Category Archives: Safety and Security Issues

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Making Your Living Space as Safe as Possible at All Times

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We all want to be as safe as possible in our homes. This isn’t all too surprising. These spaces are our safe havens – spots where we can let our hair down, kick back and relax. They’re the places we feel most vulnerable. We want to be able to rest in them without concerns for our overall safety and wellbeing. This particularly goes for now, when the coronavirus has forced many of us into our own homes all day, every day. But what can you do to make your home a safe space for you and anyone else who lives with you? Here are a few ideas and suggestions to help you along the way!

Tips for Everyone

There are certain tips that everyone should follow, as they can protect everyone’s safety and wellbeing. One is to make sure that your home has smoke detectors fitted and that they are all checked regularly. If batteries need to be replaced, replace them immediately. Carbon monoxide detectors are another good idea, as this gas is deadly but has no smell or taste, so can’t easily be identified as other gases may be. In a similar vein, making use of radon detectors and Radon Systems Maintenance is also a good idea. Make sure that you wipe down any items you may bring in from outside – such as food shopping – as the coronavirus that’s currently plaguing the world can live on surfaces for extended periods of time. Deep cleaning your house regularly can also help to keep you safe.

Living with Kids

If you live with kids, there are a few extra safety measures you might want to undertake to maintain their safety. They don’t have as much safety awareness as we do and you have to remove as many potential risks as possible to protect them within your home. If you have blinds in your windows, make sure the pulls and ties are wound around a safety clip, out of the reach of little ones. Store medication, cleaning products and anything else that’s potentially toxic in locked cupboards well out of reach. You may also want to consider child proof cupboard locks on other cabinets and doors so they can’t access food or other items without you knowing. Make sure you only have child and pet friendly house plants or plants in your garden. Ensure that the perimeters of your garden are completely sealed and that you have a lock on access points such as gates if they’re going to be playing outside. Stair gates are a good addition to your home if you have young children. If you have large furniture, such as bookshelves, make sure they’re properly fixed to your walls so they can’t tip over. These steps are simple to implement but can save lives.

These are just a few different pieces of advice. It may seem a lot to consider, but once you’ve implemented the necessary safety systems and have got into a routine of habit, they won’t take as much time or effort as you may initially think!

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6 Ways Local Governments Can Reduce the Risk of Nighttime Driving

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In 2018, of the total 8,809 crash incidents recorded by Philippine traffic agencies,4,090 occurred at night. This means that even with less vehicles on the road, driving at night is inherently more dangerous than driving at any other time of the day.

Half of the solution is being an alert and educated driver, and the other half is having well-placed, well-maintained road implements. Look at these solutions to reduce nighttime road accidents.

Install reflective road markers

Using reflective road paint to indicate road markers is perhaps the most economical and most effective way to prevent road crashes at night. This solution effectively illuminates obstacles on the road such as guard railings, lamp posts, and pedestrian lanes, as well as longitudinal markers such as traffic lanes, stop and warning lines, and no passing zones.

What’s more, reflective paint works in harsh weather conditions too. Objects coated I this type of paint stay visible whenever a beam of light shines on them.

Enforce guided traffic schemes

If you’re neighborhood or vicinity is a hotspot for car crashes at night, then you might need to request the local government to implement stricter traffic rules or special traffic schemes past a certain hour.

Impose one-way schemes or no-entry zones in streets with insufficient street lamps or stricter speed limits so cars will proceed with greater caution.

Put up necessary road signage

To complement changes in traffic schemes, proper road signage should be erected so drivers are constantly reminded of them. These signs should also be reflective to more quickly catch a motorist’s attention.

Renovate the road’s structure

Roadway engineering- that is, the road’s shape and formation-can also contribute to preventing road accidents at night. For example, a road’s edge can be sloped better to help drifting vehicles reenter the road safely. Road curbs can also be curved more to diminish blind spots when entering and exiting a street at night.

Other roadway engineering solutions that local governments can implement include constructing pedestrian islands, rumble strips, and additional speed bumps to control a vehicle’s acceleration.

Put up more street lamps

It might be costly, but the benefits of adding more street lamps far outweigh the risks of a poorly-lit street. This is because street lamps do more than just illuminate road obstructions and pedestrians. By improving the ambient illumination on the road, night drivers experience less glare from vehicle headlights.

Moreover, the psychological assurance that the added illumination provides is also vital. A brighter neighborhood reduces the chances of crimes taking place, leading to people feeling safer in their cars and perhaps not in such a rush to get out of the area.

Request more police presence

When considering crime or road mishaps, one cannot overlook the contribution of increased police presence in an area. At night, authorities can also act as patrol guards or traffic aides to man checkpoints, remind drivers of traffic rules, catch and reprimand drunk drivers, and even respond to road accidents.

Even when driving at night, prevention is still the best cure. Double up on the necessary preparations, and ensure that you’re as alert and attentive as you can be.

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Stay Safe On The Roads, In Every Situation

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We all know that wearing your seatbelt at all times is a must in a car, but when we are driving the car there are even more restrictions and rules to adhere to, to ensure that we are safe. Roads are busier than ever and it’s easy to become complacent if you’re a seasoned driver. You may know the roads well and drive them daily, as well as estimating your car’s capacity but there are some things that happen that are out of your control, too. 

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There are lots of types of collisions on the road, but one of which is a relatively common one is sideswipe collision. In a sideswipe accident, it is usually the driver of the vehicle that sideswipes another vehicle, such as changing lanes or drifting unexpectedly. If it happens when they are changing lanes, then the driver of that car will be placed with 100% of the liability. It would also be them who pay out for any damages and insurance claims. It takes an average of 1.5 seconds for a driver to change lanes. It doesn’t sound long at all, but sometimes it may take longer which is when it can affect cars that are driving parallel. 

In addition to the above, sideswipe accidents can often lead to a second collision such as another vehicle, railing, a concrete barrier, trees, light posts, signage or even people. This could be catastrophic, especially if it involves pedestrians. In addition to sideswipe collisions there are head on collisions and many other types which means we must always stay vigilant on the roads. 

How To Stay Safe 

Here are a few tips on how to ensure that you are being safe when driving and how best to avoid a collision. It isn’t always easy, depending on the other driver’s involved, but if you can prepare yourself better, it could be a big bonus. It will also help with any police involvement when you can assure them that you were in fact driving safely. 

  1. When driving on an intersection, be sure to use defensive driving when crossing an intersection. 
  2. Keep Breaks updated and checked – you must be sure that your car has been tested and that the brakes are in impeccable working order. This is important before a long trip, always have them checked! 
  3. Follow the traffic signs, be sure to be aware of any changes on the road and keep listening to updates to ensure that you know what is ahead. 
  4. Look out for any trucks or vehicles that are larger than you or that are seemingly driving too close or erratically and avoid them if possible.. 
  5. Be aware and vigilant all the time, be sure to look out for everything on the road, don’t let your mind slip.
  6. Follow the speed limit and check your speed often to ensure that you are within the speed limits.

Staying safe doesn’t have to be difficult but it does require being prepared for the unexpected and making sure your car is road ready.

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4 Cyber Security Apps To Protect Your Business

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Protecting your business encompasses many different tasks and priorities. It would be easy if running a company was plain sailing, with no risk or setbacks on the horizon. Unfortunately, this just isn’t realistic, and so it’s essential to take precautions to protect your company. Commercial insurance is a must-have so that you are covered if a member of the public is injured on your property, or is put at risk due to one of your products.

Property insurance is essential to cover the expenses associated with damages incurred to your building or equipment. Worker’s compensation means that you are protected if your employees fall unwell. Many companies forget about cyber insurance when they are choosing their policies, yet cyber crimes continue to grow. As well as choosing the appropriate Commercial Insurance options, there are several apps you can use to protect your business online.

1 . Perimeter 81 

Perimeter 81 is a VPN platform designed to simplify online security. Using Perimeter 81, you can work remotely while accessing high-level online security protection. With this application, there’s no need for expensive hardware and a lengthy installation process. Perimeter 81 offers professionals full network visibility and the opportunity to identify unusual activity. The software-defined perimeter architecture ensures that users are fully protected when accessing data centers, SaaS apps, and private cloud networks.

2. Flowmon

Flowmon is a security and network monitoring platform that uses IP flow tracking tech to provide users with network visibility. Flowmon detects security threats early and stops such threats before they begin to compromise the network. The application can improve the process of fighting off threats using antiviruses, firewalls, and IDS. One of the best features of Flowmon are the network probes, executed in real-time. This software also provides stats in relation to IP flow and then stores this data for further analysis.

3. TokenEx

TokenEx is a cyber security platform that can help your organization to protect it’s confidential and sensitive data. The application works to lessen the impact of a security breach in a worst-case scenario. External and internal systems commonly use tokens to make transactions. TokenEx functions to ensure that hackers don’t have the chance to break into these systems and steal data. The key benefit of TokenEx is that it provides an end-to-end unified tokenization solution; other features include file transfer, encryption, and various integrations.

4. Netwrix Auditor 

Netwrix Auditor is a governance and visibility platform for IT security operations. It’s been described as an easy to use type of IT management software, making it simple for users to determine risks and threats in their hybrid environments and cloud systems. With Netwrix Auditor, you can track access to data and create reports on any changes deployed by users. Other features of Netwrix include monitoring user behavior, detection of insider threats, blind-spot analysis, and security analytics.
With one of these applications in place, your business can relax about your security, and get on with your critical projects. In our current climate it’s vital to consistently improve your IT systems and security.

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Keeping Yourself Safer Behind The Wheel

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Driving is a pretty simple practice, really. Sure, the first few stages are a little confusing to a novice, but once those tedious little problems are ironed out, everything becomes a lot easier – it’s just like riding a bike! If nobody else was around and you were the only driver on the road, then there would probably be no issues whatsoever, right? That’s not the case, though. There will always be thousands of other road-users around at any given time, so you always have to be vigilant and on your guard.

Get Extra Lessons

Once you’ve passed your driver’s test, you’re good to go. That doesn’t always mean you’ve got all the necessary skills and prowess, though, does it? You just did enough to get past the exam. If you’re not confident enough in your own ability still, or you feel as though you could do with a few extra pointers, then it’s probably wise to take an extra course. These pass plus courses tend to focus on more difficult maneuvers. It’s also good just to have a professional beside you as you continue to build your ability. If you have a higher driving ability, then your chances of causing crashes or being a part of them lower. 

Make Sure Everything’s Good To Go 

You’d think this would be a given, but many people like to head off in their cars without checking anything – ever. If things are looking and feeling a little off, some will just carry on regardless. Don’t do that – it could cause problems for you and everyone around you.

Get Insured And Lawyered Up!

Car insurance is a legal requirement – though you see so many out there driving without any (it’s more than you think!) Third-party insurance is the mandatory type that everybody needs to have, and it’s a selfish, negligent act to drive without it as others will be affected if anything goes south due to your mistake. There are many other kinds of specific insurance policies around – you can visit here for more information if this sounds interesting to you. 

It’s always good to have the right lawyers around just in case you get into any further issues regarding your car. Somebody may press against you, and you could do with an aficionado or two to help you out if you feel anything is unjust. 

Don’t Show Off

For the love of all that is good in this world, please don’t think others will be impressed with how you behave in your car. 

Cut Out Silly Habits 
We all have little habits that we seemingly cannot control. When we’re in harmless situations that have no lasting repercussions, those habits are pretty benign and nothing to worry about. When you’re behind the wheel of a car, however, that’s when things change quite significantly. A lot of people are guilty of having silly driving habits – if you’re one of those kinds of people that can’t help but check their phone or neglect certain safety checks, then you’ll need to make amendments, won’t you? What you might consider to be small issues could end up ruining the lives of many others.

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Driving Habits We Need To Stop

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Ok, so you have been driving for some time, and you think you’re a great driver, right? Well, the chances are, like most people that have been driving for some time, you are probably guilty of many things that, in fact, make you quite a bad driver.

Now, before you get rather angry and think we are throwing out general accusations, don’t worry, the truth is, most of us are bad drivers, and there are many things we all do that are not only stupid, but some of them are dangerous and quite possibly illegal.

In this post, we are going to be looking at a few bad driving habits we all possibly do and why we need to stop them as soon as possible.

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Why We Have Driving Habits

The truth is, while many people often see new drivers as the worst drivers on the road, they are generally a lot better than they are given credit for.

If you think back to the times when you were a new driver, you possibly did everything by the book and followed every rule of the road. It seems that things only change as we get more comfortable and confident behind the wheel.

In the next section, we will look at some of those nasty habits we pick up as we become more experienced drivers.

Speeding 

Ok, so the first thing we are going to touch on is speeding. Now, while most of you are possibly thinking that you do not speed, the chances are you are thinking about excessive speed.

While this is more dangerous, it isn’t what we are talking about today. What we are asking is how many of us are guilty of driving 40 in a 30 zone? It seems that if we were all honest, we might find that it’s well over 90% of us. 

While the extra speed may not seem like a lot, what you may not know is that even a few kmph can mean the difference between life and death if we hit somebody in the car.  

Having Your Phone Out In The Car

Another thing nearly all of us are guilty of is doing something with our phones when driving. While in the past it may have been deemed to be ok to use your phone when in the car, long gone are those days, and now we see more and more fatalities on the road, and they are mainly down to your phone.

While we all know that it’s bad enough to talk on the phone when driving, there are some people who still don’t realize the dangers of texting while driving, if you really want to get out of this habit, then you are encouraged to place your phone in the glovebox for the journey, and you should also have on smart driving solutions that stop you from using your phone when in your car.

There are, of course, so many more bad habits that we all have, if this has inspired you to look within and make a few changes, perhaps you will go on to try and shake a few more of those nasty little driving habits that you may have.

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How to Prevent Your Work From Impacting Your Health

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We like to think that our jobs are good for us, but the reality is a little more complicated. While they can provide an income, they can have a negative impact on our health. That’s because, though we have some say in what we do, the working conditions are dictated by someone else; we’re not entirely (or probably even remotely) in charge of our working conditions. While you can’t change your career at the drop of a hat, you can take steps to protect yourself from potentially harmful aspects. We take a look at a few of these below. 

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Get Mobile

We tend to think that how we live is normal or natural, but in actual fact, the way we live would be considered pretty strange by our ancestors. The biggest thing they’d notice is that we’re so much less mobile than we were in the past. We’re always sitting down! And though it might seem comfortable, the truth is that it can have a negative impact on our long-term health. If you’re driving to work, sitting down all day, and then crashing on the couch each night, look at making some changes. Cycling to work and taking walks throughout the day will make a big difference.

Computer Safety

It’s true that working conditions are much safer than in the old days, because many fewer people are using heavy machinery. Yet, while the immediate risks of working at a computer aren’t that great, they can have a negative impact on your health. For example, you could develop RSI (repetitive strain injury) in the wrist from typing too much. And then there’s the matter of eye strain and the potential threats of blue light. In general, it’s best to monitor the effect that working at a computer has on your body and mind, and make adjustments as necessary.

Work-Related Stress

Your job will provide you with an income, but it sure can be stressful from time to time. And stress doesn’t just spoil your day: it can have a long-term impact on your health. As such, it’s best to find ways to deal with stress before it builds up to a problematic degree. One way to do this is to meditate each day — it only takes ten minutes but can have a profound impact on your overall ability to manage the more stressful side of life. 

In the Workplace 

Also, be sure to take a look at your workplace and identify any risks. Loose cables, clutter, and poor lighting can all lead to trips and falls, which can, of course, greatly compromise your health. It might not look like it, but it really is possible to have accidents in an office environment.

Regular Breaks 

Finally, even if you think you love your job, it’s still important to take regular breaks from time to time. Sometimes you won’t be aware of a particular health issue until you take a couple of steps back, and can see your situation with more perspective. 

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Ford Is Developing A Crazy New Cyclist Safety Technology

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Cyclists are at high risk on the road and need to have their wits about them. Just like motorcyclists, they’re particularly prone to collisions, with little or no mitigation. 

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Now American car manufacturer Ford is developing a solution. It proposes to add an early warning system to cars that will tell drivers when a cyclist is approaching in their blind spot. Using some twenty or so cameras around the vehicle, the vehicle will be able to see where cyclists are at all times and then issue an alert. Ford’s idea at the moment is to make the wing mirrors and edges of their vehicles with strips of LEDs that will flash red when they detect an oncoming cyclist. Under the current plans, both the driver and the cyclist will be able to see the lights and hear an alarm sound. 

Ford’s new concept also deals with another common problem – opening car doors in the path of oncoming cyclists. Sensors on the vehicle will detect a cyclist approaching and prevent the person inside the car from opening the door until they pass. The hope is that the system will prevent people from inadvertently opening their doors in the path of a cyclist. 

More Respect On The Road

Ford’s plans, however, are about more than just reducing the number of accidents. They are also geared towards generating more respect on the road. The automaker hopes that the technology will help drivers and cyclists understand each other’s needs better. 

Currently, the company says, there’s a lack of understanding between the two groups. Drivers don’t want cyclists on the road and vice versa. Ford hopes that the new technology will help people to share the streets so that everyone can benefit. 

Ford Is Not The First To Have This Idea

Ford isn’t the first company in the world to trial this kind of technology. People have fitted some vehicles in the US with this technology already, especially on public transport where blind spots can be quite large. 

As technology changes, so too will the role of the car accident lawyer. As batteries become more versatile, we’re likely to see an explosion of transport options. Ebikes, for instance, will become much more common on the roads because of their low running costs and high performance. Legal professionals will need to take these new types of cases into account. 

Automakers such as Ford also need to respond by designing cars for this new environment. As the above example makes clear, driver error isn’t the only issue. Passenger oversight could also play a significant role too. Insurance companies need to factor this into their calculations in the future. 

When Is The New Tech Coming?

Ford hasn’t set a date for the release of the new technology yet. We’re still very much in the testing phase. The company, however, says that it will continue to develop the concept over the coming months and hopes to create a viable product. 

How exactly the vehicle will light up remains a matter for debate. Some designers imagine an emoji-style system where faces light upon the wing mirrors and doors to warn both drivers, passengers and cyclists of the danger. 

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Industrial Shredder Basics

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Industrial shredders are state-of-the-art devices that are used to efficiently shred every material, including tissues, plastics, boxes, and even rubber. Industrial shredders make for quick and efficient compaction and destruction of large volumes of waste material. Industrial shredders can also come with automatic feed systems that cut the cost of operations and maximize productivity. The best shredders will integrate cutting-edge technology to make for easy operations, with minimal human intervention. 

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Industrial Shredders In Recycling and Waste Management
Shredding systems are usually used for reducing the size of waste material using shredder blades. A shredder is usually thought of as a way to shred documents, but there are actually lots of kinds of shredder available to handle different kinds of material. 

Shredders are designed to reduce material in a wide range of recycling applications. Industrial shredders work well for aiding in the recycling of plastic, e-waste, scrap, tires, and wood. The raw material that is produced from the shredding process can be reused in a few different manufacturing processes, or for producing finished materials like mulch for landscaping. Industrial shredders are also sometimes known as granulators, grinders, hammer mills, and chippers. Whatever they’re called, the main purpose is the same – to reduce the size of different materials. 

In the waste management industry, industrials shredders are used for large-scale disposal systems used by municipal facilities and recycling units. These shredders can compact large amounts of waste like asphalt, rubber, plastics, and wood, to a much smaller size very quickly, often in minutes. Some shredders are used in landfills, where they are able to significantly reduce the volume of the waste, and help to accelerate the decomposition of biodegradable waste. 

More and more businesses today are now aiming to be more eco-conscious. An industrial shredder is a good option for a business to cut costs. Using an industrial shredder in the process of recycling is good way to reduce material volume, which then also reduces the cost of transporting and storage waste materials while you’re waiting to deal with it.

High torque, low-speed machines are able to minimize issues like the embedding of metal parts into plastic materials during the process of shredding. 

There are several types of shredder available on the market, depending on your needs. You can buy options for shredding paper, to plastic waste, to tires. Whichever type you need, the main benefit is regulatory compliance for the responsible disposal of sensitive business information and eco-friendly waste disposal. 

Most businesses can make use of a paper shredder. These are designed to safely shred and dispose of commercial and industrial paper waste. A strip-cut shredder has a single set of blades for cutting documents into strips. An industrial paper shredder is designed for a higher volume of shredding, in order to handle a large amount of paper waste or to dispose of sensitive documents in a safe way. A cross-cut shredder has two sets of blades for cutting documents into very small strips. This a very secure option for sensitive documents.

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What Are The Different Types Of CCTV Cameras?

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When it comes to selecting the correct CCTV (Closed Circuit TV) camera for you, there are a lot of different factors that need to be considered. This includes everything from technical requirements to the physical constraints that the site imposes. Because of this, a large number of CCTV cameras have been created to cater to the differing needs that people have. 

In this post, we are going to reveal more about the different types of CCTV cameras that you can choose from today.

CCTV basics

People use CCTV mainly for surveillance reasons, including security monitoring, spying, and safety monitoring. Home security companies will use these solutions in most home and commercial security projects today.

The different types of CCTV cameras available

There are a number of different features that can be used to categorize a CCTV camera, including the following:

  • The sort of images they capture
  • The number of frames that can be taken per minute
  • The type of connection to the monitor
  • The type of video recording device they offer
  • If they can be moved
  • If they have any special functions

There have been a lot of developments in CCTV cameras over the years. However, one feature a lot of the cameras come with today is night vision. This has now become a standard. It means the cameras have special technology so that low light images can be viewed and recorded.

Frames per second

When searching for the best CCTV camera system, this is a feature most people are interested in. The main chunk of solutions on the market today are going to be able to capture 30 frames or more per second, and do so with ease. Nevertheless, huge quantities of digital storage would be needed if every moment of every day was to be recorded. Needless to say, your reason for needing CCTV will dictate this. Six frames per second tend to be substantial if CCTV is being installed for monitoring reasons. 

Cameras with special accessories

As discussed, another aspect to consider when choosing a CCTV camera is the special security functions that come with the camera, as well as the tech behind them. If you need a CCTV camera for specialist use, for instance, if you need a CCTV system to spy on someone because you think you have a criminal in your business, there are smaller surveillance cameras on the market that have been designed with this specific use in mind. 

Do you need to move the camera?

Last but not least, you need to think about whether the camera needs to be moved remotely or not. These are known as Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) cameras. The camera can be moved by the person who controls the area’s surveillance, wither through an RF or a wired controller. As the name dictates, you can tilt the camera up and down, as well as moving it from left to right and right to left. Zooming in and out is also possible.

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