Rick Steves Europe: Radio Fundraiser

Travel with Rick Steves Fundraiser Modules: Details and Rundowns

Released September 14, 2011, for use through September 2012

Overview

This set of Travel with Rick Steves fundraiser modules will provide you with two hours of material. The contents of the first hour centers on the theme of practical travel advice that the show offers.

You can plan to use this material as two discreet hours, to air one in the fall and the other in the spring. Or you can use both hours together to create a two-hour Rick Steves fundraiser special. Modules from the second hour can also be extracted and added to the first hour's fundraiser modules, if you want to extend beyond one hour, to get a little more help fundraising from Rick.

Rick has also recorded two versions of a generic closing pitch that you can include in your closing local pitch break for Travel with Rick Steves. There's also a generic pitch from Rick that is appropriate for use in your local pitche breaks in Travel with Rick Steves, or in any of your fundraising breaks during other programming.

Our suggested rundowns will give you timing options for combining the funder materials and your local pitch breaks. We leave you enough time to include Rick's premium pitches during your local breaks, if you are offering the Rick Steves premium packages as thank you gifts during Travel with Rick Steves. We highly recommend you do so, based on the incredible success rate it has generated for stations who offer it.

Each hour has its own billboard, which we recommend you air, to set up the tone for the program coming up under a comprehensive theme, and so it sounds as much like the weekly show as possible, in order to not train listeners to tune away "because it's a fundraiser."

The modules contain "best of" excerpts from interviews in the past year or so, as well as material which has not been heard before on the broadcast.

As we have done in past years, each module ends with a generic public radio fundraising pitch from Rick. Rick opens the second and third modules in each hour with a brief reference to thank listeners for "doing your part" during the just-concluded pitch break.

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Rick Steves Fundraiser Premium Packages

The thank you gifts in the Rick Steves fundraising premium packages are designed to be offered for contributions of either $60 or $160. Station wholesale costs are low, and you only need to order as many sets of premiums as you will need to fulfill the pledges you received during the fundraiser.

If you'd like to offer a third level package with more Rick Steves material at a higher contribution level, you can contact Angie Kirkwood at Europe Through the Back Door for additional Rick Steves premiums that you can pitch locally.

Stations who have used these packages during their fundraising for Travel with Rick Steves have easily exceeded their goals for the hour by a wide margin. It works, so it's worth convincing your development director to offer the Rick Steves premium package, and make Travel with Rick Steves work even harder for your station.

You can include Rick's premium pitches in the middle of your local pitch breaks, or directly at the end of each module, before you start your local pitching. He describes the premiums, and the contribution levels of $60 and $160.

Some stations have also offered the Rick Steves premium package as a special Rick Steves-themed incentive during their local talk shows, and even during Morning Edition, with remarkably strong results. Details about ordering the Rick Steves Premium Package for the 2011 Travel with Rick Steves fundraiser are here.

The 2011/2012 Travel with Rick Steves premium package includes:

At a $60 contribution level (station wholesale cost = $9.00; Market Value: $22.95)
  • Latest edition of Rick's foundational travel skills book, "Europe Through the Back Door" (Avalon Travel Books)
  • Special full color edition of Smithsonian magazine "Travels with Rick Steves"
  • Rick Steves Tour Newsletter
At a $160 contribution level (station wholesale cost = $30.00; Market Value: $122.90)
  • "Rick Steves' All 90 Shows DVD Anthology 2000-2012" boxed set of the "Rick Steves' Europe" TV show, with extras: Rick's budget travel lecture, Rick's European Christmas special, Rick's public TV special on travel to Iran, and bloopers
  • 2012 edition of Rick's travel skills handbook "Europe Through the Back Door"
  • Special full color edition of Smithsonian magazine "Travels with Rick Steves"
  • Rick Steves Tour Newsletter

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Scheduling Rick for Custom Funder Appearance on your Station

Also keep in mind that we aim to make Rick available for a customized hour's fundraising each year for each affiliate who requests it. However, you should request a date at least a couple of months in advance, to make sure Rick will be available (i.e, to make sure he's not traveling) when you want him.

He's also glad to record custom funder spots and pitches, which we can do by ISDN with a local host on your end. To put in your request and to determine when Rick is available, contact either Travel with Rick Steves promotions agent Sheila Gerzoff at 510/540-0734 or by email sheila@sgintegratedmarketing.com, or contact Rick's publicist and scheduler Ashley Sytsma at 425/608-4293, or by email ashley@ricksteves.com.

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Airing the Travel with Rick Steves Fundraiser Material

The following rundowns give you options for how to air either hour, or both hours, of the latest Travel with Rick Steves fundraiser modules. On the following pages, we suggest start times for each segment, and lengths for your local pitch breaks, in order to time out correctly to one full hour. We recommend opening with the Billboard, even if you're going to go directly to the first module, so that it sounds like the weekly program, and to let Rick create an enthusiastic air of anticipation for what will air in the hour ahead.

If you're offering the Rick Steves premium package, alternate Rick's premium pitches during your local pitch breaks.

Rick has also recorded a short generic fundraising pitch (i.e., without mentioning premiums) that you can use in your local pitch breaks during Travel with Rick Steves. They will be especially helpful during your final pitch break. One of them is designed to be appropriate for airing in other fundraising programming, too.

Travel with Rick Steves FUNDER 2011 — HOUR 1 Rundown: Option A

This rundown option includes the first part of the network newscast (or a short pitch break after the billboard), and includes three segments (1A, 1B, and 1C). It will time out to one hour, and allows for three local pitch breaks of between roughly five and six minutes each.

Run Time Segment (Length)
00:00 - 01:00

Billboard — Hour 1

outQ: (theme music out)

 (1:00)
01:00 - 04:00

NPR or BBC Newscast 1, or Local Pitch

(insert part one of the hourly newscast, or do a short local pitch. Or, you can skip the newscast, move the rest of the modules up earlier and change the segment start times accordingly, to give you additional time for local pitching later in the hour.)

 (3:00)
04:00 -15:02

Segment 1 A

Practical travel tips — flight tips

Guest: John DiScala, aka "Johnny Jet"

 

inQ: "Hi, I'm Rick Steves. One of our goals each week on Travel with Rick Steves is..."
outQ: "This is a perfect opportunity to become a contributing member of public radio." (music fade)

 

Music credit: Quincy Jones, "Soul Bossa Nova," Cocktail Mix, vol. 2 (collection) / Rhino

 (11:02)
15:02 - 20:00

Local Pitch Break

(include Rick's premium pitch A in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package. It runs 2:20.)

 (4:58)
20:00 - 36:05

Segment 1 B

Practical travel tips — around the world luggage free, and "flashpacking" in Europe

Guests:

Travel writer Rolf Potts

Andy Steves, Rick's son

 

inQ: "Together, we're making public radio strong..."
 outQ: "...to help public radio thrive for years to come. Thank you." (slow music fade)

 

Music credits:

LAGQ, "'Seguidilla' from 'Carmen Suite,'" LAGQ Latin / Telarc;

St. Germain, "What You Think About," Tourist / Blue Note

 (16:06)
36:06 - 42:00

Local Pitch Break

(include Rick's premium pitch B in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package. It runs 2:08)

(5:54)
42:00 - 53:30

Segment 1 C

Practical travel tips — seeing the Cluny Museum in Paris; Finding the Tao in your travels

 

Guests:

Elisabeth vanHest, tour guide based in Paris

Paul Theroux, author of "The Tao of Travel"

inQ: "Public radio is an important service...."
 outQ: "Thanks again for being such an important part of this service we call 'public radio.'" (music out)

 

Music credit: Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, "'Polka' from 'John Field Suite,'" Orchestral Suites of the British Isles / CBC Records

 (11:30)
53:00 - 1:00:00

Local Pitch Break

(repeat one of Rick's premium pitches if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package)

 

Your closing local pitch break can also include the Generic pitch close-version 1-vox only (1:32), or mixed (1:33) from Rick.

inQ: "Thanks for joining us today on Travel with Rick Steves. Keeping public radio strong in our communities is a very important issue to me."
outQ: "Thank you so much. (music out) And happy travels."

 

Or you can include the Rick Steves generic pitch (for use in all programming) — vox only (1:12) here, or elsewhere in fundraising during other programs.
inQ: "I'm Rick Steves from Travel with Rick Steves, and I want to take just a moment to explain to you why I care so much about public radio."

outQ: "Thank you so much. And happy travels."		 (6:30)
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Travel with Rick Steves FUNDER 2010 — HOUR 1 rundown: Option B

This version includes the full hourly network newscast, or a combination newscast/mini pitch break after the billboard, and local pitch breaks of roughly five minutes each.

If you would like to extend the program beyond one hour, you can use any of the second hour pitch modules, or continue with the full second hour.

Rick has also recorded some "generic pitches." One of them is designed to be included in your closing pitch break during Travel with Rick Steves.

You can also include Rick's generic pitch (runs 1:12, vox only) in any of your breaks. It's particularly suited to air near the end of the show, and is designed to be appropriate outside of Travel with Rick Steves, too.

Run Time Segment (Length)
00:00 - 01:00

Billboard — Hour 1

outQ: (theme music out)

 (1:00)
01:00 -6:00

NPR or BBC newscast 1 with 2-minute local mini-pitch break, or full newscast 1 and 2

(insert part one of the hourly newscast, or do a short local pitch. Or, you can skip the newscast, move the rest of the modules up earlier and change the segment start times accordingly, to give you additional time for local pitching later in the hour)

 (5:00)
06:00 - 17:02

Segment 1 A (11:02)

Practical travel tips — getting what you want on the airplane

Guest: John DiScala, aka "Johnny Jet"

 

inQ: "Hi, I'm Rick Steves. One of our goals each week on Travel with Rick Steves is..."
outQ: "this is a perfect opportunity to become a contributing member of public radio." (music fade)

 

Music credit: Quincy Jones, "Soul Bossa Nova," Cocktail Mix, vol. 2 (collection) / Rhino

(11:02)
17:02 - 22:00

Local pitch break

(include Rick's premium pitch A in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package. It runs 2:20.)

 (4:58)
22:00 - 38:05

Segment 1 B (16:06)

Practical travel tips — around the world luggage free, and "flashpacking" in Europe

 

Guests:

Travel writer Rolf Potts
Andy Steves, Rick's son

inQ: "Together, we're making public radio strong..."
 outQ: "to help public radio thrive for years to come. Thank you." (slow music fade)

 

Music credits:

LAGQ, "'Seguidilla' from 'Carmen Suite," LAGQ Latin / Telarc;

St. Germain, "What You Think About," Tourist / Blue Note		 (16:06)
38:06 - 43:00

Local pitch break

(include Rick's premium pitch B in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package. It runs 2:08)

 (4:54)
43:00 - 54:30 Segment 1 C

Practical travel tips — seeing the Cluny Museum in Paris; Finding the Tao in your travels

 

Guests:

Elisabeth vanHest, tour guide based in Paris
Paul Theroux, author of "The Tao of Travel"

 

inQ: "Public radio is an important service..."

outQ: "Thanks again for being such an important part of this service we call 'public radio.'" (music out)

 

Music credit: Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, "'Polka' from 'John Field Suite,'" Orchestral Suites of the British Isles / CBC Records

 (11:30)
54:30-1:00.00 Local Pitch Break

(repeat either Rick's premium pitch A or B if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package)

 

Your closing local pitch break can include the Generic pitch close-version 1-vox only (1:32), or mixed (1:33) from Rick.

inQ: "Thanks for joining us today on Travel with Rick Steves. Keeping public radio strong in our communities is a very important issue to me."
outQ: "Thank you so much. (music out) And happy travels."

 

Or you can include the Rick Steves generic pitch (for use in all programming) - vox only (1:12) here, or elsewhere in fundraising during other programs.

inQ: "I'm Rick Steves from Travel with Rick Steves, and I want to take just a moment to explain to you why I care so much about public radio."

outQ: "Thank you so much. And happy travels." 		(9:21)
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Travel with Rick Steves FUNDER 2010 — HOUR 2 rundown: Option C

This version uses Hour 2 of the 2011 Funder, and includes the first part of the network newscast (or a short pitch break after the billboard). It features three segments (2A, 2B, and 2C). It will time out to one hour, and allows for three local pitch breaks of a bit longer than 6 minutes each.

Run Time Segment (Length)
1.00:00 - 1.01:00

Billboard — Hour 2

outQ: (theme music out)

 (1:00)
01:00.00 - 04:00.00

NPR or BBC Newscast 1, or Local Pitch

(insert part one of the hourly newscast, or do a short local pitch. Or move the rest of the modules up earlier and change the segment start times accordingly, to give you additional time for local pitching later in the hour)

 (3:00)
1.04:00 - 1.17:53

Segment 2 A

Rediscovering the Atlantic Ocean; How the French Play the Game of Life

 

Guests:

Travel writer Simon Winchester, author of "Atlantic"
Journalist Elaine Sciolino, author of "La Seduction"

 

inQ: "Hi, I'm Rick Steves. Thanks for joining us as we continue to explore the wonders of our world..."
outQ: "Thank you so much." (slow music fade)

 

Music credits:

Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel, cond., "Calypso," Sailing / Telarc

Jean-Luc Ponty, " In Spiritual Love," Individual Choice / Atlantic

 (13:53)
1.17:53 - 1.24:00

Local Pitch Break

(include Rick's premium pitch B in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package. It runs 2:08)

(6:07)
1.24:00 - 1.34:18

Segment 2 B

Celtic Singing Cultures

 

Guests:

Martin DeLewandowicz, tour guide based in Wales
Stephen McPhilemy, tour guide and hostel owner based in Northern Ireland

 

inQ: "We're so grateful for everyone who supports public radio."
 outQ: "Please. Give us a call now. Thanks a lot." (slow music fade)

 

Music credit: Martyn Bennett, "Shputnik in Glenshiel," Bothy Culture / Rkyodisc

 (10:18)
1.34:18 - 1.41:00

Local Pitch Break

(include Rick's premium pitch A in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package. It runs 2:20.)

 (6:42)
1.41:00 - 1.53:03

Segment 2 C

American Civil War Sites; Afternoon Tea in London

 

Guests:

Filmmaker Ken Burns, producer of "The Civil War" PBS miniseries
Britt Lonsdale, Blue Badge guide from London

 

inQ: "Thanks so much for doing your part to keep public radio strong and healthy."
 outQ: "To make sure it keeps coming your way, call in your support right now. Thanks."

 

Music credits:

Jay Unger, Evan Stover, Matt Glaser, Molly Mason, "Ashokan Farewell," The Civil War: Original Soundtrack Recording / Nonesuch

Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Sir Georg Solti, cond., "'Overture' to 'Cosi fan tutti' (Mozart)," Mozart: Cosi fan tutti / Decca

 (14:24)
1.53:03 - 2.00:00

Local Pitch Break

(repeat either Rick's premium pitch A or B if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package)

 

Your closing local pitch break can include Rick's Generic pitch close-version 1 (1:32 vox only, or 1:33 mixed) or Generic pitch close-version 2 (1:28 vox only).
version 1 inQ: "Thanks for joining us today on Travel with Rick Steves. Keeping public radio strong in our communities is a very important issue to me."
outQ: "Thank you so much. (music out) And happy travels."

 

version 2 inQ: "I'm Rick Steves from Travel with Rick Steves, and I want to take just a moment to explain to you why I care so much about public radio."

outQ: "Thank you so much. And happy travels." 		(6:57)
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Travel with Rick Steves FUNDER 2010 — HOUR 2 rundown: Option D

This version includes the full hourly network newscast, or a combination newscast/mini pitch break following the billboard, and local pitch breaks of roughly 6 minutes each.

Don't forget you can include Rick's generic pitch (runs 1:12, vox only) in any of your breaks. It's particularly suited to air near the end of the show, and is designed to be appropriate outside of Travel with Rick Steves, too.

Run Time Segment (Length)
1.00:00 - 1.01:00

Billboard — Hour 2

outQ: (theme music out)

 (1:00)
01:01.00 -1.06.00

NPR or BBC newscast 1 with 2-minute local mini-pitch break, or full newscast 1 and 2

(insert part one of the hourly newscast, or do a short local pitch. Or, you can skip the newscast, move the rest of the modules up earlier and change the segment start times accordingly, to give you additional time for local pitching later in the hour)

 (5:00)
1.06:00 - 1.19:38

Segment 2 A

Rediscovering the Atlantic Ocean; How the French Play the Game of Life

 

Guests:

Travel writer Simon Winchester, author of "Atlantic"
Journalist Elaine Sciolino, author of "La Seduction"

 

inQ: "Hi, I'm Rick Steves. Thanks for joining us as we continue to explore the wonders of our world..."
outQ: "Thank you so much."(slow music fade)

 

Music credits:

Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel, cond., "Calypso," Sailing / Telarc

Jean-Luc Ponty, "In Spiritual Love," Individual Choice / Atlantic

 (13:38)
1.19:59 - 1.26:00

Local pitch break

(include Rick's premium pitch B in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package. It runs 2:08)

 (6:21)
1.26:00 - 1.36:08

Segment 2 B

Celtic Singing Cultures

 

Guests:

Martin DeLewandowicz, tour guide based in Wales
Stephen McPhilemy, tour guide and hostel owner based in Northern Ireland

 

inQ: "We're so grateful for everyone who supports public radio."
 outQ: "Please. Give us a call now. Thanks a lot." (slow music fade)

 

Music credit: Martyn Bennett, "Shputnik in Glenshiel," Bothy Culture / Rkyodisc

 (10:08)
1.36:09 - 1.42:00

Local pitch break

(include Rick's premium pitch A in this break if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package. It runs 2:20.)

(5:51)
1.42:00 - 1.54:03

Segment 2 C

American Civil War Sites; Afternoon Tea in London

 

Guests:

Filmmaker Ken Burns, producer of "The Civil War" PBS miniseries

Britt Lonsdale, Blue Badge guide from London

 

inQ: "Thanks so much for doing your part to keep public radio strong and healthy."
 outQ: "To make sure it keeps coming your way, call in your support right now. Thanks."

 

Music credits:

Jay Unger, Evan Stover, Matt Glaser, Molly Mason, "Ashokan Farewell," The Civil War: Original Soundtrack Recording / Nonesuch

Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Sir Georg Solti, cond., "'Overture' to 'Cosi fan tutti' (Mozart), Mozart: Cosi fan tutti / Decca

 (12:03)
1.54:03 - 2.00:00

Local Pitch Break

(repeat either Rick's premium pitch A or B if you are offering the Rick Steves premium package)

 

You can also include the Rick Steves generic pitch (1:12) in your local pitch break

outQ: "Thank you so much. And happy travels." 		(5:57)
Print Details | Download Segments

 

Rick Steves closing pitches and generic fundraising pitch (revised Sept. 2011)

Rick has included generic pitches about the value of public radio that you can use in your closing local pitch break during Travel with Rick Steves. We've provided two voice-only versions, and one mixed with music.

There's also a generic public radio fundraising pitch which is designed for you to include in other programming, as well as during Travel with Rick Steves.

Generic pitch close-version 1 - vox only (1:32)
inQ: "Thanks for joining us today on Travel with Rick Steves. Keeping public radio strong in our communities is a very important issue to me."
outQ: "Thank you so much. And happy travels."

Generic pitch close-version 1 - mixed (jazz)(1:33)
Generic pitch close-version 1 - mixed (classical) (1:33)
inQ: "Thanks for joining us today on Travel with Rick Steves. Keeping public radio strong in our communities is a very important issue to me."
outQ: "Thank you so much. (music out) And happy travels."

Music credits: Massimo Farao Trio, "Ode to Joy," The Classic Jazz Lounge / Azzurra Music; Academy of Ancient Music, cond. Christopher Hogwood, Stephen Lubin, fortepiano, "Piano concerto No. 1, III-Rondo: Allegro (Beethoven)," Editions de L'Oiseau-Lyre (sampler) / L'Oiseau-Lyre

Generic pitch close-version 2 - vox only (1:28)
inQ: "I'm Rick Steves from Travel with Rick Steves, and I want to take a moment to explain why I care so much about public radio."
outQ: "Thank you so much. And happy travels."

Rick Steves generic pitch (for use in all programming) - vox only (1:12)
inQ: "I'm Rick Steves from Travel with Rick Steves, and I want to take just a moment to explain to you why I care so much about public radio."
outQ: "Thank you so much. And happy travels."

If you'd like additional fundraiser modules and generic pitches from Rick, you can select material from the 2010 Travel with Rick Steves fundraiser as well as modules uploaded in 2009.

Rick Steves Premium Package Pitches (revised Sept. 2011)

Rick has voiced two different pitches in which he describes his latest premium package for Travel with Rick Steves. Choose from the voice-only versions, or the optional versions with music beds included for maximum effect.

Rick's premium pitch A - vox only (2:20)
inQ: "To encourage your financial support of this great radio station..."
outQ: "Please, call now and show your support for public radio. Thanks."

Rick's premium pitch A - mixed with music (2:20)
 inQ: "To encourage your financial support of this great radio station..."
outQ: "After all, this is your public radio station. And it's only possible with your help. Thanks a lot." (music out)

Music credit: Bob James and Earl Klugh, " Fugitive Life," So Much In Common / Warner Bros.

Rick premium pitch B - vox only (2:08)
inQ: "To encourage you to call in now, we've put together a fun set of thank you gifts..."
outQ: "after all, this is your public radio station."

Rick premium pitch B — mixed with music (2:11)
inQ: "To encourage you to call in now, we've put together a fun set of thank you gifts..."
outQ: "after all, this is your public radio station." (quick music fade)

Music credit: Andy Narell, "We Kinda Music," Little Secrets / Windham Hill Jazz

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Download Travel with Rick Steves fundraiser segments

(for use Sept 2011 thru Sept 2012)

.MP3 files .MP2 files
Billboard, Hour 1 (1:00) hr1_billboard.mp3 hr1_billboard.mp2
Segment 1 A (11:02) seg1a.mp3 seg1a.mp2
Segment 1 B (16:06) seg1b.mp3 seg1b.mp2
Segment 1 C (11:30) seg1c.mp3 seg1c.mp2
     
Billboard, Hour 2 (1:00) hr2_billboard.mp3 hr2_billboard.mp2
Segment 2 A (13:51) seg2a.mp3 seg2a.mp2
Segment 2 B (10:14) seg2b.mp3 seg2b.mp2
Segment 2 C (12:03) seg2c.mp3 seg2c.mp2
   
Generic pitch close-version 1 - vox only (1:32) pitch1_vox.mp3 pitch1_vox.mp2

Generic pitch close-version 1 - mixed (classical) (1:33)

 pitch1_mixedClassical.mp3 pitch1_mixedClassical.mp2

Generic pitch close-version 1 - mixed (jazz) (1:33)

 pitch1_mixedJazz.mp3 pitch1_mixedJazz.mp2
     

Generic pitch close-version 2 - vox only (1:28)

 pitch2_vox.mp3 pitch2_vox.mp2
   
Generic Rick Steves pitch for all pgmmg - vox only (1:12) generic_vox.mp3 generic_vox.mp2
     
2011 Premium Package Pitch A - vox only (2:20) packageA_vox.mp3 packageA_vox.mp2
2011 Premium Package Pitch A - mixed (2:20) packageA_mixed.mp3 packageA_mixed.mp2
     
2011 Premium Package Pitch B - vox only (2:08) packageB_vox.mp3 packageB_vox.mp2
2011 Premium Package Pitch B - mixed (2:10) packageB_mixed.mp3 packageB_mixed.mp2

 

If you'd like additional fundraiser modules and generic pitches from Rick, you can select material from the 2010 Travel with Rick Steves fundraiser as well as modules uploaded in 2009.


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