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New homepage (beta) feedback + bug reporting

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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
Hey everyone!

As a special pre-christmas gift, we're going to open up a public beta of a new homepage design that's been in the works for a while now.

We're excited about it, as its a blend of the community-focused concept we've been pushing for two years now, and a nostalgic nod to the homepages that our more senior members will remember.

Its designed to give a much more list-based view of the world, and to feature the exceptional content that comes out on this site to the max.

Please give it a try in your regular visits and let me know how you like it!
Dec 23 2014 3:03PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
extravertAfter using the beta homepage since the start of the year I went back to the old layout today. I forgot just how good it used to be. The focus was on the content itself, not text about it. Much more content could be fit in a smaller space, making it easier to find things. I rarely scroll down past the fold with the new layout. I'll keep using the Beta but for now, but so far it has felt less engaging.


The focus was on the thumbnail, not the content. The content is contained within the text if we compare everything fairly.

The new homepage I understand will not always promote scroll depth, but when you want it, its there.

Also note, there isn't much less content in the same space if you count all slider images. It just gives the really good stuff more time in the light. This is the goal.

Right now the beta page is planned to launch into default relatively soon, and after that we will eventually disable the old version. I know some people don't like this, but I really feel that it is for the best of the site.

Sadly in this thread the people that are extremely enthusiastic about the new version have been very quiet, its only been made up of the people that are upset. In person, by email and various other communication methods have led me to know that there is a massive demand and appreciation for the new layout.
Feb 6 2015 12:30AM
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,160
Mr.BishopIt just gives the really good stuff more time in the light. This is the goal.


Yes, but it drowns out smaller videos/photos/news that otherwise would've been bigger. It kind of makes it so that the only way you can get big content is catering perfectly to the majority of newschoolers. Originality isn't awarded with this setup as much as it was with the old.
Feb 6 2015 9:54AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
john18061806Yes, but it drowns out smaller videos/photos/news that otherwise would've been bigger. It kind of makes it so that the only way you can get big content is catering perfectly to the majority of newschoolers. Originality isn't awarded with this setup as much as it was with the old.


Thumbnails were the only thing rewarded in the old system. Trust me, extensive testing and analytics were used over two years.

The main problem is that the tiled homepage worked great for a very tiny percentage of users. Those users (everyone in this thread) loved it and understood it.

However about 85% of the people that use that page every day, it didn't work for. It confused them. They just clicked on whatever thumbnail caught their eye, instead of actually looking for what the content is. We saw this countless times where an awesome piece of news or video would get totally overlooked because the thumbnail wasn't grabby enough.

This page has shown to be extremely effective with increasing average scroll depth, increasing views on content and giving the really great stuff the views it deserves. Sure it doesn't spread it out quite as nicely, but as well it tunes the signal to noise ratio and makes sure that when someone visits newschoolers they don't have to sift through a million pieces of totally mediocre content, they're just getting the best shit bam right in their face.

Mediocre content should absolutely get buried. You get a chance to get your shit featured, and if it doesn't work - then yes you absolutely have to appeal to the audience. That is the point.

I mean hell - at least you have a shot.
Feb 6 2015 12:04PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
The referenced post has been removed.


We've been slowly backing off on that. News naturally doesn't get as much attention as other sections because there's less people browsing the subsections of just news. So for any visibility it had to be boosted up a bit.

The other factor is that it gets all its votes extremely quickly for some reason. So even when news is balanced with other stuff, it seems to rise much quicker than anything else.
Feb 6 2015 5:33PM
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T-Nutcracker
Posts: 1056 - Karma: 434
Sorry to break this to you, but the new beta is fucking lame...
Why change the outlay which works fine. In old version, posts pics or vids that are trending appear on the site, in the new beta there's only a bunch of sponsored posts. What I'm trying to say is : the old site promotes content that is popular within the community - user oriented and based one, whereas the new beta on the other hand imposes on us things that apparently are cool and worth seeing. To make it clear - old site is like free-market ruled by Adam Smith's "invisible hand" and is beneficial to all of us, the new beta on the other hand is like an centrally planned economy or goverment - it cannot last forever and is deeply hurting our communities free spirit by trying to keep it in a jar. This is a FREEskiing website and please let it remain a FREEspeech site in terms of letting the users, not some maybe based mods decide which content is worth-seeing and which is not. Hope this constructive critisism helped ya. Best wishes.
Feb 7 2015 1:55PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
T-Nutcrackerit cannot last forever and is deeply hurting our communities free spirit by trying to keep it in a jar. This is a FREEskiing website and please let it remain a FREEspeech site in terms of letting the users, not some maybe based mods decide which content is worth-seeing and which is not. Hope this constructive critisism helped ya. Best wishes.


Dude, the entire content list (save the sponsored posts) is decided by user voting. Even the slider up top. I have no more power than anyone else on this site to change it, nor do any mods. The slider is simply Video of the Day and News of the Day.

So all the wonderful free market and free speech you want is still the entire foundation of the website. We just changed the way its displayed.
Feb 7 2015 2:33PM
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tDrops
Posts: 202 - Karma: 121
my ad block is stopping videos from playing idk if you guys did some nifty work of putting the player into an ad element but its rather irritating. Please resolve, although i understand you have profit margins.
Feb 10 2015 6:50PM
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Kretzschmar
Posts: 6691 - Karma: 97,873
tDropsmy ad block is stopping videos from playing idk if you guys did some nifty work of putting the player into an ad element but its rather irritating. Please resolve, although i understand you have profit margins.


stop using ad block and support the site
Feb 10 2015 7:55PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
tDropsmy ad block is stopping videos from playing idk if you guys did some nifty work of putting the player into an ad element but its rather irritating. Please resolve, although i understand you have profit margins.


Yeah man, I don't know how much work I'm going to put into making sure your videos play with adblock on... I mean would a store help you build a better method of shoplifting?
Feb 12 2015 10:23AM
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KellyK
Posts: 1781 - Karma: 706
Mr.BishopThey just clicked on whatever thumbnail caught their eye, instead of actually looking for what the content is. We saw this countless times where an awesome piece of news or video would get totally overlooked because the thumbnail wasn't grabby enough.


Perhaps giving the option to upload a custom thumbnail would help? Thumbnail and title are essential in marketing a video and the 6 random screenshots that you can choose from now just don't cut it.

That being said, there will always be some awesome content that slips through the cracks. In my experience the old thumbnail driven homepage did a good job of allowing everyone a chance and this new homepage is a step back from that.

My last two edits (posted through WoodwardCopper) never saw the light of day on the new homepage while the majority of my previous edits all found their way close to the top. In my opinion the new system features too small and too random of a selection of content to possibly reward "the best of the best." When I look at it, I see whatever is the first thing on the slider and 6 things below that don't garner my attention and I'm off to the forum or to top rated videos.

I like the idea behind the change, and agree that change is necessary, but I think that the new system is more flawed than the previous.
Feb 12 2015 12:55PM
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Phil-X-
Posts: 7205 - Karma: 14,399
Mr.BishopYeah man, I don't know how much work I'm going to put into making sure your videos play with adblock on... I mean would a store help you build a better method of shoplifting?


Yea I know you guys made it so its hardwired in there and all for $$ but god damn I fucking hate it... you should just make a more dedicated membership subscription option or something
Feb 12 2015 1:31PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
KellyKPerhaps giving the option to upload a custom thumbnail would help? Thumbnail and title are essential in marketing a video and the 6 random screenshots that you can choose from now just don't cut it.

That being said, there will always be some awesome content that slips through the cracks. In my experience the old thumbnail driven homepage did a good job of allowing everyone a chance and this new homepage is a step back from that.

My last two edits (posted through WoodwardCopper) never saw the light of day on the new homepage while the majority of my previous edits all found their way close to the top. In my opinion the new system features too small and too random of a selection of content to possibly reward "the best of the best." When I look at it, I see whatever is the first thing on the slider and 6 things below that don't garner my attention and I'm off to the forum or to top rated videos.

I like the idea behind the change, and agree that change is necessary, but I think that the new system is more flawed than the previous.


Sadly the custom thumbnail is not possible. Very long explanation why, but not possible. Even so - trust me hardly anyone actually pays attention to the thumbnails, since the main thing that is descriptive is the text. Look at a site like Reddit - its all text, no thumbnails and everything that you're looking for works brilliantly.

The text is a much more equalizing factor.

We'd need more data than two edits to really see if its the new homepage. Tastes can change, and so can acceptance of things that you made. The data shows that there is a major increase in overall views on all content this season over last, and the stuff that makes it to the top does extremely well.

It is noted that part of the decision of the new homepage was to lift up viewership on the best stuff at the sacrifice of the mediocre content. One of the biggest complaints I heard about the old homepage was the over-abundance of mediocre stuff.

So yes, we are taking away some of the chance for a mediocre piece of content to get its day at the top, but we're making sure to heavily lift up something that is super quality and gets an extremely high amount of votes.
Feb 12 2015 1:44PM
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NH_OPERATOR
Posts: 1070 - Karma: 2,883
I feel like text is an equalizing factor when you want to have a discussion. That what reddit is about. We are about videos and pictures, with the folks who want to have discussions going to the forums. I dont really want to read a description of a video or a, it does almost nothing for me.

Also giving the mediocre stuff a bigger chance to shine is what makes NS so great I think. If all I want to see is awesome edits I can get those from freeskiier, or youtube. I dont think my GTNS posts from last year would have ever made the top of this new system to be honest. I like giving little guys a chance but it is so much harder now to see them.
Feb 12 2015 5:13PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
NH_OPERATORI feel like text is an equalizing factor when you want to have a discussion. That what reddit is about. We are about videos and pictures, with the folks who want to have discussions going to the forums. I dont really want to read a description of a video or a, it does almost nothing for me.

Also giving the mediocre stuff a bigger chance to shine is what makes NS so great I think. If all I want to see is awesome edits I can get those from freeskiier, or youtube. I dont think my GTNS posts from last year would have ever made the top of this new system to be honest. I like giving little guys a chance but it is so much harder now to see them.


Reddit is just as much about media as discussion, trust me. Text matters, its been the focal point of our top rated video page on the site for years - which is one of the most popular places people watch videos.

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/toprated.0/Top_Rated

Everything has a chance to shine still, which is completely evidenced by the fact that its getting viewership. The top rated stuff just now gets a boost. Its all still from the community, so its not like anyone has special privilege. Your posts would have done great because it was an interesting story, trust me.

We're soon going to deprecate the old view. There's too much positive feedback about the new one to ignore, sadly those people are not posting in this thread. As well, this is the direction we're taking newschoolers, and I'm completely confident in that decision.
Feb 12 2015 5:35PM
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OP_has_Aids
Posts: 183 - Karma: 837
I really like it too. It's clean and organized. Good job!!
Feb 18 2015 9:13AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
guentrya16I really like it too. It's clean and organized. Good job!!


Thanks a ton!

Really happy with how its turned out.
Feb 18 2015 9:47AM
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Turd.Ferguson
Posts: 1437 - Karma: 2,713
not going to lie, you guys did a great job, but the old homepage had a good mix of media and threads and I really enjoyed that. this seems to be more focused on media when you first get onto it, and now especially since the forums are being cleaned up by our mods, I think this would be a good time to not flaunt the forums, but let people know they are there
Feb 19 2015 12:41PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
Turd.Fergusonnot going to lie, you guys did a great job, but the old homepage had a good mix of media and threads and I really enjoyed that. this seems to be more focused on media when you first get onto it, and now especially since the forums are being cleaned up by our mods, I think this would be a good time to not flaunt the forums, but let people know they are there


It is EXACTLY the same algorithm. Literally not a tiny little detail is different, we just changed the display. The mixture of what is on there varies wildly from day-to-day, depending on what has been popular.
Feb 19 2015 10:53PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
Note, we have officially launched the beta homepage to be the default one. All of your cookies will reset.

For the real die-hards against it, we will leave a setting within your account settings page (at the bottom) that will allow you to hold onto the old layout for a few more weeks.

Thanks everyone for participating in this testing. I apologize to those who don't like the change, but eventually you'll come around and the data so far on usage is too good to ignore.
Feb 20 2015 2:29PM
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rsvp
Posts: 1516 - Karma: 2,611
I'll be honest, my first impression is not good. People have probably already said it, but it just feels like I have to scroll a lot more to see content. Also I don't understand why all the titles are in caps.

Meh i'll probably get used to it in a week or so.
Feb 20 2015 3:06PM
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Japaneezy
Posts: 1039 - Karma: 4,267
I had scroll aroun 1990 degrees on my scrollwheeel to be able to spot a thread. Meh I miss the old oine but good job regardless boiz
Feb 21 2015 1:16AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
rsvpI'll be honest, my first impression is not good. People have probably already said it, but it just feels like I have to scroll a lot more to see content. Also I don't understand why all the titles are in caps.

Meh i'll probably get used to it in a week or so.


You do have to scroll more, but its a more ordered view so its easier to find stuff.
Feb 21 2015 10:56AM
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,160
no option to use the old homepage anymore :(

it's like the crusades, convert or die.
Feb 21 2015 10:26PM
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Japaneezy
Posts: 1039 - Karma: 4,267
The referenced post has been removed.


youdaman, I totally agree
Feb 21 2015 11:35PM
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boomie
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 3,164
I wish we could still have the option for the old page. Way easier to navigate in my opinion, instead of having to scroll down a bunch.
Feb 22 2015 12:06PM
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,160
boomieI wish we could still have the option for the old page. Way easier to navigate in my opinion, instead of having to scroll down a bunch.


maybe a button that says "OG" on it would work. I just got mad because I ran into a weird bug when I was scrolling and then I realized I was scrolling through an endless cycle of the same videos, articles, and pics.
Feb 22 2015 10:20PM
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lostheels
Posts: 371 - Karma: 746
Hi

my 2 cents watching videos is really annoying these days.
They take so much time to load. the embed ones are ok but the
rest from newschoolers takes really time. You can not skip a part like
in youtube and vimeo.
Feb 23 2015 7:38AM
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,160
john18061806no option to use the old homepage anymore


Actually there's an option to not do the beta in account settings! OG homepage lives!
Feb 23 2015 10:51AM
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boomie
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 3,164
john18061806Actually there's an option to not do the beta in account settings! OG homepage lives!


Thanks for the info!
Feb 23 2015 11:33AM
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Japaneezy
Posts: 1039 - Karma: 4,267
john18061806Actually there's an option to not do the beta in account settings! OG homepage lives!


yeah but for how long
Feb 23 2015 1:50PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
SteezyJapaneezyyeah but for how long


Few weeks, though might be a bit longer dependant on other changes we make.
Feb 23 2015 3:22PM
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brov1
Posts: 1826 - Karma: 8,837
i actually hate it so much. its so much harder to look through the homepage that its stressing me out. it sure as hell looks better but i think its way less useful.
Feb 23 2015 8:03PM
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,160
I've been getting really sad seeing so many great videos recently that don't get the upvotes they deserve because they don't make it to the homepage on the beta. The thumbnails were just fine, I could care less about looks, all I want is functionality. The only way to get a video on the home page now is to either whore yourself out on Facebook by messaging every single NSer you're friends with or create a bunch of aliases to vote it up.
Feb 24 2015 10:30AM
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.otto.
Posts: 3493 - Karma: 12,892
I reallllly dont like it, maybe im a should just be more open to change but i cant handle it... with the new format i feel like so much content is going un noticed! Please give an option to change back to normal! );
Feb 24 2015 11:05AM
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SPUTnik.
Posts: 1487 - Karma: 2,555
is it for good now?
Feb 24 2015 1:23PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
SPUTnik.is it for good now?


Yes.

However for a small amount of time you can still change back in your account settings.
Feb 24 2015 1:43PM
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boomie
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 3,164
Mr.BishopYes.

However for a small amount of time you can still change back in your account settings.


I feel there has to be a better way to go about this. I believe the new layout is good for mobile users, but isn't very good for use on a personal computer. Recently it seems that videos aren't getting the attention that they used to, and I believe the new layout is the reason for this. I think there should be some sort of poll regarding the new layout. Just my $.02
Feb 24 2015 1:51PM
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,160
.otto.Please give an option to change back to normal! );


There's an option in account settings. One column of content is NOT enough. There needs to be at least two columns. The sponsored content clogging up the homepage is getting to me too.
Feb 24 2015 1:56PM
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.otto.
Posts: 3493 - Karma: 12,892
john18061806There's an option in account settings. One column of content is NOT enough. There needs to be at least two columns. The sponsored content clogging up the homepage is getting to me too.


thanks john:D i want 4 columns and permanent old homepage set up in account settings.
Feb 24 2015 2:11PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
boomieI feel there has to be a better way to go about this. I believe the new layout is good for mobile users, but isn't very good for use on a personal computer. Recently it seems that videos aren't getting the attention that they used to, and I believe the new layout is the reason for this. I think there should be some sort of poll regarding the new layout. Just my $.02


I've done my research, polled a ton of people, watched the data like a hawk and will continue to do so. I'm confident this is the right move, but we can watch this over time as well and re-look at it in the future. Same thing happened with the old layout and every single major change we've made.

john18061806There's an option in account settings. One column of content is NOT enough. There needs to be at least two columns. The sponsored content clogging up the homepage is getting to me too.


Scroll more. You'll get into it.

Sponsored content helps to pay the bills.
Feb 24 2015 2:26PM
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,160
Mr.BishopScroll more. You'll get into it.

Sponsored content helps to pay the bills.



I think I might have just been ticked off today because I pulled a leg muscle in school and couldn't ski. I should really just give it some time.

Sponsored content is great if it's quality content. The only thing I hold against sponsored content is that sends the message- at least to me- that you can buy yourself reputation in skiing, but hell, if it's a path to remove or lessen the ads before videos I'm all for it as long as a bunch of rich kids don't try to sponsor all of their crappy edits.
Feb 24 2015 10:59PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
The referenced post has been removed.


Boom.

john18061806I think I might have just been ticked off today because I pulled a leg muscle in school and couldn't ski. I should really just give it some time.

Sponsored content is great if it's quality content. The only thing I hold against sponsored content is that sends the message- at least to me- that you can buy yourself reputation in skiing, but hell, if it's a path to remove or lessen the ads before videos I'm all for it as long as a bunch of rich kids don't try to sponsor all of their crappy edits.


Its supposed to be a balance. Its obviously sponsored content, so its going to have a promotional element to it - but at the same time it keeps this stuff out of the normal feed. We want to give companies an avenue to bridge that gap between cool stuff they want to feature, and simply advertising. The idea between splitting it into two columns is that they can put normal awesome content in the main feed, and then if they want to hawk their shit then its an ad column. How much they blend towards ad in the sponsored column is up to them - though there's a reward system for getting upvotes there.... so the better it is received the longer it will stay at the top.
Feb 24 2015 11:40PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
The referenced post has been removed.


Well the reason its sponsored is so that companies can pay to feature something that might get missed. That is the whole idea with ads - you get to pay money to feature shit you want people to see.

As for the scroll depth, I'm confident that it will increase because the experience will be better. You just need to look for those black links you haven't seen yet. Blue means you've seen it.

I really think that once the adaptation phase is over, you'll just scroll deeper and see more meaningful content - as well as having checked out the absolute best stuff in the slider.
Feb 25 2015 12:36AM
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