Las Vegas?

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Gucci Loafers: May 20, 2006; Ask yourself, do you really want to talk to pair of really nice gaudy shoes?

Does anyone here live in Vegas? I'm at odds how a city run on "Sin" and in the middle of desert so incredibly affordable?

# ? Jul 22, 2016 07:48

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# ? May 15, 2024 12:07

JaySB: Nov 16, 2006

Tab8715 posted:

Does anyone here live in Vegas? I'm at odds how a city run on "Sin" and in the middle of desert so incredibly affordable?

Yes...What exactly are you wondering?l

# ? Jul 22, 2016 10:47

pig slut lisa: Mar 5, 2012; irl is good

Tab8715 posted:

Does anyone here live in Vegas? I'm at odds how a city run on "Sin" and in the middle of desert so incredibly affordable?

As an urban planner who works on affordability issues, I'll share some thoughts:

Housing is relatively cheap because it remains overbuilt relative to demand. Las Vegas had one of the hottest construction markets before the housing crisis, and a lot of developers went belly-up when the market tanked. There are still plenty of developments in the LV metro area that are unfinished, full of foreclosures or underwater listings, etc.
Las Vegas has low infrastructure maintenance costs...for now. Clark County has about 2,100,000 residents today. In 2000 the population was nearly half that (1,300,000). Go back another 15 years to 1985 and it was somewhere around half of that (600,000). This means that most of the infrastructure in the region--roads, sewer and water pipes, power lines, etc.--is less than 30 years old. Typically, infrastructure installation costs are borne by the developer, so LV-area local governments have not had to levy high taxes to pay for these things.
A lot of infrastructure has a replacement lifespan of 30-60 years. Climate affects this; for example, Las Vegas roads probably have a longer lifespan than Boston roads because they never get snowed on. Even so, infrastructure eventually needs to be replaced after several decades. Unlike installation costs, maintenance costs are generally borne by local government. In a couple decades, the amount of necessary infrastructure maintenance in the region will rise substantially, potentially raising the metro area's very low property tax rates.
The fact that the gaming and tourism industries are the dominant sectors in the region has little, if anything, to do with any of the above.
It is relatively cheap to ship things to Las Vegas, whether it's coming from the ports at Los Angeles and Long Beach or from the California farm fields.

pig slut lisa fucked around with this message at 13:59 on Jul 22, 2016

# ? Jul 22, 2016 13:55

Droo: Jun 25, 2003

Tab8715 posted:

Does anyone here live in Vegas? I'm at odds how a city run on "Sin" and in the middle of desert so incredibly affordable?

There is no state income tax, partially because tourism and gaming taxes provide a nice tax base and partially because our schools aren't the best.

There is almost no "land premium" because it's not a very crowded city and there is TONS of land. It's not like in other major cities, where people will pay $500k or more just for a lot so they can bulldoze the house and build a new one on it. Most of the houses here seem to range between $60 to $200 per square foot.

We are starting to get some overflow businesses from California because it is so expensive there, so the job market here feels like it is picking up and becoming a lot more diversified.

I think that's the biggest part of the affordability, but some things are pricier and kind of hidden that balance it out a bit. Electricity base rate is about 13 cents per kilowatt hour, and you use a ton of it in the summer. Car insurance is more here than it was in downtown Chicago. Taxis are really expensive, but Uber started here about a year ago so that solved that. Access to doctors is very bad in general - prepare to wait weeks or months for an appointment unless you pay extra for concierge access or something.

There is a lot of free stuff you can do as a local (shows, night club meetups, free happy hours), but if you like to go out clubbing or gambling it could get really expensive really fast.

# ? Jul 22, 2016 14:43

Play: Apr 25, 2006; Strong stroll for a mangy stray

Hey all,

This isn't really a tourism issue; basically, I just took a new job in Henderson, NV which I'm loving so far (I used to live and moved from Santa Cruz, CA). I have work friends obviously, and a couple others, but I'm interested in expanding my non-electronic social network. Does anyone here live in Henderson and/or Vegas who might like to grab a few drinks sometime?

I'm 28, not goony whatsoever in the traditional sense. I met someone from this forum when I lived in Vietnam but I don't remember the username so you'll have to take my word for it. I'd like to disc golf and play soccer and do other sports here as well. I'm looking for good bars that deserve my patronage.

I'd probably be more interested with meeting up with folks around my own age. Drinking and drugs is fine but no hard drugs (heroin, meth, crack) okay? I don't think too many goons gently caress with that but just thought I'd put it out there.

Post here if that sounds cool, maybe I could join a group of you for a night out or something. I'm extremely social and I can fit in ppretty much everywhere except around a bunch of trump supporters who won't shut up about it. SO pretty relaxed standards.

What's up goonz :dukedog:

Play fucked around with this message at 23:28 on Jul 22, 2016

# ? Jul 22, 2016 19:32

Gucci Loafers: May 20, 2006; Ask yourself, do you really want to talk to pair of really nice gaudy shoes?

Thanks for the awfully detailed replies. I'm in a City of about 100k at 30, I want to badly leave and while Vegas isn't my first choice it is however surprisingly affordable.

If I don't gamble - aside from poker - or party too hard what's it like living in the City? Are there walkable areas aside from just the Strip or would I able to get an apartment near a bunch of bars/restaurants? Would the city even exist without the Casinos? And heat doesn't bother me.

Gucci Loafers fucked around with this message at 12:03 on Jul 24, 2016

# ? Jul 24, 2016 11:43

Capt. Sticl: Jul 24, 2002; In Zion I was meant to be
'Doze the homes
Block the sea
With this great ship at my command
I'll plunder all the Promised Land!

Play posted:

Hey all,

This isn't really a tourism issue; basically, I just took a new job in Henderson, NV which I'm loving so far (I used to live and moved from Santa Cruz, CA). I have work friends obviously, and a couple others, but I'm interested in expanding my non-electronic social network. Does anyone here live in Henderson and/or Vegas who might like to grab a few drinks sometime?

I'm 28, not goony whatsoever in the traditional sense. I met someone from this forum when I lived in Vietnam but I don't remember the username so you'll have to take my word for it. I'd like to disc golf and play soccer and do other sports here as well. I'm looking for good bars that deserve my patronage.

I'd probably be more interested with meeting up with folks around my own age. Drinking and drugs is fine but no hard drugs (heroin, meth, crack) okay? I don't think too many goons gently caress with that but just thought I'd put it out there.

Post here if that sounds cool, maybe I could join a group of you for a night out or something. I'm extremely social and I can fit in ppretty much everywhere except around a bunch of trump supporters who won't shut up about it. SO pretty relaxed standards.

What's up goonz

While I don't live in Henderson there are a couple breweries over there I like to hit every now and then (Crafthaus, Bad Beat, LoveLady). I'm not sure which bars are good in that area as all the ones I usually hit up are on the west / north side (Aces and Ales @ Tenaya, Parkway Tavern @ Flamingo/215, BeerHaus @ The Park was alright too). I'm certainly up for grabbing a brew at some point. I've got Thursdays and Fridays off, so just PM me sometime.

# ? Jul 24, 2016 15:55

JaySB: Nov 16, 2006

Tab8715 posted:

If I don't gamble - aside from poker - or party too hard what's it like living in the City? Are there walkable areas aside from just the Strip or would I able to get an apartment near a bunch of bars/restaurants? Would the city even exist without the Casinos? And heat doesn't bother me.

Summerlin, Mountain's Edge, the Southwest and Henderson all have great bars and restaurants, parks, and affordable housing.

# ? Jul 24, 2016 18:46

Gucci Loafers: May 20, 2006; Ask yourself, do you really want to talk to pair of really nice gaudy shoes?

JaySB posted:

Summerlin, Mountain's Edge, the Southwest and Henderson all have great bars and restaurants, parks, and affordable housing.

Am I walking or driving everywhere?

# ? Jul 24, 2016 19:20

Craptacular!: Jul 9, 2001; Fuck the DH

Tab8715 posted:

Am I walking or driving everywhere?

Everywhere you live, you're driving everywhere else. Most people here live in suburbs and drive around everywhere. It's basically a 2,000,000 person city spread out into a bunch of single family dwellings meant for people with kids and pets and so on. Public transit is a lot better than it was 10 years ago with much more frequency, but because the blocks are so enormous, the heat is 100+ for a big stretch of the year, and everyone lives in these inward facing housing development fortresses that are designed to make you drive into the middle of the development and then back out to where you live. That makes getting to your nearest transit stop a chore unless you live near one.

Our city streets are a giant grid of lines going clear from one end of the valley to another in one long straight line. But everyone lives in master planned communities in the accursed Loops & Lollipops setup that is designed to maximize space for developers but leaves seniors and people who can't drive trapped in the grounds of their housing community, walking long distances before they leave the private road and association-owned spaces to reach the city street which may actually be directly behind their house over a giant wall.

I live in such a disaster, but fortunately I live near a clearing you can shortcut through to get to the city street fast without a lot of walking the wrong way and looping back around that's so obviously focused on cars.

If you want to drink at bars and walk home, I'd suggest you live downtown. Check out The Ogden or Juhl. Downtown was home to a rough crowd a decade ago that was trying to resist the gentrification of their neighborhood by wealthier people through burglaries and high crime that would drive them away. In recent years a few monolithic condo towers were built, the Zappos CEO has been throwing money into a flaming wastebin to gentrify it into a dot-com hipster bar zone for his employees/cult followers, and the police have become far more aggressive about relocating any scruffy-looking patrons further down Fremont to the part where the drugs and prostitution dens are still rampant.

The low income folks who used to call downtown home have lost the battle, and wealthy millennials who want to walk everywhere and find the rest of the city's car culture abhorrent are slowly taking over.

Craptacular! fucked around with this message at 21:07 on Jul 25, 2016

# ? Jul 25, 2016 21:02

High_Life: Sep 19, 2004; MIND GAMES...

I visit LV twice a year for tradeshows. Is there a good substitute for Tacos el Gordo? Was pissed when they closed the one on the strip up north.

Otherwise my tradition is to visit Caesars, play a machine for a few minutes, then go to the mall and visit expensive stores and buy stuff. Watches and shoes for wife mostly.

# ? Jul 26, 2016 01:01

JaySB: Nov 16, 2006

High_Life posted:

I visit LV twice a year for tradeshows. Is there a good substitute for Tacos el Gordo? Was pissed when they closed the one on the strip up north.

Otherwise my tradition is to visit Caesars, play a machine for a few minutes, then go to the mall and visit expensive stores and buy stuff. Watches and shoes for wife mostly.

Well it's open again. But Taco Y Taco is good. Kinda far from the strip though. Los Tacos is also good

# ? Jul 26, 2016 05:59

Blue On Blue: Nov 14, 2012

I don't have archives so I can't browse the old threads, although I remember reading some of them years ago before they got locked up

Going to Vegas middle of August for 3 days for the first time, aside from the usual wonderment when I arrive,

- Best ATV tour thingy? They all seem to be within the $200-300 range, but some are 2 hours and some are 6 hours

- Cheapest exotic car rental place, I'd like to rent something cool for 24 hours, Vegas Luxury Rides seems to be the best price, unless I'm missing a hidden gem somewhere

Thanks!

# ? Jul 31, 2016 08:02

pig slut lisa: Mar 5, 2012; irl is good

Sappo569 posted:

Going to Vegas middle of August for 3 days for the first time, aside from the usual wonderment when I arrive,

- Best ATV tour thingy? They all seem to be within the $200-300 range, but some are 2 hours and some are 6 hours

Six hours in the desert in April or October sounds like a much better deal than two hours for the same price. Six hours in the desert in 100+ degree August heat sounds miserable.

# ? Aug 1, 2016 13:33

Play: Apr 25, 2006; Strong stroll for a mangy stray

Capt. Sticl posted:

While I don't live in Henderson there are a couple breweries over there I like to hit every now and then (Crafthaus, Bad Beat, LoveLady). I'm not sure which bars are good in that area as all the ones I usually hit up are on the west / north side (Aces and Ales @ Tenaya, Parkway Tavern @ Flamingo/215, BeerHaus @ The Park was alright too). I'm certainly up for grabbing a brew at some point. I've got Thursdays and Fridays off, so just PM me sometime.

I don't have PMs I would totally buy it if I thought I would use it more than just this once. Send me an email at robertjamesh at gmail dot com w your number or ill send my number back. I'm a beer drinker and I love breweries so thanks for the recs and it would be cool to meet up I'd like to hear a bit more about the area at the moment im still feeling my way around

# ? Aug 2, 2016 05:11

blugu64: Jul 17, 2006; Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face?

Is the MGM safe for folks who can't handle smoking? (In the casino/hotel rooms) Looking for things to do/places that are smoke free, my girlfriend can't handle it for more then a minute.

# ? Aug 2, 2016 13:45

Imaduck: Apr 16, 2007; the magnetorotational instability turns me on

You should be able to get a non-smoking hotel room. Sometimes people still smoke in these, so if it smells like smoke, request a different room.

You can smoke in much of the gaming area. It doesn't bother me much, but some folks complain about everywhere in Vegas smelling like smoke. Poker areas are smoke-free, and many casinos will have smoke free areas. Circus Circus is the only LV casino I know of that has the default of smoke free, but there might be others.

If a whiff of smoke while walking through a casino is going to ruin her day, then Las Vegas probably isn't the place for her.

# ? Aug 2, 2016 14:30

JaySB: Nov 16, 2006

blugu64 posted:

Is the MGM safe for folks who can't handle smoking? (In the casino/hotel rooms) Looking for things to do/places that are smoke free, my girlfriend can't handle it for more then a minute.

Vdara

# ? Aug 2, 2016 17:18

G-Mawwwwwww: Jan 31, 2003; My LPth are Hot Garbage; Biscuit Hider

JaySB posted:

Vdara

For real, the Vdara owns and is a fantastic hotel. Especially for the price.

My friends and I do a vegas trip every year now the week before Christmas. Last year, some stayed in Hooters, some stayed at the Cosmo and I stayed at the Vdara. We ended up hanging out in my suite a lot.

This year? Everyone's in the Vdara.

G-Mawwwwwww fucked around with this message at 17:33 on Aug 2, 2016

# ? Aug 2, 2016 17:22

coronaball: Feb 6, 2005; You're finished, pork-o-nazi!

Harrah's has low ceilings and can get a little thick. Casino Royale is a small dump where it seems as if everyone smokes. I'd avoid those two.

Also, I didn't know about this. Although I'm not sure why I would, since even back when I smoked I wouldn't get a smoking room because smoking in a 300 sq. foot room where you can't open the window is super gross.

"" posted:

Since our original story, MGM Resorts resorts in Las Vegas have virtually all gone non-smoking in their rooms. We�ve confirmed Mirage is now completely non-smoking. Excalibur has also joined the ranks of resorts with all non-smoking rooms. As we wrote earlier, Luxor is also now completely non-smoking. MGM Grand is also now completely non-smoking in its hotel rooms. Bellagio has gone from seven smoking floors to one, and Mandalay Bay has just two floors of smoking-friendly rooms (the 10th and 61st).

http://vitalvegas.com/mgm-resorts-quietly-makes-its-vegas-hotels-non-smoking/

# ? Aug 2, 2016 17:29

JaySB: Nov 16, 2006

There is literally no casino that is smoke free. And if your gf has a problem with that being on the casino floor, in a bar or in a night club is going to suck for her.

# ? Aug 2, 2016 18:41

Cbear: Mar 22, 2005

Ok looking at going to Vegas at the end of September with a few guys(ages 29-35) I will plan to read back a few pages in the thread, but...

Hotel recommendations?
Flight sites and tips?
Restaurant advice?
Random fun poo poo to do?

We all want to spend money and don't give a poo poo about clubs. Any advice welcome. Just trying to get a baseline while we are just starting to plan this out.

# ? Aug 3, 2016 16:44

Pakistani Brad Pitt: Nov 28, 2004; Not as taciturn, but still terribly powerful...

I don't understand why only poker players get the smoke free quiet room. Table games players are arguably contributing much more to the bottom line, they should throw us a bone. The casinos in Colorado (for all of their flaws) are smoke-free and you can go out to a smoking patio if you want to do that.

# ? Aug 3, 2016 21:29

Comptroll The Forums: Apr 25, 2007; DON'T HURT MY FEE FEES!

Going to Vegas next month, want to hit up one of the super fancy and expensive buffets. Which one is the best if I'm looking for stuff that's pretty unusual and exotic? Wicked spoon?

Also, are the motor scooter tours of red rock canyon as :krad:

as I think they are? Price seems a little steep ($125) but seems like it would be way more fun than driving a rental car through there.

# ? Aug 3, 2016 22:35

JaySB: Nov 16, 2006

MrChupon posted:

I don't understand why only poker players get the smoke free quiet room. Table games players are arguably contributing much more to the bottom line, they should throw us a bone. The casinos in Colorado (for all of their flaws) are smoke-free and you can go out to a smoking patio if you want to do that.

There are smoke free table games

# ? Aug 4, 2016 00:59

Imaduck: Apr 16, 2007; the magnetorotational instability turns me on

Cbear posted:

Hotel recommendations?

Read back further in the thread for lots of suggestions. The short of it is, you almost certainly want to stay on the strip. If money ain't no thang, then Vdara, Aria, Cosmo, and the Palazzo are common suggestions.

quote:

Random fun poo poo to do?

We all want to spend money and don't give a poo poo about clubs. Any advice welcome. Just trying to get a baseline while we are just starting to plan this out.

The question is, what do you want to do? You can spend a couple days just walking through all the neat buildings. Shows are an obvious thing to do, and we have recs throughout the thread. You can also do more exotic things like shoot big guns, race fast cars, or even play with construction equipment. There's also a lot to explore outside of the city, like hiking Red Rock, seeing the Hoover Dam, or taking a helicopter to the Grand Canyon. There are also a few cool museums to see if you want to do something more low key.

Oh, and you can gamble.

# ? Aug 4, 2016 08:54

Cascadia Pirate: Jan 18, 2011

I am going to be in Vegas next week and we'll have a car for a day or two. Any recommendations for places in the greater area to go see? Probably drive out to red rock Canyon, Pat Tillman bridge, and maybe some overlook to see the skyline. Any other recommendations? Also is the Shelby museum worth doing or is it just a gift shop?

# ? Aug 5, 2016 18:57

Gucci Loafers: May 20, 2006; Ask yourself, do you really want to talk to pair of really nice gaudy shoes?

Craptacular! posted:

If you want to drink at bars and walk home, I'd suggest you live downtown. Check out The Ogden or Juhl. Downtown was home to a rough crowd a decade ago that was trying to resist the gentrification of their neighborhood by wealthier people through burglaries and high crime that would drive them away. In recent years a few monolithic condo towers were built, the Zappos CEO has been throwing money into a flaming wastebin to gentrify it into a dot-com hipster bar zone for his employees/cult followers, and the police have become far more aggressive about relocating any scruffy-looking patrons further down Fremont to the part where the drugs and prostitution dens are still rampant.

The low income folks who used to call downtown home have lost the battle, and wealthy millennials who want to walk everywhere and find the rest of the city's car culture abhorrent are slowly taking over.

If money was no object the first I'd take up residence would be Odgen or Juhl but I'd say my initial budget is about $1k month but it seems that can be done in the area.

Curious, what's the local take on the Zappo's CEO? From your tone it doesn't seem like his investment has paid off in the slightest.

# ? Aug 5, 2016 20:38

Gucci Loafers: May 20, 2006; Ask yourself, do you really want to talk to pair of really nice gaudy shoes?

Cbear posted:

We all want to spend money and don't give a poo poo about clubs. Any advice welcome. Just trying to get a baseline while we are just starting to plan this out.

Clubs are about the half the reason anyone goes to Vegas. Millennials don't gamble but we love drugs and sex.

# ? Aug 5, 2016 22:07

photomikey: Dec 30, 2012

Re:non-smoking casinos. Nobody whines about a smoker more than my wife, she can be in a 50,000 seat stadium and somebody on the opposite side can light up a Camel and she can smell it. But in a Vegas casino (particularly the bigger ones, and especially the new ones), they have installed HVAC systems where you just can't smell the smoke anymore. It's one thing if you're playing craps next to someone who's smoking - but if you're just walking through, or doing anything where you're not directly next to someone smoking - it's nearly impossible to notice.

Cascadia Pirate posted:

I am going to be in Vegas next week and we'll have a car for a day or two. Any recommendations for places in the greater area to go see?

Pinball Museum is one of my favorite attractions in the US. Bring :tenbux: and kill a few hours.

# ? Aug 7, 2016 08:05

PreacherTom: Oct 7, 2003; I want to prank them for hours in my basement...

Cascadia Pirate posted:

I am going to be in Vegas next week and we'll have a car for a day or two. Any recommendations for places in the greater area to go see? Probably drive out to red rock Canyon, Pat Tillman bridge, and maybe some overlook to see the skyline. Any other recommendations? Also is the Shelby museum worth doing or is it just a gift shop?

My wife and I have really enjoyed the Nuclear Testing Museum. It's not too far from the strip, is a part of the Smithsonian, and has something for everybody - their displays have entertained our friends' kids all the way up to engineers and physics majors that I've taken. And, it's different.

# ? Aug 8, 2016 14:24

Radiohead71: Sep 15, 2007

Minarch posted:

Going to Vegas next month, want to hit up one of the super fancy and expensive buffets. Which one is the best if I'm looking for stuff that's pretty unusual and exotic? Wicked spoon?

Also, are the motor scooter tours of red rock canyon as as I think they are? Price seems a little steep ($125) but seems like it would be way more fun than driving a rental car through there.

Bellagio buffet sucks. Both the wicked spoon and Wynn buffets are pretty decent. I would drive to red rock and hike myself. I did last year and had a really good time. Bring water if you hike. There are plenty of trails to choose from, noob to hardcore. You can also do you own scenic drive (see link) which has a minimal cost for entry. It is a very nice drive. I wouldn't pay $125 for scooters thru there. You will enjoy it just the same from your rental car.

http://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/lasvegas/hikes-trails/

Radiohead71 fucked around with this message at 23:28 on Aug 8, 2016

# ? Aug 8, 2016 23:21

bunnyofdoom: Mar 29, 2008; I've been here the whole time, and you're not my real Dad!

Personally I liked rhe mob museum near Freemont too

# ? Aug 9, 2016 05:46

Spike McAwesome: Jun 18, 2004; Zombies? Or middle-management? I can't tell...

Oh poo poo I forgot this thread exists.

# ? Aug 9, 2016 22:47

peramene: Oct 13, 2015; by Fluffdaddy

The Flamingo Las Vegas is one of those special Las Vegas hotels that makes you feel like a really high class whore, which is fantastic if you're into that sort of thing like I am.

# ? Aug 16, 2016 13:35

blugu64: Jul 17, 2006; Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face?

Thanks again for the recommendation and advise re:smoking. Called around and ended up at the MGM for an extended weekend!

# ? Aug 18, 2016 14:00

Datasmurf: Jan 19, 2009; Carpe Noctem

I'm going to Vegas in late October (22nd to 26th), and I want to rent a classic Mustang to drive around in for one day. It's been a dream for years, and I figure I could do that on my 30th birthday (the 24th). Any recommendations on car rental firms to look for? And should I get it done before I leave for the States, or just get it done when I'm there?

# ? Aug 24, 2016 23:37

Blue On Blue: Nov 14, 2012

Followup from my recent trip

If you have a few hundred to spend and want to drive a car at its limits, hit up Exotics Racing.

I did the Porsche GT3, and it was great, easily one of the highlights of my visit to Vegas

# ? Aug 25, 2016 05:31

JaySB: Nov 16, 2006

Sappo569 posted:

Followup from my recent trip

If you have a few hundred to spend and want to drive a car at its limits, hit up Exotics Racing.

I did the Porsche GT3, and it was great, easily one of the highlights of my visit to Vegas

Exotics and Dream are both really good.

The GT3 is my next car for sure. I was 4 seconds a lap quicker in that than the 458 around their track. The car just makes you feel special

# ? Aug 25, 2016 12:21

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# ? May 15, 2024 12:07

Blue On Blue: Nov 14, 2012

JaySB posted:

Exotics and Dream are both really good.

The GT3 is my next car for sure. I was 4 seconds a lap quicker in that than the 458 around their track. The car just makes you feel special

I think most people go into it wanting the most HP car thinking its going to be 'faster'

Pulling 1.4G's was fun though

# ? Aug 25, 2016 19:48

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