Archive for August, 2010

Swimming Pool Chemicals Part Three-Shock

Anytime a pool is getting heavy use chlorine levels will drop as free chlorine combines with contaminants and forms chloramines. Chloramines cause that heavy “chlorine” smell any swimmer knows and loves. Though attributed to too much chlorine it’s actually the best indicator that chlorine is way too low! The pool needs a big dose of chlorine right away or bad things will happen. This is where pool shock comes to the rescue. Designed to add lots of chlorine in just minutes shock products are often the same stuff you use day to day but in a different form. There are two kinds of shocks; chlorine based and non-chlorine. Each is useful but in different situations.

Chlorine shock

Chlorine shock comes in three forms; calcium hypchlorite (Cal Hypo), sodium dichlor ()Dichlor) or lithium hypochlorite(Lithium). Cal hypo and dichlor were discussed in Part One of this series as regular sanitizers. Lithium hypochlorite is only used as a shocking agent. In each of these products the chlorine molecule is carried or bound to a different substance; lithium, sodium or calcium. Lithium and sodium dissolve nicely in pool water, calcium doesn’t so lithium and dichlor can be added directly to a pool while calcium should be dissolved in a bucket of water before adding. If not pre-dissolved Cal Hypo will settle to the bottom and bleach lots of nice little white spots on a vinyl liner.

A shocking agent is meant to be a quick fix. The chlorine level is raised to a level as high as 10 ppm (parts per million), too high for swimming. Since unstabilized chlorine is quickly burned out by sunlight, cal hypo and lithium are nice shock agents as they are both unstabilized. Dichlor, however, is stabilized and will hang around for up to six hours. Dichlor is fine but don’t plan on using the pool for a while.

Dichlor and Cal Hypo both pack a powerful punch with 56 and 65 percent available chlorine respectively. Lithium usually provides 35 percent and is a relatively weak sister requiring a heavier dose for the same results.

All three shocks are available in convenient 1 lb. pouches or in pails up to 50 lbs. Cal hypo is the cheapest and most popular, lithium the most expensive and least used. Dichlor is mid priced and widely available. All three types require the pool to be closed until chlorine levels drop below 3 ppm.

Non Chlorine shock

A relatively new development, non-chlorine shock has proved to be a popular choice with many pool owners primarily because the pool can stay open for use even after shock is added. Pretty cool, huh?

Sort of. Non-chlorine shock, as one might expect, contains no chlorine. If chlorine is what a pool needs how does this stuff do any good? The active ingredient in non-chlorine shock is potassium monopersulfate or PMP. It has little if any oxidizing potential but it does do something pretty neat. PMP actually frees chlorine bound up in chloramine compounds and makes it available to sanitize again. And the pool can stay open while this miraculous process takes place. There is a catch. Often after prolonged summer use pool water has little or no chlorine or chloramines. Sunlight and bather load has used up almost everything. Adding non-chlorine shock at this point will do nothing because the PMP has nothing to work with. Make sure to take a total chlorine reading before using non-chlorine shock. If total chlorine is low use a shock containing chlorine.

Using Shock Properly

-Regardless of the type used it’s best to add shock when people are done using the pool for the day. The overnight hours are best because unstabilized chlorine will last longer. Remember to run that filter.

-Always try to verify that shocking your pool has pushed chlorine levels to at least 5 ppm. Lower concentrations won’t do a proper job and could lead to trouble.

-It’s good practice to pre-dissolve shock before adding to the pool even if it’s lithium or dichlor. Always add shock to water NOT water to shock.

-Remember, non-chlorine shock WILL NOT WORK if chlorine levels are too low.

By: Rob Coxworth

About the Author:

Rob “Dr. Duck” Coxworth is the driving force behind Webfoot Leisure.com [http://www.webfootleisure.com], an on-line retailer of swimming pools, supplies,equipment and accessories. Rob has spent many years in the pool industry in a variety of roles; CEO, manufacturers rep, consultant, National Sales Manager and part time pool float. Dr. Duck likes to write about pool issues and share the information he’s gained from working with pool industry firms over the years.


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A swimming pool can be a very hazardous place for people and animals of any age, but is especially dangerous where children are involved. As a swimming pool owner you have to be aware of the risks and take extra precautions especially for the sake of children.

Here are a few swimming pool safety tips for parents of kids. It Is Never All Right To Leave Your Child Unattended - Ever. no matter what the age, you should never leave your child in the pool unattended without you or another responsible adult close by. Even if you just have to run to the restroom, or grab the phone. You don’t know what might happen in that couple minute you’re gone, and that’s really all it takes for something disastrous to happen.

Place a Fence Completely Around Your Pool – Separate the pool area from the yard and play area. Most drowning accidents occur when young children slip and fall into a pool. Make sure the fence is at least 4 feet high, and the the self-latching gate is well out of reach, so that your child or children cannot open it without help of a grown up. Setting clear ground rules for not going near the pool area will not be enough, because children often wish to test their boundaries with such things.

Remove All Toys — Make sure to remove all pool tools from the pool after you and your child are done swimming, and keep them out of their reach. Sometimes a young child who is left unsupervised near the pool will want to swim, even though you’re not around – making this as hard as possible will discourage this activity.

Instruction For Your Babysitters – Make sure your babysitters know the rules of the pool, and the safety measures that you have put in place – it’s a better idea to not allow your child to swim when your babysitter is there period, though, just in case.

Blow up’ Flotation Equipment Should Not Be Substitutes– Blow up flotation devices aren’t substitutes for a life vest. You can find many different color life vests, and ones that are very cute for young children to wear – ‘wings’, tubes, and other products are no substitute and should not be used when a child doesn’t have a life vest on.

Safety Covers Having a secure swimming pool cover is an essential piece of equipment for swimming pool owners that have children. When purchasing a swimming pool cover, remember to ask your supplier about the locks and latches that come with it, these fillings should be flush to the side of the pool so that your child can not heart themselves on any protruding parts, they should also be child proof so that your child can not open the pool at any time when you are not around.

And Finally Remember that your child isn’t resistant to water, and that drowning deaths in home pools and spas is the fifth leading cause of children under five. Always make safety a first priority with children, and remember to keep emergency equipment and a phone close at hand at all times.

By: Zhang Xiao Hong

About the Author:
For more information on Spa and Swimming pools you may visit us at Spa Pool Supply and Swimming Pool Safety Covers – Which Cover Gives the Best Protection



 Can anybody recommend a good game similiar to pool of radiance?

Hey there,
Basically I'm looking to buy a new game for my boyfriend and need some help with some title suggestions. He owns pool of radiance which he really loves, so I was hoping to get him a game in that same dungeons and dragons series preferably. As a guide though, he also owns neverwinter nights 2 which he doesn't really like too much. I was thinking of trying to dig old copy of the champions of krynn games from somewhere like ebay, but I'm not too sure if he'd go for a game that quite that old. so any good suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance,
Gemma.

Dungeon Siege 1 and 2 and

Arcanum are good choices…

and go here for champions of krynn

abandonia.com/en/games/619/Ch…

and it abandonware so its legal to download

Can anybody recommend a good game similiar to pool of radiance?


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Artist profile: MaryAnn Kohl

 Artist profile: MaryAnn Kohl

MaryAnn Kohl, an award-winning author, artist, educator and speaker, returns with art projects made from easy-to-find, everyday materials in her 23rd book, “Art with Anything: 52 Weeks of Fun Using Everyday Stuff.”

She celebrates her milestone anniversary (25 years of bringing art to children) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, at Village Books, in Fairhaven.

Participants will explore hands-on bubble-wrap art projects with Kohl, and view slides showing other artworks by kids who explored hands-on art from “Art with Anything.” Kohl is the author of numerous award-winning, art-idea books for children, now available in seven languages. for more about her, see brightring.com.

Question: what are your workshops for kids like?

Answer: Picture a table heaped with collage materials, like sequins, buttons, yarn and foil scraps. Glue, tape, scissors, a stapler. There are no directions to follow, just the inspiration of the materials on hand. some kids may ask, “But what am I supposed to make?” I answer, “That’s up to you! Just starting putting things together any way you like.”

When children are given the permission to create and are told “there’s no right way and no wrong way for your art to turn out, there’s just your way,” their eyes open wide and some will say, “Really? you mean it?” They can’t believe it! and then they jump in and begin their journey of discovery.

Q: what do you hope children will learn about themselves and about art in your workshops?

A: what I hope children will learn from my books is that within themselves they can experience the process of creating, rather than worrying too much about copying an adult’s work or trying for a finished product of some kind. I’ve seen it happen hundreds of times; they surprise themselves with what comes from their own hands, and they begin to understand that their world has much more in it than just following directions or copying what someone else has done. Kids are naturally creative; they just need the permission and the time to explore and discover what is possible.

Q: what was your childhood like?

A: I wonder, was my childhood remarkable, or was it typical of the 1950s? I know this: Every day was fun, filled with play and friends and free time to imagine and explore. I grew up in Longmeadow, Mass. My greatest joy was my fort in the little woods about two lots over from our house. I spent years in that woods! and swimming in the summer was hugely important at our local pool where we made up games and swim routines and napped on towels under trees when we were exhausted. from sunup until sundown, and riding bikes everywhere.

There was much creativity in our days, for we made up plays and put on shows, wrote stories, and made up songs that we performed. No one was hovering over us, so we were free to create and think and try out our own rules and ideas.

Q: Have you always been creative?

A: School was filled with serious learning, which was fine with me, though they did stress creative writing and music. I loved both. we had an art teacher, but she was intent on destroying any creativity in our souls, so I just did what she told us to do and didn’t think about her much.

However, at home, my mom filled my world with crayons, paper, colored chalk and watercolor paints. I was never without something to do, almost always my own ideas! I made doll clothes with a real sewing machine, decorated my room with my own artwork, made stuff from things on hand for my dolls or my fort, and kept myself busy hour after hour.

Q: How can parents and teachers use your books and workshops to encourage kids to become all that they can be?

A: My books give parents and teachers a framework of art ideas for the kids to do in their own ways, but the main thing is to have basic art supplies in your home or classroom, and more important than anything, to give kids the time to use them. Time and permission.

So much of their time is run by other people, and where will they find the time to develop their own imaginations? Art is just one of the ways kids can feel the electricity of creativity flowing from within oneself and outward.

Q: do you have any leisure time? How do you relax?

A: I enjoy reading books, exploring the area with my husband, Michael, spending time with family, and seeing friends. I’m learning to play golf, and in the winter I snow ski with a group that takes the Hesselgrave Ski Bus to Stevens Pass eight Tuesdays in a row.

I have taken some watercolor classes, and would like to try my hand at painting again when I have some time. Perhaps writing a children’s picture book or a young adult novel will be next? I would like to travel and see the USA if I ever retire.

Artist profile: MaryAnn Kohl


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There is a bewildering array of brand names in the world of pool maintenance chemicals. Some brand names come and go. But HTH pool chemicals, manufactured by Arch Chemicals, are here to stay because they have earned the reputation as one of the best around.

Among their many products is pool shock. Pool shock is a compound that kills bacteria, algae, and other germs that always find their way into your water. Applied once per week, it can keep your swimming pool safe to use, good to look at, and pleasant to smell every day.

Now, a lot of those who own pools will tell themselves that one company’s chemical is much like the next, so the only thing that counts is price. Not so. It’s true that pool maintenance chemicals are nowhere near as complex as, say, pharmaceuticals. But quality, still counts.

That quality consists of designing the compound to perform exactly as desired under a wide range of circumstances. Temperature, humidity, and the presence of other chemicals in the water all have to be taken into account when creating a superior pool shock.

HTH swimming pool chemicals do that the right way, and not just when it comes to shock, either. They will clarify and clean up a wide range of pool water contaminants. Everything from soaps and perfumes, skin oils, airborne dirt, water-borne bacteria, and many other unwanted compounds easily find their way into your pool. HTH pool chemicals deal with all of them.

Just as an example, one of the prime ingredients used in pool shock is calcium hypochlorite. As the name suggests, it supplies chlorine to the pool, a basic element that can kill a wide range of potentially harmful organisms. But notice that it isn’t supplied as pure chlorine. HTH knows that it needs to be balanced, buffered, and delivered in just the right way.

Among the other problems that can occur with the wrong formulation is too rapid evaporation. If all the chlorine just ‘boils’ off the surface in an hour, it can’t do any good for your pool. Also, if it immediately combines with harmless compounds and doesn’t supply free chlorine to combine with the harmful things, it’s useless. HTH understands that, and all the other much more complex aspects of pool maintenance chemistry.

Many years of experience, and a dedication to innovative, careful chemical ‘design’ has allowed HTH to produce a range of pool maintenance aids at a very reasonable price. They also, through careful attention to the right form of compound, made sure you wouldn’t have to be an expert, nor spend a lot of time taking care of those needed tasks. HTH pool maintenance compounds contain all the expertise ‘built in’.

By: Curt Haldermans

About the Author:

When you look for pool shock and other swimming pool chemicals, do yourself a favor and look for more than just the absolute cheapest product you can find. There are differences. HTH pool chemicals have proven that time and again. Let them prove it to you.


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Hot Tub Covers & Spa Covers – Waterlogging

1282755692 46 Hot Tub Covers & Spa Covers – Waterlogging

If you are indeed replacing your hot tub cover because your current cover has waterlogged, this article should help to explain water logging in hot tub covers. It will also explain how manufacturers attempt to delay water logging to extend the life of spa covers.

All covers, unless they become damaged, will eventually fail due to water logging. It is important to note that covers waterlog NOT from rain or snow, but from the water in the spa itself. The hot water in the spa evaporates into the air under the cover and condenses or collects onto the bottom of the hot tub cover. Due to the chemicals used to keep the water in the spa clean and germ free, the chemicals are then in contact with the  cover and, over time, will decay the protective liner. Once this happens, the condensation and steam from the hot water will soak into the spa cover and the end has begun. It will waterlog and weigh hundreds of pounds, eventually weighing so much that it cannot support it’s own weight and it will break.

Also keep in mind that once water gets into the cover, germs, mold and mildew will begin to form and will drip back into the hot tub. This rapidly becomes an unhealthy situation that must be corrected.

The protective liner is called a vapor barrier in the spa industry. Most manufacturers of spa covers use varying thicknesses of vapor barriers. The idea is that, the thicker the vapor barrier, the longer it will hold out from the inevitable decay. some high-end hot tub cover manufacturers offer vapor barriers made SPECIFICALLY for the spa cover environment. In this case, it is not possible to compare vapor barriers by thickness alone.

Spa covers are designed to function as a whole, with every element having importance. keep in mind these important facts regarding the vapor barrier when considering the purchase of your next hot tub cover.

Hot Tub Covers & Spa Covers – Waterlogging


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 West, Meet East: Sid Harth « News, Views and Reviews: Sid Harth

West, Meet East: Sid Harth

Skypark in Singapore!

Don’t go off the VERY deep end… Infinity pool 55 STOREY above ground opens in Singapore in dazzling new £4 billion resort

If you fancy a dip in this pool, you’ll need a head for heights – it’s 55 storey up.But swimming to the edge won’t be quite as risky as it looks. While the water in the infinity pool seems to end in a sheer drop, it actually spills into a catchment area where it is pumped back into the main pool. At three times the length of an Olympic pool and 650 ft up, it is the largest outdoor pool in the world at that height.

It features in the impressive, boat-shaped ‘Skylark’ perched atop the three towers that make up the world’s most expensive hotel, the £4 billion Marina Bay Sands development in Singapore.

Don’t look down: a guest swims in the infinity pool of the Skypark that tops the Marina Bay Sands hotel towers – 55 storey over the city of Singapore yesterday

To infinity… and beyond! the pool stretches 150 meters, three times the length of an Olympic swimming pool

The view over the side: An artist’s impression shows the Skypark that tops the Marina Bay Sands hotel towers, including the infinity pool

The hotel, which has 2,560 rooms costing from £350 a night, was officially opened yesterday with a concert by Diana Ross.the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, estimated to have cost £2 billion when it opened in 2004, was previously the world’s most expensive hotel.But with its indoor canal, opulent art, casino, outdoor plaza, convention centre, theatre, crystal pavilion and museum shaped like a lotus flower, the Marina Bay Sands has taken its crown.

The infinity pool on the roof is in the ‘Skylark’ which spans the three towers of the hotel. the platform itself is longer than the Eiffel tower laid down and is one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Infinity pools give the effect that the water extends to the horizon. In reality, the water spills over the edge into a catchment below, and is then pumped back into the pool. the pools have two circulation systems. the first functions like that of a regular pool, filtering and heating the water in the main pool. the second filters the water in the catch basin and returns it to the upper pool.

The resort from across the bay. the three towers were based on a deck of cards, according to designer Moshe Safdie

A skydiver parachutes pass the Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay Sands casino resort as part of the venue’s opening celebrations yesterday

Extreme: Left, relay teams scale one of the towers in a race commemorating the opening yesterday. Right, a newly-wed couple enjoy a canal ride inside the resort’s shopping centre

The Marina Sands resort was designed by architect Moshe Safdie who based it on a deck of cards.

Inside shoppers can ride along an indoor canal in Sampan boats styled on traditional Chinese vessels from the 17th century.the owners have also commissioned five well-known artists to create works of art to ‘integrate’ with the buildings. Among these is a 40m-long Antony Gormley sculpture made from 16,100 steel rods. the whole thing weighs 14.8 tons and it took 60 people to assemble it in the hotel.Artist Chongbin Zheng created Rising Forest which is 83 three meter high pots with trees in them. the pots were so big the artist had to build a customised kiln the size of a small building to make them in.last night, the world’s most expensive hotel was given a launch party befitting it. Singing legend Diana Ross performed for 2,500 VIPs in the resort’s Grand Ballroom and pop singer Kelly Rowland headlined an outdoor concert.

Money-maker: Left, the entrance to the casino, which costs nearly £50 to get in and is attracting 25,000 visitors each day. Right, a man looks through a steel web art structure in one of the towers

Just enjoying the sun: Models pose in the pool for journalists at the grand opening yesterday

The opening celebrations also featured a death-defying relay. Seven teams of three participants each scaled the three towers before sprinting across the 340-meter long Sands Skylark, where the infinity pool is located, to the finish line.

The resort will employ 10,000 people directly and generate up to £48m each year. Entrance to the casino alone is nearly £50 a day – but an average of 25,000 people have visited the casino daily since its initial phased opening two months ago.

Thomas Arasi, president and chief executive officer of the resort, said he expects to attract an astonishing 70,000 visitors a day once it is fully open.It was due to open in 2009, but was delayed thanks to labour and material shortages, and funding problems due to the global financial crisis.

,,,and I am Sid Harth

West, Meet East: Sid Harth « News, Views and Reviews: Sid Harth


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Buying Adults Pool Accessories

1282280476 48 Buying Adults Pool Accessories

Whether you are looking to entertain yourself or your other adult friends, you may want to consider buying pool accessories that are designed with adults in mind. One of the many reasons why adults enjoy going for a swim is because it is a great way to relax. After a long day at work, there are many individuals who choose a swimming pool as their source of relaxation. If this sounds familiar, you may be able to benefit from the use of a floating raft, floating chair, or floating lounge chair. Floating chairs are similar to most traditional chairs. In most cases, these chairs will have your upper body above water, but your lower body underwater. Floating chairs are a great way to relax, while enjoying the water at the same time.

Floating long chairs are similar to, the above mentioned, floating chairs. The only difference is that most of these chairs keep your whole body above water. In a way, they resemble patio chairs that are in the lounge position. Floating lounge chairs are ideal for those who are looking to sunbathe or just relax on the water’s surface. Floating rafts are another popular pool accessory for adults. Floating rafts, like most other floating furniture, comes in a wide variety of different styles. Despite the different styles, most floating rafts are similar to the ones that can be found in water parks.

If excitement is what you are looking for, in addition to floating rafts, you may want to consider buying a kickboard, volleyball net, or basketball hoop. Volleyball nets and basketball hoops are ideal for those who are swimming with others. Whether you are just swimming with a couple of friends or having a pool party, you may find that these popular pool accessories are just what you need to bring your party to life.

Whether you are just looking to buy pool accessories for yourself or for when you have a party, there should be at least one pool accessory out there that can give you what you need. Whether you want to buy floating furniture, sports equipment, or a pool bar, it is likely that you can find what you are looking for, either at your local pool supply store or online. The author who was a handmade jewellery dealer once has now started his business in cladding repairs and steel building.

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Buying Adults Pool Accessories


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Swimming Pool Covers – General Information

Why I need to buy a swimming pool cover? Are you finding the reasons for buying a cover for your swimming pool? In this article I have tried to gather some benefits of a cover. There are many benefits of a cover but we will talk about some of them. I am sure that you are aware of the drowning cases which are related to swimming pools. According to recent surveys and studies number of kids who are drowning in pools is increasing every year. The only reason behind this is improper security of the pool. A pool cover can help you a lot in increasing the security level. By spending a small amount of money you can avoid a big number of tragedies.

The second benefit of a cover is that it helps in maintaining the cleanliness of the pool. It is a bit a difficult task to keep the pool clean all the time. But with the help of a pool cover you can do that easily. It keeps the debris, dirt and dry leaves away from the pool. It also prevents the water from various toxic materials and microorganisms. Dirty water can be the cause of various skin diseases and infections. Always remember that a clean and tidy pool reflects your lifestyle.

Have you ever tried to keep the water warm? I am sure that you are aware of the amount of the money which is spent for maintaining the temperature of water. Both kids and adults enjoy warm water. For keeping the water warm you have to pay huge electricity. But with the help of a cover you can save a big amount of money. There are some special types of covers which keep the water warm. The covers are made up of a special material known as vinyl. Vinyl keeps the water warm because it is an excellent insulating agent. A vinyl cover is easy to install and comes with a user manual. You can install it yourself or with the help of a professional.

There are many shops and stores which are selling high quality swimming pool accessories. You should spend some time for finding the right accessory for your home. It is a god idea to find some information on this topic. I would recommend you to go through some through some websites which are related to this topic. There are many websites and blogs which are devoted to home accessories. You can also read some informative articles related to this topic. There are several article directories which provide free articles on many topics. These directories can be easily found through major search engines.

It is a good idea to buy a cover through an online store. In this way you can go through the features of the product at the comfort of your home. The product can be ordered by a click of mouse. All reputed online store deliver the ordered product at your door steps in a very short period of time.

By: Jitesh Arora

About the Author:

If you want to know more about Pool Covers then it is a good idea to visit Swimming Pool Covers.


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1282194185 64 Cheap Baracuda W01698 Ranger Suction Side Automatic Above Ground Pool Cleaner

The Baracuda W01698 Ranger Suction side Automatic Above-Ground Pool Cleaner effectively cleans any above-ground swimming pool, including dished-out bottoms up to 72 inches! it features only one moving part, so there’s no annoying hammer or flapper noise commonly associated with other pool vacuums! and the unique deflector wheel helps prevent it from getting caught in steps, ladders and corners. The Ranger comes pre-assembled for easy installation and includes 32′ of hose.

Product Features * Affordable and dependable automatic pool cleaner for above-ground pools. * Removes dirt, twigs, and other debris with no extra plumbing. * Installs in minutes, the extra large wheel deflector helps prevent the cleaner from getting caught on steps, stairs, or in corners. * Flowkeeper valve and Insta-Skim Compact self-adjusting flow control valves automatically regulate water flow. * 1-year limited warranty covers manufacturing defects and wear and tear on cleaner and hoses.

Baracuda W01698 Ranger Suction side Automatic Above-Ground Pool Cleaner ReviewThis is a good pool cleaner, it has the strongest suction I have found yet, will pick up sticks, small pine cones along with other debris. The one point that could be improved is its mobility. it gets stuck on the side of my pool steps all the time.

Cheap Baracuda W01698 Ranger Suction Side Automatic Above-Ground Pool Cleaner


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