400 LIFE MAY 2022
SPAULDING INJURY LAW
‘Real Lawyers Helping Real People’ Attorney, his team work hard to help clients, community
Plus: 5 overnight hikes in North Georgia we LOVE
ALSO: It’s important to set boundaries for mental wellness | Local veteran nominated for Georgia Author of the Year Lawyer: How to navigate medical treatment, injury cases Post COVID
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I have been fortunate to have never been in a wreck or other accident that left me needing counsel. But many haven’t been as lucky, and that can make your life impossible to navigate. Attorney Theodore Spaulding is aware of the reputation some in the personal injury side of law have. So in 2018, when he founded Spaulding Injury Law, he wanted to do things differently. He built a team who works for its community and he takes pride in the help he can provide. I met the whole team, and you can see they have the drive to help people in what could seem like an impossible situation. And with the weather turning warmer and warmer, it’s time to get outside. Try one of these overnight hikes in north Georgia. You don’t have to be a pro to do one of them either. Local author Larry Freeland told us about his new book in early 2021, and now he’s nominated for the the Georgia Author of the Year awards for the ‘first novel’ category. He also has a trilogy he’s working on, with the first in the series coming out soon. This month, our mental health columnist tells us how to set boundaries and make yourself a priority. — Tracie Pike
contributors Publisher Stephanie Woody Managing Editor Tracie Pike Special contributors Jennifer Colosimo Alexander Popp Erica Jones Photographer Ben Hendren Kelly Whitmire
4 Meet the team at Spaulding Injury Law Spaulding Injury Law is a full-service personal injury and wrongful death law firm. Theodore Spaulding and his team are true trial lawyers, meaning they’re not interested in the potential personal payout, but instead ready, willing, and able to take any one of their clients’ cases to trial, if necessary, to get justice for them and get them back on their feet.
10 World’s Best Adventures Check out five of our favorite 2-day/1-night backpacking trips in North Georgia, that virtually any new backpacker can handle.
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14 KNOW YOUR
RIGHTS: How to navigate medical treatment, injury cases Post COVID.
16 Local veteran
nominated for Georgia Author of the Year. May 2022 | 400 LIFE | 3
Meet the team at Spaulding Injury Law, from left, administrative assistant Lauren Tapley, paralegal Elizabeth Sanchez paralegal Katherine Wunder and lawyer Damon Daugherty. 4 | 400 LIFE | May 2022
The Good Lawyer How one local attorney is working for change Story by Jennifer Colosimo | Photos by Kelly Whitmire
T
heodore Spaulding has been a personal injury trial lawyer for nearly two decades. He’s practiced with a handful of firms throughout his career, but as he progressed, he realized the general public opinion of his profession did not. In fact, it was getting worse every year; but Spaulding wanted to change that. He took great pride in the kind of help his line of work could offer his clients, and how it could change lives well beyond a court case or settlement. So, in 2018, he founded Spaulding Injury Law to guarantee he could do things differently, and since then he’s worked to build a team who works for its community. “I wanted to help the community truly needing help recovering from an injury or the loss of a loved one due to the negligence of another,” Spaulding said. “The industry has a really bad image, and for good reason, and we want to change that by getting back to what lawyers are supposed to be doing for the community. That is truly helping them through a tough time and doing the real legal work
Continues, Page 6
z, lawyer Theodore Spaulding,
May 2022 | 400 LIFE | 5
The industry has a really bad image, and for good reason, and we want to change that by getting back to what lawyers are supposed to be doing for the community. – Theodore Spaulding, owner of Spaulding Injury Law
The team at Spaulding Injury Law provide the “absolute best customer service in the industry where you actually talk to your lawyer on a regular basis, get updates regularly, and most importantly provide what I call relentless effort on the client’s case.”
necessary to advocate appropriately for their best interests. “Recently [we had a client who] was in a horrific motorcycle wreck and didn’t have enough coverage to get them in a place where all his bills, etc. were covered,” Spaulding said. “He was in the military with several young children, so it was devastating.” “I was able to work with the insurance company to come up with a novel way to what remained of the at-fault party’s property damage be used to help compensate the client for his injuries — and it made a world of difference for him and his young family,” he said. “It was truly a unique and innovative way to gain additional compensation so desperately needed, and just took some drive to not give up on the client’s behalf and to think outside the box. “Being able to do those types of things is what
6 | 400 LIFE | May 2022
Damon Daugherty is one of the attorneys at Spaulding Injury Law.
keeps me doing this job every single day, because it truly helps other people who sometimes are in horrible binds being injured, out of work, and not getting enough to get back up on their feet.” Spaulding Injury Law is a full-service personal injury and wrongful death law firm. In fact, that’s all they do – injury and wrongful death cases – and his team are true trial lawyers, meaning they’re not interested in the potential personal payout, but instead ready, willing, and able to take any one of their clients’ cases to trial, if necessary, to obtain justice. That’s part of what motivates Spaulding to keep chasing after his dream of change. “What drives me, and therefore the culture of the firm, is trying to be part of a change in the perception of injury lawyers in the eyes of the public,” he said, nodding to his story above. “We do this by following our motto: ‘Real Lawyers Helping Real People.’ “We provide the absolute best customer service in the industry where you actually talk to your lawyer on a regular basis, get updates regularly, and most importantly provide what I call relentless effort on the client’s case.
Continues, Page 8
Lauren Tapley, administrative assistant for the Spauling, helps keep the office running smooth.
May 2022 | 400 LIFE | 7
Paralegals Katherine Wunder, above, and Elizabeth Sanchez, below, are an essential part of the team at Spaulding Law.
“In this industry, in my opinion, too many lawyers pawn things off to staff and delay moving their clients’ cases forward. We do the opposite. The lawyers are doing most of the work and we are never the reason for any delay in a case moving forward.” His efforts have earned him the reputation he hopes to shape for his industry – one of honesty and hard work, on behalf of the people he’s working for. As a Cumming resident since 2006, and working in the local community full time since 2010, being here and doing good is important to him. “This is my hometown,” he said. “My four children are growing up here, and going to school here, and therefore, I want to help the community me and my family love so much in any way I can.” On that note, the firm is active in supporting its neighbors through sponsorship of local schools and charities. They’re a long-time sponsor of the annual Boulder Dash 5K/10K Run/Walk in Cumming, and soon-to-be sponsor for Forsyth County Parks and Recreation’s Fowler Park. In return, the community has made its
appreciation of Spaulding’s intimate team of trial lawyers and support staff quite well known. Plenty of Google reviews at five stars reveal that there is a better kind of lawyer out there for personal injury. “My favorite compliment is when the client says we have truly helped them feel better about their situation,” he said. “It shows that they trust us and recognize our commitment to their situation. It’s
important to us that the client feels completely comfortable at all times with us handling their case, so we provide excellent customer service and handle their case extremely professionally.” So even though most of these clients start from pain, if they’re a Spaulding client, they finish feeling a whole lot better. — Sponsored content
Contact information Where: 327 Dahlonega St., Suite 1004, Cumming, GA 30040 | Contact: 470-695-9950, spauldinginjurylaw.com Find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/spauldinginjurylaw and Instagram @Spaulding Injury Law Cumming 8 | 400 LIFE | May 2022
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Wor ld's Be s t A d ven t ur e s
Len Foote Hike Inn is a Hike-In Backcountry Lodge in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, known for its breathtaking views, delicious food, and homey accommodations.
5 overnight hikes to try in North Georgia Story by Alexander Popp | Photos by Ben Hendren
N
orth Georgia is blessed with some of the best backpacking in the South. With the start of the Appalachian Trail in Dawson County and the countless mountains that are spread so abundantly throughout the top half of our great state, North Georgia has something for hikers and backpackers of any skill level. But with so many mountains and trails to choose from in such a large area known for great mountains and trails, it’s hard for a new backpacker to know which route fits their needs. So here are five of our favorite 2-day/1-night backpacking trips in North Georgia, that virtually any new backpacker can handle.
Len Foote Hike Inn Possibly one of the most interesting backpacking trips in the South, the Len Foote Hike Inn is a Hike-In Backcountry Lodge in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, known for its breathtaking views, delicious food, and homey accommodations. Guests park at Amicalola Falls State Park, before trekking a 5-mile trail to the Hike Inn. For someone that’s new to backpacking, hiking, and camping, this trip is a great introduction. Difficulty: Easy-Moderate Length: 10 miles out and back
Permit/Reservation Required: Yes. The Len Foote Hike Inn requires hikers to make reservations ahead of time for their stay by visiting the website, http://hike-inn.com/. Note: Reservations fill up quickly, so please plan your trip well in advance. Dogs Allowed? No. Pets and smoking are not allowed at the Len Foote Hike Inn. Good for Kids? Yes. This hike is one of the best starting camping/backpacking experiences that you can give a young person. More Information: Len Foote Hike Inn. Continued on Page 12
May 2022 | 400 LIFE | 11
World's Best Ad ventures Springer Mountain to Hawk Mountain Each year, thousands of backpackers make their way to Amicalola State Park in Dawson County, Georgia and Springer Mountain, just a few miles north, to start the 2,198-mile trek north to Maine on the Appalachian Trail. Springer Mountain, the trail’s southern terminus, is where most backpackers start their Thru-Hike, and is a great place for new backpackers to test out their gear, skills and readiness for tougher trails. This hike takes you a little over 8 miles on the start of the Appalachian Trail to Hawk Mountain Shelter, a backcountry double-decker wooden shelter, that has a picnic table, bear cables and a composting privy. This hike can be shortened considerably or transformed into a 3- or 4-day trip (5.6 miles out and back) by stopping at the Stover Creek Shelter. Difficulty: Easy-Moderate Length:16.2 miles out and back Permit/Reservation Required: No Dogs Allowed? Yes Good for Kids? Depends on skill level. More Information: Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest - Springer Mountain Trailhead.
Tray Mountain If you like a challenge, this trek is a really good choice to try out. Starting from Unicoi Gap off Hwy. 75 in Helen, Georgia, you’ll hike 6 miles up and over Rocky Mountain and Tray Mountain, climbing nearly 2,000 feet of elevation over that distance. But the work will be worth it, as you’ll be rewarded by amazing views of the North Georgia mountains at multiple locations. Tray Mountain Shelter sleeps 7 hikers, has multiple spots for tents and has bear cables, a composting privy, and a piped spring nearby. Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult Length: 11 miles out and back Permit/Reservation Required: No. Dogs Allowed? Yes. Good for Kids? Depends on skill level. More Information: AllTrails - Tray Mountain Shelter.
passing might have on the environment. Leave No Trace and Bear Wise practices should be strictly adhered to. Difficulty: Easy Length: 5 miles out and back Permit/Reservation Required: Yes, a $5 Parking Pass is required. Camping is first-come, first-served and this area is very popular on weekends. Dogs Allowed? Yes. Good for Kids? Yes, this is a fairly simple and easy trail and provides many things to see along the way including multiple large and small waterfalls. More Information: Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest - Raven Cliffs Trailhead.
Fort Mountain - Gahuti Backcountry Trail
Found at the Southwestern edge of the Cohutta Wilderness in Northwest Georgia, Fort Mountain State Park has been popular location for hiking, camping and sightseeing for decades, due to its impressive lookout tower, trail system and water features. The Gahuti Backcountry Trail, which circles the perimeter of the park, has been a main feature of that draw since the 1970’s. This trail will take you past 3 reservable backcountry campsites, and a side trail will take you to the peak of Fort Mountain. This trek can easily be tackled as a day hike, or can be extended to a multi-day, multi-night trip. Difficulty: Easy-Moderate Length: 8.5 Mile Loop Permit/Reservation Required: Yes. Reservations can be made by visiting https://gastateparks.org/ FortMountain. Dogs Allowed? Yes Good for Kids? Yes More Information: Georgia State Parks - Fort Mountain.
Raven Cliff Falls If you’ve seen any of our social media over the last year, then you know that we’re huge fans of backpacking and hiking trails with waterfalls. In our mind, a backpacking trip without seeing a waterfall of some sort is kind of like, “What’s the point?” Well maybe not that much, but it’s safe to say that waterfall backpacking trips are the best kind of trips, and this one is no different. Raven Cliff Falls are a sight to behold and the hike up to them is peaceful, beautiful and filled with smaller waterfalls and streams. This area is one of the most popular hikes in North Georgia, so all hikers should be wary of the impact their
12 | 400 LIFE | May 2022
This article comes to us from our sister company World’s Best Adventures. World’s Best Adventures provides guided luxury backpacking adventures in Georgia, North Carolina, and the Great Smoky Mountains. For more articles on backpacking and hiking, and to learn about the services World’s Best Adventures offers, visit www.worldsbestadventures.com or call 770-535-6323.
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How to navigate medical treatment and injury cases Post COVID COVID lockdowns turned our world upside down. People who drove everyday suddenly stayed at home. Children no longer went to school. Grocery stores became essential. Restaurants closed. Medical professionals suddenly became unavailable as hospitals filled with COVID patients. Elective surgeries were halted. Medical care became sporadic in many areas. Nothing seemed the same. As we embark upon the great reopening, all that we knew and know are now seeming to move faster yet seem slower because of the past pandemic. The law and the Courts suffered too. No civil jury trials. Criminal cases on hold. Delays in sentencing. Extensions on the statute of limitations. In the area of personal injury medical bills are an indicator of damages. Juries
and insurers often rely on the amount of bills to calculate damages. However, new valuations of cases which are based upon the testimony of witnesses will drive the amounts of verdicts because old formulas of case value have changed. Steven Leibel No longer can the value of a case be found through medical bills when hospitals have been locked, and doctors’ offices closed for COVID. I suggest that what was compelling in the past will change as our society
becomes detangled, and people become more remote. Accidents which cause people to suffer and separate them from their loved ones may now take on a new role in valuation of a case. I believe the value of a case no longer will be viewed as before the pandemic. As more cases are tried before juries, new ideas will come forth. The next few years will show how all is the same but viewed under a different light. Steven Leibel is a well-respected personal injury lawyer in Cumming and Dahlonega. He has consistently been recognized as a GA SuperLawyer in Personal Injury; rated 10 by AVVO, and he is considered “preeminent by his peers, as an Martindale AV rated attorney.” — Sponsored content
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Larry Freeland’s book, “Chariots in the Sky,” highlights the experiences of helicopter pilots in the Vietnam War through a historical fiction lens.
16 | 400 LIFE | May 2022
It’s a story I’ve been wanting to tell; it’s very gratifying to me the response it’s received and the reviews it’s received and just the feedback. – Larry Freeland, author of ‘Chariots in the Sky’
Freeland stands with a Boeing CH-47 Chinook during the Vietnam War.
Local veteran nominated for Georgia Author of the Year ‘Chariots in the Sky’ author Larry Freeland working on a new trilogy Story by Erica Jones
A
north Georgia author has been nominated in the Georgia Author of the Year awards for his historical fiction novel “Chariots in the Sky: A Story About U.S. Assault Helicopter Pilots at War in Vietnam.” Larry Freeland, who served one tour in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division as an Infantry Officer and
CH-47 helicopter pilot, wrote his novel as a historical fiction book based on his own personal experience and his memories from his time in Vietnam. While the characters in the book are fictional, a majority of the novel is based off events that happened to him and those around him during Vietnam. Freeland, a Dawson County resident, completed his book in 2020, signing a contract with Publish Authority and
released it in early 2021. Since then, the novel has garnered a great deal of positive feedback from readers. “The book itself has been doing very well; it’s been No. 1 on Kindle e-book off and on now since December in one of the two categories they carry it,” Freeland said. “It’s been in the Top 5 going back into November of last year Continued on Page 18
May 2022 | 400 LIFE | 17
and then it hit [No. 1].” Freeland said he’s heard feedback from dozens of readers, including fellow veterans of the Vietnam war. “I’ve had several people of various age groups [that said they] had no idea about this stuff, so it was kind of an eyeopener for a lot of people,” he said. Recently, Freeland found out he had been nominated in the “First Novel” category in this year’s Georgia Author of the Year awards. He said he was surprised to hear about the nomination. His publisher submitted the book and Freeland was told in December that he was being considered for the nomination. “I didn’t hear anything and then all of a sudden I got a flash bulletin from a Facebook posting … that I was nominated, and I said, ‘wow this is terrific’,” Freeland said. There are a total of eight authors, including Freeland, nominated in the “First Novel” category. All the books will be judged, and the winners of each category will be announced on Facebook Live at 10 a.m., June 11. “I’m just amazed at how they can get the word out and just spread all over the place — it’s been a trip,” Freeland said. “It’s a story I’ve been wanting to tell; it’s very gratifying to me the response it’s received and the reviews it’s received and just the feedback. It’s a very extensive process so I was just very pleased that I was nominated.”
New stories to tell Freeland has signed a contract with Publish Authority for a trilogy, the first installment of which should be releasing this
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18 | 400 LIFE | May 2022
summer. “We’re in the final stages of the editing process for the first book and if everything goes well, we hope to publish it in May or June; we’ll certainly have it out this summer,” Freeland said. “‘Legacy of Honor’ … will [be] the main title, and then book one will be ‘The Patriarch,’ [and the book] will be ‘The Son’ and book three will be ‘The Descendants’.” The new trilogy will cover a timeline of about 100 years and follow a family’s three generations of men who fight in all the nation’s battles and wars. “Book one is a man fighting in World War I, book two will be about his son who is an aviator and will serve in World War II, and then he’ll have some sons that will be in the third book and that’ll cover all the things we’ve done post-Korea and the Cold War, which will start with Vietnam,” Freeland said. “It’s looking good, I feel really good about it.” Freeland said he will keep readers updated on the release date of his new book and any other announcements through his website and social media. For more information about the Georgia Author of the Year award including a full list of nominees and how to tune into the announcement of the winners, go to www. authoroftheyear.org. To read more about Freeland and his book and to order a copy of “Chariots in the Sky: A Story About U.S. Assault Helicopter Pilots at War in Vietnam,” visit larryfreeland.com.
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mental health
The importance of boundaries By Sudie Crouch | Health & wellness columnist
W
e’ve often heard the saying “fences make good neighbors” but have we ever stopped to think about what that means exactly? Sure, those fences can be helpful in creating property lines but they also provide some helpful parameters, too. Fences are a physical boundary that provide privacy, seclusion, and to let people know exactly how far they can go. I’ve always appreciated fences for all of these reasons, but especially as a pet owner. When we got a new puppy last year, we expanded our fenced area so she’d have more room to play. Even though it wasn’t fancy by any means, it was sufficient, and as I surveyed the area,
20 | 400 LIFE | May 2022
I realized it made the yard somehow seem bigger. Then it dawned on me. What we think is a restriction of sorts can somehow give us more freedom. That’s what boundaries can do. When we create boundaries, we are giving people the rules and tools to know how to interact with us. But boundaries, unlike putting up a fence, are not always that easy to put in place. Creating boundaries can cause enormous guilt for many people. There’s the fear we’re letting people down — we feel obligated to others in some way and feel like we have to give in to their wants and needs.
Other times, that lack of boundaries can be people interfering in our lives in unwelcomed ways. They may not be meant to be intrusive or offensive, but the interaction is still not wanted. Even the most well-meaning of people can still overstep a boundary or two. People commenting on your parenting, your weight, whether or not you work — unwelcome remarks and commentary can make it difficult to stand up for yourself. A lack of healthy boundaries can also cause us to feel depleted and taken advantage of. We only have so much energy we can use in a day, and if there’s a lack of boundaries, we find ourselves exhausted because we’re giving too much of that energy away. Energy doesn’t have to just be physical either; it can be mental and emotional energy as well. We may find ourselves dealing with other people’s drama, taking on problems that are not ours to deal with, and that violates our personal limits, too.
How do you create boundaries for yourself? Implementing boundaries can be challenging, especially for people pleasers. It can almost create a sense of panic — how will people respond? Will they be angry? Drop us? All are very valid concerns, especially depending on the relationship dynamics. Changing what we will tolerate can hellp weed some of those onesided or toxic relationships out of our lives. We also may encounter resistance with those closest to us. No longer allowing people to treat us the way they have can cause some tension, but it can lead to healthier moments for you. Any change, especially when we are taking a stand for ourselves can be a bit scary. But there’s also so many positives that go along with it. For one, you’re making yourself a priority and taking claim to your selfworth. You’re shifting dynamics, not always in huge ways, but sometimes those small ones have a big impact on your overall mental health.
Boundaries can look like: Not engaging in conversations that you don’t want. It can be a matter of
saying, “I don’t feel comfortable discussing this right now” or telling someone that’s a personal matter. We don’t have to talk about things that hurt or upset us, or that are private. Not everyone has a right to your personal details. Setting limits as to when/how often you respond to texts messages, phone calls, and emails. We do not have to be accessible at all times. You have a right to limit people’s access to you. Saying “no” when it’s not something we really want to do. This one can be the most difficult for some people, especially if they are a people pleaser and the person they told no to push for a reason. Standing strong can be hard – but “no” is a complete sentence all of its own. By saying you can’t or even more
firmly, you don’t want to, can help people learn your time is valuable and not to be taken advantage of. Being firm, but polite. It may take a while for people to get it, so being firm but polite can keep the ‘fence’ friendly while still establishing those new rules. Of course, your own boundaries may look a bit different, but exploring some steps to take can help you begin the process. Much like the fenced-in yard gives a puppy more space to play while staying safe and sound, those boundaries can do the same for you. In creating these rules, you’re showing others — and most of all yourself — that you are worthy of respect.
Sudie Crouch is a health & wellness coach, helping clients create healthy, attainable changes using positive psychology and cognitive behavior approaches. May 2022 | 400 LIFE | 21
6 ways to make your garden more successful
H
omeowners enjoy gardening for many different reasons. In addition to adding beauty to a property, gardens can offset grocery costs by yielding tasty produce. They also offer important habitats and food sources for both insects and animals. While growing a vegetable or flower garden can turn into a rewarding hobby, or even a passion, gardening also can be overwhelming Ñ particularly when the results are less than stellar. Novice gardeners have scores of resources at their disposal, including the advice of gardeners who have made mistakes and learned from them. The following guidance can make home gardens that much more successful.
1. Start small. You may have visions of an expansive garden growing rows of crops or acres of flowers. But it is smart to start small and build on what you find successful, which includes plants that thrive in your lawn and garden. This also is beneficial if you are unsure of vegetable yields. Several blooming plants producing bushels of crops can be overwhelming, especially if you canÕt get to harvesting or cooking them in a timely fashion.
2. Assess the soil.
seedlings indoors in late winter and then transfer those plants outdoors when they are stronger and more established.
4. Sit in your yard and observe. Watch the way the sunlight dances over areas of your landscape. Take note of which areas get the most sun and shade. This will help you plan what to plant and where to plant it. Vegetable gardens tend to need ample sunlight to bear pickworthy produce. You can give plants a leg up by growing them in optimal conditions.
Plants need nutrient-rich soil to encourage extensive root systems and produce strong, hardy plants, according to the gardening resource GrowVeg. Nourish soil with organic matter, such as manure, compost, shredded leaves, and natural mulch. Add this organic matter in the off-season to give it enough time to be incorporated into the ground before spring. You can have your soil tested for pH and other characteristics that make it friendly or averse to plants at a local garden center.
5. Choose hardy varieties.
3. Arm yourself with knowledge.
Rainwater contains fewer contaminants and additives than tap water, which can benefit garden plants. Collect rainwater in rain barrels and use irrigation systems to deliver it to the garden. Home gardens can yield many gifts, from flowers to fruit. Beginners can utilize some time-tested strategies to increase their chances of planting a successful garden.
Do you know how deeply to plant seeds and how far apart to space plants? Are you aware of the sunlight needs of certain flowers or plants? If not, read the packaging and do your research so your plants have the best chance of not only sprouting, but also surviving. Many people prefer to start 22 | 400 LIFE | May 2022
Certain plants have been bred to thrive in your climate, including heat-tolerant plants for climates with sweltering summer sun. Consult with a local gardening center to figure out which plant zone you are in and which plants will do best within that zone.
6. Use rainwater.
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