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Author Topic: Rough Model M found, how do I test it  (Read 4439 times)

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Offline khaosduke

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Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« on: Sat, 09 April 2016, 21:46:29 »
I found an old Model M in rough shape, the cable was cut off but it it's an SDL cable. Some keys are missing but these seem to be things I can repair if I can verify the keyboard actually works.

It looks as though SDL cables are expensive, is there anyway I can test this keyboard before putting money into it on new cable and keys and the time taking it apart? For example, maybe I can apply power on certain pins see what I get back, or maybe wire it directly as PS2 to test?

Thanks for the input!
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Offline y11971alex

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 09 April 2016, 23:59:06 »
SDL cables are $5 on Taobao.
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Keyboards owned: IBM Selectric | 3278 | 3101 | 5251 | Model F XT | AT | 122 (6110344) | Model M 1390120 | 1390131 | 1391472 | 1392464 (DisplayWriter SSK) | 1395100 (SSK) | Honeywell RD IBM 09F4230 | Leading Edge DC-2014 (Blue Alps) | Chicony 5891 (Monterey Blue) | E&E-101 (KPT Blue) | BTC 5100 | 5100C | 5369 | DEC VT100 (Hi-tek Linear) | Burroughs TP109 (Hall) | Realforce 87 (55g)

Keyboards wanted: IBM Model F 104 (Unsaver) | Model M 1391401

Offline rowdy

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 10 April 2016, 00:33:22 »
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline Snowdog993

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 10 April 2016, 09:46:59 »
Another thing you can do is find another Model M with a good SDL cable, or find someone that you know who may have one, and test it that way.  Good luck!
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 10 April 2016, 10:35:54 »
Do you live near Atlanta?
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline rowdy

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 11 April 2016, 06:03:57 »
Another thought is that Model M keyboards are mostly indestructible.  I've seen pictures of some that were in atrocious condition, but with a little clean they work almost like new.

So spending even $15 on a cable is not a huge outlay, and the keyboard probably works anyway.

If it turns out that the keyboard does not work, and you don't want to try to fix it, you could always sell the cable in classifieds.  Quite a few people would probably not say no to a spare SDL cable.
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline mike52787

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 12 April 2016, 14:30:17 »
Quote from: khaosduke on Sat, 09 April 2016, 21:46:29
I found an old Model M in rough shape, the cable was cut off but it it's an SDL cable. Some keys are missing but these seem to be things I can repair if I can verify the keyboard actually works.

It looks as though SDL cables are expensive, is there anyway I can test this keyboard before putting money into it on new cable and keys and the time taking it apart? For example, maybe I can apply power on certain pins see what I get back, or maybe wire it directly as PS2 to test?

Thanks for the input!

I got an original NOS ps2 to sdl for $12.50 on ebay, theyre not expensive.

Heres the ebay link.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281976459384?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
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Offline khaosduke

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 14 April 2016, 13:50:15 »
I purchased the one from Unicomp, it was $22 total with shipping. I received the cable and lo and behold the keyboard works a treat.

Now I have to buy the proper hex driver and look for parts!

The K key has a metal, tinny like "ting" to it I'm sure I'll find why when I take it apart.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 14 April 2016, 14:30:26 »
Quote from: khaosduke on Thu, 14 April 2016, 13:50:15
I purchased the one from Unicomp, it was $22 total with shipping. I received the cable and lo and behold the keyboard works a treat.

Now I have to buy the proper hex driver and look for parts!

The K key has a metal, tinny like "ting" to it I'm sure I'll find why when I take it apart.

An auto parts store will be your best bet for a "long (or "deep") thin-walled" 7/32" or 5.5mm socket.

That tinny ting may well be an improperly seated stem. Pull it and try re-seating it.
 
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline y11971alex

  • Posts: 402
  • Location: Toronto, Canada
  • Looking for Toronto meetup
Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 14 April 2016, 22:29:51 »
As for me, I bought an SDL -> 5-pin DIN cable from Brandon Ermita for $20—.

It's a little more authentic for an 1390120.  :D
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Keyboards owned: IBM Selectric | 3278 | 3101 | 5251 | Model F XT | AT | 122 (6110344) | Model M 1390120 | 1390131 | 1391472 | 1392464 (DisplayWriter SSK) | 1395100 (SSK) | Honeywell RD IBM 09F4230 | Leading Edge DC-2014 (Blue Alps) | Chicony 5891 (Monterey Blue) | E&E-101 (KPT Blue) | BTC 5100 | 5100C | 5369 | DEC VT100 (Hi-tek Linear) | Burroughs TP109 (Hall) | Realforce 87 (55g)

Keyboards wanted: IBM Model F 104 (Unsaver) | Model M 1391401

Offline khaosduke

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #10 on: Sat, 16 April 2016, 02:13:34 »
In the picture I have up, notice where the space bar goes, is there supposed to be another white tube/sleeve in any of those 2 tubes? (Like the shift key has)
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Offline JimByr

  • Posts: 63
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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #11 on: Sat, 16 April 2016, 09:18:50 »
No. No stabilizer insert is used for the spacebar.

The center barrel has the hammer and spring. The left barrel is a guide for the projection on the lower left end of the spacebar. The spacebar uses a stabilizer wire to maintain balance.

When you buy a spacebar from Unicomp or ClickyKeyboards, it will come with the stabilizer wire.
« Last Edit: Sat, 16 April 2016, 09:21:46 by JimByr »
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Offline khaosduke

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #12 on: Sat, 16 April 2016, 16:39:43 »
Thanks!, about Unicomp, what color is the correct color key cap to match this keyboard?
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #13 on: Sat, 16 April 2016, 20:38:36 »
Quote from: khaosduke on Sat, 16 April 2016, 16:39:43
Thanks!, about Unicomp, what color is the correct color key cap to match this keyboard?

Standard IBM colors are called "pearl" (lighter) and "pebble" (darker).
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline khaosduke

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 10
Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #14 on: Tue, 19 April 2016, 01:14:16 »
Just ordered a bunch of stuff from Clickkeyboards, Brandon Ermita. Shipping has killed me on restoring this keyboard! Going to see if I can score a red Esc key :)
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Offline Snowdog993

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #15 on: Tue, 19 April 2016, 20:42:05 »
Quote from: khaosduke on Tue, 19 April 2016, 01:14:16
Just ordered a bunch of stuff from Clickkeyboards, Brandon Ermita. Shipping has killed me on restoring this keyboard! Going to see if I can score a red Esc key :)

Like these?
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Offline khaosduke

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #16 on: Wed, 20 April 2016, 00:34:12 »
Yes like those, I'd like to find those and the standard Esc key as well.
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Offline Snowdog993

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #17 on: Thu, 21 April 2016, 13:54:28 »
Quote from: khaosduke on Wed, 20 April 2016, 00:34:12
Yes like those, I'd like to find those and the standard Esc key as well.

Sent one of each to you.  Enjoy!
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Offline Snowdog993

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #18 on: Mon, 25 April 2016, 19:50:21 »
Is your keyboard complete now?  Can you post a picture of it?
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Offline khaosduke

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #19 on: Wed, 01 June 2016, 13:59:33 »
Here it is all done! Special thanks to Snowdog993 for the escape key.

This thing works great especially since I found it in a junk box and hasn't been used for more than a decade.

« Last Edit: Wed, 01 June 2016, 14:08:21 by khaosduke »
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Offline mike52787

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #20 on: Wed, 01 June 2016, 16:18:36 »
Looks Great! I love seeing these restoration success stories. Its nice seeing something so forgotten returned to its former glory.
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Offline 1391406

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #21 on: Wed, 01 June 2016, 21:08:46 »
Very cool! Does the K key still ting?
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Unicomp Classic | Chicony KB-5181 (Monterey Blues) | IBM Model M (1391401) | IBM XT Model F | IBM AT Model F | Dell AT101W | 122-key IBM Model F
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Offline khaosduke

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #22 on: Wed, 01 June 2016, 22:34:11 »
No the K key does not, it must've been a seating issue and when I put it all back together it resolved itself. I've also learned that when you replace springs you better seat them properly. Initially I thought the act of putting the key stem on would be enough to finish the job but that's not the case.
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Offline Snowdog993

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #23 on: Wed, 01 June 2016, 22:36:39 »
Quote from: khaosduke on Wed, 01 June 2016, 22:34:11
No the K key does not, it must've been a seating issue and when I put it all back together it resolved itself. I've also learned that when you replace springs you better seat them properly. Initially I thought the act of putting the key stem on would be enough to finish the job but that's not the case.

The easiest way to put all the stems back is to slightly tilt the keyboard away from you and have all the springs tilted towards the top.  That makes it very easy to put all the stems in without snagging them.
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Offline invariance

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #24 on: Wed, 01 June 2016, 23:29:51 »
Nicely done.  :thumb:

How old is she and have you added her to clickykeyboards database?
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The only BS I
want to hear is
from a Model M:		PN:1391401
DOB: 04FEB87		      Wyse 85      Mtek K104
SMK Blue: Chicony KB-5181; HyperX Aqua: HyperX Alloy Origins *Yet-to-rebuild: A 69 key C. P. Clare Foam & Foil assy *Rubber: Digital LK46W-A2; uSoft Natural Pro RT9401, Natural Multimedia 1.0A RT9470, Natural Ergonomic 4000 KU-0460; "Avid" Sejin SLKR2233; "Diamond Touch" Mitsubishi 6511-PB

Offline khaosduke

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #25 on: Thu, 02 June 2016, 00:42:35 »
The date code is 2/28/96 so 20 years old. The sticker on the back was a little delicate so some of it is smudged off but I didn't know there was a database to put it in. I think I will do that. I'm still amazed at how crisp the keys are after all these years.
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Rough Model M found, how do I test it
« Reply #26 on: Sun, 05 June 2016, 01:26:18 »
The worst thing that can happen to these is a cracked barrel plate.

That aside they just keep going and going!
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ
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