By MP Dunleavey
Silently, secretly, your money disappears under some hideous voodoo spell, right? No way. Take a look at some ways you're flushing your cash down the loo -- and what you can do about it.
READ THE ARTICLE:
10 ways you mindlessly waste money - MSN Money
Sunday, January 14, 2007
A simpler way to save: the 60% solution
By Richard Jenkins
How many of you have tried budgeting and think it's a waste of time? Come on, let's see those hands.
OK, that's just about everybody.
I've kept a budget of one kind or another, first on paper and then with the help of various software programs, for about 20 years -- despite a strong suspicion that I was wasting my time. The illusion of control, I argued to myself, was better than none at all.
My approach to budgeting was to carefully track my spending during the month and to adjust my budget targets up and down in each category, so that my total expenses never exceeded my income.
Useful? Sometimes.
Anal-compulsive? Probably.
READ THE ARTICLE:
A simpler way to save: the 60% solution - MSN Money
How many of you have tried budgeting and think it's a waste of time? Come on, let's see those hands.
OK, that's just about everybody.
I've kept a budget of one kind or another, first on paper and then with the help of various software programs, for about 20 years -- despite a strong suspicion that I was wasting my time. The illusion of control, I argued to myself, was better than none at all.
My approach to budgeting was to carefully track my spending during the month and to adjust my budget targets up and down in each category, so that my total expenses never exceeded my income.
Useful? Sometimes.
Anal-compulsive? Probably.
READ THE ARTICLE:
A simpler way to save: the 60% solution - MSN Money
Start with saving; the spending will follow - "The 60% Solution"
By MP Dunleavey
It's part budget and part financial philosophy, and it works like this:
* Keep your monthly committed expenses, including taxes, to about 60% of your gross income.
* Save 10% for retirement and 10% for long-term expenses, such as a down payment, new car, major home repair or other big, infrequent purchase.
* Set aside an additional 10% for smaller, irregular expenses, such as a new appliance, minor home and car repairs, or a new battery for your laptop.
* Use the 10% left over for wild, crazy parties (or anything else that strikes your fancy).
The beauty of this system, in theory, is that it covers spending AND saving. But the trouble is, everyone in the group got stressed out about the idea of trying to pare down monthly spending commitments to 60%. That's not surprising, given that some of us were, until recently, spending more than 100% of our incomes and racking up debt.
READ THE ARTICLE:
Start with saving; the spending will follow - MSN Money
It's part budget and part financial philosophy, and it works like this:
* Keep your monthly committed expenses, including taxes, to about 60% of your gross income.
* Save 10% for retirement and 10% for long-term expenses, such as a down payment, new car, major home repair or other big, infrequent purchase.
* Set aside an additional 10% for smaller, irregular expenses, such as a new appliance, minor home and car repairs, or a new battery for your laptop.
* Use the 10% left over for wild, crazy parties (or anything else that strikes your fancy).
The beauty of this system, in theory, is that it covers spending AND saving. But the trouble is, everyone in the group got stressed out about the idea of trying to pare down monthly spending commitments to 60%. That's not surprising, given that some of us were, until recently, spending more than 100% of our incomes and racking up debt.
READ THE ARTICLE:
Start with saving; the spending will follow - MSN Money
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Adrenalin Junkies! Ski-Glide the Eiger!
Get your adrenalin pumping by just watching it! There's rocks EVERYWHERE, but that's nothing compared to the massive drops over the edge of the mountain!
François Bon and Antoine Montant perform the world first speedflying descent of the mount Eiger in Swiss. See more here:
YouTube - Ski-Gliding the Eiger
François Bon and Antoine Montant perform the world first speedflying descent of the mount Eiger in Swiss. See more here:
YouTube - Ski-Gliding the Eiger
A Tale of Two Bakers
Two bakers lived in a small town. They were highly competitive, but both had many customers. This changed when one baker bought a new bread slicing machine that cut four loaves at once. He could serve people faster, so he soon got all the business in the town. The other baker was forced to close. The second baker went to the first and asked, "How were you able to get all the business in town? It seems that you got lucky all of a sudden." The first baker replied, "I'm not sure. I think it has something to do with the four-loaf cleaver I found."
Beautiful newsletters in a snap
Want to add pizzazz to holiday greetings, club newsletters or family updates? You don't have to be a desktop publishing expert to wow family and friends. I'll tell you about an easy (and free) way to create newsletters with attractive layouts and photos.
Beautiful newsletters in a snap
Beautiful newsletters in a snap
Windows Vista offers real improvements
Kim Komando
Microsoft will release the newest version of Windows called Vista next week. As always, it is pouring on the hype. Beneath the superlatives, though, there are real improvements.
Windows XP, the current operating system, is reliable and full-featured. But it has its problems. Vista improves many of those things.
Four versions of Vista are available to the public. They are Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate. Enterprise is available only through volume licensing.
I'd avoid Home Basic; it's missing essential features.
REST OF ARTICLE:
Komando.com, Website for The Kim Komando Radio Show®, Kims Columns: "Windows Vista offers real improvements"
Microsoft will release the newest version of Windows called Vista next week. As always, it is pouring on the hype. Beneath the superlatives, though, there are real improvements.
Windows XP, the current operating system, is reliable and full-featured. But it has its problems. Vista improves many of those things.
Four versions of Vista are available to the public. They are Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate. Enterprise is available only through volume licensing.
I'd avoid Home Basic; it's missing essential features.
REST OF ARTICLE:
Komando.com, Website for The Kim Komando Radio Show®, Kims Columns: "Windows Vista offers real improvements"
Ponder this for the New Year
From Veronica
1. Ever wonder about those people who spend $2.00 apiece on those little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backwards: NAIVE
2. Isn't making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool?
3. OK.... so if the Jacksonville Jaguars are known as the "Jags" and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are known as the "Bucs," what does that make the Tennessee Titans?
4. If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea...does that mean that one enjoys it?
5. There are three religious truths: (a). Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. (b) Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian faith. (c) Baptists do not recognize each other in the liquor store or at Hooters.
6. If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes?
7. If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?
8. Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with?
9 Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist but a person who drives a racecar is not called a racist?
10. Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?
11. If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?
12. If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP?
13. Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?
14. What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?
15. I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older; then it dawned on me ...they're cramming for their final exam.
16. I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks, so I wondered what do Chinese mothers use? toothpicks?
17. Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen can look for them while they deliver the mail?
18. If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?
19. You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.
21. Ever wonder what the speed of lightning would be if it didn't zigzag?
22. If a cow laughed, would milk come out of her nose?
23. Whatever happened to Preparations A through G?
24. As income tax time approaches, did you ever notice: When you put the two words "The" and "IRS" together it spells "THEIRS"?
1. Ever wonder about those people who spend $2.00 apiece on those little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backwards: NAIVE
2. Isn't making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool?
3. OK.... so if the Jacksonville Jaguars are known as the "Jags" and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are known as the "Bucs," what does that make the Tennessee Titans?
4. If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea...does that mean that one enjoys it?
5. There are three religious truths: (a). Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. (b) Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian faith. (c) Baptists do not recognize each other in the liquor store or at Hooters.
6. If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes?
7. If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?
8. Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with?
9 Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist but a person who drives a racecar is not called a racist?
10. Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?
11. If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?
12. If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP?
13. Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?
14. What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?
15. I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older; then it dawned on me ...they're cramming for their final exam.
16. I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks, so I wondered what do Chinese mothers use? toothpicks?
17. Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen can look for them while they deliver the mail?
18. If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?
19. You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.
21. Ever wonder what the speed of lightning would be if it didn't zigzag?
22. If a cow laughed, would milk come out of her nose?
23. Whatever happened to Preparations A through G?
24. As income tax time approaches, did you ever notice: When you put the two words "The" and "IRS" together it spells "THEIRS"?
Friday, January 12, 2007
WAAAAAAYYY too much free time
Passing a Tennis Racket around the Human Body
http://damncoolpics.blogspot.com/2007/01/extreme-flexibility.html
http://damncoolpics.blogspot.com/2007/01/extreme-flexibility.html
From a strictly Mathematical Viewpoint
What Equals 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been in situations where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 101%? What equals 100% in life?
Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these Questions:
If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1 9 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.
Then:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
and
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But,
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
AND, look how far the love of God will take you
L- O- V- E-O-F-G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%
Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that: While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Love of God that will put you over the top!
Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these Questions:
If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1 9 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.
Then:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
and
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But,
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
AND, look how far the love of God will take you
L- O- V- E-O-F-G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%
Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that: While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Love of God that will put you over the top!
The Fern and the Bamboo
Author: Unknown
One day, I decided to quit. I wanted to quit my job, to quit my relationships, to quit my spirituality; I even wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. “God”, I said, “Can You give me one good reason not to quit?”
His answer surprised me. “Look around”, He said, “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?”
“Yes”, I replied.
“When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.”
“In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.”
“In the third year there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.”
“In the fourth year, a gain, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. Still, I would not quit.”
“Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge they could not handle,” He said to me.
“Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you! Don’t compare yourself to others. The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come,” God said to me. “You will rise high.”
“How high should I rise?” I asked. “How high will the bamboo rise?” He asked in return.
“As high as it can?” I questioned.
“Yes”, He said, “Give Me glory by rising as high as you can. And remember...I will never leave you, nor forsake you. I will never give up on you. I will never, ever quit on you.”
Everyone has days when they want to “quit”. When there are struggles... obstacles in life, remember we’re just growing roots!! God has a purpose in mind for each one of us and we need to talk to Him and let Him help us realize that purpose. Always remember, He’ll never leave us, He’ll never forsake us, and He’ll never quit on us.
One day, I decided to quit. I wanted to quit my job, to quit my relationships, to quit my spirituality; I even wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. “God”, I said, “Can You give me one good reason not to quit?”
His answer surprised me. “Look around”, He said, “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?”
“Yes”, I replied.
“When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.”
“In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.”
“In the third year there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.”
“In the fourth year, a gain, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. Still, I would not quit.”
“Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge they could not handle,” He said to me.
“Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you! Don’t compare yourself to others. The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come,” God said to me. “You will rise high.”
“How high should I rise?” I asked. “How high will the bamboo rise?” He asked in return.
“As high as it can?” I questioned.
“Yes”, He said, “Give Me glory by rising as high as you can. And remember...I will never leave you, nor forsake you. I will never give up on you. I will never, ever quit on you.”
Everyone has days when they want to “quit”. When there are struggles... obstacles in life, remember we’re just growing roots!! God has a purpose in mind for each one of us and we need to talk to Him and let Him help us realize that purpose. Always remember, He’ll never leave us, He’ll never forsake us, and He’ll never quit on us.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Moving to New Orleans
On a flight getting ready to depart for New Orleans, Louisiana:
Jack was sitting on the plane when a guy took the seat beside him. The guy was a wreck, pale, hands shaking, moaning in fear.
"What's the matter?" Jack asked.
"I've been transferred to New Orleans, there's crazy people there. They've got lots of shootings, gangs, race riots, drugs and the highest crime rate."
Jack replied, "I've lived in New Orleans all my life. It's not as bad as the media says. Find a nice home, go to work, mind your own business, enroll your kids in a nice school and it's as safe as anywhere in the world."
The guy relaxed and stopped shaking and said, "Oh, thank you. I've been worried to death. But if you live there and say it's OK, I'll take your word for it. What do you do for a living?"
"Me?" said Jack. "I'm a tail gunner on a Budweiser truck"
Jack was sitting on the plane when a guy took the seat beside him. The guy was a wreck, pale, hands shaking, moaning in fear.
"What's the matter?" Jack asked.
"I've been transferred to New Orleans, there's crazy people there. They've got lots of shootings, gangs, race riots, drugs and the highest crime rate."
Jack replied, "I've lived in New Orleans all my life. It's not as bad as the media says. Find a nice home, go to work, mind your own business, enroll your kids in a nice school and it's as safe as anywhere in the world."
The guy relaxed and stopped shaking and said, "Oh, thank you. I've been worried to death. But if you live there and say it's OK, I'll take your word for it. What do you do for a living?"
"Me?" said Jack. "I'm a tail gunner on a Budweiser truck"
Senate Tired of Your E-mails, Phone Calls; Expected to Pass Bill that Will Keep You from Getting Needed Information
From Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association
Contact Your Two Senators Today!
Without a doubt, this could be the most important letter I have written you.
American Family Association
Contact Your Two Senators Today!
Without a doubt, this could be the most important letter I have written you.
The U.S. Senate is poised to pass Senate Bill 1 (section 220), which would effectively keep AFA and every other pro-family organization in America from providing you information on bills in Congress. Under Senate Bill 1 (Section 220), we would only be able to provide you information on a bill at a high cost and at great danger of being penalized by Congress. Click here for AFA's review of S1 (Section 220).
To put it bluntly, members of Congress are tired of getting your e-mails and phone calls, and Senate Bill 1(Section 220) is designed to keep information from you that might inspire you to call or write your senator.
The new Democratic Senate thinks that if it can keep you from getting information—which is what Senate Bill 1 (Section 220) would do—then it will not be getting e-mails and phone calls from you.
Senators favoring this bill are simply tired of hearing from you. That is the bottom line. They don’t want to hear from you. They don’t want you to be informed. They want to silence you. How? By simply keeping you from receiving information that AFA provides.
I know that language is strong, but Senate Bill 1 (Section 220) will do exactly what I’ve said.
Take Action
- Enter your zip code above or below to create and send an e-mail to your two senators today.
- Call your two senators at 202-224-3121. (Simply ask for one senator. Then call the other one at the same number. Ask your senators to vote against Senate Bill 1 (Section 220).
- Please forward this to your friends and family. It is vitally important that they know what members of the Senate are trying to do.
- Print this information, and share it with members in your Sunday School class and church and urge them to send an e-mail and call.
Thanks for caring enough to get involved. If you think our efforts are worthy, would you consider making a donation to help us continue? Click here to make your donation.
Sincerely,
Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association
Adobe releases patch for cross-site scripting flaw
January 10, 2007 (Computerworld) -- Adobe Systems Inc. has released a security update to address a cross-site scripting vulnerability in versions 7.0.8 and earlier of its Adobe Reader and Acrobat software.
The company yesterday also posted a security bulletin detailing server-side workarounds that Web site owners could use to prevent their sites from being co-opted into attacks using the vulnerability, which was disclosed last week.
The updates come less than a week after two security researchers in Italy disclosed a flaw in an Adobe Reader feature called Open Parameters that could allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript into a browser session. The discovery of the flaw caused considerable concern because of the ease with which it could be exploited and because it allowed any Web site hosting PDF files to be used to carry out an attack.
In response to those concerns, Adobe last week urged all users of its software to upgrade to Version 8 of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, both of which were unaffected by the flaw. At that time, the company also said it would release patches addressing the issue for users who wanted to continue using older versions of the two programs.
Yesterday's security update from Adobe also addressed additional vulnerabilities identified in versions 7.0.8 and earlier of Reader and Acrobat, the company said. The vulnerabilities, which have been assigned a critical severity rating by Adobe, allow for attackers to take complete control of an affected system.
"One way to prevent the Adobe Reader and Acrobat Plugins from passing JavaScript to the browser is to force PDFs to open outside of the browser and Adobe Reader or Acrobat Professional," the company said. Another way to mitigate the risk is "consider creating server-side code (ColdFusion, Java, PHP, ASP.NET, etc.) to read the file and send it back as part of the Response," the company noted.
Steps for taking both actions were detailed in the bulletin released yesterday.
The company yesterday also posted a security bulletin detailing server-side workarounds that Web site owners could use to prevent their sites from being co-opted into attacks using the vulnerability, which was disclosed last week.
The updates come less than a week after two security researchers in Italy disclosed a flaw in an Adobe Reader feature called Open Parameters that could allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript into a browser session. The discovery of the flaw caused considerable concern because of the ease with which it could be exploited and because it allowed any Web site hosting PDF files to be used to carry out an attack.
In response to those concerns, Adobe last week urged all users of its software to upgrade to Version 8 of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, both of which were unaffected by the flaw. At that time, the company also said it would release patches addressing the issue for users who wanted to continue using older versions of the two programs.
Yesterday's security update from Adobe also addressed additional vulnerabilities identified in versions 7.0.8 and earlier of Reader and Acrobat, the company said. The vulnerabilities, which have been assigned a critical severity rating by Adobe, allow for attackers to take complete control of an affected system.
"One way to prevent the Adobe Reader and Acrobat Plugins from passing JavaScript to the browser is to force PDFs to open outside of the browser and Adobe Reader or Acrobat Professional," the company said. Another way to mitigate the risk is "consider creating server-side code (ColdFusion, Java, PHP, ASP.NET, etc.) to read the file and send it back as part of the Response," the company noted.
Steps for taking both actions were detailed in the bulletin released yesterday.
AAA unveils online gas station locator
By DAN CATERINICCHIA ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON -- The automobile club AAA is encouraging motorists to log on to find gas stations along their route and avoid becoming among the more than 2.5 million people who will need emergency fuel delivery this year.
Starting Thursday, travelers who use AAA's free TripTik online mapping tool can find the nearest gas stations and best fuel prices for about 100,000 U.S. locations. Users simply slide their mouse over each location to see prices for multiple fuel grades.
The service is designed for people planning long road trips on their computer as well as commuters with an Internet-connected laptop trying to find the closest place to fill up before the gas gauge hits "E."
Data come from the Oil Price Information Service, which regularly updates prices at gas stations nationwide. The locations are updated weekly and multiple-grade fuel prices are updated four times daily, according to AAA.
AAA officials say that numerous local club affiliates had asked the national organization to expand its Web site's fuel services offerings, especially after the summer months when gasoline reached $3 per gallon and more people came to the site to use the fuel cost calculators and other tools.
- Dan Caterinicchia, AP Business Writer
WASHINGTON -- The automobile club AAA is encouraging motorists to log on to find gas stations along their route and avoid becoming among the more than 2.5 million people who will need emergency fuel delivery this year.
Starting Thursday, travelers who use AAA's free TripTik online mapping tool can find the nearest gas stations and best fuel prices for about 100,000 U.S. locations. Users simply slide their mouse over each location to see prices for multiple fuel grades.
The service is designed for people planning long road trips on their computer as well as commuters with an Internet-connected laptop trying to find the closest place to fill up before the gas gauge hits "E."
Data come from the Oil Price Information Service, which regularly updates prices at gas stations nationwide. The locations are updated weekly and multiple-grade fuel prices are updated four times daily, according to AAA.
AAA officials say that numerous local club affiliates had asked the national organization to expand its Web site's fuel services offerings, especially after the summer months when gasoline reached $3 per gallon and more people came to the site to use the fuel cost calculators and other tools.
- Dan Caterinicchia, AP Business Writer
Houston in the LA Times: "Houston is feeling energized"
"When the rest of the country is doing well, it seems like Houston is often struggling. But when the rest of the country is struggling, it seems like Houston is often doing well."
Read here
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