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The Collectors Newsletter #876 -- December 2011

The Collectors Newsletter #876 -- December 2011

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1. Work from home selling antiques & collectibles
2. This Week's Survey
3. Stories From our readers
4. This Week's Antique News
5. Your Classifieds
6. Newly listed items
7. Funny Old Stuff
8. Wanted ads. Can you help?
9. A Vintage Recipe
10. A Vintage Recipe Request from a Reader
11. New On line Merchants
12. Helpful Resources For Collectors
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Some VERY fun new online antique puzzles for you to play with...
We took some photographs of interesting antiques & collectibles on TIAS and turned them into 5 minute, online, jigsaw puzzles for you to solve. We just posted one of these on our facebook page.

Give them a try at: http://www.facebook.com/TIASAntiques and don't forget to Like us.
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1.Time is running out for your Holiday shopping and we are having LOTS of SALES! Checkout the incredible deals on antiques & collectibles at TIAS.com. See:

http://tias.com/news/

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2. This Week's Survey Question
Every week we post a new survey question and the results from the previous week's survey. Survey questions are about anything related to antiques & collectibles. If you have a suggestion for a survey question, email it to me at phil@tias.com and we might use it in the next newsletter.
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Come and visit us on Facebook where you can post comments and photos - see us at http://www.facebook.com/TIASAntiques
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This week's survey question is a little bit different but always a reader favorite......

"Over the past 10 years of publishing this newsletter, one of the most controversial and popular topics has been readers writing to us about important items they have lost and then years later and sometimes hundreds of miles from where the item was lost, it mysteriously turns up as if it was guided back to the person that lost it. If you or someone you know has had this experience, tell us about it. If you think this is a bunch of bunk, we want to hear from you as well"

It takes just a few seconds to give us your answer to this question at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QGS82Q7
We'll tabulate the results and comments and publish them in next week's newsletter.
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The Last Survey Question Was....

"It's Cyber Monday and you decide to do some online Holiday shopping during your lunch break. Your mom collects green "block optic" depression glass and she has been trying to find a pitcher in that pattern for several months now. Your online search brings you to a page where one is listed for sale $0.01. It's an obvious mistake by the seller, but you want the pitcher. What do you do?"

Here are the answers we received.....
35.5% - said "Try to buy the pitcher for the listed $0.01"
29% - said "Point out the mistake to the seller"
35.5% - said "I have another answer......"

Here are some of the comments that were posted by readers who answered the survey...
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a) "Buyer Beware" also can be implied to be "Seller Beware" so buy it !!!

b) I once listed a piece of signed jewelry for $3.95 instead of the $39.95 I meant to put. It was a buy it now so it was purchased and paid for before I knew what I did. I honored the purchase cuz it was my mistake. The customer later said she would have paid more if it was old but the piece was a reproduction, not the real thing, which I know (I had listed it as a repro). All in all it was a pleasant transaction.

c) Sometimes this type of sale starts out as penny sale but if you look closely it also states there is a reserve on the item. The PENNY catches the buyers eye to begin the bidding. If in doubt ALWAYS contact the seller.

d) All's fair in sales & if the seller made an error, unless they realize it & bring it to the buyer's attention.....

e) Buy it, but point out to seller that he/she should have studied the item more closely, and been aware of what they were selling. We cannot be the guardians of the world. People have to take responsibility for their own actions. That's why there are dozens of guides for antiques and vintage items.

f) I have no idea what this is or it's value but once again we should always treat others as we want to be treated, I surely would want someone to help me if I had made some grave error...once we bought a house filled with antiques as the man had died, there was the ugliest solid wood "stump" table that my husband was going to chop up as firewood but I decided oh I will try to unload it at the garage sale. I put $5 on it....I should have wondered why it was the 1st thing to sell, there were several local antique & flea market buyers that swarmed the place...one enlightened me later why it sold so quick & that I could have easily got $100 for it & why! Lesson learned & my life will go on without that $95 but had I been her, I would've pulled her aside & educated her or at least tried. The end of the story is we made back in all the sales what we paid for the house & it will be a nice rental income for our retirement, so who really got the good deal?

g) You get back what you put out, and if the roles were reversed, you'd certainly hope for an honest soul, not some jerk waiting to make money off an error. This just recently happened with a car auction, where a $140,000 Bentley was listed for $14,000. And of course, the guy who spotted the error is being a jerk about it. Come on, a $126,000 discount? A mistake is a mistake, and we all make them. How you handle things after you spot someone else's mistake goes to character.

h) You could try, but any honest person would ask if that is the actual price. At that price it is probably gone and was nothing but a come-on.

i) As an online seller on eBay for over a decade, I have made a few classy pricing blunders. One in particular was a toy I thought I listed for an opening bid of $35 and a Buy It Now of $125, but I accidentally made the BIN $35! A buyer snapped it up and I almost had a heart attack. But the buyer was understanding of my blunder, and allowed me to refund and relist. A couple of bucks under or over, hey, that's one thing. But a ton of cash is another. I've been incredibly fortunate to have found kind and caring sellers, and I try to be a kind and caring buyer, too. Recently, I was in an antique shop and noticed that a seller marked a piece of jewelry as being less than it was worth because he didn't believe that the material was genuine. I pointed out to him that, indeed, if he just tested it, he would see that it was the real deal. Could I afford the real cost of this item at value? No. But he couldn't afford not to know what he had. One good turn deserves another.

j) I'd email the seller and point out the obvious error, asking for the correct price. The bible says to love thy neighbor as thyself. I was raised to "do unto others as I would have others do unto me". Most sellers spend much money and many hours finding, cleaning, photoing, and listing items for sale. It's hard work, and they deserve an honest profit for their hours of labor, just as if they were at work earning a paycheck.

k) It's a gift for your Mom.....Pay the dealer the correct price and don't try any Scrooge tricks!

l) Take a chance! If the purchase price is wrong the seller will let you know that it was a mistake and let you know what the purchase price really is. If the price is not what you can afford you don't have to buy. Best case scenario is getting the item for what it was priced.

m) If it really is a mistake the seller will let you know and offer the item at it's intended price. If you still want it at the new price then no one loses...if you want to make a complaint, you may not have your item in time for Christmas. Hey have a Happy New Year anyway :-)

n) Try to contact the seller about the mistake and also make a reasonable offer and see if they accept it.
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3. Stories from our readers
We collect interesting stories about collecting. Things like your best find, unusual collections, bizarre collectibles even things that bug you. Anything and everything that is interesting that has to do with antiques & collectibles. We may publish it here. Send your story to Phil@tias.com
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When my son & daughter were quiet young, I had so much fun proving that Santa came down the chimney. On the hearth and onto the carpet snowy footprints made their way to the tree. This was accomplished simply by dipping the shoes in baby powder. They never thought to ask how it kept from melting. Those were the "good ole days". I also did that for the grandchildren one year. Carolyn C. in Al
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WE NEED YOUR STORY ABOUT COLLECTING. DO YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING STORY TO TELL? SEND IT TO PHIL@TIAS.COM
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4. This week's Antique News

The Internet Antique Shop, http://www.TIAS.com today released their list of the top 20 categories of antiques & collectibles that sold online in November of 2011. The list is based on the total dollar value of items sold in each category of antiques & collectibles purchased online at stores hosted by TIAS.com in November of 2011.

Here are the top 20 selling antiques & collectibles for November of 2011
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1. Vintage Jewelry - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Jewelry/1.html

2. China & Dinnerware- See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/China_and_Dinnerware/1.html

3. Memorabilia - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Memorabilia/1.html

4. Holiday & Seasonal - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Holiday_and_Seasonal/1.html

5. Glass - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Glass/1.html

6. Porcelain and Pottery - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Porcelain_and_Pottery/1.html

7. Kitchen Collectibles - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Kitchen_Collectibles/1.html

8. Vintage Clothing - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Clothing/1.html

9. Militaria - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Militaria/1.html

10. Scientific Instruments
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Scientific_Instruments/1.html

11. Vintage Sewing - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Vintage_Sewing/1.html

12. Autographs - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Autographs/1.html

13. Toys - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Toys/1.html

14. Figurines - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Figurines/1.html

15. Paper and Ephemera - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Paper_and_Ephemera/1.html

16. Dolls - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Dolls/1.html

17. Photographica - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Photographica/1.html

18. Textiles - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Textiles/1.html

19. Clocks and Watches - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Clocks_and_Watches/1.html

20. Books - See:
http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Books/1.html
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If you want to tell the world about your antiques & collectibles business, auction, club or upcoming event related to the antiques and collectibles trade, you can post it for free at http://www.News-Antique.com the #1 listing on Google for "Antique News" Your news release will get published online and will also appear in this newsletter so that 16,000 people can read it. To post a release, go to http://www.News-Antique.com
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1. Now Live on iGavelAuctions.com: Fine and Decorative Arts Auction with Silver and Jewelry
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801411

2. Grogan & Company December Auction Featuring Asian Arts
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801409

3. Joseph DuMouchelle Fine Art, Antiques, Jewelry & Timepieces at Auction
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801408

4. Enter to WIN A FREE AUTOGRAPHED GUITAR - like us on facebook
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801406

5. LONG BEACH ANTIQUE MARKET CELEBRATES ITS 29TH ANNIVERSARY ON DECEMBER
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801389

6. Pair of guns linked to outlaws Bonnie and Clyde to be auctioned Jan. 21
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801388

7. RUSSO AND STEELE IMPROVES VENUE
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801387

8. Wikicollecting's Top Ten Most Expensive Classic Toys
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801384

9. Sales Reach Over $700,000 at Cowan's December 2nd American History, Including the Civil War Auction
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801383

10. Occupy Wall Space - 2012 Historic Stock Certificate Calendar
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801367

11. Certified Appraiser Dave Maloney Releases Series of YouTube Training Videos for Appraisers
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801354

12. Wikicollecting's Top 10 Most Expensive Guitars Ever Sold
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801352

13. BRIGHTON MASONIC LODGE 7TH ANNUAL ANTIQUE SHOW
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801351

14. Maloney Publishes 5th Edition of Popular Appraisal Book
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801350

15. Holiday Collectibles Always in Season
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801348

16. PR: 12/7 Rock Bottom Art Auction
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801338

17. Monumental Estate Auction with Northgate Gallery on Artfact Live!
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801337

18. Eldred's Two-Day Fall Asian Art Auction on Artfact Live!
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801336

19. Skinner’s Discovery Auction Offers Unique Gifts for the Holiday Season
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801335

20. Wikicollecting's Top 10 Most Expensive Comic Books Ever Sold
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=801325&keys=comic-book-superman-expensive
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Check the latest news headlines about antiques and collectibles at http://www.News-Antique.com
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MANY more stories are added several times a day. You can read the latest news about antiques & collectibles now at:
http://www.news-antique.com
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5, Your Classifieds...
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Elegant Hand Painted Enameled Gilded Porcelain Vase
http://pages.tiasexchange.com/1360717/PictPage/3923934899.html

Twilight 'Breaking Dawn' Signed Photos Now Available
http://pages.tiasexchange.com/1370583/PictPage/3923934179.html

Time Was Antiques English Royalty Items Specialists
http://pages.tiasexchange.com/1410506/PictPage/3923934191.html

Do you have antiques or collectibles you are just itching to sell? A simple classified ad in this newsletter might just be your answer. Over 16,000 readers subscribe to this newsletter. One of them just might be able to help you out. Place your ad today at: http://tinyurl.com/39eulu

Want to know what our advertisers think? Check out the testimonials at: http://tinyurl.com/8xqyw
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6. Newly listed items for your online shopping pleasure for Wednesday December 7, 2011 Stop by and check out today's fresh inventory at:
TIAS.com - http://www.tias.com/showcase
CollectorOnline - http://cgi.tias.com/showcase/?groupKey=7
AntiqueArts - http://cgi.tias.com/showcase/?groupKey=3
Earthling - http://cgi.tias.com/showcase/?groupKey=6
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7, Funny Old Stuff
This is our humor section. These are humorous family stories and comments that are sent in by readers. If you have a submission you would like to share, please send it to newsletter@tias.com and we may run it in the next issue.
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Our daughter is a collector of the black and white cow items. It seems that everything in their home is white with black spots on it. Recently we had our 6 year old grandson riding with us an my wife said "Ryan, look at all those cows!" It was a very large herd of black angus cows. My grandson said "mammaw, those are not cows because cows are white with black spots!" Needless to say I had to park the car and try to stop laughing before resuming our antique shopping trip. John and Lois
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Do you have a funny family story you would like to share? Make someone feel good by sharing it with us. Send it to newsletter@tias.com and we may publish it here.
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8. Wanted ads. Can you help?
Here are the latest wanted ads from the TIAS Exchange. Can you help someone out?
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WANTED: Treasure Craft dogs
I am looking for the Treasure Craft dog containers labeled "SUGAR", "FLOUR", "COFFEE", and "BANK".
I have two dogs labeled "COOKIES" and one labeled "TEA" but the "tea" dog is not in good shape.
You can send email to dconway@elkcreek.net
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Looking for something? Place a "Wanted" ad in this newsletter. Over 16,000 subscribers will see it. It's easy, go to: http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/submitClassified.cgi
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9. A Vintage Recipe
Be sure to check out our vintage recipe archive online at: http://www.tias.com/newsletter/topics/A%20Vintage%20Recipe.html Over 1200 wonderful vintage recipes are listed.

In the last issue Pam requested a recipe for "mushroom tart". We received the following...
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Mushroom and Bacon Tart
Ingredients:

For the filling:
8 oz. bacon, diced
2 large onions, diced
2 green onions, sliced thinly
8 oz. mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 lbs. fresh baby spinach, washed, drained well, and chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 lb. feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup ricotta or cottage cheese
For the tart dough:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. sugar
12 tbsp. (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
6 – 7 tbsp. ice water

Preparation:
First prepare the dough:
To make dough in Food Processor: Add flour, salt, and sugar to the bowl of the food processor. Pulse a few times to mix. Add chilled butter pieces and process until crumbly, like wet sand. With processor running, add ice water a tbsp. at a time. Process until dough pulls together and forms a ball away from the sides. Add an additional tbsp. of water if it seems too dry. Turn out on to a lightly floured surface and flatten dough in to a round disk. Chill dough while you prepare the filling.
To make the dough by hand: In a large mixing bowl, add flour, salt, and sugar. Mix to combine. Add the butter pieces and using two forks or a pastry blender, cut the butter in to the flour. (You can also use your hands for this.) The mixture should resemble coarse sand when the butter is incorporated fully. Add water and mix to incorporate, kneading dough into a smooth ball. Flatten in to a round disk and chill while making the filling.
Then prepare the spinach mixture:
In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, cook the bacon pieces over medium high heat until nicely crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon bits to drain on paper towels.
Drain bacon fat into a heat safe measuring cup and keep 1/4 cup. Discard any excess. Heat the bacon fat in the pot and add onions and green onions. Saute until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook until tender. Add the spinach and parsley and cook until the spinach is completely wilted and excess moisture evaporates, about 10 – 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly. Season the mixture lightly with salt and generously with freshly ground black pepper. (Remember that the feta and bacon will also add to the saltiness of the dish.)
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
When the spinach mixture has cooled, stir in the beaten eggs, crumbled feta cheese, ricotta, and reserved bacon bits.
Roll out the chilled dough to a size about 2 – 3 inches larger than a pie plate. Place the tart dough into the bottom of the pie pan and allow the edges to overlap the rim. Fill the tart as you would a pie with the spinach mixture.
Fold the edges inward to cover the outer edges of the filling. It doesn’t need to be crimped – just folded over the filling.
Bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for 45 - 50 minutes until the crust is a nice golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Carol Thomas --Cullman, AL
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Buy a Vintage Kitchen collectible from us. We've got lots of them here: http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Kitchen_Collectibles/1.html
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10. A vintage recipe request from a reader
As with collectibles, people also have very strong feelings about foods from their past. Sometimes these special recipes get lost. This section is to help people who are looking for lost recipes from their past. If you submit a request, please include the geographical region where you had this recipe.
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My Mom made a Green Bean Casserole that was delicious. It had slivered almonds in it.....did not have any cream style soup nor did it have French Fried Onion Rings. It was probably in the 60's, and I have had no luck finding her recipe for this dish. It tasted very rich so I am thinking it had real butter in it. I would love to be able to make this dish. We are from Arkansas. Thanks, Pat Murphree
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If you can help this reader with this recipe, please forward it to recipes@tias.com . If you have a vintage recipe request send it to recipes@tias.com and we might just publish it here.
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Be sure to check out our vintage kitchen collectibles section online at: http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Kitchen_Collectibles/1.html
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11. New Online Merchants
Be sure to check out all of the fresh inventory offered by these new merchants at TIAS.
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Lurleen's Texas Treasures
http://www.tias.com/stores/sweepklean
Welcome to my online store. I have a physical store in Huntsville, TX, and am listing some of its treasures. I hope that you enjoy browsing my inventory, and will visit often. Thank you.

Stuff In The Attic
http://tias.com/stores/stuffintheattic
Welcome to my store. I specialize in regional British Antique Ceramics. I live in Wales and developed a passion for first Welsh ceramics and then found other beautiful ceramics such as Wemyss Ware from Scotland and also the Staffordshire Potteries.

Pennywise Antiques and Collectibles
http://tias.com/stores/pennywise
Featuring a broad selection of Fenton Glass both modern and antique, Royal Dalton, Murano Glass, Northwood, Waterford Crystal, Lennox, Mikasa, Armani Figurines, Poland Crystal, Bone China and Porcelain. Please enjoy selecting from our wonderful collection!

Bosch Chick
http://tias.com/stores/boschchick
Eclectic antiques and collectibles to make your own free space. Simply have fun creating new and innovative ideas for your world using old world antiques and collectibles!

Precious Peddler
http://tias.com/stores/preciouspeddlerz
Welcome to Precious Peddler! We feature vintage china and glass pieces, as well as many collectible items. New treasures are added daily, so be sure to check our store often. No sale is ever "final" - we guarantee your satisfaction.

The Farmers Daughter Antiques and Collectibles
http://tias.com/stores/tkslover
My inventory includes everything from primitives and old tools to fine glass and linens. I love glass and porcelain items but I have a wide selection of other antiques as well. Come browse with us. New items added daily.
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12. Helpful Resources:
1. Find an antiques or collectibles club. Nearly 2000 different clubs listed. Take a look at: http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/clubs.cgi
2. What's it worth? Try Kovels' free online price guide to over 600,000 antiques and collectibles. It can be found online at http://www.kovels.com
3. Make money with your Web site. Join the TIAS.com affiliate program today. Go to http://www.tias.com/affiliates/
4. Get an online appraisal. For just $9.95 from "What's It Worth To You?" http://www.whatsitworthtoyou.com/tias.htm (Not affiliated with Kovels.com)
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Thanks for reading. Feel free to forward this to a friend. To subscribe to this newsletter go to: http://www.tias.com/subscribe Please note that stories and recipes from readers are not checked for accuracy. They may be edited prior to publication. For questions or comments, you can reach us at newsletter@TIAS.com ©1995-2011 TIAS.com Inc.

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