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dernwyn
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Feb 3, 5:06pm
Post #1 of 52
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It's Friday - and time for Fiesta!
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Greetings, All and Sundry! Come right on in, it's time to kick back and relax for Fiesta Friday! Our esteemed barmistress, Altaira, is enjoying some time with old friends today, so I shall be your hostess.
Here along the New England coastline we're expecting a bout of chilling weather (it's to get to 0F/-18C) tonight, and of course much colder inland! So I've got plenty of hot drinks here at the bar, and hot soups. What would you folks from the Summer areas prefer? And could you blow some of that warm air up this way? 
Come on in, let us know how your week has been, and what you're planning this weekend!
*puts quarters on juke box* How about selecting some songs to warm us up?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Annael
Immortal
Feb 3, 5:40pm
Post #2 of 52
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We had a brief cold snap with a bit of snow last week, but this week it's the usual rain and 40s of a PNW winter. LOTS of snow in the mountains.
I started doing my online French lessons on Duolingo. Seems I haven't forgotten as much as I thought; in the first 15 minutes I aced the first 26 lessons, so that's nice. We're singing a piece that's in French in choir, and I raised my hand when the director asked who spoke French -- foolishly; there are two people in the choir who actually teach French and I am nowhere near their level. I was besieged at the break by people getting clarification on pronunciation, plus the director asked me to demonstrate the difference between how you sing an r in a popular French song like La Vie en Rose and in a classical or more operatic piece as we are doing. So I decided I'd better get to work on brushing up my French! The nice thing was that it turns out some other folks in the choir have a Zoom French conversation every Monday afternoon and invited me to join.
This weekend, besides a rainy walk in the woods planned with friends, I will probably do my taxes as I got the last document I need yesterday. It will be the last time I have to do anything related to my dad's estate! And I'm starting to plan a little trip to see friends in the Denver area, so polling folks on the best time to come visit -- although I know the weather there can do anything any time of year.
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
(This post was edited by Annael on Feb 3, 5:42pm)
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cats16
Half-elven
Feb 3, 6:09pm
Post #3 of 52
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Yikes, there's that cold weather!
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Seems like everyone will stay fairly dry though, by the sound of it? Much warmer here - I'd send some of it if I could! We're climbing back to 70 everyday and sunny, which makes for great walking/hiking weather.
I've had some weird allergy/cold/thing since the end of last weekend. I've tested negative for Covid twice and am still leaning on the allergy fence, but it's a weird one. Ready for less congestion soon, whatever it is!
In between some outdoor time, I may try to catch up on some recent movies this weekend that I've missed. The county also has its annual free museum day across several museums, so we'll be taking advantage of that too!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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dernwyn
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Feb 3, 7:01pm
Post #4 of 52
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I'm impressed by your getting through the early Duolingo lessons in less than a minute each (if they're like the Welsh ones)! I didn't realize that there were differences between the "r" pronunciations, is one more "trilled" than the other?
That is serendipitous, having a French conversation to join in with! 
And congrats on getting the last piece of the estate to deal with, it must feel good to have that closure.
Would you be driving to Denver, or taking a plane?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Feb 3, 7:08pm
Post #5 of 52
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...you've got an allergy to the warm weather?  It may be that some plants are starting to bloom! Any new ones where you're living now, that weren't in your old area?
A free museum day! What would you like to visit?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Feb 3, 7:26pm
Post #6 of 52
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Thanks for grabbing the keys, dernwyn :D
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As usual, I've been chasing my tail! But I'm doing it all inside since we're in the middle of that sub-zero wind chill weather that moving across the US.
I'm starting to tear apart the kitchen to finally put in the rest of my butcher block counters, scrub the walls, get rid of the popcorn ceiling, and chop about a foot (at least) off the end of the counter that juts out into the middle of the room and blocks the fridge door from opening all the way. That opening is also the only way in and out of the kitchen area and I've been threatening to do it for years! The new counters have made that decision!
So I think I'll grab a HUGE chocolate milkshake to catapult me into the abyss :)
Thanks again for taking such great care of us! Have a great weekend everyone!
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Feb 3, 7:39pm
Post #7 of 52
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I'm glad you've remembered more than you thought :D I think a lot of it really becomes a part of us more than we realize. I took French through High School and hardly remember a fig of it. But every once in a while, a response will still slip out in French.
I took it because my Dad watched the WWII-theme TV show called "COMBAT". Characters did a lot of straight German and French in the dialogue... but I struggled with absorbing the male/female bit in words. *shakes head* About the time I was starting to understand what they were saying, they cancelled the show. Figures ;)
It'll be a relief to be done with the estate stuff. You're due a fun trip! GOOD LUCK!
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Feb 3, 7:41pm
Post #8 of 52
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Movies and Museums! Sounds like a great way to enjoy the WARM WEATHER!!!!!!!!!! ;)
I hope you feel better immediately, if not sooner!
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
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Timbo_mbadil
Rivendell
Feb 3, 8:30pm
Post #9 of 52
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(I just hope I got that 'acccent' right...)
Concerning "Rs"-- try developing the sound not from your tongue/palate, but from your throat/tongue (sounds trivial for a German, but seems to be challenging for you Anglo-folks ;-)
I’ve lost my mood ring, and I really don’t know how to feel about this. -- "Tracy" Jordan, some episode from "30Rock"
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Annael
Immortal
Feb 3, 8:39pm
Post #10 of 52
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the French r is usually way at the back of the throat, kind of like the Hebrew ch sound in "challah" - more aspirated than sounded. Which fights against good tone production as well as actually being heard. In classical bel canto, one usually does an Italian trilled r instead, which brings the sound forward, as you can hear in this version of the "Habanera" from Carmen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icJRTdpS2pU
She really rolls some of her r's. We're aiming to 'flip" the r, which to me feels like you start the roll and immediately stop it. The director asked me to demonstrate in part because he can't roll his r's; some people just can't!
I'll be flying. Got a lot of miles built up, and a lot less stamina for long drives than I used to have.
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
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Ataahua
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Feb 3, 8:45pm
Post #11 of 52
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Monday is Waitangi Day so we have a long weekend ... of rain.  Honestly, this summer has been as rubbish as last summer was spectacular. For the last couple of days the humidity has been north of 90% in my bit of NZ, and down south they're having a scorching heatwave while up north the flood damage has continued. Not fun for anyone.
Although today looks like it'll be as dry as it'll get for a few days so I'm going to jump on my bike and get some much-needede exercise, and ignore any showers that come. At least it'll be warm!
Have you got any Elven energy drinks behind the bar, madam barkeep?
Cheers, all!
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
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Kimi
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Feb 3, 8:47pm
Post #12 of 52
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Oh, that's chilly, Dernwyn! Especially inland. I hope you can stay tucked up warm and safe.
We're into the aftermath of the massive rainfall and flooding of last week. A huge amount of damage to roads, some of which will take a long time to repair. Necessary travel only is the current advice, and given how hard it is to get anywhere it's good advice.
I had a necessary journey to make on Wednesday, for a doctor's appointment. We had to make our way out through floodwater (not a remotely dangerous depth, but not my favourite way of getting around), then through sections where the side of the road has slipped away, and the tar seal is badly damaged. And then made the same journey the following day, as I needed a couple of scans. A lot easier second time around, though, as the flooding had gone and some of the slips had been cleared. All is not quite right (though my GP is careful to say there's nothing to panic over), so I'll need to see a specialist, but that won't be for a couple of weeks or so.
I'm inspired to listen to Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain".
And in memory of happier times: a (poor quality, unfortunately) phone video of fire dancers on Vanuatu performing to this song. It's not my video, but I've been lucky enough to see these performers on the beach in Vanuatu, and this brings back magical memories.
Looking forward to brighter days, and wishing everyone a pleasant weekend.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
(This post was edited by Kimi on Feb 3, 8:47pm)
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Ataahua
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Feb 3, 8:47pm
Post #13 of 52
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do you do that from the tip of your tongue? That's how it's done in te reo Māori.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
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Ataahua
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Feb 3, 8:53pm
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as there's no way to know how stable one is - especially if it's an underslip. There are photos that someone took in west Auckland of a massive crack in the road leading to a tomo/hole and I just wanted to grab the people who were taking pics and yank them out of the way! They have no idea what's happening below-ground but the crack and tomo are pretty big clues!
I hope you get good results from the med checks Kimi, and don't have to travel away from home too often.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
(This post was edited by Ataahua on Feb 3, 8:54pm)
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cats16
Half-elven
Feb 3, 9:07pm
Post #15 of 52
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There are lots of different plants outside our building, so that could be the culprit. It's much greener here than where I've been, so I wouldn't be shocked.
Hmm good question! I haven't been to a good ole art museum in a hot minute, so maybe one of those if they're not overcrowded.
Join us every weekend in the Hobbit movie forum for this week's CHOW (Chapter of the Week) discussion!
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Ataahua
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Feb 3, 9:33pm
Post #16 of 52
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birds have finally found the feeder and bath I put out for them! Took them a few weeks, but I've just spotted a blackbird giving herself a proper bath, and sparrows are hoeing into the grains. 
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
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dernwyn
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Feb 3, 9:53pm
Post #17 of 52
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*slides tall milkshake down the bar*
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I used death-by-chocolate ice cream, I hope you don't mind!
Oh wow, I thought you'd gotten those counters all in already! That's a task and a half. I know what you mean about a counter getting in the way of the 'fridge, that's what was happening in my old kitchen before the remodel: it had been built 50 years ago when the refrigerators were a lot smaller, and just could not fully accommodate today's models.
How nice it will look when everything's in place! Be sure to give yourself some times to relax!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Feb 3, 9:58pm
Post #18 of 52
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How about a can of Red Balrog Energy Drink? Guaranteed to fire you up!
You've been having quite the weather there! Has most of the flooding receded? Here's hoping the rain holds off to you can enjoy a good, long bike ride.
And great news about the birds! I love watching them splash around in birdbaths.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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dernwyn
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Feb 3, 10:14pm
Post #19 of 52
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That's scary just reading about your trips!
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And that was the only way you could get to the doctor's? I'm glad you could get there and back again with no hang-ups!
And hoping the medical problem is an easily-fixable one. 
That's a fascinating fire performance, those guys have nerves of steel to work with flames like that!
May your weekend be dry and sunny!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
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Kimi
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Feb 3, 10:17pm
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The power of the land - and it can move so quickly. Water, too - it's so much more powerful than it often appears. Last Friday we came across a local planning to wade through the *river* that was flowing where the railway used to be visible, and Mr Kimi gently tried to discourage him. We were very relieved when he changed his mind, and decided to go around the long way instead,
Thanks :)
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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Timbo_mbadil
Rivendell
Feb 3, 10:18pm
Post #21 of 52
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For taking over.
A strange and both wonderful/unpleasant week this was.
Unpleasant: The washing machine broke down. I'd never have thought how much trouble that really causes.
But last weekend (FantasyFilmFest) was great--if exhausting... 3 films out of 10 really stood out, and if you get a chance: take it!
(And here follows the account of Timbo_mbadil, bottom up.... I don't blame you if you break off at this point :-)
1 Mal de ojo (Evil Eye), a Mexican Gothic film (doesn't quite translate from German 'Gruselfilm'). Nice goose-bumpey, classic witch-themed. Beautifully filmed, and very classy.
2 Soft&Quiet: 92min sequence shot. Wow! Begins in sunlight, ends in black night. Respect!
And a hell of a story (the trailer is totally misleading!).
Bad. Depressingly bad! (In a "good" sense). Who said the US don't produce good films anymore? (ok, I did)
Definitely a must, if you get the chance.
3 Pengabdi Setan 2 (Satan's Slaves2): Tooootally misleading title, a really great Gothic chill-maker. From Indonesia. And again, beautiful images (disturbing)
Of 119mins runtime I had the goose-bumps for about 100mins (honestly). The remaining 19mins were funny.
A great film: Story-telling wise, incredible setting, and rather lousy actors! Aspects you don't think about after 5mins, because the story absorbs you.
Great film! A total must, if you get the chance. Trust me on this!
(btw you'll find the complete program+trailers on fantasyfimlfest.com -- and I wish I was affiliated ;-)
Aaaaaand on this cheerful note I found a strange quarter
(hmm, what to do now. Choose the atmospheric or the radical/politcal? Nope, chose neither, just my state of mind)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI0Ta6tmReA
I’ve lost my mood ring, and I really don’t know how to feel about this. -- "Tracy" Jordan, some episode from "30Rock"
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Kimi
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Feb 3, 10:27pm
Post #22 of 52
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to the GP I started going to years ago, when that practice was the closest to where we lived at the time. We have practices not far away, but it's worth going to my old one (when the roads are passable, anyway!) The ultrasound operator the other day said "Gosh, you travel a long way to see a doctor", and when I said who my GP is, she said, "Oh, no wonder." She said she hears that a lot - people will go quite some distance to see Doctor T. She's a very good doctor, and she's just lovely.
But yes, at times like this I do sometimes think it would be nice to have one a bit closer :) At least we have pharmacies quite close, and when she phoned me yesterday with some test results she could send the prescription to my nearest pharmacy for me to collect it.
The fire dancers are just amazing in real life. Nerves of steel indeed! They take such pride in their artistry, and deservedly so.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
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Feb 3, 10:43pm
Post #23 of 52
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I'd go a long way for a good doctor, too
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At my clinic, my GP tends to move on after a handful of years so I've become used to my care being switched around. All the docs have been good but there was one excellent one about 10 years ago who I wish had stayed, but she left to have a family.
There are closer clinics but I've been going to that one since I was a baby and I'm very much a creature of habit.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
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Kimi
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Feb 3, 10:50pm
Post #25 of 52
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(from my point of view): her children are past the little kid stage, and she's at least ten years younger than me, so I'm hoping she's in no rush to retire. The practice is an easy commute from where she lives, and I think just suits her (she actually has specialist qualifications, but being a GP, including looking after the local rest home residents, is what she's chosen to do).
Yes, it definitely seems worth going a long way for a good one.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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