Archive for Fun
May 3, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Competitions, Fun, writers, Writing · Tagged Andy Griffiths, competition, Once Upon a Slime, Terry Denton, writing
Andy Griffiths, the author of Just Crazy, Just Tricking, Zombie Bums from Uranus and The 13-storey Treehouse, has just released his book about writing, called Once Upon a Slime. In this very cool book he gives lots of tips about writing and some activities to help you become a better writer. You’re probably looking for something to do in the holidays so why not try an Andy Griffiths writing challenge.
In the box below there is a writing challenge from Andy’s book, Once Upon a Slime. Why not try it out and post your writing here on the blog. Just post your piece of writing as a comment at the end of this post, along with your name and email address. At the end of the week we’ll choose our favourite piece of writing and the author will win a prize pack of goodies from Typo.
Make the unbelievable believable
Add a made-up piece of nonsense to the end of each of the following sentence beginnings.
- Scientific studies show…
- I heard on the news that…
- Recent research findings prove that…
- Statistics show…
- Experts say…
- It’s a well-known fact that…
- Nine out of ten doctors recommend…
For more great writing ideas check out Andy Griffiths’ new book, Once Upon a Slime.
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May 2, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Competitions, Fun, writers, Writing · Tagged Andy Griffiths, competition, Once Upon a Slime, Terry Denton, writing
Andy Griffiths, the author of Just Crazy, Just Tricking, Zombie Bums from Uranus and The 13-storey Treehouse, has just released his book about writing, called Once Upon a Slime. In this very cool book he gives lots of tips about writing and some activities to help you become a better writer. You’re probably looking for something to do in the holidays so why not try an Andy Griffiths writing challenge.
In the box below there is a writing challenge from Andy’s book, Once Upon a Slime. Why not try it out and post your writing here on the blog. Just post your piece of writing as a comment at the end of this post, along with your name and email address. At the end of the week we’ll choose our favourite piece of writing and the author will win a prize pack of goodies from Typo.
50-word Pet Story
Tell a story about – or describe – a pet you have owned (or would LIKE to own) in exactly 50 words. See how much of your pet’s personality you can convey in those 50 precious words.
It may help to write the story first and then subtract any words that aren’t strictly essential until you have 50. Your title can be any length.
For more great writing ideas check out Andy Griffiths’ new book, Once Upon a Slime.
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April 30, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Competitions, Fun, writers, Writing · Tagged Andy Griffiths, competition, Once Upon a Slime, Terry Denton, writers, writing
Andy Griffiths, the author of Just Crazy, Just Tricking, Zombie Bums from Uranus and The 13-storey Treehouse, has just released his book about writing, called Once Upon a Slime. In this very cool book he gives lots of tips about writing and some activities to help you become a better writer. You’re probably looking for something to do in the holidays so why not try an Andy Griffiths writing challenge.
In the box below there is a writing challenge from Andy’s book, Once Upon a Slime. Why not try it out and post your writing here on the blog. Just post your piece of writing as a comment at the end of this post, along with your name and email address. At the end of the week we’ll choose our favourite piece of writing and the author will win a prize pack of goodies from Typo.
Twelve Doors
Imagine that you are standing in front of twelve doors. Behind one there is a fabulous treasure. Behind the others are eleven of the most dangerous things in the world. Describe what lies behind each one.
For more great writing ideas check out Andy Griffiths’ new book, Once Upon a Slime.
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April 29, 2013 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Competitions, Fun, writers, Writing · Tagged Andy Griffiths, competition, funny, Once Upon a Slime, Terry Denton, writing, writing tips
Want something to do these holidays? Enter the Andy Griffiths writing challenge and you could win a Typo prize pack.
Andy Griffiths, the author of Just Crazy, Just Tricking, Zombie Bums from Uranus and The 13-storey Treehouse, has just released his book about writing, called Once Upon a Slime. In this very cool book he gives lots of tips about writing and some activities to help you become a better writer. You’re probably looking for something to do in the holidays so why not try an Andy Griffiths writing challenge.
In the box below there is a writing challenge from Andy’s book, Once Upon a Slime. Why not try it out and post your writing here on the blog. Just post your piece of writing as a comment at the end of this post, along with your name and email address. At the end of the week we’ll choose our favourite piece of writing and the author will win a prize pack of goodies from Typo.
Write a story starring YOU!
You don’t have to be able to make up imaginary characters or exotic settings to tell a good story. A fast way to create fun, believable-sounding stories is to start with the character you know best in the whole world (YOU!). Choose one of the following scenarios and describe what you would do and what happens next.
- You wake to discover that you can no longer speak – you can only bark like a dog.
- You are in class. It’s a hot day. Your friend starts taking off their clothes…their shirt…their shoes…their socks…their pants!
- You have a strong suspicion that your teacher is a vampire and, worse still, you suspect that they know you have discovered their secret.
So get writing and see what you can come up with!
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October 9, 2012 · Filed under Books, Children, Friendship, Fun · Tagged Annie Barrows, International Ivy + Bean Day, interview, Ivy + Bean, Ivy and Bean, library events, Sophie Blackall
Saturday 13 October is International Ivy + Bean Day. To celebrate we’re having special Ivy + Bean parties in some of our libraries. You can bring a friend along and enjoy activities, games, giveaways and a reading of the latest Ivy + Bean story. It’s all FREE and there is no need to make a booking, so just come along. Here’s where the parties are on Friday 12 October:
- Shirley Library, 10:30-11:30am
- Upper Riccarton Library, 10:30-11:30am
- Diamond Harbour Library, 3:00-4:00pm
I sat down with Ivy and Bean to ask them a few questions about their favourite things and what they like about each other. Thanks for joining us Ivy and Bean!
How did the two of you meet?
Ivy: Bean was running away from home.
Bean: I had to run away from home. Because of Nancy. That’s my older sister.
Ivy: You had to run away from home because you wiggled your behind at Nancy.
Bean: But I wouldn’t have wiggled my behind at her if she hadn’t been trying to get me in trouble.
Ivy: But she wouldn’t have been trying to get you in trouble if you hadn’t taken her twenty dollars.
Bean: But I wouldn’t have taken her twenty dollars if she hadn’t been such a tightwad.
Ivy: So really, it was Nancy who helped us meet.
Bean: Sometimes Nancy’s okay.
What do you like best about your friend?
Bean: She can cross one eye without crossing the other.
Ivy: One time, Bean ate wood for a dollar.
Who is the most annoying person you know?
Ivy: There’s this girl named Nellie in the book I’m reading who’s really annoying. She says mean things about the main girl’s dog.
Bean: She’s not real. You can’t say she’s the most annoying person you know, because you don’t really know her.
Ivy: I know her. I’m reading about her.
Bean: But she’s not real. She’s in a book. You have to say someone real.
Ivy: You.
Bean: You.
What is your favourite food?
Bean: Syrup! Or doughnut holes! I love doughnut holes! I can stick four of them in my mouth at once and then I smash them flat between my tongue and the top of my mouth. It’s great!
Ivy: Chocolate mousse. I used to think it was made out of moose.
What do you want to do when you grow up?
Ivy: I’m going to be a witch.
Bean: I’m going to write the fortunes that go inside fortune cookies. Or be an arborist. I haven’t decided.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
Bean: I don’t want to talk about it. Sometimes, people are thinking about other stuff and aren’t paying attention every single little second and they don’t exactly see where they’re going and it’s not their fault.
Ivy: It could have happened to anyone. It probably does happen to almost everyone, but maybe not when twenty-six other kids are watching.
Bean: And their parents.
Ivy: Never mind. They probably would have painted that part of the room over anyway.
What’s the craziest scheme you’ve ever come up with?
Ivy: Crazy?
Bean: Crazy?
Ivy: Do we do anything crazy?
Bean: Nah. He must be talking about someone else.
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October 1, 2012 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Christchurch, Fun, Holidays · Tagged Annie Barrows, International Ivy + Bean Day, Ivy + Bean Day, Ivy and Bean, library events, school holiday ideas, school holidays, Sophie Blackall, things to do in Christchurch
At the library on Friday 12 October (the last Friday of the school holidays) we’ll be celebrating International Ivy + Bean Day. If you don’t already know who Ivy and Bean are, they’re two very cool characters who get up to all sorts of fun and games. The books are written by Annie Barrows and illustrated by Sophie Blackall and we have all of their books in the library.
To celebrate International Ivy + Bean Day we’re having special Ivy + Bean parties in some of our libraries. You can bring a friend along and enjoy activities, games, giveaways and a reading of the latest Ivy + Bean story. It’s all FREE and there is no need to make a booking, so just come along. Here’s where the parties are on Friday 12 October:
- Shirley Library, 10:30-11:30am
- Upper Riccarton Library, 10:30-11:30am
- Diamond Harbour Library, 3:00-4:00pm
Look out next week for our interview with Ivy and Bean. You’ll laugh your socks off!
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September 10, 2012 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Competitions, Fun · Tagged book quiz, competition, quiz, Roald Dahl, Roald Dahl Day, Roald Dahl quiz
Thursday 13 September is Roald Dahl Day. It’s a day to celebrate the splendiferous Roald Dahl and his wonderful books.
To celebrate Roald Dahl Day we’re holding the Great Roald Dahl Quiz. Test yourself to see how much you know about Roald Dahl and his books and you’ll go into the draw to win a scrumdiddlyumptious Wonka prize pack.
Brush up on your Roald Dahl and enter on Thursday!
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July 24, 2012 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Family, Fun, New Zealand · Tagged Authors, Christchurch, Christchurch Free Family Day, free activity in Christchurch, illustrators, Storylines, Storylines Free Family Day
On Sunday 19 August, from 10am-3pm at Catholic Cathedral College, you can come along to the Christchurch Storylines Free Family Day. It’s your chance to meet your literary heroes – authors, illustrators, storytellers and book characters and it’s absolutely FREE!
This year you can meet:
As well as meeting some of our best authors and illustrators you can get your face painted and have a go at some of the fun activities, including pen a poem or design a book cover.
See you there!
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July 2, 2012 · Filed under Books, Children, Christchurch, Competitions, Fun, Winter · Tagged competition, fun, fun things to do in Christchurch, school holidays, things to do in Christchurch, win books, Winter Reading Book Pack, Winter Reading Club
The school holidays are the best time to read as much as possible, especially when it’s cold and wet outside. Any time you need something new and exciting to read or a DVD to watch you can come into the library. A really cool activity that we have in the library these holidays is the Winter Reading Club. You can choose the challenges that you’d like to do and if you’re one of the lucky ones you might even get a mini prize pack.
Here on the Christchurch Kids Blog we’re giving you the chance to win a stack of books to keep you busy during the holidays. Each week during the holidays you can enter to win a Winter Reading book pack, containing 7 great books.
Last week’s winner was Connor. Make sure you enter this week for your chance to win some great books!
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June 20, 2012 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Fun, writers · Tagged creative, drawing, fun, online stories, Story Cloud, writing
There is a cool new website that’s just been launched in the UK where you can read, listen to and download a new story from a different author every Monday. It’s called Story Cloud and it runs from 18 June to 3 September.
To read the stories you click on one of the icons and choose to read or listen to the story. Then go and find the surprises in the pictures and see the challenges and tasks for you to write your own story.
This week’s story is called The Talent Show, written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Kristyna Litten. Check it out now at www.storycloud.co.uk
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June 19, 2012 · Filed under Books, Children, Christchurch, Competitions, Fun, Holidays, Loving Winter, New Zealand, Winter · Tagged reading, reading challenge, school holiday activity, school holidays, What to do in Christchurch, Winter, Winter Reading Club
Winter Reading Club is a fun reading challenge that you can take part in throughout the June and July. From Monday 18 June you can visit your local library and pick up your challenge card. Just complete four challenges and you will get a mini prize pack.
Find out how to enter the Winter Reading Club – Read the rest of this entry »
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April 2, 2012 · Filed under Children, Christchurch, Competitions, Fun, Holidays, Websites · Tagged April School Holidays, competition, Easter Holidays, Library Explorers, Library Explorers Challenge, LibraryZac, The Source, What to do in Christchurch
Throughout April we’re running a Library Explorers Challenge where you can answer a series of questions and go in the draw for some great prizes. We have Paper Plus vouchers and movie passes to give away.
All you have to do is grab a question sheet from your library (or download it here – April challenge), go to the Kids website to find the answers, enter your answers and your contact details into the form and you’re in the draw for the whole of April.
Week 1 winner – Maifea Fetu, age 12, won a movie pass
Week 2 winners – Lucy Constable, age 12 ($20 Paper Plus voucher) and Anthony Orr, age 11 (child’s movie pass)
Week 3 winners – Tyler Timms, age 11 ($20 Paper Plus voucher) and Grace Boddington, age 12 (child’s movie pass)
Thanks to everyone who entered. This competition is now closed.
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February 17, 2012 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Fun, Humour · Tagged book list, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries, funny, humour, LibraryZac, read-a-likes, school stories, Strange Case of the Origami Yoda
Have you read all the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and want something like them? Have you been waiting ages to read them and want something to read while you wait? Here’s a list of some books and authors you could try:
Try these series too:
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January 27, 2012 · Filed under Books, Children, Fun, Mystery · Tagged Floors, fun, hotels, LibraryZac, Merganzer D. Whippet, Mystery, Patrick Carman, Whippet Hotel
Imagine if you could live in a hotel. Not just any hotel, but one where each of the rooms had a different theme. If you like cuddly toys, you could live in a room full of cuddly toys of every size, colour and type. If you like Playstation, you could live in a virtual reality room where you could be a character in any game you chose. In Patrick Carman’s new book, Floors, Leo lives in the weirdest, most wonderful hotel in the whole world, the Whippet Hotel.
Leo Fillmore and his father Clarence live and work at the Whippet Hotel as the caretakers, making sure everything is in working order. The hotel’s eccentric owner, Merganzer D. Whippet disappeared one hundred days ago and hasn’t been seen or heard from ever since. This leaves the mean hotel manager, Ms. Sparks in charge of the hotel, and when the hotel doesn’t work as it should, everybody hears about it. Leo spends his days helping his father maintain the hotel and making sure Betty and the other ducks get walked. One day, as Leo is returning the ducks to their pond on the roof, he discovers a mysterious box in the duck elevator. This box is the first of four that will lead Leo to discover the secrets of the Whippet Hotel and the mystery of the missing Merganzer D. Whippet.
Floors is full of wonder, mystery and mahem, and made me smile the whole way through. Patrick Carman has created this weird and wonderful hotel and filled it with one exciting room after another. There’s a Pinball Room, which is set up like a pinball machine, with bowling balls as the pinball and couches for the flippers; the Cake Room filled with real cakes that are delivered by the chefs each morning; and the Central Park Room which contains a scale model of New York’s Central Park. The characters are just as weird and wonderful as the hotel. There’s Captain Rickenbacker who thinks that his arch-nemesis is out to get him, the obsessive writer, Theodore Bump, and the nasty hotel manager Ms. Sparks. Floors is one of the most fun, imaginative stories you’ll read this year. It’s perfect for fans of Roald Dahl and Lemony Snickett.
5 out of 5 stars. Recommended for 9+
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December 29, 2011 · Filed under Books, Books at the Movies, Children, Film, Fun, Movies, Summertime Reading Club 2011/2012 · Tagged Books at the Movies, books into movies, children's movies, film, LibraryZac, movies, read the book - then see the film, Summertime Reading Club
There have been heaps of children’s books made into movies. Some of the movies are really good – the actors playing the characters are exactly as you pictured them and they stick to the story. Others are really bad and the story has been changed so much that it’s completely different from the book. Some of my favourite movies based on books are:
What are your favourite books that have been made into movies? Add a comment and you’ll go into the draw to win a Hoyts children’s movie pass.
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December 29, 2011 · Filed under Adventure, Books at the Movies, Children, Family, Film, Fun, Movies, Summertime Reading Club 2011/2012 · Tagged Adventures of Tintin, Adventures of Tintin movie, LibraryZac, movie review, Secret of the Unicorn, Tintin
I’ve been looking forward to seeing The Adventures of Tintin since I heard the movie was being made, so I went to the very first screening on Boxing Day. All of the pictures and movie trailers I’ve seen for the film made it look amazing and I wasn’t disappointed.
The Adventures of Tintin is a mish-mash of three different Tintin stories, Secret of the Unicorn, Red Rackham’s Treasure and The Crab with the Golden Claws, so there are locations and characters from each of these books (minus Professor Calculus). The opening credits really set the scene with an endless action sequence that highlights lots of different Tintin stories. The movie opens with Tintin’s creator, Herge, making a guest appearance in the market where Tintin discovers the model of the Unicorn. The story rockets along like all good Tintin adventures and you meet some of your favourite Tintin characters, including Captain Haddock and Thompson and Thomson.
The motion capture animation is amazing, making the characters look real while still looking like Herge’s illustrations. The characters use their catch-phrases, including my favourite ‘Billions of blue, blistering barnacles!’ There are some brilliant action sequences throughout the movie, especially in Bagghar (this part made me crack up laughing as well). I saw the movie in 3D but I’m sure it’s just as great in 2D. Whether or not you’re a fan of Tintin you should go and see The Adventures of Tintin for your dose of action, adventure, and laughs. It’s perfect for anyone from 7-107. 10 out of 10 – my favourite movie of the year!
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December 6, 2011 · Filed under Books, Children, Christchurch, Competitions, Fun, New Zealand, Summertime Reading Club 2011/2012 · Tagged Christchurch, competition, reading competition, Summertime Reading Club, Summertime Reading Club 2011
Join the Summertime Reading Club in 2011. This very popular summer activity runs from 16 December until 20 January 2012.
Simply read six books of your choice — fiction or non-fiction — and get an adult to register your reading online. The first 500 entries get a prize pack. You also go in the draw for more prizes and an iPod Touch©.
How the Summertime Reading Club works
Print out the reading log [101KB PDF] or get one from your local library or the Summertimes booklet.- Read six books of your choice.
- Get a parent, caregiver or librarian to register your reading online and be one of the first 500 to pick up your prize pack from your local library. All registrations go in the draw for the premier prizes.
- Visit the Christchurch kids blog for more reading news and weekly prize draws.
- Keep an eye on the library website to see if you are one of the lucky prize winners.
For more information check out the Summertime Reading Club page on the library website.
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November 18, 2011 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Fun, Humour · Tagged Billionaire Boy, David Walliams, Gangsta Granny, LibraryZac, Mr Stink, The Boy in the Dress
Does your granny smell like cabbage? Does she like to play boring games like Scrabble? Do you think she’s boring? If you’ve answered yes to all of these questions you probably don’t know her that well. For all you know she could be a spy, a superhero or even an international jewel thief like Ben’s granny.
Every Friday night Ben gets sent to stay with his granny, while his parents go out to the movies or to watch Strictly Stars Dancing Live. Ben thinks she’s boring and would rather be anywhere else than spending time with her. Ben gets sick of eating his granny’s cabbage soup and decides to look in her cupboard for some real food. He never thought he would discover the stash of priceless jewels in her biscuit tin. When he confronts her to find out the truth, he discovers that his granny isn’t boring, she’s an international jewel thief. Ben decides to help his granny pull off the crime of the century – break into the Tower of London and steal the crown jewels.
Gangsta Granny is a book that’s both really funny and a bit sad. I’m sure your granny’s just a bit like Ben’s granny, even if she’s not a jewel thief. If you ask her I’m sure some of her stories are just as interesting. Ben’s parents seem like they don’t really care about him because they’re more interested in their dancing show than they are in him, but deep down they love him. I love the way David Walliams writes because his stories are so different and his characters are really easy to relate too. If you liked his other stories, like The Boy in the Dress, Mr Stink and Billionaire Boy, or you like Roald Dahl’s books, you’ll love Gangsta Granny. Recommended for 7+ 8 out of 10
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October 31, 2011 · Filed under Adventure, Authors, Books, Children, Fun, Humour, New Zealand · Tagged books for boys, dinosaur rescue, dinosaurs, donovan bixley, Kyle Mewburn, Velocitchy-raptor
Velocitchy-raptor, book 3 in the hilarious Dinosaur Rescue series by Kyle Mewburn and Donovan Bixley, sees Arg trying to escape the clutches of a hungry Quetzalcoatlus (pronounced Kwet-zal-ca-AT-lus). Arg is trying to keep himself dry in a storm using his dried devil frog when a Quetzalcoatlus swoops down and snatches the frog, with Arg still attached. He’s taken to the dinosaur’s nest where he meets a baby velociraptor. They escape from the nest and Arg takes the baby home to hide it safely in his cave. Unfortunately Arg seems to be allergic to velociraptors and breaks out in itchy sores. If that wasn’t bad enough, his sister would have the velociraptor for dinner if she found it. Can Arg get the baby to safety?
Velocitchy-raptor is another hilarious and disgusting addition to the Dinosaur Rescue series. Kyle and Donovan once again introduce us to snippets of prehistoric life, from the bizarre leisure time activities of Arg’s family and how to talk to stone age people, to the not-very-useful guide to dinosaur names and the many uses of Old Drik’s toenail goo. Velocitchy-raptor will leave you with a sore stomach from laughing or a very sick stomach from this snot and pus-filled adventure. Recommended for 7+ 9 out of 10
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September 28, 2011 · Filed under Children, Fun, Star Author, Writing Tip of the Week · Tagged Authors, Sally Murphy, September Star Author, writing, writing tips
Oh dear. My month as Star Author is rapidly drawing to a close. I have really enjoyed spending time, if only virtually, in Christchurch.
As this is one of my last posts, I thought I might stop talking about myself and offer something to you. If you are reading this, chances are you love reading and/or writing. So I thought you might enjoy some quick writing activities that you can do to get yourself writing. Grab a pen and paper, and sit yourself down, then choose one of these exercise and just write.
- Write a sentence where every word starts with the next letter of the alphabet – a, b, c and so on. (for example A brown cat dropped everything…). Don’t worry if it is silly or even ungrammatical. Just see what comes out.
- Write for as long as you can without using the letter ‘e’. Again, don’t worry if it’s a little ungrammatical or silly.
- Same as 2, but this time see how long you can write without using the word ‘and’.
- Find five random words by opening a book or dictionary and picking the first word you see on five different pages. Or get someone else to give you five random words. Then write a sentence, paragraph or even a story which includes all five words.
- Open the book you’re currently reading (you are reading one, aren’t you) at any page, and copy out the first sentence of the second paragraph. Now, close the book and start writing, using that sentence as the first sentence of a completely new piece of writing.
Chances are, none of these exercises will produce an absolute masterpiece. But they will challenge you, might make you laugh, and will help get your creative juices flowing.
Have fun. If you’re brave enough, post one of your efforts here as a comment for the world to see.
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