This Kids Bracelet Turns Any Object They Hold into a Toy

It’s 2019, people, and we could all use an upgrade. We’re not talking upgrades on your shoe closet or that old kitchen appliance that needs replacing. We’re talking about sleek, fancy new electronics to bring your home into the 21st century. And it turns out, Jet.com is an ideal place to find the latest models, the best brands, and the downright *prettiest* electronics that will turn your home into a smart home. To go with a very smart homeowner (that’s you, just in case you weren’t sure). Check out some of these elegant, new “toys” that you may not have realized were just waiting to jump into your cart at Jet.com.

If you choose to tackle your commute, gym session, desk job, or grocery shopping with the aid of good music or your favorite podcast, chances are you’re spending a lot of time wearing headphones. With more of us plugged in to portable devices than ever, should we be worrying about the impact of sending sound straight into our eardrums? The World Health Organization thinks so: They’ve warned that listening to audio devices too loud and for too long is damaging the hearing of millions of teenagers and young adults. So how can we protect our hearing while also enjoying our favorite songs or podcasts? Listen up.

How Bad Are Headphones, Really?

This question has intrigued experts since the Walkman (RIP) came out in the late ‘80s, says Dr. Marco Jurado, an audiologist at Austin Regional Clinic in Texas. Dr. Jurado shares that the data is mixed: “Some studies have suggested that the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss was on the increase until the mid-2000s, whereas more recent studies have shown that it’s actually decreased in younger populations.” Regardless of how many young people are experiencing hearing loss, the experts agreed that the prevalence of headphones and earbuds have become a major contributing factor. “There are a number of causes of hearing loss, such as genetics or as a side effect of other illnesses, but the main culprit is noise, in particular, excessive use of headphones and earbuds,” says Dr. Leigh Hogan, an audiologist and founder of Hear Well Audiology.

It’s not simply that headphones are closer to your eardrums that makes them dangerous: As with any noise, it’s the volume that determines the impact on your hearing. Audiologist Dr. Meryl Hochdorf Miller from the Audiological Consultants of Atlanta in Georgia explains: “Sound loses energy, and therefore intensity, as it travels. If the sound coming out of your headphones is the same volume level as that emitted from a speaker, it is more dangerous, because the sound doesn’t travel as far to your eardrums.” The good news, then, is that headphones aren’t inherently damaging — but we have to use them responsibly.

What Makes for Good Headphones?

Given that the louder you listen, the more damage you’re doing, it’s best to look for headphones that reduce your urge to turn up the volume. Luckily, technology is here to help. “Noise-canceling or noise-reducing headphones mean you don’t have to increase the volume to overcome noise around you,” Dr. Miller points out. “Also, make sure that your headphones fit well. If they’re loose or tend to work their way out of your ears, you’re more likely to increase the volume to make up for the lost sound. If you have small ear canals, try over-the-ear headphones, earbuds that have a very small tip on the end, or having custom molds made.” That said, remember that it’s not just your hearing you have to think about when you’re walking down the street with your music blaring. “Be mindful of your surroundings when using noise canceling technology,” Dr. Jurado cautions. “There are some loud ambient sounds, like a car honk or approaching ambulance siren, that we still need to hear.”

If you feel comfortable broadcasting the fact you’re listening to a device and don’t mind carting around the extra bulk, headphones might be a better choice than earbuds. Dr. Whitney Hardy, a family medicine specialist with Ochsner Health System, warns, “Earbuds are more dangerous than headphones, because they sit closer to the eardrum and provide more direct vibration, increasing the decibel level of the sound by seven to nine decibels from its original level.” Solid justification for the headphones-as-accessory look.

What’s the Safest Usage?

The two key components of safe headphone use that all of our experts pointed to are, as Dr. Miller summarizes, how long and how loud? She describes a formula to keep in mind: “80 decibels (dB) is safe for up to eight hours: That’s about as loud as the garbage disposal in your sink. For every 3 dB you add to the volume, you have to cut the time in half. So if I listen to music at 83 dB and want to keep it at a safe level, I have to cut my listening time to four hours. At 86 dB, I will be safe at two hours, and so on.” So how do we make sure we’re not going over 80 dB? “Set the music so only you can hear it. If you turn headphones up loud enough that someone else in the same room can hear, it’s too loud.”

Don’t automatically trust your smartphone to protect you, either. “Many smartphones and MP3 players can reach a maximum volume as high as 100 dB, which is only safe for five minutes,” Dr. Hardy tells us. “A good rule to remember is the 60/60 rule, which is to listen for 60 minutes at 60 percent volume, then give your ears a break.”

One clue that the volume is too high, Dr. Jurado says, is tinnitus — that ringing in your ears you’ve probably experienced after going to a gig or a noisy nightclub. This specific form of tinnitus is known as a temporary threshold shift because it fades after a few hours, but “continuing use at this volume will certainly lead to hearing loss.” Unfortunately, it’s hard to know if overexposure to loud noises is damaging your hearing until it’s too late. Dr. Hogan says other symptoms to look out for are “feeling like your ears are full; difficulty understanding speech; having to ask people to repeat themselves; and having to turn the volume up on the TV or radio. If you notice any of these signs, get tested by a licensed audiologist.”

Even if you don’t — and especially if you use headphones a lot — Dr. Miller recommends getting tested to establish your baseline hearing, so you have a control to compare to later. Hearing safety might not be the height of rock ‘n’ roll, but take the careful approach now, and you can be tuning out the world with your headphones for years to come.

What headphones are your jam? Share them with us @BritandCo.

(Photos via Getty)

Looking for the perfect group Halloween costume idea or a theme for your Halloween gathering this year? Since Halloween is our jam, we went ahead and did all the idea hunting for you. Scroll on for our ultimate guide to easy Halloween costumes. The best part? You can DIY any of these 80 unique group Halloween costume ideas.

Perfect for the family Halloween party, or a girls' night out, these group halloween costumes will make you stand out from the crowd in the best way possible. You can incorporate your BFF, partner, and even your dogs! Sounds like this is going to be the best Halloween ever — especially when you have a spooky Halloween cocktail in hand.

Disney Princesses Costumes

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We couldn't leave this obvious group costume idea out of the mix. Whether you go sexy or sweet, it's always a good fallback. You'll love to twirl your skirts and sing your songs! (via Brit + Co)

Nevermore Students From 'Wednesday'

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Get all your friends together and dress as Wednesday, Enid, and the gang from Nevermore! You don't have to dye your hair rainbow colors, but we also would totally respect you if you did.

Top Gun Group Halloween Costume

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Whether you're dressing up with your family or your friend group, this 80s Halloween costume is so easy (not to mention it's very comfortable). Don't forget your mustaches! (via Brit + Co)

Daisy Jones & The Six

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Rock out with a costume inspired by one of the best new TV shows this year. There's a very good chance you can find crochet, leather, and suede pieces in your local thrift store — or you can just ask your parents. 👀

Minions

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The base of this costume is really simple — jean shorteralls, a long-sleeve yellow shirt, tall yellow socks, a yellow beanie, black gloves, and preferably black sneakers. (via Brit + Co)

Fanta Girl Costumes

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Have white go-go boots, will costume partayyy! (via Brit + Co)

Deadpool Group Halloween Costume

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After you rewatch Deadpool & Wolverine (again), kick some butt with a Deadpool group Halloween costume. Unfortunately, Ryan Reynolds is not included. (via Brit + Co)

La Croix Halloween Costume

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Do you love this sparkly bev to death? Grab your girls (and boy) and create the ultimate cast with your fave flaves. Start your DIY with this hamper. (via Brit + Co)

Fruit Salad Costumes

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Pick your fruit and get your DIY on with this easy and customizable group costume. (via Brit + Co)

Grease Group Costume Idea

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Rydell High never looked so good. (via Brit + Co)

Max and The Wild Things Costumes

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Rumpus Rumpus Rumpus is how you get the party started. (via Brit + Co)

Finding Dory

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Dress the whole fam in your fave marine creature cast! Dory, Hank, and Nemo FTW! (via Brit + Co)

Gilmore Girls ​Group Costumes

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Who’s the Lorelai to your Rory? Choose carefully and then pick your main men too. (via Brit + Co)

The Breakfast Club Costumes

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Feel all the feels of the OG emotionally tormented high schoolers. (via Brit + Co)

Sushi Costumes

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Wasabi you waiting for?! (via Brit + Co)

Game of Thrones Costumes

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Watch your head if you and your friends decide to dress up as this crazy cast of characters. You're gonna need a foam sword and faux fur to pull these looks off. (via Brit + Co)

Hocus Pocus Costumes

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What's better than a wicked AF sisterhood?! Don't forget the brooms. (via Brit + Co)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Costumes

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Cowabunga! Throw together green tights, turtleneck leotards, and spray-painted shells with a pair of gladiator sandals. Then celebrate this awesome costume's success with plenty of pizza after a night of trick or treating. (via Brit + Co)

Asteroid City

Universal Pictures

Wes Anderson's latest tale revolves around something the whole world is talking about: aliens. Whether you decide to go as an extraterrestrial or go all-out with teal and orange outfits, this is one group Halloween costume that is instantly recognizable.

Royal Wedding

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Put your best fascinator forward and do your best impression of the royal fam. (via Brit + Co)

Gangnam Style Costumes

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Grab your sexy ladies and get ready to op-op-op-op-oppa Gangnam style. Make sure you all perfect your gallop shimmy before hitting the dance floor. (via Brit + Co)

Spice Girl Costumes

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How punny is this costume? Pick your favorite spice, grab a cheap white tee, and get ready to DIY a perfect ’90s throwback look. (via Brit + Co)

Spice Girls (For Real)

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These 2000s costumes are so easy to replicate — you probably already have a lot of the items in your closet already! Grab your closest girlfriends to be every Spice Girl or go stag with our awesome Ginger Spice redhead Halloween costume. (via Brit + Co)

Miley Cyrus and Crew Costumes

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This is one of our favorite throwback ideas for incorporating some pop culture into your Halloween. And it gets bonus points for being a perfect choice for soon-to-be moms who still want to dress up with their gals. (via Brit + Co)

Pokemon Costumes

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The gang's all here — let's catch 'em all. (via Brit + Co)

Stranger Things Group Halloween Costume​​​

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Dress your whole posse as this amazing cast just in time to celebrate Halloween — and Stranger Things 5. (via Brit + Co)

Vanderpump Rules SUR Staff

Bravo

Bring the drama this Halloween by wearing some pretty iconic uniforms. Boots or ballet flats will definitely be the most comfortable, but feel free to go all-out with heels if you're feeling it!

Wonder Woman and the Amazons Costumes

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Because, girl power, obvi. (via Brit + Co)

Brunch Costumes

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Babes who brunch together, stay together — on Sundays and Halloween days! (via Brit + Co)

The Hills Costumes

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Remember MTV? We sure do. Take it back to simpler times with this easy-to-throw-together and conveniently co-ed costume. (via Brit + Co)

Ghostbusters Costumes

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After the girl-power and Gen-Z remakes of Ghostbusters, we knew this DIY costume tutorial was a must. Grab your besties and spend a night in DIYing your group Halloween costume. You’ll never believe it, but the secret behind this look is Tupperware containers. (via Brit + Co)

“Bad Blood” Costumes

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Get ready for some bad blood with all those envious people attending the Halloween party that aren’t involved in this warrior women getup. (via Brit + Co)

Inside Out Costumes

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After sobbing our way through Inside Out 2, we're feeling all kinds of emotions about this Pixar film-inspired group look. (via Brit + Co)

Saved by the Bell Costumes

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Channel your inner Slater, Kelly, Zach, and Jessie with some sweet threads straight out of the late '80s. Just don't forget the old-school cell phone with an antenna bigger than your head. (via Brit + Co)

Barbies And Kens

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Come on Barbie, let's go party! Grab your closest pals to dress up as 2023's most iconic toys-turned-humans. Take a hint from the viral set pictures or use the Barbie movie character posters as inspiration. (via Brit + Co)

Mean Girls Costumes

Brit + Co

Get nostalgic with this early era Lohan-inspired squad costume. Unleash your inner mean girl if you dare! (via Brit + Co)

The Pogues

Netflix

This is a great costume because it uses up pieces that you will definitely wear again! (It's also great for anyone who lives somewhere that's always warm). The key to a recognizable Outer Banks costume? John B's backwards hat-and-bandana combo, the girls' layered necklaces, and lots of bracelets.

Fab 5 Gymnasts Costumes

Brit + Co

This get-up is bound to take the costume contest gold. This Olympics group costume also a much-needed excuse to wear sweatpants to all of your outdoor Halloween parties. Swap a few details and you can be 2024's Team USA, the Golden Girls, too! (via Brit + Co)

Barbara, Adam, Lydia, and Beetlejuice Costumes

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This is a totally family-friendly theme as well, but you can make it what you want as long as you have someone willing to wear a large red crinoline dress. (via Brit + Co)

Baywatch Costumes

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Or is it Bae watch? Love the sexy swimsuit. (via Brit + Co)

Taylor Swift and Her Group Girl Halloween Costumes

Brit + Co

Taylor Swift and Her Group Girl Halloween Costume. This costume is sure to turn heads. (via Brit + Co)

DC vs. Marvel Costumes

Brit + Co

Unite the gang with a superhero theme. Instead of sticking to either DC or Marvel, have them pick their fave heroes and go from there. (via Brit + Co)

Grand Budapest Hotel Costumes

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You and your friends can relive all the adventures of M. Gustave and Zero… well, maybe not all of them if you don’t have access to a train, but still. (via Brit + Co)

Landmark Cities Costumes

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You see London, you see France, you see Lady Liberty’s underpants. (via Brit + Co)

Handmaids Tale Costumes

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Not digging the lingerie costumes? Wear a giant red cape and dress modestly with a bonnet for this Handmaid's Tale look. (via Brit + Co)

Riverdale Group Halloween Costume

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We might have said goodbye to Riverdale, but the show's iconic looks will always make great Halloween costumes. (via Brit + Co)

Wet Hot American Summer Costumes

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What do you want to bet you and your friends own everything you need to pull this one off together?(via Brit + Co)

Taylor Swift's "I Can See You" Music Video

Republic Records/Taylor Swift/YouTube

You can't go wrong with a good Taylor Swift halloween costume and "I Can See You" is a super fun pick for anyone who loves spies — and Speak Now (Taylor's Version), of course.

David S. PumpkinsCostumes

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You’re going to be dancing it up anyways, might as well have a schtick going while you do. (via Brit + Co)

The Simple Life Costumes

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Have you ever wanted to do an early 2000s costume so badly?! The real question is, who will dress as Tink? (via Brit + Co)

GLOW Costumes

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These ladies are kicking ass and taking names. Not unlike your gang of fearless babes trying to get into the club before cover charges are in effect. (via Brit + Co)

Guardians of the Galaxy Costumes

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Consider this Guardians of the Galaxy the perfect getup for the whole crew — kids included. (via Brit + Co)

Labyrinth Costumes

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If you’re not living your ’80s movie fantasies, are you even living? (via Brit + Co)

Millennial Pink Costumes

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You don't actually need a character-based theme to go as a group. Pick any color and roll with it. (via Brit + Co)

Taylor Swift’s Boyfriends Costumes

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No one really needs to dress up for this; you just need access to a printer and some popsicle sticks. (via Brit + Co)

The Circus Costumes

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Come one, come all! Step on up to the circus! (via Brit + Co)

Harry Potter and the Squad Costumes

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How hard can it be to add a Ron into the mix? (via Brit + Co)

Jellyfish Group Halloween Costumes

Brit + Co

While others are going as mermaids (and are likely freezing while waiting in line at the club), you should go as a pod of voluminous squishies! (via Brit + Co)

Herd of Unicorns Costumes

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Amazon Prime was meant for this. Order as many beige onesies as you can, and start making beautiful tails and manes. (via Brit + Co)

Sriracha and Tacos Funny Halloween Group Costume

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Try lining up a bottle of Corona, a lime wedge, and an avocado. (via Brit + Co)

Family of Frappes Costumes

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Not only do you get to live your dream as a frappucino, but you also have a great place to hide your phone and purse. (via Brit + Co)

Princess Peach, Toad et all Costumes

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The question is, where will you find a raccoon tail for the Super Mario costume? (via Brit + Co)

Rainbow and Ray of Sun Costumes

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All you need are multiple rays of sunshine, maybe a bird, or a tree, and suddenly you’re a sunny afternoon. (via Brit + Co)

Snack Time Costumes

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Going as “sexy anything” is so 2005. Keep it fresh with your fave treats. (via Brit + Co)

Toy Story Costumes

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There’s a flask in your boot?! Well played. (via Brit + Co)

Trolls Costumes

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No, you don’t all have to wear beige bodycon dresses. A wig with your gemstone belly button is all you need. (via Brit + Co)

The Lion King Costumes

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All you need is Timon, Pumba, and Nala, and you’re in business. (via Brit + Co)

Pool Floats Costumes

Studio DIY

This look will be back by popular demand this year, so make sure you get your supplies lined-up ASAP. (via Studio DIY)

Matryoshka Dolls Costumes

The House That Lars Built

Your love of peasant tops has finally paid off. Make sure you line-up from tallest to shortest for group shots. (via The House That Lars Built)

Pinocchio and the Gang Costumes

A Beautiful Mess

Lying is not a necessary part of this group outfit, but if you fib about your connection to the bartender to get into a party — does it really matter? (via A Beautiful Mess)

Ocean's 8 Group Halloween Costume

Brit + Co

Is Ocean's 8 one of our all-time favorite movies? Yes. Does it make for the most badass Halloween costume? Also yes. You're gonna want to bookmark this one! (via Brit + Co)

Group of Hippies Costumes

The House That Lars Built

Dig deep into your closet (or your mom’s) and pull together a look worth of Woodstock groupies. (via The House That Lars Built)

Peter Pan and the Lost Boys Funny Group Halloween Costume

A Beautiful Mess

You can essentially wear your PJs out and about. What’s not to love? (via A Beautiful Mess)

Lisa Frank CharacterCostumes

Studio DIY

Live 👏 your 👏 best 👏 life 👏 with 👏 Lisa and the gang. (via Studio DIY)

The Golden Girls Costumes

A Beautiful Mess

Let’s give credit where it’s due: Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia were the originators of #squadgoals. (via A Beautiful Mess)

Hot Dog + Condiments Costumes

Studio DIY

Why not go as everyone’s fave ballpark treat? (via Studio DIY)

Tina + Jimmy Jr. Costumes

Aww Sam

A character from Bob’s Burgers will never not be a perfect choice. Who wants to wear the pink bunny ears hat? (via Aww Sam)

Artwork Costumes

The House That Lars Built

Still struggling with how you can bring several people together for a cohesive scene? Recreate your fave tableau. Only true art fans may “get it,” though. (via The House That Lars Built)

Pantone Chips Costumes

Sugar & Cloth

Tell everyone to come dressed head to toe in one color, and for true commitment, use a marker for the “PANTONE” part. (via Sugar & Cloth)

Citrus Slices Costumes

Studio DIY

This only really works with a few key colors, but hey — flaunt it if you’ve got it. (via Studio DIY)

Goldilocks and the Three Bears Costumes

A Beautiful Mess

Why yes! Your overly hairy friends can totally partake in a group look. (via A Beautiful Mess)

Happy Halloween! Have fun and stay safe this year. Share your versions of these stories by tagging us on IG!

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This story was updated from an earlier post.