3.0

Cindy Laurin

Computer Science - Seneca Polytechnic

3.0
Quality
3.0
Difficulty
28%
Would Retake
97
Reviews
3.0
Quality
3.0
Difficulty
3.0
Helpful
2.9
Clarity

28%

Would Retake

97

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

35

4

11

3

8

2

8

1

35

What Students Say

One the worse teacher I have met

SYS366 - 1.0 rating

It was the most stressful class in my life

SYS366 - 1.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

76%

Textbook Required

36%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 32 grades
Most common grades:
A (10)
Not sure yet (10)
B+ (6)
Grade Distribution
A(14)B(5)C(3)D(4)F(0)A-/B+(8)
Based on 46 reported grades
A: 10
Not sure yet: 10
B+: 6
A+: 4
Common Tags
Tough grader (30)
Gives good feedback (8)
Group projects (8)
Lots of homework (7)
Test heavy (7)
Clear grading criteria (6)
Participation matters (6)
Get ready to read (4)
Rating Trend

Declining

-1.70 avg change
Mar
Apr
Aug
Oct
Nov
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

CBLOPS

5.0

(1)

IBC233D

5.0

(1)

INT222

5.0

(2)

IBC244

5.0

(1)

PMC210

5.0

(1)
+14 more courses
Difficulty by Course

COBOL

5.0

BACA

5.0

SYD466

4.3

SYD366

3.8

IPC144

3.2

Reviews (97)
5.0
1.0
CBL344
Aug 16, 2001

very enthusiastic and good knowledge of language

4.0
1.0
CBL355
Grade: C
Aug 15, 2001

No Comments

2.0
1.0
CBL
Sep 5, 2001

Had her for COBOL, care less about her students!

4.0
3.0
OPS234
Grade: A
Sep 26, 2001

Can come off as cold, but does care about students, but she knows her stuff

5.0
3.0
CBLOPS
Grade: D+
Nov 10, 2001

Realises that there is life beyond school and tempers fairness with understaning

4.0
1.0
CBL344
Nov 6, 2001

very helpful and friendly, easy going

5.0
3.0
CBL344
Nov 14, 2001

very helpful, cares about students' progress, makes COBOL likable

5.0
1.0
CBL344
Nov 21, 2001

She's good. I like her for teaching COBOL. It seems not that hard now.

1.0
5.0
IPC144
Nov 16, 2001

Maybe she's a good one in COBOL, but dont take her C program, it's..............

5.0
2.0
CBL344
Nov 21, 2001

When you listen & follow up her the course is easy

5.0
1.0
OPS234
Nov 27, 2001

No Comments

3.0
3.0
CBL344
Grade: C+
Nov 27, 2001

She is good teacher and wants to explain every operator

5.0
3.0
CBL344
Dec 13, 2001

ver helpful and makes cobol a little less boring

2.0
3.0
IPC144
Jan 29, 2002

not that good in C programming. 1byte is 4bits ???!!!!!

3.0
3.0
IPC144
Apr 5, 2002

you should go slowly on hard topics(ie function.arrays,string)

1.0
3.0
IPC144
Apr 5, 2002

Hope you prepare yourself before every class.

5.0
2.0
CBL344
Apr 23, 2002

Good COBOL teacher. But a little weird, somehow...

5.0
1.0
CBL344
Oct 2, 2002

Very enthusiastic, clear, structured. Just follow her.

4.0
1.0
CBL
Jun 18, 2002

Good teacher. Very easy tests and exam. Assignments are fair.

5.0
1.0
BAC344
Oct 27, 2002

One of the best teacher at Seneca today!!!Need more teachers like her at seneca.

1.0
5.0
COBOL
Nov 4, 2002

the worst prof so far!! nothing good about her

5.0
1.0
BAC344
Sep 5, 2003

Very good prof...very easygoing..if you go for help she will help you...lectures not bad!

5.0
1.0
IBC233D
Dec 6, 2003

One of the best iSeries teacher available. She is great. She teaches so good you cannot complain. But she is too hard to give marks. I really like her.

2.0
2.0
IPC144
Mar 25, 2004

i passed the course by reading the book.....

5.0
2.0
IBC233
Dec 13, 2004

shes GREAT, she helps all the time, and always replys to her emails, so if you need help contact her, your guranteed a reply! A very nice person, and is very calm, even if you make a stupid code error that she emphasized on in class.

5.0
1.0
IBC233
Aug 29, 2004

She's a very good teacher that explains things well.

5.0
2.0
IBC233
Jul 12, 2005

the best prof at seneca. i wish i had one more prof like her.

4.0
3.0
IBC233
May 17, 2006

enough about ur ex-husband already! she's always stating that's she's bitter about the software cause her husband made it. guess what, no one cares!

5.0
3.0
IBC233
Sep 23, 2005

if you ask her questions, she will help you. she helped me a lot!! thank you cindy!!!!

4.0
2.0
INTB
Jan 2, 2007

She is a good teacher.

4.0
3.0
IBC233
Jul 21, 2008

Good professor! I took IBC233,BAC344 and INT222 with Cindy. She is good at help you learn through in-class examples. She is also a lovely person!

5.0
2.0
IBC233
Feb 13, 2009

She is a nice person, very helpful as well.

5.0
1.0
BAC344
Mar 31, 2009

she brings a lot of handouts based, gives very quick daily quizzes and all the test and the exam are all based on the daily quizzes so all you have to do is attend class and keep up with the assignments. She is the best teacher for BAC344 and IBC233 so if you can, take her class. Instead of 3 big assignments there are 7 very small assignments in ba

5.0
4.0
INT222
Feb 3, 2010

Cindy is an excellent prof. I do prefer her as an INT prof rather than IBC233/BAC344. Her iSeries classes tend to be boring, and she doesn't seem as enthusiastic about the material although iSeries is her specialty. All in all, wonderful person, fair marker and is always available for help!

2.0
5.0
BACA
Jun 4, 2009

No Comments

3.0
3.0
BAC344
Mar 27, 2010

nice lady but tough subject to learn ,just split up with her husband ... definitely would take COBOL from her

5.0
2.0
INT222
Dec 18, 2010

One of my favorite teachers, very helpful and a nice person.

5.0
2.0
IBC233
Jul 2, 2012

Very good teacher. She brings lot of materials. Always answers emails.

5.0
2.0
IBC233
Oct 14, 2011

Good Teacher! Very nice woman. Never had a problem following in class. Definitely knows what she's doing and will help if needed. Definitely would like more teachers like her.

5.0
1.0
IBC244
Jul 27, 2012

She is really great and helpful if you show your interest. You have to show up in order to have a good mark. Overall, she is great.

4.0
3.0
BAC344
Jan 10, 2013

Great teacher and very helpful. If you want to take COBOL, I strongly recommend you to take it with Cindy Laurin.

5.0
1.0
SYS366
Apr 27, 2013

Do not skip this class, marks are based on attendance. Amazing teacher, very very VERY understanding and overall just kind. The subject is boring, it doesn't have anything to do with coding really. Cindy herself is just a great prof. That being said, I spent A LOT of time reading her power points(which are well made...I just hated the class)

5.0
2.0
SYS366
Apr 21, 2014

You may not like this (less programming and more business-english), but Cindy helps a lot. She *is* strict with attendance, but if you show up and do the work, you can get about 40% of the grade. And these will help with the tests/exams (which are like reading comprehension tests for business). If you finish work for this early, you'll ace this.

1.0
2.0
COS126
Grade: A
May 1, 2015

the teacher and the books is good for insomnia not real for the real world

3.0
1.0
SYS366
Jun 30, 2016
Would take again

The class is very attendance-based, so show up and you'll get a good chunk of the total mark. It is fairly easy to ace this class if you do everythingand you go to every class, but she will also refuse to mark assignments if you do not put specific information on the assignment (such as name, team number, etc.), which can be annoying.

5.0
2.0
SYS366
Grade: A+
Dec 7, 2016
Would take again

I had this professor for both of my SYS classes about 2 or 3 years ago. Very nice and skilled teacher. Very helpful, with hands-on lessons. Even in lecture classes. I can't remember if she was the only one teaching this course at the time, but I was pleased that I had her for SYS466 as well. She's not rigid like most professors are. Very rare.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Clear grading criteria
Amazing lectures
5.0
2.0
PMC210
Grade: B+
May 4, 2017
Would take again

Cindy is very helpful person. She always try to help the students for each issue that students have.

Gives good feedback
Respected
Clear grading criteria
1.0
1.0
SYS366
Dec 11, 2019
Wouldn't take again

One the worse teacher I have met. At the beggining she was nice, always relating some of her personal life stories with the class, but after the assigments and group work came, she turned into a helpless teacher that you will never find out what she wants in the course, everything seems wrong to her, and very rude and disrespectful with the class.

1.0
1.0
SYS366
Aug 1, 2020
Wouldn't take again

NEVER TAKE HER CLASS. NEVER. It was the most stressful class in my life.

Tough grader
2.0
3.0
SYS366
Grade: B+
Apr 28, 2020
Wouldn't take again

She really needs a marking rubric or something that the student can use to figure out what they need to include to get full marks, every assignment with her felt like a guessing game and because the course has many small 1% assignments if she felt you didn't meet what she wanted it was a 0/1, these small 0% scores can add up by the end.

1.0
3.0
SYS366
Grade: B+
Nov 8, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Weak teaching and extremely hard marker.

3.0
4.0
SYD366
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 14, 2020
Wouldn't take again

She is nice and I like her personality, but be careful. She is a really tough marker! We had to submit assignments that she wanted to. Otherwise, you are going to get low marks. She doesn't explain or teach anything unless you make an appointment with her and ask one on one. Once you understand what she wants, it can be a bit easier.

Lots of homework
Group projects
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
SYD366
Grade: B
Jul 23, 2021
Wouldn't take again

She has 0 education and marks out of know where. She doesn't know how to use technology (she kept asking us how to turn the camera on) and yet she works IN A TECH ENVIRONMENT. On top of that, her grading is substantially harder compared to others. Do not take this prof.

Get ready to read
Skip class? You won't pass.
Tough grader
1.0
3.0
SYS366
Grade: B-
Dec 22, 2020
Wouldn't take again

She removed all the labs sessions during online course due to Corona! We didnt learn anything. Instead of focusing on programming she focused on English language!!! Just waste our time! If you wanna waste your time and try a lot for earning nothing choose her!

2.0
5.0
SYS366
Grade: A
Sep 7, 2021
Wouldn't take again

she is a very, very tough grader and her explanation does not make any sense at all. have to attend classes, otherwise 0. have to pay a lot of attention to what she wants, otherwise 0. funny but very annoying when it comes to teaching.

Tough grader
1.0
4.0
SYD466
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 6, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Cindy doesn't teach, all she does is sit back in her chair and shoves videos and readings to your face. She doesn't bother to teach any concept, assumes you know it and if you don't, well then she gives you videos and readings. Also, she doesn't give ANY feedback on quizzes/tests. She won't tell you how to do better.

Get ready to read
Test heavy
Tough grader
2.0
5.0
SYD466
Oct 5, 2021
Wouldn't take again

She doesn't actually teach, she simply gives us videos to watch on our own time and is there during lectures to answer questions. Yet she talks down to a lot of students for some reason. Majority of the class would be confused about something, which would indicate poor explanations, but says things like "you should've done the homework".

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
SYD466
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 8, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Cindy is a really hard marker. Even if you have everything right, she will dig and pick out things to mark as wrong. This isn't proper marking, this is being excessive. She no longer makes the marking focused on the general concept/teaching of your lab. It feels like she marks hard to just get you to be on your tiptoes around her. It's unnecessary.

Get ready to read
Group projects
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
SYD466
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 14, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Brutal brutal brutal brutal brutal brutal brutal marking.

Get ready to read
Test heavy
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
SYD466
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 14, 2021
Wouldn't take again

I though OOP345 and Web322 are hardest program in CPA, oh boy this class is pure suffering . she is very though graded. shes like Oprah. I will get an D you Will get a D everyone will get a D maybe F if you are lucky. she will find small mistake and gives you low mark. I tried to improve my grade as much as I can but nope. still failing

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
SYD466
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 15, 2021
Wouldn't take again

I am the future you, traveling to your current time period to warn you. Do not take Cindy as your professor. No feedback from her, no communication. She gives you a lab with awful communication, then deducts marks because you didn't do what WASN'T STATED on the lab. I am warning you, beware.

Lots of homework
Test heavy
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
SYD466
Oct 22, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Her grading isn't hyperbolized, I handed my lab in at 4:30, as it is due at 5:00. I receive a mark of 25% back at 5:01, meaning she just closed submissions and is looking through labs with less than a minute's worth of effort, dishing failing grades out. I wasn't the only one. I wonder if she knows that class averages indicate poor teaching...

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
SYD466
Grade: Incomplete
Oct 21, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Barely acceptable prof for SYD366, but absolute nightmare for SYD466. Teaches maybe 5 minutes a week, "read the textbook" the rest. Grading scheme has no consistency. You have to read her mind to know what assumptions she wants you to make. Reneges on everything she says whilst actively looking for the smallest errors to justify taking 90% off.

Tough grader
1.0
3.0
SYS366
Dec 8, 2021
Wouldn't take again

horrible grader

Test heavy
Group projects
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
SYD466
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 4, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Don't trust the 3.6 score for Cindy, it should be 1/5. Save yourself and just don't take her. Marking is very unfair and doesn't tell you everything you did wrong so that for the next submission of the same assignment, she can deduct more marks from you. She really isn't helpful at all. Teachers should be wanting their students to succeed, not fail

Graded by few things
Tough grader
5.0
4.0
SYD466
Grade: A
Dec 15, 2021
Would take again

Not perfect but not that bad at all. Had her for 366 and 466 and did well in both courses. The course itself can be a bit confusing in the beginning, but if you show up to her 1-on-1 meetings a few times, she makes things very clear. I know people complain about her but I never had any issues to be honest.

Accessible outside class
Tough grader
1.0
4.0
SYD366
Jan 4, 2022
Wouldn't take again

learn nothing from her. If I can learn this by myself why I should pay the tuition?

5.0
3.0
SYD466
Jan 11, 2022
Would take again

Cindy is a great Professor. The course is mostly group work, and three large tests. The group labs are exactly what you will be tested on. Cindy is always available to meet and clarify concepts you don't understand, or go over lab submissions to help you improve. You can even resubmit to get a better mark after speaking with her. She wants to help.

Accessible outside class
Participation matters
Group projects
1.0
5.0
SYD466
Grade: C-
Mar 30, 2022

This lady does not care, she doesn't teach, she just shows you what's expected then gives you a 1/5 for missing the mark. She'll tell you to fix it then give you a 3/5 for new problems she forgot to mention the first time. She will give you the answers. But her answers have the same problems you do. You can't avoid her because she's the SYD head

Tough grader
Group projects
1.0
5.0
SYD366
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Aug 15, 2022

I don't want anyone to suffer. Just do not take her course. She will tell you, "I am tired I can't focus on teaching."

Tough grader
5.0
3.0
SYD466
Grade: A
Mar 30, 2022
Would take again

She’s a tough grader but she’s amazing you actually learn a lot

Tough grader
Group projects
Gives good feedback
1.0
4.0
SYD366
Oct 15, 2022

Tough grader, picky and annoying. Pick someone else and avoid at all costs

Tough grader
Participation matters
5.0
5.0
SYD466
Grade: A+
Oct 8, 2022
Would take again

She teaches to those who wants to learn which is why she updates her google calendar for 1-1sessions. Everyone told me Cindy fails majority of the students, but she gave me full marks and on top of that bonus grades in group labs. Participation in every lab matters. I struggled a lot while doing labs but did really well overall. Thank you Prof :)

Participation matters
Group projects
Lots of homework
1.0
3.0
SYD366
Grade: A-
Nov 24, 2022

Avoid at all costs, I did alright in the course as I studied. But it is difficult to like her teaching style and personality. Not available to students most often than not, extremely rude and condescending to students who have legitimate questions, and there isn't much to learn from her. Just an unpleasant person and professor in overall.

Tough grader
Lots of homework
1.0
4.0
SYD366
Grade: B+
Nov 29, 2022

terrible.

Tough grader
3.0
3.0
SYD366
Grade: A
Dec 19, 2022

Not that bad. You'll do well if you attend all lectures (there is almost always graded group work to do), and have regular meetings with Cindy to get feedback on your assignments (she'll pretty much point out all the issues you need to fix before submitting). Doing these things will also help immensely with her tests.

Group projects
Accessible outside class
4.0
4.0
SYD366
Grade: A
Jan 19, 2023
Would take again

If you don't reach out to ask questions or participate in class, Cindy will be tough on you and she can be quite rude. However, she explains exactly what she wants for the labs and allows you to re-upload it after she gives feedback. So if you listen to feedback, you can do well in this class.

Participation matters
Gives good feedback
Lots of homework
5.0
1.0
SYD366
Grade: A
Apr 2, 2023
Would take again

Teaches exactly what she expects in Labs/tests. Allows ref sheets. Allows resubmission after feedback to improve grades. Asks students to grade her bad on RMP so her class size stays small but in reality is a great prof. Just need to participate and u will pass course with ease. Best SYD prof in Seneca.

Amazing lectures
Clear grading criteria
Gives good feedback
3.0
2.0
SYD366
Grade: B+
Nov 30, 2023
Would take again

Not bad a bad prof. True that she shares a bunch of stories, and often a bit lazy when it came to properly share lab example answers. Her feedback was quite vague, unless you go out of your way to consult 1 on 1 constantly, only then she go into why it's bad and how it can be improved. As long as you show up, and ask for feedback you will pass.

Tough grader
Participation matters
Gives good feedback
1.0
4.0
SYD466
Grade: A+
Jul 21, 2023

Likes to bore the class with personal stories so the lectures are pretty much pointless. Honestly, she's not worth it so if you have another option (that's NOT the instructor whose initials are M. G.), take them instead. You have to always guess what she is looking for when working on the labs and the sample solutions often have issues too.

2.0
3.0
SYD466
Grade: A+
Dec 21, 2023

I found the SYD 366 and SYD 466 courses disappointing. They offered limited learning opportunities. To pass, it seemed necessary to just follow the professor's logic without much room for independent thought or deep understanding of the material.

4.0
4.0
SYD366
Grade: A-
Jan 13, 2024
Would take again

Kind of a mixed bag. She's obviously burned out and leaves some clear gaps in her teaching materials especially in the first couple weeks, but she gives clear feedback for those asking for help. Even grades early submissions to be resubmitted with feedback. Don't get on her nerves, don't deviate too much from sample solutions and you'll be fine.

Clear grading criteria
Gives good feedback
5.0
4.0
SYD366
Grade: B+
Aug 16, 2024
Would take again

She is good professor, I don't know why her rating is bad, if you study little you will pass 100%.

Tough grader
Gives good feedback
Graded by few things
1.0
5.0
SYD366
Feb 15, 2024

This professor is awful, she always just put integrity case on the students she don't like. And fails those who have a case on them in quizes. If someone wants to fail in this course take her otherwise dont.

Hilarious
1.0
5.0
SYD466
Grade: Drop/Withdrawal
Nov 4, 2024

Please if you really want to fail this course, then take it.......She only cares of her logic. If you don't write in her way...she will mark your all labs and test very low.....it get impossible to pass the course..... this is my honest advice....

Tough grader
Lecture heavy
Test heavy
5.0
4.0
SYD466
Grade: A
Nov 12, 2024
Would take again

If you actually want to learn, then take this prof. She gives you all of the course work from week 1. She allows you to submit your work early and gives you feedback before the deadline so you can get full marks. If you do the work, you will pass with great marks.

Amazing lectures
Clear grading criteria
Caring
3.0
3.0
SYD466
Jan 22, 2025

I had Cindy's class. On day one, she said, "Design it your way, and explain it to me if I don't get it." I did, but all I got were bad grades because she said, "It doesn't make sense." I copied her examples, got full marks 🤡. Don't trust her "do it your way" advice—just copy her style for good grades.

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
SYD466
Grade: Incomplete
Feb 7, 2025

She'll take off 10% for every minor minor detail and once you get 5 things wrong you get a 50% and then she stops grading. Every time she grades she's unclear with what was wrong so you always have to ask her. You can ask her in person for her to check your work, and to make sure its all good, then she'll find a way to take grades off somehow.AVOID

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
SYD466
Grade: Not sure yet
Apr 8, 2025

There is no point in this course! You don't learn anything, all you do is follow the way of the prof. if you don't do it her way you fail.

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Test heavy
5.0
2.0
SYD466
Grade: A
Mar 11, 2025
Would take again

I was worried based on what I'd heard, but I had a great time in Cindy's class. She tells you the exact guidelines to follow for your assignments/tests, and as long as you do, you'll get a good mark. If you want to score 100% on assignments, she also provides feedback if you submit early or ask in class.

Participation matters
Clear grading criteria
Gives good feedback
4.0
2.0
SYD366
Grade: B
Aug 22, 2025
Would take again

she is a good professor. if you submit all assignments, labs and quizzes you will definitely pass. BUT, her exams are little bit hard so you have to prepare well

1.0
4.0
SYD366
Grade: B
Oct 12, 2025

Cindy needs to retire. Every time I arrived to her class she complained that she had two other classes before ours and was tired. She does not give clear guidelines or feedback for class assignments. If you did something wrong, she simply marks it with a ? and does not explain what was wrong or how to fix it.

Tough grader
1.0
5.0
SYD366
Grade: Not sure yet
Oct 17, 2025

Cindy had an emergency and had to leave for a week, a different professor stepped in and taught her class WAY better than how she teaches. nobody in the class is doing well, nobody is understanding the content I don't know how she doesn't realize she is bad proff? the one class with the diff proff taught me more than her.

1.0
5.0
SYD366
Grade: B
Nov 4, 2025

do not take this professor. she does not give feedback she herself has said "I get mad and deduct grades" when reviewing the midterm answers for people who wrote TOO much...

1.0
3.0
SYD366
Oct 28, 2025

She's a nice person, but the course itself is nonsense — no grading standard, no clear right answers. She often says things like “Your way works too,” since business requirements are subjective and hard to define clearly. Overall, it's an awkward course filled with repetitive assignments just to make college feel like “college.”

1.0
3.0
SYD466
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 7, 2025

a typical nonsense course taught by an incompetent instructor in college

Tough grader
Lots of homework
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
SYD366
Grade: D+
Dec 18, 2025

Cindy isn't a good prof, and all the negative ratings are correct. Her grading isnt clear, she had an emergency and sub teacher taught us once and everything made sense,it helped me pass my midterms. She mumbles and tells longs stories that make you lose focus. What's worse is she grades out of spite, she said she deducts marks when shes angry.

Tough grader
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

76%

Textbook Required

36%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B+

95% confidence
Based on 32 grades
Most common grades:
A (10)
Not sure yet (10)
B+ (6)
Grade Distribution
A(14)B(5)C(3)D(4)F(0)A-/B+(8)
Based on 46 reported grades
A: 10
Not sure yet: 10
B+: 6
A+: 4
Common Tags
Tough grader (30)
Gives good feedback (8)
Group projects (8)
Lots of homework (7)
Test heavy (7)
Clear grading criteria (6)
Participation matters (6)
Get ready to read (4)
Rating Trend

Declining

-1.70 avg change
Mar
Apr
Aug
Oct
Nov
Dec
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

CBLOPS

5.0

(1)

IBC233D

5.0

(1)

INT222

5.0

(2)

IBC244

5.0

(1)

PMC210

5.0

(1)
+14 more courses
Difficulty by Course

COBOL

5.0

BACA

5.0

SYD466

4.3

SYD366

3.8

IPC144

3.2

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