The more opportunity for questions and answers - and the chance to read them "live" or afterwards - the better!
It is especially helpful for the N&O to include the specifics of how this will "work" and to note that you can read it later if not able to watch it as it happens.
Monday, March 31, 2008
"Mercury News to be leaders on Internet, "pick up the pace", and integrate staff" - editorsweblog
This appears headed in the right direction at a venerable newspaper which now lacks a certain je ne sais quoi in terms of associating the newspaper with quality ownership. That's still important to me, and this is not the case, alas, here. It's not that it's bad; it's just not clear.
Anyway, the real test is the changes that are made here and what happens as a result. I worked with Mercury Center people at the very beginning of this, it surely would be nice to see the paper come back to its former glory in leading the way toward a new formula that guards what's good of the old and draws on the present and future to make it an even more successful undertaking for all affected - the entire community it serves.
Anyway, the real test is the changes that are made here and what happens as a result. I worked with Mercury Center people at the very beginning of this, it surely would be nice to see the paper come back to its former glory in leading the way toward a new formula that guards what's good of the old and draws on the present and future to make it an even more successful undertaking for all affected - the entire community it serves.
"BitTorrent Revolutionizes File Sharing" - NPR
I am not at all convinced that the classic model of 90% of most people preferring to watch than to perform or contribute is really changing that much. Yes, this technology is important, but I think the premise is faulty or at least limited.
That's when it comes to "creating" something beyond a text message or an e-mail -- something intended to go to a wider audience.
As for the more limited communication to individuals, family, friends, associates of one sort or another, the sky is the limit.
That distinction between what we create and distribute to people whom we pick for the most part and stuff we take or find from others...that line is worth preserving and respecting.
We should not say that technology either reflects that it is no longer so or forcing the result that the line can no longer be respected.
It can be, should be and requires a lot of harder patient explanation to future generations in order to preserve this. It's worth the time.
That's when it comes to "creating" something beyond a text message or an e-mail -- something intended to go to a wider audience.
As for the more limited communication to individuals, family, friends, associates of one sort or another, the sky is the limit.
That distinction between what we create and distribute to people whom we pick for the most part and stuff we take or find from others...that line is worth preserving and respecting.
We should not say that technology either reflects that it is no longer so or forcing the result that the line can no longer be respected.
It can be, should be and requires a lot of harder patient explanation to future generations in order to preserve this. It's worth the time.
"2 Irish Billionaires Clash Over Publisher’s Course" - The New York Times
I am an Irish citizen, and these sorts of stories interest me a lot. I do not know Mr. O'BRIEN but I am acquanted with father and son O'REILLY.
This sounds as though Ireland is an island separated from the rest of the world by water and mentality. Some of that, of course, is true.
But one has to wonder in terms of share value whether a newspaper company like Independent News & Media can really make a go of it for the medium term. I think the only reason that newspapers outside the US, in some number of cases, seem to be doing better than those in the US is that the digital stars have simply lined up in a different fashion as part of the transition.
In the end, we will all be operating in a digital world, with some paper supplements. A company that now relies primarily on paper has got to rework itself and its relationships with the people who, together, pay the bill - those who advertiser and those who consume advertising and pay for services, including news.
I see no indication that Independent News has organized itself and its ties to customers in such a way as to get out ahead of what is sweeping so many newspapers off the media road.
This sounds as though Ireland is an island separated from the rest of the world by water and mentality. Some of that, of course, is true.
But one has to wonder in terms of share value whether a newspaper company like Independent News & Media can really make a go of it for the medium term. I think the only reason that newspapers outside the US, in some number of cases, seem to be doing better than those in the US is that the digital stars have simply lined up in a different fashion as part of the transition.
In the end, we will all be operating in a digital world, with some paper supplements. A company that now relies primarily on paper has got to rework itself and its relationships with the people who, together, pay the bill - those who advertiser and those who consume advertising and pay for services, including news.
I see no indication that Independent News has organized itself and its ties to customers in such a way as to get out ahead of what is sweeping so many newspapers off the media road.
"Obama's talking to all of us" - Sandusky Register
I support Barack OBAMA for President for many reasons.
This is a wonderful short piece from Ohio not necessarily supporting OBAMA but urging all of us to read in full his speech on race. One should read in full Hillary CLINTON's speeches and papers as well. And those of John McCAIN. All are available on their respective websites; you are free to use them without registering in any way.
What's so refreshing about this piece is the simple admonition - go read the full text and in a world where there is only a millisecond of reasons not to do so, do it right now. Don't wait. This speech; other speeches. Other candidates. Do your work as a citizen and/or a voter. Even if you are neither, help the rest of us make the right decision!
As I wrote above, I support OBAMA because I think he is the best of the three. But I am not an ideologue and I will continue to listen carefully to what the other two say, and read as much as I choose to make time to do.
This is a wonderful short piece from Ohio not necessarily supporting OBAMA but urging all of us to read in full his speech on race. One should read in full Hillary CLINTON's speeches and papers as well. And those of John McCAIN. All are available on their respective websites; you are free to use them without registering in any way.
What's so refreshing about this piece is the simple admonition - go read the full text and in a world where there is only a millisecond of reasons not to do so, do it right now. Don't wait. This speech; other speeches. Other candidates. Do your work as a citizen and/or a voter. Even if you are neither, help the rest of us make the right decision!
As I wrote above, I support OBAMA because I think he is the best of the three. But I am not an ideologue and I will continue to listen carefully to what the other two say, and read as much as I choose to make time to do.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
A home for Fiesta™ Collectors
Amazing sign of our digital times that this ever existed and the fact that it disappeared as quickly as it came! I am not a Fiesta collector, by the way!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Belarus: Journalists’ Homes Raided - New York Times
There has tended to be an assumption that US reporters, especially US citizens, carry the First Amendment with them as an endorsement to their passports. This never was the case and certainly is not today. Ditto for any US citizen abroad. In the case of Belarus or any other country, each person enjoys only the rights and privileges afforded and respected by the country where you are. Always assume the least protection, and always prepare yourself for the worst case scenario such as your hotel room or other dwelling being ransacked without warning by the local police. You're not in Kansas.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
newsobserver.com | USDA s nutrition tool fails
It's always disappointing to see the failure of something that still has so much potential to help people eat better as the distance between them and their online lives grows so much smaller.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Practical Traveler: Trans-Atlantic Flights - Getting to Europe Is About to Get Easier - Travel - New York Times
I am especially interested in all the ways that Raleigh-Durham Airport and Nice Cote d'Azur airport plan to profit from these changes.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Katharine Q. Seelye - On Line - Election 2008 - Politics - New York Times
There is no doubt in my mind but that we will all be voting on the web for the President and other electec officials one day. What's so fascinating about this is the resiliency of concern over some areas of technological advancement. We are prepared to accept more mistakes, I would argue, when the mistakes are not embedded in a machine but rather in plane view, rather than in a place where none of us non-techies can penetrate. Oversight of this process is essential, and we should move more intelligently toward this goal of online voting.
Friday, March 21, 2008
"Obama France"
I was curious to know whether there are any organized groups of French people - and others in France - supporting OBAMA. This blog was the closest thing that I could find. Some quite interesting observations by whoever is doing this - one "cpachai" according to the profile associated with the blog. Why are so many people like this so reluctant to say who they really are?
In any case, it's a site worth a look.....
In any case, it's a site worth a look.....
"Three New York Moguls in Talks to Buy Newsday" - The New York Times
This is another extraordinary sign of the times. We will look back on this period, I think, as one during which newspaper publishing became a much more personal as opposed to corporate undertaking. Owner-publishers will emerge from odd places and both First Amendment principles and our political system are bound to be affected by how this plays forward.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Send an Email - United States Representative Steve King
This is the Congressman who reportedly said that terrorists would dance in the streets if Barack OBAMA is elected President.
I wanted to ask him if he really said that.
But he has this set up - as do too many Representatives - to preclude any non-constituent from communicating with him.
It is perfectly appropriate for his constituents to have a preferred route of access, but to preclude the rest of us - unless we print and mail a letter or make a phone call - reflects a weakness unbecoming of a Member of the House of Representatives. In more colloquial terms, only wimps behave this way, and therefore this guy must be a wimp, I conclude.
Of course, he is free to correct the record here. I let anyone offer a comment and post all who write clearly regardless of whether they agree or strongly disagree. I seem to recall something about how democracy hinges on such exchanges.
Well, it seems to be true according to this report from the Associated Press. How sad to think that the good people of Iowa actually elected this man.
He needs a tremendous amount of professional and, above all, spiritual guidance. I hope someone connected to him - family, friends or constituents will offer to fill that void.
I wanted to ask him if he really said that.
But he has this set up - as do too many Representatives - to preclude any non-constituent from communicating with him.
It is perfectly appropriate for his constituents to have a preferred route of access, but to preclude the rest of us - unless we print and mail a letter or make a phone call - reflects a weakness unbecoming of a Member of the House of Representatives. In more colloquial terms, only wimps behave this way, and therefore this guy must be a wimp, I conclude.
Of course, he is free to correct the record here. I let anyone offer a comment and post all who write clearly regardless of whether they agree or strongly disagree. I seem to recall something about how democracy hinges on such exchanges.
Well, it seems to be true according to this report from the Associated Press. How sad to think that the good people of Iowa actually elected this man.
He needs a tremendous amount of professional and, above all, spiritual guidance. I hope someone connected to him - family, friends or constituents will offer to fill that void.
Friday, March 07, 2008
"Police: UNC Student Killed With Handgun" - AP
For God's sake, let's get rid of handguns. They have no place in a civilzed society. Special interests be damned; if the majority feels that people other than law enforcement should not be able to own handguns, w3hy shouldn't the majority prevail? If it provokes a Second Amendment challenge, so be it. Not to try is cowardice.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
newsobserver.com | Wake schools speaker policy faces review
I am embarrassed to live in the same state as do the people responsible for imposing such an obnoxious policy on speakers of any kind. It is repulsive to me and to First Amendment principles. The people responsible for it ought to be asked to leave office; they are not fit to serve in my estimation.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
"How Internet Censorship Works" - Howstuffworks
We all ought to understand this much better than most of us do....
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
"Web Site That Posts Leaked Material Ordered Shut" - The New York Times
This is a very troubling move by a lone federal judge. I hope that all parties involved will use it as a means to reaffirm the law that the US Government should virtually never ever be able to shut off speech whether it looks like a domain address or a lonely pamphleteer on the street corner.
A Realist Called Obama - New York Times
This sure captures my feelings about OBAMA and why I am supporting him. Roger COHEN speaks for me on this one, as he often does.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Candidate hypotheticals...
Why are we are we not seeing more creative, smart hypotheticals posed to CLINTON and OBAMA especially. These need not touch real people, places, circumstances. They can be imaginary problems in imaginary places, but we need to hear more about how each would tackle the same problem. These are best posed with the other candidate not hearing the response of the first. That's really the only way that we can improve our sense of how each would address problems. The hypotheticals could even be given to the candidates in advance an even made public. That all makes those exercises a lot closer to real life.....
Why not?
Why not?
Here are the NC Democratic super delegates, according to the Washington Post:
"NORTH CAROLINA
Democratic National Committee DNC Affiliation Type
Joyce Brayboy MEMBERS-AT-LARGE
Susan Burgess NAT'L DEMOCRATIC MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS CONFERENCE
Jeanette Council NORTH CAROLINA DNC MEMBER
Jerry Meek NORTH CAROLINA DNC MEMBER
Dannie Montgomery NORTH CAROLINA DNC MEMBER
Muriel K. Offerman NORTH CAROLINA DNC MEMBER
David Parker NORTH CAROLINA DNC MEMBER
Carol W. Peterson NORTH CAROLINA DNC MEMBER
Everett Ward NORTH CAROLINA DNC MEMBER
Democratic Governor
Michael F. Easley
U.S. House of Representatives
G.K. Butterfield
Bob Etheridge
Mike McIntyre
Brad Miller
David Price
Heath Shuler
Melvin Watt
State's Total Number of Super Delegates: 17"
and here is what the News & Observer (Raleigh) reports is the current state of commitment:
"WHO HAS COMMITTED?
COMMITTED TO CLINTON
* Susan Burgess, Charlotte, member of the Democratic National Committee
COMMITTED TO OBAMA
* U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield of Wilson
* Everett Ward, Raleigh, member of the Democratic National Committee
* Dannie Montgomery, Anson County, member of the Democratic National Committee
NOT COMMITTED
Remaining 13 superdelegates, including Gov. Mike Easley and U.S. Reps. David Price of Chapel Hill, Brad Miller of Raleigh and Bob Etheridge of Lillington. "
"NORTH CAROLINA
Democratic National Committee DNC Affiliation Type
Joyce Brayboy MEMBERS-AT-LARGE
Susan Burgess NAT'L DEMOCRATIC MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS CONFERENCE
Jeanette Council NORTH CAROLINA DNC MEMBER
Jerry Meek NORTH CAROLINA DNC MEMBER
Dannie Montgomery NORTH CAROLINA DNC MEMBER
Muriel K. Offerman NORTH CAROLINA DNC MEMBER
David Parker NORTH CAROLINA DNC MEMBER
Carol W. Peterson NORTH CAROLINA DNC MEMBER
Everett Ward NORTH CAROLINA DNC MEMBER
Democratic Governor
Michael F. Easley
U.S. House of Representatives
G.K. Butterfield
Bob Etheridge
Mike McIntyre
Brad Miller
David Price
Heath Shuler
Melvin Watt
State's Total Number of Super Delegates: 17"
and here is what the News & Observer (Raleigh) reports is the current state of commitment:
"WHO HAS COMMITTED?
COMMITTED TO CLINTON
* Susan Burgess, Charlotte, member of the Democratic National Committee
COMMITTED TO OBAMA
* U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield of Wilson
* Everett Ward, Raleigh, member of the Democratic National Committee
* Dannie Montgomery, Anson County, member of the Democratic National Committee
NOT COMMITTED
Remaining 13 superdelegates, including Gov. Mike Easley and U.S. Reps. David Price of Chapel Hill, Brad Miller of Raleigh and Bob Etheridge of Lillington. "
Thursday, February 07, 2008
"Madison daily Capital Times switching to free weekly paper" - The Business Journal of Milwaukee
Newspapers must work harder than ever to get good content and services delivered to people who want what they have to offer. Some will pay for some things, but it looks less and less likely that a sufficient number will want to pay for the current newspaper "package" to keep the model alive for much longer. It does not have to end this way but I fear it will.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
La famille kényane de Barack Obama se plaint de l'afflux de journalistes
Barack OBAMA's Kenyan family is geting interviewed a lot by reporters.
"In CBS Test, Mobile Ads Find Users" - Media News
This could be used for a great many "local" news stories as well. Pssst, the police just responded to a robbery around the corner from where you are standing......
NBC17, Breaking News, Local News, Weather, NBC17, Raleigh Durham Cary Chapel Hill - NBC 17
It's surprising, to say the least, to see how hard it is for media managers - and others - to understand how the market moves between and among various media.
For example, there was a big pitch today on the local NBC station - WNCN - about how the manager wants to hear from viewers. Send me an e-mail and I promise you a response, he said.
myreview@wncn.com
I thought I would check this out on the station's website to learn more about what they were doing with the comments received from viewers.
There is not a single mention of this e-mail address or the on-air request for comment on the website.
Is the relationship between the television and the internet media that hard to understand?
For example, there was a big pitch today on the local NBC station - WNCN - about how the manager wants to hear from viewers. Send me an e-mail and I promise you a response, he said.
myreview@wncn.com
I thought I would check this out on the station's website to learn more about what they were doing with the comments received from viewers.
There is not a single mention of this e-mail address or the on-air request for comment on the website.
Is the relationship between the television and the internet media that hard to understand?
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
"The Platform: Reading Newspapers on the Kindle"
This is pretty interesting. I have not tried the device yet, but, you know, we have spent a couple of decades thinking and arguing about print v. electronic and within "electronic" about PC v. Mac and then all the various styles, sizes and formats. In the end, people are finding that they can do a lot more with what they get electronically but it is not the same experience as reading on paper. Like so many of these debates, what seems most suprising is that it is taking so long for technology and the marketplace to work this out. Is it enough simply to say that you can get The New York Times a hundred different ways and therefore we are all content simply to make our choice. I don't think the future of that institution - The Times - rests very well on that foundation and that may explain why the whole process seems so unstable.
Monday, February 04, 2008
newsobserver.com | Panel pushes ambitious transit plan
It sure would be nice to think that Chapel Hill could have a rail connection to all of its neighbors, including Hillsborough...but probably not south to Pittsboro, but why not?
Friday, February 01, 2008
Debate thoughts
Why was it that The New York Times story about President CLINTON and Khazakstan did not arise?
--
Would it not be better to start posing meaningful hypothetical problems and situations to the candidates rather than to continue to parse the past? Wouldn't that be more consistent with OBAMA's focus on the future?
--
Would it not be better to start posing meaningful hypothetical problems and situations to the candidates rather than to continue to parse the past? Wouldn't that be more consistent with OBAMA's focus on the future?
Microsoft Bids $44.6 Billion for Yahoo - New York Times
Many years ago, newspapers and Microsoft saw themselves as two of the biggest competitors in the future of electronic communication. So it was and so it seems, once again, to be.....
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
How the candidates rate on First Amendment issues
This needs to be fleshed out a LOT more in the days and weeks ahead.....but it is a good start.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Le Monde.fr : Incertitude sur les places boursières européennes après la chute des marchés asiatiques
At least Le Monde has created one page which it is updating fairly regularly with news from around the world relating to stock markets. Why are not other news organizations doing this?
Keeping posted...
Perhaps 15, no, maybe 20 years ago I was trying to use a new service at the time - I don't recall the name, but it was linked in some way to the early Compuserve. The idea in any case was to allow online access - prior to the web - to more up to date wire service and newspaper stories. What I wanted to follow as I remember it was the latest news on a hurricane or some such subject. All I got was time worn stories that failed to give me the "here and now".
So, too, I have found is the case even today.
It is astounding to see global stock markets is such astounding flux at 5:30 AM Eastern Standard Time today and to have so few news organizations, or purported "news" organization like Google News bringing this news to us. The New York Times has done the best job, but there seems to be nothing between New York Times-filed stories.
Why have we evolved so little over two decades?
So, too, I have found is the case even today.
It is astounding to see global stock markets is such astounding flux at 5:30 AM Eastern Standard Time today and to have so few news organizations, or purported "news" organization like Google News bringing this news to us. The New York Times has done the best job, but there seems to be nothing between New York Times-filed stories.
Why have we evolved so little over two decades?
Monday, January 21, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Friday, December 28, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Laptop Project Enlivens Peruvian Hamlet - New York Times
The real test of this program comes when we see HOW the computers actually were used by the young people. Do they make better people of themselves as a result, or do they only have a good time? The latter is certainly positive, but the former has so much more potential. Which will it be?
newsobserver.com | Federal budget bears gifts for Triangle
The real question with all of these items is whether they were subjected to debate and discussion or whether any of these are earmarks and if so, who put them in the legislation.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Monday, December 10, 2007
Trees in North Carolina
I sent this note today to Hampton DELLINGER, one of the candidates for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina in next year's elections:
"This news is really discouraging, especially after seeing so many trees recently cut around us in Southern Village.http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/820340.html
You should consider - if you have not already - a campaign pledge to halt the decline in North Carolina trees. In other words, take the position that under your watch, you will work -- i.e., do all that you can from the bully pulpit you will have as Lt Gov - to retain and expand the total number of trees in the state. Surely there must be measures of this and I believe that this is the sort of bold initiative that GORE talked about in Oslo today.
If you choose not to do so, I'll be real interested in knowing why."
"This news is really discouraging, especially after seeing so many trees recently cut around us in Southern Village.http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/820340.html
You should consider - if you have not already - a campaign pledge to halt the decline in North Carolina trees. In other words, take the position that under your watch, you will work -- i.e., do all that you can from the bully pulpit you will have as Lt Gov - to retain and expand the total number of trees in the state. Surely there must be measures of this and I believe that this is the sort of bold initiative that GORE talked about in Oslo today.
If you choose not to do so, I'll be real interested in knowing why."
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Saturn of Chapel Hill
I encountered a Saturn of Chapel Hill van on 15-501 the other day. It was tailgating, moving between lanes in an unsafe manner and traveling well above the speed limit. When I called the dealership, I got the runaround and finally was told by the general manager that he would not assure me that they had taken action and suggested I call the police next time. One would have thought that a firm that sells motor vehicles would care about road safety a lot more than surely seemed to be the case. When I called the Chapel Hill Police, they asked for the details - the Saturn people did not - and promised to follow up with a call to the dealership. They were promising to do their job; Saturn of Chapel Hill seemed to me to be shirking their community responsibilities. The manager told me it was not my business. My answer to that is that anything that affects road safety is the business of all of us.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
HADLEY interview on NPR
Why should NPR have run out of time interviewing Stephen HADLEY, the National Security Advisor, about Iran two days ago? Shouldn't we expect NPR to change its schedule when there is something as important as this with someone as close to the "action" as is HADLEY? I would expect NPR to do this, and - perhaps most surprising - I would have thought that they would have continued the interview off air but on line if that was the only option. To do less than that, as was the case, is a big disappointment.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Thursday, December 06, 2007
C.I.A. Destroyed Tapes of Harsh Interrogations - New York Times
This is not the US system of criminal justice as I came to love it. How can any of us read a story like this and react with anything less than horror that people who work for us, sworn to uphold principles critical to our system of justice, could do such things. Those in positions to do so should initiate investigatory actions aimed at all who may have been involved in such actions, and they all should be brought to justice. It is the only way we can begin to regain a system of justice from the damage inflicted upon it in recent years.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
TV people out in the cold....
Why is it that TV performers, all too often called reporters or correspondents, insist on standing outside in the cold, rain, snow or other inclement weather to do their "standup" performances? Why wouldn't a reasonably intelligent human prefer to get out the bad weather if they could, which they can most of the time?
Monday, December 03, 2007
GE appliance energy consumption - why so hard to get?
We are in the market for a smaller oven to use when we want to cook something that really does not merit using the oven yet is better cooked in a regular oven rather than in a microwave oven.
So I called the GE "answer line" and finished an hour later with only a vague comparison between our current oven and microwave and a GE Advantium oven that could go over our gas burners.
Why should it be so hard - in this time of escalating environmental consciousness - to get an answer to my question? There was nothing on this point on GE's website that I could find and the people on the phone gave me the impression that no one had ever raised this question.
GE has a long way to go in my book to measure up to the environmentally-conscious image it tries to construct for itself through advertising.
So I called the GE "answer line" and finished an hour later with only a vague comparison between our current oven and microwave and a GE Advantium oven that could go over our gas burners.
Why should it be so hard - in this time of escalating environmental consciousness - to get an answer to my question? There was nothing on this point on GE's website that I could find and the people on the phone gave me the impression that no one had ever raised this question.
GE has a long way to go in my book to measure up to the environmentally-conscious image it tries to construct for itself through advertising.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Ousted Justice in Pakistan Urges Defiance - New York Times
Where are the rest of us - the world's lawyers - at a time like this? Are we prepared to go to Pakistan to show solidarity?
Sunday, November 04, 2007
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