alien for a while it crossed my mind that she might terminate him. Based on her culture that made sense. Even so I was surprised when she actually broke his neck. The alien certainly learned love, she simply expressed it based on her values and culture. Well done!
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I really enjoyed this short video! I admit, when I saw the craft crashing I assumed aliens would heal Jim. Cliche'. Then, after observing the alien for a while it crossed my mind that she might terminate him. Based on her culture that made sense. Even so I was surprised when she actually broke his neck. The alien certainly learned love, she simply expressed it based on her values and culture. Well done!
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nicolebogda1482
In the back of my open end’ mind I am hoping the drip sound was just after she shut off the tap to give her the water, even just to ask her why, or not be alone. I know how difficult that type of care can be and, well found this profound and sadly beautiful in it’s own rights. Sometimes we need that strength, and someone to decide the proper path for us. GREAT ACTING! You could see it in his eyes.
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In the back of my open end’ mind I am hoping the drip sound was just after she shut off the tap to give her the water, even just to ask her why, or not be alone. I know how difficult that type of care can be and, well found this profound and sadly beautiful in it’s own rights. Sometimes we need that strength, and someone to decide the proper path for us. GREAT ACTING! You could see it in his eyes.
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thundercloud7850
Excellent! Humans profess that life is scared and must be saved at all costs but millions are dying in hideous ways in the world as I write this and we do not suffer for them. It is more accurate to say life must be maintained if we have the connection of love with the dying person which then makes it all about us and not the dying person at all. When Kathy killed the alien she proved that.
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Excellent! Humans profess that life is scared and must be saved at all costs but millions are dying in hideous ways in the world as I write this and we do not suffer for them. It is more accurate to say life must be maintained if we have the connection of love with the dying person which then makes it all about us and not the dying person at all. When Kathy killed the alien she proved that.
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batterbury4477
OMG I did not see that coming: ( so I'm really dismayed by ending. But amazing actress played Kathie and she was compelling to watch. And here's just an off the wall interpretation of film - Kathie is hallucinating the whole alien encounter, after all it is just wild that 'Ro' is about same age and size as daughter, Kathie's daughter who is 'alienated' from family - yes I said it: )
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OMG I did not see that coming: ( so I'm really dismayed by ending. But amazing actress played Kathie and she was compelling to watch. And here's just an off the wall interpretation of film - Kathie is hallucinating the whole alien encounter, after all it is just wild that 'Ro' is about same age and size as daughter, Kathie's daughter who is 'alienated' from family - yes I said it: )
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LizardVideoDude
As someone who had a parent in the husband's condition, I can see it from all three of their viewpoints. It looked to me as if the husband was communicating to the alien that he was ready to die, wanted to free his wife from her heavy responsibility, and at peace with it just before she broke his neck. It's tragic that the wife was stuck, unable and unwilling to let go.
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As someone who had a parent in the husband's condition, I can see it from all three of their viewpoints. It looked to me as if the husband was communicating to the alien that he was ready to die, wanted to free his wife from her heavy responsibility, and at peace with it just before she broke his neck. It's tragic that the wife was stuck, unable and unwilling to let go.
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JamesxBond007
Excellent acting & tone. Note sure if I well understood/liked the unresolved open-ended ending, but the room for interpretation, and grand themes (life, death, love, Aliens, relativity of human emotions & perceptions) definitely inspires interesting existential questions.
P. S. curious about interpretations of the Alien’s tear, & her final plans and thoughts.
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Excellent acting & tone. Note sure if I well understood/liked the unresolved open-ended ending, but the room for interpretation, and grand themes (life, death, love, Aliens, relativity of human emotions & perceptions) definitely inspires interesting existential questions.
P. S. curious about interpretations of the Alien’s tear, & her final plans and thoughts.
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allisonjames2923
Interesting concept. Could she actually communicate with him Or was it just her alien emotional lack that allowed her to see that he was suffering, not living. His wife was too close. Holding on to hope where there was none. But like a typical human, she lashed out in anger & revenge & wouldn’t undo that damage, even when she could.
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Interesting concept. Could she actually communicate with him Or was it just her alien emotional lack that allowed her to see that he was suffering, not living. His wife was too close. Holding on to hope where there was none. But like a typical human, she lashed out in anger & revenge & wouldn’t undo that damage, even when she could.
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TilveranWrites
Nice. The evil of suffocating love. Topical with all the euthanasia debate around when life is too cruel and without dignity and death becomes the proper merciful option that so many people are just petrified of admitting. A big part of not letting people go is the excruciating pain of grief. but it's pure selfishness to hold on.
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Nice. The evil of suffocating love. Topical with all the euthanasia debate around when life is too cruel and without dignity and death becomes the proper merciful option that so many people are just petrified of admitting. A big part of not letting people go is the excruciating pain of grief. but it's pure selfishness to hold on.
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simmothomas2138
Yeah, newsflash. Human's are selfish and weak, not Humane, that word is an insult to the countless people we made suffer until their last breath for the sake of religion and fairy tales. We literally force pain and suffering day in day out to the people we claim to care about the most because we don't want to be sad.
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Yeah, newsflash. Human's are selfish and weak, not Humane, that word is an insult to the countless people we made suffer until their last breath for the sake of religion and fairy tales. We literally force pain and suffering day in day out to the people we claim to care about the most because we don't want to be sad.
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JVanProduction
There are so many layers of complexity to this. Does she save her last connection by giving the alien water Or is her retaliation justified The alien essentially gave two people their lives back- one in death and the other in freedom. But the alien ultimately pays the price. All good deeds do not go unpunished.
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There are so many layers of complexity to this. Does she save her last connection by giving the alien water Or is her retaliation justified The alien essentially gave two people their lives back- one in death and the other in freedom. But the alien ultimately pays the price. All good deeds do not go unpunished.
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born2bbald12
We are given many stories, some in the form of videos. When a story invokes powerful emotions and teaches us it has done its job. This story Like Us is a powerful story. Among other things it teaches us love, compassion and mercy.
We have been edified by a master story teller.
Thank you.
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We are given many stories, some in the form of videos. When a story invokes powerful emotions and teaches us it has done its job. This story Like Us is a powerful story. Among other things it teaches us love, compassion and mercy.
We have been edified by a master story teller.
Thank you.
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emperorofpluto
Poor old Jimmy. Had a friend with throat cancer who had a feeding tube (and no Oesophagus) but used to miss the process of eating so much he’d make me bring him takeaway food so he could enjoy the taste. He’d chew it up and spit it out (he couldn’t swallow) just to taste something.
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Poor old Jimmy. Had a friend with throat cancer who had a feeding tube (and no Oesophagus) but used to miss the process of eating so much he’d make me bring him takeaway food so he could enjoy the taste. He’d chew it up and spit it out (he couldn’t swallow) just to taste something.
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maxcruz5936
wow this was really great I wish more movies made you think about how life and death isn't so black and white. sometimes people living like, death is a release. alien did it to release Kathy from her pain as she would never be able to let her husband go. great work!
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wow this was really great I wish more movies made you think about how life and death isn't so black and white. sometimes people living like, death is a release. alien did it to release Kathy from her pain as she would never be able to let her husband go. great work!
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dust
The alien did right by the gentleman. The woman's response, yeah, typical. Let me get a shotgun. good grief. Not an entertaining entry into the DUST universe. This maudlin BS is better suited for the Oxygen network that for science fiction.
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The alien did right by the gentleman. The woman's response, yeah, typical. Let me get a shotgun. good grief. Not an entertaining entry into the DUST universe. This maudlin BS is better suited for the Oxygen network that for science fiction.
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summers9911
I think jim wanted to go so his wife could move on with life & find their daughter again. He was tired of being a burden & did not want to exist in that state any longer. A favor to both that was misunderstood. or was it
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I think jim wanted to go so his wife could move on with life & find their daughter again. He was tired of being a burden & did not want to exist in that state any longer. A favor to both that was misunderstood. or was it
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allisonjames2923
It’s bizarre that we decide that certain types of life are too cruel for our pets, but not for people, yet our pets have proven over & over that they love, think, dream & hope.
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It’s bizarre that we decide that certain types of life are too cruel for our pets, but not for people, yet our pets have proven over & over that they love, think, dream & hope.
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shawnerz98
Way to go, Kathie. Another set of aliens are going to come to find out what happened to Rogl. Once they discover she was shot in the back and killed, they are going to be pissed!
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Way to go, Kathie. Another set of aliens are going to come to find out what happened to Rogl. Once they discover she was shot in the back and killed, they are going to be pissed!
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carlosidelone8064
A very sensitive, moving film illustrating the frailty of humans, due to their emotional attachments and insecurity. I don't understand the meaning of the title
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A very sensitive, moving film illustrating the frailty of humans, due to their emotional attachments and insecurity. I don't understand the meaning of the title
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linbat6148
Perhaps killing the alien and then withholding water to allow her to die was ALSO a mercy killing since the alien never answered how she'd be able to get home!
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Perhaps killing the alien and then withholding water to allow her to die was ALSO a mercy killing since the alien never answered how she'd be able to get home!
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JeffSchall
All have a Living Will, folks. Otherwise, your loved ones will have no idea what you want, and perhaps keep you alive when you'd rather simply move on.
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All have a Living Will, folks. Otherwise, your loved ones will have no idea what you want, and perhaps keep you alive when you'd rather simply move on.
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tamielynne7374
I really don't get the ending. I don't get why have Cathy shoot her Especially after she was already walking away It made no sense to me.
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I really don't get the ending. I don't get why have Cathy shoot her Especially after she was already walking away It made no sense to me.
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MegaImmortal89
I just had to watch this again. i wish more shows and movies were as moving and thought provoking as this in today film industry.
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I just had to watch this again. i wish more shows and movies were as moving and thought provoking as this in today film industry.
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briand2617
did not like the end. she stopped the agony which is what he wanted and the wife should have been happy about it instead of selfish.
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did not like the end. she stopped the agony which is what he wanted and the wife should have been happy about it instead of selfish.
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jasonshumate6456
When the Alien said You do not Know
Like she was going to say We all Come Back, you might not remember, but we never Die.
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When the Alien said You do not Know
Like she was going to say We all Come Back, you might not remember, but we never Die.
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JohnnyNiteTrain
Light years of travel, conceivably trillions of milesand it’s that LAST mile that always gets these alien spacecrafts.
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Light years of travel, conceivably trillions of milesand it’s that LAST mile that always gets these alien spacecrafts.
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kepler186f4
Love tends to give us license to do strange things and even with best intent, a selfish reason turns into a painful prison.
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Love tends to give us license to do strange things and even with best intent, a selfish reason turns into a painful prison.
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danellwein8679
the saddest part for me was when the alien said that the daughter didn't love the mom. it was sad to hear those words.
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the saddest part for me was when the alien said that the daughter didn't love the mom. it was sad to hear those words.
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psychicrenegade
We love our kids as a survival adaptation. A child born into this world without loving parents. as all but doomed.
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We love our kids as a survival adaptation. A child born into this world without loving parents. as all but doomed.
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jimkon1479
Well Miss 'I got better technology than you' why don't you go back to your home planet and get one of your doctors.
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Well Miss 'I got better technology than you' why don't you go back to your home planet and get one of your doctors.
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willdepaula3902
Second best Dust short I've ever watched. I'm not a fan of open-ended ambiguous ends but this is really good.
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Second best Dust short I've ever watched. I'm not a fan of open-ended ambiguous ends but this is really good.
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cpuuk
So, Kathie kills Rogl not because she killed Jim, but because she was leaving without a word (like her daughter did)
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So, Kathie kills Rogl not because she killed Jim, but because she was leaving without a word (like her daughter did)
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