Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter

From	Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.c
Subject	Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter
Date	2015-10-30 09:08 -0700
Organization	None to speak of
Message-ID	<lnio5o9w5c.fsf@kst-u.example.com> (permalink)
References	(1 earlier) <b19da732-dcbc-4e78-abbb-a56d7f7877a7@googlegroups.com> <d9a7ctFg1b3U1@mid.individual.net> <34ba9d6a-42ad-4d2d-9405-5c46b98369b8@googlegroups.com> <n0q18q$v5b$1@dont-email.me> <kfnvb9oa1r4.fsf@x-alumni2.alumni.caltech.edu>

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Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> writes:
> Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> writes:
>> [snip] in any hosted implementation (such as the one you are
>> using), the interface to main must be either:
>>
>> int main(void);
>> OR
>> int main(int argc, char **argv);
>> OR
>> an exact equivalent of one of those two interfaces.
>
> This isn't quite right.  The function main() may
> be declared without a prototype:
>
>     int main();
>
> and also may be defined without one, eg,
>
>     int
>     main( argc, argv )
>         int argc;
>         char *argv[];
>     { ... }
>
> The difference is perhaps minor, but definitely
> non-zero and IMO should be noted.

The forms explicitly required by the standard are
    int main(void)
and
    int main(int argc, char *argv[])
"or equivalent, or in some other implementation-defined manner".

There is no *direct* statement that a definition without a prototype
is permitted.  To argue that the forms without a prototype are
permitted, you have to establish that those forms are "equivalent"
to the forms with a prototype.  And if you're making that argument,
then you actually agree with what Richard said, unless you're making
a distinction between the standard's "equivalent" and Richard's
"exact equivalent".

I've argued before that (a) the literal wording of the standard
can be read to imply that they are *not* equivalent, but (b) the
1989 Committee did not want to break every existing C program,
so they must have intended to permit main to be defined without a
prototype, but (c) as a programmer, you can neatly avoid the entire
issue by using prototypes consistently, something that you should
be doing anyway.

I've discussed the issue at some length here:
http://the-flat-trantor-society.blogspot.com/2014/02/c-standard-quibbles.html
A more up-to-date version of the same article is here:
https://github.com/Keith-S-Thompson/the-flat-trantor-society/blob/master/005-c-standard-quibbles.md#is-int-main-necessarily-valid-should-it-be
or, equivalently:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/oplvk5b

-- 
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) kst-u@mib.org  <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
Working, but not speaking, for JetHead Development, Inc.
"We must do something.  This is something.  Therefore, we must do this."
    -- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"

Thread

Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-27 09:52 -0700
  Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-27 10:06 -0700
    Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter John Gordon <gordon@panix.com> - 2015-10-27 17:16 +0000
      Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-27 11:28 -0700
  Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-27 10:09 -0700
  Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-27 10:12 -0700
    Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2015-10-27 13:12 -0700
      Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter supercat@casperkitty.com - 2015-10-27 13:23 -0700
        Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-10-27 13:49 -0700
          Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-27 21:27 +0000
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2015-10-27 18:00 -0400
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-10-28 02:53 +0000
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-10-28 00:43 -0500
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-28 06:08 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-10-28 08:44 +0000
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-10-28 09:26 +0100
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-28 08:44 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-10-28 10:40 +0100
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter supercat@casperkitty.com - 2015-10-28 06:44 -0700
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter supercat@casperkitty.com - 2015-10-28 06:35 -0700
  Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter "D. Aaron Sawyer" <aaron@110.net> - 2015-10-27 13:40 -0400
    Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter "D. Aaron Sawyer" <aaron@110.net> - 2015-10-27 13:47 -0400
      Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-27 11:38 -0700
        Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter "D. Aaron Sawyer" <aaron@110.net> - 2015-10-27 16:46 -0400
    Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-27 11:39 -0700
  Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-27 18:20 +0000
    Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-27 11:36 -0700
    Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-27 12:09 -0700
  Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-27 11:51 -0700
  Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-27 19:25 +0000
  Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-27 12:27 -0700
    Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2015-10-28 10:07 +1300
      Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-28 00:50 -0700
        Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2015-10-28 21:04 +1300
          Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-28 01:13 -0700
          Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-28 10:40 +0000
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-28 11:02 +0000
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-10-28 11:28 +0000
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-28 11:57 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-28 12:53 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-10-28 13:33 +0000
        Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-28 08:35 +0000
          Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-28 10:59 +0000
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-28 11:04 +0000
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-28 11:38 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-28 11:43 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-28 12:10 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-28 12:58 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-28 13:55 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-28 14:02 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-28 15:01 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-28 15:44 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-28 16:22 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-28 16:26 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-28 16:44 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-28 18:45 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-28 19:26 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-28 20:44 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-10-28 22:59 +0100
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-28 22:48 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-10-29 01:14 +0100
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-29 01:07 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-10-29 14:07 +0100
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-29 13:57 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-10-29 16:22 +0100
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter supercat@casperkitty.com - 2015-10-29 08:38 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-10-29 17:25 +0100
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter supercat@casperkitty.com - 2015-10-29 12:46 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-10-30 09:03 +0100
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-29 19:19 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-10-30 09:54 +0100
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-30 12:20 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-29 21:36 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2015-10-30 10:47 +1300
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-29 22:25 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-10-30 09:59 +0100
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-10-30 10:07 +0100
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-10-28 16:25 +0100
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-28 16:01 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-10-28 09:50 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-10-28 21:57 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Geoff <geoff@invalid.invalid> - 2015-10-28 18:25 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Geoff <geoff@invalid.invalid> - 2015-10-28 18:23 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-29 01:44 +0000
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-10-28 07:07 -0700
          Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2015-10-30 07:07 -0700
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-10-30 09:08 -0700
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2015-10-30 14:29 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-10-30 16:10 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2015-10-30 20:27 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-10-31 12:40 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2015-11-02 02:16 -0800
  Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 03:36 -0700
    Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-29 10:46 +0000
      Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 03:56 -0700
      Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 04:00 -0700
        Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-29 11:02 +0000
          Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 04:05 -0700
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-29 11:14 +0000
          Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 04:14 -0700
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-29 11:26 +0000
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-29 11:26 +0000
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 05:29 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-10-29 09:23 -0400
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 07:44 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-10-29 11:39 -0400
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 09:52 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-10-29 16:02 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 09:56 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-10-29 13:41 -0400
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-29 17:46 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Udyant Wig <udyantw@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 00:14 +0530
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter raltbos@xs4all.nl (Richard Bos) - 2015-10-29 19:30 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-29 22:08 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 22:28 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2015-10-30 08:10 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter supercat@casperkitty.com - 2015-10-30 08:56 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2015-10-30 13:18 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2015-10-30 09:11 +1300
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 01:21 -0700
      Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 04:04 -0700
        Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-29 11:11 +0000
          Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 04:19 -0700
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-29 11:24 +0000
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 05:26 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-10-29 08:31 -0700
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-10-29 09:42 -0400
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 08:31 -0700
  Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-29 10:17 -0700
    Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-29 17:36 +0000
      Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 01:18 -0700
        Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-30 08:36 +0000
          Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-30 08:38 +0000
          Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 02:26 -0700
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-30 09:32 +0000
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-10-30 13:39 +0000
          Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 03:59 -0700
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-30 11:18 +0000
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 06:24 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-10-30 14:18 -0400
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 06:34 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-30 13:39 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 06:57 -0700
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-11-01 09:06 +0000
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-10-30 08:49 -0700
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 10:18 -0700
    Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2015-10-29 11:48 -0700
      Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 01:23 -0700
  Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 01:42 -0700
    Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-30 09:13 +0000
    Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-10-30 10:17 +0000
      Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-30 10:23 +0000
  Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 06:39 -0700
  Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 06:45 -0700
    Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-10-30 13:55 +0000
      Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 07:05 -0700
    Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Steve Thompson <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-10-30 23:29 +0000
      Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-10-31 01:14 +0000
        Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Steve Thompson <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-10-31 17:02 +0000
          Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-10-31 18:05 +0000
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Steve Thompson <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-10-31 23:46 +0000
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter supercat@casperkitty.com - 2015-11-01 08:46 -0800
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Steve Thompson <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-11-01 23:43 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter supercat@casperkitty.com - 2015-11-01 16:05 -0800
              Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2015-11-01 21:41 +0000
                Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Steve Thompson <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-11-01 22:46 +0000
          Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-31 18:22 +0000
            Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Steve Thompson <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-10-31 23:57 +0000
        Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Steve Thompson <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-10-31 17:20 +0000
      Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-10-31 13:38 +0000
        Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter supercat@casperkitty.com - 2015-10-31 11:28 -0700
          Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Steve Thompson <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-11-01 00:06 +0000
        Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Steve Thompson <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2015-10-31 17:58 +0000
  Re: Problem with the function that should display new letter Alla _ <modelling.data@gmail.com> - 2015-10-31 01:14 -0700

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