Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Rainy Paris


I hate to say it but the Paris weather is not always sunny. On average it rains 171 days per year, during a total of 548 hours - the rain is pretty well distributed over the year (even though the dryest season is spring). Snow is pretty rare (15 days on average) and so is the wind (44 days per year). Now the good news! In Paris, on average, the sun shines 1 798 hours per year.

75 comments:

  1. Interesting stats there but the photo; marvellous. I adore this mono shot with a splash of red. It's quite sexy i think. Or have i just not seen my man in too many weeks? Probably that. Great photo Eric!

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  2. I agree, the photo is pretty cool! I love it! I actually have a pretty good size blown up photograph of rainy Paris in my living room, by some artist, I forget the name now. For some reason, "Paris sous la pluie / Paris tout gris" is the quintessential Paris to me.

    And Eric, iif it makes you feel any better, it's raining cats and dogs in San Francisco right now.

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  3. Cool shot Eric! I love how it almost seems a B&W photo but then there's the red drawing our attention.

    Where were you when you took it? It seems you're in an upper level.

    About the stats, lets focus on the good news ok. Let the sunshine in!!! :-))

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  4. Yes, I was in a museum that I will show you later... Patience!

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  5. alright, alright, I'll wait. I'm sure it will be worth it!

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  6. Eric, you can always make the "dreariest" day a little bit sunny! Love the red umbrella.

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  7. I can see Paul and Ringo, where are the two others? :~(

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  8. Eric, "Paris weather is not always sunny"? NO! LOL.

    I must say, that is the only thing...well, not the ONLY thing, that keeps me from moving there!

    You really must organize a strike! Until there is better weather is Paris, no more work! Do you think that would work? ;)

    Luckily, the last time I was there the weather was marvelous although the traditional "Paris Gray" reared it's ugly head the last day. Still, I counted myself very lucky to get two sunny days out of four! It made it even more enjoyable.

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  9. Eric: very much like Cartier -Bresson. Also reminds me of the famous scene in Schindler's List of the red coated little girl.

    Enough of the sacred, let's get to the profane! Michael is MINE! I upped the ante and said I would follow him into a smelly airplane bathroom.

    Pontgirl: dump the olive oil from the glass Eiffel tower and put dishwashing liquid in it. I bought the same thing specifically for that purpose. Looks nice in the kitchen, too.

    Philly: bring your umbrella on your trip in April, it rains more in Paris than in London.

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  10. Phoenix, um...you have a point there! In that case, I'll secede him to you...you can have him in the toilets in the sky ;0 and the rest of us will share him on the ground! LOL

    Oh Michel, you are one lucky guy! Are you blushing yet?

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  11. Love the greys and the red spot. Good one Maistro!

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  12. Eric, this photo is pure art! I love it!

    PHX--CDG - how clever are you??? Merci for the tip re: my glass Tour Eiffel! I'm going to switch it immediately!

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  13. That is a great idea, putting dishwashing liquid in the Eiffel Tower! Thank you Martha Stewart ;)

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  14. cool pic, Eric! the red umbrella sure brought color to the rainy day, eh? :)

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  15. lol ,Glad to help with any eiffel tower tips!
    Just be sure not to fill it to the top, otherwise, you will hear a pop in the kitchen and you will find the top constantly on the floor. It's better to dilute the dishwashing liquid with about a third of water and then mix it up, an old tip from my mother, "Big Martha".

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  16. Nice colour to what until yesterday has been a dreary and last couple of weeks. I found someone else who apparently has a fixation on red umbrellas. Meet Kathy of 9 News in Colorado!

    I think someone should write in and tell her about PDP!

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  17. "Sheesh, it's not even raining. She just wants to look good!"

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  18. "He's kind of cute. Do you think he noticed my red umbrella?"

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  19. "I will get 100 points and a bottle of wine if I hit them both..."

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  20. Dear Guy Walking by the Girl with the Red Umbrella: Are you sure you're not a girl??? Maybe it's just me, but when one maximizes the photo, I think you're a girl... :-)

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  21. Dear Eric,
    this photo is absolutely wonderful.

    Unfortunately the stats are pretty bleak. If you look at the number of daylight hours over a year (365 days x 24 hours = 8760 hours, divided by two to make allowance for nights = 4380 hours) the number of hours of sunshine (1798 hours, you said) out of 4380, is a pretty dreadful ratio.

    I'd rather be in Sydney... but we have spiders there, see my post today. No place is perfect LOL

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  22. Composition of the photo is just too wonderful. It is now in my favorites of PdP collection. Michael, guard your doors...the women of PdP are reving up to attack you! LOL

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  23. Yes Johnny, I'm afraid I'm not the only one who needs a life! lol

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  24. OK Phx i too concede Michael to you (M; you now seem to have become a trophy parcel) since you will do the ultimate; enter into a smelly toilet with him. Why you would want to, is beyond me lol. I am sure incidentally that he will not come with you. I imagine him to like good, clean facilities and will remain on the aircraft with the rest of us!

    Love the captions, very good. I reckon she's not walking but standing still, hoping to attract the opposite sex by her siren umbrella and she's dancing while singing


    It's Raining Men!

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  25. Eric, blue yesterday, white and red today… is it your participation in the current french debate about the "Identité Nationale" ?
    You crypto-ségo/sarkozyste !!!

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  26. PHX--CDG

    Philly, that would be moi, thanks you for the tip. I have been likened to a horse once again, hehehehe. In spirit I am a Philly not a Mare so I will bring a brightly colored umbrella.

    If I wore a hat I would toss it in the Michael ring, but then I am not a fighter!!!!!!!!!!!

    Eric

    I much prefer this crosswalk photograph to the beetles crosswalk, or the samurai......I think I will listen to abbey road on my way to work today!

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  27. We can not have so nice day like today, with this blue sky, but the rain is not so bad too, there is some thing nice iver the rain :)

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  28. the rainy days make us appreciate the GORGEOUS days like today so much more....

    it's funny that you posted this picture on one of the nicest days in two weeks! in fact, i don't know why i'm at my computer...i should be out!!!

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  29. Eric, I love the variation on the "Abbey Road" theme, as others have noted as well. Crosswalks are fascinating things, both physically and symbolically. The red umbrella is lovely. Clearly, you were girl watching and saw here down the street, and just waited for the crosswalk.

    Michael, I think you may have recognized something noteworthy...!

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  30. Well, i don't know; you men! Most men would consider themselves very lucky indeed to be pursued by young and... not so young ladies. Huh girls?

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  31. LOL Jeff! So when are you coming to Paris? In time for the summer picnic along the Seine this year? Do I need to check and free up Laure's schedule for you?

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  32. Michael
    Same day as me and I arrive Avril 26 but I'm traveling with three other women within a large group who I may or may not know.

    Fred
    where are you leaving from?

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  33. Micheal, I do hope you're having fun with the trouble we're stirring up over you!

    Can't bug everyone too much today, I've got some planning and creating for the baby shower I'm hosting for my sister, among a ton of other things I've got going.

    Suppose I'll actually comment on the photo now: So that's where the rain we were supposed to have today went! And yes, I too immediately thought of the Beatles. And now I have Michelle (my belle...) stuck in my head. Not that it's a bad thing, I'm a total Beatles dork. Actually I'm a dork for a lot of things...

    (MINE!)

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  34. Lynn, yes I think M should be flattered!

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  35. Monsieur Michael, oui, c'est vrai, j'arrive le 26 avril, jeudi. Philly (ne Marez) a raison.

    I'll be in Paris only three days this time, at the end of the trip.

    And yes, I certainly hope to see Laure again.

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  36. I agree Monica...he SHOULD be flattered. But obviously he is not...even insulting us. So ungrateful Michel, :P

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  37. AND he didn't bother to read my southern USA drawl fiction at Things UK and i so wanted his opinion of the accent. Well! Shall we go off him a tiny bit girls?

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  38. Ladies, after all that cat fighting and hair pulling, and not a word of gratitude from M! Maybe he is too much of a gentleman to comment on us. I guess I will have to cheat on my husband with someone else in the electronic sphere. Wait..... it was right before my very eyes...ERIC! Shall we make ourselves his OFFICIAL harem? No fighting in a harem, let's be dignified this time.

    Philly: wish I could meet up with you in Paris..you made me lol.

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  39. A red umbrella in Paris...well, you can't get more perfect than that!! Rain or shine...I'll take Paris anytime!!


    Lynn..Oh no you don't!! If you're gonna play "it's raining men"...it has to be the "Weather Girls"!!! LOL!! Martha Wash and Izora Armstead were local San Francisco girls and were known as "Two Tons O'Fun" when they sang back up for Sylvester in the late 70's and 80's!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWwyjmSbJPs

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  40. kpgallant i thought i may be in trouble there, but i do like the ex-Spice Girl Geri i'm afraid lol she's just a lot of fun. Yours was great too of course. lol.
    Phx - Eric's had a fair share of DPers fighting over him and i have to say, pretty much the same response. These Paris inhabitants are quite cool customers are they not. I reckon they're in it together, enjoying the standing-back-and-watching tactic. Hmm... what next? lol!

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  41. Oh come on ladies. What would you do in my position? I feel so sorry that Eric's blog has been all filled up with all of this nonsense gushing about. Please forgive them Eric.

    Now...Jeff...you ladies should go after him. I've met him at a picnic along the Seine and I assure you that he would be very open to your suggestions. Aren't I right Jeff?

    **thinking...did they take the bait? Am I safe?**

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  42. Susan and Michael or anyone who might know this, are there lockers in the gares of Paris, specially Gare du Nord? If so, are they big?

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  43. Wow...Merci Haxo!! I never knew that and always wondered about the "whiteness" of the basilica!! You are a wealth of information!

    Monica, Lynn..et al..if you do ever get to have a picnic with Michael and Eric you should film it and put it on YouTube...I suspect it might be quite entertaining..at least for a few minutes! LOL!! Sorry guys!!

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  44. This is really nice Eric. The red umbrella obviously striking - but I also like the grainyness of the large image.

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  45. Philly, I wish they would have been Samurai...they are handsome. Those were Sumo, all 600 lbs of each one. What a trail mix they made while crossing the rue.

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  46. Eric:

    Please be serious with your answer if you decide to respond to my queery. Has anyone said that they did not like your photos. I mean here, it is the red umbrella. Of the Dog pooh they wondered how you got the picture, 'Were you lying down, it is dog pooh which the pied de cochon looked like it and yet they were ready to eat it.

    Des fois je pense qui'ls font tout ca sans essaye d'etrte tout a fait honet avec toi. Mais la plupart du temps je trouve qui'ils sont totalement genial de ce que tu fais. En verra ce qui'ls vont dire apres ca. Je resterais Anon. en ce cas, si non c'est la guillotine. Belle photo quand meme.

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  47. kpgallant: now there's an idea. Eric on Youtube, whatever next. Another incentive to make it there in the summer.
    All done in fun, Michael, fear not, we'll not get up to MUCH mischief! Eric's strangely quiet isn't he. He's over there with his hand on the door...

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  48. Really great photo!!! I like it very much!!!

    Zazie.

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  49. Anon: "Des fois je pense qui'ls font tout ca sans essaye d'etrte tout a fait honet avec toi. Mais la plupart du temps je trouve qui'ils sont totalement genial de ce que tu fais."

    Votre commentaire est très intéressant alors je me permets de dialoguer un peu avec vous. A mon avis, Eric pourrait poster le dessous de sa chaussure après avoir marché dans la ... et il aurait la même réponse (tant que la photo est bien cadrée, remarquez!) que s'il avait posté la Tour Eiffel au coucher du soleil ou qq chose comme ça ;)

    La plupart des gens qui commentent ici sont de grands francophiles et ne voient pas le Paris de tous les jours, mais seulement celui qui les fait rêver. (C'est normal.) Alors ils ont tendance à réagir de la même facon avec les photos et Eric, ou l'idée qu'ils se font de lui.

    Et puis même quand on est pas francophile, on réagit tout simplement parce que ça nous fait plaisir. Prend la photo d'aujourd'hui par ex., faut bien avouer que c'est original ce petit bout de couleur sur fond tout gris, c'est joli et c'est sympa comme idée et comme photo.

    Sinon, vous avez bien raison; contredire le groupe c'est une mission suicide. Y'en a qui essayent de temps en temps, mais ils se font jeter en vitesse.

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  50. Alas, I will be gone before the bevy of beauties descends from Olympus for you, Monsieur Michael, though I appreciate your recommendation. If Eric does not step in, you should remember one man's choice to award the golden apple to the mortal, Helen, which caused all sorts of trouble. Hera and Aphrodite were not pleased. Of course, his name was Paris. Bon chance!

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  51. ...and I think Monica wants to stuff you into a locker at Gare du Nord.

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  52. Ah! Tomate vous avez bien raison. "A mon avis, Eric pourrait poster le dessous de sa chaussure après avoir marché dans la ... et il aurait la même réponse (tant que la photo est bien cadrée, remarquez!) que s'il avait posté la Tour Eiffel au coucher du soleil ou qq chose comme ça ;)"

    Paris me manque beaucoup. Peut etre on peut se rencontrer au consulat pour voter le nouveau President de la Republique. Un bon dialogue et je le dis agreablement. En meme temps je suis sur que Eric ne sera pas tout a fais en colere avec moi.

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  53. Anon: "En meme temps je suis sur que Eric ne sera pas tout a fais en colere avec moi. "

    Je crois (je peux me tromper, remarquez) qu'Eric serait d'accord et rirait avec nous :) Le groupe, par contre, je sais pas. ;)

    En ce qui concerne RV au consulat, pourquoi pas. C'est pas la peine d'attendre les elections, par contre, et il y a un coffee shop 10 fois plus sympa que le Café de la Presse à 2 blocks. :)

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  54. Tomate,

    Made me laugh when you said, "to contradict the group it is a suicide mission"!

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  55. JohnnyParsons

    thank you for the correction, you say Suma I say Samurai-very different indeed. please accept this photo or link as my most humble apology

    http://imdb.com/gallery/ss/0277027/Ss/0277027/9343.jpg?path=gallery&path_key=0277027

    from the movie I AM SAM

    not only have I forgotten how to do links but I couldn't right click for the properties anyway.

    Michael would you do the honors?

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  56. Bien dit, Tomate! Also, i don't believe Eric gets angry with anyone. Although discussions on here are empassioned, interested and valid, i really don't think things are so important as to get angry.




    There you go Philly, hopefully

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  57. Anon,
    fear not, the guilhotine era is gone! Tomate said it all very well, Eric's photos gives us such a pleasure. Still, I mean everyword of complement I say, I think the others do to. Anyway, it's funny to realise that some who tried to put Eric's photos down didn't last too long here!

    Jeff, what I had in mind was luggage, that's all! :-)
    I'm serious, I want to know if the gares have a locker.

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  58. Merci Lynn, it worked. Please tell me how, shall I give you my email?

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  59. You mean, you want to become one of THEM (those of us in the enclosed circle who know how to link in a comment)? Are you sure? Well i had to wait months before Michael came to my rescue with the coveted information. I am sure he won't mind if i pass it on. Yes do.

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  60. Must admit, Monica, i was too a little concerned by your sudden, urgent request to find a Paris locker. Partner in crime indeed lol.

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  61. It's all part of a bigger plan Lynn!

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  62. Ah, Tomate, one of Eric's trusty 3 musketeers! Tomate: the voice of reason, Michael: the humourous moderator and Haxo: the kindly encyclopedia! How I would like to have the 3 of you in my corner, alas, I fear I am not as deserving as our gentleman native Parisian, but I can aspire to be . . .

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  63. No, it does not make me feel happier to know it rains in SF Tomate ;) (Le malheur des uns ne fait pas nécessairement le bonhneur des autres!)


    LOL on the association with the Beatles album, I actually did not think of it when I took the photo.

    Susan; tell me about the Paris gray... It can be so depressing sometimes.


    LOOOOOOOOL on the:

    Guy walking by the girl with the red umbrella said...

    "Sheesh, it's not even raining. She just wants to look good!"

    Girl with the red umbrella said...

    "He's kind of cute. Do you think he noticed my red umbrella?"

    Taxi driver approaching crossing thinks said...

    "I will get 100 points and a bottle of wine if I hit them both..."

    Micheal. Where on earth did you find this link?! Unbelievable.

    Lynn, LOL on "It's raining men!"

    Nasty GG, soooooooo nasty!

    Hey Nahal; nice to see you here (Nahal has been in Paris for 2 months, people, and we managed to see each other only once. Shame on me!)

    Jeff, I got your email, so I know you arrive on the 26 (sorry not to have replied yet ; I will...)

    Anonymous.

    Yes I suppose most people realize that it's quite a commitment to post a photo everyday (it IS believe me!!) so even if they don't like a photo one day, well , they either restrain from commenting or says something neutral. But, of course, I know that not all my photos are good - some are just informative.


    OK, it's 1:35 am again, I promised myself I would be in bed by... 12:30! TTFN...

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  64. Tomate vous parlez de cafe Claude ou Bastille?

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  65. I just realized that I never said how much I liked this picture.

    You didn't plan it based on the Beatles? Really? I thought you were being clever!

    Is a red umbrella really so provocative? My umbrella is red :0 and I never knew I was being so controversial!

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  66. Jeff - I love your comment about Hera, Aphrodite and Paris. Excellent.

    Monica, yes, I think there are lockers, but I have no idea of their size. I DO believe, however, that they are much too small to stuff me inside...er...I mean for a very large suitcase.

    Lynn...YOU have become one of US! Exchanging technical information with Philly officially makes you a member of the club!

    Tomate and Anonymous, your dialogue was quite good and constructive. I sometimes think there is a photo I do not like, but what I really do enjoy is seeing what everybody else "sees" in the photo. That gives a whole other dimension to the shot.

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  67. Yay Michael! I'm in! Who'd have thought that technically-bumbling Lynn would have been embraced by the DP techies. I'm honoured indeed.

    Eric: TTFN? I was sooooo surprised to see this from you. How did you know of such a coloquially British short form? Fascinating! For those who don't know, incidentally, it means ta ta for now. For those who need further explanation, ta ta means goodbye. lol i was delighted, Eric!

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  68. hmmm Michael, lockers not big enough huh? guess I'll have to think of something else for my master plan...


    Lynn, what a cute expression, ta ta for now.
    So, ta ta for now!

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  69. I thought everyone knew TTFN! I've been saying it on occassion since I was a kid. Saw it in a movie originally, I think.

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  70. nice shot, you always put life to stills....

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