October 2008 - Posts
This weekend in Chicago promises to be a "spooktacular" one! It seems whenever Halloween falls on a Friday, it becomes a weekend long celebration. And true to form, Chicago, along with its surrounding neighborhoods, will host a wide variety
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THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG! Grrrrrr!!!!! Gracie Moss writing tonight. I've got my Human Dad, Team Leader Dean, by a shoestring! Well, actually, our own Lil' Buddy is
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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOMEBUILDERS CONFERENCE LAST WEEK OFFERS GLIMMER OF HOPE! Here in Chicago , homes-for-sale inventory levels are high - with over 15 months of inventory in many Chicago Neighborhoods and Suburbs. Despite heavy price discounting
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WEST LOOP Ralph Johnson of Perkins and Will and Ron Krueck of Krueck and Sexton Architects, are two Chicago architects who were named on a short list of seven teams bidding to design the National Eisenhower Memorial in Washington, D.C.. Another candidate
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RATES MAY BE LOWER ONLINE - BUT WILL AN ONLINE LENDER BE RESPONSIVE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM? The Federal Reserve Board , as anticipated, dropped its benchmark Fed Funds Rate today by 1/2%. Today, that key rate, tied to many ARM Resets, is now 1.0% - the
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Who doesn't love a fun twist on an everyday snack? Here's to a new twist on an old favorite - popcorn. Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Servings: 4 Ingredients: 8 cups air-popped popcorn (about 1/3 cup kernels) 2 tablespoons honey 4
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CHICAGO METRO AREA HOME PRICE FLAT - JULY-AUGUST, 2008! While an important Home Sale Price Index posted record declines across the U.S. between August 2007 and this August 2008 , as well as an improving 1.0% drop between July and August of this year ,
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Take advantage of the cooler weather and weed your garden now . Use weed control on areas that are especially troublesome. Rake and blow the leaves off the lawn. Leaving the leaves on the grass is not good for the lawn. Put down a good winterizer fertilizer
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TODAY, MORE SHOPPERS TRY TO NEGOTIATE DISCOUNTS ON NEARLY EVERY PURCHASE! Quick question for you - when you picked up your Dry Cleaning today, did you try to negotiate a better price? You had coffee today at the corner shop you have visited every morning
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There is a great, free online resource that allows you to get information online about what's happening with family and friends called Twitter. The simplicity of this program is that in 140 characters or less, you answer the question: What are you
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Good Morning! The price of a gallon of gasoline continues to drop, here in Chicago and across the U.S. What will be the likely effect on the Housing Market? Although an encouraging sign for the economy, around the world, the tumble in gasoline prices
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IN ESSENCE, PRECIPITOUS DECLINE IN PRICE OF CRUDE OIL HAS PUT MONEY IN EVERYONE'S POCKET! This past summer, when a barrel of oil was over $145 , and a gallon of regular gas here in Chicago topped $4.50 in many parts of the city and suburbs, my cousin
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FORMERLY-REVERED GREENSPAN GRILLED BY CONGRESS! How things have changed in the credit markets since Former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan stepped down in January, 2006. Greenspan, once highly respected as an "oracle" for the economy,
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$530 MILLION UPGRADE PROJECT NEARLY COMPLETE - BIGGER, NEW PLATFORMS HAVE FLAWS! Every workday, 68,000 passengers ride the Chicago Transit Authority Brown Line L , running through the North and Northwest Side of Chicago Neighborhoods of Albany Park, Lincoln
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The Chicago Cubs decided to award the accomplishments of General Manager, Jim Hendry by extending him for four more years. The Cubs have gone to the postseason three times in Hendry's six years as GM. Cub President, Crane Kenney , is confident that
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NATIONALLY, HOME PRICES FALL, AND SALES REBOUND 5.5%, SEPTEMBER VERSUS AUGUST! Data released today by the National Association of Realtors show existing home sales rose more than expected last month - the highest level of resales of existing homes since
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This weekend, Fall festivities will keep the serious shopper and the children busy with much fun to be had. Here are a few choices. State Street Halloween Happening Parade at State and Randolph streets. Come on out and bring the children. They will join
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THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG! Hey, you dogs! Man, you walk around Chicago today and you wonder what some folks are thinking. Humans, with their heads hung down. Canines, walking
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COUNTY ASSESSOR JAMES HOULIHAN FLOATS "CIRCUIT BREAKER" OPTION! For many homeowners here in Cook County IL, the county that includes the City of Chicago , current property taxes have shot up substantially this year. Bills for the Second Installment
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GOLD COAST Bob Patrizi and Greg Levy are expanding their chain of Halo [for Men] salons from three to six, despite the state of the economy. "Everybody's going to need a haircut, and our clientele is people who are doing well," Patrizi,
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Who doesn't love a fall soup? I thought it would be great to share a fun recipe that is so representative of fall. Enjoy. Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour Servings: 2 Ingredients: 1 medium acorn squash, halved and seeded 1 tablespoon butter
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OF ALL U.S. COUNTIES - 73% HAVE HIGHER MORTGAGE DELINQUENCY RATES VERSUS 2007. CREDIT CARD DELINQUENCIES CLOSE BEHIND - 71%! Here's some troubling economic news from The Federal Reserve Bank of New York - while Mortgage Delinquency Rates are up in
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HISTORIC EVENT COULD DRAW OVER 100.000 TO CHICAGO LAKEFRONT PARK! Are you a Democrat ? A Republican ? Liberal Bleeding Heart ? Venomous Right-Wing Nut-Job ? Whatever your political leaning, and despite your likely weariness with the 2008 Presidential
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Now that it has finally cooled off it is time to tackle more pre-winter jobs around the house and garden. If you don't have siding on your house and you have peeling paint it's time to treat these areas before the cold and snow comes. Scrape the
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2008 FORECLOSURES CAN TOP 42,000 IN COUNTY THAT INCLUDES CITY OF CHICAGO! Skyrocketing foreclosures here in Cook County and Chicago IL take their psychological toll on everyone. Of course, homeowners that lose their family home, their dignity, and a piece
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You know saving the best for last has been a good motto. Today I've got some really good information for you about several free Internet online tools and applications that will help enhance your experience. Filezilla Filezilla is a fast and compact
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Good Morning! For the third consecutive month, New Home Sales, as well as New Building Permits, have continued to slide nationally. Since September, 2007 , Housing Starts have tumbled 31% - their lowest annualized rate in 18 years! Some economists think
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LAST MONTH'S 6.3% NEW CONSTRUCTION DIP TO SEASONALLY-ADJUSTED 817,000 ANNUAL RATE LOWEST SINCE 1991! For the third consecutive month, New Home Building tumbled last month. Since last September, Housing Starts across the U.S. have tumbled 31%. Will
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CHICAGO GAS PRICES FALL BELOW $3.40/GALLON, FROM OVER $4.50/GALLON SUMMER HIGH! NATIONWIDE, CONSUMERS SILL WARY, HOWEVER! In Chicago , and across the U.S., the average price for a gallon of gasoline has fallen - below $3.00 in many parts of the country,
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OVER 100,000 MORTGAGE JOBS LOST LAST YEAR, BUT AVERAGE LENDER HAS POSITIVE NET INCOME - MORTGAGE BANKERS ASSOCIATION SURVEY! One might assume, with inventories of homes for sale still at historically-high levels here in Chicago and elsewhere across the
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The Chicago Bears will battle Central Division rival, the Minnesota Vikings in a big game at Soldier Field tomorrow. The Vikings bring an excellent running game with star running back, Adrian Peterson . The Bears were torched by Peterson in the first
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COUNTRYWIDE, BANK OF AMERICA PARENT SAY FEDERAL CHARTER STATUS OF COUNTRYWIDE BANK FSB WILL ALLOW IT TO OPERATE HERE DESPITE STATE ACTION! To settle a court fight brought on by the Attorneys General here in Illinois and in a dozen other states, Countrywide
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Well, Halloween is just two weeks away and Chicago, along with its surrounding neighborhoods, is gearing up this weekend for some "frightful" events that lead up to Halloween itself. Now, I don't know about you, but I absolutely love Halloween
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THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG! Hey, you dogs! You know, I'm not what you would call a very political dog - this was the first year I have actually registered to vote! What's
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CONCERN OVER EVICTION OF TENANTS NOT NOTIFIED OF FORECLOSURE ON PROPERTY PROMPTED EARLIER SUSPENSION! One week ago, on October 9th, Cook County IL Sheriff Tom Dart instructed his officers to suspend evictions from properties which had been foreclosed
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BAILOUT PLAN WILL HELP STABILIZE FINANCIAL MARKETS, BUT DO LITTLE TO HELP DISTRESSED HOMEOWNERS, SHE CONTENDS! Not everyone in the Bush Administration is completely on board with the recently-passed,$700 Billion Federal Bailout to aid Financial Institutions
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RESEARCH GROUP PREDICTS MINORITIES, THOSE UNDER 30 WILL MAKE LEAD NEXT HOUSING SURGE! Here in Chicago , and across the U.S., average housing prices are falling. Inventories remain high. And home loans, especially within the last few weeks, are tough to
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LAKEVIEW In tough economic times, celebrating the Jewish fall harvest holiday within a pre-manufactured sukkah just didn't seem right, according to Art Freidman. Instead, Freidman spent hours on his knees, hammering nails into wood to build the temporary
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This weather always makes me want to nibble on something warm. Today we have a yummy hot sandwich for your dining pleasure. Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Servings: 2 Ingredients: Onion rolls Ham Pastrami Salami 1 slice provolone and 1 slice
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MANDATORY, UNPAID "DAYS OFF" WOULD APPLY TO NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL ONLY! Except for Police, Fire, and other essential city services , Chicago Mayor Richard Daley plans to shut down the city for six extra unpaid "holidays" over the
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DESPITE NEARLY 5% DECLINE IN MILES DRIVEN IN CHICAGO AREA, ROAD CONGESTION HAS ACTUALLY INCREASED SINCE 2007! In Chicago , we used to have a "Rush Hour." Now, to regular commuters, it seems as if there is only one hour WITHOUT A RUSH! You're
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Fire Safety is something you should be checking on at least once a year. The following checklist is designed to assist you to make sure you are keeping things safe at home. 1. Is there at least one smoke detector near every bedroom and on every level?
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51 CHICAGO LOCATIONS ALLOW EARLY VOTING NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 30TH! It is truly possible that Early Voting Programs , here in Chicago , across Illinois , and in several other states, can revolutionize the process of selecting public officials. You never
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This week it's all about your server, backing up your data and keeping your hard drive clean and running smoothly. Some of these software downloads may sound familiar but you'll find all of them useful and best of all these are free. nLite nLite
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Good Morning! After a tumultuous week on Wall Street, more discouraging news on the Housing Market, nationwide. According to a study by Moodys.com , 16% of all homeowners - about 1 in 6 - are "under water" on their home mortgages - they owe
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NEW CITY TAXES, INCREASED TRANSIT FARES LIKELY NEXT YEAR! Here's some more bad news for Chicago Residents already pummeled by news of falling stock values and frozen credit: it appears likely that higher Chicago Taxes , and Higher CTA Fares , are
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NEARLY 33,000 RUNNING IN 26.2 MILE EVENT STARTING THIS MORNING, 8 AM, CDT (7:50 AM FOR WHEELCHAIR-BOUND COMPETITORS)! This year's Chicago Marathon was being watched with concerned eyes when running began early this morning. Most remember the 2007
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It's early in the season but the Chicago Bears will play the Atlanta Falcons in a key NFC game tomorrow at NOON, CST. The Bears and Falcons have surprised many NFL experts by posting a 3-2 record so far. The Bears have brought the usual tough defense
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Go out to Soldier Field on this fantastic balmy autumn weekend and celebrate Chicago's Country Music Festival. 2008 marks a big change for the event. The Chicago Country Music Festival will be moving to a new location and a new date! Mayor Daley is
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TH E CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG! Both me and my Pup Reporter, GRACIE MOSS, had to work on this post today. This is a dirty story, and she is helping me with the dirty work. It's
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AN ESTIMATED 16 MILLION OF 75.5 MILLION HOMEOWNERS NOW OWE MORE THAN THEIR HOUSE IS WORTH! The latest statistics, compiled by Moodys.com , are very scary. Nationally, 16% of U.S. Homeowners owe more to their mortgage lender than their home is currently
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LINCOLN PARK, UPTOWN, LOGAN SQUARE If you're most people, you practically live in your car. You eat, drink, groom yourself, and use it for storage. Keeping your second home clean is getting very costly. Here are a few suggestions for cutting corners.
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FOR MANY, 2ND INSTALLMENT OF RE TAXES, DUE NOVEMBER 3RD, SHOWS HEFTY INCREASE! "The Market is Soft! The Market is Soft!" That's what the Internet and the newspapers have been saying about housing values here in Chicago and its Cook County
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SHERIFF TOM DART COULD RISK FINDING OF CONTEMPT OF COURT IF HE DEFIES COURT ORDERS TO EVICT! Each month, since the beginning of 2008, roughly 2,000 people get served with an eviction notice here in Cook County I L - the county that includes the City of
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FALLING PRICES MAY BE PUSHING SALES IN HARDEST HIT AREAS, ACCORDING TO NAR! An index compiled by the National Association of Realtors shows pending sales up in August - over 7%. That's the biggest jump in pending sales, or those homes whose owners
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I've asked one of my favorite chefs, Chef Jill, owner of Centered Chef Chicago to give us a recipe that's sure to please. Chef Jill says, "It's quick and easy, as well as seasonal. You make it in the slow cooker so your house smells great
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DOW DOWN 508 POINTS, OR 5.11%, AT CLOSE. NASDAQ DOWN 5.80%; S & P BROADER MARKET INDEX - DOWN 5.74%! Is the U.S. Stock Market finding a bottom? And what effect will the market's fall, combined with the potential for lower Fed Interest Rates ,
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Logan Square, Chicago - INCLUDES HEATED GARAGE PARKING - Two Blocks to Blue Line L! Roomy, bright layout features Open Floor Plan Living Room with Gas Fireplace, Custom Mantle – Diagonal Hardwood Floors! I ncredible view of Downtown Chicago Skyline
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Fall is a great time to plant trees. The tree will have time to establish roots before the ground freezes and will have a good start when spring arrives. Many garden centers will discount trees in the fall to prevent carrying stock over the winter. First
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COURT SETTLEMENT IN IL, 7 OTHER STATES TO FORCE COUNTRYWIDE HOME MORTGAGE TO RE-FI MILLIONS IN RISKY LOANS! Here in Chicago , and across Illinois , during the housing boom of a couple of years ago, Countrywide Home Loans was one of the most active companies
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The following titles are designed to help you day-to-day office tasks. This includes tools for graphics, multimedia and desktop publishing as well as word processing and project management. MWSnap MWSnap is a simple Windows application for capturing images
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Good Morning! The $700 Billion Rescue Bill is Law! Will it impact the Economy? Mortgage Rates? The Housing Market in general? Likely . . . not right away! Review some of the thoughts and comments of experts via our post yesterday at BlogChicagoHomes.com
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SHOULD STOCK MARKET FIND A BOTTOM, RATES MAY CREEP UP, SAYS ONE CHICAGO LENDING PROFESSIONAL! The Bailout! The Rescue! Whatever you call the $700 Billion Plan passed this week and signed into law, its effect on mortgage interest rates, especially in the
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LENDER CONFIDENCE IN MAKING LOANS MAY TAKE WEEKS TO RETURN! If you watched any of the Cable News Channels yesterday, you didn't see much celebrating, back slapping, or Champagne cork popping after Congress passed and President Bush signed the $700
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Well, we have had one terrific regular season for both Chicago baseball teams, but unfortunately, the postseason has been very disappointing. Yes, there is the conventional argument that a series isn't over until it's over, however, neither the
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Calling all Arts and Culture enthusiasts -- this is your weekend! In conjunction with Chicago Artists' Month , there are a variety of art performances and events taking place in a variety of locations throughout Chicago. These events will feature
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THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG! Hey, you dogs! You know, my short little life has been baseball packed! I've seen two Chicago Cubs Post Season runs. Last year, October Baseball
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CHICAGO "TAX SMART," ILLINOIS MORTGAGE CERTIFICATE CREDIT PROGRAM ALLOWS FIRST-TIME BUYERS TO DEDUCT UP TO $2,000 FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAX OWED! Last Summer, one of the key provisions of the U.S. Housing Relief Bill , a maximum $7,500 direct
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DESPITE HIGHER RIDERSHIP THIS YEAR, HIGHER OPERATING COSTS LIKELY TO TRIGGER FARE INCREASE! Politicians, and many riders (except, perhaps, for those waiting and waiting for a CTA Bus or El Train on a cold winter day) feel that public transit in Chicago
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LINCOLN SQUARE On Sunday, beginning at 12:45 p.m., over 25 Lincoln Square restaurants will offer food, wines for sampling, and a raffle along with live and silent auctions. This ninth annual indoor-outdoor event will be hosted by St. Matthias Parish,
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It's starting to get chilly out there and soups are great for keeping warm. Below is a great vegetarian friendly recipe that you're sure to enjoy. Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes Servings: 6 INGREDIENTS: 2 onions, chopped 2
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