Monthly Archives: November 2008

The Prop. 8 Blacklist!

Posted on November 30, 2008 by | 9 Comments

So Prop 8 Ragers have published a blacklist (Can I go ahead and pull the race card here? RAAAACIST!) of all the companies that supported Prop 8. The LA Times released a searchable database of Prop 8 Donors. You can search for businesses there and determine who gave, which position they took and how much they gave.

So much for privacy.

Does anyone else see the irony in liberals unabashedly “blacklisting” businesses because of their “personal beliefs”? It’s insanity. You can look up supporters and opponents in your area. I encourage you to look up those who SUPPORTED it and give them some love in light of all the hate that has been spewed their way.

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Posted in Equality, Liberals, Politics, Rage

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We Wish You A Happy Holiday…

Posted on November 30, 2008 by | 14 Comments

So I am in charge of the company Christmas party this year. After booking the location and working out the logistics, I sat down to design the invitations. I started writing up the invitation and the first thing I did was message my boss and ask if I could call the event a Christmas party.

After I’d asked the question, I thought more about it, and realized how irritated I was that I had to ask. I work for a small company, and we are all Christians. We have Bible verses stuck all over the office equipment. My boss is my worship pastor. Unfortunately, this is how my brain has started to function, as a product of the US public school system, and society as a whole. When did I start asking if it was okay to celebrate Christmas?

Maybe when I was a choir kid and had to call the concerts “holiday concerts”. Maybe when they made us sing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer instead of Silent Night, or Jingle Bells instead of Away In A Manger. Or when my dear friend’s 5 year old son commented that we couldn’t sing “We wish you a Merry Christmas”, because one of his teachers didn’t celebrate Christmas. They sang “We Wish You A Happy Holiday” instead.

I, for one, am offended that MY reason for celebrating Christmas gets swept under the rug. I’m not offended by menorahs or dreidels. Our Muslim friend Omar observes Ramadan – we had him over for dinner after sundown several times to break his fast. It’s called common courtesy. Happy Hanukkah in no way offends or demeans me or my faith – in fact, I welcome it. However, without Christ, what reason is there to celebrate Christmas?

This campaign in the DC area infuriated me.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — You better watch out. There is a new combatant in the Christmas wars.

Ads proclaiming, “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake,” will appear on Washington, D.C., buses starting next week and running through December. The American Humanist Association unveiled the provocative $40,000 holiday ad campaign Tuesday.

Christians have been accused of discrimination and bigotry for so long that we’re just expected to take a back seat. We no longer have a recognized voice. And this isn’t even just Christians: a full 92% of the US population believes in God – and an overwhelming 96% celebrate Christmas. Why then, I ask, should 96% of the population be silenced, while the other 4% spend $40,000 telling the rest of the country not to believe? Are there not better ways to spend that $40,000? Apparently poor spending habits aren’t limited to our government.

I refuse to say happy holidays. I’m celebrating Christmas this year. If I am speaking to a Jew, I will be glad to wish them Happy Haunkkah, etc. However, the idea that we can avoid hurting the feelings of minorities by diluting our own beliefs is obnoxious. So please, wish me a Merry Christmas this year. I will return the favor.

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Posted in Equality, Jesus, Politics

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Just To Restore Your Faith In Humanity…

Posted on November 28, 2008 by | 2 Comments

A kid in Seattle did what most 17 year olds would never have dreamed of doing.

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. —

A 17-year-old grocery bagger was ready to wash his hands in the bathroom at the Federal Way supermarket where he works when he saw a brown canvas money bag on the floor.

Moisei Baraniuc was curious. He opened it and saw envelopes filled with money – “a pretty thick stack.”

Thick enough to add up to $10,000.

Stuffed with 50- and 100-dollar bills, the bag contained the life savings of a Vancouver, Wash., man who accidentally left it in the men’s bathroom at Top Food & Drug on Nov. 13.

Now, who would leave their life savings on the floor of a grocery store, I don’t know, but this is a 17 year old kid. His familiy immigrated from Ukraine just 5 years ago with only $300 to their name. He’s working 15 hours a week at minimum wage after school to pay for gas and… well, what else can you afford on that?

Kudos, kid. You’re what America should be.

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Posted in Politics, Spirit Lifter

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Re: Mumbai

Posted on November 28, 2008 by | 1 Comment

I’m not going to lie, this has been a hard one for me to follow, but I feel like we all need to be aware of what’s going on, and I want to be able to offer all the prayer and love that I can to the victims, and India as a whole. I’m going to offer a very brief timeline of events, and links to some sites that are giving great coverage:

WEDNESDAY:

  • Islamic gunmen attack Mumbai in at least seven places shortly after 10.30 p.m. Around two dozen militants armed with automatic rifles and grenades attack targets including luxury hotels — the Taj Mahal and the Trident Oberoi — hospitals, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station and the popular Leopold cafe.
  • Gunmen remain holed up in the hotels and at Chabad House. Many are reported killed and the army begins moving into the Trident Oberoi hotel. Said to have arrived in rubber dinghy.
  • The chief of the police anti-terrorist squad in Mumbai is killed in the attack.

THURSDAY:

  • Commandos fight room-to-room battles in the two hotels to rescue people trapped by the gunmen. Explosions rattle the Taj hotel where some hostages are rescued.
  • Prime Minister Manmohan Singh blames militant groups based in India’s neighbours, usually meaning Pakistan. Pakistan condemns the attacks and promises full cooperation in fighting terrorism.

FRIDAY:

  • India points a finger at Pakistani-linked “elements” for the attacks in Mumbai.
  • At the Trident Oberoi Hotel, commandos kill two militants and free 143 guests. Five hostages inside the besieged Jewish centre are soon found dead, as well as at least 12 foreigners: three Germans, two Americans, one Australian, a Briton, Canadian, two French, an Italian and a Japanese national.
  • Pakistan says the two countries face a common enemy. Urging India not to play politics, it agrees to send its spy chief to share intelligence on the suicide attack

Right now, the numbers are 124 people are killed and 284 wounded. I think this hits home with Americans because we know how 9-11 felt. We know how it feels to be attacked on your own soil. And as a nation, we are nothing if not compassionate.

Here’s President-Elect Obama’s Statement:

“These terrorists who targeted innocent civilians will not defeat India’s great democracy, nor shake the will of a global coalition to defeat them,” Obama said in a statement. “The United States must stand with India and all nations and people who are committed to destroying terrorist networks, and defeating their hate-filled ideology.”

Some other up to date (as of the time I write this) articles from around the world:

Mumbai Stand-Off Down To One Hotel

Bush ‘Saddened” By Mumbai Attacks, Vows To Fight Extremists

Mumbai Hotel Seiege Continues

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Posted in Foreign Affairs, Politics

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One Of My Finest Moments…

Posted on November 28, 2008 by | 7 Comments

I don’t have much in me today in the way of in depth articles. I’m going to recycle a classic post from my personal blog… just for laughs. Enjoy.

***

I made the drive from Nashville to Raleigh for the 13725412th time. I rented a car, because as you all know, my vehicle struggles to make it, like, out of the parking space in the morning. So after a slight struggle at the car rental place, I get on the road an hour later than intended. I get a little east of Nashville and stop to gas up.

I open the little superman blue door of the Chevy Cobalt, and my dog springs out from behind my seat and starts running his fool little head off in circles through the gas station parking lot. I am particularly well dressed in my super baggy sweats and a wife beater, and have no choice but to leap out of the car and begin to chase him. Barefoot. After his brush with death, I picked his little butt up and threw him into the back seat, slamming the door quickly. He’s such a jerk.

So after our ridiculous display, I begin the gassing up process. I start it up, and head into the building for some liquid refreshment and a bathroom break. (Yes, I put on my shoes. You’re gross.) In that time span, my mother calls. I am describing the scene I made with my idiot dog, and I hop in the car and pull out of the gas station.

I vaguely recall some people honking… I assumed they were honking at someone else… why would they be honking at ME? So I hop on the interstate and go about my business. I make it roughly 40 miles, before a car pulls up beside me and honks repeatedly and flashes their lights, waving two sets of arms out the window. This time I notice. I see them pointing in the general direction of my gas cap, and was like, oh, I must have left my gas cap off. Let me stop and close it. I make a graceful exit to the side of the highway, and a semi exits the highway along with me. I walk around the side of my car, and there is the nozzle for the gas pump, still attached to five feet of hose and a large metal connecting piece that had been trailing behind me leaving sparks for the past half an hour. I stare in disbelief for a moment while the driver of the rig approached me. He’d been trying to get my attention for the entire time, and was checking to make sure I was okay. I assured him that I was fine, just pretty severely deficient in the brains department. He left.

After the initial “I am the most retarded person in the world, what do I do now?” thoughts, I managed to regain a clear thought process: Call the highway patrol. The conversation went something like this:

Me: “Hi. I got gas roughly half an hour ago, and forgot to take the pump out of my car.”
Dispatcher: “Yes, we have had about 29 calls about you.”
Me: “Oh yeah? Well, what do I do?”
Dispatcher: “Pull over and wait for an officer. We’ll send someone to meet you.”
Me: “Okay. Just anywhere?”
Dispatcher: “Yes ma’am. Which exit are you at?”
Me: “Exit 280.”
Dispatcher: “Pull off there and wait.”
Me: “Like, on the off ramp?”
Dispatcher: “Yes ma’am.”
Me: “Really?”
Dispatcher: “Yes ma’am.”
Me: “Fine. Thanks.”

A couple minutes later, a cop pulls up behind me. I open my door. Dog makes a run for it. This time, I catch him mid-jump and toss him up onto my hip, holding him like a small child. Barefoot again. In sweats so large I could fit three of me in them. On the off ramp. At 9pm. Because I stole part of a gas pump. I wait for him to approach me.

Cute cop: “Evenin’”
Me: “Um, hi.”
Cute cop: “So you still got the hose?”
Me: “Yessir, I do.” I pop the trunk, where the hose lay coiled. We stared at it for a minute. I think it’s a safe bet that he’d never driven off with a gas pump attached to his car.
Cute cop: “Well, I reckon they want their nozzle back.”
Me: “Right now?”
Cute cop: “Well yes ma’am. I think that would be the right thing to do.”
Me: “Yessir. I don’t know where I took it from.”
Cute cop: “Do you have a receipt?”
Me: “No sir.” I still had the freakin’ pump attached to my car. I most definitely did not acquire a receipt in that transaction.
Cute cop: “Do you remember the exit?”
Me: “No sir.”
Cute cop: “Town?”
Me: “No sir.”
Cute cop: “Anything?”
Me: “Um well I think it was east of Mt. Juliet. And I smelled BBQ.”
Cute cop: “That’s (so-and-so’s). Watertown, exit 238.”
Me: “Okay. So what happens?”
Cute cop: “Well, I reckon they’ll just be glad that you’re not hurt and they got their pump back. There’s not too much damage to the nozzle. No harm no foul, right?”
Me: (blank stare)
Cute cop: “Well, they’ll be waitin’ for you.”

I returned the nozzle. To the gas station where I’d already run around barefoot in my pajamas after a very fast orange dog then driven off still attached to their gas pump. They didn’t want any money. There was no damage to the rental car. Just my ego.

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Posted in Politics, Spirit Lifter

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Time to be thankful

Posted on November 28, 2008 by | 4 Comments

**Tabitha’s Note**

This was a guest author – just wanted to clarify that I didn’t write this. Credit for this beautiful post goes to Rob at Leaning Right.

*******

As we celebrate the day when we do not feel guilty for overeating or loafing, we must also take time out to think about for what we are thankful. In recent years, Thanksgiving has been tarnished by those who spread lies about the first Thanksgiving (Indians cooked for all the white people, then the white people slaughtered them, etc.), people have become less and less apt to celebrate it. So today, I ask you all to take a break from the news. Take a break from your sweet potato pie and NFL football (how bout them Titans?). We live in the finest country on earth and there is no legitimate argument to not reflect on how lucky we are.

My list of thanks:

1) Lance Corporal James Daniel Hirlston, US Marine Corps, Rockvale, Tennessee. Died August 23, 2006, Anbar Province, Iraq.

James (or JD as we called him growing up) was one of my best friends as a child. In 3rd grade we did a science project on Mars. That summer, he stayed at my house for 9 weeks as his parents were out of town on a second honeymoon. He was one of the kindest, gentlest person I ever knew. We lost touch after 8th grade when we went to different schools, but I learned that he had dropped out of High School only to start back to get his diploma. After graduation, He wanted nothing more than to serve his country through the US Marine Corps. The newspapers never said exactly what killed him; only that he died conducting combat operations in Iraq. JD is a great American who died serving his country that he loved so well. His sense of patriotism is greater than any I will ever know. I am thankful for him.

2. 1st Lt. Frank Walkup, United States Army, Woodbury, TN. Died June 16, 2007, Kirkuk, Iraq.

I met Frank when I joined the JROTC unit at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, TN as a Freshman. Frank was the Batalion XO and the CO of the Drill Team. He immediatly took me as a friend and gave me the knickname “Scrub.” Frank was a natural leader who loved all people and never had anything mean to say about a single person. One day during PT, I was falling behind. Frank fell back and talked to me. “Scrub,” he said. “You cant let these guys beat you.” I told him I was just tired and out of shape and that I couldnt do it. “Look man,” he told me. “I’m a fatass and I smoke. I can still beat these guys and I know you can too. You know why? Cause I hate losing. I will die before I let someone else beat me. Now I know you can do it. Just step it up. The pain is good.” Frank was a motivator. After he graduated he enterred ROTC at UT-Knoxville and then entered the Army upon graduation as a Leuitenant. he was killed by an IED while serving his country in Iraq. I am thankful for Frank.

3. Sgt. Lee Krabel, US Army; Lt. Daniel Knick, US Army; Sgt. Eddie Bozeman, US Marine Corps; Sgt. Bradley O’brien, US Marine Corps; SPC. Shawn Napier, US Army; PFC. William Groce, US Army; Sgt. Josh Baker, US Marine Corps; Nickole Heater, US Air Force;

All of the above are people close friends of mine who have served their country in Uniform. Most of them are combat veterans of Iraq and/or Afghanistan. They have all risked their lives for our nation; for our freedom. I cannot begin to list all of the great things they have done and how they have effected my life. A simple thank you can in no way suffice.

4. All men and women listed here.

The Iraq War Heroes website is dedicated to the memory of all people who have fought and died for their nation during the War on Terror.

5. President George W. Bush.

President Bush has been criticized by most but has managed to stay on his feet. He has done everything in his power to protect our country and our liberty during the last 8 years. He is MY president and I am eternally grateful for all he has offered, even the many things on which I have disagreed with him.

6. President-elect Barack Obama

Mr. Obama, through many ways, renewed faith in the American government in many voters. I did not vote for him and I plan to fight many of his policies. However, he will be MY president and I am grateful for the personal sacrifice he is making to help serve his country. I pray for him every night, that he might do nothing but good for our Country and our World.

7. The Constitution of the United States.

The Constitution is the most brilliant work of political orgnaization ever composed. Our founders worked and compromised for years to contruct the document that today binds our country together. They studied history, sociology, and political philosophy to give us the greatest Country on earth. It is because of this constitution that we are the ONLY country in the entire world with nearly unlimited free speech. It is because of this constitution that we are free to practice our OWN religion anywhere we want without fear of prosecution. It is because of this constitution that we have minimal risk of being falsly convicted of a crime in comparison to other nations. It is because of this constitution that were our leaders to ever become Tyrants, we would have the capabilities to revolt and form a new government. It is because of this constitution that MY destiny is purely dependant on how hard I work and how I react to circumstances that come before me. I am eternally thankful for this document.

I hope that you will not only think today of all the things you are thankful. I hope that as you go about your Christmas shopping tomorrow, as you go to school or work in the coming weeks, as you eat your dinner, drive your car, buy your clothes, sleep safely at night, pay your taxes, go to church, tie your shoes, wash your hair, apply your deoderant, watch Football, go to a Hockey game, check your email, add an appointment to your calendar, frame your pictures, practice your guitar, tip your waiter, do your laundry, fail a test, go through a drivethrough, deposit your paycheck, AIM your best friend or jump off a tree into a river for fun, that you will remember that it is ONLY because of those who have served that you are able to do these things. Were it not for those who died, or those who were lucky enough to come home, you would have none of what you have today.

So today and in the future, be selfless when you see a man or woman in Uniform. Walk up to them and say “God Bless you, for you have blessed me.”

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Posted in Politics, Uncategorized

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MY God Wouldn't Do That…

Posted on November 27, 2008 by | 7 Comments

The fundamental belief of Christianity is in Jesus, and that he is our one and only saviour. Period. One of the most famous verses in the Bible says this:

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one gets to the father but through me. – John 14:6 

As horribly not PC as this is, I have a hard time believing that this can be interpreted any other way. Either you accept Christ or you don’t. You’re given that choice, do with it what you will, but your eternity depends on it. 

Barack Obama ran on being a “Christian”. He went to church, although a questionable one. However, I read this on Hot Air, and about blew a gasket.

Obama: There’s the belief, certainly in some quarters, that people haven’t embraced Jesus Christ as their personal savior that they’re going to hell.

Falsani: You don’t believe that?

Obama: I find it hard to believe that my God would consign four-fifths of the world to hell. I can’t imagine that my God would allow some little Hindu kid in India who never interacts with the Christian faith to somehow burn for all eternity. That’s just not part of my religious makeup.

Then you aren’t a Christian, Obama. It’s as simple as that. Either you are or you aren’t, but don’t claim to follow Christ if you don’t believe what he says. God did not send him for your political gain. I know this sounds harsh, but it’s the fundamental truth of the faith. Embracing the idea that everyone gets into heaven completely negates the magnitude of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

Now reading further is was really, really broke my heart.

Putting aside whether the conservatives have a better theological case, Mr. Obama is actually more in line with most American Christians. In a recent Pew poll, 70% said “many religions can lead to eternal life.” Two-thirds of Protestants, 66%, and 79% of Catholics said they agreed with that idea.

I can’t even comprehend that. Am I reading the same Bible as the rest of the American Christians? Or is it possible that we’ve become PC to the point of diluting the only source of truth left in our world?

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Posted in Bible, Obama, Politics

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Power-Drunk Russians

Posted on November 26, 2008 by | Leave a comment

You have to wonder if Russians just can’t help themselves sometimes. In September, the EU stated that they were done dealing with Moscow, and were suspending further talks due to the Georgia situation. They managed to hold out about 10 weeks before rolling over and accepting Russia’s claim that they had withdrawn from Georgia.

However, tens of thousands of Georgians were unable to return to their homes, and the EU turned a blind eye. Russia does what they want, apparently. Then they go about erecting their own version of the Berlin Wall in Georgia. They effectively bullied the entire EU into submission, and in Georgia they remain. No doubt emboldened by the lack of challengers, Medvedev wasted no time testing out the US president-elect:

A day after Mr. Obama’s election, Mr. Medvedev delivered his annual state-of-the union address to the Duma, but pointedly did not mention the election. Instead, he lashed out at U.S. foreign policy and threatened to deploy Russian SS-26 missiles in Kaliningrad, as close to Europe’s borders as possible, if Washington does not abandon plans for a ballistic missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Demand #1 from the “Ruskies” (that’s for you, Rob). Now let’s look at #2, regarding Iran.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said today in an interview with Bloomberg Television in Moscow. Asked if Obama would have to normalize ties with Iran to reach a nuclear agreement, he replied: “Yes, absolutely.”

The U.S. severed diplomatic relations with Iran after Islamic students seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held 52 Americans for 444 days. Obama has pledged to pursue “direct diplomacy without preconditions” with Iran, which is suspected of seeking nuclear weapons by the U.S. and its European allies.

Clearly Iran is the more looming threat. Why does Russia care about US/Iran relations? Because they’re in the middle of building a nuclear reactor for them. Meanwhile, Iran continues to play with uranium – developing materials needed to form the core of a nuclear bomb. And why do they need nuclear power? For energy purposes, silly!

Right. I’m sure that’s it.

I don’t think Russia is to be underestimated. They are globetrotting, throwing around threats, and going largely unchallenged. They’re power-drunk (as well as, well, drunk) and big. The Obama/Biden administration has verbally acknowledged the situation and has attempted to ensure that they are watching closely and ready to act. Let’s hope he follows through with THAT part of his campaign rhetoric.

Here’s another perspective:

Russia is the fat kid on the football team that nobody likes. People put up with him cause he looks like he could beat you up and he tells everyone that his dad is some sort of injury lawyer or senator, but he goes home every night to the same doublewide and pisses away about how pathetic his life is.

Let’s hope that one’s a little closer to the truth. If not, I look forward to Russian bad guys returning to the movies.

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Posted in Foreign Affairs, Obama, Politics

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Carleton University to CF Sufferers: Sucks For You, White Guys.

Posted on November 26, 2008 by | 6 Comments

Are we joking right now? I know most of you have probably heard this – I apologize for the delay in covering it. Carleton University in Ottawa has changed it’s mind about which charity their annual fundraiser will benefit this year. Which, you know, whatever, they have a right to do that. Their reason, however, is what kills me. Check this out:

OTTAWA – The Carleton University Students’ Association has voted to drop a cystic fibrosis charity as the beneficiary of its annual Shinearama fundraiser, supporting a motion that argued the disease is not “inclusive” enough.

Cystic fibrosis “has been recently revealed to only affect white people, and primarily men” said the motion read Monday night to student councillors, who voted almost unanimously in favour of it.

Okay so.  How about not raising money for breast cancer since it primarily affects women? Or AIDS, since is began HEAVILY concentrated in the gay community. Or prostate health. Why stop there? SIDS only effects infants… how is THAT diverse enough? You get the idea.

This is absurd.

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Posted in Equality, Politics, Race Relations

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Another $800 Billion Band-Aid

Posted on November 26, 2008 by | Leave a comment

So apparently, we just haven’t spent enough imaginary money yet, and Paulson needs us to spot him another $800 billion. What are these people doing? Are the Dems so power-drunk that they have completely lost control? Check this out, from the Times:

The Federal Reserve and the Treasury announced $800 billion in new lending programs on Tuesday, sending a message that they will print as much money as needed to revive the crippled banking system.

All told, the government has assumed at least $7 trillion in direct and indirect financial obligations in the form of Wall Street bailouts, emergency lending and government guarantees on bank deposits, inter-bank loans and home mortgages.

$7 trillion. I can’t even process that. Where do I send my student loans? You know, things just are tight right now, and I can’t really afford it… it would really just free up my cash flow… Vote on it. Throw in some earmarks. Certainly my 5 digit college debt would pass…

I’m going to go kick something.

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Posted in Bailoutpalooza, Democrats, Politics

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