PALIN IN COMPARISON
OK, the title might be a bit weak. But hey, it's a blog, not heady literature. Like many conservatives, I have been luke-warm at best regarding the nomination of John McCain for President. Not because he's a dud, but because I think we could do so much better if we just stood up for our core beliefs instead of allowing the media to define us. He's not a "dud" but let's face it, he's way too willing to play the game on liberal terms which is pretty close to the dud zone.
I knew my support for him would hinge on his pick for VP. I was totally willing to sacrifice the next four years knowing that Obama's naive policies would create such a mess that the people would have no choice but to embrace a conservative candidate in 2012. Granted, this was not a great plan, but it's not like I had many options. After all, I'm only one vote.
I woke up Friday morning ready to accept the worst case scenario. If McCain picked Lieberman, I knew I would be staying home on election day. The same would happen if he picked Huckabee. In the back of my mind, I was hoping that he was going to surprise everyone by picking Fred Thompson. But as a realist, I knew that was a long shot.
Later that morning, I ran into a friend of mine at work who happens to be a fellow political junkie. He asked me what I thought of Sarah Palin from Alaska because he heard that was going to be the pick. I told him that I really didn't know much about her, but what I did know, I liked. In fact, until nine o'clock tonight, I couldn't pick her out of a line-up. Let's face it, conservatives are not known for their media coverage. Until today, I had only heard her in radio interviews and read about her in newspapers.
Later, it was confirmed by McCain himself at a rally in Ohio that Palin was the VP pick. This was followed by a speech by Palin herself that I was able to listen to on the radio. Let me just say, I'm on board for McCain.
Much will be made about her lack of experience compared to Biden. But what good is experience if you've been wrong on pretty much every issue for your thirty-plus years in Washington as Biden has been? Also, Governors actually manage and delegate authority for the extent of their term. Senators "legislate"...and not much else. Neither Biden or Obama have ever ran anything.
One dynamic that will be worth watching is Biden's tendency to bully people now that his prey is going to be female. Will he be able to "keep it in his pants" or will he walk out on that very thin branch and be his usual cocky/condescending self toward a woman for all the world to see? How will that play in middle America...especially with women voters? How will that contrast with the Obama claims of "change", civility and bi-partisanship? Will Biden's bullying make him look ridiculous if Palin is not impressed with his tactics and totally cleans his clock in their debate? Will the Obamas keep trying to claim "regular folk" status now that a hocky-Mom who's married to an oil worker/snowmobile racer is in the mix?
In any case, thing's just got a whole lot more interesting around here.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
BIDEN? REALLY?
Like everyone, I was eagerly awaiting "Comrade Hopeski's" choice for Vice President. I must admit, I was sure he would pick Hillary. After all, I was under the impression that he actually wanted to win. I almost choked on my Golden Grahams this morning when I saw that he had picked Senator Joe Biden.
Think about it. If you have based your entire campaign on the idea of "change", why in the world would you pick one of the most none-"change" oriented people in Congress? To change, you would do something different, not status quo. Who's more status quo than Joe Biden? But that's just for starters.
With this pick, he has single-handedly alienated every female voter who had formerly supported Hillary Clinton and might have accepted an Obama/Clinton ticket. We already knew he was a racist, but now he looks like a sexist as well.
Then there is Biden's personality. I have seen enough of his antics on the Senate floor and in Congressional hearings to safely say that this man is a class "A" jerk. His condescending attitude and snideness is surely going to become a liability to Obama. Then again, maybe he chose Biden because he wanted someone who could make him look less arrogant. In that case, it was a genius pick.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not sure that McCain is going to make the right choice either. That pick will probably be what decides the election, and I'm biting my fingernails as we speak. In any case, it is going to be fun watching Obama try to convince people that his administration is about "unity" and "change" while Biden shoots his mouth off and looks down his nose at everyone he disagrees with. Then we can marvel at Obama as he tries to convince us how experienced he is while having a veteran Sentor as a VP. That's akin to Robin driving the Batmobile and Batman being forced to play second banana.
Let's not forget that only months ago, Biden went on record saying that he felt Obama was not ready for the Presedency.
For now, we'll all have the fun of watching the endless hours of Biden's greatest hits from the C-SPAN archives. Plus any new ones between now and November.
Like everyone, I was eagerly awaiting "Comrade Hopeski's" choice for Vice President. I must admit, I was sure he would pick Hillary. After all, I was under the impression that he actually wanted to win. I almost choked on my Golden Grahams this morning when I saw that he had picked Senator Joe Biden.
Think about it. If you have based your entire campaign on the idea of "change", why in the world would you pick one of the most none-"change" oriented people in Congress? To change, you would do something different, not status quo. Who's more status quo than Joe Biden? But that's just for starters.
With this pick, he has single-handedly alienated every female voter who had formerly supported Hillary Clinton and might have accepted an Obama/Clinton ticket. We already knew he was a racist, but now he looks like a sexist as well.
Then there is Biden's personality. I have seen enough of his antics on the Senate floor and in Congressional hearings to safely say that this man is a class "A" jerk. His condescending attitude and snideness is surely going to become a liability to Obama. Then again, maybe he chose Biden because he wanted someone who could make him look less arrogant. In that case, it was a genius pick.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not sure that McCain is going to make the right choice either. That pick will probably be what decides the election, and I'm biting my fingernails as we speak. In any case, it is going to be fun watching Obama try to convince people that his administration is about "unity" and "change" while Biden shoots his mouth off and looks down his nose at everyone he disagrees with. Then we can marvel at Obama as he tries to convince us how experienced he is while having a veteran Sentor as a VP. That's akin to Robin driving the Batmobile and Batman being forced to play second banana.
Let's not forget that only months ago, Biden went on record saying that he felt Obama was not ready for the Presedency.
For now, we'll all have the fun of watching the endless hours of Biden's greatest hits from the C-SPAN archives. Plus any new ones between now and November.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
NO REALLY. IS HE KIDDING?
Last night, between my niece's birthday celebration and hanging out with a visiting distant relative, I was able to catch bits and pieces of the first Presidential "debate" of 08'. Less of a debate and more of a job interview conducted by Rick Warren of Purpose Driven Life fame, it was a pretty good opener to the campaign season. I'm not a big fan of Warren's, or his follow-up free approach to the questions he asked, but he probably did as well as could be expected for someone masquerading as an evangelical.
Being the kind of guy I am, I was trying to give Obama the benefit of the doubt and in the back of my mind I was actually hoping that he would say something that would calm my fears that he is totally clueless. I think I was hoping he could give me something to hold onto in the event that he actually wins the Whitehouse. Right out of the gate, I realized that there is no virtue in giving this man the benefit of any doubt...he truly is clueless.
Warren asked Obama if he believes in evil, and if so, how to deal with it. This is how our favorite "hope-monger" decided to answer the question.
Obama: “The one thing that I think is very important is for us to have some humility in how we approach the issue of confronting evil, but you know a lot of evil has been perpetrated based on the claim that we were trying to confront evil,” Obama added. “Just because we think our intentions are good doesn't always mean that we’re going to be doing good.”
Humility? Is he kidding? Are we supposed to bow our heads or ask permission before defending our nation? Was Patton humble? Were we humble when we stormed the beaches at Normandy? Are our enemies humble when they ram our planes into office buildings?
"Claim that we are trying to confront evil"? Would he say that to a Marine who just walked off the battlefield in Iraq or Afghanistan?
His defeatist answer to Warren's question explains why he didn't take the time to visit with the wounded soldiers in Germany a few weeks back. After being given the opportunity to at least look like someone who would be capable of protecting America from the terrorist threat, Obama decided to give the USA yet another verbal kick to the crotch.
He went on to cite Darfur and inner-city crime as examples of evil in our time. Not Al-Queda. Not the Taliban. Not Hammas. I suppose it was too much for Obama to actually throw our troops a bone for once by acknowledging that the monsters they battle for us every day might actually be evil after all.
I'm actually glad that I was not able to focus on the debate because I'm sure that me putting my boot through my father-in-law's television would have been quite the mood killer for my niece's birthday party.
Last night, between my niece's birthday celebration and hanging out with a visiting distant relative, I was able to catch bits and pieces of the first Presidential "debate" of 08'. Less of a debate and more of a job interview conducted by Rick Warren of Purpose Driven Life fame, it was a pretty good opener to the campaign season. I'm not a big fan of Warren's, or his follow-up free approach to the questions he asked, but he probably did as well as could be expected for someone masquerading as an evangelical.
Being the kind of guy I am, I was trying to give Obama the benefit of the doubt and in the back of my mind I was actually hoping that he would say something that would calm my fears that he is totally clueless. I think I was hoping he could give me something to hold onto in the event that he actually wins the Whitehouse. Right out of the gate, I realized that there is no virtue in giving this man the benefit of any doubt...he truly is clueless.
Warren asked Obama if he believes in evil, and if so, how to deal with it. This is how our favorite "hope-monger" decided to answer the question.
Obama: “The one thing that I think is very important is for us to have some humility in how we approach the issue of confronting evil, but you know a lot of evil has been perpetrated based on the claim that we were trying to confront evil,” Obama added. “Just because we think our intentions are good doesn't always mean that we’re going to be doing good.”
Humility? Is he kidding? Are we supposed to bow our heads or ask permission before defending our nation? Was Patton humble? Were we humble when we stormed the beaches at Normandy? Are our enemies humble when they ram our planes into office buildings?
"Claim that we are trying to confront evil"? Would he say that to a Marine who just walked off the battlefield in Iraq or Afghanistan?
His defeatist answer to Warren's question explains why he didn't take the time to visit with the wounded soldiers in Germany a few weeks back. After being given the opportunity to at least look like someone who would be capable of protecting America from the terrorist threat, Obama decided to give the USA yet another verbal kick to the crotch.
He went on to cite Darfur and inner-city crime as examples of evil in our time. Not Al-Queda. Not the Taliban. Not Hammas. I suppose it was too much for Obama to actually throw our troops a bone for once by acknowledging that the monsters they battle for us every day might actually be evil after all.
I'm actually glad that I was not able to focus on the debate because I'm sure that me putting my boot through my father-in-law's television would have been quite the mood killer for my niece's birthday party.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
GEORGIA ON MY MIND
Well, one thing's for sure. I need to brush up on my geography as well as my Eastern Block history. Then again, let's face it. All you really need to know is that Russia is a country rooted in communism and currently lead by a former KGB agent who has a very questionable history. Couple that with a former Soviet country that has decided to become pro-western, and pro-American, and the script pretty much writes itself.
Make no mistake about it, this weekend's invasion of Georgia by the former Soviet Union is just a warm-up exercise. It is a message being sent to the world by a country that is eager to regain it's former "big kid on the block" status. That message is; "We are still here and we are going to do what we want"
Now that the Russians have invaded Georgia, the question becomes; Who's next? The other question is; What do we do about it?
Realistically, short of going to war with Russia, there's really not much we can do but sit back and watch, piss and moan, and go through the usual motions of diplomacy, political pressure and unified condemnation. Of course, none of this will actually stop Russia from invading other people's countries, but it will make us feel accomplished on account of our good intentions. Eventually, after Russia has had time to rally and organize it's allies and demoralize it's enemies, we may have no choice but go to war with them.
If that happens, I wonder if we are going to have the will to fight for our freedom as a nation. Between now and the time we actually decide that something needs to be done, it will be interesting to see how many people will need to die before we make that decision.
Maybe I'm wrong and this will all blow over and Russia will become best friends with Georgia and renounce it's affiliations with Iran. Somehow I doubt it.
Well, one thing's for sure. I need to brush up on my geography as well as my Eastern Block history. Then again, let's face it. All you really need to know is that Russia is a country rooted in communism and currently lead by a former KGB agent who has a very questionable history. Couple that with a former Soviet country that has decided to become pro-western, and pro-American, and the script pretty much writes itself.
Make no mistake about it, this weekend's invasion of Georgia by the former Soviet Union is just a warm-up exercise. It is a message being sent to the world by a country that is eager to regain it's former "big kid on the block" status. That message is; "We are still here and we are going to do what we want"
Now that the Russians have invaded Georgia, the question becomes; Who's next? The other question is; What do we do about it?
Realistically, short of going to war with Russia, there's really not much we can do but sit back and watch, piss and moan, and go through the usual motions of diplomacy, political pressure and unified condemnation. Of course, none of this will actually stop Russia from invading other people's countries, but it will make us feel accomplished on account of our good intentions. Eventually, after Russia has had time to rally and organize it's allies and demoralize it's enemies, we may have no choice but go to war with them.
If that happens, I wonder if we are going to have the will to fight for our freedom as a nation. Between now and the time we actually decide that something needs to be done, it will be interesting to see how many people will need to die before we make that decision.
Maybe I'm wrong and this will all blow over and Russia will become best friends with Georgia and renounce it's affiliations with Iran. Somehow I doubt it.
Friday, August 8, 2008
EDWARDS BUSTED...TOLD YA!
On July 24th, I wrote about John Edwards' then alleged affair with another woman as reported by the National Inquirer. In my article I assessed Edwards' reaction to be that of a guy who is probably guilty. I came to that conclusion by factoring-in the positions taken by all parties involved. I did not consult a crystal ball. I did not wear a big turban and hold envelopes up to my head. I did not call Jackie Stallone or the Amazing Kreskin. I didn't read it my tea leaves or see it my dreams.
I came to the correct conclusion by using nothing more than deductive reasoning and common sense. This tactic has served me well in the years since I broke the bonds of liberalism. In other earlier articles, I asserted that the mear mention of drilling for oil by our leaders would lower the price of crude. As predicted, immediately after President Bush lifted the ban on off-shore drilling, the price fell. As the idea of drilling has become more popular in the past few months, the price has continued to decline. Again, not clarevoyance...deductive reasoning.
Deductive reasoning is less of a skill, and more of a way of thinking. It allows you to weigh options and decide which is the most likely to be right based on all the information available to you. Most of the time this method of prediction is much more accurate than the liberal method of assuming the worst according to what fits your agenda, regardless of the evidence. That's probably why liberals are wrong so often and have to find new and better ways to distract and tap dance their way out of the jams they create.
On July 24th, I wrote about John Edwards' then alleged affair with another woman as reported by the National Inquirer. In my article I assessed Edwards' reaction to be that of a guy who is probably guilty. I came to that conclusion by factoring-in the positions taken by all parties involved. I did not consult a crystal ball. I did not wear a big turban and hold envelopes up to my head. I did not call Jackie Stallone or the Amazing Kreskin. I didn't read it my tea leaves or see it my dreams.
I came to the correct conclusion by using nothing more than deductive reasoning and common sense. This tactic has served me well in the years since I broke the bonds of liberalism. In other earlier articles, I asserted that the mear mention of drilling for oil by our leaders would lower the price of crude. As predicted, immediately after President Bush lifted the ban on off-shore drilling, the price fell. As the idea of drilling has become more popular in the past few months, the price has continued to decline. Again, not clarevoyance...deductive reasoning.
Deductive reasoning is less of a skill, and more of a way of thinking. It allows you to weigh options and decide which is the most likely to be right based on all the information available to you. Most of the time this method of prediction is much more accurate than the liberal method of assuming the worst according to what fits your agenda, regardless of the evidence. That's probably why liberals are wrong so often and have to find new and better ways to distract and tap dance their way out of the jams they create.
ROADHOUSE GOES TO COURT
Normally, when people have some sort of court appearance, they look at it as something to dread. They see it as an inconvenience. If they are there to defend themselves it can also be intimidating. Thankfully, my first ever trip to court was because I had been summoned to be a witness in a drunk driving incident.
Part of being a truck driver means that you see a lot of bad things on the road. One such thing was a pair of individuals from south of the border in a car that was driving so erratically, that I thought maybe the driver had suffered a heart attack and the car was out of control. After calling 911, I followed them and reported their destination to the authorities. After the passenger was finished urinating in public on their own car, the state troopers arrived and proceeded to cuff and stuff them. Neither had a valid driver's licence and both had "questionable" immigration status. Both were totally drunk to the point that they could barely stand. Keep in mind that this was about 6:oo pm, not right after closing time at the bar. I know that this story is hard to believe because as we all know, all immigrants are law abiding citizens and would never drive drunk...but it did happen.
A week later, I received my first summons. I was so proud. Luckily, I was to appear during my "staycation" and not during a work day. Otherwise I would have been p*$$*d. As it turns out, the driver happened to have been out on bond for another crime (I know, I know...hard to believe) so he took a deal and my testimony wasn't needed after all.
The most interesting part of this whole situation turned out to be the people who were not even involved with this case. As I was waiting in the hall for the judge to arrive, I was getting quite an education as to how some people think you should present yourself to a judge. One girl decided that it would be a good idea to show up wearing her Mickey Mouse pajamas. Another came sporting gang tattoos and lip, eyebrow, and nose rings. A guy just down from me thought it would be cool idea to show up high as a kite with eyes that could have doubled for stop signs. Un-shaven faces and flip-flops were also acceptable attire in this particular court of law.
Then there was "Bill". Bill was a seemingly normal looking guy who was dressed to go to the driving range, not court. Compared to the others, his fashions were not going to be an issue. His problems started when he walked into the courtroom just as his docket number was being called, not 15 minutes early as instructed. Bill was cited for driving on a suspended licence. When the judge asked him why he had no lawyer representing him, he looked as though he was being spoken to in some kind of unknown language. He told the judge that he didn't know that he needed a lawyer. The judge's look was one that had to be seen. He asked Bill if he realized that he was standing in front of a District Court Justice in a court of law because he was facing a up to a year in prison and thousands of dollars in fines. Bill nearly passed out.
The judge had mercy on Bill and issued a continuance, after ordering him to bring a lawyer next time.
You often hear how stupid some people are, and how others simply have no respect for the law even when they will be the only ones who suffer for it. But sometimes you have to experience it to truly believe it. I'm sure that "high guy" and "shrapnel face" really thought that they would be helping their case with their antics, but I have a feeling that the judge was not amused when their case came across his bench.
Normally, when people have some sort of court appearance, they look at it as something to dread. They see it as an inconvenience. If they are there to defend themselves it can also be intimidating. Thankfully, my first ever trip to court was because I had been summoned to be a witness in a drunk driving incident.
Part of being a truck driver means that you see a lot of bad things on the road. One such thing was a pair of individuals from south of the border in a car that was driving so erratically, that I thought maybe the driver had suffered a heart attack and the car was out of control. After calling 911, I followed them and reported their destination to the authorities. After the passenger was finished urinating in public on their own car, the state troopers arrived and proceeded to cuff and stuff them. Neither had a valid driver's licence and both had "questionable" immigration status. Both were totally drunk to the point that they could barely stand. Keep in mind that this was about 6:oo pm, not right after closing time at the bar. I know that this story is hard to believe because as we all know, all immigrants are law abiding citizens and would never drive drunk...but it did happen.
A week later, I received my first summons. I was so proud. Luckily, I was to appear during my "staycation" and not during a work day. Otherwise I would have been p*$$*d. As it turns out, the driver happened to have been out on bond for another crime (I know, I know...hard to believe) so he took a deal and my testimony wasn't needed after all.
The most interesting part of this whole situation turned out to be the people who were not even involved with this case. As I was waiting in the hall for the judge to arrive, I was getting quite an education as to how some people think you should present yourself to a judge. One girl decided that it would be a good idea to show up wearing her Mickey Mouse pajamas. Another came sporting gang tattoos and lip, eyebrow, and nose rings. A guy just down from me thought it would be cool idea to show up high as a kite with eyes that could have doubled for stop signs. Un-shaven faces and flip-flops were also acceptable attire in this particular court of law.
Then there was "Bill". Bill was a seemingly normal looking guy who was dressed to go to the driving range, not court. Compared to the others, his fashions were not going to be an issue. His problems started when he walked into the courtroom just as his docket number was being called, not 15 minutes early as instructed. Bill was cited for driving on a suspended licence. When the judge asked him why he had no lawyer representing him, he looked as though he was being spoken to in some kind of unknown language. He told the judge that he didn't know that he needed a lawyer. The judge's look was one that had to be seen. He asked Bill if he realized that he was standing in front of a District Court Justice in a court of law because he was facing a up to a year in prison and thousands of dollars in fines. Bill nearly passed out.
The judge had mercy on Bill and issued a continuance, after ordering him to bring a lawyer next time.
You often hear how stupid some people are, and how others simply have no respect for the law even when they will be the only ones who suffer for it. But sometimes you have to experience it to truly believe it. I'm sure that "high guy" and "shrapnel face" really thought that they would be helping their case with their antics, but I have a feeling that the judge was not amused when their case came across his bench.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
BUMPER STICKER LOGIC
Being a truck driver can occasionally be a tad boring. Driving for miles on end forces you to find ways to entertain yourself from time to time. For me, I have found reading bumper stickers to be a pretty good way to pass the time. Some stickers are little more than advertisements for a product, service, or restaurant. Of course others are supposed to be pearls of political wisdom offered up by drivers of Volvo station wagons and Toyota hybrids. Those are my favorite.
Unfortunately, we don't live in a world where pulling these people over and demanding they explain the logic of their bumper sticker is politically correct...or legal...or sane. Thankfully, I can at least use the power of the blog to deconstruct the concepts of some of the more popular bumper stickers. Here they are in no particular order:
WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER
Well, that depends on the question. If the question is what to do when your neighbor's dog leaves a "present" on your lawn, then the answer is probably not "war". If your wife leaves the toilet seat down, the proper response is probably not "war".
But, if the question is what to do with a murdering dictator who has a history of invading other people's countries and funding terrorism, all while threatening both your country, your Ally's country and the world's oil supply after years of diplomacy, political pressure, sanctions, and threats of "serious consequences" don't work...then the answer most definitely is "war".
CLINTON LIED, NO ONE DIED
Oh really? Ever hear of Somalia? Black Hawk Down? WTC 1st try? USS Cole? Kenya? Tanzania? Khobar Towers? Rwanda? Serbia? Waco? Ruby Ridge? Vince Foster?
IMPEACH BUSH
It's a Democrat controlled Congress. What's stopping you? If you really have a case, go for it.
COEXIST
Tell that to radical Islamists when they're beheading someone or "honor killing" their daughters.
NO WAR FOR OIL
You're right, there is "no war for oil".
SUPPORT THE TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME NOW
How is bringing them home before the job is done, resulting in their many sacrifices having been made for nothing considered to be "supporting" them?
FREE TIBET
Why? What makes them so special? If Iraq isn't worthy of freedom, then why is Tibet?
BUSH LIED
Maybe about being a conservative.
STOP GLOBAL WARMING
I don't think the sun can read bumper stickers.
Being a truck driver can occasionally be a tad boring. Driving for miles on end forces you to find ways to entertain yourself from time to time. For me, I have found reading bumper stickers to be a pretty good way to pass the time. Some stickers are little more than advertisements for a product, service, or restaurant. Of course others are supposed to be pearls of political wisdom offered up by drivers of Volvo station wagons and Toyota hybrids. Those are my favorite.
Unfortunately, we don't live in a world where pulling these people over and demanding they explain the logic of their bumper sticker is politically correct...or legal...or sane. Thankfully, I can at least use the power of the blog to deconstruct the concepts of some of the more popular bumper stickers. Here they are in no particular order:
WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER
Well, that depends on the question. If the question is what to do when your neighbor's dog leaves a "present" on your lawn, then the answer is probably not "war". If your wife leaves the toilet seat down, the proper response is probably not "war".
But, if the question is what to do with a murdering dictator who has a history of invading other people's countries and funding terrorism, all while threatening both your country, your Ally's country and the world's oil supply after years of diplomacy, political pressure, sanctions, and threats of "serious consequences" don't work...then the answer most definitely is "war".
CLINTON LIED, NO ONE DIED
Oh really? Ever hear of Somalia? Black Hawk Down? WTC 1st try? USS Cole? Kenya? Tanzania? Khobar Towers? Rwanda? Serbia? Waco? Ruby Ridge? Vince Foster?
IMPEACH BUSH
It's a Democrat controlled Congress. What's stopping you? If you really have a case, go for it.
COEXIST
Tell that to radical Islamists when they're beheading someone or "honor killing" their daughters.
NO WAR FOR OIL
You're right, there is "no war for oil".
SUPPORT THE TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME NOW
How is bringing them home before the job is done, resulting in their many sacrifices having been made for nothing considered to be "supporting" them?
FREE TIBET
Why? What makes them so special? If Iraq isn't worthy of freedom, then why is Tibet?
BUSH LIED
Maybe about being a conservative.
STOP GLOBAL WARMING
I don't think the sun can read bumper stickers.
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