Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, & Detective Fiction
Point Blank is a podcast about hardboiled, noir, and detective fiction. Mixing serious analysis and humor, the co-hosts (Justin and Kurt) discuss classic or contemporary works of crime fiction in each episode. In addition to major works, they offer shorter reviews, and examine noir-ish topics such as alcoholism in detective fiction, the femme fatale, and race and labor in crime fiction. Stroll with Kurt and Justin down the rain drenched alleys and mean streets as they explore the fascinating world of crime fiction.
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E83: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 9)
04/29/2024
E83: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 9)
Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 9, the penultimate episode of Writing Rat Face, Justin (and Rat Face) race toward the finish line. Email the show: Twitter: Facebook: Itunes: Support the show: Patreon: Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!
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E82: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 8)
01/10/2024
E82: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 8)
Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 8 of Writing Rat Face, Justin emerges from the middlegame slog and finds himself (and Rat Face) moving toward the story climax. He uses chess analogies, examines a potential femme fatale, discusses the problem of individuality, and comtemplates how a characters' dream world might grease the wheels of a stuck narrative. Email the show: Twitter: Facebook: Itunes: Support the show: Patreon: Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!
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E81: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 7)
12/11/2023
E81: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 7)
Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 7 of Writing Rat Face, Justin shares a plot building technique that has helped him with story logic & flow. Email the show: Twitter: Facebook: Itunes: Support the show: Patreon: Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!
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E80: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 6)
11/27/2023
E80: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 6)
Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 6 of Writing Rat Face, Justin continues to doggy-paddle through the middle part of the novel. He also continues to ask critical questions about his central character, Rat Face, which inevitably leads to questions about the author himself. Email the show: Twitter: Facebook: Itunes: Support the show: Patreon: Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!
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E79: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 5)
11/13/2023
E79: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 5)
Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 5 of Writing Rat Face, Justin interrogates his central character, Rat Face, and comes away with a better understanding of Rat Face's emotional and philosophical journey. Email the show: Twitter: Facebook: Itunes: Support the show: Patreon: Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!
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E78: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 4)
10/30/2023
E78: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 4)
Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 4 of Writing Rat Face, Justin hits the 13,000 word mark, confronts the question of setting, discusses the importance of internal consistency, and gets to know his central character's primary motivation -- who is Rat Face and what does he want? Justin also considers a twist that will raise the stakes for Rat Face and the readers. Email the show: Twitter: Facebook: Itunes: Support the show: Patreon: Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!
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E77: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 3)
10/23/2023
E77: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 3)
Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 3 of Writing Rat Face, Justin surpasses 8,000 words and begins to run into more questions than answers. He discusses his thoughts on essential characters beyond the main character, his research process, and thoughts on writers block. He also shares two excerpts from week two of story writing. Email the show: Twitter: Facebook: Itunes: Support the show: Patreon: Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!
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E76 Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 2)
10/12/2023
E76 Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 2)
Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process as he writes 50,000 words in three months, including the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves. In Episode 2 of Writing Rat Face, the writing is smooth sailing, but how long will the good winds last? Justin explains his thoughts on the city as character, rants briefly about art & labor, and shares two excerpts from week one of story writing.
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E75: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 1)
10/02/2023
E75: Writing Rat Face: A Point Blank Limited Series (Episode 1)
Welcome to "Writing Rat Face," a Point Blank Limited Series on one writer's process of writing a 50,000 word novel first draft. Rat Face is a post-apocalyptic crime novel set in a world ravaged by nuclear war and climate change. The main character, Rat Face, is a noir-ish hitman and delinquent looking to solve his father figure's murder before the Terror Squads find & liquidate him. In this series of 6 to 10 short episodes, Justin Bendell discusses his weekly process writing 50,000 words in three months, including the day-to-day ups and downs, the challenges and dead-ends, and the surprises along the way as his novel draft evolves.
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E74: --The Third Man -- The Film
08/03/2023
E74: --The Third Man -- The Film
Welcome! In this episode we discuss the film version of The Third Man. For the full plot summary and commentary on the novella, check out episode 73. We riff on our reactions to the film with the written story fresh in our minds. What a masterpiece! Truely a joy to watch, even when you know what's going to happen. ***Sorry this one took so long to publish. As we briefly discuss in the show, we have both got a lot going on this summer. Get in touch: [email protected]
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E73 -- The Third Man -- Graham Greene
06/01/2023
E73 -- The Third Man -- Graham Greene
Blankers! We review Graham Greene's novella, The Third Man. Is it better than the film? Listen to hear our thoughts! Email the show: Twitter: Facebook: Itunes: Support the show: Patreon: Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!
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E72 -- Drive (the film) -- Sallis, Gosling, Refn
03/22/2023
E72 -- Drive (the film) -- Sallis, Gosling, Refn
Blankers! Last episode we discussed James Sallis's hardboiled, neo-noir classic Drive. This time we interrogate Nicholas Winding Refn's 2011 film adaptation starring Ryan Gosling. In what ways is the film better than the novel and vice versa? Hit play to find out! Get in touch with the show: #crimefiction #refn #gosling #jamessallis #drive #noir #neonoir
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E71: -- Drive -- James Sallis
02/10/2023
E71: -- Drive -- James Sallis
Get in and buckle up! In this episode, we cover Drive by James Sallis. It's a short work that speaks to the kind of crime fiction we love. For the appropriate listening experience break out your classic car and crank the stereo. Get in touch with the show: #crimefiction #sallis #jamessallis #drive #noir
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Episode 70 -- Iceberg Slim -- Pimp
12/03/2022
Episode 70 -- Iceberg Slim -- Pimp
For Episode 70, we visit mid-century urban America with Iceberg Slim's Pimp. This is a gritty memoir that sold millions of copies, yet remains under discussed in crime writing circles. We will talk about the good of this book, and we also dig into the problems we had with it. Email the show: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction
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E69 - - Swag - - Elmore Leonard
09/20/2022
E69 - - Swag - - Elmore Leonard
We finally get to Elmore Leonard! We asked for recommendations and received a lot of great suggestions from our listeners. Swag delivered with a tale of two robbers trying to make a buck. If they stick to the 10 rules, what can go wrong? Email the show: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction
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E68: Book Vs Film -- The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
08/23/2022
E68: Book Vs Film -- The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
With the book fresh in our minds we take a look at the classic film "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart. This is mostly a reaction episode looking at how the film diverged from the source material. Enjoy. Email: Find us on Facebook: Point Blank: Noir, Hardboiled, and Detective Fiction
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E67: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre -- B. Traven
08/09/2022
E67: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre -- B. Traven
Greed. Ambition. Gold Fever. Adventure. Join us for a discussion of "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" by the mysterious author B. Traven. Three men down on their luck strike out to find gold in the mountains of Mexico. Will they find their fortunes? Probably not or else it would be a boring book. While this one isn't exactly crime fiction, we think it offers a lot of the hardboiled and noir elements that crime fiction fans will enjoy. Contact the show: Email: Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction
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E66: Adios Muchachos -- Daniel Chavarria
06/05/2022
E66: Adios Muchachos -- Daniel Chavarria
Bienvenido a Cuba! Grab a rum and join us for Adios Muchachos by Daniel Chavarria. Alicia is a woman looking for a rich man to help her escape. She's got a plan that involves a bicycle and seduction. What she doesn't plan for is a kidnapping. We discuss this novel, provide some short reviews, and touch on the world of Cuban Noir. Get in touch with the show: Find us on Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction
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E65: Razorblade Tears -- Mildred Pierce -- The Asphalt Jungle
04/26/2022
E65: Razorblade Tears -- Mildred Pierce -- The Asphalt Jungle
Hello, again, Point Blank Listeners! Sorry for the delay. I've been sick. Here's episode 65. We cover the bestselling, award-winning Razorblade Tears. S.A. Cosby delivers another powerful noir tale, and we get down into the grit to examine why this one is making all of the "best" lists. Justin provides a short review of the classic James M. Cain novel Mildred Pierce , and we discuss the noir film The Asphalt Jungle. Contact the show: Find Us on Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction
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Episode 64 -- Margaret Millar -- Beast in View
02/15/2022
Episode 64 -- Margaret Millar -- Beast in View
Blankers! This episode we discuss Margaret Millar's terrific noir classic Beast in View. This book's got it all: murder, threatening phone calls from bar telephones, a waterproof woman, domestic drama, gender politics, unreliable narrators, and a twist that will knock your socks off. Want to get in touch with the show? Email: : $ Support: Give us a review on
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E63 -- Tartan Noir -- Laidlaw
01/19/2022
E63 -- Tartan Noir -- Laidlaw
We are back! Sorry for the delay. We needed an extended holiday break. In this episode, we discuss Tartan/Scottish Noir through the lens of what is considered the first Tartan Noir Laidlaw. Laidlaw is a gritty detective novel taking place on the streets of Glasgow in the 1970s. William McIlvanney or Gus to his friends is considered the father of Scottish noir and gives us working-class fiction from a working-class town. Want to get in touch with the show? Email: : Give us a review on
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E62 -- Cop Hater -- Ed McBain
12/07/2021
E62 -- Cop Hater -- Ed McBain
Hey Blankers - Kurt & I finally got around to recording Episode 62. This time we take a walk down the mean streets of Isola with Ed McBain's Cop Hater. The first novel in the acclaimed 87th Precinct series, Cop Hater (1956) set the blueprint for modern police procedurals. Does it hold up? Tune in & find out! Get in touch with the show: Email: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Good Reads Point Blank page: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/747867-point-blank Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends! Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868
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E61 -- Ecological Noir -- The Monkey Wrench Gang -- Animals
10/13/2021
E61 -- Ecological Noir -- The Monkey Wrench Gang -- Animals
What in the world is eco-noir? We attempt to answer that question by looking at a few texts that might be ecological noir. In the discussion, we mention: The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abby Animals by Will Staples Zodiac by Neal Stephenson The Glass Factory by Kenneth Wishnia Nature Noir by Jordan Fisher Smith Captiva by Randy Wayne White If you'd like to get in touch with the show: Email: Facebook: Point Blank: Noir, Hardboiled, and Detective Fiction
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E60 -- 5 Round Review: Summer Edition
08/17/2021
E60 -- 5 Round Review: Summer Edition
Blankers! Find your sun hat, stab that beach umbrella into the sand, and break out the Banana Boat -- this is Five Round Reviews: Summer Edition. We have 13 short reviews for you--from Jim Harrison & Dorothy B. Hughes to David Heska Wanbli Weiden & Nick Kolakowski. (See the full list below.) Get in touch with the show: Email: [email protected] Twitter: @pointblanknoir Facebook: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir, and Detective Fiction Good Reads Point Blank page: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/747867-point-blank Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pointblankcrime Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends! Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/point-blank-hardboiled-noir-detective-fiction/id1276038868 Books reviewed (full list) No Room at the Morgue by Jean Patrick Manchette The Prone Gunman by Jean Patrick Manchette Timber Beasts: A Sage Adair Historical Mystery by S.L. Stoner The Great Leader by Jim Harrison The Big Seven by Jim Harrison Paradise Palms: Red Menace Mob by Paul Haddad The So Blue Marble by Dorothy B. Hughes Maxine Unleashes Doomsday by Nick Kolakowski Noir by Christopher Moore White Tears by Hari Kunzru Palm Springs Noir ed. by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett: ARC Someone to Watch Over Me by Dan Bronson Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
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E59 -- Miami Blues
07/26/2021
E59 -- Miami Blues
Throw on your white blazer, power up the speed boat, and cut yourself a line. We're head to '80's Miami for Charles Willeford's 'Miami Blues." In what can only be described as a "weird and unsettling novel," we join Hoke Moseley, Frederick J. Frenger Jr, and Susan Waggoner for a bizarre tale of Floridian crime. Get in touch with the show: [email protected] Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pointblankpodcast
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E58 -- Chicago Noir
06/22/2021
E58 -- Chicago Noir
Blankers! Zip up your windbreakers and don’t forget change for the highway tolls — in Episode 58 we head to Chicago to wrap our heads around Chicago Noir. We talk about Chicago as a city for noir, and we look at crime fiction by Nelson Algren, Howard Browne, Frederic Brown, Sara Paretsky, Michael Harvey, Danny Gardner, Bob Hartley, & more. Italian beef, tavern cut pizza, Old Style, Malort, murder. You ready? Get in touch with the show: Email: Twitter: Facebook: Good Reads Point Blank page: Support the show: Patreon: Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends! Itunes:
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E57 -- Ride the Pink Horse & The Expendable Man --Dorothy Hughes
05/22/2021
E57 -- Ride the Pink Horse & The Expendable Man --Dorothy Hughes
We promised an episode on The Expendable Man, but we just couldn't contain ourselves to one book by Dorothy B Hughes! We discuss these two masterpieces of crime fiction, sharing why we find Hughes' work so compelling. We'd love to hear from you: Email: Facebook: Join Our Facebook Group:
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E56 -- Five Round Reviews
04/28/2021
E56 -- Five Round Reviews
In Episode 57, we review the hell out of nearly a dozen books, + a couple films! We review: Run Man Run by Chester Himes Plan B by Chester Himes Darktown by Thomas Mullen The Man with the Getaway Face by Richard Stark If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned by Walter Mosley M. Ravenel's The Arrangement Champagne Cowboys by Leo W. Banks Freebooters : A Novel by Elleston Trevor Satan Takes the Helm by Calvin Clements The Shadow of What We Were by Luis Sepulveda Generation Loss by Elizabeth Hand Get in touch with the show: Find us on Facebook and join our Facebook group: Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction Twitter: Itunes: Support the show: Patreon: Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!
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E 55 -- S.A. Cosby -- Blacktop Wasteland
04/03/2021
E 55 -- S.A. Cosby -- Blacktop Wasteland
Buckle your seat belts! This is going to be a wild ride! We take a deep dive into "Blacktop Wasteland" by SA Cosby, a novel we both describe as a modern classic. Cosby takes us on a journey through the rural hills of Virginia for an exhilarating, timely work that highlights everything modern noir crime fiction has to offer. Get in touch with the show: Find us on Facebook and join our Facebook group to discuss these books with other listeners. Point Blank: Hardboiled, Noir and Detective Fiction
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E 54 -- Raymond Chandler -- Farewell, My Lovely
03/08/2021
E 54 -- Raymond Chandler -- Farewell, My Lovely
In Episode 45, we revisit to one of the masters of hardboiled detective crime fiction, Raymond Chandler, and his acclaimed second novel, Farewell, My Lovely. Damn, this book is boozy. (And racist!) But also rich with memorable secondary characters (Moose Malloy & Jessie Florian) & Marloweian one-liners. It's a classic example of hardboiled detective fiction that finds Chandler at his most Chandleresque. Get in touch with the show: Twitter: Facebook: Itunes: Website: Support the show: Patreon: Don’t forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts and share the show with your friends!
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