What I "Do"
Just in case you were wondering what I do in the ceramics studio, here is one of my latest creations:
Harry Potter is evil
No, I'm not one of those Christian nutjobs who think that Harry Potter is the work of the devil. In fact, I loved the last book. It was a great way to finish the series. Non-stop action and everything wrapped up in the end. Maybe I could have done without the splenda chapter 36, but besides that I loved it.
Loved it so much in fact that I stayed up until 4:30 Sunday morning reading the book and subsequently suffered the next couple of days. And then my wife stayed up way too late last night finishing the book. She was so engrossed that she ignored hunger pains and skipped dinner, not able to put the book down.
And that is why the book is evil.
*** spoiler warning *** don't read past here if you haven't read the book.
OK. There's no way to ever prove this, but I guessed that Harry was a Horcrux before I read the book. I'm sure I'm not the only person in the world who did this, but I felt pretty proud of myself when I read it. And I was pretty sure that Snape was good and killed Dumbledore on his orders.
Loved it so much in fact that I stayed up until 4:30 Sunday morning reading the book and subsequently suffered the next couple of days. And then my wife stayed up way too late last night finishing the book. She was so engrossed that she ignored hunger pains and skipped dinner, not able to put the book down.
And that is why the book is evil.
*** spoiler warning *** don't read past here if you haven't read the book.
OK. There's no way to ever prove this, but I guessed that Harry was a Horcrux before I read the book. I'm sure I'm not the only person in the world who did this, but I felt pretty proud of myself when I read it. And I was pretty sure that Snape was good and killed Dumbledore on his orders.
Harry Potter
OK, I admit I'm a Harry Potter geek. I've read all the books multiple times. I'm not the "wait-in-line-for-hours/days-to-get-the-book-at-midnight" flavor of fan, but I do enjoy the series. So when I had a chance to see a special preview in IMAX 3-D I took it.
I love the books but when it comes to the movies, I kind of feel like the guy who is pot committed and can't get away. I mean, I've watched every movie so far so I can't stop even though each movie leaves me unsatisfied. I understand that they can't include everything in the book if they want to keep the movies under 3 hours (OoP is 2 and a half, but it goes by quick) but I feel the cuts/story line changes they made with were a little too hollywood and dumbed-down for my liking. It's almost better if you don't read the books so you don't know what you're missing.
But now that I'm 5/7 of the way committed I'll no doubt see the last two movies when they come out, but I won't feel good about it.
I love the books but when it comes to the movies, I kind of feel like the guy who is pot committed and can't get away. I mean, I've watched every movie so far so I can't stop even though each movie leaves me unsatisfied. I understand that they can't include everything in the book if they want to keep the movies under 3 hours (OoP is 2 and a half, but it goes by quick) but I feel the cuts/story line changes they made with were a little too hollywood and dumbed-down for my liking. It's almost better if you don't read the books so you don't know what you're missing.
But now that I'm 5/7 of the way committed I'll no doubt see the last two movies when they come out, but I won't feel good about it.
Back to School
I spent a few hours on Sunday afternoon registering for parenting classes. PARENTING CLASSES! If you asked me a year ago if I ever thought I'd be registering for "Conscious Fathering" I probably would have told you to go somewhere unpleasant. But there I was. I've basically booked up my whole October to learn every aspect of caring for the new edition. Worst of all, some of the classes were only available on Saturday morning, traditionally my day of worship at the casino. Not that I'm growing resentful of the coming baby, hell, I'm not the one who has to carry the extra weight and go through a hormonal roller coaster, but IF I was going to resentful, this might be the cause. In truth, if anything, signing up for all those classes just made everything a little more real.
Also, last night we did the belly-to-belly thing and I got to feel the little guy kick a little more. Maybe because we were watching "Kung Fu Hustle" this guy was kicking like nobody's business. Now I have to decide if I'll ruin this guy's life pressuring him to be a professional soccer player or martial arts master. Thankfully I have a few more months to contemplate this.
Also, last night we did the belly-to-belly thing and I got to feel the little guy kick a little more. Maybe because we were watching "Kung Fu Hustle" this guy was kicking like nobody's business. Now I have to decide if I'll ruin this guy's life pressuring him to be a professional soccer player or martial arts master. Thankfully I have a few more months to contemplate this.
There can be only one.
I remember when I thought "Highlander" was the best movie in the world. While I won't make that claim anymore, there is something about a movie about a whole bunch of guys running around trying to cut off each other's heads that appeals to a guy, and you could do a lot worse than a soundtrack featuring Queen.
In the movie the remaining immortals are drawn to New York for the be all, end all. While it isn't New York, there is a Statue of Liberty in Las Vegas and an estimated 4,000-5,000 people are gathering to try and chop off each other's heads (figuratively, although I'm sure there are those who contemplate being literal) at teh World Series of Poker Main Event. And, in the end, there can be only one (at least the public is always led to believe).
While part of me wishes I could be there, and perhaps might have been had my 99s not fell to 66s, this morning when I felt the baby kick you couldn't have paid me enough to be anywhere else. As we lay there belly to belly - something that is much easier now that we both have protruding ones- I felt a little bump that was my son. I think I'll go buy him some soccer shoes tomorrow.
In the movie the remaining immortals are drawn to New York for the be all, end all. While it isn't New York, there is a Statue of Liberty in Las Vegas and an estimated 4,000-5,000 people are gathering to try and chop off each other's heads (figuratively, although I'm sure there are those who contemplate being literal) at teh World Series of Poker Main Event. And, in the end, there can be only one (at least the public is always led to believe).
While part of me wishes I could be there, and perhaps might have been had my 99s not fell to 66s, this morning when I felt the baby kick you couldn't have paid me enough to be anywhere else. As we lay there belly to belly - something that is much easier now that we both have protruding ones- I felt a little bump that was my son. I think I'll go buy him some soccer shoes tomorrow.
The first day of the rest of your life
Today was the first Monday in a long time (save vacations) that I didn't have to get up for work. It was a beautiful morning. I did get up, a little earlier than usual actually, but I didn't have to, and that was glorious.
Last Friday was my last day of work. For the next four months I'm a free spirit. Sure, I have to work remotely, but that's only for 2 hours a day and can be done from Starbucks (which I'm doing right now). But besides that, I'm a bum.
Of course, come November it will all come to an end. My life will be plunged into a world of diapers, vomit, bodily excretions, screaming, crying, swaddling and sleep deprivation.
In short, I have four months of freedom before 18 years of servitude.
For those of you just tuning in, we are having a child. A boy. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this one. My wife, aka "the Boss," is hosting an organism that started as a single cell and is rapidly growing into millions, nay billions, trillions? A defenseless little being that will grow up -- at times too quickly and at others not fast enough -- and one day think he's invincible and then later realize how mortal he is.
I alternate between freaking out and disbelief. I mean, my body isn't coursing with hormones and I don't have a swollen belly (fat yes, but not swollen) to remind me constantly of the impending arrival so it's easy for me to forget (or deny) my impending fatherhood. But at night as we lie in bed and watch Season 2 of LOST, I am acutely aware of the presence of the third being in the bed; the 12 ounce gorilla in the room.
-tmo
Last Friday was my last day of work. For the next four months I'm a free spirit. Sure, I have to work remotely, but that's only for 2 hours a day and can be done from Starbucks (which I'm doing right now). But besides that, I'm a bum.
Of course, come November it will all come to an end. My life will be plunged into a world of diapers, vomit, bodily excretions, screaming, crying, swaddling and sleep deprivation.
In short, I have four months of freedom before 18 years of servitude.
For those of you just tuning in, we are having a child. A boy. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this one. My wife, aka "the Boss," is hosting an organism that started as a single cell and is rapidly growing into millions, nay billions, trillions? A defenseless little being that will grow up -- at times too quickly and at others not fast enough -- and one day think he's invincible and then later realize how mortal he is.
I alternate between freaking out and disbelief. I mean, my body isn't coursing with hormones and I don't have a swollen belly (fat yes, but not swollen) to remind me constantly of the impending arrival so it's easy for me to forget (or deny) my impending fatherhood. But at night as we lie in bed and watch Season 2 of LOST, I am acutely aware of the presence of the third being in the bed; the 12 ounce gorilla in the room.
-tmo
Chasing a dream
I don't have illusions that I'm going to win the main event of the World Series of Poker, but that doesn't mean I don't want to give it a shot. Unfortunately I don't have, nor do I ever foresee myself having, $10,000 that I am willing to plop down for my shot. So a while back I noticed that the Tulalip casino was hosting a $90 buy-in event on Saturdays where the top five finishers each week would advance to a tournament where the top prize is a $10,000 and $5,00o for travel and lodging. $90 I can do. So last weekend I made the trip up to Tulalip to play.
Now I haven't played in a live tournament since last July in Las Vegas, so I was mostly playing to get my fix; that itch that needs scratching. My goal going in was to play solid poker, not make any stupid mistakes and have fun. Five hours later things had changed.
Not having been to the tournament before, I headed out early to make sure I arrived with plenty of time. Nothing would have been worse than me having drove 45 minutes only to find out that the tournament had already filled. Once registered I decided to head to the coffee shop and have a nice, big breakfast before the tourney. Unfortunately the coffee shop, that according to the sign opens at 10:00AM, was closed at 10:10 and my only option was the Buffet.
Nature abhors a vacuum and I abhor buffets (except in Las Vegas).
When it comes to food, I am a quality over quantity kind of guy; I like my food made to order, not food that has been expecting and eagerly awaiting me (for the past hour). As I glanced around the Tulalip buffet, it appeared that many of my fellow patrons did not share my senitments, judging by the ample amounts of food they had ladled on their plates. To make things worse, they didn't even have an eggs station where I could order some eggs. The salad bar was woefully pathetic but suprisingly their pot stickers were digestible. Barely satiated, I returned to the poker room to begin play.
I can't remember the hands, but I know I never got aces, had Queens at least once and Kings once. I got lucky a couple of times and somehow found myself at the final table as one of the bigger stacks. When we got down to 7 (10 places paid), a chop was proposed that I agreed to. At this point, there was only one player who I was wary of. Luckily I had position on him and managed to bluff him off one hand that set me up to take it all. I sucked out while busting both the third and second place players. In the final hand, with about 500K of the 600K chips in play I raised on the button only to have my opponent go all in. Pot committed, I sheepishly turned over 7c9c to his AdAs. 6d-8-Qd flop, 5d on the turn and a black 2 on the river sealed the deal.
My first place finish is good for T5,000 in starting chips in the final tourney. Fingers crossed.
Now I haven't played in a live tournament since last July in Las Vegas, so I was mostly playing to get my fix; that itch that needs scratching. My goal going in was to play solid poker, not make any stupid mistakes and have fun. Five hours later things had changed.
Not having been to the tournament before, I headed out early to make sure I arrived with plenty of time. Nothing would have been worse than me having drove 45 minutes only to find out that the tournament had already filled. Once registered I decided to head to the coffee shop and have a nice, big breakfast before the tourney. Unfortunately the coffee shop, that according to the sign opens at 10:00AM, was closed at 10:10 and my only option was the Buffet.
Nature abhors a vacuum and I abhor buffets (except in Las Vegas).
When it comes to food, I am a quality over quantity kind of guy; I like my food made to order, not food that has been expecting and eagerly awaiting me (for the past hour). As I glanced around the Tulalip buffet, it appeared that many of my fellow patrons did not share my senitments, judging by the ample amounts of food they had ladled on their plates. To make things worse, they didn't even have an eggs station where I could order some eggs. The salad bar was woefully pathetic but suprisingly their pot stickers were digestible. Barely satiated, I returned to the poker room to begin play.
I can't remember the hands, but I know I never got aces, had Queens at least once and Kings once. I got lucky a couple of times and somehow found myself at the final table as one of the bigger stacks. When we got down to 7 (10 places paid), a chop was proposed that I agreed to. At this point, there was only one player who I was wary of. Luckily I had position on him and managed to bluff him off one hand that set me up to take it all. I sucked out while busting both the third and second place players. In the final hand, with about 500K of the 600K chips in play I raised on the button only to have my opponent go all in. Pot committed, I sheepishly turned over 7c9c to his AdAs. 6d-8-Qd flop, 5d on the turn and a black 2 on the river sealed the deal.
My first place finish is good for T5,000 in starting chips in the final tourney. Fingers crossed.
Jury Duty
Waiting....
The room is quite plain. It calls to mind a bus station waiting room; long rows of chairs are arranged through the room. Hundreds (277 at the start yesterday morning) fill the room. Some people read, others listen to music and others fidget with cell phones. Thankfully they have wi-fi here.
Waiting....
My friends laughed at me, but I was quite curious to take part in the jury process. AW said that only people too stupid to get out of jury duty serve, but i'd like to think that's not true. As I told him, I would hope that if I ever need to be judged by a jury of my peers, I want to believe that it's not just people who couldn't come up with an excuse. Not that I really want to get selected for a jury, but
Waiting....
Yesterday I lucked out. The coordinator said he had to many jurors and had the computer randomly select 50 people to be excused. Granted, my odds are pretty good, 1 in 5.5, but I still felt like I hit the jackpot.
Coming back this morning it's interesting to see how many people are sitting in the exact same seat they sat in yesterday. If I were some sort of sociologist, this would be a goldmine for material. As it is, I just get to listen to music and surf the web. I have been inspired to listen to "the Wall" I had forgotten what a good album this is. It definitely brings back memories.
The room is quite plain. It calls to mind a bus station waiting room; long rows of chairs are arranged through the room. Hundreds (277 at the start yesterday morning) fill the room. Some people read, others listen to music and others fidget with cell phones. Thankfully they have wi-fi here.
Waiting....
My friends laughed at me, but I was quite curious to take part in the jury process. AW said that only people too stupid to get out of jury duty serve, but i'd like to think that's not true. As I told him, I would hope that if I ever need to be judged by a jury of my peers, I want to believe that it's not just people who couldn't come up with an excuse. Not that I really want to get selected for a jury, but
Waiting....
Yesterday I lucked out. The coordinator said he had to many jurors and had the computer randomly select 50 people to be excused. Granted, my odds are pretty good, 1 in 5.5, but I still felt like I hit the jackpot.
Coming back this morning it's interesting to see how many people are sitting in the exact same seat they sat in yesterday. If I were some sort of sociologist, this would be a goldmine for material. As it is, I just get to listen to music and surf the web. I have been inspired to listen to "the Wall" I had forgotten what a good album this is. It definitely brings back memories.
Blue Wave
All I know is that if I worked in a restaurant I would be very afraid if I had to serve Karl Rove, because if he used THE MATH to calculate my tip, I'd probably get stiffed big time. I hope he never lives that one down.
There has to be a term..
I'll look it up later, but there has to be a term to describe the mad rush of a iPod neophyte who discovers iTunes and begins to grab every single CD they own to rip it and put it onto his/her iPod. It's like a whole new world revealed. I even went over to my dad's house to round up his CDs as well so I could put them onto this iPod. I mean, I have only 150/7,500. 7,500!!!! that's a lot of songs!!!
It's also heartening to see that the most downloaded podcast is "This American Life." It almost reaffirms my faith in America, almost.
Can't write more, I need to surf the podcasts and rate my music.
It's also heartening to see that the most downloaded podcast is "This American Life." It almost reaffirms my faith in America, almost.
Can't write more, I need to surf the podcasts and rate my music.
Double Header
Scrabble Games 100 & 101 last night
Game 100: Tmo: 417 - Mrs. Tmo: 346
Game 101: Tmo: 344 - Mrs. Tmo: 322
Game 100: Tmo: 417 - Mrs. Tmo: 346
Game 101: Tmo: 344 - Mrs. Tmo: 322
To the elected government officials of the United States...
Screw you all.
What Internet Gambling has to do with Homeland Security beats the hell out of me. Thank you for yet another questionable law that will stay on the books forever. The only people to really win out will be the lawyers who will litigate this one day. Of course no one will try to strike this one down for fear of offending their conservative constituents. Now I guess I'll just have to burn up lots of fossil fuel to drive to my closest Casino.
politics suck. People who slips non-related bills into other bills should be punished.
end rant.
What Internet Gambling has to do with Homeland Security beats the hell out of me. Thank you for yet another questionable law that will stay on the books forever. The only people to really win out will be the lawyers who will litigate this one day. Of course no one will try to strike this one down for fear of offending their conservative constituents. Now I guess I'll just have to burn up lots of fossil fuel to drive to my closest Casino.
politics suck. People who slips non-related bills into other bills should be punished.
end rant.
So I'm talking with Ted Forrest...
More on how these pictures came about later, but here are a couple of pictures from a night that included an open bar, the Voo Doo Lounge, Light, Doyle Brunson, Dutch Boyd, The marketing manager for Pokerblue.com, Pamela Anderson, Gavin Smith, and many more.
Me and Yosh Nakano
Me and Ted Forrest
Latest Scrabble Score:
Me: 339 Mrs: 315
Latest Scrabble Score:
Me: 339 Mrs: 315
Patriot Poker
so the other night I was playing a sit-n-go on Ultimate Bet. For those of you who haven't played on UB, you can select which country you "represent." Most tables are full of Americans, and an occasional Canadian. BO-RING. I like to mix things up a bit. Sometimes I like to represent the Isle of Mann, but lately I've been playing for the Holy See. That's right, I represent Vatican City. Why? Mostly for shits and giggles. And maybe for a little blasphemy thrown on top. Once in a while it's a conversation starter. People ask if I'm a priest. Do I know the Pope? etc. etc. I don't lie, I usually tell them that I'm not even Catholic.
The other night some guy starts harrassing me because I'm not representing the good ol' U.S. of A. I asked him if he was more of an American because he represents the US and he tells me that I'm less of an American because I'm not. wow. I was half tempted to change my country to Iraq but unfortunately I was knocked out. Next time.
The other night some guy starts harrassing me because I'm not representing the good ol' U.S. of A. I asked him if he was more of an American because he represents the US and he tells me that I'm less of an American because I'm not. wow. I was half tempted to change my country to Iraq but unfortunately I was knocked out. Next time.
I am a scrabble geek
SWMBO and I play a lot of scrabble. Since getting the Scrabble deluxe version last September, we've played 58 games, of which I've won 35, or 60%. I've never dipped below 60% actually. Why do I know this? Because I've kept a spreadsheet, of course. What kind of person, you may ask, keeps an excel spreadsheet of their scrabble wins and losses? me.
Tonight's match:
SWMBO: 273
Tank: 404
2 bingos for our hero.
Oh. And I won a 10-person sit-n-go at the same time. Woo hoo.
Tonight's match:
SWMBO: 273
Tank: 404
2 bingos for our hero.
Oh. And I won a 10-person sit-n-go at the same time. Woo hoo.
I've made it
One of the first poker bloggers I started reading was Linda G at Pokerworks.com. Not only does she post day in and out, she provides a unique perspective from the epicenter of the poker world.
So I went to Vegas. More on that later. For now i'll just say I finally got to spend a little time chatting with Linda and am now imortalized in the annals of Pokerworks:
http://table-tango.pokerworks.com/2006/02/20/690/#more-690
Oh, and I took 6th in a tourney over at Caesars.
So I went to Vegas. More on that later. For now i'll just say I finally got to spend a little time chatting with Linda and am now imortalized in the annals of Pokerworks:
http://table-tango.pokerworks.com/2006/02/20/690/#more-690
Oh, and I took 6th in a tourney over at Caesars.
So close
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a fairweather fan. But when your home team makes it to the Super Bowl, you have to watch. I didn't really watch much of the regular season since most of the time we didn't TV, so I was willing to believe the line on the game. Like my friends I watched the game with, I was just hoping for a good, close game. But that game just left a bitter taste in my mouth. You hate to blame the game on the officiating, but how can you deny that it might have made a difference in the outcome? The final score really doesn't do justice to the way the Seahawks dominated the first half. I just have to say, we're lucky we're not a lot of other cities because there would probably be riots tonight if we were.
Of course you can always say this when your team loses, but the Seahawks really have nothing to be ashamed of. Little consolation to the way they feel right now I know.
-tmo
Of course you can always say this when your team loses, but the Seahawks really have nothing to be ashamed of. Little consolation to the way they feel right now I know.
-tmo
Doctors and People who work in Las Vegas
What to these people have in common? I never know when to call them.
My friend is a doctor and my cousin works in a Casino in Las Vegas. With both of them, I never know when to call. With most people, I think calling between 9AM and, say, 9PM is acceptable. But doctors fresh out of medical school work crazy hours so I hesitate to call even at 1:00 in the afternoon afraid that she's just come off some hellish 24 hour shift and collapsed into bed right before being rudely awoken by me.
And my cousin works all different shifts so who knows when she's sleeping?
I supposed the same would hold true if I knew a firefighter or police officer.
-tmo
My friend is a doctor and my cousin works in a Casino in Las Vegas. With both of them, I never know when to call. With most people, I think calling between 9AM and, say, 9PM is acceptable. But doctors fresh out of medical school work crazy hours so I hesitate to call even at 1:00 in the afternoon afraid that she's just come off some hellish 24 hour shift and collapsed into bed right before being rudely awoken by me.
And my cousin works all different shifts so who knows when she's sleeping?
I supposed the same would hold true if I knew a firefighter or police officer.
-tmo
three-three
the last time I posted i was 32. Now I'm 33. Doesn't feel all that different. In fact, it doesn't feel different at all. Am I wiser? doubtful. Am I more mature? probably not. The only thing I can say now is that I'm a third of the way to 100. next stop I guess is halfway (unless you want to count 7/20 or 2/5). That is assuming, of course, that I'm going to make it to 100.
Since Monday was a holiday from work I decided to venture to a card room up north and play in a little daily tournament that they have. The structure is horrible, you start out with T4000 and the blinds begin at T100/200. By the time the second round comes around, the BB is 1/10 of your stack (assuming you haven't won anything). Ridiculous. You need to win your first hand or you're in trouble.
First hand of the toruney I get QQ and pop it up to T1000 and pick up about T500. The next hand I get 55 and pick up the pot after the flop comes 23J. I don't catch anything for a couple of rounds when I find KQd and raise it. By this time I had been blinded down so much that I should have pushed all in, instead like donkey I only doubled the BB and of course had the SB and BB come along for the ride. Flop comes A-K-rag and I know that one of them has an A and fold to the BB's bet on the turn. He folds to the SB's all in showing KJ. Had I pushed all in pre-flop there's no way the SB would have called with her A7o. After that I only had enough to cover my blinds and had to shove with crap at the same time that someone caught QQ. Chalk it up to a learning experience.
-tmo
Since Monday was a holiday from work I decided to venture to a card room up north and play in a little daily tournament that they have. The structure is horrible, you start out with T4000 and the blinds begin at T100/200. By the time the second round comes around, the BB is 1/10 of your stack (assuming you haven't won anything). Ridiculous. You need to win your first hand or you're in trouble.
First hand of the toruney I get QQ and pop it up to T1000 and pick up about T500. The next hand I get 55 and pick up the pot after the flop comes 23J. I don't catch anything for a couple of rounds when I find KQd and raise it. By this time I had been blinded down so much that I should have pushed all in, instead like donkey I only doubled the BB and of course had the SB and BB come along for the ride. Flop comes A-K-rag and I know that one of them has an A and fold to the BB's bet on the turn. He folds to the SB's all in showing KJ. Had I pushed all in pre-flop there's no way the SB would have called with her A7o. After that I only had enough to cover my blinds and had to shove with crap at the same time that someone caught QQ. Chalk it up to a learning experience.
-tmo
Don't get me wrong
I like NPR, listen to it every day. And today being MLK day here I've enjoyed listening to the recordings of Dr. King's speeches. The man was a great orator. At times as I'm listening I think "man, he's kind of rambling" but then all of a sudden he ties it all together and it hits you. It all makes sense.
His last speech ("I've been to the mountain top"), the one he made just days before he was killed, was really eerie. Maybe it's just coincidence, but his last paragraph almost sounds like a challenge to those who are plotting to kill him. If I knew there was a plot to kill me, I don't think I could stand in front of all those people and deliver such powerful words.
So I'm listening to this speech and when it's over NPR decides to play "In the name of love" by U2 as a musical interlude. huh? I like the song. But in that whole song there's one mention of MLK. Of all the songs they choose to play, that one? Kind of put a damper on the whole thing.
-tmo
His last speech ("I've been to the mountain top"), the one he made just days before he was killed, was really eerie. Maybe it's just coincidence, but his last paragraph almost sounds like a challenge to those who are plotting to kill him. If I knew there was a plot to kill me, I don't think I could stand in front of all those people and deliver such powerful words.
So I'm listening to this speech and when it's over NPR decides to play "In the name of love" by U2 as a musical interlude. huh? I like the song. But in that whole song there's one mention of MLK. Of all the songs they choose to play, that one? Kind of put a damper on the whole thing.
-tmo
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