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News Tribblets

Nov 17 | Originally hired as co-executive producer to help with the second half of the show's first season, Kevin Murphy has now taken the reins of Caprica, the Battlestar Galactica prequel on Syfy, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He now serves as an executive producer along with Ronald D. Moore, David Eick and Jane Espenson and oversees the day-to-day functions of the show.

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Nov 12 | Star Trek star Zachary Quinto is loosely attached to star in the romantic dramedy Whirligig, reports Risky Business.Quinto would play the lead role in the independent Canadian film, which is aiming to shoot early next year. The movie centers on a man who, in a misguided attempt to woo an older woman, befriends the woman's adopted son.Chaz Thorne is directing the pic, based on a screenplay by Michael Amo, creator of the Canadian supernatural series "The Listener."

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Nov 11 | The CNS Foundation, is hosting an on-line charity auction at www.charitybuzz.com.   One of the items they are auctioning is a signed movie poster of the new Star Trek movie which has all the cast members and writers.  The president of our organization is Carol Abrams, JJ's mother,  and she arranged for the donation from Bad Robot Production Company.  J.J. Abrams is also a major donor to their organization. The funds raised will go to help find a cure to neurological disorders in children.  The auction link is here.

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Nov 10 | Candice Bergen, Charles Lisanby, Don Pardo, Gene Roddenberry, Tom and Dick Smothers and Bob Stewart have been selected as the next inductees into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame. They will be honored at a Jan. 20 ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel. "This year's inductees have challenged and shaped popular culture, changed television for the better and entertained us royally while doing so," TV Academy Chairman-CEO John Shaffner said. More info at the Hollywood Reporter

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Nov 08 | Unreality-SF.net has interviewed Star Trerk author James Swallow about some of his upcoming projects. He talks about Titan: Synthesis and Seven Deadly Sins: The Slow Knife, as well as some forthcoming Doctor Who and Stargate stories.

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Stardates Calendar

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Feature Story

Features

STAR TREK: TOS Finally in DVD Box Sets: Season One Packed to the Brim!

Features

By BWilliams / 12:01, 25 August 2004 / Reviews - Products

Technobabble of a Different Kind

Now that all that’s out of the way, let’s get down to the good stuff. This is not the first time that the Original Series has been presented on DVD. In the late 1990’s through 2001, Paramount presented the original 79 episodes and the original pilot “The Cage” on 40 two-episode volumes. While the sparkling picture and sound quality resembled Columbia Tri-Star’s “Superbit” series of films, there was something that was just not right. And the fans saw it right away: the price. At $19.95 a disc, it would take fans some three years and $800 (or more) to pick up all 40 discs in the series. That’s a lot of shelf space for 40 single-disc DVDs. With other series such as THE X-FILES and BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER released in the then-revolutionary format of season box sets, why couldn’t the original STAR TREK be treated likewise?

When THE NEXT GENERATION followed in 2002, fans quickly embraced Paramount’s decision in releasing the series in season box sets as opposed to individual discs. Having the entire season at your fingertips allowed you to select which episodes to view, in the order you wished to view them. Even at that time, and in the months and years that followed, fans longed for season box sets of the Original Series.

Now that wish has become a reality. Paramount has gone back and re-released all 29 episodes of the first season of the Original Series in an incredible season box set that fans have hungrily waited for, in an affordable price that won’t seriously hurt your pocketbook like last time. Opening this season box set is like delving into the mother lode of STAR TREK itself!

As opposed to the original 40 single-disc releases, the first season box set arranges all of the 29 episodes in broadcast order and not production order. Previous VHS and laserdisc releases, as well as the syndicated broadcasts of the 1980s, arranged all of the episodes in their original production order, so you could see a definite progression of development as the series progressed over the years. Things were changed and slightly modified, uniforms changed in appearance, style, and even color (when you look at Lieutenant Uhura’s first two appearances on the series, she wore not the familiar red uniform but a command gold uniform), and even minute attention to continuity was off-key in a number of places. Who would have thought of a United Earth Ship Enterprise commanded by Captain James R. Kirk, representing the United Earth Space Probe Agency, with a first officer from the planet Vulcanis? Certainly different from what we are typically familiar with. Then again, this was at a time when there was no ENTERPRISE, VOYAGER, DEEP SPACE NINE, NEXT GENERATION, feature film series, or even animated series to consider. This was a series in its birthing stage, when it was the only STAR TREK in town. But that is the beauty of a season box set. You can choose to watch the episodes as NBC originally telecast them, or you can watch them in production order. Such is the joy of having a selection menu on a DVD player!

As with the original single-isc releases, each episode is brilliantly re--mastered in Dolby Digital 5.1, so you’re getting the best sound ever for this series. Having purchased only four of the original single-disc releases, I have more of a random sampling to compare against the new box set, and in each case the sound is nothing short of spectacular. As with the original releases, the episodes also contain an English Dolby Surround 2.0 track, with the option of English subtitles or English closed captions.

And the visual quality of each episode is on par with, if not more improved than, the original single volumes. Each episode has been re-mastered from the same digital masters in their original aspect ratios for the most precise visual representation possible. These are the same digital masters that went into not only the previous DVDs but also the Sci-Fi Channel’s “Special Edition” broadcasts in the late 1990s. Time and greater improvements in DVD technology have allowed for more storage capacity with very little, if any, loss or even edge enhancement in terms of picture and sound. On my monitor I noticed no such edge enhancement at all. As far as an archived collection goes, this is very simply the best that STAR TREK has looked and sounded in its 40 years.

Packaging and Menus

The saying “Everything old is new again” could not be a more appropriate slogan for the Original Series’ reissue on DVD in this first season box set. The packaging itself for the set is quite novel and retro, almost right out of the 1960s in terms of design. Packaged in a plastic yellow shell, the logo and the famous STAR TREK delta shield leap right out at you. And if you think that it’s a lot larger than the scans have made it out to be, think again. The packaging is actually quite compact and much smaller, approximately the size of any of the NEXT GENERATION DVD box sets, so it will fit appropriately on your DVD shelf. The case’s packaging is split down the middle, allowing for ease in opening. The second and third season sets will feature similar packaging in red and blue, symbolizing the three primary colors of the uniforms on the series.

Open the case, and you will find the DVDs packaged together in a small cardboard slipcover. You have to remove the slipcover to get to the actual DVDs themselves, which are packaged in a small plastic folding tray similar to the DS9 and VOYAGER DVD sets. Each of the DVDs themselves are embossed with photos of the various first season cast members and the Enterprise, along with the episode titles, broadcast dates, and mission star dates. Accompanying the packaging is a 12-page foldout containing synopses of each episode and bonus feature, an introduction to the series, text commentaries on the history of Starfleet Command and the changing face of the Romulans, and a promotional flyer for TNG, DS9, and VOYAGER on DVD, as well as small flyers for the BORG INVASION 4-D adventure and Master Replicas’ collectible props of classic STAR TREK equipment.

But we’re not through yet. Once you put on any of the discs in this set, an excellent series of CGI animated menus immerses you into the world of the Enterprise and the 23rd century. The words STAR TREK appear on screen, followed by nifty images of the Enterprise soaring through space. Once the Enterprise approaches, it takes you into a brilliant CGI recreation of the bridge of the Enterprise, complete with bridge stations, the captain’s chair, the helm and navigational controls, and the viewscreen. From there you can select which episode to view, and the screen will change views to the helm and navigational control stations. Each episode’s sound options can be accessed through the Communications menu, another nicely animated selection process that takes you into a separate monitor to choose from Dolby 5.1 and 2.0 sound options and captions. Each episode is broken down into seven chapters apiece, which can be accessed through the screen’s Navigation sub-menu, yet another nicely done selection process similar to the ship’s navigation monitor. Each episode’s sub-menu also allows access to that specific episode’s original broadcast trailer. Click on Play, and the screen will take you up to the screen and into space. Hit the Back button on any of the menus, and it will take you back to the disc’s previous menu screen. I haven’t had this much fun with a series of animated menus since the DVDs of MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, the original INDEPENDENCE DAY DVD, and JONAH: A VEGGIE TALES MOVIE! Paramount has shown great improvements in their DVD menu development, a giant step forward since the original 40 discs, and this is a step forward in the right direction.


Continued...
< Previous     of 3.    Next >


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Talkback

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The musical question is finally answered (if anyone cares) | Report this post to moderator
By: Captain Duncell (Odo's file, contact) @ 20:54:55 on Sep 07, 2004

My season one DVD set arrived in the mail today, and the first disc I popped in was "City on the Edge..."

"Goodnight Sweetheart" IS, in fact, playing during the scenes in which it was originally used. So, rest easy and enjoy! Whatever musical rights/royalties/clearance issues needed to be resolved, they apparently have been, once and for all.


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Excellent review but... | Report this post to moderator
By: Jadzia-Dax (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:43:32 on Aug 25, 2004

From above:

"Since its premiere in 1966 it has garnered so much fan appreciation and heat, as well as ten feature films, four spin-off television series,..."

As I am wont to say... What about...

Image

Ie., "5 spin-off series" Image

And since you did mention the Sci Fi Channel Special Edition broadcasts of TOS, in every case, Sci Fi did include (as far as I've watched at this point), the original episode trailers at the end of each segment, as part of their advertising of which episodes would be airing the rest of that week in their segments.

Considering the enormous amount of material in the form of commentary and interview snippets from all of the original cast (including Kelly), many guest stars (like William Campbell, Teri Garr, William Windom, Charlie Brill, Sally Kellerman, Jack Donner, Mariette Hartley, Clint Howard, Lee Meriweather, etc) and people behind the scenes including producers and writers (Bob Justman, Herb Solow, D.C. Fontana, David Gerrold, Harlan Ellison, and even a casting director), the stuff that Sci Fi Channel put together should have been what was included on these DVD sets.

I mean, William Windom's appearance during the Sci Fi Channel SE broadcast (and his enlightening and hilareous comments, including a quip about TMP and Will Decker), would have been worth its weight in latinum on this set! Image And dammit, Windom is up there in age now - he'll be 81 next month. These folks need to be immortalized somehow...

It's a shame that some agreement between Paramount and Sci Fi (and Nimoy and Shatner, given that I understand from the guy who was in charge of that per a post he did on their forums, indicated that Sci Fi had negotiated a specific type of "1-time only" contract with Shatner and Nimoy for their narrator roles) could have been included.

But oh well. I am glad to have taped them all when I did and they did in fact, air them in broadcast order.

However I am really considering getting this box set, if anything, for convenience (and being able to play them on my computer and to get screen shots, etc).

--------

"I think the show talked to people through the characters. They're stories that speak to the heart. They talk about love, they talk about friendship, they talk about loyalty, they talk about patriotism, exploration, curiosity, reaching out... And I think all those things still touch people. Even when you look at a 30-year old show, it still has something to say." - D.C. Fontana, Sci Fi Channel Special Edition TOS 1998
----
"If the season finale involves the re-built USS Reliant coming back in time to the 21st Century crewed by Moogie, Dr. Selar, Morn, Transporter Chief Kyle, and the Salt Vampire, then we'll know that Coto has gone too far." - tomba1701


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  • RE: Excellent review but... | Report this post to moderator
    By: Cap'n Calhoun (Odo's file, contact) @ 02:51:04 on Aug 26, 2004

    I know some people who would agree that there are only four spin-offs, but they don't count Enterprise...

    It is a shame that they didn't include the Sci-Fi stuff. (I'm glad that I as well caught the whole run on VHS...) I've been saying ever since the two-episode releases that they need to include this as a bonus feature. I wonder if there was an issue with the rights to the documentary footage?

    If you really want to have some fun with the DVD releases, get yourself some ripping and editing software... Edit music videos, compress them for Palm Pilots (I hear someone got an entire season of TNG on an SD Card!), etc.

    --------

    "You know what six movies average out to be really good? The first six Star Trek movies!" -- Fry, Futurama


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yeah baby! | Report this post to moderator
By: JediFonger (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:56:27 on Aug 25, 2004

i'm waiting for the entire series, then i can get all 3 at once =).

--------

LET THEM DIE!!!


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Multiple pages? | Report this post to moderator
By: Steve Krutzler (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:08:53 on Aug 25, 2004

Is everybody using the multiple pages feature without a problem? I wanted to better control the length of really long articles, and get some more ad impressions to pay for all this stuff to boot.

--------

It's a rip-off. / We're stepped on, and cheated! / We're flat, stone-cold lied to / But we're not defeated / No!

Halen. "The Dream is Over."


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  • Oh Crap! | Report this post to moderator
    By: Jean-Luc (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:54:14 on Aug 26, 2004

    I didn't even see the other two pages! I was thinking, "Bill has such a woody for TOS, he didn't put much else into the review." My apologies.

    --------

    "Outer Space: The Last Frontier.
    These are the trips of the Star Trek Enterprise. Its five year plan calls for us to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly fly where no man has gone in space. Live long, and be happy."

    Patrick Stewart--SNL, Stardate 9402.05


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  • Mozilla errors | Report this post to moderator
    By: TRexx (Odo's file, contact) @ 02:40:02 on Aug 26, 2004

    Quote from Steve Krutzler:
    Is everybody using the multiple pages feature without a problem?


    I don't know if this is related to your software updates, but I've had Mozilla (version 1.7.2) crap out on me three times over the past couple of days, when attempting to enter or edit a post. It's the kind of browser shutdown that has Mozilla sending an error report back to its programming team. That hasn't happened before.


    --------------
    Alien vs Predator Action Figures
    Image


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    • RE: Mozilla errors | Report this post to moderator
      By: Cap'n Calhoun (Odo's file, contact) @ 03:07:33 on Aug 27, 2004

      Working OK on Mozilla 1.6 on my box...

      Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; en-US; rv:1.6) Gecko/20040510

      --------

      "You know what six movies average out to be really good? The first six Star Trek movies!" -- Fry, Futurama


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    • RE: Mozilla errors | Report this post to moderator
      By: Jadzia-Dax (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:27:35 on Aug 26, 2004

      I have Mozilla 1.5 at home and have seen occassional times over the past couple weeks when I go to preview and it either wipes out the "topic" text or the entire contents of the message box, meaning it won't post (which is what calls my attention to it)... And I'm then forced to use the "back" to get those contents out of cache to do another preview before I can finally post. This has been intermittant but it has been happening. I thought it was just me.

      --------

      "I think the show talked to people through the characters. They're stories that speak to the heart. They talk about love, they talk about friendship, they talk about loyalty, they talk about patriotism, exploration, curiosity, reaching out... And I think all those things still touch people. Even when you look at a 30-year old show, it still has something to say." - D.C. Fontana, Sci Fi Channel Special Edition TOS 1998
      ----
      "If the season finale involves the re-built USS Reliant coming back in time to the 21st Century crewed by Moogie, Dr. Selar, Morn, Transporter Chief Kyle, and the Salt Vampire, then we'll know that Coto has gone too far." - tomba1701


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  • RE: Multiple pages? | Report this post to moderator
    By: Cap'n Calhoun (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:35:56 on Aug 25, 2004

    It was fairly easy to navigate, but I personally would have preferred one really long article...

    It probably couldn't hurt to put "Continued on page 2/3" at the end of each page to make it clear that the article isn't over. Since the pages end and begin at subheadings, it's not immediately clear that the article isn't over if you don't notice the drop-down.

    --------

    "You know what six movies average out to be really good? The first six Star Trek movies!" -- Fry, Futurama


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    • RE: Multiple pages? | Report this post to moderator
      By: Steve Krutzler (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:38:24 on Aug 25, 2004

      Quote:
      It probably couldn't hurt to put "Continued on page 2/3" at the end of each page to make it clear that the article isn't over. Since the pages end and begin at subheadings, it's not immediately clear that the article isn't over if you don't notice the drop-down.

      Good advice, thanks for the feedback!

      --------

      It's a rip-off. / We're stepped on, and cheated! / We're flat, stone-cold lied to / But we're not defeated / No!

      Halen. "The Dream is Over."


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      • RE: Multiple pages? | Report this post to moderator
        By: Cap'n Calhoun (Odo's file, contact) @ 03:18:15 on Aug 26, 2004

        Just for kicks, have you ever thought of using site navigation using the tags? This is not supported by Internet Explorer last I checked, but it's a nice bonus for Mozilla/Firefox/Opera/Amaya/Mosaic users.

        For instance, insert the following in your 'head' tag on page 2:

        < link rel="top" href="/" />
        < link rel="made" href="http://trekweb.com/stbbs/memberContact.php?aid=412caff90fcb3&uid=Tz4zWBMA5Yiwg" />
        < link rel="prev" href="/stories.php?aid=412caff90fcb3&page=1" />
        < link rel="next" href="/stories.php?aid=412caff90fcb3&page=3" />
        < link rel="Section 1" href="/stories.php?aid=412caff90fcb3&page=1" />
        < link rel="Section 2" href="/stories.php?aid=412caff90fcb3&page=2" />
        < link rel="Section 3" href="/stories.php?aid=412caff90fcb3&page=3" />

        In Mozilla, make sure you have

        View -> Show/Hide -> Site Navigation Bar -> Show Always OR Show Only As Needed
        (It is turned off by default.)

        This is all an official part of the XHTML standard by inheritance from HTML 4.0 (http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/types.html#type-links)...
        Actually, if you have the feature turned on, you'll notice that the web page giving the HTML standard uses these links as well!

        --------

        "You know what six movies average out to be really good? The first six Star Trek movies!" -- Fry, Futurama


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Ohh Jadziaaa... | Report this post to moderator
By: Jean-Luc (Odo's file, contact) @ 13:57:05 on Aug 25, 2004 | Edit History (1)

"But none stood out more beautifully, and more tragically, than Joan Collins’ memorable guest appearance in arguably the show's finest hour, “The City on the Edge of Forever”, as Edith Keeler, the owner of a street mission who believed that the future would be worth living for, and one of the only women that James Kirk truly fell in love with."

"Arguably" being the key word here! I've never known anyone to hate Joan Collins as much as Jadzia. I think Collins did fine with the role, although I think any other actress worth her salt (near pun not intended) could have done the job as well.

Bill, you were a little shy about the menu interface and the additional features. I've heard there are a lot of good original interviews in there. EDIT: Again, sorry. I didn't see the other two pages of the review! Great job all around!

--------

"Outer Space: The Last Frontier.
These are the trips of the Star Trek Enterprise. Its five year plan calls for us to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly fly where no man has gone in space. Live long, and be happy."

Patrick Stewart--SNL, Stardate 9402.05


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  • RE: Ohh Jadziaaa... | Report this post to moderator
    By: Steve Krutzler (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:04:50 on Aug 25, 2004

    Quote:
    Bill, you were a little shy about the menu interface and the additional features. I've heard there are a lot of good original interviews in there.

    Hey Bill, are there any Easter eggs on here?

    --------

    It's a rip-off. / We're stepped on, and cheated! / We're flat, stone-cold lied to / But we're not defeated / No!

    Halen. "The Dream is Over."


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    • RE: Ohh Jadziaaa... | Report this post to moderator
      By: BWilliams (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 14:16:42 on Aug 25, 2004

      Check out my concluding comments on the extras on Disc 8, and you'll see where I mentioned the four Red Shirt Logs featurettes, hidden within the menu interface of the Bonus Features section.


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      • RE: Ohh Jadziaaa... | Report this post to moderator
        By: Steve Krutzler (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:37:55 on Aug 25, 2004

        Blast, I just revealed that I only had time to skim-proofread the article before posting!!

        Bad editor!

        :-)

        --------

        It's a rip-off. / We're stepped on, and cheated! / We're flat, stone-cold lied to / But we're not defeated / No!

        Halen. "The Dream is Over."


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A musical question | Report this post to moderator
By: rabelais (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:58:08 on Aug 25, 2004

Good review. As for some lack of meat in some of the featurettes, that was to be expected. I do hope some of the old VHS Justmand and Shatner docs make it to DVD someday.

One small musical question, however, if anyone can answer. Does "City on the Edge of Forever" contain the original musical presentation of the song "Goodnight, Sweetheart", or must fans endure the mid-80s version on the box set? Having grown up watching TOS in the early 70s, I miss the song, and the use of its melody when Kirk realizes Edith Keeler is dead. Seems to me the rights to "Goodnight, Sweetheart" had passed to someone else and Paramount couldn't use it anymore, forcing the studio to edit the score, nixing the song, its interpolation in the score and replacing those moments with lackluster strings. A rather unfortunate situation.



--------

"Dieu fort, Père paterne
Qui mua l'eau en vin,
Fais de mon cul lanterne
Pour luyre à mon voisin."
- Panurge, dans le Cinquième Livre de Françoys Rabelais


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For those in the UK act NOW!!! | Report this post to moderator
By: Scorpius (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:51:43 on Aug 25, 2004

Great review Bill, thanks :)

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TOP TIP FOR TODAY ONLY 25/8/04 - UK ONLY
-------------

Ok, top tip for those in the UK who want to pre-order at the cheapest price. The Sun are doing an offer with play.com for a free DVD this week and today is your last chance to get a free DVD. I have NO idea what the free DVD is like, but once you order it, you get a 10% off voucher for play.com which you can use until the 17th September.

What does that mean?

The cheapest price for the TOS boxset on pre-order of course.

Here's how to do it:
Go to Play.com Sun Free DVD Wednesday

Type the Password as SUNPARIS

Type your details and email address.

You will receive an email with confirmation of free DVD and 10% discount.

This means you can order the TOS Boxset region 2 for the price of £46.79 -- the cheapest I've seen on the net.

But hurry, get the voucher TODAY, or not at all. Remember you also have until the 17th September to use the voucher.

An even bigger saving is on the DS9 boxset seasons 1 to 7.
Retails at play at : £337.49
With the discount voucher = £303.74 !!!



--------

"Men don't use sex to get what they want. Sex IS what they want" - Frasier


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