Showing posts with label wealth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wealth. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

ASUS Launches The ROG Phone 9 Pro As Its New Flagship

In addition to high-performance gaming, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro also ensures top-notch imaging capabilities.

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The Envy Is A Classy Modular Chaise Lounge For Gaming Or Work

From a cosmetic standpoint, the Envy by Bateman Labs is an easy chair that would effortlessly fit in any modern living room.

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Sleek Yet Robust Protection For Your iPhone With The Covert Case

For a matching look, DANGO also sells a MagSafe wallet to go along with your new iPhone's Covert Case.

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LV Opens Temporary Shop As It Renovates NYC Flagship Store

Inside LV's temporary five-story store, you can find fantastic sculptures by famed Japanese architect Shohei Shigematsu for OMA.

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Tuesday, November 19, 2024

MVST Select’s Carbon X 2.0 Suitcase Offers Unmatched Protection

Carbon X 2.0

The Carbon X 2.0 boasts military-grade carbon fiber shell, a 6 series anodized aluminum frame, and Alter-Nappa leather interior.

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Nostalgic: A Record Runner Concept For Analog Audio Playback

The Nostalgic is practically akin to a robot vacuum, wherein it navigates the grooves of the vinyl record for music playback.

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Celebrity Mansions Unveiled

Renowned for throwing their lavish parties, soirees, and opulent dinner events, these celebrities make entertaining at home an occasion for every guest to remember.

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz’s “The Razor House”

Alicia Keys The Razor House
The “Songs In A Minor” star with her husband, photographed in her “The Razor House”. Image: Times of San Diego

The house was constructed to provide seaside views from every angle. It is delicately situated on top of a rock, giving this luxurious house a colossal appearance. The house is 11,545 square feet of white concrete, stainless steel, stone, walnut, and glass. It is an essence of Brutalist yet airy minimalism, with rooftop terraces that take in everything the ocean offers and an underground garage. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys and her husband, rapper and music producer Swizz Beatz reportedly paid over US$20 million for this mansion.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Keys and Swizz Beatz, actual name Kasseem Dean, purchased the home after it had been on the market for about a year. The US$20.8 million sale price is about US$10 million less than its original listed price of US$30 million when it went on the market last summer.

Alicia Keys The Razor House
Brutalist lines and striking architecture make up The Razor House. Image: LA Times.

According to Architectural Digest, the home features four bedrooms, a library, a cinema, two steam rooms, a living room with a fireplace, and a custom Ralph Lauren pool table. The house is perched on a cliff with a view of the ocean.

Alicia Keys The Razor House
The couple regale their guests with wine and nibbles in this jaw-dropping living room overlooking the coastline. Image: Sam Chen for WSJ.

The entire house is also made of glass, providing beautiful coastline views. The most recent of Keys’ six studio albums is “Here,” released in 2016. In the last few years, she has judged NBC’s “The Voice” and sold over 60 million CDs. The couple has hosted many memorable parties and dinner events where the panoramic coastline views blow guests.

Naomi Campbell’s Kenyan Villa

Naomi Campbell Kenyan villa
Noami Campbell in her sprawling Kenyan villa. Image: Khadija Farah

Naomi Campbell desired to live in a calm and peaceful environment away from the hectic lives of supermodels in London and New York. The expansive space is a modest luxury, filled with natural light and a neutral, earthy colour scheme. It may be the abundance of natural light and earthy materials but the huge stretches don’t feel intimidating. The house is made from many materials, such as woven elements and locally-sourced natural fabric.

Naomi Campbell Kenyan villa
Bright airy views in this living area greet the swimming pool. Image: Khadija Farah

With a saltwater pool extension directly into the living area, the house blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor space. Campbell picks up bits of furniture from Marrakesh and Senegal, but the majority is locally acquired from Malindi. The home is rife with remarkable woodwork from Malindi’s artisans. She has beautiful hand-carved wooden doors by award-winning artist Armando Tanzini.

Naomi Campbell Kenyan villa
Makuti-thatched roofs are a striking feature of Kenyan architectural heritage. Image: Khadija Farah

Many oversized Latika lanterns hang from rafters hailing from Morocco and Egypt. The villa has a saltwater pool that extends outdoors from the centre of her living room, ideal for a quick dip. When the model is entertaining, she has twin voile-curtained pergolas that serve as the perfect space for large family-style dinners. The space for entertaining has the fashion model’s favourite Makuti-thatched roof, formed from the coconut palm’s sun-dried leaves, and the soaring cathedral ceilings. She has thrown lavish parties for many of her friends and fashion and entertainment industry partners.

Boy George’s Hampstead Mansion

Boy George Kelly Hoppen
Celebrity interior designer Kelly Hoppen with Boy George. Image: Kelly Hoppen.

Kelly Hoppen, CBE (Commander of the British Empire), is undoubtedly one of the few designers with the foresight to tackle the magnificent three-story Gothic mansion that belongs to Culture Club vocalist Boy George. Speaking to Introspective magazine, Hoppen claims that after seeing her spacious London home and falling in love with it, the pop star — who brought us classics like “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” — asked for her interior design skills.

Boy George Kelly Hoppen
George’s TV room allows guests to cosy up with a good flick. Image: Kelly Hoppen.

Although it differs in architecture, George’s home was constructed in the 1860s and features stunning period features, including restored stained-glass windows, wrought iron balustrades, and vaulted ceilings. George has owned the house for almost 40 years; he bought the Hampstead mansion in 1984 when he started gaining notoriety. Not long ago, he put the mansion for sale, reportedly seeking GBP 17 million (US$29.6 million).

Highlighting George’s remarkable collection of artwork was essential to the endeavour. Using George’s artwork, many of which the singer and DJ made, Hoppen added: “pops of colour and playfulness throughout the home, adding new depth and dimension to the neutral scheme.” He described his collection as “vibrant” and “expansive.” The house’s interiors feel modern gloss thanks to the solid ceramics and soft grey Italian marble accents that blend with the artwork.

To create a fascinating contrast between the old and the modern, Hoppen took care to maintain the house’s Gothic vaulted ceilings and elaborate balustrades on the staircase as the main features. The pillared archways that flank the sitting and eating area of the house, where George enjoys reading and writing, make just as much of a statement as the fantastic spiral staircase at the centre of the building.

Boy George Kelly Hoppen
A big, open kitchen space in a lick of yellow allows George to meal prep while talking to guests. Image: Kelly Hoppen.

Bright, neon-coloured art is everywhere in the estate, including the cosy living room with its black Tamo wood coffee table and fish-eye mirror on the wall. Hoppen used bold, clean, curving forms and neutral-coloured furniture throughout the house to balance the Gothic architecture.

The kitchen’s grey marble countertop contrasted with the island cabinets’ whimsical use of a bright, cheery shade of yellow. The finishing touch of modernism is an exposed brick wall and soft ivory cabinets. Utilising natural light, a lovely garden can be seen through floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

Martha Stewart’s Maine Home

Martha Stewart Maine Home
Period furniture with modern decor work synergistically to create this beautiful living area to entertain guests. Image: Architectural Digest.

Martha Stewart gave the second home to end all first homes a royal name. Stewart’s amazing holiday home, “Skylands,” was first constructed in 1925 as a summer residence for the family of Edsel Ford, an automobile tycoon. Architectural Digest’s July edition, which goes on sale in New York and Los Angeles on Tuesday, includes it.

Architect Duncan Candler created the three-storey, twelve-bedroom home on 63 acres with a view of Seal Harbour on Mount Desert Island in Maine. The hilltop where it was built is reached by a steep, winding road that traces the shoreline and terminates with a pink-granite gravel drive on the edge of Acadia National Park. When Stewart purchased the property in 1997, almost everything was original, including the kitchen’s antique Frigidaire refrigerators and the Fords’ silver, glassware, China, and linens. The house became her “favourite place,” she noted.

Martha Stewart Maine Home
Patio-themed parties are a signature style for Stewart’s lavish meal settings. Image: Architectural Digest.

Given her well-known green thumb and earthy taste, it is unsurprising that Stewart has surrounded the house with thick vegetation, including fir trees, spruces, maples, ferns, and kiwi vines that embrace the main building. Instead of just standing on the property’s lush lawn, the house has practically blended in.

In addition to spending long weekends there throughout the year, Stewart also spends a portion of time in July and August at the property, where she has hosted gatherings of up to 100 guests. She clarified, “I see myself as the custodian of an American treasure.”

Oprah Winfrey’s Spectacular Waterfront Estate

Oprah Winfrey Orcas Island
Winfrey’s sprawling home is ensconced in nature. Image: Courtesy of Windermere.

We cannot blame Oprah Winfrey for her appreciation of an excellent vacation property. In 2018, she spent over US$8.3 million on a 43-acre house on Orcas Island, one of the San Juan Islands in Washington state, adding to her collection of idyllic retreats. The beachfront property, called Madroneagle, included a main house that was 7,303 square feet and had four bedrooms and five bathrooms.

Oprah Winfrey Orcas Island
Winfrey adores cooking and entertaining in her grand kitchen. Image: Courtesy of Windermere.

Reclaimed woodwork, radiant heat floors, a stone fireplace, and a kitchen with an integrated pizza oven were all features of the rustic haven. A wine cellar, Asian garden, and sauna were among the other great features. Additionally, there is a guesthouse on the property that is almost 3,000 square feet. Because she was too busy to spend time at the mansion, Winfrey eventually sold it for US$14 million in 2021. She has hosted many dinner gatherings where guests leave with good memories.

Cardi B & Offset’s Grand Atlanta Home

Cardi B Atlanta Home
Cardi B’s enormous estate features manicured gardens and rolling lawns. Image: Homes of the Rich.

Even though Cardi B has risen to the ranks of music and life, she continues to show off her money, making her success story nothing short of a novella in and of itself. Cardi B and Offset most likely gave themselves and their daughter Kulture one of the costliest Christmas presents: a mansion that cost only around US$5.75 million.

According to reports, the 22,000-square-foot estate in Atlanta was constructed in 2006. It is an absolute fantasy home, spanning 5.7 acres of stunning terrain.

Cardi B Atlanta Home
A spacious, light-filled living room to entertain guests. Image: Homes of the Rich.

This five-bedroom, seven-bathroom estate features European interior design, including a gleaming white living area for entertaining guests and a well-stocked wine cellar for those wine-tasting gatherings. This cosy-looking study would make you want to curl up with a book even if you haven’t read a word in years, and the kitchen has a vintage allure that tempts you to cook even if you can’t.

Cardi B Atlanta Home
Cardi B and her husband are wine enthusiasts. Image: Homes of the Rich.

Offset will have a studio, Cardi B will have her own walk-in closet and makeup room, and Kulture will undoubtedly get a larger play area than our office. The room makes you want to take a nap that has been put off for more than 10 years, while the bathroom makes you want to plunge into your existential crisis.

As the open and truthful superstar that she is, Cardi B provided a brief home tour with Offset and some incredible commentary that makes us feel both delighted for her and incredibly poor as we scroll down.

RuPaul’s Beverly Hills Mansion

RuPaul Beverly Hills Mansion
RuPaul prefers to host intimate parties in this ballroom. Image: Doug Friedman for Architectural Digest.

RuPaul Andre Charles and Martyn Lawrence Bullard are the most blissfully matched clients and decorators since Carlos de Beistegui, Emilio Terry, Auntie Mame, and Yul Uhlu. RuPaul is the queen of drag, a world-renowned performer and glamorous figure. Bullard, a staple of the AD100, has a reputation for unrepentant, frequently outré beauty and is no stranger to enchantment himself.

Naturally, the Drag Race mogul and his husband, rancher Georges LeBar, relied on Bullard, a friend of almost thirty years, to make it pop when they bought a mansion in Beverly Hills as their new home base in Los Angeles. RuPaul explains, “We trusted Martyn because we’ve always loved his aesthetic.” “I told you to go for it. I can go as far as you can imagine us going.

And he went for it. Bullard draped his magician’s shroud over an opulent but uninspired 1980s home, transforming it into a Hollywood Regency fever dream that combines classic Beverly Hills grandeur with his client’s vibrant, larger-than-life personality. This is the home of Ru, a stylish mansion built as the focal point for the most well-known and renowned international drag queen star. “I couldn’t think of a more fitting location for the universe’s drag mother to hold court,” the designer exclaims, calling it the ideal runway for the world’s supermodel.

RuPaul Beverly Hills Mansion
The accent green on furniture and decor pair perfectly well with the monochrome theme. Image: Doug Friedman for Architectural Digest.

By altering the mansard roof, rearranging the colonnades and railings, and incorporating other neoclassical elements, Bullard, in collaboration with architect Christopher Hatch McLean, transformed the house’s appearance. As for the decorative drama, the kill bells ring when one enters the grand, powdery-rose entry hall with a sweeping stairway and severe Mommie Dearest undertones.

With jewel-toned textiles and pagoda-shaped accents that pay homage to the legendary decorator Tony Duquett, the formal living room is situated to the right. To the left is the stunning ballroom, a coup de théâtre adorned with various enormous disco balls and pictures of celebrities like Dorothy Dandri, Grace Jones, Eartha Kitt, and Billie Holiday. A tondo with a 1975 photograph of Diana Ross by Harry Langdon on top of a specially designed fireplace that references the work of Dorothy Draper, one of the inspirations for Bullard’s decor.

One may anticipate that the ballroom would host wild parties with hordes of glitterati due to its enormous size and spectacle. As it happens, no. “I don’t entertain in my house; I do it on TV. RuPaul emphasises his fondness for small dance parties and intimate get-togethers with close pals, saying, “When you live such a public life, you need boundaries.” However, there are many areas for elegant gatherings, most notably an outdoor dining room with black-and-white stripes, fruit trees, topiaries, and chairs designed by Elsie de Wolfe, another significant influence on Bullard. “The stripe treatment is meant to feel like a tent. The room has orangery vibes, but technically, it’s more of a kumquatery,” the designer muses.

RuPaul Beverly Hills Mansion
The dining room features RuPaul’s favourite colour orange embellished on the dining chairs. Image: Doug Friedman for Architectural Digest.

RuPaul’s favourite colour, orange, is also used in the kitchen and breakfast area next to it, the performer’s lacquered office, and the opulent main bedroom, where a claw-foot daybed worthy of Joan Crawford, covered in orange velvet, sits beneath a chandelier that mimics Dorothy Draper’s draped plaster confections. “The bedroom is very glam, very romantic, but weirdly, it still has some masculinity to it,” Bullard avers. The entertainer’s inevitably extensive collection of suits and gowns and a queen’s ransom in glittering bijoux are housed in two gigantic closets, one designated for male attire and the other for drag. “It feels like you’re skipping into Bergdorf’s, the chicest boutique you could dream of,” RuPaul says of the kaleidoscopic closets.

By adding a graphic zellige-tiled spa to the pool and covering the hillside with a variety of drought-tolerant plants, landscape architect James Hyatt redesigned the garden to highlight the atmosphere of classic Beverly Hills opulence and the neoclassical influences that adorn the interiors. The performers’ Tinseltown Shangri-la is perfect, and the golden cameos perfectly capture the remarkable convergence of their brains. “The house is a touchstone that reminds me to inspire people to feel the seemingly elusive magic these days,” RuPaul asserts. “It’s meant to be whimsical and fun. None of it is to be taken too seriously—except for love and kindness.

For more jaw-dropping luxury homes to discover, click here.

The post Celebrity Mansions Unveiled appeared first on LUXUO.



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Monday, November 18, 2024

MODELLISTA Turns Toyota’s SUV Into The Overland Vision Concept

MODELLISTA endows the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser Overland Vision Concept with a blackout motif alongside green accents.

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Ditch The Terry Cloth For The Stylish Taylor Stitch Apres Robe

Taylor Stitch's Apres Robe

Taylor Stitch's Apres Robe uses Sashiko weave for durability and a pre-washed organic cotton to make it soft and pliable on the get go.

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Brisa House: A Modern Multi-Story Coastal Home In Brazil

A couple of floors down the Brisa House is an infinity pool, a large porch, and a section dedicated to culinary delights.

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Wayne Enterprises Will Build You A Functional Tumbler For $3M

Hailed as the most badass iteration of Batman's Batmobile, the Tumbler debuted in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" movie trilogy.

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Sunday, November 17, 2024

Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative Creates Change at Kep Archipelago Hope Spot

Marine Conservation Cambodia were invited by the Cambodian government to make a permanent base on the island of Koh Ach Seh. From there they work around the clock, studying and protecting the surrounding marine life. In 2018 the area around the island was given official government protection as a Marine Fisheries Management Area. © Rolex/Camilo Diaz

Through years of industrial fishing and bottom trawling in southern coastal Cambodia, the waters have been stripped of their beautiful coral reefs and seagrass meadows—both vital ecosystems that supported a diverse array of marine life, including fish, invertebrates, and sea turtles. This devastation has had a significant adverse effect on underwater wildlife. Many may not realise that seagrass meadows absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping mitigate climate change. The ravaged and barren underwater landscape cried out for help. However, hope is not lost. Thanks to the efforts of Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC), what was once a devastated ecosystem is now on a path to recovery.

Marine Conservation Cambodia run a programme along the coast helping local people to move into more sustainable oyster farming by deploying bamboo shellfish rafts. © Rolex/Camilo Diaz

In collaboration with Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative and Mission Blue, MCC has deployed artificial reefs and restored more than 1,000 hectares of seagrass around the Kep Archipelago. These efforts help create habitats in breeding grounds and curb illegal fishing in protected areas. Rachana Thap, a former university student turned marine biologist and now the executive director of MCC and a Hope Spot Champion, has been instrumental in implementing solutions to restore the archipelago’s underwater habitats.

Read More: Rolex Unveils First Authorised Book on the Oyster Perpetual Submariner Watch

LEFT: Rachana Thap is the Executive Director of Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC) and a Mission Blue Hope Spot Champion. MCC was founded in response to industrial fishers who, through the use of weighted nets and bottom trawling, were wiping away huge swaths of seagrass and coral reef, completely destroying entire ecosystems. RIGHT: The health of the coral reef found around the Kep Archipelago was declining rapidly before Marine Conservation Cambodia was established there in 2013 to protect its diverse waters. © Rolex/Camilo Diaz

The concrete structures have proven remarkably effective in attracting a diverse array of species, including Irrawaddy dolphins, green turtles, and even the dugong—a highly endangered marine mammal absent from Cambodian waters for many years now. Dugongs can range from two to three meters in length and weigh up to 400 kg, and they are completely herbivorous. Thap said that seeing a dugong that day “almost made me cry.” The sightings of dugong mothers and their calves in the archipelago’s waters are a testament to the success of their conservation efforts.

A seahorse in the shallow waters of the Kep Archipelago, clinging to a piece of seagrass on the sea floor. The tiny fish, named after the shape of their head, are typically found in sheltered, shallow waters. © Rolex/Camilo Diaz

“Being recognised by Mission Blue was a really big moment,” Rachana admits. “It’s hugely encouraging for us to know that we’re not working alone, we have international backup.” Mission Blue, led by renowned oceanographer and Rolex Testimonee Dr. Sylvia Earle, aims to safeguard our oceans. By fostering public awareness and support, Mission Blue seeks to establish a global network of marine sanctuaries known as Hope Spots. Empowering local communities is also a key part of the MCC’s plan. “We work with the community because this is their home,” says Thap. By collaborating with local fishermen and those who rely on coastal resources, they teach them how move into more sustainable oyster farming by deploying bamboo shellfish rafts. They also hope to engage other coastal communities in this conservation effort. Local fishermen have even requested more artificial reefs to be deployed.

Read More: Rolex and Cinema: Writing History Side By Side

LEFT: Marine Conservation Cambodia’s Island Manager Tanguy Freneat using a quadrat to survey the floor of the seagrass meadow in the Kep Archipelago. RIGHT: Marine Conservation Cambodia (MCC) Executive Director Rachana Thap is one of the first Cambodians to graduate with a degree in marine studies and was instrumental in developing MCC’s artificial reefs programme. © Rolex/Camilo Diaz

With MCC’s efforts, they have recently been contracted by the Cambodian government to set up 5,000 artificial reefs along the Cambodian coast over the next five-and-a-half years. “It’s going to change the whole Cambodian coastal province,” she says, adding that the potential for restoration and the return of wildlife is enormous.

LEFT: The Marine Conservation Cambodia team carrying out a marine mammal survey in Preak Tnot waters, Kampot Province. RIGHT: Tanguy Freneat, Marine Conservation Cambodia’s Island Manager, taking notes of Hope Spot Champion Rachana Thap’s findings whilst she surveys the sea floor. © Rolex/Camilo Diaz

Although Thap has been with MCC for seven years, she feels that her work is only just beginning: “For me, it’s not about five or ten years—it is a lifetime commitment.” Thap believes that the success of the Kep Archipelago’s marine revival is a testament to the power of human ingenuity, collaboration, and a deep-rooted commitment to protecting our planet’s natural wonders: “This is not just a national project, it’s a worldwide one.”

This story originally appeared on GRAZIA Malaysia.

For more on the latest in culture news, click here.

The post Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative Creates Change at Kep Archipelago Hope Spot appeared first on LUXUO.



from LUXUO

Say Goodbye To Clutter With The Hub By Holme & Hadfield

Whether on your nightstand or entryway furniture, The Hub by Holme & Hadfield is a classy and versatile storage solution.

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Saturday, November 16, 2024

Mezcal Amarás Offers Only 399 Bottles Of The Logia Lumbre

For the Logia Lumbre, Mezcal Amarás indicates the main ingredient is a variety of agave indicated by its namesake.

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Friday, November 15, 2024

Leica Cine Play 1: Project Immersive 4K Images Up To 300 Inches

The Cine Play 1 is a versatile entertainment platform you can mount from the ceiling or position on a shelf or table.

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The Marantz Grand Horizon Speakers Embody Elegant Design

To ensure superior acoustic fidelity, the Grand Horizon relies on a custom in-house digital signal processing alogrithm.

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Air Cube Sky Yacht Concept: Travel By Air Or Sea In Luxury

Don't expect ridiculous cruising speeds aboard the Air Cube but its leisurely pace should encourage relaxation.

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Thursday, November 14, 2024

BIKERGUARD: A Windshield Wiper For Your Helmet Visor

A push button is also on the BIKERGUARD wiper unit for manual activation, just in case the remote is not available.

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Suzuki Markets The e VITARA As Its First Commercial BEV

The Suzuki e VITARA also benefits from the ALLGRIP-e four-wheel-drive system courtesy of the two independent eAxles.

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The Théatre Tea Shop Is Clad In Sustainable Custom Bricks

The Japanese firm behind the Théatre's bespoke theme sources the material from Beijing-based Onearthstudio.

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