In the old days, people using McCormick Place had their pockets picked from the moment they arrived.

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"In China in the old days, people looked down on acrobats, " she says.

NPR: The Acrobats of China's Wuqiao County

In the old days ships brought people to the docks.

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In the bad old days, to get a securities licence, people had to sign a contract giving up their right to take employment disputes to the courts.

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Usefully, he includes a short history of pension provision, short because in the bad old days there was not much need for pensions: people generally worked until they dropped dead at an early age.

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Or the team at Citizen and Immigration Services, the old INS, which in just 90 days, replaced its opaque application process with a transparent tracking system that allows people to check their status online, better and cheaper.

WHITEHOUSE: "Doing What Works" Transcript

Once they do, the people from Valley Stream will see Buscemi raise a toast to the old days of drinking in Trees Lounge.

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