The weather's growing milder, the days are growing longer; we're getting back to the time of year I like best.
Yet the temperature remains low, which, in the building where I work, means we need the heat to stay on all day, which it doesn't (The building is a listed historical monument, so there are regulations limiting how it may be maintained structurally; hence, double-glazing is not an option).
We've raised the matter with our facilities management dept., in the hopes that they might do something about it, however they're keeping us in the dark as well as out in the cold, so to speak. We think it's a timer problem, since the heat comes on early in the morning and gradually cools so that by lunchtime the room is cold again, however we've been given to believe there may be 'sludge in the pipes', something of which I'm skeptical, but then I'm an interplanetary hero, Jim, not a heating engineer.
I've mentioned before the sort of adversarial relationship we have with our colleagues in building management and how, with the exception of one individual, everybody there appears to have gotten their jobs by assmosis. Nothing has changed, except that the group have increased in notoriety following a two-page spread in the company magazine with interviews where they explain what great guys they are and what great a working relationship they enjoy with all of their corporate colleagues.
And it feels petty and small-minded to keep on about it; certainly unprofessional, but I can't understand how someone who's supposed to be trained in problem management and resolution can come into an environment where a problem has been reported, examine the situation then go away without acknowledging the problem or offering an interim solution.
To put things in perspective: in January, after a particularly cold spell, the heating failed in parts of the building. A truckload of portable heaters was delivered and distributed to most areas, but perhaps there weren't enough to go around. Once the heating was repaired the portables should have been reclaimed, so that when we gave up waiting for Buildings to offer us some and went and asked (which we did) they'd have plenty to spare.
Given the size of the room, I figured we'd need at least four to evenly heat the area.
We got one.
An old, battered-looking model that, far from being able to heat a room 40 feet by 15 by 12, had trouble with 40 inches by 15 by 12 and died five minutes after we switched it on.
Happily, however, the one helpful person in Buildings was on hand and she ordered up a new batch, four of which were delivered on Friday last. We almost broke out the champagne.
My team leader emailed the manager in charge of environmental services two weeks ago asking for an update and an action plan on what Buildings propose to do to solve the problem. He has not, as yet, received a reply in any form.
If it wasn't so tragic it'd be almost funny...
Sunday, 7 March 2010
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
And Now, A Cultural Interlude...
This is Tina Guo, cellist:
And so is this:
I think that's reasonably comprehensive, don't you?
And so is this:
I think that's reasonably comprehensive, don't you?
A Night At The Opera...
Well, not exactly...
I did, however, attend a performance in the RTE Concert Orchestra's Signature season of 2010 on Sunday night last.
The performance took place in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, and was given in front of a full house by special guest conductor Lalo Schifrin, who has been one of my favourite film score composers for as long as I can remember.
The composer of over 75 movie scores, including Bullitt and Dirty Harry, as well as unforgettable TV themes such as Mission:Impossible and Mannix, he led the orchestra in a two-and-a-half hour programme that included mainly his work but also arrangements of music from other classic scores including Casablanca, The Third Man and Dr Zhivago.
Schifrin introduced each piece, explaining briefly how he had come to write it or work on a particular picture, and shared anecdotes about working with the likes of Bruce Lee and Ray Charles.
At the end of each piece he would single out particular soloists for the appreciation of the audience, but this invariably ended up with the entire orchestra being brought to their feet for applause, entirely deserved.
The final item on the programme, entitled 'The Plot' was from Mission:Impossible and Schifrin declared it to be his favourite piece from the score of that show, even more than the iconic title music.
He appeared visibly moved by the sustained ovation that followed the conclusion of the piece, and it was several minutes before it subsided enough for him to announce a final number, the theme from Mission:Impossible.
They played it twice, in slightly different arrangements, with Schifrin at the piano.
Couldn't have been better...
I was looking around for a suitable video to attach, but there wasn't much in the way of live performances available. Instead, I chose this, from one of my favourite Lalo Schifrin scores - enjoy...
I did, however, attend a performance in the RTE Concert Orchestra's Signature season of 2010 on Sunday night last.
The performance took place in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, and was given in front of a full house by special guest conductor Lalo Schifrin, who has been one of my favourite film score composers for as long as I can remember.
The composer of over 75 movie scores, including Bullitt and Dirty Harry, as well as unforgettable TV themes such as Mission:Impossible and Mannix, he led the orchestra in a two-and-a-half hour programme that included mainly his work but also arrangements of music from other classic scores including Casablanca, The Third Man and Dr Zhivago.
Schifrin introduced each piece, explaining briefly how he had come to write it or work on a particular picture, and shared anecdotes about working with the likes of Bruce Lee and Ray Charles.
At the end of each piece he would single out particular soloists for the appreciation of the audience, but this invariably ended up with the entire orchestra being brought to their feet for applause, entirely deserved.
The final item on the programme, entitled 'The Plot' was from Mission:Impossible and Schifrin declared it to be his favourite piece from the score of that show, even more than the iconic title music.
He appeared visibly moved by the sustained ovation that followed the conclusion of the piece, and it was several minutes before it subsided enough for him to announce a final number, the theme from Mission:Impossible.
They played it twice, in slightly different arrangements, with Schifrin at the piano.
Couldn't have been better...
I was looking around for a suitable video to attach, but there wasn't much in the way of live performances available. Instead, I chose this, from one of my favourite Lalo Schifrin scores - enjoy...
Sunday, 7 February 2010
And We're Back (sort of)...
First off, my apologies for the lack of service.
I've been attempting to use a new template for the blog with, it must be said, only marginal success, so I've reverted to a more familiar appearance until I get it sorted.
Using a third-party template requires a little editing, however, as an IT professional, I naturally have little expertise with HTML, XML or PHP, which means research and a lot of trial and error.
I'm working on it offline, so as soon as I have a result you'll be the first to know.
I've been attempting to use a new template for the blog with, it must be said, only marginal success, so I've reverted to a more familiar appearance until I get it sorted.
Using a third-party template requires a little editing, however, as an IT professional, I naturally have little expertise with HTML, XML or PHP, which means research and a lot of trial and error.
I'm working on it offline, so as soon as I have a result you'll be the first to know.
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
A Bit of DIY Going On...
...which, in my case, can mean 'Destroy It Yourself'...
But please bear with me while I attempt to redecorate.
But please bear with me while I attempt to redecorate.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
I Was Stumbling On The Web One Day...
...when I came across this little gem:
It's really quite breathtaking - I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did...
An original work by melodysheep
It's really quite breathtaking - I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did...
An original work by melodysheep
Thursday, 31 December 2009
And So, The End Is Near...
The end of another year, that is; and as we stagger drunkenly towards the precipice of 2010, it's time to reflect on the year that has been 2009.
The apex of the year was, indubitably, the Irish Six Nations Rugby Grand Slam, our first in over sixty years, and only our second ever. My money is on a repeat performance in 2010.
By contrast, the nadir will have been Ireland's failure to qualify for the football World Cup in South Africa, of which the less said, the better.
That being said, the year held highs and lows for everyone, many of which remain, naturally, subjective. It was a year of achievement for many, a year of challenges for others, a year of opportunities for all, some taken, some not.
Personally, there were certain things that I wanted to say this year but didn't, and certain things that I did say which perhaps (on mature reflection) might have been better considered.
I was going to end the year with a joke, but perhaps a song instead, courtesy of Mr. Bear McCreary and Sahneknuffi
Maybe 2010 will be the year we make contact...
Happy New Year, everyone.
The apex of the year was, indubitably, the Irish Six Nations Rugby Grand Slam, our first in over sixty years, and only our second ever. My money is on a repeat performance in 2010.
By contrast, the nadir will have been Ireland's failure to qualify for the football World Cup in South Africa, of which the less said, the better.
That being said, the year held highs and lows for everyone, many of which remain, naturally, subjective. It was a year of achievement for many, a year of challenges for others, a year of opportunities for all, some taken, some not.
Personally, there were certain things that I wanted to say this year but didn't, and certain things that I did say which perhaps (on mature reflection) might have been better considered.
I was going to end the year with a joke, but perhaps a song instead, courtesy of Mr. Bear McCreary and Sahneknuffi
Maybe 2010 will be the year we make contact...
Happy New Year, everyone.
Thursday, 24 December 2009
In Keeping With Tradition...
...I'd like to wish everyone out there the compliments of the season, and hope that you'll extend and enjoy the traditional goodwill that is supposed to encircle this tiny world of ours at this point in its march around our star.
Be excellent to each other, and incredible to yourselves...
Be excellent to each other, and incredible to yourselves...
A Spot of Seasonal Coffee...
It is our custom, in the company where I work in my secret identity, for us to serve a festive Irish Coffee and perhaps a mince pie to our colleagues in the IT Dept and certain selected guests from outside IT.
The event began as a small, in-the-room thing before we broke up for Christmas, but word got out and before long it was department-wide, to the extent that it's now part of the pre-Christmas social calendar.
The guest list runs to about 120, including former colleagues who've moved on to other things, supplier reps we deal with during the year, and friends.
Glasses are generously supplied by a local pub, and the glassware is washed before and after by our Canteen staff. Everything else is supplied and organised by ourselves on a completely unofficial, under-the-radar basis, and the whole thing takes place in two hours on the Friday before Christmas.
It's a fun event, and I enjoy organising it, but what I especially enjoy is the theme, devised each year by Jennifer, Dave and Enda, and usually involving my face and Photoshop, and only unveiled as the event commences.
In previous years I've been Yoda, The Grinch, Santa Claus, Mr. Incredible and Dr.Evil (complete with Mini-Me). The one I liked best up to now was me as James Bond, but this year's production beat it into a cocked hat.
This year, they did Star Trek.
Paramount Pictures Corporation
in association with
Coffee Entertainment
Present
A Bad Robert Production
Star Trek: Infection
Based on characters and situations created by Gene Roddenberry
The event began as a small, in-the-room thing before we broke up for Christmas, but word got out and before long it was department-wide, to the extent that it's now part of the pre-Christmas social calendar.
The guest list runs to about 120, including former colleagues who've moved on to other things, supplier reps we deal with during the year, and friends.
Glasses are generously supplied by a local pub, and the glassware is washed before and after by our Canteen staff. Everything else is supplied and organised by ourselves on a completely unofficial, under-the-radar basis, and the whole thing takes place in two hours on the Friday before Christmas.
It's a fun event, and I enjoy organising it, but what I especially enjoy is the theme, devised each year by Jennifer, Dave and Enda, and usually involving my face and Photoshop, and only unveiled as the event commences.
In previous years I've been Yoda, The Grinch, Santa Claus, Mr. Incredible and Dr.Evil (complete with Mini-Me). The one I liked best up to now was me as James Bond, but this year's production beat it into a cocked hat.
This year, they did Star Trek.
Paramount Pictures Corporation
in association with
Coffee Entertainment
Present
A Bad Robert Production
Star Trek: Infection
Based on characters and situations created by Gene Roddenberry
Captain’s Log, Star date 7276.3:
"Following an unscheduled layover on Bobulus 4 for repairs, during which the entire crew attended a banquet hosted by its leader, Chancellor Bahb (a former member of the Klingon High Council), it appears that most of the crew are experiencing alarming changes in physical form. The changes appear to occur in three stages, and already, Bones and I have reached stage two (total hair loss); we have ordered resized uniforms in anticipation of the final transformation. We initially thought Lt. Commander Spock had escaped infection, but he is beginning to look incredibly familiar.
Uhura is at an advanced stage, and seems to be losing her mind; she has begun to randomly quote Shakespeare, and insists that all communications systems are backed up hourly.
"Following an unscheduled layover on Bobulus 4 for repairs, during which the entire crew attended a banquet hosted by its leader, Chancellor Bahb (a former member of the Klingon High Council), it appears that most of the crew are experiencing alarming changes in physical form. The changes appear to occur in three stages, and already, Bones and I have reached stage two (total hair loss); we have ordered resized uniforms in anticipation of the final transformation. We initially thought Lt. Commander Spock had escaped infection, but he is beginning to look incredibly familiar.
Uhura is at an advanced stage, and seems to be losing her mind; she has begun to randomly quote Shakespeare, and insists that all communications systems are backed up hourly.
She has been banned from wearing short skirts.
Many of the crew have had their ID details tattooed on their foreheads to aid identification. The ID’s were structured using a cleverly designed naming convention (my ID is KRKENT01). Bones has been able to link the contamination to a strange concoction of whiskey and coffee served by Chancellor Bahb. On Federation orders, we are now proceeding at warp speed to the planet Earth, in an attempt to prevent a mass infection, rumoured to be planned for Star date 7278.4 (18th Dec. 2009 earth time).
While there, we have been ordered to ensure that all those infected are given the antidote, which is only attainable from a mysterious location known as the Palace of Gins.
Captain’s Log, supplemental:
Found the Palace of Gins.........God I love this town.....MUHA.....MUHA..........
MUHAHAHAHHAAHAAAHHAAAAAAAA!!!!"
Captain’s Log, supplemental:
Found the Palace of Gins.........God I love this town.....MUHA.....MUHA..........
MUHAHAHAHHAAHAAAHHAAAAAAAA!!!!"
But it all worked out in the end...
What they'll come up with for next year, I have no clue, but I bet it'll be just as good...
Monday, 14 December 2009
TV Meme...
I haven't done a meme (memed? been memetic?) in a while, but today I came upon this one. I wonder what my viewing choices say about me?
Taken from The Urban Recluse, who got it from SamuraiFrog
Rules:
- Bold all of the following TV shows which you’ve ever seen 3 or more episodes of in your lifetime.
- Italicize a show if you’re positive you’ve seen every episode of it.
Rules:
- Bold all of the following TV shows which you’ve ever seen 3 or more episodes of in your lifetime.
- Italicize a show if you’re positive you’ve seen every episode of it.
24
7th Heaven - Sunday evenings in my parents' house -strangely compelling...
ALF - stupid, but fun...
Alias
American Gothic
America’s Next Top Model
ALF - stupid, but fun...
Alias
American Gothic
America’s Next Top Model
Angel - I've seen most of it in reruns, and all of the final season (Smile Time was a favourite)
Arrested Development
Babylon 5
Batman: The Animated Series - never missed an episode, though RTE/ITV cut it to bits or mis-scheduled it...
Battlestar Galactica (the old one) - I have it on DVD
Battlestar Galactica (the new one) - ditto
Baywatch - I am human, after all :)
Beverly Hills 90210 (original)
Bewitched - a classic...
Bonanza - another classic.
Bones
Bosom Buddies
Boston Legal - "Denny Crane." No more need be said.
Boy Meets World
Brothers And Sisters
Buffy the Vampire Slayer - multiple times
Californication
Chappelle’s Show
Charlie’s Angels
Arrested Development
Babylon 5
Batman: The Animated Series - never missed an episode, though RTE/ITV cut it to bits or mis-scheduled it...
Battlestar Galactica (the old one) - I have it on DVD
Battlestar Galactica (the new one) - ditto
Baywatch - I am human, after all :)
Beverly Hills 90210 (original)
Bewitched - a classic...
Bonanza - another classic.
Bones
Bosom Buddies
Boston Legal - "Denny Crane." No more need be said.
Boy Meets World
Brothers And Sisters
Buffy the Vampire Slayer - multiple times
Californication
Chappelle’s Show
Charlie’s Angels
Charmed - wasn't as good after Shannen left...
Cheers
Chuck - never got into it...
Clarissa Explains it All
Columbo - "Just one more question..."
Commander in Chief
Crossing Jordan
CSI
CSI: Miami
CSI: NY
Curb Your Enthusiasm - I've never been able to sit through a whole episode without wanting to smack Larry David about the head. Repeatedly. In the same league as Seinfeld.
Dark Angel
Dark Skies
DaVinci’s Inquest - a great show, usually only seen late at night on cable.
Dawson’s Creek
Dead Like Me - interesting concept, but it kind of lost its way, I thought.
Deadwood
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Designing Women
Desperate Housewives
Dexter
Dharma & Greg
Different Strokes
Doctor Who - I'm rewatching the Tom Baker years now...
Dragnet - showing my age with that one :)
Due South - "Thank you kindly."
ER
Everwood
Everybody Loves Raymond - not me...
Facts of Life
Family Guy
Farscape
Fawlty Towers
Felicity
Firefly
Frasier
Freaks & Geeks
Cheers
Chuck - never got into it...
Clarissa Explains it All
Columbo - "Just one more question..."
Commander in Chief
Crossing Jordan
CSI
CSI: Miami
CSI: NY
Curb Your Enthusiasm - I've never been able to sit through a whole episode without wanting to smack Larry David about the head. Repeatedly. In the same league as Seinfeld.
Dark Angel
Dark Skies
DaVinci’s Inquest - a great show, usually only seen late at night on cable.
Dawson’s Creek
Dead Like Me - interesting concept, but it kind of lost its way, I thought.
Deadwood
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Designing Women
Desperate Housewives
Dexter
Dharma & Greg
Different Strokes
Doctor Who - I'm rewatching the Tom Baker years now...
Dragnet - showing my age with that one :)
Due South - "Thank you kindly."
ER
Everwood
Everybody Loves Raymond - not me...
Facts of Life
Family Guy
Farscape
Fawlty Towers
Felicity
Firefly
Frasier
Freaks & Geeks
Friends
Fringe - I don't get it, though...
Futurama
Get Smart - another classic
Gilligan’s Island
Gilmore Girls
Fringe - I don't get it, though...
Futurama
Get Smart - another classic
Gilligan’s Island
Gilmore Girls
Gossip Girl
Grey's Anatomy
Grange Hill
Growing Pains
Gunsmoke
Happy Days
Hercules: the Legendary Journeys
Heroes
Home Improvement
Homicide: Life on the Street
House - didn't like it at first, but it grew on me...
I Dream of Jeannie
I Love Lucy
Invader Zim
Invasion
Hell’s Kitchen - not if I was bleeding out my eyes...
JAG
Jackass
Joey
Kim Possible
Knight Rider
Knight Rider: 2008
Kung Fu
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
La Femme Nikita
LA Law
Laverne and Shirley
Law and Order
Law and Order: SVU
Law and Order: CI
Leverage
Little House on the Prairie
Lizzie McGuire
Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Lost - picked it up again last season after a Bob-imposed hiatus
Lost in Space - "Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!!"
MASH
MacGyver
Malcolm in the Middle
Married… With Children
McLeod’s Daughters
Melrose Place
Miami Vice
Mission: Impossible
Mod Squad
Monk
Mork & Mindy
Murphy Brown
My Life As A Dog
My Three Sons
My Two Dads
Mythbusters
NCIS
Ned Bigby’s Declassified School Survival Guide
Nip/Tuck
Numb3rs
One Tree Hill
Oz
Perry Mason - Ironside, yes - Perry Mason, no...
Power Rangers
Press Gang
Prison Break
Private Practice
Privileged
Grange Hill
Growing Pains
Gunsmoke
Happy Days
Hercules: the Legendary Journeys
Heroes
Home Improvement
Homicide: Life on the Street
House - didn't like it at first, but it grew on me...
I Dream of Jeannie
I Love Lucy
Invader Zim
Invasion
Hell’s Kitchen - not if I was bleeding out my eyes...
JAG
Jackass
Joey
Kim Possible
Knight Rider
Knight Rider: 2008
Kung Fu
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
La Femme Nikita
LA Law
Laverne and Shirley
Law and Order
Law and Order: SVU
Law and Order: CI
Leverage
Little House on the Prairie
Lizzie McGuire
Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Lost - picked it up again last season after a Bob-imposed hiatus
Lost in Space - "Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!!"
MASH
MacGyver
Malcolm in the Middle
Married… With Children
McLeod’s Daughters
Melrose Place
Miami Vice
Mission: Impossible
Mod Squad
Monk
Mork & Mindy
Murphy Brown
My Life As A Dog
My Three Sons
My Two Dads
Mythbusters
NCIS
Ned Bigby’s Declassified School Survival Guide
Nip/Tuck
Numb3rs
One Tree Hill
Oz
Perry Mason - Ironside, yes - Perry Mason, no...
Power Rangers
Press Gang
Prison Break
Private Practice
Privileged
Profiler
Project Runway
Psych
Pushing Daisies
Quantum Leap
Queer As Folk (US)
Queer as Folk (UK)
ReGenesis
Remington Steele
Rescue Me
Road Rules
ROME
Roseanne
Roswell
Sanctuary
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
Scrubs
Seaquest DSV
Seinfeld - the least funny show I've ever seen three episodes of...
Sex and the City
Six Feet Under
Slings and Arrows
Smallville
So Weird
South of Nowhere
South Park
Spongebob Squarepants
St. Elsewhere
Star Trek
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Enterprise
Stargate Atlantis
Stargate SG-1
Starsky & Hutch
Superman
Supernatural
Surface
Survivor
Taxi
Teen Titans
That 70’s Show
That’s So Raven
The 4400
The Addams Family
The Amazing Race
The Andy Griffith Show
The A-Team
The Avengers
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Big Bang Theory
The Brady Bunch - but of course...
The Cosby Show - Sunday evenings
The Daily Show - more truthful than Fox News
The Dead Zone - mehh...
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Flintstones
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
The Golden Girls
The Honeymooners
The Jeffersons
The Jetsons
The L Word
The Love Boat
The Magnificent Seven
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Monkees
The Munsters
The Office (US)
The Powerpuff Girls
The Pretender
The Real World
The Shield
The Simpsons – I got sick of it being on five hours a day...
The Six Million Dollar Man - let's see them remake that...
The Sopranos
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
The Twilight Zone
The Waltons
The West Wing
The Wonder Years
The X-Files
Third Watch
Three’s Company
Twin Peaks
Twitch City
Unfabulous
Ugly Betty
Veronica Mars
Weeds
Whose Line is it Anyway? (US)
Whose Line is it Anyway? (UK)
Will and Grace
Wings
Xena: Warrior Princess
Project Runway
Psych
Pushing Daisies
Quantum Leap
Queer As Folk (US)
Queer as Folk (UK)
ReGenesis
Remington Steele
Rescue Me
Road Rules
ROME
Roseanne
Roswell
Sanctuary
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
Scrubs
Seaquest DSV
Seinfeld - the least funny show I've ever seen three episodes of...
Sex and the City
Six Feet Under
Slings and Arrows
Smallville
So Weird
South of Nowhere
South Park
Spongebob Squarepants
St. Elsewhere
Star Trek
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Enterprise
Stargate Atlantis
Stargate SG-1
Starsky & Hutch
Superman
Supernatural
Surface
Survivor
Taxi
Teen Titans
That 70’s Show
That’s So Raven
The 4400
The Addams Family
The Amazing Race
The Andy Griffith Show
The A-Team
The Avengers
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Big Bang Theory
The Brady Bunch - but of course...
The Cosby Show - Sunday evenings
The Daily Show - more truthful than Fox News
The Dead Zone - mehh...
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Flintstones
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
The Golden Girls
The Honeymooners
The Jeffersons
The Jetsons
The L Word
The Love Boat
The Magnificent Seven
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Monkees
The Munsters
The Office (US)
The Powerpuff Girls
The Pretender
The Real World
The Shield
The Simpsons – I got sick of it being on five hours a day...
The Six Million Dollar Man - let's see them remake that...
The Sopranos
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
The Twilight Zone
The Waltons
The West Wing
The Wonder Years
The X-Files
Third Watch
Three’s Company
Twin Peaks
Twitch City
Unfabulous
Ugly Betty
Veronica Mars
Weeds
Whose Line is it Anyway? (US)
Whose Line is it Anyway? (UK)
Will and Grace
Wings
Xena: Warrior Princess
So how about it? Anyone out there want to have a go?
Anybody?
Bueller?
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Five years ago, I went, with my nephew, Mitchel and his mum, to a recital in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, entitled "40 Shades of ... -
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