When did you start blogging and why? I started blogging in 2006 while traveling. I had been writing a mass email at the time, explaining where I was and what I was doing but found it easier to post it online and that way people could come and look at it when they wanted and it would all be in the same place. However, blogging was fairly new to me and my friends and family and I did not really get many comments for a long time!
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| Egypt 2010 |
What was your first blog post about? Here is my first post (excuse the naivete and bad formatting! I swear, I got more polished eventually) It was about a bus ride from hell that went from Laos to Vietnam. It was a long ride, it was hot, our bus broke down...but here is the silver lining, according to 2006 me: After the breakdown there were really no problems except that I saw a bucket of pigs feet soaking in water right near the toilets and I thought how glad I am that I am a vegetarian... (FYI: I am no longer a vegetarian).
What is your most used label and why? I am going to cheat on my own question and answer the top three. Feel free to do the same. Lists (314 times), Travel (243), Running (233). And why? Lists is so general and crosses a lot of other categories. Travel makes me glad, since this is the travel spot, not the running spot or the food spot. Running has been around for long enough that it makes a podium spot, I guess!
What is your most viewed post? And why do you think this is the case? Stephany is going to get a kick out of this, but my top post is actually a guest post that she wrote about theme parks in Orlando. I am guessing it is because it has the word Disney in it. The second most popular is a post I wrote about strange signs you find when abroad. I am guessing it was popular because I used the word $ex in one of the captions... Mr. Lovely's 10 reasons why Nepal is better than India was also a big hit.
Do you answer comments on your blog? If so, what method do you use (email, post on blog, etc.)? I do answer comments! I used to always respond via email because if the commenter put in their email, blogger would send the comment to my email and I could just reply to the person via direct email. It seems that is not really the case as much, and so a lot of people don't have their email linked, so I just reply on the blog itself. However, I find that harder, since the person has to go back and check rather than knowing I responded, so I do try to email people back if I have their info. NOTE: If you are anonymous, please state your name in the comment so I know who you are (unless you don't want me to).
Do you go back to see if a blog post that you commented on got replies? If so, how do you keep track? Yes, I do go back, although it is much more helpful if I get an email letting me know that there is a response. Probably only a handful of the people I follow have this though. So my current method is to keep the tab open to the comment and then check it later to see if there is a response, although this is not really a very efficient method. I will be interested to hear if people have tips or tricks for this.
What blog that you still read now have you read the longest? This won't come as a surprise to most of you, but I have to give a shoutout to my OG Lisa. A down to earth Mom of two living in MN and working in the finance industry, she gets it done! Also, she commented on my site when nobody else did, regularly! I have a lot of one comment posts from the beginning and it is almost guaranteed it is her. She is thoughtful and responsive and she taught me that it is okay to go out on a limb and support another blogger as they get started, even if you are the only one. Thanks Lisa! (P.S. there are so many other great people out there, and I just can't stress how important ALL of these connections are!)
Do you post on other forms of social media regularly? If so, where? I am very poor at most other social media forms. I have accounts, but rarely post! I don't get the same sense of connection from most of them and I also find myself wasting time on them when I do log on (as in looking at posts on FB of the children of a girl I met while traveling in Australia in 2006 who I have not kept in touch with).
If you talk about people in your real life, do you use their real names? I may have at the beginning, when nobody read my "online journal" but as I started to gain traction, I made code names for most people. Perhaps it's overkill, especially with all of the things that we all post online these days, but I still want to respect other people's privacy as much as possible.
If you could get paid to blog no matter what you are writing about, what would your focus/theme be? I would probably write about travel, but I would hopefully have to be traveling in order to get fodder! However, even if it was just about past travels, it would probably still be fun.
Your turn!
When did you start blogging and why?
What was your first blog post about?
What is your most used label and why?
What is your most viewed post? And why do you think this is the case?
Do you answer comments on your blog? If so, what method do you use (email, post on blog)?
Do you go back to see if a blog post that you commented on got replies? If so, how do you keep track?
What blog that you still read now have you read the longest?
Do you post on other forms of social media regularly? If so, where?
If you talk about people in your real life, do you use their real names?
If you could get paid to blog no matter what you are writing about, what would your focus/theme be?
Please feel free to answer any or all of the questions including links if you like! If you do not have a blog, feel free to tell me when you started reading blogs and what kind of blog you like reading the best! Or if you are a private writer or journal keeper, what do you normally write about?
When did you start blogging and why? 2021; I had wanted to re-start blogging but always felt like it would feel like a "burden" since I tend to be a completist. I was doing a test study for Laura Vanderkam and one of her "rules" was Three times a week is a habit. I committed to posting 3x/week and haven't really stopped.
ReplyDeleteWhat was your first blog post about? Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good (or the done).
What is your most used label and why? Hmmm. Happy Things Friday?
What is your most viewed post? And why do you think this is the case? Colleen's guest post! She has A LOT of readers and I think that kicked many my way <3
Do you answer comments on your blog? If so, what method do you use (email, post on blog)? Yes. I post them on my blog.
Do you go back to see if a blog post that you commented on got replies? If so, how do you keep track? Sometimes, but I'm pretty terrible about this.
What blog that you still read now have you read the longest? Young House Love (they don't post very frequently anymore, though).
Do you post on other forms of social media regularly? If so, where? Nope. I don't have any social media!
If you talk about people in your real life, do you use their real names? I do sometimes. I've switched to just using initials for my kids, but I post my name + my husband's name.
If you could get paid to blog no matter what you are writing about, what would your focus/theme be? Same stuff I'm writing about now? Lifestyle? I'd LOVE to get paid to do travel posts, though I guess that takes some of the relatability out of the posts? I think I'd like to work for a travel agency or, say, a Canadian tourism website. So I'd not be posting on my personal sight, but could travel and review places/activities.
Did Young House Love have a podcast? That sounds really familiar, although I don't think I read their blog (?), but to be honest I used to read A LOT and that is kind of why I took a hiatus; it became too much to keep up with them all! So I, who am also a completist, just quit fully. I am very all or none. Speaking of, I wish I could go back and read your first blog post because that is EXACTLY what I am talking about! In fact, I almost did not post today because it was Tuesday and I normally post on Monday and I normally pre-schedule and it was already past my normal scheduling time. I know... sigh. (PS - no social media! Love it!)
DeleteYou are my OG, too! I think you were traveling across the US with Mr Lovely when I first started to read your blog 10+ years ago! We really go back and are like the grandmas of our blogging generation. Lol. And you are one of my husband’s favorite people, too!
ReplyDeleteWhen did you start blogging and why? My origin story is similar - I started my first blog (An American Girl in France) to keep family and friends updated during a 3 week trip to Paris during grad school. Then I loved writing so much that I started this blog! For a long time my only readers were my mom and aunt!
What was your first blog post about? My first posts, besides my intro post, were book reviews. I used to write really thoughtful book reviews.
What is your most used label and why? I would guess five things Friday (writing this comment on my phone on a plane so don’t have the earliest access to that data).
What is your most viewed post? And why do you think this is the case? My most popular post each year is my spending review. I don’t find it surprising as I think we are all nosey and probably like a peek into how people spend their money. Some of my RA posts are also popular, like the one on my first bad flare.
Do you answer comments on your blog? If so, what method do you use (email, post on blog)? I used to use your old approach of responding to their email but then so many were anonymous. I recently switched over to disqus - I like that my response to a comment is emailed to the person!
Do you go back to see if a blog post that you commented on got replies? If so, how do you keep track? There are a few blogs where I almost always go back and check - Nicole, Elisabeth, and Jenny! I go back because they almost always respond. I love it when I get an email about their response which is the case with Kae’s blog!
What blog that you still read now have you read the longest? Your blog and Stephany!
Do you post on other forms of social media regularly? If so, where? Nope. I don’t have any social media accounts.
If you talk about people in your real life, do you use their real names? I do. I am being more careful about what I share about the boys as they get older. But I am always mindful that they will be able to read everything I wrote if they choose to in the future.
If you could get paid to blog no matter what you are writing about, what would your focus/theme be? Probably travel! Or financ
You do write thoughtful book reviews!! Even your little blurbs on GR are so helpful. I am so bad at that and I wish I were better because sometimes I go back to see if I read a book (since I can't remember -- ack) and I have but I only know the star rating and I have no idea why I did/did not like it! I wish I took better notes!
DeleteI like that Discus emails people that you replied, and I wish there was a way to do that in Blogger; it seems like WP is hit and miss, since Kae and Suzanne's email me, but not Nicole's, Elisabeth's or Jenny's (even though they are also WP). I still try to email people back if they have an email linked to their comment, as the back and forth is much of the fun!
Give Phil a hug for me and tell him that he is my favorite Minnesotan whose name starts with P who is older than 35. You can also tell him that he moved up after Prince died. :)
I took a class about being a professional artist, and one requirement was to have a website. Then I discovered I could add a blog, and it seemed like fun to write about drawing and sewing. Then I realized that I DON'T want to be a professional artist, I just want it to be for fun - but I enjoyed writing my blog, so I kept going. I didn't allow comments for the longest time! But now I've found a lovely blogging community and feel like I'm finding my voice, and it's wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI do check back on people's blogs for responses to my comments, and I really appreciate it when I get notified of a reply by email. I searched far and wide to find a plug-in that would work on my blog. It has the very utilitarian name "Comment Reply email Notification". I don't know if people use it or come back to look at my replies, but it's an option.
I'm definitely going to check back here to read everyone's comments because it's really helpful to see what other people do!
I think you are Wordpress? It seems like WP is better when it comes to having the ability to get email replies to comments. I can confirm that I do get an email when you reply to my comments on your blog! I am so glad that you added comments, as the community is the best part! I really wouldn't have kept up with blogging without the interaction (and friends) that it has given me over the years.
DeleteYesssss! Let's do this!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen did you start blogging and why?
- 2011 for pretty much the same reason as you - people were asking for my lunch recipes and I needed a place to just keep them all so that peeps could look at them or not as they wanted to.
What was your first blog post about?
- An apple pie recipe.
What is your most used label and why?
- Weekly eats, which will soon be over taken by weekly roundup. I really really could have done a better job with tagging, but at this point I can't imagine going back and trying to fix it. Sometimes I wonder if it's even worth it to tag things.
What is your most viewed post? And why do you think this is the case?
-Oddly enough it's my 2012 single girl staple for poached frozen chicken. Something that I would never eat now. My posts on the CPA exam and my payroll certification also get a lot of views.
Do you answer comments on your blog? If so, what method do you use (email, post on blog)?
-In a perfect world I would answer every comment and as it is I answer most comments. Sometimes if I get really busy I don't get around to it but that's becoming more rare. I just reply on the blog.
Do you go back to see if a blog post that you commented on got replies? If so, how do you keep track?
- I've just started doing this! I was wondering how on earth other people are keeping track, so I'll be coming back here to check for tips.
What blog that you still read now have you read the longest?
- My Open Wallet by Madam X. I've been following her since 200X, so for a very long time! She only posts about once a year but she's still posting!
Do you post on other forms of social media regularly? If so, where?
- Not consistently. I keep thinking about doing something with my Insta, but that's as far as I've gotten. In my "real" life I post weekly updates on my hiking challenge FB page. I used to write about my travels on my personal FB page, but somehow I got out of the habit.
If you talk about people in your real life, do you use their real names?
- No. I refer to people by their relationship to me - Hubs, Stepson #1, SIL #4, Doggo, etc. That way no one has to remember who "Bob" and "Tom" are.
If you could get paid to blog no matter what you are writing about, what would your focus/theme be?
- Exactly the same as I write about now. I wouldn't ever want to "have" to write about something. Sheesh, that's what my job is for. I like the freedom to write about travel, sound off about work, go on a tangent about some old movie that no one has ever heard of, or if I'm busy, just skip a post - oh hey that's what I'm doing this week!
Hi! I hope that you are back here reading this later this week! To comment on your tagging comment, I do think it is worth it, but I think I over tagged for sure. However, I do like being able to put a link to a certain place or subject later on, or find it for myself, as I was (am) a litle willy nilly with the titling of my posts and so need some sort of common thread to be able to find them again sometimes!
DeleteI am going to have to go and read your post about the CPA exam. Do you know that despite being in the thick of CFA land for three years, I don't think I posted about it at all!?! It's kind of like the other day when I made an offhanded comment about running and Coco asked if I ran and I realized that I barely talk about running anymore, despite being in the thick of that for nearly 20 years now! Can you believe it?
Re real names, I used to use them and then when people started reading more, I thought it best to protect the innocent, although now everyone has all of their S out there, so maybe they would not care as much anymore.
I am stealing these questions and making my own post about it! I will definitely link back to you. I love hearing about how your blog has evolved throughout the years. Some of my early posts make me cringe (I guess I didn't understand paragraph breaks?).
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about bloggers who have been around a while. Why do you still blog? Is that different from your original reason of wanting to share with family and friends? I still have so many questions for you!!
Woohoo, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! My early posts make me cringe too; the formatting was awful. I used to be inconsistent with fonts and now that drives me crazy. Pick one and stick with it, and preferably not a flowery loopy one! I guess I had to learn on my own time.
DeleteWhy do I still blog? I think it began as a sort of diary, which I guess it still is to an extent but once I learned that blogging was a community and not just a one sided retelling of events, I started getting into it more. That is also why I still blog; I like finding connections with people; this can be found in many ways, and blogging is one of them! None of my running friends want to talk about A Tree Grows in Brooklyn!
Very interesting post. It reminds me earlier days of blogging.
ReplyDeleteWhen did you start blogging and why? 2008 or so
What was your first blog post about? life of grad student, life, food, research struggles
What is your most used label and why? food, running, travel
What is your most viewed post? And why do you think this is the case? not sure how to find the stat
Do you answer comments on your blog? If so, what method do you use (email, post on blog)? mostly yes, replying to the post
Do you go back to see if a blog post that you commented on got replies? If so, how do you keep track? when i remember
What blog that you still read now have you read the longest? kath eats real food, fitnessista
Do you post on other forms of social media regularly? If so, where? no
If you talk about people in your real life, do you use their real names? no except my kids
If you could get paid to blog no matter what you are writing about, what would your focus/theme be? running, traveling, trying new food/recipes, books.
I also follow Kath, but have not checked out her blog in years! I used to follow a lot of food related blogs and fitness related blogs, but now I mostly just read lifestyle (?) blogs like yours. I know that a lot of people also post food related stuff on IG and YT but I never really got into the video format of food media.
DeleteSo I guess if we could all get paid, a lot of us would be talking about traveling!
When did you start blogging and why? It was 2008, and I wanted to do something creative. I thought I wrote well and I wanted to share that.
ReplyDeleteWhat was your first blog post about? Mother's Day.
What is your most used label and why? I have no idea!
What is your most viewed post? And why do you think this is the case? I don't ever look at my "stats" so I don't know!
Do you answer comments on your blog? If so, what method do you use (email, post on blog)? I do always answer comments, directly on the blog.
Do you go back to see if a blog post that you commented on got replies? If so, how do you keep track? I get notifications via wordpress.
What blog that you still read now have you read the longest? My friend Allison at Bibliomama, we are very dear friends and have been for a long time now.
Do you post on other forms of social media regularly? If so, where? Yes, on FB and IG. I enjoy those platforms a lot.
If you talk about people in your real life, do you use their real names? I do, but I don't talk about my husband or kids by name anymore. I mean, I used to use my kids' names but now I just refer to them as my sons. I have never referred to my husband by name on the blog - it wouldn't be hard to figure it out if anyone looked at my IG, but I prefer it that way. Otherwise I do use names but I don't talk about anyone unless I'm comfortable with them knowing I'm talking about them. I assume most people I know read my blog at least sometimes, and there are eyes everywhere.
If you could get paid to blog no matter what you are writing about, what would your focus/theme be? Pretty much the same as it is right now! I wouldn't change.
I love that you always answer comments! I find that back and forth one of the most fun things about blogging. I know some people don't care about that (or according to some, they don't check back, which is an interesting tidbit) but I like it a lot. When I used to reply via email I'd have marvelous back and forth over email which is how some of my relationships really grew. Now it's a little different, but I still love the exchange.
DeleteOoh, well let's see. I started blogging about four years ago- before that I was an avid blog reader and I eventually thought "hey, I could do this too! The blog I've been reading the longest is Hungry Runner Girl- back in the old days I only read running/vegan recipe blogs. It was through NaBloPoMo three years ago that I got connected with this current group of bloggers, and I love the community so much. I actually feel much closer to this community than to the original fitness bloggers I started out with (shhh! Don't tell them!) I guess my blog has evolved over the years, starting as a running blog (my first post was a recap of a virtual race I did during Covid) and now evolved into... a sort of lifestyle blog with lots of running thrown in? I mean... there's only so much you can say about running after a while.
ReplyDeleteI'm really bad about posting on other forms of social media. I tried to get into instagram but it was too overwhelming- just keeping up the blog is enough for me.
I see in the comments that Engie is going to make a whole post on this topic- that should be fun!
When I first started really getting more into running (2007) I started a separate running blog which I eventually merged as it was really just me talking to myself. I don't know if I ever got any comments! I also read a lot of running and food blogs back in the day!! I like talking about running so am happy for you to keep doing it!!
DeleteThank you for these inspiring questions.
ReplyDeleteWhen did you start blogging and why? March 2023! So, coming up on a year! Why?... I am in a mom group and would write these long "essays" about my days so I thought "you need something else, essays don't wrk on WhatsApp."
What was your first blog post about? I think it was about *why* I am blogging.
What is your most used label and why? No idea...
What is your most viewed post? And why do you think this is the case? No idea...
Do you answer comments on your blog? If so, what method do you use (email, post on blog)? I do but not consistently. Need to get better.
Do you go back to see if a blog post that you commented on got replies? If so, how do you keep track? I don't keep track. It overwhelms me.
What blog that you still read now have you read the longest? Ummm... Sarah Hart-Ungher? the shubox.com
Do you post on other forms of social media regularly? If so, where? Wordpress posts directly onto Facebook aftr I click "publish" but I don't go in and check.
If you talk about people in your real life, do you use their real names? Initials.
If you could get paid to blog no matter what you are writing about, what would your focus/theme be? Mom life, unplugged lol
Laos is something else, I loved it. Had fried tarantulas in Cambodia, tasted like bacon to me.
I never tried the bugs in SE Asia but had some great chapulines in México. Tasted just like popcorn!! I love trying all of that stuff and it was one reason that I stopped being a vegetarian....I felt too limited when traveling!
DeleteI love these questions! I may steal them and do a post on my own blog.
ReplyDeleteI am CRACKING UP that my little guest post from so long ago is still such a popular post. HAHAHA. I barely even GO to amusement parks these days!! I think Lisa is my OG blog commenter, too, at least from people who are still blogging today. She never misses!
Yes, she is good! It's also been fun to see her (and you!) develop and change over the years!
DeleteI can't wait to see your full post so I can hear your answers!
When did you start blogging and why?
ReplyDelete*I started writing a blog in 2005. I was teaching creative writing and always told my students that Writers Write. I didn't want to be a hypocrite, so I started my blog.
What was your first blog post about?
*It was a funny post about grocery shopping and Jude Law. (When he was still a sex god.)
What is your most used label and why?
*I don't know. Complaining, probably. Words, maybe?
What is your most viewed post? And why do you think this is the case?
*Not sure, but because I have a graphic with each post, sometimes that picture racks up the views. My semi-pornographic Santa Claus, for example, has to be behind the vast number of views that accompanying post has.
Do you answer comments on your blog?
*Absolutely I do, and I answer them right on the blog. I think it's the height of rudeness not to respond to Comments. And I like to encourage discussions among Commenters on my blog, which happens often. I love my Commenters. Why have Comments and not respond? Just so people can flatter your brilliance or something?
Do you go back to see if a blog post that you commented on got replies?
*Yes, if I know that writer responds. If not, then I skip it. And, honestly, if a writer doesn't respond to comments, I often just don't comment anymore. Why bother? I might continue reading, but that's it.
What blog that you still read now have you read the longest?
*I started reading a lot of blogs at once, so it's hard to remember. Probably Thinking About by Julie, who I've also met and hung around with in person in California. We go way back to about 2005-6.
If you talk about people in your real life, do you use their real names?
*I use my family's real first names. I used pseudonyms for my students and colleagues. I haven't used my last name. I'm a private individual when it comes right down to it, just chatty.
If you could get paid to blog no matter what you are writing about, what would your focus/theme be?
*I like to think of myself as a cultural commentator. Still, I can write about almost anything.
Nance, I love your answer to these two questions -- (1) Do you answer comments on your blog? (2) Do you go back to see if a blog post that you commented on got replies?
DeleteI feel the exact same way! I especially love this line: "Why have Comments and not respond? Just so people can flatter your brilliance or something?" Exactly! What am I, Matt Damon? Last time I checked, I was not. I wonder if the people who don't comment back read all of them comments on their posts. I assume they do but with no reply it is hard to tell sometimes.
I am also fully in agreement with this line: "And, honestly, if a writer doesn't respond to comments, I often just don't comment anymore." The only caveat I would say here is that if they come and read and comment on my blog, I will likely continue to comment on theirs, as I feel that maybe that is their way of engaging, even though it is not my style.
I really like this! I think I will do it on my blog soon. We all like to look behind the curtain, right?
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see what your answers are! I agree that we do all like a look behind the curtain and it is fun to compare where we all are and see the similarities and differences!
DeleteI can't copy and paste due to copywrite (never seen that before) so I'll just answer a few questions. I've been blogging since Labor Day 2004, don't know how to figure out stats, and have been reading my friend's blog since 2004; she's the person who encouraged me to start writing. I would like to blog short stories and be more creative on my blog although I don't feel like I'm a very creative person. I comment via email because typepad doesn't notify my commenter or me if there has been a response.
ReplyDeleteHi Margaret! Sorry about that! If you highlight the text and push CTRL-C that should copy it, then CTRL-V to paste it (only the right click function is not allowed due to copywrite), you should be good next time! I did that so that people would not use my photos, but it is kind of a pain.
DeleteSo you are nearing your 20 year mark! That is a long time and it's pretty cool that we all have stuck to something for so long! It makes me kind of proud, to be honest.
This is such a fun post and I am so happy to see other bloggers have been answering these questions, too... I think I'll also answer them in a blog post rather than here.
ReplyDeleteIt's so interesting how blogging has changed over time and I often wonder about people who gave up blogging... it felt like a little "death" not to be able to follow their lives anymore (unless you managed to establish an offline friendships). I am also intrigued by bloggers like you (and me and a few others) who stuck around for so long. It's amazing to look back on such a long history of sharing and writing online.
It is amazing to look at the history! Also re sticking around, some people (you and a few others) kept going strong the whole time. I had a bit of burnout where it was just too much to keep up with it all and life happened and I started to feel guilty if I did not log in and comment, so I kind of went dark for a little while. However, I really missed the connections so I eventually came crawling back!
DeleteWow. Just wow. I'm amazed that Stephany wrote a post for you in 2013! I didn't realize you went that far back!
ReplyDeleteBTW, in the Blogger view that I have, I can click "Notify me" and it will let me know when someone posts another comment here. Usually, I can discern if the person is responding to me based on context, so I do get to see replies in that way!
I am glad you can see the replies that way! I wish there was an add on or something but I think Blogger has not added anything new in a while! When I first started you would follow people on Blogger and then I think that became Google somethingorother. However, it meant that everyone who followed put in their email address so you could just reply back to their actual email. I guess that has gone away mostly now, but they did not really put in a good alternative to replace it.
DeleteI met Lisa through her blog and I don't remember how I came across it but I loved her honest open style and that has not changed. I still read, and that is probably my longest running follow b/c a lot of friends who used to have blogs no longer write. I still keep mind b/c when I sit down and process that's often how I do it. I write solely for me although it's public. When I was in my nightmare first marriage I had a private blog that allowed me to write everything out and process without being accesible b/c when I had shared honestly about what was happening it created drama, which looking back I can understand that it was an abusive situation but when you're in it you likely don't understand the gravity. I'm so glad all of that is far far behind me now! I haven't looked back at posts in a long time but I will sometimes go back and read. Some of my pictures I think have been taken down or lost over time. The comments thing, I never could figure out how to link my email when blogger changed over many years ago. I just keep writing and while I love comments and interacting my blog has very little traffic these days, I also have let a month go by without writing anything so I'm not exactly consistent either. I love IG and that is where I tend to keep up with people.
ReplyDeleteMy friend K had a bad marriage and some of the things she had in writing really helped her in the custody/alimony/child support battle. So it is probably good that you have the private blog, not just to vent your feelings but also as a written log of what was happening in case you needed it. It is still a little he said/she said, but I think it helps a little to have a record.
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ReplyDelete