Mrs. Owl daily drawing – “Take Out Art.”

Mrs. Owl daily drawing – “Take Out Art.”

February 17, 2009

20090217 CB Takeout art

Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Sunrise at Crane’s Cove by Mrs. Owl

Sunrise at Crane’s Cove by Mrs. Owl

Tuesday morning, February 17, 2009

20090217 SDOSM BDD CB sunrise at Cranes Cove

Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Kevin and Caroline at the Alaska stand at the RNC

Kevin and Caroline at the Alaska stand on the floor of the Republican National Convention on September 4, 2008

20080904 Alaska stand KC Mr Moose (2)

Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

20080530 Tobacco use among Carroll youths on the rise by Erica Kritt

Tobacco use among Carroll youths on the rise

By Erica Kritt, Carroll County Times Staff Writer

Friday, May 30, 2008

The use of smokeless tobacco in Carroll County for people younger than 18 has increased significantly since 2000, according to state statistics.

According to statistics from the Maryland Adult Tobacco Surveys and Maryland Youth Tobacco Surveys conducted by the state’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Carroll saw an 18.7 percent increase in tobacco use among underage youths between 2000 and 2006.

Barbara White, coordinator for the Carroll County Health Department’s Cigarette Restitution Fund Program, said the program is working to address the problem.

[…]

White and her co-workers presented the latest statistics at a meeting Thursday in Westminster.

[…]

Hegg had Caroline Babylon make a presentation about how she used a grant from CRFP at the event Thursday morning in Westminster.

Babylon, who is treasurer at the Carroll County Agriculture Center, was given a grant to provide anti-chewing information at the Ag Center this year.

Babylon set up a table with candy for children and tobacco-free products that resemble smokeless tobacco for those who chewed tobacco. The information was available at bull riding events and a tractor pull.

The nontobacco products were meant to be used as a way to satisfy the habit of chewing without the dangers of tobacco for people attempting to quit, Babylon said.

“On an average night, 100 to 140 people saw the display,” she said. “I think we at least planted the seed and gave people a tool [to quit].”

White said she hopes to have more programs like Babylon’s that focused on smokeless tobacco in the coming years.

Reach staff writer Erica Kritt at 410-857-7876 or erica.kritt@carrollcountytimes.com.

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/05/30/news/local_news/newsstory3.txt

20080530 Tobacco use among Carroll youths on the rise by Erica Kritt

20080327 Maryland General Assembly: HB134 Transporting Pets (and wives) in trucks

Maryland General Assembly: HB134 Transporting Pets (and wives) in trucks

Hat Tip: Mrs. Owl

Earlier today Mrs. Owl emailed me a PDF copy of “News and Views You can Use,” distributed by Equiery. I cannot find the newsletter on the Equiery web site…

Mrs. Owl wrote “One of several silly aspects of legislation I'm sure,” as she called to my attention commentary on HB134…

_____

Upon reading the newsletter I found the column of which Mrs. Owl was referring on page one: “Maryland General Assembly Session: Opened like a lamb, now roaring like a lion,” by Nancy Hill. She calls to our attention “HB134 - Vehicle laws, Transporting pets in trucks or trailers.”

Ms. Hill writes, “What is quirky about this bill is that ‘people’ over the age of sixteen are allowed by state law to ride in the back of an open truck. As one Senator said, ‘If this bill passes, I'd have to put the dog in the front with me and my wife in the back of the truck.’ […]”

Snip

I looked up HOUSE BILL 134 (File Code: Vehicle Laws - Rules of the Road

Prior Year Introduction As: HB 132/97 – CGM) and sure enough the synopsis of the bill reads:

“Prohibiting a person from transporting pets in or on a truck or trailer on a highway unless the truck or trailer is enclosed on the sides and the top in a manner that safely prevents the pet from falling, jumping, or otherwise exiting the truck or trailer or unless the pet is confined by a device designed to safely prevent the pet from falling, jumping, or otherwise exiting the truck or trailer; providing that a violation of the Act is not considered a moving violation for specified purposes; defining "pet"; etc.”

The bill was introduced by: Delegate Kevin Kelly, District 1B; Delegate Kathleen M. Dumais, District 15; Delegate Susan K. McComas, District 35B; Delegate Christopher B. Shank, District 2B; and Delegate Michael D. Smigiel, Sr., District 36

And by the way – it passed the House on third reader on March 20, 2008 (127-7)

To sure, a quick search on the internet indicates that a number of state and local governments throughout the nation have such dog tethering laws on the books…

Hey, I’m just as sappy about pets, animals, and dogs as the next person…

Nevertheless, considering the economy; the dynamic that Maryland is currently engaged in driving folks and businesses out of the state with a new and improved version of tax-hell; and last, but not least, are the recent statistics that Maryland is one of the most dangerous states in the union - - is protecting dogs while they ride in a truck what we really need our legislators to be doing these days.

I’m just asking?

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff http://www.livejournal.com/

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org or kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion; www.thewestminstereagle.com, Winchester Report and The Sunday Carroll Eagle – in the Sunday Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun. Get Westminster Eagle RSS Feed

“When I stop working the rest of the day is posthumous. I'm only really alive when I'm writing.” Tennessee Williams

20070418 April 18, 2007 Westminster Road Runners Club Westminster, Maryland Main Street Mile.

April 18, 2007 Westminster Road Runners Club Westminster, Maryland Main Street Mile.

By Kevin Dayhoff April 19, 2007 www.kevindayhoff.net

Posted March 23, 2008

I had all but finished the video below, about the April 18^th, 2007 Main Street Mile, some time ago… In the video please notice the quintessential Dave Herlocker moving the race finishers along at the finish line…

Other posts which mention Dr. David Herlocker may be found here: Westminster Road Runners Club or westminster road runners club

His obituary can be found here: 19401030 20080321 David Webb Herlocker

20070418 Westminster Maryland Main Street Mile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16U48TUjSB8

Video Storyboard:

Dave Herlocker and Caroline Babylon keep the finish line moving at the annual Westminster, Maryland Main Street Mile on April 18, 2007. That’s Dave on the left in the blue pants, yellow shirt and green sleeves.

Carroll County Times photographer, Kyle Nosal, runs to get a photo…

Carrie Ann Knauer, Carroll County Times Staff Writer, covering the event…

Her article: “Road runners” appeared in the Thursday, April 19, 2007 edition of the Carroll County Times…

Westminster Police officer Tony Ott (gray shirt - center) kept everything moving smoothly throughout the event…

Kenny Carlisle (L) and Tony Ott

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff http://www.livejournal.com/

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org or kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion; www.thewestminstereagle.com, Winchester Report and The Sunday Carroll Eagle – in the Sunday Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun. Get Westminster Eagle RSS Feed

“When I stop working the rest of the day is posthumous. I'm only really alive when I'm writing.” Tennessee Williams

_____

Other posts which mention Dr. David Herlocker may be found here: For other posts on running or the Westminster Road Runners Club please click on: Sports Running or Westminster Road Runners Club or Westminster Sidewalks and Trails or westminster road runners club or westminster sidewalks and trails. or westminster annual main street mile or sports running or dave herlocker. The Westminster Road Runners Club web site is here: http://www.carr.org/%7Ewrrc/

20080314 Stacy Westfall and Roxy on the Ellen Degeneres show!

Stacy Westfall and Roxy on the Ellen Degeneres show!

Added: March 17, 2008

Hat Tip: Mrs. Owl

Stacy Westfall and Roxy on the Ellen Degeneres show!

Stacy Westfall and Roxy on the Ellen Degeneres show with Roxy (Whizards Baby Doll), March 14, 2008. Visit the show's website at http://ellen.warnerbros.com. Stacy's website is http://westfallhorsemanship.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMrtJWC7Bvk

Related: 20080317 Stacy Westfall’s 2006 Championship Run

_____

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Related: For posts about the 4-H Therapeutic Riding Prog. of Carroll Co. on “Soundtrack.”

The web site for the 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program of Carroll County is: http://www.trp4h.org/

20080317 Stacy Westfall’s 2006 Championship Run

Stacy Westfall’s 2006 Championship Run

Added: March 17, 2008

Hat Tip: Mrs. Owl

Anyone who has spent anytime around horses – this video is for you. Ms. Stacy Westfall performs complicated horseback riding and western reining bareback without any bridle – at the 2006 “All American Quarter Horse Congress.”

Simply amazing. Please enjoy.

Stacy Westfall 2006

http://youtube.com/watch?v=a-7v8Ck1crg

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Related: For posts about the 4-H Therapeutic Riding Prog. of Carroll Co. on “Soundtrack.”

The web site for the 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program of Carroll County is: http://www.trp4h.org/

20080211 “Quintessential Key West Rooster” February 11, 2008 Photo by Mrs. Owl

Daily Photoblog

“Quintessential Key West Rooster”

February 11, 2008

Photo by Mrs. Owl

(She was dropping off my absentee ballot. See this week’s Tentacle column for some additional insight…)

_____

20080211 “Quintessential Key West Rooster” February 11, 2008 Photo by Mrs. Owl

20070704 Mrs. Owl's tools of the trade

20070704 Mrs. Owl's tools of the trade
July 4th, 2007 Kevin Dayhoff

20070703 The Tour de France begins this Saturday

La Carte

The Tour de France begins this Saturday

July 3rd, 2007

Retour à la page d'accueil

Le Tour dans ta ville - A chacun son Tour

Le Tour de France, en partenariat avec le Ministère de l'éducation nationale, le Ministère des Sports, de la Jeunesse et de la Vie associative et la Fédération Française de Cyclisme, se tourne vers les enfants avec une vaste campagne d'information et d'animation axée sur la découverte du sport cycliste et de son épreuve phare.

http://www.youtube.com/letourdefrance

The route

Running from Saturday July 7th to Sunday July 29th 2007, the 94th Tour de France will be made up of a prologue and 20 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,550 kilometres.

These 20 stages have the following profiles:

11 flat stages

6 mountain stages

1 medium mountain stage

2 individual time-trial stages

Distinctive aspects of the race

3 mountain finishes

2 rest days

117 kilometres of individual time-trials (including the prologue)

21 Category 1, Category 2 and highest level passes will be climbed

12 new stop-over towns

London, Canterbury, Waregem, Villers-Cotterêts, Joigny, Chablis, Semur-en-Auxois, Tignes, Tallard, Mazamet, Cognac, Marcoussis

Le parcours

Du samedi 7 au dimanche 29 juillet 2007, le 94e Tour de France comprendra un prologue et 20 étapes pour une distance d’environ 3 570 kilomètres.

Ces 20 étapes se décomposent comme suit:

11 étapes de plaine

6 étapes de haute montagne

1 étape accidentée

2 étapes contre-la-montre individuel

Les particularités de l'épreuve

3 arrivée en altitude

2 journées de repos

117 kilomètres contre la montre individuel (prologue inclus)

21 cols de 2e, 1re et hors catégorie seront escaladés

12 villes étapes inédites

Londres, Canterbury, Waregem, Villers-Cotterêts, Joigny, Chablis, Semur-en-Auxois, Tignes, Tallard, Mazamet, Cognac, Marcoussis

Édito

Welcome by Christian Prudhomme

Directeur du Tour de France

All of us can sense it: in early July, the Tour de France will open up a new chapter in its history. The departure will be unlike anything that has ever been seen before-extraordinary in the literal meaning of the word.

The desire of Mr Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, to welcome the world’s greatest cycling race with all the honors due its rank, his goal of encouraging more people to ride bicycles in his city, and the British capital’s power and prestige will make the 2007 Tour stand out from all those that have preceded it.

London is offering us its heart, most beautiful landmarks and emblematic sights as the set piece for a departure that is already arousing unprecedented excitement. The city won over everybody who took part in our scouting and study trips. The Londoners’ enthusiasm has convinced us that this event must not be missed under any circumstances! From Trafalgar Square to Tower Bridge, the presentation of the teams, the official departure ceremony beneath Big Ben and the ride past Buckingham Palace and through Hyde Park, the 2007 Tour de France will be one of the most exciting events in recent memory.

More

Nous le ressentons tous : le Tour de France va vivre, début juillet, une page nouvelle de son histoire. Un Grand Départ hors du commun, « extra-ordinaire », au sens premier du terme.

Le désir du maire de Londres, Ken Livingstone, d’accueillir la plus grande course cycliste du monde avec les honneurs dus à son rang, sa volonté de développer la pratique du vélo dans sa ville, ainsi que le prestige et la puissance de la capitale britannique confèrent à la Grande Boucle 2007 une dimension exceptionnelle.

More

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20070613 Model Ts visiting Westminster on June 19

Model Ts visiting Westminster on June 19

June 14^th, 2007

Westminster Eagle…

I’m looking forward to June 19^th, 2007 when the Model Ts visit Westminster.

One of our spring projects has been to get the family’s 1929/1930 Model A out for a drive and get some maintenance accomplished.

As you can see from the picture above – I help my wife take care of work on the car

Anyway – writing for the Westminster Eagle last Wednesday, June 13^th, 2007, Kym Byrnes says:

On June 19, the streets of Westminster will be filled with more than 60 Model T Fords as the antique cars, and their owners, journey down Main Street as part of a weeklong summer tour hosted by the Blue & Grey Chapter of the Model T Ford Club of America (MTFCA).

Vernon Keeler of Keymar is a member of the Blue and Grey Chapter, and expects to be on hand with his family's 1926 Model T Roadster pickup.

According to Keeler, the chapter is based in Hagerstown, but has members throughout the region, including his wife, Dottie Keeler, who is the current president.

For the summer tour, though, Model T owners come from as far as Colorado, Arizona, Maine and Florida, and spend the week, June 17-22, traveling to different locales in Maryland.

On Tuesday, June 19, members will travel to Westminster to visit the Wheeler Automotive Museum on Railroad Avenue, arriving at an estimated time of about 10:30 a.m.

[…]

… Keeler, who said Model Ts move at about 35 miles per hour…

(Editor’s note: Which seems a bit slow but many folks are unaware that 35 mph was the national speed limit during World War II…)

For more information on the club, visit www.clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/mdbluegrey

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20070605 Daily Photoblog

Daily Photoblog – 2^nd Amendment Drive

Photo Credit: Mrs. Owl

June 5, 2007

20070321 The secret life of baby spiders

The secret life of baby spiders

Photo caption: “Fired spiders and gum” from the web site, “Photography by Ewen Bell.” Neat site – check it out.

March 21, 2007

This post is for my wife. Read it quickly before it is prevailed upon me to amend it or take the post down.

Me: spiders gotta live somewhere. I just Zen them. As long as they don’t change the settings on my computer or eat my ice cream – I’m good. Whatever.

My wife: Spiders seem to make my normally unfazed, calm, and sedate wife go from zero to animated in a nanosecond. I know of nothing else that bothers my wife (except liberals… fortunately she doesn’t feel the need to squish them… .)

It is somewhat the source of amusement with me. Trust me, my amusement is not shared by my wife, and I have long since learned to adjust my approach. [Soccer Dad doesn’t wear paisley (My goodness that was an ugly tie.) - - I take spiders seriously – when they are the source of my wife’s undivided attention…]

Me to wife: Wife, I just saw on Nancy Grace that Anna Nicole Smith is still dead and the world is going to come to an end. Could ya please help me grab my computer before we go to the bomb shelter?

Wife: I don’t care - - There’s a spider in the house! Get it.

Over the years we have come to a sorta agreement. Found spiders in the house are not to be killed. They are to be invited to go outside… This seems to work as long as the spider is cooperative.

For the safety of spiders, I have posted a sign at the back door that our house is not safe for spiders. It seems to have worked.

Sooo, it was with some amusement that I saw that “Spiders Love to Snuggle.”

Perhaps Jeremy Bruno up at Voltage Gate (Besides, Mr. Bruno has not one article about spiders on his blog. What gives”) may have to interpret some of this for us, but according to Jeanna Bryner LiveScience Staff Writer LiveScience.com Wed Mar 21, 8:45 AM ET :

While not usually considered paragons of tender, familial love, some spiders do have a touchy-feely side. Scientists have discovered two arachnids that caress their young and snuggle together.

Social behavior is extremely rare in arachnids, a group of critters typically defined by their aggression, clever hunting methods and even predatory cannibalism.

"This was the best example I had ever seen of friendly behavior in an arachnid," said lead study author Linda Rayor, a Cornell University entomologist.

[…]

Video: Spider Baby Rub

Video: Spider Tickle

For (Phrynus) marginemaculatus, the stroking was mutual, with the three-week-olds also whip-caressing their moms and one another.

Video: Spider Siblings

[…]

Video: Spiders' Psychedelic Courtship Dance

Images: Creepy Spiders

Original Story: Creepy: Spiders Love to Snuggle

Since this is a family blog – we may wanna have Attila pick up the story here and here… . He goes places I can’t.

Read the rest of the article here: “Spiders Love to Snuggle.”

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20070319 African orphans make special visit by KVolkmann

African orphans make special visit

Mar 19, 2007

by Kelsey Volkmann, The Examiner

Photo credit: (Kristine Buls/Baltimore Examiner) Nicky Berego, 13, of Namibia, Africa, rides Bucky next to volunteer Caroline Babylon at Petticoat’s Advance, a farm in Hampstead in Carroll County. Nicky is part of a group of orphans touring Md.

Bel Air, Md. - They watched Disney on Ice, shopped at a mall and rode escalators for the first time.

Maryland, after all, is far away from the girls’ home in Namibia, Africa the Children of Mount Zion Village, an orphanage established by Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Bel Air and still operating thanks to donations and volunteers from churches throughout the state.

“It’s a lot for them to take in,” said Sarah Dorrance, a seminary student and missionary advocate at Calvary United Methodist Church in Mount Airy, one of the orphanage’s sponsors.

But the girls appeared at ease recently while riding horses at Petticoat’s Advance, a farm in Hampstead in Carroll County.

Mary Shunk, an instructor with the 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program of Carroll County, praised the teenagers for their riding skills.

[…]

Dorrance volunteered at the orphanage last summer and plans to go back in July.

In Africa, “we played with the kids,” she said, “taught, cooked and just gave them some attention.”

kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com

Read the entire article here: African orphans make special visit

20070319 African orphans make special visit

African orphans make special visit

Mar 19, 2007 3:00 AM
by Kelsey Volkmann , The Examiner

Bel Air, Md. - They watched Disney on Ice, shopped at a mall and rode escalators for the first time.

Maryland, after all, is far away from the girls’ home in Namibia, Africa the Children of Mount Zion Village, an orphanage established by Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Bel Air and still operating thanks to donations and volunteers from churches throughout the state.

“It’s a lot for them to take in,” said Sarah Dorrance, a seminary student and missionary advocate at Calvary United Methodist Church in Mount Airy, one of the orphanage’s sponsors.

Read the rest of the article here.

Disclosure: I volunteer with the 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program of Carroll County and I kinda know the volunteer whose image appears in the photograph…

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20070222 I never drink coffee at lunch

I never drink coffee at lunch

(Well, make that I hardly ever drink coffee at lunch – I’d hate to spoil my afternoon nap…)

February 22, 2007

Whatever.

My suggestion for a caption is:

"I never drink coffee at lunch. I find it keeps me awake for the afternoon.”

If I understood it correctly, “Answers.com” attributes this quote to former President Ronal Reagan. If he didn’t say – he should’ve - - or I would’ve said it…

The picture above was e-mailed to me by Mrs. Owl. I don’t know who owns the picture – but I sure wish I had taken it.

Meanwhile, if you have another idea for a caption. Let us hear from you. And remember this is a “No Foul Language” web site.

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20061227 Say Nothing

Say Nothing

... The Fox Hunt

When you are in deep trouble, look straight ahead, keep your mouth shut, and say nothing!

December 27th, 2006

Hat Tip: Mrs. Owl

What a Hoot.

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The Sudoku Players

The Sudoku Players

December 25, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

Dayhoff Daily Photoblog

20061225 The Sudoku Players

The Smurf Family Mrs Owl

Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

20061127 The US Census Bureau breaks society down into five core generational segmentations

The US Census Bureau breaks society down into five core generational segmentations

Hat Tip: Mrs. Owl

I’ve always been fascinated with some of the communication dysfunction that occurs between men and women, different races and cultures and between generations.

Mrs. Owl was kind enough to e-mail this brief overview as to communication between generations. I enjoy speaking to young adults in the Carroll County Public Schools… and with that and in my role as an uncle, I have always liked to think that I do a fairly good job at reaching the youngest generation; however, I never-the-less worry that I need much improvement.

Anyway, I hope that you agree that the following is an informative introduction to the subject of intergenerational communication…


Listening – Generational!
By Dr. Jeffrey Magee, PDM, CSP, CMC

Executive Summary: Listening to individuals from the generational footprint they bring to the conversation can drastically change the outcome – connect with them at their level and attain success, insist upon communicating from your level solely and your guaranteed failure!

With the diverse environments you live and work today, there is something more important than just gender and race when it comes to really communicating and listening to others for success. Consider the five diverse generational segmentations (COACHING for IMPACT ©2003 by Dr. Jay Kent-Ferraro and Dr. Jeffrey Magee, www.JeffreyMagee.com/library.asp) in the work place today, and some of the similarities and more importantly the enormous difference between how each one operates and processes.

Effective leaders merely make observations, not judgments of right versus wrong or good versus bad, in reflecting upon the differing age segmentations in an organization and thus ways to better connect with each.

The United States Census Bureau breaks society down into five core generational segmentations (birth through death) and if we are to simply use these same five segmentations in the work place, we could segment individuals (yes we are making generalizations here, and there can always be an exception!) into categories with unique traits or characteristics, which could serve as guide posts of how to frame your communication exchange to solicit greater listening and awareness.

Consider the five generational segmentations and the ABCs (Attitudes, Behaviors, and Characteristics) of each for better connections:

1. Centurion (those over 55 years of age; exit point employees) – more structured, formal, conservative, dedicated, and loyal, identity is rooted in what one does, change resistant …

2. BabyBoomers (those from 38 to 55 years of age) – more status driven, materialistic driven, opinionated and ego driven, live to work …

3. Generation X (28 to 38 years of age) – entitlement expected, more outgoing and impatient, question authority and norms more, self indulgent, live for the now …

4. Generation Y (22 to 28 years of age) – More social and relationship driven, work to live, not as class conscious, highly educated, more liberal, change accepting …

5. Generation MTV (17-21 years of age; entry point employees) – looking for association causes to be dedicated to, more structured and accepting of others and situations, concerned for the future and consideration of their peers, live for the now with a reflection on the future, very tech savvy …

When listening to others, listen from the vantage point of the generational segmentation as a footprint from where they come from and you will have a greater awareness of why one says what one says and how to connect with them more effectively.

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