Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Ventrilo Harassment: Young People are annoying

Ventrilo Harassment: Young People are annoying
Hey, Daralon
I don't understand why the second kid did just mute him. Btw, Everquest II does suck. 
What is up with the racist remark?  

Leslie Nielsen passed away at 84

Leslie Nielsen passed away at 84
I still laugh at the Naked Gun series of movies. And, the movies have aged fairly well. Nielsen started out as a serious actor. From the 50s to the mid-70s, he played mostly serious roles in features. It was Airplane that boosted his popularity and that was when he made the decision to “flip the script” and turn into a comedic actor. Most people from my generation and younger mostly remember him from his comedic roles.
Everyone knows about his Naked Gun movies.
Nielsen will be missed.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Irvin Kershner RIP (April 29, 1923 – November 27, 2010)


Irvin Kershner (Director of Empire Strikes Back) died at 87
From CNN, ((Filmmaker Irvin Kershner, who directed the 1980 Star Wars sequel "The Empire Strikes Back," died Saturday in his home in Los Angeles, California, after a three-and-a-half-year battle with lung cancer. He was 87. ))
The sci-fi community lost one of its great directors on Saturday. George Lucas entrusted his franchise into the hands of this guy way back in the 80s with Empire Strikes Back. And, most non-super fans have no idea Lucas DID NOT direct the second the third films in the first trilogy.
Kershner with the late Leigh Brackett and the still living Lawrence Kasdan were the ones responsible for the added maturity in Empire Strikes Back. Where as Lucas wanted to just keep the series in its old serial roots with campy-ness, Kershner turned the series into a character/action movie with real problems. Many SW fans still consider Empire to be the best out of all the SW films.
George Lucas had this to say about the guy.  
From NY Daily News, (("The world has lost a great director and one of the most genuine people I've had the pleasure of knowing," Lucas said in a statement. "Irvin Kershner was a true gentleman in every sense of the word.  ))
Never Say Never Again: This non-continuity James Bond film is kind of looked down upon.  But, it is interesting that they went a totally different route for Mr. Bond. 
RoboCop 2:  I think fans of the first movie often frown upon this movie, but I think he gets a bad rap.  And, Frank Miller’s original script is that much better.  
Kershner, you will be missed.  

Edge of Darkness


Edge of Darkness
We get to see Mel Gibson run around behaving badly, punching people and yelling in this movie…just like in real life.  Except, in this movie he has a reason to act like an asshole, because someone brutally murdered his daughter right in front of him.  His character, a police detective, goes after the answers behind his daughter’s murder.  And, we don’t have to hear minutes of him breathing heavily on the phone. 
Edge of Darkness is a brutally violent and dark film that will make you uncomfortable with of the death scenes.  EOD is a remake of a British miniseries from the 80s.  Martin Campbell directed both the miniseries and the American remake.  Campbell’s directing is sharp and his editing is fairly quick for a conspiracy driven movie. 
Spoiler:  It should be noted that many of the people that reveal secrets to Gibson’s character end up in bad places.  One person has something really awful happen to them other than death.  No one comes out unscathed and I mean no one. 
Mel Gibson is in top form here as a distraught father that just witnessed his daughter shot-gunned down right in front of him.  Yet, there is a warmth sensibility to his character whenever we see him talking to his daughter at the beginning or another other young person.  It is real shame the real Mel Gibson isn’t more like some of the early attributes we see in the movie. 
I also enjoyed the score by Howard Shore, which is interesting because he had to write a replacement score after re-shoots, because the producers dropped the original composer.
If I had one negative thing to say about the movie is that it tries to be a little too preachy with some of its moral messages.  You’ll start to say, “We get it; big companies are evil.”  But, the message doesn’t hit you over the head.  And, these people are truly bad people. 
Edge of Darkness is a dark and gritty drama that has some good moments throughout with a compelling Gibson performance.  There are a few minor problems with the script, but don’t let that stop you from watching the movie.
Grade:  B+

 “Oh, honey, it’s that crazy actor from those Lethal Weapon movies at the door.”

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Four Loko: Way too extreme!


Four Loko:  Way too extreme!
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The alcohol energy drink Four Loko is often discussed in the news as a menace to society.  People in the media are acting like this whole energy drink alcohol mixture is a new thing.  People have been mixing Red Bull with alcohol for years. 
I guess this Four Loko is more like suicide in a can, which is fine for me because I don’t drink alcohol.  Perhaps, people desire death in a can. 
There seems to be a running count of the states that have or are going to ban the drink with a map here.  While I don’t think the drink is good for you, I don’t believe it is right for the government to bring the ban hammer down on the damn thing.  Some people aren’t capable of handling such an “extreme” drink, and should know that.  Now, the makers of this Extreme drink will remove the caffeine portion from their formula.  So, will it be called Three Loko? 
I personally don’t know why anyone would want to stay up after getting shit-faced drunk anyway.  Do you really want to remember spending the night with that drunken emo-chick at the party? Part of the charm or curse of alcohol is that it makes you fall asleep and forget.  Four Loko would make you remember every sloppy moment of that event.  Enjoy…


I would make a sexual comment right here, but I won't.  The picture speaks for itself. 

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Mark Wahlberg is Nathan Drake (And the other shoe dropped)

This is your hero for Uncharted the movie, enjoy. 
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Uncharted movie receives it main star…Marky Mark Wahlberg…
From MSNBC, ((The actor and star of movies like "The Departed," "Boogie Nights" and "Date Night" confirmed to MTV Multiplayer that he will be starring in a forthcoming movie based on the "Uncharted" games for the PS3. He will play Drake, the swashbuckling treasure hunter from both "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" and "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves." ))
Any hope of this movie based on the popular videogame series just went out the window with the clock and the baby with the bathwater. Attaching the former underwear model/rapper to this upcoming movie will certainly help doom the project, simply because Mark (good vibrations) Wahlberg has a problem with acting.
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune will be the name of the 2013 movie, but it should be renamed Max Payne II: Going Uncharted. Did anyone in the production see Max Payne or The Happening?  When he’s not ruining Hip-hop songs, he’s turning okay movies into crap movies. 
A lot of people, myself included, wanted the character of Nathan Drake to be played by Nathan Fillion.  There was strong support for Fillion to play the role because he is a dead giveaway for the wisecracking adventurer. And, I just don't know why they would pick Marky-Mark instead.
No word if Marky’s Funky-Bunch will make an appearance. 
From those that don’t know, this is how the game looks. 

Black Friday: Stampede at Target Store (this is the Christmas Spirit?)

Black Friday: Stampede at Target Store (this is the Christmas Spirit?)
Black Friday is dumb, and this is why.  I know parents want to get that popular toy that children want and will discard in 4 months, but is waiting outside for five hours in a cold parking lot really worth it?  How about the sheer insane violence that happens once the doors open, is that worth it? 
You have to love the people that still make a dash for the “savings” after they clear the doors of the injured.  You will never see me stand in line for anything related to Black Friday or any of those videogame releases.  We as a society have all become obsessed fanboys.  People call in sick to work to buy and play the latest Medal of Honor game or the next installment of the Call of Duty series first.  People push and shove people aside so they can separate the hard earn money from their hands on something they really don’t need.  This type of behavior was only seen in the geek subculture.  Now, everyone behaves in such a manner, and it sickens me. 
Part of the blame has to go to the department stores creating this buzz and event into what it is today. “If you don’t campout for Black Friday, you’re a loser.  And, you sink.”  The other side of it are the people that feel compelled to “get there first” at all cost.  They should consider not falling for the Black Friday trap, and simply wait a few days.
So, what about some of the injured? 
From CNN, ((Keith Krantz told WIVB that he was pinned against a metal door support and was shoved to the ground. Shoppers went over him until staff pulled him to safety. "At that moment I was thinking I don't want to die here on the ground," he said. ))
Yeah, I would want that to be my last view of the world, people stepping on me and over me to get to the flat-screen HD TVs and Nintendo Wii systems. People can't say I was doing what I loved as I got crushed.
Enjoy that Wii or TV while staying in the hospital.  



Could have used a V8? 
Note: This was one of the guys that ended up at the bottom of the human cornucopia.  He also got right back up and went on shopping.  (WTF?)

It’s Complicated



 It’s Complicated
Well, yeah it is kind of complicated. This rom-com is basically an older version of all those teenage comedies about romance and awkward situations. It is neither bad nor that great, but is certainly better than many of the other bland romantic comedies that plagued the box office this year.
The movie is about two divorced people that were formerly married having an affair behind their loved ones and family members’ backs. All heck breaks loose when they try to cover it up.
Meryl Streep is actually very good as the woman who falls back into the arms of a remarried Alec Baldwin. Baldwin’s character is remarried to a young woman with a child. Baldwin actually is a step away from the characters he’s been playing for the last seven years, so that is kind of refreshing. However, there is one thing I could have lived without...
Seeing Baldwin nude and shirtless throughout the entire movie. We get numerous shots of Baldwin shirtless or nude throughout the movie that it makes me kind of sick. Look, I’m not a good-looking guy, so you won’t see me walking around shirtless unless I have to. We also get a shot of Baldwin's bare ass for good measure. I just think the joke of Baldwin being out of shape just wears a bit too thin.
Another joke that wears itself out is the whole joke about Streep getting high off of weed. Steve Martin gets high as well. The joke just runs too long for its own good. Old people like weed, and we get it.
Writer/Director Nancy Meyers doesn’t really do that much to make the movie stand out from the rest of the Rom-Com movies, but she does know how to make Meryl Streep look breathtaking. Streep hasn’t looked this pretty in years.
There are times when the movie does lose its way and aimless jumps from one scene to another without much story progression. And, that might turn some people off. The movie becomes boring toward the last 20 minutes.
The movie is lighthearted and not really deep or meaningful, and it doesn’t want to be. I’m fine with that because I am a popcorn movie kind of guy, but I just wish the movie tried to be bit more funny and focused. The movie merely comes across as a missed opportunity to for a better movie.
Grade: C-

 Meryl:  “Did we really need to watch The Shadow five times?”
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Random Thoughts


Random Thoughts
~Date a Bank Teller? There is a rather cute female bank teller at one of the local banks I go to every Friday. I always talk to her and thought about asking her out. (Without the Boyfriend Card being played from the bottom of the deck), however there is a problem with that notion. She knows exactly how much money I have in my bank account. That is a dangerous thing. I talked to her today for a while and that popped in my head.
~Grand Theft Booty Workout: Wow this woman has an amazing body and she is cute too. This could be my future wife. Her name is Charlie James. Keep in mind that Miss James is not the same woman that you will find in the Google Searches. That woman is a pornstar, this Charlie James is not.
~Willie Nelson has been caught with 6 ounces of marijuana by the US Border Patrol. Nelson has probably smoked more weed than most people in the most of the US combined. At this point, Nelson should be grandfathered into the law. (Everyone can be arrested for pot except for Willie Nelson). Why are we even wasting time with these foolish marijuana arrests when there is a major drug war going on near the Mexican border?
~Watching the Larry the Cable Guy Roast: Holy crap, this is probably the funniest thing he's ever been in. I am not a fan of this guy, but everybody making fun of him is funny. I still hate Larry the Cable Guy.   

Friday, November 26, 2010

DuckTales Theme!


DuckTales Theme!
This is full version of the song. Most people had no idea the song ran over 3 minutes long. Mark Mueller wrote the theme song and Jeff Pescetto actually sung the song. Here's an interview with Pescetto talking about exactly how he got the gig for singing the popular theme song.
They start talking about Ducktales at the 6:16 mark.
videogame version

Congo movie score (Spirit of Africa) and Ghost and the Darknes

Congo movie score (Spirit of Africa)
Jerry Goldsmith was known for scoring music to awful movies and actually elevating the stupid movie to another level. This is favorite track from the Congo score. It brings back some of the Africa themes that Goldsmith introduced throughout the film.
By the way, the Africa voice you hear in song doing the call and response is Lebo M. He was famous for helping Han Zimmer in writing the Lion King score and Tears of the Sun. Lebo M has an interesting voice that adds to the richness of the song.
Ghost and the Darkness came out around the same time and Goldsmith did the score to that African themed movie as well. It has a similar sound to Congo. However, I like both scores.
Listen to the 2:50 mark to find the similarities.
Bonus video Congo “Bail Out”

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Sarah Palin strikes back at Barbara Bush



I'm usually not a political blogger, but this story caught my attention.
Yes, Palin thought it was necessary to strike back at a little snipping comment that Barbara Bush made about her. Barbara kind of hopes Palin would stay in Alaska. So, Palin decided to mildly attack the former First Lady. Instead of letting it go and ignoring it, Palin goes after an 85 year old woman. That sounds honorable.
I've always liked Barbara because she's been outspoken about issues and usually makes slightly unpolitical statements. It would be interesting to find out why Barbara doesn't like Palin.
So, what was Palin's comeback to Barbara's insult?
From Politics Daily, (("I don't think the majority of Americans want to put up with the blue-bloods," Palin -- who is considering a run for president in 2012 – said. "With all due respect, because I love the Bushes, the blue-bloods who want to pick and choose their winners instead of allowing competition." ))
Palin is trying to form a wedge between the old school Republicans and the new school Tea Party guys. I just don't think she should represent that group. Truth be told, Barbara Bush or George Bush haven't been relevant since they left office. Why waste time even bothering to forming a counterattack? It almost seems as petty as that time she marked out a McCain hat and then made sure people knew about it.
I just hope someone else wins the nomination. I'd love to see some of these more seasoned Republicans rip her apart.
End of Line...
Side note, make sure to check out these amazing parody pictures from Zina Saunders' web site for more great pictures. I really love the way she draws Palin. She's has some wonderful drawing skills.  

Yes, Zina actually made Palin Bazooka from GI Joe.  She made Palin look just like the character from toy package drawing.  

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

My favorite hate comments...Part One

My favorite hate comments...Part One
While I don't get a lot of comments on my blog, I do receive a lot readers from Google, mostly from people looking for naked pictures and looking for Sarah Palin quotes.  But, what I do lack in number of comments, I get back ten fold in just hate comments from people that dislike what I have to say on a subject or person.  I always find it amusing that people are willing to take time to leave comments on a blog that isn't that good or well written to begin with.  Every time I receive one of these comments, I get a huge kick out them. 
Here are a few of my favorite ones below. 
1.  Comment by  AndrAIaSprite :  ((I'm disgusted by self-appointed critics like you, who think only the Hollywood machine can make a satisfying movie. The Squeakquel, like everything featuring the Chipmunks, is powered by the Bagdasarian family's love for their late patriarch (played by Jason Lee in these most recent movies). If you prefer corporate marketing-driven films like Disney's crass attempt to expand its Princess brand, well then I guess that's your taste -- but I don't have to swallow it.)) 
First, I wrote a post complaining about sheer suckage of the Alvin and Chipmunks “Squeakquel”.  I rather like having the title of “self-appointed critic” that she bestowed upon me in her hate filled rant.  I also like that she gave me a lecture about the deep meaning of three damn pop music sing chipmunks.   It should be noted that she came looking for Chipmunk comments through the Google search. 

2.  Comment by Anonymous:  ((Semag - semaj whatever that is for a name(foreigner). If u didn't like it go home. ))
This one came about when I wrote a rather mean review on the Love Guru.  I tracked where the comment came from and it originated from LA California.  I'm really under the impression that it was actually Mike Myers that left the comment above, because he's very sensitive to criticism.  That is one of the reason he disappeared from live action movies for a few years because of the sharp criticism he received on Cat in the Hat.    But, would a Canadian comedian call me a “foreigner” and tell me to go home?  Now, granted he probably thought I was Middle Eastern because of the screen name.  I still hold firm that the comment from left by Mike Myers.  Who else would defend The Love Guru so much?   MC thinks it was probably someone else that worked on the movie. 
3.  Two comments by Anons:  ((I don't know where you got your information about becca, but you are incorrect about so much of the story. I was her roommate and if you don't knwo what your talking about, you really should have a blog about it. This story doesn't need to be in the news, this story needs to go away. she is a wonderful girl and doesn;t deserve any of this! ))
Anyone that's read my blog for a long time knows about my run-ins with a certain Cheerleader post.  It is the post that pretty much put me on the map as far as Google searches go and I discovered just how popular Digg was back in the day.  Now, the comment above was from one of her friends and she took displeasure to my bashing of the young lady for taking off her clothes and having sex, while taking pictures of it.  I'm the one that receives the blame for it. 
This one below is even better. 
((Jeez... Not one scrap of tangible fact. Not one reliable or known news source covered this "story." This is an urban legend...aka complete bunkum. ))
This one is even better because he thinks the whole thing was made up.  It wasn’t
Anyway, I’ll have a second post about some other hate comments that I found amusing. 

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Axl Rose sues Activision over Guitar Hero.

From Reuters, ((The Guns N' Roses frontman has just filed a $20 million lawsuit against "Guitar Hero" maker Activision claiming its use of the GNR song "Welcome to the Jungle" violated a deal not to include any imagery of ex-guitarist Saul Hudson (aka Slash) in the popular game. ))
First off, Axl doesn't deserve 20 million for anything these days since he's been milking off the Guns and Roses' (GNR) lifeforce for ages now. Second, what is this deep hate for former band-mate Slash? I know that the entire band helped create what GNR was back then. Does Axl want to rewrite history?
From Reuters, ((In an amusing lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, Rose and his Black Frog Music claim Activision Blizzard fraudulently induced Rose into authorizing "Jungle" for use in "Guitar Hero III" by telling him during negotiations that it wouldn't feature any reference to the former GNR member or his subsequent band Velvet Revolver.
" began spinning a web of lies and deception to conceal its true intentions to not only feature Slash and VR prominently in 'GH III,' but also promote the game by emphasizing and reinforcing an association between Slash and Guns N Roses and the band's song 'Welcome to the Jungle,'" the complaint states.))
Axl, I hate to break this to you but no one cares about the current members of Guns and Roses. People want to see the old band playing “Welcome to the Jungle” on GH3, not a washed up band leader with imposters playing the music that made the band great years ago. Axl, it is time to get over yourself.
Oh, and then it gets better. Axl hated that Velvet Revolver songs are being featured in the game too. I don't understand why Axl feels threatened by the former members his band. It's been a long time since the original members of GNR broke away from Axl, so it's time to get over it.
I think at this point, Axl knows that he's not going to make much money from his new GNR group, so he's going to sue Activision for 20 million to cash in.
Let me be the first to say, "F' you, Axl." 
Bill Gates, you're lame.  Please stop.

Monday, November 22, 2010

“4 Strength 4 Stam Leather Belt”


“4 Strength 4 Stam Leather Belt”
This is probably one of my favorite Ventrillo Harassment video.  The amount of nerd rage and pure strangeness of the sound effects coming for this kid was enough to make me laugh.  Why would someone get so excited over a 4 Strength 4 Stam forest leather belt…level 18?  Then I looked at the full stats of the belt and it is pretty sweet.  I wished they had these in real life. 
Anyway, the clip from above got so famous that there is a Know Your Meme page of the 4 Str 4 Stam belt guy.  The WOW player is called Joe and the best part is when he gets upset with the constant harassment.  I have to wonder how Joe feels about his Internet fame? 
There have been parodies and remixes from the video source. 
Follow up video

Top Five Comedians that are Currently Unfunny

Top Five Comedians that are Currently Unfunny
While listening to some podcasts, this very list popped in my head after a discussion I had a few months ago on a fellow blogger’s blog.  This list formed out of that discussion.  
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5.  Janeane Garofalo:  She was never fully my type of comedian to watch, but I found her pop culture filled standup routines from the 90s very entertaining.  She was laid back and very funny with her ironic humor.  If you don’t believe me, take a look at this clip of her standup.  At some point in the 2000s, she grew bitter and unfunny.  Everything became a political statement with her followed by a frown.  She became a female version of Sean Penn.  I’m all for people standing up for their political views, but all credibility is thrown out when you side with a Scientology front group on your on radio show. 
Garofalo kept mentioning the Detoxification Project on the show and her co-host took her to task about it. You can't complain about losing our freedoms to the US government when you side with an organization that uses “fair game” tactics to shut up its critics. Garofalo needs to get back to doing those quirky standup routines from the 90s in order to be funny again.
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 4.  Margaret Cho:  I like Cho because she touched upon race issues through her standup routines and made it entertaining.  I kind of gave her a pass when she spouted some political views, but MC brought up an interesting point about her bitterness over being screwed over while filming All American Girl. As MC mentioned in his post, 16 years is enough time to get over getting f’ed over by the network and we don't need to hear the same damn story over and over again, Margaret.

Then, there's the whole showing up on Dancing with the Stars show. When you share the stage with talentless and tired hacks like David Hasselhoff and Bristol Palin, you have to look yourself in the mirror consider a course correct in your career...or the fact Bristol beat you out of the show. 
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3.  Jim Carrey:  Jim (James) Carrey starred in some interesting and funny roles after leaving In Living Color early in his movie career.  Ace Ventura: Pet Detective still kind of holds up and The Mask is strangely funny even today.  The Cable Guy I contend is still some of his best work to date, and The Cable Guy an underrated movie.  It was around 2000s when things started to come off the rails so to speak.  Bruce Almighty was unfunny and The Majestic was boring.  The Number 23 was confusing and just plain dumb.  Fun with Dick and Jane was just horrid to watch.  Yes Man was a poor carbon copy of Liar Liar.  I not sure what Carrey needs to do to get back to doing interesting and funny roles again, but his career has taken a nosedive of late. 
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 2.  Adam Sandler:  Nearly every movie he’s produced has had the same formula since The Waterboy, and I liked Waterboy.  After watching the last 30 minutes of You Don't Mess with the Zohan, I realized he just phoning it in now and playing to his hardcore audience.  Zohan has to have one of the worst endings I’ve ever seen.  Two of the main characters scream and sing loudly to defeat the bad guys.  I almost thought I dreamed up that ending.  Zohan just made me angry.  There are some good movies in his list, but Zohan and Little Nicky take the cake for me. 
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 1.  Dennis Miller:  Talk about going from 100 to 0.   I grew up watching Miller do the news on SNL.  Every Monday at school, my friends and I would quote Miller’s best lines from the Saturday episode.  (Which is probably why we didn’t have much luck with the girls…moving on)  I moved onto his wonderfully sharp HBO show The Dennis Miller Show.  His comedic timing and writing was even better on HBO and I loved it.  Part of Miller’s charm was he was a moderate and picked on everyone.   Being a strong moderate myself, I identified with his humor. 
Sometime after 9/11, he took a sharp turn to the right and pretty much dropped all the humor from his act.  The Dennis Miller of today is boring and bland.  He became the very thing his younger self hated…a talking mouthpiece for one side of the aisle.  I’d love to go back in time and tell the bright-eyed SNL young Miller how he changed to a bearded fat head that’s not funny anymore. 


Sunday, November 21, 2010

Back to the Future: Enchantment Under the Sea Dance (Reenactment)


Damn, that was sweet.  They actually got Harry Waters Jr. from the movie to reprise his role as the lead singer from the first movie.  Side Note:  They actually brought back Waters for Back to the Future Part II to do extra shots with Enchantment Under the Sea scenes. 
Make sure to check out the Jonny B Good MJF version with the actor that’s playing him in the upcoming videogame.  His name is AJ LoCascio and he’s doing the voice of Marty. 
Here is AJ’s Demo reel
Yeah, he also does the voice of Ewan McGregor.  I’m guessing Lucasfilm will probably want to talk to him now. 
By the way, the game is set six months after the last movie.  So, it should be interesting to see where they take this.  I’m onboard because the Ghostbusters videogame was well received. 
Now, can we get Lea Thompson and Elisabeth Shue in the game? 
Dr. Emmett Brown: If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits eighty-eight miles per hour... you're gonna see some serious shit.

 
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